Nikki Assavathorn » ข่าว

Bicycle

nikki — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:06:29 +0000

These days, everyone who owns a car complains about the high petrol price. If recent events are any indication, the average Joe can soon expect to spend 2,000 baht each time he visits the gas station. But the idea that oil is running out is not new, is it? We have all thought about it at some point, and then later brushed the idea aside thinking that it would not happen in our lifetime, and someone somewhere will come up with a solution to save the world.

The government could put massive taxes on cars or restrict car travel into the city center to slow down oil consumption, but it is going to be immediately less popular and probably caused quite a riot. What we don’t want is however, to stop using oil because we have run out of this precious fossil fuel, but because we have found a new way of doing without it. Having worked in London and Asia as an energy analyst for a few years, I think I am qualified to talk about this subject. A good example is Brazil which produces and consumes 100 percent bioethanol for transportation fuel because they could not afford to import crude oil decades ago when their currency depreciated. Thailand was fortunate enough not to endure currency depreciation to the same degree, but look how well Brazil is performing now.

Brazil is listed as one of the BRIC nations, a term invented by Goldman Sachs to describe other fast economic growth countries including Russia, India and China. On a lighter note, Thailand was taken out of the STICK model (fast developing Asian countries including Singapore, India, China and Korea), and now the professor at Stanford who developed this model is scratching his head as he is left with the SICK model. I am not making this up!

Likes many other countries, Thailand lacked a clear guideline in energy saving and measure of its progress. The result is that some wealthy urban households have more than one fridge in their kitchen, while the parents & kids drive off in 4 different cars after breakfast. Thailand is not alone, ASEAN-wide energy policies are fragmented and uncoordinated at best. Member countries have different specification of fuels (e.g. B100, B20, premium gasoline 98, 97, 95 and 93) making trade very difficult as seen by Thailand’s recent ethanol surplus. Poor government implementation caused frustration among the produces/suppliers. At the end of the day, consumers paid the price dearly because we have successfully driven out the ethanol producers.

It seems like no matter which direction we go it will take a dramatic and painful change in our lifestyles to save Thailand (sorry guys), and the rest of the world. Some alternatives are biking, solar power, wind power, hydrogen fuel cells, or nuclear power. If we don’t start making some dramatic moves we will continue to walk back into the “Stone Age”, something that I doubt if the next elected government is prepared for.

With much debates on ethanol/gasohol policy in Thailand, passing a measure to phase out premium gasoline, a policy that the government has reversed, is too little too late even if they are to go ahead with it in the next government. The current 3.50 baht/litre price difference between gasohol and gasoline is also not large enough to make the wanted effect prominent. The differential should be substantial and implemented rapidly instead of a small series of changes.

I disagree with how Thailand adopted the first generation technology of biofuel as a way forward. (The first generation of biofuel refers to using food crops feedstock.) Use of sugar cane / corn /palm oil to produce biofuel has simply driven the price of food up, and it has fueled a massive debate/issue in other countries, especially when the countries have no spare land for bio crop. China, for instance, has moved away from corn as a feedstock for ethanol while the rest of South East Asia turns to Jatropha. And even if we have successfully adopted the second or third generation technology, the cost of production is not currently viable without government intervention.

Just to put the impact of bioethanol into perspective, the industry estimated a whooping 6 percent of bioethanol in the total gasoline global demand by 2010. Not a lot, isn’t it? I doubt if the impact of bioethanol will be significant enough to knock off even a $10 per barrel of crude oil then. Not to scare you off, but geopolitical conflicts will undoubtedly sharpen. China will continue to produce million of babies every year, guzzling milk and oil at unprecedented rate. The U.S. will insist on keeping world peace (yeah, world peace, right) by perhaps invading Iran. Forget about buying hybrid cars and relying on Thai government policy on sham biofuels, the future lies in your legs and two wheels.

Here is an innovative idea, last July, the City of Paris launched a new self-service “bicycle transit system” called ‘Velib’. Users are able to pick up and drop off bicycles throughout the city at 1,500 locations, which are stocked with over twenty thousand bikes. The rent can be paid at the meter, which also provides information on other station locations. The fee is tailored towards your need and very affordable to the Parisian standard, something like what we pay here in BTS fare. If the French can still look elegant while biking in their summer heat wave, I think we can ride bikes with style in Bangkok. And the pollution will be less once people start paddling.

Many of us stop by the gym to run on treadmills and ride bicycles after work, why not combine the workout and the commute? What we really need for this is just a decent, effective dedicated bicycle lane system on the road. (Ok, I know it is not easy, so I will settle for a mediocre one if the bus drivers promise not to run us over while they compete in their daily city grand prix.) I wonder what our governor, Apirak Kosayothin, think of my proposal.

Other countries such as Sweden are also continually expanding the bicycle rental service. I for one would welcome such an idea since it seems a lot more promising and practical in reducing oil consumption and curbing global warming than the highly-publicized fashion recycling bag campaigns and economically non-viable ethanol plant. As former PM, Anand Pranyarachun, said recently, we need a more solid campaign to solve our energy crisis, not another company looking to commercially exploited global warming issue.

