Bangkok : Wat Pho「วัดโพธิ์」

Wat Pho is home to the largest reclining Buddha statue on Earth but, it somehow feels less commercial and much more authentic than Wat Phra Kaew. It was the first temple we visited during our first visit to Bangkok and it made a huge impact on me. I could still remember the peaceful atmosphere, the silent Buddhist monks wandering around on their orange clothes, the orchids blooming and the beautiful contrast of a majority of white walls, against golden Buddha statues.

View Post

Bangkok : Wat Phra Kaew & Grand Palace「วัดพระแก้ว」

If you have been following us for a little while, you have probably realized that I am a sucker for white, gold and all things bright. So you can imagine how I felt coming back to the main temple of Thailand and spiritual core of Thai Buddhism, Wat Phra Kaew (temple of Emerald Buddha) gleams and glitters with so much glory that I was not sure whether I was dreaming or about to faint. Pity Enrique was not here to shoot some wide angle glory out of such grandeur, but I think I managed to get pretty decent shots for you to get a feeling of what awaits there. As explained in our Bangkok Weekend guide, there's no problem coming in there dressed with anything sleeveless or short, it will just add some waiting time (at the borrowing clothes queue) and require 200 BAHT deposit, which you will get back upon returning the clothes.

View Post

Taipei : Garden Hotel「台北花園大酒店」

When visiting a new city (specially for a short period) it is always hard to pick a good hotel. Our criteria is typically focused on the hotel location (close to the subway, so access to the key sightseeing areas is easy) as well as on the cost (no millionaire here). When travelling for work, I do not get to pick where I stay, but sometimes the choice opens up for a comfortable stay as well as some ad-hoc sightseeing that is always welcome, given you are alone, in a new place, during Sunday.

View Post

Bangkok - Siam Paragon and Central World Shopping Malls

While I was in Bangkok, my colleague Sukan (the gurl on Dior Tribal) told me many stories.

About a society without middle class, without public healthcare and minimal support for education. Where the rich are very rich and the poor are extremely poor. Where prostitution is debated as a common profession and massage salons are of dubious reputation. She took me to the nice restaurant facing the hotel for some mojitos with a twist and introduced me to the concept of bottle lady a model or good looking woman who is hired by a fashionable bar to induce men (preferably foreign men working in finance) to buy drinks and bottles of alcohol to her and her friends. It is kind of shocking when you look at a city like Bangkok, when you wander around the shopping malls as we are about to do in this post and still... You realize that basic needs are not fulfilled by a system that makes sure we have 9x6m, frames of the king every 100m but takes no responsibility on supplying water to the entire population.

Anyway. Today we will take a stroll around the biggest malls in the new area of Bangkok. There were many temples in my previous posts about this awesome city, so I thought I would balance a bit with this bright new side of things. Still, bear in mind nothing is as perfect as it seems.

View Post

Taipei : Shilin Night Market「士林夜市」

Night markets are essential to any trip to Taipei as well as to Taiwanese culture. 

Today we take a stroll around Shilin Night Market. 

I discovered the concept while shopping high-fashion at wholesale price in Seoul but after visiting Hong Kong and Taipei, it is kind of obvious that they are something extremely Asian, probably originated in China. So they were popular already in 900, despite the attempts of Tang Dynasty to shut them down through sanctions. But then, economy expanded and so did the then-called Ghost Markets, which were the heart of Chinese nightlife. Some were open at night, some where open 24 hours - along with brothels and restaurants, that usually mushroom around the business districts. As my friend, currently based in Taipei, put it:

View Post

Thai Fashion Crush : Darlin Jewelry

My friend Chris always complains about shopping in Malaga. I guess that moving away from Tokyo is not easy for her either, at least when it comes to shopping. We were discussing about this, when I realized that I do not miss it so much, because I do most of my shopping while I am traveling for work. This year, I caught the perfect jeans & sandals (at Acne) while in Stockholm, Korean cosmetics while in Taipei and wedding accessories while in Bangkok.

Darlin Jewelry is a Thai jewelry brand that specializes on dreamy yet bold items to turn any minimalistic outfit into an unforgettable piece of streestyle art. Scared by EU import duties, I did not dare to order any of their items despite spamming the owner, who kindly answer all my emails, everytime a new piece of desire made its way to their instagram. 

