ScandAsia Thailand - January 2011 by Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.

JAN 2011

Thailand

The Right to a Cool Kitchen ScandAsia.dk

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kvik. co.th Reco mme plint nded ret ail pr taps hs and ice w , app lianc orktop. for cabin Ex es, lig e hting cludes s ts, ink, and cabin et wall.

59.6 34,-

Danish design everyone can afford

Kvik is Danish kitchen design at surprisingly affordable prices. We season it with professional advice and design inspiration. In the end everything is added your favorite ﬂavor. Get ready to be excited…and take a look into the Kvik world of design where your dreams come true.

Kvik Bangkok: 59/2 Rama 9 Rd., Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310, Thailand Kvik Hua Hin: 35/21 Petchakasem Rd, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand 77110

Kvik is part of the international Swedish kitchen and bathroom concern Ballingslöv AB. Kvik kitchens are sold through more than 120 franchise stores in Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium and Spain.

everyone has the right to a cool kitchen

Coming Events www.flickr.com

Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Thailand ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Thailand. We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.

Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com

SSS Garden Party Date: SAT 22 January 2011 Location: The Norwegian Ambassador’s Residence, Sukhumvit Soi 38. The Scandinavian Society Siam (SSS) invites you and your spouse to the Annual Party on 22nd January 2011. This year the event will be held at the The Norwegian Ambassador’s Residence, Sukhumvit Soi 38. Scandinavian buffet and drinks (wine, beers, and soft drinks) will be provided. The member ticket is THB 1,500/person and THB 1,800/person for nonmember. Registration and payment must be made before 14 January 2011. Please sign up to Erika Bjørklund by email at erikabkk@gmail.com or call 081-554-6688 before 14 January 2011. Don’t miss this chance to meet up with your Scandinavian friends in Thailand.

Publisher: Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. 4/41-2 Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: news@scandasia.com

DanCham Legal Talk on Environmental Law in Thailand and the Map Ta Phut Case Date: TUE 18 January 2011 Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce will hold the Legal Talk on Environmental Law in Thailand and the Map Ta Phut Case. The venue and agenda will be announced shortly so please mark the date and follow up more information at www.dancham. or.th.

Swedish Association Meets the Embassy in Hua Hin

Editor-in-Chief: Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com

Date: FRI 27 January 2011 Location: 3 Girls Restaurant, Hua Hin Prachubkirikhan

Advertising: Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com

Pär Kågeby from the Royal Swedish Embassy in Bangkok will visit the Swedish Society in Hua Hin for the third year in a row. He will talk about his work, give some advice and answer questions. The association will introduce a new agenda “two minutes” which allow participants to talk about anything within two minutes. You can’t miss this chance to meet up with Swedish newcomers and old friends in Hua Hin. For more information, please visit www. svenskforeningenhuahin.se.

Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer: Supphathada Numamnuay supphathada@scandmedia.com Distribution: Pimjai Chaimongkol pimjai@scandmedia.com

SSS Amundsen Cup

Printing: Advanced Printing Services Co., Ltd.

Date: SUN 30 January 2011 Location:Vintage Golf Club

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

Thanakorn Ratanamaitrikiat

The Scandinavian Golf Thailand invites Scandinavian golfers to the SSS Tournament. The tournament will be held at the Vintage Golf Club on Sunday, 30 January 2011. (More info and sign up please visit www.zabaigolf.com and any inquiries please contact scandinaviangolf@yahoo.com.)

Farewell to Ambassador Sternberg

anish Thai Chamber of Commerce on 3 November 2010 hosted a Farewell Reception at the Grand Millenium for Ambassador HE Michael Sternberg and Mrs Waltraud Sternberg who were leaving Thailand by the end of the year. Members and friends of the Danish-Thai Chamber joined in to bid farewell to the Ambassador, meet old acquaintances and expand their network.

1. Cutting the cake from left President Peter E. Romhild, Mrs. Waltraud and Mr. Michael Sternberg. 2. President Peter Romhild, Executive Director Katrine Praest with Thomas G. Christiansen, Grand Milleniumm Hotel Sukhumvit. 3. Svend Aage and Hanne Bang Nielsen, LV Technology, with Gregers Moller, ScandMedia. 4. Founding President Poul Weber with Jan Dam Pedersen, formerly EAC, now Brenntag Ingredients 5. Tom Sorensen, Grant Thornton, Peter Seidl, Brenntag Ingredients Jorgen Lundbaek, Mermaid Safety Services, and Peter Vind. 6. Karsten Holm, Danish Energy Management and John Mugford, Meinhardt. 7. Peter Seidl, formerly EAC, now Brenntag Ingredients, and Zoltan Kosa, Santa Fe

Scandinavian Society Christmas Bazaar

he Scandinavian Society Siam (SSS) held its annual Christmas Bazaar at the British Club on the 28th November 2010. Some 75 visitors enjoyed the event and a bit of shopping at the six vendor tables. The Minister Lovisa Moller held the advent service while the bazaar was being set up in the Club backyard. When the participants came down, they shopped around through the stalls for gift from the Association Internationale Des Charités (AIC) or the leather purse shop, tasted cookies from Tentation Macaron homemade bakery, shopped glogg and more cookies from the Swedish Church, learned about oriental carpets from Alex' shop, and registered for subscription at the ScandAsia table. Most of the visitors also used the opportunity to have lunch with friends and newcomers from the restaurant of the British Club. For the kids, the "fiskedam" was probably the best stand at the event. Every time they tried to fish they won some candy and toys from behind the curtain.

1. H.E. Lennart Linner, Ambassador of Sweden, enjoyed shopping. 2. Poul Weber had a chat with SSS President Soren Wettendorff and Board Member Palle Borgselius. 3. Elina Koski found some delicacies at the booth of the Swedish Church. 4. Erika Bjorklund playing with the kids at the Fiskedam game. 5. Enjoying lunch in The British Club’s garden.

6 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

PIKKUJOULU - the Finnish Pre-Christmas Party

n the evening of November 26th, the Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) held the Pre-Christmas Party at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld. 110 participants could see the sparkling Bangkok city in the night from a birds-eye-view. All participants also enjoyed the Scandinavian Buffet line along with imported wine and Warsteiner beer. The kids had a great time with the Puppet Show from Finland presented by Juha Laukkanen, magic show, singing of Christmas songs, and games. Surprisingly the Santa Claus came with a big present bag! All the kids and even the adults were excited. After dinner, more giveaway presents were won by lucky participants who had bought lottery tickets.

1. From left: Lars Londal, Jukka Koivistoinen, Jukka Raikkonen, Ms. Santi Chatterjee, H.E. Ambassador Sirpa Maenpaa, Marc Spiegel, Esko Jaalinoja, Jouni Satola, and Kai Tuorila. 2. Finnair team: Orathai Angwitoonwanit (left), Nantiya Wongrojaree (middle), and Chantarat Vorapanya (right). 3. The new Executive Director of TFCC Khun Chumsri Sikaman. 4. From left: Tommi Kärnä, Thidaporn Seesaed and their daughter.

Viking Wheelers Sakhon Nakorn - Ubon Ratchathani Annual Tour

iking Wheelers organized its annual biking tour during the long weekend of 5th to 11th December 2010. Totally 500 km of riding started from Sakon Nakorn, That Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnatcharoen, and Ubon Ratchathani. The bikers met the friendly local people along the beautiful bumpy quiet country roads.

1. Claus Birk 2. Standing from Left in Mads Tranum (yellow shirt), Jesper Madsen and Bent Laasholt Sitting from left in the back, Claus Bergenfelt, Claus Birk and Morten Luxhoi, Sitting in front, the drivers, K. Vichien and K. Montri and Henrik Friis. 3. Mads Tranum 4. Henrik Friis 5. Bent Laasholt 6. Mads Tranum (left) and Bent Laasholdt (right)

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

ScandAsia News Brief New Thai Ambassador to Denmark Appointed

M Mr. Piyawat Niyomrerks has been appointed new Ambassador of Thailand to Denmark

r. Piyawat Niyomrerks has been appointed new Ambassador of Thailand to Denmark. He will succeed current Thai Ambassador in Copenhagen, Mrs. Cholchineepan Chiranond, who will be retiring from active service. Mr. Piyawat Niyomrerks is currently Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has previously been Honorary Consul in LA, USA, Ambassador of Thailand to Phnom Phen, Cambodia, and Ambassador of Thailand to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Norway’s Kings of Noise Bombed Bangkok

Thai Migrants Take HIV to Sweden

ore than half of all new diagnosed HIV cases in Sweden every year are among migrants from high-risk countries, with Thailand and Ethiopia being the two most common. Up until December 2009, a total of 8,935 HIV infection cases had been reported in Sweden. But last year alone a total of 486 new cases were reported of which more than half is related to migrants coming to Sweden. “A lot of them don’t know,” says Viveca Urwitz, the former head of the SMI’s HIV prevention unit, and emphasised that these migrants are not refugees, but have come to Sweden with a family or for work purposes.

