Sathira-Dhammasathan

The place: Set on a seven-acre property in an environment conducive to meditation, this center offers weekend-long retreats.
When: Registration begins 2-4pm on Fri, and the program ends at 4pm on Sun
How: For those who are planning to stay overnight, register and send in the registration documents at least one week before the program starts. The documents are available on their website. After the registration period ends (at 4pm), the program starts off with a yoga meditation session. The next day, you wake up at 4am for your other sessions. If you don’t want to stay overnight, registration is not required, you can just show up at 9am on Sat or Sun.
The ajarn: Mae Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta
24/5 Soi Watcharapol, Ramindra Rd. 02-510-6697, 02-510-4765. www.sdsweb.org.

Wat Mahathat (Section 5)

The place: A meditation center within the temple. English translators available.
When: There are three sessions daily: 7-10am, 1-4pm and 6-8pm
How: For day sessions, just show up. If you’re staying overnight, bring an ID card and a set of white clothes. Sessions start at 6:30am.
The ajarns: Ajarn Phramaha Suphap Khemarangsi (head of Section Five), Ajarn Maha Sawai Nanaviro, Ajarn Phramaha Boonchit Nanasangvaro, with other experienced monks and laypeople assisting them.
Maharaj Rd., Tha Prachan, 02-222-6011

Wat Pathumwanaram Ratchaworawihan

The place: A royal temple located right in the heart of Bangkok, between Siam Paragon and Central World.
When: 7am-9pm daily
How: Just show up.
The ajarns: The abbot, the Venerable Phra Rajpipatanatorn (Thavorn Chittathavaro), and other senior monks. Phra Rajpipatanatorn, a meditation master and teacher, has given dhamma talks on television, radio and the internet, and has published many dhamma journals and books.
969, Rama 1 Rd., Pathumwan (between Paragon and Central World), 02-255-2271. BTS Siam.

Wat Dhamma Mongkol (Samathi Viriyanuparb Center)

The place: Located beside the Dhamma Mongkol Temple, just beyond the craziness of downtown Sukhumvit, this meditation center was built specifically to accommodate practitioners, so car parks and air-conditioned rooms are thoughtfully provided.
When: 9am-4pm every Sun
How: Just show up. A more advanced session, which will require you to stay overnight, is only available for those who have already done the first day-to-day session. The advanced program is available once a month (to be announced by the center). For that program, registration starts from 4-7pm on Friday with morning wake-up calls at 5am. Call for reservation at 02-741-7822.
The ajarns: The abbot, Phra Dhamma Mongkol Yarn (Luang Poh Viriyung), and other experienced monks.
132 Mooban Rungsiya, Soi Punnavitee 20, Sukhumvit 101, Bang Jak, Phra Kanong. 02-311-3903. www.dhammamongkol.com.

Wat Sanam Nai

The place: A very natural peaceful setting in its original environment.
When: Registration happens every day, before 4pm.
How: First-time practitioners must be there before 9am or 1pm to practice for the real meditation program (two practice sessions; 9-10:30am and 1-2:30pm). Make sure you dress properly (white, no sleeveless shirts, no shorts). Once you’ve passed the practice session, you’re ready for the overnight program. Bring ID, a blanket and a small overnight bag. Wake up call at 3:30am.
The ajarns: Various teachers following the path of Luang Poh Teean’s “self-awareness” method.
27, Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi. 02-883-7251. www.watsanamnai.org.

Meditation Retreat 101

- All meditation centers are free of charge. Donations are accepted but not solicited.
- All classes are in Thai only, except for Wat Mahathat.
- Proper dress is usually required, just like when you go to the temple: no shorts, no sleeveless shirts. For overnight stays, it’s also advisable to wear white or at least plain colors.
- Manage your expectations. You’re not going to reach nirvana in one session.

“One of the most uninspired and unoriginal sequels you’ll ever see. Or not see, if you’re lucky.” Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

“Alas, this time there are about three or four mild laughs in the whole picture, and the entire visual aspect of the movie is a botched disappointment.” Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

“Somebody must have roofied me. I left The Hangover Part II feeling dazed and abused, wondering how bad things happened to such a good comedy.” Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“Maybe what goes on in Vegas really should stay in Vegas.” Tom Long, Detroit News

“If you want to avoid plot spoilers for The Hangover Part II, don’t watch The Hangover.” Eric D. Snider, Film.com

“Part II is everything the first movie was, and less. It’s crucially missing laughs and intelligence.” Peter Howell, Toronto Star

”If The Hangover gave you hope for Hollywood­—yup, there is some creativity and boldness left­—The Hangover Part II­­ sinks it. Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express

How does being Thai affect your design?
Being Thai has no effect on our designs actually. Our products have distinctive quality and character. We’re asked by our customers often if our products are really Thai made and the answer always makes them go wow.

How do you think Thai fashion customers have changed their perception toward Thai designer brands?
I think it’s getting better than before. There are a lot of Thai designers that are accepted worldwide. Each brand has their own concept and distinctive design, so there is now more customer awareness.

What should we expect from your next collection?
We’re starting our customization service in July, and there will be more professional looks coming up at the end of this year.

How does being Thai affect your design?
Each designer is rooted in a different culture. We draw differently, see differently and the time, culture and environment we grow up with affects how we create things. Pink in Thailand is possibly different from pink in Japan. What I mean is the Thainess has already been buried in our mind and soul, so our design obviously reflects our Thainess too.

How do you think Thai fashion customers have changed their perception toward Thai designer brands?
We’ve been receiving much more attention. Most of the brands are becoming more distinctive and fresh ideas seem to pop up every day, not to mention how the cutting quality has been improved. Projects like the Bangkok Fashion Society (BFS) or Bangkok International Fashion Week (BIFW) also help Thai brands gain more awareness and attention from the customers.

