Sawasdee krup 🙏🏻 Thailand — สวัสดี 🇹🇭
How a crazy idea became our first branch in Bangkok — Eye of Thai near the BTS Phrom Phong station.
Where do I start? No, this isn't going to be a travel-blog post.
For a spot like this, you pay per-square-metre rates like on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse…
Tiki, Bam, Mi and me (right to left)
Haven't written here for a while — there's a reason. I was (and still am) pretty busy. Yes, I know — that seems to be an ongoing theme with me. But this time I wasn't just mentally absent; I was physically absent too … at least for a while … but one step at a time.
Where others go on holiday…
I worked seven days a week, straight through. Three months in total. No, I don't need any pity … not at all, because it was really cool!
Right in the middle of Bangkok, Sukhumvit — where life pulses. Bangkok can give you everything, but also take everything — the city eats you up, and if you're not on your guard it spits you out undigested … but Bangkok and I, we love each other. Passionately! It's my city of heart.
How did you end up in Bangkok?
One of the most common questions from people who found out that I opened my first branch in Bangkok (Thailand) on 1 September 2025.
My answer: by plane (gosh, I'm funny! 🤭). In Thailand you'd now write 55555 (5 = «ha» in Thai).
No, seriously: Thailand. I was — like 30 million other people a year — on holiday there. I was often asked what I do for a living. Of course I talked passionately about iris photography. With European obviousness I assumed Thais would know what I'm talking about. Ehmm, no — they didn't.
I couldn't believe that iris photography hadn't made it to Thailand yet. After some serious research, the verdict: nope! Doesn't exist in Thailand. Unbelievable! The most visited city in the world (Bangkok!) — and not a single iris photo shop?
«Time to change that», I thought megalomanically, as I tend to — that was March 2023.
Chop chop! Off to Thailand — just opening a shop real quick
My goodness, was I naive … in May 2024 I was actually set on it: off to Bangkok, check out a few places in the big city, sign a lease — and off we go.
If, like me back then, you only knew Thailand as a holiday destination: let me tell you — if you want anything in Thailand (something that doesn't exist yet, or that has nothing to do with tourists or food), then everything is possible. Everything — just not fast.
Completely disillusioned and with a heavy defeat in my luggage, I returned home. By then, summer 2024 had arrived.
As a farang you only go on holiday in Thailand
Farang (= long-nose = tourist / foreigner). I'm a farang. Back in Switzerland I really asked myself whether I wanted to put myself through this. The answer was simple: one day, on my deathbed, I want to look back and not have to wonder what would have been, had I tried …
Arrival in Bangkok and first meeting with Fiona & Tiki
On 6 January 2025 at 6:15 p.m. I had a phone call with someone who was a stranger to me at the time. Introduced by a lovely person who'd helped me in the stressful period here in Switzerland. Two days later it was: let's do this together! Fast forward — on 28 January I landed in Bangkok and got to meet the other part of the family.
Tiki is a native Thai, speaks sensational English and was able to help me with everything where the average farang would fail spectacularly. We scouted every(!) single mall, drove from Bangkok to Pattaya and also got a feel for Phuket.
90 % of Thais are Buddhists — temple visits couldn't be missing (five in one day)
After weekly meetings, the decision was firm: we're opening our first shop at BTS Phrom Phong in Bangkok — the Beverly Hills of Thailand's capital.
Tiki, Errol, Fiona and me (right to left) together form ONE-I-DEA Ltd. Co.
Eye of Thai at BTS Phrom Phong station in Bangkok
Tiki, Errol, Fiona and I (right to left) together form ONE-I-DEA Ltd. Co.
Eye of Thai at BTS Phrom Phong in Bangkok.
Until then it was a long road — I had (and still have) the Xavier Naidoo song in my head … no, this road wasn't easy. It was indeed stony and hard. BUT: we did it!
Tiki, Bam, Mi and I (right to left).
Tiki, Bam and Mi would love new followers and likes on social media:
Short English-language introduction video
If you understand Thai, here Bam explains why it's worth dropping by her shop.
See you soon — or better: Sawasdee krup 🙏🏻
PS: if you happen to be in Thailand and want to have an iris photo taken there: with the code Dave10 you get 10 % off the already unbeatable offer.