ScandAsia Thailand June 2015

JUN 2015
Danish SOS Agent
meets challenges every day
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

Coming Events
Norwegian Summer Party
Who: TNCC
Where: Red Sky Rooftop Bar, Centara Hotel & Resort
When: Thursday 11 June 2015, 18.30
Your FREE
ScandAsia
Magazine
in Thailand
Thai Norwegian Chamber
of Commerce will hold its
annual Summer Party on 11
June at the Red Sky Rooftop
Bar with its magnificent view
over the Rajaprasong crossing.
The purpose is to meet other
members to wish eachother
a happy summer - as some
members will go on vacation
to Norway and not return top
Thailand untill August. Cost:
1.000 thb for members, 1.500
thb for guests.
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
Danish Women and children celebrates
Sankt Hans in Bangkok
Who: DWN
Where: Bangkok
When: June 23
The Siam Tulip, or Dok Krachiao,
flower comes in to full bloom in
the early part of the rainy season
from June to August. During these
months, the fields of Pa Hin Ngam
National Park in Thep Sathit
district and Sai Thong National
Park in Nong Bua Ra Haew
district will be blanketed with
the exceptional beauty of these
pinkish-purple flowers. Every
year, the Chaiyaphum province
in cooperation with the Tourism
June 24 Danish Women’s
Network Thailand is once
again celebrating the tradition
Sankt Hans in Bangkok. The
event is for all members and
their children. They meet in
the afternoon, eat hotdogs and
when darkness falls, they gather
around the fire and the witch to
sing. According to the tradition,
the witches fly to Bloksbjerg in
Harzen, Northern Germany the
same night.
Besides being a big tradition
in Denmark, Sankt Hans is
celebrated both in England,
Ireland, Germany, Poland, Russia
and France. However, the day is
celebrated mainly in the Nordic
The Dok Krachiao Blossom Festival
When: 1 June - 31 August 2015
Where: Pa Hin Ngam National Park, Thep Sathit District, Chaiyaphum
Authority of Thailand (TAT) are
joining hands to organise a range
of fun-filled activities including
special sightseeing tours to see
the fields of the pinkish Krachiao
flowers and the rock garden,
music concerts, trekking tours in
the two National Parks and also
booths selling local indigenous
One-Tambon-One-Products
(OTOP) items of Chaiyaphum
province.
and Baltic countries, where the
characteristic bright Nordic
night provides the optimal
conditions for a beautiful
experience.
Danish Women’s Network
is a society where social
interaction is important. There
is a strong focus on celebrating
Danish traditions like Fastelavn,
Sankt Hans and Christmas.
Besides celebrating the great
traditions, the association
arranges both monthly and
yearly events for its members.
For more information
contact kontakt@dwn-thailand.
com

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
Pattaya welcomed the Danish Ambassador
and said goodbye to their Consul
The Danish Ambassador
Mikael Hemniti Winther
presents Stig Vagt-Andersen
with the Order of the
Dannebrog, Knight 1st
Class, for his work as
Consul in Pattaya.
The Danes in Pattaya says goodbye to their Consul
Stig Vagt-Andersen after the meeting with the
Ambassador.
Text and photos by Louise Bihl Frandsen
The Danes in Pattaya met the Ambassador
Mikael Hemniti Winther with lots of
questions, when he visited Café Kronborg
Monday 11 May 2015. The meeting followed the
announcement earlier this year of the decision to
close the Danish Consulate.
“We wish to compensate for the closure of
the Danish Consulate in Pattaya. And it was my
idea to come here today to meet you and talk
with you,” the Danish Ambassador said in his
opening speech yesterday at Café Kronborg.
Over twenty Danes had come to meet
the Ambassador and to say goodbye to their
Consul Stig Vagt-Andersen, who has been highly
appreciated by the Danes living here.
“I want to say that it has been very helpful to
have Stig and the Consulate here in Pattaya. We
will all miss him very much,” said Bjarne Nielsen,
owner of Café Kronborg.
Bjarne’s statement was followed with applause
from the Danish crowd in the café. The Consul
himself was quiet during the meeting.
Soon after the Ambassador’s opening speech,
questions rolled over the white and red tables.
The very first referred to the decision of closing
the Consulate.
“I have read that Stig was not consulted
before the decision was taken. It feels like the
decision has been taken from above, is that true?”
“Yes, that is true. It is a decision taken in the
Foreign Ministry. It has not been a democratic
decision. The closure is part of a larger
centralization,” Mikael Hemniti Winther explained.
Other questions referred to the future quality
of citizens services in Pattaya.
The closure of the Consulate means that
Danes living in Pattaya can no longer get passports
issued by sending documents with post to the
Danish Embassy in Bangkok. Previously the Danish
Consulate in Pattaya issued emergency passports,
but it is now necessary to travel to Bangkok to
receive this service. Driving license and extension
of driving license can also no longer be provided
in Pattaya.
It is, however, the Embassy’s intension to bring
a geometry suitcase to Pattaya, so that citizens can
get passports issued locally.
“It is very important for us to provide a good
service. If you receive a poor service, let us know.
It is our intension to come to Pattaya once a year,
depending on the need,” Mikael Hemniti Winter
said.
There were also questions about the
processing time for issue of visas at the Danish
Embassy in Bangkok, because some had
experienced a longer waiting time than usual
when applying.
To this the Ambassador explained that
there are periods with extra pressure in the visa
department, but that the Embassy is extra aware
of this, now that the Consulate has been closed.
Many of the Danes living in Pattaya have
known Stig Vagt-Andersen for more than 20 years
and during these years he has build up a strong
and local network.
“Poor Stig, Poor us. I just want to say thank
you for the service that Stig has given us. He
always gave the best service,” one of the Danes
said and started another applause for the Consul.
According to Stig Vagt-Andersen, 25 percent
of the Danes living in Pattaya are 75 years or older.
Many of them will find it difficult to renew their
one-year retirement visas, when they do not have
the Consulate in Pattaya to assist them.
“It is obvious that there will be some
challenges in the future. Furthermore, the closure
is a loss for the local relation. It is not possible for
the Embassy to remain the same relation to the
Danes living in Pattaya in the future,” Stig said.
4 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015

