Time Out Bangkok No. 98 | Thailand's thriving Boys Love culture

FREE COPY TIMEOUT.COM/BANGKOK NO.098 6-20 JUNE 2020

Everything you need to know about Thailand’s thriving Boys Love culture

City life

30/2 Soi Sukhumvit 36 (Naphasap Soi 1), Klongtan, Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand Editorial 0909077455 Advertising 0918083619 E-mail editorial@timeoutbangkok.com

Editor-in-Chief Top Koaysomboon Art Director Narin Machaiya Features Editor Phavitch Theeraphong Digital Content Manager Onsiri Jirawuttipod Senior Writer Suriyan Panomai Junior Writers Khemjira Prompan, Kenika Ruaytanapanich

Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

Photographers Sereechai Puttes Tanisorn Vongsoontorn Video creator Arunrote Auefue Contributing Sub-editor Ana Kalaw Advertising Director Walaiporn Tantisak Account Executive Sasitorn Sengmoon Event Sales Director Pavin Asavavichairoj

Event Sales Executive Orachaporn Premrudeesanit Marketing Manager Kunlatida Chawengwan Marketing Executives Patcharat Ruenrutaikul Thanyaluck Komutrattananon Kanyapat Saengbuakaew Publishers Dujduan Hetrakul, Pongsiri Hetrakul Chairman Prida Hetrakul Director/Vice president -

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Finance Mhienjun Hetrakul Time Out Group Founder Tony Elliott Group chief Exeutive officer Julio Bruno Global Creative Director Tom Hislop Head of Global Content Alex Plim

Cover Design Narin Machaiya

Time Out Bangkok is edited by Phongsathorn Koaysomboon for Maeban Publishing Company Limited, 30/2 Soi Sukhumvit 36 (Naphasap 1), Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand.

Color separated by 48 Film Process Co., Ltd. 66 Soi Ladprao 58/1, Ladprao Road, Wangtonglang, Bangkok 10240. Printed by Maeban Publishing Co., Ltd. 30/2 Soi Sukhumvit 36 (Naphasap 1), Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand.

City life

Bottoms up!

TAWEESILP VISANUYOTHIN, SPOKESPERSON for the Centre for

COVID-19 Situation Administration, revealed that the ban on alcohol consumption in restaurants will be lifted as the country eases up on more lockdown measures. Drink promotions are still not allowed, however, and bars, nightclubs and karaoke spots, are still prohibited from accepting customers.

Other venues that have been given the green light to resume operations are convention centers, museums and science centers, Japanese-style bathhouses, theme parks and game arcades. Massage parlors that require masseuses to bathe the customer or other close body contact must remain closed.

Stadiums can host sport events but without spectators. International schools and tutorial schools can resume operations, while Thai public schools will kick off the new semester on 1 July.

As of 10 June, no local transmission of COVID-19 has been reported in Thailand for almost two weeks. Public health officials reported four cases, all of which are repatriated Thais.â– Â Phavitch Theeraphong

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6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

City life

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH...

CPTPP and why does it matter?

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ASIDE FROM COVID-19 , the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is one issue that has been taking over local media coverages and public conversation for weeks. The Thai government is pushing the country to join the global trade agreement, proposing it as one strategy to boost the local economy and offset the negative impact brought about by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Deputy Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and many other minsters support Thailand’s participation, but a considerable amount of central figures in both the government and opposition parties, as well as the private sector, are against it, saying that the CPTPP will have unfavorable effects on the Thai agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors, amongst many others.

There’s a lot of fuss circulating CPTPP so we’ve listed down the facts; basically what you need to know about the controversial trade agreement—and how it may affect the food you eat.

What’s CPTPP?

The trade agreement was once known as the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), initiated in the US in 2015 during the term of former president Barack Obama to form strategic ties with 11 other countries in the Pacific Rim. TPP aimed to become the world’s largest free trade deal, with the provision to eliminate tariffs and trade barriers among participating nations, promote foreign investment among member states, and strengthen intellectual property on certain goods such as agricultural products and medication. But the US withdrew from the agreement when Donald Trump came into power. The remaining member nations then set up a new trade agreement called CPTPP in March 2018, maintaining previously set provisions.

Which countries are included in the agreement?

Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

How would the deal benefit Thailand?

