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Dining in Bangkok Made Easy with these Three Apps

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Dining in Bangkok Made Easy with these Three Apps

The aromatics of Thai food derived from the exotic fusion of herbs and spices are something that locals savor and travelers crave. As Phuket.com describes, it’s the “juxtaposition of sweet, sour, hot, and salty flavors [that] makes Thai cuisine so distinct.” With the amazing selection of eateries dispersed across the capital, residents and visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining. But after living in the city for a while, you start to get comfortable with certain restaurants and food stands, leading you into some sort of boring food routine.

If you ever find yourself in this kind of rut, all you have to do to reignite that sense of gastronomic adventure is download a couple of apps on your smartphone or tablet. As the managers of the entertainment portal Spin Genie have pointed out, mobile is currently the most important development amongst all internet trends, allowing consumers to depend on their devices to help them with daily problems like finding new restaurants to try out.

Wongnai

What started out as the nation’s top restaurant review website has transformed into a mobile community of foodies in Thailand in just one app. Touted as the Thai version of Yelp, Wongnai uses your GPS to help you locate nearby restaurants, all of which are complete with detailed info, user reviews, tips, and even pictures of meals!

 

Bangkok in myPocket

Although this is more of a comprehensive city guide compiled by Bangkok editors rather than a just a list of restaurants, Bangkok in myPocket has a detailed database of activities, events, and food places that can be accessed offline. One of the perks of this app is that it contains discount coupons and special offers, exclusive to app users.

 

WTF BKK

Still relatively new to the app market is WTF: Where to Fin Bangkok, a tool that allows you to search for restaurants in the city by name, cuisine, or location. Like Bangkok in myPocket, WTF BKK also offers great deals and discounts!

 

We hope you enjoy these apps and find them as useful as we have in our pursuit of tasty Thai food!

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An Art-Lover’s Guide to Florence

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An Art-Lover's Guide to Florence

Florence is home to some of the most iconic works of art and architecture in the world. Much of these works are inspired by creative developments that took place during the Renaissance. 

Lovers of art will not want to miss out on these attractions!

1. Basilica of Santa Croce

This Fransiscan church is the burial site of eminent artists, writers and scientists such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Galileo. There are 16 chapels housed in this church, many of which are adorned with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils who include Gaddi, Banco and Daddi. As the Basilica is a religious site, ensure you are appropriately dressed for your visit.  

2. Galleria dell'Accademia

Many visit this gallery to see the famed David statue by Michelangelo as well as his unfinished statues, which are the Prisoners and St Matthew. While Michelangelo's works are highlights of this gallery, you will also find paintings by other celebrated artists such as Botticelli, Pontormo, Allori and Orcagna. Do purchase your tickets in advance to avoid long waiting times in the queue!

3. Uffizi Gallery

This art museum houses the largest collection of Renaissance artworks in the world. Some highlights of the gallery include paintings by Botticelli, notably Birth of Venus and La Primavera as well as Lippi's Madonna with Child and Two Angels. You will also find works by other acclaimed Italian artists such as Giotto, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaelo. You will also want to purchase tickets in advance to beat the snaking queues!

4. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Featuring Gothic-style architecture, this cathedral is an iconic landmark in Florence and has the largest dome in the world. The dome, which was built by Brunelleschi, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of engineering and design as it was successfully constructed without any scaffolding! Within this cathedral, you will find 44 stained-glass windows which were designed by Donatello, Ghiberti and other artists. To capture panoramic views of the city, head over to the Bell Tower! 

5. Bargello Museum 

Bargello was formerly a barracks and prison before it was converted into an art museum. Here, you find mostly sculptures by notable artists such as Donatello, Michelangelo, Cellini and Verrocchio. The museum also houses a collection of artifacts from the Middle Ages as well as tapestries, manuscripts and armours. Crowd-hating art lovers will rejoice that queues are a rare sight at this museum! 

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Top Tips for Surviving a Long-Haul Flight

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Top Tips for Surviving a Long-Haul Flight

So, you’ve been warming the seats on the flight for the last 6 hours, have almost 13 hours more to go and feel completely restless at the moment? It’s totally fine; happens to the best of us. But, I’ll make sure that this post offers you the best of flight travel tips and tricks for all your future travel funs.

These 5 travel tips are about to change your ‘LIFE’ (a little) and are the perfect go-to tricks for all your long-haul flights.

