ScandAsia Thailand - February 2016

FEB 2016

Karin Herrstrรถm: I have a passion and a mission ScandAsia.dk

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Coming Events

DTCC Breakfast Seminar: Key Strategies to Grow your Business Online Where: Dusit Thani Bangkok When: 23 February, 7:00 am - 9:30 am Front cover: Karin Hellström, wife of H.E. Staffan Herrström, Sweden’s Ambassador to Thailand.

Photo: Disraporn Yatprom.

Do you want to gain more sales? Then, don’t miss out on this perfect opportunity to get the key strategies from the expert: Mr.Ami Mandel, the director of UpMedia.

He will show you how to get the most out of your online channels.

Fee: DTCC members: 850 THB, Non-members: 1,100 THB You can also send an E-mail to assistant@dancham. or.th or call 02-354-5220 to book your ticket.

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: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com 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

Nordmenn i Hua Hin Jubileumsfest Where: Sara Janes When: Saturday 13 February, 18:00 Programmet er blant annet: • Stor buffet med thai og europeisk mat • Dans til levende musikk • Litt allsang hører med • Premieutdeling for golf- og petanqueturneringene • Presentasjon av veldedighetsprosjektet som NiHH finansierer • Sosialt samvaer blant gode venner Deltakelse på festen er 700 thb per person. Denne betales ved ankomst.

Deltakere på jubileumsfesten er betalende medlemmer for 2016 og deres partnere. Det vil ikke vaere krav til at partnerne skal vaere medlem. Medlemskontingent for 2016 kan betales ved ankomst til festen.

Visst kan du svensk tv i Thailand!

Med ett abonnemang, en Internetuppkoppling (min 2 Mbit/s) och en set-top-box kan du följa serier som 30 grader i februari, Mästarnas mästare och Melodifestivalen samt få

de senaste nyheterna från Rapport och Aktuellt - precis som släkt och vänner hemma i Sverige. Dessutom kan du se programmen när det passar dig, med vår tjänst “catch up”.

Tag kontakt med vår kundtjänst ConNova för mer information via telefon eller e-post: +46 (0)141 20 39 10 - svtworld@connova.se Mer information finns också på svt.se/svtworld

News Brief

The new Baan Jing Jai Children’s Home is open

H

ans “Hansi” Kondr ad began the welcoming speech on the official opening of the new orphanage Baan Jing Jai in Pattaya on 9 Januar y 2016 with the words: “You can see it with your own eyes here in front of you.”

What started out as a hopeful idea six years ago, was now reality. More than 300 people attended the opening, among them H.E. Kjetil Paulsen from the Norwegian Embassy in Thailand.

“It was fantastic,” Hansi says with pride. But even more so were the children. “They were proud as peacocks when showing the guests their new rooms and the snug corner. It is a whole new world to them to have something called home.”

In 2010 Hansi played his part in registering the project Baan Jing Jai as a foundation. The goal for the at that time 6 board members was to gather enough support to buy land where they could move into their own building and make home for almost 100 children. One year later, private loans and collected money could finally buy the land for the orphanage.

“It was in 2013 things really star ted to progress. Several great people had star ted different fundraising projects for the New Building

4 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

project, both in Thailand and Norway.”

The big turning point was when major sponsors such as Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and friends of Sputnik came on board to support.

The project had finally collected enough money to start the building of the new home.

The Norwegian Properties Group supplied on their own cost the building architect, and in January 2014, the construction of the new home finally started. Two years later they could welcome for the official opening of Baan Jing Jai. “A dream have finally come true,” says Hansi. In his opening speech he expressed his appreciation and expressed his deepest thanks to the many people and companies who have contributed. There was in particular a few people he wanted to mention his gratitude to.

“First of all the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Pattaya for housing nearly all of the committee meetings during the year, and the former pastor Jan Olav Johannessen, Trond Tonjum and his colleagues of WWL, and Peter Malhotra from Pattaya Mail.”

He also sent a huge thanks to a birthday girl among the guests.

“Thank you and happy bir thday, Vivian

Storbukås (the driving force behind the Friends of Sputnik)! I can’t believe there is a better way to celebrate your birthday!.”

The brand new Baan Jing Jai will make one of the greatest joy for 80 children.According to Hansi the future looks bright for everyone. Since they have been building networks for so many years, people will continue to support the foundation and thereby giving the children as much schooling as possible. One of the children have now been adopted by a Danish woman, who will support the child with care and education. Regardless of the success of Baan Jing Jai so far, Hansi doesn’t believe they should rest on their laurels.

“We will always work hard to make enough support for these children and for Baan Jing Jai. We don’t stop now, we will continue to improve and make sure the children will have the best conditions we can give.”

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 5

News Brief

Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce re-launches yearbook

DTCC Executive Director Carsten Jens Carlstedt and Finn Balslev, Marketing Director at ScandMedia,

Danske Bank’s Christian Trenkel Larsen held a brief introduction.

