Ready for her sex reassignment surgery, Mayuri travelled from Chiang Mai to Phuket to bail her son, who she didn’t know existed, out of jail. On the way back, the reunited biological father and son learned about each other’s trouble-filled past and present and explored possibilities of their new lives in a society not yet ready for the LGBTQ+ movement’s diversity.

If this remarkable plot sounds familiar, especially for film lovers, it’s because “TranS I-AM” is a Thai stage adaptation of the 2005 American film “Transamerica” starring Felicity Huffman. Much credit is due to the three-member script adaptation team, which also includes the play’s director Apirak Chaipanha, who made the script not only Thai but also contemporary. Even in the title, and usually I would doubt the artist’s language proficiency when a Thai work has only an English title – one cannot simply find a Thai equivalent of “TranS I-AM” – but have to commend, and smile at, the use of mixed lower and uppercased letters and a hyphen.

Further adaptations to this road movie script could have been made, though: some underdeveloped and somewhat cartoonish bit characters could have been easily cut, the play took place in too many locations, and there were too many scene changes, despite the set design allowing for this to very smooth, for the audience to be fully engaged in some scenes.

Casting is a critical part of the director’s job and having award-winning film-director-cum-trail-blazing-member-of-parliament Tanwarin Sukkhapisit in this pivotal role was Apirak’s job half done. The other half is their collaboration which resulted in her truthful performance, subtle yet arresting, making most members of the audience empathise with her and feel her troubles. The two directors made smart use of all members of the acting ensemble, a mix of veterans and newcomers and kept the play running at a good pace – two hours without an intermission didn’t feel like 120 minutes.

A scene when Mayuri returned home to borrow money from her mum and dad and had a heart-to-heart talk with her retired father was so touching that it brought tears to many audience members’ eyes, including mine. This was thanks to the sincere performance by both Tanwarin and seasoned stage actor Saifah Tantana. It also brought back the two promises an only child like me had made with, and kept, my dad – never ever taking drugs or becoming homosexual—but that was in the 1970s and here we are, six months before the end of the 2010s.

By press time, we don’t know yet whether Tanwarin and her few LGBTQ+ MP colleagues have, against all odds, made it into the new government so that they can push this significant advocacy forward. Here in the land of the free, we’ve been hearing about equal rights for many years – since our last democratic government to be precise – but nothing has concretely transitioned and Taiwan recently became the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage. Nevertheless, with “TranS I-AM” attracting near fullhouse audiences last, and very likely this, weekend, we’re reminded that theatre remains one of the most liberal media through which artists can express themselves freely in this supposedly democratic country, despite the fact that the numbers hearing their cases are much lower than those of others.

With this second work, Qrious Theatre has also lived up to their promise of being “a company of young theatre lovers who aim to present entertaining stage works that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and are a public platform for young people’s expression”. The essence of the drama here was in good balance with the entertainment, and not watered down. Many audience members, myself included, didn’t watch “#Mare 2018”, their debut last November at the Bangkok Theatre Festival. We won’t miss their third work.

Not All LGBTO People Think Alike

– Qrious Theatre’s “TranS I-AM” continues from tomorrow to Sunday at 8pm, plus 2pm shows on Saturday and Sunday at Saeng Arun Art and Culture Centre in Soi Sathorn 10 (a 5-minute walk from BTS Chong Nonsi, Exit 1).

– In Thai with no English translation. Tickets, now selling fast, cost Bt 700 and Bt 500, at http://www.facebook.com/ QriousTheatre.

Charun Poopat, vice president for marketing communications and corporate relations group of Seacon Square Shopping Centre on Srinakarin Road, revealed that Seacon is collaborating with Pepsi to organise the dance competition to give young street dancers a stage to show their skills creatively.

The competition is divided into two categories, Junior teams comprising 58 members under 16 years of age and Open teams comprising 58 dancers of any age.

It will host exciting dance routines by more than 60 teams, both from Thailand and other countries, who will b e judged by four acclaimed dancers from the “Step Up” movie, namely Mari Koda, Boogie Frantick, La Jon Dantzler and J Smooth.

The winners from both of categories will also receive cash prizes totalling Bt420,000. For Junior category, the winner will receive trophy provided by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Bt80,000 cash. The first runnerup will receive a trophy from the Minister of Tourism and Sports with Bt40,000. The second runnerup will take home a trophy from the minister and Bt30,000.

