Philip Rowell

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69561884332814621392011-11-28T07:16:13.328+07:00Philip RowellPhilip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-1872583539892205552008-07-26T15:40:00.001+07:002008-07-26T15:40:25.021+07:00Untitled

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Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-84975243936565802672008-07-26T15:37:00.001+07:002008-07-26T15:37:03.050+07:00Magazine clip.

At Desire Creation Systems, we presented this to a magazine recently when they wanted to revamp their rather boring image. They rejected it in favour of someone else's proposal; upon seeing the new look, we have established that the reason was something to do with their lack of intelligence.Our proposal was so good, however, that we have found backing to start the magazine on our own. Our

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-32825007683563077402008-07-06T10:51:00.001+07:002008-07-06T10:51:31.173+07:00High mileage club.

Perhaps I'm being naive here, but I think these high petrol prices are fantastic.They're getting to a level where people finally have to think before they get into their cars. The result - in my neighbourhood at least - is fresher air, reduced decibel levels from traffic, a more appealling atmosphere, and a return of lovely tropical smells in the garden in place of diesel fumes and carbon

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-60495433761157890802008-07-05T10:11:00.001+07:002008-07-05T10:11:57.812+07:00Printed matters.

Sometimes, even if you're in the mood to buy things, you can't find anything to spend your money on.The past couple of times I've been wandering around Kinokuniya or Asia Books looking to purchase some cool, original, inspirational printed material, I've come out frustrated and bored. It seems that despite the millions of books published every year, only a handful every year are actually worth

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-27386656937888864842008-06-21T19:03:00.001+07:002008-06-21T19:03:45.595+07:00Blowing hot and cold.

With winter raging in the Northern hemisphere and the tropics as balmy as ever, choosing the temperature of your holiday is as easy as turning a dial. There’s no better time of year to pick and choose the temperature you want when you holiday in Asia – and all within a few hours’ flight time. Fancy something cold and fresh? Can do. Something more tropical and steamy? Also possible.-20 degrees:

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-12390227540668816032008-06-21T19:02:00.001+07:002008-06-21T19:02:01.451+07:00Beer'd trimmer.

Last year was a tough year. And, before getting into the serious business of starting 2008, you’d be forgiven if you were thinking of taking a short breather. A breather with a nice, cold, refreshing beverage, naturally. The best places in the region to enjoy the amber nectar:Samui: The CliffNo matter where you’re reading this, whether it be within a two-hour radius of Samui in Singapore or

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-28817171978081887162008-06-21T18:57:00.001+07:002008-06-21T18:57:12.873+07:00Altitude slickness.

Because most of them started as ports, Asia’s big cities are generally low-lying affairs, situated near sea level. But the region has plenty of opportunities for elevation to loftier climes.From the equatorial highlands of Java to the celestial mountains of China and everywhere in between, more and more of Asia’s high-altitude areas are being developed for tourism – some rough and ready, but some

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-58777660526062114422008-06-21T18:52:00.001+07:002008-06-21T18:52:50.741+07:00Time travel.

Geographical travel is so passé. Directions, locations, co-ordinates, choice of country… it’s so done. Much better to travel chronologically; to make your travel plans according to the era you prefer. You want to travel to the 1930s? You can. You want to make a getaway to the 1970s? Uh huh. Or you want to spend a weekend in the 1950s? By all means. 1970sDarwinInteresting how several of the places

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-91093573346308951852008-06-21T18:50:00.001+07:002008-06-21T18:50:52.595+07:00Time travel.

Geographical travel is so passé. Directions, locations, co-ordinates, choice of country… it’s so done. Much better to travel chronologically; to make your travel plans according to the era you prefer. You want to travel to the 1930s? You can. You want to make a getaway to the 1970s? Uh huh. Or you want to spend a weekend in the 1950s? By all means. 1970sDarwinInteresting how several of the places

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-35052395062034733932008-06-21T18:39:00.001+07:002008-06-21T18:39:39.025+07:00Hourly rating

Everywhere in Asia has its best time, its magical hour, the time of day when you see it at its best and when you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. 7AM Assuming an early rise – we wouldn’t want to waste our perfect 24 hours snoozing – the best place to be at this hour is somewhere in the region of Kata beach, in the tourist magnet of Phuket. At this time, the sun isn’t too high in the sky, so the

