Fah Thai Magazine Sep/Oct 2017

SEP-OCT 2017

ULTIMATE GOODBYE

TO A BELOVED KING

PHOTOGRAPHIC

ILLUSIONS

AMBLING IN LAOS’

GREENER PASTURES

PHUKET GASTRONOMIC

GETAWAY

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

In Remembrance

HIS MAJESTY

KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ

Beloved Father of the Nation

5 December 1927 – 13 October 2016

Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited

and Fah Thai magazine

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Passengers,

On behalf of Bangkok Airways, it is my pleasure to thank all of you for flying with us.

We are delighted to share with you the news that we have allied with 24 leading airlines

around the world through our codeshare services; enabling you to seamlessly connect to

the destination of your choice.

It is also with great pride that our airline recently received internationally recognised

awards from 2 of the world’s leading industry organisations. Resulting from the votes of

millions of passengers from around the world, Bangkok Airways won “World Best Regional

Airline” and “Best Regional Airline in Asia” in June from SKYTRAX World Airline Awards

2017 for the third time, with recent wins in the years 2014 and 2016. Moreover, we

received 3 more awards from SmartTravelAsia.com in July, for categories of “Top 10

Airlines Worldwide”, “Top 10 Airlines Cabin Service Worldwide” and “Top 10 Airports

Worldwide for Samui Airport” awards.

We promise to keep our commitment to offer the highest in quality service for our

passengers, as these prestigious credits could not happen without your utmost support and

your value in recognising our airline’s determination and devotion to such goals.

Bangkok Airways’ mission is to continue being the World’s Best Regional Airline and a

much-loved airline for all passengers.

Thank you for flying with us.

สวัสดีครับท่านผู้โดยสาร

ในนามของสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ผมมีความยินดีเป็นอย่างยิ่งที่ได้ต้อนรับท่านผู้โดยสารทุกท่านและ

ขอขอบคุณที่ท่านเลือกเดินทางกับเรา

ปัจจุบันบางกอกแอร์เวย์สมีพันธมิตรทางการบินหรือ Codeshare Partners กับ 24 สายการบินชั้นนำจาก

ทั่วโลก เพื่อเพิ่มศักยภาพของเครือข่ายพันธมิตรการบินและอำนวยความสะดวกแก่ท่านผู้โดยสารที่เดินทาง

เชื่อมต่อไปยังจุดหมายปลายทางต่างๆ

ในโอกาสนี้ ผมขอแจ้งข่าวดีของบริษัทฯ ว่า เมื่อเร็วๆ นี้ เราได้รับรางวัลอันทรงเกียรติระดับโลกจาก 2

องค์กรชั้นนำ ซึ่งมาจากผลโหวตของนักท่องเที่ยวหลายล้านคนทั่วโลก โดยในเดือนมิถุนายนที่ผ่านมา บริษัทฯ

ได้รับรางวัลสายการบินแห่งภูมิภาคที่ดีที่สุดในโลกและดีที่สุดในเอเชียจากสกายแทร็กซ์ เวิลด์ แอร์ไลน์ อวอร์ด

ประจำปี 2560 นับเป็นครั้งที่ 3 ที่เราได้รับ 2 รางวัลดังกล่าวพร้อมกันต่อจากปี 2557 และ 2559 ส่วนในเดือน

กรกฎาคม บริษัทฯ ได้รับอีก 3 รางวัลจากสมาร์ท แทรเวล เอเชีย คือ รางวัล 1 ใน 10 สายการบินที่ดีที่สุดใน

โลก รางวัลสายการบินที่มีการบริการบนเครื่องที่ดีที่สุดในโลก และสนามบินสมุยยังได้รับรางวัล 1 ใน 10

ของสนามบินที่ดีที่สุดของโลกอีกด้วย

ผมขอขอบคุณผู้โดยสารทุกท่านที่เห็นคุณค่าในความมุ่งมั่นและทุ่มเทของเรา เราจะพัฒนาการบริการให้ดี

ยิ่งๆ ขึ้นไป เพื่อความพึงพอใจสูงสุดของท่านผู้โดยสาร ให้สมกับความไว้วางใจที่ท่านมอบให้เราตลอดมา

บางกอกแอร์เวย์สเรามีเป้าหมายเป็นสายการบินแห่งภูมิภาคที่ดีที่สุด และจะอยู่ในใจของผู้โดยสาร

ของเราตลอดไป

ขอบคุณมากครับ

กัปตัน พุฒิพงศ์ ปราสาททองโอสถ

Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth

กรรมการผู้อำนวยการใหญ่ | President, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited

OVERTURES

FEATURES

HAPPENINGS

CORPORATE

16 SPECTACLE

Our mid-autumn line up calls for

celebrations and competitions as

cars zoom to the finish, people

go meat-less and hot air balloons

gently glide.

20 AU NATURELLE

Feel like a natural woman by

learning simple tricks that achieve

the look that keeps people

guessing.

22 SUNNY PERSONALITY

Shades are statement pieces in

eyewear; so let your sunglasses

do the talking.

23 LEATHER BOUND

It may look tough, but today’s

collection of leather goods has

a suppleness that makes it feel

like butter.

24 SOME LIKE IT HOT

We teach you how to eat Som

Tam all over again with our guide

to the Thai papaya salad and all its

fiery combinations.

28 DEEP BREATHS

Traditional medicines alleviate

symptoms and soothe the soul for

many Thai people.

32 BIDDING FAREWELL

All the Thai kingdom’s men and

women come together in the

name of art for a poignant send

off to a much-loved monarch.

42 SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

An acclaimed floral designer is

sought after for his modern twists

using traditional flora.

52 A YOUNG SAMUI

A retired doctor remembers a

younger Samui before there were

‘tourists.’

60 GREEN PEACE

Our excursion to verdant and

tranquil Vang Vieng and Luang

Prabang results in top tips on

where to max out on their charm.

68 IN FOODIE PURSUIT

While time is never enough to

explore one of their favourite

islands of gastronomy, our foodies

re-visit Phuket to eat to their

hearts’ content.

76 PHOTO OPTICS

A photographer choses a simple

subject but expounds its meaning

through black and white images.

Be out and about in the new creative art space

in Bangkok, kayak in the spectacular river cave

of Xe Bang Fai in Vietnam, or be part of the

Diwali fest in Mumbai.

86 BANGKOK

90 CHIANG MAI/

CHIANG RAI/

LAMPANG

94 SAMUI

98 PHUKET/

KRABI

100 PATTAYA/TRAT

102 HONG KONG

104 SINGAPORE

106 KL / PENANG

107 YANGON

108 PHNOM

PENH/

SIEM REAP

110 KHAM-

MOUANE /

LUANG

PRABANG /

HO CHI MINH

112 MUMBAI

113 MALDIVES

116 NEWS

Bangkok Airways events and outings

126 ROUTE MAP

CHECKING OUT

130 At his museum in Chiang Rai, the late artist

Thawan Duchanee’s mysterious artworks use

unusual materials to convey Buddhist beliefs.

This month’s

cover:

Symmetry in

Singapore’s

Chinatown

Wonderstruck

Laos

10 11

BANGKOK AIRWAYS PUBLIC

COMPANY LIMITED

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Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok

10900, Thailand

www.bangkokair.com

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Business Services - Ancillary Revenues

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Email: chaovanee@mpmith.com

EDITORIAL

Email: editorial@fahthaimag.com

Editorial Director Somtawin Chanyawong

Editor-in-Chief Anutra Ungsuprasert

Senior Editor Nawa Acosta Wright

Deputy Editor Sarita Urupongsa

Contributors

Anjira Assavanonda

Bussara Boonboot

Chalotorn Payomyol

Chusri Ngamprasert

Kay Choomongkol

Nawarat Acosta

Passakorn Hongthong

Phoowadon Duangmee

Richard Augustin

Sarita Urupongsa

Sheela Sivanand

Sirin P Wongpanit

Veena Thoopkrajae

Photo Editor Thewin Chanyawong

Contributing Photographers

Arthit Limpong

Dolnapa Ram-Indra

Jeeraw Bunpook

Karen Ng

Permboon Wongpanit

Suwit Kittitien

Thewin Chanyawong

ART

Creative Director JyeShen Koo

Graphic Designer Pongtorn Khaoplag

Contributing Stylist Saranya Ariyakul

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“FAH THAI” is the in-flight magazine of Bangkok Airways Public Company

Limited and is edited and published by MPMI Group Ltd. All articles and

photographs published herein are created by the authors and photographers

at their own discretion and do not necessarily represent the views of the

airline. Bangkok Airways holds no responsibility or liability arising out of the

publication of such articles and photographs.

magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in

any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Bangkok

Airways Public Company Limited and MPMI Group Ltd.

ESSENTIAL NOTES TO GUIDE YOUR TRAVELS

Moonstruck

On the 15th day of the eight lunar

month, celebrants of the Mid-Autumn

Festival take to climbing hills in a desire

to be closer to the moon or carry candles

or lanterns in hand for moon-gazing at

beaches or in parks.

NEWS AND EVENTS 16 / BEAUTY AND HEALTH 20 / STYLE 22 / ON THE MENU 24 / FRUITFUL FINDS 26 / ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS 28

OVERTURES

NEWS AND EVENTS

JUN 2017

SAMUI

SAMUI MARATHON THANKS

A special thank you goes to all of those who recently

took part in the Bangkok Airways and Teelakow Company

Limited’s sporting event, “Bangkok Airways Boutique

Series 2017: Samui Marathon,” which was an

overwhelming success.

Amidst the landscape of the beautiful Andaman

Ocean, runners of different nationalities joined the event

which took place at the in-demand tourist destination of

Koh Samui. The unique marathon route was designed in a

special way so that participants can see Samui in different

perspectives – while running through the Fisherman

Village and the city centre – and later, a chance to mingle

with the locals and learn about the culture.

26 NOW-

NOV 2017

This is still the moment the

whole country of Thailand

mourns for the loss of a

beloved Father. The late King

Bhumibol Adulyadej reigned

over the kingdom for over

70 years and passed away on

October 13 of last year. In this

period of grieving before His

Majesty’s Royal Cremation and

a final farewell this coming

October, the Bangkok Art and

Culture Centre Foundation

holds a “In Remembrance of

the Great King” exhibition. This

is part of the “In Remembrance

of H.M. King Bhumibol: The

Supreme Artist” project which

recognises the late King’s

remarkable artistic talents

and His royal support and

patronage of Thai arts.

