ScandAsia Thailand - April 2012

APR 2012

Thailand

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Opinion

Rising Asia and Old Europe need to work together

T

empting as it may be, it would be wrong to write off Europe as yesterday’s power. Europe still matters even though this is not the message some EU policymakers have been sending out to a watching world.

Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Thailand ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Thailand.

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.

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Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

The impression that Europe is too busy dealing with internal challenges to play a strong global role is especially strong in Asia. True, China gets a great deal of EU attention. And the EU’s outreach on trade remains strong.

But there is more to Asia than China - and trade and investment agreements must not be made a substitute for a more pro-active EU foreign policy.

The EU must engage more strongly with South Asian and Southeast Asian countries on foreign policy and security questions, not just trade. This means top-level EU participation in Asian security fora such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). It means showing up and seriously participating in ministerial meetings with Asian countries such as the EU-ASEAN gathering of foreign ministers in Brunei in April. It also requires regular and consistent high-level conversations on global and regional challenges with India and other South Asian nations.

Apart from trips to China, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has been a rare visitor to the rest of Asia.

Her decision to stay away from the ARF last year, for a second year running, was a serious faux pas. Not surprisingly, Asians have put Europe’s request to join the East Asia Summit – the region’s prime security club – on hold and insist that Europeans must first prove they are ready for a serious conversation with Asia on security.

European policymakers are selling Europe short. Asia cannot take Europe seriously unless it does a better job of communicating with the region – and gains better understanding of what makes increasingly self-confident Asians tick.

Dealing with a changing and rising Asia will require that the EU engages in new courtships and new alliances with governments, businesses and civil society leaders in the region.

is negotiating with Asian partners, including India, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Europe is the biggest source of foreign investments in Asia. Today, the eurozone crisis has made Europe’s frontier-free single market even more of a magnet for Asian investors. A recent survey underlined that 45 % of businesses in Asia are either currently doing or looking to make strategic acquisitions in Europe in the next 12 months, compared with just 14 % cent in the Middle East and 7 % in North America.

Although Asian exporters and businesses may complain about Brussels’ heavy-handed ways, the EU has fostered the development of high-quality rules and standards which help shape global norms in areas such as food and consumer products, cars, chemicals, aircraft emissions. European companies are leading innovators in clean and green technologies that Asia needs to meet the challenge of low-carbon growth and urbanisation and realise their plans for increased connectivity among nations.

It is the coming overhaul of the many aspects of the EU rulebook – from financial services to climate issues – that will maintain the EU’s clout and influence.

Neither Europe nor Asia can work alone to tackle threats to global stability that range from resource competition, nuclear proliferation, overpopulation to climate change.

Europe isn’t indifferent and certainly not irrelevant to Asia’s rise. As the US speaks of the Asia Pacific Century and seems to reinforce its presence in Asia, Europe must develop its own blueprint for improved engagement with the region.

Giles Merritt Secretary General of Friends of Europe and Editor-in-Chief of Europe’s World

The name of the game has to be partnership between Rising Asia and Old Europe. But by failing to engage seriously and consistently with Asia, Europeans are propagating a myth of European weakness and irrelevance.

The reality of Europe – the eurozone crisis notwithstanding – is different. Given its experience in turning enemies into friends, voluntarily pooling sovereignty and achieving economic and political integration, the EU has a wealth of experience to share with Asia on future frameworks for global governance. More so, it scarcely needs saying, than the United States.

Asians pressing ahead with their own efforts at regional integration and cross-border cooperation still look at the EU for inspiration. Interestingly, this is still the case although Europe’s practice of lecturing ASEAN on the subject has irked many Asians.

The EU’s predominance in world trade is undiminished.

EU-Asia trade is booming and is crucial both for Europe’s economic recovery and ensuring that Asian growth remains on track. The EU-Korea free trade agreement is the first in a series of trade-expanding deals that Europe

Shada Islam Head of Policy at Friends of Europe

Friends of Europe is an independent think tank for EU policy and analysis and debate Bibliothèque Solvay – Parc Léopold – 137 rue Belliard – B 1040 Brussels T : 0032 2 737 91 52 – F :0032 2 738 75 97 www.friendsofeurope.org www.europesworld.org

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CONTENTS

24 22 30

44 26

April 2012

22 Swedish Designed Baan Krood Village 24 Danes Seek Exciting New Art in Southeast Asia 26 Asian Antiques at Himapan Gallery 28 The Queen and the Captain 30 Go South 38 The Insurgency in Southern Thailand 40 Tempting Koh Tao Diving Packages 42 Lima Coco Resort is My Place 44 Theme:International Schools

Coming Events “Enhancing Competitiveness and Investment Climate with Transparency” Date: 24 April 2012 Location: The Bangkok Club, 28 Floor, Sathorn City Tower, South Sathorn Road A unique Thai-European event for both Thai and European business and stakeholders to come together and discuss possible solutions and recommendation on improvement of transparency. This event also provides a venue for business networking.

The fee will be THB 500 net for Members.

Please contact events@eabc-thailand.eu or visit www.eabc-thailand.eu.

6 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Networking at Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Date: 25 April 2012 Location: Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok DanCham’s next networking is to be held Wednesday 25 April 2012 at a cocktail bar inBlu Jazz Lounge located in the lobby level of Grand Millennium Sukumvit. The event is free for DanCham Members and Spouses.

THB 600 net for Non-Members. There will be free flow of beer, soft drinks and finger food. For further information, please visit www.dancham.or.th

Understanding the Myanmar way to prosperity Date: 26 April 2012 Location: Sheraton Grande Sukumvit Hotel, Bangkok The Nordic Chambers invite their members to a Joint Foreign Chambers Dinner Talk with Mr. Horst Rudolf, former German ambassador for Myanmar from 19982001 on Thursday 26 April 2012, at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok.

The program will start at 6.30 pm and at 8 pm Mr. Horst Rudolf will talk. The cost will be THB 1,300 net for Members and THB 1,500 net for Non-Members. The price includes set dinner and beverages. For more information and booking, please visit your own chambers website.

HRH Prince Consort of Denmark Opened Hotel Mermaid in Bangkok

By Gregers Moller Photos Indius Pedersen

H

is Royal Highness Prince Henrik, The Prince Consort of Denmark performed on Friday 10 March 2012 the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Hotel Mermaid Bangkok. Prince Henrik performed first the official opening with cutting of the ribbon on the red carpet leading from Sukhumvit Soi 29 into the reception area of the hotel. Next followed a more informal inauguration in the Admiral’s Pub, where Prince Henrik rang an old ships bell wearing an old captain’s cap.

“I wish you every success with the hotel,” Prince Henrik told Jorgen Lundbak and Peter Singh Singhsachthep who showed His Royal Highness around the hotel. Peter Sing Singsachthep is co-investor in the Mermaid Hotel Bangkok and a third generation Indian with family roots in Thailand dating back to 1904.

During the tour of the premises, Prince Henrik showed special interest in the wine cellar of the hotel, and was offered a wine shelf of his own.

After the tour, the 60 distinguished guests were all invited for a buffet dinner in the Admiral’s restaurant next to the pub. Here, Prince Henrik met several of his friends with whom he has sailed in previous Phuket King’s Cup Regatta but told them that he was not planning to come back to sail in the regatta again.

By the end of the evening, His Royal Highness continued his journey back to Denmark. The Prince had arrived Bangkok only hours before from a visit to China, where he had inaugurated the new SAS route to Shanghai, and the stop-over was arranged on his way back.

1. HRH Prince Henrik cutting the flower garland ribbon to Hotel Mermaid Bangkok.

2. Jorgen Lundbak showed all the old maritime photos on the walls from the grand old days of Denmark in Thailand around the turn of the last century.

3. HRH The Captain ringing the bell in the Admiral’s Pub. 4. HRH Prince Henrik with the owners in front of the hotel, Jorgen Lundbak and his family to the right and Pete Singsachtep and his family to the left.

8 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Norwegian Seafood under the stars Dinner

M

ore than 180 people attended the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce’ “Seafood under the Stars Dinner.” The dinner took place on Thursday 23 February in the garden of H.E. Ambassador Katja Nordgaard’s residence.

As seafood from Norway was served in the beautiful surroundings, the guests were welcomed by H.E. Ambassador herself.

The program for the rest of the evening was followed by a DVD presentation to the guests about “Visiting Norway”.

According to the Thai Norwegian Chamber of Commerce it turned out to be a remarkable evening, with a nice presentation about Norway, good music, fresh seafood and good wines.

1.

2.

3.

1

2

3

H.E. Ambassador Ms. Katja Nordgaard welcomed the guests.

Assistant Commander-in-Chief of The Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Srichown Chanruang enjoyed the evening with his family.

“Visiting Norway” presentation.

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8/29/11 1:57 PM April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

Historical Excursion Showed Danes at War in Thailand

By Dennis Krog

S

candinavian Society Siam went on 25 March 2012 on a trip down memory lane with a visit to the Chulachomklao Fort outside Bangkok.

Sixteen members joined the excursion to the fort which was the venue of the historic battle between the French and the Thai – Danish navy in 1893.

The day started with a 45 minute minibus ride to the Phra Samut Chedi pier in the Samut Prakan Province from where a boat took the participants on a tour around the Samut Chedi Fort, one of the forts that collapsed during the French attack.

From the Samut Chedi Fort the trip continued to the highlight of the day, the Chulachomklao Fort. Here the two very historical interested Danes, Claus Gundersen and Flemming Winther Nielsen gave an interesting insight into the battle in 1893 – a battle with great Danish influence.

The influence from the Danish site was actually a role as officers and trainers for the Thai army, but in the battle against the French, the resistance was not sufficient and the French easily won the battle. However the French left again after receiving a large sum of money and much of the territory east of the Mekong river, which at that time belonged to Thailand.

Battleships and guns impressed the children The Chulachomklao Fort contributed with fascinating scenery to the historical tour. The many narrow and dark corridors let up to big cannons, which impressed the more mature participants of the excursions, while the children were exited to try their luck at maneuvering the impressive weapons.

A small museum on the area of the fort gave an insight to the many aspects surrounding the battle, but after a lunch at the riverside restaurant it was time for the best stop of the day for the children; the battleship.

The battleship gave an authentic insight into the ships of that time, and at the same time it was a much welcomed playground for the children on the excursion, who with guidance from their parents made for at great atmosphere the whole way through the day. And while the children were playing the adults were sharing facts.

“Did you know that Thailand means “Country of the free” and that Thailand never has been colonized?” Claus Gundersen asked this reporter, who at several occasions had shown his lack of knowledge on Thai trivia.

After spending an hour on the battleship it was time to return home. The bus ride back to Bangkok was a quiet one, as a long day with a lot impressions showed its impact on the now tired 16 people, who used the last energy to pose for the group picture, where everybody - except one tired little boy – managed to stay awake.

10 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

Twenty Nordic Participants in Bangkok Chess Club Open 2012

By Rose Jensen

F

inland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark will feature prominently in the Bangkok Chess Club Open 2012 to take place at the Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok on 13 April when the Songkran Festival starts and end on Thursday 19 April.

Bangkok Chess Club, who has been organizing the event for the past 12 years, expects this year’s tournament to attract over 250 participants from more than 40 countries and over 20 of those players are from Scandinavia.

The plans for this year’s tournament was revealed at a press conference held at the Dusit Thani Hotel Thuesday 13 March with the panel comprising of Mr. Kai Tuorila, Chairman of Bangkok Chess Club, Mr. Panupand Vijjuprabha International Arbiter of FIDE, Mr. Jirapak Pitirotjirathon the FIDE Master, Alex Willats the General Manager of Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok, Dr. Pichai Nimityongskul the Secretary General of Thailand Chess Association and Dr. Palphol Rodloytuk from Shinawatra University.

Mr. Kai Tuorila highlighted some ambitious expectations for this year’s tournament and said that it will be the strongest and biggest tournament ever in Thailand. According to Mr. Kai Tuorila most of the players will come from Europe and Asia.

