It’s all about timing. Tom [Pen-ek] told me about the film, and I just happened to be free during this time.
I took this role because he wrote the script himself and I trust him after working with him in 6ixtynin9. And it made me feel really good when he said that he had me in mind when he wrote the story.
Our last collaboration was a great success. I discovered another side of acting that I could do. I’ve learned to love playing a variety of characters.
I liked [Pen-ek’s] Fun Bar Karaoke—it was very interesting and the presentation was quite innovative. So I thought if I did 6ixtynin9 with him, I would be able to learn something new. It didn’t take me long to say yes.
So far I’m proud because I believe I have done the best for Ploy.
I learned from the film that everything goes the way we think it will. If we think negatively, things can go wrong, very wrong, then even more wrong.
Motherhood has changed me a lot. Now I consider things more carefully before I decide to do something.
Happiness for me is my children.
My latest book, Lor Ling Tok Tai Ton, is about my two sons. It’s a way of sharing my happiness, and those who have kids will understand. It shows how innocent and loveable a child can be.
I’ve grown used to the attention I get. On an ordinary day, people still look at me, but they don’t bother me. I can still feel ordinary and go wherever I want. But when there’s an event, fans will be there waiting for me, and everyone is watching me.
I don’t know when I stopped thinking about success, but now I don’t think about how far I can go or who I have to fight with.
I want to live a routine life of leaving home in the morning for work and getting back in the evening, focusing on the day and not the future.
Awards are not something I consider when I work. I do my best each day. If awards are my goal, I’ll have to work so hard to the point of exhaustion. Sometimes the judges like my work and sometimes they don’t. What is more important is to satisfy the director, as he is the one who chose me for the role.
Success for me doesn’t mean being the most famous but able to meet the expectations of the director and the team. And having an audience that likes what I’ve done. If a film I’m in becomes very popular, that’s
a bonus.
We all need freedom, but when it comes to married life, too much freedom might affect the other person’s feelings. It’s all about how we can share our freedom.
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How long have you guys been together?
Sack: Seven years now, but Billy and Tom are new because the old drummer and bassist got full-time jobs.
How was the feedback on your first album?
Sack: Great. Better than we expected. We sold more than 20,000 copies of our first album, which is like selling a million copies in Thailand. You know, Laos has only about five million people.
Have you ever played in Thailand?
Sack: We play fairly often in Udon Thani and Nong Kai, but in Bangkok, just twice. We performed at Fat Festival Four and Fat Connection with BigAss.
Do you like Thai audiences?
Sack: Of course. Thai and Lao audiences are the same: they have fun, they jump, they dance.
Why did you choose to cover Nong Plub’s song for Sanamluang Connects?
Sack: The band’s sound is nu-metal that is not so dark. We put the lyrics and the rhythm together, and thought it was funny, so we just sped the song up to a rock tempo.
When will your new album be out?
Sack: It has been launched in Laos already, and the full album will be available in Thailand this month.
Who do you want to play with in Thailand?
Sack: In a concert, there’s an exchange of knowledge and experience, and you make new friends. We would be glad to play with any band.
Duek: There are no walls in music, no boundaries, and no nationalities.
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Before leaving for the front in your colorful uniform—to Khao San or wherever else for a splash—you need to think about your equipment. The colorful plastic pistols are now to be seen all over town: in Tops, Big C, and on streets. But for a better deal and bigger firepower, hit Chinatown.
From the main Yaowarat Road, head to Mangkorn Road, which is linked to Sampeng. There you will see a lot of shops with multicolored toys. These usually sell only a handful of water guns, but just one month before Songkran, they add those plastic pistols to their displays. At this time of year, the choice is enormous. It’s always cheaper to buy wholesale—this is where your local shop buys its water guns. Even the retail prices are cheaper, but you can usually buy three or six and get wholesale prices, so take your friends with you.
Most of these shops have been around for almost half a century, so expect to be welcomed with barely a smile by a grumpy big mama or papa with a Chinese accent. Among them, here are some customer-oriented ones:
Thanapan Plastic (420-426 Trok Issaranuphap, Sampeng, 02-221-0466, 02-224-2284, 02-622-6762. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm) has almost 50 types of water gun, from small pistols (B20) to gigantic cannons with backpack water tanks (B350). Buy three pieces to get wholesale prices.
Charoenchai Store (735 Mangkorn Rd., 02-224-5182, 02-622-5373, 081-689-1319. Open daily 7:30am-7pm) boasts hundreds of choices. They have one extra large artillery piece, for B480. Not an easy thing to lift when full.
Amnuay Porn, A.P. Toys (844/2 Mangkorn Rd., 02-224-4600, 02-224-5197, 02-224-5256. Open daily 8am-6pm) has many types of water guns to choose from. Buy six pieces, or three big ones, to get a wholesale deal. Prices range from B5 to B200-something.
However if you do want to put down that watergun, check out these options.
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We need political reform in Thailand. The military junta’s constitutional drafting committee will not come up with anything of any use. It won’t increase freedom, nor will it decrease the gross inequalities in Thai society.
Everybody should pay tax, and the rich should pay a super tax. We want this money to be used to build a comprehensive welfare state in Thailand.
We want to get rid of the very narrow nationalism which is strangling Thai society and is the root cause of the violence in the South.
We must under no circumstances rely on undemocratic forces to make political changes, whether it be the army, the palace or business people.
There are only two kinds of people who are neutral politically: liars and idiots. If you’ve got a brain, you have a political opinion. But you can have an opinion and lie and say that you’re neutral.
