Photography by Tadamasa Nagayama

The 2019-2020 Sport Corner Siam Hockey League capped off what was the most exciting season yet with a drama filled playoffs and championship.  
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Peak Biolabs and Novotel earned the right to play for the championship by winning their respective semifinal series.  

In the first playoff series, Novotel took out Hertz in a two-game sweep after Hertz earned the right to select their first round opponent by finishing first in the final regular season standings.  Novotel took their selection as strong motivation to prove Hertz made a mistake by picking them, as Novotel had finished third in the standings ahead of Aware.

Both semifinal games of the series saw Novotel take control of the game, and when Novotel was able to get a few pucks past Hertz goalie Lance Parker, Novotel netminder Leo Liao shut the door and proved why he was the best goalie in the league all season.

In the other semifinal series, Aware and Peak played the closest playoff series in the four seasons of the SHL.  The two teams split the first two games with Aware winning game one and Peak game two, with both games only being decided in the final two minutes. The third and final game was a back and forth affair with Peak pulling it out, again with the game going deep into the third period without a clear winner. ​

Do you ever play traditional Irish ballads? Lots of 'em, often.

Any difficult audience requests? The most difficult song I play is ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’. Lots of chords! My favorite song is American Pie. Fortunately, just about everyone in the world can sing along to the chorus.

Any music you’d like to play but doesn’t work with local audiences? Just about anything I play will work at one time or another. The song ‘Taxi’ by Harry Chapin is one of my favorites but it's long and not a lot of people here know it. An expat from the US who I knew for a couple of years, but had never seen me play, came into the pub and requested Taxi. I played it. He said, "That's impressive". He left and never came to see me play again, even though he lived in the neighborhood.
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Ever faced hecklers? Love 'em!
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Best compliment you’ve ever received as a musician? Someone once gave me a hundred dollar bill. Another time a group of people were sitting at the back of the pub all evening. When I finished one of guys came to the stage and said, "That was really good. Where's your iPad or your tablet?". I said I don't have one. He said, "You can't just KNOW ALL those songs."
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When not performing, how do you relax? This is a family magazine.

​​What’s next for you? If I survive the plague... during normal times I'm at The Australian Pub on Sukhumvit, Soi 11 every Tuesday, 9 to midnight. The Clubhouse, Sukhumvit Soi 23 the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 8 to 11 pm. Weekends at Father Ted's Irish Pub in Hua Hin.

Opportunities in Bangkok’s second-hand business market have never been better Prices of small and medium businesses for sale already plummeting, creating some rich pickings for investors taking a long-term view of prospects for the Thai economy.

Brokers say that the asking prices of going concerns like restaurants, bars, pubs, small hotels and hostels have dropped significantly since the COVID-19 virus outbreak. “There’s never been a better time to buy a business,” said one of Bangkok’s most experienced brokers. “Bargains are
everywhere and more are coming.

“Last month I sold a European restaurant in Bangkok for under 50% of the listed price. The buyer, also from Europe, has got a great deal.

“A bar in the Central Business District was last week reduced from 5.5 million baht to just 3.5 million baht. That’s potentially another fantastic deal – if you’ve got the money,” he cautioned.

Among the other bargains right now is a recently refurbished pub in the CBD and a go-go in Nana Plaza, which has been reduced in price from 12 million baht to just two million baht. Nightlife areas like Nana have been told to close under the new government lockdown of Bangkok. Restaurants have also been forced to shut until the middle of this month, or maybe longer, depending on the effectiveness of the new regulations.
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Meanwhile, brokers are witnessing a big increase in the number of businesses for sale. “It’s an unusual situation which will see a correction in the not too distant future. For now, though, it’s bargain time,” remarked one middleman.

Words MAXMILIAN WECHSLER

​His Excellency Ganesh Prasad Dhakal is Ambassador of Nepal to the Kingdom of Thailand and also Permanent Representative to UNESCAP. On top of that, he is concurrently accredited as Nepal’s ambassador to Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam. To say he is a busy man is an understatement, but when we met at the Nepali Embassy on Sukhumvit 71 the Ambassador was relaxed and focused on our interview. He seemed to project a certain mindfulness often associated with the ascetics and adventurers who have always been drawn to the mountainous nation he represents.

“My main job is to protect the interests of Nepali nationals, strengthen bilateral relations and expand bilateral cooperation with Thailand and the other countries I am accredited to: Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam. I presented a letter of credence in Laos in February this year and I am awaiting the opportunity to do the same in Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam. Be that as it may, I am keeping close contact with ambassadors of these countries in Bangkok.

