ScandAsia Thailand August 2015

AUG 2015
Danish simplicity to Bangkok
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

Coming Events
AUG 2015
DTCC Speed Networking Night
Danish simplicity to Bangkok
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se
Your FREE
ScandAsia
Magazine
in Thailand
ScandAsia is the only magazine
that covers all the Danish, Finnish,
Norwegian and Swedish residents
in Thailand.
We also publish a ScandAsia
magazine in China, Singapore and
the rest of South East Asia.
Please sign up for
your own FREE copy:
www.scandasia.com
Publisher :
211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29
Prasert Manukitch Road
Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao
Bangkok 10230, Thailand
Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8,
Fax: +66 2 943 7169
E-mail: news@scandasia.com
Editor-in-Chief :
Gregers A.W. Møller
gregers@scandmedia.com
Assistant Editor:
Joakim Persson
Joakim@scandmedia.com
Advertising :
Finn Balslev
finn@scandmedia.com
Joakim Persson
Joakim@scandmedia.com
Piyanan Kalikanon
piyanan@scandmedia.com
Nattapat Maesang
nattapat@scandmedia.com
Graphic Designer :
Peerapol Meesuwan
Peerapol@scandmedia.com
Printing :
Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.
Daily news and
features here:
www.scandasia.com
Where: Ocean Bangkok, Sukhumvit 33 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea,
Watthana, Bangkok
When: Thursday August 20, 19:30 - 21:30
The Danes during Japanese
occupation years
Where: Admirals Pub and Restaurant, Sukhumvit Soi 24, Bangkok
When: 25 August 18.30 - 21.30
Japan surrendered in August 1945
and the World War II ended. That also
ended the dangerous gap between
the 4 May, when the Germans
surrendered in Europe, and the
surrender of Japan where the Danes
were close to being recognized
as enemies. Scandinavian Society
Siam invites historically interested
Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and
Finns to an evening looking back
at how the Danish community in
Thailand handled the occupation.
The participants can order dinner
first and later discuss the documents
persented by Gregers Moller.
Nordic Breakfast Seminar: Cyber Security
Where: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Sukhumvit Road, Asoke
When: Tuesday 25 August, 07:30 – 09:30
In the season of wet streets and
raincoats DTCC welcomes to
a very special networking night
at the hottest urban lounge,
Ocean@Bangkok. Come join
us and enjoy free beers from
6:30pm to 8 pm, amazing food
and great networking. Special
prize to be won courtesy of
Bang&Olufsen!
Dress Code: Rain boots, rain
coats, umbrellas, plastic bags or
anything else to keep you dry
this season.
DTCC Members: FREE,
Non-Members 450 THB. www.
dancham.or.th for registration
How do you protect your sensitive
data, passwords and avoid outside and
inside attacks? Your Email, calendar and
contacts on your Smartphone are easily
hacked and are open for breaches,
malware and intrusions. The event will
present the Cutting Edge (Cost and
Resource Effective) way to protect you
with the next generation Cyber Security
solutions from the Nordic Countries.
Speaker: Peter Diurson (Co Founder
Ciptor Sweden), Ekaluck Poapongsakorn
(General Manager Tech Smart Thailand),
Bernard Collins (CEO SafeComs).

Garden International School
Sathorn, Bangkok
Student - centred learning for children
from 2 to 18* years of age
Your choice.
Their future.
Our family.
34/3-4 Yen Akart Road,
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Thailand
Tel : +66(0)2 249-1880 Fax : +66(0)2 249-1943
Email : info@gardenbangkok.com
www.facebook.com/Garden.International.School.Bangkok
www.gardenbangkok.com
www.twitter.com/gisbangkok
www.youtube.com/gisbangkok
Playgroup every Monday from 2.30pm. to 3.30pm. Ages 8 months to 2 years.

Now with upgraded health packages
Including worldwide emergency transportation
Preventive health care for all and a no-claims bonus
Our Star Health Plan provides perfect care for you and your family with premium levels
designed to be reasonable and stable. We believe in long-term relationships which is
why we focus on prevention. Our Plan offers more care to keep you healthy and happy –
and your premiums low.
Call our agent on 09 2780 9743 or e-mail to ouragent@thaivivat.co.th
Thaivivat – Your Health Manager.

