ScandAsia March 2019

MAR 2019 BUSINESS

SwedCham Singapore increased activities 500 percent

COMMUNITY

DWN held two concerts

OBITUARY

Carsten Dencker Nielsen

LIFESTYLE

You better Vogue!

Keeping the Nordic spirit alive

HEALTH FAIR

2019

“Personalized Healthcare” 27 – 29

Wed – Fri

10.00 – 16.00 hrs.

G Floor

Bumrungrad International Hospital (BIH) Building

30 – 31 Sat – Sun

10.00 – 16.00 hrs.

M Floor

Bumrungrad International Hospital (BIH) Building

30 – 31 Sat – Sun

10.00 – 20.00 hrs.

Central World

Central Court on the G Floor (near the main glass elevator)

Exclusive health check-up packages available at the Bumrungrad Health Fair only.

Special healthcare seminars led by Bumrungrad doctors on various topics in Thai language.

Basic health screenings available.

A WORLD OF

OPPORTUNITY Through learning environments such as our on-site Outdoor Classroom, we inspire children to discover passions and interests by exposing them to experiences in and beyond the classroom. This combined with the rigour of a strong academic programme gives them the foundations to become global citizens who shape their world through independence, empathy, creativity and critical thinking.

admissions@patana.ac.th Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 www.patana.ac.th Bangkok Patana is a not for profit, IB World School accredited by CIS

March 2019

ScandAsia Stories

20

Phitthaya Phaefuang

9 Medical award to Swedish professor 15 Nordic exhibition in Jakarta 36 Nordic China Startup Night in Shenzhen 37 Fastelavnsfest in Bangkok

Thai-Norwegian Vogue dancer

12 Birgitta Berg Nordic Club Jakarta

9

Kjell Bergqvist

24

teaches Thai kids to swim

15

16 Three reasons to love Jakarta

36

Rungthiwa Chummongkon

of The Front Room at Waldorff Astoria Bangkok

32 37

Ce moment when your child

pense en deux langues at the same

temps

C’est possible!

CIS’s French-English Bilingual programme* offers your child an excellent opportunity to become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural in both English and French. With equal exposure to both languages, your child will enjoy all the benefits of an IB PYP education taught by two qualified teachers - one fluent English speaker & one fluent French speaker. Your child will learn through hands-on activities that mirror the real world, ensuring they are always motivated to learn more.

50:50

French & English

*Grades 1 to 3 - subject to enrolment numbers.

Learn more about our French-English Bilingual Programme at our next open house or book a personal tour at www.cis.edu.sg/french or call 6436 6622.

As an IB World School, CIS offers the PYP, MYP and IB DP. Canadian International School Pte. Ltd. CPE Registration No: 199002243H. Period of Registration: 8 June 2015 - 7 June 2019

Opinion

Thailand’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2019

By H.E. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on the Preparations for Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019

A

s Thailand assumes the Chair of ASEAN for the year 2019, we cannot help but look back with pride at the accomplishments of this remarkable and resilient regional grouping ever since its founding in Bangkok over five decades ago. At the same time, it is incumbent upon us to chart the way forward for ASEAN over the immediate future and into the next half century. Towards this end, Thailand has identified some of our key priorities for ASEAN during the year ahead.

6 ScandAsia • March 2019

As the driving force for our chairmanship of ASEAN in 2019, Thailand has chosen the theme “Advancing Par tnership for Sustainability” which, we believe, contains the key elements essential for ASEAN to meet the challenges of the next decade and beyond.

In under taking this theme, we seek to achieve a people-centred ASEAN Community that leaves no one behind and is fully prepared for the future.

With the operative word “Advancing”, we wish to underscore an ASEAN that is constantly looking ahead to the future—a dynamic, creative and com-

petitive ASEAN moving forward as one towards the “blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity” envisioned by our founding fathers.

With the advent of the Digital Age, it is apparent that our goal must be to move towards becoming a “Digital ASEAN” that fully and beneficially utilises the extensive range of new technologies arising from the Four th Industrial Revolution. These so-called “disruptive technologies” have the potential to radically improve the lives of our peoples if we are able to catch the wave and make proper use of them. At

the same time, if we do not adequately prepare and immunise ourselves from the negative impacts of such technologies, we risk being engulfed by this very same wave.

Among the many activities planned in this connection, Thailand will host an ASEAN Digital Agility Leaders’ Meeting during its chairmanship and will enhance the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity-Building Centre located in Bangkok. Such actions are geared towards ensuring the ASEAN Community’s safe and smooth integration with the world of digitalisation.

The impor tance of “Par tnership” was central to the formation of ASEAN from the very beginning, with the Bangkok Declaration proclaiming the member states’ common desire to promote regional cooperation in a “spirit of equality and partnership”. From the original partnership among the Southeast Asian countries, we have seen a steady progression towards a substantial and meaningful par tnership with our Dialogue Partners and the wider international community based on mutual interests and common concerns.

Today, during a time of great change and uncer tainty in the world, amidst heightened competition among the major powers, and in the face of eroded trust in the virtues of regionalism and multilateralism, the importance of partnership within ASEAN and its extended family is greater than ever.

On the economic side, Thailand hopes to see increased cooperation in trade and investment within ASEAN as well as between ASEAN and other countries. In this regard, we will push for the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations by the end of this year.

We also seek a greater and more constructive role for ASEAN on the international stage, particularly in tackling major global issues such as climate change and the environment.

As far as regional issues are concerned, ASEAN must take the lead in dealing with the pressing challenges in our own part of the world. Failure to do so would put the credibility of the organisation at stake and we bear the risk of losing relevance. We must therefore play a leading role in strengthening

the ASEAN-centred regional architecture in close collaboration with our Partners.

One of the most effective means of strengthening our partnerships is by promoting connectivity in all its different dimensions, whether it be in the form of infrastructure, institutions, rules and regulations, or people-to-people linkages. Since there are a large number of connectivity initiatives currently taking place within the region, that is why Thailand has proposed an approach called “Connecting the Connectivities”, which would help create synergies and build complementarities among all these strategies as well as with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025.

Through such an approach, we hope to achieve a “Seamless ASEAN” with greater strategic value-added, both for our own sake and that of our Partners.

Last but not least, the theme of the Thai Chair focuses on “Sustainability”, which is key to ensuring that the fruits of our ongoing collaboration are passed on to future generations. The Internet of Things is already a basic part of our everyday lives, but it is high time that greater importance is attached to the “Sustainability of Things”. By this, the Thai Chair intends to emphasise sustainability in all of its different dimensions, whether it be sustainable security, based on mutual trust and benefit; sustainable economic growth and development to better the lives of our children; or sustainable livelihoods and cities for all of our peoples.

In this connection, an ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue, an ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation as well as an ASEAN Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare will be established in Bangkok this year to underscore the importance attached by the Chair to sustainable human security with people at the centre. At the same time, Thailand intends to promote the complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development so that all work in this sphere is synchronised and proceeds in tandem.

