ScandAsia Thailand - June 2010

JUN 2010

Thailand

The Story of the Stable Lodge ScandAsia.dk

ScandAsia.fi

ScandAsia.no

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 1 ScandAsia.se

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Coming Events Thailand Travel & Dive Expo Queen Sirikit National Convention Center THU 8 - SUN 11 July 2010

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 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 Editor-in-Chief: Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Advertising: Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer: Disraporn Yatprom disraporn@scandmedia.com Distribution: Pimjai Chaimongkol pimjai@scandmedia.com Printing: Advanced Printing Services Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

Thailand Travel & Dive Expo 2010 was originally scheduled for 20-23 May but due to the political disturbances in Bangkok, they were re-scheduled to 8 -11 July.

Around 85,000 visitors are expected but with the drop in tourism there should be plenty of good deals.

Supported by Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Photo Business Association, PADI Asia Pacific, DAN SEAP, NAUI Asia Pacific, and Wahoo Diving Center.

Hua Hin Regatta 2010 Hua Hin Beach in front of Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villa Hua Hin TUE 3 - SUN 8 August 2010.

The Hua Hin Regatta will take place this year from 3 - 8 August. The racing event takes place on Hua Hin Beach in front of Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villa Hua Hin and is organized by the Royal Thai Navy, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand the Tourism Austority of Thailand and the local Hua Hin municipality. This year, it will be the 10th time the Regatta is held.

Contact the Regatta Office at Naval Yacht Club, Hua Hin +66 32 514210 up to 7 or the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand. http://www.yrat.or.th

Bicycle Trip to Khao Yai Eco Valley Lodge THU 12th - SAT 14th August.

A bicycle weekend in Khao Yai has been on the aganda of the Viking Wheelers every year since the start of the popular club. This year, the Khao Yai long weekend takes place 12th - 14th August.

The staring point will as always be Eco Valley Lodge, the resort of the veteran Viking Wheelers members Morten Luxhoi and Mads Tranum. From here the route goes through the very scenic areas at the foothills north of the Khao Yai Park. There is ussually a trip both Saturday and Sunday. Another highlight is traditionally the great dinner and friendly atmosphere in the evenings.

Signup is on www.vikingwheelers.com

Ambassador’s Cup Lam Luk Ka Golf & Country Club north of Bangkok Saturday, 28 August, 2010.

“The Ambassador´s Cup Golf Tournament” is one of the flag ship annual events of the Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce. This year, it takes place at Lam Luk Ka Golf & Country Club north of Bangkok on Saturday, 28 August, 2010.

The entry fee - Baht 12,000.– for a team of 4 players or Baht 3,000.– for each individual player - includes green fee, caddie fee & dinner buffet.

As usual, the event is loaded with gifts and prizes. Each player will receive tournament branded Cool-Max Golf Polo Shirt and Golf Ball Marker. Link to signup for the event is on www.thaifin.or.th

“Private Banking makes life easier.”

The only Nordic Private Bank in Asia Pacific. www.sebgroup.com/privatebanking Tel: +65 63570895 E-mail: singapore@sebprivatebanking.com.sg 50 Raffles Place #36-01, Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048623

Queen Margrethe II’s Birthday enmark celebrated the 70th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at a reception in Oriental Hotel, Bangkok on Tuesday 20 April 2010. Members of the Danish community in Thailand enjoyed the evening mingling with Thai dignitaries and diplomats from other nations.

The reception was the first diplomatic activity after the battle a week before between red shirt demonstrators and soldiers in the old part of Bangkok had left ten dead and over a hundred wounded.

Michael Sternberg, Ambassador of Denmark to Thailand, used the occasion to once again urge all sides in the Thai conflict to seriously engage in a process of reconciliation if further blood shed should be avoided.

Michael Sternberg ended his speech by proposing a toast to Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

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1. Mrs. Jaana Kopra, Mr. Ole Madsen and Mr. Anders Normann listening to H.E. 3. H.M. Queen Margrethe II on the big display on the wall.

Ambassador Sternberg.

4. Mrs. Ambassador Waltraud Sternberg.

2. H.E. Ambassador Michael Sternberg.

5. Guest enjoyed the fine wine and good food at the reception.

GlenAsia Charity wedish housing developer in Thailand GlenAsia participated in a local charity project in Rayong province called " Happy musical with sunlight and the wind creation" held on April 24th, 2010.

The project aimed at providing children and youths in the area with an opportunity to develop their creative potentials and abilities, learn to be a giver, and share happiness, and to strengthen relationships between children youths in the community as well as to encourage kids to say no to alcohol and tobacco.

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SSS AGM Elects New Chairman

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he Annual General Meeting of Scandinavian Society Siam - postponed two times due to the violence in Bangkok - on Tuesday 8 June 2010 elected Mr. Søren Wettendorff as new Chairman. The meeting elected several new members of the Board as well.

As usual, the evening was also a social event for members to meet and discuss matters of importance to the Society and the Scandinavian community in general.

For details of the election please visit www.scandasia.com

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1. Mrs. Eid Alexandersen wishes Mr. Soren Wettendorff good luck.

2. The newly elected Chairman Mr. Søren Wettendorff addressed the meeting.

3. Some of the new Board Members, from left: Dr. Kristian Bø, Mrs. Torrill Stenseth, Chairman Mr. Søren Wettendorff, and Mr. Jesper Døpping.

4. Outgong Board Member Mr. Erik Dahlström 5. Among the twenty six regular AGM attendees were again this year Poul and Vicki Weber. The meeting was not all serious matter!

17 May Celebrations in Pattaya he many people of different nationalities, who turned up at the celebration of the Norwegian National Day on 17 May, made the whole event a good one. It was hosted at the new church located on Soi 7 in Thappraya Road, and the many children who attended just made the day that much more special.

This year’s 17th May was kicked off with a hearty breakfast for all attendees after which the Seamen Chaplain Jan Olav held a simple and friendly service.

Then it was time for the children’s parade which was full of cheering and smiling faces. It ended at an empty space by the Seamen’s Church where everyone enjoyed sausages, soft drinks, and ice cream in the shade during the May 17th speech by Anne Gunnerød.

Everything was free thanks to the sponsors and Terje Kalback who coordinated the whole event did a great job.

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June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

Steffen of The Stable Stable Lodge is an institution in Bangkok. All Scandinavians know the Danish restaurant and hotel. But how many know about the history and origin of the place? The same goes for owner Steffen Ingemann. He is there all the time, however not many know about him either. Now, you have the chance.

By Rikke Bjerge Johansen

here in Bangkok do you go when you get a craving for a piece of Danish rye bread for lunch or fried slices of pork with parsley sauce for dinner? Where can you celebrate Danish Christmas or Morten’s Night with duck ad libitum? There is only one place, and that’s Stable Lodge on Sukhumvit soi 8. The legendary Danish restaurant and hotel is a whole institution in Southeast Asia and a regular meeting spot for Scandinavians. Both tourists and expats gather there when they are in need for some Danish ‘hygge’ and Scandinavian food.

The man who runs Stable Lodge is Steffen Ingemann. He spends most of his time at the restaurant, keeping an eye on both guests and staff. Everyone knows who he is – and yet they don’t. Because the fact is that Steffen behind his very social role at the restaurant, is a private man who doesn’t like to talk about himself. Just to do this interview with ScandAsia took a good deal of convincing and encouragement to happen.

