Background
“I was born in 1966 in Sahiwal, a city situated between the populous cities of  Lahore and Multan in Punjab province. My parents were farmers. I left Pakistan because I wasn’t very good at academics, came to Thailand alone in 1986, landed at Don Muang airport, travelled by bus number 13 to Pratunam which cost five baht fare at that time, to find opportunities for my life. I arrived in Bangkok with nothing,” said Mr Ghaffar. 

      He obviously keeps a lot of pride and affection for his birthplace, which he described as “a small village on the Karachi-Lahore railway line when it was renamed in 1865 to Montgomery, after Sir Robert Montgomery. He was the British Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab. Sahiwal got its name back in 1967 and now it is a city with a population of over 200,000.

​Social conscience

Mr Ghaffar seems blessed with success in all his endeavours and has built an enjoyable and rewarding life in Thailand, but he never forgets his roots. Despite a very full calendar, he always manages to find time for social agendas that benefit Pakistani community in Thailand. 

      “I am a life-time member and Director of Foreign Affairs for the Thai-Pakistani Friendship Association (TPFA) which has now more than 6,000 members. I am a founding member of the Thai-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce (TPCC) that we established in 2004, and since this year of 2018, I am the Vice-President of TPCC. I am also a founding member of the Overseas Pakistani Association Thailand which was formed in 2007. We have over 200 members and growing,” said Mr Ghaffar, who is also an Urdu-language presenter on the Thai Muslim TV channel on-demand since 2005. 

      “I will also help out Pakistanis who have medical problems and don’t have money for hospitals and treatments. If someone doesn’t have food, I will help them. However, I do not make any payments to lawyers or to Thai officials.”

      These days he doesn’t visit Pakistan often, but he did go after the big earthquake in 2008. “The Thai-Pakistani Friendship Association collected funds from the members and community and I, along with a TPFA delegate, went to Pakistan to deliver our donations. We helped more than 3,000 families who were suffering from that devastating earthquake,” Mr Ghaffar said and further mentioned: “In 2010, the TPFA collected funds from the members and community and I went with TPFA delegate to Pakistan to deliver the donations. This time, we helped more than 5,000 families who were suffering from the floods.”

1982 saw the opening of Central Plaza Lat Phrao shopping complex. The Thai Trade Union Congress was founded and Thammasat University appointed Professor Nongyao Chaise as its first female rector. The Communications Authority of Thailand announced the arrival of a new postal system.

January
• Thousands of Thai soldiers, police and rangers supported by planes and 
helicopters converged on the base of drug lord Khun Sa, dubbed the ‘Opium King’, at Ban Hin Taek in Chiang Rai province. The raid followed intelligence reports that a 200-mule opium caravan was sighted near the Thai-Burma border. It was the largest operation to date against the drug lord backed by Shan United
Army.

• The old Sunday market near Sanam Luang was replaced by a new weekend market near Chatuchak Park despite numerous protests by vendors against the relocation. The move had been planned since 1978 but was delayed by the protests. In the end a total of 979 vendors moved to the new location and began selling the same goods they had sold at Sanam Luang. Chatuchak Market director Witoonphant Wannachamrae said that the new market was much cleaner than the muddy mess at Sanam Luang.

​• In its first prisoner-exchange treaty with another country, Thailand agreed to swap inmates with the United States. The repatriated American prisoners would continue to serve sentences handed down by the Thai courts in the US and be eligible for parole or amnesty as granted by the US judicial system. As for Thai prisoners repatriated from the US, it was reported that they could be freed under an amnesty programme.

February
• Bangkok Bank, the largest commercial bank in Southeast Asia, opened its 32- storey headquarters on Silom Road. At 126 metres, it was the tallest building in Bangkok at the time. About 4,000 guests attended the opening ceremony hosted by the Bank chairman. Afterward a large Royal Garuda was unveiled. It took five years and more than one billion baht to construct the building.

March
• Six people were killed and more than 100 injured when southern communists detonated a car bomb that tore open a provincial hall in Surat Thani province. The powerful explosion flattened walls and destroyed the roof of the hall and damaged other buildings in the vicinity.

1983 was the year the American School of Bangkok was founded, along with 
​entertainment giant GMM Grammy and
Land and Houses, a property development company. A special operations hostage rescue and counter-terrorism unit of the Royal Thai Police known as Naraesuan 261was launched.

January
• Three Thai men armed with knives boarded a Thai Airways plane and took seven passengers and four crew hostage at Lampang airport and demanded to be flown to Chiang Rai. They were told the plane had to be refueled in Chiang Mai. After the plane landed at Chiang Mai two pilots jumped onto the tarmac and two flight attendants and one passenger escaped through the rear door of the plane. The hijackers continued to hold the other passengers hostage and demanded a new plane and a new pilot, parachutes and 300,000 baht. As their deadline expired, the hijackers seized a pickup truck and drove away with the hostages, who were later released unharmed. Police arrested a man said to be the mastermind a week later. He said he wanted to hijack the plane because he had been unfairly treated by colleagues and wanted to prove he could do whatever he wanted.

• The first 3,500 barrels of oil from Sirikit oilfield at Lan Krabue in Kamphaeng Phet province arrived at the Bang Chak refinery in Bangkok in 19 tank carriages. Authorities said the locally produced and refined oil
would reduce Thailand’s reliance on imports and save hundreds of millions of baht in foreign exchange.

March
• The first ATM machine in Thailand was installed by Siam Commercial Bank beginning a new era in personal banking in Thailand.

• It was revealed that famous moviestar Petchara Chaowarat was almost blind. She made dozens of movies during a career that spanned two
decades. Petchara suffered from cataracts caused by the glare from light reflectors in front of cameras. In 1960 she made her first
movie, Love Diary of Pimchawee, and
instantly became a major star.

​• Under new legislation the age at
which it became mandatory to carry
a Thai ID card was reduced from 17
to 15. Under the new legislation, Thai
nationals between the ages of 15 and 70
were required to carry their ID cards
on them at all times. The fine for not
carrying ID was 200 baht and this was
also applied for not renewing the ID.
Any person carrying or trying to obtain
a counterfeit ID was liable to five years
imprisonment and a 100,000 baht fine.

• What was formerly one of the largest communist base in the country, Phu Hin Rong Kla (Loei/Phetchabun/Phitsanulok), became Thailand’s 48th national park in a ceremony presided over by Commander-in-Chief of the
Royal Thai Army General Arthit 
​Kamlang-ek.

May
• Filming for ‘The Killing Fields’ began, transforming Tha Din Daeng Road in Thonburi and part of Nakhon Pathom province into movie sets. The film, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won three, was shot entirely in Thailand in Bangkok, Phuket, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Phi Mai Historical Park and Khao Yai National
Park. The film is based on a New York Times reporter’s search for a Kampuchean friend and colleague who he last saw in Phnom Penh as it was being overtaken by the Khmer
Rouge in 1975.

• An electric, two-seater car
developed by two engineers
from King’s Mongut’s Institute of
Technology was tested on Silom
and Rama IV roads in Bangkok.
Maximum speed was reportedly
50km/h and the car could travel
80km on one battery charge, which
one engineer claimed took only 20
baht worth of electricity.

​• A government source said that Thailand’s strategic location in the region and ‘security loopholes’ were turning the country into a centre for espionage. The source said that some countries were using their embassies and offices for trade, tourism and airlines
for intelligence-gathering purposes. A
counter-intelligence report said that 52 Soviet spies, including KGB agents, had formed a network in Thailand. It was reported in September 1983 that 33 agents attached to the Soviet embassy on Sathorn Road, the Soviet
trade mission and Aeroflot had quietly left Thailand.

