Koh Samui never aged !

Koh Samui…is like that cool uncle who never aged… I first fell in love with Koh Samui when I was all but 18. At almost 30 now I can say, Koh Samui rather than becoming OLD and passee, it has embraced a new generation of resort goers, many of them upscale. Fine stretches of sand clogged with beach loungers, almost rubbish free roads, world class international cusiine, luxurious spas that are dirt cheap and beach bar parties for the scantily clad 20-something that start at noon. They say Koh Samui has a quieter side with long, tourist free stretches of wild and shaggy coconut palms. But if I really needed the quite  would I go that far now?

We travel not to escape life ... But for life not to escape us ! 

I have always mainted, I am the quintessential city girl who loves her hustle and bustle. I find that almost meditative ! I love the steaming streets-side food stalls, I love backpackers shanties as much as I love those ultra modern beach bars serving fancy over priced cocktails. I love my street side shopping and bargaining as much as I love walking into that open air mall only a tourist place can offer ! Koh Samui is everything that I love and more.



Koh Samui is glossy in the night and a sleepy town by day. It really wakes and breathes life only after 5. Something I absolutely love ! I went with my sister Dhwani and friends, Ami, Pankti, Jinal and Varun and we were living at The Novotel Kandaburi, which is 5 mins by a tuktuk from Chaweng beach. The beach here is relaxing, Crowded enough to find an eye candy in his beach shorts lazying and reading a book but not that crowded that you want to walk further and further down the strip to find some peace and quite. During the day we enjoyed relaxing by the pool and enjoying cocktails. The hotel is literally on the beach and we enjoyed our time dipping in the ocean and enjoying vendors coming to us with fresh cut food and corn on the cob. 

There are a few things I highly recommend. A Day trip snorkelling/ scuba diving to Ang Thong National Marine Park which is made up of an archipelago of about 40 small islands combining sheer limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, white-sand beaches and dense vegetation providing a postcard-perfect vista almost anywhere you look.

The numerous caves and crevices are home to nesting swallows and there's a narrow coral reef in the southwest of the park. From Ko Samui, a couple of tour operators run day trips to the Ang Thong archipelago. We booked a Kayaking tour. For as awesome as the picture looks, we were very happy discovering all the caves surrounded by the endless waters... but there comes a time when you look back and find you are miles away from the beach that you first started at. I just want to say this... it was quite an upper body workout ! 

But once we hit the shore, the cool wind under the winter sun, on a hammock made everything worth it ! A word of caution, and it might just be my stupidity to carry it with me, but I lost my first and only hat while kayaking :(

The evenings are very easy to fill up. Once we hit Chaweng, there are plenty of things to do. We watched a Muay-Thai Boxing Match at the Chaweng Boxing Stadium. Grotesque to say the least but an experience which makes all rocky balboa movies look real to me for the very first time ! 

 

At Samui’s northern end, on a small rocky island linked by a causeway, is Wat Phra Yai. Erected in 1972, the modern Buddha (sitting in the Mara posture) stands 15m high and makes an alluring silhouette against the tropical sky and sea. 

 Ark Bar with its fireworks display every Wednesday and Saturday makes the 9pm slot easy to fill. Head over to see the stunts and smoke some sheesha. The staff is a little flustered, ofcourse with reason, years of dealing with drunken men and women of all ages and sizes have given them frown lines !

 Another good place of sheesha, drinks and good music is Solo Bar. Head over there for some pre-dinner cocktails and you will find a whole mix of people. If you over hear them, they are talking in all different languages with insertions of Ang Thong, Koh Tao and Koh Phan Gang ... so you know they really are making sight seeing or next day plans or simply discussing what to do ! It's when you go to a place of mix-cultures that I really go down nostalgia and remember my trip to belgium as a student of the Rotary's Youth exchange program.. .. Click here to hear all about my experience. 

When in Thailand, have some soul food comprising of a good Thai Curry with Steamed / Bamboo Rice. Terminal D is a Wine and Resto Bar has Some amazing food options for the hungry traveler ! 

If you get tired of Thai Food, I would recommend Gringos cantina on Chaweng street for some Tex-Mex !  Blue Berry Margaritas anyone ?? 

For Deli style fresh food, excellent coffee and sandwiches, hummus and falafels head over to Magnolias. Ask for Dahliya the Israeli owner and she will give you the warmest hug ! This is on my MUST-GO-AGAIN list ! 

