ScandAsia Thailand August 2015

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Danish simplicity to Bangkok

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

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

Your FREEScandAsia Magazine in Thailand

Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.comPublisher : 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29Prasert Manukitch RoadChorakae Bua, Lad PraoBangkok 10230, ThailandTel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 E-mail: [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Mø[email protected]

Assistant Editor :Joakim [email protected]

Advertising : Finn Balslev [email protected]

Joakim [email protected]

Piyanan Kalikanon [email protected]

Nattapat [email protected]

Graphic Designer : Peerapol [email protected]

Printing : Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here:www.scandasia.com

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Danish simplicity to Bangkok

Coming Events

Nordic Breakfast Seminar: Cyber SecurityWhere: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Sukhumvit Road, AsokeWhen: Tuesday 25 August, 07:30 – 09:30

Where: Ocean Bangkok, Sukhumvit 33 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, BangkokWhen: Thursday August 20, 19:30 - 21:30

The Danes during Japanese occupation yearsWhere: Admirals Pub and Restaurant, Sukhumvit Soi 24, BangkokWhen: 25 August 18.30 - 21.30

Japan surrendered in August 1945 and the World War II ended. That also ended the dangerous gap between the 4 May, when the Germans surrendered in Europe, and the surrender of Japan where the Danes were close to being recognized as enemies. Scandinavian Society Siam invites historically interested Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Finns to an evening looking back at how the Danish community in Thailand handled the occupation. The participants can order dinner first and later discuss the documents persented by Gregers Moller.

DTCC Speed Networking NightIn the season of wet streets and raincoats DTCC welcomes to a very special networking night at the hottest urban lounge, Ocean@Bangkok. Come join us and enjoy free beers from 6:30pm to 8 pm, amazing food and great networking. Special prize to be won cour tesy of Bang&Olufsen!

Dress Code: Rain boots, rain coats, umbrellas, plastic bags or anything else to keep you dry this season.

DTCC Member s: FREE, Non-Members 450 THB. www.dancham.or.th for registration

How do you protect your sensitive data, passwords and avoid outside and inside attacks? Your Email, calendar and contacts on your Smartphone are easily hacked and are open for breaches, malware and intrusions. The event will present the Cutting Edge (Cost and Resource Effective) way to protect you with the next generation Cyber Security solutions from the Nordic Countries. Speaker : Peter Diurson (Co Founder Ciptor Sweden), Ekaluck Poapongsakorn (General Manager Tech Smart Thailand), Bernard Collins (CEO SafeComs).

Garden International School

Student - centred learning for children from 2 to 18* years of ageYour choice.Their future.Our family.

Playgroup every Monday from 2.30pm. to 3.30pm. Ages 8 months to 2 years.

Sathorn, Bangkok

34/3-4 Yen Akart Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 ThailandTel : +66(0)2 249-1880 Fax : +66(0)2 249-1943

Email : [email protected] www.facebook.com/Garden.International.School.Bangkokwww.gardenbangkok.com www.twitter.com/gisbangkokwww.youtube.com/gisbangkok

Our Star Health Plan provides perfect care for you and your family with premium levels designed to be reasonable and stable. We believe in long-term relationships which is why we focus on prevention. Our Plan offers more care to keep you healthy and happy – and your premiums low.

Call our agent on 09 2780 9743 or e-mail to [email protected]

Thaivivat – Your Health Manager.

Now with upgraded health packages Including worldwide emergency transportationPreventive health care for all and a no-claims bonus

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6 ScandAsia.Thailand • August 2015

News Brief

Danish Priest has left Hong Kong

Hans-Aage Koller Nielsen, who has been the priest at the Danish church in Hong Kong for 17 years, has

returned to Denmark. A farewell event was held for the popular Dane on Tuesday, June 30, at Mariner’s Club.

The Danish Seamen’s Church in Hong Kong is a lot more than just a church. They both support, socialize and help exchange students, trainees, families and tourists in the city of skyscrapers. Besides making the church a rallying point for the Danes living in Hong Kong a part of his job has also been to support the seamen, when a Danish ship enter Hong Kong.

Finnish Embassy in Bangkok has moved

The Embassy of Finland in Bangkok moved on 29 June to a new location in the Athenee Tower on Wireless Road. The embassy was previously located on the 16th floor in the Amarin Tower on Ploenchit road.

The new adress isEmbassy of FinlandAthenee Tower, 14th Floor63 Wireless Road (Witthayu)Lumpini, PathumwanBangkok 10330The phone number is unchanged +66 2207 8700 as well as the email [email protected] and Post Box addres at G.P.O. Box 295, Bangkok 10501Check also the embassy online:https://www.facebook.com/FinnishEmbassyBangkokhttp://www.finland.or.th

Peter Bjork, Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s (TSCC) Executive Director, has resigned with immediate effect, to start

a new position as Executive Director of European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC), Thailand as of July 15, 2015.

