I always dreamed of being a businessman. I never wanted to be a doctor, a politician or even a property developer like my parents. If they had asked me to build a property and sell it like they did, I definitely wouldn’t go for it.
I haven’t liked the idea of living in Bangkok, ever since I was a kid. I hate traffic jams. I used to wake up at 4am to get to school on time. It was so crazy! I asked my parents if I could move to England when I was just nine years old.
I got pissed off with the English education system and moved to the US for high school. Even there, I didn’t like that they forced me to choose my majors when I was only 15. I didn’t know what I wanted to study.
I fell in love with Florida and suddenly decided to move there.
I was on a plane from New Jersey, landing in Miami, and the sun was rising over the North Atlantic Ocean. It was wonderful to see all those palm trees lining the roads. I called my parents right away to tell them I would stay in this beach paradise.
To get what you want in life, you must earn it. My parents didn’t give me lots of pocket money, but I really loved going out, so I needed to find extra jobs.
I love meeting and serving people. I started out as a dishwasher before moving up to waiter and finally became a DJ promoter in Miami. I did every type of party from lady’s nights to gay events. Thanks to my hard work, I was able to rent a stylish lake apartment.
The tsunami in 2004 was a turning point for me. After finishing my hotel management degree in Switzerland, I received a good job offer in Europe. But my dad was developing a property in Phuket and the situation was really bad. Seeing the potential lit a fire in me to want to create a luxury hotel and property.
You should do business based on research. I drove all over Phuket to see what other properties were doing. I knew that we could better them.
I was affronted by salespeople who doubted whether I could work in the hotel business and sell property because I was just a graduate student. I told them that I used to sell cocktails in Miami, so I knew more than anyone about what millionaires want.
I bet them I could sell a multi-million dollar house in less than two months and I did. Now I’ve nearly sold all my properties and the hotel is doing well.
I’m still really pissed off that I was nearly beaten to death last year. I know I was lucky to survive, but I’m angry that we lost the opportunity to make Phuket a luxury destination for A-listers. I was out with [Hollywood actor] Jeremy Renner at the time, so the bad news spread all over the world.
It sucks that if you Google my name, the first five pages are all about the scuffle.
Gossip is the best way of keeping your HR situation under control. I love listening to my staff gossiping. I learn where any problems are and can address the situation before it derails the workflow.
I love micro-management. I wouldn’t dream of running a company with thousands of staff. I interview all my staff personally, even the gardener! My staff are my life. I cried when more than 30 of my staff gathered at the hospital to take me home.
Our politicians need better education. We have more resources than our neighboring countries, but we’re stagnating because of their selfishness.
The TAT is so frustrating. Working in the hotel business, I have to deal with their incompetence. Each year they get B20 billion and all they can do is put out crap advertisements that waste our taxes. My hotel can survive, but our street vendors and small hoteliers need more from the TAT.
Thailand isn’t a prime location anymore. Myanmar has tons of beautiful beaches while Vietnam’s hospitality is getting better and better. It’s good that the AEC is coming into place so that we can realize what real competition is.
I don’t have as much money as people think. I’m the owner of Sri Panwa, but I’m only drawing a GM’s salary, so I have to create my wealth from other businesses. My latest one is Guruwan.com; I plan to turn it into the biggest online retailer in Southeast Asia.
I have so much pride in being Thai. I’m proud that Sri Panwa is a world-class hotel that’s completely Thai-made. Now it’s time to shine a light on other Thai products.
Marriage is the best thing to have happened in my life. My wife is the best. I am lucky to have her, and she’s given me another important woman in my life, my daughter.
Having a family is like running a business. You must be aware of each person’s strengths and weaknesses, and then try your best to make it work.
I feel like a househusband. My wife really loves to work while I love to stay at home and do the laundry and cook. She can’t beat me at that.
Money can buy people, but it can’t buy their spirit. Be fair and honest, then you will get what you want.
Advertisement
What is the current state of Thai futsal?
It should be more popular than it is. Futsal is street football, anyone can play, and we have many talented newcomers, but we lack support from both the government and sponsors. Unfortunately, this year the Thailand Futsal League kicked off six months late [in September] despite the fact that we’re hosting the FIFA Futsal World Cup. This is a huge setback for our preparations. Our national team is ranked 11th in the world and 2nd in Asia, but our league hasn’t adequately prepared our players for the World Cup. That’s a real shame.
What’s causing these problems?
The Football Association of Thailand doesn’t take futsal seriously. They never outline yearly plans for futsal, for the league or international competitions, and that’s finally taking its toll. The Thai FA always puts football first. We are so lucky to be host of the World Cup and have the opportunity to see the globe’s best futsal players gathered at the same place. But I’m devastated at the whole stadium debacle.
Is there a solution?
Corruption is at the core of our problems. As long as people are being dishonest and always looking out for their own interests, Thai sports will never be successful. Those who are genuinely willing to develop sport are being pushed out of the inner circle so that people with no idea are left in charge. They are installed by the big executives who surround themselves with their followers.
What’s the future of Thai futsal?
