Lantern festival celebrations in Chiang Mai, Thailand

                                

   

My travel gang and I were lucky enough to reach Chiang Mai just in time for some festival fun at Loy Krathong, (an annual Buddhist celebration of the water goddess at Thailand's Lantern Festival). After being in the crazy capital (Bangkok) for two days, I was ready to explore further north of Thailand and especially with the lantern festival approaching, it was the perfect time to get to Chiang Mai. I've loved it here so far, it's like a hip version of Bangkok with less crowds and the mad hustle and bustle. 
Every full moon in November, locals and tourists alike get together and take on a spiritual cleanse to clear out all of their bad luck, whilst sending the adored Buddha their love. However in recent times it's just become a bit of fun for any tourists passing through Chiang Mai and since we were, I definitely had to get involved! 

                                         

       

 
We grabbed our Krathongs (made from banana leaves, lotus flowers, candles and incense), made a wish and sent our floating rafts flaming down the Mae Ping river; this carries away the owners bad luck and insures a refreshing start in life. Fully immersing ourselves along with the locals in their cultural celebration, we then bought lanterns and set them free along with a sea of others. Looking up at the night sky was truly magical (and a lil bit emotional) with thousands of drifting lanterns and glowing fireworks taking over the atmosphere.

                                               

                                              

                             

   

After releasing our lanterns, participating in a street party with the Thai locals and eating the best street food in the world, the evening drew to a close and we started to head back to our hostel...until we met some friendly Americans that kindly invited us along with them to Mojo Bar. The night was still young, so we chanced it and joined them. As we walked closer to the venue I could hear drum and bass blasting through the windows and was immediately bursting to get in. The room was dimly lit, with one DJ and another musician simultaneously rocking out to his sax and would then occasionally alternate to his electric guitar. It was so surreal walking in to that, I didn't think I would have been able to find anything packaged with a heavy-weighted bass-line in Chiang Mai - I had just been spending my evenings in chilled, live jazz bars. However out of pure fate, here I was, thrown into a club playing beastly drum and bass, where I could fully let myself go once again. 

I just couldn't resist diving right in, as the DJ blew the place apart, dropping old school classics such as Shy FX's Feelings and an upbeat remixed pounder of The Fugees Ooh La La La. The atmosphere was fantastic, with travellers from all around the world skanking hard in unison. The club wasn't packed at all, which made us revellers take full advantage of the empty space. As one of the lovely Americans walked past me, I stopped and thanked her for randomly inviting me to join them. It's always great to stumble across hidden gems like these in foreign places! 

After the early start at the festival and prancing around the club for a mighty long time, we decided to call it a night when the DJ dropped Tidal Wave by Sub Focus. Pretty shocking last song to end the night with, but nonetheless I was grateful for an evening with electronic music in South East Asia. Mojo Bar was a unique night - so intimate with just one DJ and musician playing live over drum and bass. 

Chiang Mai has been a wicked place for music and if drum and bass isn't really your thing, then this city has other music styles on offer, especially an incredible Jazz scene. If you ever happen to visit Chiang Mai, make sure to check out The North Gate for some live Jazz played by a bunch of very gifted Thai musicians and of course Mojo Bar every Wednesday for your weekly dose of Drum and Bass. Looks like Chiang Mai City really knows how to party!

     

  

       Tania x 

Guys Bar - Injecting Psychedelic Fun to Koh Phangan, Thailand

After living it up in Dubai for a week, my travelling journey started to really begin when I arrived in Thailand. Since then I've ventured out exploring the stunning Koh islands which are located on the southern part of the country. Each scenic island has been charming in their own ways and this place is pure paradise! However I'm not here to bore you with a classic description of how great the islands are, I'm sure you know about Thailand and all its beauty. Instead, I'm here to tell you about the best little party I discovered in Koh Phangan...

