makan | joie de vivre
This classy bar at Mondrian Duxton serves modern Mediterranean vibes, well-crafted cocktails and even better hospitality. We left for dinner, came back late with a tad too many drinks already, and they still remembered us, kept the bar open and pulled out all the stops with their famous cheese tart
Updated on 22 Sep 2026 Yellow shophouses, breezy courtyards and stews, rolls, and grills under the stars – this year’s birthday getaway took us to Da Nang, where it’s easy to find highly underrated cocktail mixologists, quaint cafes and picturesque restaurants just steps from the sea. Between a courtyard sketch session and an alfresco dinner […]
Updated on 14 Sep 2026 Many come to see the city’s iconic moving walkway immortalised in Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express, where Faye Wong once drifted through frames of urban daydream. Yet it’s so easy to miss out the charm surrounding the Mid-Levels Escalator. Near one of the elevated footbridges, you might spot a small […]
Updated on 12 Sep 2026 I kid you not – tucked away at the old barracks near Police Married Quarters (PMQ) in Hong Kong, there’s a charming little square where art literally “weighs” on the visitors. Imagine rocks glued to white plastic pool chairs, scattered like sunbathers across the plaza. The old meets new art […]
Nestled among the misty peaks of Alishan, this little red pavilion stands quietly overlooking the rolling sea of clouds. Sitting near the Sacred Tree train station, where some of Alishan’s most majestic and centuries-old Taiwan cypress trees still stand tall, this resting spot was dedicated to Mr Sun Yat-Sen
Once a quiet isle in Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago, Nirup has transformed into a pretty exclusive retreat steeped in golden sunsets and picturesque islands. My hotel room had me waking up to breathtaking views of the South China Sea. Just 45 minutes by ferry from Singapore, the resort blends island tranquility […]
Hidden in plain sight, Baphuon Temple is actually older than Angkor Wat! It’s also home to Southeast Asia’s largest reclining Buddha-9m tall and 70m long, built in the 15th century from stones of a demolished tower. Love the peaceful walk in, and how the Buddha lies on his right, symbolising his journey to nirvana. Important […]
Spent an afternoon in the winding alleys of Talat Noi, Bangkok’s coolest old neighborhood, and had to drop by the abandoned Turtle Car. This rusted relic was once a shiny Fiat 500 and is now an unlikely icon blending perfectly with the district’s vibrant street art, eclectic warehouses and maze of stories. Surrounded by old […]
Capturing the serene charm of an alley outside a villa in Uluwatu, here’s sketch completed over a relaxing weekend with the cousins. Located in the south of Bali island, Ulutwatu is renowned for having one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches and ideal surf spots. It is also home to the stunning Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple. […]
Tucked away in the heart of Scotland’s St Andrews is a picturesque alley coming straight out of a storybook. While enjoying sumptuous scones and a warm cup of Earl Grey at The Cottage Kitchen, I had to capture this street view with a sketch. The intertwining cobbled streets, the shadows of the past, and the […]