“In Remembrance of the

Great King” features more than

160 rare artworks of different

mediums by leading Thai artists

of various generations as well

BANGKOK

SPOTLIGHT

King of Hearts

as precious collectibles relating

to King Rama IX. Among

these is a portrait painting

titled “Phrabat Somdet Phra

Poramintharamaha Bhumibol

Adulyadej Mahitalathibet

Ramathibodi Chakkrinaruebodin

Sayamminthrathirat

Borommanatbophit (Silver

Jubilee, 1971)” by Thongchai

Srisukprasert and another print,

“Navamintraja No. 8, 2013” by

Pinit Phantaprawat, an artist

responsible for engraving

King Rama IX’s portraits for

banknote production.

Curated by Prof. Dr. Apinan

Poshyananda, Tawatchai

Somkong and Sakchai Guy,

“In Remembrance of the Great

King” exhibition will be on

display from now until 26

November, on the 8th Floor of

the Bangkok Art and Culture

Centre.

bacc.or.th, closed on Mondays,

Tel: +66 (0) 2214 6630-8

If joining the Samui Marathon is still not enough, you

can be part of the “Bangkok Airways Boutique Series

2017 on the upcoming dates: September 24 – Chiang

Rai Marathon, November 19 – Lanna Marathon (Chiang

Mai) and lastly, December 8-10 – Ultra-Trail Panoramic

(Mae Hong Son).

teelakow.com, Tel: +66 (0) 92 979 8287

OCT 2017

BUDDHISTS

OBSERVE THE END OF LENT

Three months of the Buddhist

Lent or Khao Phansa comes to a

finish on this full moon day. Called

Awk Phansa, meaning the end of

Buddhist Lent, monks can now go

out of the temples and receive alms

as usual. During the 3 months of

Khao Phansa in the rainy season,

they have to remain in the same

place. The ‘rain retreat’ is the time

where monks take the opportunity

to practise more; more Buddhist

teachings, more meditation and

more studying.

If you plan to visit some places

in Southeast Asia around this time,

20-28

try heading over to Luang Prabang

to experience the festival of lights

on Awk Phansa, an occasion that’s

beautiful and interesting in its

uniqueness. Many handmade paper

lanterns spread around homes and

temple grounds. On the following

day, it is worth watching fire boat

processions when communities

prepare their own little boats or

krathongs, made of banana leaves

decorated with flowers, candles

and incense and floated along the

Mekong River in the evening. Here’s

to a lovely tradition!

tourismlaos.org

THAILAND

MEAT-FREE FOOD & FEST 4-10

OCT 2017

The observance of strongly held traditions from the Chinese communities

has spread throughout the world with a legacy that still passes on to

the next generation. The Vegetarian Festival or Thetsagan Gin Je is one

of those. It began 400 years ago in China in remembrance of a group

of warriors who defeated the Manchurians. Later, people marked their

calendar each year to go meatless in the 9th month of the lunar calendar to

commemorate the heroes.

You can see yellow and red flag signals at a shop or street stall, meaning

that their shop offers vegetarian and mock meat cuisine. Hundreds of

thousands of people flock into Yaowarat or Bangkok’s Chinatown to

experience a variety of vegetarian dishes from noodles to sweets, believing

these 9 days and 9 nights being meat-free will cleanse their mind, spirit and

body. Its popularity has swept to local restaurants and even food courts in

department stores during the Vegetarian Festival.

Even though the festival is held throughout Thailand, it is especially

celebrated in Yaowarat, Pattaya, Trang, Krabi, Hat Yai and Phuket. The latter

is considered the centre of Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival. But beware of

extreme scenes if you’re faint of heart as some involve tongue piercing and

puncturing of other body parts and other ghastly rituals.

tourismthailand.org

MOON SWEET MOON

This is one of the most popular Chinese festivals

and the time to commemorate the birthday of a

revolutionary hero who was born on a full moon

some 3,000 years ago in history. The Mid-Autumn

Festival is celebrated among Chinese communities

everywhere in the world. It is the time for families

to spend the good times together and enjoy the

special sweet treat of a ‘Moon Cake’. It’s always a

delight to find different colours and filling flavours

of these cakes; ranging from durian, roasted

chestnuts, coffee, green tea, or even peculiar ones

like peanut butter and ginseng.

In Hong Kong, it is a perfect time to try the

hairy crab which is a favoured Chinese delicacy

during this season and accompanied by Chinese

wine or ginger tea. You can also go out at night to

witness the biggest and roundest moon and join

the parade of luminous lights and lanterns in major

Chinese cities like Hong Kong and Singapore.

16 17

OVERTURES

NEWS AND EVENTS

OCT

NOV 2017

SPOTLIGHT

TAUNGGYI

Colouring

the Sky

Every year, the special Tazaungdaing

Festival of Lights takes place in Taunggyi,

the capital of the Shan State in Myanmar.

It coincides with the first full moon

after the end of Buddhist Lent and the

sky takes on the surreal beauty of hot

air balloons. Known locally as the Lu

Ping Festival, it is thought to have been

originated by the local people aiming to

release the balloons as an offering to the

heavens to ward away evil spirits.

The first 2 days of the festival

are supposed to be the busiest

days. Competitors gather on

the fairgrounds preparing their

balloons for daytime and nighttime

contests. Day balloons are mostly

made in shapes of Pagodas,

dragons, elephants, etc while the

night events showcase multitiered

chandeliers decorated with

beautiful fireworks. Apart from

witnessing a colourful sky full of

the floating designs, there are lots

of fun activities such as ferris wheel

rides, dance performances on stage,

drinking bars and many kinds of

food stalls to enjoy the night.

myanmartourism.org

Now-

DEC 2017

MAE HONG SON

GO WITH THE (RIVER) FLOW

If adventure is your thing and mountains and rivers are your soul’s escape,

beat the city heat with a trip to the north of Thailand and drift along on

a traditional bamboo raft and follow the flow along the Pai River in Mae

Hong Son. Nature has created amazingly picturesque scenery along

both sides of the water with restrictions on motorised engines. You’re

guaranteed serenity along the narrow and winding river of Pai as it takes

you through 50 kilometres that’s simply the middle of nowhere.

To explore Pai’s true nature by raft, it’s at about 300 Baht per

person for a 1 to 2 hour trip with a local guide. The bamboo raft

accommodates 3-4 persons on board. Handling the raft has ‘difficulty’

ranges from level 3 to level 5 and remember, it is likely that you will

get wet travelling on this bamboo raft; so make sure everything is

waterproof or they will get damaged. tourismthailand.org

8-17

SINGAPORE

SUPER FAST LANE

SEP 2017

It’s been 10 years since the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) has taken

place in the vibrant Lion City. It’s time for motorsports fans to get your engine

revving up and prep for some exciting action and activities on and off the

racing track. After witnessing a heart-pounding race among the top of the top

Formula 1 drivers in the world. Party-goers, take a break and spoil yourselves

with a sea of food – complete with a gin-pairing menu from the award-winning

Manhattan Bar or a special theatre-style dining. The party is not over yet as

you can rub shoulders with celebrities at ‘The Circuit’ – the party in the sky –

where A-list international DJs entertain you.

Ten days of GPSS 2017 festivities are set to be as grand as ever. This

year, top performances include Ariana Grande, The Chainsmokers and Calvin

Harris who will rock the stages across various zones and make your visit

epically unforgettable. visitsingapore.com

OVERTURES

BEAUTY AND HEALTH

SPOTLIGHT

Down to Earth

Finding the right makeup to wear when going for

a natural look can be a more complex process

than you think. You don’t want the results to be

too cakey, too bright, or too dark. And we all

know that to look natural, the magic of makeup

application is indeed required.

OMBRE PREMIERE

LONGWEAR

POWDER

EYESHADOW #34

POUDRE D’OR 1.5G

FROM CHANEL

(1,830 Baht)

An ultra-soft powder

texture that’s easy to

blend, long-wearing

and an intense colour.

All are great features

that make this an easyto-apply

item.

JOUES

CONTRASTE

POWDER BLUSH

#280 GOLDEN SUN

4G FROM CHANEL

(2,000 Baht)

A soft, silky powder

blush that enhances the

complexion with a touch

of colour and radiance

that provides layering

coverage to help create

a shade intensity that

you can build up until it

perfectly suits you.

RADIANT CREAMY

CONCEALER 6ML

FROM NARS (1,320 Baht)

The concealer provides mediumto-full,

buildable coverage and

importantly corrects, contours,

highlights, and perfects. It also

delivers antioxidant protection

to help shield your skin against

damaging free radicals.

AMBIENT@ LIGHTING

EDIT — SURREAL

LIGHT FROM

HOURGLASS (3,750 Baht)

The one you’ve all been

waiting for is finally here!

The most chic, most luxe

edition of the ambient

lighting edit yet, this

marble-encased palette

houses five complexionperfecting

powders.

INSTAMARC FILTERING CONTOUR

POWDER FROM MARC JACOBS

BEAUTY (1,750 Baht)

An exclusive duo of silky contouring powders

to help sculpt, define, and highlight the face.

Appear as though you’re basking in perfectlyfiltered

light. See yourself through Marc’s

flattering lens with this first-ever powder.

Majorly Natural

Because it actually takes some makeup, perhaps the adding of some falsie lashes,

to look beautifully “bare-faced” – check out these tips for pulling off some of our

favourite natural-looking makeup ideas.

AMBIENT@ LIGHTING BLUSH

FROM HOURGLASS (1,550 Baht)

This captivating hybrid blush in peach

tones is just perfect with so-very-modern

hues to give your cheeks a celestial glow.

LES 4 OMBRES

MULTI-EFFECT

QUADRA

EYESHADOW

#292 JARDINS

ECLATANTS 2G

FROM CHANEL

(2,400 Baht)

An eyeshadow palette

of four shades that

features a soft texture

and an easy application

to achieve maximum

colour that is consistent,

luminous and lasts all

day long.

OMBRE PREMIERE

LONGWEAR

EYESHADOW

#24 CHOCOLATE

BROWN 1.5G

FROM CHANEL

(1,830 Baht)

A wide palette of radiant

shades in three finishes:

matte, satiny and

metallic, for a multitude

of makeup results.

ROUGE COCO

SHINE #537

GOLDEN SAND 3G

FROM CHANEL

(1,400 Baht)

This creates an

irresistible desire

for lightness in your

makeup. A limited

edition, this lipshine

glides over lips

smoothly, providing a

charming and fresh look

worthy of a snapshot.

WORDS PASSAKORN HONGTHONG STYLE SARANYA ARIYAKUL PHOTO JEERAW BUNPOOK

BEACH TINT 7ML

FROM BECCA

(1,100 Baht)

This blendable, two-inone

Beach Tint can be

worn as a blush for cheeks

and a stain for lips. Enjoy

the oil-free, streak-free

stain that’s enriched with

vitamin E to repair and

soothe your skin.

FLAWLESS FLUIDE

30ML FROM LAURA

MERCIER (1,790 Baht)

You’ll love how it magically

blurs imperfections and

pores and visibly evens

skin tone for a smooth,

seamless complexion.

