Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

They’ve just announced the release of the 8.9” version in the Galaxy Tab family but don’t rush out to buy it just yet. The upcoming version of the original 7-inch screen tab has hit US shores and should come to us very soon. The CPU is faster and runs the latest Android platform version. At 7”, you may even use it as your phone, if you don’t mind looking like a huge geek.
Spec: 7” PLS LCD 1024x600 screen | 345g | 1.2GHz dual-core processor | 16GB, 32GB | 1GB RAM | Android 3.2 Honeycomb
Price: Starts from US$399. Singapore availability TBA.

Sony Tablet S

Another Android-based tablet, Sony’s wedge shape design offers better handling and actually slightly tilts the screen towards you when laid on a flat surface, for easier viewing. Of course, there’s a 0.3MP webcam and 5.11MP camera on the back. An added bonus is the device also comes with an infrared remote control function and is PlayStation Certified meaning you’ll be able to play a handful of games unavailable on other Android devices.
Spec: 9.4” TFT LCD 1280x800 | 598-625g. | 1GHz dual-core processor | 16GB, 32GB | 1GB RAM | Android 3.1-3.2 Honeycomb
Price: $668-798 from Sony Store.

ASUS EEE Slate B121

Most tablets try to avoid head-on competition with the iPad by boasting smaller, more portable 7” screens. Not the Asus, whose 12.1” LED backlit display and 178 degree viewing angle make for a more pleasant outdoor read. This one’s a powerful business tool too—you can fix it up with an external display in seconds via mini HDMI and it also supports Adobe Flash 10.3, so chances of you getting an error message while trying to present a cleverly embedded video is close to zilch. The one-year unlimited ASUS Web Storage is also pretty nifty for working in the “cloud”. It’s a hefty load but offers impressive storage space.
Spec: 12.1” LED-backlit WXGA screen | 1.16kg | 1.33 GHz dual-core processor |64GB SSD | 4GB RAM | Windows 7 Professional
Price: $1,699 from Best Denki

Amazon Kindle Fire

It’s been a tough few months for Apple with Steve Jobs dying and the iPhone 4S disappointment. The Kindle Fire also came out, with a color multi-touch, anti-reflective screen that’s a far-cry from the black and white Kindles of yore. Apart from the low price, the Amazon store is the big draw.
Spec: 7” IPS 1024x600 | 413g. | 1GHz dual-core processor | 8GB | 512MB RAM
Price: US$199, from Amazon.com

1.) Infused with shea butter, vitamin E and walnut powder, the Shea Butter Foot Scrub from Donna Chang claims to get rid of old rough skin in a quick three-minute scrub. B540.
2.) The H2O+ Pumice Foot Scrub contains micro-refined pumice sand and moisture-rich marine botanicals that work to rehydrate your skin after scrubbing away at the dead stuff. B780.
3.) Burt’s Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub isn’t just meant for your feet; it’s a luxurious all-body scrub, especially if you have sensitive skin that can’t handle intense exfoliating ingredients. B1,150
4.) If you’re on a budget and also prefer online shopping, try Oriflame’s Feet Up Exfoliating Foot Scrub which contains almond shell grain, as well as natural extracts of salvia and almond oils. B229.
5.) Peppermint Cooling Pumice Foot Scrub from The Body Shop, B450. Suited to all skin types, this intense exfoliating gel-based scrub is made with volcanic rock and contains peppermint cooling oil.

Essentials

Burt’s Bees. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 083-300-2554. www.burtsbees.co.th
Donna Chang. 1/F, Atrium Zone, CentralWorld, 02-640-7000. www.donna-chang.com
H2O+. 2/F, Siam Center, 02-658-1706. www.h2oplus.com
Oriflame. 02-715-1100. www.oriflame.co.th
The Body Shop. 2/F, Central Ladprao, 02-541-1727. www.thebodyshop.co.th
 

1.) Asus Eee Pad Slider

Most tablets try to avoid head-on competition with the iPad by boasting smaller, more portable 7” screens. Not the Asus, which is really a netbook cleverly disguised as a tablet. The touchscreen slides up to reveal a proper keyboard, which is a bit clunky but also really useful if you have real work to do. The one-year unlimited ASUS Web Storage is also pretty nifty for working in the “cloud.” GPS and cameras (5MP back, 1.2MP front) make this pad even more attractive.
Spec: 10.1” IPS 1280x800 screen | 960g. | 1GHz dual-core processor | 16GB | 1GB RAM | Android 3.1 Honeycomb
Price: B17,900. Try Pantip Plaza.