It’s really tough to say, as other countries are getting better. Our futsal team has come this far because our athletes are great. But if we can’t solve our problems and improve our management, I fear that we might start losing to Vietnam or Malaysia, like our football team. They got loads of support and money, and used to be ASEAN champions, but look at them now, they were kicked out in the group stages of the last AFF Championship. How is that progress?
What’s the current state of disabled sports in Thailand?
It’s really much better than in the past. Before we hosted both the Asian Games and FESPIC Games in 1998, people had no idea what the Paralympic Games was. Some even said that we tortured disabled people by making them play sports. But once we started sending more athletes to the Paralympics, people began recognizing the pride and fantastic spirit of these individuals. This has helped change society’s attitudes towards disabled people; where once parents were often embarrassed about having a disabled child and would keep them at home, now they encourage them to take up sports. Sponsors have jumped on aboard, too.
What are disabled athletes lacking in terms of support?
Lots. First, we need sports facilities built especially with disabled people in mind. Our disabled athletes don’t have suitable places to practice. Existing venues are inconvenient and even dangerous. A blind athlete fell down from the fourth floor of Supachalasai Stadium last year. Thank God he survived. Another pressing concern is budget. Where other sports associations receive funding to develop their athletes within one sport, our two-million-baht budget from the Sports Authority of Thailand has to be dispersed across 18 different categories of sport. We also lack medical officials to classify our athletes according to disability—for this, there are only three qualified doctors in Thailand. More doctors would also help us improve our sports science to get the most out of our athletes. We also need volunteers to help out at sports meets in terms of transport and administration.
What special difficulties do disabled athletes face?
Disabled athletes need a longer time to practice compared to normal athletes. Sometimes they suffer injuries during practice, like pressure sores, which mean they have to stop training. To have a balanced body and state of mind takes lots of time. I want them to have more security in life. And many of our athletes don’t have stable jobs. They’re vendors who sell groceries, coffee or lottery tickets. If they take days off, it means they have no money or have to rely on their spouse or family. They don’t have the chance to work for the government or a company like other athletes, because of their different abilities. Public transport is a problem, too. It’s too expensive having to take a cab to work or training.
How did you first get into archery?
I started when I was 14 shortly after I was in an accident that cost me my right leg. I was hit by a truck driven by a drunk driver while I was riding my motorbike. After I recovered, I was determined to push myself, so I decided to take up archery. For one, I like the archer’s pose—it’s really elegant. I got into the national Paralympics team for archery when I was 15 but after falling out with the coach I switched to swimming, for which I won a silver medal at the SEA Games in 1997. After that, I dropped out of sports for nearly 10 years before I decided to make my archery comeback.
How is life as an athlete?
It isn’t that easy. As I want to go to the Olympics, I had no choice but to quit my job so that I could practice and attend competitions to move up the world rankings. I’m not on the payroll like other fully-abled athletes who might have a government position. The daily allowance from the association is barely more than a hundred baht a day. I can’t survive on that. All I can to do is dip into my savings from when I worked as a graphic designer.
What keeps you going?
I have three dreams in life. The first is to graduate with a degree. The second is for my parents to get back together; they’ve been separated for five years now. Thirdly, I want to serve my king and my country on the world stage as a national team athlete.
How did you start playing table tennis?
I went along to the police table tennis club that my dad always attended. I saw others playing and wanted to join in. I would go early to practice by myself—I was embarrassed to play with others because of my disability. I didn’t want to slow them down. But when my dad saw me hiding and his friends found out who I was, they asked me to play with them every day. My dad later took me to be trained by the national team coach, and soon I was competing in national competitions and the SEA Games. I qualified for the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 where I was disappointed to miss out on a medal. In the lead-up, I had decided to drop my studies at Kasetsart University to concentrate solely on table tennis. But in the end, I failed. I was totally dejected. I stopped playing for months until I realized that I didn’t want to be remembered as a loser. I didn’t want to be called a cripple like I was in school. So I began to practice again.
How has your life changed after winning gold at the London Paralympics?
It’s true that I tasted success in London, but I want people to know that it didn’t happen overnight. It took me eight years. I put all my life into fighting for gold, and I’m so proud of my achievement. But following the Paralympics, I was left disappointed that so many athletes, sponsors and even association officials didn’t pay their respects to the coaches. Athletes can’t be successful without the sacrifice of a good coach—some even quit their jobs to take care of their athletes, almost like parents. But so many do not get the recognition they deserve and are left jobless at the end of the day.
What’s the future?
Personally, I’m currently studying computer science and plan to continue onto a master’s degree while continuing to represent the national team. I really want more disabled people to play sports. If that means I have to be more active to promote sports with the new generation, then so be it. I’m willing to teach people so that our disabled athletes reach new levels.
Tell us about your experience coaching Thailand’s team since 2003?
It’s been really tough. Many promises were made before I moved here, but then I found that corruption is everywhere in sports. I was raised in Germany so I’m totally against this and I felt that I had to speak out. Officials at the Amateur Fencing Association of Thailand turned against me. There was no support for athletes. We had no coach and no team manager, so instead of concentrating on competing, we had to do everything ourselves. For one competition I had to manage everything and pay all my expenses up front. On my return, I tried to claim my expenses, about B500,000, but the association refused to reimburse me. To this day, I still haven’t been reimbursed.
