FREE COPY TIMEOUT.COM/BANGKOK NO.095 21 April - 5May 2020
Local businesses
are exploring ways
to deal with the now and the expected new normal
City life
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
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Life at the supermarket IN THE PAST few weeks, with restaurants,
malls and recreational spaces rendered inaccessible, supermarkets have become airconditioned “playgrounds” for Bangkokians who want to escape their regular quarantine habits even for a short period of time. People in masks, strolling between shelves, have become a familiar scene. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve seen.■ Top Koaysomboon
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21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
City life
EVERYONE IS TAKING ABOUT
University Marketplaces Those online alumni communities that have helped us reconnect over retail
WHEN PAWARIN RAMANWONG , a Thammasat alumna, saw friends selling and buying goods on Facebook, she sought to do the same thing to help generate income for those in need during these trying times. Pawarin created a private group on Facebook and invited friends in the retail scene to sell their merchandise. These friends invited more people and, within three days, a Facebook group of 30 people became an online community of 10,000 buyers and sellers, all of whom are linked to Thailand’s second-oldest university in some way. “I believe there are these invisible strings of brotherhood that somehow bond us,” says Pawarin, who also mentions that she has been receiving a lot of messages, even from strangers, thanking her for how she’s helped save their business. This casual business model is so popular that many universities in Thailand, including Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart and Mahidol, have their own alumni-led online marketplaces, most of which have more than 100,000 active members. You can peddle or purchase nearly anything in these marketplaces, from drool-worthy crispy pork to organic vegetables to a rare Patek Phillippe watch to a piece of land worth a billion baht. But there’s also something going on beyond the transactions—a different form of connection that involves e-meeting longlost friends and an exchange of entertaining comments and writings that induce smiles and laughter, and alleviate people’s fears and anxieties. “Not everyone joins the group to buy,” says Pawarin. “They come to have a good time.” ■ Top Koaysomboon
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 Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
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Photographers Sereechai Puttes Tanisorn Vongsoontorn Video creator Arunrote Auefue Contributing Sub-editor Ana Kalaw 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 Chairman Prida Hetrakul Director/Vice president -
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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
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.
DINING
Lockdown
TO
BOOK
Being quarantined at home in these COVID-19 times doesn’t mean having to forego gourmet meals from your favorite Michelin-starred restaurants. Stay-at-home dining now gets a boost with meals that combine a one-of-a-kind chef’s table experience with an interactive program on live stream. Event organiser Scratch First and well-known food writer and influencer Perm Paitayawat team up to offer Fruitfull, a series of dining events that ensure the city’s gastronomes don’t miss out while they’re on self-isolation. Its first dining series, Lockdown, brings multi-course meals curated by some of the world’s most renowned chefs straight to your homes. These meals are complemented by an interactive live streaming session that includes personalized messages from the chefs themselves and various entertainment programs. The next dinner will take place on 1 May, and will offer party-perfect hampers curated by Garima Arora from local favorite Gaa, Jeremy Chan of one Michelin-starred restaurant Ikoyi in London, and Kristian Baumann of the renowned Restaurant 108 in Copenhagen (B3,900 for two with drinks included/B6,500 for premium menu). The rest of the series will see innovative Japanese bento boxes delivered by Chef Yusuke Takada from two Michelin-starred La Cime in Osaka, and a mash-up of ancient Thai and Korean fare by Chef Prin Polsuk of Sumrub and Chef Cho Hee-sook of Hansikgonggan in Seoul. Proceeds of Lockdown will go to support Covid Relief, a local organization that aims to provide food and other essentials to the elderly and the impoverished during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DON’T MISS
à You can see the menu and purchase your tickets from https://www. ticketmelon.com/fruitfull/fruitfull2020
CONCERT
Wonderfruit
This annual celebration of art, music, and the sustainable lifestyle is making a comeback in December. The four-day festival promises live performances, gargantuan art installations, and mind-blowing acts, as well as numerous workshops and booths by some of Bangkok’s most popular eateries. The lineup is yet to be announced. Follow their Facebook page to keep track of the updates.■
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à 10 - 14 December at The Fields at Siam Country Club, Pattaya. Early bird tickets are B5,700, via ticketmelon.com. In case of postponement, your tickets will be valid for a new date. If the festival is canceled, the refunds will be issued.