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-32757672213108320652008-06-21T18:21:00.001+07:002008-06-21T18:21:46.287+07:00Untitled

One of the best ways to get to know a new city is to jog around it. Here’s some of the top jogs in the region. Hong KongWherever you are, the Peak looms over the city of Hong Kong behind every building. What may not be apparent from the warren of steamy streets in Causeway Bay and Central is that the mountain is full of spectacular running routes, just minutes away from the MTR stations and

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-79366701179136033292008-05-23T22:52:00.001+07:002008-05-23T22:52:14.326+07:00Badvertorial.

I buy a few magazines regularly. WIthout fail, no matter what subject they specialise in, they're pretty decently art directed. Wired, Men's Health, Monocle, Good, Fast Company. All, without exception, good-looking titles. Nice type, great photography, consistent looks yet enough flexibility within their design guidelines to provide variety.So, one question: why the hell are all the ads in these

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-8802684444281458272008-05-22T17:37:00.001+07:002008-05-22T17:37:44.711+07:00Dramatis personae.

Last night's Man Utd-Chelsea game had it all. What a great story. And such a cast of characters.John Terry provided the tragedy. Ronaldo the hero who nearly fell from grace. Giggs the veteran who comes back for one last mission and carries the day. Anelka the villain whose previous misdeeds came back to haunt him. The script couldn't have been better written. Just when you thought the bad guys

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-20337360811989962802008-05-22T12:50:00.001+07:002008-05-22T12:50:58.379+07:00Swift theft.

I think I could make a living searching the web, magazines, bookstores, podcasts for cool things, adapting them a little bit (or not at all) and presenting them as ideas for my clients.There is so much great stuff out there, and so little of it exposed on a grand scale, that it would be easy to repackage things, give them a slight connection to clients' businesses, and present them as original

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-38824837256627961282008-05-21T09:46:00.001+07:002008-05-21T09:46:44.626+07:00The A3 principle.

There are a lot of tools available to the creative mind. George Lucas and the entire original Star Wars crew had access to less technology than is contained on the average advertising agency desk today. Whatever can be envisaged can be created. But let's not overlook the most important word in that last sentence. Envisage. A computer screen won't help you envisage. Flicking through the latest

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-32789985909575695092008-05-19T15:26:00.001+07:002008-05-19T15:26:54.856+07:00Assured future.

It's an easy matter to make one prediction in the area of what we will be doing with our time in the very near future.All you need to do is take a few things we're already doing, and put them together to discover how they'll converge.Twitter: the updating service that sends what you're doing to anyone who cares to know, wherever they happen to be, via their phones.Flock, the browser that sucks

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-69443647589671259942008-05-19T10:17:00.001+07:002008-05-19T10:17:51.075+07:00Singapore Curl.

What on earth is up with the Singapore Airlines print ads? The Singapore Girl, archaic as the concept was, was always a paragon of charm and loveliness.Now, in the new ads for First and Business Class, the air stewardesses look like they've taken their styling cues from Marge Simpson. Horribly dated beehive do's and hair that looks as if it's been subject to at least an entire can of hairspray.

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-60580543064809636272008-05-18T13:59:00.001+07:002008-05-18T13:59:03.318+07:00Lo-res.

As usual, advertisers - with a few notable exceptions like Nike - are getting it wrong.Everywhere clients are asking for higher production values, sleeker looks, 'bigger' feels. Something 'grand' to match the scale of the brand. And, agencies being what they are, are giving it to them.When in reality, what real people are being turned on by is the exact opposite.Out of all of the things that take

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-52830304098110368002008-05-17T23:06:00.001+07:002008-05-17T23:06:19.580+07:00George eats a pizza.

http://www.youtube.com/?v=2eNLcw1kySwGeorge eats a pizza.Blogged with the Flock Browser

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-66337212793351566362008-05-16T15:56:00.001+07:002008-05-16T15:56:57.441+07:00Soap operation

I've been trying for a while to work out just what it is that's so great about Facebook, Twitter et al; these totally addictive sites that have millions of people logging in at all times of the day. I could feel that there is a big idea particularly behind Twitter but couldn't work it out. But it's only becoming clear to me what that idea is now.It's a 24-hour a day reality show. But one where

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-14586186665404517992008-05-06T08:36:00.000+07:002008-05-06T08:52:29.120+07:00The Paradise Paradox.

