The British Embassy and Bangkok shopping mall Siam Paragon are mounting an exhibition of photos of Prince Harry and the lady he’s marrying on Saturday (May 19), Meghan Markle, and offering a chance to sign a best-wishes book that will be presented to the couple.

Unless you’ve been invited to the wedding at St George’s Chapel within Windsor Castle, drop by Siam Paragon to witness a photographic paean to royal romance and a history of British royal nuptials. The exhibition will be in the mall’s Hall of Fame on M Floor from May 18 through 21.

And Parc Paragon will be fitted with large video screens on Saturday carrying the wedding live from 5 to 7pm.

British Ambassador Brian John Davidson says the exhibition will “re-emphasise” the warm relationship that Thailand and Britain have enjoyed for hundreds of years, as have the two countries’ royal families.

Siam Paragon executive Chadatip Chutrakul says tourists from around the world shop at the mall, so it hosts activities and events of interest to them, and the royal wedding has global appeal.

“The exhibition will also impress visitors with the story of love it shares, and they can write a congratulatory message to Prince Harry and Meghan in a wedding blessing book that the embassy is providing, which will be presented to the couple at Kensington Palace.”

Also on view at the event will be a 1.5-metre-tall wedding cake from Harrods department store, decorated in the Wedgewood style with motifs referring to events over the course of 250 years of history.

As well, wedding cakes representing other famous British brands, such as Jo Malone, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Mini and Johnnie Walker – and Thai fashion brands with British followings such as Milin, Patinya and Vickteerut – will be on display.

“I lived in England for five years, so I feel a bond to it,” says Milin designer-owner Milin Yuvacharuskul.

“My wedding cake is inspired by fireworks, symbolising celebration. The lines modern in their styling, as is the Milin brand, and so is the royal wedding, which is veering away from tradition.

“I love the fact that the bride is a commoner who was married before. The British royal family’s acceptance of Meghan shows that they’re open-minded, which is very interesting.”

Patinya owner-designer Patinya Kiewkong also spent several years in London and marvelled at the art and culture on view all around the city. The cake she’s contributed focuses on Harry and Meghan’s unusual but sublime romance, using white, gold and pale blue to elegant, luxurious effect.

“The shape is feminine, which reflects the brand’s approach, and decorated with our signature floral garland. You see our four elements all represented – minimalist, feminine, romantic and classic.”

Visitors can drool over a Rolls Royce Phantom VII Series 1, one of a line of superb rides from a brand long favoured by British royalty. Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, and her husband Prince Philip were already riding in a Phantom IV in 1950.

The exhibition will be absolutely glowing with sample jewellery from 16 diamond shops at Siam Paragon. Le Beau, Gems Pavilion, Dermond, Bijioux de Louis, Karat, Xavier, Blue River, Sette, Rajadamri Gems, Mikimoto, Siam Tiara, Premiera-Exquisite Jewelry, Trez Jewelry, Prima Gems, ST Diamond Design, Marseille and Scintialla will show pieces inspired by romance and made for weddings. The display is collectively valued at Bt200 million.

This was over and above those aborted simply for being female, researchers wrote in The Lancet medical journal.

“Gender-based discrimination towards girls doesn’t simply prevent them from being born, it may also precipitate the death of those who are born,” said study co-author Christophe Guilmoto of the Paris Descartes University.

“Gender equity is not only about rights to education, employment or political representation, it is also about care, vaccination, and nutrition of girls, and ultimately survival.”

Guilmoto and a team used population data from 46 countries to calculate how many infant girls would have died in a society where there was no discrimination impact, and how many died in reality.

The difference, about 19 deaths out of every 1,000 girls born between 2000 and 2005, was ascribed to the effects of gender bias.

This amounted to about 239,000 deaths per year, or 2.4 million over a decade.

“Around 22 percent of the overall mortality burden of females under five (in India) is therefore due to gender bias,” the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) a research institute based in Austria, said in a statement.

The problem was most pronounced in northern India, the researchers found, with states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, accounting for two-thirds of the excess deaths.

Hardest hit were poor, rural, farming regions with low education levels, high population densities, and high birth rates.

“As the regional estimates of excess deaths of girls demonstrate, any intervention to reduce the discrimination against girls in food and healthcare allocation should therefore target in priority regions… where poverty, low social development, and patriarchal institutions persist and investments (in) girls are limited,” said co-author Nandita Saikia of IIASA.

It’s no secret that we urban dwellers are constantly exposed to toxins, ranging from pesticides in our food, gases emanating from paints and carpet in the office, and chemicals used to treat drinking water. Current studies estimate that up to 300,000 new chemicals are added into the environment each year.

Dr Kanin Tripipitsitiwat, a

physician at the Vitallife Wellness Centre of Bangkok’s Bumrungrad International Hospital, says that both the volume of toxins and the type of toxins used in manufacturing are especially worrying.

