ScandAsia Thailand

MAR 2012

Thailand

Grandfather’s

‘Snus’ on Phuket

Admiral’s

Back in Town

ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

Scandinavian experience is on Phuket to select the right and best quality property for you.

A Stylish Compact pool villa Starting 8.3m THB Oriental Essence Pool Villas Starting 10.2m THB Beach Front Villa Starting 32.6m THB

Naiharn: These Stylish Compact Pool Villas including, living

area, kitchen, built-in furniture, and air conditioning. Just 5

minutes drive to Naiharn beach. A traditional tropical living

with contemporary comforts. These villas will come with 2

bedrooms, a master bedroom having an en-suite with bathtub

and shower. Living and dining open plan onto the pool terrace.

Naiharn: This project belong to one of Phuket's most

professional developers and provide their valued clients

with elegant, affordable homes, all with private swimming

pools in luxurious surroundings. Each individual home is

specifically designed. You can choose between 2 - 4

bedrooms just 5 minutes drive from Naiharn beach.

Rawai: These fantastic villas are located right at the beach,

with uninterrupted views of the beautiful south east coast.

Enjoy your Thai-Sala and get the feeling as you sit on the lovely

beach. Provided you a direct access to the golden sands and the

amazing blue sea. These villas give you the best opportunity to

own your very own piece of paradise here on Phuket.

4 Bedroom private Pool Villa 16.9m THB Thai Style Luxury Private Poll Villa 16.5m THB Lovely Private Pool Villa 14.5m THB

Naiharn: This very nice, 4 bedrooms private pool villa is

located in a very quiet area in Naiharn The villa consists of 2

buildings. The main building provides you with a big open

living, dining and kitchen area. As well as a master bedroom

and a second bedroom, both with en-suite facilities. 5

minutes driving to Naiharn Beach

Naiharn: Located in the heart of Naiharn-very nearby the

shopping & restaurant facilities. A 5 minutes from a pristine

naiharn beach. The villa provided you a 3 bedrooms and 1

maid quarter included a big living area and separate kitchen.

Private swimming pool with big terrace, Big bathroom with a

bath tub and Jacuzzi in a master bedroom.

Naiharn: This very nice 3 bedroom private pool villa is located

in the quiet part of Naiharn . The villa is nestled high in the

landscape, which gives you an excellent feeling. In the villa you

have a big open living, dining and kitchen area. The master &

second bedroom is connected to the living area and both are

en-suite .The third bedroom have separate as well as en-suite.

Panoramic seaview Penthouse 55m THB Exclusive Pool Villa 89m THB Stunning Seaview Pool Villa 69m THB Chingari 227,475,000m THB

Kata: This fabulous condominium has an incredible

seaview, overlooking the Andaman Sea. This 2

storey penthouse suite presents 3 bedrooms on the

lower floor and a fantastic open living area at the

upper floor. Enjoy your private swimming pool and

get the feeling that you are swimming towards the

sea. The furniture is French designed from Paris by

Philippe Starck and is all included in the price. All

window covers, awnings and air conditions are all

electric controlled.

Kata: This Exclusive villa with many Thai and

Burmese carving and statues. From the hand-carved

teak doors at the entrance to the contemplative

Buddha overlooking the lily pond. There are 4

bedrooms in the property. 2 Master and 2 smaller

bedrooms. All rooms feature many decorative items

and hardwood floors and ceiling add to the Asian

feel. All rooms are, fully air-conditioned and are

furnished with top- quality linens and mattresses.

It is a few minutes walking to Kata Beach.

Naiharn: Perched on a hilltop close to the bustling

village of Saiyuan, the villa is arrayed over two main

levels. Upon entry, the upper level has an expansive

living area with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors

which retract fully, seamlessly blending the indoors

and outdoors and significantly increasing the living

space. The upper level also provides you with a

master bedroom, with stunning seaview and

Mountain view and en-suite bathroom. As well as a

well equipped western-kitchen. 5-6 Bedrooms!

Kamala: These are 6 bedroom substantial

entertaining homes with interior options. The

ocean front deck leads to the garden to fantastic

snorkeling during the high season with corals head,

snapper and color full reef fish. total 6 bedrooms +

Gym, Cinema, Central lift, Centralized top end

touch screen light/sound system and double

garage! Make yourself and make your family with

this fresh ocean breath at your extremely exclusive

pool villa!

Private Pool Villas for long term and holidays rentals are available on your enquiries. info@kb-realestate.com or www.kb-realestate.com

Sales office: 28/46 Bzenter T.Rawai, A.Muang Phuket 83130 Thailand (Saiyuan Rd, Naiharn Beach)

Tel: +66 (0)87 885 5765, +66(0)87 804 4014

Email: info@kb-realestate.com, Website: www.kb-realestate.com

@ Hotel Mermaid Bangkok Ltd.

The Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant was Re-opened

in October 2011 as a Restaurant & Pub located at

Hotel Mermaid on Sukhumvit Soi 29. The emphasis

is on an informal Pub & Dining environment in a

“turn of the century atmosphere” and a decoration

theme inspired by the entrepreneurs and officers

who came to Siam around the turn of last century.

The restaurant offers Scandinavian specialties as

well as International & Thai dishes.

• Admiral’s Pub with

Cold Carlsberg

from the Tap

Exciting Maritime

and Turn of

the century’s decor.

• Admiral’s Restaurant with: A Journey

to our Thai, International and

Scandinavian Cuisine.

• Admiral’s Wine Cellar

The import regulations for wines to

Thailand limit severely the wines

available and often make them

inappropriately expensive.

A number of us also share the

uncertainty about how the wines

have been stored and thus in what

condition especially the more

expensive and older wines

might be.

We have created the ADMIRAL’S WINE CELLAR

with the following objectives in mind;

1. Proper storage of wines in temperature

controlled decor wine cellar.

2. Quality wines at best competitive rates

in the market.

3. Profit margin set per bottle not on purchase

price in order to make expensive wines

comparatively inexpensive.

4. Selection of new world wines and good offers

of Classic wines from Chile, Argentina, France

and Thailand.

5 Get you own private Wine drawer in our cellar

(Terms & Conditions apply)

• The Boat Deck (Outdoor Terrace)

Nice outdoor terrace with cool breeze and cozy bar.

• OR Book your private party,

we can accommodate up to 120 pers.

• Admiral’s Outside Catering

We do Outside catering for your private party at home.

• Opening hours: Everyday from 11.30 - Midnight

Hotel Mermaid Bangkok Ltd.

6 Soi 29, Sukhumvit Road, Kwaeng Klongtoy Nua, Khet Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand

Phone: 02 260 9026 Fax: 02 260 9010

Email: bent@admiralspub.dk

Coming Events

SAS / SEB Golf Tournament

Date: 24 March 2012

Location: Black Mountain, Hua Hin

SAS Airline and SEB Bank are pleased to invite you to world class golf on

Saturday 24 March 2012, which will be held at Black Mountain golf club in

Hua Hin. The program will start at 10.30 am and at 7 pm there will be prize ceremony and dinner at the

club house. Tournament Fee for playing will be 3000 THB including caddie and buggy fee.

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 Manukit 29

Prasert Manukit 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

Advertising :

Finn Balslev

finn@scandmedia.com

Piyanan Kalikanon

piyanan@scandmedia.com

Nattapat Maesang

nattapat@scandmedia.com

All Chamber

Young Professionals

Date: 29 March 2012

Location: The Lotus Garden

@ Centara Grande Central World,

Bangkok

You cannot miss the first gathering of All Chambers’

young professionals in Bangkok for a unique

networking experience. Ranging from all nationalities

and professions, this is the first time ever they

will be together under one roof Centara Grande

has set-up the perfect outdoor venue situated 26

floors above bustling Bangkok with great drink

discounts and and a tasty assortment of treats,

topping off with great lucky draw prices from preferred

sponsors. All proceeds will be donated by

the contributing Chambers to the Office of Basic

Education to support flood affected schools. For

more information about the event please visit

http://www.dancham.or.th

Once again,

Easter

is upon us!

Date: 30 March, 2012

Location: Barsu, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit,

Bangkok

The Danish Chamber of Commerce would like

to invite you to the Easter Lunch of 2012. The

lunch will be held at Barsu, Sheraton Grande

Sukhumvit on Friday 30 March. The registration

will start at 1 pm, while lunch will start at 1.30

pm – 5 pm. The cost will be THB 1,400 net

for DanCham Members and THB 1,800 net for

Non-Members. There is a seating capacity of

only 100 seats, so please book your seats now!

For more information about the Easter Lunch

and booking, please visit www.dancham.or.th or

contact@dancham.or.th

www.lucylearns.com

Graphic Designer :

Supphathada Numamnuay

supphathada@scandmedia.com

Distribution :

Wanvisa Rattanaburi

wanvisa@scandmedia.com

Printing :

Lake & Foundtain Printing Co., Ltd.

Daily news and

features here:

www.scandasia.com

SWEA’s

Easter Party

for Big and Small

Date: 31 March 2012

SWEA invites for pre-Easter party with Easter

handicraft, Easter egg hunt, egg painting, games and

candy for the big and small in the afternoon.

In the evening we enjoy a good Easter meal together

Book in March 31 and contact SWEA to

ensure you receive more details of the location.

SSS Annual

General Meeting

Date: 17 April 2012

Location: Mermaid Hotel / Admiral’s Pub

in Sukhumvit Soi 29, Bangkok

The Annual General Meeting of the Scandinavian

Society Siam takes place on Tuesday

17 April 2012 at 19.00 at Mermaid Hotel in

Sukhumvit Soi 29, followed by a dinner at the

Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant downstairs. Don’t

miss this fun and exciting event Agenda is according

to the bylaws that may be downloaded

from the website sss.or.th.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY

A Successful Charity Party for

the Baan Jing Jai Orphanage

Around 250 people participated in

the successful Baan Jing Jai Charity

Party for children in need. The

Charity Party was held on Saturday 18

February in the beautiful garden courtyard

to the recently completed VN Residence

2, located in Soi 5 – Phratamnak Pattaya.

According to the building committee who

arranged the event, the Charity Party has

turned out to be one of Pattaya’s so far

most important charitable event of 2012.

The building committee and volunteers’

motto: “We have a dream” was

the driving force in fostering cooperation

and dedication on the big fundraiser. The

fundraiser was held to build a new home

for the children of the Baan Jing Jai Orphanage,

whose current living conditions

are overcrowded.

All participants paid an entrance fee

of 750 BHT, which went directly to building

the new home.

Participants enjoyed delicious food

and beverages kindly provided by Linda’s

Restaurant Co., Ltd. The evening’s program

was followed by entertainment

from Norwegian artists, such as Rune

Larsen and Sputnik and Vivian. Not everyone

was able to restrain their dancing

feet. But the highlight of the evening was

the powerful and moving performance

given by the children themselves.

By the end of the evening the Baan

Jing Jai Charity Party was able to raise

340.000 BHT.

There was also a charity lottery which

had first class prizes including a large flat

screen and expensive bikes. The lucky

winners immediately donated their prizes

to the orphanage. An antique was auctioned

and brought in 10.000 BHT after

an initial bid of 1000 BHT.

Piangta Chumnoi, the orphanage

manager, gave warm and heartfelt thanks

to all involved. Tears could not hold back,

but it was obvious they were tears of joy.

“The new building project is well underway.

The land of 3.5 acres is already

bought and paid for. The new house will

have space for 40 girls and 40 boys. In

addition it will have a separate section for

babies,“ says Gudmund Eiksund from the

Norwegian Properties Group.

Gudmund Eiksund answered a question

about what will happen to the eldest

children as they approach the age of

adulthood.

