Al Majlis

83/8 Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-392-2345. Open daily 12:30pm-12:30am.
Hidden in the middle of a residential area and part of the Pradu Spa, this Moroccan tearoom has a small yard and big fluffy pillows to flop down on while you’re picking from their carefully selected wine list. You can even hear the noise of little crickets welcoming winter.

Indy Trees Bar

44/4 Cheua Plerng Rd., under Rama 4 Expressway, 02-249-0222-3. Open daily 5pm-1am.
With its rather mysterious location by a train track and under an expressway, Indy Trees Bar has that exclusive in-the-know vibe. Decked out in retro style, the bar has three different zones (there are even karaoke rooms), but we recommend the canopied garden where you’ll be treated to some ear candy by a mellow band.

Be-Zeen

The Town Road Plaza, Town in Town, 02-530-8276. Open daily 6pm-1am.
In far faraway Town in Town, this outdoor bar offers good food along with pop tunes played by live bands. And when you’ve had enough of winter in the countryside (or almost) you can always retreat to nearby Ekkamai.

Spring, Summer, Winter

199 Soi Promsri 2, between Sukhumvit 49 and 39, 02-392-2747. Open daily 5-11pm.
Get literal and head down to Winter (the bar) after a nice meal at Spring (the restaurant). There’s a lawn in front of the restaurant so you can chill after nightfall on the big pillows they lay out there. Then start drinking well-blended cocktails for the grown-ups and yummy chocolate desserts (from Summer) for the sweet-toothed.
 

Technique & medium: Platinum prints.

Why did you choose to touch on the subject of Buddhism and why in Luang Prabang in particular?
Luang Prabang, having been closed to visitors for many decades, offers me an opportunity to document the revival of Theravada Buddhism in Laos in a very unique way.

What’s the Buddhist Heritage Project?
My work is community-based, and with the sangha in Luang Prabang, we set up the Buddhist Heritage Project which includes the Buddhist Archive of Photography, a 120-year archive of photographs from monasteries in Luang Prabang, the Buddhist Academy of Higher Education and an enlistment of endangered art objects in Luang Prabang for the establishment of a Museum at Vat Saen Sukharam. Finally, we also have the Vipassana teaching retreats.

Tell us about “Courage”?
This is a novice, or little naga, who’s going through ordination to enter the sangha, a rite of passage that requires great courage for a boy. The portrait captures the change in his entire composure and spirit as he transitions into becoming a novice.

Your past works have mostly been in black and white. Would you say that defines your own personal style?
Black-and-white has power when it comes to subjects like religion. When done in platinum prints as in this exhibition, it is a special combination of the subject and the medium that has to be experienced in person. That is the hallmark of this show.

How does being a writer help you in your photography and vice versa?
The writing keeps me intellectually stimulated and my photography work reflects that.

Held as part of the 6th International Butoh Festival (Dec 1-31), Mind/Body/Time is a movement-based workshop aiming to cultivate presence and character. Set for Dec 11, from 1:30-4:30pm, at Gaia by HOPS (32 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 086-986-6639. www.gaiabyhops.com), the workshop is led by Japanese/American butoh master Michael Sakamoto. It costs B300 to enroll. Besides the workshop, there are also butoh performances and a photo exhibition. For further details, contact 080-773-6607 or email [email protected].

What inspired 18 Monkeys?
I had a chance to go see the Queen’s Khon: Nang Loi episode, and was impressed with the army of monkeys. There was something contemporary about them. I’m particularly interested in Monkey Kasorntamala, because he still fights for King Rama, even though he took a friend-for-life oath with the King’s nemesis, Demon Mungornkan. It made me question Kasorntamala’s motives and the dilemma of duty and friendship he faces. It’s political and very relevant.

What were some of the challenges during the making of this production?
The seven performers come from different acting backgrounds and they’re all highly individualistic. It’s pretty challenging to get them to interpret my visions the way I want it. However, they have to be really passionate about what they’re portraying to be convincing.

Your works of late have been re-interpretations of Thai classics. Is that the direction you’re currently heading in?
Not necessarily. My previous productions saw a mix of East and West, like Carmen and Sudsakorn. The latter turned likay into a modern dance theater, which received overwhelmingly positive feedback. I think it depends on my inspiration from travelling aboard as well as the things and people surrounding me. My style is for each performer to have an equal part in communicating with the audience. I don’t like doing the same things, but sometimes the traditional Thai performing arts provide an invaluable source for me, or any artist, to create.

What do you think about the dying art of khon?
I think putting khon in a more modern, relevant context might be another solution in preserving and spreading this precious national art form. Any kind of art has a beauty in itself and it has an undying power to inspire.

Keeping up 18 Monkeys at Patravadi Theater

Est. 33

Bldg. E, Crystal Design Center, 1420/1 Praditmanoontham Rd. 02-102-2096. www.est-33.com. Open daily 11am-midnight
It might be owned by Singha, but thanks to the influence of the people behind Minibar this microbrewery happens to be an ultra chic offering of tasty food to go with some interesting, freshly-brewed beers. It also doubles as a mini beer museum (with resident brew master), aiming to impart the company’s history. Sit at the bar, hugging the glass tanks, and watch your beer brew right in front of you. Est. 33 Shandy (B150) and Fire Drop (B180) are the two big sellers.

Pint Beer Park

Park Lane Ekamai, 18 Ekamai Rd., 02-382-0071. Open daily 11am-midnight
With its contemporary décor, Pint Beer Park steers clear of the tackiness of English pub, in favor of the laid-back vibe of most Thai pubs. Their fusion food is decent too, but the highlight lies in the range of more exotic Japanese beers like Sapporo and Yebisu, both usually hard to find in the city.

HOBS

Penny’s Balcony, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Soi Thong Lor), 02-392-3513. Open daily 11am-midnight
This venue might be on the small side but House of Beers certainly serves up an impressive range of ales with a special focus on Belgian brews. The cooler weather this time of year means you can grab a Hoegaarden or Leffe and head out to their alfresco patio and watch Thong Lor street life while getting sozzled with Pater.

Beer Gardens

See http://bit.ly/d4FK9L
At the end of the day nothing beats the fun of ogling beer pretties with your dad at a beer garden. Luckily, at this time of the year, there are a host for you to choose from. It’s a great alternative especially if you throw in the live music and a bit of breeze. Really want to impress your old man? Take him up to the Heineken GreenSpace on the United Center’s 47th floor (Silom Rd., BTS Sala Daeng) for some spectacular views.