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FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT IN BANGKOK
July 2012 08 INSIGHT News, letters, monthly planner, and more 24 CRIME BUSTERS Thailand’s economic cops on foreign crime 30 SCHOOL REPORT A round up of news from Bangkok’s best international schools 37 EXPAT WOMEN Feng Shui, fashion, home improvements and more 49 GOURMET A round up of all the best restaurant deals and gourmet events in Bangkok 72 FUTURE OF MUSIC Music guru Chris Craker explains the challenges facing artists in the digital age 83 WHAT’S ON Exhibitions, performance, sport, networking – we’ve got this month’s best events all wrapped up 95 SOCIAL Last month’s best events in pictures 109 DIPLOMATS Britain’s and Poland’s Ambassadors share their views of Thailand 121 MOTORING We test drive the new BMW 528i 123 TRAVEL Deals and news from Thailand’s hottest destinations
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Ban on foreign land ownership is so unfair
THAILAND’S stubborn refusal to allow foreigners to own land here is not only a potential cause of resentment, especially amongst those people from countries that do allow outsiders to acquire freehold property, but is also blocking a huge and extremely valuable source of income for the kingdom. Without the billions of dollars that foreigners invest in the US, France and UK, for example, those countries would be far less affluent, less able to raise the money needed to build infrastructure, provide essential services and even create employment. Fear of being taken over by foreigners permeates the way of life here. But there’s no reason for it. In the case of land, provided its sale is properly managed to limit size, usage and speculative intentions, the inward investment would be enormously beneficial for Thais as a whole. But as things stand now, many wealthy Thai people, including a certain former prime minister, continue to spend vast amounts of money they made in Thailand on property overseas. Unfortunately, there is precious little corresponding money coming here. Which is, quite simply, unfair.
The plight of Third Culture Kids who can’t call Thailand home
AN extremely pleasant young man in his early 20s visited the BigChilli offices recently to inquire about employment possibilities. Polite, talented and full of potential as both a writer and photographer, he should have been an ideal candidate for this magazine. Except for one thing. He is not Thai. Although he has spent most of his life here in Thailand, including more than 10 years at an international school, he is a foreigner with no automatic rights to live or work in Thailand. His parents have retired and now live back in their homeland. Despite several lengthy periods in his ‘country of origin,’ this young man felt little or no attachment to that country, nor could he relate to its way of life. Having spent his formative years in Thailand, this is his home – the place he wants to remain for at least the foreseeable future. He is, of course, a classic example of a ‘Third Culture Kid,’ a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. For many
TCKs, it’s not a nice place to be – unable to settle in one’s official birthplace, and not easily able to live and work legally in the country where they grew up and call home. It can be a painful experience. The solution, of course, is for Thailand to grant anyone who has lived here for a continuous period certain rights. This should apply equally across the board, to include maids and factory workers as well as students who consider Thailand their real home.
SOS. Our oceans are dying
IF life itself began in the waters that surround us, then we should do much, much more to look after our birthplace. The way we abuse our seas is not only truly appalling but also frightening. According to a new book, Oceans of Life by Callum Roberts, we have already lost at least 75% of the whales, sharks, dolphins and turtles; coral will almost certainly disappear by the end of this century; and massive overfishing has reduced some fish species by 95%. And we’re turning our seas into rubbish dumps – no less than eight giant permanent patches of floating plastic can be found in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. Evidence of this epidemic of flotsam is everywhere, from the shores of the USA to the beaches of Thailand. Many of the world’s rivers are in no better shape, especially in poorer countries where they are used to throwing away quite literally everything. Too much attention has been paid to dealing with global warming, a still controversial and unproven subject, while the dreadful state of our oceans and rivers is very plain to see.
About time, a crackdown on mafia gangs
THE government says it’s going to get tough with the ‘mafias’ that blight Thailand’s popular tourist destinations. Those who have suffered rip-offs by jet ski operators, overcharging by taxis and tuk-tuks, intimidation by rogue bar operators, and the unfairness of double pricing will welcome this move. But why has it taken so long for the authorities to do anything? Is it because the media has recently highlighted a number of particularly shocking cases involving foreign tourists? Is that what it takes to get some action?
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Publisher Colin Hastings colin1066@hotmail.com MANAGING Editor Adam Purcell adambigchilli@gmail.com Editor Nina Hastings ninabigchilli@gmail.com Associate Editor Narumol Trachoo aombigchilli@gmail.com Sales & Marketing Manager Rojjana Rungrattwatchai sendtorose@gmail.com Account Executive Thana Pongsaskulchoti thanabigchilli@gmail.com Accounting Manager Saranya Choeyjanya fatcatbigchilli@gmail.com Art & Production Arthawit Pundrikapa, Jaran Lakawat, Putthipong Merrigan Photography Mini Bike Gang and WJ Contributing Writers Anette Pollner, Johanna DeKoning, Maxmilian Wechsler, Paul Hewitt, Kalina Allen, Raimy Shin, Amy Slesinger
Our online handle is ‘thebigchillimagazine’. Simply type this into Facebook’s search box, find the image of our magazine, then just click add.
We are now on Twitter. Find out what’s happening around town, which events to attend, parties to be seen at, and read all the juicy gossip! Follow us at ‘TheBigChilliMag’ No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from The BigChilli Co., Ltd. The opinions and views of the writers are not necessarily the views of the publishers. All details are deemed correct at the time of print, the publisher, the editor, employees and contributors can not be held responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions that may occur. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or amend any submitted artwork, photographs, illustrations and manuscripts. The BigChilli welcomes unsolicited contributions but assumes no responsibility for the safe-keeping or return of such materials damaged or lost in transit.
The BigChilli Company Ltd., 1/7 5th Fl. Room 504, Siboonrueng Bldg. 2, Convent Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02 233 1774-6, 02 266 7141 Fax: 02 235 0174 e-mail: thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com AD Amontre_May11.indd 1
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INSIGHT INBOX
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UK PASSPORT WOES
■ HI BigChilli, I thought your readers might like to read this letter I recently sent to the British embassy regarding the problems I had after applying for a new passport in Bangkok. As you can see, I wasn’t very happy with the service at all…
Dear Sir/ Madam, I have just waited almost a month to receive my new passport which I understand, thanks to renowned British efficiency and exceptional levels of customer service, went from Thailand to Hong Kong and on to the UK, and back to Thailand. As an expatriate and someone who travels regularly, having to rearrange my travel schedule to ensure I do not have to leave the country for one month, spend time going to the bank to purchase a banker’s draft for £128 for a 32 page passport (try as I might, I couldn’t rid myself of the feeling I’d just been mugged), head to my nearest DHL office and pay for delivery to Hong Kong, and then wait for 30 days for the passport to arrive is clearly preferable to the old system of simply walking into the British Embassy in Bangkok, handing over the cash and picking up the document a few days later. In all honesty though, it is a shame to not have the opportunity to visit the embassy any more. The area has vastly improved since the government sold off its expansive gardens with century-old trees to a developer for millions and replaced it with a shopping mall. Maybe David can use the profits to buy back some of the gold that silly old Gordon sold at the wrong price. However, I digress. Just three days before my next trip, I contacted your Hong Kong office to see if there might be the tiniest chance that my passport would arrive before I had to cancel flights, hotels and meetings at great personal expense. Fortunately they got back to me promptly but with the news that I should contact DHL to reconfirm my address. Apparently I had moved. To a different town. In another province. I’d also started a business offering bespoke kitchens and appliances. According to a slip of paper sent by the British Consulate in Hong Kong when they returned my old passport over a week ago, my passport is a ‘valuable document and should be guarded with care.’ So perhaps someone can explain why it was sent to Planet Kitchen in Chonburi, a place that prior to this incident I never knew existed. I am now, of course, intrigued and wondering if in addition to being able to supply me with a dream kitchen they can also source British passports. Fortunately, after I contacted them and told them where I really lived and wasn’t on my rounds fitting a high quality induction cooker and extraction fan, the lovely people at DHL were able to sort out this small error and deliver my passport just in the nick of time. As the company’s cheery song rightly informs us, ‘Ain’t no mountain high enough...’ On average I fill one passport each year. I look forward to your exceptional service next year. The Central Scrutinizer
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TWO SIDES TO THE STORY ■ GOOD issue last month, but I have to say that I found the article in the Expat Women’s section on how to get laid in Bangkok a bit annoying. It’s rather derogatory to most Thai women in relationships with Farang guys. I’m tempted to write you an article back on the pros of dating a Thai woman and how western women should learn a lesson from them! Happy man, Bangkok
MUSIC MATTERS ■ REGARDING live music
places in Bangkok (BigChilli 06/12): the Irish pubs are a bit lame. You know Saxophone of course, but their best band “Neung Jakkawam” plays on Sundays only after midnight. And their Saturday late band got a lot better when they added Janice, one of the best vocalists in town. Most underestimated places would be Mojos on 33, which has three live bands that swap around (“Freelander” who play on Wed, Sat and Sun are probably best. Nice thing is again that they play till after 2am, unlike other places. Tiger is B139 a pint all day there too); Wine Bibber Sangria on Thonglor 9/1 which plays music to please an older crowd; and Titanium Ice Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 22, which has two bands. I guess the thing in common with these four places is multiple bands, good bands, and not the same old sets over and over. They are all about the live music, whereas in some of the places you mentioned last month, the music is an afterthought... Conor, Bangkok
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INSIGHT NEWS
Watch out for thieves on motorcycles – police warn the public ■ BAG snatching by motorcycle thieves has become so ram-
pant and increasingly dangerous that police are now posting signs on major roads to warn potential victims. The extent of this type of grab-and-run theft was highlighted last month when an Australian tourist was knifed to death in Phuket for a paltry 400 baht by a motorcyclist and his passenger. But Bangkok has been the scene of so many similar crimes that the police are now issuing warnings in the most dangerous areas of the city. The BigChilli has also learned that officers are planning a series of ‘sting’ operations to catch thieves. Among recent victims was the wife of the Polish ambassador H.E. Dr. Jerzy Bayer, who suffered serious injury after being attacked by robbers in broad daylight in Bangkok. (See interview page 114). The shocked diplomat explained: “It happened on May 9 while I was in Myanmar with my minister. A guy on a motorcycle tried to snatch her bag on Sukhumvit Soi 24. She was attacked while standing on the pavement close to the road with two other ladies. The motorcycle passed by her closely and the man riding pillion tried to grab her bag from her shoulder. “She held it very tightly by a short belt as they dragged her along a little bit before she fell to the ground and broke a bone.” Another victim, The BigChilli columnist and professional counselor Anette Pollner, has been attacked TWICE by bag snatchers. The most recent theft occurred when she was walking on Sukhumvit between Sois 33 and 39, and she was approached by two motorcycles – one using the pavement to force her near the road, where the second motorcyclist grabbed her bag. In one particularly tragic case that occurred on Sukhumvit
Soi 22 a few years ago, a foreign woman was dragged along the street when she hung onto her bag. She suffered serious head injuries as a result and later died in hospital. A Thai lady who worked for a foreign embassy had her bag snatched while crossing Silom Road. “It all happened so fast, there was nothing I could do, except watch the motorcycle disappear down Saladaeng with my expensive bag, ID card, credit cards, money and keys to my car.” The most dangerous time to walk the streets, according to one victim, is after 10pm. “By then most of the pavement vendors have packed up and gone home, and it’s the time when I understand many police officers go off duty.”
…but who’s going to stop them using the sidewalks? ■ ALTHOUGH it is illegal for motorcycles to use the sidewalks, they do so with total impunity on Sukhumvit Road. Our photos, taken over a five-minute period during the evening ‘rush’ hour, show the extent to which motorcyclists use the pavements to bypass the traffic and endanger the lives of pedestrians. At least 20 passed our photographer, many at high speed. Only rarely have BMA checkpoints been seen in this part of Bangkok.
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INSIGHT NEWS
Five former British Ambassadors meet at ATS celebrations ■ MEMBERS of the Anglo-Thai Society (ATS) celebrated their 50th Anniversary last month with a splendid dinner in the House of Lords in a room overlooking the River Thames in London. The gala dinner was attended by H.E. Kitti Wasinondh, the Thai Ambassador to the UK; The Lord Geddes, current patron of the ATS; five former British Ambassadors to Thailand; representatives from the Thai Embassy as well as ATS members and their guests. Entertainment included Thai puppetry from the Thai Dance Academy and traditional Thai music from the Thai Music Circle.
Based in London, the ATS is a friendly and welcoming society that works closely in the UK with the Royal Thai Embassy, Samaggi Samagom (the Thai Students Association), the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Asia House, Thai Societies at various universities, Thai and British businesses and the Royal Over-Seas League. Its links in Thailand include the British Chamber of Commerce (BCCT), the British Embassy, the British Club, the Old England Students’ Association and the Siam Society. For more info: www.anglothaisociety.org
The American Independence Day PechaKucha Picnic and BigChilli Cook-Off speaking series returns
■ A FUN day out for the whole family
is guaranteed at the annual American Independence Day Picnic. Held Saturday July 7 at KIS International School, the event will feature a range of fun games and activities (tug of war, egg toss, climbing wall, bouncy castle and more), live music, and lots of American food and drinks stalls. A highlight of the event is the BigChilli Cook Off – a competition to find Bangkok’s best chili which gives fairgoers the chance to take part in the ‘people’s choice’ judging process (by eating a lot and voting for their fave), and budding chefs the chance to be known as the maker of the city’s best chilli (email the organizers to apply). Tough competition comes from several of the city’s expat restaurants, including last year’s winner, Roadhouse Barbecue. Entry to the fair is B300 on the door (B200 if you pay in advance at the AMCHAM office). Free for kids under 12. Shuttle vans are available to and from Huai Khwang MRT station Exit 1.
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■ PECHAKUCHA, a unique speaking
For more info Tel: 02 254 1041 email: kittie@amchamthailand.com www.amchamthailand.com
series where presenters showcase 20 slides, each on-screen for just 20 seconds, is set to make a comeback in Bangkok on July 9. Speakers will cover topics ranging from mobile poetry/art exhibits to volunteering at a home for HIV positive children, what it’s like to gradually go blind, working to make Bangkok a quieter place and one speaker’s love of exploring the Big Mango’s back alleys by bicycle. This is officially the fifth PechaKucha event in Bangkok, with previous ones taking place in 2008/09 under the direction of a different organizer. This re-boot is being put together by longtime resident Scott Coates, founder of Smiling Albino. The event will start at 6.30pm at the Nest rooftop bar, Le Fenix Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11. For details of upcoming events see www.facebook. com/PechaKuchaBangkok For more info email: pechakuchabangkok@ gmail.com, visit: www.pecha-kucha.org
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INSIGHT NEWS
The Siam Sensation
How Krissada ‘Noi’ Sukosol Clapp brought luxury accommodation to Bangkok’s Dusit district ■ THERE can’t be many actors in the world who can claim to have
starred in a movie that sees them assassinate another character by stabbing them in the neck with a crab claw. But that’s exactly what Khun Krissada ‘Noi’ Sukosol Clapp was seen doing last month in his new movie, Antapan (Gangster). For anyone who likes action movies, this grisly seafood dispatch is as cool as it gets. But what more would you expect from a cool character such as Khun Noi? After all, he’s a rock star, actor, family man with two kids, and the creative director of his family’s brand new luxury resort The Siam, considered by many in the trade to be one of the city’s hottest new hotels. Just the thought of juggling all these roles would be enough to send most men insane, but Khun Noi takes it all in his stride. In fact, he even finds time on weekend mornings to pursue his hobby of collecting rare, valuable antiques, many of which are on display in the rooms at The Siam. We recently caught up with Khun Noi to find out what inspired him to create the new hotel, and whether or not we can expect him to return to the stage or screen any time soon.
How did you get the idea for the hotel and how long did it take to build?
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The idea for the project came to me around 2004 and we got the ball rolling late 2005. I think we then started building around 2006, so it’s taken around six or seven years to complete. I was always trying to figure out a way that I could contribute to the family because I was always singing and acting, fulfilling other passions, and I was always feeling kind of guilty, as I never quite helped support the family business. My mum told me that we had some land in the old area of town so I went to take a look at it and as soon as I saw it I said, ‘you know what, mum, we should build a hotel here.’ The old part of Bangkok has so much character and is full of beautiful buildings, so I thought it was perfectly placed for an upmarket hotel – one that gives travelers the chance to see a side of the city they don’t normally get to see. What about the design concept? I’m kind of a dreamer and I love antiques so I decided I wanted to build this world of mine which looks modern but has old touches. A world which allows guests to step back in time but in a comfortable, luxurious way. So that was the initial idea, and then I needed to find someone
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to design it. My first thoughts went to Bill Bensley, because we often go to the same antiques stores and share the same tastes. In fact, there have been many times that I’ve gone to an antiques shop and found that Bill has already bought the item I wanted. The fact that Bill is based in Bangkok was another huge bonus; most other leading architects are based in America or Paris. I also wanted someone I could work with closely, someone who shares the same ideas and who doesn’t have a big ego. So Bill was the perfect choice. So he was an easy guy to work with? Even though you had the competition for the antiques? We do have competition for the antiques but it’s all good fun. And working together has been great. Of course it’s sometimes a challenge, but just like the relationship between a director and an actor, you simply respect each other’s roles and realize the work you’re creating is a collaboration. Many of your antiques are used to decorate the hotel. Was this always your intention from the start? I wanted to give the hotel its own identity and make it unique so I have tried to use as many as my own antiques as possible. I didn’t want to go for a fake oldy-worldy feel; I wanted items with a real history to be on display. In this approach I decorated the rooms as if they were my home, rather than a hotel. I think we’ve achieved the homely feeling because a lot of people come here and say that while it’s a big piece of land, the resort actually feels small. And I’m really glad that we were able to create that - an intimate feel within a big construction.
especially in Thailand, and I’m over 40 now. I’m slowing down. Yes, but you look a lot younger than forty. Oh maybe, yeah. But I get tired on stage a lot easier now, it’s funny. Life changes when you’re 40, your health changes, your eyesight dwindles - I actually couldn’t read the newspaper this morning without moving it closer to my face. You still had enough energy to film your movie, Antapan (Gangster), though? Yeah, but the timing is kind of crazy considering we’ve just opened the hotel and at the same time I’m promoting the movie. It’s good for motivation here though – the staff laughs and says that by day I’m a gangster who runs around killing people with crab claws, and then by night I run the hotel. It must have been fun playing a gangster. It was great fun. I mean, portraying a gangster is every boy’s dream. It was tiring though, especially as I did my own stunts. Some of the fight scenes look funny because we fought like people would in real life – no finesse, just mayhem. And arms flailing like windmills. You have to remember that in Thailand there are no safety rules like they have in Hollywood. So when the director tells you that you’re going to be running across a rooftop and jumping into a pile of boxes, it makes you gulp, but it’s fun.
I think we’ve achieved a homely feeling because a lot of people come here and say that while it’s a big piece of land, the resort actually feels small. And I’m really glad that we were able to create that - an intimate feel within a big construction.
How long have you been collecting antiques for? It started right after university when I lived in New York and I got hooked on going to the flea markets. Then when I came back to Bangkok I got hooked on Chatuchak Market, where I go every weekend looking for antiques. So it’s been a passion of mine for over 20 years now, and I collect items from many different periods. I’m lucky to have a warehouse where I store most of my purchases. Do you plan to sell any of your antiques at the hotel? Yes, there’s a small shop at the front of the hotel where I will sell more eccentric items; a different kind of antique shop that you can’t find elsewhere in Bangkok. You’ve been so busy with the hotel and promoting your new movie we guess you haven’t had any time to complete your new solo album? You’re right. I’ve been recording my solo album for the past three or four years now. I actually completed all the music two years ago, but at the moment all my passion has been in this property so I’ve had no free time to go into the studio and sing the songs. I won’t sing a song if my heart’s not there, so I’ve just been delaying it. I think for certain next year I have to finish this album because, yeah, I’m not getting any younger. Unfortunately, showbusiness is a young man’s game,
So did you have any serious accidents? No I didn’t. I do have two scars on my legs from falling down, but that was it.
Was it difficult to get into the mindset of a gangster? I’m not like a method actor or anything, but I did prepare for the roll by watching gangster movies and learning to hold a cigarette properly. I also went to the gym, not to get mega bulked up, but just to look skinny yet solid. So did you have a ball filming the movie? It was stressful juggling filming with constructing the hotel but I did have a ball. Good roles come to me once every two years or so, so I was really lucky to be given the opportunity and that’s why I took it. Do you have any more movies on the pipeline? Not at the moment, but if another great script comes along I’d certainly consider it. Do you have any plans to reform your band Pru? Yes I do, and after going through making the solo album process, I think I’d rather go back into the rock band and work with my brother again – especially as he’s great at all the promotional stuff and can come up with beautiful witty punchlines on the spot. So we can expect the band to reform next year, after the solo album is released.
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Yeah, next year… as long as our passions don’t take us our separate ways before then. As you get older, you slow down and you have other passions. But we will definitely get back together. I don’t think we’ll be as be as famous as when we were younger. It’s just not going to happen. Our aim will be to make sure we write damn good songs though. At the end of the day people remember the songs more than you…unless you’re a real celebrity like Michael Jackson. But that’s what you want. You want your songs to stand out, be remembered and have soul. You don’t want to be a one-hit wonder. Hopefully I can create some soul in this hotel, as well. Your whole family is talented. Do you have a family secret for success? Does talent run in your genes? I think we’re just eccentric people. We’re not businesspeople. I mean if we were real business people, we could have financially grown a lot more. Other businesses would not have built a hotel like this. I mean, 39 rooms on 3 acres of land. Only artists would build a hotel like this because it’s not about money. In fact, my mum joked that this hotel is my problem. She said, ‘By the time we make money, I’ll be dead.’ So yeah, we’re just eccentric people who love art. What about dealing with fame? Fame’s a funny thing. You’ve got to remember that while in Thailand I was once considered to be a big rock star, in the US I’ve always been practically unknown. I remember one time 10 years ago at the peak of my fame in Thailand I was in a jewelry shop in New York and Lenny Kravitz walked in, and on his arm was a blonde model girlfriend. I looked at him and then looked at myself and I remember thinking, ‘geez, I’m not a rock star. That’s a rock star. He’s the
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talented one. I can’t compete with that…I’ll just go build hotels man.’ (laughs). The funny thing is that not so long ago I was approached by Travel and Leisure magazine with regards to featuring in an article about rock stars and their hotels. And guess who else they said would feature in the article? Lenny Kravitz! I thought, yeah, I’m not a peanut anymore. And it’s all thanks to this hotel.
About The Siam CONCEIVED by Krissada Sukosol Clapp and globally acclaimed architect and designer Bill Bensley, The Siam is located on three acres of premium river frontage in Bangkok’s royal Dusit district. Thirty-nine rooms are divided between spacious suites and private pool villas with open-air roof terraces. Three traditional Thai teakwood houses sourced by silk tycoon Jim Thompson and socialite owner Connie Mangskau make up Thai restaurant ‘Chon,’ while another one has been turned into a unique pool villa. Facilities include café, spa, gym, Muay Thai boxing ring, library/cinema, infinity pool, and more. The Siam is a Sukosol Hotel, member of Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH). For more info see: www.thesiamhotel.com
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INSIGHT BUSINESS
Donuts or tires – all companies need an effective public relations strategy Public relations consultant Kittima Sethi explains the benefits of good PR ■ IN my previous article, I highlighted the differences between public relations and advertising. Both of these marketing tools are important in creating an effective and successful marketing communication campaign. Today, I want to talk about PR and how effective it is for companies; especially in creating good publicity and building a reputation with potential customers. When the US donut chain Krispy Kreme opened its first store in Thailand in 2010, they announced they would give away a year’s supply of a dozen free donuts a week to the first customer. This was doled out right up to the 200th customer. Prior to the event, very few Thais had heard of this US brand. Thanks to the publicity stunt coupled with the use of social media like Twittter and Facebook, thousands of Thais of all ages queued up to buy the donuts. They were later seen carrying their sugary fried delights in boxes and bags with Krispy Kreme logos through the streets, on the BTS trains and in the shopping malls. Some customers took photos and uploaded them on various social websites as they wanted to show off the latest fast food trend. The end result? Krispy Kreme got loads of free publicity without having to splash out for a major advertising campaign. Public Relations is a result of what companies and individuals do, what they say and most importantly, what others say about them. PR is more than product launches or publicity stunts; it is a tool that supports the long term strategic marketing plan. Because PR uses third party endorsement such as print, broadcast and online media, the consumers are usually provided with a more detailed and interesting angle of the company’s product or services. PR is often misunderstood to be just activities to promote a product or service. In fact, the role of PR has changed significantly in recent years and has become an integral part of brand building.
PR is used to build product awareness and in opening new markets. Companies which want to introduce a new product or service or are re-launching an existing product or service resort to PR to generate consumer’s attention and awareness. This could be achieved through creative events or campaigns. During one of the PGA Tours, golfer Tiger Woods was seen using a particular brand of golf club, after which the manufacturer received enquiries from all over the world. PR is also used to provide consumers with detailed information about products or services. This could be done through articles and other collateral materials to help consumers understand the product. For instance, during the rainy season, car companies may provide tips for driving safely on wet roads and write about changing car tires or wipers. Hospitals could provide information about disease outbreaks. PR can also be seen as attracting competent employees into the company as they want to be part of a successful company. Companies with a positive image also attract major investors and shareholders. These are just some examples of the role of
PR in a marketing campaign. Before embarking on any PR campaigns, companies must be specific with the goals they want to achieve.
Kittima Sethi is a PR consultant at Brand Now and if not buried under the publications, she may be reached at kittima@brandnow.asia
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Airline seats are a disgrace BACK BREAKERS
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HOEVER designs aircraft seats should be shot. Or forced to sit continuously in his/her creation for 18 hours, apart from a quick visit to the loo. Then they’d know what airline passengers have to endure on long-haul flights. The fact that aircraft seats, especially in economy class, are so downright back-breakingly awful makes one think that they are part of a deliberate ploy by airlines to get passengers to vow they will buy more expensive tickets in the slightly (but not much) more roomy business section on their next flight. If it’s possible to produce comfortable chairs for home use or in a car, why can’t airline manufacturers do the same for their long-suffering passengers?
What will be the banks’ next big scam?
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ET more evidence that the banks are at the very heart of the current worldwide financial woes emerged last month with revelations that they’ve been deliberately fiddling interest rates for their own benefit – and to pay themselves ever bigger bonuses. Fines for being naughty have been handed out, but they’re so pathetically small no banker is going to lose a second’s sleep worrying about them. And you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll waste no time thinking up new scams to filch your money. Until they’re properly regulated – perhaps even nationalised – banks will be a burden on us, our children and our children’s children.
ROAD RAGE
Van drivers are a menace CROOKED BANKERS
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W
HY do drivers who get behind the steering wheel of a Toyota commuter van automatically feel they own the road, can hog the outside lane, are entitled to flash any vehicle slowing their progress, and show complete indifference to speed limits? Yet somehow, always manage to avoid the police? And what about those drivers who believe that by flicking on an indicator gives them the right to instantly change lanes, regardless? Answers on a postcard, please.
TheBigChilli
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BILL BANDITS
Wary of bar staff
ger Anastasia Ukrainian pop sin ted Russia en res Prikhodko rep ision song at the 2009 Eurov performed the contest, where she song ‘Mamo.’ an ini kra -U Russian
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T’S a shame that a certain extremely successful Bangkok bar is in danger of losing its popularity because of a growing reputation for cheating. Numerous stories are now circulating about overcharging, giving incorrect change and even demands for additional payment from previous visits. Management told us on a recent visit they are aware of the problem and are doing their best to stamp out these practices. But that didn’t stop one staff member on the same night from whisking away a tray of change – a fairly substantial sum of money – before it had been checked by one unhappy drinker.
American act Scarlett Joha ress born in New nsson was comes third York, which in the surv ey to find the citi most beauti es with the ful women
Sorry, boys. Bangkok’s girls aren’t beautiful
GREAT QUOTES Veteran actor Mickey Rooney on reaching 58: “I’m in pretty good shape for the shape I’m in.”
Comedian Milton Berle:
“If evolution works, why do mothers only have two hands.” “Money can’t buy you happiness, but it helps you look for it in a lot more places.” “A good wife always forgives her husband when she’s wrong.”
Actor Walter Matthau:
“I never mind my wife having the last word. In fact, I’m delighted when she gets to it.” “The first girl you go to bed with is always pretty.”
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Swedish model and actress Susanna “Mini” Andén.
