“A beautiful thing is never perfect”
– Egyptian Proverb
After many times, Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos, remain one of may favorite places for short trips.
Going green in Prachinburi
Just two hours away from Bangkok, Prachinburi offers many things that big cities don’t have.
Zen moment at Ikigai Spa Bangkok
A new delightful spa hidden in the Ari neighborhood
Queen Sirikit Park: a quiet side of Bangkok
A lovely park of Bangkok that not so many people know of.
Meeting Punch Whale
A cute little zakka shop hidden in Bangkok’s Aree neighborhood
Huernia
The first bloom of my cute little Huernia
Shishi-Iwa House, Karuizawa, Japan
Forest Bathing and Luxury Stay
The famous murals of Wat Phumin in Nan, Thailand
Visit Wat Phumin and go beyond the legendary “Whisper of Love” murals
Bangkok’s markets for plant shopping
Add green touch to your home with Bangkok’s house plants
Slow Travel in Luang Prabang
Take a good rest in Laos’ World Heritage city tucked between rivers and mountains.
Ending Year 2019 at Koh Tao
Thinking about this year at my favorite place on earth.
Hermes Heritage Exhibition in Bangkok
Visit the iconic brand’s pop-up exhibition which tells the history of its famous red color.
Sunday Salon at Alexander Lamont
A Sunday event that highlights craftsmanship through The Great Gatsby and Art Deco inspirations.
Silpa Bhirasri’s House
Drop by at the house of the father of Thai modern art, which has now turned into a cafe and restaurant.
Take a rest in Samui
Four days doing nothing in Samui.
National Museum Bangkok – Revamped Edition
Visit the freshly-revamped National Museum Bangkok in the old town area.
Hotel Art Fair 2019
Hotel Art Fair, an annual art happening which turn hotels rooms into galleries is back this year at W Bangkok.
Afternoon tea with artist at The Pen
The Peninsula Bangkok introduces its second artist in residence with a special afternoon tea session.
Boarding Noah’s Ark at Na-Oh Bangkok
Noah’s Ark reimagined at the heart of Bangkok
Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia
(@elisehassey)
From Monet to Kandinsky
An immersive multimedia art exhibition, first time in Asia.
teamLab Planets: in review
My first time at teamLab in Tokyo. As exciting and fun as it could be.
Mandalay Before Election
My fond memory of Mandalay, one of my favorite places on earth.
Dreaming of Egypt
Is travel to Egypt safe? I got the answer.
Vetal Suite by Chatchai Puipia
Good news is, Bangkok’s art scene is now booming. With many independent galleries mushrooming and many cultural activities happening, may be it’s time for Chatchai Puipia to come back to this City of Angels, after many years ago he declared his withdrawal from the art world through his imagined funeral. In Vetal Suite exhibition, Chatchai …
Bangkok Awakened by Awakening Bangkok
The hippest light festival in Bangkok so far
Erb Spa, a sanctuary on Charoen Krung
I didn’t know when it started, but for many years I have turned into a dedicated spa person. Blame it on the the millennial stereotype (experience-oriented) and office syndrome and aromatic buff, spas are my go-to places when I need to unwind, and I’m so blessed to live in Thailand where spas can be found …
On Van Gogh
What are your travel souvenirs? Apart from poscards and postal stamps, I find myself buying a bracelet almost every time I travel. It’s my favorite accessory since I was young (always got caught when playing hide and seek because of its jingling sounds) until today, and most of them are keepsakes reminding me of the …
Cocoscape at Santiburi Samui
It’s amazing how nurture has shaped you. After telling myself that I’m not a jungle type, but day after day it became more evident that I like to be surrounded by trees. The darker the shades, the better. It might be because I grew up like that. My jumanji-like garden home is filled with every …
Nanjing Tulou, Fujian Province
I have to admit. Although I really want to go to see the terracotta soldiers at Xi’An so bad, China is not my obvious choice when it comes to traveling. Its true that I like ancient civilizations, but due to some reasons (esp. the language barriers), I never think of going there by myself. …
Simply Italian at Nonna Nella by Lenzi
When it comes to comfort food, apart from Thai food, it’s always Italian, especially pizza and pasta with tomato sauce. So when I heard that there’s a new Italian restaurant located like 500 meters away from my office, of course I checked it out. Open for less than a month, Nonna Nella by Lenzi was …
Dine in Bangkok’s midtown forest at Wanghinghoi Restaurant
