There’ll be a Learning Forum on the ground floor at 1.30pm with the theme “We are a #RainbowFamily”. Panel discussions on LGBTI rights and protections, recent research, and LGBTI family life in Thailand are planned. One session will feature the mother of a transgender mother, a transgender youth, and the daughter of lesbian.

A photo exhibition opening at 4.30pm just outside the centre will examine LGBTI family and community life and will be augmented by performances, addresses by Pitikan Sithidej of the Justice Ministry and Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottle, and a celebrity “chat show” with Channel 3 presenter Meesuk “Kai” Changmeesuk.

Displays in lights and rainbow flags will reflect the “brighter tomorrows” that all participants are working to achieve for Thailand’s LGBTI community.

Learn more at www.IDAHOTThailand.org and its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds.

The rainy season appears to have arrived early this year and Dr Methipot Chatameteekul, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Communicable Disease Control Division admits to being worried. Rain can increase the risks of an epidemic of the Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) virus and even though the public has learnt that a “common” fever can lead to death, as occurred in the case of TV actor Trisdee “Por” Sahawong last year, there is still a need to raise awareness about dengue fever.

Dr Methipot is also worried that the number of cases will be higher than last year. “The disease goes in a cycle with major outbreaks occurring every two or three years. In 2015, we saw 50 new patients every day in each district. I am concerned that we will see a severe outbreak but hope it won’t be as severe as that of 2015,” he says.

The most recent report by the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Disease Control reports that as of May 9, 9,717 cases had been registered and 14 individuals had died.

The latest campaign organised by the BMA last weekend adopted a new approach to awareness raising. Rather than handing out leaflets and conducting a massive fumigation programme, the Administration organised three days of activities at CentralWorld on the theme “Fighting against Dengue”. They included illustrating dengue fever through art, workshops and interactive activities, allowing people to have fun while learning and also listen to celebrities who have experience with the virus.

“We are still conducting the other campaign but this year we wanted to try a new approach. Talking about disease or infection is often too rooted in scientific knowledge, so integrating art and entertainment should reach a wider public,” Dr Methipot says.

One of the celebrities sharing her experience was Por’s widow, Vanda.

“I was like everyone else when he developed a fever, thinking that it was just a fever and he would recover in days. I was completely wrong. I hope everyone realises just how dangerous this disease is because once it takes hold, it will inevitably affect our lives and our families forever. I don’t want any family to face a tragic loss. If only we learn how deadly the fever can be and learning to protect ourselves, our families will not be at risk. Don’t think ‘it won’t happen to me’; we all face the same risk. You can prevent yourself by cleaning your house, getting rid of still water and avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes,” says Vanda.

Por was infected with dengue virus and in a critical condition for more than two months. The doctors tried to stem the infection by amputating his foot but he finally succumbed to the disease in January last year.

The best prevention is simple: don’t let yourself get bitten by mosquitoes. But that’s not easy in a country where mosquitoes are everywhere. The mosquito lives in urban habitats and breeds mostly in man-made containers filled with still waters. It’s important to empty water from places where mosquitoes breed such as unused utensils, trash cans and flower pots. Other preventive measures include wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts or using a mosquito repellent containing DEET when visiting places where dengue is endemic. Avoid areas with standing water and stay indoors in the morning until two hours after sunrise and at sunset to further reduce your risk of being bitten.

Dr Methipot notes that in residential areas where trees surround the houses, water is commonly found in flower pot saucers and it is here that mosquitoes love to breed.

The residents usually have maids taking care of the house, many of them migrant workers who have even less knowledge than the house owner.

Dengue fever was first identified in Thailand more than 50 years ago, first in Bangkok before spreading throughout the country. In the last 50 years, dengue has become endemic in 128 countries that are home to some 4 billion people About 75 per cent of the infection occurs in Asia, and most of it in Southeast Asia. According to WHO, more than 740 people around the world are infected by dengue every minute.

Professor Usa Thisyakorn, professor of paediatrics at Chulalongkorn University and the president of the Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, says that in the early years, dengue fever mainly affected children. Today it is attacking people of ages.

Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the Aedes aegypti species, better known in Thai as yung laai. They are most active in the daytime.

Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with variations in risk influenced by rainfall, temperature and unplanned rapid urbanisation. According to Dr Methipot, the epidemic in Bangkok tends to soar from August to October. The latest severe epidemic was 2015 where Thailand reported 142,925 cases and 104 deaths.

