In the heart of the village of Alsemberg, in the Dutch-speaking Flemish Brabant region, south of Brussels, the PastaCafe is one of those that has best kept its 1920s and 1930s decor.

The bar and dark woodwork are vintage, as are the leather headrests that remain on the wooden benches.

And cracks in the multicoloured floor tiles, which date from the dawn of the last century, show how many drinkers have trod there.

“They even had a horse in here once,” says manager Ilse Rillaert, showing a picture from the 1970s or 80s as proof.

The “charming, authentic” bar is the opposite of the modern “bling” drinking haunt, says the manager, who is in her thirties.

“There is a lot of warmth, people who come to eat here feel at home with an interior like this.”

‘Only a handful’

Rillaert, who took over from her brother in 2013, says that the cafe, known to older locals by its old name De Hoorn, has served as the backdrop for an English-language costume drama by French director Francois Ozon, the 2007 film “Angel”.

It was also used by a Belgian Dutch-language pop group called Clouseau in the 1990s after they became locals because they lived nearby.

With a red-brick facade, typical of this part of Belgium and northern France, it is one of three cafes that the Flemish regional government said in August it planned to add to a selection of listed sites because of its “exceptional” interiors.

Belgium, whose thousands of beers have since 2017 boasted UNESCO World Heritage status, has hundreds of such old cafes or so-called estaminets.

“But if you want a completely intact interior, typical of the bourgeois cafes from the first half of the 20th century, there are only a handful,” says Joeri Mertens, a real estate heritage researcher for the Flemish region.

Seven of them have already been listed in the region and the three others nominated in August, including the PastaCafe, are set to be added next year after a routine public inquiry by local authorities.

The goal is to show future generations this furniture, stucco ceilings and vintage mirrors, even if it imposes some constraints on the bar owners themselves.

“They will have to seek our approval for any developments,” said Mertens, “but on the other hand, we have a budget that they can access for renovations.”

‘Hard to find’

Ilse Rillaert from the PastaCafe welcomed the scheme.

“When I quit, my successor won’t be able to ruin this place. It’s great to know it will stay like this,” she said.

Belgium’s French-speaking regions are also preserving their vintage bars.

In Brussels and Wallonia, they have been doing so since the 1980s, particularly for those in the Art Nouveau style of the famed Belgian architect Victor Horta, but there are still not many.

The Brussels cafe, A La Mort Subite (Sudden Death), which opened in 1910, benefits from protection of the interior, exterior, main floor and cellar, says its boss Bernard Moucharte.

“It’s hard to find cafes which have kept their style permanently,” says Julien Maquet, of Wallonia’s heritage agency.

 The Tourism Authority of Thailand with help from the public and private sectors has a new campaign called “We Love Local” that’s designed to get more people visiting specific communities around the country.

“Travelling to individual communities to share in local experiences is a popular tourism trend all around the world right now, with more and more companies and organisations becoming interested,” says deputy governor Noppadon Pakprot.

“This increasing corporate desire for experiences in lesser-known areas of Thailand is an excellent sign for local community tourism because of the greater purchasing power and fewer limitations in terms of the seasons to travel.

“However, the size and dynamics of each company differ and so do the demands and interests. This is why the TAT is ensuring both variety and flexibility for this particular market, with 50 local communities to choose from.

“These destinations have all been categorised in terms of their unique characteristics, identities and main tourist activities, making the difficult task of corporate tourism planning much easier and rewarding for organisations.”

The 50 communities are grouped in 10 categories – the King’s Wisdom, GI (Geographical Indications) Products, Culture, Highlanders, Agro-tourism, Thai Fabrics, Gastronomy, Eco-adventures, Homestays, and School and Family Outings.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn will personally promote communities devoted to His Majesty the King’s philosophy and Thosapone Dansuputra, director general of the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Intellectual Property, will represent the GI product communities.

Agro-tourism is in hand hands of Kessuda Raiva, CEO at S&P Syndicate, and Suphajee Suthumpun, CEO of Dusit Thani Group, will promote highland communities.

