ScandAsia Thailand - February 2016

FEB 2016
Karin
Herrström:
I have a passion
and a mission
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

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When: 23 February, 7:00 am - 9:30 am
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ScandAsia
Magazine
in Thailand
ScandAsia is the only magazine
that covers all the Danish, Finnish,
Norwegian and Swedish residents
in Thailand.
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the rest of South East Asia.
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Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8,
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E-mail: news@scandasia.com
Editor-in-Chief :
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gregers@scandmedia.com
Assistant Editor:
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Joakim Persson
Joakim@scandmedia.com
Piyanan Kalikanon
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Nattapat Maesang
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Graphic Designer :
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Peerapol@scandmedia.com
Front cover:
Karin Hellström, wife of
H.E. Staffan Herrström,
Sweden’s Ambassador
to Thailand.
Photo:
Disraporn Yatprom.
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Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.
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features here:
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Nordmenn i Hua Hin
Jubileumsfest
Where: Sara Janes
When: Saturday 13 February, 18:00
Do you want to gain more sales? Then, don’t miss out on
this perfect opportunity to get the key strategies from
the expert: Mr.Ami Mandel, the director of UpMedia.
He will show you how to get the most out of your
online channels.
Fee: DTCC members: 850 THB, Non-members:
1,100 THB
You can also send an E-mail to assistant@dancham.
or.th or call 02-354-5220 to book your ticket.
Programmet er blant annet:
• Stor buffet med thai og europeisk mat
• Dans til levende musikk
• Litt allsang hører med
• Premieutdeling for golf- og petanqueturneringene
• Presentasjon av veldedighetsprosjektet som NiHH finansierer
• Sosialt samvaer blant gode venner
Deltakelse på festen er 700 thb per person. Denne betales
ved ankomst.
Deltakere på jubileumsfesten er betalende medlemmer for 2016 og deres partnere. Det vil ikke vaere
krav til at partnerne skal vaere medlem. Medlemskontingent for 2016 kan betales ved ankomst til festen.
Visst kan du svensk tv i Thailand!
Med ett abonnemang, en
Internetuppkoppling (min 2
Mbit/s) och en set-top-box kan
du följa serier som 30 grader i
februari, Mästarnas mästare
och Melodifestivalen samt få
de senaste nyheterna från
Rapport och Aktuellt - precis
som släkt och vänner hemma i
Sverige. Dessutom kan du se
programmen när det passar dig,
med vår tjänst “catch up”.
Tag kontakt med vår kundtjänst ConNova för mer information via
telefon eller e-post: +46 (0)141 20 39 10 - svtworld@connova.se
Mer information finns också på svt.se/svtworld

News Brief
The new Baan Jing Jai Children’s Home is open
Hans “Hansi” Kondrad began the
welcoming speech on the official opening
of the new orphanage Baan Jing Jai in
Pattaya on 9 January 2016 with the words:
“You can see it with your own eyes here in front
of you.”
What started out as a hopeful idea six years
ago, was now reality. More than 300 people
attended the opening, among them H.E. Kjetil
Paulsen from the Norwegian Embassy in Thailand.
“It was fantastic,” Hansi says with pride. But
even more so were the children. “They were
proud as peacocks when showing the guests their
new rooms and the snug corner. It is a whole new
world to them to have something called home.”
In 2010 Hansi played his part in registering
the project Baan Jing Jai as a foundation. The goal
for the at that time 6 board members was to
gather enough support to buy land where they
could move into their own building and make
home for almost 100 children. One year later,
private loans and collected money could finally
buy the land for the orphanage.
“It was in 2013 things really started to
progress. Several great people had started
different fundraising projects for the New Building
4 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016
project, both in Thailand and Norway.”
The big turning point was when major
sponsors such as Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
and friends of Sputnik came on board to support.
The project had finally collected enough money
to start the building of the new home.
The Norwegian Properties Group supplied
on their own cost the building architect, and
in January 2014, the construction of the new
home finally started. Two years later they could
welcome for the official opening of Baan Jing Jai.
“A dream have finally come true,” says
Hansi. In his opening speech he expressed his
appreciation and expressed his deepest thanks
to the many people and companies who have
contributed. There was in particular a few people
he wanted to mention his gratitude to.
“First of all the Norwegian Seamen’s Church
in Pattaya for housing nearly all of the committee
meetings during the year, and the former pastor
Jan Olav Johannessen, Trond Tonjum and his
colleagues of WWL, and Peter Malhotra from
Pattaya Mail.”
He also sent a huge thanks to a birthday girl
among the guests.
“Thank you and happy birthday, Vivian
Storbukås (the driving force behind the Friends
of Sputnik)! I can’t believe there is a better way
to celebrate your birthday!.”
The brand new Baan Jing Jai will make one of
the greatest joy for 80 children. According to Hansi
the future looks bright for everyone. Since they
have been building networks for so many years,
people will continue to support the foundation
and thereby giving the children as much schooling
as possible. One of the children have now been
adopted by a Danish woman, who will support
the child with care and education. Regardless of
the success of Baan Jing Jai so far, Hansi doesn’t
believe they should rest on their laurels.
“We will always work hard to make enough
support for these children and for Baan Jing Jai.
We don’t stop now, we will continue to improve
and make sure the children will have the best
conditions we can give.”