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21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
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How Bangkok-based enterprises and businesses plan to adapt to the perceived post-pandemic lifestyle NOBODY KNOWS WHEN this pandemic will
be over. But we know one thing: it has and will continue to change the way we live. COVID-19 has forced us to take physical distancing very seriously to help flatten the curve. People all across the world have been asked to stay indoors. Businesses that bring people together have been temporarily shut down. Flying is reserved for essential purposes. The IMF has estimated that these scattered lockdowns could drag down the global GDP by three percent in 2020. It’s been more than a month since Thailand went on partial lockdown. Only supermarkets and purveyors of essential goods, and restaurants preparing food for delivery have remained open. Most other businesses, however, have found it difficult to continue operations with limited patronage and mobility. Thus,
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people have lost their jobs. Salaries have been cut down. The government has had to give “emergency support,” valued at B5,000 each, to more than four million citizens who have been financially affected by the citywide shutdown. In between trying all possible ways to survive (physically, mentally and emotionally), many have started talking about the possibility of a “new normal”. How will life go on in the future? How will we shop? Will there be concerts? Will e-commerce platforms overtake shopping malls? Will food delivery become a standard for restaurants? There are so many questions waiting to be answered. To try and get some answers, Time Out has reached out to representatives from various industries. What they say reveal much about how a city is adapting and planning for a postpandemic future.
21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Feature
Tatchai Nakapan Co-founder of Supanniga Group Making plans for a postlockdown future ON 21 MARCH, Tatchai Nakapan woke up to the announcement of an emergency decree issued by the Thai government to curb the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country. The decree mandated the closure of venues that encourage social gatherings, such as department stores and shops, and banned restaurants from offering dine-in services. Tatchai Nakapan, one of the co-founders of Supanniga Group, which operates Supanniga Eating Room and Somtum Der, held an emergency meeting with his partners and other shareholders to discuss how their restaurants can survive while the entire city is on lockdown. “We had been discussing a coronavirus contingency plan since the outbreak started in January, but we didn’t think a closure would be coming that soon,” Tatchai says. Due to stagnant tourism and the reluctance of locals to dine out, Supanniga Group’s restaurants were already suffering from decreased patronage even before the lockdown. When the government announced a state of emergency, the group had to rely on takeaways orders and delivery meals, which equates to only about 10 percent of its average sales. “We had to do deal with many different conundrums and had to find efficient ways to manage stress,” the restaurateur further reveals. “The main priority is to maintain the survival
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
of the Supanniga Group with the least negative effect on our staff. We have always believed that we owe our success to them, and firing these people would be the last solution, and something that we don’t want to happen.” In order to avoid laying off employees, adjustments have been made to the numbers of staff working each day and cost reduction has been strictly implemented. The restaurants in Supanniga Group also
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launched budget-friendly meal boxes priced at around B100, alongside their signature mainstays. “We first thought we couldn’t explore this option because we believed it wouldn’t be cost-effective. However, in these trying times, it has proven possible. We have shed all limitations and embraced all possibilities. Now, we realize we can delve into other services, like catering for events.” All these efforts show how the group is trying to make the most of the crisis and how it is getting ready for an anticipated change in customer behavior even after the threat of coronavirus subsides. “We still don’t know when the pandemic will be over. It might be over in the next couple of months, but its effects will be felt for years. So we decided to develop a plan to convert short-term problems into long-term solutions for the future.” Tatchai believes that restaurants can no longer just rely on dine-in customers. Therefore, diversification and a proliferation of products are needed for restaurants to survive. For example, the development of Supannigabranded frozen food is also in the pipeline to cater to people who would rather dine at home. However, Tatchai remains optimistic that the restaurant scene will rebound sooner than later. “People will still dine out, party and mingle but how they will do it will definitely be different, and that’s what we should take into account. It’s a challenge that we have to work on. We don’t know if what we’re doing is right but we just want to prepare for what’s to come.”
