Free Copy MOTHER’S DAY In Praise of Motherly Love AUGUST 2018 ISSN 2586-9191 WWW.URBANAFFAIRSMAGAZINE.COM NO.2 VOL.8 | NO.2 Just say “No!” Once is Never Enough The Best Mex Why reducing plastic Hotel Once Bangkok Fiesta time at the best waste is not just a fickle trend is well worth revisiting Mexican restaurants in town Publisher & Editor Photographer Editor’s Letter Vasu Thirasak Teerarat Yaemngamluea hen we decided to launch the print edition of Copy Editor Advisor Urban Affairs this time last year, we took a giant Manoj Tripathi Anyamanee Chan-Oum leap of faith. Magazine titles and newspapers W Fashion Editor Circulation Director were folding en masse amid the faltering economy, growth in smartphone usage and advertising budgets’ shift to online. Pekky The Angel Nithi Thirasak In the face of overwhelming odds, our faith remains intact: Graphic Designer Marketing Director there’s some folks out there who love the same thing as we do – Unyanun Punkaew Sunida Thirasak reading some great stuff on real paper. If you’ve picked up this magazine, you’re probably one of us. Digital Media Designer Editorial Assistant Raquel Villena Mogado Monthira Amornboonyakrit The print media is more of an endangered species these days, but the essence of reading will not change. Critical reading leads Contributors to critical thinking. It is one of the important skills for human Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer and photographer based beings to advance intellectually. The ability to read between the in Bangkok. In addition to working as the updating writer lines, analyze a mass of information and reflect on its meaning for Fodor’s guidebook to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, he creates the basic building blocks for critical thinking. This, is the “Bangkok expert” for USA Today’s 10Best website and in effect, involves validating the information with our prior a regular contributor for various publications throughout experience and knowledge before we make a decision or have Southeast Asia. an opinion about a subject based on the data delivered to us. It is an important skill, especially in this day and age of fake Born and raised in Bangkok, J. Pakchuen studied English and and sensationalized news when anyone takes an instant like or translation at Chulalongkorn University. Currently, she lives in dislike to a comment on social media at the touch of a button. Washington, D.C. where she works as a translator, interpreter, writer, and tour guide. Reading is also an exercise in maintaining a long attention span. Novels, news articles, and magazine features all strive Based in Bangkok, Ploylada Sirachadapong started her to engage readers and hold their interest as long as possible. writing career as a food critic, and after eight years of visiting It takes time to be able to read with a critical eye and with restaurants around Bangkok she now expands her writing undivided attention, especially now when people have a genre to include travel, fashion and architecture. shorter attention span as they are adapted to spending just a Pekky The Angel is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle expert and few seconds per story as they scroll through newsfeeds online. blogger. Visit her page at www.facebook.com/pekkytheangel/ or www.pekkytheangel.com . Last month, my daughter finished her first unillustrated book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, a classic for Born and based in Bangkok, Naam Sombatanantakorn is beginners. Seeing her absorbed in a book, instead of an iPad, one of the co-founders of Viajente, a travel agency that offers fills me with a sense of pride. Seeing copies of this magazine various natural and cultural travel programs. She is a lifelong flying off the racks is equally wonderful. Maybe this fight learner and loves to travel. against the changing trends has not been a lost cause after all. English-born Christopher Scott Dixon, based in Bangkok, That, however, would never have been possible were it not for is an experienced writer and ex-BBC radio reporter/presenter. our editors, writers, graphic designer and our dear sponsors, He has contributed many features to a variety of publications especially Villa Market, who kept the faith in this periodical in Thailand and in the UK. He has also written 17 books across and its cause. We hope we’re making a difference, however different genres and is a qualified teacher. small – it’s still a change for the better. Swisa Ariyapruchya was born in Switzerland and spent her And so, if you’re still perusing this, congratulations, you’re one childhood growing up in Belgium, Poland, Thailand and the of us. You are the sole reason that keeps us moving forward on USA. She is multilingual and