News Brief
Peter Bjork
new Executive
Director of EABC
Finnish Embassy in Bangkok has moved
The Embassy of Finland in Bangkok moved on 29 June to a new location in the Athenee
Tower on Wireless Road. The embassy was previously located on the 16th floor in the
Amarin Tower on Ploenchit road.
The new adress is
Embassy of Finland
Athenee Tower, 14 th Floor
63 Wireless Road (Witthayu)
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
The phone number is unchanged +66 2207 8700 as well as the email sanomat.ban@formin.fi and
Post Box addres at G.P.O. Box 295, Bangkok 10501
Check also the embassy online:
https://www.facebook.com/FinnishEmbassyBangkok
http://www.finland.or.th
Danish Priest has left Hong Kong
Hans-Aage Koller Nielsen, who has
been the priest at the Danish church
in Hong Kong for 17 years, has
returned to Denmark. A farewell event was
held for the popular Dane on Tuesday, June
30, at Mariner’s Club.
The Danish Seamen’s Church in Hong
Kong is a lot more than just a church. They
both support, socialize and help exchange
students, trainees, families and tourists in
the city of skyscrapers. Besides making the
church a rallying point for the Danes living in
Hong Kong a part of his job has also been
to support the seamen, when a Danish ship
enter Hong Kong.
Peter Bjork, Thai-Swedish Chamber of
Commerce’s (TSCC) Executive Director,
has resigned with immediate effect, to start
a new position as Executive Director of European
Association for Business and Commerce (EABC),
Thailand as of July 15, 2015.
“After four great years with Swecham it is
now time for me to move on to new challenges,”
Peter Bjork comments on the move.
“We have a very competent and experienced
President, Board and staff so the transition will be
smooth. It will also be good for the Chamber with
a new Executive Director (ED) that can carry on
the renewal work,” he adds.
President Jan Eriksson wishes Peter Bjork all
the best in his new job.
“Peter has done an outstanding job for TSCC
putting in a very large amount of hours above
his employment contract. He has handled his job
with the highest integrity always promoting TSCC
and Thai – Swedish business relations and being
an exceptionally good representative for all that
TSCC stands for”.
Peter Bjork is looking forward to the more
complex job in this new position.
“Taking on EABC will be a great challenge
as the situation is more complex given the
many stakeholders. But I am confident we can
move things forward to become a sustainable
organisation after 2016. Also at EABC we have
a very competent Board, advisers and staff and I
am really looking forward to start working with
them,” he says.
Peter Bjork has been working and living in
Thailand since 1998. Peter has a background
from the Swedish Army as a non-commissioned
officer, Captains rank. He has studied at Uppsala
University (BSC) and Change Management (MM)
at IMIT – Chalmers University of Technology and
is Managing Director at CCM.
For Swecham, the search for a replacement of
Peter Bjork was not over when ScandAsia went
to print. In the meantime Khun Jiraya Chanchon
(Puri), TSCC’s current Project Manager, will be
holding the acting position as ED.
6 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015

August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

“Steven is an amazing designer. You push a button and he produces art at the drop of a hat. I can not do
that,” Lars says with a fascinated look at Steven.
Danish simplicity
to Bangkok
By Louise Bihl Frandsen
Lars Kruse Thomsen and Steven Tynan are the
two creators behind Danish Loft Design – a new
furniture concept to Bangkok. In less than two
months, the two Danes have turned an old villa
at Sukhumvit, originally used for yoga, into a
modern showroom.
It was a yearlong dream speeding into reality
when two Danes met to a shared business
project in Thailand, approximately one year
ago. Both arrived too early, and what started
as a random small talk proved to be the
beginning of a serious partnership.
“We quickly figured out that we shared the
exact same thoughts, and that we both had
entrepreneurial dreams,” Lars says.
Not only their appearance but also
their choices of words reveal two men with
different personalities – Lars being more the
businessperson while Steven the artist.
Not long after the meeting, Lars and Steven
turned ideas into strategy, which earlier this
year resulted in the opening of a modern and
creative showroom at Sukhumvit Soi 31. Together
they believe they are creating an international
brand: Danish Loft Design. A brand with three
fundamental principles: urban, solid and simple.
Coming from the main road and walking
all the way down Soi 31, the big villa suddenly
appears around two small side streets. And even
if the place seems a bit hidden, the location could
not be better, Steven and Lars agree.
“There is a lot of traffic around the house, and
here they drive slower. If the shop was located
on the main road, we would need a much wider
showroom to get the same exposure,” Steven
says.
Their plan is to host events every month,
mainly arranged by others. According to Lars,
ideal events could be anything from a business
networking night, a Scandinavian get-together or
a food competition between restaurants. It does
not necessarily have to do with design.
“I admire Lars for always knowing how we solve
difficult situations. He is also better at tackling
my Latino temper than I am myself. If we are not
working, we are good friends. And I think that if we
were man and woman, we would be married by
now,” Steven laughs.
Danish Loft Design is already flourishing in
the vibrant city. Earlier this year, Steven and Lars
landed a partnership with the Danish kitchen
company: KVIK, who exhibits their items in their
600 square meters flagship store in Thonglor,
Bangkok.
Up to now, the focal spot is in Thailand, but the
vision is to reach 15 countries within three years.
And they are already represented in Singapore
and soon in Malaysia.
“Looking at what we have already done in six
month – a lot of things can happen in three years.
And we have a lot of new ideas that we have not
yet brought to the table,” Lars says.
“We trust this furniture design and believe
that we are looking into an upcoming trend that
can last for years,” Steven says.
“Danish design is a strong brand, and the
designers are known worldwide. It is not a
Scandinavian design, it is specifically Danish,”
Steven explains.
The concept of Danish Loft Design comes
out of the original loft design, which is inspired
by big industrial halls with raw and rustic surfaces.
They combine metal and wood, but design the
furniture so they can fit into normal homes.
Address 289/2 Sukhumvit Soi 31, Bangkok
Phone 02 001 5663
8 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015