Feature
Chavanon “Sean” Caisiri Founder of POEM Getting ready for a disruption in the fashion industry CHAVANON “SEAN” CAISIRI was supposed to lead a team of designers in unveiling the autumn/winter 2020 collection of his esteemed fashion brand POEM. For almost two decades, Chavanon’s creations have been spotted in some of the country’s most notable events, most sophisticated weddings and even in Parliament. The brand is also popular in the Chinese market, with a flagship store in Shanghai in the pipeline. Anticipation from fashion critics and the public was high for the launch of this new collection. But, due to the lockdown, Chavanon and his team had to scrap plans for the launch. Instead, POEM is now focused on coming up with a contingency plan that will enable the brand to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. One of the solutions was to finally launch an online shopping platform. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, selling clothes online was not important to the high-profile fashion brand since the full-fledged POEM experience normally entails sitting down with a team of designers to discuss the perfect dress and succeeding fittings at its main Gaysorn store. “COVID-19 has encouraged us to embrace the online platform sooner than we expected,” Chavanon reveals. Instead of producing couture pieces, the brand has amped up ready-to-wear styles, offering these with attractive promotions to maintain cash flow during the crisis. “We have no choice. It’s now or never with our survival at stake.” Chavanon believes that, even if the pandemic ends, its effects will linger for years to come and affect people’s relationship with fashion. “Fashion is a by-product of a society that embraces gatherings and mingling through parties and events, and it’s also a tool for people to make a statement while being exposed to others. In the post-COVID world, people will likely prioritize hygiene and distance, and these values will result in a shift in the fashion industry,” he muses. Given these expected changes, POEM is evaluating how to operate its stores once the pandemic ends and the lockdown lifts. One suggestion is to discourage walk-ins, and require advance appointments for a limited amount of customers per day. This will enable the brand to practice social distancing rules and practice proper hygiene. “Would you want to try on clothes that some stranger may have already worn after the pandemic?” Chavanon asks. He’s also thinking of how the brand can remain relevant once a recession—an expected outcome from the pandemic—hits. “An economic crisis will accentuate the idea that fashion items are unnecessary, and people may
not buy things that they don’t need.” The brand is thinking of forgoing a couple of seasonal collections for now and just launching a big collection that will encapsulate the idea of timelessness. “We have to promote the idea that our clothes are a great investment. Design won’t be made for likes on social media. Durability and practical style that reflect the different personalities of POEM ladies will be our focus.” Chavanon points out that one of the important things that can be learned from the pandemic is the idea that all humans are equal despite their different origins. “The coronavirus [is not] the Chinese virus as declared by President Trump. It spreads throughout all races without discrimination. The idea of human value will be significant in my collection.”
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21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Feature
Attapol Thamrongrattanarit Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University Using social distancing as an opportunity to reimagine education ATTAPOL THAMRONGRATTANARIT’S UNCONVENTIONAL educational background—
he was in a language-centric program in high school but took his Ph.D in computer science—is mainly responsible for his ground-breaking use of digital technology to teach linguistics at the Faculty of Arts in Chulalongkorn University. Eschewing a traditional way of education, Attapol has been using digital technology in his classes even long before COVID-19 struck. “I have been producing online lessons for my students, and have been implementing Learning Management Systems like Google Classroom in my courses. You could say I haven’t used a single piece of paper to teach,” he says, laughingly. Now that the pandemic has forced schools and universities to close, students and teachers are encouraged to engage in virtual classrooms.
