What inspires you to travel?
Discovering the rest of our world! Meeting new people, learning new cultures, experiencing great cuisine... and the opportunity & challenge to entertain a totally foreign crowd!

What are some of your favorite destinations?
London, Tokyo, Ibiza.

What are your travel essentials?
My laptop, my iphone, my Senheisser HD-25.... and the aircraft adaptor for my headphones to connect to the in-seat entertainment system! I tend to catch up with movies only on flight!

Favorite travel tips?
Dress simple, like any other person on the street. There's really no need to flash your wealth, unless you intend to get mugged.

What do you miss about Singapore while you are away?
The convenience, cleanliness & safety. All too often, we take it for granted.

What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
Getting to an airport, and waiting for your flight. Unlike Changi, many airports take hours to get to, traffic along the way can be horrendous, and the airports facilities usually can't cope with the actual number of travelers.

How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
I don't drink or smoke, so that already helps quite a fair bit. I don't bother about gyms, but if time & weather permits, maybe a few laps in the hotel pool. Other than that, I guess eating proper meals as opposed to junk food makes a difference as well.

What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
My Nespresso Coffee Machine which I had hand-carried back from London in 2006, which it is still rocking out the expressos all these years!

What has been your most memorable holiday?
My first time to London when I was 17. Growing up on British pop culture and being right smack in the thick of the action is overwhelmingly different!

What is the best restaurant, café, bar that you have visited while traveling?
Balafia in Ibiza. A very down-to-earth family-run restaurant that's off the beaten track for most tourists. Famous for their grilled meats & fresh tomatoes, both raised and grown right out of their family farm by the restaurant.

What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
South America!

Who is your favorite traveling companion?
I normally travel alone, but I guess it is always nice to have that special someone for that special trip.

What is your ideal holiday?
I've always been more of a city person, and I usually double up work & holiday into each trip, but over the last few years, I've learnt to appreciate a nice quiet break from work, and from city life.

What inspires you to travel?
To escape, to relax, to indulge, to learn, to experience, to play, to rest, to romance.

What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
Nothing really. The most difficult is maybe trying to figure out the underground railway system but even that can be exciting.

How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
When I’m away for business, and if there’s a gym in the hotel, or a pool, I’ll use that, or if it’s a long trip, especially if it’s a temperate climate country, then I’ll bring my running shoes. Best way to know the city is to run around it. However when I’m on holiday, I’m on a break. Exercise comes in the form of play.

What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
Making friends from the travels, and staying in touch with them.

Describe your most memorable holiday.
I’ve not been on an extended holiday for sometime now, but back in 2006, I had 3 weeks off and I travelled to Japan, New York then UK. I was by myself but met caught up with dear friends from each city and the moments were priceless. And having the time to discover new places to see, hang out and eat, when I have been to these cities on many previous occasions made the trip even more special.


Which restaurant or bar in which foreign city would you go back to again and again, and why?
There are lots of cafes and restaurants that I keep going back to once I am in that particular city, but one that springs to mind is definitely Café Havana in NYC. Its been around for a long time but the food there is just so special. Its Cuban, very simple but so unique at the same time, very cool people but be warned, there’s always a queue to get seated.

What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
Maldives for the clear water and diving, Mongolia to ride horses in the open plains, Arizona for the breathtaking canyons and valleys.

Who is your favorite traveling companion?
My future wife…Don’t know who she is yet..she’s out there, cleaning her climbing equipment maybe.

What is your ideal holiday?
Travelling with someone I love, anywhere.

What is the one item that you never travel without (and we don’t mean your passport or iPhone)?
And we’re talking about a non-business trip, Used to be my Walkman, then my Discman, and then my Ipod, and now, Just my credit cards.

What is your best tip about packing?
Starting from the bottom of the case, shoes, pants, folded shirts and tees. Fold and roll up underwear and slip into the sides, then toiletry bag and if any blazers,3 pull sleeves inside out and place on top, then close case, simple.

What is your best tip about choosing a hotel?
Best reference is from a friend who has stayed there. Nowadays I usually book through Hotels.com. The price and proximity to convenient transport is important, after that is the look of the hotel.

