Metro Magazine Issue 5 by Metro Magazine

DOWNTOWN Eau de Parfum by Calvin Klein

Signature Classic for Urbannista

Without knowing much about the specific and amazing ingredients, the woman who wears this fragrance can still feel the feminine spell cast by the sweet and aromatic scent, that also has a confident edge that sets it apart from other perfumes on the market. This fragrance can be labeled as a signature for a “real woman” – sweet and sophisticated and empowered with a classic glow. It’s like holding a cone of cotton candy while wearing a cutting-edge outfit. It’s classy, attractive, sweet, positive, independent, and cool. Downtown can be the feel-good fragrance that’s perfect for everyday use. The fragrance by Calvin Klein, is a floral woody musk scent for women that was created by perfumer Ann Gottlieb of Givaudan. Opening notes of Italian cedrat (lemon), bergamot, and neroli (orange blossom) Tunisia orpur mingle comfortably together with nuances of fresh green pear, and dewy watery plum. The journey continues with a contrast of pink peppercorn dusted over violet leaf and gardenia petals, enhancing the sense of feminine sophistication. Finally, the unmistakable signature of sensuality and attitude are brought to life with Texas cedarwood, touches of incense, vetiver (Indian grass), benzoin laos orpur, and warm velvet musks – leaving behind a statement of confidence. Downtown arrives in 4 sizes of flaçons, and will be available as EDP. Besides the perfume, the collection also includes body lotion, body bath, and body mist. Actress Rooney Mara was selected as face of the campaign, which will include TV clips directed by David Fincher, and a photo campaign photographed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino. The nose behind this fragrance is Caroline Sabas.

Contents conTENts #5 Nov 2013

36 8

MetroSOCIETY

MetroTREND

MetroARTS

MetroHUB

MetroUPDATE

MetroDECOR

MetroGLAM

MetroMONEY

MetroGUEST

Special Event Preview: Thailand Golf Championship 2013 “Start Up” Your Dream with the Largest Startup Incubator in the World World Update and Idea Update

Type of Investments Vuthithorn Milintachinda: The World of Woody Yuttapong Wichaidit: Spirit of an On Air Fighter Kyi Hla Han: Hole-in-One with Kyi Hla Han

MetroTASTE

Sousaku Sushi: Seafood Simplicity in the Heart of Ari La Vue Restaurant: French Culinary Poetry at Siam@Siam Design Hotel

SPORTS OVERVIEW IN THAILAND BY FM99 GOING TO EXTREME ACROSS THAILAND - Skateboarding: Extreme Rolling - Parkour & Freerunning: Gaining Momentum, Step by Step - Ducati: Be Safe, Be Cool Live Concert Review: Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor

MetroSPECIAL

MetroGIVER

MetroPROMO

MetroTRIP

MetroCLUB

MetroGEN

MY WORLD 2015: What are the issues most important to Thai people? ‘Unique Giving Experience’ with SocialGiver NEW way of GIVING for NEW Year’s Celebration

Sapporo – Exploring the Capital of Hokkaido, Japan

Prareda Limpanonda: Live with the Best of Everything

Editor’s MESSAGE

MeTRO Business & Leisure Magazine November 2013

At this moment, all Thai people know the name Ratchanok Intanon, or “Nong May”, the first Thai girl, and youngest-ever, badminton world champion. And while we were still celebrating that victory, the Thai woman’s volleyball team also caused a stir of national pride when they beat Japan in the 2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship. It should comes as no surprise then that this issue of MeTRO Business & Leisure Magazine is shining a spotlight on sports, especially as this coming December, the 27th SEA Games are being held in Naypyidaw, the new capital of Myanmar, as well as other major cities across that nation. It’s a great time for professional sports in Southeast Asia and we invite our readers to join us as we profile various sporting trends, including some thrilling extreme sports that are gaining popularity in Thailand, with

content collaboration provided by FM99 Active Radio, the #1 ranked talk and sport radio channel in Thailand. Meanwhile, for our business minded readers, we invite you to join in on our conversations with some of Thailand’s best and brightest leaders and entrepreneurs. And, as always, get updates on ideas, finance, innovations, and highlighted business news, in our various MeTRO regular monthly columns. But MeTRO isn’t all about business. Check out our lifestyle features that highlight the fun side of Bangkok’s cultural core. Let MeTRO be your guide – and inspiration – as you navigate your way through the weeks and months, in Bangkok and beyond. And here’s looking forward to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil, which gets underway next June.

Preekamol Chantaranijakorn Preekamol Chantaranijakorn

Editor

Correction/Apology: Dear readers, kindly note that in the October Issue of MeTRO, Khun Kasabol Bowonsrikan was mistakenly referred to as Kasabol Bowonsri in the article headline (page 30). We apologize for the error.

Behind The Scene

In October Issue, a portion of the Sustainable Business: Why Should Businesses Care About Sustainability story (page 36) was omitted. However readers can find the full version of the article on our website at www.metromagazine. info. We apologize to Sal Forest, the authors, for any inconvenience this omission may have caused.

• Publisher

The THM Co., Ltd.

• ASST. ADMIN & ACCOUNTING MGR.

Kanchana Yeyaphan

Manachai Inkaew

Parichart Khumsaub +66 (0) 81 648 0218 parichart@thethm.com Phuthiphat Thammavichaisri +66 (0) 89 169 8412 phuthiphat@thethm.com

• Editorial Director

• Online Editor

• Editorial & Sales Office

• Special Content Editor

• SENIOR BUSINESS CONSULTANT

• Chief Executive Officer

Wisith Chawalitanon

• Managing Director

Metro Business & Leisure Magazine is a registered publication of The THM Co., Ltd., and is published monthly by The THM Co., Ltd.No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher or THM Ltd. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no responsibility for omissions or errors. All information is correct at the time of printing. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are not accepted and will not be returned. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2013 by The THM Co., Ltd.

• Sales & Marketing ManagerS

Gaid Phitthayakornsilp Surachai Tantichot • Sub-editor

Bruce Scott

• Photo Editor

Nipon Riabriang • PhotoGRAPHER

Isinthorn Tangjeerawong • WRITERS/CONTRIBUTORS

Viroonrat Chokchaithanakul Kirati Sachasingh Sawarot Thawinwongrak Pan Roque Aunyapach Jirapattaroj Boonyanut Chompaen

Kanittha Attamate Pailyn Jitchuen +66 (0) 91 214 5680 pailyn@thethm.com • Layout Editor

Nutnaree Mathong • Graphic DesignerS

Aphitchaya Phrueksa-aphon Thanawatt Khongseankhum Thunyarat Satornlug • Content Partners

HUBBA SocialGiver FM99 Active Radio

• ACCOUNTANT

Patchree Kukaew • Editorial Supports

Sujitra Yeyaphan

8, Soi Phahonyothin 29, Phahonyothin Rd, Ladyao, Jatujak, Bangkok, Thailand 10900 Phone +66 (0) 2939 5512-3, 2939 5488 Fax +66 (0) 2939 5477 • Print

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sales@metrothailand.com • Visit us on website at

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• PRESS RELEASE SUBMISSION

editor@metrothailand.com • Special Thanks

Sakolrit Chanphum

Metro SOCIETY

Caravan Asia 2013: Bringing Asia Back Home Thailand’s Friendship Ambassador Finally Returns The Caravan Asia 2013 has finally returned to Bangkok after months of traveling through several near and neighbouring countries. The welcome back celebration – held on October 18th of this year, at ARL Makkasan station – included exhibitions of highlights from the trip, as well as various stage performances. Ambassadors and delegates from Laos, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, as well as representatives from the Thai government and private sector, were all on hand. Caravan Asia is a road trip organized by the Amata Foundation led by Mr. Vikrom Kromadit. This year’s caravan consisted of 4 motorhome vehicles traveling throughout Laos, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Myanmar, and the trip explored and exchanged ideas and experiences with locals in all the various countries. The knowledge gathered enables Thai people to learn more about such things as the economy, investments, social structure, politics, arts and culture of each different country. All the proceeds from postcard sales will be donated to help the 3 violence-plagued southernmost provinces of Thailand, and one of the vehicles will be transformed into a mobile library to offer children in the South the opportunity to learn more about the trip.

Mentagram

Launches GoProHERO3+

Camera Ushers in a New Era of Personal Content Capture & Sharing Mentagram Co. Ltd, the sole importer and distributor of GoPro in Thailand, announced the availability of the new GoPro HERO3+ camera, featuring a 20% smaller and lighter design than previous models, and a 30% better battery life. These upgrades, combined with an improved lens and convenient new video capture modes, produce the most advanced and easy-to-use underwater, take-anywhere camera yet. In addition, several new mounting accessories that further enable immersive content capture during any activity, are also included. Look for the HERO3+ line of cameras and accessories at dealers nationwide. gopro.mentagram.com/dealer.php

Save a Life, Give

Blood

A-One Hotel Holds Blood Donation Drive

Last month, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel in Pattaya – and the president’s birthday as well – hotel staff donated blood as part of a goodwill charity drive. The staff were joined in the activity by members of the public, and in total more than 120 people donated blood. All volunteers had their physical conditions checked first, in order to judge the quality of the blood, and once the results were OK’d, volunteers would be placed in a daybed, and the donation process would begin. After donating, volunteers were rewarded with a sweet drink of fruit juice, and a cookie, in order to replace their body’s energy reserves.

Metro SOCIETY

Montblanc

StarWalker Ultimate Carbon & StarWalker Carbon Pushing the Boundaries in Writing Instrument Design

This month, November 2013, Montblanc introduces the StarWalker Ultimate Carbon, the next evolution in their dynamic collection, made from carbon fibre, as well as the StarWalker Carbon, a variation embellished with platinum-plated fittings and cap. Since its launch in 2003, the Montblanc StarWalker has become one of the company’s most distinctive writing instrument collections, renowned for combining cutting-edge design with the creative use of unusual or new materials. Available in Fountain Pen, Fineliner and Ballpoint Pen versions, these 2 new StarWalkers are yet another reason for Montblanc enthusiasts to add to their writing instrument collections. www.montblanc.com

Hennessy Artistry The Global Art of Mixing Hennessy, a unique cognac representing 200 years of exceptional blending expertise, is now bridging the gap between the past and the present by combining stylish art and fresh music into one grand lifestyle party. “Hennessy Artistry – The Global Art of Mixing” is back to drop another explosive beat in Thailand with an electric mix of sight, taste, and sound. With performances from outstanding local and international musicians like PE’Z, Benjamin Plant and Aaron Shanahan from Miami Horror, Flure and The Begins, organizers anticipate an epic and explosive journey for fans of the latest in culture, art and music. To be eligible for an exclusive invitation, visit Hennessy Thailand’s Facebook fan page. November 30, 2013 – 7pm BCC Hall, Central Plaza Ladprao, Bangkok www.facebook.com/HennessyThailand

Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show Global Spotlight Shines on Pattaya’s Marine Treasures At a recent press conference in Pattaya, guest of honour Mr. Ronnakij Akasingh, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City, together with Mrs. Pataraporn Sithivanich, Executive Director, Product Promotion Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), were joined by Ocean Property executives to announce the highlights of the 2nd annual Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show. The inaugural 2012 show generated a total of 90 million THB in revenue for the city’s marine tourism industry, and this year’s show promises to be even better. Marine tourism is a large revenue generator for Pattaya, attracting high-end international tourists who come to enjoy the stunning marine landscape, while also chartering yachts and using the region’s marine services and marina facilities. This year’s event – set to take place at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club from 22–24 of November, 2013 – aims to promote marine leisure tourism and deliver high-end tourists to Pattaya, Thailand’s number one beach resort destination. 12

Metro SOCIETY

Special Event Preview

Thailand Golf Championship 2013 Date: Venue: Prize Money: Format:

December 12 – 15, 2013 Amata Spring Country Club, in Chonburi US$ 1,000,000 The tournament will be played over 72 holes (4 rounds) stroke play. After 36 holes,the field will be cut to the leading 65 players, plus ties.

The 3rd edition of the annual Thailand Golf Championship will play host to some of the most well-known faces in the world of golf, with defending champion and 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel leading the pack. Also on hand will be such notables as 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, and 2012 Masters winner Bubba Watson, as well as Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who recently claimed the FedEx Cup crown. With a total prize purse of US$1 million, the prestigious championship aims to help develop professional golf within the region, and promote Thailand as an international sports destination and regional event hub. This year the tournament will be broadcast live to 200 countries, and 800 million homes worldwide. Thailand Golf Championship tickets are available online, priced at just 300 THB each for Rounds 1 and 2 (December 12 and 13). The price for Round 3 (December 14) is 400 THB, and for the final day, December 15, the tickets are 500 THB each. Full 4-day package tickets are also available for only 800 THB. For more information, please call 02-2623456, or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com The Thailand Golf Championship will be broadcast through Asian Tour Global TV and TrueVisions, or you can follow the updated news online at the tour website: www.thailandgolfchampionship.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ThailandGolfChampionship

AN WIN!