And Attapol is doing his part to make sure the transition is easier for his colleagues. “I volunteered to teach [older teachers] how to use online teaching platforms,” he reveals. Prerecorded online classes are the most popular avenues and, to Attapol, the most efficient way to provide education in these times of social distancing. “Not every student is privileged to get access to a fast internet connection. In case of a technical glitch or a disruption at home, they can pause the lesson and continue whenever they want. A lot of teachers opt for live teaching through applications like Zoom, but this is more effective for discussions, not for one-way lecturing.” Thai education has long relied on tradition, with teaching methods that prioritize passive learning and one-way communication. Attapol
thinks that the implementation of technology will promote more interaction and meaningful engagement between educators and students. He also believes that it will offer more flexibility for both parties. “Teachers and students are restrained by workloads and tight schedules, and it could be difficult to schedule a meeting during the day. On a digital platform, everyone can agree on convenient time. You will be surprised to know that 22:00 is the most agreeable time for my students because they are free from all distraction and they can focus on the lesson more effectively at night.” The progressive lecturer does not deny digitalizing education will reveal a disparity among students. On a national scale, online education may pose problems for students from low-income families who cannot afford to buy a computers. “Scholarships should be extended to computers too. You can’t deny that computers and gadgets will be important for education in the future.” The prospect of going completely online to teach is also stirring debates with regards to the testing process. For Attapol, online learning will open up new possibilities for evaluation. “Personally, I feel the conventional way of giving tests is dehumanizing. There are many possible ways to evaluate students, such as assignments or projects. However, many lecturers still refute these methods. There have been talks that students would have to show their faces and their hands clearly [on the screen] and everyone would have to wear their university uniform. It’s just theater for the sake of security!”
Central Pattana Thailand’s largest retailer is putting out new measures that may change how people shop in the future. BANGKOK IS A KNOWN shopping paradise.
There are markets and malls at almost every corner, purveying everything from trendy home-grown labels to desirable designer brands. Unfortunately, Bangkok’s reputation as a shopping haven doesn’t hold much in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shuttered a huge percentage of the retail industry. Only the supermarket sector is in full operation. When this lockdown will end remains unknown. But Central Pattana or CPN, Thailand’s biggest retail player, is not sitting on its haunches while waiting for the threat to die down. Mulling the possibility of a “new normal,” the company has released preemptive measures that may change the way people shop once the lockdown lifts. “In response to this ‘new normal’ in changing consumer behavior…this master plan is set as a guideline to use for the best interest…of the nation to hereafter set new
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
retail and social norms,” Wallaya Chirativat, CPN’s deputy chief executive officer, said in a press release. Called Central’s Hygiene and Safety Master Plan, the initiative was designed under five key cores—Extra Screening, Social Distancing, Safety Tracking, Extra Cleaning, and Touchless Experience—and involves 75 different measures. To summarize, each Central shopping center will limit the number of shoppers it accepts into the mall at a given time. The baseline is set at five
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square meters per customer, meaning there can only be 5,000 individuals shopping at the same time in a 25,000-square-meter mall. Patrons will also need to wear a protective mask while inside a Central shopping center. In addition, the health of every person working in the mall will be tracked. And cashless or e-payment transactions will also be encouraged. These measures will be put in place once the government permits all malls and retails outlets to reopen.
Feature
Sarinya “Mew” Manamuti Founder/operations manager of Bangkok Screening Room Attractive promotion in the hopes of survival LIKE MOST ENTERTAINMENT businesses and
venues, Bangkok Screening Room (BKKSR) in Saladaeng found itself in a sticky situation when the lockdown was imposed. The local independent cinema house has been unable to receive guests since March 18. In order to survive, it started offering movie packages at a 40 percent discount, valid for 12 months after it reopens. All active BKKSR memberships will also extended, and any new memberships purchased during this temporary closure will be valid for 12 months from the reopening date. “It’s a deal we’ve never done before and it will be a loss for sure, but we think it’s only fair for our customers,” says founder and operations manager Sarinya “Mew” Manamuti. BKKSR also had to push back the showing dates of some films. Before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the city, BKKSR was planning to pursue its annual LGBT film festival in June. “If the pandemic subsides, we will throw the festival, but for now, everything is uncertain. We just want to get back on our feet first,” Sarinya explains. She personally thinks that the film industry will survive, especially with the availability of many streaming providers. But the businesswoman is a bit unsure about the immediate future of entertainment venues, citing expected changes in consumer behavior and their need for some measure of safety when they go out in public again. “We have to provide assurance for customers and it’s going to take time.” Post-lockdown, BKKSR will most likely comply with the strict measures suggested by theWorld Health Organization and prepare for a reopening with an intense cleaning procedure. It also plans to limit the amount of guests per screening and to implement a seating system that follows social distancing mandates. “We think these measures would have to be put in place until next year. However, we also think that the situation will get better. We still have hope, and we will push forward.”
