Categories
At the cinema Cinema

Movie Review: Gladiator II

Taking opportunity that I have an excellent cinema theater 15 minutes walking from my place, with affordable prices and always empty seats (sadly people hardly go to the movies anymore) I spontaneously decided 1 hour before the show started to buy a ticket for Gladiator II, the must awaited return for director Ridley Scott to the blockbuster from year 2000.

As many other people, I love the original Gladiator movie. From the amazing initial sequence of the battle, its cinematography, the outstading and powerful performance of Russell Crowe, the dialogues, the unforgettable duels in the arena… so many moments to be remembered in cinema history.

So Gladiator II had a very high bar to reach if wanted to be close to the quality of its sequel. Did it succeed? Well…sadly no.

Let’s start with the positives, as not everything is negative here: the initial naval attack battle has some outstanding photography and it really kicks to a promising start of the movie, and Pedro Pascal‘s performance as Marcus Acacius is pretty strong (as almost everything this actor does in the last years). And I was also happy to see Lior Raz, an actor that I really love from the series “Fauda” casted pretty nicely as Viggo, the ruthless trainer of the slave gladiators.

Also some winks to the original movie here and there will cast you a smile.That’s about it about the good.

For the non so good part, the script and history feels like put together in a night of heavy drugs involved, same as most of the battles scenes in the arena and Coliseum (crazy monkeys, rhinos that act like trained warhorses, sharks with a higher IQ than most of your co-workers invading a flooded Coliseum (yes, the Romans did naval battles in the arenas, but I never hears of a highly superior intelligent race of sharks inhabiting there…). It just feels ridiculous most of the times, instead of epic, and the cuts between the scenes feel sometimes like an intern was the one putting the cuts together.

About the rest of the cast, Paul Mescal as Lucius does just not feel right to the role, he is not charismatic, powerful or likable, even when you try to. Even Denzel Washington, one of my favorite actors in Hollywood, feels hateful in his histrionic performance of Macrinus.

So, if you are really a hardcore Gladiator fan, well, you can give it a shot and be disappointed. If not, better skip this one. The 250 million of production cost were really not well used here.

Rating: 1.5/5

Movie review: We Live in Time
Categories
Articles Misc

Finland Ranks 2nd Globally for Winter Depression Risk

Healthnews has released an extensive study that ranks 194 countries based on their winter-pattern Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD) risk.

SAD begins in late autumn and continues through winter. Google Trends data from the past decade show that searches for “SAD” peak globally each November, highlighting significant public interest and the optimal timing for articles on this topic.

Trustworthy Authors and Rigorous Methodology

Our report — prepared by a specialist with a life sciences background and peer-reviewed by a psychology expert from our internal research team — uses carefully selected metrics based on reliable medical and scientific sources (encompassing all known risk factors), resulting in findings that are closer to reality compared to similar reports.

Finland Ranks 2nd Globally for SAD Risk

Finland, ranked second, has a SAD risk index score of 69.3.

With a latitude rank of third in the world, Finland is quite far from the equator, contributing to its exposure to seasonal light variations.

Finland is among the top 50 countries for the prevalence of depressive disorders and bipolar disorder.

According to Google Trends analysis, over the past five years, it has ranked 15th in Google search volume for the term “SAD. “

The Full Report is Available Here: 

https://healthnews.com/reports/a-global-map-of-winter-depression-2024-index-reveals-top-risk-nations

Interactive Tools and Visuals for Further Exploration

Healthnews offers an interactive global map and country-specific data tables to help readers explore the study’s insights.

Feel free to use any of the visuals available in the report. Please contact us if you require assistance embedding our interactive map into your website. We will be happy to help.

Categories
Art Exhibitions

“Antonio López y los maestros del Realismo español” Exhibition Opened at 798·751 Community

On November 6, 2024, as part of the “Beijing Design Week Guest City” program, the art exhibition “Antonio López y los Maestros del Realismo Español” officially opened at Train Street in the 798·751 Community. This exhibition showcases 45 exquisite works by eight renowned Spanish artists and will be open to the public from November 6 to December 15.

