Morocco
Marra-kesh. Pronouncing the word slowly and purposefully, the letters roll deeply off my lips, ending in a whisper. The name itself takes on a mystical quality and has the ability of conjuring hazy images of golden windswept dunes and small market streets glittering with trinkets and lanterns. The City of Morocco is vividly brilliant and...
Triple Major Beijing: Small Store, Loud Voice
It is fascinating to see how retail fashion evolves, especially for those in the new fashion sector. In the case of Beijing, Triple-Major is a great example as it broke normal boundaries by starting something new in an unexpected location. Within months, this small store made headlines and went viral; intriguing many fashion websites...
Dempsey Hill
Singapore is a volatile place with changes happening constantly. Before you know it, new developments are popping up here and there on our tiny island. A couple of years back, I remember being so proud when I brought guests to dine at Boat Quay. With more than 80 F&B outlets in old houses lined...
Young & Restless in Kuala Lumpur
While the big enterprises are expanding their businesses, there are newcomers storming into the fashion retail business. Every now and then, you will get surprised and amazed with interesting finds in unexpected places. In Malaysia, a few fashion designers have made the country proud such as Jimmy Choo , Khoon Hooi and Zang Toi. Recently...
Glam Up Kampong Glam
Glam Up Kampong Glam gives you an insight behind Singapore’s hippest area; Kampong Glam. As you can tell from the photographs, a once typical tourist hangout with a wide variety of budget souvenirs has now developed into one of Singapore’s unique hangout spots. Now, you will see upscale boutique hotels, fashion joints and the...
Shophouse in Singapore
Shophouse in Singapore represents the architectural heritage of this country and has evolved since the British colonial era. Today thousands of shophouses have been preserved under the conservation scheme. Many have been restored, renovated and repainted in variety of colours. To many visitors, the colourful buildings are recognisable and an eye catching treat. The mix...
The Gilded Castles of Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava is a whirlwind mix of the vibrant colors and intricate smells. As I stroll through the eclectic markets perched upon smooth grey cobblestones, trinkets of bronze, turquoise rocks and metallic beading glow and twinkle as wafts of soft sweet lavender float amongst the soft smell of freshly baked bread. Looking around, the sound of...
Helados Jauja, A Slice of Heaven – Argentinian Ice Cream in Melbourne
Abierto. This means “Open” in Spanish. This March, in Melbourne, I discovered a relatively new-kid-on-the-block. It was an ice-cream store, that was opened in last October. I love ice cream. Many of my happy travel moments are punctuated by ice-cream doses. It is like a taste of heaven, transporting me to somewhere happy and...
Melbourne Vintage Shopping Guide
As a lover of what I call the ‘vintage shopping experience’ (my mom deems it as ‘karang guni’ scavenging), the highlight of my trip to Melbourne in June was visiting the many incredible vintage shops and second-hand clothing stores. Vintage shopping (also called ‘opportunity shopping’) in Melbourne is rewarding and eye-opening. The city is just...
Surreal Landscapes and Pink Flamingoes | Salar De Uyuni
Bizzare beauty, mythical mirages and a lack of physical perception; these are the key components that attract a multitude of adventure travelers and travel photographers to Bolivia’s largest salt flat. Looking out the dusty window of our 4X4 as the smell of sand and a tinge of sulphur taints the air, through the lenses...
Haigh’s Chocolates
I wish I could capture the smell of Haigh’s Chocolates for you. Next to coffee, the smell of chocolate sends me straight to cloud nine. On a hot Sunday afternoon, after landing in Adelaide from Melbourne, I went on to Haigh’s Chocolate Store for a chocolate factory tour*. In a world of automation,...
A Wonder of Nature | Puerto Princesa Underground River
“The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas in the Philippines. It features a spectacular limestone or karst landscape that contains an 8.2 km long underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower half portion...
A Bit of Fantasy on Paradise
Mention Phuket and your minds will immediately be taken to the sun, sand, beach, tans and skimpy bikinis. However, you will never expect a little bit of fantasy to be associated with a paradise island like Phuket. The Pimnara boutique hotel is just that. This boutique hotel is connected to the swanky Jungceylon Shopping...
Single or double in Nha Trang
On the seaside town of Nha Trang, time slips into oblivion at the Le Cabanon Bar & Restaurant. Located on the vibrant Hung Vuong Street lit by neon lights, this bar and restaurant attracts a mix of cosmopolitan diversity. Nha Trang is said to be the scuba diving mecca of Vietnam...
Hong Kong’s New Fashion District | Star Street
It’s always fascinating how an unexpected old neighborhood becomes a trendy hang-out place for fashionistas. Star Street in Hong Kong is a great example. Star Street used to be a sleepy residential area save for some restaurants and there was hardly any fashion retail until Kapok bravely opened its first retail store in August 2008,...
