Australia?

Sam snapped this photo of me yesterday after I fell asleep on the beloved new sofa, my head resting on the just as cherished huggable planet.

I wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something?

Huggable peace planet (and an atlas shower curtain)

Today we went for baby’s 20 week scan. Everything looks great and it’s a little BOY!

So to celebrate we headed straight for Kopapa in Seven Dials for lunch. On our way back to Piccadilly we passed the amazing travel shop Stanfords. It’s one of those rare, specialised stores with a strong personality that I hope will survive for a long time.

Stanfords sell everything travel-related: from books to maps, toys, movies and gifts for travelling souls.  And if you make your way across the atlas floor, you’ll get to the laid-back café in the back (it’s run by Kiwis = excellent coffee).

The very first thing that caught my eye was this huggable planet. It’s made by a company called Peacetoys. They also sell eco-friendly books and organic cotton toys and have won several green awards.

So Mr. Baby Bassett now has his first toy. And even though this planet isn’t made from organic cotton like the other toys, I still think its message is pretty positive: hug and love the planet you’re on.

Plus it will help this baby’s geography-dyslexic mum remember exactly where Malaysia, The Philippines, Micronesia and all those other wonderful exotic travel destinations are on the map.

The huggable planet is on sale at the moment: £25 £20!

And I probably have to go back to Stanfords flagship store again soon. We’re moving next month and our new bathroom is screaming for this world atlas shower curtain. £24.95.

Photo via http://www.stanfords.co.uk

Stanfords
12-14 Long Acre
Covent Garden, London
Website

Osaka Aquarium

Photo: Mette Bassett

Ville bare lige vise jer nogle billeder fra det fine Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan i Japan, som vi besøgte tidligere på året. Jeg elsker den slags fiktive oaser, der giver et afbræk fra dagligdagen: zoologiske haver, biografer, museer, akvarier, forlystelsesparker og tivolier: bring it on!

Men det der først fik mig op ad stolen og overbeviste mig om, at her skulle vi da hen var denne sindssygt smukke video fra Okinawa Akvarium (se den med lyd!).

Da vi et par måneder senere befandt os i Japan havde min krøllede hjerne forvandlet Okinawa til Osaka. Men heldigvis har Osaka også et fabelagtigt akvarium. Akvariet ligger i et lidt øde og vindblæst havneområde helt ud til Osaka Bay, lige ved siden af Suntory Museet. Det er et af verdens største akvarier og et af de få, der har plads til de fascinerende og kæmpestore hvalhajer.

Læs mere på akvariets egen hjemmeside.

English: I just wanted to show you a few pictures from a place we visited earlier this year: the fabulous Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Japan. I love these kind of imaginary spaces; aquariums, zoos, theme parks, museums and cinemas – they all offer a wonderful and fantasy filled break from reality.

I first got really excited about the Aquarium when I stumbled upon this incredible video from Okinawa Aquarium (watch it with sound!).

By the time we arrived in Japan my weird brain had turned Okinawa into Osaka and I only realised my mistake when we came back and I watched the video again. Because luckily there’s an amazing aquarium in Osaka as well. It’s located in a harbour area, just next to the big Suntory Museum. Kaiyukan is one of the world’s biggest aquariums and one of the few that’s home to the fascinating huge whale sharks.

Read more on Kaiyukan’s website.

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

My favourite second-hand shop in Tokyo – 10 Tow

Foto: Mette Bassett

10 Tow er en lille, men ikke mindre end fantastisk kommissions-genbrugsbutik midt i Shibuya shoppingdistriktet i Tokyo. Jeg spottede den første gang vi var i Japan, og denne gang var jeg forbi tre gange for at tjekke for nye varer. 10 Tow er helt anderledes kræsen og stilbevidst end de mange andre japanske re-sale butikker, som foretrækker at fylde glasmontrerne med (kedelige) klassikere fra Louis Vuitton, Hermès og Chanel.

Hos 10 Tow drejer det sig kun om avantgardistiske og eksperimenterende designere. Her er japanske darlings i form af Comme des Garcons, Tsumori Chisato, Yohji Yamamoto og Junya Watanabe, og selvfølgelig nogle af de bedste europæere: british/tyrkiske Hussein Chalayan, tyske Bernhard Wilhelm og belgiske Ann Demeuleemeester og Martin Margiela.

