Blink and nine years have passed. That was the impression of all the hosts of "The Magical Phenomenon" to celebrate the ninth anniversary of Siam Paragon.
Muangthai Life Assurance's Pitraporn Boonyarattapan, second right, congratulates Siam Paragon executives, from left, Chadatip Chutrakul, Grisana Umpujh, Katevalee Napasab, Supaluck Umpujh and Kriengsak Tantipipop.
The event was held in the House of Walker, Parc Paragon. Guests arrived in their interpretations of "absolute glamour" as per the invitation, and were welcomed by the hosts, Siam Paragon director Katevalee Napasab, vice-chairman Supaluck Umpujh and CEO Chadatip Chutrakul.
Inside the House of Walker, guests took their seats at designated tables, catching up with each other until the proceedings began. The guests included prominent business figures, top celebrities and distinguished customers. Lending a modern twist to the interior were 4D visual and sound effects, as well as visually stunning digital mapping to provide sensory enticement.
Welcome speeches were given by Ms Supaluck and Ms Chadatip, and emcee Sawitri Rochanapruek introduced the "magical" elements of the event to mark the big nine, beginning with the date, Dec 9.
First up was celebrity Karnklao "Grace" Duaysienklao, whose lithe body had been transformed by renowned Austrian body painting champion Birgit Moertl.
She was followed by actress Ann Thongprasom who was draped with a stunning jewellery set comprising the 299-million-baht Manee Noppakaw, a precious nine gemstones jewellery collection by Blue River.
The sparkling necklace, bangle and earrings comprised 9,999 gems in nine different varieties weighing 199 carats and were specially crafted for the celebration.
One of nine scarf designs from HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana's 'Sirivannavari Bangkok Limited Edition for Siam Paragon Nine Years Anniversary'.
Next on stage was guitarist Martin Taylor, who has been praised by international magazines as one of Europe's top musicians for his exceptional style. He was joined by renowned vocalist Alison Burns and they enhanced the mood with their jazz numbers.
By now, guests had their appetites sufficiently whetted to enjoy the special cocktails and the nine featured dishes created by nine leading restaurants in Siam Paragon. These included morsels of Traditional Roasted Wagyu Beef wrapped in a mini Yorkshire pudding from Harrods, Paradise of Glitter with caviar, fresh uni from Hokkaido served on top of Atlantic blue fin tuna fillet from Honmono, Rhapsody of Foie Gras — black ink macaron from Signor Sassi Bangkok, Pan Fried Yellowtail Kingfish Canape served with white wine cream sauce from Italian kitchen Amici, and Chicken with Goose Liver and Mango topped with hoisin sauce from Crystal Jade.
For those with a sweet tooth, The Mandarin Oriental Shop created a fashion-inspired package where three-flavoured cakes were presented in "handbag" boxes, while Coffee Beans by Dao created a strawberry pop tart made from candied organic strawberries from Shisuoka.
At Another Hound, the barista served up Thai black coffee affogato with Italian shortbread, while TWG served up two special black tea blends, Magic Moment and Anniversary Afternoon Tea.
The night ended on a high note with a concert by British pop star Natasha Bedingfield who sang her hits These Words, Pocketful of Sunshine, Love Like This and Unwritten.
The celebration carried on into the shopping centre with exhibitions of various iconic items. One of the highlights included nine limited edition graphic-patterned scarves designed exclusively by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana for the occasion. The nine designs originally came from the princess's sketchbook, and narrate her journey in design and fashion.
On the artistic front, National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat showcased an exhibition titled "Praise the Buddha Through Spirit", featuring rare masterpieces of Buddhism-inspired paintings and sculptures. Particularly impressive was a bronze Buddha sculpture Loving Kindness Buddha of the Reign of King Rama IX, which stands 3m tall and took three years to finish.
The World of Auto section presented a Mini F56, the first to be manufactured in Thailand, with a pikul flower motif to express the uniqueness of Thai art.
In the World of Lifestyle, Vuudh by Harnn created a special fragrant room spray called Scent of Pride, a pocket-sized bottle of which was presented to guests as a memento of the evening. n