Facebook

nikki — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:39:19 +0000

Facebook was the HOTTEST phenomenon of 2007. Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo all want a piece of this college student’s invention, which is now worth 15 billion dollar. It’s fun and useful, and you look so pre-subprime-mortgage-crisis if you are not on it. Not only do people in my social circle use it to invite friends to secret hen parties or birthdays, they talk about Facebook when they actually meet up! Then the race home and upload pictures of where they had been, and whom they had fun. Strange? I agree. Loser? I say no. With a list of partners in crime (confirmed attendees) and a main perpetrator (your best friend, the organizer) hooked to Facebook, it has become the perfect party planning tool.
Keeping up with Friends
In November alone, I have received 4 invitations to weddings, 3 invites to grand openings, and numerous party invites on Facebook. What happened to snail mail invitation for these formal functions, or just simply picking up the phone? Even email seems to have become unfashionable, unless it’s the invitation for parties from Facebook! Next thing you know, MeetNLunch will be sending its confirmation for your dates through Facebook!
The calendar in Thailand network is a treasure. It shows all the upcoming events, when, where and who is attending added by people in that network. I find it highly useful for planning the timing of your so-called gathering, such that it would not clash with say, festive Loy Kratong, or another massive event that all your friends will flock to instead of yours. And not all events have to be a drunkfest like full moon parties at Koh Pha-ngan, you are allowed to hold sporting events and road trips to do volunteer work. So get creative and plan new ideas to get together.
Thailand Marketplace is another tool I used to advertise items for sale or wanted. About a month ago, MeetNLunch had a job opening for a PR and customer service staff, and to my surprise, about 30 people applied and most of them are over qualified. In the end, a very capable young Thai lady, who spoke four languages fluently, snatched up the job. The advantage of Facebook over other sources of classified ads is that, you get to check out your candidates’ lifestyle before hiring, which is something you cannot normally do.
Discover long lost friends or enemies
Reconnecting with primary school friends is sweet, but it can have its downside. Your buried secrets may come back to haunt you unexpectedly. Imagine the horror of waking up one morning to find your junior-high self greeting the world on Facebook, and you thought it would never be revealed! The braces, the thick glasses, the pimples, and God forbid that “J Monthon” hairdo were not you. No, you’ve blocked that one out years ago. And now it’s all coming back with the added bonus that the picture uploaded by your friends got “tagged” with your name, saving you the trouble of doing so. Pleading for the pictures to be taken down also doesn’t work, I tried already.
Bitten by a vampire? Werewolf? Got Superpoked?
Got sent eggs that hatched into a chainsaw? I personally enjoy giving “gifts” away to my friends, just to let them know that I still think of them even though there isn’t much to update about my dull life. Facebook’s secret Christmas gift is a nice touch, not opening itself until Christmas to reveal what is inside. Fluff friend app is the new Tamagoshi (virtual pet). You can feed, pet, earn points by petting your friends’ fluff, bet in the fluffs race to earn more points, and buy habitats for your fluff. These so-called “Apps” make Facebook much more fun than its peer Hi5. But the number of invites to use ridiculous apps is getting annoying. Be selective, or else you ended up cluttering your profiles with junk.
Stalking
You can use privacy setting to limit who see your profile. But once you have established the contact, your admirer can browse the travel pictures, dinner details, what you were up to last night, who your friends are, what books you have read, where you work, it all becomes visible. And Facebook does not tell you which of your friends have been obsessing over your profile.
Addiction
One girl reportedly checks in at least 25 times a day and got angry at her friends for not commenting on her latest pictures. Collection of gifts, booze, petting virtual pets, and obsessive compulsion to update your status up-to-the-minute are some common symptoms.
Be careful of sharing too much private information, and don’t use it at the office. Your IT administrators are probably Facebook addicts too, so they know all about it!
Interesting facts:
• There are 39,510 users listed as belonging to Thailand network at the time of writing.
• The 5 most popular apps are FunWall, Top Friends, Super Wall, Movies, and SuperPoke!
• Facedouble, a celebrity look-alike app shows that I am Gisele Bundchen. That’s very flattering, but I think not. Note to female readers who do not use Facebook: Gisele is a leading model of Victoria’s Secret, and you can look up her profile on Wikipedia. Or, just ask those guys who are always glued to FHM or Maxim.
• Microsoft won the bid for Facebook, putting its estimated value right among the Fortune’s 500s.

Match Making – Lisa Weekly Magazine 31 Oct 2007 Feature Story

nikki — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:34:04 +0000

ติดต่อนิกกี้และ MeetNLunch ที่ http://meetnlunch.com

หากวันหนึ่งคุณได้ยินเพื่อนสาวในออฟฟิศเล่าให้ฟังว่า เธอไปออกเดตกับหนุ่มที่รู้จักกันผ่านบริการจัดหาคู่ ก็อย่าเพิ่งตกอกตกใจไป เพราะทุกวันนี้สาวๆหลายคนเจอหนุ่มในฝันผ่านบริการจัดหาคู่จนแต่งงานมีครอบครัวที่อบอุ่นไปก็มากมาย และจริงๆแล้ว บริการจัดหาคู่นี้ก็มีให้เห็นมานานแล้วอย่างลุงหนวด แห่งคอลัมน์มาลัยไทยรัฐ ซึ่งเป็นบริการจัดหาคู่ในยุคต้นๆที่ได้รับความนิยมมากในสังคมไทย โดยคอลัมน์นี้จะเปิดพื้นที่ให้ชายหญิงที่ต้องการหาคู่ ส่งรูปชื่อหรือนามแฝง นิสัยส่วนตัว และลักษณะของหนุ่มสาวในฝันเข้าไปประกาศหาคู่ ซึ่งก็มีเสียงตอบรับอย่างดี และเป็นต้นแบบของบริษัทจัดหาคู่ซึ่งเปิดให้บริการจัดหาคู่รักให้แก่หญิงและชายในยุคปัจจุบัน