June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 5

News Brief
Sigve Brekke new Telenor Group CEO
Telenor Group announced
recently that Mr Sigve
Brekke, the former CEO
of DTAC, currently the Executive
Vice President and Head of Telenor
Group’s Asia operations, has
been appointed as its new Group
President and Chief Executive
Officer.
Sigve Brekke joined Telenor in
1999 and has held several executive
positions in the company since then.
To replace him, Telenor has
appointed Mr Morten Sørby as the
new Head of Region Asia in Telenor
Group, effective 1 June 2015, well
ahead of Brekke’s start date in
August 2015.
Under Brekke’s leadership,
Telenor has added more than 100
million subscribers in Asia. The
value creation from Asia has been
significant and the region now
represents more than 40 percent of
the total enterprise value of Telenor
Group. Telenor is well positioned to
monetise on the next growth wave
- providing internet for all, writes
the Norwegian telecommunications
giant in a statement.
Sigve Brekke is currently
responsible for Telenor’s operations
in Asia (Executive Vice President
and Head of Telenor Group’s Asia
operations), a position he has held
since 2008.
Earlier in his Telenor career
he was the Managing Director of
its Singapore office. Then a longer
stint in Thailand followed as Telenor
developed and expanded its
operation there. He was co-Chief
Executive Officer of Thai mobile
operator dtac from 2002 to 2005,
and then its CEO from 2005-2008.
In September 2014 Sigve
was once again back to DTAC;
appointed interim CEO Mr. Sigve
Brekke as Mr Jon Eddy Abdullah
resigned from his position as CEO
of dtac.
Mr Brekke will succeed Mr. Jon
Fredrik Baksaas as Telenor Group’s
CEO by 17 August 2015.
“Sigve Brekke has a solid trackrecord
as the Head of Telenor’s
Asia operations and part of Group
Management since August 2008.
His leading role in our Asian
success story combined with his
vast international experience and
leadership capabilities will be of great
value as the company continues
its profitable growth journey,” said
Svein Aaser, Chairman of the Board
of Directors in Telenor Group.
“It is a great honour to be asked
to lead Telenor. Our company’s
Norwegian and international success
is a result of Telenor Group’s ability
to provide digital communication
services that are valuable to our
customers. Telenor’s strategy,
including our financial priorities, form
a solid platform for value creation
for our shareholders and continued
growth in Norway, Europe and Asia.
We are poised to capture value
from the opportunities arising from
strong demand for internet services
and I look forward to executing our
strategy together with our 33,000
employees,” said Sigve Brekke.
Jon Fredrik Baksaas steps down
after 13 years as the company
President and CEO. In September
2014, he extended his tenure
for another year, until the end of
2015. In preparation of Baksaas’
retirement, Telenor’s Board of
Directors initiated a thorough
process with a broad set of internal
and external candidates to find his
successor. Baksaas will continue as
advisor to the Board of Directors
until the end of 2016 and will serve
as Chairman of GSMA, the global
industry organisation for mobile
operators.
“Jon Fredrik Baksaas has
internationalised Telenor and
transformed us into a modern,
world-class telecom company and
widely known consumer brand
originating from Norway. I believe
Fredrik is one of the most important
industry leaders in Norway in
modern times,” said Svein Aaser.
Telenor has grown substantially
both in terms of number of
customers, revenue and market
value. Telenor is a leading mobile
telecom company with mobile
operations in 13 markets and
192 million mobile subscriptions
worldwide. Revenues have
increased from NOK 49 billion
to NOK 107 billion and market
capitalisation from NOK 45 billion
to NOK 270 billion during Baksaas’
leadership. A significant contributor
to this development has been the
company’s growth in Asia.
“To lead Telenor during a
period of rapid growth and major
technological changes has been
both exciting and rewarding. In Sigve
Mr Sigve Brekke has been appointed
as its new Group President and Chief
Executive Officer of Telenor.
Brekke, the Board of Directors has
found the perfect candidate to
continue Telenor’s growth and value
creation. We have worked closely
for many years, and his knowledge
of the business, customer focus
and hands-on management style
will ensure a great future for the
company,” said Jon Fredrik Baksaas.
Replacing Sigve Brekke,
Morten Sørby will assume all the
responsibilities in overseeing and
running Telenor Group’s operations
in Asia - and joins Telenor’s
Group Executive Management
team. A Norwegian national,
Morten Sørby brings significant
operational and strategic mobile
telecommunications experience to
the role as Head of Region Asia.
Mr. Morten Sørby brings significant
operational and strategic mobile
telecommunications experience to his
new role as Head of Region Asia
6 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015

