John K. Lindgren
VOUTILAINEN Watch Price: THB 2,5 million
feature
Kari Voutilainen. Say it again, please… Ka-ri Vou-ti-lai-nen. This Finn, hails from Lapland, the immense hinterland within the arctic circle in Finland. He is a double certified watchmaker and a member of the select Swiss Haute Horologie ('hoote horro-lo-schiee') guild with many esteemed old French/Swiss watchmakers such as: Audemars Piquet, Blancpain, Brequet, Chopard, Girard Perregaux, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.
This writer recently met Voutilainen on his first to Bangkok visit where three of his masterpieces were displayed at the exclusive Gaysorn "Art of Time" exhibition.
Voutilainen is a dedicated, independent horologer of the old school, making handcrafted, exceedingly expensive and complex mechanical watches that are a wonder to behold. Meeting him in the hotel lobby I am reminded of Peter Sellers.... but a more affable, modest and relaxed Sellers.
Voutilainen, 46, had a keen interest in mechanical things and moving parts, cogs and wheels as a young boy.
"We had a family friend who owned the only watch shop in town and I was quite often over there as my watch was always broken". And he adds "I also took apart some big pendulum chime wall clock's and sometimes I could not reassemble them again! And I managed to dismantle cars and motorbikes as well."
Later in his youth he realized he wanted to do two things: "I wanted to do something with my hands, and I wanted to be independent."
After receiving his high school diploma he completed his watchmaker's training at the famous Kelloseppäkoulu, the Finnish school of watchmaking near Helsinki.
In his 20s he worked in the Finnish-Swedish small border town Ylätornio repairing digital alarm clocks, wristwatches, grandfather and cuckoo clocks and in 89 Voutilainen's passion for complicated watches led him to the leading international watchmaking school in the world: the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Here the precocious student was quickly spotted and hired by Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps, one of Switzerland's premier manufacturer's of Haute Horology. There he learned to master micro-mechanical engineering, and execute very demanding restoration jobs of some of the world's rarest time pieces, as well as the creation of new and original limited edition (piece unique) masterpieces. Alongside his professional work, Voutilainen devoted himself, through many long evenings alone in his basement, like the craftsmen of yore, to developing his own unique machines.
In 2002 Voutinainen went solo and opened his own atelier situated in the tranquil village of Môtiers at the foot of the Jura mountains near Switzerland's French border, the very heart of Swiss mechanical watchmaking. Here the Finn started a 'one-man' manufactory, of the old style, where the horologer does everything from A to Z, with painstaking precision, with the loupe glued to his eye. No place for robots and computers here!
A case in point is his minute repeater watches with a miniscule set of hammer and gong, which according to Voutilainen " should ring loudly and have a crystal clear sound". He elaborates, "I don't like watching TV in my free time I rather spend it in my workshop". On the new generation of watchmakers he laments, " they know very well how to manipulate a computer mouse - but nothing at all about using a pivot file" .
As watchmakers are sometimes also collectors I ask him about his own private collection. "In the 90s in Finland I bought a Glashutte tourbillion, escarpment model for EUR 1.200 the masterpiece was broken and dilapidated I repaired it and today it is worth over EUR 24.000". Another restoration job was a Patek Philippe split chronograph wrist watch (circa 1945). It was transformed from a dead watch to mint condition vintage luxury item, ticking softly.
Voutilainens watch cogniscienti can be found in Finland, Japan, Spain, and Singapore. "My annual production is limited to a dozen pieces," says Voutilainen. On his wrist I see a Voutilainen Chronometer. A stunning, rectangular dress watch in white gold with steelly blue frosted finish sporting three dials. It screams elegance. In it, Voutilainen hosted a forgotten vintage movement the 'Caliber 27' a mechanism created solely for observatory trials and never commercialized. Looking at it through the transparent sapphire glass back I was mesmerized by the complicated and beautiful movement.
Last year Voutilainen's remarkable 'OBSERVATOIRE' chronometer won the coveted Grand Prix d'Horologie de Geneve 2007 in the men's watch category. You can hear the distinct clear chimes of the minute repeater just click-on to www.youtube.com type: `Kari Voutilainen' and listen.
END TEXT
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Italian designer Antonio Cittario
Antonio Citterio Architect & Designer
Mamma Mia those Italians! We know their passionate sense of style through Armani, Beretta, Bvlgari, (Bulgari), Cappucino, D&G, Espresso, Ferrari, Ferragamo, Gucci, Lamborghini, Lavazza, Prada and Zegna.
And Citterio? Antonio Citterio? ll maestro, the global architect & industrial designer Signore Citterio who recently visited Bangkok during of his Asia whirlwind tour.
Antonio Citterio’s Bangkok stopover coincided with him presiding at the grand opening of the Bangkok B&B Italia flagship high-end furniture store in Thonglor town and a sold out lecture at the Sukhothai hotel where we met him in the morning.
Dressed in a grey cool wool suit and polo shirt. There is an air of friendly curiosity about Citterio.
“I was born in Meda, near Milan my father was a cabinet maker, an artisan and I became an architect”. he says.
The 1950s, the post war era when Italian architecture, fashion, industrial design, ‘neo realism’ cinema, the pocket-sized Fiat Cinquecento 500 and the revolutionary Vespa scooter created a new powerful wave of the “Made in Italy” style.
Antonio Citterio graduated with a degree in architecture from Milan’s polytechnic university. In 1972 he started his architectural and interior design company.
“ Media made me a designer, a stylist. But I’m an architect, first and foremost,” Antonio Citterio clips as he orders Pellegrino, Italian mineral water, of course.
This is the man who prefers not be called a designer - yet he has designed/created everything from the ergonomic Finnish Iittala cutlery to the Antonio Citterio Technogym, the Grohe single lever basin mixer for the bathroom, furniture: B & B Italy, Maxalto and other brands enough to fill warehouses.
But, also apartment buildings, factories, private villas and a ueber chic boutique hotels around the world were created at his drawing board.
His chef-d'oeuvre hotel job is the Bvlgari property in Milano, a super exclusive inner city garden hotel. “This is where I like to taste my morning cappuccino and read the newspaper – on my way to my office” he says.
Long term, intense client relationships are key to Citterio. This we can see clearly with his B & B Italy association. “Our marriage has lasted for 27 years”, says Cittario laughingly.
Regarding the future Citterio, says: “I would like to design buildings that aren’t corrupted by commercial interests, public spaces a church or a museum. When you design a house, it's no longer yours when the people move in. But with a museum or a church, the space still exists for you”.
And lastly on Asian architecture / design he explains, ” it is just the beginning it will grow when big industry decides it wants to create innovation and not just manufacture copies - but first it will need a change of spirit”.
If you want to look at Antonio Citterio’s limited edition furniture, sofas, arm chairs and other objects head for B & B Italy showroom (gallery) location: Sukhumvit Thonglor Soi Sip.
