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!
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:
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
798 Art District and 751 D·Park, two of Beijing’s most iconic cultural industry parks, have announced their merger, a move set to enhance the city’s cultural landscape. This merger will provide larger venues for cultural events, enabling visitors to move seamlessly between the two parks without barriers. The “Summer Rhythm” event in August was directly benefited from this collaboration, highlighting the advantages of the merger by bringing together art institutions and commercial entities in both parks to boost the local nightlife scene.
“Summer Rhythm” Event Poster
Tracing back to June 25, 2024, when Beijing Electronics Holdings Co., Ltd. hosted an inaugural meeting to launch the Culture and Technology Platform in Beijing, plans were unveiled to merge the spaces, brands, and resources of 798 and 751, with the aim of creating a world-leading platform that integrates culture and technology. This initiative seeks to harness technological innovation to fuel cultural creativity and drive urban growth through cultural development.
Over more than two decades, the 798 Art District has emerged as a hub for contemporary art in China, while 751 D·Park has set a benchmark in fashion design. Despite their shared industrial heritage, each park has developed distinct cultural characteristics.
798 Art District on weekend
The newly merged parks will form the largest art and creative industry cluster in China, spanning over 500,000 square meters and hosting more than 600 entities. These include a diverse range of industries such as visual art, design, music, film and theater, media, technology, fashion, automobiles, architecture, and culinary arts. Following the merger, the 798-751 complex will further enhance its infrastructure to enrich Beijing’s public cultural activities.
Drama Summer – Beijing Drama Carnival Event Scene
Like the “Summer Rhythm”, a series of events including the 798 International Art Season, Drama Summer – Beijing Drama Carnival, 798 Art Festival, and the 751 Tech-Culture Festival will be held in the second half of 2024 with the doubled power. In the near future, multiple events in 798-751 will dramatically boost cultural consumption, inject innovative energy into the cultural industry, and establish the area as a cultural tourism destination in Beijing, recognized for its “International Vision, Art Leadership, Fashion Consumption, and Industrial Heritage.”
Bangkok is not lacking in quantity and quality of amazing cosy cafes, although in the concrete jungle that the Thai megalopolis is, sometimes might be a bit difficult to find the combination of a beautiful cafe that gives you a peaceful and relaxed view and environment.
In our continuous exploration to find the best hidden gems of the Thai capital, we came across Adamus Cafe by the River. A beautiful cafe where you can sit outside just on the shoreline of Chao Phraya River, but hide from the buzz of noise and people of the city.
Mind that the cafe is not easy to find, as it is a little far from the city centre. If you choose to go there by public transport, you will have to take the Metro Blue Line to Bang Phlat (around 40 minutes ride from Asoke/Sukhumvit station) and then walk for another 10/15 minutes.
The entrance when you reach nearby is also not so easy to spot. Your best reference is the big Lotus supermarket. Cross the ground floor and go to the backside where a huge parking space is. Once there, continue walking opposite direction from the supermarket to the river. At the bottom of the parking area, you will see the entrance to the cafe.
Once you have completed this small “treasure hunt”, you will be rewarded with a cafe that owns some of the nicest views from the terrace from all Bangkok. The river on one side and a very cute small garden/terrace. If the weather is too hot, you can of course shelter yourself inside the cafe building.
The food options are nice but bear in mind that they only serve “Halal” food. I tried some Indian cuisine with Samosa and a curry plate, and a caramel ice latte. Honestly, I was expecting the food to be a bit more tasty. I think it can be considered average, but nothing super yummy. When you go there, you mainly pay for the location and view. Still worthy.
At the entrance of the cafe you will also find some amazing cute details: a foosball table if you are up for a quick match and a zone that resembles a vintage garage, with some vintage Mercedes cars and motorbikes. All very picturesque and “instagrammable”, both the entrance and the river side of the cafe.
Bangkok has an almost amount of attractions for all kind of users: from amazing bars and rooftops to some of the most beautiful temples in the world. Many of these places are easily found in any tourist guide or internet article about the amazing capital of Thailand. But other gems seem pretty unknown to many of the citizens and tourists of the city. We therefore present you with a new awesome place found during our exploration around, the surprising Royal thai Air Force Museum!