Cultural communities will be boosted by Piya Yodmani, former CEO of Nok Airlines, and Vana Bulbon, CEO of UOB Asset Management (Thailand), will take care of Thai Fabrics.

Chih-Hung Lin, director and COO of KGI Securities (Thailand), will oversee gastronomic communities, and Apisilp Trunganont, co-founder and CTO of Pantip.com, will promote eco-adventures.

Yod Chinsupakkul, executive director and one of the founders of Wongnai.com, will represent homestay communities, and Pimpat Yomnak, a board member of Bangkok Prep International School, will take care of school and family communities.

Noppadon says the We Love Local campaign aims to generate Bt1 million in revenue for each community within the first year.

Find out more at http://www.WeLoveLocal.travel.

 Surrounded by rice fields despite being part of suburban Bangkok, Baan Phing Phak (Pink Park Village) in Nong Chok district is still an hour away from downtown even using the fastest route. Costing Bt300 million to build, the new village has been designed to provide a home for selected underprivileged, terminally ill women suffering from stage-4 breast cancer until they draw their last breath and all for free.

The first phase is set to open next month after a year’s delay and will house a convalescence centre where breast cancer patients from outside Bangkok receiving treatment in the capital can stay, along with a diagnostic centre plus learning and training facilities for medical staff. When finished, it will also feature a day care and cancer rehabilitation centre.

Pink Park is the brainchild of Assoc Prof Dr Kris Chatamra who has been working for over two decades with his wife Khunying Finola for a better life for breast-cancer patients living in slums through their Slum Outreach Project. Dr Kris worked as a senior clinician in the field of cancer in British teaching hospitals for 30 years and is also an internal examiner and researcher at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. After the couple returned to Bangkok, they founded the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation in 2007 and were granted Bt2 million in funding by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit to kick-start the project. It’s located in a donated building of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, which is operated by the Thai Red Cross.

His experience with both the Slum Project and the centre led Dr Kris to want to do more to help poor patients. One of the cases he often talks about was the woman terminally ill with breast cancer who he saw during a visit to slum area, lying alone on a piece of cardboard with a cold foam container of fried rice next to her. Another experience that has stuck in his mind was seeing one of his patients just in front of the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital under the Thai-Belgium Bridge. She had come to Bangkok from upcountry for a course of radiation at the centre but had nowhere to stay. For the entire five weeks, she would have radiation therapy in the morning and then spend the rest of the day strolling around department stores before returning to sleep under the bridge.

A private exit and walkway with twometrehigh bushes is designed for each room and will allow for the removal of the body without upsetting other patients./Nation photo

And so the idea of Pink Park Village was born and a fundraising drive organised through different charity events, just as he did for QSCBC.

The hospice stands on 121 rai of rice fields donated by Boonsomsuk Jaruwatana, a former patient of Dr Kris.

The first is spread over 80 rai and comprises two hospice buildings, a convalescence centre, the learning and training facility and the diagnostic centre.

The hospice and convalescence building are single-storey and connected to the other facilities and the surrounding landscape by a garden, The hospice building has eight patient rooms with a nursing station in the middle. Each room has a bathroom and a terrace. A private exit and walkway with two-metre-high bushes is designed for each room and will allow for the removal of the body without upsetting other patients.

“When I went to hospices in England, I saw how other patients became depressed when one of their number was wheeled out,” Dr Kris explains.

The reception area at one of the hospices and convalescence buildings.

Wandering around the hospice and convalescence area gives off the sense of being in a luxurious private hospital and the visitor has to remind his or herself that it is for poor breast cancer patients in the terminal stage and completely free of charge. Dr Kris admits that there have been negative comments about the high cost – Bt300 million – for a 24-bed hospice care and 32–bed convalescence centre but is quick to point out that being poor doesn’t mean not deserving the very best care in the last moments of their life.