August
• Bangkok’s largest garment and
textile market was ravaged by a fire
that destroyed about 300 stalls and 10
shop houses in the Pahurat area. One
fireman was injured. The damage was
estimated at 50 million baht. About 35
fire engines were called to put out the
blaze.

​• A Thai man convicted of
forging letters of guarantee from
banks and using them to obtain
temporary stay permits for 1,086
aliens was sentenced to 2,166 years
imprisonment. However, under the
new Criminal Code Amendment Act
his imprisonment could be no more
than 20 years.

October
• Floods and storms triggered by
tropical depressions Herbert and
Kim caused widespread destruction
across 42 provinces. Forty two people
were killed and property damage was
estimated at 625 million baht. The
storms hit the Central, Northeast
and Eastern regions of the country.
About 5,000 houses, hundreds of
schools and temples, infrastructure
and crops were inundated. Bangkok
was paralyzed as many roads were
flooded for several days.

​​November
• Boxer Payao Poontarat, 27, a native of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, was crowned World Boxing Council super flyweight champion after he defeated Rafael Orono of Venezuela in a split decision. The fight took place in Pattaya. Payao started out as a Muay Thai boxer and later switched to international-style boxing.

December
• More than 5,000 communist sympathizers laid down their weapons during a ceremony presided over by Supreme Commander Gen
Arthit. About 30,000 locals witnessed the ceremony in Nan.

1984 is the year Yanhee International Hospital came on the scene offering cosmetic treatments and procedures; the Mae La refugee camp was established in Tha Song Yang district of Tak province; and River City Bangkok shopping centre
was opened for business. For the fourth year in a row the Oriental Hotel was voted best hotel in the World by Institutional Investor magazine.

February
• The Crime Suppression Police began using four newly installed computers to store data on criminals and suspects. The computers had space to store data on at least 100,000 individuals.

• Bangkok was plunged into even more traffic chaos than usual on February 3 after the government introduced a new one-way system in the city centre. Traffic jams started in the morning and continued into the night as police tried desperately to re-direct confused motorists. The chaos continued for some days. After two weeks the government admitted the new system was a failure.

March
• The Thai military captured 40 Vietnamese troops in Si Saket province bordering Kampuchea after they entered Thailand while chasing Khmer resistance fighters. The incident was not the first time Vietnamese troops had intruded on Thai soil.

​April
• More than 80,000 people fled Kampuchea and sought safety at refugee camps in Thailand to escape violence from a dry-season offensive by Vietnamese troops against Kampuchean nationalists.

• A plane taking off from Bangkok touched down in Krabi for the first time at the southern coastal province’s new airport. Hundreds of people were on hand, including Krabi mayor Chuan Phukaoluan, who said the flight marked a major step to promote tourism and attract investors.

May
• Pope John Paul II visited Thailand and met with the King and Queen. A mass held at National Stadium in Bangkok was attended by about 45,000 Catholics and another 40,000 attended mass at St. Joseph’s College in Nakhon Pathom.

​• Queen Rambhai Barni, the widow of King Rama VII, died of heart failure at Sukhothai Palace in Samsen. She was 80 years old. Her body was moved to the Grand Palace for the  bathing rite and a mourning period of 100 days began.

July
• American journalist and war correspondent Alan Dawson was expelled from Thailand. The government claimed that he had written articles detrimental to Thailand without 
identifying which were offensive. Dawson was a passenger on the last plane leaving Saigon after it fell to the communists.

​• Nineteen people were killed and another 46 injured when a crowd stampeded at a charity event at a Chinese temple in Thonburi. The tragedy happened after about 4,000 people packed narrow Soi Sula leading to the temple some hours before the handout of four 
​kilogrammes of rice and other items. Most of those killed were children.

​​August
• Well-known lawyer and human rights activist
Thongbai Thongpao was named winner of the
1984 Ramon Magsaysay Award for public
service. The award foundation called Thongbai a ‘legal champion of oppressed’. Thongbai began his career as a reporter for several newspapers and was jailed by Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat
for six years as a communist subversive following a visit he and a group of journalists
made to China in 1957. 
​
• Welterweight boxer Tawee Ampornmaha returned home from Los Angeles to a hero’s welcome after becoming the first Thai boxer to win an Olympic silver medal. Thousands of fans came to greet him at Don Muang airport.

October
• The first case of AIDS in Thailand
was reported. The patient was
identified as a post-graduate student
in his 20s who was apparently
infected while studying in the US.
​
• Thailand was elected to the United
Nations Security Council. In the
fourth and final ballot in which 156
UN member countries participated, Thailand
received 109 votes and Mongolia 49. There were attempts to discredit Thailand for its conflict with Laos over three border villages.

​November
• MR Debrithi Devakul, artificial rain-making pioneer and inventor of the ‘iron buffalo’, passed away at Bumrungrad Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was appointed by
the King to head the artificial rain project and conducted his first rainmaking operation in 1971.

• The Thai baht was devalued by 17.3% from 23 to 27 per US dollar in a attempt to address
Thailand’s trade deficit of 38 billion baht and 248 billion baht foreign debt. Some Cabinet ministers denounced Finance Minister Sommai Hoontrakul and said the devaluation would have a negative impact on
the country’s economy.
​
• Dr Snoh Unakul, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board was hailed as one of the brains behind Thailand’s emerging economic ‘miracle’. Snoh was one of Prem’s most trusted allies.

​December
• Hundreds of thousands of people joined in a 30-minute walkathon from Sanam Luang to the Royal Plaza in celebration of the King’s 57th birthday. Greeting the participants was Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who accepted the people’s best wishes on behalf of the King. Millions of people turned up at
other charity walks in the provinces.

1985 witnessed the opening of retail giant MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong. The Site Two refugee camp opened on the Cambodian border by the Thai government was for several years the largest camp in Southeast Asia. The Bira International Circuit, a motor racing track named after Prince Birabongse Bhanutej Bhanubandh, was opened in Pattaya.

February
• The King presided over the
opening of a coal-fired power plant
in Mae Moh district of Lampang
province. One of the biggest plants
of its kind in the world, the project
implemented the construction of
seven lignite-fired generators with
two more to be completed in 1989.
The coal-fired generators were
forecast to save the country more
than 5.5 billion baht annually.

​• The first McDonald’s restaurant
opened in Bangkok. Over 100 people
rushed to the outlet when it opened
at Amarin Plaza shopping mall on
Ploenchit Road. The American fastfood
enterprise announced plans
to open four more restaurants in
Bangkok within the year.

• It was reported that 22 alleged
hired killers were killed and 15
more were arrested by the police.
Another 53 gunmen remained free in
Bangkok, according to police sources,
who said the hit men charged
between 10,000 and 200,000 baht
for a job depending on the victim’s
importance.

April
• The cremation ceremony of Queen
Rambhai Barni was presided over by
the King and Queen at Sanam Luang.
In the first royal funeral since 1956
tens of thousands of mourners lined
Maha Rat and Sanam Chai roads
to pay their respects as the funeral
procession passed by.

• PM Prem admitted that Royal Thai
Navy ships were involved in the
smuggling of goods into Thailand. A
Finance Ministry report alleged that
at least seven naval vessels were used
to smuggle cars, electrical goods,
computers and other products.

August
• A two-day riot at Bang Khwang
prison resulted in the deaths of 10
inmates after a heavily armed group
of police and prison guards stormed
the jail. It took five hours to restore
order. The facility was holding over
7,000 inmates at the time.

