ScandAsia Thailand - April 2011

APR 2011
Thailand
Elephantastic
Everestti
ScandAsia.dk ScandAsia.fi ScandAsia.no ScandAsia.se

info@lenotrethailand.com

OVERLAD STRATEGIEN TIL OS
– SÅ PLEJER VI DINE INVESTERINGER
Bliv kunde i en bank, hvor alle er velkomne
Investering i værdipapirer kræver en klar strategi og
løbende overvågning. Har du ikke tid, lyst eller indsigt,
kan Sydbank (Schweiz) AG tilbyde dig en professionel
investeringsløsning.
Kontakt os og aftal et møde
Hvis du vil høre mere om, hvad vi kan til byde dig,
så læs mere på sydbank.ch eller kontakt
Din investeringsrådgiver, der møder dig på din hjemmebane,
forener ekspertise på højt niveau med en afslappet
og imødekommende facon. Derfor vil du straks føle dig
velkommen i Sydbank (Schweiz) AG.
Poststrasse 17 · CH-9000 St. Gallen
Tel +41 (0) 71 227 81 00
Fax +41 (0) 71 227 81 01
pbi@sydbank.ch · sydbank.ch
Allan Hvii
Senior Vice President
+41 (0)71 227 81 60
allan.hvii@sydbank.ch
Søren Dickmeiss
Vice President
+41 (0)71 227 81 54
soren.dickmeiss@sydbank.ch
9329-1210

Coming Events
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:
Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.
4/41-2 Ramintra Soi 14,
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
Graphic Designer:
Supphathada Numamnuay
supphathada@scandmedia.com
Distribution:
Pimjai Chaimongkol
pimjai@scandmedia.com
Printing:
Lake & Foundtain Printing Co., Ltd.
Daily news and
features here:
www.scandasia.com
Hua Hin Ladies
Luncheon in May
Date: 2 May 2011
Location: La Grappa, Hua Hin
Since the successful first Danish network evening at
HuahinDk.com, the off-season is not felt in Hua Hin.
New members and new initiatives have emerged. Among
these is the upcoming Ladies Luncheon, that is the starting
point for a wide range of activities for women in Hua Hin:
monthly ladies’ luncheons, book club, Excursions, monthly
cocktail nights, networking evenings and more..
The first Ladies Luncheon is held May 2 nd , 12:30 La
Grappa (20 / 5 Poolsuk Rd, Hua Hin), where the Italian
chef, Andreas Bonifacio will ensure that the beautiful
women is having a great start with a delicious 3 course
lunch incl 1 glass of wine for Baht 500 pr. woman. Find the
menu on our website and enroll yourself directly to Beate
Cecilie Stampe Rasmussen at huahinladies@gmail.com.
Simply
Scandinavian in
Bangkok
Date: 13 - 22 May 2011
Location: Plaza Athenee Bangkok - A
Royal Meridien Hotel
The 7 th Simply Scandinavian in Bangkok
takes place on 13 - 22 May 2011 in
Bangkok. This year, the programme
features the Swedish actor and vocalist
Annica Risberg and the Stockholm
“City-Jazz” Quartet. On the food
side, the Visiting Finnish chef Bjorn
Ekstrand presents his signature dishes
from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and
Finland.
More details here:
http://www.scandasia.com/calendarList.
php?coun_code=th
The TFCC Ambassador’s Cup Golf
Tournament
Date: 7 May 2011
Location: The Royal Gems Golf Club
The Thai Finnish Chamber of Commerce invites golfers to the annual Ambassador’s
Cup Golf Tournament, on Saturday the 7 th of May 2011. This year the tournament
will be Royal Gems Golf Club where was an official European Senior Tour in 2010.
Prior to the tournament you will able to receive great tips & tricks by PGA pros
at the driving range. You can also warm up your putting skills at the exiting putting
competition at the clubhouse before teeing off. The tournament is loaded with built
in competitions on the course with ‘nearest pin’, ‘longest drive’, ‘best in 2’ etc. Singing
up and payment must be done before 27 th April 2011. Bring your family, friends,
colleagues and business partners to this great golf event. For more information please
visit www.thaifin.or.th. Question and enquiry please contact Bjarne Kjersner (BJ), Email:
BJ@londalconsulting.com, Phone: +662 762 7880.
DanCham Field Trip to
Date: 26 May 2011
Danish Thai Chamber of Commerce will take you to visit PANDORA Production Co., Ltd. where is the
manufacturing arm for global jewelry brand PANDORA. PANDORA’s head office is in Denmark, and
currently PANDORA jewelry is sold in more than 50 countries through the company’s sales organization
with offices in USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and South-East Asia. Please
mark the date in your calendar and stay tuned at www.dancham.or.th, email: contact@dancham.or.th or
phone: +66 2 354 5220.

Cocohut
Beach Resort & Spa
“Live with Nature,
Party with the moon”
One of the most beautiful beach on
Phangan island, and it’s just five minutes
walk from Had Rin beach, Full Moon Party.
We provide
varieties of
accommodations.
With nice private
beach, you can
really relax and
enjoy the breeze.
Let have fun!
Cocohut Beach Resort & Spa
130/20 Had Rin Nai, Sun set, Leela or Seekantang Beach, Moo 6T. Bantai A.Koh Phangan Suratthani 84280 Thailand
Tel. +66 (0) 77 375 368-9 Fax +66 (0) 77 375 368 www.cocohut.com Email : rsvncocohut@gmail.com, info@cocohut.com

Debut Party of Danish Network in Hua Hin
It was the first networking party of the Danish Network in Hua Hin on
25th March 2011. The party was held at Mondo Vino who also arranged
the fantastic buffet, house wine, cold beers, and comfortable venue.
It was a remarkable night for Danish residents who live in Hua Hin.
Close to 60 members and guests gathered in the evening as the rain started
drizzling. It was the best forum for Danish residents to meet their oldie
friends and newcomers. Some live here permanently, some visit here during
summer in Hua Hin and some run businesses here.
The founder Steve Laursen greeted all guest by himself at the registration
desk. At 7.30 pm, he gave his speech to the guests:
“It’s has been 4 months since the establishment of the Danish Network
in Hua Hin. Now we have 14 corporate members and 200 individuals. I am
so happy about your good response. Thank you for coming to night and
hope you enjoy with your friends”
He talked about the future plan: “I have many activities in mind but I
have not decided yet what’s gonna be next. Maybe golf tournament? I want
to hear your suggestion.”
Besides he introduced some members to others guests and welcome
everyone to meet new friends at the party.
If you are interested to be member, please contact Steve Laursen at info@
huahindk.com.
1
3
5
2
4
6
1. From left: Torben Balle, Christian B. Hansen.
2. From left: Marck Christiansen, Steve Laursen, Ole C. Jorgensen.
3. From left: Thomas Skyum, Rene Schwarz.
4. From left: Jan Sorensen, Ole and Anni Svendsen.
5. Erik and Marta Jensen.
6. Kjemtrup family: Marianne (daughter), Maria (mother), Flemming (father).
Fastelavn with Princesses, Pipi and a Panther
A
tiger, a panther, several princesses, Alice in Wonderland, Bob the
Builder, Pippi Longstocking and a ladybug were among the many
participants at the Danish Women's Network's celebration of the
Danish tradition Fastelavn in Little House on Thong Lo in Bangkok.
The baking hot weather was clearly not an obstacle or spoiled the mood
for the children and their parents. While parents chatted during and after
the Danish lunch, their children were running around in the garden playing
with each other. Some seemed happy just to have found a cool spot to sit.
The makeup on some of them smeared out because of sweating so some
changed from their hot costumes to something more comfortable.
By 12.30, the King and Queen was awarded their crowns for breaking
the barrels and the organizers awarded also two of the participants for most
fancy dresses.
3
1
2
4
1-2 The best costumes went to Pippi Longstocking, who had changed the stockings
to something more pleasent, and a feisty little tiger. At the same time the kings and
queens got their crowns for respectively being the ones breaking the barrel.
3-4 Besides beating the barrel, there were other small games like eating donuts from a
string and eating apples from a tub of water. A very difficult discipline but a success for
many who tried.
6 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Nordic Chamber Networking with Air Berlin
Ratchasuwan Phaenprom was the luckiest participant who got the
free Air Berlin ticket at Nordic Chamber Networking on 16th March
2011. She expressed her feeling: “My friend invites me to this party.
I am very surprised that I get free ticket and I don’t decide where to go in
Scandinavian yet.”
The Nordic Chambers Networking was organized by the 4 Nordic
chambers in Thailand (Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish) sponsored
by Air Berlin. The Globe Bar at the Cetara Grand @ CentralWorld was
packed by 200 guests. The nice weather outside, catchy music, fusion food,
and free flow drinks were perfect combination of the party.
General Manager of Air Berlin Mr. Stefan Magiera greeted the entire
guest: “Thank you all for showing up tonight even it is raining outside. I hope
you enjoy tonight and I must say Skal”
1. Mr. Per Eriksson (right) and his friend.
2. Mr. Goran Ehren, former TSCC Executive Director Mr. John Svengren (middle) with his
wife Khun Sirin Mungpoonklang-------.
3. Kim Heggland (right) and his friend.
4. Salween Solutions Co., Ltd.; Jeppe Bogh Svendsen, Charles Symons and friend.
5. Mr. Zoltan Kosa, Managing Director, Santa Fe (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (left) with TFCC
President Marc Spiegel (right).
6. Ms. Ratchasuwan Phaenprom (middle) with Air Berlin General Manager Mr. Stefan
Magiera (left).
1
3
5
2
4
6
British Club Keeps Trophy
Sunday Scandinavian Society Siam and British Club held their annual
Golf Turnament against each other on Sunday 06 March 2011. The
trophy will stay one more year at the British Club because this year -
again - the match ended even.
Since 1989 the two clubs have teamed up every year to fight for the
right to hold the trophy and for more than five hot hours golfers of the SSS
and BC were sweating through the 18 holes fighting for their rights to be
keepers of the silver cup.
Twenty participants from BC and twenty from SSS made sixteen teams
and playing three different matches. For every game won the team had a
point. At the end of the day the results was 6-6.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

Unique Thai-Danish
AGM Party
The Thai-Danish Club held its usually very unique AGM with some 45
participants on 2011 at The Royal Bangkok Sports Club on Wednesday
23 March 2011. After a welcome by Khun Watinee ‘Dear’ Kharnwong
and Parkh Tvesuk we were served ‘biksemad’.
Next was a mysterious game. Members were handed out images cut in
four and they had to find their ‘image buddies’.
The report of what the Club had done for the members during the past
year was presented by Chairman Ajarn Somsiri who promised a traditional
Thai-Danish Club outing ... soon!
The theme of the evening was “Sense of Denmark”in which Khun
Prakorb once again this year took the prize for most charming outfit. Female
winner Khun Jiew won for her beautiful red dress with a crochet white
shawl.
After a group photo we could finally end the night with the annual
Bingo! game in which Khun Virat translated the Thai numbers into Danish
with stunning speed - it must have been part of the drill while he learned
how to milk cows in Denmark!
Enjoy larger photos here:
http://www.scandasia.com/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=9954
1
2
3
4
5 6
1. ‘Gate Crasher’ Siriluck Lertsirimongkolchai with former AFS students Chanon
Chaiyaputh and Athikhun Kulkitkamchorn.
2. Another ‘Gate Crasher’ was Atle who had come with Sawaeng Kongpetsak.
3. Eid Alexandersen presented a Winner Duck to Khun Bloom.
4. Sawaeng Kongpetsak and Claus Gundersen.
5. Palle Havmoller enjoyed the biksemad - this was second helping!
6. Cutest participant of the AGM was little Sun whose mother Som had attended
the previous meeting when she was pregnant.
Successful Event for Young Professionals
The Nordic Chambers of Commerce joined forces with Le Fenix Hotel
by Accor, Sukhumvit and hosted on Friday 25 March 2011 an event
for younger persons working or studying in Thailand.
In the restaurant of Le Fenix Hotel on the 3rd floor, the about
120 attendants did enjoy good food from the Nordic style tapas buffet
accompanied with wine and soft drinks from the bar. The 500 Baht entrance
ticket proved to be value-for-money.
With no other agenda for the event than to come and enjoy an evening
together, the young professionals mingled and chatted with fellow colleagues
and potential friends. From the many smiles seen on 3rd floor this evening
the event looked like a big success.
8 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Singapore Churches Brought Their Love to
the Children of Baan Chivit Mai
Norwegian and Swedish ladies from Singapore visited Baan Chivit Mai in
Chiangrai in the North of Thailand on 28 February to 3 March 2011.
The visit was organized by the Swedish and Norwegian church in Singapore.
The main purpose of the trip was to visit the famous institution, have
fun activities and bring gifts to the children in the orphanage.
Diana Wiking and Lise-Beate Ringsby from the Church of Sweden in Singapore
arrived with the group of 19 ladies at Chiangrai International airport on
28 February. They were met by Madeleine and Inge Ekelyck of Baan Chivit Mai
who took the group to check-in at Wienginn Hotel.. After having refreshed
themselves, the group had dinner at Baan Chivit Mai Bakery in town.
Next morning, after breakfast, the group visited the second location of
Baan Chivit Mai in Mae Chan district. Most of the children there are kindergarten
or elementary school students. After the visit they went on a sightseeing
tour around the beautiful North of Chiangrai.
It was interesting to see the Long Neck Village, fun to go shopping in Mae
Sai - the border of Thailand and Myanmar, and the boat trip to Golden Triangle
was beautiful.
In the evening, the ladies shared a remarkable night together with the
children at Baan Chivit Mai in Hua Doi district. The teachers and staff had
in cooperation with the children prepared BBQ and some Thai food for the
ladies.
After dinner there was a campfire where all the ladies and children sat in a
circle watching the children’s performance. The ladies sang Swedish and Norwegian
songs and had an easy choreography so the children could learn and
dance with them. Although the two groups spoke totally different languages, all
enjoyed the show, laughing, smiling, and dancing.
On 2nd March, the ladies visited the local school named Hua Doi School.
Every morning all students gather to praise the Kingdom, Buddhism and Chakri
Royal Family. The ladies were amazed that all children paid full attention to the
ceremony.
After the group had seen the school they went to Wat Rong Kun (The
White Temple) built by Chaloemchai Khositphiphat, a famous Thai artist.
In the afternoon, they took about an hour up to the Doi Chang Mountain
where the premium coffee is grown. The ladies tasted the fresh coffee surrounded
by hill on the windy day which added to the wonderful flavour.
Then the group went to a new branch of Baan Chivit Mai in Mae Suai District.
This is brand new house facilitating up to 32 children where will officially
open on 5th March 2011.
The last day of the visit, the ladies visited a Karen Village by boat and after
that went for a ride on elephants in the morning. They had lunch at Baan Chivit
Mai Bakery in town where they came on the very fiurst day of the visit and
eventually in the afternoon they had to leave back to Singapore.
1
3
5
2
4
Diana Wiking who had arranged this trip said:
“Apart from the fun of the sightseeing tour in Chiangrai, I can feel that all
the ladies had a wonderful time with the children. We will all remember their
gratefully smiling faces.”
“It is not because of our donation but we brought our love to the children
and that was the most important part of this trip,” she added.
6
Elisabeth Froeyshou Danielsen, Assistant at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church
in Singapore confirmed that she had indeed enjoyed her time with children.
She started to work at the church in August 2010 and will there for the next
3 years.
“I had really looked forward to this trip, said Camilla White, another of the
participants.
“First time I heard about this trip, I knew I have to come because I love children
and I have never been to Thailand before. The Children took me around
to show me their house even I can’t understand their language, but I could see
the happiness through their eyes,” she added.
Madeleine Ekelyck and her husband Inge, who is working for Baan Chivit Mai
based in Sweden, said:
“Back in Sweden, I am very busy with contacting people and raising funds
for Baan Chivit Mai so I can only come here a couple of times a year. This time
I came to greet this group because they continuously come to visit us every
year. They are very supportive to children in Baan Chivit Mai”
“Our new branch in Mae Suai opens on the 5th of March so now the
teachers, staffs and children are all helping with the ceremony,” she added.
7
1. Elisabeth Froeyshou Danielsen
with flower given by children.
2. Diana Wiking at the airport.
3. Inge and Madeleine Ekelyck who
work hard for Baan Chivit Mai.
4. New branch of Baan Chivit Mai in
Mae Suai District.
5. The Ladies was at Baan Chivit Mai
in Hua Doi district.
6. Children in Baan ChiVit Mai in
Hua Doi district.
7. Camilla White with children.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

