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This year’s S.E.A. Write Award-winner, Sathaporn Jorndit aka Jaded Kamjorndit, 44, snatched the prize for his collection of short stories, a mirror to fractured characters in a complex society. He tells us why he’s an outsider and what’s wrong with our reading culture.

I grew up with my dad and my stepbrother on a rubber tree farm in Surat Thani. My mom left me and took my two siblings with her when I was just three years old.

Growing up with them nurtured me to be a bookworm. I didn’t like to go out and play with friends and stayed at home or at the library to read books. So it’s kind of hard for me to interact with people now. My social life was mostly with my cousins. We loved to draw pictures. I wanted to be a cartoonist.

I dropped out from school to be a cartoonist. But I didn’t stay there for long. I wanted my work to be successful but it clearly wasn’t. It was just a cheap local Thai cartoon and I only got paid B1,000 per story. The local cartoon industry was a flop, too.

Being a cartoonist led me to read novels because my senior taught me I should read a lot to come up with more cartoon stories.

I became addicted to reading and it made me want to write. I am enchanted by ink on paper. I started writing, as well as working as a painter for commercial signs. I felt like I wanted to write everything in my mind.

The writer’s community at Nakhon Si Thammarat is unique. You can show your writing to other writers to get feedback and improve your work. Then I sent my works to many publishers. Some was printed but some wasn’t.

I have had mental problems for the past six years. I thought I was physically sick and dying so I tried to see doctors, who said I wasn’t. It may come from worrying too much about life.

I met people who believed they had super natural powers. They were having the same problems as me, so I decided to believe that I have supernatural powers, too, rather than accepting what the doctors said—that I had mental problems. If you compare mental patients and those who have supernatural powers, which one sounds better?

I decided to move out from my house where I lived with my wife and went to live with relatives. I didn’t want to be a problem for her. It’s about the same time that the tsunami struck the South of Thailand. I went looking for my niece who died in the wave.

I found hundreds and hundreds of bodies. It made me realize that death is so close to us. You can’t run away from it. It made me see things clearly. Even though I was supposedly sick, I wasn’t dead yet. So why not fight for my own life?

I went back to my wife and went to work in Koh Samui as a painter. When I found something interesting, I would take notes and write it up at home. They became the short stories that comprised my first book Dad Chao Ron Kern Kwa Ja Nang Jib Kafae [Morning Sunlight Too Hot To Sip A Cup of Coffee], which came out last March.

I tried to make my book fun instead of trying to be serious. I just want readers to absorb the stories by using their own perspective. Everyone will understand the stories in different ways.

I am just an outsider who happens to have a book that won an award. It might shape me to be more focused on writing. But it’s just the beginning for me. I don’t have a job as a writer but there is a writer in me. He’s waiting for the right time.

The award is only a stamp to guarantee this book, not me. I’m going to give myself all the time I want. I will wait until I feel my writing is perfect before trying to publish again. I don’t have anything to prove anymore.

My dream changes every day. I now want to write more books, draw paintings and write music. I will go back to live as a painter on Koh Samui for every couple months of and continue writing at home.

Thai reading culture is quite strange. Sales are high, but they’re only confined to books about dharma and self-help, not literature. I don’t understand why you have to read books where others tell you how to live you own life.

I would like to encourage young writers to not rush into writing books. It’s like growing fruit. If it’s not ripe, you can’t eat it.

I wouldn’t be who I am today if I had stayed in Bangkok. I have a slow life in Nakhon Si Thammarat where I live with my wife and two kids. If I stayed in this fast-paced city, I would get different materials and perspectives.

Hold on to the awareness that you cannot hold on to anything. People might love to write diaries or take pictures. That’s fine. But if you don’t feel compelled to remember or gather every memory, you might be happier.

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As Taladplu Coolplay, Chanwit “Egg” Waiyawut (guitar), Thanapol “Toh” Niyomtrut (drum), Woradol “Wor” Authaka (vocal), Kawissara “Sax” Chormali (sax) and Chollakrit “Chart” Rattananiporn (bass), finally release their first single, “Kae Nueng Kham,” they tell us how they had to win a competition to overcome the prejudices of the Thai music industry.