HAI women are revolting. So too are the ladies in Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur – but not in the way you may be thinking. Fact is, the women of Southeast Asia are angry, outraged and generally cheesed off because none of these places has been included in a survey to find the cities with the most beautiful women in the world. That distinction goes to Kiev, capital of Ukraine, according to the website Travelers Digest, with Stockholm in Sweden coming second, and New York in third. Seoul is the only Asian country to get into the top ten, though some cynics might suggest the women of South Korea owe their beauty more to the skills of the city’s army of plastic surgeons than what nature had intended for them. Indeed, Korea’s nip and tuck merchants are so dexterous nowadays, women from all parts of the world now head to Seoul for a spot of rather expensive correction and restoration. “It’s an outrage,” fumed one Thai lady. “The judges clearly have never set foot in Southeast Asia.” Meanwhile, Kiev’s success finally nails the longheld belief that Eastern European ladies are anything but luscious. And it’s the only former communist bloc city to make it the top ten: Varna in Bulgaria is placed fi fth, while the Russian capital Moscow is seventh in the list of cities with the most beautiful women. Bangkok’s omission flies in the face of the majority of males, one of whom once quipped: “If it wasn’t for Thai girls, Bangkok wouldn’t have an international airport.”
The Top Ten Cities with the Most Beautiful Women: 1. Kiev, Ukraine 2. Stockholm, Sweden 3. New York, U.S. 4. Buenos Aires, Argentina 5. Varna, Bulgaria
6. Moscow, Russia 7. Tel Aviv, Israel 8. Amsterdam, Holland 9. Seoul, South Korea 10. Montreal, Canada
TheBigChilli
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INSIGHT SHOPPING
RHYTHM LAUNCHES SPORTY WATCH FOR WOMEN
SAMSUNG GETS EVEN SMARTER ■ SMARTPHONES are getting smaller, faster and smarter with every passing month, so it’s impossible to keep up with the technology. But if you are looking to upgrade your handset, or looking to buy your first smartphone, Samsung’s GALAXY S III is a great place to start. Sure to send gadget-geeks to tech heaven, this new touch-screen gizmo has a sleek modern design and neat features such as S Beam (which allows users to share files with other Galaxy S III units without the need for WiFi or cellular signal); Pop Up Play technology (which allows users to watch video while performing other tasks); and Best Photo (which automatically selects the best eight shots out of 20 pictures). The handset records HD video and has a 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED screen. Other features include an 8MP back camera, 1.9MP front camera with LED flash, WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. Retail price is B21,900. Available now at Samsung shops and partner stores. For more info, contact Samsung Customer Center on Tel: 02 689 3232 or toll free at 1 800 29 3232.
Talking
Shop
■ SPORTY women who want to look elegant while they workout should check out the latest range of wristwatches by luxury timepiece maker Rhythm from Japan. Called The Sport Lady, Lady the new collection features a selection of styles and colours to choose from, but our favourite is the round-faced model, which is made of white ceramic and has three sub-dial patterns and a striking gold face. Very bling. Available this month at all leading stores. Retail price wasn’t set at time of writing. For more info Tel: 02 541 5112-3
Hot products and stores demanding your attention
COVER ARRIVES IN THAILAND ■ SWITZERLAND’S luxury watchmaker Cover has made its Thai market debut by launching three new collections here – Expressions, Impressions,, and Reflections. The highlight of the women’s range is the Cover Co147,, which is a round-faced watch studded with Swarovski crystals. Men should check out the octagon-shaped Co152 Quartino Chronograph,, which is sporty and elegant with a pyramid-shaped dial. Both watches are water resistant up to 50 meters and available in many colours. Available now at 5 branches in Bangkok: Siam Paragon, The Mall Bangkapi, The Mall Thapra, Robinson Rama IX, Robinson Fashion Island. www.discovercover.com
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CARRY YOUR CAMERA IN STYLE ■ TRENDY bag designer ‘ZKIN’ has released a new range of camera bags perfect for photographers who want to look flash whilst they work. Made of genuine leather, each camera carrier is carefully designed to protect your gear, with separate compartments for flash and lens. Choices include mid-sized shoulder carriers such as Fairy for a compact camera and Ropen for a DSLR; and a backpack-style carrier called Yeti, which can carry two cameras and includes a quick release tripod mount, laptop compartment, and an extra pouch for personal gear. Fashionable camera straps and accessories are also available. Check out the price at these stores: Zen Department Store (G floor, Capital Z area), Big Camera Galleria Store at Central World (4th floor), Central Lardprao (3rd floor), Storia Store at Eight Thonglor Building (G floor), and GuinisimMono shop (at The Crystal Nawamin branch, The Circle Rajapruek branch, and Amorini Ramintra branch). Tel: 080 566 4999 www.zalora.co.th/zkin/ or www.facebook.com/Zkinthailand
TheBigChilli
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FEATURE CRIME BUSTERS
How Thailand’s ‘economic’ cops are tackling foreign scams From credit card and banking frauds to dodgy call centers, lover’s games and investment sharks, the police have their hands full dealing with a growing number of scams
By Maxmilian Wechsler
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Police Major General Kowit Vongrungrot, Commander of the ECD
SQUEEZED between modern high-rise office towers on busy North Sathorn Road in central Bangkok are two low-rise buildings that serve as headquarters of the frontline agency involved in the suppression of economic crimes throughout Thailand. It’s perhaps appropriate that the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), under the Royal Thai Police, is situated in the hub of Bangkok’s financial center, among banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Most office workers and motorists driving past are probably unaware of its existence. But it is well known by street vendors selling counterfeit or pirated products in nearby Silom and Patpong or other parts of Bangkok who are arrested and brought here for booking.
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Police Major General Kowit Vongrungrot, the ECD commander since 2008, commands about 350 officers, both men and women, nationwide. He says, however, that with limited resources it is becoming increasingly difficult for his division to cope with economic crimes that are getting ever more complex, sophisticated and hi-tech. “The main responsibility of the ECD is the prevention, investigation and suppression of economic crimes throughout the country. We handle all kinds of economic crimes, including credit card, banking and tax frauds; intellectual property infringements and new types of economic crimes like call centre scams,” explains Maj-Gen Kowit. To find out more about economic crimes committed by both locals and foreigners, I spoke to Witoon Trakarnpruk, an adviser to the commander, and two police colonels, Kitti Sapaothong and Stit Promutai. All are highly experienced in this type of work. “Many people who commit crimes in their native countries escape to Thailand as it is a well-known tourist destination and open to everyone,” says Mr Witoon.”Some take advantage of this, assuming wrongly that they will be safe in conducting illegal business here. This applies to foreigners of many nationalities. For assistance, we work closely with a number of local and foreign law enforcement agencies.” Credit card frauds and cash frauds are common due to criminals getting easier access to improving technology at lower costs. It’s low risk with high returns, often in a short period of time, said Mr Witoon, adding that counterfeit card and currency schemes are becoming more sophisticated and increasingly involve cross-border cooperation. The major tourist destinations are still prime locations for credit card frauds. Other economic crimes like pyramid schemes flourish because people are greedy, he added.
Call center scams
Mr Witoon said call center scams which prey on gullible people are currently popular and explained in detail what they are all about: “This particular scam operates mainly in China, Taiwan and in Thailand. The syndicates usually involve Chinese groups who employ native speaking people to work in their call centers. “Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a computer-based telephone application, is used by the syndicates to call various destination countries to reach their victims. This saves costs and makes it difficult to trace the caller. “Native Chinese or Thai speakers are engaged to chat with potential victims, and are divided into three groups or desks. Desk 1 obtains primary information from the victims before transferring them to Desk 2, who pose
TheBigChilli
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(From left): Witoon Trakarnpruk, Advisor to the Commander of ECD; Pol. Col. Kitti Sapaothong, Deputy Commander of ECD Cyber Crime Division; Pol. Col. Stit Promutai, Superintendent Sub-Division 5
as police officers or Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers and threaten the victim, saying their bank accounts have been linked to drug trafficking organizations, or someone had applied for a credit card under their name and run up debts. “Finally the victim is transferred to Desk 3, where the scam is completed. They lead the victim to an ATM machine or bank counter to withdraw, transfer or deposit the funds into the syndicate’s ghost account. The call center employees receive a commission when their calls pay off, ranging from three to nine percent. As for the ghost accounts, the syndicate pays certain Thais to open these. “The call center scam has been going on for only a few years. When it began the syndicate played on victims’ greed, telling them they had received a tax refund and needed to go to ATM machines and make transactions as instructed in order to obtain the tax refund. But actually they ended up transferring funds to the ghost accounts. At the ATM machine, victims were told to press the screen according to the syndicate’s instructions, in a quick manner. They were told they have to complete transactions within a limited timeframe, so they had little or no time to read the screen and be aware of what they were doing,” said Mr Witoon. He added that more recently the syndicate had changed to scare tactics, telling victims they had credit card debts or their accounts were linked to drug syndicates. “The ECD and Chinese and Taiwanese police forces are working closely together and vigorously pursue call center syndicates,” Mr Witoon emphasized. He also said that so far, no Westerners had become victims, simply because these syndicates will communicate in Chinese or Thai and not yet in English or any other language. Col Kitti gave details of a major operation involving a call center scam.
“With the collaboration of Chinese and Taiwanese police, we were able last May to smash a large syndicate operating in China and Thailand. They cheated citizens out of tens of millions of baht. “I started to investigate the case early this year. We received information that a Thai-Chinese person from northern Thailand was working with the call center syndicates in China. I forwarded this and other information to the Chinese police. They found this man in Guangdong province of the People’s Republic of China and raided the call center there, resulting in the arrest of 12 individuals – 10 Thais, one Chinese and one Taiwanese national. “The Chinese police confiscated many computers and other equipment, together with details on the victims the syndicate had called. These included Thai nationals in Thailand who had been taken for about 10 million baht. “The syndicate set up a call center in China staffed with native Thais to call to Thailand and cheat Thais. They set up a call center here with their people calling to China to cheat Chinese people. That’s how they were operating. “After we received all relevant information, evidence and exhibits from the Chinese police, they requested our cooperation in investigating the Chinese nationals who set up the call center in Thailand. “We carried on the investigation and on May 8 raided five locations and arrested 100 people, including 64 Taiwanese and 26 people from mainland China, with the rest Burmese and Thai nationals,” Col Kitti stated.
TheBigChilli
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FEATURE CRIME BUSTERS
IP violations
Foreign financial advisors walk a fine line What about foreigners operating as “financial advisers” and offering excessively high returns on investment? “In general,” said Col Stit, “foreigners can operate a business in Thailand provided they register it according to the Thai laws with the Ministry of Commerce. However, there are certain categories of business foreigners aren’t permitted to engage in and it is the ministry who controls the nature of the business. We have to consider whether the business they are doing is legal or otherwise.”
Other foreign scams Col Kitti said that the most common economic crimes committed by foreigners in Thailand are the call center scams, followed by credit card fraud with counterfeit cards or “white plastic.” The third most common is the operation of “boiler rooms,” where callers try to solicit foreigners over the phone into investments such as buying shares in overseas markets or gold futures markets in Asia. “This is a total fraud,” he said. “Another scam is an email fraud called in neighboring countries the ‘‘lover game.” This scam is perpetrated mainly by Africans. They will send an email to a woman saying they are in love with her. Soon they will tell her they need money for some investment or some advance fee, and ask her to transfer money to their account. They used to operate this scam from Thailand but now they have moved to some neighbouring countries. The reason they moved is that we traced their transactions and we found out when they withdrew the money. “The criminals found the ladies by two methods – either through matchmaking websites, or by sending emails to hundreds of people and waiting to see who responds,” Col Stit said, adding that this is known as “phishing.” “Another economic crime is illegal money transfer to another country without going through proper channels. Strictly speaking, this is not money laundering by its nature, but it has similarities to money laundering.” Mr Witoon said that in the past, all economic crimes were handled by the ECD, but a separate division called Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) has just been set up to handle crimes related to technology. These include computer hacking, phishing emails, pornographic distribution over the internet, etc. Illegal money transfers are still handled by the ECD. The TCSD is headquartered in a facility on Chaeng Wattana Road (www.tcsd.in.th).
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Concerning intellectual property (IP) violations, Col Kitti said: “Despite hundreds of arrests, the counterfeiters and pirates continue the business because it offers low risk and high profits. The punishments are mild and the laws haven’t changed for a long time. “However, now the government is pushing for landlord punishment, meaning the plaza owner or landlord will be jointly responsible with the offender. We hope that when the law is passed it will improve the situation. “Another problem we have is that when the police make arrests, most of the cases will be settled out of court between the wrongdoer and the rights owner. The IP law allows compromise because it is not a criminal law. They can talk to each other and settle the case and the suit is withdrawn. As long as this is the common practice, the wrongdoers will never stop,” said Col Kitti. The Colonel also pointed out that if the sellers of pirated CDs, VCDs or DVDs display only the cover without the disk, no one can arrest them unless the cover has an obscene picture on it. “In comparison to the same period of last year, we had a 20 per cent increase in the number of IP arrests and cases prosecuted. This won’t solve the problem because the number of selling points never went down. Therefore, we have to reassess the best approach to the problem. We must make consumers aware of the benefits of buying genuine and legal products,” Col Kitti said.
Dealing with informants Informants are sometimes needed to initiate an investigation. “Before we accept an informant, we have to know in what ‘category’ he or she is,” says Mr Witoon. “We have to know the reason they offer their services to us, in order to know how to handle them. Many people come to us with information, but we have to evaluate every individual before accepting their services. “We categorize informants into several groups, including those who want to sell the information, businessmen who want to take out competitors, or someone, perhaps an employee, looking for revenge.” Mr Witoon has a warning for potential victims. “Be conscious, and watch out for anything ‘too good to be true.’ ”
TheBigChilli
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INSIGHT CALENDAR
July planner
Networking, tradeshows, performances, and sport here’s the month ahead planned and charted Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
5 6 7 8 AMCHAM, Independence Day Picnic 2012, KIS International School, noon
AMCHAM, YPC Networking: Hosted by The Pintsman Silom, 7pm
Friday
Thailand’s Best Shopping Fair. July 7-15 at IMPACT. See p.94
Saturday
Sunday
PowerPlay Golf. Thana City Golf & Sports Club, Bangkok. See p.88. www.asiangolfevents.com
Monday
13 14 15 16 AustCham: Luncheon: Boardrooms, Mining Booms and Rugby, noon
BCO Young Talent Charity Concert. Siam Kempinski Hotel. See p.86. www.charityorchestra.org
The Games Xpo 2012. July 13-15 at QSNCC. See p.94
Pattaya Marathon. See p.88. www.pattaya-marathon.com
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Tuesday
21 22 23 24 PowerPlay Golf. Khao Kheow Country Club, Pattaya. See p.88. www.asiangolfevents.com Modern Furniture Fair. July 21-29 at BITEC. See p.94
Sunday
29 30 31 Adidas King of The Road 2012. Lumpini Park, Bangkok. See p.88. www.adidaskingoftheroad.com
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BCCT: Special BCCT Dinner (Chaturon Chaisaeng), 6.30pm
TheBigChilli
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Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1 2 3 4 AMCHAM: Board of Governors, 7am
FCCT: Bangkok Business Connections (BBC), 11am
Monday
Tuesday
Bangkok Business Connections (BBC) Networking Luncheon at the FCCT www.bnow.org
AustCham with AMCHAM: Stars & Stripes Networking at Pathumwan Princess, 6pm
Wednesday
Thursday
9 10 11 12 AMCHAM: Social Networking, Rembrandt Hotel & Towers, 6pm FCCT: Panel Discussion and Asia-Pacific Launch of Developing a Road Map for Engaging Diasporas in Development, 6pm (Cocktails at 5.30pm)
PechaKucha Speaking Series. Nest Rooftop bar, Le Fenix Hotel. See p.12.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
BCCT: Special BCCT Luncheon (Lord Marland, UKTI Business Ambassador), 11.45am Thailand Engineering Expo. July 12-15 at IMPACT. See p.94
Friday
17 18 19 20 AMCHAM: Eastern Seaboard Networking, noon
Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, Phuket. (July 18-22). See p.88. www.phuketraceweek.com
BCCT with AMCHAM: Eastern Seaboard Farewell Dinner Ambassador Asif Ahmad, 6.30pm
Glasstech Asia. July 18-20 at BITEC. See p.94
AMCHAM: Joint Professional Women & SME: My Big Fat Small Greek Business, 6.30pm
Wednesday
Bangkok Used Car and Imported Car Show. July 20-29 at IMPACT. See p.94
Discount Overload. July 18-22 at IMPACT. See p.94
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
25 26 27 28 Requiem for The Mother of Songs. Thailand Cultural Centre. See p.86. AustCham: Key Issues Dinner with Ambassador H.E. James Wise, 6.30pm
TheGaga. Born of Family Love Project. Lady Rajamangala July 25-Aug 2 atSee IMPACT. National Stadium. p.88. See p.94 www.Thaiticketmajor.com
Performance
BCCT: Farewell Lunch Ambassador Asif Ahmad, 11.45am
Sport
• AMCHAM: American Chamber of Commerce. www.amchamthailand.com • BCCT: British Chamber of Commerce. www.bccthai.com • AustCham: Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce. www.austchamthailand.com • FTCC: Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce. www.francothaicc.com
AMCHAM, BCCT with AustCham: Joint Luncheon with Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, noon
Networking
Tradeshow
• FCCT: Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. www.fccthai.com • BITEC: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center. www.bitec.co.th • IMPACT: Impact Convention Center. www.impact.co.th • QSNCC: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. www.qsncc.co.th
TheBigChilli
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INSIGHT School report
Second Bangkok Gymnastics Invitational Championships held at NIST
During the first weekend of June, the New International School of Thailand hosted the 2nd Bangkok Gymnastics Invitational Championships at its campus on Sukhumvit 15. NIST invited level 5 and 6 national athlete teams from all regions of Thailand including teams from Bangkok Patana School, ISB, Bangkok Sport School, S.K Gym from Samutsakorn as well as St.Paul and Poveda – professional gymnastic teams from the Philippines. Over 260 athletes from 19 teams joined this friendship tournament. During the three days, boys and girls, level 1-6, both EVERY week throughout July Attic competed in team competitions, individual Studios on Sukhumvit Soi 31 is hosting all-around and apparatus competitions. art classes for kids aged 6-16. Held Tues-Sat, the classes are designed to increase skill levels in many disciplines IPN EVENT and feature a variety of media. The cost is B5,000 per week, or B1,500 per day. For more info Tel: 083 301 1314 email: info@attic-studios.com
Former PM delivers speech at Bangkok Prep
BANGKOK International Preparatory & Secondary School (Bangkok Prep) celebrated its inaugural graduation on June 15 with a ceremony for the Class of 2012. Invited Guest of Honour, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister, presented graduation certificates to the students who have now completed Year 13, before delivering a keynote speech on “Education and Social Responsibility.” In his speech, Mr. Abhisit offered his congratulations to the graduates and encouraged them “to be quality global citizens for a better future for all of us and for the whole world.”
Summer fun at Attic Studios
KIS hosts International film competition
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KIS International School recently held the first free-for-all film competition for students from all over the world. Organized by the school’s Media Studio Club, the competition was open to all students of 10 to 19 years, free of charge. Young filmmakers were encouraged to submit short films of any topic or theme to be shortlisted by a team of students for judging by industry professionals Ms. Amour Setter, Mr. Tom Waller, and Mr Traithep Wongpaiboon. Over 60 creative and original films from China, USA, Brazil and Thailand were submitted. If you are interested in seeing the winning films go to: www.bangkokyouthfilm.org.
Family trip to Koh Kred
THE International Parenting Network will host a family outing to Koh Kred on Sunday July 15 (10am-3pm). A man-made island midstream of the Chao Phraya River, 20 km north of Bangkok, Koh Kred is home to the Mon community who immigrated from Burma more than 300 years ago. The IPN trip includes boat rides to various attractions, including a visit to a 100-year old temple, a pottery demonstration at the pottery village, and the chance to shop for porcelains and other traditional handicrafts and souvenirs. You will also have a chance to enjoy local delicacies and desserts. Cost: Adults: B550 (B600 nonmembers); Kids under 12: B450 (B550 nonmembers). For more info email: ipn@ipnthailand.com
TheBigChilli
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INSIGHT School report
Expat living in Bangkok: A student’s perspective It’s not only adults that up sticks and move to new countries – kids do, too, enrolling into international schools all around the world. Here, Korean national Raimy Shin, a Year 12 student at Harrow International School, reveals what it’s like to be a young expat in a foreign land PEOPLE who live abroad are people who like to stick together. They can often be seen chatting, going out together, and quickly creating unbreakable bonds. The least important thing in expat friendships is where you come from – just having the common ground of not being at home serves as enough for countless nostalgic conversations. Pretty soon, you build a new family based on the experiences of living abroad. Perhaps what binds us together, what undoubtedly exists between all of us, is fear. Palpable fear arises in moving to a new place unaccompanied, and though it may be more noticeable in the first few months, it is always there, settling like dust on the seasonal clothes you never get to wear in your tropical new country. Your initial fear when you moved abroad used to be about how you’re going to fit in, or learning the nuances of the language, but now it’s more a question of, ‘What am I missing?’ Shocking as it is, life goes on in your home country, despite your absence. They’ve found new friends, had more kids. They’ve changed, just like you.
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Every ‘Oh, didn’t I tell you?’ is a painful reminder of the times you missed out on while settling into life in a new environment. Inside jokes become unfamiliar until they are eventually foreign – a sure sign that yes, you have become an outsider. And maybe these are the reasons why some expats choose never to go back. They’ve replaced the hollow feeling of missed years in their homeland with passionate immersion into their new country. That old personality they had back home is more or less gone – and every single day you spend overseas, you come a little bit closer to becoming the well-adjusted expat yourself. There are two different people inside of you, in the separate countries that hold them. You’ll recognize that no matter what these countries represent of yourself, you are still divided in two. Moving over a few time zones doesn’t get rid of the personality you’ve created for yourself, and the people that became your new family – you don’t simply start loving them less just because you’re far away. But there’s no one to blame on this split character of yours but yourself.
You wanted to move – to evolve to fit a new surrounding of different cuisine, mannerisms, and culture. And that’s fine. It’s brave to force yourself into an unfamiliar situation that gives you an opportunity to recreate yourself. It’s thrilling to learn how to carry out basic tasks like asking for directions all over again, and reflecting on those experiences in a thoughtful, curious, and isolated way is humbling. You just didn’t know that it would be so fundamentally altering that it could create an entirely different character based solely on geographic location. When you live abroad, you realize that once you get on that plane, you’ll always be an expat. There’ll always be a part of your soul that is far from its home and waiting until it can return to live its life again in Technicolor where it belongs. But like everything else, it comes with a price. It is undeniable that from now on, you will lay awake some nights going over all of the things you are missing from what you used to call home.
TheBigChilli
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SCHOOL REPORT EDUCATION IN FOCUS
THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS – AND THEIR TEACHERS
Competition for jobs at international schools is now so fierce that only candidates with credentials and experience will prosper. But if you have neither donʼt despair – you can now learn all you need to know right here in Thailand The days when international schools would take any white face so long as he or she had a degree and could speak English are over. The demands on international schools are now too great. The international school that wants to thrive cannot afford to rely on unqualified staff; they need qualified teachers, and qualified managers. International schools are increasingly subject to inspection by outside agencies and their middle class clients (yes, clients, for in the world of the for-profit school that is what they are) expect results, and they expect qualified teachers. THE Euro is in crisis, major US corporations are on the verge Many international school teachers will be content to remain of bankruptcy, UK house prices are imploding, millions of in the classroom, those, however, who aspire to management, Europeans are out of work and the weather is terrible. The West those who need to understand budgets, strategy, HRM, is depressed; who would live there if they didn’t have to? marketing, and the messy business of managing teachers, clearly Well, clearly not readers of this magazine. Most, if not all of need something more. you, have already made the trek East. The trek to pastures new, It is no surprise then that with the growth in teacher sunnier climes and hopefully happier times. numbers and the credentialisation that comes with increased The passport to this trek, for the vast majority, is teaching. competition for jobs, universities, both from the UK and the US, Or more accurately, teaching qualifications. have found their way to Asia. From just a handful a few decades ago there are now 300,000 Once a backwater for professional development, Thailand expat teachers educating three million students across 6,000 now enjoys the presence of several UK Masters degree providers international schools globally. In Thailand alone there are 150 and regularly plays host to educational conferences and international schools, employing 6,000 teachers; add in bilingual workshops. One such provider, the UK’s Keele University, schools and the number increases to well over 200. launched its part-time semi-distance learning MBA (Education) There are two key related drivers behind this rapid expansion: here in 2010. With a first cohort of seven students the course has globalisation and the rising number of middle class families. The rapidly grown to now have 50 students working in 16 different middle classes are on the move – socially upwards. According to a countries; all educationalists heading up the management ladder. 2010 report by The Economist, for the first time in history, more What though for those at the start of that ladder? You than half the world’s population is now middle class. Billions of these speak English, have the requisite first degree, but no teaching new middle classes are Asian and they all want the best education for qualification. What does the future hold for you? Well, their children. Which is where the international schools come in. where teachers have gone so universities have followed. The So, with increasing demand, being an international UK teaching qualification (the Post-Graduate Certificate in schoolteacher should guarantee job security: more growth, more Education) is now offered across Asia by a number of UK schools, more opportunities? institutions. For almost half the cost, with a substantial Thailand Not necessarily. There is another factor at work here. Right based taught element, Keele University, for example, offers now would you want to be a teacher in Europe, or even the the closest match to those delivered in the UK – 32 weeks to USA? With the growth in international schools has come an even professional status; a great option for anyone looking to get greater growth in the number of Western teachers looking to Asia qualified and settle in Asia. for jobs, prosperity, and a better life. International school teachers So there you have it; the future of international schools are facing increasing competition for the best jobs in the best and their teachers: exciting, rewarding, expanding, full of schools, especially management jobs – hardly surprising really. opportunities but increasingly demanding. The passport to To compete in this market there is pressure on teachers to up success in this increasingly high-risk global jungle is no longer their qualifications and experience. You aspire to a position in a good a degree. Just like your real passport you also need the right international school in Asia? Well your BA, PGCE and five years stamps, in this case the stamps are professionalisation and teaching experience might not be enough any more – particularly credentialisation – in short, the right qualifications. not for well-paying, prestigious schools. What international school For more details: www.keele.ac.uk/education/pgceinternational and teachers need to recognise is that their professional status has been www.keele.ac.uk/mbaeducationinternational credentialised, yes, even here in Thailand.
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REVIEW THE SPA AT REMBRANDT
STRESS BUSTING TREATS AT THE SPA AT REMBRANDT
By Kalina Allen
Give tension the boot with Rembrandtʼs top quality treatments
CITY living always takes its toll on the mind, body and spirit. Stressful commutes, bustling streets, and long days at the office all add up to lower energy levels and beat happiness into submission.
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But if you’ve reached Bangkok burnout don’t despair – all you simply have to do is head down to Sukhumvit Soi 18, book a treatment at the Spa at Rembrandt, and let all your worries melt into the ether at the hands of an expert masseuse. Half the joy of going to any spa is the feeling of being pampered, and you certainly get this at the Spa at Rembrandt, where the serene atmosphere whispers of paradise. Soothing music and aromas pervade the whole experience and bolster the feeling of relaxation, and all
treatments are carried out in impressive, comfortable private rooms, each with its own shower. The professionalism of the Rembrandt is outstanding. Before any treatments are started, you are given a simple form to fill out which asks about allergies and special conditions. You are also asked if you want your masseuse to focus on any particular areas, such as clunky shoulders, or avoid any areas where you might have some pain. The spa’s signature massage is the Oriental Fusion (B1,590 for 55 minutes), a mixture of Thai and Swedish methods which is great for everyone. You can, for example, opt for a relaxing treatment which allows you to doze in and out of sleep, or a tough massage, which is invigorating and bound to free up any cramps. Another must-try is the Aroma Essential Facial (B2,000 for 60 minutes), which is specially tailored to restore a youthful appearance to skin and is wonderfully refreshing to boot. Brand-spotters will be pleased to note that all
facial treatments at the spa are conducted using the popular Jurlique skincare products from New Zealand, which are made from plants grown on organic and biodynamic farms and are rich with antioxidants. Rembrandt also offers a range of Body Treatments such as the Tamarind Skin Exfoliating Body Scrub (B1,490 for 55 minutes), Body Wraps such as the Tropical Fruit Body Wrap (B1,900 for 90 minutes), and a wide range of manicures, pedicures and waxing. With over 50 treatments on offer there’s something to please everybody. And if you can’t decide what to go for, simply close your eyes and select a treatment at random. The results are sure to be heavenly. The Spa is open daily from 9am-10pm. Rembrandt Hotel & Towers, Sukhumvit Soi 18. Tel: 02 261 7100 ext. 7450 www. rembrandtbkk.com/facilities/spa (Information about Jurlique products: global.jurlique.com)
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Expat WOMEN ď ° Put your feet up and indulge
THAI fashion brand Jaspal is celebrating its 40th anniversary by releasing a brand new collection. Page 40.
