Stop. Relax. And be nourished.

Just standing in front of one of the calligraphic works currently on show at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre has the effect of a mini Zen retreat, the mind setting aside the hustle and bustle of the chaotic city outside to focus on the art before the eyes.

Very simple yet very inspiring, calligraphy, along with poems, songs and music for practising mindfulness, is one of the tools Thich Nhat Hanh – Thay to his students – uses in his unique form of teaching Buddhism.

Brother Chan Phap Nguyen is in charge of the calligraphy exhibition in Bangkok.

“Thich Nhat Hanh Celebrating Life: A Celebration of Spirituality, Poetry, Music and Calligraphic Art” exhibition is being held at the BACC until February 17 by Thai Plum Village to mark the more than 50 years this respected Zen master has been teaching dharma and advocating globally for what he terms “engaged Buddhism”.

On display are 73 of his legendary calligraphic works.

“I use tea to mix with ink. So my calligraphy has the taste of tea inside. I use all kinds and sizes of Chinese and Western brushes. When I draw a circle, I follow my breath. Breathing in, I draw a half circle and breathing out I draw the other half. In my calligraphy, there is ink, tea, breathing, mindfulness and concentration. This is meditation.  This is not work. Suppose, I write ‘breathe’; I am breathing at the same time. To be alive is a miracle and when you breathe in mindfully, you touch the miracle of being alive, So everything should be mindful,” the master once told his followers.

More than 100 of the Zen master’s books, including the bestselling “Peace Is Every Step”, “The Art of Power”, “True Love”,have been translated into more than 30 languages with more than three million sold in the US alone.

Although Thay, now 93 and wheelchair-bound, is back at his home in Hue’s Tu Hieu Temple, his presence can be clearly felt in the pieces of art selected for the Bangkok exhibition.

“Thay is always with us with each calligraphy,” says Brother Chan Phap Nguyen, who is in charge of the calligraphy exhibition.

“Thailand is a Buddhist country. It is so much easier to share the teachings with Thais. We are here to share the teaching with the young generations. Life is about suffering but at the same time life is a wonder.”

Arts, in all forms, are part of life.

Young visitors look at the works at the exhibition.

“Without art or music, it is not life, especially for young generation,” adds Brother Chan Phap Nguyen.

And as with all forms of art, the calligraphic works will touch those who examine them in different ways.

Nattakrit Kritmanorot, 24, a volunteer at Thai Plum Village and a mindfulness practitioner for the last three years, says he felt a surge of energy from the calligraphies while helping to prepare the exhibition. “At the start of every year, just like most other people, I make New Year resolutions but most of them fade from memory as time passes. This time, it was different. I was struck by the “New Year, New Me” of Thay’s calligraphy. I put the note on the door to my room and it infuses me with energy to be more committed to practising.”

A visitor looks at the calligraphy on show.

Growing up as a teenager in the US, Sister “True Pearl” Boi Nghiem listened to pop music by the likes of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. “They are all about heartbreak. I wasn’t heartbroken but it seemed as though there was no way out. When I listen to Thay’s songs, they remind me to be happy in the present moment, to touch the oneness of life,” says Sister True Pearl, who was ordained in 2005 at the age of 21.

Sister “Fah Sai” Thanh Thien, 32, recalls being impressed with Thay’s Thai meditative songs long before choosing the monastic life. “I feel relaxed when listening to them. Before I was ordained, I would listen to these Thai songs while driving to work. They water the good seeds that live in all of us. We sing together.

“Be Still and Know” is one of a series of original Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphic works.

We don’t mind if we sing them well or badly; it’s a way of washing away the sickness inside. The music waters the seeds of kindness, compassion and mindfulness.”

Thai musician Dinpa Jeewan, founder of G-One Band Official and an artis who focuses on  spiritual awakening, says: “Each piece of the Zen master’s calligraphy is like a Buddha image. It exudes energy. It conveys abstract meaning in concrete form. The master draws with his mind; the brush and ink are just tools to transmit abstract spiritual meanings or puzzles.”

Cultivating inner freshness

“Breathing in I see myself as a flower; breathing out I feel fresh as a flower.

Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain; breathing out, I feel solid.

Breathing in, I see myself as still water; breathing out, I reflect things as they are.

Breathing in, I see myself as space; breathing out, I feel free.”

Fresh, Solid, Still and Free are four of Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphic works, each on a pebble. The Four Pebbles is a tool for basic meditation practice developed for children but also well loved by adults for cultivating the four wholesome qualities of meditation: fresh as a flower, solid as the mountain, calm as a still lake reflecting, free as space.

Meditative mindfulness

“Thich Nhat Hanh: A Celebration of Spirituality, Poetry, Music and Calligraphic Art” continues at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BTS: National Stadium) through February 17.

All are invited to participate in the “Day of Mindfulness – Everything is a Gift of Life” with monks from Thai Plum Village on Sunday February 10, at the Multi-function room on the first floor of the BACC.

The programme is as follows:

– 9am Gathering in front of BACC

– 9.15 Walking Meditation

– 10.15 Guided sitting meditation

– 10.30 Dharma talk

– 12 noon Mindful Lunch

– 1.30 Total Relaxation

– 2.30 Screening of the short documentary “Celebrating life with Thich Nhat Hanh”

– 3 Calligraphic meditation workshop

– 3.45 Group Sharing

– 4.30 Visit the exhibition

For registration, log on to https://goo.gl/forms/Jhub9gWQ4LMNsG0E2

Seats are limited

A wide selection of Thich Nhat Hanh’s books is available at the venue.

Each item produced for this season of love retains Jim Thompson’s identity through nature scenes and floral designs especially orchids, which are symbolic of devotion, grace, and lushness – and an image of Jim Thompson’s personal cockatoo.

The gifts are now available at all branches of Jim Thompson and online at http://www.JimThompson.com. For further information, call (02) 129 4449.

The colour of luck

Thai Airways International is offering red Mandarina Duck travel kits to Royal Silk Class passengers travelling with THAI from February 1 to 10 to Japan, Korea, Beijing, and Shanghai during Chinese New Year. The red symbolises good luck, joy, and prosperity.

For flight reservations call http://www.ThaiAirways.com or call (02) 356 1111.

Cheering on the Reds

AXA Insurance, Liverpool Football Club’s official global insurance partner, is offering anyone purchasing individual motor insurance, personal accident insurance, travel insurance, health insurance or property insurance before March 31 the chance to take part in its “Win a Trip to see Liverpool at Anfield Stadium with AXA” campaign. Four prizes, which include the Liverpool match on May 12, are up for grabs and winners will be announced on website on April 23.

Find out more at http://www.Axa.co.th.

Party time, Holland style

Billy The Kit, one of the Dutch party scene’s top artists, takes control of the decks at Insanity Nightclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11 tomorrow night until late.

Entry is Bt400 for males and Bt300 for female with one drink.

Book a table at (082) 731 8885, or email: info@clubinsanitybangkok.com.

Amazed with Avadox

Also coming soon to Insanity Nightclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11 is Avadox. A progressive, big room house DJ & producer, who’s playing some of the best-known festivals and nighclubs since 1992, including Ultra Europe, Ultra Singapore, Ultra Japan, MTV Summer Blast, Daydream Festival, Amsterdam Dance Events, Electric Love Festival, and Weekend Festival, he’ll be spinning next Wednesday from 9.

Tickets are Bt400 for male and Bt300 for female with one drink.

Book a table at (082) 731 8885, or email: info@clubinsanitybangkok.com.

Organised by the National Research Council of Thailand or NRCT, the event will highlight “the Low Speed Surface Aerator” aka “the Chaipattana Aerator” in order to commemorate the first patent registered by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and celebrate his inventions.

This year’s theme “Inventions and Innovations for the Future of Thailand” will see more than 1,300 inventions and research works on show in seven categories: Agricultural, Energy, Industrial, Medical and Public Health, Natural Resources and Environment, Education and Thai Wisdom and National Security.”

“This year, the NRCT has come together with educational institutions, government and private sectors to organise the “Thailand Inventors’ Day 2019”, which is now in its 21st year. Highlights this year include exhibitions in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, and his father, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Father of Thai Invention, plus research council awards, and international awards,” said Dr Sirirurg Songsivilai, secretary-general of the NRCT.