1. The GRASS Walk:

Imagination is the key to everything awesome and that’s exactly how you shall be helping yourself here. Static positions and being just at one place will end up with cramped feet and achy legs – avoid the drama and make sure you walk a little every now and then. It’s okay to leave your seat and explore your aircraft. Everyone does it, so, why not you? Just don’t get too clumsy or create troubles for others around. As long as you can achieve them all, your walk is sure to be peaceful and relieving.

 

2. Carry Entertainment Along:

What’s entertainment like on a flight? A book, some music, headphones or latest editions of your favourite magazines – long flights will always be boring but this could certainly be a way to make it interesting. If you have the luxury to access in-flight cinema, then go ahead with it. Just make sure you carry your own set of earphones or headphones (Usually flights do not have good headphones and you end up hearing the flight’s engine and the people around more than the movie itself)

 

3. Talk (Socialize):

Yes, it is a little awkward to start a conversation with fellow passengers and even more awkward to continue the same. But, if you can work your way out on “Social Networks” then you surely can during your flight. The best way to fight time is to have a good conversation running. Wise talks, laughs, humor – just anything holds good.

 

4. Say NO to Time:

It is an obvious fact that we tend to check time every now and then when flying for long hours; its better you avoid it the next time you are flying. It would be even better if you avoid looking at the map that suggests your flight’s current location. Having to look at the time frequently will leave you under the impression of time running slower than it should and this can be very frustrating.

 

5. Carry your pamper buddies (Pillows and Blankets):

When all fails, you know you have to sleep. It is said that the best way to pass our time is by sleeping. This eventually helps you to pass time without having to look around or at the clock often and when you wake up? VOILA! You might have passed a few hours too!

 

I am pretty sure you liked these tips but you need to also make sure that you travel light and to do so you can use ways to Pack Smart while travelling so that you don’t end up carrying stuff you don’t really need.

Happy Flying to all!

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What to Pack for a Winter Holiday

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What to Pack for a Winter Holiday

Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean that your adventures are over, but it does come with its downsides. The art of keeping warm often means big jumpers and other winter gear that are heavy and do not leave much room in your case. Travellers need to strike a balance between packing only the essentials and ensuring there is enough to last them the entire duration of the winter holiday. But fear not, it can be done!

Here are some packing tips for those heading off on a winter vacation! 

1. Thermal wear

Do pack some lightweight thermal wear – tops and bottoms. They only occupy a small amount of space in your suitcase and will keep you warm in freezing temperatures. You can also fit them into your day bag easily so that on days you need an extra layer, you do not have to wind up shivering. 

2. Accessories – hat, gloves, ear muffs

Winter accessories, namely gloves, hats, scarves and ear muffs, do not just make you appear more fashionable in the cold. They also play an essential role in keeping you warm as they protect the parts of your body that would otherwise be left exposed to the cold, i.e. your hands, head and neck. Most items of clothing do not offer protection to these areas (plus they look great)…So do not forget your these accessories when you pack for a winter vacation!

3. Winter coat

When you go on a winter vacation, you will surely need a winter coat to complete your outfit and provide you extra warmth. But you only need to bring a single coat along, and try to wear it so it does not take up any much-valued suitcase space. If rain or snow is forecast for the destination you are heading to, consider bringing a coat that is waterproof and comes with a hood.  

4. Footwear

The shoes you wear on your winter vacation should be comfortable enough for you to walk long distances and come with a good grip to prevent you from slipping on wet or icy surfaces. Wear boots to give your feet and legs some extra warmth, which sneakers do not provide. 

If you are planning to bring along additional footwear, do wear the most bulky one on the day you travel to free up space in your suitcase. 

5. Hand warmers

While we can easily slip on an additional layer to keep our upper bodies warm, very few of us wear an extra glove to keep our hands warm. And this is understable since gloves can be an impediment when we want to take photos or search for items in our day bags. But your fingers do not have to suffer the cold even when it is already wrapped in gloves! That is why many travellers bring hand warmers – they stay warm for hours and provide instant relief to frozen hands!

6. Moisturisers

Besides keeping yourself warm, you must not forget to look after your skin during your winter vacation! The cold temperatures can dry out your skin, causing it to become flaky and itchy so ensure that you bring moisturisers for both your face and the rest of your body. While you may need a richer moisturiser for winter, especially if your skin is prone to dryness, you should be using moisturisers that are suitable for your skin type.

Do not forget that winter weather can also cause us to have dry and cracked lips. Luckily this isn't something a little lip balm can't fix. Besides external moisturisers, remember to hydrate body internally by drinking enough water!

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