Headlines
- Breakfast in Hua Hin
- Restaurant Review: Da Mario
- Daytripper: Petchaburi
- Health matters
- Secret Bistro news
- Please cover up!
- Obituary: Pot Noodles inventor passes away aged 96
- Tourism Festivity and Prachuab Khirikhan Seafood Festival
- Pranburi Vegetarian Restaurant: Thip Thanya needs a new home
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Thai Music – Ready to Rock the World!
- Ugly Sister or Cinderella?
- Obituary: Police Captain Prakob Sripalawit (1946-2007)
- Obituary: Bjorn Lindblad (1959-2007)
- Books: Stephen Leather
- Daytripper: Tha Sadet
- Market Village Celebrates Chinese New Year
- Movies: The Black Dahlia

Breakfast in Hua Hin
Paitaya Puenpatom

Not everyone who visits our city has access to one of the sumptuous buffets that grace the restaurant tables of our 5 and 4 star hotels every morning. If you are not lucky enough to be staying in one of these, admittedly magnificent establishments then your guesthouse breakfast may be pretty good. Long time residents of Hua Hin often go to one of the guesthouses in the soi’s around the Hilton for a greasy but solid English breakfast. These places often serve breakfast all day so if the sun is shining, and you can’t get up from the night before, an A.B.F. (American Breakfast) in the small hours of the afternoon might well be the only thing that you will get out of bed for.

There are a few other options though. Staying with the western theme you can try Buffalo Bill’s imported Aussie beef for that Aussie traditional steak and eggs. Or you can find lebensraum in All in Hua Hin with some traditional German offerings. Both these places champion healthy alternatives. I would particularly recommend All In Hua Hin’s muesli fruit and yoghurt combination.

There is always the Thai option. Assuming you can’t face a bowl of fried rice and roast pork on a stick there is a more “farang” friendly alternative. Soft boiled rice and soymilk and deep fried savory donuts are the Thai standard. For early risers the Jek Pia corner restaurant one block from the night market is the local favorite.

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Restaurant Review

This is our first restaurant review of an advertiser in the Hua Hin Mirror. Da Mario’s restaurant is advertised in this newspaper. It would be fair to say that we have a vested interest in promoting Mario’s business. The coupon we printed, and that you can bring with you to get a 10% discount, is one way to promote our client. Obviously, another is to write a rave review. But as you can see, we review restaurants that do not advertise in our newspaper, or in any other… WE TRY TO BE FAIR and we want to promote the businesses that we believe are worth promoting. We may accept advertising but this does not buy our souls. If we recommend bad or sub-standard places then it will damage our business which is largely about being a trustworthy source of information. If you visit a restaurant we recommend and have a bad experience then we want to know about it. We won’t support a business if there is a pattern of complaints. If you send an email to editor@huahinmirror.com we promise that we will respond and bring your complaint to the attention of the management of the restaurant in question.

Da Mario’s of Hua Hin
Jittra Hongchindawut

With three restaurants already trading at up market locations in Phuket, Hua Hin has become the next place to host a Da Mario’s Italian restaurante. Once again the location is excellent. Naresdamri Road runs beside the beach just north of the Hilton. This central location has always been a popular one for fine dining in Hua Hin. The sea views and the cooling breeze make a fine background against which the food is served. And good food is what Da Mario’s Italian cuisine is all about.

Located opposite the famous fishing pier, Da Mario’s always has today’s fresh seafood catch. Seafood and pasta are the specialty of the house. Da Mario’s also has a wood oven for their special pizza. When he first came to Hua Hin, Mario tested every pizza available in the town. He is confident that anyone who tastes his pizza will taste the difference. Cooked in a specially designed wood-burning oven with a base made to his special recipe, his pizza’s fresh ingredients are combined with specially imported Italian herbs and sauces. The restaurant prides itself on using only the finest quality ingredients in the food that it serves. Even the beef is imported from Argentina so that Da Mario’s customers will enjoy the best quality food.

Da Mario’s of Phuket is an internationally known restaurant. After the Tsunami Da Mario’s was the only restaurant that stayed open in Patong. His restaurant was the unofficial base of many of the media who came to cover the aftermath of the disaster. The Hua Hin branch has a lot of history to live up to!

Opening hours 12 mid-day to 12 midnight.

With the coupon printed on this page you will get a discount of 10% on your meal.

Da Mario’s situates near the pier. You can call for advance reservation at 032-530-170.

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Daytripper: Petchaburi
Jittra Hongchindawut/Petchburi

The capital of the province of the same name, Petchburi was a favorite place for Thai kings Rama 4, Rama5 and Rama 6. Only Ayudhya has a greater claim to be a historic royal city. All three kings built beautiful palaces which can still be visited today.

Pranakornkhiri Palace, the old palace built by Rama 4 on the hill above the town is now a national museum. In the downtown area visitors should not miss the German palace built by Rama V the great modernizing king of the late nineteenth century. The town is also famous for beautiful temples and shrines. In the town it is possible to see one of Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha’s which housed in a temple on Khaowang hill. Most visitors want to see the spectacular Khao Luang Cave which is just north of the town center. The cave has an opening in the roof illuminating the Buddha images inside the cavern room. Many of the images were placed there by King Rama 4.

