BANGKOK BULLETIN

Bangkok bulletin joel quenby reveals bangkok’s latest news and views

SECRET GARDEN

Those looking to escape the frantic pace of Bangkok would be well advised to check out the slick new garden café and gallery recently added to the peaceful grounds of the non-profit Neilson Hays Library.

Board member, Mariana Atkins said the café aims to make the urban oasis – which already offers readers over 20,000 titles, making it “the best collection of English [language] books in Thailand, as a library” – even more attractive to the community.

Designed by Peter Harper, the sleek white structure adds a modern but elegant visual contrast to the classical lines of the library building, which was endowed to the Bangkok Ladies’ Library Association in 1922 by Dr Hayward Hays, in memory of his wife who had served on the library’s committee for over two decades.

The new gallery will provide extra space for hosting events at Neilson Hays Library, in addition to those already held in the main building, which include a charity fundraising “Readathon”, The Art Fair, book sales, silent art auctions and regular art exhibitions in the Rotunda Gallery.
Visit www.neilsonhayslibrary.com

MOVING ON UP

Quality live acts in Bangkok are certainly on the rise with visits from three internationally renowned acts.

Black Eyed Peas returned to Asia on their world tour. Then British piano-led balladeers Keane – whose second album, Under the Iron Sea, topped UK charts and made top five on America’s Billboard Chart – had converts crooning in August.

Next up, Britain’s clown prince of pop, Robbie Williams will perform at the outdoor Aktiv Square stage at Impact Muang Thong Thani on 14 November. Williams’ “Close Encounters” world tour has already set a new record for ticket sales in a single day.

SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

The “Love Krung Thep” campaign aims to spread love for the city by proving to punters how lucky they are to be able to use its foreigner-friendly name “Bangkok”, rather than the 167-letter official title.

A team of Love Krung Thep ambassadors recently ventured to the backpacker Mecca of Khao San Road to challenge tourists to pronounce the tongue-twisting title on tape, which is certified as the longest place name on the planet and too long to feature in full in this column!

The campaign is offering free round-trip flights to Bangkok as prizes to the most cunning linguists, and is also open to online entrants at www.lovekrungthep.com.

NIC OF TIME

Don’t be shocked if you bump into American actor Nicolas Cage carousing in one of Bangkok’s upscale nightspots. The Oscar-honoured star is filming on location in a remake of the Thai film Bangkok Dangerous (1999), helmed by the original film directors, Hong Kong siblings Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang.

Cage will reprise the cold-blooded hit man who heads to Southeast Asia’s City of Angels to pull off four jobs and winds up falling in love with a local girl. Unlike the original’s mute assassin, however, Cage’s character will get to speak.

CHINATOWN CHOW-DOWN

22-23 September marks the Yawaraj “Clean Food, Good Taste” Festival, a two-day food event set in bustling Chinatown – an area famous for its gourmet delights, traditional gold shops and shopping bargains.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will preside over the opening ceremony of the festival, which aims to rekindle this old quarter of Bangkok. Judges and participants will elect the “Best of Yawaraj’s Delicacies” in an exciting, lip-smacking culinary competition.

Expect to see dishes such as Chinese dumplings, steamed rice noodles, cold mutton salad, and tow teung, a dessert of barley, lotus seeds and red beans in a longan tea sauce.

HOTELS GO GREEN

Only 10-20 per cent of Thailand’s hotel rooms are smoke-free, but following in the prohibitive footsteps of New York and London, efforts are being made to curb puffing in public.

Initiated by the Green Leaf Foundation, the Smoke-Free Hotel Programme is breathing new life into the Thai hospitality industry with its focused attempt to reduce second-hand smoke.

Incentives include increased promotion in key overseas markets, and are available at participating hotels such as the Dusit Thani Hotel, Malaysia Hotel, Siam City Hotel, Quality Suites Airport Bangkok, Siam Bayshore Resort and Siam Bayview Hotel.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Bangkok has blossomed into a field of sunflowers for a landmark in Thai history. Omnipresent yellow flags, banners and T-shirts salute the 60th – “Diamond Jubilee” – anniversary of Thailand’s beloved His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, director of international public relations for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), shares his views about the celebrations.

Why is His Majesty is known as the “development king”?

His Majesty has initiated at least 3,000 projects around the country with the aim of providing a better life for the Kingdom’s citizens. Many are agricultural projects relating to providing sufficient clean water, artificial rain-making, irrigation, maximising land usage, and giving people alternative crops to plant. His influence in development goes to the grassroots level, especially to the remote areas.

Why was yellow chosen as the official colour of the celebrations?

In Thailand, we associate colours with days of the week. Monday is associated with yellow and His Majesty was born on a Monday.

What does the Jubilee mean to the Thai nation?

It’s a historic event when we honour His Majesty for being who he is – his work; his benevolence in helping the country; in ruling with sympathy; and understanding the needs of the people. We are celebrating an outstanding individual who has tirelessly guided the country through some difficult times. He is the heart and soul of the nation.

Have Thailand’s Kings commanded the same level of love and respect?

No. In ancient times, kings stayed in the palace and gave orders from there. King Bhumibol goes out to meet his subjects – and it’s a big country of 60 million people.

What contributions have His Majesty made to Bangkok?

Inside Ananta Samakhom Palace, there are always agricultural projects going on, and His Majesty even raises cows, elephants and experimental crops. People really take pride and guidance from that, because the King is using his land in the most productive way.

What can we expect to see for the remainder of the year?

At the very least, there’ll still be night-time illuminations in certain parts of Bangkok; it’s a very beautiful time to visit and see the city after dark.

There’ll be the Royal Flora Ratchaphruk, an important horticultural expo in Chiang Mai starting in November, and we will also have a huge event for His Majesty’s birthday in December. I think you’ll see a lot more yellow, and many more people joining together to honour His Majesty.

Celebrations started in earnest this June when an emotional, flag-waving crowd of 700,000 (left) turned out to witness His Majesty (above) make a historic address at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. Royalty from 26 countries around the world then joined thousands of well-wishers to watch a glittering Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River. Afterwards, spectators were treated to a magnificent riverside fireworks display and light show . Visit www.tatnews.org or www..60thcelebrations.com