Much has already been written about the rapidly ageing society in Thailand but one recent figure caught my attention. According to the Fiscal Policy Office, only 5.4% of retired citizens have the means to survive on their own savings or from the sale of their properties.

If the said figure is to be believed, it appears the chicken may be coming home to roost sooner than earlier anticipated. If 95% of retirees have to rely on government handouts and financial support from their adult children, then we are in for a real social crisis on an epic scale.

What I find truly amazing is the sheer number of senior citizens that have failed so badly at something as important as one’s own well being during the golden years. Did they think that they can just wing it by not saving enough when they were young and hope that all will be well when they are old?

I am certain this laid-back, “No worries” attitude can not only be a Thai phenomenon. I believe other cultures have similar sayings about work/life ethics too. In French, it’s “C’est la vie”, which means “That’s life”. The Italians and the Americans have similar sayings as well, “La merda succeed”, which loosely translates into “Sh*t Happens”.

But it seems Thai people take this “Enjoy life when you can and earn it when you can’t” work ethic to a whole new level. In a way who can blame them? In the land of plenty with fish in the water and rice in the field, as Thailand is famous for, the people don’t have to work too hard. Not lazy but doing enough work just to get by. Moreover, by tradition, younger people — read daughters — cared for their ageing parents without exception.

I have often wondered how my grandfather generations managed to cope with their retirements. Back then, there were no safety nets to speak of. No social security fund, no provident funds, no Retirement Mutual Funds (RMF) and yet they seem to have managed just fine. They never became a burden to their children and when they finally passed away, the inheritances were more than enough for the beneficiaries to live in comfort.

May be it has something to do with their work ethics. Like most Chinese immigrants, my folks came to Thailand escaping poverty and persecution, and like so many of that generation, they arrived penniless. In spite of the odds, they survived and thrived here and have created descendants instilled with a strong work ethic.

A century later, the third and fourth generations, in other words my generation, are struggling again with the meaning of life. May be we spent too much time listening to the likes of the Dalai Lama who was asked what surprised him the most about human nature and this is what he said: “Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.”

Without trying to be too philosophical about life, here are my 2 Cents-worth of advice on how to cope with retirement funding:

Rule 1: Aim high. Don’t be a burden to anyone when you retire. Not to your children and especially not to society. Only losers do that.

Rule 2: Pay Yourself First. Unless you sock away 20% of your income for retirement you cannot retire in comfort. Period.

Rule 3: Go for the low-hanging fruits. A good place to start saving for retirement is through the many tax-exempted savings schemes, namely provident funds, RMFs, retirement life insurance policies.

Rule 4: Invest for the long term in growth assets. Think like a business owner and invest in shares for the long term. As a rule of thumb, you should hold a percentage of stocks equal 100 minus your age. So for a typical 40-year-old, 60% of the portfolio should be in stocks.

Rule 5: Keep expenses low. Whenever possible go for low cost index funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF).

Rule 6: Diversify. The Thai stock market is small, making up only 0.35% of global market capitalisation. To construct a proper retirement portfolio, you need to diversify offshore.

Finally, you cannot have a million dollar dream with a minimum wage work ethic and don’t be upset with the results you did not get from the work you did not do.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Christopher Benjakul. Jetjaras na Ranong

From a farang-looking showbiz sweetheart who starred in a soap opera, television commercials and music videos 17 years back, today Christopher Benjakul is selling bread.

“These days I spend most of my time here at the bakery, doing almost everything,” said Christopher, referring to 60 Plus Bakery, operated by the Asia-Pacific Development Centre On Disability (APCD), where he also serves as a public relations officer.

The 40 year old is no ordinary bread seller. Working at and promoting the bakery, Christopher is an advocate for public awareness of the rights of those with disabilities, which is in fact the idea behind 60 Plus Bakery. Opened last December to mark the 60th birthday of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, 60 Plus is a collaboration between APCD, Japan-born baking company Yamazaki, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese government, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and other allies.

60 Plus has 22 employees, all with disabilities. The majority have autism and intellectual impairment or hearing disabilities. In a way, the bakery functions as a training centre for them. If, after around six months, they’re qualified based on working standards established by Yamazaki, they’ll be accepted as staff and transferred to a branch near their home.

Christopher said he arrives at the shop every day at around 6am and might have to stay until 8pm if there are lots of orders. But despite such tedious working hours, he admitted this is the job that makes him truly happy. Apart from handling routine tasks at the bakery, Christopher also greets customers — many of whom learned about this place from the recent Facebook post of customer Pinhathai Nunuan sharing the feel-good story of Christopher himself. Yet his charm and sense of humour might be the secret behind the escalating sales.

The former TV personality would not be here if not for a road accident that took place in Hua Hin when he was 23 years old and on his rise to stardom. While on his way back to Bangkok with friends, Christopher saw two people lying on the road, badly injured from their motorcycle accident. He got out of his car to help.

While sitting on the hard shoulder, Christopher was hit right from behind by another motorbike, whose rider was intoxicated. The clash threw him metres in the air, where his head hit a concrete utility pole. He suffered a severe brain injury, and Christopher spent three years in the hospital.

That, unfortunately, was not all. He fell victim to another road accident 12 years ago, leaving him with a badly broken leg. He had a metal plate implant for three years.

All this forced him to call it quits as an entertainment figure. He decided to resume his education at the School of Communication Arts, Assumption University, majoring in advertising. After graduation, he worked in several businesses — motorcycle insurance, floristry, local cable TV, marketing. Then he was unemployed for two years before being approached by the APCD.

“My job at the APCD is to be responsible for training as well as doing paperwork,” he said. “I really am not picky when it comes to jobs. I was once thinking I wanted to be a taxi driver, but my knowledge of routes in Bangkok is quite limited.”

With his experience applying for jobs, Christopher believes Thailand falls short of awareness when it comes to career opportunities for people with disabilities. It’s a sad truth, he said, that many organisations still cling to the attitude that people with physical or intellectual impairment have no potential to work and live with normal people.

“Many Thais still do not recognise the rights of people with disabilities,” he added. “I once applied for the position of creative [designer] at an ad company. Back then I still had to walk with a crutch. When I arrived at the interview, the staff asked me if I would be capable of working there. I was branded handicapped because I used a crutch.

“What if you get old and need support? Will you call yourself handicapped too? I threw the application form into the bin and told them their company did not deserve to have a person like myself working for them.”

As an advocate on behalf of people with physical and intellectual impairment, Christopher said Thais still need considerable education as to what the disabled are capable of.

“If you’re to give people with disabilities a career opportunity, you must learn to get the right people into the right jobs. The hearing-impaired, for example, can make bread but they’re definitely not able to take orders at restaurants. Failing to do so affects not just your organisation but the dignity and self-confidence of the disabled.”

After two major accidents that left him bedridden for years, today Christopher’s brain fully functions. He can drive, speak, and do things like everybody else. Though he still walks with a limp — a result of his previous leg injury and vigorous use of muscles in his everyday life — Christopher does not fully define himself as a person with a disability. Whether he knows it or not, he is today a beacon of hope for the able-bodied and disabled alike. “We should fight no matter what,” he said. “Especially people with disabilities — they must never give up. Look around for opportunities and they’ll certainly find things that are right for them. While they maintain their strength to live on, society should also stop discriminating against them. These people cannot be overlooked. On the contrary, they can become a valuable part of this society if they’re put into the right place doing the right thing.”

Product labels are also printed in Braille for customers with visual impairment. Jetjaras na Ranong

Some 22 members of the staff at 60 Plus Bakery have disabilities. Ten of them are diagnosed with autism and intellectual impairment, eight hearing impairment, two physical disability and two psychosocial difficulty. Jetjaras na Ranong

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The search for lost or hidden treasure is older than Jason and the golden fleece. Legend and history assure us it exists, on land and beneath the sea. Fortune hunters have been searching for it, high and low, for millennia. The Templars squirrelled away their trove, but where?

The pharaohs were placed in booby-trapped pyramids with their riches, but clever tomb raiders broke in and stole it. The Incas of Peru hid their treasure from the Conquistadors in the peak of Machu Picchu. Myth has it there’s a city of gold in North America, not found as yet.

Hurricanes sank silver-laden galleons in the Atlantic Ocean. Mariners can’t stop looking. Maps, X-marks the spot of Captain Kidd’s treasure chests, are still being snatched up by people with shovels. A problem is, when found abroad who is their legitimate owner?

Then again, how many of such legends and histories are based on fact? Truth be told, wishful thinking lies behind more than a few. The desire to become wealthy trumps scepticism. On the title page of The Prisoner’s Gold by Yank author Chris Kuzneski it states it’s a work of fiction.

Taking a leaf from Alexandre Dumas’ The Count Of Monte Cristo, a prisoner in a dungeon informs his new-found friend in the next cell about his savings as a merchant, but not revealing where he’s hidden it. The setting, like the confidant, is Genoa. The merchant, Venetian, is Marco Polo. The year is 1208.

