Thai Romeo & Juliet Returns to Bangkok Silver Screen

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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23 August 2018, 13:54

BANGKOK — Grab a rare chance to see a Thai film version of Romeo and Juliet, in which Romeo spends his time playing a bamboo flute and riding a buffalo in a Bangkok rice paddy with Juliet.

Once the country’s highest-grossing film, 1977 romance drama “Plae Kao” (The Scar) will return to the silver screen at a monthly screening by the Thai Film Archive at a Bangkok standalone cinema.

Based on the novel of the same name, the movie takes place in Bangkok’s then-rural area of Bang Kapi in the 1930s, where Kwan and Riam find love but meet the disapproval of Riam’s father – a rival of Kwan’s family.

The 1977 version is directed by Cherd Songsri and stars Sorapong Chatree and Nantana Ngaograjang. It premiered in Thai theaters as a 70mm film Dec. 24, 1977, and received a positive response from audiences and critics.

It later won a prize at the Festival of the Three Continents in France and in 1998 was selected as one of the world’s 360 classic films by the British Film Institute.

“Plae Kao” will screen with English subtitles 8pm on Sept. 20 at Scala cinema. Tickets range from 120 baht to 160 baht and are available at the counter. The occasion will also mark Cherd’s birthday.

Scala is located a short walk from BTS Siam.

Farang Marriage Training Clinic Opens in Khon Kaen

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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23 August 2018, 12:29

Gen. Anantaporn Kanchanarat, minister of Social Development and Human Security, left, greets Farang and Thai attendees at the opening of the Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law Clinic Wednesday in Khon Kaen.

KHON KAEN — The first training center to advise and help Thai wives with farang husbands opened Wednesday in Isaan.

The Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law Clinic began operating Wednesday afternoon at the Rattanapa Center for Women’s and Family Development in Khon Kaen city, a pilot learning center set up by government social development ministries.

“There are more Thai women with foreign husbands in Isaan region than in other regions. Misunderstandings about language and culture result in divorce,” said Gen. Anantaporn Kanchanarat, minister of Social Development and Human Security, who spoke at the opening. “This clinic is the beginning of a change in attitude about family.”

Many Thai wives attended with their farang husbands.The training center will be run by the human security ministry and advised by experts from the ministries of foreign affairs, health and justice, as well as Khon Kaen University.

Anantaporn said they aimed to help Thai women’s marriages to foreigners that sometimes result in scams, physical abuse and other marital problems. He said various women overseas have reported being abused or at risk: 7,457 in Asia, 495 in Europe, 210 in North America, 172 in Oceania, 58 in Africa and 12 in South America.

Officials at the seminar gave examples of the mistreatment, saying abusive husbands tell the women not to leave the house and that the surrounding community only becomes aware of marital problems when children tell their school teachers.

Leartpanya Buranabandit, director general of Women’s Affairs, said there are more Thai women married to foreigners in Isaan because they’re encouraged by relatives.

“Families that encourage their daughters to marry foreigners hope their family’s status will improve,” Leartpanya said. “But many women are scammed; they don’t get the comfortable life they hoped for. Some are abused, prostituted or trafficked.”

Thais experiencing abuse or marital problems with their farang partners can contact the training center through the 1300 hotline or by calling +66 991 301 300 from overseas.

p11 — Farang and Thai attendees at the opening of the Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law Clinic Wednesday in Khon Kaen.

p14 — Farang and Thai attendees at the opening of the Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law Clinic Wednesday in Khon Kaen.

p6 CHY7aa4 — Audience members at the opening of the Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law Clinic Wednesday in Khon Kaen.

Isaan Love Triangle: Thai Men Found Lacking by Farang-Loving Women

Thai Men and the White Women Who Love Them

Singapore’s Schooling Ends Golden Streak for China and Japan

By

Associated Press

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23 August 2018, 10:47

Singapore's Joseph Schooling holds up his gold medal up for photographers after winning the men's 100m butterfly final Wednesday during the swimming competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Lee Jin-man / Associated Press

JAKARTA — It took a swimmer from one of the smallest countries in the region to finally end the streak of gold medals going to either China or Japan in the Asian Games pool.

