💚 Unboxing GOT7 Photocard Collection Book 💚

Whilst out browsing one of Bangkok's many cute stationery shops I noticed that they had these adorable folders for displaying your K-pop photocards, the ones I saw were specifically for NCT and so I was really hoping that one of the amazing fan artists here would produce a GOT7 one and ... THEY DID! So of course I ordered one ASAP and it finally arrived so I thought I would show you all what it looks like.

The artwork for the collect book was done by one of my favourite Thai fan artists Bim and in a carnival style that matches the 2021 calendar I bought from her from to. I love that it features not only GOT7 but their pets to and of course an ahgase, it's such a cute touch. The collect book also came with a postcard, keychain, sticker and standee of my bias Jackson dressed as one of my favourite (and Jackson's) Disney characters Buzz Lightyear which was I loved so much and you can also purchase these character sets separately from the collect book to if you want to collect all the members dressed as Disney charcters, Jinyoung as Mickey and Jaebeom as Stitch are sooo cute!!

These collect books are such a cute idea and really nice for displaying your photocards, I'm not much of a photocard collector so I decided to use mine to mostly display my concert tickets. I do however have a separate card wallet full of Jackson photocards I have collected so I may get a separate folder especially for him in the future and I would love to get one for my Day6 collection to. So if you're looking for a cute way to keep your precious K-pop photocards then you should definitely get yourself a cute collect book!

How do you like to display your photocard collection?

Love & Ahgabongs

Cate

xoxo

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💚 Unboxing GOT7 K-pop Pins & Delicious GOT7 Tarts 💚

This year I decided to make a bigger effort to support more smaller businesses and instead of buying GOT7 merch from big heartless companies to instead support my fellow Ahgase and their beautiful artistic creations which are 100% made with love. There are honestly so many amazing artists out there making so many beautiful items that really need your support, especially during these tough times, so I thought I would share some of the cute things that I got recently.

GOT7 Retro Camera Pin & Stickers

As soon as I saw this pin I knew I had to have it for my collection! I love film photography and I love GOT7 so of course this pin was just perfect for me. I love the teal and rose gold colours and also the tiny details like the Ahagse and "I love you GOT7" written on the bottom in pink. The stickers were free gift as I pre-ordered the pin but are now available to buy separately. This pin now has a home on my Love Bird Ita bag and it's so pretty I can't stop staring it. I also really adore the cassette tape pins from the same designer her work is so beautiful detailed and she doesn't just make GOT7 themed goods she also has a store dedicated to other Kpop groups so I definitely recommend you check out her work and give her a follow!

GOT7 Pineapple Tarts

Pineapple tarts are a traditionally served at Chinese New Year and one of my favourite treats so when I saw an Ahgase selling these cutie GOT7 themed ones on Twitter I could not resist! I've actually ordered these about 3 times now (soon to be 4 for my birthday next month) as they are so good! The pastry is soft and buttery and the filling is chewy and not too sweet, they are so good and some of the best pineapple tarts I've eaten, just check out the reviews! In addition to the GOT7 boys she also makes cute little Ahagse tarts (which you can see in my unboxing video below) and also offers strawberry and kiwi fillings to so you can completely customise what you want, if you live in Thailand I totally recommend you order yourself some and if you're not a GOT7 fan she can make some more traditionally shaped tarts for you to.

Jackson Wang Birthday Pins

Eunnise Pins are my best girls are previously gifted me with a bunch of pins which I treasure so much and over the past couple years since opening they have been on a roll creating not just beautiful pins but now branching into clothing and even plushies! I have been waiting forever to get myself their Jackson birthday pins to add to my Jackson Ita pouch and I finally got them and I love them so much, the constellation pin even glows in the dark!! The girls also threw in a bunch of extra goodies for me, some stickers, a Polaroid, a Jackson hair pin and "Broke Ahgase Club" patch which I can TOTALLY relate to and need to sew onto one of my bags soon. I always get excited to see what new designs they come out with and they are the sweetest so go give them some support.