Hong Kong’s New Chill | Tung Street
Sometimes when you discover a new place, an emotion of frenzy and excitement overwhelms you. My insides were screaming “Oh My God! This is my new heaven”. This was how I felt when I entered Tung Street (‘west’ in Cantonese) for the first time. There were two rows of old shop houses that were separated by...
Touring Taiwan on Two-Wheels
Navigating Taiwan’s hilly terrain is hard work and many cyclists have prayed for a quick rain shower to cool off an uphill slog. Two-wheelers can have a similar experience at the spectacular Wufengqi Waterfalls near Jiaoxi in Yilan County. As the breeze brought cooling fingers of mist onto the skin, one’s senses come alive as...
Homeroom | The Collective
Hidden in the one-way street of Malugay, Homeroom (HMRM) has found its place in what used to be just a spacious auto shop. Located in The Collective, Makati, Homeroom is a concept retail shop that caters to the young and hip. This cool store used to offer men’s apparel, shoes and accessories but...
The Tyre House
The existence of tyres is a revolution to mankind. Now it serves yet another revolutionary purpose, yet known to many. In fact, it might just sound unbelievable. It started off with the fundamental epiphany – ‘are tyres, heat insulator or heat conductor?’ To those who are less inclined to the world of...
Bangkok Has A New Muse
With a population of almost 10 million, an annual tourist arrival of over 15 million a year, and almost 300 hotels in its dense megalopolis, how does one open a new hotel in Bangkok and still stand out and be counted? Ask the Accor Group and they will proudly tell you of their latest pride...
Krakow | A City for the Culture Hungry
I recently quit my job in a publishing firm to do some soul searching. I packed myself 5 weeks worth of luggage and dived into the unknown. After what seemed like forever, I finally arrived in Katowice, Poland, a small city on the outskirts of Krakow. I boarded a mini van headed to Krakow, the...
A piece of New York | The Hamptons Cafe
Located in the uptown area of Kemang, Jakarta, Hamptons café is a cozy, little nook that was inspired by New York’s high society, favourite vacation spot – The Hamptons, New York. You tend to forget that you are in Jakarta, Indonesia the moment you step into the Hamptons café. It’s luxurious, minimalist interiors make you...
Monaco | A Place For An Average Jane
When I say ‘Monaco’, you would think home of the Grand Prix and the land where European royalty drive Ferraris. True and true. Monaco is infamous for its glitz, glamour and grandeur. A country so wealthy yet so gracious is one where the Prince offers a complimentary helicopter ride, an indulgent offer so hard to...
Designer’s Hideout | The Goods Dept.
Paradoxically placed in one of the biggest malls in Jakarta, The Goods Dept. is a great juxtaposition to Jakarta’s shopping culture. A shopping mall that features stores like Prada & Louboutin would be the last place you expect to find a cool, high-end, street store. I sat down with Mr. & Mrs. Kerrigan, head of...
Cinque Terre | Italy’s Best Kept Secret
Daydreams of sunnier climes, breezy clothes and winter destinations have been occupying the top spots in our minds. We know that you are always up for a summer vacay, so here’s my scoop on one of Italy’s treasures (believe me, it cost me a part of my heart to share this vacation spot). Everyone...
To Spread the Love of Zakka
Zakka – old-style / vintage / retro / handmade / fashion Tokyo-inspired married-couple Mike and Ivery decided to start a Zakka movement right here in Malaysia 6 years ago after several travels to the city of Zakka. It all started with the Pipit.com forum (Pipit means little bird in the Malay language). Down the...
Luang Prabang Film Festival
The 2nd annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) will present 30+ films on a Southeast Asian theme to a diverse audience over eight nights. We chat with Gabriel Kuperman who kickstarted the event. Tell us how the Luang Prabang Film Festival began & about its mission. My professional background is in film, and upon...
It’s Holiday Time, Destination: Thailand!
It’s that time of year when everyone is looking for a getaway from the hectic city life, if you ask me I’m in that mode every week. One of the most popular destinations in Asia is Thailand. Known for it’s beautiful islands, exquisite food and marvelous shopping there’s something for everyone in Thailand. We spoke...
ActuallyMag’s Guide to the 54th Venice Biennale: Part II
The National Pavilions are said to be one of the four pillars of the Venice Biennale, and continue to be the strongest foundation upon which the international art exhibition is built upon. These pavilions reflect the nature of their individual countries, and yet are able to transcend the boundaries of their societies to discuss wider...
ActuallyMag’s Guide to the 54th Venice Biennale: Part I
Every two years, the international art world falls upon Venice to create an ever-expanding affair that overlaps the streets of the Floating City and the surrounding lagoons. In its 54th run, the title of this year’s Venice Biennale is ILLUMInations. The Venice Biennale features both independent exhibits as well as National Pavilions, where artists...
