1. Ang pow

Is there a minimum sum that an ang pow should contain? Must the amount always be an even number? Can I put coins or old notes into an ang pow? Can I put a 4D ticket in place of physical money into an angpow?

Angpow, or red packets, are traditionally handed out by married couples to their parents, single adults and children during the Chinese New Year celebrations as tokens of good fortune and blessing. There is said to be no rule in terms of the amount that should go into an ang pow, as the act of giving a red packet is meant to be a gesture of blessing and not a transaction.

According to Chinese tradition, good things come in pairs, so an even number is preferred. You won’t go wrong with the number eight, as the number sounds like prosperity in Mandarin. Don’t give RM4, as it is the Chinese homonym for death.

image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2018/02/10/04/32/angpowfile.ashx?la=en

Dr Kang Ger-Wen, course chair for Chinese Studies in Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Humanities and Social Science, says that in the olden days in China, people would put coins into ang pow without notes. That was because coins were valuable to people then, before paper notes came about. These days, however, he has seen that it is no longer a custom to put coins into a ang pow.

Associate Professor Lim Lee Ching, vice-dean at the School of Human Development and Social Services at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, says there are no rules against putting coins into an ang pow. He adds that when the gold-coloured S$1 coins were first introduced in the 1980s, there was much excitement and people would use them in ang pow because the coin’s colour and its octagonal inset were considered auspicious. He says there are no rules against putting old notes into an ang pow either.

Customarily, people do prefer new notes, which accompany the idea of spring and renewal. However, Prof Lim says if we think back to the origins of ang pow – which were first given by parents in China to their children in the form of coins – there were no banks minting new coins just to meet such demands.

On whether a 4D ticket can be inserted into an ang pow in place of physical money, Dr Kang says it’s perfectly acceptable.

In the event that the receiver of the ang pow wins money from the lucky draw, it will be viewed that the sum won was from the giver of the ang pow.

2. Pussy willow

Why is the pussy willow popular during this festive season?

Because pussy willow plants (also known as catkins) bear their furry buds from late winter onwards, they signify the beginning of spring.

Its Chinese name, yin liu, sounds like “money flowing in”.

Some Chinese also believe that plants with abundant buds will bring good fortune.

3. Yee sang

What are the origins of the custom of eating yee sang during CNY?

The raw fish salad has been the speciality of China’s Guangdong province for centuries and it is eaten there all year round.

image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2018/02/10/04/20/cny-yee-sang.ashx?h=627&w=940&la=en

It was brought to Singapore by Cantonese immigrants in the 1940s, and later popularised as a Chinese New Year dish by chefs from Lai Wah Restaurant in Bendemeer Road. Over the years, the salad has become a riot of colours and flavours, including red-and green-dyed radish strips, candied orange peel, and even the use of salmon.

The practice of eating it, complete with the high drama of tossing the ingredients into the air while loudly declaring auspicious wishes during Chinese New Year, is said to be unique to Singapore and Malaysia.

4. Reunion dinner

image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2018/02/10/04/19/cny-reunion-dinner.ashx?la=en

How did the concept of a reunion dinner come about?

Before modern and affordable forms of transport came about, it was difficult for family members living in different parts of China to return to their hometown more than once a year.

Chinese New Year was the only time when they would make the journey home for a reunion.

Today, the dinner is traditionally held on the eve of Chinese New Year, and serves as an occasion for family bonding.

5. Lion dance

image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2018/02/10/04/20/liondance-reuters.ashx?la=en

Why do we see lion dance performances especially during CNY?

The lion is thought to be an auspicious animal that symbolises courage, determination and resourcefulness.

The lion dance is therefore believed to bring good fortune to those who watch it.

6. Mandarin oranges

Why do we exchange mandarin oranges during CNY?

This began as a southern Chinese custom.

The Cantonese pronunciation of giving mandarin oranges – “song kam” – is the same as “giving gold”, therefore it signifies wishing prosperity upon the recipient.

7. Bak kwa

Why do we eat bak kwa during CNY?

Bak kwa (barbecued pork jerky) is a delicacy that is said to have originated from Fujian province in China, where the people were poor and where meat was a festive treat reserved for Chinese New Year.