Having just returned from Bali for a regional conference, my thoughts are naturally dwelling on the whole concept of paradise and how it could be defined today.Bali is an island that occupies a special place in the popular imagination. But, nice as it is, it’s become just a bit too everyday to really qualify as heaven.I envy the people like Walter Spies or Geoffrey Bawa who discovered Bali before

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-28444353944917668302008-01-16T18:38:00.000+07:002008-01-16T19:12:48.809+07:00Beer from the Communist World.

Marx would have been proud. Hoppy brews from the world's few remaining socialist states triumph victoriously over their decadent imperialist capitalist equivalents.In this part of the world, my favourite beer is far and away the delicious Tsingtao. Hailing from the Chinese town of the same name, a former German treaty port on China's northeast coast, China's number one beer is fruity, floral,

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-79907956267506399632008-01-14T23:02:00.000+07:002008-01-14T23:01:31.951+07:0011.

The little soi leading off Sukhumvit Soi 11 is developing into a decent destination. Tapas Cafe, The Pickled Liver, Charlie Brown's, Soi 11, the legendary Cheap Charlie's... I'm not suggesting it's particularly sophisticated, but it's pleasant enough. And now - in what I'm absolutely sure is a first for car-obsessed Bangkok - the whole soi has been pedestrianised.It means you can now have

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-61975063910326147612008-01-14T18:25:00.000+07:002008-01-15T12:07:21.210+07:00Phuket aesthetic.

Phuket needs an art director.Away from the west coast beaches - which are, for the most part, lovely; even Patong has it charm - the place has fallen victim to the same syndrome that afflicts almost all Thai resorts from Koh Chang to Samet to varying degrees: a peculiarly Thai version of downmarketness.Driving from Sarasin Bridge to Kata Noi, completing our last leg on the Bangkok-Phuket drive,

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-47284555224804460822008-01-11T21:00:00.000+07:002008-01-11T21:03:31.086+07:00My 5k run.

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-42557868267631282752007-12-18T23:21:00.000+07:002007-12-18T23:28:59.621+07:00Heat island.

The brief winter – now depressingly at an end – only serves to remind us how appallingly hot it is once the few days of coolness are overcome by the relentless furnace-like heat blowing up from the depths of Hades (or Narok, as they call it in these parts). Even if I loved everything else about Bangkok, the heat is still the factor that will end up persuading me to get the hell out sooner or

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-14305922913164556182007-12-18T23:02:00.000+07:002007-12-18T23:09:56.501+07:00Exercise, at a stretch.

Have had to find a form of exercise other than running. Every time I run, no matter how long I leave between runs, my knees feel terrible and my back aches like a pensioner. A combination of swimming at The British Club and yoga seem to be doing the trick. Leaves you feeling nice and loose, expanded by stretching and pulling rather than compacted by endless pounding of the pavements. A

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-78970602763003068652007-12-18T22:58:00.000+07:002007-12-18T22:59:05.340+07:00Bah, Bawa.

Bought an interesting book over the weekend: Beyond Bawa. A fairly comprehensive catalogue of architecture throughout Asia that has in some way been influenced by Geoffrey Bawa. Interesting to read that he didn't even become an architect until he was 38, having been a failed lawyer up until then.Some of the earlier stuff was interesting. But it seemed that he (and his protégés) were pretty

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-73267473979165649872007-12-07T23:17:00.000+07:002007-12-07T23:23:27.149+07:00Beaching and Moaning

Despite Thailand being known as a tropical paradise, Bangkok residents have it tough when wanting a beach break.The nearest decent beach is not less than two hours away. Yes, there are closer stretches of sand, but none with water you'd want to dip your toe into.But for us Mahanakon dwellers, getting to the beautiful beaches of Samet just got a whole lot easier.This is one of those things you

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-25888697126452987952007-12-06T22:34:00.000+07:002007-12-06T22:36:55.321+07:00Bulldogs.

