Gail Piyanan

There's no shortcut to good health. You need to invest either way: sweat or money. Time Out rounds up the new ways to live well, and look good, in Bangkok. 

Every year, hundreds of Thai novels are released in the market, drowning readers in all types of rom-com, romance and same-sex stories. Local crime novels, however, have never been in the spotlight—at least, not until 2014 when Kahon Mahoratuk, a detective novel by a young writer named Prapt bagged the Amarin Readers’ Choice Award. Four years later, the novel has been adapted into a much-talked-about television series, and its creator, whether he likes it or not, is back in the spotlight.     Prapt is the pen name of Chairat Pipitpattanaprap, an author who best compares his life to “riding a Giveaway roller coaster.” Prapt developed a love for reading as a child, but the little bookworm didn’t limit his passion to just reading. He would often jot down his thoughts on the stories he lapped up, both on his own books as well as his nanny’s. “I’ve been writing since I was a kid,” Prapt shares. “It’s like creating my own world.” He took his passion one step further in high school when he began uploading his work to Thai teen online community, Dek-D, where his unique style of writing caught the eyes of editors who offered opportunities to publish his stories. Rak Tong Plum was his first work that got published. It was 2004, and he was still a high school student. This was followed by three to four other books. His successful run, however, abruptly came to a halt when the publishing company shut down. But that didn’t stop Prapt from writing and exploring his talent by crafting stor

หากพูดถึงละครที่กำลังโด่งดังและถูกพูดถึงมากที่สุดเรื่องหนึ่งในขณะนี้ คงหนีไม่พ้นละครสืบสวนสอบสวน กาหลมหรทึก (กา-หน-มะ-หอ-ระ-ทึก) ที่กำลังออกอากาศทางช่อง one31 กาหลมหรทึก เป็นละครดัดแปลงมาจากนวนิยายชื่อเดียวกันจากปลายปากกาของปราบต์ หรือ เต็ก-ชัยรัตน์ พิพิธพัฒนาปราปต์ ซึ่งด้วยการเป็นนวนิยายแนวสืบสวน การผูกเรื่องที่แปลกใหม่ การเลือกใช้ฉากฆาตกรรมจากสถานที่สำคัญในกรุงเทพฯ และการใช้กลโคลงเป็นกุญแจสำคัญในการค้นหาตัวฆาตกรต่อเนื่อง ทำให้ กาหลมหรทึก สามารถคว้ารางวัลยอดเยี่ยมนายอินทร์อะวอร์ด ประจำปี พ.ศ. 2557 และกลายเป็นหนังสือขายดี เป็นหนังสือสืบสวนสวนสอบสวนไทยไม่กี่เรื่องที่ถูกหยิบยกขึ้นมาทำเป็นละคร จนกลายเป็นกระแสในโลกโซเชียลและคนชอบละครได้ในเวลาไม่นานนัก ปราปต์เล่าถึงชีวิตวัยเด็กที่เป็นจุดเริ่มต้นของเส้นทางการเป็นนักเขียน การก้าวข้ามผ่านการเป็นนักเขียนหน้าใหม่ของเว็บไซด์เด็กดีในยุคแรกๆ ตลอดจนช่วงขาลงที่งานเขียนไม่ได้ตีพิมพ์เป็นเวลาร่วม 8 ปี และการกลับมาของเขาฐานะนักเขียนนวนิยายดาวรุ่งที่น่าจับตามองมากที่สุดคนหนึ่งในขณะนี้     เริ่มเส้นทางนักเขียนได้อย่างไร ผมเขียนหนังสือตั้งแต่เด็กๆเลย ตอนเด็กๆ แม่ก็จะหลอกล่อให้อ่านนิทานที่มีให้ระบายสี แล้วปรากฎว่าหนังสือมันก็มีคำอยู่นิดเดียว เราก็ไปเขียนต่อเอง จนเป็นเรื่องอ่านต่อไปได้เรื่อยๆ จนพอโตสักระดับนึง เราก็มีพี่เลี้ยงที่อ่านนิยายเล่มเล็กๆ อ่านเรื่องย่อละคร ก็ไปแอบเอามาอ่านแล้วก็รู้สึกว่าเราอยากทำ [งานเขียน] แบบนี้บ้าง แต่เรายังไม่รู้เลยว่ามันเรียกว่านิยาย ก็เลยลองเขียน         แต่จริงๆแล้วผมเรียนสายวิทย์ แล้วทางบ้านก็ไม่ได้สนับสนุนมาก เค้าก็จะรู้สึกว่าถ้าไปทำงานเขียนจะไส้แห้งไหม เราก็เลย.. งั้นไม่เป็นไร ก็ไปเรียนพาณิชยศาสตร์และการบัญชี ที่