There's so much creative and amazing fan made merch out there and there is literally something for everyone from cookies to clothing to pins to plushies, and these small businesses need your help more than ever right now so please do show them your support and if you have a fave store be sure to link them in the comments for everyone to check out and let's spread some love and support in the fandoms.

What are your favourite K-pop artists?

Love & Ahgabongs

Cate

xoxo

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🧼 Bangkok Soap Opera 🛀 Natural, Handmade, Eco-Friendly Soap & Skincare ♻️

I have walked past the beautifully smelling Bangkok Soap Opera so many times but sadly never been inside however I happened to notice one day while scrolling through Instagram that they were having a sale so I decided as I was down to my last sliver of soap it was the perfect opportunity to order some of their delicious looking soaps to try out and as it arrived to me so fast and so beautifully wrapped with sustainable packaging and smelt so wonderful I just had to share this amazing find with all of you because who doesn't love pretty soaps that smell amazing?

The most appealing thing to me about Bangkok Soap Opera is not just their amazing soaps but the fact that they do some amazing work in the community. Not only do they teach soap making skills and host workshops on natural skincare and candle making, which I definitely want to take part in one day, they also have a project where they take the used oil from local street stalls and restaurants and which would otherwise go to waste and use that oil to make into soap and then donate that soap to communities and charities in need, so by buying their soaps and supporting them you are also supporting a great cause and a more eco-friendly, sustainable future. 

As someone with quite sensitive skin I'm always cautious about what I put onto my skin and try to source as natural, organic and vegan as possible. Bangkok Soap Opera prides themselves on their natural ingredients and state they don't use any ingredients in their soap you can't eat as only if it's safe for you to consume it's safe for it to be used on your skin. Using only these natural ingredients they have produced a wonderful and wide selection of soaps in many "flavours" to suit all skincare types, I purchased 5 of their many soaps on offer, strawberry and rose, mangosteen and lemongrass, coffee and orange, chocolate pumpkin and cinnamon, lemon and tamarind, and they all smell amazing! So far I have only used the strawberry rose and it's wonderful, not only does my bathroom smell like an amazing rose garden every time I walk in but I've had complements about my "new perfume" and my skin feels so soft, beautiful and cleansed I really can't wait to get back into the shower to use it again.

I think as consumers we should all be making more of an effort to support businesses and brands that make a difference, personally I want the little money I have to go to the right places and businesses that align with my own ideals and beliefs and Bangkok Soap Opera is definitely a business I'm proud to support, not only are their products handmade with completely natural ingredients of the highest quality, they smell amazing, leave my skin feeling beautiful and are very reasonably priced to so worth every single penny and more, they ship worldwide to so please do go check them out and maybe treat yourself to some natural handmade skincare made with love.

Which one of their soaps would you love to try out?

Love & Bubbles

Cate

xoxo

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*This post is NOT sponsored all views are my own, all items were purchased with my own money and not gifted.

🌱 Bangkok's BEST Vegan Plant-based Restaurants 🌱

I've been eating really well these days with all the amazing plant-based vegan choices available in Thailand, the vegan movement is getting so popular here that this month Bangkok's first vegan supermarket opened in Iconsiam one of the biggest malls not just Thailand but the whole of Asia so I will definitely be visiting it soon but in the meantime here are a few more of my favourite vegan restaurants in Bangkok I've been eating at recently.

Broccoli Revolution

Broccoli Revolution is one of the vegan restaurants I visit quite often as they have a few different branches around Bangkok, their food is always fresh and colourful and I love that they put an emphasis on using more local fresh fruits and vegetable. My absolute favourite is their veggie burger which comes in a charcoal bun and is made of lots of veggies and served with salsa and guacamole, it's so delicious and light yet filling to and it comes with their homemade fries which are just as delicious, I'm not the biggest fan of mock meats and prefer my plant-based food to be more fruits and vegetable based and Broccoli Revolution does just that with a menu full of fresh fruits and vegetables from pizzas and burgers to sushi and salad bowls , I definitely recommend you check them out!