6 Powerful Reasons to visit the Royal Thai Air Force Museum:
It is very easy to reach by public transportation, as it is located right few meters away from its homonymous stop in BTS Green Line “Royal Thai Air Force Museum”. So you do not need any expensive taxi or Grab ride to reach there, and you cannot mistake the BTS stop name at all
Entrance is FREE! Yes, you do not need to pay a single baht to visit it, just walk in alone or with family or friends, and enjoy a couple of hours of entertainment walking around
You can visit both extensive indoors and outdoors areas. The collection of flying machines, copters and planes is quite stunning. Inside the building there are very nice displays of some classic Thai and foreign carriers, but also outside the main building you will find a lot of more planes and helicopters, and even some secondary buildings/hangars where the exhibitions continue. The area of the museum is quite stunning, so it makes it even more incredible that is totally free. And if it rains, you can always find shelter inside the main building area.
You can even enter inside some of the airplanes and big helicopters exhibited there to have a complete real feeling of how the controls and the interiors area.
It is a great place to bring your kids to explore around, and also for those who love planes in general or are fans of military memorabilia. And it is relatively quiet as not many visitors go to this place, so you can enjoy the place and walk around without bumping or being obstructed by other visitors.
Outside the main building there is also a souvenir shop where you can find a lot of interesting stuff for sale: from toys, planes figures on scale or military badges, medals and memorabilia. Quite a curious place if you want to buy a souvenir a bit more original than the typical elephant trousers :)
Bangkok has an almost endless array of amazing places to visit, as the big megalopolis that it is. But for the long term visitor or the resident of the Thai city, as it happens in any other city in the world, when you have lived here for long time and have already shown a few times the Royal Place, the reclined Buddha, the most famous night markets… you start to feel the hunger for discovering those “hidden gems” off the beaten track.
One of these places that most visitors never visit is Sam Sen Nai Philatelic Museum. And there I was headed on a free day, driven both by my hunger to discover new places and also, why not to say, by my hunger as a collector, as I do not collect stamps per se, but I have collected since I was a child coins and notes from all over the world
The place has a lot of positive things to make it a small hidden gem in the capital:
First of all, its location is really convenient, as it is just opposite to Saphan Khwai BTS stations, a very short walk away. Just mind that you will have to go inside the postal complex, and that there are no clear signs to guide you in English (mostly written in Thai around), so remember that it is on the 2nd floor, and do not do like me, who went to the upper floor by the upstairs and I had to catch my breath on my way back to the right floor :)
The second great thing is that the small museum is totally FREE. No entrance fee, so you just can happily walk in. And another good thing for you is that not being so popular, is quiet and you have all the space to explore with total tranquility.
The exhibition per se can be seen really quick, but I think that the best charm the museum has is its stamp collection per se, that is divided per continents and countries in sliding shells. You can really get lost watching the amount of beautiful stamps with different motives, from animals to popular artists, from all over the world. And of course the shining part of the collection is the area dedicated to the Thai stamps themselves.
One final great feature that the museum has is that you can buy some local Thai stamps for a bargain price, plus the ladies at the cashier were really super friendly and happy to help (probably they are bored with the lack of visitors and they appreciate anybody who decides to pass by). So if you are a stamp collector, or you just want to buy some small and light local gift for a friend, this is also a great opportunity to purchase some beautiful Thai stamps. I bought a few, among them some that were portraying the local beautiful Siamese fighter fish, for 1.5 euro total.
If you are a philatelic enthusiasms, if you are running out of ideas about what to visit next in Bangkok, or if you just happen to be around Saphan Khwai BTS area with some free time, go and give it a try. Meanwhile we will continue on the hunt of more Bangkok hidden gems for the delight of the audience!
Jos olet kaukokohteitten ystävä, olet varmaan jo tutustunut johonkin Australian kaupunkiin. Sen eteläisin osavaltio Tasmania on kuitenkin suurimmalle osalle Pohjoismaitten matkailijoista täysin tuntematon saari. Lähinnä maataloudella elävä Tasmania omaakin australialaisten eli aussien keskuudessa lempinimet omena-osavaltio tai Australian takapiha. Totta toinen puoli, sillä omenoita kasvatetaan joka lähtöön ja valtaisan mannermaan rinnalla Tasmania vaikuttaa pikkuruiselta
Tasmania on kuitenkin luontoa rakastavalle todellinen aarreaitta. Peräti 40 % saaresta on kansallispuistoaluetta ja noin 25 % UNESCON maailmanperintökohteitten listalla! Muutakin antia on toki tarjolla vaatimattoman kokoisten kaupunkien sylissä, ja brittien muinoin Tasmaniaan perustamien rangaistusvankiloitten museoalueet kertovat karua todellisuutta menneisyydestä. Ja tietysti casino kulkee aina taskussasi ajankuluna!
