AT THIS time of the year, the buzz is all about colour. The latest to unveil its hues for 2018/2019 is Nippon Paint Decorative Coatings (Thailand) and it’s come up with four palettes that will play important roles in driving the design patterns of the future.

The company brought together more than 60 Asian design professionals and Colour Hive, a colour forecaster from London, England to brainstorm and identify the various trends that were observed during the year, so as to come up a range of palettes that satisfy both consumers and designers.

“The key trends that will drive the most popular colour palettes are Changing Space, a design trend that focuses on transparency and reflection of light; Humanised Tech, which emphasises the relation between man and machine; Time Alone, which reflects peoples’ needs in getting away from the confusion of a large city; and Life on the Edge, which is the important trend among adventure seekers,” says the company’s colour marketing trend expert Nuntamon Tangdamrongtham.

“In addition to taking note of these trends, the colour palettes also relied on the most popular tendencies, among them Water World, a space that people are looking to discover, and Full Immersion, which allows people to experience colours with all their senses. These trends are important elements that must be taken into consideration in matching the palettes with consumers and designers.

“These colour palettes from Nippon Paint will help consumers to find their preferred tones more comfortably while designers will have a variety of options that can be easily applied in helping them create more outstanding designs that will appeal to society.”

The four inspirational colour palettes for this year and next are:

Transient Glow is a palette of imagination with dreamlike colours. Each colour comprises hidden movements that catch the eye. The layers of transparency and light refraction create an interesting experience. When the colours are blended into the design, they turn it into an eye-catching, fun work, one that creates positive feeling and stimulates creativity in the viewer.

Conscious Being is a colour palette that symbolises the future. Smarter technology, the blurring of lines between man and machine, and the exciting evolution of nature are the factors that make this colour palette perfect for the digital era. This colour tone imbues the viewer with a feeling of power for the future and a sense of poise, while stirring unexpected feelings of excitement.

Essential Balance reflects the sense of calm that urbanites need. Combining simplicity with a touch of nature, the tone makes the viewer feel balanced and warm, bringing elegance and restoring a sense of order to a confused world.

Seeking Adventure creates the experience of a wonderful escapade. Each colour represents the excitement of adventure perfectly. From the blue of the deep ocean to the reds signifying risk and adventure, each tone stimulates excitement in the observer.

But his epic tale of love, loss and friendship that spans the Irish famine, the Indian Wars of the American West and US Civil War has become a runaway hit, with Nobel prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro calling it a “true leftfield wonder… a superbly lyrical western offering a sweeping vision of America in the making.”

Even as the prizes pile up — the book has won both the Costa and Walter Scott prizes, making him the only writer ever to have won the awards twice — Barry claims to have been spun by its success.

“I was convinced it was a non-functional error, that it could not possibly work as it was far too exciting to write,” the Dubliner told AFP.

“You can go 10 years, maybe a whole lifetime without that, and it is beautiful when it happens. You know how rare and unlikely it is.”

Not all that rare though in Barry’s case.

He has been clocking regular hits both on stage and on the page with his finely crafted exhumations of the thwarted lives of his Irish ancestors since his breakout West End and Broadway hit “The Steward of Christendom” in 1995.

His most-loved book “The Secret Scripture” was pipped to the Man Booker Prize in 2008, while the First World War tragedy “A Long Long Way” was listed as one of the best novels of the past 25 years by the British newspaper The Observer.

“The whole adventure of these books has been to try and find, if only in the imagination, the bits and bobs of my family that weren’t talked about, the people around whom a silence fell,” he said.

“Days Without End” follows the seemingly unpromising fate of an ancestor on his maternal side called Thomas McNulty.

– Tender gay love story –

After watching his family die of hunger in the Irish town of Sligo and surviving an equally horrific Atlantic crossing, the teenage Thomas becomes one half of a cross-dressing saloon act with a handsome boy called John Cole he meets “under a ditch in Missouri”.

When the pair can no longer sustain the illusion, they join the US Cavalry and cut a breathtaking swathe through mid-19th century America.

Their tender love story is the heart of the novel — and it comes from a very deep place.

