SURACHAI CHETCHOTISAK, the chief executive at media-and-entertainment firm RS, has famously gone into the skincare business with LifeStar, and plans to list his new affiliate on the stock exchange next year.

LifeStar has done extremely well through “call-sell”, which means “teleshopping”, which means buying your stuff by phoning in orders to a TV show. Last year alone it made Bt200 million this way, and the revenue target this year is Bt600 million.

The products – also sold at beauty shops, trade fairs and online – include beauty and personal care items such as the anti-ageing skincare formula Magique from Switzerland. You can get the firming treatment Gravitas with its innovative Starfish V-Activating complex, the Japanese skin-brightening lotion Noble White, the American-made acne cream Clear Expert, and Revive, another Swiss export, which prevents hair loss.

It’s obvious that Surachai is being quite purposeful in his undertakings, and LifeStar is no exception. In a wide-ranging chat with The Nation, he says he’s always open-minded about people and opportunities and has a sharp eye for both – along with a passion to win.

TELL US HOW YOUR MOVE INTO |PERSONAL-CARE PRODUCTS CAME ABOUT.

It started almost four years ago, when I noticed that most of the advertisements on our flagship digital-TV station Channel 8 and our satellite-based free-to-air Channel 2 involved beauty and personal care products.

It’s a tremendous market and it’s growing continuously every year, even despite the overall economic slump. Locally it’s worth almost Bt80 billion, in fact. The industry appeals to modern consumers’ lifestyles, and that’s where we began with our marketing strategy. I really enjoy being involved in the business!

In 2014 we contacted skincare laboratories overseas to make sure we had the right and most effective formulas, and then we found the top factory in Thailand to create our line. And finally we got into the market in 2015, initially only through call-sell.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT PRODUCTS MADE IN THAILAND RATHER THAN THE MORE ESTABLISHED SOURCES IN FRANCE, SWITZERLAND, JAPAN OR EVEN SOUTH KOREA?

Not at all – the formula and the effectiveness of the product are what matter. And we fully trust in our quality control.

THE BEAUTY BUSINESS IS A LONG WAY |FROM WHAT YOU’VE BEEN DOING |FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.

Building brands is our strength. LifeStar has its own teams providing management and expertise. What RS and I do is input our marketing experience, using our media channels to promote the brand.

The challenge of running a successful business these days isn’t in competing with the other businesses, but rather in how you develop customer loyalty and adapt quickly to their changing preferences. Shoppers are very well informed and, due to modern technology, they’re apt to change their minds quickly. Many businesses die because they’re unable to adapt or adjust fast enough and the customers just leave. You can be comfortable in your market position, but if you don’t keep developing, you’ll lose.

WHICH BUSINESS HAS THE BETTER |FUTURE – ENTERTAINMENT OR |HEALTH AND BEAUTY?

RS is still doing fine and is profitable with the media and entertainment sector, but we have to change often. LifeStar is just beginning, so it needs more attention.

Whatever business I’ve done, my passion is always to win. Some people say, “Do what you love doing”, but for me that’s secondary. My passion to win is stronger than my interest in loving what I do. When I want to win, my focus will be on the goal – I live with it and finally I’ll love it. If you have that passion, whatever obstacles you encounter along the way, you’ll get over them because in the end you want to win.

I’m 54 years old. My dreams have already come true. I’ve had everything I want since I was in my early 40s. You might think, “Okay, enough, I’m done”, but I’m not that kind of person. I still enjoy my work a lot and certainly, when I see an opportunity, I can’t help but grab it.

And I notice things, so when I see how significant the growth in the health and beauty business is, even among young people just selling products on Instragram, I ask, “Why can’t I do that?”

At the moment I have no goal in life because I enjoy every moment I’m working. In the next three or four months you’ll be surprised with the new business directions at RS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES RS EMPLOY |AND HOW DO YOU KEEP THE STAFF |FEELING UNITED IN THEIR EFFORTS?

We have about 1,000 employees, and I believe they’re all capable of doing many things well.

My management structure at RS is very flat. The staff is evaluated based on the outcome of their work. There’s no politics. I want them to be able to change and act fast and to be confident in me. Every change we make is for the better. There’s always job security – the purpose of the changes is never about laying-off employees. I don’t expect anyone to work all day and all night, but to work happily and to be efficient.

The perception of RS is that it has the capability to create businesses through marketing. We don’t want to be stamped as a media-and-music entertainment company or a beauty company, but rather as a company can be a diverse as well as successful. That’s my vision.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU |ENCOUNTER AN OBSTACLE?

I fix it! For example, I see in my head the way LifeStar will be successful, so I just have to get it there.

DO YOU RELY ON ADVISERS?

Everyone on my team is my adviser. How else would a 54-year-old know what 23-year-olds are thinking if he doesn’t listen to them? I’m very open-minded.

LIFESTAR HAS SINGER MARSHA WATTANAPANICH AS A BRAND AMBASSADOR, AND YET SHE USED TO BE ATTACHED TO AN RS COMPETITOR, GMM GRAMMY.

LifeStar and I choose Marsha |and Ruangsak “James” Loychusak [formerly signed to RS] as our brand ambassadors simply because |they’re the most suitable people to present the products. There’s nothing else to it.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

IT’S OBVIOUS THAT Peru – which celebrates its National Day today – has a lot going for it. People from all over the world have migrated there over the centuries, lured by the gorgeous Pacific coastline, the magnificent Andes Mountains, the magic of the Amazon rainforest and the lively rhythms of Lima.

And all those immigrants arrived with the foods of their native lands, which over the course of time have melded into a cuisine unlike that of any other country.

You can’t blame Ambassador Felix Denegri for getting a bit boastful, and certainly no one was complaining when he helped to promote a veritable Peruvian feast recently at the posh Oriental Bangkok’s restaurant Lord Jim’s. To say that chef Diego Oka did Peruvian cuisine proud would be an understatement. It was superb.

“Peruvians don’t forget their backgrounds,” Denegri explained. “They’re proud of it, and that makes our food the best combination of traditional gastronomic cultures that come together and influence each other.”

The Chinese food you get in Peru is “very different” from its cousins back home or elsewhere, the ambassador said, “but it’s still very much Chinese at the same time, and it’s the same with Japanese or Italian cuisine – they all have a Peruvian flavour.

“Obviously we have Peruvian food per se, and there are some dishes we don’t know how they came into being. But we definitely have a certain taste.”

Lima and Bangkok are 19,000 kilometres apart – a 23-hour odyssey by air – but they’ve maintained warm diplomatic relations for 50 years. Maybe there’s something to the fact that they’re within one degree of each other in latitude.

Despite the distance, around 3,000 Thais visit Peru every year, mainly to take in the wondrous mountaintop Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, a World Heritage site, or to fly over the vast and similarly ancient Nazca lines in the country’s south.

And then there is the food. Peruvians grow 3,000 different kinds of potatoes – not top of the Thai dining list, but then there are also 300 different varieties of hot chillies cultivated there. The grain quinoa is exported to Thailand, along with “Red Globe” grapes, squid, asparagus and chia seeds.

Like Thais, Peruvians eat rice every day, though they cook it with oil and garlic and prefer it “more al-dente”. Peruvian-Chinese fried rice, known as arroz chaufa, is among the most popular dishes. Fish always has to be eaten with lime.

At the Mandarin, chef Oka, who trained at the award-winning restaurant La Mar in Miami, claims that Peru’s cebiche barrio is his favourite dish. Easy to cook, it tastes similar to Thai spicy salad.

“It’s made with fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juice called tigers’ milk,” Oka said. “You blend lime juice, celery, red onion, chilli pepper and coriander and then strain it and serve it with sweet potato.

“We used to marinate fish in lime juice for many hours, but the Japanese showed us how to treat the fish and cut, eat and serve it raw. Peru has the second-largest number of Japanese immigrants in Latin America, and many of them open Japanese-Peruvian restaurants.”

Another traditional dish is papas a la huancaina, which has a spicy, creamy sauce.

Causa is a dumpling of mashed yellow potato mixed with lime, onion, chilli and oil. “We love yellow potatoes, which are impossible to find here,” the ambassador lamented. “You can get potatoes here, of course, but the texture and flavour just aren’t the same.”

It’s not difficult to cook Peruvian dishes or even open a Peruvian restaurant anywhere in the world because local ingredients can be can adapted, he said, but the taste will always be different. “The best Peruvian food is always in Peru,” Oka agreed.