Question time We speak to long term expat Karen Carter about her life in Thailand Page 42
Inside Out
Polly McGovern explains more about the global art project Page 43
Agony aunts
Professional counselors Anette and Johanna help readers with problems Page 46 TheBigChilli
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EXPAT WOMEN FENG SHUI
Feng Shui your workspace in three easy steps
Some small changes to your office can make big changes to your life ■ IF your workspace makes you shudder and your job is the pits or you’re making no money or feel like you’re in a rut, you might need to find some balance and set some goals. You could find peace in the workplace with the ancient art of feng shui. Feng Shui (pronounced fung-schway) is an ancient Chinese philosophy of design that can be applied to any room, building and desktop. “It’s mainly about how your space makes you feel - often on a subtle, energetic level,” write Holly Ziegler and Jennifer Lawler in their book Feng Shui Your Workspace for Dummies. It literally means “wind and water” which refers to the two universal elements essential for life. These forces area connected to “chi,” meaning life energy or life force. Feng Shui allows you to harness your life energy to enrich your environment and create balance in your life.
How can applying it to workplace help your job? Whether the corner office, a cube or a desktop feng shui can be used to cure imbalances, erase energy blockers and even soothe your interaction with difficult co-workers. It can make you more productive and help you accomplish career goals. You state what you want and then make the changes. You don’t have to do a lot. Spend as much time and energy on it as you want, from the minimalist approach to the going all out. Feng Shui Your Workspace for Dummies shows you how and it’s easy as one-two-three.
Step one: De-clutter Start small with this fundamental change and you’ll clear the clutter from your workspace and your mind. Banish clutter, and you’ll feel more energetic and the chi within the office will move more freely. Empty overflowing wastebaskets, dump the dead
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plants and recycle those old newspapers and industry publications. Don’t forget to clean you dusty computer monitor and keyboard. Now, what are your must haves? Place only the bare necessities on your desktop and put away things you use only once or twice a week.
Step two: Let the Bagua help you improve your work Your workspace/cube/desktop is divided into nine life sectors, or Bagua, with the centre being your energetic hub. The remaining eight represent a particular sector in your life and can be applied to your workspace. Consider where these eight sectors fall in
your workspace and the elements and colours that represent and enhance them. If you have trouble visualizing this, you can always consult the Dummies book or do a search for “Bagua” on the internet. Consider the following eight situations and how you can improve them by enhancing their areas of the “Bagua”: 1. To improve your reputation at work and with clients. Focus on the Fame sector, which is located in the south portion of your workspace. Enhance it with Fire elements, including reds and lights including lamps, candles, fireplaces and sunlight. 2. To improve relationships with coworkers. Focus on the Marriage sector, which is located in the southwest area of your workspace. Enhance it with Earth elements, such as yellows and earth tones, as well as oil, ceramics, tile, brick and stucco. 3. To improve creative problem-solving and perform
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creative tasks. Focus on the Children and creativity sector, located in the western area of your workspace. Enhance it with Metal elements - white and pastel, rock, stone and all metal. 4. To improve your relationships with those people who can help your career (boss, clients) Focus on the Helpful people and travel sector, which is positioned in the northwest part of your workspace. Enhance it with Metal elements, including gray, white and pastels, as well as rock, stone and all metal. 5. To improve your career prospects and help you meet your career goals. Focus on the Career sector, located in the north area of your workspace. Enhance it with Water elements, including deep blue, black and dark colours, and water features, like glass, crystal and mirrors. 6. To improve your career success, increase your wealth and bring overall abundance into your life. Focus on the Wealth sector, which is in the southeast portion of the workspace. Enhance it with Wood elements, especially purple, plants, and flowers, and all wood.
overhead fluorescent and a hint of sunlight. Add a desktop lamp to the mix. Can you let sunlight into your workspace? If not, try to get outside a little bit every day.
Step three: Harmonize your workspace
Colour and Symbols If a sector in your work needs more of a boost, then use particular items to enhance that area of your workspace based on the Bagua. For example, if you are working toward a raise in salary, add a wood element to your wealth sector like a plant. Refer to the sectors in the Bagua that you feel enhancing and introduce its complementing colours and elements to the area. Or, if there’s an area in your workspace that needs enhancement, determine its Bagua sector and then use its corresponding elements and colours in that space.
Feng Shui is about creating your ideal environment - making a space feel good for you. Here’s where the sectors, their locations and the elements and colours come together. Light Light represents fire and symbolizes enthusiasm, passion and high energy. Fluorescent lighting can be the enemy and artificial light can make you feel stagnant and depressed. As much as possible, distribute your lighting. For example, you may have an
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Plants Flowers and plants bring colour and life into your workspace. They can camouflage sharp edges and dark corners and help balance a dominant element (like a colour). They stimulate good energy and also absorb sound. When choosing a plant stay away from cacti or sharp edges, try a flowering plant for more vibrant chi, and keep in mind that artificial plants aren’t as powerful. And take care of your plants - dead or dying plants are worse than no plants at all. Absorb sound. Water Water is symbolically and literally necessary for life. The sound of water is soothing and water itself helps with the movement of chi. This can be represented by water elements, a picture of the beach, a desktop waterfall or an aquarium. Be careful of running water or keeping fish in your workspace, though. Or try hanging a mirror over your head or a crystal in the entrance.
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EXPAT WOMEN FASHION
Jaspal hits 40 in style â– THAI fashion brand Jaspal recently hit the big four O and it has celebrated this milestone by releasing a new curve enhancing collection of dresses specially designed for the occasion by Nuj Novakhett. Inspired by cool-pastel palettes found deep below the oceans, the collection is awash with elegant slim-fit designs, some with tasteful cut-outs, and others with unique draping details. Some pieces even come with a shawl/jacket that, once removed, turns what could be a stylish office outfit into a glamorous dress perfect for clubbing. What we really like about the collection is that its tasteful colour scheme means each dress in the collection is primed for pairing with a whole host of gorgeous accessories. Over these pages are just a few ideas to get you started. Have fun!
Bianca clutch black by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Sunglasses by Marni
Phone case croc rain-slicker by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Phone case stardust logo pale gold by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Flap S by Balenciaga
Leather bracelet by Marc by Marc Jacobs
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Black heels by D&G
Handbag by Marni
Katie bracelet clutch nude by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Pink heels by D&G Phone case arrowhead rain-slicker by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Paper metallic handbag in orange by Balenciaga
Special Jaspal collection: www.facebook.com/Jaspalfashion Accessories by Club 21 Thailand: Tel: 02 650 9181 www.facebook.com/club21thailand
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EXPAT WOMEN Q&A
She’s a character: Karen Carter
W What do you like most about Bangkok/Thailand? I like the people because they are helpful and friendly. I love being hot all of the time and I love spicy food. I must love living here, as it is the longest I have ever lived anywhere in my life.
What are the biggest challenges for an expat woman here? The biggest challenge is the language and this will apply to men as well as women. I have had lots of “lost in translation” moments. When I first arrived, I was asked in Thai “maa ti ni, boy boy?” I thought that this was great. I am being offered a cocktail and some male company. However I later learned that this means “do you come here often?” Imagine my disappointment.
Karen Carter has British and Canadian nationality. As a “forces brat” she has accordingly lived all over the world, attending eight different schools. After working as a Hospital Manager in the National Health Service HS and with BUPA UK, she was posted to Thailand on a two-year contract to run BUPA’s health insurance company in 1997. Fifteen years later, Karen is still here and now works as Business Development Consultant at Bumrungrad International Hospital. back home? Are they mainly from your home countr y, or do you mix with other foreign nationals and Thais? The great thing about living abroad is that you get to know lots of wonderful people from all over the world and learn new customs and get to try new foods. I can even speak Australian now. Do you ever feel threatened or intimidated by the beauty of Thai women? I have never felt intimidated until I met Miss Tiffany. It is not fair that a man can look that good. What are your main hobbies? Golf, golf and golf! I play most weekends with the British Club and also with a team in the Bangkok League. We are always looking for new players of any standard, so please call.
What clubs and societies do you belong to? I belong to the British Club and I am on the committee of the Professional Women’s Group. We organize five meetings a year and our speakers have included Khun Meechai, the philanthropist; Khunying Pornthip, the forensic pathologist; and Nikki Lohitnavy, Thailand’s first female winemaker.
What traits do you admire most in people? Honesty, reliability, dependability, intelligence, humor, patience and integrity.
Do you have a lot of friends here, and are they more numerous than
Your favourite restaurant, bar/pub, hangout joints?
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Any unfulfilled ambitions, or regrets? I don’t regret anything and still have lots of things I would like to do. I am planning to go down the Olympic Bobsleigh run at Whistler on my next significant birthday.
My favourite Sunday brunch place is Trader Vic’s at the Anantara on the river. The views are great; the food is scrummy and you get to make your own Bloody Marys. I also like the bar and food at Indigo in Convent Road. Your favourite place for a haircut? I like to get my hair cut at Tubtim’s in Soi 8. I can catch up on all of the gossip in the UK as they keep back copies of Hello Magazine. Favourite place to buy clothes? I normally go to Central Chidlom to buy clothes. It’s the only place that stocks XXL. Your favourite weekend destination? I love to go to my condo on the beach at Cha-am. There are lots of good seafood restaurants and massage beds nearby as well as some great golf courses. Do you have a life motto? Now that I am nearly Thai, I would say Su! Su! Can you honestly say you understand the Thai way of life and doing things? After 15 years, no. However, my Thai friends and colleagues have been very patient and forgiving. That’s why I love them.
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Polly McGovern, Project Director of Inside Out Bangkok
Bangkok turned ‘Inside Out’ by global art project
You’ve no doubt seen many familiar faces appearing on Bangkok’s buildings over the past few weeks in the form of large black and white posters – the results of a global art project called Inside Out. What’s the aim of the project and how was it launched in Bangkok? Project director Polly McGovern explains ■ THE posters that you can see now on the streets of Bangkok are the culmination of months of planning and hundreds of people supporting Inside Out Bangkok along the way. This public art project is a crowdfunded initiative that aims to strengthen communities. It is not about promoting an organization or making money. It is simply about the people of Bangkok coming together to express themselves through art. Around 500 people submitted black and white portrait photos with a statement. These were then printed into large format posters and pasted in public locations across the city in early June. All participants were also encouraged to come and paste their own posters. Inside Out Bangkok has reached a huge diversity of communities and it was an exciting experience for everyone involved. Pasting the posters was not always easy, everything from gaining the necessary permissions to organizing the event took time. The largest pasting consisted of over 130 people and the most difficult was definitely the huge scale poster that took the fire brigade and tree cutters to get up. Inside Out Bangkok is a collaboration with the global Inside Out Project which
is the creation of the French artist JR, who was the recipient of the 2011 TED prize. In fact, it is so popular that it’s now the world’s largest art project taking place in over 9,000 locations with more than 77,000 photos submitted so far. If you would like to see some of the Inside Out Bangkok posters, then please visit the following locations: • In between Sukhumvit 22-24 at Washington Square. • Sukhumvit 51 • Surawong Road • Ekkamai Soi 10 • Soi Viphawadee 64 • Sukhaprachasan 2 Soi 46 • Pahonyatin Soi 80 • Soi Wat Care (Larn Luang 1) All of the images have also been submitted to the global online database along with each individual statement and can be seen at www.insideoutproject.net. Inside Out Bangkok would like to thank all of the participants for their enthusiasm for the project. For more info about Inside Out Bangkok, visit www.facebook.com/InsideOut Bangkok
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EXPAT WOMEN FEATURE
Adding value to old properties How two long time expat ladies are transforming homes and condos with their interior design skills
Patricia Frost
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■ “TO stand still is to fall behind.” When this is applied to property it becomes clear that not regularly refreshing a property effectively equates to damaging what is almost certainly a significant investment. This is the philosophy behind BôInteriors, a company run by long-term British expatriate Patricia Frost and her business partner Nathalie Collard, from Belgium. Together they realized that there was a serious need for Home Staging services in Bangkok, where far too many properties languish on the market and depreciate. The pair are truly veteran expats: Patricia was born in Thailand and holds British and Thai nationality, while Nathalie has been in Asia for more than 16 years. Both have a passion for interior
design and relish the opportunity to re-create beautiful living environments, no matter the destination. Within the past two years Pat and Nat have teamed up to offer their unique Home Staging and interior design services; Bô-Interiors can transform spaces with either simple non-invasive treatments or total facelifts to create more attractive living environments. As a result, such properties can be rented out or sold faster and for a higher price. “The budget to invest can vary a lot,” says Patricia. “But the ‘before and after’ visual effect is usually very convincing and the owners soon realize they have not only maintained but often increased the long term value and desirability of their property.”
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After
Before Renovating is a very Western concept – Paris and London renovated apartments are constantly featured in deco magazines – but more and more Thai residential owners are beginning to adhere to the idea that leaving empty units exposed to humidity and dust is passively inducing depreciation. Real estate agents are finding BôInteriors a decisive ally whenever securing deals dependent on renovation works. The team offers project management and reporting, assuring the buyers who are away or who have no time that quality control is being carried out on their behalf by two perfectionists who benefit
from Patricia’s ability to speak fluent Thai and from a solid address book of contractors and suppliers. “Less than 10% of property owners see the potential of their condo or house, and our first visit is to assess just that,” explains Patricia. “With simple and sometimes really non-expensive solutions, we manage to improve the looks of a property so that it appeals to a far greater number of clients. It is important that homeowners understand that by skilfully stylizing and de-personalizing their property – and perhaps de-cluttering it – it gives more freedom to candidate buyers or tenants to
imagine themselves and their own belongings being added to a very attractive picture.” Bô-Interiors also provide property search services for investors or candidate buyers who do not permanently reside in Bangkok. If space is one of the selection criteria, Patricia and Nathalie often advocate for the advantages of older buildings. “High ceilings, clever layout providing natural ventilation, great sound insulation et cetera are unfortunately not part of the average Bangkok modern constructions. Investing in an older condo, ripping everything apart and redecorating can often equal paying the same price as for a shoebox-size modern condo – except that the owner ends up with a 200 or 300 sq m flat which has their own favourite living features,” says Patricia. More information on www.bo-interiors.com
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EXPAT WOMEN PROBLEMS SOLVED
Ask the experts Send your problems to: thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com
Real Problems Real Solutions
Expat life getting you down? Don’t suffer in silence. Send in your problems and get advice from professional counsellors Anette and Johanna • Anette Pollner Adv. Dipl. Couns., is one of seven international counsellors at NCS Counseling Center in Saphan Kwai. She trained in London and the US and worked as a staff counsellor at Bart’s Hospital in London.
Broken business, broken man?
I
AM ashamed to say it and reluctant to write it down, but I finally have to admit that my business is failing. I started the business 15 years ago when I first came to Thailand, and, despite a tough start, built it into a successful operation. In fact, we were so successful that I began making bigger and bigger investments and thought the only way was up. But then the global financial crisis hit and my business, which relies mainly on international trade, took a huge blow and has been in a steady downward spiral ever since. I have done everything possible to improve the company’s efficiency but the business is just no longer viable. In fact, I’m not sure how long I will be able to carry the losses until I have to give up. What I am going to do then? I honestly don’t know. I may not be able to stay in Thailand and I may have to go back to the US – broke, homeless and with little chance of getting a job (nobody wants to employ someone of my age and background). I am scared of the future and I feel I am a total failure. I am worth nothing, in every sense. Larry, 55, from the US
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Anette says: ■ Dear Larry,
You are not a failure. Your feelings of self-worth may be tied up with your success in business, but your real self-worth is connected to who you are, not what you own. (Although the American way of describing your worth in terms of money really doesn’t help here…). However, after 15 years of identifying with your business, it may be hard to re-connect to who you are without it, and separate from it. In a way, what you are experiencing is a normal part of the business cycle. Up and down, profit and loss. That’s how it works. But that is not how most people think. Most of us, whether we realise it or not, model our lives on a narrative that charts a path of ‘working our way up’ and ‘succeeding against all odds.’ That this path can lead downwards again, that life includes loss and pain, that being wealthy is not the happy ever after but, for many people, a transitory state, is somehow not part of that narrative. However firmly you believe in it, it is just a narrative, a specific way of interpreting life, and not life itself. Your life is taking a different turn. And you have a choice: you can stay with that old model which now brands you as a failure and takes away your self-worth, or you can re-assess your values, including how you see yourself. If you really do lose your business, and perhaps your livelihood, you will be forced to change. You will get the chance to question everything, and you will get the chance to transform yourself. Life is offering you the other half of the cycle now, the completion of the incomplete narrative. I know it is very hard to lose what you have worked for, something you gave yourself to and that carries a lot of meaning for you. That loss is comparable
only to the death of a loved one. And you will need to go through a grieving process. But at the same time you need to remember: you are not the business, you are yourself. You need to take back what you projected into the business and become a complete person that can stand alone (and that could even create another business in the future...). Poverty, if it should come to you, is hard, but it carries no shame. You could look at it as a form of financial disease. Many of my clients seem to look at life as if it was some kind of exam – but then, I ask, what happens if you ‘pass’? Or, indeed, what if you don’t? I don’t think that this is true, I think it is another version of that false narrative so many of us carry. I believe that you can not fail at life. Your life will take a different direction, and it will be a different life. That’s all there is to it. You, however, will still be there and will still be yourself.
Worried mum
I
AM worried sick about my 14-year-old daughter whom I’ve just discovered is sexually active with a boy from school. I know this because I read her diary, which I found while I was cleaning her room. It’s a huge shock, not just because she’s a minor, but also because we come from a cultural background that rules out sex unless you’re seriously dating a person and planning to marry them. The boy is a senior in high school and I do not know him. I am worried my daughter might get an STD or fall pregnant. I really want to talk to her about this but know she will be furious that I read her diary and now know her secrets. What should I do? Helen, 41, from Hong Kong
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• Johanna DeKoning MS is the Clinical Director of NCS Counseling Center. She trained in the Netherlands and Australia.
Johanna says: ■ Dear Helen, Indeed you have created a big problem for yourself and now you carry a burden by having read your daughter’s diary. You have invaded her privacy and this will not help her to trust you. I agree with you that you should talk with your daughter in order to know whether she is aware of the potential dangers of being sexually active, whether she knows how to protect herself and to help her develop her own boundaries. How is your relationship with your daughter? Do you talk openly with her about sex, pregnancies, etc. or has this topic been avoided? It can be normal that teenage daughters close themselves off from their mothers in order to develop a sense of self. It could also be that your daughter feels you would not approve of her activities so she decided to hide them from you, or maybe she feels uncertain or ashamed or that she is ‘a bad girl.’ Try to make ‘an appointment’ with your daughter (ask her if you may come to her room to talk or create a quiet place somewhere else that gives you time and atmosphere). Tell her you have a burden on your heart you would like
to share with her. Start by admitting you secretly read her diary and feel very sorry about it, but you feel you need to talk about the content you have read. Be open, be respectful, and take your daughter seriously. Ask questions and listen. Then express your concerns about her sexual activities and ask how she feels about it. Is she having sex because she wants to or does she feel ‘she has to?’ How does she protect herself, for example by using condoms or other methods, and would she like to have help/some parental guidance for the future? If it feels right, try to talk a little about yourself, how you handled your own teenage years and what it means for you. Often when children reach the teenage years, their mothers are confronted with themselves, with their own identity and their own past and they begin to reflect how they lived their own lives, both as teenagers and now. I do not know how open you are and how you have been raised, so this could be a challenge. If you feel it would be helpful to get some help in preparing this talk with your daughter then you could connect with a counselor.
Contact info Web: ncs-counseling.com Email: anette.p@ncs-counseling.com Tel: 02 279 8503 Send your problems to: thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com
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Gourmet p Wine and restaurant news
Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square will host two celebratory buffet dinners this month. Page 50.
What’s Cooking A round up of this month’s best gourmet deals. Yummy! Page 50
Meet the chef We speak to Tapas Group’s new chef, Adolfo de la Hoz Page 66
Dining out
Our favourite restaurants reviewed and listed Page 68 TheBigChilli
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GOURMET NEWS
What’s Cooking
Bangkok’s hottest dining deals and news
Rembrandt Hotel begins restaurant renovations
■ CONSTRUCTION work has begun on a 30million baht makeover of Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok’s first floor restaurants, Señor Pico, Red Pepper and the Café. Work is scheduled to be complete in September, but in the interim fans of the restaurants can still enjoy the restaurants’ food because, during renovations, each eatery is being temporarily moved to a new location. Mexican restaurant ‘Señor Pico’ will move to the Rembrandt Towers on Sukhumvit 20, and Thai contemporary restaurant ‘Red Pepper’ and international restaurant ‘The Café’ will be temporarily relocated to Rembrandt Bangkok’s 4th floor. Breakfasts will be available at the Rembrandt III Banquet Room on the 2nd floor, from 6am-11am every day. Every day this month head to the hotel’s lobby bar or da Vinci Restaurant and you’ll find a Mango Month promotion featuring many delicious desserts such as Mango sorbet served with mango slices (B129), Coconut crème brulee and fresh mango (B195), and more. Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, 19 Sukhumvit 18 Road, Tel: 02 261 7100 ext 7532, www.rembrandtbkk.com
Lamb shank on promotion HENRY J BEAN’S BAR & GRILL, JULY 6-15
■ AMARI Watergate’s chefs are now importing prime cuts of Australian meat to create a wide range of dishes such as Braised lamb shank in red wine sauce served with mashed potato and grilled marinated king mushroom (B680), as well as Classic burgers and Chilli burgers made using Australian beef.
Cooking masterclass GRAND MILLENNIUM SUKHUMVIT, AVAILABLE NOW
■ LOOKING to impress your mates with your culinary talents but can’t even make a piece of toast without burning it? Then you might want to check out the new cooking classes at Grand Millennium Sukhumvit. Hosted by the hotel’s Executive Chef Pierre Andre Hauss, the new programme offers a choice of five classes: Thai, Spanish, French, Indian or Pastry. Held every Saturday, each class features three dishes including dessert. Half-day private classes start at 10am, with a minimum of two persons per class. Registry is B1,200++ per person (includes a chef ’s hat, an apron, a certificate and an after class lunch). Three-day advanced reservation is required. For reservation, Tel: 02 204 4121 email: fb@grandmillenniumskv.com www.grandmillenniumskv.com
Amari Watergate Bangkok, 847 Petchburi Road, Tel: 02 653 9000 ext. 350, email: watergate@amari.com www.amari.com
Raising the Patriotic Flag
THE SQUARE, JULY 4 AND 14
■ NOVOTEL on Siam Square’s all-day-dining restaurant will host two celebratory buffet dinners this month. On July 4, the American Independence Day dinner will feature a wide range of American favourites such as Smoked Texas pork ribs and Roasted turkey. Then, on July 14, the restaurant will celebrate Bastille Day with a big buffet spread of French dishes such as Duck confit, Bouillabaisse and Beef pot-au-feu. Each buffet is priced B899++ per person. Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Siam Square Soi 6,, Tel: 02 209 8888 ext. the Square www.novotelbkk.com
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New Tapas deal
WINE CONNECTION, RAIN HILL, AVAILABLE NOW
■ WINE Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro at Rain Hill community mall on Sukhumvit 47 has launched its new Tapas menu with a deal: Order five dishes from the menu and you’ll get a free bottle of house wine (50cl). Prices start at B90+ per dish. The deal is available daily from 5pm-7pm. Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro, Rain Hill, Sukhumvit 47, Tel: 02 261 7217, email: info@wineconnection.co.th
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French sweet treats
LES DELICES DELI SHOP, UNTIL JULY 31
■ NOVOTEL Bangna Bangkok’s French deli is celebrating Bastille Day, July 14, with a month-long promotion featuring a selection of authentic French pastries and cakes starting at only B50. Among the many creations are Macaroon, White chocolate cherry mousse cake, and Chocolate tart. Open 6am-9pm. After 7pm many items are half price. Novotel Bangna Bangkok, 333 Srinakarin Road, Tel: 02 366 0505 www.novotel.com/asia
Thai favourites
New Korean specialty KONGJU, UNTIL JUNLY 31
EURASIAN GRILL RESTAURANT, AVAILABLE NOW
■ RAMADA Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok is offering new set Thai dinner menus offering great value for money. A five-dish dinner is available for B690, and there’s two seven-dish options priced B890 and B1,090. For a couple to share, the five-dish dinner is B990, and the seven-dish options are B1,290 or B1,490. The menus feature Thai favourites such as Pad Thai goong (Thai style stir-fried noodles with river prawns), Tom yum goong (spicy prawn soup), and Poo pad pong gari (stir-fried crab with curry powder), and more. Served from 6pm-10pm.
■ PATHUMWAN Princess Hotel’s popular Korean restaurant has added to its menu a new dish called Ho-Bak-Kal-BeeTchim (Stewed ribs, beef or pork, served in a baby pumpkin with carrots, potato, pine nut, ginkgo nut, soy sauce, sugar, honey bee and black pepper). B320 per bowl. Lunch: 11.30am-2pm, and dinner: 5.30pm-10pm.
Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok, 2074 Charoenkrung Road, Tel: 02 688 1000 ext 118 email: menam@ramadaplazamenamriverside.com www.ramadaplazamenamriverside.com
Pathumwan Princess Hotel, 444 MBK Center, Phayathai Road, Tel: 02 216 3700 www.pprincess.com
Two-for-one dinner at Leapfrog LEAPFROG, AVAILABLE NOW
■ RAMADA Encore Bangkok’s hip rooftop restaurant has introduced a new three-course dinner priced B990 per person – or go as two diners and you pay for only one.The menu features Ahi tuna salad with balsamic reduction, Slow-cooked lamb shank with pommes croquettes, and Peach melba.Visit the restaurant on a Monday for Salsa Bachata Night (7pm-11pm) and you can enjoy Tex Mex Quesadillas starting at only B150, dance performances, and music from DJ Pepe. Ramada Encore Bangkok, 21, Sukhumvit Soi 10, Tel: 02 615 0999 www.leapfrogbkk.com
Sweet taste of Japan SHINTARO, JULY 3-16
French lamb set menu DÉJÀ VU, JULY 15 – 21
■ IF you love lamb, this seven-day promotion at Pullman Bangkok Kingpower’s trendy French restaurant is sure to tickle your fancy. A fourcourse set dinner, featuring options such as Oven baked lamb shoulder with Dijon mustard, and Pan roasted lamb rack, will be on offer priced at B2,200 per person. Go as a couple, order two sets, and you’ll get a free bottle of house wine. Dinner starts 6.30pm-10.30pm.
■ AYU, a species of fish renowned for its sweet taste, is the star of the show in a special menu being offered at Shintaro Japanese restaurant this month. Recommended dishes include Grilled sweet fish with sea salt served with date vinegar dip, Ice shocked slice sweet fish sashimi served with mustard miso, plum sauce, and Grilled sweet fish with soy sauce served with arima pepper corn on steam rice and soup. Dishes range B520-B980. Four Seasons Bangkok, 155 Rajadamri Road Tel: 02 126 8866 ext. 1239, 1240 www.fourseasons.com/bangkok
Pullman Bangkok King Power 8/2 Rangnam Road, ThanonPhayathai, Tel: 02 680 9999, email: hotel@pullmanbangkokkingpower.com www.pullmanbangkokkingpower.com
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GOURMET NEWS
Seafood sensations
New on the scene
Where to enjoy deep sea delights this month
The Local by Oamthong Thai Cuisine
World oysters
EVERY Fri-Sun until Aug 15, Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn’s all-day dining restaurant The Glass House is offering a wide range of oysters from around the world as part of its international dinner buffet. Highlights include Oysters Kilpatrick, Oyster tempura and fresh oysters. Available on Fridays and weekends, dinner is B1,199++ per adult (half price for kids under 16).