Barry, 62, dedicated the book to his “amazing, talented and fierce son” Toby, who came out to him when he was 16.

His voice still wavers as he remembers the day. “He had been very unhappy and we were worried. We live in a mountainy district where a number of young men have not made the transition from a happy childhood to the demands life made on them.”

Since then Toby has “given me a university training in what it means to be gay and has opened my eyes to this wondrous condition of being,” Barry said.

“Occasionally your life has a huge boon you never looked for. Classically the child is the father of the man and I am a different person because of my son,” he said.

– ‘Great American novel’ –

To some extent Barry also modelled Thomas and John Cole’s easy intimacy on his own son’s relationship with his boyfriend.

“Maybe because they are of the same gender they know things about each other, the physics, the inner knowledge of the heart and soul. They are attentive to each other in an almost mathematical way,” he said.

Barry first attempted two decades ago to grapple with the “historical tragedy of an Irish person, essentially an aboriginal, being forced to go to America, joining the US Army and taking part in the destruction of the Native American people, who were not unlike himself.”

But he abandoned the novel.

The legendary chronicler of the West, Peter Matthiessen, the author of “The Snow Leopard”, offered to help. “‘Come talk to me when the smoke clears,’ he told me,” Barry said.

“I never did and when he died I thought, ‘I have to do it now.'”

The book, Barry said, is partly a plea to “our lovely American friends about accepting that their country is founded on a genocide,” as Matthiessen long insisted.

“It’s not blaming, it’s psychiatric. It’s just good for mental health,” Barry argued.

Yet his book could not be more American in that its great themes are survival and redemption despite the worst that humans can do.

But Barry laughed off “some people calling it a great American novel written by an Irishman.”

“Sometimes you go to New York and you get discovered, then they rediscover you again 20 years later. The literary memory is short, and it is not surprising given the endless freight train of books that get published…

“Still, it’s a lovely feeling that the circus just doesn’t want you for a weekend.”

Fully-equipped with the tools to provide veterinary treatments and pet care, it offers a comprehensive range of general and specialised veterinary services and is the first pet hospital of this scale in Thailand to open round the clock. As part of the new premises, Thonglor Pet City has been designed to complement the lifestyles of pet lovers by creating spaces and functions where people can have a good time with their pets, including a swimming pool, a large lawn, and pet-friendly restaurants.

The new headquarters is home to Thonglor Blood Bank that accepts blood donations from cats and dogs to help save lives of same-species peers. Celebrities Mathunart Sosothikul, Termpong Yuwittaya, Vicha Ratanachote, Jarinporn “Toey” Joonkiat, Pitchaya “Golf” Nitipaisalkul, Akhamsiri “Jakjaan” Suwanasuk and Chollada “Kae” Mekratri along with social media star pets attended the opening together with the animals to share their stories and pet care tips.

“The trend for animal companionship is obviously rising among Thais due to the changing lifestyles of modern-day people, including growing populations of singles, childless couples, and senior citizens. Thonglor Pet Hospital has therefore moved to demonstrate its leadership in pet healthcare and address the demands of pet owners by opening our new headquarters on this large site. With a combined utility space of 17,000 square metres, the new headquarters is the largest fully-equipped 24/7 pet hospital in Thailand. In addition to highly qualified, highly experienced vets, all veterinary nurses in our paravet team hold at least a higher vocational qualification in animal health and have undergone special pet care training as a requirement set by our hospital,” said its chief executive officer Kitika Chaisupatanakul,

The spacious backyard features a swimming pool for hydrotherapy, rehabilitation and physical development of pets as well as a pet grooming centre. Training classes are also available for dogs to promote their socialization and discipline. Moreover, it houses pet-friendly restaurants and retail shops in which pets and the owners can spend time together.

“The hospital also plays a role as a good corporate citizen by opening Thonglor Blood Bank that accepts blood donation from cats and dogs. Transfusion needs are growing today with increasing incidents of the animals suffering severe illnesses or injuries, whose lives often depend on timely supply of safe blood, and case-by-case donation may be too late. The donated blood is used to help hospitalized cats and dogs. Other pet hospitals and clinics are also welcome to transfer cats and dogs for transfusions at our blood bank and we encourage pet owners to make their cats and dogs donors,” added Kitika.

