BK: What brought you to Bangkok?
Michael: My daughter was going to live here with her grandparents, so I came here to be near her and ended up finding work as a teacher.

BK: What does HOPE do?
Michael: HOPE Worldwide (Thailand) (www.HOPEwwthailand.org) runs programs at Nontapum Home for disabled orphans and girls rescued from trafficking, teaching them basic computer skills. It’s not much. They basically have nothing and they are trying to do great things, so I wanted to help them get more funds and sponsors.

BK: What gave you the idea for the Walk of Hope?
Michael: The idea behind the walk was simply to promote awareness of HOPE’s projects, raise funds and get some sponsors. The walk from Bangkok to Chang Mai is 730kms long. It was my first time, and I had no idea what I was doing.

BK: How many kilometers did you walk a day?
Michael: Only about 30 because we set up stands and reached out to the local community to teach them about what we are doing along the way. People have been amazing; 90% of the time we stayed for free at schools, temples, and even some resorts.

BK: What is your source of inspiration?
Michael: I read this quote every day of my walk: “When you seek happiness for yourself it will always elude you; when you seek happiness for others you will find it for yourself.”

BK: Did you succeed?
TK: Yes. We’ve not only made lots of people aware of HOPE, we even got quite a few big-name sponsors, like Adidas, Air Asia and Toyota on board.

BK: Do you plan to do this again?
TK: No, my knees are not very good, and I may even need surgery on them. I still want to help, but I need to find other ways to do it, so I am always thinking of other projects.

BK: How can others help?
TK: I think you know yourself when or how you can help. There comes a time when you think, “I can help, I should be doing this,” and as soon as you have this feeling, act on it. Don’t think, don’t try, just do. Carissa Devine

Donations can be made to HOPE Worldwide (Thailand) via Kasikorn Bank, Rangnam Branch, Account no. 052-2-7800-2.

“Oh Mr. De Niro...it hurts to see you like this.” Bob Grimm, Tucson Weekly

“Even by the franchise’s own declining standards, Fockers is a wince-a-thon of crude gag sausage-making.” Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Daily News

“Schindler’s List was funnier than this.” Anders Wotzke, Cut Print Review

“If Lesbian Vampire Killers and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians taught us anything, it’s that you should never base an entire film’s plot and existence around a title.” Matt Risley, Sky Movies

“Just when you think things can’t stoop any lower, Owen Wilson performs acrobatics in blue lycra.” Jason Goodyer, Little White Lies

“I’m guessing there will be a fourth and a fifth Meet the Parents sequel: Stepfockers, and Tween Fockers or maybe even As Long as She’s Your Second Cousin, You Can Still Focker. Who knows, or cares.” Mike Ward, Richmond.com

What’s your job?
I try and persuade the customers to buy more beer in order to increase sales.

Why did you pick Khao San?
I like it. You get to meet a lot of people and a lot of foreigners. You practice speaking English.

Why do they like Khao San?
There’s a lot of stuff to buy, and it’s a good tourist area.

Anything you don’t like about the area?
It can be a little expensive.

Have you seen any crazy/ weird things at night around here?
I think drunk farangs are really crazy! They get really rowdy and a little too touchy. Parisa Pichitmarn

Directed by Steve Antin, starring Christina Aguilera, Cher, Alan Cumming

“Try to make Showgirls for 12 year olds and you please no one. What a tease.” Ben Walters, Time Out

“There hasn’t been a movie this fabulously awful since Showgirls.” David Edwards, Daily Mirror (UK)

“So bad it’s moderately entertaining; Burlesque is a lesson in how not to put on a musical.” Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail (UK)

“Mostly tries to copy Moulin Rouge and Chicago, but comes closer to recalling Mariah Carey’s Glitter.“ Jeffrey M. Anderson, Las Vegas Weekly

“[Steve] Antin hasn’t really written Burlesque, he has merely spooned the story out of a can labelled ‘Instant Musical: Just add eyeliner.” Anders Wotzke, Cut Print Review

“Is it too much to ask for one wig to get snatched?“ Eric Henderson, WCCO.com

What is the Phra Sumen Crew?
Phra Sumen Crew is the name for the locals who gather at Phra Sumen (Fort) to do b-boy dancing, breakdance, tag art and DJing. Then there is also a group for younger kids called Phra Sumen Juniors which has around 40 members aged between 9-14.

What else do you do here?
I am actually working on another project, called Mur-dee Panakorn (ancient warrior), which is an ongoing project to make different types of education more available to the kids.

How did you get involved?
Coming here gave me a more open mind, to know and talk with other people (which often includes many foreigners). It gave me some English—it’s all from here. So I teach the kids and then they make money, but I also teach them to share their opportunities for new experiences too.

What do you dislike about this area?
Sometimes the attitude gets a little annoying. It’s been more than 10 years since we’ve been doing this kind of stuff here. We have some sponsors that will help improve the park, but the park authorities won’t adapt it for our needs. We have been asking for more lights for years, but many Thais, and specifically the people making the decisions, don’t see the value in this culture so they never make an effort to help. Secondly, this area is a bit too mafia-heavy for me. Maybe not specifically here on Phra Athit, but closer to Khao San, it’s too much. It’s not real mafia but thugs. They are gangsters that think they rule this area. If you want to do anything, you have to pay.

Is there any advice you can offer someone visiting the area?
Come visit Santi Chaipakran Park to check out what’s going on, anything from dance to capoeira to exercise. Every month sees new events and competitions. As for Khao San, try to get out of the bars and talk with some locals on the street about the history of the area; Bang Lampu has a rich history in music and art.

What message are you trying to convey?
These kids are our next generation. They are our future; they also have hopes and dreams. They are artistic, and if you give them a stage to express themselves they will. Don’t stereotype and judge them just because they don’t have money and they are not in what people consider ‘proper’ society. These kids should be given full and equal opportunities.
Check out videos of Phra Sumen Juniors on youtube.

What’s your job?
I’m responsible for the traffic at Khao San, Rambuttri and Ratchadamnoen roads. I try to make sure the taxis and tuk-tuks park in an orderly fashion, make the traffic run smooth and direct cars during rush hours.

What do you like most about working on Khao San Road?
The fact that it’s a walking street filled with a lot of foreigners in the afternoon and evening. It’s great to see the happiness that foreigners get from this street. As an official stationed here, I feel that Khao San is one of the unique selling points of Thailand.

What do you like least?
I don’t really have anything I don’t like about it, except when things aren’t properly organized and orderly.

Have you seen any strange things on this road?
Just magic shows. Parisa Pichitmarn