YANGON – The exodus of Rohingya migrants, alongside Bangladeshi economic migrants, has attracted international attention in recent weeks after several thousands were left stranded at sea in the middle of their journey with limited food […]
Indebted Thais could worsen growth slump
BANGKOK – Thai households are falling ever deeper into debt, bringing warnings of a growth slump in mainland Southeast Asia’s largest economy. A typical weekday evening for first-jobber Thanakarn is spent in one of central Bangkok’s […]
Old VS New at Thailand’s Songkran Festival
BANGKOK – Thai New Year has become a three-day, water soaked street party, much to the chagrin of those who would prefer a return to the holiday’s quieter religious and familial traditions. Warm, wet and wild […]
Thais’ poor English could dim job prospects
PHUKET, Thailand – When Southeast Asia introduces a common economic market in December 2015, job seekers throughout the region will face more competition, with English-language skills in higher demand. At a luxurious resort in southern Thailand, Boblyn […]
Holi: Social Unity Hindered by Inequality
MATHURA/VRINDAVAN, India – Coloured powders exploded in the air as people threw them at one another. Boisterous crowds pelted each other with wet paint and coloured water. On Friday (March 6, 2015), India celebrated Holi, also known as […]
Thailand’s Superficial Gay-Friendly Image
BANGKOK – Despite its gay-friendly image, conservative and Buddhist-majority Thailand is not always a welcoming place for the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. In the lively Silom district of central Bangkok, customers pile […]
2014: Thailand Year in Review
BANGKOK – From political protests and a military coup to surrogate baby scandals and a brutal island murder, 2014 is an eventful year for Thailand. It is the year of chaos and crisis with many incidents that brought international […]