LA-TAVERNA is an un-missable ITALIAN restaurant on Chaweng Street ! I can fly to Koh Samui, quickly eat the ricotta ravioli in sage butter sauce and fly back and still think its a dream.. ! Pair it with a wine or two and you are all set for an evening of happiness ! 

But happiness comes in many proportions on the island of Koh Samui. It can also come from a street side food cart selling crepes. They all do amazing crepes to be honest. Nutella or cream cheese and onion, anything is going to make you smile cheek to cheek.

Give me street food and I will be happy... give me a cocktail in a fanastic bar with a picturesque sceneary and you will see my happiness !! We went to On The Rocks Bar at the Six Senses Koh Samui. It's Simple and understated decor actually compliments the breath taking views this bar has to offer. We actually went there for dinner, but we didnt make the reservation mark. So if you plan on heading there, do make reservations before hand. 

The tuktuk will literally take you everywhere you need to go. NEGOTIATE NEGOTIATE NEGOTIATE .... ! Everything will come at half the price including a massage at an upscale place or simply a wrist watch which the shop owner claims is a first copy ! 

The street markets sell everything you will need to survive a beach location. From Flip flops to sunscreen. So you dont have to worry about what you forgot back home. It will also sell you things you really dont need. Like the carved hand made soap which I am now struggling to finish or those amazing hanging paper mache lights which got slightly squished on the way back home or my black hat from the first picture which i lost to the sea.... but Koh Samui makes everyone happy ! I cannot wait to go back  there. This time with my darling husband Kunal, who I missed so much throughout my trip. 

No Man's Art Gallery

This is all that we got in a mail on our Internations group… An expose called No Man’s Art Gallery.
“No Man's Art doesn't take the conventional routes when it comes to exhibiting art. Pop up galleries, guerilla galleries, Blitzgalleries, always combined with a small or big party to celebrate the art and artists are organised on a regular basis. We support arty initiatives and we are not bound by geographical borders. We make an effort to exhibit in as many countries as we can, showing as much talent as we can and make it accessible for as many people as we can.”

So we had to RSVP – and the secret location would be revealed only 3 days before the event. An amazing marketing technique – a build up Ami Gathani, My sister Dhwani Doshi and I had been waiting for. It was my first of a kinf Photography Exhibition that I was going to. And I was kicked.

The beautiful Curator Emeelie Koster explained to us that she is a part of Erasmus Mundus Program for Law and Economics - through which she travels to a different part of the world every 3 months. After 2 successful shows in Netherlands and 1 in Germany, No Man's Art Gallery is in its 4th edition. Apart from some world over artists, they also had some local artists displaying their works.

Well - There was ample of Nine Hills wine and Carlsberg and some appetizers flowing - just to add a topping on the amazing works displayed.... It was my amazing first experience. Some of these works really caught my eye. I tried to read into it - only to know I am such an amateur. And there is this whole new world of ART and ARTIST that I understand nothing about - but I was glad - this was a start !!


When I coudnt understand much of this series called "A WORLD IN CIRCLES" - the underwater edition by Roman Asmus - I had to ask my didi for reinforcement !!


Here is Dhwani Doshi and Ami Gathani's favourite. These Conaisseurs whose works I personally enjoy on a daily basis - Spent considerable time enjoying this series called "AN ODD PLACE IN TIME" - by Catharina Gerritsen


But one thing I did personally enjoy is this series of photographs by Himanshu Seth - My personal Favourite : ) Don't ask me why - I just like them much.

Other works also included this Sarah Wijzenbeek's - Feeling Blue Series. There is something about this slender sleek woman at the particular angle - super flattering !! Alright - Don't laugh at me - as I said, this is my first time.. and Appreciating art is an art in itself which i am yet to discover.

Here is an online version of the Press No Man's Art Gallery Generated.. In my view - this was an amazing concept which everyone can still go and catch.
Venue : No longer a secret - The Great Eastern Mills Compund
Time : Opend from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Dates : 1, 2, 3 July, 2011.


p.s. - if you want to know whose behind these amazing photographs - its my very own friend - Ami Gathani from the Ami Gathani Design Studio (AGDS)

When will I be Bridesmaid ?

When will i be my sisters BridesMaid ?? Cant wait to strut around in these awesome gowns and meet an equally charming husband to be at the after-party !!!

5th Avenue NYC

My sister Dhwani and I stepped out of Central Park and into Fifth Avenue. We felt like tiny ants on the bottom of the forest floor... Here are some pictures from one of my favourite cities in the world NEW YORK !!!

100th POST !

