Category Archives: Bangkok

Souvenir from Thailand

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Delicious, functional or junk? It’s time to review the items I bought from Thailand, starting from the edibles:

Lemongrass tea – I love lemongrass tea, not only does it smell good, it also tastes very refreshing. It is natural and full of antioxidants: it is detoxifying, good for digestion and can lower high blood pressure. Since I avoided caffeine drinks in the evenings, lemongrass tea has become one of my favourite drinks after an evening meal.

Mulberry tea – I bought this tea for my father, who suffers from diabetes… Apparently it is also full of antioxidants, it strengthens the immune system and reduces bad cholesterol. But best of all, it prevents the body from absorbing many common sugars and helps manage diabetes. My father seemed pretty impressed when I explained the benefits to him, but whether he will drink it is another a matter!

Instant vegetables – whenever I travel, visiting local supermarkets is a ‘must’ on my itinerary and I usually need at least 30 minutes to wander around ( unless it’s a really crappy one). I was quite curious when I saw the Urban farm instant vegetables packs ( don’t be put off by the word ‘instant’) at a high-end supermarket in Bangkok. They are actually all natural, without MSG nor preservatives, and can be cooked with rice, noodles and soup etc. There are 5 different flavours and seem pretty convenient, hence I bought a stack and gave some to a friend who doesn’t like to cook.

Coffee – Coffee shops are everywhere in Chiang Mai, so I was determined to bring home some local roasted coffee. I found Duang Dee hill tribe coffee in a large local supermarket, what attracted me was the fact that it is organically grown, hand picked and roasted in the nearby mountains by tribal farmers. There are three blends available and I went for the 100% Arabian. I then found out that a percentage of the coffee sales would contribute towards other tribal development projects, which was quite a nice surprise.

At Chiang Mai‘s Herbs basics ( which I mentioned in the previous entry), I bought a range of gift items, including a herbal massage compress for my mother, incense sticks for my father and body butters for myself and friends. I thought the kaffir lime body butter is quite fantastic, although it has a slightly sweet smell, the texture is just right ( I think it’s even better than L’Occitane’s). My friend also texted to tell me how much she ( and her boyfriend) love the Lavender body butter, so I am quite impressed with this brand and their ‘low’ priced but high quality products.

Greeting cards & note pads – these lovely cards and note pads were bought from Chiang Mai‘s Things called art ( see my previous entry). I just love the elephant-inspired illustrations and products, they are so cute!

3-d greeting card – In my previous entry, I mentioned Nancy Chandler‘s maps of Chiang Mai, but since the company is a graphic design studio, it’s not surprising that they would also produce greeting cards. I esp. like this unqiue 3-d illustration of a local house.

Rubber stamps: I love rubber stamps, and when I saw this Japanese inspired set of rubber stamps, I couldn’t resist them even though I am not sure when I will get to use them!

Credit card holders – Good job is a Thai lifestyle brand that sells modern and unique stationery, home and fashion accessories. Founded by an architect and two designers, the company has received many international design awards since they started in 2005. I was looking for a credit card holder, and I like their simple but practical card holders, so I bought one in YELLOW and one in boring black…

Stamp sets – Last but not least, these lovely stamp collections are probably my favourite souvenirs from the trip and I gave one set to my brother who like me, used to collect stamps. I spent a long time at the Chiang Mai Philatelic Museum, examining the large collection, including ones on folk tales ( created by well-known local artists), the Royal family and Buddhist archaeological sights etc. Not exactly useful but really beautiful.

 

Disappointing gift fairs in Bangkok & Hong Kong

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I must be the slowest blogger out there, I have a backlog of entries that I started but never quite finished, including this which was on supposed to be published after the trade fairs last month…

I visited the biannual Bangkok International gift and household fairs a few years ago, and I decided to return because of my interest in Thai design. Although I am not a fan of trade fairs, it is however, the easiest way to meet suppliers under one roof, to see new products and understand what the upcoming trends are.

 

 

Compared to a few years ago, I was quite disappointed because there were hardly any new names and the new products from the more established designers or brands were not so different from what I had seen before. As a frequent visitor to design shows and fairs, I get to see more ‘designed’ products than those who are not in the industry; but what prevents me from walking around like a zombie is when I see products that are inspiring or unique. Sadly, I saw very few at the fair this year, and was told by local Thais that the show was quieter than usual this year, with notably less foreign buyers.