DTCC Executive Director Carsten Jens Carlstedt and Finn Balslev, Marketing Director at ScandMedia,

O Emil Vøhlert, Novo Nordisk Pharma, assisting the lucky draw.

Lucky draw winner

6 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

Lucky draw winner

n Thursday January 14th 2016 it was time for the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce (DTCC) to see the return of an old friend – its yearbook ‘Denmark in Thailand - Member Directory of Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce’, which had been dormant for a few years.

DTCC, along with its sponsors had dedicated this year’s first networking to the re-launch, where Executive Director Mr Carsten Jens Carlstedt presented the brand new publication, its background and the effor t to accomplish this yearbook. It is produced in collaboration with ScandAsia’s owner, the publishing house ScandMedia. Car sten thanked all DTCC’s sponsors, as well as the sponsors of the event and also ScandMedia for their efforts.

The networking was held at the member KVIK (Danish kitchen brand’s) downtown Bangkok’s showroom in Thonglor. Carlsberg provided the guests with free beer, together with Danish Hot Dogs and flaeskestegssandwich from Fyn Bakery.

A Danish apple cider, surprising to some guests to be found in Thailand, was also served.

The sponsor Danske Bank representative, Mr Christian Trenkel Larsen also briefly introduced himself and the bank to the audience. Later in the evening lucky draw prizes from Danske Bank and Bang & Olufsen were also presented to two lucky winners, where Emil Vøhlert from Novo Nordisk Pharma made the draws.

Since it had not been published in the recent years, members and other readers can in the new 2016 catch up on what have happened since 2012 together with a whole DTCC directory.Year 2012, 2013, 2014 as well as 2015 have dedicated ‘Year in Review’ chapters.

The new yearbook also contains a foreword by H.E Mikael Hemniti Winther, Danish Ambassador to Thailand, where he outlines his outlook for 2016 in Thailand.

News Brief

Proactive annual general meeting: Scandinavians on Phuket

O

n 9 January 2016 half a hundred of Scandinavians gathered in the lovely surroundings of Royal Valley in Chalong, Phuket. The community group Skandinaver på Phuket had invited them for their Annual Meeting 2016, where a new board was chosen, relevant issues discussed and new members were welcomed. Last year 59 Scandinavians had joined SPP. ”We are happy to greet new members, and the two years I have been moderator I have only seen growth in our organization,” says Åke Viktorsson, moderator of Skandinaver på Phuket.

He explains that since the organization is not commercial the only way new members are found are by the old word-of-mouth method. ”We are lucky to have such par ticipating members. When new Scandinavians move to Phuket, existing members are excellent to promote our group, and tell newcomers we are here to help get to know their Scandinavian rights, meet the local society and be their support.”

Today Skandinaver på Phuket counts 350 members, but they hope to grow even bigger in 2016.They are not interested in changing their strategy four outreach ”We think this way works fine, but we will encourage our member to spread the word about us even more. It will benefit us more the bigger we are”.

More members can help to improve the Scandinavian society on Phuket according to Åke. For example, the Swedish right of health insurance on Phuket was one of the key issues on the Annual Meeting to discuss. Apparantly some Swedes in Phuket are missing right to any health insurance even if they are considered legitimated to. It is caused by the verification process, which is not universal as in other places of Thailand. SPP believes when Scandinavians stand together, they can solve the problem faster. ”We already now feel a huge interest for being a member at SPP. Our most important task is to inform and make life easier for the Scandinavian society in Phuket.”

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

News Brief

Simply Scandinavian returns to Shangri-La Bangkok for a double in 2016

By Joakim Persson

F

ollowing on a week with Swedish jazz in 2015 jazz promoter Hans Wetterberg returns with his concept ‘Simply Scandinavian’ to Bangkok and the riverside flagship hotel ShangriLa Bangkok twice in 2016. Starting with the period Friday 11 March through to 19 March (except on Sunday 13) the Swedish/British Entertainer/Singer Deri Rowlands, along with Swedish Pianist Janne Sjöblom, returns to Bangkok performing at Volti Restorante & Bar (previously known as Angelini).

Volti offers timeless and modern, authentic Italian cuisine, and also a variety of live music in its intimate and comfortable Lounge Bar. “Relax, Wine, Dine and enjoy Deri singing songs from times gone by, making you feeling 8 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

good and happy with many of your favourite singers. Deri Rowlands forever green. Deri likes to swing! That’s his thing,” is how Hans presents him.

“Deri’s well-known both inside and outside Sweden, and for his impersonations; of Nat King Cole, Tony Bennet, Dean Martin and his favourite Satchmo! You might meet many of the top artists of the world with him on stage. He’s also praised for his humour,” he continues.

Deri lives in Sweden and has a strong connection with his long career as entertainer in Sweden, having performed there in piano bars, night clubs and a number of TV Shows for the past 40 years.

