The Bangkok Hot List: 20 people to watch
1. Note Pongsuang Kunprasop: Party starter
Right about the time you’re closing your computer and leaving work, Bangkok’s most sought-after party starter is just beginning his day. Make that night. The popular graphic designer whose electronic 'Dudesweet' parties are must-attend happenings has enough Facebook friends (more than 1,300 at last count) to pack clubs such as 808 and Club Culture many times over. He’s now the sole Thai finalist on HP Space, an Asian reality show filmed in Singapore.
2. Petchara Chaowarat: Vision quester
After a movie career going back five decades, she's suddenly Thailand’s It 'girl.' The country’s most famous actress in the 1960s and '70s, Petchara has made 300 films. But all that time under the spotlight eventually led to total blindness and she disappeared from the public eye, becoming a virtual recluse. Now 64, she jolted the nation this year by coming out of seclusion to do a makeup commercial, with part of the proceeds going to a development center for the blind, followed by a stunning photo spread in "Lips" magazine.
Cris Horwang3. Cris Horwang: Non-actress
Thailand's water cooler topic of choice is the star of current box office topper "Bangkok Traffic Love Story." The surprise blockbuster has made her the hottest starlet in the country. A 29-year-old with Chinese features who has dedicated her life since the age of five to ballet, Cris is actually an amateur actress. Her day jobs include professional dance instructor and DJ at FAT Radio -- not to mention style icon for the country’s women.
4. Zcongklod Bangyikhan: Natural man
Now 31, the youngest-ever editor of Thai-language indie mag “A Day,” Zcongklod is a longtime environmentalist. He's not only made the popular mag much better since coming aboard, he writes books -- five already -- and leads the 'Lonely Trees Network' to raise environmental awareness (www.lonelytrees.net).
5. Singh Intrachooto: Green garbage man
While most architects focus on building with the latest materials, Singh works with leftovers. A Ph.D graduate from MIT and now the head of Building Innovation and Technology at Kasetsart’s Faculty of Architecture, he founded his company OSISU in 2006 after realizing that while he was teaching environmentally responsible design, his business was generating heaps of waste. He started using scraps to make cool products, such as furniture and home decor, and is now regarded as an icon for others looking to protect the environment.
Adam Yukol6. Chalermchatri Yukol: Blue blood mogul
When your father is a prince, not to mention a legendary filmmaker, you’ve got some royally tough shoes to fill. But 24-year-old Chalermchatri, or 'Adam,' is taking his inherited skills in a new direction. The son of “Suriyothai” and “Naresuan” trilogy director Prince Chatrichalerm, Adam is becoming a new media leader in Bangkok with his own Internet television channel called FukDuk TV, which celebrated its second anniversary in October. Though his blood runs blue and he’s a constant scenester at Bangkok’s chicest parties, Adam's everyday life is laid back. Follow him on Twitter at @adamy.
7. Wannaporn 'Pui' Pornphrapa: Hotel helper
This Harvard-trained landscape architect heads P Landscape, the Bangkok firm behind some of the outdoor spaces in the region’s most incredible hotel projects. She just finished work on landscapes for Ritz-Carlton’s new Krabi resort, is working on W Hotel’s current development in Bangkok and still finds time to work with all the major international property brands knocking down her door. What makes Pui attractive is her low-key style and humble attitude. It’s as though she truly doesn’t realize how impressive she is.
Mario Maurer8. Mario Maurer: Heartcrusher
He may only be 21, but women of all ages -- not to mention a few men -- lust after this half-German/half-Thai actor, singer and model. Dubbed Super Mario, his role as a young gay man dealing with his sexual awakening in the 2007 film “The Love of Siam” proved he was more than a pretty face. Two years later, you still don’t want to be in the vicinity of a Mario sighting. Think riots, ear-shattering screams and fainting teenage girls.
9. Petchtai Wongkamlao: Everywhere man
Better known by his stage moniker, Mum Jokmok, Petchtai is one of Thailand’s top comedians, making cameos in pretty much every Thai movie, TV show and commercial. No exaggeration. He also directs films and has his own weekly TV series, "Mum Show," which makes Saturday night bearable for shut-ins.
Woody Milintachinda
10. Woody Milintachinda: Prying mind
Woody’s extremely popular Sunday-night show is called “Woody Kerd Ma Kui,” which basically means “Woody was born to talk.” And he's got a lot to say, on Twitter, too, making him Thailand’s most popular tweeter. Interviewing celebs in both English and Thai, Woody is unique in that he’s the only host to go in-depth with high-profile personalities, invading their lives during shoots to get the story beyond the gossip that few other TV hosts dare -- or care -- to pursue.
