His blend of hip hop and funk has seen him touring with the likes of Coldcut, DJ Food and Vadim. This talent has also opened for The Beastie Boys and Radiohead, while his debut album Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has won thumbs up from people in the industry. Koala last gigged here at one of the series of parties dubbed Loof on Another Roof at chill out bar Loof. We had a chat with Kid Koala about his reading habits, vinyl and the climate.

What is your current state of mind?
I am on a honeymoon right now, so I’m in a very good state of mind. We’ve escaped the winter in Canada. It’s snowing there. It’s a lot of fun. I just released an album, and it’s my favorite recording to date. So I’m happy. Everything happened very naturally.

What inspires you?
The prospect of crazy, inventive things happening. The fresh stuff, you know? Whether I am doing a tour or getting in the studio, it’s always the idea that something might happen that keeps me going.

What is your biggest achievement?
That might be a question for my mum. Haha… Well, I just try to see the world and make some noise.

What personal trait do you appreciate most in others?
I like people who laugh a lot, or try to. I may spend hours DJing, but I don’t take it seriously. It’s just fun.

Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
Tom Waits, because I think he’s a wonderful storyteller cum musician. I really enjoy the way he invented little universes in his songs, and expresses them. In a way, I’m trying to do that too but I can’t sing!

What are you reading?
A cookbook. It was given to us by people we met in New Zealand. It’s about the history of New Zealand and local recipes. There are beautiful photos in this book.

How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
It depends. On some tours, we have to get to the airport. This year, I have been traveling most of the time. I try to find somewhere to meditate when I can.

What is your idea of hell?
A place where everyone has to listen to the same song for eternity.

How do you recharge?
I usually have some pears and dried apricots and sleep.

What do you collect?
I collect vinyls that others are embarrassed of. I have one that teaches you how to date, and another on how to trim your nose hair and one on how to grow taller.

What about you scares others?
People find me rather approachable! If I have to pin down something, perhaps it’ll be what I consider to be acceptable on an album recording. People listen to it and think it’s kind of crazy.

What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
I didn’t believe much at 18. I hadn’t seen enough of the world then. I used to think the world was a big place. Now after so much traveling, the world is actually pretty small. People are interested in the same things.

What is the one thing that you would change about the world if given a chance?
The climate. I’d put it back to where it’s supposed to be! The entire climate thing that’s going on is scary. We might be heading to the Ice Age really soon!

Favorite audience:
People who are there for the music, not to show off their money or looks.

All time fave song:
One of them is definitely Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman,” though there are many more.

Rule for life:
Work hard, but only at things you love.

Favorite Bangkok sound/ noise:
Whatever the waiter says when bringing me some lovely Thai food!

Last thing that made me stop and think:
When I heard Bush is sending more troops to Iraq.

If Bangkok were music, it sound likes:
A lot of percussion and rhythm, hectic and fast, but with a great warm, loving feeling.

Favorite website:
YouTube

Most embarrassing record you’ve owned:
Twisted Sister, Stay Hungry. Actually, it wasn’t a record, it was a cassette tape, and I was 7 years old!!

Rasmus Faber will DJ while Melo sings on Mar 9 at Bed Supperclub, 26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537. Open daily 7:30pm-1am. B1,000 (2 drinks).

I’ve been molded by stage arts.

It’s exhausting, but stage arts allow you to develop your skills more. It takes more body and voice strength, artistic beauty and emotional power.
I like the stage because it’s live.

The basics of stage and TV performance are the same: it’s humanity. It’s a kind of psychological study. Before we perform, we have to know who the character is and we have to understand that person.

We have to know how to control the level of body movement and expression: not too much on TV, not too little on stage. It’s important that the audiences get the same emotional impact.

It’s the same with being a host, you have to make the audience feel that you are really talking to them. They have to feel your presence.

I have always admired Meryl Streep. Many people suspect that those who play mad characters are more talented than those who play ordinary people, but Streep’s talent really shines even when playing characters from ordinary walks of life. Once she’s wrapped in her character, her transformation is total.

