ScandAsia Thailand June 2013

JUN 2013

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Opinion

The demographic timebomb

C 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 : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao 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 Assistant Editor: Wachiraporn Janrut wachiraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com

ountry by country all over the world, we move closer to the point when the number of people entering the workforce are less than the number of people exiting the workforce. In some countries, like Japan, this point has already been reached.

This is not just an old world scenario – it is also happening in our part of the world. Official data from China shows that the working-age population defined as people 15-59 years old fell almost 4 million people in 2012. It is the first time in 50 years that the labour pool has declined in China.

Even though the contraction in 2012 appears to be small relative to China’s more than a billion people, the cumulative effects will accelerate over the next decades.

A Chinese government think-tank has reported that the number of people between 15 and 64 will drop by around 40 million people the next 15 years. The proportion of over-65-year-olds will double over the next 25-26 years, a feat which took United States 69 years to complete. China’s one-child policy imposed over 40 years now suddenly threatens to impact the country’s future growth.

Forecasters predict that in Japan the labor force will over then next 30-40 years decrease from 68 million down to 46 million, Italy’s from 23 to 14 million and in Germany the labor market goes from 41 million to 28 million.

Thailand will face the dilemma in 2025, just 12 years from now, according to research. However, looking at the prediction in the research, we now see that the time where more people leave the labour force than entering (i.e. contracting) is coming earlier than expected.

Fewer young people in the labour market means an increasing aging population and a shortage of workers to support that aging population. Which will again affect economic productivity and also strain the social security and pension systems.

For companies, it means attracting good staff will be increasingly difficult. Strong brand names like Apple, Google, Starbucks and another 50 global brands may not feel this but for the average company that does not enjoy such strong name recognition they have to do something.

As a starting point, you must develop an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) which clearly describes real needs and clarify job expectations. Here are just a few of the many questions that will help you on the way. They must be answered before you start any sourcing of new staff. And let me warn you, there is no way you can develop the EVP between coffee breaks.

• Why would someone who is good at this type of work want this particular job?

• Why should anyone come and work for you?

• What does this job offer that is unique or makes it most attractive to a potential candidate?

• Why is doing this job at your company better than doing the same job at a competitor?

• Why do people come to work at your company and why do they stay? Is it leading edge technology?

Fast growth? Industry reputation? Work/life balance? How does it differentiate you from your primary competitors?

• What is your competitive compensation and benefits plan? 12 or 13 months guaranteed pay, sign-on bonus, performance incentive, company car, medical cover, provident fund, for employee or for family too? Flex time, free parking at the office building?

• Remember that applicants or candidates are a perishable commodity. It is the only “product” I know that can speak. They can say no to being “sold” to your organization. The better ones are quickly turned off by unresponsiveness which is interpreted as a lack of initiative or seriousness.

If you are not prepared with an intelligent EVP when meeting future employees the contraction in the labour force will hit you hard and before your competitor.

Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Supphathada Numamnuay supphathada@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Lake & Foundtain Printing Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

Tom Sorensen is a Partner in Grant Thornton which he joined in 2003 as head of Executive Recruitment. He is a prominent figure in the Scandinavian community, having been among others Chairman of Scandinavian Society Siam and for five consecutive years President of the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce. His column “From the Headhunter’s Desk” is a popular feature in the English speaking media in Thailand.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY

Coming Events

‘The Beauty of Life’ Art Exhibition Date: 3 June – 7 July 2013 Location: Ardel Gallery of Modern Art Created by Thailand’s leading artist of realistic approach Chairat Sangthong, “the Beauty of Live’ art exhibition presents the fine art of acrylic on canvas under the concept of discovering simple happiness through local way of life. Local customs and traditions are featured here.

For more information, visit www.ardellgallery.com

‘Beauty’ Art Exhibition Date: 6 June – 14 July 2013 Location: DOB Hualamphong Gallery “Beauty” art exhibition presents fine art of oil on canvas under the concept of materialistic obsession. Many of today women are obsessed with decorating themselves with accessories, makeup and tend to beautify themselves more than necessary. Thai female artist Suriwan Sutham explores what might happen if beauty seekers were to take their obsession too far.

For more information, visit www.ardelgallery.com

Asia International Guitar Festival & Competition 2013

Amazing Thailand Grand Sale

Date: 7 – 9 June 2013 Location: Phuket

Date: 13-16 June 2013 Location: the Sukosol (Siam City) Hotel, Bangkok

Date: 15 June – 15 August 2013 Location: participating businesses throughout Thailand

Following the success of last year’s event with over 4,000 participants, the 8th Laguna Phuket International Marathon this year expects over 5,000 runners and walkers. Laguna Phuket International Marathon is one of the biggest marathon events in Thailand. The marathon course is along the beautiful beaches, and takes in a typical Thai village market, a rubber plantation, with sea views before finishing in the resort of Laguna Phuket in the North West of the tropical island.

The 42.195km marathon course has been officially measured and is sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. Furthermore, the race also supports the family activities by launching other different events such as 5km. Walk for health and 2km. Kids Run. For more information, visit www.phuketmarathon.com

The four-day event is organised by Thailand Guitar Society in association with the Conservatory of Music Rangsit University and the Sukosol (Siam City) Hotel, Bangkok, featuring concerts, Master classes, competition and exhibition at the Sukosol Hotel.

Among many well-known musicians to participate in the the event include Amadeus Guitar Duo (Canada/Gemany), Dale Kavanagh (Canada), Thomas Kirchhoff (Gemany), Marco Tamayo (Cuba), Sachiko Miyashita (Japan), Admir Doçi (Albania), Lirza Zaloshnja (Albania), Leon Koudelak (Swiss/Czech), Ekachai Jearakul (Thailand), and Monching Carpio (Philippines).

For more information, visit www.thailandguitarsociety.com

Tourism Authority of Thailand presents Amazing Thailand Grand Sale! The twomonth event offers shoppers special discounts from 10 to 80 per cent and other privileges at participating department stores, shopping malls, jewelry shops, golf courses, hospitals as well as leading airlines and online travel agencies.

Shoppers can also enjoy discounts at participating merchants at selected tourist attractions in Bangkok, Chiangmai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Koh Samui and other famous destinations in Thailand.

For more information, visit www.thailandgrandsale.tourismthailand.org

Laguna Phuket International Marathon

6 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Past Events

Scandinavian Viking fest plunders Bangkok

By Anders Holm Nielsen Photos by Disraporn Yatprom

S

ome thousand years ago the Vikings would make their way from Scandinavia to England on quests to rape and plunder. On Saturday 11 the quest was on Chao Phraya River as 80 “Vikings” from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland boarded a ship to enjoy a day on the river followed by a party at Admiral’s Pub and Restaurant in SukhumwitSoi 29.

The raping and plundering were kept at a minimum and replaced by drinking and good times. It was the sort of atmosphere that only comes when the weather is good, the beer cold and you are wearing a Viking costume and a cardboard helmet.

The event was organized by Scandinavian Society Siam and Admiral’s Pub and Restaurant.

When arriving at the ship everybody was given Viking costumes and seeing as there is no successful quest without proper provisions, cold beer was handed out and the bar was open for refills all through the trip.

On the boat trip games were being held including knot tying, rock, scissors, paper and trivia on the Vikings.

It raised quite a bit attention when the ship anchored after a few hours of touring the river.

The 80 Vikings disembarked at Asiatique and by passers were snapping their cameras at the Scandinavian crowd which had turned into quite the attraction.