“Well, you know… there is not much to say about me,” Steffen Ingemann, 62, says, sitting in the restaurant by a table with the characteristic red and white chequered tablecloth.

He orders a cup of coffee.

“I never drink alcohol before 5pm… and only two beers maximum per day. Then maybe a glass of red wine and a drink later but that’s it. I also exercise every day,” he reveals.

Stable Lodge is Steffen’s second home, and no doubt about the fact that he is proud of it and its great success.

“We are the best Scandinavian restaurant outside Denmark, both in terms of food, service and Danish ‘hygge’. You will not find a place with better traditional Danish food than here. Go to Spain, Pattaya or anywhere else. Our food beats it,” the Dane promises, adding: “All credit for the good food goes to Erik ‘Buddha’. Everyone

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Steffen and his wife, Nim, work side by side at Stable Lodge, and she is part of the reason the restaurant has become such a great success. Here they celebrate her 50th birthday.

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knows how much he loved food.

We still have the same Thai kitchen chef as 18 years ago when Erik taught her to make the dishes”.

Freedom as travel guide To get to know the history of Stable Lodge we need to go back to the mid 70’s in Bangkok. Here, a Danish guesthouse named ‘Mermaid’ opened on soi 8, on the opposite site of Stable Lodge and closer to the Sukhumvit road. It was the Dane Jørgen Lundbeck who started Mermaid which was mainly used by Danish seamen who came to there to get a place to stay or some Danish home cooked food far from home.

In 1979 the young man 31-years old Steffen Ingemann from Nykøbing Falster arrived to Thailand as a travel guide for Tjæreborg. He had been a guide for two years and worked in many different countries.

“I had been married nine years in Denmark, had a house, a big car and a really good job for the Scandinavian Tobacco Company. But then I got a divorce and went on a charter trip to Italy. I saw how the local travel guides lived their life. The sun was shining, the wine was plentiful and it simply looked like a good life.

Shortly after, I quit my job in Denmark. Everyone thought I had gone nuts, but I didn’t care. Money isn’t everything. I grabbed the opportunity to enjoy my new freedom and exploring the world,” he remembers.

He travelled to many countries and enjoyed it; however, when he arrived to Thailand, he was sold.

“I had already seen a lot of Asia but I knew that I would not find a better place than here. But hey… it’s the same old story. Everybody falls in love with Thailand,” says Steffen.

The Stable name As a part of the Danish community in Bangkok Steffen started hanging around at the Mermaid Guesthouse.

However, as Thailand became more and more popular among tourists in the beginning of the 1980’s, Mermaid with its 25 rooms became too small.

The owner Jørgen decided to get a new apartment building in the same soi 8 on Sukhumvit, and

Lodge he did it with Erik ‘Buddha’Winther and Steffen. However, it took a few years before it became the Stable Lodge we know. First, a rich Thai woman bought the whole place, made it into a hotel, which didn’t work and then she asked Steffen, Jørgen and Erik if they wanted to run it again as a Scandinavian concept. They agreed and it is now 18 years ago.

“We needed a new name for it and the name ‘Stable Lodge’ was actually suggested by an American friend. We loved the name instantly; it had a catchy sound in English but also in Danish ‘På Stalden’. It sounded good and we decorated the place after its new name,” Steffen says and looks around in the restaurant.

The team of three – Jørgen, Erik ‘Buddha’ and Steffen – expanded the hotel with the restaurant and has run it ever since. In the late 1980’s Steffen stopped working as a guide and was now fully devoted to Stable Lodge.

It isn’t a secret that Erik ‘Buddha’ was a man who enjoyed life, including a lot of food and beers. Unfortunately, he got very sick, had a leg amputated and needed to move back to Denmark four years ago.

Jørgen and Erik took over his share

of Stable Lodge.

“Erik used to be the restaurant entertainer and front figure while I was running the hotel and administration. When he went to Denmark, I had to come out in the spotlight,” Steffen says with a shy smile.

His partner Jørgen is busy with other business and is a ‘sleeping partner’ as Steffen describes it.

“Jørgen doesn’t interfere but trusts my judgment and work. He is a perfect partner”.

Family business Steffen spends 10-12 hours every day at the Stable Lodge. However, he still sees his family a lot, since his Thai wife is the one with the overall responsibility for staff and paper work.

They met in the beginning of the 1980’s, she went to Sweden to get an education. 17 years ago after finishing her education, she came back to Thailand and later became a lawyer. She is working fulltime at the Stable Lodge, making sure that everything is up and running. Together her and Steffen have 15 year-old daughter.

“Our daughter is more European than Thai and speaks Danish, Thai and English fluently. She studies at an international school out here

Pailin is Steffen’s 15 year old daughter. This Summer, they are going to Denmark together for the first time in three years.

and is going on a Danes Worldwide summer camp to Denmark this year for the first time,” Steffen says with a proud smile adding: “After my mom died three years ago I haven’t been to Denmark.

However, this Summer I will go with my daughter, so she doesn’t have to travel all alone to Denmark,” he says with a warm smile.

Future of Stable Lodge Last year was tough all over Thailand for hotels and restaurants.

However, Stable Lodge with its 41 rooms managed to get by.

“Usually we help filling up the neighbor hotel since we can’t accommodate all our requests. We couldn’t help them last year, but even though it went slower than

Erik “Budda” and Steffen cutting and enjoying the cake at the Stable Lodge’s 10 year birthday party.

the previous year we were never in a crisis. We are fully booked ten months of the year,” Steffen says.

Being 62 years old, Steffen has thought about the future of Stable Lodge.

“I’m getting older and one day we want to sell. Of course the price should be right, but the ownership is also very important. I really hope it will be kept on Scandinavian hands with the Scandinavian concept. I would be sad to see it being turned into an Indian restaurant,” he says adding: “I mean, why change something that is such a success as Stable Lodge.”

Steffen has to go and the interview is done. ScandAsia’s reporter forgot to thank him and his partners.

Thank them for the little piece of Danish ‘hygge’ that exists in Bangkok, far away from home.

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Norwegian Cartoonist The last four years Øyvind Sveen has been drawing his daily two pages of football cartoons in Vietnam.

By Bjarne Wildau

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ne of Scandinavia’s most successful writers and cartoonists, Øyvind Sveen, 36, is doing fine combining private life with his Vietnamese wife and their seven months old daughter Annika, and a professional life together with his partner Ivan Emberland, in a small “boring” complex suburban Saigon in South Vietnam.

The two guys have been together since they were fourteen. Mostly in Norway, but during the last two years while Øyvind has been in Vietnam, his partner Ivan has lived at the other side of the planet, namely in Brazil.

Thanks to Skype, the two of them work literally together doing at least two pages of cartoons almost every day.

“My wife Sang and I met each other while we both were backpacking in Vietnam. She had been living in Singapore for many years, so you can say we were equal in our desire to discover this fantastic land”, Øyvind explains a late morning in his house in the suburb Tru Duc, an hour on a bike from the centre of Saigon.

His wife is in Singapore to take care of her real estate business, so the Norwegian cartoonist, illustrator and writer take care of their little daughter with the help of a housemaid.