John Hegre plays his guitar at Jazkamer’s noisy eventy in Bangkok.

n December 3, Norwegian constellation Jazkamer performed their ‘SO::ON - Machines’ show Nospace Gallery on Royal City Avenue (RCA). Lasse Marhaug and John Hegre, together ‘Jazkamer’ turned RCA into a noisy spectacle with their in-your-ear mix of experimentalism and manic pandemonium. An overwhelming performance included cutting guitar strings with metal, fiddling with small boxes and inexorable resonations ended with John Hegre bashing his guitar on the ground, only to end with the guitar and the hidden microphones inside it being smashed to utter, unrecognisable pieces. “The idea is to keep things exciting all the way, so in keeping with our eclectic tradition of making very different sounding records, each monthly album will cover the wide (non-) musical range, Jazkamer has become known for,” said Lasse Marhaug after the concert. Jazkamer, with 25 albums since 1998 in their discography, played for some 30 minutes before the chaotic ending of the show. The Norwegians have released one album in every month of 2010, a phenomenal effort. The duo visited Bangkok on a mini-tour of Southeast Asia that also included Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Herlufsholm Donates Toy to Pattaya Orphanage

erlufsholm Skole recently visited Pattaya Orphanage in Thailand and presented the children with 14 kg of toy collected among the students at the well-known Danish boarding school. The toys were delivered personally by Head Master Klaus Eusebius Jakobsen and six students from Herlufsholm. Mr. Jakobsen and the students were in Pattaya on the occasion of the World Conference in the international school organization Round Square held at Regents School in Pattaya. More than 700 students, teachers and leaders from around the world participated at the event which was presided over by His Majesty King Constantine and Queen AnneMarie.

8 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

Herlufsholm Skole participated in the event for the second time since it was last year accepted as a member, and is the only Scandinavian school that is member of Round Square (www. roundsquare.org). Round Square works for increased understanding and co-existence in the World based on the ideal of democracy, internationalism, leadership, environmental awareness, adventure and service. During the conference, the Head Master and students of Herlufsholm found time to visit Pattaya Orphanage and hand over the toys. According to Mr. Klaus Eusebius Jakobsen, it was a touching experience that in a good way created an awareness among the Danish students for the need to help the less privileged children at the Pattaya Orphanage.

Swede Awaits Death Sentence

t will be another five months before the witness hearings will begin in the case against Swedish Kim Roger Eriksson, charged with manufacturing, with the purpose of selling, “ice” amphetamine in Thailand. On Monday 29 November the Criminal Court of Bangkok set the dates of the witness hearings in the case to 14-17 June 2011. “I was not producing the drug in order to sell it,” Kim Roger Eriksson explained to ScandAsia in court. He also explained about the tense situation in prison where there is a lot of aggression. “When confronted by other prisoners, I have to stand up for myself otherwise i loose respect, but I also cannot be too aggressive. It is a balance,” Kim said. ScandAsia also spoke to the public prosecutor, and there is no doubt as to how they see the case. “If we win there is only one sentence possible - and that’s the death sentence,” the public prosecutor said.

Finns Find Gold in Phuket

Finnish company has opened its first Thailand branch in Phuket, giving jewelry owners a unique opportunity to cash in old gold – regardless of its karat rating. The ‘GoldToMoney’ shop, located at Chalong Circle, is not like all other gold shops. Instead of selling gold, they only buy it. The company specializes in buying broken or ”worn out” gold jewelry that has little ornamental value. The jewelry is exported from Phuket to Finland, where the gold is extracted, melted down and then refined into 24 karat ingot. Afterwards, the gold is sold to different industries. Branch Manager Jori Lassila says that ‘GoldToMoney’ pays more for the old jewelry than regular gold shops do. Here, they buy to melt it down, at other places they buy to resell it as jewelry. Being a specialist gold buyer, the company will buy gold of a purity as low as eight karats, below most gold shops in Thailand. The Phuket branch is the latest outlet for the international chain which also has stores in Finland, Sweden, France and Estonia.

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Kvik has a good name in Denmark for its design and quality. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply value for money

10 ScandAsia.Thailand â&#x20AC;˘ January 2011

The Right to a Cool Kitchen Everybody has the right to a cool kitchen. And in the new Kvik kitchen showroom on Petchakasem Road in Hua Hin you will be able to find exactly that. By Bjarne Wildau

he man behind the new shop in Hua Hin is the 51 year old Ole Frendesen. Back in Denmark, the dynamic businessman has sold Kvik kitchens from his own shop for more 14 years. Now he is looking forward to make the wide range of the Danish designed and Danish produced Kvik kitchens available for the vast number of foreigners who establish a new home in the area or for Thai people who appreciate the qualities of a western produced kitchen.

tumers what they are looking for, it is Ole Frendesen. “Depending on the season and the market situation we are selling between 500 and 800 kitchen per year in Odense, Ole Frendesen says. “Kvik has a good name in Denmark for its design and quality. It’s simply value for money”, he says. In Thailand, the Danish kitchen expert will serve potential costumers from his 200 m2 showroom in the very center of Hua Hin.

Made in Denmark

Ole Frendesen will establish a complete collection of Kvik products when the time is right but from the beginning the kitchens can be delivered within six weeks. And in a way you can say the Dane already started to exercise how to get the Kvik products into Thailand and installed in peoples homes. “We have already sold 57 kitchens to a housing development project here in Hua Hin. All the 23 containers full of the Danish produced kitchens have already arrived - or will do that pretty soon. And that is even before the showroom is opened.” In fact, all 57 kitchens will be installed in the housing project Oriental Beach Pearl, owned and managed by Flemming Sorensen,

Ole Frendesen already owned a house in Hua Hin before the idea of opening a Kvik franchise in Hua Hin came about. This made the decision to establish himself as a businessman in Thailand a lot easier. Now, with a house and a foot in both Thailand and Denmark he is ready to serve customers in both countries. The plan is to stay in Hua Hin from mid September to mid April and then stay the remaining six months in Denmark, more precisely in Odense where the famous Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen was born. In Denmark, Kvik is selling their kitchens and wardrobes under the slogan “Everybody has the right to a cool kitchen.” And if there is anyone who knows how to give the cos-

57 kitchens sold already

another active Danish businessman in Hua Hin. This gives Kvik kitchens in Hua Hin an instant start. But this is just a beginning. If things go Ole Frendesen’s way many more developers and consumers will soon nurse their own right to a cool kitchen.

First in Thailand Kvik in Hua Hin is set to open on 11 January and will then be the first Kvik shop outside Europe. In Scandinavia, Benelux and Spain, Kvik already has 118 stores. A few days later, another Kvik franchise shop is scheduled to open in Bangkok. The two stores are meant to serve as a foundation for further expansion on overseas markets. Kvik Executive Director, Carsten B. Andersen believes in Thailand.

“We see Thailand as the door to the East, and with the Kvik concept, we feel on safe ground – both due to the many foreigners living here but also because Thailand has a large and growing middle class with considerable purchasing power,” Carsten B. Andersen says. “We do not enter the market with inflated prices to signal highend. We will be at the same level as the local providers and instead turn on parameters such as fast delivery and beautiful Danish design, which in Thailand has a very high status,” he explains. “With the success we expect in Thailand, we can prepare for further expansion in the East and potentially in other overseas markets as well,” he says, adding that the group is already looking at a range of new markets.

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Weddings, Deaths and Everything In Between At the Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok, Counsellor and Consul Birgit Brantenberg is the problem solver. She describes her job as a mixed bag and though it is hard at times she loves the fact that she is there to help. By Thomas Lykke Pedersen

orwegian Embassy in Bangkok one early morning. Consul Birgit Brantenberg has hardly reached her desk, before the phone starts ringing. It is a fellow Norwegian desperately begging to borrow money for a huge hospital bill. After lunch, she conducts a marriage and just when she wants to go home, she receives information about a family father being tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. With 1800 registered Norwegians in Thailand and 150,000 visitors a year, being in charge of all consular tasks is quite a job, and everyday life is never boring or quiet for Counsellor Birgit Brantenberg. For three years now she has taken care of her countrymen and their requests and problems. As well as their deaths. But Birgit Brantenberg is never afraid of the job tasks, only challenged. “You have the whole scale of problems here and go through the entire range of emotions, and that’s what makes the job so special,” she says.