SC MeTRO READER

MeTRO Magazine has tickets to give away to the 2013 Thailand Golf Championship, and 10 lucky readers can win a set of 10 tickets each (a prize valued at 8,000 THB!). Bring your whole family – and your friends – and enjoy championship golf at its finest. Simply take a photo of yourself with an issue of MeTRO Magazine. Share the photo our Facebook fanpage, and include your opinions, ideas and feelings about the game of golf. Stay tuned to MeTRO’s Facebook fanpage as the names of our 10 Lucky Winners will be announced on November 30, 2013. Become a fan, enter our contest, and stay tuned to our MeTRO Magazine Facebook fanpage at: www.facebook.com/themetromagazine

Metro HUB

Updates from the Tech/Creativity Guru

By HUBBA

"Start Up"Your Dream with the

Largest Startup

Incubator in the World

Founder Institute, the largest startup incubator in the world, has recently hit a big milestone, with more than 1,000 companies having graduated from the program. Since the institute started operations just 4 years ago, a mind-boggling number of similar incubators and accelerators have been launched – an astounding fact considering how few there were in 2009. The model Founder Institute uses is unique. Instead of targeting 20-something programmers who have already started working at new companies, the institute created a “structured process” that would allow people who were working at big companies and “daydreaming” about their own startups, to learn about the business and to figure out whether it really made sense for them to pursue their own ideas. Another distinguishing feature of the institute is its approach to geographic expansion. It has chapters in 55 cities – across 30 countries and 6 continents – and there are still more to come. But the real measure of an incubator’s success may have less to do with how many startups it launches, and instead with how many have been true success stories. The FI total portfolio has an estimated value of $5 billion, an impressive number considering there have only been 6 “liquidity events” (including the acquisitions of Shopalize and Gridblaze). But as Adeo Ressi, the company’s founder noted, “Our best companies are far from selling.”

He also said that 89% of companies are still operating, and 74% of companies are operating at, or ahead, of their growth plans. Ressi predicts that those numbers will get even better as FI revamps its curriculum, and the institute is already launching Version 3, which responds to changes in the startup landscape in online areas such as social media. “The Founder Institute is in an unusual position, in that we’re not doing it for the money, we’re doing it to be an organization that affects entrepreneurship,” Ressi goes on to say. “With other investors, I don’t believe that they’re all going to find this to be that viable a model, and what you’ll see, I don’t know if it will be consolidation per se, but they’ll decide that, this is too long a game for them to play.” All that is good news for Bangkok’s boldest and brightest, who dream of starting up their own exciting enterprises. Founder Institute is set to open up a brand new chapter in our fair city, and due to begin it first semester in December of 2013. 16

worldUPDATE Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Phurisisak said that reports about flooding had discouraged tourists from visiting 9 specific provinces of Thailand: Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, Prachin Buri, Lop Buri, Si Sa Ket, Sing Buri and Chainat. This downturn has affected tourism-related businesses with an overall estimated damage of 708 million THB

Metro UPDATE By Sawarot Thawinwongrak

2. 1.

J.J Center Co., the developer of In Square, a shopping center near Chatuchak weekend market, confirmed that the mall will finally open in late November, after a series of delays have hampered the project for over a year now. The company also plans to sell the remaining retail spaces gradually, after the opening, at the price of 400,000- 600,000 THB per square meter.

RICE

The IMF warned, in its latest World Economy Outlook, that a failure to promptly raise the debt ceiling, leading to a U.S. selective default, could seriously damage the global economy.

Finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula has repeated his call for the government to scrap the rice-pledging scheme, saying the total lost from the project could reach as much as 466 billion THB, more than he formerly estimated.

Samsung unveiled flexible screen technology, introducing the Galaxy Round, the world’s first side-to-side curve smartphone. The device resembles the Galaxy S3, but the screen is curved along the vertical axis, making it fit better in user’s palms, and conform better to the contour of their faces.

IdeaUPDATE

iwearyourshirt.com

s there any possible way to make money without actually working? Jason Sadler of iwearyourshirt.com was asking himself this very same question when he came up with the idea of wearing T-shirts for a living. He was inspired by the Million Dollar Homepage, and wanted to do something as successful and profitable. Sadler said he has always been a fan of T-shirts, and normally wears one everyday – for every occasion – even when attending a wedding. He decided to make money by turning this T-shirt love into a new marketing tool, and turning himself into a human billboard. On January 1st, 2009, Sadler started a company called iwearyourshirt.com. He began wearing T-shirts adorned

with company logos, and then used social media to create an advertising medium. He would post videos of himself wearing company’s shirt on Ustream, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter promoting the company that owned the rights to each shirt. Each and everyday that first year Sadler wore a different t-shirt. The price he charged the companies started at $1 and would increase by $1 everyday for the rest of the calendar year. Thus, by December 31st, the final customer would have to pay $365. By the year’s end Sadler had made $66,795, and also received an additional $18,000 from monthly $1,500 sponsorships. Later he hired more people to wear the shirts, as he did, and since that time he

has doubled in company growth and tripled in revenue each year. In 2012, Sadler also held an online auction to sell his last name promising to change his last name to the highest bidding firm, and now he has officially become Jason Headsetsdotcom.

Metro DECOR

Everyday in Style

By VIRCH

Hermès Petanque Set of 3 (Tiroupointe) If you were thinking of enriching an already beautiful weekend by adding some fun activities for your family and friends, you might put petanque – a classic sport much like the Italian bowling game of ‘bocce’ – on your list. Initially created for a 2003 petanque event in Marseille, the Hermès set of 3 hand-polished and stitched plain saddle stud balls, made with carbon steel and natural hunter cowhide, is glamourous leisure time novelty which you can use at home or take with you to other parties as well. Brand: Hermès List Price: 35,817 THB www.hermes.com

KiS Gym Mat The French brand KiS – Keep In Shape – puts some luxurious style into the humble gym mat by using a pad and cover that is made from coloured lambskin, or calfskin. It comes with a large adjustable shoulder strap, made out of 100% natural bio-leather, plus buckles which are all made from hand polished brass with a flawless nickel finish. In addition, a bit of personalization is also available, by way of initials and/or engraved messages, and address on the reverse side of the luggage label, transport straps or shoulder straps. So now you can enjoy the style, without the worry of your mat ending up in the lost and found! Brand: KiS - Keep In Shape Designer: Bruno Fuscien Trasan Dimensions: 118 cm (L) x 57 cm (W) x 0.7 cm (H) List Price: 77,913 THB www.kis-keepinshape.com

Paul Smith Luxury Wooden Shoe Care Kit One thing that we should never overlook, before stepping out the door, is to polish our leather shoes. But sometimes we have no time to locate a complete set of polishing tools, so Paul Smith gives us the solution by designing a luxury shoe care kit presented in a black washed wooden box. The kit includes shoe polish, brushes and a travel shoehorn, and this elegant box can also be carried along with you on trips. Brand: Paul Smith Dimension: 37.5 x 20 x 15 cm List Price: 24,108 THB www.paulsmith.co.uk In Bangkok visit the Paul Smith store located at Siam Paragon

Louis Vuitton Foldable Stool Louis Vuitton has created a new line named “Objets Nomades”, with the idea of creating foldable furniture for the travelers. Patricia Urquiola, a Milanbased Spanish designer, was one among various designers who became inspired by Loius Vuitton’s Monogram flower pattern. She took her design from fisherman’s foldable deck seats, and created handbag folding stools made of a lightweight aluminum frame and LV’s nomade leather. Although LV has not officially launched this furniture worldwide, they have already started putting some items in their main stores as of late. Brand: Louis Vuitton Designer: Patricia Urquiola Collection: Objets Nomades List Price: Available upon request www.louisvuitton.com

Chanel Surf Board For those fashionistas who have fallen in love with surfing, here is one thing you should definitely not miss out on. French couture house Chanel, the leader of all things chic and luxurious, decided to merge the sport into the lifestyle with their new designer surfboard. Each board is made from carbon fiber, polyurethane and fiberglass and comes with a Chanel signature travelling case, and the boards themselves are available in 4 different styles – black, red and 2 bicolor designs (as well as). Now ladies can get introduced to, and be inspired by, the world of sport, while gentlemen can also enjoy the fashion as well. Brand: Chanel List Price: 218,015 THB www.chanel.com

Designer ‘s

PICK

Designers: Jaime Hayon

Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon is so well known as a person that both Time Magazine and Wallpaper have included him in their lists of ‘The 100 Most Relevant Creators of Our Times’. He has won many awards within the context of contemporary design culture. He has created furniture, products, interiors, sculptures, and art installations, always with a renaissance style and in a finely-crafted way. www.hayonstudio.com

Gardenias (2013) for Bd Barcelona Gardenias is a collection of furniture for the garden. That’s not a real genre, but it does differentiate this line from other exterior furniture collections. Subtlety, beauty and memory are omnipresent in its design, along with a determination to make the collection broad, varied, multipurpose and open to being played with.

Tudor Chair and Cabinet (2009) The Tudor Chairs take their inspiration from the 6 wives of Henry VIII, each with its own identity expressed through variations of upholstery and finishing. The highly p้olished finishes and upholstery stitching are inspired by traditional quilting, and help the chairs to emanate fine opulence and spectacle, with a decidedly

The Guest (2013) for Lladro Atelier The Guest is a singular character to which Mr. Hayon added his unique painting. The project, by Lladro Atelier, offers an invitation to cutting-edge artists from around the world to lend a distinctive personality to this charismatic porcelain being. The “Guests” come in 2 sizes – the larger being a limited edition of 250 units, and the smaller being a numbered series. 19

Metro GLAM

Get GLAMMED UP with the Latest Trends

By Kirati Sachasingh

CAPES

ROUGE POURPRE LIPSTICK

By Marni

By Yves Saint Laurent Appraising lipstick according to its ability to leave behind marks on a wine glass (as a token of one’s presence) is fine, but the greater the impression, the more courage it takes to pull off. Wearing berry or dark crimson colors will definitely make your mark, but be careful that it doesn’t create that “wine lips” effect. One option, on date night, is to lather on a stained lipstick – like Yves Saint Laurent’s Rouge Pourpre (960 THB) – then order that bottle of merlot and leave it to your lips to do the talking!

The surge of futuristic, vampire, and superhero movies has given capes a renewed fashion appeal. And though these super-sized silhouettes aren’t easy to pull off, its really just a shirt/coat with a slit for arms instead of sleeves. With Bangkok’s sweltering climate, there are 2 ideal ways to style this look – both best paired with trousers. One is a sleek silhouette cape shirt, available from Italian fashion label Marni (www. marni.com), and the other is a more tailored look, hugged around the waist with a thick belt to give it definition.

FEATHERED CLOTHING

HERS

By Mathew Williamson and Louis Vuitton Every year, trends seem to fall straight from the sky into our homes. This year, perhaps inspired by The Great Gatsby, ostrich feathered clothing has taken wing in fancy designer collections, with an especially chic feminine lace dress now available from designer Mathew Williamson (www. farfetch.com) for around 190,000 THB. Or, take flight with one of Louis Vuitton’s curled feathered bags and skirts (price available upon request).

COUTURE PANTS By Dior Tr a d i t i o n a l l y , g o w n s o r glamorous dresses were a norm for a fancy night out, but recently a nice pair of couture pants has become an acceptably elegant and luxurious evening alternative. Although it challenges the way the fashion industry may see femininity, wearing a pair of coloured, impeccably tailored pants to a cocktail party allows a woman to exude a quiet confidence and coolness, when fashionably styled with a fitted top or even a dress, as seen on Dior’s latest runways.

CARDHOLDER By Fendi A man’s wallet is often like a magician’s hat – what you find inside seems endless – but it can only get so stuffed before it becomes uncomfortable. That’s why a cardholder, though often snubbed, is actually a stylish and functional accessory. First impressions, in a professional setting, often occur when handing out business cards, so opt for the professional and durable, classic Fendi leather cardholders, available for purchase at the designer’s retail outlets (price upon request).

HIS

GOOGLE GLASS By Google The revolutionary technology of Google Glass, a headmounted display screen that allows you to connect to the internet via voice command, and feeds you with information (right before your eyes!), has been the topic of many a dinner table conversation this year. Although much talked about, it isn’t actually available yet, but the good news is that it will be soon (for approximately 45,000 THB). It also comes with a camera placed in the corner of your vision, making it ultra-convenient to take snapshots or videos at any given time.

HIGH-TOP SNEAKERS By Saint Laurent Sneakers have always been essential footwear for men, but not until the last few seasons did the “high-top” become “high fashion”. Saint Laurent’s leather and mesh white or black high-tops (SL04H) make a great addition to the modern man’s urban get up, and can be purchased online (www. ysl.com) for a mere 17,200 THB.

