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

Hotels To Stay - Contemporary Design in Lisbon * Hoteis Pra Ficar - Design Contemporaneo em Lisboa - Altis Belém

This is another of my 2013 resolutions - Create new labels for the blog and be faithful to them - With a privileged location, Altis Belém Hotel Spa is a striking contemporary piece along the Tagus river, which integrates with sobriety space between the Monument to the Discoveries and Belem Tower in one of the most emblematic spots in the city.

It's a five star hotel design, with modern decor inspired by the Portuguese Discoveries. Designed by Risco, one of the most respected architectural practices in Lisbon and by fssmgn arquitects  (Fernando Sanchez Salvador+Margarida Grácio Nunes).

The whole space is marked by elegance, sophistication and the fantastic views of the Tagus river. It offers a restaurant serving Portuguese author cuisine, a wine bar, a coffee shop and a sushi bar with a terrace.

I'm a big fan of this hotel and as a 'hotel life lover' is one that I visit often for Sunday lunches (I recommend the wonderful Sunday Brunch), some bar cocktails on weekend afternoons or a shiatsu massage at the SPA.

If you are looking for a nice modern hotel overlooking the river and near the most historical sites in Lisbon, this one is a perfect choice.

***

Esta é outra das minhas resoluções de 2013 - Ser mais fiel às rubricas do blog - Às mais antigas, e às novas que ando a preparar, com mais dicas práticas e sugestões de decoração. Eu sei que vão gostar! Entretanto, há algum tempo que não fazia nenhum post da rubrica 'Hoteis pra ficar', por isso aqui fica uma óptima sugestão pois este blog tem cerca de 3.000 visitas diárias, de fora de Portugal, e precisamos de promover o as coisas boas que o país tem!

Com uma localização privilegiada, o Altis Belém Hotel Spa é uma notável peça contemporânea junto ao Tejo, que integra com sobriedade o espaço entre o Padrão dos Descobrimentos e a Torre de Belém. 

Um Hotel design de cinco estrelas, com uma decoração moderna inspirada nos Descobrimentos. Projectado pelo Risco (Manuel Salgado, Tomás Salgado João Almeida), um dos mais conceituados ateliers de arquitectura de Lisboa, e por fssmgn arquitectos  (Fernando Sanchez Salvador+Margarida Grácio Nunes).
O espaço é marcado pela elegância, sofisticação e a pela vista fantástica para o rio Tejo. Disponibiliza um restaurante de cozinha portuguesa de autor, um wine bar, uma cafetaria e um sushi bar com esplanada. 

Sou grande fã deste hotel e eu que tenho um fraquinho por 'vida de hotel' é um dos que visito frequentemente para almoços de fim-de-semana (recomendo o Brunch ao domingo), cocktails de fim-de-tarde no bar ou uma massagem de shiatsu no SPA.

 

 

 

 

Happy Sunday everyone.

***

Um bom domingo a todos.

Até Amanhã

Ana Antunes

(Thank you for sharing my passion for beautiful homes)

Hotels To Stay - Paris best 3 stars hotel * Paris e o melhor 3 estrelas

Hello Blogfriends! 

I just got back from Paris for a 4 day trip to decorator's Disneyland, amazing Maison et Objet Fair! Brought so many ideas and inspiration and a bad COLD! Yup, a bad throat ache one. so I'm going to leave you some photos of the beginning of the Trip and of the best 3 star Hotel I have ever been. Really!!... My husband booked the whole trip this time, and when he told me he booked us in a 3 star hotel I almost dropped a glass. He knows how I hate those but he was confident and smiling so I believed him. 3 star hotels are quite lousy in Portugal and I used to think they were bad every were, until I met the Pulitzer Hotel in Paris!

***

Queridas Blogamigas!

Acabadinha de chegar de Paris de uma viagem de 4 dias à Disneyland dos decoradores, a Maison et Objet. Cheia de inspiração, ideias e uma GRIPE! Sim uma daquelas que ataca a garganta e o corpo todo, por isso vou ser breve e deixar-vos com as fotos do melhor Hotel de 3 estrelas, onde já estive alguma vez na minha vida! Foi o meu marido que marcou toda a viagem, e quando me disse que tinha marcado um hotel de 3 estrelas, eu quase deixei cair o copo que tinha na mão! Ele sabe que eu confio mais num cão vadio, que num hotel de 3 estrelas, mas como estava todo sorridente eu decidi confiar! Eu achava que eram todos péssimos até conhecer o Pulitzer em Paris!

 

 

 

 

How many of you know a 3 star hotel with this scenario 

and toweling bathrobes available!?

***

Quantos de vocês conhecem um hotel de 3 estrelas com este cenário 

e roupões turcos à disposição!?

I will come back tomorrow with more detais about 

Maison et Objet, Sept. 2012!...
...and I hope to came back feeling better from this awfull cold!

***

Amanhã volto para vos mostrar mais fotos e detalhes da 

Maison et Objet, Set. 2012!
...e espero voltar melhor desta maldita gripe!

Até Amanhã

Ana Antunes

(Thank you for sharing my passion for beautiful homes)

photos via - hotelpulitzer.com