“Many of the products we commonly use in everyday life are made from petrochemicals, and these chemicals are classified as xenoestrogens,” he says. “This means they mimic oestrogen in the body and disrupt hormonal balance and immune function.”

While our bodies naturally detoxify, they cannot compete against the onslaught and complexity of chemical poisoning that’s happening today.

“Petrochemicals are fat-soluble so they soak through our skin and the skin of the fruits and vegetables we eat,” Dr Kanin continues. “It’s a little scary to realise, but we are constantly bombarded by chemicals that have the potential to alter our biology.”

The industrially produced compound bisphenol A (BPA) is the most insidious of them all. BPA is commonly used in the manufacture of plastics, especially drink packaging for bottled water. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor and may pose a significant risk to pregnant women and a child’s prenatal and early postnatal development.

Fortunately, many of the toxins are flushed from our body through normal metabolic processes, but long-term exposure increases the risk of life-threatening diseases like cancer, and can also trigger a host of immune related problems, like allergies, skin rashes, asthma and inflammation.

While acknowledging that it is virtually impossible to avoid chemical exposure, Dr Kanin says avoiding over-exposure is the best defence. He suggests:

>> Limiting use of plastic particularly water bottles exposure to heat and sunlight.

>> Washing all produce, and if possible purchase organic options when possible

>> Avoiding products with the term “fragrance” as these are chemical additives

>> Don’t smoke.

>> Keeping plenty of plants in the home to help clean the air

If toxin exposure is especially worrying for you, then Dr Kanin suggests you consider a blood and urine test to assess toxin levels in your body. Toxins can be removed from the body through various methods, including chelation.

Those worried about their immune systems tend to go wild for vitamins and other supplements. Dr Kanin, however, advises caution.

“If you serious about building a strong immune system,” he says, “then supplements can help, but understand that supplements support a healthy lifestyle, not replace it.”

In the world of supplements, there are a few key players that pack a powerful punch in boosting immune function and fighting off illness.

Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid vital to maintaining a healthy gut lining and boosting overall immunity. Glutamine levels decline in the body after training, and so does the body’s ability to fight off infections. Ensuring steady glutamine levels can enhance recovery and reduce susceptibility to colds and flu.

Vitamin C is another key nutrient that researchers know has a strong impact on our immune system as well as being a powerful antioxidant that prevents the formation of free radicals. Studies show that vitamin C supplementation increases the response of neutrophils and lymphocytes, the “front-line soldiers” of the immune system.

Vitamin A is not only essential for maintaining healthy mucous membranes in the body, but it helps fight off infection too. Researchers have discovered that vitamin A deficiency impairs mucosal immunity and leaves the body more prone to respiratory infections. Dry mucous membranes in our nose and throat, often causes by air conditioning, also make it easier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate our immune defences.

Zinc is another heavyweight associated with more than 300 different functions in the body, including immune function. Zinc is an important fuel for the thymus gland, which produces special T-lymphocyte white blood cells that come to the fore once the invaders have penetrated our first line of defence.

In addition to vitamin supplements, honey, ginger and chillies are all heavyweight immunity builders that help fight off colds and flu. Honey is one of the strongest anti-bacterial agents found in nature and ginger and cayenne “warm” the body, stimulating circulation of energy and blood. Dr Kanin also says that we should never forget the importance of water and hydration as an immunity-boosting tool. Water is the “liquid of life” and hydration keeps cells healthy and strong to fight off bacteria and viruses. This is especially the case for athletes and office workers, who tend to dehydrate easily.

We all know the benefits exercise has on our bodies. People who exercise regularly typically have better cardiovascular function, a stronger musculoskeletal system (bone, muscles and joints) and a stronger immune response system to fight against germs and diseases.

But like all things, exercise is best done in moderation and too much can actually put excessive strain on the body and immune system, leading to fatigue, injuries and susceptibility to colds and flu.

The best way to boost your immunity is to make exercise a “healthy ritual” along with adequate rest, a balanced diet and supplementation with key nutrients. “The formula to staying well and maintaining a strong immune system is not complicated, but it does require discipline to make it stick.

The correct exercise regimen involves alternating intensity and duration of workouts. This improves resistance to upper respiratory tract infection – primarily colds and flu. If you overdo it, however, and over-train or stick to one type of exercise only, then the body is more susceptible to infection.

Current research shows that excessive aerobic endurance training, like running marathons or triathlons, is harder on the immune system than anaerobic training, like yoga. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise will boost immune response and lessen the duration and severity of a mild infection.

Make it part of your life today.

