BK: How long have you been selling fried pork?
Boy: About a year. I was a messenger for a company in Thong Lor before I decided to start helping my aunt sell fried pork. But the stall has been around for almost six years.

BK: Was it a hard decision to quit your job?
Boy: Not at all. It’s a family business and it’s fun because I get to talk to customers. I like jobs where I can talk to people. I persuade passersby to try my fried pork by talking to them in a friendly manner.

BK: What’s your daily routine like?
Boy: I sell fried pork every day except on Sundays, from 5am-6pm. We have Mondays off every two weeks. Weekdays are busier than Saturdays, though. Our customers are all ages from teeangers to people in their 60s. There are celebrities too, like DJ Chao Chao and Tong Tong Mokjok.

BK: Have you ever tried fried pork from other vendors?
Boy: No. But there are many vendors that have tried to make fried pork like ours. I’m confident in our fried pork, though, because each day I am able to sell 90 to 100 kilos [1 kilo is B340]. What’s special about Moo Tod Chao Wang is that the pork is soft and tasty. My family now has 16 branches, including Silom and Klongsan Pier.

BK: Are your stalls affected by the economy?
Boy: Yes. When the price of pork increased, I had to raise the prices a bit. I got fewer customers but I can still keep selling constantly. The palm oil is also expensive at B60 a bottle.

BK: Do you have any other dreams?
Boy: Like everyone, I want a good social status and good well-being for my family. If I have enough money I would expand this business and have more branches. I would also have new stalls under my own name and set it up in busy areas.

BK: If you were not selling fried pork, what would you be doing? Do you think you will be doing this forever?
Boy: I would go back to my previous job. I only came to help my aunt because there were not enough people. This is a family business and I think I should keep doing this until the next generation can take care of themselves. Interview by Sasinipa Wasantapruek and Aimmarin Siritantitam

I was born in the USA as my parents were living there at the time. My father had won a doctorate scholarship so he brought my mother with him. We came back to live in Chiang Mai when I was three.

I formed a secret gang called “Men in Black” to agitate at my school when I was in grade 11. I did it because I didn’t like that our school had accepted twice as many students as they could manage. Many of them had connections with school officials.

We climbed the school wall to break in at night and put up posters saying “no privileged children” on the wall. The teachers knew who did it but they had no evidence, so we didn’t get caught.

I started listening to music because my father listened to an English radio station in Chiang Mai where he was a newsreader. The station played international songs.

The first album I bought was Mariah Carey’s Music Box. I remembered that I went to the record shop intending to buy an international music cassette without knowing any of the singers. I ended up picking Mariah’s album just because she looked so pretty—well, back then she did.

I instantly fell in love with her music after I played the cassette. After that, I bought all of Michael Jackson’s albums and started to buy music regularly.

I started to play drums in grade nine after I asked my senior at school if I could play in his band. I also taught myself to play guitar mostly from Tommy Emmanuel’s finger-style music. I formed a vocal group with four of my friends.

I never studied music formally but I tried to listen and wrote down the notes.
I sang and played percussion in a pub every night during university. But it became impossible to do so in junior and senior years because classes were tough. Plus some of the professors were friends of my father, who is also a professor there. So I couldn’t skip class after playing music all night.

I became a member of ETC when the former lead singer of the band, Deer, got a record deal with another band, Acappella 7. The head of the band asked me to fill in. It took four years for us to have our first album in 2004.

I play drums very well when I’m heartbroken. Once my friend told me I played so beautifully that it sounded like the feelings came out of the drums. That’s what I love most about music. It’s an emotional outlet.

I’m very glad that Sorayuth Sutasanajinda [Channel 3 anchor] chose our song as Lin Ping’s song. At some concerts, the audience even asks us to play “Lin Ping’s song.” That’s pretty funny actually.

I personally think Lin Ping and our song, “Sing Mee Chee Wit Tee Riak Wa Hua Jai” (“A Living Thing Called Heart”), are perfect for each other. Plus, we’re from Chiang Mai. A Chiang Mai panda and a Chiang Mai band, it’s like we were destined to meet! But I’ve never seen her.

