• LIFE

  Preserving literary heritage

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 09/04/2018

  » At Wat Sung Men in Phrae province, monks and a dozen local villagers are busy scanning the temple's old manuscripts into a computer. The same activity, in fact, is happening at several temples in the North, including Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong in Chiang Mai as well as others in Lamphun and Nan. Initiated by a German professor, the novel efforts of digitising and conserving ancient manuscripts have caught on with enthusiasm among locals.

• LIFE

  A new Lanna gem

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 27/07/2017

  » The Chiang Mai National Museum has a new face after four years of renovation. Reopened on June 14, it brings exhibitions to life using state-of-the-art technology and presentations, and hopes to attract younger visitors.

• LIFE

  To the beat of the drum

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 29/06/2017

  » Nan is a northern city which was founded more than 700 years ago, and has unique art and culture. Its people have a proverb saying that Nan's heavenly sounds are "the sound of beating gongs and drums", "the sound of rice-pounding mortars" and "the sound of scripture-reciting monks". They believe the city continues to prosper as long as it is rich in food and resources, the people live comfortably, Buddhist monks are good and the sound of musical instruments and the puja drums resonate as offerings to the Lord Buddha.

• TRAVEL

  Cultural fest in Nan

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 22/06/2017

  » On July 1, the International Folk Culture Festival will take place at Wat Phumin in Nan province, chosen because it is culturally rich in Lanna heritage and home to numerous tribes.

• TRAVEL

  Precious lessons from neighbours

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 30/03/2017

  » Almost 40 Thai villagers and "creative tourism" advocates recently participated in several community tourism activities in Luang Prabang, Laos, looking to apply good ideas to their villages in six designated special zones.

• TRAVEL

  Floral Festival

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 16/03/2017

  » This month, those travelling to Nan should not miss the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Bretschneidera sinensis (chompoo phu kha) flowers at Doi Phu Kha National Park as well as Doi Maneepruek and Khun Sathan National Park.

• LIFE

  Learning local history

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 03/11/2016

  » Located in Muang district, Phitsanulok province, almost 400km from Bangkok, the Chan Palace History Centre is south of the archaeological site Chan Palace -- the royal residence for several kings and princes of Ayutthaya, including King Naresuan the Great. As part of the conservation and development of the Chan Palace Project, it exhibits background stories of Phitsanulok and Chan Palace.

• TRAVEL

  Food and music fest in Makkasan

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/07/2016

  » On Aug 6, the It's Me Cat Foodival, a new-style festival, will take place from 11am to 11pm at the Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station with concerts and food by various singers and bands for visitors to enjoy. Visitors will be able to taste and buy delicacies at over 60 food stalls, including those designed and cooked by famed singers and musicians according to the names of their songs. To name a few, Scrape (crêpes) by Scrubb Band, Rotrai Saimee (rotee saimai) by singer Boytrai Phummirat, fortune cookies by DJs Gypso and Song Paradox, Moving and Custard (custard) by Moving and Cut Band and Organic Supply by Greasy Cafe Band.

• 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.

• OPINION

  Precious lessons for protecting our nature

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 13/06/2016

  » Last week, there was good and bad news about the environment. I learnt a lot about environmental protection measures during my June 6-7 visit to Japan's Yakushima Island, of which 20% of the total area is registered as a World Natural Heritage Site by Unesco. Later on June 9, I was happy to hear that various groups of people planted trees on some parts of deforested land in Nan and many other Thais planted trees elsewhere and also at home.

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