Waste Side Story by PTTGC   Showcased during the recent Bangkok Design Week 2018, Waste Side Story is a CSR project by petrochemical giant PTTCG that displays different ways to repurpose plastic waste by turning them, with the help of design and technology, into clothing, accessories, kitchenware and home decor. Examples include jewelry made of upcycled plastic straws by Apawan Studio, and biodegradable cups with prints resembling traditional Thai Bencharong porcelain by PTTGC x Prompt Design.  www.bio-eco.co.th for biodegradable products, www.apawan-studio.com for upcycled jewelry    ECOTOPIA Siam Discovery has re-launched its fourth floor as an eco-friendly zone, retailing a vast selection of environment-friendly products from around the kingdom and elsewhere, including organic clothes, cosmetics, stationery items, green gadgets and chemical-free merchandise. Siam Discovery, Rama I Road, 0 2658 1000. Open daily 10:00-22:00.   SOS Foundation  Scholars of Sustenance (SOS Thailand) is a Bangkok-based foundation that collects excess food from hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and private donors, categorizes and keeps them in the fridge before delivering them to those in need in different parts of Bangkok.  See a list of participating venues and details on how to become a donor on www.scholarsofsustenance.org   FISHERFOLK  Fisherfolk is a social enterprise that gathers fairly priced seafood products from local fishery communities in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Satun, Prachuap Khiri

The TV show Buppesannivas, or Love Destiny, has created a national phenomenon that Thais have never seen in years. People rush back home after work to catch the show, leaving Bangkok’s roads unbelievably car-free; its lead actors have become superstars; historical locations mentioned in the series are checked out and instragrammed by visitors. Everything Buppesannivas-related sells out fast, including the original historical novel penned by its author Janyavee Sompreeda, who’s better known by her pen name Rompaeng.    Sereechai Puttes/Time Out Bangkok   Similar to many great authors, Rompaeng journey to success wasn’t smooth-sailing. The art history graduate from Silpakorn University laid her career path through 11 different jobs, none of which were writing-related, before she discovered her true calling. In her first year as a writer, she finished six books in different genres, ranging from Thai fantasy to period rom-com. "Buppesannivas is probably my 16th or 17th novel. I spent three years conducting research [for this book] and only a month to write it all up," says Rompaeng. Her masterpiece, which was first published in 2010, is set in the Ayutthaya period during the reign of King Narai, some 300 years before our time. The reign of King Narai was the longest, wealthiest, and probably most "international" period in Ayutthaya’s 417-year history, welcoming expats, foreign visitors, and missionaries, many of whom detailed their experiences in journals through written work a