BK: How did you first get together?
Wor:
Egg and I were friends at university. At first, we went out playing music at pubs in the evenings but we felt two men playing guitars was kind of boring to watch. We decided to recruit a new member who could play the saxophone and we got Sax. We got Chart and Toh to join later, after we met them at a concert.

BK: Why choose Taladplu (Bangkok’s famous market) for your band name?
Egg:
We always meet there before we head to practice or to play gigs. We like the name because we felt that it’s kind of cooler to have a Thai name instead of a crappy inter-name. That would have been boring.
Sax: Talad (market) also represents the variety of our music like a market that has so many foods to choose from.

BK: What is the biggest obstacle for a new band like you?
Egg:
The attitude of those who work at record labels. We tried so hard to submit our songs to record labels but they keep saying we’re too old, even though we’re just in our late 20s! They think we can’t make money for them. They think about business too much. We produce art, not money. It got so bad we nearly lost all hope.

BK: How did things change?
Chart:
We heard about the Bacardi Hitz Unheard competition and we entered. After four months of competition we managed to beat 600 other bands to win and get a contract with Warner Music. We are now releasing our first single, “Kae Nueng Khum.” It’s about that break up moment when one side wonders if their lover ever really loved them?

BK: What else do you guys do?
Sax:
I am travel writer and then we all play music at night.
Toh: I am studying for a bachelors degree in music at Bansomdejchaopraya University.
Chart: I am a music teacher at a high school in Nakhon Prathom province and at my own school in Bangkok. I am a columnist for Guitar Mag magazine as well.
Wor: I work at the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority as an information officer. I update all the BMA’s info and sometimes I might act as a photographer at BMA events.
Egg: I am a freelance graphic designer. I am also a stock trader. I’m not rich but I think if you know how to play, it can give you a good return.

BK: What artists do you want to perform with?
Sax:
Yanni. I always admired him. Just seeing him perform is already wonderful.
Wor: Jason Mraz. He can sing any type of song.
Egg: I like Jack Johnson. I love his guitar sound and his environmentalism.
Chart: I like T-Square. They are a fusion band who can naturally combine their Japanese roots and international songs.
Toh: I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They are so awesome!

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By day Samruay Chaikate, 41, is a distribution officer at The Bangkok Post. But by night he is a doctor of black magic. But he insists he only uses his powers to help those in trouble, or in love.

How did you start doing this job?
I was a monk until I was 25. Then I got a bachelor’s degree and a job working at the Bangkok Post. I first became interested in black magic after I discovered many people posting on the internet wanting someone who could use black magic to help them bring back their lost love, or something similar. My dad is a proficient Khmer master in Buriram, so I started learning from him. I then found another master who started to teach me. I’ve been studying magic for about 10 years now.

How do you perform your magic?
I started about three-four years ago. I only deal with the benevolent side of black magic, like breaking spells that have been put onto people or helping to bring back old lovers. For old lovers I will make wax dolls of the two people, then I will recite an incantation over them. I will only do this at night because it’s easier to call the person’s mind to inhabit the dolls when people are sleeping. To help break black magic spells, I will give people holy water to drink or bathe with. The length of time the rituals take to work ranges widely from three days to two weeks.

How does it help people?
For lovers, it will help bring back their lost love. I do this only for people who are a couple already. I won’t help a mistress or an adulterer who wants to steal back another person’s husband or wife. For breaking black magic spells, it should help the person who has been cursed return to normal. I’ve never failed in breaking a curse.

Have you had any supernatural experiences?
Never, but my dad has lots because he’s so proficient in the magical arts. He can see which black magician has cast a particular spell on someone. He also see the ghosts that the black magicians send to stop us from helping people.

What do other people think about your job?
Most of my colleagues admire me. They realize that only a few people can do this. The good thing is, I can help those who are regularly tricked by swindlers.

Will you pass your skills on to someone else?
Not really. I am not that proficient—yet.

How much do you earn?
My fees start from B3,332 to place charm magic on your forehead. It costs B3,900 to bring back lovers and my prices start from B8,000 to break black magic.

What do you say to skeptics who don’t believe in your magical powers?
This type of magic has been around since Buddha’s lifetime, so it’s definitely real. Still, you don’t have to believe it until you try it.