Strike involving Finnair averted
News Brief
Finnair’s flights were in mid-May threatened with
a strike that would have disrupted the flights
to Asia as well although Finnair itself was not a
party to the conflict.
The strike warning was issued by the Finnish
Aviation Union for 19-20 May 2015. The dispute was
related to a labour agreement involving a Finnish
ground handling company.
If executed, the strike would have brought
Finnair’s baggage and ground handling services to a
complete halt for several hours during peak travel
hours on 19-20 May. The strike would thus have
disrupted the travel plans of thousands of Finnair
customers. Finnair had already offered customers
the possibility to change their travel dates to avoid
traveling on the possible strike days.
“We are happy to see that the negotiating
parties have reached an agreement in this dispute,
which Finnair was not involved in. I am glad that our
customers can now prepare for their flights next
week without having to worry about a strike threat
impacting their travel plans,” says Ville Iho, Finnair
Chief Operating Officer.
“We are sorry about the uncertainty this situation
may have caused to our customers. Thankfully the
strike threat has now been withdrawn.”
Finnair operates a very responsive customer
service at +358 10 80 40 60 and also serves
customers on Twitter @FinnairHelps as well as
Finnair’s Facebook pages.
Garden International School
Sathorn, Bangkok
Student - centred learning for children from 2 to 18* years of age
Your choice.
Their future.
Our family.
*International A-Level department
for students aged 16 to 18 will
open in August 2016. Please
contact the school for more details.
Alevels@gardenbangkok.com
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.
June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

Danish SOS Agent
meets challenges every day
Text & Photo Louise Bihl Frandsen
Handcuffing a tourist who believed
he was Jesus, bringing back
injured trekkers from the wilds or
handling a tsunami. Michael Schulz
has been dealing with a variety of
emergencies in his time as SOS agent in Thailand.
But especially one type of cases is still the biggest
challenge.
“I am never nervous, but I am always aware,”
Michael Schulz says.
He is sitting in his office at Sukhumvit soi 39
in Bangkok. For exactly 20 years now he has been
8 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015
the regional manager of SOS International a/s in
Thailand. He never had a business plan or a plan
for his life for that matter, and yet, his company
has become the second biggest SOS office in the
world today.
“I see the job, talk to people and get ideas
from that. I may have had a talent for throwing
away bad ideas instead of keep boxing around
with them,” he says.
A good intuition together with a strong local
network is what Michael believes has been the
key to the company’s success.
SOS International provides services to
Scandinavian insurance companies, but the clients
are from all over Europe. They are presented
both in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and
Myanmar.
In 2010 SOS International had around 8,000
cases. Today that number is more than 10,000.
Most of the cases are easy to handle, but especially
one type of cases is a major challenge.
Jesus without pills
Every year, SOS International has more than 200