เรื่องเล่าจากประสบการณ์นัดบอด

ในวันนี้มีบริษัทจัดหาคู่เกิดขึ้นมากมายหลายแห่งและแต่ละแห่งต่างพยายามดึงจุดขายของตัวเองออกมา บ้างก็เป็นบริษัทจัดหาคู่ออนไลน์ บ้างก็เป็นบริษัทจัดหาคู่ที่เน้นระดับไฮเอนด์เท่านั้น ซึ่ง Lisa เองได้มีโอกาสเข้าไปใช้บริการของ MeetNLunch หนึ่งในบริษัทจัดหาคู่ ซึ่งมี คุณนิกกี้ อัศวทร เป็นผู้ก่อตั้ง เราได้พูดคุยสอบถามเธอถึงลูกค้าที่มาใช้บริการ ซึ่งส่วนใหญ่จะเป็นคนไทยเกือบ 80% และส่วนใหญ่ล้วนจบการศึกษามาจากต่างประเทศ ระยะหลังๆ ฐานลูกค้าเริ่มขยายไปสู่กลุ่มลูกค้าต่างชาติมากขึ้น อัตราค่าธรรมเนียมจะขึ้นอยู่กับจํานวนครั้งที่ต้องการออกเดท ขั้นตอนการสมัครก็ง่ายๆ เพียงนัดเจอกันเพื่อพูดคุยและกรอกข้อมูลส่วนตัว โดยคุณนิกกี้จะถามคำถามตั้งแต่ชื่อ นามสกุล การศึกษา อาชีพ อายุ งานอดิเรก เหตุผลที่เลิกรากับคู่รักเก่า ลักษณะคนที่ต้องการเดตด้วย และข้อเสียของตน เพื่อเป็นข้อมูลให้อีกฝ่ายตัดสินใจว่าต้องการมาเดตด้วยกันหรือไม่ หลังจากนั้นบริษัท MeetNLunch จะเริ่มหาคู่ที่แมตช์กันให้ เพียงไม่กี่วัน Lisa ก็มีโอกาสได้ไปกินข้าวกลางวันกับชายหนุ่มแดนมะกัน โดยข้อมูลคร่าวๆที่บอกผ่านกัน คือ ผู้ชายคนนี้เป็นนายแบงก์ แถมอยู่ประเทศไทยมานานกว่า 10 ปี และชื่นชอบการเล่นกีฬาเป็นชีวิตจิตใจโดยเฉพาะโยคะ อย่างน้อยเราก็พอจะรู้ว่าบทสนทนาในบ่ายวันเสาร์ที่ร้าน Erawan Tea Room นั้นควรจะมีเรื่องราวอะไรกันบ้าง

ช่วงระยะเวลาของการนั่งรอว่าใครคือคนที่ Lisa จะคุยด้วยนั้นนานเสียเหลือเกินในความรู้สึก เพราะแต่ละฝ่ายต่างไม่เคยเห็นหน้าคร่าตากันมาก่อน แถมยังไม่เคยพูดคุยกันเลยสักคำ แต่เมื่อเจอหน้ากันฝ่ายเก้อเขินกลับจะเป็นฝ่ายชายเสียมากกว่า ทั้งนี้คงเป็นเพราะอาชีพของเขาไม่ค่อยได้เจอะเจอกับคนแปลกหน้ามากมายนัก เราจึงพยายามทำให้บรรยากาศเป็นกันเองที่สุด โดยการถามคำถามเกี่ยวกับอาชีพที่เขาทำงานอยู่ และเหตุผลที่รักประเทศไทยถึงขนาดลงหลักปักฐานนานถึง 10 ปี และหลังจากที่เขาเริ่มผ่อนคลายเราถึงเริ่มพูดคุยกันเรื่องจิปาถะ ตั้งแต่กีฬาที่เขาชื่นชอบ ไปจนถึงปัญหาเศรษฐกิจ การเมือง และการปฎิวัติพม่า

แม้บทสนทนาจะเริ่มดูหนักขึ้นเรื่อยๆแต่ฝ่ายโน้นดูจะสนุกสนานที่ได้ถกเถียงทางความคิด เขาบอกความรู้สึกให้เราฟังว่า ผู้หญิงที่เขาต้องการเดตด้วยไม่ใช่แบบฉบับผู้หญิงไทยทั่วไป อย่างน้อยๆสาวคนนั้นควรมีรูปร่างสูง ฉลาด เป็นนักกีฬา มีความเก่งชนิดที่เขาต้องทึ่ง ที่สำคัญรักเด็ก และอบอุ่น อ่อนโยน ด้วยมาตรฐานที่เขาต้องการ เราจึงย้อนถามกลับไปว่าสิ่งเหล่านี้อาจทำให้เขาสกรีนคนให้เหลือน้อยลงไปอีกก็เป็นได้

“วันหนึ่งถ้าผมชอบใครจริงๆ ผมอาจจะลดสเป็กลงก็ได้ (หัวเราะ) แต่ทุกวันนี้เพื่อนผมหลายคนก็แนะนำผู้หญิงโสดให้ ซึ่งจริงๆสำหรับผมแล้วไม่ใช่แค่ต้องการคนโสด แต่ผมต้องการผู้หญิงในสเป็กที่ผมต้องการ ผมจึงรู้สึกว่าการหาคู่ในไทยเป็นเรื่องที่ยากมากๆ สำหรับคนต่างชาติอย่างผม ผู้หญิงเก่งๆใช่ว่าจะเจอกันง่ายๆตามท้องถนน เพื่อนบางคนแนะนำว่าอยากมีแฟนก็ลองไปตามสปอร์ตคลับ หรือไม่ก็ตามแหล่งบันเทิงสิ แต่ผมรู้สึกว่ามันเป็นเรื่องยากสำหรับคนขี้อาย และค่อนข้างระวังตัวอย่างผม ลองคิดดูอยู่ๆ จะให้ผมไปคุยว่า สวัสดีครับ…ผมว่าคุณวิ่งในลู่ได้สวยมากเลยนะครับ (หัวเราะ) นั่นก็ไม่ใช่ตัวผมแน่นอน เหตุนี้ผมจึงรู้สึกว่าบริการจัดหาคู่แบบนี้เวิร์กมากๆสำหรับผม เพราะอย่างน้อยผมสามารถบอกความต้องการของผมไป และบริษัทก็จัดหาคนที่คิดว่าเหมาะกับผมให้ลองเดตกันดู ซึ่งถ้าผมออกไปตระเวนหาคนที่ผมต้องการเองคงต้องใช้เวลา แต่นี่เขาหาคนที่ดูจะไปกันได้ให้ผมภายในระยะเวลาอันสั้น”