ScandAsia News Brief
‘Kidnapped’ Daughter Lost And Found
AGM at the
Thai-Swedish
Chamber of
Commerce
The Annual General Meeting
of the Thai-Swedish Chamber
of Commerce was held on
Tuesday 29 March 2011 at the
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
The AGM welcomed the
following new members of the Board
of Govenors:
Bjorn Tarras-Wahlberg, Said
Irandoust, Bjorn Richardsson and
Stefan de Bekass who replaced the
resigning Govenors: Joacim Damgard
, Roby Jansens, Chaiyot Piyawannarat,
Hakan Olsson and David Romlin.
TSCC have suffered a loss for 2
years and also lost members and the
board has decided on a new strategy
including organisational changes and
improved income and reduced cost.
The economy should be recovering
this year as the presented budget for
2011 shows a surplus as revenue has
been improved and costs has been
reduced. TSCC has also established
6 working committees.
The Chairman asked for
comments on the Annual Report
of Activities. There were no added
comments. The Annual Report of
Activities was acknowledged and
approved.
New Executive Director
John Svengren who has for the
past ten years been the Executive
Director of the Thai-Swedish
Chamber of Commerce, had
resigned shortly before the AGM to
take up the challenge as Director of
the new EU ASEAN Business Centre
(EABC) in Thailand.
To replace hinm, Mr. Peter Björk
was appointed as new Executive
Director as of 21 March, 2011.
New
Board
Members
of TNCC
About 51 people died,
117 acres of land was
destroyed and about a
million people remain affected
by the flooding in the South
of Thailand. The rain started
Thursday 24 March and did not
stop for a week, soaking the land
and the mountains. Mudslides
tore several villages away near
Krabi and killed 12 people.
In Surat Thani roads were
still flooded two weeks after the
heavy rain and Thai military had
to help travelers to and from
Surat Thani airport. Donations
to the victims of the flooding
in South Thailand came from
everywhere in Thailand and the
Thai government has granted the
victims an amount of 1.5 billion
bath.
On Wednesday 2 March, 4 year old Niza Engdahl was
abducted from her school in Hua Hin by her mother, Surat
Enmak. Niza had not seen her for two years and at first
denied that she was her mother. The teacher accepted, however,
that Surat Enmak stayed and played with Niza and went to a meeting.
When she returned, both Surat Enmak and Niza Engdahl were gone.
For almost two weeks Niza’s father Henrik Engdahl life was
turned upside down. Searching and hanging posters of missing Niza in
Pattaya, Bangkok and Buri Ram where the mother is from, did not get
him further of finding his daughter. Finally, Henrik Engdahl contacted
the Swedish Embassy and they contacted the Thai police. The Thai
police then contacted Surat Enmak and finally Henrik Engdahl got his
daughter back.
Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General
Meeting was held 21 March at Sheraton Grande Hotel. A
number of new board members were elected or re-elected at
the meeting in which about 30 members participated.
Mr. Petter Børre Furberg from dtac was appointed as the new
treasurer. He has taken over after Roar Wiik Andreassen, who has
moved back to Norway.
Mr. Jørn Unneberg will take over as Managing Director in Jotun,
and replaces Eric Mallace on the Board. Eric Mallace is moving to
Indonesia this summer.
Mr. Bent Kilsund Axelsen from Yara was elected new member of
the Board.
Mr. Niels Henrik Hansen from SAS was elected as new members
of the Board.
Khun Piyanuj (Lui) from Tilleke & Gibbins was re-elected as a
member of the Board.
Leaving the board was Mr. Jan Egil Amundsen from DNV, Det
Norske Veritas
President Axel Blom, who agreed to continue one more year,
thanked Jan Egil Amundsen, Roar Wiik Andresassen and Eric Mallace
for their contributions to the Board as well as Vibeke Eidsaae
Corneliussen as the outgoing Executive Director of the Chamber.
Flooding in South Thailand
10 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

IKEA Bangkok
Celebrated Roof Capping
At its traditional Swedish party, taklagsfest på svenska, IKEA
confirmed that the mega store is looking at the end of this
year, specifically November 3, 2011, to launch its new store in
Bangkok which will be the largest store in Southeast Asia.
Around 200 guests attended the “Wholeheartedly Warm”
themed party to celebrate the roof capping of the store, and were
given a taste of what to expect via video presentations.
IKEA Bangna is situated as part of the MegaBangna and will
provide a wide selection of 7,500 furnishing designs. The store also
comes with approximately 700 seats in the restaurant and 1,300 car
parking spaces.
Thai
Diplomatic
Red Cross
Bazaar
2011
The Thai Diplomatic Red
Cross Bazaar was held
at the Siam Paragon,
Bangkok on 26 February 2011.
with HRH Crown Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn presiding over
the opening
Hosted by the diplomatic
wives together with the Thai
Red Cross Society, the bazaar
presented booths from 52
countries, including Denmark
and Norway, exhibiting their
national handicrafts, food and
specialties for the public to see
and buy.
Southeast Asian countries
such as China, Indonesia, Singapore,
Phillipines and Malaysia also
promoted their cultural ornaments
at the bazaar.
“The Red Cross Society
receives the fund from this
bazaar and once they get it,
they distribute it through their
respective channels,” explained
the Royal Danish Embassy’s
Ratanawadee Hemniti Winther.
Strong Earthquake
Frightened Thailand
A
strong earthquake hit on 24 March Burma only few kilometers
from the Thai border town Mae Sai, sending tourists and
residents running out of the buildings and in some cases
sleeping outside the rest of the night.
Reports from Danish Brian Sorensen, Hugo Thomsen and
Swedish Baan Chivit Mai told of the quite scary experience.
“It was big. For me this is the first time I have experienced an
earthquake, but people we knopw who have lived here long are
quite upset,” Brian Sorensen said.
“One corners of my neighbors house simply collapsed,” Hugo
Thomsen said.
“Our children panicked and had to run out of their houses and
we all gathered in the playground during every shaking of the ground,”
Khun Meechai Wongworawhitt, the Director of Baan Chivit Mai said.
During the following days, news of the damage and loss of life
inside Burma followed and a short lived debate started in Thailand,
whether high rise buildings in Bangkok and the main water dams
upcountry could withstand a stronger earth quake.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Norwegian
Pensioners Angry
with Taxation
Norway has since the
beginning of 2010
decided to tax pension
with 15% tax before
disbursement to
recipients outside the
country.
“It is so blatantly
wrong and unfair that
we will fight it with
all legal means, “ says
Arthur Sandberg,
head of Emigrant1,
an organization for
Norwegians abroad
affected by the decision.
By Steen Poulin Nielsen
Norway has since the
beginning of 2010
decided to tax pension
with 15% tax
before disbursement
to recipients outside the country.
The organization Emigrant1 finds
this to be a violation of international
treaties, among others, the Convention
for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Together with a Norwegian
organization, APTRT (Aksjonsgruppen
for pensjonisters og trygdedes
rettigheter i Thailand) the Emigrant1
has established a special department,
Norsk Pensjon-og Skatteråd
Utland (NORSKAUT) now preparing
a legal investigation and a possible
lawsuit against the Norwegian
government.
“It hurts us that we must take
action against our country, but the
situation is so blatantly wrong and
unfair that we feel compelled to
fight with all legal means,” says Arthur
Sandberg, head of Emigrant1.
Apart from Norwegians in
Thailand, the decision affects also
Norwegians living in other countries
where the authorities do not tax
pension as an income.
The Norwegian/
Thai Tax Treaty
A tax treaty was signed in 2003
between Norway and Thailand in
order to avoid double taxation of
the same income in both countries.
In Norway the treaty ensures that
the pension become taxed either in
Thailand or in Norway at the same
rate as in Norway.
“We have no understanding
that the Norwegian authorities
manage the agreement in such matters”,
says Sandberg and continues,
“We experience that we are
being dismissed by the Norwegian
authorities by letters not answered
and nothing is done at all to simplify
the documentation and paperwork.
We do not find that Thailand has
officially changed a comma in the
agreement with Norway since 2003. ”
According to Sandberg only
Norwegian mid-level bureaucrats
has being involved in the new 15%
tax withdrawal. The communication
between the Revenue Department
in Thailand and the Norwegian Ministry
of Finance seems to be settled
through private e-mails between
bureaucrats and not by regular documents.
Sandberg finds that the Norwegian
taxation steals from poor countries
such as Thailand.
He says: “The only thing that
Thailand achieves is that hundreds
of Norwegians will leave Thailand
and move back to Norway. Because
people with low-and middle pensions
are in fact tax-free people in
Norway.”
Double taxation or not
Skatt nord does not agree that the
15% tax on pensions is double taxation.
“If the citizen shows eligible
documents, proving he is a taxpayer
in Thailand and that the pension is
taxed, then he will be granted exemption
from withholding tax in
Norway. There appears no such
thing as double taxation”, says Arvid
Jansen, førstekonsulent i Kildeskatt
på pensjon at Skatt nord.
But this is not the case according
to Sandberg, he says:
“We see a large number of
Norwegians who live abroad-and
they are affected by the fact that
their pension has been pre-drawed
all through 2010.”
The German way
Arthur Sandberg suggest the German
approach to the subject.
The German model which is the
OECD’s Model Agreement, has
made things much easier for their
elderly and disabled people who
move to warmer locations. When
an emigrant holds a “Certificate of
Residence” then the person will no
longer have to pay tax in Germany
as long as he is living outside Germany.
But this is not an option for
Norwegians, Sandberg says:
“Norway is a paying member of
the OECD since 1960. It´s strange
that Norway does not accept the
OECD's documentation schemes.”
Sandberg does not want to go
into further details about the preparation
of any lawsuit against Norway.
Norway is a
paying member
of the OECD
since 1960.
It´s strange
that Norway
does not accept
the OECD’s
documentation
schemes.
12 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Elephantastic Everestti
By Steen Poulin Nielsen
Photos by Søren Bang Clemmensen
Gearing up for the Elephant
Parade this
summer in Copenhagen
the Danish artist,
Marco Evaristti took
the long way to Chiang Mai to let
an elephant do his work painting a
sculpture of a baby elephant.
The Elephant Parade will be the
first of its kind in Denmark. The Elephant
Parade is a concept developed
by Marc and Mike Spits, father
and son. The first Elephant Parade
was held in the hometown of its
founders: Rotterdam, Netherlands
in 2007. This first edition showcased
50 elephants, painted by local and
Thai artists. The exhibition was an
instant success: according to the
city mayor, it was ‘the most photographed
event ever’
Elephant Parade wants to attract
the most renowned artists
worldwide. So far, top artists like
Paul Smith. Jack Vettriano, Tommy
Hilfiger, Corneille, Diane von Fur-
stenberg and Lulu Guiness have
painted one or more elephants.
The painted elephants fetch big
money when sold at auctions. At
Elephant Parade London in 2010,
the top piece was sold for the staggering
amount of 1,3 million Danish
kroner. It was an elephant designed
by the scottish painter, Jack Vettriano.
Art of an elephant
The concept of Elephant painting
in Thailand was actually perfected
following trials undertaken at the
Toledo Zoo in Ohio, U.S.A. using
Asian elephants back in 1995, according
to the website: http://www.
visit-chiang-mai-online.com
Elephant painting in Thailand
started in 1998 following the successful
training of elephants at four
different locations around Thailand.
Calling elephant painting an art form
is heavily disputed though.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

The Origin of Thai
One school in Bangkok
has replaced the
benches and tables with
massage mattresses. The
school is the Wat Po
school of Traditional Thai
massage.
Photo feature by Soffi Chanjira Larsen
Inside the Wat Po temple, or
Wat Phra Chetuphon, tourists
are fascinated by the huge size
of the Recling Buddha. Not so
many know, that the temple is
also where many recovered artifacts
from the old burned down city Ayuthaya
are preserved.
Among these items are the
original text of Traditional Thai Massage
some now carved in the walls
of Wat Po. Carved in stone so they
would not be burned, as many artifacts
had been trough history, by
the enemy. From this old knowledge
the temple is Thailand's oldest
school of Traditional Thai Massage.
In his school holiday Yottin
Pasarayothin has decided to learn
the ancient teach of Traditional Thai
Massage.
“I like learning about the body
and its functions, and maybe one day
I can get a well paid job.” Says Yottin
Pasarayothin. And it can be a well paid
job to work as a masseuse. At most
In Traditional Thai Massage 10 points are most important. But in total there are
hundreds.
14 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Massage
Every morning starts with a
ceremony to pay respects to
Dr. Jivaka Kumara Phaccaha
also called Khru (teacher)
Jivaka, the father of Traditional
Thai Massage.
clinics the masseuses and clinic owners
splits the payment per costumer.
The technics in Traditional Thai
Massage have been passed over from
generation to generation for hundreds
of years. Descriptions was then
written on palm leaves in Pali, an old
Indian language. It is said that the father
of Traditional Thai Massage Dr.
Jivaka Kumara Phaccaha lived at the
same time as The Buddha in India,
more than 2550 years ago. When a
Thai masseuse prays before starting
the massage it is to honor his teach.
Yottin Pasarayothin is only 16
years old but know that this is what
he wants for the rest of his life.
Looking at the pushing and squeezing
it already seems painful for the
hand and fingers and it is difficult to
understand how you can work like
this all your life.
“It is not that hard, you use
mostly your body weight to press”,
Yotting replies and smiles politely.
Traditional Thai Massage is focused
on the energy lines 'sen,'
where the power flows. They will
lead to specific points on the body.
Ten points are the most important in
Traditional Thai Massage. Stretching
and pressuring is the main massage
technic and reminds about reflexology.
Thais believes this method is
releasing tensions and stiffness and it
leads to a better health and comfort
mentally and physically.
Many foreigners are taught at
Wat Po. The first day Thais and foreigners
are taught separately in the
theory of Traditional Thai Massage.
The general course at Wat Po is for
five days starting everyday. In additional
there is several other courses
to build on the general course. Yottin
Pasarayothin is adding another
five days, about the human anatomic,
to his general course. Later
on he would like to become a physiotherapist
and maybe get work at a
hospital. But first he has got to finish
his high school.
There is one teacher per 5-6 students.
During most of the course both Thais and foreigners are instructed together.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

