Bangkok & Beyond

Singapore Airlines Flight Review

2009-10-04T13:17:00.004+07:00

Flight Number: SQ 971
Class: Economy
Equipment: Boeing 777-200
Route: Bangkok-Singapore

This is the first flight out from Bangkok that leaves at 8.30am with 11.55am as the ETA. Check in was swift and smooth. We boarded at 8.05am and I chose seat 36A which is a window seat. Push back was sharp at 8.30 and 8 minutes later, we were in the air and climbing out of Bangkok.

Food: Breakfast with two choices. As I've tried their chicken with noodles on the same flight a week before, I opted for fish with potatoes. Neat display and sufficient for Economy. I noticed that menus were not handed out, which is a default practice for all flights departing from Singapore.

The plane: Is a Boeing 777-200, the older generation SQ rides. Super clean and shiny on the outside but perhaps slightly old on the inside, but a wide-body nonetheless. For this sector, expect slight turbulence the moment the plane arrives into the Gulf of Thailand. But since this is a wide-body aircraft, minimal movement and a comfortable ride for sure. (I've flown this sector using a B-737 and it can get really bumpy).

In-Flight Entertainment: No one can fault the world renowned Krisworld inflight entertainment system. By the time I finished breakfast, we had another hour of flight left and just flew past Kota Bharu, Kelantan in Malaysia. As the plane whizzed through the Malaysian sky, I had a great time listening to old tunes, classical masterpieces and latest love songs.

Investment: This was a promotion ticket, and a return journey was only THB 5800! The current promotion for October is THB 6690 return.

Conclusion:
1. For this price, it sure is better to fly a wide-body to ensure a comfortable ride, a hearty breakfast and the usual SQ-hospitality.
2. SQ flies 4 times daily from Bangkok to Singapore. Do check out their departure times and ticket prices at www.singaporeair.com. I booked mine less than 48 hours before departure, and CHEAPER than AirAsia or the other two low-cost airlines plying this route.

Koffee with Karen - Director of Raffles Design Institute Thailand

2009-04-06T13:15:00.000+07:00

One Big Raffle's Family

Raffles Design Institute as the name suggests, is from Singapore. This esteemed and established institute has spread its wings across Asia and beyond, boasting campuses in Guangzhou, Wuhan, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Auckland and Sydney. They are the first international design school in Bangkok, Thailand that covers all major aspects of designing. Raffles Design Institute (RDI) is living up to their prestige, as Calvin Lee discovers.

Imposing lobby

From its location in Silom Center, RDI offers six core design courses – Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Interior Design, Multimedia Design, Product Design and Graphic Design. A Business Marketing degree course was recently launched as well. I had a detailed look at each of the courses, and the word to describe it is vigorous. It was evident that this institute is fully committed to artistic innovation and intellectual rigor. With a thinking out of the box approach, students are encouraged to truly explore the many facets of creative designs and bring out the best in themselves. The whole place is stocked up with the best and latest techware and computer facilities to make this learning process an efficient one.

I sat down for coffee with their Director, the sassy Karen Lam, and we spoke, among others, about the challenges she faces in her role to spearhead all efforts in realizing their vision and mission here in Bangkok. Excerpts below:

What do you think is the main challenge marketing your institute to the local Thai market?
The fact is, many Thais feel the need and dedication to go to a local university. They feel that it gives them a prestige. However, it may become a little harder for them to find work in another country. It closes up many potential opportunities by limiting them to within an environment that is predominantly local in nature. I am by no means saying that the local universities are any less good – but rather an international school, environment and degree gives them an extra edge. However, we at Raffles understand this and have since applied and been endorsed by the local OCSC, which basically means that students who get Degrees from Raffles are recognized in Thailand and will be accepted by both government and private companies in Thailand.

