I am a feminist because I believe women should live and work on their own terms.

A cruel act of unpardonable violence is ivory poachers chopping the heads off elephants.

I grew up in Little India in a two room shophouse with 10 family members. It exposed me to diverse cultures, shaping my sensitivity to differences and openess in life.

My emotional pillars were my parents. My mother taught me the importance of rules. My father’s never-give-up attitude inspired me to work harder.

In a word, I am earnest. Whatever the job, big or small, I’ll do my very best.

The beautiful Phuket sunset kick-started my interest in hospitality.

I worry most about my youngest son, Ren Chun, 18. He has exams, military service, university education, courtship and marriage to think about.

“Discover Singapore” weekends were started by my daughter, Ren Yung, and her boyfriend to introduce the family to new places in town.

I’ve recently learned how much fun Tiong Bahru is, where to get the best porridge and how good the pepper crabs are on Pulau Ubin.

My perfect day would be waking up late, have toast and coffee, play tennis, have lunch with the children, go for foot reflexology, watch a good movie, eat dinner somewhere new, and wind down with the hubby, chatting about everything under the sun.

I wrote a Chinese-language autobiography, My Journey and After, because I want to leave a family legacy for my children. I can always do a second memoir when I’m 80.

Bilingualism is a privilege. Knowing the Chinese language, its culture and history has helped me tremendously in my business negotiations.

The most life-changing decision I ever made was becoming a mother. Children take time and attention from other endeavors.

Words like “success” and “achievement” don’t excite me. I am motivated by the process of engagement, not the outcome. Doing things in teams, and engaging with pockets in the community is most satisfying.

I couldn’t have predicted the many changes in my life. From academia to hospitality, from being a single footloose traveler to a mother of three debating in parliament, and now the chairman of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

I will work past age 100, for sure.

What made you decide to set up this business?
I started Curated Editions with my dear friend Tjin Lee because of our shared passion for fashion and love for shiny things. It was Tjin who made me believe that we could really set up this business which serves as a platform for us to share our sense of style and favorite finds with everyone.

How do you source items for the store?
It has to be items I’d wear myself. It also depends on the trend I’m lusting after. This season, I love everything with spikes and crystals. Nothing makes a girl happier than shiny objects.

Why are more people after luxe labels that are unavailable in Singapore?
As they travel more frequently, customers are becoming more exposed to brands not widely found and they’re also savvier and more adventurous. This means they’re into bold pieces from labels like Venna, available at Harvey Nichols and Lane Crawford, but not readily accessible in Singapore—so we love bringing such brands in.

What are some of your favorite accessories?
Right now I’m in love with my dinosaur cuff from Noir and my Gabriel necklace from Venna. Both are outstanding statement pieces that I wear on a daily basis, even with denim shorts.

Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
If you are thinking of setting up your own business, you need to make sure you’re 100 percent in love with the idea and are fully committed to it. Another important thing is to know your market very well.
 

I used to have an imaginary friend as an only child growing up in Surat Thani. This shaped me into a creative storyteller.

I always dreamed of being a director. I even wrote my own speech for the Oscars—just in case.

I felt so free when I first moved to Bangkok. I lied to my parents and spent lots of time exploring and making friends, instead of going to university.

Many Thai people give nightlife a bad rep. Some think it’s all about alcohol, drugs and sex, which just isn’t true. We just love to get dressed up and have fun while enjoying the music.

Everything I’ve achieved I owe to partying. It gave me connections. I got my first job at Channel V and my current one at Bang Channel from people I got to know from my parties.

There are both good and bad people out there, you’ve just got to know how to go about things.

Dudesweet opened my mind. I never knew that there was a party culture where you could play any song you love and do whatever you want. It really inspired me.

So many parties just play supposedly cool music for cool people. Many partygoers don’t even enjoy the music. They just want to be seen as cool.

Why can’t we drop all the pretense and just have fun dancing to all the pop songs we grew up with, stuff like the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Madonna and ‘N Sync?

My friends and I finally held our first pop party five years ago, under the theme “Bring back the 90s,” which was attended by about 50 people. The next time there were more than 200.

