We were in quite a rush to make the appointment for a photo shoot of Thanop Eiamamornpan - more commonly known as Mark. He was wearing a magnificent timepiece that had to be flown back to Singapore urgently.
After the photo shoot the timepiece came right off his wrist and was placed inside a security case and put on a plane.
In between shots, the former man-about-town talked amiably about his new image.
The 34-year-old is less of a party animal these days. He is happily married to Navipa, 29, and has a 20-month-old daughter, Namon. She will soon have a younger sibling as Navida is four months pregnant.
Many people know Mark as the heir to the family-owned Frank's Jewelry, an upscale watch boutique which bears the name of his father.
"Now I help overlook the family business by giving advice. I help with the business plan for new brands and products. For instance, today before we did the photo shoot, I was helping to negotiate a product to market in the future."
The watch that Mark wore for the photo shoot was a famous upmarket Swiss brand he is negotiating to bring to Thailand.
Mark's transition into the family business wasn't all plain sailing. His father was forced to fire him when he returned from studying abroad. "I was too aggressive and my dad couldn't handle me," Mark explained.
His father gave him a dose of reality by finding him a blue-collar job, which he worked at for six months.
"My father sent me to be a trainee at ThaiNamthip Limited, where I delivered cases of Coca-Cola, because he wanted me to learn that in life nothing comes easy."
Mark says he learned the intended lesson - that he was indeed born fortunate and daily survival is a struggle for people in Thailand surviving on the minimum wage.
"This makes me want to live a better life. Imagine eating boat noodles at the Peninsula Plaza. It costs 250 baht per bowl, which is equal to the daily wages of many people."
After the delivery job, Mark landed a job at AJF Asset Management, a joint venture between the Bank of Ayudhya and JP Morgan, where he was involved in private and investment banking. He was a star performer and developed his own method to deal with clients.
"Within a year I pulled in about 2.5 billion baht and I was only 24 years old," said Mark.
Mark cemented his name in the financial field and the Stock Exchange of Thailand asked him to host a television programme called SET in the City, offering consumer-friendly advice on investment. He hosted the show, which has been on the air almost a decade, for four years.
Since then, he has been a TV spokesperson and a guest lecturer at schools, universities and financial institutions.
But his life may have turned out differently if not for the intervention of his father at a formative age. As a 12-year-old he was in trouble at Eagle Brooks, a junior high school in Massachusetts in the United States. "I was punching the teachers," Mark confessed.
His father sent him to the Institute Le Rosey in Switzerland, where he was mentored by a family friend and member of the famed Piaget family which makes the prestigious watch brand of the same name.
Mark next went to Florida to obtain his bachelor's degree at Lynn University with a major in marketing.
"My father wanted me to have exposure to different countries. In Florida, I got an 'A' in beach volleyball. I took a class in advanced golfing and did very well. Other than that, I rarely went to class.
"Once I took my economics professor out for lunch. My friends and I were 18, and the professor was in his 40s. We had some vodka shots. My friends and I came back to the exam room and waited, ready to take the exam. The professor couldn't come back to give the exam because he was too drunk."
Now Mark is in the process of writing his second book, after a successful first effort - Hai Ngern Tum Ngarn (Let Your Money Work for You). It's been on the bestseller list for a long time, with more than 170,000 copies printed. "The book is about asset allocation, basically about how to make your money work for you in different ways."
His second book, which doesn't have a title yet, will also be about financial advice. "It will be about the global economy and the meltdown, what caused it, the effect it has, how it affects you individually and new ways of doing businesses. It's going to be similar to the first one, and it's certainly going to be easy to understand."
Anyone who knows Mark knows his passion has always been motorcycles.
"I enjoy speed machines or anything that can go fast without supplying my own power or energy. Perhaps you can call me lazy. When I was young, I used to collect the allowance that my parents gave me, and when they were gone for one week to Singapore, I secretly bought my very first motorcycle, a Honda CBR 400."
On the first day he owned the motorcycle he took a nasty fall, but still managed to keep a hot date, albeit covered in blood.
"My date ended up cleaning the blood for me and we are best friends up to this day. After we ate she took me to the hospital. Well, the lady came first."
His favourite bike today is a 1963 BMW R27, and he's also very fond of his limited edition Ducati 996 SPS.
"It's a real racing bike that you only need to add a few things to make it street legal," said Mark.
His third bike is a gift from his wife, a Sachs 150CC, which he has modified with a nitrous oxide booster. "This bike is for city use," said Mark.
He acknowledged that married life has been very good for him. "I still party, but now that we've got a kid, I have to party with more responsibility. I go home no later than midnight. I also drive my family back home from their grandmother's house every evening after I finish work so that we all can go home together."
Instead of going out, most nights Mark watches movies with his wife. He calls it "their time" - every evening after his daughter goes to sleep.
"We watch movies together until we both fall asleep," said Mark, who added that he fell in love with Navipa at first sight, but she never gave him the time of day because of his playboy reputation. But later she saw how well he treated her and decided to give him a chance.
"After a few months, I asked her to marry me because I was ready to settle down.
"Whereas before I used to get drunk every night, now I hit the gym every day at the Polo Club," he said.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Welcome to Estrella's world
Estrella is a young almond-eyed lady with bangs who loves arts, design, fashion and music. In contrast to her elegant and well-dressed look, though, she's always awkward, even a biy gauche, which causes considerable embarrassment.
No matter how funny she is, she lives her life based on the motto "I Believe in Art" - and thinks art can bring out the best in people. Her mission to encourage everybody to embrace artistic experiences in their daily lives.
Estrella is a comic character created by Hatairat Estrella Montien, and they do share thraits.
Drawn by Hatairat's illustrator brother Pattanapong "Oat" Montien, the cute character is a channel to promote the brighter side of the picture and educate poeple about art.
The younger Estrella was introduced to the public at last year's Fat Fstival in the form of a comic-style booket titled "Estrella: My contradictory Life", of which 1,000 copies sold for Bt50 each.
The chariming comic not only attracted the public, it hooked Thanakorn Thammavatvimol, the marketing manager of Universal Music (Thailand).
Estrella's world has blossomed beyond all expectatons. Thanakorn has invited Estrella to appear on the covers of eight bossa nova albums that Universal is releasing. She's already on three, and the rest are due next year.
Estrella also appears on a limited-edition canvas bags designed by local fashion house Kloset.
Meanwhile Hatairat - "Doa", as she's know among family and Amsterdam.
Estrella will be the tour guide in the books, taking readers to art galleries and museums and sharing the street culture.
"Estrella means 'star' in Spanish," syas Dao. "When I was 16 I participated in AFS Intercultural positngs to Venezuela, and my real name was hard for foreigners to pronounce, so my friends named me Estrella, which shares the same meaning as my Thai nickname."