To make the treat last longer, the pork was sliced thinly, marinated with sugar and spices, air-dried and cooked over a hot plate.

The delicacy subsequently made its way to Singapore, where the pork slices are usually air-dried, then grilled over charcoal for a sweet and smoky flavour.

Beyond being tasty, the jerky is also called “long yoke” in Cantonese, which means to have good fortune.

8. Goodies

Why do we eat goodies such as pineapple tarts, kueh bangkit and love letters during CNY?

Pineapple tarts are said to be taken from the Straits Chinese or Peranakans’ cookie repertoire, which later found their way to become a must-eat during the festive season.

The Cantonese term for pineapple is “wong lai” – which conveys the idea of ushering in prosperity.

That suggests that Straits-born Chinese or Malays gave the original a local twist.For the same reason, kueh bangkit, which is made from tapioca flour and coconut milk, is likely a Peranakan or Malay invention.

“This award represents part of our wider engagement programme aiming to promote strong role models who can inspire future generations of cooks. Chef Bee is doing just that with her bold and authentic Thai cooking in one of the world’s greatest food cities,” said William Drew, group editor of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

A self-taught chef, Bongkoch honed her culinary skills while working in her family’s restaurant. Since opening the original Paste in 2013 with her Australia-born chef husband Jason Bailey, Bongkoch has committed herself to educating diners on the complexity, layers and refined flavours of Thai cuisine. The couple went on to open the current incarnation of the restaurant in Bangkok’s Gaysorn Village luxury mall in 2015.

Dedicated to honouring culinary traditions, Bongkoch references centuries-old Thai cookbooks to revive long-forgotten recipes and rare ingredients. Drawing inspiration from royal Thai cuisine, she brings an artisanal approach to her cooking. As well as sourcing fresh produce from local growers, curry pastes are made in-house and food is smoked with lychee wood, coconut husks and coconut meat.

Renowned for her technical expertise and creative flair, Bongkoch creates dishes that are defined by their authentic flavours, contrasting textures and attention to detail. Striking a delicate balance between tradition and innovation, she reinterprets traditional Thai cuisine in a modern context, combining ancient and contemporary techniques alongside surprising twists.

“My dream has always been to introduce the world to an elevated version of Thai cuisine. While I am surprised and shocked to receive this award, it inspires me for the future,” she said.

Previous holders of the Asia’s Best Female Chef title include Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava from Thailand (2013), Lanshu Chen from Taiwan (2014), Hong Kong’s Vicky Lau (2015), Margarita Fores of the Philippines (2016) and May Chow from Hong Kong (2017).

Traditionally, Spring Festival celebrations last for nearly a month, starting from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (La Yue in Chinese) until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month (Zheng Yue in Chinese).

This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Feb 16, which marks the Year of the Dog, according to the Chinese zodiac sign, and the Lantern Festival is to be celebrated on March 2.

The 24th day of La Yue: Thoroughly clean the house

[Photo/CGTN]

According to Chinese folklore, most deities on earth return to heaven on this day to report on their work. It is a perfect occasion for people to thoroughly clean their houses without worrying about offending household gods.

The 25th day of La Yue: Grinding bean curd (tofu)

[Photo/CGTN]

One day after the deities’ review, the Highest Emperor in heaven descends on earth to see for himself if every family is leading a frugal and hardworking life. To show they do, people usually have bean curd on this day. The tradition reflects the virtue of austerity of Chinese people during times of hardship.

The 26th day of La Yue: Cooking meat

[Photo/CGTN]

In an agrarian society like ancient China, most families could only afford to eat meat on special occasions, as meat was considered a sign of affluence. People preferred braising the meat in a brown sauce as the color was believed to suggest a prosperous life for the upcoming year.

The 27th day of La Yue: Showering, washing clothes

[Photo/CGTN]

Chinese people would wash themselves and their clothes on this day according to folk customs. It is said that taking a bath can help you get rid of bad luck and illnesses, so that you can enjoy good health in the year to come.

