ScandAsia Thailand September 2015

SEP 2015

Scandinavians succeed with international makeup school in Thailand ScandAsia.dk

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Dancham Welcome Home Networking Event 2015 s navian Scandi d with succee ional internat school p makeu nd la in Thai dAsia.dk

When: 24 September 2015 Where: Stable Lodge Restaurant,

Sukhumvit Soi 8, Bangkok 10110 a.se

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Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Thailand ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Thailand.

DTCC would like to say “Welcome home!” for all who have returned from their summer holidays and for newcomers… a warm welcome to your “new home”! We invite both “new” and “old” comers to an “After summer” networking event. Find new connections if you are new in town or reconnect with your old ones. Mark your calendar and join us on this networking event.

Free flow beers and finger food as always!

This event is FREE for DTCC Members.

Non members pay 400 Baht.

Crayfish Party Scandinavian Society Siam 2015

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.

When: Saturday 26 September 2015

from 6:30 until late Where: Grand Ballroom

of the Rembrandt Hotel. Sukhumvit Soi 18

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

It is with great pleasure the Organizing Committee of the Scandinavian Society Siam invites you to our traditional SSS Crayfish Par ty 2015. This evening offers everything that you have come to expect from a Scandinavian Society Crayfish Party. Lots of crayfish, salmon, cheese, beer, and aquavit.There will be dancing the night away with Unicorn band.

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: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com

Bangkok Color Run 2015

Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com

When: 31 October and 1st of November 2015, Park opens at 6:30, run begins 8:00 Where: Vachirabenjatas Park, Kampaeng Phet 3, Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok

Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Printing : Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

The Color Run™ 5k is coming to Bangkok! The only question is “Are you ready for the craziest, colorful, 5k of your life?” You bet you are. Race it solo or with your Color friends.

How does it work?

Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life, The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed race in which thousands of participants, or “Color Runners”, are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.

With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow: 1. Wear white at the starting line 2. Finish plastered in color!

Once you finish the run you will be able to participate in the famous Color Throwing Festival!

This will be located near the stage in the event village area.

Now with upgraded health packages Including worldwide emergency transportation Preventive health care for all and a no-claims bonus

Our Star Health Plan provides perfect care for you and your family with premium levels designed to be reasonable and stable. We believe in long-term relationships which is why we focus on prevention. Our Plan offers more care to keep you healthy and happy – and your premiums low.

Call our agent on 09 2780 9743 or e-mail to ouragent@thaivivat.co.th Thaivivat – Your Health Manager.

News Brief

Scandinavian Week: Swedish jazz and Finnish chef coming to Shangri-La Bangkok

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or Nordic visitors to Thailand, and residents of Bangkok a highlight for the late autumn calendar is confirmed as annual the Scandinavian Food & Jazz Week is returning to Shangri-La, Bangkok to show case some of the best jazz and food from the Nordic countries.

The Danish Ambassador will participate in the opening and Taking place on October 30 – November 7, 2015 ‘Simply Scandinavian’ will treat guests keen on high-quality Scandinavian food and jazz, every night during the dedicated week.

T h e F i n n i s h c h e f M r J i m my S t r ö m , renowned from his restaurant Segelpaviljongen in Mariehamn, Åland, promises to deliver sumptuous dishes unique to Scandinavia. Jimmy will be preparing Autumn Specialties direct from the Scandinavian nature, forests, fields and waters.

These Scandinavian delicacies will be paired with the talented Swedish jazz singer Christina Gustafsson, accompanied by the Erling Ribbing Quartet from Stockholm.

Christina trained at the Mannes School of Music in New York and at the Academy of Music in Stockholm. In 2012, she was awarded the Anita O´Day Prize for being among the elite of European Jazz singers.

Danish network at Danish Loft Design

D

ancham held a fun Speed Networking event at Danish Loft Design Co. in Sukhumvit Soi 31 on 20 August 2015. The event was attended by about fifty participants who not just speeded around and collected businesscards but also had time to enjoy the beautiful house and the sponsored Carlsberg beers and the delicious food from Fyn Bakery. The sponsor of the evening was Pecunia and Bang and Olufsen had sponsored a B&O headset for the winner of the competition who could collect most business cards at the event.

4 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

Erling has a background in Dixieland, swing, rhythm and blues and early bebop and has played at the Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, the Reno Jazz Festival, the Monterey Dixieland Festival and many others. During this visit to Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok Erling will bring his clarinet and a tenor saxophone. Joining this tour is also his favourite at the piano, Jan Sjöblom.

Erling has been a member of various Swedish bands – Duff Cambell Stompers, Les Oignons, Jack Lidström’s Hep Cats, Tommy Halldén and his Blue Knights, and Jazz Doctors. He has also performed with international bands, such as Albert Nicolas, Red Norvo, Zoot Sims, Al Grey, Wild Bill Davidsson, Chris Barber, Peanuts Hucko and many more. With Erling Ribbing Qartet, they have also made one tour to Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. They have also played with Swedish vocal stars – Monica Zetterlund, LillBabs, Siw Malmqvist, Rigmor Gustafsson and many more. Since 37 years he has been a member of Eddie Bruhner’s Sweden’s Jazz Band (Sveriges Jazzband). With Sweden’s Jazz Band they have made many travels to the US.

News Brief

Swedish Ambassador returns to Asia and Thailand

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he Swedish Government has appointed Sweden’s next ambassador to Thailand, after Klas Molin.Taking on the Ambassador role is a diplomat familiar with the region, namely Sweden’s previous Ambassador to Vietnam at the Embassy in Hanoi, Mr Staffan Herrström.

During his last stint in Asia, his time as ambassador to Vietnam was shor tened, as Sweden decided to close down the mission in Hanoi (later reopened).

Staffan Herrström has just finished his fouryear term as ambassador in Warsaw, where he took office in 2011. A former politician, Mr Herrström was once the leader writer of the daily newspaper Göteborgsposten; worked for six years at SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation) as Head of Unit and Director General; and as Secretary of State at the Cabinet Office. In addition to Hanoi, where Staffan Herrström began his posting in October 2010, he has served as Sweden’s Ambassador to Dar es Salaam.

