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published in other languages, such as English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese and others.”We spoke in the evening at the end of July, as the dim light of sunset cast shadows over dinner. The photographic team invited us up the studio after the meal.“What’s your lifestyle like, besides daily writing?” My questions grew more assertive as we followed the photographic team. “I heard you went to study hairstyling and manicure.”She smiled. “I think you misunder- stood. I didn’t want to practise hair- styling and manicuring in order to change careers. After I won the Chommanard Prize many people offered to support me in various ways. But I chose to take a free short course for dressing fingers and hair, because I’m a woman by nature. It wasn’t an expensive course, so I felt better taking it since I don’t want to owe anyone too much. Actually, I’ve already forgotten what I learned.”My curiosity was piqued when she added: “Do you want to know what my main interest is, besides writing?“I was a prisoner in many coun- tries, such as in Thailand, Japan, Singapore and even in the Middle East. It’s hard for other people to understand a prisoner’s life.”She paused before continuing. “I was persuaded by Princesses Patchara Kittiyapa, daughter of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, to join a project call ‘Inspiring’. This was connected to one of my own interests, which is to be a source of inspiration for Thai prisoners. She invited me to talk to inmates at Bang Kwang prison. I agreed because, as a former prisoner, I know what they are feeling and how to communicate with them. I know they don’t really want a religious sermon or a yoga lesson; they need humour. Many volunteers can’t reach the prisoners because they don’t have“I was a prisoner in many countries, such as in Thailand, Japan, Singapore and even in the Middle East. It’s hard for other peopleto understand a prisoner’s life.”inside experience like me, and they don’t understand their basic needs.“Thai prisoners who don’t have people sending them money are the lowest class in jail, especially in women’s prisons. If they have their monthly period, for example, they just have to wear dirty clothes because they can’t afford sanitary pads. In contrast, if a prisoner comes from a rich family, she’s treated differently, like a bigboss in the jail. They even open some businesses inside to exploit the poorer class, such as selling overpriced soap and shampoo, and the poorer ones have to pay for it by doing dirty jobs for the upper class.“After I finished the ‘Inspiring’ project, I wanted to continue visiting prisoners in my own way. I did this informally, not through a big network. At my own expense I visited prisonersElite+ 43