Fah Thai Magazine Mar-Apr 2019

TRANSPORTING WAYS IN VIETNAM

NHA TRANG’S OUTGOING OFFERINGS

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

TAKING THE LONGEST SEA CROSSING

MAR-APR 2019

SONGKRAN’S TOP DESTINATIONS

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

It is my honour to welcome you on board our Bangkok Airways flight.

This year, our airline continues to determinedly pursue improvement in services across the board – starting with the welcome of two new aircraft to our fleet in January. This includes an ATR72-600 with a 70-seat capacity and an Airbus A319 with a 144-seat capacity – making it a total of 40 to our number of aircraft.

We also launched a new route from Bangkok to Cam Ranh, Vietnam and are about to launch two brand new routes using Chiang Mai as our aviation hub. These include Chiang Mai-Krabi, operating daily using the Airbus A319 and Chiang Mai-Luang Prabang (Laos), operating every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday using the ATR72 aircraft. The two new routes will make its debut on 31 March 2019.

I believe these inaugural routes will provide more alternatives in travel and enhance comfort and contentment to any of your journeys. In this bid to keep passengers happy, Bangkok Airways offers promotional tickets year round.

Lastly, I’d like to thank you for your trust in choosing Bangkok Airways. We will surely continue improving our services to meet with your highest level of satisfaction as always.

Thank you.

ผมมีความยินดีเป็นอย่างยิ่งที่ได้ต้อนรับท่าน ผู้โดยสารทุกท่านสู่การบริการของสายการบิน บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ส�ำหรับปีนี้ สายการบินฯ ยังมุ่งพัฒนา การบริการอย่างต่อเนื่อง เริ่มจากการรับ เครื่องบินใหม่เข้าสู่ฝูงบิน โดยในเดือนมกราคม มีการรับเครื่องบินใหม่ถึง 2 ล�ำ เป็นเครื่องบิน แบบ ATR72-600 ความจุ 70 ที่นั่ง 1 ล�ำ และ เครื่องบินแบบแอร์บัส เอ319 ความจุ 144 ที่นั่ง อีก 1 ล�ำ ท�ำให้ฝูงบินของสายการบินฯ ปัจจุบันมีเครื่องบิน 40 ล�ำ นอกจากนี้แล้ว เรายังได้เปิดเส้นทางบินใหม่ จากกรุงเทพสู่คัมรัน ประเทศสาธารณรัฐ สังคมนิยมเวียดนาม และสายการบินฯ จะเปิด เส้น ทางบิน ใหม่เพิ่ม อีก 2 เส้นทาง โดยใช้ สนามบิน เชียงใหม่เป็นฐานปฏิบัติก ารบิน ได้แก่ เส้นทางเชียงใหม่-กระบี่ ให้บริการทุกวัน โดยเครื่องบินแบบแอร์บัส เอ319 และเส้นทาง เชียงใหม่-หลวงพระบาง ไป-กลับ ให้บริก าร ทุกวัน อังคาร พฤหัส และเสาร์ โดยเครื่องบิน แบบเอทีอาร์72 โดยทั้ง 2 เส้นทางจะเริ่มให้ บริการในวันที่ 31 มีนาคมนี้ ผมเชื่อว่าการเปิดเส้นทางบินใหม่นั้น จะสามารถเพิ่ม ความสะดวกสบายให้แก่ ผู้โ ดยสาร ท�ำให้ผู้โ ดยสารมีทางเลือกในการ ท่องเที่ยวมากขึ้น นอกจากนี้แล้ว สายการบินฯ ยังมีการออกโปรโมชั่นบัตรโดยสารตลอด ทั้งปี เพื่อตอบสนองความต้องการของท่าน ผู้โดยสาร ผมขอขอบคุณผู้โดยสารทุกท่านที่ไว้วางใจ และเลือกเดิน ทางกับสายการบินบางกอก แอร์เวย์ส เราจะยังคงพัฒนาการบริการต่อไป เพื่อความพึงพอใจสูงสุดของท่าน ขอบคุณครับ

กัปตัน พุฒพ ิ งศ์ ปราสาททองโอสถ

Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth

กรรมการผู้อ�ำนวยการใหญ่ | President, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited

8

OVERTURES 18 GET CULTURED

It’s entertainment galore in exciting destinations; from the celebration of elephants in Thailand, Art Basel in Hong Kong, Maroon 5 in concert and Disney on Ice for the kiddies.

24 FAIL-SAFE FACE

Get your makeup arsenal ready for the unexpected water that comes your way at a water fest.

Stay perfect and protected with the right tools.

10

26 WATER READY

Just because you’re Songkran wet from head to toe does not mean a drenched look all day. With the right fabrics and style for men, bring on the splashes.

28 FESTIVE SOAK

No matter which country you’ll celebrate the Buddhist New Year in, play with water in your fun wardrobe statement.

30 TRAT’S BOUNDLESS NATURE

Enjoy Trat province’s full spectrum – from outdoor activities to mangrove forests and inspiring community life.

34 SOOTHING MANGO

Get immediate relief from the sweltering summer with the rush of goodness from a mango smoothie.

FEATURES 36 SUPREME DURIAN

48 A BRIDGE CROSSING

38 CELEBRATE THE BUDDHIST NEW YEAR

56 REEF RESPONSIBILITY

Much loved or much maligned, the durian still holds the crown for being a highly-prized fruit in Asia.

Southeast Asia expresses the many styles of Songkran as enthusiastic water festivals honour the Buddhist New Year.

Travelling between Hong Kong, Macau and the Pearl River Delta gets easier with a new bridge and time for more fun.

As coral bleaching remains an increasing issue, one man’s quest results in heroic solutions.

62 GETTING AROUND

Vietnam’s innovative spirit relies on existing resources to move their population from the ground level up to mountain high innovations.

80 MUMBAI MEMORIES

For culture seekers, a classic destination like Mumbai, India remains a favourite. In photos, we capture the dynamism of this city in its daily life.

70 FUN LOVING IN NHA TRANG

This coastal town has an established reputation for its resort offerings but its entertainment options make it the ideal fun getaway.

48

Bridging the Great Divide

11

HAPPENINGS

CORPORATE

A selection of relevant events around Asia.

116 NEWS

This month’s cover:

Bangkok Airways announces collaborations and winners.

92 BANGKOK 108 CAMBODIA 96 SAMUI 110 VIETNAM 126 ROUTE MAP 100 PHUKET 111 MYANMAR 128 AIRCRAFT INFO 102 CHIANG MAI 112 LAOS 103 PATTAYA/ TRAT 113 MUMBAI/ 104 CHINA MALDIVES CHECKING OUT 106 HONG KONG SINGAPORE /KL 130 NATURALLY GREEN KRABI

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12

High Above in Nha Trang, Vietnam

New Year Water Bath

BANGKOK AIRWAYS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED

99 Mu 14, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand www.bangkokair.com

ADVISORY BOARD

Mr. Prote Setsuwan Vice President - Marketing Mr. Varong Israsena Vice President - Sales Mr. Kridhakorn Sirabhabhoj Senior Director - Marketing Communications Mr. Komkrit Ngamwongwirot Regional Sales Director - South & South East Asia and Middle East Mr. Benjamin Sirirat Manager - Branding and Creative

EDITORIAL

Email: editorial@fahthaimag.com

PUBLISHER

MOST EFFECTIVE IN TRAVEL AND LEISURE

BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY

MPMI Group Co., Ltd. 1 Soi Lasalle 23/2, Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand Tel. +66 (0) 2744 4975 Fax. +66 (0) 2744 5271 Managing Director Chaovanee Ajanant Email: chaovanee@mpmith.com Chief Operations Officer Steven Fong Chookiat Pangviphas Email: steven@mpmith.com Editorial Director Somtawin Chanyawong Editor-in-Chief Anutra Ungsuprasert Senior Editor Nawa Acosta Wright Deputy Editor Sarita Urupongsa Contributors Chalotorn Payomyol Chusri Ngamprasert Jeremie Schatz Nawarat A Wright Passakorn Hongthong Phoowadon Duangmee Prachi Joshi Richard Augustin Ron Emmons Sirin P Wongpanit Sophia Natasia Powell-Schaffer Photo Editor Thewin Chanyawong Contributing Photographers Chatta Phoyen Dolnapa Ram-Indra Jeremie Schatz Kay Choomongkol Kevin Teh Sang-arun Champawan Sudarat Hawhan Thawat Tangtienchai Thewin Chanyawong

ART

Creative Director JyeShen Koo Graphic Designer Pongtorn Khaoplag Contributing Stylist Saranya Ariyakul

PRODUCTION

Colour Separation Soontorn Film Printer WPS (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

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ADVERTISING

advertising@fahthaimag.com Media Manager Daruni Klaprapchon Marketing Manager Reza Bizmark Digital Marketing Manager Nichapat Noraphaiphipaksa

ADVERTISING HOTLINES Guitar +66 (0) 92 270 9528 Bob +66 (0) 82 446 9192

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CHINA, HONG KONG, MACAU, TAIWAN

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Tel: +331 4643 0066 jcabeille@infopac.fr

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PUBLICITAS JAPAN K.K. Hiroko Minato Tel: +8150 8882 3456 hiroko.minato@publicitas.com

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“FAH THAI” is the in-flight magazine of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited and is edited and published by MPMI Group Co., Ltd. All articles and photographs published herein are created by the authors and photographers at their own discretion and do not necessarily represent the views of the airline. Bangkok Airways holds no responsibility or liability arising out of the publication of such articles and photographs.

All information correct at press time. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited and MPMI Group Co., Ltd.

ESSENTIAL NOTES TO GUIDE YOUR TRAVELS

Hats Off to Trat The skilled hands of a Trat artisan keeps the tradition alive in the Thai province with “ngop Nam Chiao” hats woven from palm leaves.

Under the hot sun or rain, these hats offer the best protection and worn with pride.

NEWS AND EVENTS 18 / BEAUTY AND HEALTH 24 / STYLE 26 / THAILAND TREASURES 30 / A TASTE OF THAILAND 34 / FRUITFUL FINDS 36 / ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS 38 / CHECKED IN 42

17

OVERTURES NEWS AND EVENTS

News Flash THAILAND

TWO THAI DESSERTS CONSIDERED AMONG WORLD’S BEST

It’s a sweet triumph for Thai desserts! Recently, CNN listed two beloved Thai desserts, Mango with Sticky Rice and Thab Thim Krob, a delicate sweet of water chestnuts in coconut milk, as choices for “50 of the World’s Best Desserts” for the year 2018.

Alongside the comprehensive list of dessert favourites like Italy’s Tiramisu, Turkey’s Baklava, the Singapore Cendol and Austrian Apfelstrudel, Mango with Sticky Rice and Thab Thim Krob from Thailand now join the ranks of globally-known delights.

Popular items among locals and tourists, pastry chef and writer Jen Rose Smith points out that two standout varieties of mangoes – nam dok mai (sweet) and ok rong (with a higher acidity to contrast with the mango sweetness), are perfect companions for the glutinous rice soaked in rich coconut milk and palm sugar.

Perfect after a meal, Thab Thim Krob (meaning crispy rubies) is eaten cold with crushed ice and sweetened coconut milk infused with pandan leaves. It’s the best welcome to your stay in Thailand. edition.cnn. com/travel/article/world-50-best-desserts

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1-3

MAR 2019

SINGAPORE

THE ART OF DRUMMING

Since its debut at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Drum Tao has wowed the audience with their innovative and exhilarating Taiko drumming performances. In March, the troupe returns to Singapore with a spectacular brandnew production that blends the traditional art of drumming with state-of-the-art showmanship.

Drum Tao – Rhythm of Tribe further expands the Japanese traditional art of entertainment, expressing the theme of a samurai’s journey in search of a soul in the past, to the present and into the future. With Japanese drums as the centre of attraction, Drum Tao will take spectators on a journey filled with spellbinding projections, musical elements and beautiful costumes. MES Theatre, Mediacorp, drum-tao.com

7

MAR 2019

SINGAPORE

MAROON 5 LIVE

Multi-platinum band Maroon 5 will stop over in the Garden City for their Red Pill Blues world concert tour. The three-time Grammy award-winning band will perform for one night only at Singapore’s National Stadium.

The band, fronted by singer Adam Levine, last performed in the country four years ago.

With an impressive list of hits spread across six albums over the course of 17 years, Maroon 5’s return will no doubt be an exciting event for music fans. Expect the band to belt out their signature tunes such as ‘Sugar’, ‘Moves Like Jagger’, and ‘Sunday Morning’, along with their latest hits from their most recent album, Red Pill Blues. The sixth studio album by the American pop rock band was released in 2017 and featured hits like ‘What Lovers Do’, ‘Wait’, and ‘Girls Like You’. National Stadium, livenation.sg

OVERTURES NEWS AND EVENTS

28-31

MAR 2019

BANGKOK

SUMMER SKATIN’

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MAR 2019

KOH SAMUI

MIDNIGHT RUN FOR CHARITY

13-17

MAR 2019

CHIANG RAI & BKK

MOUNTAIN FÊTE & BOAT RACE FOR ELEPHANTS

On a ridge in northern Thailand overlooking the border with Myanmar and Laos is perched the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort while the neighbouring Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) Camp sits nearby. Together, they will host a series of elephant-themed events in a picturesque mountain setting.

To celebrate National Elephant Day, a fête takes place from 13-14 March, featuring such activities as Walking with Giants, an Elephant Buffet, an arts and crafts market as well as an exploration of Northern Thai cuisine. The exclusive VIP evening function aims to raise significant charitable donations while generating awareness to benefit the future of the Asian elephant.

The second part of the event celebrates next to Anantara Bangkok Riverside, from 1517 March, continuing the pachyderm homage with a boat race and a fun-filled weekend of sporting and cultural events to suit everyone.

To join Anantara Hotels in celebrating Thailand’s majestic animal and to support fundraising efforts in their conservation and welfare, please visit bangkokriverfestival.com

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Charity and a holiday can sometimes go hand in hand or rather on foot as in the case of the 7th annual Koh Samui Midnight Run. Taking place every March, Samui’s annual athletic endeavour is organised by the Thai Hotels Association and the Tourism Association of Koh Samui. At the stroke of midnight, participants can opt to run either 5 or 10km through bustling Chaweng streets. With the proceeds of the run going to Koh Samui’s new School for Autistic Children and the Green Project, runners can do good for society as well as their bodies. With a projected participant count of 2,000 runners, this year’s race will be the biggest yet and promises enjoyment for all that join – from runners to spectators. The Samui Midnight Run will take place on Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 and registration can be done at the event’s website.

Reggae Pub Chaweng Lake, samuimidnightrun.com, +66 (0) 77 430 345

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of iconic Disney character Mickey Mouse, together with cohorts Minnie Mouse and Goofy, and along with their other friends from Disney and Disney Pixar – everyone gets invited to experience family fun and an exciting adventure with “Disney on Ice Presents Mickey’s Super Celebration” at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. Apart from the much-loved and familiar crew from Disney, this March show marks the debut of many characters namely The Emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger and Fear from the “Inside Out” movie as well as “Moana.” The magical show and Disney’s signature heartwarming tales promise to continue capturing the hearts of young and old around the world.

Starting from 700 Baht, tickets are now available at Thaiticketmajor.com.

OVERTURES NEWS AND EVENTS

14-16

APR 2019

CAMBODIA

29-31

MAR 2019

HONG KONG

ARTISTIC ENCOUNTERS

Art aficionados will want to pay a visit to Hong Kong this March as the city once again plays host to Art Basel. The seventh edition will feature art displays from 242 leading galleries from 36 countries and territories across Asia, Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Africa during the duration of the event. These exhibitors will present modern and contemporary works of the highest quality by emerging as well as established artists. Alongside a robust roster of returning galleries, this year’s show features 21 galleries participating in the Hong Kong show for the first time. These include galleries such as Galleries Greta Meet from Belgium, Galleries Barbell Grassland and Galleries Max Hitler from Germany, and Paula Cooper Gallery from the United States, all of which have played an influential role in defining the art scene in their respective countries over the years. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), artbasel.com/hong-kong

22

Photo Johan Persson

CHOUL CHNAM THMEY

As the rest of the world gets into the full swing of 2019 in April; Cambodians across the country will be busy celebrating the Khmer New Year.

The occasion, which also coincides with the end of the harvesting season, is celebrated in grand fashion over three days beginning 14 April across the nation.

For visitors, the Khmer New Year known as Choul Chnam Thmey provides a good insight to the traditions and the people of Cambodia. The festivities usually kick off with an offering of fruit on the first day followed by fellowship and the offering of gifts amongst family, friends and the community on the second day.

The last day of the celebrations will see locals washing and cleaning statues of Buddha with scented water. The ritual symbolises the washing away of evil deeds and gaining blessings for the year ahead. tourismcambodia.com

24 -12 APR 2019

MAY 2019

SINGAPORE

MUSICAL MASQUERADE

Broadway’s longest-running show makes Singapore its home in the month of April for a three-week engagement. The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical, will feature a 37-strong international cast joined by a full 12-piece live orchestra playing some of Lloyd Webber’s most memorable music.

The Phantom of the Opera, which is based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerised by the talents and beauty of a young soprano, Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her.

To date, the multiple award-winning musical has played to over 145 million people in 150 cities around the world and it’s widely regarded as one of the most successful in entertainment history. Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands, marinabaysands.com

®

WORDS PASSAKORN HONGTHONG PHOTO SANG-ARUN CHAMPAWAN STYLIST SARANYA ARIYAKUL HAIR THANON SONGSIL MAKE-UP SIRINRAT SUNGWIAN MODEL NALINTRA WARD DRESS MATTER MAKERS, GAYSORN VILLAGE

OVERTURES

BEAUTY AND HEALTH

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AQUAFLASH FOUNDATION BRUSH RAINFOREST OF THE SEA COLLECTION FROM TARTE

(1,100 Baht)

A densely-packed dome brush that buffs foundation in a flash, leaving an effect that’s flawless, streak-free, and never cakey.

The coral-inspired brush handle will add some under-the-sea fun to your vanity. The brush is vegan and cruelty-free.

Saving Face There’s no shame in getting drenched for Songkran or melting in summer’s heat with waterproof makeup.

On model Nalintra, we used the selection of brushes to blushes, blending colour palettes for a fresh and bright look with staying power.

A brightening waterline eye pencil in a universallyflattering, soft-pink shade that gives you a naturallooking, eye-opening effect.

LIP GLOW TO THE MAX 3.5G FROM DIOR (1,390 Baht)

WATER FOUNDATION BROAD SPECTRUM SPF15 – RAINFOREST OF THE SEA COLLECTION 30ML FROM TARTE (1,750 Baht)

A lip balm with a two-colour swirl of rich, pearly pigments that naturally revive colour for fresh, outrageously radiant lips and the mango-butter-enriched balm formula smooths, softens, and hydrates your lips for up to 24 hours.

A hypo-allergenic, vegan foundation that delivers powerful pollution defence and a weightless, buildable coverage that makes your look naturally flawless.