It’s a good thing for students to be exposed to differences of opinion so that they can really make up their own minds.
Have I ever been afraid? Yes. I was afraid on the second day after the coup, when we staged the demonstration. But that’s nothing compared to the man who stood in front of the tanks in Tiananmen Square, or the people who actually confronted the military in May 1992.
The whole notion that education is the key is something I completely oppose. After all, it is the poor who understand that their rights have been taken away by the coup d’etat, whereas people with doctorates are saying that coups can build democracies.
There’s a real problem with the freedom of the press and the freedom of the media. Under the military, we have direct censorship. But we also have self-censorship, when people decide they’re not going to criticize the government.
The army should not own TV and radio stations. The state should set up a public service corporation like the BBC, rather than handing out the contracts to big business.
My mother and father used to talk politics all the time. They were very critical of military dictators and not afraid to stand up to them. My father did that and suffered the consequences.
I have set up a political party. We only have 200 members, we don’t have any members of Parliament and we don’t stand in any elections. But it counts a lot in the long term if you want to build and spread political ideas.
My friends and I believe in politics that doesn’t emphasize important people. If our party were to stand candidates, we would like to see ordinary people standing as members of Parliament.
Thailand? I love and I hate it. I love the beach, the food, the Thai attitude to children, my friends and my memories.
What I don’t like is all the groveling to puu yai, the wai-ing, the narrow-minded nationalism, the periodic military dictatorships, and not being able to walk down the pavement without being run over by a motorbike.
I think I will always be politically active. I would like to see a more just society, a socialist society. Not just in Thailand but everywhere.
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Where are you from?
I am from Chaing Rai, from an Akha village. I have been here for a month or two. I came here with the others from the village.
Why did you come here?
I don’t have a job at home, so it’s better to become a vendor in Bangkok to earn a living.
Is your business going well?
Friends who had been here before told me it was very easy to make a living here, so I decided to come down. But business is not as good as before. There must be a problem that we don’t know about.
Do you really make your products yourself?
Some things I buy, like the silver bracelets; but apart from that they are all handmade. I embroider these bags and headdresses. A bag like this takes me two days to finish.
Are there any problems working on this road?
We have to hide when the municipal police come. If we don’t run, we get arrested.
What are your working hours?
I come here at 5pm and I leave here at around midnight. Then I go back home to embroider the products till 4am. Even if I feel sleepy, I have to do it. I don’t have holidays or weekends off.
Do you earn a lot?
Not at all. I earn very little and I send most of my money back home. I don’t even have any savings.
Who are your customers?
Mostly farangs. I don’t even speak English, but I’ve managed to learn some words that are useful for bargaining.
If you could have anything, what would it be?
I wish I could sell my products here freely, without municipal officers chasing me. Apart from that, life here is better than at home.
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Nice to meet you. BK Magazine was launched in March—free, as it is now and will always be, but bi-weekly instead of every Friday, like clockwork, as it is today. Talk about visionary: long before they were officially an item, we had Paradorn and Tata on the cover of BK No. 001. And our current editor (who was not our editor then) was included in our Hall of Fame, as “class wit” (or was that “nitwit”? It’s so long ago we can’t remember).
The Year of the Snake was, appropriately enough, the start of the Thaksin Era, which began with the “historic victory” of his newly-formed party in the January 6 election. In four years, Chairman Maew promised, Thailand would be free of the scourges of drugs, corruption and poverty. If that sounds ridiculous to you now, don’t forget that he was also crowned the Sexiest Man in Thai Politics by Durex.
Though it seems like we’ve been connected by the ears for longer, it was only six years ago that the iPod was launched. These 5GB devices with “click wheels” that really clicked and batteries that died all-too quickly weren’t the first MP3 players on the market, but, judging from their ubiquity (and Apple’s stock price), they were clearly the best.
We’d rather not remember, but there’s no forgetting the events of September 11, which changed the world forever. In Thailand, we reacted—at times with questionable taste: soon t-shirts of Osama bin Laden were on sale next to t-shirts of George W. Bush, and rapper Da Jim’s “Bin Laden” became an inescapable underground hit.
Speaking of bad taste, let’s not forget about Father of the Year Chalerm Yoobamrung and his completely innocent and misunderstood offspring, who now have different names than they did back in 2001. The exploits of the bar-brawling brothers served to highlight, among other things, the public’s lack of confidence in the rule of law, the shaky relationship between the police and the military, a justice system weighted heavily in favor of elites and the dangers of Bangkok nightlife. Watch where you step.
In sports news, Paradon Srichaphan rose to no. 9 in the world tennis rankings and became the hottest property in town for advertisers as well as saow Thai, specifically dara luk-kreung like Odette and Tata. Speaking of luk-kreung, Tiger Woods, who is understandably tighter with Roger Federer than Ball, paid a high-profile visit in 2001. While his mom Kultida talked about her son on TV, Tiger went on to win the Johnnie Walker Classic, which was played on former temple land that may have been illegally turned into a golf course by godfather Sanoh and then sold to his buddy Thaksin.
It was a big year for film, but not so much for the overly hyped, overly long but predictably award-winning Suriyothai (thankfully it only hogged every screen in town for a week) but for international multi-part franchises Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Captain Wannachai is cute, but he’s no Orlando Bloom—or even Daniel Radcliffe (well he might be...naked).
