After the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority’s failed attempt to launch a bike sharing system back in 2009, this year has seen a much improved effort, the Pun Pun bike sharing scheme. So, what’s the difference? For one, Pun Pun isn’t free and actually covers several different parts of Bangkok rather than just one particular area. Fifty bicycle stations are now set up across the city with space for 10 bikes at each. To reduce excuses, usage is even fairly straightforward; first register at www.punpunbikeshare.com and then collect your Pun Pun smart card from any of these bike stations: Siam Square, Chamchuri Square, All Seasons, CentralWorld 2, Park Venture, Vorawat, Surasak 1 and Rajanakarn. The card fee is B320, which covers life insurance and gets you B100 credit. You can then top up the card and check your balance at each station. Your identity and address will be used to track down the bike if it’s not returned before the station closes, and you will have to pay an overnight fine of B500; but in case of accidents where you are unable to return the bike, call 087-029-8888. If you lose the bike, you’ll have to pay an B8,000 fine which will be returned to you if the bike is later found. Stations currently open from 7am-8pm, but will be extended to 6am-12am after the trial stage is over. For more information, call the hotline at 087-029-8888.

How it Works:

1. Go to the booth located at each station and touch the bike rental option.

2. Tap your Pun Pun card on the screen and type in the four-digit verification code.

3. Choose the bike you want to rent and tap your card on the dock to unlock the bike.

Rental Fee:

15 min: Free 15 min-1hr: B10 1-3 hrs: B20 3-5 hrs: B40 5-6 hrs: B60 Over 8hrs: B100

Location:

1. Hualumpong Station
2. Ratchathewi 2 Station
3. Ratchathewi 3 Station
4. MBK Station
5. Chula 2 Station
6. Sam Yarn Station
7. Chamchuri Square Station
8. Chula 1 Station
9. Chula 3 Station
10. Yak Pathum Wan Station
11. Siam Center Station
12. Siam Square Station
13. Siam Paragon Station
14. Pratu Nam Station
15. Central World 2 Station
16. Central World 1 Station
17. Ratchaprasong Station
18. Henry Dunant Station
19. Sala Daeng Station
20. Zuellig House Station
21. Lumpini 2 Station
22. Lumpini 1 Station
23. Ratchadamri Station
24. Chidlom Station
25. Ploen Chit 1 Station
26. Ploen Chit 2 Station
27. Park Venture Station
28. All Seasons Station
29. Ruamrudee Station
30. Lumpini 3 Station
31. Thai-Belgium Station
32. Holiday Inn Station
33. Vorawat Station
34. Surasak 1 Station
35. Surasak 3 Station
36. Surasak 2 Station
37. Saint Louis Station
38. Sathorn 12 Station
39. Sathorn Square 1 Station
40. Sathorn Square 2 Station
41. Rajanakarn Station
42. Sathorn Thani Station
43. Sathorn City Tower Station
44. Sangthong Thani Station
45. Sathorn 5 Station
46. Convent Station
47. Suanplu Station
48. Sathorn Mart Station
49. Bangkok Insurance Station
50. Lumpini Tower Station

Rather go to a restaurant? Here's our pick of the top standalone places for your Sunday brunch.

Colonnade

The deal: B2,700 with a cocktail.

The selection: The standouts are the cheese, charcuterie, homemade pasta, braised ox tail and wagyu prime ribs. But Kerry Hill’s architecture paired with Ed Tuttle‘s interiors ain’t bad either.

Who is it for: Those who have a luxurious brunch in mind—good food and great service.

The Sukhothai Bangkok, Sathorn Rd., 02-344-8888. Brunch on Sun 12-3pm

Europa Brasserie

The deal: From B2,950 with soft drinks.

The selection: Good quality fare, from very fresh seafood to a la minute orders like Australian beef tenderloin Rossini, dover sole with wild rice and lamb chop with black olives, vine tomato and rosemary.