“After four great years with Swecham it is now time for me to move on to new challenges,” Peter Bjork comments on the move.

“We have a very competent and experienced President, Board and staff so the transition will be smooth. It will also be good for the Chamber with a new Executive Director (ED) that can carry on the renewal work,” he adds.

President Jan Eriksson wishes Peter Bjork all the best in his new job.

“Peter has done an outstanding job for TSCC putting in a very large amount of hours above his employment contract. He has handled his job with the highest integrity always promoting TSCC and Thai – Swedish business relations and being an exceptionally good representative for all that TSCC stands for”.

Peter Bjork is looking forward to the more complex job in this new position.

“Taking on EABC will be a great challenge as the situation is more complex given the many stakeholders. But I am confident we can move things forward to become a sustainable organisation after 2016. Also at EABC we have a very competent Board, advisers and staff and I am really looking forward to start working with them,” he says.

Peter Bjork has been working and living in Thailand since 1998. Peter has a background from the Swedish Army as a non-commissioned officer, Captains rank. He has studied at Uppsala University (BSC) and Change Management (MM) at IMIT – Chalmers University of Technology and is Managing Director at CCM.

For Swecham, the search for a replacement of Peter Bjork was not over when ScandAsia went to print. In the meantime Khun Jiraya Chanchon (Puri), TSCC’s current Project Manager, will be holding the acting position as ED.

Peter Bjork new Executive Director of EABC

August 2015 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7


It was a yearlong dream speeding into reality when two Danes met to a shared business project in Thailand, approximately one year ago. Both arrived too early, and what started as a random small talk proved to be the

beginning of a serious partnership.“We quickly figured out that we shared the

exact same thoughts, and that we both had entrepreneurial dreams,” Lars says.

Not only their appearance but also their choices of words reveal two men with different personalities – Lars being more the businessperson while Steven the artist.

Not long after the meeting, Lars and Steven turned ideas into strategy, which earlier this year resulted in the opening of a modern and creative showroom at Sukhumvit Soi 31. Together they believe they are creating an international

brand: Danish Loft Design. A brand with three fundamental principles: urban, solid and simple.

Coming from the main road and walking all the way down Soi 31, the big villa suddenly appears around two small side streets. And even if the place seems a bit hidden, the location could not be better, Steven and Lars agree.

“There is a lot of traffic around the house, and here they drive slower. If the shop was located on the main road, we would need a much wider showroom to get the same exposure,” Steven says.

Their plan is to host events every month, mainly arranged by others. According to Lars, ideal events could be anything from a business networking night, a Scandinavian get-together or a food competition between restaurants. It does not necessarily have to do with design.

Danish simplicity to BangkokBy Louise Bihl Frandsen

Lars Kruse Thomsen and Steven Tynan are the two creators behind Danish Loft Design – a new furniture concept to Bangkok. In less than two months, the two Danes have turned an old villa at Sukhumvit, originally used for yoga, into a modern showroom.

“Steven is an amazing designer. You push a button and he produces art at the drop of a hat. I can not do that,” Lars says with a fascinated look at Steven.

Danish Loft Design is already flourishing in the vibrant city. Earlier this year, Steven and Lars landed a partnership with the Danish kitchen company: KVIK, who exhibits their items in their 600 square meters flagship store in Thonglor, Bangkok.

Up to now, the focal spot is in Thailand, but the vision is to reach 15 countries within three years. And they are already represented in Singapore and soon in Malaysia.

“Looking at what we have already done in six month – a lot of things can happen in three years. And we have a lot of new ideas that we have not yet brought to the table,” Lars says.

“We trust this furniture design and believe that we are looking into an upcoming trend that can last for years,” Steven says.

“Danish design is a strong brand, and the designers are known worldwide. It is not a Scandinavian design, it is specifically Danish,” Steven explains.

The concept of Danish Loft Design comes out of the original loft design, which is inspired by big industrial halls with raw and rustic surfaces. They combine metal and wood, but design the furniture so they can fit into normal homes.

Address 289/2 Sukhumvit Soi 31, BangkokPhone 02 001 5663

“I admire Lars for always knowing how we solve difficult situations. He is also better at tackling my Latino temper than I am myself. If we are not working, we are good friends. And I think that if we were man and woman, we would be married by now,” Steven laughs.


The British Schoolof Bangkok Ltd.

