A visit to Nakorn Sawan and Phichit
The drive to Bangkok can be tedious if done in a day. But if you take your time, there are wonderful attractions along the way which could easily turn a one day drive to a full on road trip. You can visit exquisite waterfalls in southern Lampang, UNESCO-stamped ancient ruins in Kamphaeng Phet, Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai or Ayutthaya, the wild and wacky monkey-mad Lopburi, and hundreds of natural and man-made wonders along the way.
Editorial: May 2017
Like most Thais, I’ve had some of the best food I’ve ever eaten off the streets. Admittedly, while standards of hygiene have greatly improved in recent years, they aren’t always where they should be. However, the occasional upset is hardly a deterrent to any self-respecting Thai.
A Day at Chiang Mai’s Space Crazy Water Park
Tube Trek is officially open, with views from atop lofty water flumes overlooking the beautiful green suburbs of Sankamphaeng. The galaxy themed waterpark covers over 48,000 square metres, that’s almost 30 rai of pure wet and wild fun to be had by all the family. Citylife gained special access to Chiang Mai’s newest and biggest theme park and spent a day splashing in cool and joyous fun to bring you this report.
Be Inspired at the 3rd Northern Digital Expo
The great leaps in digital technology can be utterly bewildering to the average person, as we grapple to keep up with latest devices, trends, gadgets and their seemingly endless possibilities. Wares, both soft and hard, may be simpler to use, but for many, difficult to master and command. Social and new media may feed us, but they also consume us, as we struggle to keep up.
Where are all the Dinosaurs?
For the three glorious days that were Songkran last month everything was right, happy, and just as it should be in my little world. But now it’s back to the reality of watching a bunch of ‘dinosaurs’ strip away all the progress made with human rights, the environment, education, immigration, you name it.
One Sleep Closer to Home: Housing For Chiang Mai’s Homeless
Thailand’s homeless community is incredibly small compared to the rest of the world. According to the Issarachon Foundation, just 3,311 people were homeless in Thailand in 2015, which works out as just 0.005% of the population. To put it into comparison, the UK (which has a similar population to Thailand) has over 250,000 homeless people according to the charity Shelter, making up 0.4% of their entire population. America has double that.
Architects of Interaction: The Visionaries Behind Two of Chiang Mai’s Innovative Community Spaces
Beyond the walls of the Old City far from the usual bars and clubs where many Chiang Mai residents find their nocturnal weekend entertainment, a new social space began filling up by 8pm. In an unlikely location — a warehouse tucked behind a Nissan dealership — the city’s hippest tastemakers flocked to take part in a new kind of nightlife.
Integrative Medicine at Absolute Health
At Absolute Health Integrative Medicine Chiang Mai, doctors and medical staff strive to allow all of their patients to achieve optimal levels of health and longevity, and to lead active, dynamic lifestyles. The clinic offers patients various detoxing, anti-aging and immune support therapies that are based on the principles of Integrative Medicine. This integrative medicine approach to patient health means addressing the wellbeing of clients from not just one, but many types of care, going beyond merely addressing symptoms, to working to support an individuals’ overall wellbeing. Absolute Health espouses a vision of healthcare that is holistic and comprehensive, caring for the full range of patients’ needs in a bright, state-of-the-art, modern setting.
What is Lanna? How Lanna became the identity and brand it is today
What do you think of when you hear the word Lanna? It’s likely the knowledge that you are living in the Kingdom of Lanna, founded by King Mungrai 720 years ago. You probably think of TAT posters of pretty northern girls wearing colourful tube skirts, or pasin, holding hand-painted mulberry paper umbrellas. Your mind likely goes to the rich culture and traditions of yi peng and other local ceremonies, of the lilting northern dialect, of charming old wooden houses and whitewashed temples and of the unique food which rivals many world cuisines. It’s also probably pretty clear to you that the people of the north don’t share its history, culture, traditions or even language with its Siamese brothers and sisters to the south. If so, you would have more knowledge about Lanna than just about anyone here did half a century ago.
Our Book Culture’s Bright Future
Walking into Chiang Mai’s oldest bookshop, Suriwong Book Centre, on Sridonchai Road, you’ll find a spacious, modern building, brightly lit and filled with rows upon rows of books and stationery. Suriwong Book Centre has come a long way from its beginnings; what began in 1955 as a small bookshop in the basement of the Suriwong Cinema, it has now become one of the largest bookstores in Chiang Mai. Trasvin Jittidecharak, publisher of Silkworm Press whose mother founded Suriwong, recalls her early years in her family’s shop: “Growing up in a bookstore was a blessing. Have you ever read The Neverending Story by Michael Ende? It’s that experience. It’s a place to find an answer. It used to be the place you go to satisfy your curiosity. Now, information is at your fingertips. Groceries will be delivered by drones. You would wonder whether a bookstore has any role in our lives at all, but isn’t Amazon just bringing back brick-and-mortar bookstores? Who knows?”