Anarchists, Robots, and the Happiness Machine: An interview with painter Sawan Yawnghwe
Sawan Yawnghwe was born in 1971 deep in the jungles of Burma, surrounded by the Shan State Army which was engaged in its bitter war against the Burmese military junta. Later in life he became a painter; scaling the hallowed, and by his own admission, sometimes hollow heights of the Euro-art scene, only to end up back where he started, here in little old Chiang Mai, his childhood home. Despite his … Continued
Back to Balance
There are fish in the water and rice in the fields – inscription on an ancient Thai stone tablet For hundreds of years, this classic Thai idiom has been repeated ad inifinitum (in some cases ad nauseam) to children as they grow up. But while this tribute to the nation’s natural abundance might once have rung true, its veracity has been muddied by the passage of time. Survival in modern Thailand is … Continued
The Great Coffee Cup Incident of 2010
Two of the three cups on my desk had been there for a few days. The patterns growing in the remnants of coffee, milk and sugar were quite artistic if now somewhat aromatic. Even the ants had moved on to more tasty morsels. “Why the hell are those cups still there?” Mrs. D exclaimed. “You do nothing around here and just sit there pretending to work. It’s about bloody time you start pulling your wei … Continued
From Poverty to Powerhouse
Born into poverty in Om Koi District of Chiang Mai, Phanngan Sommana, 58, better known as Mae Pang, has turned her humble beginnings into a powerhouse of achievements and success, not only for herself, but the thousands of poor people in her community whom she has helped over the years. She is now president of the Haa Thanwa (5th December) Community’s Credit Union Co-op (which manages 20 million b … Continued
The Dawn of the Dude
I’ve always found it funny that adding the word ‘time’ to another word suddenly imparts the latter with an inflated sense of importance. At least, this is what pop culture would have us believe. For instance, when Mike Myers declared “party time!” in the movie ‘Wayne’s World’, getting wasted and listening to heavy metal was instantly transformed into a meaningful endeavour. And the Fantastic Four’ … Continued
Community Service
• Care for Dogs – Dog of the Month for May – Ernie Ernie is a very gentle, loving boy who desperately wants someone to love who is all his own. Ernie would make any family a wonderful, loyal companion though would be better suited to a family with female dogs only. He is a healthy sterilised 2-3 year old male and is ready to go! Contact Care for Dogs, English (084 752 5255) Thai (086 913 8701) or … Continued
A Retiring Attitude
Not long ago I read letters in the ‘Your Say’ section of Chiang Mai Citylife from several readers bemoaning the fact that they have not been able to find Thai people to have intelligent conversations with about any subject more interesting than what they have eaten lately. It is a common complaint. I wondered about this since I have no problem having fulfilling conversations with my Thai friends, … Continued
Your Say
[right]Your say is an open forum for you the reader to express your opinions. Write to: editor@chiangmaicitylife.com, subject: Your say. Letters can be on any subject and priority will be given to letters under 200 words.Letters may be edited for clarity or conciseness. Name and contact details must be supplied[/right] • Where are the Biblical Rains? I have heard parts of Bangkok and Pattaya being … Continued
This is Thailand
[right]For those of you with any questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, sub-cultures, dating; generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of three experts who will respond to your enquiries. Email: james@chiangmaicitylife.com.[/right] 1. I’m afraid my relationship with my wife has ended. I suspect she is cheating on me as she m … Continued
The One and Only ‘Chiang Mai Gym’
As I sat with a couple of chums enjoying a dish of exotic cigarettes freshly shipped in from Mae Sai, washed down with an amusing little vintage from the cellars of Chateau Chang, the conversation turned to the ugly subject of exercise. I was astonished to learn that a staggering 66 percent of us had actually paid to go to a place called a ‘fitness centre’ with a view to lifting heavy things and m … Continued
Bollywood Ending
If you love the fiery tang of vindaloo, the earthiness of butter chicken and the fragrant warmth of a good naan bread, you might find yourself hopelessly addicted to Chiang Mai’s newest Indian restaurant, Spicy Bollywood. Set smack in the heart of town, opposite (fittingly) Spicy nightclub, this little gem serves up arguably the best and most authentic Indian cuisine in the city. Owners Vicky and … Continued
Courting Kings