Symptoms starts with a high fever (about 40 degrees C) that persists for two to seven days and is accompanied by any two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rash. There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Treatment is directed at relieving signs and symptoms.

The dengue fever vaccine was approved by the Thai Food and Drugs Administration late last year and is now available at selected hospitals. However, it is out of reach for many Thais as the cost is more than Bt10,000 for the three injections. Efficacy is around 65.6 per cent and is most viable for those aged nine to 45 years.

Dr Usa says that the age range is based on efficacy studies and that some countries are recommending the vaccine for people up to 65 years.

She cites as an example the tuberculosis vaccine, Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG). It has been used for decades and even though its efficacy is only 50 per cent effective, it’s still worth using.

The new vaccine is expected to protect against the four dengue strains found in Thailand, but Dr Methipot fears that it will almost inevitably make people careless.

“There will be people who think that now that there is a dengue fever vaccine, there’s no need to worry and take preventive measures. They don’t even go to get the vaccination so activities to raise awareness are still very much needed,” says Dr Methipot.

BEFORE dawn in the Indian Himalayas, scores of patients clutching small vials of urine queue patiently to see Yeshi Dhonden, a Tibetan monk who became a legend as personal healer to the Dalai Lama.

Tibetan medicine, known as Sowa-Rigpa, draws on centuries-old techniques such as blood-letting, cupping, and moxibustion – burning herbs on energy points of the body – to try to heal ailments.

The practice draws on aspects of traditional Chinese medicine and India’s ayurvedic system as well as its own unique theories and treatments. It also features spiritual practises including meditation and Buddhist prayer.

Today it attracts devotees from all over the globe, hoping for help with conditions from back pain to cancer and degenerative diseases.

“If the sick come to me I will take care of them,” Dhonden says, sitting in his private clinic in McLeodganj, surrounded by Tibetan scrolls and beaming images of his most famous client.

Dhonden – who spent three decades tending the health of Tibet’s spiritual leader – relies on his senses to divine what ails patients.

“I don’t go for tests like X-rays and all. I trust myself. I just test the pulse and the urine,” he explains.

A touch at the wrist is how he ascertains the health of vital organs and blood pressure.

The urine, held in a white porcelain cup, is stirred with two small bamboo sticks. Colour, bubble formation, sediment and smell can all shape the diagnosis.

Devotees swear Tibetan medicine works, though few scientific studies have been conducted into its efficacy.

The teachings – contained in some 2,000 textbooks and the messages of the Buddha, considered the guardian deity for all spiritual healers – are believed to have originated in Tibet.

But as it features elements of both ancient Chinese and Indian healing practises, and is rapidly evolving from a niche tradition into popular alternative treatment, both nations have scrambled to claim it as their own.

In April, the Asian giants nominated Tibetan medicine for inclusion on Unesco’s list for “intangible culture”. China and India have engaged in countless spats over the Tibetan community since New Delhi granted sanctuary to the Dalai Lama in 1959.

Beijing took control of Tibet eight years earlier and was furious when India granted the Dalai Lama permission to headquarter a government-in-exile in McLeodganj.

The traditions of Tibetan medicine are based on four root texts known as the “tantras” that evolved in two medical colleges, Chakpori and Men-Tsee-Khang, in the Tibetan capital Lhasa.

These tantras classify thousands of diseases into separate categories, with unique mixtures of herbs and minerals – mostly sourced from the upper reaches of the Himalayas – listed as remedies for each ailment.

“We believe diseases are caused when our inner energies are imbalanced,” says Tsewang Tam Din, a medical practitioner at the McLeodganj branch of the Men-Tsee-Khang school, one of many across India.

Taking a delicate golden hammer, Din demonstrated how healers heat the instrument over fire and place it against the body to offset pain and other common malaises.

“The idea behind our medicine system is that one should not have to take medication all his life for chronic problems like arthritis and diabetes,” Din said in McLeodganj, nicknamed “Little Lhasa” for the large Tibetan community residing there.

The increasing popularity of Buddhism in the west, as well as a global Tibetan diaspora has helped spread awareness about its unique alternative medicine.

But like other Eastern health treatments, it is viewed with scepticism among the conventional medical fraternity.

A lack of standardisation and clinical trials means it will be some time before Tibetan medicine can go mainstream, said cardiologist D Prabhakaran from the Public Health Foundation of India.