Director of Business Development Tasavarin Kanchanachaya also weighed in, sharing a few tips to ensure good temperaments.

“Keeping pets in good mood is actually not complicated: it is largely about keeping them healthy both physically and mentally. This begins from giving them good pet food and proper pet care, including grooming, tick and flea control, vaccinations and regular checkup. Being physically healthy not only keeps them happy, but also promotes their immunity to illnesses – a preventive approach to pet healthcare. In terms of mental health, be aware that as a pet owner, you are the entire world for them. Finding an activity to do with them can brighten the day of you and your pets alike, for example by taking them out for a walk or exercise, such as swimming or a fetch game. Do not mistake keeping a pet for simply feeding them and giving them a place to sleep. Basic needs of pets can vary a great deal according to species, or even different breeds of the same species. To ensure a long and happy companionship, it is necessary for would-be owners to do a bit of research before deciding to take one in.”

Jack Brown, the British owner of Chester, the Siberian Husky with 200K+ page followers, shared his impression of the place.

“I was once indifferent about keeping a dog, but Chester has changed all that: he is self-composed and well-behaved, which is rare in Siberian Huskies. Chester is a bit vexing with a few of his weird gestures, but that makes him winsome in my opinion. To take care of him, I prioritise health because I believe that good health, no matter in humans or animals, is the source of happiness. However, illnesses can be sometimes unavoidable despite good healthcare. The opening of Thonglor Pet Hospital’s new headquarters as a pet hospital that is open 24 hours a day and fully-staffed with service-minded teams of veterinarians and paraveterinary professionals, plus integration of facilities for holistic happiness of pets and their owners is a blessing for pet owners.”

To learn more, go to www.ThonglorPet.com or call (02) 079 9999.

Old Man’s Journey is a puzzle game presented in beautiful graphics that look hand-painted, like children’s books. But there’s nothing child-like about the gameplay, which delves into a layered, complex world.

Developer and publisher Broken Rules released it in mid-2017 and the Apple Store editors named it iPad game of the year.

The objective is simple – keep the old man of the title moving through the two-dimensional landscape. The game’s only main character keeps getting stuck, so you have to look for ways to get him going again, clicking around for clues.

To solve the series of puzzles that ensue, you’re mostly required to figure out how to move ridges and slopes in the background by clicking on them and lining them up to create a path forward. If the old man comes to rest atop a hill, the hill can’t be moved, so you have to move him somewhere else before you can line up the path.

The story begins with the old man receiving a letter at home. He appears very concerned about the contents and sets off on a long journey, taking with him a large backpack and a walking stick.

There is no tutorial or textual description. Whenever you get stuck, you just need to point and click around, looking for a solution to the puzzle. When you find something that looks promising, click on it and maybe you’ll be rewarded with a lovely sound or cheerful animation.

The puzzles sometimes get quite complex. In certain scenes, for example, you might have to send large wheels crashing down the steep hills to bulldoze away stone walls blocking the man’s progress.

The game’s appeal in the way it keeps players engaged by tossing up surprises every time a hill or mountain is moved.

When you finally get the old man to the end of each chapter or the final location of the game, he’ll take a rest and relate a memory of his past, as told through lovely, colourful images.

I played the game on a new iPad 9.7-inch tablet computer and it ran smoothly, with gorgeous graphics all the way through.

The Old Man’s Journey can be purchased from the App Store for Bt69.

KEY FACTS

– Version: 1.8

– Require: iOS 10.0 or later

– Publisher-developer: Broken Rules

– Size: 657.3MB

– Category: Games, puzzles

– Age rating: Four and up

First Order Stormtrooper is an Ubtech appenabled military robot that takes verbal commands and can recognise up to three different faces for customising it. It can learn new skills including imaginative and imitative play, musical creativity, problem solving and word building. Get one from BananaStore.com for Bt12,900.