Näin pääset Australian mannermaalta Tasmaniaan
Tasmanian uskomattomaan vehreyteen pääset vain mannermaan kautta. Mikään ulkomaalainen lentoyhtiö ei omaa suoria lentoja. Vaikkei välimatka mantereelta ole pitkä, varaudu silti suhteellisen kalliisiin lipunhintoihin!
Lentäen: Lentoyhtiöt Qantas, Virgin ja Rex lentävät päivittäin useita kertoja eri puolille Tasmaniaa, Australian suurimmista kaupungeista käsin. Tasmanian suurimmat lentokentät ovat Hobart ja Launceston, mutta myös esimerkiksi Devonportiin ja Burniehin pääsee lentäen. Lentomatkan kesto on Melbournesta Devonportiin on 1,5 tuntia.
Laivalla: Mantereelta pääset Tasmaniaan laivalla vain Melbournen ulkopuolelta, Gelongesta saaren pohjoisosan rantakaupunkiin Devonportiin. Matkan kesto on 9-12 tuntia, riippuen seilaatko päivä- vai iltalaivalla. Autolautat ovat suuria, uusin Spirit of Tasmania on muuten valistettu Suomessa!
Tasmanian kolme ”pakollista” kohdetta
Koko saari on luontofanin temmellyskenttää, jossa riittää seikkailukohteita niin ihmisten ilmoilla kuin kaukana korven kätköissä. Käytä siis tilaisuus hyväksesi, sillä uljaat vuoret ja sademetsät odottavat laidunten ja kukkuloitten lomassa. Seuraavassa kolme kohdetta, joita ei Tasmaniaan saapuvan vierailijan tule jättää väliin:
Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clairin kansallispuisto
Tasmanian suosituin vuori on Cradle Mountain, jonka terävät huiput erottuvat horisontissa jo kaukaa. Maailmanluokan vaellusta ja vuorikiipeilyä arvostavat löytävät vuoren merkityiltä reiteiltä unelmoimansa, mutta osa reiteistä soveltuu mainiosta myös meille ”Meikäläisille”. Ikoninen Dove Lake on jääkauden uurtama ja sen rannalla on tänään upea info- ja vierailukeskus. Vuori on monen muualla tapaamattoman lajin koti ja voit odottaa kohtaavasi myös ihanan nallemaisia ja hitaita wombatteja. Myös Tasmanian paholainen saattaa ilahduttaa sinua. Kannattaa joko vuokrata auto tai osallistua päiväretkelle, toki majoittuminen kansallispuistossa on sekin mahdollista, tosin kallista.
Port Arthurin historiallinen rangaistusvankila
Tasmanian eteläosassa odottaa Port Arthurin alue, joka oli aikoinaan yksi koko Australian kuuluisimmista rangaistusvankiloista. Mahtavat museorakennukset, entiset sellit ja brittien pikkuruiset asumukset huokuvat kauniin meren edelleen rannalla vankien tuskaa ja toivottomuutta. Voit osallistua joko opastettuun kierrokseen alueella tai seikkailla yksin, pyydä siinä tapauksessa itsellesi kartta jo lippua ostaessasi.
Hobart ja sen anti
Tasmanian osavaltion pääkaupunki Hobart on aivan Port Arthurin läheisyydessä, kauniin merenlahden rannalla. Kaupungissa vietät helpolla päivän tai pari, sillä antia on taiteesta ja museoista kasinopelaamiseen ja vuoriseikkailuun. Maineikas kallion sisään rakennettu Mona-taidemuseo yllättää jo arkkitehtuurillaan, sekä ulkoa että sisältä tarkasteltuna. Kyseessä on eteläisen pallonpuoliskon suurin yksityinen museo, jonka perustajan David Walshin kokoelman suuruus vetää vertoja monen valtion kansallismuseolle.
Reilun kilometrin korkuiselle Mount Wellingtonin huipulle kannattaa ajaa ihailemaan joka suuntaan avautuvia uljaita näkymiä. Varaudu kuitenkin hyytävään tuuleen ja talvella jopa lumeen.