Hans fir st booked him for the Simply Scandinavian 10 years’ anniversar y in Kuala Lumpur. Having seen him live in a hotel bar in Stockholm Hans had been mighty impressed by his performing skills: “I understood that I heard the male artist who could be the International Entertainer of Sweden.”

On 7 - 15 October the Scandinavian concept once again returns to Shangri-La, Bangkok, with a full programme featuring Swedish vocalist Anna Sise supported by Erling Ribbing Quartet, and Danish top chef Lars Kyllesbeck from Mefisto in Aarhus.

“Anna’s own idol is Billie Holliday (American jazzsinger 1915-59) and many times you will believe Billie is singing in front of you.”

At Shangri-La, but in Kuala Lumpur, is also where it once star ted for this Scandinavian (Finland included) concept for jazz music and food.

In 1987 the Shangri-La hotel in Kuala Lumpur was one year young. Hans and the Swiss General Manager Dario Reggazoni, who had opened the hotel, knew each other from Chaine des Rotisseurs(an international gastronomic society).

Dario had thought of star ting a Swedish Smorgasbord and asked for advice. Hans, who had a past as a musician had suggested that the concept needed entertainment, selling the idea at first based on his home country’s most famous pop exports. The hotelier had understood and then asked his Swedish friend to find that music.

Hans, with a challenge a his hand, had then turned to his old friends at the good old jazz club Nalen in Stockholm, Sweden, asking to the artist Eddie Bruhner (Sweden’s Jazz Band), who had accepted.

At that hotel back then was also the Danish hotelier Christian Hassing who also liked the concept.

Based on that very first event, which had been successful, Hans had thought that he could expand this concept to also offer a Danish Week, Norwegian Week and Suomalainen Viikko. From the second year Hans also organised to book the chefs to come along with the music as part of the concept. Scandinavians who moved on to new postings also asked Hans to bring the concept to their new city and in that way the concept came to visit various cities in Southeast Asia – and actually worldwide! – under the ‘Simply Scandinavian’ banner, which could incorporate any of the Nordic countries.

After a few years he had also strengthened the concept by adding a singer, or entertainer, to perform along with the band.

Fast forward to today and Eddie has performed 13 times in Kuala Lumpur up to now.

And when Simply Scandinavian celebrated 25 years, Christian Hassing wanted the concept for his Mandarin Oriental in Singapore.

Simply Scandinavian also returns to ShangriLa Kuala Lumpur in October 2016.

News Brief

Many joined Scandinavian Christmas Service in Bangkok

T

he number of Nordic people w h o j o i n e d t his ye ar’s Scandinavian Chr istmas Service in Bangkok was more than last year and but there were still seats available for a few more in Christ Church on Convent road, where this special service has taken place since the second world war.

What makes it so popular is the reading of the gospel in the four Scandinavian languages by prominent people in each of the four communities – the fourth being

Icelandic, since the Finnish Church has its own service straight after the Scandinavian. The Icelandic text was read by Palli Steinarsson, the Danish

by Consul Birgit Sarah KondrupPalmqvist, the Norwegian by Rikke Marline Steensby and the Swedish

by Ambassador Staffan Herrstrom.

The Vicar Lars Ryderstad with assistance from Maria and Bjorn Wennerstrom guided smoothly the whole event which included also a Prelude by Siegfried Thom and solo songs by Vanessa Bekassy de Bekas.

After the service, Scandinavian Society Siam served a glass and a bite outside on the “kyrkbacka” as the Swedes like to call the parking lot outside the Church. All ver y traditional and meaningful with friends meeting and greeting each other with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

All photos below by Claus Gundersen.

International Baccalaureate

- den internationale studentereksamen • internationalt anerkendt • giver adgang til universiteter over hele verden • undervisning på engelsk

New website from Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce

T

he Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Co mmer c e r e c e n t ly announced: ”Another milestone for our chamber with the launch of our rebranded website.

The visual expression of the website builds on the Team Norway profile developed in Norway for use

by Norwegian industry. The new website offers a more flexible design concept allowing us to change the functionality in accordance with demand.” ”We have added special interest sections such as Legal Updates, ICT Updates, ASEAN issues and a link

to the Myanmar-Norway Business Council. We will fill the pages with content as we go along. We will upload presentations from the events making them easily available to you as members. You may notice that we have already added photo albums (interlinked with our Flickr account) allowing you to download pictures from the chamber’s 2015 events. From the website, you can also download past issues of our magazine Business Review. We will keep you updated by posting news on the website, so keep following the development!”

Du kan bo på skolens kostafdeling.

Der er også mulighed for at bo på et kollegium i tilknytning til skolen.

r yderligere Ring og rekvire uddannelsen, oplysninger om kollegiet . kostskolen og

www.nyborg-gym.dk · Tlf +45 65 31 02 17 February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Karin Herrström:

I have a passion and a mission

By Maria Andreasdottir / Photos: Disraporn Yatprom

T

he wife to Swedish Ambassador of Thailand H.E. Staffan Herrström Karin is a truly devoted woman of the world. The task of representing one’s country in a diplomatic context suits her well, since her own personal goal is to make sure to bring the best out of her surroundings, which she actively does by engaging in political issues like gender equality, promoting welfare and always being a great hostess.

