Ex-MTV VJ Utt spends a month as a monk

This hot guy who can cook recently spent a month as a monk.

Greg Uttsada Panichkul, better known as Utt, was temporarily ordained in Thailand in February .

The Thai-American actor-host went into the monastery at Wat Saket, The Golden Mountain Temple located near the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Apart from having his hair and eyebrows shaved, Utt also had to don a yellow robe and fast alongside his monk peers.

So why did the heart-throb, who was recently named as one of the first Singapore personalities for SK-II MEN, do it?

Utt, 38, told The New Paper via e-mail: "The reason was both religious and cultural.

"I'm Buddhist and it's important for a Thai man to be ordained once in his life.

"It was my first time as I had held off on it for so long because I'd always prioritise work above everything else.

"The ordainment ceremony was very emotional for me as I had my parents, relatives, entertainment industry mentors and friends (such as local actress-host Belinda Lee) there with me.

"Before working in Singapore, I had a career in Thailand that spanned 10 years.

"So I felt like a son who came back home and was embraced by the media and the people."

The former VJ left MTV Asia last year after 14 years. Word then started circulating that it could have something to do with a scandalous video involving him, but Utt told the Bangkok Post that this was not true.

Utt recounted how the best but toughest part of his month spent living in the monastery as a monk was waking up at 5am every day. He also had his only two meals of the day before noon. The rest of the day was spent studying Buddhism and meditating.

Yet Utt felt so cleansed by the experience that he'd consider doing it all over again.

The sacrifices that he had to make during that month was all worth it, and the fasting didn't make him as hungry as he thought it would, after he got used to it.

He said: "It's leaving the material things behind you, you only have a yellow robe to wear.

"Your hair, your eyebrows are shaved off and you look no different from your monk peers, even though they were of different backgrounds but with the same intentions.

"I felt I didn't sacrifice enough, as my time (spent there) was more learning and having a taste of it. I think to fully sacrifice is to go into ordainment for at least three months.

"Yes, I'd consider doing it again in a heartbeat. It was very calming and I had a calmer perspective on life."

Torn between living in Singapore and Thailand after leaving MTV, Utt made the decision to move back to Thailand as he wasn't able to get permanent residency here.

But he revealed that he hasn't quite settled down in Thailand yet as he has been travelling around the region for work since he left the monastery.

Utt still comes here quite a bit for work though.

In the last few months, he has been here to host Men's Fashion Week 2012 and filmed the new season of Channel 5 show Incredible Tales just a few weeks back.

On his time spent here, he said: "I miss Singapore a lot. There are a lot of good memories.

"I miss bringing out my longboard (skateboard), riding the roads, the food, the people.

"I felt proud to be living in Singapore and I still feel like it's home.

"In Thailand, I'm automatically associated with Singapore."

Misses his fans

Apart from missing this country, he admitted that he also missed his fans.

After 14 years of being a MTV VJ and connecting with fans of all ages, Utt paid tribute to all the people who had made his career.

Thanks to MTV Asia audiences from Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, he became a household name.

In his free time, he still watches MTV as music remains a very big part of him.

If you're an ardent fan, fret not.

Utt will be a judge for MTV's VJ Camp in Vietnam.

He also stars in Hot Guys Who Cook, which is showing every Monday at 9pm on Diva Universal (StarHub Ch 522).

Said Utt: "The filming was straightforward, light and fun. It was like a reality piece so it wasn't stressful. I don't cook much, even though I'd like to.

"I can manage in the kitchen if I put my mind to it. I use other skills to impress the ladies since I need work in the culinary department.

"I don't cook many dishes. The few that I do are what you'll see on the show.

"(I cooked) my mum's fusion pad thai and Thai chilli paste drumsticks."

Then there's his role as one of the first Singapore personalities for SK-II MEN.

Unlike most men who would perhaps be too shy to admit that they use skincare, Utt is unabashedly proud of his glowing skin.

He said that he was born with good skin, but indulges in skincare products to enhance his complexion.

His major peeve is travelling, because the air in airplanes dries out his skin fast.

Said Utt: "To keep my skin moisturised and to avoid feeling any discomfort, I make an effort to keep my body as well as my skin hydrated.

"Drinking lots of water helps a lot, and I will make sure I put on a good moisturiser at the start of my day.

"I certainly believe that skin has become the new measure of a man today as it plays an important role in the way we portray ourselves, and it is a reflection of who I am."

cchar@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The New Paper.