Surviving Bangkok on a Rainy Day!

By Wantipa Patumanon

Travelling to Thailand is definitely fun but a little tough during the rainy season. It’s the season with the rain, wet, cloudy and no sunny, and of course no kidding, this is Thailand with 2 seasons: Hot and Rain. Having said that, there are still many tourists hop in the country all year round to experience the culture, no matter what season is.

The rainy season in Thailand, in fact, begins from June till October. Raining and wet all over the place, throughout the country, some cities, especially the North and the South, are even much flooded… I heard it so many times from the TV news. I think I am lucky enough to live in Bangkok with less flood and storm. But perhaps, if you do not know Bangkok really well, Bangkok amidst the rain may be worse than expected. Wrong, there are still so much fun to look forward should you learn how to Survive Bangkok during every soaking minute of goofing around the city. As a Bangkokian born and raised here, I recommend a few tips and maybe you can take this as a pre-warning before your trip to Thailand. Otherwise, travelling here won’t be enjoyable. So read on, probably follow and survive Bangkok.

Keep in mind for the wet season and pack necessities. Follow the Thailand guidebook while realizing you are visiting the country during the rain. So what you need to pack, besides your clothes and other personal accessories, are a small convenient-to-carry umbrella and a raining coat (even a plastic one is fine too). But missing these two means getting yourself ill, and that comes to the end of your fun trip. The other vital thing you can’t miss to bring is your small iPod or MP3, helpful to clear out your mind and forget you are walking in the rain. Enjoyment on a rainy day will still be left inside you.

Protect your camera in a plastic bag. While on travelling, you can’t have so much fun without a camera. During the wet season in Thailand, never let the water get through its organism, or no fun after all. Really, it happened to me before, I am a photography lover, and taking photos is just like getting into my blood. So I need a camera to survive and have fun in the countries I was visiting. So prevent the unexpected problem by having a plastic bag cover your loved camera, and be survival of the rain and storm, and finally getting nice shots of the city in different perspective – Bangkok in the rain.

Make a visit to indoor tourist attractions. Where else can you go while it's still raining out there? What if it rains all day long? So I advise you to visit indoor attractions: temples, museums and palaces - National Museums, Wat Pho with the big reclining Buddha, Jim Thomson's House, Wimanmek Palace, etc. Spend most of your time on a rainy day in one of these places and learn more about the essence of its all. Though this may not be highly recommended tip, it had still better than walking around the city in the rain and get sick later on. Am I right?

Enjoy indoor activities. Shopping is always fun. Despite no purchase, you still can enjoy shopping by looking around the shop or even window shopping. Again, it'd still better than waiting for the rain to stop. The famous shopping malls are Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, Siam Center, MBK and Central World Plaza. Or you can also enjoy shopping for small price of IT stuffs at Pantip Plaza, or cheap clothes and accessories at Pratunam Center. Put on your shopping spree back on one rainy day.

Experience motorcycle taxi, despite so wet. This is fun. Must try it! This is Thailand, and everything is possible. Motorcycle taxis are available around and fast. While it’s raining, you can expect the unexpected situation – and suddenly you find yourself stuck in the terrible traffic. The only way to get you move along is a motorcycle taxi. Look for those who wear a jacket with the number, then experience the fun, fast and wet on a motorcycle ride. Recommend to use an umbrella or wear a raining coat. You may look a little funny with the umbrella but believe me, it’s fun.

Squeeze in on the bus, just like Thais. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, heard of it? This proverb is applicable to everywhere, and every visit of a new country, and “When in Thailand, do as the Thais do”. On a rainy day, unexpected heavy traffic definitely happens, and if you are not in hurry or can’t find a motorcycle taxi, buses are still plenty; it’s time to do it, DO IT just like all Thais. Squeeze in, guys, buses really are cheap. Not going to do it? Walk in the rain or grab a taxi, but that’s not a real Thai style to experience though.

Following the tips, you can absolutely enjoy the wet trip in Bangkok and survive Bangkok on a rainy day!

Modern Thai Living

Your lifestyle might be quite simple, and you don’t need anything much for yourself. All you need is probably just something easy and sabai sabai, but of course not out-of-date. You are living in the globalization world with innovative technology, modern and style new stuffs like fashion and society, so you have to know how to adapt yourself and your lifestyle to this world.

“Modern Thai Living” by Wongvipa Devahastin na Ayudhya and Sakul Intakul is a must-read book of interior design and architecture to help you adapt yourself to a new era of the world because you are living in Thailand which is country of unique culture. Thailand, a country, could not be out, if it is, that means the country is still under development, and then you are not supposed to be out as well. The book can guide you the way of new modern Thai living with showcases a number of brand new properties in Thailand such as shops, homes, summer/holiday houses, restaurants, bars or offices.

With beautiful photography by Masano Kawana, this book looks more fantastic and wonderful to read turning page by page and also with a description by Devahastin na Ayudhya and Intakul. They describe how to decorate places in the new Thai design with the very cool and simple furnishing style, which can make you feel more relaxing. They describe each modern Thai living in the difference style: Tranquil Living, Drama, and Light and Space. First, start off with “Tranquil Living” that is the style of a calm and restful environmental design with natural, organic materials and quality artworks, etc. The design needs attention to detail and cool colors to match with surroundings. Tranquil living is presented in Baan Suan Sanghob or the “Transquil Garden House” which is well-designed and decorated among green nature in very simple look and feel. And this modern living is also pushed the idea and concept of its design in the style of Artful Living, Shophouse Chic, Cool Blue, Thai-style Modern, Natural Organics, Collection box, A Fresh Outlook.

The ideal of “Drama” is a bit different with rich hues, bold colors and luxurious textiles combine with Oriental antiques and custom-crafted modern pieces to create highly individual interiors. This style will match with a bar, shop, home or house. Drama style includes Sky High, Heaven Sent, High-style Glamor, Candy Color, White Out, International Appeal, Small is Beautiful. For example, Candy Color with the style of large plasma screens and Italian designed chairs and tables along with state-of-art lighting and clean light timber floors ensure offices are airy, comfortable and spacious.