“Kinky!” enthused one of my friends when I told her I’d be sleeping with king cobras. I hadn’t thought of it in quite those terms but I had to admit – the concept of spending the night in Ban Khok Sang Nga did have a freakishly Freudian element to it. I’d stumbled across the name of this remote Isaan village (population 641) on the net: According to a handful of web reviews – mostly regurgitated – … Continued
‘To Be or Not To Be?’ LOL
The first time I saw Boy George of Culture Club singing ‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?’ (Top of the Pops, 1982, for those that are interested), I thought he was a girl. My taste in women has always been a bit strange (ducks to avoid a left hook from Mrs. D). Culture shock ensued the next day when I found out that he was a bloke. To someone whose ordinariness is the rock on which his boringness cl … Continued
Community Services
• 01 Care for Dogs – Dog of the Month for April – Max I’m small but I am also feisty! I would do well in a home where I can rule the roost. I’m a bit of a loner but love the attention of humans…just not so keen on other dogs. I’m getting on in years which doesn’t help although I am still very healthy and handsome! The slight corneal ulcers caused by dry eye mean I will need drops possibly for the … Continued
Your Say
[right][/right] [right]Your say is an open forum for you the reader to express your opinions. Write to: editor@chiangmaicitylife.com, subject: Your say. Letters can be on any subject and priority will be given to letters under 200 words.Letters may be edited for clarity or conciseness. Name and contact details must be supplied[/right] • How Can We Win when the Game is Rigged? Thanks to you and to … Continued
This is Thailand
[right]For those of you with any questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, sub-cultures, dating; generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of three experts who will respond to your enquiries. Email: james@chiangmaicitylife.com.[/right] 1. I believe that there are more than three hundred temples in Chiang Mai, which I would like … Continued
Seeing through the Haze
Towards the end of each winter here in the north of Thailand a silent and stealthy enemy arrives: a pall of pollution that smothers the city and its surrounds like a toxic blanket. It’s a foe that’s grown more menacing by the year, as dust and smoke have combined with other noxious gases to form a dangerous atmospheric cocktail. In 2007, smog reached such a critical level that northern Thailand ma … Continued
Still Got One…
The ‘Pulse’ issue…what’s new? What’s trendy? What’s Hot? What’s Not? My teenage daughter assures me that I do not fit into the first three, though am apparently quite suited to the last. I would argue that I am often in the ‘what’s hot?’ category but only in the slightly moist on a warm day kind of way. As far as a pulse is concerned, I am approaching the age where I am quite relieved to find that … Continued
The Dawn of the Dude
2. Son of a Beach I have to confess that this article was submitted to Citylife way past the official deadline. But I have a great excuse: you see, I’d accidentally de-evolved by some 100,000 years. This is what happens when you stay on a cheap Thai beach for too long: aside from growing naked and hairy and eating a treeload of fruit, your brain invariably shuts down. Of course, confronted by the … Continued
A Great Plague: K-Ferver
By 2012 the outbreak of K-Fever is expected to be of such global magnitude it is perhaps conceivable that typical British armchair addicts may be considering substituting their daily fix of Coronation Street and Eastenders in favour of an altogether different kind of soap opera: drama arguably less heady, but whose propensity for reeling in punters is undeniable. These soaps are not only abominabl … Continued
This is Thailand
For those of you with any questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, sub-cultures, dating; generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of three experts who will respond to your enquiries. Email: james@chiangmaicitylife.com. 1. I recently went to Ban Chiang, where I bought several cheap (55 baht) reproductions of the famous pottery. … Continued
Your Say
[right][/right] Your say is an open forum for you the reader to express your opinions. Write to: editor@chiangmaicitylife.com, subject: Your say. Letters can be on any subject and priority will be given to letters under 200 words.Letters may be edited for clarity or conciseness. Name and contact details must be supplied . • Love is What a delightfully presented article on Tom and Dot Delaney. Well … Continued
Community Service
• Care for Dogs – Dog of the Month for March – Grover Grover here is a cute, calm, smaller sized dog who loves attention and is a little sad at being left behind for so long at the shelter. He has been through a lot in his little life and now needs to feel the kindness of strangers. If you feel you can give his coat a brush every now and then, feed, walk and pet him daily _ you could be the one fo … Continued
