Not Cutting Himself Short: Royston Tan

While he is most well-known for his 12-minute short film Cut (2004), where he spoofed the board of film censors and consequently got himself blacklisted from the industry for a period of time, bad boy of local film, director Royston Tan, has a slew of quality short films under his belt. They include the cutting-edge Jesses (1999), which used stop motion animation and haunting music, and the multiple award-winning Sons (2000), which also took home the best short film award at the 13th Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF).

But it was Cut that proved to be Tan’s most high profile film to date, as was the controversial 15, which centered on teenage gangs and which suffered 27 cuts before it was given an R(A) rating by the local censors. “I don’t try to project a squeaky clean image of myself on screen,” says Tan. “I’m not perfect … and making Cut was just an honest way for me to express myself to the cuts that had been made to 15,” he concedes.

Certainly, Tan’s immaculate visual style and uneasy themes have garnered him not just much press coverage, but a growing international fan base as well. Tan’s uncensored versions of 15 and Sons, for example, have been shown to critical acclaim in the US, Australia, Spain and Busan, to name just a few places. And he remains one of Singapore’s most successful filmmakers, who is consistently making films and garnering international awards.

While his latest feature film, the quiet and meditative 4.30, which premiered at the recent 56th Berlin International Film Festival and which will close this year’s SIFF, was a change in pace for Tan, rest assured he is not resting on his laurels yet. His next project? “A shocking film that Singapore is not prepared for,” he says with a little chuckle. “I’ve never wanted to be a bad boy … it’s just that I see things differently. I’ve never conformed since young, and I’m still experimenting and still very inquisitive.”

Fashion Forward: Song+Kelly21

Arguably Singapore’s most successful fashion label, 10-year-old Song+Kelly21 is best known for its girly, fuss-free collection of womenswear that straddles casual gear and high fashion. But more than just that, the label, which started as Raw in 1994, is known for paving the way for Singaporean fashion designers into the international fashion arena. During its peak, between 1998-1999, the clothes had high-profile showings in New York and London, and was the “It” Singaporean label to wear. “Who would have thought that I could ever get so excited over a homegrown label back then,” says fashion fan Lena Lee. “If there was a Singaporean label that I would splurge on, Song+Kelly21 would be it.”

Founded by Singaporean Wykidd Song and Briton Ann Kelly, the label has produced about 150 individual designs for each collection throughout its decade-long run. Throughout the years, Song+Kelly21 has been consistently stocked in many boutiques and department stores overseas, including Harrods (New York) and Selfridges (London). Today, the label is stocked in Bangkok, KL, London and Singapore. “When we first started the label, we had already planned to take it overseas,” says Song. “We wanted to set ourselves in the international arena and compete there, and see how we would fare. Over the past decade, there has been only one other Singaporean label that tries to push the edge in terms of design overseas, and that is WOODS & WOODS.”

Song+Kelly21 should be lauded for putting Singapore on the international fashion map, and further spurring inspiring Singaporean labels such as WOODS & WOODS (Jonathan Seow), Kwodrent (Grace Tan) and Hansel (Jo Soh) to make a splash overseas, namely in Europe and Australia.

“I really feel that our local designers are very talented. They just need the extra push, and be encouraged,” adds Song. “I would like to see more designers setting the pace for Singapore-bred labels on an international level. They need to get out there and compete, and be driven to maintain a certain quality.”

Let The Music Play: The Local Indie Music Scene

The recent local rock music revival has been a long time coming, and is spurred by an underground music scene that has been bubbling in music fans’ consciousness since the early ’90s. While the likes of solo artistes such as Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah and jazz crooner Jacintha Abishegenadan have been cutting relatively successful albums, it is the underground rock groups that lend the local music scene here its edge. Mostly self-funded, albums released by bands such as Concave Scream, The Padres, Plain Sunset, Sherene’s Closet, The Oddfellows, Livonia (and more recently, My Squared Circle, Tiramisu, Ronin and Lunarin) over the past decade have been lapped up by local music fans.

“I remember it still being very underground in the ’80s,” says Patrick Chng, The Oddfellows’ vocalist. “The local indie music scene is still very much underground today, but there’re a lot more bands which have made inroads into the mainstream. In the late ’80s, there was very little media exposure and only a handful of music stores stocked local demo cassettes. Then in the ’90s, we burst from the underground to mainstream radio success. What followed was a slew of local songs charting on radio. It was a great period for local music.”

Never mind that the spirit of local rock music scene was pretty much D-I-Y then, as most songs were produced onto cassettes and sold in small independent music stores such as Dada and Roxy Music. “Obviously today, the scene has gotten bigger and more structured … there is more exposure for local bands through the advent of the Internet, and more bands being signed up by the major labels,” says Sean Lam, vocalist of Concave Scream, which was recently signed up by EMI to release its latest album Horizon.

Bands such as Ronin and Electrico also released their albums over the past two years through major labels, but they concede that their music still has an indie vibe to them. “I’ll be the first to admit that hearing our songs being played on radio is a sign of going commercial to many … but underground and commercial music have to co-exist,” says Levan Wee, Ronin’s vocalist. “But we’ll always have that motor-mouth side to us that just can’t shut up. I guess that aspect of our music will never be too commercial.”

In fact, the loud swaggering nature of our local rock bands today is not very much different from those during the ’90s. As Concave Scream’s Lam says, “What goes on today is still pretty much how it was. The Oddfellows’ Chng agrees. “I would like to think we helped shaped the mentality of Singaporeans that local bands are cool to like,” he adds.

Way Out There: ZoukOut

It was the mother of all outdoor parties. The highly anticipated first ZoukOut in 2000 drew in almost 12,000 punters — an unprecedented number back then. While there have been other outdoor parties since, such as En Route at Altivo Bar, the mammoth ZoukOut — which cost $1 million to set up at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach and featured huge DJ names such as Dave Seaman, Richie Hawtin and Les Rythmes Digitales — was the most memorable and trendsetting of them all. It was the beach party to end all beach parties, as copycats which have sprouted since then failed to emulate its success.

“I think the whole idea of a festival was a new thing for most Singaporeans at the time,” says Andrew Ing, Zouk’s then-marketing manager, who came up with the idea to stage ZoukOut. “I used to travel to Miami every year for the Winter Music Conference, and I realized that Singapore and Miami have a lot in common in regard to the weather, but that’s about it. Miami is a sexy place, so why couldn’t Singapore be as sexy? Doing it on the beach allowed us to show the world that Singapore can be sexy too, with all those girls in their bikinis dancing and grinding to the music. And since December was also the rainy season, putting the party on the beach made sense. Throw in that elusive 6am license, and we knew we had a winner.”

Indeed, ZoukOut is such a winning formula, the following four installments — in 2001 (held at Sentosa’s Tanjong Beach), 2002 (Marina Bay Waterfront), 2004 (Siloso Beach) and 2005 (Siloso Beach) — have been equally successful, culminating with last year’s event that pulled in a record 18,000 revelers. Not only is ZoukOut the premier outdoor party here, but its popularity among many overseas punters also makes it an international dance music event that puts Singapore on the world map — with coverage from dance magazines such as Muzik and Mixmag. “All the different parts were ready for such an event — the people were ready, the setting of Sentosa was perfect, the DJs were ready, our team was ready, and Singapore was ready. We knew it would work,” says Ing.

Happy Days: The Local Gay Scene

It may have been a tad short-lived, but being gay was regarded as cool not too long ago. Well, sort of. The local gay community has undergone a paradigm shift over the past two years, following a general optimism among the community in 2003 when then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong acknowledged gays working in the civil service, and embraced the monetary clout of the pink dollar. Following that, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also spoke of an “open and inclusive Singapore … (where) people should be free to express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas or simply be different” in his inauguration speech that year.

But actions speak louder than words. Since then, numerous gay parties and events organized by gay portal Fridae.com, such as the annual Nation and Snoball parties, and most recently the Feelin’ Good gig at Ministry of Sound featuring Australian DJ Kate Monroe, have been banned or clamped down because of their gay content.

“Between 2000 and 2004, there was a huge explosion of sorts for the gay community,” says Fridae.com founder Stuart Koe. “Much of the crowd, that had been hiding underground for decades, were slowly coming out to party more, and hanging out at bars such as Taboo and Why Not. The advent of the Internet also kickstarted the scene, as many felt that it was an effective way for them to communicate. It allowed them the anonymity which some preferred, as well as for others to disseminate.”

But it was the massive and funky gay parties that ultimately brought the gay crowd together, especially the Nation parties that were held in Sentosa Island from 2001 to 2004. At its height, the party attracted more than 8,000 punters in 2004, of which 3,000 were tourists. “It was certainly good times among the community for a period of time,” says Koe. “The Nation parties were signs that the community was coming together … and because of it, Singapore became the center of attention with lots of press coverage. People were actually saying that Singapore was fun for once, and it was one of the best parties that they had ever attended.”