SETTING SUPERPOWER POWDER BRUSH FROM TARTE (1,200 Baht)

This powder brush dusts on the perfect amount of shape tape setting powder for a budge-proof, crease-proof finish. Make sure that you tap off any excess amount before applying. Loosely-packed, bunny-soft bristles diffuse powder to keep the makeup underneath it in place.

CHROME PAINT SHADOW POT 3G FROM TARTE

BECCA X KHLOE KARDASHIAN & MALIKA HAQQ BRONZE, BRUSH & GLOW PALETTE 12G FROM BECCA (1,700 Baht)

METEORITES COMPACT POWDER 10G FROM GUERLAIN (2,800 Baht)

This creates a subtle and natural effect by giving every skin tone just the right amount of light and correction while offering a violet fragrance that’s original and totally addictive.

SCUBA WATER RESISTANT BLACK MASCARA 9.8ML FROM THE BALM

This easy-to-use, allin-one face palette is just like a photo filter in real life. Inspired by the skin-smoothing effect of photo filters, the innovative formula’s sheer, buildable shades are infused with soft focus pearl and blurring pigments to softly scatter and reflect light.

DIAMOND LIGHT MULTI-USE 12G FROM TOO FACED (1,350 Baht)

Each highlighter has a unique diamond fire finish, just like a real diamond in its truest form. Just swirl the shades together to unlock the multi-coloured effect and create dimension. The formula is lightweight, non-powdery, and easy to use.

(750 Baht)

(850 Baht)

Features 80 per cent pure pearl pigments that give you the high sheen of a cream or gloss with the easy wear and application of a powder. The mirror-effect loose pigment melts instantly and stays put for hours.

This lash-lengthening mascara is smudge proof and water resistant– perfect for the beach or lounging poolside. Say goodbye to smudges, drips, and runs!

Tips

 Try “water resistant” before “waterproof”.

The elements in waterproof products are thicker and water resistant products might get the exact same job done with less weight.

ROLLER EYES BRIGHT PENCIL 0.11G FROM BENEFIT COSMETICS (900 Baht)

 Stay away from items with silicones. It’s a heavy ingredient that congests your skin and even clogs your pores.

 If you are going waterproof, invest in a proper makeup remover. These products are heavier and harder to remove.

If you’re using the wrong cleanser, ultimately you’ll leave mascara remnants.

BRIGHT AMBITION NAIL POLISH 14ML FROM NAILS INC (560 Baht) Stay covered up in the sun and step out of the ordinary with this collection of bright, fruity nail colours. Bask in the sunlight with nails that shine for longer.

Waterproof spray. If you know your skin won’t do well with the heavy ingredients found in waterproof products, use a waterproof spray on top of your usual choice of makeup item.

STOCKISTS Benefit Cosmetics

Guerlain

1F Central Chidlom

1F Central Chidlom

Tel +66 (0) 2793 7777

Tel +66 (0) 2793 7777

Dior

Sephora

GF Emporium

1F Siam Center

Tel +66 (0) 2269 1000

Tel +66 (0) 2658 1616 2F Central Embassy Tel +66 (0) 2160 5817

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OVERTURES STYLE

PHOTO SUDARAT HAWHAN

STYLIST SARANYA ARIYAKUL

Summer Splashed

So you’re thinking about Songkran in April, but you’re not quite sure what to expect and how to dress.

This is an easy way to make you stylish and cool. Dry quickly with shorts and a festive Hawaiian shirt with prints. Mostly importantly, use a waterproof bag to keep valuables safe!

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WORDS PASSAKORN HONGTHONG



FOR HIM RESIN SUNGLASSES WITH A MIRRORED SHIELD FROM ZARA (1,190 Baht)

 PRINT RAYON SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT FROM UNIQLO (990 Baht)

 PLASTIC WATER GUN FROM LAZADA (390 Baht)

 TRANSLUCENT VINYL TOTE BAG WITH ZIP CLOSURE FROM ZARA (1,990 Baht)

 WORLDMAP DOT PRINTS SWIM TRUNKS FROM VILEBREQUIN (9,000 Baht)

 BLACK ADILETTE SLIDER SANDALS IN ORANGE FROM ADIDAS (1,300 Baht)

Vilebrequin 2F Helix Building Emquartier Tel +66 (0) 2003 6132

Zara 1F Siam Paragon Tel +66 (0) 2610 9860 2F Central Embassy Tel +66 (0) 2117 4499

STOCKISTS ADIDAS MF Siam Center Tel +66 (0) 2658 1733

Lazada lazada.co.th

Uniqlo 1F Siam Paragon Tel +66 (0) 2610 7787 3F Central World Tel +66 (0) 2613 1465

OVERTURES STYLE

PHOTO SUDARAT HAWHAN

STYLIST SARANYA ARIYAKUL

WORDS PASSAKORN HONGTHONG



Chic When Wet FOR HER With water as an integral part of the Buddhist new year celebrations, now’s the time to update your style with a splash.

Suitable airy summer dresses and shorts for the Songkran festival accommodate the lack of breezes during scorching temperatures and cool you down during the major water festival. And don’t forget to invest in a waterproof bag and colourful water gun to join in the fun!

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MONOCHROME YELLOW OVERSIZED SQUARE SHAPE SUNGLASSES FROM DIOR (17,600 Baht)

 MIX PRINTS VISCOSE WRAP TOP FROM DVF (23,000 Baht)

 PLASTIC WATER GUN FROM LAZADA (390 Baht)

 VINYL BELT BAG WITH CHAIN TOP HANDLE FROM ZARA (1,190 Baht)

 TERRY CLOTH JACQUARD SHORTIE FROM VILEBREQUIN (5,500 Baht)

 SLIM TROPICAL FLORAL BLACK SANDALS FROM HAVAIANAS (1,290 Baht)

Lazada lazada.co.th

Vilebrequin 2F Helix Building Emquartier Tel +66 (0) 2003 6132

Zara 1F Siam Paragon Tel +66 (0) 2610 9860 2F Central Embassy Tel +66 (0) 2117 4499

STOCKISTS Dior DVF Havaianas MF Siam Paragon 1F Siam Paragon MF Siam Center Tel +66 (0) 2690 1000 Tel +66 (0) 2129 4791 Tel +66 (0) 2658 1602

INVESTING IN SOPHISTICATED LIVING Tucked in a desirable spot in Phuket’s Bangtao/Laguna area and just minutes away from everything you need – Botanica Luxury Villas property boasts 21 custom-built elite residences of large open plans, bespoke design and sophistication in a tropical climate setting. Completed by January 2020, enjoy nearby beaches, restaurants, boutique shops and numerous activities for the family.

In 2018, the Thailand Property Awards selected Botanica Luxury Villas as the winner for Best Villa Development (Phuket), also coming in highly recommended in the category of Best Housing Architectural Design (Resort). Botanica Luxury Villas is now ready to create your dream home. Three standard designs offer spaces from 265 to 700 sq. metres with a signature feature of a covered terrace that seamlessly interconnects all spaces. Other amenities include smart home technology along with 24-hour security.

The Botanica Luxury Villas are also an ideal investment for short term rental accommodations vacations. Enjoy the remaining duration for your family. For a visual tour and discussion of your aspirations and dreams in a home, please contact us at info@botanicavillasphuket.com.

www.botanicavillasphuket.com | Tel: +66 (0) 98 394 7097, +66 (0) 81 893 2113 botanicavillasphuket

botanicavillas

OVERTURES THAILAND TREASURES

Trat: Like No Other

Enjoy a sense of wonder in Trat’s greenery and waterways while basking in its warm community spirit.

Story & Images Courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Compilation Chusri Ngamprasert

Clockwise from Top Intricate tree roots at a mangrove forest.

Local weavers skillfully create functional yet artistic-looking baskets.

A tranquil activity involves plying a boat through the still waters past mangrove trees.

An Instaworthy shot of a wooden bridge in Trat.

A tasty Trat dish — Prik Gluea fried rice (rice and seafood with chilli and salt dip).

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Tucked away in Thailand’s far east, Trat province’s fame lies in the uniquely spectacular beaches and islands.

Abundant local cuisines and food, ethnic diversity and distinctive cultures mean Trat has more to share with visitors who look for rustic beauty and the warm hospitality that goes beyond its beautiful beach destinations.

Ban Tha Ranae, located around the Trat River estuary, is where past and present are interwoven. For the longest time, the seaside community served as a port for Chinese junks to dock and unload their goods. On their way back to their motherland, the Chinese merchants would load fragrant spices like pepper, Siam cardamom and Bustard cardamom to trade in China. With such brisk trades, the Chinese made the prosperous township their home, and many started pepper plantations for the export market.

When visiting Ban Tha Ranae, an herbal drink believed to be an elixir called “Cha Roi Roo” or ant plant tea, and a boat trip to Lan Taboon mangrove forest define Trat experiences.

At Lan Taboon, which literally means “fields of the cannonball mangrove tree,” enjoy the mesmerising view of beautifully intertwined roots of the mangrove trees.

Get a crash course on the mangrove forests and ecosystems that provide Trat’s abundant marine life.

Engage in fun learning followed by sweets with a trip to the village of Ban Tha Ranae where locals teach you how to make a “Muak Bai Kanthong” hat from tree leaves or indulge your sweet tooth as local experts make snacks.

From the estuary, visitors can travel back inland to Baan Nam Chiao in Laem Ngop district and see cultural diversity and natural beauty mingled together. Baan Nam Chiao is a charming community with rustic beauty.

Buddhist Thai, Chinese and the Muslim Cham people from Cambodia have been living together in a peaceful village for more than 200 years. In the close-knitted community, visitors can cherish the cultural diversity as they visit Al-Kubaro Mosque, enjoy a quiet moment in Wat Nam Chiao temple, and appreciate the exotic charm of the Chinese shrine.

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OVERTURES THAILAND TREASURES

@yaipearn.blogspot.com

The villagers in Baan Nam Chiao appreciate their simple way of living.

Simplicity and sincerity are the charms that always draw visitors back to their village for a big dose of rustic beauty.

To follow local footsteps to a simple way of life, visitors are advised to forage light shells for dinner. And, seeing everyone plodding through the mud in search of food such as the molluscs creates a strong sense of adventure. Stay overnight in a local home, share their home-cooked meals and exchange laughter with them are the best way to experience heartfelt hospitality.

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While in Laem Ngop district, enjoy your stroll in Had Sai Dum mangrove forest trail where birds, crabs, monkeys and mudskippers wander freely. Allow yourself to have a good time when you reach Had Sai Dum, the only black sand beach in Thailand, at the end of the trail.

Soothe your tired feet in the warm black sand for a relaxing moment before the start of your new excursion.

Trat is a “Garden of Eden” for fruit lovers since it’s abundant with mangosteen, rambutan, salak or snakefruit, and, of course, durian. For the love of salak, don’t miss a chance to treat yourself at Somphoch Farm – Thailand’s best salak farm. Sala Loy Kaew (seedless salak in cold syrup) is a must.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

When in Trat eat Prik Gluea – a dip made of chilli and salt.

The fisherman in Thailand’s eastern part would pack enough of the Prik Gluea dip while leaving home for fishing for a week or two. Like salt and pepper, chilli and salt make food tasty. Some creative fisherman add garlic and lime juice to make their food even tastier (if not more edible). Today food stalls add shrimp, chunks of fish like snapper and seafood to make chilli and salt a lot more decadent than the original blend.

Clockwise from Top A boardwalk allows everyone to get closer to the trees.

Trat’s richness in flora offers pleasant strolls.

The black sands in Trat offer a natural form of exfoliation.

The salak fruit offers citrus notes and honey sweetness.

Bright red flowers of the salak fruit.

Prik Gluea is now recognised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as a signature dish of Thailand’s East.

Your trip to Trat is not complete without having your tongue tingling while having “khao kluk prik gluea” (rice and seafood with chilli and salt dip).

For more information, call the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Trat office) at +66 (0) 39 597 259 or call TAT Contact Centre at 1672.

OVERTURES

Summer is Mango Madness!

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When it comes to the varieties of mango in Thailand, its long list has resulted in a neverending love affair for the succulent fruit. While the juicy mango is a seasonal fruit, it’s something people can enjoy all the time, especially when it reaches its peak flavour in the summer. Growers are now able to provide them year round to meet demands for this tropical fruit. From popular cultivars like “Kheow Sawoei”, “Rad”, “Ok Rong”, “Fah Lan” and “Chok Anan”, the mango can be enjoyed simply by peeling the skin and eating it ripe or raw. Either way, the fruit is delectably delicious in its own uniqueness. Known for its high doses of vitamin C and anti-oxidants, some mango varieties can be intensely sour when unripe, making them perfect to pair with a sweetand-salty condiment dip, or its flesh can be crispy and sweet – which makes it the right snack to

keep one’s appetite stimulated. The ripe mango, meanwhile, is refreshingly sweet and rich in vitamin A and beta carotene.

Ripeness and a generous pulp makes it the perfect smoothie drink for the summer. Making a refreshing glass of mango smoothie is very simple; an excellently ripe mango and a blender are the only requirements. First select a good, ripened mango whose uniform yellow colour should indicate a healthy state, along with a nice fragrance. Clean the fruit well with water before peeling the skin delicately, and cut the mango into smaller cubes before putting them in the blender. Add water, a handful of ice, a bit of lime juice and some honey, based on preference.

Blend the ingredients until they are perfectly combined. The smoothie should be enjoyed right away to guarantee maximum freshness.

WORDS SARITA URUPONGSA PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK

A TASTE OF THAILAND

OVERTURES

WORDS CHUSRI NGAMPRASERT

PHOTO KAY CHOOMONGKOL

FRUITFUL FINDS

Behold the King of Fruits With spines like that of a sea urchin, the spiky durian is a most controversial fruit: you either love it at first taste or hate it forever for its pungent smell.

The origin of the durian is believed to be from Borneo and Sumatra. The word durian comes from the Malay word “duri”, meaning “thorn”. Attributing to its formidable look, heavenly taste and overpowering odour, the durian receives the crown as the “King of Fruits”. Although beloved among its fans, this spiky king is banned from most public places and transport in Southeast Asia because of its strong smell. Think – intense blue cheese!

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The French culinary encyclopaedia, Larousse Gastronomique, tells us that the durian fruit is ready to eat when its husk begins to crack as the fruit would be at its sweetest and creamiest. From region to region, the stage of ripeness to be enjoyed varies. Simply keep in mind that the more they ripen, the more they smell.

Like nature’s answer to a multivitamin tablet, the durian is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B complex, iron, potassium, tryptophan, and dietary fibre. It supports the immune system,

With its prickly exterior, this odoriferous Southeast Asian delicacy hides a soft inside that devotees fiercely love.

enhances red blood cell regeneration and lowers blood pressure.

Fresh durian tastes better if served chilled. When in season, the durian craze goes around the Asian region. In Thailand, Khao Niao Thu Rian (Durian with Sticky Rice), durian paste, durian ice cream and pastries with durian fillings are everywhere. For the fainthearted, start with a durian chip. Made from unripe durian, the crunchy chip has a lighter aroma plus a rich taste of the famed thorny fruit.

With seedling variations, there are over 300 varieties of durian in Thailand. Popular breeds are Mon

Thong (thick, full-bodied creamy with a mild sweet flesh and moderate smell), Chanee (rich and creamy flesh, a strong smell), Kan Yao (smooth, almond-like and creamy flesh, less odorous), Kradum (buttery, smooth, with a moderate scent), Long Lap Lae (smooth, creamy, moderately sweet, with less of a smell) and Phuang Manee (sweet, creamy custard, bright yellow colour, and a strong smell).

For durian fans, the delicious taste of the fruit can be addictive. Once the fruit is enjoyed, you’ll be oblivious to the smell of the rind and you’ll keep asking for more!

OVERTURES ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS

Throwing a Water Party!

Throughout history, humans and water have been symbiotically inseparable as hydrogen and oxygen molecules combined nourish organic life. When you ponder water’s significance in each part of the region, many places in Asia always express gratitude in respectful worship and fun ways.

Words Sarita Urupongsa Photos Shutterstock

THAILAND’S SONGKRAN FESTIVAL In the old days, Songkran was regarded as the Siam kingdom’s New Year’s Day. Taking place during the 13th to 15th of April every year, the traditions of the festival see influences from Brahman beliefs. It first began with the observance of nature. For

Songkran splashing can actually be found

of the Thai tradition and upheld as

Thailand, the designated period coincides

in many spots such as Khaosan Road

Family Day countrywide. Among some

with the end of the harvest and the planting

in Bangkok, Songkran Phra Pradaeng

of the activities taking place during the

of new crops. April is usually the hottest

in Samut Prakan province, the “Pi Mai

festivities are the bathing rituals for

month of the year, so people engage in

Mueang” tradition for the northern Thai

Buddha statues for auspiciousness and

cooling down activities – including alms-

New Year around Chiang Mai’s Old City

alms-giving as well as paying respect to

giving events and fun activities; such

Canal, and Songkran celebrations at Khao

the elderly folks. Traditionally, people

traditions remain until today.

Niew Road in Khon Kaen province.

in big cities will travel back to their

With the backdrop of summertime,

Apart from the exuberant sloshes,

sun and fun, Thailand’s Songkran Festival

the Songkran festival reflects the beauty

hometown to see their families during the Songkran festival as well.

has participants dealing with unbearable heat, a factor that makes the festivities even more enjoyable. In this annual event, people nationwide come out in the streets to join in a water fight. Back then simple household items, namely a water bowl and hose, were the weapons of choice before advancing into a variety of colourful water guns. The best of 38

In Thailand “Din Sor Phong” or powdered marl is a popular item during Songkran, a mineral mixed together with scented water. Made of marlstone with deposits of calcium carbonate, the name Din Sor Phong comes from its origin in Din Sor Phong Village, Lopburi Province. Powdered marl is produced following an herbal medicinal recipe. It’s used for minimising rashes, curing acne, reducing perspiration and giving a cooling feel. As it comes in a white colour, people participating in Songkran then love to mix it with water and pat the mixture on their faces and bodies. One caution is that if the powdered marl gets into your eyes, it must be immediately rinsed off with clean water or do a wash in sterile water.

LAO’S “PI MAI LAO” During the 14th to 16th of April every year, many activities during this event are similar to those of the Thai Lanna tradition, which covers the cleaning of homes, “Bai Sri Su Kwan” (the Thai threading ceremony) for blessings, and a bathing ritual for Buddha statues. Pi Mai Lao is divided into three days. On the first day known as “Wan Sang Khan Luang”,

true New Year’s Day with blessings and

people clean their houses as a means

bathing rituals for the Buddha statue. The

to chase away bad energy and prepare

beauty pageant of “Nang Sang Khan” or

for new things. The second day or “Wan

Lao’s Miss Songkran also takes place at

Nao” is considered the family day in which

the grounds of the Great Stupa.

relatives gather to perform the Bai Sri Su

Pi Mai Lao’s Water Festival is well

Kwan ceremony for elderly relatives. The

known among tourists who flock to the

last day or “Wan Sang Khan Khuen” is the

country to participate in water fights that take place in many towns in Laos, especially at the UNESCO world heritage site of Luang Prabang where the whole town erupts in joyous celebration.