M o d e r nK i w i C u i s i n e

142/22-23 Sathorn Soi 12, Sarthorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 | 02-6353800

[email protected] | www.facebook.com/kainewzealand | www.kai-bangkok.com

N O W O P E N

B R E A K F A S T - L U N C H - D I N N E R


Agneta’sWorld

Are you dreaming of a tr ip to Greece maybe? Longing for the tasty Greek food and a bottle of Retsina wine? If you cannot leave for Greece now, you can at least

get a Greek feeling by going for lunch or dinner at Restaurant Olive in Ekamai. Olive is owned by Elena, a Korfu born Greek. She is a woman

that never sits still. If she is not in her restaurant, she is out somewhere selling her specialties and promoting her business or participating in an event there food is included. To call her a busy bee, is an understatement.

When you come to Olive you immediately get the feeling of vacation, sea and Ouzo….

If you have seen the movie Mama Mia, with

Gorgeous Greek food in Bangkok...

the former popular Swedish group ABBA, well then you know exactly what I mean. Elena’s restaurant is like a real Greek tavern, decorated in the Mediterranean colors turquoise, blue and white. The whole interior designs breathe “island feeling”.

The food is delicious and all well-known Greek dishes are presented on the menu. If you, like me, love lamb, you have several choices and don’t forget to try Elena’s homemade Humus, it’s to die for…..

Her wine cellar is also showing a big selection of wine and it happens frequently that Elena organizes wine tasting events.

Restaurant Olive may not be that easy to find, but worth looking for and should you have been wandering about maybe for a while, you will be richly compensated when you eventually arrive. The restaurant is a perfect lunch place for ladies and Elena very often welcomes her friends for nice gathering together.

Try it out, I promise you will love it! You find Olive at Soi Ekamai Soi 12 Sukhumvit Soi 63, opened from 11.00 am -10.00 pm all days except Mondays.


Harmonique

If we talk about food and special restaurants, I also have to mention one of my absolute favorite Thai restaurants, Harmonique. Harmonique is located, not very far from Oriental Hotel by the river. It’s hidden in a small sub soi to Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak. If you don’t know about this restaurant, you will not find it.First time I was there, many years ago, I didn’t believe my eyes and I

was questioning myself if I really wanted to eat there. I did and had one of the most down to earth Thai meals ever. From the beginning this restaurant was an Antique shop, started by a Dutchman. He always had his friends passing by and sitting down for a coffee, so after a while he started a small coffee shop in a corner of the restaurant. He had the capacity to make people feel well and stay long. The coffee corner became a busy visited

Illamasqua

I should maybe have told you long ago about Illamasqua, but it is never too late. If you women are going out for a romantic or wild evening, it’s a good start to visit this store.

Illamasqua is a British make-up brand, that was launched in 2008, and at their store they can give you you a sensational

make-up. Their store at TheGrove also offers make-up courses and their products are a real mix of influences, from its roots in the dark and illicit 1920s Berlin club scene to a rich heritage in the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. Illamasqua has also been awarded “Cool Brands” in good company of Prada and Manolo Blahnik (shoes) among some others.

Today you can find Illamasqua in the best retailers in seven territories across the world. If you are interested you can download a full School course brochure to review at your leisure or pass by at the store in Central Embassy. I promise you, with this very special make-up you will make heads turn, worth trying.

place and during this time, the owner got the idea of starting a small restaurant in the same locality, using the collected furniture.

It became immediately a popular restaurant and now a Thai family was employed to run the business. The family had young children, parents and grandparents, all taking an active part in the restaurant. The place did very well and still does.

This little, very odd restaurant with the most funny interior design (wooden parrots, plastic flowers, antique bookshelves, old porcelain) is a secret tip-off. Once you’ve been there, you are going to come back again. The same family is in charge, the kids, now grown up, are helping serving the food and the old grand ma is keeping an eye on everything, nodding to the customers as during her young days.

Must mention that the owner and founder got sick, many, many years ago and went back to Holland and the restaurant he left in the hands of this faithful family, who had been helping him out through all years.

The food is simple, basic Thai food without any superfluous. It’s well worth a visit. Opened daily from 11.00 am -10.00 pm except Sundays.


The great escape toCambodia - why?

Pick any restaurant in Cambodia where you see some white people looking like regulars guests sitting with their daily “Happy hour” beers. Sit down with them and notice how the conversation

soon will be about Thailand. Make a head-count and most likely you will find that at least half of your new friends are “refugees” from Thailand.

So why is that? Thailand is the “land of smiles” would it not be better to stay there? Well, let me take you trough a few god reasons why Cambodia is far more attractive.

The best visa in the worldCambodia’s biggest attraction for 95% of the Barangs (Westerners in Khmer), is perhaps the visa and work permit rules which are maybe the most convenient anywhere in the world. In Cambodia they have two different kinds of visas. I have no count on the jungle of different types of visas they have in Thailand.