My day was to come. So, when I landed in Bangkok for work, I directly contacted them to check on stock and arrange so that I could get a couple of pieces just on time for a wedding coming up the month after. Conveniently delivered straight to my hotel, they were super kind with me. I couldn't be happier about the quality of the leather and the swarovski elements on these somewhat-weird-in-Europe accessories. I have a penchant for bling, so I'll be certainly coming back to Darlin.

PS: Watch the clutch in action below, on the purple carpet of a wedding in the lovely village of Ezcaray (La Rioja). Perfect match for my cat ears - completely random purchase at BCBG Max Azria flash sale in La Cañada mall (Marbella).

View Post

Taipei : Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall「中正紀念堂」

A short walk from the shopping district and you arrive to this huge and overwhelming park called the Memorial Hall Square. Surrounded by four of the most impressive structures in Taipei - excluding 101, you feel seriously insignificant when walking amid the National Theater「國家戲劇院」, National Concert Hall「國家音樂廳」, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall「中正紀念堂」and the Gate of the Great Piety「大孝門」.

View Post

Taipei: Ximending「西門町」 Shopping Spree

Ximending「西門町」is the Taipei equivalent to Harajuku in Tokyo. The first pedestrian area dedicated to commerce is now turned into a teen culture hub and shopping craze of all sorts. From Rilakkuma Merchandising - to which I confess to be addicted - through Starbucks, UNIQLO and what I miss the most in Europe, Korean Cosmetics from popular brands like Étude House, Skinfood, Tony Moly & Too Cool For School. For clothing and food, night markets are a better option.

While the crowded entrance is rather impressive, I still favour the cute Takeshita Dori sign.

Romantic lights for the teen lovers

Tasty izakayas for the hungry ones

Gurls with Popstar dreams, showing their skills off

Nearby the entrance, The Red House which is Taipei's first public market - currently used as cultural & creative industries development center, observes the area with a raised eyebrow.

I simply CANNOT help myself. It's the androgynous Korean guy look that drags me in. Amid a stravaganza of pink and too-cute-to-be-true packaging, I always end up burning much more money than I should... But it is such a nice experience, that becomes addictive. They always give you a gazillion miniatures and samples and point cards. Simply amazing. By the way, did you know that BB cream was popularized as consumer product in Korea? WE OWE THEM SOMETHING!

View Post

Taipei : Longshan Temple「龍山寺 」

Longshan is one of the oldest and most revered temples in Taipei. Built in 1783, so the busy district of Mangka could pray to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy i.e. Avalokitesvara, Lungshan is kind of an experience to explore. I mean. I was coming from Bangkok, where I had spent the week for work. Buddhist temples in Thailand are something different, like golden and white. Buddhist temples in Taiwan at some point started incorporating Taoist elements, making out of it a perfect example of Chinese architecture in Taiwan.

View Post

Taipei : Bo Pi Liao Historic Street

Bo Pi Liao is a charming old street in Taipei that I found by chance.

I am strong advocate of walking the city. Through years of travel experiences, it became quite clear to me that, the most amazing places, restaurants, cafés, boutiques are usually hidden around the corner, of a street between two subway stations or major attractions. They remain impossible to spot for the 99% of tourists that are shipped around in subways or tourists bus, touring around the must see.

Cool spots are like amazing lovers. Strike by chance at the most unexpected moment, sweeping you off away and into a different reality.

Bo Pi Liao used to be a major passage between key districts of Mangka and Guting. The Japanese Colonial Era (1895 - 1945) relegated it to a back alleway, making Guangzhou street become the main one. However, local residents fought for it to be refurbished so the history of Bangka - the first district in Taipei to undergo economic development under the Qing dinasty - could be preserved, felt and understood by younger generations and visitors, today.

View Post

One day in Taipei

Here's my one day in Taipei guide for the busy business traveller. I know that for many, business travel sounds really glamorous. Like we sit at the front of the plane, drink cocktails while watching the sunset among the skyscrapers. Reality is slightly different. More about sleeping and eating at your economy seat - as the plane will arrive too late for anything else - long hours at the office - to get done all those ASAP mushrooming as soon as you arrive - and of course having zero time beyond that Bermuda Triangle of office-hotel-airport.

View Post

Bonbini 2015!

Feliz Año Nuevo!!

Recién aterrizados, tratando de poner la vida en orden porque en menos de 8 horas estaremos trabajando y quizás, en menos de una semana, estemos (de nuevo) en otra zona horaria. Espero que vuestras vacaciones fueran maravillosas y que tengáis ganas de más historias viajeras, recomendaciones y rutas, en el año que acaba de empezar ^_^ como siempre, gracias por seguir con nosotros!!

View Post