During these last few years, the town has been hosting fun events along the roadside, with temple fairs and markets, selling charming handicrafts and bites of traditional Lao cuisine.

MYANMAR’S THINGYAN Called Thingyan, Myanmar’s water festival takes place in the second week of April, and based on the Buddhist calendar. It’s a greatly anticipated event among the people of Myanmar as it means relaxation and celebrations for the New Year.

The Thingyan festivities begin with a five day water fight to wash away one’s “sins” before the New Year begins. In Yangon, crowds gather on the Kandawgyi Pat Lann and Kabaraye Roads.

Temporary water-spraying stations, and pandal ceremonial structures are set up and double as dance floors. When the festival is over, it is the time to pay respect to the elderly, with the gentle pouring holy water into their hands as a blessing. Other activities popular among the Myanmar people include monk ordinations for a son in the family and an ear-piercing ceremony for daughters. Afterwards, it is quite common to see processions of daughters on the streets and pagoda grounds and newly-ordained novices in almost every temple.

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OVERTURES ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS

FESTIVAL ORIGIN MAY TRACE BACK TO INDIA When we look back on history, here’s

Some legends say that the Holi

how Songkran came about. It’s said that

Festival is the celebration of Krishna’s

the festival in Mumbai and Delhi in India

victory over the demon “Holika”. As he

marked the origin of Songkran.

burnt her body to ashes, the act of

Taking place in the month of March

burning unpleasant things out of the

as well, the Holi Festival indicates the end

home is an observance of the legend.

of the harvest year. According to the belief

Holi is also regarded as the

CAMBODIA’S CHAUL CHNAM THMEY OR KHMER NEW YEAR

among Indians, the act of splashing colour

“Festival of Friendship.” Since colour

represents the chasing of dark forces in

is playfully smeared on the body and

The New Year in Cambodia takes place

life. The colour or “tika” which ranges

clothes and can’t be washed off, it

in the dawn of the harvest season. Each

from red, yellow, green to blue comes

symbolises friendships that will remain

year, the Cambodian government always

from natural pigments found in plants

for always. The colour splashing usually

selects either the dates of the 13th to

and herbs. These herbs also play a part in

takes place during day, before the

15th or the 14th to 16th of April as

strengthening the body’s immunity in the

crowds disperse to bath or clean up,

the date for the Khmer Songkran. It has

same manner as the concept of Ayurveda

emerging pristine again in the evening

similar traditions to that of Thailand in

or natural therapy.

for celebration and gatherings.

which the festival is divided into three days. On the first day, people give alms and carry sand to temples in preparation for building or rebuilding sand pagodas.

Family Day takes place on the second day in which families gather together and may exchange presents. On this day, people also get together in the evening to build sand pagodas. The third day, meanwhile, is the day of fun and celebration with activities like bathing rituals for the Buddha statue and pouring holy water into the hands of the elderly.

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OVERTURES CHECKED IN: SAMUI

Because you can dine on water, rest in what feels like a secret hideaway, and feel just plain incredible – here are some alluring Samui resorts whose signature offerings leave you refreshed, renewed and satiated. Words & Photos Jeremie Schatz

Beyond Pampered in Koh Samui STAYED: FARMER’S BOUTIQUE RESORT

Majestic birds swoop in and out searching for fish in the shallow rice paddies. The droning hum of a spectrum of frogs hypnotise the night, a reminder that the entire nocturnal ecosystem is active in the shadows. A top-notch Thai restaurant overlooks it all, as steaming plates of cuisine fit for royalty find their way from the kitchen to the tables of already content guests. If you’re one of those guests, you’ll feel like someone has let you in on a guarded little secret, the one that led you to learn of this resort oasis.

Of course with a website offering online bookings, Farmer’s Boutique Resort is no secret. Without the constant hustle of busier areas like Chaweng, the Mae Nam district where Farmer’s is located maintains a more toned-down, natural vibe.

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Top Left and Right Colonial-style architecture is evident throughout the resort.

The Farmer’s top-tier rooms are equipped with their own swimming pools.

Clockwise from Right Enjoy rice paddies out front and a mountian backdrop.

Luxurious coconutwood floors adorn the spacious villas.

Rooms overlook a lotus pond and infinite sky.

The property lies on a sprawling 16-rai parcel (more than 6 acres) with verdant rice paddies, lily ponds, and 45 luxurious villas. Split into two by the lobby/parking area, the villas line each side of 2 ponds with infinity pools at each end.

The villas themselves fall into four spacious categories ranging from 50 to 110sqm, some boasting their own private swimming pools. The rooms are big and airy with tall vaulted ceilings and huge sliding glass doors opening onto breezy verandas. Colonial-style furnishings are carved teakwood and give the villas a regal air. Refresh under the rain shower head in the partially open air bathroom.

If rest and relaxation is your primary objective, you’ve found the perfect spot.

Early morning and sunset are enchantingly picturesque with low-hanging mist illuminated by the rising sun. Thai water buffaloes graze and bathe on the neighbouring undeveloped land. Sip a steaming cup of Thai-grown coffee in the open air breakfast restaurant and listen

to the soothing rustle of wind blowing through the bamboo stalks. Although it’s not a beachfront resort, the sea is close by and bicycles are provided for you to explore the neighbourhood.

The Farmer’s private ownership also lends to its secret hideaway feel while maintaining a high bar for friendly and helpful service. The staff are prompt, courteous, and attentive. Compared to corporate hotel groups, Farmer’s feels unique and personal, like you’re staying at your friend’s resort.

The owner also offers cooking classes so you can learn how to cook authentic Thai classics as well as some Thai/Indonesian fusion recipes. The restaurant serves her recipes and they are mind blowing.

If Farmer’s were a secret, it’s not anymore. But that’s okay, some secrets just shouldn’t be kept.

1/26 Moo 4, Mae Nam Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani farmersboutiqueresort.com

OVERTURES CHECKED IN: SAMUI

TASTED: OCEAN PIER AT LE MERIDIEN SAMUI

Le Meridien has a reputation, and a good one at that. Their property on Lamai Beach in Koh Samui sets the benchmark for a high calibre, classically Oriental-styled resort.

Everything about the place emanates a sense of allure and romance. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that they have devised a dining experience which equals that of their luxurious habitation.

To fully reflect the resort’s demeanour in a culinary fashion, naturally it must come in the form of an exclusive private dinner. To distinguish themselves from the offerings of other resorts, Le Meridien hosts such private dinners on a floating dock. Extending out into the vibrant blue waters of the Andaman Sea, the dock offers an unparalleled view of the coastline and, as might be expected, a lovely place to watch the sun set behind palm covered mountains.

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It is an undeniably romantic experience and makes any day a special occasion.

Although the scene itself is unique, the meal adds an entirely new level of extravagance. Several options of menu are available to cater to a variety of tastes.

Choose from Thai, seafood, over the land-under the sea, Thai vegetarian, and Western vegetarian.

You will be sipping a glass of wine, gently bobbing on the floating dock when your appetiser arrives. Maybe it’s the pan-seared pepper tuna and scallop with sautéed veggies and a honey lemon sauce.

Lightly cooked, the tender tuna’s light flavours are accentuated by the encrusted peppercorns and tangy sauce awakening the palate for what’s to come.

Still ruminating on the delicate balance of the spinach cream soup with asparagus, feta, and crispy prosciutto, the main course materialises. You’ve chosen the roasted beef tenderloin which is served alongside a grilled herb-crusted lamb chop and lightly grilled Phuket lobster. Good choice.

The tenderloin is everything you want

Clockwise from Top Left The pan-seared pepper tuna appetiser is a mouthwatering way to begin the meal.

Epic sunsets are almost guaranteed at the Ocean Pier at Le Meridien.

The Le Meridien cheesecake with raspberry sauce is so good you’ll feel guilty.

The atmospheric Ocean Pier at nightfall.

in a cut of beef: flame-kissed outside, tender and juicy inside, and not too many spices that hide the natural taste.

It takes a trained hand to cook lobster on a barbecue properly – evenly cooked without sticking to the shell, all while keeping the meat moist and tender – and the chef nailed it.

Hopefully, for your sake, you saved a bit of space for the sweet stuff. There’s a reason why it’s called the “Le Meridien” cheesecake; it’s so good they felt compelled to put their name on it. It’s rich and incredibly delectable. If there’s a sweet tooth heaven, you’ll be there soon.

There’s simply not enough space on this page or adjectives available to accurately describe just how special this private dinner is, nor portray the quality of the fresh ingredients and skill in creating the dishes. Like so many experiences in life, you’ll just have to go and find out for yourself.

146/24 Moo 4, Lamai Beach, Maret, Surat Thani, Koh Samui marriott.com/hotels/travel/usmmdle-meridien-koh-samui-resort-and-spa

OVERTURES CHECKED IN: SAMUI

Clockwise from Right Aromatic massage oils are proven to help infuence your mood.

A cool towel and freshly-brewed ginger tea is the sweet ambrosia awaiting you at the end of your treatment.

A colourful and serene treatment room.

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TRIED: BREEZE SPA AT AMARI SAMUI

Koh Samui’s Chaweng Beach has a lot to offer. You’ll find warm tropical seas that meet golden sands, a spectrum of shopping options from traditional to opulent, cuisines from all over the globe, and a robust nightlife scene. There are so many places to visit and things to do in Koh Samui that it’s easy to go non-stop exploring, tasting, experiencing. At some point, it will dawn on you that the time has come to take the pace down a notch and just find some peace and quiet. Breeze Spa at Amari Koh Samui is exactly where you will find it.

Truth be told, peace and quiet is just a small part of what you will find at Breeze Spa. The spa is located on the beachfront with the sparkling sea reaching off to the horizon outside of your window. They have two treatment rooms that can be connected for a romantic couple’s spa session. Enjoy the refreshing welcome drink and cool towel while they take note of your preferences. Peruse the various body care products on offer from their own private label.

Try one of the Mood Therapy treatments ranging from dreamy, serene,

rejuvenated, invigorated, or energised, that use certain techniques and specific aromas to gently shift your body’s balance. It’s not just marketing hype, it turns out that scent has a much greater influence on your mood than previously thought. In fact, the part of your brain that controls emotions is connected to your olfactory system that detects scents.

Another popular treatment at Breeze is the Samui Pina Colada which consists of a natural self-tanning extract that boosts melanin production in your skin, resulting in an even tan without hours in the sun. The treatment reaches its crescendo with shimmering body oil soothingly rubbed into your skin to give you a golden radiance.

If it’s your first spa experience in Thailand, then a Thai massage is a must. The professionally-trained massage therapists use traditional and contemporary techniques that relax, soothe, stretch, and rejuvenate. The therapists are very attentive and are open to feedback to ensure you receive a tailored experience and walk out feeling limber and refreshed.

After your treatment – even though you wish it would never end – relax in the foyer with a pot of freshly brewed ginger tea and get acquainted with the new you.

14/3 Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani amari.com/koh-samui

‘LINE US’

‘ WeChat us’

THE HK/MACAU/ZHUHAI BRIDGE

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E G D I R B ETH HAI U G H Z N / I U S A C R A E M V / G A N R O T ONG K H le is b os ’s ing p e s l is ridg cros he l A b t y. ai sea l of a d uh st ril e n Zh ge th k oc ,s o au- lon he f. st r e ac e s, t el tte ti s hu i h r t S t i c & e g-M ng elle ge g e i on n r v d r w i o h a , t g K offe e tr br hanya e e C g n , id Ho ing r th n th ewin r b e h n Fo o sT to ne th ope ld. ing o O ith t or e Ph t b n h w ce w st rig W re the s ju a t os in e i Ac a rid Naw ds or W

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THE HK/MACAU/ZHUHAI BRIDGE

A

nticipation builds up as the Fah Thai team geared up for travel on the longest bridge and tunnel sea crossing in the world amidst much hype. We are part of the hundreds of curiosity seekers, which meant the strategy has to be a weekday trip from energetic Hong Kong island, the starting point where the bridge connects Lantau Island with Macau and then Zhuhai in Guangdong province. Also, the chance to be in three places in one day was equal to the thrill of experiencing three culturally diverse cities.

Clockwise from Top Modern ports await passengers at every port connected to the HZMB. Efficient signage lessens confusion for the 3 linked cities.

Paying tolls at the crossing.

Architectural rendering of a bridge section.

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When it opened late last year, eager tour groups in large numbers hurried over from the cities around the Pearl River Delta in mainland China to take the Hong KongZhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB). A name nearly as long as the bridge itself, the HZMB links three cities, thereby shortening travel times significantly. Running the length from Hong Kong to Macau’s port and then Zhuhai’s port, the HZMB stretches for 42km, making it the

longest bridge-and-tunnel sea crossing in the world. When you add the Zhuhai Link Road, the HZMB’s length totals 55km, which is said to be 20 times longer than San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Debuting in late 2018, thousands of people made the crossing in a single day, with chaos ensuing and consternation from the locals in places like Tung Chung in Hong Kong whose lives experienced ‘bridgus interruptus.’ To avoid that, we started in Hong Kong to get the bus ticket. Many authorised agencies issue tickets and in our case, we zigzagged through the colourful trams and double-deckers on Queen’s Road to Shueng Wan in the Central district.

It’s a straight forward process at the China Merchants Building, the same building agents sell tickets for the Macau ferry.

We made the trip on the HZMB shuttle bus, where it waiting at the

Transborder Office in Tsim Tsa Tsui on the Kowloon side. The first leg of the journey feels like a commuter journey, going past lively scenes on Mongkok street. As the familiar views of the Ngong Ping cable car loomed, the initial bridge adventure felt more like heading to the airport.

But there are different sections to the HZMB, and we reach the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, which is the Hong Kong Port itself.

The bridge connects the three cities in Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong, Macau and cities in Guangdong province), and here at the Port, the modern building and cavernous ceiling is photo-worthy in its design of undulating waves but there’s not much time to appreciate this as the lines form to get on the shuttle bus to Zhuhai.

On the bus, the blue water views extend past the horizon on both sides of the bridge. There are few structural interruptions, just signboards on the bridge but you’ll notice busy shipping lanes, and some artificial islands on which parts of the bridge sit. The bridge curves along the water on a smooth and tranquil ride with its gentle

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• Elegant cabana set-up • Instrumental background music during ceremony (from an in-house library) • Chair and table set-up for ceremony • Anantara wedding certificate • Anantara wedding planner services • Four hours with a professional photographer • One bottle of sparkling wine for the wedding night • Roundtrip airport transfer for bride and groom

The First Step to “Together” Begins With the Right Place Find out more about our wedding packages and how we can create the perfect celebration, please contact our dedicated Wedding Specialists at +66 (0) 76 317 200 or email: jiraporn_jo@anantara.com

Anantara Layan Phuket Resort 168, Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4, Cherngtalay, Amphur Thalang, Phuket 83110 THAILAND T+ 66 (0) 76 317 200, M+ 66 (0) 93 574 2297 www.anantara.com

THE HK/MACAU/ZHUHAI BRIDGE

twists until the mainland port of Zhuhai. At the seemingly orderly Immigration area, officials in fatigue colours or regulation brown remind you that indeed, you have arrived in the mainland.

Most people come to Zhuhai for business in this largely economic zone, so for a night’s rest, accommodations are plentiful, with international and Chinese hotel chains scattered about. Meal recommendations always point to the restaurant strips of Wanzai and Nanping, offering the freshest seafood in open crates for you to pick and choose. Be warned that the lively shrimps wriggle their legs in freshness or crabs stare pleadingly with their eyes before they get prepared in the Cantonese style of simplicity, focusing on the quality of the ingredients. One pleasing point of Zhuhai is that China’s eight regional cuisines are nicely represented in the smattering of restaurants ensuring that you get to eat well indeed.

One of Zhuhai’s main attraction is that of the Fisher Girl Statue, but go

a little further along the atmospheric graceful opera house with its giant clam-like structures rise above the land in a design meant to represent the clams in Boticelli’s “Venus.”

At the New Yuanmingyuan Garden, you can play dress up and be an empress or emperor for the hour complete with a manservant to hold up the elaborate layers of clothing and makeup artists to guarantee authenticity to your total look.

Adding to the hip component is the Beishan Art District, a heritage area with the traditional feel of a mainland China with its alleyways, temples, ancestral halls, coffee shops, complete with heritage inns, an old theatre converted into a cultural space, a vegetarian restaurant and a jazz academy. One can easily get comfortable browsing in a café, watching people engage in discourse while sipping the latest pu‘er tea.

Meanwhile, Macau is a mere 10-minute walk through an underground mall at Dongbei port, home of cheap or fake goods. Here’s where you emerge from the retail shops to the border crossing. We

GETTING THERE

Varying bus services across the bridge from Hong Kong by crossborder transport operators who offer pickups from major points in the city to Zhuhai city centre. It takes about 45 minutes and costs around HK$80 each way.

The HZMB shuttle buses run along the length of the bridge only, so you need to find your own way to and from the bridge entry or exit points.

One Bus Hong Kong Macau – onebus.hk/en TIL Chinalink – trans-island.com.hk Ferries run about once every two hours from the Macau ferry terminal in Sheung Wan and the China ferry terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. They are more expensive, at HK$195 each way, and take 55 minutes. Details at cksp.com.hk

Top The ruins of St. Paul’s in Macau, built in the 17th century.

Clockwise from Top Left Zhuhai’s major attraction - a statue of the Fisher Girl near Lover’s Lane.

With makeup artists and ‘stagehands’ at the ready, dress up as an empress dowager for the moment at the Yuangmingyuan Garden.

A flavourful bowl of hand-pulled noodles in the Beishan area.

An enchanting bookstore in the Beishan Art district in Zhuhai.

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join the many folks who seem to be crossing over for a day, bringing with them grocery bags of food and vegetables and other utilitarian things. Cheaper prices and variety, perhaps?

Present day Macau has dramatic remnants of its Portuguese colonial past, evident in the architecture of the ruins of Saint Paul’s church, including the streets and alleyways, alongside the Macanese glitz shining from the casinos and complexes showcasing major sporting events and shows. We aim for the church but get side-tracked by a local teahouse, a cha chaan teng. Already home to several notable and Michelin-starred restaurants, these affordable teahouses meanwhile offer pastries equally as delicious.

Still hoping to see the HMZB from this side, we head to Macau Tower, 338 metres in height. From its observation deck, impressive panoramic views all over Macao and much of the Pearl River Delta can be seen. And there it is, in the distance – forming that link where three diverse cultures can be experienced because the bridge unites them.