These are just a few of the issues on the plate of the Thai Chair. We are reminded that a little over two decades ago, our leaders announced the ASEAN Vision 2020 in which they envisioned ASEAN as “a concer t of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in par tnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies”. As we enter the final year before this milestone is reached, we find that ASEAN has achieved most of the goals set by the leaders. And yet, new challenges have emerged and new targets remain to be achieved. As Chair of ASEAN for the year 2019, Thailand looks forward to meeting all of these challenges in close cooperation, and in a spirit of partnership, with our fellow ASEAN members and our friends around the world.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 7

Business

European Parliament says yes to the EU-Singapore agreement

T

he European Parliament has approved three keys of the EUSingapore agreement which are EU-Singapore Free trade Agreement (EUFSTA), EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement (EUSIPA) and EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (ESPCA).

According to European Commission’s Press release on 13 Februar y 2019, this approval is considered as a “historical moment” because it is the first bilateral trade agreement between the European Union and a Southeast Asian country and it will benefit and boost the EU economic cooperation with Singapore and entire Southeast Asia region.

Under the trade agreement, Singapore agrees to remove all taxes on EU products and any obstacles to trade beyond tariffs in key sectors.This agreement will make the business environment more predictable and build up new oppor tunities for EU ser vices’ providers toward the major areas such as telecommunications, environmental services, engineering, computing and maritime transport.

The investment protection agreement will establish a high level of in-

Vivian Balakrishnan (left), Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs and Federica Mogherini (right), High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the signing ceremony of the EUSFTA, ESPCA and EUSIPA agreements in Brussels last October. (Photo: MCI) vestment protection and safeguard the rights of the EU and Singapore in order to manage and follow public policy objectives such as the protection of public health, safety and the environment.

While the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will enhance political dialogue and cooperation in the areas such as sustainable development, democracy and fundamental freedoms, justice, security, connectivity, people-topeople links, information society, education, cultural exchanges, employment and social affairs.

With these agreements, the new opportunities will be created to strengthen the relationship between the EU and Singapore as Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission said.

“This is yet another win-win trade agreement negotiated by the European Union, an agreement that will create new opportunities for European producers, workers, farmers and consumers, while at the same time promoting cooperation and multilateralism.”

Moreover, Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Trade added more about the agreements’ commitment and its benefit: “The agreements will benefit workers and farmers, as well as small and big companies on both sides. They include a strong commitment to human and labour rights and to protecting the environment. This is yet another signal that open, fair and rules-based global trade is here to stay.”

Singapore company buys 11 freehold properties in Finland

C

Plaza Forte office property in Finland.

8 ScandAsia • March 2019

romwell European Real Estate Investment Trust (“CEREIT”), a real estate investor and manager listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange, has acquired 11 freehold office properties in Finland for €113.1 million according to CEREIT’s website on Thursday, 3 January 2019.

The 11 Finnish office assets mostly located in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area (“HMA”) providing all assets in the portfolio excellent transport links, with the HMA assets located within

easy reach of Ring Road III, the most important road system in the HMA. Tomas Beck, Head of Nordics at Cromwell Property Group in Europe, commented: ‘’We are currently operating in a buoyant office market in Finland, supported by strong domestic demand, job growth and rising consumer confidence. These conditions have put upward pressure on rents in high quality, well-located buildings that offer efficiency and connectivity.”

HRH Princess Sirindhorn confers medical award on Swedish professor

H

er Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as the Representative of His Majesty the King of Thailand, conferred on Thursday 31 January 2019 the Prince Mahidol Award 2018 in the field of Medicine and Public Health on - among three others - the Swedish Professor Jan R. Holmgren from the Gothenburg University Vaccine Research Institute, Sweden. The award is widely recognized as the most significant medical award in the world and many laureates have since received also the Nobel price for their achievements.

Professor Jan R. Holmgren has together with John D. Clemens, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, devoted his medical career to developing a vaccine against cholera that the person can drink to become immune.

The other two recipients were Professor Brian J. Druker, M.D., USA, who has made a significant research discovery in the field of targeted cancer therapy. and Professor Dr. Mary-Claire King, Ph.D., USA, who has discovered a

heritable gene related to breast cancer as well as developed a breast cancer gene detection kit for screening people at risk.

The award ceremony took place at the Chakri Throne Hall, inside Grand Palace, followed by a dinner party presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The award consists of a medal, a certificate, and prize money US$100,000 (Bt3.3 million).

“It is not often that is scientist gets to start a research projects that over the next more than 30 years turns out to be so useful and so beneficial to millions of human beings. There’s a great personal pleasure in being able to do that,” added Jan Holmgren.

Cholera is a severe diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection that can kill within hours if left untreated. The goal is to reduce the occurrence of Cholera with 90% over the next 10 to 12 years, but In countries like Bangladesh there are still about 450,000 cholera cases each year in both urban and rural settings in the country.

One of the interesting discoveries, that Holmgren and Clemens has demonstrated, is the concept of “herd immunity”. They found that they did not need to vaccinate ever y single human being in a group to prevent an epidemic. If they vaccinated only 60% of the population, the rest of the population became “automatically” also protected, because as the vaccinated people would not spread it, the other people would have much less of a chance of contracting the disease.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 9

Business

Swedish Embassy welcomes Head of Borgholm Health center to Singapore

T

he Embassy of Sweden in Singapore gave a warm welcome to Head of Borgholm Health center, Dr. Åke Åkesson who came to visit Singaporean health organizations around 28-31 January 2019.

The visiting programs included meetings with policy maker s and health professionals from the National Healthcare Group (NHG), SingHealth, National University of Health System (NUHS) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) During his visit, Dr. Åke Åkesson shared his experiences in healthcare field with representatives from Singaporean health organizations and discussed the method Singapore should do to prepare health care systems for a rapidly aging population.

Moreover, Dr. Åkesson suggested the way to ensure that Singaporean

10 ScandAsia • March 2019

elderly age will have the ability to maintain a high quality of life as long as possible.

Dr. Åkesson has contributed many impor tant wor ks toward Swedish medical healthcare. One of his most well-known work called the “Borgholm Model” named after the island where Dr. Åkesson has his practice.

“Borgholm Model” is a reform model of primary care. Its purposes are to bring health care closer to the people, increase the role of primary care doctors that provide health care at home instead of reliance on the hospital.

The Embassy would like to thank Dr. Åkesson for this visit as it wrote on the Facebook page of the Embassy “Thank you Dr. Åkesson for an incredibly interesting and inspiring visit!”

Dr. Åke Åkesson (at the center) together with the Embassy’s staff and representatives from Singaporean healthcare organizations. Photo: Embassy of Sweden

Business

ISS to sell businesses in Malaysia, Philippines, Malaysia

I

SS Group from Denmark, one of the world’s leading facility services companies, has announced that it will divest operations in 13 countries, including Malaysia, Philippines and Malaysia.

ISS announced its ambition to increase organic growth to 4-6% per annum by accelerating its transition towards key account customers. ISS has proven its ability to win and grow such clients and now plans to strengthen its position further in a market place that offers compelling, long-term growth potential. A two-year programme of expedited investment, encompassing services (e.g. workplace, technical, catering) and platform (e.g. technology, data and innovation), will materially enhance ISS’s delivery capabilities, says the press release.

Investment will include project-related operating expenditure, capital expenditure and selected M&A. It will strengthen ISS’s ability to protect and care for customers’ proper ty, people and environment. Capital will be reallocated from areas that are not core to the key account strategy to help fund this transformation.

As a consequence of this strategy – The ISS Way – the operations in the 13 countries are to be divested. And the exit from non-core services will be concluded by divesting a number of business units across the group – en-

tirely consistent with ISS’s strategy of recent years.

