• OPINION

  Street-food plan starves poor of choice

  News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 20/04/2017

  » Soon after being hailed as the city with the world's best street food by CNN, and with the Michelin Guide announcing it will visit Thailand this year, City Hall which is known to have a love-hate relationship with street vendors, yesterday decided to keep street food in certain spots in the capital -- to serve tourists, not residents.

• OPINION

  Absurd disease controls show govt is clueless

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 03/04/2020

  » As I checked in for my trip home at Brussels airport last Sunday, I wondered if it would be a once-in-a-lifetime flight. A THAI employee had told me I might end up being the only passenger on the Bangkok-bound plane that afternoon.

• OPINION

  City clean-up is becoming a waste of space

  News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 25/05/2017

  » In just three years, a number of pavements and public areas in Bangkok have been reclaimed and tidied up, thanks to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) "clean-up campaign", which was backed by the military regime. But whether these spots really serve the needs of Bangkok residents remains in doubt.

• OPINION

  What Thais can learn from Korean culture

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 18/06/2021

  » Despite their huge popularity, I've always held off from watching Korean TV series. But being forced into home hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself glued to the set watching Hospital Playlist and Live Up To Your Name -- two Korean TV hits.

• OPINION

  Thainess and surf-skating, a safe match?

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 01/04/2021

  » The "Rattana Go Surf" surf-skating group, with the presence of a woman politician and luminaries who showcased their surf-skating skills on the city streets last Sunday caused a stir. It's no surprise. In contrast to the latest trend of surf-skating in Thailand, Sunday's crowd turned up in traditional Thai attire, while some women also showed up in Thai-style strapless tops and other participants put on royal-patterned shirts. I can only imagine how suffocating it would have been wearing costumes which are obviously not appropriate for sports. Not to mention, several joined the risky sport without protective gear, such as helmets, all while trying to balance themselves on a skateboard, side by side with moving cars and other motorised vehicles.

• OPINION

  Could quarantine facilities be slacking?

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 29/10/2020

  » Almost the same time the tourism authorities welcomed the first batch of long-stay tourists from China last week, local media reported a new infection, a Thai-French woman, who completed the mandatory alternative state quarantine (ASQ) and somehow, after she left, tested positive for the coronavirus.

• OPINION

  Better ways to spend B22.5bn than on two subs

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 26/08/2020

  » As I saw my Bangkok-bound train approaching Yala train station last week, I hoped the ride would be a perfect end to my nostalgic trip to the southern province, my second in recent years. In the latest visit I was glad the time-capsuled town showed signs of change, with new chic cafes, restaurants and hotels opening.

• OPINION

  Out with old, in with new. So short-sighted

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 03/07/2020

  » Days after Phrae's historic Bombay Burmah building was completely torn down, outraged local people fuelled public anger by sharing photos of the ruthless demolition on social media.

• OPINION

  Nature takes back seat in push for toilets

  Oped, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 17/06/2020

  » The removal of the leafy pradu trees along the road around the Grand Palace has triggered an avalanche of shock and anger. But this project, which has been touted as a landscape development project for tourism, hardly surprised me.

• OPINION

  Quick fixes will not stop spread of Covid-19

  News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 07/03/2020

  » When an elderly couple who tested positive for Covid-19 were found not to have told the truth about their visit to a virus hotspot before they got ill -- vitally important information in the midst of an outbreak -- the whole country panicked.

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