Eight hundred years later, the treasure has yet to be found. Hunters aren’t above tracking one another and stealing what may have been found, even killing their fellows for clues discovered. Which is what keeps happening in this story as all follow the route Marco Polo took to the palace of Kublai Khan.

Cobb leads the good team, Feng the evil one. However, one member of Cobb’s team belongs to the other side. And there are two leaders above Feng, all revealing themselves in good time. Pitched battles now and then. A particularly exciting one is between a helicopter and a drone.

A computer expert is a penultimate hacker. A linguist is fluent in medieval Mongolian. The climactic penultimate chapter takes place in Sri Lanka. The author makes clear that treasure hunting isn’t a past-time for amateurs. Those in it are deadly serious.

Panic kills

The Athenian philosopher Plato noted that there are two reasons preventing man from committing a crime: that he was afraid of being caught; or that his conscience induced him to be honest. What he overlooked was the numerous reasons crimes are committed.

It would take pages to list them. Psychologists and psychiatrists are studying them all. To an extent, so are crime thriller novelists. Felons are interviewed in prison to hear their explanations, more than a few of whom are insane. Conveying this to the untrained in neurology is no simple matter.

The human brain is complex, especially when it short-circuits. Psychopaths and sociopaths don’t realise this. To them the sight of blood and screams of pain are music to their ears. There’s no reasoning with them — indeed, no cure. Such books give readers a sickening feeling.

So why do we buy them? To see how the madmen are caught. First, authorities find out who they are, then proceed to track them down. Solitude Creek by American author Jeffery Deaver is case in point. Antioch March has a normal enough jog, yet carries heavy baggage — a family car accident ripping a girl to pieces.

The morbid sight fascinates him. So much so that he plans to stage something of the sort with more horrific results, which he does at a concert. Yelling “Fire” he blocks the exits. In their panic, members of the audience die in their stampede to leave the premises. There was no fire.

Enter Kathryn Dance of the California Bureau of Investigation. Long a Jeffery Deaver literary character, she is put in charge of the team to catch the quarry and ensure that he won’t do it again. Difficult because March has cronies with like minds. In time, they put her on their hit list.

Kathryn is a police expert in body language. And she finds time to have an affair.

The highly respected author has currently been tapped by the Ian Fleming group to pen James Bond stories. A lot of crazies there.

Kathryn Dance and Lincoln Rhyme, another standard Deaver sleuth, have been adapted to the big screen. His millions of fans span the globe.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Kanticha Chumma. photo: Somchai Poomlard

When we met up with Kanticha “Ticha” Chumma, she was having lunch by herself at GMM Building in Asok. It was a humid afternoon and the winner of the model-seeking reality show The Face Thailand Season 2, a hit when it aired earlier this year, came to the interview from the inaugural ceremony of her debut acting role in the TV series My Name Is Single.

“I’m playing Timor, a fashion buyer who is quite similar to myself because she’s outspoken, confident and speaks a mixture of Thai and English,” said Kanticha, in fluent English.

The 13-episode romantic comedy is loosely based on Thongchai “Bird” McIntyre’s famous tune Khon Mai Mee Fan and will pit Kanticha opposite Rathanand “Ter” Chanyachirawong (Kim from The Diary of Tootsies), diva Rudklao Amratisha and Getsunova’s frontman Prakarn “Name” Raiva.

It’s been half a year since Kanticha was crowned The Face’s winner, and life has been busy since then for the Thai model who grew up in Sweden. Over these past few months, she’s done modelling, commercials, runway walks and appeared on the cover of various magazines.

“People call me models. I’m not even of the legit height,” said Kanticha who is 167cm tall, which is considerably short for runway models. “But I can do it because I never give up.”

The 21-year-old admitted some people think she won The Face out of luck, especially when the audience seemed to put the money on her taller and “prettier” opponents, and hence more suitable for the title than herself.

“If we let the public majority of Thailand decide, maybe I wouldn’t win the show. I’m not in the stereotype that would fit into the dara industry,” she said, referring to the star-making quality. “I’m lucky that the judges are the ones who work in the industry. I think they saw something in me and perhaps they wanted something different, too. It became an opportunity to prove to the people that you don’t need to be, say, 177cm to win this.”

Kanticha herself believes she was indeed lucky. But not many people realised what went on before luck was on her side. She revealed she’s always wanted to be a model. Growing up, she spent her time moving back and forth between Thailand and Sweden. TV shows such as America’s Next Top Model and the likes were responsible for planting the dream in the young Ticha.

That dream eventually turned into determination. Kanticha used to send her portfolios to different agencies and travelled for hours to do free shoots.

“But nothing really went as planned,” she confessed. “I got a lot of no’s. I was like, what am I lacking? What is it that others have that I don’t? And you feel your self-esteem going down. You get rejected for the first time and, holy sh*t, it hurts.”

After some persistence, Kanticha soon established connections with photographers and make-up artists. She began getting small random gigs of photo shoots, but nothing major.

“I can’t survive with the money I got, though. What I have done in Sweden was nothing compared to Thailand. The industry wasn’t as big. Over there, they don’t have the same dara system as we have in Thailand. Anyone looking to be big needs to go abroad.”

During her gap year after finishing high school, Kanticha decided to fly back to Thailand to audition for The Face Thailand Season 2. She was picked to join actress, model and singer Namthip “Bee” Jongrachatawiboon’s team.

Hard work eventually paid off, and that’s the code Kanticha lives by — that and the classic “follow your dreams”. She made her final walk and strutted away from the show a winner. “P Bee”, as she affectionately calls her mentor Namthip, remains Kanticha’s role model and inspiration.

“She is so talented, humble and real. I admire that about her,” said Kanticha. Inspired by Namthip, she let on she would love to reach the point where she doesn’t need her face and name appearing on mainstream news just to be able to find work.

Being where she is right now, and especially after being crowned winner of The Face Thailand, Kanticha has seen one too many comments criticising that she’s not beautiful enough. And she has no tolerance towards the negativities people try throwing at her.

“F**k you. I’m beautiful, bitch,” she said, smiling. “If they’re gonna give me beneficial criticism then I’ll take it. I wanna improve myself. But to tell me I’m not beautiful, what do you want from me? You just want to bring me down and I’m not gonna let you succeed on that.”

The model believes that, as she was raised in a society that’s not too judging, she felt she has a strong wall built against destructive criticism since young age.

“I’m very confident, and it’s not about thinking I’m perfect. It’s about knowing your own good and bad side. You embrace the good and try to improve the bad.”

Kanticha is very well aware of the Thai beauty standards in which one has to be white and skinny to be considered beautiful to the public. She expressed that it is quite unfortunate how many young girls are criticised when they don’t conform to the society’s definition of beauty.

“If a girl has dark skin, people would call her dam [black]. These girls grow up feeling insecure about themselves and that’s just sad.”

As for the society’s craze on being all bone and skin to achieve what they believe as true beauty, Kanticha is strongly against the idea. Being fit is rather the trend to follow in her opinion.

“You cannot starve yourself to get a beautiful body!” she insisted. “Being thin isn’t equal to being fit. And to be fit, you have to exercise.”

“I like working out, and jogging, doing crunches and sit-ups,” said the model of how she takes care of her body. “I eat chips!” she whispered secretively before letting out a laugh.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Atikhom KhunawutFounder and executive editor of Way Magazine, an independent publication that started in print and is now available online

‘We can’t deny that news and content consumption has shifted from physical papers to online. All major publishers and newspapers have acknowledged the peril of the future and they have been trying to find a new model. One of the key things is how to make profit from online. The question is whether providers can adjust fast enough to catch up with their readers who’re leaving print media behind.

But change will be across the board, not only in the way media is consumed. The way the new generation perceive traditional media will be a major shift. The good old days when traditional newspapers can influence public opinion will be a thing of the past. Younger readers will not have loyalty towards newspapers, columnists or news anchors, the same way the old generation who are getting older do. The young generation will be highly sceptical towards mainstream traditional media. They might no longer give their ears to Suttichai Yoon. But they will follow online posts of E Jeab Lieb Duan [famous social media influencers] and other independent writers.

The act of reading for aesthetic pleasure might come to an end. The older readers get not only data and updates in print media, they also appreciate the design and the packaged content. On the contrary, the new generation will read bits and pieces of information. It’s as if the pages are being torn down and uploaded into the air for readers to read on their phones.

But content will remain king. The future of print media will still belong to the professional — serious journalists who can enlighten readers with their research and analysis.”

— Anchalee Kongrut

Saithip Montrikul Na Audhaya Radio host and CEO of GMM Channel

‘People may perceive that radio is a conventional medium. However, radio has this special ability to adapt itself well to today’s digital landscape. We consider ourselves a content provider. Content is hence the heart. We do not have a fixed image of radio content being broadcast primarily through a receiver; we see that today it is consumed through different devices: smartphones and other streaming options.

To me, the biggest strength radio has, in contrast to other media, is the bond between radio personalities and listeners. It’s a form of person-to-person communication. It is not just about the music, as nowadays music can be consumed across other channels/platforms. Listeners relate and feel connected to their favourite hosts because of their personalities and what they talk about on air. Our show Club Friday is a very good example. It’s about being a community.