In the eastern part of the town you can visit the ruins of Wat Kampang Laeng which was built by the Khmer’s to enshrine Hindu gods more than 1000 years ago.

The town itself has many historic buildings of less importance and is one of the last places in this part of Thailand where you can find streets of old shophouses, many still in good condition. If you are interested in preserving urban Thailand’s architectural heritage then we would recommend a visit to Pribpree Gallery. This gallery is run by a group of dedicated locals who work to preserve Petchburi’s architectural heritage.

Volunteers from the architecture departments of Silpakorn and Thammasart universities are surveying and offering preservation and refurbishment suggestions to the owners of historic buildings. The gallery has a fine selection of artwork and photographs detailing the area’s natural and historical heritage. The gallery is located on the river Petchburi.

Unfortunately we have to offer a few words of caution. There have been a number of reports of teenage motorcycle gangs causing problems after dark in the town. We would suggest that visitors behave sensibly as they should in any large urban area and be cautious about visiting poorly lit or run down areas of the historic town after dark. Pranburi is a beautiful historic town and it would be very unfortunately if it suffered too much from the activities of a small number of thoughtless teenage hooligans.

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Health matters
Colonel Choochart Polburi
Deputy Director of Fort Thanarat Hospital

I find that many people's health problems are related to lack of exercise, excessive eating, smoking and drinking habits. It would be fair to say that many diseases we have are directly related to our lifestyle.

Human beings are designed to continuously search for shelter, food, good hunting or rich pastures. These daily activities create healthy and strong body.

However, our modern lifestyles are radically different to those in the past. We sit in front of computers and as we grow more dependent on technology everything in life is getting very convenient. We travel by plane, car, or motorcycle. When we go up to the next floor in the building we habitually use the elevator or escalator. Even using a remote control to change the channel on TV represents an improvement on the situation 20 years ago. Who would have thought that this increasingly pleasant lifestyle would affect our ability for movement and damage the muscles of our heart. If it isn’t used often the heart becomes weak. We all need some exercise. And if we have “convenient” bad eating habits then our consumption of food full of grease, high levels of sugar, and salt can be too much for our body to cope with. And this is before we start into self abuse by drinking whiskey, beer, wine, etc. Some people are even foolhardy enough to smoke heavily allowing toxins to destroy their organs. A human being's body can last a hundred years. Many a body’s owner has missed the chance to grow old comfortably because of a lifestyle that encourages the development of chronic diseases. Is your future one of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or another lifestyle related disease which will kill you slowly and painfully?

Many people are determined to change their convenient lifestyle. This can work like a magic cure for chronic diseases. By changing their behavior and exercising, life can be extended for a long time. Things you should consider doing include some jogging, eating well, and cutting down all addictive substances like alcohol and cigarettes. Giving up is the ideal but moderation will lead to an improvement.

There are many types of exercise but the best low impact exercise is aerobics. This doesn’t mean Friday night aerobic dancing is going to do you any good. I am talking about any activity that allows your body to receive oxygen continuously. The lungs breathe in and out, the heart beats faster to pump blood which encourages your circulation. The oxygen is conveyed to organs throughout the body. The result is efficient working lungs, a healthy heart, and better blood vessels.

Aerobic exercise that will have the desired effect include jogging, fast walking, bicycling, swimming, aerobic dancing, etc. The exercise needs to be a continuous movement--non-stop. So other types of sport such as golf, football, basketball, badminton, tennis, etc. may not have the same good effect. Some people say that aerobic exercise is like driving a car. Start with a slow pace then gear up smoothly. Keep it at a steady speed, then slow down and stop eventually. Other types of sports may be more like driving racing cars. Start fast, break a bit, go fast again, etc. This sort of thing tends to destroy an engine quickly. It is not unusual to hear that football players or tennis players who do not exercise regularly have heart attacks during matches.

Besides being good for the lungs, heart and blood vessels, aerobic exercise helps refresh the body. It encourages the healthy functioning of our digestive system, reduces insomnia, stress, and the urge to drink alcohol. It also deadens your desire to smoke, reduces weight, and promotes clear thinking and creativity. We can say that aerobic exercise is a "magic" cure.

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Secret Bistro news
Jittra Hongchindawut

This newspaper has a property supplement. To discus advertising Prime Nature Villa’s Khun Sunattee invited the editor of Hua Hin Mirror to lunch recently. She suggested that they meet in Payu (Storm) Bistro.