The following song taew ride was an experience in itself and had the atmosphere of the Scandinavian “studenterkørsel” where freshly graduated high schoolers drive around town in buses.

At the Admiral’s a buffet was set up in the dining area while you could also hang back and enjoy the free bar at the pub. Upstairs on the patio, live music was provided and another bar made sure nobody would wake up without a headache. The food also had the traditional Scandinavian touch as the upstairs patio offered roast pig with a carving station.

Downstairs the points from the contests had been counted and the winner received a gift certificate for a dinner for two at Admiral’s Pub and Restaurant.

It was the first ever event of this sort and the large number of Vikings on the quest along with great backing from sponsors made the whole thing smell like repeat business for next year.

Thanks!

Scandinavian Society Siam gives special thanks to the sponsors of the event. Main sponsor was Chang Beer and Mekong Whisky and VIKING Life-Saving Equipment (Thailand) Ltd. Supporting sponsors were Hopsession, Beervana, and Sigmund Stroemme from ThoresenVinama Logistic Company & Baconco.

8 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Past Events

Scandinavian Library opening

By Gregers Moller

A

Scandinavian Library opened on 23 April on the top floor of Mermaid Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 29 in Bangkok. The library is open for all Scandinavians although the caretaker of the collection of books is the Scandinavian Society Siam.

Christina Hammarlund, Board Member of the Scandinavian Society Siam, has established a protocol, where visitors will have to enter the title of the book and their contact details when borrowing. This goes, however, mostly for books of as certain age or of some higher value. The main section of the library is be a “put-andtake” library; if you put three books into the collection, you can take three other books away to read. But don’t bring more books than you plan to take away because the shelf space is already limited as it is.

The books have for the past couple of years been stored by Transpo Asian Tigers as a courtesy for the Church of Sweden since the Church moved away from the villa it rented on Sukhumvit soi 33. Many of the books originate from the library that Scandinavian Society Siam donated to the Church of Sweden when this was established in Bangkok – but many more where later added by changing Vicars in charge of the Church.

Jorgen Lundbak, the owner of Mermaid Hotel, performed the official opening prior to the AGM on 23 April. On behalf of the SSS, Christina Hammarlund thank him for hosting the book collection which will be open Monday to Friday from14.00 to 16.00 – plus outside these hours by appointment.

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8/29/11 1:57 PM June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Past Events

European Film Festival opening

By Anders Holm Nielsen

E

very year, the European Union Film Festival EU Film is held in Thailand. Bangkok enjoys the best of European films in May along with KhoenKaen and Chiang Mai in June. About 20 European films are screened free of charge, including Danish, Swedish and Finnish films.

The opening reception of the festival was held on Wednesday May 15 at SF World Cinema, Central world, where a large number of guests, journalists and representatives from the European countries gathered.

Ambassador of Luxembourg Mr. Marc Thill gave a short presentation at the reception as the opening film was Blind Spot from Luxembourg. The tickets for the opening film were in big demand and the show was sold out.

Bangkok enjoys the films on 16-26 May at SFX Cinema in Central World. In KhonKaen screening takes place at SFC cinema on 1-2 June and in Chiang Mai on 13-23 June at SCF cinema in Promenada. Films are screened in original language with English subtitles.

Scandinavian films include Danish “A funny man”, “This life”, “Finnish Stars Above” and Swedish “Beyond”.

Norway’s Constitution Day celebrated in Bangkok Photos by Bjørn-Are Johansen

I

n collaboration with the 17th May Committee of Norwegians Worldwide, the Norwegian Embassy in Thailand held Norway’s Constitution Day celebration at the ambassador’s residence on 17 May 2013. The event gathered a large number of Norwegians who later participated in the joyful Norwegian parade. In the evening, a gala dinner was held at Sheraton Grade Sukhumvit for participants to enjoy.

10 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Past Events

Alumni evening at the Danish Embassy in Bangkok

By Gregers Moller

T

he first Danish -Thai Alumni Networking at the Royal Danish Embassy in two years took place in the evening of Tuesday 14 May 2013 with so many Danes participating that they almost drowned out the Thai participants.

For the Thai participants, especially for the newly returned exchange students, the main attraction was to meet Ambassador Mikal H. Winther and his wife Ratanawadee in their private residence, which they had opened for the event. For the Danish participants, the evening posed a chance to connect to these newly returned students to canvas for potential new employees – plus catch up with old friends and acquaintances.

An added bonus was the popular Danish hotdog and other nice Danish specialties that were served in the dining room.

Several speakers addressed the guests during the evening, starting with welcome speeches by Dancham President Peter Romhild, Ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther and Thai-Danish Club President Eid Alexandersen.

The main speaker of the evening was Dr. Pensak Chagsuchinda Howitz who talked about the historical background of the Alumni and the importance of the cooperation between the Alumni, the Chamber and the Embassy.

Finally, Carsten Andersen of Kvik kitchen presented the rise of the company in Denmark and its current expansive position in Thailand.

TSCC Networking Evening in Pattaya

T

hai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce (TSCC) held its networking evening at Akvavit Grill Bar & Restaurant on Jomtien Beach on 17 May 2013, gathering a good number of members and 20 potential members who turned up to listen to the presentation about TSCC. A glass of welcome drink was served to each member upon arrival. Members then enjoyed the international buffet while networking with each other. Throughout the evening, members enjoyed wine, beer and cocktails at special prices.

Jan Eriksson, the president of the TSCC, and Executive Director Peter Bjork then delivered a speech on what TSCC is doing and benefits for its members. Also present from TSCC were the Board Members Peter Temander and Bjorn Richardsson. TSCC plans to set up an Easter Seaboard Branch after the summer break and this was the first step in that direction.

12 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

News Brief

Swedish Film Festival in Thailand expands

By Anders Holm Nielsen

Call center in Hua Hin in charge of Swedish healthcare hotline

W

hen Swedes call “sjukvårdsrådgivningen” which is a healthcare hotline, in many cases the calls will be transferred to Thailand. Swedish nurses in Hua Hin are answering questions from patients in Sweden.

The nurses are paid NOK 15,000 per month with free accommodation and free lunch.

The Swedish call center in Hua Hin is managed by Medicall commissioned from Medhelp, which several Swedish counties have hired to run medical clinics.

The nurses in Hua Hin are answering questions from patients from Södermanland, Stockholm and Värmland. Mostly the transferred calls are at nights, Swedish time, and on weekends.

On an average night two nurses in Sweden and three in Thailand are serving patients in the three areas.

Transferring the healthcare calls to Thailand is not just about time zones. It is also a matter of expenses. The nurses are paid NOK 15,000 or 70,000 baht and there is no pension.

However, the nurses enjoy benefits like free travels back and forth to Sweden, free housing and free lunches.

This fall Medicall will expand from 9 to 25 employees. In the long term they will expand to 30 employees. There have been far more applicants than posts.

“Most of the nurses come here because of the working environment.

The wages are lower here, but living expenses are three times lower than in Sweden, said Birger Rexed who is the head of Medicall.

Most nurses stay in Thailand for six months.

“If you work here longer than six months, you will pay taxes in Thailand instead of in Sweden and taxes are much lower here,” said Birger Rexed.

Source: ekurien.se

L

ast year the first ever Swedish Film Festival in Thailand offered four different films exposing Thai audience to an insight in Swedish culture and filmmaking. The festival was a success with a large number of audiences, particularly Thais.