Denegri noted that Bangkok and Lima differ in the fact that most |foreigners here – apart from the |expatriates – are tourists, whereas the Peruvian capital itself doesn’t draw that many tourists, but people |came from all over the world many decades ago and stayed to become Peruvians.

That is why, “If you go to Peru and can speak Spanish fluently, everybody would think you’re Peruvian,” he laughed.

In a country where indigenous natives comprise the majority of the population, “we’re happy with our skin”, the ambassador said.

“Beautiful skin has no colour. Peruvian culture has very strong, very deep roots. Nobody is a stranger. Our society is much open. People have been keen to explore Peruvian culture over the years, and our cuisine is a way for people to get to know us.”

Peruvian cuisine is on offer at:

? Above 11 on the 33rd floor of the Fraser Suites on Sukhumvit Soi 11. Call (02) 207 9300.

? The Blue 36 Peruvian Bar and Restaurant off Sukhumvit Soi 36 (Napasap Soi 2). |Call (02) 361 5448.

? The Familia Chicken & Grill at 66 Rama IX Road, Soi 41/1 Seri 4 in Suan Luang district. |Call (02) 115 7788.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

THAI FABRICS don’t need the help of any modern flashy technology to attract buyers, says Polpat Asavaprapha. Their heritage and characteristically impeccable weaving – brought to life by creative and contemporary design – provide all the allure that’s necessary.

The president of the Bangkok Fashion Society and creative director at Asava made the remarks while helping unveil plans for the Contemporary Thai Fabric Project undertaken to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday on August 12.

The Fashion Society and the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture have organised a show for Monday at Central World. The participating designers are Chai Jiamkittikul of Chai Gold Label, Palath Palathi of Realistic Situation, Sirichai Daharanont of Theatre and Wisharawish Akkarasantisuk of Wisharawish.

Clothing made with traditional materials and inspired by local culture and wisdom will also be on view in a static exhibition at the mall from Tuesday through August 14.

Announcing the project last week with Polpat and Sirichai were Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, deputy secretary to the Queen and assistant secretary general of the Support Foundation, Culture Minister Veera Rodpodchanarat and Isares Chirathiwat of Central World.

Veera affirmed that the project honours Her Majesty, who initiated national efforts to preserve classical Thai art and culture. The ministry encourages citizens to wear local fabrics more often, he said, and backs projects like this to demonstrate how traditional materials can easily suit modern tastes, not just at home but also overseas.

Fashion is one of the “5F’s” promoted by the ministry, Veera pointed out, the others being food, festivals, fighting (muay thai) and film.

Polpat said much of the Fashion Society’s focus is on passing knowledge on to the next generation of designers and spurring them to adapt their designs using traditional fabrics.

“Together with the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, we will hold a series of events promoting the creative lifestyle, extending into next year,” he said. “Every August will be devoted to celebrations of Thai fabrics, fashion and lifestyle.

“Fabric is a raw material that can easily be adapted to different designs, just like the strokes of the brush in art, responding to cultural shifts.”

The four designers taking part in Monday’s fashion show have mainly used mudmee silk.

Chai of Chai Gold Label presented models wearing clothing suitable for daily wear, made with the silk in golden brown, yellow, gold and green. “I’ve incorporated my signature draping technique and the fabric looks soft and sensual, and we’ve done a lot of embroidering on the silk.”

Sirichai of Theatre, an expert in textiles, noted that Thai silk thread is quite narrow compared to other fabrics. He had design ideas in mind before going to the Sirikit Institution at Chitralada Villa to choose his fabrics, he said, but once saw the range of material available, he realised his designs would have to be more diverse.

Sirichai has crafted seven pieces for men using the selvage from bolts of mudmee silk – the tailored edges. In his modern concepts they become chic hems on shirts and jackets. “We haven’t used the whole piece of silk but rather just the selvage to decorate different items, such as a cotton shirt or jacket,” he said.

“The look is interesting – it was a challenge to create, but it’s a great combination of materials. The classical Siamese gentleman showed international flair. He’d wear a tailor-made silk top, such as a suit or tuxedo jacket, but his trousers were the traditional pha khao ma.”

Palath from Realistic Situation drew inspiration from the attire of the royal court of bygone days, adapting the outstanding details into his brand’s working concept. The shape of the clothing mixes graphic and classical design, and silk of unusual colours was selected.

Wisharawish, who comes from Buri Ram, utilises the lively hues of Isaan clothing in a cheery collection of embroidered mudmee that suggests festive celebrations.

Thanpuying Charungrit said the project offers further proof that the Queen was foresighted in launching the effort, through the Support Foundation, to conserve traditional skills and craftsmanship.

“Seeing more people wearing their fabrics makes the weavers very proud,” she said. “I remember well that when Her Majesty asked them to weave fabrics for her, they doubted she’d ever wear them, since they were only made by poor upcountry people.

“So when they saw Her Majesty wearing their fabrics and incorporating them into her own designs, the weavers were extremely proud. Now, if we can get the younger generation wearing their fabrics too, I’m sure it will really boost their spirits and they’ll be able to happily carry on their work.”

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

A piece by Mahaveer Swami. Photos courtesy of Serindia Gallery

At Serindia Gallery, all is still and calm until you look closer and everything — the landscapes, animals and plants — suddenly comes to life. Magnifying glasses are of course provided. In the exhibition “A Painter From Bikaner”, Indian traditional miniature painter Mahaveer Swami presents a selection of his exquisitely detailed works whose subjects range from the mundane daily lives in India, landscapes and animals to tales from mythology.

Born in a family of traditional Bikaner painters (a city in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan in northern India), Swami began training at a young age with his father and grandfather. While possessing the ability to perfectly copy what he sees onto canvas, his constant exploration in new subjects has also gained him recognition as a contemporary artist.

“His ethereal colours and exquisite brushwork are combined with inner vision and great sensitivity of the world around him,” the exhibition text reads. “The works possess finely-tuned technique and rigorous discipline of his tradition. Swami proves that there is no real gap between contemporary and traditional, there is only art.”

In a recent interview with Life, the 57-year-old painter talked more about his career and the tradition of miniature painting.

Can you tell us more about your background?

I am rooted in the local soil and culture of Rajasthan, based in the historic city of Bikaner. I learned to draw and paint as a child, observing first my grandfather make and supervise paintings on the wall of the mansions in the desert state, and after from my father who worked in the railway workshop as a painter. Their tools, the jute bags, paper or any other left over material and colours that I could lay my hands on, kept me occupied for hours at a stretch. Late after post schooling my fascination for art took me to Jaipur [the capital of Rajasthan], where I did my formal training at the Rajasthan School of Art. To fend for myself in Jaipur, I had to trek for miles daily and work hard on commissions to make copies of master paintings on cotton fabric, ivory and miniatures that gave me both the confidence and mastery in various techniques.

Can you elaborate more on the tradition of Bikaner style of painting?​

The style of painting developed in Bikaner is more relevant to Mughal paintings [a particular style of South Asian painting] than to other Rajasthani paintings. The reasons are firstly, the close association of the Bikaner rulers with the Mughal emperors, such as Raja Rai Singh was particularly close to Akbar and Jahangir. Secondly, the unemployment of Muslim painters from Delhi and Agra. These men painted some exquisite examples of this school during the reigns of Rai Singh, Karan Singh and Anup Singh. Their subject matter included excellent portrait studies. In these paintings the dazzling colour of Malwa, the folk scenes of Jodhpur or the striking landscape of Bundi are totally absent. Instead of these regional characteristics of Rajasthani paintings, Bikaner produced extremely sophisticated works with delicate lines and tonal range normally encountered in the products of Mughal studies.

Can you tell us more about your studies of Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures? How did they influence you as an artist?

I used to do lot of commission works to survive in Jaipur and I consider myself fortunate because it was a time when I was first introduced to such rich styles and techniques in traditional art, moreover I get the chance to develop numbers of replications of Persian, Mughal and other various styles of Rajasthani paintings. These practices enhanced my ability to foresee lots of possibilities in it. Later I created my own compositions on the life of sufi, saints, sages, yogi, monks, yoginis, [holy men and women], the daily life of Indian women and different terms of Hindu mythology.

How are you different from other traditional miniature painters?

