Boasting noise cancelling technology and a sleek design, the new Sony WF1000X wireless earbuds certainly live up to their slogan “Wire free, noise free, stress free”.

I particularly like the fact that the wireless communication does away with the need for any connecting wire and headband, which makes wearing the phones, as Sony promises, comfortable and totally stress free.

The WF1000X has a compact and minimalist design and weighs in at 6.8g. And each earbud has an ergonomic ear hook for keeping it in place. Its internal antenna and fitting supporter keep the signal strong for constant streaming.

Each bud uses a tiny 6mm driver to deliver clear sound. They have a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz and fall into the closed-dynamic type of earphones.

The WF1000X uses Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity with support for A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP profiles and support for audio formats of SBC and AAC.

It uses NFC (near field communication) for easily establishing connection with a smartphone or MP3 player that also has NFC technology.

But where the phones really win out is the effective noise cancelling technology. You simply press a button to switch this technology on and the background noise is totally minimised, allowing you to really enjoy the music.

Moreover, the WF1000X uses Adaptive Sound Control technology to detect whether you’re travelling, walking and waiting and adjusts ambient sound settings should you opt for the Ambient Sound mode instead of the Noise Cancelling mode.

The power button on the left earbud also serves as a button for cycling through the modes and even provides voice guidance to tell you which mode you are in when you press the button. To get this function, just download the Sony I Headphones Connect app.

Moreover, the app can be used to customise the ambient sound settings, of which there are three: Normal, Voice and Equaliser. When you switch on the normal mode, you can hear all essential background sounds while the voice mode ensures you won’t miss announcements. You can use the Sony I Headphones app to find your perfect sound tone. Just use the app to switch between the three modes.

Of course, the WF1000X can be used as a hand-free headset for making and receiving phone calls. You can use either the power button on the left earbud or the multifunction button on the right to receive and end call. The multifunction button can also be used to play or pause the music. If you double click it, it will skip to the next track. Press it three times, the music will go back to the previous track.

The earbuds come with a charging case that also serves as a battery bank for the earbuds. The case weighs about 70 grammes.

The WF1000X has about three hours of battery life and it can be recharged twice by the carrying case so you will have about nine hours of battery life on the go.

I tested the WF1000X with Sony’s Walkman NWA25. The NFC technology helped me pair the NWA25 with the earbuds easily.

The music quality reproduced by WF1000X was really good with great clarity and strong bass when the earbuds were properly seated in the ears. In fact, the bass was impressive for inear-type headphones.

Sony WF1000X has a suggested retail price of Bt7,990.

KEY SPECS

– Driver unit: 6mm (dome type)

– Magnet: Neodymium

– Frequency response: 2020,000 Hz

– Bluetooth: Version 4.1, 2.4GHz band; SBC, AAC formats; A2DPm AVRCP, HFP, HSP profiles

– Noise cancelling: on/off with switch

– Battery: charging time: 1.5 hours; battery life: 3 hours

– Earbuds weight: 6.8g

– Charging case: 2 hours to charge case (3 hours with earbuds)

– Case dimension: 103.0 x 42.6 x 24.5mm

– Case weight: 70g

An affordable smartphone with a good quality camera and acceptable performance, the Sony Xperia XA1 Plus costs less than half of the company’s new flagship XZ1.

So what do you get for your money and is it worth it?

In short, yes, with a few provisos, the first being that it’s not blazing fast.

Sony says it’s able to keep the price of XA1 Plus low – a touch under Bt11,000 – because it uses a cheaper CPU from MediaTek as opposed to the expensive flagship CPU from Qualcomm.

The XA1 Plus is powered by MediaTek helio P20 Octa Core 64-bit processor with four cores running at 2.3GHz and the other four at 1.6GHz.

During the test, I didn’t feel the P20-based XA1 Plus was slow. Most tasks and apps ran well. The menus and touch-screen were responsive. And HD video clips and High-Resolution Audio files played smoothly.

The XA1 Plus is equipped with 4 gigabytes of working memory or RAM. It has 32GB of internal storage, using eMMC storage type, which is cheaper than the UFS type used in upmarket smartphones.

The XA1 Plus has 5.5-inch Full HD display with 1080×1920-pixel resolution. The display is large and more than adequate for viewing photos and HD video clips. During the test, I enjoyed watching HD clips from YouTube and HD programmes on the TrueVisions Anywhere app.

The XA1 Plus provides two nano SIM slots and a separate microSD expansion slot. So you can use two SIM cards at the same time and still have a slot for expanding the internal storage.

