We here at WoWasis have been fans of Bangkok Fashion for a decade now. One of the city’s strengths is in having a culture that embraces the arts, and she is particularly strong in fashion and design, the latter of which includes progressive home furnishings. Brian Mertens’ spiffy coffee table book, Bangkok: Thai Ideas in […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Antiquities Arts & Crafts Shops' Category
Lacquerware in Chiang Mai, Thailand
There are still a few lacquerware shops operating in and around the Chiang Mai area. Chiang Mai lacquerware was designed to provide a waterproof finish to bowls, trays, and cabinets, utilizing lacquer produced from a tree found in Burma and northern Thailand. Today, lacquer, which is officially banned in Thailand due to its toxicity, is […]
Read the rest of this entry »Arts, Crafts, and Cooking classes in Kuching, Malaysian Borneo
A great way to enhance your stay in the city of Kuching, Sarawak is to take a cooking, crafts, painting, or traditional dancing class. These are affordable and taught by affable experts who speak English, and Melton Kais’ painting classes can even include a home stay on premises if you wish. Cooking, Crafts, […]
Read the rest of this entry »Antiquities and Crafts Shopping in Bangkok
Bangkok is one of the world’s meccas for antiquities, fine arts, and crafts shopping. Here, you’ll find everything from age-old statuary to stunning tribal crafts, in venues ranging from the large to the out-of the way. Virtually every Bangkok visitor will have heard of the venerable Chatuchak weekend market, but for the buyer with a […]
Read the rest of this entry »Silver and Metal Crafts in Chiang Mai
Influenced by Shan and Burmese traditions, Chiang Mai silverwork is different from that which you’ll find further south. Silver has been a tradition in the Lanna area since a large influx of Burmese silversmiths arrived here in the 13th century. In the Wua Lai village, just south, and within walking distance, of the Chiang Mai […]
Read the rest of this entry »Antiquities shopping in Phuket, Thailand
Given its significant number of yearly visitors, it’s not really surprising that the island of Phuket has a number of good stores dealing in antiquities. As in the rest of Thailand, much of the best that you’ll find in these shops in Burmese in origin. With the exception of the Soul of Asia shop in […]
Read the rest of this entry »Shopping Macau: boutiques, antiquities, and art galleries
You can buy just about anything in Macau, from designer clothing, to jewelry, to antiquities, and pay less than you would in neighboring Hong Kong. Avenida Almeida Ribeiro is where you’ll find jewelry and Chinese goods, and upscale boutiques are centered around Senado Square, and in major casinos as well. Antique furniture stores and art […]
Read the rest of this entry »Javanese Shadow Puppets at Jogjakarta’s Sonobudoyo Museum
Traditional shadow puppet theatre is an art form that attracts many to the island of Java, and one of the finest Javanese troupes we’ve seen performs nightly from 8 pm to 10 pm at Jogjakarta’s Sonobudoyo Museum. In this Ramayana show, the Walang Kulit Performance, you’ll see master puppeteers play out an elaborate story, accompanied […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis discovers Bali’s Top 6 museums
Most Balinese museums of note are right in the town of Ubud, a couple of others within short driving distance are well worth a visit, too. Bali has inspired artists for generations, including a number of exceptional expat painters active in the 20th century, such as Rudolf Bonnet, Arie Smit, and Walter Spies. In Ubud […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis’ Indonesian Bookshelf: what to read before, during, and after your trip
There are a great number of terrific books on Indonesia, and we here at WoWasis suggest you consider buying in your own country when possible, as books in Indonesia are expensive, even for paperbacks. The other side of the argument is that by buying in Indonesia, you support local bookstores. Here are a few books […]
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