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 5

News Brief
Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce re-launches yearbook
DTCC Executive Director Carsten Jens Carlstedt and
Finn Balslev, Marketing Director at ScandMedia,
Danske Bank’s Christian Trenkel Larsen held a brief
introduction.
DTCC Executive Director Carsten Jens Carlstedt and
Finn Balslev, Marketing Director at ScandMedia,
Emil Vøhlert, Novo Nordisk Pharma, assisting the
lucky draw.
Lucky draw winner
6 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016
Lucky draw winner
On Thursday January 14th 2016 it was
time for the Danish-Thai Chamber of
Commerce (DTCC) to see the return of
an old friend – its yearbook ‘Denmark in Thailand
- Member Directory of Danish-Thai Chamber
of Commerce’, which had been dormant for a
few years.
DTCC, along with its sponsors had dedicated
this year’s first networking to the re-launch,
where Executive Director Mr Carsten Jens
Carlstedt presented the brand new publication,
its background and the effort to accomplish
this yearbook. It is produced in collaboration
with ScandAsia’s owner, the publishing house
ScandMedia. Carsten thanked all DTCC’s
sponsors, as well as the sponsors of the event
and also ScandMedia for their efforts.
The networking was held at the member KVIK
(Danish kitchen brand’s) downtown Bangkok’s
showroom in Thonglor. Carlsberg provided the
guests with free beer, together with Danish Hot
Dogs and flaeskestegssandwich from Fyn Bakery.
A Danish apple cider, surprising to some guests to
be found in Thailand, was also served.
The sponsor Danske Bank representative, Mr
Christian Trenkel Larsen also briefly introduced
himself and the bank to the audience. Later in the
evening lucky draw prizes from Danske Bank and
Bang & Olufsen were also presented to two lucky
winners, where Emil Vøhlert from Novo Nordisk
Pharma made the draws.
Since it had not been published in the recent
years, members and other readers can in the new
2016 catch up on what have happened since 2012
together with a whole DTCC directory. Year 2012,
2013, 2014 as well as 2015 have dedicated ‘Year
in Review’ chapters.
The new yearbook also contains a foreword by
H.E Mikael Hemniti Winther, Danish Ambassador
to Thailand, where he outlines his outlook for
2016 in Thailand.

News Brief
Proactive annual general
meeting: Scandinavians
on Phuket
On 9 January 2016 half a hundred of Scandinavians gathered in
the lovely surroundings of Royal Valley in Chalong, Phuket. The
community group Skandinaver på Phuket had invited them for
their Annual Meeting 2016, where a new board was chosen, relevant issues
discussed and new members were welcomed. Last year 59 Scandinavians
had joined SPP.
”We are happy to greet new members, and the two years I have
been moderator I have only seen growth in our organization,” says Åke
Viktorsson, moderator of Skandinaver på Phuket.
He explains that since the organization is not commercial the only way
new members are found are by the old word-of-mouth method.
”We are lucky to have such participating members. When new
Scandinavians move to Phuket, existing members are excellent to promote
our group, and tell newcomers we are here to help get to know their
Scandinavian rights, meet the local society and be their support.”
Today Skandinaver på Phuket counts 350 members, but they hope to
grow even bigger in 2016. They are not interested in changing their strategy
four outreach
”We think this way works fine, but we will encourage our member to
spread the word about us even more. It will benefit us more the bigger
we are”.
More members can help to improve the Scandinavian society on
Phuket according to Åke. For example, the Swedish right of health
insurance on Phuket was one of the key issues on the Annual Meeting
to discuss. Apparantly some Swedes in Phuket are missing right to any
health insurance even if they are considered legitimated to. It is caused
by the verification process, which is not universal as in other places of
Thailand. SPP believes when Scandinavians stand together, they can solve
the problem faster.
”We already now feel a huge interest for being a member at SPP. Our
most important task is to inform and make life easier for the Scandinavian
society in Phuket.”
February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

