The super-portable Wonderboom delivers uncompromising sound quality with clear, crisp, non-stop sound, as well as big, beautiful bass, according to a company press release. These new anywhere-you-go-proof mobile speakers come with vivid colours.

Designed to get wet, muddy and beat up, UE Boom 2 and Wonderboom blast great sound in every direction. Using the same high-quality materials its fans have come to expect from Ultimate Ears, UE Boom 2 is waterproof (IPX 7), drop-proof (from up to 1.5 metres high), disruptive and bold, plus a whole lot of fun. It’s the size of a water bottle, so stick it in your bike’s water bottle holder or clip it to your bag, turn up life and add dimension to any moment.

Building from the award-winning UE Boom 360-degree speaker that Ultimate Ears introduced in 2013, UE Boom 2 is 25 per cent louder with a longer wireless range of 100 feet (30 metres) and a completely waterproof design, so your music can be shared no matter where you are or what you’re doing. It has a 15-hour all-day, all-night battery life, plus new and innovative tap control that allows you to skip songs, without needing to have your phone in hand.

Wonderboom is designed for music lovers who are connected, on-the-move and want their music from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to sleep. They also want their technology in an intuitive form that fits their spirited, spontaneous lives. Wonderboom is about music – with no fuss and no friction. It is a speaker that stands on simplicity and huge sound. Power on, pair, press play.

Want more? The UE button on the top of the speaker lets you play, pause, skip and double up with two Wonderboom speakers for double the fun. You can free your music from your phone and enjoy your music the way it is meant to be heard – out loud. Stream and share your music anytime, anywhere, whether you’re partying by the pool, getting ready for a night out with friends or surviving that muddy, dusty summer festival. If it gets soaked, no worries. If it gets dirty, rinse it off.

UE Boom 2 comes in six new vibrant colour variations: cherrybomb, yeti, phantom, green machine, tropical and brain freeze and retails for Bt6,990. Wonderboom offers six fresh colors: stone (grey), phantom (black), fireball (red), sub-zero (blue), cashmere (pink) and lilac for Bt3,490. Both products are now available at every branch of IT City, according to the release. For further information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pg/ultimateears.

The lineup includes include Afrojack, the popular Dutch DJ who’s a regular at such leading music international festivals as Ultra, Tomorrowland, EDC, Balaton Sound and Untold. Hosting the midnight countdown is none other than EDM superstars ‘Knife Party’ who are making a long awaited come back to Bangkok.

Other names that will be bringing the house down include Chris Lake, one of the DJs from OWSLA, who’s an expert at house music; Lookas, a rising star who was featured on Billboard.com’s Top 10 DJ’s list; DJ Feel, the top trance DJ from Russia; Riot Ten, a trap and dubstep master; as well as Kutski, Quentin Mosimann, Wiwek and Mark Sixma.

There will also be a grand selection of food stalls to satisfy all aappetite, making this countdown a unique and memorable evening for all.

Tickets are available at http://www.TheBangkokCountdown.com and cost from Bt1,500 to Bt2,500.

For updates and news of the event, visit Facebook: TheBangkokCountdown.

Attendance is limited to those aged 20 and over.

New York band Madball returns to Thailand for the first time in two decades with what they claim is the craziest and the most intense hardcore show they have ever performed. They’ll be at Hollywood Ratchadapisek Soi 4 on December 8 at 7pm with two opening acts Ten Baht Per Hour and Indonesia’s Taring. The NYC quartet released their eighth studio album, “Hardcore Lives” in June 2014. Tickets are Bt1,500 at the door.

Game for a laugh

Bangkok Improv, a night of laughs based loosely on hit show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, Theatre Sports and American comedy enterprise “The Second City”, is back tonight at the Comedy Club Bangkok starting at 8.30pm. The show will introduce some new players to the improv scene in Bangko led by an incredibly talented, multi award-winning improviser and featuring the best of Bangkok’s improv comedy community. Tickets are Bt500 at the door. Find out more at http://www.ComedyClubBangkok.com.

Just love to dance

Bangkok Dance Academy stages its 10th charity performance “The 9 Harmonies” this weekend at Aksra Theatre King Power with shows tomorrow night at 7.30 and again on Sunday at 4. The performances give students the opportunity to improve their love for the art of dance, by bringing 20 songs composed by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol to create a story of love and relationships in a family through several generations. Find out more by calling (02) 278 0599 or (081) 868 2447.