The British School
of Bangkok Ltd.
M o d e r n
K i w i C u i s i n e
NOW OPEN
BREAKFAST-LUNCH-DINNER
142/22-23 Sathorn Soi 12, Sarthorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 | 02-6353800
kainz@kai-bangkok.com | www.facebook.com/kainewzealand | www.kai-bangkok.com
August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Agneta’s
World
Gorgeous Greek food
in Bangkok...
Are you dreaming of a trip to
Greece maybe? Longing for the
tasty Greek food and a bottle of
Retsina wine? If you cannot leave
for Greece now, you can at least
get a Greek feeling by going for lunch or dinner
at Restaurant Olive in Ekamai. Olive is owned
by Elena, a Korfu born Greek. She is a woman
10 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015
that never sits still. If she is not in her restaurant,
she is out somewhere selling her specialties and
promoting her business or participating in an
event there food is included. To call her a busy
bee, is an understatement.
When you come to Olive you immediately
get the feeling of vacation, sea and Ouzo….
If you have seen the movie Mama Mia, with
the former popular Swedish group ABBA, well
then you know exactly what I mean. Elena’s
restaurant is like a real Greek tavern, decorated
in the Mediterranean colors turquoise, blue and
white. The whole interior designs breathe “island
feeling”.
The food is delicious and all well-known
Greek dishes are presented on the menu. If you,
like me, love lamb, you have several choices and
don’t forget to try Elena’s homemade Humus,
it’s to die for…..
Her wine cellar is also showing a big selection
of wine and it happens frequently that Elena
organizes wine tasting events.
Restaurant Olive may not be that easy to
find, but worth looking for and should you have
been wandering about maybe for a while, you
will be richly compensated when you eventually
arrive. The restaurant is a perfect lunch place for
ladies and Elena very often welcomes her friends
for nice gathering together.
Try it out, I promise you will love it! You
find Olive at Soi Ekamai Soi 12 Sukhumvit Soi
63, opened from 11.00 am -10.00 pm all days
except Mondays.

Harmonique
If we talk about food and special restaurants, I also have to mention one
of my absolute favorite Thai restaurants, Harmonique. Harmonique is
located, not very far from Oriental Hotel by the river. It’s hidden in a
small sub soi to Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak. If you don’t know about
this restaurant, you will not find it.
First time I was there, many years ago, I didn’t believe my eyes and I
was questioning myself if I really wanted to eat there. I did and had one of
the most down to earth Thai meals ever. From the beginning this restaurant
was an Antique shop, started by a Dutchman. He always had his friends
passing by and sitting down for a coffee, so after a while he started a small
coffee shop in a corner of the restaurant. He had the capacity to make
people feel well and stay long. The coffee corner became a busy visited
place and during this time, the owner got the idea of
starting a small restaurant in the same locality, using
the collected furniture.
It became immediately a popular restaurant
and now a Thai family was employed to run the
business. The family had young children, parents and
grandparents, all taking an active part in the restaurant.
The place did very well and still does.
This little, very odd restaurant with the most
funny interior design (wooden parrots, plastic flowers,
antique bookshelves, old porcelain) is a secret tip-off.
Once you’ve been there, you are going to come
back again. The same family is in charge, the kids, now
grown up, are helping serving the food and the old
grand ma is keeping an eye on everything, nodding to
the customers as during her young days.
Must mention that the owner and founder got
sick, many, many years ago and went back to Holland
and the restaurant he left in the hands of this faithful
family, who had been helping him out through all years.
The food is simple, basic Thai food without any
superfluous. It’s well worth a visit. Opened daily from
11.00 am -10.00 pm except Sundays.
Illamasqua
I
should maybe have told you long ago about Illamasqua, but it
is never too late. If you women are going out for a romantic
or wild evening, it’s a good start to visit this store.
Illamasqua is a British make-up brand, that was launched
in 2008, and at their store they can give you you a sensational
make-up. Their store at TheGrove also offers make-up courses
and their products are a real mix of influences, from its roots in
the dark and illicit 1920s Berlin club scene to a rich heritage in
the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. Illamasqua has
also been awarded “Cool Brands” in good company of Prada and
Manolo Blahnik (shoes) among some others.
Today you can find Illamasqua in the best retailers in seven
territories across the world. If you are interested you can download
a full School course brochure to review at your leisure or pass by
at the store in Central Embassy. I promise you, with this very special
make-up you will make heads turn, worth trying.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