As Sweden’s Ambassador in Poland Staffan Herrström recently received an Order of Merit to the Republic of Poland with a Star for his contributions to Polish-Swedish partnership. He is known for his strong support of human rights and equality and promotion of Polish-Swedish cooperation in commerce and culture.

In his address at the awarding Herrström said his main goal as ambassador had been to give a practical dimension to Poland’s and Sweden’s strategic par tnership and expand cooperation between the two countries, whose examples are the Eastern Partnership project and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

The Ambassador wrote, in July, in his last

newsletter to the Swedish community in Poland that he and his wife was very happy and satisfied with the next appointment to Thailand, viewing it as something “exciting and a slightly different.

Exciting and a bit different challenges await.”

The Ambassador arrived to Thailand on 1 September 2015.

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Contact Nordea in Singapore on +65 6597 1083, or e-mail haavard.farstad@nordea.sg

Haavard Farstad, Private Banker

Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).

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27/02/2014 14:285 September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand

News Brief

World Medical Center achieves Norwegian DNV GL’s hospital certification

T

he World Medical Center (WMC) in Bangkok is the first hospital in Southeast Asia and Pacific region to attain an international standard in both quality of the services and risk management, including the risk of infection. This certification was obtained via the Norwegian group DNV GL. The Hospital Accreditation Scheme, based on DNV GL’s own standards and protocols, is recognized by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and cer tified by ISQua, an international society that is dedicated to safe, quality healthcare worldwide.

On 2 July 2015 H.E.Mr. Kjetil Paulsen, Norwegian ambassador to Thailand presided over a certification ceremony to officially reward a DNV GL certificate of standard to WMC. Mr. Stephen Leyshon, DNV GL Project director/ Chief security advisor, also attended.

The cer tificate was received by Asst.Prof.

Somporn Harnphanich, M.D., executive vice president/deputy CEO of Bangkok Chain Hopital (BCH) and Dr. Surapong Lookhanumanjao, hospital director of WMC. Dr Chalerm Harnphanich, CEO of Bangkok Chain Hospital PCL, said that achieving

accreditation proves that hospitals in Thailand are recognized worldwide for the quality of services.

“Our doctors, medical staff and ever y employee have worked hard to improve the quality of our services. We have also invested in technology and innovation to make sure that our patients have the best options available. This is why WMC is trusted by patients in Thailand as well as by foreigners. As Thailand is trying to become the medical hub of the region, such internationally recognized accreditation is a good evidence of our success” said Dr Chalerm.

Dr Surapong Lookhanumanjao, WMC hospital director, said: “Through the DNV GL risk based survey approach, our staff have learned to apply risk based systems thinking which we believe can provide a firm foundation for our hospital to provide safer and smarter health services.”

“Our aim is to go beyond the standard to achieve the highest level of excellence and are very honoured to become the first hospital in Thailand, as well as in South East Asia and Pacific, to be the recipient of the DNV GL’s hospital accreditation,” said Dr Surapong.

Mr. Stephen Leyshon, DNV GL Project director/Chief security advisor, said: “We are delighted to present this accreditation to WMC. Their pioneer spirit and commitment to go the extra mile to deliver the safest and highest quality of healthcare is indeed commendable” said Mr Stephen Leyshon.

DNV GL (with presence in over 100 countries worldwide) has as its purpose `Safeguarding Life, Proper ty and the Environment’, and with a vision of effecting a `Global Impact for a Safe and Sustainable Future’, DNV GL have, in its more than 150 years of history, assisted safety critical sectors manage their health & safety, environment, quality and enterprise risks.

DNV GL combines this core competence in risk management with the deep knowledge of healthcare, supporting Healthcare Providers to proactively identify risks and manage patient safety and quality risks to enhance the value of the healthcare they deliver..

Accreditation is a strategic business tool that helps hospitals live up to, and surpass, these expectations. Requirements for accreditation vary from nation to nation. Whether mandated by law, or embraced voluntarily to build prestige, accreditation is a valuable asset to any hospital.

The requirements of the DNV GL International Healthcare Accreditation are based upon those as to have applicability internationally, with sensitivity to local laws, practices and regulations.

DNV GL services in the Healthcare Sector includes accreditation of hospitals and other healthcare organizations, accredited certification of management systems relating to Managing Infection Risk, Occupational Health & Safety, Environment & Energy, Information Security, Quality and Business Continuity.

Sweden-supported climate change adaptation forum held in Laos

M

r. Stuar t Ward, Controller, together with Mr. Kr iangkr ai Thitimakor n, National Programme Officer, from the Development Cooperation Section of the Embassy of Sweden, Bangkok, attended the Mekong Sub-Regional Forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Resources Management.

This forum, supported by Sweden through the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), was held on 2-4 August 2015 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Forum aimed to provide a platform for project implementers to share their knowledge, findings and experiences in the Greater Mekong Subregion countries. It disseminated the results of local research and field activity related to climate change adaptation (CCA) and water resources management (WRM) in ASEAN. The Forum results would generate key information and guidelines relating to CCA and WRM that would enhance ability, understanding and knowledge of 6 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

the CSOs as well as to build a capacity CSOs network.

At the event, Stuart Ward gave Welcome Remarks, in which he emphasized the importance of the Mekong Region - a massive ecosystem for more than 300 million people. He reminded

par ticipants that gender equality is of the utmost importance to Sweden so it was very gratifying to note that the role of of women and women’s empowerment were amongst the more important topics of the Forum.

News Brief

Finland representative congratulates Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand

H

appy bir thday to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand, and joyful Mother’s Day to all the Thais! Our Chargé d’Affaires a.i.

Saara Alhopuro signed the blessing book for royal merit, with congratulations on behalf of Finland at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Following the dress code, she wore a Finnish national dress, according to the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok.

The queen celebrated her 83rd birthday on 12 August 2015. As the consort of the king who is the world’s longest-reigning head of state, she is also the world’s longest-serving consort of a monarch.

Trainees at Embassy of Denmark in Bangkok: farewell and welcome!

O

n 31 July 2015 the Embassy of Denmark in Bangkok said goodbye to its three trainees Iben, Lene and Sara who had been based at the embassy for the past six months. The Danish embassy wished them all the best in the future.