“With that money we can do a lot of projects but the bottom line is the Pink Park Village is the kind of holistic centre I want it to be. It’s also the first of its kind in this country and I want it to serve as a model for others to see and perhaps replicate,” he says.

“The women who will be selected for the Village are poor and don’t have anyone to take care of them. I want to give them ‘dignity’, maybe for the first time and also the last time in their lives before they leave the world with the best care we can provide. My idea is to give them the same attention and care as we would give a much-loved family member,” he says.

The Pink Park Village provides comprehensive cancer care by an experienced team of doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists and nutritionists.

The patients will be selected by the foundation committee made up of 10 members comprising doctors, nurses, social services and people from other professional careers. The Thai Red Cross and its network hospitals around the country will submit the details of patients who fit the requirements, and the committee will make a final selection of those who meet the criteria: terminally ill, with six months to live, poor and without anyone to take care of them.

The patients who can stay at the convalescence will be selected from among those who have to come to Bangkok for further treatment of breast cancer, and have no place to stay in Bangkok. They are allowed one companion to stay with them and the centre will provide transportation to the hospital for treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation and back to the centre. Each patient is expected to stay until they complete the treatment, usually four to five weeks, and in the future, if they are not considered either physically or emotionally ready to return home, they will be referred to the rehabilitation centre. Here they will prepare to resume their lives while helping the centre in its research. Construction of the rehabilitation centre has not yet started and a further Bt200 million will be required to build and equip it.

“It is the last piece of the jigsaw that will complete the Pink Park village,” says Dr Kris.

The good doctor has achieved an incredible amount at QSCBC in a comparatively short time. It is today considered the leading centre for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment for underprivileged patients. The centre uses 3D cone-beam computed tomography equipment, which is the first in the world, and has the only breast cancer magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dedicated for use on disadvantaged patients in Thailand. MRI scanning creates images from various angles of soft tissue parts of the body that are difficult to view using other imaging tests and has improved the speed and accuracy of diagnosis for patients in need while removing the worry of high expenses.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in Thailand, with one in 10 Thai women likely to face the challenge during her lifetime. Sadly though, more than half of patients do not have access to adequate care for a wide range of reasons that include everything from shyness to fear of medical treatment as well as the expense of treatment. Every year, more than 3,000 Thai women die of breast cancer, and more than 34,000 Thai people suffer from breast cancer, 99 per cent of them female.

One of the charity events held to support Pink Park Village is the annual Eat Drink Pink gastronomic evening organised by The Peninsula Bangkok, which this year will be held on October 1. Eat Drink Pink will enable guests to enjoy signature dishes, drinks and snacks in a delightful ambience by the river.

For the fourth year, the hotel is partnering with Bangkok’s Michelin-starred restaurants, Asia’s best restaurants, as well as rising eateries, among them L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Chim by Siam Whisdom, Bo lan, Suehring, Bunker, Lenzi, LeDu, Baan, Opus, Il Fumo, Issaya Siamese Club, Sensi, Sri Trat, Haoma, Freebird, Cocotte Farm Roast & Winery, Charcoal, Brasserie Cordonnier, La Casa Nostra, Acqua Restaurant, Blue Elephant, La Bottega di Luca, Birds Rotisserie, and Canvas.

The second Eat Drink Pink event in October 2015 featured a charitable raffle with memorable prizes, including stays at The Peninsula hotels worldwide, and raised more than Bt1.2 million for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, while the third Eat Drink Pink in November 2017 raised more than Bt1 million.

Tickets for Eat Drink Pink 2018 are priced at Bt3,000 per person. All proceeds will be donated to the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation to support Pink Park Village.

For reservation or more information, please call (02) 020 2888 or e-mail diningpbk@peninsula.com.

In an adjacent room, two schoolgirls in matching pink and white dresses jump excitedly on a trampoline the shape of a frying pan, taking pictures with a Hello Kitty camera.

“The Egg House” in Shanghai is where an apparently unhealthy interest in eggs and selfies meets Alice in Wonderland.