For some months last year the editor of this newspaper was greeted with an interesting view whenever she went out on to her condominium balcony. On the attractive beach site next door a construction was in progress. One Saturday evening last November we looked out the window to discover that the construction site had transformed itself into a lovely modern restaurant and viewing terrace. There was a party in progress to celebrate the opening of Prime Nature Villa Hua Hin. Well it was a private party and we weren’t invited so we went back inside to our movie. In the following weeks and months we would come out and look down at entertainment in progress and hope that one day we would be fortunate enough to be invited to one of these private parties. Imagine our surprise then when we learned that our next door neighbors were a bistro restaurant open to the public. Where was the advertising we said? When you can keep you restaurant secret from your next door neighbors then something must be up! We spoke to our host Kiki who agreed with us. So if you are reading this column today you are finding our about one of the best kept culinary secrets in Hua Hin.

Mr Payu the owner spent 15 years in New York and that experience has inspired him. He based his concept on the famous SoHo House. The cuisine is modern fusion mixing Western and Thai and focusing on the very fine ingredients that Hua Hin in particular can provide. You don’t have to wear suit here but the surroundings are definitely very chique. It’s a lounge environment with a library of art books and the walls are decorated with the owners own collection of limited edition black and white photographs of celebrities. If you don’t fancy rubbing shoulders with other guests the bistro provides private dining rooms with uninterrupted beach views.

So why all the secrecy?
Well in a refreshing departure from the norm, the owner of Stone Bistro wanted to wait until the service and the food was 100% to the satisfaction of their clients.

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Please cover up!
Jocky

The Thai culture frowns upon inappropriate dress sense, but all too often we see tourists sauntering along soi’s and shopping malls dressed in clothes more suitable for the beach. Girls wearing bikini’s and nothing else apart from flip flops have been spotted in Burger King. Middle aged woman dressed in beach wear and cover up shawls think it’s OK to visit temples. Every day we can witness partial nudity in the streets of Hua Hin. It has become a common sight, but these people seem unaware how ridiculous and offensive they look to Thai people. Sadly, many tourists do not consider Thai culture which  promotes modesty. We hope they might read this and think it wiser to cover up when  they leave the beach.

We consulted people living here in Hua Hin to hear what they had to say about this.

Khun Richard, retired, who has lived in Thailand for over 4 years said “ the problem is that most tourist do not get wised up about Thai culture and do not realise their dress sense is offensive to many. Travel agents are to blame. Perhaps hotels should have a handout to give a brief outline of customs”

Oe, who has lived in Hua Hin most of her life said “Actually I am not a judge and it is not my duty, but a few months ago I saw one Farang about 50 years old. I saw him many times on the streets and always without a shirt. He was quite stupid looking without decent clothes”.

Chris, an Englishman who has lived in Thailand many years added “I have seen pictures in British travel brochures showing Thailand beaches full of bikini clad farangs. That, coupled with other images of Thailand from abroad make people assume that it is acceptable, as it is in countries like Spain”.

Kab, a Hua Hin businessman told us “Foreign tourists just don't know how to act accordingly to our customs. They think what you can do in Spain you can do the same here in Thailand. I'm a Thai and find it really unpleasant to see woman well beyond the ages of wearing a Bikini and still they wear them anyways. It is time that hotels, travel agents, and tour operators take some action about this carelessness and give all guests a leaflet explaining the culture and dress codes, so that foreigners understand and act accordingly. That would not be so difficult to do?”

For those who think Hua Hin is bad, the main beach front at Cha Am could be considered a lot worse! Many Ferangs, well past retirement age, seem to think it’s normal behavour to walk across the road from the beach to the built-up shopping area, wearing only skimpy bikini’s and tiny swimming shorts. Sure it’s good for the older European generation to escape their harsh winters, but we really don’t need to see their birth scars, bloated beer bellies and cellulite! They don’t seem to realise or care just how bad they look, strolling along the streets in states of undress, going into restaurants just off the beach almost naked! It's unhygenic, rude and disgraceful.

If their bodies were younger and looked better, of course it would make a difference, but it still wouldn't make it ok. Apart from offending Thai culture, street nudity is a serious hazard distraction for drivers. Older people in most cultures are supposed to be ambassadors, wiser and more aware of how to behave when visiting different countries. One can almost forgive a young person for their lack of knowledge and ignorance when they show off their assets in public(so to speak). You would think that the older generation would want to cover up their aging body parts, rather than flaunting them in public places!

The last word goes to Dawn who runs the Hua Hin Dog Rescue Centre “When you leave the beach, put your street clothes back on, don't just add a pair of shorts to your bikini or wrap a sarong round your waist. At temples, it's best to be covered quite a bit more. Spaghetti strap tops and shorts are not the best things to wear there. As a mark of respect, try to cover your shoulders and cleavage. Try to wear something at least down to your knees, a short sleeved t-shirt and trousers or cropped trousers would be OK. (I'm assuming you're a woman, as you can see!.) A little off the subject, shoes should not be worn inside anybody's house, in temple buildings or in certain shops or offices. If you see loads of shoes outside the door, take yours off too. Enjoy yourselves when you come. It's a great place!”

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Obituary: Pot Noodles inventor passes away aged 96

The Japanese inventor of instant noodles passed away recently. Head of a global food empire worth 3 billion dollars he ate his own creations at least once a day. In doing so, and living to age 96, he confounded the health experts who condemned his product as being full of fat, salt and monosodium glutamate.

