The quality of the entertainment business may have gone up a bit in terms of production values. The thing is people have to put more effort into things now, whereas decades ago people wouldn’t have known this much.

In regards to the radio, it’s got a whole lot worse than before. There used to be a number of OK foreign music stations here. There’s nothing to listen to now. For the moment, there is no real foreign music station to listen to.

Some of the boy bands were quite OK when I was 20, but not so much now. And they do play an awful lot of that. A lot of music I think lately is quite soft. When I’m in the car especially, I don’t want something to put me to sleep. I want something to wake me up.

I think hip-hop is OK. I have a CD in my car, but it’s really more for other people than myself. Now everyone seems into hip-hop. So many people dress like they’re straight out of the hood. It’s cute.

Doing broadcasting has developed my character as a person. Having to be outgoing and entertaining forces me to bring myself out. If I didn’t do broadcasting, I would sound quite mundane.

My career went on two different paths concurrently while I was doing DJing and entertaining. I also tried to develop the TV presenting thing. I started doing a purely travel show, which had an element of news in it. This later developed into becoming a news anchor.

I’m trying to infuse news with my entertaining side. I’d rather present more entertaining news than just straight news, which might be too heavy for people at that time of the night.

Not many people know that I’m gay and I don’t go out of my way to tell anyone. I tried to be very out when I was 16 but it’s not really a big deal. My conservative mannerism was holding me back, especially coming from my background.

I try not to go to Soi 2 too much. DJ Station actually gives me a headache. There’s no way to walk inside.

No one would have wanted to come to party in Bangkok if they had to go to bed by 1am. The terrible state of the current licensing laws here in Bangkok is killing the local nightlife. The government thinks that everyone who comes into Thailand wants to hang out with elephants and pagodas.

Everywhere else, the nightlife scene is opening later and later, but Thailand seems to be going backwards. People should be going forwards, not paddling backwards into the past.

The gay scene in Bangkok doesn’t have much variety and it’s quite repetitive. Going out is not just about partying but also networking. At the moment, if you wanted to meet gay people, there are not a lot of options for you.

Gay NGOs are doing well for their part but they’re not really about meeting people. The word NGO already scares people off cause they think it’s going to be work.

A lot of brands are run by gay managers but there still seems to be some kind of strange homophobia in that they don’t want to be associated with gayness. If there is a good quality gay magazine, they should support it.

I don’t see any difference between gay men, gay women and heterosexuals. Being a good gay is no different from being a decent human being.

Having proven her psychic abilities time and again on her Sunday night television program, Aor See You, Suppharat Thamsuriya has gained many fans and viewers. She is the third generation in a psychic family, and has also gained a master’s degree in Organization Policy from Boston University. She grew up in Australia, has lived in the States for years but still hops in and out of Thailand because of her ability of foresee. While everyone else may be using their “gift” to make money, she uses hers to keep others out of trouble.

I’m neither a good person nor a bad person. I’m in the middle, like normal people. My vision is just wider. Others might take 10 years to learn about someone, but I can read them at once, even if I don’t see or know that person well.

Superstition and rationality might be two different paths, but they are parallel and can exist together.

Kids that parents don’t pamper too much always grow up strong and want to be the best, too. These kinds of kids don’t like anyone putting blame on them—that’s why they’re strong and survive. If my child were falling down I would let him fall, then learn how to stand up again. That way a child learns the hurt of a fall and becomes more careful.

Humans learn from the past; what we have today is the result from the past. But are you going to use your past to weaken or strengthen yourself? That’s the question.

Textbooks are the result of human experience. Some are applicable to the present time and some are irrelevant. Look at Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures)—it was revised many times to be more appropriate to the current era.

Just because I can see something that others can’t doesn’t mean I’m making it up. It’s just like when you breathe in the air—you can’t see it, but you know it’s there. It’s the same thing with the spirit world—you don’t see it but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Eighty percent of fate depends on our actions, while 20% is from feng shui and ngol heng. Can you live without knowing these things? Of course you can, because you still have your other 80%! But if you have the other 20% to support you, you’ll be even better off. When you are losing your 80%, you still have your 20% backup.

Some people don’t have enough money to eat but they take out loans to reconstruct their houses because they want to be rich by changing feng shui. Where is the guarantee in that?

When you go to see a fortuneteller and he/she says that you will get this and that or you will be rich, but you do nothing but wait for it to happen...do you think that person would actually ever get rich? It’s all about acting, not waiting around for something to happen to you.

I don’t want anyone to believe in me unless they can prove what I say is true or not.

After practicing dharma I find the most peaceful moment and I hold on to it. I know now what is good and what makes me happy.

I’m both Catholic and Buddhist and I pray both in Thai and Chinese. All religion comes from the same root.

I do believe in destiny and somehow don’t believe in it, too. Everything can change by our own hands.

I do believe in karma. Humans can’t delete their karma from the past, but you can change it if you have strong will.

Everyone does things and expects to get something in return. You donate B10 to charity but expect to win the lottery. Really making merit is when you expect nothing in return.

