FREE COPY TIMEOUT.COM/BANGKOK NO.090 6-20 February 2020
w o l l e M Mario Maur er Mario Maurer looks back on 15 sweet years in the entertainment industry
Better safe than sorry
City life
IN RESPONSE TO the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak that has leaked
from China to many nations around the world including Thailand, Bangkok’s top shopping centers—go-tos for many locals and tourists—have stepped up efforts to ensure the safety of their customers. Shopping malls parented by Siam Piwat (Siam Paragon, Iconsiam and Siam Discovery) and the Central Group have installed hand sanitizers across premises for the use of shoppers. Touch points such as escalator handrails, elevator buttons and bathrooms are sanitized on a more regular basis, while disinfection and ozone treatment technologies have been introduced to disinfect the air in these shopping areas for malls under Siam Piwat. On your own, the best thing to do is not to panic. Instead, keep your hands germ-free by carrying a hand sanitizer in your bag or washing your hands frequently. Wearing a face mask (if you manage to find this rare gem) is recommended too, especially if you feel the symptoms of a cold or fever coming on. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. ■
See this
The Netherlands Embassy teams up with Document Our History Now to show five timely documentaries at the 3rd LGBTI Documentary Night. 14 Feb
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Eat this
Carbar is throwing a pizza party on World Pizza Day, serving endless slices of wood-fired pizza and cold beer. 9 Feb B700
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Do this
Learn how to create your own tea blends, how to brew tea right and more at a tea-blending workshop hosted by TE Time and Space. 15 Feb
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30/2 Soi Sukhumvit 36 (Naphasap Soi 1), Klongtan, Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand Editorial 0909077455 Advertising 0918083619 E-mail editorial@timeoutbangkok.com
Editor-in-Chief Top Koaysomboon Art Director Narin Machaiya Features Editor Phavitch Theeraphong Digital Content Manager Onsiri Jirawuttipod Senior Writer Suriyan Panomai Junior Writers Khemjira Prompan, Kenika Ruaytanapanich
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 february 2020
Photographers Sereechai Puttes Tanisorn Vongsoontorn Video creator Arunrote Auefue Contributing Sub-editor Ana Kalaw Contributor Etrin Basa Advertising Director Walaiporn Tantisak Account Executive Sasitorn Sengmoon
Event Sales Director Pavin Asavavichairoj Event Sales Executive Orachaporn Premrudeesanit Marketing Manager Kunlatida Chawengwan Marketing Executives Patcharat Ruenrutaikul Thanyaluck Komutrattananon Kanyapat Saengbuakaew Publishers Dujduan Hetrakul, Pongsiri Hetrakul
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Chairman Prida Hetrakul Director/Vice president Finance Mhienjun Hetrakul Time Out Group Founder Tony Elliott Group chief Exeutive officer Julio Bruno Global Creative Director Tom Hislop Head of Global Content Alex Plim
Cover Design Narin Machaiya Cover Photography Sereechai Putte
Time Out Bangkok is edited by Phongsathorn Koaysomboon for Maeban Publishing Company Limited, 30/2 Soi Sukhumvit 36 (Naphasap 1), Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand. Color separated by 48 Film Process Co., Ltd. 66 Soi Ladprao 58/1, Ladprao Road, Wangtonglang, Bangkok 10240. Printed by Maeban Publishing Co., Ltd. 30/2 Soi Sukhumvit 36 (Naphasap 1), Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand.
Wine is My Valentine and, of course, you too
GAZEBO ROMANCE by the River of Kings
Celebrate a memorable evening together with the two sumptuous Valentine’s set menus, curated by Thai Chef de Cuisine Yannavit at Salathip Thai Restaurant A Sparkling Night: THB3,500 net per person* includes a glass of welcome sparkling cocktail Rosé, My Love: THB4,500 net per person* accompanied with a bottle of Sparkling Rosé Brut and a glass of welcome sparkling cocktail A romantic gazebo by the river can be reserved free of charge for guests with a minimum bill of THB15,000 net per table.*
THAT’S AMORE
Express your love the Italian way Win the heart of the special person in your life with an irresistible 3-course Valentine’s set menu in a traditional romantic ‘Trattoria’ dining ambiance and an Italian ‘Aperitivo’ lounge at Volti restaurant & bar Our passionate Executive Sous Chef Deivid Paiva will fill your plate with lovely mini hearts to purposefully disguise a secret message you wish to unveil. THB3,500 net per person includes a glass of welcome sparkling cocktail* A la carte menu is available with prices starting from THB420++ per dish. *Your special lady will receive a crafted box of heart-shaped chocolates.
For reservations, please call 0 2236 7777 or email: restaurants.slbk@shangri-la.com
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok 3
6 - 20 february 2020 Time Out Bangkok
89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 www.shangri-la.com/bangkok
shangrilabkk
City life
Sindhorn gets into the hotel biz
Real estate giant Siam Sindhorn has unveiled plans to launch its first hotel property Sindhorn Midtown come March 2020. Located on Langsuan Road, the urban cocoon is set to bring local artistry to the fore by showcasing awe-inspiring tapestry design by textile artist Kachama Perez, as well as works by other up-and-coming talents, throughout the premises. Meanwhile, premier guest rooms will be decked out with Danish design company Fritz Hansen’s cutting-edge Drop chairs. The hotel will comprise 344 rooms and suites, 49 service residences, a swimming pool with views of the Bangkok skyline, and a host of F&B outlets, including casual all-day-dining spot Tr.EAT and cocktail bar Rhumba. à For more information, visit http://sindhornmidtown.com
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Free trees for all
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is tackling the problem of pollution in Bangkok and other regions in Thailand by giving away trees. Yep, you read that right. Officials are distributing more than one million seedlings to Thai citizens for them to plant at home. The first distribution point will be at Siam Paragon on 9 February from 9:00 am onward. Six types of air-purifying plants will be given away. While we think it’s a great move for people to build their own dusttrapping garden, the government should do a lot more in creating communal green spaces if they really want to tackle the pollution issue more effectively.