She is my inspiration. I used to prefer playing in romantic comedies and I was too lazy to try to change. But when I see her, I feel I have to improve.

Many actors just play themselves in every movie.

I never thought of becoming a star, but I chose to study Dramatic Arts because it’s in my character to perform and learn, not just focus on books.

My first TV job was the host of Phasa Thai Nai Jor. I think part of the reason I got the job was because I spoke Thai clearly. But when I started the work, I realized my spoken Thai still had a lot of room for improvement.

It’s essential to speak clearly and correctly to be a host or reporter.

One has to improve to be of use to one’s self and to society. If a society is full of people of a high quality, it will become a civilized society.

I started my self-improvement workshop Sis to Sis for Life because I want to encourage people to improve. But no one has to be like me, each can develop according to his nature.

Kids nowadays seem very confident, but if you look closely, they lack a core of life experience. Many lack self-respect and cling to stars or singers as role models. They don’t know what they want or what might suit them.

What I am doing is making study fun, by mixing entertainment with knowledge. You don’t learn how to play football from a book: isn’t it better to go into the field and start kicking about?

Many people define studying as going to school and reading books, but for me everywhere is a school.

I like to talk to talented people as I gain a lot of useful knowledge just from casual conversations.

Can you tell us about the book?
It begins with the question that we’ve been trying to solve for many years: what is a black hole? Once I tossed a stone into the lake and the water rippled to form a circle. At that moment, I wondered if one circle were a universe, when many universes collided, there would be holes between them. The book is based on this idea.

How do you feel after being awarded twice?
I wrote this book three or four years ago. When I reread it, I didn’t like some parts of the book. Since I knew what the story would be and how it would end, I think I wrote it aiming to finish each chapter without giving much detail. It’s like I focused on the destination, not the journey. But I’m proud that I finished such a long story.

What happens in the next book?
The characters are grown up and the theme of the story is going to be more crucial. The end of the first episode is related to genetics, and so the next book will be based on that. The third one will be about mechanics.

How do you cope with the writer’s block?
I’ve never had this problem; I can always write. Inspiration comes all the times since the world never stops moving. I make each day of my life different so that I never get bored. I try to be a reader who knows nothing about the plot, thus I can make my story fresh and exciting.

Are you full-time writer now?
No, I don’t like doing just one thing all the time. I would like to be a new-generation academic—someone who is bright but can present his work or research differently, not in a boring way. Also, I would like to work in an office some time since I’ve never experienced in working 9 to 5.

Madam Oon Ah Chiam (aka Ah Chiam) is a Hokkien street opera performer in Toy Factory’s Titoudao. During her 20s, Madam Oon performed the comic servant role so well that she came to be known as Titoudao thereafter. The play traces Madam Oon’s life from her childhood to the present. More than anything, it is a dramatic account of all the hardship she had to undergo to become a top wayang star in Singapore and Malaysia.

We catch a moment with Madam Oon (played by Pam Oei) in between singing breaks, where she waxes lyrical about life in the ’40s, her son, stage makeup and get this—supernatural powers.

Which singer bowls you over?
The late Teresa Teng. Her voice is like honey.

And who do you think should not sing at all?
My son Goh Boon Teck. He can direct plays and write award-winning scripts, but he cannot sing.

Do you practice your singing in the bathroom?
No I don't. Chinese opera singers sing at a whole different frequency and volume. If I sang in my bathroom, I would go deaf myself.

What do you think of KTV lounges?
I think they're great fun but they must have Teresa Teng's Hokkien songs or I won't go.

What is your most unforgettable moment on stage?
A lot of Chinese wayang is improvised within a flexible structure. When I was first starting out as a wayang actress, I was given one song to sing as a courtesan. However, the actress who went on just before me sang the same song, knowing full well that it was the only song I had learnt. I burst into tears when it was my turn to go on stage because I didn't have a song to sing.

