Diving Master

Ready or not, Songkran’s coming. Prepare yourself for big splashes and super-sweaty crowds in Khao San with the latest Dive Master 500 collection from Victorinox. Designed for divers and swimmers, this robust, futuristic wristwatch is waterproof to depths of 500m and comes with non-reflective glass. Choose metal or rubber bracelet. B22,700 (rubber bracelet). Available at Time Deco (3/F, Central Chidlom, 1027 Ploenchit Rd., 02-793-7777).

Size Does Matter

King-size worshippers, hear this: Playground! has just brought an XL brand straight from Belgium. A simple concept, Extra-Large is aimed at those who love everything HUGE. There’s a long list of stuff for you to choose from, ranging from ordinary objects like pencils, erasers and straws to the essential-but-not-so-common giant condom. B500-5,000. Available at Playground! (818 Soi Thonglor, 02-714-7888).

Finnegan’s Irish pub & Restaurant

23/1 Sukhumvit 4, 02-656-8160. Open daily 9am-1am. www.finnegansthailand.com.
This is a snug little bar, cozy and congenial. Authentic Irish breakfasts are served: Enjoy homemade soda bread and white pudding. Pub quiz on Wednesdays. Live Irish music on St. Patrick’s Day.

Hanrahans

12/1 Sukhumvit 4, 02-255-0644. Open daily 10am-1am.
Breaking the mold of other Irish pubs, the newly-opened Hanrahan’s is refreshingly free of stained oak, horse brasses and other “ye olde” trappings. The design is modern and light. Excellent decked rooftop garden. Happy hour 4pm-7pm, daily drinks promotions, pool table and live music every night except Sat.

The Irish X Change

1/5-6 Convent Rd., 02-266-7160/1. Open daily 9am–1am. www.irishxchange.com
Magnificent pub breakfasts (B149, served from 9am-noon) and other hearty fare. Happy hour (Mon-Fri 5-9pm) features B75 pints of Tiger and Heineken, and live bands perform Wed and Fri from 9:30pm. Secretary Night (Thu) offers a host of deals and music by Lee Shamrock.

Shamrock Bar

2/F The Center, Khao San Rd., 02-282-4366. Open daily 6pm-1am.
The nightly live music draws people to the Shamrock Bar, but the real reason to head there is it's the only place on Khao San Road with draft Guinness (B200/pint). And, hey, if you get bored, there’s another bar downstairs.

Get yourself a big brown tote bag (B4,800) from Blue Bovine and a pair of brown sunglasses (B3,890) from Nice Optic.

Super-Borat khaki suit (B2,900), black shirt (B490) and pants (B690) from Carrot.

A gold tie is needed to make it truly freaky in Borat’s unique way. We recommend a cheap one from Wan Variety at only B100.

You can find simple black leather shoes anywhere. These plain black shoes (B1200) from the Parisian shop in MBK will do the trick.

Complete the set with your own fake mustache (see below), fool around with people in the middle of Siam Square and boom…here comes Borat!

DIY: Borat mustache

You’ll need:
- False eyelash adhesive
- Cotton wool pads
- Toothbrush
- Black marker pen

1. Cut up the cotton wool pads into the shape you want.
2. Paint the pieces black with the black marker pen, and wait for them to dry.
3. Fluff up the pads by brushing them carefully with the toothbrush.
4. Apply adhesive on both the pads and your skin. Stick them on.

Info

Carrot: 1/F, Siam Theater, 02-658-3768, 08-1555-5883
Wan Variety: M 43, 3/F, MBK Center, 444 Phaya Thai Rd., 08-1929-7784, 08-9688-5502.
Parisian: B60, 3/F, MBK Center, 444 Phaya Thai Rd., 02-611-8070.
Blue Bovine: G/F, MBK Center, 444 Phaya Thai Rd., 02-686-3741, 08-9125-8105.
Nice Optic: 198 Siam Square Soi 1, 02-251-0654, 02-251-8468. Open daily 10:30am-8pm.

Check out our movie review of Borat

Favorite audience:
People who are there for the music, not to show off their money or looks.

All time fave song:
One of them is definitely Stevie Wonder’s “Superwoman,” though there are many more.

Rule for life:
Work hard, but only at things you love.

Favorite Bangkok sound/ noise:
Whatever the waiter says when bringing me some lovely Thai food!

Last thing that made me stop and think:
When I heard Bush is sending more troops to Iraq.

If Bangkok were music, it sound likes:
A lot of percussion and rhythm, hectic and fast, but with a great warm, loving feeling.

