THE ICE CREAM LADY IN LIPE ISLAND - THAILAND

We, travelers, love to hear about them...

We love to hear about people who decides to change their life, to abandon their cities, families and friends.

People who lives their dreams.

People who follows their hearts, stuff a backpack of few things and buys a one-way ticket.

People like Eliana and me.

But this is Eliana story…

She is one of the typical Milano Girls absorbed into trend, fashion and aperitivo every afternoon. One day she realizes that she need to get lost to find herself once again (I know you reader, I know that smile, I know that it had happened to you too).

She found an island, a beach and a land of smiles. She discovered Thailand and Koh Lipe. 

And do you know what she did? 

She opened a truly Italian business, an Ice Cream Shop, Lekka Lipe. 

To taste the handmade ice cream you have to be in Pattaya Beach and you have to walk into Walking Street. When you will see Lekka Lipe, you will recognize it! The colorful shop offers 75 flavors entirely manufactured without preservatives or food colorings. Leaving the island without trying it is a shame!

But lets hear her words through this short interview. 

How did it start your adventure in Thailand and why an Ice Cream Parlour?

After travelling around Asia I finally reached Koh Lipe and I had the feeling this’s-what-I'm-looking-for at once. After establishing good relationships with locals and thanks to the new power project, under 35C° the idea of an Ice Cream Parlour came quite naturally.

Is it difficult to run an Italian business in a foreign country? 

I must say YES. It has been very difficult to put up everything from nothing, both physically and bureaucratically. I was alone, this was my dream. But after more than 2 years I don’t regret any single decision! I still have some difficulties with the supplies since Koh Lipe is 6 hours of speedboat from Phuket and 3 hours form HatYai. Lets say that every child’s smile brought by my ice cream repay all efforts.

How did the local react?

The local, Chaolee, are called “Andaman’s Gipsy” that is nomads to whom the king granted lands 50 years ago. It was a strategic policy: if they don’t roam around the government has better control on them. Their way of life is very simple, until lately they were living as most of all tribes in the world, by means of barter. From this point of view I had to understand their background and learn their culture in order to deal with them. Overtaken the first complications I got to know that their taste goes very well with my product and I found myself to babysit most of the local children. 

3 adjectives to describe your ice cream

Creamy, since its consistency is always soft, without air bubbles or ice which can alter the flavor.

Healthy, because it is made only with high quality ingredients.

Happy, is the people’s face that eats my ice cream.

If you were an ice cream, which flavor would you be? 

100% fondant chocolate, wrapping, sensual, rich, delicate, manufactured with the best cacao on the market and my best-seller ever.

 Images: Lekka Lipe

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BOMBAY SUBURBS AND SHOPPING

Do you know how many citizens are in Bombay (Mumbai nowadays, but we prefer it old-school)? 20.5 million, including the suburbs. This is what the latest 2011 census says. But take a drive from Colaba to Bandra or a ride on the Central or Western train lines that take you to the suburbs and you will understand that the stats don’t even come close to the real number! 

Suburbs are chaotic, crowded, polluted, dirty and… AUTHENTIC! 

If you really want to know the true life of a city like Bombay go there and shop!

High Street Phoenix and Palladium Mall in Lower Parel

Over 3.3 million square feet of space, more then 500 brands and a huge variety of F&B and entertainment – you’ll be spoilt for choice! For shopping freaks this is the place to visit! Chanel, Gucci, Diesel, Armani, DKNY, Mango, Zara, Jimmy Choo and lots more. For a pampering break visit the Jean-Claude Biguine Salon & Spa. Or catch a Bollywood movie at PVR Cinemas. For a bite Indigo Deli is a must. Treat yourself at the new Häagen Dazs cafe or grab a quick Cappuccino at one of the three Costa Coffee outlets.

How to get there: Take a cab and directly ask for Phoenix Mills in Lower Parel. If you are a woman and decide to take a local train (which is definitely the best solution to escape traffic), travel only on the ladies’ coaches and AVOID peak hours (from 8.30 a.m. to10.30 a.m. & 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.). On the Central line get off at Parel or Currey Road & on the Western line get off at Lower Parel station – and take a cab.