Devahastin na Ayudhya and Intakul also describe the style of “Light and Space” as the modern design for tropical living. Space is the ultimate commodity with large floor plans combined with high ceilings, open-air terrace, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, open decks and plenty of natural light. The interiors are bright, roomy, breezy, individual and feng shui. Light and Space is cool decorated in the style of Lofty Sentiments, A Passion for Chairs, Custom-designed Compound, H1 Hop, White & Light, Laid-back Living, and Strong Geometry and Good Qi.

If you would love to decorate your house and make your lifestyle modern, stylish and trendy and never out, Devahastin na Ayudhya and Intakul won’t disappoint you with this book.

“Modern Thai Living” is now available at any Asia Books branch in Thailand.

MK Restaurant Gold

Supposed you are asking me where my most favourite restaurant is, then I would go and say… YES!… that’s “MK”, that’s the one. I believe this name is quite familiar for all of you, right… since all of sudden, you see its name almost everywhere you go, especially in any shopping malls. As we all know, “MK” is a sukiyaki restaurant with several branches in Thailand for many years, but do you know it’s now open up to 200 restaurants? And the 200th one has recently been opening up to really welcome the New Year 2006 and celebrate the new Siam Paragon, a new world of shopping experience, just opening in December 2005. Then what a better chance to do two explorations at a time! The first thing quite stimulated our interests was its different look inside when seeing from outside, and we looked at the name. It’s said “MK Restaurant GOLD, 200th celebration restaurants” with its “Gold” logo name that is like “WOW! What a hi-so”. What a unique and different is that, the place is very luxurious and we could tell it as the first fine dining MK restaurant in Thailand, with the décor of two crystal lights hanging from the ceiling and all seats are red and soft, not as wooden seats as other locations, even in the waiting area. Even though the place is not as much spacious as other branches such as at Tesco Lotus Onnut or Central City Bangna, it seems it’s separated into 3 areas – private and corner area with sofa seat, central/hall area, and crowded area containing many tables close to each one. We discovered that the privacy area is most unique with the theme of black color even sofa and together with discotheque lights as if we were in the club serving sukiyaki, ha… sound cool? Then adding more uniqueness for the place with “GOLD” pot, ceramic bowl and spoon, and napkin instead of tissue paper. And you must be aware that they do not serve free cold water here as usual, I mean tea, if you want a cheap drink, then order mineral water from a drink menu. The menu is another difference for this branch with a wide range of items and menu sets such as several kinds of mushrooms (like King of Oyster Mushrooms, Hungarian Mushrooms, Bhutan Mushrooms), Sea Mussels (really imported from New Zealand), Corn added in Vegetable set, and Mushroom set (just like healthy set of Vegetable). The taste is still good and delicious, after all, especially when adding suki sauce in the bowl. And if you want to try Dim Sum here, do not even wait for Dim Sum on cart coming to your way since they are available only from the menu at a bit high price but bigger piece. For me, I am very much impressive in the service here. All servers seem being well-trained when they do like bowing to customers most of the time with friendly and warm smile, and they are around every corner to be ready for your first and next orders. And they also serve fast. We notice that they also dress well in “gold”. Count on 400 to 800 Baht for a group of two. We could say this MK GOLD is another different feel that can never really happen to you while dining in other MKs.

Online Dating in Thailand

How to Get A Date on the Internet

“Looking for a relationship?”

Tired of waiting for “THE” soul mate that will brighten up your life? Can he or she truly exist in this life? Would you ever stop looking for “THE” one?

First things first, ask yourself, “Who are you really seeking? A pen pal or a friend? (to virtually exchange with and talk to) or is it a true soul mate? (harder to find) or a life partner? (to build a future with) or is it simply a lover? Or a one-night stand? (for serious lust and excitement)”.

The next question that logically pops up is what to do if there is a response, “Are you just going to stay behind your computer waiting and freaking out or will you stand up and go the whole nine yards to achieve your goal?”

If you choose the former, then go back to square one and start again, you missed the point and you’re a wimp not serious in achieving your goal but if you decide to pursue, read on...

Internet has now been the in-thing for the last few years and effectively eases your quest for romance, love and the lot. IT helps everyone from Asian to Western backgrounds to break the ice and make their connections. If you are now looking for a relationship with Asians, you might be wondering how this can pan out via IT, because Asians, unlike Westerners are well unique and abounded cross-cultural gaps in culture and lifestyle, especially if you are seeking a Thai.

Thinking of searching here are a few tips.

1. Register for free on dating websites. This is easy! Thousands of websites are free membership. Register and post your profile, your photo galleries and your classified ads (real ones don’t be shy).

2. Make up online personal ads. This is the great way to meet your dates having everything in common. But what are you going to write in there? What qualities of your date are you looking for? What qualities do you bring to the relationship? What are your hobbies, what do you indulge in? Be honest about who you are and write the ads with conversational style, never being sexually explicit.

3. Read the online personal ads and write an introduction/contact letter. A reflection of your personality will reveal your interest into what you are searching in a relationship.

4. Communicate/chat online being your normal self and be ready, have an open minded attitude. It builds up a good relationship if you have EXCITING, INTERESTING and FUN conversation. For example, you could try being cool in language using RAP words to be fun such as “Yo, what’s up?” but don’t go over board for the whole conversation as your date will think you are a freak and you will lose out. Using a cool profile name like “NICE GUY” as your screen name generates interest and probably land more dates. Remember you like everybody else are gullible be street smart in your approach.

5. Use a web cam, to have FUN. Most of your dates want to see how the person they are chatting up to looks like. Handsome? Ugly? Sexy? Old? Young? It is as close to a face-to-face meeting you will ever get. If you strike you strike.

If you think you are ready to show your face to attract more dates then get a cam now from Pantip they are cheap and easy to install. But don’t forget, do not get naked in front of the cam yet, you will definitely burn out on the first pass if you do.

For inexperienced/first-hand users male or female, unavoidable mistakes and disasters will probably happen. Be aware of the following “DO NOT”.