The past is always beautiful. People like to complain about pop songs now, but when they get older, these songs will hold good memories for them.

We never thought we’d come this far. We’re just a group of people who like throwing fun parties and people seem to love it.

I love comedy. I used to be a comedian on Master Keys (a hit TV game show), which I enjoyed at first. But I quit because of the tired slapstick routines which were just too obvious.

Thais don’t like sarcasm. We love compromise, which sometimes prevents us from moving forward. People shoud learn to take a joke and grow from the experience.

People really overreacted to Lady Gaga’s recent tweet about buying fake Rolexes. It’s time to accept the truth. Why are the only images we want to put out things like traditional Thai headdress, smiles, floating markets and elephants? Many foreigners still think we ride elephants to school!

New technology is the cause of so much drama. Express your thoughts, but please realize that not everyone is going to agree or like what you do.

I’m openly gay. I’ve never really talked to my parents about this, but they probably have some idea from my character.

Single gay guys are really no different from single women. We can lead independent lives and still take care of our family.

My dad is the best person in my life. He’s a teacher so he’s never had much money. But he even went out to be a construction worker to earn extra money to send me to school.

I want to be a dad someday. But, I think I need to find a husband first.

Neil Patrick Harris is my idol. He’s made everyone accept both his performances and his lifestyle choices. It’s wonderful that he’s started a family with his partner.

I want the law to recognize same-sex marriages. Right now if a gay couple live together and one of them dies, the partner gets nothing.

Gays have so much spending power. Thailand has lots of gays, really, so why don’t we think of that as a plus for our economy?

Having good friends can shape your life. Parents come first, but friends are the ones you really go through life with.

Everyone should be ambitious. Buddhists might think it’s a bad thing, but it’s important to have some drive in your life.

I directed Trasher’s videos for fun, but we got lots of recognition, even from Katy Perry and Madonna’s manager. That’s awesome

I used to daydream a lot. I wouldn’t take risks. But you’re not going to be handed everything. You’ve got to grab any chance you get.

BK: Why did you become a motorcycle taxi driver?
After finishing sixth grade, I worked in my family’s rice field in Srisaket province for five years. But I realized there was little future in that, so I headed to Bangkok. I attended non-formal education and worked in a factory. But everything about the factory was so systematic that I didn’t get to see the world or socialize. So I quit and became a motorcycle taxi driver.

BK: What drew you to online social networking?
I’ve always been into technology. When there are no passengers, I go to an internet cafe. I started with a blog to promote my community in Srisaket. I wrote and posted photos and videos about the local lifestyle, farming and tourist attractions. Then I thought it would be good to advertise my messenger service on my blog. A few years later, I signed up for a Twitter account, just hoping to follow the news. But then I started using it to report traffic incidents and promote my business. And interest in my work has obviously increased.

BK: What does your service cover?
I mainly deliver documents, but I also deliver flowers on Valentine’s Day. Sometimes I even have to choose and buy them! And when I post photos of my favorite food, sometimes people pay for me to go buy it for them. Once a customer contacted me from Japan wanting me to buy things for his family in Bangkok. So, my service includes practically everything. I go to nearby provinces as long as it doesn’t take longer than a day. The furthest I’ve been is Rayong.

BK: What’s your income?
I earn B400-900 a day. Here in Bangkok, I live alone because my wife is in another province. We have no kids, so there aren’t too many expenses and we can build up some savings. Although I use gadgets to post online, I don’t really spend that much money on it. I only have a smart phone. I have to go to an internet café to use a computer.

BK: Got any social media tips?
Social networking has blurred the line between public and private. We have to be more conscientious when receiving and sharing news. We should always be on the lookout for accurate facts. I pride myself on only sharing factual information. I try not to state my opinion too much, especially regarding politics. It would only cause conflict and I just don’t want that. Interview by Benjamaporn Meekaeo

Follow Dejchat at twitter.com/motorcyrubjang and www.oknation.net/blog/motorcyrubjang.

How has your multicultural upbringing influenced your comedy?
It has given me an outside perspective on customs and social norms from the countries where I’ve lived. I see strangeness in what is generally accepted as “normal” in individual societies.