The ability to double as a Hi-Res Audio music player makes the XA1 Plus worth buying. I tested its music playback with Sony MDR1ABT Hi-Res Audio headphones and the songs sounded great with good details of the musical instruments and powerful bass. To augment music quality, Sony uses Smart Amp and ClearAudio+ technologies with the XA1 Plus, enhancing the loudness and clarity of the music.

The XA1 Plus also has fast Internet connection. I tested it on TrueMove H’s LTE 4G network. Downloading apps was fast and my snapshots were backed up to my Google Photos cloud storage in no time.

I used Ookla Speedtest app to measure the connection speed and found that the XA1 Plus had a download speed of 57.49 Mbps and upload speed of 32.34 Mbps.

The XA1 Plus can also function as a good quality compact camera thanks to its large 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for mobile sensor with 23-megapixel resolution. That means the sensor is as large as the image sensors used in many compact digital cameras.

Since the Exmor RS is a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor and the camera itself is equipped with a bright f/2.0 lens, the XA1 Plus can capture good quality shots even in low-light environments. Moreover, it comes with Steady-Shot technology that allows the camera to capture clear, smooth videos even when you’re on the move.

The XA1 Plus also provides a dedicated button that launches the camera in just 0.6 seconds. When you press the Quick Launch button, the XA1 Plus is ready to take the shot also in 0.6 seconds. The button can also be used as the shutter button, making it convenient for selfies.

The main camera uses 24mm equivalent lens and captures surprisingly good landscape shots. It comes with several shooting modes, including Manual and Superior Auto.

I used the Superior Auto mode during the test and was impressed at the way the camera analysed the scene then selected appropriate scene modes for me, resulting in good quality, sharp and clean shots in most cases.

The main camera also has good low-light performance as it supports up to ISO6400 sensitivity.

Its front camera has a 1/4-inch Exmor R sensor with 8 MP-resolution and 23mm equivalent wide-angle lens with f2/0 lens. During the test, we enjoyed taking selfies shots inside The Nation newsroom and were pleased with the results. The front camera is also good for taking group selfies.

The XA1 Plus also comes with a finger print reader embedded on the power button on the right, which allows you to secure your phone and unlock it with your right thumb. I checked it out and had no problem in unlocking the phone with my right thumb.

The 3430 mAh capacity battery is large enough to ensure good battery life. Moreover, the XA1 Plus uses Battery Care technology to protect your phone from overcharging and increase its lifespan. It also uses Qnovo Adaptive Charging to adjust charging currents to expand battery life.

The XA1 Plus also comes with Smart Cleaner that automatically deactivates the apps you don’t use and clears the cache, to optimise storage and memory as well as saving your battery.

The Xperia XA1 Plus has a premium look and feel. With rounded borders and stylish details, it feels smooth and fits the hand perfectly.

It is available in Moonlit Blue, Black, Silver and Venus Pink and retails for Bt10,990.

KEY SPECS

– OS: Android 7

– Networks: GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G), LTE (4G) Cat6

– CPU: MediaTek helio P20 Octa Core 64bit (Quad Core 2.3GHz + Quad Core 1.6GHz)

– Memory: 4GB

– Storage: 32 GB eMMC, expandable with microSD by up to 256 GB

– Display: 5.5-inch full HD 1080p, protected with Corning Gorilla Glass

– SIM: Dual nanoSIM

– Cameras: Main: 23MP 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS seensor, 24mm, f/2.0 lens; Front: 8MP Exmor R sensor with 23mm wide-angle f/2.0 lens

– Connectivity: AGNSS (GPS + GLONASS), Wi-Fi Miracast, Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology, Google Cast NFC, USB Type-C

– Sound: SmartAmp, Clear Audio+, Stereo Recording, Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology, aptX / A2DP

– Battery: 3430 mAh with Qnovo Adaptive Charging and Quick Charging (MediaTek Pump Express Plus 2.0)

– Dimensions: 155 x 75 x 8.7 mm

– Weight: 190g

Top-level experts from three world-class leadership development institutions, namely The Arbinger Institute, Tirian and The Ken Blanchard Companies addressed and shared their knowledge at the seminar at no charge to the participants. The event aims to propel organisations in the new business world to operate on a solid footing at maximum efficiency in an era of abrupt change and to spread relevant business approaches to organisation leaders in Thailand and ASEAN.

