PLACE OF THE WEEK

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME


Soundtrack: Regulate - Warren G feat. Nate Dogg


P Diddy once said; "No one ever told awesome stories of when they were at home and had such a great sleep" or something along the line that implies staying in means you live in loserville and are the mayor of it.
I for one kinda love being at home, though I will have to reassess that if the internet were down. 


Aside from watching shows and movies, going through Youtube, Facebook and/or Twitter stalking (you know you do it), chat, read,  playing games etc... There is this thing that no one really want to talk about and that is the fact that you take pictures of yourselves in different poses when alone at home. Now now, I'm talking about PG rated pics: "Selfies". 


SELFIES


Face pictures taken by the owner


Apple products have made it 'selfy' friendly with a front camera and you can direct your photo shoot accordingly. 
Photo applications like Instagram allows you to edit your pictures and effects which instantly beautify your pics. They also have a popular page which proudly displays professional selfy takers.


HOW TO


Find the right angle not like this obviously...

It is worth setting up lighting and then smile!

Or just hide...

MOVIES


Being at home and nothing to do is a great opportunity to check out movies that you may never really watch or that super arty film that you bought just because you felt like you should be cultural? 

RANDOM WEBSITES


Now you can find all sorts of stuff on the internet, it's bloody awesome!
Here are a few if you're curious


For quirky cool illustrations
http://thisisnthappiness.com/


For a good chuckle
http://textsfrombennett.tumblr.com/


For breakfast ideas
http://simplybreakfast.blogspot.com/


For general designy ideas
http://www.designsponge.com/


SNACKING


Probably my favourite. I have such a weakness for crisps, I can't just have a few, I have to eat the whole pack no matter how big!
But my current obsession are these puddings...

YOUTUBE THIS


If you wanna see a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a bird in a pig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xc5wIpUenQ

For good old Charlie Chaplin black and white movies
http://www.youtube.com/topic/V6m0y3aaJmY/charlie-chaplin


For discovering the amazing planet Earth
http://www.youtube.com/user/BBCEarth?feature=chclk






Happy boredom!


Colour Box

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

DRAGON'S DEN


Soundtrack: Someway through this - The Black Ghosts


Can you tell me what 'Dub' is? Can you name a Dub track?
Well DJ Dragon skooled me yesterday when we met at his slick pad and I got really snappy happy.

I was also greeted by two of the loves of his life; Dachshund puppies named Shorty and Jum-Jim. I automatically baby-talked with them and I was officially in love.

Back to music otherwise I will gush about them all day long.




So!
Records everywhere, vinyls and CDs... Expected really... He is a DJ and I am sure there are more hidden away somewhere.

Our conversation was a mix of catch-up and music related. I first met DJ Dragon when I was a student at SAE and he was one of the lecturers there. I've been a fan of his Dubway parties since and it really attracts an awesome mix of people.

I raised the topic of vinyls vs CDs and mp3s and I must agree with him in terms of sound quality. Mp3s are great for sharing music but again the feel and the sound is not the same as vinyls. It also takes music appreciation a bit beyond the sound. You have to consider the effort that goes into cover design, product design, sound engineering and to master mix tracks for vinyls. 
Sadly, it is something that the 'digital age' kids have missed out on. I may not be from the records era but at least I had the pleasure of discovering CDs and going music shopping. Remember that feeling of looking forward to go through the sleeves and read the artist's personal notes? I totally remember my first CD purchase. It was 1500 baht at the time and it was The Lion King soundtrack... and there goes my street cred. 


As vinyls become collectors items, I myself have a few (*proud*), I sincerely hope that it stays with us because it would be great to be able to still 'touch' music rather than just the player (and I'm not talking about DJs).


DUB IS:


Instrumental reggae music that emphasizes bass and drums, using certain audio effects to create a sense of space between rhythm patterns and melodies. (Straight from the Dragon's mouth I swear, word for word... though I'm sure a lot of people have asked him this)


DUBSTEP IS:


New skool kind of Dub, which is a mix of modern electronic dance and old skool reggae


DRAGON SAYS:


"Any kind of electronic music nowadays is kinda Dub"


FIRST GIG AS A DJ:


At his high school dance, in the 9th grade under another DJ name. Which he won't reveal but it has something to do with his middle name.. begins with a P....