Ticks all the boxes

Canon’s EOS M6 mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera is always ready for action. It features a 24.2-megapixel resolution CMOS sensor and Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus and is capable of shooting up to seven frames per second continuously. It has builtin Wi-Fi for instantly sharing photos online. The body costs Bt30,490 and, with an EFM-1545 IS STM kit lens, it’s Bt34,690.

You hear that boom?

JBL’s portable Boombox Bluetooth speaker packs a 20,000mAh rechargeable battery that’s good for up to 24 hours of playback. IPX7-rated waterproof, it has 30 watts of output power on two sides coming through two four-inch woofers and two 20mm tweeters. You can hook up two smartphones or tablets at the same time. Expect to pay Bt17,900.

Dreams take flight

The DJI Spark mini-drone carries all of the firm’s signature technologies, allowing for instant capturing of photos and videos. The camera is 12-megapixel resolution, soaring for 15 minutes at a time on two batteries. Intelligent Flight Mode and intuitive controls make it easy to handle, including with hand gestures along. The going rate is Bt28,000.

Let’s get lively

The Q Acoustics M3 soundbar speaker pumps more life into TV sound. Beautifully styled and compact, it features 180-degree sound for room-filling noise. It can double as a wireless music speaker, streaming in superior aptX Bluetooth quality. The setup is a simple plug-and-play affair with HDMI Arc. It’s in stores for Bt12,900.

As has been their custom for decades, Central Department Stores around Thailand and Zen Department Store at CentralWorld are celebrating next weekend’s National Children’s Day with an event designed to appeal to the little ones. This year, the retail giant is spreading the happiness even further with the “Baby & Kids Happy Days” event that runs from now through January 15, with Central Chidlom and Central Lat Phrao taking centre stage in terms of the number of activities being organised to mark this special day.

Those activities include fun workshops, imaginative drawing and balloon twisting, Lego building, storytelling, face painting, and Hot Wheels model car racing. Kids can also explore the North Pole vibe through the “Interactive Central Frozen Land”, catch a fashion show, take part in a Lego bricks workshop or have a go at Strider bike racing, all without putting a foot outside the Event Hall on the third floor of Central Chidlom.

The highlight though is undoubtedly the “Lego Amazing Kid’s Day 2018”, which boasts models of 11 landmarks in Bangkok created from more than 500,000 intricate Lego bricks, which will be on show on Level 1 of Central Plaza Lat Phrao from next Thursday through January 18.

The aim is to let the youngsters learn more about history of these ancient places.

“Thailand has many buildings with beautiful architecture and these have inspired us to build their models. We are showcasing a mosaic background of all these important places at night as well as 3D Lego brick models of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, Wat Benchamabophit, the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, Democracy Monument and Yaowaraj Road, among others,” says Panya Parinyanont, a member of the Thai Lego User Group (TLUG).

“And it’s not just for the kids. Tourists too can learn about the important places in Bangkok from our exhibition,” he adds.

“Each sculpture is assembled from Lego bricks using the imagination of its creators,” explains Pongsit Rattanakornwit, a member of the design team behind the 11 works of art.

“There are so many interesting places in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, so we thought building models of them using Lego bricks would help kids, adults, and tourists learn more about the history and origin of each of these destinations.” Among them is Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram, a first-class royal monastery and the repository for the ashes of King Rama V. Originally called Wat Laem, its name was changed to Wat Benchamabophit by King Rama V.

Another Lego architectural wonder is the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the European style building resplendent with Carrera marble from Italy.

Inspired by Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and St Paul’s Cathedral in London, the interior is decorated with frescoes depicting the history of King Rama I the Great to King Rama VI.

The Golden Mount (Phu Khao Thong), Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan dates back to the Ayutthaya period, when it was referred as “Wat Sakae”. The temple was restored on the orders of King Rama I and renamed Wat Saket. It was renovated during the reign of King Rama III and the Golden Mount was formed from the debris of a collapsed chedi.

Wat Ratchanaddaram Woraviharn was built on the orders of King Rama III for Somanass Waddhanawathy who became the first queen of King Rama IV. The main attraction of this temple is the Loha Prasat, the first and only metal castle in Thailand.