In order to satisfy the large number of movie enthusiasts, this year’s festival will be bigger and with wider spectra of movies and seven films. Additional screenings are also part of the program. The tickets are free and films can be seen at the festival from 5-9 June at SFX Cinema at the Emporium Shopping Mall. Films are in Swedish with English subtitles.

The press conference was held on 8 May 2013 at St. Regis Bangkok in presence of Swedish Ambassador Klas Molin and a representative from SFX Cinema who has been chosen as the partner and co-organizer once again since last year’s partnership proved a success.

The Ambassador said that Sweden and Thailand’s film history actually goes back more than a hundred years and that the film festival is a good way of displaying the two countries’ long relationship.

In fact the first ever recorded film in Sweden is of the visit of His Royal Highness King Rama V in Stockholm in 1897.

115 years later, the arts of film have come a long way and the Swedish Film Festival offers a large variety of movies ranging from comedy to documentary that according to Ambassador Klaus Molin is a great opportunity to learn about Swedish culture.

Emphasized at the conference was the comedy “Cockpit”, which is a story about a pilot who loses his job, puts on a wig and starts as a flight attendant. Another was the documentary “Palme” which is about the life and assassination of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.

For more information, contact SF Call Center at 02-268-8888 or visit www. sfcinemacity.se

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News Brief

Finnish BMH hopes to set up waste-to-energy projects in Thailand

B

MH Technology, the Finland-based waste-to-energy technology supplier, expects to sign two agreements with the Thai government this year for the first waste-to-electricity projects in Thailand, reports Bangkok Post.

Jori Kaaresmaa, sales manager of BMH Thailand, said the company has been in talks with developers of two projects here for two years.

“We already have the pieces of the puzzle and are in the finalising stages of the contracts,” he said.

Turning waste into electricity is a new concept for Thailand. Such projects convert municipal solid waste into solid recovered fuel (SRF), which is then used in boilers to produce electricity.

“We have 10-15 realistic projects in the pipeline but they have not started yet due to political reasons in Thailand. Dealing with waste is complicated,” Mr Kaaresmaa said.

We hope that the projects will be set up within the next five years, he said. BMH has been active in the field for about seven years.

Europe is its largest market because it has a lot of waste regulations and emission controls. About half of its customers are in the private sector. “We have rated Thailand and Indonesia as the No.1 countries. The Thai government has already developed good support for these projects,” Mr Kaaresmaa said.

At the moment, BMH has two customers in Thailand which are TPI Polene (TPIPL) and Siam Cement Group (SCG).

Norwegian solar firm REC gains foothold in Thailand

N

orwegian solar company REC has opened an office in Bangkok to tap into Thailand’s renewable energy market. The move comes following the launch of its first solar plant in the country, the 9.5 MW Chiang Rai project.

Jose Luis Martin, REC’s project development manager in Thailand, said: “The best way to serve a market is simply to be there. A local presence in the country testifies that we’re taking a long-term view to our business activities in Southeast Asia.

He said the Chiang Rai installation “is the first milestone of many”.

Chiang Rai is powered by nearly 41,000 REC solar panels and generates electricity for 7,200 homes. It is owned and operated by Chiang Rai Solar Company, a joint venture between independent solar power producer Sonnedix and CK Power, an affiliate of CH Karchang, Thailand’s second-largest construction company.

It is located across 24 hectares of mountainous land which required the solar panels to be ground-mounted on a special concrete structure.

Thailand has set targets to meet a quarter of energy needs by renewable resources by 2021.

“Thailand is an exciting market and a magnet for solar investment,” added Martin.

Court rules in Denmark – boy escapes deportation to Thailand

S

ix-year-old Fimm Na Thiban is not going to be deported to Thailand but can stay in Denmark with his stepfather. That was the ruling of the High Court on 14 May 2013.

Even though he has lived his entire life in the country, the Danish authorities seemed determined to send the little boy on a plane to Thailand as the case was appealed by the government’s independent legal adviser on behalf of the Immigration Board, even though it had already been decided by a lower court that Fimm should stay in Denmark.

The trial has raised public protests and outrage. Supporters have created a different Facebook pages to support Fimm.

The case of Fimm and his right to stay in Denmark has been widely covered by Danish media because it could set precedence for future rulings. All in all the case is about whether or not it should be allowed for foreign children to stay in Denmark with their non-biological parents in Denmark.

16 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Although not his biological father, Danish Ole Heegaard has since Fimm’s first months been acting as his guardian. Ole Heegaard and his wife from Thailand, Noppore Na Thiban, divorced and she moved back to Thailand. However, she wished her son to stay in Denmark with Ole Heegaard as he has been as a father for the boy from the beginning. She did not feel that she could care for the boy if he was deported to Thailand and that a foster home might have been the only alternative.

“I wish him to stay with Ole. He has a better future in Denmark than with me in Thailand. He is much closer to his dad than he is to me,” said Noppore to TV2-News when the case started.

The court emphasized that Fimm does not speak Thai and that he would have a problem even communicating with his mother if he was deported. The court also said that the mother had basically given him up when she left Denmark and moved back to Thailand.

The boy only knows of Denmark and Ole Heegaard is considered his primary caregiver.

Because of this, the High Court decided that it would be in violation of the UN Children’s Convention to deport Fimm Na Thiban. Fimm also has an older sister, Thipsuda, and the High Court has decided that the Immigration Board is to process her case again.

What if...

ExPloRE WhAt if

new students Imogen and Ryohei relax at ‘home’ on UWCSEA East

…yoUR ChIld fElT AT homE fRom dAy onE? Would feeling secure and supported make learning easier?

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Because their buddies accompanied them throughout the day and introduced them to other students, Ryohei and Imogen felt they belonged from the start. This feeling followed them from playground to classroom, giving them the confidence to do anything from making friends to learning new mathematics concepts.

This is just part of the school’s Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme, a key element of the learning experience. Through PSE, students explore their identity and place in the world. With the support of their teachers and each other, students are prepared to take their seat at school and beyond, with confidence.

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News Brief

Danish Design Studio closer to reality

O

n 10 May 2013, the Danish ambassador to Thailand H.E. Mikael Hemniti Winther mediated a meeting between the Danish design company Jacob Jensen and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand.

The purpose of the meeting between Jacob Jensen and KMUTT was to discuss a potential collaboration between the two organizations in setting up a design studio in Thailand. The meeting took place at KMUTT Bangmod Campus.

An educational profitable studio would offer young Thai designers a real working experience under the instruction of the Jacob Jensen team to produce design works – products, architecture, graphics, serial manufacture – to clients from Thailand and neighboring Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

“Our purpose is not to exploit – get the brain or cheap labor. We want to bring in young Thai designers so they can learn some more and help raise the living standard of Thailand,” said chief designer and CEO of Jacob Jensen Brand, back in 2012.

“With our methods, I think we can contribute to make Thai design even better, to help the young designers to have broader outlook, and make better products for Thai industry. When they sell more products, people pay more taxes, and you lift up the society.”

The Ambassador and the representatives of Jacob Jensen including Chief Designer & CEO, Mr. Timothy Jacob Jensen, and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Lars Kolind, were warmly welcomed by the President of KMUTT, Assoc.

Prof. Dr. Sakarindr Bhumiratana and KMUTT’s professors.

The initiative follows an establishment of the Jacob Jensen Design | DeTao Shanghai in August. The 500 square metre studio opened in cooperation with the Beijing based DeTao Group under the DeTao Masters Academy.