Samruay can be reached at 086-600-4288.  www.kunsai2009.tht.in

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Ahead of Thaitanium’s 10th anniversary extravaganza, Neymyo Thunh aka Day Thaitanium, 35, talks to BK about becoming a devoted Christian and reconnecting with his Burmese roots through his role in Luc Besson’s new film, The Lady.

I was born in Myanmar and raised by my grandmother in Chiang Mai. My Burmese name means brightness. My dad was Burmese but we didn’t spend much time together. He used to be a doctor and a missionary who traveled a lot.

I was sent to the US when I was 14 because of my bad behavior. I skipped school and went out with seniors who did drugs. I did drugs too, but I wasn’t addicted. I just loved going out instead of school.

My grandmother tried to take me go to church where I learned to play guitar and piano. I didn’t believe there was a God back then. But now, I’m totally a Christian. I read the Bible and talk to God. He’s my father. He always answers my prayers.

I lived with my sister in San Francisco. My mom didn’t send me money so I had to work to study. All the pressures, from family, living expenses and racism at school, made me decided that I had to be a better person and save money.

I met Khan [Thaitanium’s Khan-ngern Nuenual] in high school. We became close because there were only three Thai students at the school. We all loved hip-hop so we made music together and occasionally DJ’ed at parties.

I dropped out because I wanted to make money. I moved to New Jersey and worked at a casino for two years. My mom cried and asked me to continue my education so I carried on studying until I got a certificate in business.

I moved to stay with Khan in New York and we did our first studio album, AA, to distribute in both New York and Thailand in 2000. It got a good response in Thailand so we decided to release our first album as Thaitanium, Thai Riders, in 2002.

I’ve grown up a lot in the ten years since that first album, both in life and in my thoughts. Our songs are like diaries where we collect life experiences.
One thing that we’ve never changed is our identity. We are what we are and believe in what we do. If there is a song that we don’t like, we won’t release it.

I like cooking. If I weren’t a rapper, I would open a 24-hour restaurant where everyone can eat all-day breakfast. I used to work as a sous-chef at a French restaurant in San Francisco. The head chef taught me how to cook every dish on the menu. I loved it.

I plan to do my own cooking show on You2Play. But they’ll be easy recipes to make at home. Thai food is the most difficult because there are so many ingredients to make it delicious. But it’s also the yummiest food in the world!

I also want to do more movies. It’s good to make yourself become someone else. It’s fun. I’ve loved it since my first film, Elephant White. I want to try the role of a killer.

I just finished acting in another international Film, The Lady, directed by Luc Beson. It’s the story of [Myanmar’s pro-democracy activist] Aung San Suu Kyi. It will be out next month.

I disrupted the script a little bit because I couldn’t speak Burmese. I took Burmese lessons for two weeks but I still couldn’t speak it. So they changed the script to English. I play Suu Kyi’s lawyer.

I think sex and drugs are part of hip-hop culture because it attracts people. But honestly it’s just an image.

The hip-hop scene in Thailand has flopped because there aren’t any new bands. Real hip-hop artists also feel discouraged to produce new work because it doesn’t make much money.

The hip-hop scene in Thailand is more like a fashion, not like in the US or Japan where hip-hop is a way of life. It’s not like you dress rock today and dress hip-hop tomorrow. Have your own style and live with it.

Bangkok is like a wild and sexy woman. Anyone who touches her will be fascinated and not want to go anywhere else. Nice food, nice people, beautiful places and cheap, too. You have so much to do from day till night.

I picture myself in the next ten years as a dad. I’ll have a bar on the beach and still do my music.

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As he releases his latest directorial venture, Top Secret, Songyot “Yong” Sukmakanan, 38, says that he’s done with making movies and now wants to explore the world and promote the Thai movie industry as the chairman of the Thai Film Director Association.

How have you changed since Fan Chan?
I feel less excited about work because I have made a bunch of movies so I’ve gotten used to it. [When you’re experienced,] you know what is going to work or what’s not going to work. It’s not as fun as when you’re younger, when you can do whatever you want to do. The process of making movies is getting boring for me now.

