I heart Andre

Love love love the Andre/Drawings Exhibition @ Colette (one gets a good idea from the website) . . .bummed bummed bummed not to be in Paris . . .

(pic stolen from OLT's fb wall)

So cute yet chic, cheeky and whimsical in a way - a lovely little insight. . . also lovin the No 5 surfboard. 

Missing Andre, Cleo, Paris and Yao noi . . .

Island Adventure . . . Phang Nga and more

Nat's idea of a Hideway also involves an adventure . . .so off we went on our little speedboat equipped with yummy chicken sandwiches on our private little adventure . . . 

Nat, Andre and Cleo on boat

#1 Cave exploration 

. . . very Indiana Jones . . . 

explorers

clay was good for feet and the stags both up and down were gorgeous.  

Cleo and I

Andre and the lagoon at the end

#2 Room Island and James Bond island . . . the name is from its appearance in The Man with the Golden Gun

#3 Canoeing through caves . . . 

Amazingly diverse micro environments - we could have been in a swamp in True Blood at one point

#4 Village on water - Koh Panyee . . .

 Panyee in water 

When James Bond came to Phang Nga Bay in the 70's  - what started was a community - completely self sufficient Muslim community called Panyee

the school and football pitch

It was charming, sweet and like being in Narnia as we had to go through a door that led us to another world . . .

#5 Real cave drawings . . . 

Apparently from over 3000 yrs ago, found by some french dude 80 years ago.  We liked the dolphins

 

Back in the Kingdom  . . .

Andre, Cleo, Me, Nat

Watching the waning moon and dozing off under the sky

Finally, our time to depart arrived, the hardest thing about Yao Noi is not getting there actually - it's leaving  . . . .

my room and very comfortable bed with sublime view

last dip before departure

What a little break like that does is show only what nature has to offer but what dedication and passion can give birth to - although sunburnt - I am thoroughly inspired  . . . great company and a surreal island will do that.

my favourite moment - entering the Reserve

Hill Top Reserve - Top of the World

Against all odds - Sunday was sunny and bright . . . .

Nat on his throne observing our poolside and underwater activities

Me on bamboo slide

Andre

Cleo and I

Cleo and Andre

Me

Cleo through the water

To See is To Believe - Six Senses Hideaway, Yao Noi

There are somethings that require getting on a plane, a car in the rain, a boat through turbulent sea and arriving, to really see, feel and truly appreciate the beauty and meticulous thought and attention to detail that has gone into an undertaking. . .  that is for me the case of Six Senses Hideaway, Yao Noi where to be there is the only way to experience how amazing the place is.  Cleo spent the better part of our plane ride trying to describe it to me and P'Nat had tried also to explain it and came to the resolve that I had to go there.  They were right - it was what I expected and much much more - on another level in fact.

The pier in the storm

It was a very spontaeneous weekend -  Andre's idea, who was in Singpaore for Le Baron business and suggested  a Phuket weekend.  So Cleo and I met him, and Nat, who is the mastermind of the Hideaway would join us the next day.  

In the rain we arrived to the little Robinson Crusoe island of which is Nat's Kingdom, to a pool vill a suite we arrived and had the most satisfying meal.  I loved it.  Loooved the TV that could be watched from the bath tub and just the cute the little hut with the dopest detail - they thought it all out for us already . . .

Pool Villa

Cleo and I

Cleo in uniform

What no one prepared me for was the Hilltop Reserve to which we would move the next day . . . One word - SPEECHLESS . . . to feel that you are on the top of the world, where the doors with its raw sturdy pillars welcome you to a horizon of sky and clouds and ocean with limestone islands that look like they are talking to each other - utterly surreal.

The Reserve itself has 3 bed rooms, hidden bathtubs (many), steam room and sauna, gym, wine cellar, dining room, Bose surround sound, a bamboo slide, around infinity pool, lots of space, and did I mention the view?  . . oh and of course the best service ever!

Andre and Nat

Even though it was the moodiest of storms, most instense of never ending rain - it was beautiful and rather romantic.  Lunch of champagne and without doubt the best club sandwich I have ever had - if Tyler Brule's Club Sandwich index to rate hotels is anyting to go by, Hideway is utterly superior.

Dinner was at the Chef's table . . . wonderful

And that really was just the beginning . . . .

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.