Name 2 compelling differentiators that will set you apart from the other local institutes.
Firstly, we have an international learning environment. Not only are all our lecturers foreigners, our student body is made up of 50% international students from countries like France, Germany, Korea, Japan, India, China and more. This encourages Thai students to mingle and understand different cultures, thus equipping them with the knowledge and skills to eventually function within an international environment after they graduate.

Secondly, Raffles is the largest education provider in Asia Pacific with 19 campuses, spread over 9 countries, with a current enrolment of 44,000 students. Students studying in Bangkok can choose to transfer their studies to any country within our network. So a student may study at the Bangkok campus for the first year, than transfer to the Australian campus in the second year and complete their final year in Singapore. The combination is up to them. Students planning to have a head start in any of these countries can do so by eventually transferring to that country and after graduating, look for job opportunities there.

Any thoughts on the expat lifestyle in Bangkok?
Being an expat is very much like living in a fairytale world. Since we are paid relatively well, we can "buy" a certain lifestyle which is, in reality, not achievable by the locals. I try to avoid this by submerging in Thai culture, their customs and people. I even wear yellow on Mondays!

BEYOND AN MBA: PURSUIT OF ULTIMATE EXCELLENCE

2009-04-06T12:25:00.000+07:00

Quote: Education is the transmission of civilization. ~Ariel and Will Durant

Nigel Banister, chief executive of Manchester Business School Worldwide, whose Doctoral Programme is ranked No. 1 and MBA is ranked 22nd in the world (Financial Times 2008), was in Bangkok on business. At the occasion of his visit he led a seminar on self empowerment tips and pointers in the current market place, held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Bangkok. Several Manchester Business School DBA and MBA alumni and current students were also available to share views and help answer guests’ questions. The event was extremely well attended with over 100 participants. As Chief Executive of Manchester Business School Worldwide (MBS), Nigel is responsible for what is now not only amongst the most prestigious but the largest Business School in the UK. Together with Chris Higgins, the country manager for Thailand, we sat down to discover more about the pivotal role of Manchester Business School in the pursuit of academic excellence.

Prior to joining MBS Worldwide, Nigel was the Executive Director of UK eUniversities which was the UK Government’s project to deliver UK Higher Education from all UK universities on line. Nigel’s early career was in the IT services industry in technical, marketing and general management positions. As a qualified stockbroker and Managing Director of fully listed NMW Computers plc, he was at the forefront of introducing electronic trading to the UK finance sector.

Nigel, when was MBS established in Thailand?
Manchester Business School (MBS) has established itself since January 2006 in Thailand, where it already counts 35 students on the MBA programme, and nine on the DBA programme. Meanwhile, the Singapore and Hong-Kong branches - established for eight years - count some 300 students each and a combined total of 2,000 graduates.

Chris, what sets MBS apart from the rest?
One of the benefits of the MBA and DBA programs from Manchester Business School is that it offers a pragmatic set of programmes. It allows sufficient flexibility to maintain an existing career while studying. The distance learning programme, combined with a local based tutor and the face-to-face workshop conducted on weekends, eliminates the need to quit job in Thailand or move to the UK. Besides that, the advantage of maintaining an existing career while studying is that it enables students to apply their learning immediately in their jobs as well. Above all, a MBA or DBA at MBS gives access to the most attractive openings for future networking with an alumni group of over 6,000 students worldwide.

The MBS doctoral programme is ranked first in the world (Financial Times 2008) and it is offered through a blend of core modules, workshops, self-study and supervised research.
It is designed for senior executives who choose not to put their career on hold. Its flexible nature enables the student to balance work demands, study and family life. It typically takes five years to finish, although it is possible to complete earlier and it can be extended up to seven years. On joining the programme, students will be allocated a supervisor, from over 200 within the faculty, with similar research interests. They will work closely with their supervisor, meeting them at least twice a year. During the first two years, the student will complete four week-long residential workshops on-campus at Manchester Business School, UK.