Though she had a degree in art history from Silpakorn University, Hatairat's passion for art didn't take hold until she visited the Getty Museum in Los Angles in 2000. Stunned by the way it was managed, Dao decided to pursue a master's degree in museum studies at the Amsterdam Academy of Art inthe Netherlands.
She came home keen to change the common perception that going to a museum is dreay and dull. She and hr friends, all young museum professionals, established a group last year called B Muse, short for Bangkok Museum, to promote art appreciation.
To digest her knowledge on museum manangement, her brother Oat, a graduate of Raffles College of Design and Commerce is Sydney, drew the comic character Esterella from Dao's personality to become the official spokesmodel of the B Muse gorup.
"I believe in art," Dao declares. "Art is the first stage of happienss. Art appreciation makes people good-hearted."
Her illustration exhibit, "Estrella: I Believe in Art", was displayed as part of the Bangkok Computer Art Plus convention last July.
In "Estrella: My Contradictory Life", Dao compares the arrangement of her wardrobe to the way a museum collecton is managed.
"When I want to start something in my life, I begin by arranging my own wardrobe," Dao explains.
"It's almost meditative. De-cluttering a wardrobe encourages me to meet the changes. So I assign all the clothes and accesories to different lists, the same way that museums divide their collections.
"List A is the most beautiful outfits-like the masterpieces of a museum's permanent collection. List B is the fashionable ones, comparable to a temporary show. Lists C and D are unwearable or out-of-date, but you cna't throw them away. Thati's like what museums keep in storage."
The first album was so successful that Universal let Dao choose the tracks for the follow-ups, "Sweet Bossas" and "Chic Bossa". Estrella reappears as a fashionista who appreciates creativity and exquisite design. "I'm a big fan of Kloset, so in the booket I dressed Estrella in clothes and accessories from Kloset. I believe that when we look good, we feel good."
Doa also runs the B Muse Cafe on Prachaniwet Road which functions as the B Muse group's headquarters and a sort of budding museum.
The modest venue is done up in vintage wallpaper, old furniture and Dao's own antiques. She believes a museum should be a place of inspiration, and the B Muse Cafe reflects her future vision, with her brother's panitings on the walls and vintage trunks, typewriters, tin toys, chandeliers and wall lamps.
>> COMIC STAR ONLINE
Estrella and her creators can be found on at least three websites - htt://EstrellaComic.exteen.com, www.BMuse.org and www.OatMontien.com.
No matter how funny she is, she lives her life based on the motto "I Believe in Art" - and thinks art can bring out the best in people. Her mission to encourage everybody to embrace artistic experiences in their daily lives.
Estrella is a comic character created by Hatairat Estrella Montien, and they do share thraits.
Drawn by Hatairat's illustrator brother Pattanapong "Oat" Montien, the cute character is a channel to promote the brighter side of the picture and educate poeple about art.
The younger Estrella was introduced to the public at last year's Fat Fstival in the form of a comic-style booket titled "Estrella: My contradictory Life", of which 1,000 copies sold for Bt50 each.
The chariming comic not only attracted the public, it hooked Thanakorn Thammavatvimol, the marketing manager of Universal Music (Thailand).
Estrella's world has blossomed beyond all expectatons. Thanakorn has invited Estrella to appear on the covers of eight bossa nova albums that Universal is releasing. She's already on three, and the rest are due next year.
Estrella also appears on a limited-edition canvas bags designed by local fashion house Kloset.
Meanwhile Hatairat - "Doa", as she's know among family and Amsterdam.
Estrella will be the tour guide in the books, taking readers to art galleries and museums and sharing the street culture.
"Estrella means 'star' in Spanish," syas Dao. "When I was 16 I participated in AFS Intercultural positngs to Venezuela, and my real name was hard for foreigners to pronounce, so my friends named me Estrella, which shares the same meaning as my Thai nickname."
Though she had a degree in art history from Silpakorn University, Hatairat's passion for art didn't take hold until she visited the Getty Museum in Los Angles in 2000. Stunned by the way it was managed, Dao decided to pursue a master's degree in museum studies at the Amsterdam Academy of Art inthe Netherlands.
She came home keen to change the common perception that going to a museum is dreay and dull. She and hr friends, all young museum professionals, established a group last year called B Muse, short for Bangkok Museum, to promote art appreciation.
To digest her knowledge on museum manangement, her brother Oat, a graduate of Raffles College of Design and Commerce is Sydney, drew the comic character Esterella from Dao's personality to become the official spokesmodel of the B Muse gorup.
"I believe in art," Dao declares. "Art is the first stage of happienss. Art appreciation makes people good-hearted."
Her illustration exhibit, "Estrella: I Believe in Art", was displayed as part of the Bangkok Computer Art Plus convention last July.
In "Estrella: My Contradictory Life", Dao compares the arrangement of her wardrobe to the way a museum collecton is managed.
"When I want to start something in my life, I begin by arranging my own wardrobe," Dao explains.
"It's almost meditative. De-cluttering a wardrobe encourages me to meet the changes. So I assign all the clothes and accesories to different lists, the same way that museums divide their collections.
"List A is the most beautiful outfits-like the masterpieces of a museum's permanent collection. List B is the fashionable ones, comparable to a temporary show. Lists C and D are unwearable or out-of-date, but you cna't throw them away. Thati's like what museums keep in storage."
The first album was so successful that Universal let Dao choose the tracks for the follow-ups, "Sweet Bossas" and "Chic Bossa". Estrella reappears as a fashionista who appreciates creativity and exquisite design. "I'm a big fan of Kloset, so in the booket I dressed Estrella in clothes and accessories from Kloset. I believe that when we look good, we feel good."
Doa also runs the B Muse Cafe on Prachaniwet Road which functions as the B Muse group's headquarters and a sort of budding museum.
The modest venue is done up in vintage wallpaper, old furniture and Dao's own antiques. She believes a museum should be a place of inspiration, and the B Muse Cafe reflects her future vision, with her brother's panitings on the walls and vintage trunks, typewriters, tin toys, chandeliers and wall lamps.
>> COMIC STAR ONLINE
Estrella and her creators can be found on at least three websites - htt://EstrellaComic.exteen.com, www.BMuse.org and www.OatMontien.com.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
GROWING OLD WITH THE GARDEN
Kathleen Williams invites me to sit with her on a bench beneath the katsura tree she planted years ago. The view of her back yard is across a ravine, where garden sculptures and specimen trees talk to one another.
"This I call the box seat," she says, where she rests to take in the drama of her own making. At age 97, Williams spends most days in her garden, still drawing inspiration and delight from it. Her eyesight isn't what it was, and she uses a cane when she's in the multilevel garden.