30 years ago she met the passion of her life, Staffan, and together they began their own global adventure.

Magnetic power ”It just said ‘click’”. Karin smiles when she recalls the first time she met her husband in a political context. She was a teacher, he was a journalist.

Growing up as an outdoor child (who also loved books), she was fascinated about this man who shared the same interests of hers for a better (and greener) world, not to mention their common passion for music. Like a magnetic power the two of them connected perfectly, and it didn’t take long before they witnessed their love to the world.

“In the beginning our married life was typical Swedish. We had two daughters, and together we went on sailing, playing music together, reading and discussing, exercising, gardening and skiing in the winter. Just like any other family in Stockholm.”

The ordinary life in Sweden happened to be temporary, when Staffan in 2007 became the Ambassador of Sweden in Tanzania after having worked with development cooperation for a long time. It meant a world of changes: moving to a whole new continent, saying goodbye to friends and family, and suddenly being in charge of promoting Sweden as Mr. and Mrs. Ambassador.

Karin never doubted a second of supporting her husband’s new career path.

“The hardest par t was to convince our teenage girls to move away from everything they knew. I was proud of Staffan, and he was fantastic

10 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

to explain to the girls about the pros and cons of moving to Africa.”

Eventually the pros won, and they all went to there. As a diplomatic spouse she was happy to become the head of the residence and to entertain larger groups of guests. She learned from her job as a teacher how to organize, to communicate and to delegate work to the staff and how crucial it is to create a positive and proactive spirit in the residence.

“Every single person has to feel that he or she is important. I love to be a team leader!”

Even if organizing events is a lot of work itself, Karin was involved in voluntary work, raising funds for mainly vulnerable girls and women. The focus was to give girls who had been raped and were pregnant the same possibilities to continue their education. She also supported NGOs assisting women who were suffering from fistula and other women health-related issues. Women’s rights are one of the favourite causes to Mr. and Mrs. Herrström.

After three years in Africa, Staffan was appointed Ambassador to Vietnam. Karin spent a month building up a new home for her family, but unfortunately due to a decision made by the Swedish government the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi had to close down (though later the decision was revoked).

“We received the message just before Christmas. It was sad news for us, but even worse for the local employees. Staffan did everything to comfort them.”

And so did Karin; supporting her husband in his efforts to support the Embassy staff. She told him to make the best out of it, and together they travelled around in Asia and Karin spoiled their staff at the Embassy in Hanoi with home baked cookies. She managed to promote a positive atmosphere in spite of the dreadful news. Soon he was given the title of Ambassador to Poland, and they all moved back to Europe.

Another chance “But there was something about Asia. I loved the pulse and the energy. In Africa where everything was a little ‘hakuna matata’, it was the opposite in Asia. Everyone was always on the move.”

“Why not give Asia another chance?” The lively Karin was happier than a clam when Staffan was given the credentials to be Ambassador in Thailand in September 2015 (and accredited also to Lao PDR and Myanmar).

“I am so fascinated about Thailand, and I can’t believe how fortunate we are. It was the country highest on our list to explore, and so it is for many Swedes.”

According to her around 350.000 Swedes visit Thailand each year while thousands are settled there, and she notices it by the many Swedish conversations spoken in Bangkok. Although it is comforting to hear one’s mother tongue, Karin is very determined to learn the language of the country she is living in.

“Staffan and I believe it’s both for necessity and to show courtesy to learn the language. It’s important to us. And it’s so fun to help each other with homework together.”

They don’t attend the same classes, and during the weekdays their individual programs are packed with duties, work, and tasks. During Christmas in Thailand Karin hosted a Swedish Christmas Bazaar, organized St. Lucia rehearsals, arranged several traditional parties, and intend to start a project of promoting Swedish food in Thailand.

“When you’re abroad, you have to make more out of your traditions and norms than you would do at home.”

Passionate people Karin and Staffan are both passionate about their work, and even more for each other. Karin explains how important it is to relax when living a busy life constantly filled with new impressions, and she does that best in her husband’s company.

They have managed to get the most and best out of the time they have together; whether it is going to concerts or listening to music at home, going to the gym or taking courses of languages or cooking.They love to do everything together, even literally just to be with each other.

“I am so confident with Staffan. I can even enjoy being with him without conversation. I was already convinced in 1984 that I would travel the world with him if I had to.”

Karin busts the myth of the “quiet and easy life of an ambassador’s spouse”. She is always on the move and always engaged in several projects, not only diplomatic duties, like creating networks and being the team leader of the Swedish Residence, but also her charity work and not to mention being the greatest suppor ter of the Swedish Ambassador in Thailand.

