Crazy for Corn Dogs

My childhood group of friends have had a longstanding tradition of Sunday brunch/lunch for about 20 years now ( no points for guessing my age!) and we normally revisit our usual haunts in Bangkok for our tried and true favourites. This weekend was no exception - we started out at our favourite Korean BBQ place, and as we finished we decided to walk over to K Village, a community mall nearby, for coffee. As we were walking towards the coffee shop, we noted a small fast food place nearby  named "Corn Dog Dude". As third culture kids, we appreciate and love a good corn dog, and the thought that this entire joint was dedicated solely to corn dogs intrigued us - we had to look closer! The menu didnot disappoint!

A fast food lovers dream menu!

As  big fans of fast food, we decided we needed to come back soon for a good old fast food junkie meal complete with buffalo wings and chili cheese fries! However, today we were already extremely full from our Korean feast, so we decided to tread lightly and try out the desserts - yes, they have corn dog desserts! We ordered the Marshmallow dog and it was so scrumptious that we went for a second helping along with another order of Snickers Dogs! 

Biting into the crunchy sugared dough of the Marshmallow Dog revealed a lightly melted marshmallow - soo amazingly delicious! 

The Snickers Dog with a melted Snickers Bar within a sugared first dough crust - love! Also, our second order of Marshmallow Dogs which came in threes. Definitely a great way to enjoy dessert!

We will definitely be back soon for a full meal! 

Anna Dello Russo at H&M ( aka. Reptile Mania!!)

I'm happy to report that Bangkok finally opened its first H&M last week! As is the norm with all new things here in the Eastern City of Angels, people queued up for hours during the first few days to get in. I decided to forgo the those opening days and decided to drop by today as I was in the area, hoping that the crowds would have subsided.  What a surprise to find that today is the day H&M launches its Anna Dello Russo at H&M line - and no lines either! Yay!

People were hustling and bustling at the AdR display and I managed to elbow my way through to the front of the display. Things were disappearing fast and people were literally grabbing boxes from right under one another - I actually had one box in my arm when a man ( Yes, a MAN! ) tried to reach for it FROM OUT OF MY HANDS!!! How crazy is that?!? Here are a few of the beautiful pieces from her line - 

Love love love the reptilian theme! I apologize for the bad picture quality - the staff didn't allow me to take pictures of the actual pieces so I had to take pictures of the picture of each piece! But I did manage to sneak in one shot of the turquoise snake necklace when noone was looking! hehe.

Seeing things being snatched up left and right from all around me, I knew I had to act fast! I looked and immediately grabbed, going by the theory that your gut instinct is always the right one. If my gut said a piece was nice, that was that. No second guessing, no time for pondering! Luckily, my gut is well seasoned when it comes to making choices in high pressure moments like these, esp. when it comes to accessories!!! 

Here are two pieces I got from the Anna Dello Russo's collection line. Love this reptilian line! ( my own name for it, not hers! ). Even though there was only a limited selection left by the time I got there, I am very happy with the pieces I managed to get!

Snake Attack!!

Besides the lovely pieces, I also fell in love with the shopping bag for her line - take a look...

Isn't it cool?

My inaugural visit to Bangkok's first H&M and I am extremely happy with my purchases! As all of you know, I am an accessories gal at heart so I am thrilled that I happened upon Anna Dello Russo at H&M today. Her collection is trendy and modern yet so timeless as well. Love!

Paradise Dynasty - a meal to remember!

For our recent Singapore weekend, I carefully made selections for some well appointed meals in restaurants that we loved, and also left some meal times "free" to explore and try interesting places we might happen upon unintentionally. We were lucky enough to find this great place that I feel compelled to write about - it's a must!

On our second day, hubby and I were wandering around Ion Orchard at lunchtime and were getting hungry. As I had left this particular mealtime "free", we walked around on the 4th floor looking for restaurants that we might find interesting. From afar we noticed a huge crowd of people mingling infront of a specific outlet and of course that piqued our curiousity. As we went in closer, we found it was a Chinese eatery called "Paradise Dynasty", famed for its 8 coloured/flavoured "Xiao Long Pao" ( Chinese dumplings with soup inside ). The queue was so long but we knew that the longer the queue, the better the food must be ( one of our all-time no-fail ways to select a restaurant when travelling )!! We took a number and settled down for the wait. It was well worth it!

Settling down for the wait...check out the computerized queue system! Very well organized indeed!

As we waited, we checked out the menu and the signage detailing the various colours and flavours of Xiao Long Bao - they even had instructions as to which order to eat them in to maximize enjoyment! While we were still in line, hubby and I had already decided to share one order and immediately began negotiating which flavours we each wanted - I ended up with Foie Gras, Cheesy, Szechaun and Black Truffle.