Singapore’s Olympic champion Joseph Schooling had an emphatic victory in the men’s 100-meter butterfly final on Wednesday.

By his own standards, the 23-year-old Schooling was a touch slow to get off the blocks and resurface because he dived a little too deep, but once he was in motion he was unstoppable.

He covered the first lap in 23.79 seconds then powered home on the last length to win in 51.04 seconds, beating the Asian Games record of 51.76 he set when winning in Incheon four years ago.

It wasn’t his best time or even close to his biggest win. They happened simultaneously when he beat Michael Phelps to win the Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro two years ago, but he’s savvy enough to know it was still another big triumph for his southeast Asian nation.

“It’s all about standing up for your country and yourself and trying to get your hand on the wall first,” Schooling said. “I had some jitters before, but that’s good, it shows I’m taking nothing for granted. Every gold is special, it has its own story.”

Once the Singapore anthem was played out over the stadium speakers, normal service resumed with Japan and China splitting the other seven gold medals decided on Wednesday.

After four of the six days of swimming events, the regional rivals are locked on 14 golds apiece.

After losing the 4×200-meter freestyle relay on Monday, China officials figured they couldn’t match Japan’s sprinters in the 4×100 freestyle relay so they gambled on bringing in Sun Yang, hoping he could produce something special.

He was on a scheduled day off after winning the 200, 400 and 800 on the first three days and with the 1,500 still to go when he got the call around midday.

He obliged, but it didn’t make any difference as Japan pulled away to win.

“I swam great and we did everything we could but the Japanese sprinters are simply faster at the moment,” Sun said, “that’s a fact.”

China did win the mixed relay by little more than a fingernail, giving backstroker Xu Jiayu his third gold medal in Jakarta and butterflyer Zhang Yuefi her second in a little over an hour.

The Japan squad is starting to notch some big some numbers, too. Teenager Rikako Ikee won a silver in the mixed relay to take her tally to six medals for the championships and with two events to go she’s on course for a record eight.

Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki, racing in the outside lane, broke the Asian Games record to win the men’s 100 breaststroke in 58.86 to collect his second gold, and Daiya Seto also picked up his second when he beat the Rio Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Hagino in the 400 individual medley in 4:08.79.

“That’s the first time for a while I’ve put it all together like that,” Seto said. “That’s a big boost for me looking ahead to the Tokyo Olympics.”

Thailand Holds Ceremony in Honor of 47 Chinese Boat Victims

By

Associated Press

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23 August 2018, 10:35

Thai Buddhist monks pray for Chinese boat accident victims Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 in Phuket province. Photo: Tiwa Suvarnadhanu/ Associated Press

PHUKET — Officials and local groups held a religious ceremony on Wednesday in honor of 47 Chinese tourists who died last month when their boat sank in rough weather off Thailand’s resort island of Phuket.

The ceremony included Chinese and Buddhist rituals, as well as prayers by Christian, Hindu and Sikh priests.

AP18234562294871 — Sikh priests pray for Chinese boat accident victims Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 in Phuket province. Photo: Tiwa Suvarnadhanu / Associated Press

Two boats carrying tourists sank off Phuket in stormy weather on July 5. Everyone on one small boat was rescued, while 47 Chinese died on the double-decker tour boat Phoenix.

The accident was one of Thailand’s worst tourism-related disasters in recent years.

Officials say both boats went to sea despite official warnings about the rough weather, and they have been pursuing legal action against those involved.

AP18234561997478 — Chinese rituals during prayer Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 offered for Chinese boat accident victims in Phuket province. Photo: Tiwa Suvarnadhanu / Associated Press

Phuket officials said five people have been charged so far, including the owner and two operators of the Phoenix. They have been accused of negligence causing death, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Officials said other people are also under investigation, including some at the company that built the boat.

More than 9.8 million Chinese visited Thailand in 2017, accounting for the biggest share of the 35.38 million total foreign tourists.

AP18234561752364 — Thai Buddhists pray for boat accident victims Wednesday Aug. 22, 2018 in Phuket province. Photo: Tiwa Suvarnadhanu / Associated Press

Mor Lam Takes a Dub, Hip-Hop Turn This Weekend

By

Mongkorn Timkul, Correspondent

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22 August 2018, 17:45

Bridging the gap between mor lam and dub music is Apichat Pakwan, a group mixing traditional country instruments such the kaen and phin with heavy dub beats, bass, reverb and echo.

