The BigChilli March 2015 by The BigChilli Co., Ltd.

March 2015 64

119

08 INSIGHT News, gossip, business and more

89 WHAT’S ON Exhibitions, performances, sport, and more great things to do this month

12 DREAM HOME Meet the expat who built a traditional Thai house in Bangkok

103 SOCIAL Last month’s best events in pictures

25 GOURMET A round up of the best restaurant deals and gourmet news in Bangkok

119 DIPLOMATS Meet the man who represents all 28 EU member states in Thailand

63 EXPAT WOMEN Fiction, shopping, advice, and school news

125 TRAVEL Find out what’s hot in Hua Hin & Pattaya

WRITE

The BigChilli Company Ltd., 1/7 5th Fl. Room 504, Siboonrueng Bldg. 2, Convent Road, Silom, Bangrak, TheBigchilli Bangkok 10500

EMAIL thebigchillimagazine@ gmail.com

FACEBOOK thebigchillimagazine

TWEET @TheBigChilliMag

Purge on alcohol here but not there

Bloggers can’t be trusted

RECENT reports suggest the government is about to crack down even harder on alcohol advertising and promotional campaigns. At the same time, local taxes are expected to rise, though less than duties levied on already heavily taxed imported products. Some would argue that any crackdown on alcohol is a good thing, and it is hard to argue otherwise. Too bad that drinkers are going to have spend more to feed their habit; and too bad that alcohol advertising is being squeezed out of existence. It’s all in a good cause – to promote better health. However, as is often pointed out, a huge chunk of the population is omitted from this ‘healthy’ rationale. We’re talking here about Thailand’s rural and generally impoverished population who get their alcohol fix from cheap and nasty untaxed homemade liquor that causes all kinds of health problems. These people are not being given a second thought in the national quest for a healthier society. And considering their huge numbers, the potential cost to this country in terms of medical care in the long term is massive. Meanwhile, somewhat ironically, local brewers have seen the light and are now spending heavily to promote their products overseas. Singha, for example, which is already sponsoring football clubs in England, is now an official “partner” with Aviva Premiership rugby in the UK. Together with Beer Chang and Tiger, they’re now doing precisely what they’re not allowed to do back home. It’s enough to make Thailand’s heavily taxed beer drinkers think they’re in the wrong country.

MEDIA credibility is now a hot topic around the world as more and more people realise that newspapers, TV stations, and the social media have their own political and business agendas. The BigChilli pointed this out in our last issue (“Too many media spoil the broth” – Editorial page 6) when we warned about the rise of sophisticated-looking websites written by self-appointed, self-serving “experts” who can become worryingly influential. Now we must add bloggers to this list of potentially dubious news sources. Professional bloggers have proliferated in the past year, and their presence on popular websites like Facebook is obvious. But how can we trust what they write? How do we know they’re not being paid to post their observations and recommendations? The answer is, we don’t really know their true motivations. In fact, we’re now in a quagmire of information that threatens to overwhelm us. And it’s going to take some truly rational thinking and careful scrutiny to get out of it.

Tunnel vision in Pattaya WORK has only just begun on the underground tunnel on Pattaya’s main Sukhumvit highway, and already some major questions are being asked. Most focus on the horrendous traffic jams now being created by the roadworks. Unfortunately, these will continue for the next three years, so until then, things can only get worse, if that’s possible. Secondly, some people are now questioning the project’s overall effectiveness in solving the resort’s traffic woes since a quicker flow of vehicles may simply result in even bigger jams being transferred farther up the road. And thirdly, there are questions about the tunnel’s potential to flood. Whatever answers the authorities come up with, there’s no doubt Pattaya has a major problem on its hands. The fact is, Pattaya has grown uncontrollably over the years with no thought for town planning, zoning or creating sufficient infrastructure. The resort has witnessed a building frenzy which has allowed far too much construction in too little space. Frankly it’s hard to imagine how the tunnel will help. Pattaya, like so many other places in Thailand, has become the victim of its own success. 6

TheBigChilli

Upcountry student exchange program is a winner TOP marks to Traill International School of Bangkok whose pupils recently went on a field trip to northern Thailand to visit fellow students in the Baan Sancharoen School located in the mountains of distant Nan Province. It must have been a mind-opening excursion for the Bangkok children whose lives are so very different from their northern friends. And to ensure that the benefits were shared, Traill School subsequently arranged for two students from Baan Sancharoen to join its classes in the Thai capital. The benefits from this kind of exchange are enormous as, and we quote the Traill teacher behind this wonderful initiative: “Children get to meet and talk with children from a very different culture in their own country, which not only brings their academic lessons alive, but also broadens their understanding of their own lives.”

M for Money DURING the reconstruction of the Phrom Phong BTS station, paid for by the Emporium shopping mall, three lanes on Sukhumvit Road were frequently closed in the evening to make way for trucks and transportation of equipment. The effect on traffic flow was obvious. Now the station is apparently to be renamed The M District to reflect the dominant position of the Emporium group in this part of Bangkok. Who says money doesn’t talk?

PUBLISHER Colin Hastings editorbigchilli@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Adam Purcell adambigchilli@gmail.com EDITOR Nina Hastings ninabigchilli@gmail.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Chutinanta Boonyamarn nanbigchilli@gmail.com SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Rojjana Rungrattwatchai sendtorose@gmail.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Thana Pongsaskulchoti thanabigchilli@gmail.com Sakuna Nupinrum nokbigchilli@gmail.com ACCOUNTING MANAGER Saranya Choeyjanya fatcatbigchilli@gmail.com ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Janjira Silapapairson janbigchilli@gmail.com ART & PRODUCTION Arthawit Pundrikapa, Jaran Lakawat PHOTOGRAPHY Mini Bike Gang, WJ CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Anette Pollner, Johanna DeKoning, Judith Coulson, Maxmilian Wechsler, Paul Hewitt, Alexander Holt, Anade Chaovanapricha

TheBigChilliMag

thebigchillimagazine

No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from The BigChilli Co., Ltd. The opinions and views of the writers are not necessarily the views of the publishers. All details are deemed correct at the time of print, the publisher, the editor, employees and contributors can not be held responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions that may occur. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or amend any submitted artwork, photographs, illustrations and manuscripts. The BigChilli welcomes unsolicited contributions but assumes no responsibility for the safe-keeping or return of such materials damaged or lost in transit.

The BigChilli Company Ltd., 1/7 5th Fl. Room 504, Siboonrueng Bldg. 2, Convent Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02 233 1774-6, 02 266 7141 Fax: 02 235 0174 e-mail: thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com Strip AD_Operation Smile_Jan15_M4.indd 1

12/27/14 7:15 PM

TheBigChilli

Expat

News

Selling their Pattaya condos for Thai baht is keeping the Russians happy

■ THE rapid devaluation of the ruble against all major currencies has had a devastating effect on the Russian market, with hotels and condo projects suffering the most. Suddenly, prices in the beach resort cost almost twice as much for beleaguered Russians, who are no longer coming here as tourists in their thousands weekly, nor are they Pattaya’s big property buyers. As a result, many condo projects have been either stalled or cancelled, while hotels are searching for guests to replace the missing Russians. The condo market faces additional pressure as a growing number of Russians are now desperately selling their units in Pattaya not only to get their money back, but also to benefit from the relative strength of the Thai baht when they exchange the sale proceeds into rubles. So, watch out for some condo bargains in Pattaya in the next couple of months.

Chinese tourists: Good or bad for Thailand? ■ CHINA’S impact on Thailand’s tourism industry is immense, with record numbers from the Mainland coming here during the past few months. It’s all good news for this country’s tourism industry, but not necessarily for ordinary citizens.

Their presence in Bangkok is very much in evidence on the BTS Skytrain system, where huge groups of Chinese tourists congregate in the stations, dominate the ticket machines and then pack into already crowded train carriages, making life uncomfortable for city workers. In beach resorts like Pattaya and Phuket, tour operators charter scores of huge buses to transport them around, including to souvenir shops which stand to make enormous amounts of money for themselves and the guides who take them there. But, as a result, roads are constantly jammed by this vast movement of people and machinery, leaving precious little parking space for others. The money Chinese tourists pour into Thailand is of course welcome, but the cost of hosting them here is also immense.

TheBigChilli

Record property prices in Bangkok ■ BANGKOK property prices are going through the roof, so to speak, with record prices being paid for land and condos. A prime plot of land on early Sukhumvit recently went for an astonishing 1.7 million baht per talang wah (four square metres). A similar plot was sold six years ago for 950,000 baht per talang wah. Meanwhile, condos are reaching new heights, literally and figuratively, at the Ritz Carlton Residences on Narathiwat Road (pictured). These are being sold for up to 350,000 baht per sq m. Another project on Sukhumvit is achieving 320,00 baht per sq m, while a reported 80 percent of units at the sprawling Icon riverside development on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya have been snapped up for 280,000 baht per sq m.

Hot gossip ■ Announcer turns up the volume: A recent combined foreign chambers event left a few guests bewildered when the MC for the night began to speak to his audience. Instead of keeping his voice at a reasonable pitch, the fellow raised the volume and began talking as if he was either presenting a boxing contest or announcing Oscar winners. The people he was introducing were clearly embarrassed by his over-the-top presentation, while a number of guests simply fled the scene. ■ When hotel deals are simply too generous: A top hotel has discovered how unwise it is to offer Bangkok partygoers deals that are ridiculously generous. This happened recently when the hotel in question promised free flow champagne and oysters at a party from 6pm until 11pm for a mere 800 baht per person. Amazed at the possibility of almost endless wine and bubbly, guests arrived the moment the doors opened and went straight for the goodies. By 8pm, there was little left. Paying guests who came later were understandably hacked off, and began berating hotel staff, while the manager was left to ponder how a thousand oysters and so many crates of champagne could vanish so quickly. ■ The human food hoover is back: The notoriously skinny European with the mountainous appetite is back in Bangkok. After disappearing for a while, he’s been spotted tucking into an evening buffet at one of Bangkok’s leading hotels – not far from another hotel where he became something of a celebrity for his apparently bottomless pit of a stomach which he filled nightly with vast amounts of food from the buffet. The mystery of how such a tiny man could hoover so much was solved when a regular fellow diner, amazed at his conspicuous consumption, followed him to the hotel toilet and overheard him ‘evacuating’ his stomach. He is, of course, severely bulimic, a condition which the first hotel recognized and thereafter refused his custom. Anyway, he’s back and eating his way through mounds again – at least for an hour or so!

Expat

Property

Azur Samui

Own your own slice of paradise in the Gulf of Thailand ■ KOH Samui is, without doubt, one of Thailand's most stunning tropical islands. Located some 30 kilometres off the eastern shores of the country’s southern peninsula, the island boasts a blissfully tropical climate, pristine beaches, and magnificent marine panoramas. No surprise, then, that most foreigners who visit from rain-soaked, cold and foggy countries in the west never want to leave. The good news is that, while dreams to own a luxury home on the island used to be just that, pure fantasy, you no longer

need to have a bottomless bank account or Hollywood fame to secure your own slice of paradise in the sun. Simply check out Azur Samui, the stunning new development by Beach Republic Group. Thoughtfully planned and superbly designed by award-winning architects M-System, Azur Samui features luxurious Apartments and Pool Penthouses, and stunning Private Pool Villa residences, all set around an elegant Club House. Sports, dining and spa facilities are also included in the development – as are those oh so spectacular views.

Studios, 1-3 Bedroom Apartments and Private Pool Penthouses all start from only B1.8 million (B55,000 per square metre), while the Private Pool Villas (3-5 Bedrooms) start at just B14 million. Up to 50% developer finance is available. As you’d expect from the same team behind Samui's Beach Republic, one of the island’s hippest Residences and Beach Clubs, Azur Samui is being developed to include all the mod cons a resident could wish for. Tennis court, gym, steam and massage rooms, deli-café, concierge services, 24 hour security – these are just some of the highlights. Azur Samui is located just minutes from Santiburi Golf Course and 20 minutes to both the airport and extensive shopping and nightlife. Two apartment blocks have already been built, and construction will begin on the villas soon. Full details can be found on the project’s website. www.azursamui.com

TheBigChilli

Feature

Expat who built his dream – a traditional Thai house in Bangkok By Maxmilian Wechsler

It’s my humble contribution to Thai heritage, explains Londoner Graham Catterwell

YOU won’t find many expats who live in a traditional Thai house they built themselves. Briton Graham Catterwell is one of them. He’s been working on two such structures for almost ten years on land in Panya Village, a high-end gated community off Bangkok’s Patanakarn Road. Construction began in 2005 on about 220 talang wah, excluding the klong on two sides, and Graham has controlled the project at every phase. Now both houses are almost finished, and Graham and Jenjira, his Thai wife of 22 years, are living in the main one, a two-storey, 30m long building, together with their son and his wife’s family. There is also a smaller guest house, across the swimming pool from the main one. “My background is in philosophy – I didn’t finish my doctorate because I ran out of money – so I am qualified in everything

TheBigChilli

and nothing,” said the 54-year-old who was born near London. “I have done just about everything in my life – banker, manager of a securities company, logistics problem solver and so on. “I have lived in Thai houses most of my time in this country. I have another small one nearby that I am renovating at the moment. I always wanted to build a masterpiece traditional Thai house myself, but with modern conveniences inside. There are quite a few splendid traditional central Thai houses around, but few new ones are being added. Consider it my humble contribution to Thai heritage. “Generally speaking the space organization isn’t well-adapted to modern living in a traditional Thai house – even former prime minister Kukrit Pramoj complained of this forty years ago. That problem has been addressed in this house. It looks nice from

“I always wanted to build a masterpiece traditional Thai house myself, but with modern conveniences inside. Consider it my humble contribution to Thai heritage.”

the outside, but it works from the inside,” Graham said. “I came across this property which had been foreclosed by the bank. It was previously owned by a Thai man who had a logging company and sawmill. He collected the best pieces of timber he could find during his lifetime and built a monstrous wooden house. He couldn’t sell it because nobody liked it. I looked at it and saw not ‘land and house,’ but ‘land and wood’ and bought it in 2001. “Actually, there were two houses here when I bought the property, one concrete and the wooden one next to it. I started dismantling them in 2002, disposing of the concrete but carefully salvaging all the wood, taking measurements and planning how to use each piece again. “In 2004, my wife pushed in the marker for the first pile of the new main house even before we had demolished the original houses, which was a bit silly, but never mind – it was a lucky day. During the construction of the new houses we lived in an old one nearby. “The demolition was completed in 2004 and we started construction in 2005. Our house at the time was too small, so maybe we went overboard in the plans for this house. “As for the design, we went through a lot of architects and in

the end we used a company called Massive Design, but changed many details whilst building. I had specific requirements. I wanted it basically in an ‘L’ shape with a wind channel to let the air come through and keep it cool inside, also I wanted at least most of the seven main roofs to be oriented to avoid catching the morning and afternoon sun.” explained Graham. “I have air conditioners here in my library and study but haven’t turned them on once,” he added, bringing attention to the constant breeze coming through the open windows. “I don’t have a problem with mosquitoes here either – the wind blows them away.” He also designed the electrical systems in the houses because the people he hired weren’t up to the task of delivering what he wanted, including wiring to UK standards. The house is basically finished now. “We are doing the landscaping and the last thing I do will be the swimming pool. In fact, it is there, but without water. I have the cleaning system here already. It doesn’t use chemicals; it uses ionization and oxidation.” Graham isn’t sure how much he has already spent on the construction, but estimated it at around 40 million baht, excluding the land.

TheBigChilli

Feature

2001

2003

2004 2005

“A long time before the main house was finished, I received an offer to buy from some Thai people. They saw the house half built and loved it. They offered 150 million baht but I couldn’t sell. I have put a lot of work into this. My life is here. The price they offered at the time was probably way too high, except for something you really love. The would-be buyer was probably mad to make such an offer, and I was probably mad not to accept; it is called love. “I spent two or three years before starting construction driving around the country finding good carpenters. I went to Ayutthaya for example, and looked at the work of crews that are famous and advertise a lot. However, I wasn’t impressed with their work. Finally, I found a team in Ratchaburi and they introduced me to another team in Phetchaburi that I used as well. “There were different people working on the construction depending on the work being done at the time. The roof and fah prakon walls were made in Phetchaburi. It took a few years to build because the guys were busy. They had a long queue of customers. I went on my knees to beg the chief carpenter to work on my house in far-away Bangkok. He accepted, is now proud of his work, and occasionally brings visitors to see the work.

2006

TheBigChilli

2007

2008

2009

2010

“Most of the wood came from the old house except for a few bits I didn’t have. The type of wood is a mixture, mainly ‘mai dteng’ and ‘mai daeng,’ along with other types of very old tropical hard wood. “There are few small things, like furniture, to add to the house. The garden is almost finished. I don’t plan to build anything else, but it will never be completely finished because there will always be something we want to change,” said Graham, pointing out a natural fish pond with Victoria lotus. “We have two monitor lizards living in the compound. They are about two to three meters long. They go for a swim in the khlong in the morning and walk around in the daytime. They are harmless and shy.” Graham is proud of his achievement, and definitely has a right to be. When asked about his plans for the future, he replied: “Thailand is my home. I have spent more time here than anywhere else and this is where I will stay.”

2010

TheBigChilli

Expat

Travel

Grand Mercure Phuket Patong The perfect family getaway in the heart of Phuket’s liveliest beach

HUKET’S Patong beach may be best known for its lively nightlife, but there’s still serenity to be found among the hubbub. Just pay a visit to Grand Mercure Phuket Patong. Located within walking distance of the beach and the area’s main bars and restaurants, the resort represents a new generation of retreats in Patong that blend cultural heritage, natural beauty and modern conveniences to stunning – and, most importantly, tranquil – effect. Perfect for young travellers, families or simply friends looking at spending some quality time together, the resort comprises 314 rooms including 252 Superior, 38

TheBigChilli

Deluxe Pool Access, 10 Suites, and 10 One-bedroom and four Two-bedroom pool villas. Each room is equipped with a 40” LCD TV, a sofa, mini bar, safety box, bathroom with a choice of bathtub or walk in rain shower, coffee and tea making facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi and pool views throughout. Connecting room options are available upon request, as are laundry and babysitting services. The Deluxe Pool Access rooms, Suites and Pool Villas, meanwhile, also include facilities such as private sundeck, Media Hub port “to stay connected,” and express check-in and Grand Club privileges throughout your entire stay.

Other facilities at the resort include three lagoon pools, a Kid’s Club and pool, fitness centre (with best-in-its-class cardiovascular and weight training equipment), excursion and tour centre, and the Ryn Spa.

A grand culinar y adventure As you’d expect from any resort worth its salt, Grand Mercure Phuket Patong boasts a good signature restaurant (called Bubbles) and serves food around the clock. Breakfast, a thoroughly lavish affair, features a sumptuous spread of freshly baked breads and pastries, Belgium waffles and other European

specialties alongside freshly brewed coffee and healthy juices. Lunch and dinner then sees the introduction of an a la carte menu offering everything from Mediterranean starters and Oriental kebabs, to Asian specialties and more traditional Thai recipes like Pad Thai (Fried noodles), Spicy Tom Yam Goong (Prawns in spicy soup), and Mee Hoon Gaeng Poo (Crab meat in yellow coconut curry) – a Phuket favourite! Don’t fancy a big feast? Head to the resort’s Chou Chou Deli Shop, which sells Choux-like signature favorites such as the Mango or Green Tea eclairs as well as a superb selection of colourful cakes, tarts,

chocolate and macaroons. Parisian-style sandwiches and paninis are also available. Coming back from a long day at the beach, a stopover at Craft Beer Lounge is a must. Boasting the largest selection of beers on the island, Craft stocks more than 100 labels from over 30 countries (among them: Scandinavia, Japan, America, and Australia). With so many great options on offer, the only problem is knowing where to start.

Meeting in style Mixing business with pleasure is easy at Grand Mercure Phuket Patong. The resort has three unique and elegantly

decorated venues for executive meetings, private parties and memorable events. All rooms come equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and each has complimentary Wi-Fi access. Looking to host the perfect wedding? The 300 sqm. Grand “M” Ballroom can accommodate up to 160 guests for a sit-down dinner and 300 people for cocktails. Factor in the resort’s dedicated professionals and your guests are bound to enjoy a comfortable and seamless experience.

Getting there From the airport, follow Patong beach signs and drive South on the 402 road for about 15km until you reach Lotus supermarket intersection. Follow Patong and Karon Beach signs and turn right. Drive another few kilometres, go up and down Patong’s Hill, and turn left when you reach Patong’s second road (art shop on your left). Drive another kilometre passing Jungceylon on your left, then turn left at next junction. The hotel is 100 meters inside the street.

Promotions For the latest room promotions see www.grandmercurephuketpatong.com

Grand Mercure Phuket Patong 1 Soi Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi 2, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Tel: 076 231 999 Fax: 076 231 998 Email: h8109@accor.com

TheBigChilli

Expat

Travel

MEET THE GM: DAVID ECIJA The General Manager of both the Hilton Sukhumvit and DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit talks about his dual responsibilities and his love of hospitality I went to England when I was 17 to improve my English language skills. I worked for a few weeks in a hotel during the summer, and I immediately fell in love with hospitality. I love the concept of ser ving people, making them smile and feel happy. Working in a hotel is like welcoming friends to your home; you always do your best to make them feel happy and comfortable. I have been with Hilton for 15 years and they have been great, with lots of great moments and plenty of opportunities to learn. Hilton is definitively a superb company to work for and offers unique career opportunities thanks to its development plan worldwide and especially in Asia.

there are not many hotels that can say that!

decision to move from my former company to Hilton 15 years ago.

We are always creating new promotions and developing areas of the hotels. For example, we are developing a new evening concept, a new Mondo terrace bar by Diageo. It will be a perfect after work place. We will continue with our Pool Parties at Doubletree with different concepts and we will surprise you with a unique gastronomical event at Scalini restaurant in April.

I really work on knowledge and experience more than instinct. I love to work as a team and I think it is important to involve colleagues and listen what they have to say. Everyone has a point of view, and in many cases they may have more experience and knowledge, so I always take this into account before making a decision.

The most important decision I’ve made in my professional life is without doubt the

The good thing about the DoubleTree and Hilton Sukhumvit is that they are close to each other, so, in a way, it is like running one business with two products that complement each other perfectly. It gives great flexibility and helps with our time management. The two products complement each other perfectly because one is more informal and fresh, and the other is more upscale and elegant. Our guests can enjoy the facilities at both properties, and

GM in focus

TheBigChilli Chilli

DAVID is a 15 year veteran of Hilton Worldwide and has served in the capacity of General Manager in other Hilton Worldwide properties in Spain and Portugal, including Waldorf Astoria Sevilla and Hilton Madrid Airport Spain. Prior to that, he held several operational roles in Hilton properties in Turkey and Spain.

The best advice I’ve ever received is to never live beyond your means. Be humble in life with people and situations. The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my career so far involved converting a hotel into a Hilton hotel during the very difficult economic situation back in Europe. With lots of hard work and dedication, however, the team really pulled together – like one big family – and together with the support of Hilton we were able to overcome all of the difficulties. I’m still very proud of all of them. When I’m not busy with the hotels I love to spend time with my family and my friends and try to do as many activities as possible, mainly travelling and discovering new places in Bangkok and Thailand. I also enjoy sports, and I always make time for reading a good book while listening to classic jazz. www.hilton.com

A graduate of Cornell University and the Commercial Behaviour Programme at the IMD campus in Lausanne, David has been an Associate Teacher of the Hotel Management Master Degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona and Instituto Centro de la Educacion at the Universidad Politectica de Madrid, in addition to being honored with the title of 2006 Young Hotel Manager of the Year by the Spanish Hotel Managers Association.