The big news in the entertainment world was the arrival of Ministry of Sound, which took over the Sukhumvit 12 space that was previously Discovery discotheque and not in RCA or on Ratchadaphisek as it probably should have been. Immediately tagged Best New Night Spot, Best DJ and Best Place to Dance by BK readers, MoS was gone less than two years later, leaving everyone wondering what went wrong. Enforcement of early closing times, maybe?
In the Year of the Horse, we started riding low cost airlines, and soon more people than ever were able to experience flight delays, cancellations, technical problems and shoddy service. Of the early birds, AirAsia is now flying highest, with Orient Thai still One-to-Go-ing along, PB Air out there somewhere and Phuket Air, grounded or not, still giving us nightmares. Go Nok!
The hottest TV program of 2001 was more than just a game show. Kamchad Jud Orn (The Weakest Link) became a phenomenon thanks in part to uni lecturer-turned-host Krittika Kongsompong and her stern sendoff (“You are the weakest link! You loser!”). What also made The Weakest Link controversial, and popular, is that it showed real people being nasty in order to win. Good thing life isn’t like that.
The year saw the second coming of RCA, which was previously left for dead after its first rise and fall. This time celebrities moved in to open their own pubs (Caramile, Chomrom Chom Chan, School Bus) for drinking, dancing, drinking and maybe a bit of other-ing in the underground parking lot if you couldn’t afford a motel. Other hotspots included Route 66, Morgan, Sailing, Cisar and Old Leng.
Unfortunately this was also the era of Purachai Piumsombun, who held RCA and other nightlife areas and venues up as examples of all that was wrong with society. They roamed the strip with cameras and reporters in tow, and called in squads of pee-collecting cops who were particularly sensitive to the color purple. Special nightlife zones were drawn up and closing times were strictly enforced. Punters started looking elsewhere—like Singapore.
Hand in hand with the moral crusade came more government-designed distractions such as pride-building patriotism and record-setting. Grammy was commissioned to create some new versions of the national anthem, which were intended to attract the younger generation; they should have asked Bakery Music instead. Then there was the world’s biggest aerobic session; among the 46,823 participants were celebrities, atheletes, politicians and, of course, then-PM Thaksin, who looks great in Spandex.
In 2003, SARS horrified the world and slapped Asia particularly hard. What began in China spread throughout the region, leaving in its wake deaths—two reported in Thailand—and hitting tourism-dependent economies right where it hurt most. The government responded with another bright idea of that clever boy Thaksin, a B10 million insurance policy for foreign tourists. You die, we pay.
In the Year of the Goat, we flocked like sheep to theaters to see Fan Chan. This feel-good flick was the first movie of the year to gross B100 million. Now one way to ensure a film’s success is to give it a tagline like “A movie from one of the Fan Chan directors,” “A movie from one of the assistants of one of the Fan Chan directors” or “A documentary from a highschool friend of one of the Fan Chan directors.” Thailand also welcomed a new hero, Tony Ja. With his “No Sling, No Stunt” motto, Ja Phanom made Onk-Bak a huge hit and set the stage for international distribution of his next mindless action film, Tom Yum Goong.
Soap opera star Suwanan Kongying compromised relations between Thailand and our neighbor by saying mean things about Cambodians that were quoted in the Rasmei Angkor Newspaper. Only she didn’t. Unfortunately, no one heard her tearful denials until it was too late: Hun Sen was enraged, angry mobs torched the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, Thai flags were burned, Thai businesses vandalized and Thai people attacked. And of course Suwana’s soap operas were banned.
In the Year of the Monkey, Bird Flu invaded Thailand and we were scared senseless, until the PM announced it was again safe to eat properly cooked chicken. Hello, KFC! More monetary reassurance: If you were lucky enough to die of H5N1, the government would pay you B3 million.
The tragedy of the year was the unexpected tsunami disaster. The upside of the tragedy was that the world showed how much it cared by sending money, blood, supplies and more.
The most violent and entertaining battle of the year was the governor election. Fun characters like the massage parlor king and Leena Jung appeared, the latter being disqualified as she paraded around with her transgender dancers.
In 2004 J-Avenue opened as a new hub for the young and trendy crowd. The beginning of the end for predecessor H1, in no time the gorgeous boys and girls had moved down the street and were peacocking at Au Bon Pain.
The reality TV trend kicked off locally with Academy Fantasia, which was soon followed by The Star, Big Brother, Thailand’s Next Top Model and Thailand’s Perfect Man.
But when it comes to real reality, it was a notorious year for celebrities, beginning with fading pop singer Power Pat, and Triumph Kingdom member Joyce, who were both arrested for selling amphetamines. The Casanova rapper Joey Boy got into trouble for joining a sex party, but later claimed he was taking prescription medication—er, sorry, wrong excuse: he said he was just there to watch, not actually participate. And 2004 was also the year Nong Nat became a VCD star and a household name. You go, girl!
As in most years, there was no accounting for taste in 2004. Taiwanese boy band F4 were tops: tickets to their Bangkok Fantasy concert were among the most expensive in town—even more than Mariah—and all 5,000 of the B6,000 tickets sold out within two hours. This was also the year of Tata Young’s comeback. Leaving her cute tomboy look behind, Tata appeared with longer hair, shorter pants and heavier… burdens. Not quite Nong Nat, but her hot-hot-hot videos sparked the usual “youth going down the toilet” debate.
Forget diamonds, gold, and expensive watches. In 2005, wristbands began as fashion for teenagers who wore those multicolored rubber bracelets without a clue as to what they meant or who Lance Armstrong was. But soon, even your grandma had one. The most popular one, without a doubt, is the yellow Long Live the King wristband.