​September
• Four people were killed and 59 injured during a firefight at a government radio station that erupted following an attempted coup. The dead included American
NBC journalist Neil Davis and his soundman
William Latch. Troops loyal to Prem crashed the coup led by a group of rebels under the command of former ‘Young Turks’ military officer Colonel Manoonkrit Roopkachorn and his brother Manas. Both were dismissed from the military after an earlier failed coup attempt on April 1, 1981. After this latest attempted coup both were allowed to leave the country in order to avoid more bloodshed. The coup was launched while Prem was visiting Indonesia.

• Representatives of tin mines in southern 
Thailand said that 90% of all mines would close if prices continued to fall, threatening the livelihoods of about 30,000 miners. Labor Department chief Chamnan Pojana said that his department could do little to find new jobs for the miners.

​​​• PM Prem was punched in the nose
by a reportedly mentally disturbed
student, Kwanchai Vorasut, aged 27.
The incident occurred after Prem left
the closing ceremony of intervarsity
games at Ramkhamhaeng University
in Bangkok. Kwanchai was taken
to the Hua Mark police station for
questioning. It was reported that
he had previously been admitted to
mental hospitals on several occasions.

December
• Poppy fields were destroyed by army 
rangers in Ban Pang Oong in the mountainous northern Thai province of Mae Hong Son. The eradication campaign was launched by the Third Army and anti-narcotic agencies tasked with destroying about 25,000 rai of opium fields in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Ra and Nan provinces.

• Specially trained commandos equipped with military helicopters were deployed to Sakhon Nakhon provincial prison where 13 inmates armed with hand grenades and knives had taken the governor and four wardens hostages on New Year’s Eve. After two days of negotiations the inmates came outside the building with the hostages, holding grenades to their heads and demanding guns and get-away vehicles. Government marksmen killed 10 of the inmates and two others were taken inside the prison and shot there while apparently trying to flee. One prisoner was reportedly killed earlier by inmates after he refused to cooperate in the escape plan.

1986 saw the opening of the Shangri-La Hotel and Vibhavadi Hospital in Bangkok, as well as the founding of Advance Information Service (AIS) mobile phone operator. 

January
● The King presided over the official opening of Khao Laem Dam in Kanchanaburi province. The dam was equipped with 1,000-kilowatt generators and took five years to finish.

February
● Following an ambush by CPT guerrillas that wounded nine soldiers, Thai military
gunships attacked CPT strongholds at Betong in Yala province. 

● Divorces were up in Bangkok. According to city records, out of 38,288 couples
married in 1985 in Bangkok, 8,865 were already divorced. Adviser to city clerk Anek Singtoroj said that divorce rates were increasing especially among people aged 40-50 and those who were ‘the most economically secure’.

March
● The Cabinet approved a proposal by the Communication Ministry headed by
Samak Sundaravej to scrap a planned 20-billion baht international airport at Nong Ngu Hao in Samut Prakan. The plan to build the airport there had been debated for about two decades and the government reportedly had already spent one billion baht on a feasibility survey. Samak told the Cabinet the project was uneconomical. Eventually, however, Suvarnabhumi airport was built on the Samut Prakan site.   

April
● Pizza Hut became the biggest restaurant chain in Thailand after opening its sixth
outlet at Siam Jusco department store.

May
● In a shocking move PM Prem replaced Gen Arthit with Army Commander-
in-Chief Gen Chavalit Youngchaiyut. Analysts said the reason for the abrupt change of command was the perception that Gen Arthit was a threat to Prem’s hold on power.

● Parliament was dissolved by the King after the government was narrowly
defeated in a vote on legislation outlining an increase in registration fees for diesel and LPG-fuel vehicles.

​​June
● A state of emergency was declared in Phuket after a mob set fire to a controversial
1.2 billion baht tantalum metal plant due to be open in October. The plant was damaged beyond repair. The mob also set fire to the five-star Phuket Merlin Hotel causing an estimated 50 million baht in damages. Around 50,000 people protested for weeks against the plant, claiming it would destroy the environment and tourism. When Industry Minister Chirayu Issarangkul went to Phuket to discuss the matter he was confronted by the mob, which proceeded to the plant and set it alight. The mob also set fire to Merlin Hotel where the minister was staying. Forty seven people were arrested and charged with arson and looting. 

● Thai teenage snooker player, Wattana Pu-Ob-Orm, also known as ‘James’ Wattana, won the Camus Masters Championship held in Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel. The 16-year-old beat three-time world champion Steve Davies in the semifinal and Terry Griffiths in the final.

September
● Parliament passed amendments to the Criminal Code making it punishable by
life in prison to have sexual intercourse with a child less than 15 years old, with or without the child’s consent.

October
● The Interior Minister told the governors of the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to lift ban on Islamic dress for female state officials. 

November
● A runaway train broke through barriers at Hua Lamphong railway station in
Bangkok, killing four people and injuring four others.

*Sources for this story include archives of UPI, AFP, the Bangkok Post, The Nation and Wikipedia.

When Asim Iftikhar Ahmad arrived in Bangkok in June 2017 to take his post as Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, his first impressions of the city were a bit out of the
ordinary. “I was thinking, as we drove from the airport and approached Bangkok city, that it’s a lot like coming from Queens into Manhattan. The resemblance is very much there. I often mention to my friends that as soon as you see the Bangkok skyline, it seems you are on the FDR East River Drive in New York,’’ said the ambassador, who knows that city very well. He spent more than nine years in New York during several postings at the United Nations headquarters, including two stints as a member of Pakistan’s delegation to the UN Security Council (UNSC).

​In Thailand, the ambassador is also permanent representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). He joined Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 1993 and had since held a number of positions in Islamabad and Pakistani missions abroad, with a strong emphasis on multilateral diplomacy. At a reception he hosted to celebrate Pakistan’s National Day on March 23 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mr Asim accepted The BigChilli’s request for an interview that was later held at the Pakistani embassy on Sukhumvit Soi 3.

​

Background
“I was born in November 1966 in the city of Lahore, where my family has lived for generations. My family is mostly in business, industry and services. Lahore is a city with a rich history in the Punjab province of Pakistan, close to the border with India. I would say that my grandfather and forefathers were witnesses to the freedom movement and took part in the struggle that led to the emergence of Pakistan. They saw it all, as Lahore was so central to the movement. Lahore is also called the ‘Heart of Pakistan’. 

There are many historical monuments and famous sites, and it is a centre of learning as well. Many of the country’s well-known colleges, universities and other educational institutions are there. Apart from its history
and rich cultural traditions, Lahore is famous for art, film and drama, fashion, and above all its cuisine,” said the ambassador. 

“I graduated from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. In October 1993, I joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan. It is not easy to explain, but I can think of several factors behind this decision. I liked engineering, and I initially worked for two years as an engineer. At the same time, I was looking at other options to advance. Civil
service seemed like such an opening and looking back I feel it was the right choice as it offers better opportunities and forums to contribute to national policy and decision making at a high level.”

As his CV attests, Mr Asim has done just that. “My last assignment was at the MFA in Islamabad as Director General of UN Division. That three-year tenure was as vital as it was rewarding. It is one of the most coveted positions in the MFA. I also take great pride in having been a member of the Pakistani team on the UNSC on two occasions, 2003-4 and 2012-13, and in other roles at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, besides a stint as the deputy chef de cabinet for the president of the UN assembly in 2009-2010. This was a very useful and distinctive experience for me, and also an honour for Pakistan.