Enjoy your conch steamed with soya sauce, sauteed with chilli Sichuan style or with XO sauce, as well as with double-boiled black chicken and ginseng. Prices start at Bt600-plus. Book your table at (02) 541 1234 extension 4151

Dining under the blossoms

Zen Restaurant celebrates the “Hanami Festival” inviting lovers of Japanese food to experience a happy time with their loved ones under the cherry blossom while enjoying delicious fish dishes meticulously prepared by expert chefs. Eight dishes are discounted by up to 50 per cent and include Spicy Salmon Roll and Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll. The promotion is available at 21 CPN branches from now until June 15. To find out more, check out Facebook: Zenjapaneserestaurant or Instagram: @Zen_restaurant.

Fire in the sky

Watch the sky explode with colour as the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival returns to the seaside resort from June 8 to 10.

You can stay in style too by booking an Avani Pattaya Garden-view room for Bt4,500-plus including breakfast for 2 persons. Book early by calling (038) 412 120.

Back to the future

Dress up in a vintage outfit and bring your camera to Thailand’s first Period Fair at Museum Siam this Saturday starting at 3pm. You’ll have fun learning in the Reenactment & Living history groups, posing outside a neoclassical building, discussing history with new friends, dancing and listening to swing jazz as well as shopping for vintage clothing.

For more information, visit http://www.MuseumSiam.org

The finest cuts

Be among the first in Thailand to enjoy the incredible taste of Japanese Sirloin Bone-in at the Rib Room & Bar, Landmark Hotel.

A remarkable culinary speciality featuring highly rated Haga Takumi Wagyu crossbred with Holstein from Tochigi prefecture, the steak is priced at Bt2,900-plus for 300g and is being served through June 30. Book your table at (02) 254 0404 extension 777.

THE FIGURES say it all: 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from their home in recent years and almost 20 people are forcibly displaced every minute. Some become refugees, others are known as internally displaced or stateless, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) freely admits that it is struggling to meet their needs.

It is the only organisation mandated to act as a safety net for the protection of refugees and internally displaced people in the world, to provide shelter, clean water, healthcare, education and other urgent needs to the millions of refugees from Syria, Yemen and Iraq to Africa and many other war-torn countries.

Closer to home, the agency is currently urgently appealing for the funds it needs to assist children, women and men in the refugee camps of Bangladesh as Ramadan draws near.

UNHCR in partnership with the Sheikhul Islam and the Council for Humanitarian Networking of Sheikhul Islam Office in Thailand launched the appeal last week at a press conference held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. They are calling for donations to help them support these Muslim communities in Bangladesh who will be spending the holy month in informal settlements outside their homeland for the first time and in dreadful living conditions without enough food or proper shelter.

The global refugee crisis is at its highest level since World War II and the figures continue to increase. Little wonder then that UNHCR is constantly asking the global population, and Thais of all beliefs, to give generously.

According to UNHCR, almost 900,000 Rohingya refugees and more than 330,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis live in ramshackle communities in Cox’s Bazar. While the Rohingya have been persecuted for decades inside Myanmar, the crisis only came to the world’s attention last August when tens of thousands were forced to flee by land and sea. The Kutupalong-Balukhali site, where some 600,000 refugees are now living, is today the largest and most densely populated refugee settlement in the world. The Bangladesh Government and the Bangladeshi people, UNHCR stresses, have responded with extraordinary generosity and hospitality.

Now those already precarious conditions for the refugees and the ongoing emergency response are about to be further challenged by the approaching monsoon season, Rohingya refugees are living in places at risk of landslides and floods, in what could become a disaster on top of the current emergency.

Dr Zakee Phithakkumpol, Deputy Secretary of Sheikhul Islam notes that since the Arab spring, a revolutionary wave of both violent and non-violent demonstrations and protests, started in 2010, the called sectarian war has become particularly complicated and, as in most cases of conflict, civilians are the most affected.

“War, conflict, and persecution force

innocent people to become refugees. It’s not by choice that a person becomes a refugee; they have to leave everything behind and seek asylum in a country that is not their own. The refugee crisis requires the global community’s attention and support to improve the quality of living for those forced to flee,” he says.

“During Ramadan, many Rohingya refugees will be observing the holy month in exile. These women, men, and children

have endured dangerous and traumatic journeys to seek asylum in a safe country. Now, they are facing another crisis as when the monsoon rains hit Bangladesh, their lives will become even harder. The refugees might have bypassed Thailand but that’s no excuse for ignoring this humanitarian crisis. The refugee issue requires every country in the world to act together.”

Dr Wisoot Binlateh, director of the Southern office of Sheikhul Islam’s affairs and coordination in Thailand, concurs, adding: “Ramadan is a very important time for Muslims to reflect on the hardships occurring around the world. It is an opportunity to share what we have with those less fortunate.

“Ramadan is a valuable time for family and community bonding, and to think of those who are not able to be with their loved ones during the holy month,” he adds.

