Praew

Published on October 10, 2007

Praew

From beauty we move to the boardroom. Big bosses are too immersed in serious matters to have a sense of humour, right? Wrong. CEO Sigve Brekke from Dtac tells a few of his funniest anecdotes.

After becoming a face for his company, Brekke says he now gets recognised in the street, something that doesn't always work out when it comes to clinching a deal. At Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar he was about to shake on a shirt when the vendor's friend told her he was rich enough to buy it at full price. The knock-down price promptly got up again.

Take time out to chuckle over more amusing stories from big cheeses Busaba Daoruang of GMM Grammy, Pathee Sarasin of Nok Air and many others.

From a girl growing up in Hua Hin who always had her nose in a book, academic Kritsadawan Hongladarom has become the first Thai, and one among a select group of women, to complete an 18-day pilgrimage to Tibet. Each pilgrim had to walk 80 kilometres, performing the eight-step salutation every six steps. Find out what gave her the determination to persevere.

Meet food critic ML Parson Svasti in Expert's Stories. As a youngster Parson accompanied his father, renowned food critic Thanadsri, on his culinary voyages, learning how to appreciate fine food from different cultures. The two-page article lists dozens of eateries in Bangkok, Sattahip, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

If your appetite is more for shopping, consult the wisdom of shopping experts like Nakwan Rainanont on where to find brand-name bargains.

Finally, wanderlust is catered for in the shape of solo explorer Jaemjaras Sucheewa, who's traversed the globe with just a knapsack, his shoes and a brave heart.

Esquire

He's been crowned the new king of the thriller, but David Hewson denies he's the next Dan Brown - he's not even read "The Da Vinci Code". Taking time out from his book tour in Bangkok, Hewson shares his inspirations for writing with Esquire. A lot of his material, he says, comes from his background as a reporter.

This latest issue sets out to answer the question: Is it possible to populate the whole world with geniuses? Vanisa Race, the 15th winner of TV's "One Night Genius", thinks she has the answer. From her studies in multi-intellect theory at Harvard University, Vanisa believes that genius can be created.

What It Feels Like features a how-to guide for surviving "unsurvivable" situations. A 25-year-old parachutist recalls the moment he found his parachute wouldn't open at 4,000 feet. Other incidents - being beaten by a mob, charged by an elephant and caught up in a suicide bombing - are examined, some of them with accounts from survivors.

Others ended tragically: we're taken through the final shots an American freelance photographer ever took, of a brawl in Mexico.

His album has been voted one of the most musically boring in history by some websites, but James Blunt still holds a place in the hearts of millions worldwide. His family has had connections with the military for generations, but Blunt tells of how he ditched the army to become a singer. And with more than 11 million units sold worldwide, he's not looking back.

Get to know the cover guy, Charlie Cox from "Stardust", in a big interview titled Almost Famous. He talks about his special friendship with Claire Dains - they're not dating, Cox says, but something definitely clicks between them.

Esquire furnishes fashion tips from actors Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor. After striding out in Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Burberry Prorsum and others, the two chat about Petey Greene, a character from their latest film "Talk To Me".

If you're jaded with what's on offer in your neighbourhood, check out a list of urban escapes away from the usual noisy shopping centres or cineplexes. Among a host of places featured there's Bangkok Planetarium, Rama 8 Park, Dusit Zoo and the Art Gorillas gallery.

Health Today

Paying a little extra for organic produce? Make sure you're getting something in return with Myth & Fact, a revealing guide to the often-misunderstood issues surrounding organic food.

Sports competitions come in all shapes and sizes, but have you ever heard of the World Transplant Games? Learn more about the Olympics for transplant patients, where Thais have won medals and competitors as young as 10 get to show their fighting spirit.

If you're an insomniac, turn to the article on sleeplessness to figure out your core problems. Have you been under pressure lately? Or maybe you've developed a symptom that needs diagnosis? The piece offers some tips for achieving sound sleep.

Have you ever noticed what it is in a woman that attracts a man? Can these qualities be created or are they just natural? Sexual Health suggests that that  certain something can be created if you just know where to start: Hair, face, body odour and fashion, it says, are the foundations for hot looks.