On Monday night, the world says farewell to what can only be described as an eventful 2018 and starts the countdown to what we all hope will be a better year.

So take time out with your loved ones and experience magical moments at the many colourful celebrations being held both in Thailand and neighbouring countries.

Here are some places to have fun welcoming the Year of Pig.

Iconsiam

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) joins up with Iconsiam and communities living by the river for the “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2019”, featuring a stunning show of fireworks to usher in the New Year.

Taking place at the new shopping mall on the theme “The River of Prosperity”, the event is a tribute to the Chao Phraya River, regarded as national iconic landmark and one of the world’s celebrated destinations. More than 130,000 visitors are expected to join the festivities.

Iconsiam’s River Park will serve as the main event space and business operators, hotels and owners of historic properties in the area have also collaborated to organise a wide range of activities. Visitors will be enthralled by enter?tainment, live music and that magnificent firework display, which will be divided into five different themes each lasting five minutes.

Five barges will be stationed at different spots along the river to shoot the fireworks that will span 1,400 metres, making the show the largest firework display to be performed across the river. Prime locations for watching include the Peninsula, Millennium Hilton, Shangri-La Hotel, Mandarin Oriental and Royal Orchid Sheraton hotels as well as Sathorn Bridge, His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Park, Sathorn Pier, Marine Police Station 2, Khlong San Pier, a parking space near Sampeng, the Communication Authority of Thailand office, Bang Rak branch, the Suwan Pier, the SCB and 19th-century Chinese mansion Lhong 1919.

Also not to be missed is the masked dance khon performance of the “Phra Rama Krong Mueng” episode, which celebrates Phra Rama’s return to Ayodhaya. Celebrities booked to join the event include Ton Tanasit, Aim Sathida, Boat Siriroj from True Academy Fantasia, Ice Siphoom The Voice, Hunz The Star, Gel Sopitcha, Kangsom, Rit, Gam Witchayanee, Kan Naphat, Tong Tong, Bright, Zern and Frank from GMM Grammy.

For details, visit http://www.Tat.or.th

One Siam 

OneSiam – the collective name for Bangkok shopping malls Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery – is aglow with radiant lights and attractive art installations until January 6.

Singers Popetorn Soonthornyanakij, Jetrin Wattanasin and Burin Boonvisut will be at Parc Paragon on December 31 to lead the New Year countdown.

Inspired by the Northern Lights, the art installations across OneSiam assume marvellous crystalline shapes and glitter like an Arctic glacier, with Santa’s elves along for the ride.

Tomorrow and Monday, perform?ers from Europe will be entertaining shoppers. Theatre Tol from Belgium combines popular seasonal tales with bicycle stunts. The Romantic Carillion from Italy works magic on the piano as ballerinas dance. And Teatro Pavana from the Netherlands, its members clad in red silk, will pres?ent “Danzanti”, elegant yet rapid dance moves to upbeat music.

Each of the three malls has a Christmas tree that suits its charac?ter. At Siam Paragon is a 15-metre-tall Crystal Tree radiating colourful light to illuminate the Crystal Walk out front, with its own tunnel of lights.

The tree at Siam Center is a con?struction of triangular prisms form?ing the shape of a pyramid. It was inspired by the kinetic, futuristic installations of Pantone, whose works are currently on display at the mall. There’s also an Elf Forest and Elf Village. Siam Discovery has the Circular Living Recycled Christmas Tree to promote environmental con?scientiousness. It’s made of reused materials, including thousands of CD cases, and stands 10 metres high. Visitors are welcome to decorate it with their own recyclable materials.

Learn more at http://www.OneSiam.com.

Central World

Central Pattana and Advanced Info Service (AIS) are welcoming the Year of Pig with the Thailand & AIS Bangkok Countdown 2019 that runs from 6.30pm to 12.30am at Central World.

True to its theme “Eclipse of Time”, visitors will get a 360-degree enter?tainment experience, featuring a light-and-sound extravaganza along with spectacular fireworks that will be broadcast live on AIS channels and on the panOramix, the world’s largest digital interactive screen.

