Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 10, 2019 • 5 min read

Laos Cave fossils shed light on the world of 80,000 years ago

By Uffe Wilken • Jan 10, 2019
At 80,000 years old, some human fossils found in a cave in northeastern Laos are the oldest known remains of modern humans in mainland Southeast Asia. Together with fossils from animals, they give us a snapshot of life in this part of the world millennia ago

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 09, 2019 • 7 min read

Rags2Riches How one design and fashion house transformed a Filipino community

By Janelle Retka • Jan 09, 2019
The Filipino community of Payatas has long been one of the country’s most famous urban poor centres and a focal point for short-term poverty outreach programmes. The local company Rags2Riches launched to expand upon the rich talent of local artisans, creating an international brand of handcrafted fashion accessories expected to bring in a quarter of a million dollars in sales this year

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 08, 2019 • 4 min read

Naga Earth Turning Temple Town green through 'upcycling'

By Lily Hess • Jan 08, 2019
A social enterprise in Siem Reap is coming up with innovative solutions to the ever-accumulating wastes at the tourism hot spot of Siem Reap. It “upcycles” refuse into biofuel, soap and durable goods

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 08, 2019 • 2 min read

Top 5 Southeast Asia's favourite noodle soups

By Southeast Asia Globe Editorial • Jan 08, 2019
From Cambodia’s kuy teav to Indonesia’s soto ayam, Southeast Asia Globe tucks into the region’s favourite noodle soups

Southeast Asia • Jan 08, 2019 • 4 min read
Leeroy Thornhill

The Prodigy’s former DJ rocks Phnom Penh’s electronic underground

When the Prodigy’s legendary album The Fat of the Land dropped in 1997, it marked a rock-oriented departure for the hardcore dance/industrial band as well as the exit of the group’s DJ and keyboardist, Leeroy Thornhill, who went on to a wildly successful solo and DJ career. Thornhill was in the Prodigy’s original lineup, helping it to pioneer the big beat sound that ruled electronic music in the 1990s along with the likes of Fatboy Slim and the Chemical Brothers. Thornhill, 50, has recorded solo under the names Longman and Flightcrank, and is in demand as a DJ all over the world. Southeast Asia Globe catches up with Thornhill ahead of his upcoming appearance in Phnom Penh, where he said a healthy electronic music scene has long been simmering
By Tom O’Connell • Jan 08, 2019

Southeast Asia • Jan 07, 2019 • 3 min read
'Stop judging us'

Kokopon founder on female entrepreneurs in Cambodia

In Cambodia, e-commerce businesses are among the most popular in the startup world. As local use of mobile wallets becomes more widespread, a new startup has come onto the market to allow locals to buy online via Facebook messenger — and be connected with hundreds of coupons at the same time, making their online shopping even more appealing than travelling to the store. Southeast Asia Globe talks to Sokneang N Nodzak, the founder of freshly-launched startup Kokopon, to discuss her business idea and her experience as a female entrepreneur in Cambodia
By Robin Spiess • Jan 07, 2019

Southeast Asia • Jan 04, 2019 • 6 min read
Taxi or technology?

Ride-hailing firm Grab in hot water in Vietnam

In late December, a Vietnam court ordered the Singapore-based firm to pay a local cab company just over $200,000 for losses incurred due to competition. The decision hinged on whether Grab should be considered a taxi company, or, as it generally is, a technology company. The court ruled in favour of the local firm. Now, Grab's country head has hit back, calling the ruling "extremely unfortunate"
By Robin Spiess • Jan 04, 2019

Southeast Asia • Jan 03, 2019 • 5 min read
Indonesia

More than 4,000 dead after year of devastating disasters

Indonesia has been rocked by a series of destructive natural disasters in the past 12 months, with the death count at its highest in over a decade. But what is going wrong in the country to lead to such a staggering number of fatalities?
By Robin Spiess • Jan 03, 2019

Southeast Asia • Jan 02, 2019 • 1 min read
Southeast Asia

2018 quiz of the year

2018 was an eventful year for Southeast Asia, with three elections, a dramatic rescue that caught the world's attention and an historic summit in Singapore. But how much of it do you remember? Test your knowledge with our quiz of 2018
By Southeast Asia Globe Editorial • Jan 02, 2019

Southeast Asia • Dec 31, 2018 • 3 min read
Sustainable ecotourism

Adventure tourism in Myanmar's troubled Shan state

Myanmar’s Shan state, despite its vast size and stunning landscapes, is hardly a tourism hot spot. It’s one of the poorest parts of this nation, and many of its young people migrate to Thailand seeking work. When one Western couple noticed this migration, they started an adventure tourism company that’s also a social enterprise
By Lily Hess • Dec 31, 2018

Southeast Asia • Dec 31, 2018 • 1 min read
'It's up to the Thai people'

Noam Chomsky on Thailand’s hard road to freedom

In this video interview, Professor Noam Chomsky, marking his first time speaking exclusively on the political situation in Thailand, delves into the issue of the monarchy in Thai politics, the persistent political intervention of the Thai army, the draconian lèse-majesté law and the role of Thai youths in changing the political environment
By Pavin Chachavalpongpun • Dec 31, 2018

Southeast Asia • Dec 28, 2018 • 3 min read
Chef Bee Satongun

'To truly taste, your mind must be clear'

Chef Bee Satongun has had a remarkable year. Elit Vodka named her Best Female Chef, her “heirloom Thai cuisine” restaurant, Paste Bangkok, which she co-owns with her husband, was awarded a Michelin star and She recently opened another branch in Laos. Satongun talks with Southeast Asia Globe about the importance of taste and research when creating the perfect balance of flavours
By Lesly Lotha • Dec 28, 2018