The Democracy Monument was built to commemorate the establishment of the constitutional monarchy. The centrepiece is a carved representation of the box holding the Thai constitution of 1932, which sits on top of two golden offering bowls above a round turret. This is not only the symbol of democracy, but also marks Thailand Highway’s Kilometre Zero.

Wat Suthat Thep Wararam was constructed by King Rama I in 1807 and its wiharn was built to house Phra Sri Sakayamuni (Phra To), which was moved from Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai province. It is sometimes referred to the Giant Swing Temple.

Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, commonly known as Wat Phra Kaeo, was consecrated during the reign of King Rama I to house the statue of Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakorn or the Emerald Buddha, a potent religious and political symbol and the sacred protector of Thai society.

Wat Arun Ratchawararam, formerly known as Wat Makok, is an ancient temple built in the Ayutthaya period. The Prang of Wat Arun was constructed by expert craftsman and decorated with antique seashells and bits of exotic porcelain imported from China.

Talad Noi Community in Bang Rak district is an old business hub along the Chao Phraya River. A combination of Thai and Chinese culture, Talad Noi has become a hip tourist attraction and is a popular destination for local teens.

Yaowaraj Road, originally named Yupparaj Road, is the heart of Thailand’s Chinatown and home to the main Chinese community in Thailand.

The Victory Monument was erected to commemorate the Thai victory in the FrancoThai War. Designed in the shape of five bayonets clasped together, its lower part constitutes a large hall containing artillery bullets and the ashes of soldiers who died in the Indochina War. Five statues represent the army, navy, air force, police and militia.

Other Lego constructions on show include the Ruen Yod Barom Mungkalanusaranee Pavilion at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the Loha Prasat (metal castle) at Wat Ratchanaddaram, the Giant Swing at Wat Suthat, Padej Dassakorn Fort, Phra Asada Maha Chedi at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, and Kalawar Church at Talad Noi.

Kids can exercise their imaginations with a spaceship game, Lego Star Wars, and enter the Lego Amazing Competition to win attractive prizes.

Old Man’s Journey is a puzzle game presented in beautiful graphics that look hand-painted, like children’s books. But there’s nothing child-like about the gameplay, which delves into a layered, complex world.

Developer and publisher Broken Rules released it in mid-2017 and the Apple Store editors named it iPad game of the year.

The objective is simple – keep the old man of the title moving through the two-dimensional landscape. The game’s only main character keeps getting stuck, so you have to look for ways to get him going again, clicking around for clues.

To solve the series of puzzles that ensue, you’re mostly required to figure out how to move ridges and slopes in the background by clicking on them and lining them up to create a path forward. If the old man comes to rest atop a hill, the hill can’t be moved, so you have to move him somewhere else before you can line up the path.

The story begins with the old man receiving a letter at home. He appears very concerned about the contents and sets off on a long journey, taking with him a large backpack and a walking stick.

There is no tutorial or textual description. Whenever you get stuck, you just need to point and click around, looking for a solution to the puzzle. When you find something that looks promising, click on it and maybe you’ll be rewarded with a lovely sound or cheerful animation.

The puzzles sometimes get quite complex. In certain scenes, for example, you might have to send large wheels crashing down the steep hills to bulldoze away stone walls blocking the man’s progress.

The game’s appeal in the way it keeps players engaged by tossing up surprises every time a hill or mountain is moved.

When you finally get the old man to the end of each chapter or the final location of the game, he’ll take a rest and relate a memory of his past, as told through lovely, colourful images.

I played the game on a new iPad 9.7-inch tablet computer and it ran smoothly, with gorgeous graphics all the way through.

The Old Man’s Journey can be purchased from the App Store for Bt69.

KEY FACTS

– Version: 1.8

– Require: iOS 10.0 or later

– Publisher-developer: Broken Rules

– Size: 657.3MB

– Category: Games, puzzles

– Age rating: Four and up

Operated in 45 countries, this global phenomenon featured the high-altitude dinner table at the height of 50 meters where 22 guests were seated securely per round and enjoyed a four-course gourmet with astonishing view, which is lifted and suspended for an hour long by a 200-tone European telescopic boom crane. Dinner in The Sky is located between The Emporium Shopping Complex and Benchasiri Park and will run until the end of February.