“We have lived a little more than four years in Vietnam. It’s a good place to live. Both Sang and I were happy to be here, so we decided to buy this house”, says Øyvind, while he is waving his hand toward the fantastic and rather unusual view from his working desk in his office.

Banana palm trees, coconut palms and bushes fill up the neighbouring land.

“It was a little funny and strange when we went here for the first time to check up on the complex. All the houses in the centre were sold. Vietnamese people seem to like the security of being close to other people. But that was fine for us. Then we could have a little privacy, and a wonderful view, as longs as it may last, until someone makes a similar complex at the other side of the fence”,

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in Vietnam Øyvind is laughing.

After the first visit to the complex he did not hesitate at all before he sold his condo in Oslo, and for the same money was able to buy this wonderful house.

While he is running down to the nearest fridge after some refreshments, I am looking around in the office. The room is dominated by a huge poster on the wall opposite his desk showing Øyvind and a Norwegian photographer standing on some ice in Svalbard with a snow scooter in the background.

When he returns, I ask about the picture. Without going into details he explains that the picture is from an assignment he had as a writer.

Back in our chairs again Øyvind explains that he has had a pen in his hand as long as he can remember.

And no, there are absolutely no creative people among his parents or forefathers.

“I have no explanation about how I became what I am. I was just making my drawings without thinking of it. And it all got a little serious when I was fourteen, when Ivan and I started to do things together” As they grew up, the two guys carried on with their cooperation.

They even took the same education at the same time at Westerdals School of Communication in Oslo.

And almost ever since they have been doing a monthly football magazine and six comic books with more than 5000 pages together.

The biggest hit for Øyvind and his partner is the tale of the worst football team in Scandinavia. This is published in a variety of formats, from newspaper strips to monthly magazine episodes and thick books.

“In Norway the team is known

Hinsidige Bar & Grill” and “Sleivdal IL” have been published in more than 20 Norwegian papers and magazines. as “Sleivdal IL”, while its named “Slarvhult BK” in Sweden. In Finland, they lose every game under the name of “FC Hutivaara”. In all three countries our stories are published by the football magazine Boing”.

The other Boing cartoon is the more realistically drawn series “Dennis Kickstart”. This is about the young local boy who experiences every boy’s dream when he sparkles during a test match and gets picked up by a top team in the English Premier League. We follow his career and personal life as it hits its highs and lows.

But Øyvind and Ivan also has a third project - “Hinsidige Bar & Grill”. It’s the pair’s third main project. Roughly translated to “Beyond Bar & Grill”, this is a satire strip where mythological creatures discuss, and sometimes cause, current affairs.

Combined, “Hinsidige Bar & Grill” and “Sleivdal IL” have been published in more than 20 Norwegian papers and magazines.

At this phase of the interview it could be interesting to hear about the sources to all the ideas and episodes.

“I have always played football, even in the Vietnam expat league, so some of the football cartoon stuff comes from personal experiences, failures and dreams on the pitch.

We also pick up stuff everywhere, like funny things people say, we get inspired by travelling, reading books,

and an almost constant change in scenery for our daily lives help feed our fantasy. I get restless and creatively empty if everything around me stays the same for too long.

Maybe that’s the good thing with Vietnam - the constant changes.

Because Vietnamese art, architecture and creative achievements are mostly rubbish, so inspiration must be found in other areas.

When Øyvind started his cartoons he had the same age as his readers. He gets older. Is there any reason for concerns?

“Yes. I think so. At least I fear the generation gap a bit. I’m old enough to already disagree with current popular trends in movies and music, which might be dangerous. But I try staying in touch with the audience. And hopefully we will keep our readers: With our car-

toons, my colleague Ivan and I have always aimed at targeting on two levels at once. Funny drawings and slapstick humour for the younger ones, but also political satire, radical environmental messages and hidden links that just a very few will get, for the older readers. We actually try to show some teeth between the lines, and sneak our own opinions into young minds”.

And despite Øyvind loves his stuff and its audience, he can easily see him self start writing and maybe drawing something closer to his own life.

To draw, or maybe only write, for an older audience is certainly appealing. Who doesn’t have a dream of one day publishing the perfect novel? One day.

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Indonesian Navy Buys Swedis In the middle of nowhere, Swedish John Lundin and his Indonesian wife Lizza are designing and producing high speed boats for patrolling and to ambush pirates with the help of some of the world’s sharpest brains in designing speedy boats. The latest project is a gigantic trimaran 60 metres long with the speed of around 150 kilometres per hour. The details are still covered as military secrets but the Swede lifts as much of the curtains as he can in this feature.

By Bjarne Wildau

hrouded in military secrecy, an extremely powerful speedboat is about to be built for the Indonesian Navy by the Swedish boat builders John and Lizza Lundin at their boat yard in Sokuwidi in Banuywangi, Indonesia.

The couple have already sold many smaller patrol speed boats to the navy, but this is something special.

“We have a contract with the Indonesian Navy to deliver one trimaran patrol boat 60 metres long made in carbon glass fiber and we have the option of three more

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boats,” John Lundin explains.

“The Americans have made a trimaran 120 metres long but in aluminium. The only sort of comparable boat on the market is Kockums Visby which is more advanced - but also much much more expensive,” John Lundin adds.

John and Lizza Lundin’s path into being a regular supplier to the Indonesian Navy started when John designed a seaworthy high-speed boat suited for pleasure, fishing, diving that could fit into a 40 foot container and called it X2K. Since then he has produced and sold more than thirty of these X2K speed boats “A couple of years after we sold the first X2K, we painted one grey and launched at a military exhibition in Indonesia”, says John Lundin.

Since then he, his wife Lizza and PT Lundin have gotten stronger and stronger.

Military Suppliers “The entrance to be a supplier to the military was a whole new ballgame for us,” John Lundin concedes.

John Lundin with his wife, Lizza.

“Without her, I would never ever have been able to do what we did,” says John.

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“The importance of Lizza’s part in this can never be overestimated.

Without her, I would never ever have been able to do what we did,” he says.

“It’s common knowledge that friendship and business go together.

But with the military, that business culture is much more developed.

For us, Lizza became friends with the navy decision makers at the navy. They never talked business, but she made the important socializing with the wives of the generals”, says John Lundin.

While Lizza was busy making contacts with the navy, John made his design department create an almost seventh wonder in the world of patrol boats. The X2K became first X2K Fast Interceptor and then the additional X2K RIB was born which has a combination of a fibreglass body/ hull and an inflatable part.

“Plus night vision, special chairs designed in Sweden and so on,” John Lundin adds.

“The Indonesia navy was happy with what they got. Since the first delivery, we have sold more than thirty to different military units or police units in Indonesia. Today, Malaysia and Singapore are also among our customers.

Together, the two neighbouring countries bought more than 40

sh Speed Boats boats. Then Brunei followed, the same did WWF Indonesia.

“And we are still developing on the original X2K concept,” John Lundin laughs.

The latest PT Lundin product at the market is X-38 Patrol and combat Catamaran whose design was commissioned in-part by the Swedish Search And Rescue Service. The boat reaches a speed of 40 knots or approximately 100 kilometres per hour.

„Something Truly Special!‰ The latest secret speed monster started with another lunch appointment which John Lundin had three years ago with the head of the Indonesian Navy.