What goes around comes around. What I did to my parents, now my two sons are doing back to me.

How long have you been doing this?
I came here in May of last year but I was in Suan Luang for a few years before that.

What is your job description?
I come here by 6am every day and finish by 7:30pm. I check up on things like if any bikes need to be repaired or re-equipped. For the boats, I have to make sure that they won’t sink into the middle of the lake. Customers pick the bike that they want first, then I’ll ask for their ID card, driver’s license or mobile phone to guarantee that they won’t leave with my bike. Actually, anything that is valuable will do, even a house or car key. It also helps that customers come back and return bicycles here; so as not to leave them somewhere in the park. Then I’ll write out the ticket, which includes their starting time, what they’ve left as a deposit and the number of their bicycle. Once they return the bike, I’ll charge them according to the time of return. It’s B20 per hour. For the boat, it is pretty much the same deal except they don’t have to leave an ID card or mobile number ’cause it’s difficult to lift that boat and I don’t think someone would carry the boat out of the park.

Has any bike or boat ever gone missing?
No, never in my charge.

What would you do if something went wrong?
If you mean accidents, I have my first aid kits. If it’s something I can’t take care of, I just point out where the nearest hospital is. We don’t cover their injuries. If the bike is falling apart, there is an in-house technician.

Any funny things happen to you?
Some people don’t know which hand brake corresponds to the front or back wheel, so many times people squeeze the wrong brake too hard and end up falling on the ground. This happens a lot, especially on weekends. The busiest time is Saturday and Sunday evenings when some people have to wait for an hour or more.

What do you do when there are no customers?
There’s plenty of work to do—no time to get bored at all. I have to clean the bikes; or I just read my book.

What is the charm of this job?
The smile of customers, especially when they’re having fun cycling in the park. That makes up for the whole tiring day.

“Home” for most of us still conjures up images of a house, with a yard, an upstairs and a downstairs, dogs and cats. But whether out of choice or necessity, most of us, at some time or another, will find ourselves living in what is basically a concrete box.
With a population of over 10 million people, and over half under the age of 30, over the past few years, Bangkok has been growing up much more than out. In 1982 there were approximately 50 condominium projects under construction in the capital; in less than a decade that number had quadrupled. The next generation might not even know that there once were houses in the inner city that normal people could afford to live in.

We could choose to kick it in a tree-lined development along the outer ring road—there are still plenty of swamps yet to be filled in, apparently—but we’re city people. We’d rather be where the action is than “baan nawk.” And unlike our parents, we don’t have the patience for two- or even three-hour commutes. We’d rather not relive the days of the Comfort 100, thank you.

Why would anyone choose to live in a box? Location, for one. Wyn is a 34-year-old freelance architect who previously lived in a stereotypical small space, an apartment with an area of less than 20 square meters. He has since outgrown that tiny room, but he still chooses to live in a condo because location is more important to him than personal space. “Now I live nearby Siam, which is good for my job because I have meetings with my clients around this area regularly. I wouldn’t even think of living outside downtown. The traffic situation is like a war, and I don’t have time to waste every day traveling to work.”

The other main reason is the desire for personal space, no matter how small. Aoy, 28, moved out of her parents’ house into a condominium that is only 40 square meters—and only 10 minutes from her parents’ house. “The single door policy suits me much better. You don’t have to do anything, just lock the door when you leave. I just use this as a place to sleep and keep my clothes,” she says.

You win some, lose some

The biggest problem people experience living in a small space is where to keep all of their stuff. It comes down to priorities, making space for what’s really important.
“I have the same problem as everyone else who lives in a condo: limited space. I have a huge collection of shoes and bags as every good woman should have, and to fit them all I had to get rid of my washing machine,” Aoy continues.

Wyn has a similar story. “The thing is, you have to think in advance what it is that you want and what is absolutely necessary. Because of my job, I have a lot of books, so I decided that space for bookshelves was more important than a kitchen.”

What about the psychological effects of living in cramped quarters? Can we blame our insanity on our tiny little room? According to Dr. Yuttana Ongarjsakulman, a psychiatrist at Samitivej Hospital, the answer is no. (We’ll need to find another excuse.) “It’s not going to drive you crazy. People get mentally sick from other factors and mostly it’s in their mind,” he explained. But it can be stressful, and in this case the only solution is to get out, he said.

Rathanitha, 25, is a jewelry shop assistant who shared a tiny apartment with a family member. “I was a matthayom girl when I moved to my under-20 square meter apartment. It was OK at first ‘cause I didn’t have much stuff. But once I went to university, I changed. There were so many things I had to have, and I couldn’t get rid of any of it. Then my grandmother came to live with me. It was terrible. We didn’t have any private space, and we had so many arguments. Finally we realized that we couldn’t live together like this. So we moved to a bigger apartment, 50 square meters, and we stopped fighting.”