On 1 August three new tr ainees were welcomed; Magne, Kent and Kir stine, which was their fir st day at the embassy. After one week of sightseeing in Bangkok the trio had are already falling in love with Thailand.

“We look forward to have them with us for the next six months,” wrote the Embassy of Denmark on its social media page.

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

8 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

SEB’s

SEB reveals a bombshell “Asia Growth Case” concerning inheritance SEB Private Banking in Asia is on a fast track of growth. Last year was the best year ever but even so, the first six months of 2015 have already outperformed the same period last year.

By Joakim Persson

F

redrik Lager, General Manager of SEB Private Banking, Singapore, says that while Corporate banking makes up the largest part of the SEB group’s business revenue in Asia, the Private Banking side keeps getting bigger and bigger.

“Our part of the business is doing well. The result of the first six months of 2015 shows that we are already 25 per cent ahead of where we were 2014, which was our best year since the start of our Asian private banking operations in 2005,” says the GM enthusiastically.

This has not gone unnoticed within the SEB Group.

“Whilst keeping costs under control in the bank is a priority, Private Banking in Asia is recognised as a ‘Growth Case’. This is important for us as we are keen on developing our business further,” Fredrik Lager reveals.

But SEB Private Banking’s impressive growth in Asia leaves Fredrik Lager little time to rest on his laurels. Other banks are after the same clients and, perhaps more importantly, IT innovation is moving on fast in terms of developing new and alternative investment services.

Investment advice from computer-based software, based on the individual’s risk profile is an area coming along strongly and this will have a major impact on the future of Private Banking, he believes.

“It is going to be a revolution, at least in the more affluent client categories.

Private banks will need to update their own web-based or mobile-based offerings, or they risk being surpassed by others.”

In the higher segments of private banking things will stay more traditional though, Fredrik Lager believes.

“High Net Wor th clients often have complex structures and as such have a need for someone to properly and actively look after their assets and hopefully grow them at a respectable pace,” he says.

So what kind of advice is he offering them right now?

“Markets have been volatile lately given the recent developments in Greece and China. The most impor tant thing for our private bankers in times like these is to stay close to our clients. Generally speaking most clients are still riding the equity markets wave. It has been a strong run for the last five years but corrections could be in the cards,” Fredrik Lager says.

In order to meet the growing demand for SEB’s private banking business in Asia and to ensure that existing clients continue to receive the best possible service, Fredrik Lager has secured two additional private bankers who are set to join his team in September and November respectively.

“One of the new private bankers joins us in September from our Wealth Division in Oslo. We are keen on expanding our Norwegian offering in Asia and by bringing Alexandra Haudemann-Andersen on board we will be better placed to serve the Norwegian community locally,” Fredrik Lager concludes.

Fredrik Lager, General Manager of SEB Private Banking in Asia, wants Scandinavian residents in Asia to be aware of a new EU regulation, which took effect already on 17 August 2015.

The regulation is intended to make it easier for EU citizens to handle the legal side of an international will or succession.

By Joakim Persson

O

nce this new regulation is in place, the rules regarding inheritance and succession will be governed by the laws of the country of residence.

“From a Swedish point of view this is very significant, because under Swedish law, for example, you are not allowed to disinherit your children,” explains Fredrik Lager, himself a lawyer by profession.

“In the Nordic countries, children have a statutory right to inherit, but under Thai and Singapore law for instance, and generally in countries which build on an Anglo-Saxon system of law, you can do pretty much what you want with your assets when you die.”

However, you can explicitly state in your will if the law applicable to your succession should be that of your nationality instead of the default option, which will be the country of residence.

“You can write: ‘My estate should be governed by Swedish law’. If you don’t write anything it will be Singapore law that applies, if you are deemed to live there at the time of death.”

“I advise all clients to write a will and in most cases I suggest that they explicitly state that the law of their country of citizenship should apply to the estate, because then we’re back to where we were before! If, however, you want to apply local law to your inheritance, then this will be a possibility going forward.”

“Some lawyers, primarily in Sweden, have said: “this is a bombshell, this is huge!” Yet not many people know or talk about it.”

SEB Private Banking calls for the Swedish Embassies to spread the news on this highly relevant new regulation which will apply not only to Swedish EU residents but also to Swedes wherever in the world they may live. It should be noted that Denmark, the UK and Ireland have all decided not adopt this new regulation.

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Scandinavians succeed with

international makeup school in Thailand

By Joakim Persson Photos: Scandinavian Makeup Studio

A

‘Scandinavian Makeup Studio’, based in Bangkok,Thailand, initially prompts some questions. Is it catering to the need for Scandinavian makeup products in Asia? Is it a studio by and for Scandinavians? Even when someone knows that it’s in fact a school that trains makeup artists, she/he may wonder if it’s only training Scandinavian style or for Scandinavian people.

It turns out that the “only” Scandinavian thing about it is that the founders are from two of the Nordic countries, and that this is reflected in the school’s quality and management.

A more direct Scandinavian connection has just started for the school (set up in 2013) though; namely to take in students from Denmark.

With one of the par tners based mainly in Denmark Scandinavian Makeup Studio is spreading its wings, aiming at tapping into that market.

“We are getting our first Danish students before Christmas,” says Norwegian Hilde Johansen who started the school together with the owners and investors Eva Bartels Thomsen and her Danish husband.

Students flying in So far most students at the school fly in to do their course and then fly back home, and the school management believes they can attract some fellow countrymen to do likewise.

“We’ll be starting the course in Denmark and then they’ll be transferred to Bangkok to continue 10 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

their training. People these days love to travel, to be in a new place, and study more abroad, so I believe in the concept.”

“Our students are flying in from all over Asia, and also Africa and Europe! At first we thought we needed to focus on the market here in Thailand to get students. But we are getting queries from Burma, Nepal, Buthan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, France, England and Vietnam; from more than 25 different countries in total,” explains Hilde who came to Thailand eight years ago to study fashion.

“I believe in Bangkok, it’s a metropolis - it’s so international here, you have people from all over the world.And you have so much production going on here when it comes to movies or magazines or commercials. People fly in from Pakistan and India and do the productions here. That’s why we believed in the school,” she continues.