Cambodia’s Tourist Visa is what most people buy. It costs around 25 dollars and gives you permission to stay 30 days. You can extend it at the nearest travel agency. They will charge

a small amount, three maybe five dollars, and you will have your passport back two or three working days later. However, you can only extend a tourist visa inside Cambodia once. The fine for overstaying is 5$ a day - but don’t even consider calculating if a ticket out will cost you more than paying a fine for overstay. Overstaying may end you in jail. Don’t go there!

The other kind of visa in Cambodia is normally called “Business visa (EI)”. You can buy the Business Visa arrival in an airport or at a border crossing. The price is between 30 to 60 USD depending on the boss of the local immigration office where you are trying to enter the country.

Be prepared, that most of the bad experiences you will have in Cambodia may very well happen here on the Cambodian side of the border. The Cambodian side of immigration is typically very open. Everybody can enter. There will probably even be people helping you filling out the health formula. But afterwards they will demand money for their effort. Other people will probably help you make your most valuable belongings - cameras, smart phones, wallet, etc. - disappear. Especially the Poi Pet border crossing is notorious for theft.

Question: What papers do you need to get at business visa?

Answer : You need your passport and the money it costs.

That’s it. You don’t need to prove how much money you have, neither in your pocket, nor in any banks abroad or in Cambodia. All of the hassle that some people have been through in other countries is gone. It can be hard to believe, but... it is as simple as that.

The business visa (EI) can be extended up to one year at a local travel agency. Never, n e v e r, try to go to the immigration department i Phnom Penh to save 5$ or a little more. Be good to yourself and do it locally.

Be aware that you have to buy at least a 6 months business visa extension inside Cambodia if you want to be able to leave the Kingdom without having your visa cancelled at the border crossing. If you have at least a 6 months business visa you can cross the border every day, until there is no more space in your passport.

If you want to work in Cambodia, you should buy a Work Permit. Once again. Nothing to prove, just pay 100 $ a year. And there is no limitations

There are several good reasons why you should consider relocating to Cambodia, writes Bjarne Wildau

By Bjarne Wildau


which job you can have. Bartender, pancake-baker and seller with a cart, a restaurant, a factory, run and drive a minibus service.

Despite the small cost,thousands of Barangs has for years skipped buying the work permit and just used the business visa. But recently, the immigration police has started to implement the rules. They estimate that only 30% of the working Barangs in Cambodia have paid the early 100$.

Currently, there are 75 foreigners in jail i Sihanoukville for visa, work permit or passport problems. Don’t become one of them when you can so easily avoid it.

Who should settle in Cambodia?More and more retired couples stay permanently or part of the year in Cambodia. Typically when the weather back home is cold and rainy. They will soon get to know other couple who have retired here too.

Some young couples with children also settle and even open a business.

And then you have a big group of foreigners who are here on long term stay because of the easier visa, the cheaper prices, and the cheaper

girls. Before you think bad about “your granddad”, relax, they will be punished sooner or later.

What are the risks?Some, but not that many, think about the risks. Illness and accidents do happen. Cambodia is one of the countries, where you should consider how you can safeguard yourself. New hospitals open, old hospitals are renovated, and the prices go up.

The problem is not the planned situation. When you know well in advance that you need an operation for an illness you just go to one of the private hospitals and they will find a time for one of the literally flying doctors, specialist who know their trade.

The problem is the acute stuff. A long term Scandinavian had the yearly visit of his father. After a few days he got a heart attack or a stroke and fell unconscious. The son rushed him to the best hospital in town but here they said they had to wait untill they could find a doctor who could speak English - with the unconscious patient!!!

Luckily, the pensioner from Denmark survived, but it was not thanks to the English speaking doctor, who arrived 45 minutes later.

For the last three years, the best hospital in Cambodia has been the Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital on the Eastern side of the South coast. Its run by the the HOPE worldwide foundation.

If you get at health problem, worse than a cold or trivial infections, it is advisable to go to Thailand or if possible go back home. Without hesitation. Many rookies are unaware the the little seemingly innocent infection on their foot or shin bone may develop into some nasty life threatening blood infection much faster out here than it would back home. On top of that, some of the same people are often unaware that alcohol and whatever medicine they take could be a bad cocktail in the heat.

Do they have schools?Parents with small children seems to do OK. But what about when children reach the age of pre-school? It seems to be no problem. You will find the words “International School” on almost every corner i towns like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Kampot, etc.

In reality the only town that comes close to having a real International School is Phnom Penh. But you can forget that unless you have an employer who is ready to pay the school fee, or you yourself happen to be a dollar millionaire.