“Humanitarian principles share the same core values with the fundamental teaching of every religion: to have sympathy towards fellow human beings in need regardless of race or nationality,” says Arunee Achakulwisut, an officer with the Private Sector Partnerships (PSP).

UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador in Thailand, actress Praya “Pu” Lundberg, supports this partnership, saying she is honoured to see this important collaboration working to support refugees.

“I deeply appreciate the Sheikhul Islam Office’s demonstration of kindness and generosity towards refugees,” she says.

“For the past four years through my work with UNHCR, I have come to realise what hardship really means. This Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of Muslim are facing a bigger crisis than we have ever known. I’m quite religious. I’m

Buddhist, but I have many Muslim friends, I understand how important this holy month is to them. I also pray every day, and I believe those people are sure to pray as well. It is very sad for those refugees, the Rohingya in Bangladesh, who are unable to perform this very important spiritual belief at home. Ramadan is a very special period for every Muslim and for these refugees in Bangladesh, it will also mean the onset of the monsoon, flooding and disease.

“UNHCR certainly has a clear and consistent plan to help refugees in every part of the world, but I just don’t see how they will make the way home in the near future.”

Praya has travelled to camps in Jordan and Thailand to witness UNHCR’s frontline work, and meetings with refugees have helped her to better understand and amplify their cause.

“The images of Syrian elderly, children, mothers and fathers, lack of food and fresh water, are still vividly imprinted on my mind. I haven’t had a chance to meet with the Rohingya but I hope I will. The refugee issue is very complicated and working to resolve it requires not only patience but also understanding. We may not have solutions very soon but we can help make their lives a little less bad. No one want to leave their homes, I encourage everybody to donate to UNHCR’s work,” she says.

Fund raised from this campaign will allow UNHCR to provide emergency shelter for Rohingya refugees residing in areas of high risk of landslides and flooding in Bangladesh.

Donations will be spent during and after Ramadan to make a difference to the lives of refugees, especially the most vulnerable people such as orphans, single mothers or widows.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY

– Donations can be made at through The Council for Humanitarian Networking of Sheikhul Islam Office for Rohingya and Refugees, Islamic Bank of Thailand, account no 034-108-7440 or through http://www.UNHCR.or.th, #RamadanforRefugees.

Xia Boyu, 69, summited Everest early Monday on his fifth attempt to reach the top of the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain.

“He reached the summit this morning, along with seven other members of his team,” said Dawa Futi Sherpa of Imagine Trek and Expedition, who organised Xia’s Everest bid.

Xia’s dream of standing at the top of the world was nearly thwarted by the Nepal government, which last year banned double amputee and blind climbers from summiting its mountains.

The ruling was overturned by Nepal’s top court in March, which branded it as discriminatory towards people with disabilities.

Xia first attempted to summit Everest with a Chinese government-backed team in 1975, but was thwarted by bad weather.

He became stuck in the frigid low-oxygen environment near the top of Everest and suffered severe frostbite, losing both his feet.

In 1996 his legs were amputated just below the knee after he was diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.

The tenacious climber returned to Everest in 2014 and 2015 but Nepal’s climbing season was cancelled both years due to disasters.

Bad weather forced him to turn back during his previous attempt in 2016 when he was just 200 metres from the summit.

“Climbing Mount Everest is my dream. I have to realise it. It also represents a personal challenge, a challenge of fate,” Xia told AFP last month before heading to the mountain.

The only other double amputee to summit Everest is New Zealander Mark Inglis, who achieved the feat in 2006.

Xia is among the first of hundreds of climbers expected to summit Everest this month during a narrow window of good weather.

Nepal has issued 346 permits for this year’s spring climbing season, which runs from mid-April to the end of May.

Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning about 700 climbers will try to reach the top in coming weeks.

Another 180 climbers are preparing to summit Everest from its north side in Tibet, according to the China Tibet Mountaineering Association.

Last year, 634 people made it to the top and seven died trying.

Sinthoranee Property Co developed the 400-square-metre Victoria Gardens Knowledge Park (VK Park) in response to a shortage of learning spaces for young people outside schools in the area.

Sinthoranee chief executive Kaewjai Phaoenchoke McDonald says the project “is in line with the group’s vision, focusing on development for sustainability in business, society, the environment and especially education”.

She says VK Park is expected to have 500 to 1,000 members by the end of the year.

VK Park’s Library and Reading Area are designed to promote a love of reading with more than 1,500 books on topics of interest to young people, and an E-Library is scheduled to open soon.

The Kids Area is full of books and toys for small children, and the Co-working Space with more than 60 seats offers a mini-studio and a cafe.

Dr Athipat Bamroong, director of the government’s Office of Knowledge Management and Development, says VK Park expands a network of the learning centres throughout the country.

