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NO. 773 OCT25, 2019. www.bkmagazine.com
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ADVERTORIAL
AP’S HYBRID INNOVATIONS BRING THE FUTURE TO BANGKOK
Smart and comfortable technology for modern homes Bangkok’s real estate scene just took a creative and futuristic leap forward. AP Thailand has rolled out hybrid living smart technology to make its homes greener, safer, more comfortable and cozier. This means all AP’s houses can now be packed with tech to improve security, increase comfortable vibes, develop community, and even save on maintenance costs. Here are some of the new innovations.
G R E Y W AT E R A N D GREEN LIVING Having a house usually means high yearly maintenance fees, but not at AP. Several innovations save homeowners unnecessary costs— including Grey Water Recycling which takes wastewater from each house, and uses it to water plants and grass in the public area. Another green innovation is solar panels at the clubhouse, which generate electricity for clubhouse areas—saving maintenance costs and energy bills, and making urban lifestyles that much more sustainable.
SAFER THAN EVER Because they are so common, burglar alarms and automatic gates have lost some of their effectiveness—so AP stepped up its game with individualized security for homes. Its new Emergency Button can be
alerted with your mobile phone. AP’s technology can also help you take care of elders in your home with motion sensor that will on the lights at pathway led to the toilet once they get out of bed. If you live alone, electrical equipment can be controlled remotely, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn off the light. Other security technology includes air control, motion sensors and IP cameras, that are controllable over the internet.
REMOTE ACCESS Houseguests arrived early, while you’re still stuck in traffic? Avoid awkwardness and uncomfortable situations with the Digital Door Lock—which lets you unlock doors with an AP application, or create pin codes for guests, and even housemaids. The Spot Universal Remote also allows you to control the air conditioner, TV, and other electrical equipment in your home through your phone.
KATSAN APPLICATION I f a s m a r t e r, b e t t e r informed community is what you want, Katsan is w h a t y o u ’ r e l o o k i n g f o r. The application allows you to notify village security in case of emergencies, or even arriving visitors. The security system can also alert you when unexpected visitors arrive, or when there are suspicious cars in your neighborhood.
Visit apthai.com/hybridliving for more.
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Eastern Promises Why Phnom Penh should be on your radar Fight Night Thailand’s first UFC pro lets down her guard Revivalism Indie cinemas bring arthouse flicks to the big screen Mexican’t Nana’s hideaway bar-restaurant misses the mark
Happy Halloween NO. 773 OCTOBER 25, 2019. www.bkmagazine.com
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page 3 Who's in charge? Managing Director & Publisher Andrew Hiransomboon Managing Editor Craig Sauers Associate Editor Willy Thorn Digital Editor Angela Symons Senior Digital Content Coordinator Nontaya Kumyat Digital Content Coordinator Pakchira Bunphol Junior Digital Content Coordinator Kawee Jarach Senior Writer Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley Writers Jesse Day, Suthivas Tanphaibul, Reika Kobayashi Nidhiprabha
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
Welcome, friends!
04 upfront
Thailand's first UFC pro
A letter to residents of The Fine Sukhumvit from Lt. Gen. Kritsiya Na Rayong, dated October 25, 2019.
Creative Director Bhatara Chirdchuen Production Supervisor Komkrit Klinkaeo Senior Graphic Designer Assaya Dejkong Graphic Designers Anunya Chobnitas, Wirankan Saiyasombut Photographer Poonsawat Suttama
Dear fellow residents,
Business Development Director Jane Bay Senior Business Developmet Manager Madeleine Anantasuk
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Junior Videographers Jaruwan Suwandee, Tham Rodjananaudomvutigul Junior Video Editor Jakphet Potisarn
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Advertising Director Wanida Akeapichai Sales Managers Tipkritta Chiraporncharas, Senior Sales Associates Tassanee Mahamad, Nattaya Bovornsettanon, Orakarn Laohakanjanasiri Sales Associate Parinda Dermsripoom
31 reasons you might not see tomorrow
Junior Marketing Executive Katthaleeya Tamkittigul ASIA CITY STUDIO Managing Editor Dietrich Neu Associate Editor Sureepak Janyapat Event Projects Manager Chayanap Tongdadas Event Coordinator Thanawat Buddhichewin Project Coordinator Sirinart Panyasricharoen Junior Project Coordinator Sawanya Chantarakana Senior Developers Prawee Wiangin, Wasan Wangrach Developer Nopanun Laochunanun Branded Content Writer Chakariya Cheewatara SOIMILK Editor Nathapong Suppavatee Senior Writer Rujiyatorn Choksiriwan Writers Sarin Songkriengkrai Junior Graphic Designer Wathinee Srithongchuai Senior Sales Associate Kornkanok Sriwaranant Sales Associates Palita Nueangnit Assistant Brand Manager Prawpraew Pairohg Finance Manager Supaporn Bangmoung Assistant Finance Manager Anchalee Limkhamduang Senior Accountant Maneeya Kanthongdang Accountant Manita Bangmoung Admin Executive Yaovaluck Srisermsri Interns Kunthara Poonjaruwat, Vongsathon Karnchanapandh Contributors Kathy MacLeod, Megan Leon
14 travel
Neighboring Ties
Asia City Media Group Chief Executive Officer Greg Duncan (gduncan@asiacity.net) Director Gretchen Worth (gworth@asia-city.co.th)
Where to find us!
The Asia City Media Group Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. 9/F, Sathorn Nakorn Tower 100 North Sathorn Rd., Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02-624-9696 Fax: 02-237-5656 Email: bkmagazine@asia-city.co.th
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BK “Asia City Living” Magazine is edited by Andrew Hiransomboon and published 24 times a year, twice a month by Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. Copyright ©2019 Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd. The titles “BK Magazine,” “BK ‘Asia City Living’ Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of BK “Asia City Living” Magazine are the property of Asia City (Thailand) Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Article reprints are available for B50 each. The magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Media Group (Thailand) Ltd. Contact the Advertising Department for ad rates and specifications. All advertising must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by Comform Co.,Ltd. 212 Moo 13 Krungthepkreetha Rd., Saphansoong, Bangkok 10250
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Hello. Nice to know you. My name is Kritsiya. I live in your condo. Please, call me Pooh. My friends and I have just opened the cafe next door. I invite you to visit. It is a lovely place for large gatherings and socializing. Bring all your friends. But do know that it is an even better place to work and chat online. We offer free WiFi. In fact, you do not even have to purchase anything. We are so very new, and we want everyone to come and visit. My friends and I take good care of our customers and encourage you to speak freely, especially online. Every click, comment and like will be safely stored with us. It is the law, you know. We have CCTV—and it actually works, too! It is a very pretty place. Plenty of concrete and natural light. We also have many potted plants. Cacti, succulents, red and yellow flowers you can pick yourself. Do you remember how that dingy shophouse next door used to look? Much more beautiful now. Please, take photos and share them on Facebook and Instagram. If your photo gets a lot of likes, shares or comments, we will give you a free iced latte and a slice of red velvet cake. Maybe you will win a free vacation—my friends and I have a very big place outside the city with many cells… er, rooms you can stay in, food and drink included! Have you ever tried TikTok? Maybe you will go viral. You will not go viral because of our food, though. We have Russian borscht and blinis, Shanghainese xiao long bao, Cuban ropa vieja—please, try our comrades’ cuisines. Rate us on Wongnai. We also offer Huawei smart phones that you can use to photograph the motosai that drive on the footpaths in front of the building. Did you know you can make money simply by photographing fellow citizens breaking the law? This is a good thing for society. Just ask our friends in China. I have seen all of you before in our building, but no one ever says hello to me. I hope to get to know you soon. You are all welcome. So very welcome. Please, visit my cafe. Sincerely, Lt. Kritsi Your friend, Pooh
24 neighborhood
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upfront
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
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HOT OR NOT
ECOTOURISM
Get into the octagon with Thailand’s first UFC fighter INTERVIEW
Buriram-born Loma Lookboonmee makes history on Oct 26, when she becomes the first Thai mixed martial artist to fight professionally in the UFC (at Singapore Indoor Stadium, against Russian fighter Alexandra Albu). The winner of nine regional muay Thai titles, Thai national team representative and trailblazing MMA star speaks about her inspiration, her favorite fighter and smashing the patriarchy.
What got you started fighting in the first place?
What about when it comes to training?
My dad was a muay Thai fighter. One day my mom took me to see a match that my dad was fighting in, and I remember seeing him elbowing his opponent, and his face was covered in blood. I really enjoyed watching that match and fell in love with this sport ever since.
My training is really tough. I sometimes feel down and tired, but encouragement from my family and inner strength are vital for me. Success takes time—no one is successful from the first day of their career.
Who is your favorite muay Thai fighter? My dad is my hero and favorite boxer. Even though he’s not well-known and never won any championships or participated in any prestigious boxing series, he’s a world champion to me.
I only fight in the ring. As soon as I step out of it, I’m a different person. Believe it or not, I used to be bullied when I was a kid at school, but rather than fighting back, I would call my dad to pick me up.
What drives you now?
What is your diet like?
My dreams and objectives are always changing. When I was a kid, I wanted to fight for the Thai national team. I’m very happy to have achieved that goal. Now I want to win the UFC championship.
I didn’t know about diets before I started practicing muay Thai, but now my coach puts me on a strict diet—that means no desserts, snacks or fried foods. It would be nice if I could eat chocolate every once in a while… however, I might secretly eat dessert sometimes.
Has your career path been more difficult as a woman in a male-dominated sport? It’s already difficult to fight in this sport. For women, we need to practice like men and often prove that women can do it, too. Do you have any tips for other female fighters? You need to set clear goals and objectives, then take action to make them happen. How do you discipline your mind and body?
“The best lesson I’ve learned is losing.” THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
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Failure is a force that has helped me become a stronger and better fighter today. The best lesson I’ve learned is losing. Winning feels great, but after a few days that feeling disappears. How I feel when I lose a fight never goes away, so I train even harder to get back to winning again.