But here is a women born before the Titanic sank who is still actively gardening and loving it.
A sculptor and later a jewellery designer, Williams has used her skills to create a woodland sculpture garden behind her home in Chevy Chase, in the Atlantic US state of Maryland.
Good genes and healthy living may be at play, but one can't help but think that the creative life has kept her going. The garden, needless to say, has many stories.
In the early 1950s Williams was living in London with her three children. Her husband had moved to the Washington area to work for a political organisation. He found the house for sale and phoned his wife to ask whether he should buy it.
"I said, "I don't know, darling. You're there; you decide.' And the house was dreadful," she says, erupting into laughter.
She arrived on Christmas Eve 1951 and found the roof was leaking and the wallpaper was far too florid.
But when she looked out to the back garden, she saw the potential drama of the site, a hill that descended to a stream and then rose up behind it to what was then a railway line, now the Capital Crescent Trail.
In the front of the house, a garden has been crafted around a ceramic birdbath she designed, and an old yew has been carefully shaped to produce a cloud effect, a technique seen on many old shrubs throughout the garden.
"This is what I call my green sculpture," Williams says. A dwarf conifer has been painstakingly pruned into a dome.
The back of the house, which was enlarged, now features a deck with transparent railings as part of Williams' careful framing of views. Likewise, trees around the deck have had lower branches removed.
As other trees have fallen, the emptiness has become a platform for her sculptures. "I'd been brought up to appreciate views," she says.
The area below the deck is a stage for an abstract sculpture, and in the open bed in front of it a large sitting figure of Pan gazes over the four descending terraces to the stream.
Seated on the bench, Williams explains that she views the garden in front of the stream as theatrical seating and the far slope as a stage.
The main act is a drama she calls the Poet's Garden. The sculpted head of the poet directs its gaze toward an artfully pruned blue Atlas cedar tree she calls "the Blue Princess".
"This is really the key to the garden," she says.
At the far end, a large black walnut tree is underplanted with bamboo and Leyland cypress, both vigorous plants but here stunted agreeably by the soil chemicals exuded by the walnut.
Nearby, a large clay torso, "Daphne", is framed by a decorative trellis. This was Williams" last big sculpture, done about 20 years ago. "I made her in two parts so I could get her into the kiln."
Williams' gardening partner for the past five years has been Eleanor Hillegeist, a professional gardener who specialises in working with elderly clients.
While Hillegeist works the central compost bins and does the heavy pruning and shovel work, Williams is doing the lighter stuff. "She weeds like you wouldn't believe," says Hillegeist, whose clients range in age from 87 to 104.
The two also work together in placing each sculptural element in a way that it supports the conversation Williams wants it to have with surrounding plants, other artwork and the garden as a whole.
For Hillegeist, that requires patience and an understanding that if Williams "is going to take an hour to get a certain figure in just the right design, that this isn't a waste of time, it's for her a work of art. To me it's a joy."
Williams grew up in the artistically gifted family of an English industrialist. Her 91-year-old brother, Michael Kidner, is a major op-art painter who lives in London.
When Williams switched to designing jewellery, she focused on intricate necklaces. "I think she has been in the business of creating her life," says Hillegeist, "and she continues to do that. When she became too old to do sculpture, she didn't just lay down her tools and die."
They garden together one or two times a week for as long as three hours. Williams also employs an arbourist to look after the trees and additional help to keep the stream clean and welcoming for the rich bird life.
Williams stops to point out a new project, a miniature rock garden in the front yard, filled with the tiniest of conifers and perennials. "It's very young still," she says, "but I think it's coming along."
"This I call the box seat," she says, where she rests to take in the drama of her own making. At age 97, Williams spends most days in her garden, still drawing inspiration and delight from it. Her eyesight isn't what it was, and she uses a cane when she's in the multilevel garden.
But here is a women born before the Titanic sank who is still actively gardening and loving it.
A sculptor and later a jewellery designer, Williams has used her skills to create a woodland sculpture garden behind her home in Chevy Chase, in the Atlantic US state of Maryland.
Good genes and healthy living may be at play, but one can't help but think that the creative life has kept her going. The garden, needless to say, has many stories.
In the early 1950s Williams was living in London with her three children. Her husband had moved to the Washington area to work for a political organisation. He found the house for sale and phoned his wife to ask whether he should buy it.
"I said, "I don't know, darling. You're there; you decide.' And the house was dreadful," she says, erupting into laughter.
She arrived on Christmas Eve 1951 and found the roof was leaking and the wallpaper was far too florid.
But when she looked out to the back garden, she saw the potential drama of the site, a hill that descended to a stream and then rose up behind it to what was then a railway line, now the Capital Crescent Trail.
In the front of the house, a garden has been crafted around a ceramic birdbath she designed, and an old yew has been carefully shaped to produce a cloud effect, a technique seen on many old shrubs throughout the garden.
"This is what I call my green sculpture," Williams says. A dwarf conifer has been painstakingly pruned into a dome.
The back of the house, which was enlarged, now features a deck with transparent railings as part of Williams' careful framing of views. Likewise, trees around the deck have had lower branches removed.
As other trees have fallen, the emptiness has become a platform for her sculptures. "I'd been brought up to appreciate views," she says.
The area below the deck is a stage for an abstract sculpture, and in the open bed in front of it a large sitting figure of Pan gazes over the four descending terraces to the stream.
Seated on the bench, Williams explains that she views the garden in front of the stream as theatrical seating and the far slope as a stage.
The main act is a drama she calls the Poet's Garden. The sculpted head of the poet directs its gaze toward an artfully pruned blue Atlas cedar tree she calls "the Blue Princess".
"This is really the key to the garden," she says.
At the far end, a large black walnut tree is underplanted with bamboo and Leyland cypress, both vigorous plants but here stunted agreeably by the soil chemicals exuded by the walnut.
Nearby, a large clay torso, "Daphne", is framed by a decorative trellis. This was Williams" last big sculpture, done about 20 years ago. "I made her in two parts so I could get her into the kiln."
Williams' gardening partner for the past five years has been Eleanor Hillegeist, a professional gardener who specialises in working with elderly clients.
While Hillegeist works the central compost bins and does the heavy pruning and shovel work, Williams is doing the lighter stuff. "She weeds like you wouldn't believe," says Hillegeist, whose clients range in age from 87 to 104.
The two also work together in placing each sculptural element in a way that it supports the conversation Williams wants it to have with surrounding plants, other artwork and the garden as a whole.
For Hillegeist, that requires patience and an understanding that if Williams "is going to take an hour to get a certain figure in just the right design, that this isn't a waste of time, it's for her a work of art. To me it's a joy."
Williams grew up in the artistically gifted family of an English industrialist. Her 91-year-old brother, Michael Kidner, is a major op-art painter who lives in London.