Where is it best to settle?Infrastructure in Cambodia is like in Thailand 30 years ago. But as in Thailand, things are fast getting better. As an example, they just opened a new fantastic road from Kampot in the south, close to the Vietnamese border, to Phnom Penh.

In fact, if you haven’t been to Cambodia for five or ten year you may think the plane has landed in the wrong country. The Asian World Bank calls Cambodia for the “new small Asian tiger”. They financed and pushed forward for the renovation and extension of the Cambodian railways. Three four times a day, trains now arrive at the trainstation in the harbour city Sihanoukville, full of goods that would otherwise have had to be trucked down there on the roads.


This is my restaurant!Where is my girlfriend?

A hard working Scandinavian carpenter I knew was a very very happy man. He lived in Sihanoukville with his his girlfriend “Mom”.

She was 38 years younger and weighed 38 kilos less than him. Mom was so nice, both in the bedroom and in their restaurant, which he had bought in her name of course.

The carpenter made their restaurant one of the nicest places in town. The Americans say: Location location, location, and the restaurant was the first they saw on their left hand side when they arrived on the beach.

Mom and the carpenter had a high season, and a low season, and everything was fine. Then he went home to Scandinavia to work his socks off so he could buy some land and build a house for his new family. Foreigners can not buy land in Cambodia so it would have to be in her name once again.

Back in Cambodia again, he bought the land, started to build the house, the restaurant was still OK, but his girlfriend had changed. One night he saw her shaking or twitching like on drugs, he confronted her with his suspicion, but she denied, they made love and he believed her.

Then one afternoon she came back screaming that she had been robbed. She was bringing the money to pay the people who were building their house and now it was all gone. The carpenter took her in his strong arms and she calmed down. Then he went back to Scandinavia to earn some more money to his wonderful wife.

Back in Denmark, something unusual happened. She phoned him and asked him to send money. Normally the restaurant made enough money during the peak season to make it through the low season. But her mother had had a bad accident and if she didn’t get money big big, mama would die.

So the good carpenter transferred the money and worked one extra month in Denmark. Finally, he could return. In the tax free in Bangkok he bought her a bracelet of silver, and some fancy perfume. He even missed her so much, that he took a taxi straight from Phnom Penh airport to the restaurant in Sihanoukville.

Stepping out of the taxi, he got his first shock. The walls were painted white, he could not recognise one single waiter, and behind the bar there was this big khmer man ordering the staff to do this or that.

“Who are you? What are you doing behind my bar. Where is my girlfriend?” the carpenter was screaming.

The man did not answer, just brushed the carpenter aside. Some 10 minutes later, after 25 bottles were smashed and the Khmer behind the bar had a broken nose and two black eyes, the police arrived and slammed a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of the carpenter.

On the way to the police station, the police officer stole the bracelet that the carpenter bought for his lovely girlfriend.

The short story was that the mother had never been in any accident but lovely Mom had gone back to smoking ice 20 minutes after the carpenter had left for the airport and her boyfriend from since she was eighteen told her to sell the restaurant.

And I got a good story to tell.

Power supply is still a huge problem. It improved a lot when a new power plant was started up one year a go. But you still have to consider where you settle, and if you will save the money and stay in a house without a generator. In short, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap, and maybe - repeat: maybe - Battambang.

If you plan to do business, here is a website that may help you:

http://www.doingbusiness .org/data/exploreeconomies/cambodia/star ting-a-business/

Nightlife in CambodiaIn Cambodia, new casinos pop up like McDonald’s did 10 years ago in China. They are everywhere. Close to the Vietnamese border, to the Thai border, and in almost every town in between with more than 50.000 citizens.

And yes, 90% of the tourist coming to Cambodia, or long term stayers, are also here because the prostitutes. Especially the guys who over in Thailand have spend hundreds of nights sleeping with prostitutes thinks it is same-same here.

NOT!There are places in Cambodia where

men can hire a girl and feel reasonably safe and secure, but just like you have Pattaya in Thailand, then in Cambodia a lot of the

sex trade happens on the Octual Beach in Sihanoukville, at places like Dolphin or JJ bar.

Here, the secret weapon of the freelance prostitutes is Ketamin, also called horse medicine. A Scandinavian sex tourist went in to have a breakfast at a Scandinavian restaurant. He talk with the owner about freelancers on the beach. And was warned. Still, 36 hours he woke up, not naked, but everything else - including the sweet lovely lady he had brought home two nights ago - was gone. He even had to go to Hanoi to get a new passport.

Better stay away?So should you stay away from Cambodia? No way if you can live with the standards of hospitals and education. But yes, please stay away if you are too smart to listen to other people’s free advice.