Very often you experience
that hospitals have been
carrying out a lot of
unnecessary tests and
scans to make more money
on the patient. Especially
if they can see that the
patient is insured by a
Scandinavian company
doctors and nurses from Scandinavia coming to
pick up patients. The most challenging cases, the
company deals with, concerns psychosis.
Some years ago Michael got a call from a
Danish doctor, who happened to be on vacation
on the same island where a young tourist had
lost his mind.
“He was walking around on the Island, burning
himself and saying he was Jesus and the emperor
of the island,” Michael tells.
Michael prepared a team of two nurses
with an injection needle and a borrowed pair
of handcuffs from the local police to pick him
up and have him admitted. Although, they
succeeded to bring the man safe home to Europe,
Michael admits that this is one of the more
tricky cases.
“How do you corporate with a person that
does not want to listen?”
Mentally ill people, who need assistance
from SOS International, are cases the company
experiences very often. Besides assisting Jesus,
Michael also has had a case with a naked tourist
dancing around at Sukhumvit.
Since the local hospitals are not really
geared for these illnesses, Michael’s best option
is to bring them back to Europe. But the service
SOS International provides depends on what is
included in the specific insurance.
“Pre-existing illnesses for example, are not
covered by the travel insurance, but can be
covered by a health insurance,” he explains.
Deadly waves
Michael did not start from scratch 20 years ago.
His former job as tour manager in Thailand since
1980 gave a great network across the country
and a good feeling with, how things work.
His network has always been helpful in all
types of emergency situations, especially the
extraordinary ones.
December 26, 2004 was one of them. Michael
got a call early in the morning from a friend living
in Phuket telling him that some waves had hit
Patong Beach, and that people had been thrown
up onto the land some hundred metres. Michael
called SOS in Denmark right after and told them
to prepare their crisis team.
“Are you sure?” They asked him. “No, but
do it anyway,” Michael replied. It was first later
that Michael, SOS in Denmark and the rest of
the world realized how serious the situation
was. In total, 230,000 people were killed in 14
countries when the tsunami hit South East Asia
in 2004.
SOS International was the first international
team to arrive in Phuket that day.
Cost containment
On one side, SOS International provides
emergency services, which is everything from
taking care of a hospital bill to transporting
people out of a jungle. But another service has
become even more important during the years:
Cost containment.
When Europe became more expensive, and
Asia remained cheap: an influx of retirees went
to the South to settle down. Along with the
influx of retirees and the general growth of
European tourists coming to Thailand the prices
on treatment and services increased significantly
at the private hospitals.
“This development has made the Scandinavian
insurance companies much more aware of what
they pay for today than earlier,” Michael says.
To avoid overpricing, Michael travels a lot to
negotiate prices with local hospitals, and to avoid
overtreatment SOS International looks through
the hospital bills before approving them.
“Very often you experience that hospitals
have been carrying out a lot of unnecessary tests
and scans to make more money on the patient.
Especially if they can see that the patient is insured
by a Scandinavian company”.
However, SOS International never
compromises the proper and safe treatment of
their patients with the cost of treatment.
The unexpected
The emergency business changes all the times, but
it does not bother Michael at all.
“I could easily take 20 year more. I like my job.
SOS is one of those companies that develops all
the time, which makes my job very exciting,” the
58-year-old Dane says and continues:
“I still get these phone calls, where I am
standing in the other end of the line and thinking
‘What?’ Every time I am sure I have seen or heard
it all, a new case or situation appears”.
This year Michael Schulz will not only celebrate
20 years anniversary for SOS International a/s, but
also 25 years anniversary for his other company
“The Arrivals Company”.
June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

The Finns
in
are back in the
The Thai-Finnish Chamber
of Commerce (TFCC) has
been revamped recently,
with a new board and a new
Executive Director,
By Joakim Persson
It is safe to say the Thai-Finnish Chamber
of Commerce (TFCC) has been revamped
recently, with a new competent Board that is
now giving this Chamber a needed injection,
and also with a brand new Executive Director
in Ms Pornpimon Kulchotirat (khun Grace), plus
the new Finnish across-the-board teamwork
within Team Finland.
ScandAsia learns more via Karri Kivelä,
speaking as one of the Directors of the Board
of TFCC (elected in the fall of 2014), about the
new changes.
“I’m in charge of Partnerships for the
Chamber,” begins Karri, “I work very closely with
the Finnish Embassy, Finpro and Team Finland
trying to come up with new ideas how to help
our members and partners to improve their
business activities in Thailand and in SEA. I also
intend to work very closely with the other Nordic
Chambers.”
Professionally Karri works for Logonet Group
(with operations in Thailand since 1992 as its
Asian head office).
“Logonet provide technical work wear
and promotional products to our international
customers worldwide. I work as the Business
Development Manager and my most important
job is to network with people, plan and execute
creative service packages for them and improve
their business through product based marketing
programs.”
10 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015
In addition to Karri, TFCC’s Board consists in
another 10 Directors and also one Advisor, all in
all constituting a team with vast experience within
many different business sectors and positions.
Several of its Finnish members possess at least 15
years of experience in Thailand and Asia.
Mr Pornpracha Wattanakijsiri was elected as
the President of TFCC for the 2 year term 2015-
2016 and he is committed to strive for better and
stronger business relationships between Thailand
and Finland for the benefit of their members and
friends through their vast network of business
enterprises and commerce associations, says the
TFCC website.
TFCC has also invested in recruiting the new
Executive Director and a new office.
“Khun Grace started in late March this year.
She is now running TFCC alone and we are in
process of adding one more person to the TFCC
office to accompany her. She is a Chulalongkorn
graduate and she has been studying and living
in Europe and wants to get new contacts and
experience in working for TFCC,” says Karri.
“Indeed, we have a very good Board at the
moment. The leading philosophy in electing Board
Directors has been not what the Chamber can do
for you but what you can do for the Chamber. We
have all the talent needed and a will to create a
more active role for the Chamber as part of Team
Finland and all their representative organizations
within this area. This means concrete actions that
help Finnish companies to start and run business
in SEA as well as doing our best to tell the
SEA countries and organisations what business
opportunities are available in Finland.“
In this regard Team Finland (TF) should be
introduced, as it is a new organisation since early
2013, including a global network around the
world which brings together all Finnish authorities,
publicly funded organisations (such as ministries,
diplomatic missions, Finpro, Tekes, Finnish cultural
and science institutions, Finnvera, Finnfund and
regional networks led by Centres for Economic
Development, Transport and the Environment)
and other key parties with ties to Finland. Each
team has a work programme and a designated
coordinator with information on the network’s
local activities and services.
The TF network brings together Finland’s
operations in the field of external economic
relations, the internationalisation of enterprises,
foreign investment in Finland and country
branding – both at home and abroad – with the
objective to build a cross-organisational network
for deeper cooperation and customer service,
driven by common goals.
Team Finland here is coordinated form the
Embassy of Finland in Bangkok and also includes
Finpro, aside TFCC.
Commenting on this formation Karri says:
“Finpro has gone through many organisational
changes and now Mr. Kai Tuorila is their only