The pop-up installation is described by organisers as “created to share the universal love of eggs and provide a momentary escape from the city”.

AFP

Situated on the third floor of a Shanghai shopping mall, “The Egg House” is the work of Chinese creator Xu Biubiu and is her second installation — the first was in New York and another is planned for Los Angeles in November.

It costs up to 198 yuan ($29) to enter — for two adults at weekends — and once inside visitors can lose themselves in several egg-themed rooms.

It is unashamedly all about one thing — photos and selfies.

In one room, there is an armchair that looks like a cheese sandwich, while another has the bewildering sign, “STOP BEING SO BLOODY EGGY WHEN YOU TAKE IN”.

Aima Li sheepishly clambers out of the so-called caviar bowl, really a large ball pit more usually associated with nurseries.

“I feel a bit too old for this,” the 29-year-old said, pointing out that many of the people around her were closer to high-school age.

But Li, who works in television and splits her time between Shanghai and Tokyo, said she would be posting on social media the pictures she took with her friend.

“I’m a bit of a little girl so I like the decorations here and it’s so colourful,” added Ling Jiamo, between preening and posing for pictures taken by her boyfriend.

IF CLEANING your home has become a real chore, lighten up your load with the new generation cleaning assistant from Xiaomi – the Mi Robot Vacuum.

The Mi Robot Vacuum is part of Xiaomi’s Mi Ecosystem series of devices and boasts a brain made from the Allwinner Arm Cortex quad-core processor, the STMicroelectronics Arm Cortex co-processor and Texas Instruments LDS image processor.

The brain is assisted by all kinds of sensors including the Laser Distance Sensor (LDS), ultrasonic, cliff, wall, collision, fan speed, drop and dustbin sensors plus an electronic compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, and speedometer, resulting in smooth and safe operations.

Mi Robot Vacuum can clean your living room or bedroom by using its LDS and SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) algorithm.

Xiaomi explains that the LDS does a 360-degree scan of the floor space around it at 1,800 times per second and then uses 11 sensors to offer navigational routes for the cleaning. The three processors use the obtained data to generate a real-time map and calculate the most efficient cleaning route by using the SLAM algorithm and advanced positioning technology.

The vacuum cleaner has strong sucking power to ensure your floor will be dustless thanks to a strong 1800Pa brushless motor from Nidec. Its powerful suction allows the Mi Robot Vacuum to suck up all kinds of debris effortlessly, leaving its cleaning path dust and dirt free.

The vacuum cleaner has a good battery life that ensures it can finish cleaning with each charge. It uses a large, high-density lithium-ion battery rated at 5200mAh 14.4V to provide up to 2.5 hours cleaning of up 250 square metres on one single charge.

Thanks to its highly accurate positioning ability, the resume function allows the Mi Robot Vacuum to return to where it left off last time after automatically recharging at its dock if battery runs out in the middle of its cycle.

Mi Robot Vacuum comes in two pieces – the cleaning robot and the charging dock. The vacuum cleaner has a footprint of 345mm x 345mm x 96mm while its charging dock measures at 230mm x 109mm x 129mm. The cleaner weighs about 3.8 kilogrammes.

One of the two buttons on the top is used to start the cleaning, which the Mi Robot will confirm using a voice guide.

When the robot finishes sweeping, the voice guide announces its completion of the task and the robot will return to the spot where it started to dock.

If you are keeping the charging dock in the living room and have taken the Mi Robot Vacuum to the bedroom, you will need bring it back and place it near the charging dock before pressing the home button. Once, the robot cleaner finds the dock, it will gradually lift itself to connect. While normal cleaning can be initiated using the two buttons found on the device, more functions can be accessed by connecting the Mi Robot Vacuum to the Mi Home app via Wi-Fi. To use the app, you must first register for an account with Xiaomi’s server.

You can use the app as a remote control, view maps generated, monitor real time cleaning progress and sweeping paths, as well as set the schedule and select cleaning modes (quiet, balanced, turbo and max).

