Getting There

Yasothon is 531 kilometers from Bangkok—that means a 7-hour drive on Mitraphab Rd. You can also take a bus from Mochit Bus Terminal (02-936-2852/-66, www.transport.co.th): the fare for an air-con VIP bus is B599 one-way.

Stay Here

J.P Emerald Hotel (36 Prapa Rd., Muang, 045-724-848/-55. www.jpemeraldhotel) is probably the only “starred” accommodation in Yasothon. Located on the bank of the Chee River, close to government offices, the hotel offers clean rooms decked out with standard facilities.

Eat Here

Sok Lek Ong Chai 4 (Whittaya Thamrong Rd.) prepares raw beef Isaan style, with a very sour red sauce. However carnivorous this specialty may sound, we’re just as impressed with the vegetable baskets, brimming with vibrant greens under the harsh Northeastern sun.

See This

The Ban Khum Singha Tha community, located by Wat Singha Tha, has gorgeous shophouses, some with elaborate decorations, not unlike Phuket Town.

For more travel info, contact TAT call center 1672 and http://tiny.cc/huys6

1. Bright colors are the key look for this summer. If you can’t resist wearing plain colors like black, at least hold onto some colorful accessories. This can be your purse, shoes, nails, scarf, watch, or even a hair ornament. Just make it pop.

2.  Paint your lips in exciting colors like neon orange, splashy red, or wild pink. Try M.A.C or Make Up For Ever (M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000).

3.  Sunglasses are forever and will always be one of the most essential accessories for the sunny season. The best look for this year is retro, or big and bold. But if you like something more daring, then cat-eye shades are a must. Try Calvin Klein Woman or grab one from Platinum Fashion Mall (222, Petchaburi Rd., 02-121-8000) at only B100.

1. Mayisell, B3,800
2. Louis Vuitton, B73,200
3. Crumpler, B5,290
4. Mink, B450
5. Mayisell, Herring Bone, B7,500
6. Sneaka Villa, B650

Essentials

Sneaka Villa. Trendy Zone 2/F, 226/7 Siam Square Soi 2, 089-168-6336. BTS Siam
Timo Editions. B3,000 at BOYY store, G/F, Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., BTS Chit Lom
Crumpler. 2/F, Seed Camera, Pantip Plaza, Petchburi Rd., 089-966-4440. www.seedcam- era.com
Louis Vuitton. G/F, Gaysorn, 02-656-1010. BTS Chit Lom
Mink. http://tiny.cc/e7d1e, 088-871-7520 Mayisell. www.mayisell.com, 087-795-0041

1. Timo Editions. B3,000 at BOYY store, G/F, Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., BTS Chit Lom
2. PlatinumX Board Shorts. B2,390 at Billabong, 1/F, CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., BTS Chit Lom
3. Anda Swim Trunks. B1,550 at Painkiller, 3/F, Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., BTS Siam
4. Swim shorts. B1,950 at Top Man, 2/F, Beacon Zone, CentralWorld, Ratchaprasong, BTS Chit Lom
5. 2eros ICON. B2,960 at This Shop for Men, Silom City Walk (next to Yada Bldg.), Silom Rd., BTS Sala Daeng

Deadmau5, the reigning king of elaborate DJ sets complete with lasers, strobe lights and a raised platform takes on SCAPE* "live" to bring his chart-topping hits like "Ghost n Stuff" and "Faxing Berlin" for an audio-visual spectacle like no other.

Broadway actor Bruce Kuhn will be giving an acclaimed theatrical rendtiion of the famed novelist, Leo Tolstoy works in Tales of Tolstoy.

Two techno legends in one club? Get out of town! Or alternatively you could head to Zouk to catch Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May playing side by side. Your move!

Don't miss soft rock duo Air Supply whom has continued to touch the hearts of generations with their classic ballads.

Be amazed as the classical Korean folklore Shim Chung is told through a modern ballet rendition in this performance of high calibre by the University Ballet of Korea.