Being professional makeup artists Eva and Hilde’s plan is to raise the level of makeup artistry in Asia. They founded this school based on this ambition and went ahead achieving it by combining internationally recognized training methods with the creativity, inspiration and international perspective of professional makeup artists and guest teachers.

Sharing a dream The reason for setting up in Thailand is a coincidence; Hilde and Eva met in Bangkok, when Eva had arrived with her husband who had accepted a job offer here. It turned out they shared the same dream about a makeup school.

“Eva is a very well-educated makeup artist back home and ver y knowledgeable about cosmetics. She’s been working with makeup in different companies since she was fifteen.”

Eva had kept on saying: “We should open up a school.” But Hilde had been reasonably sceptic, given how much people say but do not follow through on.

But one day Eva and her husband had suddenly signed a rental contract for the location, and that was the starting point for the adventure.

Since then Eva has had to return to Denmark so Hilde is running the daily operations in Bangkok, while Eva remotely takes care of all the administration, and travels here every third month. The bonus effect from this solution is that they can now target also Danes in a strategic way.

What students get from attending courses will however remain having its very international dimension - with a variety of skin types as a very valuable add-on.

“It’s a huge benefit for the students because it’s an international school where each class include dark skin types or ver y fair, and you get to practice on all these different skin tones.

When I went to makeup school back in Norway everyone had fair skin like myself. The first time I did make up for an Asian or African person I was terrified because I had never done it, and never trained.”

Scandinavian Makeup Studio also opens up its students to focus on creativity and experimenting.

“We try to be different at this makeup school.

From left: Eva Bartels Thomsen, Hilde Johansen.

Fundamental beauty is taught in the beginning of the course but we think it’s really important for the students to be outgoing, so we focus a lot on fantasy and creativity makeup.”

This also Hilde`s specialty and that she is known for here in Asia. The last six days of the course is only about fantasy techniques finding inspiration, creating your own concept.

“To be creative as a makeup artist, you need to think a bit outside the box, outside your comfort zone. And that’s where my job comes in - to guide and push you,” Hilde says. “You won’t believe all the creative outcomes we get from students who have never believed in themselves or thought that they never would be capable to create these things. That’s what’s makes my job the best job in the world” Scandinavians, in comparison, is more restricted.

“There’s no big market for that back in Scandinavia; we’re traditional. Here, on the other hand, they love the colours and are creative. Here you can break rules and experiment.”

“They use more makeup here than back home, that’s for sure! Like, Thai girls; they like to apply makeup, such as eye-lashes, and are a bit more daring than we are back home. We are conservative, and will always be that.”

Colours fly…

Less restricted and more daring is also the very reason why Hilde came over to Asia, and to the Kalawin International Fashion Institute in Bangkok.

When Hilde studied at college in Norway a guest teacher holding a short training had told her: ‘You are in the wrong part of the world; you have to go to Asia! This is where you will find the source of your inspiration and grow!’

“When he saw my mood board full of just colours, glitter and crystals–a sheer explosion of everything–he told me that I was in the wrong part of the world. He was definitely right: I’m so glad I followed what he said and came here.”

She studied for three years at Kalawin and graduated in high fashion. Before that she graduated as a makeup artist in Oslo.

“When I came to Thailand I never thought I would do any makeup–I was so focused on fashion and sewing–until some of my classmates asked to rent my dresses for photo shoots. One day they had no makeup artists and then told that I could do it and started helping with their photo shoots for the collection for my classmates. That’s how the ball started rolling.”

“I got more portfolio work and people here were open-minded when it came to creativity.

The photographers are really creative and they let you as makeup artist to do what you want do. I could go for what is really me, which is really extreme style of makeup based on a concept that you create. So that’s what I love about it. Also after teaming up four years ago with the famous photographer Manuel Librodo, who shares the same passions as me, it`s been a fun ride” Aside this creative side the school teaches the fundamentals; including product knowledge (Asia

being a mecca for fake products this is essential) and what to avoid when working professionally.

“What we require is that you take a fundamental course first; two weeks of training for new beginners. After that you can sign up for any kind of course. We have different courses like makeup for fashion and photography, stage & show, hair, bridal, special effects, airbrush, fantasy and many more.”

Most students choose the full course, which is twelve weeks where they get to learn all the subjects. These are pretty intense twelve weeks!”

Students finish each subject with a practical exam – where their work is evaluated and professional photographs are taken for the students’ portfolios.

“The school balances 30% theory with 70% practical studies as we believe that extensive practice produces the best artists.”

The teachers consist in an international group of very experienced professional makeup artists who are still working in the industry on photo shoots, commercials and workshops to stay in touch with the newest trends and inspiration.

“Business has grown over expectation and all these emails from overseas are really lifting us!”

And the Thais are also increasingly joining the school. In the latest course 5 out of 12 students were Thai.

And soon students from Denmark will get to have the same wow experience that Hilde has had over here in Asia.

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Agneta’s World

“Mamma’s Kök” in Klong Toey

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re you longing for Swedish/ Scandinavian food in Bangkok?

On the 22nd of August, I had a most crazy taxi drive down to Klong Toey slums, there “Mamma’s Kök” (Mother’s Kitchen) just opened up. I arrived angry and thirsty after having been on sightseeing tour around half of Bangkok. I have been to the Klong Toey slums before, during the time when FAB, Food Academy Bangkok was operating. As everybody knows, it was closed down some time ago. Mammas Kök is following the same concept as FAB did, except that this catering/restaurant is 100% family owned, which FAB wasn’t. FAB was dependent on donations.

Who is behind this little company? Her name is Mia Palmkvist. She was born in Thailand and adopted by Swedish parents at an age of 2 months. Brought up and married in Sweden, one child, a boy 11 years old and three so called “Bonus daughters” (husband’s daughters from a previous relation). Mia has been several times to Thailand and for 1 ½ years ago, she was happy to find her biological family. Unfortunately she found out that her mom and dad had passed away, but she got to meet her three sisters and niece.

Mia was, when FAB still existed, helping Susanna out and she got attached to the young Thai girls working at FAB. She was concerned when they lost their jobs and income and decided to try helping them. Mia was also curious to find out about life in Thailand, real daily life, not only vacation stays. She decided to come here for a

12 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

longer time (at least 1 year) to start a new small company, educating the girls from FAB in how to run a business, cooking Swedish, taking care of customers etc.