2.) Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

True just announced the release of the 8.9” version in the Galaxy Tab family but don’t rush out to buy it just yet. The upcoming version of the original 7-inch screen tab will be out in the US on Nov 13 and should come to our shores a few months later (we hope). The CPU is faster and runs the latest Android platform version. At 7”, you may even use it as your phone, if you don’t mind looking like a huge geek.
Spec: 7” PLS LCD 1024x600 screen | 345g. | 1.2GHz dual-core processor | 16GB, 32GB | 1GB RAM | Android 3.2 Honeycomb
Price: Starts from US$399. Thailand availability TBA.

3.) Lenovo IdeaPad A1 Tablet

Lenovo is slashing prices and looking to compete even with the budget-savvy Kindle Fire. A lot of the Kindle Fire’s draw comes from the Amazon digital store, which isn’t available in Thailand, so the Lenovo might make more sense to you. It does look better on paper thanks to the 3MP back camera and 0.3MP front camera.
Spec: 7” LED Glare 1024x600 | 400g. | 1GHz processor | 2GB, 16GB | 512MB 600MHz RAM | Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Price: US$229-249. Thailand availability TBA.

4.) Amazon Kindle Fire

It’s been a tough month for Apple with Steve Jobs dying and iPhone4s disappointment. The Kindle Fire also came out, with a color multi-touch, anti-reflective screen that’s a far-cry from the black and white Kindles of yore. Apart from the low price, the Amazon store is the big draw, though, and currently, it isn’t available in Thailand. Just like when the iPhone launched, and there was no Thai apple store, you’re going to need some American connections (or credit cards) to make this work.
Spec: 7” IPS 1024x600 | 413g. | 1GHz dual-core processor | 8GB | 512MB RAM
Price: US$199, from Amazon.com.

5.) Sony Tablet S

Another Android-based tablet, Sony’s wedge shape design offers better handling and actually slightly tilts the screen towards you when laid on a flat surface, for easier viewing. Of course, there’s a 0.3MP webcam and 5.11MP camera on the back. An added bonus is the device also comes with an infrared remote control function and is PlayStation Certified meaning you’ll be able to play a handful of games unavailable on other Android devices.
Spec: 9.4” TFT LCD 1280x800 | 598-625g. | 1GHz dual-core processor | 16GB, 32GB | 1GB RAM | Android 3.1-3.2 Honeycomb
Price: Starts from US$450 on Ebay.

6.) Huawei MediaPad

Go China! This device looks sharp with its aluminum body and tiny 0.4-inch thickness. The multi-touch HD screen also packs a punch. It runs on Android 3.2 and supports 3G and Wi-Fi. Software and apps like Huawei Office and Angry Birds are included, free of charge, and the cameras are 5MP (back) and 1.3MP (front). And best of all, it’ll be for sale in Thailand this year.
Spec: 7” IPS 1280x800 screen | 390g. | 1.2GHz dual-core processor | 8GB | 1GB RAM | Android 3.2 Honeycomb
Price: Expected to be B13,900.

Essentials

Deesawat. 11 Sukhumvit 24, 02-204-0547.
www.deesawat.com
Hoog. 919/3 Sukhumvit between Soi 49-51, 02-662-5050. www.hoogshop.com
Roi-In. 116/7 Soi Prasanmitr, Sukhumvit 23, 02-662-0132. www.roi-in.co.th
Yarrnakarn. 2/4 Soi Nang Linchi 4, Nang Linchi Rd., 02-678-3877. www.yarnnakarn.com
Yothaka. 3/F, Pong-Amorn Building, 1028/5 Rama 4 Rd., 02-679-8631. www.yothaka.com

1.) Maybelline

Usable on both eye and lip make up, you will need to shake the bottle a bit before use. The first wipe only has a small effect, and there are still some makeup stains left after the third wipe. It’s even harder when trying to remove waterproof mascara—so the trick is to hold the cotton pad to both of your eyes for 10-20 seconds before wiping. Its small size makes it handy for traveling.
Price: B159 for 70ml.