What is wrong with our sports administration?
I genuinely believe that the Sports Authority is willing to support all sports, but instead of directly funding our athletes, the money is passed through the associations, which is where the corruption is. If there is no transparency, how can we trust our sports management? The newly elected president and sports associations committee might have the best intentions, but that means nothing if corrupt individuals litter the system and nobody can touch them. Many of these people don’t have the athletes’ best interests at heart and make decisions without consulting them. Another problem is sponsors who fund associations rather than individual athletes; this leads to mismanagement of funds.
What needs to change?
Right now, it takes Olympic success before the general public is interested in a sport. That’s sick! I want to change that mindset. We should look upon our athletes as fine wines who need time to mature. You can’t just throw a one-off lump of money at them and expect success. If we keep doing that, we will forever be the Amateur Fencing Association and never reach professional levels.
What’s the current state of Thai fencing?
We’ve been through lots of problems. Not so long ago we had no budget so the athletes had no coach and no team manager, so had to do everything on their own. Even now, the executives of the association are doing their jobs as unpaid volunteers.
How do you explain fencing’s lack of popularity in Thailand?
Firstly, fencing isn’t a sport that easy to approach like football or boxing. It requires a huge amount of money compared to other sports with cheaper equipment; it’s more than B20,000 for a full fencing set. Fencing is really popular at US universities, who are hiring all the best coaches from Europe. As the demand is so high, we can’t afford to hire a foreign coach. Our education system also prevents athletes from putting their full efforts into practicing. They should have the time to train for six hours, six days a week, but their classes leave them only two hours a day. We also don’t have a proper facility, after the Sports Authority reassigned our association gym for something else. Luckily, the Air Force has lent us one of their gyms for our national team. I’m hopeful of a bright future now that we have elected Wiradech as team manager. He knows what it takes to do better.
What do you think about politics in sports?
I think it’s a necessity. But we must be careful to involve only those for whom Thai sports, not personal interest, come first. Developing sports require lots of investment. If we don’t invest, then we have no chance of improving.
What is the current state of Thai basketball?
Our basketball teams have underperformed for a long time, maybe 10 years, because the association didn’t pay enough attention to training young players to replace the old athletes who retired. The old system of searching for potential athletes and bringing them to train in Bangkok is destroying us. We must realize that 90% of our athletes come from rural areas so we are much better off developing basketball at the grassroots nationwide.
Why is basketball struggling to attract support?
I played for the national basketball team 48 years ago and have been in basketball circles all my life. We lack planning. No one will support us if we can’t show to them that we can really make it. I’ve invested B1-2 million of my own money to boost basketball, both in terms of training and competitions. We need the public, the government and the private sector to pay more attention to us. If our teams perform well, then people will support them. We’re in pretty good shape right now: our under-18 team just finished fifth at the Asian Championships in October. We try to organize basketball tournaments at least twice a year. I want to do more but we have a limited budget and not enough teams to play all year round. We only have 6-8 teams in the league.
What’s the plan for the future?
We’re aiming to become the number one country in ASEAN within three years. To do so, we must find the find the best athletes with the right builds for basketball. A human body can’t be bought, but tactics can. So, now we are choosing kids who are tall and strong so that we can then train them to be the best. We’re fortunate to have Joe Bryant, dad of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, as our head coach. He’s now chasing opportunities for our athletes to train in the US for short periods of time. Hopefully, the future is bright for basketball.
Advertisement
I was blind from birth. My parents only noticed when I was three months old. My eyes didn’t respond when they played with me. They took me everywhere trying to cure me, but it turned out my optical nerves had degenerated.
I owe my life to education. My parents were farmers in Prae province and didn’t have many assets. So they decided to give me the best possible education they could provide.
I was lucky to be raised in the countryside. Blind kids in town are always kept inside the house, but I had the freedom to roam around without fear.
No one pampers you like your parents. Attending a boarding school for the blind taught me life skills. I learned to share things with others and picked up the skills to take care of myself on a daily basis.
My parents and teachers are my inspirations. My parents never gave into their troubles. They are real fighters. One of my English teachers was blind and another was a refugee, and both taught me to always believe in myself.
Studying with normal kids was really challenging. There were 50 students in one classroom. There were no Braille books for me so I had to use a typewriter and rely on friends and volunteers to read to me.
There’s too much pity in Thailand. It’s at the root of our misunderstandings. We overplay differences between people without really accepting them.
Don’t judge people because they are different. When you see a blind or disabled person, don’t automatically assume they can or can’t do certain things.
When I started out at Chiangmai University, they kept bringing up all these obstacles. They would say, “Can you really study here? We have no specialist teachers for the blind. How can you find your way between buildings?” My reply was that I used to sell lottery tickets on Bangkok’s streets, so this would be easy.
I challenged them by saying that if I failed just one subject, I would quit. I finally graduated with a degree in humanities, despite working a part-time job as a musician. I played guitar at pubs and even sold lottery tickets at the end of each semester.
I dreamed of studying abroad. Back then Thai education had nothing to offer blind people. I wanted to go someplace set up to serve the blind, so that I could also bring back ideas to change our society. I finally got a scholarship to study music in the US.