My art terrain presents a large expanse of diverse creative reflections that mirror the artist’s encounters with what I have inherited along with my response to the ever-changing time and space as in contemporary reality. In sync with established traditions and practices as exemplified in the art of illustrated manuscripts of the medieval era on the one hand, my artworks represent a continuum within the living arts of today’s India, on the other.

Landscapes, animals and plants are predominant in your works, what’s so fascinating about them?​

I am an Indian traditional artist carrying traditions with the exquisite usage of experimentation. My breathing of foreign air has made me more conscious of that very element of contrast. It subtly soothes the visual experience for any observer to see two traditions building a newer narrative. My countryside visits into the serene lands of France, Korea, Japan and China have resulted in tranquil visual knowledge. You may observe detailing in botanicals, teapots and landscapes, merging into the traditional Indian style of paintings with contrasting backdrops or sometimes with intuitive subjects that only an insightful person could notice.

“A Painter From Bikaner” is on display until Aug 7 at Serindia Gallery, O.P. Garden, Charoen Krung 36.

Mahaveer Swami. Photo courtesy of Serindia Gallery

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The gradual surge of charming hill tribe fashion and accessories like the colourful skirts, shirts, bags and shoes seen on tourists and Thai hipsters nowadays would probably have one unexpected person to thank: Her Majesty the Queen.

It’s a simple narrative we’ve all heard before: through Her Majesty’s visits to the remote hill tribe villages of Thailand, she saw the beauty in the arts and handicraft work of the villagers. Hitting many birds with one stone, Her Majesty provided the hill tribe artisans with extra income by having them create small patches of their most unique fabrics to sell in the SUPPORT Foundation with the profit going back to the villagers. In turn, this preserved the endangered art forms that would have died in the modern era and at the same time eradicated the farming and selling of opium that was their former income.

At present, there are now 22,530 hill tribe artisans from 620 villages who are benefiting from this project, and as seen today, hill tribe fabrics are as big as ever and are found in contemporary fashion.

Taking this narrative as inspiration, the SUPPORT Foundation has organised, for the first time, an exhibition highlighting the distinctive and intricate fabrics of the six major Thai hill tribes in the “Crafts From The Hands Of The Hills … To The Hands Of The Queen” exhibition.

Open to the public next Monday, the exhibition hopes to showcase and engender appreciation towards the Hmong, Karen, Mien (Yao), Lahu (Musur), Lisaw, and A-Ka (E-Gor) hill tribes whose local fabrics and techniques of hand weaving, sewing, embroidery, stitching, patchwork and wax-drawings can go head-to-head with the stunning silk fabrics that Thailand is better known for.

The exhibition will be split into six zones, each highlighting each tribe’s techniques and skills. The Hmong, for example, are known for their intricate candle-wax works (similar to batik), while the Yao are known for their intricate colourful cross-stitch seen on many contemporary clothing items today.

The exhibition will also feature interesting workshops with the hill tribe artisans and more than 70 new fabric and mixed media artworks, designed by Thai artist Nuntapong Sinsawus. “In the fabrics, we see with our eyes the beauty of the techniques,” he says. “But if we look at them with our hearts, of how much the artisans had to go through, you will see Her Majesty’s kindness and the artisan’s happiness within the cloth. This is the value of the clothes in the SUPPORT Foundation. There’s a story behind every fabric. Every step in the fabric making process, the artists will think of Their Majesties, they want to present these clothes to them so they do their very best. We wanted to show this as best as possible. To show not just the beauty, but the grace of the fabrics.”

Aug 1 to Oct 11, 2016, 10am-7pm except Wednesdays at The Queen’s Gallery near Phan Fah Leelart Bridge, Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, Bangkok.

For group visits, call 02-281-5360-1.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The four actors brought a human touch to the tales of love and departure. Photos courtesy of 8×8 Troupe

At first glace, the new play by Nikorn Sae-tang, Wan Bok La (Goodbye My Love), suggested that it would deal either with a dark, inconsolable romance or soap opera-like melodrama. Instead, the play features different shades of love when one departs their beloved. It was as if the director/writer Nikorn, noted for his original writing, was falling in love again — more or less — with recounting his personal experiences.

The one-hour play appears as a collage of seven mini-stories intertwined under the theme of “departure”. A daughter’s eulogy at her father’s funeral; a former lover’s encounters with possible return; a man’s monologue about parting with his beloved pet; a young man leaving a friend with whom he has shared a small flat; a woman’s lament for the loss of her teacher. Four actors convincingly take turns doing different roles that compel the audience to laugh and cry.

But it was the last two gigs that made the play memorable. First, two actors walked around the 30-pax venue and asked the audience members — one by one — to partake in the play by reading the script line-by-line, as if they were exchanging messages on Line. Then they asked the audience, what if the conversation took place in real life? Relying on the same script read by the audience, the other two actors gave a dramatic and impressive performance as a couple breaking up from their relationship. Not only did the audience feel engaged with the play, but it also somehow felt like they were making the play themselves through the reinvention of such Line dialogue.

The four actors brought a human touch to the tales of love and departure. Photos courtesy of 8×8 Troupe

In the final story, we were taken to a wedding-like party, which later turned out to be a parting party. The logic is this: “We witnessed their marriage — why not their divorce and friendly parting?” While the tone of the first five stories are a mix of bittersweet and glumness, the last two parts spiced up the ambience, creating more laughter and fun. It is clear that Nikorn is reconnecting with a traditional way of recounting ordinary stories, with new, thoughtful perspectives, which has become rare in Thai theatre, at least during the past decade.

While the choice of music — from Western classics to Chinese songs, but no Thai — used to connect the seven stories can appear randomly selected, they all give a similar tone of bittersweet longing. The smart use of four large mobile steel frames allows actors to generate their imaginary settings, varying from a simple door to the funeral shrine, and from apartments that come in different sizes to a party venue to bid goodbye to love.

Nikorn’s new play does not appear as the symbolism-filled gimmickry that many new troupes enjoy doing these days. Instead, Wan Bok La‘s charm lies in its simplicity and honesty, its humanist touch, through stories of everyday life that any audience can easily identify with. It reminds us that a feel-good theatre experience can naturally emerge from simple yet meaningful storytelling enhanced by appropriate acting.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Last Saturday cultural enthusiasts, activists, journalists and the public gathered at The Bangkok Folk Museum on Charoen Krung to discuss the next moves.

It was an event that followed the headline news last week when 81-year-old museum owner Waraporn Suravadee implored the public to contribute to a 10-million-baht fund in order to buy a plot of land next to the handsome museum. The plot is soon to be turned into a new eight-storey building that will spoil the beautiful green scenery and old architectural style in the area surrounding the museum. According to Waraporn, the owners of the plot in question have agreed to part with it for 40 million baht, 30 million of which has already been paid by Waraporn herself, and now she has asked the public to chip in, 100 baht each should be fine she said, to save this little oasis of culture in the heart of the city.

Her campaign to raise funds has drawn rapturous support — while many have questioned the cultural policy (or lack thereof) of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that should lend a hand in protecting this urban heritage.

As of July 25, with a little over a month left until the Sept 2 deadline, the museum has received almost 4 million baht in donations. According to Waraporn, the newly acquired property will be used to build a parking space for museum visitors.

The Bangkok Folk Museum, situated in a picturesque WWII-era teak house on Charoen Krung road, has been dedicated to the nurturing of appreciation in art and culture for Bangkokians ever since Waraporn decided to turn her family’s lavish private residence into a museum for the public in 1937. Aside from the museum itself, which works to showcase the European influences present in Thai architecture of the time, the many other items exhibited at the museum are various cultural artefacts as well as the Suravadee family’s own heirlooms, which date back as far as the Rama V and Rattanakosin eras. Today, the museum is commonly recognised as one of the very few places dedicated to showcasing Thai lifestyle in the years during and after World War II (1937-1957).

The museum’s beautiful architecture has also been recognised as an outstanding example of Classical Thai Architecture in the Private Residence and House category from the Association of Siamese Architects in 2010 and 2013. It currently welcomes an average of about 700 tourists each month.

Caption goes here photo

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The Met Store at the Mandarin Oriental.

The Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York is the second-most visited museum in the world, trailing only after France’s Louvre. This legendary statistic alone should be more than enough to make this institution a must-see whenever you’re in Manhattan. With over 20 centuries of artefacts around the world of cultural, historical and artistic significance, the museum’s collection is one that Thailand may never rival.

