• LIFE

  Preserving the ancient arts

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 22/10/2018

  » One night in Khanom district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, 15-year-old Thanawit Kerddam brought out his best in performing a southern folk tale before numerous viewers. He provided the voices to more than 10 nang talung shadow puppets, sang along with fast-paced southern music, and occasionally slipped in jokes and current events. Although the audience from Bangkok did not understand the southern dialect, they felt the characters' emotions as the shadow puppets danced behind the white-cloth screen.

• THAILAND

  The flora of Laos

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 13/09/2018

  » Located on the west side of the Mekong River opposite the Lao heritage town Luang Prabang is Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden. Opened around a year ago, the garden collects Lao plant species with the aim to conserve Laos' rich biodiversity and traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. It showcases a series of ethnobotanical gardens as well as clusters of ginger, orchids, ferns, bamboo and palms around the base of the Pha Tad Ke cliff overlooking the river.

• THAILAND

  The return of royal khon

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 26/09/2018

  » The wait is over for the return of the annual khon masked dance. The much-loved performance by the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (Support Foundation) of HM Queen Sirikit under the Reign of King Rama IX will make a comeback at the Thailand Cultural Centre from Nov 3 until Dec 5, this time featuring an episode called The Allegiance Of Phiphek.

• OPINION

  Angel delight is a passing fad

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/01/2016

  » Angel child dolls, or luk thep in Thai, have become widely known since the middle of last year and increasingly popular, especially among those in the entertainment business who believe the dolls bring them good fortune. The trend for luk thep -- dolls with added spirits of angels that are believed to have the power to fulfill the wishes of their owners -- has become a centre of criticism since a number of owners treat their dolls as if they are real infants in public.

• LIFE

  Loy Krathong celebrations

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 10/11/2016

  » One of Thailand's most popular festivals, Loy Krathong, will be back although overt celebrations of events may still be toned down as a mark of respect after the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. This year, the Full Moon of the 12th lunar month falls on Nov 14, when restrictions on festive celebrations and entertainment venues will be lifted after the first 30 days of the mourning period.

• LIFE

  As majestic as ever

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 12/11/2015

  » Even more flawless than previous editions, the Support Foundation's annual khon performance impressed once again at its premiere last week. This year, the featured episode is The Battle Of Indrajit: Prommas, and the beautiful dancing, great acting, costumes and props were as splendid as in previous years -- the setting, however, was more stunning than ever.

• TRAVEL

  The art of the craft

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 06/10/2016

  » When it comes to cultural attractions relating to Her Majesty the Queen's royal projects, the Support Foundation's Bang Sai Handicraft Centre in Bang Sai district, Ayutthaya province, may first come to many people's minds. However, the nearby Si Bua Thong Handicraft Centre in Ang Thong province is also worth a visit because you will be able to see the embroidery of khon mask dance costumes, the production of the rare pha yok (traditional silk brocades) and khon masks for the annual Royal Khon Performance there.

• LIFE

  Little puppet master

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 27/06/2016

  » Last month, hundreds of people were enjoying the traditional southern Thai shadow puppet performance known as nang talung. At a show at Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre in Bangkok, they were mesmerised by the puppeteering, singing and dubbing skills of Thailand's youngest nang talung performer, Sakon Suwannakhot. This nine-year-old boy from Phra Phrom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, started practising the art at the age of seven. Today, he is the puppet master of a seven-member troupe under the Talung Dharma Youth Project of Wat Phra Phrom.

• THAILAND

  Chanthaburi's other gems

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 08/11/2018

  » One morning during the rainy season, around 30 adventure seekers could be seen tying used tyres together. They then took these out on a raft to install them as "homes for fish" in Ban Bang Sa Kao in Chanthaburi's Laem Sing district on the Gulf of Thailand.

• LIFE

  Handle with care

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 12/07/2016

  » Around 2 million fascicles, or phuk, of manuscripts have been found so far in Thailand, massive records of ancient stories and knowledge mostly kept in temples. Many of them are in a sorry state, only about 10% of these manuscripts having been registered by the Fine Arts Department's Manuscripts and Inscriptions Group since 1975. The rest need the care of monks and local villagers to save them from the ravages of time.

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