game
representative in Thailand. Kai has over 25 years
of experience in this area. I’m also very happy
that we have an active and creative Finnish
Ambassador, H.E. Kirsti Westphalen, who leads
our Team Finland organization, where we all
aim for the same goal. TFCC signs Partnership
agreements with companies and in their benefit
programs we tie in also the benefits offered by
the whole Team Finland organisation. This is the
way a small country’s local representatives can
provide a wider selection of partner benefits.
We are constantly planning new benefits to our
partners and asking them questions how we can
help them.”
TFCC serves and promotes trade activities
between Thailand and Finland and in terms of
connecting with the business community back in
Finland the Chamber can also play a role.
“In Finland there are now companies run by
ex-Finpro international consultants who organize
tours within Finland briefing Finnish companies
how to succeed in international markets. Our
Team Finland here in Thailand can then take
responsibility to guide these companies when and
if they choose to operate in the opening ASEAN
markets.”
Finpro also offers its services also beyond
Thailand in neighbouring countries Cambodia,
Lao and Myanmar.
“Team Finland operators here focus on some
key sectors in the bilateral operations between
Thailand and Finland. Our TFCC Board Director
and Ambassador already succeeded with an
Education project between Oulu University in
Finland and the Greater Bangkok area. In this
project Finnish world class education system is
presented to Thai teachers and hopefully this will
improve the standard of education in Bangkok
and later wider in Thailand.”
Other key areas where Finland has a lot to
give to Thailand fall in the categories life sciences,
clean tech, design and architecture.
Networking events arranged by TFCC will
focus on offering something with differentiation.
“We want always to offer something special,
as there are so many networking events already
organised by other larger Chambers. Again, as
many large networking events are crowded
with service providers, we try to attract top
management decision makers to our selected
events. Then again we want to provide our
members some very casual monthly pub evenings
just to relax and have fun in the Finnish way.”
Planning ahead TFCC for its part will
increase its role as a communication organisation,
according to Karri Kivelä.
“All the money we get in goes to increased
communication benefiting our members and
partners. The change from last year already can
be seen on our new website. We want to post
more news, we want to cooperate more with
other Chambers, especially with the other Nordic
Chambers. We encourage companies to be in
contact with us much more that before as we
can save them lots of time and money if they only
dared to ask. We can organise events sponsored
by any company instead of having them do all the
work. We can introduce them to people within
our networks. Where are the people who proactively
seek information and contacts? Early bird
gets the worm.”
June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Danish
Formula One
dreams in Thailand
Thomas with 10-year-old Alexander Shutemov on the racetrack in Pattaya. Thomas uses a lot of time
to understand and know his drivers, so he knows exactly how to develop them.
Alexander Shutemov
at the winners’ podium last year
when he won the Thai Championship
in Go-Cart. Thomas Raldorf is his trainer.
Danish race driver and trainer Thomas Raldorf
wants to give his drives the best opportunities to
reach the top. He never had that chance himself,
when he was young.
By Louise Bihl Frandsen
It is not only necessary to have talent, it also
costs a lot of money to drive race, Thomas
Raldorf found out, when he started driving
as a young boy. With a fighter mentality and
a dream of reaching the Formula One, he
took three different jobs to be able to pay the
expensive sport.
Although Thomas had talent, he never
reached that dream.
He drove with Danish champions like Jason
Watt and Jan Magnussen, who later drove the
Formula One, but he himself never had the right
contacts or sponsors to support him financially.
“It has therefore become very important for
me to give my drivers better opportunities to
reach the top,” he says.
Thomas lived in Thailand for several years.
He won 9 Championships – some in Go-Cart
others in racing cars. He has his own race team,
meanwhile being a trainer in Pattaya.
No money no drive
In 2000 he started training his first driver, Sandy
Stuvik, who is half Norwegian half Thai. Sandy
became the youngest champion in Go-Cart in
Thailand and last year he won the Euroformula
Open Championship. This year he is driving GP3,
which is only few steps away from the Formula
One. Sandy is 18.
“He was a very good student from an early
age. He was very focused on his goal, which
was to win the Formula One. And here we are,”
Thomas says and gives a proud smile.
Although Sandy already has come far in his
career, there is still a long way to go. The final steps
towards the Formula One are extremely difficult
but also completely impossible to manage without
the right sponsors to pay the staggering amount
of money the races costs.
“I use not only many hours on training but
also on explaining my drivers’ parents, how to
find the right sponsors. Some sponsors want their
drivers to be exposed in many media, for others
it is more important that the driver is always
number one. You have to know exactly what the
sponsors want. And it is, in fact, very difficult,”
Thomas explains.
Listen!
Thomas Raldorf only chooses drivers that he sees
a great potential in. But what is more important for
him is their ability to listen and take in information.
If they are not capable of doing so, he does not
want to work with them. It is that simple.
Last year he started training a new driver;
Russian Alexander Shutemov. In an age of 10, he
already won his first championship.
“I expect great things from Alex. He has
what it takes to become an excellent driver, but
he needs someone to guide him and help him
improve his technique,” Thomas says.
12 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015