NEW NUDE SHEER

LIP GEL 3.4G FROM

MARC JACOBS

BEAUTY (1,150 Baht)

Experience this Gel Lipstick

that’s delicately scented

with vanilla – it’s also

infused with rich monoi

butter for comfortable

wear to moisturise your lip,

leaving them soft.

PHOTO FINISH

PRIMER OIL 30ML

FROM SMASHBOX

(1,800 Baht)

Prep your skin for makeup

and hydrates for seamless

foundation application and

just use it in the morning and

evening to improve moisture

in just four weeks.

STOCKISTS

CENTRAL DEPARTMENT

STORES

Tel: +66 (0) 2730 7777

EMPORIUM

Tel: +66 (0) 2269 1000

SEPHORA

Level 1 Siam Centre

Tel: +66 (0) 2658 1612,

+66 (0) 2658 1616

GF Emquartier

Tel: +66 (0) 2003 6400,

+66 (0) 2003 6403

OVERTURES

STYLE

WORDS PASSAKORN HONGTHONG STYLE SARANYA ARIYAKUL PHOTOS JEERAW BUNPOOK

Man in the

Mirror

Even though sunglasses are a

seasonless essential, there are

more reasons to get a slick new

pair of shades for your armoury.

This year, sunglasses are bolder

than ever – with thick frames,

tinted lenses and patterns

proven to be popular on the

high street. Look sharp and stay

focused with the season’s best

on-trend sunglasses for men.

FOR HIM

THE CLUBROUND

WOOD WITH NATURAL

WOOD FRAMES

AND POLISHED

METAL FROM RAY-BAN

(13,350 Baht)

➋ LA HAVANA

AVIATOR SHOOTER

CRAFTED WITH

VANITY BULLET

HOLE IN

CENTRE WITH GOLD

METAL FRAMES

FROM RAY-BAN

(6,000 Baht)

➌ FLAT LENS-OVER-

FRAME CONSTRUCTION,

BLAZE CLUBMASTER

SUNGLASSES FROM

RAY-BAN (7,150 Baht)

➍ GENERAL AVIATOR

SPIRIT WITH MORE

SQUARED LENSES AND A

BOLD UPPER BAR FROM

RAY-BAN (7,600 Baht)

➎ LINEA ROSA

SPECTRUM, PILOT STYLE

SUNGLASSES

WITH ULTRA-LIGHT

FRAMES AND MIRRORED

LENSES FROM PRADA

(10,100 Baht)

➏ ACETATE SUNGLASSES

WITH SHADE LENSES AND

LOGO FROM GIORGIO

ARMANI (12,550 Baht)

➐ ACETATE SUNGLASSES

WITH ROUND DESIGN

DOUBLE METAL

BRIDGE AND

KEY BRIDGE

FROM DOLCE & GABBANA

(9,150 Baht)

STOCKISTS

Dolce Gabbana

MF Siam Paragon

Tel. +66 (0) 2610 6790

Emporio Armani

GF Gaysorn Plaza

Tel. +66 (0) 2656 1134

Prada

GF Gaysorn Plaza

Tel. +66 (0) 2656 1022

Ray-Ban

Central World

Tel: +66 (0) 2613 1499

STOCKISTS

Christian Louboutin

GF Central Embassy

Tel: +66 (0) 2160 5814

Miu Miu

MF Siam Paragon

Tel: +66 (0) 2610 9808

Prada

MF Siam Paragon

Tel: +66 (0) 2610 9800

FOR HER

VANITÉ CLUTCH

BAG CRAFTED

FROM LEATHER

WITH TACTILE

CAVIAR TEXTURE

FROM CHRISTIAN

LOUBOUTIN

(58,900 Baht)

➋ BRUSHED

CALF LEATHER

MARY JANE PUMPS

WITH A SATIN

STRAP BOW,

EMBELLISHED

COLOURED

STONES AND

METAL STUDS

FROM PRADA

(Price upon request)

➌ NAPPA LEATHER

GROUP CLUTCH

EMBELLISHED

WITH A PYTHON BELT

STRAP AND METAL

STUDS FROM

PRADA

(Price upon request)

➍ SHINY CALF

LEATHER PUMPS

WITH STRAPS,

SATIN BOW

AND CRYSTALS

FROM CHRISTIAN

LOUBOUTIN

(Price upon request)

➎ PYTHON SKIN

LEATHER CLUTCH

EMBELLISHED

WITH COLOURED

STONES AND

METAL STUDS FROM

CHRISTIAN

LOUBOUTIN

(Price upon request)

For the Love

of Leather

This season is all about leather.

The fashion collective isn’t

ready to shrug off its love of the

material just yet. The luxurious

fabric may be tough yet alluring;

with bountiful designs on the

runways. A clutch bag and

shoes made from leather are

just those pieces that never go

out of style.

OVERTURES

ON THE MENU

The Tangy Kick

of Som Tam

Just like the burgeoning popularity of

salad bars and its plethora of ingredients,

there are more than one way to eat Som Tam,

Thailand’s green papaya salad. Know how

to enjoy combinations beyond the classic

with the novel kick of other briny flavours

and textures.

Words: Sarita Urupongsa

Som Tam or green papaya salad

has its humble beginning as

a street food but this popular

dish from the Northeast or

“Isaan” part of Thailand can be

found from off-the-beaten path

eateries to glamorous settings.

Starring in this intensely

satisfying salad are thin strands

of fresh green papaya that

gets coated with the complex

blend of garlic, tomatoes, dried

shrimps and roasted peanuts

pounded with a seasoning base

of spicy, sour, sweet and salty

combinations. The meaning of

“som” means sour while ‘tam’

refers to the pounding done in a

pestle and mortar to release and

blend the juices.

These days, Som Tam can be

ordered in many ways and comes

in various recipes depending

on each person’s preference.

Tam Thai, the basic type of Som

Tam that’s commonly available

reaches perfection and depth of

flavour with dried shrimps and

roasted peanuts; Tam Plaa Raa,

whose recipe requires a sauce

of fermented Thai anchovies

with intense flavours appeal to

the palate of both Thais and

foreigners alike; Tam Sua replaces

green papaya strands with rice

Photos: Dolnapa Ram-Indra

vermicelli; Tam Pu, the recipe

with salted freshwater crabs as

its main taste; to Tam Paa which

combines unusual ingredients like

water mimosas, rice vermicelli,

green papaya strands, fermented

vegetables, fermented bamboo

shoots, apple snails, fermented

crabs and the aforementioned

fermented anchovies: all together

in one dish that produces

an unforgettable savoury

experience.

Certainly, a tangy, spicy

Som Tam can never be complete

without side dishes to break

the sweat and elevate the

dining experience. Apart from

complementary bites of steamed

sticky rice, fresh vegetables

such as yardlong beans and

other Isaan dishes like Laab

(minced meat salad), Namtok

(spicy meat salad), Soup Nawmai

(bamboo shoot salad) and grilled

chicken play a big part in

completing the meal.

To many women, Som Tam

also has become their healthy

alternative. The dish itself is

modified in line with lifestyle

choices and trends. Sometimes

it is made with mixed fruits like

pomelos, apples or even the

meat of a young coconut.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of green papaya strands,

add more or less as preferred

• 4 peeled garlic cloves

• 4 Thai bird’s eye chillies

• 3 cherry tomatoes, each cut into 2 parts

• 1 yardlong bean, cut into 2-inch sticks

• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts

• 2 tbsp dried shrimps

• 2 tbsp tamarind juice

• 2 tbsp fish sauce

• 1 tbsp palm sugar

• 1 tbsp lime juice

• 2 salted freshwater crabs

Making Som Tam

• Boil salted freshwater crabs swiftly.

Pull out the shells and gills and

set aside.

• In the mortar, mix bird’s eye chillies

and garlic together and pound them

until a paste forms.

• Add cherry tomatoes, long beans,

dried shrimps and roasted peanuts.

Lightly pound to break fibres and mix

them altogether.

• Season with lime juice, fish sauce,

tamarind juice and palm sugar. Add

and tear salted freshwater crabs in

half into the mix. Pound and blend

the ingredients together.

• Add green papaya strands and

continue to pound so that the juice

seeps into the strands. Make sure

not to pound too hard as the strands

can become brittle and thus lose their

flavour and crunchy texture.

The Best Som Tam

in Bangkok

SOM TAM NUA

One enduring Som Tam venue in Bangkok

is Som Tam Nua. Established by people

with a true passion for Isaan food, this

restaurant is known for its signature som

tam recipes. The word “Nua” refers to

foods with a perfectly savoury flavour

and can be applied to both desserts

and main dishes. Som Tam Nua has

extensive salad choices in which the

level of spiciness can be made upon

request. Each Som Tam dish is made of

fresh ingredients to complement the

restaurant’s other popular choices like

fried chicken in a basket, stir-fried rice

vermicelli and spicy water mimosa salad.

5/F Central Embassy, Ploenchit BTS station,

+66 (0) 2160 5909

HAI SOMTAM

Hai Somtam Convent is a popular Som Tam

place in the heart of the Silom business

district. With its 20-year legacy, the place

is best known for its fresh, crispy green

papaya strands and tangy flavour and

extensive Som Tam repertoire. The

restaurant offers ingredient alternatives

such as corn, rice vermicelli and fermented

flower crabs as well. Som Tam here is a

spicy burn that comes in a full combination

of spicy, sour, salty and sweet tastes.

Hai Somtam opens until 9pm on weekdays

and 5pm on Saturdays. (Closed on Sundays)

2/4-5, Soi Convent, Silom, Sala Daeng BTS

station, +66 (0) 2631 0216

OVERTURES

ON THE MENU / FRUITFUL FINDS

WORDS & PHOTO KAY CHOOMONGKOL

Worth

the Weight

The Cantonese word

for pomelo, “you”

sounds like “to have.”

A saying goes: the

more pomelos you eat,

the wealthier you get!

Round in shape and about the size of a bowling ball, the

pomelo fruit is considered a giant in the citrus family. In some

Asian countries, yellow ones hold great stature as one of the

more significant gifts bestowed on friends and family because

of its ‘golden’ colour and symbolism.

While the fruit originated in Southeast Asia, the word

pomelo derived from “pampelmoose” in Dutch, meaning a

pumpkin-sized citrus. Beyond the matter of size, what does

it taste like?

People say that pomelos taste like grapefruit, but without

the tartness. The fruits are usually eaten fresh and it’s most

likely you’ve tried it when the fruit pulp was used in refreshing

recipes like pomelo salads.