Bigger awareness When Birgit Brantenberg arrived at the Embassy as Counsellor in the summer of 2007, she found that Norwegians living in Thailand only had one chance a year to meet with Embassy representatives getting answers to what ever questions they may have. Today the Embassy invites Norwegians for coffee and cookies while providing all the information needed at yearly meetings in both Pattaya, Phuket, Cha-am and Udonthani. An initiative that Birgit Brantenberg has been the prime mover behind, and it has been somewhat of an eye opener to the Norwegians

who have realised what a great job the Embassy is doing. “In earlier years many people thought that counsellors and embassy people in general sat on their high horse only concerned with their own interests. Today we have a much stronger, mutual relationship with the Norwegian community,” she says. According to the 65-year-old Birgit Brantenberg, to whom the job as counsellor is the last one before retirement, there is a great and rare unity among the consular team of 11, making the job much more efficient. “We are so strong because we truly work together. We give each other ideas, input and inspiration. Something that is much needed if the Embassy’s tasks should run smoothly, but it’s definitely not a matter of course,” she says.

The hardest part Last year 53 Norwegians past away while in Thailand. Most of them elderly people living here, and dying of natural causes, but every year some also loose their lives in tragic ways such as traffic or diving accidents. No matter the cause, every time a Norwegian takes the last breath in Thailand and a life ends, a big part of Birgit Brantenberg’s job begins. The hardest part. The Counsellor takes care of all the practical arrangements concerning the deaths, from the shipping of caskets and urns to the contact with family members or friends. “The first thing we do is to let the relatives back in Norway know that we will handle all the practical stuff. They have enough on their mind in tough situations like this. It’s always hard telling someone that a family member has died, but we

12 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

meet immediate relief and appreciation for the things we do,” she says. “Most of the people dying, I have never even met, and it’s just so tragic that the first ‘acquaintance’ is under those circumstances. It’s a sad but necessary part of the job,” the Counsellor continues. Another equally tough and unfortunately recurrent issue is when Birgit Brantenberg has to deal with Norwegians threatening to take their own lives. Often the suicidal people are very desperate and have no one else to contact than the Embassy. But Birgit Brantenberg’s options are limited. “We are human beings so of course we are empathetic and concerned. But at the same time we let it be said that we cannot work as a pastoral carer or psychologists. We do not have the resources nor do we have the proper education.” Luckily in cases like these the Embassy has a close cooperation with the Seamen’s church and its Priest, Jan Olav Johannesen, in Pattaya.

Not the Bangkok oracle 24 hours a day, every day, people can contact the Norwegian embassy. A phone service has been set up, meaning that all calls to the counsellor office after 4 pm are automatically put through to a call centre managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo. Here, skilled workers asses if the matter can wait until the next morning or if it is truly urgent. In those rare cases, Birgit Brantenberg, or one of her colleagues, will see to it. The phone service has been nothing less than a gigantic improvement of the working conditions at the embassy. “Before we were never really ‘off’, even when we left the office. We had to have the emergency

phone with us at all times. People calling from Norway in the middle of the night not thinking about the time difference. Drunk travellers calling about a missed flight or whatever. No one should have to bring their job home like that, and it was a huge stress factor,” says Birgit Brantenberg and the relief in her voice is striking as she tells about the burden being lifted off her shoulders. Birgit Brantenberg loves the daily contact with Norwegians in Thailand and back in Scandinavia. But with the thousands of calls she receives every year, necessarily some are more frustrating than others. “Many call because they are planning a trip to Thailand month away, asking me this and that about the future. I wish I could tell them, that ‘I’m not the Bangkok oracle.’ Instead I have to tell them that they have to look for updates on our Embassy webpage,” she laughs out and continues to another example. During the crises in April and May people were dying in Bangkok and Norwegians worried about their safety. “When you, in the middle of a situation like that, receive a phone call from someone asking about transferring flights, or something else seeming completely irrelevant at the time, you have to count to ten and stay professional,” Birgit Brantenberg says. But at the same time the Norwegian Counsellor would not have it any other way. Sitting in the middle of the gathering point of all problems inspires her. “Solving problems means that you’re helping someone. That’s what I love about my job. The day I feel I don’t make a difference anymore, I will stop. Instantly,” Birgit Brantenberg says with determination.

Most of the people dying, I have never even met, and it’s just so tragic that the first ‘acquaintance’ is under those circumstances. It’s a sad but necessary part of the job.

The Norwegian Embassy has installed a new biometric scanner, where all applicants for passports and visas will have their fingerprints scanned.

Active with IKEA, SWE Erika Ng Björklund is the Vice President of SWEA Bangkok, she is a Supply Planner at IKEA Thailand, and she is a member of the Board of Scandinavian Society Siam. And then, of course, she has a family to take care of. Erika has indeed reasons to call herself a busy woman. By Søren Lykke Bülow

hen Erika Ng Björk When Erika Ng Björklund was 15 years old, her parents moved from Sweden to the Philippines. That was in 1995. After two years there, her father was transferred to Bangkok to work for the phone company Telia. “I hated Bangkok. I didn’t want to go there. I had just got to know the Philippines, and I had got a lot of new friends at the international high school. But he had to go, and so did I,” Erika says.

The beginning of an era This kicked off a lot of decisive chapters in the future of Erika’s life. In Bangkok she was enrolled at International School Bangkok, and after a couple of years there she graduated in 1999. Then she started at the I-TIM University - an international university for the hotel and tourism industry in Thailand’s capital. “This has led me to stay for ever since,” she says. The education at the I-TIM University meant that she now was able to work in the hotel and tourism management sector, which gave her

a job at the Four Seasons Hotel. But after a couple of years, she wanted to go in a completely different direction. “So I got a job at the Thai Military Hospital - the Queen Sirikit Military Hospital in Sattahip. Here, I worked as a coordinator and with military counselling.” This job might not really sound as one for a manager in the hotel and tourism industry, but nonetheless it was through her job at the Four Seasons Hotel’s Business Lounge that she got the new job offered. “There came a lot of doctors to the hotel, and at some point one actually asked me if I would be able to help at this place,” Erika says. And she took the job. She didn’t really consider it for long, she explains.

Gotta find something new “I like changes, and I can’t wait for new challenges. I like ‘new’,” she says. After two years at the hospital, she was offered another new turn in her professional life. The Swedish mega franchise IKEA offered Erika a job as Supply Planner in the cheramics department at the Trading Office

14 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

in Bangkok. “It has been great to be in the logistics part of IKEA. I like the way people work at IKEA. There’s a Swedish mentality which I’ve missed a bit around at the other places where I’ve worked,” she says. “There is just a lot of small elements in the way normal Thai’s work. And although the most of the employees at IKEA in Thailand are Thai, there are still big differences in the way the job and ways of working are build up. It’s more Scandinavian. I like that,” she says. “People take much more responsibility. It’s decisive for the entire work morale, I think.” Erika thinks that she will continue to work for IKEA for at long time. At this point she has been at the Swedish company for two years.

Still it is not enough Although Erika is now settled with her job at IKEA, this clearly has not been enough for her in the search for interesting things to do during her until now 13 years in Bangkok. Three years ago she started to get interested in being more active in the Swedish community in Thailand. “Troughout the ten years up

to my involvement in SWEA, I had learnt a lot about the Thai culture. I knew the language because I went to school here, I knew the ways of life because I’ve been here for so long, so I needed more activity in relation to my old life,” Erika says. From initially an ordinary board member, Erika is now the Vice President of SWEA Bangkok - the Swedish Women’s Educational Association International. “There’s something for everyone in SWEA, and it definitely has some very good networking opportunities,” she says. In SWEA, her main task is to coordinate and organize many of the events. She also has to coordinate world-wide gatherings together with the other “chapters” - as they call the different locations. “I like getting people together and socialize. It makes me experienced in terms of working with people, and then it definitely also helps me with the language.” Here she is referring to the Swedish language, which she very naturally speaks fluently. But she admits that her many years in Southeast Asia have been a factor in terms of her writing and grammar abilities.

EA, SSS

While Erika might have many things going on, she still underlines that she likes change. And in some years there might just come some even bigger changes than changing jobs and getting involved with organizations in her life. “I miss Sweden. I miss the nature, the family traditions, and sometimes I get jealous of my old friends from back home when I think about their way of life,” Erika explains. So she might go back to Sweden in some years. Moving to a place with more nature in Thailand is not really an option for her. “I know that I would get bored if I moved to Southern Thailand for instance. There is not enough interesting stuff going on for me there.” “But while I like change, I would still love to go with IKEA to Sweden and continue my job there. That would be the best way to do it, I think,” Erika says stating that her husband is willing to move with her to Sweden one day. “But one never knows. When I started in the hotel management business, I thought that was the career I wanted. And it’s been the same with my other things. I always change my mind, and I’ll be surprised if some of my thoughts haven’t changed within the next six months,” she says with a smile.