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

BruunRasmussen Focusing On Asia Bruun-Rasmussen, the 70 years old Danish auction house, is expanding its business in Asia and Thailand is next.

By Gregers Moller

B

ruun-Rasmussen Auctioneers is a family-owned Danish auction house which has been in operation since the hammer first fell in 1948. Today the company commands a leading position in Scandinavia’s auction market.

The trust and reliability which the company enjoys has prompted Danes to turn to Bruun Rasmussen whenever they decide to buy or sell valuable house-hold effects, - being it furniture, paintings, carpets, jewelry and other valuable art objects.

With an increasingly saturated home market, Bruun Rasmussen first expanded abroad by establishing agents in key countries in Europe as well as the States.

Now time has come to turn to Asia and expand the already existing Hong Kong platform.

“Our strategy is to appoint local agents in relevant cities around the word,” explains Frederik Bruun-Rasmussen, the 43 year old Grandson of the founder of Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers.

“The key task of an agent is to help local buyers and sellers to overcome the different challenges associated with par ticipating in an auction in an unfamiliar and faraway place like Denmark,” Frederik explains.

“When selecting agents, we look for a local person who knows Danish culture and speaks Danish, someone who has been living in the foreign country for a number of years and last, but not least commands an extensive network,” Frederik adds while pointing at Anders Normann.

“The distance is not so much a logistic issue, because we ship frequently and free of charge

12 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

f.inst. to Hong Kong – the real challenge is to overcome the mental distance or barrier! Simple issues like time difference, language, currency and understanding of the auction process may appear as insurmountable obstacles, which in reality they are not!”

A key element in the success of an auction house is the ability to convince people to entrust you with items to be auctioned, - who can you trust?

For Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers being located in Denmark actually adds a level of protection in itself. An auction house in Denmark is subjected to very strict regulations aimed at protecting both the buyer and the seller.

“The Danish authorities think trust is nice, but control better,” Anders Normann comments.

Anders Normann was already a member of the board when the auction house started looking for agents in Asia, so the choice for Thailand was straight forward.

For Hong Kong, the field is still open.

“We have a very strong base in Hong Kong.

Our challenge is to identify a local person of a caliber equivalent to Anders Normann,” says Frederik.

Why Thailand?

According to Anders Normann, there are historical reasons why Thailand deserves focus.

“Don’t forget, that some 100 years ago you had a lot of Danes working in Thailand within various industries ranging from railways, teak, cement to shipping. When these Danes returned to their homeland, they brought back

In the world of internet i.e. online auctions, it is even more important that you have a live person, a person you can trust and turn to. A person who will provide advice and address your various concerns and queries.

local handicraft like silver, lacquerware, porcelain and Buddha figures. For reasons of affection and sentimentality, the first and perhaps also the second generation would hold on to these artifacts. The third generation is more influenced by fashion and value.’ ’ “Therefore you see in relative terms a large amount of Asian antiquities and collectables appear at Bruun Rasmussen auctions. From the seller’s point of view it is an advantage that

they can now achieve a better price than they could in the past. Why? Because the concept of collecting has become trendy amongst Thais and the Chinese and they are starting to buy back their own culture,” Anders explains.

“Take for example a recent example of a Dane wanting to sell a rare Chinese Buddha image with an estimate of 20 - 30.000 Danish kroner. The Buddha was ultimately sold to an overseas collector for 8 times the estimate.

Online auction and live bidding.

The internet has revolutionized the auction Industry and made the World smaller. Participating in an auction via the internet is more popular and widespread than actually sitting in the room with the auctioneer on the podium swinging the hammer.

“The internet has possibly been the biggest positive influence for our auction house in recent years,” says Frederik.

“Today, you can sit in your home anywhere in the World and follow me standing on the podium and actively participate in the bidding, - all what you need to do is to log yourself in.

“We started in 2004 with online internet bidding and Bruun Rasmussen is one of the first auction houses in the world to conduct both types of auction i.e. online concurrently with the traditional auctions where you can actively participate with live bidding,” says Frederik.

But this has not diminished the need for trust and reliability, - on the contrary!

“In the world of internet i.e. online auctions, it is even more important that you have a live February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

person, a person you can trust and turn to. A person who will provide advice and address your various concerns and queries,” Frederik states.

“You may for instance contact Anders if you have an interest within a particular area of collecting; being it Siamese stamps, furniture, paintings etc. and Anders will facilitate the contact to the person in BRA possessing the relevant expertise.

Traditional/International auctions Four times a year, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers conducts international auctions at their premises in Bredgade, Copenhagen. Items offered here are traditionally high end value and the items offered also command international appeal, - f.inst. Asian Art, Danish design and paintings of Danish and European well known painters.

The next one will take place by the end of February 2016 with the items being available for a preview on the internet from mid-February.