Seeing Japanese
For the annual Japanese Film Festival, the Japan Foundation is once again showing contemporary Japanese films from 6 to 16 February at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld. Fourteen movies will be up for screening with Thai and English subtitles. Highlights of this year’s festival include A Banana? At This Time of Night?, a film by Tetsu Maeda that discloses the love triangle between a muscular dystrophy patient, a medical student and a hospital volunteer. Another must-see is Angel Sign, a collection of short films including one directed by Thai talent Nonzee Nimibutr. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong
à For more information and for the full schedule, check out http://sfcinema.com/movies/film-festival
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 february 2020
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Elephant Boat Race & River Festival
The charity sports event returns for its second run this year. Competitors from around the globe will race against one another aboard elephantthemed vessels to try and claim the trophy from the previous year’s winner, the Royal Thai Navy Seals. Aside from boat racing, the event will also feature a wide range of on-ground entertainment and activities, including live music and art performances, a dry-rowing competition, fair rides, as well as creative workshops and interactive kid-friendly displays. Some of Bangkok’s top eateries and noted cocktail bars will sell tasty food and drinks. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go directly to the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, which, in turn, will donate the funds to elephant-related projects throughout the country. à 28 Feb-1 Mar at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. Tickets priced at B200/day, B3,000/day (VIP), via eventpop.me. Free entry for children under 15
Khalid
R&B/soul phenom Khalid Donnel Robinson makes a much-awaited return to Bangkok. The young performer released his debut single “Location” in 2016 at only 17 years of age. The following year, Robinson released his debut studio album American Teen, which earned him five Grammy nominations. Get familiar with the hit songs from his latest album Free Spirit, such as “Talk” and “My Bad,” before he arrives. à 24 March at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. Tickets start from B1,800, via livenation.co.th 24798_ad Okura_M4.pdf 1 4/2/63 11:30
DON’T MISS
Rex Orange County
21-year-old British sensation Alexander O’Connor, aka Rex Orange County, is best known for his dreamy tunes and emotional lyrics. O’Connor self-released his first album Bcos U Will Never B Free on SoundCloud in 2015, but his breakthrough moment came when his songs caught the attention of American producer Tyler The Creator, who flew the young musician to LA in 2017 to work on the album Flower Boy. O’Connor released two more albums in the next two years: Apricot Princess in 2018 and Pony in 2019. The latter contains the hit tracks “10/10” and “Pluto Projector.” à 14 May at Moonstar Studio. AM
Very Festival Spring Break
Local promoter Very is behind this oneday indoor festival, which will headline international artists including Japanese singer Joji, Indonesian performer Niki and British musician Bruno Major.■ à 14 March at Thunderdome, Muang Thong Thani. Tickets start from B2,500 (early bird), via ticketmelon. com
Tickets priced at B2,200, via ticketmelon.com
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6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Mario Maurer
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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Fifteen years in the Thai entertainment industry has brought actor Mario Maurer exactly where he wants to be. Interviewed by Top Koaysomboon, photographed by Sereechai Puttes
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6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Mario Maurer
Model: Mario Maurer Clothes: PILA Photographer: Sereechai Puttes Photography assistant: Tanisorn Vongsoontorn Art direction: Narin Machaiya, Famai Pongsakornsathien Special thanks: Sahamongkol Film International Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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Mario Maurer
‘Trips are more fun with friends. It's like you are creating your group's story that can be retold over and over.’ MARIO MAURER DOESN’T look any different from
when we first saw him about 13 years ago in the 2007 blockbuster film Love of Siam. This was the superstar’s first movie. Prior to this first acting gig, Mario was only active in modelling, a scene that he entered at the age of 16. The famed personality may not have changed much physically over the years, but his CV would show how much he’s grown as an actor. From playing popular heartthrob Shone in Crazy Little Thing Called Love (2010) to taking on the role of a young man awakening to the pleasures of intimacy in the erotic film series Jan Dara (2012 and 2013) to portraying a soldier literally living with the ghost of his wife in Pee Mak (the 2013 horror-comedy that’s pegged as the highest-grossing Thai film of all time), Mario has constantly proven that he’s more than just a baby-faced pretty boy that can make fans swoon with a smile; that he’s actually equipped with the skills and versatility one needs to last this long in the limelight. This month—on Valentine’s Day, to be precise—Mario once again lights up the silver screen and proves his chops in Low Season, a romantic comedy about heartbroken individuals who accidentally meet each other at a peaceful homestay up north. We sit down with the veteran performer to talk about his new film, his off-cam interests, and how he’s found his true calling in this crazy, often fickle, world of showbusiness.
In Low Season, the character you play goes off to the mountains to recuperate from a breakup. Why do you think the mountains are so popular with the broken-hearted?
not in the destination; it’s in the journey. How you cope with cars breaking down, exploding tires, for example— you get to learn from these events happening along the way. When I was young, I almost fell off the cliff on a motorbike because I rode too fast and wasn’t careful. I’ve learned to be calmer and more careful when steering a vehicle ever since.
You were already around when the movie industry made the transition from film to the digital format. How different are these two formats? A reel of negative film can shoot for only five minutes so it took more time. They had to make sure everything was okay to film before they started shooting because the films were expensive. I have to admit that [when I started] I didn’t realize how tiring it was to get a scene done. I also learned later that actors shouldn’t mind the tools and materials. They should just leave everything behind and believe and concentrate in whom they’re playing.
Who instilled this thought in you?
