Dek Thai 4.0

Thai Children's Day is tomorrow and it's time to change you profile picture to when you were younger and cuter (and weren't liable to pay taxes). We here at Guru would like to celebrate this special day with some outstanding kids who have achieved unique accomplishments before they hit 18.

We forego all academic feats and robot championships Thai kids won, which of course they deserve kudos for but could simply fill a really thick book. Instead we focused on unique feats. Here's our pick of Thai kids who accomplished amazing feats (that may put some adults to shame).

You Go Girls

Dek Sorkrao is a group consisting of four girls between seven-to-10 years old. They are best known for their parody of music videos by the Korean girl group Blackpink and other famous artists as well as their lip-sync videos. Kungten, Mommaem, Som and Kwang nail all the moves and poses by the K-pop group. The comedic and creative value of their videos come from the fact that the girls perform in their everyday upcountry setting while mimicking the original artists shot for shot.

Sitthichai Rakpinit, Kungten's older brother, accidentally started the band about two years ago when he was 17. He shot videos of his sister and niece just for fun and posted them on his personal Facebook page. As the girls' popularity grew, he opened a Facebook fan page (facebook.com/deksorkrao) for the band and the rest is history.

In April last year, the girls blew up the internet when 9GAG posted a video clip of a shot-for-shot comparison of the girls performing Whistle by Blackpink to that of the original. That alone received more than 21 million views and we haven't even counted many millions more they receive on their YouTube channel. Currently, the girls enjoy huge online following obviously. Their parody version of Phu Sao Ka Lor by Lumyai Haitongkhum garnered 10 million views on YouTube and 2 million views on Facebook. Will they soon rival BNK48?

Bus Buff

As an avid bus rider, Somwasin "Golf" Udomphol took it upon himself to simplify the BMTA bus routes when he was 18. In August 2014, he received media attention because of several maps of bus routes he drew himself.

In his interview with Chao Khao Chad programme on Thai Rath TV, he recognised the importance of public busses to the city and how they can ease traffic jams as one bus can replace many cars. As for what inspired him to take action, he said tourists and locals alike are confused by out-of-date info at bus stops. After he rode these major routes himself, he compiled the maps to simplify the routes and presented them to a BMTA bus conductor in Chatuchak who later told the media about Golf's public service.

Just think what Thai society could become if we have more selfless people like Golf.

Minecraft Master

The Tourism Authority of Thailand should hire Sitthipan "Bik" Hiratanaphan, who studied Matayom 5 level at Assumption College Lampang in 2016. Why? He could be a digital ambassador for Thailand through his Minecraft creations.

Bik combined his love for gaming and his hometown by creating a replica of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Minecraft, a game that allows players to build their own worlds block by block like a virtual Lego. He wanted to promote the Lanna-style temple in hope to draw in more visitors to his home province and promote Thai culture to the world in one virtual construction. The video he published on his YouTube channel "BikMCTH" in January 2016 was well received.

He also created Minecraft replicas of HTMS Chakri Narubet (a Thai aircraft carrier in Chon Buri), his own school and a music video dedicated to Lampang's landmarks. He claimed he built the temple in Minecraft in about two-and-a-half days. Just think what he could accomplish in a month. Who says gamer kids are no good?

Paper (Plane) Boy and Broken Promises

Mong Thongdee, a Thai-born Myanmarese, was a Pratom 4 student in Chiang Mai who almost wasn't allowed to compete at a paper plane competition in Japan despite being a national champ due to his stateless status. Mong, who was 12 in 2009, wasn't eligible to travel but the then-government of Abhisit Vejjajiva issued a temporary passport so he could fly to compete in the All-Japan Origami Airplane Contest in Chiba where he won first prize in the team category and third prize in individual class. Not too shabby at all.

He returned to Thailand a national hero, even though he isn't legally Thai. Upon his return to Chiang Mai, he was showered with so many garlands and went on a parade to show off his medals to his supporters. The Minister of Science and Technology at the time wanted to appoint him as a young science ambassador and planned to support his education through a doctoral degree.