Soon enough, foreign media such as The Wall Street Journal and Far East Economic Review labeled Singapore the “gay capital of the world,” and the Singapore government clamped down on parties and events held by Fridae.com. The Nation parties have since moved to Phuket, Thailand, while Snoball is happening annually in Taipei. “The parties have generated good press for Singapore while they lasted, though,” concedes Koe. “It certainly made us cooler than usual … that Singapore was a cool place to live in. It’s more effective than any PR efforts that the Singapore Tourism Board could ever pay for.”

The Party Strip That Was: Mohamed Sultan

It was not dubbed “party central” for nothing. What started as a sleepy neighborhood with nary a partygoer in sight, Mohamed Sultan boomed into the place to party between 1995 and 1997, and later on between 1999 and 2001. Singapore’s nightlife experience was not complete without a visit to Mohamed Sultan, where some of the hippest and trendiest clubs such as Sugar, Club Eden, Amoeba, Nox and Lush were packing them in.

It all started in 1991, when ex-Business Times sub-editor Peter Wong installed a watering hole called Front Page for newspaper employees near Times House. Soon enough, bars and clubs sprouted left, right and center, and Mohamed Sultan became a club hopper’s paradise. But it wasn’t until the launch of Peter Wong and Simon Lim’s Wong San’s in 1994 that the stretch got put on the party map.

During its boom periods, the street attracted beautiful people, celebrities and big spenders. Some of the most famous faces seen at Mohamed Sultan include actor Jason Scott Lee, R&B diva Ultra Nate, late Hong Kong superstar Anita Mui, and actress Bai Ling. It also played host to some of the most lavish parties in town, including I-S Magazine’s fifth anniversary party, the first and only street party of its kind held along Mohamed Sultan, and hosted by Lim. “Back in those days, the street was heaving, and there were definitely more than a few cool concept bars and clubs that created a buzz,” says Lim. “Amoeba and Sugar were cutting edge … and there was a good overall mix, from expat bars to local bars to pool bars to dance clubs. It was a very interesting place for people to want to check it out.”

Partygoers certainly revved up the street then, as Mohamed Sultan was the only stretch where they could club hop all night. From the kitschy dance music at Sugar to leftfield dance tunes at Nox to beautiful chillout lounge Amoeba, there was something for everyone. While Mohamed Sultan has since disintegrated to just a regular bar stretch today, pulling in a younger set, the experience there was unforgettable for most who had frequented it almost every weekend. “There will always be some of us who spent the best of our party days in this area,” says Sugar’s Gary Sng, “At its peak there were so many clubs each with its own style and clientele, so I think different people will have different reasons for remembering Mohamed Sultan.”

Hipper Than Thou: Cool Neighborhoods

Over the last decade, with the impressive rise of prominent restaurants, pubs, hip fashion boutiques and unique features, once mostly tranquil residential areas and neighborhoods like Holland Village, Club Street and Arab Street have evolved from heartland havens to leading scenes all their own.

“Apollo would not have moved in if we weren’t there,” Michael Hadley, co-founder of Michelangelo’s, boldly proclaims of the restaurant’s impact on Holland Village. “We changed the perception of what Holland Village is. It was hardly recognized eight years ago, but after we opened three restaurants there, other people wanted to come in.”

Indeed, from just a few eateries, miscellaneous shops and even a kindergarten, Holland Village — with its influx of restaurants, reputable bars and boutiques like Harry’s Bar, Wala Wala and Antipodean — has certainly grown out of the shell of the looming HDB blocks into something of a scaled down version of more popular hot spots like Clarke Quay, attracting a clued-in, lifestyle driven, hip set.

Meanwhile, the Chinatown area, especially along Club Street, Ann Siang Hill and Duxton Hill, is where you can find exclusive fashion and lifestyle boutiques like Asylum, Allan Ross and Venue, and the many cafés, chillout joints and clubs that have come into their own over the past decade, giving the traditional neighborhood a contemporary facelift. The recently hip Arab Street is also where it’s at for some rare fashion finds from White Room and Comme des Garcons Guerilla Store, and cool sheesha cafes such as Mosi Café and Café Le Caire.

So what is it that really sets these places apart? The mix between the old and the new might have a lot to do with their appeal. “There’s a very eclectic mix of business and restaurants, and of course for the historical reference of Chinatown,” said Yaddo Art owner Abigail Prior Levy, on why she chose to set up in Duxton Hill.

These cultural hubs, however, are in danger of losing their particular X-factor … or, at least, that’s what Hadley seems to think about Holland Village. “I don’t think Holland Village has kept its edge,” he says bluntly. “The landlords are not working together and there are far too many owners. It’s not like a mall, where there’s a certain mix. There is no master plan.” Whether Hadley’s words will ring true for the future of the area remains to be seen. For now, these places still buzz with the crowds.

Young at Heart: Hip Conserved Historic Buildings

What’s old is new again … and it’s hotter than it ever was. With historic buildings set up for conservation, Singapore has managed to not only keep a part of its rich heritage intact, but has also spun something contemporary out of it.

Compared to the ’80s, when everything from the past was seemingly due for extinction, the ’90s saw us embracing our history. In the past decade, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has been actively conserving historic buildings either for their location or distinctive architectural style. To date around 6,800 buildings have been gazetted for conservation, including The Fullerton Hotel and various shophouses in Chinatown, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Arab Street.

Entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng has been pushing the boundary of this conservation effort, with his groovy boutique hotels the New Majestic Hotel, which opened just recently at Bukit Pasoh in Chinatown, and Hotel 1929 in 2002. “At the back of the 1929, we had a Jacuzzi, which was considered a novelty at the time,” he said. “We were also the first to have a sky garden, which was actually pretty controversial.” But Loh had to fight a little for his vision that was 11 years in the making. “The URA actually had a small issue with it, but they approved it in the end after some thorough discussions,” he adds.

Nevertheless, the hotels have now taken their places beside other conserved milestones such as the row of shophouses along Emerald Hill and Boat Quay. Loh, however, feels that there needs to be a limit to the rules of conservation, and that some artistic liberties still need to be taken to add a dash of modern and local elements to the buildings. “Having local artists provide an artistic component is one of the ways to incorporate local elements into these buildings, yet keeping them hip and modern all the same,” he explained. “Singapore still struggles with her identity, and I agree that a lot of this preservation is important. But at the end of the day, no one wants to stay in an ‘old’ place as it has a shelf life. ‘Updates’ on these conserved buildings are important to make them work.”

The URA and owners like Loh may still be trying to find that right balance of old and new, but for now, these landmarks remain some of the most stylish and unique on our streets, ever.

High Art: Local Theater Circa 1999-2001

Local theater has certainly seen better days. It was not very long ago when local theater companies such as TheatreWorks, Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble, The Necessary Stage (TNS) and Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) were at the forefront of quality and experimental theatrical productions which defined the burgeoning arts scene here.

Who could forget the much-talked about epics Lear (1999) and Desdemona (2000) by TheatreWorks’ controversial Artistic Director Ong Keng Sen, the onslaught of sex plays Asian Boys Vol. 1 by TNS, and smaller, more intimate dramatic gems such as Autumn Tomyam (2001) by ACTION Theatre, Titoudao (2000) by Toy Factory, and Eleemosynary (2001) by luna-ID. They were brave and unpredictable plays that made theatergoing a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

“There was a buzz and real sense of hope in theater in those early days between 1999 and 2001,” says Parvathi Nayar, correspondent for The Business Times. “It was as if new grounds were being broken then. The annual Singapore Arts Festival got into a new edge-of-the-moment mode, and there were also nice discussions and debates created by Lear and Desdemona. It felt that, all round, perhaps, wow, theater and the arts are on the way to becoming part of the stuff we discuss like the movies.”

Fueled by an increasing interest in the scene, directors such as the Toy Factory’s Goh Boon Teck and W!ld Rice’s Ivan Heng pushed the envelope with more forward thinking plays including A Tinted Edge (2000) and Animal Farm (2002) respectively, but that’s as good as it gets.

Soon enough, with the onslaught of SARS and the recession taking their toll, theater companies became more concerned with commercial viability and filling up seats in performance spaces, and their quality suffered, resulting in countless lackluster plays such as Dangerous Liaisons (2005), Mardi Gras (2003) and Spring Singing (2005). “Perhaps it was inevitable because harsh realities always overtake dreams,” adds Nayar. “That the struggle for survival is hard … with sponsorship, raising money and all that stuff. And sometimes you feel there is a lack of cohesiveness among the players with too many plays opening at the same time.”

Still, we are hopeful that local theater can revisit its earlier glory days, if the practitioners can put their heads together, and come up with more creative and groundbreaking plays that may not necessarily be commercial, but are bold statements in their own right, much like those from the later ’90s and early ’00s.