Where do you learn stage makeup at?
At the opera troupe, Xin Sai Hong, where I trained when I was 16. Also, backstage from other wayang actors.

Your take on Hollywood movies?
I don't watch Hollywood movies. They talk ang-mor. I liak boh kiu (don’t understand).

What is the most valuable lesson that being a wayang actress has taught you?
That hard work is a must for success.

How do fans typically show their adoration?
Very few people recognize me now, but when they do, they always point at me and shout “TITOUDAO” very loudly.

What’s one thing about the ’40s that you miss a lot?
My carefree, childhood kampung days with my 12 brothers and sisters. Playing was the only thing we needed to do.

Your philosophy towards life?
Whatever has happened, has happened. Do not dwell on it too much and think of “what ifs.” It is pointless.

If you had supernatural powers, what would you do?
I would turn back time to return to the ’50s & ’60s when a wayang performance had more audience than the entire capacity of the Indoor Stadium. When Titoudao was at its most popular, sometimes we had audiences for as far as the eye could see. I also wish I could fly. That would make me very happy.

“Only You,” “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” “The Great Pretender.” These are just a few of the popular oldies The Platters are known for. Through the years, the band has undergone a myriad of changes, resulting in confusion and several groups disputing the rights to call themselves The Platters. And one of them is hitting the stage come Mar 7. Sanctioned by an original member of The Platters Zolar Taylor, it’s made up of Benjamin T. Mitchell, Eugene Van Buren, Larry Hicks and Misty Black. We talk to Hicks for a quick lowdown on the band.

How did the name The Platters come about?
The original bass singer, Herb Reed, coined the name, The Platters. In the ’50s, vinyl 78 records were the standard media. They were quite large, and Mr. Reed thought they resembled plates and platters!

I see. We spotted pictures of members of The Platters wearing powder blue suits. Think that’ll ever come back into fashion?
Flamboyant attire never really went out of fashion when it comes to stage performances. And The Platters had worn almost every color imaginable at one point or another!

Speaking of stage performances, what works and what doesn’t for The Platters?
The Platters never venture outside of their comfort zone by trying to compete with music of today. This is what makes us unique, and why audiences worldwide continue to fill venues to hear The Platters.

And what younger artistes do you think are promising nowadays?
Corrine Bailey Rae and John Legend are two artists who are not following the standard mold for black artists. Their individual styles are quite innovative for today's black music.

With her deep and smoky voice, singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata has enthralled many with songs like “Letter Read” and “Worn Me Down.” This ex-vocalist of the funk fusion band Bumpus went solo in 2002, and released her debut full-length album Happenstance in 2004, with songs that span across jazz, folk, indie rock and pop. We caught up with Yamagata for a glimpse into her life.

We heard you have two cats. Are you an animal lover?
Yes, I love animals. Horses, dogs, anything. Right now, I just have two cats. I had three but one of them died in Oct. One is a Himalayan. It’s a stray cat I found under a car. I’ve had the other for 10 years.

Cool. And in your myspace page, you mentioned you like traveling. Are we talking to a free-spirited person?
Definitely. I love being on the move all the time, experiencing new places and new cultures and getting out of my comfort zone. I can relate to a wide variety of people. I like seeing how different people live and get on with each other. People don’t necessarily require an understanding of each other’s language to relate to each other.

That’s true. Will you be traveling to any other countries after Singapore?
Right now, I’m just going back to the US. I’m finishing my second record this weekend. When it’s released in spring, I’ll probably go to Japan, England, Spain and Australia to promote the record.

How is this record different or similar to Happenstance?
There’ll be a lot of guitar-driven songs. They’re still the intimate, heartbreaking piano songs. There’s one that’s almost like a Led Zeppelin song. Actually I’ve been doing that kind of thing for shows, but they were not on the first record. This second record is a journey into that world. The lyrics are more poetic. I’ll still have songs on relationships, but I’ll talk about the media too.