How did you get your start?
I took part in this comedy competition at college, which I won. Afterward, I kept on asking for spots at other comedy rooms around the city. I was lucky enough to keep getting gigs here and there, and used that stage time to get better.

Was it a daunting task writing a whole show?
Yes, incredibly. At some points, I didn’t think it’d be possible. A lot of trial and error went into my first show before it started to click. I felt like it happened almost by accident.

Do you have any pre-show routines?
I pace around backstage, drink water and yell at myself.

Who are your biggest comedic inspirations?
Louis CK and Bill Burr: legendary comics who are extremely funny and come up with great new material every year.

What advice would you give to young comedians?
Be aware of whether your material is working and do not be afraid to acknowledge when something isn’t so you can improve on it. Also, don’t believe your own PR.

Ronny Chieng will perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2012 on July 10-13, 8pm; 14, 6pm; 14, 9pm at DBS Arts Centre home of the Singapore Repertory Theatre.

What inspired you to write BOOM?
In 1998, I wrote a play, entitled Plunge, about the Asian Economic Crisis. Ten years later, however, Singapore was instead facing a stock market and property boom, and when someone raised the idea of writing a sequel to Plunge, I jokingly suggested the title “BOOM”. I could see that rapidly rising property prices and en-bloc phenomenon were starting to impact the lives of ordinary Singaporeans and not necessarily in a positive way. I was interested in exploring the redevelopment of older buildings and loss of historical heritage.

How is Singlish used in the show?
Singlish is used very liberally throughout the show. In fact, all the characters speak their own brand of Singlish. It’s what distinguishes them from each other. This is actually the first play I've ever written that uses so much Singlish. It was a deliberate attempt to ground the play very specifically in this country, and to have authentic characters that the audience could relate to.

What were the biggest challenges writing the script?
I really didn’t want to write a typical, cliched piece about en-bloc sales with your typical villains. So I tried to make sure that my characters were more than just caricatures. They are real people dealing with very real issues. Another challenge was writing in Singlish. It’s much harder than it looks. You have to really hear the voices in your head before you can put them down in paper. The grammar and syntax of Singlish is so distinctive and specific.

Were the individual characters modeled after real life people?
I think almost everyone in Singapore has heard or read about en bloc sales and how they can divide neighbors, turning them nasty. There were a couple of articles that stuck in my head. The first was the case of an old woman who refused to move out of her apartment because she was afraid the spirit of her dead husband wouldn’t be able to find his way home. Another was about a couple in China, who initially refused to sell their house. The developer dug a massive moat all around their home, so that they were, quite literally, marooned.

One of the unique characters in the show is a corpse. What is the significance of having a dead character?
Someone told me about the fifteen year bury-in policy in Singapore. After fifteen years, the government has the right to exhume your body from the grave, to reallocate the land. Even the dead are not spared from the pressures of redevelopment and progress. It made sense to introduce a corpse to represent one of the “voiceless” victims of progress.

How are metaphors used in the play?
Physical, inanimate objects such as a decaying corpse, houses, and even a fig tree, play important roles. They symbolize the relationships within the play and memories of the human characters, bringing an added dimension to the themes of decay and renewal.

What would you like audiences to take away from the show?
I want to highlight that even in times of prosperity and progress, there are individuals who slip in between the cracks. There are untold, quiet tragedies that will continue to occur when we are so single-minded about progress. I also personally find it quite sad that a lot of the buildings that I grew up with, that were part of my youth, are slowly disappearing. With the upcoming exhumation of graves at Bukit Brown cemetery and redevelopment of old flats at Rochor and other locations, I hope to remind the audience of the importance of these historical sites. We have to fight to preserve them.

BOOM is on June 29-Jul 1, 8pm; July 1, 8, 3pm; 6-8, 8pm at the DBS Arts Centre home of the Singapore Repertory Theatre.

How did this project come about?
I wanted to bring together a big group of people I know who are either musicians or artists to do something fun. The exhibition is divided into two categories: as the name suggests, “A Part of Me” is a collection of my art, while “A Part of You” is a collection of music from people I work closely with. The whole thing is centered on the concept of the shared experience, showcasing a big circle of collaboration.