16 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Rectifying
the Image of
Frederik
C. C. Købke
Throughout the years stubs and articles have been
written about Frederik Koebke, the first Dane
to serve as Consul of Denmark in Thailand. The
problem is, that the newer ones tend to build on
the older ones - adding a bit of flavour here and a
dash of spice there. We therefore get a picture of
the Consul as ‘the black sheep’ of his family. This
was certainly not the case.
Constantin Hansen (famous for ’The Constituent Assembly 1489’)
who was a brother in law of Frederik Koebke, must have painted
this portrait while Frederik was on home leave in 1865 -A young
man full of life and courage.
Captain and Consul Frederik Carl Christian Koebke,
1837 - 1881
By Flemming Winther Nielsen
In ‘The Danish Geographical
Journal, Vol. 1 1877’, there is
an article about Siam, modern
written and without all the usual
prejudices of that time. It starts:
“When I landed in Bangkok,
I immediately went to where all
Danes go when they arrive, knowing
that they will be well received;
namely to our fellow countryman
Consul Købke. He has been living
in Siam for 18 years and has been
Danish Consul for ten, he is a loyal
friend of all his countrymen, and it
is undoubtedly because of him that
we are more numerous here than
all other Europeans combined”
The author?
Young Andreas Richelieu, 23
years, Lieutenant Captain in the King
of Siam’s Navy, later Commander in
Chief and Vice Admiral.
Throughout the years stubs and
articles have been written about
Frederik Koebke. The problem is,
that the newer ones tend to build
on the words from the older ones
- adding a bit of flavor here and a
dash of spice there but no references;
therefore we get a picture of
the Consul as ‘the black sheep’ of
his family - which was certainly not
the case.
This article will concentrate on
facts, mostly taken from original
documents, such as the fragile Consulate
protocol, stored in the cellars
of The National Archives in Copenhagen.
Hence, since ScandAsia
Magazine is an open www source,
we can expect future writings and
articles to be more balanced.
But no doubt, Frederik Carl
Christian Koebke was a man of a big
caliber who liked to do things in style.
In the year 1878 for example, two elephants,
Eng and Chang, knocked the
gate of the newly opened Copenhagen
Zoo; a gift from the Consul
and his then 76 years old mother,
widow and ship-owner Mette Marie
Koebke, born Bruun, of the strong
willed and sharp minded Bruun dynasty
in Fredericia.
Frederik Carl Christian Koebke
was born in Fredericia in 1837 and
had his childhood there, in the straight
and right angled streets behind the
ramparts; a planned and neat town
of defense, indeed a contrast to the
chaotic and dirty mangrove town, just
waterways and a big kraal, but maybe
that’s why he liked it. Frederiks father
N.C. Koebke was Lieutenant-Colonel
of the Engineers, he died in 1849. His
mother Mette Marie, born in 1798
died as late as 1888 in Copenhagen.
The Bruun family owned the biggest
general store in Fredericia, warehouses,
a small fleet of tall-ships sailing on
Kiel and Lubeck, a tobacco factory
and later a cloth factory in Bruunshaab
near Viborg. Among the more spectacular
assets can be mentioned three
churches near Fredericia, one of them,
Egeskov, functioned as the family
burial place. Still, a little brick laid family
‘Teahouse’ is there to be seen.
Frederik went sailing in an early
age; Richelieu and many others did
the same. It was the way out for
those boys who couldn’t sit still, but
not necessarily black sheep at all.
We next meet him in Bangkok,
22 years old and first mate on a
British schooner. It is noted that he
should have failed in getting Danish
Navigation Certificate; maybe so,
but I suppose he then passed British
examinations, that was common
and most likely, since for example
Lloyd’s of London would not insure
ships and cargo sailed by non-qualified
crew.
So he then registered to Consul
Mason in the newly opened Danish
Consulate 26.07. 1860.
King Mongkut, Rama IV, opened
Siam up in 1855. Before that, the
country had been as closed as Japan
and also isolated up there by the
bottom of the Siam bay, far from
the trading routes. The king made
a trade and friendship treaty with
Great Britain that year, allowing for-
eigners to settle and establish businesses.
In 1858 a similar treaty was
made between Siam and Denmark.
Koebke was one of the first to settle
down, more followed and immediately
after the Danish defeat to the
Prussians in 1864, Danish ship-owners
and captains from the lost provinces,
for example from Aabenraa,
Soenderborg and Flensborg relocated
and made Bangkok their base
and registered at the consulate.
The establishment of a Consulate
was a must. The treaties stated
that the home countries should
continue to carry the jurisdiction
over their subjects. Siam had no
judges and no courts; in principle it
was up to the sovereign to negotiate
disputes and decide the faith of
people, often misdeeds were met
with draconic punishment such as
beheading. The Consul therefore
had real authority; he was a judge,
marriage registrar and policeman,
settled disputes between the Danes,
between Danes and other parties,
foreign or local. The rulings were to
be followed, he could fine his countrymen,
eventually deport them
home. Furthermore the consulate
registered arrivals and departures,
birth and deaths, marriages and
other private affairs. The most important
commercial task was maybe
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

Frederik Carl
Christian Koebke
to keep the ‘Ship list’ updated. In this
was registered all Danish ships calling
on Bangkok.
During these early years Koebke
served as captain on Chinese
owned Siamese bark ships. The Chinese
merchants in Bangkok owned
many ships; they imported porcelain
and various kinds of kitchen wares
and utensils from mainly Shanghai
and Hong Kong.
Koebke fathered a son with a Siamese
spouse, he was named Christian.
The British colonialists wrinkled
their nose over those who ‘went
native’, so their own affairs were
kept discrete and Victorian double
standard. Frederik Koebke, ahead of
his time, just stood by his choices
Time took its
early toll on
the Consul. In a
very short span
of years he had
lived through
changes and
sorrows
enough for
more lifetimes.
and deeds -so much for immorality.
During his years as Captain,
it seems that he had no problems
regarding commands, cargo and
crew - no shipwrecks, no accidents
reported; although the China route
from Bangkok to Shanghai was
demanding and extreme in the
season of the typhoons. It is furthermore
known, that Koebke got
well acquainted with King Mongkut,
we have no documents, but they
shared interest and knowledge regarding
astronomy and navigation.
Bangkok in those days was a small
place indeed and the king much occupied
with gaining western knowledge
-when he could find the time.
He was blessed with 35 wives and
82 children. Koebke could not have
sailed on China without a profound
knowledge of astronomic navigation,
the use of the sextant etc. The
King later successfully calculated
when and where in Siam an eclipse
of the sun would occur.
We also know that Frederik
Koebke, at a certain point was ap-
pointed Royal Inspector of the
newly erected Custom Authority.
Furthermore appointed agent for
the insurance network, Lloyd’s of
London, a most prestigious position.
In 1865 Koebke went on leave
to Denmark. He again met his cousin,
Bolette, two years younger than him,
and now a young woman; they had
known each other since childhood.
They got married in Copenhagen
10.09. 1865 and thereafter started
the long sea-journey to Siam. They
arrived early January 1866, still the
pleasant part of the year.
After half a year Bolette died
from dysentery, this atrocious decease
which took so many of the
foreigners and Siamese alike. The
story tells that the whole Danish
Colony followed her to her grave at
The Protestant Graveyard, Charoum
Krung Road Soi 72/5. The mourners,
although tough seamen, all wept
and cried, she had been loved for
her spirits and wonderful use of the
Danish language, she made them remember
home, mothers, sisters and
other loved ones.
All what is left now is a flat, light
grey, marble tombstone on hers
and her husband’s burial place. The
inscription says:
Hereunder rest the dust of
THORA BOLETTE MARIE KOEBKE
19/12 1839 in Vraa,
dead 27/6 1866 in Bangkok.
She was a good woman
and a lovable wife.
In 1868 Frederik Koebke was
appointed Royal Danish Consul, a
position he kept until 1879-80.
Sitting in the medieval rooms of
The National Archives, reading his
notes and memoranda is a strange
experience; you are taken back to
the early town in the mangroves
and to the river and the sea. The
protocol is fragile and with spots,
yellowed. You read about life but
more often about death. The town
in the stinking mangrove swamp
was utterly unhealthy in those days,
there are many notes regarding
death of this and that person, mainly
from cholera or dysentery, but the
handwriting of Koebke remains firm,
distinct and easily read.
A note catches the eyes:
Martha Soerensen. Born the 12/4
1876 on the Sea, baptized in Bangkok
4/5 1876, dead the 1/8 1877,
buried at The Protestant Graveyard,
daughter of Captain Soerensens wife
O.M.S.J. born Petersen. Registered
in the Danish Consulate in Bangkok
the 7/5 1876.
But there were also the marriages
and the naming ceremonies.
Many children were given the middle
name ‘Koebke’.
In December 1869 the Suez
Canal was opened for traffic. The
canal was the precondition for the
tremendous growth and development
in trade, traffic and cooperation
between The Far East and
Europe. The first Danish steamer
‘H.C. Oersted’ passed in 1872.
Also Koebkes Shipping Company
flourished these years. He traded
mostly on Java, Singapore and Hong
Kong.
In the articles written about
Koebke there are some open ends
and mistakes about his tall-ships,
especially the bark ‘Absalon’ of 201
tons and bark ‘Esbern Snare’ of 381
tons; impressing deep sea ships in
those days. In ‘Danmarks Handelsflaade
1873’ [The Danish Merchant
Marine 1873] we read that the two
ships are owned by ‘widow, Madam
Mette Marie Koebke of Copenhagen’
and registered there. Consul Koebke
is the fully responsible operator. No
black sheep! Other of his ships must
have been registered in Bangkok, if
at all, he may also have chartered.
This cannot be traced. We only
know for sure, that he had steam
tug boats (for towing out the sailing
ships) and a house boat with which
he made pleasure tours up the river.
Visitors came to Bangkok. Captain
Soelling of the old big bark
‘Aarhus’ had to stay for a fortnight,
waiting for higher tides. He was the
guest of Koebke on a 3 days tour in
Koebkes house boat; they sailed up
the river to Bang Pa-In and beyond.
One day Soelling and other captains
were invited for a tour in the
Consuls pony chaise. The occasion
was the cremation of the bones of a
dead princess, sister to the king. The
pyre was fired in front of the palace,
where Charoen Krung Road starts;
the usual festivities followed. From
a distance the captain heard, to his
astonishment, that a horn orchestra
played Danish music. The baffled
Soelling asked whether this was to
honor the Consul. Koebke replied;
“No, but I have obtained music
from Copenhagen, and the Siamese
find that it sounds better than their
own”. After some waiting the King
arrived with his entourage, and when
that happened the orchestra played
the Danish King’s official and most
pompous hymn ‘King Christian stood
by the mast so high’. Maybe a trifle
misplaced or a black joke by the
esteemed Consul. Finally gifts were
given out to the audience. Soelling
got a nice little silver box, although
it later showed to be made of brass.
On departure from the festivities
they listened to the tunes of: “And
will you then just let the hen alone”,
a spicy popular song from Tivoli.
Soelling, who much later wrote his
memoirs, was a trustworthy and most
respected old salt. Later in life Envoy
to the British Government regarding
fishing rights in the North Sea.
All dogs have their day, but clouds
were gathering. The 18th of September
1873 the American Banking
House ‘Jay, Cooke & Company’
collapsed. That was the trigger of a
latent world financial and economic
crisis (sounds familiar?) that lasted
more than eight years. Almost everything
came to a standstill, after
some delay also in Siam. Not much
trade for Koebke, not much cargo
and in case; very low tariffs or rates.
The dominating international Trading
House ‘Borneo Company’ in Bangkok
had to reef the sails severely.
In April 1875 young Richelieu arrived.
He stayed as the house-guest
of Koebke for a period, presumable
until he got his command as shipmaster
of HSMS ‘Regent’ bound for
Phuket. In fact, Richelieu was the last
real sailor to arrive in Siam, after him
came mostly landlubbers such as a
doctor, bakers, soldiers and a piano
tuner!
The crisis speeded up the transition
in the merchant marine, steam
engines took over from sails, faster
and more reliable, they could themselves
pass the Suez Canal. The captains
and tall-ship owners such as
Koebke stood there as unsurpassed
masters of an ancient old sailing tradition
- that was suddenly no longer
in demand or esteemed. Time
took its early toll on the Consul. In
a very short span of years he had
lived through changes and sorrows
enough for more lifetimes.
The most peculiar thing that
happened in his later years was the
arrival in 1876 of the 26 years old Dr.
Sophus Deuntzer. He also stayed in
Koebkes house until he got himself
a consultation established. By character
the man was cantankerous,
complained and quarreled. At the
same time he was characterized as
maybe the best doctor in the Far
East. Why he came in the first place
is a mystery, but he did and stayed
on for 30 years-without illnesses.
In his capacity as judge Koebke
received a complaint from Mr. Knox,
a relative of the British Consul General.
According to this a servant in
Deuntzers household had, with the
doctor knowing, stolen a rudder
belonging to Mr. Knox’s boat, modified
it and installed it on the doctor’s
own boat. The man of medicine
was therefore ordered to show up
at the Consulate a certain day and
time. In another case the reputable
Captain Benedictsen complained
that instead of sending a bill by letter,
the doctor showed up in person
and also charged for that.
It all ended up in an embarrassing
exchange of letters to ‘The
High Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ in
Copenhagen. Dr. Deuntzer complained
that the Consul was often
seen drunk during daytime, that he
played ‘sjavs’ (cards) in low-key es-
18 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

tablishments, that his clothing was
lacking, his house dirty and so on.
The Consul should be relieved from
the job.
The complaint letter became
known in Bangkok and the Danish
colony got furious, Frederik
Koebke was loved for his loyalty
towards all Danes, high and low; he
often helped out and often used his
own wallet. Our Lieutenant Captain
Richelieu in the Royal Siamese Navy
took the initiative and wrote a letter
of defense on behalf of the entire
colony. To this Deuntzer replied:
“This is written by people who,
regarding manners, belong to an utterly
low placed class. I am the only
Dane here with an academic education
and furthermore the one who
has the highest income, so I believe
my points should be heard”.
That was the last of it. Deuntzer
had gone too far; Koebke remained
as Consul of course, the sailors had
won but it was their last victory, after
them came the landlubbers and
the bureaucrats.
No doubt that Frederik Koebke,
for all the reasons mentioned, was
tired and that things were going
downhill also regarding consumption,
Captain Soelling mentions the
consuls thirst, especially he was fond
of Danish Schnapps. The story also
tells that he had the contour of his
liver tattooed on his skin at the
right place, promising himself that it
should not grow bigger than that.
And then, a man of caliber still.
In 1877 he fathered his second son
Dan and in 78 he provided, as mentioned,
two elephants for Zoo.
Finally it came to an end. It has
also been suggested that Koebke by
the end of the day was laid off, but
this was not so.
On the 13th of January 1879 he
writes the Ministry, the handwriting
still firm and powerful:
“Since I for reasons of illness, by
my doctor, have been advised to
leave Bangkok for a period, and because
I maybe will not come back, I
have forwarded the Danish Consular
Archive and Seal to Mr. Thomas
Knox, Her Britannic Majesty’s political
agent and Consul General who
has promised, until further notice, to
take care of Danish interests.
Bringing the High Ministry my
thanks for shown good will I allow
myself to ask for retirement as Danish
Consul here” …..Signed
It dragged out, Koebke came
back, and nobody had taken up the
task, although the Ministry, in a letter
dated 31. October, had accepted
the resignation. Mr. Clark was
appointed but on business travel;
asked from Copenhagen Koebke
states that there is no Vice-consul.
On March 1st 1880 he sends his
final and last letter to the Ministry
containing the vital ship-list for 1879
and a few other documents. Now
the handwriting is looser and open,
the firmness has gone.
Frederik Carl Christian Koebke
died from dysentery and liver infection
the 27th of October 1881,
aged 44.
(All translations from Danish are done
by the author.)
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19