Tips for tight spaces

Instead of complaining about his cramped quarters, Wyn made the most of his situation. “I put everything against the wall, to give me more space to walk and move around. I didn’t have a real ‘bed’—it was a fold-up hide-a-bed that converted into a sofa. Most of my furniture was more vertical than horizontal—that was key,” he recalls.

The experts and people we spoke to agreed you can live large in a small space. You just need to put a bit of effort into it. Here are some basics.

Lifestyle. Think about your day-to-day life and how you’ll be using your room—and realize that you can’t have it all. Do you really need a kitchen? How often will you be cooking at home? If work is more of a priority than eating, you’ll need a desk, not a table for dining. Is vegging out to re-runs of Bad Boys II more important than sleeping (or sex)? Then maybe you want a big couch and a small bed.

Prioritize. Position your things according to how often you will need them. Pack things up in boxes, bags, cabinets or shelves. Clutter makes a room look smaller. Move your furniture to the side, along the wall. This will clear a path for your feet and your eyes. Buy fewer pieces of big furniture, and keep all your stuff inside.

Go vertical. Instead of buying a typical six-foot-tall bookshelf, go for eight feet. Open furniture, such as metal shelves without backs and sides are best, as they won’t block your view. Or instead of a bookshelf, install shelves into the wall. Put things you rarely use on the top shelves.

Think big but stay small. There are plenty of products that are particularly designed for small space use. Most of them are multifunctional like a sleeper sofa or daybed. Consider a bed with drawers beneath it, which will give you extra storage space and look a lot better than shoeboxes under the mattress. Do you really need that huge refrigerator? Consider a small one that you can fit under a counter or below a table.

Get low. Low tables and furniture will make the room seem bigger. Spread out some big pillows and a comfy rug in the middle of the room, and keep the sofa next to the wall.

See the light. There are times when a cool, dark cave is ideal, such as when you’re recovering from a big night out. But in general, the more light the better, and lighter colors are better as well for making a room look more airy and spacious. Shine light on your walls to help open up the room. Track lighting is better than floor lights, which take up space. Instead of institutional white, try painting your walls a light cream or cheery yellow. Or go cool with light blue or light green.

The magic mirror. More than just a tool for checking out your hot bod’, mirrors also make a room feel bigger and more inviting. Buy the biggest one you can afford, or try several small ones of different shapes and sizes hung on different walls for a striking effect. As for mirrors on the ceiling, proceed at your own risk.

One for all. Go monochromatic. Match the color of your furniture to your walls: Either choose paint that matches your furniture or paint your furniture the same color as the walls.

Choose wisely. Easier said than done, but when you’re shopping around for a condo or apartment, try to get one with the most natural light. The ideal would be a corner room with windows on more than one side. Look for high ceilings. And if you can find one, choose a room where the sleeping and living space are at least partially separated by a wall or a tall cabinet.

Tips: Home Sweet Home

If you have to stay in room less than 20sqm, having your own balcony could make a huge difference.

Don’t know where to start shopping for furniture? Try the home office section, where many pieces are collapsible or multi-functional.

For those in a rented room with a “no nail holes” rule, try using a freestanding easel or over-the-door hooks.

Avoid creating a sense of clutter by using too many small items.

8 of our experts’ top picks for furniture

Chatuchak weekend market (Kamphang Phet 2, Rama 6 and Phahonyothin Rd., MRT Kamphangphet) is the king of all markets in Bangkok. Make sure you shop around to compare prices, and bargaining is a must.

Suan Lum Night Bazaar (corner of Wireless and Rama 4, MRT Lumpini) has a surprising amount of cutting edge furniture, lamps and home décor items “inspired” by international designers.

The Bang Po (Krung Thep Non Rd.) area is famous for made-to-order furniture. Just bring your design to one of the roadside shops and the craftsmen will do the rest—but prepare yourself for how baan baan they are.

Soi Pracha Narumitr (Krung Thep Non Rd., a.k.a. “wood street”) is home to numerous wood furniture shops from the top to the bottom of this soi.

HomePro (try 55 Wireless Rd., 02-655-3400, BTS Ploen Chit) is a one-stop home product department store where you can find pretty much everything. It also has a made-to-order service, which is OK as long as the design isn’t too complicated.

Homework Furniture (try G/F, Central Rama 2, Rama 2 Rd., 02-872-1471) is not in the city center but is worth the drive for reasonably priced made-to-order furniture as well as mass-produced items.

Sofa So Few (11 Thong Lor Soi 25, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-712-6157/-9) makes ultra comfy and high quality sofas for export. The showroom also has a snazzy collection of armchairs, loveseats, daybeds and dinner tables. Free delivery for custom pieces.

Kong Ha Furniture (154/22 Sukhumvit Soi 48/4, 02-331-0681) does custom furniture including sofas, tables, chairs and chests of drawers as well as accessories such as pillows, chair pads and cushions. You can make up your own design or pick one from the extensive catalog. They do all sorts of materials: fabric, leather, wood and steel.
 

