Sitting in front of the TV isn’t going to keep young children happy for too long, nor is it going to help their development. But playing outdoors in Bangkok isn’t an option for many children either, with a severe lack of wide open space. What’s the solution? Taking your child to one of the many…
Read moreA moment to relax, Thai-style
The small wooden boat bobs around precariously as the three of us clamour aboard. The engine is revved, we each sit back on our little flat bench and we’re off, exploring the narrow khlongs of Samut Songkhram in search of the resident fireflies. It’s a full moon, so the night sky is naturally bright, and…
Read moreCha cha your way to health
Latin dancing has taken Thailand by storm over the last few years, and although the trend has slowed, there is now an entrenched dancing scene in town. Before you dust off your dancing shoes and join in, however, you might like to find out about what the style of dancing is, where some of the…
Read moreThe oral contraceptive pill
Oral contraceptives, known commonly as "the pill", have been available in Thailand since the 1960s, and have long been the most popular contraceptive due to their availability – unlike in many other countries it can be bought over-the-counter – and low cost. In addition, when taken correctly, the pill is 99 per cent effective. "The…
Read moreGetting your child in tune
Every parent wants to give their child an edge in life – the question is, of course, how? Attending music appreciation classes from a young age, and learning an instrument from the right age, can be one way of helping your child’s development and also enhancing their enjoyment of music right throughout their lives. Many…
Read moreAromatherapy massage: Your nose knows
It may have been popular thousands of years ago – Cleopatra, the last of the ancient Egyptian queens was a famous devotee of it – but aromatherapy has only recently enjoyed a resurgence around the globe. In Thailand, aromatherapy massage in particular has become a standard offered by spas to customers seeking a reduction in…
Read moreBlokey but brilliant
Snatch This is a bloke’s film through and through, but if you can get past the tired old fact that no decent role goes to a woman, this is a sharp piece of film-making that will leave you gasping for breath. Strike two is the fact that Snatch is unashamedly a recycled version of Lock,…
Read moreDoin’ the time warp
What Women Want What Women Want is premised on two flawed assumptions. Firstly, that women don’t already tell men what they want. And secondly, that men aren’t already listening. By managing to insult the intelligence of both sexes early on, it doesn’t give itself much of a chance. Mel Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a proudly…
Read moreLove (of dancing) in the time of striking
Billy Elliot The underdog overcoming great adversity, David cutting Goliath down to size, the weakling showing courageous strength – great films are made when they celebrate such victories (Erin Brokovich, Muriel’s Wedding, The Full Monty), but many a weak film has failed when it hasn’t done justice to or has over-sentimentalized these wins. Billy Elliot,…
Read moreKorean thriller, Hollywood style
Shiri A blockbuster in the best (or worst) of Hollywood traditions, Shiri is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of style, intrigue and explosions. While the plot is at best erratic and at worst occasionally indecipherable, there are enough solid scenes and emotional drama to maintain a momentum of tension and air of mystery. The film…
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