June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

Agneta’s
World
A mini-Maxime
in Bangkok
Maxime was founded as a bistro
in year 1893 by Maxime Gaillard,
a former waiter. It became the
most fashionable restaurant
in Paris under its next owner
Eugene Cornuche. He decorated the restaurant
in the “Art Noveau Décor” and made sure that
the restaurant always was filled with beautiful
women.
The restaurant was so famous that the
third act of Franz Lehar’s operetta “The Merry
Widow” was set there. Who doesn’t remember
the song “You’ll find me at Maxim’s” (Sa gar vi till
Maxim’s….)
In 1932 M. Octave Vaudable, owner of the
restaurant Noel Peters, bought Maxim’s. He
started to invite famous and rich people as e.g.
Proust and Jean Cocteau. During the 1950’s
famous people like Aristoteles Onassis, Maria
Callas, The Duke of Windsor and his Wallis
Simpson, Barbara Hutton among many others,
were often seen guests.
In 1970 Brigitte Bardot caused a scandal
when she entered the restaurant barefoot.
In 1985 Maxim’s also opened in New York.
It used to be my favorite lunch place when I
visited the Big Apple. It was a perfect restaurant
for a woman without escort. Today this famous
restaurant belongs to the fashion designer Pierre
Cardin.
There are many Maxim’s all over the world
today and of course one in Bangkok. If you take
a walk to the relatively newly opened, Groove,
in Central World, you will find a small Maxim’s
and I promise you, the cakes and their chocolates
taste wonderful. Have a coffee or a glass of wine
and dream about the “Merry Widow”. You want
regret it.
Faucon
All photos by Daniel Herron
When you already are at
this amazing place, pass by
another French institution,
the famous Fauchon. In
Paris, Fauchon is one of the
most fascinating stores there you will find all
delicatessen you can dream of. You immediately
get hungry just by entering the store. Have a look
at the smaller branch here in Bangkok and you will
most probably walk away with something extra,
delicious in your hands.
14 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015

Danish streetwear design
opens Bangkok store
The contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand Wood Wood,
of Denmark, has arrived to Bangkok for real.
The Copenhagen-based streetwear brand joins forces
with UnCENSORED and has opened a so called shop-inshop.
UnCENSORED is a prominent local retailer in the
street luxury segment, and is located within Bangkok’s latest luxury
department store EmQuartier Shopping Complex at The Helix Quartier.
The Danish brand’s Creative Director and Menswear Designer Karl-
Oskar Olsen designed the Wood Wood store, utilizing a graphic print
from the Wood Wood archive and custom fittings.
“For the space in UnCENSORED Bangkok we wanted to create
something that reflects Wood Wood´s brand philosophy concerning
Creativity, Quality and Attitude. The minimalistic approach with white
walls and concrete floor is juxtaposed with a strong graphic print from
the Wood Wood archives. We wanted to create this contrast while
keep¬ing the space simple to let the clothing stand out on the rails,” said
Karl-Oskar Olsen.
The opening in Bangkok is part of Wood Wood’s international
expansion and desire to be present in relevant markets with different
shop concepts. UnCENSORED and Wood Wood have been partners
for several years and the shop-in-shop came as a natural next-step due
to the increasing demand in the market.
Wood Wood was founded in 2002. With its own stores in Berlin,
Aarhus and Copenhagen as well as an on-line store, Wood Wood
is directed by founders Karl-Oskar Olsen and Brian SS Jensen. Best
described as ‘Contemporary Streetwear’, its collections are built upon
new takes on iconic silhouettes with a sports-fashion approach, staying
true to the sub-cultural heritage of the brand. Wood Wood mixes high
fashion, sports and streetwear with youth culture, art and music. Always
aiming to find the perfect balance between style and functionality, the
collections have evolved into tailored and sophisticated expressions,
while keeping their playful graphic profile that often revolves around
juxtapositions and iconography. With a unique approach to fashion and
the outspoken claim Not To Be Trusted, Wood Wood has an ability to
continuously evolve and surprise.
B A G S VÆ R D K O S T S K OLE
G Y MNASI U M
Tættest på København
Bagsværd Kostskole & Gymnasium (BK) er en udviklingsorienteret og traditionsrig
skole grundlagt i 1908. Elever, der vælger en uddannelse hos os, siger ja
til fællesskab, faglighed, seriøsitet og individuel talentudvikling.
Du får:
• En dansk uddannelse med et internationalt præg
• Grundskole, 10. klasse, studentereksamen (STX)
• Valget mellem to femårige forløb, GLOBAL og BIOTEK,
fra 8. klasse till studentereksamen
• Sport- og talentklasse fra 7. klasse
• Mulighed for morgentræning tirsdage og torsdage
• Enkeltværelser til kostelever
• Lektiehjælp hver dag
Skan koden og læs mere på
bagkost.dk
Aldershvilevej 138 • DK-2880 • Bagsværd • Telefon: +45 44980065 • E-mail: bk@bagkost.dk
June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