Peter Darby, Director of Bangkok Chess Club who also took part in the press conference added that the participants will pay their own air tickets. But they will all be accommodated at the Dusit Thani Hotel who is a major sponsor, alongside PYN Fund Management, a Finnish company with large investments in Thai equities.

Mr. Alex Willatz, Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok expressed his gratitude for choosing the Dusit Thani Hotel as the venue to host the event and wished this year’s tournament all success.

Dr. Pichai Nimityongskul of Thailand Chess Association said that chess is getting increasingly popular in Thailand. ”It is a pleasure to see chess in Thailand expanding. The tournament will be a great promotion for Thailand, but also to promote friendship among the countries who participate in this tournament” he said.

The games may be watched live by chess lovers all around the world via the Internet. In Bangkok spectators are more than welcome to see the games live - provided they remember to keep their mobile phones on silent so as not to disturb the deep concentration of the participants.

Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark will feature prominently in the Bangkok Chess Club Open 2012. A total of 250 participants have so far signed up and of those more than 20 will come from Scandinavia. The tournament will take place at the Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok during the Songkran Festival.

12 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Swedish Men's Meeting in Hua Hin about Prostate Cancer

T

he Swedish Association held its first men’s luncheon with the topic of the day being prostate cancer. The luncheon started with some wine tasting held at the restaurant Brasserie de Paris in Hua Hin on Thuesday 13 March.

After lunch Mr. Panupong Kanjanawongdeengam, urologist from Bangkok Hospital held a speech about prostate problems.

The head of the Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin,

Mr. Somarch also attended the luncheon as moderator. Around 40 men gathered for this speech.

The attendees learned more about both early and late symptoms of this common cancer among men – “in particular in the United States prostate cancer is the most common internal cancer in men,” said Mr. Panupong Kanjanawongdeengam who also recommends annual screening for all men over 50 years.

The Vice President of the Swedish Association, Henry Nyborn who arranged the men’s luncheon also held a speech about his own experiences with prostate cancer. During his speech many of the audience also shared their experiences with cancer and also many questions were put to the doctors. Member of the board, Lars Olof Fagerström acted as interpreter during the lecture and the following round of questions.

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

Networking at Admiral’s Pub & Restaurant

By Rose Jensen

T

he Danish Chamber of Commerce in Thailand held its second networking this year on Wednesday 21 March at the Admiral's Pub & restaurant. More than 80 participants gathered to meet and mingle at the restaurant designed in a maritime style with photos on the walls showing the grand old days of Denmark in Thailand around the turn of the last century.

After registration, the distinguished guests moved up and outside on Hotel Mermaid’s big terrace called The Deck and enjoyed food and beverages kindly provided by the Admiral's itself.

Mr. Peter E. Romhild, President of Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce welcomed the guests, in particular the three new board members Mr. Supareak Charlie Chomchan, Mr. Niels-Henrik Hansen and Mr. Jorgen Lundgaard. Two of them were among the participants of the evening.

Many of the guests were students from Denmark who clearly enjoyed their very first networking.

Later on it was time for Mr. Bent Laasholdt, Manager of the Admiral’s Pub and Restaurant to grabed the microphone and welcomed the guests together with Jorgen Lundbak. The hotel was officially opened Friday 9 March by his Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark.

14 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Danish Network Hua Hin March 2012

A

pproximately 55 Danes in Hua Hin eagerly awaited Ms. Tove Wihlborg-Andersen, head of the civil service at the Danish Embassy in Bangkok to join their monthly gathering when they received the news that Ms. Wihlborg-Andersen’s car had broken down and she would not be able to attend the event. Ms. WihlborgAndersen was supposed to give a speech about her work at the Embassy.

“Despite the fact that Ms. WihlborgAndersen was unable to attend the networking we all had a very good and pleasant evening with Danish food provided by the restaurant Jailhouse,” writes the Danish Network on its website.

The Danish Network in Hua Hin started at 7 pm beginning with a buffet of finger food and beverages.

The Danish Network promises to find another night where Ms. WihlborgAndersen will drop by and talk about her interesting work.

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April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

Corruption for Breakfast

By Kirsty Turner

C

orruption and bribery was the main topic of conversation when the members and business contacts of the Danish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce and Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce met at the hotel Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit on 27 March 2012.

After enjoying a continental buffet-style breakfast in one of the conference rooms, some 44 members and guests settled down to listen to the seminar entitled “Corruption – Legal Aspects and How to Deal with Practical Problems”.

The seminar was led by the Danish Commercial Counsellor, Mr. Bo Bjerregaard Rasmussen who introduced Detective Superintendent Mr. Morgens Sørensen from the Nordic Police and Customs Co-operation.

Detective Superintendent Sørensen began by explaining that the Nordic Police and Customs Co-operation was established in Thailand approximately thirty years ago.

Today, the Nordic Police and Customs office cooperates with among others the Attorney General’s Office, the Royal Thai Police, Royal Thai Customs, Interpol, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and the Office of Public Sector – Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

“Living in Thailand and not being exposed to various kinds of corruption is, I think, very difficult,” Detective Superintendent Sørensen commented.

“It can be difficult to distinguish between corruption and bribery. Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain. Bribery is paying a police officer or other type of official a certain amount of money to look the other way when conducting business.”

Detective Superintendent Sørensen then outlined some of the measures that have been put in place to eradicate corruption and bribery in Thailand, briefly touching upon certain cases.

The seminar was then turned over to Mr. Bo B. Rasmussen from the Royal Danish Embassy, who suggested that one of the best ways for companies to avoid being drawn into corruption was to clearly publish their policies both internally and externally.

Publishing these company policies internally would ensure that all employees would have a clear understanding of the practices that are deemed acceptable. Externally publishing the policies would announce to the world that the company was not interested in dealing with corruption and would report any such advances.

Mr Rasmussen explained that once a company embraces corruption, even on a small scale, the ramifications may be eternal; “Once you have paid a bribe you have done something illegal, and given someone leverage on you. If you are known to be corrupt, you no longer have the option of presenting a clean image.”

“It is no longer acceptable to simply say that your agent was taking a bribe. Now you are responsible if you do not inform on your agent and follow the correct procedures. You can still be arrested for acts of corruption or bribery committed by your agent.”

The seminar was followed by a brief question and answer session, where the participants had the chance to pose questions to Detective Superintendent Morgens Sørensen and Bo B. Rasmussen.

People who wish to discuss a suspected case of corruption or bribery can contact either Morgens Sørensen or Lennart Östberg at the Nordic Liaison Office Bangkok, Park Ventures 1001A, Floor 10, 57 Wireless Road, Patumwan, Bangkok, email: nlobangkok@nordlo.in.th.

16 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

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April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

Visit by the Swedish Bishop

T

he Bishop responsible for the Church of Sweden Abroad, Sven-Bernhard Fast visited Bangkok and Phuket in February this year to see how the Swedish Church operates in Thailand. Sven-Bernhard Fast was appointed the Bishop of Visby, Sweden, in March 2011, under whose authority the Church of Sweden Abroad is placed. Prior to this assignment, he was Secretary General of the Christian Council of Sweden which is a coordinating organisation for various lines of the Christian faith, like catholics, Lutherans, orthodox, etc.

The Bishop was accompanied by Stefan Bergman, the new regional head of the Church of Sweden, who used to have the responsibility for USA and Latin America.

During the visit to Bangkok, Sven-Bernhard Fast and Stefan Bergman participated in a special Evening Mass on Wednesday 1 February 2012 at 18.30 at Bangkok Christian Guesthouse, 123 Saladaeng Soi 2, Silom, Bangkok. The Swedish Priest in Bangkok Lovisa Moller also took the Bishop to

see some of the other places where the Church operates in Bangkok.

While in Bangkok, the Bishop also managed to participate in a conference organised as part of the Gothenburg Process about the international trade in weaponry and ammunition.

On Friday, 6 February, the Bishop and the Swedish Priest in Bangkok, Lovisa Moller traveled to Phuket to meet with the Priest Maria Eksmyr and assistant Ingvar Olofsson. On Sunday, he also participated in a Mass on Kata Beach, Resort and Spa at 11.00.

While there, they had the opportunity of meeting some people, indulging in church work and experiencing the beautiful island.

As the church in Thailand is mobile, the mission is to go around from place to place meeting people where they are. The Bishop was brought around to meet different people such as some Swedish entrepreneurs, restaurant owners and the children from the Swedish school in Kamala.

They also passed through hospitals and Phuket prison to visit those with special needs.

Bishop Sven-Bernhard Fast with Maria Eksmyr, Lovisa Moller and Ingvar Olofsson.

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18 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Swedish Jazz Festival at Rembrandt Hotel

By Gregers Moller

S

wedish jazz singer Christina Gustafsson and the Erling Ribbing Quartet were in great spirit at the opening night of the Swedish Jazz Festival on Wednesday 5 April 2012 at Rembrandt Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 18. The Jazz Festival lasts through the Songkran until Monday 16 April.

The quartet and the jazz singer were joined by a special guest of honor, Dr. Pathorn Srikaranonda the youngest member of His Majesty the King’s Au Saw Friday and his father Manrat Srikaranonda. With his father on the piano, Dr Pathom clearly enjoyed playing his two saxophones and singing Scabba-do-dabba-dooba-day! along with the tune.

Erling Ribbing switched also effortlessly between his two instruments, a clarinet and a saxophone as he led the band through the evening.

Christina Gustafsson, modestly introduced as "our little songbird", was a pleasant surprise for someone who had yet to discover her smooth and very personal sound.

The Erling Ribbing Quartet includes - apart from Erling Ribbing himself - bass player Pelle Karlsson, pianist Jan Sjöblom and drummer Gus Dahlberg who was in a great mood on Wednesday, fooling around with and without permission from the band leader to the delight of the enthusiastic audience.

In the audience were of course the Swedish manager of the hotel, Mr. Eric Hallin, and the dynamic Swedish jazz promoter Mr. Hans Wetterberg.

If you like good jazz, stop by at the Rembrandt’s lobby to hear for yourself. The band plays from 6 pm to 8 pm.

From left: Dr. Pathorn Srikaranonda, Jan Sjöblom, Gus Dahlberg, Christina Gustafsson, Pelle Karlsson and band leader Erling Ribbing.

At the piano, Manrat Srikaranonda, the father of Dr. Pathorn Srikaranonda.

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19

ScandAsia News Brief

Norwegian looking for Pilots in Bangkok N orwegian Air is looking for pilots to its new base for long distance flights. The base will have its home in Bangkok and will open up in January 2013.

The airline is using the Asian company, Rishworth Aviation in their search for pilots.

The Asian company and Norwegian have signed a three year contract. Rishworth Aviation will be the ones employing the pilots.

According to Norwegian Air the the route between Bangkok and Olso can be done for 70.000 Norwegian Kroner less in fuel costs than the competitors. The reason for that is the new Boeing 787 Dreamliners that Norwegian Air has purchased for the Bangkok based business.

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20 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Ericsson Sees Great Future in Thailand

aster Key to Thailand by Danish psychologist Kenno Simonsen offers a collection of tools to operate in the Thai culture at a professional level.

First the reader gets a variety of facts about the Thai society. Then the Thai cultural differences is presented. The third part of the book presents efficient tools of management and communication based on the knowledge gained in the first two parts.

The author’s psychological approach is present throughout the book. Even in the last part of the book, which mainly consists of practical advice of how to handle daily life in Thailand.

“Other books about this subject usually simply explain how the Thai society works. My book goes a step further and explains why,” Kenno Simonsen says.

“When you understand the motives behind common Thai behavior, all of a sudden you have much better options to navigate in society. This is extremely important – especially if you cooperate with Thais at a professional level”, Simonsen adds.

Kenno Simonsen is a licensed psychologist educated at Copenhagen University in 1996.

