If you copy a copy; what does it make it? Is Thailand loosing its identity? One can notice the change in the youth; copying Korean and Japanese idols by wearing their fashion, hairstyle and eating their food. Is Bangkok becoming a Harajuku or Shibuya of Tokyo? If the Japanese copying American Comic stars and the Thais copying them, what is left?

After having a Tonkatsu lunch with my mate at Saboten at Isetan, I was surprised to see a number of teenagers with colored hair cruising through the mall. Only once outside at the World Trade Center, in front of Isetan I understood to why. Cosplay! The very same I encounter while living in Tokyo and visiting Harajuku and Shibuya. Thousand of teens dressed in outrages costumes and sporting neon colored hair.

Cosplayers typically come from the ranks of otaku–that is, fans of Japanese comic books, known as manga. They gather at public events such as comic-book and video game trade shows, as well as at dedicated cosplay parties at nightclubs or amusement parks. In Japan teenagers gather with like-minded friends in places like Tokyo’s Harajuku district to engage in cosplay. Since 1998 Tokyo’s Akihabara district has contained a large number of cosplay cafés, catering to devoted anime and cosplay fans. The waitresses at such cafés dress as game or anime characters; maid costumes are particularly popular. In areas outside of Japan, cosplay is primarily done at manga and anime conventions.

Cosplayers in Japan refer to themselves as reiy? (?????); pronounced “layer”. Those who photograph players are called cameko, short for “Camera Koz?” or “Camera Boy”. Originally the cameko give prints of their photos to players as gifts. Increased interest in cosplay events both on the part of photographers and cosplayers willing to model for them have led to formalisation of procedures at events such as Comiket. Photography takes place within a designated area removed from the exhibit hall.

Cosplay differs from Halloween and Mardi Gras costume wear not only in existing independent of any particular holiday, but in its goal. The object of cosplay is interpretation: one attempts to become one’s character much as a stage actor inhabits a role. Costumes are expected to adhere meticulously to the attire known to be worn by the character represented. Even more generic costumes get an elaborately artistic treatment. Cosplayers may purchase or create costumes through fan labor. Cosplayers often educate themselves in crafting specialities such as sculpture, face paint, fiberglasswork, fashion design and the like in the effort to render the look and texture of a costume accurately.

Portraying a character of the opposite sex is “crossplay” while portraying a character who dresses as the opposite sex (from the cosplayer) is called “crossdress”. Examples may serve to clarify the distinction. A female cosplayer representing a male character who wears standard masculine attire is both crossdressing and crossplaying. A female cosplayer who dresses as a male character who wears unisex clothing or feminine attire is crossplaying but not crossdressing. A man portraying that same character would be crossdressing but not crossplaying.

The practicality of crossplay and crossdress stems in part from the abundance in manga of male characters with delicate and somewhat androgynous features. Such characters, known as bish?nen (beautiful youths), are an Asian version of the elfin boy archetype represented in Western tradition by figures such as Peter Pan and Ariel.

The appearance of cosplayers at manga events makes such events a popular draw for photographers. As this became apparent in the late 1980s a new variant of cosplay developed in which cosplayers attended events mainly for the purpose of modeling their characters for still photography rather than engaging in continuous role play. Rules of etiquette were developed to minimize awkward situations involving boundaries. Cosplayers pose for photographers in designated areas removed from the exhibit hall. Photographers do not press them for personal contact information or private sessions, follow them out of the area or take photos of exhibits in the hall itself without permission. The rules allow the symbiotic relationship between photographers and cosplayers to continue with the least inconvenience to each.

Cosplay has influenced the Japanese advertising industry more than it has the commodity market.

Print media increasingly retain cosplayers as models. Good cosplayers are increasingly viewed as fictional characters in the flesh, in much the same way that film actors come to identified in the public mind with specific roles. Cosplayers have model for print magazines like Cosmode, cosplay photography studios,

ADV Films has retained cosplayers for event work previously assigned to agency models. The ability of cosplayers to re-create their chosen characters with accuracy and vitality plays a part in this trend, as does the ability of cosplayers to appeal to an already existing market. E3 was occupied by a mix of both agency girls and cosplayers.

Japan’s burgeoning anime industry has been home to the professional cosplayers since the rise of Comiket, Tokyo Game Show, and other such powerhouse conventions.

A cosplay model, also known as a Cosplay Idol, is a promotional model who models cosplay costumes for anime, manga, or video game companies. A successful cosplay model can become the brand ambassador for companies like Cospa. The phenomenon is most apparent in Japan but exists to some degree in other countries as well.

In order to look more like the character they are portraying many cosplayers also engage in various forms of body modification. Contact lenses that match the color of their character’s eyes are a common form of this, especially in the case of characters with particularly unique eyes as part of their trademark look. Another form of body modification cosplayers engage in is to copy any tattoo or special marking that their character might have. Henna tattoos, permanent marker, body paint and in rare cases having a permanent tattoo done are all methods used by cosplayers to achieve the desired look. Permanent and temporary hair dye, spray-in coloring, and specialized extreme styling products are all utilized by some cosplayers whose natural hair can achieve the desired hairstyle.