Krabi’s Danish Gold
and Diamonds Expert
Almost right in
the middle of the
street, down by the
beach in Ao Nang,
Krabi, you find a
Danish guy in a cozy
small shop selling
silverware, gold, and
diamonds. Lars has
sold jewellery for
almost 20 years, and
he is widely known
for his fine quality
and ability to do
everything you want.
By Søren Lykke Bülow
Lars Krog Rasmussen is
standing by one of his
many lockers. He is trying
to help out a couple. The
husband wants to to buy
his wife a new bracelet. The couple
is Danish, but that is not unusual
here in Chok-Dee-Handmade in Ao
Nang which is renown for its service
in gems, gold, silver, and diamonds.
“I think this is the right one,” the
wife says.
Lars invites the two Danes to
come and have a better look and
a real try at the cash register. If the
size does not fit, it is no problem.
Lars will just make it fit. He knows
his business.
“We can do everything with
gold,” he says.
It is early evening in Ao Nang
and the entire area is busy with
people are on their way to the local
restaurants and bars, but who might
just have time for a short look at
some of the jewellery in Lars’ store.
He is married to a Thai woman,
and his niece is helping out in the
store right now.
“I speak Southern Thai quite fluently,”
Lars says.
“But if I speak like that when I
am in Bangkok - they won’t understand
a word,” he laughs.
A Danish street salesman
Lars came to Thailand as a 23-yearold,
and this year he can celebrate
his 20th anniversary in Thailand.
When he came in the first place,
he sold jewellery at beaches, where
he folded out a blanket presented
his goods as a street salesman. 20
years later, he has two shops and a
warehouse.
“I am good with gold. And diamonds.
My diamonds are the best.
You can’t even go to the finest
stores in Denmark and get the same
quality of diamonds,” he claims.
He points to a table on the wall
besides him. Lars’ diamonds are of
a quality known as “Top Wesselton
(F-G) - VVS1”, “River (D-E)”, and
“IF”. That might leave all normal,
unaware people in a confused state
of mind. But for the diamond lover,
these are some of the finest diamonds
in the market.
“You can even go to Georg
Jensen - one of the finest diamond
dealers in Scandinavia - but you
won’t find as good quality diamonds,”
Lars says.
The ultimate guarantee
All the fine diamonds have an enclosed
GIA Certificate with a tiny
laser inscription on the edge.
“This is the ultimate guarantee
you can get on a diamond, and you
get all the specifications about the
stone,” he says. These specifications
are the diamond’s weight, colour,
quality of polishing, symmetry,
shape, style of polishing - all the details
to live a life on the safe side.
Lars stops talking and gets up
from his chair behind the counter.
He wants to show off his current
finest diamond. A tiny, but incredibly
valuable stone. In Danish kroner
it is valued around 75,000 - more
than 400,000 baht.
In the different lockers, Lars displays
his GIA Certificates and some
valuations from Danish jewellers.
“This one,” he says pointing to
one of the papers of valuation, “was
a diamond I sold for the equivalent
of 11,000 Danish kroner - 60,000
baht - and when the buyer got a valuation
of it back home in Denmark,
it was valued at 27,000 Danish kroner
- or 145,000 baht,” Lars says.
Buying jewellery in Thailand
Thailand has been known as a place
where it is incredibly easy to be
cheated when buying jewellery. And
so you might think the same about
Lars.
So, what is the trick?
Well, according to Lars, there is
no trick. He imports the diamonds
from a diamond distributor in South
Africa. All the gems he gets directly
from the stone polisher, and at the
same time, Chock-Dee-Handmade
make their own pieces of jewellery.
“We are the first link in terms
of the stones and the production
which means that we can sell the
jewellery at a distributor prize - and
still earn money on them,” Lars explains.
He also explains the importance
about not being drawn down by expenses
like large taxes, VAT, and
customs duties.
“It’s a part of what makes this
job fun. We can make expensive
and good quality jewellery, but we
can sell it at a very good price,” he
points out.
Once again, a customer enters
the shop. Lars has to provide his
expertise on the jewellery. He also
20 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

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

has another shop in Ao Nang, only
about half a kilometre from this one.
And then he has a workshop where
the jewellery is made. He usually
spends around 50 percent of his
time in the workshop - the other 50
percent in the shop.
Economics and golden rings
“Jewellery is a luxury item. Of course
we felt the global meltdown of the
economy. People thought twice before
buying jewellery. But now there
is once again an economic upswing,
and we’re doing okay,” Lars says.
He states that the low season
can be tough, but at this time
he and his employees spend a lot
of time getting jewellery ready for
the high season, where the shop
is usually visited by thousands of
Scandinavians.
Back in 2004, Ao Nang was
not destroyed by the tsunami, but
with so many shops and buildings
right next to the beach, some places
were affected by the catastrophe.
Lars' shop was looted too, but it
wasn’t more than what could be
handled quite easily.
“People don’t seem to fear
a new tsunami anymore, so that
doesn’t effect our business, although
we could of course feel the effect
right after it happened,” Lars recalls.
Doing business as ‘farang’
Doing business in Thailand is not always
easy. Lars recalls when he was
about to open his shp and thenh
suddenly was arrested. There you
go. A Danish jewellery salesman
who ends up in jail.
“It was not that dramatic,
though,” Lars laughs.
“At that time, this was a very
small community, so we all knew
each other. I had to find some painters
to paint my new shop, but no
one had the time, so I just bought
some paint and did it myself. Two
of my Italian friends came over and
helped me getting the job done.”
“Suddenly, the immigration
police showed up, and we were
arrested for working as painters in
Thailand. We ended up sitting in the
jail in Krabi for half a day. Luckily, my
wife knew some quite well-known
people here in this area, so they
bailed us out.”
As a Dane, Lars still feels it was
a bit odd to be arrested in that way.
“Arrested for painting my own
shop? Well, maybe some of the
Thai’s down here wanted to see if
they could give me a hard time getting
started. But it all ended pretty
good, and since then I haven’t really
experienced big troubles about
coming here as ‘farang’ and trying to
do business,” he says.
“It’s a great business, because I
feel that I’m contributing somewhat
to people’s lives. My small things can
make people feel great, and I like
that thought,” Lars says.
And although Lars seems like a
person who loves living his business,
he reveals that there is also another
side to his personality.
“In the low season I like to arrange
wild survivor’s trips into the
jungle. If anyone is ever interested
in joining me, they are more than
welcome.”
Well, that will be next time,
maybe.
It’s a part of
what makes
this job fun.
We can make
expensive and
good quality
jewellery, but
we can sell it
at a very good
price.
22 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

The Colors Of Life
Phangan Bayshore Resort and Spa Haad Rin Beach
Phangan Bayshore Resort and Spa is directly on Haad Rin Nok,
at the heart of the action most suitable for the Full Moon Party
and to enjoy the exotic nightlife available at Haad Rin.
141 Moo 6, Haad Rin, Bantai, Koh Phangan , Suratthani Thailand Tel: 66 77 375224, 375227 Fax : 66 77 375226
Email : info@phanganbayshore.com

Psychologist with
Thailand at Heart
The social
structures
of the Thai’s
environment
is of utmost
importance. A
Thai can not
always make the
same decisions
independently
as we can in
Scandinavia.
Often he has to
consult his close
social network
before he is able to
commit himself.
Danish author
and psychologist
Kenno Simonsen
has deep insight
into Thai-Western
challenges. He loved
the country from his
first visit more than
20 years ago and
now he has written
a book to western
professionals about
how to manage Thai
workforce.
By Steen Poulin Nielsen
The Danish Author and
psychologist Kenno
Simonsen has strong
ties to Thailand. He
loved the country from
his first visit back in 1987 when he
was on a trip to Asia exploring another
of his interests, martial arts.
He then visited a number of Asian
countries and he says:
“There were two places I really
liked. One was Nepal, the other
was Thailand. Both because of the
inhabitants. Thailand became my
choice because I could get on a train
or a bus and it would take me to my
destination. In Nepal infrastructure
is not at the same level.”
Simonsen was hooked on Thailand
and his next trip to Thailand was
during his studies. He and a friend
travelled together partying and
drinking quite a lot of booze. He felt
the need to add some structure to
his days and signed up for a Thai language
class in Chiang Mai. Later on
the trip he met a girl and he decided
to write his cross-cultural thesis in
Thailand allowing him and his girlfriend
to spend time together.
Kenno Simonsen was now both
fascinated and involved. One night
he met a Dane married to a Thai.
The man told Simonsen that he
would never understand the Thai
way of thinking.
“I clearly remember that there
was something that triggered me
that night. I really wanted to understand,”
Kenno Simonsen says.
The Key to Thailand
Simonsen recently launched his
latest book “Nøglen til Thailand”
(“The key to Thailand”). The book
caters to individuals and companies
working with Thai staff. Written in
Danish, the book gives a detailed
account of cultural, communicative
and management aspects, which differ
significantly from a Scandinavian
mindset and corporate culture.
The book is based on personal
experiences and scientific work
done in Thailand.
“The social structures of the
Thai’s environment is of utmost
importance. A Thai can not always
make the same decisions independently
as we can in Scandinavia.
Often he has to consult his close
social network before he is able to
commit himself,” Simonsen explains.
The book not just analyzes
and explains the Thai situation.
The reader will be enligthened by
a mixture of theory and examples,
and, after reading find himself with
a number of tools for immediate
use. Kenno Simonsen now offers his
knowledge and experience to companies
in Thailand as a consultant.
Thai-Western challenges
Kenno Simonsen seems focused and
calm when talking about his beloved
Thailand. His long experience with
Thailand learned him a lot about the
challenges about the cultural meeting
between Westerns and Asians.
“When a Western man marries
a Thai woman he does not only
marry a woman; he marries her
family too. If the man is not aware
of this the woman can find herself
in a conflict of loyalties between
the spouse and family. In particular,
if she is the eldest daughter in
the family. She has a strong commitment
to caring for the parents,”
Simonsen explains.
Who to invite for brunch
At the end of this interview, ScandAsia
asked Simonsen who in Thailand he
would invite for a Sunday brunch.
“I am quite interested in the
political development so Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is a good
choice. I was pleasantly surprised
how he handled the riots last year.
He waited long enough to let the
people all over Thailand see the
consequences of the conflict. I think
it was a wise choice,” says Simonsen.
24 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 25

Scandinavian Design
Studio in Bangkok
Designers Field
celebrated its Grand
Opening on Silom
Road in Bangkok this
February 2010. The
company is founded
by the two Danes,
Kenn Thaysen and
Julie Ploger.
By Steen Poulin Nielsen
Designers Field creates
Scandinavian designs
with a touch of Asia,
offering lamps, furniture,
textile and wood accessories
to the professional market.
The business was founded as
a Thai company last October and
the new showroom and the office
in Silom is a result of the growth the
company experienced so far.
Sourcing and branding
The business is two legged. Sourcing
of products to retail chains is one
of them, the other one is Designers
Field´s own brand, Puji, sold to importers
and wholesalers worldwide.
”The origin of the name is my
friend´s daughter. She had a problem
pronouncing the Danish word
for cushion - pude - instead she said
puji. So Puji it is”, says Julie Ploger.
Kenn Thaysen has a management
background from the Fast Moving
Consumer Goods market. His last
position was Country Director in
Sweden for Mars Inc. Julie Ploger is
skilled in advertising and design.
“When we relocated to Thailand
we became an international company
overnight. Now we are recognized
by potential costumers from
both the US, Africa and Asia-Pasific.
These costumers we never met at
the Danish trade fairs,” tells Kenn
Thaysen.
Market trends
The company identifies new trends
in the market. Since the financial crisis
functionality has been increasingly
important, design without function is
no longer asked for. Also renewable
products are interesting. Costumers
asks for products made from recycled
materials or products that can
be recycled as the financial crisis has
brought an increased awareness on
environmentally friendly materials.
The latest edition of cushions
from Puji combines silk from Chiang
Mai and Pakistan with a significant
Scandinavian touch. To mix new
and old looks is a trend at this moment.
High hopes
One of the reasons for relocating
is to be close to the manufacturers.
The couple finds that Denmark is
too far away to be able to secure
the quality of the products. Both
Thaysen and Ploger are very happy
with their decision.
"It is very exciting to run a business
here. It seems that everything is
possible. The high cost in Denmark
puts a hold on many good ideas,
while here in Thailand we can afford
to concentrate on innovation and
product development", says Kenn
Thaysen.
Designers Field has high hopes
for the future. The company will
stick to sales, marketing and design.
All other aspects of the business
like manufacturing, logistics and accounting
are outsourced. And the
Danish couple sees no dark clouds
in the sky.
26 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Scandinavian Bodyguard
Training in Thailand
The Danish
Bodyguard Jesper
Køngerskov has
protected Bill Gates,
The Rolling Stones
and Madonna. Now
he is training other
bodyguards how to
protect their client.
By Bjarne Wildau
Danish Bodyguard Jesper
Køngerskov of
the Danish Security
Academy successfully
offers a new generation
of bodyguards a two weeks education
as a bodyguard in Thailand.
“Seven students signed up to
the first course I held about a year
ago. The course in the autumn
had the same number of students.
Normally eight will be max, so seven
is fine,” says Jesper Kongerskov.
Two courses are planned in
the spring 2011, and another two
courses in the autumn too.
Go Go and security
“The cost for the course is 19.500
kroner included the airplane ticket,”
Jesper explains.
The program includes two days
introduction to Thai culture in Bangkok,
- including a visit to the notorious
Go Go and sex centre Nana Plaza.
“So far, none of my body guard
students have been to Thailand before.
Therefore it’s important for
me to show them all facets of the
Thai society. The sex tourism is a
usually quite a shock,” says Jesper.
For the bodyguard training, the
students move from Bangkok to
Pattaya.
Distractions of the night
Every morning the students practice
professional martial arts, swimming
and other physical training, before
the bodyguard education starts.
Then the students learn to handle
and escort VIP clients, VIP driving,
learning learn to handle weapons,
Search after bombs and spy
equipment, safety on a yacht and
shooting.
One of the highlights of the
course is a shooting session with the
police on the beach in Jomtien.
Students want to stay
”After the course two or three of
our students prefer to find a job in
Thailand,” Jesper says.
“The standard of VIP handling in
Thailand and the rest of Asia is not
that impressive. I am sure that there
are a lot of possibilities for western
standard. So it’s definitely not impossible
that some of my students
can get jobs in Asia”.
Jesper Køngerskov plans to
open his own Bodyguard company
in Thailand within a year or two.
Norwegian and Swedish
students
“At the moment we mostly have
Danish students but later I will accept
students from the rest of
Scandinavia”, says Jesper.
So why Thailand, why not in the
Philippines or South America, you
can ask.
“I came to Thailand first time
five years ago. Like thousands of
other Danes, I really enjoy living
here. I am a single father and I would
love to give my daughter a life in
Thailand,” says Jesper Køngerskov.
Jesper started in the unusual
business of bodyguarding back in
1993, when he went to England and
enrolled at International Bodyguard
Association (IBA).
Since then Jesper has guarded
almost all the rich and famous from
the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates,
to the Rolling tones and Madonna.
Once in Denmark he got the
task to look after the world famous
footballer Thierry Henry.
A man tried to attack the player
with a knife.
“When my partner took control
of the attacker his friend took
a huge axe out of a back, and had
the axe over his head before I managed
to neutralize him. That’s the
closest I have ever been to violence
while during my job as abodyguard”,
Jesper explains.
In 2000 Jesper became a part of
the public education centre for security,
Århus Tekniske Skole (ATS)
in Arhus Denmark.
Five years later it was time
to start his own security training-
Danish Security Academy doing
more the less the same as at ATS,
namely educate doormen and other
people in the security.
“Seven students signed up to
the first course I held in the spring.
And the course in the autumn
had the same number of students.
Normally eight will be max, so seven
is fine”, says Jesper Kongerskov.
“At the moment we mostly
have Danish students but later I
will accept students from the rest
of Scandinavia”, says the founder of
the first private Danish training centre
for security and VIP protection.
28 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Amber Sands
--- BEACH RESORT ---
experience peace on Koh Chang’s tranquil east coast
A family-owned and managed boutique style resort on an almost deserted beach.
With only 8 air conditioned chalets we offer friendly hospitality,
personal service and attention to detail.
www.ambersandsbeachresort.com julian@ambersandsbeachresort.com
Tel: +66 (0) 3958 6177 or +66 (0) 8 2212 0698

