GET THE DINNER

YOU DESERVE
From the rooop at Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel,
glittering views of Bangkok will be spread before you
as you settle into one of Bangkoks most alluring
nightlife destinations. You and friends can sit, sip
and sample delicacies from the imaginative cocktail
list and equally temping pan-Asian menu. Let the
stars continue on their courses as you enjoy yours,
complemented by some good old-fashioned service
and an atmosphere of nighttime glamour.

567 Ratchaprarop Road, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand

www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cwb E : cwb@chr.co.th T : +66 (0) 2 625 1234

Strip AD_Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit_Sep15.pdf

8/29/15

11:25 AM

PUBLISHER
Colin Hastings
editorbigchilli@gmail.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Adam Purcell
adambigchilli@gmail.com
EDITOR
Nina Hastings
ninabigchilli@gmail.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Chutinanta Boonyamarn
nanbigchilli@gmail.com
SALES & MARKETING MANAGER
Rojjana Rungrattwatchai
sendtorose@gmail.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Thana Pongsaskulchoti
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Sakuna Nupinrum
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ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Saranya Choeyjanya
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ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
Janjira Silapapairson
janbigchilli@gmail.com
ART & PRODUCTION
Arthawit Pundrikapa, Jaran Lakkanawat
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mini Bike Gang, WJ
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Anette Pollner, Johanna DeKoning,
Judith Coulson, Maxmilian Wechsler,
Chloe Mason, Eric E. Surbano

TheBigChilliMag

thebigchillimagazine

No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written
permission from The BigChilli Co., Ltd. The opinions and views of the writers are not necessarily the
views of the publishers. All details are deemed correct at the time of print, the publisher, the editor,
employees and contributors can not be held responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions
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The BigChilli welcomes unsolicited contributions but assumes no responsibility for the safe-keeping
or return of such materials damaged or lost in transit.

The BigChilli Company Ltd., 1/7 5th Fl. Room 504,

Siboonrueng Bldg. 2, Convent Road,
Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
02 233 1774-6, 02 266 7141 Fax: 02 235 0174
:thebigchillimagazine@gmail.com
:thebigchilli.com

TheBigChilli

Expat

News

Living in Bangkok: Expat life made simple

Bumrungrad International Hospitals community
event returns on September 19 with a health and fitness focus
MOVING to a new country is far from
easy. It requires a lot of planning and
gathering so much information. Its often
hard to figure out where to look, who to
talk to, and where to even start. But what
if you could find everything you needed
in one place?
This is why Bumrungrad
International Hospitals annual Living
in Bangkok event is such an incredible
resource. Every year, this superb
community event brings together the
organizations, community groups,
and services that help expats both
newcomers and old hands carve out a
comfortable and enjoyable life here.
Staying healthy and active in Bangkok
As youve probably guessed, this years
event is focused on helping expats achieve
healthy and active lives in Bangkok.
One of the things that people often
lose when moving somewhere new is
the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Unless you are extremely disciplined,
physical fitness and keeping up with
healthy habits can be easily overlooked
during times of transition. However, its
been proven time and again that a healthy
lifestyle is not only the best defense
against most illnesses, its also a great
way to manage ones stress levels and
maintain a positive outlook on life.
Living in Bangkok has been an
important resource for expats for many
years, and it continues to do the same for
a new crop of expats, turning this year to
focus on living a healthy and active life
here in Bangkok.

12

TheBigChilli

Save the Date!

THIS years Living in Bangkok event will be

held on Saturday September 19 from 9am5pm at Bumrungrad International Hospital
on Sukhumvit Soi 3. From BTS Nana, take
exit 1 and look for the Bumrungrad Hospital
shuttle bus, which will come every 15 minutes, depending on the traffic.
For more info visit www.bumrungrad.
com/livinginbangkok
Variety makes life interesting
Its very hard to
be bored while living
in Bangkok. Every day
brings something new,
and even seasoned expats
who have been here for
decades are constantly
rediscovering the city. The
current upswing in outdoor
activities and healthy
lifestyle trends is a good
example of Bangkoks
ability to always change
and grow.

As youre navigating your new life

as an expat, and particularly figuring
out how to start or expand a healthy and
active lifestyle, take advantage of the
information that will be available to you at
this years Living in Bangkok event.
The many exhibitors will provide you
with information ranging from where to
find the best cycling and running routes
and groups, to information on where to
find healthy foods and beverages. When
going into this event, just remember that
Bangkok has almost everything youre
looking for you just have to know where
to look, and the best place to start is
Bumrungrads Living in Bangkok event.

Gourmet

Restaurant news & deals | Serving Up | Recipe | Reviews

Italian Favourites
Hearty Italian favourites are
being given a gourmet spin
this month at Don Giovanni
Page 22

TheBigChilli

19

Gourmet
Bangkoks hottest dining deals and news

All in seasonal taste

THROUGH SEPT 30 AT RED SKY

Wine Wednesdays
at Diplomat

CENTARA Grand at CentralWorlds superb

rooftop restaurant is currently serving up a
five-course seasonal tasting menu created using top quality imported ingredients. Just some
of the highlights include Figue de Sollies Salad
with baby watermelon and Cabeccou goat
cheese; Mediterranean fish soup Rouille crouton and Bouchot mussels; and Iberico Bellota
pork rack with braised radicchio and rosemary
flower. B3,255++ per person, or B4,955++ per
person when paired with wine.

EVERY WED AT DIPLOMAT BAR

A TWO-for-one wine deal is now

offered every Wednesday night at
Conrad Bangkoks stylish lobby bar.

999/99 Rama 1 Rd.

02 100 1234
:centarahotelsresorts.com/cgcw

Mexican fiesta
SEPT 16 AT SEOR PICO

With 14 premium wines available

by the glass, including highlights
such as Love Grass Shiraz from the
award-winning dArenberg of McLaren Vale, Australia; and Germanys
Max Ferd Richter Brauneberger
Juffer Riesling Kabinett, the promotion also offers 30 percent discount
on tapas. Wines start at B360++ per
glass. Live jazz from 8pm.
87 Witthayu Rd.
02 252 5538
:conradhotels.com/bangkok

MEXICOS Independence Day will

be celebrated in thoroughly delicious
fashion at Rembrandt Hotel Bangkoks
always lively Mexican restaurant. Specially for the occasion, Mexican chef
Carlos Bravo will cook up a splendid
spread of his countrys most famous
dishes (think Chili con carne, Stuffed
green peppers, Slow roasted pork) for
the special price of B2,500 per festive
pack (four persons), or B4,000 per
festive pack (four persons) plus one

02 261 7100

SEPT 12 & 13 AT ANANTARA BANGKOK

RIVERSIDE RESORT & SPA

AVAILABLE NOW AT NOVOTEL

BANGKOK PLATINUM PRATUNAM

ENSCONCED within freshly-baked

inky black sesame buns, Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunams new burgers
are eye-catching and tasty to boot.
Choose from grilled beef and cheddar
cheese, flavourful BBQ chicken thigh
or tender Teriyaki pork as a filling.
Each burger comes with fresh tomato,
crisp iceberg lettuce, house-made
mayo relish and French fries. B 290++.
Available at all of the hotels outlets.
220 Petchaburi Rd.
02 160 7100
:novotelbangkokplatinum.com

OPERA meets gourmet dining

this month at Anantara Bangkok
Riverside, where Grand Opera
Thailand will perform excerpts from
Carmen, Don Pasquale & La Traviata while you tuck into a four-course
special menu (Sat Sept 12. B3,800
per person inclusive of soft drinks; B28,000 per table of
eight inclusive of two bottles of wine. Starts 7.30pm).
Alternatively visit on Sun Sept 13 for an afternoon of opera, High Tea, and sparkling wine (4pm-6pm. B2,700 per
person). Special package price for both events:B5,500.
257/1-3 Charoennakorn Rd.
02 476 0022 ext. 1416
:bangkok-riverside.anantara.com

Game &
Wine Time
OCT 2 AT LA VUE

EXPECT rich and

gamey flavours aplenty
at Hunts & Forest
Viande de Gibier Wine
Dinner, a one-night-only
event at Siam@Siam
Design Hotels rooftop restaurant. Featuring the best of
European game meat (such as goose, duck, venison, and
wild boar), the six-course menu will be paired with fine
French wines and is great value at B3,600.
865 Rama 1 Rd.
02 217 3070 :siamatsiam.com
TheBigChilli

19 Sukhumvit Soi 18.

:rembrandtbkk.com

Grand Opera Dinner

Black Burger Trio

20

bottle ofTequila reposado El Jimador and

four mixers

Oktoberfest specials
SEPT 19 OCT 4 AT THE HUNTSMAN

YOU can get into the Oktoberfest spirit at The Landmark

Bangkoks popular pub, which is
celebrating the Munich-based,
world-famous festival by serving
up Crispy pork knuckle with Sauerkraut, German sausages, Meat
loaf and more Bavarian favourites
alongside German beers all at
reasonable prices.
138 Sukhumvit Rd.
02 254 0404 ext 7777
:landmarkbangkok.com

New
on the

scene
Restaurant & Bar
openings in Bangkok

Benihana The
Japanese Steakhouse

BANGKOKS second iteration of the

world-famous Benihana The Japanese
Steakhouse Restaurant chain (the first is
at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort &
Spa) opens its doors this month offering
its unique brand of Eatertainment at
the AVANI Atrium Bangkok. Like its
parent venue in New York City, which
opened in 1964, the AVANI-based venture
specializes in sizzling dining at Teppanyaki
counters where personal chefs not only
grill premium quality beef, fish, veggies
and rice, but also put on an action-packed

Osito Unique Spanish

BACK on the scene after an extensive renovation, Osito (formerly el Osito) at

Mahatun Plaza is already turning heads with its new menu of rustic-yet-modern Spanish
cuisine prepared in an open kitchen by well-known chef Daniel Bucher, former Chef de
Cuisine at Reflexions, Plaza Athne Bangkok, who specializes in molecular cooking
and modernist techniques blended with classic flavours and recipes. His breakfast menu
focuses on tasty, easy to eat treats, featuring homemade breads, cold cuts, and spreads
made with the top quality ingredients (try the Organic eggs from Chiang Rai paired with
jamon iberico in a breakfast skillet; and The Shooters Sandwich, a delicious marriage of
homemade chorizo with caramelized onions and pickled bell peppers on rye bread). The
lunch menu covers all-time favourites like Reuben and New York pastrami sandwiches,
burgers, and a superb Spanish creamy rice cooked with jamon iberico stock and topped
with smoked pork belly. Dinner, meanwhile,
features unique tapas, smoked dishes (whole Maine
lobsters, octopus, dry aged tomahawk steaks) and
classic Spanish dishes like Paella with organic
chicken and chorizo or prawns, calamari and clams.
To wash it all down you can select from premium
wines as well as over 30 types of premium gins.
888/23-24 M ahatun Plaz a, Ploen Chit Rd.
:f acebook.com/O sitoB K K

1823 Tea Lounge by Ronnefeldt

culinary show think juggling, jokes and

some flamboyant culinary magic that
provides great fun for diners of all ages.
While premium Teppanyaki is the focus of
the restaurant, its not the only highlight.
Sushi, sashimi, seafood (such as lobster,
crab and oysters), sake and Japanese-style
cocktails are all top notch too. And all
reasonably priced. Open daily 11.30am
2.30pm and 6pm 10.30pm.

SPECIALISING in superior cups of tea and offering an

extensive selection of salads, pasta dishes, grilled sandwiches,
afternoon tea sets, pastries and cakes, this stylish new tea
lounge on the first floor of Gaysorn is a must visit for fans of
the renowned Ronnefeldt tea brand (especially as it stocks
two unique blends Bangkok Blend, which marries the finest
Oolong Tea with flavours of pineapple and papaya, and the
Gaysorn Blend, which combines light, flowery Pui Mu Tan
White Tea from China with tropical flavours of ripe mango and
a hint of citrus). Open daily 10am-8pm.
G /F , G aysorn Plaza , 999 Phloen Chit.
02 656 1086 :1823ronnef eldtbkk.com

A V A N I A trium B angkok, 1880 N ew Petchburi Rd.

02 718 2023 :avanihotels.com

Tim Ho Wan

HONG Kongs famous (and most affordable) Michelin

Starred restaurant has made its debut in Thailand, offering
delectable dim sum at Bangkoks Terminal 21 shopping
mall. Like Tim Ho Wan branches in Malaysia, Indonesia,
Philippines, Australia, Taiwan, and Singapore, the Thailand
venture offers highlights such as Baked buns with BBQ
pork, Pan fried turnip cakes, Steamed egg cake, and Vermicelli roll stuffed with pigs liver.
Other Hong Kong staples are also available, with Steamed beef ball with bean curd skin,
Shrimp wrapped in bean curd skin, and StickyRicein lotus leaf among the favourites.
T erminal 21 3F L , ( B T S A sok/M RT Sukhumvit) . O pen daily 10am-10pm.

24

TheBigChilli

02 651 4399

02 006 5288

DARK by Phillip Di Bella

THIS new coffee shop and restaurant at Piman 49, Sukhumvit 49, offers premium teas and
coffee and high quality international and fusion dishes created by chefs Jeriko Van Der Wolf
and Joffrey Cacob, who both have experience in Michelin starred restaurants. Operating to a
Crop to Cup concept, DARK ensures its coffee beans are sourced from sustainable farms and
offers a range of blends you wont find elsewhere. For food, highlights include the Jerikos duck
burger (B320), Foie gras and kumquat, and Smoked beef and burrata (B280). Make sure you
leave room for dessert the cakes are delicious. Open daily 7am-midnight.
46 Soi Sukhumvit 49.
02 662 7900 :f acebook.com/darkpiman49

Indique

INDIAN cuisine is
given a contemporary
spin at this recently
opened restaurant
at Park 22 shopping
complex, Sukhumvit 22.
And by contemporary,
we mean molecular
the same approach
which saw Bangkoks
renowned Gaggan restaurant come
out top in this years Asias 50
Best Restaurants. While Indique
doesnt scale those dizzy heights,
its reasonable portions pack
plenty of flavour and its courteous
staff, relaxed atmosphere, and
well-priced menu ensure it is well
worth a visit. Highlights include
Sphericated lassi spheres (B129), Chicken tikka
cornetto (chicken tikka in a fried papadum cone,
served on dry ice. B179), and Corn chaat in masala
papadum (seasoned corn in papadum cones. B89).

Indique, Park 22, Sukhumvit Soi 22 (Phrom Phong BTS station)

Rain Tree Caf

02 663 5995

Iron Chef Table

SINCE its debut in 2012, the Iron Chef Thailand TV show has been the
premier showcase for the countrys culinary stars. Now diners can get
up close and personal with these talented chefs at the countrys first Iron
Chef restaurant. Located at Room A1, The Taste Thong Lor, Iron Chef
Table transforms the competitions kitchen-stadium setting into an equally
exciting Chefs Table venue complete with open kitchen and bar. The
restaurants initial line-up features renowned Japanese chef Hiroyuki Sakai
collaborating with seven Iron Chefs from Thailand: Chef Pongtawat Ian
Chalermkittichai, Chef Chumpol Jangprai, Chef Boontham Pakpo, Chef
Thanaruk Pom Chuto, Chef Thanunya Gai Kaikaew, Chef Prasopchok
Art Trakulphat, and Chef Tammasak Noi Chootong. Keep up to date
with the restaurants schedule at facebook.com/ironcheftable.