Nature's Charm Cafe

Speaking of restaurants who use more vegetables instead of mock meats there's Nature's Charm. Their restaurant is one of the cutest in Bangkok with a pink and floral aesthetic and they make the best desserts, you wouldn't even be able to tell that their macarons are completely vegan as they taste even better than the ones from Ladurée and their "meat" is made completely from fruits and veggies, the chicken bites and fish is made from jackfruit but strangely looks just like actual meat and I was so confused when I first cut into their fish and chips I was so confused as it looked like actual fish but thankfully it wasn't and they did a phenomenal job as it tastes so good everyone needs to try their fish and chips!

The Banana Warrior Café

This is a recently opened vegan café in one of my favourite spots in Emquartier. I've been buying The Banana Warrior's delicious healthy vegan banana bread for a while from farmers markets and cafes so was extremely excited to try her savoury food and it did not disappoint. The café is full of good vibes and I loved the little handwritten notes and I love that the menu constantly changes depending on what's available to as they source their ingredients from local organic farmers so I would recommend you go often and try whatever you can, as for the banana bread I've tried so many but the orange-gasm is my absolute favourite along with the lemon cookies that my grandma really loved, they are a must along with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram to decide the next vegan restaurant I visit!

Love & Cookies

Cate

xoxo

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❤️ Venus in the Shell by Phannapast Taychamaythakool 🎨

Phannapast Taychamaythakool is a Thai artist who expresses her feelings through her animal creations illustrated in a traditional Chinese style in honour of her Thai/Chinese heritage, I first became aware of her through a collaboration with Hello Kitty but slowly began to realise that I have actually been a big fan of her art for a while seeing it in many locations in Bangkok, most recently the beautifully decorated Wat Mangkon MRT station where she collaborated with Nescafe, I also own a mug from this collaboration to. 

Venus in the Shell is her newest exhibition of her work which took place in my favourite artist escape River City and takes you on a journey into the secretive corners of humanity's fragility, anger, disappointment, love, joy, jealousy, brightness, and darkness with Phannapast's ending hope that we can embrace the reality of life not just those depicted by the gods.

The exhibition is really stunning, I adore her vibrant work so much and the stories she tells through her art, I really did feel like I transported into another world and by the end of the exhibition I felt so at peace and inspired. My favourite were the lenticular prints that shifted and morphed as you moved, I spent a good amount of time just walking back and forth enjoying these transformations from human to animal which is symbolises that we all have multiple sides depending on the circumstances we are in and it's nothing to be ashamed of.

There were so many fun characters at the exhibition, robotic storks , bulbous goldfish and my personal favourite the cat and the lotus. I loved them so much I picked up a few postcards and memopads in the gallery shop. Phannapast's artwork is so fun and I adore the deeper meanings behind them to, it's always a joy seeing her artwork randomly around the city.

Food nourishes the body but art feeds the soul and after this day I was happily full. Inspired by the world of Phannapast I decided to share with you a little bit of my world so made a video of my day which you can watch below where you can follow me exploring Chinatown, art exhibitions, eating lots of vegan foods and of course my adorable cat Nora Neko has a feature to. This is a new vlog series I'm testing out so let me know what you think and hopefully I will have more beautiful art and artists to share with you in the future.

What nourishes your soul?

Love & Lotus

Cate

xoxo

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🌱 Bangkok's BEST Vegan Plant-based Restaurants 🌱

Thailand is an amazing place for vegan plant-based food with so many options available ranging anywhere from Michelin star gourmet tasting menus to $1 street food. Over the past few years since moving back to Bangkok I have seen the vegan plant-based community grow so much with new innovative vegan restaurants opening every few weeks so I thought it was time I shared some of the amazing places I've visited with you and show you that plant based live is not as bland as you think!