 

 

The Thai contemporary design scene boomed around the mid 2000s, and what made their products unique was their eco-conscious and sustainable way of ‘designing’ by using local materials and traditional methods to create beautiful craft-like designs esp. lighting, furniture and household products.

Hopefully, the slip in standard was due to many design studios and designers opting out of the gift fair rather a reflection of the overall Thai design industry. But if this fair was a showcase of the best in the Thai design industry, then the organiser needs to try harder in the future.

 

 

Hong Kong gift fair is the largest gift fair in the world, but being the largest does not make it the best. Depending on what you are sourcing, but for those sourcing for innovative, inspiring and cool products, then you are most likely to be disappointed.

Most of the local design brands were located on the ground floor, but two issues bothered me incredibly after the fair. The first was that many brands were very trend-driven, with mostly iphone or mac-related accessories. My question to these designers and companies is that “what happens if Apple releases iphone 5 that is round in shape? What will happen to all these ‘outdated’ accessories? Since most of them are made of plastic, how will they recycle or dispose of them?”

Hong Kong has always been viewed as one of the ‘least’ creative cities in Asia, but it’s not because there are no talented designers there, it has more to do with the local market. When most mass consumers only care about being ‘trendy’ and ‘in’, designers and companies simply respond to the market needs by giving them what they want. Hence, trends come and go quickly, while many local designers and companies are being criticised for having no identities. And this was exactly what I observed at the fair… design for design’s sake is hardly good design.

My other concern was to do with the exhibitors’ attitude problem… perhaps I didn’t look like a major buyer and so many weren’t very helpful when I enquired about their products, while others just chatted among themselves, ignoring me completely. This was a huge contrast to the Thai exhibitors, who were mostly friendly and informative.

The one positive note regarding the fair was seeing more companies switching to environmental materials and methods in the production of their products, but could this be another fad? Only time will tell.

 

Art & design venues in Bangkok

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Giant art work outside of the Bangkok art & culture center

 

If you are interested in the art and cultural side of Bangkok, it is best to pick up the monthly guide, Bangkok art map, where you will find listings of the art and photography exhibitions in town. Since I didn’t have much time to visit many galleries, I am only recommending the ones that I have visited, probably suitable for those whose time is limited like me.

Bangkok art & culture center – located in the shopping district, Siam, this Guggenheim-like centre has regular exhibitions throughout the year. Although the layout is slightly confusing with many emptied shop spaces, it is still worth visiting if you happen to be in the area. Personally, I find the building slightly soulless, however, it is the contents that count after all.

If you like photography, then you must visit the small and quirky Kathmandu Photo Gallery, housed in an old pre-war shop opposite Sri Mariamma, a Hindu temple in Silom. This wonderful green (green again? I am starting to love green walls now!) gallery is owned by Thai photo-artist, Manit Sriwanichpoom ( the guy dressed in a shocking pink suit below). In the room downstairs, there are framed photographs taken by Manit and many interesting art and photography books; while the room upstairs is airy, minimal and hosts temporary photography exhibitions by other artists or photographers. What is particularly interesting is the surrounding area/ neighbourhood, which is full of Indian shops and restaurants, showing the culturally diverse side of Bangkok.

 

 

Normally, I dislike glossy shopping malls, but in Asia, shopping malls are where local people hang out especially in the summer when the it is roasting outside. Yes, I get it… because it is not exactly pleasant to walk around Bangkok when it is dusty and extremely hot (37 degrees)! Luckily, on the top of the luxury shopping mall, Emporium on Sukhumvit Road houses a top-notch design center called, TCDC ( Thailand Creative & design center). The center hosts a permanent exhibition called, ‘What is design?‘ and temporary design-related exhibitions on regular basis. There is also a cool shop where you can find contemporary Thai design products by local designers.

 

 

Though the best is yet to come…  it is the Resource center and Material ConneXion hidden at the back of the center that are not to be missed. Don’t be put off by the procedure of leaving your belongings at the entrance and filling out forms by the reception, because the center is like a sanctuary where you can get away from the hussle and bussle of Bangkok (and for free). The huge Resource center has a cafe, a magazine section, film rental section, and more than 25,000 books on art, design, films, photography and architecture. There are reading, meeting, music and film rooms, as well as access to database for conducting international market research.

And if like me, you are interested in materials, then you can ask to visit the Material ConneXion ( the first in Asia) at the back of the center. I spent over 20 minutes ( I wish I had more time) alone wandering up and down the aisles touching different fabrics and materials ( there are over 4500) and it was so much fun! This is a truly inspiring place for all designers, I wonder when it will come to London?