Our genetics are such that our Thai skin isn’t as susceptible to the sun’s harmful rays as our fair-skinned farang friends. But for beauty’s sake no one wants to spend too much time outside and unprotected, especially during summer. It’s not just our fear of dum-ing our expensive skin; bright-red burn marks don’t look too hot, either. Plus they can hurt something fierce.

You can see what we’re getting at. Protect yourself! You’ll want to use a product with at least SPF 15—and make sure you give yourself at least 15 minutes before exposing yourself to that naughty sun. You should re-apply sunblock every two hours, every hour if you’re wet or really sweaty. And don’t go for the cheapest item on the drugstore shelf, either. Remember: You get what you pay for.

And don’t think you’re safe just because the sun’s gone down. Next time you’re out clubbing, try not to spend too much time under black lights, as they also are a source of nasty UVA and UVB rays. Your other option is to apply facial sunblock—but you don’t want to look like Casper when you’re trying to pull, do you?

She’s occasionally a model, but most of her time is spent behind the bar slinging cocktails. She’s been around for a while, here and there, and was imported directly from Sweden to help us have more fun with delicious new alcoholic concoctions. Once you see her you’ll admire her creativity, attractiveness—or her cutie boyfriend. Meet the heartthrob mixologist of the Diplomat Bar at the Conrad Hotel, Sophie Antonie Fredriksson, 24, who is about to introduce every one of us to the martini all over again. See the many new and different ways you can enjoy this classic cocktail during the Diplomat’s Martini Hour, 5:30-6:30pm daily. Rumor has it she’s about to do her first Thailand swimsuit fahion shoot. We can’t wait to see it.

What is the difference between a bartender and a mixologist?
Basically, a bartender is a person who just makes drinks. A mixologist is a person who can make drinks and can create new drink recipes as well.

What is good and bad about being a mixologist?
You can taste all the alcohol that exists in the world for free. I haven’t tried them all yet, most of them anyway. The ugly side of working in this particular field is the smiling—you always have to keep it on your face, no matter what happened before you came to work. Once you are at the bar, smile. The late working hours is another thing, and it can be a tiring job sometimes. Not everyone can work behind the bar.

What are the difficulties of creating a new drink?
I personally prefer sweet drinks, so sometimes it’s hard for me to create bitter or sour drinks, but I can cope with it. It’s in the job description.

Any difficult drinks you’ve had to make so far?
It’s hard to make a drink that everyone likes. Some like sweet drinks but others don’t. That’s the most difficult part of the job. I hardly have complaints about the drinks, but sometimes I have to make them again to suit the customer’s taste.

What is the charm of the martini?
Some people think that martini drinkers are all James Bond, 007 types—old, too posh, that sort of thing. That’s why I love to break it down. The martini is a drink that blends very well with every other kind of drink. My colleagues and I have tried to reach out to as many types of people as possible, so we came out with a long list of new age martini drinks.

What is the best drink you have ever had?
To be honest, I’m a whisky drinker. The worst drink for me, personally, is campari. I hate everything with campari. It’s too bitter.

So how come you created martinis? Why not whisky drinks?
Well, you can put whisky in a martini, too. To be precise, martinis go very well with other drinks—every drink except champagne.

Any chance of seeing you doing some photo shoots soon?
I haven’t signed a contract with any company yet, but I’m planning on it. Just wait and see what the future holds.

Lots of us love Isaan food, no matter how much of a negative connotation it has. It’s healthy, tasty, cheap and makes us sweat like pigs, giving our blood pressure pleasant jolts without the need for sexual contact. But sometimes when we want to have that low down food, we can’t be bothered to wait in a long line or sit next to some exhaust laden parking lot in the hot Bangkok sun. If this sounds like you, scream hallelujah! A brand new Issan restarant just flung open its doors on the ground floor of the air-conditioned Glorious Phenomenon itself, Siam Paragon. It’s called Café Chili. Not so fast: Rumor has it that the owners of the place are hiso gals. Is it going to be fusion food or perhaps Isaan fare so mutated that it no longer resembles the dirty, stinky plaa raa we all know and love? We went in to get a closer look.

This foxy café sports a high ceiling and mezzanine with over 70 seats, as well as an alfresco area at the front of a tiny lagoon. The place might look like the typical extravagant décor of a Paragon restaurant, but it’s quite distinctive as a café where you can just sit and chill, sipping your wine with some larb. Don’t be fooled by the location and the décor—this outlet guarantees all customers authentic recipes straight from their original provinces. (For instance, their plaa raa is from Khon Kaen and muu yor is from Pathum Thani.)

Generally, all the dishes here have preserved the genuine flavor of Isaan—salty, sour, spicy and not sweet (unless you ask). The look might be different from what you’re used to, as some dishes have been adapted for this setting. Their grilled lamb with jeaw dip and sticky rice (B350) looks a little different, for example, but it tastes great. One of the local foods that we haven’t seen around for ages, steamed chicken with local herbs (B150), is available at Café Chili. Of course, somtam is a must and they offer not just ordinary tam Thai, tam Lao or tam Thai with puu (somtam Thai with salted crab), but they also have jungle som tam (with bamboo shoots, phak grached, papaya, kaffir lime, B110). You might want to try O My God (laap salmon, B250) with black sticky rice (B25) for a light lunch with selection of wine (B900-3,000) or a glass of Black Label (B180).