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21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Feature
Pattaraporn “Max” Bodhisuwan CEO of Eventpop New opportunities at the end of the tunnel A LOCKDOWN HASN’T stopped Pattaraporn
Bodhisuwan, the CEO of popular event facilitator Eventpop, from trying to expand his business and finding ways to survive. The company has been hit hard, losing 95 percent of its expected revenue for the quarter because it had to cancel two big events: S2O and Siam Songkran Music Festival. But Pattaraporn and his team refused to bow down to the threat of COVID-19. They partnered with food businesses and came up with Eventpop Online Experience. “The demand for food delivery has surged, and we saw that there are some problems with the ordering system,” Pattaraporn explains. “The first restaurant we worked with was Penguin Eat Shabu, which received negative feedback, at the beginning, on its ordering system.” Eventpop jumped in and helped manage the problem, implementing an online pre-order service that helped cut down the waiting time. The restaurant’s payment system
Panuwat “Kelvin” Rongbandit Personal trainer and personal training instructor An active online presence is crucial for the survival of fitness centers MOTIVATING INDIVIDUALS TO go to their limit or even beyond is what Panuwat Rongbandit is known for. Not only does he lead gym-goers through excruciating yet fun workouts at some of Bangkok’s most prominent fitness studios but, as a fitness educator at Fit Thailand, Panuwat is also behind the success of many certified personal trainers. But many of his classes and training sessions had to be put on hold when the country went on a lockdown due to COVID-19. “Gyms [around the countries] are losing income because they cannot charge membership fees, which is their only money source. And this greatly affects personal trainers,” he explains. Now that gyms have been temporarily shut, trainers are unable to obtain commission fees from one-on-one sessions. In addition, many have been asked to accept a salary cut while other gym staff, such as cleaners and receptionists, have been let go. “But there’s always an opportunity in every crisis,” Panuwat opines optimistically. Many of his colleagues have taken to social media and online platforms to launch online personal training programs. Through applications like Zoom, Skype and Whatsapp, trainers and customers can engage in virtual training Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
sessions in which the former can examine the body movement of their clients and guide them through a designed program. “For me, online coaching is not as effective as face-to-face sessions but personal trainers have to come up with the most effective ways possible to keep their customers and get paid.” The lockdown is also an opportunity for Fit Thailand to develop a long overdue online teaching program. “Our online platform is currently on trial and is useful for providing lectures on the theoretical part of the course. But for the practice part, physical presence is necessary. Students may have to wait until the lockdown is over to continue this part,” Panuwat says. Trainers can also benefit from the surge in on-demand fitness programs produced by sportwear brands, fitness center franchises and even small independent gyms. Panuwat is currently collaborating with Nike for its “You Can’t Stop Us” campaign, wherein subscribers are offered exercise routines and gain access to articles that help guide them through a healthy and fit lifestyle while on self-isolation. “It’s a great way for people to retain their fitness level while the gyms are closed. Every
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Feature
also improved. Since then, more restaurants have reach out to Eventpop. Eventpop Online Experience also includes interactive programs, including “Cooking Burgers with Taiki,” an online cooking session via Zoom with Taiki Rattanapong Tsubota, the owner of Bun Meat & Cheese. The acclaimed self-trained cook will be sharing tips and tricks, as well as scientifically-backed methods, on how to make the perfect burger. Ingredients will be delivered to the homes of each participant on the same day as the event. “This online business model seems to be doing well, and we think we can grow from it,” says Pattaraporn. “Right now, it seems like it’s a time for new investments in new markets. Even after we get through this challenging situation, we’ll still be doing food business and online experiences.” He believes in the growth of online events as customers find new ways to enjoy life without compromising their health. For business owners, there’s no choice but to use online platforms and to do more online marketing. But he’s not giving up on the fullon, face-to-face event experience. “When offline events and concerts eventually come back, I think people will attend because they’ve been craving to be in that kind of environment and atmosphere.”