“The event will also feature meetings, seminar activities, a national invention contest, the Young Inventors competition and the “Innovation For Street Food” contest plus training programmes for career development and business advice services for the inventors.

Students, undergraduate students, inventors, researchers, and general public are welcome to join the event to get some new inspiration for further enhancing idea for their benefit in real life and add value to commercial used. Interested participants can find more information or register for the seminar activities, and conference at http://www.inventorday.nrct.go.th.

The event is open daily through February 6 from 9.30am to 5pm.

The direct service will operate four times per week to Fiji, with a Boeing 737 aircraft offering a checked-baggage allowance, inflight entertainment, food and drinks and the option to upgrade to Business class.

The Sydney-Nadi flight time is 4.30pm and the Nadi-Sydney time 8pm Tuesday through Sunday.

On February 1, Qantas will also add its code to Jetstar’s flights between Sydney and Nadi, while customers travelling on the code-share service will enjoy additional benefits, including the opportunity for Qantas Frequent Flyers to earn points and status credits and a complimentary meal.

 “Fiji continues to be an incredibly popular holiday destination for families, couples and adventure and luxury travellers, with a number of new luxury properties having opened up on the islands in recent years,” says chief executive Alison Webster.

“We have built flexibility into our network to respond to growing demand where we see it. In this case, it’s a return to Fiji after almost 20 years, a short four-hour hop from Sydney, helping extend the summer for Australians year-round.

“The combination of Qantas and Jetstar also means we can provide more options to a destination which caters to different budgets and tastes, with good interstate connections for passengers travelling from other parts of Australia.”

Qantas will also continue to code-share on Fiji Airways’ services to Nadi. With Fiji Airways now integrated as a one-world-connect partner, customers will benefit from more flight options and the opportunity to earn and redeem Qantas Points and Status Credits on Fiji Airways’ services between the two countries.

Eligible Qantas Frequent Flyers will also have access to priority checkin desks, priority boarding and lounge access when flying on Qantas codeshare flights operated by Fiji Airways.

Find out more at http://www.Qantas.com.

The “From You to You” series reminds you of the importance of following your heart with an Arrow of Love dangling on a fine 18k gold-plated sterling silver chain, perfect for celebrating self-love. Surprise your best gal pals with the “For Your Girl Squad” stackable two-tone rings where the dangling letters come together to spell ‘Loved’. “For Your Best Friend”, meanwhile, features a sparkling arrow ring, earrings and necklace symbolising your friendship and love.

Lips for a new year

Fortune favours the bold in Nar’s limited edition Lunar New Year Collection. Adorned in audacious red packaging, the exclusive series features three new shades of Powermatte Lip Pigment and a chic, new Cushion Compact Case. The lipstick has full coverage pigment with one swipe application, with the smooth liquid gliding on with ease to give fully saturated, opaque coverage, true matte finish and long lasting colour. Three new limited-edition shades from nude to bold are available and come in special luxurious packaging.

A little uplift

Lingerie brand Triumph welcomes the spring-summer with a new collection that offers lightness and confidence in designs that support women’s curves. This season’s highlight is the Everyday Bra from the T-Shirt bra series. A must have item for every woman’s wardrobe and perfect for every occasion, Everyday Bra comes with smooth fabric and modern seamless design that offer great comfort yet allows greater flexibility in movement. Many variations are available including wired and non-wired and no push-up and push-up with light and comfortable memory foam.

Comfy feet for summer

Teaming up with Paris-based photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti for the spring-summer campaign, Camper creative director Romain Kremer presents a capsule collection inspired by the cosy and complex textures of pullover garments. Playing with the idea of tactility, hybrid styles are reimagined with a fresh approach. Pix, a breakout unisex style, gets wrapped in textured sock-like uppers in black or white and is available as both a zip boot and slip-on shoe while Oruga Up, a new platform sandal, features a semi-open, high-top construction in all-black textile with a contrasting orange zip.