The first days of my monkhood were really confusing when I was ordained earlier this year. I was so worried about my work. I couldn’t rest my mind. All my life has always been so busy.

My advisor monk told me to practice meditation. It allowed me to look into myself and discover the cause of my suffering. It was like waking up in the middle of an invigorating waterfall. It was the brightest moment.

I wanted to stay in the monkhood a little longer but I had to get my projects done. Now I still try to find some free time to practice meditation.
I want to enhance my music skills as much as I can. I also focus on getting better at drums because I want to be a professional in this field.

We’re releasing our songs in EPs because we feel that every song in the album is single-worthy. We don’t want any of them to be left out. Our new album, PUSH, is out next year.

I hate exercising in fitness centers. It always makes me feel uncomfortable. I love wake-boarding. If I’m free, I go for half a day. I love the water, the sun and the vastness of the sea.

If I were the governor of Bangkok, I would implement ways to improve fast transportation. I might build a special motorcycle lane and create a formal motorcycle taxi system.

I want to be like Joey Boy. He has achieved all that he has wanted and has become an expert in the field he loves. He no longer makes music just for money, but because he truly loves it and wants to help others. I want to be like that too. Interview by Kanyanun Sunglaw and Nuchanat Prathumsuwan

Your latest exhibition deals with the misled youth roaming around Bangkok's streets. Why did you choose to focus on these kids?
I feel like street kids are viewed as ghosts socially. No one can see them, like air. Like stars, if you lose one, nobody cares. But their youth is very pure and very alive. The kids in YOUTH are dangerous, but I want to make them look fun. I don't want to make people feel pity. I am interested in their smile, rather than how poor they are. They have a hard life, but they still have a smile. They have fashion and style. They do their hair and they have hormones. Youth is fun.

What kind of gear did you use for the YOUTH Exhibition?
A FujiFilm camera I got in Japan for 1000 baht and some expired film.

Why such low grade equipment?
I wanted to link it with [my subjects' lives]. They don't know death. They don't know time. Time and death don't matter. In their lives, everything isn't perfect, so I don't want to use perfect equipment.

The expired film gave the photos a very ghostly, enchanted feel. Did you plan on this? Did you retouch anything?
All of my photos and the ones in YOUTH are analogue and never retouched. I think they way the photos turned out is charming. But it was all by chance. I never think, “today, I want to shoot this.” I just bring my camera with me everyday and see what comes of it. I don't know the effect of the camera. I follow the idea and make it happen.

Your unorthodox style has created some very original photos. What is your technique?
My technique is less about photo skill, and more about communicating with people to share something with me. I want to find ways to open my subject's hearts. The essence of a photo is something I put on film. That's what a photo is. It's not about quality. Quality doesn't mean photo. If you can print it, see it and feel something, that's a photo.

Your subjects are dangerous people in dangerous places. Has anything ever happened to you?
Thailand has a poem, “If you want a tiger kid, you should go to tiger mountain.” If you want to document violence, then go to the ghettos. Two years ago I was taking photos of motorcycle taxi guys. I couldn't say I was a photographer because I was undercover. Somebody saw my flash and hit me on the head and I was knocked out.

How would you describe your art?
I never say I'm an artist. I'm a photographer. I follow ideas. I don't follow the camera. I can use any camera to make a photo. My background in fashion and my fashion sense makes my photos different than other journal photographer's. After that, I just have fun meeting strangers on the street.

Is your work political?
My work is political. Photography is how I make my point. I think all violence comes from politics in some way. Politicians never make people think about education. Education is very important, especially for these kids. They're always like “make money, make money,” but money comes from education too.

When did you realize that you wanted to be a documentary photographer?
During my Bachelor's degree, I focused on being a fashion photographer right up until my exit thesis. I changed my thesis last minute to documenting what I knew best: my hometown, Bangkok.

What was your upbringing like?
My family wasn't rich, but they gave me good advice. It was hard going to University. I couldn't go out with my friends because I never had money. That's why I didn't start smoking and drinking. I think I'm lucky.

