How did the idea for Hi-So come about?
Hi-So’s my most personal film. It’s based on my feelings of being an outsider both in the US where I studied, and also in Thailand when I returned. In the US, I was the guy from Thailand and in Thailand I am the guy from the US. Not belonging anywhere is a feeling shared by many people of my generation.

We heard that Hi-So was the first film you wrote. So what took you so long to produce it?
I was studying in university at that time. I was too young and didn’t know how to make it. So I put it away and did other things. Then in 2006, I started my company Pop Pictures and made Wonderful Town. When it was a success I had the chance to make another film so I told myself that this was the opportunity to go back to the beginning and to finish up what I started a long time ago.

Both films are about relationships.
I can’t think of anything more important to talk about besides love and relationships. I think it’s the best subject for movies.

Why cast Ananda, Cerise Leang and Sajee Apiwong?
I have known Ananda since he was 22. I met him when I first came back from the US and wanted to make Hi-So. It took me six years to make it, and in that time, he became a big star. I didn’t work with him because he’s famous, but because he’s perfect for the role. I wanted someone who spoke English and Thai, and there aren’t that many people who can. I worked with Cerise on a TV commercial in 2005. When I was casting Hi-So, I googled her and found her living and playing music in New York. I asked her to come to Bangkok to act in the movie, saying she would have some time to relax and practice her guitar. That was a fair trade, so she came. Finally, I met Sajee when I went to Chiang Mai. She was a student. I liked her immediately. I think the camera likes her a lot. She looks good on screen. She’s young and has no experience. Some actors have too much experience and it ruins them. Sajee came with nothing and that was what made her so special.

How do you define the word hi-so?
Every Thai person is fascinated by this word. In every magazine and TV soap opera, there is the hi-so life displayed for everyone to see. I have seen these soap operas since I was young and I always thought it was so different from the hi-so people that I know. The soap opera always focuses on material things: big house, nice car, expensive hand bags. But actually, many hi-so people are not like that at all. What makes them different is what is in their head. So I wanted to make my own version of this soap opera with love, relationships, and good-looking actors.

How are these spirits made?
Each product is produced in small batches using only the finest ingredients. Take the St. Germain, for example, produced from 100% fresh, wild elderflower blossoms grown in the foothills of the French Alps. These delicate flowers are hand-picked in late spring when at their peak level of flavor and aroma and macerated using age-old techniques. They provide a delicate, refined balance of grapefruit, white peach, passion fruit and lemon flavors but with less than half the sugar content of most liqueurs. The result is a light, refreshing and incredibly versatile product which can be served chilled neat or to add character and complexity to cocktails.

What do you recommend drinking this liqueur with?
The signature drink is the St. Germain Cocktail which is 1/3 white wine (Sauvignon Blanc), 1/3 St. Germain and 1/3 soda served on rocks and garnished with a lemon twist or, for the Asian palate, we use a sprig of lemon grass. For an upscale variation you can substitute the white wine with Prosecco or Champagne.

Neat, chilled, as a cocktail—how do you drink this stuff?
Many bartenders will use St. Germain for a variation on classic cocktails such as a St. Germain gin & tonic, St. Germain mojito, St. Germain margarita, gimlet, martini, Manhattan and sangria. It’s almost impossible to find a spirit St. Germain does not mix with.

Do you have a favorite cocktail recipe for one of them?
My personal favorites, after the signature cocktail, are the Pear Tree martini (1 1/2 shots pear vodka, 1 1/2 shots St. Germain, splash of fresh lime juice, all shaken and strained into a martini glass garnished with fresh pear) and also The St. Rita (1 1/2 shots Siete Leguas Blanco tequila, 1 shot St. Germain, 1/2 fresh lime squeezed, all shaken then poured into a rock ice-filled glass).

Where can we try these spirits? What restaurants are offering them?
You can find St. Germain in several 5-star Bangkok hotels like the Westin, St. Regis, Sheraton Grande and Grand Hyatt, as well as upscale bars and restaurants such as Zuma and Bo.lan.

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.

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.

Bangkok's newest DJ crew, Swagger, is not just about spinning records. Made of CMYK djs, former Thaitanium dancer and rapper Plerny Soraya (DJ Cleo P), and Channel V's Mike Wong (DJ Ape Shit), this crew wants to make fashion a statement at their next party on Oct. 18, 9pm-2am. Demo, Thong Lor 10. Here, DJ Cleo P talks to us more about what the new DJ crew is all about.

What's the story behind Swagger?

Right now, there's a lot of DJ crews. Some of them are good, some of them are so-so. Sometimes they play a lot of commercial stuff, but we want to try something new. There's no DJ crew in Bangkok right now that does Djs new music and represents fashion and style [as a highlight] together. We want to keep things fresh [in Bangkok].

Who's in Swagger and how'd you guys join up?

We knew each other already from passed gigs and we all saw the same need for this. We've got a mix of veteran dj's and entertainers who've been in the Bangkok nightlife scene for nearly a decade as well as some new faces and fresh sounds. They're all good Djs that have good style and get each other's. There's DJ Monster P and Ballistic from CMYK, who are going to warm up with dubstep, house and moombhatom, I'm going to play dirty dutch. DJ Ape Shit (Mike Wong) plays hard electro, and it was perfect because no one else in the crew plays that.

Where does the style aspect come to play?

We're hoping to breath some air into the Bangkok nightlife scene, introducing some new styles that haven't made it here yet and fusing fashion and art elements into the party. We want to collaborate with local fashion labels and artists.

So how should you dress?

Wear something swag. Wear what you wanna wear, dress like who you wanna be. Represent yourself.

What's in Swagger's future?