News Brief
Simply Scandinavian returns to Shangri-La
Bangkok for a double in 2016
By Joakim Persson
Following on a week with Swedish jazz in 2015
jazz promoter Hans Wetterberg returns
with his concept ‘Simply Scandinavian’ to
Bangkok and the riverside flagship hotel Shangri-
La Bangkok twice in 2016. Starting with the period
Friday 11 March through to 19 March (except on
Sunday 13) the Swedish/British Entertainer/Singer
Deri Rowlands, along with Swedish Pianist Janne
Sjöblom, returns to Bangkok performing at Volti
Restorante & Bar (previously known as Angelini).
Volti offers timeless and modern, authentic Italian
cuisine, and also a variety of live music in its
intimate and comfortable Lounge Bar.
“Relax, Wine, Dine and enjoy Deri singing
songs from times gone by, making you feeling
8 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016
good and happy with many of your favourite
singers. Deri Rowlands forever green. Deri likes to
swing! That’s his thing,” is how Hans presents him.
“Deri’s well-known both inside and outside
Sweden, and for his impersonations; of Nat King
Cole, Tony Bennet, Dean Martin and his favourite
Satchmo! You might meet many of the top artists
of the world with him on stage. He’s also praised
for his humour,” he continues.
Deri lives in Sweden and has a strong
connection with his long career as entertainer
in Sweden, having performed there in piano bars,
night clubs and a number of TV Shows for the
past 40 years.
Hans first booked him for the Simply
Scandinavian 10 years’ anniversary in Kuala
Lumpur. Having seen him live in a hotel bar in
Stockholm Hans had been mighty impressed by
his performing skills: “I understood that I heard
the male artist who could be the International
Entertainer of Sweden.”
On 7 - 15 October the Scandinavian concept
once again returns to Shangri-La, Bangkok, with a
full programme featuring Swedish vocalist Anna
Sise supported by Erling Ribbing Quartet, and
Danish top chef Lars Kyllesbeck from Mefisto in
Aarhus.
“Anna’s own idol is Billie Holliday (American
jazzsinger 1915-59) and many times you will
believe Billie is singing in front of you.”
At Shangri-La, but in Kuala Lumpur, is also
where it once started for this Scandinavian
(Finland included) concept for jazz music and
food.
In 1987 the Shangri-La hotel in Kuala Lumpur
was one year young. Hans and the Swiss General
Manager Dario Reggazoni, who had opened
the hotel, knew each other from Chaine des
Rotisseurs(an international gastronomic society).
Dario had thought of starting a Swedish
Smorgasbord and asked for advice. Hans, who
had a past as a musician had suggested that the
concept needed entertainment, selling the idea
at first based on his home country’s most famous
pop exports. The hotelier had understood and
then asked his Swedish friend to find that music.
Hans, with a challenge a his hand, had then turned
to his old friends at the good old jazz club Nalen
in Stockholm, Sweden, asking to the artist Eddie
Bruhner (Sweden’s Jazz Band), who had accepted.
At that hotel back then was also the Danish
hotelier Christian Hassing who also liked the
concept.
Based on that very first event, which had
been successful, Hans had thought that he could
expand this concept to also offer a Danish Week,
Norwegian Week and Suomalainen Viikko. From
the second year Hans also organised to book the
chefs to come along with the music as part of the
concept. Scandinavians who moved on to new
postings also asked Hans to bring the concept
to their new city and in that way the concept
came to visit various cities in Southeast Asia –
and actually worldwide! – under the ‘Simply
Scandinavian’ banner, which could incorporate any
of the Nordic countries.
After a few years he had also strengthened
the concept by adding a singer, or entertainer, to
perform along with the band.
Fast forward to today and Eddie has
performed 13 times in Kuala Lumpur up to now.
And when Simply Scandinavian celebrated 25
years, Christian Hassing wanted the concept for
his Mandarin Oriental in Singapore.
Simply Scandinavian also returns to Shangri-
La Kuala Lumpur in October 2016.