When Williams switched to designing jewellery, she focused on intricate necklaces. "I think she has been in the business of creating her life," says Hillegeist, "and she continues to do that. When she became too old to do sculpture, she didn't just lay down her tools and die."
They garden together one or two times a week for as long as three hours. Williams also employs an arbourist to look after the trees and additional help to keep the stream clean and welcoming for the rich bird life.
Williams stops to point out a new project, a miniature rock garden in the front yard, filled with the tiniest of conifers and perennials. "It's very young still," she says, "but I think it's coming along."
Friday, September 11, 2009
RECREATING A HAPPY HOME
As the tsunami hit the south of Thailand in 2004, it indiscriminately and harrowingly claimed thousands of lives, including four members of the tight-knit Sthapitanonda family on holiday at the time, leaving the sole survivor, Assoc Prof Dr Parichart, suffering heart-wrenching trauma for several years having to cope with such an unexpected loss.
The once loving and affectionate family home back in Bangkok turned bleak and lifeless. Happy laughs were deafened by silent sobbing of the only dweller. Each day ended with an anguished memory.
"I felt so desperate and lonely," revealed Dr Parichart."At the time, it seemed that my life was over too. I missed my parents and two closest sisters. The entire house turned gloomy and cheerless."
The situation was exasperated when a group of burglars broke into her "melancholic sanctuary" and took away her loved ones' belongings. It seemed like the entire world was collapsing in front of her eyes.
"I felt this city was no longer safe, even right in my own house. I kept asking myself why those things had to happen to me.Suddenly, I felt that my home was no longer liveable and I really wanted to move out and sell it to others," she said.
"But when I came to my senses, I carefully explored my inner feelings. Eventually, I knew what I had to do with my parents'house."
No place like home
Five years later the once "dying house"is now restored to its glory days, vividly reflecting the true identity of the owner who wants to keep parts of her memorable and happy experiences with her loved ones alive in every nook and cranny.
"I redecorated some corners and rooms to bring a new dimension of happiness to my life. But the genuine spirit of this home is still maintained. To me, a true home is a place where I can live happily, both physically and mentally," she said.
Though Dr Parichart is an authentic travel aficionado, she finds that no place is like her home. When she wants to relax her body and soul, she simply moves to different areas of the house.
Cool therapy
Whenever Dr Parichart feels physically and mentally weary, she knows right away where to go to recharge her batteries. She merely heads back home and then immerses herself in her cozy jacuzzi, enjoyably slipping into her resting privacy. And the best time to keep her body and mind fresh and cool is at night.
"While listening to the water sounds and soaking in the whirlpool bathtub, I feel overwhelmingly relaxed. It seems like I can escape from the chaotic city," she said."More impressively, when I look up into the sky, I can see the glamorous Moon and the glistening stars. That makes my relaxation time more impressive and natural."
A rainy bathroom
Dr Parichart always yearns for nature and is happy to bring it into her home, even the most private area.
A semi open-air bathroom is designed to satisfy her need to have a shower amidst the natural environment. And her happiness is doubly increased when the rainy season comes since it means that she can take a real cool shower pouring down from the sky.
The entire bathroom is in yellow tones with no roof. Its rough cement walls reflect rawness and simplicity. The floor is lined with wood and pebbles, rendering a unique ambiance.
"At night, I can hear the crickets chirping while in the mornings many birds also sing their tuneful songs. It's like I'm taking a bath in a natural setting," she said.
A happy hammock
At weekends, Dr Parichart always happily ends her days in a hammock tied under big trees where she can expose her soul directly to her small green world.
"This area is nestled in a small forest where several kinds of trees that bear fragrant flowers are thriving well and providing cool shade.In the evening, I enjoy taking a rest beneath the canopy of these trees to smell their scented blooms," she elaborated.
This corner was once also the most favourite place of her two dead sisters who always had a cup of coffee and practised yoga in the morning.
"My two younger sisters really liked a garden. If they were still alive, they would frequently spend their time here," said Parichart.
A doll's world
To Dr Parichart, a doll's room is so meaningful since it keeps all the good memories of when members of her family spent their time altogether in other countries. Upon returning home, they always brought back with them a wide variety of adorable dolls vividly reflecting various cultures and identities of the countries they visited. And each family member also had their own favourite dolls. So far, several hundreds dolls from all over the world are kept in glass cabinets.
"We shared the same interest in collecting dolls. It was first started by my mother and then the others followed suit. Each doll we collected also mirrors our character. These collectible showcases also fascinate my guests,too," said Dr Parichart.
"Whenever I feel bored,I will go to this room and rearrange the dolls. Those at the back are moved to the front and vice versa.It's pleasurable doing this."
Apart from serving as a private doll museum,this room is also set aside as an informal living room where Dr Parichart can welcome her close friends to attend any get-together party and they all will be treated with about 500 songs played automatically by the ancient piano bought from Japan, regarded as a family heirloom.
"This piano was bought when I was 10. I will play it when I have guests. There is also a space where they can dance along with the songs. But while relaxing myself in the jacuzzi,I will listen to the songs played by this piano.It's so relaxing," she said.
An Indian ingress
And when the meeting is more formal, Dr Parichart will lead her guests to the multifunction room, once the family's living room.
In order to connect the interior area with the outside green zone, Dr Parichart prefers glass walls rather than opaque ones that seem to trap all people inside with no way out. And to be compatible with the theme of a multi-function room, there is a whiteboard which can be used on various occasions.
"Sometimes when I have a meeting or teach my students at home, this whiteboard is so useful. This room is so versatile. It can be used to hold a personal party and small meeting. Very, often, I also work in this room,"she said.
At the front of the room stands a majestic thousand-year-old Indian-style door, regarded as the house's extraordinary showcase. It took Dr Parichart several years to "hunt down"her favourite door.
"I once saw an Indian door at Siam Discovery and I really liked it. I told my interior designer to find one for me while I studied abroad but he couldn't. When I returned home, I was still looking for an Indian door until I found one in Chiang Mai," she recalled.
At the centre of the room stands the dining table where her family once enjoyed happy meals together. Now this remnant of the old days still serves its original function whenever
a small party is held at home.
"My mother bought this table several years ago. It was imported from Italy and now it is not available in Thailand because its price is so exorbitant due to the stone used to design the whole piece, which is taken from the deep sea. At first, it was put in the garden but I just moved it into the room to accommodate my guests," she explained.
An endless mission
According to Dr Parichart, the fun part of decorating her house happens when everything can be moved from place to place to render a novel atmosphere and to be in harmony with the different moods of the different times of the year.
To her, finding the right piece of furniture or any decorative item is also challenging and exciting.
"I can't finish decorating my house. It takes years to find the favourite pieces. Decorative work is endless," she said.