But even doubters acknowledge the natural treatment appears to assist some patients in certain cases.

“I know of anecdotal examples where people with terminal diseases have lived much longer than predicted after taking Tibetan medicine,” Prabhakaran says.

“I think there’s a lot of empathy towards the patient in Tibetan medicine. Basically it comes from the thinking of Buddhism and that may be one of the reasons why |it’s becoming more popular,” he adds.

In 2010, India officially recognised Tibetan medicine as a “science of healing” and enshrined it within the nation’s healthcare system, paving the way for future research and investment into the spiritual discipline.

It’s good news for devotees like 60-year-old Abdul Rehman, who has eschewed mainstream medicine his entire life in favour of Tibetan alternatives.

“I suffered from a recurrent cold which was cured in one year,” says Rehman as he collects herbal pills at a clinic in a posh Delhi suburb.

“Now I have some back and neck pain and I think it will also be cured soon.”

Levi’s transformed the square in front of Siam Discovery into a space for people from the ’60s and ’70s to express their freedom in a unique way. The highlight of the event was the arrival of Levi’s 501 Tailor Truck, which included Virtual Reality and Eureka Lab zones, where Levi’s Denim is researched and developed. Another highlight was the exhibition of Levi’s 501 Limited Edition 2017 with actor Chantavit Dhanasevi sharing the experience of his visit to the Eureka Lab in San Francisco, the birthplace of Levi’s. The event wrapped with a fashion show of the latest collection.

“The remaster campaign tells the story of Levi’s from its first piece in 1873 when it became the uniform of miners to 1969 when it witnessed a social revolution. Levi’s brings back its iconic models such as Levi’s Orange Tab and Levi’s 501 Skinny in an upgraded version, which retains the original look but adds a contemporary twist,” Wannapanee explained.

There is a great demand for Levi’s Orange Tab, as it is a well-known model among jeans collectors and jeans lovers. Now Levi’s has brought back the iconic model using original techniques, textures, silhouettes and details. Levi’s Orange Tab is known for the orange tab, talon zippers, and the replacement of rivets with bartacks. It features ‘Line Eight construction’ with a double fell inseam, seven belt loops instead of the traditional five and single tone contrast stitching overall. The rear pockets are square instead of tapered and another unique feature is the first ever all black ink leather patch.”

Guests at the event included ML Somrada Chumphon, Nakwan Rayananonda, Rapeeporn Wongthongkam, Panidhi Snidvongs na Ayudhya, , Misda Sukanit, Vipavee Corman, Thitipong Lorprasert and Lukkana Wattanawongsiri

The campaign runs through May 31 and those purchasing two items will enjoy a 20-per-cent discount, For more information and the schedule of Levi’s 501 Tailor Truck, visit http://www.LevisThailand.com/ and Facebook.com/levis.thailand.

Bhubawit Kritpolnara, owner of top local fashion brand, Issue, together with Asst Prof Dr Anothai Cholachatpinyo of the department of Textile Science at Kasetsart University and actress Khemupsorn Sirisukha have been busy in recent weeks trying to solve the problem through the “Little Forest 2 – Check dam building” project, which pays tribute to the late King .

The campaign aims to prevent drought and flood in a number of provinces while supporting villagers residing near forests. Project components include improving the weaving skills in tin-chok production and the quality of orange seeds for better productivity while simultaneously creating awareness of the need to look after the forests and not allow further degradation.

Other well-known designers including Polpat Asavaprapha from Asava, Sirichai Daharanont from Theatre, Nut Mungkung from Kloset and Araya Indra from Art Araya, helped out by designing a special collection for an auction. The fund-raising event was attended by generous celebrities including Pimpan and Disara Diskul Na Ayudhya, Pinkamol Maleenont, Dr Janjira Janchom, Khanungnij Jaksamithanont, Warattya Nilkuha, Sririta Jensen, Sunisa Jett and Janesuda Parnto.

You can supporting “Little Forest – Year 2″ by making donation to the Thai Military Bank, Kasetsart University Branch, Account Name: Little Forest Project, Account Number 069-2-59960-8. A receipt will be issued by Kasetsart University and can be used for tax deduction.

Follow the project at Instragram: littlehelp_thailand.

The experience, available all this year, costs Bt120,000.

“Beyond Luxury” begins with a bath in Italian mineral water – 1,000 bottles of Acqua Panna – scented with lavender rose petals. While you’re unwinding in the tub, vintage Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne and the finest caviar are served.