“At that meeting I was asked to come up with something truly special. Something worthy coming after a proven success as X2K,” says John Lundin.

John tries to explain as much as he can about the creative process of this military project without breaching any military secrets. At first, he looked around for a design with lots of speed. It was obvious that it had to be a trimaran At that time some designers in New Zealand were designing a speed ghost called EarthRace. The boats later won the around the world race. EarthRace has proven the fastest boat ever designed and built.

“Lizza and I plus seven other staff went to New Zealand where we got the attention from day one.

I asked them what would happen if we more the less made EartRace three or four times bigger. The answer was that the result would be much much better. The people behind the EarthRace were very ready to take part in the development of a super patrol boat witch would al-

most be a competitor to the much more expensive Swedish patrol boat.

Three years after the Lundins’ first trip to New Zealand, the couple has spent more than 5 million US dollars in design and development. Less than half of that amount has been sponsored by others.

Today the production facilities are ready in Banuywangi. A 63 metres long hall has just enough space for the new project. Workers already prepare wood to make the skeleton for the carbon fibre boat.

The carbon fibre witch is also used for production of air planes and Formula One cars are 20 times stronger than steel.

Upstairs at the offices some of the world’s best on design of speedy boats do their best to make a difference.

“We have done almost whatever to hire the absolute best available designer and engineers on the market. We have designers with experience from The America Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and have also hired experienced designers specialising in Patrol boats from Sweden”, says John Lundin.

While this big project is progressing, John Lundin and his staff also have their creative fingers on some of the smallest boats John has ever had his hands on - patrol boat designed for rivers.

“The need of patrol boats is huge. The new product is for small rivers. You just put it into a container and off you go to the river, you need to patrol,” says John Lundin.

Bil fra 1 dag til flere måneder...

Read the full story of John Lundin and his life in Indonesia on the website www.scandasia.com

Gode tilbud

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Danmarks-klubben giver specielle rabatter og fordele.

Reservation: www.avis.dk Vivi With-Seidelin Telefon +44 20 7381 6333 E-mail v.seidelin@avis.dk www.avis.dk

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

Dialogue the Keyword Richard Järvinen is the senior programme manager of Nokia China. He is a father and a husband. He is ambitious and tech savvy – he is also the Chairman of the new Finnish Chamber of Commerce currently being established in China.

By Anya Palm

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ichard Järvinen places his mobile phone, a Nokia N900, on the table next to him. Two minutes later, a little tone indicates he has gotten a message. Soon after, he gets another.

And then another.

He looks at it briefly and scrolls over the touch screen.

When Richard Järvinen joined Nokia China as a senior manager in 2004, it was for a specific reason: The famous non-breakability of Nokia products suddenly mattered less than the software within the phone. To stay on the market, it had become more and more important to sport unique features, useful applications and compatibility with other technological products, mainly computers.

At his own request, Richard Järvinen, was transferred from the head quarters in Finland to the 1200-man strong daughter company in Beijing, to focus on the development of phone software. As a Master of Science, this is his field.

“I am good with software, not so good with hardware. I like things to work and if they do not, I want to know why,” he says. His brown hair is speckled with a little gray, his suit tailor made and his brown eyes never flicker. But his manner is quiet, polite. He speaks in a soft voice, which he never seems to raise.

Business life is interesting Soon after his arrival in Beijing, he started to work with the Finnish business community, involving himself in different boards and projects, amongst them the Finnish Business Council. To him, dialogue is essential and he found himself unable to not engage in discussions about market trends, Finland’s role in China and Chinese company culture.

“I enjoy the meetings in the Council and I enjoy the fruitful discussions. It is a fascinating world”, he says.

His drive and interest in the Finnish society in China made him the natural selection for the job as Chairman of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, despite his relatively short career here. He is acting Chairman today and looks forward to 14 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

the job officially, if he is elected, he says.

And already from the start, he has a clear idea for the future decision making process of the Chamber – this is going to work on Scandinavian, democratic values.

“I am a team worker kind of person. It gives me motivation to reach decisions together and I get my energy from the teams, I am part of. I think, that is the best approach for the Chamber, to discuss things”, he says.

Family adapting to Finland Today, he found a balance in between the Scandinavian and Chinese that fits him.

“I had been in China one or two times, before I started realizing which opportunities, the country has to offer”, Richard Järvinen says.

Not only in relation to his job, but also to him as a father and husband. His two sons, 12-yearold Vihtori and Nestori, who is 10, have now spend more than half of their lives in China and go to a British school. Every summer, they spend their holiday in Finland.

“Our family has gotten used to Asia, and we frequently have Finnish friends coming to China to visit. The school is good and both my wife and I have found work, we are very involved in”, he says and elaborates.

“It’s a very dynamic place, where things happen very fast. I like that very much”, he says.

He stops to think a little bit. Then, very slow-

ly, as if weighing his words carefully to not offend anyone, he says: “Also, I think living in a country as big as China expands your thinking. When you live in a smaller country… I believe, it gives a broader view to live here. You cannot plan what is going to happen.

The more you plan, the less it is going to be like that. I think, you need to adapt to that to be successful in China”, he says.

Behind him, the Nokia logo can be seen from the massive glass windows in the meeting room, he is in. In front of him, his phone beeps once again.

Facts about Richard Järvinen: Took a bachelor of logistics from Jyväskylä Institute of Technology in 1995 Master of Science, Tampere University of Technology in Finland in 1997 He is Senior program manager at Nokia China, chairman of the acting board of Finnish Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the board of the Finnish Business Council He has been in China for six years 2004-2009 Head of Nokia Software Platforms China Site He changes his phone three times a year – currently he has a Nokia N900

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

Destined to Success Thomas Christiansen is at the highlight of his career. As General Manager of Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, he runs the hotel with common sense and a Danish mindset, and that appears to be a good combination.

By Katrine Bach Sigvardt

S

ome people have a clear goal in life. They have direction and it almost seems as if a golden path lights up the way for them. These people have talents that make their choice of career is so obvious – they were born to do it. The 42 year old Thomas Christiansen has been the General Manager of the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit for five months, and it seems that he is one of those people.

Business in the blood Growing up in Vejle as the son of the most successful hotel and night club owner in town, Thomas Christiansen’s biggest dream was always to make it big within the same line of work.

“I grew up in the business,” he says.

“Before I could even walk or talk, I sat in my stroller in the kitchen of the hotel, and when I was older, I started joining my father at meetings. At an early age, I learned a lot about running a hotel because I experienced it through him.”

Thomas Christiansen recalls how interesting the hotel world always was to him and it was the only field he ever wanted to work in.

Therefore, he immediately accepted a job in Paris when Disney offered him a position at one of their hotels.

It did not matter to him or to Disney that he was very young at the time.

When Thomas Christiansen left 16 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

for France and his new life in the hotel business, he had just graduated from high school the day before.

Between now and then, he has only returned to Denmark for vacation.

For a long time, Thomas Christiansen worked all over the world.

After living in Greece, Africa, Russia, America, and Spain, he got a job at Palace Hotel in Beijing. From there, his career in Asia took off.

As he moved from country to country, Thomas Christiansen continued to climb up the business ladder of the hotel world. So far, he has been in charge of several luxury hotels in South East Asia, and in October 2009, he started his new job as General Manager of the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit in Bangkok.