Hospitality Industry Local hotels are trying hard to keep up with flash-speed changes happening within the hospitality industry
gym has to retain an online presence… through these on-demand sessions,” the fitness expert adds. “The challenge for gyms now is not to [maintain cash flow] but to keep their customer base and retain their brand presence in the market so people won’t forget about them.” Despite the viability of online classes, he doubts that these will exceed the need to physically be at the gym. “One crucial thing when exercising is having someone to motivate you. There’s a sense of community when gathering at the gym. So there are a lot of things online platforms cannot provide.”
THE LOCAL HOSPITALITY industry, which usually accounts for 20 percent of Thailand’s GDP, is struggling to pick itself up. A number of shortterm solutions have been put in place to curb the almost-zero demand from overseas guests. Asset World, the local operator of The Okura Prestige and the Marriott properties in the city, has closed down its hotels. Those that remain open have resorted to accepting takeout and delivery orders from its kitchens, and to offer long-stay packages for stranded guests or those seeking to isolate in style—at shockingly affordable rates. A one-night stay with three meals at the Millennium Hilton now goes for less than B3,000. A week-long stay at local boutique hotel Craftsman is pegged at less than B6,000. These are bargain rates, if not downright steals. French hospitality company Accor has taken a slightly different path. It now offers vacant guestrooms in ten of its hotels in Bangkok as makeshift offices for those who want to get their job done in a quiet and comfortable environment. Rates start from as low as B690 per day inclusive of lunch. “This is a great way to diversify and look after the needs of people living in Bangkok now that many offices are closed,” says chief operating officer Patrick Basset, COO of Accor – Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives, over an email interview. He also reveals a collaboration between 13
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort and Bangkok Hospital to launch long-stay packages, inclusive of daily checkups, for people returning to Thailand from abroad and looking for a luxurious space to selfquarantine. He emphasizes that Accor is looking to offer, more than just hotel rooms, an “ecosystem of experiences.” When asked about the future, Basset sees local and regional tourism as the shining light at the end of the tunnel. “We are confident that domestic travel will be the first market to bounce back, so our focus will be on reaching the local market for staycations or domestic trips to resort destinations such as Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and more. We then anticipate the demand from regional tourists from the ASEAN to pick up once international travel restrictions are eased. We are confident that travel will rebound and, when it does, we will be ready to welcome our guests back.”■
21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND
Online workouts from the best fitness studios in Bangkok Work on your cardio or perfect that yoga pose, and come out of this quarantine fitter than ever by Khemjira Prompan
GYMS AND FITNESS studios in the city have had to close their doors temporarily to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. But don’t think you’re getting off the hook that easy. Many of them are offering live streaming sessions of workouts—for free, which means you have no excuse for coming out of self-isolation a few kilos heavier. Here are some of the ones we like best.
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
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TIME OUT
If you’re working from home and barely have time to leave your makeshift desk, then Time Out Bangkok may just have the thing for you. We’re posting short workout videos every week on XXX [Facebook? IG? website?] . Led by a certified trainer, these workouts are easy to follow, and include desk stretches and exercises you can do with a water bottle or a towel. à www.timeout.com/bangkok/th/
Physique 57 Absolute You
This boutique fitness chain live streams workout sessions every day in both Thai and English. Classes are led by Absolute You instructors and include yoga, mat Pilates, F.I.T., and rhythm cycling. à www.facebook.com/AbsoluteYouStudio/
BASE
BASE offers free live online HIIT sessions and strengthbased workouts on Facebook and Instagram every Saturday at 10 am. A paid program called BASE Anywhere is also available and offers 16 Zoom workouts per month as well as supportive sessions with the coaching team, and live Q&A sessions on nutrition and training. à www.facebook.com/basebangkok/ or www. instagram.com/basebangkok/
Tribe
Training Ground
Tribe is offering a wide range of free live sessions on its Facebook page, including shadow boxing, mat Pilates, barre and stretching. Riders can avail of the Tribe-toGo option where they will set up a bike in your house (B5,500 for a two-week rental) and you can live stream cycling classes daily. Sign up via LINE @tribebkk or email hello@tribebkk.com.