“No pain, no gain.” My refugee teacher told me this as I was about to go study abroad. Then I had no fears about what I was going to face.
People should be given the chance to fail or succeed on their own two feet. This is what I admire about the Western world. There is no way that Thai people would let the blind take that risk. They are too fearful that we will get hurt.
Failure isn’t scary. Experiencing it can push you to advance yourself. I traveled alone in the US and I gained so much from it. It’s such a diverse society. The more I learn, the more my mind is opened.
I’m inspired to change the perception of disabled people in our society. We want to live as normal citizens, not be seen as people who can only get by with help.
The fastest way to change society is by implementing the law. But that’s not always the best answer. To make sustainable changes, we must get to the root of our culture and alter people’s deeply ingrained attitudes. And that takes time.
My being senator is not only about pushing for faster change, it sends out the message that disabled people can also serve society. Now that I am a part of the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I hope we can improve our country’s standards for disabled people.
Don’t just accept your fate. Plan for the future. So many people live only for the present. They don’t think that someday in the future they might be disabled and need the things that disabled people need right now.
There’s more to this world than sight. People are consumed by the notion that eyesight is essential to our experiences. Our senses of smell and touch can unlock so much of the world’s beauty.
I have a good family; from my parents to my own family. I love that my Japanese wife and I accept each other and can deal with our problems without ever letting ourselves reach a deadlock.
I always teach my daughter to embrace diversity. Don’t think you’re better than anyone, but try your best to serve society.
Knowledge eradicates inequality. I have developed an electronic publication that gives blind people a chance to access all the world’s knowledge. I dream that people will no longer be limited by their age, disability or illiteracy.
I’ve given up on giving up. I created this motto while I was in the US, and it becomes more apt the more experience I gain. If we can see that there are ways out of our troubles, then we won’t feel as though our backs are up against the wall.
Advertisement
As the sequel to 2006’s Silent Hill, the much-hyped then much-lambasted video game adaptation, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D adds a bunch of pretty cool special effects, but even these can’t mask the fact that once again we’ve been served a boring screenplay packed with many, many clichéd scenes.
How did you guys get together?
Nheed: I was getting bored of being a guitarist for ABnormal the Band. We were doing the same old pop-rock stuff for years, never anything new. So I quit and started looking for new bandmates. I wanted to break the rules. I found Vivi straight away but had trouble tracking down a guitarist. I actually recruited Yossapol “Lek” Singhasuwong, the founder and guitarist of Skalaxy, but unfortunately he passed away before we started recording. We then postponed the project for a while until I met Rit, who used to play for Saturday Seiko.
How did you decide on your band name?
Nheed: We just wanted a name to go with our look. We have lots of tattoos, like criminals. We also don’t play by the music industry rules.
Does anyone in the band have a criminal record?
Nheed: No! We are all well-behaved.
Tell us about your music.
Vivi: We love to call it “crazy-hop” because it brings together everything from hip-hop to pop, jazz and rock. It’s quite poppy and easy-listening, which is contrary to our looks. When we first started out, we were rejected by a bunch of record labels because they didn’t see the full picture of what we’re doing. They wanted us to be like other bands who are clearly definable as pop, rock or hip-hop. We didn’t want to change to fit the system, so we just released our single on Facebook and YouTube.
What sort of feedback have you received?
Vivi: The single hasn’t been a big hit but it has generated some hype on YouTube. It’s already been viewed nearly 50,000 times. Our Facebook fans have also grown into the thousands. We’ve since been signed to Masscotte Entertainment.
Why do you guys love tattoos so much?
Vivi: It’s like mobile art for me. Rather than hang an art piece on your wall, why not put it on your body. I started getting tattoos when I was 17. My parents didn’t know at first but they were really pissed off when they found out. I explained to them that, although I have a tattoo, I’m still the same daughter that they’ve always had. I said, I won’t let you down—I just love tattoos.
Nheed: I love art. I’ve been getting tattoos since I was at art school. My favorites are of cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny, Mario or mermaids. I love the surprise on people’s faces when they realize so many of my tattoos are actually cute cartoons.
Rit: I got into tattoos when I started playing rock music. Most of mine are inspired by bands; for example, I have a Red Hot Chili Peppers logo on my wrist. You have to think carefully before getting a tattoo so that you don’t regret it later. I’m actually pretty bored with them now, I might stop. They can hurt a lot, too.
Advertisement
His favorite mangas: Toriyama Akira [Dragon Ball], Inoue Takehiko [Slam Dunk] and Adachi Mitsura [Rough]
Essential work: Hesheit 1+2+3 and 4+5+6, published by Typhoonbooks
Why you should care: He contributed to Katch and A Day magazines, before making his name in the motherland of manga, Japan, where he was named one of ELLE Japan’s 250 people to watch.
What drew you to be a cartoonist?
I’d always loved drawing but I wasn’t too ambitious. I never thought my dream would come true and I’d be able to draw and make a living wherever I go. In 1999, [music producer] Boyd Kosiyabong paid me for some of my artwork. From that day on, I thought, this is my life. Since then, I’ve drawn on and on.
What was your life like in Japan?