Always wanted to do your bid for mankind like a superhero would? Now you can at Project Hammer's Superheroes & Villians Party with all proceeds going to children chairty in Cambodia.

London’s West End performer Billy Geraghty take on a compelling impersonation of Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis in this acclaimed production.

Catch the New York indie band The Drums as they rattle the dancefloor over at St James.

The rock chick Avril Lavigne returns to Singapore promising an all out assault on her tour.

Dick Lee makes a comeback to stage based on his autobiography, The Adventures of the Mad Chinaman.

Bobbi Brown BB CreamSPF 35 PA+++ 

Price: B1,250
Features: Skincare and makeup all in one tube with three shades available. It also helps tighten up pores and reduces wrinkles and the red bruises caused by acne.
We feel: We like how it’s oil-free and works like a BB cream or makeup foundation. Although the skin initially shines with a celeb aura, a follow-up application may be needed since the sheen dims after a couple of hours.

Darphin Vital Protection Age Defying Lotion SPF 50

Price: B3,000
Features: Combines sun filters and anti-oxidants to help protect the skin against UV rays and the pollution that causes premature skin aging.
We feel: Silky texture, oil-free and great absorption. This product is a great skin moisturizer.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream for Face SPF 50 PA+++

Price: B1,450
Features: Oil-free broad spectrum protection, applicable even on sensitive skin. Helps moisturize for up to 8 hours.
We feel: The texture is watery smooth and we like the relaxing aromatic scent. The skin feels a little oily at the application stage and complete absorbtion takes about 10 minutes but it leaves no residue or streaks.

Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30+

Price: B1,350
Features: Applicable on both face and body, the product goes beyond SPF and PA (see Lotion Lowdown), and also filters UVC rays as well. Containing vitamin C, anti-oxidants, avocado, and jojoba oil, the cream promises to sustain your skin’s youthful appearance and prevent moisture loss during the day.
We feel: Requires several rubs to get the cream in fully and might turn your skin a little bit oily. The lotion gives off a gentle floral smell and is a good skin moisturizer.

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Daily Face Shield SPF 40+

Price: B1,350
Features: “Adaptogens” allow the skin to adapt to extreme heat or cold. The cream combines the preservative paraben, a fragrance, and is oil free.
We feel: Due to its light and milky texture, the lotion absorbs easily and helps smooth the skin just a few minutes after application.

Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++

Price: B1,500
Features: Powerful sun blocking system with skin rejuvenating ability that helps reduce the wrinkles caused by sun exposure, while the Hyaluronic acid works to moisturize the skin. The product is water-resistant so good for outdoor sporty types.
We feel: Very watery and great instant absorption. The skin feels a tiny bit oilier and powder-coated, but also a bit brighter, which gives the face a nice shine.

H2O+ Face Oasis hydrating lotion SPF 30

Price: 2,280
Features: Water-based and oil-free sun protection with the brand’s signature seaweed extracts that help moisturize the skin.
We feel: The texture is very watery adding plenty of moisture to the skin. The gel might make your face feel a little sticky at first but it vanishes as it’s absorbed, leaving a soft and oil-free skin.

Shiseido Multi-Defense UV Protector SPF 50 PA+++

Price: B1,500
Features: The hydro-restoring complex helps moisturize the skin and there’s the protection of two anti-oxidants: thiotaurine and rose apple leaf extract. It also claims to help conceal and brighten up any blemished or dull skin and is water-resistant.
We feel: Easy to apply and instant absorption thanks to the light and non-sticky texture. Face remains oil-free thoughout the day.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA+++ 

Price: B450
Features: Water-based, it combines Hyaluronic acid and citrus essence from fruit extracts, which help retain moisture, soften the skin, and block both UVA and UVB rays.
We feel: The creamy-gel turns into a clear liquid as soon as it touches the skin. Excellent oil-control, good absorption, smells great.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Lotion SPF 15

Price: B1,480
Features: Contains royal jelly and eight other essential ingredients: amino acids, vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D and E along with niacin and folic acid which helpnuture and maintain young looking skin.
We feel: We love the smell and how it’s easily absorbed, but it may leave a slightly oily and sticky sensation after application for a few minutes.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion SPF 50+PA +++ 

Price: B495
Features: Contains a patented broad spectrum sun protection formula they claim offers longer lasting protection.
We feel: The pink creamy liquid turns transparent and becomes powder-like instantly after application. Fast-absorbed, though the skin can be a bit oily in the first few minutes, but that feeling usually disappears in about an hour.