Iron Chef Table, Room A1, The Taste Thong Lo, Thonglor Soi 11
092 768 7723 :f acebook.com/ironchef table

THREE integrated outlets make up Plaza Athne

Bangkoks stunning transformation of Rain Tree Caf, which has
been reconceived in a modern interpretation of a Thai neo-colonial
royal palace. The main dining area, dubbed The Bronze Kitchen,
combines modern iterations of aristocratic elegance with state-ofthe-art hot and cold buffet counters and kitchens, not to mention
the creations of a multi-national team of renowned chefs. Adjoined
to this is The Valaya Room, a formal library-style VIP space, and
beyond here is a Secret Garden area where guests can dine, drink
and savour elegant high teas. Each of the hotels specialist head
chefs each prepare specialty dishes for both the lunch and dinner
buffets. Moreover, each Saturday one of the chefs personally takes
charge of one of the live kitchens. Gala Sunday Brunch sessions
range from B1,300 B4,900 depending on drinks packages (the
latter price features free flowing Mot & Chandon Champagne).
61 Wireless Rd.
02 650 8800 :plazaatheneebangkok.com

Chang Surf Bar

POPULAR inner-city
surf center Flow House
Bangkok now has a
second floor surf bar
serving ice cold pints
of Chang beer plus an
international food menu
featuring dishes like
Salmon salad with lemongrass (B150), Grilled fish tacos,
Penne pink sauce with salmon and caviar (B170) and
California crab cakes with mango chutney a great way to
refuel after a session on the FlowRider surf machine.
A -Sq uare, 120/1 Sukhumvit 26.
02 108 5210 :flowhousebangkok.com
TheBigChilli

25

Scrapbook
Last months foodie functions in focus

An exclusive dinner with Sansiri

SANSIRI PLC hosted an exclusive dinner
at the lavish clubhouse of Narasiri Bang
Na, where chef Vichit Mukura presented
a special menu inspired by the concept of
American Luxury. Highlights of the menu
included Portobello mushrooms and scallop
with mayonnaise, rind and sweet Japanese
corn; and Thai Sweetmeat and coconut with
red beans served with Meringue.

Wine tasting at Godfather

GODFATHER, a wine boutique by Water Library at Central Embassy,
collaborated with BKK Wine Club to host a wine tasting party featuring
premium wines from Italy, USA and Australia. Guests also enjoyed a selection
of high quality finger foods and light meals, which were specially prepared to
pair with the wines.

Sunday Feast & Fun

FIN Wines recently showcased its portfolio
of artisanal wines by hosting a wonderful event
at Bo.lan restaurant, Sukhumvit 53. Called Fin
Naturally Sunday Feast & Fun, the event
celebrated all things natural and sustainable,
and featured a delicious range of food cooked
by Bo.lans owners, Bo and Dylan; and Daniel
Bucher from Osito, using ingredients from local
producers. Funds were also raised to support
Baan San-Fan orphanage in Phang-Nga.
26

TheBigChilli

Scrapbook
Last months foodie functions in focus

All in good taste at DARK

HIP new coffee shop and restaurant
DARK by Phillip Di Bella celebrated its
grand opening by inviting foodies and
brew heads to sample its premium wares.
Located at Piman 49, Sukhumvit 49, DARK
offers high quality international and fusion
dishes created by chefs Jeriko Van Der
Wolf and Joffrey Cacob, who both have
experience in Michelin starred restaurants.
More info on page 25.

High Tea Jubilee at

Ratchaprasong
MEMBERS of the Ratchaprasong Square
Trade Association held a press conference
to mark the launch of the High Tea Jubilee
@ Ratchaprasong promotion, which will see
hotels and tea rooms in the association offer
special rates on their respective afternoon
tea sets until October 15. Erawan Tea Room
at the Erawan Bangkok (adjacent to Grand
Hyatt Erawan Bangkok) for example, will
offer its afternoon tea set for two at the
special price of B600. For details of
participating hotels visit:
facebook.com/HeartOfBangkok.
28

TheBigChilli

Mooncake celebrations
SHANG Palace at Shangri-La Hotel,
Bangkok marked the arrival of this
years Mid-Autumn Festival by launching three new mini moonca e fillings
(including Green Tea Cookies and
Cream;Taro Gingko; and Chestnut and
Almond) in addition to the restaurants
classic a ours ignature house made
mooncakes in an exquisite gift set will
be available through September 27.

Scrapbook
Last months foodie functions in focus

Wine showcase
at Bamboo Chic
LE Mridien
Bangkok and IWS
hosted a tasting event
at the hotels Bamboo
Chic Bar, where they
showcased 11 wines
from four different
international wineries. The wines were
paired with a range of
dishes specially created for the occasion
by new Executive
Chef, Markus Rotard.

Tenderloins
branches out
THE popular
Tenderloins Sports Bar &
Steak House, Sukhumvit
33, celebrated the launch
of its sister restaurant on
Pattanakan 30 by hosting
a day of free food and
drinks at the new venue.
Find out more about the
restaurant and its menu at
www.tenderloins33.com.

Rotarians gather for lunch

ROTARY Club Bangkok South recently
joined other Rotary Clubs in Bangkok on
an Inter-Club Delegation to the regular
luncheon meeting of Rotary Club of
Dhonburi, the second Rotary Club to be
chartered in Thailand and home of Past
Rotary International President Bichai Ratakul.
30

TheBigChilli

Dining out

Wo rds H A R V E Y W H I T E

Attico Cucina Italiana

One year into its operations and Radisson Blu Plaza

Bangkoks popular Italian restaurant has really hit its stride.
Best of all a brand new menu is launched this month

WITH its high ceiling, sweeping city

views, and exposed-brick, trattoria-style
design, Attico is one of the most visually
striking Italian restaurants in Bangkok.
And as we discovered last month, its
food is some of the tastiest.
Established 12 months ago with a
focus on food from Tuscany, Attico has
since retooled its concept to embrace
classic, rustic cuisine from all areas of
Italy think homemade pastas, slowcooked meats, lovingly crafted fish
dishes, and, starting this month, a range
of thin-crust pizzas. The latter, made
using a secret dough recipe developed
over the past seven months by Atticos
head chef, Dario Busnelli, are crispy and
light, and easily rival the citys best.
Gregarious, chatty, and suitably
stout, half-Thai half-Italian chef Dario
was born in Lombardy and raised in
Bangkok. Before joining Attico last
year, he was head chef at the popular
El Bottega di Luca on Sukhumvit 49,
and his career to date including stints
at prestigious establishments such as the
three-Michelin starred Da Vittorio in
Bergamo, Italy, and the Michelin-starred

Allegro at Four Seasons Prague, Czech

Republic shines through in the quality
of his cuisine.
His new menu, officially launched
this month, is based around rustic,
family-style servings and, as youd expect
from a restaurant of this caliber, high
quality ingredients come as standard, and
presentation is top notch.
Just some of the highlights to kick
start a meal include Impepata di Cozze
(Sauted imported carpet clams and
bouchot mussels from France, served
in a pan in a lightly spiced lobster
bisque sauce. B790); Degustazione di
Salumi della casa (Chef s selections
of imported cold cuts and salami with
homemade pickles. B690/990); and Chef
Darios spin on the classic Mozzarella
N Carrozza, featuring a whole ball of
buffalo mozzarella cheese deep fried and
served with sauted cherry tomato, fresh
basil, Taggiasche olives, caper flowers and
Sardinian yellow fin fish (B680).
For mains, the Paccheri col
Cinghiale (Paccheri pasta with wild
boar ragout braised in Chianti red wine
sauce and summer truffle sauce. B490)

Radisson B lu Plaza B angkok, 489 Sukhumvit Rd.

34

TheBigChilli

gets our vote its rich and piquant

sauce, slathered over al dente pasta, is
a perfect match for the subtle gamey
tastes of the boar. We also enjoyed the
Branzino al Posillipo (Grilled Sea
bass from Brittany, served with fine
herbs and frutti di mare sauce, sauted
mi crustacean, grilled artichokes, and
potato sabbiate. B1,290), whose large
flakes of flavorsome meat slipped from
the bone yet provided plenty of bite.
Also hitting the sweet spot of culinary
satisfaction was the Costata di Manzo
Wagyu, Atticos signature Wagyu Prime
rib (B390/100g), cooked medium-rare
and arriving tender and chock-full of
flavour.
Hearty portions perfect for sharing
are the order of the day at Attico, but
we couldnt leave without sampling
dessert. And were glad we did, because
the Carosello di Dolci, a selection
of Atticos classic desserts, including
Tiramis, Pannacotta, Chocolate
fondant, and Vanilla Crema cotta
(B890), provided a fitting end to an
excellent meal. We will definitely return
for more.

02 302 3333 ext. 3328 :radissonblu.com/plaza hotel-bangkok

Dining out

Wo rds H A R V E Y W H I T E

Wine Pub

The new monthly Chef s Table is not to be

missed at this longstanding expat favourite

ONE of Bangkoks original wine bars,

Wine Pub at Pullman Bangkok King
Power has been delighting oenophiles
and foodies with its European-inspired
cuisine, tasty tapas, and international
wines for over eight years now a
remarkable achievement in a city as
fickle as Bangkok, where barflies prefer
to feed on the novel and usually vacate a
venue as soon as they hear a new one has
opened.
The secret to Wine Pubs longevity
and success is its commitment to
regularly updating its menu, focusing on
high quality, sustainable ingredients, and
offering tempting daily deals. Put simply,
diners always have something exciting to
come back for.
Take the new monthly Chef s
Table dining experience. Held the
third Wednesday of each month, and
served only for 12-16 people, this
exciting promotion sees Executive Chef
Dominique Ferchaud working with
seasonal ingredients to create a unique
five-course dinner paired with wines
(great value at just B3,150 per person).

The talented chef, a Brittany,

France, native, has been plying his trade
since 1986 and his rich international
experience includes stints working in
renowned establishments like Chef
Raymond Blancs two Michelin Starred
Manoir aux QuatSaisons in Oxford,
England, and the famous Plaza Athne
hotel in New York. He also worked
as private chef for Abu Dhabis Royal
Family, so he knows a thing or two about
pleasing discerning palates.
Visit his Chef s Table this month
(Sept 16 from 6pm-10pm), and youll be
able to savour delicious creations such as
Seared jumbo shrimp with celeriac and
ginger, served with sundried tomatoes
and coriander; Roasted filet of sea
bass with baby vegetables and fennel,
coconut and lemon leaf bisque; and
Angus beef filet with crispy potato roll,
seared mushrooms and rosemary sauce.
The idea is to let the ingredients
really shine through, explains Chef
Dominique. We only import the finest
fish and meats, and we cook these
carefully to ensure that their flavours are

the star of the show. Simple food is

the best especially when paired with
decent wines.
The Chef s Table, of course, is
not the only highlight at Wine Pub.
An extensive a la carte menu featuring
hearty European dishes is available
daily, as well as a tapas menu with
over 23 selections starting at B100 per
plate (or a set of nine for B985), with
popular choices such as Salmon confit
on basil feta cake, and Seared duck liver
with polenta.
Through Sept 30, a Special Cod
Tapas menu, with highlights such as
Cod and potato gratin, and Cod cakes
with panko bread crumbs, will also be
available, starting at B250 per dish.
On our last visit Chef Dominique
revealed that hed just received a new
chocolate making machine from
France, and he couldnt wait to get in
the kitchen and tinker with it. So dont
be surprised if you see a selection of
chocolate enhanced creations on your
next visit to Wine Pub as long as we
havent eaten them all first!

Wine Pub, Pullman B angkok K ing Power, 8/2 Rangnam Rd, T hanon-Phayathai
( f ree tuk tuk service available f rom near V ictory M onument B T S)
02 680 9999 :pullmanbangkokkingpower.com

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TheBigChilli

Dining out

Wo rds H A R V E Y W H I T E

Rock and Roll dining in Phuket

Meet Roberto Pettinau, the new
GM of the Hard Rock Cafe Phuket

ESTABLISHED in London in 1971 as a

simple rock and roll themed restaurant,
Hard Rock Cafe has since gone on to
conquer the world with its exuberant
approach to the dining experience.
Famed for its hearty portions
of American cuisine (the burgers are
humongous, and delicious too), the
brand is equally celebrated for its bubbly
staff, regular live performances, a classic
rock playlist beamed live from Hard
Rock headquarters in Orlando, Florida,
and walls adorned with rare memorabilia
from some of the worlds biggest stars.
Key to Hard Rocks success in each
of its locations, of course, is its general
managers. Culinary rock stars of sorts,
theyre selected not just because they
know their way around a kitchen and a
restaurant, but also because they have a
genuine love of all things rock and roll.
Its how we strike a chord with
diners, says Roberto Pettinau, the new
General Manager of the Hard Rock Cafe
Phuket. Hard Rock Cafes are all about
high-energy service and a real love of
providing great food, great service, and
great music. And because were having a
great time, our guests do too.
Italian expat Roberto, 42, is no
stranger to the Hard Rock experience.
Twelve years ago, after travelling the
globe working at leading restaurants
in London (including the Spoon

38

TheBigChilli

Restaurant, owned by Michelin star chef

Alain Ducasse), Spain, Africa, China, and
Malaysia, Roberto joined Hard Rock Cafe
Kuala Lumpur as General Manager.
I actually owned my own company in
Kuala Lumpur importing food from Italy,
he says, But while I enjoyed what I was
doing, including learning a lot about the
F&B trade as a whole, when the opportunity
arose to work with Hard Rock Cafe, one of
the biggest franchises in the world, and one

whose concept appealed to my character, I

couldnt turn it down.
Roberto enjoyed his role in Kuala
Lumpur immensely. In fact, he liked
it so much, when he left the restaurant
to spend some time with his family in
Italy, he soon found himself yearning
for the Hard Rock life. And when the
job became available at Hard Rock Cafe
Phuket, he applied immediately, and
was ecstatic when he secured the role.
Theres a real buzz to this
particular branch, he says. Not only
is the food consistently top quality, and
our live music thoroughly entertaining,
we always have exciting plans in store.
Soon, for instance, well be introducing
flair bartending shows, more beachinspired merchandise in the Rock Shop,
and, in October, well even be rolling
out a brand new menu. So theres
always something to be excited about.
Hard Rock Cafe Phuket is located
next to the dusitD2 Resort on Ruamjai
Road, Patong Beach. Packed nightly
with tourists, locals and expats, its an
ideal venue for a party or group outing,
or simply a fun-packed meal with
family and friends.
:hardrock.com/caf es/phuket