Beam club celebrates its second anniversary by inviting lots of big names to guest this month and kicks off the proceedings with Promnite. A New York native, Promnite started his career as a DJ and producer in Los Angeles and has worked with several well-known artists such as Mr Carmack, Djemba Djemba, Penthouse Penthouse, Danny Seth, Falcons and Katy Perry. Discover the down-tempo hip-hop and hard beats in the Dalmation room on January 10. Entry is Bt300 plus one drink. Find out more at (02) 392 7750.

Come alive with Dead Sea mud

Escape to Windsor Suites Hotel and spend a relaxing time with Dead Sea mud mask spa package. Pamper yourself in style and improve your skin with this special mud mask imported from Jordan. The beauty benefits of the Dead Sea mud include high concentrations of vitamins and minerals particularly magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium and the mud mask helps stimulate blood flow, remove dead cells, maximise cell hydration, and reduce fine lines & wrinkles to achieve healthier and tighter skin. The package is priced at Bt1,500 net. Book a session at (02) 262 1234.

Kids day out

Saturday January 13 is all about the kids so treat them this Children’s Day to an international buffet with New Zealand mussels, Prawn, Gammon ham, Roasted chicken, Live Japanese station and pasta station the Landmark Hotel’s Atrium restaurant. The event also features a kids’ food corner, Bozo the Clown and balloon twisting and there’s plenty to enjoy for mum and dad too. It’s priced at Bt2,000 net per person but come in a group of four and you only pay for two. Book by calling (02) 254 0404 extension 7777 or email fb@landmarkbangkok.com

Treasures of the deep

Sea Life Bangkok, the world-class aquarium on floors B1 and B2 of Siam Paragon marks Children’s Day on January 13 with two edutainment days full of underwater adventures and activities over the January 13-14 weekend. Youngsters cam take advantage of the “Kids-Go-Free” ticket promotion under which a child under the age of 11 earns free entrance with an adult ticket purchase. Entrance fee is Bt990 for adults and Bt790 for kids aged three to 11. Call (02) 687 2000 or visit http://www.SeaLifeBangkok.com.

Double the chocolate

All branches of Cafe Kantary are celebrating the arrival of 2018 with “Double Chocolate Espresso Frappe”. Available this month and next, the rich drink comes with added chocolate chips, a strong shot of espresso and tops it with whipped cream and chocolate flakes. Try it for only Bt130. Find out more at http://www.CafeKantary.com.

Nakun Yugalana Ayudhya, founder and chief executive of Kiddeepass, the firm that makes the app, unveiled it recently at the EmQuartier’s Quartier Water Garden.

“The idea came up because my sister, Sitamon Pholdee, and I have children the same age and we wanted information about play centres and schools, but we found that the information is quite scattered.

“So we decided to design an app that brings together all the info parents need and lets them book activities online. It brings together all the fun experiences for kids. Then I invited my friends Dr Pongtip Aroonvatanaporn and Apisek Tewinpagti to join in the undertaking and make the app available to the public.”

Celebrities on hand for the launch included actors Panisara “Opal” Aryasakul and her twin children Alin and Alan and Jessadaporn “Tik” Pholdee (Sitamon’s husband), who shared their parenting experiences.

MR Srikhumrung Yukol Rattakul, Rawiwan Tanaka, Nisakorn Sihanatkathakul, Tipanan Srifuengfung, Jutawan and Teerut Suwanamas and Rupop Shinawatra were also there, and Chatpawee Trichachawanwong served as emcee.

Kiddeepass connects families to classes, museums, parks, zoos and a variety of helpful and interesting services, all carefully chosen.

The app has a “Near Me” function to save time and avoid traffic, and its recommendations take costs into account, which can be set according to personal preferences.

Kiddeepass can be downloaded for free for either Android or iOS at http://www.Kiddeepas.com.