798

The installation view of the exhibition (1)

The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of Spain in China, in collaboration with the Spanish National Tourist Office and Instituto Cervantes. It also benefits from the professional expertise of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional and Estudio de Antonio López y María Moreno, with additional support from Beijing Design Week and 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd.

798

Antonio López, a leading figure in Spanish art history, is often referred to as a “maverick of the Spanish art scene.” Known for his unparalleled ability to bring reality to life on canvas, López’s profound depictions of urban landscapes and portraits have earned him the title of “the greatest living realist painter.” His work bridging traditional techniques with modern contexts. Alongside López, works by seven other contemporary realism masters across various media offering a comprehensive view of Spanish realist art.

798

Guests visiting the exhibition (1)

This exhibition provides Beijing residents with a rare opportunity to experience the exceptional artistry and profound themes of Spanish realist masters up close, fostering deeper insights into Spain’s history, culture, and social realities.

As China’s largest cluster of art and creative industries, 798·751 has long been dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange. The “Antonio López and Spanish Realist Masters” exhibition at Train Street embarks on a new cultural journey, reinforcing 798·751’s reputation as a “Global Art Destination” and deepening the dialogue between Chinese and Spanish artistic spirits.

798

Guests visiting the exhibition (2)

This year, through the “International Art Season,” 798 Culture Technology Co., Ltd. has hosted a variety of international and multicultural events. Leveraging its contemporary art strengths and Chaoyang District’s role as an “international pioneer” and “cultural innovator,” the International Art Season fosters global exchange and cooperation. It also attracts more international cultural and artistic institutions to the community, driving industrial upgrades and further solidifying its global influence.

Categories
At the cinema Cinema Features

Movie review: We Live in Time

Sometimes I still cherish the small pleasure when I have a free evening to spontaneously buy a ticket for the nearest cinema theatre to enjoy a newly released film.

Last week, that urge brought me to see “We Live in Time“, the new romantic drama movie starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, and I spent quite an entertaining 1:45 minutes going through the up and downs in the relation of Almut and Tobias.

Firstly, I have to see that the non linear timeline of events can make the movie a bit difficult to follow at first until you get used to it. The movie jumps back and forth in the timeline of the couple, before they met, when they met, through the adversities, parenthood, arguments, etc. It does not harm the overall picture of the movie, but it is true that sometimes it is harder for the spectator to empathize, or you can purely guess how is gonna be the outcome in the future of a discussion (for example having a child or not) when it was already previously shown that they have a daughter.

The acting of both Garfield and Pugh is very good and you can feel that they have quite a nice chemistry in the film. Truly Garfield can come up sometimes like too nice on the edge of silly, and Pugh’s rebellious side can come up sometimes like a bit hateful, but all in all we are not perfect humans in a not perfect world, and the relation dynamic is plausible. I got myself inmersed both in moments when a tear was escaping my eyes or when you have a good laugh to some bizarre comical situation that they encounter.

One feels that even the 1:45 length is not enough and would have loved if the movie would explore deeper in some branches like the relation of Tobias with his father, Almut with her daughter, her passion for cooking, Tobias’s divorce, etc but all in all, the movie is entertaining, it will touch the hearts of the spectators and the acting is solid, so I would totally recommend it to give it a worthy try!

Rating: 4/5

Movie Review: Gladiator II
Categories
Concerts Music

MONO concert at Bangkok Siam Pic Ganesha Theatre

Mono has become through the years in one of my favorite Japanese bands. I discovered them long time ago in Tartu, Estonia, where I could make an interview with Taka and was able to see their show in a small club sitting at the edge on one side of the stage, one of the most memorable inmersive experience I have had watching a live gig where I could feel almost literally sorrounded by the band itself.

14 years have passed by, and 25 years in total since Mono started their career, therefore this 25th Anniversary Tour. The band certainly has gone far from as I remember them in Estonia carrying their own gear after the gig to the van, being one of the few international bands that dared to visit Tartu for a live show at that time, and this time they were sorrounded by a 12 people orchestra, which makes the concert even more amazing.