What was the main inspiration for the exhibition?
Back when I was still deciding whether I wanted to study art, I found a unique CD cover at a music store that not only inspired me to become an artist, but also led to the main concept of this exhibition. I compare this event to a CD package—art and music as one. People who come along will receive a CD that combines all the work in one place.

Tell us a bit about your featured work.
It’s called “While you are sleeping with me,” and it was inspired by a song that puts me in a state somewhere between dream and reality. I wanted to create a piece of art that captures this semi-conscious condition. In this work, I imagine myself to be someone who controls whether a person is dreaming or waking up, and I use the bedframe as a canvas.

What’s it been like curating the exhibition?
It’s been very chaotic, since it’s my first time curating. I didn’t know what to expect at first. I just wanted to bring my friends together for a memorable project. It’s my first time working with such a large group of people, but it’s been a very joyous experience to collaborate with everyone.

What’s next?
“A Part of You, A Part of Me” is a long-term project. I see it as a playlist that will keep adding artists. I hope to give others the chance to present their work as a “A Part of Me” then continue to widen the circle of collaboration through the “A Part of You” aspect. 

I started to get into theater and acting when I realized I wasn’t good enough to be a professional athlete.

There’s pressure and excitement to being on stage. You become somebody else. You can only really do that as an actor, an athlete or a politician.

You’re not allowed to scream or cry in society, unless you’re an actor. The only other times are when you get drunk or you’re a spectator at a football match.

I lived in New York for 4-5 years, waiting tables. I tried to make it as a theater actor but couldn’t make that breakthrough.

Going to auditions is tough. You line up for a role with 20 guys who look just like you, memorize the script as fast as you can. But in the end, the panel might take one look at you and say they don’t want you.

I was really pissed off that when I first came on the scene with my band Pru I was branded as this hi-so fraud trying to sing and dance to alternative music. People didn’t know that I had struggled.

I’m not the most optimistic person by nature. I’m also not the kind of person who doesn’t give a shit what people think. I’m always looking to prove myself. But as an artist, you can never make everyone love you.

Dancing is a form of distraction for me as a lead singer. I didn’t know what to do with myself when I first started. So I began to look at my body as an instrument and just move to the rhythm of the songs. Then dancing became my identity.

Now that I’m older, I’m like Jackie Chan, who can no longer do his own stunts. It’s scary that I can’t move as well as before. That’s something my fans will just have to accept.

Everyone has ugly sides to their character. No one’s perfect. My character in Antapal, Jod, kills so many people. I was forced to reach into the depths of my soul to portray this ugliness.

I got beaten up pretty badly one time in the early 90s. I was at a pub and obviously bumped into the wrong person. I’d never been in a fight before but he just kept taunting me, so we eventually took it outside. I got knocked out from behind then set upon by seven guys. When I got home, I just looked in the mirror and began crying at the absurdity. I felt like I was in a film or something.

There’s nothing beautiful about violence. Everybody just starts punching like a little girl when they have a fight in real life.

I’d always felt guilty that I never really helped with my family’s business. Then a few years ago, my mom asked if I wanted to do something with some land in the old part of town right on the Chao Phraya River. Since then, I’ve put all my efforts into building a hotel called The Siam which will open next month.

I wish I lived in the 1920s. I think the Rattanakosin district is the only part of Bangkok that has any character.

I recently moved my whole life to the old part of town. I began restoring a 100-year-old building last year so that I can live there with my wife and two kids. It was where my mother was born, but no one has been living there for 60-70 years.

I was worried that the house wasn’t as cozy as the condo my kids were used to. But luckily there is Suan Rommaninat Park right across the street for them to play in.

You don’t know what love is until you have kids. It’s a whole new level of love from what you’ve experienced before.

My wife is also my best friend. Guys who flirt with her always wonder how I managed to get this wonderful woman.

I’ve always been a sentimental person. When I was 12 years old, I watched the most beautiful romantic movie ever called Somewhere in Time. I was so hooked on it. It made me start believing in true love.

I always believed that I wouldn’t sleep with anybody until I found the woman I wanted to marry. That’s what happened. I was a virgin for such a long time that some people thought I was gay. I didn’t want to fool around with girls I didn’t love.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. My mom used to tell me to embrace as many passions as I could, so hopefully some will work out.