Here is some more of that free stuff: Never loose control over your mind and your body. If you walk like a snake at four in the morning, you are asking for trouble. And don’t buy the bad stuff, amfetamin, ice, heroin, cocaine, weed, or whatever they offer you. Cambodia is still a poor country and some people will do whatever it takes to survive. The children who sell bracelets are so nice, cute, and their English is so good. Oops! Where is my wallet? Or my brand new Iphone?


Reader profile of the month

Q&A

Fredrik Sterner is 29 years old, originates from Sweden, lived in Beijing for six years

and now in Shanghai for the past six month. He works for Per Linden, CEO of Scandic Foods Asia. They have several web shops where they sell Scandinavian food and beverage products. From time to time Fredrik misses Sweden, but it is mainly his family and friends that he misses. At the moment he does not have any plans of moving back.

The best thing about working in Shanghai is...the incredibly fast-paced working environment and all the things you learn by just going with it. It has taught me never to slow down. However, I used to live in Beijing for six years and it took me a while to adjust to the speed of the city. When I am not working I...workout, travel with my girlfriend that I met while I lived in Beijing. I also study for future challenges, since it is a good idea to always stay on top of career pursuits and what matters to your field. Especially in China. My biggest concern before moving to Shanghai was...making enough money to get by long term. In Shanghai I could do without...

freezing in the winter due to lack of heating. Living outside of Scandinavia has made me realize...that the wor ld is a lot less organized and prosperous than we realize. Scandinavia is wonderfully organized, but we sometimes forget our own history has it’s periods of chaos. Societies develop through different stages, China is just catching up. I use the Scandinavian community in Shanghai to...network, socialize and stay in touch with our culture. I have a large network of Scandinavians that I social ize with mixed together with people from all over the world. It is mainly the food that keeps us together. In Shanghai I have picked up the habit of...planning my life in careful detail. I always stay on top with my health. Workouts are regular. I cook on my own. My girlfriend lives in Beijing, which requires careful planning to make ever ything work. I like it that way. My best advice to a newcomer in Shanghai is...get ready to wor k hard . Compared to Sweden, there is not a social safety net, which makes life easier.

FredrikSterner

China has welcomed Denmark’s application to become a founding member of As ian I n f r a s t r u c t u r e

Investment Bank (AIIB). Danish Minister of Trade and Development Mogens Jensen cal led China’s establ ishment of the AI IB “a significant and exciting development in the world order.”

“Since many Danish trade interests as well as development cooperation interests will be at stake in the AIIB, there are many reasons to engage in and influence the AIIB’s investment decisions from its beginning,” Jensen said. Denmark became itself a founding member on 12 April 2015.

Sweden is interested in joining the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), but has not made an official decision yet, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said during his speech at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

“We haven’t decided, but we are very close and we think we will be interested in joining too.”

Prime Minister Lofven pointed to the need for infrastructure investment in Asia over the coming decade, estimated to be $70,000 billion.

“Of course, many companies, many countries want to be part of those investments,” he noted.

No rway h a s meanwh i l e confirmed its intention to join AIIF as a prospective founding member.

‘Norway i s a substant i a l

contributor to global development efforts, and wishes to join countries from Asia and other par ts of the world in fur ther refining the structure and mission of the AIIB,’ said Foreign Minister Børge Brende.

‘The establishment of the AIIB will be important for Norwegian development priorities. Norway will work to ensure that the AIIB embodies the best standards of governance, accountability and transparency. We expect it to work closely with and complement the efforts of other relevant institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,’ said Mr Brende.

Norway wi l l take par t in d i s cus s ions w i th the o ther founding members on the AIIB’s Articles of Agreement, which will set out the terms of governance and accountability for the new institution. The final decision on Norway’s membership of the AIIB, together with the structure and level of Norwegian financial support, will then be made.

Starting AIIB is aimed at helping to fund infrastructure projects in poor Asian countries. The Beijing-based bank, which will suppor t infrastructure projects in Asia, is expected to be operational by the end of 2015, with China expected to foot the bulk of the money needed to get the bank started. Donations from other members could increase the size of the overall fund to more than US$100 billion.

The Nordic countries and China’s AIIB


A smile that can melt ice

This is the song, written by the late Charlie Chaplin that immediately comes to my mind by meeting with Mrs. Ratanawadee wife of the Danish ambassador to Thailand.

This amazing woman has a smile that can melt ice.

Ratanawadee grew up in the Udon Thani City where her father was posted with the Royal Thai Police. Since her father had to move around with his job assignments, for the continuity of the children’s education, the family settled in the city under the care of the mother who was a strong career woman. Ratanawadee and her siblings had a very pleasant up bringing and she did very well in school.