More than 200 popular artists and DJs from all over Asia will take it in turns to rock the town. The line-up includes Da Endorphine, J Jetrin and his son Jao-Nai, Joey Boy, Potato, 25 Hours, SB Five, BNK48, James Jirayu, Taew Natapohn, Peck Palitchoke, Bella Ranee, Toey Jarinpohn, and Put Puttichai.

In southern Thailand, Central Phuket is organising the International Countdown 2019 with a list of renowned international EDM DJs and popular Thai artists taking the stage.

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

Ratchaprasong 

Entrepreneurs around Ratchaprasong district have joined forces to host the Ratchaprasong Lighting & Countdown 2019 that boasts amazing lights, a truly festive mood and Eat-Pray-Stay-Shop activ?ities.

Many of the high-rises are adorned with striking lighting effects to cre?ate colourful festive vibes in down?town Bangkok. Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard presents the “Beautiful Bangkok 2019 light-and-sound projection show on the elegant 60-storey building and the Symphony of Happiness event high?lights a musical performance by Rudklao Amratisha and a grand cho?rus, whose powerful voices will move both hearts and minds.

Amarin Plaza teams up with Rabbit Card and Rabbit Line Pay to present amazing light decorations together with impressive light-and-sound performances. There’s also the Amarin Villa de Rabbit at Ratchaprasong with gleeful activities and hand out gifts.

Designed on the Gaysorn Christmas Courtyard theme, Gaysorn Centre sets up the Gaysorn Cocoon Dropoff zone on the first floor to ensure visitors enjoy shopping, eat?ing and taking photos, while a giant Christmas tree and decorations light up the venue and lift the spirits.

Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel organises the 11th charity Christmas tree decoration contest with proceeds from the event going to Friends in Need (of Pa) Volunteers Foundation and the Thai Red Cross.

King Power

The newly opened Mahanakhon SkyWalk –Thailand’s highest 360-degree observation deck – at King Power Mahanakhon Building is a new venue to countdown to the New Year.

The 74th floor is home to indoor observation desk, which is hosting a Sunset package from 4 to 7.30pm at Bt1,250 per person including a soft drink, DJ and live entertainment.

The Countdown package from 9 to 1am invites guests to countdown to 2019 with DJ spinning, live band, games and entertainment show. The price is Bt2,800 per person including a free flow soft drinks and one glass of Prosecco to be enjoyed with canapes and oysters.

Photo/ EPA-EFE

The building’s outdoor observation deck on the 78th floor also offers s Sunset package for Bt4,000 per person with live music and DJ entertainment. The ticket includes two glasses of champagne and canapes.

The Countdown package is set at Bt12,000 per person and guests will countdown to 2019 with glow in the dark tables, a Swan Lake ballet show on the Glass Tray, lighting show, live band, DJ entertainment and a balloon releasing celebration at midnight. The package includes two glasses of champagne, an oyster bar and canapes.

Book at http://www.KingPowerMahanakhon.co.th or call (02) 677-8721 extension 4045.

Pattaya

Pattaya and Mono 29 will turn Laem Bali Hai into a fun venue for the two-day Pattaya Countdown 2019: Universe of Entertainment event that starts from 5pm.

Tomorrow night, visitors will enjoy a free concert by Room 39, Ben Chalathit, Stamp Aphiwat, Singto Namchok, Rose Sirinthip, Lamun Band and Tao Somchai.

On Monday, the celebration kicks off with an exciting boxing match from the Mono 29 Top King World Series 2019 and follows up with a con?cert by Eh Jirakorn, Nakarin “Pang” Kingsak, Retrospect, Tony Phee and Blue Gents, while the sky will be illu?minated at midnight with a 15-minute firework display.

Find out more by calling the Pattaya Contact Centre at 1337.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Tourism Board is planning a spectacular “pyromusical” for the New Year countdown, light?ing up the sky above Victoria Harbour.