Participation in the CPTPP can provide Thailand with new markets for export such as Canada and Mexico. Citing research conducted by consulting firm Bolliger & Company, Auramon Supthaweethum, director general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, said that Thailand’s GDP would see an increase of 0.12 percent as export and investment Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

opportunities accelerate. The deal could also improve Thailand’s productivity and provide the creation of job as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19. However, failing to participate in the trade bloc could result in a loss of 0.25 percent in GDP.

Why are some people against it?

Many critics argue that the CPTPP’s negative effects outweigh its benefits. Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Public Health, fears that it may limit Thais’ access to affordable medicine, while leader of the Move Forward party Pita Limjaroenrat insist that the move would only benefit large conglomerates and not the public good. Civil society groups FTA Watch and Biothai have launched online campaigns against Thailand joining the CPTPP, saying that the agreement will put Thai farmers at a disadvantage. Their argument revolves around one of the most significant implications of the trade agreement, one that revolves around the effects the partnership will have on the food security of Thailand and on the use of, well, seeds.

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How might CPTPP affect the food you eat?

If Thailand becomes a member of the CPTPP, then it will have to revise its laws to align with UPOV 91 or the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention, the latest revision of the International Convention For The Protection Of New Varieties Of Plants. UPOV 91 grants big companies or institutions property rights over seeds and new plant varieties. If farmers want to plant a certain seed, then they would have to buy it from a certified seller every season or pay a fee or royalty for keeping seeds for continued use in later seasons. In some countries, farmers can reproduce and keep certain seed varieties for the next season, but only for use on their own farms and only for certain crops. Otherwise, replanting the seeds from a previous season without permission could result in punishment.

Bo Songvisava, chef/owner of Bo.lan, who has explicitly voiced her position against CPTTP, says that this will allow powerful corporations to reap profit without having to share them with the original source of the plant breeds. Biothai, on their end, speculates that joining CPTTP and an alignment with UPOV 91 could render the price of seeds six to 12 times more expensive, which can, in turn, increase the price of local food and produce. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong

TO

BOOK

Fruitfull ends its Lockdown dinner series with a massive chef collaboration that highlights local fruits CREATIVE FOOD INITIATIVE Fruitfull, which

introduced a new way to experience gourmet food in our own homes, will end its interactive Lockdown dining series with a grand finale, one that features a jaw-dropping collaboration among the chefs of nine restaurants from six countries.

This final stay-at-home dinner is set to revolve around local fruits (because Fruitfull) and will explore how they can creatively find their way in various dishes through the vision of local talents such as Garima Arora from Gaa and Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones from Bo.lan, as well as esteemed international personalities such as Daniel Calvert of Belon in Hong Kong, Hiroyasu Kawate of Florilege in Tokyo, Dave Pynt of Burnt Ends in Singapore, Mingoo Kang of Mingles in Seoul, and Tahara Ryogo of Logy in Taiwan.

Chirito Naito of popular Vietnamese-slash-wine bar An Di in Tokyo and Rishi Naleendra of the recently opened Cloudstreet in Singapore are also part of the creative collaboration, but as a team.

The many dishes you can enjoy in your own homes—along with live-streamed messages from the chefs and interactive programs—include the likes of uni and lychee tart with miso custard (Logy), scallop ravioli with pomelo and shio kombu (Belon), bonito green curry with mango (Florilege), and kimchi watermelon ice cream (Mingles).

You can book this “fruit-filled” meal on 12 June. The dinner will be delivered to your door on 12 June, with the live-streaming session starting at 19:30. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong à Book now Fruitfull experience via http://fruitfull.co

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6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

Empty Airport The departure hall of Suvarnabhumi airport, one of Asia’s biggest air transport hubs, remains eerily empty.

In March 2020, Thailand closed its international borders and suspended international flights until further notice to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.

As lockdown measures ease, however, domestic flights are slowly resuming services. We’re hoping to see more passenger activity at the airport soon.

■ Sereechai Puttes Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

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6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

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Special feature

Thailand’s Boys Love culture is on the rise and could evolve into the country’s new major entertainment export. By Top Koaysomboon, photography Sereechai Puttes

FOR MANY OF us, Friday nights during the lockdown meant binge-watching new programs on Netflix. But for millions of Boys Love (“Y” in Thai) fans around Asia, it was one night to fix their eyes on the screen to watch the latest episode of 2gether: The Series, unarguably Thailand’s most popular Boys Love drama.