Scandinavian approach to management It has been a long time since Thomas Christiansen left Denmark, and although he misses it at times, he does not think he could ever live there again.

“I think it is too complicated to work in Denmark. Work days in Thailand are long but at the same time I have a good life here.

“I have so many more opportunities to bring ideas to the table and change things at the hotel than my colleagues in Denmark do,” Thomas Christiansen says, and to him the challenges and influence a job gives him are very important.

Having lived in Thailand for nine years, it has become home to him and it always will be.

But even though Thomas Christiansen has left Denmark for good, he is still very proud to be Danish and he tries to incorporate the Danish mindset into the way he runs one of Bangkok’s best hotels.

According to the General Manager, this is a good approach to hotel management, and he firmly believes that he is creating better employees as well as a better work environment by doing things Danish-style.

“I don’t want to be the boss that my employees are afraid of or ‘that guy on the fifth floor’. I want to work side by side with them, and I think that is a particularly Danish mindset. That daily contact is so important and so far it has gone well.

It seems that I am doing something right, anyway,” he says with a laugh.

Flair for hotel management It does indeed seem that he has got it right when it comes to running a hotel, but according to Thomas Christiansen, he owes a big part of his success and rapid career advance to luck.

“It is almost as if my career has been planned ahead somehow,” he says and adds that he has always been very lucky.

“I have worked at some good hotels that have continued to help me develop my skills, and I have had excellent superiors who have helped me advance career wise.”

Whether Thomas Christiansen’s success has been due to higher powers or not is debatable. In any case, luck, in the hotel business, can only get you so far and Thomas Christiansen does admit that luck and talent are often closely linked and that he is actually very good at his job:

“Running a hotel is actually not that difficult. Our job is to provide the guests with a high service level and a good experience. My ambition is to give them more than they expect. I am good at service,” he says and adds with a grin: “In the hotel business, that means I am good at making money.”

Thomas Christiansen has the skills and the eye for a successful business. His resume as well as the ambition he radiates speaks for itself.

Both have undoubtedly also helped

shape his career.

“I have never actually quit a job,” Thomas Christiansen says, and he explains that he has always been fortunate enough to receive increasingly better job offers along the way.

His fatherÊs legacy His early experiences with hotel management have given Thomas Christiansen an edge and a solid foundation for a successful life in the business.

Watching his father work and build successful hotels and bars up from scratch has been a tremendous source of inspiration for him.

It has also provided him with an instinct that helps him decide whether a risk is worth taking or not.

“I always have a gut feeling,” he says.

“But I make mistakes too. I am no super hero, but most of the time, I am right.”

On several occasions his gut has inspired him to take chances during crisis and it has almost always turned out to be the right decision.

“Sometimes it is necessary to make an investment. That’s what we did during the economic depression. We didn’t cut back on service for our guests. Had we done that, we would have been like any other hotel,” Thomas Christiansen says, and that is the one thing a five star hotel cannot afford to be if it wants to stay ahead in the hotel world.

This is what Thomas Christiansen has dreamt of his whole life. It is what he has always wanted and now he just feels privileged to be able to fulfil what he almost believes is his destiny.

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

No Worries Island: Koh Phangan attracts young people like no other place in Thailand for its no-worries atmosphere and famous Full Moon parties. This is the kind of place where young party people can slurp their booze bucket all night, and then nurse hangovers while snoozing on white hot sand.

B

ut Koh Phangan also offers some remote beaches with a laid-back atmosphere if you are not in a party mood. In recent years more hotels, from simple bungalows to 4 stars resorts, have been built to respond to everybody’s idea of an unforgettable beach vacation.

Enjoying a relaxing massage in one of the spas, exploring the underwater world or meditating at a hilltop temple.

If you’re looking to party, as many coming to Ko Pha-Ngan are, head to Hat Rin, home of the legendary Full Moon parties, the biggest beach party in the world. Although nowadays it seems any phase of the moon is an excuse to get out the fire sticks, set up the mats on the sand and pump up the trance music – nightlife is huge here, and scantily clad revellers party on buckets of cheap Thai whisky on a regular basis.

Fishing and coconut production remain mainstays of the economy, and villages still have a traditional air – although tourism is now by far the largest single industry.

Getting there Koh Phangan is about 2 1/2 hours from Surat Thani Province and 45 minutes from Samui Island by boat.

There are ferries between Surat Thani, Samui and Phangan. You can also go by a speed-boat from Bophut pier on Samui.

Boat Services to Koh Phangan - Surat Thani - Koh Phangan - Koh Samui - Koh Phangan

Links http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ thailand/lower-southern-gulf/ ko-pha-ngan http://kohphangan.sawadee.com/

18 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

Koh Phangan

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19

Where to Eat @ Koh Phangan Boat Ahoy Restaurant and Bar e seated in in many different atmospheres: open air, air conditioned boat or in a nice and beutiful garden.

Biggest menu in town serving Thai, Chinese as well as Western food. Extra services includes a barber shop and karaoke room. Find it at the Thongsala-Bantai road. http://firstvilla.com/boatahoy/

B

NIRA’S Bakery A bakery selling a gorgeous range of cakes, pastries, brownies and bread 24 hours a day. The spinach and feta pastries and spinach muffins are a specialty.

The next door café has great coffee, shakes and breakfasts. Watch BBC World out the back or sit roadside on wooden picnic tables and chairs. Located at Hat Rin.

Me’n’u

irmly established as one of the island’s premier gourmet restaurants, using top class, fresh ingredients and techniques to produce modern European cuisine. The fine location, superb wine list and relaxed ambience combine to create a memorable dining experience. Located on Hin Kong.

F

Koh Phangan in Stockholm and Uppsala hen opened in 1994, the Koh Phangan restaurant in Stockholm intended to serve a little trip to paradise. The idea was born on a beach on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand’s eastern coast.

The entire concept of the restaurant is brought to Sweden from Thailand with great efforts.

In 1994 there were neither Thai vegetables, herbs, spices or beer in Sweden, so everything was imported

W

http://www.kohphangan.se/information.html 20 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

from Thailand, today it is a bit easier but it is still very important always to have the best ingredients in order to serve the best Thai food.

The Colors Of Life Phangan Bayshore Resort and Spa Haad Rin Beach Phangan Bayshore Resort and Spa is directly on Haad Rin Nok, at the heart of the action most suitable for the Full Moon Party and to enjoy the exotic nightlife available at Haad Rin.

141 Moo 6, Haad Rin, Bantai, Koh Phangan , Suratthani Thailand Tel: 66 77 375224, 375227 Fax : 66 77 375226

Email : info@phanganbayshore.com June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 21

Where to Stay @ Koh Phangan Santhiya Resort & Spa Thailand luxury Resort

T

his gem of a resort embraces the true meaning of natural beauty.

Stretched over 18 acres of glorious tropical landscapes, Santhiya Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive natural hideaway with glorious teak wood accommodations and deluxe service and hospitality.

Lush tropical forests, crystal clear bay and private beach set the perfect backdrop for gourmet meals, cascading poolside waterfalls, luxurious spa treatment at Ayurvana Spa or an exciting array of outdoor water activities.