Insight

Business

Bangkok Self Storage: Friendly pricing and space galore Convenient and secure, Bangkok Self Storage offers high quality storage solutions for every budget ■ SPACE. There’s just never enough of it in Bangkok. Thanks to shrinking living quarters and increasingly cramped work spaces, finding a spot to store your favourite magazines or even archive important documents can become a puzzle of Tetris-style proportions. So, what to do? Well, like most people you could cram everything into one area of your room or office – creating what quickly becomes a disorganized mess – or you could take the sensible option and seek out a professional storage company, such as Bangkok Self Storage. Established in 2005, Bangkok Self Storage offers an invaluable service for

anyone who wants to free up space in their homes or offices, or store items while they move house or travel. The company serves both corporate and consumer markets, and, unlike traditional storage and warehousing (which may have limited access, long term contracts and added fees), access to storage at Bangkok Self Storage is flexible and free. You can pay by the month and come and go as often as you like, and as long as you like, seven days a week. Security at Bangkok Self Storage is a priority. Any storage unit you hire can only be accessed by you – you’ll be the only

authorized key holder, although you can nominate further key holders if you wish. The company also has its own security measures in place, such as closed circuit cameras, digital code access and alarms, and can also arrange insurance for your possessions. A wide variety of storage solutions are available, so whether you are looking to store a single suitcase or the entire contents of your house, you’ll find a storage space to suit your needs. What’s more, Bangkok Self Storage’s friendly pricing policy means that the longer you store something, the less you have to pay. Other highlights at Bangkok Self Storage include: • Convenient location on Rama IV Road (Just 1km from Thonglor BTS) • The company can help in nearly every aspect of storage – from supplying boxes to advising you on packing your space • Storage for suitcases and backpacks starts at only B100 per item per week • As long as the space you need is available, you can store your items right away without any hassle. There is no waiting time; register and you can use the service on the same day.

3249 Rama 4 Road, Tel: 02 261 1516-7 email: info@bangkokselfstorage.com www.bangkokselfstorage.com. Open daily 9am – 6pm

TheBigChilli

Expat

Business

Online video: The next big thing By Kittima Sethi

■ I WONDER if in five years (or even sooner) from now, any of you will read this article. You might just be watching a video of me on your smartphone or tablet. Today, we live in the millennial generation where people are choosing to communicate via visual medium, whether it’s through video or pictures. Because people are pressed for time, a video enables them to consume information with less effort. If you haven’t heard, online video is the future of content marketing. It is a powerful marketing and PR tool that businesses today must embrace if they want to increase their digital footprint. There has been a massive growth in online video and with millions of devices today, anyone can access videos anywhere, anytime. This has forced marketers to rethink how they communicate with their customers. Many are now adding video to their websites and making this part of their marketing strategy. Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram – these are just a handful of platforms used for video content. According to an online news media, news-journal.com, YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google and processes three billion searches a month. Businesses that do not have video content as part of their digital marketing are unlikely to show up during a search. More than one billion unique users visit YouTube each month, spending more than four billion hours watching videos (half of which are viewed on mobile devices). Statistics from YouTube reveal that 300 hours of video are uploaded to 22

TheBigChilli

YouTube every minute. According to US multinational IT company Cisco, globally, online video users are expected to double to 1.5 billion in 2016 and online video traffic will be 55 percent of all consumer Internet traffic in 2016. So how do online videos help with PR? Video content brings your product or services to life through images, text and sound. It serves as a face-to-face interaction with your potential clients. Videos can also teach, engage, pitch and sell your products and services. Let’s face it – people are likely to watch a video about how your products or services work, than to read a lengthy text. Videos are also quick and easy to share and repost via social media. They can be embedded on websites, emails and blogs. This expands your reach and helps spread your message. It is also great for brand recognition, especially if your videos are viewed regularly. However, this means your videos must also be interesting, educational or entertaining. Remember to make videos short, sweet and to the point. Using appropriate keywords in your videos increases SEO and can attract potential customers. Cameras have become much more affordable, making it easier for the average person to make a home video. Many professionals and amateur are using DSLR to tell short stories, readymade for YouTube. Some of the high-end mobile phones also have apps that help to put together short videos in minutes. Tutorials and how-to videos are great for creating brand awareness and to connect with new audiences.

A survey by Animoto, a video creation company based in New York City, revealed that 96 percent of consumers find videos helpful when making purchase decisions online and nearly three quarters are more likely to purchase a product or service if they can watch a video explaining it beforehand. Videos can also be used to launch campaigns. A great example is Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to end child obesity in the US. Video testimonials from clients are also powerful and priceless and also help generate new business. Videos highlighting the features of the product and service can also create buzz and excitement. Last year, Volvo Truck’s awe-striking video was watched by more than 77 million on YouTube when they used Jean-Claude Van Damme’s strength and flexibility as a framework for demonstrating the precision of the trucks’ dynamic steering. Another global success, best known as “the video that has everybody crying,” is Thai telecom provider TrueMoveH’s “Giving” video, which played on emotions to captivate and connect the audience. Created a year ago, it has over 18 million views. So if your business hasn’t started making and sharing online videos, you may want to start now. Kittima Sethi is a PR Consultant with Brand Now Co. Ltd. When not busy helping clients develop content for online videos, she may be reached at kittima@brandnow.asia

Expat

Humour “Sense of Humour” number one with the ladies? So, according to every study ever done since the dawn of studies, ‘a sense of humour’ is number one on the list of the most important things women are looking for in a man. Which must mean that professional male comedians get laid more than athletes, rock stars, and Managing Directors of the International Monetary Fund. After all, comedians are funny, right? These studies seem to suggest that being out of shape (which many comedians are), dead broke (which almost all comedians are), rife with alcohol and substance abuse problems (ditto), and a bag of broken toys in the psychological department, all are secondary concerns to women, as long as the fat broke drunk loser has the ability to make a woman laugh. So how true is this ‘fact’? Do comedians really do that well with women, or are a nice body, a fat wallet, and political power really the keys to unlocking the hearts and panties of the female gender?

Being funny: Is it your passport to pulling?

can see the absurdity of life that sport heroes cannot see (mostly because sports heroes are an absurdity of life.) Smart women want a smart man, and everyone knows that smart women are the best in the sack! They are able to think up the really dirty stuff! Athletes can have the women that comedians don’t want! Humour equals creative power

The truth is that us funny guys do actually get the best, smartest, sexiest, and downright dirtiest women out there! Being funny shows intelligence, as a comedian

Creating comedy is also an artistic and creative act, and as such it shows tremendous power over the world around you. A comedian can create things with just his words,

How can you be funny and get the best women? painting pictures and surprising stories on the blank canvasses of the audience’s mind! It makes them god-like! Comics can also control people with their words, making them laugh when they want, and sometimes sneaking in an idea into the unsuspecting audience’s consciousness in the process, thereby controlling their thoughts. Being able to control your environment and other people is very appealing to the ancient lizard-brain, most animalistic (and thereby sexiest) part of a woman’s psyche, as women (and men both) are attracted to power. Who wouldn’t want to sleep with a god!

This month at the Comedy Club Bangkok • Stand-up Comedy open mic with two time Scottish Comedian of The Year ﬁnalist, Ray Bradshaw. Fri March 27 at 8pm. B250 in advance. B350 on the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.

• WHOSE LINE? The Improv Comedy Show. Led by a multi award-winning improviser and featuring the best on Bangkok’s improv comedy community. Fri March 20 at 8pm. B400 with a free drink.

The Comedy Club Bangkok, Sukhumvit 33/1 above The Royal Oak Pub (Phrom Phong BTS) www.comedyclubbangkok.com TheBigChilli

And the hottest of the hot women love a rebel. There is something appealing about someone who just doesn’t have to follow the rules that the rest of the unwashed masses do, and comedians, who are able to get away with saying stuff that most people can’t say, won’t say, are scared to say, or would be arrested for saying, are the ultimate rebels. Comedians are the bad boys that every father warns his precious daughter about. Don’t waste your breath, pops: she’s already under my comic spell!

Laughter’s not only the world’s best medicine, it’s a potent love potion too. Professional improviser and comedian Drew McCreadie explains…

Humour equals intelligence

Humour equals rebellion

So how can you become funny and get the smartest, most beautiful and sexiest women? You can’t… but you can come to The Comedy Club Bangkok, see what you are missing. Shows every Friday at 8pm. www.comedyclubbangkok.com

Disclaimer: The Author of this article is a professional improvisor and comedian, and his opinions are based only upon his experience of getting the smartest, hottest, and sexiest women. If you are not attracted to him, you are clearly not that hot. No actual research was done for this article.

• Stand-up Comedy open mic with Canadian comic Scott Hilder. Fri March 13 at 8pm. B250 in advance. B350 on the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.

Gourmet Restaurant news & deals | Serving Up | Recipe | Reviews

Red Sky Restaurant is teaming up with the French Embassy in Thailand for a special celebration of gourmet French cuisine. Page 26

TheBigChilli

Gourmet Bangkok’s hottest dining deals and news

Goût de France celebration

MAR 19 AT BANGKOK CONVENTION CENTRE (CENTARA GRAND AT CENTRALWORLD)

RED Sky Restaurant is teaming up with the French Embassy in Thailand to participate in Goût de France, “an international culinary celebration of the excellence, diversity and modernity of French gastronomy.” Over 1,300 chefs are taking part in this global event, each working to create their own unique dining experience. For his part, Red Sky’s Chef de Cuisine Hugo

Christoph Rüﬀer at Elements

MAR 24-28 AT THE OKURA PRESTIGE BANGKOK

THE executive chef of the two Michelin starred Restaurant Haerlin at the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg, will fly to Bangkok this month to showcase his cuisine at The Okura Prestige Bangkok. Named ‘Chef of the Year 2015’ by influential restaurant guide Gault Millau, Chef Christoph will create dishes such as Maine lobster with yellow beetroot, passion fruit and cocoa; and Rack of lamb with sage, spicy couscous, small vegetables and choron sauce. A three-course set lunch will be B2,600++; five-course set dinner, B4,900++. Add B2,500++ for wine pairing. Lumpini, 57 Wireless Rd. ☎ 02 687 9000 okurabangkok.com

Coudurier has put together a seven-course menu (featuring dishes such as Brittany blue lobster poached in a caramelized onion consommé, matched with a glass of Chablis Premier Cru Vaillon, Domaine Faiveley 2012). Yours to experience for B4,955++ per person with wine pairing, or B2,555++ without. 999/99 Rama 1 Rd. ☎ 02 100 6255 centarahotelsresorts.com

Piccini Wine Dinner MAR 19 AT CENTARA GRAND AT CENTRAL PLAZA LADPRAO

Haute Cuisine on the Roof ALL THIS MONTH AT ROOF@38 BAR

MODE Sathorn Hotel’s trendy rooftop bar may be best known for its signature cocktails and stunning 360 degree view, but that’s not to say its food menu lacks highlights. Visit this month and you can order from a special menu featuring gourmet creations such as Pan fried foie-gras, chocolate leaves, green apple comfit, Hua Hin Muscat wine, and rye toast (B750), and a delightfully tender Grilled lamb chop (four pieces) marinated for a day in olive oil infused with cumin, paprika and garlic, and served with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables (B1,200). 144, Sathorn Nuea Rd., Silom 02 623 4555 modesathorn.com

☎ 26

TheBigChilli

DON Giovanni Restaurant’s Piccini Wine Dinner has something to please both oenophiles and foodies alike. Not only will you get to sample the Italian vineyard’s finest labels – such as Piccini Vito Blanco Chardonnay 2013, Piccini Pinot Grigio I.G.T 2012, and Piccini Chianti Riserva DOCG 2010 – but you’ll also get to indulge in a unique five-course menu of gourmet Italian cuisine (think Pan fried Alaskan scallops wrapped in Parma ham with

roasted foie gras truffle reduction; and Lemon prawns risotto) specially prepared for the occasion by Chef Stefano Zaninelli. B2,100 per person. 1695 Phaholyothin Rd. 02 541 1234 centarahotelsresorts.com

☎

Wine and cheese by the river

APR 17 AT ROYAL ORCHID SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS

SAMBAL Bar & Grill’s monthly wine and cheese night by the river offers a great excuse to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Simply sit back, relax, and indulge in free-flow wines and a selection of gourmet cheese and tapas for the reasonable price of B599++ per person. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Our tip: arrive early to get the best seats. 2 Charoen Krung Rd. ☎ 02 266 9214 royalorchidsheraton.com

Gourmet Bangkok’s hottest dining deals and news

New on the scene Tonino Lamborghini Café Lounge

THE first Tonino Lamborghini Café Lounge in Southeast Asia has opened in Bangkok on Ekamai Road. Founded by Mr Tonino Lamborghini, CEO of Tonino Lamborghini Group, an heir to the supercar empire owned by his father, Mr Ferruccio Lamborghini, TLCL serves Italian food and drinks from the Tonino Lamborghini brand, such as coffee, tea, vodka, and Tonino Lamborghini’s selection of premium wine. Split

Vive La France MAR 20 - 29 AT DEE LITE

FRENCH cuisine will be the star of the show for nine days this month at Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok’s popular buffet restaurant. The chefs are promising to cook up all kinds of classic and modern French dishes, and, alongside the food, all French wines by the glass will be buy-one-get-onefree. The buffet is B850 per person (tables of six get 15 percent discount off the total bill).

☎

11 Sukhumvit Rd. 02 649 6666 :sukhumvitbangkok.hilton.com

African International Food Fair MAR 28 AT ZAKS WINE PUB

BANGKOK’S first African International Food Fair will serve up the continent’s most famous dishes and wines alongside dance shows and music performances and even a showcase of traditional handicrafts. Highlights include cooking demonstrations by Keith Loren, A.K.A. ‘The Spice King,’ who is being flown in from Dubai to present Ethiopian cuisine; a drumming presentation from African Djembe HK; a fashion show and jewellery presentation by Thailand-based Ethiopian designer Hilina Designs; face painting, nail art, and much more. 19 Sukhumvit Soi 11 :zakswinepub.com

All about crab

THROUGH APR 30 AT NOVOTEL BANGKOK PLOENCHIT SUKHUMVIT

BUILDING on the popularity of its weekend seafood buffet, The Square Restaurant has now launched a weekday version, this time with a focus on premium crab (think blue, sea, soft shell, charybdis, cicada, mash, red king, blue swimming, Hokkaido and snow). As with the weekend spread, the seafood selection is complemented by a wide range of international cuisines. Served Mon-Thurs from 6pm-10pm. B960++ per person (half price for kids under 12, and group bookings of up to six persons).

☎

566 Ploenchit Rd 02 305 6000 ext. 1632 :novotelbangkokploenchit.com

TheBigChilli

between a restaurant and outdoor zone, the venue is open for brunch, lunch and dinner. Menu highlights include Chilean sea bass with spicy salsa; Duck Confit, deep fried until crispy, topped with vanilla sauce; and Kurobuta Pork Loin served with apple sauce with a hint of mint. :lamborghini-lounge.com

The Smokin’ Pug BBQ & Blues Bar

BARBECUE fans are in for a real treat at this new restaurant on Surawong Road. Inspired by the culture of the American south, where owners Danny and Dana Garber took a road trip in 2012 and discovered the magic of ‘low-and-slow’ barbecuing in Lockhardt, Texas, as well as the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta, its built on the same principals which make Texas rib joints so popular – top quality meats, careful cooking, and a laid-back atmosphere. The science of brining meat, creating spice dry rubs, and selecting hardwoods for smoking, all contribute to tender, fall-off-the-bone barbecued meats – including the mouthwatering pulled pork sandwich you see pictured here. Delicious. Surawong Road (Next to the Tawana Hotel). :facebook.com/smokinpug

Candlelit Dinner for Earth Hour MAR 28 AT HILTON SUKHUMVIT BANGKOK

ROMANTIC dining will be given a green twist this month at Scalini Restaurant, which is celebrating Earth Hour by turning off its lights for a candlelit dinner featuring acoustic music and, better yet, 50 percent off its extensive wine collection. 11 Sukhumvit Rd. ☎ 02 649 6666 :sukhumvitbangkok.hilton.com

Scrapbook Last month’s foodie functions in focus

Romantic Champagne Dinner

FEATURING delicious food, fascinating people, and free-flow Champagne, Moët and Chandon parties in Bangkok are always splendid affairs. The brand went all out for Valentine’s Day, playing cupid in the most delightful of ways by hosting a “Heavenly Valentine Champagne Dinner” at Marriott Bangkok Sukhumvit, where celebrity couples such as Surinya and Byron Bishop, Chailadol and Rattaporn Chokwatana, and Ornchuma Durongdech, enjoyed a ‘chic grill’ menu specially created for the occasion at The District Grill Room and Bar.

Another Hound back on the scene

AFTER undergoing extensive renovations Another Hound Café at The Emporium re-opened last month with a new look and a brand new concept – “Chic & Glam Italian-Asian Twist with Seafood and Champagne Bar” – which basically means you can expect to find Italian favourites given a contemporary, local spin (think Spicy Andaman lobster carpaccio; and Ten spices grilled lamb chop), as well as a bar serving superior cocktails, wine and coffee.

TheBigChilli

Bawarchi Chidlom President Tower Arcade ( Intercontinental Bangkok B - Level, 973, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok, Thailand Tel : +66 2656 0102 - 3

Bawarchi Sathorn

Indian - Thai Chambers of Commerce, 13 Sathorn Soi 1,Thungmahamek, Sathorn Road, Bangkok, Thailand Tel : +66 2677 6249

Bawarchi Sukhumvit 4 Bawarchi Sukhumvit 11 Bawarchi Myanmar 20/11 Sukhumvit Soi 4, Khlongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand Tel : + 66 2656 7357

(F/ 1-3 Ambassador Hotel) Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok, Thailand Tel : +66 2253 2394

No . 37 Level 1 , La Pyayt Wun Plaza , Alan Pya Pagoda Road ,Dagon Township, Yangon , Myanmar Tel : 09253500002 / 03

Scrapbook Last month’s foodie functions in focus

Mionetto’s bubbly arrival

BALMY weather and splendid views set the scene for a great night of wining and socializing when Siam Winery unveiled the latest product in its extensive portfolio – Mionetto Prosecco from Italy – with a special tasting event at Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar, at Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit.

Indian brunch returns with a feast

TANDOORI Chicken, Chole Bhature, Reshimi Kebab and more grilled delights found favour with a large crowd of foodies when Tandoor Restaurant at the Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom launched its new-look Sunday Brunch last month. The brunch is now available every Sunday from 11.30am-3pm, priced B650 per person (includes unlimited soft drinks and lassi).

TheBigChilli

Lamb chops with hazelnut crust and cocoa sauce

Crispy, meaty and delicious, this wholesome Italian recipe by Alessandro Giustiniani, Chef de Cuisine of Brio at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, never fails to impress • 100g red wine • 20g sugar • QS of salt & pepper • 30g butter • 20g ﬂour • 3g extra virgin oil

Ingredients (1 portion) • 230g lamb chops • 10g extra virgin olive oil • Few springs of rosemary & thyme • Quantum suﬃcit (QS) of salt & pepper For the hazelnut crust • 30g hazelnut • Few springs of rosemary & thyme • 20g butter • 5g bread crumbs • QS of salt & pepper

Method

For the cocoa sauce • 20g white wine • 10g sugar • 5g cocoa • 10g dark rum

Hazelnut crust 1. Put the hazelnut, salt & pepper, bread crumbs and rosemary and thyme in a blender. Blend until mixed. 2. Add room temperature butter and knead with hands. 3. Put aside in the fridge.

For the side dish • 100g potatoes • 40g sun-dried tomatoes • 30g butter • 1g nutmeg • QS of salt • 2 pieces of small eggplant • Garlic & extra virgin oil

Lamb 1. Clean the lamb rack and cut in one piece with four chops. 2. Marinate the lamb with the herbs, extra virgin olive oil, salt & pepper for five minutes. 3. Add olive oil to a heated pan and sear both sides of the chops around 3-5 minutes until brown. 4. Remove from the heat and lightly dust the hazelnut crust (about 2cm) onto the lamb. 5. Cook in the oven at 180 degrees until the coating is toasted to a golden brown (or 8 minutes for medium cooked).

Lamb juice • Wastage of lamb

6. Cut the lamb chop in half and place the pieces neatly on the already spread hot cocoa sauce (see below) on the plate. Garnish the plate with grilled eggplant, garlic oil and salt and served with the prepared side dish (see below).

lamb in a small pot with oil until crisp. 2. Add red wine and cook for around 10 minutes on low heat. 3. Mix ﬂour with the butter and pour it into the small pot. Wait until it thickens. 4. Filter the juice.

Cocoa sauce 1. Heat wine and sugar in a small pot until almost caramelized. 2. Add lamb juice, butter, salt & pepper and heat the mixture again. Once heated, mix in the dark rum.

Side dish 1. Make a potato purée (mashed potatoes) and with an immersion blender mix together with sun-dried tomato before adding in butter, salt and nutmeg. 2. Grill the small eggplant and serve with the garlic oil and salt.

Lamb juice 1. Cook the wastage of the

Chef in focus

iani

stin Chef Alessandro Giu 34

TheBigChilli

BORN in Sicily to German and Italian parents, Chef Alessandro was brought up in a food loving home where the finest local ingredients were revered. Spending most of his young life in Tuscany and Buenos Aires – where his family owned a hotel and a restaurant, respectively – Alessandro spent his summer breaks helping out in the kitchens where he learned about cooking first-hand. Aged 20, Alessandro moved to Ibiza, Spain, where his love affair with food was cemented further, and his passion was firmly set in stone when he was given the opportunity to work at two more family restaurants in Berlin – Bocca di Bacco and Bacco. After stints working at Il Punto Restaurant and the Cross Finest Deli, also in Berlin, Chef Alessandro turned his attention to Southeast Asia. After dazzling with his talents at an up-andcoming restaurant in Vientiane, Laos, he was soon snapped up by the managers of Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa as Chef de Cuisine of Brio, where he now creates a wide range of homemade pastas and pizzas and traditional Italian recipes. Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa. 257/1-3 Charoennakorn Rd. 02 476 0022 bangkok-riverside.anantara.com

☎

cut out and keep

Recipe

Seafood on ice

Just one of the highlights available at Anantara's new look Riverside Terrace. See page 40.

Australian Tenderloin

Enjoy Steakhouse dining that doesn't break the bank at Capital by Water Library. See page 45.

Dining Out Tapas with a twist

Enjoy Spanish-style dining in the heart of Sukhumvit at el Lugar. See page 38.

Lamb Chop

Mercure Pattaya Resort's signature restaurant serves international eats at great value for money. See page 138.

TheBigChilli

Dining out

Wo rds H AR V E Y W H I T E

el Lugar Bar & Tapas

A taste of Spain in the heart of Sukhumvit

WHAT’S the difference between an accountant and a lawyer? Accountants know they’re boring. Yes, poor old lawyers have long been the brunt of jokes like this. Straight-laced, po-faced, dreary – you name it – the stereotypes stamped on them by comedians revolve around being dull and, for the most part, they’ve stuck like glue. Just ask British expat Peter Shelford, owner of the trendy el Lugar Bar & Tapas, who – shock, horror! – is also Country Managing Partner for leading global law firm DLA Piper (Thailand). “People really can’t believe it when I tell them I also own a restaurant in Bangkok,” he says, nursing a glass of Argentinean Malbec. “True to form, they expect me to be just another stuffy lawyer, so when they discover I’m passionate about food and wine, and that I own el Lugar, they’re always pleasantly surprised. Especially if they visit and discover how vibrant the bar is.” Located on a side road off Sukhumvit 23, el Lugar occupies two floors of an old shophouse renovated to resemble a modern Spanish Taverna. Polished concrete floors, white-washed walls, bar stools and tall tables, portraits

from Spain, and a feature wall painted with large red swirls create an Iberian vibe, while the open kitchen, manned by a Filipino chef, formerly of Parata Diamond, provides plenty of mouthwatering aromas – think Albondigas (Meatballs in tomato sauce. B220); Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic prawns. B200) and Albondigas de Calamari (Squid balls in tomato sauce. B220) – all prepared fresh to order and arriving fragrant and tasty in equal measure. A Thailand resident for nine years, Peter runs el Lugar with his Filipino wife, Sharon. The couple opened the restaurant in September last year after shuttering a small Filipino restaurant they operated on Sukhumvit 13. Their latest venture is inspired by the Tapas bars they used to frequent while living for ten years in Spain, and they’ve nailed the concept with aplomb. “We pride ourselves on offering high quality products at great value,” explains Peter. “So for the food we use only the finest ingredients available, and our wines are special too, mainly Latino labels at more than reasonable prices [bottles range from B1,200 to B3,000; wine by

120/11 Sukhumvit Soi 23. Open daily Noon-3pm; 5pm-midnight

TheBigChilli

the glass is B180].” Another big draw at el Lugar are its tempting promotions. Among them: Daily Happy Hours, from 5pm-8pm, when all beers are B80 and cocktails B100; a Nightly Tapas Deal, featuring three tapas and one glass of wine for only B399; and a Saturday Filipino Food Buffet, served from Noon-2pm for just B299. What’s more, the restaurant hosts Ladies’ Night every Wednesday, with free drinks for the Señoritas from 7pm9pm, and every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7pm-9pm a drink buffet with free tapas is B400. Drop by on Friday and Saturday nights and you can catch live Latino music performed by Fantastico. Even el Lugar’s chef takes to the stage to croon a couple of songs. “Aside from the promotions, we’re constantly evolving the restaurant and we’re always adding new and seasonal dishes to our menus,” says Peter. “This, for me, is all part of the fun, and I love getting involved in the kitchen, tasting new dishes, greeting guests, and ensuring everyone who visits has a great time.” How's that for a stuffy lawyer.