In the Year of the Rooster, Thaksin Shinawatra was named top cock (Person of the Year) in an ABAC Poll. Wow, things can sure change in two years. And we thought love is forever.
Speaking of cocky, Rain flooded Asia with his songs, TV series and images of his sixpack. We were lucky enough to talk to him in BK No. 095. Favorite book: “I don’t have time to read,” Favorite publication: “No magazine in particular,” Favorite website: “I’m too busy to go online,” Favorite song to get you on the dancefloor: “No song in particular.” What a guy.
Siam Paragon ads were on every BTS, wall, leaflet and TV in town. With this kind of marketing, we almost expected to be let down by the “glorious phenomenon.” Truth is, Paragon has lived up to our expectations.
The rise of RCA came again in 2005, when Slim opened its doors and the king of the strip, Route 66, returned with a new-and-improved look. While everyone lemminged along with the rise of hip hop and bling-bling, Astra filled its bare bones interior with more than one kind of music. By the way, despite the rumors it’s still open.
Even bigger, buzz-wise, was the arrival of Mystique. With its aquariums, curtained cubbyholes and comfy Bedouin rooftop retreat, this supposedly New York-style club gave Q-Bar and Bed a run for their money until the neighbors decided they’d had enough of the noise, traffic and wasted punters.
We don’t need to remind you of the coup d’etat and the New Year’s Eve bombs—and we don’t have to tell you what a crap way it was to end the year. But the Year of the Dog wasn’t all bad…
BK loves you way too much to spend an entire two weeks without getting in touch. To spend more time with you, we increased from bi-weekly to weekly—but the official reason was to help you plan your weekend every Friday.
The biggest and most spectacular celebration of this year was for the 60th Anniversary of HM the King’s Accession to the Throne. The country found peace for the occasion as Thais united under one color—the royal yellow. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn stealing shots from the balcony, the human sea of yellow stretching as far as the eye could see, the royal barge procession, the world’s royals gathered to pay homage (and of course the super-hot then-Prince Jigme of Bhutan) were just some of the many touching and moving moments of the celebrations.
Aimed at boosting tourism in Chiang Mai, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 turned out to be a giant phak chee roy na picnic. What, people don’t visit Thailand for our flowers???
Having newspapers, TV and radio wasn’t enough for Sondhi Limthongkul: what he really wanted was to bring down Squareface. It took a marathon runner’s stamina to campaign and rally week after week, but he was there leading the cheers until it all came tumbling down.
In November, mobile phone numbers switched to 10 digits. As if we needed more stress.
We thought of inviting NASA to Thailand when unidentified objects began popping up in Uthai Thani. When they failed to deliver winning lottery numbers, the painful truth had to be accepted. The UFOs were nothing but water-gorged fever relief pads fallen from a plane.
Speaking of foreign round objects, Roti Boy had Bangkokians queuing for hours just to get a taste of those those cloyingly sweet coffee, butter, and sugar buns.
The alcohol advertisement ban for all media cast its shadow on TVs, radios and magazines. At BK, fearing for our jobs, we started drinking more heavily than ever, increasing sales of booze.
After 46 years of the nong ngoo hao project, Suvarnabhumi International Airport came to be in September. We’ll really miss Don Muang, especially that tunnel that was like being in some sick monster’s intestines that went from the domestic to the international terminal. Oh, but wait, DM is back!
Every one of our issues is like a child to us, so you can imagine how painful it was to choose which ones we liked best. If you missed these, shame on you.
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Issue: Mar 16-Apr 5, 2001. Class of 2544. Why: This was our launch issue with Paradon, Tata and a puppy on the cover. We were very excited and we wanted to cover everything in town, review every restaurant, every bar, and interview everyone. We haven’t done too bad. |
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Issue: Oct 5-18, 2001. Free & Easy. Why: We know that you love free stuff—we do too—so we went out and found everything you can get for B0.00: movies, arts, concerts, fitness and beauty trials, free food—and even condoms. |
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Issue: Oct 3-16, 2003. Technicolor Dreams. Why: Our Fall Fashion Issue was so elegant, Vogue must have been jealous—with distinguished photographer Thananon Thanakornkarn. |
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Issue: May 2-15, 2003. Ms. Thang’s Weekend. Why: It’s the birth of our Khun-nhu character who spends her time and money living the high life. She had such a blast, she made a comeback in BK No. 19, Aug 6-19, 2004 issue. |
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Issue: Jul 16-Aug 5, 2004. Haiku. Why: It’s not often that we feel poetic and come up with haikus about what we needed Bangkok to be. |
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Issue: Feb 4-17, 2005. Love, International Style. Why: This is one of the most talked about issues. For Valentine’s Day, we explored the complex business of love between Thais and foreigners. |
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Issue: Jun 3-16, 2005. Be Good. Why: Because we want a better world—and not just great food and cool bars—we rounded up ways to change society for the better. |
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Issue: Apr 7-27, 2006. Water World & Singapore Spree (double issue). Why: It was the first issue of BK with two front covers and no back cover. One side we told you how to survive the Songkran festival, the other heralded a complete shopping guide to Singapore. |
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Issue: Jun 9-15, 2006. Big on Japan. Why: This one was a real big hit (and a small headache). You read it backwards, Japanese-style! Everything inside had been Nippon-ized as well. |
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Issue: Jun 22-29, 2006. Good to be Gay. Why: It’s not all about the cute model on the cover. It was also about celebrating all things LGBT—Venus Flytrap, flavored condoms, and all the things that make being gay so good. |
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How did you start ice-skating?
