Getting a tan…

If you are living in an area where summers can be cold and rainy (as in The Netherlands for sure) you are probably just as happy as I am when the sun is out and you can get a tan and some vitamin D! Tanning is not the best for your skin, you probably know that, but it is a form of fashion / a status symbol as well in countries out of the tropics. Body lotion and face creams containing bronzing ingredients. The funny thing is that it works the other way around in the tropics, the whiter the better. Especially in countries like Thailand it can be quite hard to buy body lotion or face cream without whitening ingredients… Working outside in the sun is a sign of lower income – not the high income status for being able to afford a summer holiday. Other than ‘status’ and ‘fashion’ there is a health risk involved in tanning as well; sun burn, skin aging and skin cancer due to UV radiation.

Water and sand reflect sun rays / UV radiation, meaning that your body will receive more UV when you are in and around the water so you will get a sunburn more easily when snorkeling. Especially when snorkeling people can float around looking at the most amazing fish for a long time without realizing their skin gets burnt.

UV clothing instead of a T-shirt!

Off course, wearing a T-shirt is not really helping here. The fabric (cotton) is too thin to protect the body properly, even dark colored T-clothes do not block UV radiation properly – you still need to use sun screen underneath it.
UV clothing, or actually UV protective clothing is what you want to be using and put on your children. A UV-shirt or rash guard blocks the UV radiation equal to UPF 50+ Sun Protection. It is breathable, quick drying, light weighted and soft on your skin – perfect for snorkeling. Another great benefit of UV clothing is that it also protects your body from stingers like jelly fish or corals and anemones.

There are so many different kinds of UV clothing that is has become a shopping adventure by itself. You can buy UV T-shirts, long-sleeves, zipper jackets, pants with different lengths and full suits. Nowadays you can get them in all colors and prints but also in more loose fitting. No wonder this is getting more and more popular. Sbart has fashionable rash guards for sale! Especially the ones with zipper and convertible length are easy for snorkeling and beach days, even for fitness and yoga. Release the cord to change your top in to a dress. Check out the super cool collection here! (link http://www.diveoclock.com/shop/long-sleeve-rash-guard-for-women)

Wear a buff or scarf on your head!

For bald people it might be quite obvious that you need to protect your head against the sun as well. With longer hair a cover protects hair lines from sun burn as well, plus your head loses heat more quickly with a wet cloth and this can prevent headache. A buff or a scarf, preferably something with UV protection, also prevents water getting in your mask (because of hairs trapped inside your mask) and hairs strapped around the rubber mask strap.

Use Coral reef safe sunscreen!

What would you like to see underwater? Colorful reef, corals and fish probably! A healthy reef is colorful and amazing to look at! Sunscreen is a coral killer, did you know that? Chemical ingredients in sunscreen can kill or bleach corals when it washes off scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers. Ingredients like Oxybenzone, Butylparaben, Octinoxate and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor are harmful for corals. Corals are living animals, not rocks, and when they die they turn white. Healthy coral is not white. To help saving the reef you can buy coral reef safe sunscreen. Cover your skin (as mentioned above) so you need to use less sunscreen in the first place. Then buy coral reef safe sunscreen without these harmful ingredients. Badger Sport Sunscreen Cream 2.9 ounce (87ml) is one of my favorites. You can get it here. (link http://www.diveoclock.com/shop/badger-sport-sunscreen-cream-ounce). If you have to use other sunscreens, use only waterproof ones and apply it at least 15 minutes before you enter the water to wash off as little as possible.

Avoid sun peak hours and see more fish!

Between 10 AM and 4 PM the sun’s UV radiation is the strongest, so you get a sun burn more easily. Avoid those sun peak hours to prevent sunburn. What is even better news, is that a lot of marine life is more active early morning and late afternoon. This is because of changes in tides, water temperature and (day) light). You are more likely to spot squid and reef sharks for example. This is called diurnal vertical migration and one of the reasons you don’t see fisherman fishing at mid-day – there is less fish in the shallow part of the sea…

So, I guess a little bit of shopping might be all you need to get ready for some snorkeling fun on your summer holiday!
If you want more snorkeling tips you can read my post: 10 snorkeling tips for your summer holiday (http://www.diveoclock.com/blog/Snorkel_tips/)

Have a great summer holiday!
Marlies
Dive o’clock

The post Snorkeling Tips for Your Next Summer Holiday! first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

Especially budget airlines have strict rules regarding your check-in luggage. Often you get to take 20 KG, sometimes it is down to 10 KG to get to more remote places with small planes.
While selecting the right clothes and shoes for your trip are always a struggle, the hard part is selecting what beauty products to bring and which ones to leave at home since they are too big, too heavy or just to vulnerable to fly with.
Since I fly quite often I learned a few things the hard way and downsized on my beauty products by becoming a master in smart buying and packing. Here are a few of my best travel hacks shared!

1. No more leaking bottles!

One of my worst fears when flying is leaking bottles. When you check-in your luggage and you see it dropping half a meter from belt to belt I already see myself cleaning my clean clothes when I arrive since a bottle has popped open. For me, having long hair, those tiny travel shampoo and hair conditioning bottles you can buy in the drug store are only good for 2-3 days and half of it always stays inside the bottle since you can not really squeeze them. Often they do not have my favorite brands in small bottles anyway. The same goes for those hand-luggage refill bottles, they are too small and too much sticks inside the bottle at the end of the day. Bringing big bottles is always a hassle with the size / fitting it in your toiletry bag and the weight. The problem most of those bottles have, they can still open accidentally – even if you tape the top with Scotch or Duct tape. To avoid your luggage full of liquid and an empty bottle of your favorite shampoo, shower gel or body lotion you need a bottle with a screw lid. One of the easiest and cheapest options is re-using a small empty water bottle. You do not need to rinse it, just let it dry and refill it with your favorite products. Make sure the size of the bottle fits your holiday needs and your toiletry bag or beauty-case.