Nourish Cafe

Nourish Cafe is my personal favourite vegan restaurant in Bangkok! They have a large menu full of Thai and international dishes at very reasonable prices and every weekend they have chef specials and delicious sandwiches to. Their desserts are also AMAZING their vegan Snykerz is one of the best things I've ever tasted and it's only $1!! But my personal favourite dish is the smothered burrito which is a MUST try if you visit, not only is it HUGE but I kid you not it's not just the best vegan burrito I've had, but best burrito I've tasted EVER! Aside from the awesome food the hospitality there is amazing to, they are the sweetest, kindest people and my heart always feels as full as my stomach after visiting. Nourish Cafe is just a short walk from On Nut BTS station and definitely worth the visit whether your craving Thai food, Mexican or anything really, I highly recommend them!!

Golden State Vegan Cafe

Golden State Vegan Cafe is a new vegan restaurant in Bangkok which differs from the rest in that it specialises in vegan seafood. I'm actually very allergic to shellfish and even eating the vegan versions makes me sweat a bit even though I know there's no danger in eating them so trying this restaurant was an experience for me but I can honestly say they do the best seafood I have ever tried, it's not rubbery or spongy like some I've tried but very soft, delicious and melts in your mouth, you really need to try it to believe it! The cafe is also very aesthetically pleasing with some amazing original art pieces on the walls and beautiful tableware, it's exactly how I want my future house to look. As for what to try, I recommend everything, the poke bowls are extremely fresh, the lobster rolls just melt in you mouth, the fish burgers are HUGE and the crab cakes divine and you can also buy their self made frozen seafood and freshly made sauces to bring home and cook for yourself so be sure to check them out. 

Vistro // Vizza

Vistro was voted as Thailand's best plant-based restaurant in the Root The Future plant-based awards last year and they really do deserve it! I would describe Vistro and Vizza (their vegan pizzeria) as vegan food for non-vegans as their dishes are so creative and fake meats and cheeses so good they are virtually indistinguishable from their animal derived counterparts. Vistro has such a diverse creative menu that there's something for all tastes, they also recently did a special Diwali and Christmas menu which looked absolutely to die for and I can honestly say everything I've tried there has been so amazing that I can not pick a favourite. I would also suggest you follow them on Instagram as they regularly have special events and offers, the last time I visited they had buy one get one free on pizza and the only thing better than pizza is FREE PIZZA!!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram to decide the next vegan restaurant I vsit!

Love & Cookies

Cate

xoxo

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🐰 Usagyuuun Cafe - Bangkok - Thailand ❄️

Usagyuuun is a mix between a rabbit and a mochi and I first discovered this character randomly back in February when my friends and I noticed this crazy dancing bunny in an art gallery, then couple weeks ago while I was in Siam Discovery for a GOT7 event I noticed this crazy dancing bunny again and found out there was a pop-up café in Siam Center dedicated to it so I decided to go check it out.

The Usagyuuun café is so adorable and suitably festive, there are so many fun areas for you to take photos and they even have Christmas costumes you can wear to. The menu is full of delicious drinks, desserts and even takoyaki and some drinks and desserts come with a souvenir cup you can take home, I ordered a fruit soda and tiramisu and got an adorable cup and coaster to take home.

There is also a special gift shop next to the café and also one in Loft in Siam Discovery where you can buy exclusive Usagyuuun merch and every weekend in December until the end of January you can meet Usagyuuun at the café, dance with him and also take part in workshops such as bracelet making or gift wrapping.

It's always so much fun randomly seeing this bouncy bunny and I have definitely fallen for its charms and will try to visit the café again one more time before it disappears, hopefully when Usagyuuun is there so we can take photos and dance together again, also the pancakes looked really good so I definitely need to try them.

What is your fave dessert?

Love & Bunnies

Cate

xoxo

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🎄The Hidden Milkbar - Bangkok - Thailand 🍪

Bangkok is looking very festive this year so I thought I would go check out some cute cafes and try their special Christmas menus. The Hidden Milkbar has been on my must visit list for a while because of its adorable pink aesthetics and delicious looking milkshakes.

