Sunday 28 February 2010

History repeats itself

As we move from Gutenberg to Google, I'm sure a new era of reading will be born.

At the same time history repeats itself; worries about books and reading habits extend back far further than the information age.

Celina Fox has come out with a new very interesting and impressive book;
The Arts of Industry in the Age of Enlightenment. (would love to have it as a gift)

The book adjusts the balance of one's understanding of the 18th century away from high society towards the trades.

To fully understand 18th-century culture, we must look to industrialists as well as aristocrats.

For anyone who wants to know more about the intellectual origins of industrialisation and the social ideas that led to design innovation, this book covers a very broad territory according to Financial Times



From Gutenberg to Google
Picture from FT 27/28 Feb

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Saturday 27 February 2010

Is it Healthy to live in memories?


We all have a tendency to live in old memories especially if they are good memories. But is it healthy?

One of my favorite writers, Osho has a clear answer to this





Your memory is not you. You are consciousness, memory is content. But memory is the whole life energy of the ego. Memory is of course old, and it is afraid of the new. The new may be disturbing, the new may be such that it may not be digestible. The new may bring some trouble. You will have to shift and reshift yourself. You will have to readjust yourself. That seems arduous.

To be new one needs to become disidentified with the ego. Once you are disidentified with the ego you don't care whether it dies or lives.

Just that death of the ego, that makes one alive. To die in the ego is to be born into 'being'.





When the New Knocks on Your Door, Open It!


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Thursday 25 February 2010

Hot Basil with Hot Memories



I found My favorite dish in the Chiva-Som's Thai SPA Cuisine Book

To make the Healthy Stir-Fried Beef with Chilli and Holy Hot Basil, you need the following ( serves 4 )

5 bird's eye chillies, chopped
8 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable stock
400 gr beef tenderloin, sliced
3 tbsp soy sause
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp red chilli
2 handful holy basil leaves

In wok, stir-fry bird's eyes chillies and garlic using half of the vegetable stock. Once fragrant, add sliced beef and cook for several minutes. Moisten with remaining vegetable stock and season with soy sauce and honey. Add sliced chilli and holy hot basil leaves and remove from heat. Serve with brown rice





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Tuesday 23 February 2010

The Coconut Story

I will soon (in on other blog) tell you all about the Coconuts but it all starts by planting a seed.

A new life will start! For some people it might mean going on a honeymoon and for others it might mean to leave the past behind and find new challenges in life.

Whatever it is, for me this picture symbolize's growth. We all grow (!) every day. Let's just remember that life is short and our responsibility towards ourselves is to be truthful, appreciate and enjoy all moments and thus grow with a postive mind.



-- Post From My iPhone

Sunday 21 February 2010

The King of Bollywood

Travel anywhere in the Middle East and Asia and you'll find it hard to miss Shah Rukh Khan. His films are shown on televisions, on buses, in cafes and in hotel bedrooms. He has ruled India's film industry for nearly two decades

Do you want to go to Bollywood?
We have been working for nearly two decades with Designer Holidays in India, the through experts and our local Door-Openers in India. Do you want to be treated like a star and have a unique travel experience - you are in the right hands. You are welcome to call us any time.


Shah Rukh Khan -he also owns an Indian Premier League cricket team, the Kolkata Knight Riders
Picture from FT 20 Feb

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More Snow!?

Thanks to some workers who did a great job this morning - made it possible for me to get out of the house...rushing for my gym session.

If you are tired of all the snow and cold - just klick on my picture and a whole new world of sunsine opens up






-- Post From My iPhone

Thursday 18 February 2010

Fleury is my Favorite Biodynamic Champagne

My lovely friends Mia and John are visiting BioFach, The world Organic Show in Germany and sending me some greetings:

"Leija dear, we are drinking your favourite champagne with Mr Fleury himself! We have convinced him to come to Stockholm to meet you! Lots of love Mia"
Mr Fleury and John Nevado

Sent from my iPhone

Wednesday 17 February 2010

No Plastic Bags

In Thailand they told me that in the olden days they always wrapped everything in leaves
- they still do at Soneva Kiri
Perhaps a new eco business concept...