2. Soap bars instead of liquid!

Old fashion? No way! As hip as ever are solid bars and they go a long way and weigh less than liquids for the same period! You can get all sorts of bars for all kinds of skin and hair types. Especially LUSH has the most amazing products. Shampoo, conditioner, body butter, facial cleaners and even scrub can be bought in a solid bar without plastic packaging and preservatives! Fresh and natural ingredients like lavender oil, shea butter, peppermint and almonds. All kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and oils are added for great care and lovely scents.

3. Coconut oil!

There are so many uses for coconut oil, it replaces many other products and it is fully natural! Extra virgin coconut oil, or pure coconut oil, is white solid when it is colder than 24 degrees Celcius and transparent liquid when above. There are hundreds of uses for coconut oil and I have tried a lot. My favorites: To moisturize my skin, as a leave-in conditioner for my hair (especially for the ends), massage oil, light sun-protection (not a replacement for sunscreen!) and to relief insect bites (less pain and itching). Coconut oil rejuvenates, smooths and moisturizes the skin as it is a hydrator/antioxidant. The oil pulling (coconut oil as mouthwash) is not one of my favorites, but you can ty it! Other than beauty uses I am happy about using it as cooking oil, as butter on bread and even for quick leather care.

4. Brush without handle

As easy as it sounds, you can save about half the size of your brush if you bring one without a handle! A friend of mine is a professional hair dresser and ones she showed me a Tangle Teezer I was hooked. Even before I was traveling I used a Tangle Teezer all the time. It is great for my long hair that is often tangled, it detangles painlessly without a lot of hair loss. The one I carry is compact round shaped with a lid so the bristles do not bend while traveling.

5. Buy regular products at your destination

If you are in real need of space or looking for a way to loose more travel weight, buy the regular beauty products at your new destination. Sun screen, tooth paste and even cotton pads can be bought in almost every convenient store or supermarket. Just bring a tiny toothpaste tube and toothbrush in your carry-on luggage and you have enough to brush your teeth after your flight and the first morning. Even shampoo and conditioner are easy to buy if you use common brands.

When you have selected and re-packed the items you are bringing make sure the toiletry bag or beauty case can hold a bit of liquid for worst case scenarios. Leave your beautiful cotton flower pouch at home or wrap it in a strong plastic bag before putting it in your suitcase. This way you immediately have a re-usable shopping bag as well! For more travel essentials and gadgets please visit http://www.crazydutchabroad.com/blog/Travel_essentials/.
Marlies
Crazy Dutch Abroad

The post Five Travel Hacks For Packing Your Toiletry Bag! first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

Marlies is also a dive instructor (PADI IDCS).
With her other blog Dive o’Clock she wants to give you a better, smarter, easier way to get the right information for your diving adventures! She’ll share useful tips, compare dive destinations, dive equipment and more from an experienced dive professional.

NAME: Marlies Wolters
OCCUPATION: Fultime Blogger (digital nomad)
HOME TOWN: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
CURRENT CITY: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
BLOG: www.crazydutchabroad.com & www.diveoclock.com
INSTAGRAM: crazydutchabroad & diveoclock
FACEBOOK: crazydutchabroad & diveoclock
TWITTER: cdabroad & diveoclock
PINTEREST: crazy_dutch & diveoclock

DF- Favourite country?
Marlies – Thailand! The friendly people, colorful culture, tasty and healthy food and the muay thai which is my favorite sport (other than diving). Everything is amazing as long as you stay out of the huge tourist areas. In total I spend about 2 to 3 years here and I just keep coming back. Robbert-Jan and I did a crazy road trip on a scooter with side-span all over Thailand and Laos last year, 6000 KM, it was amazing.

DF- Favourite beach?
Marlies – Maldivian beaches! White sand, crystal clear warm waters and colorful reefs with so many fish and (friendly) sharks!

DF- What is your favourite food?
Marlies – Cheese and wine!!! You can wake me up for that!

DF- What is your favourite photo from your travels?
Marlies – This photo was taken in Mexico while snorkeling with hundreds of whale sharks!

DF- Worst meal you’ve ever had?
Marlies – In The Philippines they love to eat the things you normally throw out before cooking. The street food contains a lot of bones, intestines and tendons. Chicken head or feet, pork ears, embryos, etc. Especially the first days when I was in The Philippines I wanted to try everything, not the best idea.

DF- What is the oddest place you have ever spent the night?
Marlies – When I was traveling solo I have spend a few days sailing around the San Blas Islands in Panama. One night it was so warm I slept outside on the roof and looked at the stars, breathtaking moments! At one point it started raining…

DF- What are your top 5 traveling items?
Marlies – Flip-flops, local SIM-cards (for prepaid internet), power bank (recharge phone and camera), a tiny coffee maker (immersion heater) and my kick-boxing outfit to train wherever possible.

DF- What’s the next destination in your travel plans?
Marlies – After Bonaire we would love to explore other Islands / countries in the Caribbean like Cuba, Puerto Rico and maybe Belize.

DF- Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Any personal goals?
Marlies – My dream is to keep traveling while working location independent, express my passions and help others. I would love to get better at different computer programs/coding, learning more about online business and maybe a PhD as I mentioned before. Other than that, just grow as a person and live the life I love.

DF- What advice/tips do you have for aspiring travelers?
Marlies – Do your research online and always compare sources before you choose a destination or book a trip. Searching practical information online and comparing prices is much more efficient and it saves you money. It is often cheaper to stay in amazing bungalows than (private rooms) in hostels if you book online, even last minute / the same day. The more flexible (and light) you travel, the more you can change things along the way. Book one night instead of one week for example, check the area with your own eyes first.

