Why do you like to act so provocatively? 

I don’t see it as provocative. It’s a way to bring people’s attention to the message that I want to communicate. Regarding the pose with the Pridi Panomyong statue at Thammasat University, I just wanted to remind people that Pridi would have wanted students to follow his principles, not simply worship him. That statue is just stone. The act was criticized by many, but I just used sex as a tool to communicate that uniforms are controlling our true identity. I quit Chulalongkorn University because they abused my fundamental human rights, forcing transgender students to wear male uniforms and cut their hair short. I couldn’t stand for that. Thammasat gave me the freedom to be who I am.

People say you only did it because you want to be famous.

That’s so untrue. Why would I put myself in a position where people are denouncing me and even cursing my family? I just want to raise awareness of the fact that people have the right to go against tradition and culture, which are often just concepts used to control people. 

Have you been threatened? 

Yes, a lot, but mostly on the internet, not in reality. I did have to run away once, though, after I saw a bunch of people walk towards me with a look of hatred. 

Why do you keep doing it?

I believe it’s a way of showing people that not everyone in society has to think the same way. We must learn to tolerate and accept one another so that we can live together without have to resort to violence.  

Why are you against this controversial amnesty bill?

This law is totally unfair for people who lost their lives. There was a massacre in 2010 and those who ordered the killings, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Tueksuban, will get away with it. Even Thaksin Shinawatra, I want him to be punished for his involvement in the killings in the South, the Krue Se Mosque incident and Tak Bai incident. This amnesty is unlawful as it’s against the human rights of the people who died. You can’t just forget that. It shows that Thai society just doesn’t learn from past mistakes. We had killings in 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2006, and, in all those incidents, ordinary people are always the biggest losers. I feel betrayed by the Pheu Thai Party. 

What’s next for you?

I will campaign to reduce gender discrimination, especially against transgenders. If we aren’t as pretty as Poy Trichada, then we are always treated as a joke, and that’s not right. I also dream to work in journalism to encourage people to understand this important issue. 

What is Zine?

Zine is actually an event that originated in New York. It’s a place where artists, designers, photographers and other creatives gather to show off their handmade magazines. 

How did it come to Bangkok?

My friends in Tokyo launched Here is Zine Tokyo, which has taken place for six years now. I’ve also played a part in it. After talking to them, I decided it was time to launch this in Thailand. I have invited 18 Thai designers and another 20 Japanese designers to show off their works which are all limited edition. This is the first time that the event is being held outside Japan. 

As the head of a leading design company, how do you see the Thai graphic design scene?

It’s always growing and will continue to grow further in the future. There’s more to communication than just a language. The term “graphic designer” has come a long way but some people still think that it’s something related to computer programming, which is a viewpoint we want to change. While graphics are defined as a 2D-form, it is something more than that. It’s a form of communication involving different senses. Many graphic works involve speech, too, and take time to be made. Our industry is not lacking in designers, but we need people who simply love designing and can adjust their work to different fields.

What’s next for you?

I’m going to be part of Bangkok International Typographic Symposium 2013 (BITS MMXIII) as a speaker. This time I’ll be talking about fonts that have become part of our everyday usage. The starting point of my interest came when I went to a public library here in Thailand where they keep ancient documents with old fonts. I felt a connection with the past and found it interesting that here in the present we still use a lot of stuff from the past.

Doi Angkhang has long been known as the place where HM the King’s Royal Projects began, in a bid to rid the Northern hills of opium fields. Some 30 years later, the valley is a lush green, replete with popular attractions like beautiful gardens and fruit plantations. Those who crave cool weather will also be delighted to note that temperatures here sometimes drop below zero—during late December and early January, frost is commonly found on the grass. Here’s what’s making present-day Doi Angkhang more than just a retreat from the heat.  