Rates: 4000-12150 THB/Night http://www.santhiya.com/

Phangan Bayshore Resort and Spa

D

irectly on Haad Rin Nok, at the heart of the action most suitable for the Full Moon Party and to enjoy the exotic night-life at Haad Rin. The resort has an excellent range of air-con bungalows and main building superior room deluxe room, rooms for families with hot water, TV and mini-bar. Enjoy more than 80 meters of clear beach front with amazing sunrise views at the quieter end of the beach.

The friendly Bayshore staff are also waiting to serve you Thai or Western food at the Bayshore restaurant just next to the resort.

Rates: 1320-2700 THB/Night http://www.phanganbayshore.com/

 eautiful, quiet and perfect place to relax for your holiday with friendly services. The bungalows are just two minutes walk to the beach. A distinguishing feature is the traditional Lanna, Northern Thai, architecture style, which is in harmony with the natural surroundings while you relax and enjoy.

Smilebeach Resort is located on Haad Salad, a beautiful secluded beach; good for swimming in high tidal seasons, with a reef about 150metres offshore also a well-known dive site.

B

Rates: 175-400 THB/Night http://www.hostelworld.com/ availability.php/Smile-Beach-Resort/ Koh-Phangan/16223

22 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

What to Do @ Koh Phangan

A Full

Join the

Moon Party

bout 10,000 people every month join the Koh Phangan beach party.

Be one of them and listen to international and Thai DJ’s making the crowd go wild. The DJ’s play Techno, Trance, Goa, D&B, Dub, Reggae, House. Sit at one of the many small tables on the beach with your friends or meet new ones while ordering drinks and food from the restaurant bars just next to the beach. And join the dancing crowd and go crazy. http://fullmoonparty-thailand.com/

Meditation at

Wat Khao Tham ocated on a hilltop, the monastery is an ideal spot for meditation in the middle of unspoiled nature. Learn how to practice meditation, retreats are held one time per month and last for 10 days. To reach the monastery, take a chartered car or rent a motorcycle at Thong Sala Pier and drive for approximately three kilometres south. From the entrance of the temple, drive approximately one kilometre up to the compound.

Everybody interested in the meditation retreats, check watkowtahm.org for details and schedules. http://watkowtahm.org/

L



T

he largest waterfall on Koh Phangan and one of the most beautiful in Thailand.

It is also known as the Royal Stream because many members of the royal family have visited the waterfall and beautiful valley, which are part of the Sadet Koh Phangan National Park.

The waterfall can be reached from several locations including Haad Sadet Beach. Caution should be taken, however, as the road can be bad in places. http://phanganislandguide.com/ thansadetwaterfall.html

offer 50 sea view rooms choose which room style that you like

3/1 Moo 2, Tumbon Koh tao, Koh phangan, Suratthani 84280 THAILAND For Reservation : Tel : (66) 77-456-039, 77-456-251, 08-7263-8856 www.tommy-lvdive-resort.com

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 23

Sunda Resort Krabi Free 1 hour of Traditional Thai Massage at Aonang Massage for every 3 consecutive nights paid.

Free 30 minutes of Foot and Head Massage for every 3 consecutive nights paid.

Come stay with us at Sunda Resort, where you will always be welcomed with a warm, friendly smile.

Y

ou will experience nature at its best in the tranquil, garden setting and are just a ten minute walk to beautiful Nopparat Thara beach.

Make Sunda Resort your ‘home away from home’ and discover the true hospitality of Thailand - The Land of Smiles.

Period : 01 Nov’2009 till further notice Room Type Single double Garden View 3,500 3,800 Poolside Room 3,900 4,200 Carnal Side Room 3,900 4,200 Extra Bed 900

Rates include:Breakfast, service charge, & tax, per night.

Complimentary late check out till 01.00 p.m.

Special benefits:2 consecutive nights paid: Free round trip airport transfer from to Krabi Airport – hotel – Krabi Airport 3 consecutive nights paid: Free round trip airport transfer from to Krabi Airport – hotel – Krabi Airport

4 consecutive nights paid: Free round trip airport transfer from to Krabi Airport – hotel – Krabi Airport Free 1 hour of Traditional Thai Massage at Aonang Massage for every 3 consecutive nights paid.

Free 30 minutes of Foot and Head Massage for every 4 consecutive nights paid.

Free 1 dinner at Sunda Resort for every 4 consecutive nights paid.

Remarks: Applicable for booking request direct to hotel or hotel’s website.

Airport round trip transfer service between 05:00 a.m. till midnight and timing not within this period will be on request with additional charge.

Free of charge for child between 4 and 12 years old, sharing room with parents utilizing existing bedding with supplement of buffet breakfast at 150 Baht net per day and dinner at 250 Baht for every 4 nights paid (except Thai Massage, Foot and Head Massage).

Special benefit cannot use in conjunction with any other promotions or offers.

Booking is required one day advance with reference to above promotions.

Hotel reserves the right to releases reservations made at anytime, unless otherwise guaranteed by acceptance credit card with a first night deposit.

Rates are subject to change prior notice.

More information, please contact: Sunda Resort 19 Moo. 3, Ao-Nang, Muang Krabi 81000 Thailand Tel: +66(0)75-661-262-4, 66(0)2-5095848 Ext. 12,13 Fax: +66(0)75-661-266, E-mail: info@sundaresort.com, Sales@sundaresort.com, www.sundaresort.com

The Legend Maeklong he Legend Maeklong invites you to experience a Thai way of life down by the river, through the first colonial building of Maeklong; which has been dated back to the period of King Rama IV. Apart from the main building by the river, The Legend Maeklong offers holidaymakers a range of traditional Thai style houses to choose from. While the sun is settling down for the night, guests will experience a refreshing coolness at the end of the day, provided by the river breezes, while enjoying a cuisine dinner at Khun Tawee Restaurant.

Last but not least, our guests can enhance their vacations with a large variety of activities and trips to many nearby destinations are available for their viewing pleasure.

T

24 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

For more info, please contact : the legend Maeklong : 1285, Pathummalai Road, T. Maeklong, Muang District, Samut Songkram 75000 Reservation: +66 (0) 2513 4913, +66 (0) 2513 4996

Sunda Resort

Krabi

RELAX & ENJOY THE NATURE AT ITS BEST!!!!!

Warmly welcome to Sunda Resort where offers you the peaceful and nature atmosphere. The resort provides 48 modern rooms with different colors style and air conditioning ensuring your relaxing holiday. Only 10 minutes walking to Nopparat Thara Beach with crystal clear water and Ao-nang coast where you can find entertainment night life and shopping area.

Sunda Resort is your home away from home where you discover the true hospitality of Thailand – The Land of Smiles.

Address:

19 Moo. 3, Ao-Nang, Muang Krabi 81000 Thailand Tel: +66(0)75-661-262-4, +66(0)2-509-5848 Ext.12, 13 Fax: +66(0)75-661266 E-mail: info@sundaresort.com, sales@sundaresort.com Website: www.sundaresort.com June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 25

The Old Farangs

By Flemming Winther Nielsen hen checking in at this little neat guesthouse north of Kanchanaburi, I was warmly greeted by Tok the cashier. She is a 51-year-old lady with lots of humor in her eyes and an ironic twist in her conversation.