“No one is asked to move out. The

orphanage will assist in helping these children

to get a vocational training if needed.”

6 ScandAsia.Thailand • March 2012

Young Nordic Professionals First Event in 2012

The Young Nordic Professionals held its first networking on Friday 24

February. The long awaited event gathered over 80 young – and a few

not so young – Nordic professionals on the roof top of at the Hotel

Muse, 25 stories above the distinguished residential area of Soi Langsuan

in Bangkok’s city center. The Hotel Muse itself is unique with furniture and

designs inspired by the early twentieth century, but with a modern touch.

The members exchanged business cards and enjoyed the delicious finger

food provided by the Hotel Muse; the platters of food were as tasty as

they were visually enticing.

Johan Davidsson, a member of the Young Professionals Committee,

welcomed everybody and gave thanks to all the sponsors for supporting the

event. They were among others Easykart who gave five gift certificates away

to lucky winners from the lucky draw. Other first class prizes were a box of

Carlsberg beers, three nights in an executive room of the Hotel Rembrandt,

and one nights stay at the Hotel Muse.

One of the good things about the Young Nordic Professionals is, that the older

members of the Nordic chambers resist the temptation and actually stay away.


DanCham First Networking 2012

About 40 members of the

Danish-Thai Chambers of

Commerce gathered on

Wednesday 15 February for their

first Networking in 2012. The Danish

Networking was held at the

traditional Scandinavian hotel and

restaurant - Stable Lodge, where the

cozy surroundings helped create an

excellent atmosphere.

While enjoying the hospitality

and the delicious food provided

by Stable Lodge, Klaus Støve from

Tropical focus who is one of the

board members of Danish-Thai

Chamber of Commerce welcomed

the guests. Klaus Støve also highlighted

one of the coming events,

a breakfast meeting about Burma

with Ambassador Mikael H. Winther

as guestspeaker. At the end of

the speech Klaus Støve used the opportunity

to thank Stable Lodge for

sponsoring the event.

Every third Wednesday of any month

is the day, where Danish Thai Chamber

of Commerce holds its regular

networking meeting. Only the location

changes.

Find one Private Banking

advisor, then make sure he

knows many specialists

Wealth management today involves much more than selecting the

best stocks and bonds. At Nordea Private Banking, we offer you an

experienced personal advisor and a comprehensive overview of your

wealth based on thorough research and rigorous analysis. One private

banker, many specialists – making it possible.

Contact Nordea in Singapore on +65 9725 4523, or

e-mail ingemar.andersson@nordea.com

Ingemar Andersson, Private Banker

Nordea Bank S.A, Nordea Bank Finland Plc and Nordea Bank AB (publ) are part of the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Being the leading Nordic pan-European banking entity

in Luxembourg, Nordea Bank S.A. focuses on international Wealth Management, Fund Distribution and Fund Management services. Our 400 employees serve a wide spectrum of international clients in more than 125

countries. Some products and services mentioned may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries. Published by Nordea Bank Finland Plc, Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd

#22-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909.

March 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

AD_ScandAsiaThailand_Ingemar_192x135_eng.indd 1 13/09/2011 13:45

New SWEA Board

The Swedish Women’s Educational Association

held its annual meeting on Wednesday

09 February 2012 at the Rembrandt Hotel.

This year there were 30 members who participated

in the annual meeting.

Maria Mellblom who has been the Chairman

of SWEA since November 2011 was re-elected

for another term.

The other members elected for the board are:

Vice President: Katarina Svensson

Treasurer: Kerstin Andersson

Secretary: Cilla Fridlund

Webmaster: Kristina Ek

Programme “Manager”: Ylva Erlandsson

Membership “Manager”: Yvonne Strobel

The members enjoyed the food and wine

from ScanDeli, while discussing SWEA’s future

plans.

“We will among others set up a small group

of 3-5 persons that will look for and take care of

our donation projects for this year,” Maria Mellblom

tells ScandAsia.

“It could be that we find women in the slum

that we teach how to bake Swedish bread or

cookies and they might need a Swedish oven that

we could donate. Or it could also be a sewing

machine or something else that they need.”

“It is a condition that there has to be some

connections to Sweden, either that the machines

are Swedish or that we help and teach them to

do or make something typically Swedish. Because

for our organization SWEA there always has to

be some connections to Sweden whatever we

do,” Maria Mellblom explains.

Maria Mellblom adds that she hopes SWEA

will attract more members in the year to come.

“Unfortunately many think that we are only

an association for older women. That is definitely

not the case. Most of our members are young

and have small children who benefit from playing

with other Swedish children.”

“We welcome all new members young as

”old” just contact Yvonne Strobel who takes care

of new members, read more about us at http://

www.sweabangkok.com/”

Top left is Maria Mellblom,

top right is Erika Bjorklund.

In November, Maria became acting

SWEA Chairman after Erika

and the AGM elected her officially

for the post in 2012. The new board plans

a series of new SWEA events.


Danish Network, Hua Hin

Monthly Networking

Danish Network in Hua Hin held its monthly networking

on Friday February 10 at the wine bar

Mondo Vino. About 60 people attended that

evening. Not only because of the excellent buffet from

restaurant La Grappa, but also because of the evenings

guest speaker, the Danish policeman Mogens Sørensen.

Currently Mogens Sørensen is living in Bangkok and

is at the moment the only Danish liaison officer who is

stationed in Bangkok for a united Nordic cooperation,

which has the task of finding criminals who are connected

to the Nordic countries.

Mogens has over 40 years experience and started in

the police back in 1971. He has since held several director

and top positions in the police in Copenhagen, Roskilde

and Frederikssund. He also worked in the Narcotics

Division, Anti-terrorist division, Interpol Copenhagen and

he has also previously been stationed at the Danish Embassy

in Turkey.

The Danish police officer held a speech about the work

of the Nordic police in South East Asia. He told about the

smuggling of narcotics, human trafficking, financial fraud, the

hunt for criminals and other exciting subjects.

Afterwards, there was also time for questions from

members of the Danish Network in Hua Hin.

“We would like to thank Mogens Sørensen for an

exciting lecture and hope to see him again before he

returns to Denmark again,” says Marck Christiansen and

Steve Laursen on behalf of HuahinDK.com


Garden Party

The Annual Garden Party of Scandinavian Society

Siam took place Saturday 18 February on the terrace

of Oakwood Mansion, Sukhumvit. The weather was

excellent and the stars shining bright.

The Filipino band was giving an excellent performance.

A few photos will give you an impression of the atmosphere’.

Although not so many members were present, the

real patrons of SSS showed up and that was appreciated.


A chance to completely unwind and enjoy the serene

scenery found on Koh Phangan and in

Salad Buri

Resort & Spa

Salad Buri Resort & Spa

60/2 Moo 8, Haad Salad, Koh Phangan, Suratthani 84280 Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 77 349 146, +66 (0) 77 349 147 / Fax: +66 (0) 77 349 148

Email: saladburi@yahoo.com / www.saladburi.com


Motorcycle Ride to Phnom Penh

A

motorcycle convoy headed

by Danish Ambassador

Mikael H. Winther and

Tommy Christensen, a Danish

member of the Harley Davidson

Owners Group of Thailand, roared

on 16 February into Phnom Penh,

the Cambodian capital, 48 hours

after the bikers had left Bangkok.

ScandAsia’s video photographer

and producer Wido Schlichting,

who lives in Phnom Penh,

produced at videoa upon their

arrival which can be seen on youtube.com/scandasia.

The Go4 Charity Ride was organized

to raise funds for Helmets

for Kids, a 10-month road-safety

programme in Cambodia to buy

helmets and provide educational

training for students.

The Danish embassy had

been in charge of organizing all

visa arrangements for the riders at

the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border

crossing on the special capital-tocapital

motorcycle ride.

Having crossed the border

- and crossed over to drive on

the right hand side of the road in

Cambodia - the bikers continued

on Highway 5 to Battambang City

and the Khemrabattambang 1

Hotel where the participants held

a BBQ at the pool side with live

band.

The next morning, the group

continued on Highway 5 towards

Phnom Penh he Ride continues

toward Phnom Penh, a distance

of approximately 300 km. Approaching

Phnom Penh, the traffic

started being bad and the convoy

had to slow down a bit. But still

the group managed to be able to

roar into the capital before dark,

creating acute awareness wherever

they passed by.

In the evening, a BBQ party

was held at Hotel Cambodiana

with view of the majestic Mekong

River in celebration of the complwetion

of the unique ride.

On Friday, the donation ceremony

with the hand-over of the

funds in support of purchasing the

helmets for the kids took place.

Saturday the ride went back

again to Thailand, this time taking

the scenic route down south

over Sihanoukville and further on

Road 48 through the mountains

towards the Cambodian / Thai

border. This is a very nice road,

although the speed on some

stretches of the road can max be

only 60-80 km/h.


The Nordic Masters Golf Tournament

For the first time ever, a waiting list had to be created

for eager golfers who wanted to join The

Nordic Masters annual golf tournament on Saturday

11 February 2012. The tournament was hosted

by Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce and with 128

registered golfers; the tickets were quickly sold out.

The venue was held at The Vintage Club in Bangkok

which according to the organizer, Londal Consulting,

was in an immaculate condition. All golfers

had a great time navigating the golf course. Some

excellent golf was being played and at the end of the

day the team “TeamT-Rad” was crown as the winners

of the Nordic Masters.

Afterwards, the golfers gathered in the restaurant

of The Vintage Club to enjoy a nice buffet dinner

with a free flow of beers. The most popular gathering

spot was the area just around the Finlandia Vodka

bar, which offered free samples of their tasty “After

Golf” drink.

They also had a record list of sponsors, who

made it possible to make this a very special tournament.

The winners of Qatar Airways return tickets

were delighted with the chance to visit friends and

family in Scandinavia.

The Thai Finnish Chamber of Commerce was

overwhelmed with the big interest in this tournament

and would like to thank all the players who came to

enjoy their event. In particular the Finnish Ambassador

to Thailand H.E. Mrs. Sirpa Mäenpää.

Dancham Gala Dinner

to Mark 20 th Anniversary in 2012

A

Gala Dinner and possibly also an exhibition

will later this year be held by he Danish-

Thai Chamber of Commerce to celebrate

its 20 Year Anniversary in 2012. The plans were

revealed at the AGM held on Wednesday evening

29 February 2012 at the Royal Danish Embassy by

Mai Ellegaard of EuroCenter, who is Chairman of

the Chamber’s Events Committee. Mai Ellegaard

also promised a continuation of the popular Easter

Lunch and in particular the Christmas Lunch which

would again be held in the garden of the Embassy.

Kenn Thaysen of Designers Field, Chairman

of the Chamber’s Media Committee, broke another

interesting news in his presentation of the

future communications strategy of the Chamber:

As of March this year, Danish-Thai Chamber

of Commerce will stop publishing its member

magazine “Danish-Thai TradeNews”. Instead,

members will receive a weekly eNewsletter with

featured articles and other news from the Danish-Thai

Chamber of Commerce. It is expected,

that the eNewsletter will generate a handsome

profit for the Chamber and also increase the

traffic to the website. The Annual Membership

Directory “Denmark in Thailand” will also this

spring be produced for the last time.

Stig Vagt-Andersen, Ben Adisti Co., Ltd.,

briefed in his presentation on how the members

of the Chamber had now easier access to getting

a Schengen-visa for their staff and Danish members

of the Chamber with Thai spouses could

now also get a 3 year multiple entry visas for their

spouses. He promised that he would continue

working for further improvements in this field.

The accounts of the Chamber for the past

year, presented by treasurer Soren Presmann,

showed a small profit of 2,767 Baht which was

less than expected but the accounts followed

otherwise quite closely the budget for the year.