“Every day is unique for me with new tasks and dealings, so I can’t say I have a consistent daily routine. I spend most of my time on matters that contribute to strengthening and expanding the Nepal-Thailand relationship, which is already friendly and cooperative.

“Nepal and Thailand share a traditional and historic relationship, influenced by the philosophy of Buddhism. Thai people like to visit Nepal not only to pay respect to Lord Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini, but also to enjoy the unique cultural and natural diversity. Young Thai people like to go to Nepal for adventure tourism, which includes trekking, jungle safari and white water rafting among others. Of course, Nepal is also widely known for Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali), which at 8,848 meters, is the highest peak in the world.

“Since my arrival in Thailand I have enjoyed it here very much. Thai people are very friendly and cooperative.

There are many similarities in culture and family values between Nepal and Thailand, which bring our two countries closer. Nepal is a very diverse country in terms of culture, religion and nature. But there is no question that Buddhism has had a profound influence in our culture and outlook. I also enjoy my official duties and engagements in Thailand, meeting with people of both government and private sectors.
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“All in all, I am very happy with my posting here. People often assume that it must be too hot and humid for me, but actually in the southern part of Nepal where I am from, the weather is quite similar. That is why I don’t feel much difference in terms of weather here. In Nepal, we have a very diverse climate: in the south it is tropical most of the year, in the central region the weather is moderate, and in the Himalayas it is always cold.” 

Chef in focus CHEF PHILIPP MAUS
Prior to his appointment at Amari Watergate, Maus held the title of Executive Chef for prestigious hotel chains in Thailand and Vietnam since 2009. In total, he has almost 20 years of experience in the hospitality and gastronomy industries, including Italian, Chinese and Thai, and managed team members from all over the world, bringing a wealth of international experience to Amari Watergate.
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“It is a great privilege to take this position,” said Maus. “Amari Watergate is a recognised address on Bangkok’s dining scene for its excellent venues offering a unique approach to world cuisine and interior design. I am looking forward to maintaining the quality of service and cooking that guests already know and love, as well as guiding the team to reach new goals of passion and creativity in their work.”

Klanarong Chanthik, current member of the NCCC and past secretary-general of the organisation, strongly believes that corruption can be beaten if it is placed high on the national agenda and every citizen participates in finding a solution.
 
Though he is easily recognised as a tough talking graft buster, very few people know Klanarong Chanthik also as a family man who loves music, animals and sports. And despite all the attention he receives almost daily from Thai and foreign media, the 63-year-old barrister-at-law is a rather shy man. During a two-hour interview at his home, Mr Klanarong’s naturally polite and attentive demeanour never deserted him. Although his English is passable, he preferred to give the interview in his native language, through an interpreter.
 
Mr Klanarong’s white terrier, Khao Suay (Steamed Rice), provided a noisy welcome and the only noticeable security, staying close by his side as she kept an eye on her master’s visitors. One of ten dogs at Mr Klanarong’s residence, Khao Suay is his favourite.
 
“I came from a middle-class family,” he began. “My father was a civil servant who retired as deputy comptrollergeneral of the Ministry of Finance. My mother was a nurse. I have been married to Ms Panthipa for 38 years and we have one son and two daughters.”
 
The youngest one, Sunissa, joined the interview and helped translate. Her mother, who also joined the interview, is a businesswoman. The family lives in  compound of three buildings located off Phaholyothin Road in Bangkok with 16 other family members. “I have been here for 52 years,” Mr Klanarong declared.
 
Articles that mention his name and accomplishments have been published in many countries around the world, including Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam.
 
Mr Klanarong explained how he began his anticorruption crusade: “After the Office of Counter Corruption Committee (OCCC) was established, the chairman at the time asked me to join the organisation. I started as young official and worked right up to secretary general. Later on, His Majesty the King appointed me secretary-general of the newly-established National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC).”
 
In all, Mr Klanarong has spent 35 years working for the government, 27 of them specialising in exposing and punishing corruption. He retired in 2003, but was reappointed as a member of the NCCC after the September 19 coup under the new government.
 
“I love this job and believe that I have achieved a lot of good for the people of my country. Of course, after so many years of investigating corrupt people, I have made and I still have enemies. But I don’t worry because I’m just doing my job,” said Mr Klanarong, adding that “no one ever offered me a bribe. Never!”
 