The great escape to
Cambodia - why?
By Bjarne Wildau
There are several good reasons
why you should consider
relocating to Cambodia,
writes Bjarne Wildau
Pick any restaurant in Cambodia where
you see some white people looking like
regulars guests sitting with their daily
“Happy hour” beers. Sit down with
them and notice how the conversation
soon will be about Thailand. Make a head-count
and most likely you will find that at least half of
your new friends are “refugees” from Thailand.
So why is that? Thailand is the “land of smiles”
would it not be better to stay there? Well, let
me take you trough a few god reasons why
Cambodia is far more attractive.
The best visa in the world
Cambodia’s biggest attraction for 95% of the
Barangs (Westerners in Khmer), is perhaps the
visa and work permit rules which are maybe
the most convenient anywhere in the world. In
Cambodia they have two different kinds of visas. I
have no count on the jungle of different types of
visas they have in Thailand.
Cambodia’s Tourist Visa is what most people
buy. It costs around 25 dollars and gives you
permission to stay 30 days. You can extend it
at the nearest travel agency. They will charge
12 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015
a small amount, three maybe five dollars, and
you will have your passport back two or three
working days later. However, you can only extend
a tourist visa inside Cambodia once. The fine for
overstaying is 5$ a day - but don’t even consider
calculating if a ticket out will cost you more than
paying a fine for overstay. Overstaying may end
you in jail. Don’t go there!
The other kind of visa in Cambodia is normally
called “Business visa (EI)”. You can buy the Business
Visa arrival in an airport or at a border crossing.
The price is between 30 to 60 USD depending
on the boss of the local immigration office where
you are trying to enter the country.
Be prepared, that most of the bad experiences
you will have in Cambodia may very well happen
here on the Cambodian side of the border. The
Cambodian side of immigration is typically very
open. Everybody can enter. There will probably
even be people helping you filling out the health
formula. But afterwards they will demand money
for their effort. Other people will probably help
you make your most valuable belongings - cameras,
smart phones, wallet, etc. - disappear. Especially the
Poi Pet border crossing is notorious for theft.
Question: What papers do you need to get
at business visa?
Answer: You need your passport and the
money it costs.
That’s it. You don’t need to prove how much
money you have, neither in your pocket, nor in
any banks abroad or in Cambodia. All of the hassle
that some people have been through in other
countries is gone. It can be hard to believe, but...
it is as simple as that.
The business visa (EI) can be extended up
to one year at a local travel agency. Never, n e
v e r, try to go to the immigration department i
Phnom Penh to save 5$ or a little more. Be good
to yourself and do it locally.
Be aware that you have to buy at least a 6
months business visa extension inside Cambodia
if you want to be able to leave the Kingdom
without having your visa cancelled at the border
crossing. If you have at least a 6 months business
visa you can cross the border every day, until
there is no more space in your passport.
If you want to work in Cambodia, you should
buy a Work Permit. Once again. Nothing to prove,
just pay 100 $ a year. And there is no limitations

which job you can have. Bartender, pancake-baker
and seller with a cart, a restaurant, a factory, run
and drive a minibus service.
Despite the small cost,thousands of Barangs
has for years skipped buying the work permit
and just used the business visa. But recently, the
immigration police has started to implement the
rules. They estimate that only 30% of the working
Barangs in Cambodia have paid the early 100$.
Currently, there are 75 foreigners in jail i
Sihanoukville for visa, work permit or passport
problems. Don’t become one of them when you
can so easily avoid it.
Who should settle in Cambodia?
More and more retired couples stay permanently
or part of the year in Cambodia. Typically when
the weather back home is cold and rainy. They
will soon get to know other couple who have
retired here too.
Some young couples with children also settle
and even open a business.
And then you have a big group of foreigners
who are here on long term stay because of the
easier visa, the cheaper prices, and the cheaper
girls. Before you think bad about “your granddad”,
relax, they will be punished sooner or later.
What are the risks?
Some, but not that many, think about the risks.
Illness and accidents do happen. Cambodia is one
of the countries, where you should consider how
you can safeguard yourself. New hospitals open,
old hospitals are renovated, and the prices go up.
The problem is not the planned situation.
When you know well in advance that you need
an operation for an illness you just go to one of
the private hospitals and they will find a time for
one of the literally flying doctors, specialist who
know their trade.
The problem is the acute stuff. A long term
Scandinavian had the yearly visit of his father. After
a few days he got a heart attack or a stroke and
fell unconscious. The son rushed him to the best
hospital in town but here they said they had to
wait untill they could find a doctor who could
speak English - with the unconscious patient!!!
Luckily, the pensioner from Denmark survived,
but it was not thanks to the English speaking
doctor, who arrived 45 minutes later.
For the last three years, the best hospital
in Cambodia has been the Sonja Kill Memorial
Hospital on the Eastern side of the South coast.
Its run by the the HOPE worldwide foundation.
If you get at health problem, worse than a
cold or trivial infections, it is advisable to go to
Thailand or if possible go back home. Without
hesitation. Many rookies are unaware the the
little seemingly innocent infection on their foot
or shin bone may develop into some nasty life
threatening blood infection much faster out here
than it would back home. On top of that, some of
the same people are often unaware that alcohol
and whatever medicine they take could be a bad
cocktail in the heat.
Do they have schools?
Parents with small children seems to do OK. But
what about when children reach the age of preschool?
It seems to be no problem. You will find
the words “International School” on almost every
corner i towns like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville,
Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Kampot, etc.
In reality the only town that comes close
to having a real International School is Phnom
Penh. But you can forget that unless you have an
employer who is ready to pay the school fee, or
you yourself happen to be a dollar millionaire.
Where is it best to settle?
Infrastructure in Cambodia is like in Thailand 30
years ago. But as in Thailand, things are fast getting
better. As an example, they just opened a new
fantastic road from Kampot in the south, close to
the Vietnamese border, to Phnom Penh.
In fact, if you haven’t been to Cambodia for
five or ten year you may think the plane has
landed in the wrong country. The Asian World
Bank calls Cambodia for the “new small Asian
tiger”. They financed and pushed forward for
the renovation and extension of the Cambodian
railways. Three four times a day, trains now arrive
at the trainstation in the harbour city Sihanoukville,
full of goods that would otherwise have had to be
trucked down there on the roads.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