The post Interview With Our Travel Contributor Marlies Wolters first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

Name: Fiona Maclean
Occupation: Artist
Current City: New York

DF- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Fiona Maclean- Born and raised in New Zealand but moved to Sydney Australia at an early age. As a child discovered I was pretty good at drawing and started winning art awards throughout my schooling. Then a stint at Graphic Design School, then studied as a Makeup Artist for Film/TV and Fashion. At the same time I was working as a Freelance Makeup Artist I was Freelancing as a Fashion and Beauty illustrator for mostly editorial. I even had my work published in several Fashion Illustration publications. In 2005 I moved to NYC and was studying at Parsons School of Art (The New School). But my studies there were interrupted by a family tragedy and my art career put on hold for a few years. In 2010 I completed two Artist Residencies in Painting and Illustration at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA), giving me new direction and confidence to pursue my art career again. I was chosen by Saatchiart.com as an Artist to watch in their ‘’One to Watch’ 2013. Since then I have been selling regularly through Saatchi art and also through my personal website and actually Instagram! Over the last 12months I have been travelling and exploring the world while evolving as an Artist.

DF- Where’s home at the moment?
Fiona Maclean- My homes are normally in Sydney, Australia but have been travelling for last 12months! I’m currently in NYC at moment and loving it!

DF- What did you want to become when you were little?
Fiona Maclean- I wanted to be a fashion designer, Makeup artist and Artist.

DF- Could you describe a typical day?
Fiona Maclean- Get up, go for run, meditate (most days), write down what I’m grateful for, breakfast! Then check emails, social media eg Instagram, Facebook and so on to drum up interest, posting to social media, feature my latest works etc. Make the morning more about administrative type stuff. If I have time I will do some quick sketches but most of time its more about networking contacting potential ways of promoting myself e.g. Magazine exposure, online blogs doing expose on me, etc. Then lunchtime take a class of some sort, like yoga or go out and about to mix with people! The afternoon is normally spent coming up with new ideas, working on several paintings at a time. Updating my website, or the online gallery that has my art for sale. Recently have been working on combining some of my traditional hand drawn or paintings with digital medium such as photoshop experimenting and developing. Depending on how I’m going with the day and what I’ve accomplished I will if time allows get out and go see a local gallery or catch up with a friend or go to sometimes in evening to attend a life drawing drop in class to brush up on skills! By that stage it’s the evening!

DF- What are three words that describe your work?
Fiona Maclean- Intriguing, Sensual, Beautiful

DF- How did you get into illustration/painting?
Fiona Maclean- I have been painting since I was a kid but seriously painting only the last few years. With illustration I have done this on and off over the last 15 years.

DF-Which 3 words describe your work?
Fiona Maclean- Intriguing, Sensual, Beautiful

DF-When did you realize you wanted to become an illustrator/painter?
Fiona Maclean- As a child I excelled at Art and gained awards for it and more importantly enjoyed it. Already making portraits for friends and family but I guess it wasn’t until I was around 20 or 21 I decided this is what I want to do.

DF- How long have you been an illustrator/painter?
Fiona Maclean- Since I was a kid so a while!! But professionally I started out doing Freelance Fashion and Beauty illustration around 15 years ago and my painting career a similar time but that was interrupted by a family tragedy so painting career was reignited 6 years ago.

DF-How did you get your first illustration/painter job?
Fiona Maclean- Perseverance! Persistence! I contacted magazines art directors until I got a yes! And then started to build my portfolio and profile. My painting career really was later on and selling my first painting came through my personal website.

DF- Did you study illustration/art in college? And if so, is studying llustration/art in college worth the cost or do you recommend an alternative?
Fiona Maclean- I am mostly self-taught. I did go to Parsons School of Art (The New School) studying Fine Art but as mentioned before I had a family tragedy, which meant I wasn’t able to continue my studies. I know the cost of Art schools are costly however they are a good platform for exposure and possibly propelling you onto a stage that you wouldn’t have access to if you weren’t going to art school. But with things such as e.g. Instagram and other social media allowing almost anyone to be possibly ‘seen’ and ‘discovered’.

DF-Where should a person start if they want to pursue a career in illustration/painting?
Fiona Maclean- Try/apply to get into Art school (its not essential but I think it does help). There are still plenty of people who are successful who are self taught! The two are a little different in approach. But generally with both painting and illustration you need to build a body of work that you are proud of and prepared to show to the world and to critics/art directors/ potential agents/galleries /clients etc. Then you need platforms such as social media, instagram, pinterest, facebook etc. And maybe a website (not essential), but certainly somewhere you can direct people to view your work when pursuing possible representation etc. I don’t know that many places these days that would accept physical portfolios!

DF-What helps you to be more creative?
Fiona Maclean- I need some basics that keep me ‘happy and ready to create, and those are Music, visual inspiration, loads of natural light, (ideally sunshine!) and a space that I can ‘step into’ ideally a studio or a room in my apartment or house that I can call my creative domain. Allow myself to make mistakes, explore and try not to be critical while in the process of creating. On a physical level I need each day to do my physical workouts, yoga, meditation…keeps me a happier person.

DF- What has been your favorite assignment so far? And your biggest?
Fiona Maclean- So far that is yet to come! I’m still new to everything considering my career was put on hold. I guess in retrospect, some of the commissions I have completed for clients, such as a portrait for a gentleman who wanted a portrait of his wife. Which was amazing to hear that he loved the painting and they have it hung in their residence.

DF- Do you think an illustrator/painter needs a style? Why? Do you have tips on developing an illustration/painter style?
Fiona Maclean- Yes I do think both an Illustrator and Painter need to find a style so you can easily identify that that is ‘so and so’ illustrator or painter. For clients / art collectors I think that they want consistency without being staid. For an Illustrator you are given a brief from a client so they have hired you based on what they saw examples of your work. At the same time you need to be relevant! So you cant keep doing the same thing for years and years if there is not as much interest or the market has changed. Also with illustration especially it is starting to become a little homogenized so its always good to have your own style. Developing an Illustration or Painter style evolves over time and there is no magic formula for that except all I can say is be authentic and be who you are and somehow a style evolves.

DF- Who are some of your favorite illustrators/painter and why?
Fiona Maclean- Illustrators – Antonio Lopez and David Downton, Samantha Hahn, Richard Haines
Painters – Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Andy Warhol, Marlene Dumas, Elizabeth Peyton.

