This year will feature a Tourism Authority of Thailand float promoting 2018 as “Amazing Thailand Tourism Year” along with a city tram tour, a walking street and a traditional Christmas nativity play.

Over in Mukdahan, Wat Ban Song Khon also organises a parade that runs from Sunday to Tuesday.

Learn more from TAT Nakhon Phanom Office by calling (042) 513 490-1.

High in the sky

Baiyoke Sky Hotel welcomes the festive season with a Christmas package that’s is available until December 26.

The package, which is priced at Bt8,800, includes a two-night stay in a Deluxe Room, welcome drink at the Roof Top Bar on 83rd floor, free transfer between the hotel, Bangkok’s shopping hubs and the airport, complimentary dinner for two with a glass of hot chocolate or wine per person, access to 77 and 84 floors to admire the city from high in the sky and late check out until 3pm.

Online booking can be made at http://www.BaiyokeHotel.com.

Sweetness with a Smile

Passengers flying with Thai Smile during December 25 to January 1 can nibble on two special sweet delights, Sea Salt Chocolate Fudge Cake and Kabocha Fluffy Cheesecake, from popular cafe After You.

The desserts are available on both domestic and international flights except WE177, WE333/334, WE335/336, WE343/344, WE426, WE420, WE696/697 and WE288.

Book a seat at http://www.ThaiSmileAir.com.

Riverside bliss

The brand-new X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort welcomes its first guests with a Luxury Riverside Package starting at Bt22,400.

Guests staying two nights in a riverfront suite will be rewarded with champagne breakfast for two at Oxygen dining room, round trip transfer from airport to resort and a 60-minute Aromatherapy massage for two at X2 Spa. Other benefits include a high tea set for two at H2O Water Bar and Tea Lounge, Sunset cruise with private boat trip serving wine and tapas and a set dinner Michelin Star Dining Experience by the River.

Book a room at (053) 931999 or email book.cmr@x2resorts.com.

Fun for all the family

Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin celebrates its opening by offering guests special rates, starting from Bt2,999-plus including waterpark access. The promotional rates are only applicable for Sunday to Friday until February and valid for stays through April 30.

Check out best rates at |www.ihg.com/holidayinnresorts/hotels/th/th/hua-hin/hhqhi/hoteldetail

THEY’RE NO longer the red-headed pranksters who delighted fans in all nine of the Harry Potter movies. Today identical twins James and Oliver Phelps, who played the Weasley twins Fred and George, are tall, dark and handsome though telling them apart is still almost impossible.

The lads were in town over the weekend for the opening of the Harry Potter’s themed holiday retail experience, “Christmas in the Wizarding World” at Siam Paragon and brought plenty of magical wit and charm to the downtown shopping mall as they donned Hogwarts School scarves and chatted happily with the fans.

They were also very excited to be in Bangkok, with Oliver saying that if he really had magical powers, he would use them to come to the city for dinner every night. “I love Thai food,” he said, as James added that he has already planned his next trip to Thailand.

The “Christmas in the Wizarding World” experience plunges the visitor straight into a wintry Hogsmeade village and has been brought to Bangkok by Warner Bros Consumer Products and international exhibition organiser GES.

Despite the limited space, the attention to detail is impressive with the magical setting including such key features as the wand assortment shop, Ollivanders’ outfitted with soaring shelves of hundreds of precariously stacked wands boxes.

There are window displays and interactive elements of Honeydukes sweet shop, Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, and Dervish and Banges, Also on sale are Hogwarts school robes, fan-favourite plush owls and other themed merchandise. Other activities include a memorable photo opportunity, featuring a selection of background options from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them” as well as an interactive “quaffle toss” game amid a colourful display of Quidditch-themed items.

James and Oliver found some time to sit down at chat with The Nation. Excerpts:

IS THIS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THAILAND?

Oliver: Yes and we feel very lucky to be here. We’ve always wanted to come. Lots of our friends came here when they were young as backpackers. Some guys spent their honeymoons here too. They’ve told us all about the country.

James: Our cousin comes often as well. He works in China and he loves Thailand and gave us lots of recommendations about what to see.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE |SPECIAL FEATURES ABOUT THIS HARRY POTTER-THEMED RETAIL EXHIBITION?

Oliver: It’s not really an exhibition. This is Harry Potter’s Christmas Wizarding World, it’s the massive retail experience and it is totally different, you won’t see it anywhere else.

James: When they [the organisers] told us about the idea of setting up a shopping thing in Bangkok about a year ago, we expected a few stands or stalls selling wizard gear. But when they do something, they do it right. You really do feel that you are in Hogsmeade village. You can go into the Ollivanders’ wand, and have the experience. It is not you choosing the wand; the wand chooses you, just like in the film. It’s such a unique experience. Normally you would have to travel very far. Also even when you queue to enter, there’s plenty going on, such as a window display that moves and with which you can interact.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR |CHARACTERS?

Oliver: How confident they are. They both are outgoing guys and like to have a laugh and they’re very strong headed as well. The fact that they left school to go and start their enterprise, “Wizarding Wizard” and they always stand up for what is right as well. They shy away from dangers or anything like that. They are very strong people.