He has specialized in cross-cultural psychology, and his thesis was based on fieldwork in Thailand. After his graduation he has worked with Thais in the fields of clinical as well as business psychology.

he Swedish company, Ericsson, expects mobile data consumption in Thailand to grow by three times this year, fuelled by the proliferation of smartphones and tablet computers, with the government's One Tablet per Child project as the main contributor.

"2012 will be a big year for 3G growth in Thailand, thanks to aggressive network expansion on both 2G and 3G technologies," said Joacim Damgard, the president of Ericsson Thailand.

He said mobile operators are fully prepared to aggressively roll out 3G networks on the 2.1-gigahertz frequency in early 2013, if a planned 3G licensing auction takes place as scheduled by September.

He also urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to lower the reserve price for the 3G licensing auction to enable operators to spend more on network expansion.

Ericsson is preparing to work with Advanced Info Service and DTAC on possible network expansion collaboration.

Two Thai Students Selected for Finnish Youth Camp

1

.620 students applied for the popular Finnish Millennium Youth Camp, which only has spots for the 30 most talented students within the Natural science, mathematics and technology field. Two Thais where chosen for the camp.

The Youth Camp will be held in the Helsinki metropolitan area from 9 – 16 June. The camp has the twin goals of raising interest among young people in the natural sciences, mathematics and technology and of highlighting the opportunities for study at Finnish universities.

From the middle of April onwards, the Millennium Youth Camp website will publish a blog, “The Road to the Millennium Youth Camp”, where a few bloggers, chosen from different parts of the world, will report on their preparations for the camp, on their expectations and on progress in their projects.

During the same week as the camp the fifth Millennium Technology Prize will be awarded. One of the highlights of the camp will be when the campers meet the Prize winners on 14 June at Otaniemi, when the young people will be able to discuss issues with leading experts in the field of technology.

The captain and his crew wish you a dazzling stop-over in Paris, discovering its famous cafés, museums and fashion boutiques, with three flights per week from Bangkok to Paris - Charles de Gaulle, and on to more than 900 destinations with our SkyTeam partners.

airfrance.co.th

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 21

Swedish Designed Baan After 25 years of work in the hotel and restaurant design business in Sweden, Mats Olofsson moved to Thailand in 2003 where he soon got involved in various property projects.

By Wachiraporn Janrut

22 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

I

n 2006 Mats discovered Baan Krood, one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, where he started the real estate brokerage company ‘Living House’ and got involved with many property projects in Baan Krood both in design and construction.

With his extensive experience in design and property business, Mats decided to develop his own property project called ‘Baan Krood Village’. He worked closely with his friend Mr. Suchja Pinychon, a wellknown architect in Thailand, who is behind many successful projects such as Sofitel Magic Lagoon, Karon Beach Resort, The Loft, Delevan Resort & Spa, and others to make sure that the project design both interior and exterior are of the highest standard.

Situated in Baan Krood, about 4 and a half hours drive from Bangkok and one and a half hours drive from Hua Hin, the stylish Baan Krook Village is in walking distance from the gorgeous beach.

The project consists of 10 units of five semi-detached houses. Each unit

offers a generous living area of 219 square meters on 3 levels. The master bedroom with a large bathroom, a dressing room and a built-in wardrobe is on the top floor of every unit.

The middle floor is the main living area where you can find a spacious open living room with high ceiling. The area consists of a kitchen, a bathroom with a sink and toilet, and two balconies in the front and back areas to ensure that one side of the balconies is always in the shade. The large open balconies with beautiful glasses can fit up to 12-14 people. The layout and large windows allow the air to circulate throughout the floor.

The ground floor has a garage with a remote control for door opening. A bedroom with own bathroom and access to a private patio is also on this floor, allowing homeowners to arrange a good night sleep for their guests. The patio from the bedroom can also lead guests to a garden and walking path to the communal areas.

The facilities in the common ar-

Our recipe for success is simple! The project is in one of the best locations in Thailand. And we offer quality, functional homes with an elegant design at the reasonable price

n Krood Village eas include a BBQ corner, a swimming pool, toilets, a coffee shop and a lovely tropical garden. Wi-Fi Internet is available. Resort-like services such as cleaning and laundry are also available.

Completed this April The project is completed in April 2012. The current homeowners are from many countries such as Den-

mark, Sweden, Canada, USA, and England so buyers can expect an international environment.

Seven units have already been sold leaving only three units available for sale.

“Our recipe for success is simple! The project is in one of the best locations in Thailand. And we offer quality, functional homes with an elegant design at the reasonable

price”, Mats said.

But Mats couldn’t have done it alone.

“Without my girlfriend Pranee Pakhamsee,” he said, ”it would have been difficult to achieve this. She helped me a lot with the translation from Swedish to Thai.”

The price of each unit is 5.9 million baht.

For more information, contact Mats Olofsson on +66(0)8 7941 2680 Living House Co., Ltd. Tel: +66 (0) 3269 5224 Fax: +66 (0) 32-695225 79/2 Moo 3 City Raod, Baan Krood, Tong Chai, Bangsaphan, Prachuap Khirikhan Thailand 77190 E-mail: office@livinghouse.se www.livinghouse.se

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 23

Danes Seek Exciting New Art in Southeast Asia The talent found in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam led Ann (Rie) and Michael Burcharth to move there, looking for funky paintings to send back to Denmark.

By Miklos Bolza

A

sia has long been connected to the art world due to its local charm and exotic, oriental styles. The Danish mother-and-son team, Ann (Rie) and Michael Burcharth, were searching for something a little different though when they first visited a few years ago.

Focusing on a more contemporary feel, the pair has since set about finding artists to create masterpieces for their newly-formed company, Funk-Art. This move meant that they had to quit their jobs and leave their home town Kolding in Denmark behind. However, their confidence that these paintings would sell well and their love of travel and meeting new people were enough to persuade them to start this new venture.

Vietnam 2006

ODR 011 - BUILDING

24 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Ann first landed in Southeast Asia during a trip to Vietnam in 2006.

Here, a Danish friend in Ho Chi Minh City led her to discover the talented Loi in Hanoi whose use of geometric shapes and bright colours made his art truly stand out from the more conservative works of the area.

Realising that these paintings would be very popular back home in Denmark, Ann and Michael later returned - this time to explore Thailand’s art scene - for three months in 2010. Here, they scoured the country from south to north to find the country’s best artists. Once they had witnessed the talent in the region, they decided to take more serious steps.

Returning in October 2011, they set up shop in Chiang Mai where they could benefit from the city’s quiet nature, friendly people and extensive arts scene. Since then, Boong from Chiang Mai and Art from Pai have both joined the company as artists, creating some absolutely stunning modern-day images.

Stretching Asia’s Creative Boundaries The artists themselves have been more than happy to create these masterpieces, as Funk-Art gives them a chance to think outside of the box and paint something that is very different from the more traditional pieces popular in Southeast Asia.

Because they are unconstrained by the bounds of Thai, hill tribe and Buddhist imagery, their imaginations have been left free to roam, giving them the chance to come up with images which are surreal, vivid and striking in their complexity. These pieces are also very fun, made for those who enjoy having something funky and exciting in their lives.

Of course, Ann and Michael are always on the lookout for new talent too, and spend quite a bit of time scouring the Thai art scene. It can be quite difficult to find someone who is able to move away from traditional themes and motives, however, but when they do, it is certainly worth the time and effort spent.

After arriving in Chiang Mai, it took them a few months to find the local artist, Boong, who proved to be a valuable source of inspirational, funky works of art. With one artist in tow, they then set off to the quiet, mountain town of Pai, where they found their second creative genius, Art, who lives and paints in a bamboo hut overlooking a small, bubbling stream.

The Quest for Innovation As is common in Southeast Asia, Ann and Michael have found their artists through word of mouth. By simply getting in touch with people in the area, they can learn about the local talent and have used this traditional Asian network to then source out people with absolutely amazing skills.

They also have complete control of the quality of the artists cho-

sen, first showing them examples of the style required, and then testing their skills and imagination by getting them to do some simple sketches.

Those who are innovative enough to produce quality images which are different and creative then get hired to do some actual artwork for the company.

Opening webshop and studio in Denmark Ann and Michael plan on selling these pieces through their website, www.funk-art.dk, which will start business on April 20 this year.

Through this web shop, they hope to open up the world of contemporary Asian artwork to the Danish people, letting them enjoy images which have come from some of the region’s most creative minds.

The site will also promote four Danish artists who create pictures in this unique, imaginative style. These have been individually sourced by

Ann and Michael themselves so that they can then ensure the same quality and creativity of all of the website’s artworks.

Funk-Art is already showing signs of success with paintings being sold to private and corporate buyers in both Thailand and Denmark.

In the future, Ann and Michael hope to open a studio in Kolding where they can display the different works that they have available.

This gallery will be open by appointment so that buyers can get a chance to intimately browse through these images free from outside distractions. Ann will act as the Danish representative there while Michael will deal with the artists back in Thailand.

Those who are interested in purchasing these paintings can contact Ann on rievietnam@hotmail. com while the website is still under construction.

Just look at this! We were surprised to find this kind of talent in Thailand.

ODR 012 - CAFE VIEW

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 25

Asian Antiques at Him

By Wachiraporn Janrut

M

ost ladies in their twenties are normally interested in fashion and beauty.

Catherine, however, found herself enjoying the beauty of antique furniture in China.

“I was in China in 1995 as a student where I had a chance to visit a warehouse full of antiques. They were so beautiful and I found myself buying one small antique table to bring back to France. My friends thought I was crazy.”

Originally from France, Catherine met her husband Khun Teck in China 18 years ago. He was a a Thai-Laotian who moved around many countries for work. K. Teck did at first not share Catherine’s interested in antique furniture but his interest grew each day after they got together.

Last year, Catherine decided to leave her full-time job at the French Embassy in China to follow her dream by opening Himapan Gallery

26 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

on Sukhumvit Soi 31 and after 15 years in China, the couple moved back to Thailand.

“We live in Thailand so we want a Thai name for it. And we believe that most Thais know the Himapan legend which I think is a lovely legend”, Catherine said.

For any readers that don’t know the legend of Himapan, it is a forest said to be located in the Himalaya Mountains. If you have been to Thailand and India, you may find some similarities in their art and architecture. The details of the art and crafts may consist of mythical creatures that can be described as “combined-animals” who dwell in the Himapan forest. It is also believed that the forest is below the Buddhist heavens and is invisible to the eyes of mortals, who can never approach or enter.

“One of the reasons that we chose this name is that we have antique furniture from China. And

mapan Gallery we also plan to start stocking Thai furniture which represents the local arts, as well as items from all over Southeast Asia”, Khun Teck added.

To strengthen their collection, Catherine and Khun Teck have approached private collectors in Thailand who have antique furniture from the reign of King Rama 4 and King Rama 5. They plan to buy this furniture and sell it in their store.

They will also approach collectors in Laos and Burma in order to have selections of antique furniture with history for display at the shop.

“Every time we buy something for our shop, our aim is to find ‘original and unique’ pieces. We don’t want copied pieces like what they sell at Chatuchak Market. We often travel to the north of Thailand to find unique pieces ourselves,” Khun Teck said.

Most of the Chinese furniture at the gallery is imported from the most remote areas of China such as Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and Shanxi. The design of the furniture from these provinces is interesting and ensures that what’s on sale at Himapan Gallery is certainly different to other furniture shops in Bangkok. According to historical accounts, furniture in cities like Beijing was destroyed after the cultural revolution in China which made antiques in the country’s major cities very hard to find.

“We can find these unique pieces because they are from remote areas of China. We can also give customers the historical details of some pieces we have here.” Catherine said.

Though the antique furniture here is unique, the prices are much lower than those antiques selling in the leading antique shopping centers. “Antiques can be very expensive but we try to make our furniture affordable.” Khun Teck said.

The most expensive piece you can find at Himapan Gallery is 120,000 baht. It’s a beautiful big cabinet from Inner Mongolia. Many pieces here are from the mixed dynasty with a lot of history. Finding antique furniture of this quality and value elsewhere is very difficult.