Wanghinghoi – a temporary restaurant in Bangkok that serves thematic cuisine Admittedly, I went to Wanghinghoi with doubts in mind. I heard that the concept was to bring the forest into the city with ‘real fireflies’ in a restaurant, plus an art space! At first it seems to have a little too much of everything …
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From Mandalay with Love
An amazing cruise trip in Myanmar with Belmond Road to Mandalay
Chiang Mai Summer at Rarinjinda
When it comes to summer, Chiang Mai is not the first choice for most Thais. Located in a basin, the city can be pretty toasted diring summer time. But from my last trip, I realized it wasn’t so bad after all. You just have to know the right place to be. This trip, we stayed …
Organika Spa Bliss
I have to admit. As a spa lover, I’m very lucky to be a Thai. In Thailand, we take spa and massage very seriously (as you might know the famous Wat Pho massage) and right now there are more and more local spa brands coming up. Not long ago, I have a chance to try …
Missoni x Rachel Hayes
As a color aficionado like me, I always love Missoni. And my personal encounter with the brand was actually at Milan three years ago when I visited their showroon during the Salone del Mobile period. The boutique was turned into a space for colorful installations. It’s like a universe of prints, patterns and colors in …
Flowers in Honiara
Just a rustic 200-meters long flower lane and It could make me tremble with excitement. The flower corner at Honiara’s central market was pure joy. Just walk past the busy fresh market and then you will find it hidden in a corner. I don’t know where these tropical flowers come from. People there don’t plant …
Colors of Narathiwat
I can claim that this series of photos are the most colorful images of Narathiwat you have ever seen. Try google Narathiwat and you will know. In Thailand, the Deep South has been considered the gloomiest and the most dangerous place because of the ongoing ‘insurgencies’ for decades. But strangely enough, it was in this …
Let’s escape to Hua Hin
Funny how life treats us. In one month, I have been to Hua Hin for 3 times. All for work, two of which were one day trips. Just for this last time that I had a chance to stay over for, like, one night. Personally, Hua Hin is not always my go-to choice. It is …
Amphawa Hideaway at the Buffalo Amphawa
Research shows that being near water has some kind of magic to calm you down, but that is not the case for Amphawa. Known for the city of floating markets, the Amphawa river can be called one of the busiest rivers on earth. I went there just ten 10 minutes and I can feel like …
Marseille Adventure
On the first of October 2017, a random guy with a knife walked into Marseille’s Saint Charles train station and stabbed two women to death. The attacker was later shot by French soldiers. He died on the spot. That was two weeks before my trip to Marseille. I didn’t know about this incident at all, …
Zero Decibel by Suntur
Entering the Zero Decibel exhibition by Suntur, a pair of earplugs was handed out to me. The concept was great enough, enough to prime my perception that from then on, all I hear was silence, even the exhibition space was actually covered by light, melancholic tones of music. I didn’t know Suntur before. I heard …
Lamu Hat Contest
Out of this world 😊 (@sandylamu & @discoverlamu)
Destination Doha
It can be said that 2017 was the “Doha” year for me. Thanks to my job, I was lucky enough to join two trips with Qatar Airways, and both trips we had a stopover in Doha, the Qatari capital, and I was so amazed by how they did it. In the middle of nowhere in …
The fantastic world of Arianna Caroli
I cannot remember how exactly I came to know Arianna Caroli. I remember that I went with my boss to interview her 10 years ago and she danced. Arianna’s signature style is the floral paintings with gold. Her works are so powerful that you cannot help but falling in love with them all. For two …
Finding Treasures in Solomon Islands
It’s funny that my friends like to tell me that I have a weird taste in travel, and my boyfriend calls me an ‘orientalist’, which I’m not quite sure what that means. what I know is that I like to go to the lesser-known, the covered parts of this world, seeing new things, having new …
The Brando
Feel like getting away at the end of the world? The Brando in Teti’aroa, French Polynesia seems to be the perfect place to be. And as you can guess from the name, it’s the property of Marlon Brando.