จากบทสนทนาร่วมชั่วโมงครึ่งในบ่ายวันนั้น ทำให้ Lisa พอมองสภาพออกว่า ใช่แต่คนธรรมดาเดินดินเท่านั้นที่คิดอยากหาคู่ คนระดับผู้บริหาร การศึกษาสูงๆ ฐานะดีๆ ก็มีปัญหาในการหาคู่เช่นเดียวกัน เพราะเรายิ่งพกพารูปทรัพย์ และทุนทรัพย์มากเท่าไหร่ เรายิ่งคาดหวังให้คู่ของเรามีต้นทุนเทียบเท่ากับเรามากขึ้นเท่านั้น

ติดต่อนิกกี้และ MeetNLunch ที่ http://meetnlunch.com

Don’t Follow Your Star

nikki — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:34:53 +0000

Many Thais are obsessed with fortune telling and horoscopes. We read the horoscopes and simply get absorbed in them. Remember what awaits us on Monday, or that we will get on well with a Taurus or a Monkey year, or our partner may cheat on us this week, or we are prone to accidents. This practice draws us away from the taking responsibility for our actions, and consigns us to the mysterious power of stars and karma from the previous lives.

Some thinks fortune telling and horoscopes are all harmless fun, but they are not. I heard of a couple who went to see a fortune teller, and was told that the girl will bring a curse to the guy’s family. His soon to be mother-in-law immediately objected to the relationship, which eventually caused the couple to break up. After all the years that they were courting, one day’s words from a fortune teller destroyed their love and trust. Astronomers can impoverish our society and harm both individuals and their families, and it’s time we stop deluding ourselves.

Are people so lacking direction in life amid political turmoil and wrenching social changes, that they need some ancient traditions to tell how we should live or whom we should be with? I remember hearing a fortune teller giving advice to others that we should be compassionate and do a lot of charity to overcome these unlucky periods or to be released from the karma we carried from previous lives, but shouldn’t we be charitable already with or without the prophecy?

I am not saying that fortune tellers are scammers, but people should listen to them with vigilance and not with blind faith. In this context, I’m not even talking about astrologers whom exploit the credulity of anyone who pays hard-earned cash. As a matter of fact, I think the vast majority of fortune tellers are sincere and honestly believe that they are doing more than cold reading or using their intuition. Nevertheless this does not give them the right to convince people that it is all right to believe something just because you feel deeply that it’s true.

The human race has achieved so much in scientific understanding of the universe; it’s a mind-shattering betrayal of our advancement to believe in astrology. I met people addicted to their favourite psychics – people who would not make decisions without consulting their astrologer, and people who were terrified because of negative predictions some reader had given them. In a stressful and unpredictable world it’s understandable that people turn to those who can offer them false guidance but I’ve seen too many horrible outcomes.

Fortune tellers tend to link religion into their prophecies because people can relate to them better without question. It may be true that astrology deserves study as a significant historical and sociological phenomenon, and it may be true that religion provides a good discipline to help people structure their life and lead a good one. But it would be a terrible mistake to juxtapose them together, if only for the false appearance of symmetry. Buddhism, for all of its non-theism, still adheres to reincarnation, which is used in fortune telling. For example, I am a human in this life, and I was an angel in the previous life, or whatever. Since Buddhist don’t believe in afterlife or permanent soul, it is difficult to pin down and discover what it is actually is that survives to be reborn in a subsequent life. The details become very evasive, sketchy, and unquestionable or risk offending the believer. One claims it is a re-born circle to be with Buddha, but what is it that is being reborn? The angel or the human, get my point?

I think it is horrifying that so many Thai people believe in astrology and that more newspaper column inches are devoted to horoscopes than to science. It belittles Thailand and undermines our society to have palm readers read politician hands, and pronounce who will be next in line as a prime minister. More often than not the reader simply offers a variety of obvious routes for us to go down. I wanted to raise “consciousness-raising”, in the same way that feminist wouldn’t now get worked up about their right because they are already made us aware of the issue. You don’t have to read a horoscope to be happy, balanced, moral, and intellectually fulfilled. I personally don’t believe that going to a fortune teller or reading a horoscope will make my life better or worse. If I imagine my world without it; I would not have lived my life any differently. Do you think that being told by the fortune teller to be more charitable is necessary in order for us to be so? Do we need them to tell us to be good?

I am no fortune teller but if you ask me for a prediction, then I would say people will continue to read the horoscope and go to the fortune teller, but hopefully they will question their motives for doing so after reading this column.

Money Can Buy Me No Love

nikki — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:55:20 +0000

It is important to realize that while Thailand is much modernized in some aspects (i.e. it leads the world in producing the best Thai microwave foods and the largest amount of mp3 Thai songs in the world), most families still keep to the tradition of dowry in marriage.

Many Westerners have a look of distaste when asked to pay a dowry or in Thai “sinsod”. It also sadly caused many genuine farang-Thai couples to break up over a misinterpretation of culture or when no consensus is reached for some Thai couples. I recently heard an unbelievable story of how a future mother-in-law demanded a middle-class Thai guy to pay 10 million baht for sinsod. She was generous enough to offer him installments, with 0% interest even! He broke up with the girl shortly after he found out her price tag, even though the wedding cards were already printed. But who would blame him, POOR guy!