THE POCKET SQUARE By Drakes of London Pocket squares have been gaining momentum with both boardroom types and creatives alike. It’s a deceptively simple way to elevate your look, and can serve its traditional purpose of wiping off a bit of sweat, or handling the tears of your lady. You can fold it in a razor-sharp, presidential manner like Mad Men’s Donald Draper, do the 4-point fold, or wear it crumpled and tweaked to be as puffed as you like (silk ones work best for this). Drakes of London has an extensive collection available online (www.drakes-london.com), so perk up your suit pocket today. 21

Metro MONEY

Planting seeds of financial wisdom

By Aunyapach Jirapattaroj

Type of Investments

" 1.

As the ‘Richest Man in Babylon’ used to say: “keep the gold where you can make it grow”. This phrase is so powerful, it’s enough to make you incredibly successful if you ponder it carefully. This secret is very simple. Once you can save 10% of your income, you put that money into the right place, and you will see it grow exponentially. So let’s talk about types of investments for your consideration of risk and return.

Ownership Investments

This type of strategy comes to mind for most people when the word “Investment” is discussed. It is both the most volatile, and the most profitable, class of investment. Below are a few examples: Stocks: When you buy stocks, you essentially own a portion of a company. Your expectation of profit is realized by how the market values these shares you own. Your profits are either Capital Gains (the gap between the price you paid to buy and the price at which you sell), or Dividends (a portion of profit that a company pays its investors in increments). Stock investment can yield high returns, but it comes with high risk as well. You should do thorough research before investing, and remember that dividend policies vary with each company. Business: Many people nowadays w a n t t o b e e n t re p re n e u r s , b u t n o t m a n y w i l l s u cce e d .

Entrepreneurship is one of the hardest investments to make because it requires more than just money. Know-how and connections are successful key factors, but a successful business investment offers extremely large potential returns. Real Estate: Houses, apartments, and other dwellings that you buy to rent out, or repair and resell, are investments. This type of investment requires quite a large amount of initial capital, however it generates Passive Income (cash flow that comes from an asset over set periods of time). Precious Objects: Gold, jewelry, art and other tangible objects that are bought with the intention of reselling for a profit do require specialists to determine market value. Like Real Estate, there is a risk of physical depreciation, as well as upkeep and storage costs that can cut into profits.

Lending Investments

This type of investment is lower risk, but it also offers lower returns. They are two types of Lending investments: Saving Account: When you save your money in the bank, you are giving a “loan” to the bank. What you receive in return is called “interest” which varies depending on the bank policy. Normally, return from saving account is less than, or equal to, the inflation rate. Bonds: There are many types of bonds, and most have a defined term, or maturity, after which the bond is redeemed for a profit.

Cash Equivalents

These are investment that provides you liquidity, as they are easy to convert back into cash. Money Market Funds: The risk is very small, but the returns are too. Normally the yield is on par with saving accounts, but no tax is deducted.

เคล็ดลับข้อหนึ่งของคนที่ประสบความสำ�เร็จทางการเงิน คือ การรู้จักวางเงินให้ถูกที่ หรือ การวางเงินในที่ที่จะทำ�ให้เงินสามารถงอกเงยได้ ใน ที่นี้การลงทุนจะถูกแบ่งเป็น 3 ประเภท ได้แก่ 1. การลงทุนแบบมีความเป็นเจ้าของ การลงทุนแบบนีไ้ ด้ผลตอบแทนสูง ความเสีย่ งสูง เช่น หุน้ ธุรกิจ อสังหาริมทรัพย์ และของมีคา่ เช่น ทองคำ� 2. การลงทุนแบบการให้ยืม ผลตอบแทนปานกลาง ความเสี่ยงปานกลาง เช่น บัญชีธนาคาร พันธบัตร 3. การลงทุนที่เทียบเท่าเงินสด ผลตอบแทนต่ำ� ความเสี่ยงต่ำ� เช่น การซื้อกองทุนเงินสด ที่ให้ผลตอบแทนประมาณ หรือ เทียบเท่ากับอัตรา เงินเฟ้อ ข้อดีคือ สภาพคล่องสูง และ ผลตอบแทนไม่เสียภาษี

Metro GUEST

Words by Pan Roque Photos by Isinthorn Tangjeerawong and Woody World

WOODY

ThE

orld

TV Star Gets Candid Off Camera

“I actually want to be an actor,” says Vuthithorn ‘Woody’ Milintachinda when asked about the one thing he wants to do the most, but hasn’t done. Actor or not, however, Woody is no stranger to the Thai public. His hit TV shows, both The Woody Show or Woody Kerd Ma Kui, and the Woody Daily or Chao Doo Woody, attract millions of viewers nationwide. He has interviewed a princess, numerous Thai celebrities, and world-famous icons such as David Beckham, Britney Spears, Jackie Chan, and Hugh Jackman. Woody of course, is no stranger to television. He has been the host of several other TV shows in the past, such as I-DNA, Unseen TV, and MTV Just Talk, to name a few. When he started his career in 2000, he worked at 88 Peak FM where he was the nation’s first bilingual DJ. Today, ‘Woody’ has become a household name – a TV host who never fails to entertain, and a personality whose lips dictate pulse of Thai popular culture. He even founded his own company, appropriately entitled Woody World. His road to success has been, and continues to be, an exciting one. It combines a constant push for self-reinvention, hard work, and steadfast dedication to perfection. In an exclusive interview with MeTRO, Woody reveals his thoughts on success, business, leadership, and more.

The Road to Success

Overcoming Problems

“I’ve interviewed many people in my career,” he states, matter-of-factly. “People who have failed, and people who have risen out of failure to success. I’ve discovered that there are only 3 secrets to success: one, you need to know who you are, two, you need to know who you are, and three, you need to know who you are. You can’t be successful if you don’t know yourself — you need to know your skills, your personality, your temperament, and where your heart really belongs.”

“I see problems as a given in life,” he says, when asked about how he overcomes obstacles. “To me, problems are puzzles and challenges, and these challenges will define your character and be a gauge of how good you can be. If you view “problems” as a normal part of life and work, you won’t stress over them because as soon as you “overcome” the first one, more will come. The first step toward engaging problems, then, is to change your attitude towards them.”

In college Woody took up Finance at Thammasat University, thinking that this would be the right path. “I’d join every business venture that came my way,” he says, but adds, “it wasn’t right, I realized I didn’t really know why I was doing it”. Instead, he discovered he had the talent for a different kind of work. “God gifted me with the talent to speak,” he says, “so I have focused on using it to the best of my ability.” After you discover your passion, Woody’s advice is that it’s important to stay true your goals, and know how to best spend your time to create the most impact. “I’ve stopped taking side jobs as an MC at events of a few hundred people because I believe I can better spend time working on my television programs which will benefit more than 10 million people,” he admits. However, staying true to one’s goals does not need to mean being static. The TV host says that one needs to always grow with change. “I see myself over the past 10 years as a product that has been continuously refined. I always work on improving my skills. My career has been a workshop for my personality,” he quips.

But are there ever problems so big that Woody can’t solve them? “If I lose my job tomorrow, and nobody knows me anymore, this won’t frighten me. I still have myself and that’s enough for me to carry on,” he reflects, as he cautions against remain stagnant. “Don’t be attached to your past glory just because it has worked out for you. You need to always innovate and be better, otherwise you will get lost in your success.”

If I lose my job tomorrow, and nobody knows me anymore, this won’t frighten me. I still have myself and that’s enough for me to carry on

Vision

Business

Successful as he is, Woody seems to always be a step ahead, making his mark in the world. “I have already looked past myself and my immediate needs,” he says. “I’m always working in the future with my business, and thinking of ways I can contribute to the world. If you look around you, you see many worrying signs. The world is becoming a tougher place to live in, and you can see that from all the Hollywood movies that have researched these trends.”

Woody is mindful, however, about this business expansion. “I consider myself as a commercial artist,” he says, “and so it’s important to never forget to find the balance between what is commercial and what is artistic. If you are too swayed to only one of those elements, you can’t survive.” But it is not basic survival that Woody is looking for. “Be second to none,” he asserts. “I’m not saying that you need to be No. 1 all the time, but you need to always act like you are. This means being the most professional you can be, and giving it your very best.” With a firm gaze he adds, “If you are not guided by this philosophy, anything is good is enough, and that’s not enough.”

As a response, Woody says society needs to have “an antibiotic that will protect us from these influences”. This is perhaps why this talk show genius is planning to expand the Woody World enterprise from the family business model to one where it can better accommodate more talents. “I want to build more talented TV hosts and producers (…) because I think the media should be that line of defense — it should change how people think.”

Leadership Needless to say, Woody is a perfectionist. And while this quest for perfection has taken him to great heights, the man behind

this success admits it could also be his greatest weakness. “I can change my mind very quickly when I am searching for great work. I am also quite hot-tempered and can get very frustrated when I am working with people who don’t deliver to my standards.” Fiery as he may be, he commits himself to ensuring that his team rises to any occasion. When asked how he manages his team, he admits he likes to mentor his employees on a one-on-one basis. “There is no need to plaster our vision-mission statement on our walls. I prefer to look into the potential of each employee, and invest my time to incubate their growth. We need to be on the same frequency as a team, because in the end, we need to grow together.” “I love it when new employees say to me ‘I want to be better than you’,” he says with a big smile. “I love it because it shows that they’re driven. They can challenge me and tell me they have ideas that are better than mine, because my management philosophy is based on reason, and not my pride.”

I love it when new employees say to me ‘I want to be better than you.’ They can challenge me and tell me they have ideas that are better than mine, because my management philosophy is based on reason, and not my pride.

But what happens when the arguments get out of hand? “Office politics is an absolute red flag in my book, and I try my best to cap it to a minimum. But you need to realize that office politics happens in every organization. It’s human nature not to want to be seen as the weakest link in the team, so the first reaction is to blame others. What needs to be done is to talk things out clearly, and openly, to make sure this doesn’t happen.” Himself Anyone who watches Woody’s interviews on TV are familiar with his direct mannerisms and his brilliance at uncovering stories and personalities previously unknown to the public. In an exclusive interview with Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, where Her Royal Highness reflected about her life as a royalty, Woody was able to give Thailand a rare insight into the life of their beloved princess. As the interview drew to a close, I asked Woody a simple final question: “If you were interviewing yourself, what question would you want to ask the most?” After a long pause, he replied in a contemplative voice, “What is it that you really do?” “I am an actor,” he answered. “Over the past 10 years, I have played more than 10 roles, whether it be a DJ, a TV host, or a producer. Last year, I told myself I wanted to be a model (and he did, being on the cover of Men’s Health’s October issue), and next year, I want to be a director. Whatever role I play, I make sure to give it all I’ve got.”

ไม่ มี ใ ครไม่ รู้ จั ก ผู้ ช ายคนนี้ “วู้ ด ดี้ ” วุ ฒิ ธ ร มิ ลิ น ทจิ น ดา ในบทบาทผู้ ดำ � เนิ น การรายการวู้ ด ดี้ เกิดมาคุย และรายการเช้าดูวู้ดดี้ทางสถานีโทรทัศน์ โมเดิ ร์ น ไนน์ ที วี วู้ ด ดี้ มี โ อกาสได้ สั ม ภาษณ์ ด ารา นักแสดง เจ้าหญิง หรือแม้กระทั่งบุคคลที่มีชื่อเสียง ระดับโลก เช่น David Beckham, Britney Spears, Jackie Chan, and Hugh Jackman แต่นอกเหนือ จากบทบาทที่เราเห็นในจอแล้ว วู้ดดี้ยังก่อตั้งและเป็น ประธานบริษทั วูด้ ดีเ้ วิลด์ จำ�กัด ผลิตรายการโทรทัศน์ ที่มีชื่อเสียงในปัจจุบัน ชื่อเสียงของเขาไม่ได้หยุดอยู่ เพียงในประเทศไทยเท่านัน้ วูด้ ดีไ้ ด้รบั การคัดเลือกจาก CNN ให้เป็น 1 ใน 100 ผูท้ รงอิทธิพลในภาคพืน้ เอเชีย วันนีเ้ มโทรได้รบั เกียรติมาสัมภาษณ์คณ ุ วูดดีอ้ ย่างเจาะ ลึกถึงแนวคิด ชีวิต และมุมมอง วู้ดดี้เผยเคล็ดลับแห่งความสำ�เร็จของเขาในวันนี้ และในอนาคต ว่าสิ่งสำ�คัญที่สุด 3 ข้อ คือรู้จักตัวเอง สองคือรู้จักตัวเอง และข้อสุดท้ายคือรู้จักตัวเอง เมื่อ รู้จักตัวเองดีแล้วก็ควรรู้เป้าหมายและอยู่กับมันจริงๆ