ตอนนี้คงไม่มีนักเขียนนวนิยายคนไหนจะดังคับฟ้าไปกว่ารอมแพง นักเขียนหญิงเจ้าของนวนิยายอิงประวัติศาสตร์ที่ถูกนำมาสร้างเป็นละครโทรทัศน์ที่ฮิตไปทั่วบ้านทั่วเมืองอย่าง บุพเพสันนิวาส คนที่ได้อ่านบุพเพสันนินาส หรือแม้กระทั่งเป็นแฟนละครดัง คงจะเอาใจช่วยแม่หญิงการะเกดกับการผจญภัยย้อนเวลา ผ่านเรื่องราวต่างๆ มากมายในชีวิต เราอาจจะไม่เคยรู้ว่าเส้นทางชีวิตของรอมแพง หรือชื่อจริง อุ้ย-จันทร์ยวีร์ สมปรีดา ก็ยาวไกลและผ่านอะไรมากมายกว่าจะกลายเป็นนักเขียนที่ประสบความสำเร็จในชีวิตอย่างทุกวันนี้ได้เช่นกัน จากนักศึกษาคณะโบราณคดี ภาควิชาประวัติศาสตร์ศิลปะ จากมหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร รอมแพงผ่านประสบการณ์การทำงานในกว่า 10 อาชีพที่ไม่เคยสร้างความสุขกับชีวิต จนวันหนึ่งสาวนักอ่านได้พลิกบทบาทมาทำงานเขียนนิยาย กลายเป็นสิ่งที่เธอทำได้ดี ดีแบบสามารถสร้างสรรค์ผลงานเขียนได้มากมายในระยะเวลาการทำงานไม่กี่ปี ไม่ว่าจะเป็น ดาวเกี้ยวเดือน คีตโลกา เรือนพระยอม รวมไปถึงบุพเพสันนิวาส นิยายเล่มเอกที่รอมแพงใช้เวลาศึกษาหาข้อมูลถึง 3 ปีเต็มๆ     คุณรอมแพงเขียนนิยายหลากหลายแนวมาก ใช้ชื่อคุณรอมแพงมาตั้งแต่เริ่มแรก และกับนิยายทุกแนวเลยหรือเปล่า ใช่ค่ะ ก่อนนั้นจะมีอีกนามปากกานึง [จอมนาง] ไว้ใช้พวกนิยายแฟนตาซี เพิ่งมาเปลี่ยนใช้รอมแพงทั้งหมดก็น่าจะประมาณ 5 ปีที่แล้วค่ะ    ไม่กลัวคนสับสนหรือ อย่างเช่นถ้าเป็นนักเขียนรุ่นเก่าเขาจะนิยมเลือกใช้นามปากกาหนึ่งกับงานเขียนสไตล์หนึ่ง  ไม่เลยค่ะ เพราะว่า [แฟนผลงาน] ตามที่ชื่อรอมแพงมากกว่าตัวนิยายค่ะ เหมือนกับว่าถ้าเป็นแฟนคลับรอมแพง เขาจะซื้อทุกเรื่องที่รอมแพงเขียน เพราะเขารู้อยู่แล้วว่ารอมแพงเขียนจะไม่ค่อยซ้ำแนวสักเท่าไหร่ค่ะ จะไม่เขียนพวกอีโรติกค่ะ เพราะว่าเขียนไม่เป็น (หัวเราะ) แต่ว่าถ้าเป็นแนวอ

Nong Pear Pa Ploen or “Pear” is a popular Thai vlogger whose talent in applying makeup began to shine at a very young age. At around two years old, Pear discovered her love for painting. But instead of doing so on paper (or walls in some cases), she honed her skills on a makeup app on her mom’s iPad. Soon after, she moved on to a bigger stage: YouTube, which opened up the little artist to the world of online makeup tutorials. “Inspired by [the makeup tutorials] I watched, I began to record my first makeup video when I was only around five. My mom found the clip hilarious, and so she uploaded it on YouTube.”   A few more videos were uploaded and received mixed comments—some adored watching the little girl play with makeup, some didn’t. However, it wasn’t until Pear turned seven that she started reading the comments. “At first I didn’t understand if people were complimenting or criticizing because there were terms—like gae dade (“premature” in Thai)—which I didn’t understand at five. But at seven, I recognized it, and [the negative comments] really hurt me.” Pear was so disheartened by the online criticism that she stopped uploading makeup clips for almost a year.   Cyberbullying, however, didn’t end her passion for makeup. She practiced and recorded videos as usual, but didn’t publish them online. Pear’s parents finally realized her determination and decided to support her with proper makeup lessons at a makeup school. After finishing the course, she was ready to go back onl