END TEXT
Mamma Mia those Italians! We know their passionate sense of style through Armani, Beretta, Bvlgari, (Bulgari), Cappucino, D&G, Espresso, Ferrari, Ferragamo, Gucci, Lamborghini, Lavazza, Prada and Zegna.
And Citterio? Antonio Citterio? ll maestro, the global architect & industrial designer Signore Citterio who recently visited Bangkok during of his Asia whirlwind tour.
Antonio Citterio’s Bangkok stopover coincided with him presiding at the grand opening of the Bangkok B&B Italia flagship high-end furniture store in Thonglor town and a sold out lecture at the Sukhothai hotel where we met him in the morning.
Dressed in a grey cool wool suit and polo shirt. There is an air of friendly curiosity about Citterio.
“I was born in Meda, near Milan my father was a cabinet maker, an artisan and I became an architect”. he says.
The 1950s, the post war era when Italian architecture, fashion, industrial design, ‘neo realism’ cinema, the pocket-sized Fiat Cinquecento 500 and the revolutionary Vespa scooter created a new powerful wave of the “Made in Italy” style.
Antonio Citterio graduated with a degree in architecture from Milan’s polytechnic university. In 1972 he started his architectural and interior design company.
“ Media made me a designer, a stylist. But I’m an architect, first and foremost,” Antonio Citterio clips as he orders Pellegrino, Italian mineral water, of course.
This is the man who prefers not be called a designer - yet he has designed/created everything from the ergonomic Finnish Iittala cutlery to the Antonio Citterio Technogym, the Grohe single lever basin mixer for the bathroom, furniture: B & B Italy, Maxalto and other brands enough to fill warehouses.
But, also apartment buildings, factories, private villas and a ueber chic boutique hotels around the world were created at his drawing board.
His chef-d'oeuvre hotel job is the Bvlgari property in Milano, a super exclusive inner city garden hotel. “This is where I like to taste my morning cappuccino and read the newspaper – on my way to my office” he says.
Long term, intense client relationships are key to Citterio. This we can see clearly with his B & B Italy association. “Our marriage has lasted for 27 years”, says Cittario laughingly.
Regarding the future Citterio, says: “I would like to design buildings that aren’t corrupted by commercial interests, public spaces a church or a museum. When you design a house, it's no longer yours when the people move in. But with a museum or a church, the space still exists for you”.
And lastly on Asian architecture / design he explains, ” it is just the beginning it will grow when big industry decides it wants to create innovation and not just manufacture copies - but first it will need a change of spirit”.
If you want to look at Antonio Citterio’s limited edition furniture, sofas, arm chairs and other objects head for B & B Italy showroom (gallery) location: Sukhumvit Thonglor Soi Sip.
END TEXT
Friday, June 27, 2008
HAM HAM HAMBURG
The Hamburg Port Festival 2008 by John K. Lindgren
On my first visit to Hamburg in the early 70s, I had gazed at the majestic ocean liners with their towering, black smokestacks and smelled the salt air of the Elbe river that leads to sea and has carried all kinds of vessels to the Hanseatic port down the centuries. It was an awesome panorama, and for one in whom the sap was still rising, powerful enough to fill with lifelong deep wanderlust… I am now live in the Far East and revisiting Hamburg this summer was more than nostalgic. Flying from Bangkok "Turk Hava Yollari" IATA code name TK Turkish Airlines provides one of the fastest routes from Bangkok to Hamburg via Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, since April 2008 a proud member of Star Alliance flies daily to Turkey, Istanbul. Departure Bangkok BKK around midnight with early morning arrival at the Ataturk airport in Istanbul IST which is a modern new international airport boasting a Starbucks, two large bookstores and brand name boutiques galore. And sweet Turkish delight candy, of course. After a three hour pleasant day flight with a beautiful bird's eye view of Europe you arrive in HAM at noon. Hamburg is today Germany's second largest city with a population of 1.76 million, and over two million trees - and a Greenpeace office by the waterfront, just to protect the tree population and the air and the water. It was mid May – spring was gone and everything seemed bathed in summery sunshine. With city parks and gardens filled with birdsong and a youthful spring in the pedestrians' step. No matter where you turn in Hamburg, there seems to be water ......So it is no wonder that there are in all more bridges here than in Amsterdam, London and Venice - put together! Besides the great Elbe river there is the Inner and Outer Alster Hamburgs two manmade lakes almost in the middle of downtown and canals, all interconnected and crisscrossed by those bridges. To a lot of visitors it comes as a surprise to learn that this port is actually situated inland, located downriver almost 100 kilometers from the Elbe river's mouth on the North Sea, between Denmark and Holland. Strolling through the streets it was hard not to feel the excitement of the 819th "Hamburg Hafenfestival" or the Hamburg Port Festival that was to unfold within hours. The annual Hafenfestival" or the harbour birthday party" is a four-day tribute to Hamburg's long maritime past. The annual extravaganza celebrates with justifiable pomp, the port's glorious history and spirit. This prosperous Hanseatic city is commonly known as "HH" in German as "haa-haa" Hansestadt Hamburg. The locals are proud of their place in history and the city's contribution to Germany and Europe and the world. The football aficionados know that Hamburg hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2006. Their home team Rothosen ("Red Shorts") or Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V is currently in the fourth place in the Bundesliga. Today the maritime city not only has a state-of-the-art port container port, second largest in Europe after Rotterdam and Germany's media center, by far being the home to an astounding 13,000 on-line and off-line companies; among them the respected Der Spiegel publishing group, Deutsche Presse Agentur (dpa), and Axel Springer Group's "BILD" newspapers. All that aside, Hamburg was the birthplace of the iconic haute couture, uber fashion designer Karl "white ponytail" Lagerfeldt, the Joop and Jil Sander designer brands. While the Mont Blanc, high-end writing instruments and horology manufacturer is another world famous "Made in Hamburg" brand. And lastly, who does not know the blue iconic tins of Nivea cream? They were first manufactured in Hamburg by the Beiersdorf family to protect skins all over the planet. Among the historic buildings in Hamburg - and there are so many - is the neo-renaissance Kaiser Wilhelm "Emperor's Hauptbahnhof" (Main Railway Station) from 1906, the The Chilehaus (Chile House) is a ten-story 1920s office