Music Box: May 2013
Starting with The Polyphonic Spree, there was an early 2000s trend of American indie rock bands with more members than could fit on a stage. These so-called ‘collectives’ of often 20-plus musicians and singers seemed to use their size as more of a gimmick than an actual benefit to the group’s sound.
The Life of Wine
You, like me, have probably had cause to mutter recently: ‘Christ it’s filthy hot in Chiang Mai’, while coughing up a lung or two and wondering if a trip to the optometrist might be in order because you can’t see quite as well as you used to. Because most of us feel like we have a permanent hangover in this dirty heat, I have decided that this month we should take a brief look at wines with slightly less alcohol in them.
Your Say: May 2013
• Conflicting Criticisms I have to say I agree with some of the remarks made by Terry Reardon in February’s Citylife, although not his solutions. Your content seems to have lost its way, the articles headlined having little to do with Chiang Mai; they have become the sort of anodyne pieces that can be found in any magazine Please focus on Chiang Mai, there are enough local problems and contentio … Continued
City Talk: May 2013
01 Anan, 49, Writer, Thai The temporary street art performed at Three Kings Monument last year. There were 3D paintings and it surprised me because I’d never seen something like that before. I didn’t even know it was possible! 02 Zhang Yan, 23, Student, Chinese Lost in Thailand, because the film shows the different sides of Thailand in a funny way, such as the traditional customs, foods and landsc … Continued
Keeping the Faith
In spite of being named after a Buddhist temple, Chiang Mai’s Wat Gate area is, surprisingly, home to a thriving Muslim community. Walking around, you pass by men in white caps and women in flowing headscarves. There is the green and white mosque audible by its haunting daily calls to prayer and visible by the high dome topped by a minaret.
Rebecca Weldon on the Cultural Evolution of Chiang Rai
“When I first moved to Chiang Rai in the early 80s, the city’s cultural events consisted of parades blaring international and Thai pop tunes carrying along beauty queens in white tulle western style dresses on foam and plastic floats,” recalls Rebecca Weldon of her early years in the northern city.
Clients’s Spot
Oasis Spa Baan Saen Doi Heaven is a place on earth, and it can be found at Oasis Spa Baan Saen Doi, the renowned spa chain’s latest Chiang Mai locale. From the moment you enter the property, a teakwood palace ripe with Lanna flavour and surrounded by lush gardens, trickling fountains and mountain views, you’ll feel the worries and stresses of daily life fall away. Tucked away in a quiet, tree-line … Continued
Forget the Furby, Pass the Prints!
Amidst the ancient temples and modern souvenir stalls, Chiang Mai is a city on the rise, growing ripe with youthful culture and a broad mix of people coming here to travel and live. Walking down any given street you’ll see a hodgepodge of fashion choices, from backpackers wearing the ubiquitous printed harem pants and Chang singlets (come on guys, it’s not a uniform!) to local teens sporting the latest version of anime character Arale’s winged trucker hat, to chic young co-eds in gauzy tops and patterned leggings (regardless of temperature). While diverse and interesting, the city’s fashion palette does show a preponderance of trends, with various pockets of culture looking as though they all called each other the night before to coordinate their outfits.
Milk Bag Magic
Every afternoon for six months, I heard the same thing from twenty four tiny faces punctuated with shiny black eyes, whining in unison: “Teachuuuuur.” It was like a mantra, delivered in a way that only Prathom Four students can really get away with – dorable and, as a result, terribly, terribly manipulative. “Teacher…gin nom?” Milk. They wanted to drink milk during class, just like they did eve … Continued
Shoot Cameras, Not Guns
Diana Sabreen originally came to Thailand to rock climb. A professional photographer living in Colorado, USA, she was invited by some friends to join in a kind of working holiday to take some photos, enjoy a good workout and relax amidst the country’s famous mountain vistas. The trip was ultimately cancelled, but Diana decided she still wanted to take the journey to Thailand by herself. This was about seven years ago.
Editorial: May 2013
She was wailing, sobbing uncontrollably, her face twisted in despair. My heart went out to her. I didn’t know her from Eve, but this well dressed woman in her mid twenties, very pretty under the streaked mascara and smeared lipstick, was blubbering inconsolably about her loss. We passersby were looking on with great concern. She had obviously just lost someone. “But what am I going to do without mun? (Mun in Thai is anything from a very close ‘she’ or a ‘he’ to a mere ‘it’.) Mun has been with me for years. I don’t know where to start,” she moaned to the increasing distress of a gathering crowd.