Sretsis Parlour: a Taste of Fantasy
Sretsis is a Thai fashion brand known for its feminine fantasy, but now that goes beyond fashion. After a success of Sretsis Mermaid bar in Hua Hin, a popular seaside destination, the brand decided to take the capital by storm with the launch of Sretsis Parlour, a secret place for girls who just want to …
Par Avion: The Air-Mail art exhibition
I can say that this is one of my most favorite exhibitions of the year, and most long-awaited one. Thanks to my job, I have known some members of this art collective quite some time. Some parts of the works were shown before in Switzerland, but at the end of the day it’s good to …
La Dolce Vita in Capri
While taking a ferry to Capri, there’s only name that kept coming up on my mind… Leonardo Dicaprio. I remember that he has some Italian roots, which has turned out that he is but has nothing associated with Capri despite of his suggestive surname. Anyway, his look is easily associated with the sense of place …
The mythical Naples
For Naples, there are many myths. One of that is the one about pickpockets, which turned out to be true. My mom’s phone was stolen during the trip. There’s also a myth about Virgil. Legend has it that Virgil’s tomb is situated on a hill of this city. That is why many poets journeyed here, …
The art of Flanerie
What I love the most about Hermes.
You had me at ‘YELO’
Many times, getting sidetracked can be a good thing. Yesterday after an event, we decided to drop by at Yelo House, a new creative space located in Soi Kasemsant 1,one soi before Jim Thompson House, and I’m glad we did. The space is really cool, hidden in a little alley. Founded by a group of …
Greco Romance
(@rachellerro)
Milos, Kikladhes, Greece
(@nellyvels)
Sawasdee Pad Thai : What real Pad Thai looks like
For most travelers, Sawasdee Pad Thai might be unheard-of. I’am not sure it’s there in guidebooks. The place has no TripAdvisor badge and I have never seen any foreigners there. But if you really want to taste the REAL pad thai, the pad thai for locals, this place is the place. Sawasdee Padthai restaurant is …
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Bangkok Green at Naipa Art Complex
On the other day, I just read about the evolution of museums, of how contemporary art places have to adapt to be more Instagrammable, and in Bangkok Naipa Art Complex seems to fit in this case. Intended or not, this complex has become one of the most photogenic places in the city, at least the …
Meet my Andaman Dream at Cape Kudu
One thing I love about the Andaman is at the first glance in the distance, everything seems to be in every shade of blue. But when you get closer to any islands, their real colors start to reveal, and just a blink away, things become crystal clear. It is where you will see the …
Chaopraya Cruise, Thai-Style
As Thais know, Chaopraya cruises are mainly for tourists. But what about the locals? Rejoice, Thai people, we finally got one. Supanniga Cruise, the brainchild of the famous Supanniga restaurant, is now cruising along the river of life while serving its authentic Thai food. The drinks are not so Thai: there are a wide range …
Sunny days in Southern Thailand
It used to rain every time I went to Phuket, but not this time, the fact that startled me. We are in Phuket during the monsoon season and it decided to greet us with sunny days. In this trip I stayed at Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao to learn more about the time-sharing concept. The …
A trip to Jodhpur
Jodhpur…the Blue City. Well, it turned out that Jodhpur is not that blue. After seeing the Jodhpur series by Steve McCurry and so much on other medias, I kinda expect that it would be so, so blue. But it’s not. But it’s very charming anyway. I have to admit I like it more, compared to …
Monsoon Rain & Wishing Tree
One funny thing about myself is wherever I travel, it always rain (even in South Africa!) but this time seems to be the most severe. During two days in Khon Kaen, it rained cats and dogs because of the monsoon, from the first minute at we touched down until the last minute before boarding on …
Ahh Kard D, a new secret sanctuary in Bangkok
