Showing 31 - 40 of 172
What chance of draining this swamp?
B Magazine, Andrew Biggs, Published on 23/06/2019
» My commiserations to that poor woman who fell into the sewer on her way to work last Tuesday.
Small things considered
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 23/06/2019
» In much the same way that eyes are said to be the window to the soul, band names give us a glimpse into the collective personality lurking behind each group. And as far as Thai band names are concerned, they can range from prosaic (Solitude Is Bliss, My Life As Ali Thomas) and whimsical (Apartment Khunpa, Charblues, Gym and Swim) to absolutely outlandish (Big Ass, Calories Blah Blah). For Sakon Nakhon-based trio Junlaholaan, names represent a curious juxtaposition where two incongruous concepts (jun, micro, and holaan, enormous) coexist to convey a deeply philosophical message. Yes, we are but a tiny speck in the universe -- the band seems to be saying -- but at the same time, a butterfly in Brazil could also cause a tornado in Texas, couldn't it?
Unknown pleasures
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 30/06/2019
» Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat said his ministry will seek to have tom yum goong (spicy prawn soup) listed by Unesco as part of the country's tangible cultural heritage. That the ministry is giving some attention to Thai food culture makes for a welcome, and somewhat surprising, change.
There's a new king in town
B Magazine, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 26/05/2019
» For the first time, the multi-award-winning Disney musical The Lion King comes to Thailand. Based on the 1994 animated film, The Lion King follows the adventures of Simba, the orphaned lion cub who seeks to avenge the death of his father and take his rightful place as the King of the Pride Lands. The spectacular show mixes themes of family, friendship, love and betrayal.
Political ties
B Magazine, Andrew Biggs, Published on 02/06/2019
» I remember my first few months in Thailand. Having fallen in love with the culture, I was determined to steep myself in it as much as I could. I learned to enjoy a hot panang curry over rice for breakfast -- what a jolt to the system after a lifetime of cornflakes and toast and, upon entering adulthood, black coffee and a cigarette.
An acquired taste
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 09/06/2019
» Pla ra (fermented fish) is a big part of Thai cuisine. Thais, like Mon, Cambodians and Vietnamese, have a long tradition of eating fermented fish. In Isan, people traditionally make their own pla ra. And when children there are old enough to eat solid food, the first thing their parents usually feed them is freshly-steamed glutinous rice dipped in pla ra.
Giddy up, boy
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 14/04/2019
» On Mitski's latest album Be The Cowboy, the cowboy image that's classically reserved for American white males is, even though for a fleeting moment, suspended and transferred to the Japanese-American singer-songwriter. According to Mitski, this is part of her mantra, "be the cowboy you wish to see in the world", a joke with herself that she uses to combat feelings of imposter syndrome. Though meant as a joke, it's a kind of joke that digs deep into the firmly rooted notions of masculinity, race and femininity.
J-pop gone rogue
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 07/04/2019
» Anyone who's been to Japan (or spent a decent amount of time on the internet) would have probably come across T-shirts with puzzling or badly translated English. Perusing CHAI's pastel-hued website gives you a similar experience except that everything actually makes sense -- "We Are New Exciting Onna (female) Band From Japan! NEO KAWAII ! COMPLEX IS ART!," its meta description announces. A click and a quick scroll down also give you an overview on the group's "NEO KAWAII" ethos, which essentially goes against any notions of the classic kawaii ("You don't need to have big eyes or have skinny legs to be KAWAII! There should be many more types of KAWAII, and everyone is KAWAII in her own way … Our insecurities make us who we are. The insecurities become art. KAWAII is a never-ending journey!").
A portal into trouble
B Magazine, Andrew Biggs, Published on 03/03/2019
» This story begins 12 months ago. I needed a new door for my bathroom, so I walked down to the end of my soi where there is a giant wood factory.
Water way to go
B Magazine, Suthon Sukphisit, Published on 03/03/2019
» There was once a time in Thailand when the population was small and the waters were full of life. Today, the country has nearly 70 million people, but the number of marine creatures is decreasing all the time. In the past, people had respect for the seas, lakes, rivers and their inhabitants. We are not so conscientious anymore. There isn't enough concern about what our activities could mean for the future.