ML Noi [Bhandevanop Devakula]. He taught me how acting can deliver good things to the audience. It’s an honored career like any other job.
How are you different now from when you were just starting out? Um…there’s a focus. I probably call it a goal.
I don’t act perfunctorily like I did when I was younger. Now, it’s more like I try to do my best in every role I’m given. I put in more effort to honor my career. The more I do this, the more I fall in love with it.
How would you define being a good actor?
According to ML Noi, acting is a duty. You’ve got to do your best so those watching you will feel you, and go out and do good deeds. [It’s an actor’s duty] to make people laugh, to make people cry, to make people recall the delightful moments in life. The acting profession is blessed with this magic; the magic that reaches people’s hearts and souls.
What would you say is your most memorable role?
Jan Dara. I got to reflect on so many facets of the same character over his life span—the young heir, the grown-up man, the elderly tyrant, which I like most. At this phase in his life, the character was wrathful and had all these dark qualities. That role changed the way people perceived me as an actor.
You play slightly similar characters in your projects. Have you ever gotten bored?
I never have. Though they may look similar at first glance, every role I play varies in detail. Thong Ek [from the movie Thong Ek: The Herbal Master], for example, went from being a rich heir to becoming a doctor, so I needed to learn how a doctor thinks, how a doctor deals with white lies when revealing bad news, or how a doctor should treat patients like family members. Considering strangers as family is the soul of a doctor.
What else are you working on now?
It’s peaceful. During the filming of Low Season, I discovered how amazing these mountainous landscapes could be. Their serenity keeps us within ourselves, allows us to contemplate. And being with other heartbroken people [according to Low Season’s plot], we get to share and learn from others how to cope. Sharing stories of heartbreak over a campfire can be entertaining and pleasurable in a way.
I’m developing a deodorant product with my family, which you should be seeing in the market before the end of the year. I don’t have any skills in business, but I do really want to create a good product for people to use. There are many who launch a business without having a great product and that’s not okay. I really have a passion for it. I really want to make a product that’s effective.
Outside of work, how do you prefer to travel? Would you rather travel solo or with a group?
You are very close to your family. What do they mean to you?
I don’t travel alone. Trips are more fun with friends. It’s like you’re creating your group’s story that can be retold over and over. The fun is
Family is everything. My family made me who I am today. When I feel tired, I think of them.
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6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Mario Maurer
When I’m happy, I think of them. I talk to them everyday.
How have they influenced your personality?
Mom was an inspiring working woman—smart and hardworking. My brother loves me and was always protective of me when I was young and being bullied. I wasn’t born into a rich family, but it was a warm and loving one. I wish for my own family to be like this.
What is it like always having your love life in the public eye?
I think it’s all about how you deal with it. I think positively. It’s not bad to get good attention. It’s cool that they want to know more about my life. I, too, sometimes like to know about other people’s lives [laughs]. It’s natural. If we keep worrying how much people are interfering with our privacy, all we would feel is pain. Don’t worry about it too much and you will be fine. Try to relax so even if people are watching you, you’ll be okay.
How has always being in the spotlight changed you?
It’s the way I talk, maybe, that’s changed over the years. I wasn’t this talkative before. I’ve learned to speak more, to the point that people have started asking me to shut up [laughs]…I talk a lot on certain topics that I like, and with people I like talking to.
Which topics can you talk about all day?
Cars and motorcycles. I collect vintage cars. I have five Volkswagen Beetles.
Why vintage cars?
They remind me of my father. And I find them charming and appealing based on their engines. My cars are all manual. You can’t just start the engine; you gotta warm up the engine, wait until the gasoline kicks in—and you can’t turn on the air-conditioner—and then your car can go.
What do you like most about collecting them?
There are many types of vintage car collectors, including those who only enjoy seeing cars after Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
they’re refurbished but don’t really drive them. I, however, am not one of those collectors. When I have time, I drive them. Cars become alive when you drive them. They’ll die if you neglect them. Cars are like humans. If we don’t walk, our muscles get stiff. You need to walk to warm your body up. It’s the same with old cars.
What have you learned from collecting vintage cars?
If your car is broken, you can’t just go to the repair shop and demand things to be fixed now. When you fix vintage stuff, you need to wait, you have to follow certain rules and instructions. It’s like dealing with people—you can’t be
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hot-headed, you can’t be impatient when a problem occurs. If you keep relying on your emotions, there’s no way things will get sorted out. Use your soul and converse with understanding so you can get through something.
Perhaps you just like the wait… I do. For example, I owned a car for three
‘If you keep relying on your emotions, there's no way things will get sorted out.’
Mario Maurer
Do you still go to castings?
I do. I still get nervous every time I enter a casting room. But once I start performing, I calm down and get things right. Like an athlete or a stage artist—they are usually nervous at the first moment, but once they’re in the situation, they embrace the vibe and focus on what they have to do. An actor feels the same. Once you’ve found your footing in the character you’re reading, you’ll make it shine.
Tell us more about your work for UNICEF.
I think it’s a good initiative that focuses on children around the world. I feel grateful that I can help them and be a voice for the organization. Also, I love kids. I’m always happy with kids, no matter how wild they get [laughs].
What do you tell kids who want to be like you?
Find your passion. Find what you really like. I have always worked hard, but I eventually found what I like in life. I know where I am going. So I wish for children out there to find what they really like and, you know, that passion may lead to a future career.
Have you ever regretted that your life wasn’t normal growing up?
That’s my life. I have a Master's , but I don’t feel like I had much of a college life because I went to study when I was a little older. I didn't get to hang with people my age. But I don’t regret anything. I had a job that was interesting and, sometimes, it was more interesting than being in school. I think of it this way: people study to get a job and, at that time, I had a job and more work experience than people my age. I learned how to work with seniors and work as a team, and I value that. Those were precious moments and experiences. My dad once said, “Work first, learn later. You can learn anytime.” And he was right, you know. You can go to school anytime. My mom went to university with me and received her Master's the same time I did. You’ll never be too old for school if you want to learn.