Talking about lyrics, a lot of your songwriting seems very personal. Does it take a lot of courage to show your songs to people?
Yes and no. When I write them, I don’t censor myself. I just write, even though it doesn’t capture me in the best light. I love performing. I don’t get self conscious about it, until people remind me to be. That gets me into a lot of trouble sometimes.

Do you miss being in a band?
Yes. I mean, it’s nice to share ideas and create something together. But I must say it’s wonderful to be your own boss, to have creative control. If I don’t like an idea, it’s nice to be able to put my foot down and not do it.

But what’s the rationale behind going solo?
I wanted to write songs and the songs I was writing on my own didn’t fit in the confines of the band. Being in Bumpus was fun. I loved it. I never thought of getting a record deal. It scared the s**t out of me. But lucky place, lucky person. Before I knew it, I was signed to a label as a solo artist. It’s just a funny story of destiny or fate, or whatever you want to call it.

You’ve been compared to singer-songwriters like Norah Jones and Fiona Apple. Think these comparisons are fair?
They are very general. People need to have comparisons as a sort of reference. I like what Norah Jones and Fiona Apple do and I think they both do it really well. But I think what I do is weird and different, music wise. And my shows are not like theirs. The comparisons are flattering. But they’re generalized comparisons. And don’t give respect to any of us as artistes.

Fernando organizes events, especially beauty pageants, for a living. Decked out prettily, we got her to spill the beans about ugly girls, plastic surgery and transsexuals.

Do you reject ugly girls if they want to join a beauty pageant?
There is inner beauty in every individual. Our job is to groom them and make them feel at home with the rest.

Do you worry that people will take the lead from Little Miss Sunshine and perform outrageous stunts on stage?
I don’t mind outrageous stunts that impress the judges.

Do you think less is more when it comes to clothing?
Nope! Beauty has got nothing to do with clothes. It has got to do with personality and confidence.

Are people who have undergone plastic surgery allowed to take part in the pageants you organize?
From my point of view, beauty via plastic surgery is not God-given, and, therefore, people who have had plastic surgery should not take part.

What about transsexuals?
Yes, of course. If one has gone through sex change and is legally recognized in the society as a female, then that should be fine.

Well, do you think beauty pageants objectify women?
No, I don’t think beauty pageants objectify them. Beauty pageants are a way for women to flaunt what they have!

I’m c**p at looking toward the future. When I was really young I wanted to be a hairdresser. Then I thought I would go into architecture. I’m one of those people who looks blankly at you when you ask about the future.

I was filming in an arena in India. I was wearing a skirt and people put their hands up my skirt and touched my ass.

I went ballistic. They wouldn’t let me out. I was ready to have a fistfight with these a**holes...

It is really hard to say no to certain things. I find it really hard to say no to a lot of the things that I do to support NGOs and stuff. I can choose to sit on the couch, but I can’t get over the guilt.

Living out of a suitcase after a while does your head in. You miss out on birthdays and Christmas.

It won’t be this way forever. I am where I am at this moment in time because this is where I’m supposed to be.

I’m not good at keeping things alive—not even plants. I’ve got to start learning to grow things properly or at least stop killing things.

As a general rule for life, it’s quite rare for reality to exceed your expectations.

Everything moves so quickly, and you need to slow down and ask yourself, “What am I running for?”

Buying stuff I don’t need is hardly gratifying. Buying striped socks, however, is different. I just can’t get enough of them.

In Buenos Aires, I saw the demonstrations of the “Mothers of the Disappeared.” It was a really raw moment. These women never give up hope even though the missing children remain missing.

In Istanbul, the government postal services went on strike. They wanted their uniforms created by a fashion designer—and that was listed as a non-negotiable term.

People who follow their own style are cool. I like
Angelina Jolie’s style. From head to toe, she is yelling,
“I don’t care!”

Hosting a game show is totally uncool. And yes, I have done it.

I’m one of the most unfashionable people ever on TV. I pretty much wear the same thing every day.

Rudeness often stems from mindlessness.