A Retiring Attitude
On New Year’s Eve I was reminiscing about the passing year and I thought to myself, “Boy 2008 really went fast”. Then the ball came down and told me it was 2010. “Holy cow! What happened to 2009?” That got me to thinking about how I could slow down these quickly passing days. If all I did was to drink beer all day then my days might pass more slowly. But I have been keeping myself rather busy. So … Continued
Arty Pants
OK Chiang Mai – time for your exam question. The world of modern art is completely out of touch with reality: discuss. If I was a good student (which I never was…too much wine, women, song and other nefarious substances when I was studying), I would construct the perfectly balanced six paragraph essay to answer this question. The first would introduce the theme; the second and third would explor … Continued
Editorial
When I was at school here in Chiang Mai, I always received appalling grades in art class for my inability to colour within the lines. So it came as a startling surprise when I went to international school to find that I was top of the class in art, I was told, for my ability to think outside the lines. Odd thing, this art. To some, a portrait of His Majesty the King, a family portrait and a Mekong … Continued
Artist Abroad
Laura Spector, with her long term visual arts collaborator Chadwick Gray and her fiancé Bradley Whyte, run ArtSpace, “Chiang Mai’s part time underground performance and exhibition venue,” says Spector, “where we do fundraisers, storytelling, auctions and performances with singers, songwriters, jazz musicians as well as teach art classes, both drawing and painting.” Spector, who along with h … Continued
The Day of The Dude
If you ask most foreigners what they’re doing in Thailand, they’re likely to tell you they’re ‘on holiday’. Yet few realise that the word literally means ‘holy day’. With its roots in ancient religious history, taking a break from the world is still one of the most spiritual things one can do, even if your holiday consists only in getting sunburned, overfed, and inebriated. It’s no secret that wes … Continued
Bright Lights, Big City…and Blaring Noise
Mark your calendar right now – International Noise Awareness Day is coming April 28th. Chiang Mai will be promoting this event to the max, with speakers ramped to ear-splitting levels. Yeah, that’s how we do it here. Now in Bangkok, on the other hand, there’s a group that might be raising a little cane at the slightest whiff of sound. And who might these contrarians be? The Quiet Bangkok Group (QB … Continued
Louder than Bombs
As an addendum to William Parham’s article on noise in Thailand and its constituent annoyances and dangers, we thought we’d go in search of the noisiest places in Chiang Mai. This wasn’t a difficult task as besides receiving sack-fulls of complaints from residents who’ve gone round the bend with local din manufacturers many of the staff at Citylife work and live next to these places. Think Park’s … Continued
Art Listings
Art Space Ji-Qoo 4/2 Soi 5, Nimmanhaemin Road Tel: 053 894 250 Monthly exhibitions, makes for an exciting art venue in this gallery on three floors. 116 Art Gallery 94-120 Charoen Muang Road Tel: 053 302 111 The 116 Art Gallery is set in the 75-year-old Anusarn building and contains works in a huge variety of art mediums ranging from acrylic and oil paint, to graphite, pen and watercolour. Thai an … Continued
Community Service
• 01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, February 9: ‘Stop Global Warming – New Strategies’ – A talk by Michael Tuckson. For more information please call 053 117 319. • 02 Care for Dogs – Dog of the Month – Zoe Zoe was living at Chiang Mai University when we picked her up. She was pregnant and has subsequently had 3 beautiful healthy pups. She is a lovely, calm girl in need of a loving home fore … Continued
A Retring Attitude
For those of you thinking of setting up a modern communications system, here are some of the options you have for staying in touch with the goings on back home and for keeping connected. Cell phones Go to any shopping mall and you will find dozens of cell phone shops. Simply buy a phone and then buy a card with minutes. Satellite TV If you occasionally need a TV fix then you have the option of sat … Continued
This is Thailand
For those of you with any questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, sub-cultures, dating; generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of three experts who will respond to your enquiries. Email: james@chiangmaicitylife.com. 1. What is the chief occupation of the Thais? Hugh: I am told, agriculture 38.9%,For those of you with … Continued