FIRST DRUM&BASS LOVE:


"I went to a rave in the UK and they were playing House and Breakbeat and D&B... kinda started from there. I was listening to a Gilles Peterson radio show and he played Someway Through This by Black Ghost and that was it. I thought it was awesome"

RECENT PROJECTS


" I co-produced this with some Japanese dudes and we have another one coming out this year "

RANDOM FACT:


" I do yoga and no one believes me"




DJ DRAGON IN ACTION

Follow DJ Dragon and Dubway parties on FB and Twitter


FB: DUBWAYBKK http://www.facebook.com/groups/dubwaybkk/


Twitter: @dubwaybkk






Happy Dubbin'!


Colour Box

ISSUE OF THE WEEK

CHOCOLATE VS RED VELVET CAKE

Soundtrack: Banana Song - Minions


I don't know about anyone else but I've always wondered what actually made red velvet cake red. Apparently some use beet root, red wine vinegar or just food colouring in with the cake mixture to get the desired colour.

My confusion then sank deeper when I was told that red velvet cake is essentially... chocolate cake.

So add curiosity and the fact that I fancied some cake; I organized a little blind test to see if people could differentiate between the two.

Now, I have no knowledge about baking. I actually think people take for granted the skill that goes into baking a delicious cake from scratch. If you shake and bake then shame on you! I'm kidding, who has the time or an oven these days to actually bake? Well, The Bake Minister (pictured below) does and she's satisfying one craving at a time. 

So I asked a few cake lovers to try both cakes with a blindfold on and the verdict was that 70% couldn't identify which one is which. The thing that sets the red velvet apart is simply the cream cheese topping. 

The chocolate cake is denser but the red velvet has a lighter taste and more of a "fluffy-spongy" texture - is there a clever technical term for this?! I guess "velvety" is suitable in this case.

To conclude the red velvet is like chocolate cake's hybrid half brother who is slightly fatter but with better hair.

IN CASE YOU HAVE TIME (AND AN OVEN)

RECIPE FOR RED VELVET CUPCAKES

(this will make about 15 cups)

Flour    200g

Coco powder    1 tablespoon

Baking powder    1 teaspoon

Baking soda    1/2 teaspoon

Salt    1/2 teaspoon

Butter    90g

Sugar    160g

Butter milk    180g

sun flower oil    70g

Red wine vinegar    1 table spoon and 1/2 teaspoon

2 x whole egg

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy

2. Add oil and beat for another 2 minutes

3. Add eggs and beat for 1 minute

4. Add Red wine vinegar and stir

5. Divide the flour into 3 parts 

6. Alternately add the flour and the butter milk in (this method will give the cake its signature fluff)

7. Bake at 130C for 50 to 60 minutes

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1. Soften cream cheese    250g

2. Soften butter    56g

3. Icing sugar    1 and a 1/2 cup

4. Splash of lemon juice

5. Mix together until smooth

CALORIE COUNTING

One Red Velvet cupcake will set you back 238 calories.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME 

Put in your order at bakeministry@gmail.com and the cake will probably taste better...

Check out their menu on their FB page: Bake Ministry

Happy cake eating!

Colour Box

DISH OF THE WEEK

RICE NOODLES

Soundtrack: Kung fu fighting - Cee-lo Green and Jack Black


Noodles, noodles, noodles... Did Signore Marco Polo introduce it to East Asia or did our cousins from China come up with it? Not that it matters (that much) but what's clear is that it is a big part of any Asian person's diet.


There are many many noodle dishes, many that stretch beyond a Pad Thai. Sorry but...




Dear Tourists,

Please try other things.


Sincerely,


ColourBox




This dish may be an introduction to some but perhaps a regular for most.


ColourBox presents: 


Thin flat rice noodles with fish balls and bean sprouts. Garnished with fried garlic, spring onions and please welcome back my homie; Coriander The Herb. 

This dish is a Thai-Chinese combo but the habit of having it without soup is very much a Southeast Asian thing. Our good old neighbour Vietnam does it too.
The soup version is the alternative but today was just too hot for that.


To accompany the noodles, the boss-lady of the shop kindly brought me an ice cold glass of lightly-sweetened Chrysanthemum tea. Perfect.