It was my first time at Siam Pic-Ganesha theatre, easy to reach by transportation by stopping at Siam BTS, but not so easy to find if you have never been there before, as you need to go to the 7th floor of the Siam Square One mall to find it, and also for a westerner like me, feels odd that you need to waste a few minutes to exchange your qr code purchased ticket for a wristband to access the venue that is 1 floor upper the “lobby” of the theatre.

The theatre is cosy and the acoustics were really good, so I think it was a great choice for this kind of concert. Mono appeared on stage a few minutes delayed, and although the venue was not sold out, there would be probably a 2/3 packed with a mixed audience of foreigners and local Thai fans, plus of course quite many Japanese, as there is a big community living and working in Bangkok.

What can I say about the concert?! It was memorable, with the band performing one after another beautiful songs that were sounding even sharper in company of the orchestra, shining specially in those moments when their music goes in crescendo and they lose control in a beautiful wall sound that makes almost impossible not to move your body in synchronization.

In that sense I was actually surprised that the public was really quiet on their seats, I would really have preferred a standing up venue where I could dance to the music, as for me is awkward to see a rock show sitting… but still, memorable music.

As a nice bonus, when the show ended and I had purchased a CD from merchandising section, I got the surprise that the band was gonna sit out for a few minutes to sign the albums of the fans, so this was a chance I could not let go, and I got my CD signed as well.

A very unique special band with a very unique special music. I wish that Bangkok could count with more rock and metal live shows through the year, as the scene here seems to be filled almost entirely of electronic/rap/hip hop music, but at least yesterday, it was a nice day to see amazing live music performed!

Mono Setlist:

Oath
Run On
Reflection
Hear the Wind Sing
Hourglass
Moonlight Drawing
Holy Winter
We All Shine On
Time Goes By
Ashes in the Snow
Everlasting Light

Interview with Taka from the Japanese band MONO

Categories
Videogames

Ps4 hidden gem: Horizon Chase Turbo

It was quite a long time that I had not played a driving game, as lately I was more focused on Beat ’em up, Shoot ’em up or “Metroidvainia” kind of games, but oh boy! Horizon Chase Turbo has got me hooked for hours to my ps4 in the last weeks!

Developed by the Brasilian studio Aquiris, the game has a very lovely retro art style that will remind you inmediately of some famous mega classic games like the Outrun saga.

The mechanics of playing offer also some reminiscence to Outrun in the way the car drifts through the curves, the dialog boxes, etc. Being more on the side of arcade games than of a real simulation, which is fine by me, as I am a kind of player that, when playing driving games, I do not want to touch the brake button so much and just decide when to accelerate or skip the acceleration for a few seconds in a difficult curve.

The game is super addictive from start, and offers several game modes like Campaigns, Adventures, Tournaments and Endurance, but I miss some online mode to compete with other players around the world (even though I am not a great online multiplayer myself).

The soundtrack is a delight and fits perfectly with the circuits, I have some songs stuck in my head now for days, and the visual art, though is not super flashy, embeds itself perfectly in the different tracks and circuits, being beautiful but not intrusive.

Is Horizon Chase Turbo a perfect game? Far from it. The AI and balance of the rival cars sometimes plays funny, with cars accelerating too much without sense or flipping over magically or creating too much of a bottleneck on your path in certain areas. Some stages in the World Tour are almost impossible to win with a normal advancing level and you will need to return with a better unlocked car to win them over, and probably the rookie Campaign should have appear unlocked from start, cause once you play the normal campaign, it loses the appeal.

But all in all, although not being a technically flawless game and having a few bugs and design improvements that could benefit from, it is still one of the funniest and most addictive games that I have played in the last years. Sometimes I lost count of the hours I played inmersed in repeating a race again and again until winning, or thinking “ok just one more race” but playing 2 more hours instead. It is a simple but beautiful and catchy games, and I fully recommend it to you if you like driving games with a retro arcade touch.