■ THAILAND’S past is lovingly showcased on the walls of this new Thai restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 23, with line drawings depicting scenes of life as it was before the city turned from tropical jungle to urban sprawl. Antique decorations such as large water jars are also carefully dotted around the dining room, and adding to this celebration of the past is the food: genuine Thai dishes made using the best ingredients and recipes passed down for generations. Highlights include Tender beef curry with shrimp paste and Thai herbs (B240++); signature Southern-style fish curry (B240++); and Charcoal-grilled seafood in bamboo tube. Before leaving, make sure to check out the restaurant’s mini museum.
Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn, 33/1 South Sathorn Road, Tel: 02 210 8100, email: gh@eastingrandsathorn.com www.eastingrandsathorn.com
Sicilian buffet
EVERY Fri and Sat until Aug 31, Italian restaurant Giorgio’s is offering a Sicilian buffet, featuring seafood, priced B800 for lunch (noon-3pm) and B1,050 for dinner (6pm-10.30pm). Free hotel shuttle boat is available at Saphan Taksin BTS every 30 minutes, from 10am-10.30pm.
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 2 Charoen Krung Road Soi 30 (Captain Bush Lane) Tel: 02 266 9214 www.sheraton.com/bangkok
Seafood Sundays
EVERY Sunday, Centara Grand at CentralWorld now holds a seafood dinner buffet at The World and Ginger. Highlights include Blue crab, Rock lobster, Pacific oysters, Sea crab and Green mussels. B1,490++ per person (includes a free flow of red and white wines). Served 6pm-10.30pm. Centara Grand at CentralWorld, 999/99 Rama 1 Road, Tel: 02 100 6255 email: diningcgcw@chr.co.th www.centarahotelsresorts.com
Rock Lobster
UNTIL July 30, Tenface Bangkok Hotel’s Wanara Eatery Restaurant is offering three special dishes made using Australian rock lobsters: Stir fried rock lobster with fresh pepper corn and avocado, Golden brown rock lobster and linguine with avocado, and Grilled rock lobster served with avocado and spring chipotle salad. Price starts B650++. Open daily 6pm-10pm. Tenface Bangkok Hotel, 81 Soi Ruamrudee 2, Wireless Road, Tel: 02 695 4242, www.tenfacebangkok.com
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32 Sukhumvit 23. Open 11.30am-2.30pm (lunch) and 5.30pm-11.30pm (dinner), Tel: 02 664 0664, 02 664 3360-1 www.thelocalthaicuisine.com
Thai Lao Yeh Restaurant ■ IF you’re craving northern Thai food but don’t have time to travel, simply head to this new restaurant under the luxury vintage-inspired Cabochon Hotel & Residence. Here you’ll find dishes from all regions of Thailand, with a particular emphasis on favourites from Chiang Mai and Isaan, as well as neighbouring Laos. The restaurant’s name, Lao Yeh, roughly translated means ‘the grand old man,’ but don’t let that fool you into thinking this restaurant’s only for old fuddy duddies – the name simply refers to the restaurant’s retro design, which features wood panels crafted from 100-year-old timber. A la carte dishes start at B90++. Order Larb Laos on your visit this month and you’ll get a free Beer Laos. 14 Sukhumvit Soi 45. Open: 11.30am-2pm (lunch) and 6pm-11pm (dinner), Tel: 02 259 2871-3 www.cabochonhotel.com
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GOURMET NEWS
New nibbles Lunch and brunch deals in Bangkok International buffet lunch
THE AETAS Bangkok’s new buffet lunch at Moments Restaurant features seafood, sushi, pasta, salad, Thai noodles, Chinese dim sum and much more. Served daily from Noon-2.30pm. B399 per person.
The AETAS Bangkok Soi Ruamrudee, Tel: 02 618 9000, email: contact@aetashotels.com www.aetashotels.com
Speedy lunch
EVERY Mon-Fri until Aug 31, Northgate Ratchayothin Serviced Residence’s Speedy Lunch promotion starts at B140++ per dish and features options such as Grilled Kurobuta pork served with steamed rice and miso soup, and Grilled Pacific dory fillet with spinach fried rice. Each dish comes with a complimentary ice-cream or fresh fruit. Served from 11.30am-2pm.
Northgate Ratchayothin Serviced Residence, 248 Ratchadapisek Road, Tel: 02 939 7949 email: reservation@northgatebangkok.com www.northgatebangkok.com
Four-for-three deal UNTIL July 31, No. 43 Italian Bistro is offering a lunch buffet for just B390 per person. Go as a party of four and you will pay for only three.
Chef’s on the move
Our gourmet spies track the comings and goings of Bangkok’s chefs Alfredo Russo returns to Rossini’s
■ ITALIAN food fans are in for a treat as Alfredo Russo, owner and chef of the one Michelin star Il Dolce Stil Novo in Turin, Italy, is coming to Bangkok from Aug 23 to Sept 1 to cook his award winning cuisine at Rossini’s, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit. During his tenure chef Alfredo will present seasonal menus for evening diners and host a wine dinner on Fri Aug 24. 250 Sukhumvit Road, Tel: 02 649 8888 www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com
New chef joins Lok Wah Hin ■ EXPECT plenty of exciting new dishes coming from Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square’s Lok Wah Hin Chinese restaurant over the next few months. The restaurant’s new chef, Hong Kong native Mr. Leung, has over 30 years’ experience working in Chinese restaurants and luxury hotels throughout Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and he’s well versed in cooking traditional and contemporary Chinese dishes from both China and Hong Kong. Visit the restaurant this month and you’ll get to try his signature Fresh fish maw in brown sauce. For more info about the restaurant see: www.novotelbkk.com
Cape House Serviced Apartments, Soi Langsuan, Tel: 02 658 7444 ext. 285 www.capehouse.com
Hot News
Scenic brunch
THE St. Regis Bangkok is offering a New Yorkstyle gourmet brunch at VIU featuring fine fare such as foie gras, shellfish on ice, slowroasted prime ribs, cold cuts and a selection of P.D.O. cheeses. B2,400++ per person including unlimited St. Regis Bloody Marys, signature Martinis, soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea. Noon-4pm. St. Regis Bangkok, 159 Rajadamri Road, Tel: 02 207 7777 www.stregis.com
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Crepes & Co. on the move ■ THE Sukhumvit Soi 12 branch of popular Mediterranean restaurant chain Crepes & Co will move at the end of July to a new location on Langsuan Soi 1. Look out for more info in next month’s issue. For more info about the restaurant and its various branches see: crepesnco.com
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GOURMET FEATURE
All set for Charity Dinner of the year A royal occasion, with culinary excellence and plenty of glamour ■ BANGKOK’S leading chefs are preparing to join forces in arguably the biggest culinary occasion of the year – the 2012 Bangkok Chefs Charity Gala Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental on August 17. No less than 22 of these wizards of the wok will work together in groups according to nationality and produce a spectacular menu fit, quite literally, for a princess. For presiding over this annual event will be HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who was also guest of honour at last year’s Gala Dinner. Each dish will be paired with some outstanding wines provided by sponsors Wine Dee Dee, Wine Gallery, G Four, Italthai, Vanichwathana (Bangkok) Co., Ltd., Italasia, Canpac Beverages and Siam Winery. Adding a touch of glamour once again will be sisters Khun Nuntiya and Khun Patcharin Hame-ung-gull, general managers of fine food importer and supplier Gourmet One, who originated the idea of a charity dinner four years ago. “Our concept from the start is to organize a fundraiser to give back to society while also showcasing the quality, creativity and distinct style of Bangkok’s foremost food and beverage professionals,” said Khun Nuntiya. Part of the proceeds this year will again benefit Border Patrol Police Schools under the Patronage of HRH Princess Sirindhorn; the remaining funds will go towards improvements in the livelihood and education of underprivileged children in the remote Amphur Omkoy in Chiang Mai. Other sponsors include The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Rougie (Foie Gras and Gastronomy since 1875), Valrhona, Kobe Cuisine, De Cecco, TWG and Lavazza coffee. Hotels represented by their chefs include Dusit Thani Bangkok; Dusit Thani Pattaya; Sheraton Pattaya Resort; Sofitel So Bangkok; The St. Regis Bangkok; Four Seasons Hotel; Shangri-La Bangkok; Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit; Plaza Athenee Bangkok, A Royal Meridien Hotel; Renaissance Bangkok; Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit; Intercontinental Bangkok; Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok; JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok; Centara Grand at CentralWorld; Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok; The Landmark Bangkok; Siam Kempinski; Conrad Bangkok; Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, Chiang Mai; and Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Tickets are B10,000 per seat (for tables of 10). Event will start at 6.30pm. For more information and reservations, contact Gourmet One on Tel. 02 403 3388 ext. 508 or email: bcc2011@gourmet-one.com, or, call Khun Rachanee (F&B Dept.), Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Tel: 02 659 0302
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REVIEW VIE WINE & GRILL
CUISINE WITH A CELEBRITY TOUCH AT VIE WINE & GRILL Culinary guru Marco Pierre White shared advice with VIE Hotelʼs executive chef – and the results are delicious!
IT’S A DEAL THROUGHOUT July the restaurant is offering a ‘Come 3 pay 2’ deal on its delightful French buffet dinner. Available Mon – Sat from 6.30pm-10.30pm at B850++ per person.
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VIE Hotel Bangkok’s VIE Wine & Grill is home to perhaps one of Bangkok’s best kept secrets – an allyou-can-eat buffet lunch featuring cold cuts, salads, pastas, Asian favourites and a selection of bistrostyle French cuisine for just B500++. It’s not the only highlight, either. Pick up the a la carte menu at any time of the day and you’ll spot a good selection of exquisite gourmet dishes, including one special creation that was supervised and approved by British celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White. The dish, Hokkaido scallop with XO risotto and Japanese mushrooms in a Yuzu butter sauce and Shaoxing wine emulsion (B950++), is the brainchild of VIE
Hotel’s Executive Chef, Supat Chinsangtip, but it was fine-tuned by Chef Marco at a culinary workshop he recently hosted in Singapore for top chefs in the region who want to share ideas and raise industry standards. Chef Supat is one of those chefs, and at the workshop his creative recipe immediately caught the eye of the British master chef who tweaked the dish to Michelin star standards. After all, Chef Marco certainly knows how to please the discerning palates of Michelin star judges. When he first completed his chef’s training in 1987 he opened Harvey’s restaurant in London and steered it to two Michelin star success. Later, he enjoyed similar success in 1994 at The Restaurant Marco Pierre White in
the dining room at the former Hyde Park Hotel, now Mandarin Oriental, which was awarded one Michelin star. He’s trained top chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone and appeared on TV shows such as Hell’s Kitchen, The Chopping Block and Celebrity Big Brother. In short, he’s a culinary genius. Presenting fusion food at its finest, the dish at VIE takes Italian Risotto and gives it an Asian spin. The silky flesh of the scallops combined with the robust bite of the risotto results in wonderful textures, and there’s plenty of rich and delicious flavour present, especially in the mushrooms, Yuzu butter sauce and Shaoxing wine emulsion. If this dish doesn’t take your fancy, though, you can always opt for
one of the signature dishes created by Chef Supat’s culinary colleagues, including Homemade duck confit with Lyonnaise potato, wild mushroom and port wine sauce (B750++), created by French Executive Sous Chef Jérôme Chautard, or Poached sea bass with green pea puree and Asian mixed herbs served with Miso Japanese (B650++), created by Thai Executive Sous Chef Phongsawat Partumwan. Featuring cosy couches and elegant mahogany decor, and operated by a staff that tends to your every need, VIE Wine & Grill is a perfect choice for a business lunch, a fun gathering with friends, or even a romantic dinner. Located a two minutes’ walk from Ratchathewi BTS, it’s easy to get to, too. VIE Luncheon opens from 12pm-3pm; Dinner Buffet opens from 6.30pm10.30pm; and VIE Lazy Sunday Brunch from 11.30am-3pm.. VIE Hotel Bangkok, 117/39-40 Phaya Thai Road. Tel: 02 309 3939, www.viehotelbangkok.com
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GOURMET NEWS
Bangkok Beefsteak & Burgundy
Impressive Italian cuisine at Rossano’s
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HE old guard at Bangkok B&B handed over to the new at a longstanding favourite restaurant with Bangkok diners, namely Rossano’s. A full house, 22 diners in total, were present to witness the presentation of a framed copy of one of the first restaurant reviews published in 1983 soon after the opening of the original Rossano’s restaurant, gratefully received by Gennari Rossano; veteran food critic Luigi Vercotti himself came out of retirement to make the presentation and later to present a plaque celebrating David Dean’s retirement as Secretary after his 92nd B&B lunch. Wining started with a very acceptable Champagne Duval Leroy brut rosé accompanied by the amuse bouche which included mini-pizzas and other tasty savoury offerings. Food spokesman for
once, Thomas Nowak introduced the first dish, Thinly sliced veal with sauce of tuna, capers, anchovies and black truffle with Arugula leaves; the veal was excellent and not overpowered by the tuna sauce. Jock Tulloch had recommended for this and the next dish Yalumba Pinot Grigio 2009 (S Australia). David Dean, made to work hard as wine spokesman, thought the pinot fell a little short of his expectations but nevertheless proved to be a good match for the starting dishes. Next came Fresh homemade Scialatielli pasta with clams sauté and stewed giant octopus in white wine sauce. Fortunately for Thomas, he was not called upon to actually pronounce ‘Scialatielli,’ thus avoiding a possible language battle between him and the serving staff. Instead, he praised the merits of the dish which included a good helping of the aforementioned clams (and a little sand to prove they came fresh from the sea). The principal wine, Castelferro Ricasoli 2004 (Tuscany, merlot and sangiovese), arrived a little late but the wait was well rewarded. It was peppery with black cherry and plum hints and with enough acidity to pull things together. Thomas (and nearly everyone else) enjoyed the Sliced Angus beef tenderloin, with grilled zucchini, tomato, rosemary and black olive sauce, though he was not alone in pointing to the cold plates on which it had been served. The cheese platter was exceptional and the lady serving us was able to correctly identify the names of the five or six cheeses drawn from the length of Italy and piled on our plates. C J Pask 2002 (NZ Hawkes Bay, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot) proved to be an excellent match for the cheese; a solid red in a moderately full-flavoured style and reasonably assertive tannins proving that merlot can be successfully matched to the palates of even those B&B drinkers who normally favour shiraz. To conclude, there was a homemade lemoncello for our enjoyment. The servers had worked hard for their tips and provided good service throughout the lunch receiving deserved compliments with which the lunch ended. Rossano’s, Sukhumvit 21. Open daily 11.30am-2pm, and 6pm-11pm. Tel: 02 260 1861
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GOURMET NEWS
Gourmet scrapbook
Last month’s wine events in focus
German Culinary Gala at Siam Kempinski ■ AS part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Thai-German diplomatic relations, The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok hosted a gala dinner in the hotel’s Chadra Ballroom. Special guests on the night included German Ambassador Rolf Schulze; Mr. Holger Schroth, general manager of Siam Kempinski Bangkok; Mr. Hagen Dirksen, German Honorary Consul; Khun Wanpen Sakdatorn; M.R Malinee Chakrabandhu; Khun Kamolsut Dabbaransi; and many Thai celebs. The evening featured a range of exquisite dishes specially prepared by celebrity chefs Sirichalerm ‘McDang’ Svasti and Reiner Calmund.
Cooking for health at Samitivej ■ Samitivej Hospital held a cooking class in June which featured three weight-loss menus designed by Sodexo Chef Cheewin Kachendecha, and a talk on ‘Acupuncture for Weight Loss’ by Dr. Teerapong Tangaramvong, Traditional Chinese Medicine Specialist. Menu highlights on the day included Spicy and sour salad with calcium fish, and Papilotte of tilapia with roasted tomato dip served with Jasberry LO-GI Rice and Bircher muesli. Cooking classes are held at the hospital every month. For more info see: www.samitivejhospitals.com 62
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Gourmet celebrations at Parkview ■ PARKVIEW Restaurant at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel Bangkok celebrated its first anniversary since re-opening after renovations with a five-day buffet promotion featuring delicious Spanish cuisine as prepared by Chef Jordi Bernus, formerly of the famous elBulli Restaurant in Spain.The deal was opened with a sneak preview party attended by Antonio Millan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Spain. Ingredients and wine for the promotion were supplied by Goodserve Co. Ltd.
FTA Summer Dinner ■ THE fifth annual “Fred Tibbits & Associates Summer Dinner at Bangkok with Very Special Friends” was held this year at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok, A Royal Meridien Hotel, and once again it drew a huge crowd of hotel and restaurant national account executives, press, educators and industry VIPs, who all enjoyed a night of top quality cuisine and celebrating the success of this year’s awards recipients. For more info see: www.fredtibbitts.com
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GOURMET Q&A
Bar Banter
This month: Peter Carter The manager of the Robin Hood pub lets us in on a few trade secrets
When did you first come to Thailand and what brought you here? I first came to Thailand in 1990 while I was on a six month trip through Asia. I fell in love with the place, and I returned on countless occasions. When did you first join Robin Hood? I started in October 2011 when the fear of Bangkok flooding was at its highest – and one of my first deliveries was 150 sandbags
Do you have any interesting plans for the Robin Hood over the next few months? We want to increase the number of music events in the coming months, with the next up being Popscene on Friday July 13. And I am in talks with people working in the Thai Music industry about bringing new or recently signed acts to the pub (check out our facebook page for details). We are also in the process of revamping our menu. Our popular pub favourites will stay, but we want to offer our customers some new fresh dishes with the focus being on improved recipes with a superior quality of produce from our suppliers.
Have you always managed pubs? I learned the trade working on the Greek islands more than 20 years ago. I then managed bars in Liechtenstein and English/Irish pubs in Zurich, Switzerland. Music played a key role in the success of these bars, with the emphasis on the British indie scene and local live acts, and this is something that I am trying to replicate at the Robin Hood pub.
What nights are best to visit the pub and why? All nights are different. Saturdays and Sundays are dominated by the major sporting events, the Monday night Quiz is really popular, and Thursdays and Fridays focus on our Brit-pop and Indie playlists, and hopefully a lot more live music events.
Is managing a pub here different to managing a pub in Europe? Yes, you can’t and shouldn’t try to manage staff in a European way. You must accept that it’s a very different culture, and that you need to adapt if you want to work together successfully.
Finally, what’s the best bar joke you’ve ever heard? All the jokes that I remember are far too rude for publication, but if you pop in I will gladly tell you them.
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You’ve got quite an extensive food menu. What’s your most popular dish? Our English style fish and chips and our range of burgers are very popular.
Robin Hood, 597-597/1-3 P.B Building Sukhumvit 33/1 (near Phrom Phong BTS). Tel: 02 662 3390. www.robinhoodbangkok.com
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GOURMET PERSONALITY
Meet the chef: T Adolfo de la Hoz Just two months into his new job as Executive Chef at Tapas Café and Spanish on 4, Adolfo de la Hoz has already raised the bar for Spanish cuisine in Bangkok
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HE first thing we heard about the Tapas group’s new Executive Chef, Adolfo de la Hoz, was that he has the same smoldering good lucks as Halle Berry’s fiancée, Olivier Martinez. The second thing we heard is that he’s hot stuff in the kitchen (steady there, readers of Fifty Shades Of Grey), with a culinary background that includes stints working in five-star hotels and even a Michelin starred restaurant in Bilbao, Spain. And when we recently dropped by Spanish on 4 for a leisurely lunch, and ordered several plates of our favourite Tapas, one thing was clear: the impact of his employment has been immediate. The restaurant’s food has gone from good to great. Born and raised in Valladolio, roughly 200km north of Madrid, Adolfo has always been interested in cooking. “My grandfather had a restaurant and when I was young I would love to go into the kitchen to watch him hard at work,” says Adolfo. “He’d use only the best ingredients to cook his dishes, and he really taught me the philosophy of keeping things simple but tasty. It was there that I fell in love with food.” Keen to channel his love of cooking into a job, in 1989 Adolfo enrolled into Hotel and Tourism School in Santiago de Compostela. Five years later he began a career that would take him to top restaurants around Spain, such as Gaudi, a fine dining restaurant at the five-star H10 Playa Meloneras Palace, Gran Canaria; and Perenquen Tapas Restaurant, the flagship restaurant of the five-star Hotel Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort. Adolfo also honed his skills working for a short period at the Andra Mari Restaurant in Bilbao, which is famous for its traditional cuisine made using recipes that are over 30 years old, and which holds one Michelin star. A keen traveler, Adolfo has always used his holidays to visit new countries to learn more about their cuisines. “Every time I go somewhere new I head straight to the local market,” he says. “At markets you see a cuisine at its source; you see all the ingredients needed to make local dishes. It’s fascinating.” It was on one such trip that he came to Thailand, “where even the street is a buffet.” Like so many visitors before him, he immediately fell in love with the kingdom and realized it was a place he could live. And then he discovered the job with the Tapas group.
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“It really was a dream come true,” he says with a smile that would raise any woman’s pulse. “To be able to create cuisine for popular restaurants such as Tapas Café and Spanish on 4 is just perfect for me. Guy, the restaurants’ owner, has also given me the task of raising the standards at both restaurants, and it’s a challenge I’m relishing.” Adolfo’s magic touch is already evident at both restaurants in subtle tweaks he’s made to tried and tested menu favourites such as Gambas al Ajillo (Prawns in spicy garlic sauce. B150++), whose spiciness has been toned down for a better balanced dish, and Tortilla de Patatas (Potato and onion omelette. B100++), which is now more moist and flavoursome. Adolfo also oversees daily baked bread (country-style
Chef’s recipe
Salmon (or Tuna) Tartar Ingredients for 6-8 tapas sized portions • • • •
300 gm fresh salmon, or (sushi grade) tuna 1 green apple, peeled and cored 1 medium local cucumber, peeled and deseeded (the fish should be roughly half by volume)
Vinaigrette
with a delicious crispy crust) which is just perfect for dipping in garlic butter and meatballs in tomato sauce; and each week he even creates a new specials menu (the same at each restaurant) which offers a long list of enticing dishes made using seasonal ingredients. On our visit, this included a delicious Pork tenderloin with green parsley rice (B150++), Chilled strawberry and tomato soup with goat’s cheese (B150++), and Salmon tartar with cucumber (B180++).You can have a sneak preview of what the latter tastes like by following the recipe on the right. “I use modern methods when I cook Spanish cuisine, but the tastes will always be authentic and traditional,” says Adolfo. “Over the next few months I plan to add all sorts of wonderful new creations to the menu. Every time diners come here they should have a great experience. And this is exactly what I aim to give them with my food.” Tapas Café, Bangkok’s first authentic Tapas restaurant, is located midway down Sukhumvit Soi 11 on the left (short walk from Nana BTS. Tel: 02 651 2947.) Spanish on 4 is located on Silom Soi 4 (short walk from Sala Daeng BTS. Tel: 02 632 9955). Both restaurants offer the same menu. Check www.tapasiarestaurants.com for daily deals.
• • • • •
1 1 1 1 5
tablespoon Dijon Mustard tablespoon red wine vinegar tablespoon (yellow) lemon juice teaspoon sugar tablespoons olive oil
Method • The fish, apple and cucumber should be cut into neat 3 mm dice. Refrigerate. • To make the vinaigrette, mix the mustard, sugar, vinegar and lemon juice together well then slowly incorporate the olive oil to form an emulsion. • Mix the vinaigrette into the three main ingredients using enough to coat and bind the salad together. The quantity above will be slightly too much. Season with plenty of salt and pepper to taste. • To serve, mold the salad using a ring, or ramekin, then decorate with apple matchsticks, cucumber slices, a sprig of parsley...
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GOURMET DINING OUT
Where to eat
Your ultimate dining companion
Recommended restaurants and bars Spanish cuisine
Thai cuisine
Tapas Café
Basil
Tapas restaurant is comfortable and lively and busy every night. Every dish on the menu has its own unique and delicious flavors – Embutidos Mixtos (A selection of Spanish ham and sausages); Gambas al Ajillo (Prawns in spicy garlic sauce); Chiperones Plancha (Grilled baby squid). Simply close your eyes and pick dishes at random; with tastes this good, you can’t go wrong. Daily lunch specials featuring three selections of Tapas are priced at B280++. And daily from 11am - 7pm sangria is two-for-one and all Tapas is buy-two-get-one-free.
a modern interior, but the décor is still unmistakably Thai. There are several private rooms, making it good for a business lunch or small private function. The menu is extensive, but emphasizes light and fresh items that are easy to eat. The menu indicates the level of spiciness of each dish. The impeccable service and pleasant surroundings make this one of the best places on Sukhumvit Road for Thai food. On Sundays, Basil and its neighbouring restaurants participate in the Sheraton’s renowned Jazz Brunch Buffet.
•Bangkok’s first authentic Spanish
Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Nana BTS), Tel: 02 651 2947 www.tapasiarestaurants.com
Rioja
•Enjoy a taste of
northern Spain at this cozy restaurant featuring authentic cuisine from Rioja province. The gazpacho, a cold pureed vegetable soup, is perfect for Bangkok’s hot and humid weather. Other delights include imported Spanish ham and some great seafood. The set lunches are great bargains. A large variety of Spanish wines are available and demonstrate why wines from the Iberian Peninsula are often a bargain.
•This restaurant has
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit Soi 12 (BTS Asoke or MRT Sukhumvit) Tel: 02 649 8888
Patara
•Patara is a well-managed Thai
restaurant with a menu of delicious Thai dishes done in a contemporary style. The restaurant, the Bangkok outlet of a worldwide chain operated by S&P of Thailand, is modern, relatively small and blessed with lots of onsite parking. The spices, flavours and aromas are unmistakably Thai, but the food is unique without going overboard. Salient examples include the Slices of Raw Tuna in a Lime and Lemongrass Vinaigrette, and Braised New Zealand Lamb in Massaman Curry.
Ploenchit Rd, Central department store side, (adjacent to BTS Chidlom), Tel 02 251 5761 www.riojath.com
375 Soi Thonglor 19, Sukhumvit 55, Tel: 02 185 2960 www.patarathailand.com
Spanish on 4
•The flagship restaurant
•
This sister branch of the ever popular Tapas Cafe (Sukhumvit Soi 11) is a great place to enjoy lunch or dinner with friends or a loved one. The menu offers a wide range of Spanish Tapas, imported hams and cheeses, as well as weekly changing regional specials. The restaurant is modern and airy with a busy informal atmosphere and attracts a diverse cosmopolitan crowd. Good value and authentic Spanish food. 78 Silom Soi 4. Opposite Soi Convent (BTS Saladaeng), Tel: 02 632 9955. www.tapascafebangkok.com.
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Benjarong
of the flagship hotel in the Thai owned Dusit chain. This place has got to be good and it doesn’t disappoint. The interior is substantial with subdued lighting, heavy chairs and carpeting - definitely not a place for singlets and flip-flops. A large window looks out at a waterfall with outdoor seating surrounding it. The menu consists primarily of Royal Thai cuisine dishes, although less august items are also available. The wine list is excellent and the service impeccable. Dusit Thani Hotel, Junction Silom and Rama IV Rds, (BTS Saladaeng or MRT Silom),Tel: 02 200 9000
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French cuisine
American cuisine
Le Normandie
•The doyen of Bangkok’s hotel restaurants, Le Normandie has
been serving fine French food to royalty, tycoons and we ordinary folk since the 1950s. Elegant is the best way to describe the interior and there are great views of the Chao Phraya to boot. World famous chef Guy Martin is a consultant and what comes out of the kitchen reflects his standards. The wine list is wide ranging and features some of the world’s finest and most expensive wines. Jackets are required in the evening and children under 12 aren’t permitted. The Oriental Bangkok, (BTS Saphan Taksin, then take the hotel’s shuttle boat), Tel: 02 659 9000
Lyon
•This French restaurant
keeps chugging along, fuelled by a group of regulars who continue returning to its homely comforts. Although a portion of the menu changes regularly, several signature dishes have remained for years. Favourites with many customers include Rabbit in white wine sauce, and mushrooms and frog legs sautéed with garlic and dry sherry. There is a walk-in wine cabinet where you can select your wine. The restaurant is located in a converted house with parking out front.