speaks four languages. Apart from our chosen path. And for this, we thank you all from the bottom her work as a central banker, she began her lifestyle blog Having of our hearts. “Me” Time in 2010 and has since continued to write in her spare - VT time. She is also co-founder of Booster Education Co., Ltd. and COVER PHOTOGRAPH: TEERARAT YAEMNGAMLUEA COVER Booster Analytics Co., Ltd. Pick a copy at: Villa Market, Mezzo Coffee, Creamery Boutique Ice Cream, Pacamara Coffee Roasters, Ceresia Roasters, Gallery Drip @urbanaffairsmagazine urbanaffairsmagazine Coffee, The Hive Thonglor, Hubba Thailand, KliqueDesk, www.urbanaffairsmagazine.com [email protected] The Work Loft, Never Say Cutz, Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, and Broccoli Revolution. © Copyright 2018 Urban Affairs Bangkok. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, scanning or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except where noted. Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. No. 2 Vol. 8 August 2018 ปีที่ 2 ฉบับที่ 8 สิงหาคม 2561 ISSN 2586-9191 4 l URBAN AFFAIRS AUGUST 2018 ARCHITECTURE Just Once More BY PLOYLADA SIRACHADAPONG 1 y best friend has just proposed Charoenkrung neighborhood, Hotel Once the neighborhood, the airy white interior is to his girlfriend and she is a gift from the Tangsin family for their impressive with a transparent mirrored glass Msaid, “Yes!” Now as a future daughter Lerdnuch Tangsin as her wedding wall on one side of the lobby and contrasted “groomswoman”, I have to find the perfect gift and it was her brother, Chanote Tangsin, with the pitch black wooden frames. spot for their wedding. Since both the bride- who was asked to oversee the property’s to-be and her would-be groom love venues design. The Art Deco theme of the hotel figures that have a vintage vibe, one of the best prominently throughout the public spaces places this city has to offer is Hotel Once The design concept is Art Deco with a that are adorned with leather sofas and gold- Bangkok. Though generally referred to as distinctive romantic slant in every detail. tone geometric furniture against the white “Once”, the place guarantees this is not the What started as a four-story property has background. The rigidity of these spots is kind of place you’d want to visit only once. now been turned into a nine-story hotel softened with thoughtfully located potted with white as its dominant color. While plants on walls, in corners and amongst the Located in the historic quarter of Bangkok’s the exterior stands outs from the rest in furniture. 6 l URBAN AFFAIRS AUGUST 2018 ARCHITECTURE The public spaces are highly functional, ensuring that not a little detail will be missed. On the second floor of the double space lobby is where the “time capsule lounge” is located. A cute gimmick, this is where the hotel offers a long, brown cabinet with 365 slots so that guests can write a letter to themselves or to someone they love and put it in a post box on the exact date they want it delivered by the hotel. Wedding couples who want to stay a night before or after the wedding might want to try the Executive Jacuzzi room for added nuptial bliss. This chic double-volume loft is stylishly decorated with premium custom-designed furniture, and of course, a jacuzzi tub neatly fixed up in the bathroom for a luscious bubble bath. The glamor is amped up with a marble floor and elegant lighting, a high ceiling, and breathtakingly beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows. This loft-style space is one of the best rooms for the bride and her bridesmaids to ready themselves for a reception party. It’s also perfect for the bride and groom to stay on their first night together as man and wife. 1 Hotel Once’s lobby area 2 The 365-slot cabinet in the time capsule lounge 3 An Executive Jacuzzi room 2 PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY OF HOTEL ONCE BANGKOK PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY OF HOTEL 3 URBAN AFFAIRS AUGUST 2018 l 7 ARCHITECTURE “Top Knot”, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar, is ideal for a wedding reception. Located on the eighth floor, the venue welcomes you with the double spiral staircase and an unforgettable view of the Chao Phraya river. The main part of the reception can be held in the air-con restaurant below that promises to amaze guests with panoramic views of the Chao Phraya river and the sprawling bustling city thanks to the use of transparent mirrored glass panels. This cozy space is lovingly adorned with potted plants and vintage-style furniture to imitate a botanical greenhouse. 4 5 The 9th floor is great for an outdoor after party. Climb up the spiral staircase, and you’ll find the rooftop bar festooned Art Deco style.