25
years with Norwegian
For a quarter of a century, Norwegian Training Center Manila (NTC)
have been training the majority of the roughly 25.000 Filipino seafarers
that work on Norwegian ships around the planet. With a NOK 30 million
investment NTC is preparing to take a step further and train sailors for
professions that are now inaccessible through Filipino schools.
By Lasse Henriksen
16 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015
At first glance, there seems to be
not much Norwegian about the
Norwegian Maritime School located
in the middle of traffic paralyzed
Manila, Philippines. A Norwegian
flag is flapping lazily in the wind in front and when
you enter, you find only two Norwegians working
full time at NTC, the School’s Managing Director
Captain Erik Blom and the cadet course leader
Captain Jordan Nostvik. But this is where almost
all of the Filipino seafarers that are employed on
Norwegian ships are being trained. The training
center was started 25 years ago by Norwegian
Shipowners’ Association (NSA). Serving as a
seafarer on a Norwegian ships demands a change
to a bit more Norwegian mindset.
“We try to teach them to share their opinion.
It can be a disadvantage that Filipinos generally
are avoiding conflicts. They don’t always say what
they mean, just ‘yes sir’ or ‘no sir’ instead of sharing
their opinion. It’s our wish to change that culture,”
Captain Blom says and adds that it is essential that
the communication is direct and that no-one tries
to hide anything, when handling a ship.
Every year some 10.000 hopeful Filipinos
apply for NTC’s 4 year education to become
a maritime officer, the cadet program, only 3,5
percent of the applicants will make the cut. 7-8000
of the applicants will be tested, around 2000 will
pass the test and be interviewed by individual
shipping companies. In the end only 350 will be
accepted to the school, all of them will know
which company they will become trainee and
eventually be employed by. One of the reasons for
the popularity is that students do not only receive
a scholarship from NSA, but are also guaranteed a
job at the company that takes them in as trainees.
Considering the amount seafarers that are
passing through the training center every year,
the school seems rather small, consisting of three
beige buildings that are no higher than a three
stories apartment block and equipped with
four meter high pumps, welding stations, a ship
simulator the size of a small house and of course

trained Filipino seafarers
more traditional classrooms.
At the moment the school offer 80 courses
and have programs in everything from cooking to
crane operating. The courses in the training center
vary in length, from 1 day to 6 months, while the
education of the cadets is a 4 year bachelor
with one year as a trainee at the company that
has chosen to give the student an opportunity
through the scholarship program.
Two nations of seafarers
Filipinos are sought after as crewmembers on
ships around the world. NTC have tried and
failed training sailors in Vietnam and China and
Captain Blom believes Filipino’s are generally
good seafarers and have three main explanations
as to why.
“First of all they come from an archipelago
of 7000 islands, so they are born with saltwater
in their veins. Secondly their behavior generally
matches Scandinavians well, and then their English
skills are very good,” Captain Blom says.
But local politics have also played a role as
to why other projects have failed. NTC had an
experience were the students did good at a
school in China, but once they had graduated the
Chinese government ordered the cadets, whose
education was paid for by Norwegian Companies,
to serve on Chinese ships.
There are around 100 maritime schools in
the Philippines. According to Captain Blom every
year some 80.000 students start on a maritime
education in the Philippines, of this large number
First of all they come from
an archipelago of 7000 islands,
so they are born with saltwater
in their veins. Secondly their
behavior generally matches
Scandinavians well,
and then their English skills
are very good
only 5,400 will get a diploma and in the end
around 4000 will get a job. This is one of the
reasons why Captain Blom has a bit of pride in
his voice announcing that around 80 percent
of NTC’s cadets come out with both job and
diploma.
Upping the game
When NTC opened in 1990 and in the following
years started the cadet program, they were
setting the benchmark for maritime education in
the Philippines. Now in 2015 several schools offer
similar programs of the same if not higher quality.
To once again become a leading figure among
maritime educations in the Philippines NTC are
making a NOK 30 million upgrade in 2015. The
investment will enable NTC to add educations
that are not available anywhere else in the
Philippines. This means higher educated Filipinos
filling out professions that have traditionally been
operated by Norwegians only.
“We haven’t had problems with unions in
Norway. It is a fight that have been fought long
time ago, and people have realized that Filipinos
or other foreigners are here to stay. They place
the blame political system in Norway rather than
the individual sailor,” Captain Blom says.
The new courses will mostly focus on
advanced offshore related jobs. For instance, at
the moment there are no Filipino captains on
advanced anchor handling vessels used offshore,
but with the upgrade that will be the new reality.
“We think this is the way the world is
developing, especially with the low oil prices.
Shipping firms and oil producers will be even
more focused on costs,” Captain Blom says
and adds that Norway has a very developed
and refined maritime educational system, and
NTC’s task is just a question of transferring the
competences to the educational facility in the
Philippines.
June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