The world pisses me off. Or is it just the news?

I think a lot of people hold on to opinions just because they want to stay in their comfort zone.

It is funny that a change in opinion makes one a hypocrite. People do change. Saying “I don’t think that anymore” is not a crime.

Be tolerant and open to opinions. That’s important.

The more I travel, the more I come to think chaos theory is working on a human level. Everything is interrelated in a huge web—and there is no way you can work everything out.

Knowing your limits keeps you from going insane.

Falling into a food coma makes me happy. We have a feeding ritual once a week where we eat and eat and eat.
When packing, never take anything more than you have to. You don’t need as much as you think.

Chinese oil and Po Chai Pills are my bodyguards.

Get an orange suitcase. The color is theft-proof.

Wonder Woman

Who: Khunying Jaruwan Maintaka
What: Auditor-General of Thailand
Why we love her: We love the fact that a woman accountant made so many supposedly macho men dive for cover. After fighting corruption in the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand for years, she was promoted to top dog in 2001—and that’s when life got bumpy. Khunying Jaruwan was eventually asked to resign from her position because she blocked, stopped and revealed too many of the corrupt projects started by the last government and refused to tell Dear Leader Thaksin what he wanted to hear. She also refused to step down then and continues to stand up for what’s right now without showing any fear of those in power. Last year Khunying Jaruwan received the “Yod Ying [Super Lady] of the Year” award from the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women.
The moral of the story:
• Be strong, honest and stand by your actions if you’ve done nothing wrong. People will notice and support you, and your magical bracelets will help you deflect the critical bullets of the bad guys.

Doctor Justice

Who: Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand, MD
What: Acting Director of the Justice Ministry’s Central Institute of Forensic Science
Why we love her: She’s the most eccentric doctor we’ve ever seen—funky outfits and spiky hair only enhancing her larger-than-life reputation. Dr. Pornthip introduced Thais to that mysterious science known as forensics long before Mr. Grissom and his pals appeared on the boob tube. Honest, outspoken and impatient with bullshitters and bums, the Khunying clashes frequently with the men in brown; she’s been sued, denied her deserved position (what’s this “acting” nonsense?) and had her qualifications (and fashion sense) questioned—and she could probably make a helluva lot more money in the private sector (or in Laos, where they offered her a job)—but she continues to serve this country fighting crime and helping the cause of justice.
The moral of the story:
• Don’t judge a book by its cover—it’s what’s inside that counts.

Feisty Filmmaker

Who: Soraya Nakhasuwan
What: Director of Final Score
Why we love her: A student of master filmmaker Jira Malikul, Soraya made a movie nobody thought she could make—and a movie nobody thought would be seen. Her documentary about students has proved skeptics wrong, not just about the project itself but about female directors. Even with King Naresuan playing on practically every screen in town, her unscripted flick has proved popular.
The moral of the story:
• Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

What do you think of women’s role in society today?
Women have become more independent and we can do men’s jobs. Women are humans, too, so we should have equal rights as men.

Why can’t men replace women?
There’s something in men and women that is different. For some jobs, women are more thorough than men. Like my movie, Final Score, you might think that as a woman I might be more sensitive for this project, more thorough and convey the story better than a man. And maybe because it’s a movie about the reality of a boy’s life, that means it needs a flexible, compromising director who knows how to communicate with others. However, I do think it depends on personality not gender. For example, my boyfriend is a good cook, whereas I cannot cook. It’s about what interests you and doing what you love to do.

If you had the power to change anything in the world, what would you change?
I, personally, believe that if we can just change a tiny thing, then it will change the bigger picture later. For example, if some drivers just stop their cars at the crosswalk for others, which is a small thing, there will be a big change and people will start to respect each other more.

Who is your role model?
Actually I really don’t have an “idol” but I do like Agnès Varda, a French New Wave director. Her movies are rarely shown in Thailand, but I think they’re pretty funky.

