Ever since I came back from this sweet salon de thé, I have always wanted to go back -- not only for more of its delectable home cuisine, palatable French pastries and inviting ambience, but also for more of the crucially forbidden chat with "ma jumelle".
I remember I first met Jakthong when he paid a visit to my office to see my ex-editor. We haven't, however, had a major chance to get to know each other. Nonetheless, my former boss one day said to me that "I think you guys will get along very well".
I didn't get to meet Jakthong that often as he contributed for the magazine as a freelancer. But, when it came to the season of ELLE Fashion Week, I would spot him strolling around the tent and professionally taking notes as sitting in the front row.
The next thing I heard about him was that he was moving back to Chiang Mai for his family business, and since then the fashion commentary page on the publication has never found a replacement for this French alumni.
I have gotten in touch with Jakthong again -- thanks to Facebook -- and noticed that we share the same birthday. It was during the blood-shed Songkran that we actively exchanged our opinions on the critical situation.
Aside from the interchange of the political points of view, "my twin" has kept me updated about his endeavor, a pâtisserie in his hometown -- while I have, at the same time, learned that Jakthong and I have a lot in common; for instance we are in the same political wing, we went to Chula, and -- the most recent bit I knew -- we don't drive.
W by Wanlamun has officially opened door since July, caught media attention and instantly become one of Chiang Mai's hot spots.
I finally flew up north particularly to visit W by Wanlamun in September (soon after submitting my dissertation), and at last got to feast on the much-talked-of St. Honoré à la Rose-Framboise, Panna Cotta Ispahan, other home specialties, and rare Thai treats made by Jakthong's mom -- and, naturally, we engaged in an agreeable conversation.
W by Wanlamun is Jakthong's mere travail d'amour. I'm hoping to get to see him more often when he'll be back in the capital for yet another venture in Sukhumvit Soi 11 next year -- I'm so already looking forward to it.