Momofuku Ando was an Osaka native who had served time in prison and been a bankrupt. In 1957 he began researching his instant noodle product. He soaked his noodles with chicken soup but could not come up with an effective way of drying them until he saw his wife cooking tempura. He then realized that the solution was to flash dry the noodles in palm oil. One year later he launched his new product, Chikin Ramen Noodles on the Japanese market.

In 1958 he sold 13m packets of noodles. Originally sold in sachets, the product that we all recognize was introduced 12 years later. Heatproof polystyrene cups were part of a long process of innovation which led to the scenes last year on the American space shuttle when a Japanese astronaut consumed Mr. Ando’s noodles from a specially designed vacuum pack. Serious Pot noodle lovers can visit the Instant Noodle Museum in Osaka to learn more.

Mr. Ando’s philosophy of life can be summed up in three of his sayings:
1. Peace will come when people have food.
2. Eating wisely will enhance beauty and health.
3. The creation of food will serve society.

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Tourism Festivity and Prachuab Khirikhan Seafood Festival
Prachuab Khirikhan PR Department/Prachuab Khirikhan

1. The "Kinlom Chom Ao" festival will be held between March 6 and March 24 activity in the area of Prachuab Khirikhan Bay. There will be a festival street containing cultural shows and activities, a food and drinks area, and seafood stalls from every district in Prachuab Khirikhan. Opening hours are between 16.00-24.00hrs.

2. On March 6-11, 2008 Koh Lak Temple will hold its annual festival. There will be Thai traditional shows and caravan of Thai products are available for all the visitors.

3. On March 6-17, 2008 Wing 5 will hold its annual Thai Sky Festival featuring parachutists from 140 different countries.

4. On March 12-24, 2008 there will be exhibition honoring and celebrating His Majesty the King. In the area of Prachuab Khirikhan Bay there will be Thai Tradition shows, caravan of Thai products, and seafood festival which is held from 9.00-24.00hrs.

5. Main features in the festival
5.1 March 13, 2008 opening ceremony of Tourism Festivity, Prachuab Khirikhan Seafood Festival and ceremony to honor His Majesty the King in the occasion of His Majesty's 80th birthday anniversary. Featuring the following activities:
- "Thai Sky Festival" where 140 countries send international parachutists to show their skills.
- Praising ceremony to His Majesty the King where 9 gigantic lanterns are set afloat into the sky.
- Light and sound show with fireworks to praise His Majesty the King.
- 80-meter of seafood buffet line available at the opening ceremony of seafood festival. The seafood is provided by the Ministry of Public Health's "Clean Food Good Taste" award winning seafood restaurants.
- Martial arts show and Thai boxing show "Siam Yuthi" from Boxing Association of Thailand.

5.2 March 16, 2008 features some special international boxing fights to win PABA champion by Korkiat Group Co., Ltd. These  will also be broadcast live on Channel 7.

5.3 Package tour special prices are available. The "One Day, Worthy Trip" Tour with Tourism Service Center is available at the festival.

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Pranburi Vegetarian Restaurant: Thip Thanya needs a new home
Paitaya Puenpatom

We recently had lunch in this well known vegetarian restaurant in Pranburi. This is one of only ten restaurants in the province that has the sign showing that it is being inspected and approved regularly by the department of commerce and department of public health. While other restaurants may look more modern very few consistently pass the unannounced inspections.

Specializing in Chinese vegetarian food many Hua Hin people like to travel to Pranburi for their Chinese noodles. Of course, as you would expect they have the normal Thai vegetarian meals made with substitutes. The fired duck isn't duck and the fish balls are not fish but the food tastes great and is made with fresh ingredients in a hygienic area.

The family of Nawalapan have owned and operated restaurants for 30 years. In the Thai year 2534 the family decided to open a restaurant to serve only vegetarian dishes. Two generations of devout Buddhists are normally present to assist their customers. The eldest daughter Khun Sukanna is well known for her talks given to the Buddhist Suengter foundation.

Unfortunately this excellent establishment will have to close its doors at its present location within a few years. The rising rent and the sale of the building that they are in is forcing them to seek a new home. If there are any benevolent landlords out there who love great vegetarian food this may be your chance!

The restaurant's food is so good that they are in great demand as caterers. The restaurant has no plans to close its doors until a new home is found but the catering business can mean temporary closures for a day or two. We recommend that if you are making the trip you should call ahead to check that the restaurant is open.

170 Moo 1, Rutbumrumg Road, Pranburi Tel. 032-621-408, 081-834-2269. (Turn left at Pranburi Intersection, the restaurant is on right hand side 200 meters away from the intersection)

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St. Patrick’s Day
Paddy

March 17th is St Patrick’s day and is normally celebrated with a St Patrick’s day parade. A national holiday in Ireland it is also celebrated worldwide by the Irish community and their friends. Ireland’s population is just over 5 million but worldwide perhaps as many as 80 million people claim Irish ancestry. In a recent survey 25% of the population of Australia claimed Irish forbears. On the day itself the biggest parades outside Dublin will be in the United States but quite large turnouts will be seen all over the world.