Nunthinee Tanner, managing director of LGB Co. Ltd, which run’s Thailand’s The Met Store, regretfully says: “Thailand does not have enough money for this — the insurance would be too costly and the humidity and heat make it far too hard to keep any artefacts. I have a dream that Thailand would have a museum like this but it’s impossible due to weather constraints.”

While the museum part cannot be a reality, the famous museum store is something that has already been on our shores for the past 10 years. Packed with replicas of actual art pieces from within the museum and merchandise with iconic paintings splashed across, a visit to the store is in itself a good stand-in for the actual museum. It’s shuffled around throughout various retail destinations, but now makes a cozy home for itself inside Anantara Siam Hotel Bangkok and most recently, in Mandarin Oriental, which just opened in April.

It may seem a little out of place to visit the store without actually getting to go to the actual museum, but meanwhile, just take a moment to soak up the fact that besides Australia, Thailand is the only country in the world to have a Met Store open. Featuring a brightly-lit space with contemporary curved shelves, this modern design first featured at the Mandarin Oriental also reflects The Met’s new visual identity — it’s much nicer than the new logo though, thankfully!

As one of Nunthinee’s passion projects, where it’s likely that she’ll be one of the next purveyor of the local arts and culture scene, the owner adds: “I want to inspire people who have never been to that museum before, to see what’s inside and what’s available there. I want to share these good things with Thai people. For people who have already been there, there’s lots of things they can buy there to give as presents too.”

If you are looking to do some foolproof shopping for a businessman or perhaps for a respected elderly person you know, it’s safe to say that you can’t go wrong with The Met Store, with its selection of textiles, jewellery, home decorations, books and posters. Prices may be 30-40% higher than in New York, but then again, you don’t need to pay your airfare to go all the way there. Replica statues like The Thinker, embossed stationary or fountain pens with patterns from paintings by Louis Comfort Tiffany make for a tasteful present that stands out beyond expected high-end brands, while also making you seem like an art connoisseur in the meantime.

One of the jewellery trends now is also costume jewellery — a cheaper but no less beautiful alternative to actual precious stones. They’re safer to wear out into public too and the ones at the store now take inspiration from the Byzantine era, presents from the Russian tsar to his queen, as well ginko leaves and basil leaves in the latest summer collection. For children, a fun range of pop-up and educational books on various subjects within the museum, from the Ancient Egyptians to medieval knights, are available for perusing.

Beyond the implications of shopping, The Met Store’s presence in Thailand is one to keep your eyes on, especially with the flagship going under renovations at Kian Gwan House on Wireless Road. In two years’ time, the flagship will take up two floors and be under the home of Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, turning the building into something of a cultural hot spot for both tourists and locals. What this also means for local artists is a direct line to possible collaborations or features, even if their works are not in the actual museum, under exhibitions that The Met curates. Told you so, a museum store sure does offer more than shopping!

Mugs, bookmarks and posters with works by Tiffany.

Necklaces inspired by the Byzantine era and gifts from the tsar to his queen starting at 8,800 baht.

Coaster (1,200 baht).

The more layers in an Egyptian collar necklace, the higher in rank the wearer.

Japanese notecards (1,320 baht).

Japanese notecards (1,320 baht).

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Wearing red never goes out of style for women. If you say red is not your colour, then honey, you just haven’t found your red. Somewhere between the colour of nahm daeng and prik phao is a shade that’s perfect for you. So from clothes and makeup to hot, hot accessories, we round up all the channels through which to discover and embrace your red.

Lady in Red

The most iconic way to wear red is in the form of a classic, waist-accentuating dress. It’s a look that’s bound to turn heads wherever you go, and for that reason, one we like to have in our womanly arsenal. Thai brand Canitt provides several options of regally red velvet dresses in their fall collection “Glam Slam”, ranging from an embellished tank-top and pleated skirt combo to a stunning full-length hourglass gown that’s lowcut in both the back and front. It’s the epitome of Old Hollywood glamour. Alternatively, if you’re not into the whole classic thing right now, designers are also embracing more aggressive, powerful looks in red this fall. For instance, check out a very 80s Joan Jett-inspired leather motorcycle outfit from Chloe’s autumn runway show — what a Cherry Bomb! A similar attitude carries out in H&M’s studio collection with a set of skin-tight fire pants with a python skin design and a red lingerie top.

Lips like Lizzie

If you’re going to capitalise on red right, you’ve gotta do the lips. We recommend shopping around and doing a lot of swatching — an industry term for doing an impressionist painting on your inner forearm with 20 lipstick shades minimum. Because there are at least that many shades of red. The rule of thumb is that your skintone is either warm or cool. Knowing this will help narrow down whether to look for reds with more orange undertones (warm) or reds with more pink or purple tones (cool). Then there’s the question of matte or sheen and application types to consider. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few that have been tested and approved by our team.

Hot Heels & Flamin’ Bags

To go with those fiery H&M python pants earlier are matching booties and box purse — a very current bag shape if we may add. Shoe designer Jimmy Choo also supports the marriage of red and python for footwear, but is definitely more into the velvet touch this season than the lacquered look. Ladies who love elevation should check out Choo’s red velvet platform pumps with charming stitching, or Yves Saint Laurent’s variation in a classic candy red. The great thing about this bright red is that it’s never missing from the handbag shelves if you want to match your accessories. However, if you’re keen on pushing the envelope with red bags this season, consider a purse that has fun with the iconism of red, like Lulu Guinness’ lip clutch.

Bloody Harry

Who says red is a colour to be worn exclusively by women. Check out the crimson previewed at Dior Homme’s autumn-winter collection showcase, which emphasised on matching suit ensembles. Maybe it’s time to finally get that red suit you’ve been fantasising about. g

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The Silent Prince will tour Europe next month. photo courtesy of Opera Siam

Somtow Sucharitkul will once again make his mark in Europe with four shows of The Silent Prince in Germany and the Czech Republic next month.

This is the second work of Thailand’s leading contemporary composer to set a foothold in the very heart of the world of operatic mega-epics since the London premiere of his internationally-renowned Mae Naak in 2012.

Based on a chapter of the Jakata tale, The Silent Prince tells the story of Prince Temiya, a former incarnation of Buddha who, when forced to choose between committing terrible karmic deeds and disobeying his father, withdraws from the world into silence.

The two-act opera was originally commissioned by Opera Vista and its world premiere at the Houston Grand Opera of Texas in 2010 was welcomed with a warm standing ovation. The work has already had two revivals by Opera Siam — both of which were presented to Thai audiences in 2012 and 2013.

The upcoming performance will be a collaboration between Thai and international artists, involving a team of about 70 people. Five German singers will make up part of the chorus, with another of them, FalkoHönisch, to sing the role of King of Benares.

The cast also includes American mezzo Colleen Brooks, Australian bass Damian Whiteley and Thai singers Jak Cholvijarn (reprising his signature role as the Bodhisattva), Zion Daoratanahong, Nadlada Thamtanakom and Kittin Suchato. Trisdee Na Patalung will be conducting the multiple award winning youth orchestra Siam Sinfonietta.

The Silent Prince is the first part of Somtow’s DasJati – Ten Lives Of The Buddha, a cycle of 10 full-length operas based on the central mythos of the Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism. This epic cycle is his most ambitious work in the entire history of music and theatre and he wishes it to be his final gift to the country and our beloved dynasty.

Somtow is planning to premiere the fifth work in the cycle, Nemiraj – The Chariot Of Heaven, in Bangkok by the end of this year. This will mark his halfway through the task of composing what will be “the biggest opera of all time”. He expects to complete the entire cycle in 2020 and put it on a world tour.

Opera Siam will bring The Silent Prince to perform as part of the “Young Artists Festival Bayreuth 2016” in Germany on Aug 10 and 11.

Royal granddaughter Khun Ploypailin Jensen, who appeared as an ancient deity in Nemiraj – Scenes From Ten Lives Of The Buddha which was staged in Bangkok two months ago, will be presiding over the festival’s opening ceremony on Aug 1. Two excerpts from The Silent Prince will also be staged that day.

The whole troupe will then head to the Czech Republic to perform in Prague on Aug 13 and Brno on Aug 17.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Best picks from Little Bao.

It’s a full-scale war going out on Thong Lor now, with the recent opening of 72 Courtyard, situated between sois 16 and 18. Those who brave to venture this already-packed road better bring it to Bangkok’s glitziest wining and dining high street.