After you have downloaded and installed Mi Home, you must lift the lid of the vacuum cleaner and then press two buttons simultaneously until its Wi-Fi indicator starts to blink.

You then have to press the scan button in the Mi Home app and when Mi Robot Vacuum appears in the menu, you can add it to the list of devices. Then, you have to assign your home Wi-Fi router’s SSID or identification name and password for the Mi Robot Vacuum to be linked to your home Wi-Fi router. Your smartphone must also be linked to the same W-Fi router for you to use Mi Home app to access and customise functions of the vacuum cleaner.

I found during the test that Mi Robot Vacuum is noisy when turned to the max and turbo cleaning modes. The quiet mode was a little less noisy but this is not a quiet machine, so be prepared.

I also found that Mi Robot Vacuum was really effective in cleaning the floor. It swept throughout my bedroom and removed all the cat hair. Its cliff sensors worked effectively. I had the vacuum cleaner clean the bed and it did not fall off the edge.

When its dust retainer is full, Mi Robot will blink in red at the two control buttons and give you a voice guide for you to empty it. You remove the dust retainer just by lifting the lid. Mi Robot Vacuum is available in Thailand for Bt12,990 at Mi stores and major IT stores.

Key Specs

Processors: Allwinner Arm Cortex quad-core processor; STMicroelectronics Arm Cortex co-processor ; Texas Instruments LDS image processor

Sensors : Laser Distance Sensor (LDS), ultrasonic sensor, cliff sensors, wall sensor, collision sensor, fan speed sensor, drop sensor, dustbin sensor, electronic compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, speedometer

Motor : Ultra-high 1800Pa suction Nidec brushless motor

Connectivity : Wi-Fi smart connect ; Mi Home app supported for remote control

Dimensions: 345mm x 345mm x 96mm

Charging dock’s dimensions: 230mm x 109mm x 129mm

Weight: 3.8kg

Battery : LG/Panasonic 5200mAh Li-ion battery; Working time: 2.5 hours ; Voltage: 14.4V , power: 55W ; Dock input: 100 – 240V; Dock output: 20V, 2.2A

Package includes: Mi Robot Vacuum x 1, charging dock x 1, power cable x 1, main brush cleaning tool x 1, user manual x 1, quick guide x 1

NOW THAT THE Mi Robot Vacuum has got rid of all that dust and cat hair from your room, it’s time to freshen the air with its companion device, the Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2S.

Also part of Xiaomi’s Mi Ecosystem series, the 2S is quite large – all the better to clear the air – with a footprint of 240x240x520mm and a weight of 4.5 kg.

The air in a 21sqm to 37sqm room takes just 10 minutes to purify at the rate of 310 cubic metres of air per hour.

To present an accurate air quality reading, the Mi Air Purifier 2S uses a high-precision laser particle sensor that can quickly determine PM2.5 levels and 0.3-micron particles.

A combination of a Nidec brushless DC motor, axial fans, mixed flow blades and tapered airducts provide the aerodynamic pressure system behind the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) and the 360-degree circulation for strong air flow.

Air is drawn inward at the base and clean air is expelled upward.

The 2S uses triple-layer filtration consisting of a primary filter, a high-density EPA filter and an activated carbon filter.

The primary filter can remove larger particles such as dust, hair and pollen, while the EPA takes out respirable particles like PM2.5, PM0.3-0.5 and smaller pollen, and the activated carbon filter blocks odours.

The purifier comes with an oled screen that display real-time air quality data, Wi-Fi connection status, as well as room temperature and humidity.

The room’s air quality status is shown in three colours, and a light sensor enables the 2S to adjust its screen brightness for daylight viewing or night mode.

The Air Purifier also has built-in Wi-Fi that can be connected to your home Wi-Fi router so that you can remotely control it with Xiaomi’s Mi Home app.