“If you want to participate in the international auction, I will make sure that you get a catalog and I will follow up and assist you with the practicalities of participating in the auction,” Anders offers.

He holds up an intricately ornamented silver bowl: ‘’I bought this fine and rare old piece of Thai silver at an auction in 2014. This bowl would today cost a few hundred thousand baht, - if you could find it! I paid 18.500 kr. including buyers fee.”

Concurrently with the big live auctions, there are constantly items being sold on the internet auctions - typically less expensive items or items that would have limited value outside Denmark, - apart from the very popular bi-monthly on-line wine auction.

14 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

“I will not evaluate individual items as I lack the specific knowledge.

However, if you come with a watch or want to buy one, I will advise you who to contact in BRA and solicit professional evaluation. I am the facilitator.

Frederik points out that anyone to-day can create a profile with Bruun Rasmussen and browse through the category of their interest and submit online bids.

Bidding by phone and by commission In addition to traditional live auctions where you are physically present and the online auction via the website there are two more forms of bidding.

One way is submitting a commission bid - it means you entrust a staff at the auction house to bid on your behalf up to a certain maximum decided and set by you. If nobody else wants the

item, you will get it much cheaper - is somebody else is bidding, you may lose it. But you will never risk paying more than your set maximum.

Another way of bidding is by telephone. A few lots before your lot is up for auctioning, a staff will call you and then you can participate in the live bidding through that person.

In both cases, the staff is on a fixed salary and has no personal interest whatsoever, - they exclusively represent your interests.

“That is what makes auctioning so much fun.

You know the official estimates, but you don’t know whether the bidding will reach the estimate or the items will be knocked down at three times that?” says Frederik.

Thai valuations Anders Normann’s role in Thailand is not to evaluate items but to advise potential sellers and buyers.

“I will not evaluate individual items as I lack the specific knowledge. However, if you come with a watch or want to buy one, I will advise you who to contact in BRA and solicit professional evaluation. I am the facilitator.”

“We are trying to create awareness that the Auction process presents both the seller and the buyer with a host of advantages, - f.inst. the World wide client coverage and last but not least trust and reliability i.e. contrary to net-sales, you will be ensured that each lot has been professionally assessed and evaluated. “ “I’m not interested in quantity, but will consider my mission successful, if I over the next few years succeed in building a small, loyal, but passionate base of discerning clients’’, concludes the newly appointed Bruun Rasmussen representative.

Time for a Fat Tuesday ‘semla’ bun at The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok

By Joakim Persson Finnish it’s called ‘laskiaispulla’ and ‘fastelavnsbolle’ in Danish and Norwegian.”

“I have always loved semlor, but what set it off was a friend down in Mae Prim who asked me some four years ago whether we had any semla for sale,” Eric explains how it all started.

“Unfor tunately we didn’t, but that set off a challenge to make one for the following year.

David Nilsson, who was then working here, and myself started experimenting both with how to make the bread authentic as well as the almond paste mix. We worked out a way to keep it a bit crunchy, yet creamy. Then we had another semla aficionado, Lars Svensson of Ikea and Oriflame, who came to taste whether we had hit it right.

I think we all enjoyed tasting us through recipes until we got it right.”

After the experimentation phase three years ago, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok has held the

recipe pretty consistent, except last year when they decided to go for a second type of a smaller mini-semla for those worried about the effect on their diet, explains Eric.

Being a Swedish favourite the hotel can also tap into the fact that it hosts many Swedes.

“We have a lot of Swedish guests during the period November to April. Actually 8% of our guests are Swedish over the whole year.”

The semla is also available for pre-order/ take-away, while it comes as a combo with fresh coffee at the hotel. Others prefer to have it with tea or hot chocolate, says Eric.

It does also go down well with the locals.

“Many Thais enjoy eating the semla, as do many other nationalities.We have many who have seen us advertising it who would like to try. Many people who only learned about it in Bangkok are now hooked on the bun.”

T

he Swedish pastry specialty, the ‘semla’ wheat bun is back for the third year at The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, served in the Lobby Bar of the hotel where the Swede Eric Hallin is at the helm of the operation.

The General Manager himself presented the semla on the first day of its serving, 7 January, where several Swedish children among the guests were seen munching on the bun as ScandAsia visited. The pastry is only sold during a certain time of the year, connecting to what in Sweden is called the Fat Tuesday and in English known as Shrove Tuesday.

This year the sales period is however longer than the previous two years. Is this based on popular demand?

“We have heard that in Sweden they have started selling the semla already since December,” replied Eric Hallin. “However, it should actually be eaten on Fettisdagen (Mardi Gras in French or Shrove Tuesday in English) which this year falls on 8 February. In Swedish we have many other names for it; such as fettisdagsbulle (Fat Tuesday Bun; actually Mardi Gras also has the same meaning), or ‘fastlagsbulle’, which is basically the bun one eats on the day before the fast.”