Dining out

Guest review by

Bangkok
Beefsteak &
Burgundy

Quince Eatery and Bar

Hearty portions and full-bodied wines the hallmarks of another splendid lunch

HIS was our second visit to

Quince and, in the middle of the
European summer season, we
could only find 12 stalwarts available
to join the lunch.Notwithstanding,
(or perhaps because) we thoroughly
enjoyed the experience.
Our afternoon commenced with
an amuse bouche, Pickled shrimp
and cocktail sauce, accompanied by
Dr Loosen Riesling 2013 (Mosel Valley,
Germany).The latter was refreshing
but way too sweet for most and will only
find its way onto future wine lists as an
inexpensive dessert wine.
At the dining table we were then
served Beef broth with marrow
croutons and truffled egg, a
flavoursome soup commended by our
Food Spokesman, John Handley, though
many thought it would have been even
better served hotter. This was Johns
maiden address to the gathering which
he delivered with aplomb. Danny
Arn (our erudite Wine Spokesman)
introduced with equal panache the next
wine Gernot Heinrich Blaufrnkisch
2013, Burgenland, Austria noting a
departure from the Australian reds
which have been a mainstay for the Club
for several years.
Next came an over generous
serving of Salad of roast chicken,

bread and arugula which again met

with much approval (the moist fresh
salad earned special praise from John) as
did more Blaufrnkisch.
Pasta with a braised bacon and
roast tomato sauce (and Parmesan
cheese) came next, and this was enjoyed
alongside Zuccardi Q Malbec 2009
(Mendoza, Argentina). The latter (with
ABV of 14.8%) I found deceptive; it
earned mixed reviews from the winecritics though Danny complimented the
nose, and speculated it may have passed

its best as the winemaker suggested to

consume 2010-14. John loved the sauce
and again the heaped servings of pasta.
The Meat course (chosen
in response to the wishes of the
Club) featured Slow-cooked lamb
shoulder, potato gratin, and a green
salad.The lamb was excellent, the
potato gratin and salad very acceptable,
and all thoroughly satisfied the
throng.Pursuing the European wine
theme, Thomas Boedinger introduced
us for the first time to Markus

Schneider Tohuwabohu 2011 (60% Cab

Sauv and 40% Merlot from Pfalz, a key
wine region in western Germany).The
name is unpronounceable, the spelling
just as difficult, but the wine was very
drinkable (it had an excellent nose,
good colour, exhibited aromas of wild
berries, cherry, coffee, dark chocolate,
and again had an ABV of 14.5%) and
was Dannys pick of the day.
The Cheese course included Brie,
Camembert, and Queso manchego
(sheep milk cheese), Almonds & Figs,
and Blueberry Preserve, and was
served with Tohuwabohu, followed
by Armagnac XO generously lavished
upon us on by Andrew McDowell, long
serving member of our Club and in
celebration of his birthday.
Roy Tzemah, the Manager, was
attentive throughout and he and his
staff did an excellent job of conducting
the meal service, an event we marked
with our customary collection of
gratuities and group photograph.
Quince Eatery and Bar, Sukhumvit
Soi 45 Tel: 02 662 4478
www.quincebangkok.com

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TheBigChilli

Hot Neighbourhood

B y C h l o e Ma s o n

Suan Plu (South Sathorn)

Tired of going to the same old
restaurants in Bangkok? Suan Plu
is the new hot hood to check out
Breizh Crepes

FROM savoury to sweet, this open air

restaurant serves all kinds of delectable
French crpes. Toppings range from
salted butter caramel and fruit coulis,
to sausage and goat cheese. If you want
to try the world-famous Crpes Suzette,
then this is the perfect place to do so.
Suan Plu Soi 8, Sathorn (opposite
Mingle condominium) Open daily from
11am 11pm Tel: 02 679 33 93
www.breizh-crepes.com

Uncle John

FORGET pricey French meals served in

five-star hotels. Uncle John offers similar
fare for a fraction of the price. Now in
charge of two streetside locations on
Suan Plu Soi 8, the former hotel chef
creates Italian, Thai and Indian dishes
using high quality ingredients, with highlights such as Foie gras, Filet mignon
and Crispy duck beast. His tasty Lobster
bisque soup is a bargain at B169.
279/2 Suan Plu Soi 8. Open daily
6.30pm-10.30pm Tel: 081 373 3865

H Bar

DESIGNED by Harpers architecture,

this trendy new bar is a good option
for after work cocktails, wine or beer.
Barbecued meats and light snacks are
also available.
170/8 Soi Suan Plu. Open 5pm
12am Mon to Sat Tel: 081
815 6416
www.on.fb.me/1NCaCzu

NAGA caf & guesthouse

ENJOY delicious Thai cuisine at a reasonable price in

this quirky, psychedelic-inspired restaurant. The jovial
service staff will immediately make you feel at home.
170/6-7 Soi Suan Plu. Tel: 02 287 2059
www.facebook.com/nagacafebkk

Sumtumnaisuan

Smalls

LOCATED a couple of doors down from

Junker and Bar, this petite and funky nightlife spot is run by David Jacobson, founder
of the legendary (now closed) Q Bar.
Set over three floors, including a rooftop
terrace, Smalls is an intimate place to chill
and have late-night drinks with friends. Live
jazz music and top shelf drinks (including
a great selection of absinthe) will keep you
buzzing for the entire night, while nachos,
chicken wings, pork rillettes, cheese
platters, foie gras, and more tasty snacks
provide plenty of fuel for the fun.
186/3 Suan Plu Soi 1.Open Wed-Mon
8:30pm-2am. Live blues and jazz on Thursday and Friday Tel: 081 819 6808
www.facebook.com/smallsbkk
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TheBigChilli

LOCATED at the end of a dark alley (dont let

it put you off), this family run restaurant serves
inexpensive Thai eats, with a focus on Som Tum,
in the gardens of a budget guesthouse. Expect
charming owners and a mostly local crowd.
Mon-Fri 5pm to 11pm
(more details on the website all in Thai)

Junker and Bar

THIS neat, low-key caf-sized joint serves home-infused cocktails, local and imported craft beers,
and delicious American comfort food like burgers,
tacos, hot-dogs and more mouth-watering deep-fried
goodness. Dont expect anything fancy Junker is
small and compact with a few tables and chairs but
it has a nice homey feel. The Wagyu burger is a
must-try, although do expect it to result in a greasy
chin and fingers the patties here are always juicy.
454 Suan Plu Soi 1. Open Tue-Sun noon-midnight.
Live music Wed-Sat. Tel: 085 100 3608
www.on.fb.me/1hHDOIs

Caf
Neighbor

THIS brand new

coffee shop serves a
selection of Arabica coffees
from northern Thailand, plus Thai
teas and tasty desserts like Choc fudge
brownie, Matcha cheese cake, and waffles.
466/23 Thanon Suan Plu. Open Mon-Fri
7am-6pm; Sat and Sun 10am-6pm.

RenDez-Vous
Bistro &
Restaurant

FRENCH Chef
Jeremy whips up
traditional French
dishes like onion soup
and Bourgogne snails,
alongside tasty treats
such as Black pudding and duck confit.
There is an excellent
selection of wine from
different regions of
France, as well as
plenty of tempting
desserts. The lemon
meringue pie is to die for.
101/11 Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn
Road, Thungmahamek. Closed on
Wednesdays. Tel: 02 679 3292
www.rendez-vous-restaurant.com

Nando Kitchen

NOT to be confused with the

popular UK-based restaurant
chain, Nando serves authentic Italian street food in a
no-frills space (no air con,
and only ten tables) next to
Breizh crepes. The thin crust
pizzas are a highlight.
495/60, Suan Plu Soi 8.
Open daily 1pm-11pm Tel:
097 065 1216

Im Petra

HEAD to this popular Thai restaurant to munch on tasty homemade

dishes such as Phad Thai, lab gai,
and the restaurants popular signature dish, Spaghetti green curry a
fusion favourite.
387/5 Suan Plu Soi 8 (next to the
seed mingle condo) Open from 11am
7pm daily Tel: 093 913 0078.

Kom-Ba-Wa Japaniste

THIS modern and stylish restaurant

serves Japanese food with a modern
twist. Alongside the selections of sushi
and sashimi and imported fish, you can
enjoy premium sakes, whiskies, and wine.
39/19 Soi Suan Plu, Sathorn Road,
Thungmahamek. Tel: 02 679 3775-6 Open
daily, from 11:30am 1am.
www.kombawa.com

Buds Barbecue

Restdot
Hostel

TUCKED away
at the end of a small
street, this comfy and
cool youth hostel is a perfect
hideout for budget travelers who
are looking to explore Bangkoks busy
nightlife scene. This hostel has everything you
need: male and female dorms, double rooms,
free Wi-Fi, live entertainment, a kitchen, and
hospitable staff who speak fluent English.
67/10 Soi Suan Plu, Thungmahamek, Sathorn
(near Saladaeng BTS station). Tel: 02 004 8373

Le Isaan

THE secret back garden is just one of the

draws at this lovely Thai restaurant, whose serene candle-lit interior, and attractive outdoor
space, are both great spots for a date. The
restaurants modern, northern Thai cuisine
goes down a treat, too.
Open daily. Soi Sua Plu 8. Tel: 09 213 0169
www.facebook.com/LeIsaan

PARKED opposite Cactus, and just outside Mingle Condominium, Buds Barbecue food truck sells mouth-watering slow
cooked ribs and pulled pork, all drizzled
with a delicious homemade barbecue
sauce. The trucks Thai Thunder Burger
is also worth a try. Keep up to date with
the trucks opening hours on Facebook.
Suan Plu Soi 8 Tel: 096 159 4694 www.
on.fb.me/1P5wTr4

Cactus

GET your daily dose of Mexican food at this

popular food truck featuring tummy-filling
burritos loaded with melt-in-the-mouth slowcooked meats. The truck normally parks in
the evening outside Le Isaan, on Suan Plu 8.
Check Facebook for opening hours.
Soi Suan Plu 8. Tel: 083 0879 092
www.on.fb.me/1MYLTp2
TheBigChilli

43

Strip AD_Nok Air_Sep15.pdf

8/29/15

11:03 AM

AD_Le Bouchon_July15.pdf

Strip AD_Roadhouse_Mar15.indd 1

7/1/15

9:15 AM

2/21/15 10:42 AM

TheBigChilli

49

Strip AD_Chez Pape_Sep15.pdf

AD Bourbon St_May12.pdf 1

8/31/15

2:30 PM

5/2/12 6:46:56 PM

TheBigChilli

55

The essentials

Regular stops
Proper waterproofs
military grade in the
rainy season!
Decent panniers
(ensure they fit well
and have a waterproof
covering)
Mini hairdryer (for
damp clothes. Riding
isnt a fashion show!)
Thai dictionary/
phrasebook (or learn
some Thai in advance)
A wad of plastic bags
Quick dry riding tops
A smile for the police
(the cops outside of
Bangkok prefer photos
to fines).

And without the challenge the good parts

wouldnt taste so sweet.
Our chosen route took us north out
of Bangkok to Nakhon Sawan, and then
northeast via beautiful winding roads
through national parks to Udon Thani.
We then ventured to Nong Khai (on
the border with Laos) and followed the
Mekong all the way around the north
eastern edge of the Isaan region of
Thailand. This latter section of the trip
was a blast, taking in wildlife sanctuaries,
more national parks, Mukdahan city
(home of the Second Thai-Lao Friendship

Bridge), and a rain-forced stop off

in a weird short time hotel (think
complimentary condoms, dimmer switch,
and a giant mirror next to our beds. And
no, we didnt partake). Our last port
of call was Ubon Rachatani, where we
boarded our bikes onto the train for a 15
hour overnight trip back to Bangkok. All
this in eight days. And with a shed ton of
rain.
For the trip Simon had chosen the
naked, sporty and (Ill admit) slightly
better looking Honda CB500F, whilst
I went for the similar CB500X. A little

Why did we choose to see Thailands

north by motorcycle?
Well, motorbiking in Thailand has a
huge number of benefits. Riding affords
you the flexibility to see many parts of
the country on your own terms without
the need to wait in line for dangerous
minibuses or tag along with a tour group.
Also, fuel is incredibly cheap (especially
compared to Western Europe), and
riding into a village on the back of a bike
is a great ice-breaker for chatting to
friendly locals about where youve come
from and where youre heading next.
It can at times be hard especially
in torrential rain but the great
experiences and sense of freedom more
than make up for the difficult sections.

TheBigChilli

57

Expat

Travel

Loading the bikes onto the train

more expensive than Simons bike, this

model has a higher ride position and a
larger fuel tank, making it more suited for
adventure travel.
oth bikes performed
incredibly well during
the trip and, apart from
occasionally and foolishly
riding down wet, muddy
tracks, we had no trouble at all. Im
sure more experienced riders would
cover much further distances than we
managed, but our aim was to see what
Thailand had to offer, take our time and
en oy the sights.
Of these sights there are many to
describe and not enough ink would do
them ustice. My advice is to ust get out
there and explore!
Ensure you have a route planned but
dont make it too rigid because, as we soon
discovered, some of the best experiences
come from getting lost, or heading down
unusual looking roads on the map.
Our highlights included some
epic bridges and sweeping, windy

roads through and around Nam Nao

National Park (about 00km north east
of Nakhon Sawan) crossing swelling
rivers on Highway 1 stopping at
various viewpoints, temples and wildlife
sanctuaries viewing the dinosaur
footprints of Phu Wiang and a fantastic

Simon negotiating a puddle

58

TheBigChilli

night out at the bi arre-but-ama ing

rafik Caf in Udon Thani, whose
gregarious owners always try to have a
better time than their customers.
In Nong Khai we had a couple of
days of well-deserved rest and discovered
all kinds of delicious local delicacies to
munch on. Sitting on the banks of the
vast Mekong River, sipping a Leo, and
tucking into some steamed fish is a great
way to relax (and made up for the fact we
couldnt find the local rum distillery we
planned to visit. Let us know if you have
better luck!).
I must admit that by day eight of our
trip, we were both physically and mentally
drained, but this is when we en oyed some
of best moments of the ride the scenery
was ust ma estic, and the visual splendour
of the Sam Pan Boak canyons, and the
simply stunning cave paintings and views
at Pha Taem National Park, made for a
perfect end to the sightseeing.
In retrospect, we both could have
chosen a shorter route which would
have given us more time to reach our
various stop off points, but the distance

Toby admiring a view of the Mekong River

Where to sleep

(almost ,000km) allowed

us to really give the bikes a
good test. They performed
well, and we found some
ama ing spots which
we plan to explore more
thoroughly in the future.
I cannot recommend
highly enough the virtues
of motorbike riding in
Thailand, and urge you
to get out there and do it
yourself as long as you
have a licence, and biking
experience, of course!

FOR most of the trip we stayed at the

excellent Hop Inn chain of budget hotels,
and after a hard days ride the clean, simple
and very reasonably priced rooms that we
arrived at provided a very welcome retreat
from the trials of the road.
Owned by The Erawan roup Plc.,
Hop Inn hotels currently welcome guests
in Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Mae Sot,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Mukdahan, Lampang,
Sa Kaeo, Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Ubon
Ratchathani.
Each hotel occupies a prime location
close to business areas, shopping centres,
supermarkets and entertainment areas, and
are great value with rooms starting at ust
B550 per night.
All rooms have air-conditioning, power
shower, free WiFi,
inch flat screen T
with cable channels, refrigerator with two
complimentary bottles of water, free coffee,
-hour service, and parking with security.
For more info Tel: 02 659 2899
www.HopInnHotel.com
www.facebook.com/HopInnHotel

TheBigChilli

59

Enjoy low-cost train travel across Europe with special rail passes
Great
travel
news!