As an actor, you have to give up your privacy and free time. Is it worth it?
I have little free time for myself, yes. I can’t always do whatever I wish. But I’m happy with what I have. years before I was able to get behind the steering wheel. It took time for the service staff to repair it.
Would you say that you “waited” for your shining moment as an actor?
I wouldn’t say I waited. I had dreams and I tried my best to achieve them. I found out what I needed to achieve those dreams. In relation to cars—the Beetles, for example—I worked really hard to be able to afford them, and the time in between was all about preparing myself to be able take good care of them.
So you like setting goals.
What are your goals as an actor?
What would you tell 16-year-old Mario Maurer now?
How about going global? The Oscars?
How do you see Mario Maurer in his 60s?
To be able to get challenging roles that aren’t similar to who I am as a person, roles that I’ve never tried, roles that are different from your usual teenage characters. It would be nice. But I’m happy with my life now, working here in Thailand. Awards are nice things, but if I go to work aiming for awards, I would be putting too much pressure on myself. And I would have this feeling of fear or disappointment.
Yes, kind of.
I would thank him for getting out of bed to work early in the morning, to go to casting, to do things other people didn’t get to do. Those beginnings brought me everything I have today. A talkative old man, I suppose [laughs]. I would still be the bragging type. My mind would remain the same. I really love the idea of being young at heart. I like these cool elders. I’ve met some of these people, talked to them, and I hope that I, one day, could be like them—growing old without aging. ■ à Low Season opens in theaters on 13 February.
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6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
SPOTLIGHT ON
Fun Valentine’s Day date ideas Want to add both fun and fire to your relationship? Try one of these unconventional Valentine’s Day date ideas, by Khemjira Prompan
Solve problems as a couple at Escape Room
Getting locked up with your significant other for an hour doesn’t sound like a bad idea, especially if you’re struggling to put away thoughts of breaking free from the relationship. Rediscover how it is to work as a couple by putting together hidden clues to solve the mystery of the room. Remember that this is a team effort, so try to refrain from proving who’s the smarter one in the relationship. àEscape Room, 7/F MBK Center, Phayathai Road, 0 2048 4994. Open daily 10:00-22:00
Attend a pottery class at PCHA Ceramic ß
Bond with your honey as you create bowls and cups at the pottery wheel. The beginners’ class will teach you basic handbuilding techniques and may even let you have a go at pottery wheel throwing—working with clay has never been more romantic. You also get to take home the pieces you made together as a souvenir. à PCHA Ceramic, 321/7 Soi Ekkamai 19, 08 1821 4920. Open daily 10:30-18:00 Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND
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The 60 Second Film Festival Visit a museum dedicated to the art of lovemaking
Even if the spark for your other half has died ages ago, you’re certain to get all sorts of tingly feelings as you stroll up and down the four floors of the Kamavijitra erotic museum. The collection includes sensual paintings, sculptures (small and life-sized) of people in different sexual positions and an impressive selection of palat khik, a phallusshaped amulet that comes in various sizes. àKamavijitra, 25/14, 38 Mansion Building, Soi Saeng Chai, Soi Sukhumvit 38, 08 0994 6683. Open Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00
Go to an open mic night for love poems
If you’re an old-school romantic, you may want to take your date to the sixth edition of The Bards Boardroom’s open mic night. You can either chill while watching others perform or you can come onstage and impress your bae by singing, rapping or reading your own love poem. à13 Feb, 19:00-22:00 at The Hive Thonglor, 46/9 Soi Sukhumvit 49.
Snuggle up to each other playing mini golf
Get really close to your partner as he or she guides you in making that perfect putt at The Turn, an indoor 18-hole miniature golf course that offers fun obstacles, cheap beers and lots of laughs. You can also challenge one another to a friendly game, and whoever wins gets to claim a kiss and a prize.
El Cupido Stupido (Part III) The Anti-Valentine's Party
Head over to Whiteline for The 60 Second Film Festival, an annual event that features short films created by local and international filmmakers. If you’re a film lover, this is an excellent opportunity to meet people in the industry and gain inspiration to create your own one-minute film.
Late-night haunt Havana Social is bringing back its famed antiValentine’s party El Cupido Stupido. Forget flowers, chocolate, and romantic dates. Instead, drink up and dance the night away, whether you’re single, attached or claiming “it’s complicated.” à14 Feb, 18:00-02:00 at Havana Social, 1/1 Soi Sukhumvit 11
à 28 Feb, 19:00-23:30 at Whiteline, Soi Silom 8
In the mood for love: A cinematic valentine
Fans of Wong Kar-wai may want to come to FooJohn this Valentine’s day. The bar will host an evening filled with music, art and mood, and will also serve a full-course Valentine’s dinner inspired by the Hongkongese filmmaker’s masterpiece à14 Feb, 18:30-24:00 at FooJohn Building, 831 Soi Charoenkrung 31
Dudesweet x Highland “Legal Love” Green Valentine's LIT Fest 2 Party Time to get lit(erature)! At
Open Air Cinema Club
Open Air Cinema Club’s monthly movie event is back at The Hive Thonglor. Notting Hill, the popular rom-com starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, will be screened this time around. Settle down to watch a romance unfold between a bookstore owner and a famous actress while munching on popcorn and sipping your complimentary welcome drink. à21 Feb, 18:30-22:00 at The Hive (Thonglor), 46/9 Soi Sukhumvit 49. B150 for the public, free entry for members
Four hundred and twenty tickets available to a party that will start at 4:20 pm and will sell drinks sold at 420 baht—well, you get the drift. Expect chill vibes, a laid-back crowd and reggae tunes as party purveyor Dudesweet shares the love this V-Day.