building of brick architecture with strong maritime elements another must-see, as is the infamous Reeperbahn, in the naughty St Pauli district. Walking along same at day's end, we were jostled along by tourists and locals alike. Once a seedy smorgasbord of hardcore dives catering mainly to sailors, sexy entertainment it is now a legend providing a vibrant, attractive nightlife scene with theatres and cabarets, galleries, discotheques, bars and clubs the all embellished with blue and red bright neon tubes. And who in the world could possibly walk on the Reeperbahn, and not remember the Fab Four from another historic European port Liverpool? Inevitably, one young female journalist clipped: "well, the Beatles were born here a 50 years ago – right?" Yes. John Lennon once said: "the Beatles did not become big in Liverpool but in Hamburg". Their last Hamburg gig was in 1961 at Star Club. But it is the Port of Hamburg, "die Hafen", the docks, the gigantic engine which propels the second largest container port in Europe smoothly operated by 14 giant computer controlled container gantry cranes and unmanned vehicles loading and discharging around 9,5 million standard TEU containers boxes per year. On Friday May 9th, the opening day of the festival Hamburgians were blessed with clear, deep azure skies, cumulus clouds and warm summer breeze full of promise. The auspicious event was welcomed with a long weekend as the following Monday was a bank holiday. So four days of festivities flowed like lager on tap..... The 2008 festival was inaugurated by Ole von Beust the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the guest of honour was the first lady President of Finland, Mrs. Tarja Halonen. The Finnish navy was present with their flagship, the sleek grey minelayer m/s Pohjanmaa flying a full set of multicoloured signal flags. The entire VIP entourage, including the local dignitaries, decorated naval officers and invited members of the press were raising their champagne flutes on the poop deck of the tall, sleek green and crimson red hulled three-masted windjammer, Rickmer Rickmeers. This magnificent Cape Horn class sailing vessel is now a museum and a symbol of Hamburg's significant past as the home of the tall, fast sailing ships; the legendary "Flying P-Liners" and the majestic Hapag-Lloyd ocean steamers outward bound for Buenos Aires, New York and Montevideo. The 2008 maritime festival attracted more than 1.6 million visitors and 300 vessels, ranging from a compact grey pocket submarine to pleasure boats of every size and configuration; and most striking of all, three handsome Dutch North Sea sailing schooners with hoisted main sails and topsails bellowing. They were a sight to behold! Ship ohoy! And the stars of the show the and Russian naval cadet windjammers, the Mir, the Sedov and the biggest of them all the black and white majestic four-masted bark Kruzensthern (built in 1926 in Bremen) ex Padua which was one of fastest the "Flying P-Liners" of Laeisz company. Carl Heinrich Laeisz also consigned a generous testamentary sum for the construction of"a dignified place for the exertion and enjoyment of noble and serious music" - the Laeiszhalle from 1908 in neo-baroque red brick architecture. The ubiquitous strong workhorses of the port, the harbour tugboats and the 6,000 horsepower ocean tugboats performed their much appreciated "schlepperballet" the tug boat ballet, a veritable heavyweight boat dance with 180 degree turns on the water accompanied by a crescendo of deep baritone klaxons over the sparkling waves. The airspace above the Elbe river was also alive, with planes and helicopters buzzing around in the afternoon sun. The fighter jets of the Hamburg squadron executing pure aeronautics, loops and swirls with seemingly effortless ease.And a supreme vintage passenger aircraft: the piston propeller triple engine Lufthansa Junkers 52 (model 1944) "Tante Ju"or "Auntie Ju" flew graciously and slowly back and forth across the Elbe river. After the sun went down, bathing the whole scene in pale orange glow it was time to go below deck of the s/s Rickmer Rickmers, where the Captain's dinner consisting of North Sea crustaceans, German fresh asparagus, veal, new summer potatoes and hind beer terrine for dessert and Schneider Weissburgunder white wine. Black-and-white clad waiters hurried with large trays with along long tables in a manner reminiscent of the glory days of luxury sea voyages..... The grand finale of the evening then unfolded in the sky. This was the "feuerwerk" show sponsored by the Hamburg's own Jever beer company. The display brought out aaahs and the oooohs from the crowds on the riverbank as the rain of glowing red, blue, green and purple fireworks with thunder lit up the air and shone on every ship at anchor on the Elbe. Seconds after the fireworks ended all the ships blared their horns in unison. The sound and the sights will live on in mind for many summers.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Useful websites: Hamburg is an open, vibrant metropolis on the water that offers something for every taste. The port of Hamburg is located by the river Elbe – just like Klong Toey, the port of Bangkok is situated by the Chao Phraya river. http://www.marketing.hamburg.de/ http://www.hamburg-tourismus.de/ Getting There: Turkish Airlines operates seven days a week from Bangkok to Istanbul with two daily onward connections to Hamburg.For more information call tel: 02 231 0311 or visit http://www.thy.com/ Where to stay:Lindner Hotel Am Michel, Neanderstr. 2020549 Hamburg, GermanyTel +49 40 307067000, http://www.lindner.de/ A stylish new well equipped four star property. Member of the Lindner Hotels & Resorts. Built in typical Hanseatic style with a red-brick façade. Located in the historic centre of the city, only 200 metres from St Michael's church and walking distance from the Elbe river and the jetties.
Hotel Atlantic Kempinski HamburgAn der Alster 72-79 20099 Tel: +49 40 28880Hotel http://www.kempinski.atlantic.de/ The Kempinski Hotel Atlantic has been Hamburg's leading hotel since it first opened it's doors in 1909 as a grand hotel for ocean liners passengers. Guests include Emperor Haile Selassie, Edith Piaf and Sir Mick Jagger.
Where to Eat:Fischereihafen RestaurantGroße Elbstraße 143, Altona, Tel: +49 40 381816, http://www.fischereihafenrestaurant.de/Inconspicuously situated between two warehouses and close to the fish market. Both traditional and exotic fish and seafood dishes are available, as is a fine choice of wines. The window seats offer great views of the River ElbeWhere to shop:Stilwerk Hamburg Große Elbstrasse 68 , Tel: +49 40 306210, http://www.stilwerk.de/ Germany's first department store for design. The mecca for trendsetters in all matters of lifestyle.
Hanseviertel, Europapassage, Jungfernstieg, Mönckeberg and Spitalerstrasse are five high end shopping areas that magically attract all those who want to take back home with them more than just nice memories in digital form.
