Writer: YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
Published: 23/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Horizons
A businessman by day, Panyaphat Lertsamranroengrom moonlights as a guide on board a dinner-cruise ship, attempting to draw the attention of guests away from the hearty Thai meals in front of them to focus on passing points of historic or cultural interest along the banks of the Chao Phraya.
Panyaphat Lertsamranroengrom is happiest
when sharing titbits about Thai history.
“I’ve been working for the Riverside Bangkok Hotel, which operates these cruises, for the past six years,” said the self-employed entrepreneur.
“I’ve been fascinated by old buildings and neighbourhoods since I was a boy and I often used to sit for hours listening to elderly folk talk about the past. To improve my grasp of history, I read books and attended a few seminars.”
It all started when Panyaphat, now 29, was introduced some years back to members of Siam Tassana, a group which organises visits to historic locales. The leaders of one such tour were so impressed by his knowledge that they coaxed him into helping out as a guest speaker on trips that covered subjects in which he was well versed. Since then he’s also been invited to address several seminars and take students on field trips.
Tell us a little about your work as a guide; what sort of people sign up for these cruises?
Well, most of our guests are Thais, although we do get some foreigners. Thai university students and teachers … people from all walks of life, actually. But only a very small percentage of the Thai passengers are interested in the history of the temples and palaces along the river; most of them seem a lot more interested in the social aspects of the trip! So I try to spice up my talk with anecdotes and stories in order to get their undivided attention.
Foreign guests, on the other hand, are generally more interested in learning about Thai history. They are sometimes well versed in the facts and ask me lots of questions about the attractions along the river. They’re often intrigued to find out that Buddhist, Catholic and Muslim communities have been living side by side here for some 200 years with absolutely no problems whatsoever! For them, the food is simply a starter; the main course is the chance to observe these centuries-old facades and communities up close.
Do you feel you’ve mastered the art of being a good tour guide?
I think I’ve got a long way to go yet! Sometimes I have to remind myself that I shouldn’t expect people to behave the way I want them to. I have to get used to guests not being in the mood to ask questions or even to applaud after I’m done speaking. The goal is to make the tour interesting enough for them to want to learn more about our history. I’ve been told by the manager that 99 per cent of the passengers are happy with my technique, but there have also been comments like, Why does he have to talk all the time; couldn’t he just keep quiet and let us listen to the music for a while?
I’m always open to criticism. There are times when people disagree with the information I give them. Sometimes they’re correct and sometimes I am. But I always thank them for their feedback because I know they wish me well.
What are the highlights of this two-hour cruise?
Highlights … well, firstly, the temples; Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaeo are my favourites. I think it’s amazing that our forefathers were able to build such magnificent landmarks which have become the pride of the nation.
Another major point of interest, for me anyway, is the evolution of the communities which used the Chao Phraya River as their main channel for trade and transportation.
Do you have any tips for readers who might be thinking of becoming tour guides?
The first thing is to be yourself. Memorising facts can help to some extent, but what is more important is the passion you must have for your work. Tour guides need to be curious and be motivated to keep on acquiring more knowledge. If you think of the job as akin to telling a story, then you’ll be in a more relaxed state of mind and more inclined to remember the facts.
Do you have any favourite provinces?
Well, I’m a Bangkokian … I was brought up in Thon Buri … so I’d like people to explore Bangkok more. There are a string of old neighbourhoods in the city which are well worth checking out. Chiang Mai is another all-time favourite of mine, a place with a rich history and culture. There you can visit the temples in the old city and tour the narrow alleyways on foot in order to get a real taste of the local way of life. There’s a distinctive charm to the place and northerners have such simple, down-to-earth manners that they’re a lovely bunch of people to meet and mix with.
Bron: Bangkok Post / www.bangkokpost.com