SEAC focused on three pertinent factors in the new way of developing people and organisations to quickly keep abreast with change.

“Outward Mindset” made the point that in order to live in today’s world, businesses need to adjust their mindset. Having an outward mindset means, first and foremost, seeing people as people and understanding other people’s needs, objectives and challenges to reach the common goal.  Consequently, this leads to a collaborative partnership that will contribute to a strong corporate culture and efficient goal achievement. The outward mindset can help businesses grow in a disruptive world by improving their ability to transform organisations and innovate differently.

In term of experiential learning, sharing knowledge is vital to enable learning. In a world where change radically influences every aspect of life, traditional learning and training are no longer adequate and is no guarantee that they can change deeply-rooted habits, which in the real world can also be useful. Unfortunately, the outcome is not long lasting.  People who have been trained may be armed with good knowledge, and that by itself is a good start. But in terms of their understanding and ability to change themselves and their surroundings for a long-term positive effect, they will need to be aware of present-day processes and techniques.  Experiential learning thus complements the traditional learning process and encourages behavioural changes in people based on the belief that people learn best when they create memorable experiences through doing and actual practice.

Leaders should be asking themselves how they manage people, and what they have to do to lead their colleagues and promote their capabilities? A core duty of a good leader is people management. Good leaders must get their colleagues to participate in the effort to increase productivity and work efficiency.

“Past experiences by the organisation and their leaders do not guarantee survival and future business sustainability. Leaders of today’s businesses should adapt and prepare themselves for change. When leaders are ready, people are ready, then organisations are ready, allowing their businesses to ‘live’, ‘learn’, and ‘lead’ effectively regardless of the change that may come in any form and despite the new reality,” Arinya said.

Now B2S is bringing the concept to the Northeast with the opening of “Think Space B2S Nakhon Ratchasima”. Designed around the concept “Afterschool Community”, it aims to be a source of inspiration and a new lifestyle living space for the young generation to work or study. Covering 1,100sqm, it’s located on the fourth floor of Central Plaza Nakhon Ratchasima.

Provincial Governor Vichian Chantharanothai was joined at the opening ceremony by several young executives and entrepreneurs from the region, including Marut Chumkhuntod, founder of Class Coffee, Alisa Saowakunphinyo, founder of Bewitched Board game cafe, and Nattha Soontornvinate of Double V Space, one of Thailand’s top interior designers. The event also featured a mini-concert by Suparuj Taechatanont, and Surattikan “Earn The Star” Phakcharoen.

Marut was full of praise for the space, saying it would help promote Korat or Nakhon Ratchasima as new landmark for lifestyle living rather than an industrial city. He’s set up the tenth branch of his coffee shop in Think Space.

Alisa, founder of Bewitched Board Game Café, added that in her view “Think Space” had overcome the limitations of the traditional bookstore.

“There are activities in the various zones that will spark the imagination and we hope to pass on new inspirations through game board activities to encourage those who live with digital technology around the clock to take a break from their devices. They can sit and play board games such as millionaire game, or do jigsaw puzzles. This allows people to build facetoface relationships while also enhancing creativity and analysis skills. Being part of Think Space is a great opportunity.”

BHUBAWIT KRITPHOLNARA, creative director and owner of Thai fashion brand Issue, has very fond memories of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, the mother of the late King Bhumibol Adulvadej, or the Princess Mother as she was formally known.

“I watched a video that showed the Princess Mother, then in her 80s and with completely white hair, stepping down from a helicopter on her way to help people in Thailand’s northernmost region. It made me realise what humans are capable of doing and inspired me to follow in her footsteps,” says Bhubawit, who along with seven other leading artists and designers is taking part in the second “Doi Tung and Friends 2017” project. The event, which runs until November 20 at Siam Paragon’s Fashion Hall, also features Sombatasara Teerasaroch, Kullawit Laosuksri, editor-in-chief of Vogue Thailand, Jirat Suppisankul, owner of Sanshaii brand, Mollika Ruangkritya and Nat Mangkang of Kloset brand, and actor Gunn Svasti na Auytthaya.

“Doi Tung and Friends” is not the only celebration of the late Princess Srinagarindra’s life. The Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, Siam Piwat and Thai Beverage are also preparing to launch “Remembering …The Late Princess Mother”, the 20th edition of this exhibition, which runs from Wednesday through November 19 in the shopping centre’s Lifestyle Hall on the theme “Cultivate Forest, Cultivate People, Sustainability Way”. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will formally open the exhibition on November 17 at 6pm.