DF- Do you make everything by hand or do you use a special editing program?
Fiona Maclean- With my paintings I usually work in oil on canvas and with my paintings on paper watercolour on paper. Recently I started to combine some of my drawings/watercolour paintings with a little bit of photoshop applications giving it almost a collage effect. When I started out with Illustration a few years ago I did use photoshop and Illustrator a lot and much more so than I do now. I prefer the physical aspect of painting or drawing.

DF- What’s the hardest part of your job?
Fiona Maclean- Keeping the faith! Keeping positive in times for eg if you havent sold a painting in a while or had an illustration job in a while. And of course working as an Artist is a solitary job so you have to have a lot of discipline and have strategies to deal with this.

DF- What is your working environment like?
Fiona Maclean- At the moment I am a bit of a gypsy so moving around and travelling but recently I had the privilege of an amazing studio space with great natural light, right in the heart of Manhattan! Things that are essential and that I have to have is a desk of some sort or bench to work from, an easel, music, iPad, laptop, and a camera.

DF- Top 5 of your favorite things? 
Fiona Maclean- Music, Fashion, the Ocean, Art, Travel.

DF- Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Any personal goals?  
Fiona Maclean- Living and working successfully in the US either LA or NYC as an Artist somehow collaborating with Fashion and Music Industry, not only as an Artist but perhaps as a Creative Advisor/Director. Gallery and Agent representation in NYC and around the world. Helping other young Artists (particularly Female Artists) realize their potential and dreams. A spacious studio to work out of filled with natural light!

DF-What advice do you have for aspiring illustrators/painters?
Fiona Maclean- Perseverance, persistence, draw, paint every day, explore and stay true to yourself.

Website: www.fionamaclean.com
Pinterest: @missfifimaclean
Instagram: @fifimaclean
Facebook: @Artist-Fiona-Maclean
Twitter: @FifiMaclean
Saatchiart.com: @missfifimaclean

The post Interview With One To Watch Artist/ Illustrator Fiona Maclean! first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

1. Sukau: Wildlife river cruises in Borneo!

Have you ever dreamed of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat? Borneo is the place to be! Go to Sukau, a little town in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo). From here you can take amazing river cruises to see the wildlife of Borneo! Proboscis monkeys, orangutans, wild elephants, crocodiles and many bird species are there for you to spot around the Kinabatangan river. Either early morning or sunset cruises will give you the best chances because then the animals are most active.

2. Banaue: Hiking through rice terraces in The Philippines!

Banaue is famous for the Ifugao rice terraces with UNESCO heritage recognition. Take one, two or multiple days hike through the rice terraces with a guide and enjoy hot springs, waterfalls, overnight stays at guest-houses right in the rice fields. Try the rice wine and discover how things are organized differently. You will not just have beautiful views over the rice terraces from the mountains, you will also walk right through them on little brick paths (that might be smaller than your shoes) with steep walls right next to it. Terraces with nothing to hold, bricks that are loose and unequal, etc. The locals will just run over these paths and overtake each other along the way. Be careful when it rains and use a walking stick! Bring some good hiking shoes and check the weather forecast properly. Charging electronic devices will cost money in town and don’t be surprised if your hotel room doesn’t have any plugs… Banaue is located in Luzon, around 10 hours driving from the capital Manilla. By public transport you can only take a (cramped) night bus from a slum-like neighbourhood of Manilla with the air conditioning on full power, be prepared!

3. Koh Kradan: Relaxing on a private beach!

Thailand has always been one of my favorite travel destinations; the people, the culture and the food are amazing! Many places are well known and well visited, but Koh Kradan you might have never heard off and it is well worth visiting! Koh Kradan is one of the Trang Islands, hidden in the Andaman Sea. The Islands are small and less developed. During low season there are no ferries either, so no crowds. A true tropical paradise, very romantic. Koh Kradan only holds a few resorts on the beach side of the Island, the sun rise here is amazing. Besides a few resorts lined up at the water front there is nothing more than beach and forest with limestone cliffs on the inland. Just relax, read a book or snorkel/kayak to find a private beach. For a real ‘back to basic’ experience you can rent a bamboo hut which almost feels like sleeping out in the open.

4. Mabul: Coral reef and cultural experiences!

Especially if you like SCUBA diving, this small Island with many resorts at the waterfront with water bungalows offer a perfect tropical destination. In the heart of the Island you will find the opposite; local people living with homestays on offer and children playing with plastic garbage. There are no paved roads, just sandy paths crawling around houses and little shops offering all the same, mainly junk food like crisps, candies and sodas. Before you know it, you’ll be walking through somebodies ‘garden’ and wake up grandma. Wonder about the large amount of local children, it seems to be over 75% of the local population. Well, there’s not a lot to do anyway… Stroll around the Island and have sunset drinks at the north-eastern side where there’s a nice beach strip. Expect power cuts (electricity) during the day if you’re not in a high-end resort, it is scheduled.

5. Koh Rong: Bring on the rum and coconuts!

White sandy beaches, reggae-style bars and wooden bungalows can be found on Koh Rong in Cambodia. While Koh Rong actually contains two Islands, Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloen, this is a paradise-like place in Cambodia. This is a backpackers paradise with hammocks and swing stairs all around while local children play in the sand. Relax, have a BBQ on the beach and enjoy the vibe of these laidback tropical Islands. There is an interesting growing focus on protecting the environment and education. It seems like these Islands are slowly getting ready for big changes in tourism, more developed and more upscale accommodations which will attract a different kind of tourists. Go before it’s too late!

6. Phetchaburi: Impressive cave temple and monkeys!

Petchaburi offers one of the most amazing temples I’ve ever seen, Tham Khao Luang! This Buddhist temple is built inside a cave with many en-carvings and Buddha statues hidden in the dark. It’s a spacious drafty area that will take your breath away. Holes in the cave give the temple natural light accompanied with some artificial lights. There can be an impressive light show when the sun shines right through the center of the cave. Wat Mahathat Worawihan is another must see in town, especially the white stupa is beautiful. Be careful with all the monkeys around the cultural sights, they can get really aggressive to get some food! This town has many high-schools and universities which obviously sets out many Thai students. Some will have the courage to practive their English with you.