☎ 02 662 1875 :ellugartapas.com

Dining out

Riverside Terrace

Anantara's new look restaurant returns bigger and better than ever

ANANTARA Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa’s Riverside Terrace has long been one of our favourite spots for an international feast. Enjoying a prime location overlooking the Chao Phraya, and surrounded by the resort’s lush plant-life, the restaurant feels far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city center, and getting there – aboard the resort’s very own shuttle boat from Saphan Taksin BTS – is always a delight. Recent renovations only add to the restaurant’s charm. The artfully designed dining room is now spacious and uncluttered, yet still retains a cozy atmosphere, and the new décor – traditional Thai with a contemporary twist – perfectly sets the scene for some old fashioned feasting.

Priced at just B1,499++ per person, Riverside Terrace’s daily dinner buffet is one of the best deals in town. Featuring over 100 items – many cooked fresh to order at live cooking stations – the sumptuous buffet spread offers something for almost every taste. Prawns, crabs, oysters, mussels and more maritime bounty are just the tip of the iceberg (or should we say, ice counter) at this international banquet. There’s also a decent selection of sushi and sashimi, Teppanyaki, wok fried delights, and some fabulous spit roasted meats and seafood (don’t miss the river prawns and lobster). Other highlights include Chinese noodles, Italian pastas, delicious Indian curries, a superb Thai papaya salad, and a wide range of desserts – think cakes, crepes, pastries, puddings, exotic fruits –

Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa. 257/1-3 Charoennakorn Rd.

TheBigChilli

all high quality, too. Dinner at Riverside Terrace isn’t only about the food, though. Exquisitely garbed dancers take to the stage every night to bring tales of ancient Siam to life to the sound of traditional Thai instruments. It’s great entertainment, and wonderfully mesmerizing to boot. With friendly, attentive staff providing efficient service throughout the evening, dining at Riverside Terrace is a real joy – perfect for families and friends (especially on the extensive terrace) as well as romantic tête-à-têtes (at an intimate table for two indoors), and a great place to take visitors from out of town. Open daily from 6pm-10pm. Reservation is highly recommended.

☎ 02 476 0022 ext. 1416 :bangkok-riverside.anantara.com

Strip AD_Thecoffeeclub_Mar15.pdf AD Bourbon St_May12.pdf 1

2/21/15

10:48 AM 5/2/12 6:46:56 PM

TheBigChilli

Dining out

Guest review by

Bangkok Beefsteak & Burgundy

Reﬂexions

French restaurant mirrors last year’s efforts with another great meal

NCE again we joined as guests at Reflexions, that outstanding French restaurant of Plaza Athénée Hotel, where it was nice to see the longserving staff who always take great care of us, and also to extend a welcome to two Australian visiting B&B members from Queensland, Australia, and their guest from the staff of the Royal Thai Army – as well as other guests from a little nearer home. Upon arriving we enjoyed a selection of tasty canapés and Follador Treviso Prosecco Extra Dry (Italy) in abundance. Roy Dean (wine spokesman for the day) was pleasantly surprised by the sparkling wine, not fully meriting the label of Extra Dry but nice to drink. Our first course was Hokkaido scallop carpaccio with citrus and vanilla vinaigrette, sliced garden vegetables and crispy chorizo bread. Beautifully arranged, the dish was paired with Cantina Tramin Pinot Grigio Alto Adige DOC 2013, Italy, which was recommended by our Winemaster, Thomas Boedinger, and proved very popular with the assembly. A nice wine to sip at lunch or dinner and good value, as well as a good follow-up for the scallop dish Continuing, we were presented rather quickly with Portobello mushroom with truffle ravioli, fresh milk emulsion and parmesan. To

TheBigChilli

accompany this, Thomas had selected Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast 2012 (California). I thought it was disappointing (too fruity for my taste) though most didn’t share my opinion. Tom Whitcraft (food spokesman) praised the soup but he and others thought that the dish would have been even better had there been more truffle and definitely more than one raviolo.

Grilled Wagyu striploin with pumpkin coulis, baby vegetables and thyme jus followed after a decent pause. The Australian beef was a little firmer than most expected but the taste and the sauce and trimmings were excellent. This was served with the best wine of the day: Bodegas Altanza Lealtanza Reserva Rioja 2008 (Spain). With one or two dissenting, the wine received praise for its smoothness and long finish and deemed to be very drinkable. For dessert, we found Mango cannelloni with crispy meringue and

lychee sorbet. This was a colourful and tasty display by the Chef which I enjoyed. Our visitors brought De Bortoli Deen Vat no.5 Botrytis Semillon (Australia) to share with us; some loved it (me included) but others led by Roy thought this was not the best offering that Hunter Valley has produced. And finally, 3pm already, there arrived the cheese along with Brown County Indiana Port offered by Mark Guthrie to commemorate his birthday. Again, there were mixed opinions on the wine – one guest went as far as to compare it to ‘lubricating oil’ – however, all agreed that it will be a long time before Nashville displaces Oporto as the centre of the port wine industry. In conclusion, we thanked our guests for their participation and the team of chefs and servers that had greatly contributed to the success of the lunch. Plaza Athénée Hotel Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel, 61 Wireless Rd. ☎02 650 8800 plazaatheneebangkok.com

Feature

STREETS AHEAD Exploring Bangkok’s Hottest Sois. Part 2 Wine & Dine in S tyle

Moko

S a th o r n 10 a n d 12

Lad y B ret t

☛SATHORN 10 and 12 have the potential to become Bangkok’s

Moko

Kai

Vo g ue Lo u nge 44

TheBigChilli

The signs most stylish and cosmopolitan entertainment district. these along ing operat s are already there in several chic venue d/MaoZealan New , Moko leafy avenues, such as French-owned paveand bistro y, baker little neat a t, ri-inspired Kai, and Rocke se Japane for And Brett. Lady nt adjace the ment café, as well as g. beatin some takes Bar Saki aruta cuisine, the Hanak But the big boys are coming – Bar Rouge, a French entrance phenomenon in Shanghai, is set to make a spectacular soi 12. on ions here soon, as are two more French-owned operat rey 77-sto y nearb the Propelling this area’s rapid rise is city’s MahaNakhon, which on completion will become the ences -Resid arlton Ritz-C the to tallest building and home the aland a luxury boutique hotel called Edition, along with chon, Robu Joel de ier L’Atel rant restau le ready open upsca s crowd the pulling Also a. Deluc & Dean and e Vogue Loung se increa is Ku Dé Ta. Customer traffic to Sathor n is set to significantly, with Soi 10 and 12 major beneficiaries.

l Tree-lined streets whose potential and central

tors. location have been recognized by French inves ter y. ceme g borin neigh and motel L Tour buses, dodgy

Ro c ket

Ma ha Na kh on

D e an & D e luc a

L’Atelier d e J o el Ro b uc h on

Dining out

Wo rds H AR V E Y W H I T E

The Capital by Water Library

Steakhouse dining that doesn’t break the bank

INSPIRED by the grandiose designs of American banks circa 1930, located right in the heart of the city’s central business district (Empire Tower, Sathorn Rd.), and owned and operated by Water Library – chieftains of some the city’s hippest, most innovative restaurants – The Capital, a moniker synonymous with wealth, sounds like it ought to be expensive. But you don’t need a Wolf of Wall Street’s salary to devour the meaty treats on offer here. Breaking away from the Water Library’s usual focus on French cuisine, The Capital is the group’s first grill and bar and the nucleus of its operations revolves around top quality imported meats, fresh seafood, and an eclectic range of wines, martinis, craft beers, and the signature cocktails and cold teas for which Water Library is famed. In charge of the kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Schäfer, a German national who has worked alongside world-famous chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Heinz Beck, and Juan Amador, and his deft skills and talent shine through in the preparation of each

mouthwatering dish. The classic starter Prawn cocktail (B380++) is elevated to whole new levels of taste thanks to a thick, creamy and subtly spicy homemade mayonnaise infused with burnt peppers; the signature The Capital Salad (B310++) teams its crisp leaves with a tongue-zinging blend of raw and pickled vegetables dressed with smoked peppers and Jack Daniel’s sauce; and the steaks – well, all beef is grilled on a special mix of Japanese Binchotan white charcoal and US Hickory wood to achieve the perfect temperature and flavour. Some special meat cuts are even cooked on heated blocks of Himalayan salt, giving the perfect twist. Highlights of the beef selection include Australian Grain Fed Angus, with the bone in for extra juiciness (B990 or B1,100), the Japanese Wagyu Tenderloin (B1,500++); and the Kimichiku steak – premium beef from one of the top five cow breeders in Japan, only available at The Capital (ranges from B950++ to B1,500++).

Other popular meat choices include Pork chop for two to share (750g at B1,950++) and Victoria lamb from Australia (half or whole rack, B800++/B1,600++). And, if you’re a seafood fan, don’t miss the Seared Tasmanian salmon (B650++) or Maine Lobster Rockefeller (B1,350++). A wide selection of side orders are available to go alongside the main dishes, including particularly good sautéed mushrooms, and the wonderfully creamy, beef jus topped mashed potatoes. The menu is rounded out with burgers and sandwiches, pastas (try the Wagyu Bolognese), soups, and some of the tastiest desserts you’ll find in Bangkok – try the Apple tart (B380++) or Banoffee (B290++) if you really want to groan with delight. But wait, there’s more! Bringing each meal to a remarkable close: a complimentary Gimlet (bourbon and lime juice) artfully poured by the restaurant’s savvy and affable staff from an aged crystal carafe into heavy tumblers. Cheers!

The Capital by Water Library, Level 3, Empire Tower, South Sathorn Rd. Open daily 11.30am-Midnight (kitchen closes 11pm)

☎ 02 286 9548 :waterlibrary.com TheBigChilli

Feature lac e Wong’s P

Soi Sri Bamphen

Sna pp e

rant B Rest au & B h a a s H an

inc Le Petit Z

Peng u in

Ho use

eak Trajai S t 46

TheBigChilli

Is sa y a

g Soi Ngam Duplee years before Khao San en, hav ie are Bangkok’s original hipp ign backpackers. Today, it Road became popular with fore bohemian atmosphere, with retains something of that rare shops and eccentric bars lots of small restaurants, coffee shophouses and frequented occupying long rows of ancient by an interesting mix of people. guesthouses and inexThe presence of a dozen or so ran Malaysia Hotel, vete the pensive hostelries, including es to attract budget tinu con ies, which dates back to the Sixt limited incomes to this area, travelers and expat workers on tically as ‘Yen Akat Village.’ If now known somewhat optimis this would be an even better it wasn’t for the heavy traf fic, virtually no space for place to explore on foot. And with ble by taxi. parking, it’s only really accessi the ver y reasonable to Dining out options range from g the Issaya Siabein r the choice of gourmets: the latte owned Thai chef Ian ren by ed own mese Club, a restaurant den Thai house sur rounded Kittichai. Set in an old-style woo , Issaya’s beauty is in stark by a sumptuous tropical garden area’s general architecture. contrast to the drabness of the is The Cor ner, a Less opulent but no less popular phen. This all-day diner is relative newcomer to Soi Sri Bam Frenchman whose culing operated by Cedric, a cordial you ular following with locals and nar y skills have won him a reg made croissants and coffee tourists. Don’t miss his freshly for breakfast. an food, head to Lido, For good and unpretentious Itali opposite The Cor ner. Detucked down a small lane almost e from B85 to B220 can also be cent breakfasts ranging in pric rant and Penguin House. had in Hansaah B&B Restau Trajai Steak House Mama’s Thai Restaurant and t to the Malaysia Hotel Nex . food both serve western and Thai rts Bar, a sprawling outdoor is Just One Restaurant & Spo to the area’s hippie heydays. restaurant that also dates back ties is Wong’s Place, One of Soi Sri Bamphen’s curiosi which is cozy, smoky, and the legendary after-hours bar f to a beer from the fridge invariably packed. Help yoursel laid back. and pay by the bottle top. It’s that t, is home to Le Petit Aka A connecting road, Soi Yen aurant, and Madame rest nch Zinc, an excellent modern Fre lf as an outdoor pizzeria but in Dolores, which promotes itse Thai dishes on its menu. fact has a long list of western and

S ia mese

Clu b

☛SOI Sri Bamphen and the adjoinin

Is sa ya Sia mes e Clu b

Ma la y sia Hotel

Ma la y sia

Hotel

Th e C o rner Just On e Resta urant

& Sport s

Ba r

Feature

in tow n S teve Café & Cuisine

er s er s and B e J im’s B u rg

Ji m’s Bu rger s and Beer s

a pin C asa L

C asa La pin

Sal t

A ri

S tev e Ca fé & C uisi ne

☛FANS of Thonglor (see last issue) will feel immediately at home in this leafy soi, which over the past few years has drawn an increasing number of wealthy Thais leading, in turn, to the opening of numerous hip coffee shops, restaurants and bars. A short walk from Ari BTS station and, alongside several noodle stalls (inexpensive and tasty) and La Villa Shopping Center, you’ll find all kinds of international cuisines just waiting to be devoured, no doubt in venues packed with young creative types sporting vintage threads and ironic moustaches (the guys, that is). Just some of the highlights on this fast bourgeoning soi include Salt, where you can enjoy Thai food and selected international dishes while projected video art plays on the walls; Summer Street, a food truck on Ari Soi 2 selling grilled seafood; Jim’s Burgers and Beers, which lives up to its name by offering a wide range of tasty patties just perfect alongside a cold lager; Steve Café & Cuisine in town, the second branch of a popular restaurant well-known for its generous portions of traditional Thai dishes; Basilico, which, like its other branches in town, serves inexpensive Italian cuisine (pizza, pasta and steak); Marlin Café, serving a mix of Japanese and Western dishes, and craft cocktails created by Vice Versa; and Fatbird, a homely hangout serving hearty western dishes alongside local favourites, and potent cocktails too. For coffee and desserts, check out Porcupine Café, an unusual venue modelled after a porcupine cave – seriously – that serves a small selection of signature teas, coffee and desserts; White Rabbit (Ari Samphan 5), which serves spaghetti, steak and salad but is best-known for its soft serve ice cream; and Casa Lapin, set within Nobel Reform Condominium, where an extensive selection of superior coffee and decadent desserts is available alongside a decent breakfast, lunch and dinner menu loaded with international cuisine. For drinks, aside from the aforementioned Fatbird, we suggest you check out the British-garden inspired Mad Bar, or, if Belgium beers are your tipple of choice, head straight for HOBS in Aree Garden or HOBS Away in La Villa.

in to wn

Fatbird

Po rc u p

ine

Marlin Cafe

l The street is constantly evolving and boasts many restaurants, cafes and bars L Lack of parking, and the lively bars (think loud after dark) and may put you off becoming a resident

TheBigChilli

Discover more hot sois in next month’s issue!

ab bit White R

Se cti on !

Ne w

Chef’s Table

Catering news from Thailand and the world Bring-your-own cakes face additional charge

Baan Rim Pa Restaurant celebrates 25 years of service

RESTAURANTS come and go almost on a daily basis in Phuket, so it takes a special venue to make it to a quarter of a century of service and still be going strong. Hats off, then, to Baan Rim Pa, which this month marks this very special milestone. Established in March 1990 by American born restaurateur and keen fisherman Tom McNamara, who sadly passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer, the restaurant is steeped in history and run with the kind of care and attention that can only be instilled by someone with a real passion for food and service. Baan Rim Pa is based in Tom’s former home – a lovely old Thai-style teak house on the rocky outcrop at the far end of Patong beach. Tom initially thought it would be a great place to put up his feet and retire, but it wasn’t long before visitors to his regular dinner parties persuaded him that he should open a restaurant. Tom initially opened the restaurant with 30 seats (it now has 220), and to ensure everything ran smoothly, he asked Mr Charlie Amttayakul, the Head Master of the cooking classes of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, to come and train his staff. Several other hotel staff members followed the chef, some of whom chose to stay, including Tom’s good friend Chalermpol (Das) Na Nakorn, who today, alongside Tom’s widow Pensri McNamara and her two adult children, is one of the restaurant’s owners. Tom wanted Baan Rim Pa to remain a family business as it still is today, and it’s testament to his vision that it continues to win numerous awards both locally and internationally, from prestigious publications such as Wine Spectator, HAPA, and Times Magazine, to name a few.

Full details about the restaurant and its menu are available at baanrimpa.com

TheBigChilli

RESTAURANTS in London have found a new wheeze to improve customer spend – they’re charging up to £9 per person for the privilege of bringing their own birthday cake to a dinner or drinks party. Known as “cakeage,” the charge is similar to “corkage” that most restaurants levy on customers who bring their own wine or spirits to a dining occasion. Some top hotels like the Savoy and “celebratory” restaurants such as those run by Gordon Ramsay are leading the way on cakeage, according to the Sunday Times. But others, including the Ritz and Claridge’s, do not add a charge to partygoers’ bills. Smaller “cakeage” charges are sometimes applied, especially if diners do not order a dessert from the restaurant. To date, cakeage is not known in Thailand’s restaurant business, which generously allows customers to bring their own birthday cakes. However, corkage for bring-your-own alcohol can vary enormously, from as little as 100 baht per bottle, usually in Thai restaurants, to 500 baht and as much as 1,000 baht in leading hotels.

Kippers-for-breakfast back in favor

THE traditional British breakfast of kippers – cured and smoked herrings – are making a comeback in the City of London. A fish and chip shop owned by a former head chef of the fivestar Ivy restaurant has put kippers on its menu after bankers and traders began demanding the traditional breakfast dish. Steve Wilson, head chef at the Fish&Chip Shop near Liverpool Street station, said kippers had been “very well received” and were easily outselling smoked salmon. He told the Standard newspaper that dozens of kipper breakfasts were being ordered each day for collection for trading floors, despite its pungent reputation. Kippers fell out of fashion with city workers decades ago but Wilson believes their sudden popularity is a “generation thing.” “We should be getting the generation that eats in McDonald’s back into the old ways of eating. Kippers are very healthy as they are an oily fish.” His breakfast kippers on toast with horseradish cost £8, while a kipper omelette is £6.

Fake Kobe in London, so what about Thailand?

MUCH of the expensive Kobe beef being sold in London is fake, according to a top chef. The Japanese beef, from a regional wagyu cow, is famed for its high fat content and tenderness, and can sell for up to £1,000 a kilo. But Claudio Cardoso, executive chef at Sushisamba, claims that much of the Kobe sold in London is cheaper wagyu from other parts of the world. “People will use the name Kobe even if they know they are not serving Kobe, as the word sells better,” Mr Cardoso told the Standard newspaper. He’s backed up by Martin Williams, boss of M restaurant which sells a 150kg Kobe steak for £149, who said: “Real Kobe is still rare in London. A lot of what is perceived as Kobe is wagyu – and there is a big difference.” Chef Claudio’s comments have raised questions in Thailand, where wagyu beef has become extremely popular in recent years, and is often highlighted as a superior menu item attracting a premium price. Customers generally believe the promotions while chefs and suppliers admit that it is difficult to confirm that the beef being served is actually Japanese wagyu, according to a BigChilli survey.

“The easiest way to tell whether it’s genuine is by price,” commented a chef at a four-star Bangkok hotel. “Japanese wagyu is much more expensive than other meats, so that’s a good indication for a start. Otherwise you can tell by the intense marbling and taste, which is unlike any other beef.” A major Bangkok importer agreed that it is difficult for the consumer to verify Japanese wagyu. “To an untrained eye, I guess the best way is to ask for a proof, or certification of authenticity. That’s about the only way to be certain.” Wagyu, it turns out, can also refer to cross-breed beef from countries other than Japan, including the US, Canada, Australia, Scotland even Thailand, though Japanese wagyu from Kobe, Mishima and Matsusaka provinces is deemed to be the highest quality. For this reason, explained the importer, some establishments may claim to be offering a higher quality of wagyu than is actually served. “It’s a very fine line. But it does happen

in the restaurant business, that products get upgraded. Beef injected with fats used to be sold in Bangkok as wagyu, but it wasn’t wagyu. “I first come across this practice here four or five years ago. But with Japanese beef coming into the market, it’s leveled the playing field out there. That’s because there is a big difference between, let’s say, an Australian wagyu and Japanese wagyu in terms of look, texture, flavour and at some point, the tenderness.” Another Bangkok supplier added that price is not always a fair judge of beef quality as Thai authorities have a complex set of rules governing quotas and taxes. He doesn’t recommend asking chefs for certificates of authenticity as they might regard such requests as insulting. Meanwhile, back in the UK, Mr Cardoso has revealed it had been a “battle” to get the certificate of authenticity from the distributors, Kobe Beef Marketing & Distribution Promotion Association. “They won’t give certificates to a restaurant that they don’t think matches the expectations of the Kobe brand. They go through your profile as a restaurant.” However, he still said the process should be “regulated more closely”, adding: “It makes me sad when you go through such a process and such a battle, and you see people just claiming the thing I have battled for.”

foodpanda and Food By Phone join forces

GLOBAL online food delivery marketplace foodpanda has announced its partnership with Food By Phone to further strengthen its footprint in the Thai market. By consolidating both brands’ expertise, foodpanda plans to expand its coverage areas in Bangkok and other major cities as well as increase its portfolio of top-notch eateries. Food By Phone has been a pioneer in the Thai food delivery service, working with the best restaurants in Bangkok since 1998 and has been fast growing in its online marketplace for food deliveries. Starting from February 2015, its partnered restaurants will also be available through foodpanda’s website and mobile application. As a result, customers can now choose from over 650 restaurants in three of Thailand’s biggest cities. As part of foodpanda’s plans to further strengthen its leadership position in Thailand, the brand will launch in Hua Hin in April 2015 and plans to expand the delivery areas in Bangkok to cover Suan Luang, Lad Prao, Chatuchak, Bang Kapi, Wang Thonglang and Bang Sue within this year. The company also plans to increase the range of restaurants on offer from 650 to 1,000 within the first half of this year. foodpanda.co.th 52

TheBigChilli

Meet the Restaurateur Pierre Loïc Brun

The passionate Frenchman behind Chez Papé French Bistro FOR more than three years in a small sub-soi of Sukhumvit Soi 11, Chez Papé French Bistro has been delivering a little piece of France in the heart of Bangkok to a loyal following of both expats and Thai residents, along with the always present and inquisitive tourists eager to take in its relaxed atmosphere, traditional French cuisine and friendly service. At the forefront of Chez Papé’s operations is the owner, Pierre Loïc Brun, who is always available to welcome guests and offer recommendations on both the menu and extensive wine list. Originally from Lyon, the home of French gastronomy, Pierre brings to Chez Papé a wealth of experience in the food and beverage industry and a dedication to providing authentic, home-style food from every French region and cooked just like his grandmother used to make – all within a classic French Bistro setting. How long have you lived in Thailand? I first arrived in Thailand 24 years ago on vacation and enjoyed so much I knew I had to return. Eight years later, I achieved that aim, and have been living and working in Thailand for 16 years now. I ran my own resort on Koh Lanta before moving to Bangkok to open Chez Papé. What was the inspiration behind Chez Papé? For a long time, my business partner, Franck, and I had wanted to open an authentic French Bistro in Bangkok because we had never found a place we considered to be traditional and just like the places we used to hang out in when we were in France. What makes Chez Papé stand out? Authenticity throughout all aspects of the Bistro – from the classical menu, the Parisian-style outdoor terrace, the archetypical black and white floor tiles, the French artifacts and photographs of French icons that hang on the walls, and the separate bar area that allows people to visit us and just have a drink.

What are your signature dishes? Warm Saint Marcellin French Cheese with Salad; Eggplant Caviar and Smoked Salmon Wrap; Quenelle Lyonnais (a classic French fish dumpling dish); Braised Lamb Shank; Roasted Camembert; and all of our yummy homemade desserts! What is your philosophy on sourcing ingredients? Obtaining the best quality ingredients to achieve truly authentic French dishes. We will buy local products if we can find them at the right quality, but some things must be imported from France to achieve our objective. What are your passions outside of the restaurant? I am a passionate supporter of Olympic Lyonnais and French rugby (and hope the Ligue 1 title will return home to Lyon this season!), play a little golf when time permits and I love enjoying good wine. What has been your best moment as owner of Chez Papé? There are two moments. The first, our very first Bastille Day party which started off quiet but soon became lively as guests enjoyed our festive atmosphere and joined together to have a fantastic time – thank you Mr Ricard! Second was when the team from the Iron Chef Thailand TV programme arrived unannounced at the Bistro. We were a little stressed and worried because they stayed so long and ordered many dishes, but at the end of the evening they told us they had thoroughly enjoyed the food, which made us very happy. Praise from peers within the industry and moments like this convince us we are achieving our aims. Chez Papé French Bistro, Sukhumvit Soi 11 ☎ 02 255 2492 chezpape.com

TheBigChilli

New Zealand Natural: The Pure Taste Adventure

Premium ice creams full of flavour and low on fat – yes please!