“We now have 23 knowledge parks in 17 provinces, and VK Park is the first in western Bangkok. We expect it will help move forward our development by providing new ways to cooperate in fostering knowledge exchange and life-long learning among youth.”

Workshops and other events will be held monthly, beginning this month with a discussion on climate change.

Find out more at (02) 021 6760 and http://www.Facebook.com/vkparkth.

AT A century-old workshop in a quiet Tokyo neighbourhood, craftsman Yuichi Hirose brushes dye across meticulously hand-cut stencils laid on fabric, using a traditional technique to produce contemporary kimono patterns.

Demand for the elaborate, elegant centrepiece of the Japanese wardrobe is in decline, but a handful of artisans and entrepreneurs like Hirose, 39, are trying to revive it.

“The kimono has become something that is very far removed from our daily lives,” notes Hirose, who joined his family business after university.

He specialises in “Edo Komon” – a kimono pattern hand-dyed with a Japanese washi paper stencil, which dates back to the Edo period between the 17th and late 19th centuries.

Yuichi Hirose, a craftsman who dyes white fabrics with meticulously hand-cut stencils for a kimono, works at a century-old workshop in Tokyo. / AFP 

It’s a deeply traditional craft that requires great skill to master, he says, “but we need to create something that is accepted in this modern time”.

Hirose’s innovations include developing new designs to adorn the kimono, including tiny sharks or even skull motifs.

Once a standard of the Japanese wardrobe, the kimono is now often a garment reserved for special occasions, such as weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies, and is mostly worn by women.

They can be hugely expensive and women often hire experts to dress them because the outfit requires seemingly endless nipping, tucking and strapping.

The modern kimono industry peaked in 1975 with a market size of 1.8 trillion yen (Bt541 billion), according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

But by 2008 it had shrunk to 406.5 billion yen and further to just 278.5 billion yen in 2016, according to a survey conducted by Yano Research Institute.

“There are many hurdles” to buying a kimono, says Takatoshi Yajima, vice chairman of the Japan kimono promotion association, and a kimono manufacturer.

“It’s expensive. It’s difficult to wear. It’s too delicate to wash at home.”

“We need to make kimonos that are affordable and wearable. If we do that, I believe more young consumers will buy kimonos.”

He has nearly doubled his number of customers in the past 15 years by selling more kimonos under the 100,000-yen price tag, well below the many thousands of dollars a high-end piece can cost.

“The industry will grow if we can create a market in which as many people as possible will buy a kimono,” he says.

A complete kimono outfit starts with an undergarment known as a nagajuban, over which the kimono is layered, held in place with a thick obi belt and string.

The outfit is completed with tabi, ankle-high white socks divided at the big toe to allow feet to slip into thick-soled sandals called zori.

Models present creations by Japanese kimono designer Jotaro Saito for his 2018 autumn/winter collection at Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo. /AFP

But beyond the basic framework, designer Jotaro Saito says there should be room for experimentation.

“What’s fabulous, what’s unfashionable and what’s cool change every year. It’s wrong that kimonos don’t change even if everything else is changing,” says the Kyoto-based designer, whose work has been worn by American singer Lady Gaga.

“Kimonos are not something old. Wearing a kimono is the coolest and the most fun thing.”

At Tokyo fashion week in March, Saito, who calls himself “a risk taker,” showcased kimonos for men and women, mixing traditional and unconventional motifs and colours.

“I want to present kimonos as a wardrobe in which people can truly feel joy,” he smiles.

And while demand for kimonos is falling among Japanese, services renting the garments to foreign visitors are booming.

Interest is expected to expand, according to the Yano Research Institute, with more tourists visiting Japan and looking for cultural experiences.

Kahori Ochi, right, owner of a kimono rental shop, fits a kimono on Dutch tourist Ruby Francisco, left, at her shop Sakaeya in Tokyo. /AFP

Kahori Ochi serves around 500 foreign tourists a year at her kimono rental store in the trendy Harajuku area of Tokyo.

They pay around 9,000 yen to be dressed in a kimono worth about 300,000 yen.

“Kimono is a piece of Japanese culture. I really wanted to experience that,” explains Ruby Francisco, a Dutch tourist who rented a pale green kimono at Ochi’s shop.

“It’s special. It’s like an honour to wear,” the 33-year-old added, saying that she would post photos of herself in the kimono on social media to show her friends.

Ochi’s mother ran a shop selling high-end kimonos, but she didn’t expect to follow in her footsteps.

“My mother told me the kimono business is risky and volatile,” she says, adding that her mother’s shop struggled after the bubble economy ended in the early 1990s.

“I used to think kimonos were not cool and practical.”

But Ochi changed her mind after spending a summer in Norway, where people complimented her kimono.

She decided to join her mother’s shop, but being the owner’s daughter came with no privileges.

