Before P.N. story by Ped, translated by Boom

Ped, our first staff at Phranakorn Nornlen. And this is the story he wants to share with us!
3 years ago, when I first walked pass PN’s gate, what I was thinking about this place is :- how extremely silent it is! The soi (Thai word which means an alley) which is our hotel located is so deserted and we hardly see people. Even it was an afternoon with a broad daylight, the place was quite dark as it was at night because all window panels were painted in dark colour. And there were not enough lights that helped reducing our fear, especially my friends – they were frightened of spirits!What we came across at that night shall not be forgotten in my whole life!!!That night, all of us heard something that made us can’t sleep. Some (of us) thought that there is a burglar while some thought that there is a ghost. Then we decided to open the door to look for the origin of that sound. We went to upstairs until we reached the rooftop where there was a flashlight aside the building but at last we found nothing…All of us looked at one another’s faces like asking what we should do. No one answered but ran away although our legs were shaking. All of us only thought about our destination – our room. We ran and didn’t think about anything else!Next day, none of us left the room because we still thought of what happened yesterday. Luckily, we didn’t see anything…Later, we asked our neighbors that what this place was in yesterdays. And we got te answer that it used to be a fleabag (a small hotel with prostitute, you will have no doubt why all window panels were painted in dark color anymore.) and on the rooftop, there was a joss-house. Then we understood that at that night, it might be the act of a guardian spirit who took care of this place. And we learned that since we were here, we have forgotten to light up any incense-sticks to pay respect to them (in tradition, when we stay or live in the other place we should light incense-sticks to pay respect to the guardian spirits of that place) And since we did that, we never see anything strange anymore!.”One day, while I was fixing up the light for a girl who lived nearby our hotel, I found a diary which was written by a woman who came from Chiang Rai Province (it is located in the northern part of Thailand). She was betrayed to work as a prostitute. (I couldn’t read it all because the papers were torn by termites and the words weren’t clear because it was written by pencil). She told us through words that whoever denied to do that, she would be flogged, starved or even detained in a room until she could settle her debts, then she would be free and go back home. I felt sorry for them so much. If she is still alive, I think she is about 60 years old!It’s a shame that I burn up that diary. If you read it, you will be touched by her story.”

50 Years Old Coffee House story by Tuktar, translated by Boom

When the alarm clocks ring, everybody wake up and get ready for the tiredness they will face in the following day. The best place for working people who live in Thewet (where P.N. is located) to get energized is the coffee shop which located at the corner of Wisut Kasat Intersection. "Hia Tai Kee" has opened for more than 50 years since their grandfather went into a junk and crossed Chinese border to Thailand.First things that impress me are those round-wooden coffee tables which are decorated with marbles in the center including their sectional chairs that go with each other. The pictures of this family remind me of Chinese people who have a big family.After I enjoyed sitting and zipping coffee, in the corner of the shop, there was a group of men who are amulet (little Buddha image) lovers, each picked one to show to another with a lot of fun. In my opinion, they seem to be very experienced! Some were looking at them through a magnifying glass while some enjoyed sharing their experiences and knowledge with other people. This is one of the best places reveal the local life of Thewet community!I was waiting for a while, my coffee which was filled in a big glass (that hardly be seen in elsewhere) came. It was blended with the condensed milk, sugar and cream that made my thirst go away and refreshed me up with energy. Soon, there were foam/layer of coffee and the ice left in my glass.To zip hot coffee, there is hot tea served together. The menu also include omelets, steaks(?), dim sum, toast, cocoa, Ceylon tea, iced milk tea, fresh coffee from Doi Tung, Thai tea and so on.I had a little talk with the fans of this place. They all told me the same that no matter how old it is, its tasty coffee never change. Furthermore, its reasonable price will attract you and you will know that you can’t find such a special place like this one in Phranakorn District.