With this new partying cluster, Bangkok boozers and foodies are beyond spoiled for choice. For now, the square, grey block only completely comes alive at night, with its neon-drenched courtyard that beckons you with the promise of hip, hybrid restaurants, Bangkok’s most beautiful (according to our photographer, anyway) and feel of a New York sky park.

We’d love to say it isn’t so, but little birdies have told us that other eateries and party spots around the neighbourhood, such as Moose, have shut shop. Thankfully, 72 Courtyard has the goods to fill the alcohol-shaped hole in our hearts.

The complex is home to nine different outlets, where you can feed cravings that range from strong drinks, Mexican, Nordic, Chinese and Western, to ripping it up full throttle on a dance floor that actually vibrates. The cool Scandis that run the Rocket chain are here with their other hip haunts Lady Brett and UNCLE (United Nations of Cocktail Lovers Everywhere), as well — although the latter have a different menu from the originals on Sathon 12. Rocket X (X for express) is a first to launch at 72 Courtyard, which focuses on the grab-and-go service. A proper in-store dining menu will be rolling out soon, but take note that this is the cheapest and only Rocket outlet that offers bagels. A fail-proof pick with a pleasant taste you can grab from as early as 7am is salmon and eggs (175 baht).

If you miss New York’s High Line and need your fix of meadowy flora on an elevated outdoor area, that’s just what the second floor of 72 Courtyard brings to mind. Dawdle or sit back in this lush, green open space — it’s the perfect spot to be seen even if you didn’t come for any of the eateries or drinking holes. When your stomach starts to rumble, continue reminiscing about your love for New York at Toro, the Barcelona-inspired tapas bar with branches in the Big Apple and Boston. Expect to order no less than four tapas and a paella for a company of two — tapas are small after all. It’s well worth the splurge though; do try Setas y Huevo (250 baht) for a swanky take on mushrooms and egg yolk.

72 Courtyard by night.

The hip hop Mexican taqueria Touche Hombre from Australia does beautifully-plated steaks and refined tacos, which are served on slabs of wood. Their grilled wagyu (980 baht) is not the hearty sort that will fill you up, but for putting on a show, it gets full points. You can’t go wrong with the chicken taco (225 baht), but their octopus taco (350 baht) offers a well-flavoured, succulent gummy texture you don’t often get with tacos. Your wallet may wonder if it can handle this, but remind yourself prices in Thailand for both Toro and Hombre are actually cheaper than the original branches.

The other import not to be missed is Little Bao, a fun and creative Chinese diner from Hong Kong. What’s ridiculously awesome again is the fact that the exact same menu as in Hong Kong is actually cheaper here. Signatures like lamb tartare and tofu chips (360 baht) and steamed drunken clams (360 baht) are great for sharing. I mean, things can’t get much better than clams in boozy butter. Also, their promise of small baos are all lies — it’s actually the size of a proper burger and enough to fill you. If you want a stuffing besides the expected pork belly, Sichuan chicken (260 baht), delightfully crispy even after sitting there for a long while, is a delicious option.

On the second floor of Beam.

The complex’s own brands (Evil Man Blues, Beer Belly, Beam) are glossily executed and fare just as well. All of them are drenched with the decor of neon signs, but each exude a stylish and contemporary personality of their own. Drop down to the spacious, craft beer hall Beer Belly on the ground floor, which has a communal vibe — where a live band, ping pong table and board games are among some of the things you can indulge in.

For those who’d rather dance up a storm, Beam’s high-tech equipment offers killer lighting and a floor that literally makes your feet tingle. It gets impossibly tight within the simple, rectangular room that doesn’t have much tables around 11pm, but the heavy beats (hip hop on the first, house on the second) and their mad graphics and piercing lasers make it worth the effort. The moody and broody can also find their footing at the jazz bar Evil Man Blues, which offers a more private solace away from the bustle of beautiful people. There’s live mood-setting music from Wednesday to Saturday, where cocktails are sophisticated and comfort food along the lines of mac & cheese balls and velvet cakes.

When everything is right there, it’s hard to leave, especially when the courtyard space is airy and never short of seats. An international Thai crowd and expats pack the place, what else is there to say, besides, wanna Courtyard and chill?

Toro.

Inside Beer Belly.

Grab-and-go at Rocket X.

This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven cocktail at Evil Man Blues.

Tacos, margaritas and steak from Touche Hombre.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

A recent movie trailer got me excited. Nope, it’s not that of Doctor Strange — which I’m also giddy about but that’s months away. I’m talking about the teaser of a Thai film called Senses from Siam which I believe to be the first feature-length film dealing with the salivating topic of Thai food. It’s about time, if you ask me.

Judging from the 2.05 minutes of deliciousness and the 13 times the word “Thai” was uttered, the film seems to explore what Thai food is and the tensions between those who abide by traditional cooking techniques versus those who embrace a modern take. Heck, the film could have been renamed Old School Thai Cooking v New School: Dawn of Endless Debate, because it has already generated heated online back-and-forth spouts due to the perceived nationalistic tone that’s shoved down your throat. Also, for a film so Thai, its trailer strangely begins with a famous quote attributed to Napoloen. I hope the film won’t be too preachy when it comes out on Aug 18.

While the foodie in me can’t wait to munch on popcorn and ogle over some stimulating food porn on a giant screen, the trailer also got me thinking about the impossible mission of defining what Thai food is.

If we’re talking geographically, there’s a chance that any Thai dish containing chilli and papaya could be ruled out since the two plants found their way here a long time ago, thanks to seafaring farangs. If we’re talking the original creator(s), we can also forget about all thong dessert which are credited to either a Japanese-Portuguese expat lady named Marie Guimar or a Portuguese community that lived during the Ayutthaya era. Also, don’t we have India to thank for some of our famous curries?

In my humble opinion (being a person who has eaten way too much for one lifetime), a major part of Thai cuisine is mixing foreign and local influences and making such fusions our own. There’s no shame in acknowledging the foreign influences that found their way into our cooking history. Baby, we’ve been doing fusion since waaay before fusion became a thing!

Therefore, the secret ingredient, all along, seems to have been the ability to think outside the box and — dare I say — be experimental. Look at some of our famed dishes like som tam or larb — they appear like a jumble of ingredients that happen to collectively deliver the right chemistry on your palate. Do you honestly think our ancestors got it right on their first try?

For me, it would be so unappetising to see this important aspect of our culture — one that is ever evolving too — frozen and to see only traditional Thai food put on a pedestal so high nobody would so much as dare to have fun with it while doing something different. The best way to “preserve” Thai food is to strike a balance between keeping the original recipes and techniques intact while also encouraging people to put their own spins on things. Those who stay on the traditional road with Thai cuisine aren’t dinosaurs and those who fiddle with it aren’t sacrilegious. They’re both just enriching the same thing in their own ways.

Why not enjoy all that falls within this culinary continuum? Just think about how many salads could be inspired by som tum. Anyone up for young asparagus som tum?

While I’m sure this upcoming movie will make you drool like nobody’s business, I also hope it will encourage a constructive discussion about what Thai food truly is and, perhaps, other aspects of our culture too.

Just please don’t use a cookie-cutter on Thai cuisine. Thai food is meant to be free.

It’s Thai, — freedom in English — for Buddha’s sake. g

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Compassion is a 3D lenticular portrait of the Dalai Lama created for his 80th birthday in 2015.

As a highly sought-after contemporary artist, you may have chanced upon Chris Levine’s light-synthesising works in ads for global brands like Chanel, Swarovski and BMW. The British light artist now comes to us directly with some of his most iconic works — trippy portraits of famous humans like Kate Moss, HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Dalai Lama — for his first solo exhibition in Thailand. It’s an exhibition all levels of art appreciators can surely enjoy, so we had to catch up with Chris to learn more about his fascinating style and process as well as future and hypothetical projects.

Chris Levine.

How did you discover your form of art?

I feel I’m still on a journey of discovery into new forms of expression and sensory experiences. The discovery is a process of searching for truth.

What was it like to work with such important figures like the Queen and Dalai Lama, and how did you come across the opportunity?

Aside from the great privilege and honour, it was quite a responsibility to do justice to the commission as the expectations just get higher and higher. For both commissions, I was put forward by curators and luckily both projects resulted in strong work.