Throughout the 13 weeks of its airing, the #2gethertheSeries hashtag topped global trends on Twitter— the most favored social media of Boys Love fans—and triggered millions of virtual conversations about the series in various languages, from Thai to Chinese to English.

The series was so popular that its lead actors, fresh-faced Vachirawit “Bright” Cheva-aree and Metawin “Win” Opasiamkajorn, garnered more than a million Instagram followers from all over the world in just a few weeks. 2gether: The Series became the global phenomenon no one expected.

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6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

When boys love boys

The presence of Boys Love series, a unique drama genre that depicts homoerotic relationships between male characters, has increased significantly in recent years.

Narratives revolving around two boys in a romantic relationship were pretty much secondary subplots before the 2014 series Love Sick, which was a significant turning point for the subgenre. It was the first time in Thai entertainment history that two boys with homosexual inclinations were featured in the lead.

Since then, other players in the market jumped in, including GMMTV, a subsidiary of Thailand’s largest entertainment conglomerate, GMM Grammy, and producer of 2gether the Series.

Noppanat Chaiwimol, a director and producer for GMMTV, tells us that the company first chose a less obvious course by dropping in Boys Love characters into heterosexual series (Tay-New from Kiss and Pik-Low from Senior Secret Love, for example). After gaining positive feedback, the entertainment powerhouse decided to go all the way. Sotus was its first try. “The first [season] was an experiment. We didn’t know how it would go,” says the young exec. “Back then, it was controversial for a major entertainment company to pair up two guys. Well, it turned out to be a big hit and Chris-Singto [the portmanteau for the actors in the series] are still around today even if it’s been about four or five years.”

LINE TV, the free streaming platform that has been broadcasting Boys Love series such as Make it Right and Sotus since 2016 says that the coronavirus lockdown earned the platform the biggest increase in viewership in history. From a five percent audience share in 2019, the first quarter of 2020 alone saw the number peak at 34 percent. “Boys Love is no longer a sub-genre.

It’s gone major,” says Kanop Supamanop, LINE TV’s VP for content business. LINE TV alone currently stockpiles 33—and counting—Thai Boys Love series on its platform, making it the biggest producer of the subgenre in Thailand.

Reading love between the lines

Thai Boys Love is a local appropriation of yaoi, the Japan-originating form of homoerotic fiction that revolves around the romantic narratives between a masculine boy (called “uke”) and a more feminine boy (called “seme”).

Traditionally, yaoi is created, consumed and favored by women. This Japanese subculture arrived in Thailand a decade ago in the form of novels.

The community of Boys Love readers flourished long before the culture came to the small screen. “It started off underground, before surfacing around 2011 to 2012,” says Dr. Utain Boonorana, medical doctor who’s also an LGBT fiction author known by his pseudonym, Mor Tood (“Homo Doctor” in Thai). “The genre picked up and blossomed in around 20142015.”

Walk into any major bookstores in Bangkok— as well as other major provinces—now and you’ll see what would have been unheard of a few

Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

years back: Boys Love novels taking over more and more shelves. Like many Boys Love dramas before it, 2gether the Series is based on a novel of the same name.

Observing the growth of Boys Love literature, decades-old publishing house Sataporn Books jumped onto the bandwagon in 2018 and launched a new brand called Deep. So far, Deep has published around 70 Boys Love titles, and 20 of them being produced into a television series. “I guess society seems to be more accepting of Boys Love fiction,” says Jetiya Lokitsataporn, the owner of Sataporn Books. She goes on to explain that the Boys Love industry has seen tremendous growth because more producers, including major channels, have shown interest in turning these novels into television series. More series translates into better sales of the books.

Jetiya also points out that she has seen fewer stories about students and more about people with actual careers. “There is also more fantasy fiction, like those in which men could become pregnant. If you treat them as fantasy, we could simply accept them [as entertainment].”

Deep is also talking about selling the rights

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to their novels to international publishers in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, countries where Thai Boys Love culture has become popular.