Available to expats
European rail tickets
H

ERES this years best travel news

expatriates based in Thailand can
purchase tickets from Rail Europe
giving them unlimited train travel in up to
28 European countries, representing huge
savings on normal train fares.
Sold here through Diethelm Travel
Thailand, the rail passesare a wonderful
way of exploring the great cities and
beautiful scenery of Europe from the
comfort of a modern train.
In addition to popular destinations like
Switzerland, France, Germany, UK and
Italy,passengers can enjoy the splendours
of Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal plus the
less frequently visited but equally beautiful
countries of Eastern Europe.
Rail passes are available to
expatriates who have been working
or living in Thailand for more than six
months. Thai nationals have enjoyed
access to these tickets for years.
Aside from the convenience and
reliability of some of the worlds best train

60

TheBigChilli

systems, the rail passes offer tremendous

savings and incredible value for money
compared to buying normal rail tickets in
destination countries. They are designed
to encourage overseas visitors to travel
wide and explore from one to up to 28
countries in First or Second class with
many offers for children, youth and
student travellers.
To ensure maximum flexibility,
there is a large choice of passes, from the
multi-country Eurail Global pass, the twocountry Regional pass to a single country
pass. Whats more, passengers can choose
a pass lasting from three days up to three
months with no limit on the number of
journeys made within that time frame.
Rail passes offer expats in Thailand
and Thai nationals a fantastic way to see
Europe in a very comfortable environment
and at extremely reasonable rates, says
Martyn Hedges, General Manager of
Outbound Travel for Diethelm.
Train travel is often faster, and

in Thailand
to 28 countries
certainly more convenient because
of the city-centre locations of major
stations, than going by air. So its ideal
for visiting friends and colleagues, or just
sightseeing, adds Mr Hedges.
The passes are also perfect for
business travellers planning sales visits
in several European countries, as well
as international school and university
outings, delegations from chambers of
commerce and company incentive groups.
Mr Hedges notes the huge worldwide
resurgence of interest in train travel.
People love the efficiency, comfort and
nostalgia of the great days of railway.

The cost of the Rail Passes varies

according to duration and countries to be
visited. The fare for a one-day adult France
Rail Pass is E 217, while the three-month
adult Global Pass (First Class) is E 1,567.
Diethelm Travel Thailand has been
the countrys market leader in this travel
sector since becoming the first Rail
Europe GSA (general sales agent) over
20 years ago.
Booking a rail pass can be done either
at Diethelms downtown Bangkok office,
or online viawww.diethelmrail.com.
The company has a team ofexperts
who can assist in all aspects of train travel

in Europe, including planning itineraries,

hotel recommendations and booking,
along with visa information and updates.
We believe in a quality customer
experience, whether planning a family
rail itinerary around Europe or farther
afield directly with our highly skilled
and knowledgeable rail team or buying
rail passes or point to point tickets online
in the comfort of your own home, says
Mr Hedges.
Until now, the many benefits and
advantages of rail passes have not been
well known to expats in Bangkok. Thats
all about to change.

Book now through Diethelm Travel

TheBigChilli

61

Princess Hotel is a great option. Thanks

to the hotels Family Plan, children under
the age of 12 share rooms with parents free
of charge. Theres also 50 percent discount
on the hotels buffet for kids aged 4-12,
while kids under four dine at the buffet for
free. Babysitting services are also available.

Dining
Pathumwan Princess is home to
seven outstanding restaurants that
serve a variety of cuisines, as well as a
sophisticated cocktail bar and a relaxed
caf. These include the following:
CiTi BiSTRo: Offering a choice
of buffet or a la carte dining, this
contemporary all-day-dining restaurant
serves a wide range of international
cuisine, with delicious dishes to suit
almost every taste.

dining establishment offers a

comprehensive selection of authentic
Korean delicacies, including Korean
barbecue specialities. Open daily
11.30am-2pm; 5.30pm-10pm.
Loop Italian Restaurant & Bar:
Overlooking the picturesque cityscape
and cooled by a refreshing tropical
breeze, Loop Italian Restaurant Terrace
and Bar is the ideal location to sip a glass
of wine or enjoy a refreshing cocktail.
Perched on the 8th floor adjacent to the
hotels picturesque saltwater swimming
pool, the restaurant features an authentic
Italian menu complemented by ever
attentive and courteous service staff.
Open daily 6.30am-10.30pm.

Pings Thai Teochew Seafood

Restaurant: An exceptional finedining venue with a cosy atmosphere,
this restaurant boasts an authentic and
delicious Thai Teochew menu prepared
by its outstanding Chinese chef. Known

Kongju Korean Restaurant:

Bangkoks original high-end Korean

TheBigChilli

63

Expat

Tra el

affectionately as Ah Ping, he has honed

and refined his culinary skills for more than
half a century. Open daily 11.30am-11pm.
Pings otpot Restaurant: Thailands
first luxury hotpot restaurant specializes
in rich and flavourful broths, a la carte
steamboat items, special menu sets as
well as some specialties from Pings Thai
Teochew Restaurant. Open daily 11.30am11pm.
t Lo
: A relaxing place to sit
down for afternoon tea with friends or
colleagues, this casual coffee shop also
offers a convenient takeaway service,
with a selection of freshly baked goods
and pastries as well as made-to-order
sandwiches. Open daily 6.30am-10pm.
ST
i Bar: Professional mixologists
serve up a cool selection of cocktails
from behind a stylish, semi-circular bar.
With live music on offer and gracious

service, patrons are immersed

in a sophisticated and relaxed
atmosphere day and night.
Open daily 11am-1am

ealth and tness

Pathumwan Princess Hotel
Bangkok boasts one of the
finest hotel-based fitness
centres in town, as well as
rooftop tennis courts, squash
and badminton courts, a
basketball half-court, jogging
tracks, and a superb spa
offering all kinds of stressbusting treatments.
Occupying a massive 9,000
sqm of space, The l pic
Clu
itness Centre and
is a great place to burn off
calories consumed at the hotels
all-you-can-eat buffet. Guests
and members can work
out under the guidance of
experienced, professionally trained
staff, take a dip in the 25-metre
saltwater swimming pool, and then
soak up the sun on the outdoor
terrace, whose tropical gardens and
five-star outdoor Jacuzzis create a
resort-style ambiance.
The eshelli ia ond
Treasure Spa, meanwhile, offers
an array of beauty and relaxation
treatments with an emphasis on
health. Conducted in an atmosphere
of sophisticated elegance,
experienced therapists will leave
you feeling pampered, fresh and
invigorated.

eetings and e ents

Its smooth sailing all the way for
your event at Pathumwan Princess.
Pathumwan Princess H otel, M B K Centre, 444 M B K Centre, Phayathai Rd, Wangmai, Pathumwan.

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TheBigChilli

Alongside its excellent Club Lounge and

Business Centre facilities, the hotel boasts
a ballroom that caters for up to 250 sit-down
diners, and banqueting and conference
facilities accommodating up to 150 guests.
Book an event at the hotel and you
will enjoy benefits such as Coffee and
espresso machine in the meeting room, a
selection of high quality teas, stationery
boxes inside and outside the meeting
room, professional staff on hand for the
duration of the meeting, wired and
wireless high-speed internet access,
audio/visual equipment, and laptop
(available upon request).
Couples looking to tie the knot in
style can leave their ceremony or
reception in the hands of the hotels team
of professional wedding planners, who
will ensure that, when it comes to the big
day, the results will be spectacular.
02 216 3700 :pprincess.com

Expat

Travel

MEET THE GM: HERMAN J. EHRLICH

The General Manager of Conrad Bangkok has worked with the Hilton Group for
over 30 years, serving at properties such as Hilton Nagoya, Hilton Cairns, Hilton
Guam, Hilton Nanjing, and Hilton Osaka. Here he looks back on his career and
shares some words of wisdom
I come from the the city of liberty,
freedom and tolerance Amsterdam,
the Netherlands. But I have spent many
years working overseas. Prior to joining
Conrad Bangkok I spent 10 years in
Japan, where I oversaw a multi-million
dollar renovation master plan of Hilton
Osaka, and prior to that I worked in the
tropical north of Australia for five years.
In total, Ive worked in 15 locations over
four different continents.
The move to Australia was a
strategic one. My wife and I wanted our
two daughters to have a settled school life,
and it turned out to be a great decision.
Hard to believe that our daughters are 30
and 27 now makes me feel old!
Life as a GM sure is fast paced. The
average contract for a GM position is three years, so you cant wait
to get things done. You must act immediately and, when coming
to a new country for the first time, you must be a quick learner.
My career started 40 years ago when I finished hotel
school in the Netherlands. A classmate of mine who came
from Taiwan persuaded me to visit her country, and I thought
it would be a great idea. So I sold everything I owned, bought a
ticket, and was on my way. Seven days after arriving I landed a
job at the Ritz. That was in the late 70s.
After working at the Ritz for two years I started exploring
other opportunities. And I heard a lot about the Hilton
Group. So that was it. In 1981 I made the important decision of
joining the ArmyI mean the Hilton (although there are some
similarities in the discipline department). The second important
decision I made that year getting married.
I joined Conrad Bangkok in February this year and I am
very happy to be here. This hotel has, as we say in the industry,
good bones, meaning it is solid from both an architectural and
hardware perspective. Theres also a great team in place a mix of
long-term staff and new meaning theres a great blend of ideas
that look to the future while also respecting the hotels heritage.
Oh and the food in Thailand is amazing. Even better than Japan.
What I imagine doing, what I plan to do, and what is
required of me during my time at Conrad Bangkok are three
distinctive things. But you can certainly expect to see some

improvements of our hardware, plus general

tweaks to service to ensure we continue to
be one of the citys finest luxury hotels.
While the real essence of the hotel
business providing high quality service
to our guests has never changed,
the industry has changed a lot due to
technology. For instance, we have our own
app which allows guests to make bookings
and, more importantly, access our Hilton
Honors programme. In the future, our
guests will even be able to check into
their rooms and access them without even
having to visit the front desk (although we
will always offer this service for those who
prefer it). We are in the luxury business,
we are in the people business, and we will
continue upgrading our services to suit the
needs of todays tech savvy travelers.
Working in this industr y is full of challenges but this is
what makes it interesting and fulfilling, and exactly why I do it. I
also love learning about new cultures and people.
Working in West Africa was one of the best learning
experiences I could have wished for. It taught me how to think
on my feet and be ready for any challenge. Such as when a VIP
guest asked for French Toast, and my chefs had failed to turn
up, so I went in the kitchen and cooked it myself. Luckily the
VIP enjoyed it!
My favourite motto is: Always challenge the status quo. It
has served me well throughout my career and it is a philosophy
I drive home at every team meeting. If we want to be the best
in town, we must always challenge ourselves to do better. This
helps create a great team spirit, because everybody supports
each other in this growth.
The best piece of advice Ive received is: Rules are made
for the guidance of wise men and the strict observance of fools.
And this links in nicely with my favourite motto.
I would like to have received 100 baht for every expat who
planned to stay in Thailand for three years but is still here 20 years
later. My assignment is for between two-five years, and I hope to
stay at least three. Beyond that, I let fate and destiny be my guide.
www.conradbangkok.com

TheBigChilli

65

School Report

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury congratulates
record-breaking students
SHREWSBURY International School is
celebrating the start of the new academic
year with another set of record-breaking
public examination results.
Improving further on last years
previous best results, 70% of the IGCSE
examinations taken by Shrewsbury
students achieved grade A or above (nearly
3.5 times higher than the UK average of
21.2%), with 43% scoring the highest A*
grade (versus a UK average of less than
7%), another new benchmark for the school.
Behind the headlines, eleven of our
IGCSE students achieved 10 or more A*
grades, with top performers Pavitchaya
(Pearl) Yodwongjane and Chonlada
(Namfon) Trirotanan both scoring 12
A*s. They head a list of 35 students
(nearly one third of the entire IGCSE year

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TheBigChilli

group) to secure seven or more A*s, an

achievement which the school celebrates
by awarding an honorary academic
scholarship for those continuing their
studies in Shrewsburys renowned Sixth
Form programme.
There they will look to emulate the
impressive A-level achievements of our
graduating Class of 2015, who in turn
secured an A grade or above in 57% of
exams; an incredible 26% passing with the
top A* grade, more than three times the
UK national average.
Leading by example, Head Boy
Patsakorn (Vegas) Lertprasertkul was
awarded four straight A* grades and
now begins his undergraduate studies
in Physics as a Freeman Scholar at the
University of Chicago.

Also heading to the US with

straight A* grades are Sippawaich
(Jazz) Laosirichon (UCLA, Financial
Mathematics) and economists Monnawat
(Book) Krasaesian and Thanatchaporn
(Mind) Apivessa, who will study at the Ivy
Leagues Brown and Cornell Universities
respectively.
Meanwhile top athlete Alex Taylor
clocked four straight A*s, adding to his
12 A*s at GCSE. He begins a degree in
Aerospace Engineering at the University
of Bath this September, and is one of
nearly 40 Class of 2015 graduates to have
secured places at top UK universities,
including 15 places at Oxbridge and top
London institutions Imperial College,
UCL, LSE and Kings College.
In total, Shrewsburys Class of
2015 now head to around 25 leading
universities in the UK, US, Japan,
Australia and Thailand, including
36 places at World Top 100 ranked
institutions UPenn, Berkeley, Michigan,
Chicago, Washington, Manchester,
Edinburgh, Bristol and Durham. The
list of destinations is another significant
endorsement of Shrewsburys Sixth
Form programme, which combines
the focused academic rigour of A-level
studies with the holistic, critical-thinking
course, Reading the World; an approach
which is respected and valued by leading
universities around the world.
Whilst we see a large number of
students embarking on the traditionally
popular engineering, economics and
medical disciplines at university, we are
also equally delighted to have helped
nurture and support students who
are now pursuing vocational career
paths outside Higher Education. This
includes Jitrin (Teddy) Soongswan, one
of Shrewsburys founding students, who
flies to the UK to fulfill his dream of
becoming an airline pilot at the Oxford
Aviation Academy. Congratulations to him
and all of our record-breaking students.

School Report

Traill

Career guidance
A practical approach
How Traill international school prepares its
students for future success in the workplace
ONE of the key challenges in a market
oriented economic system is to find the
ways to match demand to the supply.
Review any labour market report and
youll likely discover a mismatch between
various skill sets and demand for their
services. Such discrepancies can lead to
either reduced job benefits or exploitation
of the work force.
Schools can help redress the
balance, though, because we are in a key
position to influence the supply. It is our
responsibility to produce employable
students; and appropriate guidance is key.
Schools are increasingly realizing
that young people are not only in need
of excellent education, but also current
information that spans everything from
health issues to career opportunities. And
this all comes part and parcel of a wellstructured career guidance programme.