1. Send a message like a whole essay. Keep it short to a couple topics. Straight to the point.
2. Say the same old thing your dates have received from thousands of people. That’s BORING and you will be pegged from day one.
3. Be self-depreciative talking about your hardships in life. You will surely be pegged and a goner, the word will get around.
4. Show off like “blah blah blah” talking about yourself, your job, your status, your education. Let your dates discover who you are gradually. Mysterious and interesting!
5. Get on the sex wagon unless that is in a nutshell what you are seeking. There are a multitude of specialized sites to go to. If your point is to find a serious relationship be discrete.

Useful website links below are like good medicine and can enlighten your heart and assist you in your quest for meeting new and exciting people perhaps dates, a soul mate or the next Mr. or Mrs. Right.

www.asianeuro.com – where to meet your dates from Asians to Westerners

www.thailandsinglesnetwork.com – where to find 10 more dating sites

www.girldatingtips.com – where to find more tips and advice about online dating

Tags: Relationship

Honeymoon Time

“How to keep passion and relationships alive”

Speaking of this month’s theme of “travel”, what’s truly popped up for our relationship column is a sweet honey + moon, and you can absorb the romance of its “HONEYMOON” while this is a part of your marriage/relationships life. Actually you can taste the sweet of “honey”, I mean a real taste (How do you like sweet? Is it too sweet for you?), but you can’t certainly taste or chew on “moon” (while it is shinning at night in the far horizon). What you can do with it is just feel and look at its beauty (In fact, the real moon is ugly). Then under the moonlight in the middle of the night, the romance is just around you. It might be sad for those who are single, if they probably have to imagine beyond and beyond of all romance with someone (like dreaming), but do not go deeply too sad while romance and sweet can finally occur WHEN they actually found “THE ONE”, and they won’t feel lonely anymore.

When two people are in the same circle of love called “Destiny”, they fall in love. They found their soul mate and finally got married. Thus life will be changing to the next step of relationships which is “marriage”. See what will happen after marriage? Now, when we came up with the topic of Honeymoon, we thought this would be an exciting and luscious issue on how honeymoon can keep passion and relationships alive. Is this for real? Come discover with us… newlyweds… read on…

Wedding bell is ringing. Wedding song is sweet and melodious. Two hearts are linked together. Once you say “I do”, your life is going to be wrapped up with the word of “marriage”. Then once you step in, you can’t look back. This is concerning about life, love, relationships and family, and “honeymoon” is a part of them as the celebration of LOVE as well as a new beginning of life. For newlyweds, they might feel nervous because this is likely a new experience… this is true when there is lots of excitement during the honeymoon trip. Excitement begins since they start an engine and drive away after the wedding. It is the first and good start how to keep love and passion alive and still on for each other. Their honeymoon can be the most perfect moment ever. For those who wait, like one year gone, the desire and passion is probably less excited even when they start their trip. However, once honeymoon time comes, you can taste the best of it to keep passion and relationships excited and alive, but how? We discover that there are some typical and ideal recommendations you might adapt to your honeymoon experience…

1. Pick the best honeymoon spots of your dream. Hawaii? Bali? Phuket? Europe? Caribbean? Alaska? The best place means the best moment; it’s probably half true depending on what types of trip you are looking for. Best of all is to build up the feeling and emotion of love. Like if you go on Alaskan Cruise with the super cold weather, you can keep each other warm.

2. Prepare a trip and pack up your luggage. Remember this is your romantic trip, not just like “swinging” fun one. When we are talking about keeping passion and relationships “excited and alive” (stress on these two words), but don’t ever think on adventure theme like cycling trip. This is not about exercise or game. Who are going to be crazy cycling for a honeymoon trip across the country? Absolutely, it serves you guys with an excitement but at the end exhausted to death. Easier booking flight through airlines or travel agents. Do not forget accommodations, make sure the hotels good and clean. More importantly, pack up everything you need for the trip.

3. Once you are there, add as much as honey as you can during the conversation and feeling. It is not like sipping a cup of honey to start sweet talking, your heart will go on and your brain is swirling around. We are not considering honey as a kind of marijuana or weed. Honey is more than that in the way of its sweetness. As mentioned, you can taste the real honey, but in this case, forget about it. Real taste doesn’t make you feel sweet and nice in your talking. Try to think what the best word you can express to each other. Be aware of getting the whole conversation too greasy.

4. Push up more honeymoon activities. Gear up and accelerate your energy with lots of fun activities and fill up more romance during the trip. “Diving”, even snorkeling or scuba is one example of fun sport activities. Hold your love’s hand and dive in the sea to find the beautiful nature of underwater together. Out of the world much more fun when you go on a helicopter tour to check out the beauty of the world, recommendation should be during the night time. After the sun falls and the moon rises up, the evening starts with splendid atmosphere. It is time to chill out under the candle light. Dance in the rhythm of classical and soft music and then deepen passion while kissing under the moonlight.

5. Keep on your romance in the room. Don’t think too much. We aren’t leading you to a sexual issue much, as that is your personal after the wedding. Then the evening is over, and it is bed time. Carry your bride to the room (overweight bride had better carry groom instead). Close the doors and SURPRISE her with the decoration in the room like flower bunches all over the place and sprinkle rose’s leaves on bed (be careful if she is allergic to pollen. Sneezing!). Next is your private time…… we’d better off now.

These guides are just an ideal for honeymoon trip to keep your passion and relationships alive, we believe it does happen in reality of some couples, not just an imaginary or a dream. It might be a dream for those who are still single, but once they found Mr./Ms. Right, it won’t anymore. Yet, remember the most essential part to keep strong relationships is treat and understand each other very well. Though honeymoon is over, it doesn’t mean “I’m over you”. Relationships should stay alive and on and happy ending forever.

Have you ever seen “Just Married” and “50 First Dates”? Two must-see movies are in the contrast story of honeymoon. In fact, “Just Married”, starring by Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy, is a romantic movie but the story is concerning about the worst honeymoon with less understanding of each other. As for “50 First Dates”, it is not all about honeymoon but the story was set in Hawaii which is ranged as one of world’s top 10 honeymoon spots. Drew Barrymoore and Adam Sandler made the most romantic movie ever. We’d like to encourage you to go grab the movies yourself. Watch and enjoy the movie.