Categories
Antonio's blog Blogs Outside Finland Travel

The most exclusive Starbucks cafe in Bangkok with the best views

Bangkok, like any other big major cities in the world, does not lack of all kind of amazing, great and cosy cafes. You can find them all over the city in a huge variety of sizes, styles, decoration, drinks and food offer, terraces or indoors, more or less picturesque for those Instagram posts that young ladies seem to be addicted to, etc.

Of course among that variety, Starbucks chain is also present in the Thai capital (and not, this is not any sponsored post, I am writing it as a traveller’s tip cause I want to, but if anybody from Starbucks marketing is reading, I am listening for collaborations :) ).

What some of you might or might not know (I did not know until recently) is that apart from the normal Starbuck cafes that the chain spread wide all over the world, there are a few special branded Starbucks “Reserve” cafes that offer some special blends for the really coffee addicted and connoseiurs.

Although is not a roastery one, the Starbucks on the 7th floor of Iconsiam, one of the most visited and breathtaking malls in Bangkok (there is even a small artificial waterfall, similar to what you can see inside Singapore airport, inside), counts not only with the normal array of offer you can find in Starbucks, but also with the Reserve rounded section where you are able to taste some assorted selected blends from all over the world (and I think that bar section sells even alcoholic beverages, which is also you do not see in your normal Starbucks).

But apart from the drinks and food selection that you can get there, the highlight of visiting that Starbucks is that counts with an outdoors terrace space with a breathtaking view of Bangkok’s river and skyline. Bear in mind that tourists will not stop lingering around taking photos, so if what you want is a more relaxed sitting space to chat or read a book, maybe the indoors area is more for you, counting with 2 floors that accomodate clients.

Give a try to the place if you are a coffee lover or you just want to admire some amazing views of the city while losing yourself inside the huge Iconsiam mall on a shopping spree! A must see if you visit that side of the river in Bangkok!

Other great cafes in Bangkok:

A charming hidden gem cafe in Thonglor: Herringbone at Volve Hotel
New amazing cafe for lovers of sports cars opens in Bangkok Thonglor: Curvistan Bangkok
Categories
Outside Finland Travel

One of the most beautiful Mosque in South East Asia: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Masjid Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur is an exciting destination if you happen to be in South East Asia. One of the most multicultural environments you can find, where Arabic, African, Chinese, Western and Malay cultures interconnect.

Apart from its amazing malls and gastronomy, Kuala Lumpur also offers a rich cultural offer for those eager to discover it. This time we went to the outskirts of the city to visit the impressive Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Masjid mosque, which undoubtedly can be named as one of the most beautiful ones that you can find in SEA region.

The mosque is the main state mosque in Selangor and to reach it you will have to travel by car around 50 minutes – 1 hour outside of the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Luckily in the Malaysian city, services like Grab taxi work like a charm, and pretty unexpensive. A trip to the mosque and back to the city centre would cost you around 50-55 ringgit total, so around 10-12 euro. Not bad for one hour trip to go and 1 hour to return, right?

The mosque closes at 12:00 am and reopens at 14:00, so be mindful not to arrive there during lunch time, or you will have to wait for quite a bit.

Once you arrive, please remove inmediately your shoes or the ladies in the info desk will not be happy that you are stepping with shoes on. Visiting alone by yourselves is not allowed, but after a bit of waiting at the front of the building, a guide will appear and kindly will give you a free tour around the facilities.

Also be aware that being a Muslim religious site, you must wear correct attire. For men it is recommended to wear long trousers and for ladies clothes covering the legs and the shoulders, but do not worry if you did not prepare for it, cause before starting the tour, the guide will also provide appropiated clothes to cover to those that need to.

I found the visit pretty pleasant, as the guide was cheerful, funny and intelligent to explain about the building (the biggest mosque in Malaysia and the 4 minarets are some of the highest in this kind of construnction in the world). Visiting with just the guided tour means that the place was pretty empty, and you are given a lot of time and freedom to take all the pictures and videos that you wish. There is also a nice explanation of the help and services given to the local community, and you can also take some funny memory pictures in the wedding room at the basement of the building.