Soren Presmann explained that the deviation was

among others caused by the flooding in the late

autumn. The accounts were approved and so

was the budget for the coming year, which had

incorporated the activities announced above by

his fellow board members.

The AGM was attended by some 30 members

who elected three new members of the

board of directors and reelected one member,

Thomas Nyborg from Pandora. The new

board members are Niels-Henrik Hansen, SAS;

Supareak Charlie Chomchan, Pacific Rim Rich

Group, and Jorgen Lundgaard, Jebsen & Jessen.

Chairman of the meeting Mr. Poul Weber

announced at the dinner held in the Ambassador’s

garden immediately after the AGM, that the

board members had decided to re-elect Mr. Peter

E. Romhild as President of the Chamber.

Before the meeting started, Ambassador Mikael

H. Winther welcomed the members to the

embassy and by the end of the meeting, Peter

Romhild presented Mrs. Rattanawadee H. Winther

with a bouquet of flowers for once again

welcoming the Chamber into her and the Ambassador’s

home.


Sunda Resort Krabi

RELAX & ENJOY THE NATURE AT ITS BEST!!!!!

Come stay with us at Sunda Resort, where you

will always be welcomed with a warm, friendly

smile. You will experience nature at its best in the

tranquil, garden setting and are just fews minute

to beautiful Nopparat Thara beach.

Make Sunda Resort your “Home Away From

Home” and discover the true hospitality of

Thailand - The Land of Smiles.

Sunda Resort

19 Moo. 3, Ao-Nang, Muang Krabi 81000 Thailand

Tel: +66 7566 1262-4, +66 89 230 9019

Fax: +66 7566 1266

E-mail: info@sundaresort.com, sales@sundaresort.com

Website: www.sundaresort.com

Feel Refreshed at Fineday

“Many a Fine Day” is what we would like you to

experience here at Krabi Fineday Resort. We are located

in the Aonang-Haad Noppharatthara area. Here you can

enjoy nature at its best and fully appreciate the tranquility

of life. All guestrooms are designed as Thai style cottages,

nestled closely to the abundant nature, where the

stunning landscape will remind you of a tropical garden.

Krabi Fineday Resort

239 Moo 5, Aonang, Muang, Krabi 81000 Thailand

Tel: +66 7566 1040-1 Fax: +66 7566 1042

E-mail: reservation@krabifinedayresort.com, info@krabifinedayresort.com

www.krabifinedayresort.com


Busy Day at the Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar

in Bangkok

Mrs. Ratanawadee Hemniti Winther presented the 45 th

Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar 2012 to Her Royal Highness

Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn at the official opening

ceremony on Saturday 3 March 2012. After her speech, she

accompanied the Princess on a visit to all the international booths

selling signature products from 54 different countries.

After the opening ceremony, the public was let in and quickly

the hall was filled with eager shoppers hoping for a bargain

among the many items for sale.

At the Danish stand, it was good to see Carlsberg back and

visible. Also Emborg cheese was popular and so was dz wine

next to them. Further down the side of the large booth you

found Scandproducts and Ecco. On the other side of the stand,

Paradox displayed the impressively wide range of kitchen utensils

that the company now sells in Thailand. Next you could find a

delicious tower of Danish ‘kransekage’ and other bakery products

created by Suppanai “Yu” Ratanaprakarn of Fyn Bakery and

Ellegaard Trading who also imports and sells Danish Urtekram

products in Thailand.

This year, Sweden participated for the first time. The stand

was organized by Mrs. Theresa Ildefonso, the wife of the Swedish

Ambassador. Agneta Bekassy representing Scandinavian Collection

and Theresa Ildefonso were both dressed in traditional

Swedish national dress. Other exhibitors were Electrolux and

ScanDeli.

The Norwegian stand was swarmed with people trying to

secure salmon raw, marinated, frozen and in any other shape and

form that salmon can be enjoyed. The booth seemed constantly

to have sold out as fast as new supplies could be carried in.

At noon, Danish Ambassador Mr. Mikael Hemniti Winther

came on stage. He explained - in Thai - that he was originally

supposed to have been playing with a band, but then plans were

changed... It was a first for him to be playing guitar and singing in

front of a public audience. He had chosen two songs to perform,

the first was “I Won’t Back Down” because, he explained, this

song expressed in many ways also what he stands for. The second

song was “About time” which he wrote himself while living

in Vietnam and performed with his band. It expressed his longing

for his wife Ratanawadee when she was not with him.

Danish Ambassador’s Wife Reveals Her Real Life Story

By Wachiraporn Janrut

Being a wife of an Ambassador is a dream

of many girls who wish to travel the world

and enjoy living the high society lifestyle.

Unlike fairy tales, wife of Danish Ambassador to

Thailand Mrs. Ratanawadee Hemniti Winther

revealed her real life story in a recent interview

with Thairath Newspaper.

Mrs. Ratanawadee met the Danish Ambassador

Mikael Hemniti Winther during his first

posting to Thailand 15 years ago. Currently, she is

the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation’s Country

Director for Thailand. Though she travels a lot

for her work, she never fails to play her role as an

Ambassador’s wife. In fact, she plays major roles

in many activities for the Ambassadors’ wives to

Thailand. For example, she is the president of the

45 th Annual Diplomatic Thai Red Cross Bazaar,

held at Siam Paragon on March 3-4, 2012.

When asked by Thairath newspaper if her life is

like living in a TV soap opera, Mrs. Ratanawadee smiled

and answered “For me, an Ambassador’s wife should

be a working woman. The time of being a housewife is

over. It’s not like I wait around for my husband to come

home and then get dressed up to go out to social

events somewhere. For Europeans, wives of Ambassadors

should have their own career. I’m a wife of Danish

Ambassador and we both have our own careers.

“In fact, having our own careers is good for many

reasons. We can support each other in our social status.

When we meet people we have more stories to

share. When I go out to social events as an Ambassador’s

wife, I have something interesting to talk to people.

I imagine it’s not the same as talking to a housewife

who doesn’t go out much.


We strive on excellent quality, efficient service, superb

workmanship and great value! With a wide range of the latest

styles, from the classics to the ultra modern; and a wide choice

of excellent fabrics, we are a one-stop shop for custom tailored

men, women’s and children’s wear for all occasions.

Contact us

“The life of a housewife could be so dull that maybe your husband

doesn’t know what to talk to you about” added Mrs. Ratanawadee with

a laugh.

Thairath then asked “Is it true that an Ambassador’s wife should always

be dressed up and look pretty all the time?” She smiled gently and

answered “I think you don’t have to always look perfect or like you just

stepped out of a soap opera. I usually wear something casual on my day

off or when I travel. Nevertheless, it’s important to wear something nice

and look good when I go out to social events because I’m the representative

of the country.”

Thairath finished its interview by asking “Is it true that you have to be

a good cook?”

“I have to say that it’s not necessary,” said Mrs. Ratanawadee. “There

are already many good cooks at the Ambassador’s Residence. What’s

more important is that I successfully manage the people who work there.

People are more likely to respect you if you can manage them properly.”

352/322, Moo 12,

Pratamnak Soi 4, Nongprue,

(Opposite New Nordic)

Banglamung, Chonburi

Hotline

+6681-983-8629

+6683-120-4107

E-Mail

Designersstyle@yahoo.com

Tailorthailand@yahoo.com

www.tailorsthailand.com


Dr. Einar Ammundsen - the

The lively Danish

doctor lived 50 years

of joy in Thailand.

By Flemming Winther Nielsen

Dr. Einar Ammundsen and Aks

- third and fourth from left - were

as usual at the centre of events

when the Scandinavian Society Siam

celebrated its 75 year anniversary in

1995. To the right of Aks is Chairman

Eva Loven. The couple left for

Denmark shortly after.

When in Aarhus,

Denmark, I often

pass Tage

Hansensgade

and it goes

through the head: ‘But who was

Tage Hansen’. Many streets, many

names, once well known, now forgotten.

There is no Einar Ammundsen

Street but the man and his story

lives on, not only in a golf tournament,

but in the memories of so

many Scandinavian old hands. But

here you are, a bit of information

for the newcomers! -Only a glimpse,

the material on Einar Ammundsen is

big and the anecdotes countless.

Einar was born in 1915. His father

became bishop over Haderslev

diocese, he died in 1935. His strong

mother Charlotte, born Balslev,

lived from 1877 till 1961. After her

husband passed away she moved

to Copenhagen and soon became

the fix point for Einar and his 5 siblings.

Furthermore ‘Bispinden’ gave

shelter to saboteurs wanted by Gestapo,

whom Einar brought to her.

Einar Ammundsen joined the

Résistance movement early during

World War II, at the same time

graduating as an M.D. He functioned

as a deputy for the Resistance leader

Mr. Toldstrup, who was also

responsible for the reception of

weapons dropped by British flights

over the heaths and in the forests of

Jutland. Among the saboteurs Einar

was only known as ‘Hr. Bloch’ and

his job was also to see to that the

weapons received were brought to

the right persons and groups, The

personal risk was high indeed. Late

during the war he had to flee to

Sweden, he was then exposed.

In 1946, a year after the war

ended, a friend asked him to join

the general practice he wanted to

open in Bangkok and after a four

month ‘Tropical Medicine’ course

in London, he went off. Three days

with KLM the journey took. They

opened a practice on the corner of

Charoum Krung Road and Oriental

Avenue. Ammundsen also worked

at Bangkok Nursing Home for many

years.

Why did he travel to this faraway

country? Once source mentions

that Ammundsen was most

disappointed with the lukewarm

way the courts and the old politicians

handled the trials against

Danes and Danish Companies in

Nazi service. – In a few words: The

small thief’s were hanged, the big

thief’s acquitted.

Denmark 1946 was a GREY

place, grey and poor. He came to

a world where colors are bright and

smiling, where life is easy going, but

it is still possible to get things done.

There is furthermore no revenging

God like in Haderslev. Ammundsen

once said that “Here we don’t feel

the same deep pain about death,

as we do in the West” [Rastrups

Asien, google]. Death was on his

heels in Denmark, now he learned

that life and death walk together.

Peace of mind? At least Einar Ammundsen

became a very generous

and liked person ‘with a warm heart’

as the Thais say. For more than

three decades he was the center of

The Scandinavian Society – and the

golf.

The last round

Golf was Einar Ammundsens total

joy and passion, at least until he

met Aks again. She was a teenage

girlfriend. They married in 1979 and

she took active part in both work

and leisure. Einar sponsored his annual

tournament alone for many

years, including some drinks in ‘Bamboo

Bar, Oriental Hotel’, afterwards.

As the numbers of golfers grew, he


Centre of the Community

The Ammundsen

Memorial Golf Cup

The Ammundsen Memorial Golf Cup took

place Saturday the 25 th of February. It

was a great success with more than 50

players. Presentation of rewards and the

dinner was held at ‘Admiralen’. A short

speech with glimpse from Dr. Einar Ammundsen’s life

was given.

Photos by Siranath Boonpattanaporn

finally couldn’t afford that anymore,

but new sponsors were ready.

There are so many, many anecdotes

about this man, as a doctor, as

a golfer, as a friend. Time and space

is not available here, but one last

thing:

In 1996 the 25 th Ammundsen

Tournament was played at Rose

Garden Golf Club as usual. Ammundsen

himself couldn’t play, suffering

from a shoulder problem.

He there announced that he and

Aks would retire and move back

to Denmark. He was not in favour

of calling the tournament ‘The Ammundsen

Cup’ in the future. He did

not like the idea of future participants

wondering who this guy Ammundsen

was. Einar Ammundsen

died in 1999.