Many joined Scandinavian Christmas Service in Bangkok
News Brief
The number of Nordic people
who joined this year’s
Scandinavian Christmas
Service in Bangkok was more than
last year and but there were still
seats available for a few more in
Christ Church on Convent road,
where this special service has taken
place since the second world war.
What makes it so popular is
the reading of the gospel in the
four Scandinavian languages by
prominent people in each of the
four communities – the fourth being
Icelandic, since the Finnish Church
has its own service straight after the
Scandinavian. The Icelandic text was
read by Palli Steinarsson, the Danish
by Consul Birgit Sarah Kondrup-
Palmqvist, the Norwegian by Rikke
Marline Steensby and the Swedish
by Ambassador Staffan Herrstrom.
The Vicar Lars Ryderstad with
assistance from Maria and Bjorn
Wennerstrom guided smoothly the
whole event which included also a
Prelude by Siegfried Thom and solo
songs by Vanessa Bekassy de Bekas.
After the service, Scandinavian
Society Siam served a glass and a
bite outside on the “kyrkbacka” as
the Swedes like to call the parking
lot outside the Church. All very
traditional and meaningful with
friends meeting and greeting each
other with a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
All photos below by Claus
Gundersen.
International
Baccalaureate
- den internationale
studentereksamen
• internationalt anerkendt
• giver adgang til universiteter over hele verden
• undervisning på engelsk
New website from Thai-Norwegian
Chamber of Commerce
The Thai-Norwegian Chamber
of Commerce recently
announced: ”Another
milestone for our chamber with the
launch of our rebranded website.
The visual expression of the website
builds on the Team Norway profile
developed in Norway for use
by Norwegian industry. The new
website offers a more flexible design
concept allowing us to change the
functionality in accordance with
demand.”
”We have added special interest
sections such as Legal Updates, ICT
Updates, ASEAN issues and a link
to the Myanmar-Norway Business
Council. We will fill the pages with
content as we go along. We will
upload presentations from the
events making them easily available
to you as members. You may notice
that we have already added photo
albums (interlinked with our Flickr
account) allowing you to download
pictures from the chamber’s 2015
events. From the website, you can
also download past issues of our
magazine Business Review. We will
keep you updated by posting news
on the website, so keep following
the development!”
Ring og rekvirer yderligere
oplysninger om uddannelsen,
kostskolen og kollegiet.
Du kan bo på skolens kostafdeling.
Der er også mulighed for at bo på et kollegium
i tilknytning til skolen.
www.nyborg-gym.dk · Tlf +45 65 31 02 17
February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Karin Herrström:
I have a passion and a mission
By Maria Andreasdottir / Photos: Disraporn Yatprom
The wife to Swedish Ambassador of
Thailand H.E. Staffan Herrström Karin
is a truly devoted woman of the
world. The task of representing one’s
country in a diplomatic context suits
her well, since her own personal goal is to make
sure to bring the best out of her surroundings,
which she actively does by engaging in political
issues like gender equality, promoting welfare and
always being a great hostess.
30 years ago she met the passion of her life,
Staffan, and together they began their own global
adventure.
Magnetic power
”It just said ‘click’”. Karin smiles when she recalls
the first time she met her husband in a political
context. She was a teacher, he was a journalist.
Growing up as an outdoor child (who also loved
books), she was fascinated about this man who
shared the same interests of hers for a better (and
greener) world, not to mention their common
passion for music. Like a magnetic power the two
of them connected perfectly, and it didn’t take long
before they witnessed their love to the world.
“In the beginning our married life was typical
Swedish. We had two daughters, and together we
went on sailing, playing music together, reading
and discussing, exercising, gardening and skiing in
the winter. Just like any other family in Stockholm.”
The ordinary life in Sweden happened to
be temporary, when Staffan in 2007 became the
Ambassador of Sweden in Tanzania after having
worked with development cooperation for a
long time. It meant a world of changes: moving
to a whole new continent, saying goodbye to
friends and family, and suddenly being in charge of
promoting Sweden as Mr. and Mrs. Ambassador.
Karin never doubted a second of supporting her
husband’s new career path.
“The hardest part was to convince our
teenage girls to move away from everything they
knew. I was proud of Staffan, and he was fantastic
10 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016
to explain to the girls about the pros and cons of
moving to Africa.”
Eventually the pros won, and they all went
to there. As a diplomatic spouse she was happy
to become the head of the residence and to
entertain larger groups of guests. She learned
from her job as a teacher how to organize, to
communicate and to delegate work to the staff
and how crucial it is to create a positive and
proactive spirit in the residence.
“Every single person has to feel that he or she
is important. I love to be a team leader!”
Even if organizing events is a lot of work itself,
Karin was involved in voluntary work, raising funds
for mainly vulnerable girls and women. The focus
was to give girls who had been raped and were
pregnant the same possibilities to continue their
education. She also supported NGOs assisting
women who were suffering from fistula and other
women health-related issues. Women’s rights
are one of the favourite causes to Mr. and Mrs.
Herrström.
After three years in Africa, Staffan was
appointed Ambassador to Vietnam. Karin spent
a month building up a new home for her family,
but unfortunately due to a decision made by the
Swedish government the Embassy of Sweden
in Hanoi had to close down (though later the
decision was revoked).
“We received the message just before
Christmas. It was sad news for us, but even worse
for the local employees. Staffan did everything to
comfort them.”
And so did Karin; supporting her husband in
his efforts to support the Embassy staff. She told
him to make the best out of it, and together they
travelled around in Asia and Karin spoiled their
staff at the Embassy in Hanoi with home baked
cookies. She managed to promote a positive
atmosphere in spite of the dreadful news. Soon he
was given the title of Ambassador to Poland, and
they all moved back to Europe.
Another chance
“But there was something about Asia. I loved the
pulse and the energy. In Africa where everything
was a little ‘hakuna matata’, it was the opposite in
Asia. Everyone was always on the move.”
“Why not give Asia another chance?” The
lively Karin was happier than a clam when Staffan
was given the credentials to be Ambassador in
Thailand in September 2015 (and accredited also
to Lao PDR and Myanmar).
“I am so fascinated about Thailand, and I can’t
believe how fortunate we are. It was the country
highest on our list to explore, and so it is for many
Swedes.”
According to her around 350.000 Swedes visit
Thailand each year while thousands are settled
there, and she notices it by the many Swedish
conversations spoken in Bangkok. Although it is
comforting to hear one’s mother tongue, Karin
is very determined to learn the language of the
country she is living in.
“Staffan and I believe it’s both for necessity
and to show courtesy to learn the language. It’s
important to us. And it’s so fun to help each other
with homework together.”
They don’t attend the same classes, and during
the weekdays their individual programs are packed
with duties, work, and tasks. During Christmas in
Thailand Karin hosted a Swedish Christmas Bazaar,
organized St. Lucia rehearsals, arranged several
traditional parties, and intend to start a project of
promoting Swedish food in Thailand.
“When you’re abroad, you have to make
more out of your traditions and norms than you
would do at home.”
Passionate people
Karin and Staffan are both passionate about their
work, and even more for each other. Karin explains
how important it is to relax when living a busy life
constantly filled with new impressions, and she
does that best in her husband’s company.
They have managed to get the most and best
out of the time they have together; whether it is
going to concerts or listening to music at home,
going to the gym or taking courses of languages or
cooking. They love to do everything together, even
literally just to be with each other.
“I am so confident with Staffan. I can even
enjoy being with him without conversation. I was
already convinced in 1984 that I would travel the
world with him if I had to.”
Karin busts the myth of the “quiet and easy life
of an ambassador’s spouse”. She is always on the
move and always engaged in several projects, not
only diplomatic duties, like creating networks and
being the team leader of the Swedish Residence,
but also her charity work and not to mention
being the greatest supporter of the Swedish
Ambassador in Thailand.