Butikken kan være svær at spotte, da den ligger på 4. sal på et hjørne i en  kedeligt udseende bygning lige over for stormagasinet Tokyu Hands (det er i øvrigt også værd at tjekke ud). Men hold øje med skiltet på gaden. Her er adressen: 4F Shibuya Udagawa Building. 11-6 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042. Åben fra 12.00-20.30.

English: 10 Tow is an amazing designer resale/depot vente/consignment shop in the Shibuya shopping district in Tokyo. I spotted it the first time we were there and have been going back ever since.

This consignment shop is different from all the other “usual suspects”, who mainly deal with big traditional French brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermès. 10 Tow wants none of that but take in clothes and accessories from experimental Japanese designers such as Comme des Garcons, Tsumori Chisato, Yohji Yamamoto and Junya Watanabe. Not to forget European avantgarde darlings in the shape of British/Turkish Hussein Chalayan, German Bernhard Wilhelm + Belgians Ann Demeuleemeester and Martin Margiela.

The shop is located on the 4th floor in a dull looking building on a corner just opposite the big department store Tokyu Hands (which by the way is worth checking out too) so look out for the sign in front of the building. The address is: 4F Shibuya Udagawa Building. 11-6 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042. Open from 12.00-20.30.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Regn med at betale omkring 1/3 af nyprisen for varer, der ofte kun har været brugt en enkelt gang af den tidligere ejer, og som er i tip-top stand. Har du tænkt dig at komme igen, så bed om et loyalty card. Her får du et stempel, hver gang du bruger 3000 yen, og når det er fyldt, får du 10000 yen rabat. I like.

Første gang jeg var der, købte jeg et Comme des Garcons shoppenet til ca. 300 kr., anden gang endte jeg med disse to ting fra Yohji Yamamoto.

English: The prices in 10 Tow are quite amazing. Expect to pay around 1/3 of the original price for pieces that might never have been worn by their previous owner. Ask for a loyalty and you get a stamp every time you spend 3000 yen – when it’s full you’ll get a 10.000 yen discount.

First time I was there I found this Comme des Garcons shopping bag (35 pounds), second time I left with these Yohji Yamamoto goodies.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Tokyo shopping & more – Tsumori Chisato

Foto: Mette Bassett

Jeg er vild med den quirky og sprælske japanske designer Tsumori Chisato, kendt for sine eventyrligt figurative og historiefortællende print og designs.  Så selvfølgelig måtte jeg en tur forbi hendes butik og kigge. Den ligger på shoppingaden Minami-Aoyama, i forlængelse af Omotesando-gaden og side om side med andre imponerende designbutikker som Comme des Garcons og Prada.

English: I really like the quirky Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato who is famous for her storytelling, colourful and fairytale’esque designs. So of course I had to stop by her shop at Minami-Aoyama – not far from the other fancy design shops such as Prada and Comme des Garcons.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Selv om japanske designere er klart billigere i hjemlandet, så bliver hendes priser højere og højere, og kvaliteten er ikke altid i top (se min beskrivelse af TC ur længere nede) så jeg købte kun disse tre plasticarmbånd, som kan bæres hver for sig eller i en lidt over-the-top kombi. De kostede omkring 90 kr stykket.

English: Of course Japanese designers are cheaper in their home country, but TC is getting more and more expensive, and the quality is not always great (see my story below) so I just bought these three plastic bangles/bracelets. They cost around 10 pounds each.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Da vi var i Tokyo for tre år siden var jeg også forbi butikken og endte med at købe dette katte-inspirerede ur. Det har perlemorsfarvet skive, og jeg synes at det er super fint. Der er bare det, at det går lidt for hurtigt – på en uge sådan cirka 5 minutter – ikke optimalt, faktisk temmelig irriterende, så det ligger mest i skuffen.

English: Last time we were in Tokyo I bought this TC wrist-watch, shaped like a cat. I love the weird design and the mother-of-pearl interior. Only (cat)ch  is that it is running to fast (it gains 5 minutes every week). So annoying.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Det gør den her broderede læderpung til gengæld ikke. Jeg fandt den på udsalg til 1200 kr. i den nu hedengangne Koh Samui butik i London. Jeg elsker alt, der glimter, så den gør mig i godt humør, selv når den er tom.

English: Last, but definitely not least, here is an embroidered Tsumori Chisato wallet I bought on sale for 150 pounds in Koh Samui (London shop, now closed) 1 1/2 years ago. I love gold and glittery things, so it puts me in a good mood, even when it’s empty!