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Privately, Erika says it has been quite chaotic at times to try to combine the Thai and Scandinavian traditions in her and her husband’s mixed culture home. “I’ve been very insisting in getting Swedish culture inside our four walls. I want to give Justin the culture from both worlds,” she says. Justin is learning English from going to an international school, where he currently is in kindergarten. Erika is teaching him Swedish and her husband is teaching him Thai. “He is actually quite good at it all. I don’t know what exactly must be going on in his head, but he’s do-

Missing: Home

you

Two cultures in one house

Erika believes that Thailand has changed a lot during the past 13 years that she has been here. “It’s harder now than 13 years ago. I don’t know if it is the political despair that has had a bigger impact than expected, but the Thai’s seem more unhappy and grumpier than before,” she says. “As a ‘farang’ I experience more of this than before. I speak the language fluently, but still I often get treated more hostile by the regular Thais than just a few years ago,” she says - although she feels that it is even easier to be and live here now compared to 13 years ago. “The lifestyle is more easy-going and simple. The technology is quite modern and you can get everything in Thailand, which you couldn’t when I first came here.

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Meanwhile, Erika got married and gave birth to her now four year old son, Justin. But being busy with IKEA, SWEA, her husband Sam and little Justin is not enough. This summer, Erika decided to join the SSS - the Scandinavian Society Siam - to become a member of the board. “I wanted to change it. I’ve never really been a part of SSS, but that was mainly because the events were too expensive and the style was way too formal. I want to change it to a more relaxed organization that, at the same time, in a higher sense could cooperate with for instance SWEA,” Erika says about the SSS. The SSS has been under quite some change since its big 90 year anniversary last year. Only one person is left from the previous Board, and Erika believes that it is a good time for her to be engaged in this organization. “I am actually thinking about stepping a bit down from my work in SWEA. The thing is, you can only be in the board of SWEA for four years, and I’ve already been there for more than three. So I might just step a bit down,” she explains. “I’ve been on vacation for at couple of months, so I haven’t been able to attend board meetings at SSS, but now I’m slowly getting started, and it seems very nice,” she says.

A sadder Thailand

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ing fine,” she explains about Justin.

m om

“When I for instance chat with my mother she always complains about my Swedish grammar. So it’s nice to get trained a bit,” laughs Erika. One of Erika’s big achievements is the midsummer parties, which she misses from back home in Sweden.

59/307-8 Chaengwattana Soi 29, Pakkred, Nonthaburi 11120 Tel: 02 573 4597 to 8 Email: office@magicyears.ac.th

Visit us online at:

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January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

Dining Out - Not On Only two restaurants in the world serving Thai food have been awarded with the prestigious Michelin star. One of them belongs to Danish chef, Henrik Yde-Andersen and his partner Lertchai Treetawatchaiwong. The two chefs just opened another fine dining Thai restaurant in Bangkok. By Anya Palm

he door leading into Sra Bua is gargantuan. The Naga-shaped carved handle is the size of a grown man’s upper leg, but it fits the massive wooden door. When it opens, a discrete scent of lemongrass pours out and meets the guest – the first little detail that reveals that this restaurant is not only about food. It is about having a pleasurable dining experience. Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, located in the newly opened Siam Kempinski Hotel, serves Thai gourmet food. The arrival of the restaurant has spawned a bit of controversy in the culinary world, as the discussion about why both Thai restaurants recognized with a Michelin star has non-Thai chefs has peaked right about the time of the opening. Henrik Yde-Andersen, the Danish owner of Sra Bua, rather wants to talk about the restaurant, not stir up discussions. “We are NOT here to teach anyone how to make Thai food,” he says. “I offer my take on Thai cuisine and we want to be innovative and modern, but we never said, we were serving authentic Thai food. We are not serving authentic Thai food,” he says. The arrival of Sra Bua in Bangkok has been covered extensively in Thai media and Henrik Yde-Ander16 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

sen has explained the above point several times. But opening Thai cuisine restaurant in Bangkok is for him about something entirely different: “I think it is sad that the really exquisite gastronomical kitchens in Bangkok are either French or Italian. Why can’t the Thai kitchen be a fine dining experience?” Andersen questions. So, that is what Yde-Andersen and his partner Lertchai Treetawakchaiwong are aiming for. When the Naga-door closes, smiling, friendly waiters show the guests to their table through the tastefully decorated restaurant. The wooden walls are decorated with small chinks of silk – 13 different patterns representing the Karen-villages, who wove them for the restaurant. The colors are warm, gold and brown and the music is a constant, soothing loungy sound tapestry. There is just one menu, which consists of 19 small dishes, coming in a constant stream. The chefs behind Sra Bua are both sommeliers, so with each of the main courses come a glass of wine, perfectly suited to that specific dish, presented by the discreet, perfect-English-speaking waiters. The opportunity to give that experience to people is part of the reason Yde-Andersen and Treetawakchaiwong accepted the offer of running Sra Bua.

Only About Food I offer my take on Thai cuisine and we want to be innovative and modern, but we never said, we were serving authentic Thai food. We are not serving authentic Thai food

Doubted they would say yes In Denmark, the two chefs are already busy with running the Michelin-awarded Kiin Kiin and four other restaurants. So when the offer of managing Sra Bua came, they were reluctant to accept it. Making Thai food in Bangkok seemed like a suicidal mission and they were not familiar with the people behind the hotel chain. “We thought about it for about four months. But when we saw the budget and the opportunities we had with that, we accepted. I mean, 15 chefs for 30 guests, think about what you can do with that! You can reach a whole new level,” he says. None of them are staying permanently in Thailand, though. Every three months, Sra Bua presents a new menu, so they will be there to work on that. The rest of the time, Yde-Andersen and Lertchai Treetawakchaiwat are in Denmark. “We considered that. In Copenhagen, I am there to greet the customers and to help out every day, so the thought of running a restaurant without being present at all times was unfamiliar. But the Thai waiters are high quality and they know how to make the guest feel comfortable,” Yde-Andersen says.

Loves Thai street food The food arrives quickly. “Nipplings” are served in three lotus shaped

bowls, and quickly after having nippled on Soy Meringue Roasted Cashews, Kefir Lime Leaf Scented Lotus Root and Prawn Tapioka with Chili Dip, the “street cooking” arrives. A waiter comes to the table with a plate covered with a lid and while revealing the content of the plate, a cloud of steam appears and evaporates into the air above the table. That is a nod to the street cooking atmosphere, Yde-Andersen says. On the plate is Moo Palo, Pork Crackling with Nam Prik Num and other well-known Thai dishes. ”I love the Thai street cooking. The best meal you can get in Bangkok is a soup they make at a nameless wagon on soi 21 – sitting on a blue plastic chair at 3 am and eating that…nothing beats that,” he says. Lerchai Treewatakchaiwat agrees. Where Henrik Yde-Andersen has the liberty of not being brought up with Thai food, and therefore can experiment with it without having any notion of how it is done “right”, Lertchai recognizes the Thai flavor in the food he makes at Sra Bua. To him, it is important that Thai people enjoy the new take on their native kitchen. “When the Thai people come to eat here, I am excited about it. Usually, they say, they can’t see that this is Thai food – but when they

taste it, they recognize it,” Lerchai Treewatakchaiwat says.

Tourist trap coconut soup Yde Andersen fell in love with Thailand when he was backpacking his way up from Malaysia back in 2000. At a touristy, tacky place in Krabi, he ordered a Tom Kha Gai and had an epiphany. “It was completely…it was sour, it was spicy and sweet..I immediately ordered all the dishes on the card, he says. After that, he stayed with the restaurant for two years and cooked with them for the tourists in Krabi. Being back in the country and cooking Thai food means that he can get the right ingredients fast and fresh.

“We make everything from the bottom. Even the shrimp chips,” he says. It is all about getting the right experience and everything has to be spot on, every little detail from the décor, the smell, the sound and the taste. It all has to work together. For dessert, a waiter brings in a raised white plate on a platter with a small scoop of Pineapple Ginger Icecream on it. In her right hand, she has a genie-like kettle from which she pours what appears to be smoke beneath the plate. “Nitrogen. To keep it cold”, she says, while the temperature around the plate instantly drops several degrees. Dining at Sra Bua is indeed not only about the food.