In the surge of digital media, it is fortunate that we have become an early adopter by pioneering online streaming, radio apps and live studio broadcasts via webcam. Also, audience research has been of key importance to us because the findings not only reveal who our audience is but also we learn about their ever-changing behaviours, needs and tastes.

For traditional media to survive in the long run, the key is to be adaptive, evolve dynamically and move forward. I believe that nothing is static. Nothing remains the same. Change is nature. No matter what industry you are in, you can’t stop, especially the media business where everything is moving very fast. Don’t consider yourself old. We become a new person every day.”

— Pimchanok Phungbun Na Ayudhya

Janya Wongsurawat Co-founder of online TV and news platform Spokedark TV, which produces the hit satire programme Joh Khao Tuen

‘When we started out, internet quality wasn’t this good, it was hard to upload good quality videos. At that time the idea of ‘internet TV’ was still somewhat foreign and it was around the time YouTube was just starting. We were certain that the platform would be popular as it is today, it just took a little longer than we thought.

“I had worked in the TV industry before. I turned to this new platform because getting air time is not an easy task — one has to have both money and good connections. Yet, the challenge initially in establishing an online platform was getting these online shows monetised — neither the ad agencies nor sponsors understood what it was.

“People no longer wait to see shows when they are aired, but look them up online and watch them whenever they want. Today there’s hardly any boundaries anymore, whether it’s analogue TV, digital TV or online, content is content. The competition in the market has never been more democratic. It doesn’t matter what your platform is, the winner is the one who is able to create the content that people like the most.

“At the beginning, the content by those conventional TV channels like 3, 5 or 7 was often pirated by online platforms but those channels are now able to monetise the profusion of content that they have by also putting it online, for example, by creating YouTube channels.

“The only way to survive is adapting ourselves as quickly as we can. Facebook, for example, is vital in engaging with our audience. With a tool like Facebook Live, for example, content producers like us are still figuring out how to use it in an efficient way both in terms of the content and aesthetics.”

— Kaona Pongpipat

Titiporn Jutimanon Manager of Nine Entertain, a TV programme that relies on Facebook Live for its broadcasts

‘There’s a belief that live streaming will reduce the number of TV viewers but we don’t believe that. We believe that people who watch things on social media don’t watch TV, and people who watch TV still watch TV. If we don’t create an image, brand and engagement online, we’ll lose that [online] audience.

“We cast both TV and Facebook Live at the same time, and in the future we’re planning to create original content and programmes for Facebook Live as well. A strong point of Facebook Live is that you can go live anywhere and any time without having to look at the business side of things — of which slot it can fit into the schedule. And what’s different about our live streaming is that we use the best equipment and broadcasting technologies so viewers get the best viewing experience. We’re the first entertainment news channel to take this platform seriously. We don’t just take what we have and put it online but we also add in additional value as well in different ways in order to create good traffic.

“Facebook Live racks up around 200,000-300,000 views per day but there are still some limitations. It still doesn’t generate any income, but in the future we believe that it will. If the online streaming business starts to grow in the future and makes money, and if we don’t start building ourselves up now, we won’t be able to catch up.

“If TV doesn’t adapt itself there’s no way it’ll survive. However, TV still has its strong points. It has a reliability factor, so we have to choose and create new types of content and engagement with the viewers [for it to last]. If we want to communicate with people aged 35-40 plus, TV is the main medium. If we’re targeting teenagers, social media is more interesting. There’s no set formula for which medium is better than the other, it all depends on what we want to communicate and with who.”

— Apipar Norapoompipat

Teepagorn Wuttipitayamongkol Co-founder and Editor in Chief of The Matter, an upcoming news-based website featuring politics, arts and human interest stories

‘Online content has to be fun and approachable. We want to deliver information to people and report news that would benefit readers in a creative way, but still on the basis of fact.

“It’s easy for us to communicate with online readers because we’re new, unlike the traditional media outlets that just step into the online scene who may have carried existing reputations with them. For them, it may not be possible to adjust their tone to be more internet friendly. However, I think only posting exactly the same content from print in an online channel is not enough since it may not fit with the nature of the internet. What I’ve seen international media do is to launch a new brand specially for online or to create interactive websites and use tools like info-graphics, video and virtual reality which can be implemented with news.

“Though everyone now has the power to communicate, journalistic principles are still important for those who work in the media industry. We should be very aware of accuracy as hoax news can spread widely online. But I think the internet is a democratic platform for everyone so the media can express their standpoints as long as the facts are not being distorted, and yet they should also provide spaces for those who think differently.

“Now it’s not very easy to make money on online platforms but I think it’s just the first cycle and there will be more to come. Basically sponsored content and banners are what we could make money from now. However, in the future, if content that benefits consumers almost instantly can be created, chances are people will willingly pay for subscription content.

“More and more media is moving to online platforms but print may not be extinct as long as it can provide some values to the recipients that online platforms are unable to do. For instance, print with investigative content may still survive as well as that with good design.”

— Pattramon Sukprasert

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Ranger Sgt Naphat Multakorn, 34, left, and 26 year-old volunteer Wanida Thosawa have asked the army to reconsider rules requiring rangers to remain single. (Photo by Wassana Nanuam)

The army is considering relaxing its rules requiring women volunteer rangers to remain single and not get pregnant until they retire, after two female rangers in the restive South put in a request to their superiors to get married.

Sgt Naphat Multakorn, 34, formally requested permission from Col Sithisak Jenbanjong, chief of the Ranger Regiment 41 in Yala, to marry her lover, 26 year-old Wanida Thosawa, whom she has been seeing for many years.

Because the army’s restrictions do not apply to lesbian couples, said Col Sithisak, the marriage request has prompted the regiment to consider relaxing the rules for all female rangers. The regiment is mulling whether to allow one heterosexual woman ranger per year to tie the knot, but she will be asked to delay her plans to have a baby.

Currently, there are about 45 woman rangers in each of the 12 ranger regiments in three southern border provinces — Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat — or about 540 in total. Col Sithisak said these officers hold a wide range of responsibilities from cooking to fighting the unrest in the deep South.

Sgt Naphat said: “We take good care of one another as life partners. Working together and going on a dangerous mission together, we understand each other,” she said.

However, same sex marriage or any form of same sex partnership is not legally recognised under Thai law.

Volunteer ranger Hasawan Ruchanudee said she fully understood why she and other female rangers have been banned from getting married, because it could distract them from their duty or lead to them getting emotionally attached.

“The army doesn’t want us to have something to worry about while doing our duties, be it a child or a husband. Of course, this is a sacrifice we have to make as we’re determined to become [good] rangers,” Ms Hasawan said.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Architect Yanyong Boon-Long is a unique voice in the Thai design community through his creative use of space and innovation aiming at improving or even solving social problems. He has been involved in a project that installs solar roofs for a low-income canal community. His research funded by Rockefeller Foundation also inspired the authorities to connect Bangkok’s canals with Metro Rapid Transit (MRT) transit stations.

In 2014, Yanyong worked with a publisher in a crowdfunding project on the book Bangkok: Handmade Transit. Funded by potential readers, the book addresses innovation of informal mass transit in Bangkok such as motorcycle taxis and canal boats. It is an optimistic book that looks at Bangkok’s traffic and transport as innovation from trial and error. Here Yanyong chats about his trails and pleasure in his reading lists.

Which book is on your bedside now?

Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman by Richard P. Feynman. This is essentially a story about how trivial curiosities like imitating Italian-style speech to observing rotating dinner plates leads to great discoveries. It’s a perfect book for all non-conformists who like thinking outside the box.

Which book inspires your work?

Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found by Suketu Mehta. An inspiring book for architects who are curious to work with all types of people. As an architect, you can learn a lot from prostitutes, mafioso, slum lords, and many other interesting characters if you take up the non-judgemental attitude of Mehta.

Your all-time favourite?

Nexus: Small Worlds And The Groundbreaking Theory Of Networks by Mark Buchanan. This book opens up new ways of communicating with people, especially with people you don’t know too well. You learn that sometimes it’s better to talk to distant friends rather than close friends.

Which books made you laugh and cry?

Songkram Chiwit by Kulap Saipradit, from 1928. The book tells the story of a radical young man in a romantic relationship with an equally idealistic young woman. The story moves through a series of exchanged letters between the couple. As time progresses, the reality of money and survival take centre stage. Anyone who wants to revisit their youthful idealism should read this book.

Do you own e-book reading gadgets?

Yes, I own an iPad and an Amazon Kindle. I like how it’s more accessible in terms of finding books that are not available in Bangkok. In comparison to a physical book, however, it still lacks the element of surprise; you cannot accidentally flip the book to a passage that could suddenly give you new ideas.

Do you like the crowdfunding model for publishing Bangkok: Handmade Transit?

I like how the crowdfunders are also giving you new ideas for the book. You are not just crowdfunding to finance the book, but you are actually brainstorming ideas with the crowd.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The “One Gift for One Life” campaign was launched recently at a press conference during which medical experts provided information on the disease, which is the second most common cancer in Thai women. Also joining the event were Pimmada “Pim” Boriraksuppakorn, who has been diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer, and actress Kemmanit “Pancake” Jamikorn who shared her tips for staying healthy.