The 10-minute show of pyrotech?nics set to stirring music will begin just as the clock strikes midnight and the landmark Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will display the numerals “2019” and New Year blessings in various lan?guages on its facade. The celebration of light and music culminates as the “Celestial Kaleidoscope” dazzles Hong Kong with brilliant flashes of colour and morphing patterns, end?ing with 45 different patterns of fire?works in one minute. It’s the work of an Italian specialist, all choreo?graphed in synchrony with the festive soundtrack, highlighted by tradi?tional Chinese music. From 11pm, spectators can also make wish on the pyrotechnic shooting stars launched from the rooftops of high-rise build?ings around the harbour.

Find out more at http://www.DiscoverHongkong.com/countdown

Singapore

Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay will hold a countdown celebration on the theme “Bay of Hopes and Dreams” including light projections, a concert, food truck festival, and bazaar. And at midnight, Avex Group will light up the sky with multi-sensory fireworks and the light show Star Island Singapore Countdown Edition, fea?turing pyrotechnics and lasers, 3D surround sounds, and exciting per?formances. The Star Island show will be held at The Float @ Marina Bay where entry tickets can be purchased.

And until next month, Orchard Road remains illuminated with Disney’ characters on the theme “Disney Magical Moments” inviting visitors to snap a few shots with Elsa and Anna from “Frozen”, Mickey Mouse & Friends, Pixar’s Toy Story, Ariel and Cinderella.

Learn more at http://www.Stb.gov.sg or http://www.VisitSingapore.com.

Taiwan

Christmasland is back and boasts the biggest 3D projection mapping light shows until January 1.

Designed on the theme of Space and Planets, New Taipei City sees 45 high-end projectors being used to project 3D mapping light shows to a total area of about the size of 17.6 bas?ketball courts, including the Christmas trees.

Some 900 tubes of RGB pixel-con?trolled LEDs, each of which can deliv?er 256 colours, are installed at the cloister on the second floor of the New Taipei City Hall. Provided by Germany’s Madrix, the advanced pixel-controlled lighting system is utilised to create a gigantic circular screen that runs from the New Taipei City Hall to the Christmas tree.

The master of best sound effects shortlisted by the Golden Horse Awards is responsible for making soundtracks for the main light shows. This year’s decorations come in a rose-golden colour to create a roman?tic atmosphere and four different colours are used in the four light zones, namely the romantic Rose Golden Star Overpass, the dream-like Pink Star Overpass, the Galaxy Star Overpass in cold-white, and the Blue Light Star Overpass.

New York artist Jen Lewin is show?casing her interactive light-and-shadow art installation at The Pool. The vivid and delicate changes of light and shadow projected from more than 40,000 light bulbs in 360 degrees go up and down with the exciting music, turning the flat 3D light sculpture into stereoscopic 3D, which surrounds the audience and subverts the imagination.

Also available is the Fantasy Planet, a giant ball-like artwork made with more than 100,000 LED lights that performs a brilliant light show from 5.30 to 10pm.

Find out more at https://Christmasland.ntpc.gov.tw/en/.

 Thai consumers are increasingly communicating through online channels, especially the Line application, which now has more than 42 million Thai users. Johnson & Johnson has thus expanded its communication channel to customers across the country who are regularly using smartphones and Line so that they can keep up with new promotions and contact the brand directly. This can help the brand give out product information as well as special promotions.

Initial features that the brand will offer through the Line Official Account is a welcome new wearer program. The welcome offers include Bt400 eVoucher discount on their first purchase with a minimum of 2 boxes, follow through with a second eVoucher valued Bt500 for their next purchase with a minimum at 4 boxes of Johnson & Johnson’s premium contact lenses category.

Both eVouchers can be redeemed at 120 optical stores certified as “Acuvue Experience Center”, located in Bangkok and its vicinity, at upcountry shops in Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

In addition, through the Acuvue Line Official Account, customers can communicate and seek advice from Johnson & Johnson Eye Care Professionals about basic eye health care as well as get recommendations on choosing the right contact lenses and how to properly take care of the lenses through a personal chat function. Another highlight feature is the “Acuvue Experience Centre” list for consumers to receive eye care services including primary eye examination, contact lens recommendation, and free contact lens trial before purchasing at the certified optical stores.