Discussing consumers’ different tastes in furniture, Catherine said that Thais tend to like very detailed and carved pieces with a nice shape whereas Westerners tend to focus on solid wood furniture with a rustic style and a wood colour. Chinese people tend to choose items made with the most expensive wood as they consider it an investment. They pay less attention to the design. With the same style of furniture, prices can be 10-30 times different based on the types of wood used. Rich Chinese people tend to go for Rosewood which is the most expensive.

There are different types of Rosewood : Huanghuali and Zitan are the most famous in China. Zitan wood is the heaviest and one of the strongest woods you can find. Both are very expensive and have a lot of value in the market.

The gallery also offers bright lacquer coloured furniture for Scandinavians.

“Suppliers in China suggested

that the colourful pieces are usually taken by Scandinavians. One of my best friends is from Norway, she also likes the flashy coloured items. We have many pieces with nice bright colours like blue, red, and orange for Scandinavians.” Catherine said.

Himapan Gallery offers guaranteed door-to-door service. If customers want to export the furniture to their home countries, they’ll be taken care of through the whole process. Delivery service in Pattaya and Hua Hin is provided for free once every 2 weeks. “If the customers are happy, we are happy.” Khun Teck said with a big smile.

Apart from antique furniture, the gallery will exhibit paintings from China, Burma, Thailand and other countries in the region.

Catherine and Khun Teck want the gallery to become a social place where people who are interested in antique furniture can come to sit down and have a chat at the coffee corner.

Books will be provided for customers to enjoy. Experts will be invited to talk about different subjects such as Qing and Ming dynasty styles of furniture, furniture repair, Chinese paintings, Burmese paintings and other interesting subjects every 2-3 months.

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t buy our furniture. The important thing is that we want the place alive. We want to make the gallery a cultural place where people can come and share their passions.” Catherine said.

The grand opening of Himapan Gallery will take place in the beginning of May this year.

Every time we buy something for our shop, our aim is to find ‘original and unique’ pieces.

We don’t want copied pieces like what they sell at Chatuchak Market. We often travel to the north of Thailand to find unique pieces ourselves

Himapan Gallery 35/14, Sukhumvit 31, Silom Village, Bangkok 10110 Tel. +66 (0)2 662 0697, +66(0) 852 448622 www.himapangallery.com April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 27

Danish officers assembled on board the navy vessel "Akaret". The photo was taken while Captain Hans Anton Andersen - the handsome officer second from right - was not yet in trouble. With all the Danish officers in full gala uniform it must have been a special occasion.

The Queen and the Captain

By Flemming Winther Nielsen

I

t never came out in the open how the Queen of Siam and the Danish Captain Hans Anton Andersen spent their time together in the paradise called Bang Phra and onboard the big paddle steamer ‘Akaret’ in the winter of 1899-1900. What stands is that there was a romance, offers and promises were given. Meanwhile the affair ruined Antons career in The Royal Siamese Navy and spoilt his reputation at least in certain ways.

But now, dear reader; imagine yourself as a 27 years old young man, healthy and vigorous, in the prime of your life. You are in charge of a most peaceful little fortress in a small fishing village by the sandy coastline south of Chonburi, facing the blue Gulf of Siam and with a Garden of Eden behind you. The garden starting with a civilized jungle, then green hills, a lake with millions of birds and a waterfall at the foothills of the mountains. It never rains and there are no ants or mosquitoes! Enjoy.

Hans Anton Andersen, newly appointed captain in The Royal Siamese Navy, was the happy master of this place. Then the Queen arrived, disturbed the peace and troubled the heart.

The Queen and all the Ladies-in-waiting The Queen knew of the natural beauty in and around Bang Phra, the healthy climate by the sea and the waterfall, the tranquility. But she of course did not arrive alone.

She wanted to go after having just lost her oldest son to typhoid fever.

Admiral Richelieu chaperoned her on Akaret and saw to it that the fortress and Anton’s living quarters were readied to receive the high guest, her brother the Prince – and the concubines and the numerous very young ladies-in-waiting of the Royal Court in Bangkok. Anton had to find more humble lodging outside the palisades.

Before heading back to Bangkok with Akaret, Richelieu again reminded Anton of his duties, also the duty to stay on his post in Bang Phra no matter what.

The young girls had the manners of the court life in Bangkok. They had nothing practical to do, so time was passed with giggling, laughing, whispering, and teasing the men folks.

They had difficulties keeping away from the handsome young Danish officer. Especially their bathing séances, behind curtains, were surrounded with a lot of precautions and a lot of attempts to break the rules.

One evening, after the sun went down over the gulf, our captain was invited alone to the Queens private quarters formerly his own. This happened many times and Anton was given small gifts. Of course he also escorted, when the Queen wished to visit places and waterfalls around in the area. At that time the population rate was very low.

Sometime later the visit was repeated. Also this second stay was pleasant and enjoyable for all but both the Queen and her brother criticized Richelieu heavily. They

28 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

didn’t accept his position and influence. Maybe that is why Andersen (1929) claims that he himself was offered the position as manager and overseer of the Queens enormous collection of real estate. He declined, but when the party left on Akaret bound for Bangkok this time, we find Anton onboard, after strong royal wish - and against his masters will.

The Flying Dutchman But mind you. Old fishermen by the mouth of the Chao Phraya river still claim that they in misty nights see the contours of ‘Akaret’ trying to find its way through the ship lane over the bar. It should be uncomplicated, there are some fishing nets to avoid, but the route is clear and there is water enough. Nevertheless, Akaret moves forward slowly and then the paddles move back slowly, then fast forward for a little while, then a pause, then very fast forward again.

It takes an hour for the ship to pass, but suddenly it seems that the ship relaxes, become steady and knows well where to go. Then the phantom starts to disappear. The contours of the paddle steamer Akaret and the strange sounds fade.

Thereafter smooth and easy sailing up to Bangkok.

In his book Anton claims that he, after that hour or so, finally took the helm from the Norwegian captain and easily got the ship over the bar.

When moored by the royal quay in Bangkok Anton immediately abandoned ship and disappeared –too

late, Richelieu had spotted him and gave him his well-known icy stare.

A Survivor A commission of officers was established; they found Hans Anton Andersen’s behavior ‘improper’, he was laid off and left the country. Thereafter Anton in worked many locations in East Asia as a war correspondent for a London daily. He was in Port Arthur 1905 reporting the total destruction of the Russian army and navy in the Japanese-Russian War. Thereafter we find him back in Siam 1908. With two Russians he founded a Mechanical Workshop.

The business became successful but then the three partners were accused of counterfeiting. Since the jurisdiction over foreigners was still in the hands of the home countries, they were deported on an EAC steamer, bound for Copenhagen.

In Suez the Russians jumped, but Anton stayed onboard. At a lower court in Denmark he was sentenced to one year in prison, but The Supreme Court acquitted him completely. –A fishy affair, by and large.

We feel some intrigues around.

Then he went back to the Danish Army from where he had started.

He was a lieutenant before he went off to Siam on his own initiative in 1892. He served during World War I, where Denmark remained neutral.

After that he met his Swedish coming wife, 23 years his junior.

They settled in Gothenburg and Anton established a business. He was born in 1869 and died in 1952 as a very old man. And really, a life lived!

Sources: H.A. Andersen: ’Bao Luang.

Ti aar i Siam’ (1929) [Bao Luang: The name of certain lotus specie] A. Kann Rasmussen: ‘Danske i Siam 1858-1942’ (1986) Tage Kaarsted: ’Admiralen’ (1991)

A look down a soi in the old part of Bang Phra April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 29

Go South (c) Vatcharin Tavornwong

Prachuap Kirikhan is the narrowest province of Thailand and it is one of the best destinations that attract a vast number of tourists from around the world including Scandinavians.

By Vatcharin Tavornwong

U

p until now, Hua Hin remains the most famous as the country’s oldest resort town. It always leaves a big impression on new visitors and a deep longing to come back for more. Due to its proximity to Bangkok, visitors can reach to this province in short period of time approximately 2 – 3 hours.

But for resident Scandinavians, who may be a bit more adventurous, going a bit further South to explore some more of what Prachuap Kirikhan has to offer will for sure be a rewarding experience. Pranburi, Huay Yang, Koh Talu, Baan Krood, just to name a few. This province is so rich in experiences. Happy shopping!

Hua Hin Walking Street

(c) Vatcharin Tavornwong

30 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Lovely Hua Hin Hua Hin has been a favorite among Thai beach resorts for over 70 years. It is unique and unlike any other Thai beach. It has its own distinct character, where you can enjoy walking through the quiet streets or sit and overlook the bright lights of the fishing boats at sea. The only way Hua Hin could disappoint you is if you are looking for sound and lights, crazy nightlife action with shows and discos.

Hua Hin is only about 200km south of Bangkok, and can be reached by rail, coach or flight. Hua Hin also has Royal Endorsement with Klai Kangwon Palace, which has contributed to the special character of Hua Hin. Even to this day is frequently used by members of the royal family.

Many rich or upper class people have built their beachfront summer homes along the curving sandy bay.

The surrounding area lets you discover fabulous parks, caves and waterfalls. When the sun heats the day along the curvy beach, there are leisure activities and water sports on, in and over the blue water.

Enjoying the ocean with a large umbrella lounge and your drink of choice, as well as snacks or even a pony ride along the beach makes this place a good choice for any vacation.

In the evening when the sun

sets in downtown Hua Hin on Dechanuchit Road at the intersection with Petchkasem Road, a large group of merchants head out to set up their stalls and shops, getting ready to serve all types of food and dessert to visitors all evening long.

Due to its convenient location, you are ensured easy accessibility from any location during your stay.

And you will also be amazed by the scenery of Hua Hins old town. The market serves fresh seafood, Thai food, fried mussels, Padthai, fruit, ice-cream, Roti, toasted corns and much more. Souvenirs and other collectables can be found in array of spots for shopping lovers as well.

Although Hua Hin Night Market is slightly different from days past, it still remains fascinating for visitors who came visiting Hua Hin. How to get there: Bus: Take bus at Southern Transport Station to Hua Hin. Car: Take Petchkasem road (Highway 4) to Hua Hin in approximately 2 hour and a half.

Train: Bangkok – Hua Hin train is operated every day at Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Flight: Bangkok Airway operates one flight to Hua Hin every day.

Image courtesy of TAT

Pranburi

Pranburi The getaway seaside town of Pranburi just south opf Hua Hin offers the classic and tranquil beaches that will suit those who love privacy. Here you can soak in the sun or enjoy swimming in the beautiful sea with less people around you comparing to Hua Hin. Besides its peaceful beach, Pranburi offers abundant nature experiences

for visitors such as forests, mountains, rivers, islands, caves, museum and activities included trekking, cycling, caving, hiking, kayaking and much more.

Some landmarks in Pranburi are the ‘Pranburi estuary’ where the lifestyle of fishermen still remain intact.

You will find an array of fishing boats lining along the shore which seems to be the symbol of Pranburi.

Also stop by the two hundred years old market, situated next to Pranburi train station. Every Saturday from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm, this place is turned into the walking street where you can observe performances from villagers and shop some delicious local food and desserts.

For antique lovers, ‘Baan Jipata’ is a must where you could buy vari-

ous antique and collectible pieces.

Pranburi has many beaches lined up along the gulf of Thailand, such as Pranburi beach, Khao Kalhog beach, Sam Roi Yot beach, Bo Nok beach.

Some of the mountain of the area offer spectacular back drops as well, such as Khao Sam Roi Yot mountain, and Khao Chong Krachok.

For those who never witness

Image courtesy of TAT

Pranburi

32 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Tham Phraya Nakhon

fiddler crab (a crab with the bigger right claw), may want to stop by Pranburi National Park and enjoy a close encounter with these charming little critters.

of the cave wall which looks like a waterfall as you walk to reach the Koh Talu

How to get there: Bus: Take bus at Southern Transport Station and get off at Pranburi intersection, then hire car down to Pranburi beach.