Lotion Lowdown

SPF. Sun Protection Factor, or how much of UVB rays the lotion blocks. An SPF of 15 means you can stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning.
PA. The lotion’s capacity to block UVA rays, measured in one to three plus (+) signs. More signs indicate better protection.
Broad Spectrum. The ability to block both UVA and UVB rays.
It’s recommended that you apply sun screen at least 20 minutes before exposure to sunlight.

Looking for the Best Ramen Restaurants in Bangkok? Look here.

Taishoken

This chain was established in Tokyo, Japan more than 50 years ago by the God of Ramen, Kazuo Yamagishi, inventor of tsukemen, also known as dipping ramen in Japan (or morisoba). Thanks to the success of Taishoken, tsukemen has now become one of the most popular versions of ramen in Japan. This shop also has a sibling at K-Village called Ganso Tsukemen Yamagishi whose name came from a ramen chef who learned the recipe directly from Yamagishi.
Champion Bowl: Tsukemen tonkatsu shoyu (B260) is served in a set of two bowls. One comes with shiny yellow noodles while the other is a fragrant bowl of thick, dark soup with big chunks of pork and a hard boiled-egg. If you want some extra heat, they also do a spicy version served with chili, pork and miso.
Our take: A bit like a saltier palo ramen at first, but the dense and thick stew adds so much texture and depth to the dish, our noodles were all gone before we knew it.

Tsujita 

Open in Tokyo in 2003 and one of the most famous ramen shops in Japan, Tsujita’s secret weapon is its slow-cooked pork and chicken bones mixed with fish, vegetable and other ingredients. Simmered for at least 12 hours until it becomes brown, thick and covered with a layer of shiny oil, it is then served in tsukenmen (dipping ramen) style. Are you a newbie? They have their own way of eating ramen printed as easy to follow instructions on the wall.
Champion Bowl: Using their ordering machine, get a bowl of nidaime tsukemen (B260). The tsukemen comes with two bowls, hot thick soup and ramen noodles with a slice of lime and paper-thin seaweed on top. The gravy-like soup is packed with slices of grilled pork (chashu) which go perfectly with the chewy noodles. Don’t put the lime juice in right away. As they suggest, the best way to taste it is to add it when you’re halfway through. It refreshes your taste buds, cuts the fat, and the lime doesn’t get cooked. Their hanjuku egg is also great!
Our take: We love our soup fatty so we don’t really need the limey gimmick to enjoy this great broth.

Shodai Keisuke

Another Tokyo original, this black soup is cooked from fish mixed with seven types of miso (fermented soya beans). It owes its unique color to the bamboo charcoal used in its preparation, an ingredient believed to have detoxifying properties. We also learned that Shodai Kesuke’s chef, Keisuke Takeda, is a celebrity chef who originally trained in French cooking but grew famous with his innovative ramen and Japanese recipes.
Champion Bowl: The tontoro chashu kuro kwami (B280) is a black, dense, shiny broth—impressive—topped with a slice of hard-boiled egg and chashu, seaweed and saffron. They also have instructions on how to best enjoy your black ramen: start with the yellow ramen noodles, then add more peppers and chili as you progress through the bowl. The chef also recommends you finish the soup with a bowl of rice.
Our take: Big as a washbowl, to finish the soup with rice you’d have to be starving. A fantastic ramen overall, both for aroma and taste. You’ll soon forget the slightly creepy color.