ISS’s strategy has already created a more focused organisation, with stricter decision-making around the customers it wishes to serve and the services it provides.

In 2017, these planned country and business unit divestments generated a revenue of DKK 9,685 million (12% of Group) and Operating Profit before other items of DKK 373 million (8% of Group). The process of divesting countries and business units is expected to conclude during 2020.

These divestments will significantly simplify the business, reducing complexity and risk. Upon completion, the number of customers is expected to reduce by 50% (from 125,300 to around

62,700) and the number of employees is expected to reduce by 20% (from 490,000 to around 390,000).

“These bold decisions reflect our strong conviction in the growth oppor tunity afforded by key account customers. When the time comes, it will be tough to part ways with many outstanding colleagues and high quality businesses. However, we must focus our capital and resource on those customers, services and geographies that can truly benefit from our future investment in processes, technology and innovation.

This acceleration of our strategy will improve our offering for Key Account customers and deliver a stronger and more consistent financial performance for our shareholders,” says Jeff Gravenhorst, Group CEO, ISS A/S.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 11

Community

Keeping the Nordic spirit alive Birgitta Berg of the Nordic Club Jakarta puts her heart in the presidential role to contribute to the dwindling Scandinavian community in the Indonesian capital.

‘‘O

By Anita Surewicz

ur family motto has always been to make the most of every opportunity,” says Birgitta Berg, the president of the Nordic Club in Jakarta. Perhaps this positive mindset is where Birgitta’s wanderlust originates. Having lived and worked in numerous countries, Birgitta now spends her time connecting members of the Scandinavian community in Jakarta through social gatherings and events. Assisting newcomers to settle into the rhythm of Indonesia’s hectic capital is also all in a day’s work for the energetic globetrotter.

Born in Sweden, Birgitta completed her MBA in Ontario, Canada, before moving to Bangkok in 1991 to work for Chubb, an international security group. A couple of years later, the friendly winds carried her to Jakarta - a city destined to have huge impact on her life - to work as a general manager at English First, an English language school for Indonesians. During her first stint in Jakarta, Birgitta also met her Swedish husband Lars. Over the next few years, they had three sons and moved to Hong Kong, Shanghai,Toronto and London before settling in Denver.

Jakarta was fated to become Birgitta’s port of call again, as in 2012 her husband’s work brought the whole family back to the megalopolis.

“For the first time we were moving somewhere where we had actually lived before. This made it a little bit easier but the move was still a difficult decision since my two oldest sons were about to start their last years of high school in Denver, Colorado, where we were living at the time,” Birgitta says.

“Nevertheless, we decided to make our seventh international family move, which this time also included our two dogs.”

Birgitta has been involved in Jakarta’s Nordic Club for the last five years and has been its president for the past three. She says that over its lifetime, the club has changed directions on numerous occasions before taking its current shape as a volunteer and social organization.

“The club was founded in 1983 by a Danish woman, Lisbeth Kvistgaard, as the Nordic Women’s Club of Jakarta.

Its main purpose was to connect expats from Nordic countries and to do some good through charity work. In 2000, 12 ScandAsia • March 2019

the club opened its doors to men and changed its name to Nordic Club Jakarta,” Birgitta says, adding that the club accepts members from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, as well as their families.

The club was once well-known for hosting the annual Crayfish, a fundraiser to support various Indonesian organizations. The parties were stopped in 2014 after Indonesia changed its regulations pertaining to charity organizations and the members voted not to legalize it. Today the Nordic Club Jakar ta is purely a community organization and its members are no longer involved in charity work.

“We host monthly coffee mornings and we also organize

To live and explore different places in the world, not only through travels but for longer periods of time, is inspirational.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 13

other day activities based on what our members are interested in,” Birgitta says.

“We go for hikes in Sentul, play golf, and take part in cooking and flower arrangement classes. We also host pub nights and dinner parties that welcome spouses, and do one or two family activities per year.”

While the Nordic Club Jakarta remains active, Birgitta

14 ScandAsia • March 2019

admits that the expat scene in Jakar ta has changes since she first arrived in the capital. Significantly, the club’s membership has decreased from approximately 120 families to only around 25 families. Birgitta says that this is due to a steady decline in the number of Scandinavian expats in the city.

“My reference is only the Nordic community, since we only accept members with a Nordic connection, but I think you can assume that the main reason for the decrease in the number of Western expats in the city have been the changes in the rules and regulations pertaining to the country’s oil and gas industry,” she says.

“For example, the majority of the Norwegian community in Jakarta used to be employed in the oil and gas industry.

Today there are only a couple of Norwegian families left at the club but they work for other industries. Every year we see more Nordic families leaving than arriving.”

Birgitta says that she is likely to remain in Indonesia for another couple of years, but hopes to one day pass on the presidential hat to someone who can make their own positive mark on the Nordic Club Jakarta. Above all, she remains a firm believer that an international life is one full of joy and possibilities.

“To live and explore different places in the world, not only through travels but for longer periods of time, is inspirational,” she says.

“And most importantly, all the meetings with people, no matter how long or short, are always there to teach and inspire us.”

Community

H.E. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, the Ambassador of Denmark (the third from the left), H.E. Jari Sinkari, the Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Vegard Kaale, the Ambassador of Norway, together with the representatives from Nordic Embassies at the opening of Nordic photography exhibition in Jakarta. (Photo:Embassy of Finland in Jakarta)

Nordic Exhibition in Jakarta

“I

t Came from the North” a photography exhibition is lunched on Tuesday, 19 February 2019 in the cooperation by the embassies of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and ISA Art Advisory.

Presented by 11 ar tists from Nordic countries and Indonesia, “It Came from the North” portrays the beauty of the Nordic nature and landscapes through photographs in the form of traditional landscape imagery and in more abstract formats.

The exhibition was opened by speeches from each Nordic Ambassador.

Jari Sinkari, the Ambassador of Finland to Indonesia, is one of the Nordic Ambassadors who gave the speech expressing the benefit and importance of Finland’s forests and landscapes in both economical and emotional way.

“They provide us with feelings of tranquility, serenity and beauty. Economically they are considered the green gold of Finland,” he stated.

The exhibition will be opened until 22 March 2019 at World Trade Centre 2 Building, Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 2931, Jakarta.

Check more information about the exhibition and artists at bit.ly/ItCamefromtheNorth (Photo:Embassy of Finland in Jakarta) March 2019 • ScandAsia 15

Destination

Three reasons to love

Jakarta Jakarta is usually portrayed as a city of pollution and gridlocks, often sidelined in favor of Bali or other Indonesian destinations.

Beneath the surface, however, lies a dynamic metropolis of many faces and even more surprises.

By Anita Surewicz

The Arjuna Wijaya monument. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas 16 ScandAsia • March 2019

J

akarta, Indonesia’s massive capital, sits on the northwest coast of the island of Java. A historic mix of cultures – Javanese, Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and European – has influenced its architecture, language and cuisine.

Historic landmarks such as Kota Tua, or the Old City, celebrate the charm of a bygone Dutch colonial era but also elsewhere, the bustling capital offers intriguing glimpses into the past.

When it comes to filling your shopping bags with goodies, Jakarta has more variety than most other cities—from swanky malls to art and antique markets. J-town also delivers on the culinary front, with street fare, budget-friendly eateries and world-class restaurants bound to satisfy the most discerning foodies.

