The DrivePro 130 vehicle-dashboard camera from Transcend Information Inc captures high-resolution images with extremely fine tonal gradation, even in low light. A G-sensor high-capacity Li-polymer battery, Sony image sensor and capability to record 1080p Full HD video make it a winner. Wi-Fi connectivity is ready via the free |DrivePro App. It retails for Bt4,300.

Print more, save more

The DCP-T510W, part of Brother’s inkjet Multi-Function Centre series, is designed to save money for high-volume users. It features the Refill Tank System and the cartridges are highly affordable. You get an ultra-high |6,500-page-yield and print resolution of 1,200×6,000dpi. It’s in stores for Bt5,490.

Always great portraits

The A83 camera phone from Oppo boasts AI Beauty Recognition Technology in its 8MP front camera and 13MP rear camera. The technology analyses 200 points on your subject’s face and figures out the best characteristics. With a 5.7-inch HD full-screen display at 1,440x720P resolution, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of ROM, it sells for Bt7,990.

Just the buds

Samsung’s Gear IconX earbuds let you leave your phone at home when go out running. They work as stand-alone media players when you upload music from your phone. You can also create a playlist of general favourites and another just for the gym. And if you do need your phone nearby, it connects via Bluetooth. The going rate is Bt5,900.

A Bt3,000 smartphone

Beyond Max2 is an affordable smartphone from Thailand’s PTE Intergroup that features dual cameras of eight- and two-megapixel resolution, handy bokeh effect, a five-inch display ay 960×540-pixel resolution, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of ROM. It runs on Android 6.0 OS and it is powered by a quad-core processor. |Go “Beyond” for Bt2,490.

WITH shelves groaning under bumper boxes of chocolates tied with red ribbons and teddy bears dressed in cute tees emblazoned with corny messages, you’d have to be a total Philistine not to notice that Valentine’s Day is once again just around the corner.

Thailand has long celebrated not just the day but the entire month of love with guys and gals trying to outdo each other in the “saying I love you” stakes by picking the freshest and deepest of red roses to woo their sweethearts.

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Wednesday this year and narrowly avoiding clashing with Chinese New Year, which is celebrated two days later, many restaurants and hotels are getting a jump on this upcoming festival of love by offering special loving menus and events.

And how better to celebrate the holiday of love than by signing up for an all-inclusive dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River and taking in some of the most important historical landmarks of the Kingdom? They include Wat Kanlaya Namithda, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters, the Royal Barges Museum, Rama VIII Bridge, Tha Maharaj, Tha Chang, Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha Temple), and Wat Pho.

The Peninsula Bangkok, one of the luxury five-star hotels along the river, is once again going the extra mile on Valentine’s Day, moving from the giddy heights of last year’s helicopter rides to the water with a cruise on a luxury yacht.

The afternoon Champagne Valentine’s Day Cruise offers an idyllic voyage on a 76-foot luxury yacht along the Chao Phraya River paired with the essential ingredients of true love – chilled champagne and personally inscribed Peninsula chocolates. On-board the custom-designed yacht, couples will enjoy luxurious amenities, including air conditioning, private bathrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi and bespoke lighting including a fibre-optic overhead “Star” panel.

After the fairy-tale river journey through the picturesque heart of the Thai capital, loving twosomes will enjoy a Valentine’s Afternoon Tea in The Lobby. Delectable sweet delights are a timeless recipe for love, and the three-tiered silver tea tray features an irresistible array of chocolate pastries, pralines and desserts. Handcrafted by French executive pastry chef Nicolas Pelloie, some of the mouth-watering delights are made with a bespoke chocolate blend exclusively produced for the hotel by French premium brand Valrhona. Others take their cue from romance, among them a red velvet cake, hand-made lychee marshmallows and a strawberry rose tart. Other goodies include more traditional items as cucumber and mint finger sandwiches, English mustard and cooked ham on white toast and home-made smoked salmon on pumpernickel. Pelloie will also present home-made Brioche with fresh strawberries, mixed berry coulis and whipped cream tableside as a surprise treat.