For Open category, the winter receives a trophy provided by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Bt150,000. The first runnerup takes home a trophy from the minister together with Bt70,000. The second runnerup will receive a trophy from the minister as well as Bt50,000. There are 30 teams from Thailand and eight teams from Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Myanmar.

The four judges will offer exclusive workshop for free today (June 6) from 10am to 3pm led by Koda, a locking dancer from Japan. Locking dance involves freezing from a fast movement and “locking” in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing at the same speed as before.

Frantick is a dancer from the US who is skilled in “Popping” dance, which relies heavily on controlling balance especially when performing “Fast & Slow”. Jon Dantzler is also a dancer from the US whose dance style is “street jazz”. For his part, Smooth is an expert in choreography, the art of designing dance routines with specific dance styles using imagination and individual technique to flow along the music.

Workshop attendance costs Bt500 and registration can be made at the venue.

For more information, call (02) 721 8888 or visit http://www.seaconsquare.com and http://www.facebook.com/SeaconSquareFanPage or follow @seaconsquare and seaconsquare on Instagram.

The Blur Expert incorporates cutting-edge “reflexshine” technology to give a powder-like compact texture combined with a melting gel formula. Velvety soft, ultralight and imperceptible, it coats the face in a veil that reflects and diffuses the light for an ultra-radiant matte result. Spherical polymers provide a smoothing effect to give a perfectly silky, flawless complexion while ultra-pure hydrophilic pigments complete the formula to even out the complexion, stabilise its colour and give perfect coverage.

Summer in Swarovski

Celebrating the glorious Mediterranean coastlines and capturing the picturesque Riviera styles from Portofino, Capri and Naxos down to the iconic Greek island of Mykonos, Swarovski Summer 2019 collection is a sparkling fantasy of glimmering crystals in vibrant shades. Presented by actress Nittha “Mew” Jirayungyurn, the new collection dubbed “No Regret” features figurative designs of ice cream cones, sorbets, banana splits and cocktails. “Ocean” brings to life lobster, crab, and seahorse motifs while “Oz” is a new line in chic emerald green crystal and “Only” boasts playful hoop earrings.

Check the new designs out at your nearest Swarovski counter.

Personalised palettes

Compose you own palette at the first Inglot Lab store at CentralWorld. Founded 36 years ago in Poland, Inglot has become one of the most popular make up brands in Europe thanks to its innovative “Freedom System”. This new flexible approach allows customers to create their own sets of personalised makeup palettes, with a wide colour range of over 1,500 shades and high-quality ingredients. The magnetic palettes can accommodate up to 40 shades.

Stick and stay

Schwarzkopf’s innovative unisex range from got2b enables you to create trendy hairstyles that reflect your personality. The styling and colouring products are ready to tackle unstylish hair with a non-sticky, non-flaky, superior hold while locking in moisture and boosting shine for the best finish.

The creamy-but-non-sticky got2b Glued Water Resistant Spiking Glue delivers a strong all-day hold, guaranteed with a wind-tunnel test, that leaves no flake residue and will rinse off easily. For an extra long-lasting hold, finish the style with a shot of got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray, which will stay in place until the next shampoo.

The colour meanwhile comes in a range of metallic radiance shades |such as Blue Mercury, Dark Ruby and Frosted Lila.

There will be board games, card games and miniature war games at the show and, for the first ever, the rare Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game is being featured at the event. The customers can also learn how to play games at the event for free.

Thai developers will also use the occasion to introduce their new board game, which was created by using world-class anime character like Conan. Workshops and mini talks are available and customers who like digital art will get to meet with Gomesh Karnchanapayap, an expert in character designing and modelling using virtual reality technology that makes the model look like real people. He will also share his knowledge about virtual reality modelling techniques and give a talk on “Digital Art and Table Top Game” at the show.

Additionally, visitors who like Diorama creation will get to meet with Narongkorn Wongwaen, one of the top experts in colour, design and the only Diorama military model designer in Thailand and Asia.

Different types of board game competitions are provided at the event with cash prizes of more than Bt85,000.

LIGHT, sleek and truly wireless, Apple’s second generation AirPods will deliver sweet music to your ears for hours on end – all on a single charge.

The AirPods come with an option of a wireless charging case, which makes charging is as simple as placing the case on a Qi-compatible charging mat.