“She said ‘no salary for you,’” Ochi laughs, recalling her mother’s surprise at her sudden interest in the industry.

But now, she says, business is booming and she expects the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will drive new demand as tourists flock to Japan.

“But my goal is not to expand the business,” she adds.

“I hope to meet more people who want to understand Japanese culture.”

WHETHER THEY’RE hauling parcels or children, cargo bikes are becoming a familiar sight in German cities as the nippy, clean alternative to cars and delivery vans – and shaking up urban transport in the process.

A desire to go green has been key to the rise of cargo bikes in a country where dozens of smog-choked cities are considering diesel driving bans to combat air pollution.

“The diesel scandal is a major incentive,” says Arne Behrensen, one of the top promoters of cargo bikes in Germany, a mode of transport as old as the bicycle itself which refers to a two- or three-wheeled bike with a fixed load carrier, usually at the front.

Cyclists sit on the tarmac watching competitors in a cargo bike race./AFP

Financial incentives, more choice in models and the promise of zipping past rush-hour traffic in the bike lane have added to the appeal.

“In the ‘90s, we were happy to sell one a year,” says Gaya Schuetze of Berlin’s Mehringhof bicycle shop, one of the capital’s leading cargo bike centres.

“Then we noticed more and more interest, first from families and then companies.”

Commonplace in northern Europe until the mid-20th century, freight bikes were used to deliver everyday essentials such as milk, bread and newspapers.

But these heavy, unwieldy bikes quickly fell out of favour and into oblivion as motorised vehicles gained ground.

The cargo bike’s revival began some two decades ago in cycling-mad Denmark and the Netherlands, blessed with flat landscapes and comfortable bike lanes, before reaching Germany.

Whether they’re hauling parcels or children, cargo bikes are becoming a familiar sight in German cities as the nippy, clean alternative to cars and delivery vans./AFP

Today Germany is Europe’s largest market for cargo bikes in terms of volume – with industry data showing sales for electrically assisted cargo bikes alone surged to 21,000 in 2017, 42 per cent over the previous year.

Over the years, cargo bikes have evolved from bulky two-wheelers that required serious leg muscle.

Modern upgrades offer lighter frames and more spacious carriers, while e-cargo bikes have allowed the less physically active or those living in hilly areas to also jump in the saddle.

Cargo bikes “now reach a wider audience, people who don’t want to arrive at work sweaty or aren’t especially sporty,” says Sophia Becker, a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam near Berlin.

People inspect cargo bikes during a bicycle fair in Berlin. /AFP

According to the European Cycle Logistics project, a staggering 174 models of cargo bikes are now available, while some 50 brands vied for attention at Berlin’s International Cargo Bike Festival last month.

Industry observers say the cargo bike craze has yet to run its course because “they can handle situations where a car previously seemed indispensable”, says Becker.

“In an average European city, half of all motorised trips related to goods transport could be shifted to bicycle or cargo bikes,” Karl Reiter of the Cycle Logistics project calculated in a 2014 study, based on journeys of a maximum of seven kilometres with loads of less than 200 kilos.

But the “workhorse of the 21st century”, as the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper dubbed it, has yet to win over the masses.

Just one per cent of Germans own a cargo bike, a study released by the transport ministry in March found – although seven per cent said they considered buying one.

Becker believes this will change “in the next few years”.

“First people need to be able to try it out,” without spending 1,300 to 5,000 euros (Bt49,400 -$1,500-$6000) depending on the model, she adds

Keen to promote the climate-friendly cargo bikes, several initiatives have emerged to lend them to companies and individuals for free trials.

Last year, German firm Velogut began loaning them out to 150 companies in Berlin.

Among the sign-ups have been photographers, coffee and pastry vendors, florists, chimneysweeps, beekeepers, Christmas tree deliverers and even a travelling anaesthetist.

The federal government has also got in on the act by introducing a rebate of up to 2,500 euros for the purchase of an e-cargo bike with a load of more than 150 kilos, while Berlin authorities offer subsidies of 500 to 1,000 euros.

But experts say the biggest roadblock to cargo bikes going mainstream is the lack of adapted infrastructure: safe cycle lanes, secure parking and easy-to-find repair shops.

“If they want clean air, they have to protect us,” Antje Merschel, co-initiator of a recent Berlin referendum on cycling policies, points out.

“We’re not going to risk our lives on a bike.”

Online retailer Amazon has started using cargo bikes for deliveries, while shipping giant UPS has been running battery-powered freight bikes in German cities since 2012.

But the big players in delivery are still waiting for bike manufacturers to catch up and mass-produce reliable low-maintenance models, which are so far mostly made by small, independent companies.

There is also the complication of needing “micro-hubs” in often high-rent urban areas from where couriers can collect trucked-in goods for the final kilometres to the client’s front door.

