Features and long-form coverage of culture, travel, food, and tradition
Ram, Sita, Laksmana, Hanuman and Ravana from Laos, Indonesia, India, and Thailand are about to come together in Ayutthaya – a former capital of Siam – for the International Ramayana Festival 2023. From March 30 to April 3, the International Ramayana Festival – or the “Khon Krungsri” in Thai – will return to the ancient city
Two hours south of Bangkok by car, Phetchaburi province offers everything from cultural heritage and a royal palace to sandy beaches and tasty food. Until March 26, the Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park – or “Khao Wang”– will be the centrepiece of a visit to Phetchaburi. The annual celebration if a true feast for the
The Thai capital’s historical Italian Neo-Renaissance-style Hua LamphongRailway Station has burst back into life and is now greeting visitors eager to experience a light and sound extravaganza dubbed “Unfolding Bangkok”. Being held nightly from now until 26 March, the event marks the 126th anniversary of the State Railway of Thailand with cleverly designed light and
A year after the “Spirit of Nora” was held in Venice, the exhibition has returned home to Thailand where only a few people have ever watched or caught a glimpse of this Southern performing art on the stage. The Nora traditional dance travelled to Venice, Italy, around this time last year to join the Venice
It takes as long to train to be a puppeteer at the world-famous Salzburg Marionette Theatre as it does to become a doctor. The puppets and their startlingly lifelike movements take years to master, which is why the Austrian theatre’s work has UNESCO World Heritage status. “It’s like playing an instrument. You can’t think about which
Over 1,000 people disrobed and plunged into Sydney Harbour on Sunday (March 12) as part of an annual nude swim to promote skin cancer checks. Organisers of Sydney Skinny said they were hoping to break the world record for most nude swimmers set in Ireland by 2505 women in 2018. Around 1300 people were estimated
With a funfair and plenty of festive vibes, the Mask Festival 2023 is all set to rev up the hot season in Thailand’s northeast this month. Taking place in Loei province from March 17 to 19, the international festival will not only bring together Loei’s three famous mask processions – including the iconic Phi Ta
Thailand’s love affair with its checkered cloth, the Pha Khao Ma, goes back many, many generations. This common item is now so closely intertwined with the Thai way of life, that the country believes Pha Khao Ma merits world-heritage status. Backed by a recent Cabinet resolution, the Department of Cultural Promotion has been on a
Thailand’s capital joins the rest of the world in celebrating Italian Design Day on March 9th 2023 with special showcases at three of Bangkok’s leading shopping malls. The event is the 7th edition of the Italian Design Day under the “Light on Made in Italy” theme and runs from March 7th to 16th at IconSiam,
The Thai foodie community was recently in an uproar after a website published a listicle article in which “Kaeng Som” (sour curry) was named as among the world’s top 20 worst dishes. The 12th worst dish? Many Thais found that hard to digest (the article, not the curry) and vented their disagreement on social media.
Thailand’s local talents must be “armed” if they are to take their place in the highly competitive and crowded content market. And that could well be about to happen thanks to the “Content Lab” project, which was launched last weekend by the Creative Economy Agency (CEA) in collaboration with the private sector and industry veterans
People express their individuality in many different ways, among them how they wear their hair. Some color their hair blond. Girls shave their heads. Boys grow their hair long. Some change their styles when they embark on a new chapter in life. Others opt for a unique look to show off their creative personality and carefree