The Doi Tung and Friends project, which also falls under the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, was a great success last year, with shoppers flocking to admire and snap up the more than 50 handcrafted products from leading designers and tribal artisans from Doi Tung. Proceeds from sales revenue after deduction of expenses will be used to develop the potential of

people in the Doi Tung Development Project and support the other extension projects of the foundation.

Bhubawit, who specialises in embroidered and oriental style enhancements, says he was amazed by the richness of the crafts during his visit to Doi Tung.

“Each piece is very detailed. But some villagers told me that without many members of the younger generation around, they won’t be able to pass down their know-how so they need our help to develop the product and to inspire younger people to take up these crafts so they are not lost in time. So I designed a shirt and a bag with a cross-stitched print motif inspired by the pastime of Princess Mother and presented a ceramic moulding in a pattern to reflect happiness, love, and nature. The stitching and embroidery on the fabric gives the items a contemporary look,” he adds.

Sombatsara is also proud to help promote the talents of Doi Tung craftsmen to the urban crowd. “This year, we’ve designed a bag as part of the Original is Forever collection. It’s based on the handbags that are used for everyday life in the hills and comes in black and at an affordable price.

Kullawit has continued his collaboration with the Untitled collection,

which produces handmade Doi Tung handbags. Decorated with leather for a more modern design, the totes can be used by both men and women.

Jirat choose a linen-and-cotton blend in natural dye for his Kramm collection, which features women’s separates and accessories including a reversible jacket, a summer Peacoat, casual kaftan, trousers, hats, bags and shoes.

Designers Mollika and Nat greatly

admire the support given by the Princess Mother to the Doi Tung villagers and want to continue her work.

“Our aim is help people develop, have a job, and mark-up their craft value. We’ve incorporated the elaborate details in our women’s clothing collection called Wild Orchid, which focuses on cutting in a flutter shape similar to an orchid’s petals,” says Nat

For her part, Mollika has created a classic mulberry paper lamp. “I’ve always love the touch of paper with different textures. I’ve heard that the mulberry paper factory in Doi Tung might be closed because no one uses this paper anymore. So I tried to think what I could do. After doing some research, I found it was perfect for a lamp that has a ceramic base made within the project,” she says.

Gunn wants to be the voice that communicates to the new generation Doi Tung’s natural values as well as its crafts and is conveying his message through a free-form ceramic collection that includes teacups, coffee sets, vases and home d้cor accessories.

The once barren hillsides of Doi Tung mountains are now covered with a lush canopy providing sustainable income to many people while serving as a university where those interested can learn, and it is this success the “Remembering …The Late Princess Mother” exhibition aims to celebrate.

“The exhibition is the presentation of the late Princess Mother’s work that emphasised people-centric development and the sustainable wellbeing of tribal communities. We hope that her loving-kindness towards the Thai people will be recognised and applied in our daily lives for our own good, particularly her ideas and practices in nature preservation,” explains Thanpuying Butree Veeravaitaya, Secretary-General of Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage.

The exhibition features several different sections.

The “Royal Mother from the Sky”

zone narrates the story of the late Princess Mother who was affectionately called “Mae Fah Luang” by the hilltribes who would see her step down from a helicopter along with food, clothing, other essentials, medical personnel and supplies to help improve the lives of rural people.

This section portrays her journey since the early 1960s when she visited remote mountainous areas that were only accessible by helicopter and learnt about their hardship. From then on, she devoted herself to improving the living conditions of rural Thais, particularly the ethnic minorities and underprivileged groups. Several foundations under Royal Patronage were set up over the years to systematically tackle the ethnic minorities’ poverty and lack of opportunity, among them the Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation (PMMV) and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation.

The “Compassion” zone showcases the late Princess Mother’s support for education. Observing that people in the remote areas suffered from a severe shortage of teachers and schools, she fully supported the Border Patrol Police’s initiative in establishing schools, providing contributions from her personal funds, presiding at the inaugurations of those schools and inviting her acquaintances to support the building of more than 400 schools.

To sustainably raise the living standard of the local hill tribe villagers, the late Princess Mother established the Hill Tribes Products Promotion Foundation. Later, with the aim of promoting and supporting the handiwork of the hilltribes, she decided to incorporate the foundation under her supervision and changed its name to the Mae Fah Luang Foundation.

The “Cultivating People” section portrays the late Princess Mother’s belief in the importance of education. Realising that the hilltribes products were not selling due to a lack of marketing and problem-solving skills, she initiated a project to provide not only quality education but also skills training, social etiquette, and eco-consciousness.