While we were dipping our sticky rice in jeaw, we chatted with Khun Nawarat Sittapak, co-owner, about her unique outlet.

Why Isaan food?

I personally love Isaan food. Every time I’ve heard of a new and tasty Isaan food restaurant anywhere, I’d jump in my car and go for it. No matter where or how much it cost. Then I realized, there’re a lot of people who love to have Isaan food but can’t be bothered with the heat, the crowds and the environment where most Isaan restaurants are located. So my friends and I came up with the idea of having an Isaan restaurant that everyone could enjoy—both for the food and the venue. You can sip your wine while enjoying your laap.

Seems like you have gathered a lot of dishes from throughout the Northeast.

Yes, what we do now is try to introduce people to Isaan foods that they’ve never heard of, which are all yummy. Introducing these to people is hard but I think we’re doing very well. We still have an endless list of items we will add bit-by-bit. We don’t want to give our customers culture shock, and we don’t want them to be like "what the f***?" I’m certain that customers will experience the authentic taste of Isaan at our restaurant since our ingredients, recipes and chefs are from the region.

Dining details

Expose your Isaan inside in an upscale atmosphere at Café Chili. Open daily 10am-11pm, at G/F Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9877/-8. MC, V, AE.

Bangkok can be a bitch. Nerve-straining situations abound in our everyday lives, and we sometimes can’t help but wish we could go ballistic. Wouldn’t it be gratifying to jump on that dickhead who’s pissing you off? Wouldn’t it be nice to nuke that mob telling you to “Awk Pai!”? But au contraire, mon frere, that’s not what civilized people do. Instead we must learn to play the game of life. Here our expert panel offers some suggestions for dealing with various stressful situations.

Road Rage

You’re signaling to cross into the other lane, but a car next to you keeps speeding up to cut you off. You honk your horn, he gives you the finger before slowing down suddenly, causing you to hit his rear bumper and smash his taillights.

The Bouncer: “Getting into a fight should always be a last resort. I would talk to the other person calmly with a gentle tone, especially to figure out how mad and unreasonable the person really is. If things get out of hand, leave it to the police. In this kind of situation, I would talk to the person rather than trying to blame anyone. You’ve got to be as cool as possible. Who knows? You might walk away with a new friend at the end of the day.”

The Cop: “It’s hard to keep calm in these situations, but as a police officer I would first ask whether they have insurance or not. If so, we all are Thai, we shouldn’t get angry over such a thing. Let the insurance companies deal with it. If not, the truth will win out. When you’re wrong, admit you are wrong. Getting mad won’t solve the problem. Whatever happened before the accident, the best thing is to just immediately forget it. Having a fight or yelling in the middle of the street is just going to cause more problems and plus it’s dangerous to you and others.”

The Lawyer: “The law says anyone who hits someone else is the guilty party, but I can’t accept that because cutting another car off is wrong. I would talk to the guy reasonably, not emotionally. There is no point in being rude or yelling at each other. I’d tell him his driving is hazardous to everyone on the road and maybe he would listen to me.”

Free-Loading Best Friend

Your best mate from university is in town and wants to sleep on your couch for three weeks and party like its 1999… again.

The Cop: “Well, a best mate is always a best mate, but you have to tell him that times change, and since I have a family now and work to be responsible for, I’m not able to live like the old days anymore. Of course our friendship will always be there, but there comes a time when family and work have to come before friends. If he/she is really a best mate, he/she will get it right away.”

The Hotelier: “I love my friends and I would let them use my house as if it were their own home. I would join the party sometimes, but not the whole time. I’m sure if you had a good friend, he or she would know when to leave you alone.”

The Monk: “Talk to your friend reasonably. Partying and having fun should be done but only in appropriate ways. Buddhism teaches us to live balanced lives. Anything that is too much on either side can cause trouble.”

Crazy Partner

You tell your boyfriend/girlfriend you need a cooling off period from the relationship but he/she doesn’t take it well and instead hangs a note written in blood on your door saying, “We should be closer, not further apart…”

The Bouncer: “I would try to understand where exactly the relationship stands. If things are about to go further and the time apart is for everyone’s benefit, I would explain that to her. I would emphasize the future rather than the present. Sometimes we have to reduce one thing in order to gain something else. For my own safety, I would use ‘we’ rather than ‘I,’ therefore making her feel that I care about the both of us, not just myself. Remember, our future is a ‘we’ thing.”

The Shrink: “Anyone talking about a cooling off period must think it’s the beginning of the end. First, you have to consider how much you love your boyfriend/girlfriend. If you still love him/her a lot, you should make a deal with him/her. For example, you can talk on the phone daily, but don’t have to meet everyday. The best way is to try to change your routine bit by bit.”

