Lighting

Angus Hutcheson,

founder/chief designer of Ango furniture designers

“One criterion for lighting the main living area is to have a couple of good sources of background lighting so that the mood can be varied by using them in different combinations with table lights, (1) floor lights and pendant lights. Another technique I like is to use exterior (2) lighting usually at a low level, which  illuminates the interior via glazed doors or glass block panels, maybe with plants used to partially diffuse the light. This helps to achieve a sense of perspective and enhanced depth. Try Nest table lights, cascadence ceiling lights, small hanging ceiling lights and three stone floor lights. Try G/F, Crystal Design Center, Praditrmanutham Rd., 02-102-2282.

Built-ins

Vasu Virajsilp,

co-founder of VaSLab architecture firm

“The walls in your condo play a huge role when it comes to space. One of the techniques is to have full-height storage walls with a built-in cabinet attached to them instead of having a big storage room. Using vertical space efficiently will keep a condo space neat and clean. At the same time, it maximizes the space we need horizontally. Frosted glass doors can be used for the cabinets; (3) they will make the room lighter by their reflective and translucent characteristics.”

Color

Rattapol Sakdamnuson,

Editor-in-chief of Room Magazine

To increase space, the walls of your room should be in light tones like white, grey or pastel which makes the room look brighter. Avoid using dark tones on areas like ceilings, but use them in certain areas of the room to add boldness. Another trick is using two shades of color on your wall by applying the dark color on the lower part going up to about 90 centimeters while painting the rest of the wall with light tones, like dark green with pastel green (4).

West Indian

The food: The most popular West Indian cuisine comes from Goa, which draws on Portuguese, Hindu and Muslim influences. When the Portuguese colonized the region some 400-500 years ago, they introduced a number of spices to the local food, the most important being chili. This legacy can be seen in a dish like vindaloo, which is derived from the Portugese carne de vinha d’ alhos (pork with garlic and wine), a fiery and flavorful affair. Also, due to its coastal location, the cuisine here features lots of fish and coconuts.
Have it at: Gaggan (68/1 Langsuan Rd., 02-652-1700. Open daily 6-11pm) has an unusual, modern take on this curry. Here, the sous-vide Iberian pork comes in a vindaloo reduction. It won’t taste particularly like what you’d get in India, but you can be assured of a very flavorful dish. Otherwise, try Bawarchi (InterContinental, Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-0102-3. Open daily 11am-midnight) for the traditional version of the dish.

East Indian

The food: The cuisine, derived from the Chinese community who lived in Kolkata, in East India, has spread throughout the world. The cooking techniques are similar to those used by the Chinese but with more spices added. Familiar dishes include fish in honey, chicken momo (chicken dumpling) and honey pepper cottage cheese, which have become favorites worldwide. The region is also famous for its seafood curries and grows lots of fruits and rice.
Have it at: Dragon Express (68 Sukhumvit Soi 21 [Asoke], 02-204-0588-9. www.dragonxpress.com. Open daily 11am-12pm) has all the aforementioned dishes (B109-B129) with delivery available until midnight. As for the curries, try the Bengali doi maach at Indus (71 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-4900. Open daily daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-11pm).

South Indian

The food: First and foremost, this is the land of the vegetarian. There’s also a really big focus on rice, which forms the basis of almost everything, including the popular papadum (flatbread) and rasam (spice soup and tomato). As with other regions, spices play a big part here, particularly in Hyderabadi cuisine, where the biryani is a bit spicier than elsewhere.
Have it at: Rang Mahal (26/F, Rembrandt, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7100. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-11pm), whose biryani dish is made the original way—coating the meat (they also have the vegetarian version) in many homemade spices before putting it on a layer of rice and steaming it in a really tight clay pot. Also, drop by Shri Ganesha (392/23-24 Sukhumvit Soi 20/1, 02-258-1425. Open daily 10am-10pm) for the dahi vada (lentil donuts dunked in spiced yogurt) which are a great light, yet complex, appetizer and the wonderfully crispy rava masala dosa (oniony rice crepe with spicy potatoes). Both are made to order and come with the fiery Southern dish sambhar (lentil soup with vegetables) and chutneys.