Then to assist you pick a perfect honeymoon spot, we did some research from the CNN’s website. We discovered the world’s 10 best honeymoon spots based on Modern Bride Magazine, updated June 8, 2005: 1. Hawaii 2. Italy 3. Tahiti 4. Anquilla 5. Fiji 6. St. Lucia 7. Mexico 8. St. Barths 9. Jamaica 10. France. Now, it is your choice and chance to make the most amazing honeymoon and keep passion and relationships excited and alive. This is also the moment that might happen once in a lifetime, especially for women, why don’t you make it as much impressive as possible?

Share us your opinion or experience on your honeymoon via email

Tags: Relationship

WHAT A COOL LIFE 2006

“How to Make Life Different in 2006”

Another year passed by and a New Year comes in, sure that’s always a circle of this entire world with 365 days in a year. And the world has now been turning into an era called “Globalization”, even it also seems like smaller since the “In Thing” has become more getting involved. People have very fast communication via modern technology like internet, so they are getting more social network and business, more friends, more relationships, and so on… While everything gets connected and you are also real living in this world, not in the Mars or Venus, why are you still sitting in the same place and waiting for a token or a coin to drop in your lap? You know, that bit money is just like some change of your life; if you don’t move, how can you earn that piece of money or even live your life for the better future?

Think about your life in the past, past year, it might suck and sometimes be miserable. And what will you want to do for the New Year to improve your life? Will you just leave it like the way we were or desire for something different and new to make your life better? If you decide to choose the second option, you are right, totally right. And why not start in this year 2006? Gear up your power engine and drive yourself to the best way of life. Let’s hear out some of our cool suggested ideas of “how to make life different in 2006”:

First let us serve you with “club or party life”. We believe most of you have a normal life, like going to work at 8 am, taking off for home at 4 pm, and going to bed at 8 or 9 pm and then waking up early for a new day of work. Aren’t you getting sick of that kind of step of life? If you really are and feel like doing something fun and crazy just to release all pressure you had during a day at work, the recommendation is go to… go clubbing or partying instead of directly going home? So group up with your friends at the club, have fun drinking, dancing and even getting drunk a bit. OH! That’s all just for fun, guys. Some love to do that almost everyday as if they were born at the club, and they can even sleep there if only the club owner allows them to do so. What’s more fun is to get hooked up with some HOT and SEXY chicks or blokes, after all. And probably you can have another alternative of going to concert like Pop, Rock or even Hip Hop, etc… kind of heavy rock better for the most extreme degree of fun.

Now, LISTEN UP!, officials and office workers, if you agree to follow us to new lifestyle, here are some club/party recommendations: Bed Supperclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11, holds the best hip hop nights in Bangkok - www.bedsupperclub.com, Qbar Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi, next to Bed - www.qbarbangkok.com, Club Astra RCA - www.clubastra.com, or Dude Sweet Party.

Next, move up hill to “travel life”. If you are quite tired of the city life in Bangkok, it is time to escape and relax in a far, faraway land. Make a plan of your trips whenever you have holidays. Some of you might love to get away to the islands, especially in the East like Koh Chang, Koh Samet or in the South like Koh Tao. True, they are such good places to go and relax, or even get your skin tanned. But our suggested travel life is not that kind of ‘isle’ escape which is very normal whoever can do, even if going with your family. Then we introduce this life idea as an “adventure trip”; for example, going up hill to the north (Chiang Mai) to visit a hill tribe “Karen”, people have long necks with rings. Spend time there a bit for a few days learning about their rural life. The difference is their lifestyle and their culture, want to know more about them, go to www….. Or if you have ever been to the north, another destination can be the north-east, Isaan. Probably people’s life in Isaan isn’t much different from Karen people. Most of them are like poor rice farmers who have a big family to look after or need to earn more money by sending their kids to work in Bangkok. Even the food they eat, it is mostly ‘papaya pok pok’ or called ‘som tum’ with sticky rice, that’s kind of stuff. We believe even the place like Isaan can warm up your heart and soul as well as broadening your new culture experience.

Third is, we suggest, “sport activities life”. But let’s make it this way of “crazy and fun adventure sport”. This is not just like you say you often play sport like tennis, swimming, badminton or basketball… even though addicting to any kinds of sports is good for your health. But for our cool life, you’d better do something different, go crazy and wild to a bit scary sport activities, at least some of us think it’s scary but probably it’s a worth to try, such as thrilling “bungy jump” (but maybe fun after all), speedy “go cart”, cool water sport like “jet ski”, and frightening “sky diving or parachuting”. A bit scared, ha? Okay, if you have height phobia plus a heart attack, you’d better step away. But if you are in an excellent health and never get scared, take a brave heart to do jump and go fast, and the best part is like screaming to the world like Leonardo DiCaprio yelling “I am the king of the world” in Titanic.

Finally, “fun career life” might be another good idea for those who have a very routine, boring job, especially the one who is doing accounting or admin job. First ask yourself if you really do love that kind of job. You might have been jumping on the wrong track, you know. Some may not know what they are indeed looking for their life, what they want to do and what they want to be. Everybody has a career dream since they were a kid like “I want to be a doctor. I want to be firefighter. I want to be a policeman.”, but not all can achieve. So what about you? What is your career dream, ‘flight attendant’, ‘movie star or model’, ‘journalist’, ‘rock singer/musician’, ‘cruise line job’… we will not talk about any serious job or much involved with business since we love cool career life. But nothing much to conclude in this lifestyle while depending on your dream (it might not be a dream anymore if you dare to take a step further). But we guess some of our samples are probably used to be your dream, so did you forget it yet?

Sometimes, life is crazy and funny. Sometimes, life need to be relaxed and released. But after all, you have only one life, why not enjoy it and live it to the fullest. So, now it’s time to change… let’s do it, dine in and entertain life together! What a cool life 2006!