ทุกวันนี้วู้ดดี้เลิกรับงานพิธีกรข้างนอกแล้ว เพราะเชื่อ ว่าการใช้เวลา 2-3 ชั่วโมงกับคนจำ�นวนหลักร้อย ไม่ สามารถสร้างผลกระทบทีย่ งิ่ ใหญ่ได้เท่ากับการใช้เวลา 2-3 ชัว่ โมงนัน้ ในการพัฒนารายการสำ�หรับคนจำ�นวน หลักล้าน คุณวู้ดดี้ยังมีมุมมองที่น่าสนใจในเรื่องของ ความสำ�เร็จ คุณวู้ดดี้เล่าว่า ถ้าพรุ่งนี้ตื่นมาไม่มีใคร รู้จักวู้ดดี้ ไม่มีรายการของวู้ดดี้ ไม่มีบริษัท วู้ดดี้ก็ไม่ กลัว เพราะยังมีตัววู้ดดี้เองที่จะสร้างอะไรหรือทำ�อะไร ได้อีก อย่ายึดติดกับความสำ�เร็จในอดีต ก่อนจบการสัมภาษณ์ทางเมโทรได้ถามคำ�ถาม สุดท้ายกับคุณวู้ดดี้ว่า หากคุณวู้ดดี้ต้องสัมภาษณ์ ตัวคุณเอง จะถามอะไร และจะตอบว่าอะไร คุณวู้ดดี้ นิง่ และครุน่ คิดไประยะหนึง่ และตอบด้วยสีหน้ามัน่ คงว่า วู้ดดี้จะถามตัวเองว่า จริงๆแล้ววู้ดดี้ทำ�อาชีพอะไร และ วูด้ ดีก้ ค็ งจะตอบว่า วูด้ ดีท้ �ำ อาชีพนักแสดง นักแสดงที่ มีบทบาทมากมายกว่า 10 บทบาทในช่วง 10 ปีทผี่ า่ นมา นี้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นพิธีกร ผู้จัดรายการ ประธานบริษัท และ ทุกบทบาททีว่ ดู้ ดีไ้ ด้รบั ไม่มอี นั ไหนทีเ่ ราไม่เต็มทีก่ บั มัน 27

Metro GUEST

Words by Pan Roque Photos by Isinthorn Tangjeerawong

Hwoithle-in-One

Kyi Hla Han

With the likes of Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat now gracing the scene, professional golfing in Thailand has never attracted as much of a public following as it does now. Thais of all ages now take up golf as their sport of choice, and are as fervently dedicated to it as any feisty sports fan can be. But amidst all the fervor and the accompanying glitz and glamour that golfing now imbues, the name of Kyi Hla Han deserves an honourable mention. Once a mentor to the young future championship winner Vijay Singh, Han is a distinguished player in his own right, and has won 10 professional tournaments as well as having been awarded the Order of Merit title in Asia in 1999. More importantly, Han has been at the forefront of the development of professional golf in Asia since the early 1990s, being a founding member of the Asian PGA Tour in 1994. In 2004, this Myanmar native assumed the chairmanship of the Asian Tour board of directors, and became executive chairman 2 years later. In an exclusive interview with MeTRO, Han reveals that exciting times are ahead for Asian golf.

What is your overview on golf in Thailand, and in Asia?

Which 3 words would you choose to best describe golf?

Thailand is a very important market for the Asian Tour. This year, the Tour has staged a total of 5 events in Thailand, and we are very grateful for the support given by the Thai government, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), and other corporate sponsors, in sanctioning and staging world-class tournaments here. Golf in Asia is booming, and we’re fortunate to capitalize on this boom. Asian players – especially those from Thailand such as Kiradech Apihibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee, Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng and Arnond Vongvanij – are closing the gap with the world’s best players, and there are definitely exciting times ahead.

Competitive, honesty, and opportunity.

What is golf to you?

Are there differences in the culture of golf across different countries, and do they pose a challenge with respect to developing and growing golf in Asia?

Golf has been my life since I was a young kid. My father was a diplomat and was transferred to the United States as a military attaché when I was 2 years old. We moved to Manila in the early 1970s, when I was 9, and that was where I actually started playing competitive golf. The highlight of my career was when I won the Order of Merit title in 1999, and became Asia’s number one golfer.

What motivated you to found the ‘Asian Tour’? I’ve always enjoyed the game of golf, whether as a professional golfer or in the corporate boardroom. And the boardroom is where, as Chairman of the Asian Tour, I’ve been entrusted to take the Asian Tour to greater heights. I always have the interest of my players at heart, and it is with this passion that we decided, in 2004, to structure the Tour along the lines of the PGA Tour, and the European Tour, as a “player-led organization”.

Asia is a very diverse region, and of course there are different cultures in every country that we go to. But having said that, these make it more interesting for the Tour. We have to be mindful and respect the cultures and norms of each market that we go to, but it’s the same for every industry that wants to do business in Asia.

Golf is, or is perceived to be, an expensive sport. What can be done to make this sport more accessible to more people? People need to be given more access to golf courses so that they have the more opportunities to play. More public courses are needed in Asia so that everyone has the opportunity to play the game. The Asian Tour promotes the game of golf with our own junior development program, and works with different golf courses around the region to provide people with more opportunities to play the game. What is your management philosophy? I have an open door policy where staff and players know that they can always approach me to talk about issues and challenges. I listen, and respect any opinions and suggestions. Who is your biggest inspiration in golf, and why? I draw inspiration from my Dad, as he was the one who introduced me to the game, and I’ve not looked back ever since.

What advice would you give to amateur golfers facing the pressure to turn pro? Take your time to develop your game and don’t attempt to rush the process. Only turn professional when you feel that you’re ready. Describe a typical day on your perfect golf holiday. Play a very good round of golf, with good company, and unwind afterwards with good food and drinks at the clubhouse. ---From an avid golf fan at a young age, to a prominent figure leading the development in the Asian golf world, Mr. Kyi Hla Han shows that it is his love for golf that has driven him throughout his career. Whether it be on the green, in the boardroom, or at the clubhouse, his singular mission is to ensure that this love is nurtured, and continues to grow for years to come.

เมื อ งไทยเริ่ ม มี ก ระแสเกี่ ย วกั บ กี ฬ ากอล์ ฟ ในวงกว้ า ง มากขึ้น ปลายปีนี้ช่วงกลางเดือนธันวาคม จะมีรายการ แข่งขันสำ�คัญระดับประเทศอย่าง Thailand Golf Championship ที่ จ ะมี ผู้ เ ล่ น ชื่ อ ดั ง ระดั บ โลกมาร่ ว มแข่ ง ขั น มากมาย เบื้องหลังรายการแข่งขันสำ�คัญต่างๆในระดับ ประเทศรวมถึงระดับภูมิภาค มีองค์กรที่สนับสนุนกอล์ฟ อาชีพในเอเชียอย่างจริงใจและจริงจัง Mr. Kyi Hla Han ประธานกรรมการบริหารเอเชียนทัวร์ ให้สมั ภาษณ์กบั ทีม เมโทรถึงศักยภาพที่พร้อมของกอล์ฟในประเทศไทย และ การเติบโตของวงการกอล์ฟอาชีพในทวีปเอเชีย Mr. Kyi Hla Han ผันตัวจากนักกอล์ฟอาชีพที่สร้างผลงานจน เป็นทีย่ อมรับในวงการอย่างสูง เคยได้รบั รางวัลนักกอล์ฟ ยอดเยีย่ มแห่งปีระดับเชียในปี 1999 มาเป็นผูบ้ ริหารเอเชีย นทัวร์ด้วยใจที่รักในวงการ เขาพร้อมที่จะนำ�วงการกอล์ฟ ในเอเชียให้เติบโตอย่างก้าวกระโดดและสวยงาม

Metro GUEST

Words by Boonyanut Chompaen Photos by Isinthorn Tangjeerawong

Spirit of

OnAirFighter:

Yuttapong Wichaidit

To many Thai sports fans and radio listeners, Yuttapong Wichaidit, widely known as ‘Pa Pae’, is merely a radio host and an Executive Director packed with lots of energy and a great sense of humors from FM99 Active Radio Station under MCOT Public Company Limited, the No. 1 talk and sports radio station in Thailand. After sitting down and talking to this man behind the station strategies, however, MeTRO sees him as more of a determined fighter who can do anything to keep the ‘ON AIR’ light of his station on in the middle of the digital world which is now giving radio broadcasting business across the globe a really hard time to survive. 30

On the Fast Track Starting off as an ordinary news host whose passion is nothing but sports, Yuttapong was offered a big opportunity by a previous director of MCOT Pcl. in 1994 to host a live radio program broadcasting Football World Cup which took place in the USA in that year. “Who the hell will tune the radio to listen to Football World Cup when TVs are everywhere?” was the first thought popping up once he realized that he had this task to accomplish. Not knowing that he was misreading the game, Yuttapong surprisingly found out shortly that the first-time-ever-in-Thailand program such as that turn out to be a huge success due to the interactive and entertaining style he used while hosting. “It was a hit! So impressive. We drew a lot of audience from the top north to the bottom south of the country. Who would have imagined that the audience would turn their TVs on and mute the sound just to listen to our program on the radios at the same time!”

It was a hit! Who would have imagined that the audience would turn their TVs on and mute the sound just to listen to our program on the radios at the same time!

Years of Challenges A while after that success arrived another opportunity when MCOT Plc. needed to stop leasing out radio signal to Siam Sports, a renowned sports radio station at that time, and started to operate the station by themselves. Yuttapong was appointed to be the station director and that was when he started to find a real challenges. “The first 3 years of operation were tough as sports hosts were rarely found in the market and the ones who I wanted to hire could not join me because of the power of a business competitor trying to beat my station to become the only one sports radio station in the country”, Yuttapong says. Even though many challenges were there, he chose not to give up because, in his view, variety is essential to human nature. “There can’t be only one sports radio station neither can there be only one restaurant. Customers have different tastes and they have rights to choose. I feel obliged to provide them with an alternative. If they happen to like our station, then they stay tuned with us.” Secrets to Win Back Rome wasn’t built in a day so was his radio station. In the first few years, he ran the programs with a couple of friends long hours per day due to DJ shortage but the rating dropped to the bottom of the rank. However, things were back on track in the fourth year when the station finally made its way up to the Top 1 to 10 hit stations and has never fallen out of track since then. The secrets to that are a selection of only professional and seasoned DJs who are

able to create amusing atmosphere on air. Second is attention paid to audience’s needs. Yuttapong and his team try to understand their audience constantly through surveys and interviews during their programs. They know the audience’s age, jobs and behaviors and respond to them accordingly. At the end of the day, audience is everything. “Radio audience is quite different from TV audience. They are active and attentive listeners. They find themselves connected to us and become our fans. Our good relationship is built from there”, reveals Yuttapong. Value of Work Behind every successful man lies their philosophy at work. For Yuttapong, his value is placed at pride. “In this business which sells on air time for only 1,200 THB per a commercial spot, truth is income is low but if you make a radio station which listeners can get something out of, then you make a station of pride. Its value is inestimable and it cannot be taken over”, he reveals. It seems like his audience has recognized his will because once when the station were being forced to close, a huge wave of messages and phone calls from the fans are passed to team. One even asked what they could do to keep the station with them. Asked about his view on the future of sports radio business going forwards, Yuttapong answers in a funny way that “As long as there is still traffic jam, there is always the radio.”

Life is sports For a sports guru like Yuttapong, he takes learnings from the nature of sports, what he loves, and applies to his life and society. It is reflected in his words that “If Thai people are good players, they should respect rules, they should know how to lose and how to win. What is happening in our society at the moment is a different story. We don’t respect the rules and each other. Unless we all adopt a spirit of sports players, the problems we are facing will not be solved” In the game of business, we have not known yet whether at the end he will win or lose. But one thing we have no doubt is that he has proved himself to be the Man of the Match in the game he chose to play.