In addition to making items specifically for use by cosplayers, the fashion industry has taken inspiration from the world of cosplay in popularizing looks such as the Gothic Lolita, based on clothing worn by popular period characters

The popularity of cosplay in Japan encourages the misconception that cosplay is specifically a Japanese or Asian hobby. The term “cosplay”, though Japanese in origin, described a phenomenon which was witnessed in the United States. For almost fifty years, costuming has had a widespread following and continues to experience growing popularity in North America and Europe, and has more recently spread throughout South America and Australia.

Western cosplay’s origins are based primarily on science fiction and historical fantasy as opposed to animation. It is more common for Western cosplayers to recreate characters from live-action series such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter than it is for Japanese cosplayers. Similarly, animated series may be the origin for many recreations. Western costumers also include subcultures of hobbyists who participate in Renaissance faires or the Society for Creative Anachronism, and historical re-enactments such as Civil War battles.

The increasing popularity of Japanese animation outside of Asia during the late 1990s led to an increase in American and other Western cosplayers who portray Japanese characters. Anime conventions have become more numerous in the West in the last decade. They now compete with science fiction, comic, and historical conferences in attendance. At these gatherings, cosplayers, like their Japanese counterparts, meet to show off their work, take photos, and compete in costume contests. Anime conventions attendees are mostly seen dressed up as Japanese animated characters, but many others dress up as famous Western comic book characters, or as famous characters from movies like Star Wars, Predator, and Pirates of the Caribbean. It is quite common to see many dress up as Disney,

Please Note: All pictures where shot with iPhone 4

The Barai, an award-winning spa in Hua Hin, provides eight exclusive residential spa suites and 18 exotic treatment rooms within 18,500 sq m of beachfront land adjacent to Hyatt Regency Hua Hin resort. Designed by Mr. Lek Bunnag, THE BARAI SPA is a journey of body, mind and spirit, offering luxury residential spa accommodation, extensive spa treatments, signature massages, yoga sessions, fitness and lifestyle programmes. THE BARAI SPA is a journey of the mind, body and spirit, with architecture as the guide. The goal of this journey is a delightful feeling of peace and tranquillity deep within the inner self. Art is the defining aspect of the architecture, which has been designed to create moods and elicit an emotional impact.

To provide the path to inner tranquility, through stunning surroundings and architecture, through the luxury Barai Suites designed as sanctuaries to rejuvenate and rest, through the Barai Spa offering customized authentic therapies and signature massages that are inspired by the traditions of ancient Thai health rituals combined with the best of Western therapies and through healthy dining and balancing lifestyle options such as yoga and tai chi.

Water – RELEASE STRESS – Relax the body, sooth the mind, calm the spirit

Earth – RESTORE BALANCE – Cleanse the body, fortify the mind and replenish the spirit

Air – INVITE BEAUTY – Tone the body, clarify the mind, rejuvenate the spirit

Fire – INCREASE ENERGY – Strengthen the body, revitalize the mind, brighten the spirit

Water
Calming Spa Ritual
Infused from start to finish with the aromatherapy essences of the water element, restore the clarity of your skin with a pampered calm. Water Element Bath, Aromatherapy Massage and Relaxing Aromatherapy Facial
Earth
Balancing Spa Ritual
Return your body, mind and spirit to an optimal equilibrium. Your skin will be remineralised and glowing from head to toe. Earth Element Bath, Indigo Compress Massage and Deep Cleansing Moor Mud Facial
Air
Beautifying Spa Ritual
Experience the indulgent sweetness of a treatment created originally for princesses in ancient Siam. Impurities are swept away to reveal a fresh and revitalised complexion.
Air Element Bath, Swedish Massage and Caviar Facial
Fire
Energising Spa Ritual
Restore energy and strength awakening tired muscles and invigorate your skin leaving it worked with a healthy glow. Fire Element Bath, Traditional Thai Massage and Antioxidant Spirulina Vitamin C Facial.

McFarland House, a restored two-storey 19th century pavilion transformed into an airy beachfront restaurant and bar overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, serves up all the right ingredients.

Panoramic views, lounge-style seating and chill-out music combine to create the perfect ambiance to accompany delectable Thai and Western dishes served Tapas style, well-balanced element set menus and a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  Healthy and delicious Thai and Western inspired Isotonics are the perfect fuel for the Barai spa and resort experience.

The treatment room

The Barai Spa

Hyatt Regency Hua Hin
91 Hua Hin – Khao Takiap Road
Hua Hin
77110
Thailand

Tel: +66 3 252 1234
Fax: +66 3 252 1233

Email: huahin.regency@hyatt.com

I am blessed living in Thailand with all its markets and food fairs. Every city has numerous markets depending of the time of the day and area you are in. Spending two nights in Hua Hin, a city two hours drive to the south of Bangkok, I could not leave before I visited the local wet market in the heart of the city. At six o’clock in morning I found myself in the middle of a busy local market where very few tourists are actually had seen.
Markets are part of the Thai culture, food culture to stock up on fresh ingredients for the days meal. Meat, poultry, pork and fresh vegetable from farms around are offered for sale. Monks on their ritual morning tours and locals offering their food to them, children eating hot steaming soups before going to school and grocers purchasing goods for their food stalls; a medley of people, sound and smell not to be missed

Must be a special marketing strategy?

Monk

Kanom Krok