When Ratanawadee was in her last year of high school, she received a scholarship that took her to further studies in California, US. She returned to Thailand to finish her first degree at the ThammasatUniversity in 1980. Immediate after the graduation, she went to Canada for a master degree in Education. She landed her first job in Calgary where she was an instructor in a literacy and life skills program. After a year in Calgary she moved to Toronto where she worked herself up within the public education sector for over ten years. She was the head of a high profile federally funded settlement program for the Toronto Board Education for several years before the big change.

...Smile though your heart is aching,Smile even though it’s breakingWhen there are clouds in the skyYou’ll get by.If you smile through your fear and sorrowSmile and maybe tomorrowYou’ll see the sun comes out shining through for youLight up faces with gladness,Hide every trace of sadness,Although a tear may be ever so nearThat’s the time you must keep on trying,Smile, what’s the use of crying,You’ll find that life worthwhile-if you just smile.That’s the time you must keep on trying,Smile, what’s the use of cryingYou’ll find that life is still worthwhileIf you just smile…


These two young ones fell in love and Ratanawadee decided to give up her job in Canada and instead

went to Denmark and it’s capital Copenhagen. 1998 the two married in the Civil Hall in Dragör, a small town in Denmark, there you can take a ferry over to

the neighbor country Sweden.

She loved her busy and interesting life in Canada, but in 1997 she took a three-month leave of absence to go back to Thailand to teach students in a Master Degree program at a university in Bangkok. The idea of a short temporary work assignment was to recharge and revisit her root in Thailand, but sometimes destiny comes in between. Her students were so happy with her, so she was asked to make another evening course for professionals. As the busy bee she is, she had to find a daytime job too. Ratanawadee got employed as the head international education center at the Australian Embassy. Now both her days and nights were full of activities.

During a brief stay in Bangkok, she met a Danish tall, blond guy who was working at the Danish embassy as a diplomat. He was in fact meant for a girlfriend of Ratanawadee’s colleague, but …..

These two young ones fell in love and Ratanawadee decided (with difficulty) to give up her job in Canada and instead went to Denmark and it’s capital Copenhagen. (Must have been a huge change). 1998 the two married in the Civil Hall in Dragör, a small town in Denmark, there you can take a ferry over to the neighbor country Sweden.

From 1999 until 2001 Ratanawadee started her new career in the international department of the Danish Road Directorate managing a

training and education program for road safety engineers from developing countries funded by International Danish Development Assistance (DANIDA). In 2001, she and her husband Mikael moved to Hanoi, Vietnam. Mikael was posted as deputy of mission at the Danish Embassy and Ratanawadee as the international HRD specialist under a DANIDA funded program.

After 4-year assignment in Vietnam, they went back to Denmark and enjoyed advancing their careers. Mikael got posted in Iraq in 2008 as an ambassador and was there for two years. At that time the Danish Ambassador to Iraq was not allowed to take the spouse or family along. The security risk for the family would have been much too high and expensive. During the two years Mikael and Ratanawadee had to meet at different airports around the world, sometimes just for a quick coffee together. During the period from 2005 to 2010, Ratanawadee was busy with her job as an international consultant for different international development programs working in several countries in Asia.

In January 2011 the couple moved to Bangkok and Mikael became the Danish ambassador to Thailand while Ratanawadee started working as the country director for the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) an American based NGO registered as a Thai NGO in 2006 to focus on decreasing the number of deaths and injuries on the roads in Thailand. As of January 2015,

she became the organization’s chairperson in Thailand.

AIP Foundation Thailand has its office at 2, Prima Sathon Building Room 8302 Bangkok 10120. Since 2012, the Foundation has been appointed a safe behavior sub-committee under the National Road Safety Directing Centre. It has implemented several life saving programs in schools focusing on promoting child helmet wearing and general road safety awareness education campaigns. For example, in the year 2014 the Foundation donated a total of 4329 helmets to school children in its Helmets for Kids programs in Thailand.

One of the main child road safety projects in which Ratanawadee heavily engages is The 7 percent Project (only 7% over 1.3 million kids using motorbikes wear helmets). It is Ratanawedee’s special “child”. This project was launched in November 2014 by AIP Foundation in partnership with Save the Children and several corporate partners. The project goal for 2017 is a 30 % decrease in children killed and injured while travelling on motorbikes. The project works closely with schools, police, government and the media. It has also been successful engaging the public in social media. In May, Ratanawadee led a team of school students and project implementing partners to present 12.000 signed pledges supporting the project to the Governor of BMA. The project is being implemented in Bangkok and will expand to provinces in the following years.

As if this wasn’t enough, she has been in several charity events and organizations, including the chairperson for the Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar in 2012 and next year 2016 she again will take over as its chairperson.