Once peeled, the flesh of the pomelo is usually found

in sections. Inside the inch thick, yellow-green pith of this

oversized round fruit lies its juicy and pulpy flesh that is creamy

white or bright pink – or somewhere in between – depending

on the variety. Like many of its relatives, pomelos or Som-O,

as they’re called in Thai, can vary between being filled with

seeds, to having very few or no seeds at all. They’re sweeter

than other citrus fruits and don’t carry a harsh, bitter tang.

Thailand is flushed with this tropical fruit between August

and October and February to April. Popular pomelo varieties

include Tubtim Siam with its unique blood-red coloured pulp,

Thongdee with a pinkish one, Khao Thongdee and Khao

Tangkwa – which have more of a creamy white flesh. Pomelos

contain lots of vitamin C, are low in calories and full of fibre.

They can be eaten easily by hand, or broken up in smaller

segments into Thailand’s favourite “Yum Som-O” salad or

used in a marinade, made into jam, or juiced for a cocktail. An

amazing treat made by local people uses the thick peel to make

a compote for a bittersweet snack.

Yellow-skinned pomelos are Lunar New Year must-haves

and popular in their rich symbolism with their colour and shape.

OVERTURES

ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS

The

Soothing Balm

of Wisdom

Photos: Dolnapa Ram-Indra

Words: Sarita Urupongsa

Thai traditional medicine

is steeped in wisdom

and brewed from

valuable knowledge

nurtured from the old

days. Produced from

local herbs, traditional

remedies come in the form

of mentholated rubs or

inhalers and reflects a way

of life that’s essentially

Thai. Balms are rubbed

onto bruises or aromatic

powders are sniffed to

deliver heady respite.

To understand

this fondness for the

remedies, you have to

visit these traditional

products at Baan

Mowaan. Tucked in the

vibrant area of the Giant

Swing monument in

Bangkok, the colonialstyle

building originally

belonged to Waan

Rodmuang, a Thai

traditional doctor who

practised during the

reign of King Rama VI in

the early 20th century.

Embracing Western

medical practices,

“Mo Waan” (mo is

doctor in Thai) took

medical knowledge and

equipment from the West

and developed unique

medicinal remedies.

The creation of his

own medicines became

an alternative to the

Western ones.

This includes Mo

Waan’s traditional “Ya

Hom,” offered in 4

recipes whose origins

date back hundreds of

years. Ya Hom, or Thai

fragrant or aromatic

medicine, are herbal

mixtures whose formulas

are from inherited

knowledge and ancestral

wisdom passed on to

his descendants. As

one of Mo Waan’s most

well-known medical

remedies, Ya Hom is

widely recognised for its

holistic health benefits

which help balance

blood circulation and

re-energise the body.

It comes with its own

unique scent that’s

not found in modern

medicine and comes in

lozenges or tablets made

by hand.

Despite its great

advantage in using local

ingredients, Ya Hom’s

popularity diminished as

the use of the traditional

remedy became viewed

as outdated. However,

with the determination of

the younger generation,

Mo Waan’s greatgrandchildren,

it has

brought back the legacy

and recipes of Ya Hom

in order to preserve

past wisdom.

Medicine varieties

spread throughout the

building of Baan Mo

Waan for visitors to

purchase. The stylish

packaging with classic

touches shows that

the inspiration comes

from the vintage

medicine bottles or the

colour scheme of Mo

Waan’s house. In the

hall, arrangements of

different medicines,

from Ya Hom and

other alternative

medicines can be seen.

Ointments effective in

relaxing muscles are

a popular choice. Now

an improved version of

a muscle-relaxant oil,

the ointment is mixed

with authentic natural

beeswax and ensures

that the medicine stays

longer on the skin. With

its cooling properties,

the ointment is perfect

for treating aches and

strained muscles as well

as reducing the pain in

bones and joints.

Mo Waan’s pharmacy

is highly regarded as

being a practical option

and accessible for

whatever ails you. In this

Sino-Portuguese quarter,

various traditional

items that are tokens

of past memories also

scatter throughout.

Baan Mowaan is also a

store of amazing stories

on cherished herbal

remedies and a chance to

learn about its authentic

production using

traditional tools.

mowaan.com,

+66 (0) 2221 8070

OVERTURES

ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS

Herbal Learning

Inside Mahidol University’s Salaya Campus, Sireeruckhacharti Nature

Learning Park is known as ASEAN’s leading herbal learning centre. The

inspiration behind the establishment in Thailand came from the need to

preserve the wisdom and heritage of traditional and folk medicine. Here,

unique techniques in traditional pharmacy have been passed down from

generation to generation. In 1988, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit graciously

granted the name “Sireeruckhacharti” for the garden, which has now

expanded into 55 acres of land.

More than 800 medical plants are collected and learning materials

are available, along with exhibitions at Sireeruckhacharti Nature Learning

Park. With its design and use of modern media and presentation, the

place attracts different groups of visitors and is considered as one of the

important eco-tourism destinations in Thailand. sireepark.mahidol.ac.th,

+66 (0) 2441 5272-4

2 MUST-HAVE TRADITIONAL

THAI MEDICINES AT HOME

BALMS

Made from varieties of herbs

and ingredients, this soft cream is

known to ease different symptoms,

namely a congested nose, dizziness

and nausea. It can also be applied

topically on the skin to sooth

swelling, bruises and aches.

INHALERS

Ingredients in an inhaler vary depending on the recipe’s

brand and formula. However, they all share the same

quality of alleviating dizziness,

nausea or fainting. With the

refreshing scent from camphor,

mint and aromatic oil, people

use inhalers to feel

energised.

KING’S FAREWELL

To bid adieu to a beloved monarch,

the sombre ritual to build a funerary

pyre called on the best artistic skills

in the land.

Words Anjira Assavanonda

Photos Suwit Kittitien

Thai hearts ached when

the dreaded countdown

began for the royal

cremation ceremony of

Thailand’s much-revered monarch,

His Majesty the late King Bhumibol

Adulyadej. While the heavy cloak

of grief covered the country since

the day the ‘father of the nation’

passed away, preparations were

already underway for a historic

and remarkable ceremony

scheduled for five days between

October 25-29, 2017.

The royal crematorium, called

the Phra Merumas, was the key

component in the cremation

ceremony where most of the

traditional rituals were performed.

The construction of the specialised

funeral pyre reserved for royalty

came under the responsibility of

the Fine Arts Department, of the

Ministry of Culture.

The grounds of Sanam Luang,

the vast green field north of the

Grand Palace served as the site

for major preparations – including

where Phra Merumas was built.

Other intricate artwork meanwhile,

was prepared at the Office of

Traditional Arts on Buddhamonthon

sai 5, Nakhon Pathom and also at a

few renowned art colleges.

The Phra Merumas is a

temporary pyre structure, using

steel frames that are easy and

quick to assemble. After the

cremation ceremony is completed,

the structure will be demolished

and not retained for future royal

cremations. According to Thai

tradition, funerals are not prepared

in advance.

Photo Courtesy of the Office of Architecture, the Fine Arts Department

KING’S FAREWELL

Clockwise from Top

The upper parts of

the outer side of

Chaak Bang Phloeng

are ornamented

with images of eight

avatars of Vishnu

which represent the

late King, sided by

images of angels to

send him to heaven.

The nine busaboks are

for multi-functions.

The central one is for

enshrining the royal

urn. The next four

are for monks to pray.

The other four at

the corners are

for storage and

preparation work.

The roof of each

busabok, is made

of steel truss and

supported with four

steel pillars.

Even though the Phra Merumas

will be used only once, the

craftsmanship that has gone into

every part of it is of the highest level.

Therefore the Phra Merumas for His

Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

resulted in a majestic farewell

unprecedented in scale and historical

gravity.

DESIGN CONCEPT OF THE PHRA

MERUMAS

Initially many designs of the Phra

Merumas were presented to HRH

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn,

the daughter of the late King, who

made the final selection. From there,

Mr. Kokiart Thongphud, an artist of

the Fine Arts Department, created

the chosen design.

The Phra Merumas for King

Bhumibol stood at 50.49 metres tall

and 60 metres wide. Unlike other

royal crematoriums previously

constructed, it consisted of nine

busabok – a tall structure placed

on a four-tiered square-shaped

base, each independent from one

another. Of the nine busabok, the

principal one stands on the top and

at the centre of the entire structure,

surrounded by a smaller busabok on

lower layers.

The design concept came

from royal tradition and Buddhist

literature (known as) Traiphum.

The main busabok is compared

to Mount Meru, believed to be

the centre of the universe where

sacred deities reside. Other smaller

busabok surrounding the main one

are compared to Sattaboriphan

Khiri, the subsidiary peaks around

Mount Meru. At the foot of Mount

Meru lays the Himaphan Forest,

which is inhabited by mythical

animals and Anodard Pond,

believed to be an origin of five

sacred rivers.

According to the Brahman

doctrine, a king is an avatar of

the three mighty gods – Brahma,

Shiva and Vishnu. As the word

“Ramathibodi” appears in his full

name, King Bhumibol is upheld as

an avatar of Vishnu or Narayana.

Also based from Buddhist belief, he

is a Bodhisattva born in the Dusit

level of heaven, who will reincarnate

as the future Buddha.

In other words, the Phra

Merumas was built to send the

monarch back to the Dusit level

of heaven and every component

of it is centred on these beliefs.

The design of Garuda, for

example, appeared in many

components of the Phra Merumas

structure since Garuda is

Vishnu’s carrier to the heavens.

CRAFTMANSHIP IN THE ROYAL

CREMATION CEREMONY

From dawn to dusk, hundreds of

artisans and public volunteers

gathered on sites at Sanam Luang

and the Office of Traditional

Arts and sped up their work in

moulding the sculpture, paintings,

wood carvings and ornamentation.

All were proud to play their part,

big or small, in this work dedicated

for a beloved King.

In addition to superb

craftsmanship, the work is

unprecedented in its unique

representation for King Bhumibol

and features symbolic designs

and a distinctive style of art

developed during his reign.

PAINTINGS DEPICT A

MONARCH’S WORK

Exceptional paintings were

seen on the Chaak Bang Phloeng,

a foldable panel placed at the top

of the stairs that climbed up to the

royal funeral pyre to spare mourners

from the sight of the cremated body.

Also, more unique paintings were

displayed on the three walls of Phra

Thinang Songtham, a royal pavilion

for His Majesty the King, members of

the Royal Family and top officials.

Monthian Chusuahueng, an expert

artist from the Office of Traditional

Arts, is responsible for the paintings

design and said that his concept was to

make the monarch’s presence felt in

every piece of work.

Apart from the traditional design

of heavenly flowers together with

eight avatars of Vishnu representing

King Bhumibol, the paintings also

depict the monarch’s work and

contributions for his people. The lower

part of Chaak Bang Phloeng panels

featured the royal initiatives in four

categories – soil, water, wind and

fire (or fuel.) They feature royalrainmaking,

the Chaipattana Aerator,

the wind turbine, the solar cell and

biodiesel projects. Meanwhile, the

paintings on the walls of Phra Thinang

Songtham also depict a bird’s eye

views of 47 royal-initiated projects

from all regions of the country.