Known as Bangkok’s biggest CrossFit gym, Training Ground offers a free quickie “workout of the day” on Facebook and Instagram. For more intense workouts, you can opt to join the paid group sessions via Zoom with a coach (B4,950/ month, inclusive of equipment provided by the gym). One-on-one training with a personal coach via Zoom is also available (B1,200/hour).
à www.facebook.com/TribeBKK/
à www.facebook.com/tgbangkok/ or www. instagram.com/traininggroundsukhumvit69/
Yoga and Me
Fitness First
Yoga and Me is live streaming four classes every day on its Facebook page. Classes for all levels are available and beginners are welcome to join in, too. The studio also offers online Pilates sessions.
The Fitness First franchise in Thailand is offering daily live streaming classes for free on Facebook Live. Classes range from yoga to body combat to Latin dance and many more.
à www.facebook.com/YogaandMe/
This well-known barre fitness studio from New York is offering free classes on Facebook Live and Zoom every Monday, Friday and Sunday. They also have a paid service called Baan 57 if you want daily sessions. à www.facebook.com/Physique57Bkk/
The Lab
The Lab is offering free live workout classes daily, as well as Q&A sessions with coaches. Personal training sessions (B990/ session) are also available.■ à www.facebook.com/TheLabBKK/
SEE MORE TIMEOUT.COM/ BANGKOK/
à www.facebook.com/FitnessFirstThailand/
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21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Things to do
SPOTLIGHT ON
The best indoor plants and where to get them Liven up your home with some greenery SINCE YOU’RE SPENDING so
much time indoors while the whole nation is on lockdown, why not take this as a good time to improve your home environment with some houseplants. Apart from adding pops of color to your living space, plants also help create a more eyefriendly and relaxing environment. They also help purify indoor air by clearing it off irritants, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Here’s a rundown of some of the best indoor plants as well as the plant shops that can deliver straight to your doorstep.
Snake plant
Known for its broad, upright leaves, the snake plant is one of the best air-purifying plants out there, absorbing toxins through its leaves and producing pure oxygen. This hardy plant can grow in a variety of light conditions and only needs to be watered every week. Make sure to water only the soil, not the leaves, and wait till the soil is almost completely dry before watering again.
Peace lily
The peace lily has beautiful, structured green leaves and produces white flowers throughout the year. Known to thrive in rooms with no windows at all, the plant filters out toxins from the air, including benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and ammonia. Avoid putting this plant in direct sunlight.
à Buy a snake plant from these sellers on Facebook: Karaket Garden, Ora Garden, and Boonsitgarden.
à Buy a peace lily from: Bansuanpakkad on Facebook.
Fiddle-leaf fig
This popular air-purifying houseplant has large, shiny deep green leaves and a sturdy structure. It prefers bright, indirect light, and needs to be watered twice a week (don’t overdo it as this plant hates to sit in water).
The fiddle-leaf fig is a beautiful plant, boasting huge, bright green leaves and a long, thin stem. But this beauty requires highmaintenance care, and is certainly not the easiest houseplant to look after. Fiddle-leaf figs grow in bright, filtered light, although a few hours of direct sun every day is also beneficial. In fact, these plants grow in the direction of light so it’s best to rotate them once a month to keep them standing straight. Twice-a-week watering is enough.
à Buy a rubber plant from these sellers on Facebook: Ora Garden and Boonsitgarden.