James: The same. We are very lucky to play them like jokers, fun guys. So we are able to have fun, have a joke. To this day, I think one of the reasons Oliver and I get such a good reception from people we meet is because we are quite relatable in that way.

DO YOU STILL REMEMBER THE FEELINGS WHILE YOU WERE ACTING? AND WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS WHEN YOU FINALLY GOT TO READ EACH OF THE BOOKS?

Oliver: It was exciting, actually. We all speculated what was going to happen, and we all ended up reading the books twice. Because the first time we read it, we were looking for our character to find out what they were going to do. The second time, we read the whole book right through.

James: Much of the excitement came from not knowing while we were filming. We had no idea what was going to happen. In a way, that made for a better movie because you didn’t know what was coming.

FRED DIES IN THE MOVIE – AND SOME FANS ARE STILL NOT OVER HIS DEATH. HAVE YOU GUYS EVER BEEN SEPARATED IN REAL LIFE?

James: Not by death.

Oliver: Not by that of course [laughs]. But we are 31 years old and we do a lot of stuff on our own.

James: I enjoy outdoor things and hiking and I travel a lot for hiking. I’m planning my next trip to Thailand already.

ARE YOU STILL FRIENDLY WITH THE REST OF THE CAST?

Oliver: Yes, but not just with the cast. We are also friends with the crew because we saw them as much as the cast. It’s rather like the relationships you build through high school and university, you remain pals. This is the best way I can describe the relationship.

YOU’VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD PROMOTING HARRY POTTER AND THE EXHIBITION. WHAT’S IT LIKE MEETING THE FANS?

James: It blows my mind how welcoming everybody is. I don’t know the best word to describe it.

Oliver: Passionate.

James: Yes, there’s a lot of love for the characters, the books, and the series. We were out yesterday [December 15] just exploring Bangkok and a lady saw me and smiled, saying “James! ‘James!” not Fred or Oliver. They knew me as myself, which blew my mind. Everyone is welcoming here and that’s great.

IF YOU HAD REAL MAGICAL POWERS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Oliver: I would never go on a plane again. It took so long to get here. We were in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and we flew New York to London, and from London to Bangkok. So I’d magic a short but direct flight.

James: And take more shopping bags with you.

Oliver: I love Thai food. I would come here every night.

WILL THERE BE A HARRY POTTER REUNION?

Oliver: Probably.

James: But we don’t know if there’ll be an official one. A lot of us are still friends. We sometime meet up in the pub to go to restaurant for meals. Officially, I’m not sure.

DOWNTOWN MAGIC

– “Christmas in the Wizarding World” runs at Siam Paragon through March 2.

– Entry is free, but space is limited. Customers can avoid queuing and reserve a specific entry time by paying a pre-booking service fee of Bt100.

THE PHILIPPINES put on hold its 3.5 billion-peso (Bt2.26 million) dengue vaccination programme last month following an alert issued by French pharmaceutical giant, Sanofi Pasteur, that its Dengvaxia vaccine could prove harmful to people never infected by the mosquito-borne disease.

Philippine health officials began vaccinating over a million children in April last year (2016) with Dengvaxia, the world’s first dengue vaccine, amid safety concerns expressed by public health advocates.

Sanofi recently sent out an alert saying: “For those not previously infected by dengue virus, the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection.”

At least 730,000 children have already received the first of three doses of the vaccine. Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque was quick to allay concerns over the vaccine’s use, saying that for those who received the vaccine, there has been a 93 per cent reduction in severity of symptoms, and an 82 per cent reduction in hospitalisation.

“The vaccine has shown consistent and sustained benefits for those who were previously infected with the dengue virus…Let me underscore the fact the even for those who have not had prior exposure to dengue or never had dengue infection and received dengue vaccination, they have a protective period, which is 30 months,” he said. The vaccine is available in Thailand though not as part of the national vaccination plan and despite the concerns in the Philippines, the Asian Dengue Vaccine Advocacy (ADVA), a scientific working group, remains committed to its use.

The group recently issued the following statement regarding the CYD-TDV Dengvaxia dengue vaccine:

“ADVA refers to the official statement on the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, by the manufacturer. After studying the statement and facts put forth, ADVA is of the opinion that:

l “The results are preliminary and were made by retrospective analysis of blood samples taken a month after the third dose of the vaccine in the original CYD 14 (in Asia) and CYD 15 (in Latin America) studies.

l “The test performed is new and had been validated using PRNT as the reference. It indicates past-infection with wild dengue virus only, and excludes vaccine-induced immunity.

l “The results showed that seropositive (previously infected) individuals benefited from the vaccine. As many parts of Asia and areas in our own countries have high seropositive rates, the vaccine will have potential benefits across populations in Asia.

l “Seronegative subjects (no previous dengue infection) tend to have higher hospitalisation rates, specifically, an additional 5 hospitalisations per 1000 vaccines in five years.

l “Seronegative subjects were also observed to have more DHF Grades I and II, specifically two extra cases per 1000 vaccines in five years. There was no shock, bleeding nor mortality in this group.

l “Serological pretesting is required, although not practical, but we need to have an appropriate, cheap, readily and universally-available test. The gold-standard PRNT test is costly and not readily available while the test used by the manufacturer is currently only used on a research basis.