Bandra West

Bandra is Bollywood. Bandra is trendy. Bandra is the suburb where most of the movie stars live and where fashion walks on the roads! To explore it you will need a full day and just walking around is the best way to explore. But for the ones who like a detailed agenda I would suggest starting from Hill Rd, where the street stalls are. Walk to Linking Rd through Waterfield Rd, which is full of small unusual boutiques and jewellery shops. When you reach Linking Rd do not miss the open shoes market and if you don’t find anything go to Très Mode. Take rest sipping a coffee and eating a delicious Millionaire Brownie at Theobrama, in front of KFC. In case you are looking for a place to grab a meal go to Global Fusion (which is in the same building as Theobrama): amazing interiors, good Asian Food and Sushi. For a wine-only menu, you want to visit Pali Village Caffe. To say goodbye to Bandra, watch the sunset in Cafe Coffee Day in Carter Road.

How to get there: Coming from the city, take a taxi mentioning the Sea Link Bridge – lovely and faster. By train, Harbour line from CST, Western line from Churchgate.

Images: cnngo, Girly Hour

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MEET THE DWARIKA'S HOTEL IN KATHMANDU - NEPAL

About to leave Nepal, my husband and I got fed up with the chaotic Kathmandu with its endless strikes, so we decided to spend a night in one of the most beautiful hotel in the city.

You can read the same on A Girl in Hong Kong, eclectic writer, tremendous blogger and a good friend. 

Here is how it went...

The Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu-Nepal is “A tribute to the Architectural and Cultural heritage of Nepal”. Born as a restoration project meant to saving, documenting and restoring artefacts from the Newari tradition, today the Dwarika’s Hotel is considered a living museum. With its extensive collection of items from 13^th century, the Hotel is a winner of the “PATA Heritage Award” and the “INTACH-SATTE Heritage Award” and definitely it offers a royal experience. The spacious rooms and suites, individually designed, are a liaison between past and present that reaches an exquisite balance without compromising elegance and luxury. Food, another fantastic experience at the Dwarka’s, is rigorously organic and the three restaurants - Nepali, Continental and Japanese – will not disappoint you.

For a detailed feature I’ve met Jyoti Upadhyay, International Sales and Marketing Manager del Dwarika’s Group of Hotels&Resorts:

3 ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE THE HOTEL

Unique, pioneering (as a model for restoration in Nepal), breathtaking. If I had to use just one adjective, I would say Nepali. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS PLACE?

Each of our ventures is about supporting Nepal’s unique and diverse heritage. For example, The Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu is a tribute to the architectural and cultural heritage of Nepal, in particular the Kathmandu Valley, whereas our resort in Dhulikhel pays homage to the natural heritage of Nepal. However, in all that we do, we strive to make a difference – to our guests, to our staff, and to Nepal. There is therefore a social rather than commercial motivation behind each of our endeavours, and I believe it is this that makes Dwarika’s unique.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE?

In line with this principle, we have other projects in line, including an ecologically sustainable spa and nature retreat in Dhulikhel (45 mins from Kathmandu, 35 mins from the international airport). Further in the future, we have some smaller projects planned as well, where we will be working with local communities in more remote (but spectacular) regions of Nepal, where we will be helping them to create authentic quality accommodation. With guidance from our team, we envision that the local communities will be able to manage (and of course own) these properties, bringing an important source of revenue and employment to these areas.

If you are looking for luxury, indulgence, excellency, art, tradition and culture treat yourself with the Special SummerOffers and fly on the Himalayas! What are you waiting for?

“With this struggle in me, and in the year 1975, through the vision of God, I decide to put my restoration work into the asylum of tourism in Nepal” Dwarika Das Shrestha, pioneer and founder of Dwarika’s Hotel

Images: Dwarika's

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THE HIMALAYAN GOLF COURSE

A simple question for the golf freaks around the world: Is there something cooler then a golf course right on the Himalayas? Here it goes…

The Himalayan Golf Course has been nominated “one of the 10 most unique golf course in the world” and its location spotted on the so-called roof of the world, makes it incomparable. Situated in Pokhara-Nepal, the HGC was designed and constructed by the Ex British Army commissioned officer Major Ram Gurung and for the past 12 year it has been hosting The Nepal Surya Western (professional) Open.

The HCG is located mostly inside a white water river canyon, where it meets the waterfall and it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna range. Since it has been developed preserving the natural environment and respecting the wildlife, during the game it is not unusual to meet foxes, monkeys, hawks and eagles. In the Himalayas everything is about the glory of nature!