Farm Route

You might regularly hear about food sourced from the Royal Projects but Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station is actually where it first started. On the 2.2-kilometer ring road around the station, you can hop out and visit plantations where they grow various kinds of cool weather fruits such as pears, peaches, strawberries, persimmon, kiwi fruit, pomegranate and blueberries. One you can’t miss is the Japanese apricot plot, which has been used as the setting for many romantic scenes in Thai movies and lakorn (just think of Nadej and Yaya in Torranee Ni Nee Krai Krong). Here, apricot trees dot the lush green carpet-like field. Opposite is the equally enticing vegetable demonstration plantation where you will be amazed by the colorful vegetables grown in a big open-air greenhouse. For flower lovers, too, this is a paradise. There are many flower gardens inside the station which are a sight to behold, especially in winter, such as the English Rose Garden and the Bonsai Garden. The most fascinating is probably the outdoor Eighty Garden, situated in front of the Angkhang Club, while the Flower Green House is another can’t-miss for its botanical wonders. When the afternoon arrives, a visit to the Tea Storage is another good option as tea is another popular product grown here. You can walk around or opt to ride one of the mules that the station offers during winter—contact the station in advance at 053-450-107/9, www.angkhangstation.com. The real good news is this year is set to be the first year that the Japanese sakura will bloom at the station, in late November, as opposed to the praya suekrong (Thai cherry blossom), which bloom late December or early January. 

Sunrise Route

Chasing the sun is a popular activity in the hills of the North. There are many spots to catch the sunrise, the easiest to reach being at the Angkhang Military Base, near the camping point on the way to Nor Lae village. Choose from the wooden terrace at the military compound or the small hill at the camping point. After watching the sun come up, you might want to stretch your legs on the 30-minute Nor Lae trekking route which offers great views of the mountains over in Myanmar. Another great way to welcome the morning is by paying a visit to the strawberry fields and tea fields of the 2000 Plantation—nothing like a view of a misty mountainside to start the day. You can also spot gulab panpee (rhododendron) some 4.5 kilometers from the station. The best time to see the flowers here is December-February when the fresh blooms go all the way up to the summit, called Nern Pankao, the highest hill in Angkhang at 1,928 meters. Afterwards, in March, you’ll find lots of fireflies around the station, too. 

Cultural Route

There are three main villages where visitors can get a glimpse of the local hill tribe culture, the most popular being Nor Lae village. The villagers belong to the Palong or Dara-ang tribes and are the main people responsible for growing the produce at Ang Khang station. Sat on the hill above the village is Nor Lae military base where you can enjoy another panoramic view of Myanmar’s mountains. Another can’t-miss village is Khob Dong village, home to the Mu Ser Dam tribe who live here in bamboo houses dotting the hill. The slightly more developed Ban Luang village, meanwhile, is a Yunnan village where a lot of Chinese migrated to during WWII.

Food Route

You don’t need to search far and wide for a feed as there’s plenty of good stuff to be found inside the Royal Agricultural Station. Head to Angkhang Club for a true taste of the valley with a long list of dishes ranging from hill tribe specialties to produce from the royal projects. Their kha moo with man tou (braised pork with fried Chinese bun, B100) is particularly moreish, as is the nam prik Angkhang (B80), made with the hill tribes’ fermented soy bean paste recipe. Salads are also highly recommended with the ingredients picked fresh from the station. Other dining options require a bit of exercise, but if you head to Ban Luang Village you can try the tasty khao soi (curry noodle) made in the Yunnan style at Ali (053-969-431, 081-022-6570). The soup here is clearer and not as thick as the typical Northern version. Their salapao (stuffed Chinese bun) with black bean is a great dessert option, too. 

Essentials

Where to stay

Angkhang Station Guesthouse. 

Cozy accommodation is offered on-site at the station from two people per room up to five people per room. Rates during winter are B1,500-B5,500 per night. 053-450-107/9, http://www.angkhangstation.com

Angkhang Nature Resort. 

Owned by the Royal Project Foundation but run by Onyx Hospitality Group, the resort is sat in front of the station. As the weather gets pretty cold in the winter, the hotel is equipped with electric blankets. Rates start from B3,000 for a mountain view room and B3,500 for a garden view. 053-450-110, http://bit.ly/16nQ6MH

How to get there

By Car 

From Chiang Mai, take Highway No.107 passing Chiang Dao district until you reaching Fang district then turn left onto Road No.1249 for the station. 

By Bus 

Make your way to Chiang Mai then choose from several options to get to Doi Angkhang. The easiest way is to catch the daily commute offered by both vans and buses at Chang Puak Gate. When you reach the entrance of Doi Angkhang, there will be a small bus to take you up to the station.

Every art show ignites some sort of change in me. My art is drawn from my experiences, my learning and my fondness for certain things. So, when I get comments from people about my work, it helps me shape things in my head.