You can use the app to turn the air purifier on or off and view real-time air quality data. You can also use the app to switch modes from Auto, Sleep, and High Speed and monitor the filters’ usage.

To connect it to the app, you need to press and hold the Mode and Light buttons for five seconds. The Wi-Fi icon on the display of the device will blink and the app will find it and add it as your Mi device.

Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 2S has a suggested retail price of Bt5,990.

Key Specs

Filtration: Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 310cubic metre/h

Recommended effective area: 21-37 square metres

Power consumption: 2W – 29W

Input voltage: AC 100V-240V 50/60Hz

Motor: Nidec brushless motor

Sensors: Laser particle sensor , Temperature and humidity sensor , Ambient light sensor

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi ; Smart connect and remote control with Mi Home app

Dimensions: 240mmxx 240 mm x 520 mm

Weight: 4.5kg (including filter)

THE CHINESE kindergarten children giggle as they worked to solve puzzles assigned by their new teaching assistant: a roundish, short educator with a screen for a face.

Just under 60 centimetres high, the autonomous robot named Keeko has been a hit in several kindergartens, telling stories and challenging children with logic problems.

Round and white with a tubby body, the armless robot zips around on tiny wheels, its inbuilt cameras doubling up both as navigational sensors and a front-facing camera allowing users to record video journals.

In China, robots are being developed to deliver groceries, provide companionship to the elderly, dispense legal advice and now, as Keeko’s creators hope, join the ranks of educators.

Educator Candy Xiong introduces a Keeko robot to children at the Yiswind Institute of Multicultural Education in Beijing. /AFP

At the Yiswind Institute of Multicultural Education on the outskirts of Beijing, the children have been tasked to help a prince find his way through a desert – by putting together square mats that represent a path taken by the robot – part storytelling and part problem-solving.

Each time they get an answer right, the device reacts with delight, its face flashing heart-shaped eyes.

“Education today is no longer a one-way street, where the teacher teaches and students just learn,” says Candy Xiong, a teacher trained in early childhood education who now works with Keeko Robot Xiamen Technology as a trainer.

“When children see Keeko with its round head and body, it looks adorable and children love it. So when they see Keeko, they almost instantly take to it,” she adds.

Keeko robots have entered more than 600 kindergartens across the country with its makers hoping to expand into Greater China and Southeast Asia.

Beijing has invested money and manpower in developing artificial intelligence as part of its “Made in China 2025” plan, with a Chinese firm last year unveiling the country’s first human-like robot that can hold simple conversations and make facial expressions.

According to the International Federation of Robots, China has the world’s top industrial robot stock, with some 340,000 units in factories across the country engaged in manufacturing and the automotive industry.

The service robot market – which includes devices ranging from specialised medical equipment to automated vacuum cleaners – is estimated to be worth $1.32 billion (Bt43.14 billion) as of last year.

It is expected to grow to $4.9 billion by 2022, said market research firm Research In China.

Last week, Beijing hosted the World Robot Conference, featuring machines that can diagnose diseases, play badminton and wow audiences with their musical skills.

Last year, a group of monks in Beijing created a 60-centimetre-high robot monk dispensing mantras and advice to attaining nirvana.

The iPal – a companion of sorts for children – is the latest humanoid robot to be marketed for family use, following in the footsteps of the diminutive, wisecracking “Pepper” companion released by Japan’s SoftBank in 2015.

But Xie Yi, principal of the kindergarten where Keeko has been put on trial, believes that it will be a long while before robots can completely replace humans in the classroom.

“To teach you must be able to interact, have a human touch, eye contact and facial expressions. These are the things that make an education,” Xie says.

“It’s not just the language or the content, it’s everything.”

She says the Keeko robots, which cost about 10,000 yuan (Bt49,000), or about the monthly salary of a kindergarten teacher, may have some advantages over a flesh-and-blood educator.

“The best thing about robots? They’re more stable (than humans),” she says with a laugh.