The Hidden Milkbar is indeed hidden, it's pink doorway is hidden down an alley on the 3rd floor of a narrow building and it's a real adventure getting there. It's so aesthetically pleasing there though and reminded me of a cereal bar I visited in Seoul a few years ago but the focus here instead of cereal was milkshakes. I ordered the special Christmas Gingerbread milkshake which was so adorable and came decorated with a meringue tree and gingerbread cookie which tasted so good, the milkshake also had peaches blended into it which was a an interesting touch but complimented the ginger really well, it was so yummy and not too sweet or sickly at all like some milkshakes can be, I almost wanted to order another but one milkshake is my dairy limit for the day before my stomach starts to protest.

As well as milkshakes you can order cookies, cakes and ice cream and they also have some non-dairy drinks to, in fact their Christmas punch looked really good and I was almost tempted to try that instead of a milkshakes, but there will be a next time. One of the things that makes this place different from other milkshake bars is that it has lots of non-traditional milkshakes flavours on the menu like caramel cornflakes, smores and Jaffa cakes which is one of my absolute fave British snacks, so I definitely will visit again and try some more of their interesting flavours! 

What is your fave milkshake flavor?

Love & Cookies

Cate

xoxo

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🎧 November K-pop Events in Bangkok, Thailand 🎤

November was a fun month of events in Bangkok just like September but most of the events I wanted to go to all ended up happening on the same day so this all happened in a day! There was so much more I wanted to do, more birthday events and even a cinema screening by some GOT7 fansites showing all their amazing fancams, but I'm sure I'll get more opportunities for more awesome events in the future.

                                        

JACKBAM ANNIVERSARY CAFÉ 

This was such a cute event, as soon as I saw photos of the cute Jackson and Bambam donuts I just had to go check it out. The decorations were just adorable and the atmosphere so much fun, when I arrived GOT7 were livestreaming their virtual fansign event which was also happening in Bangkok that day so there was lots of screaming and giggling while we watched them. Jackson and Bambam have such a great friendship I love seeing them joking around together and taking care of each other so this was a cute event to celebrate the 9 years of friendship they have and I really hope we have more events like this because it was so much fun and such a cute idea.

                                   

GOT7 YUGYEOM BIRTHDAY EVENTS

Yugyeom's events were so much fun this year and extremely popular compared to last year! There was so much going on and so many people out celebrating his birthday it was so touching. Each venue had their own unique theme and I really loved the galaxy theme in the first café from the decorations, to the food, to the gifts everything was just done so beautifully and everyone had so much fun. There were so many gifts and giveaways to, I came home with so many beautiful goodies like photocards, stickers, fans, cup sleeves, candles, soap and even cookies, Ahgase are so cute and creative I love this fandom so much and am really excited for JB's birthday in January and the start of a new year of Kpop events.

If anyone knows of any other Kpop events happening in Bangkok that you would like me to go check out for you please do let me know as I'd love to share other groups events I may not be as familiar with as there's so many amazing events that happen here compared to other places I'd love to share a bit of my world with the rest of the world, especially now we aren't able to travel so freely. My Ko-fi link is below for anyone that wants to 'sponsor' my visits and buy me a drink and in exchange I will send you any cute freebies I get from the event, also do make sure to follow me on Instagram from more K-pop related fun and news on future events that I will be attending as well as more fun adventures I don't blog about.

What did you do in November?

Love & Music

Cate

xoxo

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🎃 Halloween @ The Adoptable Puppy Café - Bangkok - Thailand 🐶

Halloween was spent in the best way possible surrounded by cute puppies which you can actually bring home with you! Bangkok's Adoptable Puppy Café happens every other Saturday where a whole bunch of adorable rescue pups come out to play and hopefully find their forever homes.

This was my first visit to the puppy café and it was so much fun, the puppies are sooo cute and playful and excited that most my photos came out a blurry mess but I'm happy they had a good time as all of these dogs are rescues and some even have disabilities, there was one that couldn't use his back legs but that didn't stop him from running around and playing with the other puppies.

The café is a great idea to get the dogs out of their kennels and socialise with other dogs and new people and also for people to meet with these dogs, fall in love and take them home, that day 8 puppies went to their forever homes and the others went to foster homes which made my heart so happy.