THAILAND’S soaring temperatures offer the perfect excuse for savoring the most delicious way of cooling down. Scooped into a tub, artfully wedged on top of a cone, piled high in a glass – however you like it – ice cream is happiness in frozen form. Especially when New Zealand Natural is the source. Imported from New Zealand, a country famous for its preserved natural environment and unpolluted pastures, New Zealand Natural ice cream is made with fresh dairy cream and the best quality ingredients available. Every year without fail it wins Gold Awards from the New Zealand Ice Cream Manufacturers Association for flavours such as Chocolate

Ecstasy, Cookies & Cream and Strawberry Surprise – all of which have gone on to delight ice cream fans around the world. Catering to health conscious consumers, New Zealand Natural’s ice cream is low fat. The company also offers 97% fat-free Yoghurts, 99% fat-free Sorbet, and ‘Zilch,’ a new range of lowfat ice cream with no sugar added and no gluten – a slimmer’s dream come true. New Zealand Natural currently operates three stores in Thailand (located in CentralWorld Bangkok; Market Village Hua Hin; and Central Festival Pattaya) where customers can enjoy the company’s ice creams alongside a selection of smoothies, milkshakes, coffee, tea, waffles, pastries, and more sweet treats. Its ice creams are also available to buy at leading supermarkets throughout the kingdom. Alongside the aforementioned ☎ 02 907 4811-2 newzealandnatural.com facebook.com/nznthai

TheBigChilli

flavours, other tasty highlights currently available include Hokey Pokey, Berryfruit Sorbet, Mango Sorbet, Forest Berry Frozen Yoghurt and, of course, Vanilla Classic. Mini cups start at just B99, and pints (473ml) at B299 – a bargain for ice cream of this quality. For details about New Zealand Natural’s product range, store locations, and regular promotions, check out the company’s facebook page (facebook.com/ nznthai).

Strip AD_New Zealand_Jan15_M4.pdf Strip AD_Chef Pape_Mar15.indd 1

12/20/14

8:43 PM

2/21/15 9:42 AM

TheBigChilli

Strip AD_Top Paddock_Feb15_M4.pdf

Strip AD_Roadhouse_Mar15.indd 1

TheBigChilli

1/22/15

11:30 AM

2/21/15 10:42 AM

Meet the Chef Most influential chefs? My mum and Vittorio Bertini, Italian chef of the former Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel. Your alltime favourite restaurant? Chesa, Sukhumvit Soi 20, the most popular Swiss restaurant in Bangkok. I worked there for five years when it first opened.

SERVING UP

Chef Yongyuth Phianprasit

The Executive Chef of Cape Dara Resort on his preferred foods and ingredients and his all-time favourite restaurant

Given 30 minutes to cook a meal, what would you cook? Roasted lamb with lemongrass. What do you like most about being a chef? The service part.

What advice would you give to wannabe chefs? Always be open-minded to learning new things. This can be new menus, new technology or even a new food science. The idea is to improve yourself but never forget the real taste of food.

Most challenging ingredient to work with? Every ingredient presents its own challenges, and I like it that way…means cooking is never boring.

Your favourite dish to cook? I love to cook pad krapow. krapow

Your favourite cuisine and dish? European cuisine, particularly Swiss because most of the food is based on cheese and chocolate. My favourite dish is Rösti, a simple yet difﬁcult dish to make with onions, potatoes, lots of cheese and a sprinkle of crispy bacon.

What’s your cooking philosophy? Exactly what my mum taught me – to always create new dishes.

What’s your favourite cooking utensil? A pan and a strong ﬁre (Chinese-style).

About the chef

Anything about your job you don’t like? Complaints.

■ WITH over 20 years’ cooking experience, Chef Yongyuth Phianprasit certainly knows his way around a kitchen. Prior to joining Cape Dara Resort in 2012, he enjoyed stints working at numerous renowned hotels and independent restaurants, such as The Rembrandt Hotel, Amari Orchid Pattaya and Chesa Swiss Restaurant, and he’s well known for cooking creative, hearty dishes which delight the eye as well as the palate. You can try his cuisine for yourself at Cape Dara Resort in Pattaya. Cape Dara Resort. 256 Dara Beach, Soi 20, Pattaya-Naklua Rd.

TheBigChilli

☎ 038 933 888 capedarapattaya.com

Supplier in focus

Steve Craig – The Accidental Butcher

More than just a butcher, Aussie expat Steve is a fine cook too. Visit his shop with a recipe in mind and you'll always receive the perfect meat to match

• I opened The Accidental Butcher in 2012 after leaving Siam Food Services, one of the kingdom’s biggest food suppliers, where I’d worked for four years. I saw a clear opening in the market for an independent butcher and charcuterie offering quality products, good service and personal knowledge. • The shop gets its name because I originally wanted to be an architect! However, this was obviously going to be difficult, so 30 years ago when I was approached out of the blue about becoming a butcher’s apprentice, I jumped at the chance. • I source my meat from Australia and Thailand – beef primarily from Tasmania, and lamb from Victoria. The pork is mainly from just outside Bangkok, but I also fly in free range pork from Chiang Mai. • The biggest differences between buying meat from a supermarket and an independent butcher is personal service and expertise. My customers have direct contact with the person who’s cutting their meat – and I’m always on hand to offer advice on storage, freezing, chilling and cooking. We also don’t push expensive cuts – we sell meat based on what customers want to cook and share cooking tips too. • To be a good butcher you need to be able to cook and I can do just that. I also know animals through and through – something that many chefs don’t.

TheBigChilli

• The biggest challenges I face as a butcher in Thailand involves breaking down barriers so that people understand the butcher concept. That said, almost half of my customers are Thai and they are very knowledgeable about meat – asking about growth hormones, grass-fed/grain-fed, and so on. So it is difficult but not impossible. • What sets us apart from other butchers in Bangkok? Chiefly, it’s our attitude. We’re about having fun, taking things back to basics, and offering high quality and unique products, such as sausages without preservatives, phosphates and nitrates – just wholesome products packed full of flavour and made using our own tried and tested recipes. We also take pride in our service. Regardless of how busy we are, it’s not just give me your money and get out. We always take time to talk to customers. • We attempted to host a workshop for the public last year and it was a horrible failure. It was my fault for choosing to do it on a public holiday when everyone was out of town! I currently conduct training days with restaurants and hotels in Bangkok and will eventually host another public one – on a better planned weekend! • My advice for wannabe butchers in Thailand: Attitude. Learn from those above, learn from those below, and learn from those beside you – everyone can teach you something. Like a chef, be ready for hard work and long hours. And, above all, love what you do. 53 Soi Charoenmitr, Sukhumvit 63 Rd. ☎ 02 713 2801 theaccidentalbutcher.com

AD FBP_April11.indd 1

3/29/11 3:11:00 PM

AD Newspaper_April13.pdf 1

7/31/13 9:09:47 AM

TheBigChilli

Expat WOMEN ď ° Put your feet up and indulge

Hot looks for summer: H&Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new range of fast-fashion hits stores this month. Page 72.

Feature

Three ladies give their view from the other side of diplomatic life Page 64

Shopping

Hot new products and stores demanding your attention Page 72

Health

Nutrition expert Judith Coulson on how to stock a healthy kitchen Page 84 TheBigChilli

Expat Women

Feature

The Ambassadors’ Wives Three ladies give their view from the other side of diplomatic life

WHILE the work of foreign ambassadors serving in the Kingdom is widely reported, the behind-the-scenes activities and achievements of their spouses are sometimes overlooked. The reality is that many of these partners not only help their husbands, or in some cases wives, with official duties but are also involved in all kinds of extremely useful activities such as charities and NGOs. Some even run businesses.

TheBigChilli

To find out more, The BigChilli recently interviewed the wives of three ambassadors currently serving in Thailand at the magnificent residence of the Danish envoy. Joy E. Okafor from Nigeria, Astrid Amaya from Colombia and Ratanawadee H. Winther, who was born in Thailand and is married to the Danish ambassador, shared experiences, opinions and

By Maxmilian Wechsler

observations over cake and tea in a large guest room overlooking the compound’s spacious garden, complete with its resident peacock.

Standing by her man

Joy E. Okafor is the wife of His Excellency Chudi Okafor, ambassador of Nigeria to Thailand. Mr Okafor was appointed ambassador to Thailand and Myanmar in November 2011. “I was born in eastern part of Nigeria, where the Ibo ethnic group lives,” said Mrs Okafor. “I grew up and was schooled in Nigeria. My mother was a business woman and my father a government official working for the Ministry of Environment. When my husband was posted in the United States, I returned to Nigeria for further study and obtained an associate’s degree in early childhood education. “I met my husband through his younger sister, who was my friend in high school. We’ve been married for 30 years and have four kids, three boys and a girl. My daughter is here with us studying at The Regent’s School. Two of my boys are at school in the United States and one is working in Melbourne. “My husband started his ambassadorial term in July 2012. I came to Thailand for the first time when my husband was posted as a diplomat at the Nigerian embassy in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1990s. During that time we often vacationed in Hat Yai and Songkhla. “As wife of an ambassador, my job is mainly to support him. I also attend various social events with my husband, and host events and otherwise take care of our residence in the Pattanakarn Road area of Bangkok. This still allows me time to do humanitarian and charity work,” said Mrs Okafor, who recently was chairperson for the 48th Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar held at Siam Paragon. She also helps organize bazaars and charity events with a number of embassies, with proceeds going to less privileged groups in Thailand.

“I am active in SHOM – Spouses of Heads of Missions in Bangkok. We meet every month to keep updated. We organize extracurricular activities like sightseeing in Bangkok and other areas we want to explore. Our regular monthly meetings are held at ambassadors’ residences on a rotational basis. “I am a Christian, associated with Christ Church on Convent Road. Once or twice a month I take care of children in Sunday School activities. “In the course of my husband’s duties, I accompany him on ceremonial visits and various functions. When we have delegations from Nigeria, I entertain the guests. “Whenever he goes to another country on official business I always travel with him. We are husband and wife so we shouldn’t be separated. We have visited quite a few countries where my husband has served in various governmental positions. We were in Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, in the Russian Federation, in the south of the United States, and now Thailand. This is his first ambassadorial posting. “When my husband visits other provinces in Thailand I go with him, and when he is on an official visit I accompany him as well when appropriate. I sometimes travel to other provinces without my husband. “Every good husband asks for his wife’s advice, and mine is not an exception. There are certain things he wants my input on, and we put our heads together and reason, because as they say, two heads are better than one.” Mrs Okafor is happy to be in Thailand. “I like Thai people. They are very friendly, hospitable and I love their smiles. The climate is the same as at home and the food is similar as well. We also like spicy food, but it depends on the area you are coming from in Nigeria. “What I don’t like in Bangkok is the traffic,” Mrs Okafor said, prompting smiles of agreement from the other women present. “The traffic is usually very heavy and so is the noise, which can

be stressful at times. But this is the case in every big city, including the Nigerian capital Lagos. I love a place that is quiet and serene, like here at the residence of the Danish ambassador. Our residence is also very quiet.” Mrs Okafor said her most memorable experience in Thailand thus far was when a Nigerian woman, Dr Uche Veronica Amazigo, received the 2012 Prince Mahidol Award in the field of public health from her Royal Highness Princes Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. “The reception following the award was really very special. The second best day was in November 2013 when the Nigerian first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, visited Thailand to attend the ITU Telecom World 2013 event. She propagates a vision for youth. During her visit she was received at Government House by the Thai Prime Minister.” Asked to compare Thailand to other countries she has visited, Mrs Okafor said: “I won’t go into things like standard of living and so on, but I will say that Thailand measures up well in certain areas such as infrastructure and commercial development. I love the shops here. Also, in terms of people to people relationships, Thai people are very welcoming. They make you feel comfortable. The way we’ve been received, especially by the Thai Foreign Ministry, is quite encouraging. There’s always something going on and there are a lot of activities geared toward women, which is very good. “Life in Bangkok is not dull. However, communication is a little bit of a hindrance for those of us who can’t speak Thai. For example, most of the shopping attendants cannot communicate well in English. I have tried to learn the Thai language but it is rather difficult for me, especially the writing. “As for my hobbies, I like strolling in the evenings and listening to music, especially gospel music. It suits my spirit.”

Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Diplomat

Astrid Amaya is the wife of His Excellency Andelfo Garcia, ambassador of Colombia to Thailand. She is the chairwoman of a family company called AOTA which creates marketing campaigns for corporations, countries or cities with the use of interactive art. The company motto is: Marketing Through Art. “Since my son Alejandro Garcia-Ama-

ya took over the company as CEO, our vision and international projects have expanded. The art campaigns we create for clients have the objectives to engage, enchant, and empower audiences; allowing our clients to create unique experiences in their property spaces.” “I feel very strongly about empowering women in any form. This is one of the ways we can do it, by highlighting the works of distinguished female artists. We are working on very exciting projects, for instance, we are creating an interactive art campaign for the builders of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building in Dubai. We are placing interactive artworks that enhance the visitor experience in high traffic areas. “There is an incredible amount of high-end property development projects such as luxury malls, hotels, hospitals,

residential and commercial properties that have inaugurated or will be inaugurating in the next couple of years in Asia. The industry leaders want to convert their property spaces into memorable experiences and we are dedicated to fill that need. This is why we are going to open a Bangkok office. “I got married to my high school sweetheart,” she said. “I was born in New York. My parents were both Colombians but lived in the States for 25 years. That’s why my sisters and I were born in New York. Our parents returned to Colombia when we were in elementary school because they thought that primary education back home was better than in America. So I spent my childhood in Colombia. When I finished schooling I returned to New York (for university) and went back to Colombia to get married. We have been happily married for 40 years. “We have three sons. The oldest one has a technology start-up in Silicon Valley and lives in San Francisco. The second is in finance and living in New York. My youngest also has a background in finance.

TheBigChilli

Expat Women

Feature

“My husband’s first posting was at the United Nations in New York. Next we went to Madrid, and then to London. He’s an international lawyer. He has been working on cases before the International Court of Justice at The Hague for Colombia. Maybe after serving his term here, he will go back to being a lawyer. “Our family came to Thailand for the first time about ten years ago for a vacation. We had planned to go down south but couldn’t make because of the tsunami disaster. We came back again for vacation about seven years ago. I arrived here for the third time in 2014 to join my husband, who took up his ambassadorial post six months earlier in 2013. “It is an honorable responsibility to represent a nation and a people. As the wife of an Ambassador, I’m eager to learn the culture of others as well as to share our culture and traditions with others. I am also chairwoman of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) International Bazaar. The YWCA’s purpose is to develop the leadership and collective power of women and girls around the world to achieve justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and sustainable environment for all people. The funds received from our Annual Bazaar Fundraiser are dedicated to projects that support our mission. Every year we receive the support and participation of more embassies and companies. “I have always supported my husband. He helps me and I help him. I enjoy very much meeting new people and opening doors to leaders who are providing positive impact in their communities.” Like Mrs Okafor, she is struggling with the Thai language. “I can speak Spanish and English and understand but cannot speak French and Portuguese.” She likes a great many things about Thailand, first of all the people. “They are friendly and warm, the same as Colombians. That’s why we like it here so much. You can make friends very easily. You meet somebody and invite them to your home, which is not common in every country. If I say I am from Colombia, the people here will always talk about football, emeralds, coffee and the singer Shakira. They always tell me Shakira is a great ambassador for Colombia. “We were happy that Miss Colombia was chosen as Miss Universe in the world pageant that took place in the US on Janu-

TheBigChilli

ary 25. It was nice because in the past we have come in second or third many times. We were at a dinner here where many people were congratulating us. We were surprised. “There are a diverse variety of fruits and vegetables in Thailand, which I love. In Colombia we also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I don’t like spicy foods so much but I am starting to acquire a taste for them. What I don’t like is the traffic,” said Mrs Amaya. She described travel as her “number one hobby,” adding that she often travels outside Bangkok both for work and pleasure. “I love to travel and I will take any opportunity to visit small communities in Thailand. “We also like to watch movies at home, especially old ones. We have a good collection and are always buying more. Our friends will bring us movies they think we would like. Bangkok is a paradise for movie lovers. When we go out on Saturdays we come back with 10 or 15. “There are many activities that make life interesting here. Every month, I host a dinner for 14 Thai Women Leaders at our residence. Every time it is different women who are leaders in their fields. I started the dinners when I arrived here. We have had 12 dinners so far and I have met very interesting women in politics, business and other fields.” Mrs Amaya also listed exercise as a hobby. “I have a love/hate relationship with the gym, but it keeps my energy up.”

Native Thai

Ratanawadee H. Winther, wife of His Excellency Mikael Hemniti Winther, ambassador of Denmark to Thailand, was born in Korat. Following her father, the family moved to Udonthani when Ratanawadee was young. “I and my siblings had a very happy childhood there,”

Mrs Ratanawadee said with a smile. “My father was a police officer. One of my brothers is now a police General in the Royal Thai Police. “I went to high school in the United States and came back to Thailand to get my first degree at Thammasat University. Then I left for Canada where I lived and studied further for many years.” Mrs Ratanawadee holds Canadian and Thai citizenship, and also has a Danish diplomatic passport. “I have been a working woman throughout my life; no matter where I went I managed to find a job. In Thailand I am the chairperson of Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIPF), a non-profit NGO advocating road safety. My foundation is trying to decrease the number of deaths and injuries on the road, especially of children. We have campaigns working with state organizations and corporate businesses in Thailand. “We advocate the use of motorcycle helmets by children, and go to schools and sponsor extra-curricular activities and promote a culture of safety for children. I used to be country director but now look more at direction and policy and am sort of the ‘face’ of the foundation. “AIPF is a global organization, so I can be involved after I leave Thailand. I am now working to promote road safety in many developing countries. I am going to a meeting in Morocco with a global world safety network,” said Mrs Ratanawadee, who can speak Thai, English, Danish and some Vietnamese. “I was in Vietnam for four years and I still go there often. We [AIPF] have a lot of activities there. “We have launched a huge project in Thailand with many state agencies and organizations at the national level, with funding from international organizations. It’s called ‘7 percent,’ because it’s estimated that only seven percent of children in Thailand wear helmets. “Our school program in the 7 percent project runs over one school year. Before we go to a school, we will assess the rate of helmet wearing of the children in the school. For example, in Bangkok we have at this moment six pilot schools. According to our assessments only five percent of children wear helmets when going to school. This is a really low percentage. The reason why we focus on helmets is because wearing them is a very easy way to protect

life and prevent serious head injuries. “If you want to decrease the death and injury rate, wearing helmets is a very effective measure. Thailand has laws requiring the use of helmets safety, but they often aren’t followed outside the capital and many parents don’t provide children with helmets because it is hard to find ones that fit their small heads.” Mrs Ratanawadee also said that Thailand’s helmet safety standards are quite good, but some brands don’t meet the mark. “If you buy a helmet from a reputable shop or department store it will pass the legal requirements, and they are not that expensive. A good helmet costs 300-400 baht. If you want a really nice one it goes up to 1,000 baht, which is affordable, especially for those who ride expensive bikes. “Cycling is in fashion at the moment. Thai people are very trendy and overall it is quite a good development. However, to ride a bicycle in Bangkok is very dangerous. There aren’t many bicycle lanes here, like there are in Denmark. “People who ride bicycles here are often in the upper social and economic brackets. If they can convince policy makers to improve infrastructure for the safety of riders it would be a good thing. On the plus side there are a lot of cyclists in the city who wear helmets. “I enjoy arranging various activities and events to help others, and I have an advantage over others in doing so because I am Thai. But I do it quietly and behind the scenes. I don’t want to have my face in the press all the time. The media are interested in me because I am Thai,” said Mrs Ratanawadee. She said her life as an ambassador’s wife is similar to Joy’s and Astrid’s. She too assists her husband organizing and attending various functions, receiving government guests and delegations from Denmark. “I also follow Thai politics and other national affairs. I read Thai newspapers and tell my husband what they are saying. This might give us an advantage over other diplomatic couples. Maybe I receive more ‘inside news.’ “I want to say that to be the wife of an ambassador gives a position of privilege. You have a good life, but also if you really know the country it gives you the opportunity to really make a difference. If

I were not the spouse of an ambassador, maybe my campaign with AIPF wouldn’t be so successful and people wouldn’t be as interested. Now if I am on TV or in the papers, people will ask about it. This gives an opportunity to put the privilege and influence to use. This matters a lot to me. My work isn’t intended to create problems, it is to help!” Asked about her travel habits, Mrs Ratanawadee replied: “Mikael travels to Cambodia very often but I usually stay here because I am very busy. My day is very full, so it is difficult to find time to go with him. We are in daily telephone contact when he is not in Thailand, however. He likes that.

“I try to go to diplomatic functions if I can, including the National Day receptions.” Mrs Ratanawadee is in the SHOM Committee as activities coordinator. She and her husband love to watch movies both at theaters and at their residence. She talked proudly of her husband’s last assignment. “Before we came to Thailand, Mikael was ambassador in Iraq. He did a very good job there. He had a very strong mandate and he did everything his government required under very difficult circumstances. “I didn’t stay with my husband during his service in Iraq. It was a non-family posting. I couldn’t go there but Mikael received permission from the Danish government for me to visit him. This was in 2009 and at that time there was a lot of trouble. I visited him there for one week. He had at the embassy a team of 25 elite

Danish soldiers as bodyguards. When he went out of the Green Zone where the embassy was located he was guarded by four solders, but for meetings like with the Iraqi foreign ministry he had about 11 heavily armed bodyguards with him. “I stayed in Baghdad for three or four days and then we flew to Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan. It was really different there. It was the trip of a lifetime. I don’t think that I will experience something like that again ever in my life.” Mrs Ratanawadee said that despite living more outside Thailand than inside, she has a strong national identity. “I think that I am a better Buddhist and a better Thai when I am outside the country because I feel a strong sense of self. This was especially true in Canada, where they promote what they call the ‘Canadian Mosaic.’ They don’t try to erase your cultural identity. They want to promote it, so you feel proud of your origin and your background. “What I would like to see change in Thailand is wealth inequality. From what I can see the gap between the rich and poor is wider even than before. This is what I don’t like! I think we have to take care of the less fortunate and the less advantaged.” She also wants to help change the mindset of wealthier Thais as far as public transportation is concerned. “You have to make people feel that, for example, riding buses or the BTS or MRT is ok. We have to go that way, instead of everyone driving private vehicles. There are a lot of things we have to think about to change the behavior and attitudes of Thai people. People might say, ‘yes, it would be good to do it like that,’ but moving from thinking to doing is another thing. For example, everyone agrees it is better and safer to wear motorcycle helmets, but in practice many people won’t wear them and they don’t put them on their kids.” Mrs Ratanawadee was pleased to announce that her husband had gotten a one year extension to his posting in Thailand. “In fact, this is our fi fth year in Thailand. We will be leaving in August 2016. We have no idea where his next assignment will be, but we would like to go to Copenhagen. But more likely it will be to another country,” she said.

TheBigChilli

Expat Women

Fiction

Monsoon Midnights Special places in Bangkok, as experienced by the Bangkok Women’s Writers Group Dear reader, Welcome to ‘Monsoon Midnights,’ a short story by the Bangkok Women’s Writers Group. The storytellers of the BWWG come from all over the world but they all have a special place in this city, somewhere surprising, obscure and unexpected, as yet undiscovered. Follow us to these hidden places right here, month after month. The ﬁrst volume of Monsoon Midnights (18 stories by 12 authors with beautiful illustrations by the BigChilli graphics team) is available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tj8fJr.