Hard Rock Café
•This international icon needs no intro-
duction to anyone. From opening until 10pm, the Bangkok version is a restaurant serving casual American food while lots of good music emits from the sound system, and an attached retail shop does a booming business selling Hard Rock memorabilia. But after 10pm, HRC morphs into a different animal. Patrons under 20 have to leave, live music comes on stage and the place begins to rock. Always popular with Siam Square regulars and tourists from all over the world, this is one of those places everyone has to visit at least once. Siam Square, Soi 11, (BTS Siam) Tel: 02 251 0792 www.hardrockcafe.co.th
Roadhouse Barbecue
•Barbecued food from the
American south is a great antidote for the negative impression created by the pap served by American fast food chains. For excellent BBQ ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, hickory smoked beef brisket, and a lot more, try this place.There is a large exhibition kitchen, featuring an open flame BBQ and two wood smokers. Up on the third floor, you can watch sports on big screen TVs, play billiards or throw darts. Lots of fun and loads of good eats. Junction of Surawongse and Rama IV Rds (MRT Silom or BTS Saladaeng) www.roadhousebarbecue.com
Soi Ruam Rudee, 250m from Ploenchit Rd, (BTS Ploenchit), Tel: 02 253 8141
Paris Bangkok
•French food lovers should definitely take the time to seek out
this hidden gem on Sala Daeng 1/1. Located in a wonderfully renovated town-house with a modern Asian design, it has a French chef with Michelin star experience in the kitchen and offers up a wide range of traditional French dishes with a touch of creative flair. Highlights include Duck leg confit, turnip with honey and rosemary (B390++) and French foie gras ‘Torchon’, onion and ginger marmelade, homemade butter ‘brioche’ (B520++). 120 Soi Saladeang 1/1, Silom, Bangrak, Tel: 02 233 1990 email: dany@parisbangkok.com www.parisbangkok.com
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GOURMET DINING OUT
Mexican cuisine
Indian Cuisine
Coyote Bangkok²
Bawarchi
•Bawarchi first
T
equila, Margaritas and Mexican food are what this place is all about. The tequila collection is the largest in Thailand and over 75 different margaritas are served. The menu is diverse and not only possesses the requisite Tacos, Enchiladas, and Burritos, but also more elaborate items like Empanadas Carnitas - cornmeal pastries stuffed with spicy pork and a roasted tomato salsa. Although popular at lunch, the Coyote really howls in the evening when the after work crowd stumbles in for margaritas and a bite to eat. The best news is that there are now two branches – one located on Convent road, and one near the entrance of Sukhumvit Soi 33. Coyote on Convent: Convent Road, about 100m from Silom Road, (BTS Saladaeng) Open daily 11.00 - 01.00 Tel. 02 631 2325 www.coyoteonconvent.com Ladies Night on Wednesday, 6-8pm and Saturday 10-midnight. Coyote Sukhumvit: near the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 33 (BTS Phromphong) Open daily 11.00-01.00 Tel. 02 662 3838 www.coyotebangkok.com. Ladies Night on Thursday, 6-8pm.
Señor Pico’s
•Tacos, enchiladas,
burritos and many other Mexican goodies provide the fuel for a fun night out at this popular restaurant at the Rembrandt Hotel and Towers. The atmosphere here is convivial, and drinking margaritas, having a good time, and dancing to the live Latin music is as much a part of the experience as eating. Not to miss are the appetizers Bolas De Queso Con Chiles (B240++) and Pinchos De Camarones (B290++). For mains, the Burritos at Senor Pico are always good, and we really like the Espetadas (skewers), which come with garlic potatoes and chopped zucchini with cream. Rembrandt Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 18 (BTS Asoke or MRT Sukhumvit), Tel: 02 261 7100
Tacos & Salsa
•Starting out in 2008 as a
small eatery with just four tables, this restaurant fast gained a glowing reputation and had to relocate to a larger premises to meet demand. Boasting full bar service, indoor and alfresco dining, an extensive menu, and spaces to learn more about Latin American / Hispanic culture (music, movies, photography, literature etc.) the restaurant perfectly captures the essence of the expression “Mi casa es tu casa” (my home is yours). Tacos & Salsa, 422 Sukhumvit Rd, Tel: 081 381 5469 www.tacosandsalsa.com
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arrived in Bangkok 13 years ago and now operates four restaurants here, as well as three in India. Its menu reflects the traditional Mughlai cuisine in North West India and the food on offer is as authentic as it gets. Skewered tandoori meats (king prawn, lamb, chicken) are a definite highlight, as are the curries – lovely and thick and bursting with flavour. Meals at Bawarchi’s flagship branch in Chidlom average at B700-B1,000 per head and you really do get what you pay for. Bawarchi Chidlom, Intercontinental Hotel (President Tower Arcade) B-level, 973 Ploenchit Road, Tel: 02 656 0102-3. For a full menu see: www.bawarchiindian.com
Himali Cha Cha
•Himali Cha Cha has long
been a popular choice for North Indian and Halal cuisine and now operates four branches in Bangkok. Each restaurant always draws a big crowd of diners looking to enjoy an authentic Moghul curry, and as all food is prepared with freshly ground spices and natural ingredients, they’re not disappointed. Meat from the specially designed tandoori oven is always delicious, too. For those who love their food spicy, try the Mutton Chutniwalla. There are four restaurants in Bangkok: Charoenkrung 47/1, Saphan Taksin BTS; Sukhumvit 31, Phrompong BTS; Soi Convent, Saladaeng BTS; Nana 3/5, Nana BTS. Deliveries also available
Rang Mahal
•Ask a member of
the local Indian community which is the best Indian restaurant in Bangkok and the answer is invariably ‘Rang Mahal.’ The food is primarily from the Punjab with lots of items from the Tandoor oven, including always-popular tandoor chicken and a variety of Indian flat breads. The interior of the restaurant is lavish without coming across as ticky-tacky; the view from the hotel’s 26th floor is one of the best in the city and there is live Indian music to entertain in the evenings. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday buffet brunch. Rembrandt Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 18 (BTS Asoke or MRT Sukhumvit), Tel: 02 261 7100
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FEATURE MUSIC
FORMER PATANA STUDENT JOINS HOT NEW BOY BAND, THE UNITED ike Move over Take That! Me the Watson and his mates ar d new kids on the block, ans they’re hungr y for succes
STEP
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Age: 2
TEUS
Age: 18
GABRIE L
Age: 2
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MIKE
Age: 20
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I MANUEL
Age: 20
IT is always nice to hear success stories coming from people with close links to Thailand. One currently worthy of mention is Mike Watson, son of the well known Bangkok based CEO of Diethelm Travel Group, John Watson. Mike, who spent a number of years studying at Bangkok Patana School before moving on to Repton in the UK, has been chosen by Collings Entertainment, a wellknown Scandinavian music company, to be part of a new European five-piece boy-band called The United. Mike’s band mates include Step from Italy, Manuel from Germany, Gabriel from Sweden, and Teus from the Netherlands. On YouTube, they have had over 700,000 views without even releasing their first single. On Facebook, they have over 50,000 fans, and on Twitter they have more than 160,000 followers (one of the biggest accounts in London). John recalls teaching Mike his first chords on the guitar. “I guess I was always a frustrated musician and wanted to give Mike the basics to see if he could make something of it. My Mum was a first-class piano player, soprano singer and music teacher, plus Mike’s maternal Grandmother is an excellent singer (as is Mike’s sister, Sarah.) So, he has the raw ingredients – the genes.” It’s ironic that Mike, a lifelong Manchester City fan, ended up joining a band called The United, the nickname of his favourite club’s bitterest rivals. And he readily admits that this made it awkward when telling his family. “After having met Chris Collings and his team, I was extremely excited about the opportunity,” he says. “My only concern really was how to break the news to my Grandfather, Harry, as to what the name of the band would be. He has been a ‘Blue’ all his life (he is over 80 now) and attends every home game. Anyway, he was fine about it, but he has made me promise to get a box at City if we make the progress we hope to!” One of the unique things about The United is their desire to stay really close and accessible to their fans. Every Sunday, at 1600 GMT, they post a video about their exploits. They also have a “Fan of the Week’ section and already enjoy being recognised by their fans throughout the world wherever they travel. Never too tired or busy to make a connection with a fan, they will gladly pose for photographs and sign autographs. The BigChilli recently caught up with the band to see how they’re getting on. At what age did you start taking a serious interest in music and why?
Step: It was when I was about 16 that I realized singing was what I really wanted to do in life, so I joined one of the most important choirs in Italy and since then I have learned so much about singing and music in general.
Manuel: I think it was when I was about 10 or 11 when it started. I saw some young stars and I wanted to be like them – making some music. Gabriel: I’ve been singing as long as I can remember. Both of my parents are musicians so music has always been around me. But I started to think that music is what I want to do for a living when I was about 15, about the same age you could choose to study music in school. I felt it was so much more ‘for me’ than other subjects. Teus: I started to like music when I was nine years old. I wanted to attend a Dutch TV show called The Soundmix Show, which features kids performing like their favourite artists. I always wanted to sing and make music and be an artist. And why…because I saw all those other kids performing and thought to myself ‘I want that too!’ Mike: I’ve been brought up in a musical family so music has always been a part of my life. I took up the guitar with the ‘help’ of my dad when I was about 6 or 7 and the drums a few years later. Which artists have inspired you?
Step: No-one in particular, but if I had to name one it would be Justin Timberlake. Manuel: At the start my biggest inspiration was Destiny’s Child, now it’s Beyonce and her solo work. Gabriel: There are so many, but if I had to choose a few; Maroon 5, The Script, Chris Brown, Javier Colon, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Justin Bieber, Oasis, Paramore. Teus: I started singing for real when I was 12 and my inspiration came from High School Musical, especially the singer/actor Zac Efron. Another inspiration is Chris Brown. Mike: There are many artists/bands who have inspired me, most notably Oasis, Stereophonics, Coldplay, Paolo Nutini, The Beatles, Santana and, of course, MJ…I could go on all day! How do you see the United in three years time?
Step: Hopefully working on our second or third album while performing on a worldwide tour. Manuel: Hopefully as the biggest boy band in the world! Gabriel: In three years I hope and think we’ll be an established band with great success, but the most important thing for me is that people listen to, and enjoy, our music.
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FEATURE MUSIC Manuel: Me! Haha. Gabriel: Haha, weird question…me of course! No, just kidding. I don’t really have an answer on that one, we all have different looks, let the girls decide! Teus: Well, to be honest, all the Dutch ladies like Mike the most. They said he is the most handsome guy in the band. Mike: Let’s let the fans decide, haha. Which countr y would you most like to tour?
Step: I’d love to tour all around the US and I’m pretty sure the guys agree with me! Manuel: That’s simple – The United States or Germany.
T
Teus: Hopefully, we will be successful and enjoying what we all want to do – singing and have a big worldwide tour.
Mike: Who knows in this business? If I was being optimistic, I would see us headlining our first world arena tour on the back of a few number 1s. What have you enjoyed most about being in The United so far?
Step: Everything! Literally every single moment with the guys is just a whole lot of fun! Manuel: All the interesting places and the work in the studio.
Gabriel: Many things! Meeting the band, they are the boys! We are like brothers. The management, producers and everyone who’s working with us! And, of course, the experience in the studios and travelling. It’s been amazing! Teus: Meeting the guys and the management and having a lot of fun together. Just being together.
Mike: I have enjoyed so much I do not know where to start. Firstly, meeting the rest of the guys. Although we haven’t been together for all that long, we are already close mates. Secondly, it’s great fun travelling the world recording music. What have you not liked about the experience so far?
Step: Nothing – except sometimes the waiting when we record in the studio one by one, but I always have three more guys to chill with, so it’s cool. Manuel: All the flying – it takes so long! Gabriel: Not anything really…well, early mornings, if that counts. Teus: Travelling alone. Mike: Having to wait to release some material for everyone! Who is the best looking band member?
Step: Er…Me? Haha…No, I think we’re all pretty good looking boys!
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Gabriel: The whole world! But if I had to choose one I think it would be America. I’ve never been there! Teus: It doesn’t matter to me. I’m already happy if we can do a tour. But the UK or US would be amazing. Mike: Being from the UK, obviously it would be great to tour on my own turf. But having lived in Asia and the US, it would be nice to go there also. In fact, it would be cool to go anywhere that would take and want us! When will you release your first single?
Step: We’ve been recording many tracks and we’re currently looking for the right song to be our first single, so we can’t really tell at the moment, but hopefully very soon! Manuel: Well…I don’t know. Someone should ask our management. Gabriel: Ask our management. I don’t really know. Hopefully in a few months! Teus: We don’t know yet. Hopefully after the summer. Mike: We’re all working hard to release our first single ASAP, but keep an eye on our FB, YouTube, and Twitter pages for updates. We asked John what his plans would be if son Mike made it big-time in the music industry. “Unfortunately, Mike has rejected my request to become his PA – flying around the world, meeting interesting people, seeing fascinating places, learning new cultures, staying in fine hotels. Fortunately, my job at Diethelm Travel allows me to do that anyway!” Mike just handed in his dissertation at the University of Manchester so the timing is perfect for him to attack his music career full-time. Will they be the next ‘Take That’ or ‘One Direction’ (who they are now being compared to) - who knows? What is certain is that they are already making waves in the music industry. Devised and managed by Chris Collings and Tim Byrne, The United are destined for great things. All of us at The BigChilli wish Mike and the band well and look forward to them playing in Bangkok soon. For more info about The United: YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/TheUnited TWITTER: www.twitter.com/TheUnitedTweet FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/theunitedofficial WEBSITE: www.theunitedofficial.com
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FEATURE MUSIC
F O E C A F G N I G N A THE CH Y R T S U D N I C I S U M E TH
Chris Craker, owner of Karma Sound Studios in Bang Saray, has been at the forefront of the music industry for over 30 years. Here, he explains the challenges facing artists in the digital age and how the music biz has evolved
L
LONG gone are the days when a cigar smoking record company exec strolled in to a bar, spotted a great talent singing in the corner, signed them up, spent loads of money making an album in a top end studio, and chart success was enjoyed by all – everyone getting rich in the process… The chances are, now, that 75% of the records you hear on the radio started life in the bedroom of the song writer, recorded on a laptop and then hawked around the labels by the artist or their manager. Even to get to this stage they will have had to demonstrate that an audience really exists for the music through showing a six figure number of Facebook ‘likes’! Many of the songs you hear these days are actually released on independent labels or by the artists themselves through aggregators of digital content online, with Apple’s iTunes being the major distributor of music on the planet. There are so many reasons why the music industry has evolved this way – piracy and theft are the major reasons, with mismanagement, corruption and greed being others. And, finally, we’ve developed a society where our kids now perceive that “everything on the Internet should be free.” Piracy and theft in the music industry in South East Asia has been a well known and age old problem, but it’s also matched in Russia, China and many other countries around the globe… So let’s not just think that it’s Thailand that has perpetrated the crime! The standard ‘dodges’ and tricks where
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NEW COLUM
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Chris Crake
CD manufacturing plants press double the number of copies than those ‘published’ and released, as well as the more blatant mass copying of unauthorized illegal versions of recordings sold on market stalls are well known practices, but, since the advent of the digital age, the epidemic is totally out of control. Digital files (mp3s) can be shared with no resultant lack of quality and therefore it’s never been easier to “share” the music you love with the ones you love… Websites such as Napster in the good old days of the ’90s were the start of the end. This was the site that allowed you to upload your entire music collection to the web and have it be enjoyed by all. The major record labels genuinely thought it wouldn’t catch on but ended up in court, eventually buying the company to close it down. Spotify has now taken its place and, for a very modest subscription fee, you can basically access the world’s entire music library online for a fraction of the cost of one full priced CD! So who loses out? When an act of theft takes place, someone always loses. In the music industry, the answer is rather alarming – it’s everyone within the entire fabric of the music business infrastructure that has been decimated. Naturally, the major record companies have seen the biggest overall losses in revenue, but these are matched down the food chain right
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to the very source: the composers of the songs, the artists who perform them, the publishers who collect royalties, the session musicians who helped create the tracks, the record producers, the studios where music was once recorded on sensible commercial budgets, the record shops, the CD manufacturing plants, the managers of artists and composers who oversee the entire process – all of these have lost out and the ramifications are very wide reaching. Because of this, the music industry is changing and redefining itself on a daily basis. All of the people who were powerful before have lost power and influence because of these shifts. Simply put – because artists don’t sell as many records anymore, record stores have gone out of business and record labels’ overall revenues are radically smaller (because even the digital sales on iTunes don’t make up for the loss in the physical sales). The business model developed in the ’50s and ’60s is over. Record labels have smaller budgets, so the recording studios have to expect less revenue for providing the same expensive and high end services; artists are forced to record quicker, producers cannot therefore spend the necessary amount of time to make their work the very best it can be and they certainly can’t be paid the way they were (reliant on royalties based upon sales
on iTunes by the artists themselves… So, how do artists survive now? Well, fortunately there are still many other revenue streams other than the sales of recorded music. There’s touring, merchandising, marketing partnerships, sponsorships and endorsements, and the sale of t-shirts and merchandise (becoming, now, by far the biggest earner for many artists and bands). Now that the record labels are realizing how much money can be made in these ways, they want a piece of the action, too. On all the current deals they are doing, where the label is genuinely helping artists and bands become stars, they’re trying to take a slice of the touring, the merchandising, and absolutely all of the other revenue streams that come in! Only time will tell if these so called ‘360 deals’ really work
of CDs) and the poor old artist is now on the end of this cruel chain of events. Poor old artist? Well, we still love to see or heroes living the dream and being charismatic entertainers, just as before. We expect them to be glamorous and heroic. Young musicians aspire to take the stage and follow in the footsteps of the stars. But, now, more than ever before, it’s vital for hopeful young artists to understand how to make it, as things on the commercial landscape have changed beyond all recognition! The good news is that artists, in the main, have fantastic integrity and many are still writing great songs and finding new routes to make things work. They are the creators and the talent and nothing will stop them or stand in their way. This means that they now have to take self-responsibility to make a recording project happen and find the money to fund the process from other sources (brand sponsorships) or, quite frequently selffunding their album projects. The record companies are now turning more into sophisticated marketing agencies simply overseeing the marketing and distribution of a handful of products. Where once we saw hundreds of releases a month from the major labels, now we’re down into low double figures, but, this is balanced by an increase in self-released recordings
out. We must all hope and pray that the lifeblood of the artist never dries up, for, without inspiring songs and music that forms the very soundtrack to our lives, the world is a much poorer place. So next time someone sells you a hooky CD or sends you an mp3 online, spare a thought for those who are trying to make it now. Yes, the rock stars of the ’70s and ’80s all enjoyed the heady days of excess (when CDs were the equivalent of 7,000 baht and the profit margins were humungous) but, remember that it was the good old major record labels who really made the biggest margins, paying the artists relatively small percentages of the money that was made. They are now hurting the most and having to redefine themselves in fairer more transparent and ethical ways. Not such a bad thing. Next month we’ll look at the phenomenon of the talent shows in TV (The Voice, X Factor, etc.) which have all spawned a whole new breed of stars. But will we have their records in our collections in 10 years time? Absolutely not…we might have a download of a song or two, we might hear a song on the radio, or we might search for one on YouTube, but very very few of us will head down to the local record store to purchase the album. “The Times…they are a changin’…” (Bob Dylan, 1964!). How very true…
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THIS tiny bar offers Bangkok’s best blues act. With the repertoire including cover versions of songs by Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and the likes, the resident all-Thai band — Bangkok Connection — takes up the simple stage every night from 9.30pm till midnight. The band only has one guitarist (who’s also the owner of the bar), one bass player, a drum kit and occasionally a guest vocalist. What makes it so cool is not only the music,
but also the friendly vibes. Rare Thai songs are sometimes rendered here for a treat. Look out for surprise jam sessions on weekend nights. Samsen Road, near Banglumpoo Bridge. Open daily from 7pm till midnight
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THE ALCHEMIST
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A NEWCOMER to Bangkok’s live music scene, The Alchemist was founded by two deejays. As such, it is gaining a reputation for being a choice hangout for musicians and music lovers alike. The laid-back vibe is reminiscent of watering holes you’d find in Europe, right down to ordering your drinks at the bar. Sunday nights are fast becoming a “BYO Instrument” night, with patrons turning up with guitars, ukuleles, violins and everything else in between. The owners plan to introduce more jam session nights in the near future. The Alchemist, Suk11 Village, Sukhumvit Soi 11, facebook.com/ thealchemistbkk, www.thealchemistbkk.com
DARA LOY AT DIPLOMAT
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BRITISH singer and songwriter Dara Loy is arriving in Bangkok this month to perform her quintessential blend of Jazz, Pop, Classical and Musical hits in a three month residency at Conrad Bangkok’s Diplomat Bar. Dara has won numerous competitions on TV and has performed to audiences around the world in venues such as Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, Trump Tower in New York, and the Hilton Hotel in Manchester, England. Catch her performing at Diplomat every Fri and Sat night. 87 Wireless Road, Tel: 02 690 9299 email: reserve@conradbangkok.com
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ROCK PUB
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ROCK pub is the only place in town that claims to play only rock and nothing else. Since its opening a little over a decade ago, this dungeon has hosted live sessions by many of Thailand’s legendary outfits – Stone Metal Fire, Kaleidoscope, Lam Morrison and so forth. And even in their downtime, when Thai airwaves are heavily saturated by Korean pop and socalled modern rock, these groups still come here and make appearances to their loyal fans. Most nights you get mainstream rock, hard rock and heavy metal, but sometimes you can find yourself bobbing to grunge, garage rock, nu-metal, post-punk, rock and roll and even ska. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to hear some bands with their original songs in both Thai and English. Hollywood Street Building, Phayathai Road. Open daily from 6pm till midnight, www.therockpub-bangkok.co
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COMPETITION TIME!
FEATURE MUSIC
WIN TICKETS TO WATCH MEGADETH IN CONCERT
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MEGADETH will perform in Bangkok on Aug 1 and we’re giving away four tickets plus one backstage pass!
ZANZIBAR BAR & RESTAURANT
To be in with a chance of winning, simply send us the right answer to the question below and you’ll be entered into a lucky draw.
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LOCATED midway down buzzing Soi 11, Zanzibar is a lovely leafy retreat in which to enjoy Thai and Western cuisines and the smooth sounds of pop jazz from house band, Zanzibar. The band takes to the stage every night from 8pm-11.30pm. 139 Soi Sukhumvit 11 (BTS Nana Station, Exit 3). Open daily 5pm-2am. Tel: 080 778 2250 www.facebook.com/zanzibar.thai
Q. Where did the album “Youthanasia” enter the Billboard top 200 at?
A. 1 /B. 6 /C. 4 /D. 10
DJ CORNER
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CHILL OUT SUNDAYS AT ZUMA
JAPANESE eats and chilled-out beats combine to mesmerizing effect at hip Japanese restaurant Zuma. Every Sunday night from 8pm the restaurant hosts ‘Sunday Chill,’ featuring a regular changing roster of international DJs who spin house and soul music. Among the DJs taking turns to spin here are DJ Madup, Masa, Knot, T Base and Saint Vincent. After 9pm selected cocktails are priced only B100. Promotion ends Aug 5. Zuma is located next to The St. Regis Bangkok (Ratchadamri BTS station). Tel: 02 252 4707 email: reservations@zumarestaurant.co.th Look out for more Look outvenues for more live music in live month’s music venues next issue.inInnext the month’skeep issue. meantime, upIntothe date meantime, keepmusic up to date with all the city’s news with all the city’s music at: news at: www.bangkokjungle.com www.bangkokjungle.com
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Good luck!
Email your answers to: thebigchillimagazine@hotmail.com
SAXOPHONE PUB & RESTAURANT
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FOR almost two decades, decades, this spot has been a favourite among musicians and music lovers alike. It has long been a platform for new bands — many of which scored their careers here, along with a fan base. The name might give the impression you’re going to get only jazz — and actually that was the case until the last decade. But now, with two-three live bands each night, you get to hear live sets from either aspiring new groups or established professionals with anything from jazz, blues and reggae to mainstream hard rock. Thailand’s favorite ska group, T-Bone, performs here every Friday night. Check with the management for music of the night. BTS: Victory Monument, open daily 6pm till 1am, www.saxophonepub.com
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Jokes
ENTERTAINMENT HUMOUR
Got a great joke? email us at: thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com
GRANNY SHOCKER
JOKE OF THE MONTH
HTS THOUG E OF TH MONTH
A GROUP of OAPs is on a bus trip to the seaside when one of the old ladies comes up to the driver and complains she’s been molested. The driver thinks she must be senile and tells her to sit down. Ten minutes later a second old woman totters to the front and makes the same complaint. He tells her to sit down too. Ten minutes later a third old lady screams she’s been molested. The driver decides to investigate. He stops and walks to the back of the bus where he finds an old man on his hands and knees. “What are you doing down there?” asks the driver. “Looking for my toupee,” says the old man. “Three times I thought I’d found it, but when I grabbed it, it ran away.”
• I just bought a new blindfold. Can’t see myself wearing it, though. • My internet bride got delivered today. She’s the Wi-Fi always dreamed of. • I’ve just heard the window cleaner shouting and swearing outside my house. I think he’s lost his rag. • I’ve never seen the film Taxi Driver, but I have a feeling it stops suddenly without warning. • Me and my recliner…we go way back.
IRISH STATISTICS
AN Irish couple have five children: Harry, Richard, Sally, Jane, and Ho Yung. Ho Yung is an unusual name for an Irish boy, but the couple read that every fi fth baby born in the world is Chinese.
DADDY KNOWS BEST TRAMP’S PAINTING DISASTER
A TRAMP knocks on the door of a large house and begs for a meal. “Tell you what,” says the householder. “If you go round the back and paint my porch with whitewash I’ll give you all the food you can eat.” The tramp agrees. He goes round the back, finds a tin of whitewash and a brush, and gets started. Ten minutes later the tramp knocks on the door for his reward. “That was fast work,” says the householder. “I thought it would take hours to paint that huge porch.” “Oh, it wasn’t so big,” replies the tramp. “And, by the way, it isn’t a Porsche. It’s a BMW.”
DADDY comes home with a big bag of sweets and says to the kids: “I’m going to give these to the person who never answers Mummy back and always does what they’re told. Now who’s going to get them?” And the kids reply: “You are.”
ROAD RAGE MIX-UP
TOM is driving down a country lane when he slows down to let another driver pass him going the other way. The other driver shouts: “Pig!” as he passes. Tom shouts back: “B***ard!” then crashes into a pig.
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Y O U R U L T I M A T E W H A T ’ S O N G U I D E F O R J U L Y 1 2
What’s on Art Performance Sport Football Movies & Albums Books
Get ready to rock, ’90s style, at this one-day music festival featuring 13 Thai bands and a headline slot by British rock outfit Suede. Page 86.
Let’s dance
Dress in white and be part of the night at the Sensation Dance Fest Page 86
Road runner
adidas King of the Road kicks off this month at Lumpini Park Page 88
PowerPlay
PowerPlay golf tees off in Bangkok and Pattaya this month Page 88 TheBigChilli 83
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WHAT’S ON The arts
Exhibitions Until Aug 31 Eat Me Restaurant
Scavengers
WORLDLY photographer Steve Pace is well known for his provocative images of crisis and compassion, and he often turns his lens to issues which are rarely talked about but should be. This time he focuses on the plight of scavengers in southern Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who eke out a perilous living at the Shung Meanchey Municipal Waste Dump, a rotting tip nicknamed Smoky Mountain because of the noxious methane fumes it emits. Eat Me Restaurant, next to the Carmelite Monastery on Convent Road, Silom. Open daily 3pm-1am. Tel: 02 238 0931 Eatmerestaurant.com
July 26 – Aug 11 Number 1 Gallery
July 13 – Aug 3 Artery Post-Modern Gallery
Metamorphosis of Flux
The Underground Adventure 2012 IN his second solo exhibition, graffiti artist Alex Face presents a series of paintings, sculptures, art installations and video art.
Artery Post-Modern Gallery, 2/2 Silom Road Soi 19, Tel: 02 635 3133, email: arterybkk@hotmail.com, beeartery@gmail.com
THIS triptych of sculptures and performances by Rook Floro tells a story about the artist’s paradoxical existence which particularly involves the tension between constantly desiring change of self and staying true to oneself.