Tags: Amusement

Chic Restaurants & Bars Bangkok

By Cheryl Tseng

When getting onboard and landing yourself off in one of the most beautiful countries in South East Asia like Thailand, what are you expecting from here especially in Bangkok? We believe nothing here is certainly going to disappoint you much. You probably get upset with something like a heavy traffic around Bangkok and bad pollution. Somehow, you will finally find Bangkok more fantastic with some great places to relax and chill out. But if you are new in Bangkok and are looking for that kind of places, we would like to introduce you to a “CHIC” must-go-enjoy guide in Bangkok – CHIC Restaurants & Bars Bangkok by Cheryl Tseng.

Ok! So, this is our Book of the Month as matched with our theme of Food & Beverage in September. Now, how do you feel with this dining guide book when I mentioned its name? Do you feel hungry, if you are taking a long hour of walking tour around Bangkok? Or probably you are hunting for some places to escape from the bad pollution in Bangkok and relax. This book “CHIC Restaurants & Bars Bangkok” by Cheryl Tseng, is a truly guide for your connection around Bangkok to Eats-Drinks business with easy and helpful maps. The book is all about travel, food, dining and designs that locals and even internationals must have when they come exploring Bangkok. The author “Cheryl Tseng” takes some time off to discover and always buzzes in new eating and drinking places around Bangkok, and she selected some CHIC ones and gathered them all in one book as a guide. If you search inside the book, you will find her seem like traveling around the big city to each centre point area; Sukhumvit, Ploenchit, Wireless, Lang Suan, Sathorn, Silom, Rama IV, and Chaophraya Riverfront. Thus, it is now quite easy to find a place in the area you are planning to go to, right? Also, check out the maps if you are afraid of getting lost.

In each area, Tseng provides a brief description table of each restaurant and bar like DJ?, Live Music?, Roof Top?, Price?, Dining?, Bar, City View?, etc. But inside the book, she describes more about each restaurant by the designs and decorations, food, and facilities. Probably, there might be a place that you are looking for in the book with several CHIC styles of restaurants and bars, whether it is Space Age Hip like Bed Supperclub, Bohemian Vintage like Chi, Conservatory Chic like Extasse, Rustic Comfort like Kuppa, Smooth Jazz like Diplomat Bar, Italian Hotspot like Spasso, Gallery Bites like Eat Me, Balinese Hideout like Buri Tara, Asian Moderne like Nika-I etc. Tseng collected several different CHIC styles from Western and Eastern. Besides the CHIC designs, you can even choose the food that you would like to dine for, both Asians such as Thai, Japanese, and Indian, and Westerns like Mediterranean and Italian.

After all, the book cannot miss off something that always makes you see the bigger image as in reality. That is visuals. All photography is very fantastic and beautiful and makes all places not just like in the ideal that you can imagine, but they are totally real. And the picture of food is more than delicious and yummy. Look DELICIOUS in GORGEOUSE and CHIC places.

Then you wouldn’t get lost in the big city anymore. Even though you would, we are sure this CHIC Restaurants and Bars Bangkok will be your guide to help you find a place to relax and chill out a bit before you can seek the way out of the jungle city of Bangkok. And it is also a book of designers’ love for all modern lifestyle and even readers’ that might be fascinated by the stunning stylish pictures of all dining places. However, it is an eats-drinks-maps guide.

If you would love to discover a new eat and drink place around Bangkok, “CHIC Restaurants and Bars Bangkok” is now available at Amazon.com

Tags: Book Review

BAR-LOVE-LINKS (.COM?)

“Is there a true love at the bar?”

“Are you like a computer nerd living behind the fantasy and very fond of online love?” Probably someone popped up this question to you. Then you realize this quite gets you that we are introducing you a new dating site. Feel exciting, you quickly type in “www.bar-love-link.com” in the URL path, you wait for a while… with your heart beating faster and immediately you are directed to… a “can not find the server” page! Disappointed… how could that happen? You did try once again and again with hope, but still nothing. Okay, don’t be panic… just stay calm and we’re about to get you the reason in a minute.

First we must admit that it wasn’t that easy to write a relationship column, but after having been writing this for months, we discovered that there are so many, many things to write about. It is just all fun to talk about it. So right then, one idea that accidentally clicked through and flew into my brain, of course it’s related to this month’s theme “Entertainment”... is all about bar – a get-together place for nightlife lovers - we believe this is another fun issue you all would love to read about. Thus we brought this topic “BAR-LOVE-LINKS” up for you guys, beloved readers who love to hang out and hook up at night to let go all pressure you had in a day, now let’s take out what in the blanket for the time being. For now, this is not just like a thailovelinks.com site you may feel familiar with. But isn’t that fun since we did GET you at the beginning, right?

Some of you might experience this kind of relationships from a bar yourself since the first day you set one foot down in Bangkok. Or some love to go to the bar at dark three times a week but with different reasons. Relax and fun. Hang out and get drunk. Parties. Dating or just look around. Business-related… and so on. Somehow, whatever reason is, you may once hit your target who might be “THE ONE” for you after the midnight has gone. Then you may think who is truly “THE ONE”? Guys, don’t get confused… we are now talking partly of Mr./Ms. Right and partly of Mr./Ms. Fun. Concentrate your mind and ponder through the answer yourself of “What kind of relationships are you truly looking for (especially from the bar)?” Once you get to the bar, there are actually two types of relationships you can hunt for, either a true love (only a few) or a one-night stand (more expected) in different terms of fun and seriousness – the rule of “a true love” is much applied to the term of seriousness while “a one-night stand” is more like for fun and nothing to be serious about. There’s nothing much to say about these as it is a truth.

Then the next question practically dropped in line is, “Is there a true love at the bar (or just a one-night stand)?” Would it be possible if both be like 2-in-1 as shampoo and conditioner in the same bottle? Okay, you go to the bar and meet some OH! HOT and SEXY chicks/guys who suddenly turn you on or even burn your heart. You bring in all flirting technique and score the point (s) throughout the night, right? You wake up in the next morning and discover how good he/she was in bed, later on you find them gorgeous, and you can never ever get them out of your mind. Finally you two are head over heel in love. But well so this may seem idealistic for you all, especially playboys/playgirls, and we bet this can happen for 1 out of 100 in real life. Perhaps it can, with just a few couples who finally say “We do” and their life will never be the same again.