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Bruun-
Rasmussen
Focusing
On Asia
Bruun-Rasmussen,
the 70 years old
Danish auction house,
is expanding its
business in Asia and
Thailand is next.
By Gregers Moller
Bruun-Rasmussen Auctioneers is a
family-owned Danish auction house
which has been in operation since
the hammer first fell in 1948. Today
the company commands a leading
position in Scandinavia’s auction market.
The trust and reliability which the company
enjoys has prompted Danes to turn to Bruun
Rasmussen whenever they decide to buy or sell
valuable house-hold effects, - being it furniture,
paintings, carpets, jewelry and other valuable art
objects.
With an increasingly saturated home market,
Bruun Rasmussen first expanded abroad by
establishing agents in key countries in Europe as
well as the States.
Now time has come to turn to Asia and
expand the already existing Hong Kong platform.
“Our strategy is to appoint local agents in
relevant cities around the word,” explains Frederik
Bruun-Rasmussen, the 43 year old Grandson of
the founder of Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers.
“The key task of an agent is to help local
buyers and sellers to overcome the different
challenges associated with participating in an
auction in an unfamiliar and faraway place like
Denmark,” Frederik explains.
“When selecting agents, we look for a local
person who knows Danish culture and speaks
Danish, someone who has been living in the
foreign country for a number of years and last,
but not least commands an extensive network,”
Frederik adds while pointing at Anders Normann.
“The distance is not so much a logistic issue,
because we ship frequently and free of charge
12 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

f.inst. to Hong Kong – the real challenge is to
overcome the mental distance or barrier! Simple
issues like time difference, language, currency and
understanding of the auction process may appear
as insurmountable obstacles, which in reality they
are not!”
A key element in the success of an auction
house is the ability to convince people to entrust
you with items to be auctioned, - who can you
trust?
For Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers being
located in Denmark actually adds a level of
protection in itself. An auction house in Denmark
is subjected to very strict regulations aimed at
protecting both the buyer and the seller.
“The Danish authorities think trust is nice,
but control better,” Anders Normann comments.
Anders Normann was already a member
of the board when the auction house started
looking for agents in Asia, so the choice for
Thailand was straight forward.
For Hong Kong, the field is still open.
“We have a very strong base in Hong Kong.
Our challenge is to identify a local person of
a caliber equivalent to Anders Normann,” says
Frederik.
Why Thailand?
According to Anders Normann, there are
historical reasons why Thailand deserves focus.
“Don’t forget, that some 100 years ago
you had a lot of Danes working in Thailand
within various industries ranging from railways,
teak, cement to shipping. When these Danes
returned to their homeland, they brought back
In the world of internet
i.e. online auctions, it is
even more important that
you have a live person, a
person you can trust and
turn to. A person who will
provide advice and address
your various concerns and
queries.
local handicraft like silver, lacquerware, porcelain
and Buddha figures. For reasons of affection
and sentimentality, the first and perhaps also
the second generation would hold on to these
artifacts. The third generation is more influenced
by fashion and value.’’
“Therefore you see in relative terms a large
amount of Asian antiquities and collectables
appear at Bruun Rasmussen auctions. From
the seller’s point of view it is an advantage that
they can now achieve a better price than they
could in the past. Why? Because the concept of
collecting has become trendy amongst Thais and
the Chinese and they are starting to buy back
their own culture,” Anders explains.
“Take for example a recent example of a
Dane wanting to sell a rare Chinese Buddha
image with an estimate of 20 - 30.000 Danish
kroner. The Buddha was ultimately sold to an
overseas collector for 8 times the estimate.
Online auction and live bidding.
The internet has revolutionized the auction
Industry and made the World smaller. Participating
in an auction via the internet is more popular and
widespread than actually sitting in the room
with the auctioneer on the podium swinging the
hammer.
“The internet has possibly been the biggest
positive influence for our auction house in recent
years,” says Frederik.
“Today, you can sit in your home anywhere in
the World and follow me standing on the podium
and actively participate in the bidding, - all what
you need to do is to log yourself in.
“We started in 2004 with online internet
bidding and Bruun Rasmussen is one of the first
auction houses in the world to conduct both
types of auction i.e. online concurrently with
the traditional auctions where you can actively
participate with live bidding,” says Frederik.
But this has not diminished the need for trust
and reliability, - on the contrary!
“In the world of internet i.e. online auctions,
it is even more important that you have a live
February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