Credit where credit is due: the Tourism Authority of Thailand is striving for change. The group’s “7 Greens” campaign (7greens. tourismthailand.org) offers a practical guide to sustainable, community-based travel in Thailand for tourists, tour operators and communities. The TAT has even developed a few suggested green routes: four in Krabi, six in Mae Hong Son. The English content might remain as indecipherable as ever, but the intention is there.
CONSERVATION Is that pesky natural spring making it hard to sell bottles of Est to tourists? Just pour some concrete over it to create space for your stall, like villagers did to Khlong Tha Dee in Khiriwong, one of Thailand’s most pristine ecotourism destinations. While that’s happening in the south, the authorities keep appropriating indigenous land elsewhere to build new hotels and attractions, according to human rights group Manushya Foundation.
Should people be afraid of you?
What are your expectations coming into the UFC? Anything you’re worried about? I want to win every match. I’m not worried about anything yet, but I think I will be when the fight comes! If you could get into the octagon with anyone, who would it be? I want to fight Amanda Nunes [a current UFC two-division champion and the first woman in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously]. But I don’t think I’ll be able to since we’re in different weight classes. What is your signature, TKO-guaranteed move? My elbow. Thanawat Buddhichewin and Kawee Jarach
WINTER Can you feel the chill in your bones, the cold wind whipping through your hair, the frost turning your cheeks pink? Neither can we, but we’re energized by the Meteorological Department’s promise of a longer, colder winter nevertheless. Dust off your North Face jackets, because this year’s cool season is supposed to last 120 days, with average lows between 12C and 20C nationwide.
SIDEWALKS City Hall says the number of motorcyclists driving or parking on the sidewalks has dropped 37 percent over the past 16 months, and they’re hailing their crackdown as if you still don’t see win motosai cruising in the bike lane or clipping pedestrians on the footpaths each day. Why don’t you save the selfcongratulatory back-slapping for when you’ve actually remedied the problem, guys?
by Kathy MacLeod (IG: @kathy_macleod)
10/18/19 4:36 PM
ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL
COFFEE WORLD CEO ON SUCCESS AND KEEPING IT FRESH FROM CHIANG RAI BEANS AND CREATIVE HERSHEY DRINKS, TO STARTUPS AND THE BEST WAFFLES As one of the first coffee franchises in Thailand, Coffee World has a long history in the cafe industry. It operates 40 branches domestically and another eight internationally—in Indonesia, India, China and Sudan, with more planned for Bahrain, Bangladesh, and Laos. Pitak Ratchakitprakarn is the man running that show. He moved from PunThai Coffee to management of the chain recently, and we had a chance to sit down with the entrepreneurial director, to discuss dedication and success, running one of Thailand’s most-loved chains, and his suggestions for young business minds.
What is your coffee history? And what challenges have you faced in the industry? I started PunThai Coffee—a chain of shops mainly located in PT gas stations. We only serve coffees with Thai blends. I managed and operated that for five years. When we decided to get Pun Thai listed on the stock market, we needed to create more story for the brand, and we also needed to get larger; to increase the company's size. That’s why we acquired the Coffee World stores. It’s been almost two years since—and it’s worked wonderfully.
What makes Coffee World unique? our specialty is high-quality, reliable coffee that provides the same taste every time you drop by—with fresh products, speciallyselected for premium tastes. We also set standards for the freshness of products and all our flavors, and we train every barista to provide consistency and top-quality service, as well as building cozy ambience and spaces where people want to spend time.
How are Thai coffee drinkers different from other countries? How did you reinvent Coffee World’s strategies for Thai consumers? In Thailand, people tend to drink coffee only in the morning, or early afternoon because we believe drinking coffee in the evening affects the quality of sleep—which isn’t true. So we redesigned the menu and expanded it to provide more choices for customers who don’t want to drink coffee late in the afternoon. We also added creativity to our drinks by joining hands with other dessert shops and chocolatiers. For instance, we co-created seasonal drinks with Hershey’s, like strawberry kisses—milkshakes with white chocolate and strawberry syrup—Mocha & Cream, and Shockaholic which is made from Hershey’s dark chocolate. These seasonal menus always receive great feedback from customers, and it helps keep Coffee World fresh, and on top of its game.
introduces people to the industry, and shares information about what you will face if you do open a coffee shop. If you are interested in buying into a franchise, we also have an academy that will educate you about coffee beans, and their origin, and types of drinks, and our service standards—to help people fully understand the brand. Armed with all that knowledge, it will be easier to work and succeed in the industry.
What drinks do you recommend for coffee lovers? My personal favorite is the CW Cappuccino. The taste is mellow and smooth—easy to drink and quite enjoyable with fresh waffles.
Many people want to start businesses. Do you have any suggestions for success? There are many opportunities for young people nowadays—startup models where you can pitch creative ideas and raise funds (are quite common). But you do need to be aware—don’t only look at the good side. It’s good to create services, or products that resolve needs, but you also have to think mass-scale. You also have to work hard, act quickly, and be passionate about what you create. A franchise is also a good place to start. Look for one that is willing to train you and help you start a good, solid business. Coffee World has an open house project that
www.coffeeworld.com
facebook.com/coffeeworldthailand
cover | grim reader
Health officials say public safety remains at the top of the agenda, and for good reason. In October alone, we’ve witnessed choking pollution, the tragic death of a young model and a highprofile suicide attempt. The fact is Bangkok remains one of the deadliest cities in the world, with Thailand today having one of the lowest life expectancy rates in Asia. These are 31 of the most likely ways you won’t live to see tomorrow. By Jesse Day
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1. Road Accidents 22,491 people were killed on Thailand’s roads in 2018—an eye-watering average of 60 deaths a day. Thailand’s road fatality rate remains one of the highest in the world, and motorcyclists are at the heart of the issue—they were involved in 74 percent of road deaths in 2018. The majority of victims are males aged 15-29, and Songkran is by far the deadliest time of year. Unsurprisingly, Thai police say speed and alcohol are often involved.
2. Cancer
3. Heart Disease
4. HIV
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the disease killed over 100,000 Thais in 2018, making it the deadliest threat in the country. According to the agency, cancer deaths have been trending upwards in Thailand for the last ten years, with lung and liver cancers accounting for nearly half of all cancerrelated deaths. Meat-laden diets, heavy drinking and chain-smoking in the world’s second most polluted city probably don’t help.
Ischemic heart disease kills over 10,000 Thais a year, making it the second deadliest disease in the country. When you consider the lifestyle choices of your average Bangkokian—spending the weekdays stressed out at work and the weekends drinking, smoking and ending the night with a greasy meal—it’s no surprise that heart disease poses such a big threat.
Thailand has the highest rate of HIV infections in Southeast Asia. According to UNAIDS, 16,000 people in Thailand died of the disease in 2016. Alarmingly, HIV infections are rising for the first time since the 1990s. Public health officials are calling for better education around safe sex practices. That’s especially important for men who have sex with men and sex workers, who have a much higher risk of contracting HIV.
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5. Rabies
6. Dengue
7. Terrorism
8. Going under
9. Liver disease
10. Tong sia
Thanks to widespread vaccination policies implemented in the ‘80s, your chances of contracting rabies from your neighborhood soi dog are quite low. However, 17 people did die from the disease in 2018, doubling the death toll from 2017. Health authorities cite a recent shortage of high-quality rabies vaccines for the uptick in deaths.
The Department of Disease Control announced a dengue fever epidemic this year, as there have been 28,785 reported cases across Thailand in 2019, including 43 deaths. And now health officials are warning that the dengue virus has spread from rural areas to Bangkok. Symptoms include a smorgasbord of unsavory conditions—severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, bruising, uncontrolled bleeding— and should be addressed immediately.
Many countries currently list the threat of terrorism in Thailand as high, mostly due to the ongoing violence in the south. However, in the wake of the non-deadly BTS bombings in August and the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing that killed 20—and many other recent attacks in urban areas across the world—the risk of terrorism in Bangkok remains very real.
Bangkok is… sinking? If only we were joking. The city is estimated to be sinking up to two centimetres a year. Bangkok is among the world’s fastest-sinking cities and by some measures it has already slipped below sea level. The World Bank has predicted that 40 percent of Bangkok could be inundated as early as 2030 due to extreme rainfall and changes in weather patterns.
You might want to think twice next time you stop by a 7-Eleven to pick up a couple casual after-work Leos. Liver diseases killed over 18,000 Thais in 2017, with the highest concentration in Bangkok. That sum equates to about 50 people per day. Alcohol abuse is the number one cause of preventable liver diseases and a major contributor to traffic accidents and domestic violence.
While “Bangkok Belly” can strike anytime, it’s quite rare that food poisoning becomes deadly. However, the Health Information Unit Bureau of Health Policy and Strategy reports an average of 50 deaths a year due to “diarrhea of an infectious origin.” It’s not just street food, either—given some of our near-death experiences with even upscale restaurants in the city, that doesn’t come as a big surprise.
11. Electrocution 12. Tuberculosis 13. Robbery
14. Drowning
16. Diabetes
Depending on who you ask, those haphazard-looking telephone wires adorning the city are either a charming idiosyncrasy or a complete eyesore. As dangerous as they may look, they haven’t caused any deaths in the city, but there have been an eyebrow-raising amount of recent electrocution deaths. Three people have died due to faulty wiring after plugging in their phones this year.
The World Health Organization reports that Thailand has the most instances of child drowning among all Southeast Asian countries. Since 2000, over 23,000 children under the age of 15 have drowned in the kingdom—an average of five a day—making it the leading cause of death for children of this age group.
15. Death by spouse
According to the World Health Organization, Thailand is one of the 14 worst countries in the world when it comes to this infectious bacterial disease. Approximately 500 Bangkokians die each year of tuberculosis. The risk of contracting TB is much higher in cramped overcrowded conditions, such as the nightlife venues it has been found in across the city— makes you think a little differently about nights out in the club. See a doctor if you have a fever and cough that lasts over two weeks.
