Retracing My Journey…. From Vietnam to Thailand

It’s amazing when I think back at the journey that I’ve travelled through in life. Over the past year I’ve thought about my past a lot–and how my life seems to be retracing the steps from where I started. I started my life out in Vietnam, later being processed in Thailand for political asylum, and then settled in the United States. After I graduated from university, I moved back to Vietnam for 2 1/2 years, and then out of the blue, I moved to Thailand. Is it just me or am I retracing the steps that I’ve taken already?

The fact that I ended up living in Thailand has not only surprised myself but also other people. Thailand after all, has been a part my life journey since the beginning. 

From as early as I can remember, what I knew about Thailand have been stories about relatives and family friends who were boat people–those who have fled Vietnam’s communist regime by boat to seek asylum in neighboring countries. The stories that I heard about the victims were vicious and what seemed like a nightmare. Stories after stories of people being robbed, raped, tortured, and killed at sea by Thai pirates.

Growing up I’ve always heard stories about my aunt Thuy, who fled by boat before I was born. She was beautiful, with long silky hair, an attribute that had decided her fate. Pleas from family members for her to cut her hair and “uglify” herself prior to boarding the boat was unsuccessful. We heard later that Thai pirates off the coast of Songkhla ambushed their boat and took her captive, and we never heard of her again. Growing up I always wondered to myself, what happened to her? Is there a chance that she is still alive, maybe living in Songkhla somewhere? This is something that has never given my family closure, and I doubt it ever will.

Later in 1990 my family was granted asylum to the United States because my grandfater was a general(?) in the South Vietnamese army, who spent a few years in the “re-education camps”. Before we headed to the United States, we had to stay at a refugee camp run by the United Nations in Thailand.

As a child I didn’t know what to expect or think of Thailand, but I knew my family had a resentment against Thailand for obvious reasons.

We arrived at the United Nations refugee camp in Thailand, and I was too young to know where exactly we were. It might have been in Chonburi, as I’ve heard there is a refugee camp in that province. I remember life at the camps through a child’s eyes–it was crowded with a lot of other refugee families. I made friends with other children, and I remembered lining up to get our rationing of food. Each day we would get rice and some sort of meat portion. One thing I remembered most was receiving rice with 2 chicken drumsticks, at that time it felt like the most delicious meal I’ve ever had.

Luckily though, through my child eyes I did not witness the experiences that were later retold. The stories of refugees being bullied, maltreated, and raped by Thai guards. I wonder, had I been old enough to fully experience that and witness that, would that have changed my percetpion of Thailand? Would that have prevented me from living here, and loving it so much today?

The answer would be NO. You have to learn to separate from the good and the bad that comes with everything. With every country, there are good and bad people. How can I hold a grudge against another country such as Thailand, when the reason we were escaping was due to war and oppression from our own people and country?

T’Way Air: New Budget Airline Takes Flight Between Seoul and Bangkok Mahanakorn

Korean low-cost carrier T’Way Air (who came up with THAT name?) will launch daily flights from Seoul’s Incheon Airport to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 15th, 2011.

The addition of the daily flights means another Boeing 737-800 full of shrieking Thai girls (and guys) ready to visit Korea’s famous drama series locations and their favorite stalking location–headquarters of JYP and SM Entertainment.

Initially roundtrip airfare between Bangkok-Seoul will cost 17,000THB, with anticipation of air fares reaching 18,000THB in high season. The fare includes snack, beverage, and 20kg of luggage. In comparison to other airlines offering service between Bangkok-Seoul, for an additionally 2,000-3,000THB you can fly Korean Air or Asiana.

 

Thailand’s Social Buying Sites – Are You Using Vouchers Correctly?

This year we’ve seen many trends in Thailand, one of the biggest seems to be the spread of social-buying websites like Ensogo Thailand, Deal Thailand, DealDiDi, etc. These websites are a bargain hunter’s dream come true. Major discounts are given on hotel accommodations, restaurants, spa services, cosmetics, and random stuff like–ticket to a man-made salt cave (who knew those even exist?).