The stories of former hilltribe students whose lives were transformed by the education and training provided in the Mae Fah Luang Garden are told in the “Growing Seedlings” zone while the “Cultivating Forests” section depicts her vision to reforest Doi Tung. In line with her pledge, “I shall plant forests on Doi Tung,” she initiated the Doi Tung Development Project in 1987 with the objectives of recreating the watershed forests, promoting balanced use and protection of natural resources while upgrading the standard of living of local people. Over the years, the holistic problem-solving schemes of Doi Tong Development Project have successfully prevented the slash-and-burn system of cultivation and promoted agricultural development in a systematic manner.

GREAT GIFTS, MARVELLOUS MEMENTOES

– Products are priced between Bt900 and Bt8,500.

– Find out more at Facebook.com/DoiTungClub.

Blending advanced innovations with the wholesome goodness of natural plants to visibly improve skin condition, its success has been guaranteed by more than 50 awards from leading organisations including the CEW Eco Award Winner 2016.

The launch saw fans enjoying a special body wash workshop in which they could design their own body wash. The event was attended by celebrities Panit Limsawadiwong, Yanisa Srirungkijsawad, Pornpatr Witoonchart, Apicha Laohapongchana, Sansinee Inthraphuvasak, Leila Soontornvinate, Chatbencha Nandhabiwat, Munchumart Numbenjapol and Kingkarn Salakornthanawat.

Sumanus Montrechok, co-founder of Covent Garden (Thailand), the importer of the brand, notes that this new counter is more spacious than its first, with special services, which ensures make the shopping experience more fun.

“Over the past two years, we have received great feedback from Thai women who trust our brand to take care of their skin from within using organic plant-derived ingredients. To make our excellent products more accessible to our customers, we have opened a new counter on M floor.

This spacious new counter is designed in a simple style with contemporary touches, using the brand’s signature blue colour. This new counter design debuts here first in Asia. There is a dedicated corner for workshops, in which Neal’s Yard Remedies customers can enjoy special activities. Additionally, the new counter also offers testers for all categories – facial and body. Our staff is ready to offer tips and answer your questions.”

Neal’s Yard Remedies’ most popular products, according to Covent Garden (Thailand) co-founder Promruck Limsodsai, is the Frankincense Intense range, which features pure and safe organic ingredients, Plant Stem Cell innovation and 3-Peptide Complex to protect the skin and slow down the ageing process.

The Frankincense Intense Concentrate nourishes the skin with lightweight gel texture, reducing signs of ageing and plumping up the skin over time. The Cream is designed to tackle fine lines and wrinkles efficiently, promoting the skin’s elasticity and improving the skin colour while the Eye Cream restores moisture to the skin around the eyes, reducing lines, dark circles and puffiness.

To welcome the festive season, Neal’s Yard Remedies has prepared gift sets, which offer complete solutions to any skin concern and is also offering a special 15-per-cent discount until during November 15.

Find out more at Facebook.com/NealsYardRemediesThailand.

Riding on the theme of “Space made personal, experience the difference”, the new cabin provides more space and privacy in all classes, featuring intimate and bespoke elements designed especially for the Singapore Airlines customer.

The new cabin products were displayed for the first time last week at a media launch in Singapore. They will enter service next month on the first of five new A380 aircraft entering the fleet. Retrofit work will also take place on 14 existing aircraft, to ensure product consistency across the Airline’s entire A380 fleet.

The new Singapore Airlines A380 will be configured with 471 seats in four classes, featuring six Singapore Airlines Suites and 78 Business Class seats on the upper deck, as well as 44 Premium Economy Class seats and 343 Economy Class seats on the main deck.

Tucked within the front cabin of the upper deck, guests will experience a sense of exclusivity and intimate privacy in six Singapore Airlines Suites behind its artistically-designed sliding door.

Each Suite is furnished with a separate full-flat bed with adjustable recline and plush leather chair, enabling customers to lounge comfortably in the chair or rest in bed without the need to convert the bed from a sitting position. For couples travelling together, the beds in the first two Suites of each aisle can be converted to a double bed. When not in use, the bed can be stowed completely, creating even more personal space within each Suite.

Each seat is upholstered by world-renowned Poltrona Frau in fine leather, and is fully adjustable using an electronic control side panel which can accommodate a variety of sitting and lounging positions. The swivel capability of the chair (between 135 and 270 degrees) with recline up to 45 degrees provides added flexibility for dining and relaxation.