Love the colours and the instructions!

We finally got a table after about 20 minutes, and ordered the signature Xiao Long Pao along with some other accompanying dishes. The food came quickly and did not disappoint!

The famed 8 flavours! 

Had to order my favourite string beans with spicy pork - a must for me whenever I find it on the menu!

A truly enjoyable meal and one that I would love to repeat on my next visit to Singapore. Coincidentally, when I got back to Bangkok I found that Paradise Dynasty has just opened a branch here at the Paragon Shopping Mall  as well - so I will be able to enjoy the unique 8 flavours of Xiao Long Pao easily whenever I want! yumss!

Sunny Singapore and the Gardens at the Bay!

Hi everyone! Last weekend hubby and I took a short break to Singapore - one of my favourite weekend getaways for shopping, eating, and catching up with good friends. I used to work in Singapore ( a long long time ago!) and ever since, I have always felt a strong connection and find every excuse to go back for a visit when possible. Also, a few of my nearest and dearest friends live there so its always great to meet them for a delicious meal and fun times whenever I am in town!

This time we stayed at the Grand Park Orchard and I have to say, this hotel gets my vote hands down for location. It's right on Orchard road, opposite from The Mandarin Gallery and Paragon shopping mall - perfect for popping in and out to drop off the masses of shopping bags accumulated after a long day of intense shopping in Orchard's numerous shopping malls! The hotel itself is trendy and modern but still quiet enough that it feels like a respite from the ultra urban Orchard road.

Our Premiere room at Grand Park Orchard - hubby is enjoying it!

On this visit we decided to visit the newly opened Gardens on the Bay which is located right by Marina Bay Sands. Its kind of a indoor/outdoor botanical gardens with lots of flora and fauna attractions. I wasn't sure what to expect and although I'm not a big fan or expert of trees and fauna, I admit I was impressed and enjoyed it alot! We visited one of the many attractions, The Cloud Forest, which is a huge dome spanning about 7 floors with a central "mountain" of trees, plants, flowers and all kinds of beautiful fauna. At the entrance of the Cloud Forest there was a huge waterfall that flowed from the top of the dome. Stunning!

The entrance to the Cloud Forest with a massive waterfall that spanned about 7 stories! love it!

Once you are inside the dome, you can take a lift right up to the top and slowly walk down the various levels, which they have designed as a kind of "skywalk" where you get the feeling that you are walking in the midst of the sky and clouds. I was impressed with how well designed the walkways were - but I am super scared of heights so I had to hold on tight to the handrails while we were walking along the skyways up high! Here are some shots of the walkways taken from the ground upwards. 

Looking up towards the sky walkways high up above within the Cloud Forest.

Being afraid of heights, I wondered if I would be able to brave the walkways!

Another view of the sky walkways high high above.

Some sights along the way....

Curious looking plants...

Hubby was interested in this specimen!

We made it to the top by lift! Now we start the long descent down via walk ways!! 

Even though the walkways were sturdy and strong, I was nervous to be so far out from solid ground!

Carefully and slowly making my way down...while clutching onto the handrails...

Notice how everyone stayed away from the netted middle section!

Finally we reached the indoor Crystal cave ! From this level you can take escalators down to ground level. Thank goodness!

There were numerous other fun and educational attractions at the Gardens at the Bay, but we didn't have a chance to enjoy them all as we had to get back into town for lunch. This calls for another visit back, and soon!

Bag Lovers Reveal!

As most girls are, I am a bag lover at heart and have spent countless hours poring over bags reviews and selections on the web and in magazines. I used to buy designer bags on a whim, by season, determined to be on top of fashion and lured by the vast selection of amazing choices - but throughout the years I found that after a few seasons some of these "must have" items lose their allure and I hardly bring them out to use after the season is over. I realized that these "seasonal" bags are a double edged sword because along with being the "it" bag to have when they are launched, they can also become very quickly out of date and oh-so "last season" once their time is up!

Nowadays I find myself choosing much more carefully when it comes to investing in a high end bag and I tend to go for the classic timeless designs that I truly believe will last through the years and even decades. I like designers that do not change their classic line often and as such I lean towards names like Chanel and Bottega Veneta now for bags that I know I will still use and love decades from now. I wanted to share with you my first Chanel classic bag purchase!

Love the wrapping and presentation - truly a gift to cherish!

Out comes the dustbag!

Here is is - the Navy Blue Caviar 8" mini from FW 2011!

Love this seasons mini because it comes with 4 holes so you can wear it doubled up or as a long shoulder bag. My fave go-to bag and it fits so much!

Besides my pure love of Chanel, what I enjoy most is that I know I will continue to use it many years from now for any occasion - it works well during the day and fits an amazing amount considering its size, and can easily transcend into an evening bag as well :) An investment well worth it in my opinion!