919/1 The Silom Galleria, Silom Road, Soi 19. Tel: 02 630 3381 email: info@number1gallery.com www.numberonegallery.com
Aug 10 – 26 Chamchuri Art Gallery
Sri Trang
INSPIRED by the beautiful blossoms found near his home in Trang province, Teerayut Jinpracha presents 20 paintings capturing nature in all its glory. Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road. Open daily 10am-7pm (weekdays) and noon-6pm (weekends and holidays). Tel: 02 218 3633
Until Aug 5 Rotunda Gallery
Rural Scenery and Nudes
IN a new exhibition of landscapes and nudes, Thai artist Chahn Sutarapong captures not only the beauty of rural Thailand, but also the beauty of the human form. Neilson Hays Library, 195 Surawong Road. Open daily 9.30am-6pm. Tel: 02 233 1731 www.neilsonhayslibrary.com
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JULY 14 – SEPT 2 100 TONSON GALLERY
SPEECHLESS
FRESH from graduating from School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Vipash Purichanont has curated this exhibition featuring the works of Bangkok University art professor Nipan Oranniwesna, who explores the geographical history of Lumpini Park. 100 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road, Tel: 02 684 1527, email: info@100tonsongallery.com www.100tonsongallery.com Open Thurs – Sun, 11am -7pm
JULY 12 – AUG 12 ARDEL GALLERY OF MODERN ART
PHOTOCUBISM 2
THE latest photography exhibition by M.L. Mingmongkol Sonakul, a Thai film producer and independent movie director, was inspired by cubism paintings. To capture the same visual effect as offered by cubism, the photographs were created using a collage technique and printed on a high-fidelity Gouttelette digital system. 99/45 Belle Ville (moo 18) Boromrachachonanee Road. Open: Tues-Sat, 10.30am-7pm; Sun, 10.30am-5.30pm (Closed on Mon. Tel: 02 422 2092 www.ardelgallery.com
THROUGHOUT JULY 71 COFFEE & MORE
EXPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS FROM THE BANGKOK NIGHT JULY 12 – AUG 5 ARDEL GALLERY OF MODERN ART
THE AXE HANDLE
NURATNA Hawae, a young aspiring printmaker, uses playgrounds as the main setting for her artworks which chart the ongoing problems of Thailand’s southern provinces. Her woodcut prints explore how kids are being scared away from places where they should be carefree and happy, and ultimately how violence robs them of their innocence.
99/45 Belle Ville (moo 18) Boromrachachonanee Road. Open: Tues-Sat, 10.30am-7pm; Sun, 10.30am-5.30pm (Closed on Mon). Tel: 02 422 2092 www.ardelgallery.com
ARTIST and filmmaker Chris Coles did a great job of capturing the gritty essence of Bangkok’s nightlife in his superb book, Navigating the Bangkok Noir. Here he presents 15 of the book’s expressionist paintings, displayed in all their glory as 18x24 inch watercolours.
UNTIL AUG 1 LA LANTA FINE ART
INDIGO MONSTERS PROJECT
STARTED in October 2010 in Jingdezhen, China, this exhibition features the work of three international artists who played a game called “the exquisite corpse.” This basically involved each artist creating a piece of artwork intended to be joined together to create a creature. For example, one artist painted the head, one painted the body, and one painted the legs. At the end of the game, fascinating monsters appeared. The artists behind the work are Vipoo Srivilasa (Thai/Australian), Shin Koyama (Japanese), and Pepijn van den Nieuwendijk (Dutch). 245/14 Sukhumvit Soi 31. Open Tues-Sat. 10am–7pm. Tel: 02 204 0583, 02 260 5381, email: info@lalanta.com
71 Coffee & More, 7/7 Sukhumvit 71, (Prakanong BTS). Located a 5-minute walk down Sukhumvit 71 on the left.
UNTIL AUG 5 GARDEN CAFÉ GALLERY
BLUE, BREATHING, ORANGE, THE HUMIDITY
JAPANESE artist Asano Yuko first visited Thailand nine years ago and immediately fell in love with the kingdom. Inspired by the country’s people, plantlife, architecture, and slow flow of time, she began capturing her thoughts in abstract drawings. Here are the results of her work. Neilson Hays Library, 195 Surawong Road. Open daily 9.30am-6pm. Tel: 02 233 1731 www.neilsonhayslibrary.com
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WHAT’S ON PERFORMANCE
5 hot choices 1
AUG 4 BITEC BANGNA
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SONIC ATTACK 2012 FEATURING SUEDE
HELD under the theme of ‘90s – the best,’ this one-day music festival will feature performances by 13 alternative Thai bands (Moderndog, Blackhead, and Suharit are among the big names) plus a headline slot by England’s ’90s favourites Suede, which split back in 2003 and reformed in 2010. A ’90s hall of fame at the event will include an exhibition focusing on popular Thai bands and artists from the period. Performance: 1pm – midnight. Tickets: B1,500 from Thaiticketmajor.com
JULY 15 CHADRA BALLROOM, SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL
BCO YOUNG TALENT CHARITY CONCERT
THE Bangkok Charity Orchestra, conducted by Chulayuth Lochotinan and featuring pianist Natnaree Suwanpotipra, winner of the Steinway Concerto Competition 2012, will perform works by Wagner and Mendelssohn. All proceeds will benefit Ban Bang Khae. Show starts 7.30pm. Tickets: B800 (front rows), B500, and B300 for Students. Available from Robinson School of Music (Sukhumvit 31) and Robinson Piano (5th Floor, Siam Discovery). For more info Tel: 02 259 9903 email reservation@charityorchest ra.org. www.charityorchestra.org
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AUG 4 BANGKOK ART AND CULTURE CENTRE AUDITORIUM
BANGKOK CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
C-CLEF CLASSICS’ first event in a planned series of programs promoting classical music will feature a Scholarship Piano Recital by Gun Chaikittiwatana (1pm. B800, B500); a Lecture Recital (in Thai) by Chanyapong Thongsawang (3pm. Free entry); and a Recital by Yoonjung Han, first prize winner of Cincinnati’s 2008 World Piano Competition (6.30pm. Tickets range B500 - B1,200). Yoonjung will also present a free masterclass on at 1pm on Aug 5 at the Cholaphat Piano Studio, 35/5 Sukhumvit 31.
JULY 25 THAILAND CULTURAL CENTRE MAIN HALL
REQUIEM FOR THE MOTHER OF SONGS
BANGKOK Opera Foundation, the Ministry of Culture Thailand - Department of Cultural Promotions and Opera Siam present the world premiere of Somtow Sucharitkul’s Requiem for Princess Galyani - three years in the composition. The performers include soprano Nancy Yuen, mezzo-soprano Grace Echauri, the Siam Orpheus Choir, the Siam Sinfonietta Orchestra and the Siam Philharmonic Orchestra.
Show starts 8pm. Tickets: TBA. For more info email: intendant@bangkokopera.com
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AUG 18 IMPACT ARENA
SENSATION THAILAND
THE globe-trotting Sensation dance event is coming to Thailand for the first time. First launched in Amsterdam in 2000, the event takes on a different theme each year and features top-quality DJs, extravagant live shows, and stunning backdrops. This year’s all-white theme, The Ocean of White, promises to take revelers into a stunning dream world filled with giant sea creatures, dancers, fire breathers and 48 big fountains bursting water against the roof. Tickets: B2,500 (B3,500 for Deluxe. Limited availability) from Thaiticketmajor.com
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WHAT’S ON OUTDOOR FUN
Sport JULY 29 LUMPINI PARK, BANGKOK
ADIDAS KING OF THE ROAD 2012
HELD across five countries in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore), adidas’ 16.8 km running championship kicks off this month in Thailand with a race in Bangkok, starting and finishing at Lumpini Park. The event offers two categories – the ‘Closed’ category (Men/ Women) open to local runners (Thai nationality), and the ‘Open’ category (Men/Women) for international participants. The races are separated by age. adidas is also offering shorter running distances of 10km. and 5km. The winner of each country’s Closed categories (Men/Women) will receive KOTR prizes and qualify for an all-expenses paid trip to Singapore for the “King of the Road: Southeast Asia Championship 2012.” Regional races will be held on the following dates: Malaysia (Sept 9); Indonesia (Sept 16); the Philippines (Oct 7); and Singapore (Oct 28). Registration fee in Bangkok starts at B300 (up to distance). All candidates will receive jersey and medal. For more info: www.adidaskingoftheroad.com
JULY 8 AND 21 LAGUNA PHUKET GOLF CLUB
POWERPLAY GOLF
THE second round of this dynamic nine-hole golf tournament will be held in Bangkok on July 8 at Thana City Golf & Sports Club. The third round will be held at Khao Kheow Country Club in Pattaya on July 21, followed by an event at Chiang Mai’s Star Dome Golf Club on Sept 26, and the Thailand Finals on Oct 6 at Hua Hin’s Black Mountain Golf Club. Entry is open to all amateurs who have an official handicap supported by a handicap certificate, and the top 10 from each regional event will go on to play in the Thailand Finals in Hua Hin. The winners of the Thailand Finals will then go to represent Thailand in the PowerPlay Golf World Finals. For more info: www.asiangolfevents.com
JULY 18-22 PHUKET JULY 15 PATTAYA
PATTAYA MARATHON
A BIG draw to athletes of all nationalities, this popular annual event features three races: the full marathon (42 Km), the half marathon (21 Km) and the quarter marathon (10 Km). For more info: www.goadventureasia.com, www.pattaya-marathon.com
CAPE PANWA HOTEL PHUKET RACEWEEK
THE lead off race in the annual Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship is now in its ninth year. Once again the region’s top sailors will descend on Phuket to battle for supremacy on the waves. At least 30 race yachts are expected, with a strong fleet of competitors from Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. For more info: www.phuketraceweek.com
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The Non-Surgical Solution to Musculoskeletal Pain
Adjustment by Chiropractor
Exercise area
SDT -Spinal Decompression Therapy treatment technology is a new computer system which treats neck pain, chronic back pain and leg pain.
Chiromed Medical Center is a non-operative clinic specializing in Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) integrated with rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy, therapeutic massage and physical capacity improvement for a unique structural rehabilitation. Treatments at Chiromed are specifically designed for each individual and are conducted by a team of professional physicians. Chiromed provides individual care for athletic spinal injuries at every level of recovery with innovative treatments in physical balancing and effective functioning. The treatments focus on muscles, joints, tissue and spine therapy. Chiromed Service offers a range of therapies to restore health and reduce bone affection. The most common symptoms are the following: • Back / neck pain • Headaches due to stress • Office syndrome • Abnormal muscle contractions • Tension on the spine • Degeneration of the spine • Herniated intervertebral disc • Wear and tear of ligaments • Pain in arms / legs • Abnormal bone curve or scoliosis • Sciatica pain • Herniated Nucleus Pulpous
Chiromed Bangkok Center, 3rd Floor, Bangkok Mediplex Building (BTS Ekamai), Sukhumvit 42 Road, Bangkok Tel: 02 713 6745-6 wwwchiromedbangkok.com www.facebook.com/chiromedbangkok
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WHAT’S ON SPORT
Thai Premier League
SOCCER PUNDIT PAUL HEWITT EXAMINES WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF THAI FOOTBALL
Four-horse race AFTER a third of the season, the 2012 Thai Premier League title race is shaping up to be the most interesting and keenly contested in years. At the time of writing, during the early ‘mid-season’ break in late June and early July, former champions Muangthong United lead the pack by seven points – although Chonburi in second have a game in hand (but by the time you read this third-placed Buriram United will have played a catch-up match against Thai Port). Even BEC Tero Sasana in fourth – with big money to spend in the transfer window – won’t consider a first title since 2002 out of the question. Muangthong’s return to the summit of Thai football after an ignominious 2011 has been built on the form of strikers Teerasil Dangda and Mario Djurovski, who have scored twenty goals between them. A season of twenty-plus goals and the title would be a fitting swansong for Teerasil who is almost certain to be leaving the SCG Stadium at the end of the year, possibly bound for Turkey. Chonburi have turned their season around in stunning style after a sluggish start in which they drew three and lost two of their first five away games. Since then they’ve won four in a row, two of which were away, including the extraordinary 4-3 win at Buriram United (see next story). As for Buriram themselves, it’s not a crisis at the i-Mobile Stadium, but it’s the closest they’ve had to a crisis since Newin Chidchob bought the club in 2009. The Thunder Castle have still looked dominant in the games they’ve won, but have looked a little sloppy and careless in the games where points have been dropped, specifically the home draws against Army and Pattaya, and that defeat to Chonburi. They are still firmly in the title race, but will probably have to take at least four points from the away games at Chonburi and Muangthong to keep the TPL trophy in Buriram.
What a difference when a foreign ref’s in charge! THE big game between Buriram United and Chonburi on June 24 was refereed by a trio of Japanese officials – a first for the Thai Premier League. The intention was to ensure that the whiff of corruption and the disease of woefully sub-standard officiating was absent from one of the TPL’s showpiece matches. The verdict was unanimous: the performances of Mr Murakami Nobutsugu and his two assistants contributed significantly to what was one of the best matches in recent memory. The success of the venture is a double-edged sword for the TPL. The decision to appoint the Japanese officials was the right one and vindicated on the day, but the trio’s sheer professionalism and high-
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Where’s your money gone? THIS season, only fourteen games old, has been marked by financial crises at an ever-lengthening list of clubs. Every week seems to bring a fresh story of sponsors pulling out, funds drying up and players not being paid. Amongst the most seriously affected and precariously placed are Chantaburi, Pattalung and FC Phuket of League 1. Chantaburi and Pattalung have both been affected by the withdrawal of their main sponsors. At most Thai clubs, sponsors provide the bulk of funding – gate receipts and merchandise bring in very little in comparison unless you’re one of the top three of four clubs in the TPL. The net result has been saddening even for those who aren’t fans of the clubs involved. Chantaburi’s players are reported to have gone unpaid for months and have apparently given up on the pitch: their last three matches resulted in 9-1, 7-0 and 8-1 defeats. Sponsors also pulled the plug at Pattalung. The desperate club was forced to appeal for backers, along with contact phone number, through the Siamsport news website. At the time of writing, it’s unclear if either side will be able to finish the season. Phuket, who had similar problems, seem to have at least steadied the ship and claim to have found new sponsors. Elsewhere, there are claims of players going unpaid at Rajpracha, Loei City, Rayong United and Luk Isan, and there are bound to be other cases amongst the eighty-odd teams in the Regional League. But will the TPL act to ensure clubs are better run, don’t spend money they don’t have and pay contracted players? It seemed unlikely as TPL chief Dr Vichit Yambooreung said that he fully believed in a capitalist market economy and not in restrictions and regulations. He suggested that the TPL will give advice and guidance to clubs without interfering in their affairs. However, since making those comments he seems to have had a rethink, perhaps because of the sheer number of clubs now in trouble. The TPL has since said that all clubs will be audited before the start of next season, and that there will be punishments, including points deductions and even relegation, for clubs who don’t pay their players. It’s difficult to see how relegation will get unpaid players paid, and it will be too late for the players at Chantaburi and Pattalung who are suffering now. But, albeit belatedly, the authorities have at least recognised the problem.
standards also served to underline just how far their Thai counterparts still have to come. And foreign referees won’t be available for most TPL matches, in fact they’ll be used for very few, so it’s back to the, frankly, amateurish Thai refs for most games. The result of the match, a 4-3 win for visitors Chonburi, also provoked a predictable reaction from fans outside of Buriram. Webboards, forums, Twitter and Facebook soon filled with comments all pointing out that Buriram (in both their PEA and United guises) had never lost a home match when more ‘susceptible’ Thai referees were in charge; as soon as unbiased ‘clean’ Japanese
officials are used, the Thunder Castle comes crashing down. There are a few things to be said of that opinion. First, obviously, we will simply never know what the result would have been had Thai officials been in charge. Second, though those expressing the opinion are having a dig at Buriram, it’s actually disrespectful to a Chonburi side who worked tirelessly for 90 minutes, some players putting in the performance of their careers, to earn the victory. And Buriram haven’t been sparkling this season; a defeat has been coming. Recent draws against Army, Pattaya, Muangthong and BEC Tero all suggested that this is
a weaker and by no means unbeatable Buriram side. Yes, there were one or two incidents which had one wondering “what if...”. Buriram’s Frank Acheampong was booked for a dive in the penalty area; would a Thai referee have done the same? Or would he have taken the more crowd-pleasing (and president-pleasing) decision and awarded a penalty? We’ll never know. What we do know is that one or two Buriram defenders had a game to forget and at the other end their usually reliable strikers missed a hatful of great chances – and the referee had nothing to do with that.
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WHAT’S ON SCREEN AND STEREO
Movies & music July 19 Action, Thriller
The Dark Knight Rises
THE epic conclusion of filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is finally here, and you don’t need superpowers to know that it’s going to be big. Set eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, the story sees the Dark Knight emerge from the shadows to protect Gotham City (where he’s now considered an enemy) from a new terrorist leader called Bane (Tom Hardy). Anne Hathaway stars as the feline-loving-thief, Catwoman.
July 5 Thriller
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter VISIONARY filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov bring to the screen the secret life of America’s favourite president... as history’s greatest hunter of the undead. Expect no Twilight-style romance here – Burton and Bekmambetov’s creatures of the night are fierce, visceral, intense and bloodthirsty.
July 12 Comedy, Drama
July 12 Thriller
A 70-mile-wide asteroid is en route to Earth, and the last best attempt to counter it has failed. Dodge (Steve Carell) and his neighbour Penny (Keira Knightly) set off to find Dodge’s high school sweetheart Oliva, after his wife leaves him. On the road together, their outlooks – if not the world’s – brighten.
JONATHAN (Channing Tatum) is a cop who gets in over his head when he’s assigned to re-open a double homicide cold case. An anonymous source gives evidence suggesting a possible cover up by the former lead detective, and as Jonathan digs deeper into the assignment, a dark secret about the case emerges which threatens to destroy his life and his family.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Movie screenings are subject to change. Keep up to date at movieseer.com
The Son of No One
MemoryLane
New Music Ill Manners
Plan B
THE London-based rapper’s third album is the soundtrack to his debut feature film of the same name. Expect hard-edged, overtly political rap dealing with poverty, deprivation and alienation afflicting large segments of Britain’s youth. (Release date: July 23)
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Life is Good
Nas
NAS’ tenth studio album, his final under Def Jam Records, features guest appearances by Rick Ross, AZ, Frank Ocean, The Creator, and more. Sneak previews suggest it’ll be raw, honest and on par with his powerful 1994 debut, Illmatic. (Release date: July 16)
Soul Sessions II
Joss Stone
A FOLLOW-UP to Stone’s 2003 debut The Soul Sessions, the artist’s sixth studio album sees her use her powerful voice to breathe new life into 11 cover versions from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Womack & Womack and The Chi-Lites. (Release date: July 23)
Topping the UK charts JuLY 1982
1. Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen 2. Irene Cara – Fame 3. Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger 4. Trio – Da Da Da 5. Yazoo – Don’t Go 6. Bananarama – Shy Boy 7. Boystown Gang – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You 8. Madness – Driving In My Car 9. Hot Chocolate – It Started With A Kiss 10. Stranglers – Strange Little Girl
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WHAT’S ON BARGAINS GALORE
Tradeshows July 7 – 15 IMPACT
July 18 – 20 BITEC
BEST shopping fair, eh? Well, it certainly looks set to earn this lofty title by offering everything from bedroom furniture and kitchenware, to gardening equipment, clothing, wedding products, audio equipment, and much more. Open each day 11am-9pm. www.worldfair.co.th
players with deep insights into the glass manufacturing, processing, products and materials sectors. www.cems.com.sg
July 12 – 15 IMPACT
ENJOY up to 80 per cent off a wide range of products from many leading brands. For every B8,000 you spend you’ll be given a chance to win a B5,000 voucher. Many privileges will be available for credit card holders. Open July 18-19, 11am-10pm; July 20-22, 10.30am-10pm. www.impact.co.th.
Thailand’s Best Glasstech Asia PROVIDES regional industry Shopping Fair
Thailand Engineering Expo
THAILAND’S key engineering exhibition and conference platform covers nine engineering disciplines, such as Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mining & Petroleum Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Multi-Engineering. www.engineer2012.eit.or.th
July 13 – 15 QSNCC
The Games Xpo 2012
SOUTHEAST Asia’s largest game expo is coming to Thailand for the first time. Organized by Rapture TH Co., Ltd. together with Compgamer Co., Ltd., the expo will feature over 20 booths featuring game shows, online game competitions, and a chance to buy games and gadgets at special bargain prices. Open each day 10am-8pm. www.thegamesxpo.com/th
July 18 – 22 IMPACT
Discount Overload
July 20 – 29 IMPACT
Bangkok used car and imported car show
ANYONE looking for a good quality second hand car will find lots of options here. Luxury premium cars and super cars are also displayed and ready for sale. Open Mon-Fri, 12pm-8pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-8pm. www.bangkokusedcarshow.com
July 21 – 29 BITEC
Modern Furniture Fair
YOU’LL find more than just modern furniture on sale at this big fair, which also has zones dedicated to wedding packages, clothing, jewelry, and electronic items. www.unionpan.com
July 25 – Aug 2 IMPACT
Aug 8 – 12 BITEC
SHOP from a wide range of artworks and souvenirs made by handicapped and elderly people from the south of Thailand. Open each day 10am-8pm. www.impact.co.th.
A SHOPAHOLIC’S dream come true, this popular sale features a wide range of gifts, souvenirs and brand name products from local and international manufacturers. www.thaibestbuys.com
Aug 2 – 5 QSNCC
Aug 16 – 19 QSNCC
FAMILIES will be out in force for this huge sale which offers products and toys from over 500 leading manufacturers at discounts of up to 80 per cent. There’ll also be plenty of fun games and activities for the kids to enjoy. Open each day 10am-8pm. www.thailandbabybestbuy.com
WITH “Amazing Winter” as its theme, this event will feature bargain winter tour packages from leading local and international tourism industry operators, along with hotel packages, resorts, spas, tourism-related equipment, car rental firms, and representatives of international tourism boards. Open each day 11am-8pm. www.titf-ttaa.com
The Born of Family Love Project
Thailand Baby & Kids Best Buy 2012
Aug 2 – 13 BITEC
HomeWorks Expo
Thailand’s Best Buys
Thai International Travel Fair
The details:
RETAIL giants HomeWorks and PowerBuy join forces for a big sale featuring top brand home products and electrical goods at specially reduced prices. www.homeworks.co.th
• Impact Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani, 99 Popular Road, Banmai Subdistrict, Pakkred District, Nonthaburi. Tel: 02 833 4455 www. impact.co.th
Aug 4 – 12 IMPACT
• Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, 60 New Rachadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok. Tel: 02 229 3000 www.qsncc.co.th
Thailand’s Grand Sale
• BITEC, 88 Bangna-Trad Road (Km.1), Bangna, Bangkok. Tel: 02 749 3939 www.bitec.co.th
FURNITURE, fashion, wedding packages, electronics and more go on sale at this huge annual fair. www.unionpan.com
READ THE BIGCHILLI FOR FREE ONLINE www.issuu.com/thebigchilli www.thebigchilli.com
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Social Last month’s best events in pictures
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L’APPART OPENS IN STYLE A sophisticated crowd of Bangkok celebrities, movers and shakers, and senior representatives of Sofitel Luxury Hotels celebrated the grand opening of L’Appart, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit’s elegant rooftop Champagne bar and restaurant. With delicious French food and fine wines on offer, plus superb views of the city from the terrace, L’Appart is sure to become one of Bangkok’s hippest hangouts.
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TOP DOC AT BAWARCHI After receiving his ‘Best Teaching Doctor of Thailand’ award, Doctor Anuthep Malhotra celebrated his success at Bawarchi Restaurant, Chidlom branch, where his friends and family enjoyed an Indian feast.
Every Monday Buy 1 Get 1 Free TOP PLACE IN TOWN
Christie’s Club Happy Hours 5pm. to 9pm. Beer B90/drink
Good time Great atmosphere Stylish venue
Catwalk Model Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday 1/1 Sukhumvit Soi 33 Tel. 02-258-5730, 02-258-5728 www.christies-club.com
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NEW LOOK MBK Mr. Suvait Theeravachirakul, Director and CEO of MBK Plc, unveiled MBK Group’s new brand logo at a special launch event held at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel. The organization has undergone internal restructuring to group companies into eight business units in order to strengthen the corporate brand among all groups of consumers.
BOOK LAUNCH BONANZA Bangkok’s financial elite made their way to the Stock Exchange of Thailand to mark the launch of Khun Kitichai Taechangamlert’s new book, “From 1 million to 500 million baht – how do I do it.” The founder and CEO of Home Property, Khun Kitichai has over 18 years’ investment experience which he shares in the book.
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CONRAD’S NIGHT OF DISCOVERY The Conrad Bangkok thanked its partners and loyal customers for their support by inviting them to enjoy a night of live entertainment and delicious food in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Called ‘Discover Conrad Bangkok,’ the event showcased the hotel’s facilities and also gave guests a sneak preview of exciting developments to come.
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HONEYMOON MAGIC AT CROWN LANTA Crown Lanta Resort & Spa in Koh Lanta launched its new Honeymoon Accommodation Package by inviting a group of VIP guests and media to inspect the hotel’s facilities and explore the surrounding area. An evening pool party featuring an exquisite seafood buffet and live acoustic entertainment was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Expect a story about Koh Lanta in next month’s issue.
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ALOFT GOES LIVE
Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 debuted the Aloft brand’s worldwide music festival, ‘Live at Aloft Hotels,’ with a concert at w xyz bar featuring top Thai singer AOF Pongsak Rattanaphong.
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41 YEARS AND STILL ROCKING
Hard Rock Cafe Bangkok celebrated the Hard Rock brand’s 41st anniversary with a rock concert featuring a performance by legendary Thai rock band, Carabao. Body painting fashion shows, tattoo exhibitions and a lucky draw to win tickets to the Hard Rock Calling concert in London added to the fun. A T-Shirt auction was also held to raise money for flood victims in Fiji.
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WINE DISCOVERY AT GAGGAN
Wine lovers were treated to an experience to remember when Italthai Food & Beverage Solutions hosted a luncheon with wine importer, writer and commentator Steve Bennett MW at Gaggan Indian Restaurant. A 10 course menu set by Gaggan Anand paired wonderfully with a selection of wines specially selected by Steve Bennett, who entertained and informed guests throughout the meal.
WINE AND FUN IN PHUKET
Wine Connection launched its brand new Bar & Grill restaurant at Kata Center Phuket with a fun party featuring lots of wine and tasty nibbles for guests to enjoy. The Bar & Grill is Wine Connection’s second restaurant on the island and is the group’s first restaurant to take on a bar and grill concept. The group’s first restaurant in Phuket, the ‘Wine Connection Deli & Bistro,” is located at the Jungceylon Shopping Complex.
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GLITZ AND GLAMOUR AT NOVOTEL PLATINUM
Novotel Bangkok Platinum celebrated its grand opening with a glitzy party attended by many Thai celebs and Bangkok luminaries. Special guest on the night was His Excellency Khun Palakorn Suwanrath, Privy Councillor. Biz Art team headlined the evening’s entertainment with a spectacular show of aerial acrobatics, live musical performances, shadow dances and a magnificent fashion show.
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LIMOUSINE TURNS 10 Limousine Music Company celebrated its 10th Anniversary by teaming with Bacardi Black to throw a big party at DEMO Pub on Thonglor Soi 10. Thai singers and celebs were out in force to enjoy drinking and dancing as well as a mini-concert featuring performances by artists such as Lipta and Monotone Group, and a special R&B duet performance by Jason Creer and Janis.
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS AT SIAM KEMPINSKI
The May edition of the monthly Movers and Shakers corporate networking night was held at Siam Kempinski Hotel’s T-Lounge. Over 200 guests from a wide range of businesses arrived at the hotel to enjoy making new contacts while being fuelled by plenty of free-flowing drinks and snacks. The event was sponsored by the Tulip Group. For details of this month’s event see: www.moversshakerscharity.com.
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BREEZE OPENS AT FOUR POINTS
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15 opened its new rooftop meetings and events space, Breeze and the Garden Terrace, with a special event attended by many VIP guests. The unique venue offers guests a versatile indoor and outdoor private area which can hold up to 360 people. For more info see: www.fourpoints.com/ bangkoksukhumvit15
PHILIPPINES MARKS ITS INDEPENDENCE
The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, led by H.E. Linglingay Fonacier Lacanlale, hosted a reception at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok in celebration of the country’s 114th anniversary of independence. Pillars of the Filipino community were present together with diplomats from various countries. Ambassador Lacanlale took to the stage at the event to bid farewell to her host country, members of the diplomatic corps and the Filipino community, as after 25 fruitful months here she is now moving on.
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ROTARIANS UNITE
The Rotary Club of Bangkok South welcomed Rotarians from several clubs around the world to its regular meeting when they traveled to Bangkok as part of the Rotary International Convention, which was attended by approximately 38,000 Rotarians. On the day the Rotarians from different clubs took the opportunity to exchange banners as well as plenty of fundraising ideas.