LIT Fest’s second run, rub shoulders with more than hundred of writers, translators, designers and editors. The event will also feature a book market, book club discussions, book tours, live music and more.
à14 Feb, 16:20-02:00 at Whiteline, Soi Silom 8. B420
à14-16 Feb at Museum Siam, Sanam Chai Road
Galleries’ Night Bangkok 2020
Mustache Takeover at Escape Feat. Nakadia
à14-15 Feb at multiple venues
à15 Feb, 16:30-23:59 at Escape Bangkok, Emquartier. B750 (online), B1,000 at the door
Galleries’ Night Bangkok is making a comeback on Valentine’s Day weekend. Over 70 galleries within the city will open up their doors, hosting artists from all over the globe, on two art-filled nights. Grab your chance to meet these artists, other art enthusiasts and serious collectors, as well as discover new or hidden art spaces. Free tuk-tuk shuttles will be available for guests to hop from one gallery to another.
Soho District Party: Circus Edition The Soho District Party is back once again, entertaining guests with fortune-telling sessions, magic shows, photo booths and more. Enjoy tasty bites and drinks from Havana Social, Charcoal, Above Eleven, Cantina, and Soho Pizza. DJ Benji, Alex Fischer, and Fred Canal spin fun beats to liven up the mood.
Underground techno club Mustache is taking over beach club-inspired hangout Escape. Get down to outdoor sets by Thai-born, Berlin-based techno DJ and producer Nakadia and other tech-house spinners like Tj Tiesjungle and Aneesh Medina. For more minimal, deep-tech tunes, head indoors for sets by Soi Dogs, Kuroten, Elaheh and more. ■
à15 Feb, 15:00-21:00 at Fraser Suites Sukhumvit, Soi Sukhumvit 11. B300
àThe Turn, 1092 Sukhumvit Road, Phra Khanong, 09 5524 4371. Open daily 12:00-21:00
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Eat & Drink TIME OUT MEETS
Chudaree Debhakam The first winner of Top Chef Thailand talks about her passion for local ingredients, home-based horticulture and her journey to becoming a full-fledged restaurateur
IT TOOK ALMOST three years for
Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam to put up her first dining establishment after she was crowned the first winner of Top Chef Thailand. And we realize why after visiting Baan Tepa. This, after all, is much more than your typical restaurant. And the woman behind it more than your typical chef. Set in a large converted compound on busy Ramkhamhaeng, Baan Tepa is what Chef Tam describes a “culinary space.” Comprising a chef’s table restaurant, an open kitchen, a workshop space and a small garden where local greens and herbs are cultivated, Baan Tepa is the culmination of years of performing culinary experiments, setting up pop-up cooking events, meeting with local producers from various regions in the country and doing intensive research on Thailand’s many local ingredients. The restaurant serves a 10-course menu at a long communal table. “I like when people feel uncomfortable sitting next to strangers. I want my guests to have the experience of sharing and talking to other people, which is rare for Thais [when they go out to dine]. Food can be a medium that connects people from different backgrounds. It’s ok if they bash my food. At least,
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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Eat & Drink
it starts interaction and conversation.” Chef Tam was a sous chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York, an award-winning restaurant that takes the farm-to-table philosophy to heart. When she came back to Bangkok, she couldn’t find a restaurant that lived up to Blue Hill’s standards and philosophies so she planned to give up cooking for gardening, with a mission to supply Bangkok’s restaurants with organically grown produce. But fate intervened—Tam was selected to be on the first season of Top Chef Thailand and eventually won the title. After the show, she honed her interest in Thai cuisine and local ingredients by traveling to different regions and meeting villagers and local farmers who taught her about their culinary culture and produce. “Thailand boasts many vegetables and herbs that offer distinct tastes and characters, not to mention medicinal benefits,” she says. She has since created her own small garden in the Baan Tepa compound where she grows vegetables that make their way into the dishes served at the restaurant. Through her cooking, Tam also hopes to educate people on the possibilities of greens that are usually deemed inedible. “Sometimes weeds that farmers get rid of can also be consumed as food. If we can prove that they are edible, that they are not pests and can exist with crops, then we won’t have to do away with them,” the passionate chef explains. “It’s a way to diversify our diet. It’s pretty boring to eat vegetables that we’re already familiar with.” “I hate when people ask what the concept of my food is,” Chef Tam continues. “I say Thai but people would disagree with me. I cook Thai food but from a modern perspective. Why can’t the concept of Thai food progress just like other aspects of Thai culture?” Apart from providing guests with Tam’s vision of Thai cuisine, Baan Tepa is gearing up to be a space where people can learn and share their opinion on gastronomy and gardening. “Our world is coming to an end,” Chef Tam half-teasingly says. “I am currently interested in urban food space. We should be concerned about how everybody can have access to food in the future.” ■ Phavitch Theeraphong à Baan Tepa is a reservations-only restaurant. To make a reservation, email admin@baan-tepa.com■ Phavitch Theeraphong
Stage 359/2 Ekkamai Road, 0 2002 5253. BTS Ekkamai. Open Wed-Mon 18:00-24:00
IN THE HOPES of becoming a successful chef, aspiring rookies apply for a “staging” or an internship at acclaimed, oftentimes Michelinstarred, restaurants. Most of the time, a staging is unpaid, but it’s an opportunity for young hopefuls to be exposed to different culinary techniques that may be beneficial to their prospective career. Jay Sangsingkaew, a former chef at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Bangkok, along with her kitchen crew at the famed, short-lived restaurant, enters into a new venture that’s named after this significant first phase in a chef’s career. Stage (pronounced “staj”) is a an elegant dining room that promises sophisticated French fare with global influences. The currrent menu is partly inspired by Nordic fare. Diners can opt for either the fourcourse (B1,900), six-course (B2,900) or the 10-course Stage Experience (B4,500) meal. The 10-course meal commences with a squid 15
dish with dashi-poached seaweed topped with passionfruit gel—it’s a combination that looks lighter than it appears—followed by Hokkaido sea urchin with milk corn and brown crab served in a caviar metal tin. The meal moves on to heavier fare, which includes a tartare of aged venison given a salty kick with the addition of capers, shallots and truffle vinegar, and Spanish carabinero prawns, the parts of which are all optimized—its fat is used to stir-fry sticky Hang rice from Sakhon Nakhon, while its head is made into chips. Dessert brings a simple yet still impressive finish to the meal. You have almond cake served with yogurt sorbet and apple confit followed by small nibbles from the dessert trolley. With the abundance of new restaurant openings in Bangkok, it’s refreshing to have a venue that prioritizes well-thought-out ideas and team effort, and produces plates that aren’t just made for show. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong 6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Eat & Drink