For one lucky couple, an especially enchanting Valentine’s Day experience awaits. The Luxe & Amour Champagne Sunset Cruise is a sensual private voyage for two to watch the spectacular Bangkok sunset transform day into night over the river. After sipping champagne at sundown on a luxury yacht, the lovers can gaze into each other’s eyes over an exquisite six-course dinner created by executive chef Dominique Martinez and executive sous chef Alvaro Roa at Paribatra. Located on the 37th floor of the hotel, this beautiful lounge offers spellbinding views of Bangkok’s skyline and a spectacular fireworks show above the river.

These limited edition Valentine’s experiences are exclusive to The Peninsula Bangkok, and the happy couples will be among the first guests to enjoy a luxury Chao Phraya cruise. Private yacht cruises are extremely rare on Bangkok’s waterways, and this dream voyage of discovery enables couples to spend precious time together.

The formative roots of Thai culture and history can be traced along the banks of Bangkok’s River of Kings, and for centuries it has played a symbolic role in bringing people together and forging lifelong bonds of friendship and harmony. Locals have made the riverside their home since ancient times and created their livelihoods and lifestyles from its landscapes, while many of Thailand’s most vibrant festivals were established here. For these reasons, the Chao Phraya and its picturesque landmarks evoke treasured memories of community, kinship and love for people throughout Thailand.

The 80-minute Luxe & Amour Champagne Valentine’s Day Cruise, followed by a Valentine’s-inspired Peninsula Afternoon Tea at The Lobby, is priced at Bt25,888 net per couple.

The 80-minute Luxe & Amour Champagne Valentine’s Day Cruise, followed by international buffet dinner at River Cafe & Terrace, is priced at Bt30,888 net per couple.

The private Luxe & Amour Champagne Sunset Cruise, followed by a six-course dinner at Paribatra lounge, is priced at Bt88,888 net per couple and Bt188,888 net per couple with firework display.

– For reservations, call (02) 020 2888 or e-mail pbk@peninsula.com

– Find out more at http://www.Peninsula.com/bangkok.

– For more Valentine dinner cruises, please visit http://www.ThaiRiverCruise.com.

The recent signing of MOU with Khon Kaen University led to positive feedback and the service was launchedin December.

“The response has been beyond expectations, with thousands of transactions a day, which is very high compared to other universities. Having the ofo service at KhonKaen University doesn’t only help create a Bike Sharing Society, but is also making cycling more popular,” says Noppol Toochinda, ofo Thailand’s general manager.

“Our free-of-charge trial ended at the end of January and from now on we will charge a service fee of Bt5 per 30 minutes, easily paid by a debit account or TrueMoney wallet account,” he adds.

“This cooperation with ofo aims to encourage riding bicycles around the university to raise environmental awareness, help students and staff lead a healthier life and reduce the risk of accidents. This is a good choice for safe, economic and eco-friendly transportation in the campus,” says Assoc Prof Dr Kittichai Triratanasirichai, President of Khon Kaen University.

Recently, ofo and Khon Kaen University held an activity “Pan Plook Pa “(“Ride to Plant”), for which administrators, teachers and students cycled from from Si Than Community to the west side of Bung Si Than Reservoir to plant 200 trees.

Based on more than 140 million reviews, this year 549,937 properties in 218 countries and territories are being given an award. The countries receiving the most awards are Italy (81,603), France (33,500), the United States (30,502), Spain (29,598), and Germany (25,969).

For the first time, apartments take the lead from hotels as the top-awarded accommodation type, making up 30 per cent of the award-winning properties in 2017. In fact, four out of five of the top-awarded accommodation types are something other than a traditional hotel: Apartments (165,876), Hotels (132,339), Guesthouses (63,697), Bed and breakfasts (55,833), and Holiday Homes (29,634).

This continuing consumer interest in unique accommodation experiences is echoed by recent research that Booking.com conducted with 19,000 travellers across 26 countries, where one in three (33 per cent) said that they would prefer to stay in a holiday rental over a hotel in 2018. In addition, one in five (21 per cent) said that they would consider listing their own home on a travel accommodation site over the coming year. With 40 per cent of travellers also wanting to stay in an accommodation type they’ve never experienced before in 2018, consumer demand and interest in a diverse range of accommodation options remains strong.