I began when I was 13, as a hobby, skating at the World Trade Center. But then I fell in love with it, so I took serious lessons for two years before entering competitions. After seven or eight years, I became a coach. But now I just teach as a favor to friends only.
What’s the difference between skating for fun and competitively?
It’s very different. As a hobby it’s fun and recreational. But for competitions, you need a lot more training, plus ballet skills. It’s very serious and you have to practice every day.
Are your parents OK with you being an ice skater?
They are very supportive. They never forbid me to skate or put pressure on me to stop because they know skating is what makes their son happy.
Where do you see this sport going in Thailand?
Not many people are into this sport. Before, when we had the World Trade Center, it was a lot better. Now there are people skating to get to a professional level but fewer people skate recreationally.
What does it take to be a professional ice skater?
It takes a lot of time before you can enter a competition, about 10 years. And most people give up before they reach that level because it’s exhausting and time consuming. You will need confidence and determination.
How did you get into Disney on Ice?
Someone asked me to go for the audition of Beauty and the Beast. I’ve always loved the show, so I thought, why not? Disney on Ice is the dream of any skater.
What makes Disney on Ice special?
Cartoons are a great escape, far from the real world and into the fantasy world. Disney on Ice will make you feel young again.
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I’ve been molded by stage arts.
It’s exhausting, but stage arts allow you to develop your skills more. It takes more body and voice strength, artistic beauty and emotional power.
I like the stage because it’s live.
The basics of stage and TV performance are the same: it’s humanity. It’s a kind of psychological study. Before we perform, we have to know who the character is and we have to understand that person.
We have to know how to control the level of body movement and expression: not too much on TV, not too little on stage. It’s important that the audiences get the same emotional impact.
It’s the same with being a host, you have to make the audience feel that you are really talking to them. They have to feel your presence.
I have always admired Meryl Streep. Many people suspect that those who play mad characters are more talented than those who play ordinary people, but Streep’s talent really shines even when playing characters from ordinary walks of life. Once she’s wrapped in her character, her transformation is total.
She is my inspiration. I used to prefer playing in romantic comedies and I was too lazy to try to change. But when I see her, I feel I have to improve.
Many actors just play themselves in every movie.
I never thought of becoming a star, but I chose to study Dramatic Arts because it’s in my character to perform and learn, not just focus on books.
My first TV job was the host of Phasa Thai Nai Jor. I think part of the reason I got the job was because I spoke Thai clearly. But when I started the work, I realized my spoken Thai still had a lot of room for improvement.
It’s essential to speak clearly and correctly to be a host or reporter.
One has to improve to be of use to one’s self and to society. If a society is full of people of a high quality, it will become a civilized society.
I started my self-improvement workshop Sis to Sis for Life because I want to encourage people to improve. But no one has to be like me, each can develop according to his nature.
Kids nowadays seem very confident, but if you look closely, they lack a core of life experience. Many lack self-respect and cling to stars or singers as role models. They don’t know what they want or what might suit them.
What I am doing is making study fun, by mixing entertainment with knowledge. You don’t learn how to play football from a book: isn’t it better to go into the field and start kicking about?
Many people define studying as going to school and reading books, but for me everywhere is a school.
I like to talk to talented people as I gain a lot of useful knowledge just from casual conversations.
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How did you get together?
E: I was playing music when I could still see, joining school and friends’ bands. But when my sight got blurry, I went to work at the Association of the Blind, where I met Jack. He’s the association’s music instructor. We got along and decided to set up this band.
Jack: I used to be able to see. But I had an accident when I was 14. Strangely, when I lost my eyesight, my urge to play music grew stronger. Then I became an instructor here.
Den: I was born blind and I’ve been playing music for 10 years. Jack and I have been friends since school.
Hack: When I developed sight problems, I was lucky to find the association, and to meet Jack.
How badly does your blindness affect your music?
Jack: When I finished school, I had to decide my future—whether or not to learn music to make a living. The grown-ups didn’t approve of it. People have a negative attitude towards blind musicians. But I knew what I wanted. Studying wasn’t a problem; I just had to try harder than the others. My friends helped me. For music, I use my ears and my memory.
Den: Music is never a problem; it’s my salvation.
How do you combine your different musical tastes to make a single album?
E: Basically, we all like rock music but we blend in what we like. So this album is pop-rock with punk and other things.
Hack: This album is a compromise for us. It’s our beginning; we’ll learn from it.
Why “Ninth Side”?
E: When Thai people face a serious problem, they say it’s mued paad dan [being in the dark on all eight sides]. We like to think, even when you’re in total darkness, there must be a ninth side where there’s light. The ninth side has brought us here.
What do you expect from this album?
Hack: It’s the work that we want people to hear. We try very hard. I hope people will give it a try.
E: I want people to buy this album because they really like it, not because they pity us. If you don’t like it, if it’s not good, don’t buy it.
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Goose down comforters, swimming pools, room service and fancy wining and dining are important factors for a “good” holiday for most of us. For others, what makes their holiday worthwhile is “being good,” even if it means a lot of sweat, dirt and weird food, all in exchange for some genuine smiles. “Voluntourism” (volunteering plus tourism) is the new way to get out of the city to a place close to nature, to make a connection with locals and to help improve something, whether it be the environment or the living conditions of people much less fortunate than you. This can take many shapes: environmental work, teaching, building homes and taking care of the elderly, the disabled, animals or children. You might not return home with a tan and a full shopping bag, but the rewards and memories will put any 4-day/3-night beach package to shame.