The (clichéd) formula that guarantees success

Similar to many other successful Thai Boys Love media, 2gether: The Series centers around college students living out unreal storylines and engaging in somewhat irrational conversations.

It’s these elements that seem to guarantee the success of a Boys Love series— in addition to attractive characters with on-screen chemistry. Other hit series such as TharnType and En of Love also fall into this cliché.

“Most readers and authors are

‘Most readers and authors are teenagers, so life in college is what’s closest to their real life’

Boys Love Culture

IN BRIEF

Boys Love series on the go

We can’t talk about Boys Love series without talking about LINE TV. From Make It Right, the first Boys Love series streamed on the platform in 2016, to 2gether: The Series in 2020, LINE TV has broadcasted a total of 33 Thai BL series, making it the biggest and bestknown platform for the genre.

teenagers, so life in college is what’s closest to their real life,” says Utain, adding to the premise. “Pre-teens and teens [which are Boys Love’s main target groups] would not be able to understand how a frustrated 30-something

woman actually feels about life… they won’t be able to empathize.”

Curiously enough, Boys Love protagonists all come from the same demographic. A parody on the sub-culture pointed out that most lead characters are either engineering or medical students from affluent backgrounds. PHD researcher Ronnayuth Euatrirat, who’s studying the Thai Boys Love phenomenon, explains that this may be due to the fact that many Boys Love novels are penned by female authors. “We find Boys Love characters reflect the desires of a young woman. An engineering student, for example, is a typical desirable personification of a dependable man. These characters also have a manly appearance and come from wellto-do backgrounds. These standards respond to women’s needs.”

GMMTV, now the best-known producer of Thai Boys Love series, is taking a risk by tweaking these clichéd standards. Later this year, it will release A Tale of Thousand Stars, its first Boys Love series that doesn’t feature a teen, nor an engineering student, in the lead. Instead, you have a budding relationship between a volunteer teacher and a forestry officer. Noppanat, who is writing the screenplay

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According to LINE exec Kanop Supamanop, there was never a better time for both the streaming platform and Boys Love dramas than the recent lockdown. 2gether: The Series on LINE TV saw a staggering increase in viewership during the more than two months that Thais were forced to stay at home, from five percent in 2019 to 34 in the first quarter of 2020 alone. The amount of time spent on watching BL series on the platform also rose by 45 percent.

The popularity of 2gether: The Series also drove viewers to watch other Thai BL series, such as En of Love, which saw increased views by 300 percent.

Kanop suggested during a group media briefing that Boys Love is no longer a subculture but may have already achieved mainstream status.

In addition to rolling out various digital merchandise, LINE TV is partnering up with Nadao to produce an original Boys Love series nicknamed BKPP, scheduled for release in October.

6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

The Small Screen

Most-watched boys love series on LINE TV in the first quarter of 2020

2GETHER: THE SERIES

Tine, trying to get away from an obsessive admirer, begs guitarist and popular football player Sarawat to pretend to be his boyfriend.

The fake relationship, however, slowly evolves into something genuine.

THARNTYPE: THE SERIES

Openly gay Tharn and homophobic Type are roommates who hate each other at first sight. But over time, they get to know one another and develop feelings.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Two lovers who committed suicide in the past lives are reborn and fall in love with each other all over again.

WHY R U? THE SERIES

Son’s life seems to reflect the storyline of his sister’s BL fiction, in which he’s matched with his classmate Saifah.

EN OF LOVE

A series that revolves around the relationships of several students from a school’s Faculty of Engineering.

Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

and is directing the series, wants to explore new possibilities in the Boys Love landscape.

Though the series’ has yet to be aired, previews have received positive feedback from Boys love fans that are start to get fed up with teenage fantasies.

LGBTQ and Boys Love: two parallel universes?

The wide reception and popularity of Thai Boys Love owes so much to the freedom of gender expression in Thailand. But is the LGBTQ community actually benefiting from the increasing popularity of Boys Love novels and series?

A number of local LGBTQ advocates have shunned Boys Love culture, saying that it doesn’t reflect the real lives of LGBTQ individuals, and even portrays a false perception of the community. But the experts we’ve spoken with don’t wholly agree.

Noppana, acknowledges that this is one topic you can spend days discussing. The veteran producer and director, who has been doing research on Boys Love for more than five years, and doesn’t think these series are “too fantasized” and are not an appropriate reflection of the LGBT community.