Kibi

Kibi’s ultimate selling point is that its chicken soup contains natural collagen. A soup that makes your skin look better? What great marketing! Before the soup becomes this thick and rich, the chef has to simmer some 60 kilograms of chicken bones for two days. The result, a delicious golden-colored soup.
Champion Bowl: Paitung ramen (B290) is topped with grilled-pork and chicken, a hard-boiled egg, bamboo shoots and saffron.
Our take: Though the toppings are nice, the soup is so rich and the color so appealing, it’s gotta be what the doctor ordered: a chicken soup a day. While a soup this fatty might require a spin on the treadmill, it’s definitely worth it. Don’t miss out on their fresh iced uji (shaved-ice with red beans, B90).

Gokumiso Ramen

This is a collaboration of two popular ramen places: Sukeya and Ginya. Sukeya is famed for its tonkatsu ramen served in a dense pork bone soup while Ginya’s miso ramen achieves a perfect mix of spices and miso according to the grandma’s original recipe from Nagano, Japan’s miso capital.
Champion Bowl: Based on a concentrated miso soup mixed with spices, gokumiso ramen (B180) is served topped with stired-fried pork with spices and chili oil, a slice of pork, bean sprouts and corns.
Our take: The bowl is perfect for ramen lovers who love spices, as the soup, when mixed with stir-fried pork, gives a smell which is a bit like Indian cooking and goes well with the thick noodles. Don’t like spices? Give it a pass.

Setagaya

Another Tokyo import, this fish soup uses dried herrings and Vietnamese salt they claim is the world’s best. There’s also shoyu and braised pork bone for a full umami flavor.
Champion Bowl: The Setagaya Ramen (B270) comes in two styles, shuyu or salt soup. Toppings include grilled pork, bamboo shoot, seaweed and two slices of boiled egg—or add chopped onions for a sweeter, more fragrant broth.
Our take: Despite the pleasing red color and all the hype regarding the exotic ingredients, this soup is a bit of a disappointment. Salty but non-fatty, it’s a sad, diet ramen. Still, their boiled egg is better than others.

Ramen Champion, Arena 10, Thonglor Soi 10. Open Sun-Thu 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-3am

Elsewhere

NEW> Chabuton

Recently, you might have seen a bunch of people waiting in front of a small ramen place next to Lido Theatre at Siam Square. They’re queuing for Chabuton, the brainchild of 2002 TV Champion Award-winning Yasuji Morizumi, a former French cuisine chef who has combines his Gallic culinary background with Japanese traditional noodles. Yasuji now owns more than 20 ramen restaurants in Japan and the US.
The bowl: The tonkatsu ramen (B130, B175) is the original hit. You will be served a bowl of noodles in concentrated pork-bone soup that’s been cooked for more than 15 hours, topped with Japanese bunching onions and slices of special grilled pork.
Our take: It’s not just that we had to wait for half an hour in the queue that has us saying this soup is delicious. The noodles are less exciting but the pork, with its grilled scent, is superb.
Siam Square, next to Lido Theatre, 02-635-7930. Open Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm

NEW> Ramen Planet Mutsumiya

Celebrity jewelry designer Suriyon Sri-Orathaikul takes a break from diamonds to import authentic pork-bone-soup ramen from Hokkaido. Ramen Planet Mutsumiya, founded in 1996, is the creation of chef Take Rokosuke who is famed as a ramen Iron Chef with his authentic-Hokkaido Mutsumiya-style ramen. Sat next to the popular Bonchon Fried Chicken, this ramen place is decked out in a simple Japanese simple style using dark wood.
The bowl: Their tonkatsu ramen (B170) is a perfect combination of yellow noodles, bean sprouts, Japanese onions and a big slice of grilled pork.
Our take:  We found that the soup of the tonkatsu ramen, though pretty dense, is a bit too sweet for our palate. To correct that, either add a splash of shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) or just get the black tongkatsu ramen, which has shoyu in it—ah, now you’ve got a delicious broth.
2/F, Seen Space, 251/1 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2373. Open daily 11am-11pm