Listen, guys… before you get the answer for yourself, let’s go through seven main (true) principles of fun nightlife lovers, and then look at yourself whether these are truly you - a young tiger (both sexes) who loves to hunt for victims and beat the game…

P1 - Fun in and Serious out. Some of my girlfriends who love playing around always say that “Just for fun, nothing serious”. That’s probably the quote for all folks at the bar where they come for having fun drinking, dancing, chatting, screaming, and getting crazy like sometimes going naked (like the American “Girl Gone Wild” show). Some may be luckier than others in that they are fortunate to hook up with SO HOT chicks or guys. But whether who go in first, all they need to remember is to simply let all the “FUN” part in and throw the “SERIOUS” part out. IF you switch these two parts and accept jealousy in, we can tell that you’ll really get a problem… give a credit to the first start of a true love though.

P2 – Sweet talk. This is quite players’ characters. They love HONEY and SUGAR. We believe they drink honey instead of water… perhaps 8 glasses of honey a day. Isn’t that true, guys? You are all talkative, but in a sweet and slow way mingled with the concept of “slow but sure”, and do not get too rush like you drop a bomb and blow out your chance away. So you apply this sweet tactic until you’re sure that that HOT one was fell into your honey trap. On the other hand, when you run to some girl/guy and you feel awkward and nervous talking to him or her every time you meet them, it’s then time to check up your heart rate and true feeling.

P3 – Anyone’s invited. “Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?” Who cares this yes/no question? Just let it go. It is a flirting game, and anyone’s invited. Playboys or playgirls can pick up whoever they meet at the bar each night. Each night, each day comes with each new faces… is excitedly a new challenge. Forget about staying with the same person every day and night. That’s not real them.

P4 – Secret truth. This is the rule that most of playboys and playgirls always follow. Truth of their love life is never revealed; it was a secret when they met a new hot fire who already melted their heart… to death. Then a new game just started! You scored! But after THE NIGHT, it is your choice to decide whether or not to tell your secret. But be aware of the outcome when he/she throws a heavy punch (like of Mike Tyson’s) to your faces who accidentally found out your cheating on them. Especially guys, watch out those fists. It hurts. We warn you!

P5 – Ignore commitment. Agree to just have a short, good time together? Yes? Then forget “commitment” or “promise”. It is called a fair game if this rule is much followed by both of you. Commitment is sometimes good but not applied much with love pickup from the bar. If one of you declares to let commitment in, check out your heart and feeling. So it will be like 2-in-1 after all.

P6 – Winner or loser. All players love to beat a game. Like in a soccer or golf game or else, there are always a winner and a loser. No one wants to fail or lose. And the game of love is also the one of risk for being a winner or a loser. Once they find someone very pretty, suave and handsome, they will just mask Mel Gibson’s Braveheart face and jump in the battle field ready to fight (for someone’s heart). Somehow, if they lose and can really admit that, and let her/him go with a winner… that means you have sporting spirit that reminds us on one motto… “Love is also to give”.

P7 – Protection – Let’s me tell you this a bit. This is a BIG and HUGE problem if you miss this rule. Really, it will be a great burden unexpectedly coming into your life, and this will stop you from anything you love to do or anywhere you want to go (unless you don’t want to have kids of your own).

So, apart from these above principles, what’s next is to examine your heart and soul and search for your true feeling… if you are quite a playboy/playgirl, these exactly complete you as a typical player, don’t they? Provided you find some rules missing out of a real you,… correct… you might be fortunate to face a true love, no matter you want it or not, but probably from the bottom of your heart, you know you want to find it one day so badly (don’t you)?

And one another thing you must realize is that this one-night stand type won’t last forever when you get older. It is said that players will stop playing and fooling after discovering their true love and getting married. Or another word, if it is the right time for them, destiny will lead them to a true love and what they can follow is to simply go and feel by heart.

What’s next then? Do you think if there is really a true love at the bar? We don’t try to offend all players as nothing wrong being one of them. We just would like you all to consider what you want out of life… what kind of relationships are you looking for? And whatever to be, accept it as this love thing (both types) is a nature of human beings who need to love and be loved, so everything just goes by a natural instinct. Most importantly, let it in if you consider it right.

Nonetheless, we believe this story will enlighten your heart and soul to take a serious thought on a relationship you are associating with, especially the one from the bar.

Share us your opinion via email

Tags: Relationship

Be My Guest @ B&B… Will You?

Following our last month’s issue, most travellers, aka trip navigators, are likely eager and so willing to open their heart and broaden their life experience to new planets in some way, rather unusual from most of us who live life in a cozy and trendy society. Then thinking fast, suddenly emerging of the box, and eventually taking an action, that’s them with a big backpack over shoulders and be ready for a new series of a journey of life. And of course, the place they choose to stay is doubtless, once an easy answer hits my mind at low-budget lodgings as the first option they ponder through. That type of lodgings may include Youth Hostels, Backpacker Hostels, Guesthouses, Small Inns or Motels, Budget Hotels, and yes wherever they can call it cheap, and probably this may refer to “Bed & Breakfast (B&B)” in some ways. Even though these hotels are probably considered at low-cost, there is a significant difference in price for each one, depending on location/area (accommodation in a remote area is definitely inexpensive), service, function, amenities, and value you can earn next. But let’s make a note here that some cheap ones are not only available for travellers, but also a group of family who desire something more than just a sightseeing tour; it’s adventure.

However, taking a trip far away from home, like months, may be increasing nervousness for those who are a first time traveller, particularly journeying alone. So some certainly want to feel at home - at wherever they are walking into, and much welcomed in mysterious places they are visiting. Then we suggest the first choice of a place to stay is possibly Bed & Breakfast (B&B). Has anyone ever considered staying there? Probably this is the time you can try… so read on…

What is Bed & Breakfast?