From now until January, we're going to put on parties and represent our fashion and style. But in a couple of months, we are going to do fashion shows as well. We also want to feature cool people, not just musicians and DJs, but also Thai style icons.

Growing up, when I wasn’t dispensing my mouthful of green beans at unsuspecting passers-by through a drinking straw, I tended to be quiet and somewhat reserved.

If not for a splash down my rear end from a brine-filled basin of salted vegetables at the market when I was five, my most memorable childhood moment would probably be the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to my home in 1972.

I spent a few months in Penang in early 2008 and it was in wandering around that I realized how wonderful Singapore was I grew up in, and how much of our heritage has vanished.

My photography combined with my writing serves as an excellent means to document the ever changing landscape of Singapore.

I hope to play a part in capturing the view of history and heritage as a person who has lived through events as well as interacted with people and places, going beyond what the history books can tell.

We Singaporeans have a lack of consciousness of who we are and where we came from.

This is possibly a result of the circumstances we found ourselves in post-independence when we were caught up in a massive attempt to modernize and develop our nation and abandon much of who we were.

Of the places that no longer exist in Singapore, I might miss the A&W outlet in Dhoby Ghaut that is now buried under the monstrous SOTA building the most.

Actually I don’t. The place I miss most is an area of Singapore that once featured seaside fishing villages and cliffs that overlooked the sea—the idyllic coastline at Tanah Merah, which has been completely altered by land reclamation and the construction of Changi Airport.

My day job involves getting a boat to think it’s a plane.

Most of my posts are not time critical, so I can blog at a pace that is manageable to me.

It’s good that there is now an attempt to conserve buildings and their facades, but unfortunately, in many cases, they lose much of their character in being absorbed into larger developments, making it difficult to identify with them. I don’t recognize them at all.

What I really like to see is conserved buildings and monuments being put to use or converted in a way where the essence of the buildings and what they were built for is not lost and that they remain accessible to the general public.

I am guilty of not usually listening to advice—and of not taking note of advice that I have been given.

I hope that the green corridor remains as it is, not just for us, but also for the birds, butterflies and dragonflies.

The one thing I want to accomplish? Enlightenment.

Do you think Facebook shopping is a sustainable business model? Is it at its peak or is it only just beginning?
Yes, certainly Facebook is a sustainable business model. It’s pretty much almost what a direct-sell model would look like. Once you like a page, you are committed to that page; whatever they post or advertise will appear on your page. It is probably in the early stages now, but many small businesses are testing their new products on Facebook, where it is free or relatively low cost to start a business.

What percentage of your sales comes from Facebook?
At INFRD, around 10% of sales are carried out through Facebook, but over 50% of customers that come visit our shop at one point or another have seen products on our Facebook page before they make their decision to buy.

Have you ever bought anything from a Facebook shop?
I haven’t really bought anything straight from a Facebook shop, but I always use it to help me in my buying decision and before I decide to go to the actual shop.
INFRD is located on Siam Square Soi 2, near the crosswalk.

Why only a Facebook page and not a website?
We used to have a website, but we don’t use it anymore because Facebook is good enough. All the information is on there already: clients can see the pictures and the prices, then they can call or Facebook me directly, negotiate the price and ask for more details. Plus it’s easier to get new fans. People tell their friends, and their friends tell their friends, and so on.

What do most people purchase on Facebook?
Jewelry, normally. It works better if the customer has bought before and knows their size. Our evening dresses are harder to sell online because people want to try them on first. Our dress prices are not that cheap either, so the fit has to be perfect. But it does mean that they can browse our products without having to come to the store.

What do customers expect when they talk to you through Facebook?
People can leave comments and questions on pictures and we can respond. They expect us to reply in one or two days so we have to be timely. It’s more interactive and personal than an external website. They can know that the owner of the Facebook page is me, the designer, and that I am talking to them directly.
Kay’s new vintage jewelry shop opens at Terminal 21 (BTS Asoke) this month.

Do you practice your cooking performance with real knives? Have you ever had a serious accident during the practice or show?
Manager: Yes, we practice with real knives. It took us a while to get used to them, and of course, we had several accidents.
Head chef: But we’re not afraid of using real knives. There were only minor injuries.
Sexy guy: Before using real knives, we first practice hitting a tire with wooden sticks. Later, when we feel confident that we can use real knives, we use them on chopping boards.

Isn’t it boring performing the same story every day?
Manager: There are different audiences every day and because of their joyfulness and cheerfulness, we never feel bored. I’m thankful that people all over the world enjoy our show.
Head chef: We perform under all kinds of circumstances which is always challenging and fun especially when the other actors are also enjoying themselves. This is the power of Nanta.

How do you deal with underwhelming responses?
Sexy guy: The show must go on! There is no such thing as “no response.”
Hot Sauce: Nanta is well-known all over the world. So, no response from the audience would be absurd. If that happens, we actors encourage ourselves to continue our performance.

You’ve been touring so many places all over the world. Which is your favorite?
Head chef: In Germany, somewhere in the countryside. During the performance, there were some Korean exchange students holding our national flag and cheering. Because of this incident, German people also came to know that Nanta is from Korea.
Sexy guy: Right now, it is Thailand. I feel this performance will be memorable and I hope to stay a bit longer.
Nephew: In my opinion, that would be Japan. When Japan suffered those earthquakes, Japanese people were holding their hands and said that Nanta gave them hope. I will never forget that moment.

What’s next after Nanta?
Manager: I haven’t thought about it. Maybe Nanta will be my last performance.
Head chef: I’m in love with Nanta. So I’m going to perform a lot longer. Later on, I’m thinking of films or the theater.
Hot sauce: Still, I’m devoting my career to Nanta, so no future changes for now.

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.