Mammas Kök offers catering, lunch boxes, homemade bread, and are also selling some typical Swedish brands. You find e.g. Sauce Hollandaise, Chocolate Pudding, Blue Berry soup among other products.

If you want to come for lunch or dinner, just call one day in advance and the next day you can sit down and enjoy your favorite meal. One of the most popular dishes is still the Meatballs with Lingon berries and mashed potatoes, but also the famous Swedish Smörgåstår ta (free translation, Sandwich cake) and salmon wraps are very popular. In Sweden we also have something called “Fredags fika” (Friday coffee chat) and that is a tradition Mia wants us to pick up.

When I visited Mammas Kök, Mia had her husband Conny visiting and suppor ting her. I asked Mia, what she had learned until today, about the way of living in Thailand and she quickly replied; “Well, I have realized, that if you can manage to do 2 things during a day, it’s great”.

She is so right, everything takes time here and the distances are long and traffic very heavy, so doing 2 things daily is already fine.

We wish Mia and her staff lots of success and don’t hesitate to book a lunch/dinner or just order something to take home.

Mammas kök, 57 Soi Damronglatta Phiphat, Klong Toey.

I just love caviar…

O

ne evening at Wolf ’s restaurant, (which I wrote about in an earlier issue) I had the great pleasure to meet a young, handsome Dutch guy, Marcus Bakker. We started to talk and I got to know he has been a dentist since the age of 25. That didn’t really interest me too much, but he was also talking about Russian Tzar caviar and that made me listening… I just love caviar. In Switzerland, I and my husband had a friend, who opened the famous Caviar House.

He imported and sold the world’s most famous caviar from Iran. How lucky we were having him as a friend, as we both just go crazy for caviar.

Those were the days. Today you can hardly afford buying a 100 gram caviar jar.

Marcus has found the Tzar Russian caviar (substitute) that tastes nearly 100% like fine Beluga caviar. Tzar caviar is sturgeon caviar alternative and affordable.

Let me introduce Marcus to you. This guy was born 51 years ago in Holland. Works as a dentist specialist and had his own dental clinic in Holland. In year 2004 he, for the first time, visited Thailand and as so many others, he fall in love with this country. Today he is travelling back and forward between Holland and Thailand. Two weeks monthly, he still works as a dentist specialist at several dentist clinics in Holland.

As he can’t work as a dentist here in Thailand, he has started his own company importing Tzar caviar from Russia. What is so special with this Tzar caviar? Well, you all know the price of real

Beluga caviar today; hardly anyone can afford it.

This Tzar caviar, that we in Thailand can enjoy now, is 99% tasting like a real Beluga, but it isn’t.

This Beluga is granulated from natural fish filets among others. It’s rich of vitamins and barely any calories, no added preservatives. It’s a 100% natural product. The texture might be a little bit different from the “real” Beluga, but if you are not a connoisseur of caviar, you will not notice.

The salted luxury of the old Tsars, available today, for an ultra-delightful tongue-pleasing price, is a real sensation with eggs that literally splat open in your mouth and which are according to some even better than the original. This product is a GOLD MEDAL WINNER, product of the year

and innovation of the year. This caviar you can find in some 5 star hotels and some restaurants in Thailand. Let me just give you a two examples where you can enjoy it, Bellino Boutique & Wine Room at Thong Loh soi 13 and Divino on soi 10 at Thong Loh. There will soon be many more 5 star hotels and restaurants that will offer this excellent Tzar caviar. If you want to buy it now, just go online, look at www. Cheesequintessence.com. Here you can buy all the best French cheese and the Tzar Caviar.

You can keep the caviar glass jar up to 1 year if you keep it cold.

As it wouldn’t be enough importing caviar, Marcus is keen on impor ting the real Dutch waffles to Thailand. These Dutch waffles contain 2 ingredients that you can’t find anywhere else, except in Holland. Marcus says, importing the Tzar caviar, no problem and no competition, but importing syrup waffles, that means a huge competition. Let’s see and hope that Marcus will be successful. I don’t really care about waffles, Dutch or any other waffles, but the caviar……. that is something else that I do look forward to becoming.

If you want to experience caviar in all its splendour, don’t hesitate to order online; www. cheesequintessence.com.

Bon appetite!

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

has put Udon Thani on the map By making it safe for a foreigner to buy a house in Udon Thani, Preben Pretzmann and his real estate agency FBI has helped this Northeastern corner of Thailand grow and prosper.

By Maria Andreasdottir

14 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

D

anish real estate agent Preben Pretzmann enjoys the boom of the nor thern-eastern capital of Thailand. Over the 15 years that he has lived here, the former provincial town has transformed into a leading hub in the north east of Thailand.

With an international airpor t, several big shopping malls and a strong local economy the Udon Thani region is today home to around 1,6 million people and more people are moving in all the time. Udon Thani’s growing population has also led to the construction of a second ring road around Udon which clearly paints a picture of a town in growth.

Preben Pretzmann’s company FBI Real Estate is benefitting from this development too.

“Right now more than 3000 apar tments are under construction in Udon,” says Preben Pretzmann.

“This is an important opportunity for the growing number of foreigners moving here, because as a foreigner you can take immediate ownership of an apartment while this is a bit more complicated with a house. “ “When I moved to Udon there were only

50 foreigners who lived here. If I were lucky I would see a white man every second week.

Today there lives around 50.000 ‘farangs’,” says Preben Pretzmann.

His company FBI does more than selling and buying properties. They build real estate too.

“We have build more than 100 houses here in Udon’’, says Preben Pretzmann.

Preben Pretzmann recalls how the city at that time had a relaxed atmosphere and was surrounded by beautiful nature. With its location in the center of the Nor theastern Thailand plateau, Udon also had potential as an excellent trading position.

Preben Pretzmann applied a r ather unique way to get to know the city better: for three months he walked ever y single street up and down together with his wife at that time. He noticed the good oppor tunities for owning proper ty here, and during the many days of exploring the streets of Udon Thani he realized foreigners had a dilemma when wanting to buy a home in Thailand. They were not familiar with the law and the Thai language was a difficult barrier to under stand the complicated rules.

