Orient-style

Once again in Bangkok, Thailand. This time I Was determined to explore some areas i had discovered the last time I was there.  

Siam square, an area that i had to check out, again. It is situated in the shopping-heart of Bangkok, close to all the big shoppingcenters with all the big brands like Gucci, Prada, but also Zara and Forever 21 are there. 

The downside to these shoppingcenters is that it could be anywhere, USA, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai.  

That's why places like Siam square are so much fun. Here's where many young entrepeneurs/designers settle and run small shops. Some of them sell their own designs, some sell quirky designs and some even sell a selection of the fake-stuff (to be found everywhere in BKK!).  

There are real gems to be found in these places! Super-cute interiors, windows and details.

Another place to find the 'off-the-beaten-track-stuff' is the Chatuchak Weekend Market. 

This is a huuuuuuuuge outdoor market open, obviously, only in the weekends.
I have been there many times and everytime I get overheated by the crowds, the hugeness of the whole thing an ofcourse the sizzling temperatures.  

A couple of times ago I discovered section 2. This sounds sort of morbid, the word 'section',now that I'm writing this.... Anyhoo, this is the 'cute' section of this huge market. The market has about 30 sections, I believe, with sections differing from antiques, plants, clothes, shoes and even pets (cute puppies and kittens, but also frogs and snakes, aaaaaaaarrrrrhh!). 

The best part of it all is the styling of these little shops/stalls. I took some pics as a small impression.

How cool can one sleep?

Next up, some pics from the hotel in Paris. Mama Shelter. Interiors by Philippe Starck.
It was ultra-cool to have been there. Apple computer in the room, excellent wifi, free movies, Kiehl's products and a fantastic and very popular bar/restaurant. A place where all the beautiful people get together.
Honestly, next time, I'd stay somewhere else. Why? Location, location, location. Mama Shelter is in the 20th arrondisssement (east of the Pere Lachaise cemetery). It might be upcoming, but I'm not feeling it.
The metrostations, 10/15mins walkingtime. Uuuuuuuuhrm, too far for my convenience... And, no Monoprix in the hood! Aaaaaarrrgh!
Next time, le Marais. My favourite!

Oh! I would also like to mention that I had the best time in a bar across the street from the Mama Shelter hotel, le Baretta (next to the well-known music venue La Fleche d'Or). I saw the funniest band playing there, la Prière du Poulet. I'm a fan!

L'anniversaire

Paris and a birthday. What a great combination. First stop: the Merci shop in le Marais. Great styling and a fantastic source of inspiration!

As always, Paris is a very photogenic city. These pics were all taken with my new camera. It was such a joy taking them with this camera. Hello!!! - new technology!

Anyways, the trip was great in more than one way. I had the best time, by myself, the first 2 days. The last 2 days my love joined me and that made it all even better.

Also, the shopping. It was very fruitfull, if I may say. The score: 2 bikini's, a dress, home-accessories (pics will follow in one of my next posts) and the jackpot was a leather-jacket ( Balenciaga-style). Almost too bad the temperatures are high, I wanna wear it!!!!

A bientot!

Another birthday coming up, real soon. What to do, this year? Last year my love surprised me with a high tea with my friends. (Isn't he the best?)

This year, no surprises. I've got it all planned. I'm going to Paris!

It might be possible that I will be there on my own. My boyfriend has to work, but maybe after a phonecall to the bosses he might change his plans. We'll see...
But I will be there, ooooooh yeah.
I try to go every year, on my own. I love strolling around the cute neighbourhoods and discover the hidden gems.

I  have to admit that I have a bit of a Francophile-side in me. I just can't help it. My favourite movies are usually French (love everything by Jacques Tati) and I'm totally into French music (newest discovery: Ben L'oncle Soul). I love the food, the little villages, the markets, the architecture and the language. Well, you get it, right?

So, Paris. Every time I'm there I always find new spots, restaurants and shops. Le Marais, St.Germain, you name it.  Off the beaten track is what I like best. Upcoming neighbourhoods (like Belleville) with lots of young people and exotic looking shops.