For Gourmet Diners

I

nspired by the legend of a Javanese princess who was turned to stone by a rejected suitor, Lara Djonggrang makes the most of its setting in an atmospheric Dutch colonial mansion. Upon entering the dimly lit space, guests are greeted by a collection of stunning Indonesian antiques and art.

One of the more memorable pieces on display is a five-meter wooden statue of Lara Djonggrang found during an excavation of the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta in the 1800s.

The restaurant’s mystical atmosphere goes hand in hand with its menu of Indonesian dishes inspired by the cultural interactions in the archipelago’s ports during royal expeditions of King Hayam Wuruk in the 14th century. Try Manado-style squid sate, an Acehian sauteed lobster or opt for a turmeric fish stew prepared with Sumateranese tamarind.

Set across the top three floors of Jakarta’s tallest building, Henshin is one of the newest additions to Jakar ta’s rooftop dining scene. Guests can start their culinary journey at the indoor bar

or alfresco lounge on the 67th floor with a cocktail, ceviche (raw seafood cured with lemon), or tiradito (raw fish in spicy sauce).

A floor above, the restaurant serves up Nikkei cuisine, a mix of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, along with spectacular views of Jakar ta from the floor-toceiling glass windows. Try the arroz con pato, slow roasted duck, coriander rice and Japanese pumpkin or asado de tira 69, slow cooked short rib, watercress, teriyaki sauce and fresh wasabi. Larger groups can reserve one of the restaurant’s private dining rooms on the 69th floor.

A destination of choice for carnivores, Bistecca is an Italian-American steakhouse that ser ves some of the best cuts in Jakar ta. The restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling bookcases, upholstered seating and abundance of wooden details blend the style of a New York steakhouse of the late 19th and mid 20th century with the classic charm of a ristoranti of Florence. Take your pick from USDA prime beef, Australian wagyu or Australian black angus, all

prepared to your exact specifications.

Perfect for groups, the restaurant’s signature dish is the one-kilogram dryaged Fiorentina. Bistecca is also well known for its range of martinis, which, contrary to James Bond’s preference, come stirred, not shaken.

Lara Djonggrang https://www.tuguhotels.com/restaurants/jakarta/laradjonggrang/ Bistecca http://www.bisteccajkt.com/ Henshin https://www.henshinjakarta.com/

March 2019 • ScandAsia 17

For History Buffs

T

aman Fatahillah, or Fatahillah Square, the hear t of Kota Tua (Old City), once served as the center of Dutch colonial administration. Today, the atmospheric square is flanked by some of the city’s most interesting museums and colonial buildings.

The Jakar ta History Museum features an impressive collection of thousands of artifacts, including items dating from the prehistoric era up to Indonesia’s proclamation of independence.

Also at Fatahillah Square, the historic Cafe Batavia is an elegant restaurant set in a 19th-century Dutch colonial building.

A shor t drive away, Sunda Kelapa served as the main port of the Hindu Kingdom of Sunda in the 13th century.

Highlights include the colorful pinisi (traditional two-masted sailing ships), which are still used to transport merchandise across the archipelago.

Named after an ancient city in Sicily, Italy, Ragusa was opened in 1947 by two Italian brothers who first started selling ice cream in the capital in 1932.

The ice cream shop has changed little since its inception–it still comes with the same rattan arm chairs and rickety ceiling fans. Old black and white photographs on the walls hark back to the 18 ScandAsia • March 2019

colonial days. While Italian ice cream conjures up images of gelato, Ragusa’s ice cream is creamy and smooth—the word on the street is that it is made using a 60-year old mixer. Opt for classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla or strawberry, or try a more unusual offering such as spaghetti ice cream topped with dark chocolate and dried fruit.The shop is popular among Jakartans, so a bit of patience is necessary, especially

on weekends.

The nearby National Monument (popularly known as Monas) is Jakarta’s most iconic structure. The 132-meter tall obelisk was commissioned by Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, in 1961 to commemorate the country’s struggle for independence. The monument is topped with a flame coated in 35 kilograms of gold, which lights up the night each evening. For a bird’s eye view of the city, jump in the elevator for the 115-meter trip to the viewing platform.

Those who enjoy a bit of history on their doorstep, might wish to check into the Dharmawangsa, a boutique hotel that combines 1920s Jakarta architecture with a classic Javanese aesthetic. On the other side of the city, the Hermitage is housed in a striking ar t deco building, which served as a Dutch Telecommunications office in 1923. Some of the hotel’s charming design elements include glamorous 1920s chandeliers, vintage telephones and an old gramophone.

Dharmawangsa http://www.the-dharmawangsa.com/ Hermitage http://www.hermitagejakarta.com/

For Shopaholics

O

ne of the most fascinating spots in the city to spend the afternoon is the Surabaya Street Market. Step back in time as you stroll along the rows of small streetside stores stocked with relics of the past - from Indonesian arts and ceramics to vintage phones, old coins, vinyl LPs and Rolleiflex cameras. Be ready to bargain and keep in mind that just because something looks old does not mean it is an antique.

Just down the street, Plaza Indonesia is an oasis of cool with its air-conditioning and range of top-end brands such as Bvlgari, Giorgio Armani and Versace.

Stay at the adjoining Keraton at The Plaza if you’d like to be in the thick of the shopping action. Don’t miss Bartele Gallery, located at the Hotel Mandarin Oriental across the street, a store that specialises in antique maps and prints from the country’s colonial era.

The upscale residential area of Kemang in South Jakarta is peppered with one-of-a-kind boutiques, and furniture and antique stores. If you are looking for brands by local designers, head to Dia.Lo.Gue, an art space, cafe and

store that stocks anything and everything from home artisanal products to stationary. Another stop-worthy shop in the area, Tulisan specialises in lifestyle products, such as cushion covers and bags, adorned with hand-drawn illustrations.

Dia.Lo.Gue https://dialogue-artspace.com/ Tulisan https://www.tulisan.com/

March 2019 • ScandAsia 19

Feature

You Better Vogue!

Spearheading Thailand’s vogue dancing scene is Norwegian-raised Thai dancer Phitthaya Phaefuang who hopes to spark a change in the way we see and express ourselves.

By Manta Klangboonkrong and Chris Wotton

20 ScandAsia • March 2019

P

hitthaya Phaefuang was born in the northern Thai province of Phichit, but he has spent much of his life in various towns and cities around Norway.

He describes himself as French-Thai in race, but is a Norwegian-Thai national. “I feel very fluid when it comes to nationality,” he said, “but I used to be a lot more Thai than I am now.”

Phitthaya was born to a French father but, when he and Phitthaya’s Thai mother separated, she married a Norwegian man, and they all moved to Norway when Phitthaya was three. Phitthaya, who goes by the nickname Sun and is professionally known as Amazon Sun, returned to live in Bangkok six years ago, and over the past three he has become the sole driving force behind Thailand’s nascent vogue dancing scene.

What is vogue dancing, or voguing as it’s more commonly known? Sun says it first emerged among New York’s LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community, where everyday party people became engaged in developing a new form of dance that was less about following a set of movements and more about expressing their own experiences. While in the beginning the focus was on striking ‘fierce and fabulous poses’ – vogue gets its name from the impressionable runway-like positions articulated by fashion models in the magazine of the same name – these days, Sun said, there are three main styles: the ‘old

way’, the ‘new way’, and ‘vogue femme’, which he described as a very feminine version of vogue.