North Indian

The food: Now the most ubiquitous style of Indian cookering found globally. The food here is characterized by its richness and use of dairy—both milk and cheese befitting their cold winters. Popular examples include chaat (tangy vegetarian salads involving tamarind, yogurt and cilantro chutneys) and rogan josh (mutton cooked with thin dark sauces).
Have it at: Saras (15 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-401-8484. www.saras.co.th. Open daily 11am-11pm) serves a typical Punjabi farmer’s dish, sarson ka saag (mustard leaves and spices) with makki ki roti (corn flour flatbread). Another top choice for Northern cuisine is Hazara (29 Sukhumvit Soi 38, 02-713-6049. www.facebars.com. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-11pm); try their tender and complex rogan josh amid the stunning décor.

El Gaucho Argentinian Steakhouse

Arriving in Bangkok from Vietnam late last year, El Gaucho features two levels—a bar plus outside deck downstairs, and a main dining area upstairs. Amid an upbeat Latin soundtrack, the vaguely Argentinean-themed joint serves up signature dishes like homemade chorizo (beef or pork, B790). As for your mains, the beef is mainly imported from Australia and the US and ranges from a simple B900 rib eye to a B4,390 wagyu filet mignon.
8, 8/1-7 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-255-2864. Open daily noon-midnight

The District

This new upscale steakhouse is all about American-style grilling. The District’s modern and elegant setting takes its cues from New York while all the cuts of beef are from Queensland, Australia. The menu is brief, but the aim is to be a steakhouse where you don’t have to spend quite as big as elsewhere. The beef here is not all priced at B2,000-plus; rather, expect to pay around B1,350 for the tenderloin (180 grams).
2/F, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, 2 Sukhumvit Soi 57, 02-797-0000. Open daily 6-11pm

Peter’s Pan

Not exactly a new place, but Peter’s Pan has just moved from Chaengwattana to chase more of the spotlight in town. The comfy and homey space is decorated with the owners’ personal antique collection. The kitchen serves American-style steak, with recommendations including prime ribs (B1,500) and surf and turf (B1,800). There’s also a three-course set lunch at B490.
2/F, Mille Malle, Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-663-4560-1. Open daily 11am-2pm; 5-11pm

Avenue New York Grill

While it may look like a French-style bistro, Avenue New York Grill is a real deal steakhouse. The brief menu is replete with classics. The steaks are pretty affordable, too: wagyu beef flank steak (B495), Thai tenderloin (B395) and Australian tenderloin (B850). Drop by during happy hour (6-7pm) for the buy-one-get-one-free deal on beers and a complimentary steak sandwich.
156 Sukhumvit Soi 16, 086-050-6355. www.steakhousebangkok.com. Open daily 11:30am-2pm; 6-11pm

Nikon has just updated its rugged waterproof camera with the release of the AW110 compact shooter. Its pretty much the same as its older brother (the AW100) but the Wi-Fi and deeper diving capacity are welcome add-ons.

Pros

(+) Full-featured GPS with mapping, altimeter, barometer and electronic compass.
(+) Built-in Wi-Fi to upload photos to your social networks by syncing the camera to an app available on Apple’s iOS and Android.
(+) A macro mode that can go so close, you can touch your subject with the lens.
(+) Quick start-up to shoot the first shot.
(+) Increased toughness and durability with resistance to water up to 18 meters deep, drops up to 2 meters high, temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius and dust.
(+) Dedicated video recording button.

Cons

(-) Menu buttons are small, making them hard to operate while wearing gloves, a serious drawback if you’re in the cold or enjoying watersports.
(-) Image quality, particularly noise in low light, can’t compare with more advanced compacts.
(-)  A bit slow to show pictures on its screen when using some of the more advanced functions.
(-) Focus on moving objects and underwater is sometimes sluggish, too.
(-) The Wi-Fi only allows you to sync with a smartphone, not directly over Wi-Fi or even to a laptop. Also it only works if the battery is over the 40% limit.
(-) No RAW file format for the wannabe pros.