Many of you may have noticed the newly designed bus stop signs around the old town, and love how the routes are now clearly (and modernly) presented. These are the work of Mayday, a group of young creatives who want to make public transport easier for everyone.  Mayday was founded in 2016 by Sanon Wangsrangboon (owner of Once Again Hostel), Sucharee Rawithornthada, Suwicha Pitakkanchanakul, Vipavee Kittitien and Waritthorn Suksabai. They all met while working on city-based voluntary projects and later discovered that one of their common interests was finding a way to make public transport better for city dwellers. That was how Mayday (a play on the French phrase Venez m’aider which means “please come and help me”.) was conceived last year.    “Having worked on a number of city development [projects], we came to realize that part of the problems in society is caused by [the inefficiency] of public transportation. [Improving public transportation] is key to solving the many challenges the city is encountering, including quality of life, and economic and social inequality” says Vipavee. One of Mayday’s first projects involved redesigning the bus stop signs around the old town—the bigwigs at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) saw their work, were impressed, and commissioned them to redesign the signs at 188 bus stops in the area to inform the mourners that would come to visit the Royal Crematorium last year. “That was our official launch project. Later, we were offere

The five-storey Museum of Contemporary Art features up to 800 masterpieces from paintings to sculptures by over 200 Thai and foreign artists. The 20000-square-metre art space showcases contemporary exhibitions on the ground floor and permanent exhibitions from second to fifth floor. Included in the highlights are the paintings of the renowned Thai actress Bongkoj Tak Khongmalai by the MOCA founderBoonchai Bencharongkul and the father of Thai modern art Silpa Bhirasri’s sculpture.

If you’re determined to welcome 2024 in downtown Sukhumvit, then pop into one of the Em District establishments and join a mass of jolly revelers cheering to new beginnings. Plenty of entertainment and happiness await!

Bangkok’s sweltering heat doesn’t stop a bunch of expats and tourists from enjoying the last rays of sun over happy hour at multi-level rooftop spot, Octave. Located at Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, Octave offers light, East-meets-West bites and tapas-style dishes for you to nibble on while enjoying the bar’s signature cocktails. What makes this New York-style rooftop even cooler is how it serves moreish finger food in a transparent chest of drawers resembling skyscrapers. We recommend the waruoro platter (fresh oysters, tuna salmon nigiri, California roll and rainbow roll, B1200) and the enothini platter (prawn and bacon sliders, marinated chicken with mango coriander salsa, tuna tartar and sesame wafers, goat cheese with caramelized onions and crab-cake pops, B1200). Meanwhile, local ingredients are used to create cocktails like a Thai-style mojito (Thai rum, lime, mango and basil) and Shining Sun (rum, tamarind, pomelo, lime shrub, mango and pineapple juice). The menu is rotated every four months and promotional menus crop up every month. A local DJ takes over the decks from 8pm until late. 

The Bangkok’s answer to Central Park. Shaded running trails and lawn space here provide various excercising, a leisure activity, and relaxing afternoon picnics. And if you can come here on Sunday, from now until the last Sunday of February, Bangkok Symphony Orchestra is serenading the park-goers with legendary songs composed by King Rama IX for free. 

One of Bangkok's most iconic night markets has found a new home at Chuvit's Park on Sukhumvit Road. 

Learn how to make your own lovely pottery -- spoons, plates, and cups – in a workshop led by ceramic artist Pitchaporn Tunyawattana. The workshop ends with a high tea session where you enjoy pastries and tea while waiting for your works to dry off.  

You probably think eating at a restaurant at the Millennium Hilton will cost you a small fortune, but rooftop bar ThreeSixty refutes this reputation. Offering casual Western cuisine with panoramic 360-degree views, ThreeSixty is perfect for couples and friends hoping to spend their afternoons in a luxurious yet laid-back setting. The venue is best known for its rooftop picnics, even offering picnic hampers (B1,800 net for two people) stocked with gourmet delights such as lobster and shrimp cocktail salad and foie gras terrine. The basket also contains a serving of deep-fried prawns (packaged in a Chinese take-out box) and beef sandwiches. If you fancy a cocktail—or two—to liven up your picnic, we recommend the Pink Sangria (chopped fresh fruits and rosé wine, B450) or Bohemian Bliss (absinthe with apple juice, B450). 