Now you maybe know a bit

more about this very facetted man

– we will keep it that way.


Grandfather’s ‘Snus’

Swedish Mik Wadström

- a system architect

by profession - has

started his own

production of the

Swedish moist

powder tobacco

product called Snus

locally on Phuket.

By Joakim Persson

Mik Wadström had

produced his own

snus for domestic

use since 15 years

back when another

Swede on Phuket, Jörgen Sandström

at Restaurant Trädgården

suggested that he should produce it

commercially.

“Snus had been my hobby since

fifteen years back. One day Jörgen,

who is himself a devoted user of

snus, asked me what brand I was

using and then learned that it was

home-made,” Mik recalls.

Surprised, Jörgen asked Mik: “Why

are you not selling this to others?”

Jörgen placed an order and

Mik got into action even though

he remained skeptical. He started a

company, Nitro Sweden Co., Ltd.,

produced the first 30 tins of ‘Nitro

Dynamit’ and went out on Phuket

to test the market.

“Some were very positive, especially

when they heard the price.

It turned out to be good enough to

sell - then I started actual production

over night.”

High demand from day one

Up until then Mik’s work had cen-

tred around his own POS system

that he had developed here in Thailand.

The fact that the other local

snus brand on the market was not

considered good was also a significant

factor of encouragement.

“Two out of three are bad,”

says Jörgen who claims his brand is

now the best one produced in Thailand.

So far Nitro Dynamit has been

in high demand, with high turnover

directly since the launch during the

low season in 2011.

“Now I’m getting more and

more retailers, also selling directly

to consumers. I only want to be the

producer and distributor.”

Initially the most complicated

aspect was to source more ingredients

as well as the machines being

used. The suitable tobacco he could

find with ease from a provider, a tobacco

farmer in northern Thailand,

able to deliver enough quantities.

He had already been experimenting

a while on his recipe on

Phuket by the time he met Jörgen.

He had run out of the product a

while after returning from a trip to

Sweden so he had started to source

the ingredients and components in

Thailand to make his own snus as a

hobby here.

“I knew how to get it right with

the new ingredients, but it had been

a process with quite a few trials and

errors.”

Recipe from grandfather

No one should think that starting

this kind of production is easy.

“I spent hundreds of hours each

year for ten years when it was my

hobby,” says Mik who inherited the

recipes from his grandfather fifteen

years ago.

“He was a baker and my mother

was given his recipes, which also

included the recipe for producing

his own snus. ‘I must test this’ I

thought and started experimenting.

The result was a catastrophe in the

beginning. But year by year it became

better.”

The tricky part, he discloses, is

the mixing process and when to add

the sodium bicarbonate.

And it’s a lot about taste and

textures.

“The bakery is what makes the

difference for the recipe. You also

cannot get ground tobacco here

so you must buy it in raw form and

grind it and find out how to do that

most effectively.”

Illegal in the EU

For Asian readers who may not be

familiar with this product it is appropriate

in this context also to provide

some background information.

Snus, or Swedish snuff, is a

moist powder tobacco product

originated from a variant of dry snuff

in the early 19th century in Sweden,

consumed by placing it under the lip


Produced in Phuket

Some were

very positive,

especially when

they heard the

price. It turned

out to be good

enough to sell

- then I started

actual production

over night.

for extended periods of time, writes

Wikipedia.

Snus is also unique in that it is

steam-pasteurized rather than firecured,

is not fermented and contains

no added sugar. The sale of

snus is illegal in the European Union

but with exemptions it is still manufactured

and consumed primarily

in Norway and Sweden, - and not

to forget USA which is the biggest

market in the world.

There are loose snus, and portion

snus where this moist powder

is pre-packaged in small teabag-like

sachets. According to Mik, the latter

has 75 per cent of the market in

Thailand.

And in order to be able to sell

Nitro Dynamit and Nitro Gustaf

also as portion snus he will need

to invest in an expensive machine

which does this packaging into bags

- which he cannot do before having

an established market. So sourcing

more retailers around Thailand

is now the priority. Long-term Mik

also eyes Asia as growth market.

“It’s all about quantity; if only I

can build the market for loose snus I

will know there is a market for snus

in bags as well!”

Health benefits

Snus could be on the verge of a

break-through also among Thais

with a high number of mainly male

smokers who, Mik believes, could

be interested in improving their

health while not giving up on their

nicotine addiction.

“All those I talk to here, even

the authorities, ask if this can replace

smoking. However they are not

used to keep it under the lip; they

would swallow it and feel ill. But

then the portion snus would open

up this market.”

Mik is keen to stress, that he

is not looking to create a market

among current non smokers.

“Encouraging new consumers

is not the idea. I have enough with

those either smoking or using snus

already.”

For smokers, snus improves

their health.

“Definitively! Nicotine is a neurotoxin

which in too high doses gives

negative effects. Also in small doses it

gives positive short-term effects but

also a negative long-term. But your

breathing is not affected; you don’t

get this direct effect on your lungs as

you get from smoking.”

However, the largest reason for

smokers converting to snus is the

increased restrictions: it is becoming

increasingly difficult for people to

smoke in public places. Enter snus.


Admiral’s Pub & Restau

After six years

of absence the

Admiral’s Pub &

Restaurant has a

new location in

Bangkok. At the

helm are still Danish

Bent Laasholdt and

his Thai wife Na.

But despite many

things being the

familiar same, some

features have been

The 56 years old Dane

Bent Laasholdt looks

like a Captain of the finest

ship in the harbour

as he proudly overlooks

his staff at the bar of the newly

opened Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant

in Bangkok. The years without an

Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant in the

Thai capital are finally history.

“It has been terrible,” he says

and looks dead serious. Then he

adds with a big smile; “It was like

being homeless; Imagine that - I had

to spend my time at other people’s

bars!”

The latest Admiral’s Pub &

Restaurant in Bangkok had to close

down, not due to lack of business,

but simply because the owner of

the building had new plans for his in-

upgraded.

By Dennis Krog

Photos: Disraporn Yatprom


rant Back in Town

vestment. Since then it has taken six

years to find just the right location for

the new Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant,

but with the location, as a part of the

Mermaid Hotel, in Soi 29, Bent Laasholdt

could not be happier.

“It has taken quite some time

to build it all, and sometimes it has

been frustrating, but it has definitely

been worth the wait,” says Bent.

For the regular guests at the old

Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant the time

without the Admiral has not been

without longing either. This was

clear when a group of Scandinavian

golfers recently celebrated the Ammundsen

Memorial Cup at the new

Admiral’s.

“That evening I really found

out how much the community has

missed us. When coming here the

golfers gave us a standing ovations,

that really made my heart melt,”

says Bent.

Same, same – but different

The Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant

resembles in many ways a small

museum with a lot of pictures and

collective items from the time when

the first Danes set sails and came to

Thailand, bringing electricity, trams

and law and order to the country

side. Sitting by the bar, shaped like

the bow of a ship, Bent gives a quick

history lecture before turning to the

subject of the well known concept

of the Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant.

“We have the best of Thai and

international cuisine, and off course

we have our Scandinavian dishes

that are always popular in our restaurant,”

says Bent who quickly

starts talking about his wife, Na –

the Admiral behind the Captain of

the Admiral.

“Did you know she was trained

in the renowned ‘Grøften Restaurant’

in Tivoli Copenhagen?” Bent

asks, not waiting for an answer.

“From that restaurant our famous

“Stjerneskud – a typical Danish

lunch dish containing of fish - is

inspired. The rest of her Danish

cooking, she learned from my mother,

the best cooking school in the

world. I am just so proud of her,” he

says.

Khun Na has also appeared in a

Thai national television show, cooking

Danish food for the morning

viewers.

Some of the staff from the previous

Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant

are back at the new Admiral and

much seems quite the same as “in

the old days”, but there are some

features that have seen an adjustment

to the better.

“Our wine cellar is much better.

This cellar can compete with the

best in Bangkok,” Bent says as he

proudly shows around.

“It is always the right temperature,

and the cave-like design is just

perfect for wine tasting and private

gatherings. We also have private

shelves, where guests can store

their own wine.”

Calm and cozy in the

middle of Bangkok

Just a couple of stairs up from the

wine cellar you will find the terrace

that overlooks the swimming

pool and at the same time offers a

beautiful view of some of Bangkok’s

many skyscrapers. As you sit here

and enjoy your breakfast, lunch, dinner

or just a nice glass of wine, you

might see a group of men standing

around a round wooden table at

the bar at the end of the terrace.

That evening I

really found

out how much the

community has

missed us. When

coming here the

golfers gave

us a standing

ovations.

That really made

my heart melt.

“Yes, well that is our table for

regulars. That table has been with us

since 1993,” says Bent, who then returns

to a previous question about

his role at the Admirals Pub & Restaurant.

“Well, during the day I have a

lot of duties, but in the afternoon

and the evening I am the happy

and joyful host, a host who enjoys

spending my time here as much as

our guests do,” says Bent.

This is definitely a role that Bent

stakes seriously. Throughout or tour

of the premises, Bent has constantly

been shaking hands with new guests

and old friends and as the interview

comes to an end the “working day”

for Bent is far from over.

“Hi Michael, how are you? I will

be right with you,” Bent says before

quickly saying goodbye to a guest who

just finished his ice cold Carlsberg.


Dane Sells Paradise

It only took two years for Klaus Bernhardt

and his Thai business partner Kanchit Wapee

to built up the new real estate agency ‘KB

Realestate’ on Phuket. The Danish - Thai

team serves mostly Scandinavian customers

who dream of a life in paradise.

By Dennis Krog

The entrance to KB REALESTATE where Klaus Bernhardt

welcomes his costumers.

Klaus Bernhardt standing proud in front of the office,

together with his Thai business partner, Kanchit Wapee.

Most of us have tried

it: You are on vacation.

The holiday

surroundings with

palm trees assisting

you on your stroll down the beach

walk, the sand between your feet as

you watch your kids having the time

of their lives swimming in the fantastic

blue sea. That’s where you think

“Would it not be great to live here?”

But the following Monday most

of us are back to our jobs - a dream

richer but not much more.

Some people do, however, risk

it all. They say goodbye to long winters

and summers that goes by at

the speed of a knockout punch in

boxing, you blink, and it’s gone.

Klaus Bernhardt took the step.

In 2008, the now 45 year old Dane

and previous hardware store owner

from Fredericia, Denmark sold his

business, and now he lives in Phuket,

Thailand, comfortably away from

the cold north.

“I just had to experience something

else, and I wanted to come

to Phuket. I just needed to live in

this fantastic place,” says Klaus Bernhardt,

who had been vacationing

frequently in Phuket over the last

ten years before finally fulfilling his

dream.

Klaus Bernhardt has now been

living in Phuket for four years making

a living as a real estate agent. The

company is set up jointly by Klaus

Bernhardt and his business partner,

Kanchit Wapee.

And although Klaus misses his

two sons, Andreas and Frederik, 17

and 12 years old, life is good for the

Dane.

“Of course it is tough that I

dont have my kids around me all the

time. But they are so grown up now,

and they come and visit me all the

time. They love it here as much as I

do,” Klaus Bernhardt says.

Welcome to paradise.

Welcome to Phuket

The first line, you see, when you

visit KB Realestate on the internet is

the headline “Welcome to paradise.

Welcome to Phuket”. And Klaus

Bernhardt really means it.

“The area of Phuket, where we

have our main business, is a new

area without that many tourists. It is

an area with many houses build for

vacation and permanent residence.

There are not many hotels here.

Its more ‘real Thailand’, “ says Klaus

Bernhardt and explains that the area

of focus, for this real estate agency,

is from Patong and down south with

a special focus on Naiharn, Rawai,

Kata, Karon and Chalong.