I used to be a Husky kind of person.Beautiful shiny coat, dramatic tribal markings, slightly sinister appearance: it was hard to think of another kind of dog more interesting than a Siberian.That was before my girlfriend introduced her dog George into my life. A quirky example of a quirky breed: the bulldog.I read that this breed, despite having a reputation of being absolutely fearless, is

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-31992201719336994642007-11-08T23:16:00.000+07:002007-11-08T23:19:56.180+07:0053 and rising.

Thonglor has been the hippest street in Bangkok for many a year now. Everybody knows the many delights to be enjoyed on Soi 55, from the funky eclecticism of Playground to the mainstream hipness of J Avenue to the old school charm of Don Kreung and other 50s relics that sit very comfortably among the more contemporary offerings.One street west, more hidden attractions await. Soi 53 is shaping

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-31943890297750445642007-11-06T23:44:00.000+07:002007-11-06T23:50:41.248+07:00Printed matters.

The death of the newspaper has been greatly exaggerated. Some newspaper brands are healthier than ever: particularly those with a strong online presence and a modern design sensibility. My own favourite is The Guardian: always one step ahead of the game, with a great look, a superb website and a revolutionary approach to art direction and section design. (Plagiarism is a strong word, but a

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-69628383100085627482007-11-04T22:49:00.001+07:002007-11-04T23:00:52.401+07:00Fino & dandy.

A while ago I visited Vietnam, and had the opportunity to hire a Honda@125 scooter. The Honda @125 is a beautiful machine. Elegant, simpleand based on the classic Italian scooter design, but modernised in adistinctly Japanese way to bring the look firmly into the present.I loved it so much that I made every effort to import one into Thailand, but the centuries-old hatred between Siam and Vietnam

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-36640169888417749232007-10-28T17:23:00.000+07:002007-10-28T17:27:32.773+07:00Criminally good.

Anybody who has stepped into an Asia Books branch or spent any time in a Bangkok Airport bookstore will know that books about the seedy underside of Bangkok are not in short supply.Second-rate crime thrillers fill the shelves, released by publishing houses of dubious provenance, invariably featuring as characters a series of alcohol-soaked long-term Bangkok residents and their bar- girl

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-91486803749379085782007-10-28T14:37:00.000+07:002007-10-28T14:40:18.998+07:00Full/delicious.

Just near my place is one of Bangkok's best-kept food secrets.In the front yard of their house, three Thai women serve up superb Thai food in a nice garden setting at prices which would be simply impossible to comprehend anywhere else in the world. I often go over there for lunch - a single plate meal is 35 baht; or, for dinner, you can have green chicken curry, and garlic pork, and Thai

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-63485290340656597062007-10-28T14:01:00.000+07:002007-10-28T14:25:29.753+07:00Flexible terms.

I don't think men should go to the gym.This is not an argument for staying home in front of the TV sucking on beers. (As attractive a concept as that is.) It's just that when you look around at other men at the gym (not something I make a habit of doing, I assure you), the kinds of bodies on display are less than impressive. Big arms and curved backs. V-shaped torsos which appear incapable of

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-64588632855362172912007-10-28T13:30:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:34:56.835+07:00Reality check.

I can’t help but notice a disturbing trend when it comes to new restaurants opening in Bangkok lately.It doesn’t seem to be enough to offer good food in pleasant surroundings. Instead, almost every new place these days has to have some sort of theme. Recently opened offerings include a Wild West theme; an Imperial China theme; a Mexican theme; and of course an Irish theme.These places are worthy,

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-11962878135964346242007-10-28T13:27:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:30:00.741+07:00Harbouring desires.

Something strange has happened to Hong Kong.As someone who lived there when it was still a British territory, the change is unsettling, confusing, and even downright incomprehensible. Former residents should be forgiven if they struggle to come to terms with the change, however, because it is something that nobody would ever have imagined in a million years: Hong Kong has become friendly. Taxi

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-15029192088103325552007-10-28T13:24:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:26:46.762+07:00Blowing hot and cold.

I have an illness.Doctors have been unable to treat it – or even identify it – but I have come up with my own scientific name for it.It’s called ‘Iwanttolivehereitis.’The symptoms are thus: wherever I go on holiday or for work, almost without exception, I find myself making plans to relocate there, to set up home there, to make a living and have a life there. In the relatively recent past,

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-42050843821880643862007-10-28T13:21:00.000+07:002007-10-28T14:29:45.948+07:00Capital offences.

