Getting started with golf in Bangkok

It’s been said that if you want to get ahead in Asian business – or politics – you can’t afford not to play golf. We can’t estimate the amount of money you won’t make if you fail to get swinging on a course, but we can give you an idea of what it costs to…

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Volunteering in Bangkok

It’s easy to get caught up in your career, working insane hours so you can buy that new car or save to head away on that exotic holiday. But sometimes it’s worth stepping back and considering whether you might gain satisfaction in other ways – by giving your time to help people in a way…

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Deregulation benefits investors

The deregulation of securities brokerage fees in October last year has led to savings for investors as competition between brokerage houses becomes fierce. ING Baring’s head of domestic sales Vichai Putthatiwat says that commissions are currently as low as they can go. "Prices are very cheap. They cannot get any cheaper." Yet others aren’t so…

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Selecting a shampoo

We’ve all sat in hair salons and smiled nervously as our stylist has suggested buying an expensive salon shampoo. We’ve thought about that Bt80 bottle of pleasant-smelling shampoo sitting at home in our shower recess and wondered, "Is the extra price for that really worth it?" Paying around Bt300 to 400 for a salon-sourced or…

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Makeup can help you save up

Buying a new lipstick or a new eyeshadow can be a great pick-me-up, but if you tend to impulse buy makeup too frequently, it can also eat into your budget. A good way to save cash while also keeping up with the latest trends in makeup is to get a complete makeover when the urge…

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Protecting your hair

Hot, polluted and humid: Bangkok is your hair’s worst nightmare. Add blowdryers, curling tongs and hot hair rollers to the equation and your hair’s going to need all the help it can get if it’s going to remain strong and healthy. Thankfully, an increasing range of protective products are now hitting the shelves – but…

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Bangkok’s commercial property market

Experts advise those looking to expand or move into premium quality Bangkok office space to move quickly. With virtually no new space coming onto the market over the next two to three years, premium office space prices are expected to modestly rise, while incentives offered to tenants will drop off. Mr Suttipan Kreemaha, associate director…

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A good Australian film

The Sum of Us "Russell Crowe and John Polson kiss. I don’t know about you, but that certainly flicks my switches," said my Australian friend, who has seen the 1995 Australian release The Sum of Us numerous times. And this is why I was surprised it was chosen to open the one-off Australian Film Festival…

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Vitamin C: Helping in the defense of your skin

Your skin will be smoother and more fresh looking; fine lines will disappear; your skin will be brighter and lighter. These are the various claims cosmetic companies make for vitamin C, and in theory the vitamin can indeed help your skin in several ways. Firstly, Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it helps neutralise…

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Meaningful and understated, but entertaining

Mifune’s Last Song The opportunity to make a new beginning in life can be alluring. Mifune’s Last Song is about making new starts; but it’s also about keeping secrets and having them eventually catch up with you. The film gently chastises its characters’ occasionally distasteful moral choices – that is, to lie – while also…

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