Bangkok is the hottest, most congested, most exciting city I have been to since quite a while! The traffic cannot be compared to that in other places in the world. Nor can the amazing shopping deals, the flavoursome food and the relaxing massages.
I’m at that time in my life where my friends are getting married, having babies, settling down, ☺ something I should probably be considering as well. My best friend’s sister was expecting her first child in Goa. Since her husband had gone for Vipasana, one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation), my friend and I went to spend a few days with her sister.
Never would I have ever imagined that I would be going to Stavanger! I have visited Oslo before in the month of February, which also happens to be in Norway, and which of course turned out to be the coldest year in 40 years.
We were waist deep in snow and although I am not used to or particularly fond of the snow, my Norwegian party girls insisted on us wearing stilettos. I was literally being dragged or carried during most of my trip. Anyhow this time, my trip was in September, so it was much more bearable.
When I first started supplying my clothes to multi-designer stores in India in 2010, Goa was the second destination I targeted after Mumbai. A lot of my inspiration comes from nature, and the ocean is one of its main components. Whether it was the underwater world or the changing colours with the different currents and tides, it all played a major role in the design. The first store I stocked at in Goa, is a store, which is still going strong – known as Sosas, and located in Panjim, it is known for resort, pert and cocktail wear.
Another very well-known clothing store, which has recently earned a name for itself is Nana Ki , which is in the compound of the all-famous French restaurant La Plage – at Morjim Beach. My next review is on a hotel in Morjim itself – SurlaMer.
Two thousand and thirteen was a year of changes for me. I was travelling more than ever before; I had just signed a deal with a new company to expand my brand. One of my best friends was performing in Seychelles. Just one quick glance at some pictures of the inspiring shorelines of the world’s best aquatic playground and I was certain that I was going to be on the same flight as her!
What followed were some crazy days! We decided in a heartbeat that we wanted to dive in those topaz waters and so did some impromptu scuba diving training in Mumbai. That was probably the best thing we ever did! As we reached our destination our jaws dropped. I had never seen a more beautiful and serene place in my life! Every aspect of that place was just miraculous and we were beaming all through our stay there!
Jessica Minh Ahh is known for turning the most iconic venues into catwalks. She is the only fashion show organizer who gets permission to some of the most outstanding venues such as the Grand Canyon skywalk, London’s tower bridge, etc. In March 2014, I had the privilege of working with her and for having her walk in my show, at the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. An unusually high catwalk was built at the Bays OCBC skyway and my Underwater collection was launched!
My trip to Thailand , at the start of 2015, was an unbelievable adventure! Although I have visited Bangkok before, as also the legendary entertainment district Patpong, where the show that I witnessed is literally embedded in my brain, this holiday was quite different. We flew to Koh Samui which was party central, like absolute nonstop partying and nonstop music which made it impossible for us to sleep, even if we wanted to.
After a hectic 24 hours, we took a ferry to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party which begins at dusk every month , when the round yellow moon makes its appearance over the white sand beach and where there is something for everyone-trance, techno, reggae, drum and bass, jugglers, fire-eaters. After such a magical night, taking the ferry back in the wee hours of the morning was a completes lapse in our judgment.
My first thought when I started designing clothes was swimwear – it’s been a lifelong vision to create a swimwear line. I believe that has to do with spending a lot of time in Goa. Since the age of two I have been religiously going to Goa every year with my family, which then of course stopped being a family holiday when my rebellious teens kicked in and it became more of a party getaway. Goa fashion is almost stringently restricted to resort and swimwear and, of course, hippie attire. The awesome part is that you get to see outfits and people from all over the globe. I was fortunate enough to actually launch my first swimwear collection last year! Roomauction.com gets to showcase the first image of the collection!
South Goa, here I come! I have just spent a chaotic weekend partying in the north, so heading to the south on a Monday morning was serious bliss for me. My cab ride took around an hour and a half and my driver Ranjeet kept me quite entertained most of the way, with his life stories.