HUA HIN
Thailand’s Royal Beach
30 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Resort
Hua Hin is
Thailand’s oldest
and most traditional
attractions as a
holiday destination
with the charm and
fascination of the
still active fishing
port. While most
other Thai holiday
destinations cater
mainly to foreign
tourists, Hua Hin is
a holiday resort for
both foreigners and
Thais alike.
Hua Hin was discovered
in the early 1920s by
King Rama VII as an
ideal getaway from
the sultry metropolis
of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing
village was turned into the Royal
resort and consequently became
popular among Siam's nobility and
upper-class. The construction of a
railway line from Bangkok ensured
its accessibility and popularity with a
wider part of the Thai public.
But it was the resort's royal
endorsement which has given Hua
Hin a special character of its very
own. In 1928, King Rama VII built
Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries)
Palace which remains until this today
an official royal residence. It is
still frequently used by members of
the royal family and is open to the
public for visits.
Hua Hin continued to develop
in its own leisurely way, both as an
aristocratic resort with the added
attraction of an 18-hole golf course,
and as a fishing port. The Railway
Hotel, today's Sofitel Central Hua
Hin, was built by the State Railways
of Thailand in 1923 in the architectural
style of old Siam.
Many of Bangkok's rich and famous
built their own beachfront
summer homes to the north and
south along the curving sandy bay,
enjoying leisurely family weekends
in a resort which has maintained its
unique identity.
Charming city
Today's visitor to Hua Hin will still
sense this special atmosphere and
old world charm. The quiet, winding
streets of the town give the place
an atmosphere of calm and sophistication,
as found in Europe in the
traditional, exclusive resorts in the
Riviera and the Cote d `Azur.
In the evening the winding
roads with a great variety of shops
make a great stroll. And the restaurants
built on stilts into the sea offer
superb seafood in the legendary and
unsurpassed preparation of the Thai
cuisine.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 31

Hua Hin is glamorous, but not
at all snobbish. The Thais in Hua
Hin have no arrogance towards
foreigners as it has unfortunately
become the case at other destinations.
Possibly because the majority
of the population in Hua Hin are
engaged in small business, trade,
crafts and fishing. So there is a Thai
market, where housewives buy daily
needs, and a fishing fleet that runs
every night to catch all sorts of sea
creatures.
The lovely weather
In June, Hua Hin’s rainy season officially
begins. Paradoxically, this is
when Bangkok’s expat community
prefers to visit Hua Hin. The place
is quiet, the prices are low and an
occasional warm shower is not only
pleasant, it also turns the place into
an ever-green tropical garden.
In September the term ‘rainy
season’ may actually make sense.
Some days this month, the rain can
start in the afternoon and continuing
long into the night.
Mid-December to February is
when Hua Hin has it’s coldest time.
The maximum daily temperatures
barely reach 30 degrees and at night
it can be quite chilly, so a jacket or
sweater is advisable. These months,
a fresh breeze blows in from the
sea and the day on the beach is very
pleasant. The wind conditions in
winter are ideal for windsurfing and
kiteboarding, the wind is blowing
onshore wind speeds of 4-6. A real
insider tip.
From February, temperatures
start rising until in April and May
daytime temperatures reach 32-
35 °C. The stay at the beach is still
pleasant, as a fresh wind is blowing.
And at night it cools down considerably
and the silky evening air is ideal
for a stroll.
Clean beach
The beach Hua Hin is one of the
cleanest in Thailand. The public
beach is just over 8 kilometers long
and an average of about 150 m
wide at low tide. It is therefore ideal
for long walks.
In recent years the Government
has created an exemplary sanitation
international standards, together
with an efficient and modern sewage
treatment plant. The local authorities
pay great attention to the
cleanliness of the beach and the
water quality and continuously carry
out checks.
The jellyfish problem Hua Hin
during the rainy season should not
be overlooked: On rainy days during
the rainy season (and only then!)
jellyfish may appear near the beach.
The touch of the tentacles can
cause painful skin irritation. During
these months, swimming in the sea
should be avoided or exercised with
caution.
If stung, the important trick is to
apply plenty of vinegar and carefully
lift off - not brush! - any tentacles
left on the skin. Families with children
who like to play in the water
should pack a bottle of vinegar in
their beach bag just in case.
Near Hua Hin, there are other
attractive beaches which are mainly
used by the local Thais. Particularly
noteworthy here is Suan Son, about
10 km south of Hua Hin, with relatively
high waves and casuarinas.
The water temperature is about 27
to 30 °C, depending on the season.
Family Holidays
The clean beach, the quiet streets
and excellent recreational facilities
make Hua Hin a perfect destination
for family vacations. There is plenty
of water sports and horse fans are
riding horses and ponies for rent.
A musical school and other educational
institutions are available if you
have not only come to ;ie in the sun.
Golf is a popular sport and Hua
Hin provides the highest density of
world class golf courses anywhere in
Thailand while it's yet virtually undiscovered
as an international Golf
destination. Green-fees and other
costs are currently among the lowest
in the world while course maintenance
and services are superb.
A key advantage of Hua Hin, is
that you can safely move about as
a pedestrian. There are foot paths
along all major roads and smaller
sois are used only by very few vehicles.
Hua Hin has all the ingredients
for a very special holiday experience.
32 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Where to Eat?
La Grappa Italian Restaurant - Pizzeria
La Grappa is an Italian restaurant and pizzeria situated
in the heart of Hua Hin, which offers a pleasant
and enjoyable lunch or dinner, or in short
“L’abbinamento”.
Grappa is a colorless brandy with an alcoholic content
of about forty percent, distilled from the pressed
skins and pips of the grapes left after wine making.
Dining at La Grappa’s would allow customers to
appreciate and enjoy affordable dining with the perfect
match of authentic Italian food, grappa and wines
served by friendly staff in a relaxed yet pleasant and
stylish ambience.
Amongst the popular suggestion for a good end
to your meal at La Grappa’s is by having one of the
tempting Dolci, or selection of Italian Cheese that goes
well with the remainder of your red wine.
With a chef that believes innovation and respect
for the original taste and recipe are the only way to
produce authentic Italian food around the world, customers
of La Grappa are in for a perfect Italian experience.
Maharaja Indian
Restaurant
If authentic Northern Indian food is what you
are looking for, Maharaja’s is a place to try
out. The restaurant is situated not far from
the Hilton Hotel in Hua Hin and serves a nice
variety of dishes at attractive prices.
The menu includes mouthwatering choices
of Tandoori chicken, wide selection of curry and
satisfying vegetarian menu. Some of the recommended
dishes include the mutton and chicken
Masala (finely cut lamb/chicken cooked in spicy
herbs).
With Indian interior decorations, the restaurant
gives customers a genuine Indian feel as
they walk in because of the additional smell of
natural Indian spices and traditional Indian music
playing in the background.
Other dishes served are kebabs, chicken
tikka masala, jalfreizi, vindaloo, roghan josh and
many others especially for those who want to
try out the Indian cuisine.
The Rak Talay Beach
Restaurant
The Rak Talay restaurant
is situated beside
the sandy beach on
the courtyard of the Wora
Bura Resort & Spa providing
a fine dinner on openair
terraces overlooking the
panoramic view of the Hua-
Hin bay.
Rak Talay means “Love
the Sea” and this restaurant
is known for its reputation
as the romantic restaurant
because of its location with
seating overlooking the sea.
Some of the popular
dishes on the menu are its
grilled seafood specialties,
classic international cuisine
and homemade pasta.
Those who are looking
for a serene dining experience
with delectable seafood
dishes priced reasonably,
Rak Talay restaurant is
a must.
34 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Where to Stay?
The Heart of Hua Hin
The Hilton Hua Hin is probably the one hotel most closely associated
with staying in style in Hua Hin. The located in the
middle of the action is so well known, that all the shops in its
vicinity use it as a landmark to define their location.
Hilton Hua Hin is the tallest building in the city centre, and it’s
prime location on the beach and in the middle of the tourist area
provides magnificent views from the rooms.
You and Your Lover
@ Aleenta Hua Hin
Whisk your loved one away for a 3 days, 2 nights special
with Aleenta’s ‘cheek to cheek’ package. Relax in
a luxury suite, dine on gourmet breakfast and enjoy a
soothing massage.
Aleenta Hua Hin - Pranburi Resort and Spa is the original award
winning boutique luxury resort upon which Aleenta started. This
special boutique luxury resort and spa features 23 unique suites,
most with a private pool.
Each suite is located within steps of the beach and offers
commanding views of the stunning sunset sea view of the Gulf of
Thailand.
The romantic ‘cheek to cheek’ package costs from 10.500 to
12.500 THB per couple depending on the luxury level of the room.
The most expensive package is for staying at the Penthouse - a
large and very private circular-shaped suite set high above the resort’s
grounds. Special features include a stone tub for two.
Just you and your lover… Alone… Together…
Office address:
Aleenta Resort and Spa
3 Lardprao Soi 95, Wangthonglang, Bangkok 10310.
Reservation : +662 514-8112 / Email: RSVN.HHQ@aleenta.com
My Way @ Hua Hin
My Way at Hua Hin is a unique new boutique family resort, which
started from being at first only a Yamaha music school in Hua
Hin. Now the owners have expanded it to be a hotel with a
charming ambience as a “Home Away from Home” in Hua Hin.
Staying at My Way, you can take music lessons in Thai and classical
music. Or you can swim and take scuba diving lessons in the large pool,
kick up a sweat in the fitness room for cardiovascular and weight training
- or just relax and enjoy yourself with a book or a movie in your room..
My Way is also ideal as a conference location. Two function rooms
with banquet area of 1,200 Square meter can accommodate 80 person
and 15 person respectively
My Way is located between Hua-Hin Soi 106 and Hua-Hin Soi 108
off main Petchkasem Rd. with entry from either of the two sois. Not far
from the city and close enough to thye sea to enjoy breeze.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 35

What to Do?
Music Festival 14 May
on Hua Hin Beach
Honda Summer Fest on 14 May will again this year bring
young people to Hua Hin beach for four types of activities
- extreme water sports, cutting-edge fashion
shows, movies and musical performances.
Last year, many young party goers came down from
Bangkok and elsewhere just for this festival. Many didn’t bother
booking a room - they simply slept on the beach through the
night!
The show’s organizer, Honda Automobile and Fresh Air
Festival, said the event’s highlight is a variety of music and a
beach party like no other. Thai acts to watch out for include
Joey Boy, T-Bone, Thaitanium, Lipta, Tu Phop Thorn, Champion
Supachai. Chirathivat, ETC, Teddy Ska Band, Spydamonkee,
Kai-Jo Brothers, Tamone Band, Mocca Garden, and Buddha
Bless, among other exciting performers.
Meanwhile, international artists include Pistol Valve and
Sweet Vacation from Japan; Uprooted DJ Team from China,
Kingkapisi from New Zealand, and more.
The Honda Summer Music Festival is on 14 May all day
from 12 noon to 12 midnight. The free show will start at
midday at Hua Hin’s Khao Takiab beach. The first 5,000 visitors
who wear orange shirts will get free gifts.
Beach Horse-riding
Visiting Hua Hin beach without being tempted to
go for a horse ride is almost impossible. Horseriding
along the beach is one of the most famous
mustdo activities in this sophisticated resort town. While
other beaches offer more adrenaline-pumping ways of
getting around, Hua Hin beach keeps its serene scene
with the more graceful option. There are numerous
horse-riding services on offer by local residents on this
sandy strip but for those new to the activity, the service
by Sofitel Central Hua Hin Hotel is popular among firsttimer
tourists.
Hua Hin Hills Vineyard
Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is the only vineyard where you can have an
elephant ride through the vines!
In fact the vineyard is built on a former elephant coral where
wild elephants were domesticated. The terrain of loamy sand and slate
and constant ocean breeze allow international grape varietals to thrive and
produce aromatic and award-winning Monsoon Valley Wines. Siam Winery
started developing the site after successfully experimenting at the nearby
Royal Research Station at Huay Sai in 2003.
Visitors are welcomed daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
A complete tour of the vineyard includes transport to and from the
vineyard, tasting 3 wines with little snacks, a glass of grape juice, an elephant
ride and a goodie bag with some chocolatey things.
The salon is a very nice building with a restaurant, bar and shop, and you
can have a stroll around the vineyard and gardens. It’s a pleasant way to spend
an afternoon, and the wine is nice too!
36 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Elephants
Are
Calling…
Think of all the
amazing times you
have spend with
an elephant. These
giant creatures have
so much power, but
are still so calm and
friendly. Many places
around Thailand you
will get the chance
to hug and kiss an
elephant.
These elephants are
working to serve you
and make money to
the Mahout’s family,
but have you ever
wondered what
happens to them
when they get too
old to work or get
injured?
On the way to the
Pala-U Waterfall,
Just outside Hua
Hin, you will find
The Hutsadin
Elephant Foundation. Three
businessmen who wanted to build a
place for old or injured elephants to
retire started this foundation nearly
four years ago.
The foundation has currently
eight elephants. Not all of them are
retired, some are still working to
make money for the older ones.
One of the retired elephants has
been working in Bangkok walking
around the city selling bananas
to tourists. One night she got hit
by a truck, so now she has some
problems with walking and could
not make money for the mahout
any longer.
Another elephant was very
undernourished when she first
came to the foundation. She is now
around 84 years old and is enjoying
life in a relaxed atmosphere with
plenty of foods.
The little darling of the
foundation is Songkran. She is an
elephant baby, nearly 3 years old.
She has been living at the foundation
all of her life because her mother
rejected her when she was born.
Another elephant needs
your help
Last week a mahout who owns an
injured elephant contacted The
Hutsadin Elephant Foundation. His
elephant was out working and she
entered the pond wrong, so the
mahout would like the foundation
to take care of her because he does
not has the money to give her the
right treatment.
The Foundation would like to
save her and give her the treatment
she needs, but the price of the
elephant is 300.000 Baht and the
Aesthetic of relaxation
Family Resort of Hua Hin
foundation do not have that money.
You can help by coming to
visit the foundation and have a
great day at the Hutsadin Elephant
Foundation. There are opportunities
to meet the Mahouts and even offer
your time as either a short or long
time volunteer.
The Hutsadin Elephant Foundation
176 Moo 7, Huahin-Nongplub Road
Prachuabkhirikhan 77110
web: www.hutsadin.org
Music
Hotel
My Way... The Best Way for Your Relaxation.
Room Types:
Studio, Studio Extra, Standard, Standard New Wing, Superior, Delux, Villas
• Swimming Pool 25m x 12m
• Pool Bar
• Conference Rooms
• Fitness
• Children pool 8m x 4m
• Scuba Diving Course
Room Rate Starting from
*899 THB for studio room
* (from May - October 2011)
Text and photos by Helle Deleuran
20/53 Soi Hua Hin 108, Petchkasem Road, Nhongkae, Hua Hin, Prachuabkhirikhan 77110
Tel: +66 3251 1397, +66 3251 6556-7, +66 3251 6333 • Fax: +66 3251 2502
Email: myway_huahin@hotmail.com • Website: www.mywayhuahin.com
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 37