WHAT IT IS... The reinvention of a simple Vietnamese restaurant WHY COME... Vietnamese home cooking in stylish surrounds
Maison Saigon Velaa Sindhorn Village, Langsuan Road, 0 2656 4966. BTS Chitlom. Open daily 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00
HUMBLE VIETNAMESE HOME cooking are paired
with strikingly patterned shopfront signage, brightly colored furnishings and vintage elements at the new Maison Saigon. What started out as a casual eatery near the Rama V roundabout has gotten a new lease on new life at its new location in Velaa Sindhorn Village, the new community mall on Langsuan Road. One of the owners of Maison Saigon is Vietnamese, and he is hoping to bring the “true taste of his home” to diners at this reinvented undertaking. Kick off your meal with banh loc (B150), a Central Vietnamese dish of steamed shrimp-filled dumplings with sweet and sour sauce, or goi ngo sen (B195), a slightly spicy salad of lotus root, shrimps and pork topped with peanut bits. Single-portion items are also available, such as bun thit nuong (fermented rice noodles with roasted pork and briny pickles, B225) or pho with Australian beef (B295). The desserts are not to be missed, either. Try the bahn flan, a crème brulee-like treat that showcases how Vietnamese fare is influenced by French cuisine, or the uyen thy pudding, which features a refreshing mix of tofu and ginger. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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Eat & Drink
TIME OUT’S HOT SPOT
WHAT IT IS... An eatery that pays homage to the humble nam prik WHY COME... Amazing chili relish with every dish
Krok 78 Yotha Road, 09 8940 3406. MRT Hualumphong. Open Wed-Sun 11:00-16:00
THE FOLKS BEHIND innovative Thai restaurant 80/20 has put a funky spin on the humble Thai chili relish or nam prik. Krok, which translates to “mortar” in Thai, a necessity when making the relish, serves different types of nam prik. Each one has been given a a bold new treatment and is offered in a selection of set menus. Nam prik kapi (shrimp paste chili relish) serves as a piquant side to a rice set with onsen egg, local greens and braised duck drumstick. A smoked fish relish with black garlic, on the other hand, is the perfect pairing to grilled pork jowl, while charred eggplant with shio koji (Japanese
marinade) is a great accompaniment to the fish of the day. If you’re new to nam prik, the dried shrimp relish is a good introduction to this Thai food staple. Krok’s version boasts sweet and spicy flavors, and enhances a meal of fried chicken wings and rice. You can also customize your own rice set, and include extra add-ons like eggs cooked to your liking and house-pickled condiments. Chef Saki Hoshino, the famed pastry chef of 80/20, will showcase her ice-cream desserts at Krok in the near future. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong
Chef Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam blends the flavors of Southern Thailand with multicultural influences at her new restaurant Baan Tepa. One of the dishes in the 10-course menu takes on an Italian flair, pairing tender river prawns with agnolottilike pasta filled with bitter bean purée. The dish comes with a broth flavored with dried squid and zesty garcinia. All in all, this offering perfectly showcases Chef Tam’s excellent use and understanding of local ingredients.
TIME OUT TRIES...
River prawns with bitter bean-filled pasta at Baan Tepa ttttt 17
6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Eat & Drink
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Honeyful Cafe
WHAT IT IS... A cafe dedicated to honey
19 Soi Sukhumvit 24, 08 0279 0877. Open Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00, SatSun 09:00-21:00
WHY COME... Drinks and desserts infused with honeys from all over the globe
NUTTAWAN “YUI” SUPAPONG discovered that
there is more to honey than the locally grown amber-colored sweetener she would take as a child after trying different kinds of honey on a study trip in the north. Inspired by her knowledge on the sugary food product, she decided to open a specialty cafe offering food and drinks made from honey she sourced herself from around the world. Tucked in Soi Sukhumvit 24, Honeyful boasts warm and welcoming interiors featuring wood furniture and flooring, and white beehiveshaped tiles. Green plants liven up the place, while big windows bring in natural light. Yui wants to emphasize that honey, aside from being delicious, also carries tons of health benefits. “I want people to be able to incorporate honey in their everyday life,” she says. “Taking honey every morning helps strengthen your immune system. When the weather is bad, especially, the best thing you can do is to be healthy. Take it every day as part of your routine. Substitute table sugar with honey. It’s natural and is made of monosaccharides or singlemolecule sugars, which the body can process more easily.” Honey is incorporated in every drink and dish at Honeyful. The selection of honeys is changed every so often and, this season, the cafe offers collection of “monofloral honeys” in a menu called Honeyful Remedies. These honeys are produced by bees that mostly collect nectar from one floral species, thus giving the honey a distinct flavor. Yui says that each honey tastes different depending on, apart from the species of the flower, the place it’s sourced. The Honeyful Remedies menu includes, among others, fresh-pressed almond milk with Honeyful honey (B185), fresh-pressed apple juice with apple blossom honey and Aomori
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
apple cider vinegar (B195), and Manuka latte (B160), a drink that combines Australian Manuka honey with locally sourced coffee and fresh milk. The cakes and pastries are just as good as the drinks. Don’t miss the crazy good Japanese-style cheesecake (B150) that’s topped with coulis made of orange blossom honey, yuzu and orange juice. Or try one of their Sqruff puff pastries, a buttery, flaky creation similar to mille-feuille. Our fave is the Raspberry Sqruff (B75), which is
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topped with lemon zest-infused cream cheese and tangy raspberry jam infused with wild Thai honey. For those who’d like to have their pastries with tea, Honeyful Cafe carries a selection of leafy brews from noted tea house Peace Oriental. Each cup of tea comes with a well-thought-out honey pairing. ■ Khemjira Prompan
Drink
Konkord 18 Soi Sukhumvit 11, 06 4709 9817. BTS Nana. Open daily 19:002:00
WHAT IT IS... A cocktail bar from the peeps behind Tropic City and Sugar Ray WHY COME... A great cocktail and music experience. It certainly is not just another nightclub in Sukhumvit.