Clockwise from Top

The paintings are

carried out on the big

canvas which, after

being finished, will be

stripped off to be placed

on the walls of Phra

Thinang Songtham.

Gajasiha and Rajasiha,

the legendary creatures

of the Himaphan

Forest will be placed on

the second layer of the

base of the principal

busabok.

“Our paintings portray past

events when the late King travelled

around, visiting people in royalinitiated

projects. We try to keep

every detail of each project or event,

including the architecture, colours

of each component, clothing, and

appearance of people in the scenes.

This kind of painting has never

appeared in any royal crematoriums

of the past,” said Mr. Monthian.

ART FROM THE REIGN OF

KING RAMA IX

The sculpture adorning the Phra

Merumas is also remarkable.

Prasopsuk Ratmai, head of Sculpture

Works, of the Office of Traditional

Arts, said over 100 sculptural pieces

were made in accordance with

Brahman beliefs and the sacred

Buddhist literature, Traiphum. The

design of each piece represents

contemporary art in the reign

of King Bhumibol. Each statue

features human-like anatomy

with musculature to make it more

dimensional and realistic.

Monthian

Chusuahueng, the

main designer of the

paintings for the Chaak

Bang Phloeng and Phra

Thinang Songtham.

The inner side of Chaak

Bang Phloeng features

the images of heavenly

flowers decorated

around the Royal Initial

Emblem of the late

King “Phor Por Ror”,

to create a heaven-like

atmosphere.

The process started from a sketch

in actual scale, followed with a clay

version of the round-relief sculpture,

then carving the basic form, the

details and sanding down the

sculpture. “The most difficult part is

the detail or decorative design to be

carved on each statue. For some large

pieces of sculpture, it took us three

months to finish a clay model,” said

Mr. Prasopsuk.

After the clay version is

completed, a silicone mould was

made to produce fiberglass casts. The

casts were fine-sanded and applied

Teachers and students

from College of Fine

Arts and Pohchang

Academy of Arts are

volunteers for the

paintings at Phra

Thinang Songtham.

KING’S FAREWELL

with spray primer before being

painted. “For me, it’s the greatest

honour to have an opportunity to

serve His Majesty in this farewell,”

said Mr. Prasopsuk.

Opposite

The Phra Maha

Phichai Ratcharot is

repaired with gold

plating and glass

decorations, to make

sure it is ready to

convey the remains

of King Bhumibol to

Phra Merumas.

THE PHRA KOSA CHAN AND PHRA

HEEP CHAN

The Phra Kosa Chan royal urn and the

Phra Heep Chan royal coffin are the

closest elements to the monarch’s

body in the royal cremation

ceremony. Inside the main busabok,

the Phra Kosa Chan was placed atop

the royal coffin, which in turn is

placed on the royal funeral pyre.

Both the Phra Kosa Chan and

Phra Heep Chan are traditionally

made of mai chan hom, known

commonly as kalamet, a fragrant

and auspicious tree from Kui Buri

National Park in Prachuap Khiri

Khan, 280km south of Bangkok.

Clockwise from Top

The creation of Phra

Kosa Chan royal urn

and Phra Heep Chan

royal coffin was

scheduled to complete

by the end of August.

A total of 33,332

small pieces of carved

wood were assembled

together to create an

exquisite design for

the royal urn (Phra

Heep Chan).

Both Phra Kosa Chan

and Phra Heep Chan

feature the design of

intertwined sprays

adorning Garuda,

Vishnu’s carrier.

The statue of Garuda,

Vishnu’s carrier,

will be placed on the

third-layer base of

the principal busabok.

The statue of Indra,

one of the four

Brahmin deities to be

placed on the fourthlayer

base of the

principal busabok.

The framework of the Phra Kosa

Chan was made of iron rods with

wire mesh stretched between them.

Both Phra Kosa Chan and Phra Heep

Chan are made of little pieces of

carved wood assembled together on

the framework, creating dimensional

images. Traditionally, the main

design usually features lotus petals.

However, the Phra Kosa Chan for

King Bhumibol mainly features

the design of intertwined sprays

adorning Garuda, the carrier for

Vishnu.

Phichit Nim-ngarm, a senior

artist from the Office of Traditional

Arts, said more than 10 traditional

artists and some 80 volunteers have

carried out the work. The volunteers

had to go through a test to evaluate

the kind of work that fits them best.

For Mr. Phichit, this is the fifth

cremation ceremony he has been

involved with.

KING’S FAREWELL

“I feel proud to have done my

duty this time. Proud, but without

joy, because no one would ever

want this to happen. Since it is

unavoidable, I did my best to

complete the work. For me, this is

one of the most important work (to

be done,) as it is at the heart of the

Phra Merumas,” said Mr. Phichit.

ORNAMENTATION OF

THE ROYAL CHARIOT

Since ancient times, the royal

chariot or the Ratcharot has

been traditionally used for royal

cremations. In Rattanakosin

Period, construction of the

so-called Phra Maha Phichai

Ratcharot (the Royal Chariot of

Great Victory) was recorded in

1795. It was used to carry the

remains of the King’s father,

Somdet Phra Borom Chanok to be

cremated on the Phra Merumas.

The Phra Maha Phichai

Ratcharot appeared once again

to carry the remains of King

Bhumibol Adulyadej to the royal

crematorium at Sanam Luang.

Leading the front is a smaller

royal chariot called Ratcharot Noi

which His Holiness the Supreme

Patriarch rode.

Woodcraft and ornamentation

have been done on all the royal

Clockwise from Top

Artisans gold

plate the wheel for

one of the royal

chariots.

Artisans and

volunteers put their

greatest efforts

on wood carving

works to be

decorated on the

royal chariots.

vehicles used in the ceremony.

The Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot,

for instance, was entirely adorned

with decorated glass and partly

gold-plated. All its wheels were

remade for the grand ceremony.

Most of the craftsmanship

involved in the Royal Cremation

Ceremony completed by the end

of September. After that, a full

rehearsal made sure that every

component of the ceremony had

flawless implementation befitting

a great king. This final offering

represented the gratitude of an

entire nation for all the things

the monarch had done for the

Thai people.

The Ratcharot Noi

(The Minor Royal

Chariot) for the

Supreme Patriarch

to ride leading

the procession.

The Ratcharot Rang

Puen (The Royal

Cannon Chariot) is

a new royal vehicle

representing King

Bhumibol’s status

as Head of the Thai

Armed Forces.

Mongkol Sirisong, a 61-year-old volunteer, is responsible for carving small

pieces of wood. The former mechanic of the Naval Dockyard Department who

was once skilled at sawing off parts of a cooler is now using his skill to carve the

designs into small pieces of wood that will be assembled into the royal coffin and

the Phra Kosa Chan. His workplace is in a temporary structure at Sanam Luang.

“For more than three months, I’ve come here every day from 8am to late

in the afternoon. Some days the work even finished as late as 6pm. I applied

for this work because it’s something most people would like to do once in a life

time — the work that would be contributed to the King. Most importantly, the

royal coffin that I had been a small part in making it is the closest element to the

King’s body,” he said.

82 38

KING’S FAREWELL

Photo Courtesy of the Office of Architecture, the Fine Arts Department

ตามเข็มนาฬิกาจากบน

ภาพจำลองเสมือนจริง

ของพระเมรุมาศ

ณ ท้องสนามหลวง

โมเดลพระเมรุมาศ

สามมิติ

ช่างศิลป์กำลังเขียน

ลวดลายลงบน

ประติมากรรมเทวดานั่ง

ซึ่งจะประดิษฐานอยู่รอบ

ฐานชั้นล่างของ

พระเมรุมาศ

งานประณีตศิลป์

ประดับฐานพระที่นั่ง

ราเชนทรยาน

ซึ่งจะใช้ในการเชิญ

พระบรมโกศพระบรมอัฐิ

จากพระเมรุมาศกลับสู่

พระบรมมหาราชวัง

วันที่ 13 ตุลาคม พุทธศักราช 2559 หัวใจของ

ปวงชนชาวไทยทั้งประเทศแหลกสลายหลังรับ

ทราบข่าวการสวรรคตของพระบาทสมเด็จ

พระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ท่ามกลาง

ความโศกเศร้าที่ปกคลุมไปทั่วผืนแผ่นดินไทย

พสกนิกร ข้าราชการและข้าราชบริพารต่าง

ร่วมมือร่วมใจจัดเตรียมพระราชพิธีถวาย

พระเพลิงพระบรมศพระหว่างวันที่ 25-29

ตุลาคม พุทธศักราช 2560 ให้ยิ่งใหญ่สม

พระเกียรติขององค์กษัตริยาธิราชผู้ทรงเป็น

ที่รักมายาวนานกว่า 70 ปี

กรมศิลปากร กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม ทำ

หน้าที่หน่วยงานหลักในการก่อสร้างพระเมรุมาศ

เพื่อเป็นองค์ประกอบหลักของพระราชพิธี

โดยมีโครงสร้างเป็นโครงเหล็กรูปพรรณที่

สามารถประกอบได้รวดเร็ว และรื้อถอนได้

ง่ายเมื่อเสร็จสิ้นพระราชพิธีตามความเชื่อ

โบราณที่มิให้เตรียมพิธีถวายพระเพลิงล่วง

หน้าเนื่องด้วยเป็นอวมงคล

พระเมรุมาศตั้งอยู่ที่ท้องสนามหลวงทาง

ทิศเหนือของพระบรมมหาราชวัง เป็นทรง

บุษบกสูง 50.49 เมตร ผังพื้นที่ใช้งานเป็นทรง

สี่เหลี่ยมจัตุรัสกว้าง 60 เมตร มีเครื่องยอด

นับรวมได้ 9 ยอด ตามคติความเชื่อจาก

ไตรภูมิกถา บุษบกกลางเปรียบเสมือนยอดเขา

พระสุเมรุอันเป็นศูนย์กลางของจักรวาล ส่วน

บุษบกที่รายล้อมเปรียบเสมือนสัตตบริภัณฑ์

คีรี โดยมีป่าหิมพานต์และสระอโนดาตอันเป็น

แหล่งกำเนิดแม่น้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์ทั้ง 5 สาย พร้อม