Charming Veranda
Veranda Lodge is an
idyllic and timeless
resort directly facing
Hua Hin’s best sandy
beach.
By Gregers Moller
Veranda Lodge was first
established 7 years
ago. It was just called
Veranda Grill at that
time, a small family
restaurant. Today, the place offers
not only excellent food at the very
same beautiful spot on the Hua Hin
beach, but also luxury accommodation,
some located right on the
beach overlooking the crystal clear
sea.
From the moment you put
down your weekend bag in the
reception, you get the impression
that the staff takes an almost personal
pride in ensuring your stay will
create a pleasant memory of your
“secret place in Hua Hin”.
Easy to find
Veranda Lodge lies in the middle of
the old part of Hua Hin, tucked away
on a quiet lane leading down to the
beach south of the old railway hotel
and the Marriott Resort and Spa.
Coming from Bangkok, you
reach Hua Hin on the main road
coming in from Cha-am. At the
main intersection where you see
the iconic Clock Tower proceed
slowly further South. The first Soi
on your left hand is 63, then comes
63/1 and 65.
Pass by Marriott and the next
lane on your left hand is Hua Hin
Soi 67. This is where you turn in
towards the beach.
Go as far as you can - and
there it is - your little secret place
for relaxation and tranquility
surrounded by the lush garden of
the Veranda Hotel.
Boutique hotel charm
Veranda Lodge has retained all the
history and memories of the old age
charm of Hua Hin, but includes all
the superior amenities that guests
enjoy from a boutique hotel.
The hotel remains run by the
family that owned it since it was only
a superb restaurant on the beach.
This might be the explanation
why it still feels so homely, a nice
combination of peace and tranquility
in a beautiful setting.
At Veranda Lodge, each room
has its own color theme and the
furniture is chosen with care and with
a taste for design and decor. Rooms
are fully furnished with among other
DVD player, refrigerator, telephone
and hairdryer.
Veranda Grill
Down by the beach is where the
legend started, This is where you
find The Veranda Grill.
The Veranda Grill offers both
a relaxed outdoor atmosphere
on the beach front, along with an
indoor dining experience, featuring
exceptional views across the Gulf of
Thailand.
The setting is perfect for
sampling some of the sea’s freshest
delights. You can choose from a
38 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Lodge in Hua Hin
wide selection of authentic Thai
cuisine along with continental dishes,
all of which are carefully prepared to
our chef’s exacting standards.
Sit down. Relax. And enjoy the
delicious exotic cuisine, the stunning
setting, and let the personal and
friendly staff pamper you.
The kitchen serves breakfast
all day and you are not obliged to
stand up at a certain time to reach
the most important meal but just
get lost in time. In the evening, the
restaurant is a wonderful place to
enjoy for instance fresh seafood
from the grill while you enjoy Hua
Hin’s sunset.
The opening hours of Veranda
Grill and the two other food outlets
are:
Veranda Grill Serving seafood
and gourmet continental dishes
(7.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m.)
Pool Side Bar Serving
refreshment, sandwich and snacks
(10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.)
Veranda on Beach Serving
refreshment, sandwich and snacks
(10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.)
Hua Hin is fun!
Just relaxing in the sun is nice. But
you may want a bit more action.
Veranda Lodge’s Beach Club
offers a wide range of water sports,
wind surfing, kayaking and even
sailing.
You could also go out explore
Hua Hin - all the action is within
easy walking distance from Verandas
Lodge.
In the day time - and indeed
at night time too - Hua Hin offers
all the hustle and bustle you would
expect of a vibrant town which has
its own life beyond the tourists, that
enjoy to be part of it.
The Night Market is absolutely
a must to visit. With countless
outlets along the street, you can
find handmade seigniors, garment,
jewelry etc. Apart from that there
are plenty of seafood restaurants
serving all the famous Thai dishes.
This market opens daily from 6 p.m.
to 12 am.
Pa-La-U Waterfall
A day trip popular with many
tourists will take you to the Pa-La-U
Waterfall located about 60 Km
west of Hua-Hin, near the Burmese
border. The impressive 16 steps of
water fall makes it one of the bigger
water falls in Thailand.
Along the way, you could enjoy
rare wild life animals animal and
hundreds species of butterflies.
You could also visit the Hill tribe
village which settled around 200
years ago by Burmese origin and see
their way of living.
Kaeng Krachan jungle
A personal favorite of mine is to get
up early - so early that it is still dark
- and hit the road north out of Hua
Hin to make it to the Kaeng Krachan
National Park while the fog called
the “sea of mist“ is still covering the
valleys in its white mystery. From
the top of the mountain you can
hear the gibbons calling each other
across the vast expanse of the
jungle.
After the sun is up, stay around
for a unique view of the giant horn
bills sailing from the jungle clad
mountain side below you, across
the valey to disappear in the green
jungle on the other side. A majestic
view indeed.
Kaeng Krachan is Thailand’s
largest national park (2,915 sq km).
With wide variety flora and fauna,
more than 400 species of birds can
be seen along with wild animals.
You can visit also Kaeng Krachan
reservoir which made covers
an area of 46.5 sq km and has a
capacity of 710 million cubic meters.
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 39

Luxury in Pranburi
“Barefoot Luxury” is Jon Plate’s description
of his Modena project on the Pranburi beach
front - Thailand’s next Hua Hin.
By Steen Poulin Nielsen
On February 24 highend
property developer,
Sukhothai
Capital Co. Ltd.
launched the 400
million Baht condominium and villa
project Modena at the Mandarin
Oriental Hotel. The about 25 persons
at the press conference proved
the interest from local media.
Modena, with its four pool-villas
and twenty seven condominiums, is
situated in Pranburi and the location
is by no means coincidental.
Jon Plate, Managing Director of
Sukhothai says:
”Pranburi seems to be the next
Hua-Hin. The area is already officially
pointed out as a priority area
for sustainable tourism. Pranburi is
completely unspoiled with no mass
tourism.”
The location was recently highlighted
as one of the world’s ‘Next
Best Places’ to look out in Condé
Nast Traveller magazine.
First Thai project
For Jon Plate, Modena is his first experience
as a developer in Thailand.
But he is an experienced developer
with a portfolio of skiing condominiums
in France, luxury apartments,
beachfront houses and a hotel project
in Denmark. He has been living
and working in Thailand for 11 years
and Modena will be his reference
for his future projects in Thailand.
It was important for Plate to set up
a team of partners with long time
experience in Thailand.
”There are some property developers
in Thailand who I admire.
They build up a base of loyal costumers
because they deliver what
they promise. This is exactly what I
want to do,” says Jon Plate.
Barefoot Luxury
Pranbury is interesting from a logistic
point of view. Now just two and a half
hours drive from Bangkok it seems
feasible to spend the weekends in
Pranbury. Plate identifies the potential
costumer to be either Thai living
in Bangkok or expats from Bangkok.
A smaller group will be Scandinavian
tourists mainly because of the architecture
and design of Modena.
The Modena project aims to
capture the essence of seaside living
what Jon Plate refers to as
”’Barefoot Luxury” creating a calming
space from the pressure of modern
life. Most units will have both
sea- and mountain view.
About twenty percent of the
condominiums are already sold and
Modena is fully financed why a presale
will not be in effect. The sale
of the condominiums will start early
August and Modena will be completed
around November.
For the off-plan investor Modena
offers a projected 5-years Return of
Investment around 30-45 % and estimated
rental yields are in the band
8-12%.
According to Jon Plate property
development is a slow process why
he is working on more projects already.
It is premature to tell about
new projects.
”Our niche is locations with
great beauty, not exposed to mass
tourism where we will add high-end
quality design, architecture, planning
and building,” Plate says.
40 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Tharathip
Resort
Stylish
Green
Tharathip Resort on Koh Pangan is a small resort attractively decorated in a
typical local Thai style. Set amidst a tropical lush green garden with towering
coconut trees, Tharathip Resort is peaceful and quiet with probably the most
beautiful view of the sunset on Koh Pangan.
Tharathip Resort offer either King and Twin beds, private balcony, hot
and cold showers, minibar, electronic safety box, TV with 30 news and
entertainment channels and Wi-Fi.
Tharathip Resort : 73 Moo 4, T. Phangan, Koh Phangan, Suratthani 84280
Tel. +66 (0) 77 377 861-2, +66 (0) 8 7889 4499 / Website : www.tharathipresort.com / E-mail : info@tharathipresort.com
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

More Valuable
Memories
When guest buy a group tour from Asien
Travel it might very well be produced
and guided by one of the three owner
themselves.
By Bjarne Wildau
Asien Travel, a travel
agency established
in Denmark last
year, is focusing on
small group tours to
Thailand and the surrounding countries
for guest who are ready to pay
extra for high quality.
The owners of the agency
are three Danish tour guides that
12 years ago worked for the then
Alletiders Rejser.
Brian Harry Boysen and Søren
Lindahl Madsen remain based in
Thailand, while Lasse Rasmussen
will handle Asien Travels sales from
his office in Djursland in Denmark.
“From the very beginning it was
clear to us, that we didn’t want to
go into the market just like another
travel agency trying hard competing
on the already loaded cheap end
market”, says Brian Harry Boysen,
well know from Evolution Tour, his
own company in Koh Chang.
“The three of us has more than
35 years of experience in the travel
trade, and we simply try to learn
from our past, to create some quality
experiences for our guest, by focussing
on the very best, in stead of
counting every single dollar”, Brian
Harry Boysen says.
Before establishing the agency,
the three founders exchanged hundreds
of emails, talked hour after
hour, to ensure what Asien Travel
was going to be about. Quality before
saving dollars.
The product is group travels.
According to the highly respected
Dane, one of the ways to increase
the quality is to make smaller groups.
While other tours pack 25- to 30
people together in one group to
make the travel cheaper the profit
for the agency higher, Asien Travel
guarantee their guest that there will
be max 16 person in a group.
“The travel starts with the plane
trip. All our guest will fly with Thai
Airway. A better start of at group
tour is hard to imagine”, Brian Harry
Boysen says.
“All the three of us, Søren,
Lasse and I, have done dozens of
group tours since we entered the
tourism industry and we all know
what works and what does not. We
can easily see what is excellent and
what is just OK”.
“All our trips are based on our
own experience. We aren’t just
picking up the phone, trusting an
agent. No. We pack a suitcase and
go our selves, checking up on every
single detail”.
“Many of our tours will even
be guided by Søren and Lasse. Its
unique that our clients actually buy
the travel from the very same person
who produced the tour, speak
the local language and has deep
insight about Asia - and eventually
might even lead the group himself!”
During its first season which is
now coming to an end, Asien Travel
has arranged the following tours:
1. Minority-people in North-
Thailand and the Islands in the
South. 16 days. A combination of
exciting program in North-Thailand
and then island hopping on Koh
Mak, Koh Kood and Koh Chang.
2. Vietnam. A 16 days program
with focus on central Vietnam.
Compared to other roundtrips in
Asia, this tour includes also Boun Ma
Thout and the Central Highlands;
Visit to the Mnong People; Visit to
the DMZ zone north of Hue.
3. Grand Thailand. 21 days. The
longest roundtrip in Asia compared
to other Danish travel agencies.
Lasse has with his many years of
experience in Thailand tailor made
this roundtrip with all the best of
Thailand.
4. Myanmar, a 17 days program to
this quit new roundtrip country on
the Danish market. We visit the
fascinating Bagan and our clients
can experience the Balloon over
Bagan (picture attached). We travel
by land to Mandalay and meet the
locals. We stay at the old British hill
station Pyin U Lwin and ride a local
train. Final stop us is the beautiful
Shan State with Inle Lake.
www.asientravel.dk
E-mail: info@asientravel.dk
42 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

A chance to completely unwind and
enjoy the serene scenery found on
Koh Phangan and in
Salad Buri
Resort & Spa
“The natural you need we all have here”
Salad Beach
ReSoRt
welcome to
paradise of you
holiday and stay in
a peaceful nature.
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
Salad Beach Resort Haad Salad
Koh Phangan
Suratthani 84280 Thailand
Tel: 66 (0) 77 349 149, 66 (0) 77 349 274
Fax: 66 (0) 77 349 275
www.phangan-saladbeachresort.com
Email: rsvn@phangan-saladbeachresort.com

Phra Nang Inn
Phra Nang Inn is located on the Ao Nang Beach, set among lust
tropical garden with the best panoramic view of Krabi’s islands,
and only a short stroll away from the shopping & dining strip of
Ao Nang Beach. Established since1987, Phra Nang Inn is one of the
first hotels in Krabi. We have undergone a complete renovation in
2007, offering a fresh touch while maintain the old charms that are
uniquely Phra Nang Inn. We offer characterized accomodations with
friendly and personalized services. The guest rooms are decorated
with local materials such as seashells and coconut wood together with
fresh colors to create a unique and refreshing atmosphere.
Lover Saver Package 4 days 3 nights
17,950 THB per 2 persons
Room type applied : Deluxe Beach wing and Deluxe Spa wing
Validity : Now – 31 May 11
Package inclusion :
• 3 Nights accommodation included ABF for 2 persons
• 2 glasses for cocktails
• 1 Dinner Set & 1 bottle of sparkling wine
• 1 Full Day tour 4 Island with Lunch
• 1 full day tour Hot spring spa at Waree Raksa
• Round trip transfer from Krabi Airport
• Complementary Wifi
• Tropical welcome drink
• Room set up with flower
For information please contact Phra Nang Inn Krabi :
P.O. Box 25, Krabi 81000 Thailand
Tel: +66 75 637 130-3 Fax : +66 75 637 134-5
Bkk Office : 140/389 Sathorn House, North Sathorn, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel: +66 2236 4141, 236 2345 Fax: +66 2236 3344
Reservation : reservation@vacationvillage.co.th
Sales : sales@vacationvillage.co.th
Remark
• Rates are net ,inclusive of daily breakfast.
• Cannot combined with other promotion.
Welcome to Salad Beach Resort
Situated in Koh Phangan, the most
natural destination in the eastern sea
of Thailand. Salad Beach Resort nested
on the unspoiled beautiful beach in Ao Salad,
the northwest of Koh Phangan, Surat Thani
province. Salad Beach Resort welcome you
to paradise of you holiday.
You will stay in a peaceful nature Salad Beach
Resort offer 28 rooms in luxury hotel and
26 rooms in bungalow, equipped with air
condition or fan, bathroom with hot and cold
shower, cable TV, mini-bar, room service and
refrigerator.
For information please contact
Salad Beach Resort Haad Salad Koh Phangan
Tel: +66 77 349 149, +66 77 349 274 Fax : +66 77 349 275
www.phangan-saladbeachresort.com
Email: rsvn@phangan-saladbeachresort.com
Special Packages Special Promotion
(Bonus Night)
“Stay 4 nights pay only 3 nights”
16 Jul - 31 Aug ‘11
Book Advance 7 days Discount 25%
01 Sep - 31 Oct’11
Book Advance 7 days Discount 40%
• Complimentary breakfast during free night
• Applicable for new booking only
Cancellation Policy
• No charge for cancellation 7 days prior
to arrival.
• Late cancellation / No show / Early check
out , the fee of one night equivalent will be
charged.
** NON REFUNDABLE **
44 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