Skip the over-crowded Rod Fai Park for the nearby Queen Sirikit Park. Fewer people and zero bicycle—as biking is prohibited here—means a safer place to run around. Plus, it’s right next to Chatuchak Weekend Market so you can do some shopping, too.

The third and latest branch of the real-life game hub, run by co-founders Timothy Dean Smith, Joshua and Simon Gould, landed in Bangkok after posting success in Samui and Siem Reap (Cambodia).    The concept is simple. You and your friends are locked in a windowless room, where you are given clues to solve puzzles in order to find the way out. All within 60 minutes.    Come in a group of two to seven people and choose your preferred adventure. There’s Relic Rush, set in an Angkor temple in Cambodia; Ghost Ship where you’re transported to the North Atlantic Ocean back in 1872; and Kowloon Captive, which brings 1975 Hong Kong back to life. More experienced players can challenge themselves in Outbreak, the advanced-level room set in Porton, the site of a government military science park in England.    Note to managers and bosses: Escape Break is a good place to test your staff’s ability to handle difficult situations and boost teamwork.

Awaken your kids’ adventurous hearts by taking them to Bangkok’s first interactive dinosaur theme park. Browse around life-size skeleton replicasof giant creatures as well as multimedia exhibition to learn more about the prehistoric animals. Oh, and spare your time to ride the giant ferris wheel, too.

You don't go to school to learn how to be a drag performer I impersonate people for a living. I’ve always wanted to be an emcee but I didn’t know how. So I looked up all the famous comedians I admired—Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho—on the Internet and learned from them. I figured out what was right for me and created my own style. So when people come to see me, they know it’s Pangina’s show. It’s not just the singing that needs to be right; every movement needs to make sense too. It takes a lot of studying—you just don’t put on a fucking dress and do the show. A show is more fun when you interact with your audience I always play with my audience and make sure they have a good time. However, you need to know who you can tease and who you can’t by looking into their eyes. And then use your instinct. If people don’t have a sense of humor, that’s too bad. I perform in a gay club so the show needs to be very interactive, spontaneous and organic, almost like a comedy show.  Not everyone has a sense of humor There was one time someone came up on stage. I asked him, “Where are you from?” and he said “Cuba.” I teased him by saying, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” After the show he was waiting outside with a gun and two Thais. That was kind of scary. The security guards told me not to come back that night because it was very dangerous. But I had to return the next day since I had a job to do—and this is like my home. You have to understand that when you work in the nightlif

Get to know the controversial Spanish artist before his second Bangkok show opens this month. 1. Who is Joan Cornellà? Born in 1981 in Barcelona, Spain, Joan Cornellà started drawing at a very young age. Cornell began his career as an illustrator for magazines such as La Cultura del Duodeno, El Periódico, Ara and, later, The New York Times.     2. What is he famous for? Cornellà is best known for his boldly colored comic strips that incorporate dark and surreal humor and tell a story despite the absence of words or thought bubbles. Cornella uses his strips to portray different social issues: greed, racism, sex, class, drugs and crime, for instance. It is quite unclear when the art world first took notice of his illustrations, but his first book, Abulio, was published in 2010.    3. How controversial is he? Cornellà often touched on controversial issues with the use of obscene illustrations (for example, a smiling man using his penis to fish for a vagina). With no surprise, he’s been restricted from posting on Facebook and Instagram many times. This didn’t stop his name from becoming famous. More fans and followers ensued with every social media comeback.    4. Where does he get his inspiration from? Cornellà is heavily inspired by British comedy group Monty Python as well as the artwork of cartoonists such as Helge Reumann, Glen Baxter and Molg H.   5. What will he exhibit in Bangkok? Cornellà is displaying some of his limited-edition drawings on canvas and sculptures, some