“All Boys Love dramas revolve around samesex relationships so, personally, I think they represent diversity. They are a sub-part of the LGBTQ genre. However, at the end of the day, we’re talking about the Boys Love genre that focuses on romantic fantasy and not more serious LGBTQ issues such as equality and HIV. Being in the middle of this lengthy discussion for so long, I have had to find the right balance between what the audience needs and what needs to be done,” he explains. “Many LGBT individuals possibly live their lives like those [in Boys Love series]. You see young same-sex couples everywhere, right? Society is now more open and they might not have to overcome many obstacles like those before them. So if you take this case into account, Boys Love series could be real.

An LGBTQ advocate himself, Nopparat tries to inject a message about gender acceptance into every Boys Love series he produces. He’s also the mind behind GMMTV’s LGBTQ productions, many of which have been praised for their complex and thought-provoking narratives, including Gay OK Bangkok. “We see new narratives, more diversity popping up every day.

For example, I’m really interested in the gender fluidity young people are talking about these days. The world of LGBTQ is sensitive and needs further exploration.”

The butterfly effect: the unexpected consequences of popularity

A few months ago, one of 2gether the Series’ young lead stars, Vachirawit “Bright” Chevaaree, posted comments on social media that allegedly criticized China’s power over Hong Kong and Taiwan. Though his comments were clearly misconstrued and taken out of context, it didn’t stop a full-blown war from exploding on Twitter. Thai and Chinese users, Boys love fans and just simple detractors alike, exchanged insults. It wasn’t too long until Hong Kongers

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and Taiwanese weighed in and banded together with the Thais in a digital coalition called “Milk Tea Alliance.” Even famous Hong Kong political activist Joshua Wong showed his support for the affiliation. When the Embassy of China in Thailand issued a statement on its Facebook Page (which wasn’t received well by netizens), everyone knew things had gone out of control.

The controversial issue went on to make the headlines of many news agencies, including Reuters.

But like everything else in the Twitter universe, the fire was doused as quickly as it sparked. After a few weeks, the online dispute died down, but it did leave the series more popular than ever.

Soft power in the making Exercising a nation’s culture as “soft power,” a persuasive, indirect international relation tool, has become a common practice worldwide. For

‘South Korea is exporting K-pop culture and, you know what, we are now exporting Boys Love series’

Boys Love Culture

Most anticipated new Thai Boys Love series this year

A TALE OF THOUSAND STARS

Forestry officer Phupha (Pirapat “Earth” Wattanasetsiri) and volunteer teacher Tian (Sahaphap “Mix” Vongrat) explore a relationship amidst the scenic valleys of Northern Thailand.

Release date: Q4 2020

example, K-pop has been one of South Korea’s key export products for years, making waves— and money—across the world. In 2018, it was reported that Korean cultural content exports were worth US$9.55 billion.

Similarly, Thai Boys Love is becoming more popular across the region, but could it become so influential as to affect pan-national relations and eventually evolve into Thailand’s new soft power?

“South Korea is exporting K-pop culture and, you know what, we are now exporting Boys Love series,” Utain says, adding that Boys Love fans around the world have praised Thai versions as some of the world’s best. “There are communities that monitor Thai Boys Love series. There could be a new Facebook Page popping up right following the news about the release of a new Boys Love series.”

Shortly after 2gether: The Series ended, GMMTV announced a series of virtual fan meetings featuring lead actors from its other Boys Love series—moderating in various languages, no less. Tickets were sold worldwide.

You don’t have to be an economist to say GMMTV will definitely be bagging a hefty profit.

BKPP (WORKING TITLE)

“I’m very confident in the quality of Boys Love series produced by many Thai production companies. 2gether: The Series, for example, has proven successful,” says Noppanat. “It was the first time we saw opportunities in new markets: South America, Europe, the western hemisphere. 2gether the Series was the case study for us all [to prove] that it could go beyond Boys Love fans.” ■

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Nadao Studio’s first BL production is a romantic coming-of-age series that revolves around the complicated relationship between two boys played

by Puttipong “Billkin” Assarattanakul and Kris “PP” Amnuaydechakorn.