The 28th day of La Yue: Kneading dough, making cake

[Photo/CGTN]

With the meat dish cooked, people would traditionally begin preparing staples for the upcoming Spring Festival. Since food crops differ between Chinese regions – wheat in the North and rice in the South, the dishes are naturally different. Northerners would knead the dough to make steamed buns, while Southerners pound glutinous rice to steam “year cake” or niangao.

The 29th day of La Yue: Honoring ancestors

[Photo/CGTN]

One day before Spring Festival Eve, people sweep the tombs of deceased family members and burn incense and joss paper at the front doors of their houses to show respect for the ancestors and invite their spirits to spend the night.

The 30th day of La Yue: Spring Festival Eve

[Photo/CGTN]

The 30th day of La Yue marks Spring Festival Eve, when family members gather for a big reunion, which is especially meaningful for those who have been away from home for either work or study. Feasting on a banquet and watching the Spring Festival Gala on television have become an annual fixture for almost all Chinese. People stay up late and ring in the New Year with their loved ones.

The first day of Zheng Yue: New Year greetings

[Photo/CGTN]

The first month of the lunar year is called Zheng Yue. Getting up early on this day is as much a tradition as is staying up later the night before. People pay visits to relatives and friends with gifts and auspicious messages. Popular greetings include “good fortune,” “good health” and “happiness.”

The second day of Zheng Yue: Married daughters visit childhood homes

In the past, married daughters would visit their parents’ houses with their husbands and children on this day. Such a tradition allowed the women of the family to reunite and catch up on each other’s lives. In modern times, however, it is more of a continuity of mutual visits between relatives and friends.

The 15th day of Zheng Yue: Lantern Festival

[Photo/CGTN]

The 15th day of Zheng Yue marks the official end of the Spring Festival and is a festival in its own right – the Lantern Festival. At night, streets are decorated with lanterns featuring riddles waiting to be solved. Also on the menu is tangyuan, glutinous rice balls typically filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste or peanut butter.

The price of Sony’s NWWM1Z Walkman High-Resolution Audio Player – close to Bt110,000 – might come as a shock to the ears, but rest assured they’ll soon be soothed by the unit’s impressive build and incredible sound quality. The WM1Z is part of the Sony Signature Series designed by its audio engineers, and at 455 grams it’s quite weighty compared to most MP3 players.

There’s a reassuring sturdiness to it in the hand, a sign that top-notch components are at play inside the 19.9mm casing.

You see the covers of the albums of the music you’re hearing on a four-inch touch-screen display with 854×480-pixel resolution.

The responsive touch screen makes it convenient to operate the player. The classic interface is tailored to make it easy for passionate audiophiles to use.

There are 256 gigabytes of internal storage, enough for libraries of Hi-Res Audio files, and even that can be boosted further with a micro-SD card.

The WM1Z supports the High-Resolution Audio format DSD Native (11.2MHz) as well as popular formats like MP3, WAV, AIFF, WMA, AAC, HEACC, FLAC and ALAC.

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) audio files are made early in the production process and thus retain the most authentic details of the original recording. The ability to play native DSD files means the WM1Z is geared to highlevel performance and sound quality.

The heaviness is due to the high-grade, gold-plated, oxygen-free-copper chassis. Sony believes that copper should enhance the Walkman’s audio performance since it’s so widely used in musical instruments.

The Walkman also uses special wiring and circuit board designs to increase quality, such as four-wire braided Kimber Kables handcrafted to handle high power and improve the sound.

Newly developed FT Caps (highpolymer capacitors) regulate power flow, and a Fine Sound Register ensures effective distribution of power to the circuit components.

Sony’s own DC Phrase Linearizer replicates a wide variety of sonic signatures. It applies digital-signal processing to match the phase characteristics of various types of analog amplifiers for a more analog-like sound.

You can choose from six phase-character settings – Type A low, standard and high and Type B low, standard and high.

A single balanced plug designed for 4.4mm balanced connection cable is provided, as it is with the Z1R Sony Signature headphones. The balanced connection separates left and right sound signals while minimising signal loss.

The WM1Z is great with lossless DSD files because of the new SMaster HX digital amp technology developed to be compatible with native DSD, balanced and high-output power formats to reduce distortion and noise.

It can also upscale normal MP3 files and lower-quality files with DSEE HX technology.