Stats from the Metropolitan Police Bureau show that robbery is a real threat in Bangkok. On average there are 29 cases of robbery reported in the city each day. Almost 300 people die during robberies annually.
Are you reading this in bed, curled up next to your loved one? Then here’s a good conversation starter. According to GunPolicy.org, there are over 10 million privately owned guns in Thailand, but only six million are legally registered. Many gun homicides in Thailand stem from fights between lovers—and occur with unregistered guns. How well do you know your spouse again?
According to the Journal of Diabetes Research, 30,000 Thais die of diabetes annually, making it one of the deadliest noncommunicable diseases in the country. We love a good sugar rush, but maybe it’s time we checked ourselves on the sweet treats.
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cover | grim reader
17. Suicide
18. Stroke
19. Hep B
20. Swine flu
21. Fires
22. PM2.5
The World Health Organization reports that, as of 2019, the equivalent of 10,000 people in Thailand die by suicide each year—the highest number per capita in ASEAN. Unfortunately, psychiatric resources are limited and people are often discouraged from seeking therapy. If you or someone you know experiences suicidal thoughts, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a crisis center in the city. You can call the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline at 02-713-6791 (English) and 02-713-6793 (Thai) or the Department of Mental Health’s hotline at 1323 (Thai).
An estimated 250,000 new cases of strokes are recorded in Thailand each year. About 50,000 of those patients lose their lives and around 30 percent become paralysed. While strokes can be fatal, death can usually be prevented if patients are aware of the symptoms and go directly to the hospital. Warning signs include: numbness or weakness, slurred speech, confusion or trouble understanding people, and dizziness or loss of balance. Smoking, high cholesterol and a sedentary lifestyle all increase the risk of stroke.
Between six and 12 percent of people over 40 in Thailand develop chronic hepatitis B after being infected during childhood. According to the latest estimates from the Ministry of Public Health, almost 3.5 million people had chronic hepatitis B in 2011. In the long-term, this can lead to liver cirrhosis, cancer and death in serious cases.
The World Health Organization defines swine flu as “a human respiratory infection caused by an influenza strain that started in pigs.” A global outbreak in 2010 resulted in 16,000 deaths. Now, a new emergence of the epidemic has caused heavy fatalities in neighboring Myanmar, putting Thai health officials on high alert.
While the data is unclear on exactly how many people have died in building fires this year, it’s still a significant threat. Earlier this year, a fire ravaged Central World, killing two people and injuring at least another 16.
Lately, Bangkok has been notching all the records no one ever wanted, like being the second most polluted city on Earth, with an air quality index so high it’s in a stratosphere even the Mahanakhon tower can’t reach. Sadly, there just aren’t enough N95 masks to go around in this city.
23. Guns
24. Vaping
25. Booze
26. Leptospirosis 27. Heat stroke
Gun violence in Bangkok can be hard to track, because police are reluctant to release statistics. Some sources claim that in 2016 there were 3,000 gun-related deaths in the country. Other reports have suggested that Thailand’s gun violence rate is twice as high as in the United States. Yikes.
Despite vaping being illegal in Thailand, the haze of candy-flavored clouds floating up across the city suggests that law is toothless. But if reports out of the US are any indication, we might want to ask what we’re smoking. Or vaping. Whatever. US health officials say they’re aware of 29 deaths and at least 450 possible cases of severe lung disease linked to vaping. Maybe the authorities were onto something with the vaping ban.
Recently, extreme alcohol intoxication caused the death of Thai “pretty” Thitima Noraphanpiphat, better known as Lunabelle. While statistics on the number of deaths from alcohol poisoning in the city aren’t available, it’s safe to say excessive drinking is a big killer. Take it slow next time you’re out on the town. No one is actually impressed when you knock back shot after shot of Sangsom.
This tongue-twisting bacterial disease is caused by the spirochete bacterium often found in rat urine. In Thailand, 4,000 to 5,000 cases are reported annually, with about 10 deaths stemming from those cases. The disease mostly affects farmers, but with the number of rats we see patrolling the streets of Bangkok, don’t assume you’re safe from lepto here in the city.
Thanks to climate change, the hottest city in the world is only getting hotter. With that comes a higher risk of dying from heat exposure. In the hot seasons from 2015 to 2018, there were a total of 158 deaths by heat stroke in Bangkok. Health officials urge people to stay hydrated and avoid alcohol when temperatures max out.
28. Fatal plunges We love a good rooftop view, but be wary of balconies. Too many expats to count have appeared on the Thai Visa forums after suffering mysterious falls from their Pattaya condos. Others have suffered less questionable but equally shocking falls, including a Chiang Mai University student who fell to his death from a hotel balcony earlier this year.
Top 10 Deadliest Cancers of 2018 * SOURC E : Int e rnat ional Age nc y f or Re se arc h on C anc e r
LUNG 19.4% LIVER 18%
29. Lightning
30. Snakebite
This one comes as more than just a shock: Thailand has the second highest rate of people being struck by lightning in the world, second only to Mexico. According to the National Lightning Safety Institute, 171 people have died after being struck by lightning in Thailand. In 2018 alone, lightning strikes injured 18 people and killed six.
Thailand is home to about five dozen venomous snake species. About 30 people die of snake bites in Thailand while 7,000 get bit. If you’re one of the unlucky ones, rest assured that you’ll most likely survive if you receive immediate medical attention.
31. Death by selfie How far are you willing to go for that perfect Insta-shot? Recently, people have been taking the phrase “do it for the gram” a little too far and have ended up paying the ultimate price in search of that elusive, stunning pic. In 2016, at least 73 people died worldwide while taking selfies. Last year a Bangkok woman suffered the Darwinian fate as she was tragically killed trying to take a photo on the train tracks near Samsen station.
GALLBLADDER 6.4% BREAST 5% COLON 4.3% CERVIX UTERI 4.2% RECTUM 3.5% LEUKEMIA 3.2% STOMACH 2.8% NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA 2.6% ALL OTHERS 30.6%
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hit list | 22 new reasons to love bangkok
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
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Finally, a Thai skincare brand embraces natural tanned skin
SHOPPING
Most Thai skincare brands aim for a whiter shade of pale, cranking out billboards and commercials that feature fair-skinned models showing off luminous complexions acquired with the aid of brightening serums, extra whitening eye creams and even whitening deodorants (because everyone needs bedsheet-white armpits). But here’s one local brand not on board with the bleachy norm. Newly debuted Athit’s sworn mission is to celebrate natural beauty in a range of darker skin tones—it might be a vanity product, sure, but it at least helps you embrace the way you’re supposed to look. Star products include “Sunglow” Long Lasting Glow Daily Body Treatment (B1,050), which helps tighten, smooth and improve your skin’s elasticity, on top of adding a glossy, glowing complexion to your skin. If you want to give your skin a little makeover, check out “Sunbeam” Radiating Tanning Booster Serum (B950). This self-tan serum is said to help develop radiant, sun-kissed skin in only six to ten hours and last for up to seven days. Stay tuned for “Sundance,” a blend of remedial oils that help fix uneven skin tones, for a more energized complexion. The collection is available at athitculture.com
PUMPED UP KICKS
Check out some of the best white sneakers from these affordable local brands Fromheadtofoot B550 (Shoe 4) Available at Frank Garcon, Siam Square Soi 2
Mustard Sneakers B1,590 (Alexis in White) Available at 1/F, Lido Connect
More’s Friday B1,990 (Heart in OffWhite) Available at Warehouse 30, Charoenkrung Soi 30
Rompboy B2,950 (Rompboy X) Available at fb.com/rompboybkk
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SHOPPING
TATTOOS
TECH
02 Greyhound and Spun
03 Check out Ari’s hip new
04 This TV is made for
turn Thai household brands into top fashion
Two classic Thai household brands—Hatakabb anti-cough pills and Snake Brand prickly heat cooling powder—have just been given a pop culture makeover. Part of Siam Center’s “Absolute Thai Souvenir” pop-up store (G/F, Siam Center until Nov 17), the Takabb x Greyhound collection features pop-arty T-shirts and bucket hats screen printed with Hatakabb’s signature takabb ha tua (five centipede) design. Meanwhile, the Snake Brand x Spun collection sees illustrator Spun Inthawong’s modern take on the iconic snake and roses logo on T-shirts, crossbody bags, totes and more.
boutique tattoo studio
interior design geeks
Bangkok’s “it” neighborhood has welcomed a new addition to its growing list of uber-trendy destinations. At Madgrey Tattoo Studio, you’ll find five resident artists versed in different styles, from bold new school and dark surrealist work to illustrative designs. Embrace your inner hipster and get a cosmic tattoo, or splash out and get the sleeve of your dreams. Prices run from B1,000 for small tattoos up to B15,000 for big and more complex pieces. Remember to book in advance. 3/F, Ari Story Hostel, Ari Soi 1, 090-992-8089. Open Tue-Sun noon-8pm
What: Samsung “Serif” TV Price: B59,990 Why? Samsung’s Serif TV retains its distinctive I-shaped profile and flat screen, but the new 55inch model now boasts 4K QLED screen technology, promising better color accuracy in peak brightness. For a stylistic flourish, the TV also comes with an easel-like stand and an ambient mode that displays artwork matching its surroundings. Compatible with Samsung Bixby, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Available to order at Fritz Hansen pop-up store, 1/F, Central Embassy, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-062-1211. Open daily 10am-10pm
Shop Talk How to spend your hardearned baht.
BUY IT COACH “FLORAL BLUSH” EAU DE PARFUM One spritz of this light and sweet floral fragrance is all it takes to lift your mood. B4,500; available at sephora.co.th
BIN IT SCRUNCHIES These ruffled hair ties are just sad reminders that we’re getting old.
BARGAIN HABITAT GRAND SALE Get up to 70 percent off on beds, sofas, work desks and other selected items through Oct 31 at Habitat stores nationwide.
