“Creativity is inherent,” Alun Cooper, Prem Tinsulanonda International School’s (Prem) Head of School said, quoting education and creative expert Sir Ken Robinson, whose views Cooper admires.

The Holiday Inn Chiang Mai is our city’s largest hotel which has long been a popular destination for local foodies who go for the sumptuous and very generous Sunday brunches, decadent barbeques on the balcony overlooking the Ping River and a refreshing drink or two in the lobby bar.

The inevitability of being poisoned is even more apparent these days with harmful chemicals in our food, micro plastic particles in our drinks and the massive smoke problem that plagues Chiang Mai every burning season.

Tone yourself at a modern gym with all the bells and whistles before heading to a tailor and get a fancy new wardrobe or quirky new haircut to go with that new summer bod.

We all love a light lunch followed by a sweet cake or two on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and where better to settle down for a lazy afternoon than in one of these hidden hangouts.

Citylife Chiang Mai and The Nation organised this year’s northern region’s contest for the 13th Junior Dublin Literary Awards for Thailand, with an essay subject ‘Moving Forward’ that inspired and captivated many amazing writers between the ages 14-18.

Three great eateries, each with its own loyal following, have recently opened new branches and we couldn’t wait to check them out.

As we enter into the hottest months here in Chiang Mai, everyone is looking for a way to escape the heat. If you find yourself desperate for a cool-down, check out these spots for some refreshing dips, thrills, and nature escapes.

It had been many years since my last visit to south and I couldn’t have been more excited when the provincial offices of the Tourism and Sports Ministry invited well over 100 members of the national press and travel agents to visit Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattalung, though we will save the excitement of the two last destinations for next month’s magazine.

As the smoke and haze thickens, Chiang Mai’s citizens are beginning to voice concerns, anger and frustrations over what little is being done to alleviate this annual crisis.

Reluctantly giving the new venue a chance, I had to admit that the drinks were pretty special, the setting rather cool and the many fusion dishes quite fascinating. I finally became a fan and today it’s one of my neighbourhood go-to destinations to meet friends for a few drinks and a nosh.

It all started on the Saturday night at Jai Thep Festival, when a mini flash mob of half a dozen people stormed the main stage dressed in luminous ‘80s outfits, and began to dance. The sounds of Bowie echoed across the crowds as a man dressed in tight purple leggings with glitter all over his face introduced himself as ‘80s aerobics superstar, Tyrone, before inviting us to join in.

Renowned for their emphasis on narrative over novelty, Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf gamebooks combined the best elements of phenomenally popular gamebook contemporaries Fighting Fantasy with the epic campaign-style approach of role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons to present what stands as arguably the most original, influential and enduring fantasy gamebook series.