If you saw the pervious shape of this place, you wouldn’t believe that this building could turn out so well. I saw it, because my b/f was intersted in renting it, and couldn’t believe it as well. That deserted building has turned into a very nice (and very popular!) cafe and rsstaurant called Ahh Kard …
Take a Pause in Trang
It seems fitting to write about Trang while waiting for the rain to stop, now, in Bangkok. For me, Trang, a sleepy little town in the south of Thailand, is associated with the rain, the greenery, and life at snail speed. It rained most of the time when we went there, but to our surprise …
Midnight Moon
Last Friday after work, while it was raining cats and dogs, I found my way to my favorite sanctuary in Bangkok. After almost an hour, I finally ended up at Midnight Moon, soaked up from the rain from head to toe. But after several glasses of wine, things couldn’t be more perfect. Museum of Floral …
Pangha, Chiang Rai off-the-beaten-track
If you are a Thailand aficionado, you might know the province of Chiang Rai, a charming little area located on the Northern edge of the country. But Pangha? Well, that can be unheard-of for most people, even for a local like myself. I just came to know this village recently when I had to write …
Sunday Afternoon at Sailom Bangpu
Today I would like to introduce my new favorite place to you. Sailom Bangpu is around one hour from Bangkok CBD. The complex features a seafood restaurant and a cute little cafes with ceramic products for sale. The coffee is worth a drive and there are beers as well. …
3 Days in Amanpuri
Recently, thanks to my work, I was lucky enough to be in Amanpuri for several days. Well, not that lucky actually, it rained during the first two days … but at least I got a chance to try it all, in different weather conditions lol. As a lifestyle writer, I have heard so much about …
Dreaming of Egypt
(@huilesdoliv)
Zhengzhou Excursions
I have to admit that despite being a Chinese-Thai, I have tried to avoid China for all along, and that China in my imagination was quite intimidating, with all the language barriers, the congested population, the pollution and the manners… But finally it was time that I have to go to China for work. My …
Four days in Durban
I remember that night. The meeting time at the airport was 11 p.m. but at 7 p.m., I was still in Ayutthaya. My bag wasn’t packed. I was so drowsy. With all pressing schedules, most of my work and leisure trips have gone off unprepared lately, but for this trip I was less prepared than …
Pretty ballerina
Just realized Im so much in love with Jeff Koons’ ballerina series.
Half day in Bangsaen
If you are interested in having a Thai beach getaway, you should come to Bangsaen. After attending a weddding we spent a night here. I used to attend a secondary school here long time ago and never thought of spending a time here (too local, too busy). It turned out to be better than expected. …
Colors of Jaipur
It can be said that the human race can be divided into two types of people: one type is the people who hate India, and the other type the people who keep going back to this country, and I, myself, seem to fall into the latter type. Despite the heat, chaos and all the craziness, …
Lamu Island
Lamu Island, Kenya. Thanks @Sandylamu for sharing and proving that this place really exists.
Bagan
The secret of Bagan lies in this little corner by the Ayarwaddy river. So precious, so peaceful.
Displaced
When it comes to art, I like the art that can be perceived in many levels. On the surface it looks pleasing to the eyes, and has hidden messages deep down. And Jakkai’s works are just like that. At first glance, the new works in his Displaced exhibition are impressive with colorful schemes and children’s …
In love with Isfahan
Obviously, Iranians seem to have a thing for ceilings. My theory is… God is in heaven, and to make people get closer to God, they decided to make intricate ceilings so once you get into a space, whether it’s a mosque or a palace, you end up looking towards the sky at the first second …
Shiraz, the City of Mysteries
As many might know, Iranians are famous for their driving skills, and I did witness that when our guide, Ali, picked us up from the airport and headed to our hotel in Shiraz. Just an hour and we nearly faced like a couple of accidents… “Do women drive here?” I asked him, thinking that may …
Thailand Yacht Show 2016
The luxury side of Phuket.