Car: Take Petchkasem road (Highway 4) and left turn to Pranburi National Park in approximate 20 km.

Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave, Sam Roi Yot National Park Exploring Prachuap Khirikhan, don’t miss the opportunity to stop by Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave, situated in Sam Roi Yot National park, to witness Kuha Karue Hat Royal Throne; a landmark of this province.

What makes Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave so special is the collapsed roof over the cave that lets the sunlight come through to illuminate the entire cave which opens up the confined space. In addition there are many plants that grow naturally from the sunlight entering the cave.

The large collapsed ceiling makes the first chamber of the cave very bright and you will notice the beauty of stalactites on the left side

(c) Talon Fishing

34 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

bottom of the first chamber.

From there, the bottom of the

cave turns into a wide space and if you look up to the collapsed roof, you will notice “the bridge of death” which is the sheet of the solid rock branching out like the bridge (In the past, wild animal used this path to cross over and some fell down to their deaths which is the reason for the name). When you reach the second chamber of the cave, the path will appear with various sizes of swelling rocks that look similar to the back of alligator, and so derived the name “alligator back path”.

The main highlight of Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave is in the deep end of the cave, located Kuha Karue Hat Royal Throne; the small royal pavilion (a building with four gable ends) is constructed on the soil rise at the center hall of this chamber. Kuha Karue Hat Royal Throne will shine the bright golden spark phenomenon when is reflected sunlight shining through. High Noon is the best time to witness this phenomenon as the sunlight shine directly from the collapsed roof to the pavilion that puts every photographer in awe.

History denoted as in the reign of King Rama I the great, Phraya Nakhon travelled by ship, when he was forced ashore by a violent storm.

He discovered the cave by accident.

Later, King Rama V (Chulalongkorn) had heard of the fascination of this cave and decided to visit here and

(c) UT@Panoramio

Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park

the small royal pavilion inside the cave commemorates his visit. Also King Rama VII and HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej have visited this cave.

Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave can be reached on foot from Laem Sala beach inside the park or hired boat.

Walking is recommended as you will be able to see the natural surroundings and open view of landscape around you. Don’t forget to bring mosquito repellant along as this place is teeming with mosquitoes.

How to get there: Car: Take Petchkasem road (Highway 4) and left turn to Pranburi National Park in approximate 8 km and right turn in approximately 16 km to hit intersection and left turn to Sam Roi Yot National Park

Koh Talu Island The Gulf of Siam also has a beautiful blue sea and magnificent shallow corals, especially Koh Talu, the island of peace where fishermen’s

way of life and stunning scenery can be seen.

As you reach to Koh Talu, you will witness a red cliff connected to the sea with a huge hole eroded underneath by water through the other side of the island. This is the origin of the name of Koh Talu.

Only the west-side of this island has shallow coral habitat. The entire area around the island is a nature preserve for fish and aquatic animals. Fishing boats are not allowed to access the island. The attraction here is not only its white sand, coral reef or fish surrounding the island but, the area is fully forested with a strip of coconut trees growing along the shore.

In the rainy season, if you get lucky, Boo Kai (Hairy Leg Mountain Crab) will come out to make you listen to their bizarre noise. Here you can charge your adrenalin with an activity like rock climbing or rent a squid fishing boat to experience a feeling of sea at night as well.

How to get there: Car: Take Petchkasem road

36 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

(Highway 4) heading Aumpur Bangsapan and left turn on Bangsapan intersection for approximately 17 km and right turn at intersection for approximately 12 km to the pier.

Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park Huai Yang National Park is the primary water source of the province with its streams originating from the mountain ridge separating Thailand and Burma. This park covers an area of approximately 161 sq. km. and offers beautiful views of and magnificent waterfalls such as Khao Lan waterfall, Huai Din Dad waterfall, Bua Sawan waterfall.

If you have to choose only one waterfall to explore, the most famous is the Huai Yang waterfall consisting of seven layers. The bottom layers feature small waterfalls where water flows down from the rocks with a height of in average from 2 to 5 meters. On the fourth layer visitors will witness a breathtaking sunrise and a spectacular

scenery with a view far down to the beach.

On the fifth layer, you will witness the most magnificent waterfall with the water tumbling down from the approximately 15 meters tall cliff, but to witness its beauty you have to hike on the rocks which should be done cautiously especially during rainy season.

Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park offers two guesthouses for group visitors while visitors can bring their own tents for camping.

Please contact Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park at 08 1215 0737 or visit www.dnp.go.th How to get there: Car: From city of Prachuabkirikhan, heads south on Petchkasem road (Highway 4) and turn right at 350 – 351km and drive down in approximately 7 km until reach Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park Train: Get off at Huai Yang station and hail motorbike taxi to Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park.

The Insurgency in Southern Thailand

You can safely visit Prachuap Khirikan.

You are as far from the conflict as Stockholm in Sweden is from Odense in Denmark.

The violence in the deep Southern provinces of Thailand is a local, nationalistic struggle of the Malay population against Thai dominance. It is not directed against foreign tourists.

C

urrent unrest in the Malay-Muslim provinces of southern Thailand has captured growing national, regional, and international attention due to the heightened tempo and scale of rebel attacks, the increasingly jihadist undertone that has come to characterize insurgent actions, and the central government’s often fatal handling of the situation on the ground.

Of particular note are growing concerns that the conflict is no longer purely local in nature but has been systematically hijacked by outside extremists to avail wider transnational Islamist designs in southeast Asia.

No concrete evidence suggests that the region has been decisively transformed into a new beachhead for pan-regional jihadism. Although many of the attacks currently being perpetrated in the three Malay

38 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

provinces have a definite religious element, it is not apparent that this has altered the essential localized and nationalistic aspect of the conflict.

While the scale and sophistication of violence have increased, nothing links this change in tempo to the input of punitive, absolutist external jihadist imperatives.

Perhaps the clearest reason to believe that the southern Thai conflict has not metastasized into a broader jihadist struggle, however, is the fact that there has been neither a migration of violence north nor directed attacks against foreigners, tourist resorts, or overt symbols of U.S. cultural capitalism.

Excerpt of: “The Malay-Muslim Insurgency in Southern Thailand Understanding the Conflict’s Evolving Dynamic” by Peter Chalk, published

by RAND Counterinsurgency Study.

In Prachuab Khiri Khan, 800 km from the violence in the south, Thais with a Bhuddist and Islamic faith live in peaceful co-existence. Many Scandinavian employers in the province have both Buddhist, Christian and Islamic staff employed without encountering any religious problems.

Tempting Koh Tao T he Haad Tien is a boutique resort nestled amongst the palm groves in the southern tip of Koh Tao with its own 350 meter secluded beach. The development has taken place organically with the 43 private villas set amongst 45 acres of land that encompass the resort. The villas have been designed to provide guests with clean, comfortable and spacious accommodation without sacrificing the natural environment which makes the resort so unique.

The resort is totally private as it is situated in its own natural bay, with granite cliffs on both sides and jungle behind, yet the resort is only a kilometre away from the nearest village with local shops and restaurants. The beach itself opens out onto a crystal blue shallow lagoon which is perfect for swimming and snorkelling, and at night all that can be heard is the lapping of the waves and the whistling of the breeze. in keeping with environmental influences that make the resort so special, the name “haad tien” derives from the trees to be found naturally growing at the water’s edge, with their gnarly roots digging into the white coral sands of the beach

Promotion I:

Villa Free Night (valid now-14 July 2012)

Stay 3 consecutive paid nights in Haadtien Pool Villa will get the 4th night FREE, breakfast for 2 persons include in the free night • 10% discount of Food and Beverage at InSea Bar&Grill during you stay • 10% discount of Spa during your stay • 10% discount of Diving program at Diving Wishes at the resort • Welcome drink • Fruit basket

Promotion II:

Villa Free Upgrade (valid now-14 July 2012) Stay 4 consecutive paid nights in Castaway Beach Villa will get Free Upgrade to Haadtien Pool Villa • 10% discount of Food and Beverage at InSea Bar&Grill during you stay • 10% discount of Spa during your stay • 10% discount of Diving program at Diving Wishes at the resort • Welcome drink • Fruit basket

40 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Open Water Course Package Bht 23,000 / Person Bht 36,000 for 2 Person Now until 11 July 2012

Includes: • 3 nights Accommodation in Sea Balcony at Haad Tien Beach Resort Koh Tao • Breakfast all 3 days • Brand new Aqualung Diving Equipment • Padi Dive Certification Course • Scuba Diving Insurance from Chartis • Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment - Medical Insurance (Chamber) • Private instructor: maximum 3 students to 1 instructor

Diving Packages For further information please contact : Bangkok office : 889 Thai CC Tower, 27th Floor, South Sathorn Road, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 26759371-4, Fax : +66 2672 3835 Resort office: 19/9 Moo 3, Haadtien (shark Bay), Koh Tao, Surat Thani 84360 Tel: +66 7745 6580, Fax : +66 7745 6827

Discover Scuba Diver Bht 6,700 / Person Bht 10,200 for 2 Person Now until 11 July 2012

Includes: • 1 night Accommodation in Sea Balcony at Haad Tien Beach Resort Koh Tao • Breakfast • Brand new Aqualung Diving Equipment • Scuba Diving Insurance from Chartis • Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment - Medical Insurance (Chamber) • Private instructor: maximum 3 students to 1 instructor

Fun Dive Package 3 days 6 dives Bht 6,500 5 days 10 dives Bht 12,500

Includes: • Scuba Diving Insurance from Chartis • Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment - Medical Insurance (Chamber) Private Dive master: maximum 4 divers to 1 dive master

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 41

Lima Coco Resort is My Place

By Rose Jensen

A

o Phrao beach on the more up-scale West side of Koh Samed Island is one of the most beautiful beaches Thailand has to offer. And just six steps away from the crystal turquoise water and the fine white sand you find the Lima Coco Resort, the perfect getaway spot for families and lovers.

The Lima Coco Resort has 44 rooms with connecting doors between them, an added luxury for

families needing larger accommodations but wanting to be close to each other or traveling with children.

Of course you can also find luxury rooms home to spectacular views of the beach.

The balconies provide a great resting place and exclusive vantage point of the beach and at the end of the day the sunset, which can only be seen on the Ao Phrao beach. These balconies are comfortable and intimate.

42 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Whether relaxing after a long day of adventure or taking it slow with a glass of wine, watching the beautiful sunset from Lima Coco Resort you’re sure to feel in paradise.

And there is no need to leave the resort to seeks pampering or activities anywhere else on the island. After your breakfast you can enjoy the resorts own amenities such as; massage, kayaking, squid fishing, snorkeling, or simply just relax with a book in the complimentary beach chairs.

The restaurant of the resort offers a variety of Thai and European food with their specialty being delicious Tiger Cry which is Grilled sirloin beef with a house dipping and sauce. If you decide to come Friday and Saturday you can also enjoy their tasty B.B.Q being served right on the beach.

To book your own weekend in heaven, follow this link http://www. limasamed.com.

Q10 Keeps Your Heart Healthy Medical doctor Svend Aage Mortensen of the University Hospital Copenhagen suggests taking Q10 as a food supplement for treatment against heart diseases.

By Charlotte Weber

E

very year more than 7000 Danes suffer from the chronic heart diseases although medical treatment has been strengthened through the years.

Now, after adding Q10 to their diet, many heart patients are experiencing further improvement of quality of life, writes Danish medical doctor Svend Aage Mortensen in recent announcement by the Danish Heart Association.

“Q10 has several functions, two of which are particularly important,” says Dr. Mortensen, who is Chief of Staff at Rigshospitalet, the University Hospital Copenhagen.

“It plays an important role in the making of energy in mitochondria where energy productions in cells take place. A good and stable energy production is when there is sufficient Q10 within the cells.”

“The other significant function for Q10 is the body’s own antioxidant that protects blood vessels against damage from free radicals generated by oxidation of cholesterol,” says Svend Aage Mortensen.