ยุทธพงศ์ วิชัยดิษฐ์ หรือ ป๋าแป๊ะ เป็นที่รู้จักกันดีใน ฐานะนักจัดรายการและผู้บริหารสถานีวิทยุ FM99 คลื่นเมืองไทยแข็งแรง ซึ่งเป็นสถานีวิทยุกีฬาออก อากาศ 24 ชม. ที่ติดอันดับหนึ่งของประเทศไทย ด้วยความรักในกีฬาและความสามารถด้านการเป็น ผู้ประกาศที่โดดเด่นทำ�ให้ป๋าแป๊ะกลายเป็นขวัญใจ ของคอกีฬาทางคลื่นวิทยุและไต่เต้าขึ้นสู่ตำ�แหน่ง ผู้ บ ริ ห ารสถานี ซึ่ ง อยู่ เ บื้ อ งหลั ง ความสำ � เร็ จ ของ รายการ แม้ว่าวงการวิทยุกีฬาจะประสบปัญหาทั้ง ภายในและภายนอก ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการถูกกลืนกิน โดยยุคดิจิตอลและรายได้ที่น้อยนิด แต่ป๋าแป๊ะก็ พิสูจน์ให้เห็นว่าการต่อสู้อย่างไม่ย่อท้อและยึดมั่น ในปรัชญาการทำ�งานจะช่วยให้ประคองตัวอยู่ได้ อย่างมั่นคงในโลกธุรกิจปัจจุบัน 31

Metro TASTE

Dining and Hanging Out

By SocialGiver

Sousaku Sushi

Seafood Simplicity in the Heart of Ari

Nowadays, one of the charms of Japanese food in Thailand is the creativity found in the blending of traditional menu items with new ingredients – often resulting in exotic dishes that become part of its restaurant’s identity. But there are only a precious few restaurants that are able to work those combinations in a way that is both succulent and satisfying. One such establishment, where delicious innovation can be sourced and sampled, is Sousaku Sushi, a small sushi bar in the Ari area that serves up fresh fare in a fun and varied “traditional twist” menu. Here diners are able not only to enjoy the sushi, but also marvel at the skill of the chefs during every step of the preparation. Though the restaurant may be small, the menu is broad and far-reaching. For salmon lovers there’s the Salmon Trio, which consists of 3 styles of salmon served together – raw salmon belly and two styles of seared salmon – and it is guaranteed to please. Meanwhile sashimi

lovers can ask the chef directly what’s freshest, as the restaurant receives deliveries of fresh fish almost every day. Another item on the menu definitely worth sampling is the mouth-watering Negi OTORO (TORO) + Ikura + quail, combining chopped tuna, salmon, scallions and quail egg in every bite. In addition, the restaurant has an elegantly simple yet colourful non-seafood menu, which includes such favourites as striploin (aged for 60 days), wagyu beef, grilled salted ox tongue, and American low-sodium bacon flavoured with a sweet and spicy sauce. If you’re into bacon, this is a must-try!

At Sousaku, you don’t have to be a sushi lover to discover how delicious the chef’s creations can be. In fact the owner, who has extensive experience with food and is meticulously attentive to every detail in its preparation, is readily available to field questions and make recommendations to eager customers. l Sousaku Sushi 20 metres inside Soi Ari 2, Phahonyothin Rd. Phayathai, Bangkok Ari BTS Station (finding street parking is difficult) Open: Tuesday to Sunday, noon - 3pm; 5pm – 10pm Tel: 02 279 2461 www.facebook.com/SousakuSushi 32

Metro

Dining and Hanging Out By SocialGiver

La Vue Restaurant

French Culinary Poetry at Siam@Siam Design Hotel This brand new eatery, perched at the top of Bangkok’s Siam@Siam Design Hotel offers a lot more than delicious gastronomic surprises, carefully selected wines, and a beautiful sunset view of the city. In short, La Vue is a modern romantic French restaurant, offering diners a nostalgic museumexpresses culture and history in every bite.

Gilles Poitevin has designed a menu that

Their dishes harken back to the origins, or important historical milestones in the history of, the ingredients and/or recipe – much like informative placards underneath paintings and sculptures in a museum. Take for example this excerpt: “The recipe of Burgundy snails was created by the chef of the Prince of Talleyrand-Perigord, the foreign secretary minister of King Louis XVIII. In 1814, this snail recipe was served in honour of the Emperor of Russia,

Our favourite dish however was actually the dessert. We chose the baked Alaska

Needless to say, these stories make for interesting conversation, so take your time with this wonderful menu; it’s all part of the experience.

With all the first-rate ingredients, exclusively selected and freshly imported, prices are understandably steep, but La Vue still comes highly recommend, especially for couples looking for somewhere to spend a romantic evening or a special occasion. This restaurant is sure to impress.

with Grand Marnier and citrus sauce, which we highly doubt can be found anywhere else in this town. “Baked menu, was coined in 1876 at Delmonico’s restaurant, by their French chef-decuisine Charles Ranhofer – previously Napoleon III’s court chef – to honour the recently acquired American territory.

Special Promotion for Metro Readers: Book a table at La Vue, and tell their staff you are a Metro reader, and receive 20% off your dinner. This offer is good from now until December 29, 2013, and excludes alcoholic beverages and special menu items. Offer may not in effect during special events (check with the restaurant for availability).

La Vue Restaurant 25th Floor, Siam@Siam Design Hotel & Spa, 865 Rama 1 Rd, Bangkok Open: Monday to Saturday, 6pm - 11pm Tel: 02 217 3070 www.siamatsiam.com/la-vue

Metro TREND

Contents by FM99 Active Radio Words by Gift Preekamol Chantaranijakorn Photos by Isinthorn Tangjeerawong and Thunyarat Satornlug

Sport Overview in Thailand Sports as Trends

“

If you want to talk about the sports overview, there’s no better place to start than with the sports media, and in this issue of MeTRO, we talked with 8 popular on-air hosts from the No. 1 talk and sports radio station in Thailand, FM99 Active Radio Station (under MCOT Public Company Ltd), and they had some amusing things to say about athletics in this country and the sports world in general.

Yutthachai Jirakuanchay, or ‘Yuth’, one of the popular DJs at FM99, pointed out that Thai culture tends to be “faddish” about sport heroes and icons: “Thai people will go crazy about one specific sport, but only when someone wins the big match in Asia, or in the World. It’s like a field of rice straw that catches fire and overnight it’s gone.” Siampong Pholmark, or ‘Bee Lamsing’ another well-known DJ at the station, had this to say about sports trends: “When I was young, there was no specific sport that Thai people talked about, apart from the European football league. This was simply because there was no other live sport broadcasting, apart from one final match of League Cup, and one final match of FA Cup. Later on, Thai people were crazy about “cues” (snooker) after Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm, or ‘Tong Sidchoi’ – internationally known as James Wattana – won the 1988 World Amateur Championship. His career peaked in the ‘Pa Pae’, Yuttapong Wichaidit

Bundit Daobootra

mid-1990s, when he twice won the Thailand Open and rose to number 3 in the world rankings. Then tennis became a craze when Paradon Srichapan, became the highest ranked men’s singles player in Thailand’s and Asia’s history (reaching a career high of No. 9). After that came boxing, local football, and now there are badminton and women’s volleyball champs to follow.” Peeranat Jampa-ngern, or ‘Tone Kung’, the station’s star football commentator goes on to say: “It’s a “fashion” to cheer the popular sport of the moment! Welcome to the new era of sport in Thailand. After the continuous existence of Thai sports icons, and heroes/heroines, our new culture has shifted from a ‘sits and watches sport at home’ type, to the kind of fan that cheers their favorite sports team at the court or on the playing field. This is a good trend, as it can lead to positive improvement for Thai sport as a whole – sport players get to see lots of fans, and tournament managers can see more potential of professional sports. Fans come, then revenue, then more tournaments, and finally an improvement in our sports overall.” ‘Khun Yuth’, Yutthachai Jirakuanchay

‘Tone Kung’, Peeranat Jampa-ngern

‘Bee Lamsing’, Siampong Pholmark

The Starting Point Jirabun Trakulparnichkij, also known as ‘Li Ming’, a long time sports journalist, had this to say about official support for sports: “The starting point of hyper growth for Thailand’s sport development was when we hosted the 18th SEA Games in 1995, at Chiang Mai, then 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998. As a host, we also built more sport infrastructure. But the most important aspect now is that we need to put more effort into finding the best athletes and incubate these players – the amount of gold medals won will be one of the key performance indicators of success.”

Turning PRO Yuttapong Wichaidit, widely known as ‘Pa Pae’, a humourous radio host and Executive Director at FM99, made the following observation: “Many types of sport in Thailand are developing into ‘sport professions’ – and that means more revenue for players to earn a living. One thing that has been a deep problem in our country was the lack of support for sports-related professions. Not many families let their kids get too serious about sports as professions, as they could not be sure of the future down that road. Most kids that are very keen and talented in sports will play just for university sport talent quotas – not for turning into real sport professionals – as academic excellence seemingly cannot go together with sport professions. Most of the time parents need their kids to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree before turning sport pro, but this is impossible if you want to have a great world-class

‘Li Ming’, Jirabun Trakulparnichkij

‘Khun Nos’, Apisit Apisooksiri

player. Another big problem is a lack of support for Thai sport players when they get older, even in the national degree, to become professional sport coaches. The big barrier is that coaches need to have Bachelor degrees, and this is just ridiculous!” Bundit Daobootra, renowned DJ host at FM99, chimed in as well: “Compared with the first time I was here, 17 years ago, there has been a lot of improvement – totally different story! During the past 4 to 5 years, Thai premier league football has become huge. It had never been this popular before. Now, there is good pay for talented players. It can be a real alternative profession, apart from doctor, engineer, soldier, etc. Some real great football players make salaries of up to 500,000 THB! It’s so obvious that we have high performance sport players, but there is the problem in the ecosystem – management and standard.”

The World of Sports Management Apisit Apisooksiri, o r ‘ Hia Nos’ (Nostradamus) of FM99 starts off the conversation: “The matter of management in each sport association is crucial. We can see many successful cases of many sports encouraged with passionate and visionary associations’ executives. The most outstanding examples presently are the steps made in world badminton and Asian championship volleyball. Contrary to this, if the good associations do not try to develop and make a positive move, they can collapse. We can see the high potential of Thai sport professions. We just need a passionate key figure behind the overall ecosystem of each sport.”

‘Mor Mao’, Pichai Pituvong

Pichai Pituvong, widely known as ‘Mor Mao’, shows that his thoughts follow the same direction: “The “hardware”, concrete infrastructure and tournament, in Thailand is getting better than before, but if we talk about “software”, it depends on the executive of each association.” Li Ming, joins in on the conversation: “It’s all about the people and their power. The same old executives have been working for too long, and stick with that power – and they also unfairly set up “ghost members” to keep the power. No passionate new generation can get through” Yutthachai add the final comment: “There is one sport that has been with Thai people for a long time, and that is football. It’s the kind of sport that is easy to understand. Unfortunately, it can’t go as far as it should, mainly because of the management problem. Also, football fan clubs always fight with each other when they feel unsatisfied with the judge – it always happens”

In the age of SOCIAL MEDIA Tone Kung adds this insight into the positive power of social media on sports: “I think the bad executives cannot hold their position for too long. People use social media – Facebook and Twitter – to share their views. If there’s an obvious bad contribution by a corrupt representative at the management level, that person will be criticized harshly and be branded a criminal overnight. Of course, the good side is shared easily too. While there is less sport time in the mass media, such as TV, the success of Thai sport players will be spread wider and more viral online.”

Metro TREND

LIPO PREMIER LEAGUE Apart from just talking about sports, these amusing on-air personalities are also all part of the LIPO PREMIER LEAGUE Campaign, a huge event that FM99 Active Radio Station would like to invite all premier league fans to join in on.

BIG MATCH OF THE WEEK

The campaign is a contest sponsored by LIPO energy drink, and it offers a chance for 5 lucky fans to win a trip for 2 to the UK to watch the big Liverpool vs. Manchester United football match in March, 2014. Fans are invited to join

by sending in their LIPO cap, and writing their guess for the Premier League match results each month, as well as voting for their favorite duo DJ Hosts on FM99. And here’s what these dynamic DJs had to say:

‘Khun Nos’, Apisit Apisooksiri “I have been to UK so many times, but I still want to go again. Please VOTE for ME!”

‘Mor Mao’, Pichai Pituvong “Ajarn Nos and I always win this campaign. Whenever, wherever – a champion is a CHAMPION.”

‘Bee Lamsing’, Siampong Pholmark “If you want to be CRAZY and BRAVE, you should be extremely into it. I can say this out loud, because I’m extremely CRAZY and BRAVE for real!”

‘Li Ming’, Jirabun Trakulparnichkij “I love the slogan of LIPO – LIPO, be confident, you can do it! – and I believe the same is true of our fans. If you are confident, you can do it. As for me, I am confident that I have fan clubs, even if they keep a little quiet. Don’t forget to drink LIPO and cheer for Li Ming and Bee Lamsing.”

Bundit Daobootra “When we choose to give a heed to something, we have to put in our all. Although it’s not for sure that this is the dream career, we gotta be professional in whatever we do”

‘Pa Pae’, Yuttapong Wichaidit “If Thai people are good players, they should respect rules. They should know how to lose and how to win. What is happening in our society at the moment is a different story. We don’t respect the rules, or each other.”

‘Khun Yuth’, Yutthachai Jirakuanchay “It’s a gimmick that all us DJs are pretending to beat each other. We just want our fans to enjoy. No one will be mad if he doesn’t get to go. So please don’t hesitate to join us! Me being paired with Tone Kung makes us the youngest duo from all 4 duos in the competition.”

‘Tone Kung’, Peeranat Jampa-ngern “If you love sports and love watching sports, please support us. For the fans, we can see from our very high ratings that we are ranked as the No. 1 talk and sports radio station in Thailand. In contrast, I found not many buyers in the agencies understand what “sport” is. It’s hard for them to make a decision to support it – even though they know that sport is important. If you love me, vote me for me in the LIPO campaign. But I would give higher priority to “loving” FM99, because if no one supports us, I will quit and take up potato farming.”