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

Koh Chang

‘The Elephant Island’ - as Koh Chang means - is Thailand’s second largest island. But comparing this island to the biggest one in the country, Phuket, makes no sense. It makes no sense at all. By Søren Lykke Bülow Photo by The Chill

magine long, white, sandy beaches. Imagine a good selection of birds, snakes, deers and the occasional elephant. Imagine enjoying life in the shadow of a coconut palm in the half deserted bathing areas. Does it sound good? The pleasures are not over yet. Koh Chang and its vicinity are well known as great places for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking. It is part of the attraction that the islands really was not ‘discovered’ as a tourist destination until 2000. The island is located on the east coast of Thailand 310 kilometers away from Bangkok – right next to 18 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

Combodia. ‘The Elephant Island’ is named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous here. Koh Chang will keep you busy with activities from your eager arrival till your reluctant departure. Waterfalls, thriving and stunning coral reefs and beautiful rainforest trips, beaches, spas and nightlife and unforgettable meals. The history of the islands speaks for itself. With a population of a bit more than 5,000 people, Koh Chang was an unsettled island in the past. And prior to World War II, it was virtually unknown. But in

How to get there January 1941, during the Japanese occupation of Thailand, the Thai Navy fought the French in a battle in the waters to the south-east of Ko Chang. It was the French who were the victors after the Thai naval ship was sunk. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Battle of Koh Changâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; became known world wide. Since then, much has happened, but the topography of the island with high mountains and complex stone cliffs is still half-deserted when comparing the place to Phuket or Koh Samui. Hat Sai Khao, Hat Kai Mook and Hat Ta Nam on the west coast attract most tourists, while the village

of Laem Bang Bao in the south coast is also a favored destination. The island is part of the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park and is one of the few places with virgin forest left in Thailand. When planning a trip to Koh Chang, the cool high season between November and February is the molst popular. March to May are roasting hot, and the rainy season from June to October provides 4,000 millimetres of rain in average. This also has its affect on the number of guesthouses available at the island in the low season.

oh Chang is 315 kilometres away from Bangkok, based in the province of Trat. With the increasing interest in the area with islands like Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak, the possibilities of getting to Koh Chang are becoming more and more. If you arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, you will have several possibilities to choose from. Take a flight to the new aiport in Trat, it only takes around 45 minutes. From here, you can take a minibus or a taxi to get to the ferry at Laem Ngop. Another possibility is to take an airconditioned bus og minivan from Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai on Sukhumvit Road. From here, you can get a return ticket to Trat ranging from 147 to 420 THB. From the Trat Bus Terminal, take a minibus or a taxi to the ferry. If you are a good negotiater and want to go the entire way in a taxi, it might be possible to get to Koh Chang for as little as 2,500 THB one way. Bangkok Airways also fly to Trat from Phuket and Koh Samui. The ferries to Koh Chang leave from one of three piers every 30 minutes from 7am to 7pm. Motorcycle or car is free, foot passengers are charged.

Where to Eat?

oh Chang is similar to the rest of Thailand when it comes to food. There are many restaurants on any given beach open both daytime and evening. Especially at White Sands Beach many restaurants and bars are concentrated. The beaches of Koh Chang are all dotted with restaurants dishing up some delicious seafood as well as offering romantic evening views. And don’t forget to try Koh Chang’s very own wine which comes in a variety of fruity flavors including: mangosteen, pineapple and grape.

Rock Sand Resort

ne of the most popular restaurants at Koh Chang is the one at Rock Sand Resort. With a terrace right over the sea, you are able to sit and eat while you literally are placed right above the water. This is one of the places to eat at the north of White Sand Beach. Especially the sunset view is exquisit and well appreciated.

Papa Deli Bakery

any residents on Koh Chang will agree that Papa Deli on Kai Bae Beach is the best bakery on Koh Chang. Papa deli & bakery offers fresh baguette, rye bread, croissant, homemade toast bread, pizza; fresh coffee and much more. For cheese lover, think of Swiss Gruyere, Gouda, Mild Cheddar, Feta, Cream Cheese. It’s all there at Papa’s. The bakery opens at 8 o?clock in the morning with crispy baguette sandwiches and fresh whole grain bread. Try out the baguette sandwich with gouda and spicy Italian salami. Also delicious are their baguettes with salad, cucumber, fresh pepper, tomato and your choice of mustard or mayonaise. Tel. +66(0) 87 941 6511

20 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

Where to Stay?

Amari Emerald Cove Resort

f you want luxury, beautiful rooms and an amazing garden with pool, Amari Emerald Cove Resort is a perfect place to go. A great location in King Amphur makes this the most popular hotel in Koh Chang. The four star hotel will provide spacious rooms and helpful staff, and the inhouse restaurant cooks great food. If you are travelling to Koh Chang as a couple, this will make your trip worth it. Rates: From around 4,000-15,000 THB

Kai Bae Garden Resort

O Paradise Palms Resort

f the genuine feeling of paradise is needed, then Paradise Palms Resort is just the place. This tiny resort is only have a few bungalows, but the owners – Matt and Tara – make you feel at home. With a beautiful garden and a great beachfront, the resort is only a few minutes taxi- or motorbike ride from nightlife or idyllic beaches and bays. This place is a real escape from the world – a beautiful and friendly hidden gem. Rates: From 1,499 THB

ne of the most popular hotels at Koh Chang is the Kai Bae Garden Resort. From here, it is easy to go out in the evening, and with one of the wonderful poolside rooms, a dream comes true: You can actually dive directly from the room and down in to the deep pool. This hotel is well run and set in a garden setting in the center of Kai Bae. If you want to know what to do or where to go, just ask the owner. Rates: From 1,140-2,100 THB

Saigars Bungalows

f you are looking for an inexpensive deal, then book a bungalow at Saigars Bungalows. If you enjoy simple life, no stress, wonderful food, good conversation, wonderful smiles and want to engulf yourself in culture, this is the place. Saigar, the owner, will provide all the help needed. From here, you can easily go to Laem Chay Chet and the White Sands beaches, so everything is nearby. Saigar will cook you all the Thai food you like. Air condition and fan available. Rates: 600 THB

22 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

Ko Kut Ao Phrao Beach Resort Relax and feel at home. Our house is your house! Ko Kut Ao Phrao Beach Resort 45/37, Tesaban 5 R, Muang, Trat 23000, Thailand Tel : +66 (0) 3952-5211-2, 08-9115-5211 Fax : +66 (0) 3952-5213 E-mail : officekokut@gmail.com Website : www.kokut.com

What to Do?

Tree Top Adventure Park

f you are in to adventures in the jungle, maybe Koh Changâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tree Top Adventure Park is your thing. With more than 30 platforms in the top of trees around the jungle, this must be the ultimate opportunity to find your inner Tarzan. Huge trees and breathtaking views will let you experience a sensation never felt before. From tree to tree, you balance yourself by rope, bridges, Tarzan swings, flying skateboards, tight rope walk and giant zip lines. Here you have the opportunity to experience the jungle from the sky instead of the ground. Treetopadventurepark.com

24 ScandAsia.Thailand â&#x20AC;˘ January 2011

Kayaking

ith beautiful water and breathtaking surroundings, Koh Chang is a perfect place to kayak. Especially with loads of small paradise islands around. Go for a short trip, go for a longer trip, take a day trip or how about a multi-day expedition? Kayak Chang Day Tours British qualified guides run this Kayak sightseeing tour company. They offer everything from day trips to trips lasting several days, and their equipment is modern and professional. Sail 11 kilometres in four hours, or go for visits on small islands or snorkelling at amazing coral reefs. KayakChang.com

Amber Sands --- BEACH RESORT ---

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Trekking

ith loads of jungle and cliffs, the opportunities are many when it comes to trekking at Koh Chang. Walk with a Ranger from the Tan Mayorn Waterfall to the KhlongPlu Waterfall. It will take you eight to ten hours, but you will trek through some amazing nature. Or do a regular trek in the jungle with one of the many experienced and well-English-speaking guides at the island. Take a one day trip or a multi-day trip. If you can get away from the white sandy beaches and crystal clear water – that is. Perhaps you would like to do an Elephant Trek? Well, almost anything is possible for the adventurous visitor to Koh Chang.

A family-owned and managed boutique style resort on an almost deserted beach. With only 8 air conditioned chalets we offer friendly hospitality, personal service and attention to detail. www.ambersandsbeachresort.com julian@ambersandsbeachresort.com Tel: +66 (0) 3958 6177 or +66 (0) 8 2212 0698

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 25

Europe for Fun, Thailand for Free (From left to right) Mr. Chaiyavut Chomsakorn (3rd left), Sales & Marketing Manager Thailand & Mekong Region, Mr. Florian Preuss Manager Thailand and Mekong Region, Etihad Airways, Mr. Peter Wiesner, Senior Vice President Marketing, M.L. Nandhika Varavarn, Vice President - Corporate Communications, Mr. Prote Setsuwan, Vice President - Marketing, Bangkok Airways

tihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, together with its code-share partner, Bangkok Airways, Asia’s Boutique Airline, is offering a special benefit for its guests in the “Europe for Fun, Thailand for Free!” campaign. Etihad guests travelling return from Bangkok to Europe via Abu Dhabi can now earn a free return ticket on Bangkok Airways to any of the Boutique Airline’s destinations in Thailand. Only applicable taxes, surcharges and/or fees listed on the ticket will have to be paid extra Etihad guests traveling to Europe in Coral Economy class will earn enough miles to redeem a free return ticket on Bangkok Airways to one of its popular Thai destinations in its domestic network such as Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi

and Phuket. New members enrolling in the Guest programme and travelling in Pearl Business class will earn enough miles to redeem two free domestic tickets. Etohad's campaign is one of the most generous mileage redemption opportunities available in Thailand, and provides passengers with a valuable and instantly-redeemable bonus for every ticket purchased to Europe - starting from only THB29,000 in Coral Economy Class and THB87,000 in Pearl Business Class. European destinations include Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Manchester, Milan, Munich and Paris. Once guests have completed travel and earned Etihad Guest Miles, miles can be redeemed for the Bangkok Airways tickets by contacting the Etihad Guest Service Centre.