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BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
11
IS BACK WITH A BIG LINEUP, COSTUMES AND SEVEN HOURS OF MUSIC - HALLOWEEN EDITION -
Singha Music presents activities to spook you, incredible food and endless chances to dance til you drop Time to enjoy the witchy night of the year, as Singha returns with Road to Kolour In The Park: Halloween Edition—the centerpiece event of a long night of costumes, gourmet food and drinks, open-air party vibes, and a deep lineup of top international artists. Emquartier’s Escape Bangkok will be transformed into a chaotic party space throughout, with music for seven straight hours—and a pair of after-party locations lined up: the Chinese art deco retro Sing Sing Theatre (Sukhumvit Soi 45) and Indian-meets-Belgian Ratchada hotspot Mustache Bar (Ratchadaphisek Soi 7). The most important part of the party is definitely the music. A world-class lineup of entertain-
Brought to you by Singha Music
ers will perform house, techno, and groovy disco on multiple stages. The indoor stage’s lineup remains a secret (unannounced), but the outdoor Ellipse Stage will rock deep into the night, with the likes of Frankfurt house artist tim roemer; downtempo funk and soul guru Brent Burns; electronic dance cuts from Bangkok’s own Mendy Indigo; and Chicago house veteran Ezekiel Dominguez—aka DJ ZEEK. Expect Jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, ghouls and more in a Halloween party atmosphere all night long. Activities include free body art and face painting, and performers will be roaming around—adding extra excitement and spectacularly spooky vibes. And don’t forget to come dressed in your best—
the Kolourween Costume Contest will honor the most creative and daring Halloween spirits.
Black Label, or Tanqueray Gin), plus mixers and ice, and a fourpack of Singha beers (B12,000).
Road to Kolour has also lined up more food than you can try in one night. Some 44 vendors will be on hand with an array of classic Thai street food and all the best international dishes.
Packages with sofas and seated high tables similarly include four party tickets, and either a bottle of ultra premium spirits (Hendrick's Gin, or Moët & Chandon Champagne) or a pair of bottles of premium spirits, plus mixers and ice, and a four-pack of Singha (B18,000).
An advance ticket will set you back just B750, while tickets at the door run B950. Tables are available for booking, with two options: tables you can stand at with your friends, and tables with sofa seats. Standing table packages include four party tickets, one premium bottle of spirits (Bangkok Vodka, Johnnie Walker
Both table packages also include a free parking pass— good for 10 hours at Emquartier—as well as one free shot before midnight, at select after-party locations. Grab your ticket at bit.ly/RTKITP-Tickets fb.com/Singha
hit list | calendar
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
12
NIGHTLIFE KARMA KONCRETE Party organizers Karma Klique host a 10-hour warehouse rave with food and DJs. Oct 26, 2pm. About Studio, 35/20 Pradit Manutham Rd.
05
Rise up at Bangkok’s first women’s empowerment summit
TINLICKER AT GLOW The Dutch electronic music duo—known for tracks like “Shadowing” and “Waschmachine”—performs in Bangkok for the first time. Nov 1, 9:30pm. Glow, 96/45 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 086-6143355. B450. TC80 Enter a digital arcade world of twisting techno music spun by French DJs. Nov 2, 10pm. 12 x 12, 810/22 Thara Rom Soi 2 (Thonglor), 094-2604713. B200 via Ticketmelon. SUMMIT
The Dragonfly Summit, a regional platform for gender equality in Asia, is coming to town Nov 2 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld. The city’s first women’s empowerment summit is designed to awaken strength, courage, and happiness in women through the power of storytelling, workshops, art installations, gourmet food and experiences that connect and empower. The headliners include leaders, influencers, activists and celebrities who drive positive change for women, including Jameela Jamil, Marina Mahathir, Woody Milintachinda, Cindy Bishop, Vatanika Patamasingh and more. Regular tickets are priced at B8,000 via Ticketmelon.
DE COMMUNE SECOND ANNIVERSARY PARTY Celebrate two years at Thonglor’s underground live music mecca. Huge lineups await. Nov 2, 8pm. De Commune, 1/F, Liberty Plaza, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 088-4197380. B300.
NIGHTLIFE
06 This might be Bangkok’s biggest electronic music festival ever
07 Celebrate 17 years of killer parties with Dudesweet
Back for its seventh year this Dec 6-8, 808 Festival is bringing a huge lineup to Bangkok’s BITEC Bangna. As well as the return of American EDM sensation Skrillex, Calvin Harris will be joining the party along with genre-blending producer and DJ Zedd. That’s one helluva lineup—maybe the best Bangkok has ever seen, as far as electronic music goes. Three-day passes are B3,345 via Ticketmelon, but with this bill, we don’t expect them to last long.
It’s been 17 years since Dudesweet threw its first quasi-clandestine club night on Khaosan Road. (Go ahead—let that sink in a minute.) Since then, the party people have become art curators, concert organizers, indie media and more. To celebrate all that Dudesweet stands for, they’re throwing a party at Whiteline (Silom Soi 8) this Nov 2 (tickets B400, includes one drink). The Dudesweet Party Human Study Center reflects on almost two decades of killer parties, underground music and cheap booze. Fasten your safety belts.
DYGL LIVE IN BANGKOK The Japanese four-piece indie band returns to Bangkok to debut a new album. Nov 2, 7pm. Glowfish Sathorn, 2/F, Sathorn Thani 2 Building, North Sathorn Rd., 02-1099600. B900 via Eventpop. RAMPAGE A.D. 2019 A mini-festival of music that gathers up-and-coming international and local artists like Survive Said The Prophet (Japan), Flesh Juicer (Taiwan), Sleeping Sheep (Thailand) and more. Nov 3, 2pm. Live RCA Arena, 098-974-6974. B1,000 via Eventpop.
ART
HALLOWEEN
Pretend Halloween exists in Bangkok at these parties
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Keep North American traditions alive during the Singha x Bkkbarcrawl Dia de los Muertos party on Nov 2. The pub crawl begins at Le Cafe des Stagiaires (142/21 Sathorn 12), and from there onward you can expect costume contests, live face painting, special drinks and more. Tickets are B700 (includes three shots) via Ticketmelon.
If that doesn’t get you in the spirit, put on your best costume (sexy lumberjack, anyone?) and head to Escape Bangkok (5/F, The EmQuartier) at 4pm on Nov 2 for a Halloween party hosted by the Kolour crew. The top costume nets a special prize. Tickets are B950 at the door (includes two Singha beers before 5:30pm).
It might not be happening on Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, but Bangkok Island’s Halloween Cruise: Dead Pirate Special sure sounds like a rager. Hop aboard a metal barge haunted by local DJs and rock band Bomb At Track at 9pm at Asiatique on Nov 1, and party until 1am. Tickets are B850 at the boat.
INFLORESCENCE Theekawut Boonvijit and Warawut Tourawong are talented local artists exhibiting dreamy floral portraiture and lifelike oils. Through Dec 14, 10am. Ardel’s Third Place Gallery, 137 Sukhumvit Soi 63, 02-422-2092. Free. LIGHT AND LONELINESS “There is no shadow without light” is a solo exhibition by Studio Kitta. Through Nov 13, 10am. 10 mL Cafe Gallery, 65/21 Viphavadi Rangsit Soi 16/6. 087-6778311. Free.
SCREEN
LIVE MUSIC
BANGKOK MUSIC CITY - BMC 2019 A new music showcase festival aimed at industry elite, BMC is like a tradeshow with stages and is designed to bolster Thailand as a world-class music destination. Nov 1-3, 12pm. Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC), 1160 Central Post Office, Charoenkrung Rd., 02-1057400. Free.
CONCERT
2019 PERSIAN CARPET EXHIBITION See century-old pure wool carpets made for the Iranian royal palace—worth more than B1 million. The exhibition also includes authentic Persian rugs for sale. Through Nov 24. River City Bangkok, 23 Charoenkrung Soi 24. Free.
WANG HUANGSHENG Tangled-line paintings with mysterious meanings, developed by a Chinese artist. Through Nov 15. River City Bangkok, 23 Charoenkrung Soi 24. Free.
THAILAND FILM FESTIVAL 2019— TAIWAN T h i s d o c u m e n t a r y fi l m screening features a special talk with filmmakers to help you get to know Taiwan better. Oct 30-Nov 3, 5:30pm. SFW Cinema, 7/F, Central World. 02-268-8888. Free. ZOMBRATHON! No plans for a Halloween party this year? Head to Siri House’s screening room for a zombie movie marathon, with popcorn and drinks. Oct 31, 6:30pm. Jacqueline at Siri House, 14/2 Soi Somkid, 094-868-2639. Free.
WORKSHOP
UNFOLDING KAFKA FESTIVAL A series of modern art exhibitions, installations, performances and screenings. Oct 26-Dec 15. Various locations across Bangkok and Chinag Mai. From B800 via Ticketmelon.
SPORT THRILLER WORKOUT PARTY Thrill your body on Halloween night with a spooktacular sweat session. Equal parts body pumping, combat , zombie walking and body jams—dance till you’re dead at the after-party. Nov 1, 6:30pm. Hype Studio, Suthi Building, 1624 Petchburi Rd., 02-508-8972.
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travel | cambodia
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
14
Urban Revival Phnom Penh is shedding its stigma as a sleepy backwater with a tragic past. The Cambodian capital is taking its first small steps toward becoming a global city, offering an intriguing blend of ancient civilization and art alongside an emerging food and nightlife scene. By Willy Thorn
Essentials
Rolling on the River Running along the Tonle Sap River, Preah Sisowath Quay is the backbone of downtown and pretty much every tourist’s North Star. From north to south, the landmarks along this route include Wat Phnom, the passenger river terminal, the night market, the Old Market, Wat Ounalom, the Grand Palace complex and the National Museum. Wat Phnom at the north end of this strip is the perfect place to begin a self-guided tour. The 700-year-old temple speaks to the city’s unusual origin story. Legend has it that, in the 1300s, a wealthy widow named Daun Penh was collecting firewood when she noticed a tree floating down the Tonle Sap. Inside she found four Buddha statues and a statue of Vishnu and decided to build a shrine on the nearest hilltop for them. In the 1500s, King Ponhea Yat redeveloped the city around the hill, and Phnom Penh—translated to “Lady Penh’s Hill”—was born. Further south is The Old Market. This local hotspot is liveliest in the morning, when you’ll find vendors doling out simple dishes, fruit, sweets and desserts, as well as the full supply of tourist goods, like silk scarves and home decor. The striking, 1,000-year-old Wat Ounalom, meanwhile, might be the most important Buddhist building in the country. Nearly destroyed during the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror, the restored temple houses what is believed to be an eyebrow (ounalom in Khmer) of the Buddha.
