Cruising along the Mekong River in Style - Gorgeous Asian Chinoise Style Rooms

One of the countries I really love visiting in my travels

is Vietnam. Vietnam is still beginning to open up and

isn't to the point where it's over developed yet. It still

retains much of it's essence and unique blend of Asian

with French influences.

I think cruising is one of the loveliest ways to see a place

or country and what better way to do it than to do it in

luxury and style!

This boat is called The Jayavarman and it is run by
the Heritage Line. As you can see, the staterooms on
this little ship are completely luxurious and unlike
any staterooms I've seen before on a ship. It looks
like a high end hotel room instead of being on a
riverboat.

Each stateroom has a balcony with a table and

two chairs to lounge in while gazing at the scenery.

Even the bathroom has distinct

Chinese styled cabinets and doors.

They really did a fantastic job with blending modern

luxury with traditional Chinese and Asian aesthetics.

The wood work in the rooms are just amazing.

At dusk, the the lighting and the

scenery are romantic and peaceful.

The cruise either departs from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

and proceeds upstream to Siem Reap in Cambodia or the

other way from Siem Reap downstream to Saigon. I still

prefer the name Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon is so

much prettier.

There were no photos of the suite but I

thought this was a gorgeous rendering.

The open deck on top looks even better with daybeds,

gorgeous coffee tables and billowing curtains.

What you saw above was the deluxe room, this is the

superior room (or what you would call a standard room.)

Even the standard room is quite gorgeous. Take a look
out the window in this photo. Amazing isn't it?

I love the panels of plants and birds used

as a headboard in these staterooms.

It's tea time.

If you plan to decorate any of your rooms in Chinoise style,

hopefully this post has given you some great ideas on how

to blend modern luxuries with a more traditional asian look.

Wouldn't I love to be cruising down the Mekong in this boat...

Photos from Heritage Line

The Traditional Chinese Dress - The Cheongsam or the Qipao

The Chinese traditional dress is what I consider to be one of the classics.

The modern day version of the dress is very sexy and feminine and can

be worn casually or formally depending on the length and the fabric used.

The mother above looks fabulous with her short and pink cotton cheongsam.

The terms of Qipao and Cheongsam mean the same thing in different dialects.

The original cheongsam was wide and loose, covering most of the woman's

body. The baggy nature of the clothing also served to conceal the figure of the

woman. With time, though, the qipao were tailored to become more form

fitting and revealing. The modern version, which is now recognized popularly

in China as the "standard" qipao, was first developed in Shanghai around

1900, after the Qing Dynasty fell. At that time, Chinese could freely wear

whatever they liked without the fear of penalty from the government (the

Qing government had strict control over their citizens' dress code down to the

way men wore their hair).

After World War I, prostitutes from overseas flocked to Shanghai,

wearing their exposing and body-hugging dresses. This brought

pressure to local prostitutes, whom were still wearing the original

baggy qipao. Thus, high-class brothels in Shanghai redesigned the

qipao to be body-hugging with side slits for their prostitutes. However,

only high-class prostitutes could wear these redesigned qipao at that

time. Slender and form-fitting with a high cut, it contrasted sharply

with the traditional qipao.

This girl looks very pretty and

demure in her modern Qipao.

A photo from the past of women hanging

out in short summer Chinese dresses.

The shortened collar represents a more

modern style of the Cheongsam.

Formal portraits were taken

in a Cheongsam as well.

Here's a vintage advertisement with a model in a short Qipao.

Many period Chinese films also make use of

the traditional garment. Maggie Cheung in

the well known film "In the Mood for Love."

The higher collar represents an earlier

time in the 20th century.

It is also a favorite of singers and performers.

And also the choice of many

Asian movie stars.

A modified version of the Cheongsam with a halter top.

It's a great example of the melding of Eastern and Western design.

Nicole Kidman looks fabulous in this

more traditional take on the dress.

And even popular dolls in Asia are garbed with it.

Here's Blythe in a Cheongsam.

Don't forget to get your submissions in for

the Material Girl's design contest sponsored

by Swank Lighting! The grand prize is a pair

of these gorgeous lamps above in any color!

This is one contest you really don't want to miss.

Either of the links above will give you information

about the contest. I will be serving as one of the guest

judges for Swank Lighting. The submission deadline is

this Saturday on November 1, 2008.

Good Luck!

All photos from Flickr, Swank Lighting

and history bits from Wikipedia.

The Fabulous St. Regis ~ Singapore

The very first St. Regis in Southeast Asia opened in Singapore

on December 27, 2008. The fresh decor and luxury residences

certainly do not disappoint. I am totally in love with the designs

of their suites and rooms. The rooms are eclectic, luxurious and

colorful in a very tasteful way.

This is probably one of the few hotels that actually have suites

designed in a style that I could actually live in as a home. Take

a look at the gorgeous living space above in a wonderfully soothing

but energetic green with pops of color through the room.