All in all, if you have half a day free in Kuala Lumpur, I would totally recommend visiting the mosque. Just the view from outside is breathtaking, and inside as you can appreciate in the pictures, it is a delight of architecture to be contemplated. The building was finished in 1989, so it is still very well preserved.

Discover other amazing hidden gems to explore in Asia:

Bangkok Hidden Gem: Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Bangkok hidden gem: Batcat Museum & Toys
Categories
Articles Misc Outside Finland Travel

A charming hidden gem cafe in Thonglor: Herringbone at Volve Hotel

Thonglor is one of the upscale districts in Bangkok and one of the most vibrant ones in terms of amazing cocktail bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cafes.

However, it is not so easy to find around a cafe that counts with an outdoors terrace and offers high quality service, food and drinks.

Herringbone cafe, located at the basement of Volve boutique hotel, has been for the last years my favorite place to sit down for brunch, lunch or coffee. A total hidden gem, easy to reach just 5 minutes walking from BTS Thonglor station.

The service is great, fast and friendly and they can speak English. The coffee is tasty and the array of food is great for a fantastic brunch, with a mix offer of Western and Asian cuisines. In addition to that, the small outdoors area is very cozy and fresh with the fans that ventilate the area, and it is one of the few places left in Bangkok where smoking at the terrace is totally allowed.

Try as some highlights in the menu the amazing chocolate panacotta, the Vietnamese sandwich Bahn Mi or the Eggs Benedict. Totally yummy!

Apart from the outdoor area, you also have a comfortable, stylist and spacious indoors area in the cafe, which is also suitable for digital nomads to work, as counts with tables with electricity sockets incorporated.

Although the price is not cheap for Bangkok (most of Thonglor cafes and restaurants are more on the higher tier of prices in Bangkok), it is totally fair for the quality received, nonetheless it has become a very popular spot for young Thai local females to go there and do endless sessions of pics and selfies for their social media.

Herringbone official site: https://www.herringbonebkk.com/

Discover other hidden gems cafes in Bangkok:

A very nice new artsy cafe in Bangkok: Just a Garden
New amazing cafe for lovers of sports cars opens in Bangkok Thonglor: Curvistan Bangkok
Categories
Videogames

PR: Annual Revenue from Esports Betting Set to Reach $2.5 Billion in 2024

The rise in the popularity of Esports has also led to an increase in betting on its events. The esports betting market might still be in its nascent stage, but it is growing at an impressive rate. According to the numbers presented by NoKyc.com, the esports betting market is set to generate $2.5 billion in revenue in 2024.

Revenue from esports betting has grown more than four-fold in six years

Esports betting is a relatively new segment in the betting market, but it has already carved out a significant market share. All prominent betting companies currently offer betting on esports events. And as the popularity of esports continues to grow, as the number of esports every year grows, one can expect the same for the market size of esports betting.

As per the latest data from Statista Market Insights, the esports betting market is set to generate around $2.5 billion in 2024. An annual revenue of $2.5 billion would represent a healthy growth of $0.4 billion from $2.1 billion generated in 2023. Thus, on a year-on-year basis, the esports betting market is expected to grow by more than 19%.

If we go further back in time, the annual revenue from esports betting stood at just $0.6 billion in 2018. The growth of annual revenue from $0.6 billion in 2018 to $2.5 billion in 2024 means that the market has grown by more than 4x in the space of six years, which is an impressive growth rate for any market. However, as per the estimates from the report, the growth in esports betting is expected to plateau a bit in the coming years.

The market is expected to grow by another 12% to $2.8 billion in 2025. Over the course of the next four years, from 2025 to 2029, the esports betting market size is expected to grow to $3.5 billion.

As things stand, the United States represent the biggest market for the esports betting industry, followed by countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, and Japan.