How did this movie get started?
This is my first movie where I am not the initial person who created the project. It’s actually from GTH producers, such as Jira Malikul. At first, I was quite worried that I might not do a good job. I am not a professional director. I can’t just narrate anything that people throw at me. All the movies I’ve done turned out OK because I had experienced the story myself.

Why did you accept the project?
After I read the brief about Tob [Itthipat Kullapongwanitch, the owner of Tao Kae Noi seaweed], I felt that there was a link between him, Peach [Pachorn Jirathiwat, the lead actor of the movie] and I. We all have conflicts with our dads. For me, I felt that my father loved me less than my siblings. He sent me to a boarding school far away from home. It’s also how I got the original idea for Dek Hor which I directed in (2006). Eventually, when I grew up, and I got into all the top schools, I realized this was better than my siblings’ education. And Tob loves to do business but doesn’t like the part where he has to deal with the contracts and legalese, just like me. I love running a production house but don’t like the paperwork! For Peach, he felt that his dad always cared more about his sisters. So I kind of feel eager to tell these stories.

What did you dream of before becoming a director?
I wanted to be a teacher or open a school because I feel that life in school is so happy. You’ve got the bad parts, like taking exams, but you also make friends who always stay with you. Anyway, the inspiration that made me want to work in films came from how I always shot photos on my family trips. I would get a lot of compliments from my relatives.

Did you ever make any bad decisions?
Of course. I’ve always loved films but I instead chose to study accounting at ABAC University. All because I chose what people expected me to do. I dropped out when I was in my second year because I hated studying there. I thought, what if I die tomorrow, why do I have to stay sad like this? I finally was accepted to study film at Chulalongkorn University where I found out that I love films.

What are you going to do next?
I’m finished. I feel complete with this movie. I won’t feel any regret if I never make a movie after this one. Now I want to do other things like exploring the world. I have a TV travel program, Hangover Thailand, for the Travel Channel. And I just want to go out to find things that excite me.

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Everyone’s got a gripe with the BTS. We speak to the Surapong Laoha-Unya, Chief Operating Officer of the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BMTS) to present some frequent complaints from our readers.

 

Surapong Laoha-Unya, Chief Operating Officer of the Bangkok Mass Transit System, answers our readers questions about the BTS.

 

 

 

Nuttaphol Onaree, 33, photographer

“It’s a waste of time to queue up for coins at the BTS. You should install ticket machines that accept bank notes, and let officers dispense tickets as well as coins. Also, when will the BTS and MRT ticketing systems merge? It’s annoying to have to buy two tickets every time.”

The cause: ”The long queues only happen at crowded stations like Siam or Asoke during rush hour because everyone shows up at the same time.”
The solution: ”We’ve just installed more exchange coin boxes at some stations, but we have no plan to let our staff sell tickets. We’re trying to convince people to use refillable cards more. We plan to install the merged ticket for the BTS and MRT early next year. You’ll also be able to use it to make purchases at shops like Au Bon Pain, and we’re negotiating to bring in more shops. We hope everyone will like it and be persuaded to use refillable cards rather than coins.”

Ubonwan Kerdtongtawee, 22, student

“It’s really crowded in the morning. I have to wait for at least two trains before I can get on. The first one is really full, then some don’t even stop at my station. They just pass us to pick up people at On Nut station directly. That means I have to wait 20 minutes! I’ve also had to wait at the turnstiles sometimes, because the BTS officer tells me that the platform is too crowded!”

The cause: “The number of passengers grows every year and we’ve just opened five new stations on the Sukhumvit line which has increased the number of passengers by about 40,000-50,000 people from the previous total of 600,000 daily passengers. Some of them are not used to the BTS and get into the carriages slowly, and the driver can’t close the doors in the allotted 50 seconds, causing delays for other trains. And as the trains get crowded from early stations like Bangna or Bearing, we sometimes have to send empty trains to pick people up at the crowded On Nut station directly.”
The solution: “We’re now waiting for 35 additional carriages which we placed an order for last year. We will attach them to all 35 Sukhumvit-line trains to make them 4-carriage trains like those on the Silom line. The number of trains is enough. We just have to put better measures in place to ensure time efficiency for each train and increase the number of officers on hand to maintain order during rush hours. We also keep two spare trains for each line in case one breaks down or the line is too crowded.”