A Taste for Durian: Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay

It rose from the mud of the Marina Bay and, with its twin domes of metal spikes, attracted the glint of the sun and both bouquets and brickbats. Now, four years after it opened in 2002, there is little doubt that Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay has had a major impact upon Singapore, injecting life, color and energy into the cultural scene. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2005 the center welcomed over seven million visitors, a 39 percent increase on the previous year.

There were many—largely local artists—who predicted the center would flop because the local arts community would not be represented. But as J P Nathan, Director of Programming at The Esplanade Co. Ltd., explains: “One key focus for Esplanade since its opening has been to grow and nurture local talents in the Singapore arts industry across all fields. Some 30,000 from the local arts community [local talents involved in each performance] have been welcomed here, in a variety of venues ranging from outdoor to indoor spaces … non-ticketed to ticketed shows.”

The center has also encouraged shared knowledge, with musicians such as Jeremy Monteiro, The Observatory and Bushmen opening for star international acts James Moody, Tortoise and The Skatalites respectively, besides inviting artists to workshops by international talents. Indeed, you would be hard pressed to find a local artist who hasn’t worked with Esplanade.

And no, despite what your taxi driver will tell you, Esplanade isn’t just for the rich. Its 04/05 Annual Report reveals 799,745 people attended free performances, including ground-breaking events such as BayBeats and the New Year’s Eve Celebration. But perhaps Esplanade’s greatest achievement is the quality of the international acts being brought in. Non-commercial shows which would never reach our shores due to their esoteric, unprofitable nature—international legends such as kd lang, Patti Austin, Youssou N’Dour, Jessye Norman, Pat Methany, Poncho Sanchez, and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, to name just a few—have dazzled audiences starved for star acts.

As to what international artists think of Esplanade, the vote is always unanimous. As Maceo Parker said, after opening for the 2006 Mosaic Music Festival, “The festival was organized to the highest standard. Everyone was wonderful and professional. I’ve participated in probably thousands of festivals worldwide and I would say this has been an experience to rate in the top five or six. It takes love and commitment to produce this kind of quality.”

A lot can change over the course of 10 years and here at I-S, we've compiled a little table of numbers to show you what are some of the changes that has taken place in our lives besides us morphing from being called "kor kor" and "jie jie" to today's "uncle" and "auntie"... Oh-the-horror...

Delicious, fragrant rice should always be served while it’s hot, as we all know. But every rule has an exception, and every summer is the time to serve khao chae, or “chilled rice.”

Khao chae, a Mon dish that was traditionally made during Songkran, is made with half-cooked rice that is rinsed with water several times in order to remove all the starch. Once the rice looks really clean, it is cooked one more time.

Khao chae is served in scented water, nam dok mali, that is prepared the night before. The traditional way to make it is to fill a clay pot with cold water and add fresh jasmine blossoms. The next step is to (carefully) float a jasmine-scented candle on the water, and then cover for 15 minutes. (The flame will go out.) Repeat. The water sits in the clay pot overnight. When it’s time to serve, add the rice and water in individual serving bowls and toss a bit of fresh jasmine on top.

Major Sidekicks

Khao chae alone is refreshing but a bit bland, which is why there are so many side dishes. Favorites include luk kapi (deep fried shimp paste balls), hom daeng yud sai (deep fried stuffed shallots), chai pow phat (stir fried dry turnip), small fried fish, muu or nueng sawan (shredded sweet pork or beef), prik yuak sord sai (green chili pepper stuffed with minced pork and shrimp wrapped in crispy egg net) and slices of green mango and cucumber.

For the original Mon-style khao chae, you’ll need to go to Koh Kret, Nontaburi or Phra Pradaeng during the Songkran festival. But royal Thai and Thai-style khao chae are available all over town this time of year.

Chillin’ in Fun City

Dba 
22 Soi Areesumphun 3, Phahon Yothin Rd., 02-617-0041. Open daily 11am-10pm.
AE, MC, V
Set (B170): khao chae, luk kapi, hom dang yud sai, prik yuak sord sai, muu wan (shredded sweet pork), chai pow pad khai (stir-fried dry turnip with egg), cucumber, green mango and khra chai. Mar 1-30.

Fangnam Coffee House
Royal River Hotel, 219 Soi Charansanitwong 66/1, 02-422-9222 ext. 1310, www.royalrivergroup.com. Open daily 11:30am-2pm. MC, V
Set (B280): khao chae, luk kapi, hom dang yud sai, prik yuak sord sai, chai pow pad, pla sai tan, muu sawan, green mango, cucumber and khra chai; traditional Thai coffee. Through May 15.

Kalaprapruek
1/F, All Seasons Place, 87/2 Wireless Rd., 02-685-3860. Open daily 7am–10pm. AE, D, MC, V
Set (B150): khao chae, luk kapi, prik yuak thord yud sai (fried green chili pepper stuffed with minced pork wrapped in crispy egg net), khai dang kem (salted egg yolk), nhung phra kem chubb numtan (salty fish skin mixed with sugar), green mango and cucumber. Through the end of Songkran, or call in advance for special order.

Lai Rod
120/4-5 Suhkumvit 49, 02-391-3193. Open daily 11am–10pm.
122 Phra Ram 6 Rd., 02-279-2895. Open daily 11am–10pm. Set (B140): khao chae, luk kapi, prik yuak sord sai, hom thod sord sai phra (deep fried shallots stuffed with fish), phra wan (sweet fish), neur foi or moo foi (shredded pork or meat), chai pow pad wan (sweet stir-fried daikon). Available all year. 

Royal Princess Café
Royal Princess Larn Luang, 269 Larn Luang Rd., Pomprab, 02-281-3088 ext. 129. Open daily 6am-10pm. AE, MC, V
Set (B160): khao chae, luk kapi, hua hom yud sai, prik yuak sord sai, muu foi or neur foi (shredded sweet pork or pork), green mango, green onion and cucumber. Through Apr 30.

Than Ying
10 Pramuan Rd., between Silom 15 and Silom 17, 02-236-4361 and 02-235-0371. Open daily 11:30am-10pm. AE, D, MC, V
Set (B250): khao chae, luk kapi, hom thod (deep fried shallots), prik yuak yud sai moo (green chili pepper stuffed with minced pork, chai pow pad khai (stir-fried dry turnip with egg) and neur wan (shredded sweet meat). Through Apr 30.

Thara Tong
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, 2 Captain Bush Lane, Siphya Rd., 02-266-9214, www.sheraton.com/bangkok. Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm. AE, D, MC, V
Set (B450): khao chae, kapi (fermented shrimp paste), hom dand thord sod sai pa (deep fried shallots stuffed with fish), neur sawan foi (shredded and salted beef fried with plam sugar), chai pow ped pud wan (white Chinese radish fried with egg), prik yuak sord sai (chili peppers stuffed with seasoned minced pork wrapped in thin sheets of fried egg-white) and khra chai. Apr 12–15.  

Thon Krueng
239 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-391-8703, 02-391-8719. Open daily 11am-10:30pm. MC, V
Set (B140): khao chae (with kadanggha, mali flower, and candle fragrant), luk kapi, hom dang yud sai, prik yuak sord sai, chai pow pad wan (stir-fried sweet dry turnip), muu foi (shredded sweet pork), cucumber, thon hom (green onion) and khra chai. Through May 30.

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.

Even through beer goggles you’ll be able to take memorable shots with this funky water-resistant camera from Frog Eye Lomography. Or maybe you’d rather forget? B3,900

Leave your LV trunk at home and stuff your holiday gear in an Ocean Pack—if it works for sea travelers it’ll surely work during the wet season. In three colors: red, blue and yellow. B625-725

Bag your essentials in this waterproof sack from Aloksak before you hit Khao San. B450

You may be cool from all that water, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe from the sun. Vaseline Healthy Protection Sun Block SPF30 is water-resistant and will protect your thick skin from those nasty UVA and UVB rays. 100ml, B242

Are you really going to walk through Paragon wearing a wet t-shirt? Don’t be a dog—wear a dry-fast top from Equinox. B590-1,050. Jeans, too: B2,950

You know you should leave it at home but you just can’t—what if my gig should call?! To keep your communication device/lifestyle accessory safe and dry, try Aquapac. B950, B1,200 for clamshell. In three sizes: small, medium and large.

Planning to dance and splash like there’s no tomorrow? Prepare for battle on Soi 4 with L’Oreal Party Proof hair gel. B206

Midway down Sukhumvit road’s hip and trendy Soi Thonglor sits a chic new addition. The three-story outdoor complex Penny’s Balcony (522/3 Thonglor Soi 16, Sukhumvit 55, 02-391-3507. Open daily 10am-8:30pm, restaurants open until 10:30pm) caters to a discerning clientele with an ensemble of contemporary retail shops and restaurants.

On the first floor, Kidimini (02-392-3516. Open daily 10:30am-8pm) sells imported kids clothing, toys and accessories from Hong Kong and Europe. Amayi (02-714-8681, www.amayi.co.th. Open daily 10:30am-8pm), which means “mother” in South African, has maternity clothing designed by the owner herself.