“For families, the bikes are here and they’re reliable,” says urban planner Francisco Luciano of the French cargo bike manufacturer Douze Cycles. “When it comes to cycle logistics, we’re still learning.”

WITH THE COMPLETION of the office and retail space Gaysorn Tower late last year and the renovation of the re-branded mall known as Gaysorn Centre, a new community has sprung up right in the centre of Bangkok. Known as Gaysorn Village, the connecting buildings offer locals and tourists alike the chance to discover a lifestyle and culinary destination like no other.

Located at the corner of Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong intersection, the village plays on its diversity of food cultures to draw customers to a venue that’s generally perceived as a high-end destination specialising in luxury brands.

“Food is what everyone enjoys and we try to bring in various cuisines through our 20 restaurants and cafes,” explains Gaysorn Village’s executive director Korakot Srivikorn.

“The Ratchaprasong area is a community of working people who want a decent balance between life and work. Our aim is to offer them a journey that takes them from a Michelin-star restaurant and cigar and wine bars to tea and coffee speciality shops and Isaan and street-style outlets at prices to suit every wallet.”

Bongkoch “Bee” Satongun reinterprets traditional Thai cuisine in a contemporary context.

Our recent culinary voyage started at the Thai fine-dining restaurant Paste that revises rare classic dishes with creative flair. The restaurant earned one star in the inaugural Michelin Guide Bangkok last year and its chef Bongkoch “Bee” Satongun was also named Asia’s Best Female Chef 2018 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

A self-taught chef, Bee honed her culinary skills while working in her family’s restaurant and draws inspiration from centuries-old Thai cookbooks to reinterpret traditional cuisine in a modern context.

“There is a much larger range of Thai food than we see today and many dishes have long been forgotten. The distinctive character of classic Thai dishes is a fine balance between complex flavours. I use only fresh and artisanal ingredients from small and local producers because good ingredients will enhance good tastes. Curry pastes are made in-house. Our dried chilli comes from Kanchanaburi and is selected for its medium level of spiciness, aromatic flavour and colour,” Bee explains.

Grilled river prawn with pepper-berry curry paste wrapped with mulberry leaves

Inspired by the ancient royal recipe for curry paste created by Princess Dara Rasmi – a royal consort of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) – Bee introduces a starter with grilled river prawn and curry paste made from mamak mad (Northern pepper-berry). Priced at Bt700, the grilled river prawn is cooked with curry paste, madan (garcinia), bai chakhram(sea blite leaf) and pickled mushroom before being wrapped in mulberry leaves. It’s topped with ant eggs and dressed with coconut juice reduction.

Watermelon rind soup with sea bass and jicama dumplings

Watermelon rind gets a second chance at life in a soup – a signature dish inspired by the Snidwongse family cookbook. The steamed watermelon rind is cut into thin slices and cooked in a curry made from the pastes of dried chilli, lemongrass, red onion and pepper. Sea bass and jicama dumplings wrapped with tofu sheets are added and the soup is seasoned with fish sauce, palm sugar and lemon juice. It’s Bt750.

“It may look like gaeng som (hot and sour tamarind soup), but the curry paste doesn’t use krachai (lesser ginger) but takrai (lemongrass). It’s a cross between gaeng liang(spicy vegetable soup), gaeng som and tom yum,” Bee explains.

Nutmeg smoked guinea fowl with winged bean salad

Her yum tua phoo (spicy winged bean salad) comes with a nam prik pao (roasted chilli paste) prepared to a recipe from a centuries-old cookbook written by Mom Somjeen Rachanupraphan back in the reign of King Rama V. Here the roasted chilli is not fried with oil as it is today but simply mixed with nam yum (spicy sauce) – a concoction of fish sauce, lemon juice, palm sugar and chilli oil.

And in another move from contemporary preparation, the winged beans are not chopped and cooked with minced pork but blended with grilled baby corn and imported guinea fowl smoked with nutmeg and dressed with honey and kumquat. It costs Bt1,300.

Pomelo salad with char-grilled scarlet prawns

Another favourite is yum som-o (pomelo salad) made from Siam Ruby pomelo – a species unique to Nakhon Si Thammarat –with char-grilled scarlet prawns from Spain and home-made chilli jam and plankton paste.

“My food strikes a balance between the traditional and the contemporary. I want it to sit comfortably in between the past, the present and the future,” says Bee.

A chef at Sushi Mori is preparing Uni Sawa Shu.

Japanese restaurant Sushi Mori doesn’t only serve sushi but offers customers some 300 dishes in both traditional and fusion styles. Prepared exclusively at its Gaysorn branch is the new creation Uni Sawa Shu – sea urchin on seared sourdough bread, Bt650.

This features a tiny cube of bread slightly seared to obtain a crispy texture and spread with a special sauce mixed with miso, foie gras and truffle oil. It’s then topped with sea urchin, caviar and truffle shavings.