Haoma was one of the most exciting restaurant openings in Bangkok last year partly because this progressive eatery is taking the farm-to-table concept to a level where it produces no waste. “Zero waste is basically no waste in the process of sustaining food. So no plastic bags involved, and no air travel [to transport ingredients],” explains chef/owner Deepanker Khosla, who was the former executive chef at fancy Indian eatery Charcoal and the founder of health-conscious food delivery service, Nutrichef.  Deepanker spent a year learning and experimenting on farming before transforming his backyard into an integrated farming system. Partly inspired by the late King Rama IX, this pseudo-integrated farm is where fish and plants enjoy a symbiotic relationship. The fish are raised in recycled water from the kitchen and fed with edible waste. This water, now fertilized by the feces of the fish, is then used to hydroponically grow 32 types of herbs (a process called the aquaponics method) in Deepander’s backyard, including German dill, Indian borage, Japanese mizuna and Mexican coriander, all of which he cannot get from local suppliers. “We grow plants that, otherwise, would have to come all the way from Europe.”   A completely waste-free Haoma may not be in the near future, but Deepanker is keeping his hopes up. “I think we are only about 40 percent there,” he says. “We’re already recycling our water and solid waste but, as far as our supplies are concerned, we’re not plastic-free

Those who are particular with their produce look for fresh-looking and formalin-free seafood at high-end supermarkets. Many customers, however, overlook how the fish were caught. “It would be great if consumers are aware of how the fish they buy were caught as much as how clean and safe [from chemicals] they are,” says Piya Thedyam, a local fisherman who founded Khon Talay, a social enterprise whose purpose is to promote ethical fishing, which includes using proper tools and fishing only in designated areas.  Khon Talay buys responsibly caught seafood from local fishermen (who are tracked with GPS to make sure they’re not out of the designated zones) at 10 to 15 percent more than normal middleman prices, and resells these to a number of restaurants such as The Never Ending Summer and 80/20, and at the K Village Farmers’ Market at fair prices. Ten percent of Khon Talay’s profits also go to fund Piya’s own blue crab and fish hatchery project in Prachuab Khirikhan.   Another movement that supports responsible fishing in Thailand is Small-Scale Fishers and Organic Fisheries Product, casually known as Pla Organic. Formed by activist Supaporn Anuchiracheeva, the group takes the lead in promoting responsible fishing in provinces such as Phang Nga, Krabi, Songkla, Petchaburi, Satun, Patalung and Pattani. Pla Organic shares profits with fishermen at the ratio of 30:70, which is said to be higher than the middleman system. All seafood products from Pla Organic are certified chemical

Plastic straws are things that we use and take for granted. We don’t really care what happens to these tiny comforts after use. Are they being recycled? Do they end up in landfills or, worse, the ocean? But Koranis Tanangsnakool, a sustainable business consultant and the founder of ReReef, an e-commerce website selling environment-friendly products, does care. She’s ticked off every time she sees vendors offering plastic straws even without the customers asking for them. As a result, these tiny straws generate a massive amount of waste, some of which end up suffocating the marine life in the ocean.  Determined to do something, Koranis reached out to a number of cafes, restaurants and hotels around Thailand who share the same eco-friendly vision, and invited them to reduce their plastic straw usage. Many agreed, and soon Koranis formed Green Cafe Network, a group of more than 30 Bangkok eateries that follows one rule: no plastic straw offering unless requested by the customer.  Vegan institution Broccoli Revolution, however, takes a step further—it offers straws for those who ask, but in the form of morning glory stems. Owner Naya Ehrlich-Adam saw this practice at a local restaurant in Vietnam and brought it back to Bangkok. “I try to source the morning glory from an organic supplier,” she says. “We clean them with baking soda to help remove germs and parasitic eggs, then wash them with water twice.”  If you’d like to be part of this “no straw” campaign, you can start by en