The LED indicator on the front of the case lets you know that your AirPods are charging. Amber indicates that AirPods are charging or need charging while green indicates AirPods are fully charged and ready to use. And if you happen to be away from a charging mat, you can use the Lightning port to charge instead. The Wireless Charging Case works with the first and second generation of AirPods, and can be purchased separately. The new AirPods are also available with the standard Lightning charging case.

The Pods have an embedded Apple-designed H1 headphone chip that combines power-efficient wireless technology with optimised audio architecture. This allows them to deliver a faster and more stable wireless connection to your devices.

Powered by the new H1 chip, AirPods switch between active devices twice as fast as their predecessors and are 50-per-cent faster when transferring a call to your AirPods. The H1 chip also delivers up to 30-per-cent lower gaming latency. So whether you’re playing games, listening to music or enjoying podcasts, you’ll experience high-quality sound.

Best of all, the H1 chip also enables hands-free “Hey Siri” voice commands, so you can conveniently ask Siri to play a song, raise the volume, make a call, or give you directions.

I found during the test that the new AirPods are comfortable to wear and have good sound quality. The earpads are light and I felt like they were just resting in my ears without pressure. I could wear them for hours without feeling discomfort.

The earpads have good clarity with outstanding mids and highs and the bass is good enough if you wear the Pods at the right angle.

They are compatible with iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 12.2 or later, Apple Watch with watchOS 5.2 or later, Apple TV with tvOS 12.2 or later and Mac with macOS 10.14.4 or later.

Setting up the new AirPods for the first time with your iPhone is a breeze. You simply open the charging case with the AirPods inside and hold the case next to your iPhone. A set-up animation appears on your iPhone and you tap “Connect” then “Done” and they’re ready to use.

If you have already set up “Hey Siri” on your iPhone, then “Hey Siri” is ready to use with your AirPods. If you haven’t set up the command, you’ll be guided through the operation.

Likewise, if you’re signed in to iCloud, your AirPods are set up automatically with any of your supported devices that are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.

The new AirPods are smart thanks to the H1 chip. When you take your AirPods out of the charging case, they’re on and ready to use. When you put them in your ears, your AirPods automatically play the audio from your device. If you take an AirPod out of your ear, audio pauses. Take them both out and audio stops. If you’re listening with one AirPod and you take it out, the AirPod pauses. If you put it back in your ear within 15 seconds, the music resumes automatically.

The new AirPods are connected to your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. Sound automatically switches between them.

You can use your AirPods to instruct Siri and control the playback of audio content. By default, you use Siri by saying “Hey Siri”. And when you double-tap an AirPod, you either play audio or skip forward.

You can set each AirPod to play and pause music; skip to the next track; go back to the previous track; and turn off your audio content. The tasks will be carried out when you double tap either the left or right earpad, depending on which you have pre set.

You must use the Bluetooth setting on your iOS device to set the AirPod double-tap functions by assigning each function to either left or right earpad.

By default, AirPods sense when they’re in your ear and receive the audio from your device. AirPods also pause and resume playback when you remove one of your AirPods, or stop playback – and won’t resume– when you remove both. When you have Automatic Ear Detection on and you’re not wearing your AirPods, audio plays through your device’s speakers. You can switch off Automatic Ear Detection to turn off these features.

Each AirPod is embedded with a microphone, so you can make phone calls and use Siri. By default, the microphone is set to Automatic, so that either of your AirPods can act as the microphone. You can also set Microphone to Always Left or Always Right.

The new AirPods have good battery life. On one full charge, the earpads deliver five hours of music listening time or three hours of talk time. The charging case provides battery for more than 24 hours of listening time. You can put the AirPods in the case for 15 minutes for three hours of listening time.

The AirPods 2nd generation with wireless charging case retail for Bt7,790 and the set with normal charging case sells for Bt6,500.

Key spec:

Connections: AirPods: Bluetooth 5.0 ; Case: Charges via wireless (Qicompatible) charging mat or Lightning connector

Sensors: Dual beamforming microphones , Dual optical sensors , Motiondetecting accelerometer, Speechdetecting accelerometer

Battery and power: More than 24 hours listening time, up to 18 hours talk time with charging case; Up to 5 hours listening time, up to 3 hours talk time per one charge; 15 minutes in the case equals 3 hours listening time10 or up to 2 hours talk time

Weight: AirPods (each): 4 g; Wireless Charging Case: 40 g

IN A QUIET street in south London’s trendy Brixton district, known for its ethnic diversity, 25-year-old Kristian Robertson parks his trailblazing mobile salon.