Next is a half-hour body scrub with pink Himalayan salt to purify and smooth the skin. Then, the aroma of lavender again enhances the sense of serenity during an hour-long hot-oil massage.

The session concludes with a “Forever Young” collagen facial using elite Swiss creams by Valmont.

Kempinski the Spa is on the seventh floor of the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, in the Garden Wing. Learn more at (02) 162 9000 or Kempinski.com.

Meanwhile, celebrating its 120th anniversary, Kempinski Hotels is offering guests a chance to win a splendid 10-night trip for two.

Members of the Kempinski Discovery loyalty programme who book a stay at any Kempinski hotel through July 31 can win the prize, covering the lengthy stay in any of three Kempinski hotels, return airfare and limousine transfers.

They formed the charming backdrop to Graham Greene’s sin-filled Saigon in “The Quiet American”, but the colonial-era buildings of Vietnam’s biggest city are fast disappearing – sparking fears it is losing its unique charm.

Any visitor to Ho Chi Ming City, as Saigon is now known, cannot help but notice the construction cranes dotting an increasingly crowded skyline. They are the most visible symbols of one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.

But, like many locals, office worker Tran Trong Vu is dismayed the city’s gleaming new look is so often at the expense of its colonial-era architecture.

The French-colonialera City Hall is shadowed by a new shopping mall in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Old Saigon’s colonial buildings are fast disappearing. Photo/AFP

“They have cultural value, so we should preserve them, not replace them with high-rise buildings,” he says.

Others are concerned the demolition of its famed French architectural gems will render Ho Chi Minh City indistinguishable from other Asian megalopolis.

“In the 1960s and 1970s it was very much French, but now it’s very Americanised, with a McDonald’s on every corner,” says Hiep Nguyen, born in Saigon and author of several books on its architectural history. “A streetscape without a story has no value.”

Much of the demolition is happening in the city’s rapidly developing downtown core, to keep apace with a mushrooming young population hungry for modernity and to feed the demand for more housing and office space.

But those aren’t the only needs being fed, says Nguyen. “The key is money, the key is interest groups,” he says in Sydney, where he now lives.

Developers with deep pockets have scooped up swathes of land in the city centre, with privately owned old villas or historic municipal buildings replaced by sprawling construction zones.

The most recent demolition to spark ire from conservationists is the Ba Son shipyard, an enormous French-built military complex on the banks of the Saigon River.

It’s now being developed into a series of high-rise towers by Vincom Group, owned by the country’s richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, dubbed “the Donald Trump of Vietnam”. City officials have inventoried more than 1,000 surviving buildings constructed by the French when they ruled the country from 1887 to 1954, including the famed Opera House, Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, all must-sees on city tours today.

A few of the old haunts on Rue Catinat frequented by Greene remain, but the street is now called Dong Khoi and also features Hermes and Chanel boutiques for the city’s growing number of high-rollers.

Colonialera villas are commanding small fortunes among developers. Photo/AFP

There is no comprehensive survey of how many buildings have been demolished, but, in one central district, some 50 per cent of French villas have gone down since 1993, according to Fanny Quertamp, co-director of the urban development organisation Paddi.

The breakneck pace of destruction has prompted some to leap into action.

Former video-game developer and conservation buff Daniel Caune is creating a mobile app called “Heritage Go” for city residents and tourists.

The app will ask users to hold their phones up to colonial-era buildings, and aims to automatically generating images of the edifice in eras past.

“It’s to make people conscious of their heritage,” says Caune, who helps to runs the Heritage Observatory website dedicated to archiving colonial-era buildings in Vietnam.

City officials are now writing a nine-point plan to classify buildings and mark some for protection, but admit such a huge task could take years to be implemented.

“Pressure for economic development is very high,” says Tuan Anh Nguyen, deputy head of the architecture research centre in Ho Chi Minh City’s planning department.

He says many developers who scoop up precious downtown land do not value historic buildings. He’d like to see the structures incorporated into development plans, as has happened in Old Montreal, for example.

The destruction in Ho Chi Minh City comes even as developers have built a replica French medieval village in the tourist hub of Danang, drawing foreign and local tourists keen for a slice of history.

The city risks losing the millions of tourists that stop there every year to soak in its colonial charm, says architect Ngo Viet Nam Son. “It’s like losing the chicken that gives the golden egg.”