Sinsod is a way to honor the bride’s parents for raising her the best way possible. It is also very much a status symbol in Thailand, and in many other countries around the world such as India and China. In

Thailand, it is given as compensation to the bride’s parents for the money they have spent for the education and upbringing of their daughter. Though it seems unusual to many westerners, it is not meant to be dishonorable, or just a cultural tool to squeeze money out of men as if they were a 24 hour ATM machines.
Thai soap operas are a good measure of the state of mind of Thai people. Where do you think the screen writers get an inspiring idea from? They obviously look at what is going on around them. The story of a daughter from a rich family going through storms of trouble in order to be with her poor guy, is therefore probably not far from the reality at the going dowry rate. “Thank God she’s a girl”, many parents must have thought or risking the life of bankruptcy! Looking deeper into the dowry issues, these practices can be seen as a result of our class system, which looks down on inter-marriage between members of different classes. Maybe the point I am trying to illustrate is a little extreme, aside from matching wealth, parents also look at qualities such as levels of education, religion, and family reputation. One has to wonder, does love count at all apart from in the Thai soaps?For those of you guys who are in the process of marrying a Thai lady, here is a little guidance on the subject:

The bride’s family should take care of the costs for the marriage ceremony and party. The amount the bride paid towards the ceremony should be matched by the groom, and to be given to the bride’s family.
It is common for the guests to bring some cash to cover some of the wedding expenses.
In most cases, the dowry is just for the “show”, and is returned to the couple to use to start a new family. When you see “TV-stars” receiving millions, don’t be fooled, the cash didn’t go to the mother-in-law.
If you and your other half have much antagonism over the subject, then you should reconsider getting married. Money should not break both of you apart, and if it does this is not the right person for you.
Wait 1 to 2 years before you marry. There is no rush (unless you are 70). There are some couples who have known each other for 3 months, tie the knot, everything turns out fine, and to top it off they win the lottery too. Anything is possible! Increase your chances by taking your time to get to know the girl and her family. The old adage is true “when you marry the girl, you also marry her family”. Getting to know her is just the tip of the iceberg.

For those of you farang boys who are in the process of marrying any Thai ladies, not to rain on your parade, but you should be fully aware of the full implications of marrying them. This is simply a generalization, and there are plenty of exceptions to the norm.

Thai culture is unfortunately still largely segregated by class and origin. You will be looked down upon by Chinese Thais, if you pursue a relationship with a bar girl.
There is no set dowry, but it is typically determined on one hand by the suitor’s wealth (Thais by large reckon all “Farang” are wealthy), and on the other hand by the quality of the future wife.
Originally, the dowry was a way to prove that you could afford to look after the daughter, but I have heard stories where Isarn girls and their family squeezed money out of farang like Genie in the bottle after the marriage. Tensions between a farang husband and Thai wife will rise if he does not support her family, at least somewhat. The poorer his in-laws, the more true this is; the better off they are, the less true the rule is.
She may be a village princess, but if under suspicion, get her background check before you tie the knot, and get a solid prenuptial agreement. Better to be prudent, than to be sorry.

Can you put a price on love? Although there are no absolute rules, the amount of dowry is pretty well fixed on the girl’s social standing, and is rarely negotiated. In general, the amounts according to social standing are as follows:
Lower-class, up-country girl 30,000 to 50,000
Middle-class girl 50,000 to 200,000
Upper middle-class girl 200,000 to 500,000
Girl from an affluent or influential family 1,000,000 +

Not every girl I know asked for dowry at her wedding, and that’s one more reason to respect and love her even more.

Cupid at Work

nikki — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:06:30 +0000

MeetNLunch recently conducted a poll and found that as many as 50% of working Thais between the ages of 25 and 40 have been involved with a co-worker, and half of that 50% wound up getting married. But for many who have experienced it, office romance can be risky business – both emotionally and professionally. Not that it stops many of us from taking a shot; in fact, some Thai companies even encourage it! “My manager was trying to set me up with my colleague, but I wasn’t interested” said a VP at one of the Thai security brokerage firm, who claimed that this colleague is now seeing somebody else at work. Some Thai companies see an upside to romance in the office that they will have happy employees, which means they are likely to stay with the companies longer. When people are happy they tend to be more productive and have fewer issues. When partners work for the same employer, they have someone they can talk with about their activities and problems at work who understands and can help them resolve those issues. Most of us spend at least 40 hours a week at work; it’s inevitable that we grow close to our colleagues. A good working environment can help forge a strong friendship. The workplace also has some advantages over other venues for meeting potential dates. It’s a safer environment than a bar or a night club. You get to know someone day in and day out and see what they are like in the real world. But as many people have found out, dating in the workplace also can be laden with more troubles than the typical romance since it carries the possibility of interfering with your job, and you are putting your professional reputation on the line. Many international companies in Thailand discourage romantic relationships in the workplace. I have heard of people being transferred to another department or been made to resign when the relationships were disclosed. One misstep can have a career-altering effect.

And why do many international companies frown upon it? In more developed countries such as the U.S. or the U.K., many organizations and companies have had to endure sexual-harrassment lawsuits when relationships turn sour, or workers sue or complain when a colleague receives preferential treatment stemming from a romantic affair with a supervisor. Remember Wolfowitz’s hanky panky at the World Bank-y? Sexual-harrassment lawsuits in the workplace in Thailand are rare, but this doesn’t mean sexual harrassment is uncommon. I suspect that Thai women who have been harassed are embarrassed and prefer not to be under a spot light, and would rather quit the job. This was definitely the case with somebody I knew whom resigned after her manager wouldn’t stop putting his arms around her, instead of confronting the situation with the company’s higher authority. The greatest problem with office dating is that it’s impossible to avoid the power aspect of your relationship. Ask someone who is a subordinate to go out on a date and you’ve crossed the line, you’ve compromised your professionalism and put them into an extremely difficult situation. Do they say yes because you’re higher ranked (or, worse, their boss)? Do they say no and then fear for their job and/or evaluations thereafter? The trite cliché of the boss and his secretary (rarely the boss and her secretary) is problematic for exactly this reason: is the secretary saying yes because she fears for her long term employment prospects or because she thinks the boss is wonderful? Let’s face it, no matter how well the relationship is going; the situation itself is a recipe for disaster. But many do it – or at least thinks about it. So here are guidelines to help develop a successful office romance before embarking on a bit of an office fling.