Lets have some technical information: the HGC is a twice played 9 hole course, 6,900 yards from the championship tees with a par of 73. It has 11 greens and different tee positions including the first natural river island hole in the world. It seems that “Watching the pros victoriously blasting their second shot to the par five, 7th green in the middle of Bijayapur River, leaves one in fascinated awe”.

 Here some eloquent comments from the Club House’s visitors book:

"The most beautiful and dramatic golf course in the world"

"If God had to choose a golf course to play: This would be it"

"Fantastic. What an experience"

"Absolutely unforgettable"

“Without a doubt, Asia's most amazing golf course”

Go and have a look for detailed information: The Himalayan Golf Course

Photo: The Himalayan Golf Course

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GUZAARISH - WHEN A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE TOUCHES YOU

In India, we are continuously bombarded with cheap, boring and meaning less Bollywood movies. It is true. There is one good movie a year, two must be an exception. It seems that tireless directors work 24x7 to bring on the screen pitiful script and dubious talented actors. Ingredients are always the same: masala, famous movie stars and unwanted dialogues. The target of spectators is considered brainless or incapable to reach a certain level of sophisticated reasoning and brave enough to not leave the cinema hall or burn it!

But once in a year, great directors like Anurag Kashyap, Mani Ratnam, Ashutosh Gowarikar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, remind me that Indian Cinema is far beyond what we usually get from the western word. Great movies always have a brilliant lighting and dynamic camera, powerful dialogues, spectacular background score and excellent editing. If the story disappoint you, at least one of those components make the movie unique in is genre. Those directors rarely disappoint a sensible public. 

Guzaarish is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who choose one of the best and hottest duet in Bollywood: Aishwaria Rai-Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan. 
The story is set in Goa, mostly in a splendid Portuguese style's mansion where Ethan Mascarenhas (Hrithik Roshan), a former magician who is paralyzed from neck down, live under the care of Sofia D'Souza (Aishwarya Rai), his nurse for the past twelve years. 

On the fourteenth anniversary of his accident, he decide to file an appeal to the court for euthanasia and thanks of his hobby as a Radio Jockey he starts to speak openly and look for support in the country. Both stubborn and strong characters, in the beginning they fight each other because of the drastic decision made by Ethan but at the end true love brings them together as invincible warriors.   

The film is so well made that it is impossible not to be touched by the love and the drama in it. It is a cry for help, for comprehension and for a dignitose death. 
It is unquestionably contemporary.
Lets watch it!

  

Images: Bollysite

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INTERVIEW AT THE CASTLE RESORT IN POKHARA-NEPAL

The Castle Resort is one of the best choices between Hotels that the Lakeside - Pokhara offers. Situated on top of a hill, it gives you the best view, peace and serenity impossible to find anywhere else. 

The architecture of The Castle Resort appears exactly like a castle on top of a hill and a gentle European couple - Joe and Sofia - who brought a pinch of Ireland and Portugal in Nepal, owns it.

The heated swimming pool, the Ping-Pong table, the dartboard, the badminton court and the huge trampoline are great time pass for kids and even for grown ups.

Besides the outstanding hospitality, the excellent staff and the attention for particulars, what really makes the difference here at The Castel Resort is the kitchen: the assorted menu offers continental and Nepalese food and the dish are cooked by the hands of enviable experience…indeed the most exigent mouth will be satisfied!

Here is how Joe presents The Castle Resort through a short interview:

How did you and Sofia choose Pokhara and decided to build The Castle Resort?

After traveling extensively through Asia, we kept returning to Nepal and especially back to Pokhara. One day we walked up this small hill and sat on the scrubby grass admiring the view and thought we could do something here!

For how many years have you been running The Castle Resort?
Once we had formed a limited company in Kathmandu with the object of running a tourist resort whereby, we could own 100% of the Company’s shares. We spent some years levelling the rice terraces and building The Castle. We opened ten years ago.

          
What kind of atmosphere we can find at The Castle Resort?

A convivial friendly relaxing atmosphere where you can lay on your hammock in your private garden or by the pool and in the evening come to Branigan’s Irish Pub to discuss your projects and find out from others guest where they had been and what different areas on Nepal and India are like and share their experiences.

What is the difference about The Castle Resort in comparison to the other thousand Hotels in Pokhara?