2.) L’Oreal

Similar to Maybelline, it needs a good shake before use, but we were able to effortlessly remove all eye makeup with just one swab. A few more strokes will be needed for thick waterproof mascara. The texture is pretty oily so you’ll need to finish off with some water-soaked cotton pads. Good only if you don’t wear too much makeup.
Price: B240 for 125ml.

3.) Boots Collagenese

This oil and water solution doesn’t do much on the first wipe. Eyeliner marks disappear only with a bit of force, and it fails to completely clean up masacara. Make sure you shut your eyes tightly when applying to avoid the ouch factor.
Price: B280 for 150ml.

4.) DHC Cleansing Oil

The color is a bit unusual until you realize that this product’s main ingredient is pure virgin olive oil. It is super greasy and you need to apply it with dry hands and face. Surprisingly, your eyes need to be rubbed pretty hard to wipe off all the makeup. That also means oil might get into your eyes, but there’s no irritation. With a little bit of water, the oil turns milky. After a thorough wash, pores feel narrower and skin smoother. Too bad its outrageously expensive
Price: B1,350 for 200ml.

5.) No. 7

A little bit oily but at the same time, the eyes feel hydrated, and the greasiness disappears pretty quickly. Only two wipes suffice to erase all the eyeliner marks. The pumping dispenser helps avoid unnecessary spilling. Its small bottle is also suited for travel kits.
Good if: You have money to spend, but you do it reasonably.
Price: B400 for 100ml

6.) Johnson’s Baby Oil

With this pure mineral baby oil, you can get rid of your eyeliner with a single wipe. More effort is necessary, though, if your lashes are covered with sticky waterproof mascara. Oily residue is inevitable so you might need to soak a cotton pad with water, and then wipe your eyes again to freshen up. Not good for facial makeup cleansing, obviously. Definitely no irritation even when some gets into your eyes. It’s super cheap, super easy to find and has other uses.
Price: B132 for 200ml.

7.) Cleansing Express

This cleansing lotion comes in clear liquid form and is free of alcohol, oil, and fragrance. One great thing about Cleansing Express is that it removes all the makeup on your face from eyes to lips in one step (and a few cotton pads) without having to wipe and scrub too many times. Just like when using a toner, dark smears on cotton pads are noticeable especially on a sweaty day. Skin feels cool and fresh after use, but we did feel a bit of eye irritation, too. Perfect if you’re a workaholic who goes home very late or a chic party animal with no energy left at the end of the night to painstakingly remove your make up.
Price: B380 for 300ml.

8.) Shu Uemura White Recovery Ex+

We fell in love with its beautiful packaging as soon as we saw it. Unlike other brands, the product requires dry skin for application. You’ll feel awfully greasy applying it and we find it a bit hard to wash off thoroughly and even harder to use when trying to rub off the eye makeup. But once we got to the finishing line, our skin felt super smooth and healthy. Although this is a one-step cleansing method that requires no other finishing products,the price is hardly justified.
Price: B3,800 for 450ml and B1,650 for 150ml.

9.) DHC Makeup Remover

The ratio of oil and other liquid ingredients is 1:1 so you do less work getting rid of regular eye cosmetics. It’s pretty easy to get most of your makeup off, but a bit more effort is needed to get at all the liner marks out. But somehow, the eye area ends up feeling fresh and healthy. No smell, no irritation.
Price: B620 for 120ml.

