* “Humans can’t live without art. It helps you understand the world and be able to live happily. You don’t even have to buy it because art is everywhere; it’s in architecture, nature and even your imagination.” – Chalermchai Kositpipat, Thai visual artist and the architect of the White Temple…
International
“So wake me up when it’s all over…” The catchy song in The Choir of Man that could have been my theme tune for 2020, and the way things are going, I may own it for the first quarter of 2021 as well. When Covid-19 grabbed the global spotlight, life…
This info was supplied by Lesley Simpson PR & Communications, the PR representative in South Africa for the Tourism Authority of Thailand. GOOD NEWS! Thailand has fared well during the Covid-19 storm, and is recognised as one of the countries with the most impressive ongoing recovery rate, according to the…
Travel trends 2021 ~ by Allison Foat
For the serial explorers among us, 2020 felt like the year we stopped going. Covid-19 made its global debut and continues to run interference, scuppering travel plans and forcing the planet to press pause. The new year is barely out of the starting blocks and as people re-think the way…
In the past three years since I wrote this piece for the Sunday Times, I’ve met Coetzee Steyn in person and I’m delighted to say that the Bosjes Chapel he designed (Steyn Studio) has picked up numerous accolades including being featured in the Architizer/Phaidon hardback: ‘The Best Architecture in the…
LET’S GO! Thailand is open, all Covid protocols observed and as usual, the anticipation of amazing experiences is real. On my last trip two years ago I explored Chinatown, a lively neighbourhood in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong District, well worth a few hours immersion. Trawl through any major global capital and you’ll…
Reunion- an island extraordinaire. If you’ve been following my posts about Reunion (here & here), you’ll know that as island destinations go, the French overseas region in the South-West Indian Ocean took me by surprise, in all the best ways. My Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives FAM trips leaned towards eco…
I have an allegiance to Bangkok. It got under my skin when I first visited about ten years ago. I’ve been a total of 8 times and love it the same, every trip – the heat, the buzz, smells (good and not so much), the people, the hospitality, the bright…
It’s Travel Tuesday and the spotlight is once again on Reunion. This time, I’m sharing about cuisine and one of the islands most celebrated national pastimes, le picnic. CREOLE CUISINE While elements of the Indian Ocean Départment echo France, Creole cuisine is plates apart from what one might find on…
I met Igor Mezencev at the IKRA Talks in Moscow last November 2019, at a time when I took travel a little for granted. What I wouldn’t give to be back in Russia right now- -Я скучаю по москве! A member of the Slow Food Alliance of Chefs who goes…