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THE MINDS BEHIND Sugar Ray and Tropic City have combined well-concocted cocktails with a well-curated music program in an intimate space on Sukhumvit Soi 11. Called Konkord, this watering hole opens up to a small coffee and aperitif bar dressed in dark wood and gleaming marble. It’s perfect for a late afternoon tipple or, in the later hours of the evening, as an intermediary between the chaos of Soi 11 and what waits behind another door. That would be the main club area, a compact neon-lit space that neatly fuses retro-futuristic furnishing with brutalist interiors. Tropic City co-owner Sebastian de la Cruz leads the music program, and is in charge of inviting emerging or big-name performers, local and international, who may want to hold a gig in Bangkok in a more intimate setting. De la Cruz promises a variety of musical genres, from electronic to cosmic house to soul, and sometimes even hip hop. The goal is to offer alternative sounds that would bend minds and pump up the crowd. Apart from being the venue where good music can be appreciated, Konkord is offering drinks designed to invigorate the mood, and loosen one’s body and inhibitions. If a light and bubbly drink is your thing, order Young Folks (B390), which blends Jameson Whiskey with spiced apple cordial and soda, or It Makes You forget (B370), a fruity cocktail with hibiscus-infused Beefeater gin, a touch of D.O.M Benedictine liqueur and Angostura bitters. A hint of caution: You might find yourself having your third consecutive glass in no time. For drinks with a frothy mouthfeel, Delorean Dynamite (B370) is a rum sour that tickles the palate with saffron, lime, caramel rock candy and Fernet-Branca. Poetic Justice (B390) is one of the more spirits-forward drink in the menu. The full-flavored sipper combines caramelized pear-infused Jameson Whiskey and Pear Eau De Vie with hints of absinthe, raspberry cordial and chocolate bitters. At Konkord, each night is always different. It’s place where you can lose—perhaps even find— yourself in eclectic DJ sets, endless cocktails rounds, and a vibe that’s perennially chill. ■ Etrin Basa 6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH...
Thitipoom Techaapaikhun The 27-year-old babyfaced actor has landed his first film role in Classic Again, a local remake of a Korean melodrama.
Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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film
Bombshell ttttt TRANSFORMING HER VOICE into
SEE MORE TIMEOUT.COM/ BANGKOK/ Who is he?
He’s proud of his first film role
The young actor landed his first acting role in 2014 in TV show called Room Alone: The Series, but rose to fame for playing lead roles in yaoi (boys’ love) series Dark Blue Kiss and Water Boyy.
New took on a new acting challenge playing a main role in the film Classic Again, a remake of the 2003 South Korean romantic drama The Classic, which tells the love stories of a mother and daughter in different times. New plays the mother’s love interest, Kajorn, in Songhkla during the ’70s. “I needed to learn how to walk, speak and act slower than my usual pace,” he says. “I had to be Kajorn by heart without looking pretentious and that was very difficult. There were times when I would laugh at my acting, thinking I could have done better.” Playing Kajorn, however, has become one of his proudest acting moments. “It’s like I achieved another step in the career path I’ve chosen.”
He’s a lover of both city and nature.
New was born in Bangkok but later moved to Yala and then Hat Yai with his parents. “Yala, in my memories, was so lovely,” he recalls. “I can still remember my pleasant childhood in the province. There were times my parents and I would get up early, ride a bike around Pru Ba Koy public park, and feel the fresh southern wind on our faces. I remember the weather was so fresh, so pure.” The young actor has permanently relocated to Bangkok for school and work, but memories of his idyllic childhood in the South still stay with him. “It would be nice to split time between Bangkok and somewhere with an abundance of nature— Khaoyai, Hua Hin—where I can relax and do nothing.”
Education is important to him.
In the last few years, New successfully balanced working as an actor and pursuing his studies, receiving a bachelors degree in engineering and an MBA from Chulalongkorn University. I’ll probably stay around for another decade, maybe even possibly “expire” in the next five years,” he relates. “Acting is not reliable. I love it, but I have no control of the business, so I need a backup plan. A degree and education guarantee that I’ll be okay.”
He’s also an active stock trader.
A love for numbers introduced him to the stock exchange, where he learned the magic of finance. “I am mesmerized by how everything— numbers, accounting, trading— is connected. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could control these numbers?” When he was younger, New was more bullish in his trading decisions, but shifted to a more conservative style later on.