On my first visit to Hamburg in the early 70s, I had gazed at the majestic ocean liners with their towering, black smokestacks and smelled the salt air of the Elbe river that leads to sea and has carried all kinds of vessels to the Hanseatic port down the centuries. It was an awesome panorama, and for one in whom the sap was still rising, powerful enough to fill with lifelong deep wanderlust… I am now live in the Far East and revisiting Hamburg this summer was more than nostalgic. Flying from Bangkok "Turk Hava Yollari" IATA code name TK Turkish Airlines provides one of the fastest routes from Bangkok to Hamburg via Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, since April 2008 a proud member of Star Alliance flies daily to Turkey, Istanbul. Departure Bangkok BKK around midnight with early morning arrival at the Ataturk airport in Istanbul IST which is a modern new international airport boasting a Starbucks, two large bookstores and brand name boutiques galore. And sweet Turkish delight candy, of course. After a three hour pleasant day flight with a beautiful bird's eye view of Europe you arrive in HAM at noon. Hamburg is today Germany's second largest city with a population of 1.76 million, and over two million trees - and a Greenpeace office by the waterfront, just to protect the tree population and the air and the water. It was mid May – spring was gone and everything seemed bathed in summery sunshine. With city parks and gardens filled with birdsong and a youthful spring in the pedestrians' step. No matter where you turn in Hamburg, there seems to be water ......So it is no wonder that there are in all more bridges here than in Amsterdam, London and Venice - put together! Besides the great Elbe river there is the Inner and Outer Alster Hamburgs two manmade lakes almost in the middle of downtown and canals, all interconnected and crisscrossed by those bridges. To a lot of visitors it comes as a surprise to learn that this port is actually situated inland, located downriver almost 100 kilometers from the Elbe river's mouth on the North Sea, between Denmark and Holland. Strolling through the streets it was hard not to feel the excitement of the 819th "Hamburg Hafenfestival" or the Hamburg Port Festival that was to unfold within hours. The annual Hafenfestival" or the harbour birthday party" is a four-day tribute to Hamburg's long maritime past. The annual extravaganza celebrates with justifiable pomp, the port's glorious history and spirit. This prosperous Hanseatic city is commonly known as "HH" in German as "haa-haa" Hansestadt Hamburg. The locals are proud of their place in history and the city's contribution to Germany and Europe and the world. The football aficionados know that Hamburg hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2006. Their home team Rothosen ("Red Shorts") or Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V is currently in the fourth place in the Bundesliga. Today the maritime city not only has a state-of-the-art port container port, second largest in Europe after Rotterdam and Germany's media center, by far being the home to an astounding 13,000 on-line and off-line companies; among them the respected Der Spiegel publishing group, Deutsche Presse Agentur (dpa), and Axel Springer Group's "BILD" newspapers. All that aside, Hamburg was the birthplace of the iconic haute couture, uber fashion designer Karl "white ponytail" Lagerfeldt, the Joop and Jil Sander designer brands. While the Mont Blanc, high-end writing instruments and horology manufacturer is another world famous "Made in Hamburg" brand. And lastly, who does not know the blue iconic tins of Nivea cream? They were first manufactured in Hamburg by the Beiersdorf family to protect skins all over the planet. Among the historic buildings in Hamburg - and there are so many - is the neo-renaissance Kaiser Wilhelm "Emperor's Hauptbahnhof" (Main Railway Station) from 1906, the The Chilehaus (Chile House) is a ten-story 1920s office building of brick architecture with strong maritime elements another must-see, as is the infamous Reeperbahn, in the naughty St Pauli district. Walking along same at day's end, we were jostled along by tourists and locals alike. Once a seedy smorgasbord of hardcore dives catering mainly to sailors, sexy entertainment it is now a legend providing a vibrant, attractive nightlife scene with theatres and cabarets, galleries, discotheques, bars and clubs the all embellished with blue and red bright neon tubes. And who in the world could possibly walk on the Reeperbahn, and not remember the Fab Four from another historic European port Liverpool? Inevitably, one young female journalist clipped: "well, the Beatles were born here a 50 years ago – right?" Yes. John Lennon once said: "the Beatles did not become big in Liverpool but in Hamburg". Their last Hamburg gig was in 1961 at Star Club. But it is the Port of Hamburg, "die Hafen", the docks, the gigantic engine which propels the second largest container port in Europe smoothly operated by 14 giant computer controlled container gantry cranes and unmanned vehicles loading and discharging around 9,5 million standard TEU containers boxes per year. On Friday May 9th, the opening day of the festival Hamburgians were blessed with clear, deep azure skies, cumulus clouds and warm summer breeze full of promise. The auspicious event was welcomed with a long weekend as the following Monday was a bank holiday. So four days of festivities flowed like lager on tap..... The 2008 festival was inaugurated by Ole von Beust the First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the guest of honour was the first lady President of Finland, Mrs. Tarja Halonen. The Finnish navy was present with their flagship, the sleek grey minelayer m/s Pohjanmaa flying a full set of multicoloured signal flags. The entire VIP entourage, including the local dignitaries, decorated naval officers and invited members of the press were raising their champagne flutes on the poop deck of the tall, sleek green and crimson red hulled three-masted windjammer, Rickmer Rickmeers. This magnificent Cape Horn class sailing vessel is now a museum and a symbol of Hamburg's significant past as the home of the tall, fast sailing ships; the legendary "Flying P-Liners" and the majestic Hapag-Lloyd ocean steamers outward bound for Buenos Aires, New York and Montevideo. The 2008 maritime festival attracted more than 1.6 million visitors and 300 vessels, ranging from a compact grey pocket submarine to pleasure boats of every size and configuration; and most striking of all, three handsome Dutch North Sea sailing schooners with hoisted main sails and topsails bellowing. They were a sight to behold! Ship ohoy! And the stars of the show the and Russian naval cadet windjammers, the Mir, the Sedov and the biggest of them all the black and white majestic four-masted bark Kruzensthern (built in 1926 in Bremen) ex Padua which was one of fastest the "Flying P-Liners" of Laeisz company. Carl Heinrich Laeisz also consigned a generous testamentary sum for the construction of"a dignified place for the exertion and enjoyment of noble and serious music" - the Laeiszhalle from 1908 in neo-baroque red brick architecture. The ubiquitous strong workhorses of the port, the harbour tugboats and the 6,000 horsepower ocean tugboats performed their much appreciated "schlepperballet" the tug boat ballet, a veritable heavyweight boat dance with 180 degree turns on the water accompanied by a crescendo of deep baritone klaxons over the sparkling waves. The airspace above the Elbe river was also alive, with planes and helicopters buzzing around in the afternoon sun. The fighter jets of the Hamburg squadron executing pure aeronautics, loops and swirls with seemingly effortless ease.And a supreme vintage passenger aircraft: the piston propeller triple engine Lufthansa Junkers 52 (model 1944) "Tante Ju"or "Auntie Ju" flew graciously and slowly back and forth across the Elbe river. After the sun went down, bathing the whole scene in pale orange glow it was time to go below deck of the s/s Rickmer Rickmers, where the Captain's dinner consisting of North Sea crustaceans, German fresh asparagus, veal, new summer potatoes and hind beer terrine for dessert and Schneider Weissburgunder white wine. Black-and-white clad waiters hurried with large trays with along long tables in a manner reminiscent of the glory days of luxury sea voyages..... The grand finale of the evening then unfolded in the sky. This was the "feuerwerk" show sponsored by the Hamburg's own Jever beer company. The display brought out aaahs and the oooohs from the crowds on the riverbank as the rain of glowing red, blue, green and purple fireworks with thunder lit up the air and shone on every ship at anchor on the Elbe. Seconds after the fireworks ended all the ships blared their horns in unison. The sound and the sights will live on in mind for many summers.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Useful websites: Hamburg is an open, vibrant metropolis on the water that offers something for every taste. The port of Hamburg is located by the river Elbe – just like Klong Toey, the port of Bangkok is situated by the Chao Phraya river. http://www.marketing.hamburg.de/ http://www.hamburg-tourismus.de/ Getting There: Turkish Airlines operates seven days a week from Bangkok to Istanbul with two daily onward connections to Hamburg.For more information call tel: 02 231 0311 or visit http://www.thy.com/ Where to stay:Lindner Hotel Am Michel, Neanderstr. 2020549 Hamburg, GermanyTel +49 40 307067000, http://www.lindner.de/ A stylish new well equipped four star property. Member of the Lindner Hotels & Resorts. Built in typical Hanseatic style with a red-brick façade. Located in the historic centre of the city, only 200 metres from St Michael's church and walking distance from the Elbe river and the jetties.