Power supply is still a huge problem. It
improved a lot when a new power plant was
started up one year a go. But you still have
to consider where you settle, and if you will
save the money and stay in a house without
a generator. In short, Phnom Penh, Kampot,
Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap, and maybe -
repeat: maybe - Battambang.
If you plan to do business, here is a website
that may help you:
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/
exploreeconomies/cambodia/starting-abusiness/
Nightlife in Cambodia
In Cambodia, new casinos pop up like
McDonald’s did 10 years ago in China. They are
everywhere. Close to the Vietnamese border,
to the Thai border, and in almost every town in
between with more than 50.000 citizens.
And yes, 90% of the tourist coming to
Cambodia, or long term stayers, are also here
because the prostitutes. Especially the guys
who over in Thailand have spend hundreds
of nights sleeping with prostitutes thinks it is
same-same here.
NOT!
There are places in Cambodia where
men can hire a girl and feel reasonably safe
and secure, but just like you have Pattaya
in Thailand, then in Cambodia a lot of the
14 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015
sex trade happens on the Octual Beach in
Sihanoukville, at places like Dolphin or JJ bar.
Here, the secret weapon of the freelance
prostitutes is Ketamin, also called horse
medicine. A Scandinavian sex tourist went in
to have a breakfast at a Scandinavian restaurant.
He talk with the owner about freelancers on
the beach. And was warned. Still, 36 hours
he woke up, not naked, but everything else -
including the sweet lovely lady he had brought
home two nights ago - was gone. He even had
to go to Hanoi to get a new passport.
Better stay away?
So should you stay away from Cambodia?
No way if you can live with the standards of
hospitals and education. But yes, please stay
away if you are too smart to listen to other
people’s free advice.
Here is some more of that free stuff: Never
loose control over your mind and your body.
If you walk like a snake at four in the morning,
you are asking for trouble. And don’t buy the
bad stuff, amfetamin, ice, heroin, cocaine, weed,
or whatever they offer you. Cambodia is still
a poor country and some people will do
whatever it takes to survive. The children who
sell bracelets are so nice, cute, and their English
is so good. Oops! Where is my wallet? Or my
brand new Iphone?
This is my restaurant!
Where is my girlfriend?
A
hard working Scandinavian carpenter I knew
was a very very happy man. He lived in
Sihanoukville with his his girlfriend “Mom”.
She was 38 years younger and weighed 38 kilos less
than him. Mom was so nice, both in the bedroom and
in their restaurant, which he had bought in her name
of course.
The carpenter made their restaurant one of the
nicest places in town. The Americans say: Location
location, location, and the restaurant was the first they
saw on their left hand side when they arrived on the
beach.
Mom and the carpenter had a high season, and
a low season, and everything was fine. Then he went
home to Scandinavia to work his socks off so he could
buy some land and build a house for his new family.
Foreigners can not buy land in Cambodia so it would
have to be in her name once again.
Back in Cambodia again, he bought the land,
started to build the house, the restaurant was still OK,
but his girlfriend had changed. One night he saw her
shaking or twitching like on drugs, he confronted her
with his suspicion, but she denied, they made love and
he believed her.
Then one afternoon she came back screaming that
she had been robbed. She was bringing the money
to pay the people who were building their house
and now it was all gone. The carpenter took her in
his strong arms and she calmed down. Then he went
back to Scandinavia to earn some more money to his
wonderful wife.
Back in Denmark, something unusual happened.
She phoned him and asked him to send money.
Normally the restaurant made enough money during
the peak season to make it through the low season. But
her mother had had a bad accident and if she didn’t get
money big big, mama would die.
So the good carpenter transferred the money
and worked one extra month in Denmark. Finally, he
could return. In the tax free in Bangkok he bought her
a bracelet of silver, and some fancy perfume. He even
missed her so much, that he took a taxi straight from
Phnom Penh airport to the restaurant in Sihanoukville.
Stepping out of the taxi, he got his first shock. The
walls were painted white, he could not recognise one
single waiter, and behind the bar there was this big
khmer man ordering the staff to do this or that.
“Who are you? What are you doing behind my bar.
Where is my girlfriend?” the carpenter was screaming.
The man did not answer, just brushed the
carpenter aside. Some 10 minutes later, after 25 bottles
were smashed and the Khmer behind the bar had a
broken nose and two black eyes, the police arrived
and slammed a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of the
carpenter.
On the way to the police station, the police officer
stole the bracelet that the carpenter bought for his
lovely girlfriend.
The short story was that the mother had never
been in any accident but lovely Mom had gone back
to smoking ice 20 minutes after the carpenter had left
for the airport and her boyfriend from since she was
eighteen told her to sell the restaurant.
And I got a good story to tell.