When it comes to driving in Thailand, there is Bangkok, and there is the rest. Driving in Bangkok is defined by interminable waits at unchanging traffic lights, clownish police traffic controls seemingly designed to stop any kind of traffic flow at all, air quality that Lucifer himself would complain about, potholes that would not be out of place in central Africa, constant battles for road

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-49201112496203029602007-10-28T13:16:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:19:52.473+07:00Northern lights.

Despite recently visiting Luang Prabang in low season (in truth, a spur-of-the-moment decision to take advantage of some amazing hotel rate discounts), the charm of the town was absolutely clear within minutes of my arrival. Within hours of arrival the watch had disappeared from the wrist, the shirt had been further unbuttoned, and it seemed a sufficiently productive use of an afternoon to simply

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-53884743656913995982007-10-28T13:12:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:15:02.494+07:00Re: public space.

I am writing this on the 20:40 Air Asia flight from Singapore to Bangkok, having flown in the opposite direction fourteen hours earlier.A day in Singapore to perform some essential tasks gave me an excellent opportunity to look at the island republic with fresh eyes, not having visited the city for almost eight months. There’s something very pleasant about Singapore. My business finished at about

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-68245471932503302022007-10-28T13:09:00.001+07:002007-10-28T14:58:50.049+07:00Due South.

On a recent week off, I felt the need to get on the road and add some serious mileage to the clock. So, eschewing a brief Bangkok Airways or AirAsia flight in favour of seeing a little more of the country of my residence, I decided to get behind the wheel of the trusty Fortuner for a 900 kilometre drive south.Two days later, after a very comfortable journey broken in two parts by one-night

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-7407633993994110852007-10-28T13:06:00.001+07:002007-10-28T13:06:59.869+07:00Tabla of contents.

As I write this, I am listening to some of the music I bought from Pakistan. The artist is Abida Parveen, and the genre is Sufi folk music. I am no expert on traditional Pakistani music or its meaning, but I am told that the lyrics are adapted from ancient Sufi spiritual verses.Naturally, I do not understand the words, but there is no doubt that the sentiments expressed are positive, and it feels

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-10269422030956459222007-10-28T12:59:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:05:41.614+07:00Economy, class.

Another good thing about Bangkok I discovered as a result of buying the Fortuner: it’s a very good place to live on very little money. Usually in Thailand, a car requires a 20% downpayment. However, for a foreigner who does not want the bother of being indebted to a Thai guarantor, that figure rises to 40%. This was not a particular problem – until the car was delivered a month ahead of schedule,

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-16983286208944576062007-10-28T12:50:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:55:38.808+07:00To:

Obviously, as an owner of two Toyotas - one Fortuner and one MR2 - I'm biased. But there’s something very appealing about the Toyota brand. It’s something to do with getting the basics right first, then worrying about being premium later. You get the impression that any luxuries attached to a Toyota car are solidly backed by a foundation of superb engineering and quite incredible reliability. In

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-5462415798955509982007-10-28T12:49:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:50:18.168+07:00Do. Buy.

When travelling, the occasional disappointment is something that has to be accepted. Things are rarely as good as the imagination makes them out to be; words in a travel brochure or tourist guide generally manage to do a better job of conjuring up a dream destination than its creators do in actually building it.But sometimes the opposite happens: a place turns out to be much better than you

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-18680112737395772682007-10-28T12:31:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:46:32.255+07:00Good fortune.

Last week a friend of mine announced that he was thinking of buying a new car, and declared that it was a tossup between a Honda CRV and a Toyota Fortuner.I nearly choked on my Heineken when I heard his words: to me, anyone who even mentions the name CRV in the same sentence as a Fortuner is guilty of almost obscene blasphemy.I was in Thailand for a couple of years without ever being tempted to

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-84363890931797215722007-10-28T12:30:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:31:49.825+07:00Islamagood.