Hotel Atlantic Kempinski HamburgAn der Alster 72-79 20099 Tel: +49 40 28880Hotel http://www.kempinski.atlantic.de/ The Kempinski Hotel Atlantic has been Hamburg's leading hotel since it first opened it's doors in 1909 as a grand hotel for ocean liners passengers. Guests include Emperor Haile Selassie, Edith Piaf and Sir Mick Jagger.
Where to Eat:Fischereihafen RestaurantGroße Elbstraße 143, Altona, Tel: +49 40 381816, http://www.fischereihafenrestaurant.de/Inconspicuously situated between two warehouses and close to the fish market. Both traditional and exotic fish and seafood dishes are available, as is a fine choice of wines. The window seats offer great views of the River ElbeWhere to shop:Stilwerk Hamburg Große Elbstrasse 68 , Tel: +49 40 306210, http://www.stilwerk.de/ Germany's first department store for design. The mecca for trendsetters in all matters of lifestyle.
Hanseviertel, Europapassage, Jungfernstieg, Mönckeberg and Spitalerstrasse are five high end shopping areas that magically attract all those who want to take back home with them more than just nice memories in digital form.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Bangkok Shakes - Hanoi Rocks
John LINDGREN
Bangkok Spye
For donkey’s years or as the Swedes say “for donkey’s ears” Bangkok Spye has been bumping in to people on the sidewalks and the footpaths, on MTR & BTS platforms, in the supermarkets and on the pedestrian bridges of Krung Theep Mananakorn also known as Bangkok.
Not because I am dyslectic, dyspeptic nor is it the pre-Alzheimer’s. Is it that my navigation system, my GPS, works on a different frequency? When I turn left they turn left. Left right and left again. Brake. Thumm! Not to mention that I am a brisk walker. Walk the walk and talk the talk. I also talk too fast. And a tad, too loud.
Although I am mostly behind the wheel of my 1600cc Nassin Eon, that’s Nissan Neo backwards. So when I have a chance to walk in the city I want the maximum exercise out of it. And my speed walking results in bumping in to Bangkokians small and tall, young and old. Or they bump in to me. Sudden lane changes, unexpected u-turns. Citizens making stationary promotional DTAC cell phone calls in the middle of the busy sidewalk.
Just like Bangkok traffic. Organized confusion or confusion organized. The worst is the right hand turn and all the street vendors, food stalls, the blind and the lame sitting on the footbridges. And the occasional obese three-legged brown mutt.
What’s the remedy? To keep walking far left. And slower speed from 5th to 3rd gear. Thailand drives on the left like the rest of Asia, India and Australia except China. So Bangkok Spye keeps walking adamantly far left close to buildings, shops and railings. Keep far left hand and nobody will cut in front you. If you see someone walking very close to walls building and building sites and footbridges – it’s Bangkok Spye walking the walk on the footpaths of Bangkok.
In 2006 the Bangkokians learned a new French percent word: coup d’etat. Its not revolution it’s “Kuu De Taa”. Germans call it putsch, Bangkok Spye prefers coup d’etat. Sounds more civilized. Other civilized French words: Champagne, Fois Gras (Goose Liver) pity the geese – but it’s damn tasty, Camembert and of course, comme ci – comme ca. “So – so”. I know a Frenchman Monsieur Yves Democrat. Cool name! He is a fine saxophone player and plays regularly at the Grand Hyatt lobby bar from nine pm onwards. Democrat, but in Thai-English democracy is one of those difficult words. Usually pronounced: “demo-crazy!” Just like electricity is always referred to as “electric-city!”
Another cool name these days is Sonthi or Sondhi. Not any of ex Prime Minister, ex Caretaker Prime Minister Doctor Taxin Shinawatra’s favorite Thai names. The two Sonthis. Sonthi I and Sondhi II. Sonthi I “newspaper Walla” Limthongkul did the groundwork in the park with in front of huge crowds shouting “Get Out! Orrk Pai!” Firing up the masses according to the textbook “Elementary Demagogy”.
Then came the Thailand’s first Muslin army-commander-in-chief a four-star General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and executed the second part taking over the radio, TV stations rolling out the tanks and the Humvees in the dead of the night for additional effect and to avoid traffic jam. And next day BIG headlines in the English language dailies Bangkok Post: COUP D’ETAT and the Nation COUP! And Bangkok on the map of world media for a day.
Now everything is post Coup and post grand opening of Suwanna poom. The last on craft to land on the old tarmac was a Kuwaiti Airbus and the first to plane land on the new runway was a German “Luftwaffe” LH Boeing 747 cargo. Who cares about the second and the third flight. Suwanna poom is now on-line and the old Don Muang off-line. But Bangkok aeronautically is still BKK – Bangkok Shakes and Hanoi Rocks as a pre-Nokia Finland punk band used to sing.
Tempus Fugit
Bangkok Spye
For donkey’s years or as the Swedes say “for donkey’s ears” Bangkok Spye has been bumping in to people on the sidewalks and the footpaths, on MTR & BTS platforms, in the supermarkets and on the pedestrian bridges of Krung Theep Mananakorn also known as Bangkok.
Not because I am dyslectic, dyspeptic nor is it the pre-Alzheimer’s. Is it that my navigation system, my GPS, works on a different frequency? When I turn left they turn left. Left right and left again. Brake. Thumm! Not to mention that I am a brisk walker. Walk the walk and talk the talk. I also talk too fast. And a tad, too loud.
Although I am mostly behind the wheel of my 1600cc Nassin Eon, that’s Nissan Neo backwards. So when I have a chance to walk in the city I want the maximum exercise out of it. And my speed walking results in bumping in to Bangkokians small and tall, young and old. Or they bump in to me. Sudden lane changes, unexpected u-turns. Citizens making stationary promotional DTAC cell phone calls in the middle of the busy sidewalk.
Just like Bangkok traffic. Organized confusion or confusion organized. The worst is the right hand turn and all the street vendors, food stalls, the blind and the lame sitting on the footbridges. And the occasional obese three-legged brown mutt.
What’s the remedy? To keep walking far left. And slower speed from 5th to 3rd gear. Thailand drives on the left like the rest of Asia, India and Australia except China. So Bangkok Spye keeps walking adamantly far left close to buildings, shops and railings. Keep far left hand and nobody will cut in front you. If you see someone walking very close to walls building and building sites and footbridges – it’s Bangkok Spye walking the walk on the footpaths of Bangkok.