Despite sounding like a homie from Isaan, Apichat Pakwan is actually the name given to a Thai-Dutch combo who make music they call “Esantronics.” This weekend, they’ll be bringing it to dazzle crowds at three capital city venues: The Overstay, Noma BKK and Jam.

Apichat Pakwan was formed by Olivier Shreuder from the Netherlands and Ankanang “Num” Pimwankum after the two met at Khon Khaen University in 2015. Olivier produces the beats and plays the kaen while Num dances and delivers percussion.

The group’s first single “Angkanang” was released to rave reviews in 2016 with numerous DJs and producers giving the group props. American electronic producer FaltyDL summarized their beats as “sick.” It was followed by another release in 2017 called “E-Ong Muang Sun.”

Olivier, who comes from a hip-hop and reggae background, said his fascination with Isaan music was sparked during his first trip to Southeast Asia in 2004.

“I fell in love with mor lam on a trip though the Bolaven Plateau in Laos, when a group of partying locals invited me to come dance with them to some great sounding Lao music on a big sound system, and shared their Beerlao and white whiskey with me,” he said.

Since their debut, Apichat Pakwan have performed extensively in Thailand and the Netherlands. Most notably the group was invited by the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague to perform at a 2017 cultural festival. Olivier says he and the group are looking forward to performing once again in the kingdom.

“We get good vibrations from the new generation who are excited to hear Thai music that sounds in a way familiar to them, but strange and new at the same time,” he said. “It surprises them first and then makes them dance, which is a great way of experiencing music, I think”

Apichat Pakwan performs Friday night across the river at The Overstay, where doors open at 8pm and entry is 150 baht. On Saturday, they play Noma BKK, which also opens at 8pm. Entry is 250 baht and includes one drink. The third show is Sunday at Jam. Again, things get rolling at 8pm while the door is 180 baht.

Koh Tao Cops Unaware of Reported Rape of British Tourist

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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22 August 2018, 17:08

Image: LEO Beach Bar by the Rock / Facebook

KOH TAO — Police on Wednesday cast doubt on a news report that a British woman was sexually assaulted on the popular tourist island of Koh Tao.

According to Samui Times, the tourist was drugged and subsequently attacked on Sairee Beach near the same place two British backpackers were murdered in 2014. The assault reportedly took place June 26, but a local police officer denied anyone had filed a report.

“No one has alerted us about it,” Koh Tao deputy police chief Napha Senathit said by phone. “In these kind of cases, we would have [investigated] if someone made a report.”

Lt. Col. Napha added that his force has received allegations of sexual assault in the past which later turned out to be consensual. He cited the case of a French policeman falsely accused of rape in April.

“Many cases turned out differently after they filed the report, like that case about the Frenchman,” Napha said.

The Samui Times report said someone spiked the unidentified victim’s drinks at Leo Bar before she was assaulted on the beach. She reportedly returned to the United Kingdom on July 2 and handed a T-shirt containing DNA to police there.

Leo bar owner Phutthiphon Chotchuang said he didn’t notice anything unusual that night, but allowed that something could have happened outside the bar.

“I check in with the security all the time. The guards keep watch on people here,” Phuttiphon said. “Nothing definitely happened at the bar. But if she got drunk and followed anyone outside the bar, I wouldn’t know.”

He said someone who identified herself as the victim’s mother later contacted him after the alleged attack saying her daughter was drugged at his bar. Phuttiphon said he replied there are security cameras inside the bar, but the footage was already taped over by the time she sent him a message.

“Her mother sent a message to the bar’s Facebook page,”Phuttiphon said. “I told her if the incident took place recently, we’d have camera footage.”

Koh Tao gained international attention after British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge were murdered there in September 2014. Two Burmese men were convicted of killing the pair, though they denied the allegations.

Teen Crashes Mustang Into Family, Crawls From Flaming Wreck

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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22 August 2018, 16:49

BANGKOK — When a cherry red Ford Mustang plowed into a truck carrying a family of five early this morning, the surprise wasn’t that a teen was behind the wheel, but that everyone survived.

