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.

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.

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.

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 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.

As a member of the traditional (read: old) media, we at Citylife view new media with respect, awe, a smidgen of scorn, and more than a few hues of envy. The sheer reach of new media is a threat to our very existence.

All that glitters is definitely good, if you are a fan of jewellery that is. Feeling in the mood to spoil yourself, or even better, someone else? Check out these great shops.

Got some friends coming into town? Not quite sure you can handle them underfoot for more than a few nights? Well here are a few options to put your family and friends up, so you can have your house back to yourself after a long day!

Freaky in the intriguing sense, these places serve up food in unique styles and invent curious new dishes to get fusion food fans excited.

Plastic here, garbage there – what to do with all the trash? Good to know that Chiang Mai has some innovative and green thinkers that might just make the best things since sliced bread. Have a look at these 7 shops that turn waste into useful and charming products.

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.

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.