Sun stressed that every vogue dancer has personal reasons for pursuing the dance form. “It is the energy of the people doing it that makes it what it is,” he said, “and yet that energy is almost invisible to our eyes because it comes from something very deep within them.” Of his own motivation for voguing, it is clear he feels strongly that ‘there is still so much more that needs to be talked about in society’.

He acknowledges that Thailand is more open-minded towards sexuality than many countries but said that in 2019 the conversation has moved beyond LGBTQ issues and now encompasses equality for everyone – women’s rights, the fight against discrimination of marginalised groups in society, and so on. “Vogue lets me really explain who I am as a person, my strengths, and my mindset to fight for equality,” he added.

The ability to express himself through dance is important to Sun, who admitted that - like many expressive artists – he was shy as a child. “I had the urge to dance from a young age,” he said, “but I wasn’t too confident. Yet dance was how I got away from speaking – I could just dance because I wanted to, and I could express myself without talking.”

March 2019 • ScandAsia 21

Sun’s experience as a Thai who has spent most of his life abroad has also proved influential. “In Norway I learned a lot about being more open-minded about art – I got to see art by people who really explored more, and who were different from people here. I think that is what has enabled me to work with both traditional and contemporary culture.”

Sun’s open-minded approach to his work and his life is also evident as he talks about his appreciation for having been exposed to the European norm of dancers taking everyday part-time jobs after university, while they wait for dancing work to come along. Sun worked at McDonald’s, something he says many affluent Thais would turn their noses up at, which he describes as ‘silly’. And describing his mother as very traditionally Thai, he says that he finds it fascinating to observe everyday local culture when returning to their hometown in Phichit, such as the superstitious belief in finding clues to winning lottery numbers etched into the trunks of supposedly lucky or holy trees. He rejects these kinds of beliefs himself, but nevertheless considers them eye-opening.

Getting into dancing later than most also influenced his approach and his abilities. “I took my first class at 17,” he explained, “but I feel that artists like me who deal with contemporary expression often benefit from starting later, because this art form has so much to do with your mindset 22 ScandAsia • March 2019

rather than just pure dancing.” While many of his classmates had started with ballet at age three or four and could therefore physically do a lot that he couldn’t, he said, there was also a lot that they couldn’t do with their mindset that Sun could, because they were stuck in the mindset of classical dancing, and ‘following rather than leading’.

Three years after he first began learning to vogue, Sun now works both as a professional dancer – he has danced solo and with groups, independently and at ar t festivals and showcases, in locations including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the USA, the UK, Portugal, Germany, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Laos – and also as a vogue teacher.

He is keen to stress that he sees his role as a teacher not to simply train his students to copy moves from him (“that’s just teaching choreography, and pretending it’s teaching dance makes me angry”, he fumed), but rather to ‘guide other human beings to understand themselves, and make progress in their mind and body’.

It’s clear, though, that the reaction of his audiences is also an important reward for his work as a performer, and it helps to illustrate the admirable passion he displays for making the arts accessible to all segments of the population. That includes poorer, less-educated Thais, who he highlighted are conventionally excluded from watching and participating in creative performances because ‘society re-

stricts them to working all day to feed themselves and their families’. He contrasts this with the much stronger artistic traditions he witnessed while growing up in Europe, where he said it’s normal for people to consume art ‘no matter whether you’re rich or poor’.

At the recently held Low Fat Art Fes Vol.3, which was a low-funding, high-impact multidisciplinary art festival, Sun’s solo performance – which he describes as ‘definitely not pure vogue as they would do it in New York, but rather my own interpretation, including the essence of queer Thailand’ – had two older local Thais in the audience, he says. Later, one of the festival organisers visited the pair at their home, where they run a made-to-order stir-fry food stall, to canvass their feedback on the show. Sun relays how the lady responded, “I don’t really know how to describe [the dance], but I could feel it, and it made sense to me.”

“She compared it to going to the cinema, watching a film, liking it and understanding it, and that being the end of it,” added Sun, “whereas in this case she was still thinking about the performance days after, and still couldn’t put words to it. It was amazing to receive that response from local people, and it was incredible that the festival enabled them to come and watch art. They’re not stupid, and they want access to art as much as rich people, but it’s just that it is not there for them.”

Sun’s plan for the future is to continue building the vogue scene here in Thailand. “It’s still very small right now,” he cautioned. “In fact, I’m the one who is building it, and it’s just me and my students – my babies – as I call them, because in fact vogue is about creating your own new dance family, so I have daughters and sons who I teach about family values as well as dance itself.”

“With vogue,” Sun concluded, “I want to explore who we are as spiritual beings. These days the world – and Thailand especially – is making us become more superficial, visual beings, where we live according to what we see rather than what we feel. But dance can be deep and healing, allowing us to strip away our outer layers and focus instead on who we are underneath and who we want to be.”

March 2019 • ScandAsia 23

Charity

Keep them afloat Thailand-based Swedish actor Kjell Bergqvist helps underprivileged Thai children learn a vital survival skill – swimming.

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By Agneta de Bekassy o you know how many Thai children drown every day?” Kjell Bergqvist, a famous Swedish actor, asked. “Seven!

Every day, seven kids in Thailand loose their lives simply because most of them cannot swim,” he said. “We Swedes teach our children to swim at a very young age. It’s scary to think that just because of the lack of swimming lesson, these tragedies occurred.”

This is the main idea behind Family Bergqvist Foundation, established in 2017 by Kjell and his wife Karin, to give children free swimming lessons and engage in other charity works. The foundation is currently run on a non-profit basis by the couple and their three children. “It is in or best intention to and give back to the wonderful people in our little village. It has been something that we longed to do,” Kjell said.

Known and loved for his portrayal of odd and brutal characters, especially in his latest 2016 series, The Springflood (Springfloden), the actor-turned-philanthropist first 24 ScandAsia • March 2019

came to Thailand in 1985 to shoot a movie. Charmed by the pleasant climate of the country and the smiling people, Kjell decided to spend half his time at home in Sweden, and 4-5 months a year in his house by the sea in Huay Yang subdistrict, 10 miles south of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, where most locals support themselves working within the hospitality and service sector. Kjell and his wife have a son, Leo, and together they also live with two daughters from his previous marriage.

The Bergqvist family, through their foundation, employed Thai staff to construct a pool and swimming teachers to set up a swim school that runs four days a week every year and gives out swimming lessons for free. But merely a good intention is not enough to complete the task, and the way to achieve their goal was long and winding. Lots of paper works had to be filed and series of heavy discussions with the authorities must be made before the project materialized, not to mention the challenge of finding workers in the countryside that can communicate in English.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 25

They finally found a gem, Puay or Mr. Storm as he is known colloquially, to be the head swimming teacher. Already devoted his life to teaching both children and adults to swim, Mr. Storm came to the village and taught other instructors to give swimming lessons and helped set up the project. With his unique approach to swimming lesson that eases the fear of water in most of the children, the school has to date taught hundreds of children to swim and helped them discover the fun in the water in a safe way. A true haven for learning, the school is known among local children as a place for both education and fun, where every swimming class finishes off with an ice cream.

The Bergqvist family intends to keep this initiative rolling, quite literally, as they have financed a “mobile swimming pool” where Mr. Storm and his team can drive around to different par ts of Thailand to teach children to swim.