For Halloween they had special snacks and drinks and there was also a book sale as well as t-shirts and totes so if you couldn't take one of the dogs home you could still help out by buying something as all the proceeds went towards helping them rescue more dogs in need and finding them new homes.

I love visiting dog and cat cafes but I especially love visiting the adoptable cafes as these animal are so sweet and it really is a great feeling when you see them going to their forever homes, adoption is very important to me as all my pets have been rescues and there's so many beautiful creatures that need our help that I'm happy in some little way I can help and who knows maybe one day I will bring home a little friend.

Would you adopt one of these cute puppies?

Love & Dogs

Cate

xoxo

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🎂 Unbirthday Café - Bangkok - Thailand 💐

Unbirthday Café is another one of Bangkok's hidden gems, tucked down an side alley on the 2nd floor of an apartment complex it can be confusing to find but once you do you'll want to come again and again. I first visited in August, to treat myself to some cake for my (un)birthday so I thought for my Halloween visit I would film a little video and share it here.

The commitment they have to the aesthetic is admirable, in summer there was a midsummer theme with flowers decorating the whole of the café from floor to celling and for October they went with a spooky but cute Halloween theme with not just the décor but cakes, drinks and music adding to the overall theme, it's such a pretty café and I love the attention to detail they put into everything, there's such a great vibe there.

Cakes are the main reason you should visit because their cakes are in my opinion one of the best in Thailand! They bake a wide variety of cakes daily so there's something for everyone from chocolate to fruit to cheesecake to scones and every single one is so delicious and a real rich treat, my personal favourite is the hummingbird cake, definitely a must try especially if you're a fan of carrot cake.

Since sharing my photos of Unbirthday Café on Instagram so many of my friends have asked me to take them there when they come visit so I will for sure and I can't wait to see what their next theme will be, maybe I'll have to pay another visit for Christmas.

What is your favourite cake?

Love & Roses

Cate

xoxo

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❁ Wallflowers Cafe - Bangkok - Thailand ❁

Wallflowers Café is one of my favourite cafes in Thailand, a hidden gem in Bangkok's bustling Chinatown. Walking into this café is like walking into Wonderland; the ground floor is a working flower shop, full of dried and fresh flower displays with staff busily making bouquets for delivery, as soon as you walk through the door the smell of fresh flowers makes you instantly feel like you're walking through a field of fresh flowers in spring.

As you walk up the stairs into the café area, the smell of fresh flowers mixing with the scent of fresh coffee, there is so much to take in, there are flowers every where, it's exactly what I would want my dream home to look like, cosy, unique, kitschy art pieces decorating the walls, a little bit shabby, plants everywhere with cats and dogs wandering about freely. 

The café itself is quite small with no more than 10 tables, I've visited this café mostly on weekday afternoons and it has always been relaxed and quiet with plenty of places to sit but I've heard on the weekends and at night when it transforms into a bar it can get quite busy. It also appeared in "Brother of the Year" which was the most popular movie in Thailand a few years ago (it even outsold the Avengers!) so it has gained a bit of extra popularity from that.

When you visit I would definitely recommend trying their home baked cakes, not only do they look beautiful but I would rate them as some of the best cakes in Bangkok! Sometimes when I visit they are already sold out so it's best to come earlier in the day if you want to try them, the dark beer cake (pictured above) and carrot cake are my favourites. Coffee is their speciality so if you're a coffee lover be sure to try a cup but if you're not a coffee fan they do have lots of other drinks on offer.

The highlight of Wallflowers Café for me is not just the cakes, the aesthetics and cosy atmosphere but their resident pets who are so friendly and will come and sit next to you as you relax there. I tell my friends it my favourite cat café that isn't a cat café. There's 3 cats and 2 dogs that all live at the café and are usually roaming around or sleeping in corners, they are all super friendly so be sure to say hi and give them friendly pets if you see them.

Chinatown is my favourite area to explore in Bangkok it has some great hidden cafes and restaurants, every time I visit I seem to find somewhere new. Chinatown also has the best street food so it's well worth visiting if you're in Bangkok, it's a beautiful area with old buildings and temples but with a contemporary feel so definitely go visit and get lost wandering around the tiny alleys of Yaowarat, I'm sure you'll discover some hidden gems.