7. Malapasqua: Thresher sharks and street mazes!

While this little Island is famous for having Thresher sharks in the water (below 30 meters, don’t worry!), this is the perfect place to relax and read a book with your feet in the sand. The Island has hills and beautiful white sand beaches. There are a lot of Western-style restaurants and bars are located at Bounty Beach (love that name) and you can have beautiful sunset drinks here. In the middle of the Island it is a maze of narrow streets, resort, houses with gardens and local shops. There are some sort of main walking paths around the Island, all sandy, but you’ll have to wind and twist around. You can easily get lost so bring your smart phone with GPS. If you hear loud karaoke, follow the sound and watch the families sing at their houses. Don’t forget to bring enough cash, there are no ATM’s on the Island or at the harbor area on Cebu (Maya).

8. Mae Salong: Chinese mountain village in Thailand!

Mae Salong is an old Chinese tea plantation village on top of a mountain right in the Golden Triangle area (Thailand, Laos, Myanmar). One of the roads to get there, the 1089, is supposed to be one of the most beautiful roads of Thailand. Follow the hairpin curves right up the mountains and enjoy the stunning views along the way until you reach this little village. It looks like you arrive in ancient China! Visit the Tea Market and taste all the different teas that are on offer. People wear hill tribe clothes and try to make some money by selling self-made jeweleries and colorful bags, some more aggresive than others. Go see the breath taking views over the tea plantations at ‘My Place Restaurant’ and have diner in one of the many Chinese restaurants around (not a Western-Chinese taste). Try ‘mantou’ a Chinese steamed little bread or a fresh tea leaves salad.

9. George Town: Street art and delicious street food!

In the Andaman Sea, laying North-West from the Malaysian Peninsula, Penang Island offers an incredible mixture of mainly Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. Especially George Town is famous for its street food, street art and Chinese influences. This makes George Town a colorful UNESCO Heritage town you must visit! Beautifully decorated houses and Chinese temples are there for you to discover. It’s easy to cycle around the historical area of George Town to discover the street art in the small streets and at funny places! For the best street food head to Lorong Baru or Gurney Drive. Tempt your taste buts at the countless hawker stalls. Try the char kway teow noodles and ice kacang of cendol desert with shaved ice, rice pasta, beans, corn and coconut milk. Don’t skip Little India to have some good original Indian food as well! It’s easy and cheap to get around with Uber, but public transport or renting a car/scooter are good options too.

10. Mekong Delta:

In the Southern part of Vietnam, the Mekong river splits up in many little rivers. The water can be as green as the land which makes it a beautiful lush scenery. It’s nice to cycle or scooter along the river beds over the tiny dirt roads. You’ll have to look or ask (with hand signals) around for the ‘local’ roads which will lead you through back gardens and trading places. Hire a guide or try to find it yourself with Google Maps. English is rarely spoken when you’re out of mid-size towns. The Mekong Delta is also famous for the floating markets. Seeing the trade going on over the water is amazing. Selling fruits, vegetables, rice and other food with boats bumping in to each other. The trade starts really early and finishes around 8-9 am. If it’s hot, try to arrange a boat with a rooftop or buy a typical Vietnamese hat and make sure you’re not stuck in some sort of commission deal with a long stop at a certain restaurant.

Marlies
Crazy Dutch Abroad
www.crazydutchabroad.com

The post 10 must see hidden destinations in South-East Asia! first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

One To Watch actress Trisha LaFache is a classically trained ballerina who began her acting career in New York City, appearing in films such as Garden State, Never Forever, and The Secret. Her television credits include Law &Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Criminal Intent. She has also appeared in stage performances with the LAByrinth Theater Company and The Public Theater. Along the way, she also earned her law degree. Since moving to Los Angeles, her acting career has included roles in television shows Criminal Minds, Mad Men, Rake, and The League. She also played the hard-driving reporter Amy Ryan in GOD’S NOT DEAD, a role she reprises in GOD’S NOT DEAD 2.

Name: Trisha LaFache
Occupation: Actress
Current City: Los Angeles

DF- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Trisha LaFache- I’m from Utica in Upstate New York. I always wanted to be an actor and went to school for theater & political science. I also went to law school, mostly because I was scared to try and be an actor, but I started auditioning pretty much immediately. It was a wonderful time in my life…

The post Exclusive Interview With God’s Not Dead 2 Actress Trisha LaFache! first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

Buy This Look:
Over The Knee Boot: Steve Madden $199.95
Leather Jacket: Marccain $560.00
Leather Pants: Circle Of Trust $89.90
Bag: Mulberry $1573.00

Photos by Alletta Vaandering

The post Wardrobe Essential: Suede Over The Knee Boot first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

Bright Lights is an American pop singer-songwriter who has recently exploded into the dance world. Her powerful voice and beautiful compositions makes her one of the most sought after singers in all of electronic music. Responsible for several career-defining hits including Porter Robinson’s “Language,” Hardwell’s “Never Say Goodbye,” “Thomas Gold’s “Believe,” and3LAU’s “How You Love Me,” she is also featured on Zedd’s #1 Clarity album.

In addition to her singing, Bright Lights is also Grammy-nominated for her songwriting on Justin Bieber’s“Somebody To Love”and Fantasia’s “Even Angels.” With her debut single “Runaway (Feat. 3LAU)” racing up the charts, a full-length album in the works, and support from the many artists she has helped along the way, Bright Lights is quickly becoming an international fan favorite.

Name: Bright Lights (Heather Bright)
Occupation: Singer-Songwriter
Current City: Las Vegas

DF- How did you feel when you heard your very first track on the radio?
Bright Lights- That never gets old. Even if it’s a song that I wrote and I’m not actually singing on it, anything that I have a part of that I hear on the radio… you just get butterflies every time. It’s like waking up to a beautiful view. Like this could never get old. It’s also different if you hear your music on FM radio. Satellite radio is great, but FM radio is classic. In America FM radio determines the success of most artists. So for a dance artist, for my first record ever out the gate, to be on FM radio in America to be on top 40 pop stations, I wasn’t expecting that I really wasn’t.