Verdict: If you don’t want to trash your S4 or iPhone 5 when running wild on the beach or diving under the sea, the AW110 is an interesting great outdoors or extreme sports option. Unfortunately, outside of scenarios where its ruggedness gives it an edge, it’s otherwise a pretty lackluster camera. Before buying, you might also want to consider the Olympus TG-2’s whose wide aperture (f/2.0) and lens (25mm equivalent) look pretty tempting.

Specs: 16MP, 1,080p HD video, 5x digital zoom, 28mm wide angle, F/3.9-4.8.

Available colors: Black, blue, orange and camouflage.

Price: B12,990

2B Bread & Brown Coffee

6/F, Emporium, Sukhumvit Soi 24. BTS Phrom Pong. Open daily 10:30am-9:30pm.
For those without a TCDC membership, not to worry, 2B Bread & Brown Coffee (located in front of TCDC) is a cozy café that offers free Wi-Fi and plugs for you to charge your laptop. Buy a drink and you can sit there for pretty much the whole day without the staff giving you a hard time.

De Sky Cafe & Cuisine

5/F, Digital Gateway, 0-2623-4188. BTS Siam. Open daily 11am-10pm
Quiet, decent food and reasonably priced drinks. Added bonus: watching the Skytrain go by when you’ve got writer’s block.

Chaho

4/F Atrium zone, in front of Zen, CentralWorld, 02-613-1458. Open daily 10.30am - 9.00pm
Traditional matcha green tea latte frappucino, delicious green tea cakes and yummy green tea ice-cream. You do like green tea, don’t you?

Montra Cafe

1/F, Yada Bldg., 56 Silom Rd., 02-652-4462. Open Mon-Fri 8am-midnight, Sat-Sun 11am-midnight
It’s a restaurant, no it’s a jewelry shop, no it’s a coffee shop, no it’s a workshop for mascot suits. Well, it’s all that, actually.

Maruey Library

MRT Queen Sirikit Exit 3, Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-229-2063-65. Open Sun-Thu 8:30am-11pm Fri-Sat 8:30am-12am.
Situated in the Stock Exchange of Thailand Building, Maruey Library is divided into two floors, the first floor where talk is allowed and the second for those seeking complete silence. The place offers only plug sockets and is open every day, even on national holidays, with no entry fee.

Nikko Café

Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-381-5291. Open daily 1pm-12am.
Opened in February, this Japanese-inspired café offers international and fusion dishes in a minimal open-plan setting with an airy terrace and plenty of greenery. Apart from that, it also offers free Wi-Fi, perfect for working out of home.

Cafe Kaldi

3/F, Esplanade, Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-660-9256. Open daily 10am-10pm
This Japanese-style café has plugs for your laptop. Definitely a nice touch.

SCG Experience

Pradit manutham Rd., 02-101-9922. Open daily 10:30am-9pm.
Behind the deconstructionist façade, you’ll find four hours of free Wi-Fi upon registration. B600 gets you a two-year membership with unlimited Wi-Fi, plus access to a library of design and architecture books.

Coffe Society

12/3 Silom Rd (close to Silom Soi 2)., 02-235-9784. BTS Saladaeng. Open 24 hours.
This café/restaurant doesn’t only offer American and Thai dishes, but also offers free Wi-Fi and is conveniently located a few minutes’ walk from Saladaeng BTS Station.

The Library

Sukhumvit 24, 0-2259-2878. BTS Prompong. Open daily 7am-9pm.
A cozy Japanese-looking cafe located right in the middle of town and if you don’t own an iPad and need some inspiration, they have—gasp—books.

The Garden Gallery and Café Neilson Hays Library

195 Surawong Rd., 02-233-1731. Open Tue-Sun 9am-6pm.
Although you have to be a member to enter the library (fees vary according to age, with adults above 22 starting at B1,900 for six months), the place is also home to a quiet contemporary open-plan café that offers free Wi-Fi.

The Third Place

137-137/1 Thong Lor Soi 10, 02-714-7929. Open daily 9am-10pm. www.thirdplacebangkok.com  
B120 gets you a choice of beverage and unlimited Wi-Fi at this friendly working space equipped with office appliances and meeting rooms.