Who is it for: Those who want a quieter brunch chilling by the pool.

Siam Kempinski, Rama 1 Rd., 02-162-9000. Brunch on Sun 12-2pm

Up & Above

The deal: From B2,100 with soft drinks, B2,800 for free-flow cocktails, wines and beers or B3,500 with all drinks (two people get one bottle of Champagne, too). 

The selection: Although they come under the umbrella of a very Japanese hotel, Up & Above serves up a fairly standard international buffet. As is becoming increasingly trendy, there are also mains you can order from the kitchen, including the likes of Maine lobster roasted with hollandaise butter sauce and served with ink pasta and 150-day tenderloin steak.

Who is it for: Those with deep pockets and large appetites, who want it all.

Okura Prestige Hotel, 57 Wireless Rd., 02-687-9000. BTS Phloen Chit. Brunch every Sun 12-3pm

China House

The deal: From B980 with soft drinks. The selection includes a small buffet and an all-you-can-eat a la carte menu.

The selection: Many dishes are prepared a la minute and served at your table, ranging from steamed scallop and minced shrimp dumplings wrapped in spinach wheat dough to Teochew-style steamed crystal dumplings with peanuts. Mains are equally ambitious, with dishes like minced duck in shacha paste wrapped in salted egg and dough and our faves, suckling pig, moo daeng (honey glazed pork slices) and tung po steamed pork belly—totally scrumptious. 

Who is it for: Those who are ready to trade in the variety and casual vibe of a big buffet brunch for some Shanghai chic.

Mandarin Oriental, 48 Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000. Brunch every Sun 11:30am-2:30pm

Glow

The deal: B780 with soft drinks. The selection: Compact buffet line and made-to-order dishes, including selected signatures taken from sister hotels and resorts in the COMO Group around the world. The brunch also boasts hangover cures in the form of cocktails like the Kafé-Maria (tia maria, frangelico and vanilla ice cream, B280).

Who is it for: Those who want something a bit healthier and without all the fuss.

Metropolitan Bangkok, South Sathorn Rd., 02-625-3366. Brunch on Sun 10am-2pm

Tables

The deal: B1,600 with free-flow soft drinks or B1,980 with free-flow wine.

The selection: The concept here is all about chefs sauntering over to your table to add the final touches to your beef Bourguignon, risotto with black truffles or stir-fried scallops with garlic. Key ingredients stay on but recipes rotate, so that means lobster thermidor one week and a lobster salad the next. There is a buffet, with a serious seafood station while desserts have their own room, so that there’s a slight Charlie and the Chocolate Factory effect when you step on in.

The vibe: Tables has this darker, Southern European meets gentlemen’s club vibe that doesn’t exactly feel like a fresh Sunday morning—but it’s definitely elegant.

2/F, Grand Hyatt Erawan, 494 Ploenchit Rd., 02-254-1234. BTS Chit Lom. www.bangkok.grandhyatt.com. Brunch every Sun noon-2:30pm

Trader Vic’s

The deal: B1,650 or B2,585 with free-flow booze.

The selection: Besides the standard options, there are some tasty Thai favorites, due to having the big Thai chef Chumpol Jangprai in the house and an impressively well-stocked walk-in cheese room.

Who is it for: Dates, families and middle-aged couples after some riverside relaxation. 

Anantara Riverside, 257 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-476-0022. Brunch on Sun 11:30am-3pm

Four Seasons

The deal: B3,473 with free-flow brooze and soft drinks

The selection: Dishes drawn from Shintaro, Madison, Biscotti and Spice Market.

Who is it for: Due to the top-drawer restaurants, you can expect serious foodies, well-moneyed families and expats.

155 Rajadamri Rd., 02-126-8866. Brunch on Sun11:30am-3pm

Sunday Jazz Brunch

The deal: B2,200 or B3,090 with free-flow beers, wine and cocktails.

The selection: International selections ranging from seafood to sushi and Indian curries. 