Oluen ystävät ilostuvat kierroksesta ja tuopista kuuluisan ja iäkkään Cascade-panimon tiloissa. Vaihtoehtona on katsastaa ja maistaa vaikkapa Hobart Breweryn luomuksia.
Tervetuloa Tasmaniaan!
Australiaan saakka ei mielestämme kannata matkata, jollei sen aikana vieraile myös Tasmanian ihanalla ja hieman uniselta tuntuvalla luontosaarella.
Bangkok has a huge offer to discover for visitors of all tastes: amazing rooftops, wild dive bars, beautiful parks, cosy cafes, some of the most amazing temples in the world and interesting museums.
But it is true that like any other city in the world, once you live here for some years, even when there is almost always a new place to discover, you start to struggle with new locations that can put a “Waw” in your mouth.
Last Saturday I was doing a quick search online to find some hidden gems in the Thai capital that I would have not visited yet, and the Batcat Museum & Toys caught my eye.
Let’s be honest, if you are a person who enjoys taking a million selfies in the terrace of a cafe and have 0 interest in cinema, figures or Japanese manga, probably this place would not be for you. However, as my case it is really the opposite and I love retro video games, Japanese toys and figures, fantasy cinema, manga etc, I thought that I would give this place a shot, as I was a bit surprised that in more than 2 years living in Bangkok I had never heard of it.
The museum is not far from the central Sukhumvit area, but it is not in a main street, but in some alley street in Bang Kapi area, so I recommend as the easiest way just to go by taxi/Grab there, which should not cost you more than 150 bath approx. if you are in Asoke area or its surroundings.
Once I arrived, surprises already start to pop in front of your eyes. Graffitis with manga characters, a Batman car model casually parked in the building garage.. this is promising!
I entered the museum, which pretty much is a kind of 3 store residential building converted into museum, and I get greeted by the owner himself, wearing a cool Batman t-shirt, and his little daughter, wearing a twin Batman t-shirt :) Sweet!
The entrance to the museum costs 200b, and in full honesty, first I thought it was a bit overpriced. My expectation was that I would see the exhibition in just 10/15 minutes. How mistaken I was!
After paying the ticket, the owner led me to the upper floor of the museum and just explained me that I was free to roam around all the floors. I arrived at around 16:00 and the place closes at 17:00, so I went right at it. Funnily and a bit sadly, I was the only visitor at that time there. In that sense it gave me the privilege to chat a bit more here and there with the owner, who kindly explained me that he had dedicated 20 years of his life to gather that collection and that the Batman area was his favorite and most pampered, and the one he had put more effort into! He also kindly showed me some vintage figures of Batman when I asked him what were his favorite items, telling that they could cost around 2 million baht (more than 50 thousand euro).
So… what is there to see in the 3 stores of the museum, you might still be wondering… Well, pretty much fucking everything!!! The collection, comprising more than 60.000 pieces, is just breathtaking. I just hope that the photos that I add to the article make some kind of justice to the place, cause wherever you would look at, something amazing was displayed in front of your eyes: figures from Knights of the Zodiac, Star Wars, Kamen Rider, Marvel, Captain Tsubasa, Lego… the list goes on and on. Big and small, in all kind of shapes and colors, and everything displayed with taste, so even with the huge amount of items there, you could feel like it was easy to walk around every floor.
The Batman last floor, as the owner and director of the museum explained, was already a delight by itself. For a fan of retro-video games as myself, I casually spotted some jewels like the Batman Sunsoft for Megadrive or the Batman 2 for Famicom, among the other hundreds of incredible items.
I am a person who has traveled a bit and has had my share of displays of figures, toys and nerdie stuff. I have been in Japan, I have roamed the Mega Mall in Bangkok Chinatown… but still, this was like a dream I did not want to wake up from. Like getting a free VIP personal pass to Willy Wonka’s factory with all you can eat chocolate. I really could not refrained myself from exclaiming aloud in excitement and disbelief to the amazing stuff displayed there.