person, a person you can trust and turn to. A
person who will provide advice and address your
various concerns and queries,” Frederik states.
“You may for instance contact Anders if
you have an interest within a particular area of
collecting; being it Siamese stamps, furniture,
paintings etc. and Anders will facilitate the contact
to the person in BRA possessing the relevant
expertise.
Traditional/International auctions
Four times a year, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers
conducts international auctions at their premises
in Bredgade, Copenhagen. Items offered here are
traditionally high end value and the items offered
also command international appeal, - f.inst. Asian
Art, Danish design and paintings of Danish and
European well known painters.
The next one will take place by the end of
February 2016 with the items being available for
a preview on the internet from mid-February.
“If you want to participate in the international
auction, I will make sure that you get a catalog and
I will follow up and assist you with the practicalities
of participating in the auction,” Anders offers.
He holds up an intricately ornamented silver
bowl:
‘’I bought this fine and rare old piece of Thai
silver at an auction in 2014. This bowl would today
cost a few hundred thousand baht, - if you
could find it! I paid 18.500 kr. including buyers fee.”
Concurrently with the big live auctions, there
are constantly items being sold on the internet
auctions - typically less expensive items or items
that would have limited value outside Denmark,
- apart from the very popular bi-monthly on-line
wine auction.
14 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016
“I will not evaluate
individual items as I lack
the specific knowledge.
However, if you come with
a watch or want to buy one,
I will advise you who to
contact in BRA and solicit
professional evaluation. I am
the facilitator.
Frederik points out that anyone to-day can
create a profile with Bruun Rasmussen and
browse through the category of their interest
and submit online bids.
Bidding by phone and by commission
In addition to traditional live auctions where you
are physically present and the online auction via
the website there are two more forms of bidding.
One way is submitting a commission bid - it
means you entrust a staff at the auction house
to bid on your behalf up to a certain maximum
decided and set by you. If nobody else wants the
item, you will get it much cheaper - is somebody
else is bidding, you may lose it. But you will never
risk paying more than your set maximum.
Another way of bidding is by telephone. A
few lots before your lot is up for auctioning, a staff
will call you and then you can participate in the
live bidding through that person.
In both cases, the staff is on a fixed salary
and has no personal interest whatsoever, - they
exclusively represent your interests.
“That is what makes auctioning so much fun.
You know the official estimates, but you don’t
know whether the bidding will reach the estimate
or the items will be knocked down at three times
that?” says Frederik.
Thai valuations
Anders Normann’s role in Thailand is not to
evaluate items but to advise potential sellers and
buyers.
“I will not evaluate individual items as I lack
the specific knowledge. However, if you come
with a watch or want to buy one, I will advise you
who to contact in BRA and solicit professional
evaluation. I am the facilitator.”
“We are trying to create awareness that the
Auction process presents both the seller and the
buyer with a host of advantages, - f.inst. the World
wide client coverage and last but not least trust
and reliability i.e. contrary to net-sales, you will
be ensured that each lot has been professionally
assessed and evaluated. “
“I’m not interested in quantity, but will consider
my mission successful, if I over the next few years
succeed in building a small, loyal, but passionate
base of discerning clients’’, concludes the newly
appointed Bruun Rasmussen representative.

Time for a Fat Tuesday
‘semla’ bun at The
Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok
By Joakim Persson
Finnish it’s called ‘laskiaispulla’ and ‘fastelavnsbolle’
in Danish and Norwegian.”
“I have always loved semlor, but what set it
off was a friend down in Mae Prim who asked
me some four years ago whether we had any
semla for sale,” Eric explains how it all started.
“Unfortunately we didn’t, but that set off a
challenge to make one for the following year.
David Nilsson, who was then working here, and
myself started experimenting both with how to
make the bread authentic as well as the almond
paste mix. We worked out a way to keep it a bit
crunchy, yet creamy. Then we had another semla
aficionado, Lars Svensson of Ikea and Oriflame,
who came to taste whether we had hit it right.
I think we all enjoyed tasting us through recipes
until we got it right.”
After the experimentation phase three years
ago, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok has held the
recipe pretty consistent, except last year when
they decided to go for a second type of a smaller
mini-semla for those worried about the effect on
their diet, explains Eric.
Being a Swedish favourite the hotel can also
tap into the fact that it hosts many Swedes.
“We have a lot of Swedish guests during the
period November to April. Actually 8% of our
guests are Swedish over the whole year.”
The semla is also available for pre-order/
take-away, while it comes as a combo with fresh
coffee at the hotel. Others prefer to have it with
tea or hot chocolate, says Eric.
It does also go down well with the locals.
“Many Thais enjoy eating the semla, as do
many other nationalities. We have many who have
seen us advertising it who would like to try. Many
people who only learned about it in Bangkok are
now hooked on the bun.”
The Swedish pastry specialty, the ‘semla’
wheat bun is back for the third year
at The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok,
served in the Lobby Bar of the hotel
where the Swede Eric Hallin is at the
helm of the operation.
The General Manager himself presented the
semla on the first day of its serving, 7 January,
where several Swedish children among the guests
were seen munching on the bun as ScandAsia
visited. The pastry is only sold during a certain
time of the year, connecting to what in Sweden
is called the Fat Tuesday and in English known as
Shrove Tuesday.
This year the sales period is however longer
than the previous two years. Is this based on
popular demand?
“We have heard that in Sweden they have
started selling the semla already since December,”
replied Eric Hallin. “However, it should actually
be eaten on Fettisdagen (Mardi Gras in French
or Shrove Tuesday in English) which this year
falls on 8 February. In Swedish we have many
other names for it; such as fettisdagsbulle (Fat
Tuesday Bun; actually Mardi Gras also has the
same meaning), or ‘fastlagsbulle’, which is basically
the bun one eats on the day before the fast.”
“Traditionally lent would start on the
following Wednesday and we would feast on the
previous day as it was the last day we could eat a
lot. However, the semla proved addictive to many.
The bakers therefore stated to extend the sale
of the semla slightly before and after the actual
day. Hence we have this year decided to sell them
from 7 January (13th day of Christmas) until the
end of February.”
“We find many names for those we love. In
February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