On the second floor, Higher by Nisa (02-735-6887. Open daily 11am-9pm) has it all—including brand-name shoes, (B5,000 and up) bags, denim and jeans (B6,000 and up) imported from the US. You’ll also find suits for both men and women (B15,000 and up), Italian facial cosmetics (B4,000), perfume and jewelry. In addition to new items, Nisa gives customers a second option by buying and selling used bags, shoes and clothing

For exquisite, made-to-order clothes for women, head to La Mielle (2/F, 02-714-9657. Open daily 9:30am-8pm), where a chiffon evening gown or suit will cost you in the range of B25,000.

Books spelled backwards is Skoobs (2/F, 02-392-3518. Open daily 10:30am-8pm), a quaint little bookstore selling Japanese and English fiction and non-fiction titles starting at B200. In the back is a “jazzbrary,” where customers can pick a book and sip a cup of imported Italian coffee (B50) while listening to some smooth jazz tunes, which are also for sale (B150-200).

From books we move to Birkenstocks (2/F, 02-392-3517. Open daily 10am-8pm), the once hippie but now trendy shoe brand. Open toes and more are for sale from B3,000-7,000.

Try a new look or just a trim at Tom Lay Cut (2/F, 02-392-3519. Open daily 10am-9pm), a fresh salon with experienced Thai stylists offering an array of hair styling services from washing and blow dry (B150) to haircut (B350 upwards) to coloring (B3,000).

A scene straight out of Hong Kong, Cha Mudang (1/F, 02-392-3515. Open daily 10:30am-10pm) is a cozy Chinese tea house serving aromatic Taiwanese herbal teas (B30) and Chinese delicacies like dim sum, barbecue pork and noodle dishes (B70-150). Both indoor and outdoor seating.

For authentic Belgian cuisine with a twist, try the elegant 10 Marnix (2/F, 02-382-0062. Open daily 11am-10:30pm). The menu includes homemade pasta (B300), steaks (B600), salads (B200), soups (B100), crepes and of course, fine Belgian chocolates. The restaurant has a full bar with cocktails and an international selection of wine. At lunch, enjoy a special Spaghetti Buffet for B240.

Just in time for the hot season, this branch of Ete is located on the first floor (02-714-9813. Open daily 10am-10pm). Choose from delightful ice creams (B40 per scoop), smoothies, fruit juices, sorbets and coffee.

A few steps down and through the back lies the Palm Herbal Spa (02-391-3254, www.palmherbalspa.co.th. Open daily 10am-10pm). Treatments include traditional Thai massage (B750/hour), nourishing walnut and milk body polish (B1,600/hour), aromatherapy facial (B1,850/hour), waxing (B300-600) and full-day spa packages (Secret of Palm: B6,350).

Did you know that Singapore recently hosted a blogging convention? Let that word roll around your tongue a bit: a convention. That’s how ridiculously huge the blogging phenomenon has become.

For better or worse, online journals are the voice of Netizens these days.

A portmanteau of the phrase “web log”, blogs can be a soapbox for opinions on current events, a place to post poetry and musings, or simply a dump for links that you want your friends to check out. It’s a flexible medium and, if you get past the self-absorbed nature of most blogs, it can be used in many interesting ways.

Credibility of blogs are already on the upswing. Izzy, a popular columnist
for Today, first came into prominence through her controversial blog
http://missizzy.org, while many internationally-acclaimed authors, like William Gibson (http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/blog/archive.asp) and Neil Gaiman (http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/) regularly update their journals.

The question is, of course, which host works best? There are many to choose from, but only a select few are really user-friendly while still offering all the cool features to do whatever you want with your journal.

We made our way through a whole bunch and narrowed it down to the top ones. No need to thank us, but we expect a shout once your blog’s hit-count starts climbing.

LiveJournal, www.livejournal.com

LiveJournal’s (LJ) been huge with the international blogging community for some time now—and for good reason. Aside from an easy to use interface that includes great options like quick-linking to other LJ users and LJ cuts (which lets you “hide” parts of your post so that it doesn’t look so clunky on the main page), its biggest boon is definitely the “Friends” option.

This feature allows you to keep track of other LJ users’ posts, and vice versa. The option also means that only those on your approved “Friend” list can read your locked posts.

Navigation is a bit tedious though, with no clarity on where to click on for any particular function. The layouts of LJ blogs don’t really scream “inspirational” either, with a few rigid formats. Trying to customize it is a lesson in frustration for newbies.

At the end of the day, LiveJournal’s still a very popular choice, mostly among people who’ve been blogging for some time. It’s not completely undecipherable, but there are much easier hosts to start out your blogging life with.

User Friendly: ★★✩✩✩
Customizability: ★✩✩✩✩
Spread the Word: ★★★★★

Multiply, www.multiply.com

To simply call Multiply a blog host is understating things a bit. More of an all-round personal site than exclusively a traditional blog, Multiply is fantastic for anyone who’s looking to do a whole lot more than just write about what they did on any particular day.

Featuring the option to upload videos, pictures and music—all in their own separate sections—Multiply is the kind of multimedia blog that we feel people need to pay more attention to. On top of the host, Multiply also works as a social networking site, keeping you in contact with your friends and, like LiveJournal, up to date of their postings.

Another great feature is that, if you’ve already got a blog running at LiveJournal or Blogger, you can simply syndicate it at your Multiply site, instead of starting a new one up from scratch.

The downside, however, is that Multiply’s layouts are pretty straightforward and dull. Nevertheless, if substance completely overshadows style for you, then this is certainly the host you’re looking for.

User Friendly: ★★★✩✩
Customizability: ★✩✩✩✩
Spread the Word: ★★★★★

Blogger, www.blogger.com

Probably the most popular host among local users, Blogger is perfect for newbies looking to set up their own little place in cyber space. As far as user-friendliness is concerned, Blogger delivers in spades, making it easy for users to navigate. Updating your journal’s a cinch; the interface is very similar to Microsoft Word, so there’s a great sense of familiarity. Heck, it even comes with its own spell-check option.

As for customizability, you need to know a bit of HTML (or at least know where to get the kind of layouts you’re looking for) if you want to move away from the templates, but otherwise it’s pretty straightforward.

Getting word out to your friends about your blog, however, rests solely on you. Unlike LiveJournal and Multiply, there’s no real community feel to Blogger.

A great host that’s much more flexible as far as aesthetics are concerned, it’s easy to understand why Blogger’s gained such a following.

User Friendly: ★★★★✩
Customizability: ★★★★✩
Spread the Word: ★★★✩✩

Xanga, www.xanga.com

Xanga takes LiveJournal’s “Friends” concept a little further, by making your journal part of blog rings—communities specific to the type of topics you blog about. It’s a keen little feature that certainly makes it easier for you to scope out blogs that appeal to your particular interest.

Updating is relatively simple, and, while the potential to personalize your blog isn’t as fantastic as Blogger’s, Xanga’s templates are still pretty gorgeous and varied.
All in all, Xanga’s for a particular kind of blogger. Casual users would probably grow tired of it after a while.

User Friendly: ★★★★✩
Customizability: ★★✩✩✩
Spread the Word: ★★★★✩

The Verdict

We’d recommend Blogger if you’re just starting out. It’s the easiest to get used to, and the most fun to play with, as far as designs go. Most people would progress on to LiveJournal for the “Friends” option, but we’d suggest Multiply instead, especially if you’ve got ambitions to move beyond simple text posts. Xanga would probably be best if you’re blogging on one particular subject, but it doesn’t really offer much otherwise.

Blog Talk

The Internet has always been rife with seemingly nonsensical jargon, and when blogging exploded onto the scene, a new dialect of online-speak naturally started popping up. Here’s a quick cheat sheet, so you don’t look like such a newbie when you get started.

Dooced was a term coined when graphic designer Heather B. Armstrong was notoriously fired due to work related posts in her blog at http://dooce.com. Since then, if you’ve been sacked for posting nasty little things or secrets about your company, as far as the blogging community is concerned, you’ve been dooced.

Memes are either online quizzes you post on your blog from websites like Quizilla (http://quizilla.com/), or “surveys” that are designed to give your readers an overview of who you are. For the latter, you’re usually expected to pass on the meme to another blogger to keep it circulating. This is called “tagging”.

Moblogs are blogs with content that are mostly posted from a mobile phone via SMS and MMS. Interesting fact: For last year’s National Day, Singapore apparently started the world’s first national moblog. Check it out here: http://moblog.ndp.org.sg/main/index.asp.

NSFW stands for “Not Safe for Work.” You will probably find this headlining an LJ cut or link that’ll take you to something obscene or crude. You might not want to open it in the office and save it for when you get back home.

Podcasts are blogs that consist predominantly of audio entries. With the right software, you can have a podcast syndicated straight to your MP3 player. The format’s already huge overseas, but it’s just in its infancy here, with only a handful of locally-based podcasters.

