Bangkok

I arrived back from Bangkok this weekend and what an experience it was!

I'm very lucky I travelled with work which is always a very nice experience, 

if I hadn't I don't know what my reaction to Bangkok would have been.

My personal opinion is Bangkok is not quite for me! 

The people where absolutely lovely, amazing service but the place itself - I'm not quite a fan. 

But in saying that, I'd like to share some of my highlights of my trip to Bangkok ...

We stayed at the Peninsula Hotel (above), which was just gorgeous. 

Half of our team where across the river at The Mandarin Oriental so over 2 days,

 we had to cross back and forth over the Chao Phraya River on the boats (below) 

between the 2 hotels.

Shortly after this photo was taken the heavens opened and it bucketed down. 

It was crazy rain!

The view from my room on the 32nd floor looking across the Chao Phraya River 

to the Bangkok skyline.

On the second evening, we were treated to a tour and dinner at The Siam Hotel. 

I apologise, my photo's do not do it justice, this place was ah-mazing! 

The hotel is owned by the Sukosol family, dubbed the musical hoteliers of Thailand. 

The son, Krissida is a singer and actor and the Creative Director of the hotels and is
responsible for this luxury urban resort in Bangkok.

This villa was stunning with it's own plunge pool. 

For only about $1,000 AUD a night you can stay here (totally worth it if you can I say). 

I fell in love with the bathrooms, seriously so cool!

Our dining room for dinner which was beautiful.

On the last evening we were treated to another beautiful dinner full of entertainment.

The food and dining presentation was so pretty.

I hate this photo of me (blurgh) but I fell in love with these puppets. 

They entertained us as our dinner finished. 

Each puppet handled by 3 people did a little dance and had great interaction with the audience. 

Sa-wat-dee Kah

(hello in Thai) 

... a word I heard very often as the people of Bangkok are so hospitable, so polite and just lovely. 

Have you been to Bangkok? What's been your experience there?

all images via myfirstlittleplace

Where I Want to Stay ... Hawaii

I'm tired! So tired. 

All I feel like doing at the moment is to go away for a week to somewhere there is a beach!

A nice resort with beautiful pools where all I have to worry about is eating, sleeping and swimming. 

As I started to look into this, I came across this gorgeous hotel in Hawaii, 

The Modern Honolulu which sounds and looks like perfection to me.

You  know you're in Hawaii when you have a cluster of surfboards facing you as you check in

Beautiful white crisp and calm rooms that face the ocean

Of course you need a pop of Hawaiian colour in the room

 

 

 

 

 

Most of my  time would be spent here and ....

here ....

So where is it that you would like to take off to now to have a relaxing holiday?

all images via mrandmrssmith

Where I Want To Stay in ... Bali

When I think of travel to Bali, I think of the rustic Balinese villas to stay in. 

Beautiful and resorty, yes but my type, no!

A friend of mine got back from Bali this week (being in Perth it is very easy to get 3 hour plane ride over to Bali YAY !!) and she stayed at the W Retreat and Spa - Seminyak and said it was great.

The interiors are modern with hits of colour.

Clean and fresh - the perfect environment for me to relax and enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you're all having a great weekend

xox

Where I want to stay ... Greece

The Aenaon Villas Hotel in Santorini, Greece look like heaven.

Consists of only 7 rooms which come with free WiFi and a library of books, CDs and DVDs, 

flat screen TVs, CD/DVD player and a full kitchen.

Rates of double rooms from AU$330.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I think these rooms, the pool and this view would do nicely for a few days {or weeks!}

images vis mrandmrssmith

Where I'd Like To Stay ... Hamptons

One thing I have been doing over the last month is starting to plan a USA trip. Granted we will be going next year but it hasn't stopped me from looking at hotels, because let's agree in our world the right hotel makes or breaks our trips right?

One stop we are thinking of is perhaps The Hamptons. As New York is the prime reason for the trip, I've always wanted to take a side trip to visit the Hamptons, just because! But I was surprised when I started looking at accomodation in the Hamptons, there aren't very many nice places on offer. 

I did come across this one place which I think looks nice. Simple and clean design, the Capri.

The style is St Tropez pool party, setting is Southhampton summer colony.

Have you been to the Hamptons or seen any good places to stay?

images via mrandmrssmith

Weekend of Bazaar Stingray's!

I'm signing off for the week a little early. I have 30 of my work colleagues arriving on the Gold Coast this weekend ready for a 3 day conference on Monday. Looking forward to seeing everyone as we all get along really well, should be fun.

One place I will be taking them to is the very revamped Gold Coast International (GCI) hotel - now called QT Gold Coast. GCI has been around on the Gold Coast for years and was in dire need of a revamp. The restaurant, bar and foyer have been completed and I was super impressed when I went there for breakfast this week. This is a huge thing for the Gold Coast as we don't really have anything like this (Gold Coast is a little backwards in terms of commercial design). 

They even state themselves "a designer hotel haven unlike anything Surfers Paradise has seen before" and I strongly agree. 

This is Bazaar, no ordinary hotel restaurant. I've only been for breakfast and I was so impressed with the buffet available, it was truly delicious and as presentation is everything - was amazing. A friend of mine has had dinner there and also said it was fantastic. 

This is Stingray Bar - a sophisticated refuge from Surfers Paradise. They call this our local Californian Baja lounge. Haven't been here yet but I think I'll take a friend here on the weekend. 

This is the new foyer.

Cute hey? And it has a really great ambience.

I'm looking forward to spending some more time here before I move to Cairns (eek one more week til that too)

Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies, see you all soon 

xox