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English Learning in Thailand: The simple fact that no one seems to get

There have been a number of articles recently in Thailand’s two main English language newspapers regarding the state of English learning in Thailand. To summarise the state of affairs: successive education ministers in Thailand have entered office and set out new programmes to improve the standard of English learning in state schools and, because they have all failed to improve standards and as Thailand continues to fall behind other nations in Asia and South-East Asia, the government has now turned to Cambridge University in England to design a learning programme to solve the problem.

Design Ideas: Nichapha Jewvaganont

Design Ideas by Nichapha Jewvaganont (Kamm), PR executive of Studio Mango Co., Ltd.

Calling Salmon Lovers

Japanese food is IN right now, with more and more opening up at all price ranges, in all sorts of locales and serving a variety of dishes. This month we focus on salmon. If you too love salmon, then here are some of the best deals around.

Apocalypse Chiang Mai

Last month you, like me, probably had your eyes glued to the night sky in anticipation of the promised meteor showers over Chiang Mai. Yet however marvellous lumps of superheated celestial rock skipping across the earth’s atmosphere may appear against the eternal blackness, this phenomenon is not without its very real danger. I am not talking about a lump of incandescent falling star bouncing off one’s bonce, though one can never be too careful.

Flames and Flowers with Nick Anderson

There are more than 1,000 species of orchids that bloom across Thailand, sometimes in the most unexpected of places. Typically, orchids can be found clutching the trunk of a tree while drawing nourishment from rain water trickling through the topography of its bark. Other species can be discovered blossoming in the darkest pockets of shade on a forest floor, or in the coolest, mistyclouds of Doi Inthanon’s highest peak.

Rasmee’s Isaan Soul

Warm arms embraced a young Rasmee as she listened to the deep vibrations coming from her father’s chest every night, slowly sending her to sleep. The lyrics of ancient Morlum lullabies and traditional Cambodian melodies captivated a young Rasmee, filling her dreams of the future with blurry images of music, fame, performance and soul. Thirty years on, there is something special happening in Chiang Mai, attracting ears from across the globe. A unique fusion of traditional melodies; Africa and Asia, morlum and soul. This is Rasmee, and this is her Isaan soul.

A Special Treat at Phuket’s Classic Amanpuri

This was supposed to be a travel story about Phuket’s Surin Beach, but the minute I checked into the exquisite Amanpuri I knew that I wasn’t going to leave until the last call from the limo to return to the airport. Having won just about every single award and accolade in the industry over its nearly thirty years, the Amanpuri is the grand dame of Thailand’s resorts and the first and flagship hotel in the Amanresorts brand.

Editorial: January 2016

I joined my family in Bangkok a few days ago to celebrate my grandfather’s 100th birthday; a bloody good innings, even if he has been bedbound for the past few years.

Lay Your Hat

ZZZZZZ… sleep easy with loads of new and exciting places to lay your hat and call home in the city.

TEDx Asks if You Dare

For all those who don’t know, TEDx is and international creativity and ideas forum which invites guest speakers to explore a vast range of topics — sciences, philosophies, cultures, religions, politics and anything else you could imagine. This year TEDx will be held here in Chiang Mai on the 30th January 2016, locals and visitors attending the event will be asked to “Dare To…”

Fresh (re)Start

New beginnings can be exciting as you can see from these three super successful businesses which do not sit on their laurels, but have, for various reasons begun anew or are trying something new.

Some Hip Hop & Soul from a Good Soul

Here in Chiang Mai you meet a lot of interesting people. If you’ve lived here for any period of time you know that Chiang Mai attracts a certain kind of person. If you’re like me, you’ve meet some folks who you meet once and then they disappear like ships passing in the night. Others, however, make an impression and help make Chiang Mai an even more enjoyable place to live. I recently met this cat whom, from the moment I was introduced, made me ask two simple questions; who is this dude and when can we hang?

A Roof and No Walls

Imagine a building with no walls, no beams, no columns, and no joints. Just a ceiling, that connects with the floor. A floor that is permanent but a building that is moveable. A building that is incredibly cheap and easily replicated. One that uses recycled and local resources. And one that inspires.

