1. Get Bilingual

Signing up for those language classes that you’ve been putting off could deter early bouts of dementia and Alzheimers’s Disease, says a study from the Neurology Journal. Another study from Penn State also found that bilinguals are better at prioritising, multi-tasking, and focusing on important things.

2. Get Literary

Packing a paperback in your bag is a better time killer than Angry Birds if your commute involves the BTS or MRT. Reading regularly increases your cognitive ability and vocabulary. If keeping up a conversation is one of your problems, try hitting the books.

3. Get Physical

Martial arts practiced in Shaolin Temples was developed by a Buddhist priest, Tamo, when he observed that his students lacked the mental stamina needed to perform basic Buddhist meditations because they weren’t exercising their bodies. Getting fit will increase your memory function and help prevent depression.

4. Get Musical

Who would have thought that strumming your guitar is actually medically proven to boost your IQ? Making melodies forces the left and right hemispheres of your brain to coordinate. It’s one of the only activities that makes you use many parts of your brain at the same time.

5. Get Nerdy

Video games are actually good for your brain health (depending on the video game). Role playing games and strategy games will give you the mental challenge that your mind needs to keep on being healthy. Though gaming is proven to increase your problem solving skills and eye-hand coordination, too much of it can actually damage your frontal lobe. Old school games are better for you, like Sudoku, Rubik’s cube, chess, and Scrabble.

6. Get Nutritious

Get your brain food by eating apples, carrots, grapes, most vegetables and nuts. USDA says that this will improve coordination, attention and memory. Also, fatten up your brain by eating fish which has essential Omega 3 fatty acids that offer your body a myriad of benefits and your brain increased focus and a decreased chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

7. Get Hydrated

All of these tricks are useless if you don’t drink enough H2O. Seventy-five percent of your brain is made up of water and if you don’t get enough of it, your brain cells will lose efficiency and impair your short-term memory function.

B4 billion

Estimated total price of Thailand’s Tablet for Every Child campaign.

B5,000

Estimated cost of a tablet to be distributed to Thai school children.

800,000

Estimated number of tablets to be distributed.

B1,500

Approximate manufacturing cost per tablet for school children in India.

B750

Approximate amount Indian students will be charged for a tablet after 50% government subsidy.

2014

Estimated year South Korea’s elementary-level education turns completely digital.

B71.9 billion

Estimated cost of tablets for school children in South Korea.

B13,900

Cost of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the most likely candidate for South Korea’s school tablets.

Sources: Bangkok Post, IBN Live, Miami Herald, MIT Technology Review, PC Mag.

Mental Breakdown

HOW TO Get Smarter

BK Asks: What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done?

Lumpini Park

There is some good riding to be had here in the company of shirtless dudes choreographing fight scenes and joggers. Yeah, the 140-acre park gets a bit crowded, but its smooth slabs of cement in the heart of the city are perfect for a quick fix.
Rama IV Road. MRT Lumpini.

Benjakiti Park

It’s a bit less crowded than Lumpini Park and has a 2 km path around a giant lake. The park is a good place for easy cruising.
Sukhumvit Rd. MRT Queen Sirikit Conventional Center, Exit 3

Rama VIII Bridge

Perfect terrain for people that like to cruise and people that like doing tricks, the Rama 8 Bridge is a skater’s secret. With DIY ramps and rails around the area, you won’t get bored because there’s always new things to skate.
Wisut Kasat Rd.

ELSEWHERE

Khao Kheow Open Zoo
When you’re feeling beat down by Bangkok’s bustle, throw your boards in the trunk and take a short road trip to this cement path winding through some rolling hills inside of a zoo.

235 Moo 7, Tambon Bang-Pra, Amphur Sriracha, Chonburi 20110

“Style and function. Personally I choose function over style, but the good thing is you can find shoes with both.”

“The ultimate skate shoe right now? Trepasso Mids from Converse [shown here] and Koston 1 Nike SB.”

1.) “Padded shoes are safer for your foot, but you sacrifice board feeling. If you get a shoe with a thinner tongue you might hurt your feet a bit more, but you’ll have more control.”
2.) “The best material is suede. It’s more grippy. I like the style of leather, but you have to wear them down before they start to get grippy.”
3.) “There should be no movement at the heel, and a tight fit on the toe so you can feel your board better.”

READ MORE:
Must-have Longboard Gear

SKATE HERE: Spots for Cruising and Tricks

SHOP HERE: Urface

Nonlanee Panthachotirat, 22, freelance photographer
To check out the beautiful, dirty-rich ABAC Bang Na Campus students.

Tid Unakornsawat, 27, graphic designer
Solely because I have to pass through that area when I take my girlfriend to Bang Pu. Is there even a mall in Bang Na?

Saengwit Kewaleewongsatorn, 32, reporter
I won’t go out there until Ikea is open. Modernform and Index don’t fulfil my D.I.Y. soul.

Theeranan Naowasate, 19, journalism student
There are a few reasons. Firstly, my girlfriend lives there. Second, I love cruising around the BITEC motor show. Not for the motors, but the pretties.

Chonlada Wachiropathum, 22, account executive
To go to the cosmetics counters at Central Bang Na because the stock doesn’t run out as fast as at Paragon.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

Beyond the BTS

Je Ngor Kitchen

1656 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 3.5, 02-3985721-2. Open daily 11am-10pm. www.jengor-seafoods.com
This place is good for a big family dine-out. The menu is mainly Chinese but there are some simple Thai dishes like fried rice. Go early because this place gets packed and the aunty who owns the place doesn’t tolerate moaning customers.

Rabieng Talay Seafood

12/709 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 5, 02-743-0306. Open daily 11am-11pm. www.rabiengta-le.com
The seafood here is all very fresh and comes lightning fast, even though the wait staff can sometimes get your order wrong. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating and the place is pretty easy to find, sitting right on the main road.

Royal Dragon Restaurant

35/222 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 1, 02-398-0037-42. Open Mon-Thu 11am-2pm and 5pm-2am, Fri-Sun 11am-2am. www.royal-dragon.com
This pricey Chinese place is expensive and so huge, its staff rush about on roller blades. There’s also a slightly camp Chinese traditional show, and karaoke making this place perfect for a multi-generational outing.

Bai Mai Rareung Karaoke

105 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 2, 02-743-6400. Open daily 11am-1am.
A good combination of trees, food and music. This place is great for large groups, and you can even get your own karaoke room.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?