In Phuket, it is not that common

for a real estate agent to focus on

a certain area. According to Klaus

the advantage of being a specialist

in specific cities is one of the lessons

he learned watching how real estate

agents work back in Denmark.

“In Denmark an agent focuses

on one city or area. That makes him

an expert in this certain area, and he

knows everything that needs to be

known. We wanted to do the same

here. We do business on the whole

Island, but the South of Phuket is

where we know everything there is

to now,” says the Dane confidently.

All-inclusive service as

trademark

Most of the customers doing business

with KB Realestate are Scandinavians

who seek to buy condominiums

or houses of high quality

with 2-3 bedrooms. But most of

all the Scandinavian buyers want a

property where they can enjoy their


One of the many luxuries villas KB REALESTATE can offer client in the Island of Phuket.

lives without worrying about maintenance.

“That’s our specialty. We have

an entire maintenance team that

takes care of pool service, gardening,

cleaning and even maid service.

You don’t have to lift a finger, unless

you want to,” says Klaus Bernhardt.

But the service does not only

provide for pampering when you

have bought the house. For Klaus

Bernhardt his business is all about

being “all-inclusive”, and that is in

every aspect of the buying of a residence

in Phuket.

“That is really our trademark.

We assist all the way. We assist

when it comes to finding a lawyer,

getting the deed, writing the contract,

everything,” says Klaus.

We even help rent out our clients

properties at very flexible conditions,

it they wish to do so, when

they aren’t in Phuket.

Easy to be house owner in

Phuket

In Thailand you can own your house

100 percent as a foreigner and according

to Klaus Bernhardt the land

on which the house is build is no

problem either.

“You can easily own both the

land and the house here in Phuket.

There is really nothing to worry

about, we always help and assist

you in every single step of purchasing

your property” says Klaus Bernhardt,

who has never experienced

any problems when it comes to the

legal arrangements regarding buying

a house in Phuket.

So the next time you are in

Phuket, walking under the palm

trees or standing with your feet in

the find sand, thinking to yourselves

“this is paradise – I should live here”

well maybe the move is not that impossible

as you might think.

From the base of your own home, you can set of to experience what

Klaus Bernhardt calls the “real Thailand”


Lotus Star Celebrates

Lotus Star celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary

throughout the year with special Chakra

Balancing Sessions.

By Kirsty Turner

Lotus Star held a special

chakra balancing meditation

session on Wednesday

22 February 2012 as

part of its 10 th anniversary

celebrations. The session was guided

by professional healer and energy

therapist Vicki Weber and designed

to empower and balance the

energy fields of everyone who took

part as well as expanding their consciousness

and leaving them with a

feeling of peace and harmony.

The meditation session took

place in Vicki and Poul Weber’s lavishly

decorated private suite of the

Crystal Garden hotel on Sukhumvit

Soi 4. At the start of the session,

Vicki warmly greeted each of

the participants and performed a

short ritual by moving a crystal attached

to the end of a string over

their heads in a circular motion to

begin the balancing process. The

meditation session was attended by

just over a dozen participants, who

were mostly in their mid-thirties to

late forties and hailed from various

parts of Europe and Asia.

Tribal music was playing lightly

in the background as the participants

seated themselves in a circle,

placing their bare feet on the floor

with their hands in their laps. They

were then instructed to take a deep

breath and exhale in order to expel

all the toxins from their lungs.

The participants were instructed

to focus on each part of their

body in turn, starting with the feet

and moving up to the top of the

head. The participants then focused

on the perception of a beam of light

connecting the top of their head to

the universe through their crown

chakra. Vicki described how the

light spins in a circle and gradually

expands, speeding up and radiating

out in all directions as well as up and

down the body.

As Vicki explains; “The amount

of movement that you experience


10 th Anniversary

depends on how much blockage

you have in your body. If your energy

is already flowing freely you

won’t experience as much movement

as people whose energy is being

blocked.”

Vicki goes on to explain that

through this meditation participants

gain a connection with their purpose

on Earth and feel focused and

content. Each chakra of the body is

opened in turn, and as blockages

are removed the body is filled with

the coloured energy associated with

that chakra, which heals the body.

This year, Lotus Star was transformed

into an international cooperative

with members from all over

Scandinavia as well as France, India

and Thailand.

Bangkok-based company Lotus

Star works to promote wellness

through regular educational

workshops, which are open to everyone.

Lotus Star also sells special

bio energy products and energy diagnostic

equipment that helps the

body to recover its natural ability

for self-healing by balancing the inner

energy and raising the general

energy level. This in turn maintains

youth and strength and restores the

body’s natural capability to resist

physical and mental illness.

Lotus Star has gone from

strength to strength in the ten years

since the company was established

and has added a host of products

and elements to its service. However,

their main focus remains

their special meditation sessions,

which regularly attract people from

all walks of life. These meditation

sessions are held once or twice a

month, either at the Crystal Garden

hotel or the JW Marriott hotel on

Sukhumvit Soi 2. If you would like

to attend one of these meditation

sessions or want more information

about Lotus Star email info@lotusstar.com

or visit www.lotus-star.

com

True Luxuries : Time

Norwegian Arnfinn Oines explains all

the aspects and efforts behind hospitality

company Six Senses’ concept of ‘Intelligent

Luxury’. Sustainability efforts make good

business sense, he says.

By Joakim Persson

The first 130,000 trees

have been planted as the

start of a new reforestation

project in northern

Thailand, courtesy Six

Senses Resorts & Spas.

The initiative is part of their efforts

to mitigate emissions, an estimated

annual 160,000 tons of CO 2

by replanting 200 acres of forest

yearly in the fight against climate

change, and underlines their commitment

to become a decarbonising

company by 2020.

This Thailand-based hospitality

company is as such deeply dedicated

to sustainability, taking the lead

when it comes to CSR and environmental

concerns.

Responsible to oversee their efforts

is Norwegian Arnfinn Oines,

The right business model

Six Senses is extra interesting in that

sense as a forerunner, a company

rooted in the principles of sustainon

the position as Social & Environmental

Conscience, based out of

Evason Phuket but looking after all

their properties - from Vietnam to

Oman.

“There are certain things we

can do about our operations, for

example reducing energy consumption

and using renewables, while

regarding flights one must find different

ways to eliminate those emissions,”

Arnfinn explains the reason

for starting this reforestation effort

in collaboration with the PATT

(Plant A Tree Today) Foundation.

“We have established a carbon

sense fund where we take a certain

percentage from the guest revenue

and allocate that to projects which

reduce carbon emissions.”

“Point of departure is our wish to

accomplish a company that absorbs

more carbon than we produce. And

within this we consider not only the

energy consumption but in a wider

concept include the import of products,

the guest flights etc.”

Environmental conscience

in the blood

Arnfinn has become their man in

charge for environmental and CSR

efforts even though all employees

and managers are involved, all the

way up to CEO level. Each Six Senses

resort also has an on-site Environmental

Officer to run and oversee

these efforts within the operations.

Arfinn’s own background is not

at all any environmental expertise,

though coming from Norway, Scandinavia,

these things are very much

in the blood, he thinks.

“It‘s such a wide theme so one

cannot really be specialist on it all.

But I see the wider picture in understanding

the industry and being able

to ensure we do things in practice,

and take things step by step and improve.

That’s more important than

aiming for being perfect and being in

danger of achieving nothing,” Arfinn

explains.

His background is in fact an ordinary

hospitality and tourism education,

with a Bachelor from England

and an MBA from Thailand. He got

in touch with Six Senses while he

was studying on Phuket - they were

looking for someone to handle a

Green Globe certification of Evason

Phuket back then. Arnfinn was hired

for the task and after graduation he

started working full time with them.

“Clearly, my interest in this field

has grown and it is now my entire

focus. So for me it has been an interesting

path to take and I want to

continue with this. I find it very interesting

and looking forward it will just

keep on growing in importance, not

only for the marketing but as part

of the direction in which businesses

and hotels operate.”


and Access to Nature

ability and with CSR playing a natural

part.

Six Senses’ efforts are not a

result of any greater proportion of

green-demanding guests but the

way it has been operating for a long

time, taking environmental and social

responsibility seriously, says the

Norwegian.

“We do it because we believe

it’s the right business model, not

necessarily because it is consumerdriven.

You want to save energy;

you want to go for renewals because

the oil price is going up. You

want to save on water as well. You

can reduce the operational cost and

improve the bottom line.”

“And I’m very caught up in this

and seeing that it’s not something

we’re doing to look good and satisfy

just some element of the marketing,

but that it in fact makes business

sense.”

“And of course, if you look into

quality it makes sense having things

guests often appreciate, like organic

and local products. You give a better

product and service and that’s

We do it because we believe it’s the right business model,

not necessarily because it is consumer-driven. It is not

something we do to look good and satisfy just some element

of the marketing. In fact it makes business sense.


And if you treat

sewage water

and use it for

the gardens

that also saves

a lot of water.

what people are after.”

And with its environmental

practices and sustainability Six Senses

is demonstrating to the world

that the travel industry can be both

sustainable and profitable. Six Senses

have set many new benchmarks

and shows that it works for anyone.

“Those with a strong focus on

environmental concern, or the social

part, oftentimes forget the financial

component and in order to really

reach sustainability you need to

have the balance of all these three

parts. If you then can see how things

connect; that it actually benefits the

finances by doing good things for

the environment and the social part

you also reach a larger impact and in

that way are able to achieve more,”

Arnfinn points out.

“Therefore this also makes it

interesting for those who necessarily

don’t have it as part of their

philosophy. Those businesses able

to understand this and doing something

with it long-term are the ones

that will address the challenges of

the future - and be successful.”

The business gains are significant

when taking into account lower

costs, strategic advantage and enhanced

reputation from a genuine

commitment to sustainable development.

It can also be an effective

new element in strategic thinking

and planning.

Luxury and sustainability

works together

“Our approach is doing this across

the board, as much as possible in

every aspect. We look at the holistic

side, also including our guests’ flights,

in our emissions calculations. And

it’s obviously challenging - sometimes

you have to weigh up whether

it’s worth the effort or not. But

we feel it’s the right model and it’s

definitely something that few others

are doing in such detail.”

Case in point that it can be profitable

is the implementations done at

Evason Phuket. Only by being selfsufficient

on water the resort saves

300.000 US dollar per year (the main

reason, like for many other hotels on

the island, being that it is not connected

to municipal water).

“And if you treat sewage water

and use it for the gardens that also

saves a lot of water.”

Other retrofitting of this property

meant installing modern heating

and cooling systems and using

natural airflow in order to reduce

energy usage from air conditioning.

The list is very long.

Going green is mostly about the

finances needed for the upfront investments

in cost-saving techniques

and refitting. Pay back time rarely

takes more than three years. Making

changes and embracing a wide range

of environmental and cost-saving actions

have turned Evason Phuket into

a very energy-efficient resort.

“Several resorts here on Phuket

copied us and which we assisted

getting in touch with our suppliers.

So that has been positive.”

“And it’s also a matter of being

smart on design; a lot can be done

that will both improve the profit,

use less energy, but also enhance

the guest experience.”

Another initiative is banning plastic

bottled water and importing water.

“It’s a paradox in the travel industry

to import water from the

other side of the planet, when you

have millions, if not billions with no

access to clean drinking water or

cleaning equipment.”

Evason Phuket produces its own

water, provided in glass bottles, and

also sells its own Wellness Water of

which 50 per cent of the sales revenue

goes to organisations helping

people getting access to clean water

and sanitation.