What is your best tip about getting to know a new place?
Have a good map and Walk everywhere

What is your best tip about navigating trains, planes and automobiles?
Really basic when sorting out and knowing where and when everything run, study the route and times.

Which place have you visited and never wanted to leave (and why)?
Bali, it’s the most spiritual and serene place I know. The local people are beautiful and sincere and the I can just hang out and just look out at the ocean forever. There’s every type of cuisine and you just get around on your bike. True island living. I think I’ll retire there.

What inspires you to travel?
The need to break the routine, to reinvent myself, to see what’s going on beyond our comfort zone and tiny little dot.

What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
Spending time to source for the cheapest ticket to the place you want to be at the specific timing you want. It’s not difficult, it’s just annoying.

How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
There’s no way you can avoid illness when it strikes. Be sure to drink more water and bring lip balm. That’s what I’ll do.

What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
A silver ring with a huge black stone created by a local designer from Paris.

Describe your most memorable holiday.
Most recent one at Villa Mary Bali. Besides sharing good times with friends at the most beautiful villa, I got to go skinny dipping when I spent my last 4 hours alone. It's heavenly.

Which restaurant or bar in which foreign city would you go back to again and again, and why?
Trump room in Toyko. Amazing interior, amusing crowd, out of the world sound. I want to go there to be intrigued all over again.

What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
Antarctica, Greece, India

Who is your favorite traveling companion?
My lover or anyone with an open mind.

What is your ideal holiday?
One that is unplanned. Spontaneous.

What is the one item that you never travel without (and we don’t mean your passport or iPhone)?
My shades.

What is your best tip about packing?
It's advice passed down from my friend's sister: take away half of what you've packed.

What is your best tip about choosing a hotel?
Location. It should be convenient. You don't want to waste time getting lost.

What is your best tip about getting to know a new place?
Print a map. Get lost. And then find your way out with the map.

What is your best tip about navigating trains, planes and automobiles?
Check with a local who speaks English.

Which place have you visited and never wanted to leave (and why)?
Bali. it's a place of healing.

What inspires you to travel?

Discovering new people and looking at life through their way of life. I love watching how people in different countries interact.

What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?

Difficult—unless there is intense climate change, I have few difficulties. I absolutely love travelling.



How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?

I don't. I go a little bit crazy and jump around and into the pool! But then again I guess that does constitute as exercise, no?

What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
The experience of meeting a person abroad, someone from a completely different mentality and path is definitely what I treasure most, and to converse and exchange views on the world.



Describe your most memorable holiday.

Cambodia. People enjoy such simple pleasures and smiles are everywhere! The food is also delicious and road food in particular- is my personal favorite!



What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
London please! I have been there for 3 hours or so- all I saw was Starbucks.



Who is your favorite traveling companion?
Someone who cannot talk but just enjoy the ride with me.



What is the one item that you never travel without (and we don’t mean your passport or iPhone)?

An open mind! Any way else and I would end up finding fault with what should be beautiful.



What is your best tip about packing?
Pack light—you never know if you'll have to end up running!!



What is your best tip about choosing a hotel?
Don’t trust the pictures—use Trip Advisor!

What is your best tip about getting to know a new place?

Keep walking. That's what I do. And I remember little details that amuse me, like lampshades with too much graffiti.



Which place have you visited and never wanted to leave (and why)?
Paris. I fell in love with the city and pace of life. Being lost in translation also made me like that all the more.

What inspires you to travel?
The instant shift in perspective and the inspiration gained from immersing in a new culture.

What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult?
Jetlag. Period.

How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
Choosing walking or cycling over other modes of transport to get around.

What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
Openness and adaptability.

Describe your most memorable holiday.
It’s a tough tie between trips to Bhutan and Ibiza. I loved everything about Bhutan, the people, its history, culture and ancient spiritual sites. Hiking up to Tigers Nest, a temple carved into the mountains was out of this world. And a beautiful cliff top villa with 14 of your close friends on a magical island like Ibiza is bound to be pretty unforgettable too.

Which restaurant or bar in which foreign city would you go back to again and again, and why?
I always crave Prune in NYC for simple food done beautifully.