At the same time a lot of potential house buyers were scared away by stories about how other foreigners were tricked into buying houses that in the end they had no ownership in.

From his three months of streetwalking and living in Udon for 15 years he seems to know every in and outs of Udon.

Clearly, the problem with Udon was not to find great locations for building a home.

The problem was the complicated process buying a house and avoid being cheated when doing so.

Preben Pretszmann saw an oppor tunity to fix this problem, and he wanted to help foreigners’ wish come true. Based on this vision, he set up his own real estate company FBI (First and Best in Udon) which should provide the help and security that foreigners would need when they wished to live in Thailand. No one should be cheated when buying a house, and the many new Udon settlers should be the living proof that with the help of FBI you could buy a house safely and live in your dream house. His at that time Thai wife did the translation and he sold the houses. Anyone should now feel secure when buying a new home.

Preben Pretzmann feels that he has contributed to the growth of Udon as a destination for foreigners to settle down by making it safe to buy property here.

“I always make sure that my customers

I feel there is a tendency to move away from the tourist centers of Pattaya and Phuket and the chaotic Bangkok to live in more relaxed and child-friendly places. Here we have good schools and universities, and the kids can grow up safe here. When you can get it all here in Udon for more than half the price compared to for example Bangkok, people decide to move to Udon for good.

are treated well, because happy customers will spread their word. When people hear about the benefits living here compared to other cities in Thailand, they want to be a part of Udon too.

People are now aware of how easy it is and they have noticed the many benefits of living in Udon Thani too. Especially the low living cost compared to other big cities in Thailand is one of the biggest advantages.

“I feel there is a tendency to move away from the tour ist center s of Pattaya and Phuket and the chaotic Bangkok to live in more relaxed and child-friendly places. Here we have good schools and universities, and the kids can grow up safe here. When you can get it all here in Udon for more than half the price compared to for example Bangkok, people decide to move to Udon for good,” says Preben Pretzmann.

Regardless of the growing popularity Udon Thani is experiencing today, the city has always been a blessing to Preben Pretzmann. Here he found everything he wanted: a city combined with a tranquil atmosphere, where he could run his own business and have a peaceful familylife.

He never wanted or has returned back to Denmark, and he has no plan going anywhere else. ‘’I will stay here as long as I live, except if I find a better place than Udon. But I don’t think that place exists,” says Preben Pretzmann.

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

Norway kick-starts

entrepreneurs in Singapore

By Joakim Persson

S

ix Norwegian star t-ups got a kickstar t into Asia by par ticipating in a special Tech Incubator programme in Singapore, TINC Asia, organised by the Norwegian government agency Innovation Norway together with Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (jfdi.asia) TINC Asia helps the star t-ups align and connect their businesses with Asian markets, for distribution and development of future products and services.This three-week mentoring experience is a par t of Innovation Norway’s hands-on support to companies in developing their competitive advantage and to enhance innovation.

Combining local industr y knowledge and international networks with the business ideas and the motivation of entrepreneurs will build the foundation for new successful businesses.

“Norway is similar to Singapore in the sense that our home markets are small – this means that high-potential start-ups need to focus on international expansion early,” said Innovation Norway regional director Torunn Aass Taralrud.

“TINC Asia offers access to some of the best local start-up resources in Asia and provides a 16 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

unique learning experience for these companies,” she claimed.

Joyful Frog Digital Incubator, Innovation Norway’s partner in delivering the training, is a community of people who practice, finance and teach innovation. JFDI delivers innovation for corporations, governments and investment funds.

They run ‘JFDI Accelerate’ – the longest-running and most successful seed accelerator program in South East Asia.

They also offers the online pre-accelerator programme ‘JFDI Discover’ that aims to give confidence to first-time entrepreneurs or nascent teams who are exploring an idea, launching a prototype, or preparing to raise funds. Their programmes for business start-ups and professionals lead people to think and act entrepreneurially by helping them to engineer innovative businesses around their ideas.

Kicking doors open Biogrid, offering vertical farming in urban areas; and Kaizit, which has a specialised IT solution promoting efficiency and quality of shipping drydocking, were two of the selected start-up teams.

“Participating in a programme like this really

helps us understand the business culture in the region; it practically kicks doors open. And the mentors at JFDI are really helpful, they help us crack the social codes, help us navigate bureaucracy, and even locate the most exotic foods in Singapore,” said August Flatby of Biogrid AS, while attending in Singapore.

“If we had to learn all this the slow way, then I believe it would have taken us months to build up sufficient confidence to build a business here.“ Participating companies in TINC Asia can gain greater insight and familiarity with Asian business, culture, preferences and expectations, to enable faster growth into the region, with lesser risk.

Founded in 2015 and including a grant from Innovation Norway, Biogrid’s intelligent growth modules are primarily targeted at commercial urban farmers who want to produce healthy, nutricious and tasty food in ver tical farms in urban areas.

“Biogrid was chosen to participate because we develop enabling technologies for indoor agriculture. This kind of technology is a good fit for nations like Singapore that wants to achieve more food self-reliance by building urban farms, ver tical farms and plant factories,” explained

August who finds Singapore to be an incredibly interesting place.

“It is fine-tuned in every detail, run as a very efficient, large, company. As a part of Singapore’s drive toward becoming an even smar ter nation, there is a real push toward using sensor technologies and data intelligence in novel ways.

We believe that Biogrid’s technology fits very well into this vision, as our system harnesses these technologies in order to increase crop yields and to ensure predictable harvests in urban farms.”

“Singapore is also interesting because of its close proximity to China, which is where we are planning to do our hardware manufacturing,” he continued.

The TINC Asia programme is quite well known within Norway and especially the Silicon Valley programmes that have been running for several years.

“I participated in a similar programme with Innovation Norway back in 2013, where my company was chosen to participate in a GET (Global Entrepreneurship Training) program at the highly rated Babson College in Boston, US. Since then I’ve been in the loop and got the opportunity to apply for this programme, Stig Linna, CEO at Kaizit as.