I studied at a small language school in Kobe, spending my days off working on my art to exhibit. At first, I was making these small animations in Thai, which I had to provide Japanese subtitles for. Later I ditched dialogue altogether and would just play piano to give my animations a soundtrack. Eventually, more people got to know my work.
Why did you return to Bangkok?
Over my three and a half years in Japan, I let myself become almost Japanese, just from my surroundings. I found that my work, based on my life there, started to look like other Japanese artists. I felt like I needed to distinguish myself as a Thai artist, so I came back. Thailand is awesome; there is such a variety here, people doing all kinds of jobs. In Japan, people supported my work; here, I’m kind of unknown. But It’s important to know who you are and where you come from. If everything always ended up in the right place, I might forget how lucky I am to be where I am today.
What’s your style like now?
My mangas are told through my own experiences, which means I have real messages to get across. When it comes to symbolism or plot, I have a deep well to draw inspiration from. In some of my works you’ll find things like cities in the sky, but there are reasons behind all the images and plot twists. Everything has reason.
Do you want your stories to convey a moral?
Just read and be happy; don’t worry. When I read a manga, I am relaxed. I’m freaked out by the idea that, armed just with a pencil, I could create something that someone might read and then want to kill someone. That’s not my way. One time while I was watching TV, a royal message was broadcast along the lines of “Don’t bring a useless thing into the world.” That message has stayed lodged in my memory.
What’s your favorite creation?
I am so proud of my Hesheit series [1998-2003]. It is an extraordinary work, filled with pure emotions and nothing made-up. I was able to express all of my true feelings. It turned out exactly as I had hoped and wished.
What do you think of the World Book Capital title?
It might be a good thing and encourage more people to read. Personally, I don’t think it’s too bad here. I think around half of people like to read. It’s great that we got crowned World Book Capital rather than the worst city for something.
Favorite books: The Stranger by Albert Camus and Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel García Márquez
Essential work: Karn Mueng Rueng Surreal, published by the Thai Writer Network
Why you should care: His self-published collection of short stories won big at the SCG Indy Awards in 2011 for the twist they put on our confrontational form of politics.
What inspires you to write?
I read a lot, both non-fiction and fiction. I’m also informed by TV news and gossip. For me, writing is just the easiest way for me to reflect on things. If I had the know-how I’d make a film, but I’m more interested in writing than anything else.
How did you first get published?
I started really writing about two years ago. My first short story, “Me in the Dark,” tells of a man eating his own flesh. At first, I didn’t even think of compiling my works, but I started posting my stories to the Young Thai Blog (http://youngthai.blogspot.com/) every month. After I was recognized at the SCG Indy Awards last year, Mr. Rueangkit Rakkanchanan, the secretary of the Thai Writer Network, gathered my short stories together to be published as Karn Mueng Rueng Surreal.
Is your writing overtly political?
Not really. Although I try to apply a twisted logic to the news through my writing, I don’t directly approach topics like social class, serious politics or civil rights, even though they interest me greatly. That’s not the duty of writers like me. I like to inject dark humor into my stories. Some people call my work blank post-modernism, but that’s up to the reader to interpret. I’m proud of my literary style. I like to use satire to explain certain phenomena. In Karn Mueng Rueng Surreal, I used sarcasm and magical realism to communicate the idea that politics is all around us—we cannot run away from them.
What would you like readers to take from your writing?
I would like to be an inspiration to readers; to make them think more about their surroundings. I want to help people to read between the lines about public issues, to approach things in both a serious and amusing manner.
What’s next?
I’m putting together a collage-style novella, dubbed Pi Pit Ta Phan Siang, about the noise that fills our lives. There’s not yet a publication date, and the work is still incomplete. I will also have a short story included in a collection called Chai Kha Rueang San Vol. 4 by Khana Khian, for which Anusorn Tipayanon (one of Thai famous writers) is editor in chief.
What do you think of Bangkok being named World Book Capital?
I’m sure it’s with good intentions, but I haven’t seen any policy about what it’s meant to do. As far as writing and media, our country lacks diversity. And online social networking already eats into whatever media consumption we had. We can’t complain that reading levels are decreasing. It would probably be more apt if Bangkok was named World Gossip or Fashion Magazine Capital.
Favorite books: Warren Buffet Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World’s Greatest Investor by Janet Lowe and Taj Mahal Bon Dao Ang Karn (Taj Mahal on Mars) by Tinakorn Hutangkul
Essential work: Sing Tee Yoo Nok Jai, published by Happening
Why you should care: Better known as the frontman of the band Apartmentkhunpa, Tul Waitoonkiat is taking his art to a whole new level; his poetry has even featured in an exhibition as neon lights on a wall.
How did you first get into poetry?
I started composing lyrics when I was a teenager after first hearing Pathomporn Pathomporn’s album Chao Ying Dok Mai Kub Chao Chai Hang Talae. I started keeping a notebook with all my thoughts and ideas. Then one day, it just seemed right to use all the emotions I hadn’t put into song lyrics.
How do you feel about negative feedback?