But wone thing that comes to my mind is—do people really know how they should be using these vouchers? There’s a hidden code of conduct that comes with it, and I’m not sure if everyone is on the same page of commonsense. I mean, there are people who think it’s okay to not move inside the BTS sky train while people are trying to move in, girls who wear those alien “big eyes” contacts, and people who wear CROCS.

So are you following some of the code of conducts? Here are some of my personal bargain-voucher codes of conducts:

1. Never on a First Date. I really hope this is common sense to everyone. If you’re inviting someone out on a first date, please don’t think your date will be impressed that you’re a good bargain hunter by using vouchers to pay for the meal. However, feel free to pull out the voucher if the date is going well and you never want to see that person again.

2. Make a Reservation. If a good service/product is being offered at an extremely low price, chances are many people will buy the same voucher. Chances are also, that they will go during the weekends when they have time, just like you. What this means is that if you don’t call ahead and make a reservation, you are not guaranteed service, and the staff may not be prepared to handle a large amount of walk-in customers. This amounts to not having enough staff to support and means you will not receive the best service, if any. What happens next? Well you’ll pull out your smart phone and tweet or update status with something along the lines of “OMG, I’m at **** and the service here is horrible!” Hmm, maybe if they knew they’d be serving you, you would get the service you expected.

3. TIP TIP TIP. Most of the vouchers say “service charge included”, meaning you don’t have to tip on top of what you paid. Well think about it—if you are getting 50% of a deal of something, and Ensogo Thailand already takes a big cut out of it, the vendor is left with maybe, 20% of the voucher amount. Think about it, how much of that (if any) 20% of the voucher is left for service charge? And probably the reason why they are offering a big deal on Ensogo is because business is slow, and they need people to come in. So remember to tip your server, I mean come on… You’re already getting more than half price off the original price. Don’t be cheap!

So there are my 3 basic rules of using these vouchers. Anyone care to add their own inputs?

P.S. – Remember to read the fine print, sometimes these websites can be tricky!

My First Maternity Shoot

As a photographer, I’ve always strived to try new things and not just shoot with the same old style or subjects. Maternity photography is always something that has always caught my interest–not only because I think they are so beautiful, but also because it captures such an important time in a woman’s life. It’s captures that special bond between a mother and her future child, capturing the celebration of motherhood.

I was very fortunate to have a chance to shoot maternity portraits for my friend Kat, who is naturally beautiful, but during her 5th month of pregnancy, she is even more beautiful and has a glow so beautiful that my camera might not even do justice.

I must admit–I was very nervous! I have never in my life shot maternity portraits before, and I wanted this to be perfect. I just had to trust my instincts and shoot the way I thought would capture the best for Kat. Here are some of my favorite shots to share with you. For more, please visit http://www.facebook.com/ShaunMahanakornPhoto

A day trip to the old Bangkok Mahanakorn

As much as I love living in the concrete jungle, there are days where I do venture out (for a few hours) into places I never go. Places where there are trees, no BTS or MRT lines, and where I can just feel like I’m discovering something new.

On a Saturday or Sunday when I’m not too hung over and the sun is forgiving, I’d take a day trip into old Bangkok, by way of the Chaophraya express boat. I always feel touristy again in this country I call home now, sitting in a boat full of tourists who are trigger happy with their cameras. It’s nice just cruising down the river, seeing the historic landmarks that embraces the banks of the Chao Phraya, and being splashed in the face with the filthy Chao Phraya river sewage water.

Getting there isn’t difficult either, a quick hop on the BTS Silom line heading towards Saphan Taksin, then taking exit #2 will take me ou to the pier.

Head to the pier to catch the Boat, heading towards Maharaj or WangLang Pier.

Along the way you’ll see sights like these….
I forgot what this building is, but it’s old and pretty so it must be important:

The beautiful Wat Arun:

Our Destination:

Once here, you’ll discover a whole different world that’s outside the comfort of the nicely air-conditioned Siam Paragon or Central World–a place where you can still embrace the cultural and historical side of Bangkok. Walk through the streets and the alleys, discover the street vendors selling amulets, jasmine garlands, knick knacks, and other kinds of products to earn a day’s living. There’s also some good food to be had in this area too. This little restaurant is by the river and serves up some good food:

Walking through the pier:


Some Thai spicy soup

“Por Pia Thod” – This is my favorite, I had 2 orders.. not recommended on a diet!

