The Yawk Interviews

Yawk sits down with bartender extraordinaire TJ to discuss everything under the sun.

Written by Horatio S. Cockburn | Chiang Mai, Thailand | March 17, 2022

TJ hails from Mae Hong Son in the lush, magical mountains of northwestern Thailand. He grew up in Mae Hong Son for the first 10 years of his life before moving to Chiang Mai, the illustrious, bustling capital of Lanna. At first he wasn't a big fan of living in Chiang Mai owing to its bigger, busier, more bustling nature when compared to the laid-back serenity of Mae Hong Son. However, as time passed, he came to love and enjoy living in Chiang Mai and considers it his adoptive home.

Before moving to Chiang Mai, as a youngster in Mae Hong Son, TJ was involved in an unfortunate accident. On his way walking home one evening, he saw an altercation in the street. Even at his young age, TJ was already a steadfast man of peace and went over to try to stop the fight. However, the attackers cruelly turned on him, and TJ suffered many injuries. He spent a long time in the hospital, and it was an arduous road to recovery for our brave young TJ. In fact, it took nearly 3 years for him to complete his treatment. Although the attack was unwarranted and unjust, TJ doesn't harbor any negativity or ill-will toward the event or the attackers. He is glad that he did what he did, attempting to help stop the fight, and even though he suffered terrible injuries that have impacted him to this day, he says he wouldn't change the decision he made as a young boy to stand up for what was right and help stop the fight.

Now TJ is a highly-valued, positive, and respected member of the Yawk Team. Although he is known as a master bartender, he could be considered in many respects as a jack-of-all-trades. He fills in and makes contributions to the Yawk Team in almost every way imaginable. From bartending to inventory, from setting up Yawk each afternoon to waitering or helping in the kitchen, TJ is a kind-hearted and hard-working MVP who shows up every day with a smile on his face.

What do you enjoy most about living in Chiang Mai?

I enjoy most the people of Chiang Mai. The people here are very different from Mae Hong Son. Mae Hong Song is smaller, more rural, and more conservative or narrow-minded in many regards. In Chiang Mai, you have a great variety of people, thoughts, and ideas. I feel that living here has widen my outlook, widened my view of the world.

At first, you said you didn't like living in Chiang Mai. How long did it take you to feel comfortable living here?

It took me about a year to adjust to living in Chiang Mai. It was a rather big shock at first for me. But after about a year I had made some friends and I started to feel at home in Chiang Mai.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was young, I wanted to be the boss of an IT shop.

When and how did you first fall in love with IT?

My uncle graduated from university in IT, and in school I took to IT subjects like a bird to flight. I was totally interested and fascinated by IT and computers, much more so than any subject. I also had a support team, with my uncle and my teachers, so I felt that I could make a lot of progress in this subject.

Where did you go to school?

I went to Payap Technology and Administration. It's a vocational school here in Chiang Mai. It was challenging, but a lot of fun.

And now you do IT work and work at Yawk Bar?

Well, I can't do a lot of IT work really. Unfortunately, from the accident I suffered when I was younger, I still have some trauma to my brain that makes working in IT rather challenging. Even at Payap, I had some real challenges with being able to remember things related to my studies. So, although I love IT and computers, I'm more suited to being here at Yawk and working with the fabulous Yawk Team.

How did you join the Yawk Team?

I met Pinky (Serena) at a job I had before. I worked for her at another bar and she said she liked the way that I worked and my attitude. So, thankfully, when Pinky opened Yawk Bar, she invited me to come join her team. I'm very thankful she remembered me.

What was it you did that caught Pinky's eye?

Aside from being totally handsome [TJ laughs], she said that I was good at being focused and completing my tasks. She said some people maybe start on one thing, but then move onto another thing, then forget about the first thing, like scatterbrained. I know, because of my injury I suffered, I should focus on one thing, do it well, and complete it. Then I can move onto something else and put my attentions onto that. Pinky likes that I'm focused and diligent. Maybe if I hadn't had the accident I would be more scatterbrained or trying to do too much multitasking [TJ laughs again]. But now I just do one thing at a time and that pays off for me and the Yawk Team.

Even if you don't multitask, you are a bit of a jack-of-all-trades at Yawk. What are your jobs here?

Yes, I can fill in at many different roles at Yawk, depending on what they need at the moment. Primarily, I'm the bartender. I'm the cocktail master. But I could fill in with waitering, in the kitchen, inventory, deliverables, whatever.

And when did you join the Yawk Team?

Right at the beginning, basically. I think December 2019 was when I joined.

What's your favorite thing about working at Yawk Bar?

The main thing is the friendly atmosphere. I love the atmosphere and my teammates. We have a lot of fun and work well with one another. Even though sometimes we can be very busy, we don't fight or get upset with one another. I think that's very important. That's what makes us a great family. We care for one another and enjoy working with one another so much.

What's your favorite memory from your years working at Yawk Bar?

The best memory I have is when we celebrated our first anniversary. We had a little break around then, a little vacation, and I went home to Mae Hong Son. When I came back I was stunned to see that Yawk Bar had expanded. It was awesome! Serena had taken over the bar next to us and our bar doubled in size. It was such a surprise and so cool! I felt like it was an awesome accomplishment for us and Yawk Bar.