18 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Lars Ryderstad New priest at the Church of Sweden in Bangkok

By Wachiraporn Janrut

T

he new Swedish priest to replace Lovisa Moller, who has been stationed in Thailand since April 2009, at the Church of Sweden in Bangkok is Lars Ryderstad. He was born and grew up in Gothenburg, a big city with a big harbour on the west coast of Sweden.

Lars worked as a customs officer in Gothenburg before decided to study to become a clergyman. He has been a priest since 1978.

From 2002 to 2010, Lars was a vicar at the Swedish Seamens Church in Skagen, Denmark. Since then, he has been working as a vicar in a custody and prison in Stocklom. ”I have always been interested in meeting people and talking about our lives with the darkness and light. I enjoy discussing difficulties and possibilities that can be reflected in the light of the gospel and humanity,” Lars tells ScandAsia.

He plans to move to Bangkok around 20-21 August this year. ”I have never been to Thailand or Southeast Asia before but I am very glad to have got this opportunity – to work, live and share the conditions of being an inhabitant in Bangkok and Thailand,” says Lars.

When asked about what he aims to achieve while working in Bangkok, he says: ”I wish that in my missions I will get possibilities to share everyday life and holidays, small and big moments and thoughts with many of you. I wish to be a part of and show a bit of the church of Christ on earth, in many times through our own lives.

I also wish that we together can discover a way ahead when it´s hard to see any solutions. Me and my wife Karin has a great deal of pleasure in having such a big family.” ”I am now looking forward to meeting and getting to know you,” Lars adds.

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One Day in Life with: Diving Instructor Jyrki Castren On an early February day in-between peak seasons we follow diving instructor Jyrki Castren of Finnish company Raya Divers on Phuket as he takes out students learning to dive at sea to discover what this popular job is like.

By Joakim Persson

20 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

I

s Diving Instructor a dream job for anyone who loves diving? Is it about all smiles in the sun and an overall leisurely feeling out at sea? Or endless hours in classrooms and repetitive training in swimming pools? Diving Instructor Jyrki Castren shares his daily routine experience with ScandAsia.

Diving plays a significant part of tourism in Thailand and the diving companies like Raya Drivers attract many people, particularly younger ones, to come and work during the diving high season in the Andaman Sea waters. They come as temporary workers and are needed because most customers prefer to have diving instructors and snorkelling guides speaking their own native language. It turns out that the diving course book provided by PADI is also available in one’s native language. (PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors - is the most well-known diving certification body.)

But Jyrki is not exactly a newcomer on this job – he has been doing it for over 20 years and still he finds it a pleasant way of making a living, as he explains over coffee at the Raya Divers office.

He took his first course back in 1988 in Finland and has been hooked ever since.

“I have to admit that during the last 25 years I’ve been more or less addicted to diving. In 1990 I did my first instructor course and then in 1993 I made Crossover Training with PADI. After that I’ve more or less done it for my living.”

Moving to Thailand He first came to Thailand on holiday in 2007, where destiny awaited him as he then met his future wife. So he decided to return the following year and settle down in Thailand. Off-season, when he is not teaching, they travel to Finland on holiday for a few months.

After a few decades of diving at many different places, Jyrki says that he doesn’t go diving aside work anymore.

“I used to do it and I have seen so much and been to so many great sites in the world,” he says.

By now Jyrki has made many thousands of dives. He uses a logbook to keep statistics.

“I don’t count dives any more, but days and people. But I do about 500 dives per year,” says Jyrki. “Usually there will be two to three dives a day, and each dive takes up to an hour when out instructing.”

The second day a combination of shallow water practise and real diving down to 12 metres follows and on this last day of the 3-day Open Water Diver course they are having theory on the way to a dive site, and then two dives down to maximum 18 metres, followed by the final exam on the way home.

Diving trip The day for the diving instructors usually starts around 7.15 am when they alternate either organising the vans that go out on the island picking up all the customers, or going to the warehouse and packing all the gear.

On this particular day there are 100 customers, and it can often be more than that. This requires coordination and planning, which is supported by ten staff members working in their office.

The trip is well planned and organised. Jyrki shows the planning list for the day. They have developed routines for every step to be efficient.

“We pack the gear per request according to the list. Then we check that we have everything and the correct sizes of diving gear. We name a seat for each student and make sure we have packed it correctly. Sometimes it’s quite huge work because we might easily have over 100 customers coming. Everything has to be correct and it’s a big logistics challenge. There might be easily 40 – 50 hotels, where we go and pick up customers.”

They have carefully arranged the transportations, on this day using 10 vehicles, in order for everybody to reach the Chalong pier in time for departure at 9 am.

“We decide every morning which cars to go where, looking at the hotels’ locations to plan the route. You have to have a map in your head. And we’re good at logistics – that’s the only way to make 100+ people leave with the boats at the same time.”

Customers are checked against the list three times – the last time when boarding the boat.

“Otherwise it may happen that people end up on the wrong boat!” says Jyrki.

At 8.59 the boat departs with around 25 customers on board – all of them are Finns on this day.

From then on, all the tour leader, diving instructors and masters have to do is concentrating

on their customers.

Indeed everything looks very orderly as the Jyrki’s group starting preparing their gear for their first dive.

Instructions are given in one’s native language or in a second language that one masters, Jyrki explains. But once under water the universal sign language is used.

All set for a dive “We give people a long and deep theory lesson about what’s going to happen during the dive.

When it’s time to enter the water everyone knows what they are going to do and how and what path we are taking. And everybody knows they have to follow the dive master or instructor - for safety reasons. They don’t go into water unprepared,” explains Jyrki It’s very important for new divers who have never dived before.

“They want to know, and that everything has been taken care so they are safe and with no risk of getting lost down there.”

“Normally a dive lasts about an hour – which is long enough. It depends on how much air people are using. Consumption of air can be very different from one person to another.”

His six diving students are excited ahead of their last dive.

“Now they already know after a couple of days what diving is. They’ve made a couple of shallow dives and learned the skills and now just want to see what’s down there, what kind of life, visibility and how it feels. They are really waiting for this.”

“Scandinavian students really pay attention – they really want to learn – which is big plus for us!” he adds.

He can also enjoy the diving while instructing.

Aside this, all the people he meets make Jyrki keep on doing this job after so many years.

“The people are the best thing with this job, because they are so happy when they come.

And it’s fulfilling to see them happy and with new adrenaline after a dive. They have been anxious or worried or whatever but they have learned a new skill. They have been able to enter a new world.

They find out that they can do it, can manage and can learn it. This is a privilege for me actually!”

Lessons are all at sea As it turns out Raya Divers do not use classrooms at all; theory lessons are held on the diving boats.

“Classroom is boring and swimming pool as well. We have an air condition cabin where it’s nice to sit down and learn on the way out to the dive site.”

“We do it a little bit different from everybody else. We take people to shallow water where they can stand and start in one metre depth,” he explains the very first ‘discover dive’ session for beginners who come to the diving course with no experience.

“So first we make a shallow dive and go through the basics at Racha Island. Then we continue with an easy dive and then we practice outof-air circulations, hovering, mask clearing and all the skills you have to master before the training is over, which we do in confined water instead of in a pool as there’s none on the island.”

June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 21

Trine Larsen with a patient at Kut Hai temple station

A drop of change Young Danish volunteer physiotherapists share their experiences at the Raindrop Foundation, set with the aim to change the lives of disable children and their parents in Sakon Nakhon province in Thailand.