They’ve been around for as long as we can remember. They lurk on the fringes of society, in dark rooms illuminated only by the glow of computer screens, speaking languages undecipherable by almost anyone else! And they all look like Steve Urklel (from Family Matters)!

Or at least, that’s what we used to think.

Ever since personal computers and the Internet became an essential part of contemporary life (and Bill Gates the richest man in the world), geek culture has stepped out of the shadows into a more positive light in the public eye. Once simply regarded as creepy, weird guys with zero social skills, people are starting to understand that this stereotype isn’t as accurate as they thought.

Brendon Fernandez, 26, an actor, undergraduate and gamer, is probably one of the starkest examples of the contrast between the label and the truth. “‘Actor’ and ‘geek’ are not commonly associated terms,” he says. “I get calls from actor friends that go ‘Hey, my computer has a ... thing’ and I end up telling them how to clear spyware, clean viruses and use programs. I’m ‘actor tech support’.”

Indeed, geeks are a lot more ‘normal’ than most of us realize. But if perceptions of geek-hood have been misconstrued, then what is a geek?

“Geek, to me, has a broad definition,” explains Peter Hendricks, 24, a freelance sound engineer and music enthusiast. “The term could be used for someone who has an obsession or fascination, usually surrounding technology. Although that could apply to a variety of subjects, like role playing games or comic books.  This fascination usually outweighs every other aspect in his or her life. Yes, there are female geeks out there too ... whether they like admitting it is another issue altogether.”

And that’s what they really are: guys—and girls—who are just intellectually passionate over a certain field or subject to such a degree that we tend to mistake it for an abnormal obsession. Of course, this is a vast scope of geek-hood; there are dozens of types of geeks and each has its own unique quirks and interests. So, we scoured the gaming cafés, comic shops and other specialty haunts, and rounded up some of the not-so-usual suspects for a peek into their passions.

Species: geekus comiculus

Status: Daneshvar (or Dan, to his friends), a 25-year-old IT consultant, isn’t one of those geeks who’d huddle around their comics, completely oblivious to the outside world. Well, OK, he does do that sometimes, but he’s also very adamant about correcting some of the misconceptions, not so much of fan boys, but of the medium itself.

“People tend to think that comic readers are boring or childish and live in a fantasy world,” says Dan. “Stick a book like Blankets or Arkham Asylum in these people’s hands, make them read the medium and have a decent discussion. Then see the look on their faces.”

Cred: Aside from superhero titles from DC Comics, Dan also sings praises to other, less cape-and-tights sort of books. “Off the top of my head,” he says with a deep breath, “The Sandman, Planetary, Global Frequency, Preacher, Blankets, Brian Michael Bendis’ issues of Sam & Twitch and Spawn.”

Like many geeks, however, Dan tends to get a little too passionate for his own good. “I explained, very loudly, to my colleagues what the Multiverse was and the part Superman plays in all of it … in the presence of my managers without even flinching.”
When we look at him dumbfounded, he adds with a sigh, “Just go read Infinite Crisis and Crisis on Infinite Earths, OK?”

Activities: As far as aficionado congregations are concerned though, Dan and his friends’ gatherings are in settings that most people wouldn’t normally associate with the comic-reading crowd. “We meet in a pub, drink lots of beer and discuss the future of comics,” he says, then adds with a cheeky smile, “and whether they could draw Supergirl just a little bit hotter.”

Trivia: “For the movie Sin City, no story boarding or scripting was done. Everything was lifted and remade into live-action scenes.”

Species: geekus wrestliorem

Status: With his shaved head, scruffy goatee and macho swagger, Jamie Tan doesn’t just seem like the sort of guy who’d watch wrestling, he actually looks like he belongs in the squared circle. Then, of course, he starts talking and his enthusiastically geeky demeanor shines through clearly.

The 30-year-old actor likens being at a wrestling event to being at a rock concert … only without the actual rock band.

“Professional wrestling is popularly coined as sports entertainment,” he explains. “That is, the ultimate combination of theatrics, histrionics, TV drama, comedy, sports, talk show interviews, current affairs, news, gossip, info-entertainment and daytime soap all rolled into one. It’s a total package of everything you can find on TV and stage.”

Cred: Jamie’s love for wrestling seems to know no boundaries, not even when it comes to his appearance. He even once signed up for a celebrity look-alike contest as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the beer-guzzling redneck of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

“Some people feel that I already resemble “Stone Cold” by virtue of my bald head and goatee. I get left alone quite a lot as a result of that,” he says with a laugh.

Usually seen sporting his wrestling hero’s trademark garb of a black “Stone Cold” t-shirt, rugged jeans and boots, Jamie has actually had some positive responses, from time to time. But they’re usually, as he claims, “from the people in the psyche ward!”

Activities: Aside from having attended almost every WWE event that’s ever been held in Singapore, however, don’t expect Jamie to mingle with his geeky brethren anytime soon. “I’m quite anti-social,” he says, comparing himself to—you guessed it—“Stone Cold”.

Trivia: “Wrestlers Rob Van Dam, Trish Stratus and Steve Austin all share the same birthday­—18 December.”

Species: geekus bookwormbitis

Status: If you think that bookworms are nerdy, timid little girls who wear thick glasses, you haven’t met 25-year-old personal assistant Eileen David. “Most don’t believe it. I get disbelieving looks when people find out I adore reading,” she says. “They always tell me I don’t look like the type!”

“Being a book geek’s nothing really out of the ordinary actually,” she adds. “I just love reading! It’s a habit I’ve had since I was a kid, so for me, it’s kind of a natural thing.”
When her time’s not occupied with everything literary, Eileen’s just like any other woman. Well, mostly.

“I love clubbing, shopping, hanging out with friends. I don’t talk about books all the time! It’s more of a personal thing, just between my books and me,” she says. “But I do get disturbingly worked up when screen adaptations veer from the original book.”

Cred: Hell hath no fury like a woman separated from her books. “I once threw a major hissy fit that ended in tears when my parents dragged me away from a book warehouse sale before I was done browsing,” Eileen relates.

Ask her to list her favorites and you better not make any plans for the foreseeable future. “Where do I start!” she says with an alarming enthusiasm. “I have tons, and they tend to change from time to time depending on my mood or frame of mind. But there are some books I can read over and over again and still not get tired of, like Wilbur Smith’s River God and Warlock, Dan Brown’s stuff, Harry Potter! Oh, and anything to do with myths and ancient civilizations. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian—if it’s mythical, I’ll love it.”

Activities: But for all her obsession, don’t expect Eileen to get overly academic when it comes to literature. “I don’t go to poetry readings or book clubs or anything like that,” she explains. “Some of my friends are avid readers too, so we swap books and sometimes have a little chat about interesting books and storylines. But no, we don’t meet up specifically for the purpose of discussing books. It tends to come up in casual conversation.”

Trivia: “Author Clive Cussler’s life parallels that of his hero Dirk Pitt.”

Species: geekus fashionentium

Status: Most people would think that “fashion” and “geek” are mutually exclusive terms. Zaki Jufri very effectively puts that idea to rest. “I love the brand Maharishi so much that I’ve actually worked at Blackjack which sells Maharishi clothing just to get the clothes first!” he relates.

The 25-year-old Editor of Playtimes toy magazine actually stayed up all night once just to be the first to purchase the limited Nike x Maharishi line.

“If Maharishi opens a store here, I’ll be the first one to apply!” Zaki adds enthusiastically. “Hardy Blechman, the founder of Maharishi, was just here in town recently for the iDN conference and I think I was stalking him,” he continues with a laugh.

Cred: “I think that one geek stereotype is that the geek knows quite a bit about the subject he’s a geek in,” says Zaki. “And I actually know by heart some of the different camouflage patterns that Maharishi puts out and sometimes which season it’s from.”
Zaki’s geekiness doesn’t make people quite as uncomfortable as with some other geeks, but he does admit that people have been “very amused” with his extensive knowledge and collection.

Activities: You would expect a fashion geek to be out there at shows, hob-knobbing with the fashion elite. What you wouldn’t expect would be for him to be hanging out at online message boards.

“I usually chat online with other fashion geeks about the going-ons in the geek fashion world in forums like Superfuture and 5th Dimension,” relates Zaki.

Trivia: “There were actually Maharishi clothes made from ‘knife-proof’ fabric a few years back. How’s that for safe clothing?”

Species: geekus musiciorum

Status: “I still remember the first thing that got me hooked,” elaborates Peter Hendricks on his immeasurable love for music. “It was when I was 11 and watching the video for the song No Rain by Blind Melon. I still remember how it felt like [lead singer] Shannon Hoon was singing that song just to me. There is nothing better than that feeling of self-justification and familiarity that there is somebody out there feeling exactly how I felt.”

Indeed, Peter’s love for music extends well beyond the normal boundaries of bobbing your head along to the latest catchy song on the radio. On top of the emotional attachment, Peter also finds himself obsessed with factors as specific as the technical ability of a musician and music arrangement.