For a little over a year, he has worked for Trim-It – a start-up offering haircuts for people with Afro-Caribbean roots.

Opening the customised van’s sliding door reveals a silver barber’s chair, a large mirror, a hair dryer and drawers overflowing with scissors, clippers and hair products.

As he carefully prepares his equipment for the day’s first customer, the meticulously groomed Robertson says clients are “always amazed” when they see what is inside.

Fulltime barber, Kris Roberton (right) trims a client’s hair in the customised van of mobile barbershop, Trim-It, on the streets of south London. /AFP

“Appearance is important, whenever you wanna go somewhere or even if you just wanna feel better about yourself, you get a haircut and it changes your whole day, changes your whole week even,” says Micah Henry, 24, one of Robertson’s 10-odd daily customers.

Henry, who uses Trim-It about once a month, adds it’s the “most convenient” hairdresser he had come across.

Appointments are made via a mobile phone app, summoning a van to where the client is.

The start-up’s founder, 24-year-old Darren Tenkorang, says the intimate setting of a van helped forge close relationships between hairdressers and their clients.

“The relationship that you have with your barber is a very special one and I feel like this barber shop actually intensifies that because it’s so one-on-one so you can use your barber as a therapist,” he explains.

“You can talk to him about everything from your girlfriend issues to football to business.”

A customer books the services of mobile barbershop, Trim-It, on the app on his mobile phone./AFP

Born to Ghanaian parents, Tenkorang was accustomed as a boy to visiting Brixton’s barber shops regularly with his father.

He says the business idea came to him after enduring many long waits.

Tenkorang now wants to offer a faster service more adapted to the lifestyles of young people.

“We thought it was a good idea to put a barber shop in the back of a van and for an app to be able to book a barber shop to a location,” he says.

“For us, it’s all about making sure that the service is completely convenient and we sprinkle a little bit of premium (treatment) as well.”

The first van launched in February 2018 and the start-up now employs nine people and boasts five mobile salons covering most of London.

“I am just really surprised at how much it has actually taken off,” the young entrepreneur says.

“We’re definitely going to try to conquer London but our goal is to actually just take over the whole of the UK and thereafter, as everybody is saying, world domination!”

A 14-inch display notebook computer designed with office workers and students in mind, the Asus VivoBook 14 (X412) doesn’t come with a super fast CPU but makes up for it by being light and compact, making it very portable.

It can handle most business applications like word processing and is also more than adequate for viewing photos.

The VivoBook 14 is powered by Intel Pentium 4417 processor and runs on Windows 10 Home edition. It is equipped with 4 gigabytes of active memory or RAM and it uses a hybrid storage system to speed up the data access.

The notebook uses 128 gigabyte SSD (Solid State Drive) as the main storage so that data reading and writing can be done fast, thus enhancing its performance. And it also comes with a 1 terabyte hard drive for storing photos, video clips and other data that doesn’t really need fast access.

The VivoBook 14 boasts an attractive 4-sided NanoEdge Display. Each side has a 5.7 millimetre bezel, yielding high display ratio of 87 per cent. That allows the 14-inch display to be fitted in the body of a conventional 13-inch notebook computer. The display has 1,920 x 1,090 pixel resolution, making it good for watching HD video clips and viewing photos. Its graphic engine is Intel UMA with 2 GB video RAM, which is adequate for watching HD videos.

During the test, I found the VivoBook 14 played HD video clips smoothly. Browsing web pages was also fast and smooth. Business applications like LibreOffice also ran fast. The notebook also started up and shut down in a snap.

The VivoBook 14 comes with an Ergolift keyboard. When you open the display, the keyboard lifts up at two-degree angle to allow you to type ergonomically. Moreover, the lift of the bottom allows heat to better dissipate, which improves the sound of the notebook’s speakers.

The notebook has fast Wi-Fi connection, using 802.11 ac dual band technology. It also comes with all necessary ports, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, a USB 2.0 port an HDMI port, and a microSD card reader.