About the LIPO PREMIER LEAGUE Campaign One winner from each month will be selected, as well as one special wild card prize draw, and the prize pack is valued more than 300,000 THB. In addition, the most popular DJ host duo, as voted by the FM99 fans, will be the guides on the trip. The campaign runs until the end of January, 2014. 38

For more about the LIPO PREMIER LEAGUE Campaign check out: www.mcot.com/fm99 www.facebook.com/fm99mcot www.facebook.com/LipovitanDThailand

the legend Maeklong Seasonal Promotion

LOY KRATHONG FESTIVAL 17th November 2013

A Retro

Escape by the River

Celebrate the Loy Krathong Festival with our special promotion, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Proudly Make a Meritâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by creating your own Krathong (using all-natural materials) together with your friends or family. Get a complimentary Krathong when you make a reservation for the 17th of November, 2013.

Enjoy a discount of 40% on all room types, for booking Sundays thru Thursdays Enjoy a discount of 20% on all room types, for booking Fridays and Saturdays

For more information, please visit www.thelegendmaeklong.com Reservations: +66 (0)3 470 1121, +66 (0)95 830 5084

Metro TREND

Extreme Sports

Going to EXTREMES Across Thailand

It’s hard not to notice the emerging trend of “extreme” sports in Thailand, and for most people the things that come to mind, when they hear that term, are the words risk, speed, fear, and excitement. But if you dig even deeper, there are other interesting aspects to the overall idea of extreme sports, including the concepts of mental challenge and physical conditioning. In this issue we profile 3 amazing extreme sports – Skateboarding, Parkour and Freerunning, and “big bike” Motorcycling – and get to know some of the Bangkokians who are popularizing these pastimes.

SKATEBOARDING: Extreme Rolling Story by ATTA Clothing Photo by FELLOWSKATE Thailand Skateboard

eems like skateboarding is an extreme sport that is known to everyone, and it’s definitely one of the most popular ones in Thailand. Skateboarding originated in California, in the 1940s, when surfers looked to entertain themselves while the ocean waves were flat. Nowadays skateboards are popular around the world, and are used both for recreation and transport.

Many skaters have been inspired by movies and/or video games, and as for me, I was inspired by that impressive skateboarding moment in the 1985 film Back to the Future. I was living in rural area at that time, and all I could do was look at old skateboard magazines and old videotapes. When I was older some of my friends started skateboarding and, of course, I joined unhesitatingly!

“If you have your passion, go for it now! There might be many obstacles along the way, but be conscious and make your way through everything”

Thailand actually has one of the best skaters of Southeast Asia. His name is Geng Jakkarin, and his skate accolades include a ranking of 30th at the Maloof Cup in South Africa (back in 2011), and placing 1st at the 2012 Converse City Carnage in Shanghai. However he’s an exception, as not many Thai people can get into the world of professional skaters for some reason. But, regardless, many Thai skaters still channel their passion into careers. ATTA Clothing (Thailand) is one of these examples, and I established the company together with some friends of mine who shared the same interests. ATTA sprang mainly from the need to support both my own team, and the outstanding, potentially award-winning young 40

skaters I encountered. We eventually made a video to present our brand, and later on we got sponsored by Vans, which is proof that when you make the best out of something, the rest are sure to follow. So from full-time skater I became a business owner as well as a skating judge – the Vans company also partners with the Thailand Extreme Sports Association to set up competitions – but I still go skating in my free time, in Bangkok and other provinces too. I love having the exposure to different cultures, traveling from place to place, and this is definitely a great experience in my life. I may not be rich, but I’m extremely happy with all the things I do.

About the Author Atta Clothing (Thailand) is inspired not only by skateboard c u l t u re , b u t a l s o b y b i ke culture, alternative culture, and the music and art scene i n g e n e r a l . T h e co m p a n y operates to create products that fulfill the needs of Bangkok’s alternative community. www.facebook.com/pages/ Atta-Clothing-THAILAND/ 213003855473877

PARKOUR & FREERUNNING: Gaining Momentum, Step by Step

Story and photos by Samatcha Ratanavanich

arkour and Freerunning are similar types of extreme sports, and both are quite new to Thailand. But anyone can join in, as all you need is a pair of good running shoes. These 2 sports are all about movement, and interacting with obstacles, so they do require physical body strength and an equally strong mentality on the part of the player. To understand the difference between these 2 sport terms, here is a simple explanation. Parkour (also spelled “parcour”, from the original French) is moving oneself from point A to point B, no matter how hard the obstacles are along the way. It began originally as a military training technique. Freerunning, on the other hand, developed from parkour but it adds beautiful acrobatic movements – such as backflips – into the overall movement. Parkour and freerunning (often referred to simply as “PF”) are complementary sports, and the community in Thailand is growing, though not as quickly as it has in European or other Western countries. Since the time that I personally took up PF (about 8 years ago) there has been no significant change in the sport, despite its popularity – especially in UK. One of my inspirations was a guy from the UK named Danile Illabaca, who posted many videos on YouTube. In the UK the government and some private investors support this activity – partly because of the established PF community – and so specific PF parks have been built for the purposes of training. And with this support, the PF community can avoid getting into trouble, since they don’t have to practice by jumping around on buildings that are private property. Unfortunately there’s no such support in Thailand right now, so it’s much harder for Thai kids to train.

The benefits of PF vary according to the way players think and train. Just copying the movement of others, to show you can do, will never give you the real functional training. PF movements are not fixed, so everyone can do it their own way, just by using some imagination. The sport also demands a balance between a strong body and a strong mind, since some situations require athletes to perform physically and at the same time manage all fears. That’s why, in the long-term, this sport can be so beneficial, both mentally and physically. One of the popular films that brought PF to a wider audience in Thailand was 2003’s Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, but even so, the sport is still not universally recognized.

“Know yourself, know what you are doing, manage your fear, open your mind, and enjoy the imaginative movement”

About the author Samatcha Ratanavanich has been training in PF for 8 years. Fortunately, he was able to meet a lot people doing the same thing when he was studying abroad. He met Stephane Vigroux in Australia, a director of Parkour Generation – the famous coaching PF team company in UK. He was invited to join them, and now he has become a leading member of the Parkour Generation in Thailand.

About Parkour Generation This organization is the global community for Parkour / Freerunning – the most dynamic, natural and challenging form of physical and mental training out there. To join our PF family, or to learn more about the training classes and communities, check out the following links: www.pkgasia.com www.facebook.com/ ParkourGenerationsAsia That’s why last year I managed the Thailand Parkour & Freerunning Gathering Jam 2012 event. I wanted to see warmth instead of rivalry amongst Thailand’s PF families, and happily our event gathered many like-minded enthusiasts together. There were plenty of PF activities for everyone, and eventually we all became real friends. To get involved in this sport, the main thing to have is physical readiness – be prepared for strenuous exercise and be prepared to recheck your body’s condition. You’ll need to know yourself, and just how far you can go, since most accidents happen when people take more risk than they can handle. 41

Metro TREND

Extreme Sports

DUCATI : Be Safe, Be Cool Story by Gift Preekamol and Keng Sakolrit Photo by Nipon Riabriang

How Fast You Can Stand? This emerging trend is one reason that the Italian motorcycle superbrand Ducati decided to open the biggest Ducati showroom and services center in AsiaPacific, right here in Bangkok (on Vibhavadi Road). Desmo Owners Clubs (DOC) of Thailand is also a leading group in this scene, and after proving both the huge market potential and their passion for the brand, Ducati Headquarters earlier this year promoted them to be an “official” Ducati club. Key team members behind this grand formation include Khun Ritthee Mikhanorn (Khun Goo), Khun Chayapol Ritcham (Khun Kris), and Khun Poravit Sreshthaputra (Khun Pui), all of whom shared with us a some words of motorcycle wisdom. “Surprisingly, for most Ducati owners I have talked to, the passion for the superbike came from our favorite Japanese hero when we were young. Same with me,” admits Khun Goo, chief of DOC Thailand.

From left to right: Khun Chayapol Ritcham, Khun Poravit Sreshthaputra, Khun Ritthee Mikhanorn.

he “superbikes”, from many an action flick, are now a reality! It’s no longer rare to find big bikes on the streets of Bangkok, and across Thailand as well. And the fact that the market in Thailand has grown 45% from last year means there are approximately 70,000 more mammoth motorcycles on the roads. Part of the reason is that multinational manufacturers have set up operation in Thailand, so more Thais can now access this high leisure sport. It’s also become a great way for urbanistas to get back to nature, via travelling, and forget the stress of work, traffic, pollution, and politics.

“To ride is my passion, I can ride on super long boring road just to find those perfect turns with amazing scenery behind. And the feeling when I reach my destination will be completely different without my bike,” Khun Pui explains.

Of course, with such an extreme lifestyle, whoever wants to join has to overcome all fears. For the boys from DOC there are 3 main riding rules: perfect physical condition, perfect mind condition, and perfect vehicle condition. These safeguards ensure that new riders will overcome their fear of perceived danger, fatal or otherwise. Style and design aside, the most crucial point is “SAFETY”. So ask yourself how fast you think can stand it, and if you think you have what it takes, let a big bike take you down that road of freedom. Hypermotard

For Khun Kris it’s a little more simple: “For me, I started by riding bicycles. However I found out 2 years ago that I need more SPEED in my life,” he grins. These 3 thrill-riders go on to compare Ducati with a naughty, sexy lady who is difficult to control, but once you win her heart, she’s the perfect match. They are also

SPECIAL THANKS Ducati Vibhavadi 42

passionate about Ducati’s welldesigned features, rhapsodizing over every single detail.

Don’t Miss Bike Event: If you love motorbikes that are as big as they are fast, DOC Thailand will be hosting the Thailand Desmo Week and Friends 2013, on December 21, 2013, at the Bira International Circuit in Pattaya.

Metro ARTS Words & photo by Bruce Scott

Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor Live Concert Performance

M Theatre - 2884 / 2, New Petchaburi Rd. October 28, 2013 Guitar aficionados in particular, and music enthusiasts in general, were treated to a fabulous evening of musical virtuosity last month when Australian guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel, and renowned British jazz guitarist Martin Taylor, joined forces for a spectacular live performance at Bangkok’s M Theatre. Emmanuel is no stranger to Thai audiences, having performed in Bangkok several times over the years, so it was no surprise that a capacity crowd of ardent fans was on hand to welcome this dynamic guitar duo as they took to the stage. The stately pair, dressed elegantly in dark suits, began the evening with a couple of jazz standards including You Can’t Take that Away From Me, before Tommy took a moment in the spotlight alone to amaze the crowd with his harmonic handiwork on instrumental versions of Secret Love and Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The tones, resonances and feelings he can wrestle from his guitars – he had 3 carefully selected acoustics on stage with him that evening – are truly aweinspiring. Tommy then switched gears and performed a dazzling tribute to American country music legend Merle Travis, singing and playing his way through a short medley of twangy favourites, and incorporating his famous “percussive” guitar technique, in which he

slaps, taps, beats and bangs his six-string, with incredible rhythmic results. He then delighted the crowd with Halfway Home, a song he introduced as being inspired by one of his many visits to Phuket, before bringing the house down with a moving, dramatic rendition of the haunting track Blood Brothers – a tribute to soldiers everywhere. After a short intermission the duo returned to the stage for one more number, before Tommy graciously handed over the spotlight to Martin Taylor who wowed the audience with his solo virtuoso jazz noodling. His musical stylings ran the gamut from Brazilian jazz to an inspired Art Tatum tribute, but it was his rendition of Ginger – an atmospheric composition he wrote in tribute to his native land – that really allowed for this soft-spoken Scotsman to show off the scope of his own unique creativity. However there were many light-hearted moments to the evening as well, and as the pair reunited on the stage and launched into a few more duets, Taylor treated fans to an impromptu dance break (in which he “pretended” to have no rhythm), and some other good-natured silliness he shared with Tommy. The pair obviously enjoys working together, and it showed consistently throughout the evening’s performance.

But despite the prowess of both players, the evening’s main attraction was undoubtedly Mr. Emmanuel, and as he closed the second set with a solo performance that included a series of 5 Beatles covers – weaving together such classics as Here Comes The Sun, When I’m 64, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Day Tripper and Lady Madonna – as the audience sat in rapt attention, trying vainly to follow his frenzied fingerwork, but loving every minute of the challenge. After taking his bows, Tommy said good night and left the stage briefly, before returning for one final instrumental encore. After bidding a second farewell to his loyal Bangkok fans, he ended the evening with a heartfelt “khorb khun kap!” – a sentiment that was definitely reciprocated by the mesmerized fans in the theatre.

Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor are touring to promote their new CD The Colonel & The Governor, available now at www.amazon.com.