Release date: Oct 22, exclusively on LINE TV

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Eat & Drink Nusara 2/F May Rai, Maharat Road, 08 1432 4050. MRT Sanamchai. Open Wed-Mon 17:00-21:30

WHAT IS IT… Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn’s latest fine-dining venture WHY COME… Show-stopping dishes that boast elevated, yet still familiar, Thai flavors

Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

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CHEF THITID “TON” Tassanakajohn has done his share of giving Thai cuisine an uplift, laying it on white table-clothed splendor at Le Du, the one Michelin-starred establishment that beautifully reinterprets Thai cuisine with the use of Western cooking techniques. But in his latest venture Nusara, the celebrated chef takes fine Thai food back to its roots, focusing on intricate flavors served in a sophisticated but still homey setting.

“My grandmother passed away Creentry so I want this restaurant to be a testament to her legacy,” Chef Ton explains. “The best way to describe the food here is ‘colorful authentic Thai cuisine,’ which reflects my grandmother who was a fun, modern woman.” The kitchen is overseen by head chef Nithit Nithikamphol, who is working in a Thai professional kitchen for the first time at Nusara. “I wanted someone with no prior experience in Thai cuisine because they tend to be more open-minded to new ideas.”

The 12-course culinary journey commences with a saeng wa (citrusy and sweet salad) of grouper sashimi cured with sugar and salt, and served with young ginger. This was followed by a squid salad inspired by khao kreap park mor (rice dumplings with seasoned filling); the squid is thinly sliced to resemble rice cake wrapper, and comes with young garlic, tomato and cucumber.

Main dishes are served as a sumrub (Thaistyle set) and are designed to enjoy in individual portions. The peanut relish is satisfyingly delicious, made following a recipe found in an old cookbook, while the grilled pork jowls displays contrasting flavors of red chili paste and sweet grape. The pad kaprao (basil stir-fry) with wagyu is extremely spicy but still worth a standing ovation.

The food at Nusura strikes a balance between traditional flavors and creative tweaks. Because of the ongoing social distancing guidelines, the restaurant is now only open for private dining with a minimum spend of 15,000. Once the situation goes back to normal, a meal at Nusara will be priced at B1,990. ■ Phavitch Theeraphong

Café Flash Coffee

WHAT IS IT… An Indonesian coffee joint

Hong Kong Plaza, 167/1 South Sathorn Road, 06 2954 2299. BTS Chong Nonsi. Open Mon-Fri 7:00-16:00

HOW MUCH WOULD you normally pay for a cup

of quality coffee? Around a hundred baht, we suppose. So the insanely affordable prices at Flash Coffee may come as really shocking—in a good way. The Jakarta-born coffee shop has put up its first Bangkok branch in Sathorn, and it’s fast upending the artisanal coffee scene on its head by offering quality brews that go for as low as B40.

The coffee shop is located inside Hong Kong Plaza Market (a rather unusual location for a hip coffee shop), and it’s actually more of a stall that caters mostly to office workers on the go and coffee lovers ordering for takeaway.

Their coffee is brewed from a selection of local Arabica beans curated by renowned barista and 2017 World Latte Art Champion Arnon Thitiprasert and Indonesian Latte Art Champion Robby Firlian. Options range from simple espresso variations like Americano

WHY COME… Cheap coffee made from quality beans

(B40), latte (B50) and Magic Cappuccino (with double shots of espresso, B60) to more creative drinks. The Upgraded Aren Latte (B70) with palm sugar is perfect for those who like their brews sweet, while those who like their coffee with a hint of flavor can opt for the Lychee Latte (B70) or the Avo Latte (B70). Baked pastries such as lemon tart (B40) and croissants (B75) set off each sip nicely.

Non-coffee items include iced tea (B45) made with tea leaves sourced from nine local suppliers (it’s really one of the most aromatic iced teas we’ve tried in the city).

Flash Coffee is available on all food delivery platforms. Plans are in motion to open another branch in Samyan Mitrtown.■ Phavitch Theeraphong

%Arabica ICONSIAM, Charoen Nakhon Road. Open 10:00-20:00

RIVERSIDE SHOPPING HAVEN ICONSIAM recently welcomed Kyoto-born coffee specialist %Arabica. Located on the first floor of the luxury shopping destination, the shop features sleek, minimalist interiors designed by Tokyobased design firm No.10 of Nomurakougeisha (who is responsible for the look of several of the brand’s other stores).