This idea has yet to catch on among Thais. Working for others on your own dime, during your holiday to boot, still sounds like something verging on insanity. But these trips can turn out to be more fun and cheaper than a traditional vacation. Apart from the benefits of homestay (authentic local food, habitat and language, getting truly immersed into a community, experiencing real nature and the vibe of a place), what you get is to really communicate with locals and meet interesting fellow volunteers. Homemade yaadong, centipede naamprik, or taking a swim with the buffalos is not on any “close to nature” hotel’s list of features. So for the ultimate travel experience, and the opportunity to help others, here is who to go to.
Getting Ready | First Hand Experiences
Who: Habitat for Humanity is an organization that has the same kind of international brand recognition as Starbucks—except they don’t sell coffee: they make you work for others. It’s an independent non-profit group, run mostly by volunteers and financed by donations, with 2,291 affiliates worldwide. They specialize in building homes for those in need of adequate shelter. But the house owners don’t just sit back and watch their house getting built. This is a sweat equity business. People who want to enjoy the benefits of the program need to complete 50 hours helping to build their neighbors’ houses. The result is that volunteers work shoulder to shoulder with house owners and the neighbors. Most volunteers are foreign tourists, while Thais usually come on company trips.
Where: Habitat for Humanity is now working in 11 provinces in Thailand: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nakornratchasima, Bangkok, Royong, Phang Nga, Phuket, and Ranong.
Commitment: It can be a day, a week, a month, a year, or a lifetime—up to you.
You should know: They don’t provide you with accommodation, food or transportation—nothing. And you will understand the life of a laborer is pretty hard soon enough.
Feel-good factor: You know you are not helping a lazy bastard. You work with the house owner and his neighbors, while learning the culture and language. Who knows, you might get a travel companion or a free guide from there.
How to join: Contact them beforehand at SSP Tower, 15/F, 555 Sukhumvit 63, Klongton Nua, 02-711-6934, www.habitatthailand.org. Walk-in volunteers are occasionally accepted as well. You can help them also by sponsoring a house for B120,000 or by giving any amount you are comfortable with.
Holidayish rating: 2/5
There’s nothing for leisure provided, except interaction between you and the locals. Making this a little bit more of a holiday is entirely up to you.
Who: Supported by the Mirror Foundation and sponsors, this non-profit foundation welcomes volunteers to help educate hilltribe children. It is popular among young Thais, and the volunteers are mostly students, with very few foreigners. So far it has completed 89 trips, each to a different hilltribe village. Kroobannok allows volunteers to teach and, in turn, be students of life. They believe that by teaching us city animals, it opens the horizons of doi kids as well.
Where: Each trip is to a different hilltribe in Chiang Rai.
Commitment: Five-day/four-night. But if you have a group of people, you can ask them to customize your trip.
You should know: Some hilltribes can be as far from the road as a one-day walk and you will need physical strength as well as a light pack—so much for the Louis Vuitton trunk, there are no sherpas in this package. The food can be very different from what you are familiar with and the weather at night can be freezing. They don’t provide transportation to Chiang Rai.
Feel-good factor: It can be a good cultural exchange. You stay in a villager’s house, living with them and eating with them. It’s a chance to take a deep breath of fresh air also. There will be no pollution, no mobile phone signal and no traffic jam, so you have to live without technological interference for a few days. In most places, the scenery is also stunning. Most villagers treat volunteer teachers with high gratitude and respect.
How to Join: The next Kroobannok trip is scheduled for March 1-5 to an Akha village. You can register by logging on to www.bannok.com/volunteer or call Kroo Jadet at 08-7183-3705. The fee is B890 per person, not including transportation to Chiang Rai.
Holidayish rating: 3/5
They will take you to a signature place of this province where you can eat local food before heading to the village. Apart from trekking to your destination, the kids will take you on their fishing, or wood-gathering trips.
Who: Established in 2005, the center helps people affected by the tsunami. Supported by various NGOs and private sponsors, it works hand in hand with locals and volunteers from around the world. It works on both physical and mental relief: home-building and repairing damage but also education and putting smiles on people’s faces. They need volunteers with various skills: construction, translation, IT, communications, fundraising, human resources and English teaching.
Where: Khao Lak, Phang Nga.
Commitment: Usually one month.
You should know: Not good for superstitious people.
Feel-good factor: It’s Khao Lak, you know, where the sea is pure and scenic, especially since the Big One. Homestay with a local family will put you in touch with Southern culture as you go fishing, make batik and collect rubber from trees. Translators are provided for non-Thai speakers. It’s quite a full option tour with everything from labor work to teaching.
How to join: Contact Tsunami Volunteer Center, 26/10 Moo 7, Takua Pah, Phang Nga. 076-485-541, www.tsunamivolunteer.net. Or call Voluntourism Project Manager, Khun Krongkaew at 08-9882-8840.
Holidayish rating: 4/5
They design the program for leisure and comfort as well as for goodwill.
Who: Jumbo River Kwai is a travel agent specializing in holidays in Kanchanaburi. Most of its customers are foreigners from the USA and Scandinavia. Their River Kwai Volunteer Program aims to encourage kids and adults in rural areas to speak English, as English teachers are still in high demand in these remote areas.
Where: Rural areas of Baan Mhong Khao or Moobaan Srisawat in Kanchanaburi.
Commitment: It totally depends on you.
You should know: Teaching English is actually a real job in some parts of the world. Can you handle it?