Cred: With such a deep-seeded passion, it’s no surprise that his influences are, to say the least, eclectic, stretching from rock to jazz to even Middle Eastern.

“Just a few that come to mind at the moment are Jeff Buckley, Thelonious Monk, Pearl Jam, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Counting Crows, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Herbie Hancock,” he says of his favorites.

Ask him about his ultimate geek item, however, and Peter’s answer is instantaneous and firm. “My most prized possession has to be my guitar that I got while I was studying in Australia. It’s an Ernie Ball Musicman,” he explains, showing us his guitar with the utmost care. “It’s not a ‘classic’ by any means but the first time I played it, it just felt like the guitar that suited me the most.”

“Plus,” he adds, “I got it really cheap because my teacher was sponsored by the brand.”

Adding to his music geek credibility, Peter’s performed impromptu numbers with the house band at the Crazy Elephant blues bar at Clarke Quay a couple of times and has even recorded an album with his acid jazz band back in Australia.

Activities: “We usually meet up to talk about music that we recently heard. Sometimes we get together to write or play music,” he says, of meetings with fellow music geeks.

Trivia: “The name of the band Gin Blossoms is actually the term for the bursting of the capillaries in your nose and face caused by excessive drinking.”

Species: geekus toyretis collectius

Status: Paul Hendricks, a 26-year-old freelance graphic designer, is a man of few words … but lots of toys. Action figures, that is. His reasoning behind his hobby is a simple one: “I like toys, so I collect them. My taste varies,” he adds. “I’m into almost everything from vintage Star Wars to anime figures, although I’m not really into Transformers. They never really appealed to me. Maybe it’s their lack of articulation.”

Cred: Ask Paul for the action figure he treasures the most and he answers thoughtfully, “It’s hard to pick a favorite, but some finalists off the top of my head are the vintage Boba Fett, OVA Devilman. Mandarin Spawn, all the Super Friends figures and vintage Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow from GI Joe.”

So captivated by the aforementioned Boba Fett, a cult favorite character from the original Star Wars trilogy, that Paul even has a small toy shrine set up for the character.

Activities: His interaction—in the traditional sense of the word, at least—with other toy collectors is quite limited. “Pretty much all conversations or discussions are done on the Net over forums,” he says. “The only time I’ve met other toy collectors in person is if I’m trading with them.”

Trivia: “I’m sure someone out there reading this would know more than me. We geeks are everywhere … ”

Species: geekus gameribus

Status: Just because it’s a game doesn’t mean it can’t be taken seriously—that’s the sort of mentality that Brendon Fernandez, and other like-minded gamers have. Such a firm believer in the credibility of video games is he that he’s currently writing his thesis comparing acting to role- playing in Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs).

But parallels between his passions are not the only things that draw Brendon to gaming. “It’s the social interaction. Whether it’s talking to buddies about a great game at the coffee shop, or chatting with gamers from around the world online while you’re waiting for the level to load,” he says.

Cred: You would think that as a confident (and rather handsome) actor, Brendon’s geekiness might be less pronounced. You’d be wrong. When asked if he was guilty of perpetuating any geek stereotypes, he simply replies,

“If you mean starting a conversation about something you think is really cool, then realizing halfway that no one understands you, then yes.”

And that’s on top of spending up to 14 hours a day gaming, depending on his schedule.

Activities: “We game, or we talk about gaming, or we try to do something else … but end up gaming,” he says of hanging out with fellow gamers. “Or we open a bottle of wine and talk about politics, philosophy, history and/or literature … if the server’s down.”

Trivia: “The IGDA (International Game Developers Association) has a chapter in Singapore.  We might have a games industry yet.”

Species: geekus RPGissermus

Stats: “I like power,” says 25-year-old NUS-student Tan Shao Han, with a gleam in his eyes that doesn’t seem to come from the reflection of his 20-sided-die.

“Not power over other people,” he’s quick to explain, “or power in a hobby. Rather I enjoy the exercising of individuality as power. Role playing games, or ‘RPGs’, are constructs of imagination and experience that game masters and players craft together.”

This die-hard role playing gamer (or RPGer) is an intimidating figure with a misleading monk-like calm to his mannerism most of the time. Get him into a RPG of any kind, however, and things take a complete 180 degree turn. From your run-of-the-mill, pen-and-paper type games like Dungeons and Dragons to fully-dressed Live Action Role Playing (or LARP), RPGs are Shao’s exciting escape away from the mundane.

“Within our current consumers’ scope of life, we seem to have limited the situations we can find ourselves in,” he explains. “We study, work, spend money on pursuing random hobbies, drink, f***, day after day. In RPGs, you get used to scenarios beyond the ones we have surrounded ourselves with—and in a way, you learn to see life as being a scenario you can affect, rather than passively be part of.”

Cred: If you were to ask Shao what’s the one thing he couldn’t live without as a geek, he’d scramble for a pair of anti-glare wielding goggles, which he’s used a number of times in LARP gatherings. “Because of them I got the nickname Goggleman. You cannot understand my power, mortal!” he says, with a loud maniacal laugh.

Yet with such an outspoken approach to his geek-hood, Shao rarely gets labeled as one. “It depends on how I exhibit my geekazoidry,” he says eloquently. “If I use my geek powers to explain and make things more lucid, I get lovin’ and respect.”

“Nobody likes a show-off, whether he’s a geek or not.”

Activities: Outside of LARP sessions, Shao and his fellow RPGers do meet up almost anywhere ... you know, like us “normal” people. “We live life, like you guys do,” he says simply.

Trivia: “D4s hurt like a bitch, especially if you try to swallow them and have to throw them up thereafter.” For you non-RPGers out there, a D4 is a four-sided die used in role-playing games.

With so many budget airlines and travel promotions to choose from, we’re all getting inspired to pack our bags and find out what’s around us. When you do finally manage to get onto a cheap flight and get your leave approved, make sure that you hit the right spots fast, rather than wasting time eating at tourist-filled joints and sifting through shops of gimmicky trinkets. After all, it’s those obscure little finds that are often the highlight of a quick getaway. Here are our insider picks on how to get the best bang out of your flashpacker buck in five happening cities.

Shanghai | Taipei | Auckland | Phnom Penh | Tokyo

Shanghai

Fast Forward

Shanghai is one of the fastest modernizing cities in the world. This is a place thriving on the buzz of being the region’s “it” city. Money bags combined with up-and-coming designers, architects and socialites can only mean one thing: Shanghai is a city on a jet-fuelled trajectory. Forget the package tours; here are some of the places worth checking out in this vibrant city.

Eat Drink Man Woman

✱ Who says there’s no such thing as modern Chinese food? At Jade on 36 (Pudong Shangri-La, 33 Fucheng Lu, +86 21-6288-8888), the menu’s an unusual blend of flavors and tastes that are well worth exploring because they’re all excellent. Located in one of the most glamorous new hotels with a gorgeous view, this is fine dining at its best.
✱ Tea houses are an ancient tradition, but for a very cool vintage tea-sipping experience, try Old Shanghai Tea House (385 Fangbang Zhong Lu, +86 21- 5382-1202) where the waiters wear Mandarin gowns and all the artifacts are genuine antiques personally collected by owner Zhang Jianming.
✱ Well-loved bar owner Cotton Ding has recently relocated her beloved institution Cotton’s (132 Anting Lu, near Jianguo Lu, +86 21-6433-7995). Not far away from its old address, there’s now an outdoor garden with a villa to match the funky but laidback bar inside.

Retail Therapy

✱ If you like antiques then head to Madam Mao’s Dowry (70 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu, +86 21-6437-1255) where local Mao memorabilia is rife and propaganda chic art.
✱ For cheap accessories and trinkets, Xiao Shan Ping Shi Chang market at Xiang Yang Road is also worth a look, but you might have to hunt a bit for those bargains among the dross.

Sweet Dreams

✱ The luxury boutique hotel 88 Xintiandi (380 Huang Pi Nan Rd., +86 21- 5383-8833) has made its mark by renovating rundown traditional shikumen
(Shanghainese housing) into 53 stylish, elegantly-designed residences. Strategically set among exclusive boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars, 88 Xintiandi is a contemporary nod to the past amid the rapid urban modernization.

Don’t Miss

Breakfast at Xiangyang Lu and Changle Lu. Come to this bustling intersection between 7am and 9am for one of the best breakfasts of your life. There’s a wide range of authentic street food on offer—from dumplings to noodle soup to freshly made breads—and nothing costs more than pocket change.

Hot Tips

Take taxis everywhere. No journey around central Shanghai will cost you more than 20 yuan so, though public transport is rapidly improving, taxis are still the way to go. But make sure that you have your destinations written out in Chinese—chances are your Shanghainese cabbie won’t be able to understand you, even if you do speak some Mandarin.