Have a great day everyone!

A few of my favourite things ( part deux )

Hi everyone! Lately I have been feeling nostalgic and abit wispy and when I do, I gravitate automatically towards things that make me happy and give me comfort. I decided to continue my "favourite things" series and talk about one of the things that always gives me a warm and peaceful feeling - Yankee Candles! 

I have loved Yankee Candles since my East Coast college days and I remember going to the Yankee Candle Museum in Deerfield, Massachussetts, where they had every single yankee scent ever produced. My idea of heaven! What I love about Yankee Candles are the scents and that they can really fill your home with yummy delicious smells that are so inviting yet are never overwhelming. When I am home I almost always have a Yankee Candle lit and it just brings such a festive and warm atmosphere to the day. I especially love the fruity and spicy scents that remind me of fall and winter in New York and Boston, and some of my most loved scents are Farmers Market, Autumn Wreath, Cranberry Chutney and Macintosh. 

Nowadays, living in Thailand makes it harder to get Yankee Candles. Some Dept Stores here do carry Yankee Candles, but the pricing is so high and the selection is so small. During my recent trips to the States I found a solution to my Yankee Candle obsession - I found a delivery service that ships items to Thailand. Of course I got so excited and immediately went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to stock up on a few of my favourite scents!

My collection of Yankee Candles  from the States! 

Have a wonderful day and I hope you enjoyed the post!

A few of my favourite things...

First off, I have to apologize for disappearing for so long! Things have been quite hectic since I got back from my trip and although I have so many fun things to share, I haven't had the time to actually sit and formulate my thoughts! I decided today to write about about some of favourite things - accessories!

I think I have mentioned before in my blog how much I love accessories. I mostly choose very neutral colours and patterns in my clothing palette, and use accessories like necklaces, bracelets, scarves and even bags, to add character and a unique touch to each outfit. Lately I have been putting more time into carefully selecting each accessory to match my daily outfit, as I find that the one right addition can really make or break an entire ensemble!

One of my all time favourite designers for costume jewellery is Kenneth Jay Lane. I find his collections and pieces so timeless and classic, yet at the same time they manage to stay fashionable and trendy and can  give any outfit a special "pop"! During my recent trip to the States I got this beautiful Kenneth Jay Lane gold studded cuff which I love, due to the fact that besides that it is so pretty and versatile, it is smaller in circumference and doesn't look massive on my wrist when I wear it! I find it amazingly easy to match with an assortment of bangles and bracelets, and each match create a totally different look. Love!

A bohemian-ish look - my Kenneth Jay Lane gold studded cuff with a "peace" bracelet from Ginger, a local Thai designer. I love this combo for casual days!

The Kenneth Jay Lane mix - a combo of my gold studded cuff with this charm bracelet, also from Kenneth Jay Lane. The mixture of gold, ivory and wood accents can dress up any outfit - don't u think?

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed my post!

Bahama Mama!

While we were planning our trip to USA, hubby and I wanted to go somewhere new and fun. I have never been to the Bahamas before, and although hubby had been before during his college spring break years, we have never been there together - so, essentially, it was a new place to try. We decided that after visiting Atlanta, we would take a short flight down there for a few days. 

Because it was my first time going to the Bahamas, I wanted to stay at a place that  had alot to see, do, enjoy and eat, and somewhere where we could chill out and relax (chillax?) as well. After reading numerous reviews on Expedia and Tripadvisor ( my gurus for all my trip planning!! ), I decided that the Atlantis was the place to try! The Atlantis is great because besides being having a huge water park and a really amazing aquarium, it also has a choice of 5 hotels within the resort so you can really choose which one suits what you want most.

We finally made it to The Atlantis! This is the Royal Wing which is the main part of the hotel  - Stunning and enormous!

Out of all the hotels within Atlantis, I chose The Reef which is a service apartment/hotel and is located on the far end of the resort with a private beach. It was peaceful, quiet and private and yet a mere 5 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the main Royal wing that houses the casino, aquarium and shopping. Perfect for people like me who don't want to be too far from the action, yet like a little peace and quiet time as well.

The Reef's private beach  - beautiful and truly exclusive!

I have to admit, although I love the beach and the sea, I have a love/hate relationship with the sun. When I am at the beach I always have my massive sunglasses and sunhat on, and am sure to always reapply my 80 SPF sunblock - just about every 10 minutes! Having said that, it's a testament to how great the Atlantis waterpark is that I actually spent hours upon hours every day playing in the water park,  actually enjoying it! They have this ride called the River Rapids where you float along in a huge water wheel and cruise down huge waves and rapids - I went on the River Rapids everyday, at least 3 times a day! They also had their famed slides - you can see the picture below - which were like amusement parks rides! Although I didn't have the guts to try any of the big slides, I had fun watching as people sped down at breakneck speed!