A typical Bed & Breakfast is a concept of room and breakfast with three to ten rooms available. According to bandb.about.com, “a B&B is generally known as a private home where transient guests are provided a place to stay for the night. In some cases, the bathroom provided for the guest is shared with the family or another guest, but few have individual bathroom that the majority of guests demand for. Breakfast is usually included in the price of the room.”

Bed & Breakfast is also an ideal place that can offer you more than a night to stay, more than comfort in bed and more than breakfast to survive during the entire morning, but at B&B you will find yourself learn more about culture, tradition and people. And what you don’t really expect to come will come in as a fascinating challenge until you feel you are too enthusiastic to stop just there and sit still.

Especially in LOS, Thailand, the country and its history brings along unique culture to be worth discovering. Even though Thailand is an open country, currently influenced by most western culture, it still remains its own value, tradition and culture in most Thai people themselves. For those foreign travellers, one of the best ways to learn all those is befriend with Thai people, and B&B may be of your first start to do so once you set one foot down in the house, and feel welcomed by the host family. After all, Bed & Breakfast is ensured to be not just what is it but instead it’s what worth it and it may be at your service for anything you would like to know.

B&B’s History Expanding to the World

The B&B concept has existed in one form or another since the beginning of man. In ancient times, monasteries first served B&B for travellers, and in some cases still do until now.

B&Bs have been gaining more popularity among travelling society especially in Europe for years. Actually, the term of B&B first came into use in England, Scotland and Ireland, but it is still not used in many other countries. Different terms such as paradors, pensions, gasthaus, minskukus, shukukos and pousados are used to describe what Americans and English-speaking Europeans think of as a Bed and Breakfast.

The United States also has a history of B&B dating back to the time of early settlers. As the pioneers travelled the trails and roads across this county, they sought a safe refuge in homes, inns and taverns. Some of those historic accommodations serve as B&Bs until now.

During the Great Depression, many people opened their homes to travellers to bring in some additional money for the family. The term “boarding house” was used at this time. After the Depression, this type of lodging declined and many people had the idea they were just for low-income travellers or drifters. In the early fifties, people may remember the term “tourist home” being used. This too was essentially a form of B&B. Once motels were built on the new highways, they were soon forgotten.

In large part because of the number of Americans traveling to Europe in recent years and rediscovering B&Bs, there has been an exponential increase in interest in the U.S. Nowadays, B&B is not viewed as a low-cost lodging facility but as an attractive alternative to the typical standard chain hotel or motel room. Some B&Bs also offer amenities not unlike those found at the most upscale hotels in the world.

(Source: some part from bandb.about.com - the official credit for a brief B&B series and history to Eleanor Ames who is a certified Family Consumer Science professional and a faculty member of Ohio State University for 23 years.)

B&B in Thailand

While Bed & Breakfast is increasing the number of travellers in the United States and Europe, the B&B business in Thailand isn’t still getting stronger since people usually find many cheap guesthouses, especially in Bangkok. At Khao Sarn Road, it’s a very well-known place among international travellers, that foreigners should not miss to explore. Probably the price can range from 250 baht a night, depending on how good you are at negotiation (based from my American friend’s experience). But it’s guesthouse, more like an unclassified hotel.

As mentioned above, Bed & Breakfast is also great in terms of being a home that will make you feel more comfortable. Nonetheless, don’t you worry about the price since the end of your trip is about your new vision in life.

To be of your assistance on this B&B experience in Thailand, we did a quick net-research for B&B listings throughout the country, separated by provinces.

Bangkok/Surrounding Regions

Napa Place www.napaplace.com

Buri Bed & Breakfast www.buribandb.in.th

In2Siam Bed & Breakfast www.in2siam.com

Bangyai Bed & Breakfast www.netsource.com.au/bnb

Chiang Mai

Riverside House Bed & Breakfast www.riversidehousechiangmai.com

Baan Orapin Bed & Breakfast www.baanorapin.com

3 Sis’s Bed & Breakfast www.3sisbedandbreakfast.com

Jaiya Mongkol Bed & Breakfast www.jaiya.infothai.com

Udon Thani

Silver Reef Bed & Breakfast www.silverreefudon.com

Samui

Mana’s Home www.premiumwanadoo.com/atmanasamui.com

Mukdaharn

Thai House Resort www.thaihouseresort.com

Quick Tips for First Time B&B Guests

Are you a first time guests at Bed & Breakfast? If yes, BnBFinder.com suggested some quick tips for you… to follow.

1. Ask questions on B&B type to suit your taste and needs. Not all B&B is the same. Each one is unique in some ways, like some are historic and some are modern.
2. Mention dietary needs and preference, when you book B&B.
3. Make sure of private baths or share baths.
4. Take personalized reservations on the personal service that B&B wants to offer you, such as amenities, the house/inn, the area, etc.
5. Ask about policies before you book such as smoking, children, pet, etc.
6. Ask about deposits and cancellations
7. What is check-in/check-out time? Remind yourself that you won’t stay at the 5-star hotel with 24-hour service. So you have to let the B&B owners know your arrival time and they can usually be flexible.
8. Reserve early. This is the best way to do when it comes to a fact that most of B&Bs are small, so rooms may not be available at the time you are visiting.
9. Make Yourself @ Home. Relax and enjoy your stay when B&B keepers are more like hospitality experts. Treat your room with the care you would do with your own home.

Apart from these above tips from B&B finder expert, may we remind you one more tip which is quite necessary for you to survive here in LOS (as mentioned above)? Befriending with the host tends to be most valuable for you in terms of learning more Thai culture and stuffs, like language, cooking, manners, history and festivals… This is the thing you shouldn’t just ignore, but keep it in mind and turn it into action.

What else can you expect from B&B? Well, maybe a lot, you will see… At least now you all are convinced to “Be My Guest” here… aren’t you? Did we get you interested to be?

Should you have any B&B experience, no matter wherever you visited, tell us all about it via Email. We love to hear your story, as always.