By Kim BirkkjĂŚr Lund

Marie Pahlke Fausing treating an adult patient at a community station 22 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

As physiotherapist Trine Larse

Rakchai recieving treatment at home by Anja

Trine Larsen and Martin Haarbye Vejlgaard

QR kode for video from comunitycentre QR code for video with Rakchai

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n the North-eastern corner of Thailand a small private foundation makes miracles on a daily basis. It is the Raindrop Foundation which together with enthusiastic locals and Danish volunteer physiotherapists changes the lives for disabled children and their parents in Sakon Nakhon province. In just five years Raindrop has expanded from one station for disabled children to 11 stations.

Creating cohesion Before Raindrop started its project there was no treatment available for disabled children in this poor corner of Thailand.

“Many parents tend to just let the child lying alone at home, because they don’t know how to activate and stimulate the child. An important part of our job is to teach the parents how they can stimulate the child,” says Marie Pahlke Fausing.

It is not only the treatment that makes a different but the social gathering as well. At some stations the parents have developed a tremendous cohesion.

“The parents really help and support each other. And the children meet other disabled children and discover that they are not the only disabled child in this world,” says Martin Haarbye Vejlgaard.

No magic It can be difficult for the patients or the parents to understand how exercises as tilting a foot can help a child to be able to walk sometime in the future. They often want a here and now solution or even better a magic pill.

“There are expectations that we can make a diagnosis by just looking at the patient or make a paralysed person able to walk again. Then we have to try to set some realistic goals with the patient by asking: If you won’t be able to walk again, are there then other functions you will work to regain?” explains Marie.

It is important that the patients set realistic goals and experiences progress, so they don’t give up exercising.

No other treatments available When the four young therapists volunteered, it

was to work with disabled children. The reality has shown to be somehow different. On top of treating more than 200 disabled children, they treat adults and they do quite a lot of nursing because many of the patients have bedsores, but even it wasn’t what they volunteered for they don’t feel deceived.

“I was surprised by the numbers of adult patients but sometimes it is actually difficult to know if it is a child or an adult, because they are so underdeveloped. We have one male patient whom we first handled as if he was a three year old.

Then we read in his file and realised that he actually is 22 years old,” Marie tells.

Trine Larsen wasn’t surprised by the adult patients.

“When there are no other treatments available, it is understandable that adults seek the project to get help,” she says.

None of them considers it a problem, that the project treats some adults as it gives them more experience. Only Martin has been working as a therapist back home. For the three girls Raindrop is their first work experience after finishing their education.

“As a fresh graduate you easily feel a bit uncertain about your abilities. But working here you realise that you actually are well qualified and able to solve the problems you face. Sometimes I surprised myself when treating patients, and I asked myself: When and where did I learn to do that?”

Trine says.

Facing death at the age of 17 Not all patients are able to get to one of the stations. So when the therapists are finished at the stations, it is time for home visits.

One of those not able to come to a station is 17-year-old Rakchai. He suffers from Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy - a disease that killed his older brother at the age of 18.

When we arrive, he and his younger brother are alone at home. Their parents have gone to the hospital to get medicine for Rakchai. As Anja today comes together with two farangs, Rakchai wants to show his favourite pastime: karaoke.

Pi A, a volunteer driver and interpreter, turns

Rakchair around so he can hold the microphone in his strongest hand, though he can barely hold it. He sings and Anja notes that it is excellent lung exercise.

You can meet Rakchai, Pi A and Anja at http://goo.gl/5VBps

Making the communities responsible A goal for the project is to get local communities to take responsibility for the disabled children’s treatments. When Raindrop set up a local station, they expect the community to hire locals as health assistants or WDs (Witch Doctors) as they are called by the Danish volunteers.

“We have a great cooperation with the WDs. They are very keen to learn, and training the WD’s is an important part of the project as we only are able to visit most stations once a week and some stations only once a fortnight,” Anja Nydam Hestholm tells.

As the volunteers only work in the project for 5 months, they usually don’t experience big progress with their patients. But even they maybe won’t see their patients achieve their goals, they have no doubt that their work makes a difference.

“To me it is obviously that not just our patients but also their parents benefit hugely from the project. It is the highlight of the week, when they go to the station” says Trine.

Proud to be a Raindrop The four young volunteers believe they too benefit from the program.

“Treatments here are real funny with a lot of jokes, fun and hullabaloo. Back home we are very formal and always have to consider if it is ok to ask or do so and so. Here there is a much lighter spirit,” says Marie She hopes she can bring home some of that spirit. Or at least try to be a bit more open and joyful herself and then hopes that some of that joy will rub off on her patients.

“This project is the best and I am so proud of the work we do. The gratitude from the patients and their parents makes me a better therapist,” says Trine.

June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 23

Why don’t you make yourself useful?

The woman I am meeting in Don Muang Airport is energetic and radiant. She looks nowhere near the age of 74 which my research has told me she is. This is Dr. Pensak - the legendary head of the Raindrop foundation.

Dr. Pensak 74 year old head of Raindrop Foundation.

By Kim Birkkjær Lund The kindergarten

24 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

S

he is a bit late for our appointment. A meeting with the Thai Minister of the Environment has delayed her. But we still have 45 minutes before her plane leaves for Sakon Nakhon. Her Bangkok housekeeper, who has been waiting for her together with me, hands her a big brown envelope.

It’s cash to pay scholarships for 20 young students from the foundation’s school at the border between Thailand and Myanmar. They have been admitted to university. Those fortunate students are just one of many success stories this Thai woman, who became a Dane, stands behind.

The yearly years Dr. Pensak’s first encounter with Denmark was in 1963, when she received a scholarship to study archaeology at Copenhagen University. After finishing her studies, she started teaching at the University’s South-east Asian Institute. There she met her future husband Frantz B. Howitz. He had been appointed Danish Ambassador to Thailand and attended her lectures as preparation for his new appointment.

“Frantz had worked for Danida before he became ambassador, so he took great interest in helping the poor villagers in my home province Esarn (Northeastern part of Thailand). We began with education in farming and then we sat up a children care centre being the first organisation in Thailand doing that. Later on we made the kindergarten and then the vocation and training centre.”

In 1979 they formalised their work by establishing the Raindrop Foundation. Frantz B. Howitz had been appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and they wanted to ensure that their projects would continue when they left Thailand.

When Frantz Howitz died in 1986, Danida offered to back up Dr. Pensak if she would continue the foundation’s work.

“With the support from Danida, I started the vocation centre for children who have never been to school. We picked up 200 children and offered them education up to third secondary school and in between offered them vocational training. The students were taught construction, dairy farming or potteries. It was a great success and our project was duplicated in other areas of Thailand.”

In 1999 Danida stopped working in Thailand, and the Raindrop foundation lost its funding. The vocation centre for children was handed over to the Thai government. The remaining activities are now paid by Dr. Pensak and her friends with support for the scholarships from Terre des hommes.

Officially Pi A interprets and drives for the volunteer physiotherapists. In reality, he does more than that. Working with physiotherapists for more than seven years has made Pi A quite capable as a therapist and he supports the patients privately. When I visited the project, I saw him giving a female patient, who had lost her mobility and her sight, a radio. So I asked him why he gave her the radio.

“I thought it was very sad for her so I asked her if there was anything she wanted, and she told me she needed a radio so I bought her one.

It wasn’t expensive - only 400 bath to make someone happy.”

No funding for disabled children The project for disabled children has been without financial support for the last three years.

Friends of Dr. Pensak have set up an organization called Danske Raindrop-friends, which partly pays air tickets and food allowance for the volunteers.