“My first assignment abroad was in Niger in 1997. Later on, I was posted to the UN Pakistan Mission in New York for the first time. I was a junior officer at that time and excited to be part of our UNSC team. I arrived at the start of Pakistan’s membership on the Security Council in January 2003. For the next two years, I had the privilege of coming to know from the inside how the UNSC operates. It was a special experience.”

Pakistan at glance
Ambassador Asim noted that Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with a population of 207 million. “Having gained independence in 1947, Pakistan has accomplished tremendous achievements in all spheres over the years. Today, Pakistan is a strong, democratic and progressive country recognised for its role in the promotion of peace, stability and development at regional and global levels. Pakistan is a leading voice of the developing nations and the Islamic world.

“We are a firm believer in multilateralism and an active member of the United Nations. Pakistan has made tangible contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security through participation in UN peacekeeping missions around the world.​

​“Pakistan is also a great advocate of regional cooperation and is an active member of some regional and cross-regional forums including
Economic Cooperation Organization, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Developing-8, Asia Cooperation Dialogue, Asia Europe Meeting, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Similarly, recognising the critical role and significance of ASEAN, Pakistan has developed strong linkages with ASEAN and all its member states.

​“The Pakistani government is pursuing the ‘friendly neighbourhood’ policy, which goes with our attachment to regional cooperation,
and peaceful co-existence and harmonious relations to realise the true development potential of our country and the region. At home, political maturity, free press, strengthened institutions and vibrant civil society have further consolidated the democratic process. The present government will complete its five-year term in May this year.

​“Sustained security and law enforcement efforts have brought about a remarkable improvement in the overall situation in Pakistan and enabled an environment that encourages development and investment.

“The revival of the economy and its continuing upward trajectory testify to the success of the government’s economic and development policies. From 4.7% in 2015/16, GDP grew at 5.3% in 2016/17 and is expected to cross 5.6% during the current financial year. According to an IMF/World Bank survey, Pakistan’s economy surpassed US$1 trillion (regarding purchasing power parity) in October 2017, becoming the 25th country in the world to join the Trillion Dollar Markets Club. Pakistan has a substantial middle class with rising incomes and a fast growing market.

“A tremendous lift to development has been provided by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is a flagship connectivity project of the Belt and Road Initiative. CPEC now comprises investments of over US$65 billion. It is already creating an impact,  boosting economy and investor confidence. It is going to transform the development landscape of the region fundamentally. The new deep-sea port at
Gwadar is being tipped as the future trade hub in the region.”

Assignment in Thailand
n the Pakistan foreign service, as with most foreign ministries, we start as 3rd secretary and move up the ladder. When you are experienced enough, you are offered ambassadorial assignments. A basic requirement is that you must have held a position as director-general, which is equivalent to civil service grade 20 in Pakistan. This is my first ambassadorial posting. Normally the first assignment won’t be at a location like Beijing, Washington D.C., or Geneva. There
were two or three options available to me, and I didn’t have to think twice about choosing Bangkok. It was a very nice option and a good choice.

“I am here with my wife and two daughters who are in high school. Our eldest daughter is pursuing her studies in medicine in Pakistan. Thailand is new to all of us. Imagine coming to a country for the first time, and that as the
ambassador of your country. It is a wonderful and unique experience indeed. I must say that from friends and family we had heard a lot of good, exciting things about Thailand, and we are finding it all to be true. It has been a great experience so far. In our system, the length of assignment for an ambassador is usually three years, with some flexibility.

“My primary role is to promote goodwill and friendship between the two countries and peoples and to further strengthen long-standing bilateral relations in a mutually beneficial manner. I see bilateral relations more as a partnership, a cooperative framework based on mutual trust and understanding, a win-win relationship. Our efforts at the embassy are deployed to advance this objective, and we work closely with the Royal Thai government in this regard.

​“I would like to note that the relationship between our two countries has been developed and nurtured by many political leaders, diplomats, technocrats and other people on both sides over the years. Our job is to build on and consolidate the relationship. We also want to diversify by focusing more on areas that have not so far been fully explored. There are many new ideas and initiatives, new ways of doing things in many areas.

​“We are focusing on all aspects of our bilateral ties political, defense and security, development, trade and investment, education, scientific and technological 
cooperation and so on. We intend to enhance cooperation with Thailand in regional and international forums based on our shared interests of peace and development. We are also eager to promote people to people contacts through cultural and educational programs along with sports and tourism. I am reaching out in particular to the business 
community, media, intellectuals, universities and think tanks in Thailand.

“Of course, one of our primary responsibilities is to look after the interests and well-being of the Pakistani community in Thailand, and we naturally attach great 
importance to this. We take our work at UNESCAP very seriously, and this is also a way of maintaining my longstanding engagement with the UN, where Pakistan
has traditionally played a constructive and leading role on a host of issues.

“Pakistan and Thailand established diplomatic relations on October 10, 1951. The embassy here was opened a little later, and I recall that the first Pakistani ambassador was appointed in 1954. Before that, we had a chargé d’affaires based here. We moved to the current location of the chancery in 1963 when we bought this property. Relations between our two countries have been excellent all along, very cordial and always absolutely trouble free.

“By our standards, the Pakistani embassy in Bangkok is a mid-size mission. Apart from myself, there are five other officers and some support staff from Pakistan, 18-19 people in total. Then we have nine or ten local secretarial and other staff, mostly Thai nationals. It is a very good team. All the Pakistani staff resides on the premises, so
traffic is no excuse for being late for work,” said Mr Asim smiling. “We are in a busy area, so it is good to avoid the commute and the traffic.

“We are keen to maintain high-level political contacts to provide momentum to the bilateral relationship, which we desire to rise to a more strategic level. We have a particular 
focus on trade and investment, and these are likely to get a further boost with the conclusion of the free trade agreement, 
​negotiations on which are in final stages. We are also working to reinvigorate the Joint Economic Commission. ​

​“It is a multifaceted partnership, and therefore we shall continue to complement bilateral political and economic ties with increased cooperation in the defense, security and intelligence domains. Pakistan is sharing its experience as a top troop contributor for UN peacekeeping missions, as well as our success in the fight against terrorism. A new Memorandum on Defence Cooperation is close to agreement between our two countries.

​“Pakistan and Thailand have so much to learn and benefit from each other’s development experiences. On our side, there is much interest in the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy espoused by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Their Majesties, the King and the Queen, visited Pakistan in 1962, and since then there have been many high-level visits on both sides.

​“The strategic locations of our two countries allow us to rightly claim the title of the gateway to our respective regions – Thailand to Southeast Asia and Pakistan to Central/West Asia and the Middle East. This offers immense opportunities for promoting cross-regional access and connectivity. We are undertaking mega projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Likewise, Thailand is pursuing its Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and other projects. Pakistan’s Vision East Asia and Thailand’s Look West policies complement each other. I would say both our countries are great believers and advocates of multilateral, and regional cooperation.

​“With a population of over 200 million, a large and growing middle class, an upward economic trajectory and vigorous infrastructure development, Pakistan offers a
huge market and an attractive investment environment for Thailand. We are deploying efforts to create more awareness among public and private sectors of both sides about the opportunities that exist.

“Bilateral trade is on the rise and the total value exceeded US$1.5 billion in 2017, which is a record. But most of it, about 90%, was in exports to Pakistan. Around US$150 million worth of goods were exported from Pakistan to Thailand. This is a big deficit, and it is something we have been trying to address. However, the fact is that both Thai and Pakistani exports are increasing gradually. There are some issues of import duties and tariff and non-tariff barriers, which are being taken care of in the FTA. With a more favourable environment, trade is going to increase further.