Bangkok international Couture Fashion Week: Oct 7-8, The River Promenade
ELLE Bangkok Fashion Week: Oct 11-16, CentralWorld

Essentials

Bottega Venetta. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-610-9808. www.bottegavenetta.com
DKNY Jeans. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0219. www.dknyjeans.com
Diesel. 1/F, Emporium, 02-664-8822. www.diesel.com
Dorothy Perkins. 3/F, Atrium Zone, CentralWorld, 02-613-1769. www.dorothyperkins.com
Greyhound Original. 3/F, Siam Center, 02-251-4917. www.greyhound.co.th
Gucci. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-TK. www.gucci.com
Karen Millen. 1/F, Siam Paragon, 02-610-7863. www.karenmillen.com
La Perla. 1/F, Gaysorn, 02-656-1792. www.laperla.com
Mango. 1/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000. www.mango.com
Miss Selfridge. 1/F, CentralWorld, 02-613-1703-4. www.missselfridge.com
Mulberry. M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-610-9449. www.mulberry.com
Steve Madden. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0298. www.stevemadden.com
Topshop. G/F, CentralWorld, 02-613-1660. www.topshop.com
www.siamsquare.co.th, 087-512-0682.

Masatomi Patisserie

3/F, 02-652-1977. Open daily 10am-7pm (until all the shops open in the mall, around Oct 2011, the shop will not be open on Sundays)
Chef and owner Tommy Rungnoppakunsi quit his job in marketing to take a patisserie course at the Cordon Bleu. Assisted by his co-chef, Busarin Itsarachai (also a Cordon Bleu alum), they blend their very classical French training with Japanese influences. For example, their Mont Blanc (B90) is made with sweet potato instead of chestnut puree. But what’s most exciting at Masatomi is the carefully crafted macarons. The lavender and white chocolate one (B45) is infused with real lavender, bringing floral notes to the sweet treat. As for the citrus cream cheese macaron (B35), it is made with yuzu, an East-Asian fruit with both lemony and orangey notes. Definitely a notch above the usual buttercream and jam fillings.

Pisila Lee

2/F, 02-650-4701. www.facebook.com/pisilalee. Open daily 10:30am-8:30pm
Fed up with fashion stores in community malls that try to impress you with cheap clothes from Platinum Mall? Well, here, the owner designs all the pieces, including the shoes. Made for ladies only, the style is urban vintage, with looks ranging from earthy printed t-shirts to charming, pink strapless dresses. As for the décor, the place looks retro with its white walls, painted with cute, colorful pastel patterns. Prices start from B1,290 for a printed t-shirt and around B3,000 for a dress. They also have a small selection of stationery and hair accessories.

Talk about i.T.

2/F, 02-652-0002. www.talkaboutit.in.th. Open daily 11am-9pm
Just like at iStudio, this shop offers geeky gizmos such as screen protectors (B100), iPad cases (from B1,700) or B22,900 speakers from Monster Beat Box. The real difference is that they are not shackled to Apple, and stock Motorola, Samsung and HTC tablets. One of our favorite discoveries was a line of retro handsets called John’s Phone, which reminded us of a simpler time when phones were used for talking rather than for Angry Birds (B3,600-4,100). On the whole, you can tell they’re really trying to stock products to differentiate themselves from iStudio and iBeat, which is a commendable effort in our book.

The Portico Langsuan

31 Soi Langsuan, Ploenchit, 02-652-1968. BTS Chitlom.

Spoonful Zakka & Café

2/F, 02-652-2278. www.spoonfulzakka.com. Open daily 11:00am-7:00pm
Standing right next to Pisila Lee, Spoonful is a concept store selling products for daily household use including stationery, kitchen items, home decoration pieces and a little bit of clothing. The main idea comes from the Japanese zakka culture: functional items with a kitschy, handicraft or retro touch. Apart from the cute, multi-purpose masking tapes, rubber stamps, notebooks and ceramics, the shop designs its own bags and garments from time to time. There’s also a mini-café decorated to blend in with the shop’s lovely atmosphere. Try their signature scones at B120 for two pieces or a piece of homemade Japanese cake at B125 with fruity tea (B90 for hot/cold).
 

Mulberry: 40th Anniversary 

by Mulberry Venetia Dearden. B2,995 from Asia Books
It’s been 40 years since the British brand Mulberry first stepped into the world of high-end fashion. Rather than just providing a dry history or timeline, this book combines text with stunning images of the important people and momentous occasions in the brand’s long journey.

