Singer celebrates Chinese New Year
By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb
Did you know
Bie wants to act in a ghost movie.
Last July, KPN Award-winning singer Thassapak Hsu (Bie) hit the headlines when he was attacked with a baseball bat and robbed. Despite being injured badly enough to require 33 stitches, Bie soon recovered and went back to work.
At the end of last year, the 21-year-old star completed the last episode of the long-running sitcom, Luang Ta Ma Ha Chon Season III (Monk’s Adventure). Since then, Bie has been working on a new series of the popular TV drama, The Sixth Sense Season II, which will be aired later this year.
Student Weekly recently met up with Bie for our special Chinese New Year issue. Bie was born and raised in Taiwan, so he knows all about celebrating Chinese New Year. The popular singer and actor told us about how he celebrates this special event, where to hang out in Taiwan, and about his recent acting work.
Student Weekly: How did you celebrate Chinese New Year in Taiwan?
Bie: It’s a major holiday in Taiwan. My family is big, so there were always about 20 people celebrating at my place. Everybody brought food and paid respects to the gods. Then, after having a meal, we’d light up firecrackers in the garden. It was a fun time for the kids!
Student Weekly: Is there much difference between celebrating Chinese New Year in Taiwan and Thailand?
Bie: It’s similar. But in Taiwan, I celebrated with family on my father’s side because my father is Taiwanese. In Thailand, I celebrate with about 50 people from my mother’s side of the family.
Student Weekly: What’s the most memorable part of Chinese New Year for you?
Bie: The red envelopes. [Laughs.] But the older I got, the less money I was given! I used to be rich after receiving money from all my relatives. But I always gave the money to my mom. If I wanted to buy something, I’d ask her later.
Student Weekly: Have you visited Taiwan recently?
Bie: I return to Taiwan twice a year. One of my brothers lives there. I enjoy hanging out with him because I can do whatever I want. Nobody knows me in Taiwan, so I don’t have to behave nicely there like I do in Thailand.
Student Weekly: What do you miss most about living in Taiwan?
Bie: I miss the times when everybody in my family is together. We all live in different places now. My parents live in Hat Yai, my oldest brother lives in China, my second brother lives in Taiwan, and I’m in Bangkok. The last time we were all together was five years ago.
Student Weekly: Where in Taiwan would you recommend to visitors?
Bie: Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf is a very scenic spot. There’s a street that sells lots of delicious local food. I recommend stinky tofu — even though it has a strong odour, it tastes yummy. There’s also a place in Tamsui called Lover Bridge, where couples like to hang out because the scenery is so romantic. You’ll feel lonely if you go there on your own!
Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your role in Sixth Sense Season II?
Bie: I play a Korean star named Kim Song Sue, who comes to Thailand to make a film. He’s a tricky, talkative playboy. I have to speak with a Korean accent, so I watched clips of Korean stars speaking Thai. I also have to speak a bit of Korean in the show. It’s a tough character to play.
Student Weekly: Did the attack on you last year affect you badly?
Bie: Yes. I get paranoid at night when people walk too close to me. But I’ve recovered from all my physical pain and injuries.
Vocabulary
- stitch (n): a short piece of thread that doctors use to sew the edges of a wound together
firecracker (n): a small firework that makes a loud noise when it explodes
scenic (adj): having beautiful natural scenery
delicious (adj): having a very pleasant taste or smell
odour (n): a smell, especially one that is unpleasant
tricky (adj): clever but likely to deceive you
paranoid (adj): afraid and suspicious of other people and believing that they are trying to harm you
Idiom
hit the headlines: to be an important item of news in the newspapers or on the radio or television