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Taipei

Baby Sister Grows Up

Far from being the poor cousin to Hong Kong, Taipei is a vibrant city rich in history and culture. All the commerce and industry in Taiwan is coordinated and run from Taipei, and the city is a suitably busy and noisy center of activity. The traffic is bad and it’s pretty smoggy, but the shopping is cheap, the food delicious and there’s plenty to do. This place is well developed, so you won’t have to miss your creature comforts while soaking up all that noise and commotion so synonymous with the Asian city charm.

Eat Drink Man Woman

✱ Know that dumpling place in Paragon that always has a huge crowd? It’s the sister restaurant to the locally owned Din Tai Fung (194 Xinyi Rd., corner of Yunkang St., Section 2, +886 2-2321- 5958) where yummy steamed dumplings are the order of the day. The restaurant has such a following that Japanese tourists queue up to try the famed dumplings at the original flagship outlet in Xinyi Road.
✱ The king of the hot pots in Taipei is Taihodiem Restaurant (315 Xinyi Rd., Section 4, +886 2-2705- 0909) which has been around for 11 years. It aims to resemble a Chinese pub in the sense that it’s all about enjoying good quality food in a homely environment.
✱ For a place to drink, lounge and hang around, Spot—Taipei Film House (18 Chungshan N. Rd., Section 2, +886 2-2511-7786) blends lots of different lifestyle concepts into one building. There are foreign movies from all over the world screening at the cinema, as well as an exhibition gallery, a bookstore, a coffee shop and wine lounge.

Retail Therapy

✱ The One (30 Jhongshan N. Rd., Section 2, +886 2-2536-3090) serves lunch, afternoon tea and dinner to customers among the surrounds of designer lifestyle products. It’s all very cool and chic. Best of all, you can buy the products.
✱ Wufenpu is the largest clothing market in Taipei. This is the place where locals come to shop for clothes, shoes and accessories at dirt cheap prices. There are over 100 stores with funky wares, making this a shopper’s paradise. Even street vendors buy their goods here to sell, so coming here is like going straight to the source.

Sweet Dreams

✱ For a luxurious resort and spa getaway try Spring Park Urai Spa and Resort (3 Yanti Wulai Shiang, +886 2-2661-6555). Here pampering is taken to the next level. There are hot springs in the resort, indoor bathhouses—even the little toiletries in the room are BVLGARI.

Don’t Miss

Look out for the little hole-in-the-wall foot massage parlors all over Taipei. Prices can vary, but they’re usually pretty cheap and are extremely popular with Japanese tourists. Massages are Chinese style and usually start with a bath in Chinese herbs before the real work begins.

Hot Tips

With the terrible traffic conditions and regular rallies, the easiest and fastest way to get around Taipei is to take the Metro Taipei. Rather than buying single journeys, get the multipurpose EasyCard which will allow you to use the ticket over several days across trains, buses and even in car parks.

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Auckland

Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Auckland is the backpacker mecca, and the high amount of young traffic means that, despite its tiny population, this little city is buzzing with hostels, bars, and cafes just waiting to be explored. Along with its cosmopolitan feel, Auckland still has the charm of a small city in a small country. Bring your manners because here, everyone politely thanks the bus driver when they alight.

Eat Drink Man Woman

✱ Peter Gordon is New Zealand’s most internationally famous culinary celebrity and his new restaurant, dine by Peter Gordon (3/F SKYCITY Grand Hotel, 90 Federal St., +64 9-363-7030) is a must try for those wanting to sample the country’s latest modern dining trends.
✱ If wine is your thing then try Number 5 Restaurant (5 City Rd., +64 9-309-9273) where the feel is cozy but contemporary with open fires and two private rooms for entertaining. There’s a lovely menu of Western European dishes and a huge wine list including the special Sommelier’s Indulgence: A selected fine wine that is specially decanted and aerated ready for drinking.

Retail Therapy

✱ In bohemian Parnell, Höglund Glass Art (285 Parnell Rd., Parnell, +64 9-300-6238) has some stunning glassware in their flagship gallery. There are other galleries in Melbourne, Sydney and around New Zealand, but this is where it all started. These are modern pieces that blend the clarity of glassware with bright colors and sculptural form.
✱ Local jewelry designer Tanya Bentley displays all her work at Mana Gallery (3/323 Parnell Rd., Parnell, +64 9-377-0417). Bentley likes to work with Pacific Island mediums such as paua (Pacific shell) and mother of pearl. She also stocks the work of around 70 other artists including glassware and ceramics.

Sweet Dreams

✱ Make the most of New Zealand’s quaint countrytown feel by soaking up a bit of good old fashioned B&B hospitality. At nearby Cotter House Luxury Retreat (4 St Vincent Ave., Remuera, +64 9-529-5156) the bed spreads are silk and the pillows and duvets are feather-stuffed: This is five-star all the way, baby. And as the entire place can only accommodate 10 guests at once, it’s all very exclusive.
✱ For something close to the harbor with gorgeous water views, check out Stafford Villa (2 Awanui Street, Birkenhead Point, +64 9-418-3022), a Victorian period-style B&B where rooms overlook beautiful gardens and the city is a mere 10 minutes away.

Don’t Miss

New Zealand has developed a niche market in extreme sports and Skyjump (2/F Sky Tower, corner Victoria and Federal St., +64 9368-1835 from overseas or 0800-759-586 from within New Zealand) allows visitors to experience some of that adrenaline without having to leave the city. This jump (NZ$195) from Auckland’s tallest building is not quite a bungy, but more like being dropped at 75km per hour, face first. What a rush!

Hot Tips

To get a better sense of direction around the CBD of Auckland, hop on the loop bus, The Link (NZ$1.50 per ride). It travels both clockwise and anticlockwise around Queen Street, Sky Tower, Ponsonby Road, the Newmarket, Parnell, and QEII Square. Buses usually run every 10 minutes during the week and every 20 minutes on weekday nights and Sundays.

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Phnom Penh

Take a Back Seat

Phnom Penh is not traditionally considered a “must-see” destination, but we think it’s been given a hard rap. Southeast Asia’s rapid expansion into the first world is naturally dragging Phnom Penh along with it, and as a result there’s a unique mix of haunting tourist sites combined with cosmopolitan hustle and bustle. This hotch potch city has a little of the roughness of Bangkok with a little of the elegance of Saigon, and all the charm of the Khmer people.

Eat Drink Man Woman

✱ If you want a place where everything is local then try the very new Romdeng (21 Street 278, +855 092-219-565), sister restaurant to the more famous Friends—The Restaurant (215 Street 13, +855 012-802-072). At both these places street kids are trained for free in essential skills in the restaurant business to set them up for a brighter future. At Romdeng the food is fresh and tasty and gives tourists a rare chance to sample what the locals eat.
✱ An institution with Phnom Penh’s foreign community, FCC Phnom Penh (363 Sisowath Quay, +855 023-210-142) is where, on a terrace overlooking the water, expats in white linen kick back and sip cocktails on Friday nights.
✱ For something a little groovier and less tourist-trodden, head to Rubies Wine Bar
(corner of Street 19 and Street 240, +855 12-823-962) where those in the know understand that it’s all about relaxing in a laid-back atmosphere, drink in hand, surrounded by your mates.

Retail Therapy

✱ Spend big but still chill out at Java Cafe and Gallery (56 E1 Preah Sihanouk Blvd., +855 023-987-420), an establishment renowned for serving good coffee, cafe bites and offering a monthly rotation of paintings.
✱ The newer Elsewhere (175 Street 51, Corner Street 254, +855 023-211-348) is home to funky locally-made clothes. There’s also a restaurant and a bar in a garden oasis—there’s even a pool if the heat gets too much for you.

Sweet Dreams

✱ The Intercontinental Phnom Penh (Regency Square, 296 Blvd. Mao Tsé Toung, +855 23-424-888) provides a majestic and regal getaway from the dust of most touristy areas. While it might be a little out of the way, it also means peace and quiet when you go to bed instead of listening to raucous backpackers out in the street and blaring bars.

Don’t Miss

The highlight of a trip to Phnom Penh is to have dinner with local tour guide Chamroeum Om (+855 12-837-309), better known to the tourists as Rarn. Rarn takes tourists home to have dinner with his family which is, no doubt, the most memorable experience you’ll have in Phnom Penh. Rarn gives a glimpse of what life is really like for the Khmer, and some of the stories you will hear are astounding. His tour guide income paid for much of the structure of the home that houses more than 40 people and, using tips and tourist donations, he also supports a tutor to teach English to 33 kids from around the neighborhood. For a reliable taxi driver to pick you up from the airport or even a tour guide to show you round Phnom Penh, we also highly recommend Rarn. His English is fantastic, he is a lovely trustworthy guy and you know all your money will be going to a good cause.

Hot Tips

Tuk-tuk prices should be negotiated before you start the ride. The local rule is never pay more than US$1 no matter where you are going within the city.