Nigel, what is the difference between the doctoral program and the PhD one?
The doctoral program, the DBA, and the PhD are similar with the same modules, workshops and faculty, the same research and dissertation quality expectations. The DBA focuses more on testing and extending existing theory rather than developing new theory.

The total fee set for the next intake is £35,000 payable in instalments per semester. The fees include study guides, course textbooks, required readings and supervision.
For admission, applicants need a recognized MBA or Masters, IELTS or TOEFL testing is discretionary. Applicants submit their CV and a three-page outline of their proposed research with their application.

Chris, how is the course assessed since it is distance learning?

It is not a distance-learning programme, but a ‘blended’ learning programme to use the correct jargon. In other words it blends course work at Manchester Business School with supported study at the candidate’s home and independent research guided by an experienced supervisor.
The course work consists of two one-week intensive class time in both Year One and Year Two at MBS itself. The DBA is assessed in a number of ways. There are assessed assignments for the course work plus two major projects including a pilot research project. Finally the dissertation is submitted and must be defended in person at Manchester Business School.

Nigel, how can the DBA benefit Thai scholars in terms of career path and profession?
The benefits include the ability to reflect upon, apply and develop suitable responses to business problems at a post graduate level, giving confidence in decision making, and demonstrating that while there is rarely a “right” answer to any business problem, there is a best one. By intellectual and skills application processes, optimum solutions can be arrived at, and implemented with confidence. Increased personal marketability is vital, and gained through the DBA.

For the organization, the presence of highly qualified individuals, with the higher order thinking skills required of a DBA holder, provides a vital in-house resource for business development and research, and for the organisations future. Knowledge is valuable, the more so when backed by the research and application skills gained from the DBA programme, and can save the expense of external consultant hire.

Who are your potential students?
Chris: The DBA is ideal for business professionals entering the consultancy business, for those in company charged with ideas generation, business research, and development, and those seeking to advance their career in those directions. Academics also choose the DBA as a path to career development, in particular consultancy work. Designed specifically for global executives seeking a higher postgraduate qualification, the DBA brings a new impetus to research and learning within commercial organisations with minimal disruption to their life. Students of this part time / blended learning DBA are likely to be consultants, senior executives, business owner-managers, practitioners or would be practitioners.

What are your tips in developing a personal career vision?
Nigel: You're most likely to be successful in your career when you are passionate about your job and therefore it is important to consider your own values, interests and aspirations in targeting your career rather than spreading your net too wide. Choose an aim that is significant and inspiring and resonates with your own values. Write it down. Keep it in your awareness. And be passionate about achieving it.

Given the current global financial crisis and possible economic depression, any quick but effective guideline for everyone?
Nigel: In more challenging economic conditions, it important to improve your skill level and extend your network of business contacts to give you maximum opportunity of achieving your career goals. This is why more people choose to take MBAs or DBAs in such times to improve their competitiveness in the job market.

What do you think about Thai educational system versus UK’s system?
Chris: Our Thai students are diligent and excellent performers. They also exhibit an excellent ability to work collaboratively which are super traits and presumably a reflection of the Thai education system.

Keen to Know More?
Contact Mr. Chris Higgins at c.higgins@mbs-worldwide.edu.sg
Or visit their website at http://www.mbs.ac.uk/

“The University of Manchester has a history of nearly 200 years—the home to over 20 Nobel prize winners. Manchester Business School is a world-leading centre for management teaching and research, accredited by the Association of MBAs, AACSB International and Equis. It current supports over 2,500 MBA students worldwide and has an alumni network of over 5,000”

Selecting the Right Translation Company - Tips and Guidelines

2009-04-06T11:56:00.000+07:00

Khun Jay is a final year undergraduate in a local university here in Bangkok. For her final year research, she required a Russian manual to be translated into English so she can combine the findings with her research on photon torpedoes. She sent the file to a Russian lecturer. Turn out; the translation was far from accurate because the Russian man was an expert in English literature, and not photon torpedoes.