ประดับตกแต่งด้วยงานศิลปะอันวิจิตรตระการ

ตาที่ไม่เคยปรากฏมาก่อนในประวัติศาสตร์

พระเมรุมาศก่อสร้างโดยยึดตามคติความเชื่อ

ของศาสนาพุทธ ที่เชื่อว่าพระโพธิสัตว์จากสรวง

สวรรค์ชั้นดุสิตจุติมาเป็นพระมหากษัตริย์ และยึด

ตามคติความเชื่อของศาสนาพราหมณ์ที่เชื่อว่า

พระมหากษัตริย์เป็นองค์อวตารแห่งพระวิษณุ องค์

ประกอบหลายส่วนจึงปรากฏสัญลักษณ์ครุฑอัน

เป็นพาหนะของพระวิษณุ ตลอดจนงานประณีต

ศิลป์อื่นๆ ที่รังสรรค์ด้วยศิลปะในรัชกาลที่ 9 อันมี

เอกลักษณ์ที่ความเสมือนจริง ทั้งหมดนี้เพื่อส่ง

เสด็จกลับสู่สรวงสวรรค์

ภาพจิตรกรรมที่ปรากฏบนฉากบังเพลิง

นั้นสะท้อนพระมหากรุณาธิคุณอันล้นพ้นผ่าน

ธาตุทั้งสี่ ได้แก่ ดิน น้ำ ลม ไฟ ตามโครงการ

ฝนหลวง กังหันน้ำชัยพัฒนา กังหันลม เซลล์

พลังงานแสงอาทิตย์ และโครงการไบโอดีเซล

นอกจากนี้ยังมีจิตรกรรมภาพมุมสูงบนผนัง

ของพระที่นั่งทรงธรรม ที่ถ่ายทอดเรื่องราว

โครงการหลวง 47 โครงการทั่วไทย จิตรกรรม

ทั้งหมดนี้ไม่เคยปรากฏมาก่อนในประวัติศาสตร์

การสร้างพระเมรุมาศ

พระหีบและพระโกศจันทน์สร้างขึ้นจากไม้

จันทน์หอมจากอุทยานแห่งชาติกุยบุรี จังหวัด

ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ โดยประกอบขึ้นจากไม้จันทน์

สลักชิ้นเล็กชิ้นน้อยสอดประสานเป็นลวดลาย

เครือเถาครุฑแทนที่จะเป็นลายบัวกลีบขนุนตาม

ธรรมเนียมเดิม พระมหาพิชัยราชรถได้รับการ

ปฏิสังขรณ์ด้วยการปิดทองประดับกระจกใหม่ใน

ส่วนที่ชำรุดเสียหาย เพื่อเตรียมพร้อมส ำหรับเชิญ

พระบรมอัฐิไปยังพระเมรุมาศท้องสนามหลวง

งานก่อสร้างและงานฝีมือทั้งหมดนี้สร้าง

ขึ้นจากฝีมือของช่างศิลป์ทุกแขนงด้วยความ

ภาคภูมิใจและความสำนึกในพระมหากรุณา

ธิคุณอันหาที่สุดมิได้ โดยกำหนดแล้วเสร็จใน

เดือนกันยายน ก่อนที่จะมีการซ้อมใหญ่เพื่อ

ให้พระราชพิธีถวายพระเพลิงพระบรมศพ

เป็นไปอย่างสมพระเกียรติ

82 40

SAKUL INTAKUL

Renown for his fascinating floral arrangements,

Thailand’s Sakul Intakul made an international

name for himself harmonising delicate or

vibrant flowers with humble materials like

banana leaves or coconut husks; creating

sublime and impactful works of art befitting

royalty. Always on the move, Fah Thai manages

to catch him in a eureka moment.

Photos: Suwit Kittitien

Words: Veena Thoopkrajae

SAKUL INTAKUL

isiting the Museum of Floral

Culture in the Sriyan area of

Bangkok’s Dusit district, you

see the literal blossoming of

its founder’s long-cherished dream.

Celebrated floral artist Sakul Intakul

opened this one-of-a-kind museum on

August 2012 to honour Her Majesty Queen

Sirikit on her birthday. After five years,

this museum and its flora have thrived off

the creative ideas of its founder, evident

in the abundance of shady trees and plants

surrounding the two-story colonial-style

mansion museum.

Clockwise

from Left

Flowers and leaves

in Sakul’s floral

arrangements are

distinctly Thai in

selection yet the

final sophisticated

arrangement holds

its own in any

setting.

At the hand of a

master, flower

buds shape

themselves

into dramatic

chandeliers and

ceiling fixtures.

Sakul draws

inspiration from

the lush scenery

before him as

he sits at a desk

at the floral

museum.

A keen mind for

design results

in floral works

that are more art

sculptures than

plebeian flower

arrangements.

Sakul was in his casual

“uniform”, a minimally chic

outfit made from naturally dyed

Thai cotton. Before our talk

began, he excused himself for

about five minutes to continue

work at a table that sits on the

veranda. Fah Thai caught up with

him on surely a very good day.

Minutes before our conversation,

he put together a significant

theory about the art of flower

arrangement. So ready to reveal

the great plan, he gave a shout of

‘hallelujah.’

“I’m so, so excited as I have

just discovered a great theory to

be used as a pillar for our school,

(referring to his Tokyo-based floral

institute). Isn’t that amazing? Every

work, every single work, comes

down to the formation of dots, lines

and simple shapes,” he says while

simultaneously drawing the dots,

lines and shapes on a piece of paper.

This discovery will certainly be an

entry in some artist tome in the very

near future.

Sakul also believes in destiny.

While working as an engineer in

the Thaniya area of Bangkok’s

Silom Road (where most Japanese

businesses settled over the

decades), he spotted a sign for a

Japanese floral design institute that

was opening in his building. He took

it as a hobby and finished the twoyear

course. From that point on, he

started doing flower arrangements

for friends and acquaintances.

Later he got an opportunity to write

for a women’s magazine “Ploy

Kaem Petch” about floral art. It

landed him a chance to work for

Her Majesty the Queen’s visit to

China in 2000. Since then, he has

created projects for the Queen over

the last 10 years, with Japan among

the many destinations, therefore

making the country the starting

point for his school.

Now his career as a floral artist

has flourished, with a portfolio that

includes the Mandarin Oriental

in Bangkok, the Bulgari Hotel

and Resorts in Bali, together with

work at the Rome International

Film Festival in Italy. The coffee

table books he has penned, such as

“Tropical Colors” and “Dok Mai Thai

(The Flower Culture of Thailand)”

are international best-sellers. It

goes without saying that his books

are popular among his students and

floral art enthusiasts.

The renowned floral designer

had just returned from Japan

from yet another of his brainchild

projects, the “Sakul Intakul

International Institute of Floral

Culture” (IIFC). The school launched

in Tokyo earlier this year and he

dreams of expanding the teaching

programmes across Japan and

elsewhere when the first batch of

qualified teachers graduate. With

more than three decades of creating

installation arts from blooms,

buds, petals, leaves and a structure,

coupled with the long list of artwork

in his CV, Sakul and his institute

unsurprisingly gained attention

from Japanese women rather

quickly. “Some of them travelled

from Hokkaido to apply for a class at

IIFC,” he said.

Perhaps an insight into his

work stemmed from the fact that

he was not an art student. His

artistic expression comes from

authentic thoughts and along with

his engineering background, allows

him to execute the work in a very

structured way, especially when it

comes to large-scale installations.

He most likely thinks like a scientist

but executes his ideas like an

artist. With such a combination,

his experimental yet systematic

approach is rather unique. “Style

is contemporary but philosophy is

permanent” is Sakul’s motto after

dealing with artworks of all forms

that have branched out from his

passion with flowers. “Let’s talk

about philosophy,” he often says.

44 45

SAKUL INTAKUL

In Tokyo, he begins classes with

an activity called the “10-minute

flower ceremony.” As their “sensei

(teacher in Japanese),” he would ask

students to spend time appreciating

a rose. “I then ask them to touch

their cheeks with the rose and smell

it. I like to know how they feel about

the petals and scent or whether they

just inhale it without really getting

the genuine fragrance.”

Afterwards, he tells them

to close their eyes and visualise

the rose in front of them, and

asks whether they can smell

it. Surprisingly, the answer is

“yes”. This activity underlines a

philosophy of mindfulness, which

calls for every person to live in

the present so as to transform the

moment and forward it to eternity.

“A flower is one of the few

things that is beautiful and powerful.

They can grab people’s thoughts

and attention. But there must be

a condition. If your mind is not in

the present, you won’t be really

able to see the beauty of the flower

nor appreciate its scent. This is a

problem with most people, as 95 per

cent of their thoughts are cyclical

thoughts: you either think about

suffering in the past or are worried

about the future instead of really

being in the present,” Sakul says.

Top

The Thai floral

culture gets

emphasis at the

museum with the

varied displays

amidst the setting of

a botanical garden.

Bottom Left

Sakul aims to pass

on the legacy of

floral culture and

the teak museum

that encompasses

the concept over to

the next generation.

The ‘10-minute ceremony’

creates instant impact. Sakul

immediately notices that students

concentrate better and finish their

flower arrangements faster. The

sensei himself stays in the present

to calm his mind and enables

him to think through creative

ideas. Sakul believes everything

happens for a reason, and he needs

to look no further than his own

journey – in which an electrical

engineering graduate turned into

an artist with world-renowned

floral design installations. “I only

got into engineering because it was

fashionable for brainy kids. But

thinking back, I needed to walk this

path before being reborn into what I

am,” he said thoughtfully.

He never stops learning and

pursuing a goal. “I do speak a bit

of Japanese now. Self-taught, you

see,” the artist said with a proud

and charming smile. In his early

50s, Sakul never stops branching

out in his artistic vision. His first

brainchild, the museum, is one

of them.

“I see a good sign, the fact

that more and more young people

are coming to the museum.

Some come to take photos at

our botanical gardens or have

afternoon tea. That’s fine. As long

as they come, they will probably

learn a thing or two about our

floral culture,” he said.

Although he is busy laying

the foundation for the institute in

Japan, Sakul is constantly trying to

improve the museum in Bangkok.

“It’s like an artist’s home. I’m a

creative director or artistic director

and what you see here, whether it’s

a tea set or photos on the walls –

they are extensions of the art,” he

said. The museum started offering

afternoon tea and dinner too.

“I’m lucky that I have very

capable staff,” he said. Though

still a man working on several

goals, Sakul never intends to

have his hands on everything.

He has thought about handing

the museum over as a legacy to

the next generation and says, “I

want to turn the operation into a

foundation for floral culture soon.

Once we register it, everyone can

take part in preserving our culture.

This is a national asset and I’m

sure everyone will love to have a

part in it. I’ve played my role in

starting it from scratch and now

the torch must be ready to be

passed on.” Given his track record,

it will be a mission possible.