Three friends with green hearts—Supatchaya Techachoochert, Papawee Pongthanavaranon and Chanin Srisuman—wanted to find ways to reduce plastic use in Bangkok. But instead of just sitting back and letting others do the walk, the trio made a move. Inspired by bulk stores in other countries that discourage the use of plastic, they converted one corner of Papawee’s cafe, Better Moon, into Refill Station, a convenient store-in-store that sells household products minus the packaging and containers.  Customers would have to bring their own empty bottles and, in exchange, products are sold in bulk at cheaper prices than at regular stores (prices from B3/100g). Refill your own bottles with liquid soap, shampoo, dishwashing liquid, detergent and bathroom bleach.  And if you’d like to get some chow in while shopping, Better Moon itself serves healthy food and drinks.  Better Moon Cafe x Refill Station, 2031 Sukhumvit Soi 77/1, Sukhumvit Road, 08 6993 6566. Open daily 08:00-22:00.      

หลังจากที่รอคอยกันมานานหลายเดือน ล่าสุดทาง ศ. ดร. อภินันท์ โปษยานนท์ ได้เผยรายชื่อศิลปินที่จะมาร่วมงาน Bangkok Art Biennale ทั้ง 75 ท่านจาก 33 ประเทศผ่านทาง Facebook Live จากประเทศฮ่องกงในวันที่ 26 มีนาคมที่ผ่านมา โดยศิลปินที่จะมาร่วมแสดงผลงาน Bangkok Art Biennale ที่จะจัดขึ้นในวันที่ 19 ตุลาคม - 3 กุมภาพันธ์ มีดังต่อไปนี้  มารีนา อบราโมวิช & สถาบัน มารีนา อบราโมวิช (Marina Abramović & MAI) จากสหรัฐอเมริกา (แต่เดิมเป็นชาวยูโกสลาเวีย) เออีเอส+เอฟ (Aes+F) จากรัสเซีย จุมพล อภิสุข (Chumpon Apisuk) จากประเทศไทย อาร์ต เลเบอร์ (Art Labor) จากเวียดนาม ออเรล (Aurèle) จากฝรั่งเศส จอง มิเชล บาส์กิเอท์ (Jean Michel Basquiat) จากสหรัฐอเมริกา มณเฑียร บุญมา (Montien Boonma) จากประเทศไทย จานัน (Canan) จากตุรกี เปาโล คานิวาริ (Paolo Canevari) จากอิตาลี ปฏิพัทธิ์ ชัยวิเทศ (Patipat Chaiwitesh) จากประเทศไทย อนุพงศ์ เจริญมิตร (Anupong Charoenmitr) จากประเทศไทย เคร เชน (Kray Chen) จากสิงคโปร์ ชเว จอง ฮวา (Choi Jeong Hwa) จากเกาหลีใต้ ฟรานเชสโก เคลเมนเต้ (Francesco Clemente) จากอิตาลี เฮริ โดโน (Heri Dono) จากอินโดนีเซีย เอ็มกรีน แอนด์ แดรกเซท (Elmgreen & Dragset) จากเดนมาร์ก และนอร์เวย์ ซาร่า ฟาวรัว (Sara Favriau) จากฝรั่งเศส กอริ กิล (Gauri Gill) จากอินเดีย ฟีโอนา ฮอลล์ (Fiona Hall) จากออสเตรเลีย ตุลย์ หิรัญญลาวัลย์ (Tul Hirunyalawan) จากประเทศไทย โฮ ซู่ เหงียน (Ho Tzu Nyen) จากสิงคโปร์ ฮูปแต้ม (Hooptam) จากประเทศลาวและไทย หวง หย่ง ผิง (Huang Yong Ping) จากฝรั่งเศสและจีน เถา ฮุย (Tao Hui) จากประเทศจีน ศรีวรรณ เจนหัตถการกิจ (Sriwan Janehattakankit) จากประเทศไทย ไอซา จอคสัน (Eisa Jocson) จากฟิลิปป