You don’t need to be Irish to celebrate the day. This is a major public event in places as different as Paris and Tokyo. In Hua Hin the Irish and their friends will be celebrating too. On March 17th Hua Hin Mirror wishes everyone Slainte, Saol fada chugat. (Health and long life!)

Who was St Patrick?
The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.

Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.

He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.

Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

Facts about Ireland
- In the 2005 Economist survey of quality of life the Republic of Ireland was awarded first place.
- Ireland has more rainy days than any other European country. Last year during summer the temperature briefly soared to 30 degrees but normal summer temperatures rarely go into the 20’s. The Irish winter is to be avoided if possible.
- The island of Ireland is a divided place ruled by two states. Slightly more than 4 million people live in the Republic of Ireland, a parliamentary democracy that gained its independence from Britain 1922. Northern Ireland remains under direct British rule although recent political developments mean that this may change soon.
- Ireland has the highest rate of home ownership in the world with over 86% of the population owning their own homes. 20% of the population own at least one second home. House prices in many parts of the capital city Dublin have increased 1000% in the last decade.
- The Irish property investor (known in the trade as Robopaddy) is a feature of every booming property market. In a recent edition of the Irish newspaper, the Sunday Business Post, Thailand was listed as one of the places that is attracting investor interest.
- The Irish have Europe’s highest birth rate and youngest population making Ireland the most fecund society in the E.U. for some time to come.

Shamrock
One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

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Thai Music – Ready to Rock the World!
Will Shankly

Whether it’s featured on a TV ad, blaring from the speakers at a local petrol station or being butchered in a karaoke bar at 2 in the morning, there is a lot of Thai popular music around out there and, like it or not, you just can’t ignore it!

This article is intended to be a Fools Guide to Thai Pop/Rock Music, starting this month with an overview of the Thai music scene, past and present, and in future months featuring a few of the major players on the scene.

It’s intended as a starting point for foreigners in Thailand who have maybe heard a song or two they like in their travels, but have never known where to start in terms of delving deeper and getting a bit of a collection together.

Back in the late 1980’s a lot of Thai music seemed to be very “poppy” and often derivative ie. based directly on western songs and tunes, the complete tune sometimes “lifted”, with the lyric changed into Thai. The singer was rarely the person who wrote the song and a “marketable” face with a passable voice was chosen to perform the song so that it would sell.

Most of the songs were about love and especially about broken hearts!

Modern Thai Music Matures
The main instigator behind the “maturing” process of Thai music was a man called Paiboon Damrongchaitham who, around 20 years ago, started a company called Grammy. It used to be just a record company; but since its conception Grammy has developed into a huge media conglomerate, encompassing a TV channel, movie studios, sports shops, radio stations and a daily newspaper.

In the “early” days of the late eighties and early nineties, the derivative sound of Thai music was due to the “borrowing” of all types of Western music trends like pop, rock ‘n’ roll and hip hop. These styles were the backdrop for Thai lyricists to strut their stuff with stories and situations that were more uniquely Thai.

With the Thai language being tonal, typical “western” style songs took on a new flavour when having a Thai lyric put over the top, but you still couldn’t escape the feeling that you’d heard the song somewhere before!

Grammy continually signed up new artists – often going for the big names from Thai soaps or fashion models – who were easily marketable. A bit like Kylie Minogue in the west.

Amid these batches of new stars, however, there were a few names that rose to the top of the heap. They had genuine musical ability and weren’t the typical showroom mannequin type of pop star that were so numerous during that period. Asanee Wasan, Sek Loso, Bird McIntyre are all still thriving now.

These three artists, together with Carabao (a band formed way back in the 1970’s….not a Grammy signing), were largely responsible for Thai music breaking away from its “heard that song before” stigma. With the exception of Bird, they performed original songs, usually written themselves, were masters of their instruments, were vocally strong and were as good performing live as they were in the studio.

Interestingly, these artists combined a number of influences and were all very different from each other but together they seemed to define that Thai sound. Carabao’s sound was more country; Asanee and Sek Loso were rock; and Bird was very poppy.  But each appealed equally to the rice farmer, the noodle vendor, the office worker or the bank manager, because everyone could relate to a tale of love gone wrong, a broken heart or something funny to smile about. In the case of Carabao there was also a lot of social comment, which found popular support amongst the masses.

Into the New Millenium
During the mid 90’s another influence burst onto the Thai music scene – Pod and ModernDog. He further developed modern Thai music by creating an “indie” sound. It was an essentially Bangkok sound, an urban sound, and this was something that Thailand hadn’t heard from a Thai before. Again ModernDog have survived and are still popular today.

As the millennium progresses every few months seems to throw up new, talented Thai acts that try to “break the mould” and continue to push Thai music into new frontiers. They have great musicians, write their own songs and have able frontmen. Some of the more popular bands include AB Normal, Armchair, Blackhead, Big Ass, Bodyslam, Clash, Ebola, Fahrenheit, Kala, Pancake, Potato, Silly Fools and Zeal.