Behind %Arabica is Japanese entrepreneur Kenneth Shoji who has investments in a coffee farm in Hawaii and also exports state-of-the-art Japan-made roaster Tornado King, which takes up a conspicuous presence in the ICONSIAM store.

The drinks are, of course, the major draw, made from high-quality beans sourced from around the world. Patrons can choose between the nutty %Arabica signature blend or a fruity single origin brew from Ethiopia to go into their latte (from B130), Americano (B140) or Spanish latte (from B150). Caffeine-intolerant customers can opt for the matcha latte (B150).

■Phavitch Theeraphong

WHAT IS IT… The first %Arabica coffee shop in Thailand WHY COME… Crafted brews in a sleek, minimalist setting 15

6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

Film WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH…

Mean Phiravich The young star is delivering more than just comedy acting chops

Who is Mean?

Phiravich “Mean” Attachitsataporn is an actor who rose to fame when he starred in the Thai Boys Love drama series Love by Chance in 2018. He’s now playing his biggest role to date as the lead in My Bubble Tea, a new rom-com series on One 31 and Viu.

What you probably don’t know about him

Mean likes to travel. He works a lot, so every two or three months, he takes a trip somewhere in Thailand, either alone or with friends. If he has more than three days to spare, he travels abroad, usually to a country within Asia.

He loves the beach and listening to the sound of the waves.

What’s the biggest misconception people have of him?

“My age. People think I’m older than I actually am,” Mean says.

He is, in fact, only 22 and a fresh college graduate to boot. Apart from guessing his age wrong, people tend to think that his English is excellent. “People like to think that I speak fluent English because I travel a lot, but I can actually only speak a little bit.”

What he values in life

Stability is important to Mean who says it helps to be stable, especially in times of crisis such as the Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

COVID-19 pandemic. According to the young actor, he has his life all planned out. Right now, he is determined to build a new house for himself and his family by the time he’s 25.

He’s really into fashion

For Mean, fashion is what drives and connects the world. It’s also a way to explore the many facets of his personality. If he wants to be a certain kind of person on a particular day, he would dress a certain way. For example, if he gets a role as a high school student, then he would alter his dress style to help him connect to the character.

He has a Youtube channel

It’s called Meantrosexual (obviously from the word “metrosexual”) and it’s where he shares tips and tricks on fashion and beauty for today’s urban male.

The majority of beauty bloggers are female so he wanted to create a space where guys can learn about dressing up and grooming from someone they can relate to.

be evaluated for his personality rather than his looks, Light always hides his face under a motorcycle helmet.

Mean has come to understand more about his character

He uses delivery services all the time and has seen the the hardships these delivery men have to face. On set, he has to wear a mask and a helmet all day in hot weather, so he has an idea of how it really feels to work as a delivery man. ■ Khemjira Prompan

Mean plays a delivery man named Light in My Bubble Tea

Light believes that people tend to judge others by their appearance— the attractive ones are more likely to get an extra advantage, and he doesn’t like it. Wanting to

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6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

Art TIME OUT MEETS

Arus Angchuan The artist has been tasked with illustrating the 20th anniversary Thai edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone plus all the other special-edition books in the series.

By Khemjira Prompan, photos by Sereechai Puttes

THE THAI EDITION of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in the beloved Harry Potter series, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in July. For this momentous occasion, local publisher Nanmeebooks has released a special edition for all seven Harry Potter books featuring the work of rising Thai artist Arus “Arch” Angchuan aka Apolar. The confessed Potterhead designed all the covers and chapter headers, and provided the illustrations inside the books including stunning full-page images that are only available in this special edition. He also designed the box set as well as souvenir items like postcards and bookmarks.

Time Out sits down with the passionate artist, who is currently working as a freelance conceptual and visual development artist, to talk about his love for the Harry Potter books and how having an architectural background has influenced his artwork.

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How did you first get into drawing?

I have always liked to draw since I was young. I was influenced by my dad who’s really into art.