Finding Inspiration in Culture

FILM

Metro ARTS

ART EXHIBITION

Opening Night Film : The Rocket

World Film Festival of Bangkok 2013 November 15 - 24, 2013 SF World Cinema Central World Plaza, 7th floor, Bangkok Now in its 11th year, the World Film Festival of Bangkok is once again proud to present Bangkok cinephiles with a dazzling array of eclectic films. In an effort to introduce quality, non-mainstream movies from all over the world, the festival organizers aim to become a showcase for independent films and new work from rising talents and cinema masters alike. This year’s line up includes categories such as Asian Contemporary, Cine Latino, and Documentary, and the fest will open with a screening of the award-winning Australian-made Lao-Isaan family drama The Rocket. So stock up on popcorn, and get ready for some November movie madness! Tickets for each screening are only 120 THB, or buy a book of 5 for just 500 THB.

Englebert Humperdink Live in Concert December 2, 2013 – 8pm Bangkok Convention Center, Central Plaza Ladprao, Bangkok Fans of smooth vocal stylings, and classic 70s easy-listening music, will not want to miss the December appearance of the legendary English vocalist Englebert Humperdink. Known for his numerous hits, including “Quando Quando Quando”, “Release Me”, “The Last Waltz”, and “Spanish Eyes”, this master of old-school entertaining (he turned 77 this year) is set to charm Bangkok audiences with his effortless charm and musical mastery. www.thaiticketmajor.com

www.worldfilmbkk.com

Have you seen “ZINE”? Continuing till November 21, 2013 Next to Normal, 1st floor, Atrium Zone, CentralWorld, Bangkok Exploring the world of fanzines, ZINE 7th Bangkok – Tokyo is a new exhibition showcasing these small, self-published circulations that have, for decades, expressed the news and views of artists, designers, photographers and a new generation of creative-minded people from all around the world. The international creative network called ‘Ubie’ has already held 6 exhibitions in Japan, and now Practical Design Studio, in collaboration with Next to Normal – a multi-label fashion store in Bangkok – brings this Zine exhibition to Thailand for the first time. The theme of the show is Left to Right Right to Left, and the artwork will impress on visitors the true meaning of the word “limited edition”, and hopefully make them question the various contemporary trends in society through the aesthetics of book design, and cultural exchange. www.ubies.net/zine

CONCERT 45

Metro SPECIAL

MY WORLD

“ 0

2015

What are the issues most important to Thai people?

Last month we talked about MY World 2015, and invited you to vote with the United Nations for the world you want. This issue, we give you the results of that poll, collected from over 68,000 people voting across Thailand. Let’s find out what are the issues most important to Thai people and their families.

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

A good education

34,640

Better healthcare 28,313

Better job opportunities

28,251

Affordable and nutritious food

27,213

Protection against crime and violence

26,114

Access to clean water and sanitation

25,185

Phone and internet access

24,463

Better transport and roads

24,148

Protecting forests, rivers and oceans 20,816

Equality between men and women

20,399

Support for people who can’t work

17,745

Reliable energy at home Freedom from discrimination and persecution Action taken on climate change Political freedoms

47,786

37,099

An honest and responsive government

“

By MYSOCIALMOTION

17,533

About My World 16,145 14,318

MY World is a global survey that asks people to choose their priorities for a better world. It invites people to vote for 6 out of 16 priorities for the future development agenda. The MY World 2015 campaign in Thailand is being led by MYSOCIALMOTION. You can participate in the post-2015 process by selecting the changes that would make the most difference to you and your family by visiting the website at: www.myworld2015.org

Metro GIVER By SocialGiver

Support Charities Across Thailand

Don’t know where to go for your next holiday? Visit www.socialgiver.com and you can search for an amazing getaway, while at the same time give underprivileged children a chance at a better education! SocialGiver is an exciting lifestyle website that rewards consumers who make donations to fund charity projects.

and Receive Awesome Rewards!

FEATURED SOCIALGIVER REWARDS Flight of the Gibbon, Chiang Mai Zip Line Canopy Tour Give 2,100 THB to support the DeeJai Project, which purchases educational resources for underprivileged children, and get the best zip lining experience available in Chiang Mai (valued at 3,299 THB). Soar through the scenic rainforests of Chiang Mai with Flight of the Gibbon, considered by both customers and the press to be the best zip lining experience in all of Asia. Try out over 33 different platform stations that are connected with 5 km of zip lines, woven into the jungle canopy. Book your trip at least a day in advance, and see the pristine wonders of the forest from a gibbon’s eye view.

Horizon Village & Resort Give 1,800 THB to support 4DekDoi’s initiative to give hill tribe children an opportunity to go to school, and receive a one-night free resort package, good for 2 persons (valued at 3,300 THB). Situated in a beautiful botanical garden, Horizon Village & Resort is a place of deep tranquility where you can relax and unwind. Offering high quality service in a warm, family friendly atmosphere, the resort also boasts a variety of facilities, restaurants, and activities. If you want to get away from it all, look for the resort on the Chiang Mai-Doi Saket Highway – about 10 km from the city center – in Amphur Doi Saket, Chiang Mai.

Moments Restaurant at AETAS Bangkok Give 350 THB to support the Zy Movement Foundation’s efforts to empower children with disabilities, and receive a delicious modern Thai cuisine dinner (valued at 950 THB). The Moments Restaurant, at AETAS Bangkok Hotel, offers a classy dining experience for connoisseurs of fine meals. Backed by an award winning kitchen team, the menu allows diners to choose from among 4 mouth-watering Thai appetizers, followed by a choice of 4 chef selected main courses – combining Thai sensibilities with European styles of preparation and presentation – and a delicious Thai dessert, as well as a complimentary half bottle of white or red wine. AETAS Bangkok is located at 49 Soi Ruamrudee, off Phloenchit Road. 47

Metro PROMO

Creating Impact via Giving

By Taejai.com

NEW way GIVING NEW Year's Celebration of

for

Are you looking for a New Year’s gift for someone you love? Well, this New Year you can give a more meaningful gift when you give the Taejai Basket. The people behind the website www.taejai.com – an online social project fundraising platform – have just launched the New Year Taejai Basket Project, in an effort to support the producers of premium quality products from across Thailand. Producers include the Green Agricultures Group in Buriram province, the Muser Hilltribe in Tak province, a housewife group in Pattani province, and a social enterprise organization right here in Bangkok. As a GIVER you’ll be buying high quality products and RECEIVER selected local area producers. But most of all, for the LOCAL PEOPLE you’ll be creating jobs in rural areas and helping them to generate income with a sustainable process of production.

What will you get in a Taejai Basket? Zuaguna Chili Paste: Produced by group of housewives in Pattani province, these women have all lost their husbands South Thailand Insurgency. The chili paste they produce and sell helps them to earn a living. Muser Coffee: Produced by the Muser Hilltribe in Tak province, a tribe who plant and grow organic coffee beans in the forests where they live. They believe in a natural ecosystem – where forest, human, and all animals can live together as one – and their delicious coffee shows society how nature can reward when treated with respect. Organic Rice: produced by the Green Agriculture Group in Buriram province, these farmers produce organic rice without the use of chemicals. They believe in the process of organic farming, which brings good health to farmers Organic Tea: Distributed by URBIE, a group of young people who are committed to organic farming, this organization supports these types of farmers by creating market channels with today’s marketplace needs, and in turn bring good health to consumers.

About Taejai Taejai.com was ignited by a group of NGOs and social organizations with a passion to create a positive change in today’s society. In order to foster NGO projects and social enterprises to successfully create the scalable change of their goal, the collaboration of the Khon Thai Foundation and the ChangeFusion Institute has created a common space for giving – a website where members can track down and talk directly to the people behind the project they are supporting. -----Support the Taejai Basket project at www.taejai.com. Let the act of giving create a positive impact on more than just the receiver. Pass the love forward! info.taejai@gmail.com, or call 02 938 1800. Please place all orders before November 30, 2013.

Metro PROMO

Special Offers and Attractive Discounts

Festive Celebrations at The Sukhothai Bangkok

Sweeten Your Celebration with a Chocolate Buffet The Chocolate Buffet at The Sukhothai Bangkok is a mouth-watering feast of cakes, chocolates, pastries and other scrumptious treats, that will be available during this upcoming festive season. Alongside these afternoon delights will be other traditional festive desserts, including lemon soufflé cream with green pea confit, gingerbread slab, cranberries in red chocolate robe, Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries, and sticky date

pudding with fudge sauce. It’s pure temptation, delicious and irresistible! Festive Chocolate Buffet at Lobby Salon Friday December 20, 2013 to Sunday January 5, 2014 2pm – 5pm / 990++ THB per person The Sukhothai Bangkok 13/3 South Sathorn Rd, Bangkok For reservations call: 02 344 8888 www.sukhothai.com

Complete Bliss at SPA Cenvaree

Two Special Promotions at One Price SPA Cenvaree is offering a special 2-for1 year-end treat for those in need of a pampering. Enjoy the spa’s signature Hot Stone Massage (90 minutes) which begins as smoothly basalt rocks are heated to the perfect temperature, and then treated with essential oils before being placed along the meridians of the body and chakras to soothe muscles and relieve tension. A massage then follows, which creates a deep sense of relaxation. Combine this treatment with another rejuvenating session as you enjoy the Jurlique Deep Cleanse Facial Treatment (60 minutes), which is designed to unclog pores while improving the facial skin tone. This treatment includes cleansing, exfoliation, streaming and a cleansing mask.

Vietnamese Specialty Menu at Zeta Cafe

Daily Buffet Lunch and Dinner

The Zeta Cafe, at the Holiday Inn Bangkok, presents a special ‘Vietnamese Week’, with a great selection of original cuisine from Vietnam, prepared by authentic chefs imported for the occasion directly from the IHG Family Hotel in Danang. Their delicacies will add excitement and variety to the restaurant’s already delectable daily buffet display. Experience this wonderful variety November 22 – 30, 2013. Buffet lunch will be served from 11:30am – 2:30pm (399++ THB) Buffet dinner will be served from 6pm – 10:30pm (599++ THB) Zeta Cafe 8th floor, Holiday Inn Bangkok, Sukhumvit Soi 22 For reservations call: 02 683 4888 www.holidayinn.com/bangkok22 50

Completing this treatment is a relaxing hand massage using Magnolia & Rose hand lotion mixed with rosehip oil and vitamin E. This promotion runs from December 1 – 31, 2013, and is priced at just 2,500++ THB per person for the hot stone treatment, which entitles you to enjoy the deep cleanse treatment at no extra charge (a 2,400++ THB value). Spa Cenvaree Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld For reservations call: 02 100 1234, ext 6511, 6516 www.spacenvaree.com

CHANGING TIMES MEN, MID-LIFE & M-ANDROPAUSE “Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause, you gain weight and get hot flashes. With male menopause – you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles.” -Author UnknownMen and women experience hormonal shifts in middle age. The drop-off in estrogen and progesterone, associated with menopause, creates a variety of symptoms, and there are many treatment options – all well documented. As many have long suspected, men in their middle years also experience a drop in hormone levels, but it is the hormone testosterone. Increasingly recognized, this shift is now known as andropause.

IF MANY MEN EXPERIENCE THIS, WHY HAVEN’T I HEARD OF IT? It is reasonable to ask why has andropause been largely ignored, since doctors have often under-diagnosed the condition, because symptoms can be vague and can vary from person-to-person. For women the hormonal changes are so abrupt and obvious, that there is really no disregarding it, while in men the shifts are much more subtle and gradual. Compounding all this is the fact that psychologically men are not naturally hardwired to discuss their problems, and generally prefer to appear confident and strong rather than show vulnerability. ARE OTHERS PHYSICAL CONDITIONS CONNECTED TO LOW TESTOSTERONE? Doctors in the past have not always considered low testosterone as a possible cause for ill health. Symptoms were often related to other medical conditions, such as depression, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism, or simply “old age”. Studies have now shown that a decline in testosterone can actually put men at risk for other health problems, such as heart disease and weakened bones. Recent medical tests have also linked reduced testosterone to an increased risk of mortality in men suffering from other medical conditions. HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM SUFFERING ANDROPAUSE? The first symptom that a man might actually notice will very likely be related to sex- erectile problems, or lack of libido. These symptoms may be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy and decreased memory. Decision-making ability can also be affected and another very common symptom is depression. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? Even in physically fit and healthy males, testosterone declines by 1% every 10 years. An unhealthy lifestyle – smoking, stress, bad diet, alcohol indulgence, and sleep deprivation – uses up the hormones even faster. AM I SUFFERING FROM ANDROPAUSE? The ADAM test is available online, which will indicate if a blood test is required – usually for men over 40. Testosterone levels vary throughout the day so the blood samples should be taken between 8:00 and 9:00 am to provide the highest level. WHEN AND HOW SHOULD ANDROPAUSE BE TREATED? Treated in the conventional way, testosterone is injected or taken orally by the patient. A more natural replacement technique is to use bio-identical hormone cream, which is absorbed by the skin and applied to the inner thigh or arm. With the cream, you can adjust the dose easily- and it works very rapidly. Within 2 or 3 weeks, the patient will notice a difference. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY HORMONE LEVELS HIGH? EXERCISE: There is a direct relationship between muscle-mass and testosterone. This means that testosterone levels can be raised by increasing muscle-mass though resistance weight training. Keeping your weight down also makes a difference, because fat cells tend to convert testosterone into estrogen. NUTRITION: Men should eat enough good carbohydrates, protein and good fat. Protein helps maintain lean muscle mass, but it also takes a certain amount of fat – good fat, found in nuts, oily fish and olive oil – to keep testosterone production at healthy levels. And cut back on the alcohol, which decreases testosterone. HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS: B vitamins help with stress and boost energy, while vitamin C can stabilize production of stress hormones. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a popular supplement to address the symptoms of andropause, because it is a building block for sex hormones, and its production tends to decline rapidly with age. It can improve skin, sex-drive, mood, and increase strength in aging men, but your actual DHEA levels should be tested beforehand. Other popular supplements include fish oil, or omega-3 supplements. Symptoms of andropause come at a time of life when many men have begun to question their values, accomplishments and life’s path. It can be difficult to accept the changes as real, and not just call it “stress”. The most important thing is not to stay alone with the problem, but to talk to your doctor and find out the right solution for you. The fact is that this is a real condition, and one that is infinitely treatable. So man-up… and seek advice!