DF What are your music plans over the next couple of months?
Bright Lights- My new song that just came out is the “Heartless” record. The next single is scheduled for the end of March/beginning of April. A lot of the new songs that I’ve been writing, I’m just so proud of. We contemplated switching out the next single for one of the newer ones, but I just loved the next one so much and I hope you guys will too.

DF-You’re busy with a documentary series. Could you tell us more about that?
Bright Lights- I’m actually wrapping that up right now and it’s being finalized. I’m really proud of it. We put a lot of work into it. I wanted to do a video series that was a little bit more personal more in depth, compared to other ones. I wanted to talk about fashion, about my parents and where I came from. I wanted it to be fun but also inspirational. They’re 3 minutes episodes and they’ll air once a week. I think it’s important to have a “behind the scenes” part in the series. Cause everybody is going to have show footage. There’s always cameras at the show. What’s important to me is how you’re waking up in the morning, what do you eat in the morning, what’s a typical day or how does a release day of a record looks like and so on. For me that’s what this series was more about. A more personal, in depth documentary.

DF-How does a typical day looks like for you?
Bright Lights- I kinda have typical days but they’re all different in their own way and that’s what I love about being an artist. I’ll tell you my day today:
I wake up in the morning, I have an interview, I’m probably going to eat breakfast right after the interview. I have a video conference with my production team and editing team for the documentary series, because we’re finalising the first 4 episodes today. And then I’ll have to make some vocals for a new song and have to get those to the producer. My song Runaway went to the top 40 campaign today, so I have to get on the phone with my label today. And then later tonight I have a conference call with the producer who’s mixing and mastering the next single. As you can see it’s all different kind of things that I’m doing. That’s what I love about my life right now. Every day is different. It’s all so much fun to me.

DF-Which artist you’d love to record a song with?
Bright Lights- I love other artists. I’m always down to collaborate. Some of my favorite artist right now are pop artists. I’m a pop girl at heart. I grew up listening to Britney Spears, Usher and The Backstreet Boys. I really love great songs. That’s why I became a songwriter, because I love well written songs.
In my opinion pop songs and country songs can be some of the best written songs. Just because a single is catchy doesn’t mean it’s good. I love pop artists like The Weekend or Beyonce, I’m a huge fan of her. I love all the songs that Ariana Grande is recording. Alessia Cara is a new artist that I love. It’s a classic catalogue that like 20 years from now we still want to listen to. That’s the kind of music that I like, that’s the kind of music that I make I hope… I hope that people wanna hear my music in 20 years :)!
It’s really a cool time. I have the opportunity to make the kind of music that I want to make. I spend my whole career so far making music that other people want to make, not that I didn’t love what I was making but I made it because they wanted to write about this and that etc. This is the first time that I can ask myself: “What do I want to make?” I feel very lucky and blessed to even be in this position at all.

DF-Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
Bright Lights- In 5 years I would love to be on the same stage every day and just give the most amazing show. If you come to Vegas or you go to New York I want that people say: “You have to see The Bright Lights Show”.

DF- New York or LA?
Bright Lights- At the moment LA. If I could move back to New York right now, I would love that but it’s just wouldn’t quite make sense cause the business isn’t really there anymore. All of the biggest songwriters, producers and a lot of executives all moved to LA. You get more space for what you pay.
For up and coming artists I would definitely say LA. LA is where I got my start. It’s where you collaborate with everybody you’ll meet. And you’ll meet everybody you need to meet.

DF- What advise do you have for aspiring singers and songwriters?
Bright Lights- You better get your thick skin together. It’s not an easy business. It’s not for people who want to dibble dabble. This has to be your whole life. If you love it enough, it will love you back. But you’ll have to give your life to it to make it work!

DF- Thanks so much Heather for your time and for this great interview!

Website: www.brightlightsofficial.com
Instagram: @brightlights333
Facebook: @brightlights333
Youtube: @brightlights
Twitter: @brightlights333
SoundCloud: @brightlights333

Special thanks to Chad Schubert from EMC|Bowery
Photography by Kenny Sweeny 

The post Part 2 Of The Exclusive Interview With One To Watch Singer Bright Lights! first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

In addition to her singing, Bright Lights is also Grammy-nominated for her songwriting on Justin Bieber’s “Somebody To Love”and Fantasia’s “Even Angels.” With her debut single “Runaway (Feat. 3LAU)” racing up the charts, a full-length album in the works, and support from the many artists she has helped along the way, Bright Lights is quickly becoming an international fan favorite.

Name: Bright Lights (Heather Bright)
Occupation: Singer-Songwriter
Current City: Las Vegas

DF- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Bright Lights- I grew up in a very small town in South Carolina. It has a lot of dirt roads and it’s in the middle of nowhere. I went to school in Boston. I was first a pre-med major and a music minor. Then I decided to kind of take the leap and shoot and try for music. So then I went to school at Berkley Boston, music school. I was there for 3 years. I didn’t graduate, I felt I kind of got what I needed.  I went to NY where I didn’t really know anyone. But I felt I could start a career there. You know they say “If you can make it in NY you can make it anywhere”. So you know a little girl from a small town in South Carolina figured New York would be the perfect place to start. There’s where I started my songwriting career.
I started writing full time. It did take me about 4 years of full time writing to actually start making money off it. I worked 40 hours a week on my music and then I worked another 40 hours a week waiting tables. That’s how I’d payed my bills.
One day I met my first manager. He brought me out to LA and showed me the ropes out in LA. I started working a lot in LA. LA took me to the next level. New York gave me my stripes and allowed me to craft and sharpen my pen but when I think of LA, it’s where I really took off. So I was writing for some really big pop artists. But I didn’t feel like I was doing what I was born to do. There’s was always something inside of me saying “this is not it” So about 3 years ago I started my own artist career. I started a brand. An artist called “Bright Lights”. It’s been great. From working for some big pop artists to doing something on my own. I’ve been so much happier. For me being happy and feeling full filled is really my goal. I’m making some great records right now. You know as a writer for other artists you don’t get to play around with stuff like fashion. You don’t get to figure out what your album cover is going to be and what the music videos are going to look like. Switching to an artist opened up a whole new world of creativity for me.