Icons of Men’s Style

by Josh Sims. B986 from Kinokuniya
They tend to get overshadowed by women’s fashion, but the backbone pieces of men’s wardrobes each have intricate histories of their own. In this book, Josh Sims, a famous freelance fashion writer and contributor, shares the history of men’s staple pieces, from sharp suits to biker jackets.

Style Book: Fashionable Inspirations

by Elizabeth Walker. B995 from Bookazine
This collection of 472 images, handpicked and edited by long-time fashion editor Elizabeth Walker, and categorized into a dozen themes, will motivate and inspire your individual style. You’ll be browsing through iconic looks from famous stars like Diana Ross, Marilyn Monroe and Louis Armstrong to no-name fashionistas.

Food, Fashion, Friends

by Fleur Wood. B1,750 from Asia Books
Style isn’t just about what you put on your back; it’s also about how you drink and dine. Passionate about styles, parties and home-cooked meals, fashion designer Fleur Wood shows us ways to put together chic events, like wild birthday parties, sophisticated fondue dinners and afternoon teas in the conservatory with the girls.

Stylelikeu

by Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandelbaum. B850 from Asia Books
Starting out as an online fashion blog a la The Sartorialist, Stylelikeu focuses more on digging into the homes and closets of cool and fashionable people in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and London. So, rather than shots of people posing on the streets, the book demonstrates how individual lifestyles and fashion are related. Fortunately, the book keeps unreal celebs, models and pro stylists out of the pages, so what you’ll get is something you can really aspire to.

Balenciaga and spain

by Hamish Bowles. B1,995 from Asia Books
If you’re into more than just their chic shopping bag, this book tells you the story of how Spanish culture, history and art have influenced the legendary Christobal Balenciaga’s perspective towards fashion and his work. Filled with lots of beautiful photo illustrations, this book is for aspiring fashion designers and hi-so ladies who want to accessorize their B90,000 coffee tables.

Parisian Chic: A Style Guide

by Ines de la Fressange & Sophie Gachet. B986 from Kinokuniya
The French celeb model Ines de La Fressange, who was the first to sign a contract with Karl Lagerfeld in the 80s, reveals the top style secrets of Parisian women. The book contains tips on how to add stylish touches and charm to your life, as well as how to dress like a Parisian by mixing and matching without blowing your budget. There are also pages on Do’s and Don’ts, along with hand-drawn fashion images, some by the author herself.

Rebel Rebel: Anti Style

by Keanan Duffty & Paul Gorman. B795 from Asia Books
Two fashion experts study the personal styles of rebel icons like David Bowie, The Sex Pistols and Gwen Stefani and see how they have inspired today’s fashion, from the classic black leather jacket, to mini-skirts and jeans.

Essentials

Asia Books: Try 6/F, CentralWorld, 02-255-6209-10
Bookazine: Try 2/F, Silom Complex, 02-231-3153
Kinokuniya: Try 3/F, Siam Paragon, 02-610-9500

Tai Panich

9 Paholyothin 7, Ari Soi 1, 084-753-6162, Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm
After turning left at Phahonyothin Soi 7 (aka Ari), Tai Panich is a few shops into Ari Soi 1. One look at all the packed tables and all the pictures the owner has taken with celeb shows like Na-Nake and it’s obvious that the popular choice here is kao moo dang moo krob [red pork and crispy pork with rice] served with hot gourd soup (B40). The moo daeng is above average, but we especially love the crispy moo krob which has been fried to perfection. Other popular dishes are the yentafo and steamed chicken noodles (B40 each). The soup of the yentafo is a bit too sweet (we know some people love that) but the fish balls are very fresh and show little hint of being over-adulterated with flour.

Guay Tiew Ped Ari

2/2 Ari Soi 1, 085-338-6177. Open daily 10am-3pm
Offering only guay tiew ped (duck noodles), the shop looks like it’s been there forever and looks charmingly old. A bowl costs only B30 (B40 for takeaway) which is cheaper than other shops in the neighborhood. The soup tastes just right, not too salty, while the duck has been well steamed without making it too chewy. Be warned that unknown duck insides are also included and there’s only a tiny amount of veggies to be seen. A plate of duck costs B80 if you’d like to have it with rice.