Dr Parichart believes that it's not necessary to pay for expensive decorative items when it comes to interior design. There are other factors that can make the entire house more magnificent and liveable including light-andshadow arrangements and, more importantly,continual care and maintenance.
"The beauty of a house can vanish within the blink of an eye if the house is neglected.It demands great care and continuous attention to keep all details in good shape.What I am trying to do is to make my house become my retreat centre, where I can happily rest my body and soul," she said.
The once loving and affectionate family home back in Bangkok turned bleak and lifeless. Happy laughs were deafened by silent sobbing of the only dweller. Each day ended with an anguished memory.
"I felt so desperate and lonely," revealed Dr Parichart."At the time, it seemed that my life was over too. I missed my parents and two closest sisters. The entire house turned gloomy and cheerless."
The situation was exasperated when a group of burglars broke into her "melancholic sanctuary" and took away her loved ones' belongings. It seemed like the entire world was collapsing in front of her eyes.
"I felt this city was no longer safe, even right in my own house. I kept asking myself why those things had to happen to me.Suddenly, I felt that my home was no longer liveable and I really wanted to move out and sell it to others," she said.
"But when I came to my senses, I carefully explored my inner feelings. Eventually, I knew what I had to do with my parents'house."
No place like home
Five years later the once "dying house"is now restored to its glory days, vividly reflecting the true identity of the owner who wants to keep parts of her memorable and happy experiences with her loved ones alive in every nook and cranny.
"I redecorated some corners and rooms to bring a new dimension of happiness to my life. But the genuine spirit of this home is still maintained. To me, a true home is a place where I can live happily, both physically and mentally," she said.
Though Dr Parichart is an authentic travel aficionado, she finds that no place is like her home. When she wants to relax her body and soul, she simply moves to different areas of the house.
Cool therapy
Whenever Dr Parichart feels physically and mentally weary, she knows right away where to go to recharge her batteries. She merely heads back home and then immerses herself in her cozy jacuzzi, enjoyably slipping into her resting privacy. And the best time to keep her body and mind fresh and cool is at night.
"While listening to the water sounds and soaking in the whirlpool bathtub, I feel overwhelmingly relaxed. It seems like I can escape from the chaotic city," she said."More impressively, when I look up into the sky, I can see the glamorous Moon and the glistening stars. That makes my relaxation time more impressive and natural."
A rainy bathroom
Dr Parichart always yearns for nature and is happy to bring it into her home, even the most private area.
A semi open-air bathroom is designed to satisfy her need to have a shower amidst the natural environment. And her happiness is doubly increased when the rainy season comes since it means that she can take a real cool shower pouring down from the sky.
The entire bathroom is in yellow tones with no roof. Its rough cement walls reflect rawness and simplicity. The floor is lined with wood and pebbles, rendering a unique ambiance.
"At night, I can hear the crickets chirping while in the mornings many birds also sing their tuneful songs. It's like I'm taking a bath in a natural setting," she said.
A happy hammock
At weekends, Dr Parichart always happily ends her days in a hammock tied under big trees where she can expose her soul directly to her small green world.
"This area is nestled in a small forest where several kinds of trees that bear fragrant flowers are thriving well and providing cool shade.In the evening, I enjoy taking a rest beneath the canopy of these trees to smell their scented blooms," she elaborated.
This corner was once also the most favourite place of her two dead sisters who always had a cup of coffee and practised yoga in the morning.
"My two younger sisters really liked a garden. If they were still alive, they would frequently spend their time here," said Parichart.
A doll's world
To Dr Parichart, a doll's room is so meaningful since it keeps all the good memories of when members of her family spent their time altogether in other countries. Upon returning home, they always brought back with them a wide variety of adorable dolls vividly reflecting various cultures and identities of the countries they visited. And each family member also had their own favourite dolls. So far, several hundreds dolls from all over the world are kept in glass cabinets.
"We shared the same interest in collecting dolls. It was first started by my mother and then the others followed suit. Each doll we collected also mirrors our character. These collectible showcases also fascinate my guests,too," said Dr Parichart.
"Whenever I feel bored,I will go to this room and rearrange the dolls. Those at the back are moved to the front and vice versa.It's pleasurable doing this."
Apart from serving as a private doll museum,this room is also set aside as an informal living room where Dr Parichart can welcome her close friends to attend any get-together party and they all will be treated with about 500 songs played automatically by the ancient piano bought from Japan, regarded as a family heirloom.
"This piano was bought when I was 10. I will play it when I have guests. There is also a space where they can dance along with the songs. But while relaxing myself in the jacuzzi,I will listen to the songs played by this piano.It's so relaxing," she said.
An Indian ingress
And when the meeting is more formal, Dr Parichart will lead her guests to the multifunction room, once the family's living room.
In order to connect the interior area with the outside green zone, Dr Parichart prefers glass walls rather than opaque ones that seem to trap all people inside with no way out. And to be compatible with the theme of a multi-function room, there is a whiteboard which can be used on various occasions.
"Sometimes when I have a meeting or teach my students at home, this whiteboard is so useful. This room is so versatile. It can be used to hold a personal party and small meeting. Very, often, I also work in this room,"she said.
At the front of the room stands a majestic thousand-year-old Indian-style door, regarded as the house's extraordinary showcase. It took Dr Parichart several years to "hunt down"her favourite door.
"I once saw an Indian door at Siam Discovery and I really liked it. I told my interior designer to find one for me while I studied abroad but he couldn't. When I returned home, I was still looking for an Indian door until I found one in Chiang Mai," she recalled.
At the centre of the room stands the dining table where her family once enjoyed happy meals together. Now this remnant of the old days still serves its original function whenever
a small party is held at home.
"My mother bought this table several years ago. It was imported from Italy and now it is not available in Thailand because its price is so exorbitant due to the stone used to design the whole piece, which is taken from the deep sea. At first, it was put in the garden but I just moved it into the room to accommodate my guests," she explained.
An endless mission
According to Dr Parichart, the fun part of decorating her house happens when everything can be moved from place to place to render a novel atmosphere and to be in harmony with the different moods of the different times of the year.
To her, finding the right piece of furniture or any decorative item is also challenging and exciting.
"I can't finish decorating my house. It takes years to find the favourite pieces. Decorative work is endless," she said.
Dr Parichart believes that it's not necessary to pay for expensive decorative items when it comes to interior design. There are other factors that can make the entire house more magnificent and liveable including light-andshadow arrangements and, more importantly,continual care and maintenance.