Passengers can enjoy a 32-inch full HD monitor that can swivel for the different viewing angles in seat and bed modes, a full-sized personal wardrobe, customised handbag stowage compartment, amenity box lined with soft leather, specially designed carpet and a feature wall with mood lighting – all exquisitely crafted to give a touch of luxury and intimacy.

Designed by Pierrejean Design Studio and manufactured by Zodiac Seats UK, the exclusivity of the Suites cabin is further accentuated by its two stylishly-furnished lavatories, one of which has a sit-down vanity counter.

The Business Class is the work of JPA Design of the UK and manufactured by JAMCO Corporation of Japan, the interior design showcases a modern yet organic colour scheme featuring a selection of soothing and classy leather and fabrics, in addition to lightweight carbon composite materials.

Measuring 25 inches in width, the Business Class seat, which has two side wings for better back support, reclines directly into a comfortable full-flat bed (78 inches). Customers may also stretch out fully in a ‘sun-deck’ position to watch movies on the 18-inch high definition touch-screen monitor. The Business Class seat is upholstered by Poltrona Frau as well.

A larger back shell on every seat creates a cocoon-like feel for more privacy while the centre divider can be fully lowered to form double beds, making the two centre seats an ideal choice for customers such as families travelling together.

A unique feature of the new Business Class seat is that it has a carbon fibre composite shell structure, as compared to conventional aircraft seats, which use metal as the primary support structure. This thinner base structure allows for better optimisation of the seat and creates more under-seat stowage space to accommodate a full-sized cabin bag and laptop bag or handbag.

Seats in the Business Class cabin are arranged in a forward-facing, four-abreast (1-2-1) configuration that offers all customers direct access to the aisle. Other features include a business panel equipped with USB ports and in-seat power, reading lights with adjustable brightness level, mood lighting, enlarged dining table designed for flexibility in dining positions, as well as stowage space for personal amenities with a thoughtful design that puts everything within easy reach.

Manufactured by ZIM Flugsitz GmbH and customised by design firm JPA Design, Premium Economy Class comes with a contemporary and stylish design. Each seat is 19.5 inches wide, with eight-inch recline and seat pitch of 38 inches. Customers will be treated to an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience with the provision of active noise-cancelling headphones and a sleek 13.3-inch full HD monitor.

Other features include a full leather finishing, calf-rest and foot-bar for every seat, individual in-seat power supply, two USB ports, personal in-seat reading light, cocktail table, and more stowage space for personal items.

Designed and built by RECARO, the Economy Class seat offers more space and greater comfort through an improved design. Leveraging on advanced technology and ergonomics, seats offer more legroom and back support, with a six-way adjustable headrest with foldable wings. The Economy Class seat also features a more contemporary fabric seat cover design.

An 11.1-inch touch-screen monitor eliminates the need for handsets and offers more convenience to customers who wish to catch the latest movies on KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system.

Other features include a patented non-intrusive reading light installed underneath the seatback screen, personal storage space for small personal items, a coat hook, in-seat power supply and ergonomically designed footrest with adjustable positions.

“The significant investment that we are making with the introduction of new cabin products demonstrates our commitment to continued investment in products and services, our long-term approach to ensure we retain our leadership position, and our confidence in the future of premium full-service air travel,” said Goh Choon Phong, chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines.

“The new cabin products are the culmination of four years of work, involving extensive customer research and close partnerships with our designers and suppliers. We are confident that the results will genuinely ‘wow’ our customers, and ensure that we continue to provide them an unparalleled travel experience.”

Find out more at A380.singaporeair.com.

For the cycling enthusiast, the finest names of bike fashion and equipment will be there, featuring their latest collection, among them Specialized, Shimano and Jaggad. Located in the heart of the Festival Village is a specially constructed Chill Zone offering striking views over the lush greenery of Siam Country Club Pattaya. In this area, visitors and cyclists can indulge in tempting treats from Dean & Deluca while witnessing the excitement and action from cyclists post their main competition rounds. There will also be live music by DJ Diva to entertain the crowds, and two presentation backdrops for selfie-lovers to capture some memorable shots.

The event will also be bursting with lots of interesting activities, live entertainment, and fitness and relaxation treatments to keep everyone entertained, including dedicated masseuse and fitness instructors at the Stretch Zone to aid cyclists who have completed their courses with simple treatments to aid and boost recovery.