Diplomats from 25 countries joined the recent journey of exploration to the Pluak Daeng Royal Development Study Centre and Pak Nam Prasae Community in Rayong Province in the third of five excursions organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as part of its project to showcase His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s philosophy for sustainable tourism.

“The aim of this project is to connect the King’s philosophy with tourism,” explained Thapanee Kiatphaibool, executive director of the TAT’s Office of the Governor.

“When we announced the project, many diplomats expressed interest in studying the philosophy of King Bhumibol and his vision of resource management close up and, above all, how his philosophy is connected to tourism.”

The project, which has already seen trips to Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom and will also take in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chiang Mai, is designed to preserve and develop the king’s philosophy. The late Monarch was honoured by the United Nations in recognition of his work and philosophy.

“For Rayong we need to combine places in order to connect tourist attractions. Therefore, we have integrated Thung Prong Thong, an unseen tourist attraction, with the Pluak Daeng community. The diplomats can experience the local lifestyles, cultures and wisdom by learning about the science of herbs and integrated farming, as well as wear Thai costumes.

Taking part in the trip were Waldemar Dubaniowski of the Polish Embassy and his wife Ewa; Tugsbilguun Tumurkhuleg of Mongolia with Doljinsuren Tsend-Ayush and their son; Noh Kwang-il of the Repuplic of Korea in Thailand with Oh Chung-wha and their son; Raushan Yesbulatova of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Thailand and her son; and Dr Sanjay Kumar, secretary to the Republic of India in Thailand with his wife. Judith Schildberger, secretary of the Austrian Republic in Thailand, came together with Irina Vorobeva, third secretary of the Russian Federation in Thailand and special guest, Deirdre Boyd, along with representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“It was perfect! Definitely a worthwhile and interesting trip. Even though it was raining a little, the places we went to and the affection we could feel were unbelievable. Before I had only seen mangrove forests from afar, but today I got a chance to sail through the mangrove  forests, one of Thailand’s key tourist attractions. We were touched by the beauty of nature in the mangrove, which is really well preserved. My friends and I and the ambassadors enjoyed the trip greatly and I am certain that we can all agree that what made this trip so amazing was the kindness and friendliness of the local people. Overall, we were impressed with the splendid views, delicious food, and excellent company during the trip,” enthused Waldemar Dubaniowski at the end of the trip.

“It is so wonderful to see the local people using the King’s wisdom in their daily lives. I would like to thank the team for organising such an amazing trip. I got hands-on experience in cooking and the people I spent time with were always smiling and willing to help,” said Noh Kwang-il.

“I am so impressed that King Bhumibol was so dedicated to Thai citizens not only in Bangkok, but also to those living in rural, less developed areas. The King’s philosophy is very forward-thinking and his ability to apply the sufficiency economy theory into the daily lives of the local communities for the community’s benefits makes so much sense. We have heard about the sufficiency economy many times and to be able to see it being practised in real life made us realise its true potential. The King’s vision not only benefits Thai people but also people around the world. The theory can also be applied to other Asean countries,” said Raushan Yesbulatova.

This third route focused on the theory of sufficiency economy philosophy in raising livestock and local chickens and included a visit the Freshwater Fisheries Development Research Centre to watch fish species given by the king and a demonstration of sex reversal in Nile tilapia at the Pluak Daeng Royal Development Study Centre. The guests then went on to admire the breathtaking nature at Thung Prong Thong and travelled through the mangrove forests by boat.

The excursion included a stop at Sala Chalermprakiat to taste Indian Marsh tea, kanom kala, a local dessert made of sugar and coconut, and jang lon (roasted fish cakes).

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

– Follow the five routes of the project at http://www.tourismthailand.org/ kingwisdom.

“Gaysorn Menllennial is an interactive event where gentlemen, epicureans and those with meticulous taste can share inspiration for living life to the fullest in their own unique ways. This is the driving force behind the stylish transformation of Gaysorn Village into a destination to hangout with likeminded people, offering various aspects of life experiences. For the event, gentlemen are invited to indulge in their favourite pastimes and to embark on a mindset where lifestyle meets the millennial man. We hope our customers can experience a versatile concept which can be defined in two words – life & style,” says Charn Srivikorn, chairman of Gaysorn Property.

