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?

Terrace@999

999/5 Sukhumvit Soi 107, 086-326-8107. Open daily 5pm-1am. www.terrace999.com
Situated beside a lake and decorated with wooden decking and elegant sofas, this is probably the hippest spot in the suburb. Split into three sections (lakeside, front of stage and the VIP section which has its own karaoke section), the bar has played host to many famous bands like Endorphin and ETC.—while Klear is playing soon. However, most come here to watch the English Premiere League on a huge screen that sits out on the water.

Tum Tum

333 Sukhumvit Soi 107, Soi Bearing 58, 02-361-3461, 081-854-0889. Open daily 11am-10pm. www.tumtumbkk.com
If you love somtam then this simple spot has got you covered. Tum Tum offers a huge variety of the classic Isaan dishes from your run-of-the-mill somtam Thai (B45) to more original choices like fried somtam (B60). But they also specialize in Southern food, thanks to their Southern-born chef and they really don’t relent on the hot and spicy flavors. We also love the freshness of the ingredients: the owner grows most of the vegetables herself and she also ferments her own pu ma. There is a choice of both outdoor and indoor seating.

VT Nam Nueang

84/3 Bearing 29, Sukhumvit Soi 107, 02-399-5292, Open daily 10.30am-9pm.
Another branch of a famous Vietnamese cuisine chain from Udonthani, well known for their namnueng (sausage with greens and herbs), with its delicious dipping sauce, and fondue talay. You can get four pieces of namnueng for B100 and mhee moo (fried pork) for B90. They also do cheap steaks and pasta if Vietnamese isn’t your thing. Be warned though don’t go hungry as this place only has 30 tables and is always packed which can mean waits of up to half an hour.

Uno Restaurant

849/2 Sukhumvit Soi 107, 02-749-9886, 081-803-2570. Open daily 5pm-10.30pm.
One of the most homely Italian restaurants you could find, it’s popular with the large numbers of foreign teachers in the area as well as the occasional big name news reporters from the Nation. They are most famous for their lasagna (B200) and their ham and cheese topped Uno pizza (B120). With only 10 tables, this is an intimate and friendly spot, where the owner sometimes serves spicy soup according her mother’s recipe for free.

Pluen Pung

333 Bearing 68, Sukhumvit Soi 107, 088-323-0404. Open daily 11am-10pm.
Owned by the same person behind Tum Tum, this noodle place also has lots of fresh vegetables and quality ingredients. With only twenty tables, things are pretty basic, though you do have a choice of either outdoor or air-con seating. The menu includes both noodle and rice dishes but you should definitely try the famous best-selling kuay tiew tom yam tumlueng kai matoom (tom yam noodle soup with bitter veggies and half-boiled egg).

Lanna

750/870 Sukhumvit 170, 02-743-2966-9. Open daily 10am-9pm. www.spalanna.com
With a real emphasis on Northern-style massages this place is pretty unique for offering the original tok sen treatment (B500/90mins). This ancient Thai therapy actually makes use of a wooden stick to release your stress and muscle tension. You can also try their luk pra kob boran treatment (B600/120 mins) which combines Thai Yoga and herbal massages to restore flexibility. They also offer a full range of salon treatments including shampoo and cut. Call for an appointment.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Beyond the BTS

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