The Family Bergqvist Foundation does not only give free swimming lessons but also contributes to the society in many different efforts. Since 2004, they support Barnhem Muang Mai, a care home for children in Phuket that was

26 ScandAsia • March 2019

established by Swedish mother, Susanne Janson, who lost both her children in the tsunami.

At their home in Huay Yang, the family provided bicycles for underprivileged children to help them get to school easier, while the adults received gasoil kitchens. Around the schools, the family also placed much-needed road signs to ease traffic and increase road safety. The family also organized fun activities and gave away scholarships for the kids on Children’s Day. During the floods in the southern Thailand, from December 2016 to the early months of 2017, the family managed to rally more than 440,000 baht in donation to aid the relief effort and help rebuild houses. Most recently, last spring, the foundation provided 20 sets of hearing aids to students at Thepparat School for the Deaf in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

“The works of the foundation is a group effort of not just our family but many other people,” Kjell said. “People contribute money, time, knowledge and expertise to benefit the causes and they want nothing more than to make a difference.”

Using fame to benefit his good cause, Kjell reaches out to his famous peers for support through his project, Kjelles Travelresa. Celebrities like Björn Borg, Ingemar Stenmark, Håkan Hellström, Zara Larsson and many others lend support. Renowned artist Emil Grönholm also helped raise funds with sales of por trait paintings of famous people, signed by the painter and the models.

In Thailand, the effort of the Family Bergqvist Foundation does not go unnoticed. Last October at the regional meeting by Swedish Women Educational Association (SWEA) in Bangkok where Kjell and Karin gave a talk about their foundation, the association chipped in with yellow towels to be used at the swimming school. With their humanitarian works expanding, Karin is working full time for the foundation while their kids are also helping in many ways to support.

“Our future plan for now is getting another mobile swimming pool for Mr. Storm to give swimming lessons to children in Chiang Mai and other cities,” Kjell said.

“We also look to work with a school, which is run by a Swedish gentleman a few miles out of Huay Yang, to give English lessons to children. With better knowledge of English language, the children will have better opportunities to find good jobs to support themselves and the families. It’s wonderful to see that a small foundation like ours with relatively small funds can make a difference and change people’s lives for the better,” Kjell said.

Facebook: @Familjen Bergqvist Insamlingsstiftelse

March 2019 • ScandAsia 27

Community

Charity Jazz Concert for Thai-Myanmar kids by Danish Women’s Network

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By Nilobon Bantoey t would be an incredible idea to organize an event that would allow people to enjoy good taste in music and at the same time would give them an opportunity to extend their hands to underprivileged children.

With that in mind, Danish Women’s Network (DWN) on Tuesday, 12 February 2019 had invited to an “Exclusive Charity Home Concert” in order to support the Children of the Forest (COF), a Thai Foundation for Stateless children.

“Danish women’s network did a lot of charity events but this is the first time that we do a Jazz concert. I’m sure that the guests will enjoy the show because the musicians are very incredible”Trine Paludan, the member of Danish Women’s Network told Scandasia before the concert begins.

Held at Jaspal residence, the DWN’s Charity Jazz Concert was very successful. The tickets for all 50 seats were all sold out and the audience was having a great time watching smooth jazz music performed by Danish singer Yasmin Kierkegaard and saxophonist Jakob Dinesen together with 28 ScandAsia • March 2019

award-winning pianist, Sunny Wongsansern and the percussionist, Łukasz Kurzydło.

Yasmin and Jakob have been performing their music in Thailand for the past several years. Their talents are wellknown both in Denmark and Thailand. Jakob has produced at least eight albums and earned three Danish Grammy awards. Yasmin was remarkable for her quality voice, her swing movement and her cheerful personality during the show.

Trine explained that Jakob and Yasmin, who are also a member of Danish Women’s Network, had agreed and offered to perform the charity concert and that DWN “is so happy and grateful to have Yasmin and Jakob here tonight!”

Since walking into the place, you could feel the warm and welcoming atmosphere from the members of DWN who were busy preparing the details before the rest of the guests arrived but not forgetting their hospitality with sweet welcome drink and snacks.

The first guests started to arrive at 19.30. They hugged

and intimately shared their conversation in both Danish and English and this made the place look even more like family gathering than the concert.

At the concert, Yasmin and Jakob started their performance with soft and relaxing sounds of the saxophone, rainstick and tender cymbal to warm up and prepare the audience before the rhythm got more groovy. Then, when the rhythm got exciting by the third song, Yasmin showed her charming voice and unique dancing movement along with the swing sound from 3-piece Jazz band as if her body is a part of the melody.

The audience were entertained with famous jazz songs from legendary jazz artists including Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole and more.

Some members of the audience enjoyed the show by sitting still, leaning back in their chair. Some were tapping their feet or nodding their head and got along with the upbeat tempo. Though their reactions were different, they were united in enjoying the same show and had a great time at the concert.

Furthermore, Trine kindly introduced Scandasia to Daniel Hopson, the director of Children of the Forest, who gave us a brief background and objectives of the foundation.

COF has been established for over 13 years and located in Thai-Myanmar border at Kanchanaburi, Thailand. COF helps and suppor ts abandoned, abused, orphaned and stateless children. The missions of COF are to provide protection, education and healthcare to empower the children so they can break free from the cycle of disadvantage and poverty.

According to Daniel, “We have our own medical clinic, school for kindergarten till grade 2 and mother and child protection center”. He added that COF introduces the children with fundamental education to prepare them before they attend to government high school which can provide them further support.

Moreover, Daniel revealed that COF frequently has to confront the difficulty of finding the streaming income to suppor t the children on their education toward school supplies and uniforms “which are what Danish Women’s Network will assist tonight” he said.

Danish Women’s Network has been assisting the Children of the Forest for several years and they commit to continue doing so in the future. “It makes me feel very happy to organize this concert for the charity” Trine told.

If you want to make a contribution to Children of the Forest, you can have a look at their website and you will see various ways to support. But if you want to see the place with your eyes, you will be very welcomed to visit the place by yourself at Sangkhlaburi District, Kanchanaburi Provine, Thailand.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 29

Community

HUSH first time in Thailand

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anish Women’s Network (DWN) in Bangkok organized their first charity concert for Children of the Forest (COF), a Thai Foundation for Stateless children, on Thursday, 28 February 2019. A second concert was held only two week later as the unique opportunity presented itself to offer an evening with Hush, a Danish duo, consisting of singer, Dorthe Gerlach and guitarist, Michael Hartmann for the first time ever in Thailand.

The concert took place at Park Court condo in Sukhumvit 77 with around 50 guests who were invited to bring their favorite snacks and drinks. Before the concert began, Trine Paludan, one of the DWN’s members, gave her opening speech to welcome guests and gave a short background of what COF is and which part of COF that would be supported by this concert tonight.

30 ScandAsia • March 2019

The concert tonight was about paying for lunch for 24 high school students from COF. The lunch fees for each student cost 600 Baht per month so, for 24 students, it will cost 14,400 Baht per month.

“We will aim to funding as many lunches as we can” said Trine.

Hush is a Danish country-pop duo which has been performing their music in Denmark, UK, Cannada and America since 1997. Dorthe and Michael started their long journey on the streets of Denmark where they met for the first time and decided that they should combine their talents. In 2005, Hush was nominated for five categories from Danish Music Awards and at the same year, Hush won a European Border Breaker award for selling their debut album the most in the EU outside their country.