 He said that during his tenure many people have bothered and tried to intimidate him. “I was followed, received threatening calls and someone even sent me an envelope containing excrement. At the same time, however, many people called and encouraged me on my mission to expose corruption.” Mr Klanarong continued: “I used to have two military bodyguards assigned to me by the government. They came from the Armed Forces Security Centre (AFSC).
 
He then explained that under NCCC regulations, as the secretary-general he was eligible to have bodyguards provided for him, but the protection was not extended after his retirement in 2003. Since his reappointment to the NCCC he has declined security personnel. “Recently the AFSC offered me protection, but I refused. I don’t need bodyguards,” Mr Klanarong said.

By Agneta Bekassy De Bekas

American photographer Daniel Herron tells the BigChilli about his life in Thailand over the past ten years

Most people have heard of Nicholas Cage, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Christopher Lambert and Mike Tyson but, who has actually met them, let alone worked with them?
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Photographer Daniel Herron has just done that. I had a chance to sit down with Daniel to listen to his unique story. Daniel left the US in 2010 when the economy crashed. He decided he wanted to explore another country while at the same time challenging himself. His thinking is that we grow and accomplish the most when we are “out of our comfort zone” pushing ourselves and finding out just what we are made of.
 
Starting independently in a new country can be very challenging! There is the language, the culture differences one has to learn and adopt, in order to somehow fit it. It has taken him nine years in Bangkok of chasing work and finally landing some pretty interesting assignments. I know this, as we have been working together for most of the years Daniel has been in Bangkok.

Interviewing countless ambassadors has been fascinating. The events such as the opening of beautiful Park Hyatt and the huge shopping mall IconSiam, spectacular opening events on the Chao Phraya River, are great memories, Daniel says. Then Daniel connected with some Hollywood people that have relocated to Thailand. After establishing a warm friendship that leads to them asking him to work in a feature Hollywood film, starring Jean- Claude Van Damme, Mike Tyson and Christopher Lambert.
 
This is an opportunity that photographers rarely are able to get on, Daniel admits. It’s an insider track only possible by knowing people in the film industry and having the skills to work under such unique conditions.
 
Daniel was thrilled at the offer, but also knew the huge responsibility involved as the set photographers are what is used to promote the movie in advance of its release and must convey the director’s vision with impact! Long days and nights, sometimes no less than 12-14 hours, six days a week for at least 4-6 weeks. Filming in the heavy humidity in Thailand, Daniel said he lost around four kilos and was eating like a horse on the movie set.

Since he renounced the title of Bangkok’s massage parlour king and began running for elected office, Chuwit Kamolvisit has added more than a little drama to the front page and the nightly news.

​Dubbed as controversial and a maverick, the super-rich massage parlour king turned-politician Chuwit Kamolvisit made front-page headlines again on July 25, 2006 when he carried food and drinks to the three election commissioners sentenced to four years in jail by the Criminal Court. His presence led to a noisy quarrel with supporters of the commissioners and a charge of contempt of court, for which he was given a one-month suspended sentence by the Criminal Court. Mr Chuwit is no stranger to scandals; he became a household name after exposing police corruption in 2003. The media frenzy has subsided, but he continues to attract attention from the local and foreign press.
 
Anyone who meets him face-to-face must be impressed by his charisma and straightforward views about politics, corruption, his business – and himself. But Mr Chuwit apparently feels remorse for some of his past; he has sold the six luxurious massage parlours.
 
Everyone knows what the words “massage parlour” really stand for and what transpires inside such establishments. Says Mr Chuwit: “The customers come to the place like that not because we have a comfortable sofa or good decorations, but because of the girls.”
 
His 360-degree makeover, from a “sinner” to an “angel”, must have impressed the voters who gave him third place in the Bangkok Governor election in 2004, and a year later elected him as a member of Parliament. 

In this 10th part of a BigChilli exclusive series, veteran correspondent Maxmilian Wechsler recalls some of his most interesting assignments from the past two decades.

FROM THE YEAR 2006
Foodland was Bangkok’s first Thai-owned modern supermarket chain, and thanks to general manager Edwin Lim, after 34 years and the coming of foreign mega-stores it’s still the first choice of a legion of loyal patrons.

“We opened our first supermarket on Ploenchit Road in Bangkok in May 1972, and two weeks later opened a second outlet at Patpong, which was then already a well-known night-life area with many bars. At that time there was only one modern supermarket in Bangkok, on Ploenchit Road. The name was Dairy Lane and it belonged to a Hong Kong-based company,” Mr Lim said.

Entertaining guests from overseas or just fancy great Thai food in restaurants the locals use? Here’s the pick of the best Thai outlets in Bangkok.