One of the highlights is “The Great Wine Harvest” that aims to turn Gaysorn into a wine enthusiasts playground, offering more than 150 labels of artisan, organic and rare wines.

On September 6, representatives from investment firm Yuanta Securities will be hand for discussions, while Dr Pramote Rienjaroensuk, editorial director of I Am Watch magazine , will talk about the latest timepieces.

Visitors are also invited to join a community of wine lovers and meet wine experts in the wine talk at Riedel Wine Bar & Cellar from September 6 to 9.

The wine harvesting festival, “Les Vendanges”, returns to Gaysorn Village from September 6 to 9 and offers an opportunity to find out more about the wine growing process from experts in the industry along with some of the wine makers themselves.

Then meet passionate importers of boutique wines from both Old and to New Worlds with over 150 labels to sample. Making their mark this year are the artisanal and bio-dynamic wines where growers take extra measures to ensure crisp, clean and sustainable wines for the entire world to enjoy.

Visitors can enjoy the finest wines throughout Gaysorn Village as 20 participating branded boutiques host special wine tasting pop-ups and each will serve a wine that truly reflects their brand identity.

For the fashion conscious The Artisan’s Royal Club brings together fashion and grooming essentials for men including Truefitt & Hill – one of the world’s oldest barbershop and grooming service, crafted shoe maker Mango Mojito , Selvedgework with custom made jeans, Notch with bespoke suit tailoring and Duke, a contemporary whiskey & cigar bar and art gallery.

The first flagship store in Thailand of the renowned Italian fashion brand Etro will hold a grand opening party on September 12.

Moreover, for those who love luxury cars, there’s a Car Showcase featuring Bentley, Porsche and Ducati Big Bike Ducati. The new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid will be unveiled for the first time in Thailand.

Lastly, check out the Men Market which offers every gentleman’s must-have items, accessories and cool gadgets, including Japanese handmade eyewear, clothes, hats, shoes, bags and much more.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/GaysornVillage/

Casio G-Shock Thailand recently celebrated its 35th anniversary by opening a store in the heart of Bangkok, on the third floor of CentralWorld, featuring innovative technology and interactive zones filled with hard-to-find collaborative pieces, available only at this locale.

“It’s a concept store built with the user-experience in mind,” says Viroj Sukpitak, senior vice president of Casio & Hardline.

“Exclusively for Thailand, G-Shock has created a space that encompasses everything G-Shock, showcasing an extensive product range and the latest inline watches.” The durability of the G-Shock Origins DW-5600 watch was demonstrated when it was dropped from the third floor to the ground.

Not only did it not shatter, the watch was totally unfazed, “still working!” as someone shouted.

Tong Twopee of the hip-hop duo Southside performed a mini-show that featured the new song “Aow La Woii”, and there was a fashion show with street-style celebrities modelling the different looks of G-Shock DNA.

“I believe G-Shock is one of Thais’ most favourite watches,” Tong enthused. “Especially with its rubber strap, it is attractive, durable and smart. We wear them when we’re kids and we still wear them even when we grow up because they’re more comfortable and functional.”

Tong was wearing a G-Shock MTG with a stainless steel strap. “It’s very basic, classic and simple and has 20-bar water resistance.”

“Absolute Toughness” is the concept behind the timepieces and the store, which looks as bold and futuristic as the latest streetwear.

The interactive areas include the “Tough Test Zone” where you can throw your watch at a wall, “#RareItems!” with limited editions, “3D Hyper-Visual Movies” with videos of shock-resistance testing, “G-Shock Bar” where you can Touch & Try every model, and “Fast View!” with a giant digital touchscreen catalogue.

Check out http://www.CasioCMG.com and the “Casio Watches Thailand” Facebook page.