Barking happy

Paradise Park pampers pooches and their owners with the “Dog Lover” event taking place on the first floor of the shopping complex on Srinakarin Road from now until December 11. Shoppers will get to meet Instagram doggie stars and shop at 26 specialised stores including Dog Cafe by Dogkery and Puppiness Dog Bakery. There are also four booths offering free health checks and a Dog Paradise Card service. Check it out at http://www.ParadisePark.co.th.

A night of Chinese opera

“Night at the Museum” returns for a seventh year to Museum Siam from December 1517 on the theme “Ngew” (Chinese opera). Running on all three evenings from 4 to 10, it features an exhibition about the history of Chinese opera, costumes and makeup. More than 15 food stalls will be set up around the area to keep visitors sated. Call (02) 225 2777 extension 102 or visit Facebook.com/ museumsiamfan to find out more.

In a moving weekend of activities, franchisee partners from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam joined the Coca and Mango Tree teams of Bangkok in helping the little ones from the Zy Foundation climb the 750-metre Khao Daeng.

Some US$25,000 (Bt814,800) was raised for the Zy Foundation, which will go towards one year’s worth of doctors’ visits for five families, training for 25 therapists specialising in assistance with children with movement difficulties and supporting future Zy Movement Foundation activities.

But it was the inspirational experience of helping and supporting the children during the difficult rocky climb, which often took up to three people per child, that left a strong impression on all participants. They witnessed a level of courage and determination by the children that brought many close to tears.

“It was a moving experience for everyone,” said Coca Restaurants chief executive Pitaya Phanphensophon. “We feel strongly that children deserve equal opportunities but some are less fortunate than others when born. So through this climb we are trying to create greater understanding of the millions of children with movement difficulties throughout Asia and to support and encourage the incredible efforts so far in their lives.”

The Zy Movement Foundation was set up by Walter Lee, whose 11-year-old son Zy was among the 10 climbers with movement difficulties, all of whom came with their families.

“It means a lot to the children and their families to have this kind of support and I am very proud of them all,” Lee said. “The decency and compassion over the two days of the climb to a fellow human being by all participants, offering a hand from their hearts to realise unfulfilled dreams, is nothing short of an act of an angel. It gives the children a level of hope, dignity and camaraderie that is truly raises their spirits.”

A total of 70 people participated in the “Climb To Change A Life” project to Khao Daeng and Mango Tree’s managing partner and managing director Trevor MacKenzie said he hoped that it would lead to climbs in the countries of the restaurant group’s franchisee partners throughout Asia.

“It brought everyone together. We shared some very special moments as colleagues in the most human way possible and for this we are very grateful to the Zy Movement Foundation. The fight of the children as they climbed the mountain was a huge inspiration to us all,” he said. “There is a lot of interest to launch similar programmes overseas and we look forward to being a part of that in the years to come.”

Recognised for its innovative approach to wellness while providing a sanctuary for the mind, body and spirit, its new spa at the Park Hyatt Bangkok was bestowed the New Spa of the Year Award.

Established in 2005, the Annual AsiaSpa Awards recognise the leaders in Asia’s dynamic spa and wellness industry. Recently held at the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong, the award ceremony saw 26 spas, hotels and resorts, retreats, personalities and products honoured for their achievements in high-quality standards and innovation. The judging panel consists of health experts, spa gurus, well-being writers and personalities, chosen for their independent opinions and wide-ranging experience.

Opened in May this year, Panpuri Organic Spa at Park Hyatt Bangkok introduces a world of ultimate indulgence on Park Hyatt Bangkok’s 10th floor, With state-of-the-art facilities and personalised services, the 472-square meter urban escape offers guests a suite of distinctive treatments in eight treatment rooms, including two double suites, tastefully adorned to evoke utmost relaxation.

The spa introduces ultimate luxury, comfort, peace of mind, and personalisation.

Guests are transported into a cocoon of private pampering, treated with utmost attention and care from the moment they enter the spa until their departure.

With its motto, “Everything that touches you is organic”, its range of bathrobes, towels, sheets, fresh fruits and refreshments are carefully selected for their organic properties while each luxurious treatment is underscored by the finest natural and organic Panpuri products since its establishment in 2003, that contain hypo-allergenic, natural plant-based ingredients.

Providing a personal spa experience, the double suites afford couples, friends or families an opportunity to retreat in privacy.

Facilities include female and male only lockers, crystal-steam rooms, laconium dry-heat rooms and whirlpools. Also located within the sanctuary of the spa are “experience showers” that combine relaxing acoustics and rejuvenating aromas.

The modern interior features natural wood and marble with an individually hand-sculpted lotus flower taking centre stage in the treatment rooms. Celebrating intricate craftsmanship and symbolising purity, the lotus flower further adds a touch of serenity in each room.