What should we expect from your autumn/winter collection?
We went out on the Columbus Cruise for summer, and so we’re continuing our journey to the forest for autumn/winter. The main story will revolve around a caravan, hunting and camping in the wild.

BK: How long have you been selling fried pork?
Boy: About a year. I was a messenger for a company in Thong Lor before I decided to start helping my aunt sell fried pork. But the stall has been around for almost six years.

BK: Was it a hard decision to quit your job?
Boy: Not at all. It’s a family business and it’s fun because I get to talk to customers. I like jobs where I can talk to people. I persuade passersby to try my fried pork by talking to them in a friendly manner.

BK: What’s your daily routine like?
Boy: I sell fried pork every day except on Sundays, from 5am-6pm. We have Mondays off every two weeks. Weekdays are busier than Saturdays, though. Our customers are all ages from teeangers to people in their 60s. There are celebrities too, like DJ Chao Chao and Tong Tong Mokjok.

BK: Have you ever tried fried pork from other vendors?
Boy: No. But there are many vendors that have tried to make fried pork like ours. I’m confident in our fried pork, though, because each day I am able to sell 90 to 100 kilos [1 kilo is B340]. What’s special about Moo Tod Chao Wang is that the pork is soft and tasty. My family now has 16 branches, including Silom and Klongsan Pier.

BK: Are your stalls affected by the economy?
Boy: Yes. When the price of pork increased, I had to raise the prices a bit. I got fewer customers but I can still keep selling constantly. The palm oil is also expensive at B60 a bottle.

BK: Do you have any other dreams?
Boy: Like everyone, I want a good social status and good well-being for my family. If I have enough money I would expand this business and have more branches. I would also have new stalls under my own name and set it up in busy areas.

BK: If you were not selling fried pork, what would you be doing? Do you think you will be doing this forever?
Boy: I would go back to my previous job. I only came to help my aunt because there were not enough people. This is a family business and I think I should keep doing this until the next generation can take care of themselves. Interview by Sasinipa Wasantapruek and Aimmarin Siritantitam

I was born in the USA as my parents were living there at the time. My father had won a doctorate scholarship so he brought my mother with him. We came back to live in Chiang Mai when I was three.

I formed a secret gang called “Men in Black” to agitate at my school when I was in grade 11. I did it because I didn’t like that our school had accepted twice as many students as they could manage. Many of them had connections with school officials.

We climbed the school wall to break in at night and put up posters saying “no privileged children” on the wall. The teachers knew who did it but they had no evidence, so we didn’t get caught.

I started listening to music because my father listened to an English radio station in Chiang Mai where he was a newsreader. The station played international songs.

The first album I bought was Mariah Carey’s Music Box. I remembered that I went to the record shop intending to buy an international music cassette without knowing any of the singers. I ended up picking Mariah’s album just because she looked so pretty—well, back then she did.

I instantly fell in love with her music after I played the cassette. After that, I bought all of Michael Jackson’s albums and started to buy music regularly.

I started to play drums in grade nine after I asked my senior at school if I could play in his band. I also taught myself to play guitar mostly from Tommy Emmanuel’s finger-style music. I formed a vocal group with four of my friends.

I never studied music formally but I tried to listen and wrote down the notes.
I sang and played percussion in a pub every night during university. But it became impossible to do so in junior and senior years because classes were tough. Plus some of the professors were friends of my father, who is also a professor there. So I couldn’t skip class after playing music all night.

I became a member of ETC when the former lead singer of the band, Deer, got a record deal with another band, Acappella 7. The head of the band asked me to fill in. It took four years for us to have our first album in 2004.

I play drums very well when I’m heartbroken. Once my friend told me I played so beautifully that it sounded like the feelings came out of the drums. That’s what I love most about music. It’s an emotional outlet.

I’m very glad that Sorayuth Sutasanajinda [Channel 3 anchor] chose our song as Lin Ping’s song. At some concerts, the audience even asks us to play “Lin Ping’s song.” That’s pretty funny actually.

I personally think Lin Ping and our song, “Sing Mee Chee Wit Tee Riak Wa Hua Jai” (“A Living Thing Called Heart”), are perfect for each other. Plus, we’re from Chiang Mai. A Chiang Mai panda and a Chiang Mai band, it’s like we were destined to meet! But I’ve never seen her.

The first days of my monkhood were really confusing when I was ordained earlier this year. I was so worried about my work. I couldn’t rest my mind. All my life has always been so busy.

My advisor monk told me to practice meditation. It allowed me to look into myself and discover the cause of my suffering. It was like waking up in the middle of an invigorating waterfall. It was the brightest moment.

I wanted to stay in the monkhood a little longer but I had to get my projects done. Now I still try to find some free time to practice meditation.
I want to enhance my music skills as much as I can. I also focus on getting better at drums because I want to be a professional in this field.

We’re releasing our songs in EPs because we feel that every song in the album is single-worthy. We don’t want any of them to be left out. Our new album, PUSH, is out next year.

I hate exercising in fitness centers. It always makes me feel uncomfortable. I love wake-boarding. If I’m free, I go for half a day. I love the water, the sun and the vastness of the sea.

If I were the governor of Bangkok, I would implement ways to improve fast transportation. I might build a special motorcycle lane and create a formal motorcycle taxi system.

I want to be like Joey Boy. He has achieved all that he has wanted and has become an expert in the field he loves. He no longer makes music just for money, but because he truly loves it and wants to help others. I want to be like that too. Interview by Kanyanun Sunglaw and Nuchanat Prathumsuwan