The kite maker by Neng

From enthusiasm to become a career .Uncle Kul Boonnok, a 70 years old kite maker , told us his story that he makes kites for a living more than 50 years. When he was young, his grandfather did many kinds of kites for him because in that time there weren’t many choices of toys, kites used to be a great entertainment for kids in Thailand. He loved kite and wish to know how it was made, he decided to learn from his grandfather.The way to learn is observe and assist. When he grew up, he became a teacher in Nakornsawan and taught in a creation class, later he taught kids how to make kites.In that era, nobody taught how to make kite. Kids made their own way. Whose kite was good or bad, it depended on detail and creativity.Thai kites are different from foreigner’s kites in materials. Thai kites are made of paper and bamboos but foreigner’s kites are made of plastics and fabrics. There are many kinds of kites but the popular are Pakpao and animals type.Main materials for simple kites are paper, cables and latex. But if you want to make it more special, you will need more experience and creativity. Uncle Kul uses mulberry paper to make kites because of its durability and high tension. When kites are wet, they can dry easily and can play it again while others plain paper kites cannot.We can purchase mulberry paper from Sukhothai area. The kite’s frame have to be made from “Seesuk” bamboo only because its high strength and aerodynamic but expensive and very rare. Mostly have to buy from Nakhonsawan area.Kite making process is begun from a design in your mind, then you will sharpen bamboos and straight it with small flame. Finishing surfaces for smooth handle and waxing for decoration.Bring two bamboo sticks crossing each other and slide horizontal stick upper half for divide to body and wing. Then wiring a cable along the top of each side of sticks, you will get the four sides frame.When you tie a cable on a frame, you have to leave cable end in wing and tail for decoration.Tension cable, which for attach to main cable, making process is bring a cable along your arm for its length and bind knot. Let kite’s frame graft on mulberry paper for cutting and latex it into a frame.Another secret thing of uncle Kul is glue. Glue drying slower than latex. You can re-adjusting many times until it dry and decorating until you are satisfy.Uncle Kul said “Kite is a Thai’s antique toy. I hope all of Thai people who can support kite maker as much as they can. So we can carry on this traditional skill along”.

Mango Sticky Rice by Dream

Mellow Mango- the luscious taste; a perfect combination with sticky rice called “Mango-sticky rice”, a wonderful dessert for summer season in Thailand.Do you know? There is a well-known mango-sticky rice shop called “Daughter K.Panich” in Thewet area which is not far from us. The fascination of mango with sticky rice of “Daughter K.Panich” is its special ingredient and procedure that makes the shop stay for more than 30 years. The special recipe was inherited from the owner’s mother generation; they use small and fastigiated sticky rice, not too hard nor too soft including the mellow taste, not too salty nor too sweet. The sticky rice of “Daughter K.Panich” is known as the star of its catergory.Absolutely! The thing you eat with sticky rice is “Mango”. There’re many kind of mango in Thailand but the breed of mango which people like to eat with sticky rice with “Og-Rong” and “Nam-Dok-Mai” because of the thick yellow meat, mellow and soft taste. The vendor said the most foreigners like “Og-Rong” and most thai people like “Nam-Dok-Mai”“Og-Rong” taste sweeter than “Nam-Dok-Mai”, the texture is smooth and silky but taste mild. For the taste of “Nam-Dok-Mai”, they are less sweet, richer in 'mango' flavor but taste less smooth.Furthermore, “Daughter K.Panich” doesn’t only sell only mango and sticky rice but also sell egg custard that can be accompanied by mango and sticky rice for richer flavour.

"Phranakorn Nornlen" by Boom

In PN Story, we will tell you about who we are, what we did, (what we) are doing and (what we) will do in the future. But in the first issue, let us tell you about how we become to Phranakorn Nornlen Hotel.
You may have a question like why it is called Phranakorn Nornlen and how we got this name. 
At first, when our hotel was renovated, P’Rose* and P’Oak (the owners of our hotel) thought of its name. They have at least 4 names like Hong Lek Lek (little rooms), Baan Suan Farang (Guava Garden House), Baang Jeen (Jeen is the word which we use to call Chinese people ; there are many Chinese people live in that area), K and Son (K is the first alphabet of P’Oak’s mother). But all of them don’t sound smooth so they change to think about the name of it by using the name of the area the hotel is situated. Then the word Phranakorn was poped up!
Phranakorn is the name of the district that our hotel is located (it is an old city). Then P’Oak tried to find the other word that will be followed the word Phranakorn (Harmonious). Soon he found the word Nornlen which means the act you lydown on and relax. Finally, they choose these 2 words combined to our hotel’s name!
Next issue, we will let you know about our hotel’s concept and also the service ka.Hope you have a wonderful days!
Note : * P’ stands for Pee in Thai. It means brother and sister who is older than you. And then follow with a name of a person like P’Rose etc. And there is also N’ which stands for Nong. It means brother and sister who is younger than you.

