The Thai Pirate - Thai Blog and Travel Stories

Thai Cookery Programme at the TEE Coffee Shop

We had a film crew from Channel 5 ask if they can come and do a TV slot about our little coffee shop in Suphanburi (map here). This happens occasionally, as Mare has done a great job of creating a very handsome and picturesque little coffee shop, and so those that stop by are impressed with its appearance (and the great food and coffee, of course).

Making the most of the opportunity, Por jazzed himself up and was given the honour of having to appear on camera, being interviewed by the two main guys. The programmes format is simple enough; two different Thai celebs basically visit a nice place to eat, whilst asking the owner a few questions about the food on offer. Once its all mixed up and edited down you have around 5 minutes or so of film.

Even Sutiya and I got a chance to be in the programme; we starred as two 'customers' (me with my TEE Coffee T-shirt on..... Sssssssssh). Yes, the whole scene was slightly farcical being that 1. We both work there and 2. Por has never taken an order for coffee in his life. So the three of us generally made a huge pigs ear of it. I really hope it makes it into the final cut, just so I can kill myself laughing as Por pretends to write our order on his hand, and with an invisible pen.

These film crew types work hard. They pretty much spent the entire day at the shop, and were a very professional bunch. We put on a bit of a spread for them to say thank you, so I guess travelling to and from nice places to eat does have its perks (you never go hungry). The picture above is a scene where one of the celebs tries out one of our iced coffees. Mmmmmm pure heaven!

And so another fun action packed day down at the TEE Coffee Shop, where I get to hang out with a whole manner of great Thai celebs, whom I don't know.

The irony. The programme will be shown in September, will post details ASAP. PS Prize to anyone who can tell me either of the Thai celebs names...

Indonesian Minister Azwar Anas pops in for a Coffee at the TEE Coffee Shop, Suphanburi

A hot a humid day in March, everyone was ready to pack up for home when Mare called me over. 'Pssst. See that guy, the one over there, that's the ex Indonesian Prime Minister!'

Wow. Not one to miss a photo opportunity, I ran over and grabbed my camera, and introduced myself to see if it was possible to say hi and get a pic.

Turns out Azwar isn't the ex-Prime Minister of Indonesia, but he was once the People Welfare Minister of Indonesia for many years, so a great honour to host him nonetheless.

He welcomed a photo with us and some of his team. He even gave me his business card, an honour in Thailand and throughout Asia........

There is a good photo of Azwar here, presenting an award to none other than Muhammad Ali for his humanitarian work for children. What a star.... Be good if he could give his buddy Ali a call, maybe The Greatest could pop in for a Chah Lorng or a Gaffair Yen!

Ed Carabao visits the TEE Coffee Shop in Suphanburi

This is a big one for us. Carabao.

Maybe you haven't heard of them if you're a Farang, but you will have if you are Thai. They are probably Thailand's most famous rock band.

The singer and front man, Ed Carabao (Yuenyong Ophakun), one of the most famous rock stars in Thailand, came into our coffee shop.

Carabao were formed in 1980 by Yuenyong and his friends from the design and architecture school he attended in the Philippines. The band are hugely popular throughout Thailand and Ed was born in Suphanburi, so he's a local boy. I have been told he is the equivalant to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones in the UK, wow.

This statement was supported by all the girls at the shop who ran away and wet themselves.

YouTube link to one of their popular songs here

They were playing a gig nearby at Don Chedi, so 'Eddy' and his crew stopped en route to stretch their legs.

A really friendly, funny, intelligent guy. On seeing a picture of me hanging in the coffee shop he remarked about what a porker I used to be (in comparison to the porker I am today)....very funny haha :)

What a lucky bleeding pirate I am.

If you fancy hanging out with the pirate and his celeb buddies, come by our little coffee shop in Sri Prachan, Suphanburi, little map here.

Thai bodyguards at the Coffee Shop

(Pic above - Me and Noon with some Thai bodyguards) We had a VIP of some description visit the Coffee Shop the other week. How did I know he was a VIP? His team of armed bodyguards gave it away.

I noticed some of the customers were carrying around more than just their cameras, so thought I'd better say hi. It turned out their boss was sat in the restaurant, having some fried fish and coffee, and they were breaking for lunch.

A thoroughly nice bunch of normal lads, all speaking excellent English, as well as being armed to the teeth.

You wouldn't want to flick a birdie at this lot in Bangkok traffic.

Because Thailand's youth all participate in around 18 months of army training in college, many of them go on to have successful army careers, developing the kinds of skills you need to become a bodyguard.

And the VIP? Apparently he was a politician.

You get all kinds venture by our little shop.

Thai rock stars (Inca) at the TEE Coffee Shop

Our coffee shop is really having some luck pulling in famous Thai faces lately.

I'm desperately doing my best to learn Thai, and instead of working in the office back at the ranch 24/7, sometimes Sutiya and I take our work with us down to the coffee shop that Mere owns in Sri Prachan. I often use a programme called 'Rosetta Stone' on the laptop to help me practice when we're having some lunch (I recommend it).

Anyway, I was caught up with this when there was a big commotion and Sutiya started flapping her arms at me. I took my earphones out and looked up to see three normal looking Thai guys mooching about. She explained they play in a famous Thai band called 'Inca'. Being English, I'd never heard of them, but of course it was muggins who had to roll up and introduce us all (ie Sutiya) and tell them how great they are (I'm such a smoozer) despite not having a clue.

Because I still had Rosetta Stone in my head I hurriedly greeted them, 'Hi, how wadee you?' which has to be the weirdest fusion of Thai and English ever. Now all the family here greet me 'How Wadee you?' and think it's hilarious, which it isn't.

Anyway, they were all very nice guys, despite their gravitas.

We got these pics and Sutiya was thrilled. I made sure they also left inundated with our various marketing materials, business cards and brochures, so you never know, might well see them again!

Have since checked them out on Google and u-tube and they are really good actually. Check them out here.

Map to the TEE Coffee Shop here (if you want to come and hang out with Thai celebs, oh reeeeally, that's amaaaaazing, yar, don't you know etc etc).