Tags: Amusement

105 The Chef Steakhouse

This month, we are getting off a way to a bit further Sukhumvit 105 (Soi LaSalle) to discover a newly ‘Bite on This’ just opened about 2 or 3 months ago, located next to Bangkok Pattana International School in the middle of Soi 105. “105 The Chef Steakhouse” is another great place that we found offering delicacies of Thai-Chinese-Western, in a very casual dining style for those who are looking for a place to relax among the wonderful atmosphere of the night. The place has two separate area of indoor and outdoor dining. When entering the indoor, we discovered its uniqueness in the contemporary or industrial style, like the wall left with unfinished painting, the ceiling attached with kind of paper and some wordings on it, and the hanging lamps made of wire material, and the area seems to go with the theme of black and red color. Each table is set to be far from each one for an easy, private chit-chat. But if you need more privacy, outdoor is a better recommendation. You can absorb the romantic moment under the candlelight and moonlight, and together with the music from a small band playing at night. The area is also nice with the setting of small waterfall. The food also tastes good. Western food is a bit sweet just like original but some is sour due to the sauce, and for foreigners who can’t handle Thai food, this is just so perfect, whether Spinach Soup (a bit salty but tasty anyway), Chicken Stuffed Spinach with pink sauce, or Bar-B-Q Pork Spare Ribs (the meat is easily chewy), etc. If you want to try Thai food, the specialty we did try was Prawn with the Chef sauce which is also “yum yum”, a bit spicy but we believe that’s good enough for foreigners. Some menus are like showing off the creativity of the chef for real. Then after the main courses, we did try Crepe Suzette with Vanilla ice cream in the middle and sweet fruit (probably orange) sauce. Quite softy and sweet stick to the tongue, and if we weren’t too full, we might order one more. The service is not bad, forgiving for some mistakes since we believe they are quite new. After all, the quantity and the quality of food is all what you can pay for. Count on 1,000 – 1,500 Baht for a group of three.

Tags:Dining

Songkarn Festival

April 13-15, 2005

Songkarn Festival, known as a Thai ancient New Year or often called “Water Festival”, takes places during April 13 through 15 every year. The history of the festival is influenced by the ancient Hindu astrological calendar when the sun itself moved from one side of the Zodiac to another.

Songkarn Festival is the biggest and most popular feast in Thailand with the unique and traditional celebration of water. Several activities both outdoors and indoors are held to entertain people from different countries not only Thai people.

Early morning of April 13^th every year starts as the first day when most people begin outdoor activities by visiting the temple to listening to Dharma, bathing the Buddha image and offering food to the monks. In all the areas around the temple, they release lively animals such as birds and tortoises to gain a great merit. Along the streets in the late morning, people enjoy the amusement of the parade and marching band with entertaining music. The parade is more attractive with the decoration of beautiful flowers and “Songkarn Ladies” sitting on the parade carts. Later in the afternoon, it is time for cooling off in the hot weather with the celebration of water. The water from buckets, pitchers, water-guns and balloons are allowed and almost obligatory. People splash water on each other since it is the religious belief that water eliminates bad luck and they have much fun with this soaking. There are also booth fairs such as foods, games, and goods at the reasonable price in all public areas held until late night. Particularly at night, people entertain with a concert, a comedy show, and the beauty contest of “Miss Songkarn”. Shot to the sky, the magnificent fireworks are very amazing.

On the same day, people also do the indoor activities within the family. In the morning, it is like Chinese New Year when all family members help each other clean the house and throw anything old and useless away with the religious belief of misfortune elimination. All relatives and descendants are so much happy to join the family reunion to wish their elders good health and all happiness. A traditional ritual called “Rod Nam Dam Hua” is held in the late afternoon. All descendants show their great respect to their elders by pouring the scented water in their palm hand while receiving their blessing in return.

“Sawasdee Pee Mai”, which officially means “Happy New Year” in English, is an outstanding phrase of Songkarn Festival and is heard everywhere in Thailand. Throughout the country, people both Thai and foreigners are filled with happiness, amusement, excitement that can not be expected to be found in every normal daily life.

For more information about this amusing festival, please check out these links:

www.thaiworldview.com/feast/songkran.htm

www.tat.or.th

How do you feel about our amusing event of the month? Found it amazing, interesting, exciting and fun? But absolutely it is WET!!! Any comments or suggestions,via email

GREAT CITIES OF THE WORLD

By Marco Cattaneo & Jasmina Trifoni

“A great reading and visiting book to keep the aspirations and dreams alive.”

What if you can travel around the world like Mr. Fox in “Around the World in 80 Days”? Wouldn’t it be great? Right when we all desire to do that since it’s a long-life dream but who can really make a dream come true. Actually most people have no idea where we to begin and which cities are the best to visit. Do we need a travel guidebook? Or just a travel book?

For us a travel guidebook is perfect in terms of all FYI and map. So once we see this book, we can’t look away. We are also eager to find out more about this big heavy travel guidebook. Then we realize that we are wrong about this book as a guide, after flipping through page by page, letter by letter. This book “Great Cities of the World” is actually more than a guide. While it reflects the endless aspirations and dreams, it’s actually everyone’s dream and our journey through the world can begin now. Great Cities of the World describes fifty six of the world’s largest and greatest cities, chosen from across the six continents – Europe, Asia, Africa, Australian and Oceania, North America, Central and South America. Most of them like London, Paris, Rome, Cairo, New York, Vancouver or Bangkok have fascinated tens of thousands of visitors for years. Some like Singapore, Sydney, Cape Town or St. Petersburg are a few centuries old. Others are vast with populations in continual, rapid expansion. Others, particularly in Europe, have very large populations. The authors did examine cities civilizations through history and also focus on their modern atmosphere and dynamics. The metropolitan pulse makes a city a living organism. Featuring colourful images, Great Cities of the World is totally capturing our heart and reading this is like a tour of the world taken from our own home. Throughout the discovery from Auckland to Washington, from Madrid to Bangkok, from Beijing to Johannesburg, the book also represents the evolution of the world and tells us where we should go for. Thus, if you happen to enjoy reading and dreaming of adventure, then you can travel the world without leaving the comforts of your own home.

“Great Cities of the World” is now available at Amazon

Tags: Book Review