How long does it take to make a 3D portrait? Can you walk us through the process?

There’s a lot of pre-production and setting up. I know what I’m looking to create and invariably I’m trying to distil the work into pure essence. We use a camera that moves along a track to shoot the different angles, and we use a lenticular lens that creates the stro image perceived as 3D. As I only had the Dalai Lama for 15 minutes, I had to go straight into achieving the shot — the image — that was in my mind.

What do you find most striking about Thailand?

I’ve been to Thailand many times and have great memories. I love the people and the land. I like that there is a spiritual feeling in the air.

If you were going to make a 3D portrait depicting something from Thai culture, what would it be?

I guess I would take it into the realm of spirituality — not religion — and work with the iconography of light and well-being. It might take me into a temple to create the work — or a beach?

What are you working on now or next?

I have several portraits lined up. I’m working on the iy_project — large immersive laser installations that are to do with seeing sound and hearing image. We are also working on a large installation at the Eden Project in Cornwall UK to create a work that brings us to the realisation that we are a part of nature, not apart from it. g

Lightness of Being depicts the Queen with her eyes closed and is the most intimate official portrait sanctioned by any British Monarch. It truly reflects the Queen’s relationship with the new millennium.

She’s Light is a portrait of Kate Moss, in which the artist was determined to ignore her status as a supermodel and show her in new light.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Inspirational Daab Chingri — sous-vide tiger prawn in malai curry, reconstructed tender coconut, edible sand, gondharaj lime air and gel, samphire pakora, gobindabhog rice, served in a coconut husk.

Following remarkable performances by 10 talented young chefs of Southeast Asia, Tarun Bhatia, chef de partie from Ek Bar restaurant in Delhi, India, has been announced as the winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef regional challenge, and will advance to the world grand finale competition to take place on Oct 13 in Milan, Italy.

Southeast Asia is among the 20 regions categorised by this competition. Within the Southeast Asia category are India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia and Maldives.

With his “Inspirational Daab Chingri”, Bhatia finished first among nine contenders; the semi-finalists — selected by ALMA, the world’s leading international educational and training centre for Italian Cuisine (www.alma.scuolacucina.it) — competed for a chance to participate in the global finals and win the title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016.

The regional challenge took place recently at the Dusit Thani Hotel School in Bangkok, where a jury composed of renowned chefs — Emmanuel Stroobant, Alvin Leung, Umberto Bombana, Ian Kittichai, Bo Songvisava and Will Meyrick — tasted the signature dishes prepared by each of the semi-finalists and selected Bhatia as the winner, based on the criteria of the competition’s five golden rules: ingredients, skills, genius, beauty and message.

Ingredients: Successfully selecting the best of what the market has to offer with regards to quality, freshness and uniqueness.

Skills: Successfully handling and transforming raw materials into a finished dish that respects its original essence.

Genius: Successfully exploring inspiring, unexpected prospects/outlooks, connected with fine dining culture with a personal and contemporary style, while maintaining a perfect balance of tastes and shapes.

Chef Ian Kittichai with Tarun Bhatia, the winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef regional challenge.

Beauty: Dish presentation is part of the charm.

Message: Successfully communicating a clear message through work and personal vision.

“I am thrilled to be representing not only India but Southeast Asia and competing with the world’s best young chefs,” said Bhatia. “The bigger challenge is awaiting in Milan but I guess the bigger the challenge the better you get. A humble Indian curry can go a long way and I think it’s just the beginning.”

During this final round, each of the 20 finalists from each region of the world will be assigned a mentor chef or globally-renowned culinary master, who will advise them on how to improve their signature dishes and help them prepare for the final competition.

On Oct 13 in Milan, a jury of seven celebrated international chefs known as the Seven Sages — David Higgs, Carlo Cracco, Gaggan Anand, Elena Arzak, Mauro Colagreco, Wylie Dufresne and Roberta Sudbrack — will determine the winner of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016, following the five golden rules.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Sneakers can be a form of self-expression and an outlet for creativity. That’s what Kraftka, a sneakers brand with a cool concept, is about. Chanasinj “Sunny” Sachdev, Kraftka’s co-founder and owner, puts a new spin on footwear by offering a platform for sneakers enthusiasts to be both creators and collectors. We first knew Sunny as a co-creator of American-style comic books The Roach but he has also been the creative mind behind many projects. Guru chats with Sunny, a comic book geek and video gamer at heart, after he came back from giving a talk on his brand at Discovery Asia’s Digital Disruption Week in Singapore last week. He told us about his entrepreneurial journey, what Kraftka’s new pop-up shop has in store for sneakers enthusiasts, and more.

Can you tell us what have you been up to since The Roach ended?

I was involved in so many projects. My team set up the Freitag Pop Up Store in Siam Square, launched an EDM project with Superdry and I started my own crowd-driven brand “Kraftka”, all while hosting events for many brands under Pronto Denim (where he’s the creative director). The Roach propelled me into the art world, getting to know local artists from all walks of life. It helps shape what I’m doing today.

How did the idea to create Kraftka come about?

It came about when my wife got me a pair of customised sneakers and I fell in love with them. It was the fact of putting art on unique places that blew my mind. In the two years that followed, the idea evolved from a sneaker customisation business into a full-fledged crowd platform.

Pieces fell into place while I was learning about customisation technology. There was just so much you could do with a pair of sneakers, so then I worked on developing a web-based platform to empower artists to become customisers and create a community where art and fashion cross. On Kraftka’s website (www.kraftka.com), anyone can create sneakers with their own design for free and get royalties when someone buys one of their designs.

Work started on building the brand and the platform in early 2015 and it was launched earlier this year.

What kind of goals do you have for Kraftka?

I shape them along the way through learning. Now it’s a brand to empower artists to do their thing on quirky canvases; sneakers, espadrilles, flip flops and even beer bottles. As long as it’s unique and fun, we’ll put art on it.

I’m also into products with stories and souls. That’s the essence of Kraftka. Each item is made by a different artist, each with their own stories and backgrounds. I want customers to be excited about our products, knowing that they embody art and quality, and knowing that they aren’t simply mass-produced.

I think it’s necessary to create Kraftka as a crowd-driven platform. Today we already have the likes of Uber and AirBnB which empower ordinary people to earn money on their own terms. One of our goals is to be the first fashion brand to do so in this sharing economy.

How has the feedback been?

It has been great. Many artists love putting their work on items they’ve never been able to before. They also appreciate the abilities to check their royalties in real time and create products instantly to meet trends. We’ve over 1,000 artists now and are growing every day. We’ve got doodlers in Dubai and art teachers in the UK. A lot of them are “backyard artists” who never thought they could make money from their private artworks.

What can people expect from Kraftka’s first pop-up store (in Siam Center until October 15)?

You can expect new products by independent artists and also fun collaborative events. During each Saturday event, we’ll showcase new artists and products, hoping to deliver a fun and meaningful experience for all attendees. Soon, you’ll see new fashion items, all of which are customisable on the website. Plus, new standalone stores with specialised concepts, such as a flip-flop bar.

Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs out there?

There are several things I have learned. First, the only thing that is constant is change, and that flexibility and openness to change are vital in competing in the current market. What you start off with will evolve and change day by day. It’s also important to find the right co-founder who is the ying to your yang, so you can focus on your core competencies while they focus on theirs. Lastly, I think everyone needs to realise that happiness lies in the journey towards your dream or passion, not the destination itself.

There’s no real destination, anyway. Once you accomplish something, there’s always another finish line to cross. g

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Sweet crispy rice noodles.

Despite my scepticism due to its off-track location and indistinct profile, I arrived at Simply V, which opened less than two months ago, following a friend’s recommendation of its American-style BBQ.

But as I’m writing this, my mouth waters for the impeccably tasty Thai dishes the restaurant also offered during my visit. Some of the best in town, I have to say.

A new player in the Bangkok food scene, Simply V is a family-run restaurant offering suburban diners a wide variety of dishes amid a cosmopolitan ambience.

The 200-seat venue, decked out in a contemporary style, is divided into four sections including the main dining hall, coffee bar, al fresco garden terrace and private room.

And to cater to the large dining capacity is a 10-million-baht cooking arena equipped with a state-of-the-art, professional — almost industrial — kitchen system.

It all began with the culinary passion of Yannawit Wattanasin, a university lecturer-cum-part-time cook, who, almost every weekend over recent years has indulged his family with home-cooked American-style BBQ food.

