Street food lovers, ever wondered how a Bangkok vendor lives his/her day? This photo essay gives an interesting take.
November 25, 2009
Shopping with a Conscience
My article on sustainable shopping was published in the Dec 2009 / Jan 2010 issue of Inbound Asia magazine.
SHOPPING WITH A CONSCIENCE
In recent years, Southeast Asia has seen a nascent but growing sustainable fashion movement. Add an ethical edge to your shopping with these five Southeast Asia-based brands, each an intriguing blend of sustainability, beauty and creativity.
Ock Pop Tok
Meaning ‘east meets west’ in Lao, Ock Pop Tok (ockpoptok.com) does more than fostering cultural exchange, it also marries ethnic craftsmanship with sophisticated marketing to advance Laos’ socio-economic development. Based in Luang Prabang, Ock Pop Tock is the brainchild of English photographer Joanna Smith and local weaver Veomanee Duangdala. The pair runs Ock Pop Tock as a textile production and retail initiative, providing livelihoods for more than 200 rural artisans and their families. As Jo explains on her website, “Weaving is part of cultural identity and the dangers of global homogenisation are very real.” Cognizant of their responsibility in keeping Lao weaving traditions alive, the duo established the non-profit Fibre2Fabric to explain different weaving techniques and cultural significance of textiles in Laos.
Choo Yilin Artisan Jewellery
Singaporean designer Choo Yilin (chooyilin.com) launched her eponymous artisan jewellery label to demonstrate that luxury does not have to be sacrificed for sustainability. By commissioning Karen silversmiths in northern Thailand to forge aspects of her pieces, Choo generates a form of economic livelihood for these hill tribe communities while sustaining centuries-old cultural art-forms. “To me, sustainability is not just about adhering to responsible social ethos but also taking steps to lessen the environmental impacts throughout the entire supply chain,” says Choo. Melding hill tribe silver with European design inspiration, Choo turns recycled metals and ethically sourced gemstones into exquisite pieces such as earrings, bracelets and chokers.
XSProject
Giving non-recyclable plastic a new lease of life is the mantra of Jakarta-based XSProject (xsproject.com), which converts discarded packaging into cheery totes and off-beat accessories. Initiated by American artist and environmentalist Ann Wizer, the project creates livelihood opportunities for the local community by buying plastic waste from Jakarta’s thrash pickers and passing them on to artisans to be fashioned into new products. Profits from the sales of these items are then channeled back into the community. Besides helping to halt the landfill crisis, XSProject turns a problem into chic finds for eco-savvy consumers. After all, one man’s thrash may be another’s fashion.
Belle & Dean
For parents seeking to start their little ones on the sustainable path of life, look to organic apparel brand Belle & Dean (belleanddean.com). Co-founders Dean O’Sullivan and Issy Richardson left London to establish their organic label in Singapore. From baby rompers to grownup tees, the duo uses only certified organic cotton and eco-friendly ink for their prints. Detailed animal sketches are featured prominently in their collection to inspire awareness and protection. Wearing organic clothes is one small step toward a better environment, as Issy explains, “If things are made well, they will last longer, and a longer lifespan means that ultimately, less natural resources like water and valuable soil nutrients are used.”
Nikaya Handcrafted
Meaning ‘community’ in the ancient Pali language, Nikaya Handcrafted (nikayahandcrafted.com) is an online boutique store established by social entrepreneurs Andrea and Brandon Ross. After living in Southeast Asia for five years, the husband and wife team set up Nikaya to bring traditional Khmer crafts to a wider audience while empowering local artisans and ensuring the continuity of these age-old skills. Nikaya stocks a handcrafted selection of locally produced bags, karma scarves, pillowcases and brass jewellery. Another bonus – ten percent of the brand’s profits go toward Journeys Within Our Community, another philanthropic-focused initiative set up by this dynamic duo.
November 9, 2009
Mum Jokmok: Split Personality
Sometimes, you really have to give the thumbs-up to Thai creativity. For instance, I love the above print ad to bits. It first started appearing a few months ago at many BTS stations in Bangkok, following its equally quirky TV ad release. For those who watch Thai movies regularly, Mum Jokmok should be a familiar figure. He’s like the Stephen Chow of Thailand – any movie that has Mum Jokmok inside is guaranteed to be funny. He simply has this wacky face and comedian vibe that draws laughter from the audience effortlessly. Anyway, back to the above commercial. Whoever thought of using Mum Jokmok in three reincarnations – his original self, his son and daughter – in this cracker ad is highly creative and original soul. I am most intrigued by the daughter for (s)he looks equally fascinating and repelling at the same time.
November 3, 2009
Fermented Mushroom
On a recent trip to Khao Yai, I discovered that mushrooms is one of the renowned produce of this region. Local vendors were quick to tap into the abundance of mushrooms to produce naem het, or fermented mushrooms. Indigenous to northern Thailand, naem het usually consists of a mixture of mushrooms, sticky rice, minced garlic, salt and chilli padi left fermented for several days. For people familiar with Thai cuisine, you would have known that fermented products are very common in the country. From plaa raa (fermented fish sauce) to the common fermented pork, the Thais sure love their stuff fermented. Anyway, back to naem het. As a mushroom fan, I couldn’t miss a chance to sample mushroom goodness in any form, so I bought a 100 baht pack. I was so eager to sample naem het that I didn’t notice the menacing chilli lurking amongst the mushrooms. After popping one naem het into my mouth, the chilli rapidly spread its viciousness across my tongue. Other than the unfortunate chilli bit, naem het was super yummylicious!