WHERE TO FIND


This dish is common enough for it to be found within your 3 km radius we promise you this. Otherwise any food courts surely do it. 
But if you are hunting for THE best noodles with fish balls (or Kuew Tiew Loog Chin Pla), some insist on a stall near Wang Burapha in China Town. 
However we'd like to point you towards this particular 80 year old shop; Lim Hua Heng situated at the corner intersection of Thewet in Bangkok.
It is a family-run noodle shop with the master chef representing his family's 3rd generation.
By 4pm they would have ran out of stock so best to go early for lunch and fight for a seat.

CALORIE COUNTING


If you are bothered or curious... A regular bowl of rice noodles with fish balls sans soup will set you back about 380 calories.


HYGIENE


Side street food stalls and shops vary in cleanliness. Some are better than others but frankly that also depends on where you are from, your standards and how immune your stomach is. Because you'd be missing out on a lot of gorgeous mouth-watering food if you are too particular. #realtalk


PRICE


You can expect to pay from around 30 to 90 baht per regular bowl.


RANDOM FACT


Noodles have been created from flour and water since as early as 5000 BC! This is some serious ancient comfort food.

Happy eating!


ColourBox

DIY OF THE WEEK

LIVING IN A COMPACT SPACE

Soundtrack: In my room - The Beach Boys


When you live in a city and your lifestyle only gives you a small window to organize yourself before you have to step out of the door, having your things arranged in a way that is easy for reach becomes essential.

Meet Mayan. A small town girl, vintage queen and notorious organizer; lives her life on military time. Here, she shares with us her tips on filing your life and sentimental things.

COLOUR BOX:

Hi Mayan, thanks for letting us raid your room.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

MAYAN:

I'm from the Philippines and I live in Bangkok in this area called Victory Monument.

COLOUR BOX:

What made you choose to live in Bangkok?

MAYAN:

I basically fell in love with Bangkok when I was traveling after college, so I decided to settle here.

COLOUR BOX:

Have you always lived in a studio apartment?

MAYAN:

No actually this is my first. I have always lived in houses or apartments with separate living areas and when I arrived in this small space I seriously panicked because I had no idea how I was going to organize everything let alone fit all my things in.

So I've had to just sort through everything, get rid of or give them away and kept what I felt was necessary for me at the time.

COLOUR BOX:

So how have you arranged your belongings? Must be hard to divide your space in a square room.

MAYAN:

Well I have all the things I use on a daily basis close by and visible. For example, my bed is the centre of the room so I have my stationary desk on my left with my pens, papers and laptop because I love writing. My accessories are in a little basket on my book shelf level to me so they are easy to sort through and obviously my important documents are hidden away.

 

COLOUR BOX:

So you've arranged them according to 'use'.

MAYAN:

Exactly. It is actually my clothes that I've arranged like a crazy person. My clothes are like catalogued according to its purpose. For example: work clothes, gym clothes, weekend clothes, holiday clothes etc... and then colour coded and sorted by style also. So long sleeve, short sleeve or sleeveless something like that. I've folded the items that wouldn't need ironing also otherwise they would be hung.

COLOUR BOX:

What about your shoes? How do you keep them?

MAYAN:

Well luckily I have a balcony so I've put a closed cupboard out there and store my flats. I don't wear high heels often so I am always in flats which is lucky because they are much easier to store.

Also by them being outside it airs them out and keep dirt outside my room. I've used the same logic in organizing for my shoes. So use, colour coded and style. But I do clean them before I put them back into storage.

As for my heels, I actually display them next my other miscellaneous things. I find it adds a little texture. 

COLOUR BOX:

We've noticed a bag tree at the corner of your room...

MAYAN:

Hahahaaaa, yea well for me it's the easiest way to store them as they do take up a lot of space. Although I can never really have high-quality or designer bags because I have no space to keep them and it would be silly to hang them like I do now.

COLOUR BOX:

You have a lot of art on your walls and around your room. Where did you get all of this?

MAYAN:

Actually, most of these were presents from my friends or simply something they didn't want. So they all have sentimental values to me and I like to have that around me, around my space. It just makes me feel more at home.

COLOUR BOX:

Lastly, are you planning to move to a bigger space?

MAYAN:

I'm always on the look out for a bigger place as I do miss having a kitchen. But for now I am very happy with my little Aladdin cave.