NIGHTFALL OVER BANGKOK There are some very high places in Bangkok. Places where you can look out and see the city like an interactive map spread out beneath you. When you walk the treacherous pavements, when the wheels of your car stick to the tarmac that flows like slow, toxic glue, most of the time even when you look straight out of your window (if you are lucky enough to have one), it seems as if the living soil is completely sealed up and as if the only thing that grows here is concrete. But from up here, under the light of a strong young moon, I can see that this is not true at all. Between the dirty white surfaces of buildings and the dark bands of roads, green crops up. In fact, it crops up pretty much everywhere. Who would have thought there were so many trees? Trees lining quiet sois, trees spreading their branches over gardens (and who would have thought there were so many gardens? Locked away behind high walls, invisible to the common glance, battled away from nature every day in their artificial geometric arrangements that never quite keep the shape the gardener tries to impose), trees pushing themselves up next to railway lines (where they try to reach into the carriages of passing trains, stroking the cheeks of unwary passengers with large soft leaves), cracking the heat distressed surface of the roads to stand up in a corner, shade a market, lean over a canal. A silent invasion to retake the streets? Tonight the moon throws its light over a large space where many trees are gathered. What? Has the forest upped roots and decided to take right to the heart of the city? I rush there in excitement, but as I get closer, I can see that order has been expensively preserved. The trees grow where they are told, and the ponds were dug in the image of a master plan. This is another garden. But very large, and open to the public. I find this month’s storyteller, Sarah Sutro, at the edge of the park. She is about to cross into yet another space that, every night, navigates the delicate line between human control and nature.

TheBigChilli

The Gardens Come Alive at Night By Sarah Sutro

TO get to the gardens of Chulalongkorn Hospital, the path is circuitous; it takes many twists and turns of walking until you know the way, especially at night. Just across from the far end of Lumpini Park, set back from the road, the hospital is busy on the outside with foot traffic, taxis and people selling food, a bustle that camouflages the actual building. Modest and low slung, it is the opposite of Western hospitals, which appear imposing and stern. Walking up the drive among taxis and cars in the dark I see the light of a fire, a woman is grilling bananas and a man is selling bags of fruit and nuts. Another is selling green tea. Nudging through people and cars, I walk under the long overhang of the emergency room entrance. At midnight, the sellers outside are ending their food business for the night. The large overhanging roof shadows the interior of the waiting room. All is silent, even mysterious inside at this time of night. Among Bangkok’s many great hospitals, this one is almost entirely populated by Thais. In other hospitals with shops and chain restaurants like a street in London or New York you can buy high quality yoga clothes on the ground floor, and pizza on the mezzanine. Vegetarian restaurants, fast food, bookstores; corridors running the length of the main buildings cater to families waiting during long days of treatment. But at Chulalongkorn, all is different. Walking up the path I am not going into the future, to the latest trend in Western hospitals, but in the very best sense, into the past. There will be no bright lights, flashy restaurants or even necessarily air conditioning. In the open air I will meet my friend Sasithorn and see some of the odder aspects of the grounds, and if I am lucky meet up with the animals who come to life – for the grounds are extensive, and the buildings go on for acres through green and leafy courtyards and gardens. I cross the waiting area, turn to the left and head down one of the long corridors. In the distance I see moonlight, as the corridor bursts through the building and continues through the garden. Where there were walls, there is now covered open space with a railing; you can walk here in rain, sunshine

and nighttime like a passenger through time. Eventually the corridor takes you into another building at the end of the cultivated garden. The passageways thread the gardens like an embroidered chain, going inside then outside then inside again. Soon I am outside again, on the covered walk. Other corridors intersect the one I am on. I must turn right, then left, the way is so confusing. Now I pass the first garden – a rush of green, trees, bushes, flowers, dim but lit up here and there by the moon catching the edge of a bright flower or a spreading tree. There is Sasithorn, I see her profile just outside the low level lights that line the corridor. She gestures to an artificial full-size tawny deer peeking out from behind a bush. Suddenly there is clean air, and green lawn swept by darkened trees, as we move past a post office and corner store selling coffee, instant noodle soup, cold drinks, hot dogs during the day.

HE Bangkok Women’s Writers Group, founded in 2001, and led by Anette Pollner (who also writes the recurring ‘moon intro’ stories in this series in her famous neo psychedelic style), is where creative women from all over the world meet to workshop their writing in a supportive and inspiring environment. Many of our members are published and prize winning authors, but we are open to all women who are passionate about writing, including complete beginners. The BWWG’s first publication (before ‘Monsoon Midnights – the short story collection’, available on Amazon) was a Thai English language

At night, just a machine selling sodas and sweet snacks. We turn right again and the choicest views emerge, all lit by moonlight, a grassy courtyard, more cast animals, trees. In the day, in sunlight there would be butterflies. Here is a large grey rabbit, and beyond, a dark green alligator, faded from being outside. Large statues of birds with multi-colored feathers, wild cats, elephants – all of them painted in natural colours gone pastel and chalky from the hot sun and monsoon rains, dot the landscape. They seem benign in this beatific place, as if they’d been placed here to illustrate a story or a fairy tale, conjured by a magician. I can’t help thinking this would be a beautiful place to heal in, fresh air and grass, sunlight, bird song, colour, an antidote to illness. But at night, the sweep of garden and strange zoo is taking on another quality. I feel the animals, flowers and bushes are coming alive in some strange way, breathing in a different air, anchoring my soul in another reality. Sasithorn, whose name means moon, is someone I don’t know well. I’ve never visited her home, and don’t know what she does – is she in business? An artist? A writer? We met at a busy intersection one day where we both sat down to have a quick lunch, in one of the small outdoor restaurants that line the streets of Bangkok. At noon there were no free tables, so we sat together, smiled and started talking once we’d both ordered soup. The delicious hot broth with noodles, prawns, squid and coriander came, and as we took big spoonfuls she told me her mother had died not long ago. Her face grew sad as she described going to the hospital with her mother on one of her last visits. Her mother enjoyed looking for animal statues as she was wheeled down the open corridors of the hospital, and told her these animals were actually spirits – there had been real animals here, when Bangkok was bordered by truly wild land, roaming through unpaved streets at night. In this Buddhist country even the animals were kind, and came to the grassy areas to try to heal patients who traversed the corridors in wheelchairs and on crutches. She said the city is just too

bestseller, ‘Bangkok Blondes,’ and various pamphlets. We regularly give readings around town and have been part of international festivals and cultural exchanges. Please contact bkk_writers@yahoo.com for more information. This month’s storyteller is Sarah Sutro, (COLORS Passages through Art, Asia and Nature, 2010) who was a finalist for the Robert Frost Poetry Award and Artist Foundation Poetry Grant, and a visiting writer at the American Academy in Rome. Sarah writes for American Arts Quarterly. Her work has also appeared in Amsterdam Quarterly, Art New England and the anthology Bangkok Blondes.

TheBigChilli

Expat Women

Fiction congested, now the wild animals have gone away, except for the large black monitor lizards the size of panthers in the park nearby, lumbering in and out of the stream running through it, like primordial animals in a swamp. And maybe a few pythons in abandoned yards, revealed when new apartment buildings go up. Sasithorn believes in ghosts. That’s why she knows real animals come back sometimes, late at night, prowling courtyards that border the outdoor corridors. “You’ll never find many Thais in those corridors past midnight,” she tells me, and invites me to meet her there one night and see for myself, even though she has mixed feelings about returning to the site of her mother’s demise. That is how we come to be wandering down the silent walkways, in moonlight, on this night in early spring. Walking down the corridors of this old hospital, outdoor passageways with flowers and lawns, hidden animals and trees I feel healed, and I am not even sick. I feel relief, lightness of being. Although a bit apprehensive, I am walking through the garden corridors smiling. Just then Sasithorn puts her hand on my arm, pulling me to the side where a pillar casts a shadow. We stand in the darkness for a moment, while she scans a slight rise of hill about 12 feet away. I see a shadow dart, then another, and without thinking rationally about it I’m able to see three, maybe four hesitant forms come out from behind a cluster of bushes. They are a deer, a small elephant, a large bird and a baby tiger. In the dark their colours are muted, but they are real animals. Crossing the grass, silently, they head towards another side of the garden. They seem to be roaming the place together, elephant followed by tiger and deer. The bird is flopping its wings and hopping after them. The smells of jasmine and lilies are strong, and an orange-y scent I can’t identify. I’m not exactly afraid, but I feel concern about what we’re doing here. The animals are heading towards rooms on the far end of the courtyard. Sasithorn is not afraid, so I shouldn’t be either. We watch as the animals lightly move across the grass and disappear into the shadows. Now everything appears to be alive, and I’m experiencing a dizzying feeling I remember from when I was first in Asia, and hadn’t adapted to new cultures. As if what I thought was real, no longer existed. I turn to Sasithorn, a question on my face. She puts her finger to her lips and we watch as other animals emerge. The whole outdoor area seems to be alive with snakes, rabbits, a cat, a turtle gently traversing the land in front of us. There is energy afoot, and a sense that anything can happen. We slip out of the shadow the way we

TheBigChilli

came. Soon we are turning corners and heading back to the entrance. The moon is lowering in the sky, the dampness of night and early morning is coming on, and I can almost sense things both settling in and also waking up. Had we seen those animals, or were they statues that appeared to move? Or Thai ghosts? Or animals from the park? The hospital itself is still mostly silent, dark, as we get closer to the front of the building. I think about how the ordinary concrete architecture, with right angles and simple, continuous forms contrasts with the mischievous decorations and luscious bright aliveness of the gardens, how animal ghosts entertain sleeping patients, perhaps entering their dreams. We pass closed puff pastry shops, the mailroom, and I know soon a rumbling trolley of sick people will be wheeled through the rush of air and colour on a corridor not far away. I feel the magic of this extraordinary place, that seems to exist beyond time. Sasithorn and I lightly bow to each other, and go our separate ways. Usually I am calm and centered, taking in what I see as an artist does, noting colour and shape and form. But tonight my body feels as if I had been running through a lightning storm – images of animals race through my mind, and the sense I have visited another realm altogether, like realms in the murals of Thai temples filled with other-worldly colours and figures from a mythical time, haunts me. I run across the dark park, hoping I will not run into a monitor lizard – perhaps they are asleep? Long before sunrise, a small army converges upon the park. The fighters in this army travel from all over the city, on motorcycles, on the backs of pickup trucks, and on the non-air bus. They congregate in obscure areas, where they pick up their equipment, and when the command comes, they spread out in well practised formation. Long before the runners come to complete their circumambulation, long before the martial arts devotees commence their daily practice, long before the first public aerobics session blasts its rhythms from the loudspeakers over the stomping and sweating city workers, this army has advanced on its target and is busy cutting down the grass, watering the flowers, selecting those plants that will live and those that will die today. The gardeners work hard every day to keep the city in its fragile equilibrium, the zone in which it can exist. In which we can exist. The moon is about to set, and I need to return to my eerie high above the fray. Anette Pollner, leader of the BWWG

Expat Women

Shopping

Talking

Shop Hot products and stores demanding your attention

MAKEUP MAKEOVER ■ LOOKING to spruce up your cosmetics collection? Head to makeup megastore Sephora Thailand (branches in Siam Center, CentralWorld and Central Embassy) where you’ll find all kinds of newly imported goodies from the world’s leading brands. Among them: Sheer Revolution Lipstick (B900), Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer (B1,200), Mascara Resurrection (B700), Naked Skin Powder Foundation (B1,530), and Moondust Eyeshadow (B800). www.sephora.co.th

SONIC CLEANSING AT HOME ■ FORGET washing your face with a flannel. The best way to

eliminate pimple-inducing grime is by using a sonic cleanser. Clinically proven to cleanse skin six times better than hands alone, the new Mia 2 Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush, from cult sonic brand Clarisonic, oscillates back and forth at a sonic frequency that produces over 300 movements per second. Working with the skin’s natural elasticity, it thoroughly cleanses beneath the skin’s surface to reduce the appearance of pore size and create a softer, smoother, more radiant complexion. Available to buy now at Sephora shops, priced B6,200. A full body version, the Clarisonic PLUS Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush, is also available, priced B8,900. www.sephora.com www.clarisonic.com

TheBigChilli

HOT LOOKS FOR SUMMER ■ H&M’s Spring/Summer collection hits stores on March 12 offering a range of fast-fashion inspired by the glamorous and laid-back life of Miami and Palm Springs. Draped pajamas set the stylish tone – and look great with heels – while prints add to the feeling of warmth and playfulness, such as flamingo birds on a bandeau bikini, a cactus print on a kaftan, or a trompe l’oeil take on snakeskin on a feminine shift dress. Sportswear elements are important, such as an oversized sleeveless tennis shirt that can be worn as a dress, and key accessories include elegant slipper sandals in snakeskin print, bucket hat, cats-eye sunglasses, and tie-dye suede bag. Check out the collection for yourself at all H&M stores in Thailand. www.hm.com/th

FASHIONABLE FURNITURE ■ PERFECT for picnics, barbecues and lounging by the pool, IKEA’s 2015 collection has arrived just in time for the hot season, featuring highlights such as the handsome and comfortable GÅRÖ hammock, HÅMÖ sun lounger, MYSINGSÖ beach chair and BUNSÖ children’s easy chair – all perfect for relaxation time in the late afternoon. The solar powered SOLVINDEN LED lamps, and ÄPPLARÖ and LILLÖN charcoal barbecues are also well worth a look. www.IKEA.co.th

News

Education

School Report

2015 NIST Golf Tournament a great success

NIST’s 5th annual golf tournament, held on 17 February in collaboration with Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, raised a record breaking 1,420,482 baht for campus development. The competition was capped with a buffet dinner, live band and raffle in the evening as the sun dropped over the 18th green and fairway. The generosity of the event sponsors and donors ensured that most of the golfers were able to return home with a prize or trophy. The team winners this year, GE, claimed the Chairman’s Trophy.

Piano Masterclass Course in Bangkok

Bangkok Prep teacher publishes children’s book about ‘step families’

PEPA O’Donovan, a Foundation Stage teacher at Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School (Bangkok Prep), has published her second book, Not Quite The Usual Setup, which addresses the issues surrounding “step families” or “blended families.” Co-published and illustrated by Pepa’s long-time friend and schoolteacher Jessica Pena Reeves, the book is for children ages 4 to 8 years. Not Quite The Usual Setup tells the story of a little girl whose parents are getting divorced, and how she embraces these changes. Pepa says the book can be read in classrooms to bring awareness of the diverse family units found in modern society as well as at home. It aims to educate children in being respectful and caring to those who might lack a sense of belongingness from fear of being different. Last year, Pepa published Songkran, which takes young readers through the different rites performed during Thai New Year, giving children an opportunity to learn more about this popular Thai festival. Pepa is now planning to write a series of festivities from around the world for children and her next book should be about her favourite festival – Loy Krathong. Not Quite the Usual Setup is available for Baht 300 at Books@53 in Sukhumvit Soi 53

TheBigChilli

ON Jul 20-24, 2015, Professors from London’s Royal College of Music (RCM) will travel to Shrewsbury International School to run the RCM’s first ever International Piano Masterclass in Asia. The five-day course is aimed at talented young pianists, aged 12-25 years (Grade 6 or above), who wish to take their playing to the next level. Throughout the week, students will benefit from expert guidance and tuition from RCM Professors, watch their tutors perform in concert, and take part in student recitals in Shrewsbury’s first class performance spaces. The course will conclude with a Gala Concert and the presentation of attendance certificates from the Royal College of Music. A course fee of 85,000 baht will be charged for each successful application. The deadline for applications is March 15. www.blogs.shrewsbury.ac.th/royalcollegemusic IPN event

Real Madrid Football Clinic kicks off in April

FOR the first time ever in Thailand, top Spanish football club Real Madrid will conduct a five-day training clinic in Bangkok. Organized by FRM Indochina Management together with Harrow International School Bangkok and Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, the event will be held from April 20-24 at the school and is open for kids aged 7-18 years. The clinic will allow children to experience and learn the individual techniques and team tactics as how all the youth trains at the Real Madrid youth academy under guidance and instructions of the Real Madrid coaches & local assistant coaches. The fee is USD450 per child. Register online at www.frmbkk.com.

Tips for Digital Generation Parents

THE International Parenting Network (IPN) will gather on March 31 at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand to hear guest speakers Tosca Killoran and Ivan Beekmans discuss “the who, the what and the how of dealing with kids and technology.” Topics covered will include: Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Privacy. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Free for IPN cardmembers; B600 for nonmembers (includes presentation, handouts, light dinner, one glass of wine and soft drinks). Tel: 081 826 2399 www.ipnthailand.com

School Report

Harrow

HARROW BANGKOK HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES PERFECT FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

Experience a taste of life at Harrow Bangkok with the schoolʼs new range of extra-curricular activities ■ THE week before Christmas 2014 saw nearly 100 students from a variety of schools in Bangkok joining a oneweek holiday programme at Harrow International School Bangkok. The courses on offer included preparation for IGCSE examinations, sports and activities camps, and even a course for nannies who came along with their toddlers to learn how to play in a more interactive and educational manner. A fun-filled, enriching week was enjoyed by all participants. Holiday programmes at Harrow Bangkok have been given a new look for 2015, and the courses on offer for December 2015 have been extended so that students of all ages and abilities – from Kindergarten to Senior School – can take part. The renowned Satori Dance Company will be putting on dance and performing arts courses. There will also be tennis programmes for advanced

TheBigChilli

players and under 10s, as well as golf, football, basketball, swimming, and gymnastics. Harrow Bangkok is currently undergoing an ambitious programme of redevelopment, which will benefit many of the programmes here. Take, for example, the athletics courses, which will now be held in ‘The Den,’ the school’s brand new state-of-the-art covered athletics area. A host of academic courses are also on offer, with a focus on developing the English language skills necessary for academic success. Whatever programme you choose, the courses are run by highly qualified teachers with a passion for their subject. Taking part is a great way for your child to experience a taste of life at Harrow Bangkok, which focuses equally on academic excellence and a wide and varied range of extra-curricular activities. Look out for these future programmes on the Harrow website as the Songkran holiday activities will soon be unveiled. www.harrowschool.ac.th

Education

Traill

TRAILL LEADS THE WAY IN NAN Traill International School and Baan Sanchareon Hill Tribe School join forces for an unforgettable learning experience ■ THE best education for a child growing up in Thailand will focus on three key areas. First, providing a loving, secure and happy environment in which each child can become fully themselves. Second, providing the highest quality teaching tailored to each child’s individual interests and abilities. And third, enabling each child to explore the huge variety of cultures in their own country and the countries around them. This third aspect is being enhanced by Traill International School through a growing relationship with a Hill Tribe School in Nan Province. Thanks to many generous donations from parents, the school and staff, and a private trust (The

Scrivener Trust), we were able recently to visit students in the Baan Sanchareon School in the mountains, about a two-hour drive north of the town of Nan. I was privileged to join them, and with the support of their Principal, arranged an

exchange visit of two members of staff, and extended an invitation for two of their students from the top class to join our Year 6 children as our guests for a few days. The educational benefits of this kind of exchange are huge. Children here get to meet and talk with children from a very different culture in their own country, which not only brings their academic lessons alive, but also broadens their understanding of their own lives. Our guests get to see the possibilities that are open to them, which encourages their own learning and raises their expectations. And our staff exchange helps develop mutual understanding and professional practice. Traill International School is a very special community which places a strong emphasis on respect, caring for each other, and the development of our pupils’ awareness beyond the pursuit of academic success. We are rightly proud of our academic achievements, but we are also proud to call ourselves a true ‘family.’

www.traillschool.ac.th

TheBigChilli

School Report

Berkeley

ALL HANDS ON TECH: INNOVATIVE TEACHING AT BERKELEY

New Exploration Lab prepares young pupils for a technology driven future By Ashley Holst ■ RESEARCH indicates that by the year 2020 there will be over one million more jobs in the area of computer science than graduating students who can fill these positions. By exposing students at the early years to skills such as programming, coding, and exploratory practices using technology, we will better prepare students for the rapidly evolving technological world ahead of them. During the 2014-2015 school year, Berkeley International School completely redesigned its Kindergarten Technology Lab, moving from a traditional desktop computer based instructional lab, to creating perhaps the most innovative and cutting edge Technology Exploration Lab in Thailand, in the hope of fully preparing pupils for a technology driven future. The room that once held standard desktop computers now hosts a variety of technology tools where students explore their creativity, develop problem solving skills and begin to learn basic programming skills. Berkeley’s newly transformed Technology Exploration Lab was originally constructed for Kindergarten and Lower Elementary, however, teachers and students from the rest of the school cannot wait to get their hands on the new technology tools available. The Exploration Lab houses a variety of new technology available to use, create, and explore with. Among the technology provided are: • Robots: Berkeley’s Exploration lab has three different types of robots including; Lego WeDos, BeeBots, and the newest robots on the market, KIBOs (of which a select few are only available through purchase in the States). • iPads: The iPads in the Technology Exploration Lab provide access to multiple games that expose students to early programming skills as well as activities that strengthen students’ problem solving skills.

TheBigChilli

• A full size Green Screen: The Exploration lab also hosts a green screen where students are able to dress up and film their own mini-movies using the iPads. • Lego: Students have access to Lego manipulatives throughout the room. The Lego is designed to specifically focus on teaching students about simple machines and engineering.

Revamping our older, traditional computer lab into a cutting edge Exploration Lab has required not only a change in resources, but also a change in pedagogy. Where once technology was used to practice the traditional skills of literacy and numeracy, it now is used to support students’ creativity,

problem solving and programming skills as well as promoting innovative thinking. The skills learned in Kindergarten provide the foundation for future student success, academically and socially. There are several educational benefits that can be identified through an Exploratory Lab model such as Berkeley’s. Some include: • Shifts technology use from simple consumption and skill practice to creation and innovation, which is much higher on Bloom’s Taxonomy. • Strengthens problem solving skills both independently and as a group. • Exposes students in early years to programming and coding language, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society. • Provides a safe environment for students to take risks to be innovative. • Urges students to collaborate on projects together. • Students get exposure to using technology as a tool for creating instead of simple content consumption. • Strengthens language acquisition, fine, and gross motor skills. Creativity, problem solving and programming skills are such important issues within the field of education that the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) has selected Berkeley International School to lead a cutting-edge, actionresearch project based on their new Technology Exploration Lab. The findings will be shared with the EARCOS community and other educators interested in the topic. www.berkeley.ac.th

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

MUSICALS UNDER THE STARS

MUSIC from the world’s best-loved musicals was brought to life in spirited fashion last month at Harrow Bangkok’s third annual gala concert, which saw the school’s symphony orchestra, talented singers – and even some staff – perform classic songs from Grease, Oliver, Mary Poppins, and more West End favourites. The glamorous crowd of proud parents, staff, students and supporters joined in a spirited sing-along of Abba hits from the musical Mamma Mia, as the evening concluded with a firework display. Sponsors of the event included Centara Hotels and Resorts, Friends of Harrow, Siam Winery, Yamaha Music, Trafalgar International, Beaumont Partnership, InsurExellence, Montri, Comin /PCS, U smile, Lexus, Yang Ma Sports Tech, United Relocations, Park and Garden, Downia, Foodland, Below 11, Superstar Academy, London Pie Man.

TheBigChilli

Expat Women

Health

How to stock a Healthy Kitchen Forget chocolate bars, crisps, and candy, stock your cupboards with healthy snacks and you’ll soon reap the benefits

By Judith Coulson

■ HEALTHY eating habits start with the way you stock your kitchen. You can’t eat what you don’t have in the house, after all, at least without making a conscious effort to go out and buy something – so lay off the unhealthy snacks next time you fill your cupboards and opt for smarter alternatives instead. The results? A slimmer, healthier, happier you. Listed here are just some of our favourite nourishing nibbles. Enjoy! Heart-healthy canned tuna

No pantry is complete without a few cans or pouches of water-packed tuna. Tuna can help add healthy omega-3 fats and protein to a variety of dishes, including salads, casseroles, omelets, enchiladas, or vegetable dips. Eat no more than 12 ounces of lower mercury seafood a week. Because white (albacore) tuna is higher in mercury, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not eat more than 6 ounces a week.

Pasta sauce

Always prepare a double amount of pasta sauce and freeze half of the portion to use with vegetables or oven baked chicken breasts with a sprinkle of cheese. Make English muffin or bagel pizzas or use the sauce as a dip. If you buy pasta sauce, read the nutrition label carefully and choose the one with the lowest salt and sugar content. You can jazz up your sauces with extra herbs, garlic or onions.

Potatoes

Super-healthy potatoes are a pantry must. If fresh they stay good in the fridge for at least two weeks, are

TheBigChilli

low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. My kids and I love oven baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. They are easy to make and can be eaten with salad, vegetables dips, cheese, beans, salsa, hummus, cream cheese or whatever you have on hand.

Beans, chickpeas, lentils

Make sure your pantry is stocked with a variety of beans and lentils. Whether dried or canned, beans are an inexpensive alternative to animal protein. They’re also an excellent source of fiber. Serve them

as a side dish or add them to soups, omelets, tacos, casseroles, or salads. Thoroughly rinse canned beans to wash away the sodium liquid.