Admission is free. For details, visit https://bangkokbankcyclefest.com

THE FIRST OBJECTS you encounter at the Yokohama Tram Museum are seven Yokohama municipal tram cars, each with a conspicuous ad on its front. Such ads were common when the municipal tram network was in service, and the ones in the museum include ads for the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun and Shin Sankyo drugs.

The cars have chic wood-finished interiors and are slightly larger than buses. In some cars, you can push a switch with your foot, producing a sort of “ring ring” sound. Two such bells were the signal for departure, while a single bell indicated the train would stop.

The Yokohama municipal tram system was in service for 68 years through 1972. Known as the “Chin chin train”, it was a key form of transportation for Yokohama citizens. The museum exhibits tram cars and many photos through which visitors can learn about the train’s popularity.

 A railroad diorama with municipal trams and subway trains running against a backdrop of Yokohama Station is shown at the Yokohama Tram Museum. (Photo/ The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Next to the seven tram cars, there is an area – refurbished in January – covering the history of the Yokohama municipal tram.

In 1904, the Yokohama municipal tram began operating between Kanagawa and Oebashi stations, despite opposition from rickshaw men who feared trams would take away customers.

The tram network experienced two major hardships: the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the Yokohama air raid in 1945. Each event caused massive damage, with half of the cars lost in |the earthquake and a quarter in the air raid.

The tram was reconstructed and later widened, reaching its heyday around 1960.

About 300,000 people used the tram daily then, and its network expanded throughout the city into such areas as the Kannai business district and the Isezaki downtown area. The Sakuragicho district served as the central hub.

Although the municipal tram overcame great setbacks such as the 1923 earthquake and World War II, it could not compete with automobiles and the national railway.

Along with the spread of private cars, it became impossible to operate the tram on schedule due to traffic jams. The now-defunct Japan National Railways also opened the more convenient Negishi Line, all of which led to the tram service being shut down in 1972.

A notice on a wall says, “Thank you for riding” and a photo in which a tram decorated with flowers is surrounded by members of the public and station officers saying farewell to the tram.

The history of the tram overlaps with that of Yokohama itself.

“The number of people who rode on the trams themselves will continue to fall,” says Kazuo Ito, director of the museum.

“I hope many children will visit the museum.”

In “Genesis 2.0”, his latest god-like display of sleight-of-hand, Thailand-based Canadian writer Collin Piprell has upended the biblical old and new testaments, with the son killing off the father.

Guiltless patricide, 80 pages in (unintended but necessary) is only the first of many shocks in a continuing epic that resists categorisation. But let’s call it science fiction, because we just haven’t got to the point where any of this feels quite factual – not yet, though it could be imminent.

This is the follow-up to “MOM”, the engrossing book released just this past spring with which Piprell launched the “Magic Circles” series. “Genesis 2.0”, though just released last month, was already written by then. A third yarn is on the way. One can only wonder at what’s in store next.

We have a magical imagination at work here and at times the prose feels like magic realism, yet the series’ title, Magic Circles, refers ostensibly only to protective forcefields. What’s played out here isn’t magic but real life, as experienced today but projected into the future, an extrapolation, the probable fate awaiting all that we Earthlings hold near and dear.

Piprell has reverse-engineered the future to take us back to the dawn of mankind.

The story opens, sometime after the Second War for World Peace and Freedom in Our Time, during a pleasant family meal – Son, his dad Poppy, Poppy’s wife Auntie and God-fearing Gran-Gran.

Briefly, everything seems normal. Except that the meal is “monkey and mock-bean stew, spicy enough [you] can almost forget it’s monkey”. There’s a bit of quasi-incestuous footsie going on. And they’re living in an underground bunker.

Then it’s off on the hunt for Son and Poppy, into the Boogoo, the landscape creamed in a grey “blur dust” of self-replicating nanobots. We’re 800 kilometres north of where the ESSEA Mall in Bangkok fell apart in “MOM”, long ago.

Prowling this dangerous frontier are greedy pigswarms, monkeyswarms, ratswarms and roachswarms, near-invisible dragons, and GameBoys – basically street thugs minus the street – “a loose association of culture jammers, occupiers, teapartiers, HackenCrackers, Rightsrightists, Islamisrightists and the Radical Moderates who, toward the end, became the most terrifyingly violent of those unwilling to swap their freedoms for security”.

Son ends up his family’s sole survivor and braces for his apparent role as the last human standing, but his world is changing alarmingly fast.