YOUTH is on display from Jun 4-26 at BKK Arthouse, 3/F, BACC.

Opened last summer, Talad Rod Fai (the train market) has quickly become the new beloved weekend night market and an essential spot for vintage shoppers. Located on Kampangpetch Road, not too far from MRT Kampangpetch, Talad Rot Fai’s many stalls offer fashion, décor, toys and more, but unlike its older brother, Ratchada Night Market, Rod Fai Market has a more casual vibe and isn’t quite as packed. And even if you’re into buying secondhand stuff, you can still stroll the stalls with friends, sipping some cold drinks or snacking on some food and just enjoying the evening breeze and old school music.

In the wide open space available, most of the products are laid out on the ground or are hanging off the owners’ retro cars. Used clothes in good condition or even brand names start from as little as B100. Accessories like sunglasses and vintage suitcases start from B2,500. There are also some unsual finds that you never knew you even wanted, like 20-year-old knives for B29, American license plates from various states, a B300 baseball bat in different colors, an odd B50 cylinder-shaped carton that was used as a paracetamol container and even toothpaste and soaps from decades past. And if you love collecting merchandise from brands like Coke, Pepsi or Heineken, there are plenty to choose from. Mechanic tools, vehicle spare parts, 70s cars and bicycles are all available as well.

Not all this junk is just for decoration though. Rot Fai Market is full of old gadgets like fans, radios, telephones and film cameras from when you were still in kindergarten. And the shops in the old train warehouse are full of 70s-90s furniture: sofas, chandeliers, dining tables, and sets of china and even barber shop chairs—everything you need to open your own retro bar.

And if that gets you hungry and thirsty, try grabbing a cup of foamy Thai iced tea, vintage style soda and cocktails at one of the garage-style bars. Or take a seat on the wooden platform near the railway at the back of the market to grab a bite.

Kampaengpetch Rd., 081-920-3972. MRT Kamphaengphet. Open Sat-Sun 4pm-1am but most of the vendors won’t get there until 5:30pm.

1. Assemble the right people—and the right number. Choose friends who share your level of interest and commitment, and of course, who are fun. Have a number large enough to comfortably cover costs (and help drink the wine) but not so many that it gets hard to keep track. Six is good.
2.  Decide on a budget. Presumably, you’ll want all members to chip in for the cost of the six or twelve bottles being delivered. Work within the budget to make sure everyone can continue participating. There are plenty of great wines that don’t cost the earth. (If you do want to enjoy some fancier wines, you can reduce the total number of wines ordered.)
3.  Pick a theme. For each meeting—and hence each order—choose a general region or a couple of varietals you want to taste in detail. This can be as general as “cabernet sauvignons from Chile” and “chardonnays from California” or as specific as “shiraz from Barossa Valley.” Do a mix of whites and reds to make things fun.
4.  Research your wines. The host can be in charge of contacting the importer for any wine notes if available. If not, a google search can yield enough information to go on.
5.  Order the wine. You have a theme, a budget, and tasting notes: pick what sounds yummy and send in your order.
6.  Get together and drink. At the meeting, taste the wines and discuss them before reading the notes. Before going home (get a cab!), decide on the next meeting’s theme. (Trust us, doing this after the fact takes forever.)
7.  Host on a rotating basis. The host can be in charge of collecting everyone’s suggestions, compiling a list of wines and making the order. They can also provide snacks and glasses and make sure that tasting notes are ready when needed. To encourage hosting, you might decide that each host gets to keep all the leftover wine.

Panda Diary

Premier May 12
The movie: A production crew was allowed inside the cages of Ueno Zoo to shoot new-born baby pandas in their mother’s care. Some of you may think you’ve had enough of the black and white bears but the little pandas in this film will melt your hearts.
The location: This cuteness-overloaded documentary was filmed in Uneo Zoo, Tokyo.
Closer to home: Good ol’ Lin Ping is still at Chiang Mai Zoo (ticket B50 plus another B50 to see the pandas. www.chiangmaizoo.com) with her parents, although she’s pretty big now.