But else all expenses are paid by Dr. Pensak.

The project’s most important equipment is its car. The therapists drive 1,000 kilometres every week and lately they often use Pi A’s private car as the project’s car is ready for a replacement. A serious problem is a new car would cost more than 600,000 baht. The secretary for Danske Raindrop Friends, Hans Lynnerup, hopes to be able to raise money for a new car through the organization.

As most people around the project, Hans has a personal relationship with Dr. Pensak. When she came to Denmark in 1963, she was accommodated at Hans’ parents, thus she considers Hans her younger brother.

Hans became involved in the project after he retired. He complained to Dr. Pensak that he felt bored and her reply was short and hit him hard: “Why don’t you make yourself useful?” Now he spends half the year in Sakon Nakhon as a man-

ager for the project for disabled children and the other half back home trying to find ways to raise money for the project.

The future To Dr. Pensak, the Raindrop Foundation is much more than a project for disabled children. She uses the foundation for her involvement in environment and wild life protection and for school and education projects in five Southeastern Asian countries.

“I use my network a lot but my friends and I are old. We have decided that we do five more years and then we want to hand it over to our children and grandchildren.”

She wants the foundation to remain Danish.

“One thing I love about Danish people is that they are so organised and persistent. Thais are often thinking too much about themselves; their own mood and not losing face to friends and that sort of things.”

While Dr. Pensak appreciates the Danish way of doing things, her Danish network does not always understand her way.

“They agree with me to some extent and then we argue about the rest,” She says with a laugh.

Usually the critic of her unconventional way to run the foundation are silenced when the critics have been following her for some time in Thailand and the other countries where she and the foundation works.

“I want them to understand the mentality in the countries where we work. That is why it is so important that they visit Thailand and learn how the society works.”

You can support the project for disabled children by donating to Danske raindrop-friends.

Bank: Nordea account: 2216 – 6277209762 swift address: NDEADKKK Address: c/o Pensak Howitz, Signesvej 1, 2900 Hellerup.

It is cheap to make someone happy One of the students from the start of the vocation centre for children is Pi A. Today he is 40 years old and got his own trucking business, but he still works as a volunteer for the Raindrop foundation and has become a central person in its project for disabled children.

Pi A describes his relationship with Dr. Pensak as a relationship between a mother and a son.

“I have been working for Dr. Pensak for 24 years. When she asks me to do something, I can only say yes, I can’t say no,” he tells with a big laugh.

To be able to help the project for disabled children he has divided his days into three parts.

“I start working 5 am. Then I come here to work together with the volunteers 9 am and when finish here, I go back to work in my business.”

Hans Lynnerup, Phi A and nurse Moor Ban Yan June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 25

Remarkable Danish MD, American Consul, Carl C. Hansen 1862 – 1929. Bornholm, Denmark.

USA. Lampang and Bangkok, Siam.

By Flemming Winther Nielsen Photos by Disraporn Yatprom

W

e have quite detailed information about many of the Danes who lived in old Siam; either because they wrote themselves or because other people wrote about them. Andreas Richelieu and Captain Soelling, for example, guide us, with admiration, into the life of Consul Koebke, back in the 1870’s. Detailed or just controllable knowledge is sparse regarding Dr. Carl C. Hansen.

Meanwhile, a misty day in late No,vember 2012, we are walking the big and colorful Presbyterian Graveyard in the northern town of Lampang, Thailand. In front of us we now have three identical black granite stones, cut from one long piece; Memorial over Dr. Hansen and his two daughters; the inscriptions are almost invisible, since the stones are almost buried in the soil and in vegetation, but Pastor Tinakorn of the church, knows the burial place and take us directly there.

It is as if Dr. Carl C. Hanson also in living life preferred to remain in the shades, half hidden in the wings; this although his life was most extraordinary, that kind of life fairytales are made of.

Not one friend to be found and not one foe, no ‘Koebke anecdotes’ about women and whiskey are circulating -and of course, only sparse sources and sometimes these are in conflict with each other.

Nevertheless we couldn’t allow the graves just to disappear, so with grants from The EAC’s Public Fund we started a renovation.

The renovation and the fact finding Early December 2012 the efficient but careful graveyard contractor has managed to get the stones up, now lying on the ground, readable; the 26 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Doctor’s data with the American Coat of Arms (the flags, not the Eagle) engraved on the upper part of the stone. Clear and readable are the data’s of his daughters Ruth (died four years old) and June (died one and a half years old).

Then to the little more we know with certainty: Carl was born in 1862, the parish of Povlsker, Bornholm, an island in the Baltic Sea, hundreds of miles to the East of Sjaelland. He was the fourth out of seven siblings in an ordinary family of fishers and farmers. After confirmation he became a Nexoe shoemaker’s apprentice. Then there really is a lacuna – we next meet him as a student of San Francisco Theological Seminary and then medical student at one of the most prestigious Universities in the USA, Cooper Medical College at Stanford.

From here he graduated as Medical Doctor. My private theory is that he early in life got in contact with Presbyterians missioners. In religious matters they were in reality not far from the Nordic Protestant faith and they were already heavily engaged in the hospital and Health Care world, maybe they saw the talent and throw their weight behind Carl’s education!

Support and marriage Now in mid December 2012 the contractor is measuring the burial places and start to build the low cover structures, ‘Siamese Christian style’, not sarcophagus, only raised 20 centimeters or so. Much cement is used to support where the headstones will be placed.

Seemingly early in 1895 Carl married Lillian D. Reinhart. They were then both working for the Presbyterian Church and supposed to support each other also regarding work. They travelled to

sh Doctor in Siam Literature Joergensen Peder M. (former Missionary in Thailand). Unpublished information 2013 Kann Rasmussen A. (1986): ‘Danske I Siam 1868-1942’.

Mc Farland (1928): ‘Historical Sketch of Protestant Missions in Siam 1828 – 1928’. *’Laos News ‘–a periodical; covered all the congregations of The Presbyterian Church, active in the Northern part the country. Around 1908 Siam had still not completely subdued the Northern provinces. People up here were Laotian and spoke Lao. www.issuu.com/scandasia/docs/danish_graves

Lampang in order to take over the responsibility of the church hospital there: “At this time [1895] the medical work was taken over by Carl. C. Hansen and Mrs. Hansen. This marked a new era in medical work. For fourteen years the work was carried on under their leadership and the prestige of the hospital was much increased. In 1908 on the resignation of Dr. Hansen…….” (Mc Farland, p. 133).

Mrs. Hansen involved herself in teaching, she had two ‘Bible women’ to help her and: “They now have on their list of women learning to read, twenty five persons, half of whom are outsiders.

The two workers are employed fulltime and could easily find more work than they can overtake .” (‘Laos News’*, October 1908, p. 76).

So the couple was still working together at this time, but they had a home leave in 1909, where we assume that at least Mrs. Hansen went back to the US. During the period they seemingly decided to resign from their posts in ‘The Service of the Foreign Mission of the Presbyterian Church, USA’.

Back in Bangkok and finally Lampang revisited In Bangkok Dr. Hansen, now alone, ‘while wife and children travelled back to America’ (Kann Rasmussen, p. 126). He sat up a General Practice and established a Pharmacy – always needed in the mangrove swamps. In the years that followed his wife visited only a few times and then briefly. We don’t hear more about more children who eventually followed their mother home in 1909.

It is noted that Dr. Hansen was a great collector of Siamese art, but also that he was very reluctant to show his purchases. He only opened the boxes for very close friends. I cannot help wonder what

was in reality in the boxes, Buddha’s or?