Uni Sawa Shu 

“I select premium bafun uni from Hokkaido, which is known for its fresh, firm, creamy and naturally sweet taste. I personally like the sourdough bread baked at Eric Kayser (the shop also has a branch at Gaysorn) and ask the bakers to craft my bread by reducing the sourness. In one bite, you can get a balance of flavours – creamy and sweet from the sea urchin, slightly salty from the sauce and slightly sour from the bread,” says co-owner Nacha Hetrakul, adding that customers can swap the sea urchin for A5-grade Tajima beef.

Shrimp tempura tom yum sauce

Other fusion dishes include shrimp tempura on a bed of green salad with slightly spicy tom yum sauce (Bt380) and torched salmon rolls topped with egg yolk (Bt440).

The best place to sit at Sushi Mori is at the counter bar where diners can observe chefs at work. Omakase style sushi, where the selection is up to the chef, is also offered in three choices – traditional, signature and Bluefin tuna – with prices ranging from Bt2,500 to Bt3,500 for nine to 12 pieces.

Lamb massaman curry with roti

For casual dining, Kub Kao’ Kub Pla run by the iberry Group has everything from ham-cheese spring rolls (Bt165) to a new main dish of lamb massaman curry with roti (Bt480) that’s only available at this branch. The tender marinated lamb shank is cooked sous-vide for 48 hours then grilled, and served with crispy fried roti and pickled cucumber relish.

 iBerista’s iced latte

The iberry Group also operates the new cafe iBerista adjacent to Kub Kao’ Kub Pla. Two exclusive blends are on offer here: the Atlantic blend for hot coffee uses beans from Kenya, Guatemala, Colombia, Ethiopia and Brazil while the Marathon blend for iced drinks is made with beans from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai with hints of citric and chocolate notes.

Worth trying is the iBerista iced latte (Bt130), which is topped with Hokkaido milk ice cream. Another special drink is iced black tangerine (Bt130) – black coffee mixed with home-made orange juice.

Riedel Wine Bar &Cellar offers a state-of-the-art wine dispenser.

A favourite with wine lovers, Riedel Wine Bar & Cellar offers more than 200 labels and state-of-the-art wine dispensers that allow for a comprehensive tasting experience along with Mediterranean tapas and European cuisine.

The special menu, available only on Saturday and Sunday, is a seafood tower with the treasures of the deep served over ice on three tiers. Diners can enjoy Irish Rock lobster, Scottish smoked salmon, Alaskan king crab leg, Sea Almond clam, langoustine, carabineros shrimp, crawfish, Bouchot mussels, sea whelks and Phuket crab. The seafood tower is available in two sizes – Bt2,999 for two persons and Bt4,999 for up to four people with two and four glasses of sparkling wine respectively.

Seafood tower 

The showroom-cum-wine bar at Gaysorn is the German crystal glassware brand’s first concept store. Guests can enjoy more than 40 different wines by the glass courtesy of the automatic wine dispenser that allows you to select your preferred wine in one of three pours – 30ml for taster option, 75 and 150ml for more serious drinking – at prices ranging from just Bt60 a glass to Bt3,500. A row of Riedel glassware is arranged to match the character and body of each wine and in-house sommeliers are on hand to offer advice. The selection changes every two months.

Boyy & Son Cafe serves drinks with freshly baked croissants.

Next to the boutique of world-renowned bag Boyy is the new Boyy & Son Cafe serving coffee, tea and chocolate with freshly baked croissants and cookies. Run by Boyy’s husband-and-wife founders Wannasiri Kongman and Jesse Dorsey, the cafe’s name borrows from Wannasiri’s nickname, Boy, with the second “y” a nod to her husband Dorsey.

Iced dark chocolate mint and almond croissant

The cafe is decked out in turquoise and Italian marble and the signature drink is designed to match the decor. This iced dark chocolate mint (Bt140) is made with milk, mint syrup, Cacao Barry, and 66-per-cent dark Valrhona chocolate and goes well with almond or coconut croissants (Bt130 and Bt110) made with flour and butter from France and baked fresh daily.

GUSTATORY GOODIES

Paste is open daily from noon to 2pm, and for dinner from 6.30 to 11pm. Call (02) 656 1003.

Sushi Mori is open daily from 11am to 10pm. Call (02) 014 7441.

Kub Kao’ Kub Pla is open daily from 10.30am to 10pm. |Call (02) 075 2660.

iBerista is open 8am to 7pm on weekdays, and 10am to 7pm on weekends. Call (02) 075 2661.

Riedel Wine Bar & Cellar is open daily from 10am to midnight. Call (02) 656 1133.

Boyy & Son Cafe is open daily from 9am to 8pm. Call (02) 235 8300.

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