THE HK/MACAU/ZHUHAI BRIDGE

ความตื่นเต้นเพิ่มดีกรีขึ้นเรื่อยๆ เมื่อทีม ฟ้าไทยก�ำลังจะได้ผจญภัยไปยังสาม วัฒนธรรมในวันเดียว บนสะพานและ อุโมงค์ข้ามทะเลที่ยาวที่สุดในโลก เชื่อมโยง ฮ่องกง มาเก๊า และจูไห่ เข้าด้วยกัน ครั้งที่สะพานแห่งนี้เปิดตัวเมื่อปลายปี ที่แล้ว กรุ๊ปทัวร์นับไม่ถ้วนแห่แหนไปยัง สามเหลี่ยมลุ่มแม่น�้ำจูเจียงในประเทศจีน เพื่อข้ามสะพานฮ่องกง จูไห่ มาเก๊า หรือ HZMB ที่ยาวกว่า 42 กิโลเมตร ถ้าหาก นับถนนเชื่อมจูไห่เข้าไปอีก ก็จะมีความยาว ถึง 55 กิโลเมตร ยาวกว่าสะพานโกลเด้นเกต ของซานฟรานซิสโกถึง 20 เท่า ทีมฟ้าไทยหลีกเลี่ยงความวุ่นวายใน ตุงชุง ฮ่องกง เราเลือกเดินทางด้วยรถราง หลากสีและรถบัสสองชัน้ จากถนนควีนไปยัง เชิงหว่าน ไปลงที่ย่านตึกไชน่าเมอร์ชานต์ แล้วซือ้ ตัว๋ เรือข้ามฟากไปมาเก๊าได้ทตี่ กึ นีเ้ ลย เราเริ่มทริปด้วยรถบัสรับส่ง HZMB จากส�ำนักงานข้ามเขตในจิมซาจุย่ ฝัง่ เกาลูน เพลิดเพลินกับความครึกครื้นตลอดถนน มงก๊ก ให้ความรู้สึกเหมือนเดินทางไปยัง สนามบินไม่น้อย แล้วเราก็มาถึงอาคารข้ามชายแดน ฮ่องกง ซึ่งก็คือท่าฮ่องกงนั่นแหละ ตึกสมัย ใหม่ที่มีเพดานออกแบบเหมือนลอนคลื่น เหมาะกับการอัพรูปลงไอจียิ่งนัก แต่เวลา ไม่รอท่า เพราะรถบัสที่ท่าไปจูไห่ก็คงไม่รอ เราเหมือนกัน บนรถบัส เราค่อยมีเวลาได้ชื่นชม ความงามของขอบฟ้าตัดกับน�้ำทะเล แบบไม่มีโครงสร้างตึกมาขัดตา สะพาน คดเคี้ยวไปตามผืนน�้ำอันสงบเงียบจนไป ถึงท่าแผ่นดินใหญ่ที่จูไห่ คุณสามารถ เลือกที่พักนับไม่ถ้วนจากเครือโรงแรม ของจีนและนานาชาติ ร้านอาหารใน หว่านไจ๋และนานปิงยั่วยวนต่อมรับรส

ด้วยวัตถุดิบอาหารทะเลสดปรุงเป็น อาหารเลิศรสสไตล์กวางตุ้ง หรือจะเป็น อาหารจากทั้งแปดภูมิภาคของประเทศ จีนก็มีให้เลือกสรร อย่าลืมแวะไปที่รูปปั้นหญิงสาวชาว ประมง แล้วเลยออกไปอีกนิดเพื่อชมความ ตระการตาของอาคารทรงหอยที่ได้รับ แรงบันดาลใจจาก “วีนัส” ของบอตติเชลลี หรือจะแวะไปทีส่ วนหยวนหมิงหยวน จัดเต็ม แต่งองค์ทรงเครื่องเป็นจักรพรรดิ และ จักรพรรดินีเก็บเป็นภาพความประทับใจ เพิ่มความฮิปอีกเล็กน้อยที่ย่านศิลปะ เป่ยซาน ดื่มด�่ำกับตรอกทางเดิน วัด และ ร้านกาแฟแบบย้อนยุค พร้อมกับชมงาน

ตามเข็มนาฬิกาจาก บนซ้าย นักท่องเที่ยวพากันถ่าย รูปหน้าสถาปัตยกรรม สวยงามที่หลงเหลืออยู่ ของโบสถ์เซนต์ปอล เรียนรู้ประวัติศาสตร์ยุค จักรพรรดิจีนภายใน โถงใหญ่ของสวน หยวนหมิงหยวน โพสต์ท่าถ่ายรูปเหนือชั้น บนมาเก๊าทาวเวอร์ ล่างซ้าย จู่ไห่ โอเปราเฮ้าส์ ยิ่งใหญ่ อลังการ

ศิลปะคลอดนตรีแจ๊ส จากนั้นเดินต่ออีก สิบนาทีผ่านห้างใต้ดินที่ท่าตงเป่ยเพื่อข้าม แดนไปยังมาเก๊า คุณจะได้เห็นเมืองสไตล์อาณานิคม โปรตุเกส พร้อมกับคาสิโนและสนามกีฬาใหญ่ เรามุ่งหน้าไปที่โบสถ์ แต่พอเห็นชาชังเตง หรือร้านน�้ำชา ก็อดใจไม่อยู่ เลยขอแวะ จิบชาพร้อมกับขนมปังระดับมิชลินสตาร์ ในราคาจับต้องได้ เรามุ่งหน้าต่อไปที่ตึกมาเก๊าสูง 338 เมตร ตื่นตากับวิวพาโนรามาของมาเก๊า แบบสุดลูกหูลูกตา เห็นสะพานยาวอยู่ ไกลๆ ที่ซึ่งสามวัฒนธรรมอันรุ่มรวยและ หลากหลายเชื่อมถึงกัน การเดินทาง มี บริการรถบัส มากมายให้เลือก เดินทางจากจุดหลักกลางเมืองไปยัง เมืองจูไห่เพื่อข้ามไปยังฮ่องกง ใช้เวลา ประมาณ 45 นาที ในราคาประมาณ 80 ฮ่องกงดอลลาร์ต่อเที่ยว รถรับส่ง HZMB ให้บริการบนเส้นทางสะพาน เท่านั้น คุณจ�ำเป็นต้องจองการเดินทาง เพื่อเข้าและออกจากตัวสะพานต่างหาก One Bus Hong Kong Macau – onebus.hk/en TIL Chinalink – trans-island.com.hk เรือข้ามฟาก ให้บริการทุกๆ สองชั่วโมงจากท่าเรือ ข้ามฟากมาเก๊าในเชิงหว่าน และท่าเรือ ข้ามฟากจีนในจิมซาจุ่ย ราคา 195 ฮ่องกงดอลลาร์ต่อเที่ยว ใช้เวลา ประมาณ 55 นาที ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมที่ cksp.com.hk

54

ANUAR ABDULLAH

56

The Coral Conservationist:

Restoring Reefs For The

Driven by his passion for rehabilitating coral reefs, Anuar Abdullah has sparked a movement that has delivered a positive impact in Southeast Asia. As the founder and CEO of Ocean Quest, a social enterprise and conservation organisation, he is now looking to spread that message across the globe in order to revitalise this precious ecosystem for future generations.

Words Richard Augustin Photos Kevin Teh, Anuar Abdullah

57

ANUAR ABDULLAH

F

or over 14 years, Anuar Abdullah has been rehabilitating coral reefs around the region. Driven by his passion and perseverance, he has blazed his own path in the field of coral conservation which has not only sparked a positive effect on the reefs he has helped revitalised, but also the people who have come together to share such goals.

Top and Bottom Working on propagating coral.

Anuar and his team use an ‘organic’ way to grow coral.

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When we first meet Anuar, it is evidently clear the man has spent a large portion of his life embarking on seaborne adventures. With a fit frame, tanned sun-kissed skin and easy-going attitude; he cuts a perfect image of a dive master, someone with extensive dive logs under his belt.

Anuar’s story is somewhat unique, beginning in his home state of Terengganu on Malaysia’s east coast, where he was exposed to the ocean from a very young age. It was this affinity with the sea that sparked an interest in oceanography, which eventually garnered him a scholarship at the Florida Institute of Technology in the United States.

Upon receiving a master’s degree in oceanography, he travelled extensively to various islands across the globe, where he developed a keen interest in conservation efforts, specifically coral restoration. With his return to Malaysia, Anuar began his own selffunded research to discover a more effective way to help revitalise and propagate corals.

“I tried various methods over the course of that time and also studied closely what others were doing in the field as well,” recalls Anuar. “Eventually I looked at how people were rehabilitating forests and figured a replication of that idea could be the best course of action.”

To put this theory to the test, Anuar began studying coral propagation techniques more closely by visiting coral farms around the region. Although these farms were known to export their coral to aquariums around the globe, he knew first-hand that they provided an ideal training ground for his studies.

“I looked at how these farms were growing coral and I looked

at refining their techniques and ensuring there were proper protocols to follow.” Eventually he discovered a way to effectively grow corals using household glue and rock. “I discovered this method in 2004, but back then people who saw me attempting this technique thought I was crazy. However, the method not only worked but it was also highly effective,” stresses Anuar.

“It is a cheap and efficient way and it’s completely organic with no use of any artificial structure,” he says. “As we only use a small piece, our footprint is small and we can grow up to 1,000 corals a day. The whole process takes between 7-21 days once the coral is able to attach itself unto the rock on its own. By then there is no trace of the glue, meaning our process is 100% organic.”

Anuar opines that current methods such as artificial reefs are not conducive enough. “Look at the word ‘artificial’, it implies that it is fake,” he states. “Having a natural reef that has been revitalised in an organic way does more in the long run. It will undoubtedly deliver more benefits for coastal communities.”

With his experience in coral propagation, Anuar also believes that the current advancements in the field are not workable enough, especially over a long term period. “We’ve read the news on how scientists have discovered a

way to grow coral up to 40 times faster. However, these tests are largely done in labs in a controlled environment. The methods we apply are done in the ocean and subjected to actual environments and conditions.”

Upon discovering a workable way to revitalise and grow coral, Anuar immediately set out to structure an education plan and protocols for his rehabilitation technique. “The system used in most places today is outdated as it employs a cataloguing to chart the growth and health of reefs,” he explains. “We needed a proper way to map our progress and also monitor the reefs in a more precise and sustainable way.” This ultimately paved the way for Anuar to create Ocean Quest.

“I founded Ocean Quest eight years ago and made it a social enterprise specifically focused on coral reef preservation,” explains Anuar. In a span of less than ten years, Ocean Quest can now be found in countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines.

They also currently have over 800 trainers across the globe.

“We have 160 trainers from mainland China alone, all of whom are scuba instructors living in Southeast Asia who are helping spread the word on what were are doing and helping to keep Ocean Quest alive,” he adds. “We are non-profit, we only charge USD12

Left to Right With Anuar’s leadership, Ocean Quest trainers help spread the word on the organisation.

Coral propagation is done in an actual ocean environment, and not in a lab.

Ocean Quest spends around four years to grow and nurture coral before a local outfit in each country takes over.

“The normal time frame for us to propagate corals is roughly four years and that includes development, monitoring and training.” for registration and administration fees and we basically fund ourselves on that.

Anuar elaborates that all it takes is for each trainer to teach five students a month to keep the endeavour going, adding that everyone who is attached to Ocean Quest does so on a strictly volunteer basis. “Presently, we have people across the globe in places such as Finland, Switzerland and France, who help out with various duties pertaining to our conservation efforts.”

In terms of projects, Ocean Quest efforts can be found in 180 islands, most of which are in Thailand. One of the biggest projects they are lending their expertise to at the moment is Maya Bay in Phi Phi Ley, where the movie The Beach was filmed.

“The normal time frame for us to propagate corals is roughly four years and that includes

development, monitoring and training. Once the work is completed, the reefs are then handed over to the local personnel to take charge and care for them.

“Our services are free, pro-bono so to speak, however our only criteria is that we have to work together as partners.”

Ocean Quest doesn’t preselect a site to rehabilitate, as it is practice by the outfit to be invited to survey the site first. Upon their evaluation, they will decide the best course of action for the site at hand, be it propagation or simply advising on the proper steps to ensure the reefs are given the best possible protection.

To date, Ocean Quest works extensively with Thailand National Parks as well as partners with Sea Shepherd. International collaborations should increase just like the number of reefs they help revitalise.

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ANUAR ABDULLAH

ระยะเวลากว่ า 14 ปี ข องความรักและ ความอุตสาหะ อันวาร์ อับดุลลาห์ ซีอีโอ ของโอเชียนเควสต์ ไม่ได้เพียงแค่อนุรักษ์ และฟื ้ น ชี วิต ให้ กับ แนวปะการัง ในแถบ เอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้เท่านั้น แต่ยังได้ สร้างแรงบันดาลใจแก่ผู้คนมากมายให้เข้า ร่วมเดินไปสูเ่ ป้าหมายเดียวกัน ผิวสีคล�้ำก�่ำแดด ร่างกายที่ก�ำย�ำ แข็งแรง และความเป็นกันเอง บอกเราทันทีวา่ อันวาร์คือปรมาจารย์แห่งการด�ำน�้ำใต้ ท้องทะเลอย่างแท้จริง อันวาร์ผูกพันกับ ท้องทะเลที่รัฐตรังกานู มาเลเซียตั้งแต่ เยาว์วัย จนได้ทุนการศึกษาต่อสาขา สมุทรศาสตร์ ทีส่ ถาบันเทคโนโลยีฟลอริดา สหรัฐอเมริกา เขาเริ่มท่องเที่ยวไปยังเกาะ มากมายทั่วโลก จนเกิดเป็นความตั้งมั่น ในการรักษาและฟื้นฟูปะการังในมาเลเซีย อันวาร์เล่าว่าจากงานวิจยั ของตัวเขาเอง และการศึกษาของผู้อื่นในสาขาเดียวกัน เขาได้ปรับใช้วิธีการฟื้นฟูผืนป่าไม้มา ใช้กับการฟื้นฟูปะการัง เริ่มจากศึกษา เทคนิคการขยายพันธุ์ปะการังตามฟาร์ม ที่เพาะพันธุ์เพื่อส่งออก แล้วน�ำเทคนิค นั้นมาขัดเกลาและสร้างระเบียบวิธที เี่ หมาะ สมในการเพาะปะการัง อันวาร์จำ� ได้วา่ ตอนทีเ่ ริ่มใช้กาวส�ำหรับ ใช้ในบ้านกับก้อนหินเพื่อฟื้นฟูปะการัง ทุกคนหาว่าเขาบ้า แต่สิ่งที่เขาท�ำไม่ใช่แค่ ได้ผลและมีประสิทธิภาพสูงเท่านั้น แต่ยัง ใช้ ต้ น ทุ น ยั ง ต�่ ำ อี ก ด้ ว ยความที่หินมี ขนาดเล็ก ท�ำให้สามารถปลูกปะการังได้ เป็นพันจุดในหนึง่ วัน ในเวลาเพียง 7-21 วัน

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ปะการัง ก็จ ะติด อยู่ที่หิน ได้เองโดยไม่ เหลือร่องรอยของกาว ท�ำให้เทคนิคนี้ เป็นกระบวนการอินทรีย์ 100 เปอร์เซ็นต์ จากประสบการณ์ที่ผ่านมา อันวาร์ เชื่อว่าความก้าวหน้าในปัจจุบันใช้ไม่ได้ผล โดยเฉพาะปะการังเทียม การขยายพันธุ์ ปะการังตามธรรมชาติแบบอินทรีย์ให้ผลดี กว่าในระยะยาว การขยายพันธุ์ที่เร็วกว่า เดิม 40 เท่าในห้องทดลองไม่ช่วยอะไรหาก ใช้ไม่ได้ในทะเลและสภาพแวดล้อมจริง โอเชียนเควสต์ก่อตั้งเมื่อแปดปีก่อนใน ฐานะกิจการเพื่อสังคม โดยมุ่งเน้นที่การ อนุรักษ์ปะการัง มีสาขาในหลายประเทศ เช่น บรูไน มาเลเซีย ไทย และฟิลิปปินส์ พร้อมกับครูฝึกกว่า 800 คนทั่วโลก โอเชียนเควสต์เป็นองค์กรไม่แสวงหาผล ก�ำไร เก็บค่าลงทะเบียนเพียง 12 ดอลลาร์ สหรัฐฯ ซึ่งเป็นทุนหลักในการด�ำเนิน กิจกรรมขององค์กร ขับเคลื่อนโครงการ บนเกาะกว่า 180 แห่ง โดยเฉพาะเกาะใน ประเทศไทย อันวาร์ ได้วางโครงสร้างการให้การ ศึกษาและสร้างระเบียบวิธีของเทคนิคแบบ อินทรีย์นี้ พร้อมกับตรวจสอบและติดตาม

ตามเข็มนาฬิกาจากบน โอเชียนเควสต์กับภารกิจ เพาะขยายพันธุ์ปะการัง วิธีใช้กาวติดปะการัง เข้ากับก้อนหิน ใช้เวลา เพียง 7-21 วัน ปะการัง ก็สามารถยึดติดกับก้อน หินได้เองโดยไม่เหลือร่อง รอยของกาว ท�ำให้เทคนิค นี้เป็นกระบวนการอินทรีย์ 100 เปอร์เซ็นต์ อันวาร์ ใช้ชีวิตใต้น�้ำอุทิศ แด่การชุบชีวิตปะการัง อันวาร์ อับดุลลาห์ นักต่อสู้ชาวมาเลเซียผิว คล�้ำพร้อมความหวังใน การสานต่อแนวคิดฟื้นฟู ปะการังทั่วโลก

การเติบโตและสภาพของปะการังที่มี ความแม่นย�ำและยั่งยืนมากกว่าที่เป็นอยู่ ในปัจจุบัน กรอบเวลาของโครงการขยายพันธุ์ ปะการังอยู่ที่ประมาณ 4 ปี ซึ่งรวมถึงการ พัฒนา ติดตาม และการฝึกอบรม จากนั้น จะส่งมอบแนวปะการังคืนแก่บุคลากรใน ชุมชน แน่นอนว่าขั้นตอนทั้งหมดนี้ไม่มี ค่าใช้จ่าย มีเพียงเงื่อนไขเดียวเท่านั้น คือ ชุมชนต้องมีส่วนร่วมด้วย โอเชียนเควสต์ ไม่ได้เลือกพื้นที่ในการ ฟื้นฟูไว้ก่อนแล้ว แต่ขึ้นอยู่กับการร้องขอ ให้ส�ำรวจมากกว่า โอเชียนเควสต์จะ ประเมินและตัดสินใจใช้วิธีการที่เหมาะสม กับแต่ละพื้นที่ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการขยายพันธุ์ หรือการปกป้องที่เหมาะสม ปัจจุบัน โอเชียนเควสต์ท�ำงานร่วมกับอุทยาน แห่งชาติในประเทศไทยอย่างต่อเนื่อง ความ ร่วมมือมีแต่จะเพิ่มขึ้นเรื่อยๆ เหมือนกับ จ�ำนวนปะการังที่ได้รับการฟื้นฟู อันวาร์ทำ� งานหนักเพื่อเผยแพร่แนวคิด และสานต่อความร่วมมือทัว่ โลก หลังจากที่ สัมภาษณ์จบ เขาต้องเดินทางไปยังกรุง ปารีสเพื่อเผยแพร่อุดมการณ์ แล้วเดินทาง ต่อเพื่อติดตามความคืบหน้าของโครงการ บนเกาะกีลี ประเทศอินโดนีเซีย อันวาร์กล่าวว่า เป้าหมายระยะสั้น ประสบความส�ำเร็จอย่างมากแล้ว เพราะ ใช้การปฏิบตั งิ านแบบเปิด แต่มเี พียงสิ่งเดียว ที่เรายังด�ำเนินการไม่เต็มที่คือการเผยแพร่ เทคนิคนี้ เพราะโอเชียนเควสต์ต้องมั่นใจว่า ความรู้ที่ถ่ายถอดให้แก่แต่ละฝ่ายที่ร่วมมือ เป็นวิธีการที่ถูกต้อง เขายังยอมรับอีกว่าผลลัพธ์ที่เขาหวัง ไว้คงจะไม่ส�ำเร็จได้ ในช่วงชีวิตของเขา แม้จะเป็นความจริงที่เจ็บปวด แต่อย่างน้อย แนวปะการังของโลกใบนี้ก็มีสภาพขึ้นดี กว่าก่อนมาก ทั้งหมดเกิดจากความ พยายามของคนตัวเล็กๆ คนหนึ่งอย่าง อันวาร์ อับดุลลาห์

VIETNAM MOVES

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VIETNAM MOVES

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rom coracles to cable cars, kayaks to cruisers, buffaloes to bicycles, the variety of Vietnamese transport is almost endless. In order to deal with the country’s diverse topography, which includes mountains and deserts, wetlands and beaches, the Vietnamese have developed some wacky ways of getting around.