Feel-good factor: You will stay with a local family far from civilization and surrounded by nature. You will get a chance to observe and help with rice farming and other local activities. And don’t forget to try to pick up the lovely Kanchanaburi accent.
How to join: Contact R.S.P. Jumbo Travel 3/13 Chao Khun Nen Rd., Muang, Kanchanaburi, 034-514-906, 034-512-280, www.jumboriverkwai.com. A one-week trip is B18,600 for two.
Holidayish rating: 4/5
They are professional tour agents so you should have fun.
Who: CRTP is an international project that works with local communities to restore their cultural treasures. It is a self-sufficient organization and the donations from volunteers coming to visit these places are redirected to the local communities. With long-term impact on the communities in mind, CRTP allows volunteers to immerse themselves into the local culture, work on building up the economy and provide environmental and social sustainability. Their current project is now in Nepal.
Where: A centuries-old monastery in Chairro, Nepal.
You should know: It’s not bad, but you’re going to have to pay the kind of cash most of us cannot afford. Plus you have to arrange for your flights to and from Nepal and a night’s accommodation in Kathmandu. Training is provided, though.
Feel-good factor: Nepal is a country of rich culture and stunning art and scenery. Apart from learning the culture, food and the language from the locals, you will be learning and seeing more about the art, beliefs, religion and architecture. And the whole temple thing is a bit Indiana Jones-esque, isn’t it?
Commitment: 12 days.
How to join: The 2007 schedule is April 22-May 3, May 5-16, May 19-30 and June 2-13. To book, you have to make a US$500 deposit (B17,048) on your total US$2,495 (B85,068, ouch!) donation. Visit www.crtp.net or email info@crtp.net.
Holidayish rating: 4/5
It includes some sightseeing and accommodation in a local village. But most of all, it’s Nepal—wow.
Who: North by North East is a travel agency focusing on responsible tourism in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries. It has offices in Luang Prabang and Thailand. Most of their customers are foreigners, but they welcome Thais as well. They organize regular tours as well as voluntours which can be customized to their client’s wishes.
Where: Luang Prabang, Laos and Nakorn Phanom.
You should know: Professional tour agents can sometimes make voluntourism feel less genuine and adventurous.
Feel-good factor: They tailor your trip to what you like. It can be tsunami relief, school building, orphanage assistance, cultural conservation or rural education. But things are also up to what locals need at the time of your trip. Homestay ensures you get the “real deal”.
Commitment: Days or months, your choice. But usually it’s a two-week trip with about nine days of volunteer work.
How to join: Contact 8/40 Ban Nongkham, Sangkalok Rd., Luang Prabang, Laos, www.north-by-north-east.com/voluntourism.asp. Prices usually are usually US$60-100 (B2,026-3,376) a day.
Holidayish rating: 4/5
It’s five days of pure fun and nine days of culture shock. Leave it to the pros to make it a great holiday overall.
Who: Supported by the Karen Hill Tribes Trust, a UK-based charity, this foundation aims to help improve heath, support education and encourage sustainable living for Karen people in Thailand.
Commitment: Usually they need teachers for a semester of three months or for the summer break (eight weeks).
Where: In a remote Karen community.
You should know: You’ll need to commit a big block of time.
Feel-good factor: You will be living with the Karen and even be given a Karen name. You will teach English to children in a local school and learn Karen at the same time. It’s a great way to taste the food, the life and the culture of the Karen.
How to join: Contact the office at 16/4 Soi Intamara 15, Sutisarn Rd., Payathai or call Julia Virulchanya at 02-271-1787, 08-1899-5563. www.karenhilltribes.org.uk. The prices are around €1,000-1,750 (B43,898-76,707) for a three to six month trip or €600 (B26,291) for eight weeks.
Holidayish rating: 4/5
There’s plenty of time for traveling since you’re staying there for so long.
Who: As the name suggests, Eco Explorer Thailand is all about eco-tourism. They provide multiple choices, from homestay travel, veterinary travel to volunteer travel. As they show you the beauty of nature, they also try to promote nature conservation.
Commitment: Recommended for two to four weeks.
Where: They are now offering six voluntourism programs: Elephant Mahout Project (Pattaya), Dusky Langur Conservation Community Project (Prachuabkirikhan’s Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park), Gibbon Rehabitation Project (Phuket), Wild Animal Rescue and Education Project (a rain forest near Baan Talae Nork, not far from Ranong), Kho Tao Animal Clinic (Surat Thani’s Koh Tao Island) and Umphang Homestay English Teaching (Tak).
You should know: These jobs might get your hands dirty, even stinky.
Feel-good factor: If living in the wild is your dream, here’s your chance. These guys are all about real nature and real animals. You will be learning and also educating locals about animal conservation and might become a real mahout in the end.
How to join: Contact 217/1 M00 12, Soi 15, Thepprasit Rd., Tambol Nongprue, Banglrmung, Chonburi, 038-303- 941, www.ecoexplorerthailand.com. Or email volunteer@ecoexplorerthailand.com. B21,824 for the first week and B20,825 for any additional week(s). Walk-in prices are B14,000 for a week without transportation.
Holidayish rating: 2/5
You will be working a full 8 hours a day. That doesn’t leave much time for touring.
Life may not be easy out there. There might not be malls or 7-Elevens for you to grab things you need to survive. Before you go, make a list of what to take with you. Here are a few suggestions.
Books. In a place that may or may not have electricity, you won’t be able to kick back and watch TV, so a book may come in handy. A phrase book for whatever language they speak where you’re going will also help. Check out www.amazon.com or browse around the gigantic Kinokuniya at Siam Paragon (3/F, 02-610-9500/-19).