The fund-raising campaign is receiving the support of leading fashion designers Teerut “Vick” Wongwatanasin of Vickteerut, and Bhubawit “Roj” Kritpholnara, who have come up with a special bag and cap priced at Bt200 and Bt299 respectively that are guaranteed to appeal to fashionistas.

“Cervical cancer is one of the few types of cancer that can be prevented through regular screening, which is even more effective when it goes hand-in-hand with HPV vaccination. Despite the fact that the vaccine has a 70-per-cent success prevention rate among high-risk strains, a staggering 8,184 Thai women are still diagnosed with cervical cancer each year,” said Dr Wichai Termrungruanglert, head of Gynaecologic Oncology Division at Chulalongkorn University’s Medical Faculty.

“It is therefore critical that we continue to drive awareness and foster an accurate understanding among the public about this disease before it is too late. Moreover, given that the majority of women still lack access to essential information about the HPV virus as well as the financial means to obtain effective protection methods, the Thai Gynaecologic Cancer Society sees the urgent need to equip those in need with knowledge and reinforce its efforts by collaborating with various parties to launch such initiatives as the “One Gift for One Life” campaign. The campaign includes a fundraising activity, with all proceeds intended for acquiring HPV vaccines for children and young girls in the Juvenile Observation Homes throughout Bangkok.

We have plans to extend vaccination support to other regions in Thailand and expect more than 200 children and young girls to have access to a free HPV vaccination service.”

For his part, Group Captain, Panon Kasemsarn MD, an expert in gynaecologic cancer, explained the symptoms of gynaecologic cancer.

“All women are at risk of contracting cancer of the reproductive tract, and therefore, must regularly perform self-examination and immediately consult a gynaecologist for further diagnosis should they notice any abnormalities.

Another preventive measure women should take is to protect themselves against any viruses that are responsible for various types of cancer, particularly cervical cancer, takes the lives of many Thai women each year.

“A large number of women still have neither an adequate understanding nor the proper know-how about protecting themselves from the dangers of the |HPV virus, and providing them with the right knowledge will significantly lower the risk developing cervical cancer from the infection.”

For the past 10 years, many countries such as Australia, United States, Canada, and the countries in Scandinavia have been giving HPV vaccines to 11-12 year old girls. Recent research that studied the long-term efficacy of HPV vaccines also revealed that vaccination can significantly lower the risk of HPV infection, the main cause of common diseases such as genital warts and cervical cancer, by as much as 90 per cent. The vaccine has also been proven effective in inhibiting malignant lesion formation that often leads to cancer by 85 per cent.

– To place an order for the bag or cap, go to Line ID: onegiftbags2016 or call (087) 365 5973.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

Panoramic foot massage lounge. harnn

From Zen Tower’s 12M Floor (actually 13 to avoid using the unlucky number), a nice view of Bangkok can be captured from Harnn Heritage Spa Krungthep. The panorama may have your eyes exploring beyond the Ratchprasong intersection to Ploenchit, Pathumwan and Lumpini.

The newly-opened spa literally takes you to these and other locations since the treatments are named after places in the City of Angels.

Make three stops — Lumpini, Ploenchit and Pathumwan — the eponymous treatments deliver a body herbal scrub and mask; a traditional Thai aromatic massage; and a facial featuring water lily extracts.

Panoramic foot massage lounge. harnn

Heritage Spa Krungthep is Harnn’s second holistic spa in Bangkok established by architect, Vudhichai Harnphanich, who plunged into the spa industry 17 years ago.

“Bangkok boasts a rich mixture of different cultures. The same could be said about the new spa, which combines Asian healing principles and techniques that have been passed down from generations to generations,” said Vudhichai.

From the spa menu, a traditional Thai massage has been titled Pranakorn Therapy whereas an acupressure massage based on traditional Chinese medicine was correspondingly named Songward, an area in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

Another Asian therapy, an ayurvedic head massage is a part of the Chao Phraya ritual for those troubled by with office syndrome.

The interior design is inspired by the past of the spa location in CentralWorld, formerly the premises of Petchaboon Palace, which was recognised as the house of traditional Thai dance and music.

The palace’s celadon (a soft green) gives a calming colour scheme to the spa, whose hallway is lavishly decorated with carved cotton rose, a traditional floral motif created by artisans of the Ten Crafts or Chang Sip Mu.

From ceramic and silverware to crystal bells and clay buffaloes, the decorative elements lend Thainess to the contemporary interior design.

“They are not antiques. In fact, many of them are undervalued household objects that have been recoloured, to give them an aesthetic appeal,” said Vudhichai.

The Thai heritage concept extends to spa packages named after historical eras: Sukhothai, Ayudhya, and Rattanakosin.

Treatment room. Harrn

For instance, the three hour Ayudhya Passage draws inspiration from healing aromatic herbs rich in essential oils used during this period. Firstly a herbal steam bath promotes a balanced wellness whereas a purifying body scrub removes dead skin cells and pollutants. The following acupressure foot massage restores natural energy flow and the aromatic oil massage restores the natural balance of the body and mind.

Vudhichai pampers himself with the weekly Rattanakosin Passage combining an acupressure foot massage with traditional Thai Massage and a deep tissue massage.

“During the three hours, my mind becomes clear while giving me new ideas,” he shared. “My subordinates may not like that though because I tend to assign them more tasks and projects.”

He encouraged stressed-out urbanites to embrace the spa culture, especially when treatments have become more affordable. As a part of the lifestyle, spa-going can help restore balance and well-being.

Herbal medicine is a part of the brand’s Asian holistic approach to well-being, with spa products featuring natural ingredients for instance from jasmine, water lily and white mulberry.

Other Harnn operations include Baan Thai Spa at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Vietnam, which has won Word’s Best Luxury Spa Awards for three consecutive years — 2015, 2015 and 2016.

“Whether the award-winning Baan Thai Spa or the new Heritage Spa Krungthep, we emphasise the Thainess in the service and hospitality,” Vudhichai said of a key success factor.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

This month, the sweet, warm scent of jasmine will be everywhere, including at spas, where treatments have been designed to mark approaching National Mother’s Day on Aug 12.

The Oriental Jasmine journey (2,800 bath) will be available till the end of this month at Spa Cenvaree, Centara Grand at CentralPlaza Lardprao. Beginning with a foot-cleansing ritual, the two-hour session combines a salt-body scrub with a body mask and wrap, followed by a scalp massage.

Used in the treatment, spa products contain local plant essences, including from the delicate white flower, whose uplifting aromatherapy is touted as a natural remedy for various physical and mental disorders.

Jasmine’s associations with motherhood include the use of its essential oil during childbirth. As a diffuser oil or massaged on the lower back or abdomen, it evokes feelings of joy, peace, and self-confidence to overcome the discomfort of labour.

Its galactagogue property promotes the flow of breast milk, with this belief having lactating mums drinking jasmine tea and diffusing its oil in the house.

Spa Cenvaree’s pampering rounds off with a cup of jasmine tea, as well as a gift set of white jasmine-scented shower gel and body lotion to moisturise and envelop the skin with a sensual-yet-calming smell.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Marcela Fiorillo. Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation

If the “Beethoven Gala” on Aug 11 proves nothing else, it will show that there was never “one” Beethoven. The scowling, misanthropic personality, the irresponsible debtor running from countless irate Viennese landlords was also the man who created his own universe of emotional and arousing music.

It was a universe in which Charles Olivieri-Munroe has shared and will share again with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.

“First,” he jokes, “Beethoven was actually from Canada. Uh…actually, it was Beethoven’s great-nephew who moved to Toronto. But I’m certain Ludwig would have been a much nicer person if he grew up in my hometown.

“Second, more seriously, I was chief conductor in Teplice, where Beethoven wrote several of his symphonies. Even slept in his room…and was even woken up every few hours by a ghostly four-note knocking.”

That probably wasn’t “Fate”, it was the water-pipe.

The conductor has already played those notes here with the Fifth. But in August, he will be tackling the Third Symphony, rightly called the “Heroic”. For Beethoven was, in the 19th century sense, a man of politics. Not our day-to-day rabble-rousing politics, but the profound politics of great men and those who make and are part of history. The composer might have avoided individuals, but he wrote his most feeling music when praising the dignity, the stature, the innate freedom of mankind — as well as those who tried to destroy that dignity.

That will climax a night with two other works, Consecration Of The House overture and the Fourth Piano Concerto (this writer’s favourite), showing the romantic whispering Beethoven, with a second movement inspired by Greek myth.

A sketch of Neo-classical composer Ludwig Van Beethoven. Photo: AP

The centrepiece of this concert, Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, will be played by Marcela Fiorillo, the young Argentine pianist who is reckoned as one of the more dazzling pianists of our day.

True, she is known as a proponent of her countryman Astor Piazzolla. But this is only the beginning. In Australia, Ms Fiorillo was described as having “a consummate pianism of breathtaking technical assurance and deep expressive power”. A composer of note, she was commissioned to write a work for Australia, and has appeared there many times. So many times, in fact, that she has made Canberra her home, as performing teaching fellow.