Who is it for: Those who don’t mind a long buffet line with jazz music as a background. 

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-649-8888. Brunch on Sun 12-3pm 

What you need:

1.) Brush
2.) Liquid glue
3.)  Different patterned lace doilies
4.) A balloon
5.) An energy saving lamp

Step 1: Blow up the balloon to the size you want the final lamp.

Step 2: Thin out the glue with a bit of water before using the paint brush to apply all over your pieces of lace.

Step 3: Stick the lace doilies onto the balloon, overlapping them piece by piece. Leave a round space on top so you can insert the bulb.

Step 4: Wait until the structure is completely dry before popping the balloon and removing it.

Step 5: Insert the bulb, hang it on the ceiling and enjoy the patterned visuals projected onto your wall.

Essentials

Brush, Lace Doillies and Balloon: available at Daiso; try Siam Square Soi 3., BTS Siam.
Liquid Glue: available at B2S try Silom Complex, Silom Rd., BTS Sala Daeng or CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., BTS Chit Lom.

 

Neck Rotation
Sit up straight in a chair. Turn your head to the extreme right and return it to normal position; then turn to the extreme left and return to normal again. Repeat four times. “Turning the head to the sides helps to contract the muscles and returning to normal position helps to relax them. This exercise also helps prevent headaches, since the nerves and blood vessels in the neck go to the head and brain,” says a spokesperson from True Yoga.

Hip Flexor Stretch
From a lunge position, gently place one knee on the ground (on top of a towel or cushion if it hurts the knee). Keep the front knee at 90 degrees, abs braced for a punch, and glutes (butt) activated. Push the hip with the lowered knee down and forward, and get a tremendous stretch on the front of the hip. “This stretch helps you work on the common muscular imbalances that most desk-bound people have,” says Ian Tan of Ritual.

Scapular Retraction
Pull your shoulders back and feel the scapular pinching towards each other, then release. “Prolonged use of computer also results in rounding forward of our shoulders, putting strain on our shoulders as well as neck and upper back. By retracting our scapular, we open up our chest and release the tension in the neck and upper back,” says Dr. Deborah Wong of Breathe Pilates.

What you need:

1.) 3 nail polishes: a base color, a contrast (we chose pastel pink and white) and clear
2.) Clear tape
3.) A small piece of paper laceborder (available at B2S, see Essentials)
4.)  Nail polish remover

Step 1: Apply pastel pink nail polish as the base and wait until dry.

Step 2: Cut the piece of laceborder to the size of each of your nails and stick it using clear tape.

Step 3: Apply the white color over the lace and wait until dry.

Step 4: Carefully take off the lace and apply the clear nail polish to get a shiny finish.

TIPS:

- Paper laceborder works better than normal cloth lace as the latter will absorb the nail polish and create a mess.
- Make sure you wait until the white polish is fully dry before remove the paper lace.
- Be careful when applying the clear color. Don’t use a huge amount as it could dissolve the previous layers.     
- Use a cotton bud with polish remover to clean around your nail for a perfect finish.

Essentials

Paper laceborder: available at  B2S branches: nationwide, see details at B2S.co.th

Color nail polish from Beauty Buffet: try Terminal 21, G/F Sukhumvit Soi 19. 02-106-2747. BTS Asoke.

Clear nail polish from Essence Nail Studio: available at Boots; try Silom Complex 3/F, Silom Rd., BTS Sala Daeng.

1.) Brighten your Skin

The smokey-eye look is all about darker-than-usual eyes, so it’s important to have quite a matte base. After applying your daily moisturizing products, start with a clear color makeup base to ensure your makeup lasts longer. Then choose a foundation with medium to high coverage. (Tip: the darker your eye shadow, the higher the coverage needed.)

