CAPE TOWN DIVA: December 2013

Slow breathing at the Li-bra-ry coffee shop in Bangkok...

For me it starts with amazing chairs and the rest follows suit in terms of a well styled interior. In the case of the Li-bra-ry coffee shop in Bangkok, the tasteful Scandinavian-esque interior extends into excellent food, and some very creative and delicious menu offerings (see my waffle pic). And tralaaaa, Li-bra-ry scoops the LPCS (Lateral Paul Coffee Snob) gold medal as our Number One coffee destination in BK.

Walking through the tall wooden swing door at Li-bra-ry feels good- it's calm, quiet...a place for slow breathing where you leave your stress at the door with your shoes. The wooden floor is cool underfoot as you tread softly (it's a library after all) over to one of the beautiful mustard yellow chairs or soft sofas to settle in for a spot of blogging, a mag read, a flip through one of the cook books on the shelves, or a bit of a day dream over a latte in a bowl. Yes, you heard right, a bowl. All this while Sinatra and a bit of 50's music plays unobtrusively in the background to add to the mellow mood.

Li-bra-ry had the same effect on me as Vanilla Garden in Ekamai did when I first walked in...a soothing space in the madness that is Bangkok, a city to which I'm now addicted, thanks to Lateral Paul.

Oh, if your kids are unruly and used to tearing around the place, rather don't take them. The place is sophisticated - not ideal for busy, noisy smallies...it attracts, amongst others, quite a well heeled set of people who (noted both times I was there) pull up in posh cars seeking respite from the city bustle.

What I really want to know is who conceptualised and designed this place...whomever you are, take a bow. See you soon in March...

(Directions follow after the last pic)

Follow the arrow...

Looking in...

You can order teas, coffees and juices from the board or go larger and select your hearts desire from a separate menu..starters, mains, desserts...really, really good food..

Chairs...

Loved the lights...

Style...a touch of Scandinavia perhaps?

Books for squizzing...it's a library of sorts after all...

Again, chairs....

Looking through a book shelf to the sofa side....

Floor art...

A delish latte....

Surely a world first in waffle design...it's called a pandan waffle FYI, eaten plain and of Vietnamese origin...

Boiled egg for breakfast...the bread soldiers deserve a mention...sweet and a savoury

Another beautiful light shade...

A lovely line up of those fab chairs...take me to your chair leader (ok, cheesy and only funny for me..)

On the patio..

The famous orange yoghurt drink...I always go back for more...

The Li-bra-ry is open daily from 8am – 9pm - Sukhamvit 24.

Take the BTS to Phrom Pong, walk about 500m or 5 minutes down into Soi 24 and turn right into Soi Metheenivet. Li-bra-ry will be on your right, most likely with a red Ducati monster parked outside. Enjoy!

All photos taken on my Canon 600D, copyright DIVA PR*

Labels: Bangkok, Bangkok Creative, Favourite Places, Thailand, Travel

Talad Rot Fai weekend market, Bangkok

The massive Talad Rot Fai night market (vintage and not) has relocated to Seacon Square in Srinakarin road (next to Dusit Thani college). On my last visit in April this year, it was still at the old train station near Chatuchuk market that got unceremoniously flattened to make way for a new development. For me, the new position lacks much of the style of the previous fabulous olde landmark building, but there is still tons of amazingness to discover, so get there on your next Bangkok weekend.

The stores in the main 'mall' are mostly the glass fronted cubicle type. I spotted a few amazing interior concepts - great lights fixtures, cool floors, display units and even a plump English bulldog as a piece de resistance!

The open air stall section buzzes with people from all over the world and really friendly vendors selling typical cheap, fun goods, from mobile covers to backpacks, cheap pashminas, nail art, Hello Kitty paraphernalia, hair accessories, toys, second hand voile shirts (this time around I didn't find anything worth buying), flip flops, second hand car and bike parts, CD's, fake designer t shirts, and of course, as always, delish street food.

My best stores with the most amazing stuff? Those at the very start of the market (where the pie man statue stands with his tray), selling very cool vintage items (I scored a legend leather handbag), retro bicycles, home decor, cafe racers (the motorbike culture in BK is huge) - there are a few well styled bars on the street side to kick back after the mandatory mall shlep, sip a Chang and people watch. The second hand men's shoe shop right next to the main car park if you're looking for it, has killer deals on trainers and sneakers in varying degrees of oldness; Lateral Paul picked up an exceptional, good-as-new pair of Prada brogues- I won't lie, I was very jealous.

The only thing I hated (always do no matter where I am or where they are), was the pet shops, with dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, in small wire cages (at least there weren't any monkeys or squirrels)- don't look though, it'll make you sad.

The market trades weekends only, Fri-Sun from 17h to midnight. Take the BTS to On Nut, then a cab to Seacon Square- traffic can be heavy so get there earlier to avoid rush hour.

This guy stands at the start of the market, on the street side..amazing vintage shops are found here...

Vintage bicycle store...

Travel the world...it's the meaning of life...

I've always loved these oval wooden benches...they're all over the market...

Bars with amazing chairs...

Bikes are big in BK...

Some fab interior design elements...

Another side of the market...lots of street food can be found opposite...

amazing pork noodle soup...

And teddy bear faced puppies in handbags...

This shops sells small leather goods and cool retro shirts...

One large bulldog- a bit of a tourist attraction himself...

Beautiful clothes by local Thai designers...

Cool fake grass floor tiles in the sunglasses shop...

Amaze chairs are all over the place...

Pavement chilling...

Hello Kitty just never dies...

Fab shapes these steel wire chairs..

Love the chandelier...

And just so you know...

All pics shot on my Canon 600D, copyright DIVA PR

Labels: Bangkok, Bangkok Creative, Lifestyle, Thailand, Travel

'The Most Beautiful Airport in the World'....Samui International

This is an airport like no other. The one where I can be found wayyyy before my departure time - where I don't mind flight delays - where I just want to hang around for ages. I mean at which other airport can you stop and smell the frangipani's; sit in the garden on quirkily designed benches; enjoy water features, lily ponds and exotic plants and flowers? I love to lean back into a tall chair in the departure lounge, munch my complimentary popcorn and watch passengers in transit. I think Samui airport has a soothing effect on many people....organic spaces tend to do that.

Situated on the northern part of the island near Bo Phut Beach, Samui Airport is a low rise development with thatched roofs, palm tree pillars, wooden and rattan walls and a clever open air cooling system- this is an eco friendly, aesthetically beautiful airport that blends in with the surrounding environment and has an impressively low carbon footprint.

Samui airport is owned and managed by Bangkok Airways (BA) and was designed originally by the Habita Company of architects following the vision of the BA's CEO Dr. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth. The official opening was in 1989 and in 1997 a major upgrade was undertaken with new terminals, flight routes etc. The overall look of Samui airport is described as 'ambience of a Polynesian resort, contemporary Thai design and minimalist architecture' - there have been multiple awards given- no surprises there.

I can't wait for my next stop over...