The spa introduces personalized and tailored sensory experiences to suit guests’ preferences and needs. Each unique space in the Spa provides a context for personalised treatments – which may be customised and administered according to type of massages, specific body areas and massage oils.

For more information, visit http://www.Panpuri.com.

The playful comic characters flowing from the pen of graphic designer Seatapron “Bell” Korwanichakul, aka Painterbell, will be adding an extra sparkle to the colourful lights, ornaments, ribbons and bows decorating the six-metre tall Peninsula Plaza Christmas tree and Painterbell himself will be on hand to sketch some quick portraits. There’ll also be shows and live music from Panyarisa “Waii” Thienprasiddhi, jazz vocalist Buntita “Natt” Prachamorn from “The Voice Thailand Season 3” and Darancharas “Data” Sukheviriya from Channel 7.

The bag is crafted in modern glove-tanned cowhide with an iconic turnlock and a chain strap woven through with a slender ribbon of leather and embellished with intricate embroidery, rivets, faux pearls and pyramid studs all on a cool cluster of die-cut flowers

Birkin in the bag

Rebecca Minkoff introduces a new Holiday and Resort collection inspired by actress Jane Birkin’s living embodiment of elegant nonchalance and her fearless, yet feminine allure. Denim balances ’70s floral while Breton stripes give a nautical nod. Studded leather jackets casually drape over anything. And there’s fluidity and structure in all the right places. Handbags come with statement details like studded top-handles and vintage-inspired metal accents to dress up quiet moments.

Wonder for the wrist

Inspired by a strong and unmistakable signature, the Heure H, created in 1996 under the creative impetus of the designer Philippe Mouquet, the new Heure H is a style that does not follow convention. Its case epitomises a bold and joyful sense of companionship. And now, its capital H is filled with black or white lacquer. Its dial, varnished in black or white, has also been treated with lacquer, in this instance translucent so as to better reveal the pigments it protects. The strap colours, eight in all, alternate the depth of black or white with the vibrancy of red, orange, yellow, blue. The watch comes with an interchangeable strap to suit the wearer’s mood and is available in two versions: the Simple Tour (once- round) and the Double Tour (twice round) – a Hermes emblem invented by Martin Margiela. The lacquered Heure H is available in two sizes: medium and small.

Boots in bloom

Countdown to Christmas Day at Boots Thailand with a wide range of special gift collections. Among them is the Laura Ashley Royal Bloom Advent Calendar (Bt1,590) that comes with 24 mini-sized products from several categories hidden in a little drawer for you to open every day. And after the festivities are over, the box can also be used to store accessories. Other premium and affordable gift sets include the Soap and Glory Glow-Ball (Bt890). See more at Boots stores from now until January 24 or while stocks last.

She’ll again by accompanied by the Randy Cannon Group featuring pianist Randy, drummer Willard Dyson, and leading bass players Therdsak Wongvichien and Alex Sergeenko.

Harrisons’ repertoire is deeply influenced by the soul music of her formative years in Harlem and the gospel music she sang as a child in church. Regarded as one of New York City’s finest jazz vocalists, she still draws deeply on her soul roots of Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Sly Stone, and Johnny Hartman.

With her burnished, soulful alto voice, striking beauty and distinctive blend of jazz, classic ’70s soul, and her own compositions, she is a fixture on the New York jazz scene and has performed with luminaries such as Roy Hargrove, Dr Lonnie Smith, Johnny O’Neal and Grady Tate. She also opened for Cassandra Wilson at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.

In Bangkok, Harrisons will also perform at the Christmas Eve Grande Jazz Dinner Buffet at Rossini’s and The Living Room on Sunday December 24 and at the adults-only New Year’s Eve Jazz Countdown Party at The Living Room on December 31.

Advance reservation is highly recommended to ensure entry to this unforgettable evening at Bangkok’s premier live jazz venue.

Admission fee is Bt300 per person. Guests spending Bt1,000 at any of the hotel’s dining venues will have the fee waived.

Find out more at (02) 649 8353 or email dining.sgs@luxurycollection.com.

There are two back-to-back events in Bangkok today marking a highly anticipated milestone in Thailand’s gastronomic history, when the country’s first-ever MICHELIN stars are announced and awarded to select restaurants and chefs in the Thai capital.

In the afternoon, a press conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok to mark the debut of MICHELIN Guide Bangkok 2018 and to announce the restaurants that will receive MICHELIN stars in the presence of the winning chefs.