In 2006 the Bangkokians learned a new French percent word: coup d’etat. Its not revolution it’s “Kuu De Taa”. Germans call it putsch, Bangkok Spye prefers coup d’etat. Sounds more civilized. Other civilized French words: Champagne, Fois Gras (Goose Liver) pity the geese – but it’s damn tasty, Camembert and of course, comme ci – comme ca. “So – so”. I know a Frenchman Monsieur Yves Democrat. Cool name! He is a fine saxophone player and plays regularly at the Grand Hyatt lobby bar from nine pm onwards. Democrat, but in Thai-English democracy is one of those difficult words. Usually pronounced: “demo-crazy!” Just like electricity is always referred to as “electric-city!”
Another cool name these days is Sonthi or Sondhi. Not any of ex Prime Minister, ex Caretaker Prime Minister Doctor Taxin Shinawatra’s favorite Thai names. The two Sonthis. Sonthi I and Sondhi II. Sonthi I “newspaper Walla” Limthongkul did the groundwork in the park with in front of huge crowds shouting “Get Out! Orrk Pai!” Firing up the masses according to the textbook “Elementary Demagogy”.
Then came the Thailand’s first Muslin army-commander-in-chief a four-star General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and executed the second part taking over the radio, TV stations rolling out the tanks and the Humvees in the dead of the night for additional effect and to avoid traffic jam. And next day BIG headlines in the English language dailies Bangkok Post: COUP D’ETAT and the Nation COUP! And Bangkok on the map of world media for a day.
Now everything is post Coup and post grand opening of Suwanna poom. The last on craft to land on the old tarmac was a Kuwaiti Airbus and the first to plane land on the new runway was a German “Luftwaffe” LH Boeing 747 cargo. Who cares about the second and the third flight. Suwanna poom is now on-line and the old Don Muang off-line. But Bangkok aeronautically is still BKK – Bangkok Shakes and Hanoi Rocks as a pre-Nokia Finland punk band used to sing.
Tempus Fugit
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Published in International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay June 2006
TIMELESS LUXURY - Tempus Fugit
When it comes to watches, the second time
around is often better than the first time.
For many, buying a used car, home or even an electric appliance is a common transaction. But when it comes to luxury items, the general assumption is that the brand new is the best. For aficionados in the know, however this couldn't be further from the truth, with a growing number of people setting their sights on used or pre-owned luxury wrist watches.
In our helter-skelter world on innovation and rapid change, more and more discerning customers want to own a timepiece that represents something more traditional and has lasting value.
"Some people buy them as an investment", says Somsak Naranong, owner of three Swiss hand made Frank Muller “Master of Complication” chronographs, "but other people simply want to own a piece of history, something that lasts and has meaning".
For some, movie memories come with the watches for example when they see a Rolex Submariner, which Dustin Hoffman traded for a cab fare in the Hollywood thriller Marathon Man. Maybe it's Cindy Crawford showing off an Omega Constellation Quadra on the pages of a glossy international lifestyle magazine. Or Bruce Willis wearing a TAG Heuer in the action blockbuster Die Hard 2 directed by Renny Harlin.
Surprisingly, these vintage time pieces are not that hard to find - and we're not talking about the fakes, the "replicas" that can be found on countless Bangkok and Pattaya street stalls. Right here in the city there's a second hand luxury watch shop that can hold its own against the best shops in Britain, France and the US.
It's called Leng Narikaa (Narikaa means "watch" in Thai), and its housed in a non-descript two story shop house near Khao San Road, in Banglampoo district.
Leng narikaa is home to a vast array of pre-owned, internationally recognized brands such as Chopard, Cartier, Breitling, IWC, Omega, Longines, Patek Philippe, Panerai, TAG Heuer and, of course, the leader of the pack, Rolex of Geneva - and most for less than half of their original purchasing price.
" Many hais buy second watches like Rolex because they are cheaper than buying them new,: says Kasemsit Pathomsak, a Bangkok real estate and hotel owner. "But other purchase them for their investment value. Fine watches, especially mechanical, complicated watches always appreciate in value".
The leng Watch Group (LWG), a family owned Sin-Thai company, was founded in 1976 by Sittichai Leng. Their Leng Narikaa showroom and service center area small is startlingly bright with elegant teak wood floors.
It's almost like entering a golden palace. No music, just precious metals and alloys: white, pink, yellow, and rose gold and there's titanium, platinum and polished stainless steel. Glittering gems and diamonds embossed on solid watch cases sparkle. Display cabinets are filled with row after row of glimmering shiny Rolex wristwatches. Security is provided armed, fit and stern looking uniformed guard. Close circuit TV cameras cover the showroom.
If you're interested in the golden age of Swiss luxury watch making or horology try an Audemars Piquet. Founded in 1875 by two Swiss engineers, Jules Louis Audermars and Edward August Piquet. The watch connoisseurs call it "AP" for short. The brand is known for their complicated calendar, repeat mechanisms and chronographs. Price range 600,000 baht up.
"The best selling pieces here," says Namkaang, Leng Narikaa shop manager, "are still the solid gold Rolexes and the two-tone or 'half-gold' models. “Asians still like Rolex” “Rolex and Mercedes Benz,” adds Namkaang.
Rolexes comprise 80 percent of the displayed watches. But the shop also carries the great models that were linked to war and sport and are still in production today - the classic square Cartier Tank originally from 1917, the legendary Omega Speedmaster, the over sized Italian Navy divers watch Pamerai Luminor, TAG Heur Carrera, named after La Carrera Panamerica, the Panamerica road-race of the 50s. IWC (International Watch Company) World War II big pilot watch "Fliegerchronograph" and, of course, Rolex Submariner, the iconic "James Bond Rolex" robust, mechanical and still ticking.
Many of Leng Narika's watches are as "good as new" such as the entry level steel Rolex Steel Oyster Datejust at 91,000 baht with a 12 month warranty. And in case you want to trade your Steel Oyster in for a solid yellow gold Oyster Datejust, Leng will trade your steel Rolex for 90 percent of the purchased value and you hand over another 220,000 baht and you're the owner of solid golden Rolex, the ultimate piece for the ethnic Chinese taokay - boss. The next step on the ladder is the diamond encrusted gold Rolex, a cool half a million baht.
Business is good. Recently Leng opened its flagship store on Petchaburi road next to Pantip Plaza computer center. This elegant second-hand haute horology showroom-cum-boutique stands up to any of the Gaysorn or Siam Paragon high-end watch boutiques. And service perhaps less arrogant.
Some international and local movie stars are also customers. It has been rumored that Nicholas Cage was seen purchasing a vintage Vacheron Constantin Tourbillion while Thai soap opera stars Marsha Wattanapanich and Sam Yurarnan Pamornmontri are regular Leng customers.