“This is our very first show in Bangkok and Asia. We are very excited to be here,” Dorthe said before started her first song.

One of the charms of the Hush performance was, that every time before Dorthe would sing her next song, she would always share with the audience the stories behind the song or tell stories about inspiring people that Dorthe and Michael had met during their trips.

At the concert, the guests’ old memories were brought back by a Nordic vibe from Hush’s beautiful country-pop songs such as Darkhorse, Say a little prayer, Home, Up to the mountain and more.

March 2019 • ScandAsia 31

Restaurant Review

Nordic-Thai flavors The Front Room at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok offers a beautiful clash of two cuisines and the delightful “juice pairing” to go with it.

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By Manta Klangboonkrong he Front Room at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is probably the most anticipated newbie in the Bangkok dining scene. Bold, unique and inspiring, the food here is so unexpected and creative it makes even the most jaded gourmands in capital clutch their knives and forks in excitement.

Manning the kitchen is Chef Fae (Rungthiwa Chummongkhon), a native of Chiang Rai. Originally a hairdresser, Chef Fae married a Dane and relocated to Denmark where she started to learn how to cook. And after some 12 years training and professional stints at top-notch Michelinstarred restaurants in Denmark – Frederikshoj, Kokkedal Slot and Noma included – with the idea to mingle and marry Nordic and Thai cuisines.

32 ScandAsia • March 2019

The slew of typical Nordic food preservation techniques – curing, fermenting, infusing and pickling – are meddled with bright, vibrant and unique Thai flavors. Using mainly local produce, Chef Fae’s creations include simple-looking yet complex and mesmerizing dishes such as “Velkommen” with Danish pancake puff with sautéed mushroom filling, a bite of sweet potato and peanut and razor clam served with Thai curry-flavored mayonnaise.

And the bread. Chef Fae makes her unique sour dough using black sticky rice of Chiang Rai and serves it with handwhipped butter with soy sauce. Rice-fragranced sour dough and savory butter might sound like an acquired taste, but after the third or fourth bite in, you’ll start to warm up to Chef Fae’s daring culinary approach.

In the dish called “Raised in Korat”, she incorporates Nordic flair into the Northern-style larb serving lean Thai beef with pickled papaya and saffron, while for “Duck”, wellseasoned duck breast is served with truffle, risotto of barley and mulberry sauce. Inspired by the age-old question, “what comes first: the chicken or the egg?”, “Reborn” is a visually stunning dish where egg yolk is served in an “egg shell” with mussel sauce on a bed of quinoa.

The Front Room’s seafood menus are equally interesting. “Atlantic Laks” is vibrant dish of cold smoked salmon, carrot, bitter oranges and rice-flavored mayonnaise with herbaceous drops of dill oil. Inspired by the briny summer in Scandinavia, “To the Sea” lures foodies into the (imaginary) deep blue with chunky and succulent tooth fish and clam

served on a “beach” of soft creamy puree.

The Front Room has both a la carte and set menu with 7-course and 10-course tasting menus to choose from.

Wine pairing option is also available, but much recommended is juice pairing where fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices are meticulously concocted to match each dish – a refreshing and decent option for non-drinker and adventurous gourmands. Note that the tasting menus change every few months.

The Front Room is open daily for dinner only. https://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/en/hotels/thailand/ waldorf-astoria-bangkok-BKKWAWA/amenities/restaurants.html March 2019 • ScandAsia 33

Obituary

Carsten Dencker Nielsen passed away

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We are many who have been inspired by Carsten and because of that will always remember him.

34 ScandAsia • March 2019

arsten Dencker Nielsen, Honorar y Consul for Thailand in Denmark, EAC Managing Director and Honorary Chairman for Asia House passed away on 25 February 2019.

The funeral will take place on 8 March 2019 in Hornbaek Church at 13.00.

Under the headline “The Flagship Captain of the EAC’s has disembarked”, two of Carsten Dencker Nielsen’s many close friends, Erik Boegh Christenen and Martin Jes Iversen has written the following obituary: “It is with great sadness that we learn that former EAC Director Carsten Dencker Nielsen has passed away after a brief illness, 78 years old. Carsten Dencker Nielsen lived an adventurous life with postings in Mombasa, Lagos, Jakarta, Tokyo and Bangkok before he eventually ended his career as Managing Director - the top post - of the company he spent over 50 years working for, the East Asiatic Company.

After finishing his lower secondary education at Vestre Borgerdyd School in Copenhagen, Carsten was employed as apprentice in EAC in 1957 at only 16 years of age. He was then posted for 8 years in East Africa and Nigeria. In Mombasa, Carsten met the love of his life, Lise, who would become his wife and partner in life. Lise was a child of the EAC herself, being the daughter of Branch Director Knudsen. She was born in Singapore and grew up in Australia and Africa. Lise and Carsten created together the framework of a rich life both socially and culturally at their postings in Lagos, Jakarta, Tokyo and Bangkok, as well as finally in their apartment on Strandboulevarden in Copenhagen and the summerhouse in Hornbaek. Their many friends were of a variety of nationalities. They maintained traditional values and were as hosts always open, inclusive and easy going.

They had two children, Lars and Nina, both of whom have followed in the footsteps of their father, building distinguished international business careers of their own.

At the age of only 33, Carsten became Head of Country for EAC in Japan and as of 1978 he promoted to lead the activities of the Company on Thailand and IndoChina.

After 24 years of postings abroad, he returned to the Head Quarters in Copenhagen. After five years as Head of Division he took in 1992 over the post of Presiding Managing Director of EAC as the Company had run into economic trouble. Carsten was charged with working out the plan for restructuring the activities of the Company, which was consequently carried out successfully. In 2005, when the Board and the leading shareholders agreed to wind down and close the EAC, the Company’s market value stood at 11 billion Danish kroner. The following payment to the shareholders of over 8 billion Danish kroner is the largest divi-

dend ever paid out in the history of the Stock Exchange of Copenhagen. The vision at the founding of the East Asiatic Company by the end of the 19th century was to improve the mercantile position and reputation of Denmark in the World. That vision was realised and Carsten devoted his whole working life to achieve this successfully.

After the dissolution of the EAC, Carsten focused his working efforts on developing Asia House, where he was Chairman of the Board, as well as the EAC Foundation, where he was Vice Chairman of the Board. The purpose of these activities are to par ticipate in maintaining and strengthening and developing the relations between Denmark and the countries in Asia, as well as manage and preserve the historical legacy of the EAC. Apart from his work as Consul General for Thailand in Denmark, President of the Danish-Africa Society and Honorary Chairman of Asia House, Carsten was also active in Rotary both in Denmark and internationally. Throughout his life he was also active in sports, an interest which he maintained until the end.

Carsten will be remembered for having built an international business career that in Danish terms is entirely unique.

But first and foremost we are many who will remember Carsten for his personal qualities.

He was loyal towards the EAC and he was loyal towards his friends. Expressions like “a people’s man” was one that Carsten used about persons that he admired. The interesting thing is, that exactly this expression is so fitting about Carsten himself. A true gentleman, Carsten would instantly gain sympathy from all people that he encountered, high and low. His quick remarks and ready laugh was always combined with distinctive attitude to the subject at hand.