The WM1Z is intuitive to use, thanks to both its touch screen and side-key control. On the right side are controls for volume, play and pause and skipping tracks, and on the left a lock button so you don’t accidentally press the wrong control button.

You can search for files stored internally or on a mounted micro-SD card by Album, Artist, Genre, Release Year, Composer, Playlist, Hi-Res, Recent Transfers and Folder. The option of displaying songs by folder is great, because you can categorise your own songs.

The Sens-Me Channels function automatically groups tracks by theme, so you can play tracks to suit your mood, current activity, time of day and more – but the tracks must be analysed by “Music Center for PC” before they’re transferred to the Walkman.

I tested the WM1Z with the Z1R Signature headphones and Signature headphone amplifier ZH1ES and noted great sound quality in the Hi-Res Audio files, with fine details in the music and powerful bass.

And, when playing DSD files, the music quality was outstanding, both via the headphone amp and directly through the headphones. I spent an hour easily imagining myself sitting in a concert hall while the Eagles performed live.

If you have Sony’s wireless Hi-Res Audio headphones and want to listen to songs from the WM1Z, you can enjoy its LDAC wireless Bluetooth streaming – but the music quality is lower than what you hear when using a balanced audio cable connection to Hi-Res Audio headphones, especially to the Z1R.

The battery life is admirable. Count on listening to FLAC 96kHz/24bit files for 30 hours straight and MP3 128kbps tracks for about 33 hours.  When used with the ZH1ES amp, the amp automatically recharges the battery, so it’s never depleted.

Sony’s NWWM1Z Signature Series Walkman has a suggested retail price of Bt109,990.

Key Specs

– Display: Four-inch TFT touch screen with 854×480 pixels

– USB port: USB 2.0 compatible 22-pin WM port

– Headphones: Stereo mini-jack, balanced standard-jack

– Bluetooth: 4.2, supporting codecs SBC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, NFC

– Supported audio formats: AAC (NonDRM), AIFF, ALAC, DSD, FLAC, HEAAC, Linear PCM, MP3, WMA (NonDRM)

– Frequency response: 20 to 40,000Hz

– Storage: 256GB internal storage, expandable with micro-SD card

– Battery: Charging time seven hours, 30 hours of FLAC 96kHZ/24bit files playback

– Dimensions: 72.9×124.2×19.9mm

– Weight: 455 grams

Promising to deliver “every note and every nuance”, Sony’s MDRZ1R headphones are one part of the Japanese manufacturer’s latest Signature Series, which Sony says, transcend the limits of high resolution sound. The three other signature products are the TAZH1ES headphone amplifier and two Walkman players – the NWWM1Z and the NWWM1A.

I got to try the Z1R with the Walkman WM1Z and the amp and I can confirm that the sounds are very impressive, with true-to-life details of all musical instruments as well as a deep and solid bass and exquisite vocals.

Sony says its engineers have accumulated all their experience from the invention of the iconic Walkman in 1979 through to its championing of High-Resolution Audio as the new standard in sound quality in 2003 to achieve the Signature Series. It adds, again proudly says the Signature Series is the latest innovation to break new ground within the high-end audio landscape, with the fine-tuning and precision of the products optimised by its leading sound engineers.

All promo hype aside, the Z1R headphones really do sound really great thanks to their large 70mm dome type drivers. Normally, a headphone driver measures about 40mm. The newly developed diaphragm with Magnesium dome and Liquid Crystal Polymer edge enables up to 120kHz playback in High Resolution Audio and bass are as deep as 4Hz. The result is unparalleled sound purity and precision.

The ergonomic sheep-skin ear pads are designed to comfortably encase your head in sound, preventing any from leaking in or out and effectively reproducing powerful bass. Moreover, the Z1R uses a special acoustic filter that controls the air resistance and eliminates any reverberations produced by driver movement, giving you only cleanest, crispest sounds.

The titanium and leather headband is flexible, light and durable. The titanium has high elasticity, meaning that it returns to its original shape even when bent. During the test, I listened to music for hours without suffering any discomfort.