“Q10 is the body’s own natural substance which is a central agent in the body’s energy production. The substance is non-toxic. In Denmark Q10 is presented as a dietary supplement but the substance effects is supported scientifically in numerous articles which support that it has beneficial effect on treatment of heart failure,”, he says.

It is, however, crucial that Q10 is taken in capsule form dissolved in vegetable oil to obtain the sufficient bioavailability effect.

“Currently, there is international interest to explore the dietary related circumstances in heart failure. I am sure that in time, Q10 has a good chance of being recognized as a true medicine that will be included in the treatment of cardiovascular disease,” says Svend Aage Mortensen.

Meanwhile, Q10 is offered as a food supplement by Pharma Nord whose products can be bought at pharmacies in most Central department stores and Paragon/Emporium.

I can personally add, that Q10 is not just for those who have heart problems. After I had a riding accident and a major surgery on my back last year I recovered quite well but was still feeling fatigued and getting tired very quickly during the day.

After starting work at Pharma Nord this month I decided to try taking Bio-Quinone Q10 and Bio-Selenium Zinc as our pharmacist told me this would be very helpful for my body to recover fully and gain back energy. Since then I do not feel tired in the evening and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed. An added bonus is that Q10 is also a powerful antioxidant, restoring youthfulness and keeping the skin young.

Are you not sure about which food supplements you should be taking? Email me at cweber@pharmanord.com to consult our pharmacist for advice.

The Peninsula Bangkok to Stage Annual Weddidng Showcase in May “Wedding Library” event set to wow couples On Saturday 12 May 2012

T

he Peninsula Bangkok’s spectacular annual wedding showcase, the “Wedding Library”, is a must for couples looking to create the ultimate wedding. Organised with select partners who will present elegant and stylish wedding gowns, luxurious jewellery, acclaimed studio photography, exclusive invitation cards and professional makeup; this sensational event will be held on Saturday 12 May 2012 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm in the luxurious Sakuntala Ballroom.

The hotel’s experienced team of Wedding Consultants will personally introduce guests to an impressive range of extravagant flower arches and decorative wedding cakes, as well as traditional Thai wedding and engagement ceremonies, stylish cocktail receptions and buffets, charming Western dinners and magnificent Chinese banquets. All products and services are tailor-made to cater to individual needs and are provided as a special package, available only during this event.

All couples who confirm their wedding and pay the THB 200,000 and THB 400,000 deposit using a SCB credit card during the “Wedding Library”, will receive a one-night and two-night Honeymoon Package at YaiYa Boutique Resort in Hua Hin respectively and one top spender will immediately receive round-trip tickets from Bangkok to Tokyo, including four days and three nights of accommodation at our sister property The Peninsula Tokyo.

For more information or to make a pre-appointment, please contact the Catering Department on (66-2) 626 1932, e-mail us at weddingpbk@peninsula.com

Ducking and Dodging with Dreams We Believe In The New International School of Thailand recently held a dodge ball tournament, combining service and sport.

By Victor Yip, Y. 12 student at NIST

O

ur NIST student group recently hosted our annual dodge ball tournament, in support of the “Dreams We Believe in” student service group. We believe that friendly games of dodge ball will help build a strong community spirit, and make the school aware that service can be fun and memorable. It didn’t seem like much, but it was all to help raise funds that would grant the children, living with HIV, of the Mercy Centre their wish of going on a field trip to the beach.

We find that this jovial atmosphere combined with an element of competitive spirit is a great way of raising awareness and money for our cause; the empowerment of

44 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

the children of the Mercy Centre affected by HIV and AIDS and to help their integration into the community. A Christmas celebration, one of our annual events, held at the Mercy Centre was previously featured in Scandasia’s January edition, These activities wouldn’t be possible without these fundraisers, and in this case, we wanted to raise funds for a field trip that the Mercy Centre kids had been pleading for all this time.

However, for the teams, made up of teachers and students, it was a chance to win the dodge ball cup, more importantly, bragging rights of being the best dodge ballers in the school.

The week of the dodge ball tournament was frantic. The school corridors were buzzing with excite-

ment, with kids forming teams, and coming up with creative costume ideas and team names. The first games were held in the middle of school, in the oval, where much of the student body converged to watch the first three games, played by our very own teachers.

Curiosity got the better of many kids, who abandoned their tables and their lunches to cheer on their favourite teachers, or laugh at the pain of the ones unlucky enough to get hit by a dodge ball. The final result was met by cheers and applauds for the winning teacher team, Run DMC. Given the number of new sign-ups after the matches, it was clear that there were many kids that were willing and very excited to play dodge ball.

Dreams We Believe In is a NIST student-led service group, started in 2009, aiming to fulfil the dreams of 60 children of varying ages living with HIV. They live at the Mercy Centre, a foundation set up in 1973 to help the children of Bangkok’s slums. NIST students visit the children of the Mercy Centre every Saturday.

Lunch was skipped by many of the kids participating in the tournament, who used the time to intently practise their throwing, dodging and catching. Looking around the gym, the variety of teams that signed up for the tournament was spectacular, ranging from a team of Year 8’s, all the way to the school seniors, as well as the teacher teams. Match officials were made up of volunteers from our very own DWBI group, who pledged to remain as fair as they could, a tall order, as it was difficult to remain impartial when your friends were playing.

It was clear from the start that many teams made a lot of effort with the presentation, no doubt to win the bonus prize of a whole Pizza offered by DWBI. We had teams

ranging from the “Pawa Rangers” dressed like characters from the TV show Power Rangers, to “Rotten Flesh” a team aiming for a decayed and zombiefied look, complete with makeup and ripped shirts.

As the days went on, the list of finalists were whittled down to 6 teams, whose games were played on the oval, after school. We also took this opportunity to sell some food and beverages for the spectators and the players, an idea that was met with good enthusiasm.

On the game day, the teams were there in full force, many of them already training and warming up for the matches that lay ahead.

We were briefly interrupted and drawn to the exploits of team “H.V. Rangers”, who arrived marching in,

spectacularly dressed in full cardboard armour and wielding cardboard swords, axes and maces.

One member of the “H.V. Rangers” claimed it had a profound psychological effect on the other teams. It seemed to work, given their perfect winning record so far, giving them a guaranteed place in the championship finals.

All said and done, the standard of dodge ball played was brilliant.

Many players showed some impressive dodging, and made throws that saw two or even three of their opponents knocked out with a single throw. For many of the players, it was a great way to let off some of their steam, by throwing balls at their peers and their teachers, all in the name of sports, friendly competition and charity!

In the end, the “H.V. Rangers” narrowly lost to well deserving “Pink Socks” team that comprised

of seniors and a teacher. Balls were thrown, sweat was shed, and dodges were made, while the children at the Mercy Centre got the attention and care they deserve.

The next weekly Mercy Centre visit was slightly cheerier. The feeling of happiness and ecstasy was shared by the Mercy Centre kids and the DWBI team, as we knew and informed the children that a field trip would be possible with the funds we raised as a result of the tournament. Looking around at the pleading faces and the wide smiles, they kept on asking when the field trip would be. We smiled, knowing there would be much preparation and planning ahead of us. Yet when we see the final result and the joy it brings to the kids, it is worth it. It is always worth it.

Who would have ever thought that dodge ball would be such a great way to unite and fundraise?

NIST New International School of Thailand 36 Sukhumvit Soi 15, Wattana, Bangkok www.nist.ac.th

The Secret to Good Grades – It’s in a Book

By Michael Hirsch, Secondary School Principal at KIS

T

he following is an example of an SAT math question. It is one of 44 multiple choice questions that students will need to take, in addition to another 10 free response questions.

A special lottery is to be held to select the student who will live in the only deluxe room in a dormitory.

There are 100 seniors, 100 juniors, and 200 sophomores who applied.

Each senior’s name is placed in the lottery 3 times; each junior’s name, 2 times; and each sophomore’s name, 1 time. What is the probability that a senior’s name will be chosen?

Students will have 70 minutes to answer the above and all the other 54 questions, meaning that they will have a little over one minute to read and comprehend the question, and then to make the necessary calculations.

Let’s take another example, in this case of an IB Standard Level Maths question: 75 metal spherical cannon balls, each of diameter 10 cm, were excavated from a Napoleonic War battlefield. (a) Calculate the total volume of all 75 metal cannon balls excavated.

[3 marks] The cannon balls are to be melted down to form a sculpture in the shape of a cone. The base radius of the cone is 20 cm.

(b) Calculate the height of the cone, assuming that no metal is wasted.

[3 marks] This question is worth a total of 6 marks. The test has a total of 90 marks, and students have 90 minutes to complete the exam.

What are we testing?

Are these examples of math tests, or reading tests? Perhaps they’re both. Test takers must decode and comprehend the questions. There is vocabulary that is key to getting the questions right (cone, base radius, diameter, spherical, probability, etc.) and there are other words that are not crucial for getting the question correct that can be sources of distraction (Napoleonic, excavated, sculpture, assuming, deluxe, dormitory, senior, junior, sophomore, etc.)

There are plenty of students who will get these questions wrong who understand geometry and probability, some of whom are native English speakers, because of their reading skills. These students could not decode the question, or could not decode it quickly enough.

Remember, in each exam students have only about a minute for each mark / question – not only is it important to be able to understand what you read, but it is important to be able to do so quickly.

Reading the challenge A student’s ability to read is probably the factor that is most correlated with both their academic success in school, and their success on

46 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

exams like those they take for their IB Diplomas, or exams that they take for college admissions. At KIS International School students are encouraged to read through a variety of activities, such as book week, mother tongue language day, “Drop Everything and Read”, quiet reading time, buddy reading and other strategies. Thailand is not generally thought of as a country of readers – people are more likely to be using their iPad or phone for playing Angry Birds than to be reading a newspaper or book on the Sky Train or while relaxing at a Starbucks.

Thailand ranked 53rd on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment reading exam. This result placed us behind countries like Romania, Mexico, Uruguay, and Serbia, not just economic powerhouses like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Finland.

Books – not money So, what can we do about it? We can read. We can encourage our children to read. We can buy our children books for their birthday, for Christmas, or even as a reward for having done well on their report card.

The research on this is conclusive. Researchers from the University of Nevada, UCLA, and the Australian National University published a report in the journal, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility looking at the effect of the size of family libraries on educational attainment in 27 different countries.

Controlling for parent education and wealth the study found that children who lived in homes with more than 500 books went significantly farther in school. In China having a library of over 500 books equated to the child on average earning an additional 6.6 years of education, while the international average was over 3 years.

There is actually a stronger correlation between family library size and a student’s academic success than there is between family wealth or parent education and student academic success. If you want your child to be successful, don’t by them an iPad, buy them a book - or at least buy them digital books or magazines for their iPad!

Set time for reading Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers suggests that to truly master a set of complex skills we must spend 10,000 hours on it. Most students start to develop literacy skills at around 3 years old.

If we want to have our students be master readers by the age of 16 when they start their IB Diplomas, that would mean that they would need to average reading a little bit over 2 hours a day, 365 days a year, for those 13 years. This may sound like a lot, but how many days has your child spent over 2 hours watching TV or movies, or over 2 hours playing video games?

If you want your child to have an advantage for their education and future, set aside daily time for reading – every little bit helps.

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 47

Shrewsbury International School Students celebrate outstanding exam results and offers from leading universities

I

n the nine years since Shrewsbury International School opened, it has built a formidable reputation for academic excellence and for providing outstanding opportunities for students to secure places at the world’s leading universities. But this year has been truly record breaking.

Over the past few months, Shrewsbury has been proud to announce results and success stories that confirm its place at the forefront of South East Asia’s international education.

In March, a number of Shrewsbury students received the news that they had been offered much coveted places at the best universities in the United States. These included offers from Harvard, Brown, UCLA, Tufts, New York University and Berkeley. Sirin (Lee) Charasyovuthichai, who joined Shrewsbury in the Senior School in 2005 and last year was appointed Head of School (Head Girl), has been accepted to study at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania – one of world’s most famous business schools.