Soon enough, in a place called Eden, he encounters the first walking plot-links to “MOM” and the episodes begin to mesh. Here are Cisco “the Kid” Smith and his formidable girlfriend Dee Zu, both veteran test pilots back when whole virtual worlds were generated for the enjoyment of a populace living in shielded malls.

At first it feels like Cisco and Dee Zu will serve as our Adam and Eve, but the casting is a long way from settled.

The virtual worlds came out of the hive mind of MOM, the almighty Mall Operations Manager. Then the whole of creation began coming apart. Now a MOM avatar called Sky is attempting to put it back together, though Sky’s plan is a risky one, entailing her own “deisuicide”, a leap of faith from which sentient life might never rebound.

To activate the plan, Sky needs the help of Cisco, Dee Zu, their new sidekick Son, and also Brian the Evil Canadian, the chief antagonist of the earlier novel.

All have been killed in one form or another, along with Leary, Ellie and a host of amusing robotic characters, and all have been resurrected. For us today, getting our first glimpses of digital replication and alternative facts, the mirror “backups”, multiple identities, multiple simultaneous points of view – and the widening doubt about what’s “real” and what isn’t – represent one of the series’ most compelling themes.

Piprell has filled an entire second volume with more of the insightful prognostication and strange terminology that went into the first (a lengthier lexicon is now also available).

We must learn to maintain a robust CQ (connectivity quotient) and stay linked to the IndraNet, severance from which is “what a lobotomy must feel like”. We must get used to swarms of “posits”, who will remind readers in Thailand of Chinese tourists. There are godbolts, knievels, gibubbles, goshdarnit-things and nownowbits.

Particularly for modern urbanites, and especially those currently living in consumption-crazy Bangkok, “MOM” caught at the throat with its vast malls acting as the last refuges in a morally, environmentally ruined landscape. In “Genesis 2.0”, Bangkok As We Know It is computer-regenerated almost in its entirety (and the traffic is even worse).

A marvel on its own and as part of a continuing saga, “Genesis 2.0” shimmers with a remarkable range of voices as situations require, from stout oratory to quip-laden banter. Pensive, poetic passages alternate with moments of gleeful wit in the repartee (Son and Cisco, rivals in both love and survival, bond over Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”). Among many memorable lines: “The last thing to impinge on Brian’s consciousness is some tons of limestone.”

It ultimately occurs to the reader that, for all the saga’s bumps against the Judaeo-Christian Bible, what Piprell hath wrought here is closer to the Ramayana. Hindu mythology is the better medium for the extraordinarily painted characters (divinities and ordinary Joes alike), the ornately choreographed battles enacted in sweeping vistas, the full chorus of earthly emotions (birth and loss, joy and apprehension) and the relentless search for an idyllic existence in what can never be more than a process of decay and rebirth.

What transpires at the peaks of the novel owes much to the human pursuit of transcendence. In one jaw-dropping hallucinogenic scene, our actors are blocked in their quest by a vast wall, dancing gnomes, feathered and armed horsemen, a hapless flight of Black Hawk helicopters, and giant wildcats that menace and then dissolve away.

“All the world’s nanobot disassemblers have turned wizard assemblers. Minuscule humanoids … one-hundred-metre figures that stride purposefully in and out of existence … an ancient biplane lurches along on the verge of leaving the ground … Siamese-twin apes on wheels slalom between the remaining molecules.”

“Genesis 2.0” is as revolutionary as the title suggests. It is by turns calm and riotous, reassuring and deeply disturbing, compelling and prohibiting. But there is muddle in the rubble.

At close to 700 pages, it is more than twice the length of “MOM”, and its kaleidoscopic, shape-shifting complexity requires twice as much explaining. Piprell has said the book is “as long as it needs to be” and resisted his and his editors’ attempts to condense it.

And yet there is considerable repetition in the bogstorm of explication, circuitous dialogue, aggravating gaps between plot objectives being met. The inventiveness withers in the loops and stretches. Even with the main characters strutting about proudly naked (often titillatingly so), the adventure at times stutters.

This aside, oh my MOM what a dazzlingly scary fantasy this is – assuming it does turn out to be a fantasy, and not an astonishing feat of accurate precognition on the part of an author who seems far better informed about the future than the rest of us.

The second Magic Circles novel ends (after a nice inside-out joke about plot-free writing) with a promise of more thrills to come, by way of a rather poignant use of the Thai term fai kaphrip, translated for divine purposes here as “fluorescent tube on the fritz”.