“Traditionally lent would star t on the following Wednesday and we would feast on the previous day as it was the last day we could eat a lot. However, the semla proved addictive to many.

The bakers therefore stated to extend the sale of the semla slightly before and after the actual day. Hence we have this year decided to sell them from 7 January (13th day of Christmas) until the end of February.”

“We find many names for those we love. In February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

Swedish Chef at Sofitel So Bangkok Text and photos: Joakim Persson

T

hey are rare and far between in Bangkok’s five star establishments, even there are usually a few in the region. So enjoy, while you can, the Swedish Chef de Cuisine Kenny Karlsson, who is residing at Sofitel So Bangkok’s Red Oven! He is still young and out on a culinary adventure; travelling the world and likely to make him to the next stop in a distant future –unless Bangkok and Sofitel So can convince him/them to stay longer, that is…

Chef Kenny turned up out of nowhere coinciding with Sweden’s National Day in 2015 when the hotel was celebrating this occasion with a Swedish feast during two days. It has become a tradition at the fashion-forward design hotel Sofitel So Bangkok to give attention to the cuisines of the world in connection to various National Day celebrations, enabling for all of us to discover various local classics from different parts of the world. So behind the Swedish theme a newly arrived Swedish chef was hiding!

Given the opportunity to present Swedish specialties for two days Kenny had added some signatures to the buffet; for instance Dill stewed potato with cured salmon, and Skagen on brioche with salmon row.

“When I had just started they said: ‘Let’s do a Swedish menu for the Swedish National Day!’ So they gave me that assignment.”

Perhaps this was a kind of litmus test, to show his creative side and ability to also train the staff to cock those specific dishes – which went well, according to Kenny. The Swedish Ambassador with family was among the dining guests.

16 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

Down-to-earth When ScandAsia visited the young chef earlier in 2015 (three months into his stint) he was just about to finalise the new menu he had composed for Red Oven, a warm and colourful dining outlet with panorama view of Lumpini Park, popular for its lunch and dinner buffets.

He told us that he had incorporated some Swedish flavours here and there into the menu.

“For instance the appetizer Marinated salmon Carpaccio served with horseradish cream, salmon roe, shallot, deep fried capers & chives - simple but so good!”

“I have my own style; I like trying out various flavours. I’m quite down-to-ear th,” explained Kenny.The presentation and flavours are essentials for him, while he’s not into having a descriptive menu yet.

“I like the small little details and sometimes one spends too much on that,” he confessed.

“Ever since I worked with my previous food & beverage I have the mindset to source locally; we had almost the entire menu based on locally source ingredients. It’s the same focus here – good quality for a good price, instead of importing,” he added.

Certain products are simply not available to import to Thailand or just way too expensive.

He previously worked in Australia, a country known for its high quality meat, seafood and produce.

“Then one has to rethink, and do something on the Thai market instead and adapt to that.”

At Red Oven there is something for everyone, and they have many walk-in guests coming to

enjoy the buffet offers.

“They come to munch on foie gras, and the seafood is popular.”

“One gets more of a market feeling here: one has something from all the big cuisines of the world. Thai, Japanese, European… the cuisines of the world!”

Ticking off destinations Kenny, at this early stage in his chef career, is also travelling the world to live and work in some of its big cities and countries.

“Before set out to travel I already had my eyes set on a few specific destinations. Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand and the US were among those. I would like to work sometime in New York, so I’m ticking them off and I am quite certain Hong Kong will be next.”

However, it will be a joint decision by three persons when and where to move on.

Kenny went to work in Australia in 2012, where he met to guys in Melbourne, and they became ‘brothers’ who have been staying together since then, though working in different outlets.

One is a bartender and the other sommelier; all currently working in Bangkok.

“The lads and I are talking about going to Hong Kong. It’s quite smooth when we are all within the restaurant business, and they are very good at what they are doing too. If we can travel as a team, we might be able to start something together in the future.”

“It’s great fun, and it’s about climbing the ladder,” he commented on frequently changing position and destination.

From Radisson Blu to Sofitel So Kenny actually applied for the job at Sofitel So online and got it. His previous position was with Radisson Blu in Uppsala nor th of Stockholm, which probably helped in landing him to the Bangkok job. It is also in and near Uppsala where he built his career and had his chef education.

“I want to gain as much experience here with Sofitel So as possible. My job at Radisson Blu in Sweden was very different from what I’m doing here. I did much more cooking there, while here I’m much more in a managing role, doing promotions, arranging with VIPs etc. So it’s a very different working style and that took me a couple of months to adjust to,” commented Kenny.

“I have also worked mostly in hotels, where I get to do all kinds of things, rather than in just a stand-alone restaurant. Within hotels you have all kinds of tasks and I get more out of that role and I can utilize that when I want to go somewhere else – within Sofitel for instance.”