Most Hotels are one building with corridors to the rooms. The Castle Resort in comprised of different rooms and lodges separated from each other by gardens and walk ways. We also grow our own vegetables using natural fertilizer; we use local material such as bamboo, straw and stone. The Castle Resort is an Eco-Resort.

What would you choose between a kitchen which serves delicious food and a pub filled with the best liquors?

My wife would definitely choose the kitchen with delicious food. I would choose a pub filled with the best liquors. However we do not have to choose as we have both here at The Castle Resort.

Since you know Pokhara very well, what would you suggest to not miss in the valley?

Different people have different tastes, some likes temple and stupas. There are some great examples in Pokhara. Others, day walks, boating, lively bars in the evenings. Then there is always kayaking, rafting and paragliding for the adventure seekers. My wife loves to play golf and here in Pokhara we have one of the most unique golf course in the world, The Himalayan Golf Course. We organize all these activities for our guest including day trips, picnics and trekking anywhere in the Himalayas.

Website: www.pokharacastle.com
E-mail: pokharacastle@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: +977-061-461926, +977-9856020784, +977-9851077780
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCastleResortPokhara

Photo: The Castle Resort

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GOA IS A STATE OF MIND

Goa, between Karnataka and Maharashtra, is the smallest state in India, unique in its size and its charm. Goa is sun, sand, seafood, coconut trees, backwaters, casinos, party, extravagance, elegance and much more… Goa is a State of Mind.

My suggestion: rent a bullet and EXPLORE it!

Up to the North and into Trance

Anjuna, Vagator and Chapora. Here’s where the first hippies came in the ’60, never left and transmuted to aliens. Here’s where you find the most famous Psychedelic Tribes, Psychedelic Music and Psychedelic Drugs of the world. Crazy-hot-looking girls wearing minimal leather’s clothes constantly fill up the narrowed roads riding Royal Enfield bullets. Jam-packed beaches play powerful and fast beat all daylong while people dance endlessly. Welcome to the realm of fluorescent colors and hallucinogenic designs.

Do not miss:

PARTY- Hill Top is a must for good psychedelic trance music, good vibes and good decorations. See also UV Bar, Shiva Valley and Blue Waves (Morgim).

BEACH- Morgim beach is where all Tribes hang out. Ashwem beach is where to relax. Go to Anjuna beach only for "Aperitivo's Time" and ask for Curlie’s shack.

FOOD- For Indian food visit Dum Biryani, for breakfast and sandwiches Munchies, both in Anjuna.  For Italian go to Lo Sfizio or Il Capriccio (Morgim). For posh go to La Plage (Morgim).

SHOPPING- Arpora’s Saturday Night Market and Anjuna’s Wednesday Night Market: Epic!

In the Centre and into Culture

Panjim (the capital) and Old Goa are the hearts of the Portuguese Colonialism, started on far 1510 and ended only on 1961. Here you find massive and bright white color churches, beautiful Portuguese baroque style building and wonderful villas. The capital has a European ambiance, which is different from most of the cities in India and often host cultural shows like the International Film Festival of India 2011.

Do not miss:

HERITAGE SITES- Old Goa; Tomb of St. Francis Xavier; Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception; Panjim Heritage Walk; Panjim Old Town: Fontainhas quarters and Ourem Creek.

FOOD- Hotel Fidalgo: 6 restaurants catering to all palates under one roof; Horse Shoe: a stylish Portugues-Goan restaurant that takes pride in its food; Viva Panjim: go for kingfish vindaloo and chicken cafreal.

SHOPPING- Velha Goa Galleria: for authentic Goan souvenirs; Syne Designer Boutique; Broadway: Goa’s largest bookstore.

Down to the South and into Relax

In the most peaceful atmosphere you can purify yourself doing yoga, eating delicious grilled fish and enjoying the genuine “beach life”.  This is Palolem Beach!

Do not miss:

BEACHES- Cabo de Rama, Turtle, Agonda and Patnem Beach.

Go for Posh

Nothing like the excellent obsequious manners, the exclusive word-class facilities and the best Ayurvedic Spa treatments of the greatest Hotel Chains in India.

North: Vivanta By Taj; Vivanta By Taj; Holiday Village Resort.

Center: Goa Marriot Resort.

South: Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa; Taj Exotica.

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