What would a world without men be like?
I love men! They have something good in them. There shouldn’t be anything missing, male, female, gay or lesbian. Everything that nature has given us is the best.

What’s next?
I’m writing my own movie script. It would be a fantasy and mainly about women. It’s a shame that it won’t be a big project, though. After two years of following boys around I’m sort of bored of them. Nah! Just kidding. Actually it’s something that I’ve always been interested in and it will be exaggerated from my personal experiences. I don’t know who will be the investor yet.

Mighty Mom

Who: Pui Pimolwan Suppayang
What: Co-host of Phuu Ying Tung Phuu Ying, managing editor at Mother & Baby (Thailand) and founder of Pang Rum Spa
Why we love her: Pui came to our attention when she debuted on Phuu Ying Tung Phuu Ying (Women to Women) with her unique character: a stingy, young, executive mother-housewife. Representing people who are lucky in love, work and family, Pui is a news anchor, TV show host, magazine editor and owner of a spa on Sukhumvit 39. She’s the lone married voice on the hugely successful talk show and is never shy to admit that she’s khem (thrifty), and demonstrates ways we can save, (or wisely spend), our bahts, and still have a good time and a great life.
The moral of the story:
• You don’t need money to be happy.

Super Saver

Who: Pavena Hongskul
What: President of the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children
Why we love her: OK, we’d love her more if she had chosen a different name for her foundation, but there’s no denying that Pavena’s heart is in the right place. As a politician she stood out from her female contemporaries, appearing on the front page of newspapers helping poor girls escape from abuse. She’s from a privileged background, but she’s not afraid to get scrappy even if it means messing up her hair or nails. Pavena’s self-supported foundation helps abused and poor children; when things get bad for girls, her name is on the top of the list of people they can turn to.
The moral of the story:
• Be kind and supportive to other living beings.

The Fighter

Who: Nong On, Udomporn Polasak
What: Clean and jerk weightlifter at the 2004 Olympics, Thailand’s first female gold medallist
Why we love her: When it comes to the Olympics or any other international sporting event, we normally just keep our eyes on boxing, where we can expect Thais to net a few medals. Unfortunately, in the 2004 Olympics, our glove-wearing champs took a beating. Then, out of nowhere, female weightlifting was the sport to bring joy to our bereaved nation as Nong On became the first female Thai athlete to win gold at the Olympics. She went head to head with Indonesia’s top athlete, chewed her up, and spit her out, lifting a whopping 125.5kg where Indo’s champ could only take on 122.5kg—wimp! Not only she won the medal but her performance broke the Chinese record from the previous games (2000). As she prepared to do her lift, we’ll never forget her throaty cry “Suu woi!” that would forever mark one of the most decisive moments in female sports in Thailand. We applauded, screamed and were touched.
The moral of the story:
• Just grunt and do it.

Happy Gal

Who: Mam Surivipa Poonpipat (Gultangwattana)
What: Host of Surivipa, MC and owner of a nail salon and carwash
Why we love her: She’s an upcountry girl (she spent her childhood in Sakhon Nakhon) who grew up to become a superstar but still has her feet firmly planted in the ground. Remember that spat with reporters over whether her then pal Mam Kataleeya was pregnant? When Mam learned the truth, she stood up, publicly apologized to the press and cut her friend out of her life. She showed us that when you make a mistake, you should be an adult and fess up. We also love Mam for her personality—she’s always happy, calm and smiling, even when she’s being asked awful questions.
The moral of the story:
• Forgive and forget and life goes on happily ever after.

What do you think about the role of women in Thai society today?
We’re stronger and more accepted than before. Now society has opened up many roles for women.

Why can’t men replace women?
Men can be as beautiful as women but they can’t be mothers.

What is your definition of a woman?
I always keeps in mind that a woman is chang tao lang (follower) but not lar lang (outdated). From my personal experience, not everything that a woman does is the right decision. Women are not always right. In some aspect, women need someone supporting them. If something is supposed to be a man’s job, let them do their work. Why not? It’s too much trouble.