Moving History To get a better feel for ancient Khmer culture, visit the National Museum (Preah Ang Eng St. 13, adjacent the Grand Palace), located within a traditional, burnt red terra cotta building. There are about 5,000 items on display, with another 10,000 in storage, including some impressive sandstone sculptures (Khmer sculptors are to sandstone what Italians are to marble). The metalwork is equally impressive. The statuettes and decorative objets d’art look fresh and sharp, as if they were made recently instead of in 500 CE. For a taste of the “new” kingdom, visit the Grand Palace, fronted by acres of green space, stretching to the river. It includes the imperial Throne Room and Wat Preah Keo (Cambodia’s Temple of the Emerald Buddha). It was built 80-100 years after Bangkok’s landmark, and the similarities are blatant—local tuk tuks even use the classic “Grand Pal-
ace is closed today” hustle. Wat Preah Keo’s ubosot holds the Emerald Buddha, and the chamber is staggering. It contains hundreds, if not thousands, of gold and silver pieces, many of which were donated by the royal family. Focus on the art itself and not the display cases, however. They’re beaten and worn, and many tourists overlook what lies inside. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Street 320 and Street 350; tuolsleng.gov.kh) confronts a more sobering chapter in Khmer history. Over four years, some 20,000 prisoners went in, but only seven came out. It takes an emotionally challenging hour or more to take in and process the tiny cells, instruments of torture and photographs of prisoners left behind. You can also read about this era—street vendors sell a whole catalog of related books for about B150 a piece.
On the Town Need to unwind? Consider supporting the visually-impaired at Khmer Angkor Seeing Hands Massage (#182 Eo Street 13), a well-respected studio set near the river. Dining options go beyond Cambodian dishes. There are least 20 French restaurants in the city center, including Bangkok-hailing Oskar Bistro (159 Preah Sisowath), La Croisette (241 Preah Sisowath) and Chez Tonton (331 Preah Sisowath)—all boasting river views. Indian food is an excellent mid-range option, and New Season Indian (179 Preah Sisowath), Yellow Chilli Indian (225 Preah Sisowath), New Delhi Indian (237 Preah Sisowath) and Mother India (269 Preah Sisowath) all come highly recommended. Go for Vietnamese pho when you want to eat on the street. It is affordably priced ($2/B60) and as abundant as boat noodles in Bangkok. Preah Sisowath might also be Asia’s best beer mug-clinking district. At least eight east-west streets end along the river, and each boasts a pair of bookend open-air pub-cafes. There’s a price war going on and USD1 (B30) draughts are standard. Imports will set you back B60, with jugs B180-240. Mekong River (No 1 Street 118) raises (or lowers) the bar with beers going for USD.75 (about B22). It also has the longest happy hour (7am-11pm), so it’s a good bet anytime.
[For a full-length version of this feature, please see bk.asia-city.com]
GETTING THERE
CURRENCY
STAY HERE
Flights are less than an hour, and more than a dozen carriers fly the route. Local options include Thai AirAsia (B2,700), Bangkok Airways (B6,000), Thai Airways and Thai Smile (both B6,500). Bus journeys typically take 12 hours and begin at around B700.
U.S. dollars are widely accepted and often welcomed.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal is an oasis of Old World charm just a few minutes from Wat Phnom (92 Rukha Vithei; from B7,250/night).
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travel | news
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BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
BURIRAM
09 Mingle with locals
08
at Buriram’s new market-slash-campsite
KL turns into a playground for creatives
09
Leave it to Buriram to show us how a local market should look in 2019. Located in the rice paddies north of Highway 24, the province’s new community market Truthom (fb. com/truthom) leans into local culture and architecture in a big way. The space, named after a kind of bamboo fish trap, features loads of bamboo decor and even a building that resembles its namesake fishing gear. Here, vendors deal loads of locally made and grown goods, OTOP products and northeastern dishes. Truthom also lets you embrace the proverbial “slow life” in Isaan by staying overnight at the free onsite campground. 127, Moo 3, Phlapphla Chai District, Buriram, 065-6410-6897.
10
SINGAPORE
PHRAE
10 Singapore gets
11 Take home pottery
Southeast Asia’s largest co-living space
MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur’s largest creative arts festival returns for its 17th edition this Nov 16-24. Spanning music, film, community events, visual and performance art, Urbanscapes (urbanscapes.com.my) is a massive, citywide exposition of the arts, and this year some pretty big indie names are taking part. International groups include Boy Pablo, Cuco, Glass Animals and The Drums, as well as a good two dozen others from around the world. There are many events going on, but don’t miss the installation by State Sensor, a Singapore-based duo known for electronic media and architectural projection mapping, and The Rogue Festival, a creative campaign for volunteerism, social work and education spearheaded by the YWCA KL.
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Skip the capsule hotel. Lyf Funan Singapore (lyfbyascott.com) has brought the co-living concept to the city’s Civic District, offering millennial networking events, communal spaces and more in a 412-room, 121,000-sqft building. Talks, workshops, movie screenings, cooking classes—networking events at Lyf (short for Live Your Freedom) are taken right out of the hostel playbook, but elevated for a socially mobile workforce. Rooms are 18-105 sq meters and start at B3,400/night. Keep an eye on the brand—Lyf is set to open on Sukhumvit 8 in 2020. 67 Hill St., 4/F, Funan Mall, Singapore, +65-6970-2288
memories from Phrae
The next time you’re up north, get your hands dirty at Phrae’s Kummee Studio (fb.com/ kummeestudio). Located 20km outside the provincial capital in a shaded grove set back from the highway, the ceramics studio offers step-by-step lessons—from crafting to painting and polishing—led by a local artist. Choose from two types of clay: normal (B100/piece) and white (B150/piece). While you wait for your masterpiece to bake, visit the onsite café for homemade pizza (B150) or cool off with a butterfly pea flower and honey lemon drink (B30). Mae Kham Mi, Mueang Phrae, 085867-9358.
10/18/19 4:47 PM
food & drink | news
16
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
HOT OF THE PASS
12
Don’t miss BAD Night Out this November
SHOT O’CLOCK Phra Khanong’s new Italian and Asian-inspired tapas, cocktail and shots joint Stryke soft opens on Oct 25. Head there early for free welcome drinks, food, live music and science lab-like “shot shows.” Located just across the road from W District, this is set to be the new latenight go-to.
BUDGET BOOZING
Throughout November, BK Magazine is partnering with over 40 of Bangkok’s best bars, speakeasies and cocktail lounges to bring you BAD Night Out—our first-ever cocktail event. Across five weeks, awesome bars like Tropic City, Salon Du Japonisant and The Loft will be serving specially curated cocktail menus, offering three drinks for a knockout price of B800++. Each week (Wed-Sat), the selection of bars will change, allowing you to try out some of the cool venues we write about in BK. The event coincides with our annual nightlife showdown: the BAD Awards. Book your tickets and check out the full list of bars at bkrestaurantweek.com/badnightout. Bookings must be made at least 24-hours in advance.
SWING BY
FEELING CRABBY
TACOS ARE LIFE
13 The Rabbit Hole empire expands with this Gatsbyesque hideaway
14 Ministry of Crab is coming to Bangkok this December
15 Gaa is back with another can’t-miss collaboration
Sri Lankan high-flyer Ministry of Crab is gearing up to open on Sukhumvit Soi 31 this December. Chef Dharshan Munidasa and cricket legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara opened the original branch—which has long held a grasp on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list (currently standing no. 35). The new opening will utilize both Sri Lankan and Thai lagoon mudcrab in dishes like pepper crab, baked crab and the signature chili crab. You can also expect plenty of crab-themed extras— crab plant decor, crab-imprinted butter, even crab souvenirs. 31 Sam-ed No.15, 1 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 085-809-1112
On Nov 10, Gaa is hosting a rock star kitchen collaboration, partnering chef Garima Arora with Rosio Sanchez from Copenhagen’s lauded Hija de Sanchez. The Mexican-American Sanchez—the former head pastry chef at Noma—is best known for her game-changing taco stands. Here, she uses Mexican chilies and spices along with local ingredients to create street snacks like tacos filled with miso potatoes and Danish cow’s milk cheese. Seats are B4,500 per person, and reservations are highly recommended. Gaa, 68/4 Soi Langsuan, 091-419-2424
This month, the team behind Rabbit Hole and Liberation launched Crimson Room on Langsuan Road. Live jazz (Wed-Sat), stadium seating, vaulted ceilings and plush red fabrics conjure a Gatsby-esque vibe, while cocktails and apertivos courtesy of Rabbit Hole’s Suwincha “Chacha” Singsuwan are primed for post-work drinking. Start with Sakomoto’s Tears (Braulio, yuzu sake, sparkling wine; B320) before moving onto signatures like the Roaring Cocoa (gin, cocoa-infused sweet vermouth, grapefruit bitters, B380). 87 Langsuan Rd., 062-259-2525
FIESTA OF THE DECADE Phloen Chit’s Mexican mainstay La Monita is throwing the fiesta to end all fiestas on Nov 9 in celebration of its 10th birthday. For B1,200 (or B1,500 on the night), expect freeflow drinks (7-9pm) and food (6-10pm), plus music from Ample Soul, T-Bone and Thaitanium.