Throughout the past few days, I've been staying at The Sanctuary, a yoga, healing and detox resort based deep in the jungle on Haad Tien Bay. Tucked away far from all the main avenues on the busy infamous Full Moon party beach, Haad Tien bay is the perfect little island getaway and can only be accessed by a 10 minute long tail boat ride from Had Rin Bay. Once you are sucked into the tropical jungle scenery it's hard to leave this peaceful bubble at the sanctuary; where yoga lovers and peace seekers enjoy the atmosphere of like-mindedness, health, wealth and all-round happiness. 

In the midst of my yoga and meditation sessions and relaxing hammock days, I felt the need to let myself go at Guys Bar (a party commencing every Friday night with decent music - FINALLY!) As Guys Bar was situated a 5 minute walk from my bungalow I thought it would have been rude not to attend. Guys Bar has been labelled as the best party in Koh Phangan - for those House music lovers that have had enough of trashy remixed chart hits, overly drunk travellers and not forgetting those deadly alcohol-fuelled buckets. Underground and little known by the mainstream, I really felt at home as soon as I walked into the party.

DJ's spun out revellers into a magical trip of psychedelic trance, House and Electro until the sunny morning with the party ending at 10am. The party was mostly filled by The Sanctuary guests and yogi's, together dancing all in their own cosmic worlds. Those that were tired from their days full of yoga, simply sat on cushioned sofas and observed the hippies of all ages being taken on a hypnotic journey. The place was intimate, with about 150 guests making the party come alive. The music had been the best I've heard in Thailand, with unknown beats embracing each party-goer, carrying them away into a jungle land fantasy. 

The groove had me totally captivated and I'm so glad to have found a rave in Thailand away from the stereotypical, full moon party. After a couple of weeks with no decent music, I needed my Techno fix and I finally found it at Guy's Bar! 

Tania x

Kollektiv Turmstrasse headline Eden Beach club in Dubai

                            

Before my Asian adventure officially begins, I've stopped off to stay with my sister in Dubai and explore what the glittering city has to offer. That of course includes the night-life scene, so on Friday my sister took me to Eden beach club where Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Karmon and Thyladomid were invited to play a musical feast of all things House and Techno. 

                            

Set in a beach club, the music started in the daytime where the tunes, weather and vibes were set to be scorching. When we arrived, the party was pretty chilled with guests floating on funky inflatables, sun bathing or simply chatting along with friends over a glass of wine. The beach was sophisticatedly decorated with its crowd closely replicating the scenery. As the sky shifted into a stunning ombré hue of blue and orange, party-goers jumped out of the pool and rushed into their night-life gear, whilst Eden promoters handed out glow in the dark face paints, glasses and glow sticks for the real party to take place...

                                 

German producer and DJ, Thyladomid greeted the strong, ever-lasting crowd by feeding the heady night with snippets of fist-pumping rhythms, whilst teasing in fun vocals, retaining a lively quality to the evening. Next up the headliners of the night - Kollektiv Turmstrasse - commenced as the floor notably began to fill up with fans of the duo. Under an explosion of trippy lasers, they weaved melodic tunes with subtle bass-lines encouraging a rave twist to such a cosmopolitan gathering. The duo then familiarised us all with a floor-filler remix of The Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition - a blissed-out and contrasting moment to the pairs futuristic techno set. 

                         

     

Having never heard of the artists playing at Eden and not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised with the music. However the night was a little too pretentious for my liking - most of Eden is filled with extremely over-priced tables, with only a tiny dance floor for those that can't afford a table to dance on. The beach club looked great, however I felt the 'glow in the dark' theme seemed a little too childlike; they could have done with just using their visionary decor and laser lights. But nonetheless the night was great, I couldn't complain with such fantastic music and picturesque settings. Those of you that are visiting Eden, I would highly recommend getting there early doors and spend the day at the beach, pool and restaurant before starting with the party antics! Eden have stellar line ups coming up this month with the Apollonia crew, Nina Kraviz, Ame and more! If you happen to be in Dubai this month, these parties are not to be missed! 

                             

                          

                             

                             

      

                                                                 Tania x