AT LEISURE
YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
Viphavee Khoman comes across as the very epitome of the modern working woman. "To be successful in life one has to strike the right balance between work and play," commented the 33-year-old who, after five years as a civil servant, became general manager of B Boulevard Lifestyle Mall in Bang Na a year ago.
"As a government official I worked an eight-to-five shift, which gave me enough time for leisure activities like travel. B Boulevard is an up-and-coming mall and it requires my constant attention but I'm learning to allocate time for myself, too. I keep my weekends free for my husband and friends. Time constraints make it difficult for me to go on long overseas trips, so to unwind I opt to travel domestically."
Tell us something about B Boulevard.
It's the first and, so far, the only lifestyle mall in the Bang Na area. It consists of 48 units, which cater to a wide range of needs: food, education, shopping, etc. Our target group is locals - individuals and families living within a radius of no more than 5km. With the price of petrol these days, people can save money by patronising malls closer to home.
You have an MA in speech and interpersonal communication; how has that helped you as a manager?
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| Viphavee Khoman (seen here in Paris) loves being in the great outdoors. |
When working with people, I largely draw on my past experiences and my instincts. I was able to learn a lot from conflict-management classes which taught us how to resolve conflicts through effective negotiation. I use this know-how with our tenants [at B Boulevard].
What was studying in New York like?
There weren't many Thais studying in New York during my time there. It was just myself and another girl who'd come out before me. The rest were Thais of mixed heritage. I lived with my sister's family so I wasn't homesick, but I didn't see much of other friends because New York is pretty unsafe. I ended up hanging out with quite a few Japanese students; they're more like Thais - polite and considerate.
How has travel influenced your outlook on life?
It's difficult to sum up the impact in a few sentences. Not only does travel give me pleasure, but new and exciting experiences are made even sharper when we rub shoulders with the locals. Getting insights into their lifestyle and culture make trips more rewarding for me.
Travel teaches us how to adapt as we explore the unknown. It opens up our horizons, erases misconceptions and helps us better appreciate the differences among people. Travelling has changed my attitude towards life: I've learned to put other people before myself and I've become more considerate of the views of others.
What are your favourite holiday spots in Thailand?
I like travelling to the North, especially towards the end of the year when the weather is cooler and more pleasant. Trekking is my favourite leisure activity and there are many places up North where you can go on trekking tours. Chiang Mai has grown into a very commercialised, metropolitan area like Bangkok so I prefer to vacation in low-key but interesting provinces such as Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.
Any memorable travel experiences you'd like to share with us?
In Thailand, my most memorable time had to be my honeymoon in Chiang Rai, which is a perfect getaway for honeymooners. We went there on a trekking tour during the cool season, and it was great!
A trip I made to Israel was a real eye-opener because I found it to be a much safer place than it's made out to be on television. It's a beautiful country! It's rather arid but you'd be surprised at the amount of vegetables and fruit grown there; they're very savvy farmers! Also, as a Catholic, I felt privileged to be able to visit all those places which are mentioned in the Bible.
If you were put in charge of the Tourism Ministry, what issues would you address as a matter of urgency?
I'd promote eco-tourism to improve social and economic stability at a time when rising fuel prices are crippling our economy. To develop this kind of tourism, however, would require drawing up a list of clear polices to safeguard natural resources. I'd also get local people involved in order to make eco-tourism a truly positive economic and environmental tool; I believe it's important for people to feel a sense of ownership.
This also opens up the issue of overdeveloping our tourism industry and the damage that that does to our environment.
Given the volatile political situation at the moment, do you have any advice on how we might foster greater harmony in our society?
I'd advise everyone to remember that, as Thais, we are part of the same family. A happy family is one where members love and look after one another; they stick together during good times - and bad.
If you wish to contact the writer, email yvonneb@bangkokpost.co.th.
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