Pornchai Sereemongkonpol
Guru section Editor
Guru section Editor
Email : pornchais@bangkokpost.co.th
(E)Special(ly) (Ironic) Days
The point of setting up holidays and special days is to celebrate or observe a cause, a thing or an event of significance. But as I scan through the 2020 calendar (to plan to use all of my days off in advance), I can't help but find that some special days in Thailand have taken an ironic turn.
Old-timey ads that can't be run today
The purpose of an advertisement is primarily to sell products but it also serves as a mirror to reflect the culture and societal values of its day. Before the bombardment of ads on YouTube and on our Facebook newsfeed, there were ads from the past that have accidentally become amusing by today's standard.
Awkward English
Did you see the posters advertising commemorative shirts for the 74th Chula–Thammasat Traditional Football Match that were posted by Chula Alumni Facebook page last week?
Honour Loy Krathong the right way
If you think I'm going to point out how ironic Loy Krathong (November 11) is, you're wrong, dear readers. But, in case you need a refresher, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever that we ask for forgiveness from the Water Goddess for using and contaminating her water by dumping beautifully decorated floating baskets (which overnight turn into garbage) on her.
Travel Struggles Thais Can Relate To
If you're fortunate enough to travel on a regular basis, you may start to pick up on little quirks that come with it. While I don't consider myself consumed by wanderlust, I would like to think that I've travelled enough to be able to share a few amusing quirks and struggles I discovered along the way. For your entertainment (and in some cases, our common commiseration), here are travel titbits Thai can relate to.
Horror stories for those with short attention spans
Halloween is rearing its scary head. To celebrate the unholy night and help you get into a spooky mood, I've compiled 13 two-sentence Thai horror stories for your entertainment and horror. Why 13? Because it's Halloween. Read them during the witching hour, if you dare. Some require knowledge of Thai culture. g
Thai Politics-English Dictionary; 2019 Edition
If you've been following my editor's note (aka my weekly attempt to be funny and relevant) you know I keep updating you on Thai politics in a way that hopefully edutaining. 'Cause you can get plenty of serious analysis from other sources already. And as an observer of Thai politics, I can't help but find that Thai politicians use unique phraseology to convey their true messages all the time.
3 Times We "Misheard" Uncle Tu
It seems like our PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is always on a self-explaining campaign for controversial statements he has made. He claimed his quotes are often misconstrued by the media. In his defence, I've provided "two" versions for each his recent quotes and let you be the judge whether we misunderstood him or not.
Outdated Views On Gender Need Updating
Despite Thailand's reputation as a country with a high number of female CEOs, now and again I'm reminded that there's still more work to be done to fix the outdated view on genders and the roles of women in Thailand. Here are some examples that would have feminists and SJW triggered.
