Cafe crush: Kita Coffee House

Kita Coffee House seems to fly under the radar a bit when it comes to Saigon's western-style cafes. Others like Au Parc, Juice and La Fenetre Soleil are justifiably popular and you always see them mentioned in local mags and guidebooks, but Kita's - not so much (it is fairly new though). It serves really great, healthy sandwiches and salads (especially yum - the goat cheese and roast red pepper salad on brown baguette), a deli counter for takeaway gourmet goods, and excellent Lavazza coffee at slightly cheaper prices than the norm (30,000 dong for a cappuccino or latte - a bit less than US$2). I really like the decor too - it's fresh, contemporary, bright (yellow/white/browns) and tiny. I'm obsessed with tiny places at the moment - I guess it's the cute and cosy factor, which Kita's has in droves. New favourite!

[Update: as of February 2010, Kita can no longer be described as tiny! It underwent extensive renovations that transformed the decor from contemporary to Parisian, plus the ground floor was expanded and two more floors were added!! While it's no longer a cosy bolthole, it remains one of my favourites, retaining the same great menu with new additions. And the coffee's still the best!]

Kita Coffee House, 39 Nguyen Hue, D1, Saigon

Barfly: The Amber Room

The Amber Room is a chic little bar that just opened shop on Saigon's bustling Dong Du Street - home to diverse restaurants, the Sheraton hotel, the Mosque (which I'm yet to eat at but it's on the to-do list - they serve up curries on the grounds) and a Belgian chocolate shop.

Over Tet we decided to check it out and have a drink. Needless to say we were the only customers, but it was also daytime so that could explain it! I tried an espresso martini (delicious) while S had a Leffe beer. The dark moody walls, colour co-ordinated decor (shades of chocolate and of course, amber) and dramatic light feature hanging overhead make for a sophisticated set-up.

The Amber Room is my type of bar - small, intimate and perfect for cocktail imbibing. And unless there are some I haven't seen yet, I wonder why there aren't more simple, tiny shophouses converted into cool bars here?

The Amber Room, Level 1, 59 Dong Du Street, D1, Saigon

Year of the Ox - Saigon style

A must-see during Saigon's Tet (New Year) celebrations is the centrally located street of Nguyen Hue, decked out to represent a tranquil countryside scene - particularly fun for lovers of kitsch! 

Lush gardens and colourful flowers have been planted in abundance. There are bird sounds blaring out of loudspeakers and there's even a replica bamboo bridge to cross (which everyone jostles to pose on for the all-important Tet family photo!).

The many depictions of 2009's hardworking Ox showcase alot of creativity and innovation - there are oxen constructed of straw, gold and silver leaf coated metal, welded drums and my favourite - those made entirely of pink, yellow, orange and white flower buds!

Chic stays: The Opposite House, Beijing

A bit of an escapist post today rather than one on somewhere I've actually been (still in holiday dreaming mode post-Sydney break!). I love the look of this hotel in Beijing, The Opposite House.

Designed by a Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma, it only opened in August last year. With 99 rooms and some seriously chic looking restaurants and bars, it also houses a contemporary art space (pictured above).

While the eating and drinking spaces (like the one pictured above) are a bit more decadent, the guestrooms are light and minimal, and I particularly love the standalone oak bathtub (how zen!).

And here's the outside - a funky cube (hmmm, reminds me of the Olympics' Water Cube - is this Bejing's shape du jour?).

Images courtesty The Opposite House

Remembering Phnom Penh

I arrived home in Saigon to a surprise package - the latest LUXE city guide to Cambodia & Laos had arrived (with the Phnom Penh section researched and updated by moi!). In case you haven't heard of LUXE, they are a series of compact little fold-out guides containing inside knowledge on the best shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels and spas a city has to offer, conveyed in an irreverant, hilarious style.

Seeing the finished product made me a bit nostalgic for Phnom Penh and all my favourite old haunts. I really, really look forward to a short break there some time soon to get reacquainted with them.

Aside from the great food and shopping scenes (and friendly people) there's something else about Phnom Penh I miss too - a certain unique vibe the city emanates. I think it comes from a combination of its compact size, active art community, feelgood NGO initiatives (like streetkid run restaurants and silk shops supporting underprivileged women), and the ever-present reminders that the country is a Buddhist one (orange robed monks collecting alms; temples, incense and offerings...). Being away from Phnom Penh makes me appreciate the things I really loved about living there.

Back in Saigon and goals for 2009

Bring on the Year of the Ox

After a month (yes, month!) in sunny Sydney celebrating Christmas, catching up with family and friends, and gorging on Lebanese sweets, yum cha, macaroons and more, I'm now back in Saigon, just in time for Tet. Tet is Vietnam's New Year, and the city is gearing up for the big event with decorations adorning every tree, shop, building, and street. It's really quite festive and a nice time to be back!

During my break I decided to set some goals for 2009 (or the Year of the Ox) - ranging from really small things (like getting the 1920s style posters I bought last year in Shanghai finally framed) to bigger things - like career goals and travel plans. The main ones are:

Travel: To take a trip to somewhere in the Middle East, a region I've yet to visit but am fascinated with. At the moment the plan is Syria, which sounds amazing. If this doesn't eventuate for whatever reason, Japan is another frontrunner for the major trip of the year. Lots of small trips and long weekend ideas are also in the works for this year including a trip to Phu Quoc Island in Southern Vietnam, a long weekend or two in Bangkok (for the gazillionth time but we love the place), a trip back to our old home - Phnom Penh, plus lots of other trips around Vietnam.

Work: The main goal - to keep writing! I need to branch out and try and get some articles published in regional magazines (as well as some more local ones), which is my main aim for this year. I also need to update everything I've let go over the past few months - namely, my online portfolio. I also need to make an updated resume, new business cards with my Saigon number, and a more interesting looking invoice template. Oh, and of course, I aim to keep blogging, say 3 times a week (at least!).

Home & Health: To shop local and seasonal - with Tan Dinh Market a short walk away, I've got no excuse not to stock up on the freshest produce rather than schlep to far flung supermarkets in search of imported goods all the time. I also want to explore more of our neighbourhood eateries, including the street food stalls. And to cook some new and interesting dishes and to make cakes and other sweet treats in our Asian style portable oven. I need to read more - and not just magazines! Having a baby really puts book reading on the backburner, but now Z is sleeping better I should have more time to read - great! I also want to start doing yoga again - I was doing yoga every week when pregnant but have sadly stopped. I want to try and do a half hour session 3 times a week (built up to slowly...of course!) - oops, procrastinating again...

Image courtesy malaysiasite.nl