DF- Talking about fashion inspiration we think you really have an amazing look. Was this “look” your idea?
Bright Lights- Bright Lights is based on a screen play that I wrote with a friend. Cause there’s a story behind bright lights. It’s a movie, it’s a video game, it’s a comic book, a live show, all that. So in creating these characters I wanted to create a character that could really stand out. I mean in her world she really stands out and is on the run…and always on hiding  The character always embodies that vibe that we’ve set for her in the beginning.
The characters name is Mona. That’s who I play. She’s the girl with the purple hair. In terms of fashion and designing, most of her costumes serve a purpose. There’s one boot in particular, where she can knock on the floor 3 times and a knife pops up from the top of the boot. It’s tactical, but she’s also sexy and cool at the same time. The costumes are very useful (for what she’s doing). 

Mona definitely has super powers. That’s her big thing, If I think of another female with tactical fashion gear and stuff I’m thinking about Lara Croft. You know how she’s always wearing cool stuff, but it still serves the purpose.
I’m very influenced by a lot of Manga. I love comic books. Bright Lights really allows me to explore more of what I love: comic books, video games and stuff like that. You can see the influence. As the project starts rolling out more and more and I start uncovering a little more about the characters you see a more about the influences. Even movies like some of my favourite ones like Wizard of Oz, Blade Runner and the Fifth element. You’ll see a little of those characterisations coming through in the work as well.

DF- Do you feel different on stage?
Bright Lights- Oh yeah, I go to a different place. I have to be able to go to a whole other place in my mind. If I can’t have this moment on stage where I feel like nobody is watching and I’m by myself and I’m just having this moment and I’m not paying attention to what’s going on, if I can’t get to that place, then I’m not fully enjoying the show. It’s  sort of losing yourself in the middle of the show.
Before I go on, you can catch me in the back, singing and doing push ups and meditating. That’s how I get ready for my show and that’s how I get in the right frame of mind. 

DF-Is it a part of you that’s performing on stage?
Bright Lights– Absolutely Mona is based on me, Mona is just an exaggerating version of me plus she has super powers. I don’t actually have super powers… or do I… lol?

The show is very energetic. It’s probably one of the most energetic shows you’ll ever see. I’m in the dance world right now that’s where I got my start as an artist. A lot of my shows are in dance clubs. The audience are used to DJ’s who show up with a black or white shirt on, and they don’t come from behind their boots, some of them step on top of the table but that’s it. So it’s always interesting when I bring my show to these clubs and introduce it to dance audiences they’re sort of blown away because there’s no one who’s delivering a show like this where dancers come out and do choreography. It’s pretty unique and really cool. And I’m singing a lot of the time. I usually sing about 10 songs a show. So people really get into that. I DJ during the show, but it’s not what I do.

The fashion part of the show is something that I did not really expect that would wow people in quite the way that it did, especially considering the audience. I love high fashion design too. And it’s something that I haven’t let my fans know yet. I just did a full high fashion video that is a cover of Kanye’s single “Heartless” which is by the way a free download for the fans.
The video is my favorite part. And it’s the first time my fans see me in a high fashion world. I did 4 looks total, me wearing some of my favorite designers.
I think it’s so important the way that artist and fashion designers are interacting and the collaboration that they’re doing together. Because it can really set someone up as an iconic, to set them apart. For example Madonna and those cone boobies that was iconic and it was her collaboration with Jean Paul that I though was so cool.
I’m always looking to collaborate with new designers. There are particular costume designers that I work with. Maggie Barry is my number one designer that made my laser boobies costume. She also made my costume with the “hood” that has the led strip of lights that’s on the Runaway cover. She works with everybody, she’s done  Lady gaga, Nicky Minaj, Miley Cyrus etc. I feel incredibly lucky to be working with her.

The laser booby costume was inspired by Barbarella. I just loved the film and everything about it. So I called Maggy and asked her if we could make a kind of Barbarella inspired costume with laser boobies. I’m in the dance world so my audience love lasers.

DF- What did you wanted to become when you were little? Have you always wanted to become a singer-songwriter?
Bright Lights- I always was a performer. My father was a pastor, so I grew up singing in church. After my dad was done with preaching he called me up and I would sing. I learned how to work the crowed, like early on in my career. But I didn’t think music was realistic. Like my whole life I just remember thinking “I’m going to be in the medical field”. My whole life I wanted to be a doctor. That’s why I was a pre-med major, my first year of college. I always thought “Of course I’m going to do medicine, I’m going to be a doctor. When I minored in music it was the first time I actually a produced a record. I produced it, wrote it, recorded the vocals. I played it for a few people just to be like oh this is a just project that I did for my minor, check it out. And people started to freak out, saying this is so good, When I saw the reactions of people I started to think I could do this actually for a living. I always wanted to help people. That was the number one reason for wanting to be in medicine. I think I got that from my parents.  My parents are very generous in giving, my father is a pastor etc. I wanted to do something in medicine to help people. And then I realized I could use my music to help people. And to this day every show that I play I have someone coming up to me after the show and tell me “oh my god your song changed my relationship or your song saved my marriage. Actually someone told me this one time and it almost brought tears to my eyes because that’s the reason that I started doing this.
I feel I have a very interesting perspective on life. You could call me weird. I look at life from a very different perspective. I don’t often have the same view on a lot of things. I think about life a lot and relationships, what they really mean and what’s important. And so you can hear in a lot of my music that I’m analyzing life and how it is to me and how I see it. And sometimes it comes across as some of the most obvious things like “how you love me”. ‘How you love me” is basically saying “you can get whatever you want out of me”. I can be your dream come true, or I can be your worst nightmare. It’s all about how you treat me. If you give good, you’ll receive good. So a lot of my music is like me seeing things in my own life. Let’s strip all of this down, let’s take the emotion out of it for a second and strip this situation down to exactly what it is. And so I’ve been able to write some pretty introspective songs that way.