“Pakistan imports from Thailand automobiles, spare parts and CKD car kits. Other major imports are rubber, plastics, food products, polyurethane, machinery, air
conditioning equipment, computers and appliances. The greater part of our exports to Thailand is comprised of fish and fishery products, apart from textiles, leather products,
surgical instruments and sporting goods. Most of the footballs you see in Thailand are handmade in Pakistan. 
​
We are also exploring the possibility of cooperation in the pharmaceuticals side.
“There is a desire on both sides to conclude the FTA as soon as possible. There are great expectations among the business community and investors on both sides. The FTA is likely to lead to increasing in our exports especially
our textile sector would be able to avail competitive duty structure. There is also great potential for export of fruit and vegetable from Pakistan.”

People to people
​We need to find ways to enhance personal interactions between the two peoples. A great way to do this is through culture. I am thinking regarding screening films and TV dramas, and staging art, fashion,
and music presentations. We would like to better inform the people of Thailand by showcasing the rich Buddhist heritage of Pakistan, which constitutes a strong cultural and historical linkage between our lands and peoples. Buddhism flourished in our region more than 2,000 years
ago. There are not many Buddhists in Pakistan now, but ancient monasteries and other archaeological sites have been carefully preserved and maintained. Several of these are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites.

“On the education side, Pakistanis are studying in Thailand at AIT and in other universities, and Thais are studying in Pakistan at institutions like the Islamic University in Islamabad. Our military officers are
attending the Staff Course and the National Defense Course in Thailand. Thailand has also been sending its officers to Pakistani institutions in the past, and we have agreed to renew and reinforce this cooperation. Thai officers have also attended peacekeeping and related
courses and programs in Pakistan.

“We are also exploring exchanges in the field of sports. There are such huge numbers of sports enthusiasts and fans in both countries. Thailand excels in golf, snooker, badminton, boxing and other sports. Pakistan has been world champion in hockey, cricket and squash. Golf and snooker are fast developing in Pakistan. Our countries have competed in tennis, most recently in the Davis Cup. We had Thai participants in the famous Cholistan car rally in Pakistan.

​“Another way to get introduced to the country, people and culture is through tourism, and that is the main area of our attention. Currently, there are many more Pakistanis coming to Thailand for tourism, but the number of Thai visitors to Pakistan is also picking up. We would very much like to strengthen this trend. Around 82,000 Pakistanis visited Thailand in 2017, while close to 4,000 visas were issued by our Embassy in 2017, including both business and tourist visas. This is a significant rise compared to 2016 and 2015. Visas for Thai business travellers and group tourists have been made easier, and Thai nationals in these categories can now get a 30-day visa on arrival in Pakistan. This would, in particular, facilitate our Thai friends living far off from Bangkok, as they would not need to travel to Bangkok to get the visa from the embassy.

​“Thai Airways International is flying to Pakistan, and Pakistan International Airlines has also restarted its operation to Thailand. We expect the number of Thais visiting Pakistan will continue to rise. There are so many things to experience and see out there. The landscape is spectacular. We have deserts, plains, valleys and some of the highest mountains on the planet, such as the K2 and Nanga Parbat. Some call the vast northern regions of Pakistan ‘mega Switzerland’ because of the dramatic mountain scenery, breathtaking lakes and valleys.

​“We don’t have the exact number of Pakistani nationals living in Thailand because not everyone registers with the embassy, but it is probably 4,000 to 5,000. Most are engaged in various businesses, trading, and jobs. Many Pakistanis are working with multinational companies and international organisations including the UN.

​“Then there are also Thai nationals of Pakistani origin. They are the people whose families have been here for some generations now. Most are also known as Thai Pathans. I had the opportunity to meet many of them soon after my arrival into Thailand at their annual event held in Ayutthaya last year. We maintain regular contact. The number is quite substantial, estimated to be over 200,000. They are in many types of business and are also in civil service, including the police force. This is a big community that is present all over Thailand and well integrated in Thai society, and they make a significant contribution to the development of the country in many fields. They are also promoting friendship between our peoples. On the other hand, around 1,200 Thais are living in Pakistan.” 

ASEAN partnership
The Ambassador said Pakistan recognises ASEAN as a very effective organisation that in many ways is a model for regional cooperation. “Pakistan has close, and friendly relations with all ASEAN members and we see ourselves a natural partner of ASEAN. We have had a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN since 1997, and we are very keen to elevate the relationship to Full Dialogue Partnership. There is broad support for this, including from Thailand.

“I am happy to note that in all my interactions with the Thai foreign ministry and with Thai officials and leadership, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and various cabinet ministers, I have sensed a desire to take the bilateral relationship to a higher, and more strategic level. We endeavour to do this in a mutually beneficial manner by involving not only the governments but also the people
and the private sector. I am reaching out, for example, to universities, the media, the Thai business community, the ​​Thai Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries. We are organising visits from Pakistan and we take Thai business delegations to Pakistan.”

Personal
“My wife and I and our children are all happy to be here. Thai people are very kind, gentle and hospitable. Thai cuisine is also interesting to us, especially to my wife. She loves cooking and is fond of experiencing a different kind of cuisine. Apparently, there are so many places to see and visit here, and the Thai culture is very rich.

“Some of the things that we experienced after our arrival have left a lasting impression. When we reached Bangkok, the Thai nation was in a period of mourning for their beloved King Rama IX. What we saw and felt during that period leading up to the royal cremation ceremonies in October was exceptional and extraordinary. The unity and solidarity, and the kind of love and deep respect shown by the Thai people towards the late King were simply unprecedented. The entire experience was genuinely moving. It will always be etched in our memories. The contribution of His Majesty the late King in Thailand’s development and lifting of the people from poverty is tremendous and evident all over Thailand. This is highly impressive. I attended the cremation ceremony together with the Special Envoy of the President of Pakistan, our Federal Minister for Energy.

“When someone asks me what is unique about Thailand I always mention how it has developed from a country with an income of a couple of hundred dollars per capita to a high middle-income country
with over six thousand dollars per capita. This is, in my view, mainly owed to the vision, and contribution of the late King, the development oriented policies and the Sufficiency Economy model.

APART from his PostScript column which still appears every Sunday, he has been working on a book. It has taken a little while, but is finally being released this month, entitled The Long Winding Road To Nakhon Nowhere, and it really was a long road. The book covers his overland journey from England to Thailand in 1969 and his early experiences in the Land of Smiles, first as a teacher and then as a journalist at the Bangkok Post where he worked for four decades. ​​The BigChilli sat down to talk with
him about the book to be launched at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCCT) on May 9th.

This isn’t your first book?
No, I’ve had a couple published which were basically compilations from the Sunday column. The first was simply called  PostScript and the second entitled Forgotten But Not Gone. Actually the title was probably
the best part of the second book, although it did discuss important issues like squashed lizards, dancing policemen, pickled parrots and men ​with bald heads. They were great fun to compile, although they weren’t exactly best-sellers.

​​

What prompted you to write this third book?
Over the years, many people I have met expressed interest in the fact I travelled overland from England to Thailand in the days when you could do that sort of thing. They also wanted to know what it was like
living in Thailand in the 1970s and how much it had changed since. So I thought it might be an idea to write about the trip and my early
​experiences in the kingdom. Initially, it was just going to be a kind of travelogue, but it developed into more than that, with lots of personal experiences.​

Give us a rough idea of the contents
There are 26 chapters in all. The first four
deal with the overland trip. It was quite an
experience and something I’ve never forgotten. I didn’t know anybody on the bus, but after a while became friendly with another Englishman, Clarence Shettlesworth.
We travelled through more than a dozen countries, and it became more intriguing
the further we ventured into Asia.