Miss Sungwa is a trained English teacher who just arrived in Thailand. She was very exciting to be here but alas, her stay here was not as she expected. Her landlord is giving her a difficult time. She filed a complaint but there is nothing else she can do because she did sign the rental contract.
Her mistake: Since she could not read the Thai contract, she had it translated. She spent only 150 Baht on it. The translation was so inaccurate, so she was misinformed.

Joe is a mechanical engineer based in Chiang Mai. Recently, he discovered a faulty translation of a manual diagram which caused delays in work schedule. The original file was in German and he reckoned the Thai translation was not right. He sent the original file to a company in Berlin for a re-translation.
His mistake: Never actually finding out the true cost of the translation, the final cost was 1500 Euros more than the budget allocated.

Translation companies are part of the Globalization, Internationalization, Localization and Translation (GILT in short) industry. According to Common Sense Advisory, the language translation market is estimated at 12 billion dollars by 2010. This number is growing despite current economic gloom. It is a fascinating industry that plays a pivotal role in almost all industries. When a pharmaceutical giant launches a new product, all their brochures are translated to at least 40 major languages. Microsoft's Windows XP is available in a fleet of languages for citizens of the world. Movie subtitles for the Desperate Housewives series, Enterprise Resource Planning software like SAP and Oracle, Sony PSP manual, guidebook for a Mercedes E230, the list is indeed endless. So how do you select the best translation provider out there to bridge your linguistic needs? Several useful tips and guidelines below

Tip 1: Size Does Not Matter

When selecting a company to outsource your translation projects to, the size of the company does not matter. A large company with hundreds of full time managers and dozens of offices circling the globe is not an important criterion. With the advent of technology, an office is no longer an essential component. What you need to ask yourself is this: How many languages do I need? If it is just for Hebrew or Japanese, why not select a company based in Israel or Japan? Sign an agreement with them, and send them the files for translation. Easy and direct, right? That way, no time is wasted going from head office to regional and finally to the right branch office. Size does not matter, time does.

Tip 2: Scrutinize the Price

Companies that quote way too low usually do not produce good translation. This applies across all industries. We can reckon this as pirated translation. Competitive pricing is always good as we the consumers get to choose the best valued supplier, but not to the extent of jeopardizing quality. The market standard is to charge on a per word basis for almost all languages except character-based ones like Chinese and Korean; the prices are based on the number of characters. The price per word can start from as low as 0.06 US$ per word up to $1.00, depending on the volume of your work and also ultimately, the type of translation company you are approaching. Any company that can offer 1 to 3 cents per English word, inclusive of proofreading is hurting the market. Avoid them, as you will very likely be disappointed with the quality they produce.

Tip 3: Check Them Out

Do not read the About Us page on their websites. It is the task of their marketing people to make the company sound good, or better than good. With a couple of translation quotations in hand that are all within your budget range, do a quick survey online. Google their company name. Find out if they are as good as they say. Check out their profile on translation forums like http://www.atanet.org/.
Get a feel on how they operate by giving them a call. Alternatively, email them and see how long it takes them to respond. They may have offices trailing the sun and following the moon, but if no one answers promptly, there is no point. Query them on their translation team. Do they use the same Chinese translators for a document meant for readers in Beijing and Hong Kong, or do they process it separately? Ask them the difference between Spanish for Spain and Latin America. Better still, tell them you want to translate a sales kit for potential clients in Barcelona – will it be Spanish or Catalan. If they never heard of Catalan, it is best not to pursue any further. A good translation company must know the languages of the world. This is a prime directive.