I was so proud to see my poems collated. I self-published my octameter poetry under the title 1905 2553, inspired by the 2010 military crackdown. Some people like them, some people are puzzled. They’re right to be puzzled, because when I wrote them I didn’t intend for them to be shared. It’s just feelings I had to get out. The circumstances touched me so much that I was able to compose the poems in just one day.
Poetry is often overlooked in Thai literary circles. Is it hard to get recognition?
No. Poets know in advance that the game we play is one that seldom concerns many people. As a result our tiny group is stronger and more resilient than others. Poetry isn’t simply words on a page—it can be just a powerful as the spoken word.
Who’s your favourite poet?
I think Mai Mee Ying Sao Nai Bot Kavee by Sakareya is a nice, contemporary change from traditional poetry.
What are your thoughts on the current state of reading in Thailand?
People like reading, even though the reading culture is not as entrenched as in other countries. Bangkok has one of the highest amounts of Facebook users—people cannot use it if they don’t read. Reading is not only about books. I don’t believe all the negative statistics.
What is your latest published work?
It’s a collection of poems I wrote before 1905 2553, which was compiled as part of Sing Tee Yoo Nok Jai by the Happening label and published at the beginning of the year.
What are your thoughts on Bangkok being named World Book Capital?
You would hope that it at least means that plenty of public libraries will be set up with good varieties of books and audiovisual aids. We still suffer from the lack of world-acclaimed novels translated into Thai. More budget also needs to be set aside to hold Bangkok short-story awards and support local writers by translating a select few Thai books into English each year, to raise international awareness of Thai literature. In comparison, putting ads on TV is just an expensive waste. Instead, we could use places like the BACC as hubs for encouraging more reading.
Favorite books: GamGej by Utsana Phleungtham and The Castle by Franz Kafka
Essential work: Phon Ngan Kong Nak Kian Ta Nud Sai Phu Doi Pattana, self-published under Understandbooks (Khaojaipim)
Why you should care: The resolutely independent Worawich Suptaweesang turned his back on his engineering degree to publish under his own imprint.
Why become an author?
As an upper secondary school student, I loved to read. I would save my money to buy books: mangas, classics—whatever tales made it my way. At that time, there was a magazine named Katch, which had a column that took submissions from readers. I sent in one of my short stories and it got published. Ever since, I’ve thought becoming a writer would be an interesting path. Later on, I was admitted to an engineering program so I had to study.
What are your inspirations?
Everything has happened so suddenly. Early on, I would watch the news and keep abreast of social issues to inject into my storytelling. Maybe readers wouldn’t realize this, but I wanted them to feel the same way I did.
Why did you launch Understandbooks?
I had the idea of being a self-publisher, because I wanted to be considered for the S.E.A. Write Awards. So far I’ve put out Phon Ngan Kong Nak Kian Ta Nud Sai Phu Doi Pattana, a collection of my short stories.
Do you ever tire of writing?
Nowadays, I find it hard to get any writing done—it’s like I’m looking for a way out. My storytelling is simply not strong enough. I’m trying to read and travel more to have experiences to write about. I am always looking for something new.
What are your future plans?
Each month I write a short story for Pol La Mueang Rueang Son, a club where many writers come together to recite their works. I have a big desire to write a novel; I just need to settle on which of my stories I can expand upon. Hopefully I’ll have a novel out within a year. I’d also like to write a screenplay.
What do you think about Bangkok being named World Book Capital?
I’d like people to come together to discuss books like they do about Thailand’s Got Talent or soap operas. If the city is to truly be a World Book Capital, we must start promoting reading. The BMA could subsidize small, independent publishers to put out more informative, classic literature or translated works, so that people have more reading options.
Want a copy of Worawich’s books? We have four copies to give away. Write to [email protected]
Favorite books: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Pan Din Aeun by Kanokphong Songsamphan
Essential work: Kam Sap, self-published under Nok Khao
Why you should care: Since his youthful beginnings as part of A Team Junior learning the ropes at A Day Magazine, Katanyu Sawangsri has published an acclaimed collection of short stories, Kam Sap.
How did you get interested in literature?
After reading lots of books, it was like something struck me and I wanted to express my own stories, too. I’ve take influence from my favorite authors like Franz Kafka, Haruki Murakami and Milan Kundera. It doesn’t mean I write as well as them, but I’ve just gained ideas from them.
How did you first get published?
My first collection of short stories was Yu Kab Ku, which was compiled from a column I contributed to Happening Magazine. The editor there, Vip Burapadecha, was behind this. The stories talk about a mad person living with ordinary people, and what everyone learns from this.
Tell us about your publishing house?
After my short story “Kwam Song Jam” was published in [literary magazine] Cho Karaked, I gained the confidence to establish my own publishing house. I only really intended to put out my own books, so I could do things the way I want. I thought it might look odd if I put things out independently without a publishing title. So far I’ve released a collection of short stories called Kam Sap.
Is it hard to make a living as a writer?
Here in Thailand, only a tiny number of people read seriously. Competition is so high from other media. You really have to convince people that your book is worth reading. It’s almost as if you have to write a masterpiece. And then you’ve got to produce consistently or people will forget you. Right now, I’m just a tiny sprout in literary circles—the time is not yet right for harvesting—but I’m determined to prove myself.
What’s next?