As for Bangkok itself he was positive too: “Before I came here I did not know much, and had no idea how it would be and was quite surprised by this city and its traffic.There is always buzz somewhere; Bangkok never sleeps. And that fits the bill – big cities suit me. When I go to the countryside I am yearning to go back to the big city and its pulse, so I enjoy it here.”

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

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

Some Words of

Buddhism

By Klavs Johansen (thai@snakthai.dk)

A

s is evident ever ywhere in the countr y, พุ ท ธศาสนา / phútthá sà:tsànă: / ~ Buddhism is the majority religion of Thailand. We encounter signs of Buddhism all around us from village to metropolis. In the same way, we also encounter the religion in the language, and it pays to know some of the most common words and phrases. Hence, they are the subject of this month’s Thai Language Corner.

No doubt the most visible manifestation of Buddhism is the วัด / wát / ~ wat. A recurrent English translation is ‘temple’, however ‘monastery’ may be more appropriate as a dwelling for monks.

If Finland is the land of the thousand lakes,Thailand is surely the land of the thousand wats. Today, the word ‘wat’ is well-known beyond Thailand.

18 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

Without getting too nerdy, we should mention a few of the main structures generally composing a wat: โบสถ์ / bò:t / ~ ubosot, the formal prayer hall and the hall used for ordaining monks. The same word is used in Thai to refer to Christian churches. วิหาร / wíhă:n / ~ wihan, a meeting and prayer hall with the main Buddha figures. ศาลา / să:la: / ~ pavilion, a general purpose roofed structure with no walls. The word is also used for similar structures outside the wat, from the small shelters erected at many upcountry bus stops to the larger ศาลาหมู่บ้าน / să:la: mù:bâ:n / ~ village pavilions, the central gathering place of every village. เจดีย์ / je:di: / ~ stupa, the notable bell-shaped structure, which comes in many sizes and is used to keep relics and thus a place of worship. These

stupas may be seen outside wats as well, e.g. as marks in the landscape. ปรางค์ / pra:ng / ~ khmer style stupa, similar to the เจดีย์ / je:di: /, but the shape more resembling a corncop. The most prominent example is the one at วัดอรุณ / wát àrun / ~ The Temple of Dawn on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

The founder of Buddhism is พระพุทธเจ้า / phrá› phútthájâo / ~ the Lord Buddha, and the Thai calendar is counted from his enlightenment 543 BC. Thus, AD 2016 is พ.ศ. 2559 / phor: sŏr: sŏr:ng phan hâ: rór:i hâ: sìp kâ:o / ~ BE 2559 in Thailand, where BE is short for Buddhist Era. Simply add 543 to the Western year to get the corresponding Thai year.

The word พระ / phrá› / is used to refer not only to monks, but also to Buddha figures of all sizes and shapes. The Buddha figures are omnipresent from small alters in taxis, over larger alters, หิ้งพระ / hîng phrá› /, in houses and businesses, to famous Buddha figures in wats, with the most famous of them all, the unifying symbol and protector of Thailand, the พระแก้ ว มรกต / phrá› kâe:o mor:rákòt / ~ the Emarald Buddha, residing in the wat named after it, Wat Phra Kaeo, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

The monks, in their characteristic curr y colored robes, are seen outside the wats when travelling or in single file in the early morning hours offering the community around the wat the opportunity to make merit, in Thai ทำ�บุญ / tham bun /. This is done by presenting food to the monks. The morning round of receiving food is called บิณฑบาต / binthábà:t /, while the bowls in which the monks collect the food are called บาตร / bà:t / and the act of presenting the food is called ตักบาตร / tàk bà:t /. Accompanying the monks on the morning rounds are เณร / ne:n / ~ novices, adolescent boys, wearing the yellow robe for the first time, and เด็กวัด / dèk wát / ~ monastery boys, helping to carry the food back to the wat. There, monks will eat the food before noon. The normal words for eating are กิน / kin / or, a little more formal, ทาน / tha:n /, however the word for monks is ฉัน / chăn /. Thus, a separate vocabulary is reserved for monks. Addressing a monk you would say หลวงพ่อ / lŭang phôr: / and an old and revered monk would be หลวง ตา / lŭang ta: /. The abbot of a wat is known as เจ้าอาวาส / jâo a:wâ:t /. In speaking, monks will refer to themselves as อาตมา / a:tàma: / ~ I, and address laypeople as โยม / yo:m /.

The act of paying respect to monks is known as ไหว้พระ / wâi phrá› / and the hands are lifted a little higher, while the bow of the head becomes a little deeper in this version of the gracious Thai greeting. As you may guess, the same word is used for paying respect to Buddha figures, where it will often involve kneeling or repeated prostrations.

Feel free to try it all out and remember what the Buddha taught, ทำ�ดีได้ดี ทำ�ชั่วได้ชั่ว / tham di: dâi di:, tham chûa dâi chûa / ~ do good and you shall receive good, do evil and you shall receive evil. Also, don’t forget to join our group on Facebook, the Thai Language Corner!

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19

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