Foto: Mette Bassett

Foto: Mette Bassett

See Tsumori Chisato’s recent designs and shop online here

Tokyo shopping – Jeffrey Campbell wedges

Foto: Mette Bassett

Mine absolutte favoritsko lige nu er de her sorte ruskinds wedge sandaler med guldnitter fra den amerikanske designer Jeffrey Campbell. Selv om de er tårnhøje, er de voldsomt behagelige. Faktisk så behagelige, at jeg helt glemte at jeg havde højhælede på under et halvberuset bar-besøg, og var lige ved at vælte. De kostede omkring 900 kroner i Tokyo, og hvis jeg kender Jeffrey Campbell ret, så kunne de være inspireret af en dyrere designsko fra et andet mærke. Det lever jeg heldigvis i lykkelig uvidenhed om.

In English: These are my absolute favourite shoes right now, at least when it comes to high heels. The studded suede wedges from American designer Jeffrey Campbell are so comfy. In fact so comfy, that I completely forgot that I was wearing high heels one evening at a bar and almost fell over. I payed around 100 pounds for them in Tokyo, and they might be Jeffrey Campbell‘s more affordable version of an expensive designer shoe, as J.C. is known to venture into copy-cat territory.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Tokyo shopping – vintage Chanel earrings

Foto: Mette Bassett

Faldt over de her fine, forgyldte Chanel-ørenringe i en lille kommissions-genbrugsbutik (og dem er der mange af, skulle jeg hilse og sige, for japanerne skyer gamle ting og kollektioner, og sælger løs for at få råd til det sidste nye) på en lille gade i det forstadskvarter i det nordlige Tokyo, hvor vi boede.

Jeg er ellers ikke til clipsørenringe, men de her sidder som en drøm. Via stemplet bagpå (P 96) kan jeg se at de er fra forårskollektionen 96. Det bliver ikke mere 90’er og logo-agtigt, så de skal vist akkompagneres af et enkelt,  sort outfit og et minimum af anden tingeltangel. Pris ca. 500 kroner.

English: I spotted these Chanel earrings in a little consignment shop (and there are a whole lot of those all over Japan, as a lot of Japanese wouldn’t be caught dead wearing last year’s collections) in the suburbian area in northern Tokyo, where we stayed most of the time.

I normally don’t like clip-on earrings, but these are so comfortable. The stamp on the back says P 96, meaning they are from the spring (Printemps) collection of ’96. They scream LOGO, LOGO, LOGO so I think I’ll wear them with an understated, monochrome outfit. Price: around 57 pounds.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Independent designers at Suam Lum Night Bazaar

Foto: Mette Bassett

Hvis du er i Bangkok og markedslysten, så overvej at springe over det sindssygt store og temmelig crazy Chatuchak Weekend Market til fordel for Suam Lum Night Bazaar. Bazaaren ligger lige ved Lumphini stationen og over for den fine lille Lumphini Park.

English: If you’re in Bangkok and in a market mood, consider skipping the gigantic and quite crazy Chatuchak Weekend Market for Suam Lum Night Bazaar opposite  Lumphini park and just by Lumphini station.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Nattebazaren er åben fra kl. 17-midnat, og den ene halvdel af markedet består af en stor plads, fyldt med madboder, storskærm (med fx. engelsk fodbold) og en scene, hvor lokale optræder. Du kan ikke betale med kontakter, men veksler til  mad- og drinksbilletter. Når maven er fyldt og blodsukkeret stabiliseret er det tid til at gå ombord i shoppeboderne. Halvdelen af dem ligger lige ved siden af spisepladsen, men det er de mest kedelige og traditionelle, fyldt med souvenirs og gaver til dem derhjemme if orm af håndlavede sæber, cremer, keramik etc. Nej, de rigtig sjove boder, ligger til venste, gennem denne magiske khmer-agtige port:

English: The Night Bazaar is open from around 5pm to midnight and is made up of a big square filled with food stalls and a stage, where locals perform. You can’t pay with cash but have to buy food and drinks tickets.  After food comes shopping. Half of the market stalls are located next to the eating square, but those are the more boring and traditioal ones with vendors trying to sell various homemade soaps, ceramics, scarves etc. If you’re after independent design continue left and walk through this magical khmer style door:

Foto: Mette Bassett

Gennem døren og til  højre finder du en hel sektion med boder, der har specialiseret sig i tøj og indretningsgenstande af den quirky, moderne unge og artsy slags. Her er spøjse lamper og keramik og lokale designere, som sælger egne kollektioner af fx. bomuldskjoler og trøjer med tryk og sjove indfarvninger, hjemmelavede smykker af den humoristiske slags, og endda en bod, der har specialiseret sig i Vivienne Westwood kopier, hvis man ellers var til den slags.