And battery life is good, lasting up to 10 hours per charge. The notebook supports fast charging technology, allowing the battery to be recharged by more than 60 per cent in just 49 minutes. It also comes with Asus Battery Health Charging technology to regulate voltage to ensure long battery usage.

The VivoBook 14 (X412) is available in three colours – Transparent Silver, Slate Grey and Peacock Blue. It has a suggested retail price of Bt12,990.

Key specs:

Processor: Intel Pentium 4417

Operating system: Windows 10 Home

Display: 14inch FHD (1920 x 1080) panel

Graphics: Intel UMA with 2GB VRAM

Memory: 4 GB DDR4 2400 RAM

Storage: 128GB SSD with a 1TB HDD

Wireless: 802.11ac dualband WiFi; Bluetooth 4.2

Ports: 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 TypeA, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 TypeC (USBC), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Audio jack combo, 1 x Micro SD Card reader

Audio: ASUS SonicMaster technology with array microphone

Battery: 37Wh lithiumpolymer battery (2cell)

Size: 322.4 x 212.7 x 19.5mm

Weight: 1.5kg

MOST OF US would tend to think of dry cleaning as a relatively modern invention when in actual fact, it’s been around for more than 100 years. Dry-cleaning – defined as washing delicate clothes with organic detergent without using water to prevent them from losing their shape – was first introduced by Hakuyosha, a company established in 1906 by Kenji Igarashi (1877-1972) and which is recognised as the pioneer of dry-cleaning in Japan.

Antique items reveal the origins of dry-cleaning./Yomiuri Shimbun

The Igarashi Kenji memorial cleaning museum, located at the company’s head office, exhibits about 200 items of laundry equipment and machines that the company has been preserving since the Meiji era (1868-1912), through which visitors can trace the history of dry-cleaning.

Particularly eye-catching is a huge dry-cleaning machine made in Japan and used more than 80 years ago. Its structure resembles that of a current drum-type washer with its laundry tub aslant. However, the inside of the tub was made of wood instead of metal.

“[The wooden tub] caused very little damage to clothes and also prevented production of static electricity, as flammable petroleum-based detergent was used,” says Tatsuya Hayakawa, 31, the company’s corporate planning department section head.

Dry-cleaning machines made in the United States and a Japan-made machine for washing with water are also showcased. The system of removing dirt by knocking the laundry around in the washing tub seems to have remained unchanged since the beginnings of machine washing.

A hand-driven dehydrater, front, from the late Meiji era to the early Showa era. A washing basin and board, back, were used before laundry equipment became mechanised./Yomiuri Shimbun

The museum also exhibits washing tools used until the washing machine appeared in the early 20th century. They include a washing bucket; a wooden corrugated washboard called “zaraita”; and a boiling pot called “nigama” in which white clothes were boiled and washed. The commercial washing bucket, unlike ones seen in period dramas, is large enough for an adult to enter.

In the centre of the exhibition room, visitors can observe the evolution of irons: A tool, hinoshi, which is a metal pan used to press out wrinkles on such large items as sheets, and a kote, used to smooth wrinkles on small parts of clothes, such as collars, and make creases. Both tools were heated with charcoal but, after electricity usage became widespread, electric kote appeared.

Irons heated by coal stove plates, by which visitors can learn about the evolution of irons./Yomiuri Shimbun

These were basic tools in the laundry business at the time of the company’s founding, as well as irons heated on a coal stove’s iron plate. Such irons were replaced by electric irons in the early Showa era (1926-1989).

“It is a rare place where modern and contemporary laundry equipment is gathered together. I hope visitors can get the feel not only of our company’s history but also that of washing and dry-cleaning laundry in Japan,” Hayakawa says.

CLEANING UP

The Igarashi Kenji memorial cleaning museum is at Hakuyosha main building, Shimomaruko, Ota Ward, Tokyo

It’s open weekdays from 10am to 5pm.

Admission is free.

HAVING TROUBLE waking up in the morning? Not getting enough sleep? The company that brought you Pokemon Go may have a solution: a game “played” by sleeping.

Pokemon Company said on Wednesday it would release a new smartphone game called “Pokemon Sleep” in 2020, turning sleep into entertainment.

The firm created the wildly popular Pokemon Go app, a game that let players walking the real world hunt virtual Pokemon, in 2016.

“Now we set our sights on sleeping,” president Tsunekazu Ishihara told reporters.