Healthy cold-pressed fats: Olive and coconut oil

You’ll want to taste the fruity, peppery flavour of extravirgin olive oil. Use it to dress salads, and grains. Drizzle it on whole grain dishes or on crusty bread and diced tomatoes to make bruschetta. Both of these heart-healthy oils lower disease LDL risks and are preferable to solid fats like butter or margarine. Use either oil to sauté vegetables or stir fry.

Go for whole grain goodness

Brown rice is a healthy, high-fiber whole grain. Couscous or bulgur is available in whole grain versions,

too. These versatile grains complement any meat, fish, poultry, or vegetable as a centerpiece or side dish. The seeds of the grain-like plant quinoa or amaranth can be cooked quickly. For richer flavour, cook grains in a low fat broth or stock. Combine them with colourful vegetables, nuts, and seeds. You can cook grains ahead, freeze them or just keep them in the fridge for two-four days.

Canned or dried tomatoes Quick and easy to cook, canned or dried tomatoes can add flavour to any healthy meal. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and vitamins A and C. They work in a variety of dishes, like soups, sauces and casseroles. Canned tomatoes can be used to create your own salt and sugar conscious ketchup. Choose a product with no added sugar and salt, and simply add basil, garlic, chilli and other herbs for an extra wow effect.

AD RSM_Aug12.pdf 1

Add some crunch with nuts

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of nuts as just a party food. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an excellent source of protein, fiber, good fats, and other nutrients. If you regularly eat nuts as part of a healthy diet, you may reduce your risk of heart disease. Nuts pair well with sweet and savory foods. Use unsalted nuts in hot or cold cereals or as a meat alternative in pasta, grains, salads, or vegetables. Eat them with fruit or yogurt, in desserts, or as a nutritious snack. Use nuts in moderation (20 nuts a day) to avoid weight gain.

Fruits, in as many colours as possible

Rich in nutrients, loaded with antioxidants and fiber, and low in calories, fruits are a great snack or dessert. Frozen fruits are as good, and sometimes even better than fresh fruits. Dried fruit, if naturally dried without added sugar, can be a

healthy, fiber rich snack for a busy working day or before hitting the gym, and it goes well with nuts for the

perfect healthy snack. Make sure you drink enough water while eating dry fruits. I wish you a great time experimenting with the ingredients listed above! Judith Coulson is a Medical Nutritionist & Lifestyle Coach, specialized in drug free disease prevention and health promotion, for individuals and executive teams. Contact Judith@coulson-holding. com for individual Food and Lifestyle Analysis and Consulting.

8/31/12 2:58:57 PM

TheBigChilli

Expat Women

Advice Send your problems to: thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com

Problems solved

fer in silence. Send in your problems suf n’t Do ? wn do you g tin get life t pa Ex nsellors Anette and Johanna and get advice from professional cou

Why does my sister hate me?

I’M writing to you because I’m concerned about my family situation. I have a younger sister whom I used to get on ver y well with, but since she changed. got mar ried our relationship has e away from driv I live a one and a half hour larly and tr y regu our parents, but I phone them left home I . year per to visit them three times a medical now am I and y when I was 18 to stud I give es issu lth hea has dad doctor. When my ne. pho the r him advice ove ge as my My sister lives in the same villa mar ried She kly. parents, so she sees them wee architect, an ge, before I did, a man from the villa lly ncia Fina . ther and they have a business toge My . kids t grea e thre they are well off. She has the village, but sister is respected and loved in dly with me. frien that be not somehow she can gathering ily fam a e hav we n Ever y time whe makes critical my sister is short with me and remarks. like this. It I don’t understand why she acts ng. wro is seems whatever I say or do ut it but she said I have tried to talk with her abo ng. there is nothing wro it, too. They’ve I talked with my parents about but they don’t noticed the tension between us, er. They are want to say anything to my sist s them in time of grateful she comes by and help sickness. one sister I feel so disappointed. I have only but it her, with g alon and I would love to get seems impossible. and if I am I wonder how this all happened able to change the situation.

Busanee, 37, from Chiang Mai

TheBigChilli

Dear Busanee,

■ I understand that you feel

disappointed and wonder what could be the reason. You tried already to address the atmosphere with your sister but she seems to avoid the issue. who can ge If you want a chan the only one to wonder seem you As you. is ent pres influence the to sister act so what could be the reason for your to suggest some negatively towards you I would like questions to reflect on. but we can We cannot change the other person, someone e invit can this change ourselves and then your in self your put you If . else to change as well think of? you can ngs feeli of kind t sister’s shoes, wha have about you? What kinds of thoughts might she more opporTo mention some: ‘My sister had r left sudsiste tunities, she went away to study. My importan has r denly and I stayed home. My siste not need does r siste My ant job and a good position. ntly far enie conv lives she to care for our parents as

away, etc.’ whelmed with Could your sister maybe feel over her life? think your The second question is: what do you you? from tion sister needs? Does she get affirma for her te ecia Do you let her know that you appr carerst fi the be and staying close to your parents her love you that her tell taker? In general do you you do n ofte How r? siste her and are proud to be children? visit her house and connect with her with her ent intm appo an e mak to Do you try with the two of personally and do something fun you so she has a break. or longings We often hide our disappointments e the other blam often we and instead make demands, y hope for. reall we t wha g person, instead of expressin have d coul you that self If you notice in your her if ask and this dge owle ackn hur t your sister, her you would she can forgive your mistakes. Tell with her and set a like to have a good time together your relationship time for just the two of you. I hope e things. thes will improve when you have tried Johanna

Bullied by expat boss

I HAVE a huge problem with my co-worker. He is a male expat in a senior position, old enough to be my father, and he constantly makes jokes about my appearance, or my behaviour, and almost all his remarks have a snide undertone, even if the words sound alright. I usually just tr y to ignore it and smile. But it affects me and some of my other colleagues who have also told me about his racist remarks. Last week, I summoned up the courage to confront him when he said that I looked like I’d had a ‘rough night.’ He said this in front of the whole office. And he’s not by any means a close friend. So I said that I felt this kind of remark was inappropriate and hurtful. Now I wish I hadn’t said anything. He exploded. He shouted that he was just being himself, that I had no sense of humour which he had long suspected and which, in his opinion, explained a lot about me and that he had ever y right to be honest and voice his thoughts. One of my friends tried to mediate, but he shouted some more and stormed out. Now he doesn’t talk to me at all but I have heard him say, loudly, that he thinks I am oversensitive and can’t hold my own in a professional environment. What can I do?

Nok, 24, from Bang Na

Dear Nok,

■ First let me say that in this case the fault is all on the other side. Your co-worker is indeed behaving inappropriately. Making remarks about your personal appearance and publicly speculating about the way you have spent your night is a form of sexual harassment and many companies have rules against that. And, of course, against racism. Nasty remarks are more difficult to rule against, but if someone behaves consistently and over a long time in this way, it is a form of bullying (intimidation) by undermining your confidence and making you look bad. It also shows other co-workers that you can be treated disrespectfully, another form of bullying. There is absolutely no question about this, either psychologically or legally. Please don’t doubt your own judgment, you are in the right.

More difficult is the question of what to do about it. My guess would be that your company isn’t very good at implementing the policies about harassment and bullying which may have a number of reasons. Maybe HR and the managers up top don’t take these issues seriously, maybe they don’t realize that this can happen ‘to us,’ or they simply don’t pay enough attention. The fact that your colleague is a senior expat makes the problem worse – he is abusing his position of power, but he also has that position of power. The best advice in this kind of situation is to document as much as possible (write down what he said when and where), make a note of when you challenged him and what happened, and then take your case to HR. Best practice for HR is to listen to your complaint and then make their own inquiries. You do NOT have to agree to a one-on-one confrontation with HR, and they should not even suggest it, because it will only lead to more intimidation. This may well work if the problem is lack of attention. If it doesn’t work then HR is turning a blind eye, and that means they are not doing their job properly which is in turn a huge issue for the whole company. In that case you can take your complaint to a higher level (and you have every right to do so!). With an international company you could contact the headquarters abroad and you will have a good chance of being heard. Of course, you may not be successful – but the current situation is going to wear you down if it continues. Therefore, it might be worth trying to do something about it, because, unfortunately, the only solution may be, in the end, to leave anyway. I would ask myself: what is more important, this particular job or my mental health? I hope this was helpful and I wish you the very best of luck. Anette

• Johanna DeKoning MS is the Clinical Director of NCS Counseling Center. She trained in the Netherlands and Australia.

• Anette Pollner Adv. Dipl. Couns., is one of seven international counsellors at NCS Counseling Center in Saphan Kwai. She trained in London and the US and worked as a staff counsellor at Bart’s Hospital in London.

Contact details: ncs-counseling.com, anette.p@ncs-counseling.co m, Tel: 02 279 8503 Send your problems to: thebigchillimagazine@gmail. com

TheBigChilli

DRINKS AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY

MEMBERS of The British Women’s Group gathered for a night of laughs and drinks and canapés – including some delicious fish and chips – in the lovingly tended gardens of the British Embassy. The event was capped with a lucky dip featuring medical packages from the event’s sponsors, Samitivej Hospital.

TheBigChilli

Y O U R U L T I M A T E W H A T â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S O N G U I D E F O R M A R C H 1 5

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on

pArt pPerformance pSport pFootball pMovies & Albums pBooks

Disney On Ice: Dare To Dream brings another fun-packed adventure to Impact Arena. Page 91.

The Scottish postrockers return with more lush soundscapes Page 91

Catch the American singer-songwriter in concert on March 21 Page 91

The San Miguel Chiang Mai Sixes returns with more fast-paced cricket Page 91Page 84 TheBigChilli 89

Pulse City beat

March

What’s On

21 great things to see and do this month

ART

STAGE

SPORT

anniversary on stage, the original creative team behind the production has reunited for an international tour – and this month they’re coming to Thailand.

• Bangkok Comedy

Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre, Bangkok. Tickets range B1,000-B4,000 thaiticketmajor.com

Various dates

The Comedy Club Bangkok

• The Festival of India Various dates

Various locations

BRINGING together contemporary and dynamic productions by exciting and innovative artistes, the 2015 edition of this vibrant festival will introduce audiences to the ever-evolving India of the twenty-first century. Don’t miss the Indian Fun Fair with the Rajasthan Josh folk dance group (March 22). A full program of events is available online. festivaloﬁndiainthailand.com

• Trace of life Through March 28

Number 1 Gallery

TANAKA powder, the traditional cosmetic worn by women in Burma for centuries, is the focus of Pranai Kasemtavornsilpa’s latest body of work. Her paintings highlight the artistic way in which it is applied. The Silom Galleria Building, Bangkok 02 630 2523 number1gallery.com

☎ 90

TheBigChilli

• Charity Golf Classic

RIB-tickling performances by Canadian comic Scott Hilder, and two time Scottish Comedian of The Year finalist, Ray Bradshaw, are just two of the highlights this month. Full details on page 24. comedyclubbangkok.com

• Trunkated

March 13

The Royal Golf & Country Club

• How Are You Thailand?

Tales

Through April 8

Through March 29

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G

Neilson Hays Library

Neilson Hays Library will celebrate Thailand’s National Elephant Day (March 13) with a series of special events, including, among them, a month-long exhibition of Millie Young’s Trunkated Tales – a superb selection of drawings and paintings of pachyderms.

☎

195 Surawong Rd. 02 233 1731 neilsonhayslibrary.com

• Disney’s

Beauty and the Beast Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre

Through March 15

IN celebration of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’s 20th

THAILAND’s food, culture, architecture and other highlights are brought to life in rich detail in this exhibition of film photography shot by the readers of I Love Film and Barefoot Magazine.

☎

188 Silom Road 02238 1991 pullmanbangkokhotelg.com

• Love Interlaced March 7 – April 2

La Lanta Fine Art

BLENDING digital images, distressed canvases and woven yarns, this debut exhibition by newcomer Thanawat Promsuk explores personal connections and how they are made. 245/14 Sukhumvit Soi 31. lalanta.com

☎ 02 204 0583

THE 20th annual Father Joe Maier’s Human Development Foundation Charity Golf Classic, organized by Bourbon St. Restaurant & Oyster Bar, will once again see golfers of all levels of talent taking to the course to help raise funds for the foundation. Entry of B3,900 includes green fees, caddie fees, prizes and a buffet after the tournament. bourbonstbkk.com

• One Direction Rajamangala National Stadium

March 14

THE world’s biggest boy band is dropping by for a one-nightonly performance at the cavernous Rajamangala National Stadium. Insecure? Don’t know what you’re for? These lads will tell you that’s exactly What Makes You Beautiful when they croon this and more of their smash-hit singles. Tickets range B1,800-B5,500 thaiticketmajor.com

• Amarin Outdoor Unlimited

• One-Night Stand

International Triathlon

March 24-28, March 31 – April 4, April 7-9

March 14

Naresuan Army Camp, Cha-Am

PART of a new Tri-League series (Bangkok and Pattaya are up next), this event features two triathlon distances (sprint and standard), a duathlon, and team relay events. ama-events.com

• Essential Eames March 20 – May 31

TCDC Bangkok

CO-presented by TCDC and Chanintr Living, Herman Miller’s Essential Eames: Icons of 20th Century Design exhibition Mogwai captures the spirit and philosMoonstar Studio ophy behind the most famous March 15 couple in design, Charles and Ray Eames, and explores LUSH, majestic soundscapes how ideas and creations can will be the order of the day when the Scottish post-rockers become immortal and remain uential in contemporary life. perform tracks from their latest infl Gallery 2. 5/F, The Emporium Shopping album, Rave Tapes, as well as Complex. ☎ 02 664 8448 tcdc.or.th atmospheric hits from their back catalogue.

•

Ladprao Soi 80 (starts at 8pm) Tickets: B1,500 thaiticketmajor.com

• Jason Mraz and

• Truthful Energy March 17 - April 19

Chamchuri Art Gallery

KOREAN artist Young Ji Kim captures the “pure-heartedness, positivity, dynamism, and confidence of a group of highly diverse individuals” in colourful and abstract fashion. Head to the opening night on March 17 (6pm onwards) and you may even meet some of them. Chulalongkorn University, Chamchuri Building 8, Phayathai Rd. on.fb.me/1G9BoLQ

Democrazy Theatre Studio

IN this contemporary solo dance performance, a woman confronts her raw desires and questions accepted ideas of dignity and decency by putting her own experiences of one-night stands under a magnifying glass. Tickets: B450 facebook.com/democrazystudio

• City of Angels

International Triathlon Thailand

March 25-28

March 28

CentralPlaza Grand Rama IX

NOW in its eighth year, this popular ice hockey tournament for veteran players (Over 35s and Over 45s) will once again see international teams slide onto the rink for some hard-hitting action. For a full tournament schedule see jogsports.com

• Disney On Ice:

Dare to Dream

March 21

March 26 – 29

Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani

HOT on the heels of his US tour, award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is coming to town for a special acoustic show alongside his longtime friends, Raining Jane, who collaborated on his latest album, Yes!.

DISNEY princesses from Tangled, Cinderella, Snow White and other studio classics will strap on their skates to embark on another fun-packed adventure on the ice. Performances in English will be held March 28 at 11am, and March 29 at 7pm.

• Supersport 10 Miles International Run March 22

Thanyapura Phuket

FOLLOWING two successful events in Bangkok, this year’s Supersport run is moving to Phuket where it’s expected to attract over 1,500 local and international runners. goadventureasia.com

• The Golden Triangle

Old Timer’s Classic

Raining Jane

Tickets range B1,000-B5,000 thaiticketmajor.com

zombies. The goal is to get to the ‘safe zone’ with at least one life remaining. Freaky. Tickets: B1,500 thaiticketmajor.com

Tickets range B300-B2,500 thaiticketmajor.com

• Run For

Your Lives Thailand March 28

Wonder World Fun Park Bangkok

NO ordinary run, this adrenaline pumping event sees contestants tackle an obstacle course while being chased by

Golden Triangle Park (Sob Ruak, Chiang Rai)

FEATURING a 1.7km swim, 12km run, and 53km cycling route, this grueling event at least provides some stunning scenery to help you take your mind off those burning muscles. goadventureasia.com

• San Miguel Chiang Mai Sixes Apr 5 – 11

Chiengmai Gymkhana Club

CRICKET teams from around the world will return in force for the 28th edition of this much-loved tournament, which caps its on field action (high scoring fast-paced sixes) with a series of evening parties for cricketers and supporters alike. chiangmaisixes.com

TheBigChilli 91

Pulse City beat

Screen

CINDERELLA

BORROWING many elements from Walt Disney’s 1950 animated musical film of the same name, this live-action retelling from director Kenneth Branagh (Thor) stars Cate Blanchett as The Wicked Stepmother, and Lily James as Cinderella. Richard Madden saddles up as Prince Charming, and Helena Bonham Carter adds more than a dose of magic as The Fairy Godmother.

1/4

FAST & FURIOUS 7

12/4

THE Fast & Furious movies have been getting, erm, faster and more furious with every outing. So expect spectacular and reality-defying action set-pieces galore as Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (the late Paul Walker) and their crew find themselves in another high-octane chase – this time being pursued by new villain Ian Shaw (Jason Statham).

CHAPPIE

IN the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police robot, Chappie (Sharlto Copley), is stolen and given new programming by a strange and dysfunctional family, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. As the formidable, destructive forces start to see Chappie as a danger, they will stop at nothing to maintain the status quo and ensure that Chappie is the last of his kind.

19/4

INSURGENT

5/4

THE second movie in the Divergent trilogy, based on the books of the same name by American novelist Veronica Roth, follows Beatrice ‘Tris’ Prior (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) as they search for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Racing against time, they must find out why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them.

Movie screenings are subject to change. Keep up to date at majorcineplex.com

MEMORY LANE

New albums

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Chasing Yesterday (Release date: Mar 2)

Modest Mouse Strangers To Ourselves (Release date: Mar 17)

Madonna Rebel Heart (Release date: Mar 10)

Twin Shadow Eclipse (Release date: Mar 17)

Madness Sleeping With Sirens (Release date: Mar 17)

The Cribs For All My Sisters (Release date: Mar 24)

Mark Knopfler Tracker (Release date: Mar 17)

The Prodigy The Day Is My Enemy (Release date: Mar 30)

TheBigChilli

TOPPING THE UK CHARTS MARCH 1985

1. Philip Bailey duet with Phil Collins – Easy Lover 2. Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) 3. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasure Dome 4. Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World 5. Alison Moyet – The Ole Devil Called Love 6. Madonna – Material Girl 7. Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston – Pie Jesu 8. Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy – Kiss Me 9. Paul Young – Every Time You Go Away 10. David Grant & JakiTheBigChilli Graham – 92 Could It Be I’m Falling In Love

Pulse Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On|Music City beat

In the spotlight Expat band delivers moody, ethereal music in style

TheBigChilli

“SIRI knows my band!” Any aspiring musician in the digital age would love to be able to make this claim. Of course, to get to the stage where Apple’s operating system can recognize your music by sound alone requires hard work, dedication, experimentation and, most importantly, the talent to pen an album that you can actually sell online. Last month, after several weekends spent holed up in Vintage recording studios, Udom Suk, Bangkok-based band Count The Thief did just that – releasing its debut album, New Role, on iTunes and officially becoming, for want of a better word, Shazamable. Not that Count The Thief needs affirmation it exists. Over the past 18 months the band has been a regular fixture on the Bangkok live music circuit, and the band’s dedication to its craft – constantly tweaking its sound, tightening its act, improving with every performance – has seen it build a loyal fanbase who follow the band from dingy bar to highbrow pub and back again, all in the name of good music. Formed by British expats Danny Duncombe (Bass and vocals) and Toby Willems (drums and vocals) alongside Canadian Dave Lefor (guitar), the band draws from a melting pot of ideas, with each member bringing different musical influences to the table. “Toby’s taste in music is terrible, real folky,” jokes Lefor, when The BigChilli meets the band for a burger and a beer outside the recording studio. “If I had my way, the band would sound a lot more emo.” “You just don’t know what good music is,” Willems hits back, “so it’s a good job you didn’t get your way.”

“It’s all about compromise,” explains Duncombe, slurping a Heineken, a grin on his face. “We all get in the room, start jamming, and all meet somewhere in the middle. It’s what makes our sound unique – probably best described as progressive indie rock.” While the trio, who met as colleagues at the same international school in 2013, are witty and fun and dispense rapid fire jokes with the ease of seasoned comedians, get them on stage or in the recording studio and things soon turn serious. “It’s all about integrity,” says Willems. “We want to make good music and we treat this much more than just a hobby. We’re passionate about what we do, and when we’re in the zone, there’s nothing else quite like it.” Watch Willems drumming live and you’ll get a sense of that passion. “We call it his ‘in the zone gurn face,’” explains Duncombe, mimicking Willems’ facial expressions as he pounds the drums. “His enthusiasm always fires us up.” Duncombe, the band’s lead singer and bass player, is a Manchester native whose accent is Mancunian verging on Scouse. Unlike world-famous Manchester born artists such as Noel and Liam Gallagher, however, he keeps his vocal delivery free of any regional brogue – his lyrics, abstract, thought-provoking, come across loud and clear. “We want listeners to take their own meanings from the songs so we don’t like to talk about the lyrics too much,” he says. “And that’s the beauty of our art. Everyone can take something from it.” What about the band’s name? Should we take from that that you’re not too fond of grammar?

Pictured, left to right: Danny Duncombe, Toby Willems, and Dave Lefor

“Hahaha. Not at all,” says Lefor. “It’s a vague reference to a book that Toby read.” “To cut a long story short, “says Willems, “it’s basically an old Eastern-European folk tale about a war in which the bad guys lose because of a cunning plan by a soldier from the good guys, who lures cows away from the enemy’s side, so that he can treat his comrades to a morale-boosting and energy-lifting feast. Because of his efforts, his side wins, and he is given the title ‘Count The Thief.’ I thought I’d steal the name for our band.” As the purveyors of moody, ethereal, thought-provoking music, don’t be surprised if the next thing the band steals is your heart. Shazam. Listen to the band’s music and read about upcoming performances at www.countthethief.com

TheBigChilli 95

Pulse City beat

Football Focus

King’s Cup disappointment

AFTER the National Team’s excellent performances in the Suzuki Cup in December, hopes were understandably high that Zico’s men could add the King’s Cup to their burgeoning swag bag. The theoretically annual tournament, always held in Thailand, pits the Thai National Team against three other nations in a round-robin format. The Thais haven’t lifted the cup since 2007, but seemed favourites to do so this year as opposition came in the less than formidable form of South Korea’s and Uzbekistan’s under-23 sides and Honduras’ under-20s. Thailand certainly got off to a good start by comfortably beating Honduras 3-1 despite going a goal down early in the game. Mongkol Tossakrai, Pokkhlao Anan and an own-goal ensured the hosts got off to a winning start in Korat. In the other opening-day match, South Korea beat Uzbekistan 1-0. However, the match was chiefly notable for two disgraceful attacks by Uzbekistan players which left

TheBigChilli

their side with nine men. The first a flying boot to a Korean face, and the second a windmill-punching attack! (I’m sure you can find the footage on YouTube). Thailand’s second group game was a very bad day at the office as they managed to lose 5-2 to Uzbekistan. The Thais actually went 1-0 up thanks to Pokkhlao Anan again, and the same player made it 2-2 in the 70th minute. But three late goals for the Uzbeks left Thailand awkwardly placed to lift the trophy as South Korea saw off Honduras 2-0 in their second match. Oddly enough, Honduras, easily beaten by Thailand, managed to easily beat Uzbekistan 4-2 in their final match. In the final game, Thailand needed to beat South Korea by two clear goals in order to lift the trophy – assuming that goal difference was being used as the determiner in the first instance; it may have been head-to-head, no one really seemed to know. In any event, despite a huge amount of effort

BY PAUL HEWITT

and endeavour from Thailand, they failed to break down the Koreans and the match finished 0-0, although it was one of the more exciting stalemates you are likely to see. So Korea carried off the trophy after finishing on seven points whilst Thailand had to settle for the silver medal. Off the pitch, the main talking point was the lower than expected attendances in Korat. When the tournament was held in the city in 2010, every match was a 20,000 sell-out and the same was expected this year, especially given the Suzuki Cup success. But for Thailand’s first two matches, the stadium was roughly only half to two-thirds full, though it was close to a sell-out for the final game against South Korea. Ticket prices were widely viewed as the main reason. In 2010, prices were 50, 100 and 200 baht and any student in uniform – school, college or university – could get in for just 20 baht. By 2015, those prices had swollen to 200, 300

and 400 baht with no student discount. The Korat public, used to paying 50 to 100 baht to watch their local team Nakhon Ratchasima, voted with their feet and left red faces all round at FAT HQ. Thai football often likes to take its cues from the English Premier League, but taking fans for granted by overcharging them is one English football fashion that the Thai game could well do without.

