Samui 2010

Back to Samui, first  time since that little interval last year . . . this time my companion was Piyatat Hemmatat and we stayed at The Library . . . P'Ji, the GM had kindly invited us to check it out and see what little projects we might be able to do together . . . needless to say, it was like a primed blank canvas waiting to be painted upon, in the most secluded and private enclave that exists on Chaweng beach . . I'd say there are a few fun little things we could do.

Caroline Gaimari, her sister Angela and Laetitia stayed the weekend too, this was their first visit to our wonderful kingdom, Caroline recovering from Paris Fashion Week festivities, the magazine she works at, Purple, being the centre of much fashion and culture of late. Respect to the girls for  not shying away from the shambles that political in fighting has caused.  

Caroline and Piyatat

Laetitia and Angela

We had a fun little weekend in SAmui, love the red pool, it's what I imaginei walking on Mars would be like.  

The library is great, especially in the day time, a little oasis of books and dvd's. Oh and Breakfast Culture on the beach- that we absolutely adored . . .even if I resulted in me being burnt like a lobster taking completely foregranted the intensity to the Thai sun.

YL Residence was also lovely, owned by a friend of Piyatat's, private, seculded and totally Miami . . .like those houses on star island with its own lawn.  What kind of parties could be thrown there with close friends, one can just imagine, I know Caroline is plotting especially because there is a zoo next door and she got to pose with a tiger. . .and we got to meet little baby cubs and monkeys. Too cute.

Alas, Monday morning arrived and Bkk was dead, a strange tension enveloped the city, it took me less than 20 mins to get to work thus it felt like I acutally got a bkk airways flight to MCOT.  

nsha x baseman . . .

So Chichi of La Clique blogged about this little collaboration of mine in her fantastic blog for Colette - thanks Chichi (Chichi is amaazing - love Chichi - check out her photographs too - my faves are the dayscapes)! So here it is . . .nsha x baseman

Nsha is the label that Nishita Shah and I started, I was the creative director and whilst I was there we did a little collaboration with artist Gary Baseman who I ADORE, after Gary came over to Bkk for the Nsha Launch last October, we talked about it a bit then, some more in Miami during Miami Basel (this is where Gary and I actually met 4 years ago!) and well, and I am thrilled with the results -  a set of limited edition bikinis, swimsuits and boardshorts for girls and guys, though we kept the guys' boardshorts to only 50 and girls' to 80.  There are 150 bikinis and 60 swimsuits in 2 patterns . .  . . .I've cheated and tested them out already and I looove them . . . there is Chouchou which is the orange little guy.

 Bali

and then Hot Cha Cha in electric blue on black . . It is sooo dope.  

HOT CHA CHA CHA

Not to get all the technical on you but the bikinis fit so good, I mean, I can go surfing in them and they don't fly off, I chose top grade polyamide for it and the boardshorts are dope too - light weight but falls well . . thus it is the only bit of nsha that I have kept and is kinda the little baby that will being launching. . .somewhere very soon . . . Chichi is right, we are keeping mum about this till further notice . . .I shall keep you posted  . . in the meantime yes, that's me in the bikini . . !

middle of the sea - Samui

Interval in Bangkok/Samui (the original)

So after paradise, reality will deal a complete blow, I came back from Bali to my last days as Creative Director of nsha, it was sad, but necessary, in the midst of drama that accompanies any break up, Bangkok still manages to whip up a surprise or two . . .Thanks to Nat Sarasas - Andre was in Bkk for the Belvedere IX party - that was a BLAST - Jeed posted the best pics on his blog a while back.  

concentrating really hard

another pose

It was my my first intro into the life of Nat and friends - nice intro.  Those guys are dope, they are away this weekend, I kinda miss them already - wish I could be in Phuket and get everyone on surfboards! But then again watching Roddick v. Murray live at Wimbledon on TV is not so bad either.  Anyhow the Belevedere party and the days after were pure fun . . . I took Andre before the party to one of my favourite spots Le Lys for yummy Thai food, that was my last time at the original spot as it has now moved.  The next couple of days were a blur . . . in the best way possible.

Andre 

Andre and I

Just when I thought finally I would stay put, after the weekend, my very good friend Yui Olivia of Olivia diamonds needed a break and kidnapped me to Samui . .. Powpow was there too for work.  We stayed at our friend Gene's hotel, Muang Kulaypan, I still love that place, very serene but still cool, love how it has not aged since the first time I went there 10 years ago. 

Gardens of Muang Kulaypan

Gene is another childhood friend, we met in England whilst still doing our GCSE's, he is an artist, a musician to be exact, Little Fox.  He used to sing Smashing Pumpkin songs to me on the phone when were in school . . . great voice and great style.

Gene with his new pipe

Gene's dog Charlotte drinking water from my glass!

Gene is still playing music, he is taking care of his own little slice of paradise with his father and has found another vocation in making tea, his own blend of Chai Tea, Little Fox's Chai, it's lovely, very aromatic, it's especially good when he prepares it for you.  I intended to make my own mix of lemongrass something or another but it did not happen . . . I think he should host another folk and poetry reading night like he did some time ago at the Discovery Museum near the flower market.

A TRIPTYCH

Yui and Pow

Yui and I

Pow and friends

It was NICE.  Yui totally needed a break, she is one of the best jewellry designers in the city and works really hard, sun and sea were good for her.  

Yui

I absolutely adore her jewellery, will post some up here later.  Olivia Diamonds is totally the spot here in Bkk, I particularly love the diamond piggies and the diamond bracelets.

Gene and I went out one night with Tant's parents - that was really so much fun. . I must say that her father gave me very good advice, he said GO - JUST GET AWAY and then you will figure it out . . .So glad we ended up having drinks on a terrace rather than getting on a boat to Phanghan for the full moon party - that would have been a mission! 

ME

Anyhow, reality hit after my little break in Samui where I realised that even though my life was great fun, I was in a bit of a quagmire, no job, no income and  . . .no boy, and apart from writing, I was not sure what I wanted to do . . . so after the customary sulking, I realised I needed to get out of it fast and would do whatever it takes. . . thus I went away, far away from Bkk, I went to Italy. . . so props to the support of family and friends who said go away if you have the chance, explore and just go with the flow . . . I went to Florence . . . and that was the first stop of what would become my little European tour of 2009.