Carsten had formed an opinion about everything. From Brexit over the future of Africa to yesterdays results in the Champion League. He mastered to perfection how to appear at the Royal Danish Court as well as how to deal with the top echelons of international diplomacy, while at the same time never forgetting his childhood roots at Store Moellevej on Amagerbro in Copenhagen. Until the end he followed closely the changing results of the local football club Fremad Amager and when he was Director of the big Head Quarters of the EAC in Bangkok he even arranged for a copy of the local paper Amager Posten to be delivered with the SAS plane every week, so he could follow what went on in his old child hood neighbourhood. Carsten was the Branch Director dressed correctly in the prescribed short sleeved, white EAC shirt who would receive guests from back home with a big smile standing in front of the white, historical head quarter on the banks of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. Always ready to do business. With Amager Bladet under his arm.

As a person, Carsten Dencker Nielsen was an icon, “larger than life” who left his marks on everything he touched.

He had a curious mind and a great appetite for life. Not easy to get around. A man deeply rooted in his family life.

We are many who have been inspired by Carsten and because of that will always remember him. Our warm thought in this hour goes to Lise, Lars and Nina and their families.

On behalf of hundred of EAC Colleagues and innumerable friends we extend our condolences. We will always honour his memory.”

Read also the interview with Carsten Dencker Nielsen published in ScandAsia in May 2013: https://issuu.com/ scandasia/docs/scandasia_thailand_may_2013/s/75258 March 2019 • ScandAsia 35

Business

Former Missionary couple celebrated Diamond Wedding Anniversary

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ormer missionaries in Thailand, Ruth and Peder Jørgensen, celebrated on March 7, 2019 their 60 year wedding anniversary - in Denmark called Diamond Wedding. The anniversary was celebrated by a reception near their home in Isenvad, Ikast, for their family and many friends.

The couple received in the occasion a telegram from HM Queen Margerthe of Denmark, congratulating them with the anniversary.

Peder and Ruth Jørgensen have had an unusually adventurous life together in Thailand where they were at first working with leprosy patients and later established a church and a school dormitor y in Pibul Mangsahan near the Laotian border for the Norwegian Missionary Society.

In 2010, Ruth wrote her memoirs, initially only thought as a paper for the grand children, but the interest was

Nordic China Startup Night in Shenzhen

so big, that it was published as a book entitled “Fra Limfjorden til Mekhong” (sold out from publisher).

Peder has published several book, but his own story remains untold in book form. The closest one can get is the book published in 2016 by Moesgaard Museum about his extensive collection of ethnographic items from Thailand’s past that no longer exists.

The book, ”Thailand med liv og sjæl” was published to mark the donation of Peder of his collection to the museum.

The items are still kept in the couple’s home in Isenvad, Ikast, where Peder can see them and remember the story behind each of them. Many fascinating stories could be written based on this collection.

The later years have been burden by illness, but the couple are still following actively all that is happening around them - including in Thailand..

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he message was clear : Nordic tech star t-ups and businesses got to explore business opportunities and investments in Greater Bay Area. Jan Smejkal, aka ‘Your China Guy’ - a professional networker who builds communities and help businesses succeed in China & Asia, gave the introduction on ‘Cooperation between West and China’ at the Nordic China Startup Forum organized at Beeplus in Futian, Shenzhen.

A panel discussion followed on the topic ‘Why should China care about Nordics’, including Jenny Ber thling, Head of ICT at Invest Stockholm; Jon Eivind, CEO and Co-founder nHack Ventures; Van Hoang, Head of Business Sweden to Hong Kong and Macau; and Roderick Xu, Senior Investment Advisor at Business Finland and Invest in Finland.

Source: Van Hoang, Businesses Sweden Hong Kong & Macau

36 ScandAsia • March 2019

“Fastelavnsfest” - the Danish fun in Bangkok

Community

Yasmin Kierkegaard and Jakob Dinesen performed Fastelavn er mit navn song

Mr. Poop is the king of cats and the best costume winner of Fastelavn Fest this year Christa Lund Herum was giving a speech to open the Fastelavn Fest

by Nilobon Bantoey

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his year the “Fastelavn”, the Danish tradition of Shrovetide, was held at the Church of Christ in Thailand in Ratchathevi on Sunday, 3 March 2019 with the collaboration between Dansk Kirke Thailand, Danes Worldwide, Danish Women’s Network and Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce.

With around 40 attendees, the festival took place to celebrate the days before Lent. Traditionally known for its thrilling festive fun, the Fastelavn Fest communicated the historical background of the festival to attendees, while at the same time mesmerized the children and their parents with fun activities and games, especially the barrel whacking.

The Fastelavn Fest tar ted with a speech by Christa Lund Herum, a Danish priest in Bangkok. She gave a warm welcome to all participants and invited them to pray as a beginning of church services. In her speech, Christa men-

tioned about the meaning of Fastelavn and the reason why it is important to Danish people.

For the Dane, Fastelavn was used as an annual celebration (the evening before the feast) and as time passed, some processes during the Fastelavn may have changed but the common activities still generally involve the children dressed up in their favorite costumes and Slå katten af tønden (hit the cat out of the barrel) which is a traditional Danish-style pinata game.

After the church ser vices, there was a musical performance by Yasmin Kierkegaard and Jakob Dinesen, wellknown Danish Jazz singer and saxophonist. Yasmin invited people to join singing a Danish popular children’s song called Fastelavn er mit navn and led the crowd to another room where the party took place.

At the party, the parents were exchanging their conversations and enjoying their hot dogs and Fastelaven

søndag, a Danish cream bun, while the children were trying to win the prizes sponsored by various well-known Danish companies in Thailand.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for – The Slå katten af tønden which began around 2pm. Children raced outside where the candy-filled barrel awaited. Though the outside of the barrel was painted with images of cats, the children were fully aware that the win for this game was actually various kinds of candies.

After 30 minutes of hard work, the “king of cats” who managed to break the barrel was Mr. Poop, a young kid dressed up in probably the most eyecatching costume at the event. And it was him, too, that snatched the “best costume” award for the Fastelavn Fest this year. One could say that the judges’ decision was unanimous!

March 2019 • ScandAsia 37

Community

Danish Women’s Network: Annual general meeting 2019

D

anish Women’s Networ k (DWN) in Bangkok, Thailand, held their annual gener al meeting on 17 January 2019. It took place at The Athenee Hotel with attendance of 21 members. Prior to the meeting, the members could enjoy a dinner with buffet.

At the meeting, new member s were chosen to serve on nine committees that will arrange different events throughout the year.

Line Krogh Andersen, Camilla Møller

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38 ScandAsia • March 2019

Jørgensen, Jolanta Brown and Christa Lund Herum resigned from the board.

Jill Lerche, Rikke Kyung Elmvard and Nanna Stensler-Gotfredsen were elected to the board.

Looking back at 2018, board member Kit Daniel thinks it has been a successful year for DWN: “We have arranged many different events that a lot of our members attended. I also find it very positive that the members have arranged things on their own such as a new sports club,”

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she tells ScandAsia.

In 2018, DWN held a very successful Christmas bazar together with the Danish Church in Thailand. The Christmas bazar attracted approximately 500 visitors. It will be held again this year. In 2019, DWN is also arranging a charity jazz concert that is already sold out.

Furthermore, DWN will in 2019 expand their cooperation with the Danish Church in Thailand, Danes World Wide and DanCham.

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March 2019 • ScandAsia 39