The Nordic
countries and
China’s AIIB
Q&A
Reader profile
of the month
Fredrik
Sterner
China has welcomed
Denmark’s application
to become a founding
member of Asian
Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB). Danish
Minister of Trade and Development
Mogens Jensen called China’s
establishment of the AIIB “a
significant and exciting development
in the world order.”
“Since many Danish trade
interests as well as development
cooperation interests will be at
stake in the AIIB, there are many
reasons to engage in and influence
the AIIB’s investment decisions from
its beginning,” Jensen said. Denmark
became itself a founding member on
12 April 2015.
Sweden is interested in joining
the China-led Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB), but has not
made an official decision yet, Swedish
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said
during his speech at The Brookings
Institution in Washington, D.C.
“We haven’t decided, but we are
very close and we think we will be
interested in joining too.”
Prime Minister Lofven pointed
to the need for infrastructure
investment in Asia over the coming
decade, estimated to be $70,000
billion.
“Of course, many companies,
many countries want to be part of
those investments,” he noted.
Norway has meanwhile
confirmed its intention to join AIIF
as a prospective founding member.
‘Norway is a substantial
contributor to global development
efforts, and wishes to join countries
from Asia and other parts of
the world in further refining the
structure and mission of the AIIB,’
said Foreign Minister Børge Brende.
‘The establishment of the AIIB
will be important for Norwegian
development priorities. Norway
will work to ensure that the AIIB
embodies the best standards of
governance, accountability and
transparency. We expect it to work
closely with and complement the
efforts of other relevant institutions
such as the Asian Development
Bank, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund,’ said
Mr Brende.
Norway will take part in
discussions with the other
founding members on the AIIB’s
Articles of Agreement, which will
set out the terms of governance
and accountability for the new
institution. The final decision on
Norway’s membership of the AIIB,
together with the structure and level
of Norwegian financial support, will
then be made.
Starting AIIB is aimed at helping
to fund infrastructure projects in
poor Asian countries. The Beijingbased
bank, which will support
infrastructure projects in Asia, is
expected to be operational by the
end of 2015, with China expected to
foot the bulk of the money needed
to get the bank started. Donations
from other members could increase
the size of the overall fund to more
than US$100 billion.
Fredrik Sterner is 29 years
old, originates from Sweden,
lived in Beijing for six years
and now in Shanghai for the past
six month. He works for Per
Linden, CEO of Scandic Foods
Asia. They have several web shops
where they sell Scandinavian
food and beverage products.
From time to time Fredrik misses
Sweden, but it is mainly his family
and friends that he misses. At the
moment he does not have any
plans of moving back.
The best thing about working
in Shanghai is...
the incredibly fast-paced working
environment and all the things
you learn by just going with it.
It has taught me never to slow
down. However, I used to live in
Beijing for six years and it took
me a while to adjust to the speed
of the city.
When I am not working I...
workout, travel with my girlfriend
that I met while I lived in Beijing.
I also study for future challenges,
since it is a good idea to always
stay on top of career pursuits
and what matters to your field.
Especially in China.
My biggest concern before
moving to Shanghai was...
making enough money to get by
long term.
In Shanghai I could do
without...
freezing in the winter due to lack
of heating.
Living outside of Scandinavia
has made me realize...
that the world is a lot less
organized and prosperous
than we realize. Scandinavia is
wonderfully organized, but we
sometimes forget our own history
has it’s periods of chaos. Societies
develop through different stages,
China is just catching up.
I use the Scandinavian
community in Shanghai to...
network, socialize and stay in
touch with our culture. I have a
large network of Scandinavians
that I socialize with mixed
together with people from all
over the world. It is mainly the
food that keeps us together.
In Shanghai I have picked up
the habit of...
planning my life in careful detail. I
always stay on top with my health.
Workouts are regular. I cook on
my own. My girlfriend lives in
Beijing, which requires careful
planning to make everything
work. I like it that way.
My best advice to a newcomer
in Shanghai is...
get ready to work hard.
Compared to Sweden, there
is not a social safety net, which
makes life easier.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