Instead of using one-end audio cable plugin, the Z1R has two separate left and right audio inplugs for better sound quality. And the package comes with a newly developed 4.4mm balanced connection cable that separates left and right sound signals while minimising signal transmission loss. The balanced cable jack can plug into the WM1Z Walkman and ZH1ES headphone amplifier. A 3.5mm audio cable is also provided for connecting to players or smartphones that have a standard 3.5mm stereo jack.

Both 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm cables are silver-coated oxygen-free copper cables, which are designed to minimise resistance and signal transmission loss. This results in less sound degradation, finer detail and smoother treble.

The package comes with hard case for storing the headphones and with separate compartments for cables.

During the test with WM1Z directly and with the sounds amplified by ZH1ES headphone amp, the headphones reproduced faithful sound quality. The bass sounds were very deep and powerful and the musical instruments sounded authentic.

When I listened to Eliane Elias’ “That Old Feeling”, I fell in love all over again with her beautiful voice and the iconic trumpet solos of Chet Baker. And even though both of these were outstanding, they didn’t detract from the bass, percussion and guitar in the background. The test file was encoded in FLAC 96kHz/24bit format, which is a step below than the full Hi-Res Audio format of FLAC 192kHz/24bit.

When I listened to The Eagles’ “Hotel California”, which was encoded in FLAC 192kHz/24bit, all the instrument details could be heard.

I also listened to Metallica’s “The Unforgiven” in FLAC 96kHz/24 bit format and the bass drum sounded solid while the lead guitar was outstanding and even the cymbals were pleasing.

Sony MDRZ1R has a suggested retail price of Bt69,990.

Key Specs

– Driver Unit: 70 mm, dome type (CCAW Voice Coil)

– Magnet: Neodymium

– Dynamic Type: Closed, dynamic (circumaural)

– Impedance: 64 ohms

– Frequency Response: 4 Hz  120,000 Hz

– Sensitivities: 100 dB/mW

– Weight: 385g without cable

– What’s In the Box: Uni-match Plug Adaptor (Goldplated); Headphone cable (approx. 3.0m, silver-coated OFC strands, Gold-plated stereo mini plug); Balanced-connection headphone cable (approx. 1.2 m, silvercoated OFC strands, Lshaped goldplated balanced standard plug); Hard Case

IN WHAT CAN only be considered a remarkable demonstration of energy and determination, 20 pairs of cyclists – one with normal eyesight, the other with diminished vision – recently rode tandems over an impressive 867 kilometres from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The charity cycling trip dubbed “No One Left Behind” took them through nine provinces in nine days, finishing up at the under-construction Asean Disability Training Centre in Chiang Dao to the cheers and applause of their many supporters.

“The most important thing about riding tandem is communication,” says Yanisa Ekmahachai, 61, of her ride with Chaiwat Chalaoprakon, 27, who is blind.

“We have to trust each other and adjust our pedalling so that it’s in harmony, otherwise the chain becomes loose and falls off.”

“Riding a tandem was very difficult at first because of the control required, especially when turning left or right. It’s essential to harmonise and understand each other. Encouragement is important too. Whenever exhaustion set in as we cycled up hills, Prakong would shout ‘Lop Buri, Fight, Fight!’” agrees Manas Klomkool, a 56-year-old teacher with the Christian Foundation for the Blind in Lop Buri who paired up with Prakong Buayai, a 29-year-old athlete with the National Blind Football Team.

Riding a tandem is very different from single-bike cycling, adding a whole new dimension to the road and the way you ride it. And contrary to what some people might imagine, being married or living together doesn’t mean you will tandem well together. That said, the teamwork required by tandem cycling does strengthen friendship and rapport between riders.

The sighted rider, called the pilot, sits at the front of the bike and communicates what’s ahead to the person with vision loss, called the stoker, in the back seat.

Like many other professional sighted cyclists, Yanisa and Manas didn’t have any experience in riding a tandem and were initially wary of the task ahead. Both spent many months practising with their respective partners, learning how to ride together and have fun doing it while remembering to provide their fellow rider with useful information about upcoming surface changes, obstacles, turns, hills, and when to brake.

“Because I had never ridden tandem or even in the company of someone with diminished eyesight, I got it wrong sometimes, especially at the beginning,” Yanisa admits.

