I spent Christmas and New Year in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.  Eleven flights in three weeks, I am not sure how relaxing it was, but it was incredibly inspiring and stimulating.  I took 900 pictures but below are just a few of the edits.

Skirts worn by the Hmong tribe in Northern Laos.  I happened to have the same one bought at Portobello.

Southern Laos

Spiritual offerings left in a temple in Luang Prabang

The market in LP. Look closely in the box, mole soup anyone?

Teak trees

Ta Prohm, Cambodia. The jungle ravaged temple made famous in Tomb Raider

Angkor Wat

Balloons at New Year in Hanoi

Flowers in Hanoi

The Reunification Palace in Saigon. Designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu in 1962 for the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Dried fish

I love this concept store in Paris, it’s immaculately executed. With cafe, florist, perfumery, bookstore, home and fashion it’s a half day excursion.  Jasper Morrison Vitra chairs sit with reclaimed tables, vintage three legged stools, organic cloths and industrial lighting.  Created by the former owners of French children’s label Bonpoint, some top brands names Isabel Marant, Marni, Paul & Joe, YSL and many more are fore going their profit margin to charities in Madagascar.  The charity book section, is inspired by New York cafes where you can hang out with a cup of tea and read.  All the books are donated and are second hand.  This shop is luxury and gives back.

The background noise of bustling Berlin ground to a halt when I visited the Holocaust Memorial – a vast museum dedicated to the memory of the huge number of Jews murdered across Europe.  Quietly contemplating the horrors of a period of history the world is still struggling to come to terms with, our sombre mood was elevated by the breathtaking architecture of the memorial itself. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold, it consists of a 19,000 square metre site covered with 2,711 tall concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field.  Designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason. Beautiful and sad, the result is a work of art as fitting as it is poignant.

Another inspiring visit on my recent travels –check out British architect David Chipperfield’s restoration of the ‘Neues Museum’ in Berlin. Situated on Berlin’s museum island in the heart of former East Berlin, it was built in 1849 but was badly bombed during the Second World War, reduced to a crumbling shell.

In 1997, David Chipperfield Architects – with Julian Harrap – won the international competition for the rebuilding of the ‘Neues Museum’.

Their ambitious £49 million remodelling marries old and new seamlessly, breathing new life into this amazing building. After more than 60 years in ruins, the Neues Museum opened its doors once again in October. Photos by Ute Zscharnt.

I’ve just returned from a weekend in southern Spain.

The Hacienda San Rafael in Andalucia is a family owned retreat.  It’s a rare success for a boutique hotel, the design is classic, charming and sympathetic. It was a pleasure to stay there and we were so generously looked after. www.haciendadesanrafael.com

Also on our travels we stayed at Casa La Siesta. I certainly slept, completely comatose, taking full advantage of late mornings and afternoon siestas.  The cockerel, Eddie the horse and Buddy the donkey worked hard at welcoming guests.  The owners opened this year and have created a secluded, well designed hotel, bare plaster walls and reclaimed furniture. I wish Lee and Amelia lots of luck.  With a new dog and baby also planned for 2009, it’s set to be a busy year. www.casalasiesta.com

I spent the bank holiday at Drayton, it’s brilliantly decorated, grand but still welcoming and comfortable.

I spent the summer in Tangier at my friend Jacquetta Wheeler’s house, latest Gucci model and general all round superstar.

Jacquetta Wheeler, all round super-star

As well as lots of dancing, laughing with our German friends and incredible hospitality headed by the famous Abdul Latif, I bought an 18th century provision bag from Bazaar Tindouf and an embroidered rug from Boutique Majid, www.boutiquemajid.com.

Embroidered Rug

18th century provision bag