And while you won't find any fakes here, when it comes to payment, Leng takes the same approach as its street-based counterparts. "We don't accept credit cards. Cash only and trade-in", says Namkaang ".
END TEXT
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Triton - Macho 4x4 by Mitsubishi
John LINDGREN
Mitsu’s “Mann Maak” Triton Plus 4x4
Mitsu’s “Mann Maak” Triton Plus 4x4
The Mitsubishi Triton (Triton according to ancient Greek was a sea god, son of Poseidon portrayed as having the trunk of a man and the tail of a fish) is a commercial vehicle cutting a totally new design language among all the other ‘pick-ups’ rolling on Thai tarmac
The big front almost looks like a fist. This vehicle especially the 4x4 version has an aggressive stance with bulging wheel arches, rounded, smooth, muscular flowing lines; big triangular brake lights all carry the new curvaceous styling concept. Aerodynamically, too the Triton has a low 0.32 drag coefficient, less drag - less fuel (more money in the bank) and good looks included.
Step inside and be impressed - LCD deep blue ‘racing’ instrument dials, compass, altimeter and on-board computer showing the estimated driving range.
The Pattaya Coast demo unit came with a spacious steel grey cab and a firm fabric upholstery. Adding a CD and MP3 to the usual AM/FM radio in a float-bed pick-up truck is unexpected luxury. Mitsu’s new Triton Plus represents the new generation of one tonne pick-up trucks with passenger car ‘de-luxe’ interiors - plus high tech, high torque common rail kick-ass Diesel engines.
Our Triton Plus was the four wheel drive (4x4) Double Cab 2.5 GLS version with manual transmission (stick-shift), carrying a sticker price of TBH 754.000.
After firing up the 2.5 litre, 140 horse power engine and stepping on it I felt a slight tickling sensation down the spine when the turbocharger kicked in. Fuel consumption without too much ‘kick-down’ is 10-11 kilometer per litre. Highway 13-14 km/lt.
The view from the cockpit is high and commanding with 205 mm ground clearance. So overtaking, passing with this monster is a piece of cake.
On the Bagna Trat elevated express way and on the bumpy 10-wheel container truck chock-a-block Chonburi motorway (by-pass) the passengers were happy including mother in – law who usually enjoys test drives in luxury Teutonic imported sedans.
Beyond Trat near the Cambodian frontier a bit of low gear mud crawling and off-road exercises at a big water reservoir, construction site with steep slopes and swollen 4WD tracks.
The metallic grey Triton 4x4 passed test with flying colours. Mother-in-law did not join the off-road experience.
Factory owners, industrial estate operators here is an option if you want to up-grade your old fleet of pick-ups or just you want to switch from you dinky saloon and look macho in a macho 4x4 truck named Triton by MITSUBISHI.
END TEXT
The big front almost looks like a fist. This vehicle especially the 4x4 version has an aggressive stance with bulging wheel arches, rounded, smooth, muscular flowing lines; big triangular brake lights all carry the new curvaceous styling concept. Aerodynamically, too the Triton has a low 0.32 drag coefficient, less drag - less fuel (more money in the bank) and good looks included.
Step inside and be impressed - LCD deep blue ‘racing’ instrument dials, compass, altimeter and on-board computer showing the estimated driving range.
The Pattaya Coast demo unit came with a spacious steel grey cab and a firm fabric upholstery. Adding a CD and MP3 to the usual AM/FM radio in a float-bed pick-up truck is unexpected luxury. Mitsu’s new Triton Plus represents the new generation of one tonne pick-up trucks with passenger car ‘de-luxe’ interiors - plus high tech, high torque common rail kick-ass Diesel engines.
Our Triton Plus was the four wheel drive (4x4) Double Cab 2.5 GLS version with manual transmission (stick-shift), carrying a sticker price of TBH 754.000.
After firing up the 2.5 litre, 140 horse power engine and stepping on it I felt a slight tickling sensation down the spine when the turbocharger kicked in. Fuel consumption without too much ‘kick-down’ is 10-11 kilometer per litre. Highway 13-14 km/lt.
The view from the cockpit is high and commanding with 205 mm ground clearance. So overtaking, passing with this monster is a piece of cake.
On the Bagna Trat elevated express way and on the bumpy 10-wheel container truck chock-a-block Chonburi motorway (by-pass) the passengers were happy including mother in – law who usually enjoys test drives in luxury Teutonic imported sedans.
Beyond Trat near the Cambodian frontier a bit of low gear mud crawling and off-road exercises at a big water reservoir, construction site with steep slopes and swollen 4WD tracks.
The metallic grey Triton 4x4 passed test with flying colours. Mother-in-law did not join the off-road experience.
Factory owners, industrial estate operators here is an option if you want to up-grade your old fleet of pick-ups or just you want to switch from you dinky saloon and look macho in a macho 4x4 truck named Triton by MITSUBISHI.
END TEXT
Stavic Supersized - Korean with Mercedes Wunder Kraft -
John LINDGREN
Stavic Supersized - Korean with Mercedes Wunder Kraft -
Remember the Korean cars in Bangkok pre-’97 Asian economic “Tomm Yam Kung” crisis – the Daewoos, the Hyundais, the KIA’s and the Ssanyong’s? The new Koreans were affordable and compact city cars, including a monster SUV, one of the first Sport Utility Vehicles in Thailand: Ssanyong Musso.
After the economic bubble burst Daewoo vanished from the Thai shores, and today three Korean brands are available: KIA, the Hyundai making a strong comeback and Ssangyong. The name Ssangyong means “twin dragons”; the initial S was doubled to correspond to the duality of the name. Currently, the Ssangyong model line-up in Thailand consists of the Actyon, the Kyron, the Rexton, and the Stavic all imported vehicles or CBU’s (completely built up in motoring babble). Ssangyong (Thailand) Co., Ltd boasts three showrooms, service centers in Bangkok, Chonburi and Phuket.
The demo unit provided for Pattaya Coast was the (metallic space black) Ssangyong Stavic, a premium MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle), which is not only as a passenger car, but also as a super-sized MPV( Multi Purpose Vehicle) measuring an impressive 5.1 meters and powered by a German silky smooth Mercedes Benz six cylinder motor 3.2 liter engine.
The looks, or the body design of Stavic, maybe unorthodox and funky to some people but unique and stylish to others. Ssangyong, Korea’s fourth largest automaker, calls it Neo-Fusion design! The vehicle was designed by Ken Greenley, former head of the automotive design course at the Royal College of Art in London.
Stavic’s interior reveals an impressive passenger carrying capacity. Laid out like a miniature tour bus. There are four rows, three options: 7-, 9- or 11-passenger seating can be made available depending on the folding.
For longer journeys the 7-seater is the best option, as it offers room for luggage as well.