2.) Shades of Three

Pick your shade. It doesn’t have to be the most common silver and black, like you often see; it can be golden brown, blue-grey or purple. The trick is to pick three complementary tones: a main color, a dark shade and a light shade. We suggest selecting from Urban Decay’s Naked Palette #1.

a.) Start by applying the Gunmetal color (main color) all over your eyelid as the base, starting from the middle outwards and then a little dab inside.

b.) Then apply the Creep color (dark shade) to the outer edge of your eyelid in a V-shape to create depth.

c.) Blend the two colors into a gradient before using a different eye brush to apply the Virgin color (light shade) at the inner corner of your eyes, then blend. Use the same color to line your lower eye-line if you want a brighter look.

3.) Contrast but Compliment

For optimum contrast, choose an eye shadow shade that’s similar to your skin color and apply it between your blended shadow and your lower brow line. You can also use your usual face powder.         

4.) Eye Sharpener

Use black eyeliner on your upper eyeline before finishing with black mascara. If you want a workplace-friendly day-look, you might need only a thin line close to your lash-line with just a small wing. Apply a thicker line with a more prominent wing to achieve a sultry night look. It’s all about balance, which applies to mascara, too: for a softer day-look, use a lighter volume.

5.) Complete your Look

To go with the smokey-eye look, a nude lipstick is your best bet. Make sure to pick a blush color similar to your lip color (For example, Lipstick Lustre-Freckletone is pastel pink, it goes best with Powder Blush Sheertone-Mocha). For cheeks, apply blush at a 45-degree angle following your cheekbones and don’t use too much product—you only need the blush to create dimension, not show a defined color on your cheek.

Mac 1/F, Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., 02-793-7000. BTS Chidlom
Urban Decay Order online at www.facebook.com/eazyorder
 

Following the successful launch of its first Arts Night Crawl last month, brand new arts center and residency Aliwal Arts Center is set to hold Lit Up 2013, which will further showcase its diverse tenant mix. Part of the National Arts Council (NAC)’s Framework For Art Spaces, that also launched Goodman Arts Centre in the east, some of its most noted residents include street artist SKLO and her collective Rscls, filmmakers Ho Tzu Nyen and Anthony Chen , multi-media artist Brian Gothong Tan and dance group Re-Dance Theatre, among more than 50 other arts groups and artists. We find out more from both NAC’s Deputy CEO Yvonne Tham and the artists themselves on what makes the arts center tick.

What makes the arts center such an exciting project?
Being within Kampong Glam opens up many creative possibilities for collaborations with its neighbors, which include the Malay Heritage Centre, Sultan Arts Village and Objectifs Centre for Photography and Filmmaking. Some of the tenants have mentioned that they have started conversations with the authorities and surrounding businesses/organizations to explore possible festivals in the district and other joint projects.  But it is also the heritage of this area, as well as the small cafes and fashion and creative businesses nearby, that I think provides an inspiring environment for the artists to be working in.

Why is providing spaces like this so important to the NAC?
Aliwal Arts Centre is the second development under NAC’s Framework For Art Spaces. It was important that the properties developed under this framework included a wide range of art spaces, from dedicated workspaces, to shared facilities such as multi-purpose halls and dance/music studios for short-term rental, and even F&B outlets. This is because the needs of our arts community are varied.  For example, having a dedicated workspace is important in helping some young artists and arts groups start up and gain a firmer footing, and hopefully, take off. For some companies that are more established, the dedicated workspace provides a level of stability for them to focus on strengthening their artistic work, and provides them a base to reach out to their audiences.

Will there be more spaces under the Framework program?
We are currently continuing to review the other properties under the old Arts Housing Scheme, and to see how else we can improve on existing facilities and possibly (re)develop some of the properties to better support an increasingly diverse arts sector. The Framework also talks about facilitating co-locations of artists and arts groups in community and even commercial spaces.  One such recent example is the co-location of the Singapore Dance Theatre within Bugis+ Mall, under the Community / Sports Facilities Scheme (CFS) that Urban Redevelopment Authority manages. We are looking to explore more of such arrangements, so as to open more options for our arts practitioners.