Later in the evening, a gala dinner will be held at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok to celebrate the MICHELIN-starred restaurants and present the chefs with their prestigious MICHELIN Star Jackets.

During the gala event, a six-course dinner will be prepared by famous chefs from MICHELIN-starred restaurants around the world and local talents to celebrate the inspirational journey of Thai gastronomy from ancient cooking techniques and long-forgotten recipes to modern sways.

“Since it first launched in 1900 to guide travellers on their journey, the Red Guide has come full circle and it now acts as a driver for culinary travel worldwide. Bangkok boasts an eclectic culinary scene that is both traditional and contemporary, and as local as it is global. We are delighted to help cement Thailand’s reputation as a major culinary destination,” said Segsarn Trai-Ukos, Country Director – Thailand, Michelin Siam.

The winner announcement and awards will be presented by Mr. Michael Ellis, International Director, MICHELIN Guides.

The gala dinner to celebrate the MICHELIN-starred restaurants and chefs will be streamed and broadcast live from Siam Kempinski Hotel from 7:30 p.m. on MICHELIN Guide Thailand’s official Facebook page.

The MICHELIN guide selects the best restaurants and hotels in the 28 countries it covers. Providing a showcase of gourmet dining around the world, it highlights the culinary dynamism of a country, as well as new trends and emerging young chefs. Creating value for restaurants through the distinctions that it attributes each year, the MICHELIN guide contributes to the prestige of the local gastronomy, thereby making cities and countries more attractive to tourists.  Backed by its rigorous selection method and longstanding knowledge of the hospitality industry, the MICHELIN guide provides customers with unique expertise that enables it to offer them a true quality service.

The different selections are available in both print and digital versions. They are accessible via the Web and on a full range of mobile media that offer navigation capabilities adapted to individual usage as well as an on-line booking service.

With the MICHELIN guide, the Group continues to support millions of travelers, allowing them to live a unique mobility experience.

Father’s Day, birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is a good time to consider the way global business innovators and marketing strategists are interested in building brands that give the world more sustainable economies.

It was a concept championed by the late monarch, who applied his philosophy of a “sufficiency economy” to the 4,000 Royal Projects initiated in his name.

The third “Sustainable Brands Bangkok” seminar last week had as its theme “Redefining the Good Life”. On the first of its two days, Khunying Puangroi Diskul Na Ayudhaya, deputy secretary general of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the patronage of Her Royal Highness the late Princess Mother, spoke about “The Good Life according to Thai Royal Wisdom”.

She recalled how the Princess Mother initiated the Doi Tung projects to address chronic illness and poverty among the rural population. “Doi Tung is located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, which used to be a hub for growing opium, and more than 26 hilltribes were involved,” Puangroi said. “Their lives were hopeless.

“Somdej Ya believed that no one sets out to be a bad person, but instead simply never gets the chance to do good. So she initiated projects that allowed people to help themselves and to live more harmoniously with the environment, which is at the heart of sustainability.

“His Majesty King Bhumibol identified the ‘3 S Model’ – Survival, Sufficiency and Sustainability – to raise people’s quality of life. He said people needed to have a sense of ownership before they would be interested in solving a problem at its roots. The forest in those areas was improved and the area even began attracting tourists.”

Khunying Puangroi noted that the United Nations adapted the late King’s ideas into its 15-year global development strategy. “The Mae Fah Luang Foundation is responding to the UN goal of sustainable development in accordance with the wishes of King Bhumibol and the Princess Mother.”

In an address on “How Food Can Sustain Life”, Pipatpong Israsena Na Ayudhya, managing director of Doi Kham, defined “good food” as “anything that has health benefits for the consumer”.

Doi Kham is an experimental farm initiated by King Bhumibol to develop alternative crops for the hilltribes. Its processing plants near the plantations ensure freshness in raw materials and tastier produce.

“His Majesty wished to develop social and environmental entrepreneurship and improve the quality of life of farmers and consumers on a fair basis,” Pipatpong said. “So the emphasis is on sustainable development. After more than 40 years of business, Doi Kham remains determined to continuously innovate and develop international-standard products for sale at reasonable prices.

“Since we are a small-scale company in the food industry, we’re able to operate differently. We know that if everything remains sustainable, we will succeed. If not, no matter how much profit we earn, it would never be enough.”

INSPIRATIONAL speaker Thomas Kolster, another featured guest at the seminar, likes to play with words. He talks about the power of advertising in making people cry or buy, and says marketing is from Mars while sustainability is from Venus.

The author of “Goodvertising”, one of the most comprehensive books to date about the world-bettering power of advertising, Kolster examines the responsibility of advertising and why its role must change.