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Tokyo

Turning Japanese

High tech gadgets, fast-paced living and an outrageous sense of style are all part of the Tokyo lifestyle, which curiously lives cheek to jowl alongside strictly observed traditions and customs. This is the place where all of Japan’s contradictions come to a head. It’s easy to feel lost among all the Japanese signage, so here are some places to get you started. One thing’s for sure: You might get a culture shock, but you can never be bored in Tokyo.

Eat Drink Man Woman

✱ For truly modern Japanese head to the unassuming Kaikaya (23-7 Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, +81 3-3770-0878) which looks like a typical Japanese pub. Instead, the grub here is trendy, innovative and well worth trying. Be sure to order the tuna sparerib, the jawbone of the fish.
✱ For something very traditional, head to Inakaya (1/F Yamaki Building, 4-10-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku, +81 3-3405-9866) where diners sit round a culinary stage. The chefs in yukata robes kneel on the ground barbecuing vegetables, seafood and meat which they pass over to hungry customers on giant paddles.

Retail Therapy

✱ The latest addition to Omote-sando Avenue is the brand new Omote-sando Hills, a huge five-star shopping center just opened in February. Designed by Tadao Ando, it takes up 250 meters of frontage on Omote-Sando Avenue proper and is all about five star labels: At least half of the big label stores here are flagships. This is 1.2 hectares of materialistic bliss.
✱ And if you like a bit of LV or just want to see some very funky architecture, check out the Louis Vuitton (7-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, +81 3-3478-2100) store designed by Jun Aoki. Even if you can’t afford anything inside, it’s worth a look at the modern Christmas tree concept of white square panels with window
of light.

Sweet Dreams

✱ Tokyo is an expensive city, so if accommodation is where you choose to shrink your budget, Andon Ryokan (2-34-10 Nihonzutsumi Taito, +81 3-3873-8611) is a pretty good option. The hotel was designed by Irie Masayuki and the outside looks like a modern Japanese lantern (hence the name “andon”) while inside clean steel lines evocative of Japanese architecture make the communal bathrooms at least palatable. Best of all, all the staff are fluent in English.
✱ For a trendy, pricier alternative try Claska (1-3-18 Chuo-cho, Meguro-ku, +81 3-3719-8121) which fuses elements of art, design and culture into your holiday. Alongside the lobby area is a cafe, bar and a DJ party space. There’s also a gallery on the second floor. There are only nine rooms for short-term stay, the others for longer term each have a different contemporary design.

Don’t Miss

For those who think Tokyo is all about restrained conservatives in business suits, get on the train and head to Jingū-bashi next to Harajuku JR station on a Sunday afternoon. This is where the disenchanted and alienated youth of Tokyo and its surrounds come to express themselves through their fashion. Supermen, Bo Peeps and other weird and wacky costumed kids hang out together and will happily pose for pictures with gaping tourists.

Hot Tips

We’re all used to taking off our shoes when going indoors, but in Japan this is a particularly stringently observed custom. Pack lots of pairs of good socks with you—ones with holes are not going to impress anyone.

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You walk around with a frown, cry buckets when the news comes on, and mutter “life sucks” religiously three times (or more) a day. Now, before you reach for those anti-depressants tucked snuggly under your tear-drenched pillow, we prescribe you an age old medicine that has surpassed the test of time—laughter. Check out these comedy acts who are handing out in this drug in generous amounts.

Madcap Improvisation

For some quick improvisational action, catch local veteran comedy group The Madhatters (Apr 4, May 2, Jun 6, 8pm. Play Den, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900). Core members are Roger Jenkins, Alision Lester, Christina Sergeant, Raymond Tan and Ken Ngo. These wacky individuals have had many laughing themselves into stitches since the early ’90s, and are eager to make you flash those whites too.

Like the comedy television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, audiences are encouraged to throw outrageous suggestions at this comedy group. Watch these quick-witted comedians weave stories and play games on the spot. The last time we caught The Madhatters, we were enlightened on the relation between Atlantis, “the oppositional Member of Parliament” and “having no tongue.” We expect to discover more links between other seemingly unrelated objects or situations in their future performances. As Roger Jenkins quips, “No two shows are ever the same. It’s like you know you are going to cook a soup, but you have no idea what kind of soup it is going to be. The audience will suggest the ingredients.” It’s spontaneous and unpredictable humor at its best.

Goofy Theater

Acclaimed comedians David Collins and Shane Dundas call themselves the Umbilical Brothers (Apr 20-22, 8pm. Victoria Theatre, 9 Empress Place, 6338-8283), This duo, whose ambition is world domination, is putting up a wild comedy theater “Speedmouse” that’ll make you guffaw with delight.

This comedy theater, which has dashes of slapstick elements, has traveled to New Zealand, Scotland and Australia. The story revolves around the efforts of the Umbilical Brothers as they try to ensure a television comedy show goes smoothly. Someone is meddling with the remote control and hindering their progress, however, by rewinding, fast forwarding, or freezing the scenes.

Needless to say, with their creative jokes and antics, we weren’t surprised to discover that The Umbilical Brothers had drawn laughs from animals as well as humans. As they say, “We tried our act in front of rhesus monkeys before. They laughed at everything, even the bits that weren’t jokes.”

Zany Standup Action

If you dig standup comedy, there are a few hotspots you should hit. The 1NiteStand Bar & Comedy Club (#01-04 Blk. A, Clarke Quay, 3 River Valley Rd., 6334-1954) is one of them. It is flying in a slew of international acts such as UK’s Rudi Lickwood, Nick Wilty and Alan Bates (Mar 29-Apr 1, Apr 5-6, 8pm). We recommend looking out for Iranian comedian Shappi Khorsandi (also known as “The Box Ticker”). This endearing performer is going to deliver tales that’ll make you fall head over heels in love with her. Like she said, “My show is like eating low calorie ice cream. You’ll love me.”

DBS Arts Centre (20 Merbau Rd., 6733-8166) is going to be transformed into a haven of laughs too. With the arrival of the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow (Mar 29-Apr 2, 8pm) comes some outstanding and eccentric comedy acts. Catch Maria Bamford, who loves a pug in a railroad conductor uniform, Dave Callan, who may well be the hairiest Australian comedian, or David O’Doherty, who has written stories about bee detectives. The 4 Noels, a trio consisting of Jess Griffin, Hohn Forman and James Pratt, will be joining in the fun as well.

For some sass, head down to Happy (#01-02/03/04 21 Tanjong Pagar Rd., 6227-7400). Besides hilarious jokes, local drag queen Rima S. (Every second Fri of the month, midnight) also adds in elements of miming and lip synching in her monthly standup act. Expect sharp humor that will chase the blues away from this smooth entertainer who has performed in Neptune Theatre, Zouk and the now defunct Boom Boom Room. “What I do is to help all the sad souls learn to take things with a big spoonful of sugar! And, what the heck, learn to laugh at others!” she insists.

We love Gold Dust (#02-11 Orchard Towers, 1 Claymore Dr., 6235-7170) for being a hotbed for thought–provoking social satire. As the equally hot resident diva Kumar (Every Mon-Sat, 9pm) claims, “I want people to have a good laugh and go home thinking they’ll come again, and that I make a lot of sense. It’s my way of making Singaporeans look at serious issues such as politics and the education system in a lighter way.”

Now that Kumar has teamed up with local veteran band Speedway in his nightly revues, Gold Dust will be jam-packed with rock ’n’ roll tunes too.

If laughter is the best medicine, comedians are the best doctors. With so many excellent practitioners around, there is just no place left for frowns. We invite you to giggle, chuckle, chortle or snigger away.

Helping to make fine art more accessible to the masses, new gallery 44 Arts (44 Jakrapong Rd., Taladyod, Phranakorn, 02-629-5822, 09-607-3065. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.44artsthailand.com) offers a different approach to displaying art. Unlike a traditional gallery where a huge space displays entire collections from just a few artists, the space here isn’t intimidating. It’s smaller and cozier, showing a variety of Thai art from renowned masters—all of which are for sale. Making the setting even more comfortable, a small coffee counter called Coffee Code serves up coffee and sandwiches and a selection of wines is available. A small sitting area in the center with dark leather upholstered chairs and hanging lamps welcomes admirers of art to lounge and chat. If the weather’s good, an inviting balcony outside features a counter lined with seats and teak chairs and tables nestled among lush plants and an urn fountain.

As for where the art hangs, the space inside is divided up into mini-galleries that are rented out by other local galleries. Pieces vary from paintings, prints, and small sculptures to T-shirts and other clothes. Resembling little shops in a mall, the small galleries are grouped side-by-side with glass fronts, swinging doors, and their own signs. This easy-breezy way of viewing art works to the advantage of the artists, galleries, potential buyers and casual viewers as a variety of great works can be viewed intimately and informally under one roof. 44 Arts would like to do away with the old notion that you have to go to a sterile gallery or a museum to see art. Believing that art galleries shouldn’t just be concentrated in the Sukhumvit and Silom areas, they decided to place the gallery in the Khao San area to attract a variety of people and widen the sphere of art being shown throughout the city.