We all know that our skin acts as a barrier to help protect against external harmful substances and retain moisture. But repetitive exposure to high level concentrations of PM 2.5 may have negative effects on the skin. In recent studies done in China and South Korea, researchers found a direct correlation between outdoor particulate matter concentration and presence of symptoms in patients with chronic eczema. The results indicate that PM 2.5 is not only an aggravating factor for allergic skin conditions but also another extrinsic factor promoting skin ageing. The studies conclude that fine particles with a diameter less than 2.5 microns – PM 2.5 – might impair the skin barrier functions causing damage and reactions including immune dysregulation, activation of melanocytes and collagen breakdown.

The visible results of this damage include skin irritation, itchy rashes, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.

Though the fine particles can ruin our skin, it should be noted that a person has to be exposed to them for a prolonged period of time – for more than 10 months. . My advice is to try to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors as much as possible. If you are unable to do so, you should protect yourself with a mask. It is also important to shower soon after going outdoors. You should thoroughly clean your facial skin daily to remove the dust and dirt. Use a gentle cleanser and avoid using harsh soap, which can further damage the skin barrier. Following this, you should apply moisturiser to improve its barrier function. Put simply, you can keep the effect of pollution at bay by keeping the skin well moisturised in order to maintain an intact and functional skin barrier. Make sure that you use a product suitable for your skin types.

Drinking plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day, will help rid the body and skin of toxins and maintain skin hydration as well. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants especially vitamin C and E can increase the body’s antioxidant defences and anti -inflammatory properties. That means consuming lots of brightly coloured fruits and vegetable such as broccoli, yellow peppers, tomatoes, guavas, oranges and strawberries, which are full of vitamin C. Nuts, seeds and legumes are good sources of vitamin E. I also suggest the general rule of thumb like getting enough sleep, sticking with exercise routines and applying sunscreen before going outdoors.

You may not be able to do anything about the air you breathe, but at least do something about your skin!

THANISORN THAMLIKITKUL MD is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified in dermatological laser surgery. Send your questions for her to info@romrawin.com.

It starts on March 2 at Ly Thai To Park in Hanoi.

There are two categories – KM (kilometre) and KG (kilogram).

In the first, you have the L Run 10.7km, M Run 6.7km and S Run 2.3km that all pass iconic attractions around the 1,000-year-old city, such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Parliament House.

The man and woman finishing first in each category win two seats on AirAsia flights to and from Bangkok.

The KG category is more about taking your time and enjoying some great food.

Waiting to be sampled along the route are pho ga, banh cuon nong, bun cha dac kim and ca phe trung (egg coffee).

There’s also be a Fancy Costume Contest for the runners.

Again, both the male and female winners fly free to Bangkok with AirAsia.

Find out more on Facebook, Line, Twitter @Kilorun, and IG Kilorun2019.

Then on March 29 comes the Elephant Boat Race and River Festival next to the Anantara Riverside Bangkok – “elephanttheme dragon boats” will be racing, not elephants. People can watch from the banks of the Chao Phraya as international teams participate in the ageold cultural tradition.

Specially commissioned elephant heads will decorate the boats and Thailand’s Navy Seals will be competing. Enlivening the scene further will be an artistic installation from the Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation.

Tapping into its conservationist expertise, the hotel is leading the way in highimpact fundraising for National Elephant Day, aiming to raise significant charitable donations while generating awareness to benefit the future of the Asian elephant.

On March 13, it hosts the Mountain Fete at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation Camp on a ridge in northern Thailand overlooking the border with Myanmar and Laos.

The foundation will welcome schools, businesses and visitors interested in interacting with the elephants in their natural environment and learning about the work of the foundation, which to date has rescued more than 60 exworking elephants from Thailand’s city streets.

The familyfriendly fete will feature such activities as Walking with Giants, an Elephant Buffet and an arts and crafts market.

Tickets for the Bangkok event – which will also include a digital drydock rowing tournament open to all, an Old Siamtheme Ladies Day with prizes up for grabs, champagne tents, beer gardens and much family fun to come – cost Bt200 per day (Bt3,000 for VIP admission, Bt2,500 in advance, fee for children under 12). Go to http://www.Eventpop.me or http://www.BangkokRiverFestival.com.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation.