Kaptan Jungteerapanich, 22, a recent graduate

“The BTS breaks down too often! Almost every day, around 5-7pm, you can already expect something is going wrong.”

The cause: “We’ve installed new trains and new operating systems that changed from analog to digital at the end of last year. Though we tested the systems for about 4-5 months before installation, we still have some unforeseen problems that didn’t come up in testing. Most of the problems are related to computer processing, and are sometimes due to a weakened signal from our headquarter control room at Mo Chit Station.”
The solution: “After monitoring these problems, we’ve tried to fix all the issues, and I think it’s getting better and more stable now. I want to point out that we also had this problem when we first opened 12 years ago. But there wasn’t such a public outcry because there weren’t as many passengers as there are today.”

Tassanee Saleeposh, 39, tutor

“Can’t they not have TV screens on the BTS? It’s really pollution for the eyes and ears. It’s so noisy and it’s all junk commercials that we’re forced to watch. Train systems in other countries don’t have this.”

The cause: “We did some research about TVs on the BTS and found that 97% of passengers like having them. We also put subtitles on the screens to help people who are deaf.”
The solution: “We admit that there are 3% who don’t like the TVs, but we always monitor the volume of the commercials to make sure it’s not disturbing passengers too much. If you think the TV is too loud, please tell us the train number, so we can fix it when it comes back to the headquarters.”

Suphattra Sae-Tang, 33, accountant

“I’m so sick of waiting for trains going in the opposite direction to cross Saphan Taksin station. Why didn’t you build two rails in the first place? Will you expand it in the future? The station is also tiny and there isn’t much space to stand on the platform. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone fell.”

The cause: “The Saphan Taksin station was originally built as a temporary station so we only installed one rail. But since it has taken ten years to build the extension, people around the area have gotten used to it and oppose plans to demolish it.“
The solution: ”We’ve discussed the extension of the rail with the BMA and the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) who take care of Saphan Taksin Bridge. Now we have two choices. The first is that the DRR cut the inner lane of the bridge, then expand the bridge width on the other side, so that we can install another BTS rail. The second choice is demolishing the station and creating a transfer system like a shuttle bus service or skywalk. This line will be busier next year as we prepare to open five more stations to Bang Wa, and we need to fix this issue to make operations on this line flow more smoothly. We’ve also ordered four new trains to support the new stations as well.”

BTS Contact Info

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Videos of breast-slapping master Khunyingtobnom Na Songkla have gone global in recent weeks, as the colorful lady claimed knowledge of ancient breast-enhancing techniques. We speak to her about her journey, relationships and profound faith in Jujok idols.

I never knew my mother because she died when I was really young. I grew up with my father and my grandmother who raised me on a rubber tree farm.

My granny taught me how to slap breasts when I was 18. She saw me so worried about my own breasts, which were only A-cups. She taught me face and body slapping techniques, too.

She had learned how to perform these old beauty techniques, which are really just folk remedies. She didn’t think much of breast-slapping. In the past, people fell in love for real reasons, not for the size of their boobs.

I opened a regular salon in Bangkok. Back then, I didn’t know how to tell people that I could fix their breasts by slapping them.

I started out asking my small-breasted customers if they’d like to try my skills. They liked it, the news traveled by word of mouth and I attracted many more customers.

I decided to become a nude model after some of my customers suggested it. I also felt that I had very beautiful breasts, so why not grow the reputation of my services by displaying them?

I wasn’t a success for many years, even though I was modeling and slapping breasts. One night, I dreamed of my granny who had already passed away. She said I should protect my image as the only breast slapper in this world, so I quit the nude scene.

I also stopped being a nude model because there were now people who called me “ajarn” [master, teacher]. I tattooed the Thai flag on my shoulder to ensure that I would never go back to modeling.

I promised myself that I would only have 10 students in my whole life. They must pay B5 million to study breast slapping, B8 million with the addition of face slapping and B10 million for the whole body.

I know it’s expensive but it’s ancient wisdom. If you don’t respect it, don’t come to study. If we don’t treat it like it’s special, it will be widespread, like foot or body massage.