She has also performed in New York, Washington and Bloomington in USA, and has given masterclasses and lectures at New York University, Queens College, City University of New York, and BID Cultural Centre Washington. In Europe, she has toured in Italy and France. In China, Fiorillo performed with the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and gave masterclasses at the Shanghai and Beijing Conservatories of Music.

Her recordings include much music from South America and Spain, so one must ask whether an Argentine pianist with all her visual velocity can tackle the Teutonic genius of Beethoven.

Think of it this way. The Fourth Concerto is perhaps the most picturesque of Beethoven’s concerti. The opening — whose theme was composed simultaneously with Beethoven’s Fifth “fate” motive — is gentle, almost whispering, contrasting with the vivacious dance of the finale.

But Beethoven’s Second Movement is probably — not certainly but most likely — based on the Greek legend of Orpheus taming the wild beasts. In fact, no other image can possibly come to mind.

Charles Olivieri-Munroe. Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation

The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra conductor is Charles Olivieri-Munroe, presently artistic director & principal conductor of the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra. He is concurrently chief conductor with Philharmonie Südwestfalen in Germany and holds the position of honorary chief conductor with the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he has been associated since 1997.

From his home in Prague, his career takes him across five continents, appearing with many of the world’s finest orchestras which have included the Israel Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Symphony, Budapest Symphony, and of course the Bangkok Symphony.

“I approach the Third Symphony“, he told us, “from a purist angle. In fact, as a conductor one can do a lot worse than by simply conducting at the prescribed speed.

“My passion is to seek out a lean, transparent sound no matter how large the orchestra. My first experience here, conducting the Fifth truly impressive, and I believe this ensemble can respond with the Third, offering the audience the appropriate character.”

The opening is a relatively rare work of Beethoven, the overture for inaugurating a remodelled Viennese theatre in 1821, the overture to Consecration Of The House. Obviously the composer felt not only the gravity of the situation, but the knowledge that it was originally built in the time of Handel, including a Handelian fugue.

“Presenting this,” says the Maestro. “Reflects my modus operandi of combining in programme familiar works with those which are lesser known. But what a delightful opener it is!”.

Delight is a word rarely used with Beethoven. But here it will be combined with the dramatic and the lyrical. All examples from a man who was never petty, never insignificant. And certainly never ever humble.

As he wrote to one of his royal benefactors — a man to whom others bowed and paid homage — Beethoven wrote disdainfully.

“You are a Prince by accident of birth. There are and will be thousands of Princes. But there is only one Beethoven.”

Obviously, those who met the composer in his day — and conductors who conduct him in our day — have unparalleled challenges to meet.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Alisa Sirisant. Eliza Cosmetics

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Alisa Sirisant operates her own spa but specialises in facials originating at Les Fermes de Marie, a five-star hotel in Megeve, nestled in the French Alps.

From using an authentic jade roller to modern equipment, the French facials are performed with Pure Altitude skincare products exclusively distributed by Alisa, who now finds herself more than an importer.

The 33-year old considers herself Thailand’s first facialist based at the Eliza Facial Spa located at Lumpini Place Buidling, in Yannawa.

“I never thought of becoming a facialist but now I’m actually training others in giving facial massages and advising clients on personalised skincare programmes,” Alisa said.

Her training took place at the flagship Les Fermes de Marie under the Maisons and Hôtels Sibuet label, whose founders launched the spa of the same name, and Pure Altitude natural products, powered by active ingredients from mountain plants.

“The training at the original spa was an amazing experience. It involved both art and science, the latter including such things as learning about facial structure and muscles. I had to read and practise a lot to acquire knowledge and skills before qualifying as a Pure Altitude facialist,” recalled Alisa, who has an education background in hospitality management.

The job is not merely about delivering massages, she explained, as the facialist has to analyse the skin and provide consultation on lifestyle changes, not just the use of beauty products, to maintain a healthy complexion.

“Nowadays, people tend to seek medical treatment, but the problem may not completely go away. And I was one of those frustrated patients,” she said. “Often, the solution is not having a quick fix with cosmetic procedures, which may be too harsh on the skin and worsen the problem. Identifying the root cause is important. I take time during the consultation to learn about clients’ lifestyles, which can play a big role on the skin.”

In other countries like the UK and US, celebrity facialists demonstrate how one can have a prosperous career from helping people boast beautiful skin whereas in Thailand, it is not yet a serious profession.

“The country is renowned for its skilful spa therapists, who complete their job in the treatment rooms,” she said. “A facialist further advises a personalised programme according to clients’ skin needs and follows up to keep their skin in good condition on a long-term basis, which makes the job more fulfilling.”

Treatments at Eliza Facial Spa include detoxifying oxygen featuring a deep massage to enhance blood circulation and an oil-based elixir containing an active ingredient from Maca tuber dubbed Peruvian ginseng. Manual massage is combined with a micro-current lifting machine for the brightening Seve de Vie and firming LiftAlpes facials.

Organic edelweiss provides a key active ingredient for Pure Altitude products, including the LiftAlpes range for mature skin.

“When clients come to me, I always have them tell me first which cosmetic products they’ve been using. In many cases, the problem may come from these formulas,” she said. “Whether switching to Pure Altitude or other brands — helping them find effective and skin-friendly products is another part of a facialist’s job.”

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Maria Kuchina is one of 68 Russian track and field athletes banned from the Olympics due to doping. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko

Thai badminton darling Ratchanok “Nong May” Intanon has finally walked free of her doping scandal after she tested positive for a drug used for a knee injury. The Badminton World Federation decided Ratchanok had not technically abused the anti-doping rules.

This sends the athlete to the 2016 Olympic Games, which kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Friday. Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, who tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January’s Australian Open, was not as lucky. The Court of Arbitration for Sport pushed back her appeal to September, ruling her out of the Rio Olympics.

This is not to mention some 68 track and field athletes also from Russia who have been banned from the Rio Games due to doping. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) declined to issue a blanket ban on Russian sportsmen, which caused disappointment and uproar among other nations.

Sport and drugs is a bad yet frequent mix. Especially when an international-scale sporting event like the Olympics is just around the corner, stories about sportsmen being ruled out of the competition after using performance-enhancing substances make headlines almost every day.

Since 1963, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) under the leadership of the IOC has issued the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.

Serving as an international standard identifying substances and methods prohibited in-competition and out-of-competition in sports, the list is updated annually and is valid for a year. This means the 2016 list, for instance, just takes effect from Jan 1 to Dec 31 this year.

For the Rio Games, the IOC’s Anti-Doping Rules incorporated the Prohibited List into its code. The international committee has also designated the National Olympic Committee in each country to make sure their athletes are made aware of the list.

Performance-enhancing substances, or in short stimulants, are one of the nine types of substances prohibited in competition based on the list, according to sport medicine specialist Dr Winyou Ratanachai.

“Basically, stimulants are substances that enhance the nervous system, as well as the body’s use of muscle power,” explained Dr Winyou, also an orthopaedist.

Based on Wada’s Prohibited List, Dr Winyou pointed out there are three most frequently-used doping substances — amphetamine, epinephrine and caffeine. Even though caffeine is not actually on the prohibited list, it is included in the 2016 Monitoring Programmes, meaning even though it is not prohibited, Wada still wishes to monitor its use in order to detect patterns of misuse in sport.

According to Dr Winyou, the function of amphetamine and epinephrine is pretty much alike — they boost the autonomic nervous system, just like when a person whose house is on fire suddenly gets strong enough to lift a refrigerator by himself.

On the other hand, caffeine — which is in carbonated drinks, coffee and chocolate — when consumed in large amounts can act as a stimulant.

Athletes use stimulants to improve power and endurance, added the specialist. For those who want to earn extra power such as sprinters, amphetamines and epinephrines usually come into play. Caffeine, on the contrary, affects the body’s endurance. To be more precise, high-dose caffeine can delay the use of glycogen — a form of energy storage — in muscles.

“Glycogen is a source of energy,” said Dr Winyou. “While you practise sport, the body depletes glycogen. If you run out of it fast, you will not be able to play on well. High-dose caffeine enables the body to stock glycogen and slowly use it.”

From 1984-2004, athletes who consumed a very large amount of caffeine mainly for doping put themselves at risk of being banned. The rule was clear — if their urine contained more than 12 micrograms per millilitre (μg/ml) of caffeine, they were out of the game.

But, according to the sport medicine specialist, to have 12μg of caffeine in 1ml of urine means athletes must consume around 1,000mg of caffeine which is equivalent to around 10 average cups of coffee. Caffeine was later removed from Wada’s list of prohibited substances due to several scientific reasons, one of which was that performance-enhancing doses of caffeine were indistinguishable from everyday use.

Using stimulants, especially in the long run, can leave a hefty price to pay. Long-term use of amphetamines is likely to lead to aggressiveness in terms of personality. Athletes who are regularly dependent on the substance, especially during training, might suffer drug withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it during the actual competition.