One, normally reliable, source mentions that the doctor presumable died in the US. That at least is not the case. He died the 2nd of August 1929 in Bangkok. The coffin was sent with the Post Train to Lampang and the burial took place the 5th of August. An article mentions how his coffin was carried to the grave by his daughters together with old friends from the town. At the Consulate building the flag was on half mast. -Again these living daughters that we have not heard of before-.

It is also of importance that we from the article learn that the American consulate was established in Lampang while Dr. Hansen was still a resident of the town and with him as the consul we believe.

The 1st of February 2013 the renovation is complete. It is the tradition here to plaster Christian burial places with white or light-colored tiles. We don’t follow the tradition, but let the three burial places show in dyed gray smoothened cement, it match the stones.

Pastor Tinakorn and I are on the graveyard.

The pastor gives a little prayer. We arrange the flowers – flowers are the optimistic link between them and us, still around for a little while.

Post Scriptum: I’m well aware that the international Presbyterian Church has very systematic archives and that I, by digging some more, could learn more, much more. Nevertheless I have decided not to. Dr. Hansen was not a public figure like e.g. Koebke, Richelieu, H.N. Andersen -and he obviously didn’t invite to be. But of course, when certain men play an important public role for e.g. the development of a certain country, we have the obligation to search for all details. That does not seem to be the case here, so: R.I.P. June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 27

Retirement

in the Countryside When Scandinavians retire in Thailand it often means a life close to the beach somewhere near other foreigners, but not for 65-year-old Arno Melander. He has settled down in a small village near Klong Tom in the Krabi province.

Here the Dane enjoys a quiet life in the middle of a palm- and rubber tree plantation.

By Dennis Krog

I

f you are looking for Scandinavians who have chosen to retire in Thailand, a good place to start looking would normally be close to tourist destinations like Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phuket or Bangkok. Not so with Arno Melander.

To visit this 65-year-old Dane, you need to prepare yourself for a little bit of a journey, as he has chosen a life in a small village close to Klong Tom, a 45-minute drive away from Krabi town.

Here Arno Melander lives a quiet life surrounded by palms and rubber trees as the whole area is one big plantation.

“I came to live in Thailand in 2007, moving initially to Chiang Rai, but it was too crazy for me there. Then, as my girlfriend Jang owns a palm tree plantation here, I decided to come to live here instead,” says Arno Melander, while breathing through a cigarette, sitting at an outdoor table in front of his girlfriend’s house.

Thailand for health reasons Before settling in Thailand, Arno Melander visited the country many times with his then Danish wife.

The trips to the warm Asian country worked as the medicine for the Dane as he suffers from sclerosis and arthritis.

“I found out that when I was here in the warm weather I felt ten times better than I did back home in Denmark. There I constantly had to go to the doctor to get my knees emptied for water.

Out here it has never been necessary,” says Arno Melander.

28 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

In Denmark the health situation for Arno deteriorated all the time, and at the end he saw no other solution than to leave Denmark. However, the decision to move was not easy as it lead to serious consequences for his personal life.

“My wife did not want to come, but at the end I couldn’t chop a piece of wood for our fireplace, so for me it was a question of having an acceptable life. Unfortunately, the price for a good life in Thailand was the end to my 31-year long marriage to this amazing woman,” says Arno.

Life among trees In the small village outside of Klong Tom, where Arno has now settled, everything revolves around palm and rubber trees surrounding the entire area.

Arno and his girlfriend start showing around on the eight rai of land that belongs to Jang (1 rai =1.600 square meters, ed.). Both Jang and Arno are eager to show how workers harvest the palm fruits for making palm oil.

“The clusters of fruit weigh between 50 – 60 kilos. When the clusters are being cut down and fall to the ground it sounds like a bomb is being dropped,” says Arno, while posing for the camera with the equipment used for harvesting. And posing is all Arno can do as the work is not something for a man at his age or his condition.

“I tell you, there is not a single gram of fat on the men who do this kind of work. It is a hard job and these guys just keep working nonstop all day,” says Arno while wiping his forehead to emphasize his point.

Walking among the trees, Arno Melander and Jang give a lecture on how the whole industry works.

Jang proudly shows the land belonging to her while the Dane is entertaining and telling funny stories.

“If I speak Thai, you ask? No I don’t. Jang has told me she won’t teach me, because I would then know what they are saying about me,” Arno says with a laugh.

No reason to complain As the tour continues, Jang shows how to get rubber out of the rubber trees, which is done by cutting the trees and let the fluid run into a bowl.

Arno watches Jang when she is explaining how the process works, while he reflects on the question if he ever gets bored living in the country side.

“Well, you know I am so old now that reading a book and relaxing is plenty of entertainment for me. And once a week Jang and I go to Krabi town to get some Danish food at Café Europa,” says Arno, before stopping for another breath of fresh air, which for Arno means another cigarette.

Arno keeps talking about not being bored and he is just happy that his health has gotten better in Thailand, so he sees no reason to complain. He starts to tell a story about the friends he had in Chiang Rai. Many of them he enjoyed being around, but some of them did nothing but complain.

“A friend of mine was served the wrong dish at a restaurant, but he enjoyed the food very much, but still he complained all evening. I don’t understand people like that. I mean he had a good meal,” says Arno who with some difficulties makes it back to the car, as the guided tour is about to end.

Driving back to where Jang lives, Arno stops at a wooden shed. ”You want a beer or something,” Arno asks and confirms that the shed is the supermarket at the small village.

“Well, ok it’s not Big C or Tesco, but the concept is the same. You buy something and they take your cash”.

June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 29

Care Resort Chiang

Located in the lush and tranquil Maerim Valley in Chiang Mai, North of Thailand, Care Resort is a luxury retirement facility aiming to offer professional care and support to senior citizens.

By Wachiraporn Janrut

C

are Resort Chiang Mai was established by Mr. Peter Brown and his Thai wife with the aim of offering affordable luxury care for senior citizens of all nationalities.

“Our philosophy is the belief that in the later years of life, there is a quality of life people still deserve,” says Peter.

Originally from England, Peter Brown first came to Thailand over 20 years ago. Through a family friend, he met his Thai wife and moved to live in the country permanently in 2007. After a busy career in the competitive business world, he is now happy living with his family with two children at the care resort in Chiang Mai.

Why Chiang Mai? “We fell in love with Chiang Mai, its culture and slower pace of life. Additionally, I fell in love with the location of the resort,” says Peter. “Chiang Mai has world-class hospitals and shopping centres.

In fact, it has everything that you could wish for except a beach. The international airport puts Chiang Mai in easy reach for visitors.”

The resort started as a four-star tourist resort, built on 25 rai (10 acres), hosting about 1,000 trees, a lake, fishponds and gardens. Though the resort offers views of trees, a lake and mountains, it is only 30 minutes by car from the city centre.

Later on, Peter converted the tourist resort to a care facility as he wanted to work in more of a community, with a less transient, less rushed atmosphere. Also, he believed that a garden environment with quietness and safety is perfect for seniors to live and relax.

All the care that you need Besides the beautiful location, Peter and his wife set up the Care Resort in Chiang Mai because of its strong conservative family culture.

“Northern Thailand is dominated by a friendly, conservative family-orientated culture. This culture is perfect for a seniors care facility. The elderly are well respected in the north,” he says.

Peter recruits nurses and carers locally as he wants to utilize the Northern culture.