I’ve only had two students so far. I don’t just accept those who can pay. I only choose those who respect the art and will practice it the way that I do.

Turning point in my life came when I was gravely ill with renal failure. I lay in bed, waiting for death because there wasn’t a kidney available for a transplant.

I prayed to my heavenly father, Jujok [a famous beggar in the Buddhist tradition], by worshipping his statue, to help me survive—and he did. I do also credit my doctor.

Then, I had exostosis on the spine. I was nearly paralyzed, and I asked Jujok to help me again. Just a few months later, the exostosis was gone. The doctors were shocked.

He helps me get rich, through my job, but also by giving me good lottery numbers. I win every time!

People might think I am a freak but I don’t care. I will do what I want. I’ve nearly died before and it taught me to be as happy as you possibly can. Now I always take my favorite Jujok statue, Antha Olarn [enormous testicles], with me everywhere—from temples to Siam Paragon.

I keep him in one of his special bags, they’re Chanel, Hermes or Balenciaga. I’ve written “Love thy father more than thy husband, but love thy husband forever”on all them. I don’t plan on ever selling them, so I can write whatever I want on them.

I saw my husband drive a motorcycle past me and our gazes locked. I told him, “If you like me, go back to tell your mom that you’re going to propose to me.” And he did.

We’ve just celebrated our fourteenth wedding anniversary this year. We have no kids.

I am really confident that my husband has never been unfaithful. I made it clear to him from the beginning that I chose him because he’s special. I had everything: money and fame. All I needed was a wonderful marriage with him. I also threatened that I would get a new man if he ever had a mistress.

Now I dream of entering the Guinness Book of Records as the person who has the most Jujok statues in the world. My second dream is to create a museum devoted to Jujok and my final dream is to gain an honorary degree for my breast-slapping wisdom.

I want to challenge all doctors who are skeptical about my techniques. Talk to me face to face instead of behind my back. If they can prove that I am a fake, fine. But if I am real, I will sue them for B100 million and they will have to quit their profession.

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After disappearing from the music scene for a decade, Ninut Karntaworn returns with her soulful singing style and her single “Tanomsaita”. Also a budding fashionista, she tells us here about her passion for fashion and her internship with ELLE magazine.

BK: Tell us about your childhood.
I was a nerd when I was young. All I did was study. But I did learn to listen to good music from my mother’s collection: the Carpenters, the Beatles and Aretha Franklin. My grandfather made Thai musical instruments like the ranad. He always called me to listen in on his band, and that gave me skills like listening to melody and rhythm.

BK: When did you first become inspired to sing?
After I saw Titanic. The title song “My Heart Will Go On” really touched me and made me want to sing like that. I started practicing by myself until my mom took notice, and she sent me to voice lessons. I got into two competitions and finally won an award at KPN’s singing contest. I was just 12 years old then, but I didn’t continue my singing after winning that prize.

BK: What made you stop?
I felt that I should spend my life gaining more experience to figure out what I really loved. I didn’t feel inspired to continue my singing. I didn’t stop loving music; I just wanted to try other things that I was interested in, like dancing and drawing.

BK: So how did you return to singing?
I heard that RS was recruiting new singers, and I just gave it a try because I still love singing. I failed to reach the final round but they loved my style so I got a contract. I don’t worry about the RS pop image because I know my own style which is soul music, and I want to push it in the Thai music scene more and more.

BK: What do you do apart from singing?
I am now studying decorative arts at Silapakorn University. I love to watch cartoons on TV and it led me to be interestedFr in design. Now I find myself really falling in love with fashion. I was involved in a project, where I became a stylist for a pilot magazine Mode [coming out next year] and it caught the eye of editors at ELLE Thailand. I was offered a stylist internship. I start next year.

BK: What do you think about the fashion scene in Thailand?
Even though it’s really diverse, we’re still followers, not leaders. We still trail behind Korea, Europe or America. Everyone should able to choose what is right for them, not just pick good-looking dresses on mannequins. I shouldn’t wear a ballerina skirt because it doesn’t match my body. The cut is also important. Even if you overlook the stitching, the shape will tell you whether it’s a well-cut piece or not.