My shows at the Venice Biennale helped me connect with the feelings of Thai people living abroad. Some came to see my show and cried with pride at the fact that Thai artists were present at this big international event. I never thought such a thing was important, but now I do. Thai art helped them come together.

Communities are key to a long-lasting art scene. I’ve tried to bring the arts into people’s daily lives, but it means nothing if they don’t participate or connect with it.

It’s important to encourage people to make art by whatever means possible. I’m supportive of people creating any type of art, even sewing bags. This can only help our art grow. 

People are drawn to art when they see some benefit. I admit that not everyone in Ratchaburi admires art. But when it brings benefits, like more visitors, it might encourage them to participate more. It depends on them understanding [the benefits].

Art isn’t something that has to be put in a frame. Thai society still treats art as this standalone concept. People aren’t really aware that it’s part of their daily life. The way you hang a picture on your wall or decorate your desk—art is all around you. 

Crafts haven’t always been in my interests. I used to feel opposed to it when I found out I was to be the next generation to take care of Tao Hong Tai. I didn’t care about studying as I knew that no matter what, I had to come back to run the business. I even studied to be a librarian for a semester before my dad sent me to study overseas.

Studying in Germany was my destiny. I felt so depressed about being sent there. I even wondered, why did I have to be put through all this shit? I had no choice but to take a pottery class to get a certificate to get into university. After two years, I started loving it. 

The way Germans live surrounded by art inspired me to create that kind of environment back in Thailand. They have beautiful architecture, galleries and city planning. I want our kids to have that here. I’ve started doing it myself—it might not be much but it’s better than having nothing.

Being surrounded by art doesn’t automatically make someone an artist, but living in beautiful surroundings can stimulate imagination and creativity. It can also help people feel a bond with their place. Even getting one person to feel this way is a success. 

Dealing with bureaucracy is really exhausting. I’m fed up with talking to administrators and having to really push for some art project or another to take place in town. 

Doing what you love can help you conquer anything. No matter how down I feel, I know what I’m doing and what I’m aiming for. 

Everyone needs something to hold on to. Some people love to collect cars, watches or brand names. I don’t have anything I like to collect. All I want to do is continue to push my art. 

People might think I have so much money that I can make all this stuff happen, but I don’t. I have to run my family business, earning my normal salary, while trying to put on art projects in town at least twice a year. I can’t take a break, otherwise we’d have to start all over again.

It’s good that art elicits a reaction from people, whether it’s good or bad. The R.C.A. Ratchaburi Construction Workers project by Ralf Tooten got complaints from locals who said it disturbed their neighborhood—which, for me, was a good thing. At least, it helped them realize that they cherish their neighborhood. 

Really study an artwork before criticizing it. I’m OK with comments that my work isn’t any good, but other comments made without any real understanding are simply unfounded.

I don’t have any big dreams. My ultimate goal is to simply run my business and help the art community grow. That’s it. I don’t want to be at the center of everything, either—it’s up to others to support it. 

There’s no right time to help others. Many people seem to wait for the perfect opportunity to stand up and do something for society. But from my experience, no matter how ready you are, you will always encounter challenges. So, you may as well just get started.

I’ve been singing since I can remember. My parents were luk tung singers and my uncle had a band. My mom taught me to sing and we toured around Lampang singing at folk festivals to make a living.

I became a boxer because of my dad. He loved to go and watch boxing and cockfighting and I loved to follow him around. I also loved playing at my neighbor’s home, which was a boxing gym.

My dad spotted me kicking a punching bag one day. I did it so well he decided to send me to fight at a competition. I won by knockout.

Muay Thai changed my destiny. I was widely known as the sweet boxer who could sing. I always dressed up girly and wore makeup. It was really different from other lady boxers who were mostly tomboys and tried to be tough like a man. My alias was Namwannoi Sakboonma (Little Syrup), which matched my sweet look. I won 35 consecutive fights and became champion of the Northern region.

The Thai Championship fight in 2002 was one of the biggest matches of my life. I had to fight the Northeastern champion who was also undefeated. I won and became national flyweight champion at the age of 15. I was so badly hurt during the fight I caught a fever and couldn’t get out of bed for five days.