Solutions for Singapore The TINC Asia 2015 participants began with a three-day briefing session in Oslo in June after which par ticipants researched target markets

in Asia remotely and prepared to meet with potential business partners while in Singapore.

Kaizit met a very strong interest in their IT solution for efficient dry-docking for ships. The two first ship managers that they met were interested in conducting a pilot phase of testing out their new product planning and execution of the repair/dry-docking process for vessels.

Researching the Asian market and preparing to meet potential business partners in Singapore, Kaizit found that they could offer two solutions aimed to help improve shipping companies’ operations; one being an existing solution that makes shipping companies improve their sales.

“We actually found that the willingness to invest in initiatives that can increase sales is very interesting,” said Stig Linna.

Coming from Norway Kaizit naturally has a strong position within the shipping industry related to its home market, he pointed out. But Singapore and the surrounding region is of great interest for the expansion.

“We have seen that Singapore is the main hub for shipping companies, so we are testing out if it might be an opportunity here. We have already established a local representative here and will scale based on the market demand that we experience.”

The 3-week programme in Singapore offers a unique oppor tunity to test one’s business concepts towards the Asian mar ket, gain invaluable feedback and get exposure to a broad

business network.

Par ticipants in the programme receive strategic guidance for global expansion, delivered by mentors on an individualised basis for each company, according to JFDI.

BASH tech cluster The participants had the opportunity to connect with the local community every day, working from BASH, which is part of Singapore’s tech cluster for six months after the programme, the teams can also use the JFDI.Asia facilities to follow through on all connections they have made.

“So far we have met a lot of energetic entrepreneurs that are aiming for success. It seems like they come from a lot of different countries and nationalities,” he commented on the business network and entrepreneurship in Singapore.

August Flatby gave a positive assessment as well: “There seems to be a constant stream of events where entrepreneurs can hobnob with investors and potential customers. We’ve attended a couple of events already and our impression is that the attendees are a mix of Singaporean nationals, expats, and foreigners.”

Garden International School Sathorn, Bangkok Yo u r C h o i c e. T h e i r F u t u r e.

y.

O u r Fa m i l Enrolment from 2 to 18 years of age.

With A-Levels starting in August 2016.

Garden International School, Bangkok offers a British-style international education in a friendly environment in the heart of Bangkok.

34/3-4 Yen Akart Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Thailand Tel : +66(0)2 249-1880 Fax : +66(0)2 249-1943 Email : info@gardenbangkok.com www.facebook.com/Garden.International.School.Bangkok www.gardenbangkok.com www.twitter.com/gisbangkok www.youtube.com/gisbangkok

Playgroup every Monday from 2.30pm. to 3.30pm. Ages 8 months to 2 years.

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

BEST WESTERN PLUS to open soon in North Bangkok

B

est Western International is excited to announce plans to open its first hotel in the upand-coming area of North Bangkok.

Scheduled to open in the fourth quar ter of 2015, the new BEST WESTERN PLUS Wanda Grand Hotel will be strategically located close to a series of key business, leisure and MICE destinations.

These include the Central Chaeng Wattana shopping mall, IMPACT Mueang Thong Thani exhibition center, and the Thai government complex at Chaeng Wattana. The upscale hotel will also few hundred meters from the World Medical Center, allowing it to embrace all different types of traveler.

Located close to the city’s expressway network, it will also be easy for guests to travel to and from Bangkok’s two international airports, and across the city.

“I am delighted to reveal the new BEST WESTERN PLUS Wanda Grand Hotel, mar king Best Western’s entry into one of Bangkok’s most exciting districts,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western International’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia.

“We expect that this stylish upscale hotel will become a magnet for corporate travelers, due to its proximity to local businesses, government offices and IMPACT – Thailand’s biggest conference and events facility.”

BEST WESTERN PLUS Wanda Grand Hotel will provide 183 contemporar y rooms and suites, including a range from superior to two-bedroom suite options, making it ideal for extended stay guests. All rooms will come equipped with a selection of upscale amenities, including flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, mini-bars and

complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy excellent Thai and international cuisine at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, relax with a drink at the lobby lounge, or unwind in the swimming pool & fitness center.

For the corporate and events markets, BEST WESTERN PLUS Wanda Grand Hotel will also provide eight function rooms, including a vast 1,014m² banqueting hall.

“Bangkok is a global city and Best Western is delighted to be expanding the number of accommodation options for all types of traveler to the city,” Mr. Berrivin added.

“The opening of the BEST WESTERN PLUS Wanda Grand Hotel will mar k a significant milestone in our development, and I look forward to welcoming our first guests to this excellent new upscale hotel later this year,” he concluded.

With the addition of the BEST

Heavenly touches from Michelin two-star

Chef Onno Kokmeijer at Elements

E

lements at The Okura Prestige Bangkok is honoured to welcome Onno Kokmeijer, one of Europe’s most famous chefs. Onno Kokmeijer is chef at Ciel Bleu (translated as blue sky or blue heaven) at The Hotel Okura Amsterdam. Ciel Bleu is one of Europe’s most famous dining establishments and enjoys the prestige rating of two Michelin stars.

Chef Onno cooks exclusively for dinner guests at Elements from 17 - 21 November 2015. His 6-course set dinner menu, priced at Baht 5,600++ per person, offers courses featuring tom yam ‘Ciel Bleu style’; king crab; langoustine, sole and Wagyu beef and reflects his reputation as a chef that combines many different tastes and flavours using the finest local ingredients. The 3-course set lunch,

priced at Baht 3,200++ per person, also features tom yam, king crab and Wagyu beef.

Onno Kokmeijer has worked at Ciel Bleu since 2003 and has been awarded the title SVH Meesterchef (master chef) by the Dutch hospitality organisation Stichting Vakbekwaamheid Horeca. SVH strives to retain and expand professional knowledge in the hospitality industry and awards ‘master’ titles in five categories including chefs, hosts and sommeliers. The SVH ‘master’ title is the highest honour awarded by the Dutch hospitality industry.

Ciel Bleu restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars in 2007. Moreover, it is the only restaurant in the Netherlands where three staff members hold the coveted SVH ‘master’ title. Sommelier Noël Vanwittenbergh holds the title SVH Winemaster (‘Wijnmeester’) and maitre Pasquinel Kolk recently earned his title SVH Master host (‘Meestergastheer’).