 Tran Huu Hoa was scared, desperate and on the verge of suicide after his leprosy diagnosis in 1958, fearing he’ d never work or marry in an age when lepers were completely shunned from Vietnamese society.

He could not imagine he would find new life at the leprosy hospice where he has been living for 61 years, a walled off compound in northern Thai Binh province where he met his wife, worked as a union boss and took in needy children.

“There were about 2,000 people here then, mostly young people. It was fun because we started a teen union,” says the 80-year-old, sitting on his bed with his wife Teo of 54 years.

Today there are only 190 patients at the hospital, all cured but living with disabilities caused by leprosy.

Many walk with prosthetic legs. Others like Hoa have lost fingers. Some are so severely disabled they spend the day bent over in bed, covered with thick blankets to keep the cold at bay.

Founded in 1900, Van Mon is the oldest leprosy hospital in northern Vietnam.

At its peak it treated 4,000 patients a year – a number that has dwindled as leprosy cases have dropped across Vietnam thanks to improved healthcare, hygiene and greater awareness of the disease.

World Leprosy Day fell on Sunday.

There were 248 people being treated for leprosy in 2017 in Vietnam, down by more than half from a decade earlier, according to data from the World Health Organisation.

But as numbers have decreased so have the live-in patients at the Van Mon centre.

Meandering days are punctuated with a morning and midday meal. Some pass the time worshipping at the on-site |chapel or pagoda, while most watch TV or listen to the radio during the day when they are not sleeping.

“I have no one to count on, I’ m so lonely, so I just follow God. When I die I will follow God then too,” says Pham Van Bac, 83, who has been at the centre since 1960.

His daughter no longer visits and his grandchildren come only once a year, so he has little to look forward to most days, he says.

But many like Bac chose to stay, fearing they will be a burden on their families, or lose the care and small stipend provided at the government-run hospital.

Some, like Hoa, have found companions in the centre.

“It’ s a source of encouragement and motivation and they can have a happier and better life,” says Nguyen Thi Thai, deputy director of the hospital where both her parents were once treated for leprosy.

And even though stigma against leprosy sufferers has largely faded outside the walls of the hospice, many prefer to remain at Van Mon.

Hoa says: “This is my second home, I will live here until my death.”

Siam Paragon plays host to the Jining Acrobatic Troupe from Shandong, China, winners of a gold medal at the sixth National Golden Lion Competition – the largest acrobatic competition in China. Their show is inspired by a combination of Shandong culture and climbing acrobatic skills based on strength, harmony and sophistication.

From February 1 to 5 at 6pm, the troupe will present an auspicious lion dance with as many as 63 lions performing (number of lions is based on the year of the Buddhist era plus one indicating progression) and divided into 10 lucky colours representing all five elements namely; water (blue, navy blue, black), wood (green), fire (red, pink, purple) earth (orange) and gold (golden-yellow, silver-white).

A 50-metre long LED dragon performance will show off unity, strength and the acrobatic skills of more than 300 performers. It is believe that if the Chinese auspicious animals of lion and dragon attended the celebration at a festival, they will create supernatural power, prosperity and protection for that place as well as good fortune, prosperity, wealth and happiness for the audience.

Siam Center, meanwhile, invites customers to enjoy a photo shoot in contemporary Chinese style costumes with the modern Chinese style three-dimensional sets that have been specially designed for this event by the leading Thai designers, Painkiller and Wonder Anatomie. Customers will receive their free 4×6 inches printed colour images as well as a souvenir from Canon by presenting receipts with a minimum spending of Bt1,500 from either one of the three malls. The event will be held at the Atrium on the first floor from February 1 to 5, from 2 to 8pm.

Siam Discovery will also organise an exhibition of nine lucky pig sculptures in different postures, reflecting this auspicious occasion. The pigs represent happiness, love, fortune, fulfilment, good luck, prosperity, longevity, success and wealth. The sculptures are made using handmade paper mache techniques and beautifully painted with creative designs. They are from 1.50 to 2.20 metres tall in height and surrounded by balloons,

Keep updated at Facebook.com/onesiamofficial or call (02) 610 8000.