“To avoid confusion, a practical approach using the most reliable laboratory testing has to be discussed and implemented.”

Summing up, ADVA noted: “This outcome should not cause undue panic among individuals who have already received the dengue vaccine. The severe dengue that occurred in initially sero-negative vaccinees were in DHF Grades I and II and did not lead to shock, any bleeding or mortality.

“The report also reinforces the fact that seropositive individuals would benefit from receiving the vaccine.”

Start with delicious appetisers and signature sushi and sashimi. Watch teppanyaki chefs show off their acrobatic flame throwing skills as they sizzle land and sea selections to perfection. Treat yourself to exclusive specials of fresh Fine de Claire oysters on ice. Christmas desserts offer a sweet festive ending to this family brunch celebration. The price is Bt1,290-plus per person. |Book your table at (02) 718 2000-1

New Year fusions

The Indra Regent Hotel celebrates the arrival of 2018 with a range of dishes featuring the best of Thai, Japanese and European tastes at Botanica Restaurant. Spend Bt3,000 while staying in a Superior Room for 1 night (excluding |breakfast) and you’ll also enjoy a one-hour massage at Indra Spa. Reserve a seat at (02) 208 0022 extension 344.

De-stressing in style

Soothe away the stress with a Shirobhyanga, an ancient Indian head massage at the Spa Cenvaree, Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld where professionally-trained therapists gently massage the scalp, neck and shoulders using light pressure and warm herbal oils. Spa Cenvaree’s Shirobhyanga sessions last for 60 minutes and are priced at Bt1,500 per person. Guests are invited to arrive 30 minutes before the treatment session to make use of the spa’s indulgent hydro facilities, including a steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi. Book a session at (02) 100 1234 extensions 6511, 6516.

Bargains at the beach

Travelodge Pattaya is offering a special deal for guests staying a minimum of 3 nights with a room rate of Bt1,444 per night including breakfast. The offer is available from now until April 30 and TravelodgeR members will also enjoy an additional 10-per-cent discount on top. Other TravelodgeR benefits early check-in at 12 noon and late check-out at 2pm. Travelodge Pattaya is just a 10-minute stroll from Pattaya Beach and 15 minutes from Walking Street. Find out more at http://www.Travelodgehotels.asia or make a booking at (038) 103 777.

Riverside bliss

The Terrace@72 Restaurant of Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside celebrates December with the “River on a Plate” Dining Festival. Visa Infinite Cardholders enjoy a range of special benefits as well as a 15-per-cent discount for both lunch and dinner. The Waves Restaurant is offering a set Thai three-course meal for just Bt690-plus. A complimentary welcome cocktail will be included when you dine at the restaurants. Advance reservation is required. |Call (063) 202 1927.

The new wristwatch with its hands under glass crystal emanates a sense of tranquillity and takes in natural light and gleams. Using tempered, mineral glass, the stainless steel case ensures robustness and water-resistance.

Practical straps are made with calfskin leather, which is tanned and treated with water-based dyes to give a sense of warmth, in contrast to the cold glass. The three-fold clasp prevents the watch from accidentally falling off the wrist during wearing and while taking it off. The clasp mechanism makes it easy to wear and also extends durability by minimising repeated bending and pulling due to wearing and removing the watch.

Designer Yoshioka established his own studio in 2000. He has been active in fields across design, art, and architecture where his experimental and innovative works are recognised around the world.

He has received many international design awards and his works have been acquired by such prestigious venues as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Musee d’Orsay, and London’s Victoria and Albert as part of their permanent collections. He was also featured in article “100 Most Respected Japanese People in the World” in Newsweek Japan.

Find out more at (02) 163 0555 or visit Issey.Miyake.Watch page on Facebook.

Precision design and high-quality materials, including a leather charging case and aluminium-encircled touch interface, combine for luxuriousness and durability.

The Beoplay E8 is tuned by Bang & Olufsen sound engineers for a rich, full-bodied sound.

Each earpiece has a 5.7mm dynamic speaker, a small electromagnetic transducer, NFMI (Near Field Magnetic Induction) technology and a Bluetooth 4.2 chip with Digital Sound Processing.

The E8 also comes with best-in-class sound with Hi-Res Audio.

“The Beoplay E8 is the perfect wireless earphone integrated with design and sound quality,” said RTB Technology managing director Banphot Vatanasombut.

“It’s made from premium-grade materials, enhancing its luxurious image with a well-designed platform to sit beautifully in your ear as a discreet and stylish technology statement.

“We believe the Beoplay E8 will receive a warm welcome from our high-end customers who are fascinated with outstanding music sound and design.”

Take a moment to bask in the memory of meeting Trico for the first time and relive this experience in VR in a short demo.

See and feel Trico’s immense presence as you encounter him right before your eyes.

The game can be downloaded for free from the PlayStation Store.

*PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Camera required to use PlayStation VR.