SAKUL INTAKUL

ชื ่อของ สกุล อินทกุล ขจรขจายไปไกล

ระดับโลก ดอกไม้ที่เขาประดิดประดอย

เกิดจากไอเดียผสมผสานวัสดุอันเรียบ

ง่ายเข้าด้วยกัน จนกลายเป็นงานศิลปะ

งดงามทรงคุณค่า

เมื่อ พ.ศ. 2555 สกุล อินทกุล ได้ก่อตั้ง

พิพิธภัณฑ์วัฒนธรรมดอกไม้ขึ้นเพื่อ

เฉลิมพระเกียรติเนื่องในวันคล้ายวันพระ

ราชสมภพของสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์

พระบรมราชินีนาถ ในรัชกาลที่ 9 ตาม

ความฝันที่บ่มเพาะมาช้านาน พิพิธภัณฑ์

แห่งนี้ตั้งอยู่ที่ศรีย่าน เขตดุสิต ภายใต้ร่ม

เงาต้นไม้นานาพันธุ์ที่ห้อมล้อมบ้านหลัง

ใหญ่ซึ่งเป็นสถาปัตยกรรมยุคอาณานิคม

คุณสกุลเชื่อเรื่องโชคชะตาที่นำพาเขา

สู่เส้นทางสายดอกไม้ ขณะที่ทำงานหลัก

เป็นวิศวกร คุณสกุลได้สมัครเรียน

หลักสูตรจัดดอกไม้เพื่อเป็นงานอดิเรก เริ่ม

จากจัดดอกไม้ให้เพื่อนและคนรู้จัก จนมี

โอกาสเขียนบทความลงในนิตยสารพลอย

แกมเพชร ซึ่งเปิดประตูไปสู่การถวายงาน

ให้แก่สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ฯ ในที่สุด

ด้วยประสบการณ์การสร้างสรรค์งาน

ศิลปะจากดอกไม้ เกสร ใบไม้ และโครงสร้าง

ต่างๆ ของต้นไม้ เมื่อต้นปีที่ผ่านมา สกุล

อินทกุล ได้เปิดตัวสถาบันวัฒนธรรม

ดอกไม้นานาชาติ (IIFC) ที่ประเทศญี่ปุ่น

จนได้รับการตอบรับอย่างอบอุ่น

สกุล อินทกุล คิดค้นการเรียนการ

สอนโดยให้นักเรียนชื่นชมดอกกุหลาบ

ด้วยการนำดอกกุหลาบมาสัมผัสแก้ม

สูดกลิ่น จากนั้นให้นักเรียนลองหลับตา

ขวาบน

สกุล อินทกุล ผู้ก่อตั้ง

พิพิธภัณฑ์วัฒนธรรม

ดอกไม้

ซ้ายบน

ดอกไม้ที่จัดวางอย่าง

สวยงามลงตัวภายใน

ห้องนิทรรศการ

ซ้ายและขวาล่าง

ความประณีต

ในการจัดพานพุ่มจาก

ดอกไม้ใบตองที่เต็มไป

ด้วยรายละเอียด

แล้วนึกภาพดอกกุหลาบ น่าแปลกที่

นักเรียนยังสามารถได้กลิ่นหอมของ

กุหลาบดอกนั้นอยู่ โดยเจ้าของหลักสูตร

อธิบายง่ายๆ ว่าเป็นหลักการวิปัสสนาที่

ทำให้ทุกคนอยู่กับปัจจุบันขณะ

บางทีอาจเป็นเพราะสกุล อินทกุล

ไม่ได้เป็นนักเรียนศิลปะมาตั้งแต่แรก

งานของเขาจึงเข้าถึงได้ง่าย เพราะมีต้น

กำเนิดจากความคิดอย่างแท้จริง โดย

สื่อผ่านวิธีการที ่เป็นระบบจากพื้นฐาน

ความคิดทางวิศวกรรม กล่าวได้ว่าสกุล

คิดอย่างนักวิทยาศาสตร์และสะท้อน

ความคิดออกมาอย่างศิลปิน

สกุล อินทกุล กล่าวว่า ดอกไม้เป็น

เพียงไม่กี่สิ่งในโลกที่ทั้งงดงามและทรง

พลังในเวลาเดียวกัน ดอกไม้สามารถ

ดึงดูดความคิดและความสนใจของคนได้

แต่จะเกิดขึ้นก็ต่อเมื่อจิตใจของเราอยู่

กับปัจจุบัน จนเห็นความงามและสัมผัส

กลิ่นหอมของดอกไม้

พิพิธภัณฑ์วัฒนธรรมดอกไม้

ต้อนรับผู้คนทุกเพศทุกวัย ไม่ว่าคุณจะ

มาเพื่อถ่ายรูปพืชพรรณ จิบชายามบ่าย

หรือมาเพื่อชื่นชมศิลปะแห่งดอกไม้ คุณจะ

ได้เรียนรู้วัฒนธรรมของดอกไม้ไม่มากก็

น้อย สกุล อินทกุล ตั้งใจจะให้พิพิธภัณฑ์

แห่งนี้เป็นสมบัติของชาติ เป็นศูนย์การ

เรียนรู้ที่ทุกคนเป็นเจ้าของร่วมกัน และ

เป็นสถานที่ที่จะบ่มเพาะวัฒนธรรมอัน

งดงามส่งผ่านจากรุ่นสู่รุ่น

A NEW APPROACH to

HIP SURGERY

เปลี่ยนข้อสะโพกเทียมแนวใหม่ ไม่ตัดกล้ามเนื้อ

แผลเล็ก เจ็บน้อย ซ่อนแผลผ่าตัด

BANGKOK HIP AND KNEE CENTER

The latest advancement in hip joint replacement now means

surgery that does not require the removal of muscles and a wound

that gets concealed.

The results: a small incision, fewer

chances of scarring, less pain and

better mobility.

Hip osteoarthritis (a common chronic

condition of the joints) often appears

in people by at least 40 years of age.

The genetic abnormality of hip joints,

the autoimmune disease of Systemic

Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), kidney

disease, rheumatoid arthritis or longterm

steroid use may bring it on. It is

also often found in heavy alcoholic

drinkers and among the elderly who

once broke their hip. In its late stages,

those who suffered long from these

illnesses often experience chronic

pain and painkillers offer little help.

Such pain could appear when a person

moves, climbs the stairs, or even

sleeps. Hence, hip joint replacement

surgery, or hip surgery, is called on to

replace damaged hip joints with

artificial ones in order to enable

patients to carry on their daily lives

and no longer be in pain.

In the past, hip surgery was avoided

since it involved a major operation

that required a cut into the muscle,

inducing severe pain and a long

surgical wound that could later

turn into a scar. After the operation,

crutches are needed to walk and

recovery can take months. Undesirable

outcomes also include the risk of

unequal length in legs or a hip joint

dislocation, making for a poor posture.

Nowadays, ongoing progress in

medical technology makes hip surgery

a less complicated procedure.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr.

Phonthakorn Panichkul, who

spent more than 2 years working

on a new approach of hip joint

replacement surgery in the USA

and Canada, is currently a specialist

in artificial joints surgery at the

Bangkok Hip and Knee Center,

Bangkok Hospital. Bringing with

him new techniques to Thailand,

the surgeon recently illustrated this

update on hip surgery called the

Direct Anterior Approach Cosmetic

Incision Hip Replacement, which

needs no muscle cuts and has been

a popular method in the USA, Canada

and Europe. The new version is

considered a Minimally Invasive

Surgery (MIS) with only a 3 to 4 inch long wound

hidden at the groin beneath the bikini line.

The Direct Anterior Approach Cosmetic Incision

Hip Replacement performed at the front of the hip

but with no muscles removed enables surgeons to

take out and replace the joints through a gap

between muscle bundles. There is less pain and more

importantly, a speedy recovery and a quick return to

walking comfortably without a crutch. Patients

require only 2-4 days recovering in the hospital

before returning home and going on with daily life.

Prior to the operation, “digital template

surgical planning” is done to select a suitable size

of artificial joints for each patient. This planning

approach provides better accuracy in examining

the length of a patient’s legs and location of hip

joints. As the patient lies in the supine position,

a C-arm X-ray examination enables accuracy in

placing the new joints properly and checking

both legs to ensure their equal length.

The BANGKOK HIP AND KNEE CENTER at

Bangkok Hospital is a leader in Direct Anterior

Approach Cosmetic Incision Hip Replacement in

Thailand. Leading the centre and his team,

Dr. Phonthakorn has been an invited lecturer and

speaker on this advance knowledge and his skills

at medical schools and other hospitals all over

the country, as well as to medical teams from the

Asia-Pacific region such as India, Japan, Myanmar,

Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia and China.

With the Direct Anterior Approach Cosmetic

Incision Hip Replacement, patients have a small

wound, with the chance of scar formation

reduced and less pain experienced. The procedure

ensures a quick recovery with the ability to

engage in comfortable movements and the

enjoyment of a daily life expected.

DR. PHONTHAKORN

PANICHKUL

Classic Anterior Incision

Langer’s Line

Bikini Incision

แม้ว่าคนไทยจะประสบภาวะข้อสะโพกเสื่อม

น้อยกว่าชาวตะวันตก แต่ก็พบได้ในผู้ที่มีอายุ

40 ปีขึ้นไป รวมถึงผู้ที่มีความผิดปกติของข้อ

สะโพกมาแต่กำเนิด ผู้ที่เป็นโรคภูมิแพ้ SLE

โรคไต โรครูมาตอยด์ ผู้ที่ใช้สเตียรอยด์ต่อ

เนื่อง ผู้ที่ดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ปริมาณมาก หรือผู้สูง