“Europe for Fun, Thailand for Free!” is just one of the many benefits Etihad and Bangkok Airways offer guests in Thailand. Through a code-share agreement signed in 2009, Etihad passengers enjoy seamless connectivity onto Bangkok Airways services, and can also earn guest miles on Bangkok Airways scheduled flights. Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to 64 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. For reservations and information, please contact your travel agent, or call Etihad Airways at 02 253 0099 or BKKTKT@etihad.ae

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he 40 feet Richmond I is pure luxury. Its open and airy interior that can comfortably accommodate up to eight people, with four two-man berths, two bathrooms, a living/ dining area and fully-equipped kitchen, plus an iPod-ready music system. The galley is located on the port side, leaving ample space for the dining setting -- perfect for an intimate dinner of up to eight people. Guests can either captain Richmond I themselves or allow the catamartan's regular skipper to take them on a tour across the emerald waters of Phuket, enjoying a refreshing morning cruise or a fabulous day trip exploring the beauty of the Andaman Sea. Or take an overnight journey to stunning Phang Nga Bay or the Phi Phi Islands for a truly unforgettable experience. This cruising package on Richmond I is available from now until April 30, 2011. See the rates in the table. The price includes professional

skipper, cook & hostess, meals, bed linen and towels, dinghy with outboard engine, snorkeling masks, lifejackets, fishing gear and round trip van transfer to/from Po Pier. Minimum 4 passengers are required for Morning Cruise, Afternoon Cruise and Evening Cruise. The Residence Phuket by Lantern Hotels & Resorts is a Pool Villa paradise and only a short walk from Bangtao beach, the most sought after beach in all of Phuket. A wide range of recreational activities are available at the resort, including blissful spa treatments at Hatakarn Spa. Just heavenly. For more information & reservations, please contact our reservations department Tel. 076 271 650-5, Email rsvn.phuket@lanternhotelsresorts. com or visit www.lanternhotelsresorts.com or contact Vipasiri Napawongdee (Ms.), Director of PR & Marketing Communications Email: lek@invisionhospitality.com

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Guiding Through the Per Sundberg works for the Swedish culture & adventure tour agency TEMA Resor. When a group of Scandinavians need a special guide, he is the man they call. Increasingly, these groups are business people who need a guiding hand doing business in Far East Asia – be it in Thailand, where he lives, or in Japan or China. By Bjarne Wildau

I will typically stay together with the group, small or big, from they arrive at the destination and until they are leaving the country or area again”, says Per Sundberg, who enjoys helping small companies going on an incentive tour, maybe to visit their factory in Guangdong or somewhere else. 28 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

Culture Shocks

t’s very satisfying to share information about Asian cultures to customers, who can have a direct use of it in their business, maybe the very same day, or the following week.” Per Sundberg, 45, explains. “It gives me an almost instant feedback of how much I am able to help the people I have been requested to help.” So how is he is helping his costumers, which is the term Per prefers to use for his travel companions. “The travel in it self is often arranged from Sweden. Maybe I have been consulted during the preparations. But I will typically stay together with the group, small or big, from they arrive at the destination and until they are leaving the country or area again”, say Per Sundberg The customers can be small companies going on an incentive tour, maybe to visit their factory in Guangdong or somewhere else. “Recently I had a wonderful time with a group of 20 dentists I helped around in Beijing for two whole weeks. Currently, Japan is the busiest country for me. But that can quickly change,” the Swedish culture expert adds. Among other thing he teaches his clients when to give presents, how to exchange name cards, when to sit, when to get up. Simple but important pieces of advice.

A desire to learn “My clients bring a desire with them from Sweden or other countries. When they touch down they are open minded visitors and for me positive counter partners. They want to learn. Normally anything you say that can help people to handle a cultural situation will be accepted. People will be thankful for the advice or help”, says Per. One of the culture differences is the western busines attitude: You

Per Sundberg has been living in Thailand for some years with his Thai wife Sakul from Bangkok, and the couple’s three year old son Alexander.

arrive Sunday, say ‘Hallo - how are you!’ Monday morning, and then you expect to have the contract signed at the latest by Wednesday in order to be back behind your desk in Scandinavia Friday morning. “I just mention this kind of advice in China. Relation building and trust first. Money comes later. But I have never been directly involved in the procedure of signing contracts”. Tax, welfare, hugging monks He realizes that people very often love to hear about daily life among the people in the culture they are visiting, and compare what it looks like back home in Scandinavia. For instance everything related to taxes or social welfare is always of great interest. The same goes for healthcare and education, and questions often relate to that. “I try to share my experiences from living and working in Asia in what I hope is a personal way. It’s not just about telling a lot of information from a fact sheet but to introduce and make people feel at ease in the culture they visit.” It’s always a challenge to be ahead of potential misunderstanding. Sometimes, there is just not enough time to mention all the pitfalls. “I remember one lady that went up to a Thai monk, draped herself on his left shoulder and told him to look into the camera! She just wanted a picture with herself and the monk,” Per explains. It takes time to explain about avoiding direct confrontations, face loss, why people smile etc. “But at the same time these challenges are the most fascinating things about my job as a culture guide. Our cultures and their differences”, says Per.

Taiwan in 1995 Per has a university background with studies in Humanities such as History, Religion, Philosophy and Literature. His Asian experience started in Taiwan 1995. Apart from Taiwan, Per has lived in Japan, China and finally settled in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his lovely Thai wife Sakul from Bangkok, and the couple’s three year old son, Alexander. Over the years, Per has developed a great understanding of the cultures and the people in the re-

gion. He is also working part time writing short travel stories for travel magazines. The last 5 years Per Sundberg has also shared his views on Asia in a much appreciated blog, “Fotavtryck i Asien”/”Foot prints in Asia” (in Swedish) for people with a keen interest in Asia. His career in the travel industry started at a time when he felt he simply had to get out of Sweden. He wanted to go as far East as possible. He wrote to the Swedish Tema tours. Asked them about a guide job in China. Soon he got a straight but positive answer. They never let rookies start in China. It was far too difficult. But if he was interested he could start in Taiwan. When? As soon as possible! The first trip went well. The same did the next, and the next. All of a sudden about one year later, it was Tema Tours who called Per and asked him if he wanted to go to China. Tema Tours is still Per Sundberg’s main employer. But when his calendar is empty he is always ready for a new challenge. “I worked for instance as a facilitator for the fast growing and expanding Swedish sports clothes company Newbody during the summer. That was fascinating,” Per mentions.

Northernrose.asia In Chiang Mai, in the same complex where Per Sundberg lives, there is another Swede, Jan Friman. The two started playing tennis together at the court around the corner. Jan actually retired as a 40+ business man in Sweden. But during the tennis sessions and especially after the game it became clear that he was ready for more than just using the Internet for trading. So the two tennis partners decided to do something together. Something sustainable, something that could promote Chiang Mai. “A lot of people come up here. But there is space for many more. Our website northernrose.asia has been open for a while. It’s still not really ready and that will take years. But at least we have something to look forward to. A project we work on whenever we have the time.”

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 29

A Dream L Comes True

et’s start with Mack´s family name London. Everybody ask him about it anyway - so why shouldn’t we? “My grand parents came to Norway from Lithuania in 1890. They were Jew’s and had the name Londonowich, and soon after their arrival they changed the family name from Londonowich to London,” Mack London explains. When Mack was born into the London clan thyey had come a long way. They owned among others the biggest scrap metal company and car brokerage in Norway, namely London Brothers Metal company.

During his entire life as a creative and efficient businessman, Mack London has done his best to keep his childhood dream from disturbing his life. But not anymore. Eight years after he opened the company Cha Am Property he has introduced a new menu to his Scandic Bar - and bought him self a chef uniform! By Bjarne Wildau

30 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

From scrap to food Almost 50 years later Mack is sitting in his Scandic Bar and restaurant in his chef uniform enjoying his success in creating the most popular social meeting place in Cha Am less than three hours from Bangkok. “While I was young I worked in the family company. Later I changed to textile and clothes. And from there I got into into clothes for

children from 0 to 14 years. Under the “Filiokus” brand we had a yearly turnover of more than 40 Mill Norwegian kroner,” Mack recalls. All the clothes were produced in Asia and slowly but surely Mack got more and more reasons to consider a permanent move to Thailand. The final straw was when he met his wife Yamras in the hotel where he stayed. At first Mack started a new career in Thailand in his previous line of textiles and clothes. But after 18 month trying his best it was time to come up with a new idea.