Think about it

· Do check your company’s official policy on office dating and romantic relationships. In addition, some companies will have rules against hiring a spouse or another member of your family, which could have implications if things went well in your relationship.

· Do keep it discreet especially before you figure out whether it will turn into something more substantial or not. Keeping quiet while testing out the relationship is also a test of maturity and your ability to handle an office romance. In other words, no flirtatious office emails exchange or cuddling in the office kitchen. If you can’t behave professionally when relationships are rosy, it doesn’t bode well for your ability to keep professionalism if the relationships turn sour.

· Keep it off the emails! Many people forget that your emails are a public trail you are leaving behind. In most companies there are compliance departments that randomly review emails for inappropriate activity. In addition, if a boss or ex wanted to be vindictive, these would be perfect ammo.

Romance has blossom

· Do be frank with the person you are interested in and discuss what would happen in the event of a breakup. And if you are dating your supervisor or sub-ordinate, and if the relationship works out, one of you may be forced to move into a different position at the company. Chances are it will be the less senior person who makes a transfer.

· Do not talk with other people about your romance. In small offices in particular, work romances can easily become the hot topic at the water cooler. To hold the gossip to a minimum, keep your relationship as private as you can. Just because you might be dating someone at work doesn’t mean that you are dating everyone in the office. Keep things professional. Never show public displays of affection or send love e-mails to each other.

It’s looking good

· Do inform the boss once you and your partner have decided that this is a relationship with real long-term potential. Your boss would rather hear it from you than from the rumor mill.

· Do stay on top of your professional goals. This is your career, regardless of whether your boyfriend or girlfriend is involved too, and you don’t want to get so swept away by a new relationship that you start underperforming.

It’s down the bin

· Do no seek revenge. Who ever got dumped will be hurt like hell, and they will have to endure seeing their ex at work. At this stage avoid drama, and this includes everything from telling everyone what a hopeless lover your ex was to criticizing his/hers work. Stick pins into your ex picture at home if you want to, but at work behave beautifully.

It’s down the aisle. Congratulation for making it this far! But there are very few couples who can be together 24-7, and still can pull off a good marriage. Certainly, Thai marriages don’t need any more help falling apart (as seen in the increasing divorce rate). Adding the dimension of working together seems to only add downside. There are also pragmatic reasons not to work together, including the risk of putting all your financial eggs in one basket. Both partners getting laid off because they work at the same company doesn’t sound like the most financially romantic plan.

How Long Does it Last?Of Those Who Dated at the Office…

Went On:

16% Just 1-2 Dates

46% Several weeks/months

13% Dated for several years

25% To Get Married

Reality TV

nikki — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:52:19 +0000

Who is still watching Academy Fantasia 4? I asked because according to my sources among the upmarket media ladies munching set and the members’ bar boozing set: “Nobody is watching AF4. Nobody.” It hasn’t set Bangkok on fire, nor has it excites me and why? Because there is really no outstanding singer in the series ever. What there has been – what there still is – is a bunch of epically overblown emotional progressions, and desperately flawed, inconsistent and astoundingly ordinary performances.

Some credits have to be given to the show though, in many ways it does help a small minority of Thai people succeed, and brought out the best in them. Instead of dropping all of our effort into AF, we could expand this idea further and apply it to the other reality TV shows and benefit more people the society.

We could put the best and the brightest in charge of a challenging but vital institution and gives them time to turn it around. A school would be a perfect host for such a venture. An institution that can produce painful humour and sorrow in equal measure, and that can, in certain circumstances, change the life of young people. The project would provide heart-rending entertainment and the real possibility of social good.

The best measure of a good school is the one that can motivate team of staff and students, and engage a community to share the clear vision. We know where the best schools are and where to find the failing schools. We also understand how hard it is to change years of backward education systems, social disadvantage, and low expectations from students attending such schools. So why don’t TV producers give this a go?

Get the top consultants, administrators, or CEOs of big affluent firms such as JP Morgan, Citibank, or McKinsey to lend hand as a head teacher. Get PricewaterhouseCoopers to look at the finance of the school, figure out how the school can make the most out of its resources and how to generate greater future income, which could be put back into the system to make schooling even better.

Give these people one year and follow it with a camera. The educational department should also pay close attention to what all these smart people have to say about the Thai educational system. They got to their positions because they are ahead of the game. Thailand is falling behind China, India and Vietnam at a faster rate than ever.

Our primary school text books with farmers working in the rice paddy field are outdated, and needed to be updated with more inspiring occupations, such as engineering which created the tractors to work for human.

And why should you big companies send in your top people to be on the show? The smart company wouldn’t be asking me this question. They know that this is a great way to contribute back and relate to the public on a personal scale. Everyone knows a child, if not have one, and of course we care how they are being raised, and we want to ensure they get the best education they can possibly get. It will show the public which companies have the smartest and most capable people working for them, and who the company is looking to recruit. It will be a fantastic genuine opportunity for marketing, instead of self-proclaiming that the company is good.

