Dome Sukwong, Thailand’s hard-working film archivist and historian, recently got a promotion as director of the Film Archive Public Organization of Thailand (Fapot). Formerly chief archivist of the National Film Archive, Dome’s unit in the Fine Arts Department was elevated… Read full story >>>

A lot of my friends and followers on Twitter have been asking about my health issues since the 10th April and I want to share some experience with the Thai health system as a foreigner. After I got shot in my right arm on… Read full story >>>

Directed by Saiyon Srisawat Starring Jiranun Manochaem, Pirapan Arayapan, Tanaton Utsahagun, Sawatgon Nantaban, Prasat Tongaram, Sa-ad Piampongsan Released in Thai cinemas on June 17, 2010; rated 18+ Wise Kwai’s rating: 2/5 Poor Yaibua. The main character in Takien: The Haunted Tree ( นางตะเคียน , Nang Takien ) is … Read full story >>>

The Thai Film Archive and the Thai Film Foundation will pay tribute on Saturday to the late pioneering animator Payut Ngaokrachang (ปยุต เงากระจ่าง), who died on May 27 at age 81. Activities at the Sri Salaya Theatre in Nakhon Pathom include a screening of Payut’s first animated short, 1955’s… Read full story >>>

True Move and DTAC have both released to the Thai media brief press releases confirming their intention on selling the new iPhone 4 in Thailand. This follows the recent keynote speech about the iPhone 4 by Steve Jobs. TRUE MOVE: “ทรูมูฟ พร้อมเปิดตัว iPhone 4 ในประเทศไทย อย่างยิ่งใหญ่อีกครั้ง… Read full story >>>

The Mountain Lion ( เสือภูเขา , Sua Poo Khao ), Kom Akadej, 1979 – Before Jija Yanin, Nui Kessarin and young Kat Sasisa burst onto the Thai action-movie scene, there was Jarunee Suksawat, the action queen of Thai films in the 1970s and ’80s… Read full story >>>

Some New Mandala readers may be interested in our exchange with Nicholas Tapp (our colleage here at the ANU) over the paper we published in 2008 on the “ Specter of Eviction in Northern Thailand .” (Previous New Mandala discussion is here and here .) In brief, our paper argued “very few … Read full story >>>

The Phuket Film Festival this year has a Tribute to Khun Kom Akadej , honoring an major figure in Thai cinema history. I asked Regis at Thai World View , who chronicles classic Thai cinema, to tell me a bit more. Kom Akadej (คมน์ อรรฆเดช) … Read full story >>>

Pioneering Thai animator Payut Ngaokrachang (ปยุต เงากระจ่าง), hailed as the “Walt Disney of Thailand”, died yesterday. He was 81 years old. Payut made the first Thai animated feature, The Adventure of Sudsakorn ( สุดสาคร ), which was released in 1979. The fantasy tale is adapted from Phra Aphai Mani… Read full story >>>

The upgrade of subdistrict municipality Chantha Nimit to a town municipality was announced in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday. The announcement was signed on February 18 by Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat (บุญจง วงศ์ไตรรัตน์). The upgrade was decided in the municipal board meeting… Read full story >>>

It’s Asia Film Week at CNNGo , and with the Subhanahongsa Awards , aka the “Thai Oscars” coming up on Sunday, the travel website’s Bangkok bureau has a new list to peruse: ” The best films and greatest actors from Thai cinema .” It includes … Read full story >>>

Directed by Surasee Patham Starring Petthai Wongkumlao, Pichet Kongkarn, Fonfa Patham, Asongkai Saengtam, Panna Rittakrai, Kampanee Wongtongkam Released in Thai cinemas on January 14, 2010; rated 13+ Wise Kwai’s rating: 2/5 I’ve not had the benefit of seeing the original 1978 version of Kru Bannok . By… Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post: The GT 200 is made in Britain by a different company. It is a hand-held device and has a remote substance detector and chip cards.Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday tried to quell worries over the GT 200, saying: “We use a Read full story >>>

They say you can tell a lot about a person by their handwriting. If that’s the case, then the monk who drew this fancy script on the taxi ceiling is a perfectionist and an appreciator of beauty. The lines are exceptionally fluid and graceful and the letters and forms are extremely precise and… Read full story >>>

It looks like we may have a month or so of intensified political action as the pro-democracy UDD movement is rumoured to be widening its campaign to take in a number of targets. For example, today we can see: A … Read full story >>>

Recovered from his traumatic experience reviewing the ouevre of Sompote Sands , Todd at Die, Danger, Die, Die, Kill once again braves the grave dangers of old-time Thai cinema with a look at Insee Daeng: Insee Payong ( อินทรีแดง ตอน อินทรีผยอง ). With… Read full story >>>

Published in the Royal Gazette last Thursday was the rename of one administrative village (Muban) in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Village 1 of Tum subdistrict , Pak Thong Chai district was renamed from Ban Non Tak Daet (บ้านโนนตากแดด) to Ban Khlong Wat (บ้านคลองวัด). As the rationale for the name change, the history of the village is… Read full story >>>

One of the things Thailand and Pattaya in particular is known for is Ladyboy’s.  Also called Kathoey (or katoey) in Thai, Ladyboy’s are the third gender of Thailand.  They are transsexual males who live their lives as females. Some Pattaya Ladyboy’s are very … Read full story >>>

I’m sure if you live in the LOS or have visited for any length of time, you have heard this expression. For those of you married ,or living with a Thai lady , it is an all to common and many times … Read full story >>>

Don Pathan of The Nation has an interesting article here about the massacre at the mosque last year and recent arrests of the alleged perpetrator… Read full story >>>