Six Senses constantly strives to

develop pioneering designs, ones

that can play a part in changing the

world for the better, and also demonstrates

the simple steps people

can make to achieve a more sustainable

lifestyle.

Another take on luxury

Each property is run following the

core principal of ‘SLOW LIFE’ -

where the perception of luxury is

challenged. Six Senses’ basic premise

is that luxury and sustainability

can be and is, a happy marriage.

Arfinn explains their own ‘intelligent

luxury’ concept: “We look at

luxury in a different way; nowadays

it’s not necessarily about the need

to consume a lot of material things.

People work long hours and live in

crowded cities so what people miss

the most is the true luxury to have

time and space - which is what we

offer them.”

“In many ways it’s about making

people realise what luxury really is,

which we often forget and just think

of material things. From point of the

departure the traditional luxury is

something with is not very positive

and isn’t that suitable when it comes

to the environment aspect.”

There are things to show to people

what this different luxury actually

is (such as growing their own organic

vegetables), so they can see that it’s

about having clean water and access

to nature, according to Arnfinn.

But back to their reforestation

programme - 38 million acres of

rain forest deforestation takes place

each year worldwide. So is there really

any point with their new effort

in Thailand?

“You might think not, but on

the other hand if one doesn’t do

anything and takes action it certainly

won’t get any better. Of course we

are a pygmies in the global picture –

our project in Thailand is very small

but on the other hand it’s what we

can manage to accomplish – but if

we can contribute and inspire others

we can perhaps turn that trend

around.”

And even when trying all one

can to reduce negative impacts and

demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility

towards the surrounding

environment and the local community

it is not always possible to

get it all absolutely right. Six Senses

concluded that the best option in

order to transport its guests to the

new Soneva Kiri resort south of Koh

Chang was to build an island airport.

“I do understand some of the

criticism we have received,” replies

Arnfinn, “and clearly, no matter what

one does it’s never perfect but one

has to do it in one way or the other.

You must give and take. And looking

at the larger picture, other alternatives

- we considered seaplane transportation,

which could not be done

- aren’t necessarily any better. And

we do take responsibility and compensate

for our flight emissions.”



Fort Denmark

Denmark’s embassy in Thailand

has over the last ten years been

marred by the construction of

several ugly anti-terror protection

measures. I suggest we tear down

these useless arrangements and

open the Embassy compound for

picnics!

By Flemming Winther Nielsen

A fact to be recognized: From this and hundred other windows

in nearby high rises the embassy compound is open field.

The 230 cm. front gate with spikes; the locked door with a trapdoor;

the surveillance camera, possibly legal but definitely an image disaster.

Ten years ago, visiting the

Danish Embassy was

a pleasant experience.

Entering from Soi Attakarnprasit

there was an

unobstructed view to the magnificent

old trees, to the Little Mermaid

in the pond in front of the chancery

and behind it you could see the

Ambassador’s residence. The office

building, ‘Main Entrance’, was

on your right hand, under the colonnade.

When you walked through

the always open iron gates in the

yellow brick wall, a friendly guard

would rise from his light slumber

and salute you.

In September 2005 the Muhammad

cartoons controversy occurred.

A Danish newspaper had published

12 cartoons depicting the Islamic

prophet Muhammad and although

the newspaper explained the publication

as an attempt to contribute to

the debate regarding criticism of Islam

and self-censorship, the cartoons

created a rage in the Islamic world.

In Bangkok, a demonstration

was arranged on February 6, 2006

in front of the Danish Embassy in

Bangkok. Two years later, in March

2008, another demonstration was

also staged there, protesting a reprint

of some of the cartoons.

A line of policemen confronted

the demonstrators with their back

against the embassy gate which was

at this point still the open iron bar

gate with a view to embassy buildings

inside.

Meanwhile Ambassador Michael

Sternberg showed sound judgment

and leadership. He went out on the

street alone to talk to the demonstrators,

but after a while he went back in.

“They were not interested in

speaking to me, they just wanted to

read their statements and to praise

Allah,” the ambassador said. Nevertheless,

he defused a tense situation

and that was more useful than any

wall -easily climbed by as bamboo

ladder. Unfortunately you can in

general neither expect courage nor

common sense among the civil servants

in the Foreign Ministry. If you

read their travel warnings you have

the impression that the bureaucrats

in charge are afraid of their own

shadow.

Right wing swing in 2008

Four months later, a suicide bomb

attack on 2 June 2008 against the

Royal Danish Embassy in Pakistan

killed six people and wounded several

more. Two of the victims were

Danish embassy staff.

From a cool point of view, this

was an isolated case, but that year,

fear and paranoia gripped the Danish

government and administration.

The government entered a strategic

agreement with a right wing political

party in Denmark, which among

other things included setting aside a

budget of 26 million kroner for securing

the Danish Embassies against

terror attacks.

The fortification of Danish embassies

around the world has been

designed by the foreign ministry in

consultation with the Danish National

Intelligence Service. It is supposed

to be a graduated response modeled

differently according to the perception

of threat in each location.

In Bangkok, the old gate has

been replaced with a solid metal

gate at least 2.20 meters tall and

with spikes on top. In the door to

the right of the gate there is a small

trapdoor. A man from inside will ask

you what you want, whether you

have an appointment - and if that

can be confirmed you will eventually

be let in. Many will notice an innocent

looking lamp that in fact contains

a hidden surveillance camera.

Once inside there is a sort of

sluice where you see three doors

on the side of the building. One

leads into a room for visa applications,

although the bulk of that work

has since been privatized, the second

leads into a ‘Citizen Service

Office’. That is where you get e.g.

authorized letters to Thai authorizes

stating domicile, income, etc. This is

also where passports are dealt with.

Picnic at the Danish Christmas bazaar in 1994.


All transactions take place on either

side of a thick glass wall with an

intercom and a shuttle drawer for

exchange of documents and money.

Behind the third door you can relieve

yourself and wash your hands.

At the farthest end of the sluice

there is one more gate which has

presumable been erected to prevent

visitors from walking unhindered

to the sign-posted ‘Main

Entrance’. This gate is made of galvanized

metal mesh and although it

does allow the visitor a glimpse of

the little ‘Garden of Eden’, the ‘Main

Entrance’ and the ambassador’s residence

it is from an aesthetic point of

view rather ugly.

Photo shepherded

Along with the hostile fortification

of the embassy a change in attitude

has also taken place. When ScandAsia

asked for permission to take

photos of and from the embassy,

we were given permission but only

after some hesitation. And on occasion

we were followed by an

embassy representative wherever

we walked in the peaceful area of

exotic trees and plants, instructing

us where we could and where we

could not take photos, although no

sophisticated electronic equipment

or other hardware seemed to be

hiding behind the bougainvilleas.

This ‘no-go’ even included the

galvanized steel gate and the public

street outside the embassy with

the innocent looking camera house.

Before we left the embassy grounds

all the photos in the camera were

furthermore examined, accepted or

deleted although the shots had been

taken under very close supervision.

The whole affair gave me this

feeling of ‘Big brother is watching

you’ paranoia, as so chillingly described

in George Orwell’s: ‘1984’.

Believe me, earlier, visiting Danes

loved to see the Embassy and felt

proud that we could maintain such

a place as our representation in a far

away country.

An open flank

The shepherded tour was also a

bit hilarious. From the towering

high rises very nearby, you have an

excellent and most detailed view

of the whole plot and even from

your home you can get detailed

knowledge of the situation plan via

Google Earth.

The bombastic and ugly fortification

of the front of the embassy

is furthermore just put up for show.

From the South/Eastern side of the

embassy, there is almost unhindered

access to the Ambassador’s garden

behind the residence. The bush

grass on the neighboring empty plot

could give cover to a whole squadron

of men with ill intentions. The

view of the embassy with buildings,

windows and trees is completely

The galvanized gate by the end of the sluice area with the offices

mentioned. Here you will also find the uniformed guards.

open from there and even from

the little public Soi by the end of

this neighboring plot. This because

the buildings are facing that direction,

South/East. The fence marking

the border of the plot is not higher

than 1 meter, mostly just old wire

and poles. Shouldn’t there here be a

wall, 2.30 meters high and with broken

glass on top?

Stop the paranoia

I personally beg to differ. I would

regard the Danish Embassy as belonging

to a very low security risk

category regarding violent attacks.

To me, the whole arrangement of

front wall, solid gate, spikes, photo

control and surveillance cameras is

bureaucratic and paranoid, it cannot

protect anything: ‘The Emperors

new Clothes’, it should be demolished

and the Embassy Park opened

for picnics! Furthermore, recognizing

the ‘Arabian Spring’ and the

most successful NATO assistance

to the Libyan freedom fighters, it

would be fair to say that the ‘climate’

is changing.

On Champs-Elysees in Paris

you find The Danish House, ‘Maison

Danemark’. It has been there since

1955. A bright, courageous and offensive

decision back then. A new

such house has just been inaugurated

in Shanghai.

EU and the speed of IT communication

has changed the role and

the time for a traditional embassy,

so why not create a house for trade

and cultural exchange, music, literature,

theatre out of the embassy

compound?


History of the Danish Embassy in Bangkok

By Gregers Moller

The Danish Embassy in Bangkok

is located in the middle

of what is today downtown

Bangkok. It is hard to believe that

just one hundred years ago, this

area was just a swamp to the east

of the city.

The development of the area

goes back to 1892, 24 years into

the reign of King Rama V, when

Chao Sua Yom a wealthy Chinese

immigrant was commissioned to

dig a canal linking the Chao Phraya

River near Wat Yannawa to Hua

Lam Pong canal. The soil from the

excavation was used to build a road

running along each bank of the new

canal and the concession-holder

was granted ownership to a strip of

land 1,600m wide on both banks of

the new canal.

In recognition of his services,

Chao Sua Yom was awarded the

royal title Luang Sathon Rachayuk

and the name of the road and canal

were subsequently changed to

Sathon in his honor.

Luang Sathon parceled the land

on the banks of the Sathon canal

into smaller lots and sold it to rich

merchants, both foreign and Thai.

European styled mansions were

built on some lots, other lots became

orchards and plantations.

The area, where the Danish Embassy

is today located, was bought

by ‘The Borneo Company’, one of

the earliest British companies in

South East Asia. The Borneo Company

opened a branch in Bangkok in

1856 following introductions made

to King Mongkut by the Danish explorer

and merchant Ludwig Verner

Helms who early on was recruited

to join the company by the British

‘White Rajah’ Brooke of Sarawak.

This was all a result of ‘The Bowring

Treaty” (1855) between Great Britain

and The Kingdom of Siam.

The building prior to

renovation.

After renovation

and addition

of the reception

area and terrance.

The ‘modern’ winding staircase from

the ground floor to the second floor in

the Ambassador’s residence.

The renovated office building and attache’s residence.

Building history

In 1954, Denmark appointed its

first Ambassador to Thailand, Gunnar

Seidenfaden, who consequently

served 1955-1959. Gunnar Seidenfaden

was a prominent botanist and

a world class expert on orchids. It is

thanks to his botanical interest that

Denmark has today not only an old

Embassy in Bangkok, but also a substantial

park around it with plenty of

interesting flora and fauna.

Gunnar Seidenfaden recommended

shortly after his arrival that

the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in

Denmark acquired the large piece

of land along Soi Attakarnprasit - today

Sathorn Soi 1 - from the Borneo

Company. On 29 July 1955, the permission

was given on the condition

that the acquisition and re-construction

of the existing villa on the plot

did not exceed the amount of 1.2

million kroner.

The Danish engineering company

Christiani & Nielsen was given

the contract to transform the property

into an embassy with the villa as

the residence and a chancery opposite.