Puen Mai Kao (August Friends)

Premier May 26
The movie: To fulfill their vow, five high school friends, played by five members of August, are travelling from Bangkok to Lampang by bike, a trip that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
The location: This road trip movie takes us along the 625 km from Bangkok to Lampang while stopping at provinces like Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet.
Closer to home: We’d love to think the movie will inspire a group of friends to get on their saddles and ride. But hey, your butts will be pretty sore before you even get to Ayutthaya. A lot closer is Ampawa, where Thai Teeb (082-777-5999, www.iamyoungdee.com/thaiteeb_ampawa) offers bikes for rent as well as map so you can explore the areas culture and landmarks. Rentals start from B60 per hour.

Iron Pussy: A Kimchi Affair

Premier TBA
The movie: Part of Camellia, a project by three directors from three different countries who each made a love film, Iron Pussy: A Kimchi Affair, by Wisit Sasanatieng, tells the love story between two guys, a spy who has to dress like a woman and a mysterious Korean man.
The location: The port city of Pusan, Korea.
Closer to home: Air tickets to South Korea are pretty cheap at the moment so we encourage you to escape to the cooler mists in Pusan. A roundtrip ticket from THAI Airways (www.thaiairways.com) starts from B18,000 while Korean Air (www.koreanair.com) is from B22,000.

Monte Carlo

Premier TBA
The movie: Three young girls are on their vacation in Paris when one of them, Grace (played by Selena Gomez), is mistaken for a British heiress, somehow causing the three friends to end up in Monte Carlo, turning their dream holiday into a sensational misadventure.
The location: You might think Selena Gomez is a terrible casting decision. Yeah, we agree. But at least,the movie takes us to several hotspots around Paris and Monte Carlo.
Closer to home: Try the Ocean Marina Yacht Club (038-237-310/-23, www.oceanmarinayacthclub.com) in Pattaya where a two-hour sunset cruise together with room, breakfast and dinner is for B18,192 for four people. Too pricey? You can always hit the casinos in Poi Pet.

One Day

Premier Jul 21
The movie: At their first meeting on their graduation day, two completely different people, Emma, an ambitious principled young woman and Dexter, a wealthy fun-loving guy, run into each other again twenty years later.
The location: This romantic drama was filmed around the famous landmarks of Edinburgh and London. Among others, we like the scene when the couple are at Arthur’s Seat Hill overlooking the entire city of Edinburgh.
Closer to home: China has wonderfully empty fake European cities, like Thames Town or Luodian New Town both in the outskirts of Shanghai. THAI Airways (www.thaiairways.com) flies to Shanghai from B22,225.

The Hangover Part II

Premier May 26
The movie: Phil, Alan and Stu are on another giddy misadventure as they travel to Krabi for Stu’s wedding only to find themselves waking up half conscious in the city of Bangkok.
The location: Though most of the story takes place in Bangkok’s popular landmarks like Yaowarat, the old town and the Chao Phraya, the trip begins at the high-end resort Phulay Bay the Ritz-Carlton Reserves in Krabi where Stu’s wedding is supposed to take place. The world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserves promises a luxurious setting designed by Lek Bunnag hugged by lush gardens and peaceful beach and Andaman sea.
Closer to home: Rooms at Phulay Bay are expensive (from B19,550) so you might consider other options with the same view. Try The Elements Krabi (from B3,000, www.theelementsresort.com) or Tup kaek Sunset (from B2,100, www.tupkaeksunset.com).

FILM-MADE FAMES
Tourist hot-spots that got that way after being featured on the silver screen.

Nami Island, South Korea
When autumn arrives and all the leaves turn red, this small private island becomes the hottest romantic destination for K-Pop lovers as it’s the location of hit Asia series Winter Sonata. It was so featured in Hello Stranger (2010), too.

New Zealand
A pair of islands once ruled by sheep and kiwi birds has turned into a favorite among tourists looking for the picturesque scenery featured in the The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003).

Zhang Jia Jie Forest Park, China
Pillar-like formations in this UNESCO Global GeoPark site are regarded as the inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar (2010). Among thousands, the 3,544-foot Southern Sky column has even been renamed as Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.