Notebooks. This could be your journal, diary or sketchbook. Preserve your experience by drawing or writing things down. For cute and lovely ones, try Mola (442/6 Siam Square Soi 11, Rama 1 Rd., 02-654-6276, www.mola.co.th).
Sleeping Bag. If the weather’s too cold or the mattress too hard, your very own sleeping bag can make a huge difference. An air mattress and pillow might be good, too (if you have room in your bag). You can find a sleeping bag for around B400-1,600 and an air mattress for about B1,200 at Karana Travelgear (481-3 between Sukhumvit 25-27, 02-261-5210/1, www.karanatravelgear.com). The lighter the better if you plan on trekking.
Food. We know it’s all about experiencing the local flavors, but the cuisine du jour may not look too tasty all the time for you. It’s not a bad idea to bring something to eat for emergencies. It’s also something you can share with the locals.
Medicine. Smart travelers pack First Aid kits “just in case.” Bandages, paracetamol, Actifed (good for helping you sleep) and mosquito repellent are always good. In some places, you might need some vaccines, too—ask your doctor.
Flashlight. Quite helpful at night, especially for places that don’t have electricity. Equinox (3/F Siam Discovery, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-0340, www.equinoxshop.com) has hand-held, key ring and head-band torches for around B590-3,500.
GPS Navigator. In case you get lost, and there’s no hero by your side, this will help. The Global Position System can keep an eye on you, no matter where you are…as long as your batteries don’t run out. GARMIN eTrex GPS Navigator is available at Sport Mall Global (2/F, Siam Paragon, B8,000).
Satellite Phone. With this high-tech gadget you will never lose touch, wherever you are. You can talk or send faxes in places with no phone signal. The weight is quite light, too—model R190 weighs just 210g with the battery. Prices are around B25,000-45,000. Check out AceS (www.acesthailand.com, 02-502-4000).
Emergency Mobile Charger. Lengthen your chitchatting hours with this special charger that runs with standard batteries. Charge-N-Go is available at Equinox (3/F Siam Discovery Center, 02-658-0340, www.equinoxshop.com, B799).
Mineral Water Spray. Helps refresh and cool your face when the washroom is too far away. Try Evian, available at Boot’s.
Body Deodorant. Very important, seriously. Always remember to use this so your co-workers don’t faint.
Waterless Hand Washing Gel. Wash your hand instantly, anytime, anywhere. B65 at Equinox (3/F Siam Discovery Center, 02-658-0340, www.equinoxshop.com).
Baby Wipes. Another useful item for cleaning your hands, face or body away from a washroom. Just don’t imagine a baby’s butt while wiping. Available in most supermarkets.
Thanyathorn Kosetskornpong (Plum), 25, student at Thammasat University
“The Kroobannok trip with Mirror Foundation really left an impression. The hilltribe kids are pitiful. Their parents are poor and don’t know how to earn a living, except going in town each day, 40-50km away, to work at farms or gardens. They leave the children at home unattended. The kids cannot even sing the national anthem. Some of them are of school age but never go to school because the parents don’t have money. I taught them how to sing our national anthem. Some of them don’t have manners. They are very skinny, with big heads and lack nutrition. They eat nothing but naamprik and salt…they don’t even have sugar.”
Phansiri Mongkolprasit (Fon), Assistant Manager, Public Relations Officer at CitiBank
“I’ve been to Korat with Habitat for Humanity many times. It’s part of CitiGroup’s initiative to give something back to society. CitiGroup has long been helping the organization in sponsoring houses each year. It’s a three-day trip, with accommodation provided by the company. You cannot finish building a house in three days, but I feel really good to be able to give a little help to the villagers. The work is quite laborious, digging earth or carrying things, and you work in the sunlight all day, but it’s a good feeling—seeing the smile of the locals and hearing thanks from them. Even though we had box lunches, sometimes the locals cooked for us. It’s usually simple dishes like khai jiaw but we really appreciate their generosity. I got to sightsee a bit, too.”
Peter Wowkowych, 44, architect for Sony Pictures Entertainment, California, USA
“The work with the Cultural Restoration Tourism Project can be as hard or as easy as you make it. We spent two weeks restoring a centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery—Chairro Gompa. Some people spent all their time restoring the artwork, using fine brushes to clean the paintings and woodwork from years of dirt and debris. Others, including myself, divided our time between working on the artwork and more labor-intensive work: hauling out collapsed timber roofs and stone walls from the monk’s quarters of the monastery complex. It was such a new experience for all of us that every day brought new discoveries as we cleaned the art. Even when hauling timber, we would discover interesting details of the buildings buried in the years of rubble. The scenery of the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains was a stunning place to work, as well. To be surrounded by the highest mountains on Earth is an awe-inspiring feeling. I still keep in touch with many people both in the volunteer group as well as some of the Nepalese people we worked with. I quickly became close friends with the Kathmandu architect working on the project with us. Since I too am an architect, we had much in common.”
Claudia Thompson, 57, carpenter, California, USA
“I’m volunteering for Elephant Mahout Project with Eco Explorer and I’m very happy about it. I’ve learned some amazing skills and it’s an honor for me that I can do this for the elephants. I’ve always been interested in elephants and working here just increases my love for them. There are ample facilities and life is quite easy. I’ve got many friends here, Thais and British. I want to tell other people that this is a once in a lifetime experience. Working with animals is very important and we still need a lot more volunteers.”
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