Elements offers special set menus by Chef Onno for lunch from 12 noon - 2:30 pm and for dinner from 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm.

Elements is located on the 25th floor of The Okura Prestige Bangkok. For more details, and to book a table for chef Onno’s amazing set menu, please call 02 687 9000 or email elements@okurabangkok.com.

For information about Ciel Bleu visit: www. cielbleu.nl

18 ScandAsia.Thailand • September 2015

WESTERN PLUS Wanda Grand Hotel, Best Western will offer a collection of seven hotels in Bangkok, covering three of its brands: classic BEST WESTERN, upscale BEST WESTERN PLUS and luxury BEST WESTERN PREMIER. For more infor mation on development oppor tunities i n A s i a w i t h B e s t We s t e r n International, please visit www. bestwesterndevelopers.com or contact us at asiadevelopment@ bestwestern.com.

Nichada & Natakorn Lake Condominium OPENING

N

ichada & Natakorn Lake Condominiums was launched in May 2015.

The 22-floor towers are the newest development in the prestigious Nichada Thani luxur y gated community in Chaeng Wattana, Bangkok,just minutes from downtown.

Built on a 60-acre lake, there are 159 apartments of 1,2,3 and 4 bedrooms for both short and longterm rental. The project features per sonalized butler services and stateof-the art security.

For More Information: www.nichada.com n1n2@nichada.com 02 960 4329-31

มุมภาษาไทย l mum pha:să: thai l Thai Language Corner

Get Your Greens in Thailand

By Klavs Johansen (thai@snakthai.dk)

P

reviously, here at the Thai Language Corner, we have sampled the plentiful and delicious fruits of Thailand. Vegetables are no less plentiful and we will this month have a look at some of the common ones. For our purpose, we will consider a vegetable broadly as any edible part of a plant, which is not a sweet fruit. As some of the vegetables in the following are not well known in Europe, the English translations may be subject to discussion or simply give the nearest European equivalent of the family. Anyway, in order to know what is meant, tasting is the best option.

ผัก / phàk / is the word for vegetables and as such is often used as a prefix

ข้าวผัด / khâ:o phàt / and ข้าวมันไก่ / khâ:o man kài /, มะเขือเทศ / mákhŭeathê:t / ~ tomato, หัวหอม / hŭa hŏr:m / ~ onion, หน่อไม้ฝรั่ง / nòr: má:i fàràng / ~ asparagus, ตะไคร้ / tàkhrái / ~ lemon grass, ถั่วงอก / thùa ngôr:k / ~ bean sprouts, ถั่วฝักยาว / thùa fàk ya:o / ~ yardlong beans, and เห็ด / hèt / ~ mushrooms, deserves mention as well, even if not strictly a vegetable, available in numerous sorts and used in e.g. ต้มยำ� / tôm yam /

soups and in many fried dishes.

when naming the various sorts. Examples are: ผักบุ้ง / phàk bûng / ~ water morning glory, also known in English under a host of other names, and in Thailand main ingredient in the dish ผักบุ้งไฟแดง / phàk bûng fai dae:ng /, where the stems and leaves are stir-fried with whole red chili peppers and garlic in oyster sauce, ผักชี / phàk chi: / ~ coriander, ผักชีลาว / phàk chi: la:o / ~ dill, ผักคะน้า / phàk kháná: / ~ Chinese kale, often used in the dish ผัดผักรวมมิตร / phàt phàk ruam mít / ~ sautéed mixed vegetables, ผักกาดขาว / phàk kà:t khă:o / Chinese cabbage, and, of course, ผักสลัด / phàk sàlàt / ~ lettuce.

Finally, the following are regular ingredients in Thai cooking: กระชาย / kràcha:i / ~ finger root, ข่า / khà: / ~ galangal root, popular in ต้มข่าไก่ / tôm khà: kài / ~ chicken soup with galangal, ขิง / khĭng / ~ ginger, particularly recommended in ไก่ผัดขิง / kài phàt khĭng / ~ chicken fried with shredded ginger, กระเทียม / kràthiam / ~ garlic, and the likewise omnipresent, พริก / phrík / ~ chili.

Leafy vegetables are frequently named with the prefix ใบ / bai / and we get: ใบกะเพรา / bai kàphrao / ~ holy basil, as in the staple dish ผัดกะเพรา / phàt kàphrao / ~ stir-fried holy basil leaves, including plenty of chili and garlic, and, for example, pork or beef and served over rice, possibly with a fried egg on top! ใบโหระพา / bai hŏ:rápha: / ~ sweet basil, eaten separately or in curries, ใบสะระแหน่ / bai sàránàe: / ~ kitchen mint leaves, used in Thai salads, ใบเตย / bai toe:i / ~ pandan leaves, often stuffed in grilled fish, and ใบมะกรูด / bai mákrù:t / ~ kaffir lime leaves.

กินเจ / kin je: / is what you say at a restaurant to indicate that you temporarily, or permanently, abstain from eating meat, including seafood.

Thailand offers excellent opportunities to stick to this principle, in particular in the Chinese and Indian quarters of Bangkok and in the South. There is even a countrywide เทศกาลกินเจ / thêtsàka:n kin je: / ~ Vegetarian Festival.

The festival is of Chinese origin, lasts up to 9 days, and is celebrated most famously on Phuket. This year, the festival will take place from the middle of October. During the festival, go for the eateries flying a yellow flag with the word เจ / je: / printed in red, if you wish to try out vegetarian food. This is a whole new topic, though, which we may take up in a later column. Until then: ขอให้อร่อยนะครับ / khŏr: hâi àròri ná’ khráp / ~ bon appetite, and remember that you can ask questions or suggest topics to be treated at the Thai Language Corner by contacting us at the email above.

Most vegetables, however, are simply known by their name, i.e. without a prefix: กะหล่ำ�ปลี / kàlàmpli: / ~ cabbage, แตงกวา / tae:ng kwa: / ~ cucumber, used decoratively on everyday dishes like

The list could go on for many more pages, however the above should provide sufficient ไวตามิน / waita:min / for this month.

September 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19