à Buy a fiddle-leaf fig from these sellers on Facebook: Karaket Garden and Boonsitgarden
Rubber plant
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
Monstera
Golden pothos
à Buy a monstera from these sellers on Facebook:
àBuy a fiddle-leaf fig from: Ora Garden on Facebook or @ myplan.e.t on Instagram.
Known for its distinctive leaf patterns, this tropical plant i s one of the most photogenic plants to have around. It’s very easy to care for and only needs watering once a week, so it’s perfect for novice plant parents. The monstera will thrive in filtered light and in consistently moist soil. It also prefers a humid environment, so it will do well in an air-conditioned room. (Karaket Garden, Ora Garden, Boonsitgarden) or Instagram (@dailyplant2st).
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If you’ve always been unlucky with keeping indoor plants alive, then you may want to try again with a golden pothos, aka devil’s ivy. These leafy, low-maintenance plants enjoy a wide range of environments. They can grow in dry soil or in a vase of water, and can thrive in indirect light but also in low light.■ Khemjira Prompan
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21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
WHAT’S ON
The best Thai movies and series on Netflix now Had your fill of K-dramas and American series? Let’s take a look at what local entertainment has to offer.
The Stranded
Mysterious events challenge a group of boarding school boys and girls when they are isolated on an island after a tsunami. Despite riding on a poorly-written screenplay, Netflix’s very first Thai original series is palatable mainly for its winning cinematography.
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
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Best of time
Thailand’s submission for Best Foreign Film in the 2010 Academy Awards, this feel-good movie follows a veterinarian (Arak Amornsupasiri) and a landscape architect (Yarinda Bunnag) as they try to help an elderly couple rediscover romance late in life despite issues with distance and the threat of Alzheimer’s.
Bad Genius
Love of Siam
Nattawut Poonpiriya explores Thailand’s competitive education system through the experiences of four schoolmates. Starring model Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying and heartthrobs Chanon Santinatornkul and Teeradon Supapupinyo, the movie has gone on to become one of the most internationally recognized Thai films in recent history.
This Chookiat Sakveerakul film earned widespread praise for initiating the conversation on same-sex relationships, but more so for its sentimental storyline, which explores the complicated connection between a mother, her son and his childhood friend. The film is also acclaimed for the heart-wrenching, awardwinning performances of Sinjai Plengpanich and Mario Maurer, in his debut film role.
Tootsies & The Fake
A spinoff from the popular series of the same name, this comedy centers around four LGBT friends, and the events that challenge their wits, relationships and friendships.
Heart Attack
Sunny Suwanmethanon plays a freelance graphic designer who falls sick from long hours of working. He ends up in the care of a young doctor, played by Davika Hoorne, who prescribes a thing or two on how to live and love better.
Love Destiny
Based on a novel of the same name, this epic film follows a student who accidentally travels back in time to the Ayutthaya kingdom, and experiences the era’s many history-changing events. The drama created a craze for all things ancient Ayutthaya: food, gestures and language.
Hormones
Pee Mak
The highest-grossing Thai movie of all-time, Pee Mak is director Banjong Pisanthanakun’s reimagination of a famed Thai folk tale. Entertaining and sentimental at the same time, it stars Mario Maurer and Davika Hoorne.
Loosely inspired by British teen series Skins, Hormones tackles the issues facing modern Thai teens and shows the ways they respond— some of them controversial. Thanks to head-turning storylines and well-written scripts, the series won several national awards and made stars of its young actors, many of whom made their debut in this series. Of the three seasons, the first is the best.
Dew
Directed by Chookiat Sakveerakul (Love of Siam), this touching film narrates the story of two young boys who fall in love in a time and place where homosexuality is not widely accepted.
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Happy Old Year
Chutimon “Aokbab” Chuengcharoensukying plays a young woman who is faced with painful memories when she tries to reorganize and declutter her old home. The movie was directed by Nawapon Thamrongrattanarit and co-stars Sunny Suwanmethanon. ■ 21 April - 5 May 2020 Time Out Bangkok
Time Out Bangkok2 21 April - 5 May 2020
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