มุมภาษาไทย l mum pha:să: thai l Thai Language Corner
Fruits
of Thailand
By Klavs Johansen (thai@snakthai.dk)
We shall this month sample the fruits of Thailand.
ผลไม้ / phŏnlámá:i / is the word for fruits. Next time
you are having lunch or dining at a restaurant, surprise
yourself and try to order
ผลไม้รวม / phŏnlámá:i ruam / ~ assorted fruits, or
ผลไม้ตามฤดู / phŏnlámá:i ta:m ruedu: / ~ fruits of the season.
Then ask the waiter or your Thai companions to give you the names of
the fruits served and practice repeating the words. You are likely to find them
in what follows here. Common fruits on such a plate of mixed fruits could be
สับปะรด / sàppàrót / ~ pineapple,
มะละกอ / málákor: / ~ papaya, ripe and dark orange,
ส้มโอ / sôm o: / ~ pomelo, a large citrus fruit, like grapefruit, but sweet,
แตงโม / tae:ng mo: / ~ watermelon,
ฝรั่ง / fàràng / ~ guava, somewhat larger than an apple and less juicy and
not as sweet, and, finally,
เงาะ / ngór› / ~ rambutan, the small dark and hairy one,
normally 2-4 different sorts with the volume of each sort adjusted to
the number of guests.
These fruits are peeled and cut into bites before being served and then
eaten with a fork or a wooden pick, except เงาะ / ngór› / which will often be
half peeled and ready to be eaten whole, the stone elegantly disposed of in a
napkin (or eaten too, tastes like a nut). In Thailand, the fruits which are peeled
and cut into bites are often served with the possibility to dip in a mixture of
sugar น้ำาตาล / ná:m ta:n /, salt เกลือ / kluea / and chili powder พริกป่น
/ phrík pòn /. The latter two ingredients may take a little getting used to
for newly arrived farangs, but once that is over, most people wouldn’t want
to eat fruits in the tropics in any other way. In the heat and in a food culture
otherwise using salt sparingly, your body will appreciate the supplement of
salt! Meanwhile, your taste buds are tickled with:
หวาน / wă:n / ~ sweet,
เปรี้ยว / prîao / ~ sour,
เค็ม / khem / ~ salty, and
เผ็ด / phèt / ~ hot, spicy, the latter, though, quite moderately in this
connection.
Of course you do not have to go to a restaurant to sample these fruits
as they are readily available at markets and from street side vendors who
will also, whenever relevant, cut them for you and hand them over in a plastic
bag complete with wooden picks and a small bag of sugar/salt/chili mixture.
หั่นให้ ได้ไหม / hàn hâi, dâi mái / ~ will you cut it for me?
Other common fruits are:
ส้ม / sôm / ~ orange,
มะพร้าว / máphrá:o / ~ coconut,
กล้วย / klûai / ~ banana, try them roasted กล้วยปิ้ง / klûai pîng /,
and มะม่วง / mámûang / ~ mango, which may be eaten either in its
green state or in its ripe, yellow, state. Try the ripe version with sticky rice
and coconut cream, ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง / khâ:o nĭao mámûang /, an instant
favourite Thai dessert with many foreigners.
And the list goes on:
มังคุด / mangkhút / ~ mangosteen, which is eaten like the rambutan,
ขนุน / khànŭn / ~ jackfruit, a personal favourite with a flavour described
as a blend of pineapple, apple, mango and banana,
ทุเรียน / thúrian / ~ durian, quite unjustly, I think, infamous for its smell,
มะนาว / mána:o / ~ lime, probably best as juice, and, finally, a favourite
with many Thais,
มะขาม / mákhă:m / ~ tamarind.
With the exception of tamarind, which is a pod, all the fruits mentioned
here may be counted using the word ลูก / lû:k /. So we get:
ส้มสามลูก / sôm să:m lû:k / ~ 3 oranges,
มะพร้าวห้าลูก / máphrá:o hâ: lû:k / ~ 5 coconuts, and
เอาสับปะรดสองลูก / ao sàppàrót sŏr:ng lû:k / ~ I would like 2 pineapples.
ขอให้อร่อย / khŏr: hâi àròri / ~ bon appetite, and remember that
you can ask questions or suggest topics to be treated at the Thai Language
Corner by contacting us at the email above.
18 ScandAsia.Thailand • June 2015

Easy & Fast installation,
Re-useable,
Easy to clean,
Adapter to existing duct system,
Cut installation and down time
by more than 50%,
Tel: +66 33 674 680
www.Nordfab.co.th
Put a newsroom at the heart of your PR strategy
• One stop media hub. News, blog, video, images,
social media feeds – all in one place.
• “Multi-publish” your news and content to the media,
key infl uencers and social networks.
• Identify key infl uencers and bring them closer to
your brand.
• Stakeholders can subscribe to your news with one
click.
• Search engine optimised.
• Easy to update, no need to involve IT.
• Responsive newsroom design optimised for all de
vices – mobile, tablet or PC.
More than 5,000 brands are using Mynewsdesk
to tell their stories, including brands like:
Call :Mr. Joakim Persson at +66 (0) 2 943 7166, +66 (0) 8 9761 6701
or email us at Joakim@scandmedia.com for a free consultation.
June 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19