We have also recently seen attempts by some Thai acts to, in Thai terminology, “go inter”. This means that they try to make it big internationally. This is certainly a bi-product of the growing number of “luuk kreung” (half Thai/ half foreigner) in the country.

Of these artists the only one who can claim to be a success internationally is Tata Young who, in 2006, released an album in English that has been successful in 12 countries, including Thailand.

If you have already developed a taste for Thai music a great web site you can check out is www.ethaimusic.com, which has sound clips from all the major Thai artists with many English translations of songs.

Next month we will continue our look at the Thai music scene by highlighting the career of Sek Loso, including the lyric of one of his most famous songs.

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Ugly Sister or Cinderella?
Jocky

When people think of Cha Am, I suspect they think of the stretch of beach the crowds like to visit and they will think of the various shops, guest houses and restaurants facing the beach. I have to admit this area is best described as a little bit run down, but even here I can see change and upgrade happening at a rapid place. One should remember it wasn’t that long ago the soi facing the Hilton in Hua Hin was a row of wooden Thai houses and makeshift small shops. The larger hotels along the main stretch of Cha Am have been upgraded, the Golden Beach in particular is now very classy looking and restaurants along this area have also been upgraded to meet with superior tastes. To rubber stamp my point, townhouses are being built with prices starting from 16 million baht! 

As you travel north and go through the road tunnel just after the airport, a lot of people are unaware this is where Hua Hin ends and Cha Am starts. More accurately, it’s where the province of Prachuabkirikhan ends and Phetburi starts. The beach front all the way up from here to the main stretch in Cha Am has many interesting facets worth exploring. It starts with the up market Boat House villa and condo project. As you travel north, there are many first class condo resorts, luxury spas and top hotels interspersed with quaint little Thai villages, picturesque fishing harbours and magnificent beaches. This stretch hosts world famous names such as The Regent, The Novotel, The Dusit Resort and Spa, The Sheraton, The Springfield resort and the five star Verandah Resort and Spa. Some villages begin to resemble wealthy Mediterranean resorts, hardly resembling the ugly sister image of Cha Am.

Go to the beaches north of Cha Am and you will find an area almost undiscovered by the Ferang community. Here you can walk more than five kilometers of wonderful beach and pass by only one or two people. The sea is fresh, the sandy beaches are in abundance, you can get a feeling of real solitude and you would never suspect you were so close to the busy area  of Cha Am. It is in this area I have found my new home, but I don’t want too many people into the secret – it’s absolutely wonderful here!

Having found so many great restaurants such as the fresh seafood at the Cha Am harbour and the gastronomic delights of the Italian at the Verandah resort, from the taste and value of Baan Issan to the traditional fare at Crawfords Irish pub, I can honestly say I love Cha Am. It certainly isn’t Hua Hin’s ugly sister, rather it is the Cinderella and Hua Hin, I should hasten to add, is the Prince Charming. A marriage made in heaven!

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Obituary: Police Captain Prakob Sripalawit (1946-2007)

Police Captain Prakob Sripalawit, the deputy commander of the crime suppression police of Cha-Am, died suddenly in San Paolo hospital last month. He is survived by his three daughters, Khun Sasiwimon, Khun Sasiporn and Khun Nattakarn and his wife Khun Sunart, who is a schoolteacher at Nong Plub School.

Born in Saraburi in 1946, after high school he was selected for the police and trained at Naresuan Camp in Hua Hin. Beginning his career as a patrolman, he later became a teacher at the Border Patrol police school. This led to his appointment as the commander of the special force in Naresuan Camp. In 1991 he became Deputy Inspector for Traffic Police in Hua Hin. He was a dedicated officer who was well known for his gentle manner and kindness. Before he took up his post in Cha-Am he held the same position in Petchburi. At the time of his death he had served in the police for 41 years.

Police Captain Sripalawit and his close friend Sergeant Major Banharn joined the police on the same day in 1st of July 1966. The Sergeant Major was visiting his friend in hospital when he passed away.

His other colleagues were also very upset at his sudden death and the attendance at his funeral was so large it was necessary to redirect traffic.

The captain’s family and colleagues mourned his passing at Hua Hin Temple. A rare privilege was afforded to his family at the cremation. The flames that were used to light the funeral fire came from the King. This fire is given only to very respected members of the community and is known as Pra Raja Than Plerng Sop.

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Obituary: Bjorn Lindblad (1959-2007)

Bjorn died on Friday 9th February at 5 am as a result of severe head injuries he received in a motorbike accident on the night of Wednesday 7th February. He was on his way home from his weekly pool match when the accident occurred. The remains were cremated in Bangkok on Wednesday 14th February and his ashes will be scattered on rivers in both Thailand and Sweden which was his wish.

Originally from Landskrona, Sweden, Bjorn worked for many years as the chief engineer on cruise ships traveling out of Hong Kong. In the last few years he spent several months of every year in Thailand where he had made Hua Hin his home. He leaves behind two sons, Eric (in Sweden) and Carl (in Hua Hin), as well as his three sisters and family in Sweden, and many, many friends all over the world.

