Globetrotter
Exciting travels to the US, Morocco, Russia, Denmark, and Estonia
We all remember that scene in Pretty Woman, where she shops her heart out in Rodeo Drive. She comes back to Beverly Hills Wilshire with a row of bellmen carrying numerous bags of branded beribboned boxes and paper bags. It was the perfect Cinderella moment. This is not something new, the Cinderella story has inspired many generations of how one can withstand harsh beginnings and come out graceful and triumphant in the end.
The moment the brothers Grimm popularized the folklore first publish by Giambatista Basille in his Pantamerone, we have all been hooked on having a fairy Godmother who at the “wave of my stick” with the magic spell “Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo” turned Cinderella into an instant princess.
And yes, we felt like princesses in the first RSVP Lifestyle in Bangkok, Thailand where instead of a magic wand and a sparkly-winged makeover companion, we had our credit cards and our very attentive personal shoppers.
Thirty of Manila's most illustrious personalities joined Lifestyle Asia at Siam Kempinski and Mandarin Oriental for a unique experience hosted by Waldorf Astoria and ICONSIAM, the newest luxury mall along the Chao Phraya River.
It was two days of luxury shopping, gourmet food, and great company.
DAY 1
The event started with a personalized reception at the airport, where we were greeted with gifts from La Mer to keep us hydrated during the 3-hour flight onboard Thai Airways.
Upon arrival in Bangkok, as we entered our room at the Siam Kempinski Hotel, we were greeted by little gifts, hand-calligraphed itineraries and a copy of the latest issue of the magazine.
Later that afternoon, we were welcomed with a champagne and sweets reception in Siam Paragon, where we were able to get first dibs on the seasons' new offerings.
Afterward, a fleet of Mercedes Benz chauffeured us to the next venue, which is the Front Room in Waldorf Astoria. There we were treated to a culinary experience featuring the creations of NordicThai Cuisine by Chef Rungthiwa. A Fusion of locally sourced Thai ingredients prepared in Nordic cooking technique; perfected by her 10-year stay in Denmark and experience working for world-class restaurants like Geranium in Copenhagen and Hotel Belle Epoque in Germany.
We were joined by some Thai celebrities and singers, but of course, our very own Tessa Prieto–Valdes excited the crowd by getting everyone on their dancing feet just after the second course, starting the party.
DAY 2
If Audrey Hepburn's day started with breakfast at Tiffany's, we started with brunch in one of the exquisite luxury brands of Siam Paragon. The store opened earlier so that we can have the boutique exclusively for us. We were whisked away from the hotel lobby to the boutique on buggies.
Our personal shoppers collected our purchases and delivered them straight to our rooms to give everyone a free hand to check out the other stores. Siam Paragon has most of the flagship stores of international high-end fashion brands in Bangkok. It also has Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium, a 16-screen Cineplex, and a comprehensive selection of world cuisine.
Afterwards, we were shuttled to ICONSIAM for lunch at Lay Lao, a Michellin Guide Bangkok Bib Gourmand-rated restaurant which specializes in Som Tam and the freshest seafood dishes. From there, we continued the shopping experience with exclusive reception and experiences with more high-end brands.
The whole occasion was indeed fit for a princess, from start to finish. The Lifestyle Asia team brought the unique LA brand to a whole new level of unique experiences. For me, the highlight of the trip was making new friends and bonding with a great group of people over “one drinks.”
I can't wait for the next one!