What would you say are the biggest challenges the NAC faces in carrying out its mandate?
I think one of the biggest challenges the arts “ecology” constantly faces is that of sustainability. We constantly seek to find the most effective ways to support our artists and arts groups in their development, through our grants and various other schemes. At the same time, a thriving arts scene will also need private and corporate patrons, ticket-buying audiences, and a wide range of arts professionals working in education, marketing, social organisations, and arts venues.

In Japan, almost every little convenience store carries little kits to sculpt personal stamps (hanko). They include prints of mirrored characters (which will appear with the proper orientation once stamped), a little chisel to sculpt the stamp, sandpaper, etc. In Thailand, the hanko craze is finally catching on.
Thai Eraser Stamp Community
Formed on Facebook in June 2012, the Thai Eraser Stamp Community now comprises over 2,000 members who takes the Japanese art of hanko to a whole new artsy-meets-adorable level. The page gathers all you need to know about eraser stamps through how-to guides and lists of the best places to buy your tools and the latest design patterns.
Eraser Stamp 101
If you want to get started, the basic tools include an eraser, a cutter and an ink stamp. The process is simple (shown above); the real trick is in carving the small details—with various patterns, erasers and ink colors to choose from, the results can be a work of art.

Cute Crafts

The best places to get your eraser stamp tools

Alphabet Happiness

Prices: erasers from B165, carving cutters from B220, ink stamps from B55
Order online at www.facebook.com/alphabet.happiness

Cutie Craft

Prices: erasers from B5, carving cutters from B80, ink stamps from B95
Order online at www.facebook.com/CutieCraftstarff

Nadda Craft

Prices: erasers from B15, Japanese erasers from B400, carving cutters from B250, ink stamps from B100
Order online at www.facebook.com/Naddacraft

Hancoholic

Prices: Japanese erasers from B400, carving cutters from B75, ink stamps from B120
Order online at www.facebook.com/hancoholic​

How to open a beer bottle...

1. With a ring. You’ll need a good, sturdy one, like a class ring, to get this to work. While holding the bottle, approach it with your ringed hand at a 45 degree angle, so that the bottom of your ring makes contact with the bottle cap. Clasping your hand over and around the neck of the bottle in order to maximize the amount of pressure you exert where the ring meets the bottle cap. Roll your wrist forwards while continually applying pressure.

How to open a beer bottle...

2. With a lighter. You’ll need a sturdy plastic lighter for this one. Metal or cheap plastic ones aren’t much use. Wrap one of your hands completely around the neck of the bottle, covering the bottle cap. Slide the lighter underneath the bottle cap while maintaining the seal over as much of the rest of the cap as possible. Push down with the lighter until the cap comes off.

How to open a beer bottle...

3.  With a ¥100 bill. Fold the bill in half. Roll it up as tightly as possible, then fold the roll in half. Hold the bill in place between your thumb and your index finger. Place the folded corner under the ridge of the bottle cap while holding the bottle around the neck. Push up with the folded bill until you hear the pop.

Toast the festivities with The Straits Cup, a cocktail created just for I-S readers by Beam Global Asia’s brand educator and mixologist Jamey Merkel. It’s a refreshing number inspired by Brit summer classic, the Pimm’s Cup, and featuring local flavors and ingredients.

What you need:
• 30ml EFFEN vodka
• 15ml BOLS Lychee liqueur
• 45ml fresh apple juice
• Dash of fresh lime juice
• Dash of simple sugar syrup
• Two kaffir lime leaves
• Soda water
• Handful of ice cubes
• Crushed ice
• For garnish: cucumber slices, apple slices, kaffir lime, curry leaf

Method:
1. Shake first six ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into highball glass filled with crushed ice and apple and cucumber slices.
3. Top up with soda water.
4. Garnish with kaffir lime and curry leaf.