The 200-seat restaurant offers has a cosmopolitan feel. Pattanapong Hirunard

The recipes were garnered from his previous years living in the States. And other than the arrays of expensive, well-selected cooking appliances, remarkable also is his manually constructed wood-fire smoker. With this, Yannawit char-infuses his meat, sometimes his sauce, with imported wood chips — namely, cherry, apple, hickory and mesquite.

I recommend you start your meal with chicken wings (150 baht) that come in two options — Buffalo and Texas styles.

Served with celery, carrot sticks and ranch-mustard dressing, both provide the truly satisfying mouthfeel of authentic American-style wings, with a lightly crispy exterior and juicy, piping hot meat.

BBQ lovers won’t regret the Texas-style BBQ pork chop with mashed potatoes (320 baht) and the barbecued pork ribs with coleslaw (450 baht for a half rack). Both proved delectable.

After the Western fare came the big moment for the extra pleasure — the Thai cuisine. It is under the helm of a veteran Thai chef, who has worked in several of the city’s well-established Thai restaurants.

No matter whether you have your favourite place for sweet crispy rice noodles, if you are mee krob connoisseurs, you have to try Simply V’s rendition (150 baht). For me, it’s the best in the country.

The dish came complete with all the works, including brittle morsels of tofu, fluffily crispy egg, pickled garlic and lime-like Seville orange zest, whereas the noodles were skilfully prepared to provide a subtle harmony of sweet and sour tastes, and a perfect texture that long retained its crispiness.

The 200-seat restaurant offers has a cosmopolitan feel. Pattanapong Hirunard

Another appetiser you can’t afford to miss, the sour and spicy salad of smoked pork collar (180 baht), is the love child of the Thai kitchen and the smoke house, and you’re guaranteed to love it.

Supple slices of pork yielded the flavour-profile of good bacon but with the juicy character of a succulent pork steak. And if you wonder if the Thai-style dressing, made with lemon grass, shallots, roasted dried chillies, mint, lime juice and fish sauce, would demerit the pork, let me assure you that the well-concocted sauce did a marvellous job of enhancing it.

For entrées to enjoy with rice, I urge you to order the wok-fried, finely julienned morning glory with nam phrik kapi (150 baht) and stir-fried green beans with shrimp paste and fresh prawns (150 baht).

The deep-fried sea bass with green mango relish (380 baht) was equally impressive. Nice fillets of the whole fish were properly deep-fried to exhibit a crispy exterior that revealed a cottony white centre. The aromatic sweet-and-sour relish made with shallots, roasted peanuts and thin strips of green mango proved a great complement.

The winning entrée, however, was a dish that, if judged simply by the description and the look, you would fancy having a second bite of.

Texas-style BBQ pork chop.

As soon as we had the first bite of sautéed duck with cumin leaves and chillies (280 baht), we fell in love with the subtly seasoned dish made with wok-fried fillets of fresh duck seethed with fragrant herbs.

And if you’re in the mood for green curry, you’ll be gratified by the chicken green curry accompanied by warm roti bread (120 baht).

Although a common-sounding a choice, the chocolate lava with home-made vanilla ice cream (150 baht) proved worth wrapping up the meal with.

Another best-selling option, the hot chocolate (110 baht), featuring rich and velvety chocolate cubes in hot fresh milk, is ideal whether you’d like to finish off with a soothingly stomach-filling dainty or simply to spend a laid-back afternoon with a warm, comforting drink.

Service was executed with Thai-style cordiality by knowledgeable staff.

Sautéed duck with cumin leaves and chillies.

Stir-fried green beans with shrimp paste and fresh prawns.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Photos: Pattanapong Hirunard

Sitting at a café in an office building where he just finished his latest television interview, Tachaya “Keng” Pathumwan was met with a flowing line of excited office workers congratulating him on his latest achievements. He’s an easy target to spot: dressed in all black with a sleeve of tattoos, numerous ear piercings and a Johnny Bravo-like hairstyle, “Keng The Voice” as he’s better known after his stint in the singing contest is the latest name in the pool of talented Thais that have made the country proud.

It was at the World Championship of Performing Arts (cited by some as the Olympics of aspiring performance artists) in Los Angeles, California, earlier this month where Tachaya scooped five trophies, 14 gold medals, four silver medals, one bronze medal and three special awards, making him the biggest winner since the competition’s conception. What’s most admirable about the 27 year old, is that he won all of them by sticking firmly to Thai culture and roots. Embracing the traditional, he spins the old to make it cool. Really cool.

At the competition he signed up in 10 solo singing categories, seven instrument plus singing categories, and two solo instrumental categories. But it was his performance of the solo instrument, jakae (the traditional Thai three-string zither) that got him into the grand finale.

“Everything changed from what I had initially thought,” he said. “I never thought that the jakae show would go that deep into the competition. What I’m most apt at is singing, which I thought would lead me into the deepest rounds.”

The video of his performance shows Tachaya in a black cape, half of his face covered in a fanged mask of an ancient god, working the instrument with theatrical flourish, more like a pianist, squeezing fast notes out of the instrument not particularly known for such melodies.

Tachaya graduated from the department of traditional Thai music at Mahidol College of Music. But his interest in Thai instruments began during his middle school years, where he was able to play every traditional instrument as well as sing traditional numbers. His speciality instrument is the flute, which he put on a show in The Voice Season 2; Tachaya was the runner-up in that competition but his confidence, talent and extravagant wardrobe managed to make him the most recognisable face of the show.

At the competition in LA, he chose the jakae to compete for several reasons.

“I felt that the flute, my favourite, doesn’t have that ‘amazing’ quality to it if you bring it out to battle on the world stage,” he said. “We also only have one minute to perform, so I chose the jakae because there’s lots of techniques and tricks involved, and it looks raw and fierce [while playing].” It’s also the most practical to transport out of the other Thai instruments, though his jakae did get quite a beating and lost a leg when it got to LA.

Nineteen traditional songs were rearranged and prepared, and 23 otherworldly outfits by Thai fashion designers and students were created for the competition alone. Throughout the competition, Tachaya’s friend and coach Pakorn Nuyee fine-tuned every single performance as well.

“We had to choose songs that could show our full potential within one minute,” he said. They ended up choosing the old traditional song Krudrat Yiab Gruad (The Garuda Stomping Pebbles).

“Hard, but easy to listen to and it shows off the skills. We did things that have never been done before with Thai instruments like lifting up the jakae. Just playing the instrument alone isn’t enough. We had to bring it on; from the clothes, to the face to the hair, it can’t just only be an instrumental performance.”

His grand finale costume — the giant, poofy braided jacket, was designed by a Rangsit University student. It was actually prepared for his singing act, which he didn’t qualify through, and he had already used up the costume prepared for the instrumental finale (the black-studded jacket he brought to the interview) in the semi-finals.

“The [poofy] costume’s inspiration came from Ganesh,” Tachaya explains. “I didn’t think that I would wear it to sit down and play. It was for standing and singing. But once the lights were on me while sitting down and playing in it, it was a whole different feeling — a positive feeling too.”

With Tachaya’s epic number of trophies and the news of his flamboyant show in LA in the headlines, the singer has brought back some interest to Thailand’s traditional music scene. It’s yet another case of Thai culture being accepted abroad before it arouses enthusiasm back home.

“Thai people don’t see the importance [of traditional music]. It’s something we’re used to seeing, so we don’t feel that it’s special,” he said. “When foreigners see that it’s special, we go ‘OK it’s special then’. But I also see it as a good thing, as it’s bringing back interest in Thai instruments.”

Even going on an international level competition like the WCOPA, Tachaya and his team paid all the expenses out of their own pocket, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand chipping in last minute to give a small amount of support.

“I was disappointed when I sent in the forms and organisations answered back that they won’t be sponsoring us due to different reasons,” he said. “Thais have talent, but sometimes we don’t have the support. We should be more human. But I can’t blame anyone. Everyone has their own opinions, and I’m just responsible for my own part and that’s it.” It’s hard being a performing artist in Thailand, according to Tachaya. “I come from a cultural background and people here don’t really digest culture. Before, I was just promoting my album and songs. My life was a straight line, and an artist’s life in Thailand is just that. So I chose to go to the WCOPA in order to show what I truly am. I didn’t expect that it was going to be like this. I never thought I would receive this many medals. It exceeded all of my expectations.”