This expansion added the current

reception area in the residence

where guests enter the building and

the “modern” spiraling staircase up

to the second floor of the residence.

The chancery building opposite

was where the embassy’s offices

were located, but only on the

ground floor. The second floor was

the attache’s residence and this remained

so until the mid 1990’s

The lotus pond with the Little

Mermaid replica placed on the lawn

between the residence and the

chancery was also added as part of

the Christiani & Nielsen transformation

of the property. Denmark’s first

tourism promotion in Thailand.

In 1956 the whole project was

concluded and the Danish Embassy

in Bangkok was a reality.

In the early 1990’s, the chancery

was renovated. The apartment

of the attache on the second floor

was changed into offices and the

living room of the attache became

the current Ambassador’s office. In

1993 it was decided that the Danish

Ministry for Environment and Energy

should establish its own development

cooperation organization

called DANCED and to create offices

for this new organization, a further

expansion was undertaken on

the ground floor to the west where

part of the garage was located.

Since then, no further expansion

has taken place; only minor

maintenance projects.

In 2007, the responsibility for

Danish public property was transferred

internally from one financial

authority to another under the Danish

government. For the purpose of

this transfer, the value of the property

was that year estimated to be

90 million kroner. Given the current

land prices in Bangkok, this estimate

is probably rather conservative.


Surrounded by Nature

Located in Thong Nai Pan Yai, Koh Phangan, Thailand

One of Koh Phangan’s most beautiful beaches.

Value to your vacate. Welcomes you to enjoy the best of Koh Phangan.

CENTRAL COTTAGE RESORT

CENTRAL COTTAGE RESORT

Thong Nai Pan, Koh Phangan, Suratthani 84280 THAILAND

Tel: +66 (0) 77 445 128, +66 (0) 77 445 031 / Fax: +66 (0) 77 445 032 / Email: info@centralcottage.net / www.centralcottage.net

Bangkok by Bike

Explore Bangkok by bicycle, an ideal way to

truly see the lifestyle and unseen aspects of

Capital.

By Vatcharin Tavornwong

Speaking about Bangkok,

what generally comes to

mind are the many high rise

buildings, the busy streets

filled with people and - definitely

- the notorious traffic jams.

Still Bangkok is a fascinating city and

one of the best tourism cities in Asia.

Exploring Bangkok, most tourists

would realize only the main attractions

dotted down in the map,

while the lifestyle in local communities,

fresh markets, shophouses,

shrines, temples, schools may have

been completely forgotten. This

is what inspired Co Van Kessel - a

Dutchman who has lived in Thailand

for 30 years - to initiate a bicycle

tour named after himself that allows

the tourists to experience Bangkok

in different angle.

“Co Van Kessel took thousands

of hours to survey every corner of

Bangkok,” explains Ms. Chanmanee

Phonphakdee, General Manager of

Co Van Kessel.

Going around on his bike gave

him the opportunity to experience

the hospitality of the local communities

and diversity in lifestyles and

cultures as well as the beautiful nature

that springs up in contrast to

the civilization of Bangkok.

“In his early year in Thailand, he

would love to take his close friends

to explore Bangkok on bikes, in order

to prove his appreciation on his

new home,” Ms. Chanmanee Phonphakdee

explains.

From there, his small business

started growing when tourists started

to know about his trips and were

eager to have him lead their ways.

Year by year, the number of tourists

who wanted to join his trip increased

until in 2005, he decided to

establish his specialized bicycle tour

programme as a business for the

first time ever in Thailand and that

way share Bangkok’s treasures with

the world in a new form of traveling.

We began our journey early one

morning from the Grand China Princess

hotel, China Town where the

office of Co Van Kessel is situated

with our guide and a small group of


After the morning ride,

we changed to a long tail

boat that took us - and our

bicycles! - on a trip into the

Dao Kanong canal.

enthusiastic travelers. Within a few

minutes, we rode into one of the

oldest wholesale districts, Sampeng

Market as we whisked pass array of

shophouses showcasing all kinds of

ornaments and decorative items and

shoppers with the hand full of some

small or big shopping bag.

Soon we found ourselves in the

old Yaowarat fish market where

buyers were choosing fresh fish and

aquatic animals to take back home

or to their restaurants. With no

hesitation our guide led our bicycle

convoy through the amazing tiny

paths and alleyways which made us

wonder how this scene could exist

in the heart of Bangkok rather than

some suburban area.

Biking was the ideal way to get

around the neighborhood since we

could blend into the crowd very

well even though we might have

to ride pass the front yard of local

houses. Villagers always had a smile

on their faces, waiving and greeting

us when our procession of bicycles

passed through.

From one alley to the next, up

some local streets and down some

tiny paths again and again, we suddenly

arrived at the Tien Fah shrine

which is situated by the sacred

Chinese Goddess, Guan Yin. We

smelled the faithful incense sticks

and saw devotees praying and wishing

in front the shrine.

Behind the tall red gate, this

place is also where the Tien Fah

foundation and its hospital is located,

providing medical care for the

poor especially emphasizing acupuncture

treatment.

Here, we could take a sip of water

after our moderate ride. Shortly,

we got back on the bike saddle

and continued our exploration.

The guide quickly led us once again

through the alleyways which headed

us to the next stop.

As the guide wanting us to experience

the innocence minds, he

brought us to Wat Patumkongka Elementary

School whereby all kindergarten

students were lining up singing

the Thai national anthem at 8.00 am

which is the traditional way to give

the young awareness of the sovereignty

of the country and pay respect

to the ancestors who protected the

country from the past up until now.

The picture of the kids secretly chatting

with their friends while standing

and listening to the school teacher’s

order calmed our minds and put the

smiles on our faces.

Shortly after leaving the school,

we arrived at a small private pier on

the Chao Phraya river where a regular

size long tail boat was waiting on

us. Our bikes were loaded onto the

boat and we stepped on board and

were ready to cross this big river into

the next hidden destination that was

waiting for us to discover.

After the morning ride, the cool

breeze and the water splashing next

to the boat was soothing and relieved

our fatigues. The boat cruised

along the river and turned to the

connected Dao Kanong canal as it

introduced us to the charming canal

lifestyle of the Thais which has existed

unchanged for ages. Scenes of

classical wooden-framed homes on

stilts, intact and untouchable, demonstrated

how a lifestyle of simplicity

still remains in this big city.

We stepped ashore at the pier

of Wat Bang Pratun Nok temple,

Bicycling along the embankment of the Chao Phaya river is a wonderful way to experience the City.


Bang Kun Thien district and started

further exploration.

The guide led us down on the

local street and made the turn into

the local community. All of a sudden,

the local streets were turned

into the narrow raised pathways

above the water which could fit

only two bikes or motorcycles commuting

in opposite directions. The

raised pathways led us through the

luscious green belts as we explored

the forgotten plantations which surprised

us on how this area could be

emerged up in this sprawling metropolis

area.

The weather now was warming

up with the strong sunlight shining

down on the area, but we enjoyed

this refreshing scene and totally forgot

the rising temperature.

Riding down on this route involved

some little adventure since

once in a while, we needed to lift our

bikes in order to cross either small or

big bridges with a few steps of stairways

in both end or enter through

the narrow doorway. This ride was

quite long before we finally hit Wat

Khun Jan temple with its sacred giant

Buddha statue for devotees to offer

their worship. Another interesting

thing here was ‘Yeab Sha’ treatment

which could cure the pains and aches

symptom on the particular part of

body such as arm, leg, waist, etc.

The masseur or masseuse

would dip the foot in Thai herbal oil

and then place that foot on a hot

steel sheet being burnt in the kiln,

then immediately place that foot on

the body part of the patient. When

the foot of the masseur touched

on the body, it made some sizzling

In Co Van

Kessel’s early

year in Thailand,

he loved to take

his close friends

to explore

Bangkok on

bikes, in order

to share his

appreciation on

his new home.

Ms. Chanmanee Phonphakdee,

General Manager of Co Van Kessel

noise similar to the chunk of meat

being stir-fried on the cooking pan.

From here, it took another ten

minutes cycling before we hit one

small restaurant looking out over

the canal. We had Thai-style meal

include Thai fried egg, tofu soup and

stir-fired mixed vegetable and white

rice which we very enjoyed eating

after the long period of cycling.

After the wonderful meal, we

went down to the pier aside the

restaurant and took the same boat

back. The short boat trip took us

across back Chao Phraya river and

stepped ashore at Atsadang pier.

From there, the guide led us to one

fresh market featuring many kinds of

fruits and cooking ingredients.

We rode down the narrow alleys

of the stalls from one section

to the next until after a short while

we plunged out of the market and

rode down on the pavement which

led us to the Sapaan Put bridge. The

beauty of the bridge made such a

picturesque scene and backdrop

while we were cycling pass and

across the bridge.

That way we arrived back a the

Sampeng Market once again which

it implied that we were at the end

of our journey. By the time we got

to the market at noon, the market

was so busy and crowded with cars,

but it couldn’t stop us from moving

forward. We easily slicked into the

traffic and passed all busy shophouses

before crossing the street back to

our starting point safe and sound.

It was such a memorable moment

to discover the unseen aspect

of Bangkok which not everyone

could ever experience until they really

jumped on the bike saddle and

began the journey.

You would be amazed on how

you could get from place to place in

this big city with tons of tiny lanes

and alleyways as well as the beautiful

lifestyle of people and not to be

forgotten about the hospitality and

smiles that could easily be found

throughout your journey.

For more information

on the bicycle tour programme

and other activities, please visit

www.covankessel.com,

while the reservation could be made

through website or by phone

Tel. 02 688 9933

This is Bangkok!

So green and beautiful!

Only on bicycle...


Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours

Bangkok’s original award-winning bicycle tour

Operating for over 30 years

Join us to go where

nobody else will take you...

to see a side of Bangkok you

never knew existed!!!

www.covankessel.com

Tel: +66(0)2688-9933

TAT License 13/01461

Hotel de la Paix

Cha-am

Launches

Once-in-a-Lifetime Deals

Imagine immersing yourself in the contemporary comfort and cuttingedge

style of Duangrid Bunnag’s architectural piece-de-resistance,

Hotel de la Paix Cha Am Beach - Hua Hin (www.hoteldelapaixhh.

com), for as little as THB4,000 per night, or pushing the boat out for a

three-day decadent pool villa indulgence from just THB22,000.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime deal - just two hours from Bangkok - to lose

yourself in the sublime and striking vision of one of Asia’s most celebrated

architects, at a hotel where every angle is a photo opportunity. Come

and play supermodel, laze in the amazing maze by the pool, or cocoon in

your oversized room where the most wow-factor shower you have ever

experienced awaits, amid minimalism at its most luxurious.

To celebrate the hotel’s 4th birthday, visitors will also have the opportunity

to discover the ultimate privacy and chic of Hotel de la Paix

Cha Am’s coveted pool villas for just THB12,000 per night, or a Garden

Terrace suite from THB4,500.

These offers, available for Sundays to Thursdays between 1 March

and 31 October 2012, also include a complimentary “Increase the

Peace” welcome booster, free Wi-Fi throughout the resort, complimentary

mini-bar refreshed daily, 10% discount (excluding alcohol) off

all food and beverage and all Spa Treatments, and free shuttle service

to Cha Am and Hua Hin.

For those in search of a longer encounter with this unique and

world-renowned hotel, three-day packages are also available at the Horizon

rooms from THB7,000, and the Garden Terrace from THB7,500.

Terms and conditions apply, and surcharges apply for weekend or public

holiday stays.