“I would tell him we needed to cover 100 or 200 metres to reach the top of the hill so he could support my speed. We argued about the gear we should use to climb the slope of Au Long in Ratchaburi and it wasn’t until afterwards that I found that the reason he wanted to use a lower gear was because he was exhausted. And I never imagined we would be able to climb so many hills. It was kind of discouraging cycling over six kilometres of hilly terrain between Phrae and Lampang, though.”

“I feel the cadence while cycling and because I can’t see, I’ve had to learn cycling techniques. While we were cycling through Suan Phueng in Ratchaburi, our chain fell off but we didn’t inform the staff. If we’d said anything, our tandem would have been loaded onto a truck. So, I rode alone for 20km. I suffered from a sore butt but not really from cramp,” says Buriram-born Chaiwat, who first experienced tandem cycling with his mother. “I once rode from Nakhon Pathom to Suan Phueng in Ratchaburi, a distance of 235 kilometres in one day, then slept at Chom Bueng.”

Manas adopted another approach, giving step-by-step information along the road to Prakong.

“At first, I told him to turn left or turn right, but after cycling for awhile, we were in harmony and didn’t need any words,” says Manas with a laugh. “He would ask me if there was a curve or hill coming up and sometimes I would tell him jokingly that it wasn’t far.”

“Actually, he must tell me about the route,” says Prakong, who will be attending a football camp in Spain organised by the 2018 Blind Football World Championship in June.

“I didn’t worry about coming down the hills but climbing them. If I knew how far we were from the top of the hill, I could save my energy. However, Kru Manas has more energy and I trust him.”

“No One Left Behind” was organised to raise funds for the construction of an Asean disability training centre in Chiang Dao district which, when completed, will empower and provide opportunities to the disabled in the area, generating greater income and reducing poverty.

“The world of impairment will no longer be such an outlier in Thai society if we have empowerment and live in a barrier-free ambience. These days, it’s very hard for people with disabilities to live among the able-bodied. One day, it will be an inclusive society – one where no one is left behind,” says Professor Wiriya Namsiripongpan, president of the Universal Foundation for People with Disabilities.

A HELPING HAND

– To support the construction of the Asean Disability Training Centre in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai go to http://yimsoo.org/nooneleftbehind.html.

Sony’s pricey TAZH1ES headphone amplifier can unleash the full potential of the headphones they’re meant to be used with, ensuring that you get the full emotional impact of songs the way the artists intended.

Another component of the Sony Signature Series, the ZH1ES is designed to work best with the Z1R headphones and WM1Z Signature Walkman also reviewed on this page.

I got to test all three together and was bowled over by the sound quality.

More than just an amplifier, the ZH1ES also functions as a DAC (digital to analogue converter). It can receive digital-source files from your computer through a USB port or the WM1Z via a dedicated Walkman port.

The ZH1ES then enhances the sound quality of the digital audio files and converts the input to analogue audio signals for your high-priced headphones.

Sony’s SMaster technology and new DA hybrid amplifier circuit boost both precision and sound quality. The SMaster amplifies music signals digitally before the amp further hikes the sound, and there’s no distortion at all.

The ZH1ES supports headphones with impedance of up to 600 ohms.

Sony says the DA Hybrid Amplifier Circuit was developed to be optimised with an advanced FPGA (field-programmable gate array) processor. The amp comes with a DC Phase Linearizer to effectively replicate a wide variety of sonic signatures. It applies digital-signal processing to match the phase characteristics of various types of analog amplifier.

Best of all, the ZH1ES has Sony’s DSD Remastering Engine, so you can convert all PCM music sources into DSD 11.2Mhz for much better quality, making use of the FPGA processor.

When you play files that aren’t Hi-Res Audio, the ZH1ES can upscale the quality close to it using DSEE HX technology.

The ZH1ES is capable of reproducing high-quality music because its chassis is designed to isolate the circuit board from vibration. Minimising vibration and preventing lateral movement reduces noise, so you get a cleaner, purer sound. The walls derive from a large aluminium block and are highly rigid.

The top panel is a combination of steel and aluminium to eliminate unnecessary resonance.