Swedish Chef at
Sofitel So Bangkok
Text and photos: Joakim Persson
16 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016
They are rare and far between in
Bangkok’s five star establishments,
even there are usually a few in the
region. So enjoy, while you can, the
Swedish Chef de Cuisine Kenny
Karlsson, who is residing at Sofitel So Bangkok’s
Red Oven! He is still young and out on a culinary
adventure; travelling the world and likely to make
him to the next stop in a distant future –unless
Bangkok and Sofitel So can convince him/them to
stay longer, that is…
Chef Kenny turned up out of nowhere
coinciding with Sweden’s National Day in 2015
when the hotel was celebrating this occasion
with a Swedish feast during two days. It has
become a tradition at the fashion-forward design
hotel Sofitel So Bangkok to give attention to the
cuisines of the world in connection to various
National Day celebrations, enabling for all of us
to discover various local classics from different
parts of the world. So behind the Swedish theme
a newly arrived Swedish chef was hiding!
Given the opportunity to present Swedish
specialties for two days Kenny had added some
signatures to the buffet; for instance Dill stewed
potato with cured salmon, and Skagen on brioche
with salmon row.
“When I had just started they said: ‘Let’s do a
Swedish menu for the Swedish National Day!’ So
they gave me that assignment.”
Perhaps this was a kind of litmus test, to show
his creative side and ability to also train the staff
to cock those specific dishes – which went well,
according to Kenny. The Swedish Ambassador
with family was among the dining guests.

Down-to-earth
When ScandAsia visited the young chef earlier
in 2015 (three months into his stint) he was just
about to finalise the new menu he had composed
for Red Oven, a warm and colourful dining outlet
with panorama view of Lumpini Park, popular for
its lunch and dinner buffets.
He told us that he had incorporated some
Swedish flavours here and there into the menu.
“For instance the appetizer Marinated salmon
Carpaccio served with horseradish cream, salmon
roe, shallot, deep fried capers & chives - simple
but so good!”
“I have my own style; I like trying out various
flavours. I’m quite down-to-earth,” explained
Kenny. The presentation and flavours are essentials
for him, while he’s not into having a descriptive
menu yet.
“I like the small little details and sometimes
one spends too much on that,” he confessed.
“Ever since I worked with my previous food
& beverage I have the mindset to source locally;
we had almost the entire menu based on locally
source ingredients. It’s the same focus here – good
quality for a good price, instead of importing,” he
added.
Certain products are simply not available to
import to Thailand or just way too expensive.
He previously worked in Australia, a country
known for its high quality meat, seafood and
produce.
“Then one has to rethink, and do something
on the Thai market instead and adapt to that.”
At Red Oven there is something for everyone,
and they have many walk-in guests coming to
enjoy the buffet offers.
“They come to munch on foie gras, and the
seafood is popular.”
“One gets more of a market feeling here:
one has something from all the big cuisines of the
world. Thai, Japanese, European… the cuisines of
the world!”
Ticking off destinations
Kenny, at this early stage in his chef career, is also
travelling the world to live and work in some of
its big cities and countries.
“Before set out to travel I already had my eyes
set on a few specific destinations. Australia, Hong
Kong, Thailand and the US were among those. I
would like to work sometime in New York, so I’m
ticking them off and I am quite certain Hong Kong
will be next.”
However, it will be a joint decision by three
persons when and where to move on.
Kenny went to work in Australia in 2012,
where he met to guys in Melbourne, and they
became ‘brothers’ who have been staying together
since then, though working in different outlets.
One is a bartender and the other sommelier; all
currently working in Bangkok.
“The lads and I are talking about going to
Hong Kong. It’s quite smooth when we are all
within the restaurant business, and they are very
good at what they are doing too. If we can travel
as a team, we might be able to start something
together in the future.”
“It’s great fun, and it’s about climbing the
ladder,” he commented on frequently changing
position and destination.
From Radisson Blu to Sofitel So
Kenny actually applied for the job at Sofitel So
online and got it. His previous position was with
Radisson Blu in Uppsala north of Stockholm,
which probably helped in landing him to the
Bangkok job. It is also in and near Uppsala where
he built his career and had his chef education.
“I want to gain as much experience here
with Sofitel So as possible. My job at Radisson
Blu in Sweden was very different from what I’m
doing here. I did much more cooking there, while
here I’m much more in a managing role, doing
promotions, arranging with VIPs etc. So it’s a very
different working style and that took me a couple
of months to adjust to,” commented Kenny.
“I have also worked mostly in hotels, where
I get to do all kinds of things, rather than in just a
stand-alone restaurant. Within hotels you have all
kinds of tasks and I get more out of that role and
I can utilize that when I want to go somewhere
else – within Sofitel for instance.”
As for Bangkok itself he was positive too:
“Before I came here I did not know much, and
had no idea how it would be and was quite
surprised by this city and its traffic. There is always
buzz somewhere; Bangkok never sleeps. And that
fits the bill – big cities suit me. When I go to the
countryside I am yearning to go back to the big
city and its pulse, so I enjoy it here.”
February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