Muangthong go for broke! HOW did the piece about the King’s Cup end? “taking fans for granted by overcharging them is one English football fashion that the Thai game could well do without.” Nevertheless, Muangthong have broken a Thai football price taboo by charging over 1,000 baht for a replica shirt. The exact price for the 2015 home shirt is 1,090 baht, but that will be closer to 1,500 by the time a name and squad number has been added. It only seems like yesterday when shirts were around the 200-300 baht mark. Other clubs are only too eager to follow suit with Chonburi and Bangkok Glass also both charging, funnily enough, 1,090 baht.

Port’s future assured?

PORT F.C. where would this column be without them? The Khlong Toey club have bounced from crisis to crisis in recent years, but may have finally found stability thanks to Muang Thai Life Assurance. The company, specifically a member of its founding and ruling family Nualphan Lamsam, stepped in to take control of the club just days before the new season kicked off. “Madam Pang,” as she apparently likes to be known, is also a senior figure in the Democrat Party thus continuing the depressing trend in Thai football of political figures controlling the overwhelming majority of clubs. She does at least have some footballing background through her role as manager for the World Cup bound Thai National women’s team. Since taking the helm at Port, Ms Nualphan has managed to settle the issue of unpaid wages to former player Matias Christen (see last month’s issue) and found time to design a delightful new crest for the club. We’re sure that the image of a pretty blue horse jumping over a wave with a football at its feet will go down well with the no-nonsense inhabitants of the PAT Stadium. As will the new nickname which could be translated as (The) Port Horse but I prefer another translation which seems to better complement the badge: Harbour Horse.

2015 season underway

JUST two games into the season at the time of writing and Army United proudly sit atop the table having won both their games. Admittedly, TOT and Navy are not the strongest of opposition and may well find themselves in the relegation zone come the season’s end, but that’s what the fixture computer threw up and Army can only beat what’s in front of them. Muangthong and Buriram played out a customary draw on the second matchday and both sit on four points. The three relegation places are currently filled by the three teams that were promoted from League 1: Navy, Saraburi F.C and Nakhon Ratchasima, who have yet to register a single point between them. Correction: In the December issue, it was stated that in 2011 Khon Kaen F.C became the first Isaan side to play in the TPL. However, that honour went to Sisaket F.C who achieved it the year before. Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Kevin Watkin for the correction.

Strip AD_Destination_July14_M4.indd 1

7/2/14 9:38 AM

TheBigChilli 97

Pulse City beat

Expat Sport

Sailing in Pattaya: The ideal escape from Bangkok Royal Varuna Yacht Club welcomes all those interested in one of life’s great pastimes Club Commodore Tom Whitcraft

MORE and more people are discovering that sailing is the perfect antidote to the stress of modern city living, offering them the endless pleasures and challenges of the great outdoors – the wind, the sea, the currents and tides. And for hard-pressed Bangkokians, opportunities to experience the joys of sailing are just two hours away, at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, a genuine oasis in this increasingly busy and congested world. For almost 60 years, the RVYC has been at the forefront of this wonderful sport and leisure activity in Thailand, providing the facilities, expertise and an outstanding venue for generations of sailing enthusiasts. Set on a secluded cove between Pattaya Bay and Jomtien Beach, the Royal Varuna features a magnificent clubhouse with restaurant serving Thai and international cuisine, comfortable accommodation, swimming pool and private beach famed for its breathtaking views of Koh Larn and stunning sunsets. Once discovered, it’s impossible to forget. Curiously, there are still some people who regard sailing as some kind of elitist activity, beyond them financially and socially. Club Commodore Tom Whitcraft is keen to quickly dispel to this myth. “The Royal Varuna is a family oriented and friendly Club open to anyone interested in sailing, from the outright novice to those with considerable experience, or for those who treasure a

TheBigChilli

family’s weekend escape together. It’s not expensive to join and the monthly subscription is very reasonable. “The majority of our members are Thais, but we also have others from many different nationalities who simply love the pleasure of being here and enjoying sailing. “The Royal Varuna is Thailand’s premier international sailing club. We offer a comprehensive year-round sailing program that includes regular sailboat racing and club cruises in a number of different age and boat class categories. The Club also regularly hosts major international regattas, while our Sailing School meets all training needs to internationally recognized levels. “What’s more, we enjoy excellent sailing conditions all year round.” Tom, 52, who first learned to sail at the Royal Varuna as a 14-year-old, is proud to point out that the Club is one of the first Royal Yacht Association (RYA) accredited training centres in Asia. “This is an important feature of the Club. All of our courses, from the ‘learn to sail’ and improver courses, to the powerboat training and instructor courses have adopted the RYA structure. They’re also taught by RYA qualified instructors. As such, sailing qualifications gained at the Royal Varuna are recognised worldwide. It makes learning easy, fun and safe.”

are staged on most weekends, while Club regattas and national events are usually held once a month. International Regattas hosted by the Royal Varuna have included the 1987 Fireball World Championships, 1989 Enterprise Dinghy World Championships, 1997 Topcat World Championship, 2000 Fireball World Championship, 2007 Asian Hobie Cat Championships, 2013 OK Dinghy World Championships and the 2014 Fireball World Championships. In June 2015, the Club will host another exciting world-class event, the Byte C11 World Championship.

Boat storage and service

For a small monthly fee, dinghies or catamarans can be stored in weather protected racks. Whenever a member plans to sail, the staff team transport the craft to the front lawn and raise the mast. For a small tip, they will also rig the boat. The Club’s boat staff team also assists when launching and recovering boats, wash boats at the end of the day and return them back to the rack.

School groups

Why sailing at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club?

Whether it’s competitive racing, enjoying the open ocean, or just an afternoon cruise to a tranquil beach, sailing is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone. The feeling of being powered by the wind is quite simply addictive. And it’s an outdoor pursuit for the whole family. At the Royal Varuna, sailing is made accessible, easy and safe. The Club has 55 of its own boats for hire (Laser, Hobie, Optimist, RS Quba and RS Vision), along with boat staff to prepare and launch the boats, and RYA-accredited instructors to give expert tuition. ‘Learn to sail courses’ typically take two days to learn the basics of sailing for adults, or five days for children.

Events

The Royal Varuna hosts a number of club cruising events throughout the year. All cruises have a safety boat with boat staff to make the trips easier and more enjoyable. Races for monohull and multihull classes

The Royal Varuna works closely with local and Bangkok schools, providing programmes and activities overseen by qualified English speaking instructors and modern sail boats for a perfect learning environment. In addition to two large classrooms, the Club has a swimming pool, 28 private accommodation rooms onsite and full F&B facilities. The annual Thailand Inter-school Sailing Championship is held at the Club, which will also host the 2015 Fobisia Sailing Championship.

Corporate groups

The Club is a great venue to hold an event, with excellent indoor and outdoor facilities for team building events, as well as conference rooms overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Whether hosting elegant weddings on the lawn, cocktail parties by the sea or successful networking events, the Royal Varuna has it all.

Membership

Club membership offers first options on accommodation; reciprocal rights with some of the world’s best sailing clubs, and access to Thailand’s premier yacht club 365 days of the year! Ordinary membership entrance fee is 60,000 baht and monthly subscription of 2,600 baht. Royal Varuna Yacht Club, 286 Moo 12 Pratamnak Rd., Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 038 250-116 :varuna.org

☎

TheBigChilli 99

Pulse City beat

Expat Sport Celebrating ten years of Bangkok Rugby 10s

FOR the tenth year running the Bangkok International Rugby Tens Tournament brought together teams from all around the world for an action-packed weekend of rugby, networking, and lots of laughs. Held at the pitches of Bangkok Patana School, the event had a carnival atmosphere with a wide range of food, drinks and entertainment for the adults, and games and activities for the kids. Read more about the tournament at www.bangkokrugby10s.net.

100 TheBigChilli

Social

 Last month’s best events in pictures

TheBigChilli 103

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

THE VAULT OPENS IN STYLE

MUSICIANS, publishers, writers, ﬁlmmakers and more creative types were out in force for the grand opening of The Vault Speakeasy Club on Sukhumvit Soi 11, which fueled the party late into the night with free-ﬂow drinks and canapés, and a superb roster of live entertainment, including live jazz and vocal performances by Idris Dawud (New York, USA) and Donyale Renee (Houston, Texas), and a swing dance showcase by the VIP.

104

TheBigChilli

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

MEJICO’S BIG NIGHT

MEXICAN restaurant chain Mejico, from Sydney, Australia, celebrated the launch of its ﬁrst branch in Bangkok with a fun party showcasing the modern restaurant’s wares – including more than 170 tequila brands and a wide selection of market-to-table eats – plus some sizzling dance performances. Special guests on the night included Australian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Paul Robilliard, Issares Chirathivat, Karoonpon Tieansuwan and Sawitri Rochanapruk. Mejico is located on the second ﬂoor of Groove@CentralWorld. Open daily 11am-midnight (www.mejico.asia).

106

TheBigChilli

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

LA MAISON COINTREAU

COINTREAU’S search to find Asia’s best mixologist came to a head last month with a grand final event at Ku De Ta Bangkok, where eight finalists showcased their skills in front of a panel of judges. The celeb-studded party had a Chic Parisian theme and was hosted by Alfred Cointreau, a sixth generation scion of the Cointreau family, and featured entertainment by DJ Ono and signature drinks by highly-acclaimed ‘Mixsultant’ Joseph Boroski. The winner of the event was W Hotel Singapore’s Mike Cheong, whose ‘La Vie En Rose’ cocktail impressed the judges with its innovative use of edible lipstick.

SPICY FUN AT COYOTE

COYOTE Mexican Bar & Grill on Sukhumvit Soi 11 celebrated its grand opening with a ‘Hot and Spicy Southwest-Style Party’ featuring tongue-zinging Tex-Mex dishes and free-ﬂow drinks galore. Located on the ground ﬂoor of The Prime 11 Building (next to Levels, Aloft Hotel), the new restaurant is now open daily Noon till 2am.

108

TheBigChilli

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

SWEET SIXTEEN FOR BAMBOO BAR

A BIG spread of Lebanese cuisine, special drinks deals, and fun dance shows were just a few of the highlights when Bamboo Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 3 celebrated its 16th anniversary on Valentine’s Day.

110

TheBigChilli

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

OPENING NIGHT FOR PLAYHAUS THONGLOR

THE Broadway-inspired PlayHaus Thonglor Design Hotel celebrated its opening night with a performance of classical music and a tour of the property’s highlights, such as eight guestrooms inspired by famous musicals (think Mary Poppins and Aladdin), and a theatre-themed lounge bar that serves a wide range of premium spirits.

BIG BITES ON SUKHUMVIT 22

OWNED by former model Khun ‘Lina’ Naalinlat – a self-confessed ‘steak freak’ – Bangkok’s ﬁrst New York Style Steak & Burger restaurant (at Park 22, Sukhumvit 22) arrived in tasty fashion with a grand opening party featuring hearty servings of prime USDA certiﬁed Angus Beef and fresh-ground burgers – the hallmarks for which the restaurant’s sister branches, in Shanghai and Beijing, are famed.

112

TheBigChilli

CASCADE CLUB TURNS 10

LUXURY health and social club The Cascade Club, Sathorn, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a superb party featuring free-ďŹ&#x201A;ow wines and cocktails, a sumptuous buffet loaded with oysters, seafood, barbecued meats, and more gourmet fare, and live performances by Mellow Motif, The Siam Jazz Orchestra (with guest singer Fangkhaw, from The Voice Thailand), and the legendary Thai band T.Bone.

TheBigChilli 113

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

THAILAND POLO KING’S CUP

THE ﬁnal round of the “9th Thailand Polo King’s Cup 2015” tournament was yet another celeb-studded affair with luminaries from a wide range of businesses arriving at VR Sport Club to see Team King Power from Thailand, led by Apichet – Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, take on Team Ahmibah Brunei, led by HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah and HRH Prince Qawi. The ﬁnal result couldn’t have been closer, with Team King Power coming out as champs with a 13-12 win. The event was capped in grand fashion with a gala dinner held under a Vintage Victorian theme.

PAUL HARRIS DINNER

MEMBERS of Rotary Club Bangkok South convened for the club’s annual Paul Harris and Donor’s Recognition Dinner, held at the Residence, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. Guest speaker at the event was Paul Gambles.

114

TheBigChilli

NETWORKING BY THE RIVER

MOVERS & Shakers joined forces with The Riviera Group to host a special “New Year’s Edition’ networking night at the Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside’s Neo Lounge and The Sunset Terrace. Held under a Riviera Garden theme, the event featured free-ﬂow drinks, pass around canapés, and a live performance by Siam Yam 9.

TheBigChilli 115

Social|Last Month’s Best Events

VALENTINE’S WEEKEND HARVEST

OENOPHILES were out in force for the Valentines’s Weekend Harvest at GranMonte Vineyard and Winery, Asoke Valley, Khao Yai, where they enjoyed a day of grape picking (with prizes going to the best harvester) capped with a dinner party featuring a performance by jazz band Mellow Motif.

116

TheBigChilli

Social|Around town

BEAUTY TECH FOR HOME

JS Inno Tech (Thailand) Co., Ltd. unveiled its latest innovative beauty product, the PiOne, with a special event held at the Okura Prestige Hotel Bangkok. A new form of at-home personal skin treatment from Korea, the PiOne uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology – basically a laser – which allows for non-invasive skin rejuvenation and hair removal. It’s available to buy now at the PiOne shop on the first floor of the Siam Square One Shopping Center.

REMBRANDT HOSTS MUSIC MAESTROS

CARIBOU, Belle and Sebastian, Temples, Tune-yards and more international bands put on a cracking show when they performed last month at the Hostess Club Bangkok 2015 music festival, held at CentralWorld’s GMM Live House. Pictured here are just a few of the artists relaxing at The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, official partner of the event, where they stayed during their visit.

TheBigChilli 117

Social|Last Around Month’s town Best Events

TONINO LAMBORGHINI CAFÉ LOUNGE OPENS ON EKKAMAI

THE first Tonino Lamborghini Café Lounge in Thailand and Southeast Asia arrived in style with a night of free-flow drinks, Italian food, and live performances by Getsunova and The Sukie Clapp Project, led by Krissada Sukosol Clapp, who was the DJ of the night. The night wrapped up with a fun performance by Pod Modern Dog. Read more about the new venue on page 28.

COFFEE ROMANCE AT STARBUCKS

STARBUCKS celebrated the month of love by inviting couples to join a “Coffee Romance” workshop at its Central Embassy store. The event was joined by celebrity couple VJ Louk-kade Jirada Yohara and her husband K.Chumpol Techakrasri, who shared the story of how their love blossomed over a cup of Starbucks’ hot chocolate.

SEPHORA IN SEASON

MAKEUP, skincare and fragrance mega-store Sephora Thailand unveiled its Spring 2015 collections with a celeb-studded party attended by renowned beauty gurus such as Parva Nakasai, Mittrapak Pachimsawat, and Matunart Sosothikula, alongside representatives from big name brands such as Peter Thomas Roth, Algenist, and Marc Jacobs Beauty. You can check out Sephora today at Siam Center, Central Embassy, and CentralWorld Plaza. A fourth branch will open soon at The Emquartier.

REAL MADRID FOOTBALL CLINIC ALL SET FOR APRIL KICK OFF

THE upcoming Real Madrid football clinic (see page 74) was announced at a press conference held at the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel. Held over five days (April 20-24) at Harrow International School Bangkok, the clinic will give participants a chance to train and play the “Real Madrid way.” More info at www.frmbkk.com.

118

TheBigChilli

DIPLOMATS p Meet the people uniting nations

His Excellency Jesus MigĂşel Sanz Meet the man who represents all 28 EU member states in Thailand Page 120

TheBigChilli 119

Diplomats

His Excellency Jesus Miguel Sanz|EU

Words MAXMILIAN WECHSLER Portrait photographs JARAN LAKKANAWAT

The man who represents all 28 EU member states in Thailand

VISITORS to European Union embassy on Wireless Road are treated on arrival to the colourful spectacle of the flags of all 28 EU member states and that of the EU itself. It’s a poignant reminder of the responsibilities shouldered by the Spanish-born Head of Delegation of the EU to Thailand, His Excellency Jesus Migúel Sanz. Despite his relative youth, before coming to Bangkok Mr Sanz had already held a number of important diplomatic positions at Spanish embassies around the world. Not altogether surprisingly, his language skills are considerable. “I can speak English, French, some German, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese and, of course, Spanish, which is a very important language in the world. I am now learning Thai, with the help of a young, patient and talented teacher.” Mr Sanz was born and raised in Madrid, the capital of Spain. After studying agronomics engineering at Polytechnic University in Madrid, he became a mathematics teacher at this prestigious university, teaching algebra to university students. His next career move went in a completely different direction – he joined the diplomatic service. “I started my career in Africa, in Tanzania. I was also at the time the Spanish consul for the Indian Ocean. From there I went to Paris, then to China, and for a time was posted back in Madrid. Afterward I was appointed as Spanish ambassador to New Zealand and Pacific countries such as Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati and the Cook Islands. My next move was joining the EU diplomatic service. “I took up my post as EU ambassador to Thailand and Laos in September 2013. This is my professional diplomatic career in brief. Along the way I became a lawyer as well,” said Mr Sanz. “I have been lucky to serve in very interesting countries. My first trip to Africa as a young diplomat was wonderful, visiting places like Madagascar, Kenya and Zanzibar. I had the chance to get in contact with the reality of the developing world. Then, Paris is very comfortable and near my home town. France is a

120

TheBigChilli

very interesting country. I enjoyed living there, of course. “Beautiful China with its ancient civilization and powerful culture – it’s not an emerging country but an ‘emerged’ country. It is a big power and it is important for diplomats to understand China if they want to know what’s going on in the world. Next was New Zealand, which is actually a jewel in the Pacific. Honestly, I have liked all my postings. I don’t have a preference. “And now I am in Thailand, a country I love. My first visit here was when I was very young in the ’80s. I was a university student and I came with a couple of friends. We spent some time in the United States, basically New York, and from there we came to Thailand. Bangkok was a very different city then. I have many memories, even though it was so long ago. “The city was different, but I remember that the people were very friendly, as they still are. I was in Bangkok only a couple of days and then went up-country. I can remember perfectly well Lumpini Park and I remember there were many canals in the area. There weren’t so many tall buildings, but the traffic was hectic. I actually think that now the traffic is much better. I remember that it took us hours to get to Don Mueang airport. We were terrified that we would miss the plane but luckily we made it on time. Everything was very pleasant. My memories are related to kindness and friendship. I still think that Bangkok is a lovely city – cosmopolitan and charming at the same time,” Mr Sanz said.

Delegation of the EU in Bangkok and Vientiane “The Delegation of the European Union in Bangkok was opened in 1979,” said Mr Sanz. “We have 56 people working there, 30 of them foreigners. We also have a brand new and very beautiful office in Vientiane, Laos. There are 20 staff there, including about ten foreigners. Laos is also a very nice country and I travel there as much as I can.

TheBigChilli 121

Diplomats

His Excellency Jesus Miguel Sanz|EU

“The ambassadorial term in the EU diplomatic service is four years. After that I can either be an EU ambassador to another country or go back to Brussels. Or perhaps I will go back to Madrid and work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or be the Spanish ambassador to another country. I haven’t yet decided what I want to do, and I still have another two years to go here.” Being an EU ambassador is a challenging job, but it’s one Mr Sanz enjoys and believes in. “We have a long history of integration in Europe. We started many decades ago, basically after the Second World War, for obvious reasons. We understood that we have to remain together to move forward and to avoid confrontation. In the last decade we have built up the European identity and recently brought into force the very important Treaty of Lisbon. “Basically my job is to coordinate the actions of the 28 EU countries within Thailand and to make sure they are coherent and in accordance with what is decided in Brussels by the

EU ACTIVITIES IN THAILAND EU birthday Europe Day, held annually on May 9, celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historical ‘Schuman Declaration’ speech in Paris in 1950, when Robert Schuman, then French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe which would make war between its nations unthinkable. In Thailand, guests including diplomats, politicians, academics, media, civil society groups and young professionals are invited to celebrate the occasion with the Delegation.

European heritage and cultural calendar smartphone application In September 2013 the Delegation of the European Union (EU), together with the Thailand cluster of the EU National Institutes for Culture, launched the European Heritage Map of Bangkok and Ayutthaya, which included 65 sites of shared European-Thai heritage. 30,000 copies of the map were disseminated around Thailand. 122

TheBigChilli

Member States and the EU. My job is to represent the interests of Europe beyond Europe’s borders and basically try to promote European values and human rights, as well as try to defend our economic interests.” Mr Sanz noted that EU policy, including trade and foreign investment strategies, is decided in Brussels, with the goal of promoting the European “reality.” He said his job is to carry out this work in Bangkok, which would not be possible without the support and collaboration of the 20 ambassadors from EU nations in residence here. “Otherwise it would simply be a very difficult task. They are very constructive and they all understand what is at stake. They know that the world is changing and that we have to remain together if we want to defend our interests. I would say that they make my job possible and I am really grateful to them. “My job implies trying to understand 28 different realities. All of us are Europeans, but Europe is a very diverse continent. I think the diversity is an advantage for us. It makes us richer. The different languages, climates, customs, mentalities and points of view complement each other and are the key to our success,” Mr Sanz said. Asked if the EU offices in Brussels keep in regular contact with all EU ambassadors in Thailand or delegate that responsibility to him, Mr Sanz replied: “I do it. There’s a group of European ambassadors in Bangkok and I chair the group.” He said the EU and Thailand have a long relationship covering many areas, and underlined a few of them. “Maybe we should start

After the success of this project, a follow-up project in the form of a smartphone application was launched last October. The European Heritage Map and Cultural Calendar of Thailand maps, describes and illustrates some 250 sites that represent a common heritage resulting from centuries of Thai-European interactions; and it presents an up-to-date overview of cultural events organized by the EU Member States (and their institutes) in Thailand. The app aims to promote awareness and appreciation of the long and rich history of Euro-Thai relations and also promote vibrant cultural exchange in the present.

EU Film Festival Every year, the EU Delegation hosts the European Union Film Festival in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Its 20th anniversary was celebrated in 2011. The Festival allows visitors to experience some of Europe’s finest cinematic productions. Last year there were screenings in three provinces: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. The festival normally takes place in May and admission to all screenings is free of charge.

with culture. We have a film festival with many movies from EU countries. We are extending outside of Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. Admission is free. We try to attract the general public and feature the most recent and beautiful films produced by the very creative and diverse European film industry. “We have a new application for iPhone identifying places related to European cultural heritage in Thailand. This originated as a map marked with important places in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. It was so successful that we decided to expand on the idea and we now have an application for mobile phones that pinpoints more than 250 sites of European cultural heritage all over the country. You also have access to a calendar with an agenda of European cultural activities. For example, if there’s a French festival going on or an Italian lecture somewhere, it will be listed. It also lists pubic events that are taking place at our embassy and other European embassies and cultural centers. “I want to stress that we are always trying to work with

young Thais and students. The EU has been sponsoring the largest English inter-varsity debate tournament in Thailand for the past ten years, for example. I think it is very moving to see these bright and talented Thai students who are extremely motivated to debate. I think it is important to plant the seeds for the future generation to have the ability to discuss issues freely and hopefully eventually to find a common position. It is very important to nurture a culture of debate.” Mr Sanz then discussed the ongoing negotiations for the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement. “Europe is one of the main investors not only in Thailand but in the region and we have already been through four rounds of negotiations for the FTA. We are currently looking at ways to re-engage. It will be very important for the region if we succeed in signing the agreement and I think that both Thailand and Europe will benefit greatly. We have a lot of interests in the region and we are a very important market for Thailand as well.”

EU-Thailand National Intra-varsity Debate Championship

sustainable democratic development among Thai students. Thammasat Speakers’ Union is hosting the 10th EU Thailand National Intra-varsity Debate Championship in April 2015.