The Hotelier: “Re-think the situation! Don’t get scared by the bloody letter. It might just be fake blood. Plus this person might be your soulmate. Or, you could file a police report.”

Pushy Parents

As usual, your father is offering unsolicited advice to drop your filmmaking career in favor of becoming a lawyer. This time he is threatening to cut you out of his will (and family fortune).

The Hotelier: “Personally, I would change for my father’s sake. Who knows—being a lawyer might be your thing and you might even like it more. Don’t fight but try and show them how you can cope with it. I believe that no parents want to see their kids unhappy. If the job isn’t really for you, they’ll know and won’t stop you from changing back. Give it some time and try.”

The Shrink: “Invite your father to visit your movie set. Whether he goes or not, talk with your dad calmly. Thank him and say that you understand his goodwill. Try to avoid mentioning a career in law negatively and let him know that making movies is what you love and want to do. Ask your dad for a chance to prove that you can be successful in your career and make him proud.”

The Yoga Instructor: “This is similar to what happened in my real life. I explained to my dad that I understood his wish, but I loved what I was doing. I asked him to believe in me and he accepted it.”

The Clueless Boss

A hot new job opens up in the company and even though you’re perfect for it, you’re overlooked for the position in favor of the smarmy new guy.

The Lawyer: “I recommend comparing and analyzing qualifications between yourself and that smarmy new guy seriously and reasonably. If he is better than you in even one thing, you should accept it. Generally, a boss makes decisions based on what is good for a company, not based on his personal feelings. However, if you really think that he has something against you, you should consider leaving.”

The Monk: Tum jai or let it go. As a subordinate, you have no power to make changes. Don’t take any position seriously. It is just something to make a living. We don’t really need luxuries, but can survive with simple ways, houses and clothes. Don’t push yourself too hard. Adequacy and self-reliance are enough.”

The Yoga Instructor: “Every position is important, whether you are a maid or an executive. We should be happy doing what we are doing, and there is no need to confront your boss. You can’t make other people think like you.”

Vindictive Co-workers

A presentation to a major client tanked and now the team leader is pointing fingers saying your stats and info caused the failure.

The Monk: “Nobody wants to admit a mistake. That’s why your team leader tries to point the finger at someone else. It’s a team effort. Everyone had a part in the failure. Don’t make an argument, just mention the team effort.”

The Shrink: “Evaluate your stats and info again to find your mistake. If your stats are weak, you must admit your fault, but if you believe there is no mistake, talk to your team leader. Tell him you already tried your best then ask him for advice on what can improve your report.”

The Yoga Instructor: “Apologize to your team leader and tell her you did your best. Make it clear that whatever you did was a team effort. In the end, let your leader make the decision to give you a new chance or let you go.”

Noisy Neighbors

Every night the neighbors crank up the volume on their terrible karaoke, which lasts until midnight. Your anonymous letters for peace and quiet are not working.

The Cop: “Tell them exactly what you feel and how you suffer from their karaoke face to face in a polite way. Tell them that you need to rest after a long, hard day at work. If it still happens consistently, you can file a report at your local police station. Let the police come to stop them. In the worst case scenario, you might need to file a petition for arrest for nighttime noise disturbance.”

The Hotelier: “I would buy a bigger, more expensive, better quality stereo and give it to my neighbor since they’re going to sing every day anyway, and I’d rather hear the better sound quality. If you can’t fix the problem, live with it.”

The Shrink: “Make friends with this neighbor by saying hi or giving him some gift because you have to be around each other for a long time. Whenever you have a chance, tell him that you have to work on your assignment at home every night and you are so stressed and need to concentrate on your work. Don’t mention the noise. Hopefully they’ll be able to figure it out themselves.”

Stubborn Chauffeur

You’re going to an important meeting and time is running out. You jump in a taxi and tell the driver to go one way that you’re certain will be faster, but the driver ignores you, instead taking his own way, which makes the trip longer.

The Bouncer: “Personally, I’ve had this kind of problem before but I do respect the driver since it’s their specialty. Their job is to know which way is the best for both parties, and saves time, money and fuel. I normally try to make it sound more like a conversation than advice. I don’t think anyone likes to be advised on what they think they know best. I would make conversation like, ‘Which way do you normally take? Is it going to be congested at this time?’ Then I would say something like, ‘Sometimes I take that way, but do you think there’s a better way to go?’ Make sure that you make it sound like you’re asking for their help, not commanding them to do something.”

The Lawyer: “Tell him nicely right away that you want to get out. Driving a taxi is a service. When you pay for service, you are supposed to get what you want.”

Political Stress

You’re so frustrated and stressed out when you read the political news and chaos that is happening everywhere. You realize this issue is not something you can talk with your pals about, but it’s so bad you are about to burst.

The Bouncer: “I’m personally Buddhist, so I do everything as to not be too tight or too loose. We need to live our lives in moderation. When I have this political stress, I release it in other ways like working out or playing sports instead of causing harm to someone else.”