“My mission is to change brands, to help them focus and play a much bigger role in social contributions. However, so often it is difficult to get that story right. When people talk about a ‘good life’, usually they are already living a good life. They are preserving nature resources already, they’re perhaps even growing the food they eat today. So can sustainability become simpler? For instance, why are food labels so difficult to read? The goal is to make it simple. Wouldn’t it be great if McDonalds said ‘One burger is equal to one hour exercise’. That’s something everyone can understand. So making communication exciting is important.”

Kolster expounded further on this theme in a sit-down interview with The Nation. Excerpts:

TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ADVERTISING AND SUSTAINABILITY, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THEM?

My background is in advertising and I became very frustrated with the development of the ad industry. It was out of touch with the real world. Sustainability is complex but marketing needs to be simple and emotional. It needs to move you. There is no obvious solution other than to bridge the complex and simple, the rational and the emotional, and measurement versus excitement. Brands are not good enough at creating those bridges. So things had to change.

IS THE TREND OF BRINGING SUSTAINABILITY IN ADVERTISING AIMED AT ATTRACTING

CONSUMER ATTENTION?

Definitely, marketing must do more than just promote brands. Future success depends on how these brands behave across the whole marketing mix. I think the next evolution is going to be sustainable transformation. There are five mega trends that that shaping how brands behave today, namely climate change, resources, urbanisation, population growth and economic change. And some brands are already looking at marketing in the much more holistic way. For example, Phillips no longer sells light bulbs, it sells lighting as a service. Car companies too have moved from selling cars to selling mobility in getting from A to B.

But agencies and clients are still telling us what we need rather than showing us the way to a sustainably abundant future. Agencies should be better at adapting but they still stick to the old styles and stories that have been already been told. That’s the challenge.

CAN CONSUMERS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE COMPANIES WITH CSR PROJECTS AND THE BRANDS ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS?

I think people are much cleverer than we give them credit for. We can see through what some of the brands are doing. I don’t know to what extent the “Paradise Papers” have been covered in Thailand, but the leaks have obviously damaged brands and led the public to question how supposedly secure companies can be breached. Brands we once thought we could trust have seen that trust eroded. On the other side of the coin, social entrepreneurs are focusing on sustainability and in many cases, practising purpose-driven marketing.

WHICH INDUSTRY YOU THINK FACES THE GREATEST CHALLENGES?

The obvious one would be energy. Everything starts with energy and when you transform the energy system, you change all the surrounding systems. Construction is another challenging industry and developers have to showcase sustainability and energy efficiency in their advertising. Unfortunately, some of energy industry still seems to be in denial.

HOW ABOUT FASHION?

Fashion is a tough one. One of the really important points here is that it is not the responsibility of the company alone. This is a two-ways street. As individuals, we are just way too wasteful, so pointing fingers at the fashion industry is the wrong approach. Sustainability is really between you and I. It’s about changing how we behave and changing how we buy clothes. The same applies to ‘fast furniture’. And that’s why advertising is at the heart of this. If we don’t get better ads that understand and promote responsible consumption. I don’t think we are going to succeed.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE A “GOOD LIFE”?

It’s a philosophy that I’ve lived with for quite some time. It’s about pursuing what makes me happy. Because too often you get caught up in convention and you are never challenged. Good life is about daring to aim for what you want at the personal level. It’s about maximising happiness and minimising resources usage. King Rama IX’s sufficiency philosophy is inspiring. In terms of responsible consumption, the company can only do so much, we as individuals also need to think about it.

MAKING DO WITH LESS

•   Organised by SustainableBrands.com, the “Sustainable Brands 2017” seminar aimed to show how innovation can change the shape of business, and with it, the world.
•  Guest speakers included Khunying Puangroi Diskul Na Ayudhaya of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, Pitpatpong Israsena Na Ayudhaya, chief executive oof Doi Kham,Yuthasak Supasorn, and Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Auttapol Rerkpiboon of PTT Group.
•  Research conducted in June and July sampled 2,000 people aged between 15 and 65 and revealed that Thai people define “the good life” as happiness both inside and out. Thirty-seven per cent said good health was the most important, followed by a simple life (28 per cent), successful career path (22 per cent), family (21 per cent), own house (21 per cent) , and balanced life (19 per cent). Yet 68 per cent were unable to name products or services that responded to their good life, and 87 per cent pointed out that that they have power over manufacturers and can influence the production of goods and services.
•  For more information, visit http://www.SustainableBrandsbkk.com or Facebook.com/ sustainablebrandsbkk.