"The beauty of a house can vanish within the blink of an eye if the house is neglected.It demands great care and continuous attention to keep all details in good shape.What I am trying to do is to make my house become my retreat centre, where I can happily rest my body and soul," she said.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE
She made her name as an actress, but now the girl nicknamed Namfon is baking cupcakes and other fabulous creations which taste as great as used to be known as Wanwalai Posayanond to many Thai people,and it was not only her prestigious last name that made her famous,but also her roles as an actress and TV presenter.
"I have starred as the lead actress for 10 years, in all TV channels,"said the 33-year-old.
The mother to two young boys,Mrs Wanwalai chatted after filming a live morning television programme for housewives called 30 Young Jaew [30 and Still Splendid].She was being pulled along by her eldest son, three-year-old Purich,and was also with her handsome husband Anusorn, a pilot for Thai Airways International.Her youngest son, one-year-old Jinn,was at home.
The former actress is the owner and managing director of Fin-ish Me Cupcake (www.cupcakerie.blogspot.com). As she spoke about her business, she opened a box of cupcakes decorated with all kinds of colourful and pretty flower toppings.
"The TV show asked for all these flowers because it was a woman's show."
Her three mobile phones rang nonstop during our entire conversation, as the show had aired her mobile number on TV as the point of contact.
Mrs Wanwalai said:"At night I run a cupcake business. During the daytime I'm a full-time mother to two naughty boys, and also do accounting, buy ingredients to bake the cakes, and take the kids to school."
This is partly why she does not have her own shop, despite the increasing demand."I bake at home so that I will have time to be with my sons. If they want to cuddle, then I will still have time for them."
She talked about how her business started."It started from a hobby, which turned into a cupcake business, which evolved into catering. Now my business is also about customised cakes, such as ones shaped like Chanel and Hermes bags, Barbie dolls, footballs - anything a client wants.
"The first bag I baked, a Birkin bag, was a total disaster. When I was on the highway to deliver it, the straps and buckle fell apart! This made me want to study about it more, to make it better. So YouTube became my best friend. I search for clips such as 'How to Stack a Cake', or 'How to Make Your Own Butter Cream'. You can say my cakes are made by the heart and the hands."
It's almost a family business, she laughed."When my husband is not flying, he would help me deliver the cakes. I would, of course, bake them, and my sons would help with the decorations."
Indeed, as we were having lunch, Mr Anusorn hopped over to the nearby building to deliver a gorgeous Chanel handbag cake."Well, cakes are delicate. You can't just let anyone hold it and deliver it," she said.
When her husband is away flying around the world, he buys ingredients for his wife,such as top quality chocolates from Belgium, Germany and France which cannot be found in Thailand, or the best pure vanilla extracts such as Nielsen Massey.All the eggs used are organic."We are able to keep this high grade since we are a made-to-order bakery. Everything is fresh and homemade, with no preservatives,"she said.
Her steady supply of imported ingredi-ents may never have become available if her husband had not noticed a large billboard at a bus stop. That was where he first saw Mrs Wanwalai, who was featured on the billboard. He even told his friends this was the kind of girl he likes. When he saw his mother watching a television soap opera starring Mrs Wanwalai, he told her that this was the girl he was going to marry.
"We still laugh about that until this day," she said with a chuckle.
Fate brought the two together on New Year's Eve in 1998 through a mutual friend.They went to the same party, where Mrs Wanwalai noticed a man staring at her all night. She said:"He was a friend of a friend. He seemed very shy and didn't talk
to me all night. However, before we all left, he asked for my number.I thought he seemed nice, tall and clean - not the harmful type - so I decided to give it to him."
The next day Mr Anusorn called,and the two have been talking on the phone every single day up to now.
"Once his plane touches the ground, he calls me. We dated for six years. All the best years of my life were spent with him, and they are still spent with him," she said with a sweet smile.
She started acting because a friend who worked at a modelling agency asked her to come in for a casting session. Mrs Wanwalai was driving and the traffic was very heavy, so she decided to stop by the modelling agency as it was on her way home. She was chosen for a part in a cosmetic commercial,which led her to starring roles in soap operas and movies and becoming a TV host and presenter for many products.
"Through acting, I have been to places and did things I've never done in my entire life, such as rowing a boat in the river," she said.
Her acting background has also helped her business. She admits that her fame opens doors, with many customers recalling her acting days.
Her biggest fan however, is her husband."Even when I didn't know how to bake, he told me to try and make it a real business. We put up posters in an expatriate community,and that was how I got my first P:P order. I was really excited and spent hours and hours baking just one Obox of homemade cupcakes," she said.
Her specially-designed cupcakes Shave proved to be very popular."I think they're going to be here for a ;L long time. When people think about cupcakes, it brings a smile to their faces. Cupcakes are convenient to Oeat. You also don't have to eat a lot if you're on a diet. I think they still have a long way to go.B"I get orders from Brunei. They would fly over to pick up the IT cupcakes. They discovered me from my blog site. They said they never Btasted any cupcakes that are as good as mine," she said with a smile.
"There's also a demand for my niche, customised cakes such as the handbags. I can even make them in the shape of my customers' favourite sofas.Many people order them through my blog,and they communicate with me through my blog, so I get a more personal touch about my products. They'll leave testimonials and send pictures."
Some of the most popular products from Fin-ish Me Cupcake are carrots, honey and cream cheese; cookies and cream;banana and peanut butter and chocolate fudge and strawberries and cream. Other popular products are strawberry shortcake,chocolate fudge cake, blueberry cream cake and New York cheesecake. She caters to weddings, birthdays and various product launches.
"I have starred as the lead actress for 10 years, in all TV channels,"said the 33-year-old.
The mother to two young boys,Mrs Wanwalai chatted after filming a live morning television programme for housewives called 30 Young Jaew [30 and Still Splendid].She was being pulled along by her eldest son, three-year-old Purich,and was also with her handsome husband Anusorn, a pilot for Thai Airways International.Her youngest son, one-year-old Jinn,was at home.
The former actress is the owner and managing director of Fin-ish Me Cupcake (www.cupcakerie.blogspot.com). As she spoke about her business, she opened a box of cupcakes decorated with all kinds of colourful and pretty flower toppings.
"The TV show asked for all these flowers because it was a woman's show."
Her three mobile phones rang nonstop during our entire conversation, as the show had aired her mobile number on TV as the point of contact.
Mrs Wanwalai said:"At night I run a cupcake business. During the daytime I'm a full-time mother to two naughty boys, and also do accounting, buy ingredients to bake the cakes, and take the kids to school."
This is partly why she does not have her own shop, despite the increasing demand."I bake at home so that I will have time to be with my sons. If they want to cuddle, then I will still have time for them."
She talked about how her business started."It started from a hobby, which turned into a cupcake business, which evolved into catering. Now my business is also about customised cakes, such as ones shaped like Chanel and Hermes bags, Barbie dolls, footballs - anything a client wants.