Now this could be entirely unethical, and raised a lot of debate on filming children and their vulnerabilities, glamorizing people’s problems, and experimenting with education. But it wouldn’t have to be. Many students were adamant that these might be a way forward, to turn around the backward educational systems. If nothing else, it would show either that it is impossible to turn around a school even when you have the best people on board, or that it is entirely possible, you just need to invest. Both outcomes would certainly give us a new perspective on the realities of school life, and for that, it might be worth a try.

Alternatively, we could follow Indian latest reality TV show, The Scholar Hunt, which children had to compete for a grant to study in the top university in the UK. It is a combination of The Apprentice meets the Weakest Link. Students had to take exams, face tough interviews, and do a Mastermind-style quiz show for eight weeks. In the final episode, the contestants have to construct a machine which would propel a ball the furthest. The scholarship to study in England was a prize coveted by millions of Indian school pupils. In a way, I could see how this would also encourage Thai students to concentrate on their studies and there is more to life than being a winner on The Academy Fantasia.

Test yourself

Here are some questions from the ‘easier’ rounds of the Indian TV quiz:

Q: What metal is extracted from the ore bauxite?
A: Aluminium

Q: Which are the most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust?
A: Oxygen and silicon

Q: Which letters do not appear in the periodic table of elements
A: J and Q

Q: Who proposed the theory of continental drift?
A: Alfred Wegener

The Thainaissance Period

nikki — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 02:09:11 +0000

A Lack in quality museums and art galleries is nothing new to Thailand. The ones you can find in Bangkok are usually small and lacking in various aspects, and outside the capital they are virtually non-existent. I yearn to make people see Thailand as the espresso of creativity and culture, not instant Oishi green tea of tastelessness. And for that, one thing we really need is some world-class cultural institutions. These will not only educate the locals and create the draw for upscale tourism, but also help Thailand distinguish itself from its déclassé copycat neighbors.

Cultural investment will also have a stabilizing effect to the society. We are surrounded by a political circumstance that makes people want to tear up art work rather than make one. Soon when this has passed, we will want to get on with our business and rediscover our passion for the finer things in life.

There are many cities around the world that revitalized themselves by building fancy museums. Bilbao in Spain, a once depressed region, built a branch of the famous Guggenheim museum. The museum has contributed $2 billion to Spain’s GDP since its inception in 1997 and draws in 9 million visitors a year. Many others wealthy nations have tried to replicate this model by hiring the best architectural firms, or lining up other well known museums to lend its name and art. But this has come with an expensive price tag, which there is no way Thailand’s limited resources could ever handle.

Abu Dhabi, a petrodollar rich country for example, has agreed to pay $520 million just to use the name “Lourve” for 30 years, and to spend over $700 million for art loans and advice. The ominous parallel of Abu Dhabi art project could be the Guggenheim in Las Vegas. No body went to see it, and it is likely that the same thing will be repeated in the desert oasis or in Thailand if we ever to follow them.

Thailand is ripe for a highbrow renaissance. We could reinvigorate the great cultural Siam art, but this time a little bit more contemporary, equipped with creativity and planning. What we need is an artistic institution that builds on our own Thai identity. We don’t want to just spend million of dollars borrowing art works or renowned museum names from other countries. People should come to visit Thailand for the quality of ingenuous art work that is created here, not for the mockery of Thailand’s pretensions. Culture cannot be bought, and think if it is bought, who are we really enriching in the process of doing so?

So if we agree that way to go is not paying for fake fantasies like borrowing the Lourve, or buying the Guggenheim and the Sorbonne like the Arab ladies buying handbags from Christian Dior, let’s look at how we can go about transforming Thailand into the rich cultural place we want to see. Thailand will have to build up and create its own collections. We have to do it our own way to suit local tastes, while not forgetting to reach for a broader, universal appeal.

In order to bridge the gap in becoming a global player, new strategies need to be evolved, keeping in view the strengths and cultural challenges relevant to Thailand. Nations that fail to take necessary steps to meet this challenge will remain as passive consumers of ideas emanating from countries that are creatively dynamic and able to commercially exploit these ideas.

Design methods and processes which were once taught in traditional art and design schools are no longer entirely valid. Perhaps Thailand educational institutions should look at the US based IDEO, the largest and most successful design company in the world, for inspirations. Most of the staffs that are considered as designers are increasingly those who haven’t gone to art school. They are professionals who have studied human science, business and management consulting, brand & communications design, architecture, various technologies.

Co-creation and co-designing are the buzzwords of the creative economy. Technologies like Facebook, Wikis, and Mashup let us combine people into communities, ideas into culture, and existing platforms into new ones. Infused with original local ideas, something new, something exciting, will certainly emerge. We could be on the verge of the Thainaissance period.

Tech Savvy Mums

nikki — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:18:23 +0000

A growing number of modern women say parenting is a full time job that impinges on their career. More than half of the working mothers I know say working part time would best fit their life, preferring it to working full time or staying at home. Employers, though, are not always happy to offer appealing part-time positions that aren’t dead-end jobs. This is just one obvious reflection of the challenges women face when trying to balance work and a young family – a story for another time.

Luckily we are in the 21^st Century, and many cool gadgets are now available to help mothers juggle kids, careers, socializing and, perhaps, even an hour pedicure. This week, I play a female gadget expert and introduce the coolest must-have items for a busy mother to make the most out of her day. Get these for yourself and show your husband that you are indeed a very cool mommy who doesn’t consign anything battery-powered to him as if he is got a second employer at home.