Chicken Sate, these were delicious too and I think we had 3 orders

Amulet Vendor

After the feast light meal I walked around Tha Prajan area, near Thammasat University. There’s some famous spots around here to not only see but also eat. Cute little cafe shops are tucked in the streets that cater to mostly university students in the area. If you have time, walk through Silpakorn University’s campus and you can see some of the artwork there.

Some sculptures at Silpakorn University

Roti Mataba, a famous Roti restaurant that has been around for a long time:

After spending half a day on the “other side” of Bangkok, I felt like I took a mini-vacation and went back a few years in history. It’s nice to leave my comfort zone once in a while and appreciate the history and uniqueness of the old quarter. This is one of the many reasons why I love living in the Mahanakorn.

Black and White Portraits – How To Take Beautiful Black and White Photos

I love black and white photographs, especially black and whtie portraits. There’s just something about black and white photographs that offers so much more depth than color ones. For me it’s more raw and brings out the emotion of the subject more effectively. Yet with digital photography, black and white shots can be tricky as you have to convert them from color shots. Here are some of my tips on how to take black and white photos.

First of all, show in RAW format. Raw files are complete files that are taken from your camera, therefore you have a lot more control over your end results. The only downside about raw files are that you you need a special software to view and edit, and the pictures are not as sharp. It takes a little more work than shooting JPGs, but with the end results they are worth it.

Shoot in low contrast situations. A dark and gloomy day may not be the best day for you to shoot vibrant color photos, but it offers the best opportunity for black and white photography.

Shoot with the lowest ISO setting you can get. This will minimize noise in the photos. Remember, noise is much more obvious in black and white photos. If you want the noise effect, it’s much easier to put it in than take it out in photoshop.

With these 3 simple tips in mind, also take in account shadows, contrast, and textures to highlight the subject in the photos. Here are some black and white portraits of Mgkie Su:

For more photos visit http://www.facebook.com/ShaunMahanakornPhoto

When a moment takes your breath away….

Sunrise in the Mahanakorn

Bigg in Mahanakorn

I remember clearly shooting these photos for Bigg. The ‘blue’ and somber tone of the images represented the current state of how life was at that time. This photo shoot was taken last year during the red shirt protests that paralyzed the heart of Bangkok.

We were under curfew and with the situation unkown, it was dangerous. It felt as if we were under house arrest at that time because going out was dangerous and there was also a 9pm curfew. This is what I love most about photography–no matter what it is, and no matter where I am, everything I snap a picture I can clearly remember the story behind that image.

For more images, visit Shaun Mahanakorn Facebook.

Welcome to Bangkok City – Thaitanium ft. Da Endorphine

This is the official themesong for this page–the song is called Mahanakorn (มหานคร) by Thaitanium ft. Da Endorphine.
Not only does this video show the beauty of the Mahanakorn, but also sings its praises. Love love love this song

 

Mgkie Su in Mahanakorn

Bangkokians should be familiar with Mgkie Su by now, as the fresh-faced DJ of Pynk 98FM, Mgkie’s image has appeared citywide through Pynk 98FM’s standout marketing campaign. While he’s not on air, Mgkie is also a model and artist whom we will definitely see more of in the future.

1. What are you currently doing in Bangkok? 
I’m a model and artist. Right now I’m also DJing on Pynk 98FM.
2.What do you love most about Bangkok?
 I love the culture and food here. Bangkok is a very unique city with a lot of interesting things.
3. Where is your favorite place to go?
I love going to the beach so Phuket is one of my favorite places to visit. 
4. When you lived abroad, what did you miss most about Bangkok?
 Definitely my family… and the food! I studied in San Francisco for a few years and the Thai food there is not comparable to what you can get here.
5. What’s your favorite place to eat in Bangkok?
 Greyhound Cafe’, I love the unique blend of Thai food with a modern touch.

Catch Mgkie on air Mon – Fri 2-3pm live at at www.pynk98.fm/radio.htm .

For more photos of Mgkie visit Shaun Mahanakorn Photo Facebook Page .