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TheBigChilli

While many schools do offer career

guidance programmes, at Traill we
go one step further by taking career
guidance beyond the classroom and
integrating it with the real world.
One of our approaches includes
arranging guest speakers and workshops
with professionals from all areas of
industry and commerce. This not
only gives students the opportunity to
understand the actual requirements of
a particular job, such as qualifications,
personality, etc. but also the real
challenges involved.
One of the invaluable spin-offs of
having guest lectures is that they often
lead to further collaboration, including
work placements, which are so valuable
for young people. Work placement
programmes usually range from three to
four weeks during winter and/or summer

holidays, where interested students will

be placed in different organisations.
This not only enhances students real
understanding but also helps them to
secure admissions in reputed colleges/
universities.
Many people waste years of their
lives juggling various jobs before finding
an occupation that actually suits them.
At Traill, our approach ensures students
gain all the knowledge and experience
they need to make informed decisions
about their futures, ultimately setting
them up for successful careers to come.

Mr. Praveen Kumar

D, Career Counselor
and Economics
Teacher

School Report

Harrow

Harrow Bangkok:
A Stars All Round
Impressive grades and top university placements
are the hallmarks of a quality education
HARROW International School Bangkok
is once again celebrating an impressive
set of A Level results. An incredible total
of 139 Harrow Bangkok students took 340
examinations across 22 subjects.
Behind the statistics are many
individual successstories,including that

80

TheBigChilli

of Ani Khanra, who achieved four A*/A

passes. He will now take up a place at
BIT in Mesra, India to read Mechanical
Engineering.Ply Fah Meekul also achieved
four A*/A passes and will now take up a
place at University College London to read
Biomedical Engineering.In addition, Sand
Vamasiri achieved three
A*/A passes and will now
take up a place at Kings
College London to read
Law, and Vanessa Cannon
will take up her place at
University of California,
Berkeley as a Science
Major.
Mathematics students
also performed particularly
well of the 112 who
took the exam 60 percent
achieved an A* or A grade.

Those gaining an A* grade included

Head Girl Pat Yontrarak, who will now take
up a place at Stanford University to read
Biology; and Oak Bunyapamai, who will
now take up a place at University College
London reading Mechanical Engineering.
With more results still to come,
some of our IGCSE students have already
excelled,turning their A*-As in to Harrow
Bangkok scholarship places in the Sixth
Form.
Harrow Bangkok would like to
wish all our students well in their future
endeavours and is extremely
proud of their outstanding
achievements.
By David Foster,
Director of Studies
www.harrowschool.ac.th

Expat Women

Health

How to follow the

Mediterranean Diet

Following the traditional dietary patterns of Greece, Southern

Italy and Spain can have great benefits for your body and mind.
Nutrition Consultant Judith Coulson explains
THE Mediterranean Diet offers a
variety of whole food dishes which make
you feel less hungry during the day,
supply you with a range of antioxidants,
phytochemicals and cell rejuvenating
vitamins and minerals, and even allows
you to have a glass of wine with your meal.
Listed here are tips on how to eat the
Mediterranean way.

No calorie counting!

With the Mediterranean diet, you wont

be counting calories or cutting out
major food groups. Instead, youll be
swapping out bad fats for heart-healthy
ones (olive oil instead of butter; fish or
poultry instead of red
meat), enjoy fresh
fruits instead of sugary,
fancy desserts and
eat a good amount of
flavourful veggies and
beans. Nuts and seeds
are allowed, but keep
them to no more than a
handful a day.

84

TheBigChilli

Buy really fresh food

Focus on fresh, seasonal food prepared

in simple, mouth-watering ways. Thailand
offers many local, pesticide free, produce
with a minimum on transportation and
storage time. Mix a yummy salad or stir
fry veggies so that they are still crunchy.
Choose at least three different colours of
veggies for every single meal. Example:
Use spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, and
onions for a Greek Salad or whip up a
colourful, veggie-filled batch ofGrilled
Tomato Gazpacho.

You can have bread (in

moderation)

Choose whole grains

for every dish. Bread
and pasta made
with whole grains
has more protein
and minerals and is
generally healthier
than the white flour
kind. The whole grain,
low GI version, will

keep your blood glucose levels balanced

for longer and you will feel less hungry.
Try whole-grain pita bread dipped in olive
oil, hummus, or tahini (a protein-rich paste
made from ground sesame seeds).

Enjoy the healthy fats

Unsaturated fat, the kind thats good for

your heart and overall health, is a staple
of the Mediterranean diet. What is good
fat? Youll find it in nuts, seeds, olives,
avocados and cold pressed oil like extra
virgin olive oil. These fats not only add
flavour, they also help fight diseases
ranging from diabetes to cancer. Basic
Basil Pesto is a tasty way to get good-fat
walnuts and olive oil into your diet and
goes well with any pasta or can be mixed
with salad sauce.

contemporary indian dining

#71 Sukhumvit Soi 26. | Tel. 02-258-4900 | www.indusbangkok.com | indus@indusbangkok.com

Y O U R U L T I M A T E
W H A T S O N G U I D E
F O R S E P T E M B E R 1 5

Whats on
Art

Performance

Sport

Football

Movies & Albums

Books
Maroon 5 brings its
chart-topping tunes to
Bangkok. Page 89.

Muse

Enjoy operatic space

rock from the award
winning British band
Page 88

Musical

Discover the fascinating

story of Siamese twins
Chang and Eng Bunker
Page 88

Dance fest

Bangkoks International
Festival of Dance &
Music returns
Page 89Page 84
TheBigChilli 87

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TheBigChilli 91

Pulse
City beat

In the spotlight

Concerts in September
at Prince Mahidol Hall
Thailand Philharmonic Orchestras (TPO)
music program in September features
the following concerts at its wonderful
new venue in Nakhon Pathom

September 4 5

Maestro Stravinsky

THE Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO), under the baton of

principal conductor Claude Villaret of Switzerland, presents Stravinskys
astonishingly inventive work Petrouchka, a Rachmaninoff piano concerto,
featuring Thai pianist Poom Prommachart, as well as the premiere of a new
work, Brilliance and Beauty, by composer in residence, Dr Thomas Hyuk Cha.
Concerts: Friday, September 4 at 7pm (pre-concert talk at 6.15pm); Saturday, September 5 at 4pm
(pre-concert talk 3.15pm)

September 18 19

TPO 10th Anniversary Concert

THE TPO, under the baton of Chief Conductor Gudni

Emilsson, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in fitting
fashion with a special concert featuring pianist Martin
Kasik, who, together with the orchestra, will perform
Frederic Chopins Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor,
September 11 12
Richard Wagners Tannhauser Overture, and Richard
Beethovens 7th Symphony
Strausss Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche.
ONE of Beethovens all-time favourites, the Seventh Symphony is grand,
As a soloist, Martin Kasik has appeared with the
majestic, and relentlessly cheerful. It seems like the symphony wants to
Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, Minneapolis Symphony
invite you to dance to it at nearly every moment, even in its most somber
Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin,
minute.
And its not the only highlight of this special concert: Joining the TPO, Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker,
under the baton of Chief Conductor Gudni A. Emilsson, will be guest flute Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki
soloist, Luisa Sello, who will perform famous French flute works, including Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others.
Concerts: Friday, September 18 at 7pm (pre-concert talk at 6.15pm); Saturday,
Camille Saint Saens Romance Op.37 and Cecile Chaminades Concertino
September 19 at 4pm (pre-concert talk 3.15pm)
Op.107.
Luisa Sello is one of the surprising personalities of
The details
contemporary art, an elegant flautist and one of the most applauded
Tickets: B500 and B300 (B100 for students up to bachelors degree)
Ticket reservations: 02 849-6565/6 ext. 6603, 6609 or 02 262 3456
interpreters of cultured music. She has performed throughout
www.thaiticketmajor.com/concert/thailand-philharmonic-orchestra-2015-th.html
Europe, the United States, South America, Russia, and Asia.
Concerts: Friday, September 11 at 7pm (pre-concert talk at 6.15pm); Saturday, September 12 at
4pm (pre-concert talk 3.15pm)

92

TheBigChilli

Salaya Link shuttle bus schedule (Bangwa-Salaya): www.music.mahidol.ac.th/salayalink

More info: www.thailandphil.com

fact, we attract at least 50 new people to Bangkok Swing events

every week.
What makes Swing dance special?
Swing kicked off in the 1920s Jazz Age as a kind of
rebellious dance popular at speakeasies. One of the most
famous was the Savoy, in Harlem, where blacks and whites
could hug, dance and have a good time without fear of being
arrested. Basically, Swing dance transcends boundaries
through music and dance. Even in Bangkok, about half of
the people who join are expats and the other half is local. We
attract about 10 nationalities to each Bangkok Swing night.
What are some of the basics?
In Swing there are a couple of styles we do Lindy Hop
and the Charleston. Its all social dancing. Its a lead and follow
rule. If the guy knows how to lead and the girl knows how to
follow, then there is a connection and you can dance to the
music. After you dance to one song you rotate partners. You
can dance with anyone you fancy! Or anyone whos smiling!

Do you hold special events at The Hop?

We normally host special events once a month. These are
themed parties like Alice in Wonderland or Halloween, and the
last one was a Gangsters and Gun Molls party. This time, we
decided to go all out and arrange Digadigadoo, a big event in
Bangkoks Chinatown.
Tell us more about Digadigadoo
The Digadigadoo event will be hosted in the exotic
Shanghai Mansion boutique hotel on Yaowaraj Road
(shanghaimansion.com). It will be a 1930s-inspired evening of
mingling and dancing (everyone will be expected to dress to
match the theme) headlined by burlesque champion Sharon
M. Davis, all-star swing dancers and fashion gurus Rico Lim
and Chloe Hong, world-class dancer Lindy Hopper Juan
Villafane, and renowned tap dancer Tim Fournier.
The spectacular night will kick off with an introductory
Swing class for beginners followed by live dance performances
and social dancing accompanied by the The Speakeasies,
a seven-piece band from Greece. The event will finish with
Electronic Dance Swing music performed by DJ Frederik
Funk. The Three Brothers Barber will also have a stall at the
event, just in case you need to get a trim.
Tickets are being sold online, starting at 900 baht.
Drinks and finger food will be ser ved at the bar.
Read the full interview with Khun Oat at thebigchilli.com
For more info about Bangkok Swing and its events see www.
bangkokswing.com digadigadoobkk.com / More info about The
Hop at www.thehopbangkok.com
Strip AD_Destination_July14_M4.indd 1

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TheBigChilli 97

Social|Last Months Best Events

SUPERFLOW
MAKES A SPLASH

SUPERFLOW City Beach Club, Khaosan

Road, celebrated its soft opening with a
party showcasing everything this funky new
venue has to offer. Keep up to date with
upcoming events at
superflowbeachclub.com.

BBQ FUN AT
PHUKET PANWA

PHUKET Panwa Beachfront Resort invited

media and VIP guests to enjoy a Thai and
Italian barbecue buffet at its Patio beachfront restaurant. Special guest on the night
was Khun Kob - Thitipong Lorprasert.

108

TheBigChilli

Social|Last Months Best Events

CANUCK CONNECTIONS
AT THE DRUNKEN
LEPRECHAUN

ha a a a hamber o ommerce hel

he u us e o o s mo hl e wor
h
a he ru e eprechau r sh ub u hum
o . he ew pub has all
s o emp
eals
o o er. ea all abou hem here
aceboo .com ru e eprechau

CELEBRITY COOK-OFF
AT ZAMBRERO

MEXICAN restaurant chain Zambrero

celebra e s rs a
ersar
ha la
w h a a o u ra s
u a s bra ch
e ral orl . he h hl h o he e e
was a celebr burr o coo o cappe
w h a char auc o wh ch whe com
b e w h he a s sales ra se a o al o
bah or orl
s o o ha la .

112

TheBigChilli

Social|Around town

PEPPERMINT
BIKE PARK OPENS
WITH CELEBRITY
BIKE RIDE

PEPPERMINT Bike Park, a new

mountain biking track and activity area
set over 10 rai on Soi Yothin Pattana
3, Eakkamai-Ramintra Road, celebrated its grand opening with a celebrity
b e r e a e e b . . hulara sr u ala . . a s hor
Bhanubandh, Atchara Burarak, and
more b ames. rea e b uwa a
amp ul h e
ecu e
cer
o er ram hem cal
o.
. he pro ucer a
s r bu er o
Peppermint Field natural gel and balm
stick, the new Bike Park offers annual
membersh p a
. a b e ra es
start at B100 for members, and night
ra es a
or members.
For more info visit
www.facebook.com/PeppermintBikePark

APCWL
LIFESTYLE EXPO
ANNOUNCED

s a ac c
ar
u ur
es le po
was o c all a ou ce
a a ress o ere ce. he e e
which will be held at Royal Phuket
ar a rom c ober
s
be or a e b he a hor
es me
roup. lle as a
major luxury goods networking
opportunity attracting the crme
de la crme of Asia, it is dedicated
to offering a premier sourcing
channel across many luxury
product categories, including:
c ars accessor es e w es
ca er
res aura s
e cu s e
whisky, spirits and premium
beers, coffee, watches, jewelry and
collectables, prestige cars & bikes,
lu ur proper a more.
For more info visit www.apcwl.com
hs

CAFDIRECT INTRODUCES
MACHU PICCHU COFFEE RANGE

ma a eme o a rec le b r ul a ur ham rec or

o ales hos e a me a br e
o showcase he ph losoph a u ue
bus ess mo el beh
he a e rec bra
ow
er a o all or s
e or s o mpro e he l el hoo o small rowers
e elop cou r es.
At the event, which took place at Signor Sassi Bangkok at Siam Paragon,
the complete Machu Picchu coffee range, all 100% Arabica terroir coffee
rom eru was also ro uce o he ea er crow . was accompa e b
a co ee cupp a
esser pa r
our e lea b s oa a awso a
cer e
ra e o ee as er upper a
he compa s procureme
a
ual ma a er.

rs
a

TAT PRESENTS AWARDS

TO WINNERS OF ONE AND ONLY

MS Jutaporn Ruengronasa, Deputy Governor and acting Governor, Tourism

Authority of Thailand (TAT), presided over the One and Only Exclusive Night
o prese awar s o he al s s o he
ea
l o l e compe o . el
under the TATs Discover Thainess project, at The Dusit Thani Bangkok, One
a
l saw par c pa s subm a cl p o hemsel es e o
o eo
e ha
ac
es clu
ha a c
a
floral arla s ha coo
pea ha a
ua ha . he hree al s s clu e eams rom
apore
ola a
elarus whose eos are ow a her
o es o l e. he w
eam w ll rece e a spec al awar rom
.
TheBigChilli 113

Social|Last
Around
Months
town Best Events

EXECUTIVES
NETWORKING
NIGHT

es a e es me s a mob l
solu o s be e c al o bo h
uals and businesses, were the focus of
ar e aw roup ha la s la es
networking function, The Executives
es me
ob l
h . os e
by Mr Bastien Trelcat, Managing Parter o ar e aw roup ha la
assoc a o w h a l a roper
Developers, the event was attended by
Mr Simos Simillides, Sales Director of
a l a as well as ma e ecu es a
oo place a he h loor o he
a o lub a hor
ower
ul
.