Glorious Food

Citylife sacrifices our waistlines to check out some exciting new cuisines to titillate your palates.

More From Citylife

Serow sighting signals healthy ecosystem on Doi Luang Chiang Dao

Fri 4th Jul

The Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in Chiang Dao District, has released a video showing a young serow foraging near the cliff edge on the summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao. The footage was captured by a patrol team during a routine quality patrol this morning. Such sightings are rare, as serows are extremely cautious and elusive animals. Pornnarin Khumthong, head of the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, … Continued

Four Rottweilers found shot and abandoned 

Thu 3rd Jul

On 28th June, a Buddhist monk, Phrakru Aod of Wat Chedi Luang, along with an animal welfare volunteer from the ARK Foundation rescued four abandoned Rottweilers found in the forest in the Mae Kam Pong village. The dogs were found in rain-soaked, starving condition and some of which suffered from deep wounds and severely maggot infections that required urgent medical treatment. The rescue team fed … Continued

Hylife Group launches two international innovation platforms

Thu 3rd Jul

Hylife Group launches two international innovation platforms “Hylife Hackathon 2025” and “Hylife Innovation Excellence Awards 2025” to drive Chiang Mai towards becoming a city of innovation, offering over seven million baht in prizes and investment opportunities. Hylife Group officially launches two major international innovation competitions of the year: “Hylife Hackathon 2025” and “Hylife Innova … Continued

Dangerous steroid-laden ‘herbal’ meds being sold across North

Wed 2nd Jul

The Public Health Office has issued a warning against a spread of so called herbal medicine which has been recently sold by vendors at funerals, temple fairs and across rural villagers across Chiang Mai and beyond.  Upon receiving a report of this, the Public Health Office tested the medicine and found them to be heavy with steroids and other harmful properties.  They warn that elderly people may … Continued

70 baht guesthouse hasn’t put up price in 14 years

Wed 2nd Jul

Jay Guesthouse and Restaurant has been around, housing and feeding backpackers on the cheap since it opened 14 years ago.  Its owner says that she charges 70 baht for a shared room with bunk beds, 130 baht for a small single room and 190 baht for a large single room. During the high season she ups the prices by 10-20 baht. “My clients come back again and again over the years, and I want them to ha … Continued

อาหารจีนต้นตำรับจากเฉิงตู ที่ไม่ต้องไปเยือนถึงถิ่น ก็อิ่มฟินได้กับรสชาติต้นกำเนิด

อาหารจีนไม่ใช่แค่เรื่องของรสชาติ แต่เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของวิถีชีวิตและวัฒนธรรม และร้านอาหารหลงเฉิน จะพาเราไปทำความรู้จักและใกล้ชิดกับอาหารจีนมากยิ่งขึ้น

Parts of Chiang Rai heavily flooded

Fri 27th Jun

The flooding situation in Chiang Rai is still serious in many areas, following heavy rains this week. Non-stop rainfall in parts of Chiang Rai has caused heavy flooding in Phaya Mangrai, Chiang Saen, Wieng Chai, Wieng Chiang Rung, Chiang Khong and Toeng districts with over 4,000 households being flooded and affected.

Ancient ritual resurrected to bless locals and appease spirits of sacred spring

Fri 27th Jun

Local residents, together with lecturers and students from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL), joined in a merit-making ceremony to pay respects to the sacred forces believed to inhabit the Tarn Nam Wiang Jed Lin (the sacred spring of Wiang Jed Lin). This spring is located in the heart of Wiang Jed Lin, a prehistoric Lanna city situated at … Continued

Chiang Mai University ranked 40th in the world for climate action in the Impact Rankings 2025

Fri 27th Jun

Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), announced that Times Higher Education (THE), a leading global university ranking agency, had released the THE Impact Rankings 2025, which evaluate universities based on their efforts to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, 2,526 i … Continued

300 come to demand Prime Minister resign at Three Kings Monument

Fri 27th Jun

On Thursday 26th of June evening, around 300 protesters, carrying jaunty and nationalistic signs, gathered at the Three Kings Monument to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Under the banner of, “Together we love Thailand”, the protesters carried Thai flags, and signs, while singing the national anthem as well as other rousing national songs.  Organised by the “Thai pe … Continued

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