The online store, which can be found at https://th.sennheiser.com features Sennheiser’s premium quality, German-engineered headphones, which range in price from less than Bt1,000 for an entry level set of headphones designed for smartphone use to more than Bt70,000 for a set of luxury, open back headphones created for true audiophiles.

The Sennheiser store also features special exclusive promotions and new products, including the new Momentum True Wireless earphones, launched last month in Thailand.

Martin Low, managing director at Sennheiser Electronic Asia, said the Sennheiser official online store was launched following several years of steady sales growth in Thailand.

“Sennheiser’s new online store was created to provide Thai shoppers with a convenient and cost-effective way to purchase our products, he told reporters. “We know that Thai people are tech savvy, very comfortable with e-commerce and we also see that Thais love quality products. Everything we do is focused on bringing convenience and quality to our customers. Launching this online store was a natural progression for our business in Thailand.”

Sennheiser provides a wide range of head phones for gaming, sports, travel, home use – as well as professional grade headphones for studio use and DJs.

“Customers will receive their products within one or two days after placing the order from most areas nationwide,” Low added, noting that the new online store would help to advance distribution on a nationwide level. Sennheiser is also exploring options to open a flagship store in Bangkok in 2019.

The year of the dog will soon leave us, and since we still haven’t heard any good news about our general election, let’s stay on that tone and begin with a piece of sad news.

After more than a decade of being home to cutting-edge dance and theatre performances of many different styles and with various contents, in addition to workshops and other events not just for the collective of artists who run it, Democrazy Theatre Studio in Soi Saphan Khu off Rama IV Road, has closed its doors. The collective with the same name remains intact though and is operating at full force. In one piece of good news, Democrazy’s latest production “The Retreat”, which premiered at and was co-produced by Bangkok Art and Culture Centre’s (BACC) 7th Performative Art Festival (PAF), has been invited to Tokyo Performing Arts Meeting (TPAM) in Yokohama, Asia’s largest gathering of international producers and presenters, next February.

“Gala” by Jerome Bel

I’m not the only theatre-goer who will also miss eating at the unique Beijing-style Chinese restaurant near Democrazy. I’m also not the only one whose memory of B-Floor Theatre’s “Sawan Arcade”, a solo performance by Ornanong Thaisriwong last January is still fresh.

“The Retreat” by Democrazy Theatre

The experience of entering the studio space in total darkness and not knowing what we’re stepping on is unforgettable – and it’s not a mere theatrical gimmick. It also shows how directors and designers who’ve been using this small studio make sure that they’re having fun with it and using it in the best way to fit their works. B-Floor has submitted this work for presentation at the Theatertreffen’s Stuckemarkt in Berlin next May, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed at press time.

“God of Carnage” by New Theatre Society

It’s noteworthy that after the closing of B-Floor Room at the Pridi Banomyong Institute in late 2017, Thailand’s premier physical theatre collective has been homeless. However, their work-in-progress presentation of “Trance” at the Goethe-Institut auditorium and the revival of “Manoland”, the curtain raiser of Bangkok Theatre Festival (BTF) 2018 at BACC, which is soon to be seen in Tokyo, prove that they’re still a major force and that they can adjust their performance to fit different spaces. The fact that this year Teerawat Mulvilai joined his coartistic director as a Silpathorn artist is further evidence. This is notwithstanding the fact that this year we’ve seen B-Floor members on screen and in other companies’ works more frequently.

Another performance space that has closed after only a year of operation is Syrup the Space near the New Phetchaburi Road end of Soi Thonglor. And this proves that not all corners of this commercially bustling area is prime location, especially when its parking lot makes you feel like you’re in a horror movie at the end of the evening performance.