English: Through the door to your right you’ll find a whole section with stalls dedicated to independent, local designers and more quirky things such as colourful plastic lamps, modern ceramics, funny jewellery and young designers selling their own designs. I even saw a stall filled with Vivienne Westwood counterfeits, not that anyone want’s to support that kind of thing.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Foto: Mette Bassett

Foto: Mette Bassett

Jeg styrede købelysten, så at jeg var sikker på, at der var plads i kufferten til Japan-turen, men endte med at købe to ting. Det første køb var denne oversized halskæde, pris 80 kroner:

English: I tried to control my shopping urge, as I wanted to leave some space in my suitcase for the upcoming Japan trip. But I ended up buying two things. First up was this oversized necklace, price 10 pounds:

Foto: Mette Bassett

Foto: Mette Bassett

Og så kunne jeg ikke modstå de små sorte plasticfår-ørenringe her fra www.omnixyz.com, pris 10 kroner:

English: And I simply couldn’t resist these small black sheep-shaped plastic earrings from www.omnixyz.com, price 1 pound:

Foto: Mette Bassett

Back to blog!

Hej igen!

Efter 3 uger i Thailand, 3 i Japan og så lige en uge i København er jeg endelig tilbage i London, i gang med freelancearbejdet og så er jeg selvfølgelig topklar til at blogge igen.

På vej er: et par shopping-tips til Bangkok (lækkert nattemarked og nogle af verdens bedste storcentre), lidt flere shopping-tips til Tokyo og Osaka og så lige et shout out til nogle af mine favoritsteder i København. Jeg vil selvfølgelig også vise, hvad jeg købte på min tur, fra Chaneltaske og -ørenringe til Yohji Yamamoto kjole, Jeffrey Campbell plateausandaler og farvestrålende plasticarmbånd fra Tsumori Chisato. Og så kan jeg vist også lige klemme et par genbrugsfund og en guide til de bedste genbrugsbutikker i St. John’s Wood ind.

Foto: Mette Bassett

Well hello there!

After 3 weeks in Thailand, 3 in Japan aaaaaand  a week in Copenhagen, I’m finally back in London, working freelance and ready to blog.

Things to come: a few shopping tips for Bangkok (stylish night market & some of the worlds most amazing shopping centers), quite a lot of shopping tips for Tokyo and Osaka and a look at some of my favourite places in Copenhagen.  And of course  I’m going to show you what I bought on my trip, from a Chanel bag & earrings to a Yohji Yamamoto dress, Jeffrey Campbell wedge sandals and colourful Tsumori Chisato bracelets. And I might squeeze in a few more second hand finds from London + a guide to the best second hand shops in St. John’s Wood.

On Top of the World – Sirocco Skybar

Foto: Mette Bassett

If you’re in Bangkok and want to spend a night eating or sipping cocktails while literally feeling on top of the world, then head for the Sirocco Skybar.

The bar & restaurant is located at the top of the 63 storey high State Tower Building in Bangkok. We went there to have a drink after the wedding, had an amazing time and will definitely come back.

Foto: Mette Bassett

This place is nothing short of breathtaking. You take the lift/elevator up to a neo-classical dome-like building and when you exit it, you’re met by the tones of an outdoor jazz band playing (apparently they have some really good bands) on the landing in front of the building. From there a staircase swirls down to a round bar at the far end with a 360 view of Bangkok by Night = loads of Kodak moments…

Foto: Sam Bassett

My pictures are pretty crappy so take a look at their own website, where you can read much more about the bar and the restaurant and enjoy the glossy pics. The skybar has a walk-in policy so no need for reservations but you do have to reserve for dining in the restaurant.

On the night we were there it was a mixed crowd and the atmosphere was pretty relaxed. 99% were tourists or local expats. The drinks are on the pricey side, around 7 pounds for a beer. But that’s actually all right ’cause you get high on the view as well 🙂