Vietnam’s coastline stretches for over 3,000 kilometres, and since most of the population live near the sea, it’s hardly surprising that the country features plenty of unconventional vessels, from the round-shaped coracle to sleek, luxury junks.

The coracle, which is basically a big bamboo basket sealed with tar or other waterproof adhesive, is not unique to Vietnam. In fact, countries as far away as Iraq and Scotland use them, but its simple structure that’s shaped like a shallow bowl and durability make it a favourite among Vietnamese fishermen. On any morning along the country’s coastline, scenes of locals baling out their baskets, folding their fishing nets or rowing out to sea provide priceless examples of Vietnam’s distinctive culture.

To float through the otherworldly seascape of Ha Long Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay, most visitors to Vietnam board a boat, though cruises through the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta also offer

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Top and Bottom Tourists boarding boats for a trip to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, near Ninh Binh.

Fishermen bailing out their coracle on the beach at Mui Ne.

a restful way to explore these fertile and densely populated areas. At Nha Trang, Vietnam’s undisputed party town, hundreds of visitors board party boats each day to cruise around nearby islands, with plenty of stops for snorkelling, singing, dancing and swimming round the floating bar.

For adventurous travellers, kayaks provide an eco-friendly way to explore the coastline.

Life in Vietnam’s two deltas revolves around different types of boats, including simple rowing boats, clunky ferries carrying passengers across tributaries and huge wooden barges with a pair of staring eyes at the prow (supposedly to scare away sea monsters) that carry goods such as sugar cane, rice husks, incense sticks, timber and coconuts. In the Vietnamese manner of doing certain things differently to other cultures, rowers often stand to propel their craft, while others lean back and row with their feet.

Back on land, until recently the bicycle was the main form of transport, along with the cyclo, a tricycle with a passenger seat in front, which is still Vietnam’s most iconic form of transport. A ride in a cyclo offers a thrilling experience for anyone brave enough to sit unprotected among the relentless traffic. Sadly, cyclos are gradually being squeezed off the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where they are prohibited from using many major thoroughfares.

These days the motorbike is king of Vietnam’s roads, with around 45 million registered vehicles – one for every two people in the country.

Besides transporting entire families, this magical machine is also used as a mobile shop, a means of moving house and even, at a pinch, as a makeshift bed. However, with motorbikes and cars now clogging city centres, the opening of a new metro system in Hanoi (2019) and Ho Chi Minh City (2020) can’t come soon enough.

Clockwise, from Top Boat trips around the islands off the coast of Nha Trang include stops for snorkelling, eating, drinking and singing.

In Vietnam, motorbikes are used for all kinds of unlikely purposes, such as moving house.

It takes nerves of steel for pedestrians to cross the street in Hanoi.

A leisurely cruise on a colonial-style ship is a great way to explore the Red River Delta.

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VIETNAM MOVES

Top and Bottom Cable cars carrying visitors to the Perfume Pagoda, near Hanoi.

Schoolgirls wearing ao dai cycling home from school in the Mekong Delta.

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In passing, we should acknowledge the part played by domestic flights, trains, long-haul buses and xe om (motorbike taxis) in keeping travellers on the move, though these types of transport are less idiosyncratic.

Consistent with the Vietnamese penchant for devising unorthodox uses for their vehicles, their rules of the road is barely “manageable chaos.” These appear to include sounding your horn as often and as loudly as possible, driving on whichever side of the road suits you, keeping moving at all costs and making life difficult for pedestrians.

Before the arrival of motorised vehicles, the Vietnamese relied on animals to carry themselves and their goods around, a tradition that lingers on today in rural parts of the country. It’s not unusual to see kids riding on the backs of water buffalo or farmers using oxen or buffalo to pull cartloads of goods around.

And sure-footed oxen are still used to plough steep hillsides where a mechanised plough could not work.

Many Vietnamese were forced to hide in underground tunnels half a century ago because of the war.

Now, Vietizens of the 21st century have developed an obsession with gliding above the earth, gazing

down at their beautiful country. And how do they do that? By cable car, of course.

During the last couple of decades, cable cars have popped up in all parts of the country, and Vietnam currently holds the Guinness world record for the longest cable-car ride, spanning 8 kilometres from the island of Phu Quoc to Hon Thom, a small island to the south. The country also holds the record for the highest elevation gain for a three-rope cable car (over 1,400 metres), in the form of the

‘Fansipan Legend’, which whisks passengers from the town of Sa Pa through the clouds to the summit of Fansipan, the highest mountain in mainland Southeast Asia at 3,143 metres.

While still embracing traditional forms such as coracles and buffaloes, the adaptable Vietnamese have also welcomed the arrival of expressways, cable cars and metro systems. And for visitors exploring this country and its quirky rides, these countless means of transport offer plenty of chances for a joyride of new experiences.

VIETNAM MOVES

เรือบด รถเคเบิ้ล คายัค เรือน�ำเที่ยว จักรยาน หรือแม้แต่ควาย ใครจะไปคิดว่า ทั้งหมดนี้เป็นเพียงส่วนหนึ่งของวิธีการ เดินทางของชาวเวียดนาม ท่ามกลาง สภาพภูมิประเทศที่หลากหลาย ตั้งแต่ ภูเขา ทะเลทราย หนองบึง ไปจนถึงชายฝัง่ ที่ ทอดยาวกว่ า 3,000 กิ โ ลเมตร เราจะ พบเห็นพาหนะรูปร่างแปลกตาที่หาไม่ได้ ที่ไหนในโลก แม้ว่าเรือบดจะพบเห็นได้ในหลายๆ ประเทศ แต่เวียดนามนิยมเรือชนิดนี้เป็น พิเศษ เพราะมีรูปทรงเหมือนชามไม้ไผ่สาน มีขนาดใหญ่และคงทน ภาพชาวประมง มัดแหอวนพายเรือออกหาปลาจึงเป็น ภาพธรรมดาแต่มเี อกลักษณ์ในวัฒนธรรม เวียดนามอย่างแท้จริง

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นอกจากนี้ยังมีเรือแจวเรือข้ามฟาก ทีม่ คี นยืนพายเรือหนึ่งคน เรือไม้ขนสินค้า หลากหลายชนิดที่มีลูกตาสองข้างติดไว้ เพื่อขับไล่สิ่งชัว่ ร้ายในท้องทะเล ในขณะที่ บางคนก็ใช้เท้าพายเรือ แปลกเข้าท่าทีเดียว วิธเี ดินทางไปฮาลองเบย์และไบตูลองเบย์ ที่ง่ายที่สุด คือ การนั่งเรือน�ำเที่ยวผ่าน สามเหลี่ยมแม่น�้ำแดงและสามเหลี่ยม แม่น�้ำโขง หรือจะนั่งเรือปาร์ตี้ไปยังเมือง แห่งแสงสีอย่างญาจาง ระหว่างทางก็หยุด ด�ำน�้ำ ร้องเพลง ว่ายน�้ำเล่น หรือจะพาย เรือคายัคก็เป็นความคิดที่ดีไม่น้อย ตัดภาพมาบนแผ่นดิน หากต้องการ เดินทางไกล คุณสามารถเลือกเที่ยวบิน ในประเทศ รถไฟ รถบัสทางไกล และ จักรยานยนต์รบั จ้างได้เลย ทัง้ สะดวกและง่าย

ตามเข็มนาฬิกา จากบนซ้าย เรือข้ามฟาก พาหนะ ขนส่งชาวเวียดนามทุกผู้ ทุกนามที่เห็นจนชินตา รถไฟหัวรถจักรไอน�้ำที่ สถานีดาลัด นอกจากจะช่วยท�ำไร่ ไถนาแล้ว วัวยังเป็นอีก พาหนะคู่ใจชาวบ้านไร่ เวียดนามในชนบท

แต่การเดินทางที่นิยมสุดๆ จนรู้จักกัน ทั่วโลก ต้องยกให้รถสามล้อที่มีที่นั่งของ ผู้โดยสารอยู่ด้านหน้า ทั้งเท่ ทั้งหวาดเสียว ไปพร้อมกัน ยานพาหนะที่ครองอันดับหนึ่งเห็นจะ เป็นรถจักรยานยนต์ที่มีจ�ำนวนประมาณ 45 ล้านคันทั่วประเทศ นอกจากใช้เพื่อ เดินทางแล้ว ยังใช้เป็นร้านค้าเคลื่อนที่ หรือจะเป็นบ้านพร้อมเตียงนอนเลยก็มี รถเยอะขนาดนี้ ถ้าไม่ได้ยินเสียงแตรสนั่น หวั่นไหวบนท้องถนน แสดงว่าคุณยังมา ไม่ถึงเวียดนาม ในอดีต ชาวเวียดนามใช้สตั ว์เป็นพาหนะ ในการเดินทางและขนส่งสินค้า ปัจจุบันยัง พบเห็นได้บ้างในพื้นที่ชนบท เด็กๆ ชอบ นั่งบนหลังควาย ส่วนชาวนาก็ใช้ควาย ลากคันไถเพื่อเตรียมดินบริเวณภูเขาชัน ซึ่งไม่สามารถใช้เครื่องจักรทดแทนได้ ในช่วง 20 ปีที่ผ่านมา มีการสร้าง เคเบิ้ลคาร์กระจายตัวอยู่ทั่วทั้งประเทศ ยาวที่สุดในโลกด้วยระยะทาง 8 กิโลเมตร จากฟู้โกว๊กไปยังเกาะฮอนทอม และยังมี เคเบิ้ลคาร์สูงจากระดับน�้ำทะเลมากที่สุด ที่ ‘Fansipan Legend’ พาผู้โดยสาร จากซาปาขึ้นไปยังยอดเขาฟานซีปัง ยอดเขาทีส่ งู ทีส่ ดุ ในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ ซึ่งสูงถึง 3,143 เมตร ชาวเวียดนามยังคงอนุรักษ์เทคโนโลยี การเดินทางจากอดีตจนถึงปัจจุบัน และ ยังคงพัฒนาช่องทางการคมนาคมอีก มากมาย ไม่ว่าจะเป็นระบบรถไฟใต้ดินใน กรุงฮานอยและเมืองมรกดโลกฮอยอัน วิธีการเดินทางที่หลากหลายท�ำให้นัก ท่องเที่ยวสามารถสัมผัสเวียดนามในมุม มองที่แตกต่างออกไป เพราะจุดหมาย อาจไม่ได้ส�ำคัญเท่ากับการเดินทาง โดยเฉพาะการเดินทางในเวียดนาม

NEW ROUTE: NHA TRANG

NHA TRANG:

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A City For All Words & Photos Phoowadon Duangmee & Shutterstock

Nha Trang, one of the latest beach destinations, gives you the limitless sea or infinity pools, a dose of culture or cutting loose at a party.

The many pleasures to be found on Vietnam’s southern coast keep everyone – from small tots to moody teens, and especially adults – in sunny moods.

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NEW ROUTE: NHA TRANG

T Clockwise from Top A fisherman’s village in Nha Trang with attractive seascapes and local restaurants.

An impressive promenade dotted with small parks and sculpture gardens on the beach side of Nha Trang.

Menus at eating establishments cater to a range of palates.

Dine with a view.

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hink of Nha Trang, Vietnam’s southern coastal town, and the image of Copacabana Beach in Brazil and the French Riviera crosses my mind. Envision a sweeping crescent-shaped beach that stretches out six kilometres from north to south with golden sand and turquoise water. A promenade with palm trees swaying, beachfront bars, rooftop clubs and liquor shops at every corner help to define the vibe of the Nha Trang resort town. Of course, you won’t see Paris Hilton, Bruce Willis and A-list celebrities partying on yachts and raving at beach clubs in this part of Vietnam yet. Nha Trang, however, has become a serious contender for Southeast Asia’s best beach party destination.

“Nobody can stand after two glasses of Secret Carre,” a playful bartender at Skylight Rooftop Club warns me while setting fire to my cocktail. I take the bartender’s advice with great care. No one wants to lose their shoes after having two cocktail drinks.

Perched 151 metres above Nha Trang Beach, Skylight Nha Trang is a perfect landing place if you want to get a sense of Nha Trang.

TK Nguyen, a thirty-something Vietnamese American, transformed a helipad on top of Havana – a hotel in the highest building in town – into a lighthouse with a Skydeck and Rooftop Beach Club.

Nha Trang is best viewed from here.

This resort town is ringed by a mountain range on the western side and dotted with tropical islands

along the crescent beach on the east. You could see Nha Trang Cathedral on the hill, looming over Vietnamese households like a giant mother hen guarding her chicks.

The best time to take the lift to Skylight Nha Trang is 30 minutes before the sunset. With a glass of Chardonnay or a bottle of local beer, you could watch it paint the sky red in style.

The impressive promenade dotted with small parks and sculpture gardens situates itself on the beach side, while small boutique shops, coffee bars and other cosmopolitan arrays cuddle on the town side. The beach is the place to go for a refreshing mid-afternoon dip, a leisurely stroll, or experience a flavourful meal at one of the many beachfront restaurants.

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NEW ROUTE: NHA TRANG

“The golden stretch of sand is long and the water is shallow, making Nha Trang an ideal beach for the family with small kids who enjoy wading in the water,” says Suyash Kumar, director of Food & Beverage, Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa. There is a lot to do in Nha Trang, so the next day I start exploring Vietnam’s coastal town.

History has it that Nha Trang was under the influence of the ancient Champa Kingdom – the Cham ethnic group who ruled this part from the 2nd to 15th centuries in what is today southern Vietnam.

Like many great kingdoms, Champa rose and fell. In the 15th century, the Champa kingdom surrendered to the Vietnamese, who marched from the north to eliminate their southern rival. What still stands and speaks as evidence of the Cham people is Po Nagar Cham Towers – their ancient temple.

Clockwise from Top The apse in Nha Trang Cathedral makes a bold statement with its Gothic architecture.

Po Nagar Cham Towers, built for the Hindu gods.

The Cathedral is worth visiting for the elegance of its architecture.

A guidebook states that this ancient temple was built around the 7th Century for the iconic Hindu gods – Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha. The biggest temple is made for Parvati, the Mother Goddess, while the second largest one is dedicated to Shiva. The smallest one is a shrine of Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati.

However, I rather enjoyed my Vietnamese guide’s version of the Hindu ruins.

“That’s a ‘woman’ temple where women go to pray and ask for what they want,” says my guide, pointing to a most massive stone tower, a Parvati Temple.

“Can I, a man, go inside and pray?” I ask. “Yes, you can. But I am not sure if you would get what you want. The goddess only answers to a woman’s call,” the guide replies. “Man Temple is on the left. You can ask for anything.”

I head to where I belong, a “man” temple – which is dedicated not to an ordinary man – but to the God Shiva.

There is an ancient inscription engraved on the edge of the Shiva Temple entrance. Inside the temple, I find a broken lingam; dark and drained, in the small chamber. Usually wishes are made to phallic representations but no worshippers seem present. The answer might be waiting on the ‘woman’s’ side – the Temple of the Goddess Parvati.

Above the entrance to the “Woman” Temple is a bas-relief showing two musicians flanking a dancing four-armed Shiva – who has one foot on the bull Nandin. Under the main chamber, there is a statue in black stone of the goddess Parvati with 10 arms. Some female devotees on their knees pray for what they have in mind - love, beauty, a rich husband, to name a few.

Three and a half kilometres south of the Cham Temple is Nha Trang Cathedral. Sitting on the hilltop, this Christian church was built in the early 20th century in the French Gothic style. It’s worth visiting for the elegance of the building.

In additional to Nha Trang’s blissful beach, a Gothic-inspired church and ancient temple ruins indicate a rich spiritual history.

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NEW ROUTE: NHA TRANG

As noon approaches, I start to get hungry. Follow a recommendation from the locals, I arrive at Country Home Memento – a boutique resort 30 minutes outside Nha Trang. Located in the middle of rice paddies, the old villa with its shaded garden, small lodges in the stilt-house style and of course, people in conical hats define Country Home Memento.

If you’re like me, you will enjoy putting in filling and wrapping yourself a fresh spring roll, a classic in Vietnam, with cooked shrimp and fresh aromatic herbs.

Besides the cultural heritage and rustic countryside, Nha Trang is also an ideal destination for an action-packed holiday. Nha Trang is alive with islands, underwater wonders and a theme park. Close to Nha Trang, visitors can dive up to 50 feet (16 metres) down from the beach. The beautiful scenery yields interesting encounters with cuttlefish, octopus and lionfish. I didn’t sail out to diving sites, but took a cable car to Vinpearl Land – a Disney-inspired theme park.

With an all-inclusive Day Pass, the theme park offers a ‘friends and family’ day with various active choices – varying from the evolution ride and swing carousel to seeing a rose garden and a group or flamboyance of flamingos.

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Clockwise from Right Vinpearl Land – a Disney-inspired theme park – satisfies thrillseekers in Nha Trang.

Rice and spring rolls for lunch in the middle of a rice field.

Bottom The Sailing Club whose DJs fuel the vibe with club beats and party music.

IF YOU GO

Bangkok Airways operates four flights weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) to/from Bangkok and Nha Trang on Airbus A319 aircraft.

Visit bangkokair. com.

And then there is the issue of getting around and seeing something beyond the touristic town of Nha Trang. A fan of cold beer and surfing could make a journey to Bai Dai – or Long Beach – which is 30 minutes south of Nha Trang.

Out there, with its long pristine beach and rough waters, you will find surfers on the beach with their toes planted firmly in the sand. Their eyes lock on the rolling waves, figuring which one is right for a ride. You can create your own spirit of surf culture by bobbing up and down on the surfboard or boogie board. On the

northern part of the bay, check out Shack Vietnam to rent a board or learn to surf. This little shack with character also offers food and drinks and a potential beach party.

Bai Dai is good for surfing from September to April.

“Nha Trang had been popular for the backpackers who looked for a pristine beach and promising party. The beach now starts to draw middle-income holidaymakers from overseas,” says Cable Enstrom, a general manager of the Sailing Club.

