Beware the Brassiere
There I was, on a rainy Tuesday, indulging in perfectly innocent garage loitering beneath my apartment block when I spotted the undergarment. It was quickly apparent to my sleuth-like mind that somebody had probably dropped the garment whilst carrying washing back from the laundry and that that someone was probably a female, what with the garment being a bra. Now I’m not really sure how much bras cost, but I assume they are not cheap as they are quite intricate and probably quite fiddly to make. Unlike a sock.
The Rice Innovation Roadmap of the North
Rice is everywhere. Across the globe people consume vast quantities of rice, and Thailand is no exception. Anyone who has enjoyed the range of Thai food available on every roadside, every mall, and every home will know that rice almost always makes an appearance.
The Voices of Chiang Mai: Local Talent on the National Stage
It’s no secret to those of us who live here that this city is full of talented artist and musicians. All over Chiang Mai musicians can be seen playing music at a variety of establishments like restaurants and bars. Some of these musicians have gained fame outside of our fair city on one of Thailand’s most popular platforms: The Voice.
Spirit of Lamphun
Citylife is just as guilty as the next person in our marginalisation of Lamphun, not often featuring stories from this historic city. So, when Citylife interviewed the owner of Mickey Mouse House for our June issue, we spent a day in Lamphun and discovered more than just a few cartoon plushies. We learned that Lamphun has a deep-rooted community spirit that extends across the city, with people from all walks of life becoming proactively involved with things in their local community. Forgotten traditions have been brought back to life, museums have opened up across the area, weirs have been built and toilets have been cleaned (in spite of your raised eyebrow, this will make more sense later). Lamphun is a special place, with a very special group of people. And it is these people who embody the Spirit of Lamphun.
Thailand’s World Renown Halal Institutes
Thailand was the first country in the world to have its very own Halal Standard Institute and Halal Science Center. This impressive, but little known fact, is why for many years Thailand was one of the top five non-Muslim nations to export Halal products. Today, with the growing markets, Thailand sits at number 11 amongst global exporters, generating a significant 210 billion baht each year for the Thai economy.
Let’s Talk About Democracy Book Re:public Owner Rodjareag wins US State Department Award for Bookshop
I walk into Book Re:public, escaping the noisy road and sticky June heat in exchange for air conditioning and stark quiet that matches the neat, whitewashed paint and angular shelves against the walls. This isn’t how I expected it to look—the bookshop that is.
A Journey to China’s Pandora
As a first timer to China, I was not only excited but also intrigued. I wanted to experience the (in)famous culture for myself, sample the cuisine and listen to their music. I wanted to explore every dank alleyway and every noisy bar. I wanted to see the real China, up close and personal. I was headed to Hunan, a central province famed for its spicy food and amazing natural wonders. It was provincial, just how I like it, and needless to say, as soon as I arrived, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.
A Net Full of Idols
I was on a press trip in Satun, by invitation of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, when I met my first Net Idol. It had been a harrowing boat ride and we were finding our feet on a spectacular deserted island which promised many photo opportunities. I’d taken a few pictures and was proudly uploading them onto my Instagram and Facebook accounts when a good looking young man asked me to take a photo of him. We started chatting and I asked what publication he was from. He told me that he was a Net Idol. I had no idea what that meant, but he told me that he was invited because of his following on social media. I soon friended him on Facebook and discovered that since we had started chatting about 20 minutes previously, the photo I took of him had already generated 3,700 likes on Facebook, a mere fraction of his 80,000 Facebook and 95,500 Instagram followers. It was sobering to realise the impact of his post when compared to the dozen or so reactions I had received during the same time period. When we arrived at Koh Lipe half an hour later, stepping off our speedboat, a gaggle of girls rushed up to him for selfies. I was intrigued.