One ad - 300 deals The Norwegian businessman placed a real estate advertisement in one of the biggest Oslo newspapers. “It was a very small ad. The price was 240 Norwegian kronor, but I got 180 replies. Over the next few years we sold more than 300 homes in Thailand, perhaps 90% of them to Norwegians,” Mack tells. In many ways you can say that the development has been with Mack London. While everything

got more and more expensive in countries like Spain and Portugal the plane tickets to Thailand became cheaper and cheaper. And when the Norwegian guest landed in Thailand the property was at least 50% cheaper than similar property in Spain and Portugal.

Most popular destination Three years in a row Norwegian travel reporters have awarded the land of smiles the best and most popular overseas destination. “Thailand is much more than sex tourism. Especially in Cha-Am and Hua Hin. People are amazed about the relaxed lifestyle in ChaAm and Hua-Hin,” Mack says. ”One thing is to check property for sale in Thailand on a website or at an exhibition in Norway – to see it for real is quite another. That’s why we arrange trips for potential buyers from Norway to Thailand,” says Mack London.

Arranging trips If you want to travel on your own or maybe even combine the visit with a

holiday in Thailand Mack and his agent knut@thaieiendom.com will be more than glad to help you with tickets, hotel reservations etc etc. I you need a room Mack has already several excellent rooms for rent in Cha-Am. While selling one property unit after the other it was obvious that many of the buyers needed help to service their properties while they were in Norway. That is something Mack can also help with. “We started “Europe Far East Company”. It’s my wife who takes care of it and we have almost 30 properties we service with renovation, security and much more.”

Founded a Norwegian association The childhood dream of being a chef became a reality when Mack London opened a bar where many of the guest were the same people who had seen his first small ad in the Oslo newspaper more than eight years ago. In 2008, Mack London founded the Norwegian Society “Norse Flag” in Cha Am. The name was later changed to Cha Am Skandinavisk Velforening.

“I was the president until I stepped down in 2009. At that time at least half of the members were my costumers from Cha-Am Property,” Mack London says. Mack had hardly stepped down before he took over another important Norwegian position covering not only Cha-Am but the entire Thailand. “I became the Chairman of the17. Mai-komiteen in Bangkok of which I had been a board member for two years.” Mack is already frequently in Bangkok on business as he is also running Bangkok Check Inn making visa for www.visaforschengen. com helping countrymen getting a visa for their wife or girlfriend.

Scandic Bar Scandic Bar is a well decorated bar with live music at least one time per week. Another important activity is dart. “Dart is very important for Scandic Bar and for our guest. We have two teams in the Dart League , and I am ranked number

four in Cha- Am among the Dart players,” says Mack who is looking forward to more time in the Scandic Bar Kitchen. When he and his wife Yamras have the time they are together with their two small children. “Dart is very important for Scandic Bar and for our guest. We have two teams in the Dart League , and I am ranked number four in Cha-Am among the Dart players”, says Mack who is looking forward to more time in the Scandic Bar Kitchen. The dream of being a chef became alive when Mack London opened a bar, and many of the guest were the same people who had seen the first property ad he inserted in the Oslo newspaper more than eight years ago. By chance the Norwegian businessman placed an advertisement in one of the biggest Oslo newspapers. “It was a very small ad. The price was 240 Norwegian kronor, and I got 180 replies. Over some years we sold more than 300 units, perhaps 90 % to Norwegians”.

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A Cabinet Full of

Kitchens. This is what Cabinet has been focused on since the beginning in 1996. But nowadays, Janneric and his staff increasingly provide turnkey solutions, and as the latest development, they even deliver the house itself.

Since Janneric Hogane and his wife Apinya started the first Cabinet shop in Bangkok in the middle of the Asian financial crisis in 1997, they have gone from success to success. Today the Cabinet Showroom in Hua Hin is popular among the increasing number of customers. By Bjarne Wildau

32 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

ustomers entering the show room of The Cabinet Interior Design Co., Ltd. in Hua Hin will find everything related to modern houses – from turnkey kitchens to sofas or lamps. Recently, Swedish Janneric Hogane and his wife Apinya, who founded Cabinet together 15 years ago, have also made it possible to order a turnkey house. ”We have just finished our first order of four turnkey houses in four months. And more houses are to come,” Janneric Hogane says without revealing more details. If you know his background you will understand where all this creativity and business development comes from. That is how he has been handling his entire life. When Janneric in 1991 decided to move to Thailand, he was running a moose slaughter house and had several sawmills back in Sweden. But then the financial crisis kicked in.

and clothes for the Swedish market,” he recalls. “At the same time, I imported Swedish wood to furniture manufacturers and houses. Later, I met a Thai businessman who ran eight furniture shops. I managed the shop and as a sort of bonus I met my wife Apinya,” Janneric Hogane laughs. Apinya and Jannic opened their first Cabinet shop at Second Square in Bangkok in 1996. “From day one, the focus was on turnkey kitchens. We were three people, my wife, one employee and myself. We could hardly get any smaller. And when the crisis hit the entire of Asia in August 1997, we opened a new shop in Hua Hin.” “At that time, everyone was defensive. Others were firing staff, closing branches and so on. People thought we were downright crazy when we opened the doors to our shop here in Hua Hin,” he remembers. The first Hua Hin shop was 50 m2 compared to the current 1400 m2.

First shop in Second Square

A Scandinavian centre

“Here in Thailand I went straight to China Town and looking for shoes

Janneric cannot really put a finger on why Hua Hin has had such a huge

Opportunities success among Swedes and other Scandinavian nationalities. “Hua Hin has got a very good reputation. A safe place in Thailand where families can have an excellent holiday away from the daily Scandinavian rat race.” In the beginning, the developments were concentrated in Hua Hin. While the land prices skyrocketed in Hua Hin, the developers found affordable land further south. Today, more than 5,000 Swedes alone spend more than two months in Greater Hua Hin - including Phranburi and Huay Yang, where they even have their own Swedish School.

of 30 people produce more than a thousand kitchens per year,” Janneric says. The founders – and the customers - of Cabinet have one big advantage from the company running their own factory. “We are flexible towards our costumers. If some details has to be changed it just takes a phone call – and the job will be done,” says Janneric, who has seen three or four competitors go down during the last year or so. And while many people in the kitchen and furniture business are worried because of the arrival of another Swedish furniture specialist, IKEA, the owner of Cabinet does not let it get to his head. “There are several Thai chains specialized in furniture and other products close to the IKEA style. But our business is completely different. We are selling service, including kitchens and furniture. The language

Own kitchen factory “We used to buy most of the kitchens from the same Thai factory. But when more and more kitchens were sold, we started to produce the kitchens ourselves. Today, we have our own factory where a staff

Kitchens

300 kitchens to one customer “It’s very convenient to sell 300 kitchens to one customer. We can plan the production and it simply takes lesser staff and less of everything. We have delivered more than 700 kitchens to projects in Mae Thim and Ban Cang. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to sell 300 kitchens to 300 different costumers. As a matter of fact, it’s two different kinds of businesses”, Janneric Hogane says. That statement can be followed

Furniture

up by more news about the latest development, the latest “dish” cooked by the Swedish kitchen specialist. “Over the years, we have done loads of renovations. And very often, when you deliver turnkey solutions ,you also have to move a wall or two. We had the engineers, the designers and the craftsmen employed already, when we were asked to build and deliver four turnkey houses within the timeframe of four months,” says Janneric, who had to start up a new company for that task - the CID Construction Co., Ltd. CID stands for Cabinet Interior Design. Janneric and his wife did the first four turnkey houses with Apinya playing the largets role of the two. At the moment they cannot say what will happen in the future. But there is for sure more to follow the first four turnkey houses.

Renovations

Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Navigation

Interior Design/Build

of Cabinet is English. All of our staff is able to service our customers in English. And we follow the orders from when the customer enters our Kitchen and furniture centre until the order is executed and delivered.” While the retail Show Room in Hua Hin is the backbone of the business, the developers get a bigger and bigger share of the production from their own factory.

Ofﬁces

We design and build ofﬁces and other interior design solutions to your exact speciﬁcations.

Welcome to the CABINET Interior Design the CABINET has successfully worked with Thai and foreign clients since 1996 and is one of the most experienced and competent turnkey interior design solution providers in Thailand. Head Ofﬁce: 900/88 Country Villa Sri Nakarin Rd., Pravet Bangkok 10260 Tel 0 2322 2202 Fax 0 2720 2928

www.thecabinet.co.th info@thecabinet.co.th

Mon-Sat 09.00-18.00

Showroom Hua Hin: 12/16 Petchkasem Rd. (Next to the Shell station) Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110 Tel 0 3250 2290 Fax 0 3251 3806

January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 33

Schneider-Electric:

Wiser Electric Installations That little thing on the wall. On all of your walls. In all houses. In all of the world. The switch. Couldn’t we make it more intelligent?