BOYZ II MEN
SLEEP IN STYLE

croo ers o
Men capped their one-night only
performance in Bangkok last month
by staying at the Pathumwan Princess
o el. a members haw oc ma
Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris were
warmly welcomed to the hotel by its
e eral ma a er r a h eu e au .
114

TheBigChilli

DIPLOMATS
Meet the people uniting nations

His Excellency Mr Brendan Rogers

The first resident Ambassador of Ireland to the
Kingdom of Thailand talks about his career
Page 116

TheBigChilli 115

Diplomats

His Excellency Mr Brendan Rogers|Ireland

Words MAXMILIAN WECHSLER

Portrait photographs JARAN LAKKANAWAT

So proud of my country:
Irelands first Ambassador
to Thailand

THE BigChillicaught up with His Excellency Brendan Rogers, the first resident Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom
of Thailand, at the residence he shares with his partner, Miss
Kevin Doris Ejon, an internationally respected investigative
radio and television journalist who recently won an award for
a documentary film on war in Uganda, her home country.This
month the Irish delegation moved into a new embassy at the
208 Wireless Road office complex,right beside the Dutch
Embassy.

I was born in Ireland, in a town called Dundalk in Louth

County, which is the smallest of the 32 counties in Ireland,
said Mr Rogers at the start of the interview. It is also called the
Wee County. Dundalk is about 50 miles north of Dublin and it
straddles the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

When I was in my teenage years and mid to late 20s the

conflict in the North was raging, so in a sense it formed the
background of my life. I am delighted that this has now been
settled in a peaceful way.

I stayed in Dundalk for 17 years and then left for Dublin

to study at Trinity College at the University of Dublin for four
years. I earned Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English,
History and Geography. After I graduated I went to England
for a few months doing building construction, but I soon tired
of that and returned to Ireland and joined the civil service. I
worked two yearsfor the Department of Agriculture and then
took the diplomatic exams and joined the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), later renamed the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade.

Foreign service seemed very natural to me because I

had always liked travelling and experiencing new and different
cultures and societies. During college breaks I travelled and
worked in the United States. I worked in New Yorks Kennedy
Airport as a security guard and took a job in the worlds largest
toy store. I also used the opportunity to travel within the US and
ended up bartending in San Francisco.

I had a great interest in international relations, exploring

the similarities and differences between cultures and in exploring the world generally, so joining the diplomatic service was a
great opportunity for me. I spent the first three years in the diplomatic service at headquarters in Dublin. My first assignment
was with Irelands European Union Division, and then for one
year my work involved relations between Britain and Ireland,
particularly security aspects.

Then I went on my first posting overseas, to Boston,

Massachusetts, where I spent four years as Vice-Consul at Ire-

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TheBigChilli

lands Consulate in that great Irish American city. While there I

attended Boston University and obtained a Masters Degree in
International Relations and Political Science. I also studied Gaelic (the original Irish language) part-time at Harvard University
in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

We have two official languages in Ireland, Irish (Gaelic)

and English. Now English is mostly spoken. Gaelic is very different from English. There are certain parts of Ireland where it
is still spoken predominantly, like in Kerry County in the south
west and some parts of the west. I was taught through Irish at
secondary school and I am delighted that in my early life I was
able to converse in both languages.

After my time in Boston I returned to Dublin, but after

just six months I was back on the road with the United Nations
Development Program. They sent me to New York and then
to Lusaka, Zambia. I worked two and a half years for the UN in
Zambia and then returned to Dublin to work on the Asia portfolio. It was during this time that I first learned about the rich
culture of this region and about the political economy of South
East Asia and beyond.

After two years it was back to Africa and I was appointed

the Head of the Irish Embassy in Zambia, southern Africa. I was
based in the capital city, Lusaka, for seven years until 1998, supervising the development aid programme and looking after the
Irish community, which included a large number of missionaries. I was then requested to go to Uganda to take charge of our
new embassy there. I was Head of Mission in Uganda for two
years.

After I came back to Dublin I was promoted relatively

rapidly. I was chief of our emergency and recovery aid operations. In December 2004 when the tsunami hit I immediately left
for the region and I spent some time in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and
in Phuket, here in Thailand, to assist with the recovery efforts
in the wake the tragedy. This was my first substantive visit to
Thailand. I must pay tribute to the enormous efforts of the
authorities and the Thai people in the wake of the tsunami.

Despite the enormous loss of Thai lives, so much was

done to assist the many nationalities who lost citizens at that
time. I was deeply honored to attend the ten year commemoration last December for those who died in the tsunami.

I was appointed Director General of the Irish Aid program

and Deputy Secretary-General, or number two, at the DFA in
2007. Last November I came to Thailand as the first resident
Irish ambassador to Thailand, and from later this year I will also
be ambassador to Myanmar.My term here will most likely be
four years, but thats up to the government.

TheBigChilli 117

Diplomats

His Excellency Mr Brendan Rogers|Ireland

St. Patrick's Day celebrations

Charles County, Cork

Trinity College

Ambassador Rogers first major function after arriving in

Thailand was to attend the celebrations of His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadejs birthday in early December last year.
Later, in March of this year, we had a wonderful celebration
at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we honored 40
years of strong diplomatic relations between our two countries.

We are very proud that people will soon see the Irish
flag flying on Wireless Road, said Ambassador Rogers. [The
interview took place before the move]. We will initially have
six staff working at the embassy, two from Ireland, myself and
the Deputy of the Mission, and four local staff handling various
matters.

Before I came here our ambassador in Malaysia also

looked after Thailand. We have two honorary consuls in Thailand, Gary Biesty and Helene Fallon-Wood. Gary is in Bangkok
and Helene in Phuket. For many years they have been doing an
excellent job looking after our citizens and I am very proud of
and I pay tribute their work.

Asked why it took so long for Ireland to establish an embassy in Thailand, Ambassador Rogers replied: I suppose because
we are a small nation, and we have been building and extending
our diplomatic network for many years. It was time to extend
our representation in Asia and the Irish government decided
that Thailand was a key country in which to have a presence.

We now have approximately 80 missions around the world.

118

TheBigChilli

We have also just

opened a new embassy
in Indonesia and a consulate in Hong Kong.
Ireland is recognizing the importance
of Asia in terms of its
economic strength
and political influence
globally. Ireland is a
small nation open to the
The national sport of Hurling
world. Our well-being
is based on our global
economic and trade
relations. We feel that the time is now opportune to establish
resident diplomatic relations here and we are hopeful that Thailand will soon open an embassy in Ireland.

Diplomatic objectives

The very first thing we want to achieve is to build a stronger

profile of Ireland in Thailand. Not too many Thais know much
about my country. Funnily enough, people sometimes ask me

Wexford Harbour

Fanad Lighthouse

Above: The
Royal Visit of
HRH Princess
Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn
to Ireland in
September 2014

if I am the ambassador from Iceland! What I want to do is make

sure the Thai people are aware of our culture, our history and
the opportunities which exist to grow the trade and economic
linkages between our countries.

Despite the recent economic downturn, Ireland now has

the fastest growing economy in the EU for the second year in
a row. Ireland is a good destination for Thai investment and
Ireland can provide the goods and services that Thailand needs.
Strong economic ties will benefit both countries.
On the other hand, Irish people are very well aware of
Thailand, very well aware of the wonderful food of Thailand
and very well aware of the fantastic tourist destinations within
Thailand. We have 70,000 Irish tourists visiting every year and
having wonderful holidays. We want just as many Thais coming
to visit Ireland. The number of Thais visiting Ireland yearly now
is in the hundreds.

Our visa regime with Britain now means that Thais visiting
Britain on tourist visits can extend their visits to Ireland without
an additional visa.

We have some of the most beautiful countryside in the

world. The coastline is beyond compare and we have some of the
most wonderful golf courses in the world, and also some of the
best castles and hotels. Most important of all are the warmth and
welcome of the Irish people. We love singing, dancing, conversing and having a good time. We are ready to welcome millions of
tourists to our country. This year we will probably welcome over
eight million visitors, the largest number ever.

Ambassadors duties

I split my duties into a number of different areas. Firstly, one of

my principal aims is to build economic relations between Thailand and Ireland, and increase our trade. At present it is about
500 million euros in both directions. We export pharmaceuticals, software, computer and high value goods and we import
foodstuffs, canned food, rice and occasionally some machinery.
The Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce, ably led by its President Paul Scales, is of enormous assistance and support in this

important work. We are hoping to organize a Thailand Board of

Trade visit to Ireland.

Secondly, we want to build the cultural and educational

ties between our two countries, and this includes increasing the
number of Thai students studying in Ireland. Thailand and Ireland are very rich in cultural traditions music, songs, dance,
folklore and literature and I want us to share these riches.

Thirdly, I want to build good political relations. We already

have a good dialog with the government. We have shared interests and good, free and frank exchanges as well. Since I arrived
my government has signed an international education memorandum of understanding with Thailand.

Finally, I also want to make sure that I am able to protect

and look after the interests of Irish people living and visiting
in Thailand, to ensure that we can provide consular services,
citizenship services, passports, visas and all the help people
may need if they get into trouble. Having the embassy here will
ensure faster service.

When you have thousands of tourists travelling to a

country every year, its to be expected that some individuals will
have difficultieslose their passport, have an accident and so on.
We want to ensure that we can quickly protect their interests,
look after them and connect them with their families at home.

On a more personal level, one of my main objectives is to

get to know Thailand as well as I can. Just as Dublin is not Ireland, Bangkok is not Thailand. I want to travel all over the country with my partner. We have been to Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Phuket and Petchaburi. We plan to spend a lot of time getting
out and about, meeting ordinary people as well as officials. I see
my job as representing Ireland in Thailand, not just in Bangkok.
When I lived in Africa and America I travelled all over, and thats
what I want to do here.

I was delighted by the welcome I received when I arrived

in November, not just officially but also by the people. Since
coming I have had a very good relationship with the authorities,
and I think they are very happy with the establishment of the
new embassy. It is a very tangible sign of the deepening friendship between our two countries.
On the subject of high-level visits, ambassador Rogers
said: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Ireland
in September of last year before I took up my post here. I had
the honor of meeting her and welcoming her at the airport in
Dublin. I also had the honor of accompanying her on a visit to
Trinity College in Dublin and saying goodbye at the airport.
We had a good discussion about my coming to Thailand. Since
I came here there have been a number of official visits on both
sides, but none as important as this one.

TheBigChilli 119

Diplomats

His Excellency Mr Brendan Rogers|Ireland

Development aid

Sports exchange

Mr Rogers said he takes great pride in Irelands development aid

The ambassador said the embassy is promoting Irish sports in
program, which he headed before taking up his post as ambasThailand. Gaelic football is our national sport. It is a cross besador. We are spending up to one billion euros a year in some
tween rugby and soccer. Theres also hurling, which is played
of the poorest countries of the world. The Irish people have very
with a stick and ball and is one of the fastest and most skillful
generous side to them. We have a folk memory of hunger and
games in the world. Then theres camogie, which is a form
poverty. We lost millions of people due to starvation and emigraof womens hurling. These games are exciting to watch and
tion caused by the Great Famine of 1847. I am very proud that as
attract millions of fans in Ireland and now they have expanded
we grew wealthier we didnt forget our roots. Thats why we have
into Asia. We have Gaelic womens and mens football teams in
a major aid program in Africa and also in Asia.
Thailand. The teams will compete in the Asian Gaelic Games in

When I was here in 2004 after the tsunami, I was delighted

October in Shanghai. The womens team has Thai, American
that we were able to assist the
and Irish players and the mens
Thai government in the recovteam has some Thai and mostly
ery efforts. I was very proud
Irish players.
of our work to assist Thailand

Its a wonderful game. Now

in the recovery efforts and
we have a wonderful Thai ladies
in rebuilding livelihoods.
Gaelic football team and a good
We raised 20 million euros
mens team. I was very fortunate
for Thailand, Sri Lanka and
to be on hand in May at the South
Indonesia, and we assisted in
Asian Games which were held in
the recovery efforts for three
Thailand at Harrow International
or four months. Our headquarSchool. I presented the prizes. Its
ters were in Phuket. It was a
great for Ireland and it makes us
very sad and dramatic time. We
proud that our sport is expanding
sadly lost four of our citizens in
all over the world.
the tsunami. Of course many

About Ireland
nations, including Thailand,

suffered greater losses.

The population of the Republic

I was in Khao Lak in

of Ireland is about five million.
December last year attending
We are a small country. We have
the ceremony on the 10thantransformed ourselves from being
niversary of the tragedy. Many
one of the poorest countries in EU
people who lost family members
to one of the wealthiest. Thats a
came to Thailand to attend, and
result of opening our economy to
some of them had been here
the world, focusing on education
when the tsunami struck. It was
for our people, building our tourist
very moving. I felt saddened but
Mr Rogers with his partner, Miss Kevin Doris Ejon
market, concentrating on our
also proud to have been a part
comparative advantages such as
of the relief effort.
IT, food exports and attracting foreign direct investment. We are a

The embassy assists a number of charitable organizations

trading nation and we trade very successfully. We are very proud of
in Thailand. We have been working with the Good Shepherd
our economic progress over the past 50 years.
Sisters in Din Daeng and with Father Joseph Maier at the

Today there is Ireland, of which I am the Ambassador,

Mercy Centre in Klong Toey. We are going to work with Good
and there is Northern Ireland which is under the jurisdiction of
Shepherd Sisters in Chiang Rai and in Phuket with an organizaBritain, said Mr Rogers, in an attempt to describe briefly the
tion called Life Home Project. They work with people who are
somewhat complicated situation on the Irish Isle.
HIV positive. We are happy to assist them with projects.

Ireland became an independent state in 1922 after a

Good Shepherd Sisters is an order of nuns with Irish

prolonged period of conflict with Britain. Northern Ireland,
members. There are not so many now but they do great work.
comprising six counties in the north of the country remained
They are in Bangkok at Fatima Centre in Din Daeng and in
part of the United Kingdom. Loyalties in Northern Ireland
Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Recently I presented the
remained divided between those who whose allegiance was to
Sisters at Fattima Centre with a cheque for 200,000 baht from
Britain (unionists) and those who looked south to Dublin (nathe embassy to work with vulnerable women and girls in Din
tionalists). A new struggle erupted in the late 1960s based on
Daeng.
demands by nationalists for civil rights. This struggle became

We also gave 200,000 baht to Father Maier and we will

very violent and sadly over 3,000 people lost their lives over 30
give the same amount to several other charitable organizations,
years. Finally in 1998 a historical peace accord known as the
including the Father Ray Foundation in Pattaya. We want to
GoodFridayAgreement was signed.
assist and be a part of the fabric of the society here.

T
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TheBigChilli


This agreement, painstakingly negotiated by the British
and Irish governments, and endorsed by the people themselves
in a referendum, brought the conflict to an end. Britain retains
sovereignty for six of the thirty counties on the island and the
government in Northern Ireland is a power-sharing one which
represents all sides of the community. Our shared interest in
Northern Ireland is in creating the conditions for the prosperity
and wellbeing of all the people in a peaceful and democratic
environment, which respects the rights of all.

The Republic of Ireland now has a very strong, friendly

and warm relationship with Britain and we welcomed Queen
Elizabeth to our country in 2011 for what was an historical and
popular visit. In return our President, Michael D. Higgins, was
accorded the highest honors during his state visit to Britain in
2014. I think it is fair to say that our relations with Britain have
never been better.