The resort has its own dedicated, professional nursing staff and carers specially trained to give good care and stimulation to the elderly. The care is provided 24 hours. The main languages spoken are English and Thai.

30 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

Mai

“Our head nurse returned to Chiang Mai after ten years in Australia caring for the elderly” says Peter.

While the nearest hospital is just 15 minutes away, there are world-class hospitals in the city – a 30 minute drive from the property. Peter says that resort can also arrange for a doctor to run a surgery on site if necessary.

The resort provides both ‘independent living with care’ and ‘close care’ with on-site nursing and care support.

“We will also take short term guests as well as long-term guests, those that require short term care due to an illness or accident and those that

want a holiday but require care. We can escort guests from/to either Bangkok or Chiang Mai airports if required,” says Peter.

The resort offers 42 villa-style rooms sited through the gardens, each with own bathroom facilities, air-conditioning, terrace and alarm system connecting to the central care station. The resort will also offer a boutique five-room dementia facility for those who have Alzheimer’s.

Being part of a community However, a successful retirement facility is not merely about the care support given but the variety of activities available for its guests and a community

amongst those at the resort.

Inside the resort there is a large guest lounge for guests to participate in various activities. Regular excursions for shopping, religious services, sightseeing and understanding the local community will also be arranged.

Peter says that while there is a room for expansion, the resort will never grow to a level that guest names cannot be remembered. “This is a community project,” he says.

For more information, please visit www.careresortchiangmai.com

Empowering Multilingual Communications

June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 31

Enjoy pizza of the month

at Terrazzo restaurant, Holiday Inn Pattaya

H

oliday Inn Pattaya invites you to experience original Italian pizzas at Terrazzo restaurant. Terrazzo serves famous signature pizzas, original Italian style with thin and crispy base, homemade tomato sauce with over 20 fresh quality toppings.

Terrazzo offers pizzas of the month throughout this year.

The Art of Ellipse Created Pizzas of the Month started with “Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza” in May. In June, guests can enjoy “Blue Cheese Potato Pizza” which offers potato slices cooked and blue cheese topped with red onion caramelized garlic cloves roasted and fresh rosemary leaf.

The tastes of famous Thai cuisine come in July, “Larb Moo Pizza” for this month is pizza served Larb Moo Tord on thin and crispy pizza topped with special salad where you can enjoy perfect Thai taste. In August it presents “G.E.C Pizza” bringing premium goat cheese slices, grilled purple eggplant and capsicum for your health. Meet the “Ugly Duckling Pizza” smoked duck breast sliced and mango grilled topped with special salad in September. For October, try “Rule the Roost Pizza” smoked chicken sliced, prawn sautéed in garlic butter topped with green capsicum, sautéed onion, red chili, basil leaf and basil pesto. Dance with “Havana Lambada Pizza” in November. Enjoy special lamb cooked topped with grilled vegetables. Celebrate December with “Talk Turkey Pizza” Turkey breast roasted, brie cheese and provolone cheese topped with special cranberry sauce.

Guests can also enjoy home-style Italian cuisines such as antipasti, salads, pastas, pizzas, Thai dishes and main courses in addition to an expansive wine and dessert selection, all served in a relaxed outdoor setting. Some of the unique touches are the open kitchen island, alfresco bar and swimming pool.

Priced at THB 395 net, pizza of the month runs from May until December. 50% discount for every takeaway pizza will be offered to orders from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

For more information please call 038 725 555 or visit www.holidayinn.com/pattaya

Tasty Tapas Trio

at ZEST bar & Terrace, The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok

A

t Zest Bar & Terrace you can recharge in contemporary surroundings while enjoying beers wines, and classic and innovative cocktails. Overlooking vibrant Sukhumvit road, Zest’s open-air terrace is an intimate venue offering a view of Bangkok metropolis.

Executive Chef Peter Zimmerman has created a selection of delicious light bites perfect to savour with Zest’s creative and classic cocktails, fine wines, or refreshing beers.

Guests can choose three items for Baht 210++.

Options of the tapas on offer include: • Cajun spiced fries • pumpkin ravioli with tomato and basil • grilled asparagus with parmesan and black truffle oil • sliced Parma ham with onion and cucumber pickle • three kinds of cheese • New Zealand mussels cooked with white wine, tomato, onion and parsley • grilled prawns in extra virgin olive oil with garlic and chilli • deep fried calamari • grilled spicy chicken winglets The “Tasty Tapas Trio” is Baht 210++ /set, available daily from 12 pm – 2 am.

For more information, please call 02 207 8000 or visit www.westingrandesukhumvit.com 32 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013

EXPLORE

the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc island Take time out for a five days trip in South Vietnam. We start with a boat trip on the Mekong river delta and end up with a beach vacation on Phu Quoc island. Ask Indius Pedersen for details at travel@scandasia.com.

T

his four nights adventure starts at 7.30 in the morning, when you are picked up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. We are going to My Tho on the banks of the Mekong from where we board a wooden motor boat. The trip is quiet and relaxing, passing by natural creeks, quiet villages with houses on stilts where fishermen go about their work.

We are sailing around on the small waterways that criss-cross the Mekong delta with interesting stops along the way. One stop is at a large orchard with many different types of tasty tropical fruits and at another stop we change to a small row boat to see an interesting transportation modes that local people use to move around.

We’ll also take you to a bee farm where you can taset authentic honey tea while listening to the folk music that is typical to only the people in Southern Vietnam.

After a few more stops, it is time to return to My Tho and continue by bus to Can Tho where we will stay over the first night.

Next day after breakfast, we are continuing the exploration of the delta’s wonders by boat for a few hours including a quick lunch. Eventually

we leave for the airport to catch the flight for Phu Quoc at 13.05.

When we arrive Duong Dong airport in Phu Quoc island a car will send you to your hotel for the night.

Next day it is time to explore Phu Quoc. We visit the North to discover the primitive forest then visit the black peppers plantation at Khu Tuong, sightseeing at Phu Quoc national park. Enjoy swimming at the Dai beach. Lunch. Return to your resort. Free at leisure in the afternoon.

On the fourth morning of the trip, we will drive to An Thoi port to visit the Australian pearl farm on the way to the Southern island. In An Thoi port we embark a fishing boat to go out to the Thoi archipelago where we drop anchor in a quite bay. Angling equipment is at hand to cacth a few Garrupas, snappers... Back in the port we drive to the Sao beach for your relaxion on the hammocks. Visit the Ham Ninh fishing village on the way back to the hotel.

This is your last evening on this interesting island. The next morning after breakfast the car waits to take you to the airport for boarding your plane back to to Ho Chi Minh City after a memorable five days of adventure.

June 2013 • ScandAsia.Thailand 33

Medium

Smoked Bacon with Apples and Onions

Evil

By Anders Holm Nielsen

This traditional recipe from Denmark makes a hearty lunch or a tasty Sunday evening dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 4) • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 pound sliced back bacon (Canadian bacon) • 2 large onions •3 medium apples cut in wedges • Black pepper • Preparation Melt 2 tablespoons butter.

Add bacon and fry until lightly browned.

Remove bacon and drain on paper towel.

Add remaining butter and fry onions until soft and transparent.

Add apples; cover pan and simmer 7 to 10 minutes.

When apples are cooked, put bacon back in and simmer about 5 minutes.

Grind pepper over top.

Are you done?

W

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 ScandAsia polo shirt.

Name:

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Age: ________________________

Mobile:

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Email: __________________________________________________ Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 July 2013 34 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2013