What are your favourite places to explore?

Love & Flowers

Cate

xoxo

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Asian Dramas I'm Watching & Loving!

So, I actually wrote this blog post last summer whilst I was in the UK but it's been hidden in my drafts for the longest time so now as a lot of us are spending more time at home with a lot more time on our hands to watch TV I thought it was the perfect time to share. I stopped watching dramas for a while and have been listening to more podcasts at night to give my eyes a break from staring at screens but as I have a bit more time to kill at home I've started watching them again so be sure to leave me your recommendations and I may share a few more of my drama faves soon ....

Girl From Nowhere

เด็กใหม่ The Series

A mysterious girl named Nanno transfers to different schools and exposes the lies and misdeeds of the students and faculty at every turn.
If you like dark, graphic, psychological horror in a similar vein to Black Mirror then this is one for you, I normally prefer more light-hearted dramas but there was just something about the main character Nanno I found interesting, she reminded me a bit of Hell Girl with the way she oh so subtly brought out the darkest side of each of the characters she encountered and the way she was so nonchalant about everything that happened to her yet caused so much chaos to the lives around her it was almost humorous, she's kinda like a twisted hero punishing those tempted into wronging her. I really loved the soundtrack to as it really added to Nanno's creepy vibe as we never quite find out who or what she really is and why she does what she does. Each episode is self-contained and follows a different characters story each with different struggles so it's easy to get sucked into the series and I binged my way through the whole series without even noticing the time, so if you're looking for something a bit darker to watch I really recommend it!

Oh My Venus

오 마이 비너스

Kim Young-ho, a.k.a. John Kim, is a personal trainer to Hollywood stars and believes living a healthy lifestyle and exercise is the only way to survive. A Hollywood scandal with an actress has him on the run back to Korea while on the plane he has an unfortunate encounter with Kang Joo-eun a 33-year-old lawyer who recently ended her 15 year relationship and in her youth was considered the beauty of Korea but now has gained a lot of weight. Kang Joo-eun  decides that she's had enough and wants to get out of this rut so gets Kim Young-ho to get her into shape and help turn her life around.
I'm a big fan of 'I Live Alone' and have been watching it for the past 3 years but realised that I hadn't actually watched any of Sung Hoon's dramas so was told this one was a must watch and to my surprise it also had Henry Lau in it to who is also a member of the 'Rainbow Club' that I'm a big fan of and also had an unfortunate encounter with at an airport.... I don't usually like these cliche love dramas (although I seem to watch a lot) but I really liked the characters they were just so sweet and fun and they all had great chemistry together, I kinda like that in a similar way to My ID is Gangnam Beauty it didn't go down the "thin is beautiful" route so much and made the main focus about health rather than appearances. This is such a classic drama I can't believe it's taken me this long to finally watch it and I really enjoyed it, also Henry was just adorable!!

A Korean Odyssey

화유기

In 2017, Son Oh-Gong and Ma-Wang are in conflict with each other as they look for a true light in a dark world where evil thrives. From there, Son Oh-Gong is bound to his protective role towards Seon-mi, the little girl he had met years ago. Having made a contract with Seon-mi 25 years ago, entitling her to seek help from Son Oh-Gong whenever she calls him in exchange for letting him free, the two meet again in a fateful encounter.
This drama is based on the characters from Journey to the West one of my absolute favourite Chinese legends. I grew up watching the Monkey TV series, watching the cartoons and reading the books so when I found out there was a Korean drama doing a modern take on the characters I had to watch! I really enjoy dramas that have an other worldly or supernatural element and this was exactly to my taste they really did the characters justice and I enjoyed watching their chemistry and dynamics so much and it got even better after the addition of the zombie character. This drama is definitely in my top 10 Korean dramas I really enjoyed watching it and each character from the legends was so well portrayed I'd really like to see them reunite for another season and for other demons and deities to join them. It was a really fun drama to watch and I really liked how the drama unfolded even though the romance was a bit cheesy but that's something I've kinda grown to accept with K-Dramas and it definitely wasn't as cringe as I've seen in other series.