Tok speaks good English and when she learned I was Danish, she asked whether I would mind having a talk with her Danish husband, Richard, 72 years of age.

“He is lonely, he likes to meet Danes, doesn’t speak a word of Thai, although he has been here for many years now,” she says as if to excuse him.

“He also has some problems with the Danish government; we have been treated badly by them,” she adds Richard arrived on his motorbike half an hour later, grey haired, limping quite a lot, carrying a bag with two ring binders filled with correspondences between him and Danish authorities both in Denmark and Thailand. I promised to look through them until the next day.

Tok suggested we speak Danish and left us with two bottles of mineral water and a coffee, “on me” as she said.

Richard and I talked for a long time. We talked about Denmark, about ourselves, the past and present. He clearly needed to tell the story of his life.

W

Richard's story Born in a low income family in the Western part of Jutland, Richard became a skilled lock-smith, then worked at various factories, before he became trucker and tourist chauffeur. He married and got three sons and two daughters, but later got divorced, much against his own will. Today he is only regularly in contact with one of his sons.

Richard met Tok on a tourist tour to Thailand 10 years ago, and – understandably – fell deeply in love with her. He wanted to bring Tok with him to live together in Denmark. That was when his fight with family and authorities started.

His children and their spouses also clearly stated that they did not like the idea of having Tok as part of their family either; in fact they didn’t like foreigners at all.

“What will happen with Tok

when you die?” they argued.

Then the contact with the family faded out and Richard moved more or less permanently to Thailand.

The end is near In the evening I read the material.

The content showed me a man who had fought and hated authorities, and who finally realized that he was getting nowhere. He had lost the fight, maybe out of stubbornness, or because he was so self-opinionated.

He had no address in Denmark anymore. Although this was caused by his own mistakes, he claimed that he had been deported to Thailand.

The ministry in Copenhagen had in fact earlier offered his wife permanent residency; they could have both gone, but didn’t.

Richard explained, that he could not raise the deposit of 55.000 DKK demanded by Danish Immigration.

Maybe so, maybe he didn’t dare to uproot Tok. With no Danish address, he was now receiving the lowest possible pension, the equivalent of circa 24,000 THB per month. However, this amount is not nearly enough to show Thai immigration for the renewal of his one year residence visa.

He also needs an operation for his hip, has much too high blood pressure, no savings and no close family

26 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

ties.

Richard will not relent and seek help from authorities any more, no matter what the reason or his own mistakes. It can be foreseen that he will soon be badly off, and it is doubtful that Tok could manage to stay on with him. Will he then be living on the mercy of Thai people and authorities?

We also talked about life and death of course; we agreed that if we lose control of bladder and bowel we will find the exit door. Richard has no relation to Buddhism, but is now leaning more to the faith of his childhood. He would like a decent Christian farewell.

I mentioned the Anglican/Protestant church on Convent Road and the graveyard administered by them.

Richard's story is typical I have taken up Richards’s story because it is somewhat typical. Life stories differ of course, but they mostly contain the same elements.

Many of the veterans here look back in anger, blaming their home countries of inhumanity and bureaucratic arrogance; they were not able to fit in with the sometimes harsh rigidity of the bureaucracy and other norms back home. I have even spotted some in wealthy Hua Hin, fre-

quenting our own tribal restaurants: walking slowly, often alone, large varicose veins, and falling asleep over the first beer.

They all have their story about how they woke up one morning finally realizing, to the bottom of their soul, that they were now old and no longer capable of fighting the world.

There is this true anecdote about an elderly American,. He was ill and in serious trouble, so the locals called the embassy.

The embassy asked whether this American had a credit card. The answer was ‘yes’.

“Then let him use it,” was the final remark from the officer.

The Nordic people are still relatively too few and the solidarity among us, hopefully, still so strong that we will not allow a fellow countryman to be left by the roadside.

But we need to mobilize ourselves and arrange among ourselves how to handle this, since the official channels seem somewhat silted up — and in the Scandinavian community golf and black ties shouldn’t be the whole focus.

There is another, very prosaic and ‘realpolitik’ reason why neglect should not be accepted. It is not, on any level, a clever signal to send; Thai people may come to conclude, that we cannot take care of our own elderly, perhaps not even our own countrymen here. In my mixed Thai-Chinese family of bankers and civil servants there are many older members, and it is, in mine as in all such families, obligation number one to take care of parents, aunts, uncles, etc.

We should remain humane There is a growing uneasiness among Thais, especially in areas with a high concentration of foreigners, like Chiangmai, Korat, Pattaya/Jomtien, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Phuket.

“Who will take care of the old and ill farangs? Why aren't their families taking care of them, are these people cruel?”

One of the reasons why Nordic people are successful on many levels here, both in the private and business sector, is that we are regarded as humane, reliable and having achieved a high standard of justice and welfare — shouldn’t it remain that way?

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Den Danske Sprogskole Thai Integration is now focused on what it does best - help Thai people learn Danish language and culture.

Typically the students are about to move to Denmark for an internship, as aupair or to live with their spouse.

By Gregers Moller

en Danske Sprogskole – the Danish Language School – is the new additional name that the Danish company Thai Integration has taken to clarify its core services: Danish language training.

At the same time, the school has also strengthened its competence with the employment of three new staff, Louise Olsen and Surat Khongthai, who both have professional educational backgrounds from Denmark, and John Olesen, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge about Thailand from a Danish expatriate position.

“We feel that Thai Integration is now ready to emerge as a fully flexed language institute offering currently Danish language training for Thais and Thai language train-

D

Allan Nielsen (right) with his new team, from left Saveerawan ‘Tiew’ Seerup, Louise Olsen, Vilai Promsan, Surat Kongthai, and John Olsen. Just as the new team was put together, Clyde Hauman - who has been teaching Danish at Thai Integration since the beginning - reported back to work.

ing for Danes but later offering also related language services and other related services,” says Allan Nielsen, who is founder of Thai Integration ApS and spouse of the sole owner of the Thai company, Vilai Promsan.

During the early years of the company, Thai Integration accumulated knowledge of the need in the Thai marketplace for its services by offering their language classes for free. Most students were Thai women of all ages who had a Danish fiancee and was about to relocate to live in Denmark, but a few were also Thais employed in Danish companies in Thailand for whom knowledge of the Danish language could be a professional advantage.

During these years, a core staff was Clyde Haumann, who used to assist his students both as a language teacher and as an adviser in the Danish visa application process.

When Clyde became seriously ill last year, it became paramount for Allan Nielsen and Vilai Promsan to bring the company up to the next level.

“We had at the time 20 students,” recalls Allan Nielsen.

“We had already started charging a fee for our services and we saw that this was not a hindrance to our further development.”

The business plan, which is now being implemented, positions Den Danske Sprogskole close to the Danish “Hoejskole” Concept.

“The students can stay in a house in the same little street as the language school, and the tuition includes far more than just language.

The students are also taught Danish social manners, Danish cooking, the structure of the Danish society and other useful subjects that

will help them become more easily integrated in the Danish society, once they relocate to Denmark, if that is their goal. Living and studying together facilitates a strong friendship between the students which then forms the foundation of their future Thai-Danish network,” Allan Nielsen explains.