Tip 4: Consider Technology

Now what if you have 500 pages of documents, all located in your 15 offices worldwide and in a whole range of formats - from simple text file, to MS Word, Excel, Photoshop files, InDesign files and Quark files for Mac PC. You require all these to be compiled, collated and translated into 35 languages within 5 weeks. And this is only the first stage! If your project is this large, you need a company that not only is reputed, but is known for investing wisely in technologies that will assist in the workflow. You need a relatively larger company with the capacity to handle multiple file formats. You need a company that can somehow compile all your documents seamlessly and then divide the translation part of it among different translators and yet maintain the consistency across the board. Some companies may wave this off as a tiny challenge, but it is not. The workflow involved to make this a success is long and exhausting. Any company with the right tools and technology can greatly help to reduce cost. Leveraging on technology and basics economics of scale, pick a company with the right attitude and technology, not some company with 3 people in the office, and not one of them uses a Mac.

Tip 5: Watch Out for Miscellaneous Cost

It is a norm for translation companies to bill you one to three hours for file preparation and team briefing. Some companies will include a 5% management fee to cover these extra charges. Hence, before you agree to outsource your translation projects to them, check and verify if they do bill these extras. Also, a good differentiator to pick the most cost effective company is to request for a matrix discount for repeated phrases. This can be easily done if the company boasts their own in-house technology for translation management or at the very least, utilizes the SDL Trados software during the translation process. Once this discount factor is included in the quotation, you will see a significant difference in dollars and cents.

A Grand Evening

2009-04-06T11:48:00.000+07:00

The theme was beef. The day was Saturday. The place was Grand Millennium Sukhumvit. I strolled in when the sun was about to set. And an epicurean journey began.
Weekend buffets are not merely avenues for us to stuff ourselves silly. It is a time when we celebrate the week that has just gone by; and look forward to welcoming the week that is to come. It is at this transitional juncture that most of us stop to smell the roses.

In my case, I smelled …and ate. As usual, my strategy is to start with the east and march westwards. So Japan came first. Armed with a plate full of sashimi and sushi, the first round started.
A glass of Cabernet accompanies all diners on this special buffet evening where the Cow is revered. A plethora of beef dishes were laid out. Yorkshire roast, Indian tikka, Chinese styled boasting layers of mushrooms, braised with XO and even beef on a stick (similar to the Malaysian satay). It was a symphony of taste, a repertoire indeed of beef cuisines.

You can also take pleasure in a splash of very delicious Caesar salad, baked salmon and potato soup – hearty! Another delight was the braised ox cheek with leek. The ‘nue phad prik khang’ (stirred fried beef with curry paste) was sharp and spicy. ‘Nue yang’ (marinated beef) on the other hand was succulent and juicy. They were the Thai representatives in this united nation of beef.

The assortment of fresh ingredients at the Thai counter lured me in. I just had to order one small bowl of tom-yam gung and it was a blast. Tiger prawns were not only present in this tom-yam, but were available on both ends of the temperature spectrum – baked or on ice; deliciously fresh and refreshingly tasty.

By seven pm, the place was full. Children on tables nearby were happy and giggling their way to the chocolate fountain. They were not the only ones that night who dipped marshmallows into the cascading waterfall of goodness.

You can have generous scoops of Indian saffron rice – such aroma is divine. Topped with Indian spicy curry – the fusion is enough to make you hungry all over again. The final event of the night was Operation Desert Storm and boy, it was a sweet victory. Marble cheese cake was marble-lous and the ivory white opera cake was angelically white and just right! The hazelnut pyramid – sinisterly dark, sprinkled with even darker chocolate goodness.

As one sips your red Cabernet, you will surely be content. As I swiveled the wine and gazed into the glass at the same time, I gave thanks for a wonderful evening (and a meaningful 2008 as a whole).

Award Winning Day Spa of THAILAND

2009-04-06T11:15:00.000+07:00

It was not a manic Monday for me. It was a tranquil Monday instead when the sun rose that beautiful December morning. I knew in advanced that all I had to do was 2 hours of meeting, and then I am off to my appointment at noon. The appointment that I look forward to, that is certain. The highlight of the week for me as well! At 11.58am, I arrive on the 4th sub-soi of Sukhumvit Soi 31. Lush greeneries greeted my arrival. Two beautiful women also in green, waited at the door, smiling ever so sweetly. We are just steps away from ultimate pampering. We have arrived at the Bangkok Oasis Spa.