Young fighters have it tough compared to other children of their age. I had to wake up at five in the morning to go jog for eight kilometers before school. After school, I had to run to the boxing gym to practice until nighttime. The good part was I had a leaner, fitter body than other girls my age. 

Boxing taught me to be tough in everything in my life. It’s the toughest sport. If you fight for five rounds, you need to practice seven rounds. You have to endure longer than your rivals. 

I always used to jump from the ring straight to the stage so people knew me as a boxer who could sing well. After I won the title belt, I was signed by RSiam to become a luk tung singer and got to release my first album, Perd Jai Sao Tae, in 2007.

Doing two things at once doesn’t always work. I had to quit RSiam after one year as I couldn’t study and tour at the same time. I was really exhausted and my parents wanted me to graduate from high school first. I felt so useless as I couldn’t go out to sing or box to earn money for my family because of the contract I had with RSiam. Fortunately, they took me back a few years later.

I love all kinds of design. I love clothing, graphics and architecture. That’s why I chose to study architect at Sripathum University. Juggling being a singer and sending my homework in on time is so exhausting but I really love it. If I can’t work as a singer anymore, this can be my proper career.

I nearly lost my voice forever. I recently realized that I had been singing incorrectly all my life and it was destroying my larynx. I had to have an operation as my doctor said that if I didn’t I could lose my voice completely.

You can’t make everyone love you. I try to understand that many people hate me. If you love someone, then they can’t do any wrong, but if you really hate someone then even their breathing will annoy you. 

Haters are good at finding little things to hate. All I can do is just keep doing the best job I can.

I admit to having had plastic surgery. It’s not a bad thing that you need to hide. I had a nose job to fix my flat nose and that’s it. I haven’t had lots of plastic surgery like people think. 

You can’t always be lucky. My dad leaving us made me understand that nothing last forever. At least I still have a good relationship with him and he visits us a lot. 

Be friends with your parents. I think many teen problems stem from the fact that the parents and children aren’t close. So many times when teenagers get into trouble, they run to their friends for help, but most of the time, it’s the parents who clear it up for them.

Good spirit makes you valuable. I have met rich people and poor people and I realized that having lots of money doesn’t make you a good person. 

Remember that people only let you know the part that they want you to know. You might never know what they really are like.

How did the page start?

I was a Chula student. Our original project was to go Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) to take photos of people there. I couldn’t make it in the end, but I kept my desire to do this, right here on the streets of Bangkok. I even planned to find only Korat people living here. But when I started chatting to people, I realized Bangkok is truly a global city. There are people from all over the world living here. I did more research about this kind of project and I found “Humans of New York,” which I really loved. It’s not street fashion. I want to show everyone that there are people from all over the world who share Bangkok as their home too.

What are the reactions from people when you talk to them?

It varies but most of them are friendly. I normally approach them by introducing myself and showing them the page that I’m doing. It depends on them whether they are comfortable enough to be my “human” or not.

Who is the most fascinating person you’ve met so far?

Probably this African-American jazz-man I bumped into. He said something that quite touched me. He said that many foreigners living here feel they are better than local people, which is a dispiriting statement about Thailand. But he said he’d love to learn and understand Thai people and respect them. I found that it’s very humble for a foreigner who lives here to say that. He also showed me the picture he took with Ray Charles when they worked together in the US.

Did you ever face difficulties when interviewing people?

I actually feel safe in Bangkok. Well, I don’t go to dangerous spots. Anyway, the spot that I find has the most diversity is Benjasiri Park, next to Emporium, where you can find people from everywhere: Thais, Japanese, Westerners, people from Cameroon. Bangkok is a real melting pot.

What have you learned so far from talking to strangers?

I feel that people interact with each other less and less. They just go to work, meet only a certain amount of friends—they interact online, not on the street. I’ve learned that everyone has their story or opinion. They’re just waiting for someone to listen. I also want everyone to realize that every life in this city is interconnected. You don’t live separately and your actions will affect others in some way.

What has been the online reaction? 

Pretty good. I just created it three weeks ago and it got 750 likes from people who are all over the world, like US, Australia, Germany­—not only Thai people. But I do want people to comment more, instead of just clicking like.

What’s your next plan? 

I want to create some artistic or cultural project to develop and help people, and write articles about my experience doing this page. 

Visit Humans of Bangkok: http://ow.ly/qlsVE