I think this one was called the Drop of Doom or the Tower of Terror - either way, the closest I got to it was enjoying the screams of people as they spend downwards! Too terrifying for me for sure!

Another one of the Atlantis' most popular slides! Although this was a little tamer than the "drop", it still was too much for me - yes, I am a chicken, totally!

Aside from all the fun and games, hubby and I enjoyed all the good food at the Atlantis as well. There were a great number of really good restaurants within the hotel and in Marina Village, an outdoor shopping village, which also had a great lively atmosphere and live music in the evenings. 

Hanging out at Ben&Jerry's at Marina Village - a must for staying cool in the heat!

At the Marina Village there was a dock for many private luxury yachts  - hubby had fun just walking around peering into them! In the evening the owners of the yachts would sit on their decks sipping wine - lifestyles of the rich and famous indeed!

 I can't write a post about food without posting this picture of Veal Saltimbocca at Carmines in the Marina Village - this is one dish! Can you believe the size? We ordered one between the two of us and even so,  delicious as it was, were not able to finish it! 

Am I starting to sound like an advertorial for the Atlantis? I really hope not. I enjoyed the resort and anyone who knows me knows that when I really like something I become its biggest advocate. Aside from a half day snorkelling trip out to the reefs and an hour walking along Bay Street doing some local shopping, we didn't leave the hotel at all in the 3 days we were at the Bahamas. We had such a great time and alot of it had to do with actually being at the Atlantis. Two thumbs up for sure!

One last glimpse before leaving - truly a sight to remember. 

Thanks for reading and I hope you are enjoying my vacation posts!

Loving Atlanta ( part 2 )

After such a great time at the World of Coca-Cola, my next stop in Atlanta was the Georgia Aquarium, which was conveniently located just opposite! Although I am not an expert on sea animals, fish or any type of aquatic life, I always find it so calming and mesmerizing to just sit and observe them as they swim so gracefully and effortlessly - in fact I could watch them for hours on end, which is why I love to visit aquariums! The Georgia Aquarium is definitely of world-class caliber and I would say its worth it just to go and watch the huge whale shark swimming majestically alongside manta rays and other exotic species in the enormous Ocean Voyager exhibit. Here's the whale shark in the picture below - magnificent, right?

Isn't this a most amazing sight? I could stay here forever!

Another one of my favourites were the Beluga Whales - I love how they look like they are smiling all the time  - they seem so good natured and friendly!

Loving the friendly Beluga Whales!

When I visit aquariums, jellyfish are also on the top of my must see list - don't these look so exotic and mystical? I can't remember what type of jellyfish they are but I do remember seeing a sign saying that they are poisonous and a sting is toxic enough to kill a person!

So pretty, yet so lethal!

Sadly, we didn't have that much time at the aquarium but it was definitely a visit to remember. I really hope to  return to Atlanta one day and spend more time there! Thanks for reading and I hope you liked the pictures!

Loving Atlanta (part 1)

This trip to the US brought so many new experiences, one of them being my first visit to Atlanta! Hubby had a few days of work there, so for my first stop in the US trip, I flew in to meet him. I really didn't know what to expect of Atlanta but I have to say I really loved it! There was so much to do and see, it was a whirlwind of fun which passed by way too  quickly.

We only had a few days there so I had to narrow down the list of places I wanted to see, and I was adamant about having to visit my first two choices - The World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium!

Our first stop !

We decided to make a day out of it as both places were right next to one another, and we went first to the World of Coca-Cola where the first things to greet us at the entrance were giant Coke bottles decorated in unique and fun colours and patterns to represent different countries and places. I loved them and wanted to take them home with me! We walked through a huge room where were thousands of Coca Cola paraphanelia pieces - everything you have ever seen in Coke advertisements, billboards, and commercials, including some really beautiful vintage collectors items. 

I couldn't resist a picture with the huge Coke bottles!

The first room with so much to see - all about Coca Cola!

The different Coke Bottles were everywhere along the tour , aren't they  cool?

We learnt so many interesting facts about the history of Coca-Cola .

The tour itself was so much fun and informative and took us through the history, and yes, the actual "world" of Coca-cola and how the drink and company has evolved through the decades. At the end of the tour there were drink dispensers where you could sample every single drink made by Coca Cola from all over the world - this was our favourite part! We tried different drinks from Brazil, Chile, China, and just about every country! Each country has its own variation on soft drinks so it was fun to try the unique flavours - talk about a sugar high! 

So many soft drinks, so little time! We loved this part of the tour - and of course, got a sugar high from all the samplling!

We had such a great time and I really hope I get the chance to re-visit the World of Coca Cola again!