Who is a woman you love?
My mom.

What would a world without men be like?
There wouldn’t be any more fun. A dry life I suppose. Who would be subordinate to my emotional complexity?

If you could be a man for a day, what would you do?
I would want to be a monk. I want to know what life is like as a monk. I wouldn’t have said this 10 years ago, though.

Lady of Grace

Who: Pha Ji Atcharapan Paiboonsuwan
What: Actress, yoga instructor at Absolute Yoga
Why we love her: She was the host of Nuu Tam Dai, pha Ji played many roles on soap operas and has taught many professional actors. She dropped out of sight for a while, but pha Ji made her comeback doing yoga at 50-something and looked fantastic on the cover of Lips magazine. She made us realize how important it is to take care of ourselves, and not to be afraid of getting old.
The moral of the story:
• Age is just a number.

The Singing Foreigner

Who: Christy Gibson
What: Luuk thung singer
Why we love her: Before she became a star, Christy had been teaching people in rural areas and helping drug addicts for years. Not only does she sing luuk thung and mor lam—which ain’t easy—better than most Thais, she also speaks Thai better than a lot of Thais. She’s such an incredible artist that she was one of two luuk thung singers and the only farang to be chosen for the H.M. Blues project.
The moral of the story is:
• The beauty of Thai culture is universal.

How did you start singing luuk thung?
I studied music and voice throughout my youth with a foreign teacher. I learned classical and pop singing, and of course luuk thung, which was totally different and challenging for me. I wasn’t used to it at all. The notes, the style, the vibrato, the falsetto and everything are completely different. We started singing luuk thung songs from here and there and we bought CDs to listen to. But it was more difficult than I expected.

What do you think about the role of women in Thai society today?
I very much admire a lot of women in Thai society. Their role is delicate, because of the way the world is now. It’s fast paced, it’s very business oriented, you have to be on top, you have to be fast, you have to know what’s happening internationally. At the same time for Thai women, they have their culture and their family values, which are very important parts of Thai society. Respect and the family core are very important. I think that to be able to strike the right balance between both of those things—family values and culture on one side, and business on the other—is very admirable. That’s an incredible thing. And I think a lot of Thai women manage to do that and to do it well.

Are Thai women trying to be more western?
I don’t think so. I don’t see Thai woman losing their identity or as far as being Thai/Asian is concerned—at least for the majority. I think Thai women will continue to be Thai, because that’s where their beauty comes from. They’ll keep their Thai culture, but adapt the good from other parts of the world.

If you were man for a day, what would you do?
I would go to an exclusive club for gentlemen, because I want to see what they do inside. So when I change back I can say “I know what you do.”

What is your definition of a woman?
Someone who knows how to be strong and soft at the same time.
If you had the power to change anything in the world, what would you change?
I would change people’s perspective from a selfish one to an unselfish one. Because I think that a lot of the world’s problems stems from selfishness and greed. If we can eliminate those from the world, it would be a much nicer place.

Women we once loved

We admired these women for a while, but then they became overexposed or boring. But we don’t hate them and hope that one day they will be our sweethearts again.

Tata Young: She changed so much, from our sweet, cute, little sister to an international pop star. We applaud her confidence, but, Tata, keep it down a little bit when you still live in Thailand.

Rabiebrat Pongpanit: She means well, but pha really needs someone to help her find a nice and effective way of marketing herself to the public.

Aum Patcharapa: She did nothing wrong—it’s just that it’s now been two years since she was FHM’s sexiest women in Thailand. She’s probably more than just a sexy shell, but how would you know?

Mam Benlo: Yes, phee nuu Mam told us to forgive and forget and live on. Unfortunately, we still remember what she did, and she’s since lost the charm of a princess. She really needs to hire a good consulting firm and plan her return—a couple of baan baan soaps will do.

Nong Yad (Yadthip Rachapan): Another case of a spoiled young actress who’s been eaten up by the industry. From cute chick to soap opera villain.