Think of the convenience of turning every light off from the comfort of your bedside light switch and set lights to half brightness overnight to minimise glare. Forget going around your house and turning off all the lights. Simply press your “Goodnight” button on you remote (or switch next to your bed) and all lights will fade off. Need to get up during a night? Hit another button to turn on lights dimmed to half brightness so as to not disturb the rest of the household; perfect for getting ready for that early morning flight or feeding the baby in the early hours.

By Søren Lykke Bülow

they do not ruin the entire design of your living room,” Marco Corti says.

rench company SchneiderElectric says yes, and they have at the same time the solution for at greener and more beautiful future. ”The thing is that switches are almost always ugly and in no way fit in to the interior of a new or renovated house,” says Marco Corti, Commercial Director at SchneiderElectric in Thailand. When people are building orrenovating a home, most of them never think about the switches and sockets in their house, they only think about the need of electricity.

The total solution

Schneider-Electric has made it part of their concept to supply the entire package when it comes to home electricity - from the source of renewable energy and electical distribution to the lighting - and HVAC controls - and at the same time give the customer unique ways to monitor their electricity consumption and potentially earn big savings. ”We take many initiatives reaching new building standards, and want to help people with their search for optimization and better utilization of their electricity,” Marco Corti says. “This is what we are here for. We want to take it to a new level, where climate changes are not only talked about, but where people actually do something about it.”

Choosing right

If you do not specify what kinds of switches and sockets you need, the electrician will just buy the ones most easily available in the market and you will not only get a less beautiful installation, you will also miss out on the savings in money and CO2 emissions. Intelligent installations are useful in many situations. When you park your car in the evening, you want light to turn on when you approach the garrage. If you walk through your garden, you would like the light to turn on and show the path. When you walk up the stairs, you want the light on, but when you walk into your bedroom, you would like it to turn off automatically - especially down stairs. ”This is why Schneider-Electric is here. We have all the solutions needed,” Marco Corti says. Schneider-Electric has been in Thailand for 34 years, and with a growing awareness of the company, Schneider-Electric is more and more successful with bringing new, climate- and money friendly solutions to the market.

“You might spend at bit more money on our solutions at first, but in the long term, you will save money on your electricity, reduce CO2 emissions and have a better looking home,” says Marco Corti, Commercial Director at Schneider-Electrics.

The unique way

In 2009, Schneider-Electric introduced a switch series called Unica, and this has received great feedback all over the market. Unica and other Schneider-Electric series not only make your electrical installations look better. They also enable you

34 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

to time control your installations or maybe put up sensors to make your usage even more affordable and environmentally friendly. ”With remote control, using for instance your mobile phone, you can turn lights, tv's, air-cons and what not on and off with ease. And

With Schneider-Electric’s solution, you can intelligently run your entire home from your mobile phone.

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January 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Thailand 35

Crafting Geographies Three Thai artists who all trained in Stockholm, Sweden, came in December together for a surreal group show of textiles and timber in Bangkok. Titled “Crafting Geographies” and held at BKK Arthouse Gallery, the exhibition was a tangible manifestation of the lasting positive influence of Sweden upon these three young and talented artists. By Andrew J. West

hree Thai artists who all trained in Stockholm, Sweden, came in December together for a surreal group show of textiles and timber in Bangkok. Titled “Crafting Geographies” and held at BKK Arthouse Gallery, the exhibition was a tangible manifestation of the lasting positive influence of Sweden upon these three young and talented artists. The trio, Chessada Inthaphan, Ada Chirakranont and Worapong Manupipatpong, were brought together serendipitously by the exhibition curator Bow Wasinondh – who based her selection on the quality of

work – and only realised the three shared a Scandinavian connection once the artists had been chosen. Chessada, who studied sculpture at The Royal Institute of Art (KKH) in 2004 with a Linnd-Plame scholarship and graduated from Nyckelviksskolan with a diploma in Textile, Art, and Design in 2008 said, “I learnt the styles and techniques of Scandinavian art, which has a unique sensibility to materials and functions. The materials I now use in my artwork are Scandinavian.” He added, “Studying in Sweden was inspiring, especially to be surrounded by such a rich, natural environment. I was very eager to sub-

merse myself into the new culture and environment. It was natural for me to develop a strong connection with its people and places as Swedish people are kind and honest, and Stockholm is such an accessible and rich cultural city.” Ada Chirakranont and Worapong Manupipatpong both studied in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program at Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts, and Design, graduating in 2009. “The difference between Bangkok and Stockholm was the speed of time. Studying and living in Bangkok had been a rush for me. As a result, there was variety but never depth in

Guan Gong

my work. There was a slower and more stable pace of life and study discourse in Sweden. I had more conceptual and creative freedom. Thus my work gained more depth, as well as wider perspectives,” said Ada. “I have Swedish friends that I miss dearly. Although Swedish people come across as being shy and introverted, they are very honest – not at all fake – and very considerate. When I think of doing a trip to Europe, Sweden is always the destination I have at the top of my list,” she commented. Worapong said, “There are many interesting artists and design-

For Sale

Gold plated Silver Filigree 42 cm high, 640 g Sterling Silver, semi precious stones. Made in a limited quantity by Mr. Tian Ruihe for Beijing Jewellery Branch of the China National Arts & Crafts Import & Export Corporation. Price: MYR 20.000 + package and transport Contact: Bo Jeansson 012-339 5289 bo.jeansson@spray.se

36 ScandAsia.Thailand • January 2011

ers living and working in Stockholm. As a lifestyle, I often went out to exhibitions and visited designer and artist’s studios. It was overwhelming and inspiring. Living in Sweden convinced me that art and design play a significant role in contemporary culture. I would like people here to realise how important art and design are to their lives. “The environment of the Konstfack institution inspired me as there were so many spaces for students to exhibit their work. There was an abundance of interesting seminars, lectures and workshops delivered by both local and international artists and designers. The school’s fa-

cilities are wonderful, especially the wood/carpentry workshop. I spent most of the time experimenting with materials and techniques and building my work there. “After two years studying in Sweden, I have not only improved in my conceptual thinking, but also technical skills and developed a distinct craftsmanship. Moreover, the MA program is totally open to any subject or concept. I had a lot of freedom to explore in diverse directions,” he said. “People in Sweden are very democratic and quite modest and humble. They are open and receptive to different cultures. I felt

comfortable living there and the positive impressions of the country will always remain with me,” added Worapong. The threesome has experienced great success both in Sweden and since their return to Thailand, not only as demonstrated by this latest exhibition, but also by numerous other notable achievements. Ada participated in the “Space and Object” exhibition at @bon galleria in 2010 and was invited to show her work at the prestigious “Nobel NightCap” (party after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies) held at Karolinska Institute in 2009. Worapong exhibited at Roger

Björkholmen Galleri and Vita Havet, Konstfack, Stockholm in 2009, and “Symbiosis”, Showkonstfack, Stockholm in 2008. Meanwhile, Chessada took part in the Siam Art Fair at BKK Arthouse Gallery in 2010 as well as the monthly textile art exhibitions of Look At This art gallery, Chiang Mai, and in 2008 was part of the Nyckelviksskolan Textile Group show in Stockholm. ‘Crafting Geographies’ took place from November 13 to December 21 at BKK Arthouse Gallery, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). Email: bkkarthouse@gmail.com.

LAND FOR SALE Lot FP 91 in Emville Golf Resort Size of lot 9800 sqf or 909 sqm

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January 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 37

Medium

Janssonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Temptation Jansson's Temptation or Janssons Frestelse as it is known in Sweden probably owes its name to being such a creamy and delicious, perfect winter comfort food! Simple, but flavoursome, you can have it on its own or with a fresh salad. The anchovies give this dish a beautiful salty twist although I personally prefer to leave out this ingredient! There are many versions of this traditional winter dish, but here's one recipe

Evil

Place the rest of the potatoes on top and season with black pepper. Pour over the cream and cook in 200C oven for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are fully tender and the top has browned. You can enjoy the creamy goodness on its own or with a fresh salad.

Are you done?

hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a high quality ScandAsia polo shirt. Deadline for submit your solution is 15 February 2011 Name:

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38 ScandAsia.Thailand â&#x20AC;˘ January 2011

photos), and place a layer of potatoes on the bottom. Add the cooked onions and place the anchovies on top.

Jansson's Temptation 4-5 medium sized potatoes, peeled and cut thinly 2 medium sized onions, thinly sliced 2 tbs butter 80g jar of anchovies in oil, drained, but keep the oil 300ml double cream (umm yes, this is why it's so creamy) ground black pepper Melt the butter and some of the anchovies oil in a frying pan, add onions and cook until soft, but not brown (about 15 minutes). Grease an oven proof dish (perhaps use a more shallow dish than seen on my

December 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.Thailand 59

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