Classic Again opened his eyes to “vintage” forms of communication The film helped New rediscover the beauty of communicating via letters, before there were mobile phones and the Internet. “People those days wrote letters. And it’s perhaps these lengthy means of communication that helped our parents’ generation bond over a deep, long-lasting love. But in the end, letters and mobile phones are just two different ways to send our love. “I miss you” and “I love you”, whether in a letter or on a text message, are the same words with the same meaning. Tools don’t matter; the message does.” ■ Top Koaysomboon
He remains level-headed when it comes to his fans.
New has always been honest with his fans, and has never pretended to be anything he’s not. “There are people who understand what’s fiction and what’s reality. Also, there are people who don'tI’ve always been true to myself from day one. If you like me for who I am, I’m all for you. If you’re not, I can’t help that.”
à Classic Again opens in theaters on 6 February.
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a husky boom, Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road) continues to be the best thing in movies about irresponsible men. As Bombshell’s subtly aggrieved Megyn Kelly – the Fox News anchor who largely turned the tide on eventually ousting chief creep Roger Ailes – she consistently hints at the smarter Time’s Up drama this might have been if it were stewarded by a media-savvy director who didn’t feel the need to cast its female characters as walking, talking symbols (was David Fincher not available?). Instead, the film has Jay Roach (HBO’s Recount, Game Change and All the Way), who lends things his TV-ish snap, if not any kind of visual signature. From an overly busy script by The Big Short co-writer Charles Randolph, Bombshell wants to touch upon every facet of the network’s predatory climate – a noble goal, but one that results in a power-suit pile-up. Nicole Kidman can’t get her Gretchen Carlson working beyond a sternly set jaw, while the composite role played by Margot Robbie slides too easily from naive to shrewd and back again. There’s occasional intrigue in scenes that depict a failure of solidarity between women: Already jockeying for the spotlight (a competition fraught with anxiety about aging and viewership numbers), the central trio connects only tentatively, while female colleagues and underlings sometimes sell them out. Then again, blond-on-blond infighting seems like a weird emphasis to place on a story in which Ailes should be the enemy (John Lithgow, hang up the fat suits). The material is worthy, but this continuing struggle deserves a more nuanced take.■ Joshua Rothkopf
6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Art WHAT'S ON
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Naked Beauty
This new exhibition at MOCA displays a series of photographs taken by Austrian modelturned-photographer Sylvie Blum, who is noted for beautifully conveying women in a distinctive way, regardless of their shape or form. The exhibition features over 300 images, including 100 original prints from her Naked Beauty series, her iconic Big Cat series, and 200 intimate Polaroid images accumulated over 20 years from 1999 to 2019.
THE GARDEN CLUB
Prominent Thai visual artist Tae Parvit teams up with Jay Vatanakuljaras to create a gardeninspired “retreat space” that was developed from their live performance at Tae’s recent exhibition in Taipei. à12-16 Feb at BANGKOK CITY CITY GALLERY, 13/3 Soi Sathorn 1
àUntil 25 Mar at Museum of Contemporary Art, 499 Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, 0 2016 5666. Open Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 February 2020
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BANGKOK in TRANSIT
This interactive exhibition allows you to go back in time before Siam entered a Westernized phase. Explore of zones that depict Sam Yot, Burapha Palace and Phahurat, all of which were central areas in old Siam. ■ Khemjira Prompan àUntil 1 Mar at Museum Siam, 4 Sanam Chai Road
Travel CHECK-IN
SEEN Beach Club Samui Pack your swimsuit and fly to samui for the newly opened SEEN beach club on chaweng beach.
TIMEOUT.COM/ BANGKOK/
IF YOU HAVEN’T been to popular
tourist haunt Koh Samui in a while, maybe it’s time to give it another visit. The beach city has just welcomed SEEN, a newly-opened beach club to the island's everchanging beach club scene. Taking inspiration from the resurgence of mid-century tropical design at beach clubs in Miami and California, SEEN features dominantly white exteriors offset by patterned tiles, wooden beams, striped green and white umbrellas and vibrantly colored cushions. The spacious beach club has three bars that serve beverages day and night, and two pools surrounded by large cushioned daybeds. Those who want to catch some rays will love the overwater net hammocks at the main pool. Those who prefer to chill in private may want to get one of the private cabanas. If you’re not here for the music or the see-and-be-seen vibes, you may want to come for the food. The menu carries a wide selection of dishes with influences from Mediterranean, Asian and American cuisines all whipped up by Chef Joy Imprasittichai, formerly the head chef at The Bistro by Wolfgang Puck in Sydney. Recommended dishes include the SEEN Tacos (B350/2 pieces) where a crispy taco shell is filled with Alaskan king crab, fish ceviche, mangoes, cherry tomato salsa, red cabbage, wasabi mayo and
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(B180). SEEN also hosts the weekly Sunday Bikini Brunch (B1,690 person) where DJs spins hot beats to set the mood, and guests can enjoy a buffet spread that includes a salad bar, sushi station, seafood barbecue, meat carvery and more. ■ Khemjira Prompan à Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 0 7795 6800. Open 10:00-24:00. Free entry
guacamole; and Tuna Poke (B420), a bowl that includes fresh tuna on a bed of spinach, red cabbage, cucumber, edamame, pickled daikon and wakame. Get your carb fix with the Four Cheese Pizza (B450), which comes topped with mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta and Emmental cheese. No beach club experience is complete with cocktails. Try SEEN
signatures like Kiss On The Lips (B290), which combines Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin, Aperol, pink grapefruit and soda, or SEEN Sin-Gin (B290), a Tanqueray London gin-based cocktail with white creme de cacao, homemade white wine syrup and rambutan. For something extra, the sunken swim-up bar at the main pool serves refreshing ice cream champagne
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6 - 20 February 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Time Out Bangkok2 6 - 20 May 2020
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