The Cop: “It’s always the same in the political game. You see politicians dragging out some issue from a long time ago, or a skeleton from someone else’s past, but at the end of the day they are all nice to each other’s faces. I’m not fed up, but its annoying. I’ve just seen way too much of it.”

The Shrink: “Avoid any media relating to political issues for a while. Relax and realize you don’t posses this country. Consider what you can do as a Thai citizen and never disturb other people. Evaluate yourself in terms of what you have done for this country so far.”

Our Panel of Experts

1. The Bouncer: Wittaya Singlompon, 35, is a bouncer at Q Bar. He regularly has to deal with stupid drunks speaking foreign languages.

2. The Cop: Prasong Nawin, 50, is a traffic cop who’s been in the brown uniform for decades. His primary job apart from keeping the traffic flowing is to make sure that people don’t cause disturbances by losing their temper behind the wheel.

3. The Hotelier: Jirarat Bhandhukravi, 29, has worked as a hotel operator for three years and has spent the past two years at the front desk of the Royal Orchid Sheraton.

4. The Lawyer: Ekkapol Apinun, 36, is a senior legal manager at Yum Restaurant International.

5. The Monk: Phra Khru Banpot Dhamma Rangsi is an abbot at Wat Pa Namthip.

6. THE SHRINK: Worada Wasunnuntasiri, 26, is a psychologist at the Department of Corrections in the Ministry of Justice.

7. The Yoga Instructor: Boonrada Nokyophin, 40-something, has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years.

Atrium Athletic Club

Tipco Tower, Rama 6 Rd., 02-271-4200. Open daily 6am-10pm

The Scene: The pool itself is simple, but the area is impressive. Housed in the atrium of the club, you could take a dip while overlooking traffic congested on expressways and residential areas with a sunset backdrop. This is a small temperature-controlled pool, so it’s limited to only five swimmers at one time.

The Price: B4,280 for one month and B17,000 for three month memberships. No day passes.

Best For... Low-profile, (very) high-profit residents of the area.

Benjasiri Garden

Sukhumvit Rd., beside The Emporium, 02-258-2377. Open daily 10am-8pm

The Scene: On your left is a well-decorated garden, on your right is the flashy Emporium Tower. No, you’re not in a hiso sport club—believe it or not, this is a BMA-owned pool featuring simple but perfect surroundings.

The Price: One-year membership: B10 for children, B40 for adults. B5-15 entrance fee to use the pool for 90 minutes. You’ll need to present a medical certificate when applying for membership.

Best For...Those who have limited budget but love to say, “Where do I swim? Well, around the Emporium.”

Lumpini Park

Rama 4 Rd., 02-252-8035. Open daily 7am-8pm

The Scene: This is the older version of the Benjasiri pool, but most importantly it’s populated by ah mah and ah sor with their little nieces and nephews. People here know they’ll have to queue if they want to go swimming, so if you’re a new kid on the block, watch and learn.

The Price: One-year membership: B10 for children, B40 for adults. B5-15 entrance fee to use the pool for 90 minutes. You’ll need to present a medical certificate when applying for membership.

Best For... Ah muays and ah tees that need to bring their elderly relatives for poolside social activities.

Millennium Hilton

123 Charoen Nakorn Rd., Klongsan, Si Phraya pier, 02-442-2000. Open daily 7am-10pm

The Scene: Is this a view to die for or what? While you’re dipping your tummy, you can also enjoying the astonishing scenery. Forget hard, cold tiles: This luxurious hotel pool gives you white sand—yes, white, soft sand. There are also pool beds along the side of the pool and even in the pool. Five-star everything, so you can get whatever you desire—drinks, snacks, towels or a pool boy with nice abs.

The Price: It hasn’t “officially” opened yet, but you can bet the price won’t be cheap. Call for info.

Best For... Ladies who lunch, posh Thai yuppies, foreigners, tourists, wannabes, lottery winners, and umm… maybe some BK readers.

Nai Lert Park Hotel

2 Wireless Road, 02-253-0123. Open daily 7am-7pm

The Scene: Here’s an oasis in the middle of the city. The overall size is big but the shape is not Olympic, so if you’re thinking of doing laps, forget it. You can expect every service here that a luxurious hotel can offer.

The Price: Various flexible memberships are available for individuals, couples, corporate members and for off-peak times, too. Prices range from B5,000-33,000 and B500 for a day pass. Membership gets you a 20-25% discount on some facilities and outlets.

Best For... Greenpeace members, Jane and Tarzan or the kind of people who want to feel like them, people who love to have afternoon tea or cocktails.

The Olympic Club

Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Rama 1 Rd., 02-216-3700. Open daily Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, weekend and public holidays 7am-10pm. www.theolympic-club.com

The Scene: This outdoor, 25m long pool is in one of the most popular fitness centers in Bangkok, which means showing off your breast stroke is a must. But the major highlight is the water: The pool is treated with sodium chlorinate that doesn’t spoil your hair and skin.