And you would think giving Mong Thai nationality is a proper reward for bringing fame to Thailand? Nope. The then-Interior Minister said granting him Thai nationality depended on many factors and must be carefully considered or else it would set a precedent for thousands of stateless people in Thailand. We guess it was just a long way of saying no.

Mong, now 20, still doesn't have Thai ID card and finished only Matayom 3 education. On a brighter note, he graduated from flying paper planes to flying drones. Today, The Radio Control Airplane Modeller Association takes care of him and Mong is sharpening his drone skills there.

Give him Thai nationality already in case he has to represent us at an international drone race in near future.

DIY Fashionista

In 2015, one-of-a-kind fashionista Apichet "Madaew" Atilattana began her rise to online fame with her unique and quirky take on fashion (we called Madaew, who prefers to be referred to as she now). Then 15-year-old student fashioned elaborate attires from ordinary items found around her house in Khon Kaen, ranging from banana leaves, to chicken cages, to durian husks.

She turned the most unlikely items like rice-steaming basket, fans and twigs into something wearable. The videos and photos of her posing and strutting quickly went viral, earning her followers in and out of Thailand. A Time article dubbed Madaew the mixmaster of fashion.

Madaew went on to launch her fashion brand KOxMA and appeared in the fifth episode of Asia's Next Top Model Cycle 4 in which contestants wore Madaew's beautiful creations. She continues to show off her unique sense of fashion via her Instagram and Facebook to a huge following. And she isn't even 20 yet.

---

Your inner kid

We're not done celebrating Thai Children's Day. Because we believe no one is too old to be a kid again, here are three places where the young ones and the young-at-heart ones can have some fun together.

VR1 — Thonglor

We know there are several VR cafes in Bangkok these days. But we still recommend VR1 — which is the first in Thailand to our best knowledge — since it has a better overall setup. At other places, you have to play next to a stranger while VR1 offer six rooms where you and your friends can blow up some zombies' heads and shriek in privacy. They have about 150 titles, ranging from kid-friendly games to something more gory and apocalyptic. Ask for the only room with a green screen to get a video clip of you playing. If not, film your friend playing with your smartphone anyway since it's bound to be hilarious. VR1 charges per room so your gang can reasonably split the cost. Order some snacks and drinks while waiting for your turn.

Noon-midnight / Aneckvanich Building, 2F, between Thong Lor 4-6 (look for Nail Salon and walk up to VR1) / 080-288-2777, facebook.com/vr1bkk / B650 for first hour per room, B550 for additional hour.

Lazgam Laser Games

Again, there are many laser tag places in Bangkok and Pattaya these days but we're going back for the Lazgam Laser Games in the Holiday Inn Sukhumvit because of their Children's Day promo. Each player puts on a sci-fi-looking vest with a gun and five sensors. These sensors are spots where you shoot at other players to gain points and also where you get hit. A sophisticated system allows players to configure games in many ways. You may think it's just kiddie stuff but actually it's quite adrenalin pumping. You need to be on the constant move in the virtual battlefield to ensure your survival and duck and shoot to gain points.

Kids and adults can enjoy all-day pass for B599 each for all-you-can-play seshes from 10am-5pm. The day pass includes lucky draw too.

Holiday Inn Sukhumvit 22, 5F / www.lazgam.com, http://facebook.com/lazgamlasergames / 02-663-7703.

Rockin'Jump

The whole family can get fit and fun together at the indoor trampoline park. Jump as much as you want for a fixed rate of B190 per hour on Jan 13. You can soar to new heights by bouncing off jump arenas, diving into seas of soft foam cubes, play a game of trampoline dodgeball or do flips and somersaults. While you're there you may want to check out the nearby CentralPlaza Rama III which has been newly renovated.

10am-8pm / 28 Ratchadaphisek-Rama 3 Road, Chong Nonsi / http://bangkok.rockinjump.com, http://facebook.com/RockinJumpTh, 02-212-0222.