So… if you have some minimal interest in vintage toys, Japanese culture and manga, cinema… or if you have kids and they do like any of those things, just visit there! You will not regret my advice. I cannot believe that this place is not more popular and nobody talks about it in Bangkok social media groups. I was surprised, I was shocked and I was delighted that in some random Soi in Bangkok could be gathered such an incredible amount of gems. I have no idea how the owner was able to buy all that collection, which must cost a fortune all together, but I feel proud to have been able to experience a little fairytale during the hours I was roaming the place there, and surely I will bring friends there again.
As a final note, apart from the amazing display in the museum, at the end of the tour the building also has a small shop close to the cafe, where you can buy from a small but cosy selection of well priced figures and toys. I got myself a beautiful Batman Hot Wheels model as a small memorabilia token.
Bangkok, the vibrant and lively capital of Thailand, and probably one of the most touristic destinations in the world.
A paradise megacity of millions of inhabitants that get added to its population many more millions of tourists that pass through its 2 international airports every year. A city that offers entertainment and destinations for people with all kinds of tastes and motivations: from the never-ending party scene to beautiful parks, amazing temples, cozy cafes, and incredible shopping malls.
A city like Bangkok is of course buzzing also with single people wanting to mingle that meet in the streets or with the usual famous dating apps. Once you have established first contact and it is time for the real deal to meet face to face, the question arises: where to go?
Do not worry potential lovebirds, after more than 2 years living in Bangkok, I am here to make your life easier and give you a wide array of choices for a memorable first date that can be considered a success, and that does not necessarily break your wallet too much.
This list is my personal list, and it does not mean that there are hundreds of other great destinations for a memorable first date in Bangkok. But I have personally experienced every single one of the tips in the article, and I hope that can serve somebody as inspiration, not just for a date, but as well for just discovering new places.
Barracuda rooftop Bar
Bangkok is full of amazing rooftop bars, big and small. Some of the most famous ones can be considered some of the most expensive bar destinations you can go in Bangkok, with cocktail prices that had nothing to be ashamed of when comparing to cool European or American bars. Those famous ones tend to be packed and can be quite difficult to find a table or a free reservation in advance. Therefore, I propose you Barracuda rooftop Bar, still with a good location in the center of the city, it is not so popular among visitors. It might not have the most stunning views and the most luxurious decoration, but the building entrance is classy, it tends not to be crowded, it has a nice small swimming pool to chill if you want to bring your swimsuit or bikinis, the prices are not inflated and it gives a charming private vibe to go for a date where you can chat relaxed, get to know, have intimacy all surrounded by a beautiful environment
A destination very popular not just for a date in Bangkok but for any visitor stepping into the Thai capital.
If you are a person who likes discovering places more than a night party animal, this destination can make a wonderful first date. As the biggest street market in Bangkok, the offer of things in display is unbelievable, both in the market itself and in the surrounding malls. It makes a perfect destination for a weekend day where to observe what is offered in terms of handicraft, souvenirs, clothes, exotic animals, furniture…. Surely you will not run out of topics to talk about and get to know better the tastes of your companion when you are exposed to thousands of exotic animals or all kind of vintage and new items. Around the market there are also some small cozy cafes and bars where you can stop to have a bite or a cold drink
A unique restaurant where the main decoration theme all around is… condoms! This sets up the vibe for a first date, right?
The place is totally worthy to see, and the decoration turns to be charming and beautiful in some of the restaurant areas. For sure it will provoke some giggles with your date when you explore around and then you can just enjoy some good food and drinks. Beware that prices are not so cheap compared to other restaurants in the center of Bangkok, as it has become known as a cult place to visit. But well, it is quite unique and certainly an original idea for a first date. Besides, when you end up having dinner, you can take for free some condoms offered in the desks there… so it might be a signal that things are proceeding well in the date and magic is not far from happening…
Bangkok is full of cozy and beautiful cafes with a great selection of beverages for all tastes, but not many offer such a romantic location as Vivi the Coffee Place. With a small patio with a fountain where you can even see turtles swimming and a balcony with a direct frontal view to Wat Arun temple, this place offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a romantic sunset in good company. Besides, it is not on walking distant from other famous sightseeing locations like the Royal Palace Complex or the Flowers Market.
Beware that sometimes can be quite crowded, especially the best balcony seats in front of the river/temple, as it is a very hot “instagramable” spots for the young generations that enjoy taking 1 million selfies in 1 hour
Although visitors tend to comment more about the noisy traffic and selection of bars and massage parlous that the Thai capital offers, Bangkok has a fantastic selection of green areas where you can go for long walks, relax, and observe amazing flora and fauna. Out of the most famous centrally located ones like Lumphini Park or Benjakitti Park, one of my favorite ones that I consider a bit of a hidden gem is King Rama IX Park.