Thailand, yes. Bali, yes. Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, yes, yes, yes. Asia is full of places where you are guaranteed a superb holiday experience.Now I can enthusiastically recommend another, less likely, destination to add to the list: Pakistan. The food is superb. The people must be the friendliest on earth, and are so happy to have foreigners visiting their country that they will literally stop at

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-47399918646296205942007-10-28T12:23:00.000+07:002007-10-28T21:52:53.097+07:00Domestic bliss.

In Conde Nast Traveller’s most recent UK edition, Thailand is voted a very close second to Australia as the readers’ favourite worldwide destination. I admit that I have been guilty for a while now of overlooking the appeal of the Kingdom’s travel opportunities in favour of those of the Indochinese region and further afield. I suppose it’s human nature to want to go somewhere… else. No matter how

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-46533556611978004282007-10-28T12:21:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:22:17.458+07:00Franchised frappucinos.

I’m sure it’s possible to have a good coffee at any Starbucks outlet. In fact I know it is: I’ve had my fair share of decent cappuccinos and espresso macchiatos at various places bearing the Starbucks name. My complaint with the place isn’t the quality of the product – as long as you stick to the basics and avoid the bizarre jelly-choccy-icecream-frothy confections that they introduce on an

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-8605959931334086352007-10-28T12:18:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:55:58.711+07:00Weighty issues.

I used to be convinced that I had a weight problem. I spent many years despairing at the fact that despite a punishing exercise regimen, I was constantly several kilos heavier than I should be. I had resigned myself to the fact that I was always going to be carrying a bit too much weight, and would always be the chubby one in photos.That all changed when I moved to Bangkok. For some reason, even

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-52138844632609878112007-10-28T12:16:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:18:09.592+07:00Home comforts.

On Saturday, leafing through the newspaper as I relaxed after my morning run, I came across an advertisement for a motorcycle rental centre.This, combined with the glowing reports I had just read in the same publication about the accommodation options in a wine-growing area a couple of hours outside of Bangkok, put ideas in my head.I pictured myself hiring a gleaming 900cc monster of Italian

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-65435174863249687972007-10-28T12:15:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:16:25.420+07:00Population movement.

The best way to travel short distances in Bangkok is undoubtedly the motorbike taxi. I appreciate that many people will dismiss the idea as a result of safety concerns, and I would never ride pillion on any sort of major thoroughfare. But the two-wheeled form of transport is perfect for weaving through the congestion in small sois and getting to your destination in reasonable time.Used

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-55045784813714679552007-10-28T12:13:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:14:43.475+07:00Seeds of success.

Bangkok must be the easiest place in the world to achieve the recommended daily fruit intake.You can barely walk ten metres on any pavement without having to sidestep a cart selling fresh dragonfruit, pomelo or guava. Or pre-cut slices of pineapple and mango, conveniently packaged for instant consumption. Apart from the exotic fruits cultivated in Thailand, these stalls also offer delicacies of

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-78592719773832605542007-10-28T12:11:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:13:14.299+07:00Making a crust.

Best place for pizza in Bangkok: a toss-up between Scoozi, in Surawong Road, and L’Opera wine bar in Sukhumvit 39. Wherever she goes, a friend of mine always eats the house pizza, no matter what it is: she says it’s always the best. At Scoozi, I took her advice and ordered the Pizza Scoozi: Gorgonzola and Speck expertly cooked in the essential wood-fired oven. Excellent, although the Diavola or

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-63843365141268871242007-10-28T12:08:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:11:06.269+07:00Middle Feast.

Most Western capital cities have areas where immigrant ethnic minorities congregate. Whether it be ex-colonial peoples settling in the mother country, descendants of refugees fleeing communist upheavals in the turbulent cold war years, guest workers deciding to stay after completing their contracts, or simply people attracted by liberal immigration policies, metropolises from Sydney to Stockholm

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-63793654119396081262007-10-28T12:06:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:08:19.334+07:00Lao'd and clear.

For the vast majority of Asian city dwellers, the first thought that springs to mind when planning a quick weekend away is the beach.The lure of tropical island life, white sand and the regular sound of the waves gently coming to a halt on the shore is something that few people will ever tire of, no matter how many times they repeat the experience.And if sun and sea don't appeal, then an equally

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-24074348688444785942007-10-28T12:05:00.001+07:002007-10-28T14:28:48.242+07:00Lovely buns.