Blue Tang Cafe, Pattaya
First of all, Happy New Year everyone! For me, back home in Pattaya, I kicked off this year by visiting my friend’s freshly-opened cafe, Blue Tang Cafe, located in Pattaya Soi 16/2 (the same soi as Centara Grand Mirage). The cafe is next to its sister Yellow Submarine Ice-Cream Shop. When it seems like running …
Krabi Delight
I have to say that of all islands and beaches in Thailand, I have a little secret affair with Krabi. Although I’m not a nature type of travellers, but I have to admit that I’m always thrilled by its landscape composed of limestone mountains, mangrove forests, beaches and rivers. The vibes are also limited to …
Wish you a Happy Christmas 🙂
Christmas vibe at Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
Fleurfume: why bespoke perfume is a great idea
The relationship between human and scents is kind of tricky in some ways. Among thousands of new scents coming up each year, it is not easy to find the right one and many people hopelessly spend year after year searching for the perfect scent that match their liking and personality. And what if there is …
Dawn at Red Lotus Sea, Udon Thani
One of my favorite sunrise spots in Thailand is in the Red Lotus Sea at Nongharn Kumpawapi Lake, Udon Thani. What impressed me was not the process of the rising sun, but The process of locals getting their boats ready. And minutes after, when the sunlight started to manifest itself, our boat took off to …
An afternoon at Little Tree
For nature lovers, it’s hard not to fall in love with this Little Tree Cafe & Restaurant, a garden-styled cafe tucked between orchid plantations in Nakhon Pathom, around an hour away from Bangkok. We went here 2 times for coffee and home-made cakes, but the food seems to be good as well. …
My Iranian Odyssey
As an action and spy movie buff, one of my all-time favorites is Argo. I still remember all the suspenses I watched it for the first time many years back, just for fun, and couldn’t care less about the story. After my trip to Iran, I watched it again. After hearing so much about how …
Into the Blue (Whale)
My first encounter with Blue Whale Cafe in Tha Tien was a mediocre one. We just finished the Thai massage at Wat Pho Massage School nearby and walked past this freshly-opened cafe. Since we already had coffee, we decided to take a raincheck. But Blue Whale seems to have gained more attention in two months. …
One fine day
A couple in Esfahan
Lost in wonder
This country keeps you wonder…
Young & free
At a mosque in Shiraz, Iran 2016
Teaser: my Iranian Adventure
Please excuse my video skill 😓 try to remind myself that next time I should take it horizontally lol
Goodbye, Val
Since I started working as a writer on art and culture, the name of Valerie Goutard has been a household name that came up a lot during conversations. This works of this Thailand-based French artist are unique in the way she focused on the humanistic view of life. Her works always touch my heart thanks …
Koh Munnork: An Eastern Getaway
Like everything else, my relationship with the sea changes with age. In my younger days (not long time ago, just several years back), I didn’t mind hopping on an overnight bus for 6-10 hours before boarding on a catamaran to wake up (again) by the pristine beaches of Phangan or Koh Tao. But when …
The Crafted Thailand
If you like crafts and happen to be in Bangkok until next week, try drop by at the Queen’s Gallery. The exhibition ‘Crafts From the Hands of the Hills to the Hand of the Queen’ is definitely worth a visit. The exhibition gathers the works of 6 hill tribes in Thailand (along with their people …
Narathiwat: Thailand’s best kept secret
When it comes to traveling in Thailand, surely just some names made it through. OK you might be familiar with Bangkok (of course!), Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Narathiwat might be one of many names you have never heard of. But like many underrated provinces in Thailand, I could say that this is one of …
The Phuket Holiday
Gathering up my thoughts on Phuket for my upcoming mag writeup. The last time I went to Phuket was several months ago. It was during the monsoon season, so it rained most of the time. So at Keemala, I spent most of my time sleeping, the thing I need the most after the long issue-closing …