October 19, 2009
Ecownomics
We’ve all heard about cows and buffaloes being the farmer’s best friend, but I never knew cows can be regarded as cash assets until I got together with mr;p. In rural Thailand (and probably farming communities anywhere else), a cow may reap interests faster than the bank. Don’t believe? In October last year, mr;p and I bought a pair of cows, a mother and son, for his parents at 14,000B. Two months later, a potential buyer offered 20,000B for this pair. That’s 6000B more than what we paid for, and if translated to conventional banking terms, equivalent to an interest rate of ~42%! Incredible, isn’t it? In the end, we didn’t sell them because we would still like to keep them with the parents in Udon Thani.
Now, I’ve gleaned a bit of knowledge about cow trading. In the bovine world, the females are worth much than the males because of the former’s reproductive ability. If a farmer wants to sell his cows, the male ones will most likely be the first to go, however, a bull with characteristics deemed valuable may be kept to pass on his genes to future generations. A good cow should stand tall and big, and it is desirable to have long ears, just like my cow Niu Niu (calf in the foreground). He may have long ears but his playmate (beside him) has even longer ears that extend beyond its face!
October 18, 2009
Cheng Sim Yi – Sweet Confessions
As a Singaporean Chinese of Hokkien-Hakka descent, I simply love looking for similarities and differences between Chinese food across Southeast Asia. In Bangkok where I now reside, it never fails to amaze me the vast extent of Chinese culinary influence on the Thai street food culture.
One evening, after finishing an extremely fulfilling Isan meal at Udomsuk Road, I chanced upon this stall ‘Cheng Sim Yi’, which sells Teochew-style desserts. Meaning 清心丸, or ‘refreshing pill’ in Chinese, this stall ran the full gamut of ingredients needed for Chinese desserts, including water chestnuts, grass jelly, yam cubes, sliced lotus stems, red dates, attap seeds, etc. The colourful spread gave the stallfront an tantalising look that beckoned to passer-bys. Well, mr;p and I finally succumbed to one bowl of poei sian* (八仙) and tau terng** (豆汤). These iced, sugary desserts were refreshing indeed. Cheng Sim Yi has a few franchises in town, with the most famous branch situated in Talaat Suan Luang, so I’m planning to visit it soon!
* Known as Ba Bao Tang (八宝汤), or Eight Treasures Soup in Singapore.
** Known as Qing Tang (清汤), or Clear/Refreshing Soup in Singapore.
October 11, 2009
Inle Lake: Where Time Stands Still
Inle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma)
It was hard to believe that such a tranquil place still exists in the modern world today. My mind tried to come up with the best words to describe Inle Lake as I sailed its calm waters. The second largest lake in the country, it is a freshwater lake flanked by green mountains running its length at both sides. The clear, reflective waters are occasionally punctuated by a lone boat, wooden stilted houses or rows of floating gardens. And here, locals still paddle their wooden boats from place to place and the Inthar fishermen row their boats with their distinctive one-legged technique.
October 11, 2009
Kwaang: A Bug’s Life
Rhinoceros beetle, also known as kwaang in Thailand
On a recent trip to Chiang Rai, I finally got a chance to view and touch the rhinoceros beetle up-close at mr;p’s brother’s place, where it was being kept as a house pet. In real life, it looks fiercer than its cartoon counterpart in A Bug’s Life but still possesses a silly air around it. Nonetheless, it still makes a impressive creature with its black, shiny exterior. With its forked horns locked together, they make a perfect loop for my finger to hook through. Don’t be put off by its ‘pincer’ horns – they only pinched slightly when it made its way around on my palm and fingers. When placed on the mat, where it struggled to walk without its six legs constantly getting stuck in the cracks, it produced loud hissing sounds to signal its displeasure and irritation.
In northern Thailand, male rhinoceros beetles are often kept to engage in kwaang chon, or beetle fighting. A beetle tethered to a sugar cane stick is a common sight. As any upcountry kid when he was young, mr;p recounted keeping rhinoceros beetles as playthings before finally grilling them into snacks when he got bored with them. Oh, did I mention these beetles are a favourite amongst the chicken too? Oh well, it’s a bug’s life after all…
August 22, 2009
water lily pads
Suan Luang Rama IX, Bangkok
The sight of water lily pads never fail to conjure up silly images in my mind.
I would let my imagination run wild and visualise that water lily pads are the favourite hangout of frogs. They would sit cross-legged on deckchairs, arms folded behind their heads with a contented smile on their faces, clearly enjoying the warm sun on their moist skins. Concerts are held after rain showers, where a band of frogs can be seen jamming on the pads, belting out tunes at their croaky best, much to the delight of the pond denizens.