Singing the praises of a humble burger might be a departure from the usual range of topics featured in this column. But on this occasion, it’s something I simply have to do. And at any rate, the creation in question is anything but humble. Today I can confidently announce that I have discovered the world’s best burger. Not one of the famous seventy-dollar burgers in New York; not the home-cooked

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-48568237238822788232007-10-28T12:03:00.001+07:002007-10-28T14:29:09.396+07:00Grape expectations.

The Wine Company, Dempsey Road, Singapore is a lovely place for a drink: tasteful, airy, tropical and lush, in a beautifully decorated colonial-era building surrounded by gorgeous, rampant greenery. (The prices of wine are incredibly good, too; particularly for someone coming from Bangkok where wine is taxed, taxed and taxed again.) I always said that Singapore needed a whole raft of places like

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-55341681900253627512007-10-28T12:00:00.000+07:002007-10-28T12:02:02.675+07:00Marathon effort.

Despite being top of the list when it comes to the world’s most crowded places, many of Asia’s capital cities are surprisingly pleasant places for a morning run.Hong Kong has its mountainous country parks. Singapore has its beachside running tracks, its forest paths and its thousands of clean, runner-friendly streets.But in Bangkok, you can forget about looking for leafy parks, oxygen-rich

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-16709665445725594672007-10-28T11:51:00.002+07:002007-10-28T11:52:27.360+07:00Shangairish.

Much has been made of Shanghai’s renaissance over recent years. From superb French restaurants to the world’s newest Grand Prix circuit, it’s no exaggeration to say that Shanghai town planners and entrepreneurs won’t rest until they’ve turned Shanghai into the world’s most exciting city. But as well as beautiful Louis Vuitton stores and gorgeous art galleries in tastefully renovated historical

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-36514358771400106662007-10-28T11:51:00.001+07:002007-10-28T11:51:37.105+07:00Two cities.

Newspapers and magazines often feature ‘great drives’ articles. One of my own personal favourites is the journey between sister cities Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The attractions of short breaks in each city are great. And with the recent introduction of seemingly dozens of low-cost airlines offering flights for pennies, air travel between the two neighbouring capitals has never been cheaper or

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-87834864468450572242007-10-28T11:49:00.001+07:002007-10-28T11:53:24.182+07:00Khmer Moderne.

For some inexplicable reason, in the heyday of modernist architecture, three countries in the whole world took to the style and made it their own; adapting it to their warm climates and creating a unique vernacular that became known as tropical modernism.One of those countries was Brazil. Another was Senegal. And the third was Cambodia.Long before the word Cambodia became synonymous with mass

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-2486344316070240432007-10-28T11:47:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:48:30.418+07:00Two Books.

Reading is one of life’s great pleasures. That enjoyment is only enhanced when you are familiar with the setting of the novel in your hands.Highways To A War, by Christopher J, Koch, is not a particularly recent work. But I came across it while moving recently and, remembering how much I enjoyed it the first time, decided to read it again.Set in Vietnam and Cambodia during the Vietnam War, the

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-38680699258310729582007-10-28T09:06:00.001+07:002007-10-28T11:54:22.117+07:00Crown St Blues.

For anybody who spent any time in Sydney in the early to mid 90s, a regular trip to the Remo store in Crown Street was an essential part of the Emerald City experience. Quirky items, self-designed and from suppliers around the world, ensured that it was impossible to leave the store without making some sort of purchase. Remo had style, imagination, creativity, and its very existence seemed to say

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-882418074124313592007-10-28T09:04:00.000+07:002007-10-28T09:05:49.606+07:00Big cat 3.

At the risk of sounding like a fanatic, one last statement on the subject. Picture this: you form an airline. You raise the funds. You get the licence. You buy the planes. You pass the safety checks. You find the qualified pilots. You employ the technicians. You assemble an attractive collection of cabin crew. You offer a perfectly acceptable flight experience for passengers. In short, you get

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-40183080308736897172007-10-28T09:01:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:55:34.444+07:00Big cat 2.