Favorite website:
YouTube

Most embarrassing record you’ve owned:
Twisted Sister, Stay Hungry. Actually, it wasn’t a record, it was a cassette tape, and I was 7 years old!!

Rasmus Faber will DJ while Melo sings on Mar 9 at Bed Supperclub, 26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537. Open daily 7:30pm-1am. B1,000 (2 drinks).

Did you always want to be a chef?
No, I started cooking because I didn’t want to go to school at the age of 16. I started to love the job at the age of 21 when I was working for the Roux brothers in London.

How’s it feel to have a father who is a Michelin-star chef? Do you feel any pressure living up to that reputation?
No, my father always gives me helpful advice, especially about the ancient regional cucina Italiana.

What kind of food do you enjoy eating?
Seafood and Asian recipes from Japan, Thailand and Indonesia.

What’s your favorite cooking technique?
The ancient way of cutting used in Japanese kaiseki cuisine.

How do you take criticism with regard to your food?
As the only thing that permits me to do it better.

Where do you get your inspiration? Are you afraid of running out of inspiration?
Hey! I’m not a poet.

From the point of view of a man who makes cheese himself, how important is cheese in Italian cuisine?
Of course cheese is very important in Italian cuisine. That’s why I won’t mix any good cheese with other ingredients. It’s like using a very good wine for cooking. Yes, you can do that, but a winemaker wouldn’t do that to his son.

Chit Chat Pub

Soi Choke Chai 4, 02-618-7179. Open Sat 8pm-1am.
This serious women-who-prefer-women bar is operated by Lesla, a Thai lesbian organization. Come here to network with other lassies, whatever your sexual orientation. There is a monthly event here organised by Lesla with different themes, depending on the occasion. Visit their website for updated info: www.lesla.com.

Hemlock

56 Phra Atit Rd., 02-282-7507. Open Mon-Sat 4pm-midnight.
One of the first hip places that sprang up on this road, Hemlock is very lesbian-friendly, though the crowd is mixed. This bar-cum-restaurant serves Thai dishes at reasonable prices along with jazz music. If you want to make lots of female friends, go there on weekends.

Shela

106/12-13 Soi Lang Suan, near Sarasin Rd., 02-254-6463. Open daily 7pm-1am.
The newest girl-dominated-venue in town, Shela caters to a slightly older crowd than RCA. An all-girl live band plays retro pop music nightly. A good place for celebrity spotting ("Is she...?")

Zeta

29/67-69 Soi Soonvijai, Royal City Avenue, Rama 9 Rd., 02-203-0994, 02-203-0997. Open daily 6pm-1am.
Run by a young, hip crew of ladies, this lesbian haven has already made a name for itself. The bar’s claim to fame is “exclusively for women,” and they are serious about it. You can’t even bring along your gay friends unless you come as a big group. You go, girls.

How did you start break-dancing?
I saw it on TV, in a music video, and loved it right away. I tried to copy what I saw, but I could not. So I searched on the internet and I found my answer.

What was the scene like back then?
In 1999 there were not so many break-dancers and every move was very new for us. So we challenged each other every day.

How has the scene changed?
Now there are about 300 dancers in Bangkok, and it’s different because everybody knows the moves, but they don’t know the attitude. Break-dancing is about your character, your style, your original moves. Not just copying each other. I think the important thing is creativity, not just doing a move, but thinking about it and creating something new.

Can anybody do this?
At the beginning, everyone is very bad. You need to practice a lot.

What’s your favorite music to break to?
Funk, like James Brown or the Incredible Bongo Band, old skool hip hop, acid jazz and electronic.

What will be taught in the workshop?
I’ll teach the foundations of breaking—toprock, footwork and freeze—and the basics of hip hop culture.

Which are?
Hip hop is about peace, unity, love and having fun, not about the gangsta thing. It’s not a bad culture. We have no need to fight because we don’t have a bad attitude, we battle just for fun.

What’s in your future?
I want to have my own studio...a hip hop academy.

I was with my family in the countryside, not working, for five years. I’ve been doing interviews and a little bit of modeling. But things have been going slowly, not like before. I want to work, but there aren’t a lot of jobs for me.

I’m 31 now. When people say things about me, it doesn’t bother me so much. Before I was so sensitive, but I’m more confident now. I believe in myself.

Sometimes I miss what I had before. I miss the catwalk. And the photo shoots. I miss doing commercials, too.

When I was 19, a lot of people said I shouldn’t have won that contest. That made me sad. But I was happy that the company from New York thought I was perfect for overseas.