​Afghanistan was quite extraordinary, and so
was Nepal but in a different way. It was freezing cold all the way to Afghanistan,
particularly in eastern Turkey, and sometimes the drivers had to light a fire under the bus ​to melt the frozen diesel oil. The buses eventually broke down in the middle of the Afghan desert so Clarence and I, along with a
couple of the girls from the bus, carried on for the rest of the journey making our own way. ​

You must have a good memory 
Fortunately, I kept a diary in 1969, which I still possess, so for the whole of that year, I know exactly where I was on what day. Much of the diary is trivia at its most trivial. I wouldn’t let anyone else read it. However, I wish I had continued with some sort of daily journal. These days I can’t remember what happened yesterday.

​​​What about the nightlife?
Yes, there’s plenty of that in the book - probably a bit too much. It’s
mainly about the early days when I didn’t have a clue what was going
on. It certainly was a bit different to my hometown in Berkshire. My
introduction to Bangkok’s nightlife was the old Mosquito bar down by
the docks. That was an eye-opener. I particularly enjoyed the New
Petchburi Road strip, especially all the bands which catered for GIs on
R&R from Vietnam. It was heaving until hostilities ended in 1975.

​​Any serious stuff?
Nearly all the book is written in what I hope is a lighthearted style similar to the PostScript columns. However, there is one sobering
chapter about the events of Oct 14, 1973, and Oct 6, 1976, which definitely cannot be treated in a frivolous manner. I witnessed both events and have attempted to convey just how traumatic those times were. They are not particularly pleasant memories, although Oct 14 was in a way inspiring.

​How about your maid, Ms Yasothon?
​​She’s got a whole chapter, God bless her, and probably deserves more.
She sadly died back in 2003, but her husband Noi still looks after our house and garden, and he’s a lovely chap. I have happy memories of Tong (Ms Yasothon), and I think it rubbed off on readers. I wrote a tribute to her in the Bangkok Post the week after she died and was overwhelmed with emails of condolences from around the globe. It was very moving. She would never have any idea she had such a following.

​Any particular moments in the book that bring back fond memories?
As a teacher singing an impromptu ‘Simon Says’ with a class of 12-year-old in what was supposed to be an English lesson - that was great fun.
​
The tale of the haunted house which became my first (and last) front-page story; the ‘capture’ and release of the black panther, Ai Dum, a classic ​​Thai tale if ever there was one. And the look of bewilderment on Ms Yasothon’s face when a PostScript reader asked for her autograph, a lovely moment.

You must have a special attachment to the Bangkok Post having worked there for most of your life?
We are actually the same age, the Post and I, established in 1946. When I joined we were a sprightly 23, so we have sort of grown up together. Even in the months before I joined
the Post, I used to buy it every day. It cost two baht and was a very good read. You have to remember that it was in the days before satellite news, so the newspaper was a key source of information. The local TV news was pretty grim. Admittedly my main
reason for buying the paper was to catch up on the sports news back in England, particularly the football. But I also felt it had an excellent balance of home and international news, something that still exists to this day.

Bangkok has changed considerably since you arrived. Please give us some less obvious examples of those changes.
Something many people have forgotten is that until the 1980s most taxis in Bangkok had no air conditioning unless you counted the holes in the floor. Those old Bluebird rattletraps felt like tin saunas, but when you let the windows down, it also let the fumes in. They had meters which never worked and were only used by cabbies to hang their hats on.

Also in the early 1970s wherever you walked in Bangkok little kids would ambush you with “hey you, one baht”, later to become “hey you, five baht”. That doesn’t happen anymore, well not to me. I also miss the traditional sounds of the sois – the comforting
sounds of the night watchman patrolling the soi striking a bell every hour after midnight; the kuay teow seller with his booming but somehow melodic voice (now it’s a pick-up with awful loudspeakers); and the icecream
man with his little bell. We’ve still got stray dogs, however. That won’t change.

With the Vietnam War raging in your early years in Thailand, did you ever fear for your future - or indeed Thailand’s future? ​
The Bangkok Post provided excellent coverage of the war, so we were all alert to the situation. I was never really worried about my future, but in the early 1970s, I was concerned about what could happen to Thailand. 

​​Many people feared the ‘Domino Theory’, believing that Thailand would suffer the same fate as Laos and Cambodia and be overrun by
the Communists. I am convinced that the people’s love for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej united Thailand and played a major role in the kingdom holding firm, especially in the vulnerable Northeast.

Is it true that Bangkok’s expat community in the early 70s was so small that everybody knew just about everyone else?
It was not exactly a village, but if you went out at night, you could almost guarantee you would run into several people you knew. I played a lot of football in those days and was often bumping into people I played against,
​and we invariably ended up having drinks together - Germans, Swiss, Scandinavians, Italians, French and Thais. It was wonderful. I made so many friends from different  nationalities. However, it was almost  impossible to have a discreet date - there would always be someone you knew showing up at the quietest of places.

Who else has been involved in the book?
Several people have been very helpful. My old friend John Leicester has done an excellent editing job and has been very patient with all the delays. Then there are friends and former Post colleagues Tony Waltham and Peter Finucane who came  through when my memory was found lacking. Danny Speight has also been very supportive, and his work on the production side has been invaluable.
And of course my late dog, Toby, who proved to be a very good listener in my more fragile moments.

Is there another book in the works?
While reading the proofs of the current book recently, I realised how much I had left out, so you never know. ​

SEEKING an exotic refuge, serial entrepreneur and real-estate guru Andres Pira, chose the tropical paradise of Phuket as his recluse.  Beautiful beaches and the impeccable Thai hospitality have proven too good to resist. And within the Land of Smiles, the story of a once homeless man who became a billionaire unfolds. This is the journey of a low-key 35-year-old billionaire, Andres Pira, founder of 19 companies, with 249 employees and plenty of advice to give.

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Andres has always dreamt of living in a sunny abode. He was unhappy and his life was going nowhere. In an unfortunate turn of events, his grandfather died and left him $2,000 inheritance which he used to buy a flight ticket to Asia. After arriving in Thailand at the age of 20, he never left.

Thailand hasn’t been easy on Andres. With no contacts, jobs, or knowledge of Thai language, he quickly ran out of funds and became homeless. Too embarrassed to request help from his family, he slept his life away on the beach of Phuket and was down to his last $100. Desperate and hungry, he asked a friend for help. That friend answered, “I won’t give you any money, but I’ll give you a book that might help.” A little upset from the response, on an empty-stomach Andres read the book ‘The Secret’. From that moment on, his life completely changed thanks to ‘The Law of Attraction’.

He landed a job handing out brochures for a real estate developer. Within one year, he was promoted to a sales agent, sales manager, and finally sales director. Within three years, he excelled in real estate sales and harvested several property investors who believed in his vision and ambitions. This led to his first investor funded property development. 

In June 2017, Blue Horizon Developments, Phuket-based Developer, was named ‘Top Thai Property Developer’ and ‘New Hotel Construction & Design’ by Asia Pacific Property Awards 2017-2018.

In July 2017, Blue Horizon Developments ​​collected three awards, 
‘Best Developer’, ‘Best Mixed-Use Development’, and ‘Best Mid-range Condo Development Phuket’ for their B850 million Grand
Himalai Project at the inaugural awards ceremony by Thailand Property and Dot Property Group. Blue Horizon’s group of the 
portfolio includes award-winning The Beach Front, Skylight Villas, Signature Villas, and Himalai Oceanfront Condominium. Andres Pira and his group of companies are worth approximately B1.8 Billion.