Its location is a bit far from the center, but nothing that cannot be sorted out with a Grab Taxi for less than 300 baht from central Sukhumvit. Also, at the entrance you will have to pay a small 10-baht fee to access the park, but it is totally worthy, believe me.
You will encounter a magnificent green scenery inside, with a lot of interesting areas to explore inside the park: thematic small gardens like Japanese garden or English style garden, a huge lake in the center of the park, monitor lizards and turtles roaming around its channels, a lot of birds, a couple of huge green houses that host an amazing array of plants… The park is huge, so be ready to spend a few hours marveling around.
A great destination to get to know a first date in a more relaxed environment, prepare a picnic on the grass or just walk for hours holding hands.
“Find The Locker Room” cocktail bar.
Bangkok is also not short of amazing cocktail bars, some of them will make you feel like you are in New York trying to discover some of their famous “hidden bars”.
In this category of (not so) hidden bar, it is worthy a visit to “Find the Locker Room” in Thonglor. Behind a door that resembles a locker from a gym, you will have 2 floors with tasty decoration and amazing selection of cocktails that will turn your night date into a fun shared adventure, both for the experience to find the place and then to taste the amazing cocktails they prepare.
The service when I have been there is very kind and attentive, but beware that is not a cheap price for Bangkok average pricing, so have your wallet ready.
As an extra tip, not far from there on the other side of Thonglor main street, you can continue the night in another of my favorite cocktail bars in the city: “The Rabbit Hole”. Another one with great selection of cocktails and intimate environment to create some special bonding with your date.
Bangkok has hundreds of temples so it would be impossible to recommend just one to visit. But if you are looking for one that is beautiful, not so massified by hordes of visitors and has beautiful romantic gardens around to go for a stroll, I would undoubtedly point for a visit to The Marble Temple.
The temple itself is not very big once you enter, but one of the most beautiful ones you can see in Bangkok. If I remember correctly foreigners must pay a small fee entrance, but that might depend on the mood of the staff/security people around. After you have visited the main patio of the temple and marveled with its architecture and the statues around, it is time to have some well-deserved ice coffee and go for a stroll in the well-maintained garden around, with a picturesque channel crossing them.
A charming destination where you do not need to spend many hours, but that surely will delight you and your date before continuing the day in some other location.
Another interesting bar between Thonglor and Ekkamai area. Tuba bar has a very special “kitsch” decoration all over the walls and on the tables, a great selection of local Thai craft beers and an adjacent weed dispensary for those who want to stimulate their brains with the “good green stuff” (remember that cannabis sales are legal in Thailand right now).
A great place to bring a date for first time, for sure not a boring environment!
Another “semi-hidden gem” of Bangkok is this amazing night market. You can see some foreigners roaming around, but the crowd is mostly composed of local Thai people. A huge area where you can find cozy bars with live music, shops, handicrafts, seafood restaurants and a lot of vintages and secondhand clothing.
I have purchased there in the last years amazing music vinyl, old Super Famicom cartridges and awesome t-shirts and manga figures for an excellent price. But also, beware that shops tend to change and close quickly in Thailand, so sometimes can happen that the place where you buy something a few months before is never to be found again a few months later.
The atmosphere is very chilled, some areas have a hippie vibe, and some areas have some rock music blasting from small speakers, but in general is a great location to explore, where you can see from amazing vintage American cars to cool motorbikes to souvenirs to be purchased for dirt cheap prices. And when you feel tired, the offer to chill with some good drinks/food is amazing. Totally recommended place to have a great first date experience in Bangkok!
Iron balls cocktail bar
One last tip if you want to go to enjoy a fancy drink at night in Bangkok. Iron Balls cocktail bar offers a fantastic “steam punk” asthetics decoration and delicious cocktails where you can start or end the night. As many of the cool fancy cocktail bars around Asoke, Phrong Phong, Thonglor and Ekkamai areas, its prices are not cheap, but it sets you on a great fantastic vibe for the rest of the night to be a huge success. Visit it if you have the chance!
Besides, the name of the place is an open invitation for naughty jokes, right?