You can find the original story with graphs and statistics here: 

https://nokyc.com/blog/revenue-from-esports-betting-set-to-reach-2-5-billion-in-2024/

Categories
Articles Misc Outside Finland Travel

New amazing cafe for lovers of sports cars opens in Bangkok Thonglor: Curvistan Bangkok

Thonglor is my neighborhood in Bangkok, and not being objective as I live in the area, it is one of the nicest area in Bangkok. Perfectly located and with an amazing array of cafes, cocktail bars, restaurants and excellent location to move around the city. (not cheap for Bangkok, that is the downside).

As a lover of new cafes, I was excites when I heard that a few minutes away from home, just close to the BTS exit of Thonglor station, a new amazing space just opened: Curvistan. So there I was headed to experience it in first person.

The cafe is not just a normal cafe. It is a huge area with a building and open sorrounding garden and parking that has been developed in collaboration with Porsche and the magazine Curves.

The design is therefore top notch modern, and obviously it is not lacking amazing Porsche cars, art and memorabilia related to the historical German cars brand.

Inside the building on the first floor there is a cozy and artsy cafe area with delighting drinks and food, but if you walk around to the exterior back patio, what you will find is a kind of open space sports car exhibition area, where you can find not only Porsche, but some other beautiful and exclusive cars that their owners display for the delight of the visitors there.

A secondary small open patio serves as smoking area and it is decorated with the hugest Porsche wheel you will probably ever see in your life, plus some amazing wall art specially designed for the cafe.

This is not everything. If you take the elevator to the second area, there is a very nice chilling space with more art to contemplate while you can lay down lazily in some fatboys, and some private business room that I guess can be rented for private company events and presentations in the future.

The building counts even with a 3rd floor, but when I took a peak, that was under construction, so I imagine that soon some nice space in a form of cool rooftop will be added to the venue when the works are complete.

This is one of the most interesting and beautiful cafes you will be able to visit in Bangkok. And if you are a fan of fast cars, surely is a must see in the Thai capital! It is also super easy to find, as it is right outside Thonglor BTS exit, so you can also go very comfortably in public transport there.

Curvistan Bangkok website: https://www.instagram.com/curvistanbangkok/

More amazing cafes in Bangkok:

A very nice new artsy cafe in Bangkok: Just a Garden
A Bangkok hidden gem: The Artist’s House
A great cafe in Bangkok: Adamus Cafe by the River
Categories
Art Exhibitions Outside Finland Travel

A Bangkok hidden gem: Bangkok Dolls Museum

In the era where almost all the information is accessible in Internet in posts like this one, it is really difficult to consider a place a real “hidden gem” in a touristic city, overall if that city is Bangkok, with the huge influx of visitors, social media gurus, tourists etc that receives in yearly basics.

However, I bet you a coffee that probably you have never visited Bangkok Dolls Museum. Pretty much cause its location is not so easy to reach (I had to walk around 30 minutes from Victory Monument BTS and got a bit lost before finding its correct street, but during my path I found another small and great hidden gem park “Suan Santi Phap” that might be worthy of a separated own post). And also because their visiting hours are pretty restricted, as it opens just on Saturday mornings until 3:00pm.

Once I arrived to the house, because the museum itself is pretty much based on a couple of big rooms on the ground floor of a beautiful gated villa house, I was not even sure if the place was open. But the owner kindly opened the gates for me, and not only that, but as I was the only visitor, I had the chance to have a small private tour while he explained a bit about the history of the place.

I can say that this is one of the most charming and authentic “museums” that I have ever visited in my life. It is not big and can be visited in a few minutes, it is a bit dusty and some sections are chaotic, but it just exhales Thai tradition all over.

The museum was founded in 1956 by Tongkorn Chandavimol, a lady who became a famous doll maker after studying in Japan, even winning the International Folklore Dolls competition in Krakow (Poland). His son, a friendly a charming elder, keeps the tradition of the handmade dolls making and the place running and open to the big public every Saturday honoring the legacy of his mother. He proudly showed me the trophy that the city of Krakow gifted her as a guest as well as the prize for the competition winning.