The mix of the students will also include more aupair girls, exchange students and other professionals.

Future plans for the company includes expanding the classes to offer also Thai language training for Norwegian and Swedish expats living in Thailand or visiting Thailand.

A Swedish teacher will also be added to offer the parallel services to Thai nationals interested in learning Swedish language and culture as is today the case for Denmark.

Allan Nielsen's company in Denmark is training and re-integrating Danish people into the Danish work-force when they for some reason have become long-term unemployed. Many of these have over the years been foreigners who have become Danish citizens but have dropped out of the work-force. As such the Thais can also be assisted

by Thai Integration with their integration process once they have relocated to Denmark

The new team John Olesen was employed as the F&B Manager at a hotel on the island of Bornholm in Denmark, when he first met Allan Nielsen, who was the owner of the hotel. It was from this position, that Allan Nielsen later recruited him for his current position at den Danske Sprogskole. Apart from John Olesen spending most of the winter months in Thailand dur-

Vi glæder os til at møde dig kende sine rødder en er det vigtigt at rd ve t re barn og ung. re ise al ob gl I en steder i verden at væ ge yg tr t es m og te de beds klasse til 3.G. og Danmark er et af – kostelever fra 6.

G. 3. til se as kl er r fra begynd Vi optager dageleve re vores brochurer. du også kan rekvire or hv k, t.d os gk ba n, Rektor www. my Burnett Nielse Få mere at vide på Med venlig hilsen Jim 28 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

Bagsværd Kostskole & Gymnasium Aldershvilevej 138 2880 Bagsværd T +45 4498 0065 www.bagkost.dk

ing the past 25 years, he has also previously been involved in business in Thailand when he helped establishing a resort in Kanchanaburi.

Louise Olsen holds a degree in language psychology from University of Copenhagen. This is a crossdisciplinary education combining language training with psychology and social science. She has previ-

ously worked as an English language tutor in Seoul and last summer she trained a team of Indian nurses in India in Danish language and culture before their departure for Denmark.

Surat Kongthai came to Denmark as a five year old to live with his Thai mother and her Danish husband, which explains his Danish

Making the students become a group of close friends is an important part of the integration process. The other students will become the first network that the students willl get once they move to Denmark

second last name, Hart Hansen. He studied Nordic languages combined with Thai at the Asian Institute under the University of Copenhagen and already when he was a student he started teaching Thai language to other Danish students at the institute. Surat thus brings a solid experience in this field to his new job at Den Danske Sprogskole.

And then – just as this new team had been picked – Clyde Haumann got well and is now back on the team as a strong guarantor for continuity and know-how.

Last, but not least it should be mentioned that even the chef and matron of Den Danske Sprogskole, Khun Saveerawan Seerup, is Danish related as indicated by her Danish last name. Her husband lives in Nykoebing Mors but years of legal complications has prevented the couple from being able to live together. Instead she is a core staff of the “hoejskole” and typically becomes the first friend of the Thai students who move to live at the school.

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 29

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a S n a dS e

Photo Contest:

i l a a n h d T u n in

ScandAsia is excited to announce our 1st Photo Contest among our readers. The contest is a great opportunity to have your images judged and commented on by an experienced panel – and maybe win one of the attractive prizes too!

Theme:

Send us your photos NOW! Deadline for submitting your photos is 10 August 2010.

How to enter By entering this competition you must have read and agreed to the terms and conditions outlined below.

Prizes: 1st Winner will receive a hotel voucher for one night at one of our attractive advertisers.

2nd Winner and 3rd Winner will receive dinner vouchers.

All entries will be displayed on scandasia.com/ photos with comments from our expert judges.

Submit your photo now!

The first ten entries will receive a smart ScandAsia polo shirt.

30 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

Terms and Conditions • This competition is open to the Scandinavians living in Thailand and their close family.

• Entry in this competition is FREE • Entries should be sent by email to photocontest@scandasia.com • Please submit images as high quality JPG files (unzipped).

• Maximum file size per picture: 4 MB. • Maximum 5 images per photographer.

• Submissions must include photographers full name and adress, a title and a short description including the place and date (month/year) where each photo was taken. Preferably also the equipment used.

• Deadline for submitting your photos is 10 August 2010.

Prize Winners will be announced in August 2010. Winners will be contacted directly as well as announced on the website and in the weekly E-Newsletter ScandAsia Weekly.

Note: By submitting your images, you allow ScandAsia Magazine the right to publish the submitted photo in the ScandAsia Magazine with credit to the photographer but with no further compensation.

We will not sell or give away the right to use your photographs to any third party.

Special Priser t t t t t t

Fri kilometer Kaskoforsikring Lufthavnsgebyr Moms Personbiler Stationcars

t Luksusbiler t Minibusser t 40 udlejningskontorer inkl. alle lufthavne t Intet one-way gebyr i Danmark (ved min. 3 dages leje)

www.europcar.dk

Reservation +45 89 33 11 33 E-mail: reservations@europcar.dk June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 31

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32 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

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June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 33

Easy

Khao Phansa

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hao Phansa marks the beginning of the three-month Buddhist ‘lent’ period. Buddhist Lent is an annual three-month rains retreat known in Thai as “Phansa”. Khao Phansa means to “enter” the period in which the monk will remain in one place during the rainy season.

It was on this day that the Lord Buddha preached His sermon to followers after attaining enlightenment. The day is usually celebrated by merit making, listening to a monk’s sermon and in the evening there will typically be a beautiful candle light procession at the temple.

For the coming three months, monks should not venture out or spend the night in any other place except in cases of extreme emergency and, even then, their time away must not exceed seven consecutive nights.

Phansa is also the time when young men should enter the monk hood for spiritual training or to gain merit for themselves and their parents. Many Thais still feel that a man cannot be considered a mature adult unless he has been a monk.

Khao Phansa falls on the first day after the full moon of the eighth lunar month. This year, Khao Phansa Day is Tuesday 27 July 2010.

Ok Phansa Day - this year on 23 October 2010 - marks the day to “come out of” the Buddhist lent and falls on the full moon of the eleventh lunar month. This is a day of merit-making too and the day to welcome a son back into the home upon his successful completion of a term in the temple.

Hard

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34 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010

n 86-year-old man went to his local doctor for his quarterly check up. The doctor, who was an old friend, asked him how he was feeling.

“Never felt better,” he said. “I’ve just come back from Thailand where I met an 18-year-old girl who is now my wife. What’s more, she’s now pregnant with my child. So what do you think of that?” the old man asked proudly.

The doctor considered his question for a moment and then began to tell a story of his own.

“I have an old friend. He’s about your age and an avid hunter. He never misses a season.

One day as he was setting off to go hunting in a bit of a hurry he picked up his walking stick instead of his gun by mistake.

“As he neared a lake, he came across a large, male beaver sitting at the water’s edge.

“He realized that he’d left his gun at home so he couldn’t shoot this magnificent creature. Out of habit he raised his walking stick, took aim and called out “bang, bang” “Miraculously, two shots rang out and the beaver fell down dead.

“So what do you think of that?” asked the doctor.

“If you ask me,” began the old man, “someone else must have pumped a couple of rounds into that beaver.”

“Exactly!” smiled the doctor.....

June 2010 • ScandAsia.Thailand 35

36 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2010