As a little girl I spoke when it was not my turn, I answered when it was not needed, I gave an opinion even if I was not entitled to in the wrong places and not to the right people. It gave me a reputation of sorts. A strong minded individual like me could be dangerous. BLOGGING is a serious passion for me. One that gives me the freedom to write freely what i feel and what I think, without the hazard of being explosive. Such is my blog. It is an extension to my life. and today – after much nurture and care my blog has reached a 100 !!!

A 100....!!! CELEBRATING A 100 blogs ... wooohoooo. When I started off, I had no idea that this would be the turn out. I did not know that this thing which started off as a rough template would take such a beautiful shape. It would be a place where I could talk about things I love - travel, books, art, interior design, fashion, music, movies, eating, being in love, design and my sunshine.

A lot of people to be thanked. My grand-parents. Who are somewhere there, looking after my universe. They are the first people who encouraged me to always express... they are the ones who were so proud of me – even if it only meant me saying a line in the class play ! They were there, applauding loudly !!

Next up my parents... These 2 people, single handedly can charge me up with enough energy to last a life time. They not only have inspired me to dream big , but gave me the ability to chase after my dreams.. and they are such a perfect example.
Dhwani, my sister, my soul mate. For her undying passion for her artwork – her relentless hard work, day after day after day. She knows what she wants. And she encourages me to work towards what I like the most Writing ! With her around, I strive to know what I want.. and be thankful for what I have. And always being by my side.

My friends... Pankti, Amzie, Raghuvir, Aakash, Jesal, ... for always being so available to discuss everything under the sun. I owe my sunshine to them. Everyone else too, who help me aspire to achieve more. To do more. To strive for more.. !!! Thank you so much for always being there, everyone.

Also to all those people who actually sit up and read some of my stuff, and time and again comment or call or message, just to let me know you care that i write .. Please keep them coming. There is nothing more I love than to hear you critique my stuff – mostly the good stuff ; p . but when you write, I know you read. When you write, I know my thoughts provoked something in your mind to move you to click click.. !!!

My PURPOSE : To provoke thoughts with my writing – Mission Accomplished !!!

Lovely Packaging

It’s an occupational hazard to go through packaging trends around the world. My family business - H K Printers Pvt Ltd, has been into the field of Printing and Packaging for 3 generations now. It’s a pretty basic industry – but off late I have been coming across such innovative products. It has made me wonder whether we will be ready for this change? Whether this traditional style of doing business if going to sustain in the long run ? It has also given me the chance to use my creativity to think of a business model for ready made packaging – this industry is growing at 40% per annum and is soon going to be a 14,000 crore industry. Today we are doing a turnover of approx 10 crore --- that means we are 0.07% of the market share. OMG. I feel like a little fish in a big pond all of a sudden.

Here is what I came across – these are Soap Packaging Designs ... Images are Via – Lovely Packaging website. They are done by artist Charles S Anderson Design for French Paper Pop-Ink Soap. I would love to buy these off the rack and not throw it’s packaging for many many years... !!! It’s a collectible.

The Experimental Cook

I’d like to be a great cook someday. FOOD binds everyone together. In happiness and in bad times. This weekend we had my mother’s side of the family come over. I finally decided to try the Spinach and Ricotta Cheese tarts that I had been planning on making since my return from my big trip. For starters, I couldn’t find a half decent recipe of making the tart dough without eggs. So I landed up buying ready-made tart shells. What a Bummer ! Life becomes simpler – but the sense of achievement at the end of making it was also reduced by half.

Next on the mind was Ricotta Cheese. At Rs 300 for a measly cube of cheese, by the time I could decide whether or not to buy, some woman scooped up the last remaining cube on the shelf. I thought I’d lost the battle there. Then decided nothing can stop me.. ( Also I didn’t want my mother to scream at me for having bought the tart shells and not knowing what to do with it. ) So I did what every Indian woman does – make do with whatever ingredients they have in their hand – and cook up something entirely different than what they had originally planned.

This is one reason any standard recipe tastes different in different houses ! So, I ended up with half of my favorite ingredients. The end result was good… a bit too garlicky for my taste. But it was too late to alter the recipe – the first of the guests had already ting tonged. Mine was the first starter to be dished out. Thankfully ! DHWANI DOSHI, my elder sister, must I mention an effortless cook had cooked tasty tandoori paneer. At least the guests forgot all about my tarts by the time they gorged on the lip smacking paneer chunks ! I have to learn a lot about Cooking and Food Decoration from my sister.

p.s. – The picture is what the tart was supposed to look like ; )