Shirts off their backs
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We've had feature stories lately about historian Paothong Thongchua's remarkable collection of 6,000 samples of antique Thai textiles.
A hundred are on display through August in the exhibition “Satavasa Pha Boran Tai” at the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre in Bang Sai, Ayutthaya.
The first question that comes to most minds is how one goes about amassing 6,000 pieces of such rare material. It’s not easy – there’s no boutique at Siam Paragon or stall at Chatuchak Market for this sort of thing.
No, Paothong combs rustic village homes for old chunks of rug – and makes the rounds of Sunday worship services.
“I found many beautiful textiles that way. Villagers always wear their best clothes to the temples and churches, so whenever I went upcountry I’d always have new pha sin in hand and ask them to sell me what they were wearing in exchange for a new outfit.”
Toranee simply hates |to dine alone
Toranee Ritteedhamrong was one of the more colourful candidates in the Bangkok gubernatorial election. We won’t soon forget seeing her dressed like a Chinese goddess, not just to grab attention but also because she believed a divine spirit had summoned her to the campaign.
However there’s more to the 67-year-old wife of a former ambassador than publicity stunts. A few decades back she hosted an English-language show on TV, in flawless command of the language. And outside the limelight she’s well known for her kindness – for enjoying the good life and wanting to share it.
In recent years she’s regularly lunched at Lord Jim’s at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, where the staff fondly call her P’Lek. They pour on the hospitality and the service is as efficient as can be, and in return P’Lek recently “coerced” the hotel’s managers into letting her host a luncheon just for the restaurant staff and their families.
It took a few rounds of negotiations and much pleading, but a win-win solution was found. P’Lek happily agreed to pay the minimum restaurant closure fee of Bt300,000 and a good time was had by all. Loyal customers routinely leave extra-large tips. This was going to extremes.
