Showing 1 - 10 of 50
'Tis the season to give back
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 08/12/2017
» Alas, December is here and we at Guru now deem it appropriate to ring in the Christmas cheer. We trust that you, dear readers, ignored anything Christmas-related blasted to you before the beginning of this month. From today, we now declare it to officially be the season to be jolly; the season to get presents; the season to buy presents and most importantly, the season to give! And give back, maybe? This week we focus on gifts for Christmas and the new year that give back. These gifting ideas may clear your conscience and make you feel less guilty about all the naughty, naughty things you did in 2017. And if you were a saint for the entire year, well... perhaps you'll be sleeping even better every night knowing you bought one of these.
An eye for loafers
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 17/11/2017
» If you're a loafer fan, then you'll probably know about the British footwear brand Duke & Dexter (D&D) which has been serving up some outlandish and wonderfully creative designs since 2014. After a successful launch in Japan, the brand just launched its first store in Bangkok at Siam Discovery, making Thailand its first office retail destination in Southeast Asia! We spoke to the man behind this very British brand that's now being sold in 100 countries worldwide, none other than its founder Archie Hewlett. To find out more, check out their store at Siam Discovery or visit www.dukeanddexter.com.
A very veggie delight
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 10/11/2017
» The setting: Alright, this doesn't really bring to mind a fancy wine and dine joint and it certainly isn't gourmet. But given that it was just vegetarian festival, we thought we'd represent a bit. Veggie Chef is what you're more likely to call street food; except, it's in an air-conditioned shophouse; it's MSG free and it's also completely vegan friendly. It's a bit of a way out of central Bangkok as it's quite close to Don Mueang Airport, yet we'll have you know that people with some hours to kill before their next flight will actually leave the airport to come to this joint, just because it's that good. Think of it as a no-frills vegan joint giving off a street food vibe, serving the most authentic tasting Thai food that's actually better than your regular Thai food because it's super healthy.
Nap like you mean it
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 10/11/2017
» We know full well how tough it is leading a busy life in Bangkok. More often than not, we'll rely on copious amounts of caffeine to get us through the day, because hey, coffee just seems like the quickest way to help us get from A to B. But the power of the nap is multifold, and if you need to recharge and get that extra boost of energy, a 20 minute kip during the day is just the thing your body would benefit the most from. Not only will it recharge your batteries, but science says that napping can boost your memory, cognitive skills and most importantly, your creativity. And if you're someone who suffers from sleep deprivation, a quick kip during the day will really reset you. So, because we want to see our readers thrive all the time and have endless amounts of energy to keep at the grind and build their dreams, we decided we'd present you with fives places you can nap in style, or comfort, outside the bedroom and during daylight hours.
It's an organic party at Patom
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 06/10/2017
» The setting: Off the main street of Thong Lor (down Thong Lor 25 if you're coming from the BTS) is what can only be described as a jaw-dropping, high-ceilinged glass house and oasis with a garden. Patom, which in Thai means beginning, also recalls the area of Nakhon Pathom from which all its organic produce and raw materials come from. The family behind the renowned tourist destination of Sampran Riverside (more often known as The Rose Garden) bought the land alongside the Tha Chin River some 53 years ago and across from that property lies Patom's organic farm which is certified in accordance with IFOAM, EU and Canadian standards. Here, fruits herbs and vegetables are grown. Patom also gets its organic produce from other local farmers in Nakhon Pathom that are supported by BLISS, a foundation set up by Patom's founders. Alongside fresh organic produce and lunch boxes prepared daily, one can also head to the store to stock up on cold-pressed juices, drink hand-picked Chiang Dao coffee while sitting outside in the serene back garden and purchase a number of different natural body care and skin products. All products are either 100% organic or made using natural and local ingredients, with as much of the components being as organic as possible (from 30% upwards).
Envision a vision in pink
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 29/09/2017
» Pinkplanter X Bonca Cafe opened its doors about three months ago and it sits on the third floor of the Matchbox store, a three-storey wonder already pretty decked out in pink, with cool clothes and accessories to purchase. The pinkness goes to a whole new level when you reach the top though. The cafe itself is even more pink; pink chairs, pink walls, pink kitchen counters and to balance it out, there are fairy lights and green ferns hanging beautifully from the ceiling and walls covered in cutesy quotes such as "You had me at Aloha"; "Tropical Vibes"; "I Love You Like a Fat Kid Loves Cake" and our personal favourite, "I Love You Matcha". When we build our dream house one day not so far away, the cafe's theme is kinda the look we want to go for. Oh, and did we mention the place is bursting with pink flamingoes?
Some like it Siam
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 29/09/2017
» New things to do in Siam!? What an obvious story, we hear you say, dear readers! Another one about what's going on in the square mile of Bangkok's beating heart, which has been the epicentre of the city's art, culture and fashion scene since the 70s. Well, actually, new developments have occurred which simply cannot go unnoticed! And while researching the new, we found ourselves re-igniting that old flaming passion we had many years ago for the square. Some things don't change, and other things do, but it's safe to say that if you spend a day here, you'll locate that pulse that gives life to all your inspirations, be filled with new tastes and colours and perhaps pull an all-nighter working on your next big project. Read on to see why.
When gracelee watched
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 01/09/2017
» We had the privilege to meet with the very talented US-artist Gracelee Lawrence, who recently finished her year as a visiting artist in the Multidisciplinary Department of Art at Chiang Mai University on a Luce Scholars Fellowship. Her exhibition "When Watched" is currently showing at Bridge Art Space (fb.com/bridgeartspace) and ends on September 16. The exhibition is comprised of digital sculptures, videos, stories on the wall, illustrations and poems made using Google translate. Head there real quick if you haven't already. Read on to find out more about the artist who's breaking conventions and perhaps you may learn a little something too!
Out with the old, in with the bold
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 01/09/2017
» The setting: Next to Thong Lor Soi 5 is a rather pleasing-to-the-eye establishment that opened its doors to the public about five months ago. You won't miss the beautiful wooden double French doors that certainly do add a new kind of character to the saturated-with-enough-restaurants area of Thong Lor. Perhaps Canvas will stand the test of time and tough competition. Inside is dimly lit, warm and you'll immediately notice the kitchen and its chefs, most of whom are western. You can grab a table on the ground floor, either right by the open-plan kitchen which is surrounded by a copper-esque counter for guests to sit at or slightly further from the kitchen at a table; wherever you sit on the ground floor, unless you're sitting with your back turned, you'll be able to see the chefs in full swing. Head upstairs if you want something more private.
For natural appetites
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 25/08/2017
» You don't have to be a green geek to enjoy The Green Geek. Although, if you're super into all things organic, healthy and natural, then you will appreciate this store and cafe all the more. It's sorta' like a treasure trove for all things green; well... almost all things! Too bad if you're into a certain shade of green that shan't be mentioned here.