“The most obvious side effect is that when sportsmen stop using stimulants after long-term use, their bodies will definitely not be able to perform like when they are on drugs,” he said. “And certainly these doping substances are not key to clean sporting performance.”

The key, in fact, is to understand the muscles — to train them so that they can work in a way that fits a certain type of sport or competition.

“The best prevention against sports injury is to mount up physical capacity so that it reaches a point higher than requirement,” the orthopaedist advised.

“For example, if you are to compete in a 30km bike ride, your muscles need to be trained so that they can endure such a distance. When in the end you can ride for 30-40km, that is definitely better than being able to only go 20km.”

And the rule of thumb for any kind of sport is adequate water intake.

“Water is vital for hydration,” he concluded. “Water also helps maintain the right body temperature. When you practice sport, your body’s temperature tends to rise. Even 1 degree’s Celsius increase of body temperature can affect power and decision making.

“So water will keep it at bay especially during the first hour of sport or exercise. After that, athletes might consider drinking electrolyte energy drinks to replace losing fluid. With proper training coupled with a balanced diet and adequate rest, you can then rule out stimulants completely.”

Maria Sharapova, whose appeal of her two-year doping ban was postponed until September, is ruled out of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Rick Rycroft

Ratchanok ‘Nong May’ Intanon was cleared of doping. Photo: Chanat Katanyu

Hal of shame

Ben Johnson

The Canadian sprinter was stripped of his gold medal in the 100m at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul after setting a world record time of 9.79 seconds. Johnson tested positive for the steroid stanozolol.

Lance Armstrong

Despite winning the Tour de France seven times straight from 1999 to 2005, the American cyclist always denied he was taking drugs. However, after a US Anti-Doping Agency report detailed his involvement with doping, he confessed to it and was banned for life and stripped of all his titles.

Lance Armstrong. Photo: Steve Ruark

 Marion Jones

In 2007, the International Olympic Committee formally stripped Jones off all five Olympic medals dating back to September 2000 and banned her from attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing after she admitted using steroids.

Peyton Manning

Last year, Al Jazeera released a documentary entitled The Dark Side: Secrets Of The Sports Dopers on YouTube, alleging several US National Football League and Major League Baseball stars, one of whom was Peyton Manning, took performance-enhancing drugs such as human growth hormone in 2011. Manning denied the allegation, slamming the report as “fabricated” and “trash”.

Maria Sharapova

The 29-year-old Russian tennis star tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January’s Australian Open. Sharapova said she had been taking the medicine for 10 years to help treat illnesses, a heart issue and a magnesium deficiency. The medicine was added to Wada’s Prohibited List on Jan 1, this year. The Court of Arbitration for Sport postponed her doping appeal until September, which means she cannot compete in the Rio Olympics. Sharapova has called the ban “unfairly harsh”.

Lee Chong Wei

One of Malaysia’s top shuttlers tested positive for dexamethasone after urine samples were taken during the World Championships in August 2014. Dexamethasone is not a stimulant but a commonly-administered anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. The drug is not illegal when used off-season for injury rehabilitation, but deemed illegal if discovered in an athlete’s body during competition. He was temporarily suspended from competing but allowed to resume last year. Lee is now the world’s No.1 badminton player in the men’s singles category.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Selena Gomez performing. Photos courtesy of the artist BEC Tero

Last Friday night, where did we go? Clubs are boring, so we decided to relocate our dance floor to Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani. Selena Gomez was there with her Revival Tour.

Queue in the dancers. Break out the strobe lights. The American pop princess was giving Thailand a blast!

We thought we’d lost all hope when Taylor Swift tay-ed (to adopt the Thai slang meaning “to ditch”) us two years ago after the military rolled out their tanks. But Gomez was unfazed. She was even seen taking photos near the Erawan Shrine. Well, the heart wants what it wants, right?

It was the 24-year-old singer’s first performance in Thailand. All the teen and tween Selenators (and, for some, their mums) flocked to Impact Arena, ready to sing and scream their hearts out. A few actually draped Christmas lights over themselves. Now, that’s the spirit! Nothing says you’re excited like turning yourself into a walking glow stick.

Opening the act was Jai Waetford, 17, who came third on the X Factor Australia (Season 5) in 2013. While the singer is relatively unknown to most of the Thai public, he was no stranger to concert goers. The moment the teen appeared onstage, the hall was deafened with screams. Everyone was gushing over how cute he was. His slightly oversized T-shirt, as well as his overall appearance and music style, quite reminded me of Justin Bieber. I promise this comparison wasn’t made just because we were at Gomez’s concert. No, no.

Waetford’s swoon-worthy moment came when he broke out his Cole Clark guitar to play an acoustic version of his original tune Don’t Let Me Go. Some people may criticise that puberty has altered his voice for the worse, but he was still fine. That sweet, boyish sound he was famous for when he first appeared on X Factor was still there, even though it has grown somewhat harder over the past few years.

During his 30 minutes on stage, he asked the crowd to wave their smartphone’s light around. An overdone move, really, but it didn’t fail to impress the hall. We always go gaga over things that shine.

Then, we had a 40-minute break as the stage was reset for Gomez’s show. Time for Facebook posts, while attending celebrities and TV stars were mobbed by people wanting selfies. And friends killed time by exchanging the latest gossip about two Thai female stars and their Instagram feud, which broke out that day. Juicy drama is always good for spicing up our Friday nights.

Suddenly, all selfies and gossips ceased. Phones were raised to film the night’s crowning jewel as she made her entrance in a black ensemble and red shades. After the screams died down, our bodies melted and slithered to the beat of Gomez’s hits like Same Old Love, Come And Get It, Good For You and Hands To Myself. She also sang an acoustic version of Who Says which was released in 2011.

But it wasn’t all about fast tracks. Our beat slowed down when Gomez did a cover of the gospel tune Transfiguration by Hillsong Worship.

“In every show that I do, I like to do a cover because — every day — music has inspired me. And this song, in particular, has got me through some of my toughest times. It’s one of my favourite worship songs,” Gomez told the crowd. The song was most likely done as a tribute to her late friend Christina Grimmie, who was fatally shot and passed away in June.

Another cover Gomez performed was the 1983 Eurythmics track Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). Then, she ended the concert with Kill Em With Kindness and I Want You To Know. There was no encore.

She pretty much hopped around the stage, waved goodbye and left. Her parting message to the crowd was “I promise you I’ll be back”. And we sure hope so, as we weren’t quite satiated due to the concert lasting just an hour and fifteen minutes. One moment, everyone was dancing. Then, the lights came on like a pub that closed too early. That was it?

Despite its relatively short runtime, Revival Tour was still a fun show to attend. And the crowd loved the muay Thai shorts Gomez wore during one part of the concerts. After the show, many headed back to the city to continue their party. Others headed to 7-Eleven for a late night meal. It’s suffice to say the concert was an energy drainer.

Opening act Jai Waetford. BEC Tero

Selena Gomez performing. Photos courtesy of the artist BEC Tero

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Kyoko Yonemoto plays Dvorak with BSO. Photo: Bangkok Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Charles Olivieri-Munroe, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra on July 24 presented a concert of Romantic Czech music by composers well known the world over for their popular works: Smetana and Dvorak.

Now residing in Prague, appropriately, Maestro Olivieri-Munroe opened the concert with Smetana’s largely unknown overture The Secret, written in 1878 and based on a Czech story similar to Romeo And Juliet but with a happy ending. It opens with an imposing minor-key passage in the lower instruments, but soon opens out into the rhythms and melodic shapes of Czech dance music to which the orchestra brought a certain Bohemian swagger. Perhaps less an overture than tone poem like the composer’s Ma Vlast, the tale was convincingly told.

Undeservedly less familiar than Bruch’s G minor or Brahms’s violin concertos, Dvorak’s received here a radiant-toned performance by the multi-prize-winning Japanese violinist Kyoko Yonemoto, whether in the lowest register or the very high A on the E string. Yonemoto can more than meet the demands of the concerto, and her experienced musicianship was evident in the rapport she had with conductor and orchestra, for example with the woodwind in the slow movement who shaped well Dvorak’s beautiful sonorities despite struggling slightly with tuning. Occasionally, it was difficult to hear the soloist where the orchestration was fuller. Nevertheless, it was a performance of warmth and lyricism enthusiastically received, as was the poised encore: Bach’s Gigue from the E major Partita.

The final item was Smetana’s String Quartet No.1, From My Life, but in an arrangement for full orchestra by George Szell. For anyone familiar with the quartet, some of the scoring seemed bizarre, but others helped to clarify the melodic lines and structures. Various orchestral soloists, including string principals and piccolo player (depicting with solo violin the tinnitus that plagued Smetana for years) contributed to a vivid performance of this concert rarity, rounding off an evening by a BSO and soloist in fine form, led by a conductor who seems thoroughly at home in this repertoire.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Somtow Sucharitkul conducts Carmina Burana. Photo courtesy of SOMTOW SUCHARITKUL

Prolific Somtow Sucharitkul likes things big. Witness his “Very Big Music Festival”, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand, and several other sumptuous productions that he has staged. As of now, he’s bringing the opera Dasjati to two European cities, and last month, he presented the 200-strong cast of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a show certainly big in heart and soul.