Call Center Thai: 080 500 0123, Call Center English: 085 000 2001

www.apexprofoundbeauty.com

Metro TRIP

Globetrotting in Style

Words and Photos By Ornsiri

SAPPORO Exploring the Capital of Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido is the most northern of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major islands, and Sapporo is its capital city (and Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4th largest city by population). Dating back to the year 1857, the city of Sapporo was developed in the beginning of the Meiji Period as the administrative center of Hokkaido. When the city hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, Sapporo became more widely known, and nowadays the city is famous for its ramen, its beer, Shiroi Koibito (the famous white chocolate biscuits), and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, held every February.

The Adventure Begins We arrived one afternoon in May, at the New Chitose Airport – flying domestically from Tokyo’s Narita International – and took the Japan Railway (JR) to Sapporo using our pre-booked JR Hokkaido Pass. The weather at that time of year was cool (10-15 degrees), and a bit rainy, but that didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. Our first stop was Hokkaidocho Kyuhonchosha (the former Hokkaido Government Office Building), an American neobaroque style building and the former offices of the Hokkaido

Clock Tower

government. After being destroyed by fire, the building and its beautiful landscaped gardens were restored and designated as an important cultural property, providing information about the history and culture of Hokkaido. The city of Sapporo was built based on a North American style rectangular street grid system, so it was easy and convenient for first-time visitors like us to explore on foot. Our second stop that first day was the Clock Tower, a symbolic and much photographed municipal landmark that displays the history of the town on the first floor. And just a few blocks away lay Odori Park, our next stop, which is an oasis in the city and home to pleasant spacious gardens that stretch out over 1.5 kilometers. The park holds many events and concerts, including the annual Sapporo Snow Festival in February, which sees the green areas of the park covered with snow, and decorated with over 200 unique and massive ice sculptures. At the eastern end of the park stands the Sapporo TV Tower where is not only a broadcast station, but also an observation deck for viewing the city scenery from a height of 90 meters.

Sapporo Snow Festival at Hokkaidocho Kyuhonchosha

Once we’d finished sightseeing, our next mission, after the sunset, was to get something to eat. We originally planned to try the city’s famous Genghis Khan mutton BBQ at Naganuma Jingisukan (as recommended by our guidebook), but we couldn’t find a place we liked so we randomly chose a small restaurant serving Yakiniku (Japanese grill) and Yakitori (grilled meats and vegetable on skewers). Located near Tanukikoji Station, I remember well the great taste of the food, and the way the staff welcomed us with cheerful smiles, eagerly wanting to serve us the best they could – despite the language barrier. It’s just too bad I can’t recall the name of the restaurant itself.

Geghis khan mutton BBQ at Sapporo beer garden 53

On the second day of our adventure we headed out of town to visit Shiroikoibito Park, and traveled there making use of the metro line. The park is a theme park created by Ishiya, a local chocolate manufacturer whose flagship product is also Hokkaido’s most famous souvenir – Shiroi Koibioto (2 thin butter cookies with a layer of white chocolate in the middle). We first visited the park’s colourful garden, and then headed to the main building where we watched a demonstration showing how to make multi-coloured candies, and checked out the exhibit of thousands of models of world’s most well-known cartoon characters, including such superstars as Hello Kitty, Atomic Boy, and Rilakkuma. The last building, which displays the company’s history and allows visitors to observe the cookie production process, is another must-see park attraction we didn’t want to miss.

Sapporo Beer Museum

Shiroikoibito Park

Our second stop of the day was another out-of-town destination, this time to the Sapporo Beer Museum. The building is the former main brewery of Sapporo Breweries Ltd., and the museum provides information about Japan’s beer history, and Sapporo’s beer making process (though most of the signage is in Japanese only). Luckily the last stop on the Beer Museum tour is the tasting room, and that requires no translation.

By this time we were ready for a late lunch, so we visited the Sapporo Beer Garden, located next to the museum. The 2nd floor of this red brick building is a high-ceilinged spacious beer hall decorated with a huge cauldron from the Taisho period. And it was here that we finally got a chance to finally try the Genghis Khan mutton BBQ (and it was so uniquely delicious we ordered seconds). It’s hard to ask for more when you’re surrounded delicious food, great beer and an astonishing atmosphere. Once back in town, we decided to visit the Sapporo’s shopping mecca – the Susukino Arcade. Our route took us one level down below the street, and through the basement walkway heading to Susukino Station, and as we were wandering we realized that this was how large numbers of local people commute… under the ground! Hokkaido is known for its harsh winters, and these walkways provide a welcome relief from the snow and freezing temperatures. The long walkway stretches in parallel with the metro line, and there are various small shops along both sides of the walkway selling everything from dairy products to clothes. We reached the arcade at sunset – when the street artists arrive to perform for the visitors – and we wandered past the many stores, karaoke bars, game centers, and eateries. We didn’t buy anything, but we spent almost 2 hours at the Game Center playing the claw crane game. Acting like young kids again was a great way to end a fabulous trip.

Rilakkuma Claw crane 54

Sapporo Street view

ซัปโปโรอาจเป็นหนึง่ ในไม่กเี่ มืองทีม่ อบ ‘เสน่หแ์ ห่งความ สมดุล’ ให้กับผู้มาเยือน ด้วยลักษณะของสิ่งปลูกสร้าง ทีก่ ลมกลืนไปกับธรรมชาติโดยรอบ และวิถชี วี ติ ของคน ท้องถิน่ ทีด่ �ำ เนินในจังหวะทีเ่ หมาะสม ไม่เร็วจนก่อให้เกิด ความตึงเครียด แต่ไม่ชา้ จนก่อให้เกิดความเหนือ่ ยหน่าย ก่อให้เกิดความสมดุลของบรรยากาศเมืองโดยรวม ที่ผสมผสานระหว่างความเป็นเมืองใหญ่กับความเป็น ชานเมืองได้อย่างลงตัว ทำ�ให้นกั ท่องเทีย่ วสามารถเดิน ทางเที่ยวชมเมือง แวะชมสถานที่สำ�คัญๆ หาของกิน อร่อยๆ ดื่มด่ำ�กับธรรมชาติในจังหวะที่สอดคล้องกับ จังหวะเมือง จนรูส้ กึ เป็นส่วนหนึง่ ของซัปโปโรเลยทีเดียว นอกจากนี้ ซัปโปโรนัน้ ยังขึน้ ชือ่ เรือ่ งอาหารอร่อย ไม่วา่ จะเป็น ราเมน เนือ้ แกะเจงกิสข่านย่าง เบียร์ดงั ระดับโลก และคุ๊กกี้สอดไส้ ช็อกโกแลตรสกลมกล่อม เวลาวางแผนการเทีย่ ว อย่าลืมเช็คเวลาเปิด-ปิดทำ�การ ของแต่ละสถานที่ รวมทั้งการศึกษาตารางรถโดยสาร สาธารณะและรายละเอียดที่เกี่ยวข้อง โดยเฉพาะการ นั่งรถไฟระหว่างเมือง เพราะจะช่วยให้สามารถใช้เวลา ทุกนาทีได้อย่างคุ้มค่าค่ะ

Reservation Center : Tel : +(66)2 718-1030-43 (Auto) Fax : +(66)2 718-1044

Dear Readers of MeTRO Business & Leisure Magazine,

CLUB

We would like to extend a special offer to all of you, and a chance to win some great prizes too! All new subscribers will receive 12 issues of MeTRO Business and Leisure for just 300 THB, and their names will automatically be added to the prize draw (details below). But anyone can win great prizes with MeTRO. Simply visit our Facebook fanpage and click ‘like’ to be automatically entered: www.facebook.com/themetromagazine

The lucky winner

of our fabulous Pattaya prize package, including seafood buffet dinner for 2, plus 2-nights accommodation at A-One Hotel, Pattaya (a prize valued at 10,000 THB), is:

Khun UncleJack Lakchai

Prizes Include: • Hotel vouchers: A-One Hotel, Pattaya • Treatment vouchers: Advance Magnitoporation Korean Nano White Serum

The lucky winners will be announced in our December issue, so stay tuned!

The lucky winner of our fabulous treatment vouchers from Advance Magnitoporation Korean Nano White Serum at Tanaporn Clinic (a prize valued at 3,500 THB) is: Khun Aom Tyavee Chotirapinuntakul Winners should call MeTRO at +66 (0) 2939 5512-3, or email us at: editor@metrothailand.com to claim their prizes. Prizes must be claimed by December 15, 2013.

I’D LIKE TO RECEIVE 12 ISSUES OF METRO BUSINESS & LEISURE MAGAZINE, BEGINNING WITH ISSUE , FOR 300 THB (COVERS DELIVERY FEE). Payment Methods: Enclose is a cheque/money order for 300 THB payable to Tropical Hospitality Management Co., Ltd Money transfer of THB: Tropical Hospitality Management Co.,Ltd. Siam Commercial Bank, Tesco Lotus Wanghin Saving Account No. 402-161047-6 Please fax back slip at 02 939 5477 MY DETAIL: MS. MR. Mailing Address Postcode Home Phone Mobile E-Mail For more information on subscriptions, or for any other questions, please send e-mails to: editor@metrothailand.com, or call +66 (0)2 939 5512-3, (0)2 939 5488

bs No crib w e 56

Stay in touch by reading MeTRO Business & Leisure Magazine online at

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Metro GEN

Words by Gift Preekamol Chantaranijakorn Photos by Isinthorn Tangjeerawong

RAREDA Limpanonda Live with the Best of Everything Although under renovation, by a French interior designer, Panipa Hair Nails Beauty Wellness at Ekkamai is still the place we choose for our interview, as savvy businesswoman Prareda Limpanonda – or Khun Pim – sits down to answer a few questions. Part of the new generation of beauty specialists and entrepreneurs, her concept is “the best of the detail here at the salon – from products, to services, to location. Unsurprisingly, Panipa (named after Prareda’s mother) has been voted Hairworld’s most popular salon in Thailand, as well as receiving the “vote of excellence” in hair and beauty services from Bangkok Guide Magazine. The business itself was established 46 years ago, and there are 8 salons now spread out across Bangkok. Khun Panipa Pavanarit, Prareda’s mother and the founder/president of Thailand Intercoiffure Mondial (an international association promoting excellence, and high standards for hairdressers) has obviously taught her daughter well. Customers at the salon are taken care of by consummate hair professionals – trained to international standards – or beauty specialists who have received the best training and education. Apart from her gorgeous looks, her management smarts, and an overseas Master’s degree, this energetic working woman also possesses a clear and impressive attitude. “Although at Panipa we encourage women, through wellness, Pim goes on to say, “a real beautiful woman is a happy woman. Women with inner happiness and positive mindsets will

But it doesn’t stop there. This busy beauty also takes care of her grandfather’s properties in both Phuket and Bangkok. Her tip for managing all these monumental consultant in each realm. It’s the same with her concept of how to direct things at the salon. And this well-rounded woman seems to be able to manage every single thing in her life happily, thanks to her clear goal explains. “But you have to look past them.

character and her headstrong attitude, is the model of the real beautiful woman – both inside and out. Beauty is a happiness you can share, and in that aspect she is truly generous.

However her ‘beautiful world vision’ is part of it resides in overseeing the private art collection of Surind, Navakhun and Prareda Limpanonda. “Taking care of national treasures is also part of my talks about her family’s artistic treasures – a collection of more than 300 masterpieces from well-known Thai and international artists. And this happiness is one that she is more than willing to share to Thai people.

PANIPA Hair Nails Beauty Wellness IG: @panipabkk / www.panipa.com