Showing 61 - 70 of 77
Africa in Pattaya
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 26/02/2021
» The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya may not be next to the beach but it makes up with a unique vibe, spacious rooms and plenty of tree shade. Having opened its doors in November last year, the 77-room resort is a nod to the Africa continent, especially its safaris and precious gems. The decked-out, spacious reception building may give you a sense of arrival into another world where opulence, geometric shapes and nature meet. They do take the African theme seriously and it's evident in the colourful art piece in the shape of Africa above the reception desk, exotic room decors and toilet paper origami, which are in a diamond fold.
Pioneer in wellness
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 12/02/2021
» Chiva-Som International Health Resort celebrated its quadranscentennial milestone last year as a pioneer in wellness retreats in Thailand. The brainchild of Boonchu Rojanastien, who was a former finance minister and banker, started out as his personal weekend retreat where he went with friends and family to escape from Bangkok's hustle and bustle. From 1995, the beachfront 17.7-rai property has evolved into an internationally renowned wellness destination that has welcomed many A-listers and collected many accolades, including "Best Destination Spa" by Condé Nast Traveller The Spa Awards 2020. 25 years in the biz. They must be doing something right.
Afterlife wish list
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 05/02/2021
» Chinese New Year next Friday is a special one since it'll be the first time it's approved as a public holiday in Thailand by the Cabinet. We may as well make it a tradition, given the huge population of overseas Chinese here. As a third-generation Thai with complete Chinese ethnicity, I grew up with a lot of quirky traditions that my Thai Thai friends may not be aware of. Burning paper offerings on important occasions like Qingming Festival or CNY is at the top as it's a gesture of taking care of departed loved ones in the afterlife with creature comforts. Over the years, I've seen the evolution (and irony) of paper offerings from banknotes with 12 digits (hyperinflation much?) to treadmills so ama and agong can stay in shape. Here are a few of the most creatives offerings for your entertainment:
Riverside Escapade
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 05/02/2021
» Côte by Mauro Colagreco, Capella Bangkok's fine dining restaurant, recently launched a new lunch set inspired by coastal cuisines from the French and Italian Riviera. The "Escapade" menu is a showcase of flavour and finesse by chef Davide Garavaglia. His culinary skill is sharpened through years of working alongside chef Mauro Colagreco, whose restaurant Mirazur in France received three Michelin stars.
Asian pizzas
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 29/01/2021
» You read the headline right. Under the new management of Destination Eats, Scoozi, which has been around since 1997, adds Urban Pizza into its title and new Asia-inspired toppings to its menu. If you think putting pineapple on pizza is blasphemous, you may want to stop reading now since what follows is all about Asian-esque pizzas that the Italian restaurant chain offers.
Make Learning Fun
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 15/01/2021
» In the wake of the second wave of Covid-19 in Thailand, schools in 28 provinces have been ordered to close until Jan 31 and conduct online classes instead. One side effect that one may not see coming is that the new learning normal brings with it amusing and heart-warming stories from these online classes. Here are a few.
Four points debuts in Phuket
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 04/12/2020
» The last quarter has seen many hotel openings in major tourist destinations. Located literally a skip, jump and hop from Patong Beach, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort has soft-launched since October, featuring 600 rooms and suites across six accommodation choices.
WOTY: Guru's Style
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 04/12/2020
» We have less than a month before 2020 comes to an end (this year has flown so fast). And one of the year-end traditions by famous dictionaries is to announce Word(s) of the Year, the most important and prevailing words or expressions of a specific year's zeitgeist. Called "Wort des Jahres", this German tradition began in 1971.
Town of peace and tranquility
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 18/09/2020
» Living up to its name, Santiburi is a slice of peace and quiet on the secluded 300m stretch of Mae Nam Beach in Koh Samui.
Heaven and hotel
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 24/07/2020
» "Heaven, I'm in heaven." You can technically sing this line from the song Cheek To Cheek, originally sung in the 1935 film Top Hat, during your stay at InterContinental Phuket Resort.