The Price: Day pass is B550. Membership ranges from B2,500 (one month off-peak) to B35,000 (one year full-time).

Best For... Baby boys or girls whose skin is purer than a gold bar, serious swimmers or elderly folks who don’t want to spoil their skin and what hair they have left. 

Sports City

20/262-4 Moo 9, Prachachuen Rd., Bangtalad, Pakkred, 02-575-0078/-86. Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm. www.sportscity2002.com

The Scene: Located in the mega Sport City complex with lagoon scenery next to the lake. Worth driving to even if you don’t live or work nearby.

The Price: General fitness memberships, which include pool access, range from B26,750 to B32,100 for one year. Day pass is B650.

Best For... Suburbanites who have escaped the inner city, big families with fat wallets, kids being groomed for athletic greatness.

Ethiopian

Delete all those horrible mental pictures from the news of kids eating dust — Ethiopians eat regular food just like the rest of us! Since their country is in the hot zone like ours, they’re keen to make their dishes super hot, but not really spicy. While Thai food burns the lips as a result of chili, Ethiopian harbors a fierce throat burn from the pepper used in their food. Generally, the food is mushy, similar to Indian, but what makes it special is the bread that you eat with it called “injera.” It’s made from Ethiopian grains that can only be found in the motherland. Another thing is that they use ancient-human utensils—hands, which they claim to be the cleanest because no one else uses them but you. How fun is that going to be? Ethiopians don’t eat pork because of their religion—most of them are Muslim or Orthodox Christian. It’s not just their food that you may want to try–their coffee is top of the pops, too. It’s called yiragachfe and traditionally it must be boiled with charcoal—the same as what Starbucks has, only it is more scented and a little bit oily, in a good way.

Must Try:

Kitfo. Freshly minced, extra lean beef seasoned with Ethiopian butter, mitmita—Ethiopian chili paste and cotage cheese.

Lebiled. Lamb simmered in red chili powder, onion, fresh ginger, and garlic with cottage cheese.

Yemisie Kik Wet. A dish of split lentils simmered with red chili pepper powder, onion and spice with some fresh garlic and ginger. Served with vegetable stew and an Ethiopian style tomato salad.

Try them at: Abyssinya Café, 16/11, Sukhumvit Soi 3 (Nana Nua,) opposite Zenith Hotel, 02-655-3436. Open daily noon-10pm.

Greek

If you’re bored with Italian and Turkish, why not try something that claims to be a delightful mix of both? Greek food is well known for being both inexpensive and delicious. However, Greece is not just known for seafood and olive oil. Feta cheese, stuffed grape leaves, and souvlaki are all signature Greek foods. Many dishes seem astonishingly simple, yet sophisticated in a way. They may not look that mouth-watering but in terms of nutrition, Greek is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Don’t judge a book from its cover—olive oil might make Greek dishes look greasy, but it’s proven to be a good fat that we don’t store in our tummy.

Must Try:

Horiatiki a.k.a. Greek salad. A tomato salad with onion, olive oil, feta cheese and seasoning. Usually has no green vegetables, though some will add green pepper or cucumber.

Souvlaki. Spit-roasted pork wrapped in pita bread together with tzatziki—homemade dip made from yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, cucumber, and garlic.

Arni Lemonato. Lamb baked with lemon juice and garlic and tastes somewhat like a mix of Italian and Turkish cuisine.

Try them at: Athena, opposite Ekamai Soi 21, 594, Soi Ekamai, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-711-6879. Open daily 6pm-1am.

Spanish

Though the Spanish may be known for killing bulls, surprisingly they don’t eat them (they just want to show how manly they are). The Spanish do have some well-known foods, but finding an authentic restaurant in Bangkok is a real trial. Admittedly, Spanish food looks a lot like other Western food—the difference is in the products they use to prepare the dishes. For example, Spain produces succulent Serrano ham, the best of which is from Iberia, that is similar to Parma ham in Italy. Taste-wise, the Spanish are keen on preserving the pure taste of each ingredient, allowing us to enjoy the maximum flavor… and sometimes in maximum quantities. The paella at Rioja, for example, comes in a dish large enough to take a bath in. Spanish drinks and sweets are also not-to-be-missed if you really want to live la vida loca.

Must Try:

Paella de Marisco. A rice dish rich in seafood, Spanish spices and ingredients. Pork or lamb can be substituted for the seafood.

Tabla de Jamón Ibérico y Pan Tostado con Tamate Natural a.k.a. plank of Iberian ham and toasted bread with tomatoes. A heavenly dish yummy enough to deserve the long and hard-to-pronounce name.

Fideua con Salsa AI-I-Oli. Spanish pasta with seafood in aioli sauce, which is a special homemade Spanish sauce made from mayonnaise, garlic, olive and cream cheese.

Try them at: Rioja, 1025 Ploenchit Rd., in the soi between The Metropolitan Power Board and TOT Corporation Public Co., Ltd., 02-251-5761/-2. Open daily 11am-2:30pm and 6-11:30pm.