Thailand has been the missing link in Tiger’s South East Asian empire for quite some time now. Now that the bigwigs in Jurong can fill in the Kingdom in their map of the region, they have before them one solid chunk of territory stretching from Singapore all the way up to Hanoi via Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. The brand has featured in many of my best memories of Asia. Happy hour at the FCC

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-66458042412637645782007-10-28T08:54:00.000+07:002007-10-28T13:38:16.596+07:00Big cat moves north.

There are not many things in this world where the copy is better than the original. Especially when the original is already a classic.Every time I touch down at Changi Airport, a recurring mantra forms in my head consisting of just two words, repeated over and over again. Those two words are always ‘Tiger Beer.’ There’s something about the crisp, almost harsh taste which is a perfect foil for the

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-58779662047772575122007-10-28T08:47:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:55:51.899+07:00Diplomatic immunity.

If a national embassy is the physical expression of the values of a country overseas, then there must be some truly awful countries in this world. Most of the embassies in Bangkok are nondescript affairs: small suites in anonymous office blocks; converted houses ill-suited to the task of housing a diplomatic staff; or tacky 1970s monstrosities that were without a doubt hopelessly outdated before

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-56881307184910615492007-10-27T19:16:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:56:24.631+07:00Two wheels good.

If there’s one thing Asia has a lot of, it’s cars. With the exception of Singapore and its enlightened vehicle control policies, the region pursues its love of four wheeled motorized transport with a fervour that would put the Americans to shame. The sight of Thanon Sathorn or Jalan Sultan Ismail on a Friday night is enough to convince anyone of the need for some sort of alternative to infinitely

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-15401550107593078042007-10-27T13:50:00.000+07:002007-11-04T23:07:54.482+07:004 nights in Bangkok.

For Bangkok residents, the options for weekends away are almost unlimited. Whether it be wandering through the wats at Angkor, sipping chablis in Saigon, or busting sanctions in Burma, Bangkokians are spoilt for choice. But sometimes the traditional options are still the best. Since the Bangkok-Singapore railway opened in the 1930s, Hua Hin has been the first port of call for Khon Krungthep

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-53262635881240807582007-10-27T13:48:00.001+07:002007-10-28T11:56:41.556+07:00Singapore v Sydney.

These days, Singapore and Sydney have more in common than ever. A beautiful urban waterfront, an iconic performing arts centre, an increasingly beautiful population, a plethora of minimalist chic restaurants, and a burgeoning love of convertible cars, for starters.But on a recent trip to the New South Wales capital, an afternoon spent by the harbour at the Redleaf Pool in Double Bay got me

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-11751343778567333232007-10-27T13:47:00.000+07:002007-10-28T15:01:01.365+07:001 Phone.

The iPhone. There are some things it doesn't do. (Allow you to send things by Bluetooth.) There are a lot of limitations on how you can use it. (At least legally.) There are some things it doesn't have which should be common by now. (GPS.) It's exposed Apple as not-such-nice-guys-after-all in their rigid control over who in which countries are allowed to have one and when. But none of that

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-11546431463544258612007-10-20T12:11:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:57:41.672+07:00Credit where credit's due.

There have been some excellent movies out lately. More specifically, there have been some excellent movie credits out lately. The Bourne Ultimatum was a great film. But if you walked out after the action finished, you missed out on one of the best bits. The animated end credits were brilliant. More recently, this week I went to see The Kingdom. The opening animated explanatory sequence was superb

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-24781966980874990112007-10-18T22:37:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:58:11.141+07:00Five Mags.

For some reason I've been going through a magazine addiction period lately. On Saturdays, I can't get to midday without having raided the nearest newsagent for a stack of heavy glossy publications. It seems that magazine editors have found it in themselves to fight back against what was supposed to be an inevitable slide into oblivion in the face of the internet. Art direction, writing and ideas

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956188433281462139.post-47833386150020413022007-09-14T14:05:00.000+07:002007-10-28T11:58:39.776+07:00Bangkok's best coffee.

Up until recently, the best coffee in Bangkok - in my estimation - has been at my place, made with the Bialetti Mukka Express. Perfect caffe latte and a good cappuccino. But then I discovered Vivi Coffee. This place offers a truly perfect cappuccino, made on a huge old Italian machine, with proper 'stand-up' foam on the top. Add to that the view of the river and the temple across the water, and

Philip Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13034262991519591006noreply@blogger.com0