What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
Cuba, Brazil, Iceland, in that order.

Who is your favorite traveling companion?
Depends on where I’m going and what I’m doing.

What is your ideal holiday?
A city with close proximity to nature, so that I can find inspiration and recharge from the mix of environments

What is the one item that you never travel without (and we don’t mean your passport or iPhone)?
A book, I bore easily.

What is your best tip about packing?
I don’t understand the science behind it but rolled clothes actually do take up less space so if you’re pressed for luggage room, roll.

What is your best tip about choosing a hotel?
Know how you’re going to get around the city and pick a location that works, i.e. near a train station, or close to places you want to see if planning to do city by foot. Read reviews online, check various sources and always ask your friends.

What is your best tip about getting to know a new place?
Research places you want to visit & make friends with the staff where you’re staying.

What is your best tip about navigating trains, planes and automobiles?
Download apps, maps and schedules into your phone for easy referral and buy a data plan so google-mapping wherever you are doesn’t require taking out a loan when you’re home.

Which place have you visited and never wanted to leave (and why)?
I’ve fallen in love with a few cities but I’ve yet to find a place that I would want to settle forever. I think that’s part of what keeps my travel bug alive.

Do the posters affect you in any way?
Yes, a lot. Since the posters have been put up here, I make a lot less money. People stop just to look at them for a laugh instead of looking at my accessories.

How much do you have to pay for this stall?
To the city police officer, B1,500 a month, and I can only sell from Tuesday to Friday. They don’t let us sell on Mondays, and I have to stay with my kids on weekends. I sell from 6:30 to 9:30am in the morning, and from 5 to 9pm in the evening.

Is this enough for a living? Do you do anything else?
No, this is the only business we have; both my husband and I. We make around B70,000 to B80,000 a month and we spend B50,000 on the products. We have to manage the money very carefully: with four people in the family, B20,000 is very little. I have to pay for my two children’s school fees, then B8,000 for nursery after school because they are very small and we are both working till 9pm, gasoline to drive here, food, home, and other essentials for living.

Do you want to do anything else?
Not right now. I feel that this is making a lot more money for me. That’s why I decided to put all my time into this business.

Where do you live?
Prachauthit, around Rama 2; it’s very far away from here. I have to drive here every day to sell my stuff because I believe I can make the most money here. But I’ve never thought about moving here at all. The city is always too busy.

Do you have any trouble selling here?
Well [in a lower voice], you see the kao moo daeng shop there? Sometimes when there are a lot of customers at my stall, they will pretend to be watering the plants from above, to splash water on my customers. They have a young daughter and, in the past, they sent her over to ask for the prices of all my items. Then, they opened their own shop selling the same stuff that I do. My friend used to sell orange juice beside their shop and, guess what, they started selling orange juice too.

Anything else?
Sometimes people steal. It is hard to oversee the whole stall when there are a lot of customers. Some people will just pick an accessory up, put it in their purse and walk away. I don’t usually realize something is missing until it’s too late. One customer who had already bought three bags from me took a B2,000 bag and said she would come back to pay for it. But it’s been days and she’s not back yet.

What would you like to tell Bangkokians?
We have to eat on Mondays too, why can’t we do our business on Mondays? Interview by Natthanun Prasongchaikul

How did you start collecting sand?
I love to travel, and whenever one travels, it’s natural to want to bring some souvenirs back. I love beaches. I love water. I love to sit by the water. I did think of collecting water, but I soon discovered that water evaporates.

I like the feeling of letting sand run through my fingers, reminding me that we cannot hold on to things too tightly, that there are some things which are not within our control. I love the sand on my feet, in between my toes, and leaving my footprints in the sand.

A beach is a happy place, with the wind, the smell of the sea, the sound of the waves beating against the shore, the sun and a couple of cold beers to go along with it. Collecting sand is like keeping memories locked up within a space, and those memories will not run away. I can even smell the sea again with just a shake of a bottle.

How do you store your collection?
In small bottles, large bottles, bottles of different shapes and sizes, test-tubes, in those small medical bottles and in pretty mineral water bottles with the names of the places written on the outside. All my bottles of sand are placed on a shelf, and no one is allowed to touch them, except for me!