EAT THIS Eat Me never fails to impress us with its creative, flavor-packed dishes. New additions including Sea Urchin Bruschetta (B1,500), whole roasted lamb rack (B2600/3 pax) and smoked hen of the woods mushrooms with white bean puree and hazelnut salad (B650) demand a revisit.
YOU SAID WHAT?
The news in online foodie posts
NEW_F&BNews-BK#773-25OCT2019.indd 16
“Gin and inhalers...could be a thing.” FACEBOOK
“Looks like the bar in Lucifer”
USER CHRIS HO ON PHARMACY-TURNED-BAR, TAO SOON BAR.
FACEBOOK USER PRANG DICKDUCK ON CRIMSON ROOM.
“Great pineapple sherbet, pineapple rice is very amazing they use organic brown rice I love it.” FB USER TEOW PATCHARA BOONCHART ON CASA SAPPAROD.
10/18/19 4:49 PM
food & drink
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
17
ADVERTORIAL
FEAST OF A DEAL
Grill to Table Four restaurants that offer juicy grilled meats in an upscale setting Fireplace Grill and Bar
How: A superior venue for grilled meats. The high-quality ingredients here—Tagima wagyu, Australian T-bone, and Riverina grain-fed Angus rib eye—are perfectly matched with a comprehensive wine list, from top growers worldwide. The seasonal seafood selection is also outstanding, and includes Maine lobster and fish flown in fresh from Tokyo’s Tsukiji market. The setting is luxurious, with sleek decor that blends sophistication with Asian touches. And you can even watch a talented culinary team create dishes for you at the center-mounted charcoal grill in the modern open kitchen. G/F InterContinental Bangkok, 973 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-656-0444 ext. 5505. Open Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm; daily 6:30-10:30pm. BTS Chit Lom
Get a complimentary dessert valued THB 300 when spending THB 3,000 or more / sales slip (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip) 01 Jan ’19 - 31 Dec ’19
Brought to you by Citi
New York Steakhouse
How: Enjoy an over-the-top meal with a classic steakhouse ambience and a Frank Sinatra soundtrack. The meat is all imported, and includes wagyu, US prime beef, Australian black Angus, and even seafood. 2/F, JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-656-7700 ext. 4240. Open daily 6-11pm. BTS Ploen Chit
Get 15% discount
01 Jan ’19 - 31 Dec ’19 (blackout dates are applied)
Rib Room & Bar Steakhouse
How: It considers itself a French eatery, but is more widely-known as a steakhouse, probably due to the various premium meats offered—like Japanese wagyu, Stockyard Black Label wagyu and Ranger Valley 400-day grain fed Australian beef. Both the panoramic views and Ferrari-red open kitchen ooze a sophisticated vibe.
New York Steakhouse
31/F The Landmark Bangkok, 138 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-254-0404. Open daily 6-11pm. BTS Nana
Get 15% discount on food (a la carte menu only) 01 Apr ’19 - 30 Dec ’19
Fireplace Grill and Bar
Rib Room & Bar Steakhouse
OUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BEST NEW PRODUCTS OF 2019. MEN’S & WOMEN’S ACCESSORIES, HEALTH AND BEAUTY, GADGETS AND TECH, AND SO MUCH MORE!
SPECIAL EARLY BIRD PROMOTION! BOOK AN AD BEFORE OCT. 31 AND GET 30% OFF!
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CITI Feast-Of-Deal-BK#773.indd 17
SEE MORE FOR BOOKINGS, PLEASE CALL 02-624-9696 OR EMAIL ADVERTISING@ASIA-CITY.CO.TH
10/4/19 2:35 PM
10/18/19 7:36 PM
food & drink | open doors
16 Sushi Saito Sora The buzz: With 35 years of experience—stretching back to 1980s Ginza, Tokyo—and stints at two Michelin-starred restaurants, Teruyuki Saito is behind Asoke’s latest omakase restaurant. The vibe: Tucked inside the GMM Building behind a screen of pale wood, the venue is pure urban Tokyo—intimate, elegant, ergonomic and slightly hidden. The woven rattan sliding door opens onto an L-shaped counter that seats a dozen, and serves as workshop and stage for chef Saito. Soft blonde and cream-grey shades define the dining space, with pale-wood cutting boards, chopsticks, bamboo trim, rattan ceiling panels and cream wallpaper blending in perfect harmony. A classic minimalist bonsai and watercolor brushstroke prints complete the Zen look. The food: Chef Saito’s signature ebodai Pacific butterfish is served with perfect simplicity—just a trace of sesame and pinch of salt. He’s also a master of abalone, which he quarters and serves three ways: one topped with a blend of butter, liver and soy; another splashed with a sweet
NEW_New+Noted-BK#773-25OCT2019.indd 18
sauce; and the third on a simple skewer, touched lightly with salt and pepper. The chef’s wonderful take on Italian risotto comes as a surprise, with its mix of fresh cream, Japanese green onions, crab, rice, clams and fish served in a blistering hot bowl, which cooks the creamy seafood soup while you stir. Basic (B4,000) and premium omakase courses (B6,000) are both available, always featuring a line-up of fresh seafood flown in from Tokyo treated to the contents of chef Saito’s trusty trademark ceramic boxes of salt, shrimp powder, yuzukosho, crumbled seaweed and more. Why we’d come back: All the dishes are exquisite—almost impossibly perfect. Chef Saito is such a master of texture that he can run through a dozen varieties of fish—including rare kawahagi and deep-sea lantern fish—skewer-grilled, chilled, flame-brushed, steamed and singed in a theatrical and dexterous show and never miss a beat. This is true artistry. Willy Thorn
50 Sukhumvit Soi 21, 064-2060464. Open Mon-Sat 6-10pm
10/18/19 7:40 PM
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
19
Gigi
NEW AND NOTED
17 Another abandoned pharmacy gets a boozy lease on life
18 Pineapple is king 19 A homey Italian at this Charoenkrung joint from the team opening behind Sing Sing and If you love pineapples, then Casa Iron Balls
Crumbling walls, exposed metal rebar, red neon lettering and hanging Chinese lanterns conjure an atmospheric setting at Tai Soon Bar (188 Maha Chai Rd., 091-463-6465). Located just minutes from the recently opened and similarly themed Uncle Tim, the bar takes over an abandoned Old Town pharmacy; retaining the original frontage. Order a craft beer from the drug cabinet-shaped bar—13 taps rotate, carrying anything from Triple Pearl witbier (B220) to Moonzen’s Sour Milk Company Passionfruit IPA (B240)—before heading up to the mezzanine to sit amid the lanterns.
Sapparod (55-57 Charoenkrung Soi 44, 02-004-5727) is your new dreamland. Not only is the venue festooned in pineapple-themed decor—from pineapple print curtains to pineapple-shaped glasses—the Thai menu is packed with the spiky fruit. Order the khanom jeen sao nam (rice noodles with coconut milk and pineapple granita; B190) and the chicken fried rice with Sriracha pineapple (B220) before tucking into an updated take on the retro pineapple upside-down cake (B190). To drink? A Tom Kah-Lada (B190)—a Thai twist on the piña colada, with lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime.
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The Sing Sing and Iron Balls crew strengthens its foothold in Phrom Phong with home-style Italian joint Gigi (4 Soi Sukhumvit 45, 02-6624478). Helmed by chef Chris Beverley (of Theo Mio), the kitchen busts out Italian comfort food in the cozy, cantina-like confines that used to house Quince. Expect dishes like Agnolotti del Pin (B240)—handmade pasta stuffed with prosciutto, mortadella and Parmesan cheese— and Tartufo Nero Pizzette (B240), a mini-pizza with mushrooms, mascarpone, scamorza and a liberal amount of truffle paste. Wash it down with signature drinks like the Bitch Spritz (B260) and Gigi Bellini (B295).
TABLE TALK
1919 Italian Bar & Restaurant 10/15 Soi Convent, 02-236-5558. Open Mon-Fri 11ammidnight, Sat-Sun 5:30pm-midnight. BTS Sala Daeng This sleek venue lets you indulge in Italian comfort food with a retro vibe, amidst bright red neon lights, black marble counters, and stylish Campari posters. Highlights include tender fall-offthe-bone pork ribs and hand-rolled Calabrese fileja pasta. The drinks menu features classic cocktails with a twist, such as truffle negroni (black truffle, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth) and double whiskey sour (bourbon, rye whiskey, apple, lemon, vanilla, cinnamon and egg white).
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on a la carte menu (excluding a la carte menu in Carne section, Chargrilled Australian Wagyu Striploin, Oysters and lunch promotion) 15 Oct ’19 – 30 Sep ’20
10/18/19 7:40 PM
Neighborwood
Mimi Dessert Cafe
TABLE TALK
NEW AND NOTED
Kad Kokoa
20 Refuel at this minimalist cafe by Lumphini
21 Kick back at this elegant Taiwanesestyle teahouse
With its sleek, minimalistic white and wooden decor illuminated by large windows, Neighborwood (187/7 Sarasin Rd., 083-883-3864) is the perfect place to chill with a cappuccino (B100) or cold brew orange tonic (B120) after a walk in Lumphini Park. For something more indulgent, opt for a honeycomb latte (B120) or s’more mochaccino (B150), paired with breakfast and lunch-friendly items like croissants, burgers and omelets (available until 5pm). Don’t want to leave? Then head upstairs to Mimi Dessert Café to jump into the world of Taiwanese tea and Asian sweets—read on for more.
Tucked above the minimalist Neighborwood cafe at the back of Lumphini Park , Mimi Dessert Café (187/7 Sarasin Rd.) blends hand-painted walls, tasseled red lanterns, neon calligraphy and dark wooden furniture into an elegant Taiwanese teahouse. Sample teas imported from Taiwan—where high mountains, clean air and perfect weather conditions are said to contribute to high-quality, toxin-free leaves with a rich aroma. Pair the fresh-squeezed orange and black tea (B100) with the signature tang yuan (B85-130), a traditional Chinese dessert of colorful flour balls in milk tea, ginger soup or steamed milk.
Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Soi 17, 083-684-3921. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm. BTS Chong Nonsi This Sathorn bean-to-bar chocolate cafe serves drinks and desserts made on-site in a mini cocoa factory. The cafe is decorated by a vintage wooden exterior, with tones of brown and duck egg blue, and large windows. Step inside and enjoy 70 percent pure hot chocolate and perfectly chocolate desserts, or cool down with the devilishly sweet Kad Meringue Ice Choc that comes with chocolate pouring sauce.
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get complimentary 2 pieces of Bon Bon valued THB 90 when spending THB 500 or more /sales slip (Limit 2 pieces /card /table /sales slip) 01 Oct ’19 – 30 Sep ’20
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22 A zero-waste cafe in a heritage home Located inside Bangkok 1899’s heritage home-turned-creative space, Na Cafe (134 Nakhon Sawan Rd., 089-164-4454) adopts a “creative social impact” approach to food. On top of dedication to zero waste practices, the team connects chefs and guests through events. (Next up: food-related storytelling with experiential education champions the Jump Foundation, on Oct 26). Through November, resident chef Santiago Fernandez from Lima, Peru, presides over a menu of wild barramundi ceviche (B220) and Peruvian-style grilled pork wraps (B140), best washed down with cold pressed juices (B80) and kombucha (B120) on the breezy terrace.
10/18/19 7:40 PM
food & drink | taste test
How do you like them apples? It’s autumn somewhere. That means it’s cider season, no matter how ridiculous that might sound here. We compare apples to apples in pursuit of the perfect hard cider. By BK Staff
Pagan Cider, Alc. 4.5%
The brand: A craft cider producer Winner! founded by fourth-generation orchardists, promising no added sugars or artificial flavors. Origin: Tasmania The taste: Clean, crisp, refreshing, light, with just a little tang and sweetness. We could easily drink three or four of these in one sitting. Verdict: The Champagne of ciders. The price: B195 (330ml)
Magners, Alc. 4.5%
Runner The brand: One of the first sweet ciders introduced in the UK is availUp! able in pretty much every pub imaginable. Origin: Ireland The taste: Got a sweet tooth? This is your winner. Caramelized, peachy, easy drinking—we just want them to tone down the sweetness and amp up the fizz. Verdict: Ride that sugar high. The price: B80 (330ml)
Zeffer Crisp Apple,
Alc. 5% Special The brand: Premium craft cider from prize New Zealand, and winner of awards including the World’s Best Cider from International Cider Awards 2017. Origin: New Zealand The taste: Slightly sour, crisp—like biting into a promising-looking apple that just doesn’t deliver. As a side note, we tried the Red Apple flavor after the blind testing, and it would’ve been a title contender. Verdict: Alas… The price: B130 (330ml)
Orchard Thieves, Alc. 4.5%
The brand: Part of the Heineken portfolio, with a cider-making history that goes back over 125 years. Origin: Ireland The taste: Soft, inoffensively sweet but ending on a sour note. Verdict: Historically average. The price: B129 (330ml)
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BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
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Somersby, Alc. 4.5% The brand: By Danish brewing giant Carlsberg. Origin: Denmark The taste: The fizzy version of Malee apple juice screams “artificial flavoring.” It smells like a lollipop and tastes like one, too. Verdict: Kid tested, mother approved. The price: B55 (275ml) Moose, Alc. 5%
The brand: Thailand’s Siam Brewery. Origin: Thailand The taste: Strong aroma, very sour, thin at the end. Looks and tastes like a sour beer. Verdict: We mooset’ve missed something. The price: B55 (330ml)
Strongbow Gold Apple, Alc. 4.5% The brand: Backed by brewery giant Heineken and claiming 15 percent of the global cider market. Origin: UK The taste: Artificial. No apple to be found, just cloyingly sweet, mouth-drying yellow liquid. Verdict: Water, please! The price: B55 (330ml) Aspall Suffolk Premier Cru Cyder, Alc. 6.8%
The brand: This 300-year-old cider maker comes to us by way of Smiling Mad Dog. Origin: UK The taste: The most unique flavor of the lot. Inoffensive, but you can really taste the alcohol. Verdict: Booze cruise. The price: B260 (500ml)
Ace, Alc. 4.8% The brand: Founded by a UK producYuck er who moved to California. Origin: US The taste: The promising pale color proves deceitful. This cider tastes like it’s been aged with Sour Patch Kids. Verdict: Drain pour. The price: B220 (500ml) Thatchers Gold, Alc. 4.8%
10/18/19 7:40 PM
dining reviews
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
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Los Atico HH 1/F, Cali-Mex, 26/8 Sukhumvit Soi 11 02-0158100. Open Tue-Sun 5pm-2am. BB
How seriously should you take a place that proudly calls itself the sexiest Mexican restaurant and bar in Bangkok? The answer is not very. Los Atico, the spinoff of Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong-hailing Los Sotano, came into Bangkok with guns blazing. The pre-opening team promoted the hell out of the people who crafted its cocktail and food menus (but wouldn’t actually be making the stuff you ordered) while promising a “classy, cool, vibrant spot with the city’s best tunes.” Now that the initial rush is over, we’re left with a crushed red velvet version of Señor Frog’s, plunked down in an urban setting. All that’s missing are the wet T-shirt contests. Judging by the toxically masculine language used in the marketing materials—like the hackneyed poem about a woman named Linda who ends the night “under some dude” that’s used to describe the equally tasteless Tequila Makes My Clothes Come Off (B450)—we wouldn’t be surprised if they whip out the hoses sooner than later. That aforementioned margarita cops its name from the neon sign that presides over a quasi-secret third-floor space above fellow Hong Kong export Cali-Mex. The “tequila makes my clothes come off” emblem—a line that sounds like it belongs in a country music song blasted from the backseat stereo of a guy
Price guide Under B500 B500-1,000 B1,000-2,000 B2,000-3,000 BBBBB Over B3,000
named Chad who’s spring breaking in Daytona Beach—colors the whole room hot pink and lets you know what you’re in for. Dining here feels like eating in the black-lighted confines of a frat house. As the speakers pump trap, ‘90s rap and reggaeton, you tuck into insipid bites like jalapeno poppers (B190), which, on our last visit, came out cold and soggy. The pescado taco (B110) was equally soggy, and the single tortilla it came on fell apart under the weight of the filling. Meanwhile, the crispy pork belly tostada (B250)—which is about 70 percent tostada to filling—was anything but, laden with flaccid hunks of pork, a too-sweet reduction and bland guacamole. The salt that should have gone into the guac must’ve ended up on the rim of the margarita glass. About the only thing that hits the mark is the al pastor taco (B220), but after working your way through milky ceviche Vallarta (B340) and carnitas tacos (B110) that have the texture of canned tuna, why bother? But, hey, the original margarita (B390) isn’t half bad. We can’t help but think we would have been better served if this space had been turned into a proper agave-focused hideaway, like Hong Kong’s Coa, instead of Hooters on holiday in Cabo.
Ratings H Forget it HH Only if you’re in the neighborhood HHH A pleasant dining experience HHHH Not to be missed HHHHH Flawless
B BB BBB BBBB
Symbols Reservations recommended Parking Dress requirements Live music
BK pays for its meal and does not call ahead or sit with the chef.
Price per person, including one drink, appetizer, main course, dessert, charges and tax.
H F E G
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10/18/19 4:53 PM
trend | serial chiller
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Ultimate Indie Alternative cinemas are making a comeback in Bangkok. Here are the six best places to catch your favorite indie flicks on the big screen. By Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley House Samyan
The Friese-Greene Club
After 15 years of screening arthouse flicks on the RCA party strip, House has moved to Samyan Mitrtown, where it boasts three screening rooms—with the same black leather chairs and wooden floors as the original—and shows independent films from around the world. Until Oct 31, the cinema is running a “Film Buffet” with over 150 indie films for members to binge-watch, including Spike Jonze’s “Her,” the Thai coming-of-age dark comedy “Marry Is Happy, Marry Is Happy” and South Korean zombie action thriller “Train to Busan.” Other perks: popcorn in three flavors—sweet, salty and cheese (B70 for small; B100 for large)—and a coffee corner courtesy of Some Time Blue. Films you can expect: Mostly Thai and international indie cuts with a sprinkling of mainstream hits. This is also the place to go during Oscar season—in recent years, House has screened Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma,” Barry Jenkin’s “Moonlight” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite.” Tickets: B160 per person.