The Sailing Club sits on a beautiful stretch of sand in Nha Trang Beach with a breath-taking view of the ocean and has been attracting a spunky crowd for decades. Days are spent relaxing either on or right by the beach with a refreshing cocktail. After sunset, it transforms into Nha Trang’s best night club with inventive drinks like the Sailing Sexy Martini and Chateau de Pampelonne on the menu. The full moon parties are epic with DJs fuelling the intensity with their club beats and party music.

“Back in 1994, the Sailing Club started off as a small bar by an Australian backpacker who loved Nha Trang Beach too much to leave it behind,” Cable relates.

From a small bar with slabs of beer and a few tables, Sailing Club is now an iconic beach club. And when it comes to partying, you can trust they put on a show.

NEW ROUTE: NHA TRANG

ตามเข็มนาฬิกาจากบน อาหารทะเลสดๆ ในเมืองญาจาง หาดทรายสีทอง ตัดท้องทะเลสีครามเป็น เสน่ห์ดึงดูดนักท่องเที่ยว จากทั่วโลกให้มาพัก ผ่อนที่เมืองญาจาง ทาง ตอนกลางของเวียดนาม ชาวเวียดนามก�ำลังลอย เรือกระด้งที่บริเวณ หมู่บ้านชาวประมง ในเมืองญาจาง ตลาดสดเมืองญาจาง เพิ่มสีสันให้นักท่องเที่ยว ที่เดินทางมาพักผ่อน ที่เมืองท่องเที่ยวริมทะเล ด้วยอาหารทะเลสด ผักและผลไม้ ที่วางขายริมถนน

บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ให้บริการเส้นทาง กรุงเทพญาจางด้วยเครื่อง บินแอร์บัส A319 สี่เที่ยวบินต่อ สัปดาห์ (จันทร์ พุธ ศุกร์ และอาทิตย์) ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม bangkokair.com

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เมือ่ นึกถึงเมืองชายฝัง่ เวียดนามทางตอนใต้ อย่างญาจาง ภาพของหาดโคปาคาบานา แห่งบราซิล หรือริเวียร่าฝรั่งเศสก็ผุดขึ้น มาทันที หาดพระจันทร์เ สี้ยวทอดยาว ทรายสีทองสะท้อ นตัด กับทะเลสีฟ้า ใส ต้นปาล์มลิ่วตามลม บาร์ริมชายหาด ผับ รูฟท็อป และร้านขายเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ อยู่ทุกหัวมุม ยิ่งท�ำให้ญาจางสมกับเป็น เมืองปาร์ตี้ชายหาดแห่งเอเชียตะวันออก เฉียงใต้อย่างแท้จริง คุณจะสัมผัสญาจางอย่างแท้จริงเมื่อ ขึ้นไปที่สกายไลท์ญาจาง บนชั้นดาดฟ้า ของตึกฮาวานาสูง 151 เมตร ซึ่งเปลี่ยน จากลานจอดเฮลิคอปเตอร์เป็นประภาคาร พร้อมกับสกายเด็ค สนุกตามจังหวะเสียง เพลงที่รูฟท็อปบีชคลับพร้อมกับดื่มด�่ำ ความงามของเส้นขอบฟ้ากว้างไกล สุดลูกหูลูกตา หากต้องการความสดชื่นรื่นรมย์ แนะน�ำให้ ไปฝั่งชายหาดที่มีสวนสาธารณะ และสวนที่ประดับด้วยประติมากรรม หรือ จะเลือกไปร้านบูติก ร้านกาแฟ และร้าน ขายของหลากหลายได้ที่ฝั่งตัวเมือง คุณซูยาช กูมาร์ ผู้อ�ำนวยการฝ่าย อาหารและเครื่อ งดื่ม เชอราตันญาจาง โฮเท็ลแอนด์สปา กล่าวว่า หาดทีน่ ที่ อดยาว และทะเลไม่ลึก จึงเหมาะส�ำหรับทั้งเด็กและ ครอบครัว สามารถเดินลุยน�้ำไปตาม ชายหาดอย่างสบายอารมณ์ แต่ญาจางก็ ไม่ได้มีแค่หาดทรายสวย เท่านั้น แต่ยังรุ่มรวยไปด้วยประวัติศาสตร์ อารยธรรมจามปาที่รุ่งเรืองช่วงศตวรรษ ที่ 2 และล่มสลายในศตวรรษที่ 15 ให้แก่

ชาวเวียดนาม ถึงกระนั้นก็ยังหลงเหลือ ร่องรอยอารยธรรมไว้ ให้เราได้ชื่นชม วัดพูนากาเป็นหนึ่งในสถาปัตยกรรม จามทีห่ าชมได้ยาก สร้างขึ้นช่วงศตวรรษที่ 7 ประกอบด้วยอาคารหลังใหญ่สุดที่อุทิศแด่ พระนางปารวตี และอีกสองอาคารทีเ่ ล็กรอง ลงมาอุทศิ แด่พระศิวะและพระพิฆเนศตามล�ำดับ เหนือทางเข้าอาคารหลังใหญ่สดุ ประดับ ด้วยประติม ากรรมแกะสลักนูน ต�่ำรูป พระศิวะสี่กรก�ำลังร่ายร�ำ ทรงประทับบน โคนนทิ ภายในมีรปู ปัน้ พระนางปารวตีสบิ กร เชือ่ กันว่าพระนางจะประทานพรทุกประการ แก่ผู้ศรัทธาสตรีเพศ เดินทางเพียง 3.5 กม. จากวัดจามไป ทางทิศใต้ คุณจะได้เห็นความสง่างามของ โบสถ์คริสต์ญาจางบนเนินเขา ล้อมรอบ ด้วยบ้านเรือนละลานตา สร้างขึ้นช่วงต้น ศตวรรษที่ 20 ตามสไตล์ โกธิคฝรั่งเศส หากไม่ได้แวะชมก็ถือว่าน่าเสียดาย เวลาเที่ยงวันมาถึง เดินทางออกจาก ญาจางเพียง 30 นาทีก็จะถึงบูทีครีสอร์ต คันทรีโฮมเมเมนโต ท่ามกลางทุ่งข้าว สวน ร่มรื่น และบ้านใต้ถุนสูง ห้ามพลาดอาหาร ท้องถิ่นเวียดนามอย่าง ปอเปี๊ยะสด กุ้งคั่ว และพืชผักสมุนไพรหอมสดชื่นนานาชนิด

หากต้องการความตืน่ เต้นเร้าใจ ไม่ตอ้ ง ไปไกลที่ไหน ญาจางมีครบรส ไม่ว่าจะ เป็นการด�ำน�้ำลึก 15 เมตร ตื่นตากับ สัตว์ทะเลหลากหลายชนิด สวนกุหลาบ หรือแม้กระทั่งฝูงนกฟลามิงโก หรือจะเป็น สวนสนุกวินเพิร์ลที่ได้รับแรงบันดาลใจ จากดิสนีย์ ตั๋ววันใบเดียวก็เล่นเครื่องเล่น ได้ทุกอย่างแล้ว คุณยังสามารถเดินทางจากญาจาง ไปทางใต้เพียง 30 นาทีเพื่อไปยังหาดไบ่ไต๋ หาดทรายทอดยาวเงียบสงบ และเกลียวคลืน่ ที่แรงเหมาะกับการเล่นเซิร์ฟช่วงเดือน กันยายนถึงเมษายน หากเล่นไม่เป็นก็มี บริการสอนส�ำหรับนักเล่นเซิร์ฟมือใหม่ คุณเคเบิ้ล เอ็นสตรอม ผู้จัดการทั่วไป ของเซลลิ่งคลับ กล่าวว่า นักท่องเที่ยว แบ็ ค แพ็ ค ต่ า งหลงใหลความสงบและ สายลมเอื่อยที่คู่ขนานกับความตื่นเต้น และสนุกสนานของญาจาง เซลลิ่งคลับ เป็นอีกหนึ่งจุดหมายที่นักท่องเที่ยวจะมา สัมผัสวิวทะเลตอนกลางวันและเคลิบเคลิ้ม ไปกับเสียงเพลงหลังตะวันตกดิน โดย เฉพาะช่วงวัน พระจัน ทร์เต็มดวง ขอท้า ให้ลอง Sailing Sexy Martini และ Chateau de Pampelonne

GALLERY

Under the Spell of

Mumbai

For Mumbai, the western city in India long famed for its mesmerising colours in places and people, it needs a must-see list.

Words Dolnapa Ram-indra, Sarita Urupongsa

W

Photos Dolnapa Ram-indra

ith hours spent on research for ideal spots to visit – we produced a list of Mumbai attractions.

Waiting with utmost anticipation for our trip to begin, the realisation came that a planned schedule was pointless, and from the length of the list, only half of what had been planned will get covered. No mishap affected its adjustments, it’s just that Mumbai, bewitching in its alluring landscape and charming

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people, made you stop and look, and admire a detail here and there.

Formerly called Bombay, Mumbai or the hub of Bollywood movies, is a city that perfectly combines Western architecture side by side with authentic Indian designs that mark its lifestyle. For every step we took during a morning walk or a night stroll, we can’t help but slow down and breathe in moments that dazzle, in the signature Mumbai way.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the historic train station, listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage Site around the world.

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GALLERY

ABOVE A man sells red roses in the heart of Dadar Flower Market.

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BELOW Life and colour on the main street to Dadar Market during morning hours.

OPPOSITE TOP A garland stall at Dadar Flower Market sells flowers to present to the gods – with marigolds signifying prosperity and a colour of the gods.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM Women’s art form in carrying things on their heads – it’s a skill that requires daily practice.

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GALLERY

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A touch of NeoGothic architecture in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus or Victoria Terminus, Mumbai’s central railway station.

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GALLERY

BELOW LEFT Rickshaws or passenger carts in front of Bandra train station.

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BELOW RIGHT A woman sells flowers in an alley next to a bridge in the market.

OPPOSITE TOP A girl selling flowers under the bridge.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM Roadside barbers in Colaba district – the makeshift stands are a common sight in Mumbai.

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GALLERY

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER Dolnapa Ram-indra is a Bangkok-based photographer and graphic designer who loves the beginnings of a sunrise, along with the lifestyle of people from diverse areas.

She loves travelling, earning her fresh, new perspectives and providing her with inspiration in work and life. flickr.com/people/somdolnapa

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OPPOSITE TOP Riding in a women-only carriage.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM Inside Mahim Junction Station, located in the never-ending bustling Dharavi district.

ABOVE Daily life inside Mahim Junction Station.

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DOUBLE AWARDS for

MAGAZINE! FAH THAI is honoured to receive the prestigious PEARL AWARDS for the second year in a row that was given out in New York City.

This time, it’s a double win!

Organised by the CONTENT COUNCIL, the influential PEARL AWARDS celebrates and honours the best in content marketing from around the world.

FAH THAI was awarded: > THE SILVER AWARD FOR BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY > THE BRONZE AWARD FOR MOST EFFECTIVE IN TRAVEL AND LEISURE We thank all our readers and sponsors for the unwavering support of FAH THAI. We commit ourselves to continuing improvement of our content to inform and entertain our readers.

For more information, please visit: thecontentcouncil.org/pearl-awards

FAH THAI is published by MPMI GROUP CO., LTD. for Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited.

นิตยสารฟ้าไทยคว้าสองรางวัลซ้อน! นิตยสารฟ้าไทย มีความภูมิใจที่ได้รับรางวัลอันทรงเกียรติจาก เพิร์ลอวอร์ด (Pearl Awards) ในนครนิวยอร์ก ติดต่อกันเป็นปีที่สอง และครั้งนี้เป็นการคว้ารางวัลถึงสองรางวัลซ้อน รางวัล เพิร์ลอวอร์ด จัดโดย คอนเทนท์เคาน์ซิล (Content Council) เพื่อประกาศ ยกย่องความเป็นเลิศแก่วงการสื่อสารเพื่อการตลาดจากทั่วโลก นิตยสารฟ้าไทย ได้รับรางวัล > เหรียญเงิน ประเภท BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY > เหรียญทองแดง ประเภท MOST EFFECTIVE IN TRAVEL AND LEISURE ขอขอบพระคุณผูอ้ า่ นและสปอนเซอร์ทกุ ท่านทีใ่ ห้การสนับสนุน นิตยสารฟ้าไทย เสมอมา นิตยสารฟ้าไทย และทีมงานมุ่งมั่นที่จะพัฒนาผลงานให้มีคุณภาพในระดับสากล ส�าหรับผู้อ่านของเราต่อไป อ่านข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมได้ที่ thecontentcouncil.org/pearl-awards นิตยสารฟ้าไทย จัดพิมพ์โดย MPMI GROUP CO., LTD. เพื่อสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Plane Spotting Watch the magnificence of high flying aircraft as you lounge idyllically on the white sands of a Phuket beach while planes take off and land at the airport. The perfect spot for this free air show lies at Nai Yang Beach that sits of the western side of this island paradise with the romance of the skies above.

BANGKOK 92 / SAMUI 96 / PHUKET 100 / CHIANG MAI 102 / PATTAYA & TRAT 103 / CHENG DU & GUANGZHOU 104 / HONG KONG, SINGAPORE & KL 106 / KAMPOT & PHNOM PENH 108 / HANOI & PHU QUOC 110 / YANGON 111 / LUANG PRABANG 112 / MALDIVES & MUMBAI 113

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HAPPENINGS THAILAND

BANGKOK

SPOTLIGHT

A Riverfront Star With the cultural diversity of Bangkok’s riverside communities, it’s no surprise the areas along the Chao Phraya River or “River of Kings” provide the exciting opportunity for luxury brand Capella to drop anchor. Amidst existing waterfront residential and entertainment projects, the Capella Bangkok opens as “the first urban resort in Thailand” – promising to be a marvellous oasis of a property that sits on the banks of the historic river. Set to open in June 2019, Capella Bangkok offers 101 suites with unobstructed views of the legendary waterway as well as the city’s first riverfront villas. Additionally, the five-star residence features a restaurant with menus crafted from Michelinstarred chef Mauro Colagreco, the Auriga Wellness Spa, and The Capella Living Room.

300 Charoen Krung Road, Yannawa, capellabangkok.com

FAST TRACK TO TACOS

Taco Bell, the American fast food chain with its Mexicaninspired menu finally reaches Thailand. From its small beginning 56 years ago, the chain has expanded to 30 countries across the globe offering its brand of Mexican food to tortilla lovers with its multitude of fillings and bold flavours. Set to open its first branch at Mercury Ville in the bustling Chidlom District, Taco Bell is bringing its Southern California-styled menus that are enjoyed around the world, interpreted in their tacos, burritos and other Mexican-inspired specialties to Bangkok. Taco Bell fans can look forward to seeing the chain’s familiar items like the Crunchwrap Supreme, Grilled Stuffed Burrito and Crunch Taco, as well as specials that cater exclusively to the Thai market.

Mercury Ville 540 Ploenchit Rd, facebook.com/tacobellth

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LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

In paying homage to long-lost traditional Thai recipes, Iron Chef challenger “Jack” of Flavors Restaurant further illustrates his culinary journey by adding interesting twists and rare ingredients to classic Thai dishes. Taste his creations during the Weekdays Buffet at Flavors, located at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel. Among the highlights of the rediscovered Thai recipes include “Saeng Wa”, a grilled shrimp salad with a Thai herb-

based sauce, and “Pla Haeng Taeng Mo”, watermelon with mint and cinnamon served with a crispy fish salad. Delightfully rich and authentic in taste, the “Lost Thai Recipes” menu represents a gastronomic journey with dishes that reflect the good old days. Palates are guarantee to find satisfaction with the range of dishes on offer in the lush and intimate décor of Flavors. The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant is best known for its sumptuous cuisine and interactive, theatre-style kitchen. M fl. Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, renaissancebangkok.com, +66 (0) 2125 5010

HAPPENINGS THAILAND SPOTLIGHT

Homey Dining

Baan Nual, the lastest dining spot to open, has that old school vibe, owing to their menu of home-inspired recipes. The origin of this much-loved eatery comes from the passion of a pair of siblings who, since their childhood days, were taught how to cook by their mother. Inspired by the atmosphere of family

gatherings over a meal, the siblings went on a search for the perfect location for Baan Nual.

After finding the perfect spot in the old area of Bang Lamphu, the two began to tantalise food lovers with their authentic recipes of Thai dishes with seasonal ingredients. As a result, rare menu items like stir-fried sea bass with bird’s eye chilli, and fried larb with vermicelli can be found and enjoyed here. Due to high demand and the need to preserve the authenticity and the flavour of the dishes, Baan Nual only accepts reservations and opens during 12pm-2pm and 5-9pm. For reservations, contact them via Instagram, @baannual372. Opens Wednesday - Sunday for lunch and dinner, 372 Baan Paan Thom, Samsen Soi 2

TWISTS ON TOAST

This Bangkok restaurant has been serving unforgettable French toast and breakfast since 2016. Beginning with its first location in Soi Rang Nam, Kay’s Boutique Breakfast ventured to New York City to do a French toast pop-up store. Passionate for the delectable bread that’s soaked in eggs and milk, the owner has taken the inspiration for hearty and delicious breakfast items and combined it with good vibes for Kay’s Boutique Café at Open House, Central Embassy. Apart

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from the highlight of homemade brioche, the Café offers its signature French toast in four flavours of Salted Caramel, Chocolate, Matcha Green Tea and Thai Tea. As the place boasts all-day dining menus, interesting dishes like Hangover French Toast, with power bacon, egg and cheese as well as the exclusive menu Royal French Toast Sandwich with egg vanilla ice-cream in the centre are a must-try. Opens daily 10am - 10pm, Open House, 6 Fl. Central Embassy, 1031 Ploenchit Rd., kaysboutiques.com

BANGKOK

GIRLS’ HONOUR

Hinamatsuri, Dolls or Girls Festival is Japan’s traditional celebration where families honour their young women and Hina dolls are commemorated. The event is usually held on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of each year in Japan with Emperor and Empress or Hina dolls put on display and girls hold parties with their friends to enjoy traditional foods.

To join in the celebration, award-winning Yamazato Restaurant offers Gozen lunch

platters and a Kaiseki dinner comprising various traditional foods and savouries made from the skilled hands of the restaurant’s chefs. The Girls’ Festival at Yamazato will be celebrated from 1-24 March 2019 with a set price at Bt1,400++ per person for a gozen lunch and Bt4,700++ per person for a kaiseki dinner. 24 Fl. The Okura Prestige Bangkok Park Ventures Ecoplex 57 Wireless, okurabangkok.com, +66 (0) 2687 9000

HAPPENINGS THAILAND

SAMUI

SPOTLIGHT

Good to the Last Drop Inspired by her own miraculous journey to health, Khun Kwang or Miss Kwang, started Juice Queen in 2014 to share her knowledge and fervent love of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

What started as a local juice bar has blossomed over the years into a one-stop shop for wellbeing and rejuvenation through food. Now the queen of juice has branched out to offer not only the freshest and most delicious drink nectars on the island, but she also serves healthy meals for breakfast and lunch. Juice cleanses in a variety of choices are available for holiday-goers as well as long-term islanders. The Juice Queen team even

assists anyone in making the transition from juice fasting to healthy eating simpler with their expert nutrition offerings and recommendations. With a convenient location on the ring road of Chaweng, Juice

Queen is easily accessible to those looking to squeeze the best out of their holiday in Samui. Opens MondaySaturday, 8am-4pm, 61/7, Moo 6 Bophut, juice-queen.com, +66 (0) 61 412 0777

PASTRIES BY THE SEA

Breezy mornings, swaying palm trees, and rolling blue waves on the coast of one of Thailand’s chicest islands – and a decadent coffee and croissant in hand.