“Make Love Not War” by Circle Theatre

Meanwhile at the other end of the same soi, Thong Lor Art Space (TLAS), while less prolific this year and rumoured to have an uncertain future, has delighted audiences with the revival of veteran playwright Daraka Wongsiri’s “Crimson Rose”, featuring many commendable performances by female actors, as well as New Theatre Society’s deft tradaptation of Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage”, with a to-die-for acting foursome. In November, the audience also enjoyed Cocoism’s “Still Air”, whose trip here was made possible with the support from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture (MOC) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (TECOT). To keep a good balance in cultural exchange, a month before TLAS’s mixed media performance “Bloom/Wilt/Beauty”, Silpathorn artist and playwright Nikorn Saetang’s collaboration with Japanese florist Takashi Okito seen here in March, was at the TuaTiuTiann International Festival of Arts in the Taiwan capital. With Taiwan’s southbound policy, we can expect this twoway traffic in cultural exchanges for years to come.

Protreptic by Despina Zacharopoulou – MAI’s “A Possible Island”

Early in the year, Chang Theatre, in Thung Khru district of Thon Buri, announced a year-long programme by the Pichet Klunchun Dance Company but unfortunately that was derailed by a serious injury suffered by a member of the troupe. Otherwise, the theatre has offered several good opportunities to see not only works from the repertoire like “Pichet Klunchun and Myself” and “Black and White”, before their new work next year, but also new work like Jerome Bel’s “Gala” which questions both the meaning and purpose of dance and who can dance by working with a unique ensemble of performers and non-performers. The theatre received substantial support from the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Arts and Culture (OCAC) for some productions but not others. The free-admission shows made it quite confusing for the audience to decide which show they should watch and many are wondering why contemporary performing arts works that receive government support cannot charge for tickets. Pichet himself was constantly prolific; working with FrenchLao choreographer Ole Kamchanla in “Negotiation” in France, and later on another new work at Festival/Tokyo. Thanks to Taiwan’s MOC and TECOT, his collaboration with Taiwanese artist Chen Wu Kang on an intercultural dance dialogue titled “Behalf” can be seen next year not only in Taiwan and Thailand, but also in France and Belgium.

“Primo” by Alfredo Zinola and Felipe Gonzalez

The trend of staging performance in art galleries has gathered steam over the last year. In addition to Yelo House, near BACC, and Buffalo Bridge Gallery, near the Saphan Khwai intersection, a few others have joined the cause, although some are so far away from the main road or a BTS/MRT station that they turned off theatre-goers. And with this trend, there’s a small yet noteworthy attempt to bridge the gap between visual and performing arts, as new collective of drama graduates Circle Theatre’s “Make Love, Not War” was a small exhibition by day and an oneact play by night at BACC.

While the closing of the three-screen complex Lido was sad news for film lovers, word is that it’s being renovated as a small cultural centre, with a movie theatre, a concert hall and a blackbox theatre. That sounds like a silver lining for theatre makers, except some sceptics are already voicing concern that the last one may not bring as much income as the other two, especially in such a prime location where the landlord focuses on maximising profits.

As many have predicted, it’s relatively quiet in the large playhouses at the moment and the only notable new musical is Dreambox’s “Son” at M Theatre.

“Son”, a new musical by Dreambox

In fact, the infrastructure problem of contemporary Thai performing arts has been a major issue for years and perhaps it’s time for OCAC to step in and effectively solve this, the same way their foreign counterparts have been doing. Let’s hope that the new theatre complex behind Thailand Cultural Centre will be an answer and let’s not forget that artists also need rehearsal studios to create their works not just stages to perform on.

In terms of festivals, the second edition of the biannual Bangkok’s International Children’s Theatre Festival (BICTfest), by Arts on Location and Democrazy, was joyful, and not just for kids. With strong support from the French Embassy, Goethe Institut, Japan Foundation and BACC, audiences watched performances, while practitioners attended workshops and seminars, from many countries. This is yet more proof that when cultural organisations join forces, instead of curating their own festivals like our MOC, the impact is stronger.

“Pratthana” by Chelfitsch Theatre

In a breakup of sorts in the making, last year BTF and Bangkok’s International Performing Arts Meeting (BIPAM) were organised by the same team. That wasn’t the case this year, although the latter, drawing more regional producers in 2018, was scheduled in the former’s final week. Next year, BIPAM will precede BTF, making sure that international producers can stay on to watch more performances and network with more colleagues.