London is home to internationally renowned designers and design schools, yet we don’t even have one design center that provides the range of facilities like TCDC! Will the new Design Museum be THE place? Let’s wait and see. In the mean time, I can only envy Bangkok‘s designers and design students! Oh, they are so lucky!

 

 

 

Slow pace in old Bangkok

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Siesta time!

 

Seeking ‘slowness’ in the fast-paced culture and lifestyle we live in today is not easy. It is also becoming more widespread as you can see this in most big cities around the world ( just watch the locals when you take public transport and you will know what I mean). Luckily, in recent years, the ‘slow movement’ is getting more coverage and being promoted, which I think is more positive and healthier for most of us who have to deal with the stress of living in a technology-driven society.

I can’t say that I am good with being slow, esp. when I travel, so doing ‘less’ was my priority during my 3 nights’ stay in Bangkok. My advantage was that I have been to Bangkok a few times before, so I could skip the sightseeing and explore different areas and attractions.

Whenever I visit a city, I try to use as much public transport as possible, and the rest on foot, this way, I will get a more ‘real’ picture of the city and its people. I also prefer to visit less touristy areas, and exploring Bangkok’s Old city and Chinatown gave me a more authentic feel of how the locals live. Even though there are two major sights in the area, it is not as touristy as other parts of the city, and the best way to get to this area is by boat, which is cheap and frequent.

 

A street mural

 

Museum of Siam– If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Thailand, this interactive ( kid-friendly) museum in the Old city near Wat Pho and the Grand Palace is really worth visiting. Housed in a Colonial style 19th century building that used to be the Ministry of Commerce, there were more locals than tourists when I arrived. And without knowing, I got there just in time for the free afternoon entry!

What I like about this museum is their effort to make it as fun and interactive as possible, while being informative too ( it reminds me of the equally interesting Museum of Macau). I love the miniature models of ships and old Siam, as well as the map room. The gift shop is also not to be missed as it sells many interesting (non-tacky) souvenir and books.

 

 

Pak Khlong Talat/ Flower market – Located between the Old City and Chinatown, the wholesale flower market is an interesting area to explore even if you are not into flowers. Walking along the canal, it suddenly reminded me of Amsterdam, and it was just fascinating to watch the people at work here. When I return to Bangkok again, I will definitely spend more time wandering and getting lost in the part of the city…

 

 

 

Slow pace in Bangkok… Baan Pra Nond

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I can’t say that Bangkok is on my top 10 favourite cities’ list, but it certainly has its charm despite the chaos, pollution and notorious traffic jams. I was meant to visit Bangkok in October for the gift and furniture trade fair, but had to cancel at the last minute because of the flood. Luckily, the trade fair takes place every 6 months, so I re-organised a business and leisure trip (beyond Bangkok), which caused much envy amongst friends in London!

I believe getting lost in Bangkok (on foot or in taxis) is unavoidable for all tourists. Even though this was my fifth time to Bangkok (over a period of 15 years), I still get disoriented easily… and I blame it on the lack of obvious landmark in this vast metropolis…

Bangkok can be extremely draining because of the heat, chaos, noise level and traffic, so on this trip, I decided to pace myself and try to enjoy the city differently… With so many accommodations that are reasonably priced and with amazing facilities, picking a place to stay is just as hard as trying to cross the streets in Bangkok! I have previously stayed at luxurious 5-star hotels, serviced apartment and even at friends’ house, but this time, I chose to stay at Baan Pra Nond, a colonial-style bed & breakfast near the river in the business district.

 

 

As you can see from the photos, this b & b is beautifully decorated and has an unique charm that makes you wonder what life used to be like in old Bangkok… The owners, Jason and Tasma are friendly and welcoming, and despite its location (under a highway and near one of the busiest intersection in the city), the traffic noise didn’t bother me very much. While talking to the staff, I found out more about the history and architectural aspect of the house, which was totally fascinating. The idea of maintaining the old heritage and modernising it to suit our modern day life is something that I love and believe strongly in, and like the Japanese, I think the Thai people are very good at this.

 

 

Having breakfasts in the dining room area (alone) was almost meditative-like, even with the traffic noise and heat, I felt incredibly calm… I wonder if it has anything to do with the green paint on the walls?

My only complaint is related to the nearby intersection rather than the b & b itself… trying to cross the busy junction requires patience, determination and courage, it’s a real test! My advice is to follow the locals, or just act quick… if not, you will end up standing there for 20 mins, which is not very comfortable in the heat!

 

To be continued…