What do you want to say to other expats who come to Thailand?
Using The Law of Attraction, The Secret, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, my determination to achieve became endless. I’m not any different to anyone else. If someone else can do it, you can too. What do you possibly have to lose when you’re only changing the way you see, want, or think?

What’s your proudest accomplishment?
Establishing Blue Horizon Development and having an awesome team. We’re building Phuket’s biggest resort yet, a 774-unit Heaven resort. It’s an exciting project!

​Tell us about your book, ‘From Homeless to Billionaire – The 18 Secrets of Attracting Great Wealth and Becoming a Money Magnet’
I had an event with one of my leading mentors and a contributor to my upcoming self-help publication, Dr Joe Vitale – The Secret & The Law of Attraction Expert. I’ve been poor, and now I am financially comfortable. The only difference between rich and poor is the mindset. So I thought, who better to learn from than a homeless person that became a billionaire by using the techniques and mindset of the wealthy?

​Follow Andres at his official website: www.andrespira.com

WITH all the health issues sprouting in today’s world, many people decide to depend less on the chemical and synthetic medication and turn towards alternative choices. Believe it or not, hypnotherapy is one of them. In this issue, The BigChilli called upon Kamil Bigda, Clinical and General Hypnotherapist/NLP Master Practitioner and Roshni Srikureja, Clinical and General Hypnotherapist/Reiki Master at Bangkok Hypnotherapy to inquire about hypnotherapy and how it can help improve people’s health today.

What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of complementary therapy that uses a natural yet altered state of mind to bridge a direct communication with our subconscious mind. This fascinating state, often called trance, helps us explore and work with our deepest thoughts, feelings, and values.

Could you describe your typical work day?
The beauty of being a hypnotherapist is that there are no typical days. Our work day starts by reviewing session notes and healing strategies prepared for our clients. Before each session, we clear our minds with meditation, self-hypnosis or using positive affirmations. We clean the work space so that clients come into a neutral environment without any energetic residues. Our sessions are custom-tailored to individual client needs. After the sessions we often prepare audio recordings with healing suggestions for our clients and follow up on emails and social media. Some days are also dedicated to preparing workshops and seminars on Hypnotherapy and Past Life Regression.

​​​How did you get started in this field?
My partner and I have always been fascinated with the human minds. We both carry a passion for healing and transforming people’s lives. This desire to better the world later led us to studying Hypnotherapy in one of the top schools in the world and becoming licensed professionals.

How do most people enter this profession?
Most people start by finding a course in hypnosis and later someone to practice with. Practical skills are a very important step to becoming a qualified professional. 

Please briefly introduce the founders of the company
Kamil Bigda, a founder, was born in Poland and spent most of his life in Hawaii and later Spain and India. Having worked in many professional fields, he possesses a wide range of experience and now resides in Bangkok where he focuses primarily on Hypnotherapy, Coaching, and Past Life Regression workshops. He speaks English, Polish, and Spanish.

​Roshni Srikureja, a co-founder, is from Bangkok. She used to work in the IT field, and later became a highly recommended energy healer. Currently she’s dedicating her professional time to Reiki and Hypnotherapy. She speaks Thai and English.

What qualifications does a hypnotherapist need?
Qualified hypnotherapists will have a diploma from a recognized institution that is affiliated with a known Hypnotherapy Board (International Board of Hypnotherapy or American Board of Hypnotherapy, to name a few) and follows a strong code of ethics. They will also have at least 400 hours of theoretical and practical training.

Why hypnotherapy? What treatments do you offer in
addition to hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is natural, non-invasive, and has no side effects, so it became an easy choice. Results can often be achieved within a single session, contrary to other approaches like psychotherapy or conventional counseling. In addition to Hypnotherapy we offer Reiki treatments and Life Coaching (NLP).

What is hypnosis healing? Can you explain the process?
It has been long known that our minds can heal the body. Although science is still trying to understand how, we already know that under right conditions our minds interpret imagination and suggestions as reality. In Hypnosis we use this phenomenon to trigger an accelerated healing response.

Can hypnosis heal physical pain? If yes, how so?
Absolutely. Many forms of pain result from limiting beliefs about ourselves or unresolved events and emotions from the past. In deep hypnosis we can re-frame and heal those, successfully removing the underlying cause. We also teach people how to manage pain, as pain receptors in our body are controlled by brain.

I’m sure some people might feel unsure or fear they will have subconscious messages under hypnosis … is that something to be afraid of? What are subconscious messages?
While “in” hypnosis (never “under”), most people are completely aware of everything that happens and retain full memory of their experience. Since all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, our subconscious mind cannot accept a suggestion or an idea that’s not ours, or one that could be harmful. These are some of the myths propagated through movies and through stage hypnosis. The only subconscious messages that we give to our clients are the ones that facilitate a positive mindset, speed up healing, create a feeling of safety, comfort, and deep relaxation, and motivate our clients to transform their lives and become their best selves.
​
How do you go about alleviating potential concerns for those thinking about partaking in hypnosis?
If you ever drove a car, but could not remember the whole route because your mind was in the auto-pilot mode, you were in hypnosis. Whenever you read a book or watched a movie that was so captivating that you didn’t even ​notice the surroundings, you hypnotise yourself. In our consultation sessions and periodic workshops, we show people how to experience hypnosis in a safe environment.

​What treatments do you offer using hypnotherapy?
Our treatments include smoking cessation, sleep improvement, a release from stress and anxiety, reducing physical pain, surgery preparation, managing phobias and addictions, past life and natal regression and many more. A full list of services can be found on our website.

What does one have to look for in order to make sure they are being treated at a qualified clinic or institution?
When looking for a professional clinic it’s important to check credentials and experience of the therapists working there. Do they have a professionally looking website? Any business cards? Are they easy to reach and do they
respond in a timely manner? Ask them if they belong to any board of hypnotherapy. This will tell you if they adhere to high standards or not. If you see someone using a pendulum or swinging their watch as it’s often portrayed in
movies: run, or come to Bangkok Hypnotherapy instead.

Do you recommend self-hypnosis?
Absolutely. It’s like going to a spa for the mind. Have you ever undergone hypnosis? Do you remember what it was like? Please explain. Oh yes, we’ve been hypnotised hundreds of times. Each time was different, yet always peaceful and relaxing. Being in a state of hypnosis is a fascinating and often a life changing experience. At least that’s our experience of it.

How long does a session usually last?
Most sessions last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the technique used and client’s needs.

What are the benefits of hypnosis?
Deep relaxation, improved self-esteem, greater clarity, a sense of relief, are only a few. There are countless benefits, really.

Who should undergo hypnosis? Why?
Anyone interested in self-improvement or removing self-made obstacles to success should experience hypnosis at least once. It can be truly a life changing experience.

​Is there an age limit as to who can have hypnotherapy?
There is no age limit, although sometimes age may impact the ability to hear, see, remember, visualize, or follow directions. We’ve had clients over 75 years old and we’ve work with children as young as seven (under parental
supervision of course).

Do you recommend hypnotherapy for children? Why
or why not?
Children are the ones who can benefit from the
hypnotherapy the most. Their vivid imagination helps achieve results faster than with adults. Also, their critical voice is still underdeveloped which means there is less
resistance to change.

Can you break down the costs of hypnotherapy for someone interested in it?
We do our best to make sessions affordable. A single session costs only 3,000 baht. Discounted rates are available for people who book several sessions in advance. More information can be found on our website.

