LIVING THE HIGH LIFE

Kanawut “Gulf” Traipipattanapong on the power of travel and what he most looks forward to on flights back home

- By Bharanroj Dhanabhudhinitikorn. Photography by Termsit Siriphanich. Styling by Pitchaya Chaisuk

Suvarnabhumi Airport and its runways stretch endlessly before us; colossal airliners sit in a hangar awaiting maintenance as others soar in the distance; roaring engines, massive steel structures and unforgiving heat combine to create a claustrophobic, overbearing atmosphere.

And yet, amid the frenzy, Kanawut Traipipattanapong—the Thai superstar better known as Gulf—poses quietly atop a staircase, looking cool and perfectly at ease despite being clad in a black leather coat, while the rest of us desperately wield battery-powered fans. Tatler Travel is at Bangkok’s main international airport to interview the actor and model—and hopefully absorb some of that effortless cool.

An airport is the perfect backdrop for our conversation with the star, whose international popularity and busy schedule see him constantly jetting around the world, more often than not with his home country’s flagship carrier, Thai Airways. “Last month, I went to Japan—it was for work, but I also managed to do some sightseeing,” the actor tells us, smiling broadly as he talks about travel becoming part of his life's rhythm. “I go there often—last year, I went probably more than ten times, both for work and because I personally like it. I also have quite a large Japanese fanbase, so I have a lot of projects there.”

Living this “back-to-back flights” life isn’t easy, but Kanawut believes he's cracked the code: “The first step is having a manager,” he says, laughing. “My manager arranges the schedule and balances everything. Of course, I also have to plan what to do and where to go myself; I can't just spring it on them but having a team helps me put things into motion.”