The Story of Rain Part One: The Absent Storm
If you haven’t noticed, it’s not rained much this year. A small pitter-patter here, an odd downpour there; and according to reports, government statements and national statistics, Thailand’s 2015 has seen the worst drought crisis and driest rainy season in two decades.
The Adventures of Tom: Drink, Drugs, Driving
We may not be getting the rain, but Chiang Mai is thronging with tourists at the moment. I like the tourists being here. Some of them sit down and talk to me. I like them because they are not jaded like me and mostly incredibly excited about the adventures they are having and the escapades ahead of them. I apologise to anyone who would prefer the epithet ‘traveller’, but frankly your hair is far too soft, shiny and well cared for.
No Motor, No Cry
The Chang Puak bicycle shop is not a busy place. Most of owner Pakin Buranapanich’s customers stop by to rent one of the scooters he keeps in his garage while Niwat, the shop’s mechanic, fine tunes the bicycle inventory. A cluster of vintage bicycles I spotted in the back of the shop motivated me to emerge from the suffocating traffic of Chang Puak road one evening, and Pakin instantly jumped to his feet.
On Exoplanets, Binary Stars and Super Earths with NARIT
Living in a relatively large city, with its lamp oil burning pretty much round the clock, Chiang Mai’s night sky is not commonly decorated with any expanse of celestial objects. Light and air pollution often bask the night in a peculiar orange glow, drowning out any cosmic light that those in rural areas can appreciate on a nightly basis. On the night of June 30th however, a certain cosmic duo performed a dance that took very little effort to observe even with the naked eye.
Mending not Spending
The Guardian named us the “Lost Generation”, the Bangkok Post: “Gen Me”. We are the new generation that has rocketed the consumption rates to a previously unheard of level. Though I have never really considered myself a proponent of the consumerist world, in all honesty, I also can’t be excused from being a part of disposable culture. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to give us all the blame.
Kamin’s Collection of Spirit
Kamin Lertchaiprasert is making a bowl in his art studio. He has made dozens before, the same as this one. When he finishes he will place it to dry with the others and make another, and after that, another one. As he smooths its edge with a wooden rib while rotating the tiny pottery wheel, lost in the repetitive task, Kamin conducts more of what he calls research.
Organic Markets
Rainfall and sunshine grow a lot of things that do a body good, and Chiang Mai is home to many people that know how to grow them just right. Brought to you by love, care and diligence, are these seven toxic-free organic markets that offer you all of the good stuff, with none of the bad.
New Tastes of Coffee
Chiang Mai’s plethora of coffee shops is almost impossible to exhaust, and even harder to choose a favourite from. Explore the forever growing coffee scene by popping into one, or all, of these local caffeine connoisseurs for a delicious cup of joe paired with homemade baked goods and an atmosphere that will keep you coming back.