The family’s love for traditional folklore dolls can be seen at the museum, cause apart from very beautiful displays of Thai dolls, there is also a section with pieces collected or gifted to the family from other different regions of the world, such as Russia, Spain, Finland, etc.


There is a chance also of buying some of the original dolls from the family there at the museum. These dolls were so renamed years ago that even the Royal Thai Family gifted them to foreign dignitaries when they had some official trips abroad. So although they can be a little bit more pricey than what you can find in some night market, I think that they represent a special unique souvenir to bring or gift to a loved one from Thailand, as these dolls are a part of Thai art’s history.

Bangkok Dolls Museum address:  ติดร้าน7-11 และคอนโด K J S 85 ซอยหมอเหล็ง ซอยรัชฏภัณฑ์ Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400

Discover more Bangkok hidden gems:

A Bangkok Hidden Gem: Nai Lert Park Heritage Home
Bangkok hidden gem: Batcat Museum & Toys


Categories
Art Exhibitions Outside Finland Travel

A very nice new artsy cafe in Bangkok: Just a Garden

Bangkok does not lack of great cafes scattered all over the city, with a great variety of flavors, decoration, food options and thematics. However, finding a cosy cafe with super friendly staff, open terrace space and that makes you feel like resting in an oasis in the middle of the chaotic city is a little bit more complicated.

In our endless hunt to explore the hidden gems that Bangkok has to offer, our path led to a recently new open cafe in Sathorn area: Just a Garden.

Mind that the place is a bit difficult to find, as it is located in a beautiful townhouse style area in a narrow street, and a good 20-25 minutes walk from the nearest bts/metro stations. But once I found it, it became instantly at first sight one of my favorite spot in the city!

As said, Just a Garden is a cafe with a big open garden style space around the building, which makes it perfect for people like me who likes sitting outside, enduring the humid heat, but having the pleasure of a smoke while reading a book or chatting with a friend. The interior walls are decorated with really nice graffiti from some artists from the Thai community.

The “artsy” feeling is also found inside the cafe building itself, as it really gives you a chilling vibe all around. You can sit comfortably in some sofa and choose a book to read downstairs while you order a drink, or you can even head to the 2nd floor, that has an amazing atmosphere to relax or even do some remote nomad work, sorrounded by cool paintings.

I had the chance to chat a bit with the owner, a very nice guy half Thai/German and his partner, and they transmitted me their desire to create this chill space where people could feel comfortable and escape from the city. They also seem to organize different workshops and events there, so it is not only a nice cafe but also a small cultural hotspot.

If all what I said before still did not convince you to give it a try, I must say in full honesty that the ice caramel latte that I ordered was one of the most delicious one that I tasted in Bangkok, and this is coming from a Spaniard for whom coffee is almost a religion! :) Fantastic, I hope other beverages in their menu are as tasty as that one I tried!

I will definitely go back to Just a Garden, as it is a place that has everything I dream of when I want to relax in a cafe: friendly staff, chilled vibe, amazing outdoor and indoor space and a cultural vibe.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention 2 more important details: first is that their opening hours are really friendly, as they open most days until 8, 9 or 10pm, opposite to other cafes in Bangkok that are closing around 5 or 6 pm, and secondly is that they also sell craft beers! So you can decide to use the place as a chilled place for caffeine or tea, or as a more social spot where to enjoy some quality beers with friends.

Cafe address: 68 Chan 28, Thung Wat Don, Sathon, Bangkok 10120

You can follow the activities and menu offered in Just a Garden at their official website: https://www.justagarden.com/

For other amazing cafes and hidden gems in Bangkok, please check:

A Bangkok hidden gem: The Artist’s House
A great cafe in Bangkok: Adamus Cafe by the River
Categories
Outside Finland Travel

A Bangkok Hidden Gem: Nai Lert Park Heritage Home

If you have visited or lived in Bangkok for a while, you probably have stopped around Central Embassy mall area, a very busy location in the heart of the Thai capital with easy access to some of the best malls and excellent food choices.