What's the drunkest you've been at Yawk?

[TJ chuckles] That's hard to say. I've had good times with whiskey, with beer, with everything I guess. Lately, however, I've been more relaxed, so there hasn't been any getting super wasted recently. I think the drunkest time probably was with Soju. That stuff surprised me. It can be sneaky. Be careful of Soju [TJ laughs]. It seems tame, but it will rock you.

What's your favorite food at Yawk Bar?

The onion rings, definitely. It's not even close. Oh, I love those! Onions rings, some beer - I can do that all day, all night.

What makes Yawk Bar the best?

Pinky! After her, the onion rings [TJ laughs]. But, no, number 1 is Pinky, and number 2 would be our super team. The people here are so fun to work with.

What's your favorite sports team?

Manchester City.

What's your favorite color?

Pink.

How do you feel when you see the color pink?

Soothing and relaxed.

What is your favorite hobby?

Reading comics. I like Dr. Stone.

What is your favorite travel destination?

I love camping. Anything like that, in the mountains, at national parks, out in nature, the great outdoors. I love it!

What is your favorite movie or series?

Easy - Interstellar. The science and the concepts in the movie are so fascinating. I love movies like this. Thought-provoking science fiction movies.

Does TJ have any pets?

I used to have a kitty cat. That's my favorite animal.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I'm not sure exactly, I don't have a precise location, but somewhere up in the mountains. That would be the best. Up in the mountains, in beautiful, pristine nature. That would be incredible. That's my dream.

If you could shop for free at any store in the world, what store would it be?

At a smoke smoke, like you have in America, where you can buy all types of bongs and pipes. That would be totally amazing. I would go in there all the time and just buy everything. I'd have my house up in the mountains and inside I'd have like 200 of the most amazing bongs ever seen by man. When I see those smoke shops online, the pictures blow me away. I wish we had something like that in Thailand.

What do you enjoy most about living in Chiang Mai?

When I first moved here, I thought it was big, busy, and crazy. Now, however, I consider it a very relaxing place. I think that's the best thing about Chiang Mai. It is a good-sized city, but there are many kickback and relaxing aspects to Chiang Mai.

What's the worst thing about Chiang Mai?

The police [TJ laughs].

When did you have your first kiss?

When I was 15. It was with my first girlfriend, my school sweetheart.

Where is the perfect place for a date?

Well, I'm not sure is there is a perfect place for me. For me, the most important thing would be the company, so whom I'm with. If I'm with a special girl, and we feel relaxed and good with each other, then that's the important thing. I don't really care where we are.

What makes the perfect girl for you?

Well, I don't have a specific type. Not too thin, I suppose, and not too fat. I don't really have a preference about hair color, hair length, anything like that. But I don't want a skeleton and I don't want a plumper. Just nice and normal [TJ laughs].

In which historical period would you most like to live?

The "Tom Yum Goong" money crisis. I would go back then and invest in everything when the prices were down. Then I would have my house in the mountains now with a museum of bongs.

What's the best advice you've ever heard concerning being successful in life or being happy?

Pain isn't the way out. Love and forgiveness is the way to proceed in life.

Quiz time!

Oh shit! [TJ laughs and adjusts himself in his seat]

8 questions to rock your world!

Oh my God! 8 questions?

Yawk Bar Ultimate Quiz

1. If you add blue to yellow, what color do you get?

Green?

Correct!

2. Moo kata or shabu?

Moo kata

Correct!

TJ is on fire.

3. Russia is currently invading Ukraine. What is the capital city of Ukraine?

Oh shit. I don't know.

Incorrect

The answer we were looking for is Kyiv.

4. Which Ironman movie is the best?

The first one.

Correct!

5. Mae Hong Son girls or Chiang Mai girls?

Chiang Mai, definitely!

Correct!

6. Which city hosted the last World Cup?

Uhh...

Incorrect

The answer we were looking for is Moscow.

7. In what year was Singha beer established?

1933! It's on the can!

Correct!

8. How do you make an "Old-fashioned"?

Oh, I got this one! A bartending question! You put in a little bit of syrup, 2 dashes of bitters, Maker's Mark, an orange peel, and a cherry. Serve on the rocks.

Correct!

Great job, TJ! 6 out of 8. Brush up on your geography and you'll be ok.

I know drinks, movies, and computers. I don't know geography at all. [TJ laughs]

Last couple of questions. What is your favorite sound?

The sound of rain.

What sound or noise do you hate?

Sirens from ambulances or fire trucks.

What is your favorite word?

Yawk!

What is your least favorite word?

Closing time.

What is your favorite curse word?

Motherfucker! [TJ chuckles]

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

Welcome back, dude!

That's our interview with the TJ Master, a hardworking, kind-hearted, fun-loving, and stalwart OG member of the Yawk Team. You will see him hustling and bustling behind the bar, whipping up tasty cocktails, and making sure you have a great evening at Yawk. Make sure to say hello to him and give him a "cheers" with your drink.