DF- Is it most from your own experience or from other peoples?
Bright Lights- When I write I sort of free style , I don’t really write anything down. When I’m writing I just put the headphones on and get on the microphone and whatever comes out comes out. And that style of writing, I’m telling my story . It’s what I’m experiencing it’s how I’m seeing things. When I was songwriting in the past , when I was writing for other artists, absolutely I would tell their story. But that kind of writing comes from a different place. It’s not the same style. I can’t write for myself the way I write for someone else.

DF-Could you also tell us about your name “Bright Lights?”
Bright Lights- Bright Lights is the name of the screen play. So when I started writing The screenplay with a friend of mine in New York we wrote it together. An that was the title , We titled the screenplay Bright Lights.
I started writing the screenplay before I started performing again. When I started to perform again and leaving the songwriting world I thought let me just develop this concept more and let me be this character that I’m creating. And since the movie was called Bright Lights that’s then I decided to call the brand overall.

DF- We really love your debut single Runaway. Could you tell us more about this song?
Bright Lights-  I took a chance and flew this producer in from Switzerland to work with me in LA. I just loved his stuff, I loved the work, and the sound that I was hearing from him. And so we worked together for like a month and during that month we wrote Runaway. But it wasn’t finished. It was a great “Idea”.
So I played it one night at a show in Orlando and 3Lau (Justin David Blau) was there. And he came running out of the green room freaking out, asking me what song this was. I was like this is my new single.  And he was like, oh let me help you with it, let’s talk about it, come see me after. So I went to the studio afterwards and played the album basically and he was just freaking out. He did a great mix master on the record. He got it ready for radio and for the club.
The hardest part of the record, is the end of it. Anybody can start a great record, but to finish it, like that last 10% of the record is what takes the most time and is the most frustrating. It can be a very frustrating time of the record because you already experienced the magic, like the magic is there that part is done. So now let’s get all the sounds in order etc. It’s just a lot of technical stuff that has to be done before even the band hears a single note of it. And Justin came in on that part and really helped with polishing it up. It was a great thing for us, it was my debut single. It was really a dream come true. This was the first record that was mine. I’m always writing for other people, even when I switch over to use my own voice and being bright lights. I’m still writing records for DJ’s, it’s still  featuring Bright Lights. Cause this was the first record that was mine. It’s not featuring Bright Lights, it’s only Bright Lights. So that was a huge deal, not only for me personally but also in the business. A lot of people sort of like looked up in the music business, saying “oh wow she really made it happen”.

Next week we’ll post part 2, the last part of the interview, where Bright Lights talks about her upcoming documentary series, what her advice is for aspiring singers and songwriters and if you should rather be in LA or New York as an upcoming artist. So be sure not to miss it!

Website: www.brightlightsofficial.com
Instagram: @brightlights333
Facebook: @brightlights333
Youtube: @brightlights
Twitter: @brightlights333
Sound: @brightlights333

Special thanks to Chad Schubert from EMC|Bowery
Photography by Kenny Sweeny

The post Part 1 of the Exclusive Interview with One To Watch Singer Bright Lights first appeared on Dollface Magazine.

Name: Julia Ikonomou
Occupation: Student & Business Owner.
Current City: Melbourne
Website: www.elmcollection.com.au
Instagram: @elmcollection
Facebook: @elmcollectionjewellery
Pinterest: @elmcollection

DF- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
JI- I grew up in Melbourne, and have lived here my whole life, it’s a great city. Throughout high school I had a little stint as an International Fashion Model. I really matured from this experience and had a great time although it made me realise that it wasn’t what I wanted to do as a career. As I finished high school I had no idea what I wanted to study at university! In the end I decided to do the Bachelor of Commerce and have never looked back. I have loved my time at uni and it has been a very eye opening experience as to what I wanted to do with my life. I believe you should build your career around your passions. Mine are fashion, jewellery, marketing and business development.

DF- Where’s home at the moment?
JI- I currently live in Melbourne, Australia.DF- What did you wanted to become when you were little?
JI- I had no idea, I thought I’d never leave primary school haha.

DF-When did you realise you wanted to become a jewelry designer?
JI- I decided to start the label Elm Collection in my second year of university.

DF- How long have you been a designer?
JI- I do not design the jewellery. I acquire a beautiful Collection of Jewellery I love that I can build my personal style with.

DF- Can u tell us something about the Elm Collection?
JI- Elm Collection aims to provide the fashion conscious female with stylish, essential jewellery pieces to build their personal style.

DF-Where do you get your inspiration from?
JI- My inspiration comes from a lot of sources but mostly Instagram. I like to see what people are wearing and how they create their own unique looks. I have a lot of my personal inspiration posted on my Instagram account.

DF-Does fashion influence your designing?
JI- Fashion definitely has an influence with the jewellery pieces I add to my collection. I like my pieces to have a modern twist and always be up to date with current trends.

DF-Which jewelry piece is your favorite of your collection?
JI- I am always wearing my favourite pieces on my Instagram page.

DF-What are some of your goals with this line?
JI- The goal with Elm Collection is to become an online store where the fashion conscious female can come to gather information on current trends and styling tips from our blog then find the perfect pieces to fit their own collection.

DF- Which jewelry designers do you admire?
JI- I love a lot of local designers who specialise in minimalistic jewellery but I also love Samantha Wills because she is such a fantastic business women. A true inspiration!

DF- What’s the hardest part of your job?
JI- Wearing all the hats of the business can be quite challenging but also rewarding. Time management is the hardest part.

DF- What is your working environment like?
JI- I have to work in a neat and clean environment. If there is any clutter I go crazy. I usually have a cup of tea right next to me.

DF- Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Any personal goals?
JI- In five years time I hope that Elm Collection is a successful business providing women of the world with beautiful jewellery.
I also hope to start up a blog on my experience of stating a business while at uni to empower other young females to make their dreams come true.

DF-What advice do you have for aspiring jewelry designers?
JI- Just do it! There’s no time like the present.

The post Interview With One To Watch Jewellery Designer Julia of Elmcollection first appeared on Dollface Magazine.