The Presidential Suite does not disappoint with a beautifully

appointed balcony as well as indoor space. Rich accents,

furnishings and an eclectic mix of furniture make it actually

feel like a luxurios home rather than a hotel suite. I'd live

in a place like that any day!

The presidential suite includes an over the top glamorous

dining area with mirrored finishes and crystal galore.

A bathroom just as luxurious to go with the

Presidential suite. The view is to die for.

For those who like a more fresh and modern style,

the Metropolitan suite is the perfect choice.

Their deluxe suites are just as eye catching with red tufted

sofas, drapes and chrome finished lamp shades.

For a smaller room with more relaxing and muted details,

an executive King room is the perfect choice. Look at the

huge windows!

A full clawfoot bathtub to boot.

Astor Bar in the hotel offers a great place

and ambiance to sit for a drinks or two.

La Brezza offers a more relaxed place to have breakfast.

I just love how they use mismatched chairs in this

formal dining area. Mismatched yet no less luxurious

or divine.

A very dramatic restaurant with beautiful furnishings.

What is not to like? Love the tufted high backed seats

and the mirrored walls give such a glamorous effect.

I don't know about you but St. Regis Singapore is

definitely on my short list of dream hotels to stay at.

All photos from St Regis Singapore.

Glamorous Hong Kong Design Duo ~ One Plus Partnership

One Plus Partnership in Hong Kong is a very up and

coming interior design firm founded by the duo Virginia

Lung and Law Ling Kit.

Their flair for drama and glamorous furnishings have

really caught my eye. I love the very bold colors

and finishes they use.

This design here is out of this world. Floor to ceiling

mosaic tiles in a circular frame that opens up to the

bed creates a more airy feeling. I've lived in some

really tight spaces but this kind of design would make

any tight space inspiring!

I really wish I had larger versions of these photos to

share with you. I am especially in awe of the bottom

left dining area. An entire wall in tufted padding and

floor to ceiling mirrored finishes. I wonder what they

used to achieve that mirrored finish. It's very glam

and absolutely stunning.

A little more from that circular

tiled bathroom and lounging area.

What a truly unique design.

The here is the duo that is the

creative force behind the firm.

All photos from the Interior

Awards Design site.

The Love Boutique Motel ~ The new standard of "Love" Hotels

The Love Boutique Motel in Taichung, Taiwan really surprised

me. Not sure if you are aware of what "Love" hotels are. The

phenomenon started in Japan and is now gaining popularity

across Asia. The average living space in a Japanese city is a small

square box probably less than 100 square feet. Many still live

with their families. So imagine if you and your boyfriend or girlfriend

wanted some privacy to do your business...Where would you

attend to this?

Certainly not at home where your family members are home. If you

live in a box, you probably don't have much space since it is probably

packed with your personal items. Enter the solution ~ the quintissential

"love" hotel. Hotels with reasonable rates (you can rent a night, an

afternoon, or even a few hours or afternoon), the hotel staff are discreet

and voila - your dilemna is solved. What started out as "hot sheet" hotels

has now become the rage with a new breed of love hotels with fantasy

themes, beautiful surroundings and amenities any first rate hotel would

provide. They are so reasonable that even travelers who want to stay in a

decent hotel at reasonable rates have no qualms of booking rooms anymore.
In transit and need a few hours of rest? A love hotel is the answer.

I went to Korea for a friend's wedding last year and the hotel he booked

the US contingent at none other than a Love hotel. When he first presented

this idea to us, we were aghast thinking of seedy hotels in the red light district.

I can't say much for the area (it was ok but filled with bars/other love hotels)

but the love hotel totally blew us away! It had a gorgeous bathroom with tub

and separate shower, a huge flat screen television, computer terminals in the

rooms with marble tiles, a bonafide spa, and more ~ all this very

reasonable prices.

Now that I've given my introduction to love hotels - here's the latest one that

I stumbled across that has the most spacious suites I've ever seen. This hotel

in Taiwan has 45 suites individually outfitted and designed with different styles

and themes. Want a room with a milk bath and a sauna? Done. Want a suite

that includes an outdoor pool or spa? Done.

The outside to this massive hotel looks very

modern and conservative. You would never

guess what the rooms look like on the inside.




Here's a modern suite with simple furnishings. I love

the oversized round mirror on th ewall and the tree in

the foreground. It's so fun.



Here's a room that is a bit more elegant in its furnishings.

A glamourous midcentury styled room all in white.

Love the sheer curtain and wall treatment.

Another fun modern room with oversized flowers.

Isn't this room huge?



Hello Classy! with a Modern twist.

Can you believe the Size of this bathroom? If you look closely,

you realize just how large this room actually is ~ and this

only the bathroom!

If all the suites have an outdoor area as large as this,

no wonder that gargantuan building only has 45 rooms/suites.

Another beautiful courtyard.

Wow, this is very zen and spa like.

Here's that private pool.

If you look at the reflection in the mirror - you can see one

rendition of my dream bathroom. A double spa with a flat

screen television in case I decide to do some channel surfing.

What do you guys think? Surprised and

impressed by this Love hotel?

Photos from various travel search site.