“It’s a game with which you look forward to waking up,” he said.

“Turning sleeping… into entertainment is our next goal.”

Pokemon Company said it would release a new smartphone game called “Pokemon Sleep” in 2020, turning sleep into entertainment. /Nation 

Ishihara offered little detail on the game, but Nintendo – which helped develop Pokemon Go – said during the press conference in Tokyo that they are rolling out a new device that can track players’ sleep and send data to their smartphone.

The announcement sparked a social media frenzy, and plenty of quips.

“I can’t wait to be an esports player now that sleeping is part of gaming,” wrote one Twitter user.

“Pokemon Sleep. At last, a valid excuse for that extra six hours in bed,” wrote another.

At the very least, the game seems unlikely to spark the sort of trouble caused by Pokemon Go, which saw players blamed for traffic accidents and other violations as they roamed the streets – buried in heir phones – hunting “monsters”.

The free game uses satellite locations, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon characters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures.

Pokemon, short for “pocket monsters”, has been a constant in Japan since it was launched as software in 1996 for Nintendo’s iconic Game Boy console.

Its “Gotta Catch ’Em All” slogan has been turned into a song.

The game has expanded into other media, most notably a hugely popular TV animation show and a recent film.

BESIDES ITS natural charms of the sea and surrounding islands, Phuket retains its own unique appeal for those staying ashore, with a rich history, amazing cultural diversity and palate-pleasing food.

Phuket Old Town packs in a lot of history all on its own, with a continuous stretch of more than 140 shophouses, some beautifully restored and many still inhabited.

The venerable commercial centre is lined with impressive Sino-Portuguese architecture. The Portuguese and British left their imprints on the island when they came to mine tin in the 16th century, and the Chinese did the same 200 years later.

Part gallery, part boutique hotel, Woo occupies a century-old Sino-Portuguese shophouse in Phuket Old Town.

Newly opened on Thalang Road is a gallery- boutique hotel called Woo, whose owner spent two years renovating a 130-year-old Sino-Portuguese shophouse, returning it to its original grandeur.

The row house boasts intricate European neo-classical and Renaissance details in its stucco cornices and arched window frames, while the main door and mother-of-pearl-inlaid wooden furniture are beautifully carved in the Chinese manner.

Phuket’s shophouses are normally about five metres wide and extend back some 50 metres. This one, though, is an astounding 106 metres long and seven metres wide and contains a vast collection of antique furniture, watches, record players, typewriters, sewing machines, porcelain and glass-blown containers.

“My grandfather immigrated from Mainland China through Singapore and Penang and finally settled down in Phuket,” says owner Padet Wuthicharn. “He bought this house in 1915 and set up Moh Seng & Co, selling imported watches and household utensils. It kept going until after World War II.”

Padet says his building in 1910 became the second property in Thailand for which a title deed was granted, nine years after King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) set up the Land Department. The first – which received title deed No 1 and is in Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya province – belonged to the King.

Padet spent Bt15 million to renovate the structure and add a new building at the back, connected to the house with its 12 guestrooms. The old house is now mainly a gallery with a cafe where guests have their breakfast.

Supported by wooden beams, the original house has walls of compressed soil that carried the vertical and lateral loads. Just as striking is a wooden staircase built with mortise-and-tenon joints.

“I reinforced the structure with steel columns and a layer of cement walls set two centimetres from the originals so as not to ruin the original structure,” says Padet.

All of the artefacts on display are from the family collection. A navigator’s antique sextant is seen among typewriters bearing the first Thai font and old fire extinguishers with mounting brackets.

Padet shows a blown-glass epergne imported from England, a type of table centrepiece that was popular gift for Phuket people to present to the newlyweds.

Admission to the Woo museum is Bt100 (Bt200 for foreigners, Bt50 for children and students) and 90-minute guided tours in Thai and English can be arranged.

The restaurant Charm earned a Bib Gourmand in the latest Michelin Guide for its culinary diversity and value for money.

Phuket is esteemed for its tummy treats, the legacy of centuries of cultural mixing. The year-old restaurant Charm on Deebuk Road mingles Chinese and Peranakan cuisine in with its Southern Thai, earning it a Bib Gourmand award in the second Michelin Guide Bangkok, signifying good value for money. Indeed, you pay no more than Bt1,000 for a three-course meal.