REMBRANDT APPRECIATES WINE
Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok hosted an Australian wine appreciation event which was attended by local wine enthusiasts and suppliers, key Australian media, and wine judge, vintner and marketer, David Dean. The event started with a Wine Appreciation Class at the hotel’s presidential suite followed by a Wine Appreciation Dinner at da Vinci Italian restaurant, where a six-course dinner was paired with a distinctive selection of Farmer’s Leap wines.
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Diplomats p Meet the people uniting nations
Britain’s outgoing Ambassador, H.E. Asif Ahmad, shares his new views of Thailand. Page 110
The Poland connection An interview with His Excellency Dr. Jerzy Bayer Page 114
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DIPLOMAT INTERVIEW WITH H.E.ASIF AHMAD
My new views of Thailand, by Britain’s outgoing Ambassador After 21 months here, a leading diplomat has some interesting observations on this country’s political scene, the economy, Burma, British passports, visas, protectionism and the sale of embassy land
U By Colin Hastings
UNLESS something truly untoward happens between now and August 11, H.E. Asif Ahmad will complete his tour of duty as Britain’s Ambassador to Thailand next month without having witnessed any of the social upheavals and political turbulence that have rocked the country in recent years, and witnessed close at hand by many of his predecessors, particularly the previous incumbent, Quinton Quayle. Countless other issues have intruded into Mr Asif’s tenure, of course, but these have had more to do with natural calamities, consular affairs and certain niggling domestic matters than violent demonstrations and political struggles. More agreeable recent challenges have included overseeing HM Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebrations in Thailand, promoting next month’s Olympics in London and preparing the ground for the next British envoy. As his country’s first Muslim ambassador to Thailand, Mr Asif has almost certainly attracted more attention than usual by his peers and the local British community. In turn, he has proved himself an energetic and engaging diplomat, a witty public speaker and by most accounts a worthy representative of the UK’s interests in the Kingdom. Sent here in November 2010 on a short posting to “bridge the gap” between ambassadors, his tour has been considerably longer than originally planned, and a good deal busier too, what with overseeing an increase in embassy functions and staff. His eight years of handling Asian issues as a Director of UKTI (United Kingdom Trade & Investment) and as the South East Asia Regional head, based at the Foreign Office in London, equipped him well for the business and diplomatic side of the job, while his many years spent as a banker taught him much about the finances.
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But there’s no substitute for the real thing and today, after 21 months as head of the British delegation, it’s safe to assume that his observations of Thailand are now sharper and wiser than before. Interestingly, although he remains generally upbeat about this country, it’s also clear that some of his views also come with surprisingly tough caveats. Among the positive impressions he readily mentions are the natural beauty of this country, and the hospitality of its people and their family values, which he reckons some of his countrymen would do well to emulate. He also talks passionately about the resilience and fortitude shown by the Thais during last year’s floods, which, he maintains, were not only a huge challenge for Thailand, “but would have been equally huge for any other country facing such a massive disaster.” He’s an admirer of Thailand’s economy. “It’s broad-based, ranging from farming to high technology, and in this sense, Thailand has so much going for it.” Britain’s much improved trade figures with Thailand – up 28% in 2011 – are an obvious source of pleasure. And they will improve further thanks, somewhat ironically, to the spectacular performance of Sahaviriya Steel Industries, a Thai company that last year acquired a steel blast furnace in the UK and has already begun shipping steel to this country. He’s less enamoured with Thailand’s brand of politics, which he describes as “dysfunctional” and reckons the present stand-off is without ideological substance. “The more I look into the background of the country’s politics, the more I realize it shouldn’t be this way. Thailand has so much going for it – full employment, natural resources, high levels of literacy, gender equality and no obvious poverty. So, it’s actually all about certain people struggling for control of the levers of power. “Thailand is a lucky country, but its luck may run out. It’s not unsalvageable, but it’s got to get its act together. With the pillars of state and all the other systems properly in place, Thailand can be a huge success.” One of his caveats pops up at this juncture, with a warning to the government about Burma’s emerging power. “In 20 years, Burma* will rival Thailand on every front, in natural resources, investment, tourism and so on. Thailand will have to watch its position carefully.” The ambassador is surprisingly sanguine about Thai politicians and won’t accept they have anything but good intentions, and singles out senior figures like former prime ministers Khun Anand Panyarachun and General Prem Tinsulanonda for special mention as people of great dignity. The future’s looking good, too, he believes, with more and more foreign educated and savvy young Thais getting involved in politics. As for a future role for exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Asif is predictably cagey. “It’s for Thai people to decide on this, and how Thaksin comes back. But if there is accommodation and it suits him and others, it’s good
for Thailand. Remember, even his harshest critics say he was a positive force in his first term in office.” Prior to the last election, Mr Asif says he made a point of meeting all possible political figures, regardless of party, including the current Prime Minister, Yingluk Shinawatra, and her deputy, the Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit. This early contact has made it much easier today for the embassy to lobby leading ministers, politicians and even the Privy Council on a range of topics, from persuading against military interference in government to land ownership by foreigners. “Today, if I need to see the Prime Minister, I can,” he says robustly. The issues of land ownership and protectionism are clearly close to Mr Asif’s heart. “Although Thailand is an open country, there’s still an element of fear of being taken over by a foreign power. The bottom line is that land can’t be taken away. There’s no need to worry.” To illustrate his argument of how greater openness can benefit a nation, he mentions the case of famous British car manufacture Jaguar, whose business has boomed since its takeover by Tata of India. “The manufacturing plant remains in the UK and the cars are built by British workers,” he says. Here in Thailand, he points out the successful integration of British company Tesco Lotus into Thailand’s retail industry. Apart from exporting a wide range of Thai products to the UK, including some that were once banned by the EU, Tesco Lotus now acts as a useful cashand-carry service for smaller local retailers. Returning to the subject of protectionism, the Ambassador points a finger in the direction of the new “world class” building now under construction on adjoining land that was formerly owned by the embassy and notes that its architect, Briton Amanda Levete, can’t be openly credited for the work because of restrictions on foreigners in certain professions. “Thai culture is strong,” he says, in an attempt to allay local fears about foreign influences. “And we can learn from it in many areas, such as family values and that wonderful resilience of the people caught up in the floods.” What does he think of the still controversial decision to sell off part of the embassy for development? “Some people believe that it is important for the UK to have an iconic piece of land to make a statement. I don’t take that misty-eyed view. We were faced with a Treasury Department directive under the then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for embassies to fund their own expansions and additional responsibilities. “What happened was the we sold part of the embassy containing three small houses for 50 million pounds, and we kept 10 million of that fee to build accommodation for 24 embassy staff, saving us a considerable amount of money. That was the rational.” Unfortunately, that rational didn’t quite work out as planned, for the staff quarters turned out to be uninhabitable. “They had inherent design faults, and I couldn’t allow my
“The more I look into the background of Thailand’s politics, the more I realize it shouldn’t be this way. This country has so much going for it – full employment, natural resources, high levels of literacy, gender equality. So, it’s actually all about certain people struggling for control of the levers of power.”
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staff to live there,” the ambassador readily admits. “They are currently under repair and should be ready for reoccupation by June 2013.” The cost of the work will not be the embassy’s responsibility, he says. So, with 25 more staff being added this year, what additional roles does the embassy have today? “Security and law enforcement – looking into serious crimes – has expanded, as have the number of immigration officers investigating illegal migration routes. Bangkok has taken over from Hong Kong as the regional headquarters in these areas of responsibility.” “Our crisis response in looking after British nationals is much improved. This was evident during the floods late last year and in April 2011 when we worked with the Thai navy to send ships to rescue Britons and others marooned on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. “Our response to the floods last year and the most recent tsunami alert earlier this year may not have been perfect, but it was a lot better than 10 years ago. As an embassy we’re now far better at dealing with a crisis.” Although the issuing of UK passports is no longer an embassy function, since this is now handled in Hong Kong and will revert in due course back to Britain, the visa section in Bangkok is set to expand significantly as it will handle applications not just from Thailand but beyond Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Cambodia to other places. And while certain “back office” functions such as accounting and payroll will be switched to the embassy in Manila, the agenda of UKTI (UK Trade & Investment) in Thailand is also growing to include defence sales, and to lobby on a host of issues like the foreign business act, world trade and governance. Mr Asif understands the criticism of the alleged problems UK nationals face over the slowness in issuing new passports. Contrary to the experience of some Britons here, it is his “view” that applicants are not required to send their old passports to the screening office in Hong Kong. “Besides, he says, “it is possible for businessmen and others who need to travel frequently to get a second passport,” while accepting that
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this procedure doesn’t work in the case of those with long-term Thai visas. He has asked colleagues in the Home Office to look at ways to expedite the service. He also firmly rejects the often-heard claim that a large number of Thais have their UK visas turned down, and are forced to reapply and thereby paying the fee twice, or more. “93% of visit visa applications are approved,” he insists. “The other 7% are those who have a bad immigration history or don’t declare the right information.” And who pockets the fee – the UK government or VFS, the company that handles the UK visa applications? “What VFS is paid is agreed on an annual basis by the Home Office,” he says. “VFS is not incentivized to sell more visas.” As the first Muslim to head the British embassy in Thailand, has Mr Asif faced any special problems? “Some of the people I have met during the course of my work, including the head of ASEAN, senior Thai military and Police officers are also Muslim, so if anything it has helped. “One or two people from the local community got a bee in their bonnet over a breakfast briefing I gave at the Residence and thought I should change my eating habits. Their views appeared in the social media and on twitter. What food I serve in the house I live in is my business. “At events we have held in the Embassy gardens and the Queen’s Birthday Party you will have seen legs of ham, toad in the hole and haggis being served. If I could source British wine at the right cost, I would happily serve that at the Residence instead of foreign ones.” *The UK government uses the name Burma for Myanmar.
UK trade and investment • In 2011, exports of goods from the UK to Thailand increased by 28% to just under £1.4 billion. • The bilateral trade is worth over £4 billion. • In March 2011, Sahaviriya Steel Industries, Thailand’s largest steel producer, acquired a steel blast furnace in the northeast of England in a deal worth around 12 billion baht. This was one of the largest investments into the UK in 2011. It saved 700 jobs and has led to the creation of several thousand jobs across the UK supply chain. Sahaviriya Steel Industries restarted the blast furnace on 14 April 2012 and the first shipment of steel left Teesside for Thailand on May 15.
British nationals • Nearly 850,000 British people visit Thailand each year and there are over 50,000 long term residents. The UK is now a popular holiday destination for an increasing number of Thai people and over 5,000 students went to study in British schools and universities last year.
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DIPLOMAT INTERVIEW WITH H.E. DR. JERZY BAYER
Ambassador fluent in the language of diplomacy Poland’s envoy in Thailand is a man of the world in so many ways, reports Maxmilian Wechsler
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HAVING visited 129 countries, H.E. Dr. Jerzy Bayer, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Kingdom of Thailand, is unquestionably one of the world’s most-travelled diplomats. He’s also one of the most accomplished, with a background that includes journalism and peacekeeping duties for the United Nations. What’s more, this congenial 60-year-old can also converse in 14 languages. Dressed in casual attire, relaxed and keen on details – like a military man – Ambassador Bayer told many fascinating stories when we met recently in his office at the Polish embassy in Bangkok. First he apologized for the mountain of papers on his desk and then printed a two-page CV for me. It is certainly impressive. He speaks and reads Chinese, and can talk in varying degrees of fluency in English, Finnish, French, German, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Tibetan, Vietnamese and his own language, Polish. As for Thai, this Warsaw-born diplomat said: “I started to learn soon after I arrived here in March, 2009, but haven’t had the time to learn systematically. That’s why I still don’t speak
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fluently, but I can communicate and I understand quite lot if people speak slowly. I read Thai quite well.” His interest in other countries and cultures can be traced back to an early love of numismatics. “I started to collect coins when I was about six or seven, and from that time I started to learn languages because when I got a coin, I wanted to know what was written on it. I started with English when I was eight. This was my first foreign language.” In 1969, Dr. Bayer entered Warsaw University’s Institute of Oriental studies, Sinology Department, where he earned an M.A. with distinction in Chinese and Tibetan studies. He was a United Nation peacekeeper in 1974-75, and then worked as a journalist for the Polish Press Agency (PAP) in many countries from 1976 to 1992. After another stint as a UN peacekeeper he joined the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995, with various posts overseas, including as consul general in Shanghai, China from 1999 to 2003. He arrived as ambassador to Thailand in 2009, but was already well acquainted with the country. “I remember my first time in Thailand very well because it was on November 4, 1980, a day of presidential elections in the United States. At that time I was a reporter for PAP, a roving journalist in Southeast Asia, coming from the Philippines at the time. “I can still recollect that my first impression of Thailand was the aroma of excellent and very delicious food – everywhere, day and night, around the clock. I told myself: ‘This is one of the places to be. If they have good food and smiles, it means they are good people.’ This first impression has proved to be true. “I visited Thailand again in 1980 and once in 1985, three times in 1988 and then periodically in 1992 and 1993 when I was in Cambodia with the UN peacekeeping mission. In Cambodia I was first a civilian volunteer in charge of elections and then I moved to the military component because I love the army. I am a militarist and don’t hide it. At that time I used to visit Thailand on military business with our people, bringing them to hospitals, purchasing some items for the contingent and so on.” The next time he visited Thailand was in 1998 when he was with the Polish Foreign Ministry. “At that time I worked in Laos as charge d’ affairs, so I used to come and go. My nomination to
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become ambassador came in early 2009 and I arrived here on March 15, 2009. Although a tour of duty as ambassador is usually for four years, it is not rigidly applied. Indeed, Her Excellency Hanna Suchocka is now well into her 12th year as ambassador to the Holy See in the Vatican. She also has the distinction of being the only female Polish prime minister, serving from 1992 to 1993.
A day in the life of the Polish ambassador
The Republic of Poland is located in central Europe with a total area of 312,685 square kilometers and a population of over 38 million. The capital is Warsaw where about 1.7 million people live. Poland is a member of NATO and the European Union but still uses its own currency, the zloty, rather than the euro. “This year we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and Thailand. The relationship was established on November 14, 1972. The Polish embassy was opened in Bangkok the following year and the Thai embassy was opened in Warsaw at the same time,” said Ambassador Bayer. His day starts with a press review on the internet. “I look into something like 40 to 50 titles – the local English and Thai language newspapers, also from Japan, Singapore and many from Europe and the United States. Later I normally go to various meetings, often attending sessions at universities, particularly at Chulalongkorn University. I find these very interesting, whether related to Thailand, Southeast Asia, ASEAN or sometimes a broader subject like the policies of the superpowers in Southeast and East Asia. “Then it is working lunches where I can sometimes meet important people in their places of work. For example, I just met the Thai Minister of Defence. However, most afternoons I am in the office. This is a time for communication with the people. If someone has something to ask me, this is the time. “In the evenings, it is receptions or parties. This is part of the job, not really for amusement, but sometimes it is entertaining.” Ambassador Bayer said he often takes part in ceremonies or trips arranged by the Thai side, like the recent visit by a group of ambassadors to a Burmese refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border. “I am also ambassador to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which means that every month I visit one or two or sometimes all of these countries. For example, I organized a visit from our foreign ministry to Myanmar and Thailand that took place from May 8 to 12 – the first two days in Myanmar and the last two in Thailand. I had to go to Myanmar three times to prepare the trip. “This year we are particularly busy. Actually it started with the Polish presidency of the European Union which began in the second half of 2011. Time permitting, he likes to travel outside Bangkok. For example, he attended the International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 in Chiang Mai. “My wife and I seized the opportunity to go there by car. We visited a number of other provinces, including Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai and Phrae. “I have been to Phuket once, but I was much more impressed with Phang Nga Bay. This is a magnificent place indeed,” the ambassador said.
Building a bilateral relationship
The Polish community in Bangkok is ‘very small,’ less than 100 people, and probably even fewer Thais live in Poland – “maybe
staff in Thai restaurants in Warsaw,” says the ambassador. He admits that official relations between the two countries “have been neglected for some time by both sides. “After the military takeover here in 2006, there were hardly any high-ranking visits from the EU. Then our deputy foreign minister came here in September 2008, followed by the visit of the Thai deputy foreign minister to Poland.” In May this year the Polish foreign minister paid an official visit to Thailand, which did much to re-establish relations. “It is possible that our prime minister will visit Thailand at the end of this year. There will be the Asian-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Laos in November with many heads of states, governments and foreign ministers joining. “As for bilateral trade, the total amount is about one billion US dollars, with the balance favoring Thailand by seven or eight to one. Poland imports automotive and chemical products as well as machinery, electronics and clothing. “There are some small Polish investments in Thailand. The biggest is a manufacturer of medical equipment in Songkhla province. The factory supplies Thai hospitals and clinics and also exports its products to many countries all over the world. The same company plans to invest around Chiang Mai. They are
“As for bilateral trade, the total amount is about one billion US dollars, with the balance favoring Thailand by seven or eight to one. There are some small Polish investments in Thailand. The biggest is a manufacturer of medical equipment in Songkhla province which exports its products around the world.” very satisfied with the conditions here. “Not many Polish tourists come here – only about 25,000 in 2011, but the figure is increasing. We issue about four to five thousand visas to Thais per year, which is not very many. “In the way of cultural exchange, we had a group of folk singers from Poland last year and some soloists, a violinist and a pianist, on separate occasions. We had a concert on the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries in May, so there is some movement in this sphere. “As for sport, in 2010 Poland participated in the 40th King’s Cup soccer tournament held in Nakhon Ratchasima, which was also attended by Singapore and Denmark. Poland beat Thailand 3-1, and Denmark won the cup. We have a number of Polish Muay Thai boxers who train here and compete from time to time.” The embassy employs 10 Poles and seven Thais. Poland’s honorary consul in Phuket is a Thai businessman, Khun Anuwat Burapachaisri. “He is not paid and sometimes takes care of expenses out of his own pocket,” adds the Ambassador. “Our defense attaché is stationed in Kuala Lumpur because
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DIPLOMAT INTERVIEW WITH H.E. DR. JERZY BAYER
Warsaw’s old town, the city’s oldest historic district, is a big draw for tourists
we have a much closer relationship with Malaysia at the moment in terms of military cooperation. The government has ordered Polish-made PT-91 tanks, which are well suited to the local conditions there.”
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On the personal side The ambassador’s favorite hobby is languages. “Strictly speaking, this is not a hobby since I am a professionally trained linguist – a sinologist. This is my occupation. I can write Chinese calligraphy, which is artistry with the brush. I am also very fascinated by various scripts, including Latin. “I love travelling and reading, especially history, but I am not fascinated by computers. For me this is a tool, not an instrument. I am interested in information and not informatics. These are two different things. I like also geography, international relations, cross country driving, weightlifting and spicy cuisine. “I like most things in Thailand. I hate snow, frost and ice.” And he doesn’t like the tendency here to put ice in beer. “I always say, I want to drink beer, not water with drops of beer in it. Absolutely not!” he says, laughing. “I love the hot climate and very spicy food, so this is the place for me. Our maid was twice admitted to a clinic because she tried to eat what she had prepared for me. It was too spicy for her, and she is Thai. “I like the people because they are easy going, easily accessible and communicative, although sometimes slow in action. You are not supposed to move and act quickly in this climate, so it is quite natural.”
Ambassador’s wife attacked Ambassador Bayer has good reason to believe there’s not enough done by the Thai authorities to protect tourists. His wife recently suffered serious injury after being attacked by robbers in broad daylight in Bangkok. “It happened on May 9 while I was in Myanmar with my minister. A guy on a motorcycle tried to snatch her bag on Sukhumvit Soi 24. She was attacked while standing on the pavement close to the road with two other ladies. The
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motorcycle passed by her closely and the man riding pillion tried to grab her bag from her shoulder. She held it very tightly by a short belt as they dragged her along a little bit before she fell to the ground and broke a bone. “However, she was courageous and strong enough to pull the guy from the bike to the ground. The bike fell and both men fell. They hit the ground very hard and were probably badly bruised. Afterward my wife went to the hospital. “She reported the incident to the police but they were very late and seemed very reluctant to come. They came after one hour or more. So, we are absolutely not satisfied with the police reaction! “I told my people at the embassy to be careful when going out,” the ambassador added.
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FEATURE INTERVIEW
Roaring ahead – how BMW is wooing the world with its high-tech approach BMW is posting record sales for its passenger cars and motorcycles in Thailand and worldwide. Matthias Pfalz, President of BMW Group Thailand since January 2011, talks to Maxmilian Wechsler about the company’s spectacular performance
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Tell us briefly about yourself? I have been with BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) for over 20 years. Prior to joining BMW Group Thailand, I served in various functions in BMW’s headquarters and subsidiaries around the world, including the United States, New Zealand and Argentina. My previous position was as managing director of BMW Group’s own retail outlet in Munich. As the President of BMW Group Thailand, I am responsible for managing the overall business in the country, including BMW and MINI automobiles as well as BMW motorcycles. How is the company performing worldwide and in Thailand? 2011 concluded with the best results ever, with sales of more than 1.6 million vehicles. This represents a growth of 14.2%. The trend is continuing with all-time highs in the first quarter of 2012. Retail volumes for the year to the end of March increased by more than 40,000 vehicles to 425,528 units, a growth of 11.2% compared with the first quarter of 2011. BMW also increased retail volumes in its three largest single markets of Germany, the U.S. and China, among other places. BMW Group sales in China are particularly encouraging. From January to the end of March a total of 80,014 vehicles were delivered, an increase of 37% compared with the same period last year. Asia, particularly the Chinese automobile market, is one of the most important for BMW. That’s why we are running a joint venture plant in Shenyang, where more than 300 engineers are already working. BMW has also recently opened a
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design studio in Shanghai to contribute design expertise and innovative ideas and also offer strategic design advice to external clients in China. At the same location BMW will open the Connected Drive Lab to develop functions for infotainment, convenience, and safety, especially for our Chinese customers. Here in Thailand BMW Group has set another milestone by achieving the highest sales since we came here in 1997, with 4,243 vehicles in total – 3,858 for BMW and 385 for MINI. For BMW, the achievement of 3,858 vehicles in 2011 represented a growth of 28% when compared to the previous year, another all-time first quarter high. The good news is that in the first quarter of 2012 the sales of BMW cars increased by a staggering 48% from the same period last year, from 827 to 1,227 vehicles. Sales of the MINI totaled 100, a 14% increase, and 79 BMW Motorrads were sold, a 114% increase. A major part of our success in Thailand and worldwide was contributed by sales of the BMW 5 Series, which grew to nearly 50% of the total BMW volume in 2011. There are now eight model variations. This comprises four petrol models, 520i, 528i, 528i Sport, 520i Touring; three diesel models, 520d, 525d, 520d Touring; and one full-hybrid, BMW ActiveHybrid 5, which has recently been introduced in Thailand. In our BMW 5 Series, the new fourcylinder engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology add further talent to the line-up of petrol and diesel powerplants. In which countries are BMWs assembled?
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Our cars are manufactured at 13 locations worldwide. Principal among the production and assembly facilities are the factories in Dingolfing, Leipzig, Munich, and Regensburg in Germany, followed by factories in Rosslyn, South Africa and Spartanburg, United States, along with the joint venture in Shenyang, China. The BMW Group also operates “completely knocked down (CKD) factories, where vehicles are assembled from imported and locally produced components. The CKD factories, which are owned and operated by the BMW Group, are in Chennai, India and here in Thailand at Rayong. Others operated in cooperation with external partners are in Jakarta, Indonesia; Cairo, Egypt; Kaliningrad, Russia; and Kulim, Malaysia. As for MINI, the heart of production is in the United Kingdom, consisting of factories in Oxford, Hams Hall and Swindon. The pressings and body components are made in Swindon, and delivered to the Oxford assembly facility on a just-in-time basis. The engines, assembled in Hams Hall, also arrive at the production line immediately before they are needed. The MINI Countryman is built at another location in Graz, Austria. Tell us about the BMW factor y in Rayong. BMW Manufacturing Thailand is based in the Amata Industrial Estate in Rayong Province. The plant began operations in April 2000, with direct investment from BMW Group AG of 1.8 billion baht. The facility has an area of 75,000 square meters. BMW Manufacturing Thailand is one of the most efficient and flexible assembly plants in the world, which is a key to our success here. Since its commencement in 2000, BMW Manufacturing Thailand has played a significant role in enhancing the competitiveness of BMW in the Thai market. The plant assembles BMW’s wide product range, with five model series (3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1 and X3), and a total of 22 model variants. The plant is ready to integrate further models on the shop-floor. BMW Manufacturing Thailand also provides technological support to other BMW manufacturers in the ASEAN region, such as launch support, staff training, quality assurance, as well as purchasing and supplier development. Are you satisfied with BMW and MINI dealers in Thailand? Our customer satisfaction will always be the first priority, but when our
customers are satisfied, then we have to do more for them in the future. In this regard, we will always plan our dealer network on a long-term basis in order to ensure that we have adequate facilities to support our future volume growth. This is vital for our business since the investment is not small, and it takes time to develop not only the “hardware” in terms of land selection, planning and construction. We have to also prepare the “software” in terms of staff competencies. Does the “grey market” affect your business? Strong brand recognition will always lead to arbitrage opportunities. However, the mainstream of our BMW and MINI customers still go for authorized dealers – for the services and re-sale value in the future. BMW and MINI brands have proven success in the Thai market, which interestingly leads to grey importers who come in to take advantage of the situation and customers. However, service and “peace-of-mind” when it comes to maintenance are top priorities for customers making their buying decisions. That’s why BMW offers a service inclusive warranty for five years or 100,000 km, and MINI for three years or 50,000 km. Vehicles with proven records of excellent maintenance will, of course, gain better resale value. What about BMW motorcycles in Thailand? How big is the market? The market for big bikes of over 500cc has grown massively over the past few years. We have had a very successful start in the first three months of 2012 with 114% growth year-on-year, to close the first quarter with 79 BMW motorcycles sold. We have recently introduced the new exciting BMW motorrad to the Thai Market, i.e. the K 1600 GT, S 1000 RR, and two maxiscooters, C600 Sport and C650 GT. All three received tremendous interest at the Bangkok International Motor Show. Why are so many powerful cars made when countries like Thailand impose relatively low speed limits? Speed limits are enforced because of safety concerns. In the automotive world, all components are developed not only to bring out the best driving performance, but also for safety concerns. We have developed technologies to ensure that our drivers have the best features to assist them in any driving conditions and at any driving speed necessary – head-up
display, night vision, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), adaptive headlights, etc. How will engines evolve in the future? Vehicles with conventional petrol and diesel engines are being continually improved with the long term aim of bringing about emission-free transportation. Innovations such as Brake Energy Regeneration and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology help reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while improving performance and driving enjoyment. BMW now offers the first hybriddrive production vehicles, which deliver savings of up to 20%. In 2011, a new type of dynamic vehicle hit the streets – the fully electric BMW ActiveE. It made its debut as part of a limited production run and small pilot project. With room for four people and a 200-litre luggage space, it points the way to the emission-free transport of the future. BMW is also carrying out research into alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen. In 2006, we unveiled the first hydrogen-powered luxury saloon for everyday use. What are the future trends for cars in terms of size, engines and fuel? The aim of further reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in motor vehicles has led to a new trend referred to as “engine downsizing” by industry insiders. This means going away from large-capacity naturally-aspirated engines towards smaller-sized turbo units. BMW has gone a further step in its turbocharger development, using BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. This allows not only for higher outputs, increased torque at lower engine speeds and better fuel economy, but these engines are also noticeably more responsive compared to conventional turbo units. If we were to compare technology over the past two-three decades, we could only achieve more than 200hp from the larger engines, such as the 3.4 litre 6-cylinder BMW 535i, which produced 208 hp at 5,700 rpm. Today, 218 hp at 5,000-6,500 rpm is standard performance for the 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The launch of the new BMW ActiveHybrid 5 recently took place at the Bangkok International Motor Show in 2012, giving our strongest-selling 5 Series an attractive hybrid variant in its lineup. Our future is diverse. There is no such thing as “either, or.” For BMW, the future is about “as well as.”