อายุที่ประสบอุบัติเหตุหกล้มข้อสะโพกหักใน

อดีต ซึ่งทำให้มีอาการปวดเรื้อรัง ไม่สามารถ

บรรเทาได้ด้วยการรับประทานยา ฉะนั้นการ

ผ่าตัดเปลี่ยนข้อสะโพกเทียมทดแทนข้อเดิมที่

เสื่อมลงจึงมีความจำเป็น เพื่อให้ผู้ป่วย

สามารถกลับมาเคลื่อนไหวใช้ชีวิตได้ดังเดิม

ในอดีตการผ่าตัดเปลี่ยนข้อสะโพกเป็น

เรื่องที่ใครๆ ก็อยากหลีกเลี่ยง เพราะเป็นการ

ผ่าตัดใหญ่ที่ต้องมีการตัดกล้ามเนื้อ เจ็บปวด

แผลยาวและอาจเกิดแผลเป็น กว่าจะฟื้นตัวใช้

เวลาหลายเดือน แถมมีความเสี่ยงที่ขาสองข้าง

อาจยาวไม่เท่ากันหลังผ่า แต่วิทยาการ

ทางการแพทย์ในปัจจุบันไม่เคยหยุดนิ่ง

นพ.พนธกร พานิชกุล แพทย์ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้าน

ศัลยศาสตร์ออร์โธปิดิกส์ เฉพาะทาง

ศัลยศาสตร์ตกแต่งข้อเทียม แห่งศูนย์ข้อ

สะโพกและข้อเข่ากรุงเทพ โรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ

ผู้สั่งสมประสบการณ์ในการผ่าตัดเปลี่ยนข้อ

สะโพกแนวใหม่จากประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกาและ

แคนาดามากว่า 2 ปี ได้แนะนำให้รู้จักกับการ

ผ่าตัดเปลี่ยนข้อสะโพกเทียมแนวใหม่ แบบไม่

ตัดกล้ามเนื้อ ด้วยเทคนิคซ่อนแผลผ่าตัด ซึ่งมี

ความยาวแผล 3-4 นิ้วบริเวณขาหนีบซ่อนใต้

แนวกางเกงชั้นใน (Bikini Incision) ซึ่งเป็นแนว

ที่ขนานไปกับแนวเส้นมัดกล้ามเนื้อ จะสามารถ

ช่วยให้การสมานตัวของแผลผ่าตัดดีขึ้น และลด

การเกิดแผลเป็นคีลอยด์

เทคนิคผ่าตัดเปลี่ยนข้อสะโพกเทียมแนว

ใหม่ ไม่มีการตัดกล้ามเนื้อใดๆ สามารถเปลี่ยน

ข้อสะโพกได้โดยแทรกผ่านช่องระหว่างกล้าม

เนื้อลงไป จึงทำให้เจ็บปวดน้อย ที่สำคัญคือ

ฟื้นตัวเร็ว สามารถเดินได้เร็วขึ้นโดยไม่ต้องใช้

ไม้เท้า อยู่โรงพยาบาล 2-4 วันก็กลับบ้านไปใช้

ชีวิตตามปกติได้แล้ว โดยก่อนผ่าตัดจะมีการ

วางแผนด้วย Digital Template Surgical

Planning เพื่อเลือกขนาดข้อเทียมที่เหมาะสม

สำหรับแต่ละบุคคล นอกจากนี้การผ่าตัดแนว

ใหม่มีความแม่นยำในการเช็กความยาวขาและ

ตำแหน่งของข้อสะโพกได้ดีขึ้น เพราะเป็นการ

ผ่าตัดในท่านอนหงาย สามารถใช้ C-arm

x-ray วางตำแหน่งข้อเทียมให้ถูกต้องเพื่อ

ตรวจความยาวขาทั้งสองข้างให้เท่ากันขณะ

ผ่าตัด จึงลดปัญหาขาสั้นยาวไม่เท่ากันหลัง

ผ่าตัด และสามารถผ่าตัดเปลี่ยนข้อสะโพก

พร้อมกัน 2 ข้างได้ในครั้งเดียว

ด้วยความเชี่ยวชาญ ประสบการณ์อัน

ยาวนานของคุณหมอ ปัจจุบัน นพ.พนธกร จึง

ได้รับเชิญไปเป็นผู้ถ่ายทอดวิทยาการความรู้

และทักษะการผ่าตัดแนวใหม่นี้ให้แก่โรงเรียน

แพทย์และคณะแพทย์ในโรงพยาบาลต่างๆ ทั่ว

ประเทศ รวมถึงคณะแพทย์จากต่างประเทศใน

โซนเอเชียแปซิฟิก เช่น อินเดีย สิงคโปร์ ญี่ปุ่น

พม่า ฮ่องกง ฟิลิปปินส์ มาเลเซีย และจีน

นอกจากนี้ยังมีแพทย์จากต่างประเทศได้ติดต่อ

เดินทางมาศึกษาดูงานอย่างต่อเนื่อง

www.bangkokhospital.com

Tel. 1719

BANGKOK HOSPITAL

Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Road

50 51

SAMUI REMINISCING

Words Nawarat Acosta

BACK TO THE PAST:

Memories of a

Youthful Samui

Imagine a fantasy island surrounded by clear blue

where the ambrosia water of coconut can be yours

with just a command to the local ‘monkey’ picker and

friendly locals whose favourite pasttime is watching

water buffaloes lock horns in a fight. This was

Koh Samui then, as described by its first doctor who

glances to the island’s future by looking back.

The coconut industry

thrived in the early

days of Samui with

monkeys serving as

trusty helpers.

SAMUI REMINISCING

If you want to listen to a nostalgic

storytelling of a promising Koh Samui

that’s grown into quite the beauty of a

place, just ask Dr. Suwit Nantapanich,

fondly called “Mo Tapu” by Samui islanders.

‘Mo’ is doctor in Thai and ‘tapu’ means nail,

a nickname given by family with its own

esoteric history. Mention his name to longtime

Samui residents and the enthusiastic

response will be, “Mo Tapu? Yes, he was

our family doctor!”

Photo Thewin Chanyawong

Clockwise

from Right

Samui still enjoys

a strong coconut

industry; with a

little help from a

friend, a reward

for his labour is the

sweet fruit of

a coconut.

Dr. Suwit’s clinic

was a reassuring

presence for ailing

Samui locals.

Mo Tapu remembers

when the first group

of foreigners visited

the island and were

in awe of its

unspoilt beauty.

As Samui’s first doctor – there

was hardly a person on the island

he didn’t treat– his astute eyes and

calm manner makes him the best

observer of island changes from his

serene clinic on Chaweng. Although

retired, he still keeps a close eye

on the island happenings and

developments.

With a faraway look of

remembrance, he remembers

greeting the first foreign visitor to

Samui in the 1960s when the island

paradise was a relative unknown.

“In the 1960s, the local patients

I treated came to me because of dog

bites,” he says with amusement.

But adds with the seriousness of

a physician, “Now, the cases are

mostly of people falling off their

motorbikes.” A lot of cases are

surprise run-ins at sharp turns

on the road and foreign tourists

handling the unfamiliar power of

a bike. Such is the Samui then and

now, he points out.

Sitting at home, he reminisces

on a Samui that was less resort

island and more a residential

island with potential. Dr. Suwit

is of Chinese heritage who came

at a younger age to be a general

practitioner.

In archival information, the

earliest maps of Koh (island in

Thai) Samui go as far back as the

17th century. “Accidental tourists”

might be a better way to call the

first group of visitors of fishermen,

sailors and sea traders who chanced

upon the island as they sought

shelter from the storms and the

treacherous waters along the Gulf

of Thailand.

So the first settlers of Chinese

and Malay descent enjoyed the

bountiful nature and natural

resources that produced vegetation,

fruit varieties, and fish and wildlife.

Across the seas to other parts of

Thailand, stories circulated that

on an island called Samui, money

can be made on coconuts that

numbered in the thousands and

luscious tropical plants and fruits

could be harvested. So more people

started trickling in, eyes shining

with the hope that Samui’s fruit

bounty becomes a lucrative move.

These days, there are shrines and

memorials that acknowledge the

first settlers. Dr. Suwit’s clinic is

in Chaweng, a town, he says, that

used to be an oyster village. Located

on a quiet street, the clinic in light

green pastels showed the tranquil

nostalgia of doctor’s visits. Nearby

sits one of the oldest cinemas

in a neighbourhood, while cosy

restaurants offering local eats

and an art gallery is situated near

a market.

Travel agency Kuoni brought

the first group of foreign tourists to

the quiet beauty of Samui, Dr. Suwit

recalled. Then, there was no city

planning, no roads or infrastructure.

Part of the stream of visitors were

on a quest for enlightenment in the

early 1960s, a hippie crowd that

ventured to Samui on their way to

Kathmandu.

He talks of the time that Swiss

magazine Du Atlantis, interviewed

him for their story of a picturesque,

serene Samui. Together with

photography by Rene Burri, the

magazine’s editor and writer Samuel

Gasser described how in Samui,

“the heat and bountiful water

supplies bring forth an inexhaustible

abundance of fruit. Pride of place

goes to the coconut. Then there are

SAMUI REMINISCING

Top Right

Boats unload fruits

in the early dawn

against a backdrop

of lushness.

Bottom Left

When not

harvesting fruits,

islanders take time

to watch buffaloes

have a go at

each other.

Bottom Right

Samui’s alfresco

stadium guarantees

the best seats

in the house!

bananas of every kind, pineapples,

a variety of mandarin as big as an

orange with a thick, golden green

rind, melons, sugarcane and any

number of fruit for which there is

no word in our language, although

the mango and papaya have found

their way to Europe.” Gasser

continues describing their idyllic

time and says: “As we (sit) over a

glass of mekon {sic}(rice whiskey)

on the evening of our first day there,

the scenery of the island is more

beautiful and varied than anything

we have seen in this country so far.”

It was during this time Koh

Samui saw the start of the project

to build the island’s first road.

“Social changes came quickly to

Samui,” Dr. Suwit pointed out.

He started treating sick foreigners.

People were at their most casual,

in beachwear or scantily attired.

“So I had a policy. No shoes, no

shirt, no service,” he laughed.

He also had different rates for

Thais and foreigners. “Locals who

tilled the land or lived in Samui

paid less than those on vacation,”

he explained. Imagine then, there

Across the seas to

other parts of

Thailand, stories

circulated that

on an island called

Samui, money

can be made on

coconuts that

numbered in the

thousands…

Photo Rene Burri/ Magnum Photos

were no credit cards yet, he said

with amusement. Not much cash

either, as locals gave Dr. Suwit

bananas as payment. People also

slept at the clinic to keep company

for relatives infirmed for longer periods.

Meanwhile, the Du Atlantis

writer describes the aesthetically

pleasing features of the Samui folks.

“The people are more friendly,

intelligent and quite definitely

more agreeable to the eye than the

inhabitants of the mainland.” And

finding Samui a better option than

going further south, the magazine

crew decided to spend the rest of their

time there.

The Swiss magazine also

photographed daily life, such as

monkeys going about their business

of climbing coconut trees to gather

the fruits for their owners. Today,

people still gratefully sip its

heaven-sent taste upon arrival,

although the fruits are fewer

in number with less help from

monkeys. Coconuts are less relied

on as a major industry these days

as well as tourism has taken over;

now reflected in the increased

commercial activity in Chaweng

and other popular beach areas. Also,

the durian fruit also came into the

picture and is one of the leading

fruits the island has to offer.

Gradually, more roads literally

lead to and around Samui and

the backpackers community

from Europe arrived. By the mid

1970s, Samui become a blended

community of residents who

provided needed amenities to the

constant flow of visitors.

Dr. Suwit saw how the late 1980s

and early 90s saw the building of

more infrastructures with hotels and

luxury holiday villas rising up and

reaching out to high-end tourists.

Churning along the waters was

a regular ferry service that made

Koh Samui an even more accessible

getaway. Then came the airport

further connecting the island to

Thailand and other destinations.

Thus the quiet and sleepy

island blossomed to one of the

Fah Thai Magazine Sep/Oct 2017

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