The European Union-Thailand National Intra-varsity Debate Championship was founded in 2004 as a collaboration between the European Commission in Thailand and Thammasat Speakers’ Union in order to promote greater understanding on issues related to the EU and cultivate critical thinking amongst youths in Thailand. From a humble beginning of eighteen teams from Assumption, Chulalongkorn, Mahidol and Thammasat universities, the tournament has become the largest and most accessible debate tournament in Thailand. In 2012, a tournament was hosted by Khon Kaen University which welcomed more than 84 teams and more than 200 debaters from 24 high schools and higher education institutions across the country. The tournament has undoubtedly provided an exceptional educational opportunity for students in Thailand to improve their critical thinking skills, English proficiency and teamwork. Developing themes such as “Debating Europe” and “Make Sense, Not War,” the tournament has brought much needed attention to current affairs issues and served to promote ideas of

Reception for Erasmus Awardees Every year, the Delegation hosts a reception for Erasmus awardees. Last year, the ‘Erasmus +’ scholarships enabled 58 academics from Thailand’s top universities to undertake studies and academic cooperation at some of Europe’s leading universities. These Thai scholars will start their Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate and Post-Doctorate studies at European universities. The awardees represent a wide range of academic disciplines, including business management, political science, humanities, agriculture, biology, chemistry and software engineering. The students are welcomed at universities all over the EU. Thailand started benefiting from the EU scholarship program in 2004 and there are now more than 600 Thai Erasmus Mundus (EM) alumni.

TheBigChilli 123

Diplomats

His Excellency Jesus Miguel Sanz|EU The ambassador travels within Bangkok as much as he can. “Last year I was very busy because of the political situation, which required a lot of coordination with EU member states. I had to stay mostly in Bangkok, but I was able to travel to the North, to the border with Myanmar, to the border with Laos, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and also to the South, to Pattani and Yala. I must say it was very interesting. This year I plan to increase my presence outside of Bangkok.”

At home in the Kingdom

HE MR JESÚS MIGUEL SANZ IN FOCUS Education • Master's Degree in Human Rights, National University for Distance Education (UNED), Spain. • Degree in Law from UNED, Spain. • Degree in Agronomics Engineering, Polytechnic University, Spain.

Professional experience • Ambassador Jesús Miguel Sanz started his assignment as Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Thailand and to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in September 2013. • A Spanish national, he began his career in the Spanish Diplomatic Service in 1992. His most recent appointment was as Spanish Ambassador to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Tonga from 2011 to 2013. • During his extensive career, he has held the position of Spanish Governor to ASEF (Asia Europe Foundation) and Director General of “Casa Asia” or Asia House from 2007 to 2011. • He was Counselor – Senior Advisor at the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Madrid from 2006 to 2007. • He served from 2003 to 2006 as Political Counselor at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing and during this period he was appointed as Coordinator of Spanish Aid in the Thailand Tsunami crisis from January to April 2005. • From 1998 to 2003 he was Counselor at the Spanish Permanent Mission to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris and Permanent Representative to the Development Assistance Committee-OECD. • He also has served at the Spanish Embassy in Tanzania as Deputy Chief of Mission with accreditation to Malawi, Comoros and Madagascar from 1993 to 1995.

124

TheBigChilli

Asked about disappointments here, the ambassador answered in two short sentences: “Intolerance and violence is something that disappoints me all over the world. They are not unique to Thailand. “In general, I like Thailand very much and feel comfortable here. I like the weather, the food, the tradition, the history. I like studying the language and the people. “I like all kinds of food, but especially Asian food and definitely Thai food. I am very happy to eat in fancy restaurants or on the street. The food sold on the street is very good. I enjoy very much the soups and the noodles. I am a soup man and I also love rice and bamboo. So I am very happy in Thailand. “I don’t like the Bangkok traffic, but this is the curse of any big city around the world, and as I said before I honestly think the traffic has improved a lot. Now you have the BTS and other convenient forms of public transport. I take the BTS often. “Even with the traffic in Bangkok it is very easy to find a peaceful corner. Thai people have the capacity to interact in a metropolitan, very hectic world and at the same time to defend and protect their intimacy and their peace of mind through massage, meditation and by stopping for a few minutes at a temple and paying respect to Buddha …I think that this combination makes Bangkok really attractive and very pleasant. It is hectic, but not stressful. It is unique. “Even in my city of Madrid, which is very lovely, it sometimes can be stressful. Here in Bangkok I really appreciate and value extremely this capacity of maintaining quality of life and peace of mind. Maybe it is their Buddhist background and the importance they give to compassion that makes Thais able to experience the beauty of life whatever their circumstances are. “One of my most memorable experiences in Thailand occurred when I was first posted to China in 2005. This was just after the tsunami of December 26, 2004. I was sent here by the Spanish government to support relief efforts from our embassy in Bangkok. My job for the first months was to travel from Bangkok to Phuket and coordinate various activities. “In the aftermath of this event everybody was extremely emotional. It was a real opportunity for me to witness the resilience, faith and strength of the Thai people. I remember during that time being in Phuket, Krabi and other areas severely hit by the tsunami. The Thai people were confronted by a very hard reality, but right away you could see the seeds of hope and get a feeling that they would recover quickly because of this capacity for resilience and a will to move on, without of course forgetting lost loved ones. It was all very hard but at the same time very positive and very constructive. I realized once again how welcoming the country was even in these terrible circumstances.”

Relaxation

“A diplomatic life means having a very full schedule, not only during office hours but also often during evening and nights. In my free time I like to read and stay home with my family. I also swim, do yoga and practice qigong and tai chi. I really enjoy playing with my son. We walk in Lumpini Park and from time to time we take a boat out on the little lake there. He is still very young and the moments I spend with him are precious, as are the moments I spend with myself, relaxing my mind.” In conclusion Mr Sanz said: “All in all, I am very proud and feel very privileged and honored to work in this country. Honestly, I have to say that I have an excellent team and excellent cooperation from Thai officials and other European diplomats. The Thai people and the expats I come in contact with are very good to me and that makes my life very easy.”

HUA HIN

Cha Am • Pranburi • And beyond...

Dusit Thani Hua Hin is offering a special deal for families until Oct 31. Page 126.

News & deals

Hua Hin’s hottest promotions and deals await inside Page 126

Triathlon

Push yourself to the limit in the Amarin Outdoor Unlimited Triathlon Page 126

Social

Hua Hin’s best events captured on camera for your viewing pleasure Page 132 TheBigChilli 125

Hu aH i n

N ews and Deals

Special deal for families ANOTHER fun family getaway is on offer at Dusit Thani Hua Hin, which is offering a ‘Family Splash Package,’ starting at B4,800++ per night, inclusive of daily breakfast for two, free entry to Vana Nava Water Jungle for two adults, 20 percent discount on F&B and spa treatments, and a reduced entry fee to For Art’s Sake, Hua Hin’s first 4D Illusion Art Museum. Offer ends Oct 31. ☎ 032 520 009 :dusit.com/dthh

Family fun at Anantara ANANTARA Hua Hin Resort & Spa has launched a new accommodation package loaded with activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as yoga and Thai boxing for adults, and cooking classes and batik painting sessions for kids. Rates range from B4,100++ per night for a Deluxe Garden View Room to B15,100++ per night for Anantara Garden View Suite, inclusive of daily breakfast and activities. ☎ 032 520 250 :huahin.anantara.com

Amarin Outdoor Unlimited International Triathlon THE 2nd edition of the Amarin Outdoor Unlimited International Triathlon will be held at the Naresuan Army Camp, Cha-Am, on Mar 14. Part of a new Tri-League series (Bangkok and Pattaya are up next), the event features two triathlon distances (sprint and standard), a duathlon and team relay events. Full details are available on the organiser’s website. :ama-events.com

Dogs welcome at X2 Kui Buri IF you’re a dog owner fed up of paying hefty kennel fees every time you travel to Hua Hin (or simply heartbroken that you have to leave your furry friend with someone else), then check out X2 Kui Buri. Until May 31, the hotel is offering 50 percent off its usual dog charge, so your four-legged buddy can accompany you for just B500 per night. The only caveat – your dog must be a medium-sized breed or smaller (and, of course, not aggressive). ☎ 032 601 412 :XLOBBY.com

126

TheBigChilli

Biggles Big Band return on March 13 AMSTERDAM'S Biggles Big Band have a large following in Thailand, so expect a big turnout when they return to Hua Hin to serenade their fans with hits from the golden era of big band jazz (think Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Tommy Dorsey) as well as the songs of Frank Sinatra. The concert will be held at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin. Tickets are B1,900++ per person and include a seafood buffet at the hotel's Colonial Pool. Starts 7pm. ☎ 032 512 021-38 :centarahotelsresorts.com/chbr

Hu aH i n

N ews and Deals

Candlelit dinner for Earth Hour TO celebrate Earth Hour 2015, on Mar 28 Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa will offer a ‘Candlelit Dinner’ promotion at its three dining outlets. Take a candle to dinner to receive one of the following benefits: 10 percent discount on food at Chay Had, a sparkling wine at Hua Hin Brewing Company, or buffet dinner by the pool for just B1,000 per person (half price for kids aged 6-11). ☎ 032 538 999 bit.ly/1BZXW0e

New chef joins Banyan The Resort EXPECT all kinds of new tasty dishes to be added to the menus at Lemongrass Restaurant, Banyan The Resort, as Romain Aletru has just joined the resort as its new Executive Chef. A familiar face in Hua Hin, French national Romain has worked as a consultant for several local restaurants and is well-known for his simple French cuisine made with the finest ingredients. banyanthailand.com

Golf tournaments at Banyan TWO events await golfers at Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin this month. Teeing off the fun, on Mar 11 from noon, is the Power Tee Competition (B2,100 per person for golf and snacks after the game); and don’t miss the club’s signature ‘Golf & Wine Dinner’ (on Mar 28 priced B4,300 per person inclusive of green fee and gourmet dinner; B2,200 for dinner only). ☎ 032 616 200 banyanthailand.com

Chilean wine dinner ON April 1 Putahracsa Resort will host a gourmet dinner specially created to pair with the award-winning wines of Hugo Casanova vineyards in Chile. Held at the resort’s Oceanside Beach Club & Restaurant (after aperitifs and canapés served at Mondo Vino), the dinner will be attended by Hugo Casanova himself. B1,799 per person. ☎ 032 531 470 putahracsa.com

128

TheBigChilli

Summer deal at Rest Detail SPECIALLY for the hot season, Rest Detail Hotel Hua Hin is offering a ‘Get Splash and Stay Cool’ package which includes a one-night stay in a Rest Green Room for two, two one-day passes for Vana Nava Water Jungle, a set dinner for two at Rest Scene Restaurant, and international breakfast for two. B8,500 per person. Offer ends Oct 31. ☎ 032 547 733 restdetailhotel.com

Electric Mango Steak House & Grill - expect the unexpected

THB

499

m 6pm o r f y a d y ever

cob n o b, rn o o e c c n , n i o ew ine otattoo r–wchoirtn w p e t d i ortead o d or wh bakkeed p h f t i o d iwth baglass lass of re e v r w , rsveed d by 1by 1 g e s , ak mpanpieanied e t s d lle ce,ea,cacoccom i r g oioic ram 300 g by yyoouurrcchh aauuccee s s d n d a an

Electric Mango Steakhouse offers superior quality dining with prime meat from Australia and America. We grill all our meat great care and attention to ensure the best flavor. We offer great wines from around the world to accompany your dining experience, selected by Thailand best Sommelier. Thai food is represented as well, and we put heart, honor and effort into giving ‘ you value for money when visiting us at Hua Hin Soi 112. Feel free to bring the young ones, we have indoor and outdoor playground where they can enjoy before and after dinner. It’s all about happiness! Reservation please call: 085 7867 539 or event@electricmango.club

Accommodation

Hua Hin Where to sleep

The Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin

Villa Maroc Resort Pranburi

■ Located in the heart of Hua Hin right next to the beach, this luxury hotel combines comfort and convenience for the perfect escape. Each suite is well-furnished in stylish décor and each has its own private swimming pool. General facilities include a fitness center, a swimming pool, steam rooms, spa, library, and meeting functions. Rocks Restaurant serves up a wide range of international dishes and local favourites, while the beachside bar, and the cigar and whisky bar, mix up some excellent cocktails.

■ Inspired by Morocco’s distinctive architecture, Villa Maroc combines Thai beachside living and service with some of the most luxurious furnishings from the North African Kingdom, making it a unique addition to Southeast Asia’s accommodation scene. The resort is located in Pranburi approximately 30 kilometers south of Hua Hin town. You can tuck into European, Middle Eastern and Thai cuisine at Casablanca, enjoy cocktails and shisha pipes at the Sisha Bar, relax in bliss at Sherazade Hammam & Spa, and much more.

97/2 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin Tel: 032 516 600

165/3 Moo 3 Paknampran, Pranburi, Tel: 032 630 771 email: rsvn@villamarocresort.com

Rest Detail Hotel Hua Hin

Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

■ Located overlooking the Gulf of Siam, Rest Detail is a wonderful boutique resort which lives up to its name by offering relaxation at its finest in modern and spacious rooms. Guests can opt to stay beachside, poolside, or go all out for an accommodation which boasts its own private pool and Jacuzzi. Besides its comfortable rooms, the resort also features a rejuvenating spa and several superb dining venues including its popular Rest Scene.

■ This imposing resort in the centre of Hua Hin is regarded as one of the best family hotels in the region. Accommodation features comfortable rooms and suites, providing guests with a living space that exhibits contemporary Thai design flair and good in-room amenities. There are also 11 Spa Suites available. The awardwinning White Lotus on the 17th floor of the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa offers sky-high dining at down to earth prices.

19/119 Hua Hin Soi 19 Tel: 032 547 722

33 Naresdamri Road. Tel: 032 538 999

Putahracsa Hua Hin

S’MOR Spa Village & Resort

■ This stylish resort skillfully marries Mediterranean-influenced villa accommodation with the best contemporary Thai interior design flair to create a unique experience. Putahracsa is a secluded sanctuary with 36 SilkSand rooms bordering a magnificent swimming pool and mini beach. Interiors emphasize the ‘sleek and chic’ approach to modern design. The Oceanbed Villas are truly exceptional, providing some of the highest quality accommodation and service in Hua Hin. The resort features a day spa, and superb dining opportunities at Oceanside Beach Club & Restaurant.

■ S’MOR Spa Village & Resort is always a great choice for a relaxing holiday. Located in the center of Hua Hin yet in the peaceful area overlooking the Khao Takiab Mountain with a long beautiful beach, this al-fresco resort features six bungalows and eight bedrooms, each well-equipped with all the mod-cons you could need. The seafront bungalow offers you a choice of private outdoor Jacuzzi or indoor Jacuzzi. The resort’s spa is exclusive and distinctive with an extensive list of treatments including traditional Thai massage. For eats, the beachfront S’MOR Spa Beach Bar & Restaurant serves a wide variety of international and local cuisines.

22/65 Nahb Kaehat Road. Tel: 032 531 470

122/64 Takiab Road, Hua Hin Tel: 032 536 800

130

TheBigChilli

Strip AD_Andreas_Feb15_M4.pdf

1/22/15

9:26 AM

Welcome to Andreas Italian Restaurant & Grill. We are proud to be Hua Hin's favourite place to meet friends and family for a great meal. Come and enjoy Chef Andreas' freshly made pastas, wood-fire oven baked pizzas, and charcoal broiled meats and seafoods. All foods are homemade using only the highest quality and freshest ingredients available, and we have a great selection of wines and beers. After dinner you can relax further with a delicious cocktail while listening to the latest lounge music at our rooftop terrace bar.

www.andreas-ristorante.com Email : ab@andreas-ristorante.com Phone : 09 9910 1018 Located at The Lapa HuaHin

•Since 1996 •Fine Dining •Crispy Pizza •Delicious Ice Cream

Come and join us for lunch or dinner in our fully air-conditioned restaurant. Enjoy a romantic dinner with splendid ocean views on our beautiful rooftop terrace.

8/4 Naresdamri Rd. Hua Hin. Open Daily 11.30am - 2.30pm & 5pm - 10.30pm Reservation 032-512-250, 08-1852-2136 and 08-7103-9439 E-mail : Claudio.mammamia@gmail.com Strip AD_Mammamia_Mar15.indd 1

2/27/15 1:33 PM

TheBigChilli 131

Hu aH i n

S ocial

Mercedes Road Cruise at The Banyan SLEEK and shiny Mercedes Benz cars rolled into The Banyan Resort Hua Hin last month as part of a special two-day road cruise to promote the resort and tourism in Hua Hin. Highlights of the event included a car parade and showcase, and a splendid charity gala dinner featuring a fashion show and a mini concert by Byrd & Heart.

132

TheBigChilli

Hu aH i n

S ocial

Centara celebrates Chinese New Year CENTARA Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin hosts some of the best parties in town. So it was no surprise that its celebration for Chinese New Year was yet another superb affair, featuring a grand gourmet buffet dinner complete with dragon dances and fireworks. Gong Hey Fat Choy!

134

TheBigChilli

COAST CO PATTAYA

Kok Chang • Wong Amat • Jomtien • Bang Saray • Sattahip • Rayong

Havana goes Rogue: Craft beers from Oregon make a special appearance this month. Page 136.

News & Deals

The Eastern Seaboard’s hottest dining and hotel promotions Page 136

Music fest

Pattaya Music Festival returns with more international bands Page 136

Mate’s Rates Friends or family visiting Thailand? Let them know about these deals Page 140

TheBigChilli 135

Pa tt a ya

N ews and Deals

Pattaya Music Festival SUN, Sea, sand and...music! The popular annual Pattaya Music Festival returns this month bringing another genre-hopping blend of pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock and jazz, performed by local and international acts, at stages set up along Pattaya Beach. Best of all – it’s free! Mar 20-22, performances from 2pm-2am. :pattayamusicfest.com

New on the scene: Breeze Beach Club

Gourmet dinner by the beach PULLMAN Pattaya Hotel G’s Beach Club Restaurant is a great spot for dinner on a Tuesday. As part of the restaurant’s Kort Night, a new three-course menu is available featuring a wide selection of dishes (including a mouthwatering Côte de Boeuf – perfect for two to share), for the reasonable price of B690 per person, or B990 per person with a carafe of wine. Dinner starts 6.30pm. ☎ 038 411 940-8 :facebook.com/thepullmanpattayahotelG

136

TheBigChilli

BREEZE Beach Club, the new all-day dining venue opposite Centara Grand Phratamnak, is now open offering not only an extensive range of Asian and international cuisines (try the afternoon tea set with homemade scones. B450 for two persons) but also a well-stocked bar featuring all kinds of signature cocktails. Regular promotions and good music ensures the venue really comes to life at night. Highlights include Ladies’ Cocktail Night, held every Thursday, 5pm-10pm, when women receive free-flow cocktails for B250 (beers for the boys at B100 per bottle), and the BBQ by the Beach Night, held the second Saturday of every month, featuring all-you-can-eat grilled meats and seafood for just B699 per person. If it’s a feast you’re after, visit for the brunch – held the second Sunday of every month – priced B500 per person (half-price for kids). ☎ 038 306 337 :centarahotelsresorts.com/cgpx

Havana goes Rogue AFTER making a big splash in Bangkok, Rogue craft beers from Oregon, USA, will be available in Pattaya this month at Holiday Inn’s Cuban-inspired bar, Havana. Among the selections are popular labels such as Hazelnut Brown Nectar, American Amber Ale, and Dead Guy Ale. Prices start at B200 per bottle. ☎ 038 725 555 :holidayinn-pattaya.com

Room rates for music lovers IN conjunction with the Pattaya Music Festival (see above), Amari Pattaya is offering 10% discount on its usual internet rates, plus free room upgrades, when rooms are booked through www.amari.com. Simply use the Promo Code: MUSIC15. The offer is valid for any stay between Mar 19-23. ☎ 038 418 418 :amari.com

Strip AD_Hilton Pattaya_Mar15.indd 1

AD Newspaper_Jan12.indd 1

2/21/15 10:27 AM

12/27/11 1:21:00 PM

TheBigChilli 137

Pa ttay a R esort i n focus

Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort

Perfect for families and business travelers alike NORTH PATTAYA’S rapid move upmarket continues apace with more hotels and restaurants opening with a focus on family-friendly fun and facilities geared for business. A fine example: the four-star Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort. Opened just four months ago, this new resort managed by the Erawan Group has quickly found favour with parents and executives alike thanks to its warm and personal service, stylish design, and carefully considered range of amenities. Set over 16 floors comprising 210 rooms and suites, each with its own private balcony, the resort is located next to the Holiday Inn’s new Executive Tower and within walking distance of the beach. Not that you need to head there to get

your feet wet: the resort offers two pools – one on the ground floor featuring a Kids’ Club and a mini water park (perfect for children and the young at heart – especially its climbing wall, which is only B200 per hour); and an infinity pool, for adults, on the fifth floor. Also on the fifth floor is a fullyequipped gym, a Business Center with three rooms that, when combined, can accommodate up to 130 people (flipcharts, projector, and big screen are all provided for free), and the resort’s signature restaurant, Molten, which serves a splendid buffet breakfast and an all-day a la carte menu of international cuisines. Diners can sit poolside or in air-conditioned comfort and tuck into hearty dishes such as New Zealand lamb loin with a cheese bread crust (B390), Grilled Australian beef (22g. B390), and the chef ’s signature Grilled sea bass

463/100, Moo 9 Pattaya Second Rd., Nhongprue Banglamung

138

TheBigChilli

that’s topped with olive oil and spring onions, and served with lime and orange flavoured couscous, and green curry sauce (B280). Other highlights at the resort include the ground floor M Lounge, which serves a wide selection of light bites, classic cocktails and ice cold beers (daily happy hours offer two-for-one drinks from 5pm-8pm), and the rooms themselves – clean and modern spaces each equipped with a 39” LCD TV, a workstation, a refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, super-comfortable beds, and a large bathroom with shower. For solo travelers, couples and executives, available room types range from the Superior King (with the facilities listed above) to the Ocean View Suite (which, alongside its separate living room, comes equipped with additional facilities such as an espresso machine and Bose Bluetooth speakers). Travelling with kids in tow? Opt for the Executive Family Suite – a 60sqm space with two bedrooms and one living room. For best available room rates log into www.mercure.com.

☎ 038 769 688 :mercure.com

Tr a vel

D ea ls and Promotion s GLOW Trinity Silom: Until Dec 31,

s ’ e t a M s rate

a ‘Stay 3 Nights and Save 20%’ promotion is available on Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Premier Rooms. Rates start at B1,840 per night including Wi-Fi. ☎ 02 231 5050 glowbyzinc.com/silom

family r o s d n Frie land? i a h T g visitin now about k Let them e deals thes X2 River Kwai: Until Oct 31, the

Somerset Park Suanplu Bangkok: Available now, the residence is

offering rates starting at B2,800++ per night for its 70 sqm One-Bedroom Apartments. ☎ 02 344 2500 bit.ly/1kZa3Ml

‘Journey to the Past’ package offers rates starting at B5,098++ per night for a PoolXide room and B6,797++ per night for a LuXe Cabin. Package highlights include daily Champagne Breakfast, round-trip Kanchanaburi train station transfer, and a day trip to tourist attractions such as the WWII museum and the Bridge over the River Kwai. A minimum of a two nights’ stay is required. ☎ 034 552 124 X2LOBBY.com

Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok: Valid

Grand Mercure Phuket Patong: To celebrate its opening, the

hotel’s ‘Grand Opening Promotion’ offers rates starting at B3,999 per night for two, inclusive of breakfast for two and a 10% discount on spa treatments. Promotion ends Oct 31. ☎ 076 231 999 grandmercurephuketpatong.com

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers: An ‘Exclusive Thai Resident

Package’ offers rates starting at B3,999++ for single occupancy and B4,999++ for double occupancy, inclusive of daily breakfast and internet access. A minimum two-nights’ stay is required (and you must hold a valid working permit). Deals ends Jun 30. ☎ 02 266 0123 royalorchidsheraton.com

Le Méridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa: The new resort is offering an

introductory ‘Discovery Awaits’ package with rates starting at B4,333++ per night in a Grand Deluxe room. Package also includes breakfast for two, in-room high speed internet access and round-trip airport transfers. Offer ends Mar 31. ☎ 02 118 7777 lemeridien.com/suvarnabhumi

140

TheBigChilli

for bookings and stays between Apr 1-30, the hotel’s ‘Songkran Package’ offers rates starting at B3,500++ per night for a Deluxe Room, inclusive of daily breakfast, free non-alcoholic mini bar, 20% discount on spa packages, and more. Book two nights minimum during Apr 10-15 and you’ll also receive a set Thai dinner. ☎ 02 541 1234 ext. 4116-19 centarahotelsresorts.com/CGLB

Fourpoints by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15: Until

the end of the year the hotel’s ‘Simple Pleasures’ package offers rates starting at B3,600++ per night, inclusive of breakfast buffet for two at The Eatery and late check out at 2pm. A minimum of two nights’ stay is required. ☎ 02 309 3000 fourpointsbangkoksukhumvit.com