• TRAVEL

  A legacy lives on

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/10/2016

  » Many Thais were stunned by the recent news of the sale of the decades-old Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel to Thailand's biggest hospital group for development into a health resort. Shortly after, they sighed with relief when finding out that the entire Nai Lert business empire was not sold.

• TRAVEL

  The historic South

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 14/07/2016

  » The South of Thailand is much more than just sea, sand and sun. It holds historical and archaeological significance. Several cultural landmarks in Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces are overlooked by most visitors despite their historical importance. Some of them have been restored and recently introduced by the Fine Arts Department in order to promote public awareness of their value.

• TRAVEL

  Millennia-old cultural hub

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 09/06/2016

  » Many museums make visitors feel like they are travelling back in time through the display of ancient artefacts. The Sap Champa Museum in Lop Buri is one of them since it not only tells of local history but also has ruins of a millennia-old city and a centuries-old forest next door.

• TRAVEL

  A shared Thai-European past

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 31/03/2016

  » One recent sunny day, European Union diplomats and Thai journalists enjoyed a half-day bike ride in the heart of Bangkok to explore some of the many European-influenced places according to the 2016 European Heritage Map and App. This 14km biking trip combines two of the four heritage trails.

• TRAVEL

  Restructuring a masterpiece

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 30/11/2015

  » Stepping into the newly renovated front building of the National Museum Bangkok, visitors may be reminded of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York or the Louvre in Paris. We're not really there yet, but with a new design, tasteful lighting, concise bilingual descriptions and exquisite ancient artefacts displayed in a wider space to highlight their unique beauty, the 128-year-old museum has a new lease of life.

• OPINION

  Roads are a dammed hindrance

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/09/2015

  » Earlier this month, I visited the Thai-Danish Dairy Farm and Training Centre in Saraburi province and heard some terrible news. A guide told me that the farm's Burmese Rosewood (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) forest, home to over 10,000 naturally grown trees would soon be gone as it has been marked for land expropriation under a motorway project.

• TRAVEL

  Streaming with history

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 23/04/2015

  » Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem is likely to become one of Bangkok's major transportation routes once again due to government support, and this may also benefit tourism. Building of the canal was commissioned by King Rama IV in 1851 to serve as the outer city moat. It runs in parallel with the first and second tiers of the city moat — Khlong Khumuang Doem and Khlong Rob Krung.

• LIFE

  Flawed yet beautiful

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 07/05/2015

  » Cixi Taihou The Musical, a stage adaptation of MR Kukrit Pramoj's historical novel, has returned with a new cast, a more concise script, 30 brilliant songs and a 40-piece orchestra. Yet a few shortcomings are noticeable.

• TRAVEL

  Roots of Suphan Buri

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 22/01/2015

  » Suphan Buri is about 100km northwest of Bangkok and has a wide variety of attractions for all to enjoy. Yet, this province has some lesser-known historical aspects for culture vultures to delve into. A recent trip organised by the Fine Arts Department asked the question: "Where does Suphan Buri originate from?"

• TRAVEL

  Works in progress?

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 09/10/2014

  » It was about 130 years ago that Thai Buddhists of Mon descent started making use of the sala kan parian, or "preaching pavilion", at Wat Tha Kham in the Bangkok district of Bang Khunthian. Since the pavilion was situated right next to the canal it was the first structure in the temple compound people would encounter after disembarking from their boats. 

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