Police said no one was killed when Peerasaran Surin, 17, crashed his 4 million baht EcoBoost Coupe into a truck carrying the Chom-mhoo family at about 2:20am on Kaset Nawamin Road in Bangkok’s northern Bang Khen district.

Peerasan crawled out of the wreck before it dramatically burst into flames that firefighters took 30 minutes to put out. Five meters away, the truck he hit had collided with a utility pole.

Thai Chom-mhoo, Buppha Chom-mhoo and their three young children, all between 1 and 5, escaped with only minor scrapes, according to police Capt. Wiwat Mahathep. All six were rushed to Paolo Hospital Kaset.

Although initial reports said Peerasaran was the son of a high-ranking Koh Samui police officer, Wiwat said Wednesday afternoon that he did not know.

“I myself can’t confirm whose son he is. I’m just looking at who hit who in the accident,” Wiwat said, adding that Peerasaran passed a test for alcohol.

“No one was really hurt. The family and the kids just had some scrapes,” Wiwat said. He said Peerasaran would be charged for driving without a license, destroying state property and reckless driving resulting in the harm of others.

Peerasaran was reportedly on summer vacation from studying in England. True or not, the story was met with a passionate response online as another example of privileged youth wrecking lives behind the wheel.

“No one is expecting any justice. Just compensate and care for those black-eyed villagers, please,” Natt Nattapong wrote on Facebook.

Phuket Club Owner Confesses to Double Murder: Police

By

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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22 August 2018, 16:00

Panya ‘Siya Ouan’ Yingdang participates in a police ‘re-enactment’ Wednesday of the double murder in front of the Buddha Mountain in Chonburi province.

BANGKOK — The national police chief said Wednesday that a Phuket club owner extradited from Cambodia has confessed to murdering two people in Chonburi province.

Panya “Siya Ouan” Yingdang was handed over to Thai authorities Tuesday night, about a month after police said he shot a woman and her boyfriend to death in a jealous rage at the site of a sacred Buddha mountain.

Read: Cambodia to Hand Over Phuket Club Owner Wanted For Murder

Police commissioner Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda said Panya, who was flown from the border province of Sa Kaeo to Bangkok, confessed under questioning to masterminding the murders of Paweena Namuangrak and Anantachai Jaritram – and pulling the trigger.

Panya was then taken in the afternoon to Chonburi to stage a “re-enactment” of the crime.

Ten people have been arrested on suspicion of being involved. Six were charged with murder and possessing firearms while the other four were charged with being accessories.

According to police, Panya had several people follow the victims while they were on holiday with friends in Chonburi and even had one infiltrate the group before he and his hired gunman shot them several times each at Khao Chi Chan on July 29.

Panya, a well-known figure in Phuket’s nightlife scene, had reportedly failed several times to court Paweena, who used to work in a bar he owns, leading police to believe jealousy was his motive.

Before leaving this morning’s press briefing, Panya, who was believed to be fleeing to Vietnam when he was detained in Cambodia, told reporters he never intended to turn himself in.

Park Hyatt Bangkok Releases Fine Selection of Mooncakes (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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22 August 2018, 15:34

BANGKOK — Celebrating this festive occasion, Park Hyatt Bangkok showcases a fine selection of traditional mooncakes for the first time, featuring four flavors in a limited edition golden gift box for the 2018 Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

The limited edition golden mooncake gift box comes with four, 60-gram, flavorsome mooncakes. Each of which displays the hotel’s signature lotus motif as the mold and is presented exquisitely in individual boxes with markings of prosperity, good fortune, wellness and strength.

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Enjoy four traditional mooncakes that include Red Bean Paste with yolk, Mon Thon Durian with yolk, Dried Fruits & Nuts, and Lotus Seed.

Mooncakes with yolk represents a traditional concoction of savory and sweetness while depicting the moon in the great night sky beneath its freshly baked golden skin and rich flavors. Along with the two traditional flavors are the well-known Dried Fruit & Nuts and Lotus Seed. These two well-cherished flavors refines the popular lotus seed filling which is considered as one of the most luxurious fillings along with the aromatic and zesty blend of dried fruits and nuts.

