Exploring the last frontier

Exploring the last frontier

Writer Thanachart Siripatrachai talks about his new book, The Real Alaska, and the draws of the unexpectedly beautiful state

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Exploring the last frontier

Uncle Nelson Howe sent 3 million viewers into hysterical laughing fits when a viral video of him swearing in Thai was posted on YouTube in March. Scripted, directed and shot in just a day by Salmon Books' cash cow writer, Thanachart "Benz" Siripatrachai, the video propelled Thanachart's book it was unashamedly peddling — New York 1st Time — to bestseller status.

Last week saw the return of Uncle Nelson, in another clip, hawking Thanachart's second book, The Real Alaska, which saw its release at the Book Expo Thailand at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

The book is a recollection of Thanachart's 15-day trip across different Alaskan cities — and an attempt to break people's dismissal of the state as merely a place with snow and polar bears. Although this time the observant Thanachart writes from the perspective of a traveller rather than an inhabitant, readers can still find the same poker-faced humour, straightforward prose and stunning photography they encountered in New York 1st Time.

Currently in Thailand for his book launch — and to renew his visa so he can return to work in New York (with National Geographic and The New Yorker, wowzers!) — the author and photographer sat down to warm us up to his latest work and tell us what exactly is so enticing about Alaska that he is considering relocating there.

ALASKA cover5

How did your love for Alaska begin?

I sent a movie to some film festival way back so I was invited to Alaska, where it was hosted. But when I went then, it was winter and you don't see anything at all because everything is white and the days are short, with sunshine only from 10am to 3pm. Yet I still got the feel that it was so beautiful, vast and the nature is just spellbinding. I really liked that and I always thought that I had to come back in the summertime.

After working in New York for a while, I felt that all I was waking up to see every morning was lots of buildings and city life, which is busy and hectic. When all your ideas are blocked, you just feel like you need something to clear your senses, head and life. I felt it was time to encounter a completely different atmosphere for a change, so I decided to go back to Alaska and was really fulfilled.

What impressed you most?

I think its charm is in its rawness and gigantic forests, which are very beautiful. The nature there is really pure and it's probably one of the last places on Earth that is so abundantly fertile. If you go in the winter, you can see the Northern Lights, just like the screen saver on your computer. Also, riding a boat to go see icebergs slowly plunging into the water was really something. I got to do lots of outdoor activities, like trekking, hiking and kayaking on the ice rivers, which are things I don't get to do when I'm in New York.

Can you reel us in a bit more?

It's the closest place in America to Thailand! You'd think Hawaii is, but it actually takes two hours more to get to Hawaii from Japan. Alaska is five times our country's size, but there's less people than in Bangkok. That makes it look somewhat like a deserted country, with few people but so many forests. There aren't many people there so when people see each other, they'll all greet one another and talk. Everyone was really friendly and easy to talk to. The local people gave us a lot of advice and suggested more insightful things to do, so our plans during the trip were quite improvised and changed easily.

Did you witness any wildlife there?

Yes, I got to see grizzly bears like the ones you see in National Geographic catching salmon. Usually you take a bus into the forest and they'll drop you off to walk around for a bit. You need to carry pepper spray because bears walk around in forests. It's large like a mosquito spray can and if they come close to you, you just spray them or else they'll eat you.

But 90% of the time when bears see humans, they retreat. The other 10% is only when they're worried about protecting their young ones or if they're hungry.

How do you feel about the fact that anyone be a writer and more travel books are written by ordinary people?

I feel good that there are so many and that there are many channels people can work with today to become a writer. It lets you see things from the perspective of an ordinary person for a change. It used to be the same old writers' books that you kept seeing again and again. It used to be really hard to prove yourself back in the day and you'd only have your manuscript to go by. If the publishers have a lot of work, they might not even read it! However, it's still also your responsibility to check the credibility of the information in travel books.

What do you recommend to people who want to go to Alaska?

Thais like to go on cruises, but you need to go on land and drive yourself around to get a real feel for the place. Go kayaking on ice rivers, sleep in forests in tents and see the mountains — it's not for just dressing up to go take photos. If you ask an ordinary person about Alaska, they'll just say snow, polar bears and Alaskan crab. People think there's just ice and whiteness, but it's really lush and green. To find complete whiteness like that you have to go very far north.

I would be upset if I were Alaskan, because Americans themselves don't even care about it! Eighty percent of my friends in New York have never been there and ask, "Why go? There's just ice there",  when in truth, there's so much more.


Thanachart will sign books today, from  5pm-6pm, and on Thursday, from noon-2pm. Uncle Nelson Howe will also meet fans at the book expo, on Thursday from noon-2pm. The Salmon Books booth is number X05 in the Main Foyer zone. 

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