Maliwan Kanom Thai

Beginning of Ari Soi 1, opposite Bodily Wax salon. Open daily 7am-3pm
For over 30 years, Maliwan Kanom Thai has been making fresh Thai desserts, running out by the end of lunchtime every day. They don’t accept phone orders so you better show up early and prepare for a short wait. The kow niew dum krati (black sticky rice with coconut milk, B15) is heavenly yummy, though the best sellers here are the kanom chan (layered rice flour and coconut milk snack, B15) which come in three colors: purple, brown and green. A box of look choob (bean paste filled miniatures) costs a bit more (B60) but the taste and the blend is just first-rate, without being too sweet.

Som Tam Loong Yom

End of connecting sois between Ari Soi 1 and 2, 087-685-2213. Open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm
One of the legendary somtam places in Ari, Som Tum Loong Yom is not only popular among the office workers around the area, but plenty of expats come in for an Isaan lunch feast as well. The B30 somtam pu plara and somtam Korat taste authentic, and their huge bowl of tasty tom saeb (Thai spicy soup with pork ribs and mushroom) is a mere B50. What can’t be missed here is the B60 scrumptious grilled beef, served with the spicy jim jaew sauce.

Roti Kow Wang

Ari Soi 1, 087-123-4194.
If you stroll along Ari Soi 1, you’ll come across this small cart selling roti. Choose between a B15 ordinary roti or B25 for one with extra egg or banana, and B30 for a mataba. The original thick and soft roti is nice but the extra crispy one is super. The owner makes the crust extra crispy and not overly-done, which tastes perfectly well with the sweetened milk and lots of sugar on top.

We’re getting a little tired of mentioning how new community malls remind us of Palio in Khao Yai. Still, The Circle Ratchapruk has also embraced with the whole concept of an Italian-inspired shopping village. But we don’t mind too much: we still prefer The Circle to Palio, because there’s no need to drive three hours to take in the faux European atmosphere. As for the shops, it’s hit or miss: there are a lot more than at Palio, but only some are true gems. Not that the hordes of suburban moms and hi-so residents seem to mind.
The place is divided into four zones: Main Street, Basil Street, which is where most of the restaurants are, Orchid Street, and Fern Finale, which largely has fashion boutiques and ladies’ accessories.

Our favorite by far is Fern Finale, where all the fashion shops are, focusing mainly on women’s wear and brand name accessories. We adore the vintage swimming suits (starting from B3,000) from Bling Bling and its own chic-abbaew styles. All with quality comparable to Thai designer brands like Greyhound since they hire the same tailoring company to do the cutting. You might be a bit disappointed though if you expect more of this, since 90 percent of the shops only stock imported Korean outfits and brand name bags (both new and secondhand).

Orchid Street is a bit random, though there are a few craft-style shops like Momotara and Nukoy selling knitting and scrapbook accessories. There’s also Scissors, a modern hair salon that’s been endorsed by many Thai celebs like Pancake and Lula. Shampoo and dry starts at just B150 only and it’s B350 for a haircut. Orchid Street also houses a few spas.

We don’t recommend spending too much time on Main Street, although it does have some necessities, such as a Tops Daily supermarket, a pharmacy and small bank branches. Foodwise, there are some cheap and cheerful chains like Seefah, Miss Mamon (which sells cakes and pearl tea) and a McDonald’s Drive-Thu (open 24/7). Other than that, it’s lots of cafes, a few laundry shops and a yoga studio. There is, however, a cute shop, Print Thing, which sells tablet and phone cases, and you can even have them print pictures and graphics onto anything you want for B200.

Basil Street, too, is home to mostly chain restaurants like Banana Leaf, Katsu King, MK, Scoozi and Tohkai Yakiniku. There’s also the new brand somtam place, Somtum Dokrak which serves healthy Isaan food starting from B80 for somtam Thai pooh. Most exciting, however, is the Korean buffet at Kimju (B288 for pork and chicken and B388 to also get beef and seafood).

Shops aside, there are little kiosks all over the place. Try Kum-Kom where Thai traditional toys and stationeries are turned into very cool gifts, starting B39.
39 Moo 13, Ratchapruk Rd., 02-865-6850. www.thecircle.co.th. Open daily 9am-10pm