Classic Ramen Spots

Ramen Tei. Four branches. Try 11/1 Soi Thaniya, Surawong Rd., 02-234-4326. Open daily 11am-midnight
Yamagoya. Four branches. Try 98-102 Surawongs Rd., 02-185-3790-7. Open daily 10am-1pm
Grand Ramen. 25/18-19 Sukhumvit 55 (Soi Thong Lor), 02-714-1020. Open daily 11am-11pm
Bankara Ramen. The Manor, 32/1 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-5162-3. Open daily 11am-11pm
Ganso Tsukemen Yamagishi. 2/F Zone A K-Village Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-661-2931. Open daily 11.30am-10pm
Ringer Hut. 2/F Zone B K-Village Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-665-6470. Open daily 11am-10pm

Everyone seems to belong to a gym these days. And the fitness centers here are impressively equipped with state-of-the-art machines, competent trainers, clean facilities and long opening hours, making it easy for married-to-the-job types to squeeze in a quick workout whenever possible. But when jumping from one machine to another starts to get a tad monotonous (and believe us, it will), make time to try these fun new fitness classes.

Zumba Toning

This dancercize is a specialized spin-off from the Zumba Fitness group exercise (you know, that one involving high-octane dancing to Latin music). Basically, it’s dancing with macara sticks to very loud, heartpumping music. “Zumba has been picking up very rapidly in the fitness industry and was recently made available in many clubs here,” says California Fitness Group X instructor Daniel Ang. “It’s become very popular because it provides what many Singaporeans like—variety, and a good overall workout.”

What it does for you: Besides burning calories, you’ll also be working your chest, back, core and lower biceps. “If you go for classes as regularly as thrice a week, you’ll feel lighter and will notice changes to those hard-to-reach areas like your ‘love handles’,” Ang suggests.

What it’s like: It feels like an aerobics class. It’s a non-stop session with a lot of stepping, knee-raising and arm-pumping action, and you get just a threeminute break to mop your dripping sweat up and grab a swig of water.

Difficulty: 2/5. The moves are easy to follow, so unless you’ve got two left feet (even then you might still catch up), you’ll hardly find it intense.

Effectiveness: 3/5. There’s a boot camp element to the class, but with up to 80 people in the studio, it’s impossible for the instructor to make sure everyone does it right. Pack some self-motivation into your gym bag.

Try it if: Singing out loud to “The Ketchup Song” while shaking maraca sticks in the air is your idea of fun. No previous dance experience is required and the class caters to all fitness levels.

Where to try: All California Fitness outlets, including 14F Republic Plaza, 9 Raffles Place, 6534-0900. Complimentary trial classes are available.

Kranking

It’s like a spinning class, only Krankcycle’s pedals are where the handlebars should be. Designed by the same guy who brought you the Spinning indoor bicycle, Johnny G was inspired after trying a handicapped athlete’s homemade hand-cycle. Physique 360 is the first to bring this upper body cardio workout to our shores. Managing Director Caroline Teo holds it dear to her heart—she’s been looking for ways her handicapped niece can work out in a fun, upbeat way.

What it does for you: Works out your arms, shoulders, chest, back and core. It’s great for cross-training as you can rest your lower body muscles while still working on cardio. It also burns more calories and increases your metabolic rate as your body composition improves.

What it’s like: It’s cycling with your arms— either forward or reverse with one or both arms. With adjustable resistance, you can choose the easy road or krank up a steep terrain. You can choose to sit or stand and mix it up with lunges, splits and squats.

Difficulty: 4/5. It’s a hell of a lot tougher than it looks. Not only does your heart have to work harder to pump the same amount of blood through your arms as your legs (smaller blood vessels in the former give greater resistance), you also have to get used to the fact that one arm is weaker than the other, and it may take a few lessons before they both feel as strong as the other. This one definitely takes patience.

Effectiveness: 4/5. Most participants feel the difference in the balance of strength of their arms within a few sessions.