By this time I am wondering if this lady has any time to do any spor ts or have a hobby. Ratanawadee admits that she tries to exercise as often as possible. She has star ted painting and “that is a hobby that gives me peace and calmness.” Together with her husband, they go on tours around Thailand and both love to explore the land of smiles, sometimes on his big motorbike.

Her husband is a big fan of motorbikes and music. He plays piano as well as guitar and both instruments are well represented at their beautiful residence.


มุมภาษาไทย l mum pha:să: thai l Thai Language Corner

In the May 2014 column, we looked at Thai tongue twisters, บทบิดลิ้น / bòt bìt lín /, as a fun way to practice Thai, in particular getting hold of the tones. In this month’s column, we shall turn to Thai proverbs, สุภาษิตไทย / sùpha:sìt thai /, which likewise may be used for language practice. For the advanced learner, the proverbs can offer new, more sophisticated or

rare vocabulary, for the intermediate learner, they show the elegance of Thai sentence structure, and for the beginner, they offer the joy of recognizing some of the words involved. For all learners, irrespective of your level, the Thai proverbs offer an understanding of the cultural context in which they are used. As we have formerly discussed here, the cultural understanding goes hand in hand with the ability to understand and speak the language. That said, allowing for different references, one will find that the Thai proverbs, just as proverbs in other languages, illustrate common human conditions.

Thai language has its fair share of proverbs and in the following we can cover but a few examples. Moreover, we shall stick to direct translations and leave it to you, dear readers, to use your imagination and find situations to which the proverb will fit. You may also consider possible equivalents in English or your own Scandinavian language. Here, we shall instead use the space to build up the proverbs, thus helping you understand the bits and pieces: เส้นผม / sên phŏm / ~ a hair (as from the head of a human),บัง / bang / ~ to hide, cover, conceal, obscure,ภูเขา / phu: khăo / ~ a mountain,เส้นผมบังภูเขา / sên phŏm bang phu: khăo / ~ one hair hides a mountain.

น้ำาขึ้น / ná:m khûen / ~ rising water, flood tide, high water level, ให้รีบ / hâi rî:p / ~ do hurry,ตัก / tàk / ~ to scoope,น้ำาขึ้นให้รีบตัก / ná:m khûen hâi rî:p tàk / ~ get the water while the water level is high.

รำา / ram / ~ to dance,ไม่ดี / mâi di: / ~ not good,โทษ / thô:t / ~ to punish, blame,ปี่ / pì: / ~ a Thai flute,กลอง / klor:ng / ~ a drum,รำาไม่ดีโทษปี่โทษกลอง / ram mâi di: thô:t pì: thô:t klor:ng / ~ poor dancer blames the flutes and the drums.

กระต่าย / kràtà:i / ~ a rabbit,หมาย / mă:i / ~ to aim for,จันทร์ / jan / ~ the moon,กระต่ายหมายจันทร์ / kràtà:i mă:i jan / ~ a rabbit aiming for the moon (aiming for the impossible).

ปิดทอง / pìt thor:ng / ~ to cover with gold leaves,หลัง / lăng / ~ behind, back,พระ / phrá› / ~ monk, Buddha statue,ปิดทองหลังพระ / pìt thor:ng lăng phrá› / ~ to cover the back side of the Buddha statue with gold leaves (doing good without showing).

หนี / nĭ: / ~ to run away from, escape,ปะ / pà› / ~ to meet, run into,เสือ / sŭea / ~ a tiger,จระเข้ / jor:rákhê: / ~ a crocodile,หนีเสือปะจระเข้ / nĭ: sŭea pà› jor:rákhê: / ~ running from the tiger, just to meet a crocodile.

เอา / ao / ~ to take, bring,ไป / pai / ~ to go,กุ้งฝอย / kûng fŏr:i / ~ a freshwater shrimp,ตกปลา / tòk pla: / ~ to fish,ปลากะพง / pla: kàphong / ~ a bass (the fish),เอากุ้งฝอยไปตกปลากะพง / ao kûng fŏr:i pai tòk pla: kàphong / ~ to use a freshwater shrimp to catch bass (using small investment, hoping for big return).

ได้ / dâi / ~ to get, get to, receive,พี่ / phî: / ~ older sibling,น้อง / nór:ng / ~ younger sibling,เสียดาย / sĭa da:i / ~ to regret,ได้พี่เสียดายน้อง / dâi phî: sĭa da:i nór:ng / ~ getting the older sister, yet regrets not getting the younger sister.

That’s it! Remember that you can ask questions about the Thai language using the email above. No questions too small and, hopefully, only few too big.

โชคดีนะครับ / chô:k di: ná› khráp / ~ good luck!

By Klavs Johansen ([email protected])

สุภาษิตsùpha:sìt Proverbs


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ScandAsia Thailand August 2015