A dose of history
Why did you choose the retro theme for the design of your hostel?
It has always been my dream to work with old communities, so we’ve decided to bring the vibe of bygone eras into the building’s design. Sadly, after extensive research and survey, we found that most of the communities that existed in the past disappeared after the new urban development strategy was put in place.
We see a different view of urbanisation and modern development in the city, in which people only value big buildings, big roads and highways, but turn a blind eye to those who are living in small houses and communities. Eviction campaigns resulted in the disappearance of old communities, many of which have an incredible amount of history and culture. Our goal is to revolutionise the urban development strategy by tapping into the tourism industry, which produces billions of baht year on year to improve and empower locals who live in communities. We want to see a new image of the city, where modernisation can harmoniously walk hand-in-hand with the conservation of old communities, where art and culture as well as centuries-old craftsmanship will be valued for years to come.
Was making the move to being selfemployed difficult step to take for someone like you, who spent five years working at a large company?
Yes, it is definitely different. Courage, responsibility and discipline are key. You also need a great partner, a great team and great mentors who will lift you to another level. I feel very lucky and incredibly happy to work with such great people, whom have such strong determination and optimism.
You place heavy emphasis on immersive experiences, such as getting to know local communities and learning about traditional practices of arts and crafts. Why is this such an important aspect of the hostel?
The trends have changed. Travellers and backpackers are looking for more genuine experiences rather than places that are merely tourist traps. An authentic experience from locals is a big hit, which travellers love and which also benefits locals. Currently, there’s no direct link for locals and travellers to meet each other, and we would love to be the ones who do this.
If a guest only has 24 hours in Bangkok, what sort of itinerary would you suggest?
Start the morning by having breakfast at Samran Rat market, which is just next to the hostel. Then walk past the Giant Swing and monk supplies street to visit Ban Bat (Monk’s bowl village), where traditional craftsmanship will blow you away. Have lunch at the old Nangloeng market. Visit Mahakan Fortress, where 200-year-old houses are still standing as strong and beautiful as ever. Come back to dinner at the Wang Krom community to make the signature Thai dessert bua loy.
We’ve heard that you also run a café inside the hostel. What’s the highlight of the menu?
It’s our honour to work with Café Velodome, which has opened its second branch inside Once Again Hostel. Don’t miss the Thai tea drip. If you’re a coffee fanatic, opt for our coffee, for which we use our special five-bean blend — we mix Thai beans with the best beans we can find across the globe.