Try it if: You want an intense upper body workout or if your legs are still sore after yesterday’s run.

Where to try: Physique 360, #01-03/06 Alocassia Apartments, 383 Bukit Timah Rd., 6636-1300.

Up until fairly recently, the only wines labeled “organic” were bad wines. This is not to say that there weren’t excellent organic wines out there—but they weren’t labeled as such, because to the average consumer, “organic” meant hippie health food that you consumed for the sake of ideology, not taste. So even if you were a winemaker who did follow organic practices, you would only hurt your sales by advertising this fact.

But with increased concern about health and the environment, organic foods have moved into the mainstream with more and more consumers asking questions about organic wines.

Alain Chabanon, who makes organic wines in the Languedoc region of southern France says, “Organic wines were considered inferior, a ‘green’ fad, an anti-establishment statement. But now there is a clear trend in the demand for cleaner, purer products, and so the marketing of wine has gone in that direction.”

“I don’t appreciate unnatural processes and I am always surprised when I meet people who don’t want to drink organic wines. It’s been a bit abused and you have to be cautious and check that it’s fully organic; but to not want to drink organic wines at all is bullshit,” says Maximilen Fedkiw, sommelier and co-owner of Le Bistrot du Sommelier.

What exactly is organic?
Before man started messing around with chemicals, all wine was organic. So really this “new” trend is a return to old methods. But there still isn’t an agreement on what makes wine “organic” today. In some countries the government decides; in other countries a private certification organization sets the rules.

In general terms, an “organic” wine is made without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides—that applies to the grapes growing in the vineyards as well as to the winemaking in the winery.

The percentage of organic grapes required for a wine to be considered organic can vary from 100 percent to as little as 70 percent, depending on the regulatory body. In some countries, wines with sulfites added cannot be classified organic; in others this is considered alright. In certain countries, the organic standard must also apply to sterilization of the equipment, bottles and corks used; others aren’t so strict. And not every wine that is labeled organic has been independently certified.

What do you gain?
There are three main reasons why you might want to go organic. The first: Concern for the environment. “The decision to make organic wine is part of my life philosophy. I try to do my part by not adding pollution to an already polluted planet Earth,” says Mr. Chabanon.

The second: Your health. The lack of manmade substances can only be a good thing.

The third: Simply because they are better—or they can be, in the hands of a skilled winemaker. According to Mr. Chabanon, organic grapes make better wine. “The taste is better due to the reduced yield,” he insists.

What do you give up?
As with organic food, an organic wine will nearly always be more expensive than a comparable non-organic wine. Without the use of herbicides and chemical fertilizers, winemakers need to spend more time taking care of the plants.

Another disadvantage for consumers is that you have fewer choices. Most of the wines on the market are non-organic. Those that are organic are not easy to find. Making it even more confusing, some winemakers sell both organic and non-organic wines.

At the end of the day, you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth the extra effort. We say let your palate and conscience guide you.

The old-fashioned way

Some facts about winemaking at Domaine Alain Chabanon

· No fertilizer or pesticides are used in the vineyards
· They prune the plants a lot to keep yields low
· The grapes are picked by hand and only in the morning
· After picking, the grapes are immediately taken to the winery in shallow (so they don’t get squashed), open-weave (so they can breathe) baskets
· The grapes are sorted by hand
· The grapes are not pumped into the tanks—gravity does the trick (the tanks are in the basement and are filled from above)
· The grapes get a foot-massage (really)—pigeage in French
· The wine is not filtered
· The wine is not fined (adding something to make the wine more clear)—collage in French
· They do not add yeast

Try wines from Domaine Alain Chabanon, Languedoc, France (www.domainechabanon.com) at Le Bistrot du Sommelier (#01-01 Prinsep Place, 46 Prinsep St., 6333-1982) or through Prodis Wine ([email protected], 9729-6410).

More

Sommelier Recommendations
Where to Buy
Tasting for Dummies
Organic Wines: Old Methods in New Bottles