Sounds dreamy, right? They come true at one of Fisherman’s Village most wellknown eateries – Bar Baguette. Famous for their unbeatably delicious pastries, the Bar Baguette team knows how to serve up comfort and delight in the perfect setting. With a focus on quality and fresh produce, pleasing its barrage

BOHO MEAL BREAKS

of patrons each day comes naturally for the restaurant. Breakfast is arguably the most popular choice for guests though there are also light lunches, dinners and an array of cocktails available well into the evening. Strolling along Bophut’s vibrant Fisherman’s Village is a favourite activity amongst tourists and is often made better with an appetising bite at Bar Baguette. Opens daily: 7am- 10.30pm, The Wharf, Bophut beach, barbaguettesamui.com, +66 (0) 94 804 1221

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Long stretches of days on Samui’s shores with nearly uninhabited beaches dotted with quaint bungalows may be a thing of the past. However, experiencing the remote getaway is still attainable in some rare corners of the island. Treehouse Silent Beach offers visitors the opportunity to capture a glimpse of that dreamy past. Sticking to what they know works propelled the beachside venue to become one of the most popular choices not only for accommodation but also for a meal and drinks on Maenam’s coast. Treehouse Silent Beach first began a 24-year legacy in Koh Chang but eventually made its way to the holiday island of Samui where it has become a favourite amongst travellers of all ages. Decorated with colourful, bright and boho elements, patrons are instantly put at ease before even being graced with the stunning blues of the gulf. Daily happy hours paired with western and Thai favourites (khao soi noodles!), draw guests in day and night. Opens daily 8am - 11pm, 12/2 Moo 1 Maenam, tree-house.org, +66 (0) 62 240 4305

HAPPENINGS THAILAND

BAOS AND BEYOND

SPOTLIGHT

Escape from Paradise Escaping the island may not be the first thought on visitors’ minds once they’ve finally landed on beautiful Koh Samui.

However, one tour company offers patrons the chance to do just that in the most adventurous way. Escape the Island, a game challenge, appeals to thrill seekers and strategists and can become your new favourite holiday activity. Offered from Koh Samui, the adventures take participants to the tiny neighbouring island of Koh Taen.

Escape the Island holds up to two games per day lasting 4-5 hours each where participants challenge themselves to “escape” the

ONE OF THAILAND’S BEST

island in groups of three or more. Through a series of mental and physical challenges, teams race against the clock to solve riddles and prove that they can escape Koh Taen.

The escape games are open to all ages, family friendly and invite children under age seven to participate for free. Opens daily 9am-3pm, 76/8 Moo 5 Taling Ngam, Thong Krut, abclubsamui.com/ escapetheisland, +66 (0) 90 165 0411

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Maenam welcomed its latest fusion delight in December 2018 with the addition of Bao Bao Café & Eatery. As the name suggests, the main offerings are the delicious Chinese bao buns which have been cleverly turned into sandwich-like entrées and more. In addition to the delicious rice flour buns, Bao Bao also offers a number of Asian tapas (Xiao Chi) as well as choices of house-made juices, coffees or teas and of course, beers. With a mixture of industrial and tropical styles, Bao Bao draws guests in with its mysterious and modern look and convenient location – a short walkable distance to Maenam’s walking street. The restaurant prides itself on being completely plastic free, insisting on products made from bamboo and other plant fibres. Opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30am to 10.00pm, 203/4 Moo 1 Maenam, baobao.cafe, +66 (0) 98 831 7657

In 2018, one restaurant on Samui had the honour of being awarded the TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award as one of the Best Everyday Dining in Thailand. The distinction belongs to one restaurant – Chaweng’s beloved Khaw Glong. Priding itself on serving traditional Thai cuisine with no MSG or other additives, Khaw Glong has held the highest standards throughout its entire seven years of operation. Being a family-run restaurant and keeping their operations heartfelt and genuine has helped propel the eatery to its status as one of Thailand’s best. Some customer favourites range from the ever-spicy Tom Yum Goong to the delightful Shrimps with Tamarind sauce. Khaw Glong is open for dine-in or carry-out and can be easily accessed from Chaweng’s main beach road in the heart of Koh Samui.

200/12 moo 2 Chaweng Beach Road, Bophut, khawglong.com, +66 (0) 89 154 4560

SAMUI

FOOD, FUN & FUNK

Open daily from 10am to midnight, Music Beach offers the chance to experience multiple holiday joys, all in one location. Boasting an infinity pool overlooking a palm tree lined beach, with live music, delectable food and cocktails and a dance floor to boot, Music Beach is Bang Por’s

choice club and bar for all ages. Food, fun and funk is the Music Beach’s slogan and it does not disappoint in any of those arenas. Bang Por is known for being one of Samui’s serene, picturesque beaches with views of islands scattered in the blue-green background, it’s no

wonder why Music Beach chose this location to open shop in April 2018. With live bands rotating each night, music goers can always find something special whenever they should choose to drop by. facebook.com/MUSICBEACH-239060793333370, +66 (0) 77 374 683

HAPPENINGS THAILAND

SPOTLIGHT

A Gastropub Comes to Town It’s official, Phuket Town is getting trendy. Just a few years ago, that seemed unlikely but with a sea of Instagramworthy businesses popping up, the welcome update has become reality.

Case in point is the Gardens Gastro Bar located on Phang Nga Road – a classy joint with a breezy fourth-floor rooftop deck.

The skilled bartenders offer up 30+ artisanal cocktails like the Gardens drink with lychee, apple and lime juices, elderberry syrup, vodka, with finished drinks adorned with fresh flowers.

The kitchen is small but packs a serious punch with creative Euro-Thai fusion concoctions. The bright red beetroot hummus and pita platter was fresh and full of flavour. The soft shell crab burger comes highly recommended and is served on a sweet bread bun with sour mango and molasses sauce accompanied by a killer potato salad.

Swing by early for some generous happy hour specials.

44 Phang Nga Rd, A. Mueang, Phuket, +66 (0) 62 242 0210

HIGH FLYING IN PHUKET

Looking for a little excitement on your next visit to Phuket? Slap on some sunscreen and get down to Kite Zone where you can learn kiteboarding from one of their top-notch instructors.

Kite Zone has an ideal location on Friendship Beach with good onshore winds and a shallow bay perfect for beginners.

Learn the basics about equipment, wind dynamics, and the fast track to getting up on a board and shredding – all against a backdrop of tropical islands in Chalong Bay. With a bar/restaurant, beachfront bungalows next door, tons of toys including stand up paddle boards, and a pro shop to buy your own gear, there’s no need to even leave.

They also have another location in Cape Panwa and in Nai Yang during the monsoon season. 14/12, Soi Mittapap, Rawai, A. Mueang, Phuket, +66 (0) 83 395 2005

RUNWAY WITH A BEACH

Are you looking to nurture your inner airplane nerd?

Or perhaps you’re a real-life trainspotter? Phuket just happens to have the perfect spot for you to kick back, eyes turned upward, and get your fill of these airborne feats of modern engineering.

Phuket International Airport’s southern border is shared with Sirinat National Park – a tree-lined, seaside strip of beautiful coastline. Strolling north along the beach eventually lands you where the runways meet the sand. With hundreds of international and domestic flights making their way through the airport every day, there is ample opportunity to watch the planes landing just several meters above your head (or taking off depending on wind direction).

It’s a unique piece of beach to have a picnic and a swim, while watching the planes lumbering in overhead.

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PHUKET

HONEST TO GOODNESS SOUP

There’s something to be said about restaurants that specialise. Rather than opting for an encyclopaedic menu, it’s one page…front only. It not only makes ordering more simple, but the establishment is honest to stick with what they do well.

At Cha Kang Rao, a simple wooden-stooled eatery on a busy Phuket Town street, they specialise in what is probably the most consumed lunchtime dish in Thailand – noodle soup. The owner, Khun Dtaw, started with a recipe from a shop he worked at long ago and perfected it to his own taste, and obviously to the taste of the throngs of customers that flock there every day. His wife is Korean, so they also offer up some solid spicy ramen complete with fresh homemade kimchi adding that sour bite. A handful of other side dishes can be found as well, as in a really good chao guay – a black grass jelly dessert in milk and raw sugar. 38/1 Patipat Road, Talat Nuea, Mueang, Phuket

LONGEVITY NOODLE SHOP

Part of what makes Phuket a special place is its rich cultural history. And it’s all the better when that cultural history is edible.

Enter Mee Ton Phoe, a bustling little noodle shop in the heart of Old Town Phuket that is nothing short of an institution. When a restaurant opens its doors in 1946 and those same doors are still open in 2019, they have unequivocally done something right.

What they’ve done right is Phuket-style Hokkien noodles; fresh egg noodles stir fried with Chinese kale, pork, seafood, and a soft boiled egg in a rich brown gravy. It’s a safe dish for the spice averse. A dedicated satay griller mans the barbecue, pumping out the cherished chunks of skewered meats with peanut dipping sauce. 214/7-8 Phuket Road, Talat Nuea, Mueang, Phuket, +66 (0) 76 216 293

SPOTLIGHT

Songkran’s Soggy Fun On April 13th comes one of Thailand’s most well-known and loved holidays, Songkran. Although often referred to as the Thai New Year, Thailand officially starting celebrating the New Year on January 1 in 1888 and Songkran became a national holiday.

Songkran comes from Sanskrit, meaning an astrological passage, and marks the shift of the seasons in Thailand. However, it seems

few people are concerned with the origins of the holiday and now focus on the capacity of their water guns’ reservoirs! The significance of water in this celebration began with small amounts being poured over Buddha statues as well as the hands of the young and old, but things have changed slightly.

The modern iteration consists of truck loads and hordes of dancing

people of all ages and ethnicities throwing buckets of water at each other – sometimes ice water. If you wander outdoors – you’re fair game.

Be prepared for a fun and soggy day.

Bangla Road in Patong Beach offers the largest gathering of determined water throwing with its biggest and wildest Songkran reputation while Rawai Beach will offer some rest in between the splashing.

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HAPPENINGS THAILAND

PHUKET / CHIANG MAI

BEST BURGER COOKOFF

Attention all fine burger aficionados: prepare your taste buds for the 5th annual Phuket’s Best Burger cook-off.

A burger is far more than the sum of its parts. Simply beef and bun won’t cut it. A good burger must have the fine subtleties dialled in just right: high-quality beef without gristle, spiced to the ideal balance, and maybe a bit of egg to keep the minced meat together. What about the bun?

Well, the true connoisseur will judge the density and delicate flavours with a keen eye – or tongue rather. And we haven’t even begun discussing the toppings and condiments yet!

Want to get in on the action?

Clear your schedule and your stomach for Saturday, March 30 at Boat Lagoon Marina. 22/1 Moo 2 Thepkasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, Mueang, Phuket, facebook.com/ PhuketBestBurger, +66 (0) 86 943 7840

YES TO COFFEE

Coffee drinkers love coffee because it makes them feel good. However, drinking Yes Coffee will make you feel great. There’s no fancy caffeine or infused superfood, it’s what some of the profits are used for that will make bring on the feelings.

Founded in 2012, Nai Harn-based Yes Coffee is a boutique coffee roaster that uses a portion of their profits to operate a school for underprivileged kids. Located just next to the café, the

60+ student schoolhouse is comprised of Thai and Burmese kids who are taught various subjects by two teachers.

The café itself is a stylish little coffee house tucked into a quiet forested area and a beautiful spot for a morning coffee. You can check out the roasting room and buy all sorts of Thai-grown coffees as well.

20/8 Moo 1, Rawai, Muang, Phuket, +66 (0) 76 388 086

SPOTLIGHT

Migration of Tastes Khu Khao is the name of the main restaurant at the newlyopened Raya Heritage in Chiang Mai. Curated from the core concepts that focus on the story of the Thai North, Khu Khao – referring to the traditional rice huller made from handwoven stripes of bamboo – serves a menu that reflects the migration of tastes. The result is an array of unique dishes that reflect the seamless culinary cultures of Thai Lanna, the Thai North, the Yunnan region of China, along with Myanmar,

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Laos and Cambodia. Tuck into a bowl of ‘Khao Raem Fuen Yunnan Style’ and be amazed by how this century-old rice recipe is perpetuated in different cultures. Jin-Loong, or minced pork balls, is served over the delicate house-made fermented rice vermicelli. As a sister hotel of Rayavadee in Krabi, Raya Heritage takes on a sustainable approach in its architecture and designs, using local handcrafted, antique and, in many cases, hard-tofind materials, refining them to fit into its soothing fivestar ambience.

Set by a serene stretch of the Ping River, Raya Heritage is now showcasing ‘Tracing the Fading Legacy’ exhibition that features stories of living legends of the Thai North until 31 March 2019. Opens daily: 10am - 7pm. rayaheritage.com

THAILAND

PATTAYA / TRAT

Music festival 2019 The legendary music festival, one of the biggest event in Pattaya is back again this year after taking a 2-year break. This year, the Pattaya Music Festival returns with the same fun and variety of music.

Organised by Pattaya City Hall and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the event has been held annually for more than 10 years and attracts a crowd of music lovers from all over the country each year. This year, the festival will take place on 15-16 March, 2019 at Pattaya beach. There are two main stages with a great music lineup. Starting 5pm until midnight, prepare to enjoy good music from a number of famous Thai artists. No entrance fee is needed. Just get yourself to the event and enjoy the music. tourismthailand.org, +66 (0) 38 253 100 ext 4115

COMMEMORATION RUN IN TRAT 2019

HEALTHY AT FIG CAFÉ

Healthy eating will not be a bland and boring experience when visiting Fig Café at Koh Chang. Located at Kai Bae beach, Fig Café is surrounded by lush gardens with a calm and peaceful environment and offers a variety and spectrum of healthy vegetarian food. The owner of Fig Café turned a passionate interest in cooking into a home-cooked restaurant serving healthy and delicious vegetarian food and drinks. Customers’ favourites

If you happen to be in Trat these days, spare a day in your holiday for a major event – The Memorable Run 2019! The event was organised to mark the 113th year of celebration of Trat Independence Day, on March 23, 1907 when Trat was liberated and returned to Thai sovereignty after almost 3 years under French rule. The commemorative event will be held on Sunday of 24th March at Trat Stadium. The race options include 5K, 10K, 21K, VIP 5K, VIP 10K AND VIP 21K with entry fees starting at 500-2,000 Baht. Those who finish the 21K will be given the official finisher T-shirts. The registration is open until all seats are reserved, and all proceeds after expenses will be given to Trat Hospital. Other than the main run, other activities include parades, exhibitions, and other festivities as part of Trat Independence’s 5-day celebration from 23-27 March. Make a run for it to learn some history and also celebrate with the locals! facebook.com/TheMemoryRUNTrat include the Honey Baked Banana Pancake, a Fig Salad, Tofu Salad and Grilled Mozzarella and Tomato Panini. You can be sure that all ingredients are natural and nutritious with a balanced seasoning. If that doesn’t sound healthy enough, the restaurant also serves up cold-pressed juice made daily to ensure freshness. For coffee enthusiasts, the beverage is not to be missed. +66 (0) 81 410 4747, facebook.com/figcafekohchang

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HAPPENINGS CHINA

SPOTLIGHT

Love-Themed Street Chengdu, with its 2,000-yearold history, culture and culinary accolades, is considered one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It may be speeding towards the future in rapid time but this city in the Sichuan province still holds on to a relevant past, evident in the popular destination of Qintai Road.

The themed street was created for visitors to get a feel for past dynasties

GUANGZHOU SPEED UP

as traditional houses line the stone streets while shops and teahouses beckon everyone to try their wares.

The 920-metre-long path paved with bricks carved with the pictures depict the daily life of the people in the Han Dynasty.

Easily reached and located in central Chengdu, this reprentation of old China already serves as a popular tourist destination. Food lovers can try the

Passengers travelling through Guangzhou’s Baiyun International Airport need never fear that a weak Wi-Fi signal will interfere with their digital devices or a social media posting. The airport launched a ‘5G base station’ in early 2019 and while the 5G sites have been setting up around the country over the past year, the airport at the Guangdong capital is the first 5G-covered one in China.

Users familiar with 4G networks will already feel the difference as data carried over 5G will be 10 times faster. So high definition movies can be downloaded with a few seconds to make the plane road more bearable.

The airport is about 28 kilometres from the airport to the downtown area of Guangzhou and is one of the three largest air hubs in China.

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hotpot restaurants for which Sichuan is famed for, including the rituals in tea houses, or attend the well-known Sichuan opera venue, Shufeng Yayun.

Generations who grew up hearing the old love story of the young wealthy widow, Zhuo Wenjun, and a poor scholar, Sima Xiangru come to capture the romance with strolls through the vibrant and colourful street that commemorates the couple.

CHENGDU / GUANGZHOU

GLOBAL GUIDE FOR CANTONESE FOOD

While the entire world already enjoys the breadth and width of Cantonese cuisine – the Michelin Guide, in recognition of this fact released a global list of their top choices for restaurants specialising in Cantonese cuisine. This newest publication is the first time that the Michelin Guide team has released a book focused on a specific cuisine, instead of picking a specific geographic location.

In Guangzhou, the home of Cantonese cuisine itself, restaurants such as Bing Sheng Mansion, Wisca and Sky No. 1 already renowned in their own right, get featured in the pages of Michelin’s first Cantonese food guide that’s written in both English and Chinese. Notable restaurants feature Cantonese dishes that range from the popular eats like roast goose, a type of siu mei, or Cantonese-style barbecued meat dish

with its crispy outer skin, yum cha or dim sum, to more exquisite creations.

The guidebook includes approximately 300 Michelin Star, Bib Gourmand and Plate Cantonese restaurants that covers 15 countries and regions, including 39 in Guangzhou, and also 89 in Hong Kong, 29 in Shanghai, 26 in Singapore, 16 in the United States and the added surprise of one dining establishment in Norway. Copies can be obtained at major online bookstores or your nearest neighbourhood ones.

HAPPENINGS HONG KONG

SPOTLIGHT

The Great Outdoors National Geographic and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have teamed up to promote some of the city’s most stunning landscapes as part of its 10th annual Great Outdoors campaign.

With its ‘One Place, Two Perspectives’, narrative – the campaign will allow visitors to discover some of Hong Kong’s most picturesque nature trails, traditional villages, and beautiful landscapes.