Bjorn had a passion for music, particularly blues and rock, and was an accomplished pool player. He played most recently for the Butterfly Rock team, and prior to that for the Johnnie Walker team. He had a very dry wit, and was a very intelligent man, who was working towards his long-term aim of being able to retire permanently in Thailand.

All those who knew him are shocked by his death in a senseless accident at such a young age (48). Many in the expatriate community in Hua Hin will miss Bjorn who was a very popular man. We wish to pass on our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

This obituary was compiled with the assistance of the Observer.

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Books: Stephan Leather
Paitaya Puenpatom

Best selling writer and long term Thailand resident Stephen Leather is a regular visitor to Hua Hin. His master work on expatriate life in Thailand, the novel Private Dancer has been recommended by many authorities as an essential manual for newly arrived "Farangs". In this month's book section we are featuring Stephen's latest thriller Hot Blood and his new book on Farang life in Thailand, Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye.

Hot Blood
Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd is used to putting his life on the line. It goes with the turf when you’re an undercover cop. But when the man who once saved his life is kidnapped in the badlands of Iraq, thrown into a basement and threatened with execution, Shepherd has to decide whether his loyalties lie with his country, his career, or his friend.

Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye
Two-timing bargirls, suspicious spouses and lesbian lovers – it was all in a day’s work for Bangkok Private Eye Warren Olson. For more than a decade Olson walked the mean streets of the Big Mango and I had access to his files while writing Confessions Of A Bangkok Private Eye.

Based on a true story, the following extract is from THE CASE OF THE HUA HIN HUSBANDS
“I phoned the airline and told the girl who answered that I was the boss of a tour company based in Bangkok and that I'd lost track of a client that I'd taken to Hua Hin. Had my client by any chance phoned in to reconfirm his ticket? I gave her Joe's full name and the details of his flight to Bangkok.

Indeed the ticked had been reconfirmed. By a travel agency in Hua Hin. And Joe had also changed his ticket to an open booking, with no flight home. The travel agency wasn't far from the Hilton so I had a plate of fried noodles and an ice cold Heineken at a street stall and wandered over. The agency was a tiny shop wedged between two bars, both of which had a quartet of fairly attractive girls who all declared that I was a 'handsum man' and that I should spend some of my time - and money - with them. I resisted the calls of the sultry sirens and went inside the travel agency.

There was only one girl working in the office, so I played the stupid farang and said that I was a friend of Joe's and that we were driving back to Bangkok together but that I'd forgotten what hotel he was staying at. She checked her computer and gave me the name and address of his hotel. It was called Kim's Hotel, which I figured was a good sign....”

The Hua Hin Mirror asked Stephen Leather who is a self acknowledged habitual devourer of thrillers, particularly those set in Thailand, what his recommendations for a good beach read are?

BANGKOK 8 by John Burdett
My book Private Dancer is, in my humble opinion, the best book about the Bangkok bar scene. But John Burdett has written what I consider to be the best crime story set in the city. In his Bangkok 8, Thai detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep is on the trail of the killer of a US marine. The killer’s weapon of choice – a python and a swarm of cobras. John takes the reader through a surreal Bangkok, where nothing is quite as it seems, and his character Sonchai is an amazing creation. John, a retired Hong Kong lawyer, has now moved to the Land of Smiles and he can often be found of an evening doing ‘research’ in the bars of Soi Cowboy.

THE BIG MANGO by Jake Needham
Jake is a screenwriting friend who lives in Bangkok. The Big Mango was his first book, and I think it’s his best. It’s the hunt for a stack of money that went missing when Saigon fell and Jake’s central character Eddie Dare is a terrific creation. His descriptions of Bangkok – the Big Mango of the title – are spot on. Jake has sold the movie rights so expect to see this on the big screen one day.

MURDER IN CHINA RED by Dean Barrett
Dean Barrett is another good friend of mine, an American who spends a lot of time in Bangkok. He writes great crime novels, and this one has a blurb from me on the cover. It’s the story of a Chinese private detective, Liu Chiang-hsin, who’s trying to solve the mystery of a double-killing in a New York hotel. It’s a great read. And a bit different to his earlier work, most of which is set in Asia.

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Daytripper: Tha Sadet
Paitaya Puenpatom

Modern Hua Hin has many diversions for its residents and visitors to choose from. Activities from golfing to kite boarding, go kart racing to pony riding, are within easy reach of the city centre. But even the most happy and devoted Hua Hin resident feels the need to change the scene once and a while. Each month we will feature a day trip that will take you away from the city and introduce you to somewhere special, but different, and close enough to Hua Hin city for a day trip!

This month, as it is the His Majesty’s 60th year on the throne and Hua Hin is often his home, we thought we would choose a day trip that their Majesties have enjoyed themselves over the years.

South of Hua Hin, near the neighboring town of Pranburi, lies Thanarat Military Camp. This is the largest military training base in Thailand and its normal population is comparable with our own city. The base is open to the public and the enormous tract of land that it utilizes contains a great many things to amuse and delight the casual visitor.