11. Joe Apichatpong Weerasethakul: Canny director
One of few Thais to break into international cinema, Joe is also the first Thai director to win the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival (2004's “Tropical Malady”). His 2007 "Syndromes and a Century" brought awareness of Thai censorship when the movie was banned due to sensitive scenes involving a doctor drinking and kissing in a hospital and a guitar-playing monk. He sat as a jury member at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and was recently short-listed for the Guggenheim’s 2010 Hugo Boss Prize.
12. Mellow Motif: Jazzy gem
This jazz and Latin band is already well known in Bangkok. But Mellow Motif is starting to get recognition outside the city. The heart of the group is two Carnegie Mellon University alumni, Natasha Patamapongs (vocals) and Eugene Ang (piano), both phenomenal musicians fuelling the band’s well-deserved rise. Their first album was released in February and they’re now recording their second. Expect it in December.
Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand
13: Pornthip Rojanasunand: Dr. Death
Dr. Pornthip might be the only forensic scientist in the world to be a household name. Pathologist, author and human rights activist, she’s best known for taking charge of efforts to identify victims of the 2004 tsunami, and taking the government to task for alleged human rights abuses. Nationwide adoration only gets stronger with every new colorful punk-rock hairstyle she sports. Other countries in the region call on her for help solve their toughest crimes -- in June, she helped investigate the Bangkok death of actor David Carradine.
14. Tony Jaa: Fight lover
With the international release of martial arts flick "Ong Bak," Tony became an instant sensation overseas. Some were so bold as to dub him the next Jackie Chan. Like Chan, Tony does his own stunts and studied martial arts for years, inspired by idols Bruce Lee, Jet Li and, of course, Chan. Recent hits include "Ong Bak 2" and "Tom Yum Goong.” The fact that he had what some refer to as an alleged 'breakdown' -- running off during the shooting of "Ong Bak 2" -- only ups his celeb cool cred.
15. Thongchai Jaidee: King of clubs
It's not just that pro golfer Thongchai holds the record for most career victories on the Asian Tour. It's his path to golf greatness that impresses us. Thongchai didn't even play golf until he was 16, and didn't turn professional until he was almost 30. He's the first Thai to win a tournament on the European Tour (2004 Carlsberg Malaysian Open). We could go on with his achievements, but we'll end with the coolest tidbit of all: before becoming a pro golfer he was a paratrooper in the Thai army.
Tata Young16. Tata Young: Breakup artist
The gorgeous Tata may forever be known as the voice behind 2004’s "Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy Me,” but the half-American, half-Thai singer has held the nation in her thrall since she was a young, boyish-looking teenager. She just launched her latest album, “Ready for Love,” and remains one of the few singers to gain recognition outside Thailand. Like everyone else we're glued to her every move, particularly her love life, which is always a treasure of intrigue and drama.
17. Phramaha Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi: Anger manager
Thais have been familiar with this monk’s teachings for awhile, but it was his recent TV appearances that got people thinking about the logic behind Buddhism -- particularly when he told audiences with a straight face that people can fly. His approach to Buddhist teachings makes them easy to understand, as shown in one of his works, “Dharma with Wings." Phramaha Vudhijaya's "Anger Management" and "Looking Death in the Eye” have been translated into more than five languages.
18. Sretsis: Sibling non-rivals
Leading Thailand's fashion scene is the brand with a semordnilap name, 'Sretis,' which is, of course, 'sisters' spelled backward. The three siblings have built their brand into a globally recognized name, thanks to Pim Sukhahutas's creative skills, Kly's marketing prowess and Matina's presentation. They've appeared in the pages of "Teen Vogue," "NYLON" and "Page Six" and on the backs of celebs such as Katy Perry. We love them even more for their chic restaurant, Minibar Royale, which feels more Big Apple than Bangkok.
Patee Sarasin19. Patee Sarasin: Rare bird
One look at a Nok Air plane, with its wacky beak paint job, and you know a different breed of exec is running the airline. Check out the unconventional Nok Air CEO's constant stream of daily Twitter updates and you’ll also understand that a day in the boardroom with this former ad exec is no boring affair. But don’t let Patee's fun-loving, squash-playing demeanor fool you. This is a battle-hardened businessman managing to keep an airline afloat in trying travel times.
20. Angie Phijaranasan: Style guide
Angsumalin -- Angie, to friends -- is a senior interior designer at Bangkok firm PIA. This gorgeous, stylish woman works with hospitality giants such as India’s Oberoi, has a master’s degree in interior and spatial design from the University of the Arts in London and handles design concepts for Major Development’s first super-luxury condo high-rise, Royce. Angie gained notoriety last year for being one of a handful of Thais caught in the Mumbai terror attacks. She survived by hiding under a table when gunfire broke out in the Trident-Oberoi.
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