Earlier in the year eight students celebrated the news that they were being offered places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK – the highest number of Oxbridge offers made in a single year since the school opened.

Our Deputy Head of School, Siriwimol (Joy) Phophichitra, was offered a place to read Natural Sciences at Churchill College, Cambridge, subject to her gaining the necessary grades at A-Level. She will be joined at Cambridge by Kantamete (Ken) Vanichchokij, who will study Chemical Engineering at Christ’s College. For the first time we have three students who have received offers to study economics.

They are Kwannpat (Pop) Songvisit (Gonville and Caius

48 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Enjoys Record-Breaking Success College), Calvin Khaing, who is from Burma, (Clare College) and Bunyada (Mos) Laoprapassorn (Trinity College).

The students chosen for places at Oxford will both be studying Engineering Science. They are I-horng Huang, who is from Taiwan and will study at Jesus College, and Nicha (Cherry) Wongphanlet, who will go to St Anne’s College.

Ms Gillian Mason, Shrewsbury’s Head of Careers who leads students in their university choices and applications, is thrilled with each individual’s achievement. “Our students’ capacity to perform and compete so successfully in the global academic arena is a testament to the learning environment and their personal drive, interest and enjoyment in the subjects that they have chosen.”

She added: “The remaining Year 13 students are receiving a raft of offers from the very best universities around the world, in subjects that vary from Music to Mathematics, and Fine Art to Geophysics.”

This university news comes during a record-breaking year of academic success for Shrewsbury. The exam results in 2011 were outstanding with more than 65% of A-Level exams passed at A and A-star grade (up from 52% last year). In the IGCSE examinations, 37% of papers taken by Shrewsbury students achieved the very highest A-star grade.

There was further good news when the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) board announced that 17 Shrewsbury students had won Best in the World and Best in Thailand awards for the examination series that took place in June 2011.

Two Shrewsbury students were Top in the World in IGCSE subjects - Praewa Suntiasvaraporn for Art and Design and Sirada (Am) Sripakdeevong for Mathematics (without coursework). Am’s achievement is all the more impressive given that she took the exam one year early.

In the A-Level examinations there was further success in the creative arts with Tanya Grueneberger receiving the Top in Thailand award in Art and Design. Tanya is now studying Visual Art and Psychology at Boston University in the US. Wen Li Toh, who gained 5 A-star passes at A Level and will take up a place at Cambridge University to study English, won two Outstanding Learner awards in English Literature and Geography Shrewsbury revels in the success of its graduates and the younger pupils, as they move up through the school, thrive on being around these amazing role models. In this lively environment, academically rigorous but warm and friendly and featuring the very highest standards of pastoral care, Shrewsbury students flourish and grow into balanced, happy, confident young people ready for the challenges of life at university and beyond.

Shrewsbury International School 1922 Charoen Krung Road Bangkok 10120 Tel: 02 675 1888 enquiries@shrewsbury.ac.th www.shrewsbury.ac.th

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 49

The Boarding Option There are boarding options in the Southeast Asia region that provide both a world-class education and the ‘traditional’ residential boarding option – all right here on your doorstep!

T

here are many reasons to attend a boarding school. In the old days, there was often no other school in the region that could meet the educational needs of the child. This is sometimes still the case, but more often there are other reasons in play.

Parents may want to provide a stable school environment as their child nears the end of their schooling. Maybe they expect that they may have to relocate – again – during those final years and want to protect the child against yet another break-up.

Sometimes, choosing a boarding school also means that the child can take subjects that may lead to their preferred university course or career. At the same time, the boarding school experience of living away from home will be an excellent preparation for university that will also develop the child's inde-

pendence and English language skills.

Or it may simply be that the parents wish to give their child the rich and varied experiences that only a boarding school provides.

Benefits of boarding Whatever the reason behind the decision, there are some key benefits your child will gain from boarding; particularly during high or secondary school.

Boarding provides a boost in self confidence for students and helps develop their independence and self management skills while still providing a safety net of schoolorganised routines and schedules.

There are studies that suggest boarding provides an added edge in academic performance, since the routines in a boarding house provide for a structured study roster and tend to result in greater time spent on homework, revision and study during these vital final years.

50 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

What is boarding?

The ‘traditional’ boarding experience is a residential boarding school, where students live together in a school-run boarding facility with shared or single bedrooms and shared living spaces.

There are house parents to provide supervision, assist students, help resolve issues and answer queries – be they academic or personal.

The routines of a boarding house ensure students have a balance between academic and leisure pursuits, resulting in dedicated time towards homework and other pursuits such as sport, music or community service.

Meals, housekeeping and study support are usually included and the boarding houses are usually located either within the school grounds, or very close to the day school.

‘D-I-Y’ boarding There is boarding and there is

boarding. A number of schools now accept students as day pupils while they board in a student hostel or an appointed guardian’s home.

This can be successful if your (older) child is going to be a weekly boarder (meaning they will come home every weekend) or they are very independent and self motivated, and are likely to make friends easily.

However, this option does not always offer the level of support needed by young people in a country or city not their own.

Sending them ‘home’ Another option, traditionally the choice of expats and other families who think their child will be going to university abroad, has always been to ‘send them home’ to finish their schooling in the country they are likely to attend university in. However, given the long-term nature of some expatriate relocations nowa-

may miss some opportunities available at the school.

The Asia-based options

days, this may not be the child’s ‘home’ country, regardless of what it says on their passport!

Undoubtedly, going to board in the UK, Europe, Australia or America can prepare a student for attend-

ing university in those countries.

However, especially if the child is younger, this option can be fraught with culture-shock and homesickness, in that the student can sometimes take a long while to adjust and

Many parents know that there are numerous international schools across the region offering excellent education options for students of all ages that now accept boarders enrolled on a school-sanctioned, hostel-based arrangement (the D-IY option mentioned above).

What many parents do not realise is that there are boarding options in the Southeast Asia region that provide both a world-class education and the ‘traditional’ residential boarding option – all on their doorstep!

One such school is the UWC South East Asia in Singapore, which offers boarding to students in Grade 7 and above. The boarding house on its Dover Campus is home to nearly 200 students from over 40 nationalities, and the East Campus will house about 120 students from around the world by 2015. It is an IB World School, and one of the largest IB Diploma schools in the world.

The Asia-based boarding option provides not only a ‘closer-to-family’ option; it also opens a wealth of opportunity in terms of travel and

cultural / global awareness. Many students in these schools – be they day or boarding pupils – have experienced the transition of moving to a new country and culture to start school.

The international school community is naturally geared to understanding and providing support for boarders as they adjust to living away from home, possibly for the first time. Being closer to family also means more frequent visits; this is especially important for younger boarders (and their parents!)

The final decision In the end, only you and your child can decide which option and which school is going to be right for your child. Families need to invest some time in making sure that the school they have selected is going to be a good fit, by visiting the school if at all possible, taking a tour and making sure it will support your child socially, emotionally and culturally as well as academically.

The rewards of making the right decision stand to resonate far beyond the school gates.

Sometimes it is all about you.

Applying for a place at UWC South East Asia is one of those times.

We are looking for families who are as committed to our mission and values as we are. For students who will embrace the opportunities provided by our learning programme.

No never-ending wait list. No concerns about date of application.

Simply apply and let us get to know you. Please contact admissions on +65 6775 5344. www.uwcsea.edu.sg UWCSEA Dover is registered by the CPE CPE Registration No. 197000825H Registration Period 18 July 2011–17 July 2017 UWCSEA East is registered by the CPE CPE Registration No. 200801795N Registration Period 10 March 2010–9 March 2017 039ADV-1112

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 51

A Finnish Twist on IB Schooling How does Finland’s renowned education system mix with the worldwide International Baccalaureate programme when the same school utilises both?

By Carina Chela Photos by Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva

S

ince 2007, the education at Ressu Comprehensive School has been based on a combination of Finland’s national core curriculum and the PYP curriculum (Primary Years Programme) and MYP curriculum (Middle Years Programme) of the International Baccalaureate Organization, IBO. With 430 pupils, 44 full time teachers, 38 different nationalities and two full-time special-needs teachers, Ressu takes pride in 120 years of heritage and in its mission and strategy as an IB school in Helsinki.

“It is good that our curriculum, written by our own teachers, has both programmes, because the Finnish national curriculum is an excellent one anyway,” explains principal Erja Hovén. “Now we have one curriculum that fulfils both programmes. It couldn’t be better!”

Finland has a total of 17 IB schools, including comprehensive and upper secondary, of which two

Ressu students don headphones for comprehension exercises in the language lab.

52 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

are private and the rest are statefunded schools. Ressu and five others are situated in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

The learning process Stimulating problem-solving skills and interaction are elements for which the Finnish school system has often received praise. “Problem-solving is an element that was already incorporated in the Finnish national curriculum. We just emphasise it more in our IB programme.”

“Certain points have had to be stressed [since the IB programme was introduced at Ressu]. For instance, there are more hands-on projects and enquiries. Our students now work with larger projects or personal projects that can take a whole winter.” Hovén pinpoints their “holistic approach” to education, especially in the PYP. Emphasising strong self-esteem and an active and responsible role in society is what Ressu aims for, which is also in accordance with the original aim of the IB programme to “challenge schools to encourage the students in become inquiring young people, active and knowledgeable lifelong learners through intercultural understanding.”

In addition, Ressu focuses on learning skills and teamwork, which are “just as important as the result,” says Hovén. “We want our students to be critical, to be able to analyse and evaluate the information they

Students at Ressu Comprehensive School chat outside a classroom during a lesson break.

receive. Sometimes knowing how to process information is more important than the information itself.”

About language As in many IB schools, instruction is offered in two languages, the country’s official language and English.

Ressu has both Finnish and English language streams. Often the students attending the English stream are temporarily living in Finland, or they are Finnish but have lived abroad.

The stellar results that Finland’s educational system has received in international evaluations in recent years have given the Finns cause to celebrate more than once. In the newest test results from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), released in December 2010, Finland dropped from first place in literacy to second place among OECD participants and third place among all participants, placing it just behind South Korea. And even if Finns are now feeling a certain sense of dissatisfaction about missing their beloved first place, it’s still an excellent result considering that the 2009 survey covered the OECD’s 33 member states and 32 non-members. Finland placed secondout of all participants in the science category and sixth in mathematics.

“Of course we like to get high scores,” says Hovén. “It also motivates us. The results are important but they are never do-or-die!”

“Ni hao!” at Stenhus Kostskole

T

he Chinese Dragon has come to stay at Stenhus Kostskole in Denmark. The Chinese classes at Stenhus Kostskole work closely with the two sister schools in Tianjin and in Shijiazhuang in the province of Hebei in North China.

Stenhus Kostskole aims to strengthen the understanding of crosscultural communication, so the students can understand the world around them, not least understand China today.

“The Chinese Dragon is awake and alive, and we have to follow its pace,” the school says.

In August 2010 on a study tour to Beijing and Tianjin, students from Stenhus met their Chinese counter parts . In 2012 the first Chinese students will visit Stenhus Kostskole in Denmark. For Danish children to learn and experience the Chinese culture, it gives them respect and a drive for the future.

Stenhus Kostskole DK-4300 Holbæk Phone: +45 59 43 02 69 E-mail: admin@stenhus.dk Website: www.stenhus.dk

Bagsværd Kostskole og Gymnasium

B

agsværd Kostskole and Gymnasium is a Danish school steeped in traditions and yet in constant development. The school was founded in 1908 on the brink of Bagsvaerd Lake 14 km north of Copenhagen.

Education starts in the Danish kindergarten school and ends with the Danish Gymnasium.

Boarding school students are taken in from the Danish 7th grade, but the greater part of the students joins during the last years of Grade school or in the gymnasium. The boarding house, Haraldsgave, offers 60 fully furnished single rooms where the students are helped daily on a daily basis with their homework by well educated staff who listen to the students.