The amplifier provides a variety of headphone output connections. It has one 4.4mm balanced connector for Z1R’s balanced jack, a set of three-pole mini-plugs 3.5mm in diameter, an XLR4 plug (balanced four-pin), a standard 6.3mm unbalanced headphone jack, and a 3.5mm unbalanced stereo mini-jack.

You can also connect the audio out jacks (pre-out) to an integrated amplifier of your home sound system or an active speaker system.

The ZH1ES has several terminals to support a variety of input devices, including a Walkman digital port, TV sets and a Sony PlayStation console.

You can, for example, connect Lineout jacks to the Linein L/R jacks of the ZH1ES at the back of the amp, or a digital coaxial output jack from a CD player to the coaxial-in jack of the ZH1ES. Or you can connect a digital optical output from a CD player to the Opt-in jack of the amplifier.

I was pleased to note the USBB port at the back for hooking up a notebook or desktop computer so you can use Sony’s Hi-Res Audio Player to transport Hi-Res Audio files. They’ll be decoded and amplified without the need of a Hi-Res Audio music player.

Of course, the star of the connection ports is the port for connecting a Sony Walkman player, like the WM1Z, for channelling digital Hi-Res Audio files to the amp.

I found that Hi-Res Audio music files, especially DSD files, played from the WM1Z to the ZH1ES and heard through Z1R headphones had excellent sound quality. The musical instruments sounded realistic and the bass and drums sounded solid, deep and powerful.

When the ZH1S received DSD files from the WM1Z, it amplified the music without converting, but FLAC Hi-Res Audio files were upscaled in sampling rate to enhance the quality.

For example, when I played a FLAC 96kHz/24-bit file, the ZH1ES converted it to PCM 384MHz/32-bit sampling. It converted FLAC 192kHz/24-bit files to PCM384MHz/32-bit.

Sony’s Signature Series TAZH1ES headphone amplifier has a suggested retail price of Bt75,990.

Key Specs

– Output power: Balanced 1200mW + 1200mW (32ohms 1kHz 1 per cent), unbalanced 300mW + 300mW (32ohms 1kHz per cent)

– Playing frequency range: 4Hz200kHz

– Frequency response: 4Hz 80kHz

– Impedance: 8 to 600 ohms

– Headphone output balanced: Balanced, balanced standard (4.4mm diameter), three-pole mini (balanced connection, 3.5mm), two XLR4 (balanced fpin)

– Headphone output unbalanced: Standard (6.3mm diameter), stereo mini (3.5mm)

– Other input/output: Walkman / Xperia Input, USBB Input, Coaxial Input, Optical Input, Line L/R Input, Pre out (variable / fixed)

– Dimensions: 210x65x314mm including projecting parts and controls

– Weight: 4.4 kilograms

What few dog lovers know is that there are three dog-related fish species and there’s no better time than Chinese New Year to make their acquaintance at Sea Life Bangkok, the world-class aquarium at Siam Paragon.

The fish with the greatest resemblance to a dog is the Dog-Faced Puffer with its round eyes and dog-like snout, but that is where the resemblance ends. A lot less friendly that the four-legged pooch, the puffer contains deadly tetrodotox, said to be up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide.

Wolf Eels are eels with fierce wolf-like features and strong jaws that easily allow them to handle hard-shell preys. Their most striking characteristic features are a large head and wide gaping mouth with sharp fangs.

Admission is Bt990 for adults and Bt790 for kids aged three to 11.

Find out more at http://www.SeaLifeBangkok.com or call (02) 687-2000.

The event lives up to its “Lantern Festival” theme with 999 dazzling sculpted lanterns that symbolise prosperity. Entertainers from China and fortune-enhancing activities are among the highlights, along with special offers co-sponsored by Kbank Credit Card, for Thai and Chinese visitors.

The festivities are slated to run from February 15 to 18 at all three malls.

“Chinese New Year is a festival of joy for both Thais of Chinese descent and Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, so the three shopping centres have united under the banner of ‘One Siam’ for this major event,” said Mayuree Chaipromprasith, senior executive VP for marketing at Siam Piwat.