In Thailand, 7,116 properties received an award, and the overall average guest review score was 8.6. All types of properties were awarded and globally, Thailand ranked at No 16 – up two spots from 2016 when it ranked No 18 with 4,427 properties awarded. In addition, 19 properties achieved a perfect 10 score and ranked at No 37 globally, demonstrating their dedication to offering an unforgettable stay.

A selection of outstanding properties in Thailand receiving the 2017 awards are Tropical Season Villa Resort (Mae Nam Beach, Koh Samui), Aster 9 House (Bangkok), Sawasdee Sukhothai Resort (Sukhothai), Pakping Hostel (Chiang Mai), Uncle Loy’s Boutique House (Bangkok), Six Senses Yao Noi (Koh Yao Noi, Phang-nga), Villa Labaron (Bangrak Beach, Koh Samui), Layana Resort & Spa (Adults Only, Koh Lanta), Pimalai Resort & Spa (Koh Lanta), and The Okura Prestige Bangkok (Bangkok).

“The more than 140 million reviews available on Booking.com are all real experiences shared by real customers. They not only help travellers to discover the stay that’s just right for them, but they also empower accommodation providers with real-time feedback that can truly have a positive impact on their business,” said Peter Verhoeven, global director of Partner Services at Booking.com. “With these awards, we congratulate, thank and honour a unique set of real hospitality heroes – our partners – who dedicate themselves to creating incredible guest experiences and cherished travel memories for travellers each and every day.”

The panel is led by Richard Barrow, who also serves as adviser to the project. Barrow has lived in Thailand for 23 years and is known for his blogs and advice on travel. He spends a lot of time on Twitter, posting ideas of where to visit in Thailand mixed with topical breaking news headlines. He can be read in Thai on @RichardinThai and English on @RichardBarrow.

Luc Citrinot is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with more than 20 years’ experience. He has been the aviation editor for France’s leading business travel publication Voyages d’Affaires since 1989 and is managing editor for the online B2B publication ASEAN.travel. He relocated to Asia in 2003 to work as a business development consultant for AirAsia and Thai AirAsia and has since returned to journalism, writing about tourism, air transport, culture, architecture and heritage.

Jamlong Boonsong is a Thai documentary photographer with the Post Today newspaper and the current chairman of the ASEAN Tourism Reporters Club, in addition to working as an independent travel columnist and professional photographer.

Tom Racette is a writer and editor with more than two decades experience working in Thailand’s travel industry. The former chief marketing officer at HotelTravel, he has also worked with Accor Asia Pacific, PATA Compass magazine, Travel Trade Gazette Asia (TTG Asia).

The judging panel will be chaired by a representative from the TAT. All the judges will also be joining the winning trip, from May 28 to June 1, to experience the “Colours of the East” on offer in the provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.

 The initiative follows on from the success of the “Upcycling the Oceans, Thailand” project in Koh Samet and the Eastern Seaboard.

The project’s opening ceremony was presided over by Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat at Patong Beach in Phuket and saw celebrities and volunteers cleaning the coastline of the Andaman Sea along Patong, Nai Harn, and Nai Yang beaches.

As Thailand’s largest island, Phuket boasts verdant jungle that rolls on to hundreds of kilometres of coastline with a large number of dive sites making it the perfect next stop for the project.

Interested divers are encouraged to take part by following just three easy steps: First, they need to inform a participating dive operator that they would like to join the project. The dive operator will then give them a special rubbish collection bag. Second, divers collect rubbish while enjoying their dive, and return the bag to receive a stamp on their “Diving Passport”. Third, they can use the stamp to redeem special discounts on their next dive trip with a participating dive operator.

During their dive, participating divers are encouraged to practice their buoyancy control while also being careful to maintain the fragile ecosystem they are helping to protect; for example, when removing fishing nets from coral, it is best to use scissors to carefully trim the net and not pull it in such a way that will cause the coral to break.

For more information and for a list of participating dive operators, visit http://www.UtoDive.com.

This stylish collection comprises an elegant pendant, ring, earrings, bracelet, and bangles in rose gold covered with a mix of diamonds and agate to dazzle the hopeful Valentine.