My Dear Morocco
In the middle of November last year, when Islamophobia spiked globally, we found ourselves heading to Morocco, the country whose 99% of the population are Muslim. Most of my friends asked why? Frankly, I really didn’t know. Why not? . When my friends or anyone came to see me to consult their problems, telling …
Floral Fantasy
Yesterday, I went back to one of my favourite places in Bangkok, the Museum of Floral Culture, to attend the press conference about this year’s main event. Apart from normal workshops held every month, during the week of Thailand’s Mother’s Day every year, the museum hosts a special program to celebrate the occasion. And this …
Coffee time in Chiang Mai
After hearing so much about Ristr8to cafe, I had a chance to try it out by chance during my latest trip to Chiang Mai. One branch was happened to be next to the alley we stayed. After seeing another branch located on the main road, well this branch at the end of Nimman 3 was …
Phi Ta Khon: the masked ghost dance of Thailand
Firstly, I have to admit that Phi Ta Khon was in my bucketlist for such a long, long time. As a sensation-seeking culture buff, I’m always attracted to some kind of rites involving something inexplanable, like faith, and Thailand seems to have a plenty of that. So this year I joined the Phi Ta Khon …
Let’s MEAT
Although many Thais don’t eat meat, but Bangkok is blessed with many steak houses. And the latest, and the most popular one so far is Meatlicious located in Ekamai Soi 6. Meatlicious is known as another restaurant of famous chef Gaggan Anand, but if you know Gaggan, you will find that its not that Gaggan …
From Bangkok with Love
Ok, today we are not traveling to anywhere, but I would like to share about Bangkok, the City of Angels where I’m currently living in. And ok, almost everyone knows Bangkok. It’s Thailand’s capital, a tourist city, sanctuary of shopping malls, important cultural attraction, but what most people don’t know about is that Bangkok is …
The lost moments
Just browsing through folders in my old hard disk and found this photo hidden somewhere between hundred photos of Macau. I couldn’t remember I had a favorite shot in that trip. Things went so fast…and a couple of years later I happen to find one. Too bad some moments are lost, tucked away somewhere, but …
Excursion from Bangkok
Just a train ride away from Bangkok and you’ll arrive at a town called Nakhon Pathom, where the gigantic golden pagoda is located. Not far from the pagoda, you will find a old house turned into a cafe-book shop called “Kumnumm”, which means preface. Most of the books are in Thai, but the place is …
Art therapy
Went to an exhibition opening today and I was surprised that the event was crowded. Very unusual for the place. It’s a watercolor painting exhibition organized by International Water Society. So may be that was the reason why. I like to appreciate at in every form, but I have to admit that watercolor art has …
Pahurat calling
When I have some free time, I like to go to Pahurat, with no exact reasons in mind. There are no hip cafes to lounge around, no special activity. Just walking around is enough. Dubbed Bangkok’s Little India, Pahurat is actually a sanctuary of Indians, Chinese, Burmese, and many more. People’s faces here look unidentifiable. …
Humans of Angkor
At Angkor Wat, most people would prefer dodging the crowd. But for me, the bygone place would be far beyond lifeless without these people. And I have to admit its more fun watching people
Lost in Koh Mak
When it comes to the beach destinations in the Eastern part of Thailand, I always feel unsure.. One of the reasons might lie in my past experiences at Koh Chang, which was always rainy, and Koh Kood, which was rainy all-day, all-night. It was chill enough, but when it comes to the beaches, sunshine is …
Finding Ning Nong
For a few days after coming up with a new English blog, I was thinking hard about what should be in my first post. And among the gloomy news related to animals this week, from a gorilla shot dead to dead baby tigers in the freezer, I came across the story of Ning Nong. Ning …