“Each venue promises a motley range of lively activities, highlighting the image of One Siam as a popular destination for holidaymakers from all over the world. This year, we bring a ‘Digital Angbao’ (Red Envelope) so that you can give your blessings away via such platforms as Facebook and our website. A variety of prizes including gift cards and discounts are also up for grabs. Another way to join in the fun is by downloading our AR application called Flash Venture to find and catch all 12 Chinese zodiac animals scattered throughout the three shopping centres.”

On Thursday (February 15), the performances start at 6pm and include a Chinese New Year drum show fronted by starlet Nicha Nattanicha, interspersed with a graceful dance performed by native Chinese dancers and a Chinese lion dance featuring Mario Maurer.

From Thursday through Sunday, Parc Paragon will be lit with 999 coloured sculpted lanterns symbolising prosperity and wealth. The installations in the shape of 12 Chinese zodiac animals measuring 2.5m in height dot the open space dwarfed by the five-metre-tall dog-shaped centre piece marking the Year of the Dog. Meanwhile, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Thailand brings in a host of unforgettable productions involving an exuberant blending of China’s unique ethnic culture with Han Chinese influences. The shows, delivered by more than 100 members of performance crews from the city of Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province, China, include a graceful style of various dances, the jaw-dropping Kongzu acrobatics, and displays of ancient Chinese magic. The festival will also present a showcase for music played on the suona, a traditional musical instrument.

Visitors can dress in ancient Chinese outfits for the ultimate photo shoot or simply kick back and relax at the teahouse.

The M Floor of Siam Paragon is adorned throughout with good luck symbols such as red dogs, plum blossoms, and bamboo twigs in the hope that every customer is blessed with wealth, health, and happiness all year round.

Revel in music on the guzheng, erhu and xiao, watch demonstrations of rope braiding, courtesy of Huachiew Chalermprakiat University and admire the plum blossom-decorated arches all over Parc Paragon.

Siam Center is home to a massive selection of high-end fashion brands and creative artworks including an exhibition of sculptures, designed by up-and-coming collage artist NakrobMoonmanas, on the theme “All We Need is Love”.

Lantern-mounted photographs are interconnected with Chinese-inspired chinoiserie patterns featuring couples of various nationalities from all walks of life dressed in red, the symbolic colour of good fortune.

Satongun is a self-taught chef who honed her skills at her family’s restaurant. She opened the original Paste with her Australian-born chef husband Jason Bailey in 2013.  The couple went to open the current incarnation of the restaurant in Bangkok’s Gaysorn Village luxury mall in 2015.

Dedicated to honouring culinary traditions, Satongun looks to centuries-old Thai cookbooks for references to long-forgotten recipes and rare ingredients. She also draws inspiration from royal Thai cuisine, and brings an artisanal approach to her cooking. As well as sourcing fresh produce from local growers, curry pastes are made in-house and food is smoked with lychee wood, coconut husks and coconut meat.

Satongun is renowned for her technical expertise and creative flair. She reinterprets traditional Thai cuisine in a modern context, combining ancient and contemporary techniques.

In a release, Satongun said: “My dream has always been to introduce the world to an elevated version of Thai cuisine. While I am shocked to receive this award, it inspires me for the future.”

Satongun is the second chef from Thailand to win the Best Female Chef prize. Duangporn ‘Bo’ Songvisava won it in 2013, the year this award category was introduced. The award presentation ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will be on March 27 in Macao.

A great food city

The 50 Best organisation, supported by elit® Vodka, is committed to highlighting inspirational and passionate women who demonstrate a progressive vision for gastronomy.

William Drew, group editor of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, said: “This award represents part of our wider engagement programme aiming to promote strong role models who can inspire future generations of cooks. Chef Bee is doing just that with her bold and authentic Thai cooking in one of the world’s greatest food cities.”

Frances Gaillard, international marketing director for Stoli Group, overseeing elit® Vodka, noted: “Bee is a pioneering chef, not only among women, but in the culinary community overall. Her nonconformist approach and masterful combinations will inspire the industry for years to come. As a spirit that prioritises the finest ingredients, elit® Vodka congratulates Bee – a rare talent whose patience produces dishes with unmatched personality.”