My exotic takeaway protein snack

-- Post From My iPhone

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Enjoy Every Day

Here in Sweden my friend Sonja always tells me - enjoy life every day because tomorrow you might be run over by the Blue Bus. I will try to remember her advise again and again

In Thailand they must fear the coconuts..
I did! but I also enjoyed every night and day!

-- Post From My iPhone

Monday 15 February 2010

The Look of Love

If love had a name and face what would it look like?

Here are some pictures of love seen through the eyes of a Thai photographer Ausadavut Sarum



With Mother



Fresh



Two of us

-- Post From My iPhone

Sunday 14 February 2010

Valentine Supper

A Classical French; Boeuf Bourguignon - Made by me


-- Post From My iPhone

Roses from Heaven

I was waiting all day for the rose or the loving words and when least expected Heaven answered my wish





-- Post From My iPhone

Valentine Coctail

Select Travel and Marbella Club have been celebrating Valentine with our valued clients. Count Rudy has been telling us lovely stories from the early days in the 1960 when as today Marbella Club was the place to enjoy.

Select Travel has a very dear and deep relationship with Marbella Club since many years. We are the only Nordic Touroperator that has a contract with them, which means we have good rates and always great added values for our valued clients.
Don Rudy and me with Asa Syden the winner of the evening's Lucky Draw; a stay at Marbella Club


Gunnar Andersson, General Consul of Austria together with me and Don Carlos, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Marbella Club



























-- Post From My iPhone

Friday 12 February 2010

My Best Friday

Back in Sweden and thinking of my Girl Friday Chompoo at Soneva Kiri, who is such a lovely person and the best butler ever. I wish her the best in life.





-- Post From My iPhonerr

Thursday 11 February 2010

Thank you to you all

I had the most wonderful time at Six Senses Soneva Kiri so a Big Thank You to Eva and Sonu ( lovely meeting you) and the whole Team. Keep up the outstanding service and the Smiles!



From left; Ryosuke Yakuwa, Manjit Ghosh, Chompoo Kiewkarnka and Anthony Paton

-- Post From My iPhone

My Favorite

My favorite Thai dish is Steared Fried Beef with hot basil and chili and at Soneva Kiri they make it absolutely wonderful




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Wednesday 10 February 2010

Eco Villa at Soneva Kiri

The Eco Villa at Soneva Kiri is zero carbon emission villa.  The Villa is constructed from locally sourced materials and wherever possible recycles waste and water.  It is one of the first proto-type built by the Six Senses to highlight modern living with minimal or zero carbon emission.






Sign at entrance to The Villa


Reading pod


Lounge area inside the Villa


Wine Cellar

Entrance to the Villa - Roof covered with ferns and other plants

-- Post From My iPhone

Wow!

The Soneva Kiri Villas are absolutely outstanding if you are looking for a relaxed romantic barefoot holiday!



Entering my Beach Villa




A Warm Sunny Exciting Welcome



Wow! What a lovely scenery!



A very soft natural touch to my living



This is just a small part of my lovely bathroom



And this is a part of my very romantic bedroom

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Soneva Kiri - appealing to all my Senses

Visiting another Six Senses Resort - Soneva Kiri, on the Koh Kood Island, close to Cambodia.

It's only an hours flight from Bangkok in a very stylish Six Senses Private 8 seater Cessna Caravan

The Island of Koh Kood is the fourth largest island in Thailand but still very undeveloped, a beautiful lush green island with cristal clear water. Normally you enter the island by an hours boat trip from Trat but Six Senses have their own private airstrip so the arrival is very comfortable and stylish





-- Post From My iPhone

First Class

I can't remember the feeling but it must be similar to travelling first class


Picture taken in the transfer bus on flight between Phuket and Bangkok

-- Post From My iPhone

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Time to say Goodbye

Today was my last day at the Destination SPA and time to say goodbye to all lovely people. Thank you for wonderful service and hospitality. It was great to experience everything from Yoga to Blood Analysis and enjoy the comfort of the 400 m2 villa (standard!)



My Butler a very friendly smiling Miss Friday



One of the most sweet and talented Therapist



Nancy the great PR person is serving us Bale Tea at the Chinese Tea Garden



Anja Graube the lovely always smiling Executive Manager to MD



Bryan Hoare the handsome Swedish looking Wellness Director

-- Post From My iPhone