Before returning to Thailand after the competition, Tachaya was approached by some foreign producers interested in working with him. However, after commenting that Tachaya’s English wasn’t good enough to go global, he is now set on proving them wrong.

“I feel that Thai songs can be famous worldwide as well and it’s not the language that’s the obstacle,” he said, speaking animatedly. “I believe that Thai songs sung in Thai can go international as well. We just have to prove it. That’s my dream.”

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The number of likes food delivery services have on Facebook can be deceiving, much like the profile picture of someone on Tinder. In the case of Delicious Story, however, the nearly 130k of online thumb-ups are justified indicators of its quality.

It offers over two dozen items to choose from via its website. This may sound modest but we think it’s a short-listed menu. What also got us interested in the first place was its tagline of bringing hotel-quality food to your doorstep.

There are several things that we like about Bento set kurobuta (B289). The pork is tender and tasty, being marinated in barbecue sauce. It’s good on its own but there’s an extra dip for a tangy touch. The miso soup isn’t half-heartedly done either. Jiggly tofu cubes and soft seaweed floating in the not overly salty soup give some soothing slurps. The tamagoyaki, crab sticks and wakame salad are good enough and don’t taste like they are from the bottom shelf.

Spicy salmon rice bowl (B249) is quite sensational. Chunky pieces of raw fish are dressed in sriracha-and-mayo sauce and topped with thousands of pops from ebiko. Fresh and juicy fish with microwaved fluffy grains of rice proves to be a delicious duo. Wasabi in a small plastic bag is also provided in case you want a tickling sensation. I usually am not afraid of wasabi but I find Delicious Story’s to be too pungent. Dab with caution.

The least favourite was Burger spaghetti (B189). The portion is very generous but the thick patty, the dish’s supposedly highlight, falls short. It’s a tad too dense and the pork doesn’t come through enough due to the overwhelming burst of black pepper. The pasta part of the dish is good, though. The threads don’t stick together and are enhanced with cheese, dried chilli, garlic and bacon.

Rujira “Yok” Ussawasatittip, Delicious Story’s chef and owner, previously worked at restaurant hotels and it shows. She does quite a good job here. If you’re looking for a wholesome meal without having to set foot outside, Delicious Story shouldn’t disappoint. g

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

THE TIMELESS design of the latest high-tech watch to hit the market makes the Garmin vivomove look far more like a fashionable analogue timepiece that a fitness gizmo. But there’s more underneath those good looks than meets the eye. This is an intelligent activity tracker that will encourage you to move every hour to burn excess calories.

The watch uses a normal replaceable CR2025 coin cell battery with a life of one year and is available in three versions – vivomove sport, classic and premium.

The sport version has a black silicone band and a dial in a choice of black or white. The classic version is available in black with a leather band or in rose gold-tones, also with a leather strap. For its part, the premium version is available both in stainless steel and gold-tone steel. Thai Garmin fans will have to wait a while for the premium version though: right now only the classic and sports watches are on sale.

The vivomove really does look like an analogue watch with hour, minute and second hands. But the dial is cut, revealing two LCD bars underneath. The bar on the right is called the move bar and it alerts you after a period of inactivity. The one on the left is the step bar and displays your progress in step taking as a percentage of your daily goal. Each bar has tiny marks or segments that light up as your steps progress or your inactivity continues.

Vivomove and other Garmin activity trackers are designed to encourage you to walk for a few minutes of walk every hour so that your body will go on producing the enzymes that burn unnecessary calories. After one hour of inactivity, the move bar appears. Additional segments appear after every 15 minutes of inactivity and after two hours of inactivity, the move bar goes solid red, warning you to walk now!

The step bar has numbers 0, 50, and 100 printed next to it to show the progress of your goal in percentage terms. If it goes solid, your goal has been achieved.

Before you start using the vivomove, you must pair it with your Android or iOS smartpone or tablet computer, using the Garmin Connect app and Bluetooth. It’s easy to do: just press the crown of the watch for three seconds until the step bar starts flashing.

You also need to register for an account with Garmin Connect to keep a record or your progress. The auto goal function of vivomove will keep adjusting the goal to your lifestyle. Just enter gender, height, weight, and birth date and the app will calculate the number of calories burned during the day.

The Garmin Connect app provides detailed information about your activity including time, distance and calories burned. You can also use the app to share your progress with your social media friends.

The vivomove will automatically record your activity with its Auto-Activity Detection function. You do however have the option of turning this off. When turned on, it will record an activity after you have moved for at least 15 consecutive minutes.

Apart from using the auto-goal function, you can also use the app to manually set your daily goal. If you want to allow vivomove to more accurately calculate the distance travelled, use the Custom Step Length function. Here, you enter a known distance and the number of steps it takes to cover the distance and the Garmin Connect app will calculate your step length.

The vivomove has a water rating of 5 ATM meaning you can wear it in the shower or the pool. You can also find out how long you have slept, your sleep levels and movement just by wearing it all night.

The vivomove supports 2.4 GHz ANT+ wireless communications protocol. If you buy an optional USB ANT Stick, you can pair the vivomove with your computer without having to use a smartphone and Garmin Connect app. The recorded data can then be studied from your Garmin Connect.com web page.

The sport vivomove retails for Bt5,990 and the classic version for Bt8,390.

Physical dimensions: 42 mm diameter x 12 mm thick (20 mm wide watch bands)

Weight: Sport: 51.0 g; Classic: 48.0 g; Premium: 67.0 g

Battery: Replaceable CR2025 coin cell

Battery life: Up to 1 year

Water rating: 5 ATM

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

THERE’S NOTHING that brings a city more to life than a major football competition and Paris was certainly full of joy and cheer as it hosted the UEFA European Championship 2016 last month.

Even the despondency that had been in the air since the November 13 terrorist attacks in the French capital seemed to dissipate as fans from the participating nations and from further afield rejoiced in the soccer spirit.

Millions of football fans around the world travelled to the host country to watch their beloved teams play in the tournament, which ran from June 10 to July 10.

Among them was a group of Thais, guests of major sponsor Carlsberg who were in town to watch the quarter-final match between France and Iceland at Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis. The once-in-a-life experience came courtesy of Carlsberg Thailand, who flew more than 40 customers and two winners from its social media marketing campaign to Paris for the match. The Danish brewer has been an official sponsor of the UEFA EURO Championship – one of the world’s biggest football events – since 1988.

Our group was infected with Euro fever from the moment our coach entered the iconic Avenue des Champs Elysees, which was decked out with banners promoting the games.

Restaurants, cafes, and pubs were all decorated with national flags of the 24 countries taking part in the game and we thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Fanzone, set up next to the Eiffel Tower, where we joined tens of thousands fans watching a match on a giant screen.

On the evening of July 3, all roads from Paris led to the Stade de France stadium neighbouring Saint-Denis to watch the host team play against dark horse Iceland. Situated 10 kilometres from Paris, the Stade de France was one of the places that came under attack last November by the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The terrorists attacked the stadium, a concert hall, restaurants and bars in Paris, almost simultaneously, leaving 130 people dead and hundreds wounded. It was the deadliest attack on France since World War II.

The mental wounds from that night of horror have yet to heal but the victories of Les Bleus, as the host team is known, until their loss to Portugal in final helped raise the spirits of French fans.

Security was tight but not overwhelming. Armed policemen patrolled the streets but not in such large numbers that tourists felt they had something to fear. On the contrary, the two security checkpoints we passed through before even entering the stadium made us feel reassured about our safety.

Seated in the middle of the stands and just 100 metres from the pitch, we had a bird’s eye view of the match. While thrilled by the seven goals scored by both teams and the excellent performance of the Icelandic players, it was the spirit of the fans of both sides that made the biggest impression.

Despite the light drizzle, more than 80,000 fans turned out to cheer their players. And even though Iceland was beaten by 5 goals to 2 by their opponents, and French striker Olivier Giroud was named man of the match, for many fans, myself included, the real prize went to the Iceland fans and their unique “Viking War Chant”. That synchronised clap and a shout of “Huh” quickly became known to the entire football-watching world!

The Icelandic fans didn’t leave the stadium immediately after the game, instead waiting for the players to join them for a powerful round of the chant before packing their bags and returning home.

For our group of Thais too, it was time to say “au revoir” to France and to the Euro Championship for another four years.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.