A major surprise was “A Possible Island?” consisting of eight eight-hour durational performances by the Marina Abramovic Institute (MAI), as part of the inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) at BACC, which saw audience numbers break records for both MAI and BACC, and even sparked a rumour that the Serbian master herself will return to perform here. It’s evident that Thai arts audiences are more open-minded than many think and that, like in many countries, galleries and museums are no longer exclusively for visual arts, and that interdisciplinary collaboration is not simply a trend, but a way forward.

“Manoland” by B-Floor Theatre

There have been more significant international collaborations than before, thanks to support from, for example, the Wa project of Japan Foundation’s Asia Centre and Saison Foundation. The year’s most exciting stage work was clearly “Pratthana—A Portrait of Possession”, internationally acclaimed Japanese playwright and director Toshiki Okada’s stage adaptation of Silpathorn writer and SEA Write laureate Uthis Haemamool’s 2017 novel “Rang Khong Pratthana” (“Silhouette of Desire”). The play, with a Thai cast and a Japanese crew, premiered at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts in August and was staged at Centre Pompidou as part of Festival d’automne a Paris. It will be in Tokyo next year.

Last but never least, our thanks go to all the artists whose limitless creativity and experimental spirit keep our stages alive throughout most of the year. We will continue to support your work and let’s work together, hopefully with government support, to not only develop the infrastructure for performing arts but also audiences.

An essential accessory for all watch lovers, Swiss Kubik’s watch winders are now available on the Thai market.

Brought to Thailand by TKI Group, the watch winders are a natฌural complement to your watch, guaranteeing its durability by ensuring that its mechanisms are never interrupted.

The Group, which also repreฌsents Patek Philippe, Montegrappa pens and Scatola del Tempo watch winders in Thailand, hosted the opening of Swiss Kubik’s flagship store at Siam Paragon. Eric Caudrelier Benac, managing partner of SwissKubik SA and coowner of Elix Holdings that owns both SwissKubik and Scatola Del Tempo, flew to Bangkok for the special event.

He personally introduced the high technology of each watch winder, a perfect 10centimetre cube integrated with ultrasophisฌticated technology as well as the stylish design of the Masterbox range.

“Thanks to a decade of watchฌmaking passion, our 100percent Swissmade watch winders are designed and manufactured by hand with the greatest care to showcase your watches and proฌtect their movement,” he told guests at the event. “They are a natural complement to your watch, guarฌanteeing its durability by ensuring that its mechanisms are never interrupted. Indeed, to ensure preฌcision and prolong its life, an autoฌmatic watch must always be in motion. Customisable to meet your needs, our watch winders are decฌorated in an innovative or classic way, always using the finest mateฌrials. With elegance and moderniฌty, they match your watch dependฌing on its shape, colour or strap material. Decorative objects in their own right, they allow you to see your watch working. They are highprecision objects that provide your watch with the care it deserves when you place it in your safe.”

Constantly improving products by collaborating with the most experienced Swiss artisans and using the best materials, Swiss Kubik is now offering the sixth genฌeration of mechanisms with techฌnical characteristics that are unique in terms of their reliability and performance. The watch winders make 1,900 revolutions per day – 950 in each direction. This frequency corresponds to the majority of automatic watches on the market. The rate can also be customised to guarantee that rewinding is perfectly adapted to each watch.

Thanks to the high performance of Swissmade mechanisms, the watch winders benefit from a threeyear international guaranฌtee.

Two simple 1.5 volt alkaline batฌteries are enough to ensure their operation. The Masterbox range can also be powered by the mains.

Available in two sizes: normal and small, the watch holders are held in place by a locking system.

“Each watch winder is assemฌbled by hand, and all our suppliers are located no further than 50 km from our factory.

It is of great importance to us that our providers are motivated by the love of a job well done and share with us the same rigour. Each of them knows that it is essential to take good care of a watch and to provide it with these formidable tools that ensure durability of our watch winders,” Caudrelier said.