I never felt beautiful. When I started shooting for Vogue, Chanel, seeing myself in magazines, I changed. I still didn’t feel beautiful, but once I saw the pictures I said, “OK, I can be beautiful”—well not beautiful, just photogenic.

When I see the Chanel poster, it makes me happy. I’m proud of myself. But also I remember it was not just me—it was photographers, stylists, assistants. Everybody worked together to come up with the picture.

When I was “hot” I was so full of myself. I was making lots of money, and money can make things easier. But then I started spending a lot. I mean a lot, a lot, a lot. And my ego was so big.

My family told me, “Yui, you must not go out so much, you must save money, you must get close to your mother.” They tried to tell me many times, but I didn’t want to talk to them. I was too cocky.

I lost everything because I was partying too much. I took drugs. It affected my work: like I was late a lot. And I didn’t do a good job. I became another person.

When I had money, I had a lot of friends. I spent a lot on them. But then when I didn’t have money, everybody was gone.

Family is important. When I lost everything, I had nobody—just my mother.

If I could do it all again, even if things would end up the same, I would do it. Even if it’s not all nice, I think it’s good to have experience. Experience makes you stronger. It helps you grow up.

I would tell a young model who wants to make it that she has to be strong. I would say, “Be yourself. Don’t let others try to make you something you are not.”

Don’t always believe everything people tell you. Keep far away from drugs and bad people.

I don’t believe in plastic surgery for myself. I might consider it, but not doing it is better. Because if I do it one time, I’ll have to just do it again and again.

Girls should realize that they can be pretty in their own way regardless of their race or nationality. Thai girls should be proud of how they look and should have the confidence to show it off.

I accept who I am. I’m a country girl. Normally models have to be from a good family, rich, a different background. So for me, a farmer’s daughter, to make it as a model, is something.

I’m lucky, because everyone has been really nice. Some people are proud of me, of what I did for Thailand. This gives me strength. So I’m very happy. And I’m happy that people still remember me.

Beauty Book

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Laura Mercier has launched a handy all-in-one makeup palette. With a selection of natural colors, Laura’s Signature Collection Book promises flawless results. The set contains three new shades of lipstick, three earthtone eye shadows and two tones of blush. B2,200. Available at Laura Mercier counters (try 1/F, Central Chidlom 1027 Ploenchit Rd., 02-793-7777).

Never Too Much Heaven

Looking for a new place to release your stress? The Bangkok Oasis Spa (64 Sukhumvit 31, 02-262-2122. www.bangkokoasis.com) is a new downtown facility with its roots in Chiang Mai. Indulge yourself with Oasis’ signature four hands massage at B2,500, or try its hair spa treatment at B1,800/hour. If you have a bit more time, also highly recommended is their Ayurveda package (B3,900), a pleasurable two-hour traditional East Indian oil massage .
 

Al Majlis

83/8, Soi Charoen Chai, Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-392-2345. Open daily 12:30pm-12:30am. www.almajlis-tearoom.com.
Originally built as a tearoom, there is also an alfresco area with a wine bar. Playing soft lounge music at conversation-friendly levels really makes this place more for romantic whispering than for riotous groups of buddies. You might hear the next table’s dirty talk, but then again, they might hear yours.

Shades of Retro

Next to Playground!, 08-1824-8011. Open Tue-Sun 2pm-midnight.
Retro shrine to the 50’s to the 70’s. The music is jazz and rock tunes from the golden age of these styles proudly played from the owner’s own collection. Everything in the house is up for sale. Though it claims to be a furniture shop, many chic young people occupy the venue. Remember, being a phuu dee means talking in a low voice—you’ll find no shouting here.

Sripoom

95 Chakrapong Rd., 02-281-4445. Open daily 9-1am.
This two-story bar serves Illy coffee and yummy cocktails day in and day out. Khao San tourists will pop in to read their Asian-themed pocketbooks or just chat with their friends. But Bangkokians come here too, for the slightly retro décor, the art exhibits and the good drinks. For the ultimate quiet, go to the second floor when it’s empty.

THE ZUK BAR

Lobby Level, The Sukhothai Hotel, South Sathorn Rd., 02-344-8725. Open daily Mon-Sat 4pm-1am, Sun noon-midnight.
Friendly, bright and airy hotel bar with conversational-friendly lounge music spun by a DJ right there behind the counter with the bartenders. Find young bachelors and late-night executives luring their dates out or finishing up smoking deals in the area—but all of it very hush hush.