Decked out in a century-old Sino-Portuguese shophouse with vintage-style furniture, a notable Chinese feel and beautifully sculpted porcelain dinnerware, Charm is meant to be a place where you feel as though you’re “dining in the home of a wealthy family”.

Mu hong and Kien tod 

That’s the aim of owner Bhuritphat Phucharoen, whose family also runs a seafood restaurant in Phuket.

“Growing up in Old Town I always accompanied my parents when they visited well-to-do families,” he says. “I wanted to revive those memories and at the same time elevate Phuket-style dining to new heights.”

He serves dishes based on family recipes, beginning with Kien tod (Bt220), a local sausage with minced pork and shrimp, crabmeat, taro and turnip seasoned with five-spice powder. It’s steamed, deep-fried and served with a chilli-tamarind dip.

 Gaeng pla tumee 

Mu hong (pork stew, Bt250) is another favourite local dish that originated with the Peranakans – descendants of Chinese settlers who married Siamese – so it’s a mix of Chinese and local spices and ingredients.

“The soy sauce we use comes from Penang and is very flavourful and slightly sweet,” says Bhuritphat. “The pork comes from the forelegs and belly and is simmered for three hours and seasoned with garlic, ginger, cinnamon and star anise.”

The influence of Penang, practically a neighbour of Phuket despite being in Malaysia, is also found in Gaeng pla tumee (sour fish curry, Bt250). The curry paste from Penang is similar to gaeng som but without the turmeric. It’s cooked with seasonal fish and ladyfingers and seasoned with tamarind sauce.

Pla tao iew 

Also worth trying are Pla tao iew (Bt250), which is fried fish fillets topped with seasoned brown sauce and garlic, and Nam chub yum (Bt200) – shrimp paste dip with poached shrimp, sliced shallots and chillies and pungent with kumquat and bigarade orange.

Another Bib Gourmand recipient is Ta Tuay near Sarasin Bridge in Thalang district, a friendly place occupying two houses with corrugated iron roofs, surrounded by a garden with gurgling water.

Homey eatery Ta Tuay, another Bib Gourmand recipient, uses ingredients mostly from its own organic farm.

Nakhon Si Thammarat native Sittichai Khongseejan quit a job in construction and moved to his wife’s hometown to establish a 100-rai organic farm, all of whose produce – including edible flowers – goes into the dishes at Ta Tuay, which they opened 18 years ago.

The menu blends the family recipes of both husband and wife – his southern style and hers Chinese.

“I can tell you where every ingredient comes from, like the seafood from Baan Tha Chat Chai, a Moken fishing community,” says Sittichai. “I think it’s important to know where the food we eat comes from and how it’s grown or produced.”

 Sea-grape-seaweed salad with som tum and Pla insee tod 

He claims his eatery was the first in Phuket to serve sea-grape-seaweed salad with som tum (Bt150). That was seven years ago, after his elder sister, who worked at the Department of Fisheries, told him about this so-called “green caviar”.

“This dish made the name of our eatery well known. The little bubbles popping in the mouth with a sea-fresh, slightly salty taste go well with som tum cooked in the Central style so that it’s somewhat sweet.”

Gaeng som (sour curry, Bt150) with sea bass and bamboo shoots retains the distinctively strong southern flavour and pairs perfectly with Pla insee tod (Bt150), which is three thick fried fillets of spotted mackerel that tone down the curry’s spiciness.

Tom kati bai lin han (Bt120) is a bowl of coconut-milk curry with shrimp, egg yolk and a leafy herb called lin han due to its long stem, which resembles a goose’s tongue.

Tom kati bai lin han

“The Michelin award helped draw more foreign visitors, but it’s also brought the Revenue Department, which frequently visits to inspect our accounts,” Sittichai laughs. “The award is a reminder, though, that we always have to try and do better to meet the expectation of our customers.”

The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s southern office.

THREE NOT TO BE MISSED

Woo Gallery & Boutique Hotel is on Thalang Road in Muang district. Call (076) 353 719 or visit “@woogalleryhotel” on Facebook.

Charm on Deebuk Road in Muang district is open daily except Wednesday from 11am to 9.30pm. Call (076) 530 199 or visit “charmdeebukphuket” on Facebook.

Ta Tuay near Sarasin Bridge in Thalang district is open daily from 11.30am to 9pm. Call (086) 470 4807.