This year I've done some research! On my 'to-do-list', the Merci shop in le Marais and sleep in the Mama Shelter hotel. It's splurge time!!!!

Hopefully I will have my new (obsession) camera to join me on my Paris-adventures. Pics will follow, ofcourse.




























Photos from: www.greigedesign.blogspot.com

On tour

Last week I did a small tour around the continent. From Budapest to Barcelona to Copenhagen to Oslo to Berlin.  After 15 years of flying around the globe I m still amazed with the life I have.
From time to time it feels like a drag to have to go away so often, for work. Living out of a suitcase, while I could be at home and have all my things around me. My comfort zone.
Thank God, I always snap out of those thoughts and realize how lucky I am. I get to see the whole world! Ok, normally, I stay at places for  a short time, but if you go back often enough you can get the humble picture of how life is in other places.
And the inspiration! Aaaaaaaah! Now, that is the best part! Interiors of the coolest hotels, restaurants, etc.  Young designers all over the globe, being innovative and different.
Not only the 'design-part' inspires me, but foremost the people. It sounds cliche, but I'm always amazed by the hustle and bustle of the 'locals', so to speak.
On my walks, en route,  I always try to peer into the houses to see what 'normal' life is, in all those places (no, not like a freak-stalker!).  People doing their grocery-shopping, preparing dinner, going to work, school, etc.
Groups of friends sitting together at a bar, having a beer.
Being curious is something I hope I will always be. It makes my job, my relationship, my friendships, my life wonderful.
So, eventhough tommorow is my last day off, in my 'comfort zone' I'm off this friday on another trip with my mobile 'comfort zone' aka my blue Samsonite..
Until the next post!

Weird finds

As promised. Some more photos I found at the Brooklyn fleamarket. Aren't these the strangest pictures?  I do feel a bit like an intruder in peoples private lifes. And in horses private lifes. Oh well. Whatever. At least these people must be glad if they knew they brought a smile to my face.

Carrying it around

Contents of a lady-bag. I always see my friends rummaging through their bags and it's always the last piece, that they retract from the bag, they needed to find. Sounds familiar?
I've had small bags, big bags, bags with handy compartments in it. It's always the same story.... Your phone is ringing: frantically searching the bag with a deadline (deadline, the other side of the line gives up). Crap! Now you need to phone them back. There goes my bundle of telephone-minutes, each month.
You're looking for your keys. You can hear them tingling, but nowhere to be found. Even with a large, fluorescent keychain. Always the last item I pull out of that chaos.
I usually carry the same 'ingredients' around with me. Once in a while I try to fine-tune it. One notebook, instead of two, one pen instead of a whole bunch. Ofcourse, a while after the tuning I wish I had that particular black pen with me that didn't make it through the tuning.
Sigh.
So, here a snapshot of my bag-contents today. This is the thoroughly tuned-version. No old cash-receipts, no keys and no big scarve (I don't like to be surprised by sudden cold situations....).
Let's see how long I can 'survive' with this Spartan-ammount.

Ha! Found one.

These were everywhere. Mind you, not only the 'girls' are big! Weird place, Miami.

Bienvenido a Miami

Art deco-district in Miami (where else...?) Last one is where Gianni Versace lived.
I'm a bit dissapointed in myself that i didn't get a pic of the big-boobies-mannequins... I might find it on the net, though. To be continued...

Tonight, or tommorow. Promise.

Hey! I've been away for a couple of days. They call it work. I was in Miami!!!! I had been there before, some years ago. This time I had the chance to see a bit more. Beach, shopping and art deco. That sums up this little trip.
Anyhoo, I was really impressed by the art deco-district. I thought it would have a 'Disney-flavor', but I was quite impressed by the authenticity, here and there.
Another thing that I was amazed by: the mannequins in the shop-windows, you know, the plastic ones. Basically all of them had ridiculously HUGE boobs. We're talking size: watermelons. Hilarious. It really seems to be the standard in Miami, also on the beach. Plastic-fantastic. What a show!
So, tonight or tommorow i will post some pics I made with my phone (since i'm not the owner of that obsession-camera, yet).
Later!