These days, I work as a freelance MC for events. I’m also trying to write a romantic novel in the vein of One Day (David Nicholls’ novel, since adapted into film), but in my own style—not some kind of soap opera. Writing a novel is a big deal. I’d also like do more photography, focusing on black-and-white photographs.
What do you think of Bangkok being named World Book Capital?
It doesn’t make sense from the get-go. I haven’t seen anything about this city that makes it a World Book Capital. We just seem to announce that we want to be something, then think all we have to do is hold a few events. Before you know it, the whole thing has blown over. Reading is just not that big here.
Bangkok's governor discusses Bangkok's world book capital title
Advertisement
I always felt like a misfit in school. I never felt right. I once saw my friend slapped while attending a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps course and I was totally against it. Why did they have to use violence? I eventually dropped out in grade 11.
My parents didn’t want me to give up my education. They persuaded me to study through an alternative course and I became a pre-med student at Mahidol University in the late 80s.
I didn’t want to spend my life as a doctor. I would study for a year then drop out for a year. It was like that for 10 years before I decided to quit for good.
My parents were really disappointed. We were a lower middle class family so they had high hopes for me. They thought I had thrown away my future. I was pretty lost.
I always loved reading and wanted to be a writer. I had already had some stuff published in magazines before I quit university. I’ve been a full-time writer ever since.
You can’t survive as a writer here if your book isn’t a bestseller. I used to get paid B1,000 for a short story 20 years ago, and it’s pretty much the same rate today. It’s hard to be just a writer. Luckily, I had the chance to become a partner with some friends who opened the Taksura pubs around town. My wife also supports me.
Maintaining the highest quality is the hardest thing. It’s easy to get published but keeping a consistent quality is a challenge. Many writers give up on their career because they can’t find ways to keep improving.
It’s daunting to think how I can do better after winning [the SEA Write Award].
It’s sad that writers who have so much to communicate to society are ignored. It’s good that more Thai people are reading, but truth is we’re in short supply of both serious readers and creative writers. Readers just love Korean sci-fi fantasies or Japanese horror stories.
Writing is like breathing. Nothing can stop me from writing.
Traveling is a good way to find inspiration. I really love India; it’s a land of contrasts. There are lots of billionaires yet millions of people are still sleeping on the streets. The people are highly spiritual. I’ve taken so much inspiration from India.
Being a writer isn’t glamorous. We are poorly paid and rarely accepted. Competition is high.
A writer’s status is even lower than a farmer’s. If I say I’m a writer, I can’t prove that I really am because I have no well-known books. At least farmers have their land to prove who they really are.
It really hurt to be branded a plagiarizer when I released my short story “Vela Luang Pan U Mong” in 2008. It’s true that I took inspiration from [Australian author Peter Carey’s short story] “Peeling”. It was my fault that I didn’t credit him.
The SEA Write Award isn’t a lifetime achievement or moral award. It’s not fair that my past faults should overshadow my whole career as a writer.
No matter what you’re facing, keep writing. I put my all into writing Khon Khrae (Dwarf) to prove myself. And I finally did it.
The idea behind Khon Khrae comes from my real-life experience. I once met a dwarf on the streets of Bangkok. He had come from the country with the dream of becoming an actor, but his neighbor had instilled him with the fear that he would be abducted by strangers to do road shows.
I loved writing this story in a way where readers can’t guess how it will end, and the suspense means they have to read it in just one sitting.
Winning the award is a distraction. It’s good that it might boost my book sales and make it easier to talk to publishers, but the whole frenzy has destroyed my concentration. I hope that when the dusts settle, everything will go back to how it used to be. I’ll be releasing my new book, Ma Hua Khon [Human Headed Dog], this month.
I love to live in isolation. I only got a mobile phone after winning the award. I prefer to rely on my email and home phone.
Writing with the aim of winning an award will cloud your natural decision-making ability. Just write what you want.
I love running. I don’t believe that I’m more special than anyone else, but I know that I’m tougher. Running reminds me to believe in my ability to do anything. I love the endorphin rush of running. It helped me quit smoking, too.
My wife is my first editor. I always tell her what I am writing about and I like to ask her opinion on it. I love that she loves reading, traveling and the arts like me.
Everyone needs love. Even if you have everything in life, what you need most is love—to love others and be loved.
I have faith in humanity. I always write about the dark side of humans, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have high hopes for us. This world is meaningless without us humans.
Advertisement
I love art, so I never dreamed of being anything but a designer. I studied fine arts in Australia where I really loved the whole approach to studying. I didn’t need to attend classes every day; I could sit in the studio and create art.
I became bored with my life in Australia, so I decided to study elsewhere. As I loved fashion, it was only natural that I applied to study at the Accademia Italiana in Florence.
I nearly packed my bags to go home on my first day in Italy. I couldn’t speak Italian and the people there didn’t speak English. All the classes were taught in Italian. I survived by using hand gestures.
I had a big crush on the UK since I regularly flew there to visit my friends on weekends. I liked that it was a city for young people, with lots of culture, shops, pubs and museums. After one year in Florence, I moved to London to study fashion at St. Martins.