What is the hardest part of your job?
Promoting Hypnotherapy in Thailand. Local
culture still operates on a taboo implying that
getting a psychological help shows weakness,
or that there’s something wrong with us.
The opposite is true, taking care of your
mind requires real maturity and willingness
to adapt to new conditions. Educating people on these subjects can sometimes be challenging.

What part of your job that is the most challenging?
Dispelling myths about Hypnotherapy.

Most rewarding aspect of your job?
Being able to witness and facilitate healing and transformation in our clients in a short amount of time, often right in front of our eyes.

What advice to you have to give to those thinking of taking up a profession dealing with hypnotherapy?
First you need a proper education and lots of practice. Just like you can’t learn a new language in a weekend course, pick a school that offers a comprehensive curriculum with
lots of hands-on practice. The one day or weekend courses will only give you a brief overview which isn’t enough to start. Also, it’s important to constantly work on yourself,
so that your own insecurities or issues don’t project out in sessions. Many therapists never do this part and end up causing more harm than good. A final word of advice is that
once you’re certified, continue educating yourself, learn new techniques, and practice hypnosis as much as possible.
​
What advice do you have for someone interested in having hypnotherapy?
Set an intention to heal, book an appointment, and come in with an open mind.

www.bangkokhypnotherapy.com

Background
“I was born in 1964 in Israel and grew up in food and beverage, due to my family’s business. While I was later on focusing for more than two decades on retail, I never lost sight of the food and beverage industry and eventually returned to it.

“I originally went to Vietnam with the thought of slowing down my overall activities, but to enjoy an exciting  emerging market. I then recognized that I was not ready for some sort of retirement and sought for a new challenge and this was returning to my roots and my original passion, the food and beverage business. Vietnam, and in particular Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, quickly and successfully developed with three restaurants within not even two years and with that came the decision to develop the restaurant chain in Thailand as well. All El Gaucho restaurants are running under local companies of which I am the owner.”

Regarding his concept and design of the restaurants and connection to  Argentina, Mr Himi said: “It is my aim to establish the benchmark in Southeast Asia for a contemporary, specialized steakhouse concept. I am serving best quality products, pairing steakhouse classics with a modern approach and creating an overall high service, wine and dine experience in a down-to-earth environment with some playful details. 

“Argentina is an incredibly passionate country where food culture combining South American and European influences and in which beef is not only honoured but celebrated. This honouring for such a high-quality product and the celebration of it within a comforting environment is what my El Gaucho restaurants is about.

Toxicity is generally described in three types based on the number of exposures to a poison and the time it takes for the symptoms to develop, which are acute toxicity, sub-chronic toxicity and chronic toxicity.

Acute toxicity refers to the adverse effects through short-term exposure.Chronic toxicity is caused by long term, repeated or continuous exposure to a poison that affects our bodies over an extended lifetime period. Sub-chronic toxicity describes the harmful effects for more than one year.
​
Most toxic effects do not cause permanent damage and are treatable, but recovery generally takes a long time. However, there are some toxins that can cause permanent damage.

There are no specific symptoms to toxicity. Generally, people who are suffering from symptoms like chronic headache, skin allergies, food allergies will not realize that those symptoms can be caused by toxins and do not mention the poison exposure to their physicians.

F​EW people have felt the impact of the Digital Age
on their profession more acutely and painfully than
Alberto Cassio, for years one of Bangkok’s top photographers whose skills kept him in constant 
​demand from advertising agencies, magazines and private clients. His work commanded fees of more than $1,000 a day, allowing this amiable Italian to enjoy la dolce vita right here in Thailand. 

​But it wasn’t to last. Alberto’s fortunes plummeted almost overnight with the launch of smartphones  whose built-in digital cameras offered an amazing array of options and capabilities. In one cruel swoop, they heralded a new era in photography – and simultaneously the demise of traditional photographers with their heavy reflex cameras and lenses, and bulky lighting equipment. Alberto and others like him were suddenly out of a job.

During much of the 1980s and 1990s, Alberto and his partner, the well-known landscape and homes photographer Luca Invernizzi, operated a business that matched the growing need for quality images in Thailand perfectly. Their set-up included studios for still-life and modelling assignments, an extensive photo library called Photobank, which stocked their images and those of other quality photographers, as
well as directories of more than 2,000 for-rent photos. The pair were also very much ‘photographers-for-hire,’
taking on countless freelance jobs, and charging international rates. What they had created was an almost
unassailable business proposition.​

​Born and raised in Turin, Alberto studied pharmacy. “Not for a single day did I want to be a pharmacist. I studied it because my father wanted me to,” he says candidly.

While working on his thesis, he headed to Asia, visiting Indonesia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. He was instantly impressed by this part of the world and knew he wanted to stay long-term.

National service back home beckoned, however, and Alberto had to postpone his plans. He ended up in an army camp in southern Italy. “I left Bali for Bari, the only town in Italy with absolutely nothing to do.”

His talent as a photographer had already been recognised, and he reckoned he could make a living from selling his images.

He was joined a year or so later by Luca, the son of a famous portrait photographer in Turin and friend since the age of 16. Seeing the opportunities here, they plotted their joint business strategy.

“We were really good buddies, and shared everything,” he recalls. “In our early days in Bangkok, we rented a large house in Ruamrudee and turned one of the rooms into a studio. By using 500-watt bulbs and large black acrylic sheets for reflection, we could create great still-life shots.”

​Their makeshift methods worked a treat and clients quickly came 
​knocking on their door.

“Back in the 70s, they were only three other recognised photographers 
in Bangkok - Boonchu, Paul Montri, and Shrimp. And Luca and me.”

One of their first clients was Huge, an advertising agency headed by veteran ad man Ron Spaulding. Assignments with other agencies 
followed, including campaigns for Ogilvy & Mather, Lintas and Ted Bates, all needing first-class photography for their top accounts.

​The workload was heavy and because of the shortage of good 
photographers occasionally resulted in what could be considered 
commercial conflicts. “I worked on campaigns for Coca-Cola and Pepsi at the same time,” says Alberto, smiling at the memory. “I also worked on the national airlines of India and Pakistan, again at the same time. And for a Nikon ad, I actually used a Canon camera.”

He also regularly undertook photo shoots for magazines like Living, Look East and Dichan as well as in-flight publications for many Asian airlines. Supplying photos for annual business reports was another lucrative income source.

Luca, who sadly passed away four years ago, was left to focus on cultural and historical topics. His legacy is a catalogue of more than 120 beautiful books, the majority coffee table editions featuring his outstanding photography. To this day, all are big sellers.

But change was in the air. The digital revolution was taking its toll elsewhere, and Alberto knew it was coming to Thailand.

Alberto has scanned some 30,000 of his Photobank images, mostly on Thailand, and has an additional 20,000 on film.

What are his plans for this unique collection? “Good question,” he replies. “If there’s a bulk buyer, I’d sell the whole lot.”

Like many of his contemporaries, Alberto likes to reflect on Bangkok in the 70s and remembers the good times. “Everything was so cheap. Back
then, you could rent a house for 3,500 baht a month. Today, that same house would cost 35,000 baht – or more.

“You could even get cheaper accommodation like the Starlight Hotel on Sukhumvit 22. It cost just one dollar a night – and Luca and I shared a room! “Patpong was fun back then, and the marketing was very smart. Bars charged so little for lady drinks, and customers would buy lots of them. Now they charge 150 baht or even more for a lady drink, so it’s not fun anymore.”

Alberto doesn’t frequent the more upmarket nightlife haunts either after a nasty incident involving a well-known Thai model. “She got me to dance with her to make her boyfriend jealous. It was a set-up. And it worked – he punched me and then as I left he pulled a gun on me. I’ve never been back.”