How big is your collection?
I have sand from Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the US, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, New Zealand, Vietnam, India, Dubai and Europe. I have around 45 bottles.

What lengths have you gone to for your sand?
I went to collect sand in Melbourne during the winter season (i.e. June) and I almost got my butt frozen. I ran all the way out to the beach, packed some sand in a small bag, managed to pose for a picture (smiling happily on the outside but freezing terribly on the inside) and ran all the way back into a toilet to warm my hands.

We suss out some of the best beaches in the region.

Clean up the beach!

How has your year been so far?
It has been great. I just released “Feel It,” which is the first single off my yet to be completed new album. I have been holed up in the studio producing and tweaking the tracks. When I am not in the studio, I am busy with the usual touring, playing in clubs and music festivals around the world.

You just returned from Electric Daisy, one of the most amazing music festivals in the world. Did you make anyone strip?
I don’t recall making anyone strip but I wouldn’t mind if they had thrown their clothes on stage. Jokes aside, it has always been one of my personal favourites to play in because of the great atmosphere and amazing crowd.

Who are your heroes?
There are a lot out there, but the name that comes to my mind now is Carl Cox. I have a lot of respect and admiration for him. He is a great guy and still rocking hard after all these years in the industry.

How do you normally approach producing a track?
There many ways as to how I can approach a track. Sometimes a melody pops in my head or gets zoned in with a particular beat or sound.

What can we expect from your upcoming gig at Zouk?
The crowd is in for an awesome night as I will be playing loads of new stuff that I have been working on in the studio. I am so keen to make everyone hot and sweaty and bring down the roof with my mix.

Gear up for a major tranceformation with Ferry Corsten on Jun 18, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $28-33 includes two drinks.

Talk is … to hear the sound of my own existence.
Art is … trying to see my own world in a very forgiving manner.
Home is … where I feel melancholy.
Love is … when I feel melancholy.
Where there is light … there is proof of my existence.
There’s a fine line between … existing and living.
The enemy of my enemy is … one I don't give a damn about.
The window to existence is … through our eyes. In my case, it’s a very small window.

Find out more about Clang’s work and thought processes on Jun 22, 7:30pm. A Curious Teepee, #02-24 Scape, 2 Orchard Link, 6820-1680. $30 at the venue includes one standard drink and food.

How would you describe the musical chemistry in Envy?
It’s collective creation. Our guitarist, Nobu, comes up with the melody and riffs. We get together in the studio with everyone afterwards and make the track together. It’s a very time consuming process. If I was to describe our music, it would be passionate and silence, with music and words that coexist with light and dark.

What was the recording process behind Recitation like?
It took us a year and a half to make the music and about three weeks to record. Recording is a process we could do for a long time if we choose to but we like to do it in a short span and concentrate fully. Dubbing of the guitars takes the longest. We record each phrase separately. We’ve put in 13 separate guitar phrases in one song in the past. I think that's what creates the nice chords for the melody.

What are some of the themes that you wanted to convey with the album?
We reflect the different weather seasons throughout the year. And we approach it with raw, emotionally charged music and lyrics.

Who comes up with the lengthy song titles?
I decide all the lyrics and text for the designs. I write the lyrics first and then decide on the title after it’s all finished.

And what are you inspired by when you name the tracks?
The song “Your Hand” is from a woman who was reading poetry and had beautiful hands.

What are Envy’s top 5 Desert Island songs?
Our guitarist Nobu said Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." Our bassist Manabu Nakagawa chooses S.O.B.'s "Leave Me Alone" or Boz Scagg's "We're All Alone." I guess my choice would be Bjork’s “Pagan Poetry” and “Frosti.”

We enjoyed the intensity of your gig at Esplanade in 2008. What can we expect for your upcoming gig?
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the show. It was a lot of pressure for us to play in such a large venue. I remember our show feeling a bit incomplete. We prefer to do shows in 300 to 500 capacity venues. We’re definitely looking forward to this show coming up. We’ve been rehearsing a lot for it so I hope you guys will enjoy it.

Go ballistic with Envy on Jun 18, 8pm. The Substation, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535. $70 at the door.