The Crown Princess

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After numerous assassination attempts Crown Princess Alice is forced to leave her home of Hrysos and flees to Thailand where she is put under the protection of Dawin a Thai Lieutenant Commander of the Thai Navy. As Dawin and his team investigate who is behind the assassination attempts on Princess Alice the two become closer and Alice learns about what life is like as a commoner. Honestly I find a lot of these Thai dramas quite cliche but I do like Yaya and Nadech and have been a fan of their dramas for a while and there was so much hype around this drama I eventually decided to watch it and I actually really enjoyed it. Of course I figured out right away who the culprit was after seeing so many dramas follow similar plot lines but despite that I did really like all the characters in this drama and thought they acted well and all had great chemistry together. I also found the locations they chose to shoot the drama really beautiful and the costumes to. I watched this one with my Mama to and she loved it , she kept praising it saying it wasn't as dramatic or over the top as some Thai dramas can be and really wants there to be a season 2! So if anyone is looking for a Thai drama to watch then maybe check this one out and see what you think.

Hotel Del Luna

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The Hotel del Luna is not like any other hotel as its clients are all ghosts. Jang Man-wol, is the owner of the hotel and has been stuck in the hotel for the past millennium when meets Ku Chan-Seong a regular human who she decides to hires as the new manager to take care of her spirit guests so they can cross into the afterlife with no regrets.
I honestly LOVED this drama, I had heard a lot about it and started watching it just after it finished airing. The plot sounded like something I would enjoy and similar to one of my fave anime Death Parade. From the start of this drama I was really captivated and it really didn't disappoint at all and exceeded expectations. IU is amazing as Man-wol and I adored her character so much, she was just so interesting and endearing, and her relationship with the other characters was so heartwarming, in fact all the characters were amazing and had such interesting histories I really loved every single person in the cast. The series had a perfect ending to, I was honestly sobbing at the end and not to spoil too much but I'm so happy everyone got the ending they deserved, I was definitely satisfied and happy that the story had a conclusion so much so I wouldn't want to see anymore from it although I will admit the final tease of the new owner looks intriguing and it would be interesting to see a new owner and their story so I'm sure we'll find out if they'll be another season happening or not soon...

What have you been watching lately?

Love & Apple Tea

Cate

xoxo

The Best Bubble Tea In Bangkok!!

The bubble tea craze is still going strong all over the world and although it's nothing new for those of us in Thailand who grew up with this treat it is still super popular with new bubble tea cafes opening everyday, you can't walk 2 minutes without seeing bubble tea somewhere! Bubble tea is one of my favourite treats so over the past couple years I have made the most of this trend and tried many, many different bubble teas from large chains to, independent shops and out of the hundreds I've tried I have to say that this is my absolute favourite.

Seoulcial Club has their own special bubble tea series called Fire Tiger and has grown from this one cafe in Siam Square to having multiple Fire Tiger stands and cafes in popular malls all over Bangkok. I witnessed this rise in popularity and remember seeing long lines of people outside the Siam store, some waiting hours to try their signature bubble tea, then seeing them open a second store just a few minutes away only for that to have lines just as long to! I thought it was crazy... until the moment I finally tried it and then I understood why it was so popular.

The Crown is my ultimate favourite of the Fire Tiger series and while it is pricey compared to some other bubble teas (the same price as a buffet lunch in some places!) it's definitely worth indulging in at least once in your life. I find that most milk teas don't have much of a tea flavour but you can definitely taste the rich tea flavour here and it's not overly sweet to which I like, it's also really creamy and the different types of boba and crunchy creme brulee topping bring an extra luxurious delicious element to it, definitely a must try if you're a bubble tea fan!

What's your favourite bubble tea?

Love & Tigers

Cate

xoxo

Psssst if you want to see more awesome cafes from around the world you can click the button below, buy me a coffee, get treats & a shoutout on my next post