Showing 1 - 4 of 4
Quick financial fix
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 02/05/2016
» Inside an air-conditioned room, a man with a grim face sat behind a tall counter with a metal barrier separating him from incoming clients. Suddenly, someone approaches him with a piece of jewellery in hand. After inspecting the item, the man names his price. After a negotiation, a contract is then signed as a promise for the client to pay back his loan plus interest and reclaim the item. Then, the client walks out with a handful of cash. The entire process lasts only a few minutes.
In the lull of Ocean Utopia
Life, Published on 02/05/2016
» It is both a work of art and a project to preserve and protect nature. But above all, "Ocean Utopia" is the dream come true of Valerie Goutard, known by her artist name Val, an energetic 40-something sculptor already well-known across Asia and beyond for her lanky, faceless and yet deeply seductive bronze characters strolling the world as if in a perpetual quest for meaning.
No rhyme, no reason
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 02/05/2016
» There's a beautiful piece of prose in a Thai poem that reads: "Kavee rue lang laeng Siam" -- (Siam never runs out of poets). Composed over 120 years ago by Prince Paramanuchit Chinoros, the verse is part of Samuta Koj Kam Chan, and it describes the golden age of Thai literary culture, in which poetry was ingrained as part of people's speech. It was a time when rhyme and stanza were infused in normal dialogue. Men wrote poems, or sang them for courtship.
Historical hot spot
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 02/05/2016
» This planet is comprised of hundreds of countries, few of which university graduates can name or their professors find on the map. Asked why, they'll say because they aren't important. Maybe they popped up in history, but then sank back into obscurity. Every continent has them. Poor buggers.