The cabin is luxuriously appointed in with porous high grade beige or grey leather, plush carpets, a mix of wood and alloy panels plus the essential ingredients: CD cases, sunglasses holder, one-touch pop-out cup holders, power out lets front and rear and grab handles. And a 180 degrees swivel seat in the second row. To cool you down there are separate air vents with individual controls for the second and third row passengers.
On-board entertainment consists Ssangyong premium audio video package with a one-touch CD/DVD Player, MP3 Tuner, with front and rear monitors (which automatically cuts as soon as the car starts moving). The DVD screen is also connected to a reverse parking camera. Handy when backing up into tight spaces.
All audio and video controls are steering-wheel mounted. Other cool features include a power sun roof or “moon-roof“ as we prefer to call it in here the tropical Thailand. And a fuel saving cruise control feature – for those long highway trips.
Under the bonnet, lurks a grey, black matte, state-of-the-art quiet and powerful Mercedes Benz 3,2 six-banger motor pumping out 220 horse power and mated to a silky smooth a 5-speed Mercedes Benz automatic box with a T-tronic (manual shift option, the same as in a Porsche ).
The engine performance was confirmed during a brief high-speed test when we managed to touch the 195 km/hour mark on the speedometer. Overtaking cars on the highway was safe and effortless, thanks to the powerful German engine. Stavic’s thirst for fuel was approximately 8-9 kilometer per liter during our test drive, normal for a V-6 petrol engine.
Our demo wagon came with the whole safety package: drivers and passenger airbags and front electronic brake force distribution (EDB), ABS and traction control system (TCS). Plus double wishbone suspension in front.
Since the Stavic carries up to 11 passengers, the import tax is only 40 percent while other 7-seater MPVs face 80 percent import duty plus excise duty. That’s why the Benz and the Volk vans are priced over three million TBH but the Stavic sells at TBT 1.9 and the Diesel version at TBH 1.7.
Our road test was conducted along the Bangkok - Chiang Mai north bound trunk road, also known as Asia Highway # 2.
Stavic’s independent 4-wheel suspension and the smooth V-6 propulsion worked wonders. And the kids: “no more “are we there yet”! The DVD player played on without any interruptions. No jumps. Crystal clear picture and stereo sound as we watched Disney’s Ratatouille and Surf’s Up. Driver and passengers were all happy campers on arrival at the green hills of Kong Lan National Park in Kampheng Pet Province.
Slavic is a shining star powered by another star the Stuttgart three-pointed Mercedes silky-six Wonder Motor. A five-star- 7-seater for the extended family traveling long distance, or a perfect fleet van for luxury (boutique) hotels.
END TEXT
Remember the Korean cars in Bangkok pre-’97 Asian economic “Tomm Yam Kung” crisis – the Daewoos, the Hyundais, the KIA’s and the Ssanyong’s? The new Koreans were affordable and compact city cars, including a monster SUV, one of the first Sport Utility Vehicles in Thailand: Ssanyong Musso.
After the economic bubble burst Daewoo vanished from the Thai shores, and today three Korean brands are available: KIA, the Hyundai making a strong comeback and Ssangyong. The name Ssangyong means “twin dragons”; the initial S was doubled to correspond to the duality of the name. Currently, the Ssangyong model line-up in Thailand consists of the Actyon, the Kyron, the Rexton, and the Stavic all imported vehicles or CBU’s (completely built up in motoring babble). Ssangyong (Thailand) Co., Ltd boasts three showrooms, service centers in Bangkok, Chonburi and Phuket.
The demo unit provided for Pattaya Coast was the (metallic space black) Ssangyong Stavic, a premium MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle), which is not only as a passenger car, but also as a super-sized MPV( Multi Purpose Vehicle) measuring an impressive 5.1 meters and powered by a German silky smooth Mercedes Benz six cylinder motor 3.2 liter engine.
The looks, or the body design of Stavic, maybe unorthodox and funky to some people but unique and stylish to others. Ssangyong, Korea’s fourth largest automaker, calls it Neo-Fusion design! The vehicle was designed by Ken Greenley, former head of the automotive design course at the Royal College of Art in London.
Stavic’s interior reveals an impressive passenger carrying capacity. Laid out like a miniature tour bus. There are four rows, three options: 7-, 9- or 11-passenger seating can be made available depending on the folding.
For longer journeys the 7-seater is the best option, as it offers room for luggage as well.
The cabin is luxuriously appointed in with porous high grade beige or grey leather, plush carpets, a mix of wood and alloy panels plus the essential ingredients: CD cases, sunglasses holder, one-touch pop-out cup holders, power out lets front and rear and grab handles. And a 180 degrees swivel seat in the second row. To cool you down there are separate air vents with individual controls for the second and third row passengers.
On-board entertainment consists Ssangyong premium audio video package with a one-touch CD/DVD Player, MP3 Tuner, with front and rear monitors (which automatically cuts as soon as the car starts moving). The DVD screen is also connected to a reverse parking camera. Handy when backing up into tight spaces.
All audio and video controls are steering-wheel mounted. Other cool features include a power sun roof or “moon-roof“ as we prefer to call it in here the tropical Thailand. And a fuel saving cruise control feature – for those long highway trips.
Under the bonnet, lurks a grey, black matte, state-of-the-art quiet and powerful Mercedes Benz 3,2 six-banger motor pumping out 220 horse power and mated to a silky smooth a 5-speed Mercedes Benz automatic box with a T-tronic (manual shift option, the same as in a Porsche ).
The engine performance was confirmed during a brief high-speed test when we managed to touch the 195 km/hour mark on the speedometer. Overtaking cars on the highway was safe and effortless, thanks to the powerful German engine. Stavic’s thirst for fuel was approximately 8-9 kilometer per liter during our test drive, normal for a V-6 petrol engine.
Our demo wagon came with the whole safety package: drivers and passenger airbags and front electronic brake force distribution (EDB), ABS and traction control system (TCS). Plus double wishbone suspension in front.
Since the Stavic carries up to 11 passengers, the import tax is only 40 percent while other 7-seater MPVs face 80 percent import duty plus excise duty. That’s why the Benz and the Volk vans are priced over three million TBH but the Stavic sells at TBT 1.9 and the Diesel version at TBH 1.7.
Our road test was conducted along the Bangkok - Chiang Mai north bound trunk road, also known as Asia Highway # 2.
Stavic’s independent 4-wheel suspension and the smooth V-6 propulsion worked wonders. And the kids: “no more “are we there yet”! The DVD player played on without any interruptions. No jumps. Crystal clear picture and stereo sound as we watched Disney’s Ratatouille and Surf’s Up. Driver and passengers were all happy campers on arrival at the green hills of Kong Lan National Park in Kampheng Pet Province.
Slavic is a shining star powered by another star the Stuttgart three-pointed Mercedes silky-six Wonder Motor. A five-star- 7-seater for the extended family traveling long distance, or a perfect fleet van for luxury (boutique) hotels.
END TEXT
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