Conducting the Siam Philharmonic Orchestra with his usual intensity, almost to the point of frenzy, Somtow produces bold and dramatic sounds with characteristic wit and jollity, worthy of Orff’s beloved masterpiece, often dubbed one of the glories of 20th century choral music.

Carmina Burana is a collection of medieval poems sung mostly in Latin. Here, both orchestra and choir deftly handled Orff’s constant rhythmic changes and caesura, tempo shifts and mixed meters, at exhilarating speed. The Slovak choir was dazzling in red, and the whole ensemble suitably luscious and resplendent in their vocals.

The combined effort of the Calliope Chamber Choir, Japanese Choir of Thailand, Immanuel Children’s Choir, Bangkok Music Society, Collegium Technicum of Slovakia and Siam Orpheus Choir created magnificent sonorities, oftentimes competing with the blazing brass and exuberant timpani, seamlessly transporting the audience through Orff’s three sections: In Spring (Primo vere), In the Tavern (In Taberna), and Court of Love (Cour d’amours).

The opening and closing tutti of Fortune, Empress of the World (Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi) were admirably performed, the layered crescendo rising up to portray the vagaries of life, dictated by the capricious, whimsical, and mercurial hand of fate. Rapturous praise is well-deserved.

Soprano Nancy Yuen’s dulcet tones are pleasant to the ear — melodious, bewitching and haunting. Her tender rendition of the inner conflict between chastity and desire is delicious and alluring. While baritone Kyu Won Han performed his part with gusto and appropriate emphasis, depicting the pleasures and perils of drunkenness, gluttony, addictive vice, and lust.

The adorable Immanuel Children’s Choir, mostly aged eight and nine, were simply delightful. They sang the a cappella section superbly, their effervescent voices filling the hall, clear and strong, even though there were only 11 of them.

Orff’s composition uses a selection of medieval drinking songs and verses about love, nature, excessive abandon and fate, written by Benedictine monks in the 13th century. Much of it is bawdy and boisterous, but to focus on the lust and debauchery may perhaps miss the intent of this composition. In the midst of carnal desires and pagan sensuality, there is romance and celebration and campestral beauty. Explicit love songs alternate with anguished meditations on mortality. Dreams of connubial felicity are punctuated with rejection and pining for lost love.

Reading the poems by themselves, one cannot help but feel that this is the work of gifted poets. Even if they called themselves “goliards” — defrocked monks and minstrels — there is a strong degree of spirituality in their work. The immoderate tone has led them to be called irreligious, and it may be so if religion is limited to the worship of a deified supreme omnipotent being (or a set of powerful beings), which the poets actually do not mention (at least in the selections that Orff used). Upon reflection, in spite of the barbaric and hedonistic tone, it is clear that the dominant and recurring theme and common thread is the fickleness of fate and the ephemeral nature of life. The music, dotted by rhythmic pungency, fits this interpretation.

In the tavern, everyone drinks, no matter what their state or station in life. This is emphatically drilled into the repetitive score and lyrics, and may reflect a conviction that human beings, with their foibles and failings, are not dissimilar. The wailing, roasting swan amid the revelry is also a wrenching reminder of the close connection between death and dinner.

The see-saw juxtaposition of pain and pleasure, as well as heartbreak and abandonment in the midst of burgeoning flowers, emphasises the fact that the grim hand of fate is ever-present and nothing is permanent. We feel the Fortuna Wheel turning within each scene, and sometimes even within a single movement, turning joy to grief, hope to despair. And then the cycle starts again with each new beginning. The parallel to the Buddhist wheel is hard to ignore.

Impermanence is in fact one of the fundamental tenets of Buddhism — that all existence is transient and evanescent. Whether tangible or intangible, all aspects of existence are in a continuous state of change, subject inexorably to deterioration and destruction. Nothing lasts and everything decays. And since nothing is permanent, desires or attachments only cause suffering.

Viewed in this light, Carmina Burana has more in common with Buddhist teachings than meets the eye. It therefore fits quite snugly into Somtow Sucharitkul’s grand scheme, spearheaded by the magnificent Dasjati project, which creates a ballet-opera about the Ten Lives of Buddha.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The exhibition. photo

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of HM the King’s accession to the throne and the 84th birthday of HM the Queen this year, the Fine Arts Department is hosting an exhibition called “Reverence For The Buddha Relics On Auspicious Occasion Of The 70th Anniversary Of The Enthronement Of HM The King” until Oct 30 in the Phutthaisawan Throne Hall, National Museum Bangkok, near Sanam Luang.

Displayed relics were excavated from nine major historic sites of the Dvaravati, Sukhothai, Lanna, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods, and are kept in the Ratchaburi National Museum in Ratchaburi, the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum in Sukhothai, the Chiang Mai National Museum, the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum in Ayutthaya and the National Museum Bangkok.

The Lord Buddha’s relics are the Buddha’s bones which were found after his body was cremated in India’s Kushinagar City about 2,600 years ago. According to Buddhist legend, the bones were classified into two kinds — big bones numbering seven and fragments of bones numbering about 16 thanan (an ancient way of measurement), equal to 16 litres.

Those fragments are the size of a split bean, a lettuce seed and a broken rice grain. The major bones were taken to stupas in the World of Brahma, heaven, the World of Naga, Gandhara City in India and Sri Lanka. The fragments were divided and given by Brahmin priest Dhona of Kushinagar to kings and priests of eight cities in Bharatavarsa, present-day South Asia. Later, around 200 BC, King Ashoka the Great gathered and distributed the Buddha’s relics all over India and foreign cities, including Suvarnabhumi (Southeast Asia), where Buddhism spread. Some 84,000 stupas were built in these cities to enshrine the relics.

Among the exhibition’s highlights are seven fragments of the Buddha’s bones, the size of a cabbage seed and broken rice grain, enshrined in a gold round casket dating to the Dvaravati Period (8th-9th centuries), two pieces of the Buddha’s bone — in the round shape and off-white and brown — kept in a triple-layer covered round casket, and a gem-studded gold miniature stupa that dates to the Ayutthaya Period (15th century) and was believed to have enshrined the Buddha’s relics before.

“Relics of the Lord Buddha are considered the most sacred objects for Buddhist worship. Over the centuries, relics of the Buddha have been placed in stupas at important temples throughout Thailand,” said Fine Arts Department director-general Anandha Chuchoti. “Having such a sacred Buddhist relic in the centre of a city is viewed as having the Lord Buddha himself watching benevolently over the city. It also ensures that the ruling monarch is virtuous and devout. Indeed, there is a special term for such a monarch, ‘Dhammaraja’ — the king who follows dharma [the Buddha’s teachings] to govern the city.”

From left, a gem-studded gold miniature stupa found at Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya, and the Lord Buddha’s relics in a glass miniature stupa found at Sri Suriyothai Pagoda, Ayutthaya. photos: Pichaya Svasti

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Crosswords Photo: Jiraporn Kuhakan

A major Scrabble tournament at the MSI World Championships in France will take place at the end of this month, and a couple of Thai contestants will attempt to win it.

Scrabble (or Crosswords in a generic term) has hardly been in the spotlight or headline news until recently: In the King’s Cup tournament in Bangkok in June, Komol Panyasophonlert, now ranked seventh in the world according to the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association, drew attention from a report that said he has memorised “90% of the entire dictionary” without understanding what most words mean. One British newspaper reported that he cannot speak English.

Komol, a computer programmer by trade, quickly proved the report was somewhat exaggerated because he can communicate in English. Nevertheless, a debate has ensued over the difference between memorisation and practical knowledge of English.

Amid the worry that Thai people lag behind most nations in English-language skills, three Thai players rank in the top 15 of Scrabble players worldwide, with Komol at the highest spot (in June he was ranked third). In France later this month, the Thai delegates will try to win the crown and Komol will pursue his dream of becoming the world’s No.1.

Scrabble’s international level allows words from the Collins Scrabble Wordlist (CSW), while North American competitions consult the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD). The guides contain more words than a usual dictionary, including words that most people wouldn’t use in daily life. Unusual words like Qi, Fy, zzz, Za, Khis are not so unusual for Scrabble experts vying to defeat their opponents.

“On the international level, if you want to win the game, it’s common to learn words by rote,” explained the 32-year-old Komol. “The more words you know, the higher chance you can make a high score. There are countless of words to remember so to know how to spell is essential to the game.

“Among all vocabularies I recite, I only focus on the meanings of the words that tend to be used in daily life.”

A very big vocabulary storage does not guarantee that a player will win the championship, he says. Scrabble involves strategic planning and calculation as much as vocabulary.

Komol’s strategy isn’t to create the best word possible on each turn. He’ll often save several tiles if he thinks he can create a higher-scoring word on later turns. At the same time, he remains mindful not to open an opportunity for his competitor to score, he says.

He said that because Scrabble is an English-language game, players should at least be interested in the language. In his experience, the game has encouraged him to learn and explore the language.