A smile that can melt ice
...Smile though your heart is aching,
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by.
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun comes out shining through for you
Light up faces with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness,
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying,
Smile, what’s the use of crying,
You’ll find that life worthwhile-if you just smile.
That’s the time you must keep on trying,
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile…
This is the song, written by the late
Charlie Chaplin that immediately
comes to my mind by meeting with
Mrs. Ratanawadee wife of the Danish
ambassador to Thailand.
This amazing woman has a smile that can
melt ice.
Ratanawadee grew up in the Udon Thani
City where her father was posted with the Royal
Thai Police. Since her father had to move around
with his job assignments, for the continuity of the
children’s education, the family settled in the city
under the care of the mother who was a strong
career woman. Ratanawadee and her siblings had
a very pleasant up bringing and she did very well
in school.
When Ratanawadee was in her last year
of high school, she received a scholarship that
took her to further studies in California, US. She
returned to Thailand to finish her first degree
at the ThammasatUniversity in 1980. Immediate
after the graduation, she went to Canada for a
master degree in Education. She landed her first
job in Calgary where she was an instructor in
a literacy and life skills program. After a year in
Calgary she moved to Toronto where she worked
herself up within the public education sector for
over ten years. She was the head of a high profile
federally funded settlement program for the
Toronto Board Education for several years before
the big change.
16 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015

These two young ones fell in love and Ratanawadee
decided to give up her job in Canada and instead
went to Denmark and it’s capital Copenhagen. 1998
the two married in the Civil Hall in Dragör, a small
town in Denmark, there you can take a ferry over to
the neighbor country Sweden.
She loved her busy and interesting life in
Canada, but in 1997 she took a three-month
leave of absence to go back to Thailand to
teach students in a Master Degree program
at a university in Bangkok. The idea of a short
temporary work assignment was to recharge
and revisit her root in Thailand, but sometimes
destiny comes in between. Her students were
so happy with her, so she was asked to make
another evening course for professionals. As the
busy bee she is, she had to find a daytime job
too. Ratanawadee got employed as the head
international education center at the Australian
Embassy. Now both her days and nights were full
of activities.
During a brief stay in Bangkok, she met a
Danish tall, blond guy who was working at the
Danish embassy as a diplomat. He was in fact
meant for a girlfriend of Ratanawadee’s colleague,
but …..
These two young ones fell in love and
Ratanawadee decided (with difficulty) to give up
her job in Canada and instead went to Denmark
and it’s capital Copenhagen. (Must have been a
huge change). 1998 the two married in the Civil
Hall in Dragör, a small town in Denmark, there
you can take a ferry over to the neighbor country
Sweden.
From 1999 until 2001 Ratanawadee started
her new career in the international department
of the Danish Road Directorate managing a
training and education program for road safety
engineers from developing countries funded by
International Danish Development Assistance
(DANIDA). In 2001, she and her husband Mikael
moved to Hanoi, Vietnam. Mikael was posted as
deputy of mission at the Danish Embassy and
Ratanawadee as the international HRD specialist
under a DANIDA funded program.
After 4-year assignment in Vietnam, they
went back to Denmark and enjoyed advancing
their careers. Mikael got posted in Iraq in 2008
as an ambassador and was there for two years.
At that time the Danish Ambassador to Iraq was
not allowed to take the spouse or family along.
The security risk for the family would have been
much too high and expensive. During the two
years Mikael and Ratanawadee had to meet at
different airports around the world, sometimes
just for a quick coffee together. During the period
from 2005 to 2010, Ratanawadee was busy with
her job as an international consultant for different
international development programs working in
several countries in Asia.
In January 2011 the couple moved to Bangkok
and Mikael became the Danish ambassador to
Thailand while Ratanawadee started working as
the country director for the Asia Injury Prevention
Foundation (AIP Foundation) an American based
NGO registered as a Thai NGO in 2006 to focus
on decreasing the number of deaths and injuries
on the roads in Thailand. As of January 2015,
she became the organization’s chairperson in
Thailand.
AIP Foundation Thailand has its office at
2, Prima Sathon Building Room 8302 Bangkok
10120. Since 2012, the Foundation has been
appointed a safe behavior sub-committee under
the National Road Safety Directing Centre. It
has implemented several life saving programs
in schools focusing on promoting child helmet
wearing and general road safety awareness
education campaigns. For example, in the year
2014 the Foundation donated a total of 4329
helmets to school children in its Helmets for Kids
programs in Thailand.
One of the main child road safety projects
in which Ratanawadee heavily engages is The
7 percent Project (only 7% over 1.3 million
kids using motorbikes wear helmets). It is
Ratanawedee’s special “child”. This project was
launched in November 2014 by AIP Foundation
in partnership with Save the Children and several
corporate partners. The project goal for 2017
is a 30 % decrease in children killed and injured
while travelling on motorbikes. The project works
closely with schools, police, government and
the media. It has also been successful engaging
the public in social media. In May, Ratanawadee
led a team of school students and project
implementing partners to present 12.000 signed
pledges supporting the project to the Governor
of BMA. The project is being implemented in
Bangkok and will expand to provinces in the
following years.
As if this wasn’t enough, she has been in
several charity events and organizations, including
the chairperson for the Diplomatic Red Cross
Bazaar in 2012 and next year 2016 she again will
take over as its chairperson.
By this time I am wondering if this lady has
any time to do any sports or have a hobby.
Ratanawadee admits that she tries to exercise
as often as possible. She has started painting
and “that is a hobby that gives me peace and
calmness.” Together with her husband, they go on
tours around Thailand and both love to explore
the land of smiles, sometimes on his big motorbike.
Her husband is a big fan of motorbikes and
music. He plays piano as well as guitar and both
instruments are well represented at their beautiful
residence.
August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