“Studio Saver” Promotion
at Northgate Ratchayothin
Serviced Residence
Northgate Ratchayothin Serviced Residence introduces
“Studio Saver” promotion, offering a 15% discount from
regular leisure rate when booking 2 consecutive nights or
more in a Studio Room.
The leisure rate for Studio Room is THB 2,500* per night.
Rate is inclusive of breakfast for two persons, free Wi-Fi internet
access everywhere in the hotel and free use of the swimming pool,
fitness gym, tennis court (day time) and shuttle van service to MRT
Chatuchak Park Station (schedule applies).
Northgate Ratchayothin Serviced Residence is located in the
Chatuchak District in northern Bangkok, which is renowned for
its pleasant residential area. It is conveniently located by the main
road, providing easy access to the city’s major business center,
shopping arcades, beautiful public parks and Ratchadavipavadee
golf driving range. A variety of entertainment and dining venues
are within walking distance.
The “Studio Saver” promotion is available from now until
September 30, 2011. Reservations can be made online by visiting
www.northgatebangkok.com or contact our reservation officer at
Telephone +662 939 7949 Email reservation@northgatebangkok.
com or Zinc | InVision Hospitality’s Sales & Marketing office at
Tel.+66 2 656 0818 Email sales@zinchospitality.com.
*Remarks:
Rate is inclusive of 10% service charge and 7% applicable tax
For more information, please contact:
Vipasiri Napawongdee (Ms.) Director of PR & Marketing Communications
Email: lek@zinchospitality.com
Jittra Pornpitakkul (Ms.) Asst. PR & Marketing Communications Manager
Email: jittra@zinchospitality.com
Pichaporn Krisadatikarn (Ms.) PR & Marketing Communications Executive
Email: pichaporn@zinchospitality.com
Tel +66 2656 0818
Welcome to Para Resort Koh Chang
For information please contact
Para Resort Kohchang 15/4 Moo 4 White Send Beach, Koh Chang Trat
Tel. +66 3955 1078, +66 8 6003 6555, +66 8 1620 4411 Fax. +66 3951 1077
www.kohchangpararesort.com, E-mail: pararesort@hotmail.com
White Sands beach is perhaps Koh Chang’s most popular
destination. “Para Resort” is a short walk to the
beautiful white sands beach. Our bungalows and family
suites are surrounded by our own private gardens.
You are welcome to make yourself at home here and relax in
the natural surroundings. We have 9 beautiful family suite rooms
with sea view balconies, at unbeatable value on Koh Chang. We
also have 14 fantastic bungalows in our forest garden with double
bed and air conditioning.
We have some great packages available involving all day
snorkelling around 4 of the beautiful coral islands of Koh Chang.
Take an evening out rowing through the mangroves by the light
of the dancing fire flies. Admire the fire throwing skills of the
performers at White sands beach, and relax with a fine feast of the
best fresh sea food.
Although it is only a short walk to white sands beach “Hat Sai
Khao”, we happily provide a free shuttle taxi service to and from
the beach and shops. Please enquire at reception.
For foot passengers arriving by ferry, we have a pickup service
which can carry up to 10 persons. For mini bus and travel from
further afield, Trat Airport, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Bangkok please
see our online booking form.
Family Suite (Two Big Bed + Incl.Abf.) High Season 2,975 Baht,
Low Season 2,380 Baht. Double/Single Bed (Bungalow+ Incl.Abf.)
High Season 1,275 Baht, Low Season 850 Baht.
* Season Festival is Nomal Price
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 45

From Ice-Hockey to Soccer
Although he had been
actively involved in an
ice-hockey team back
in Finland, 10-yearold
Jaakko Satuli has
adjusted very well to
local weather suitable
sports activities.
By Kristene Silva Marie
Photos bu Soffi Chanjira Larsen
Jaakko moved to Bangkok with
his family, his father, mother and
four-year-old sister, in July last
year and when he did he was
unable to converse in English.
He spoke about his favourite
subject, Physical Education (PE),
where he gets to play outdoors with
his classmates. He is especially fond
of sports activities such as tennis and
soccer and admitted that his favourite
soccer club was Barcelona.
According to his mother, Taru,
he doesn’t really miss Finland. When
he was there he used to be very active
in ice hockey so before moving
she was worried he may miss it and
packed all the ice hockey equipments
to bring, but apparently upon
arriving to Thailand, that did not become
a problem.
“He quickly got interested in
other sports activities like tennis and
soccer, and it seemed like he totally
forgot about ice hockey,” she said
laughing.
Taru said she chose KIS after
looking at around five other international
schools. She found KIS to be
non-discriminating and friendly. She
also found it to be generally small
and cosy which meant it was less
crowded than many other schools.
The fact that it was away from
the noise from the big roads con-
vinced her that it was the best place
for Jaako to attend.
The KIS school timing is also
convenient for his parents because
in Finland, children have to spend
their afternoons alone as school
ends at 12pm. Here he stays in
school a little longer and then there
is someone to come and pick them
up.
“KIS is a fun place to study in,”
Jaakko said.
Challenges
Among the worries that Taru had
about Jaako was that he would not
be able to cope with the education
because of its difference to the
Finnish education system and also
because of the language barrier.
Due to his limited English exposure,
Jaakko was assigned a special
teacher to help explain to him what
was happening in class. This showed
Taru that the student support system
was really good. He does not
require one anymore as his English
language has improved tremendously.
When Jaakko first enrolled
in the school, he was assigned a
“buddy” who he was to follow and
mingle around with. His “buddy”,
Thomas helped him stabilize his
social relationships and get comfortable
in the new school.
Jaakko has transformed from
a boy with little English language
skills to being able to express himself
socially to teachers and friends.
He takes English as an additional
language and gets added support
concentrating on the language academically.
His mother is very impressed
with his improvement and even
more because not only has he
learned to speak English, he has also
picked up Thai.
“It’s been amazing to see how
fast the language develops and
Jaakko is really making good friends
here,” she said.
Before leaving Finland, the
mother was encouraged to find a
school which had the International
Baccalaureate (IB) programme so if
ever they were to move, he could
still choose a school in that country
which provides the IB programme
where the education system is the
same.
The most obvious difference
he feels between KIS and his previous
school in Finland is the students.
They are more international
and with different backgrounds and
nationalities than his school back in
Finland.
Participation in Non-Academic
programmes
As part of the IB programme, Jaakko
has had to participate in certain
themed projects. He had helped put
together an exhibition of Ancient
Rome for the theme Past Civilisations.
During the project, he and his
peers had fun dressing up as ancient
Greek athletes and take part
in sports items that were part of the
Greek Olympics such as athletics,
long jump and others.
The current theme is People in
Need. Jaakko explained that during
this period there are hand bands
sold to anyone who wants to buy it
at their choice of price.
“They can choose to buy it
for any amount from 100 Baht or
more. The money collected will go
to those in need in Japan,” he said
showing his white hand band with
the words United for Japan engraved
on it.
Jaakko has been in Thailand before
moving here. His first time was
to Phuket Island when he was four
years of age. Later in 2007, he came
visited again. This time he came to
Bangkok for holidays with his family.
Jaakko and his family have not
gone back to Finland to visit yet but
they are planning one for the summer
holidays this year.
46 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

International school scholarships within your reach
think, therefore IB
KIS International School, a full IB school, is offering scholarships in these 3 categories:
One Million Baht IB Diploma Scholarship
No tuition fees for grade 11 and 12. All nationalities. Ready to enter grade 11 in August 2011.
Well-rounded student, outstanding academic ability.
Secondary School Academic Scholarships
30% to 50% off tuition fees. All nationalities. Ready to enter grades 6-10 in August 2011.
Well-rounded student, excellent academic ability.
Financial Scholarships
30% to 90% off tuition fees. For international-profile students of any age.
Based on financial need.
For full conditions and more information about the scholarships please visit www.kis.ac.th
or contact linda@kis.ac.th or sakonwan@kis.ac.th.
Asoke-Ratchadapisek (Suk.21)
Lard Prao
Pracha-Uthit
Rama 9
Petchburi
Sukhumvit
Ekamai (Sukhumvit 63)
Area map only. For directions see www.kis.ac.th/location.html
www.kis.ac.th
info@kis.ac.th
Tel +66 (0) 2274 3444

From
Gloom to
Bliss
Elephants, jungles, beaches and shopping
were just some of the things Evelina
Rosander expected from, Thailand before
moving here. Her poor English, among
others, was an unpleasant surprise.
By Kristene Silva Marie
Although 18-year-old
Evelina often saw her
dad, Kaj Rosander,
Saab, travel to different
countries for work
purposes, it came as a big shock to
her when he a few years ago broke
the news that the whole family was
moving to Thailand.
“I didn’t know what to think
when my dad told me we were
moving. At first I did not even know
what it meant to leave my friends
and home,” she said.
Upon reaching her new home,
Evelina faced some intense challenges
which not only involved missing
home in Sweden but also speaking
English.
“I could not speak English very
well and because of that, the first
half year was the most challenging
phase for me,” she said.
She then started English as a
Second Language classes and there
she improved tremendously with
the guidance of a teacher who
helped and pushed her to learn.
“He was like a role model for
me,” she gratefully added.
She also acknowledged that
during the process of transition, she
had many friends here who were
willing to help and support her all
the time.
I am leaving..!
Evelina admits that sometimes it
was just so difficult that she wanted
to pull out, go home and get her old
life back.
“But then, they were also times
that I felt so special and different
because they all wanted me to stay
and that changed the way I thought
and turned things around making
me enjoy my stay,” she said.
She said what she misses most
is the Swedish lifestyle - like walking
to school and hanging out or going
shopping with friends whenever she
wanted to.
Sometimes when the workload
gets too heavy, she wants to
get the whole school life over and
done with but with the support of
her friends she soon realises that
she has to stop and just enjoy her
learning experience.
Activities
Evelina may not look it but she has
been playing football for 10 years
and was very actively playing at nonschool
clubs in Sweden.
“I really wanted to play here but
since they only had a school team,
there were a very limited number
of people to choose from,” she said.
Apart from football, she also plays
softball in school.
Evelina also shared about her
classes and brought up an interesting
course requirement, CAS (Creativity
Action Service).
Through this programme, students
are required to get involved in
an art or music class for the Creativity
component, a sport activity for
the Action component and some
charity work for the Service component.
As part of this, Evelina and her
group, Footy for Friends, usually visit
an orphanage home, Mercy Centre,
and organise fun activities and trips
to the school to give them an opportunity
to play some sports, such
as football or basketball.
“We plan and arrange transportation
then we carry out some activities
for the children and play with
them,” she said.
This experience taught Evelina
to be conscious about others
around her and the smiles on the
children’s faces make her want to
give more.
Family
When Evelina and her parents
moved here, her brother, who was
18 years old at the time, stayed
home in Sweden. He only had half a
year more before he was done with
his studies.
She admitted that leaving him
was really tough but as time passed
by, she felt their relationship grew
stronger with the distance.
“It is also probably because we
are both much older and more mature
now,” she added.
Even her relationship with her
family has strengthened as she realised
that when she faced challenges
she needed her family more.
Selecting New International
School of Thailand was easy. Her
father’s colleagues had mentioned
the school to them and since there
were not many schools to choose
from and given the school’s proximity
to their new home, it was a given
that this was the school she would
attend.
Evelina said in Sweden, she had
limited knowledge of how the world
is but now mixing around with her
multinational friends, she has cultivated
a bigger view of the world.
She happily expressed that she
has adapted well to her school and
friends and is in fact really enjoying
her stay here.
“After this, I don’t think I’ll be
going back to Sweden to enroll into
university. I personally want to go to
the United States or United Kingdom,”
she said.
She pointed out that if she had
stayed in Sweden, she would have
never thought about the possibility
of going abroad to study. But coming
here had changed the way she
looked at things opened up many
possibilities of what she can do in
the future.
48 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 49

Boarding at Sigtunaskolan
Sigtunaskolan
Humanistiska
Laroverket is located
on a hill part of
Sigtuna, closed to
Stockholm, Arlanda
and Uppsala.
Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska
Laroverket is one of the most
modern boarding schools
in Europe. Approximately
500 pupils attend the school,
of whom 260 are boarders. SSHL
offers both the national curriculum
natural sciences(NV), and the social
sciences programmes (SP). In addition,
the International Baccalaureate Diploma,
administered by IBO in Geneva,
has been offered at the school for
many years. Good results from these
three programmes provide access
to most colleges and universities
around the world.
SSHL also offers the Middle Years
Programme (MYP), a programme which
is based on evaluation of the entire
educational process, not just the results.
This provides a natural link between
the middle and the high school years.
Sigtunaskolan Humonistiska
Laroverket, SSHL
PO.Box 328, 5E-193 28
Phone: +46 (0) 8 592 571 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 592 572 50
E-mail: info@sshl.se
Website: www.sshl.se
SWEDEN’S LEADING BOARDING SCHOOL
We offer secondary schooling between grades 7 and 12 with teaching in both Swedish and English.
Twenty five years experience of the IB programme with excellent results.
SIGTUNASKOLAN HUMANISTISKA LÄROVERKET
Phone: +46 8 592 571 00 www.sshl.se
50 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

St. Andrews
International
Schools
St. Andrews International Schools offer an
education that extends beyond the English
National Curriculum. The St. Andrews
philosophy encompasses the whole child
and each of its three campuses is small and
exclusive.
St. Andrews International School, Green Valley, is a unique school located
in the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand. St. Andrews International
School, Sathorn is set in beautiful surroundings in a heritage building
and is focused on Primary education only. While St. Andrews
International School, Sukhumvit, near the Bearing BTS stop, has a
close-knit school community, is friendly, welcoming and vibrant.
We promise: Independent, confident lifelong learners. At St. Andrews
International Schools, children are encouraged to become enthusiastic, lifelong
learners. This is the commitment we make and we ensure it is lived through
the daily experiences in school.
St. Andrews International Schools
www.standrews-schools.com
Sathorn: tel. +66 (0) 2632 1995; email: sathorn@standrews-schools.com
Sukhumvit: tel. +66 (0) 2393 3883; email: sukhumvit@standrews-schools.com
2011-4ScandThai.psd
Green Valley: tel. +66 (0) 3803 0701; email: greenvalley@standrews-schools.com
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 51

Nyborg Gymnasium
Nyborg Gymnasium is an unusual Danish college, offering
both STX (a standard Danish A-level), HF (2 year exam
that gives access to university studies) and IB (International
Baccalaureate) - and further takes in boarders.
As a consequence, young people from the local town of Nyborg
meet young people from other regions of Denmark and from abroad
at Nyborg Gymnasium. It gives a special educational atmosphere, being
local, national, and international at the same time.
All three educational lines are characterized by
• a high educational standard and personal attention to each student
• development of the student in terms of competence in the subjects,
excellence in cooperation and an appetite for further learning
• participation in the IT education and it-based communication between
students and their teachers related to their everyday working
environment
• tolerance, involvement and responsibility for creating a safe and
pleasant living atmosphere for all
• positive and fun experiences, school parties, sports days, etc.
Read more on our website: www.nyborg-gym.dk and our school
magazine: http://issuu.com/nyborg-gym/docs/magasin2011
International School
of Bergen
The educational programme of the International School of Bergen
(ISB) has been developed to help prepare its students for
a successful future, whether that future is in the Hordaland
region or outside the borders of Norway. Parents also choose ISB
for the English language learning environment, the small class sizes
and the challenge of the International Baccalaureate programmes.
Our mission is to provide an internationally accredited education
which serves the Bergen and business communities.
An education at ISB is recognized as quality far and wide. The
school is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is authorized
by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer their Primary
Years and Middle Years Programmes. ISB is working towards
achieving authorized status for the Diploma Programme in 2011.
ISB is committed to the ethos of continual school improvement and
strategic planning which are essential features of accredited schools.
Our students and staff
ISB provides educational programmes in English to children between
the ages of 3 and
18. The students represent
more than thirty different
nationalities. The teachers
all hold university degrees
and appropriate teaching
qualifications. Class sizes are
small with normally 16-18
students.
Address:
Wilhelm Bjerknesvei 15,
5081 Bergen
Phone: +47 55 30 63 30
Fax: +47 55 30 63 31
Website: www.isob.no
E-mail: post@isob.no
EngElskspråklig privatskolE
for barn og ungdom
mEllom 3 og 18
• Få elever i hver klasse
• Trygt læringsmiljø med god individuell oppfølging
• God kontakt med foreldre
• Internasjonalt godkjente og utfordrende læreplaner
• Utmerkede resultater i internasjonale og norske nasjonalprøver
• Sentral beliggenhet med bybanestopp rett utenfor døren
• Nyhet fra høsten 2010 – Internasjonal Videregående
med godkjenning fra Lånekassen
Contact us for more information: Tel 55 30 63 30 eller post@isob.no
52 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