CPN and BEC-Tero are bringing Ninja Dojo, a Kyotohailing ninja-themed exhibition, to Bangkok. The 4,000-square-meter interactive exhibition is crafted to depict a traditional ninja village, where you can learn how to safely jump on and off the roof (not real roofs, of course), discover the fun of escaping trapdoors and balancing yourself on sloped platforms. Adults can enjoy the advanced level, while the standard level is recommended for kids.           Until 31 May. Open daily, 10:00-14:00 and 14:00-19:00. Westgate Hall, 4th floor, CentralPlaza WestGate, 0 2262 3838. Tickets at B450/per person at www.thaiticketmajor.com (Children below 11 years old must be occupied by their parents or a guardian)

Can you believe that Thais have officially been friends with the Americans for two whole centuries? Yep, 200 years. Our friendship has never been shaken, regardless of who rules each country, and has even become stronger over the years. To celebrate the occasion, the Embassy of the United States of America in Bangkok is hosting an exhibition of historic gifts exchanged between the two nations throughout the years. Called Great and Good Friends: Historic Gifts between the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America, the exhibit features 79 objects and letters that have never been previously shown anywhere in Thailand. The official relations between Thailand and the States began in the reign of King Rama II, when an American sea captain returned home from Bangkok with an official letter from Dit Bunnag, then Thailand’s Foreign Minister, to U.S. President James Monroe. The letter addressed His Majesty King Rama II’s wish to establish a trading relationship between the two nations. The date stated in the letter was 15 August 1818, regarded as the beginning of the bilateral relationship. The priceless objects on display were borrowed from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration and its presidential libraries, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, King Prajadhipok’s Institute, Bangkok National Museum Bangkok, Thai Department of Fine Arts, and the Thai Film Archive. Take a look at some of the highlights from the exhibition.    Portrait of Georg

Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel group, has re-launched Club Marriott, its famed membership program, with more benefits and offers tailored for diners. The hotel giant has combined two dining-focused loyalty programs—Club Marriott and Eat Drink & More—into one single paid membership program, which allows members to dine in and out of their hometowns at up to 250 participating hotels across 16 brands in 13 Asian countries.   As for Thailand, the membership gets you credits to spend as well as offers to redeem at 38 participating hotels and resorts across 11 hotel brands in 9 cities including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket. Member privileges include special amenities, room discounts, upgrades, and spa vouchers to use at participating hotels, as well as special birthday offers and access to exclusive events (feel free to bring your children for special treats). Dining at Marriott hotels will also come at lower prices. Bangkok hotels offer a 30% discount on food and drinks at all restaurants while members get a 20% discount at overseas hotels in teh Asia Pacific region.           Club Marriott membership is 9,500/person/year. To find out more, call 0 2091 1001 or login www.myclubmarriott.com

Now you can spend the night—literally—in what was once one of Asia’s oldest movie theaters. Ten years after it closed down, Prince Rama Theatre has been revived as a hotel called Prince Theatre Heritage Stay. Rebuilt with much respects to its original structure, the hotel has 26 rooms and suites, each decorated with elements that reacquaint guests with the hotel’s origins. The hotel also offers a walking tour that brings visitors to hidden gems around the neighborhood. Check out the cinema-themed bar for drinks inspired by movies previously screened at the theater. Rooms start from B500/night.   Prince Theatre Heritage Stay   Prince Theatre Heritage Stay   Prince Theatre Heritage Stay   Prince Theatre Heritage Stay   Prince Theatre Heritage Stay  

Bank of Thailand has announced the images of the 17th banknote edition depicting portraits of King Rama X, which will be released to the local monetary system on 6th April. The first three denominations including B20, B50 and B100 will be available on 6th April (to mark the 236th anniversary of the Chakri dynasty) while the rest of the denominations, B500 and B1,000, will be released on the king’s birthday on 28th July. All banknotes come the same sizes as the current version. In this edition, the front side of all notes portrays King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The back of the new edition, on the other hand, features the portraits of King Rama I and II on the B20 banknote, King Rama III and IV on the B50 banknote, King Rama V and VI on the B100 banknote, King Rama VII and VIII on the B500 banknote and both King Vajiralongkorn and his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the B1,000 banknote — all of which depict iconic royal duty of each king. The current banknotes will stay in the circulation with the new banknotes adding up to the system.