King Solomon from Israel once said, “Your body is the temple of God”. In this atomic age where time waits for no men, and each Intel’s Pentium processor produced will be outrun and outbid in 18 months (Moore’s Law), our body is under constant stress and strains. It is in this era (that we so aptly call globalized) that when we run, our competitors chase us perpetually. And when we stand still to catch a breath, they will swallow us up. Hence, we the citizens of the world go on and on in this circle of life, embracing a never say die spirit, in hope not to die (Singaporeans will call this the kiasu-kiasi duality). Well, at least this is true for us living in big cities and megalopolis like Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

We must slam the brakes albeit for a short while. This is pivotal. Refresh ourselves. Rejuvenate and thus, reenergize. With this notion in mind, plus the fact that I do believe that my body is at least my sanctuary and my very own temple, I set out to rejuvenate…and what better way to do this than to visit a spa. The general goodness of spa treatments are calming our mind, unblocking energy channels and decreasing the effects of stress and anxiety.

In most spa treatments, a full body massage is included. The benefits are indeed a long list. From the reflex perspective, a massage stimulates peristalsis and this assists in digestion. A massage helps in the vasodilation of arteries and strengthens the immune system too! From the manual pressure applied during a massage, muscle imbalances are eliminated. Circulatory efficiency is enhanced and fibrosis is broken down.

Most of us here in Bangkok stay in apartments which are mostly boxed-like. So this boxed-in environment coupled with work and chores contributes in stress accumulation. In short, we city dwellers do need to get out of the box once in a while. In Bangkok, no one does it better than Bangkok Oasis Spa –they aspire to provide a nest of serenity and wholesomeness for us all. Headquarters in Chiangmai, they have spread their wings over the years. They now have branches in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

After downing their soothing ice tea (a special in-house recipe by the way), I was already relaxed. Amidst the tranquility which was only interrupted by melodic sea waves, I sat down to choose the spa package for the day. I started with the Ayuverdic Head Massage. A brief facial prelude the head massage itself which was in fact, a real ‘killing’ – I journeyed into a meta-relaxed state. Everything else was a world away. The climax of this massage was when the pot of warm oil, placed strategically above my head began its journey - a steady stream trickled down on my forehead. The anticipation of it mixed with the gushing feeling of warm liquid created this bubble of repose that sooths the soul. After a mere ten minutes or so, I could literally hear myself dozing off and snoring! One word sums it: Power!

When my moment of quietude ended, I was guided to the open air shower and told to take one. This was unique and I just had to smile. The last time I took a shower under the sky in the open was during the school prefect camp when I was twelve. That seemed like donkey years ago from where I was standing but for an instant, I felt like I was transported back. The hot jets of water were most welcoming. When I stepped out finally, I was renewed.

Onwards I indulged myself in their signature 4 Hand Massage. If synchronous massage was a team sport, the gold medal goes to Oasis. And if the Ayuverdic treatment was the overture in this concerted effort, the 4 hand massage was the main symphony. It was a masterpiece of bliss from start to the end. Both masseurs were in sync in strength and direction. Long legato strokes; short staccato kneads at specific points to release my inner energy. All four hands synergize to untie all knots and release all stiff joints.

“Many celebrities frequent our spa. We are special”. I recalled Khun Earth Saiswang, the Director of PR/Communications telling me that earlier. Now I understood why. Oasis Spa has compelling products that set them apart. The location and surrounding are second to none. Now this is what compelling differentiators mean. Oasis Spa has successfully stayed a step ahead of competition. We are always evolving and always improving, Khun Earth added. With Khun Pakin Ployphicha and Toby Allen, the dynamic duo helming the entire operation across Thailand, without a doubt, Oasis Spa will climb greater heights.