“Ni hao!” at
Stenhus Kostskole
The Chinese Dragon has come to stay at Stenhus Kostskole
in Denmark. The Chinese classes at Stenhus Kostskole work
closely with the two sister schools in Tianjin and in Shijiazhuang
in the province of Hebei in North China.
Stenhus Kostskole aims to strengthen the understanding of crosscultural
communication, so the students can understand the world
around them, not least understand China today.
“The Chinese Dragon is awake and alive, and we have to follow
its pace,” the school says.
In August 2010 on a study tour to Beijing and Tianjin, students
from Stenhus met their Chinese counter parts . In 2012 the first Chinese
students will visit Stenhus Kostskole in Denmark. For Danish
children to learn and experience the Chinese culture, it gives them
respect and a drive for the future.
Stenhus Kostskole
DK-4300 Holbæk
Phone: +45 59 43 02 69
E-mail: admin@stenhus.dk Website: www.stenhus.dk
New Danish
BioTech College
Degree
Bagsvaerd Boarding and High School in Denmark has established
Denmark’s first five year BioTech College with a vision of turning
out some of the brightest future BioTech researchers.
Starting in Grade 8 and for the next five years, the students are
taught at the highest level within a range of science disciplines, including
biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics.
Experiments, field trips and internships in connection with major
written assignments will be an important part of the educational
activities. Bagsvaerd Boarding and Highschool cooperates with the
Danish Technical University and BioTech Academy in forming the
education so the students can get be affiliated with mentors from
these institutions.
“We want to equip our students for tomorrow’s global job market
while at the same time provide our boarders a consistent and
secure home with space for both studies, homework and friends,”
says Head Master Jimmy Burnett Nielsen.
For more information:
Bagsværd Kostskole og Gymnasium
Aldershvilevej 138, 2880 Bagsværd
Att: Boardingschool Inspector Soren Borgesen
tlf: +45 44980065
e-mail: bk@bagkost.dk
website: www.bagkost.dk
BioTek
Bagsværd
Kostskole
Gymnasium
-
Danmarks første
femårige gymnasieforløb
8.kl.-3.g
Bagsværd Kostskole & Gymnasium løfter den faglige overligger. I
samarbejde med Novozymes, DTU og KU tilbyder vi nu en femårig
gymnasial BioTek-uddannelse for elever, der har talent inden for
naturvidenskab og bioteknologi. Uddannelsen indebærer bl.a, at
BioTek-elever i 9. klasse vil blive undervist på det, der i dag svarer
til 1.g niveau.
Læs mere om BioTek på
www.bagkost.dk
&
Vi glæder os til
Vi glæder
at se
os
dig...
til
at se dig...
Tag en bid af kundskaben
på den fede måde!
Aldershvilevej 138, 2880 Bagsværd, Telefon + 45 44 98 00 65, www.bagkost.dk
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 53

A Social Club for Mothers
28-year-old
Linda Suomela-
Hemangkorn is a
mother of two and
a business owner.
In her case, that fits
together perfectly:
In November 2010,
she opened up ISIS,
a leisure spot and
a safe haven for
mothers in Bangkok.
By Anya Palm
L
inda Suomela Hemangkorn
looks at her one-year-old
son who just woke up
from a nap and looks puzzled
more than anything
else. And no wonder a lot is going
on around him.
“Lucas is very lucky. He has
friends over to play every day,” she
says.
In November, Finnish Linda
opened up ISIS, a social club for
mothers in Bangkok and in Lucas’
home there is now a café, a spa, a
play room, several classrooms and
a reception with children’s toys and
clothes on display. Without knowing
so, Lucas and his brother Oliver
were the inspiration for it all:
“As a mother, I found myself
always looking for a place to meet
with friends, but there never was a
convenient place to bring the babies
and relax at the same time. I wanted
a place, where you can have coffee
and have an eye on your kid”, Linda
Suomela-Hemangkorn says.
In 2010, she rented a house on
Sukhumvit Soi 51 and turned it into
something in between a day care
and a leisure spot: ISIS - a social club
for mothers.
And it has proven to be muchneeded.
“I get women calling me to
book a time at the spa for anything,
no matter what. ‘Just give me an
hour of sleep!’ they say. “
Linda laughs - she knows exactly
what the women are talking about.
There is a freelance-masseuse
connected to ISIS to take care of
the mothers in the spa, while two
full-time nannies watch the children,
while mom gets pampered for an
hour. The nannies get to know the
children gradually when they come
more than once, but if the mother
prefers, the child is also welcome in
the spa - the focus is on the mothers
and their needs at ISIS.
One mother after the other
comes through the front door.
Some are shy and looks politely
around with their children on the
arm, while others are clearly familiar
with ISIS and walks straight over and
greets Linda.
Irish Emma Boudha is in the
last category. She had Quiller eight
months ago and was the first guest
at ISIS, when it opened.
“Me and your mom was here”,
she says jokingly to Linda and continues
with a more serious tone:”
This place is God sent. I mean, it is
clean, the faces and toys are familiar
to Quiller and I get to meet other
mothers in the same situation as
me.”
She agrees that it matters less
what activity she participates in. For
her, ISIS is a hangout place:
“When you get a baby, you
always plan around that - where
is there a changing station? where
can you breast feed? In Bangkok,
that limits the places you can go,
but here we are both welcome. It is
easy and that is why we like it,” she
says and sips of her espresso from
the new espresso machine-a small,
but much appreciated feature of ISIS.
While Emma and Quiller head
upstairs to one of the class rooms
- today there is a baby wear demonstration
- Linda takes a break from
greeting the stream of mothers and
kids coming in. Having been open
for a couple of months, she is starting
to get good dialogue with her
patrons.
“Our activities really depend
on what the mothers here feel like.
If they suggest something, we can
probably work something out”, she
says. Recently ISIS started offering
language classes and exercise and
both have been popular. Upstairs
there are several empty rooms, cool
from the air conditioning.
“We don’t have a big need for
furniture in the classes, because
most of it happens on the floor anyway”,
she explains.
What the future holds for ISIS
remains to be seen, Linda Suomela-
Hemangkorn says with a coy shrug
- she is open for suggestions and
as of now, the activities are popular
enough. However, she has one
wish:
“I am hoping to get the Finnish
community more involved here.
I am a bit concerned about the
Finnish language, so I would like to
have more Finnish children coming
here”, she says.
Around her are children from
Japan, Sweden, England and pretty
much all other countries happily
waddling around ISIS where no
places are off-limits. In the corner,
the espresso machine sputters.
54 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

Swiss School
Bangkok
Swiss School Bangkok is emphasizing on European education as
from August 2011: A new English profile is introduced from
Kindergarten up to grade 3. Not many know that there are
even two Scandinavian teachers at Swiss School Bangkok: a Swedish
Secondary School teacher and a Finnish Head of Primary Department.
“It´s my fifth year in Bangkok and I definitely enjoy working at
our school. I think the Swiss and Scandinavian education systems
have a lot in common: offering customized, individualized teaching in
small classes and seeing the student in a holistic way. For us all our
students are valued individuals - and I am so proud of our teachers
creating this “European atmosphere” in the middle of Bangkok and
enabling our students to study later everywhere in the world, especially
in Europe”, says Finnish Johanna Vänskä.
GIVE
your children a NORWEGIAN
summer of FUN and LEARNING!
Norgesskolen July 10 - 29, 2011
Join children 9-18 years from around the
globe for a summer in Norway!
Children receive 3 weeks of intensive
language training combined with fun
activities and outings in an idyllic campus
setting at Råde, south of Oslo, Norway.
Registration deadline: May 15, 2011
For more information:
www.norgesskolen.no
lbhaaverstad@norseman.no
Telephone: +47 23 35 71 70
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 55

Fighting the Strong Thai Baht
By Niels Seeberg *)
We hear so
many Scandinavians
crying
in their beer
about the
good old days in Thailand when
they were getting much more Baht
for their own currency instead of
the current paltry exchange rate.
Then they go on to moan about
inflation here and how, over the
past two years, taking currency appreciation
into account, their cost of
living has jumped by nearly 40 per
cent.
Many foreigners never made
any attempt to save privately while
they were working and are now retired
here on a state pension.
One can only feel sorry for
them as they are powerless over
the circumstances eating away at
their lifestyle.
Some of the younger pensioners
have managed to get jobs teaching
but it may not be the most dignified
way to spend their “golden years”.
However many would consider this
a better option than having to live
on state benefits in a snowy Europe.
Owners of a lump sum
The expats who have saved during
their working lives, who have sold
a property at home or have managed
to amass a lump sum by other
means, are the people I am appealing
to.
If you have a lump sum of say
Euro 100,000 or more and are using
it to subsidize your pension income
then you have the power to fight
the Baht’s strength.
You can easily nullify this of
course by leaving your capital “safely”
on deposit earning 2 per cent or
even in a guaranteed fund earning 5
per cent.
There comes a time in everyone’s
life when we have to face up
to a crisis. Some may not consider a
deteriorating lifestyle brought about
by circumstances beyond our control
a crisis but I do.
So what can you do?
Try this. You can move to equities
and allocate your savings around the
world denominated in different currencies.
Let me just show you year to
date performance on five different
funds around the world.
Barings Asia 42.4 pc
JPM Europe 31.6 pc
BSF Latin America 40.37 pc
Prosperity Russia 42.9 pc
Aberdeen India 36.72pc.
Impressive performance figures
for eleven months.
Cheaper property?
For the next twelve months I highly
recommend a good global property
fund.
When has property been
cheaper? We all know that property
always rises in price in the long
term. The beauty of a property fund
is that it is much more liquid than
buying a house and trying to rent
it for income. Through a property
fund you can get income straight
away and surely get great capital
appreciation over the medium long
term. If you need your capital in an
emergency you normally don’t need
to wait to sell.
All the above mentioned funds
and any world property funds are
available through a good portfolio
bond provider.
This will ensure tax free growth,
tax free income; IHT mitigation and
all your investments can be written
in trust.
One point to note is that if you
were to purchase the above mentioned
funds separately outside the
portfolio bond not only would they
be more expensive but also on your
demise your beneficiaries would
need to get probate in each country.
The lawyers could hardly wait
for you to die.
At the very least after reading
this article is it not good to know if
you have adequate capital you can
sit and think how wonderful it is, to
live in Thailand.
*) Niels Seeberg is a Danish journalist
living in Hua Hin since 2005. As a
financial writer, he is associated with
Swiss Invest Center, info@swissinvestcenter.net
56 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

The Peak of Good Health
Most people are
enjoying their
retirement by the
age of 72, but not
Bent Henriksen.
He’s ‘summit’ special.
The company director, of
Mitford, Northumberland,
recently returned
from a grueling trek to
Everest’s Base Camp
with his two sons, proving that age
is no barrier to reaching the top!
Bent, who is originally from
Denmark, has lived in the North
East for more than 30 years, and
puts his extraordinary good health
down to the vitamins and supplements
he takes everyday.
He says “I’m s firm believer in
the importance nutrition for good
health and I’ve been taking dietary
supplements for the last 25
years. They keep me fit, active, and
healthy, and I wouldn’t go a day
without them.
“For a physically demanding trip
like Everest, I made sure I took plenty
of Coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like
substance, which provides a natural
energy boost.”
Bent set off Newcastle International
Airport with his two sons,
Rasmus, 35, and Troels, 46, on Friday
October 1 before joining up
with his friend Alan Nathan’s family
and their guides Noel Hanna and
Pasang in Kathmandu.
Bent says “This was a private
trek made up of two families, the
Henriksens, myself and my two
sons, and the Nathans, my friend
Alan and his sons Jeff, Rob, and
Sean.
“Our expedition was led by the
brilliant Noel Hanna, an endurance
athlete and adventure sports trainer
from C 2 C Sports Ltd in Northern
Ireland, who was a superb guide on
the mountain. I’d also like to thank
Jane Walker of Northmbria Mountain
Sports in Morpeth for helping
with the equipment.”
After Kathmandu, the group
flew through the mountains on a
14-seater plane to Lukla (which
reportedly boasts the 2nd most
dangerous airport in the world) before
a 4-hour walk to Phakding.
The next day, the group managed
a 8-hour trek to Namche
before acclimatisation training by
climbing above the airport at Svangboche
and onto Khumjung. It was
here they got their first glimpse of
Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest
itself at 8,850 metres. From Namche
Bazhar it was off to Tengboche, Pherich,
Gorak Shep, Lobuche, and
Kala Patthar, before they made the
final ascent to Base Camp on Day
Seven of their trek on October 9.
Bent says “We set off a 6pm on
empty stomachs to get up to Base
Camp and back before breakfast.
According to the map it looks like a
fairly straightforward gradual climb,
but it is actually a very hard slog.
“It’s also very cold, but the views
are amazing as the scenery suddenly
transforms into a ‘moonscape’ when
you get down onto the Khumba glacier.
Another two and a half hours
later, we got to Base Camp. It was
great to have been there and the
views of Everest (Hilary Step and
South Summit) were spectacular.”
The group then began the long
trek back the way they had came
arriving back at Lukla on October
13 before flying to Kathmandu to
recover their strength by sleeping in
a comfortable bed (for the first time
in nearly two weeks) and eating a
few hearty meals.
Bent’s son Troels has written
a diary of the trek for his family to
keep, which reveals regular poker
games, beer, red wine, yak steaks,
and sweet black tea also kept spirits
up during the trek to Base Camp.
Troels says “My father showed
amazing stamina throughout and
kept up with us right to the end. I
was very proud of the old man.”
Bent may be 72, but it is difficult
to call him ‘old’ after completing
such an impressive achievement.
Noel, who acted as guide for the
group, paid tribute to Bent.
Noel says “Bent did brilliantly. It
was a long, hard slog for everyone,
but the trek went very well and I
must say Bent’s good health and fitness
is a testament to the vitamins
and supplements he takes. I take
Bio-Quinone Q10 myself so I know
how much of an energy boost it can
give you.”
And if anyone knows the importance
of dietary supplements for
good health, it’s Bent. For the last 25
years, he has been Managing Director
of Pharma Nord UK, a distributor
of pharmaceutical grade vitamins
and supplements based in Morpeth.
Bent is now back at work and is
very proud to have completed the
trek with his sons.
“It just goes to show what you
can do, regardless of age, if you look
after your health,” he says.
For more information about
Pharma Nord and it’s range of
vitamins and supplements call
Pharma Nord SEA,
Thailand office: +66 2361 4091
or go to
http://www.pharmanordsea.co.th
April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 57

Medium
Evil
Pork
Liver
Pâté
The pork liver pâté
is a tasty mix of
ground liver and
fat minced into a
spreadable paste
which is later added
with a choice of
vegetables, herbs,
spices, or wine.
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 2011
Inexpensive and simple to make, this
dish serves as a great starter or light
meal and is healthy choice of light
eating.
Although usually eaten with Danish
rye bread, the pâté can also be spread
on any cracker of you choice. Tweaking
the recipe to fit personal taste can make
it better and especially more personal
when served.
This amazing dish does great at parties
and gatherings.
Ingredients
1 lb pork liver (pork liver is great)
10 ounces pork fat
1 medium onion
3 anchovies
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup light cream
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Directions
• Put the liver, anchovies, suet & onion
through a meat chopper at least 3 times
or use a food processor.
• The mixture should be quite fine in
the texture. Mix in the flour, cream,
eggs, salt, pepper and all spice.
• Spoon the mixture into a buttered
loaf pan.
• Put it in a pan of water and bake in a
350F oven for an hour.
• If the pate is browning too quickly
place a piece of foil loosely over it. To
serve, unmold the pate.
This dish is usually served with fried
mushrooms, bacon bits, and cucumber
pickles on Danish rye bread.
58 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011

April 2011 • ScandAsia.Thailand 59

On the lookout for CNY?
The only Nordic Private Bank in Asia Pacific.
Now also offering offshore Chinese Yuan
investments.
Tel: +65 63570895
E-mail: singapore@sebprivatebanking.com.sg
www.sebgroup.com/privatebanking