"The first bag I baked, a Birkin bag, was a total disaster. When I was on the highway to deliver it, the straps and buckle fell apart! This made me want to study about it more, to make it better. So YouTube became my best friend. I search for clips such as 'How to Stack a Cake', or 'How to Make Your Own Butter Cream'. You can say my cakes are made by the heart and the hands."
It's almost a family business, she laughed."When my husband is not flying, he would help me deliver the cakes. I would, of course, bake them, and my sons would help with the decorations."
Indeed, as we were having lunch, Mr Anusorn hopped over to the nearby building to deliver a gorgeous Chanel handbag cake."Well, cakes are delicate. You can't just let anyone hold it and deliver it," she said.
When her husband is away flying around the world, he buys ingredients for his wife,such as top quality chocolates from Belgium, Germany and France which cannot be found in Thailand, or the best pure vanilla extracts such as Nielsen Massey.All the eggs used are organic."We are able to keep this high grade since we are a made-to-order bakery. Everything is fresh and homemade, with no preservatives,"she said.
Her steady supply of imported ingredi-ents may never have become available if her husband had not noticed a large billboard at a bus stop. That was where he first saw Mrs Wanwalai, who was featured on the billboard. He even told his friends this was the kind of girl he likes. When he saw his mother watching a television soap opera starring Mrs Wanwalai, he told her that this was the girl he was going to marry.
"We still laugh about that until this day," she said with a chuckle.
Fate brought the two together on New Year's Eve in 1998 through a mutual friend.They went to the same party, where Mrs Wanwalai noticed a man staring at her all night. She said:"He was a friend of a friend. He seemed very shy and didn't talk
to me all night. However, before we all left, he asked for my number.I thought he seemed nice, tall and clean - not the harmful type - so I decided to give it to him."
The next day Mr Anusorn called,and the two have been talking on the phone every single day up to now.
"Once his plane touches the ground, he calls me. We dated for six years. All the best years of my life were spent with him, and they are still spent with him," she said with a sweet smile.
She started acting because a friend who worked at a modelling agency asked her to come in for a casting session. Mrs Wanwalai was driving and the traffic was very heavy, so she decided to stop by the modelling agency as it was on her way home. She was chosen for a part in a cosmetic commercial,which led her to starring roles in soap operas and movies and becoming a TV host and presenter for many products.
"Through acting, I have been to places and did things I've never done in my entire life, such as rowing a boat in the river," she said.
Her acting background has also helped her business. She admits that her fame opens doors, with many customers recalling her acting days.
Her biggest fan however, is her husband."Even when I didn't know how to bake, he told me to try and make it a real business. We put up posters in an expatriate community,and that was how I got my first P:P order. I was really excited and spent hours and hours baking just one Obox of homemade cupcakes," she said.
Her specially-designed cupcakes Shave proved to be very popular."I think they're going to be here for a ;L long time. When people think about cupcakes, it brings a smile to their faces. Cupcakes are convenient to Oeat. You also don't have to eat a lot if you're on a diet. I think they still have a long way to go.B"I get orders from Brunei. They would fly over to pick up the IT cupcakes. They discovered me from my blog site. They said they never Btasted any cupcakes that are as good as mine," she said with a smile.
"There's also a demand for my niche, customised cakes such as the handbags. I can even make them in the shape of my customers' favourite sofas.Many people order them through my blog,and they communicate with me through my blog, so I get a more personal touch about my products. They'll leave testimonials and send pictures."
Some of the most popular products from Fin-ish Me Cupcake are carrots, honey and cream cheese; cookies and cream;banana and peanut butter and chocolate fudge and strawberries and cream. Other popular products are strawberry shortcake,chocolate fudge cake, blueberry cream cake and New York cheesecake. She caters to weddings, birthdays and various product launches.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
DESIGNS ON POLITICS
Immersedin an artistic lifestyle,'Thank'Mahapaurya dreams of following in the footsteps of his stepfather, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij By Panpimol Krishnamra
Phongsakorn Mahapaurya is a handsome 27-year-old who owes his good looks to his mother, Vorakorn Chatikavanij,a petite and pretty lady who always turns up smart and lively and never appears anywhere less than stylish. She is also the woman behind investment banker-turned-politician Korn Chatikavanij, Thailand's finance minister and stepfather to Phongsakorn and younger brother Bhanditr,18.
Rounding out the happy family are Mr Phongsakorn's two half brothers,12-yearold Karn and the nine-year-old Kraisiri Chatikavanij.
Mr Phongsakorn is an artist, and he certainly lives the lifestyle. We met at The Lofts Yennakart, where he lives alone. He walked out to greet us with a killer smile wearing a light blue Y-3 polo shirt and shorts, looking relaxed despite having returned late the night before from a quick trip to Chiang Mai for an art exhibition.
Everything Mr Phongsakorn needs is in his bachelor pad. Of course, there is the bedroom. Outside, one corner is reserved for his artwork, oozing with sculptures, sketches, oil paintings and water colours. Another area is zoned for movies and other entertainment and a final corner is taken up by his computer,where he spends a lot of time when at home. He explained that his mother encourages him to be self sufficient. The condo was a gift from her, but otherwise he takes care of all his expenses.
He pays the bills with the proceeds from his own funky brand of designer jewellery, called Thank, which is also his nickname. He exports the jewellery to a regular customer who owns a jewelry shop in Switzerland.
He explained:"All my jewellery is handmade and a work of art. I used to have a shop at Siam Paragon, but decided to close it when the economy took a downturn. Still, some tourists who like my work have been making continuous orders for jewellery to sell at their shop in Switzerland, which is enough to sustain my business. I am also happy with the selling price," he said.
Thai people can also adorn themselves with the Thank brand of jewellery, as Mr Phongsakorn still makes customised pieces for people he knows."If anyone is interested, all they have to do is contact me,"he said.
He compared his jewellery with fusion food, saying the brand is comprised of chunky jewelry with a fusion twist combining modern style with vintage flair.For example, you might find a vintage lion head combined with trendy enamel and gemstones.
"During the Victorian era," he noted,"they used a lot of designs with gold. To this I add new materials such as animal skins or contrasting gemstones."
Most of his creations are bracelets for women. Prior to establishing his own brand he trained and worked with ML Rojanatorn Na Songkhla, the aristocratic lady famous for her own jewellery brand, Narandha.
"I've always liked art, and I've always liked to draw, and I was looking for a line of work that involves drawing and that I can make a living out of."
Now, however, Mr Phongsakorn is in the process of taking a step back with his jewellery business to gain more expertise."The brand is still relatively new. I still don't have enough experience. I want to have more practice before I return with a change for the better."
When he makes his comeback he plans to go further than before, with a rebranding and a partner to help run the business.