But for many, me included until now, it could escape that just a short walk away there is literally an oasis waiting for you to be discovered in the middle of the jungle of concrete that Bangkok can be: Nai Lert Park Heritage Home.

The location is really a hidden gem in the capital, as it is very near from Phloen Chit BTS station, but its access is somehow not so visible unless you specifically look for the place.


What you will find is a very beautiful green park area, taken excellent care of by gardeners and staff, with very cosy cafes and restaurants at its edge to enjoy a relaxed brunch. The park itself is home to the cottage huge house style of the Lert Park Family and the gift to the city inherited from Lert Park, a successful Thai businessman who owned this land area, where you can see publicly displayed some of the pieces of the family collection, such as a beautiful classic Fiat car or some leisure boats docked by the artificial lake around the villa.

In front of the dock where the boats are anchored, there is a tiny but very cosy cafe with a fantastic terrace that offers some traditional coffee (I tried the black coffee with egg, similar to what you can taste in neighboring Vietnam) and food, that has become instantly one of my favorite spots in the city if you want to seat to chill reading a book.


The Home-Museum offers guided tours, but when I visited it, I did not know that you cannot buy the ticket on the spot and you need to book beforehand in their website or by phone, but maybe some other day I will venture to do it, as the price is quite affordable.


In addition, on one side of the park, you can also contemplate a really curious scene as in front of your eyes they will appear huge carved figures shaped like a penis. Yes, you heard right. The shrine displays a wide array of penises figures in different shapes. As this park is also the new location (before it was located nearby in other spot) for the Chao Mae Tuptim Shrine, a very special shrine to honor fertility and the female spirit.


So next time you are around Central Embassy mall area, walk a few minutes and give it a try to spend a few minutes wandering around this park, I can assure you that you will be delighted by the peace, beauty and delicious culinary tastes to make a small break from the big city, still being at the hart of the city.

Nai Lert official website to book tickets for a guided tour: https://nailertgroup.com/th

Other hidden gems in Bangkok:

A Bangkok hidden gem: The Artist’s House
Bangkok Hidden Gem: Royal Thai Air Force Museum
Bangkok hidden gem: Batcat Museum & Toys
Categories
Art Features Outside Finland Travel

A Bangkok hidden gem: The Artist’s House

Maybe not so hidden gem after all, as the location receives a relatively fair amount of tourists and visitors, specially at weekends, but still located off the beaten track in Bangkok, you can find the picturesque Artist’s House located inside Bang Chak Temple Community area, a place that can also be visited in some of the Bangkok channel water tours that are offered in any tourist agency.

The Artist’s House is an old style wooden house reconverted into a cafe and cultural area, and its original decoration plus the beautiful views close to the water channel and some beautiful temples make it a desired destination to run away from other more busy parts of Bangkok and expect a few hours taking some beautiful pics and walking on parallel to the channel.

During my visit, I could see how some courses for painting and for handicraft are performed, so it is a good place to awake your artsy side. You can also buy some handicrafts souvenirs, and taste some delicious coffee while sitting close to some quaint sculpture. The cafe also counts with a second floor where paintings from local artists are displayed, and that also counts with a workshop area. If you get hungry during your visit there are some places around the cafe selling typical Thai food.

To reach the place is not easy so maybe a taxi or bike taxi ride can help. But it is also possible to go with public transportation if you go to metro stop Bang Phai in the metro blue line (it will take you around 30 minutes from Sukhumvit/Asoke station) and then walk along some narrow streets for around 15 minutes. Remember if the weather is very hot to do some stops to buy water as you could feel easily dehydrated with the humid heat of the Thai capital.

If you are planning to have a long stay in Bangkok or you live here, I fully recommend to go to explore this place one day. It is original, it is beautiful and it is also a delight for taking cute pics for your social media.

Artist’s House FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/BaanSilapin/

Other amazing places in Bangkok:

A great cafe in Bangkok: Adamus Cafe by the River
Bangkok hidden gem: Batcat Museum & Toys
10 Great tips for a date in Bangkok