Webcam Today’s webcam technology is not just for sleazy chat rooms! If you are away at the office or in another room in the house, a webcam like Summer Infant Baby’s Quiet Sounds Video Monitor will allow you to check in to see how baby is doing. It is small, quiet, and has an additional handheld unit with LCD screen that is portable around the house.
Blackberry If you decide to work part time or from home, you can still keep up with what’s going on in the office using push E-mail services. I recommend the Blackberry Pearl, which can nestle neatly in your Hermes handbag between the milk bottle and facial powder. Once set up, you will be maintaining the chain of command right from your beside bassinet.
GPS watch and wristband Peace of mind is worth more than gold. Knowing where your kid is through out the day prevents a mother from worrying why the young one hasn’t arrived home at 5 o’clock. When it is impossible to reach your family members via mobile phones (such as in the case of a major disaster), knowing that the kids are at the disastrous scene doesn’t necessarily help. But knowing they really aren’t there can save a lot of angst. JJ Kent’s GPS Locator Watch lets you track the child’s whereabouts at all time. It has a safety lock that prevents a child or someone taking the watch off, and it is tough enough to withstand a 5-year-old life style.
Online Grocery Wouldn’t it be a truly gigantic convenience to select items online and have them delivered? You don’t want to leave the kids home alone, but taking them to the supermarket is like a time bomb waiting to go off. In Thailand, we are half way there with getting rid of the shopping errands. Tops Supermarket started a delivery service, sending groceries to your doorstep without you having to lift all those heavy weights. A newborn could use up to 12 diapers a day, and that’s a lot of weight to carry home by yourself. The only thing left now for Tops to offer is an online service so you don’t have to be at the store at all.

Technology cannot replace a mother’s love and attention for her child, but it can certainly give her more peaceful time with the little one. These days, I see more mothers making it to the kids’ Tae Kwon Do and ballet classes. I don’t think it is de rigueur for parents to attend everything in their children’s lives, but it’s nice if they do.

With all this technology beware of the seductive feeling of empowerment

Sometimes the use of technology can go beyond the realm of convenience. It can create a seductive feeling of empowerment, a little rush when you can cross an item off your to-do list; you know what I mean. That little rush can, however, become addictive. If you’ve ever written something you’ve already done onto a to-do list, just for the pleasure of crossing them off, you know what I mean there, too.) Before long, it becomes tempting to constantly check my Blackberry or finding shopping tasks that, strictly speaking, doesn’t need to be done right away.

I knew this was happening to me when I realized I had become very adept at using my Blackberry, and even have the gadget memorize my credit-card number (this eliminates the need to get up off the couch and fetch my handbag). My latest run-in came last week, when I needed to order a few things for my friend’s wedding later this summer. Let’s just say I am really, really ready for her wedding now.

Work It Girlfriend

nikki — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:28:26 +0000

Ever wonder what it is like to work for Google, recently voted the world’s best company to work for? Life in the Googleplex is already a modern legend, with free gourmet food, gyms, massage rooms, hairdressers, car wash, child care and dry cleaning – That is more than most of us even get at home! Where can we find such a cool company to work for in Thailand? Maybe Siam Ocean World, if you really like fish and do not mind swimming alongside sharks.

Traditionally, Thais look to big multinationals like Proctor & Gamble when asked about their dream company. While this is understandable given the good salary, training program, and clear career path, does sticking to the beaten path really excite you? I thus set myself out to look for a new role model company in Thailand, where young and energetic people can express themselves and make a real difference, and where women are made to feel equal.

Alas, it has not been an easy endeavor. But when I found it, it was truly worth the effort!

Destination Properties (DP) is on the surface indistinguishable from any other property developer, yet you can feel something is different the moment you step through the front door. One of the first things that leaped out at me when I visited the office is its open layout which encourages people to interact directly with each other. There are no walls between desks, not even if you have the word “president” on your name card. Sharing new ideas and receiving positive (and immediate) feedback is part of the daily exchange between “everyone on the team”. It is refreshing to see a Thai company with so much equality.

Aside from a cool design, employees are allowed to sit at different desks everyday. And if they have an urge to go and work in a coffee shop or a park, they can do just that, or check in at one of the company’s 5 star hotels for free, if that means getting the work done. With the use of webex and other technology gadgets, women with young children can also work from home, and still able to progress in their careers.

There is such a thing as a free lunch after all. In fact, the company provides free dinner too, and has happy hours starting from 5:30 PM when employees can order pizzas and beers, on the house. But this does not mean employees have to work insane hours unless they want to. DP also gives free perks such as 5 free nights a year at any of their resort hotels, plus discounts off spa treatments, food and beverage, and tickets on the company’s new seaplane flights.

Leave your suit at home The employees come to work in casual clothes, adding to DP’s relaxed, creative environment. They command authority and earn respect for the work they produce, not from the suits they wear. This makes anyone who comes to DP for a job interview in a smart slick suit look mistakenly like an insurance sales person. After a brief orientation, new recruits are expected to jump in and take charge; demonstrating their value to the team and to the company. People are paid to excel in performance; the policy is to be internally fair and externally competitive.

And it’s all reflected in the company’s performance. Within 2 years of inception, the company has become Thailand’s leading hotel and resort developer. Some of the most prestigious brands in the world, Hilton, Alila, Ramada, and Marriott have partnered with DP to provide first class service for the upgraded properties. The DP group also has an airline called Destination Air, which operates shuttle services between regional airports and island resorts.

Another good reason why I think people love working here is that every day is a new challenge and there is something new to learn. They have a seemingly never-ending queue of new properties and projects. Each week, employees get to see and work on these new developments, and work with different teams along the way. They take pride in their contribution towards making great places, the best they can be by the time the public sees them.

To the established companies out there, take a page from this new rule book or continue to wonder why you can’t keep hold of your talent.

The secrets to building a successful company

Whatever you choose to do, aim to be the best in the world at it. If you can’t be the best in the world, do something else.
Hire the best people in the world. Cast the net far, and don’t be afraid to pay for talent.
Create an environment that fosters passion. Talented people get inspired by interaction, not big offices.
Reward initiative. Err on the side of action.