Besides art, another area that captures Mr Phongsakorn's interest is politics. This is not surprising given that his Oxfordeducated stepfather is the finance minister.
"When I went to help Khun Korn run his election campaign I got the chance to meet with many different people," he said.
"It paved the way for me to get to know people from every level of society.Khun Korn taught me that if I make these contacts I should not abandon them. So once in a while I join in on various activities such as annual boat competitions and temple fairs.
"I am the sort of person who can mix with all types of people. I am open to people and things around me. If you understand the nature of people, then you will be able to help solve their problems."
Not surprisingly, the young man plans to become more involved with politics in the future and also to continue with his jewellery business.
"I love the designing part. I just want someone to help me with the business side so that I will have more time to assist Khun Korn with politics. When I walk into certain communities and see, for instance, old people, I want to help them to live comfortably."
With his good looks and charm, it is not surprising that he was once a teenage heartthrob, appearing for three years in the popular Thai teenage series,Calling Wai Korn Poh Sorn Wai ."I played a character similar to myself,a rich but down-to-earth teenager who was a leader of his group of friends."When he landed the role he had just returned from his studies abroad at Melbourne University, where he graduated with a major in manufacturing engineering. Prior to that he attended Scots College,a boy's school in New Zealand.
When he came back to Thailand he took another bachelor's degree at Srinakarinviroj University with a major in jewellery design. The experience proved to be entirely new for him.
"The courses were taught in Thai, and it was my intention to study with Thai students. I wanted to have friends in Thailand. It's a different culture. I wanted to get the feeling of student orientation,
which is the tradition in Thai universities for first-year students."
He found school here more fun than studying abroad, he said with a broad smile."I like the seniority system here.During the student orientation, stressful situations were created so that students within the same year learn to unite and bond by solving the various problems that the senior classes give them.
"Studying with all my classmates for another four years made us closer. I still see some of them up to this day."
He was also a TV host in a variety programme called Hi Friend on Channel 5 for one year, where he updated the audience on the latest trends and venues.
Phongsakorn Mahapaurya is a handsome 27-year-old who owes his good looks to his mother, Vorakorn Chatikavanij,a petite and pretty lady who always turns up smart and lively and never appears anywhere less than stylish. She is also the woman behind investment banker-turned-politician Korn Chatikavanij, Thailand's finance minister and stepfather to Phongsakorn and younger brother Bhanditr,18.
Rounding out the happy family are Mr Phongsakorn's two half brothers,12-yearold Karn and the nine-year-old Kraisiri Chatikavanij.
Mr Phongsakorn is an artist, and he certainly lives the lifestyle. We met at The Lofts Yennakart, where he lives alone. He walked out to greet us with a killer smile wearing a light blue Y-3 polo shirt and shorts, looking relaxed despite having returned late the night before from a quick trip to Chiang Mai for an art exhibition.
Everything Mr Phongsakorn needs is in his bachelor pad. Of course, there is the bedroom. Outside, one corner is reserved for his artwork, oozing with sculptures, sketches, oil paintings and water colours. Another area is zoned for movies and other entertainment and a final corner is taken up by his computer,where he spends a lot of time when at home. He explained that his mother encourages him to be self sufficient. The condo was a gift from her, but otherwise he takes care of all his expenses.
He pays the bills with the proceeds from his own funky brand of designer jewellery, called Thank, which is also his nickname. He exports the jewellery to a regular customer who owns a jewelry shop in Switzerland.
He explained:"All my jewellery is handmade and a work of art. I used to have a shop at Siam Paragon, but decided to close it when the economy took a downturn. Still, some tourists who like my work have been making continuous orders for jewellery to sell at their shop in Switzerland, which is enough to sustain my business. I am also happy with the selling price," he said.
Thai people can also adorn themselves with the Thank brand of jewellery, as Mr Phongsakorn still makes customised pieces for people he knows."If anyone is interested, all they have to do is contact me,"he said.
He compared his jewellery with fusion food, saying the brand is comprised of chunky jewelry with a fusion twist combining modern style with vintage flair.For example, you might find a vintage lion head combined with trendy enamel and gemstones.
"During the Victorian era," he noted,"they used a lot of designs with gold. To this I add new materials such as animal skins or contrasting gemstones."
Most of his creations are bracelets for women. Prior to establishing his own brand he trained and worked with ML Rojanatorn Na Songkhla, the aristocratic lady famous for her own jewellery brand, Narandha.
"I've always liked art, and I've always liked to draw, and I was looking for a line of work that involves drawing and that I can make a living out of."
Now, however, Mr Phongsakorn is in the process of taking a step back with his jewellery business to gain more expertise."The brand is still relatively new. I still don't have enough experience. I want to have more practice before I return with a change for the better."
When he makes his comeback he plans to go further than before, with a rebranding and a partner to help run the business.
Besides art, another area that captures Mr Phongsakorn's interest is politics. This is not surprising given that his Oxfordeducated stepfather is the finance minister.
"When I went to help Khun Korn run his election campaign I got the chance to meet with many different people," he said.
"It paved the way for me to get to know people from every level of society.Khun Korn taught me that if I make these contacts I should not abandon them. So once in a while I join in on various activities such as annual boat competitions and temple fairs.
"I am the sort of person who can mix with all types of people. I am open to people and things around me. If you understand the nature of people, then you will be able to help solve their problems."
Not surprisingly, the young man plans to become more involved with politics in the future and also to continue with his jewellery business.
"I love the designing part. I just want someone to help me with the business side so that I will have more time to assist Khun Korn with politics. When I walk into certain communities and see, for instance, old people, I want to help them to live comfortably."
With his good looks and charm, it is not surprising that he was once a teenage heartthrob, appearing for three years in the popular Thai teenage series,Calling Wai Korn Poh Sorn Wai ."I played a character similar to myself,a rich but down-to-earth teenager who was a leader of his group of friends."When he landed the role he had just returned from his studies abroad at Melbourne University, where he graduated with a major in manufacturing engineering. Prior to that he attended Scots College,a boy's school in New Zealand.
When he came back to Thailand he took another bachelor's degree at Srinakarinviroj University with a major in jewellery design. The experience proved to be entirely new for him.
"The courses were taught in Thai, and it was my intention to study with Thai students. I wanted to have friends in Thailand. It's a different culture. I wanted to get the feeling of student orientation,
which is the tradition in Thai universities for first-year students."
He found school here more fun than studying abroad, he said with a broad smile."I like the seniority system here.During the student orientation, stressful situations were created so that students within the same year learn to unite and bond by solving the various problems that the senior classes give them.
"Studying with all my classmates for another four years made us closer. I still see some of them up to this day."
He was also a TV host in a variety programme called Hi Friend on Channel 5 for one year, where he updated the audience on the latest trends and venues.
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