มุมภาษาไทย l mum pha:să: thai l Thai Language Corner
Some Words of
Buddhism
stupas
By Klavs Johansen (thai@snakthai.dk)
As is evident everywhere in the
country, พุทธศาสนา / phútthá
sà:tsànă: / ~ Buddhism is the
majority religion of Thailand. We
encounter signs of Buddhism all
around us from village to metropolis. In the
same way, we also encounter the religion in
the language, and it pays to know some of the
most common words and phrases. Hence, they
are the subject of this month’s Thai Language
Corner.
No doubt the most visible manifestation of
Buddhism is the วัด / wát / ~ wat. A recurrent
English translation is ‘temple’, however ‘monastery’
may be more appropriate as a dwelling for monks.
If Finland is the land of the thousand lakes, Thailand
is surely the land of the thousand wats. Today, the
word ‘wat’ is well-known beyond Thailand.
Without getting too nerdy, we should
mention a few of the main structures generally
composing a wat:
โบสถ์ / bò:t / ~ ubosot, the formal prayer hall
and the hall used for ordaining monks. The same
word is used in Thai to refer to Christian churches.
วิหาร / wíhă:n / ~ wihan, a meeting and
prayer hall with the main Buddha figures.
ศาลา / să:la: / ~ pavilion, a general purpose
roofed structure with no walls. The word is also
used for similar structures outside the wat, from
the small shelters erected at many upcountry bus
stops to the larger ศาลาหมู่บ้าน / să:la: mù:bâ:n
/ ~ village pavilions, the central gathering place of
every village.
เจดีย์ / je:di: / ~ stupa, the notable bell-shaped
structure, which comes in many sizes and is used
to keep relics and thus a place of worship. These
may be seen outside wats as well, e.g. as
marks in the landscape.
ปรางค์ / pra:ng / ~ khmer style stupa, similar to
the เจดีย์ / je:di: /, but the shape more resembling
a corncop. The most prominent example is the
one at วัดอรุณ / wát àrun / ~ The Temple of
Dawn on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in
Bangkok.
The founder of Buddhism is พระพุทธเจ้า /
phrá› phútthájâo / ~ the Lord Buddha, and the
Thai calendar is counted from his enlightenment
543 BC. Thus, AD 2016 is พ.ศ. 2559 / phor: sŏr:
sŏr:ng phan hâ: rór:i hâ: sìp kâ:o / ~ BE 2559
in Thailand, where BE is short for Buddhist Era.
Simply add 543 to the Western year to get the
corresponding Thai year.
The word พระ / phrá› / is used to refer
not only to monks, but also to Buddha figures
of all sizes and shapes. The Buddha figures are
omnipresent from small alters in taxis, over
larger alters, หิ้งพระ / hîng phrá› /, in houses and
businesses, to famous Buddha figures in wats, with
the most famous of them all, the unifying symbol
and protector of Thailand, the พระแก้วมรกต /
phrá› kâe:o mor:rákòt / ~ the Emarald Buddha,
residing in the wat named after it, Wat Phra Kaeo,
at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
The monks, in their characteristic curry
colored robes, are seen outside the wats when
travelling or in single file in the early morning
hours offering the community around the wat
the opportunity to make merit, in Thai ทำาบุญ /
tham bun /. This is done by presenting food to
the monks. The morning round of receiving food
is called บิณฑบาต / binthábà:t /, while the bowls
in which the monks collect the food are called
บาตร / bà:t / and the act of presenting the food
is called ตักบาตร / tàk bà:t /. Accompanying the
monks on the morning rounds are เณร / ne:n /
~ novices, adolescent boys, wearing the yellow
robe for the first time, and เด็กวัด / dèk wát / ~
monastery boys, helping to carry the food back
to the wat. There, monks will eat the food before
noon. The normal words for eating are กิน / kin /
or, a little more formal, ทาน / tha:n /, however the
word for monks is ฉัน / chăn /. Thus, a separate
vocabulary is reserved for monks. Addressing a
monk you would say หลวงพ่อ / lŭang phôr: /
and an old and revered monk would be หลวง
ตา / lŭang ta: /. The abbot of a wat is known as
เจ้าอาวาส / jâo a:wâ:t /. In speaking, monks will
refer to themselves as อาตมา / a:tàma: / ~ I, and
address laypeople as โยม / yo:m /.
The act of paying respect to monks is known
as ไหว้พระ / wâi phrá› / and the hands are lifted a
little higher, while the bow of the head becomes
a little deeper in this version of the gracious Thai
greeting. As you may guess, the same word is used
for paying respect to Buddha figures, where it will
often involve kneeling or repeated prostrations.
Feel free to try it all out and remember what
the Buddha taught, ทำาดีได้ดี ทำาชั่วได้ชั่ว / tham
di: dâi di:, tham chûa dâi chûa / ~ do good
and you shall receive good, do evil and you shall
receive evil. Also, don’t forget to join our group on
Facebook, the Thai Language Corner!
18 ScandAsia.Thailand • February 2016

February 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19

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