Time for love

Audemar Piguet too sings a hymn to l’amour with selection of timepieces specially curated for Valentine’s Day. For him, there’s the classic Royal Oak Extra-Thin “Jumbo” in yellow gold with the distinct “Petite Tapisserie” dial in blue which evokes a delightful 1970s aesthetic while offering the very latest in fit, finish, accuracy and reliability. For her, look no further than the 18-carat yellow gold Royal Oak Quartz 33 mm edition accentuated by 40 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.73 carats) on the bezel, as well as the “Grande Tapisserie” pattern on the silver dial, featuring yellow gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.

Clocking the games

Omega, the Swiss luxury watch brand will continue to fulfil its role of Official Timekeeper at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, a global partnership with the International Olympic Committee that’s been extended through 2032. To mark the occasion, Omega has released the limited edition Seamaster Planet Ocean “PyeongChang 2018” watch, an aesthetically striking timepiece in bold blue and red (the colours of the South Korean flag) and a technological marvel. Cased in stainless steel, this 43.5-mm timepiece features a polished blue ceramic dial with applied rhodium-plated indexes, coated with white Super-LumiNova that emits a blue glow. These same qualities are shared by the hour and seconds hands. The minute hand, in line with the dot on the bezel, emits a green glow. The unidirectional rotating diving bezel features the world’s first polished blue ceramic ring with rubber and Omega Liquidmetal diving scale. Omega Liquidmetal has also been used for the minute scale. Protecting the face of the watch is a domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, while the new alveol-patterned screw-in caseback is engraved in blue with the words “Planet Ocean” and “Limited Edition”. It’s yours for Bt241,000.

Lips that need to be kissed

For petallike lips that stay soft and supple, look no further than Japanese brand Three’s Song of Ascendance collection.The colour exudes its presence while blending into the facial expression, leaving no harsh lines between the skin and the lips. Available in seven shaes, it’s yours for Bt1,200 from Three counters in leading department stores.

Symbolising devotion, protection and bravery, the dog takes centre stage in Panpuri’s True Bond Perfume Candle, which features a refreshing aroma blended with peony and red berries above a mantle of delicate jasmine and green tea, enveloping any space with finesse and purity.

The candle is formulated with no harmful chemicals such as paraffin, aluminium, mineral oils, parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalate, SLS, SLES and silicone. It employs a blend of premium soy wax, which is produced from the oil of soybeans through hydrogenation process. Using soy wax as the candle’s main ingredient sustains the livelihood of soybean farmers while avoiding danger to the environment. Each True Bond Perfume Candle is made to burn slowly and cleanly as well as ensuring that no toxins nor carcinogens are released into the air.

Conveying an air of subtle elegance, True Bond Perfume Candle is encased in a unique ivory ceramic vessel intricately designed with the signature Panpuri peacock pattern and crafted using clay chosen for its exceptional eco-friendly properties. The ceramic vessel also guarantees consumer safety with its food container grade quality, as it is free from lead, cadmium and other heavy metals. The candle, available in 260 grams, is packaged in a matte, white, wood-free case, making it an ideal gift for loved ones or a personal home adornment.

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

area. The opening follows 20 highly successful years for the popular US network of schools, which consistently produces students of the highest calibre.

The BASIS curriculum is a system that OFTEN sees youngsters going on to attend the best universities. The network has stated its mission is to raise the standards of student learning to highest international levels. The schools only recruit faculty members who are experts in their respective fields as well as managers who are ambitious, passionate, and empathetic.

The new Bangkok school was conceived after studies showed a growing demand in Thailand for a more ambitious education system following huge demand for places at the BASIS International Schools in Shenzhen, which was established in 2015, and Guangzhou, China, which opened in 2017.

“In today’s digitised global world, the need for professional, multilingual international teachers with a real interest in children’s futures and an ability to help structure them is regarded as increasingly important,” said Carolyn McGarvey, chief executive of BASIS International. “That’s the goal of BASIS International School Bangkok: putting children in a place that provides them with the best opportunities for what lies ahead.”

The BASIS Curriculum operates from preschool to 12th grade. Initially, the Bangkok school will serve students up to 5th grade, adding a minimum of one extra grade a year.

For more information, please visit http://www.BasisInternationalBkk.com/