Economic turnaround

The Irish economy took a little hammering in 2008 because of

the global downturn as well as our own banking and property
crisis. But we very quickly took the right decisions to reform, to
cut back where necessary and to re-engineer our economy for
the future. In the last 18 months, the Irish economy has begun
to move forward very quickly again.

Theres a lot of investment coming into the country and

the economy will grow more than four percent this year. It was
over four percent last year. Our unemployment is going down,
albeit not as quickly as we would like and we are opening to the
world again.

We have learned from our mistakes, but it should be

understood that over the last 50 years we have gotten a lot of
things right. We have moved from an economy which was closed,
protected, agriculturally based and poor, to one which is economically and technically advanced providing a standard of living
which would not have been conceivable two generations ago.

Ireland and the EU

We joined the EU in 1973 with Britain and Denmark. It was a

major change for us to become a full member of the European
family of nations. At the time we joined there were 12 member
states; now there are 28. It has been very good experience for
us as a whole and at the same time we have exerted a positive
influence within the EU.

When we joined we were one of the poorest countries in the

EU, or the European Economic Community as it was called then.
We were in the bottom 25 percent of EU nations in terms of wealth,
and within 30 years we were one of the rich countries within the
EU. We believe there are many reasons for this turnaround, but
certainly one is that we were welcomed into the EU framework.

Membership in the EU opened up new markets for us and

made assistance available to build our infrastructure and help our
agriculture. This all helped give us the opportunity to leverage our
natural talents and focus on educational and industrial policies. We
have attracted enormous foreign direct investment from the United
States and the rest of Europe and this is due in part to our affiliation with the EU. We have benefited enormously from the EU. It is
better to be a part of a family than to be on your own.

Irish diaspora

There is a huge Irish diaspora. We think there are probably

almost 70 million people of Irish descent living abroad, including about forty million in the US and five million in Canada.
Probably nine million people in Britain have Irish ancestry, and
there are about 400,000 in Asia. We reckon that between 3,000
to 5,000 Irish nationals living in Thailand including a number of
Irish people who live here for several months each year.

The Irish diaspora includes a great many famous people.

For example, the grandparents of John F. Kennedy came from
Country Wexford. President Obama has Irish ancestors on his
mothers side. The ancestors of former President Reagan came
from County Tipperary in Ireland as well.

There are also a great many Irish natives of note, including

James Joyce, the famous writer; Samuel Beckett, an avant-garde novelist; W.B. Yeats, the famous poet; Maureen OHara, an
Irish-American actress; famous footballers like Roy Keane; and
musicians in the groups U2, Westlife and Boyzone. The list goes
on and on.

Personal space

I love films, reading books and running. I have run the New
York, Dublin and Boston marathons. My partner and I have
been running in Lumpini Park with the British and New Zealand
ambassadors and other diplomats. We also run with a number
of academics from Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities
and CEOs from various banks. We sometimes meet on Sundays
and run together.

We also like to cycle at the Queen Sirikit Convention

Center. My partner came in second in the womens division in
a race held for charity at the center a few months ago. We go to
the cinema and we love to listen to music and to meet people.
We like walking the streets and the markets of Bangkok we
like experiencing the real Bangkok. We spend a lot of time
reading, and my partner is doing lots of writing.

Final thoughts

I want to send a special message to Thai students: If you

come to study in our universities, you will receive a world class
education, have a wonderful time, and hopefully, be a special
ambassador for Ireland in years to come. We will warmly welcome you. Our universities are some of the best institutions of
learning in the world. We speak the English language, we are a
very welcoming and safe country.

I meet graduates of Irish universities in Thailand as I move

throughout the country and they all have very warm memories
of their time in Ireland. We are setting up a Thai Alumni Network for Thai graduates of Irish universities.

Thailand is very famous for its traditional dances and we

also have a great love for our dances, like the very fast moving
River Dance. My partner and I have discussed merging some
of the movements. Actually, we did this in March on Saint Patricks Day. It was fantastic. We would like to see more of that.

Ireland is also famous for hospitality and for our drinks as

well. I was delighted to see Irish whiskey and Guinness on sale
here, and we would like to see more of our very good beers and
fine wholesome foods on sale here.

Lastly, I cant emphasize enough the excellent working

relationship my embassy has with the Irish community in Bangkok. They are a great source of support for us. I also want to
mention the local St Patricks Society, which organizes a great
St Patricks Ball each year. It is one of the highlights on the Irish
calendar in Bangkok.

TheBigChilli 121

Hu aH i n

N e ws and Deals

Rest Detail
makes a splash
TEAMING boutique
accommodation with a great day
out, Rest Detail Hotel Hua Hins
Get Splash and Stay Cool package
includes a one-night stay in a Rest
Green Room for two, two oneday passes for Vana Nava Water
Jungle, a set dinner for two at Rest
Scene Restaurant, and international
breakfast for two. B8,500 per person.
Offer ends Oct 31.
032 547 733
:restdetailhotel.com

Beach Club
Chill Out
CAP the
month in style on Sept 26
by joining Putaharacsa
Hua Hins White Beach
Club Chill Out. Starting
at 6.30pm, the night will
feature a wide selection
of food cooked to order at
live cooking stations, and
free flow beer, wine and
white sangria. Adding to
the atmosphere will be the
cool sounds of DJ Bond.
B999 per person (dress in
white to receive 10 percent
discount).
032 531 470
:putahracsa.com

Family fun
at Anantara
ANANTARA Hua Hin Resort &
Spa has launched a new accommodation
package loaded with activities for the whole
family to enjoy, such as yoga and Thai
boxing for adults, and cooking classes and
batik painting sessions for kids. Rates range
from B4,100++ per night for a Deluxe Garden
View Room to B15,100++ per night for and
Anantara Garden View Suite, inclusive of
daily breakfast and activities.
032 520 250 :huahin.anantara.com

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TheBigChilli

A taste of
Sichuan cuisine
at InterContinental
CHINESE food fans take note:
Executive Chinese Chef Ye Wen Chian of
InterContinental Shanghai Puxi will come to
town for a guest stint at InterContinental Hua
Hin Resort from Sept 21-29. Try the talented
chefs signature Sichuan dishes la carte, or,
better yet, visit on Sept 26 when his dishes will
be included as part of a sumptuous Chinese
buffet, and Sun 27, when you can sample them
alongside gourmet international fare at the
hotels Sunday Chill & Grill Brunch (B1,200++ per
person)
032 616 999 :huahin.intercontinental.com

Culinary Classics
returns to the Dusit
THE 2015 edition of Dusit Thani
Hua Hins popular Culinary Classics event will
be held on Oct 9 in the hotels The Royal Dusit
Hall. Italian violinist Grazia Raimondi and The
Pro Musica Orchestra, under the baton of Luigi
Piovano (who will also feature on violoncello),
will perform three works by distinguished
Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi (Concerto
Alla Rustica, Violin Concerto Il Favorito
and Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor), as well
as Austrian composer Joseph Haydns Cello
Concerto in C Major.
B500 per person (ticket only); B1,400 per
person for ticket and post-concert Thai dinner
buffet; and B1,600 per person for ticket and
post-concert four-course Italian dinner set.
032 520 009 :dusit.com/dusitthani/huahin

H u aHin R evi ew

Words C HUTINANTA BOON YA M A R N

Escape Hua Hin

Part of the Sansiri Hotel Collection, this

delightful boutique hotel offers beachside
accommodation at its best

DESIGNED to a Vibrant Fishermans

Village concept, and with room categories
inspired by sea, sand and sun, Sansiri
Hotel Collections Hua Hin property is
colourful and comfortable and perfect for
families and solo travelers alike.
Hua Hins almost tangible charm is
brought to life through colour, sounds,
and scents in each well-appointed
accommodation. The Sea rooms, for
instance, are decorated in complementary
blue tones, have Jack Johnson style
acoustic music playing on the stereo by
default, and are redolent with notes of
eucalyptus, pine and peppermint. Sand

rooms, meanwhile, have a golden colour

scheme, bossa nova music, and a rich
fragrance of lavender and blackcurrants;
and the Sun rooms have a fiery-red colour
scheme, Latino music, and a sunny scent
of jasmine, citrus and peppermint.
Each room has all the usual modern
conveniences (air-con, LCD TV, DVD
player, tea and coffee making facilities etc.),
plus super comfortable beds, balconies
with oversized loungers, and free WiFi.
Some rooms even have direct pool access
(perfect if you love a morning swim).
Delicious international and Thai cuisine
with a focus on fresh seafood is served
daily at the hotels Red Coral
Restaurant, which also offers a
range of sweet treats from the
popular After You Dessert Caf
(the Chocolate lava cake and
Berries crumble are divine), and
a selection of signature cocktails
by Niks Anumanrajadhon,
one of Thailands best-known
mixologists.
Getting into town to
explore Hua Hins vibrant
markets is a breeze thanks to

E scape H ua H in. 25/2 Petchkasem Rd, H ua H in.

126

TheBigChilli

the hotels complimentary shuttle service,

which conducts round trips every hour
from 10am-6pm. But if youre a beach
lover youll most likely only use this
service at night: Escape is located on one
of the finest stretches of sand in Hua Hin
serene and beautiful and the perfect
place to relax with a good book.
With ample space provided
beachside and within and around Red
Coral Restaurant, Escape Hua Hin
is perfectly suited to hosting private
parties and networking events for up
to 50 people. The resort will also soon
open a brand new function room which
can accommodate a further 80 people,
providing a great excuse for enjoying
business and pleasure by the beach.
Best room rates are available at
escape-hotel.com.

032 653 456 :escape-hotel.com :f acebook.com/escapehotels :instagram.com/ escapehotels

H u aHin Pr ofi l e

MEET THE GM: MARTIN RAICH

As Complex General Manager of Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Sheraton
Hua Hin Pranburi Villas, and The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Martin
Raich is one of the busiest men in the trade and he couldnt be happier
I was attracted to the
hotel industr y at a young
age. The opportunity to meet
and greet so many different
customers and celebrities
from around the world was a
big attraction, and ultimately
what made me want to join
the industry.

leadership and working and

leading teams, and I feel very
comfortable working here.
Throughout my career I
have had many mentors
and received lots of good
advice. The most important
thing in this industry is to
always do your best and have
leaders who believe in you
and who guide you in the right
direction.

Some of my fondest
memories come from
when I worked at St. Regis
Beijing, 16 years ago, as
Director of Food and Beverage. But the highlight of my
career to date is definitely my
current position. Working as
Complex General Manager
of a villa resort, MICE hotel, and city hotel, all within
300km of each other, is a
challenge I am relishing.
Technology plays a big
role in my work. As Complex General Manager of
Sheraton Hua Hin Resort &
Spa, Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas, and The Westin
Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, I obviously have lots of
ground to cover. Thankfully
this is made easy thanks to email, Skype,
WhatsApp, and Line, allowing for instant
communication and leadership.
Each property has its own unique
characteristics. Sheraton Hua Hin
Pranburi Villas is so peaceful and the
perfect place for couples and families to
relax; Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa
has one of the largest pools in Thailand
(4,000sqm) and one of the countrys
best-looking ballrooms; and The Westin
Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok boasts a
superb location, large rooms, and one of
the best Japanese restaurants in
Bangkok, Kisso.

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TheBigChilli

The motto I find most

inspiring is: Expect no more
of others than you are willing
to do yourself.
What advice would I give
to anyone considering pursuing a career as a hotel
GM?Work hard and ensure
you enjoy the path to becoming
a GM. Climbing the ladder is
lots of fun, but once youre at
the top, theres lots of responsibility. So dont move too fast.
www.sheratonhuahin.com
www.sheratonhuahinpranburi.
com www.westingrandesukhumvit.com
The most enjoyable aspect of my job
involves witnessing how our services are
received by our guests theres nothing
better than a happy customer. The most
difficult aspect is finding time to attend
to the individual needs of each guest and
associate.
I am driven by getting things done,
providing great customer service, and
ensuring each hotel is profitable.
The most important decision I have
made in my professional life was moving to Asia, learning the culture, and getting to know the people. I like hands on

GM in focus
A STARWOOD man for the past 20 years at
various properties in the UK, Netherlands,
China, Germany, Fiji, and Thailand, Austrian
expat Martin Raich, 47, has worked in the
hotel industry since the age of 18. He holds
several E Cornell degrees including the
Master Certificate in Essentials of Hospitality Management and Harvard Manage
Mentor Essentials. He is a member of the
Chaine des Rotisseurs and counts skiing,
cooking, jogging, golf and travel as his
preferred leisure pursuits.

Hu aH i n

S ocial

Mothers Day
at La Paillote
LA Paillote French Restaurant
celebrated Mothers Day in
splendid fashion with an All in
White Gala Dinner featuring
all kinds of delicious creations,
specially cooked and presented
to follow the theme. For details
of upcoming events and
promotions at the restaurant
visit www.paillote.net.

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Hu aH i n

S ocial

Retro 80s party

BANYAN The Resort Hua Hin held a Retro
80s party featuring performances by
vocalists from The Voice Thailand as well as
a sumptuous international buffet paired with
a variety of wines. The TV stars serenading
guests on the night included Tee Uttapol,
Kita Piranan, Lookpad Chonlanan and Guitar
Plengpraphun.

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Strip AD_Newspaper_July15.indd 1

6/30/15 11:33 AM

Strip AD_Mamma Mia_July15.indd 1

6/30/15 11:28 AM

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Pa tt a ya

N e ws and Deals

New
thee
n
o cen
s

Hotel Baraquda
Pattaya MGallery Collection
Dim Sum feast
IF youve yet to sample the delights of a traditional dim sum
feast that is, tapas-style servings of steamed dumplings and Cantonese
favourites Cape Daras Ming Xing restaurant is a great place to start. All this
month the restaurants all-you-can-eat Dim Sum menu, available daily from
11am-2pm, is being offered for the special price of B650++ per person.
038 933 888 :capedarapattaya.com

THE brand new Hotel Baraquda Pattaya will celebrate its

grand opening on Sept 12. Located in the heart of Pattaya, close to
the citys shopping, dining and entertainment areas, this 72- room
hotel features an all-day restaurant, a rooftop restaurant, a bar, a
functioning room and a wealth of sports facilities. Until Oct 31, a
Splash n Stay promotion is available featuring a two-night stay in a
Deluxe room, daily breakfast for two, and a complimentary day pass
for two to the Cartoon Network Amazone Pattaya water park. Rates
start at B8,856.
038 769 999 :hotelbaraquda.com

Culinary showcase
at Hilton Pattaya
AS part of the the F&B Master APAC 2015, 38
chefs gathered at Hilton Pattaya to compete
in the The Culinary Cup and The Pastry
Cup. Led by the hotels general manager,
Rudolf Troestler, the event saw each chef
complete a 30-minute live cooking demonstration of their respective signature dishes.
The property finalists were Khun Joe Teeranad
from Horizon, who wowed judges with his
amazing Lamb dish; and Khun Eakachai from
Edge restaurant, whose Someone dates
pastry was deemed perfect.