Named after British pioneer of motion pictures William Friese-Greene, this shop-house turned private film club is a favorite among filmmakers, film students, film buffs and industry insiders. Head up to the third floor and you’ll find an intimate nine-seat cinema—complete with plush, proper cinema seats and a big screen—where you can sip on a beer or cocktail while catching nightly classic and cult film screenings. A membership also grants you access to a library filled with film-related books, best enjoyed in the arms of the sofa on the second-floor mezzanine. Films you can expect: Most weeks feature a theme—for example, Classic Hitchcock (“Rear Window,” “North By Northwest,” “Strangers on a Train”), Hong Kong Greats (“Chungking Express,” “City on Fire,” “Shaolin Soccer”) and Troubled Youth (“Lord of the Flies,” “Donnie Darko,” “Suburbia”). Membership price: B400 per person
5/F, Samyan Mitrtown, Rama 4 Rd., 098-869-0997. Open daily 11am-9:30pm. MRT Sam Yan. fb.com/housesamyan
Bangkok Screening Room Opened in late 2016, this 50-seat theater aims to screen only independent movies from emerging filmmakers, as well as indie flicks that normally wouldn’t get screened at the blockbuster-obsessed mall cinemas. That means classics directed by Fritz Lang, Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock; and films from celebrated Thai directors Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Pen-ek Ratanaruang. Apart from screenings, the space is also used to host exhibitions, filmmaker meet-ups, live music and more. There’s a small bar serving craft beer and wine, too. Films you can expect: A vast catalog of Hollywood cult favorites like “Fight Club,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski”; modern Thai classics like “The Story of Nampu” and “Mon-rak Transistor”; and documentaries on the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Andre Leon Talley. Tickets: B300 per person. 2/F, Woof Pack Bldg., Saladaeng Soi 1, 090-906-3888. Open Tue-Fri 3:30pm-midnight; Sat-Sun 11am-11:45pm. BTS Saladaeng. www.bkksr.com
Lido Connect Siam Square’s Lido cinema was officially reborn as Lido Connect—a creative space for live performances, temporary exhibitions and pop-up markets—on Aug 1 this year. While it still has its three original screens, only Lido 1 remains a movie theater. Anyone who remembers the crumbling state of the original will be pleased to know this theater is equipped with improved features and facilities that make it a lot more enjoyable to catch the award-winning movies, independent films and documentaries being put on by The Documentary Club. There’s also a store selling T-shirts, totes and other knick-knacks, not to mention popcorn for moviegoers. Films you can expect: These guys really go hard on the nostalgia. Past showings include cult favorites like the acclaimed American comedy “Little Miss Sunshine,” British black comedy “Trainspotting” and the ‘80s Thai romance “Prik Kee Noo Kub Moo Ham.” This is also a great place to catch up on Asia’s award-winning contemporary films, like the Japanese drama “Shoplifters” and South Korean psychological drama “Burning.” Tickets: B150 per person. 256 Rama 1 Rd., 062-929-8685. Open daily 10am10pm. BTS Siam. lidoconnect.com
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259/6 Sukhumvit Soi 22 (next to Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel), 087-000-0795. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-11pm. BTS Phrom Phong. fgc.in.th
Cinema Oasis Founded by Ing Kanjanavit, director of “Shakespeare Must Die,” and Kathmandu Gallery founder Manit Sriwanichpoom, this 48-seat theater is a space for art and dialogue as much as it is an independent cinema. Set in a refurbished brutalist building on Sukhumvit Soi 43, the cinema promises some of the finest flicks from the underground and hosts special programs and festivals, as well as talks and discussions with film directors. Those include “Amazing Stoner Movie Fest” and “Filipino Miracle”—a talk that explored independent Filipino films. After your movie, check out the gallery space, which showcases photography and painting from emerging regional artists. Films you can expect: The kind of indie gems you won’t find elsewhere. We’re talking short films from Latin America like the Peruvian “The Eyes of the Journey,” Mingmongkol Sonakul’s Thai independent drama “I-San Special” and the French 1963 crime film “Le Doulos.” Tickets: B160 per person. 43 Sukhumvit Soi 43, 097-929-5366. Open Wed-Sun 1pm-9pm. BTS Phrom Phong. fb.com/cinemaoasis.bk
Scala Theatre The iconic Scala cinema in Siam Square remains the same Art Deco relic we all know and love (although its survival seems to perpetually hang in the balance). Built in 1967, Scala was the most luxurious theater of its time. Now it’s the last standalone single-screen cinema in Thailand. The space might be timeworn, but the grandeur hasn’t faded. Enter through an atrium with a vaulted ceiling and glittering chandelier to find a 1,000-seat cinema; the retro ticket booths, cheap popcorn and staff sporting signature canary yellow jackets are all part of the charm. While the choice of movies can be pretty basic, catching a film at this old-timer is always a special experience. Films you can expect: Hollywood blockbusters and independent flicks like American drama “Manchester by the Sea,” Japanese coming-of-age drama “Kids on the Slope” and the animated biographical drama “Loving Vincent.” The cinema also hosts screenings of Hollywood classics, with past showings including “The Sound of Music,” “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Casablanca.” Tickets: B120-140 per person.
Catch these horror movies just in time for Halloween THE SHINING AND THE SIXTH SENSE Date: Oct 26 Where: Siri House (Soi Somkid)
PSYCHO Date: Oct 29-Nov 10 2019 Where: Bangkok Screening Room
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT Date: Oct 31 Where: The Friese-Greene Club
BUPPAH RATREE 1 Date: Oct 31 Where: Lido Connect
Siam Square Soi 1, 02-251-2861. Open daily 10am-midnight. BTS Siam. apexsiam-square.com
10/17/19 8:12 PM
neighborhood | sukhumvit soi 49
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BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
Broccoli Revolution
La Bottega di Luca
Coincidence House
Almost 50
Coffee & Breakfast
From its charming cafes, cool restaurants and buzzworthy cocktail bars to its stylish co-working space and contemporary art gallery, this is why Sukhumvit Soi 49 is one of Bangkok’s most livable ‘hoods. By Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley
Start the day with a frothy black and cream (B140) coffee at Coincidence House (Sukhumvit 49, 063-425-6018) or with a flat white (B115) at D’Ark (Piman 49, 02-662-7900) and then get your fill of daily-baked crusty baguettes (B120) or buttery brioche (B380) at Conkey’s Bakery (The 49 Terrace, 083-040-5911). For something more filling, head to The Coffee Club (Piman 49, 02221-4413) for smashed avocado with poached eggs (B260), or the pastel perfect Haus of Kanom (Sukhumvit 49, 02-391-2428) for hearty Hong Kong congee with soft-boiled eggs and pa tong go (B90). Looking to indulge? Sweet Chu (Sukhumvit 49) serves tasty milk tea and Milo shaved ice (from B100) while Peace Oriental Teahouse (47 Sukhumvit 49/1, 063-637-0508) offers its tooth-rattling Houjicha Extremist ice cream (B240).
Liberation
Lunch & Dinner Sukhumvit 49 is lined with great spots to fill up, including some killer vegetarian places. Go to Broccoli Revolution (899 Sukhumvit 49, 095-251-9799) for the broccoli quinoa charcoal burger (B290) and tofu satay (B160) or The Hass Bistro (1/6 Sukhumvit 49, 099-1929626) for vegan avocado toast with truffle oil (B145). The meat-inclined should hit up Pizza Massilia (1/8 Sukhumvit 49, 02-015-0297) for the mouth-watering Fassone beef carpaccio pizza (B590), Andong Jjimdak (3 Sukhumvit 49, 061-5055252) for dolsot bibimbap (B250) or Teddy’s Burgers (Sukhumvit 49, 02-004-1065) for no-nonsense, Hawaiian-style cheese burgers (B220 for pork; B265 for beef). Go on a Japanese food trek from Tempura-Ya (5/3 Sukhumvit 49, 02-662-4255) for anago (salt-water eel) tempura rice bowl (B499); Peko Hokkaido Kitchen (5/15 Sukhumvit 49, 083-542-3199) for Ohira beef stew (B650); Shugetsu
(The 49 Terrace, 097-115-5157) for spicy kara miso ramen (B195); or Umi (46/4 Sukhumvit 49, 02-6626661) for the full omakase experience (B5,000 for about 20 items). For authentic fine dining of a different stripe, look no further than long-standing La Bottega di Luca (The 49 Terrace, 02-204-1731).
Drinks Don’t miss Liberation (Piman 49, 093-654-2500), arguably the most advanced cocktail bar in Bangkok right now (all signature cocktails are priced at B390), then groove to the sounds of American soul at Chu Restaurant and Bar (1/4 Sukhumvit 49, 061-056-5636) while sipping on Chinese-inspired cocktails.
Transport BTS Thong Lo is less than a 10minute walk from the start of the soi.
Accommodation Aequa Residence (19/1 Sukhumvit 49, 092-838-8895) offers 60-sqmeter one bedroom starting from B42,000/month, while twobedroom apartments at Liv@49 (9 Sukhumvit 49, 02-662-5357) start at B30,000/month. Close by, Via 49 (Sukhumvit 49, 02-6628370) offers 85 units from B17,000 to 85,000/month.
Visit Relax and unwind at Calm Cottage (Sukhumvit 49, 02-077-7172; B3,550 for Cottage Rejuvenation Package) or soak it up at Kashikiri Soda Onsen (Sukhumvit 49, 081268-4624; B2,800 for the signature Onsen and Scrub). Get work done at The Hive co-working space (Piman 49, 02-662-6062); shop for stylish mid-century Scandinavian furniture at Norse Republics (Sukhumvit 49, 02-062-1211); and take in quality art at Case Space Revolution (2/F, Broccoli Revolution, Sukhumvit 49, 02-662-5002).
BK ASKS
What’s special about Sukhumvit Soi 49?
NEW_Neighbourhood-BK#773-25OCT2019_02.indd 24
SAN SEPHU, CO-FOUNDER OF COINCIDENCE HOUSE “This peaceful soi is an interesting cultural hub with lots of cool international cuisines and hangout spots. Getting around is really convenient, too.”
MICHAEL CONKEY, OWNER OF CONKEY’S BAKERY “There’s a great mix of people here— Japanese, French, Korean and more. Our little shop here feels like a mini UN! Restaurants and bars are also all in walking distance.”
NAYA EHRLICH-ADAM, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BROCCOLI REVOLUTION “It’s a hidden gem for many locals. You can find cute and charming restaurants, bars and shops, plus many small sub-sois that connect to other sois in Sukhumvit.”
10/18/19 4:56 PM
BK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019
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GUIDES Reach affluent urbanites through trusted publications with a six-month to one-year shelf-life.
To be featured in our upcoming 2019 guides, contact us at advertising@asia-city.co.th, 02-624-9696
To be featured in our upcoming 2019 guides, contact us at advertising@asia-city.co.th, 02-624-9696
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10/18/19 7:42 PM
DISCOVER BANGKOK’S BEST BARS FOR LESS!
FOR FOR 55 WEEKS WEEKS IN IN NOVEMBER NOVEMBER TRY TRY 40 40 TOP TOP NIGHTLIFE NIGHTLIFE VENUES VENUES AT AT 11 AMAZING AMAZING PRICE PRICE
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*All prices are exclusive of a 10% booking fee and 7% VAT
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10/18/19 3:17 PM