BK: Any tips for us?
Fashion really helps you look better. You might not have a perfect face or body but if you choose the right style of dress or make-up, it will bring out a new you. I’m not an expert, but I know what I love to wear. You can be fabulous without LV or Gucci. I love urban feminine looks. My favorite brand is Thai designer, Vickteerut.

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Abduction

Editor's Rating: 
1
Average: 1 (1 vote)

A collaboration between Oscar-nominated director John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood and 2 Fast 2 Furious) and writer Shawn Christensen, a former vocalist for New York rock band Stellastarr, Abduction has generated some buzz as a teenage version of Bourne Identity meets Hitchhock thriller. Of course, the debut of six-pack sporting Taylor Lautner (Twilight) as a leading man hasn’t hurt publicity either. But despite a lauded director, a hip writer and a heartthrob lead, Abduction comes across as a half-boiled cat and mouse movie that neither convinces nor thrills.

Opening Date: 
Fri, 2011-10-07
Images: 
Author: 
Monruedee Jansuttipan
Oncologist Chadchapol “Aew”Kiatikajornthada, 38, better known for his best-selling popular science book, Ruenglao Jakrangkay (“Stories from your Body”), is releasing its sequel Haitpol Kong Thammachat (“Reason of Nature”) at this year’s Book Fair (5-16 Oct).

I became a doctor because I didn’t know much else when I was young. I grew up at a hospital. My dad, Narongsak Kiatikajornthada, who runs Samitivej Hospital, is a doctor, while my mom is a nurse.

There was lot of pressure. Everyone said that I would be a good doctor, like my father, who specializes in cancer.

I rid myself of that burden when I turned 26. I slowly established my own identity and started to ignore other people’s expectations. I started doing what I wanted to do.

Luckily, I still love being a doctor. You interact with people and help them. You can talk to patients and see the results of your treatment.

I went to the US to study more about medical science and evolution. It made my vision clearer, both in terms of knowledge and my thinking process. I couldn’t help but ask why I hadn’t been taught these things.

After studying and working for five years, I was compelled to write books to express what I had learned.

I never thought writing would be so fascinating. I can communicate with a huge group of people and explain things that can’t be covered by just talking or teaching.

I decided to put my medical practice on hold because I would never finish my project if I continued as a doctor. Being a specialist is a hard job with long hours. You don’t even have the time and energy to go out to eat.

There are some people who are skeptical about my writing ability. They feel I might be too young and that I should go back to work to gain more experience. But I strongly feel that I want to tell my story.

Being a writer is very liberating. It’s like you have your own institution, you can say what you want to say.

My books aim to make people see science differently. Science isn’t just about technology or difficult jargon. Science has to do with evolution and the laws of nature. It’s the key to make us move forward. It’s not just something to study for exams.

We don’t have as much innovation here as in developed countries because our education is too focused on memorizing facts, instead of questioning and debating them. We lose the ability to invent things, just so we can remember some facts and get a good grade.

We have to advance regular people to keep up with the world’s geniuses. Geniuses can’t work here because there is no place for them to use their talents, or work with people at the same level. So, they go abroad.

Thai people are obsessed with health, maybe like the US trend. The truth is that there is no country more obsessed with health than the US, but they also have the highest rate of sick people. We are living longer, and that means people potentially getting more diseases. That makes us more cautious.

The B30 health-care system isn’t sustainable. We are still buying expensive medical technology from other countries, because we can’t develop it ourselves. So it’s like buying a Mercedes and selling it for B100,000. Our budget will never be enough to support the system.

We’re exhausting our resources, like rice, fruits and soils, to buy these technologies. It’s time to save our resources and develop technology ourselves.

I credit my genes and my lifestyle for the fact that I look young at 38. I make time to exercise. We have to remember, that we are animals who used to run in the jungle to find food.

For me, love is partly science because it’s a result of both instincts and actual chemistry. But there are lots of complexities and feelings that make up love. I still believe in destiny, even though I can’t find the right person for me right now.

I love seeing romantic drama movies. I used to enjoy action films, too, but that’s getting boring. Watching alternative cinema, like Cinema Paradiso or The Chorus, makes me feel good and I learn from people’s lives, too.

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