Life is all about the experiences. Whether your dreams come true or not, you should feel that you gave it a shot. And at least you had a dream.

BK: How did you learn to cook?
I read a lot of cookbooks and I used to be a waiter in a big restaurant where I learned bits and pieces from the chef. Back then I had to eat out a lot, so I had the chance to try many variations of the same dishes which helped me when I became a cook.

BK: What is the hardest food for you to cook?
That would be kanom jeen nam prik (rice vermicelli served with curry) because of its complicated flavor, which is sweet, sour and salty at the same time. Each person has a different perception of the dish, too: some prefer it sweet and others like it really sour.

BK: How are the high food prices affecting your business?
They are having a large impact on all small street vendors. And I can’t raise my prices because people will complain and I’d lose customers. I voted for this government in the hope that this sort of situation could be averted, but obviously it hasn’t. So that’s it for me, I’m kind of through with Thai politics. Now all I can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

BK: How good is your khao gaeng?
Well, you’ll have to ask my customers, but I think it’s pretty good seeing as I have a number of regular customers and most of it sells out at the end of each day.

BK: What are the best and the worst things about your job?
The best is knowing that khao gaeng will never go out of style as it is so entwined with the Thai way of life—it’s fast, cheap and easy to share. I also enjoy that my job keeps me in the loop because people love to gossip when they eat in a group! The worst thing is that my income is so uncertain due to the fluctuating food and gas prices, and taxes.

BK: If you could compare your job to a dish, what would it be?
I’d say a challenging dish like kaeng som (sour curry) because it’s all about finding a balance between flavors. Life is also about balancing career, family, friends and more—and it’s not easy.

BK: What’s your family situation?
It’s about as good and humble as it could be under the circumstances. My husband and I have a loving relationship so I consider myself lucky.

BK: What are your hopes for the future? Any advice for other khao gaeng vendors?
It would be bliss if I could have my own small restaurant. As for my fellow vendors, I would say don’t spend too much money on the underground lottery! Interview by Proudpisut Sang-ou-thai

How is Antapal different from a film like 2499?
2499 was a gritty “rock n’ roll” depiction of late-1950s gangster life, but Antapal looks more at the changing face of gangster culture as it tried to adapt to a rapidly changing society around the same time.

Why did you focus on this particular period in the movie?
That period was remarkable for everything: fashion, ideas, politics. It was a time of great change and energy, not just in Thailand, but all over the world. Elvis and rock n’ roll are universal.

How did you come to cast Noi (Krisada Sukosol) as a gangster?
I really wanted to strip away the classic image of the gangster, and Noi seemed made for the part. I wanted to show that gangsters don’t always have to act aggressively, but can be calm and collected before catching you off-guard. A polite gangster is one you can’t mess with because he is a ticking bomb—the next thing you know you’re at the hospital!

What was the hardest part of directing this movie?
Striking a balance between truth and fiction. In terms of production this meant ensuring a consistency of settings and props as we were shooting a period movie in a vastly different world. It was quite tough but also a great challenge to find the right places to shoot and we had to get pretty innovative at times.

What impact has winning the Best Director gong at the Suphanahong Awards 2010 had on your career?
I’m not one to let any recognition be a burden on my work. I won’t let anything take the fun out of directing a movie. Still, winning awards is a huge boost, even if it’s not my real aim. I just want to do my best as a story teller, so that audiences get the chance to watch a great movie.

What do think of the local film industry?
Making movies is certainly easier today because of advances in technology, so we have more up-and-coming filmmakers—but quantity is not the same as quality. So many movies rely on special effects but lack real substance. I daresay there are only really two styles that young Thai filmmakers try to emulate: Quentin [Tarantino] and Joey [Apichatpong Weerasethakul]. Both are stylistically impressive if you have a good theme, but we should be looking to forge our own identities.

What’s planned for your next film?
I want to do something about faith. I think nowadays people lack faith in themselves, their spirituality and their country. I want to produce a movie that has the power to nourish people’s spirits and ignite them to do something worthwhile. Proudpisut Sang-ou-thai