The elegant set of four mooncake are priced at 888 baht per box. Savings for bulk order purchases are also applicable from now until September 24th, 2018. For further information and placing orders, please contact 02-011-7429 and email [email protected].

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About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt hotels provide discerning, affluent business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodation and offers them highly attentive personal service in an intimate environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom designed to combine sophistication with a distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt hotels feature well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event space for groups, critically acclaimed art, food and beverage programs, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs.

The Old Siam Shopping Plaza Honors ‘Mother of Thai Silk’ at Dazzling Fashion Show (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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22 August 2018, 15:30

The Old Siam Shopping Plaza, Bangkok’s center of silk, ornaments, clothes and Thai desserts, reiterates its status as a center of Thai silks from all regions of Thailand right in the city center, by joining hands with its notable retail outlets to organize “12 August 12 Dresses of the Queen of Thai Silk” featuring fashion shows unveiling spectacular Thai silk collections as well as other interesting activities.

In honor of the birth anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol (Rama IX), the Old Siam Shopping Plaza organized a celebratory event titled “12 August 12 Dresses of the Queen of Thai Silk” in gratitude for Her Majesty the Queen’s gracious support of the Thai textile sector. The event took place on August 12 at the Ming Muang Plaza of the Old Siam Shopping Plaza. The real highlight of the event was a range of fashion shows introducing the latest collections by famed local silk labels and design houses based at the shopping mall.

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Thai textiles are recognized the world over as part of Thailand’s folk wisdom. The local textiles constitute a large body of knowledge that’s been passed down from generation to generation in all regions of Thailand. It’s one of the traditional handicrafts associated with the constant development of creativity. The intricacy of hand-woven patterns that provide each textile with its own distinct identity, is a much-prized quality as these designs reflect the origins and progress of a textile culture over a period of time. To preserve the local textiles as the wisdom as well as pride and joy of Thailand, the Old Siam Shopping Plaza offered members of the public an opportunity to appreciate the value of Thai textiles through a string of fashion shows by Den Dara, one of Thailand’s most famous Thai silk labels.

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The fashion shows were divided into three segments. The first segment, called “10 Angels”, presented a Thai silk collection using Sangwian, a silk textile that’s part of a folk heritage handed down through the generations. It’s a variety of brocaded hand-woven Thai silk from Lamphun province that was once popular among the ruling elite of northern Thailand and reserved for special occasions only. A piece of this fabric can cost up to Bt350,000. In this segment, 10 models strutted confidently on the runway showing a collection of elegant Thai silk dresses in 10 shades. The dresses were “Thai Chakraphat” in style (one of the eight styles of traditional Thai costumes generally known as “Thai Ratchaniyom” as recreated by Her Majesty the Queen).

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The second segment was a fashion show highlighting a collection of everyday silk outfits ideal for night functions. The last segment saw a fashion show by the Kham Khoon fashion house showcasing a Thai silk collection on the theme of “12 August: 12 Dresses of Praewa Silk, the Queen of Thai Silk”. Pretty ladies did twirls on the runway modeling dresses made from elegant, hand-woven Praewa silk from Kalasin province, which is considered the queen of Thai silk and the most favorite of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

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Besides the fashion shows, there was a range of interesting activities designed for customers of the Old Siam Shopping Plaza who made purchases totaling Bt1,000 at the following retail spaces: Fueng Nakorn Plaza, Ming Muang Plaza, Thai Silk Alley and Thai Silk Carts across the three floors of the shopping mall. These customers were treated to several interesting activities including a hand-made lace folding fan workshop, a photo op at a Mother’s Day photo booth and a vintage photo booth complete with traditional Thai dresses in vogue from the Fifth to the Seventh Reign with professional lensmen on hand to take nice snaps. There was also a Mother’s Day concert by singers from Kitakan Music at the Activity Plaza (near the Ranee exit). All activities went down well with customers and attracted a huge turnout. The organizers hoped that the celebratory event called “12 August 12 Dresses, Queen of Thai Silk” would play a role in encouraging Thai people to realize the importance of, and appreciate, Thai textiles even more.

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