มุมภาษาไทย l mum pha:să: thai l Thai Language Corner
สุภาษิต
sùpha:sìt
Proverbs
By Klavs Johansen (thai@snakthai.dk)
In the May 2014 column, we looked at Thai tongue twisters, บทบิดลิ้น /
bòt bìt lín /, as a fun way to practice Thai, in particular getting hold of the
tones. In this month’s column, we shall turn to Thai proverbs, สุภาษิตไทย /
sùpha:sìt thai /, which likewise may be used for language practice. For
the advanced learner, the proverbs can offer new, more sophisticated or
rare vocabulary, for the intermediate learner, they show the elegance of Thai
sentence structure, and for the beginner, they offer the joy of recognizing
some of the words involved. For all learners, irrespective of your level, the
Thai proverbs offer an understanding of the cultural context in which they
are used. As we have formerly discussed here, the cultural understanding
goes hand in hand with the ability to understand and speak the language. That
said, allowing for different references, one will find that the Thai proverbs, just
as proverbs in other languages, illustrate common human conditions.
Thai language has its fair share of proverbs and in the following we can
cover but a few examples. Moreover, we shall stick to direct translations
and leave it to you, dear readers, to use your imagination and find situations
to which the proverb will fit. You may also consider possible equivalents in
English or your own Scandinavian language. Here, we shall instead use the
space to build up the proverbs, thus helping you understand the bits and
pieces:
เส้นผม / sên phŏm / ~ a hair (as from the head of a human),
บัง / bang / ~ to hide, cover, conceal, obscure,
ภูเขา / phu: khăo / ~ a mountain,
เส้นผมบังภูเขา / sên phŏm bang phu: khăo / ~ one hair hides a mountain.
น้ำาขึ้น / ná:m khûen / ~ rising water, flood tide, high water level,
ให้รีบ / hâi rî:p / ~ do hurry,
ตัก / tàk / ~ to scoope,
น้ำาขึ้นให้รีบตัก / ná:m khûen hâi rî:p tàk / ~ get the water while the water
level is high.
รำา / ram / ~ to dance,
ไม่ดี / mâi di: / ~ not good,
โทษ / thô:t / ~ to punish, blame,
ปี่ / pì: / ~ a Thai flute,
กลอง / klor:ng / ~ a drum,
รำาไม่ดีโทษปี่โทษกลอง / ram mâi di: thô:t pì: thô:t klor:ng / ~ poor dancer
blames the flutes and the drums.
กระต่าย / kràtà:i / ~ a rabbit,
หมาย / mă:i / ~ to aim for,
จันทร์ / jan / ~ the moon,
กระต่ายหมายจันทร์ / kràtà:i mă:i jan / ~ a rabbit aiming for the moon (aiming
for the impossible).
ปิดทอง / pìt thor:ng / ~ to cover with gold leaves,
หลัง / lăng / ~ behind, back,
พระ / phrá› / ~ monk, Buddha statue,
ปิดทองหลังพระ / pìt thor:ng lăng phrá› / ~ to cover the back side of the
Buddha statue with gold leaves (doing good without showing).
หนี / nĭ: / ~ to run away from, escape,
ปะ / pà› / ~ to meet, run into,
เสือ / sŭea / ~ a tiger,
จระเข้ / jor:rákhê: / ~ a crocodile,
หนีเสือปะจระเข้ / nĭ: sŭea pà› jor:rákhê: / ~ running from the tiger, just to
meet a crocodile.
เอา / ao / ~ to take, bring,
ไป / pai / ~ to go,
กุ้งฝอย / kûng fŏr:i / ~ a freshwater shrimp,
ตกปลา / tòk pla: / ~ to fish,
ปลากะพง / pla: kàphong / ~ a bass (the fish),
เอากุ้งฝอยไปตกปลากะพง / ao kûng fŏr:i pai tòk pla: kàphong / ~ to use
a freshwater shrimp to catch bass (using small investment, hoping for big
return).
ได้ / dâi / ~ to get, get to, receive,
พี่ / phî: / ~ older sibling,
น้อง / nór:ng / ~ younger sibling,
เสียดาย / sĭa da:i / ~ to regret,
ได้พี่เสียดายน้อง / dâi phî: sĭa da:i nór:ng / ~ getting the older sister, yet
regrets not getting the younger sister.
That’s it! Remember that you can ask questions about the Thai language using
the email above. No questions too small and, hopefully, only few too big.
โชคดีนะครับ / chô:k di: ná› khráp / ~ good luck!
18 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015

August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19