Bagsvaerd has recently started Denmark’s first five year A-level for students who want to specialize in biotechnology on a higher level.

Bagsværd Kostskole og Gynmasium Aldershvilevej 138, 2880 Bagsværd +45 44 98 00 65 Email: bk@bagkost.dk Website: www.bagkost.dk

B a g s væ r d k o s t s k o l e gymnasium tid til talent

Bagsværd kostskole & gymnasium (Bk) er en udviklingsorienteret og traditionsrig skole grundlagt i 1908. elever, der vælger en uddannelse hos os, siger ja til fællesskab, faglighed, seriøsitet og individuel talentudvikling. det vi på Bagsværd kostskole & gymnasium kalder for: tid til talent. vi tilbyder: • • • • • • •

dansk uddannelse med et internationalt præg grundskole, 10. kl., studentereksamen (stX) danmarks første femårig Biotek-uddannelse 8.kl.-3.g sport- og talentklasse fra 7. kl. mulighed for morgentræning tirsdage og torsdage aktiv brug af it og internet i undervisningen enkeltværelser til kostelever, lektiehjælp hver dag

scan Qr koden og besøg vores hjemmeside www.bagkost.dk aldershvilevej 138 • dk-2880 • Bagsværd • telefon: +45 44980065 • e-mail: bk@bagkost.dk

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 53

Bergen International School

T

he educational programme of the International School of Bergen (ISB) has been developed to help prepare its students for a successful future, whether that future is in the Hordaland region or outside the borders of Norway. Parents also choose ISB for the English language learning environment, the small class sizes and the challenge of the International Baccalaureate programmes. Our mission is to provide an internationally accredited education which serves the Bergen and business communities.

An education at ISB is recognized as quality far and wide. The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer their Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes.

ISB is committed to the ethos of continual school improvement and strategic planning which are essential features of accredited schools.

Our students and staff ISB provides educational programmes in English to children between the ages of 3 and 18. The students represent more than thirty different nationalities. The teachers all hold university degrees and appropriate teaching qualifications. Class sizes are small with normally 16 – 18 students.

Bergen International School Wilhelm Bjerknesvei 15, 5081 Bergen Phone +47 55 30 63 30 Fax +47 55 30 63 31 Website: www.isob.no E-mail: post@isob.no

IB International Baccalaureate

- an alternative to the Danish ‘Studentereksamen’ • internationally recognized • gives admission to universities all over the world • taught in English You can stay at Nyborg Gymnasium’s boarding school.

Contact us for more information about the programme and the boarding school.

Nyborg Gymnasium

N

yborg Gymnasium is an unusual Danish college, offering both STX (a standard Danish A-level), HF (2 year exam that gives access to university studies) and IB (International Baccalaureate) - and further takes in boarders.

As a consequence, young people from the local town of Nyborg meet young people from other regions of Denmark and from abroad at Nyborg Gymnasium. It gives a special educational atmosphere, being local, national, and international at the same time.

All three educational lines are characterized by • a high educational standard and personal attention to each student • development of the student in terms of competence in the subjects, excellence in cooperation and an appetite for further learning • participation in the IT education and it-based communication between students and their teachers related to their everyday working environment • tolerance, involvement and responsibility for creating a safe and pleasant living atmosphere for all • positive and fun experiences, school parties, sports days, etc.

Deadline for applications: 15th of March.

Nyborg Gymnasium & Kostskole Skolebakken 13, DK-5800 Nyborg Tlf +45 65 31 02 17, fax +45 63 25 52 19 post@nyborg-gym.dk, www.nyborg-gym.dk

EngElskspråklig privatskolE for barn og ungdom mEllom 3 og 18 • • • • • • •

Få elever i hver klasse Trygt læringsmiljø med god individuell oppfølging God kontakt med foreldre Internasjonalt godkjente og utfordrende læreplaner Utmerkede resultater i internasjonale og norske nasjonalprøver Sentral beliggenhet med bybanestopp rett utenfor døren Nyhet– Internasjonal Videregående med godkjenning fra Lånekassen Contact us for more information: Tel 55 30 63 30 eller post@isob.no

54 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

Read more on our website: www.nyborg-gym.dk and our school magazine: http://issuu.com/nyborg-gym/docs/ magasin2012

Boarding in Sweden

Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Laroverket is located on a hill part of Sigtuna, closed to Stockholm, Arlanda and Uppsala.

S

igtunaskolan Humanistiska Laroverket is one of the most modern boarding schools in Europe. Approximately 500 pupils attend the school, of whom 260 are boarders. SSHL offers both the national curriculum natural sciences(NV), and the social sciences programmes (SP). In addition, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, administered by IBO in Geneva,

has been offered at the school for many years. Good results from these three programmes provide access to most colleges and universities around the world.

SSHL also offers the Middle Years Programme (MYP), a programme which is based on evaluation of the entire educational process, not just the results.

This provides a natural link between the middle and the high school years.

Sigtunaskolan Humonistiska Laroverket, SSHL PO.Box 328, 5E-193 28 Phone: +46 (0) 8 592 571 00 Fax: +46 (0) 8 592 572 50 E-mail: info@sshl.se Website: www.sshl.se

SWEDEN’S LEADING BOARDING SCHOOL High school and Middle school programmes in Swedish or English. The IB Diploma has been established at SSHL for over 30 years with a proven record of success. Numerous free time activities and close contacts with universities and industry. Our school is located in idyllic Sigtuna on the shores of Lake Mälar, close to Stockholm cultural life and Arlanda airport.

Come and visit SSHL, an international version of Sweden. We are happy to show you the school and our activities at any time. We also offer a trial period, giving you the opportunity to experience school and boarding life.

During the summer we offer summer courses in Swedish and Mathematics and a confirmation camp.

SIGTUNASKOLAN HUMANISTISKA LÄROVERKET Telephone: +46 8 592 571 00 www.sshl.se

April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 55

Onyx Hospitality to Open Five Properties in 2012

O

nyx Hospitality, a Thailand based hotel management company, will open five new properties across Asia in 2012.

Successfully launched in January this year was the Oriental Residence on Wireless Road in th centre of Bangkok, where the units sold is more than 70%.

This luxury residence project consists of 145 units of serviced residences and 46 units of condominiums. The estimated revenue from the sales is 454 million baht. The serviced residence offers the accommodation rate at 4,800++ baht for one bedroom exclusive deluxe.

The project provides full amenities and facilities such as Café Claire,

Play deck and Play room as well as function rooms.

In Hong Kong, the new hotel brand OZO will be introduced later this year presenting the concept of ‘SLEEP DREAM’, where guests can be ensured to have peace in the guest rooms.

In India and China, the opening of Amari hotels are on schedule as well.

In Thailand, Amari Residence Hua Hin will open its doors to welcome the first guest in June this year.

Mr. Yuthachai Charanachitta, Owner of Onyx Hospitality and CEO & President of Amari Estate, revealed that the success of Amari Estate in 2011 derived from the sales of

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Amari Residence Hua Hin with the units sold of 85% or 161 units from the entire 193 units. The estimated sales revenue of condominium units is 1,015 million baht from the project value of 1,298 million baht.

According to Mr. Yuthachai, the floods situation in Thailand last year resulted in higher demand for properties in Hua Hin and Phuket.

Meanwhile, the company has planned the development of the first phase of Amari Residence Phuket using the land space of 18 rai on the 60-rai plot of land. The project is located on the highest point of Patong offering beautiful scenery of Andaman and Patong beach to every unit.

Amari Residence Phuket will consist of 110 condominium units and 12 units of pool villa. The maximum number of units in each building will be five so residents can be sure to have privacy. The project’s hotelserviced concept will be supported

by Amari Coral Beach Patong. The price starts from 9.9 million baht for the unit with 45 square meters which makes the estimated price per square meter 200,000 baht.

The construction is planned to start in quarter 2 of this year and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2015.

Centara Grand Residence Pattaya Launched

C

entara Grand Residence Pattaya was recently launched by the Tulip Group with a spectacular beachfront party on Jomtien beach. The party included a bikini fashion show, DJ Nakadia, and an impressive firework and was filled with celebrities, high-profile Thais and many interested property investors.

The project is located on 20 rai of beachfront land on Jomtien beach. It will consist of three towers with direct sea views for all units.

One tower with 250 rooms will be the five-star Centara Grand Hotel and the other two towers which have been branded as Centara Grand Residence will contain 283 condominium units.

As the project is managed by Centara Grand Hotels & Resorts, the five-star hotel facilities and services will be provided.

The buildings will take up only 27.5% of the land. Facilities in the public area will include a large swimming pool, a children’s pool, a sundeck, water features, a kids’ club, fitness and games rooms, tropical landscaping, floating pavilions and large open areas.

The sole sales agent for the Centara Residence project is CB Richard Ellis. After the sales began in the middle of December, 55 units were sold within 48 hours. The project is expected to be completed in 2015.

For more information, contact Tulip Group on +66 (0) 3895 9180

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TAT License 13/01461 April 2012 • ScandAsia.Thailand 57

Medium

Practical Wine Tips • Best wines for spicy foods Living in Sourth East Asia, a frequently asked questions is what are the best wines to go with spicy food. In general, spicy, salty and smoky foods and ingredients cry out for wines that don’t add more heat or lots of other flavors.

So don’t serve high alcohol wines that translate to heat in your mouth, like California Chardonnay and Cabernet. These wines are also a no-no because they also have lots of competing oaky, caramel flavors. Great food wines for spicy, salty, smoky dishes have refreshing acidity that acts like a firefighter to cool your mouth. They should have gobs of fruit flavor, which translates to a touch of sweetness in your mouth, which softens those spicy, salty, smoky flavors. Ideal white wines include Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chablis; red wines include Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Beaujolais Villages and Chinon.

Evil

• Three steps to make a cheap bottle of red wine taste three times as good Play “TAG” which stands for Temperature, Aeration and Glassware.

1. FEEL THE BOTTLE. If the red is slightly cool to the touch, serve it. If it’s warm, meaning ambient room temperature (70-75 degrees), ask for an ice bucket and give the wine a dip for five to 10 minutes so it gets slightly cool like the temperature of a wine cellar.

2. HAVE THE WINE AERATED IN A DECANTER (or glass pitcher at a more casual restaurant) before serving it.

3. ASK FOR BIG RED WINE GLASSES The big bowl lets you swirl and limber up the wine so it tastes better. Wine glasses are the gift that keeps on giving. So gift yourself first!

• The fastest way to chill your wine Add a third of a cup of salt to an ice bucket to make salt water which cools your wine 50% faster than tap water. Great for the holidays and parties when you have thirstier guests than anticipated.

• Best wines for Sunday brunch The refreshing prickle of bubbles and mouthwatering acidity of Champagne and sparkling wines cut right through egg dishes and cream sauces (like the Hollandaise on your Eggs Benedict). Next best choices are high acid whites like Sauvignon Blanc or Chablis whose good acidity can also scour your tongue and cleanse it of the egg yolks and Hollandaise sauce. Why? So you can really taste the next bite of food!

Are you done?

W

hen you have completed the above puzzles, please send your solution by fax to +66 2 943 7169 or scan and email to puzzles@ scandasia.com. We will make a lucky draw among the correct answers. Five lucky winners will receive a ScandAsia polo shirt.

Name:

___________________________________________________

Age: ________________________

Mobile:

___________________

Address:

__________________________________________________

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Email:

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Deadline for submitting your solution is 15 May 2012 58 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2012

• How to avoid red wine headaches 1. Histamines are naturally present on grape skins and are present in higher concentration on red grapes than white grapes. So take an anti-histamine 30 minutes beforehand.

2. If histamines don’t bother you and you still get a headache it could be the tannins (preservatives) in red wine. So give up Cabernet and Merlot and drink wines with less tannin like Pinot Noir, Rioja, Chianti, Beaujolais-Village, Barbera, St Nicholas and Dolcetto.

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