When traveling, I always carried a sketchbook with me. Then it kind of became a habit of mine to draw. When I studied architecture at Chula, I kind of stopped drawing ‘cause the study of architecture focuses more on practical techniques—I did a lot of model-cutting. In my fourth year of college, I met someone who graduated from a really famous university in the States, the graduates of which have gone to work in well-known companies like The Walt Disney Company and Pixar. This opened my eyes to these kinds of schools, and it ignited the idea of going into a different field after I finish my bachelor’s in architecture. I wanted to pick up where I left off with drawing and I wanted to discover myself more, so I decided too create a portfolio, which is the most important thing when applying to a college in this field. That’s when I created my Facebook page, Apolar, to post my drawings.

Do you think having a background in architecture has influenced your drawing style and thought process? And how?

Yes, very much. I think I take everything I have encountered in life as a lesson and use it as a tool. The fact that I think everything in a systematical way is because I studied architecture. When you design a building, you have to consider its users, the behavior of humans and their needs, as well as the possibilities of the project, which shows good logic and science. And I think all forms of art can take these elements into account. It stops our thought process from being too muddled.

It’s like we have a structure for our thoughts.

Before leaving to take my master’s at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, I was ordained as a monk, and I got to design dharma books. It was a really good challenge as I got to recreate something that’s often considered a book for adults but not for kids.

The challenge was how to make the visuals look appealing to kids. It was fun. I think everything that I’ve learned, from studying architecture to when I was ordained as a monk, prepared me for this Harry Potter project.

also wanted the design to look international, like the works of artists from the early 20th century, the golden era of illustration, when J. C. Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell were really famous—I think the colors they used were really vintage-looking, and the lines were injected with so much craftsmanship. I wanted these books to look like they were designed at a particular time yet still have a timeliness to them. I think people can refer to my style as semi-realistic and stylized.

Where did your inspiration come from and what was your thought process like?

I wanted some kind of pattern or structure for the covers for all the books in this edition.

This is where I used the architectural thought process because I wanted the design to have some kind of system. So I thought of a window framing a door that opens up to the contents inside the book. When you design things architecturally, you have a plan wherein you divide a space into smaller spaces. And then in these smaller spaces, you can fit even smaller details. People will find tiny details hidden in different parts of my illustrations the more they look at it.

How would you describe the art that you drew for these special-edition books?

What were your other challenges while doing this project?

The characters are not the only important element in the Harry Potter series; the wizarding world that J. K. Rowling created [is also very important]. She describes the details of the castle in such a grand and magical way.

In reimagining these details, the challenge was how to make it fun and how to constantly ignite the imagination of readers. From the words that the writer gave, how far can I push the creativity forward?

How is this Thai edition different from other international versions?

I wanted this edition to be a gift to Thai fans.

I wanted to create this edition as a Harry Potter fan would. I tried to convey my love for the Harry Potter books by putting my all into the details of my art. The international publisher and Nanmee allowed me to put some Thai elements into the artwork such as Thai characters and Thai numbers. At first, I was worried that people would not like it since this is a foreign book but, in the end, we figured out how to incorporate them. For example, in the cover of the first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Platform 9 3/4 was redesigned to reflect a Thai number: ๙ ๓/๔. I feel like since it’s a Thai edition, there should be some Thainess to it. ■

There were no real limitations to what I could do, but the images that stuck in my head were those from international editions, like the 20th anniversary American edition and other remade versions from several countries.

I saw that they weren’t too cartoony nor very stylized. The Harry Potter books drawn by other artists are somewhere between stylized and realistic. I like the stylized style because I’m personally impressed with Mary GrandPré, the illustrator of the original Thai and American version. [Her art] is kid-friendly and not too realistic. And I love a balance like this. I wanted my version to also appeal to kids because it was when I was a kid that I read Harry Potter. At the same time, I also wanted to create details that even adults can enjoy. I

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OPEN DOORS

The Grand Palace, one of the most popular landmarks of Bangkok, has resumed operation on 7 June. Due to the nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus, The Grand Palace, as well as other tourist attractions in Bangkok, had ceased operation since March.

The attraction has opened its doors to both Thai residents and international tourists stuck in Thailand due to the closure of international border, following the third phase of the ease of lockdown. â–

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6 - 20 June 2020 Time Out Bangkok

Time Out Bangkok 6 - 20 June 2020

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