The best times of my life were I studying there. I loved their educational style. There were no classes. I studied fashion design for women’s wear and they just gave us open briefs and we had to submit our work two weeks later. It taught me to be responsible and manage my time.
The Thai education system spoon-feeds everything to students. This eliminates free thought and innovation.
I got a job with Hussein Chalayan, but it so happened that I was contacted by Khun Ford [ex-Elle Magazine editor and current Vogue Thailand editor Kullawit Laosuksri] to help out with the Thailand Young Designer Award in 2005. I chose Thailand because no matter how long I stayed abroad, I knew I would have to come back someday.
I launched my brand Vickteerut right after receiving plaudits at the Young Designer Award. But I had to close it down after just a couple of years.
It was entirely my own fault. I was too hung up on my ego and only wanted to sell clothes that represented my style, which was too conceptual to make money in Thailand. I didn’t put my full effort into it, either. I would open the shop for two days and close to hang out with friends for three days. I was irresponsible.
To have a bright future you need to stand on your own two feet. I was living comfortably but I was just playing around while others my age were building their careers. I realized I could no longer live like this if I wanted to succeed.
Pinpoint your weaknesses before you set to work. I knew I would end up like I did before, so I asked my brother, sister and my friends to be my partners when I reopened my shop two years ago. Having them on board forces me to work harder.
I’m like a factory worker now. I wake up at 7am to start work at 9am and I eat lunch with my tailors in my factory. I never imagined that I would be like this.
I really love yoga. It helps me concentrate and keep my emotions in check. I used to explode with anger and bad-mouth my tailors when they made mistakes. Then I would feel guilty afterwards. Now I really love to chat with them. We enjoy working together which helps with productivity.
A lack of continuity is what keeps Bangkok from being a true fashion city. We have the potential but the government needs to show unwavering support for fashion. Blowing the budget on a single show doesn’t achieve anything. Just look at Comme des Garçons; the Japanese government continuously supported them to do shows abroad until they became the huge success they are now.
It’s hard to change Thailand’s notorious reputation for copyright infringement. My brand is also copied and all I can do is try to understand it. We are a country with a B300 minimum daily wage. It’s hard for everyone to afford brand name products, so people choose cheaper knock-offs.
My last collection caused controversy after it was discovered that it copied a Western designer [Portuguese fashion designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista]. It was my mistake. I let my assistants come up with a design and I didn’t check whether it was original or not. I sent an apology to him and my customers for this huge error. This is a big lesson for Thai designers.
I try to build my brand’s identity with every collection. I’m not afraid that foreign labels keep coming to town because I know customers really like what we stand for.
Build an individual style and stick with it. Don’t buy something just because it’s trendy. Trends don’t suit everybody. Only pay for clothes that make you look better.
If you do something and never get bored of it then that’s a career for life. I’ve already found mine.
Advertisement
This being 2012, a lot of people are obsessing over the end of the world, but here in Thailand a lot of new and exciting things are just starting, one being the local animation industry. Six years after Khan Kluay, it seems we’re finally producing full-length animations we can honestly say are world class. Echo Planet set the bar reasonably high earlier this year, but Yak takes things to a whole new level.
How did you become The Split?
So: I first met New in 8th grade. It was around the time of the school’s festival and the organizers were looking for a band. I knew that New could play guitar so I asked him to join me for the event and we have been playing together since. Then [record label] RS’s Kamikase found us on oTHESPLITo’s channel on YouTube and set up a meeting.
New: At the beginning, we had a couple of friends with us, but it got more and more complicated trying to get everyone together and controlling the sound quality, so we decided to just stick with the two of us. I’m now learning to play the drums and developing my vocal skills.
Why did you start covering songs on YouTube?
So: During our first year of high school we noticed this trend of people uploading their covers on YouTube. By the third year, we decided we wanted to join the bandwagon. That’s how it started.
What’s it feel like being a YouTube sensation?
New: We’ve had both good and bad comments but we understand that comes with the territory. We signed up for this. Some people enjoy stirring up drama on the internet, but if you don’t play along, there is only so much they can do.
So: Once you get exposure, it’s normal to receive criticism, but we take it constructively and constantly try to improve ourselves.
As Demo Project, what makes you guys different from other teen bands?
Fah: Unlike other teenage bands that just perform pop dance and K-Pop, we can actually sing and play our own music. We want to inspire those people to come back to the Thai music industry.
What do you do outside of music?
So: Initially, I wanted to study engineering, but that’s changed as I’ve started learning more about the music industry. Now I want to study communication arts. I also want to write songs that stay in people’s minds for a long, long time.
New: I love psychology. I always get friends consulting me about their problems and I love trying to see things from other people’s perspectives. I also want to write a book which resonates with people.
Fah: I want to be a film director. I enjoy the process of movie making. The entertainment business fascinates me. I’m particularly interested in stage management.
Carol: I want to be a biologist. I am very passionate about it. I love adventures and working with animals. I haven’t decided yet whether I want to study communications or biology.
What do you guys think about the Thai education system?
New: It’s like Thailand is in the midst of developing a system that works. We have just not found it yet.
Fah: It’s like we’re starting over every year. We need some stability. We are not guinea pigs.
Advertisement