For further information please contact:

Siriwan Pongchairerk

Director of Sales

Hotel de la Paix Cha Am Beach

Tel: +66 (0) 2381 4823

Mobile: +66 (0) 81 822 2125

Email: dos@hoteldelapaixhh.com

www.hoteldelapaixhh.com

New Venue

for Young Artists

Wai Art Partners with Banyan Tree Bangkok to Promote

Young Thai Artists with Stunning New Exhibition

Innovative non-profit arts organisation Wai Art has

joined hands with leading hotel Banyan Tree Bangkok to launch a

series of exhibitions aimed at promoting young and up and coming

artists in Thailand and give them an opportunity to showcase their

talents.

Currently and until March 31 you can see the first solo exhibition of

Thanapon Junkasain - a collection of contemporary Buddhist paintings

that explore the concepts of right and wrong in society by drawing on

traditional mythology. His show – titled Mara – is open daily.

For many artists in Thailand there are few opportunities to exhibit

as galleries are not keen on taking on an unproven artist.

Key to Wai Art’s philosophy and the partnership with the Banyan

Tree Bangkok is to not only provide this opportunity but to ensure

that sales profits are given to the artists rather than the galleries. A

small amount of the proceeds will also be donated to Banyan Tree

Bangkok’s Corporate Social Responsibility Fund, which supports various

community projects in Thailand.

Typically artists in Thailand need to work as lecturers in universities

or have a range of other jobs to survive rather than have the time

to truly develop their skills. There is no creative support system. But

this is something Wai Art curator Thanom Chapakdee - who has

worked with artists in Thailand for more than 30 years - is seeking to

change.

“Thai artists are hugely undervalued. This is not because of a lack

of talent but because they lack the opportunity,” he said. “There is a

disconnect here and one which is not only stifling the innate creativity

in Thailand but obstructing an appreciation of arts and its role in

society in a wider sense.

“We are very happy that Banyan Tree Bangkok shares our vision

and we hope to work with them on many projects to help develop

the young pool of artists in Thailand.”

More information:

Sumana Phadungphan,

Wai Art, Mobile: +668 1697 4866,

E-mail: waiart@in.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Wai-Art


Tune Hotel

Pattaya

Tune - the award-winning budget hotel brand taking Asia by

storm - open the doors of its latest property on February

17 when the 192-room Tune Hotel Pattaya received its first

guests.

To celebrate the opening of the second Tune hotel in Thailand

(The Tune Hotel Hat Yai opened in December 2011), Tune is offering

guests booking through www.tunehotels.com the chance to stay

in Pattaya at the amazing rate of just 199 baht per night. Extra hotel

services can be requested at the time of booking.

The rooms will go on sale between February 10 and 17 for

travelers booking stays in Pattaya between February 17 and April 5,

with no black out dates.

Tune Hotel Pattaya is located on the beach resort’s bustling Second

Road, just minutes from the beach, shopping, entertainment and

nightlife.

Just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok’s international airport, the

hotel is already proving popular with Thai and international tourists

who want a comfortable, clean, safe and secure hotel to stay in before

enjoying all that Pattaya has to offer.

Tune Hotels currently operates 17 hotels globally including two

in Thailand, ten in Malaysia, two each in Bali, Indonesia and London

and one in the Philippines. It plans on opening 30 more hotels

throughout the year. For booking and more information log on to

www.tunehotels.com.

For more information (0)2 207 2901

Mobile: +66 (0)84 121 4930

E-mail: mark.armsden@redplanethotels.com

“I saw her being run

Danish actor

Karl Bille is making a

documentary film in

Cambodia about the

country’s struggles

with “land grabbing”.

Three years ago the

actor witnessed a

violent eviction in

Cambodia’s capital

Phnom Penh and

the experience has

affected him deeply.

By Anya Palm

From the left: Turis, former resident

of Dey Krohom; Vichet, the star of

the documentary; Panha, Vichet’s

youngest son; Dtieun, wife of

Vichet; Bro Van, Vichet’t oldest son;

Karl Bille; Borey, NGO-worker; Kir

Viedt and Jayk, Vichet’s middle son.

First time, Danish actor and

musician Karl Bille came

to Cambodia he heard

people whispering; “they

are going to tear down our

houses!”

Back then, in 2005, he did not

understand why or who “they”

were. But he quickly learned that

one of the main problems in Cambodia

today is “land grabbing” –

when authorities force citizens away

from an area of land without compensating

them.

Karl Bille became involved with

a couple of Danish activists who

showed him an area called Dey

Krohom, a poor neighborhood but

located precisely in the middle of

the capital Phnom Penh. The habitants

here, well aware of their lucrative

location and lack of means to

keep it, were the people whispering

about losing their homes.

“Dey Krohom is where the

Cambodian musicians live – many

of the most famous Cambodian artists

live here, and they make instruments

here. I was very welcomed

by them, when I first came, and I

made a lot of really good friends in

Dey Krohom,” says Karl Bille, who

quickly made a habit of visiting the

neighborhood every day, while he

was visiting the country. It was with

an uncanny feeling, he left for Denmark

– he knew that the future for

his friends in the district was very

uncertain.

Three years later – in January

2008 – he came back to a changed

neighborhood:

“There were daily stand offs

with authorities. There were threats

and intimidation, and we frequently

got insane phone calls from scared

people, who wanted us to come

down to Dey Krohom,” he says,

with a voice suddenly a tone deeper.

That the presence of a Westerner

might help reduce how violent a

stand-off would be. It did not help

in this case, however. One morning,

he woke up to witness Dey Krohom

being demolished.

“I lived nearby and could see

smoke coming from the rooftops in

the early morning. I ran down there

and the area had been surrounded

by police and bodyguards from the

company 7G, who had bought the

land from the Cambodian government,“

he says. He managed to get

in behind the barricades.

“People were screaming and

crying, and the bulldozers were

driving over people’s houses. The

men with black helmets giving orders

were very aggressive, and I saw

my friends trying to save their things,

but they were beaten and pushed

away,” he recalls.

During his time in Cambodia,

he has gotten particularly close with

one family, and in the chaos he saw

one of them, in front of a bulldozer.

“I called her my “mother”, because

she was taking so good care

of me and everyone else. I saw her

fall down, and then I saw her being

run over by the bulldozer. I thought

she was dead,” he says. Later, he realized,

she had fallen down to the

other side of the bulldozer, and was

in fact unharmed, but because of

the chaotic situation, none of it really

registered with the actor.

“I was completely in shock, and

deeply devastated. I didn’t know

what to do,” he says.

He then did something unexpected,

even by himself. He started

filming himself while singing.

“I felt deeply torned about walking

around singing, while the world

is coming to an end around me. But

I felt I did something,” he explains.

He later released the song “Off the

Agenda” from the album Love &

Eviction, which he wrote during the

tumultuous times in Cambodia. In

the music video he uses the material,

he recorded that day.

Bille was not the only one with

a camera at Dey Krohom that day.

Documentarist Kir Viedt, one of the

Danish activists that initially showed

Bille the neighborhood, documented

the eviction as well.

“It was a matter of finding out

what we could do, both in the situ-

There were daily

stand offs with

authorities. There

were threats and

intimidation, and

we frequently got

insane phone calls

from scared people,

who wanted us to

come down to Dey

Krohom.


over by a bulldozer”

ation and after,” she explains. In

the aftermath, hundreds of families

sought refugee with friends, neighbors

and NGOs, and both Kir Viedt

and Karl Bille got deeply involved in

the immediate problems the eviction

constituted for the now homeless

villagers.

“We interviewed them, and followed

them in their legal struggle

to get back their land. We have so

much of this on tape,” she says.

All this material that was recorded

by Kir Viedt’s camera and

Bille’s mobile phone is the main reason

the pair is now back in South

East Asia: To make a documentary

that focuses on land grabbing in

Cambodia.

“Today, I am feeling very ambivalent

about this and it is quite

nerve wrecking,” Bille says. He is

sitting in Bangkok, about to leave

for Cambodia,in his shorts and t-

shirt, and he is nervous. The words

come out of his mouth disorderly,

as he constantly remembers more

and more bits and pieces from what

happened to him in Cambodia.

He is mainly looking forward to

reuniting with him friends from Dey

Krohom, and to hear how their situation

is now.

“I am deeply emotionally affected

by this. And what I am most

scared of is whether we can make a

documentary that does these people

justice. If we can get the message

about how serious a problem land

grabbing is through to other people,

the viewers. This has become very

personal for me, so I am going to

Cambodia now to have closure by

documenting what I saw, and the

consequences of it today,” he says.

Kir Viedt agrees with him.

“We are going down there to

finish what we came for in 2008: To

tell the world about what’s really

going on in Cambodia,” she says.

The yet unnamed documentary

is due to come out in 2013.


Medium

Evil

Swedish Meat Balls

and Mashed Potatoes

There are as many different recipes for Swedish meatballs

as there are Swedish Mammas. When it comes to meatballs,

it gets personal. This is a basic recipe on which to

build your own. Over the past twenty or so years, most

families only bother making meatballs from scratch for

special occasions and tend to stick with the bought version for everyday

events. This is a shame because homemade meatballs taste rather

different. Most would say that a dish of meatballs, mashed potato

with cream gravy and lingonberry jam is about as Swedish as things

get. It’s up there with ABBA, Volvos and Wallander.

For the meatballs:

• 700 grams lean minced beef AND 500 grams minced pork

(min 10% fat)

• 1 onion, grated

• 60 gram porridge oats

• 2 eggs

• 350 ml stock (chicken stock works well)

• 2 ½ tbsp plain flour or corn flour

Spices: 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp ground allspice, ½ tsp ground black pepper,

2 tsp ground white pepper

Are you done?

When you have completed the above puzzles, please send your

solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@

scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct

answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt.

Name:

___________________________________________________

Age: ________________________ Mobile: ___________________

Address: __________________________________________________

Email:

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 April 2012

For the cream gravy

A knob of butter (approx. 10g), a heaped tablespoon of plain flour

(10 g), water from the potatoes, 50 ml of cream. Lingonberry jam (we

recommend Lingonsylt from either Tillmans or Felix, both available at

Scandi Kitchen).

1. Soak the porridge oats in water for fifteen minutes. Whisk the eggs

together and mix with the oats. Add onion and spices and mix well.

2. Mix the meats together in a mixer to ensure thoroughly mixed.

Add the egg mix and flour. You should be left with a mouldable,

but sticky, mixture.

3. Roll the individual meatballs in your hands and leave ready to fry.

It helps if your hands are damp. Each meatballs should be around

2 cm in diameter – or larger if you cannot be bothered making

80 meatballs.

4. Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan and once hot, carefully add

meatballs. Shake the pan gently to ensure they don’t stick and

keep them moving as they fry – thus ensuring their “roundness”.

You will most likely need to do two batches. Fry until done – for

around 5 minutes. Keep in a warm oven until needed.

5. Add a knob of butter to the meatball pan over medium heat. Add

flour to form a roux and whisk. Add the water from the potatoes

bit by bit and let it boil to thicken. Once at desired quantity and

thickness, add the cream. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Serve meatballs with mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and

the gravy, with lingonberry jam on the side.


When it’s time to do business,

we’re exceptionally open.

Every business has a different story and a different goal. We understand that.

Over many years in this market of unique opportunities, we’ve developed the

local knowledge, resources and connections needed to turn ambitions into

reality. That’s why we’re one of the most well-established northern European

banks in the region. For corporates, financial institutions and private banking

clients, we’re ready to listen and cater to your needs – in Beijing, Shanghai,

Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi.

Welcome to contact us at

Tel: +65 63 57 08 95

singapore@sebprivatebanking.com.sg

www.sebgroup.com/privatebanking

ScandAsia Thailand - March 2012

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

ScandAsia Thailand - March 2012

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?