Of course, if you are a military enthusiast then you may wish to visit the museums dedicated to the history of the infantry and the career of Field Marshall Srisdi Dhanarat. The base also has a range of recreation facilities. Golf courses, a swimming pool and even a shooting range are open to the public most days. However, what makes the base a unique destination is the beautiful protected nature reserve that lies on either side of the Pranburi river.

In the past, their Majesties were regular visitors* to the area for picnics and relaxation. To get to the riverside picnic area, which is towards the rear of the main encampment, you should ask for directions at the main gate. Ask for the shrine to King Rama 5. On weekends, this delightful place is a very popular alternative to the beach for families and you will find a number of food stalls and other facilities open for business.

*Note: The King has been a regular visitor at the base in his capacity as head of state and head of the army. The famous photographs taken on the shooting range when he was younger were taken at the base. Normally the range is open to the public but visitors this month may find that the ASEAN shooting competition being held there has changed the schedule.

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Market Village Celebrates Chinese New Year

Hua Hin Market Village is celebrating Chinese New Year and providing the dancing dragon and dancing lion groups which have more than 30 actors to show for the Mall’s and shops’ auspiciousness. The show consists of:
- Light and color shows, also the acrobatic show in front of the mall.
- 1 golden dragon group parade to bless the shops in the mall, and parade in the Hua Hin City.
- 3 lions group (gold/silver/red) parade to bless the shops in the mall, and parade in the Hua Hin City.
- Hand out the oranges for shops’ auspiciousness.

The celebration will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2007 from 13.00-22.00. Hua Hin Market Village would like to invite customers, the shop owners, and shop staff to appropriately welcome the dancing dragon and dancing lions groups which come to bless at the shops.

Dancing Lions and dancing dragon shows schedule on Chinese New Year’s Day, February 17, 2007

07.00-08.00 the parade will be set in front of Hua Hin Market Village
08.30-09.30 the parade pays respect to the mall’s House Guardian
10.30-13.00 the parade move along Pranburi, Hua Hin, and Petchakasem Road in Hua Hin
13.00-14.00 take 1 hour break (on the side of the mall)
14.00-16.00 the parade march into the mall and bless the shops on each floor
16.00-17.00 take 1 hour break (on the side of the mall)
17.00-22.00 2 dancing lions and 3 dancing golden dragons shows. Light and Sound shows in front of the mall.
22.00 end of the celebration

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Movies: The Black Dahlia
Kon Sai Waen

Brian de Palma is back! With his uniquely stylish ability he has made a new noir thriller, The Black Dahlia. It may not be a cinematic work par excellence compared with his previous ones like Carrie or The Untouchables, but this Dahlia is De Palma's comeback and testify’s to his professionalism as a director.

It is 1947 and two cops, a.k.a. Fire and Ice, played by Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart are working round the clock to unravel the brutal murder of a B-graded actress, whom the media dubs, 'The Black Dahlia.' Hartnett is a tacit and brooding officer consumed by the unsolved murder and trapped by a spoiled rich daughter of a Hollywood filmmaker (Hilary Swank). Hotheaded Eckhart, on the contrary, is determined to demystify the case until the relationship with his wife (Scarlett Johansson) reaches the edge of ruin.

Other characters include a bank robber who is coming after Eckhart and Johansson, an assistant district attorney who is ambitious to get his name recognized through the Dahlia's case, and an eccentric faltering woman who is a wife of the filmmaker and the mother of Swank. All of them fuel the two cops' obsession with the Black Dahlia and grip the audience until the story is unfolded.

Once again De Palma has proved his directing capacity in making a compelling movie. His Snake Eye camerawork is to be enjoyed in this movie. It effectively shows how well the director can apply first-person narration technique. What is also appealing is the stylish setting that makes Dahlia uniquely De Palma. There are lesbian bars which look kinky yet classy. There are dark alleys that seem mysteriously sinister. And there are mobsters here and there. These elements provide some moviegoers with Touch of Evil nostalgia. The top-notched cast make this Dahlia unforgettable. Josh Hartnett, in particular, can demonstrate his transformation from a teenage character to a well-rounded and mature one has come. Eckhart's tour de force as a police detective whose escalating obsession with the Dahlia case shatters his relationship with his wife should be admired. Johansson's and Swank's acting is so fine that some audience can not judge which one is more fatale.

Despite the above strong points, this Dahlia is less intriguing than the director previous works like Carrie or Sisters. While we enjoy the stylish narration technique, the plot, elaborated by the Oscar winning screenwriter Brian Heldgeland from L.A. Confidential, is so complicated that it is nearly incoherent and almost leads us to nowhere. There are so many characters and too many red herrings that the movie seems overlong and somewhat humdrum as well.

For those who love Brian De Palma, The Black Dahlia may still be a haute cuisine delicately prepared by the skillful cordon bleu chef; but it will be hard to swallow for those who dislike grotesque images shot by candied-camerawork.

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