Light up the past at Talad Meud (Night Market) by Neng

Seeing old photos might bring back somebody’s memory of childhoodWhile others may choose to go back to their old schools, amusement park, or the Disneyland.For me, whenever I want to feel the past, I choose to visit Talad Meud Klong Thom (Klong Thom night market)“How much is this cost ?”I grab one cartoon model and give it to the seller to bargain. This cartoon model is exactly the same with the one I had when I was young. Even though it’s not my first time in Klong Thom night market, I feel as if it’s the first time here. It’s because you’ll always find something new, and it’s the charm of this night market. Klong Thom night market locates on Charoen Krung road, covers most area of the road until Sue Pa road. (near by Klang hospital) During the day of the week days, you’ll mostly find hardware and electrical appliances here. But on the Saturday night, it’s the center of secondhand goods including antiques.It’s like this market sells almost everything you can think of. “If you come here to buy any particular things, you may not find it. But you’ll find what you want by chance”. At the very first time I came here, one seller told me that this idea is the truth because almost everything is sold here. You’ll find everything from household appliances, electric appliances, hardware, clothes, shoes, even a used shampoo bottle! “Selling things around the world” should be the right definition of this night market.Coming to this night market, is like to light up my childhood memory. It’s the feeling like when you find something you really like. It’s like you find the T-shirt you often wear in a pile of cloths in your closet. It’s like you find your favorite album in the drawer you’re about to clear it up. Therefore, coming to Klong Thom is like sitting in the time machine back to the good old days in childhood. If you feel so stressful from your work, or your study, I recommend you come here to escape from your hectic life. Even though it’s not the beautiful place here, but I believe that things you find will make you feel good like you feel in the past. And you wouldn’t believe how cheap they are. It already happened to me! For example, the cartoon model which is the same of what I had when I was in primary school, it costs only 50 baht. This is what I call “priceless”, And The old school book which really reminds me of my old friends, even though its price is almost double to the price on its cover, I feel inexpensive at all.Or even the VCD of old movies which I used to watch with my father, its price is not even over 100 baht.. This really reminds me of the scene of the past. It’s really what I call “Pay less, Get more” In the dusk of Saturday, put your hand in your pocket, if you find not much money..I recommend you go to buy the light of the past to light up the darkness of your mind caused by nowadays chaos.“If you want it, I give you 100 baht, this is really cheap” I think I agree with this proposed price, because at the same time, I think of the value of this cartoon model, which is beyond the measurement by price but the unique attachment with past.

Live with enthusiasm by Donald

Travelling became my enthusiasm since I was very young, thanks to my mum as she has been very supportive and generous by taking me and my brother around the world. Through travel I 've learned a very valuable lesson: alternatives- means there are many ways to deal with the same thing, such as life style, work or just a simple meal.I was lucky to have a chance to study abroad for 9 years, during that period I got to see most of the european countries ( also many other countries), specially after I started my degree in Architecture ( lots of field trips). From a group tourist turned to a backpacker, and eventually an independent traveller. I knew travelling is the thing that keep me going, every holiday is a chance for me to see the world, I just can't stay at home and doing nothing.I was an architectural designer, In that three years I was trying hard to convince myself that I love it, but the fact was- I liked it. very different between like and love, I came to a bottle neck: should I get my part 3 (as a registered architect)done or I should do what I love?The answer is very obvious.I travelled to Thailand to see my fiancee every two months during my 'employee' period. Not only her but I seriously love this country, so as my family. We always look forward to have a break there. I felt inspired by all these, the people, street vendors, culture, chaos.... I was engergized after every visit.with the supports of my family I finally made my move. I said good-bye to what I liked and started what I love in BKK. I believe life will be far more fullfilled if things are being treated with enthusiasm. If the thing that I am doing is what I love, I won't be able to draw a clear line between two: life & work. when the time I was writing this, do you think I am working or living?

Southern Vegetable by Dao

On March1-5, 2008 we went to Chumporn for a field trip to learn something new in order to bring the ideas back to develop our hotel…I had many things to tell you but I prefer talking about food because I love eating. There are many kinds of food that I’ve never tried, but when I did. I have to say ‘awesome’
The food I would like to recommend you is Puk Liang menu. Its name might be strange for the Bangkok people but it’s not for the people from the southern part of Thailand. Everybody knows it.
Puk Liang (Gnetum gnemon var. Tenerum Markgr) is a native vegetable. It’s a perennial plant with a shrub. It is 1-2 metres- height (from my eyesight because I can pluck its leaves). Puk Liang has a narrow long leaves, red leaves for leaflet and green leaves for grown leaves. The taste of uncooked Puk Liang is tasteless.
I ever eat Puk Liang with Thai vermicelli eaten with curry, so yummy!!! You can adapt to many menu, such as Puk Liang with shrimp paste soup, Puk Liang with with coconut milk soup, Puk Liang Pud Kai (Puk Liang fry with egg). Especially Puk Liang fry with egg, is my favourite menu because it create a very distinctive flavor !!! The cooking process is not complicated, like you doing some vegetable fry menu. The other menu that I would like to recommend is Puk Liang with shrimp paste soup, the one that my mom usually cooking for me. The ingredient and cooking process also not complicated, you boil the water and put shrimp paste then put red onion, and wait until water boil then put Puk Liang in and hurry to carry pot down (if you take a long time, it’ll be wilt and unsavory). Finally, I’ll let you know about properties and nutrient of Puk Liang. There’re many benefit for your health such as Beta-Carotene, Protein, Lipid, Carbohydrate. Especially Beta-Carotene you can gain a lot from this vegetable. All benefit you found can protect night blindness and nourish brain.