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Pa tt a ya

S o cial

Barry on song
TALENTED musical all-rounder
Barry Upton entertained an
enthusiastic audience when his
band took a trip down memory
lane with his latest Mantra
Tribute evening entitled Kings
of Swing at the Amari Pattaya
hotel. Apart from enjoying lots
of favourites from the 40s and
50s like Frank Sinatra and Louis
Armstrong, guests were treated
to a superb five-course meal.

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Strip AD_Hilton Pattaya_Sep15.indd 1

AD Newspaper_Jan12.indd 1

8/22/15 11:03 AM

12/27/11 1:21:00 PM

TheBigChilli 139

Pa ttay a D ini ng Out

Seven Days, Seven

Themes at Edge
Hilton Pattayas new lunch buffet offers
a different feast each day of the week

THE setting is elegant; the view of the

bay, stunning. And the food well, pick
any day of the week and youll find the
kind of sumptuous lunch buffet that
gourmet dreams are made of. All you have
to do is select your favourite theme.
The culinary fun kicks off each
Monday with Tex Mex & More, which
sees Edges already extensive lunch buffet
expanded to include BBQ ribs, tacos,
chili con carne, prawns, quesadilla, tacos,
burritos, and more flavoursome fare.
Extended Tapas,follows on
Tuesdays, featuring many bite-sized
morsels from the north of Africa through
Spain, Italy and the Iberian Peninsula
all bolstered by thin crust pizzas and some
delicious la minute pasta dishes.
Wednesdays reward both meat lovers
and vegetarians alike with the Burgers,
Salads and Sandwiches theme, featuring

panini and giant subs packed with all

kinds of premium fillings, plus some
particularly good baked sandwiches.
Thursdays look closer to home
with the Across Asia selection (think
Thai favourites, Chinese style dim
sum, roast duck rolls, Indian curries,
and teppanyaki), while Fridays see the
restaurant source its offerings virtually
from the hotels doorstep, with prawns,
crab, fish, mussels and more deep sea
delights all presented as part of its
Seafood Pattaya buffet.
The gastronomic temptations dont
end there. Visit on Saturday for lunch and
the sumptuous spread includes sought
after meats from land and sea cooked just
as you like, plus a wide range of Thai and
Western favourites, grilled sausages from
the churrasco, and a dessert station which,
amongst its many offerings, boasts some

ilton Patta a (1 th floor). pen dail for lunch 12pm 2.

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pm dinner 6pm 1 .

pm. Sunda Brunch 12pm .

extremely moreish donuts.

And then, of course, theres Sunday.
The day when Edges chefs pull out all the
stops to create the hotels famous Sunday
Brunch With A View, a splendid dining
experience featuring an extensive selection
of Edges most popular dishes alongside
free-flow wine the prefect way to cap a
weekend by the beach.
Seven Days, Seven Themes is
available every Mon-Sat from 12pm2.30pm, and every Sun from 12pm3.30pm. Cost per person on Mon-Thurs
is B520; Fri and Sat, B580; and Sunday
Brunch is B1,400 (add B1,100 for freeflow wines).
A daily International Buffet Dinner
is also available priced B960 on MonThurs and Sun; B1,200 on Fri; and
B1,100 on Sat (add B1,100 for free-flow
wines).
pm.

:patta a.hilton.com

Final Word

Fiction

Monsoon Midnights
Special places in Bangkok, as experienced by the Bangkok Womens Writers Group
Dear reader,
Welcome to Monsoon Midnights, a short story by the Bangkok Womens Writers Group.
The storytellers of the BWWG come from all over the world but they all have a special place
in this city, somewhere surprising, obscure and unexpected, as yet undiscovered.
Follow us to these hidden places right here, month after month.
The first volume of Monsoon Midnights (18 stories by 12 authors with beautiful illustrations
by the BigChilli graphics team) is available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tj8fJr.

NIGHTFALL OVER BANGKOK:

High up in the sky, where the city is laid out like an interactive
map shimmering under the moon, it is hard to imagine what this
night might look like to another creature.
One that runs along the pavement kerbs, one that lives in little
holes in the trees, one that patiently eats the dark long leaves of the
palm trees
One that flutters around the corners of a garden lined Soi, or
one that crawls inside the garden itself.
What does the city look like to them? What kind of map do they
follow?
Dogs read a GPS of smells leading from lamp post to the nice
cool spot in front of the local 7/11. Bats fly in a tunnel maze of
echo chambers. Spiders wander in a thermomap of body heat.
Many animals that roam the city streets, on, under, over, or
indeed inside, are free. Free to live in a city of their own making that
overlays ours. Many are born here. Others made their way to find
their fortune in the megapolis. More are joining them every night.
But others are not so fortunate.
There are dark corners here, locked up at night, half hidden during
the day, where vans and trucks load up under cover, where boxes and
sacks and covered cages are furtively stacked and pushed into the
shadows. Inside, struggling for breath, are other kinds of animals
These are not natives of this city or any city.
They are citizens of the forest, the deep rivers, wild grasslands
and deserts some from a jungle right near to us, some from the
heart of this continent.
These animals in sacks and cages did not choose to come. They
are not free to run or pursue their natural business, whatever it is.
They dont know where they are and they have no way of finding out.
Why have they been taken to these dark places?
And who comes to see them, sometimes by secret assignment,
sometimes quite boldly in certain areas quite open to the public?
What do people choose to see and what do they choose to ignore?
What is going on?
As darkness settles over such a place, noises emerge that would

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surely give it away, except they are masked by so many other noises.
And the place stinks, frankly. But then, even that persistent stink
can be masked by the unpleasant city bouquet that runs through
the open gutters in our streets.
This months storyteller, Jenny Peres Genges, is half hidden
behind the flap of a stall. She waves me closer, motions for silence,
and whispers this story into my ear.

Pangolins Rescue
By Jenny Perez-Genge
Its dark, hot and this room smells disgusting. Something is
itching on my leg, its crawling up, but I need to stay still. A few
more minutes behind this pile of dog beds and pillows If the
pet guys discover me, theyll kill me.
Im doing it again. Yes, again. Hiding from them, saving
animals from them. The thing is, I cant just sit by my mother,
selling traditional baskets to the tourists from all over the world,
when I know that only a few steps from her stall, there are these
hungry and exhausted animals hidden in the dark.
Many local people and tourists come to the JJ weekend market
to buy presents, souvenirs, to eat tasty and cheap food, and of
course, to see cute pets. I know many farang customers buy pets
from this market. The pet guys laughed the other day as one of
their customers told them that, in an earlier trip to Thailand, he
bought two mice and put them in his backpack and passed all the
international security checks and nobody saw the mice.
My family has been making baskets for a long time. My
mother used to help my grandmother making baskets in the back
of their house during the week, and come to the weekend market
to sell them, since she was my age. Im now 11 and help my mother.
The fun part about the baskets was coming to the market
to sell them. I used to enjoy counting and making additions in
my head when I was selling, or listening to tourists speaking in
many different languages. Customers said words in Thai and Id
reply and smile; theyd smile back at me.

When my mother would see me bored or falling asleep, she

would ask me to go around and take a look at the naarak pets.
Id run to see the puppies, with their little shiny crowns and
polka dot skirts, they looked very cute. Then Id go see the birds
that made all kinds of sounds. I loved the parakeets especially,
as they all chirped at the same time in a high speech, kissed
each other and moved quickly in the cage as if they were busy
building something. Next, Id go to see the squirrels, toads,
turtles and hedgehogs. All in their own cages, resting lazily, not
noticing me staring at them for a long time. Id get dizzy with so
much variety of animals and return to my mothers stall, wanting
to drink fruit juice.
If you come to this section of the JJ market, you may
think youre in a real zoo. I once thought I was lucky to see
these wonderful creatures any time I wanted, and I dreamed
that someday I would take care of them. One day I decided to
explore more of the pet area and ended up in a new section of
the market I had never been to before. After passing several
corridors, I arrived at a large room with no windows. It looked
like a storage area. The light was dim but I could see lots of stuff
around me. There was a strange silence and the occasional chirp
or hiss. No people around. The strong smell of urine, excrement
and chlorine made me nauseas. I covered my nose with my arm.
I should have left the place at that moment but I was young
and curious. I wanted to explore more. I crawled behind and
underneath piles of merchandise and found myself in a corner
of the room. My eyes widened when I bumped into a metal cage
packed with brown and grey snakes which couldnt even move.
Next to the wall, there were two enormous fish squeezed into
a small tank. The light of the tank guided me to a narrow path
between stacks of empty canisters with air holes and dirty glass
containers. There were plastic containers full of worms, crickets
and tiny toads. A couple of squirrels lay in a bare cage. One tried
to raise its head but could only move its eyes to look at me. Next
to them was a cage with several possums. All looked at me with
such big and languid eyes. I got close to their cage and noticed

that patches of their fur were gone. Some of the animals in the
room were the discarded ones, the ones that nobody would buy
as pets.
The scene got worse when I discovered two little monkeys
who were hugging each other, chained and facing the wall. I got
closer to their cage and spoke softly to them, but they refused
to turn their heads. I was feeling suffocated and about to leave
the room when I saw a container with small black spotted turtles
crowded inside it. I had been in the front part of the pet store
the day before, observing a group of them hopelessly trying to
climb up the glass wall. When I saw them there, I instinctively
grabbed one of the turtles and put it under my arm inside my
t-shirt. Then I ran away from that horrible place. I got back to
my mothers stall and luckily nobody saw me. I hid the baby
turtle behind the baskets and soon after my mother said it was
time to go home. She didnt say a word about my new turtle,
didnt ask me how I got it and I never told her. After that day Ive
been in this room many times. Ive seen that the animals in that
room change, they come and go, some alive, some dead, but the
mess and the stench remain the same. Ive also changed. Im not
the same boy who explored the back of JJ market that weekend.
I know the pet guys dont count many of their small animals.
They weigh them. They put scoops of animals like toads,
spiders and lizards in the scales. Ive seen the guys preparing
the shipments. They smoke, spit on the floor, talk loud, laugh,
and close boxes with ropes. I hide small animals in my pockets
and free them in Chatuchak Park. I dont know if they survive in
the park, but at least they dont stay in this nasty place anymore.
Last Saturday, I was selling baskets when we heard the
news that the officials of the Public Health Ministry came to
take illegal merchandise, including animals. I ran towards my
secret aisle to see what was happening. By the time I managed
to get here, everyone was gone. The place looked more chaotic
than ever. I wanted to shout out loud, but I saw a canvas bag
moving on the floor. I got closer to check, and there it was. A
young pangolin was left behind.

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65

Final Word

Fiction
That was my story of pangolin number one. Im again in this
filthy room today, watching the movement of the smugglers.
I know now that these pet guys are smugglers. Im here for
pangolin number two. My mother and the people from the
rescue centre are part of my team now. It was hard to convince
the rescuers that Im the person to do this job. They worry about
me as Im small but Im the only one who knows this place well.
The smugglers dont suspect my presence. Im standing up
behind a tall pile of card boxes. I know how to stay quiet and still.
Something is really itching on my leg. I want to scratch it. They
are packing the last boxes for the new shipment, but I know
they are not taking the pangolin tonight. They need it alive for a
customer who is having a party tomorrow. They weighed it and
its four kilos. They are greedy to get one thousand dollars for it.
A few more minutes and they will go. I have to be patient. Then
Ill get the pangolin. I know where it is. I want to move now. I feel
like teeth entering my skin. It burns. Im scared. They may know
that I come here and maybe they put a poisonous animal in this
room to bite me and kill me. It hurts a lot. But I cant move. I bite
my arm and hold the pain. I cant
Grandmother told me
even bend to reach my leg and swat
he Bangkok Womens Writers Group, founded
about pangolins, I always
that thing off. My leg feels like it is
in 2001, and led by Anette Pollner (who also
wanted to meet them. They
getting as big as a durian. It hurts a
writes the recurring moon intro stories in
are the only mammals with
lot. Yes. They are leaving. They are.
this series in her famous neo psychedelic style), is
scales, hair underneath and a
Im alone now with the animals.
where creative women from all over the world meet to
very long tongue. Their mighty
I finally reach my leg. Its a
workshop their writing in a supportive and inspiring
scales protect the pangolin
scorpion! I stomp on it with my foot.
environment. Many of our members are published and
from all predators including
The pain is getting worse, but I need
prize winning authors, but we are open to all women
tigers, except humans. I know
to hurry and get the pangolin. Im
who are passionate about writing, including complete
theyre hunted for their meat
limping. Wait! I hear steps coming
beginners. The BWWGs first publication (before
and scales. I had a pangolin in
back. Someone is coming with a
Monsoon Midnights the short story collection,
my arms with its body like a
torch. I go back to my hiding place.
available on Amazon right now) was a Thai English
big artichoke and I was about
I can barely move my leg. I cant
language bestseller, Bangkok Blondes, and various
to save him.
see the guy but I figure hes looking
pamphlets. We regularly give readings around town
Holding the pangolin
for something. I know its not the
and have been part of international festivals and
was not easy. Its large scales
pangolin. What is it then? Did he
cultural exchanges. Please contact bkk_writers@
pinched my chest, and it hurt
hear a noise and has come back
yahoo.com for more information.
a little. I trotted towards my
to check? Silence. Ok, he moves
This months storyteller is Jenny Perez Genge.
mothers stall not knowing
chains and boxes around. Hes only
She is a psychologist, an educator and a mother of
how she would react this time.
a couple of metres from me. Good,
two children. She has written numerous articles and
Perhaps it was because of my
hes leaving. The noise of his fliplectured on parenting issues. Jenny discovered her
desperate looking-for-help
flops is fading. It was close. I can
passion for fiction and poetry through the Bangkok
face that for the first time
barely walk but I get to the cage
Womens Writers Group. Her stories have been
she hurried to clear a space
where the pangolin is. What luck.
published in Peru and Colombia, as well as Thailand.
between the baskets to hide
The cage is not locked just closed.
the animal I was carrying
Hi dear pangolin. Greetings
inside the bag. After she saw
to you, I say in a whisper. He is
the pangolin and made sure nobody had seen us, she called a
sedated. Poor one. Hes heavier than that number one. They are
friend of hers who knew someone who worked at the animal
going to miss you my armored friend, I say, while I put him in
rescue centre. After several phone calls, she told me that a team
the canvas bag.
of rescuers would come to our home at midnight to take the
I run out of there. My mother and the rescuers are waiting
pangolin. Once I learned about the rescue, I was relieved and
for the pangolin and me. I hope I can make it to the hospital.
sat next to the pangolin. It looked at me with tiny tired eyes, like
it knew it was not in danger anymore. It was quiet, probably
The storyteller leaves me in the darkness.
sedated said my mother.
And the stink. And the noise
Later that night, it was hard to believe that this shy mammal
I am glad that some are saved. I am aware that most are not.
the size of a house cat with the look of an ant-eater wearing
What kind of species run this planet?
armor was digging holes in my backyard. He was more awake
The moon has set a while ago.
and active after dark and looked for ants and termites with his
I run home by the sewers.
long tongue. That night was one of the happiest moments
But the moon will be back next month. The stars will rise and look
of my life.
down on this city. Monsoon Midnights will return.

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The first volume of Monsoon

Midnights (18 stories by 12
authors with beautiful
illustrations by the
BigChilli graphics team)
is available on Amazon:
http://amzn.to/1tj8fJr.
TheBigChilli

63