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FEATURE MOTORING
BMW 528i Sport Top speed 0-100km/h Fuel consumption km/l Transmission Luggage Capacity (litres)
Price: 4,299,000 baht 240km/h 6.9s 15.4 8-Speed Sports automatic transmission Steptronic 520
BMW 528i Sport races to the top of its class
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This small but powerful motor is the best BMW we’ve driven yet
IF you’re a car buff and watch foreign TV news channels, you have probably noticed that BMW cars are quite often used by global political and business leaders. Many diplomatic corps have made it their official brand as well. In the latest Mission Impossible 4, Ghost Protocol, the constant use of BMW cars was pretty obvious, and perhaps a little overdone. But it’s an accurate reflection of the increasing presence in all spheres of the German-made luxury cars, the sales of which are going through the roof around the world and in Thailand. After road testing no less than seven BMW models in the past year or so, I don’t find this surprising at all, and I have to say that the model I took out a few weeks ago for four days, the 528i Sport, impressed me most of all.
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By Maxmilian Wechsler
Mathias Pfalz, President of BMW Group Thailand, says in an interview in this issue of The BigChilli (page 118) that in the first quarter of 2012 sales of BMW cars in the kingdom increased by a staggering 48 per cent from the same period last year, from 827 to 1,227 vehicles. This figure says a lot about the purchasing power of people in Thailand, and also the quality of the product. As a reviewer my biggest problem has been finding something to complain about, and the 528i Sport is no exception. Taking a look around the internet it would seem that most testers agree with me. There are very few negative reviews, particularly of 5 Series models, and not even much in the way of negative comments. Most of these sound as if the reviewers are “reaching” for something
bad to say to sound balanced. For instance: “There is much lamenting about the fact that the new BMW 528i has lost some of his glamour through the down-sizing of the familiar 6-cylinder to a 4 cylinder”; “it is hard to distinguish 5 Series from 7”; or “the joystick shifter is a constant source of aggravation.” I totally disagree with these comments and I think if you can’t find faults, you shouldn’t make them up. Perhaps some reviewers are jealous of those people who don’t have to give their BMWs back to the showrooms after a few days of driving them. In my opinion, the 528i Sport is better than all the other BMW models I have tested. There is only one other car in its category that compares favorably to the 528i Sport. I won’t disclose the brand, but it costs three times more in Thailand.
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BMW 528i Sport is a luxury sedan assembled in Rayong and sells for 4,299,000 baht. However, some enthusiastic buyers with cash on hand or good credit are prepared to pay more to receive the car immediately, rather than wait three to six months for delivery. Before I collected the 528i Sport for the road test, one senior BMW representative emphasized the new 4cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine, among other innovations the car has to offer. These include an automatic stopstart system that will stop the engine while the car is idling at traffic lights and automatically restarts it when you lift your foot off the brake pedal.
I was keen to get a look at the engine so I lifted the bonnet before getting on with the test drive. It was the same size as in the Z4 sDrive20i Highline I had taken for a spin a few weeks before. Comparing the new 4-cylinder with the old 6-cylinder, there seemed to be a lot of empty space in the engine compartment at the front of the car. I asked the executive if this meant BMW might be making smaller cars in the future, but he seemed to think this was unlikely. At any rate, when I finally got behind the wheel and stepped on the accelerator, the car took off like a missile. I just wonder how small and powerful BMW engines will be in 20 years.
When I finally got behind the wheel and stepped on the accelerator, the car took off like a missile. I just wonder how small and powerful BMW engines will be in 20 years. To summarize my impressions – and I am afraid I will have to repeat some comments made about other BMW models from earlier tests – the 528i Sport is a classy luxury sedan with a sporty look from the outside and an impressive interior made from top quality materials, with a perfect finish overall. The car is loaded with the latest technology, including xenon lights (low-beam and high-beam); rain sensor and automatic driving lights control; wind deflector; leather Kansas with sunreflecting technology; leather steering wheel with multifunctional and gear shift paddles; cruise control; iDrive control system with 8.8� colour monitor; Professional navigation system; BMW Apps with Facebook, Twitter and internet functions (for iPhone). As in all 5 Series
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FEATURE MOTORING
models the Sport Package includes front and rear bumpers and 18-inch alloy wheels with runflat tires. Basically, this car has everything needed to put both driver and passengers at ease and in the mood to enjoy life in the fast lane. Balancing the great acceleration is the incredible braking system. The car is quiet and comfortable and the ride is smooth. The styling of the cabin is exquisite and functional. The driving position is great and all seats are just brilliant. There’s plenty of leg room at front and back and a large boot. A camera at the rear is really helpful in providing a look back when going in reverse, as if someone were standing outside to let you know how much clearance there is. BMW 528i Sport doubles as a family car, and the suspension can be adjusted between SPORT+, SPORT, COMFORT, and for the first time, ECO PRO modes. The last mode can help drivers to save fuel. When the suspension mode is adjusted, it changes the character of the car as well. When you select a mode it shows up on the LCD monitor. I would need several more pages to begin to describe all the options. This car is superb and as I have said, my new favourite from BMW, even ahead of the BMW 730 Li, which regular readers will know I fell head-over-heels for in a recent test drive. But I like the 528i better for one reason: It is slightly smaller and therefore easier to navigate through narrow Bangkok streets, and is especially good in small car parks.
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Talking points from a BMW representative The BMW representative told me that the 528i Sport looks similar to other 5 Series models from the outside except for the Sport Package. The big difference is under the bonnet in the new 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine. “Its advantages are more toque or horsepower,” he said. ‘It’s also lighter, which results in increased performance and lower fuel consumption than the previous 6-cylinder engine. From now on, all petrol-powered 5 Series cars will have this engine, as will other models like the Z4 and X3. “Apart from the performance of 528i Sport, there are relatively minor differences inside the car. For example, the TV option – you can watch TV on the monitor, but only when the car is stationary, for safety reasons. “The new technology in this car was designed to use with a smart phone. Among other things it allows you to listen to internet radio stations around the world.” He also mentioned that the most popular colour for the car is white, followed by black, and that there are many interior colours to choose from.
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Travel
p Deals and news from Thailand’s hottest destinations
Beyond Resort Krabi, the new project by Kata Group Resorts Thailand, has opened with a special deal. Page 124.
Mate’s Rates
Friends or family visiting Bangkok? Let them know about these deals! Page 138
Hua Hin
Read more about the town’s best resorts and restaurants Page 126
Pattaya
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TRAVEL BANGKOK
Bangkok
Mercure offers Phuket deal
MERCURE Phuket Deevana has launched a two-nights accommodation deal called ‘Sawasdee Phuket’ which features breakfast for two, a round trip transfer to and from Phuket International Airport, and free in-room WiFi connection. Package starts at B5,800 per two nights for a Superior Pool View, and B7,400 per two nights for M Privileges City View.
and Beyond
Tel: 076 302 1009 email: info@mercurphuket.com
Beyond Resort Krabi opens with a deal
THE latest project by Kata Group Resorts Thailand, Beyond Resort Krabi, has opened with a special package deal called ‘Great Time in Krabi.’ Available until Oct 31, it features two nights’ stay in cottage accommodation, daily breakfasts, round-trip transfer to and from Krabi Airport, a free one-way trip to Aonang, and other benefits. B7,500 per couple including a Thai set dinner with soft drinks and in-room WiFi internet. Guests can upgrade to a Villa by paying an extra B1,000, or to a Deluxe Seaview Room for an extra B2,800. Tel: 02 616 3140-4
New GM joins Anantara Bangkok Riverside
DUTCH national Claudia Pronk has been appointed as the new general manager of Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa. Fluent in three languages (English, French and German), Claudia has over 25 years’ experience working in the hospitality industry in Germany, France and the Netherlands. Prior to joining Anantara Bangkok Riverside, she spent over two years in the Maldives as general manager of Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa and Naladhu Maldives.
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Four Points By Sheraton Bangkok Shoot photos and win opens new meetings accommodation venue EASTIN Grand Hotel Sathorn is now giving amateur FOUR Points by Sheraton Bangkok on Sukhumvit 15 has opened a new meetings and events venue called ‘Breeze & The Garden Terrace.’ Located on the hotel’s 8th floor, the new zone has a cool, modern design, offers great city views, and is decked out with all the facilities needed to host a successful business meeting. Special deals and packages are now available.
photographers the chance to win a one-night’s stay in an Executive Suite. Simply join the hotel’s facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/EastinGrandSathorn) and upload your best shot of the hotel into the ‘Snap N’ Stay’ competition folder. If your photo is declared the most beautiful you’ll win the accommodation (includes breakfast for two) plus a B2,000 voucher to spend at Azure restaurant. If your photo is declared the most enjoyable/funniest, you’ll win a buffet dinner for four persons at The Glass House Restaurant. Competition ends Aug 31.
Tel: 02 309 3000 fourpoints.com/ bangkoksukhumvit15
Tel: 02 210 8100 ext 7311, email: sprmgr@eastinhotelsresidences.com www.eastingrandsathorn.com
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TRAVEL
HUA HIN
Take to the skies at Aleenta Pranburi ■ ALEENTA Hua Hin-Pranburi Resort and Spa has launched a ‘Gourmet Gliders’ accommodation package that’s just perfect for foodies and adventurous types. Featuring two nights’ accommodation in an Ocean View Suite, the package includes a cooking lesson with the resort’s chefs, a five-course dinner, a cocktail mix-a-thon, a chef’s challenge lunch, a special cooking class on molecular gastronomy, Paramotor gliding, and more benefits. The package is B50,000++ per couple. Add extra room nights for B5,700++ per night. Tel: 02 514 8112, email: reservation@aleenta.com
Hyatt Open Golf Tournament 2012 ■ THE third annual Hyatt Open 2012, organized by Hyatt Regency Hua Hin and Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, will be held this year on July 21-22 at Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin. The event is open to amateur golfers and boasts many great prizes. During the tournament Hyatt Regency Hua Hin will offer a special accommodation deal called the ‘Stay and Play’ package. This features a two-nights’ stay with breakfast, a welcome dinner, two rounds of golf (shotgun start at noon on July 21 and at 8am on July 22), an award luncheon at Banyan Golf Club, and complimentary transfers between the hotel and the golf course. The package is B17,800 for one player and B24,800 for two players based on twin sharing basis. Advanced booking is a must.
Gourmet golf at Banyan Golf Club ■ ENJOY a round of golf followed by a delicious meal at one of Banyan Golf Club’s golf and dining events this month. Two options are on offer: • On July 15, the Golf & BBQ Dinner offers a golf tournament followed by a sunset BBQ dinner at Mulligan’s Pub for just B2,950 per person (B1,500 for dinner only). • On July 29, the Golf & Wine Dinner offers an afternoon golf tournament followed by a 5-course wine dinner at The Terrace Restaurant. B3,300 per person (B1,900 for dinner only). Tel: 032 616 200 email: reservations@banyanthailand.com
Tel: 02 254 6200, 032 521 234, email: reservations.hrhuahin@hyatt.com
Hilton Hua Hin appoints new GM ■ HILTON Hua Hin Resort & Spa has appointed Michael Schmitt as its new General Manager. The German national has 17 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, including 12 years with Hilton Worldwide at a variety of different properties in the United Kingdom, Germany, China and Australia. Another new development at the hotel is the addition of a mini-golf putting green, located on the hotel’s M Floor. Price is B200 per person for 19 holes. Tel: 032 538 999 www3.hilton.com
Skal Club of Hua Hin and Cha Am helps to restore school in Ayutthaya ■ SKAL Club of Hua Hin and Cha Am last month travelled to Ayutthaya to preside over the re-opening of Wat Kong-sa Primary School, which the club has helped to restore after it was severely damaged by last year’s flooding. The club began its fundraising initiative last December with a live concert and silent auction which raised 555,000 baht for the school. The money was used to pay for new tables and chairs, as well as repair the school’s roof and floors, and install new library shelves. Picture shows: SKAL Club of Hua Hin and Cha Am members with the teachers and students from Wat Kong-sa Primary School Ayutthaya upon the completion of the school’s rehabilitation
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REVIEW BLACK LOTUS RESTAURANT
BLACK LOTUS RESTAURANT Great value comes as standard at this lovely new restaurant at the Black Lotus Resort SOMETHING special is happening in the outskirts of Hua Hin. A luxury villa project called Black Lotus is fast emerging and capturing the attention of international investors and tourists who are not just bowled over by its exquisite accommodation, but also by its five-star facilities. Among them: a superb on-site restaurant serving delicious international and local cuisines at affordable prices. Located at the front of the project, where 15 villas are now
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complete, the restaurant offers diners the option to sit inside a modern dining room decked out with paintings of classical music, or outside overlooking the pool, beautiful manicured gardens, and distant rolling hills. Providing cozy comfort, attentive service, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant looks just like any you’d find at a five-star beach resort. The same can be said for the food, which is made using only the best ingredients available and prepared by a culinary duo of one Thai chef and one Italian chef. “We want people to eat well and really enjoy themselves here,” says Black Lotus owner Lars Castenlund, a Danish IT entrepreneur who lives on-site. “We’re not located in the heart of town so we want to give people an incentive to travel here – hence the good food and good value.” Of course Lars is bound to talk up his own restaurant, but as soon as you order a dish you realize his words have credence: meals here arrive on large white platters in portions designed to fill, and full of flavour, too. Big bowls of salad such as Tuna salad (B145) and Caesar
salad (B160) come packed with fresh greens, drizzled with tasty dressings, and are just perfect for sharing. (For a real refreshing treat, try the Tzaziki – a classic Greek dip made using yoghurt with garlic and olive oil and served with garlic bread). You can wrap your mouth around meaty monsters such as the signature Black Lotus Steak Burger (B180), which features grilled tenderloin steak topped with caramelized onion, bacon, fried egg, lettuce and tomato, served with French fries; sink your teeth into thincrust homemade pizzas like the Pizza bolognaise (B240), which comes completely covered with a lovely rich sauce; or simply eat your bolognaise the traditional way with Spaghetti (B135). Steak fans will love the imported Australian Black Angus 250 days grain-fed beef, which ranges from B495 for a 200g Strip loin, to B745 for a 300g Tenderloin. Also available from the grill are numerous chicken, fish, pork, and lamb dishes. If your tastes are more local, flip straight to the
Thai menu and you’ll find popular choices such as Tom Yam Goong (B125), Phad Krapoaw (B125), and a particularly good Sweet and sour chicken (B125). Offering a wide range of wines, beers and cocktails, this is a restaurant where you’re meant to spend a long time and enjoy the experience. And with such great value on offer, a visit here is well worth the 5km journey from the centre of town. Black Lotus, 58 Naresdamri Road, 77110 Hua Hin. Tel: 081 943 1632, 081 943 1732 email: info@blacklotus.asia www.blacklotus.asia
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REVIEW SMOR SPA
ULTIMATE RELAXATION AT SMOR SPA
Enjoy heavenly massages at down to earth prices at Smor Hotelʼs underground spa
‘SPA treatments conducted underground’ may sound like a dodgy phrase, one which will raise more than a few eyebrows, but there are only salubrious connotations to be found at Smor Spa, where a wide range of massage therapies are carried out in five private treatment rooms located under the resort. Less of a basement and more of a relaxing cave, the spa is accessed via a spiral staircase near the resort’s entrance. You don’t have far to walk (just one level), but just knowing that you’re beneath the surface lends a cozy feeling to
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proceedings – as though you’re cocooned away from all the troubles of the world outside. White-washed walls and minimal décor mean there’s little to feast your eyes on down here, but that’s only because the focus remains firmly on the treatments. So while you don’t get the cosmetic kitsch you find at most Thai spas, what you do get is comfortable treatment beds, top quality spa products, and therapies conducted by experienced and qualified masseuses. Choose an Ancient Thai Massage (B700 for
one hour; B900 for 90 mins) and your masseuse is likely to find parts of your shoulder you never knew existed; places where your muscle has wrapped itself in a tight little ball and created the perfect home for stress. Working fingers and thumbs with expert precision, she will enter that home and give stress its eviction notice. Then, using her elbow to work even deeper, she’ll show stress the door and tell it never to return. You’ll experience the same feeling at various joints on your body, and, when you leave the spa, you’ll feel as though
a huge weight has been lifted, as though you’re ready for anything. For a real indulgent treat you can kick start your treatment with a warm bath (milky, floral, or relaxing. B550 for 20 mins), or relax your muscles in the Thai herbal steam room (B350 for 30 mins). Among the recommended one hour treatments on offer are Aroma massage, Swedish massage, and Smor’s signature essence massage (all are B1,500). If you have less time, though, you can
always opt for 30 minute treatments such as back massage and scalp and shoulder massage (B600 each). Aside from massage, Smor offers a selection of body scrubs and wraps starting at B1,800 for one hour, plus facial treatments starting at B2,000 for one hour. Special package deals combining various treatments are also on offer. 122/64 Takiab Road, Hua Hin. Tel: 03 253 6800 email: sales@smorspahuahin. com, smorspahuahin@ windowslive.com
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TRAVEL
HUA HIN
Hua Hin Where to eat Chom Talay
Hua Hin Where to drink Dune Sky Bar
■ This delightful beachfront restaurant is a great spot for alfresco dining. Pushed up against the water’s edge it has an easy going charm, good food and drink. The menu features a wide selection of delicious seafood dishes. Of note is the stir fried mud crab with X.O. sauce. A piquant tom yam with fresh prawns, pineapple and the flesh of young coconut offers an interesting variation on a classic dish. Open from 11am till 10pm.
■ Located on the rooftop of the boutique Dune Hotel, the Dune Sky Bar offers sweeping views of Hua Hin and is a great place to drop by for boozy cocktails and tasty international eats. Recently given a New York-inspired overhaul, the bar is stylishly furnished with eco-friendly furniture, including dining chairs made of recycled plastic bottles. Chilled out beats and subdued lighting make this one of the hippest relaxed hangouts in town.
Phetkasem Road, Hua Hin, (next to the airport). Tel: 032 547 253-4
Dune Hotel Hua Hin, Tel: 032 515 051-3 email: md@dunehuahin.com
Rocks Restaurant
Mondo Vino
■ This chic all-day-dining restaurant at the Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin offers a delectable selection of Italian and French favourites together with other international cuisines and local favourites. Designed to enhance a visitor’s holiday experience, this eatery provides a relaxing atmosphere and great a nice view out over the beach. The breakfast buffet is priced at 600 baht. If you stop by in the afternoon, Pavlova is a must to accompany an English Afternoon Tea set. Open 6.30am - 11pm.
■ Mondo Vino is a true community hub where expats and tourists come together to enjoy good wines in a cozy atmosphere. Promotions include: • Sparkling Saturday - Free flow prosecco, red and white wines with passed around parmesan cheese. • Sunday Chill - Free flow 6 best Belgiam Beers served with homemade pizza. • Relaxing Saturday - Variety of red and white wines with the best Italian food in town • Daily Special - 14 Red and 14 White wines by the glass, from B85 - B395.
97/2 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin Tel: 032 516 600
22/65 Naeb Kaehat Road, Hua Hin 77110, Tel: 032 531 493, 084 9505437 www.mondovino.co.th
Hagi Japanese Restaurant
Sala Wine Bar and Bistro
■ This stylish Japanese restaurant established by the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas possesses an air of sophistication and understated beauty. Diners can enjoy an excellent selection of contemporary and traditional Japanese dishes, each one beautifully executed and presented with artistic flair. The eclectic menu features sushi, sashimi, noodles, and much more. A 16-seat teppanyaki kitchen turns cooking into theatre, creating a dramatic dining experience. The restaurant has also started to run weekly cooking classes. Open from 3pm - 10.30pm.
■ No visit to Hua Hin is complete without a trip up to Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, home of the award winning Monsoon Valley Wines. Here you can journey into the vineyards to learn more about New Latitude Wines, or simply head straight to the winery’s Bistro, which is housed in a beautiful sala and serves a wide range of Thai and international eats and, of course, Siam Winery’s finest wines. An onsite shop sells premium Thai wines, souvenirs and other quality grape-based products.
Damnernkasem Road intersection. Tel: 032 512 021-38
www.huahinhillsvineyard.com
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Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, Tel: 081 701 8874-5, 081 701 2222, 081 701 0444
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TRAVEL
HUA HIN
Hua Hin Where to sleep Baan Bayan
The Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin
■ This fine resort features one of Hua Hin’s finest examples of early 1900’s architectural style. The beachfront resort has been faithfully restored to its former glory by the family who once lived there. Guests staying at Baan Bayan can experience the glory of a bygone era in its colonial style structure, yet without sacrificing the modern day comforts and amenities. It has 21 rooms comprising of three suites, 10 sea view rooms and 16 rooms with views of the courtyard or tropical garden.
■ Located in the heart of Hua Hin right next to the beach, this luxury hotel combines comfort and convenience for the perfect escape. Each suite is well-furnished in stylish décor and each has its own private swimming pool. General facilities include a fitness center, a swimming pool, steam rooms, spa, library, and meeting functions. Rocks Restaurant serves up a wide range of international dishes and local favourites, while the beachside bar, and the cigar and whisky bar, mix up some excellent cocktails.
119 Petchkasem Road. Tel: 032 533 544
97/2 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin Tel: 032 516 600
Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas
Putahracsa Hua Hin
■ Set within 13 hectares of landscaped gardens, the property dates back to 1923 and is one of Southeast Asia’s most renowned hotels. The luxurious colonial-era beachfront resort features 207 beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites, each one offering comfort and convenience. The Pool Villas include four Deluxe Spa Villas with queen sized twin bed, lounging area, bathroom with rain shower, and oversized Jacuzzi bathtub. Refined dining is available at Sala Thai, Hagi, the Railway Restaurant, and Palm Terrace. Guests can unwind in the Elephant Bar or Satchmo Club.
■ This stylish resort skillfully marries Mediterraneaninfluenced villa accommodation with the best contemporary Thai interior design flair to create a unique experience. Putahracsa is a secluded sanctuary with 36 SilkSand rooms bordering a magnificent swimming pool and mini beach. Interiors emphasize the ‘sleek and chic’ approach to modern design. The Oceanbed Villas are truly exceptional, providing some of the highest quality accommodation and service in Hua Hin. The resort features a day spa, and superb dining opportunities at Nahb Talay and Oceanside.
1 Damnernkasem Road, Hua Hin. Tel: 032 512 021-38
22/65 Nahb Kaehat Road. Tel: 032 531 470
Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa ■ This imposing resort in the centre of Hua Hin is regarded as one of the best family hotels in the region. Accommodation features comfortable rooms and suites, providing guests with a living space that exhibits contemporary Thai design flair and good in-room amenities. There are also 11 Spa Suites available. The award-winning White Lotus on the 17th floor of the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa offers sky-high dining at down to earth prices. 33 Naresdamri Road. Tel: 032 538 999
Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa ■ Sheraton brand in Hua Hin is a delightful low-rise resort comprising of 240 luxurious rooms and suites, 56 of which have direct access to a 200-metre lagoon-style swimming pool. Stylish and elegant, they provide a generous 49 square metres of light and airy living space. Facilities at the resort include five restaurants and bars, the highlight being InAzia, the resort’s signature restaurant. Other options include Luna Lanai, a laidback beachfront bar. The Aspadeva Spa offers an extensive menu of massage and body services. 1573 Petchkasem Road, Cha-Am. Tel: 032 708 080
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TRAVEL
PATTAYA
Garden Cliff presents a combined package
UNTIL Aug 31, Garden Cliff Resort & Spa, Pattaya is offering a ‘Chill & Grill’ promotion featuring two-nights’ stay in a Deluxe Room, daily breakfasts, and a BBQ buffet dinner on the beach for two. Priced B5,999 and available every day, except long weekends.
Tel: 038 259 333 www.gardencliffpattaya.com
Hilton Pattaya brings back Dine ‘n’ Fly competition
HILTON Pattaya Hotel has brought back its popular ‘Dine ‘n’ Fly’ competition which gives diners the chance to win a free holiday package to the following destinations: Conrad Koh Samui, Hilton Kuala Lumpur or Hilton Arc de Triomphe in Paris. To enter the competition, simply spend B3,000 or more at the hotel’s restaurants, eforea spa, or on in-room dining. Only six winners will be announced. Holiday packages include two-nights’ accommodation with breakfast. Tel: 038 253 000
Kurobuta month at Oasis Restaurant
ALL this month Oasis Restaurant at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is offering a special menu featuring Kurobuta pork prepared in a variety of ways. Recommended dishes include Sliced Kurobuta steak with Thai salad in chilli lime dressing (B360++); Stir-fried Kurobuta pork with garlic pepper, broccoli and steamed jasmine rice (B420++); and Kurobuta steak with teriyaki glaze, bok choy and fried garlic rice (B560++). Dinner served 6pm-11.30pm. Tel: 038 301 234 ext. 4379
New steak deal at dusitD2 Baraquda
STEAKS and wine take centre stage this month at DusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya, where a ‘Sip & Sizzle’ promotion offers Grilled sirloin steak served with a choice of side dishes and sauces, plus a glass of wine, for B750 per person. The deal is available at s.e.a. Restaurant, rooftop sunset lounge, and Dsquare Café. Tel: 038 769 999 dusitD2pattaya.dusit.com
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Sheraton Pattaya launches new seafood buffet
THE new ‘Aroy Seafood Market Buffet’ at Elements Restaurant, Sheraton Pattaya Resort, is a great option for seafood lovers. All kinds of deep sea bounty are on offer, including highlights such as Rock lobster, Blue crab, Tiger prawns, Jumbo oysters, and White clams – all cooked just as you like at live cooking stations. Running alongside the seafood is a wide variety of international and Asian favourites, plus a hearty selection of desserts. Served only on Saturdays, 6.30pm-10.30pm, the dinner buffet is B1,499 per person. Kids aged 4-12 eat half price (free for kids under 4). Starwood Preferred Guests get 15% discount (food only). Tel: 038 259 888 www.sheratonpattayaresort.com
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TRAVEL BANGKOK
• The Sukosol Bangkok:
Until July 31, the hotel’s ‘Suite Dream Package’ offers two-nights’ accommodation in a Club Siam Suite, international breakfast for two, access to the Club Lounge, a 60-minutes body massage for couples, and a romantic candlelit four-course dinner. B15,999++. Tel: 02 247 0123 email: reservations@siamhotels.com www.siamhotels.com
s ’ e t a M s rate
amily f r o s d Frien kok? g n a B visiting now about k Let them e deals thes
• Sofitel So Bangkok: Book before Sept 30 and you can take advantage of the ‘So Credit Offer,’ which gives you US$40 per room per night to spend in the hotel’s dining venues and spa, or even to upgrade to a higher room category. Tel: 02 624 0000 email: H6835-RE@sofitel.com www.sofitel.com
• Aloft BangkokSukhumvit 11: The hotel’s
‘One Night in Bangkok’ package features room rates starting at B2,570++ per Chic Room and B2,871++ per Urban Room, and includes a lunch buffet for two persons, two daily cocktails at wxyz (sm) bar, late check-out, and free entry to Bed Supperclub and Q bar. Promotion ends October 31. Tel: 02 207 7000 email: reservations.aloftbkk@alofthotels. com, www.alofthotels.com/ bangkoksukhumvit11
• Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok: Until Dec 28,
the hotel’s ‘Dream Deals’ package features a special Deluxe Room rate starting at B6,630++ per night. Includes daily breakfast for two persons, limousine transfer from airport and complimentary internet access. Deal valid on three night stays only. Tel: 02 206 8788 email: reservations. slbk@shangri-la.com www.shangri-la.com/bangkok
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• Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit: Until Aug 31,
the hotel’s ‘Stay & Spa Offer’ features accommodation in a Deluxe Room, daily buffet breakfast, a choice of complimentary 60-minute Swedish massage or signature Luk Pra Kob Thai massage at The Grande Spa, and a late check-out. B5,499++ per night for a single occupancy (B1,000++ per night for additional person). Upgrade to Grande Deluxe Room for an extra B1,000++ per night. Tel: 02 649 8888 www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com
• Maduzi Hotel Bangkok:
This boutique hotel in Asoke is now offering accommodation rates starting at B4,410 per room inclusive of breakfast. The booking must be made via www.slh.com/ destinations/asia/thailand/bangkok/ maduzi-hotel-bangkok/ before the end of August. Tel: 02 615 6400 www.maduzihotel.com
• Hotel Muse Bangkok:
Until Dec 31, all guests staying in the hotel receive a complimentary B1,000 voucher per night to spend in its five dining outlets and entertainment venues. The hotel’s newly-launched ‘lifestyle freedom concept’ offers flexible check-in and check-out, and flexible breakfast time, and more. The Muse Credits are not available for group bookings and cannot be exchanged for cash. Tel: 02 630 4000 email: H7174-RE@accor. com www.hotelmusebangkok.com
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