Amnuay Ploysangngam, president of Thailand Crossword Game A-Math Kumkom and Sudoku Association Thailand, also agrees that playing Scrabble (or crosswords) can trigger an interest to learn English.

Many scrabble competitions have been regularly held. PHOTO: PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

“I believe over 50% of students who started playing Scrabble at a young age tend to do better in school. Scrabble is also a tool that leads them to become interested in English. They can learn how to spell words and broaden their vocabulary,” observes Amnuay.

“I believe that in education, kids will do best when they have an interest. When they get to play around with these letters and create some words, they tend to become more curious about English.”

Thailand is recognised as one of the world’s top Scrabble-playing countries, with a wide age range from children to adults, according to Amnuay.

Komol and other Thai players such as Panupol Sujjayakon (ranked 12th) and Pakorn Nemitremansuk (ranked 14th) are among the players who grew up with the game’s increasing popularity. When the association was founded in 1986 there were only 147 participants in its first competition, Amnuay recalls. This year close to 10,000 people participated.

The explosive growth of the game in Thailand was due in large part to the association’s enthusiasm, with support from the private sector. Each year there are over 15 competitions held across the country divided into open, amateur and student divisions for kindergarten, primary, secondary and high school. Over 1,000 schools now have Scrabble clubs to encourage students to develop their English-language skills. Scrabble is recognised by The University Sports of Thailand. Some universities also allocate admission quotas to high school students for their outstanding achievements in Scrabble.

The outstanding track records of Thai players on the international level seems to contrast sharply with the Kingdom’s general poor record in English proficiency.

Amnuay says that even though Scrabble has grown, it still clusters in private schools in urban areas, and not so much in rural provinces.

“If Scrabble can reach a wider groups of students, I believe it would help lift up overall English proficiency,” he says.

But he clarifies that playing the game is not simply learning by rote. Young students can quickly expand their English vocabulary as their skills in the game improves.

“Youth can play Scrabble by using words they already know and from that point they will learn new words little by little. Sometimes, they will learn unfamiliar words that they will have a chance to use in the future.”

Komol is also one of those who started playing Scrabble at a young age after being introduced to the game by a teacher.

“Scrabble is unlike other games. What I like about it is that each game is never the same. The tiles drawn each time are different. Each competitor’s technique are different. That’s why it’s hard to get bored.”

Another incentive for him to keep playing is the top prize that can go up to 1 million baht.

“To be at the top, Scrabble players need to invest a lot. Whenever I have some free time, I always go through the dictionary. I try to memorise two to seven-letter-words,” said Komol.

“Anagram is a good practice because it helps me recall words once I see randomized letters. I also spend time practising the game, playing two hands at a time. But now there are good computer programs that can help train me.

“For me, Scrabble is a tool to socialise with others. I’m an introvert who doesn’t mingle with others. But with Scrabble, I’ve made some friends from various schools, met foreigners and have a chance to go abroad for all the competitions.”

“My suggestion is you should give yourself a try,” says Komol. “If you find it enjoyable, you should go for it. But if you find it too weary, just do something else that can give a similar benefit.”

Komol Panyasophonlert. Photo: Melalin Mahavongtrakul

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Thai Handicraft in honor of Her Majesty the Queen Exhibition photo courtesy of Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles/ Thailand-Beauty Pageant

Thai silk textiles just refuse to age. Either hand or machine woven, their intricate prints and majestically breathtaking designs to this day raise people’s eyebrows in appreciation.

Thanks largely to HM the Queen’s unceasing support through the decades, we continue to see a rise in interest for Thai silk cloth and weaving products, both in the country and abroad.

So it seems only befitting for Fashion Island Shopping Mall, Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles and Miss Grand Thailand to join hands in staging “Mom’s Festival 2016” in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s birthday on Aug 12. Celebrations will kick off much before that we hear.

In fact, part of the festivities will include an exhibition entitled “Thai Handicraft In Honor Of Her Majesty The Queen”, which runs from Friday until Aug 14, on the 3rd Floor of Fashion Island Shopping Mall.

Designers, whose work will be on display, were privileged to use elaborate Thai patterns provided by the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 84th birthday.

This is a great opportunity to check out the venue especially if you happen to have a fashion-conscious mother. Visitors can feast their eyes on a unique collection of Thai silk attire and weaving products crafted by Thai designers.

Among the exhibits is a blue/white tank top made from Thai silk by Bangkok-based talent Wisharawish, who is recognised for his unique ability to combine technical mastery, impeccable handicraft skills and intricate details and patterns into his designs.

Also worth checking out is the cropped tank top made in light blue that is paired with Thai silk trousers of the same shade. This is the creation of internationally acclaimed designer Chai Jiamkittikul, whose creations are inspired by romance and elegance. In both fitted and flowing designs, they help women feel confident and graceful.

Another display guaranteed to steal the limelight are the knee length strapless dresses in bright blue Thai silk designed by Hook’s by Prapakas, a Thai brand making its mark globally. Each Thai silk outfit is designed under the concept “Thai Clothes in the World of Fashion”. The collection comprises 10 designs that can be used for various occasions.

Each is marked by elaborately breathtaking patterns and a uniqueness found only in Thai textiles. A dash of contemporary design has also been included to offer a casual look.

This exhibition is a fitting tribute to our Queen, reflecting her ingenuity and leadership which has made it possible to keep this centuries-old craftsmanship alive and well.

In addition to the exhibition, there will be a “Miss Grand Thailand 2016” fashion show, highlighting Thai costumes worn in 30 provinces across the country. Patterns and designs will showcase the uniqueness of each province.

After the fashion show, the costumes will be put on display, together with detailed descriptions on the inspiration behind the intricate designs replicated onto the costumes.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Manit’s Five Generals Who Return Happiness To Thailand. Photos: Manit Sriwanichapoom

With any political fight, it’s hardly the end when street clashes are over — camps demolished, protesters injured or dead and the authorities able to curb the movement or finally comply with its demands. The fight continues and what’s perhaps more significant than action on the streets is finding the desired spot in a page in history, in people’s minds. The question is: how are we to be remembered?

“Fear” — Manit Sriwanichapoom’s latest photography and video show at H Gallery, Tang Contemporary Art and Kathmandu Photo Gallery — is largely about that. How do we remember the movement of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which after months of street protests finally brought about the military takeover more than two years ago?

At Kathmandu Photo Gallery, a series of photos named “Ratchadamnoen Motor Show” presents overturned official vehicles, which were painted with the colours of the Thai flag by protesters; this resulted from riot police’s attempts to dismantle the Dharma Army encampment on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in February, 2014.

Over at Tang Contemporary Art, sandbags scattered on the floor and metal pipes put together as structures for photo exhibits have summoned up the tense political atmosphere from late 2013 to early 2014. On one side, a group of photos are arranged into a panoramic view of a makeshift wall made of tyres and sandbags set up by The Student and People Network for Thailand’s Reform, one of the groups allied with the PDRC, after they successfully seized the streets around Government House.

Upstairs at Kathmandu Photo Gallery, where a series of close-up, pixelated shots of five generals behind the 2014 coup entitled Five Generals Who Return Happiness To The People is hung, fast-forwards to the present phase under the military’s tight control.

Political inclinations aside, Manit has done a good job in documenting a historical event and transferring the gravity and mood of the situation into an art space with his photographic composition and installation design. His close-up and pixelated shots of generals are subtle in a way that seems a salute but is actually a critical look at figures in power — that the photos are blurred and show no faces plays with the fact that we have had as many as 12 coups since the 1932 Siamese Revolution.

But all this seems to go out of synch once the accompanying texts are taken into account. For instance, in Fading History, which features shots of lively PDRC protesters in clothes and accessories with the colours of the Thai flag, it seems like Manit was there to document people as a photographer with a certain degree of objectivity. The text accompanying it, however, seems to take it to a slightly different direction than intended, taking up a lamenting tone and investing it with the sentimentality which seems non-existent in the photos themselves.

“As if these protests had never been, the great mass of protesters vanishing from our eyes,” reads the text. “How could this be? It was a historically significant protest participated in by millions of citizens who managed to shut down Bangkok for months in unprecedented ways. Where are their stories? Does anyone remember?”.

Likewise, that the photos of generals are titled straightforwardly as Five Generals Who Return Happiness To The People and that the coup is described in the text as a reflection of “the weakness of the country’s democratic system which is unable to solve problems without intervention by extra-parliamentary powers” suggests the legitimacy of the putsch and rids these photos of their initial vague and critical tone.

Manit’s works without the texts speak of the PDRC movement with a sense of heroism yet critically towards the coup and even to how the military has governed the country so far. With the texts, however, it’s a different story altogether.

It is over at H Gallery that “Fear” is most poignant, partly for the unspeakableness of the subject and partly for Manit’s deceptively simple approach to it. All the tension — not just from the rest of the portraits hung at H Gallery but also the gravity of recent political turmoils presented at the other two galleries — is concentrated in just one photograph which was printed on canvas. It gives you chills despite the fact that the canvas in question is totally empty.

A piece from Manit’s ‘Royal Monuments’ series. Manit Sriwanichapoom

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.