The campaign features insights presented by National Geographic photographers such as Frenchman Matthieu Paley who has lived in Hong Kong for nine years and National Geographic award-winning photographer and Hongkonger, Tugo Cheng. Local trail runner Wyan Chow Pui-yan, the first local female to win the Vibram Hong Kong 100 and stood 17th in the Ultra Trail World Tour also lends her expertise in hiking and trail-running along Tai Mo Shan. discoverhongkong.com

TEXTILE HERITAGE

The old cotton spinning mills of Nan Fung Textiles in Tsuen Wang have been revitalised and repurposed into a unique non-profit art centre that aims to promote the creative industry. The Centre for Heritage, Arts & Textile (CHAT), which opens in March is not only a part of the heritage conservation project of The Mills, but it also aims to re-examine the legacies of Hong Kong’s textile heritage through contemporary art, public participation and collective exploration.

CHAT’s new lineup will encompass a diverse range of in-house curated exhibitions, installations, as well as co-learning programmes.

The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, mill6chat.org

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EXPERT WAGYU OMAKASE

Japan’s top wagyu specialist has set up shop in Hong Kong.

Hisato Hamada, the co-founder and culinary mastermind behind Wagyumafia, Tokyo’s exclusive members-only Wagyu beef restaurants, has launched his first international branch in Oi Kwan Road in Wan Chai. The restaurant will welcome up to 18 diners to experience an omakase menu specialising in Japan’s most renowned beef.

Since 2016, Waygumafia has prided itself on serving authentic Japanese-reared Wagyu, sourced directly from the farmers breeding champions of Kobe and Tajima beef. The Hong Kong tasting menu will present the same pedigreed Wagyu and Kobe beef sourced from select Japanese farmers.

Aside from showcasing a broad range of cuts and cooking methods, from the traditional yakiniku and shabu shabu to more unconventional techniques, the menu will also include Wagyumafia’s world-famous Cutlet Sandwich. Shop 1B, Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, wagyumafia.com

SINGAPORE / MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE / KUALA LUMPUR

SPOTLIGHT

Luxury Hammam With its variety of traditional treatments, Sofitel Kuala Lumpur’s SoSPA offers the perfect respite for weary travellers to the capital city.

A recent recipient of several awards at the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel and Spa Awards 2018 including ‘Best New Hotel

Spa in Asia’, the first luxury hammam in KL is widely recognised for its extensive therapies and Malay, Chinese or Indian massages, which are infused with French expertise.

SoSPA boasts a menu, inspired by gastronomy, which are held in five luxurious treatment rooms, all of which are designed with calming French inspired décor to instil total relaxation. In addition to its health and beauty treatments, the spa also affords its guests to rejuvenate their body, mind and soul with a relaxing hammam session as well as steam therapy in the sauna. 6, Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, sofitel.com

MULTI-SENSORY SHOWCASE

A theatre of light and sound, SkySymphony presented by Resorts World Genting is a free to the public performance showcasing an extraordinary orchestra of audio, visual and motion graphics programming. The state-of-the-art installation, which is Asia’s largest permanent kinetic balls display and the first multimedia winch attraction in Asia.

SkySymphony utilises 1,001 winch balls suspended from a four-storey high ceiling, and larger-than-life cinematic visuals and original music mix to reveal an immersive display. Viewers will also be enthralled by the unique 360 degrees and 3D performance presented through three original shows held every hour from 10am to midnight daily. Level 1, SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting, rwgenting.com

ROBOT CHEFS ROLLOUT

Guests at Millennium Hotels and Resorts can now get their eggs cooked by AUSCA (Autonomous Service Chef Associate), the world’s first robot chef. The high-tech and fully autonomous chef first made its debut in late 2017 but has since undergone significant upgrades to allow it to prepare a variety of egg dishes.

The first prototype could prepare eggs — either sunny-side up or omelette style just under three minutes. The current version offers the choice of both egg styles at an improved time of slightly more than a minute. It also allows guests to choose from a selection of toppings for their omelette.

The latest version of AUSCA is currently deployed at Orchard Hotel Singapore, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, M Hotel Singapore, Studio M Hotel Singapore and Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore. millenniumhotels.com

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HAPPENINGS CAMBODIA

For travellers looking to get closer to nature during their visit to Cambodia, the answer can be found at the southern tip of the Cardamom National Park. Roughly three hours away from Phnom Penh, the nature reserve is now home to Shinta Mani Wild, a unique resort that offers visitors a luxurious, tented camp experience in the Cambodian wilderness.

The resort consists of 15 luxury safari tents, most of which are set up nearby jungle and waterfalls, providing a view and experience unlike any other resort in Asia. Although nestled in the Cambodian wild with nature practically at the

KAMPOT / PHNOM PENH

SPOTLIGHT

Into the Wild

doorstep, Shinta Mani Wild nevertheless offers its guests modern amenities as well as impeccable service. The resort houses its own restaurant, bar and spa and also offers guided nature tours. shintamani.com/wild

Photo Michaël Gras

HILLTOP RETREAT

FRENCH ART ESCAPE

For 26 years, the Institut Français du Cambodge (IFC) has stood as one of Phnom Penh’s most important art centres, one which has played an important role in the cultural, artistic, and educational cooperation between France and Cambodia.

The centre hosts regular exhibitions, workshops, talks as well as classes, live entertainment, music and art performances, film screenings and mini festivals as well. Institut Français du Cambodge also operates its own restaurant, Le Bistrot, which serves French-styled cuisine as well as pastries, wine and coffee.

218 rue 184 - BP 827 - Phnom Penh, institutfrancais-cambodge.com

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Situated in Kampot, a four hours drive from Phnom Penh, Le Bokor Palace offers a perfect cooling retreat from the hot and humid climes of Cambodia. The historical hotel has been around since the 1920s, and famously hosted royalty and elites for decades. But thanks to Sokha Hotels & Resorts, Le Bokor Palace underwent extensive renovations and refurbishment, which has transformed it into a luxurious 6-star hotel in 2018.

Perched on a cliff at the top of Bokor Mountain, the hotel boasts 36 luxury rooms and suites with breath-taking views of the surrounding areas. The property also features two restaurants, which captures the elegance of the hotel’s historic past, with renaissance menus that pays tribute to Royal Khmer cuisine prepared with the freshest vegetables and ingredients sourced from nearby organic farms.

Krong Kampot, Cambodia, lebokorpalace.com

HAPPENINGS VIETNAM

HANOI / PHU QUOC SPOTLIGHT

Phu Quoc Healing The island getaway of Phu Quoc recently welcomed the opening of Harnn wellness spa at the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort. Winning accolades globally, this branch in Vietnam of the HARNN Heritage Spa chain brings luxurious pampering to a spa retreat by promoting relaxation using healing practices from around the region.

The Thailand-based company has won international awards and their Phu Quoc vision features a space that surrounds a lagoon

NINH BINH WATERWAYS

SOUVENIR PORCELAIN

Bat Trang, a traditional village known for porcelain and pottery, has a storied history dating back seven centuries. Located on some land rich in clay, the village has natural advantages to create fine ceramics.

Ensconced in the Red river between Thang Long and Pho Hien, two ancient trade centres in the north of Vietnam, Bat Trang’s ceramics were favourite products during the 15-17th centuries. The village is just minutes outside of Hanoi and visitors should include a trip as part of a Hanoi itinerary.

The ceramics are produced for daily household use from plates

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and bowls to altar objects and decorative items. In recent years, new production techniques, designs, and features have enhanced the allure of traditional pottery.

The Bat Trang Porcelain and Pottery Market has a concentration of stores, as well as pottery classes, with numerous stores lining the roads in the village.

Bat Trang is part of the Gia Lam district of Hanoi. You can get there with public transport, bus 47 (Long Bien - Bat Trang) stops at Dong Xuan market or private cars are easy to hire at travel agencies scattered throughout Hanoi.

in a quiet corner of the resort. The destination spa boasts separate treatment villas in shell-shaped bamboo sculptures that appear to float above the water.

Guests wanting to avail of the services learn that treatments derive from the healing traditions of Vietnam, Thailand, including concepts from Ayurveda, aromatherapy, and traditional medicines.

The menu introduces a signature bamboo massage, using a rolling bamboo stick, or a bamboo body brush designed to exfoliate and promote healthy blood and lymphatic circulation to leave you feeling renewed.

Reservations can be made at phuquoc.intercontinental.com

The area of Ninh Binh is also known as the Ha Long Bay on land for an obvious reason – it resembles Ha Long Bay but without the water.

Instead, imagine hundreds of limestone monoliths emerging from the ground, covered by intensely green foliage that surrounds a city with rivers and caves to explore.

To travel along the water, boats are aplenty with women rowers clamouring for your business. The ride itself meanders calmly through views of lush nature as your oarsperson rows with her feet. “It’s less tiring this way,” they always say.

The town of Ninh Binh is only 95 kilometres from Hanoi (about a 2-3-hour journey) and also reachable from Ha Long Bay. Hotels and travel agencies can provide information. It may not be as well-known as Ha Long Bay but that is changing quickly.

MYANMAR

TOP SEED BY THE LAKE

Swiss couple Lucia and Felix Eppisser came to Yangon in 2010 bringing with them a combination of exemplary culinary experiences and personal touches in hospitality. Chef Felix himself is Michelin-starred and after settling to their life in Yangon marked by extensive culinary journeys, they decided to create an enchanting restaurant and lounge by Inya lake called Seeds.

Seeds sits on a modern bamboo and glass lake-styled house together with a lush, green, tropical garden. The place is located to the west of Inya Lake shore, offering a stunning view of the sunset over the lake.

Enjoy Chef Felix’s specialties like truffle ravioli, a home-cured salmon – all in an elegant setting with excellent service by an attentive Seeds team. seedsyangon.com

WELL PLANTED ELEGANCE

Well-known Inya Lake in actuality is a man-made lake located in Yangon created in the past by the British to serve as a water reservoir. Some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Yangon embrace the area surrounding Inya Lake, and it’s also where Aung San Suu Kyi spent years under house arrest. Other attractions sit along its bank, with hotels, parks, the Yangon sailing club and many great restaurants.

Le Planteur is a draw for those seeking dining that is set in a beautiful colonial mansion overlooking the lake. Opened since 1998, the place sets a quality standard for authentic French cuisine in a unique setting. Its stylish design befits its elegant environment and you can enjoy the indoor lounge and outdoor garden area, or the scenic veranda for high tea. Opens daily from 11.30am to 11.30pm, 80 University Avenue, Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar , +95 1 514 230, leplanteur.net

YANGON

SPOTLIGHT

Unexpected Yet Good One fine dining place worth the effort through Yangon downtown’s traffic is Burma Bistro, on the corner of Merchant Road and Shwe Bon Thar Road. Look carefully for the luminous sign outside on the street since the restaurant’s misleading façade can be easily missed. It’s a beautifully restored colonial heritage building with attention to details. Once you make it up the old and creaky staircase to the first floor, Burma Bistro awaits you with its impressive high ceilings and old ventilators in a rustic but modern vibe, along with with beautifully chosen furniture, exposed brickwork and lovely balconies.

Almost completely empty when it opened, Burma Bistro is now gaining popularity with thanks to people and their social media postings of meals. For aperitifs, Burma Bistro offers an impressive selection of beer, wine, champagne and cocktails to choose from or go up the

spiral staircase to find the island bar and a walk-in wine cellar. It’s slightly more private here with ‘VIP’ style booths, and good for a nice and quiet conversation.

Burma Bistro’s signature dish of rice cooked in bamboo is one of the restaurant’s must-eat dishes. The spicy pork ribs are textural and rich, the meat used in the satay is of good quality and the peanut sauce, first class.

Here, the vegetables in curries get steamed, differing from the usual fried method and there is no shortage of vegetarian dishes.

If you’re looking for a unique place to dine, Burma Bistro comes highly recommended with superb, traditional Burmese dishes with a modern twist. The prices totally correspond to the food’s quality and it’s perfect for locals, tourists and expats. burmabistro.net 111

HAPPENINGS LAOS

LUANG PRABANG

SPOTLIGHT

An Extravagant Adventure Rosewood Luang Prabang adds the romance to travel for the discerning guest who lands at their luxury property in the Lan Xang Kingdom in northern Laos. Carrying out the vision of renowned hotel designer Bill Bensley, who left his mark at Four Seasons Golden Triangle Tented Camp in Chiang Rai and many luxury properties worldwide, the Rosewood Luang Prabang perches over a hilltop outside the world heritage site’s Old Town.

All 23 villas, suites and a oneof-a-kind enormous white tent reflect décor that fantasises a journey seen through the eyes of explorers in the 19th century. The Rosewood Luang Prabang also celebrates the culture and heritage of a royal city, with equal homage to the hill tribes.

The Great House, their main dining room, is inspired by the mansion of Auguste Pavie – a French explorer and governor of Luang Prabang in the late 1800s.

The resort serves Lao dishes inspired by Luang Prabang’s long-lost royal cuisine – a bowl of spicy soup with young bamboo shoots, for example.

A hedonistic trip to Rosewood Luang Prabang cannot be complete without a pampering at The Sense Spa, ensuring all senses are sated when you leave. +856 7121 1155, rosewoodhotels.com/ en/luang-prabang A RICE TERRACE WRAP AROUND

SPOON FULL DINING

Bouang meaning “spoon” in the Lao language is the latest restaurant that does fusion with a stress on local foods. Located within walking distance from Luang Prabang’s Royal Palace Museum, Bouang shows culinary skills that add new flavours and colours to the local food scene in this UNESCO World Heritage city in Laos.

Founded by a French woman, this shophouse with graffiti art walls, vintage-styled posters, and whimsical ceiling lamps exudes an air of girl power. Tasty Asian fusion fare, good coffee, local beer and creativity adds further appeal to this small restaurant in Sisavangvong Road. Most of the dish ingredients and produce are sourced locally – especially dairy products from Laos Buffalo Diary in Luang Prabang.

Main street Luang Prabang, +856 20 55 632 600, facebook.com/ Bouang.asianeatery

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Pullman Luang Prabang, a new and stylish resort in Laos, goes the extra mile for the good of local communities and environment with their locally-sourced menu to responsible tourism activities.

The resort is five kilometres west of the Royal Palace Museum. All 123 guestrooms vary, from the Deluxe Room, Premium Deluxe Room, Deluxe Suite, Premium Deluxe Suite and Two-Bedroom Pool Villa, and embraced by endless terraces of rice paddy fields and the rustic

beauty of Luang Prabang’s countryside.

The presence of the paddy field, lagoonstyle pool and cluster of contemporary Lao cottages resemble a traditional Lao village:with palm trees, a community reservoir and swathes of greenery lending privacy to each cottage and villa. Pullman Luang Prabang combines a modern design with conventional Lao and Asian pieces, creating a property that gives a strong sense of place. +856 71 211 112, pullman-luangprabang.com

INDIA / MALDIVES

MUMBAI / MALDIVES

SPOTLIGHT

Festive Touch

Mumbai heralds spring with two festivals that are celebrated with much pomp and splendour.

Add to this, an ever-evolving restaurant scene and new street art, and there’s much to see and do in the city.

Holi is one of the most important festivals in the Indian calendar and is celebrated on a grand scale in Mumbai. This festival of colours begins on March 20th with bonfires being lit in every neighbourhood – these bonfires represent the demoness Holika and symbolise the victory of good over evil.

The next day, March 21st, will be one big street party! Young and old all indulge in playful revelry, smearing each other with coloured powders, squirting water pistols, and aiming water balloons at all and sundry.

A SANDBANK PICNIC

For those seeking a different kind of quick getaway in the Maldives, your own private sandbank awaits. In addition to the atolls, many of the islands that surround the Maldives consist of pure and powdery sand embraced by a lagoon or a reef known as sandbanks, or baby islands. It’s a hide and seek game as some of the sandbanks get entirely submerged at high tide and appear only at low tide.

Close on the heels of Holi, Maharashtrians celebrate the New Year according to the Hindu lunar calendar. Gudi Padwa falls on April 6th this year. Many families erect a Gudi flag with a silk cloth, garlanded with flowers and auspicious mango tree leaves, topped by an upturned pot. This flag is a symbol of prosperity and good luck in the New Year and is usually displayed in windows or balconies or on the roof or on a nearby tree. The festival is also marked by colourful (and noisy) parades around the city featuring men and women in traditional costumes dancing to the beat

of drums. No Indian festival is complete without food. Gudi Padwa is often celebrated with the traditional Maharashtrian dessert of puran poli, a flatbread stuffed with sweetened lentil mixture, served with a drizzle of ghee (clarified butter) and a side of thin, spicy curry.

STREET ART IN TRIBUTE

These new islands materialise every day and it’s enough reason to leave your stretch of beach at your resort in the Maldives for a private spot on a nearby sandbank surrounded by nothing but aquamarine waters. Unique picnics are easily arranged by resorts since most of the sandbanks are within easy reach.

Bring sun protection and pop up an umbrella for your spectacular picnic on the sandbanks.

The newly christened Mahim (East) Art District within Dharavi has been given an arty makeover. The St+Art Festival began in early December with six internationally renowned urban artists making their mark on the residential buildings in Shahu Nagar Colony. Eleven colourful murals now adorn these buildings, the most striking of which is the one by Italian mural artist Millo. His artworks have breathed new life into neighbourhoods from his native Italy to across Europe, the USA, Australia, and Asia. Millo’s first mural in India is a tribute to Mumbai’s everyday man standing amidst the chaos of the city, holding up a bright blue umbrella as he is showered with goldenyellow marigold flowers.

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BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS 116 / ROUTE MAP 126 / AIRCRAFT INFO 128

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BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS

BANGKOK AIRWAYS RANKS 5TH AS MOST PUNCTUAL AIRLINE GLOBALLY BY OAG AVIATION WORLDWIDE Bangkok Airways came in as the fifth ‘most punctual airline’ in 2018 as rated

by OAG Aviation Worldwide, the global aviation industry data analysis company, recently. Bangkok Airways is the only ranking Thai carrier among the top 20 airlines based on an On-Time Performance (OTP) of 87.16 per cent in 2018.

In addition, Bangkok Airways has been ranked second best among Asia Pacific airlines with a 98.4 per cent OTP score.

Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways said, “We are proud to be ranked fifth on our On-Time Performance among the top 20 airlines globally by OAG Aviation Worldwide. This recognition means a great deal in encouragement for management and everyone else at Bangkok Airways.

We will continue to deliver the best

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service with the highest safety standards to be the best airline in Asia.”

OAG Aviation Worldwide is the leading company in global aviation industry data analysis, and reveals annual ratings of the best On-Time Performance for the world's largest airlines and airports. For more information, please visit www.oag.com

เมื่อเร็วๆ นี้ สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ได้รับ การจัดอันดับเป็นอันดับที่ 5 ของสายการบินที่ตรง ต่อเวลาที่สุดในโลกจาก “โอเอจี เอวิเอชั่น เวิลด์ ไวด์” (OAG Aviation Worldwide) บริษัทวิเคราะห์ ข้อมูลด้านอุตสาหกรรมการบินระดับโลก ซึ่งสาย การบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์สเป็นสายการบินเดียวจาก ประเทศไทยที่ติดอันดับอยู่ในท็อป 20 สายการบิน จากทั่วโลก (Top 20 Airlines by On-Time Performance) ประจ�ำปี 2561 ด้วยสถิติความ ตรงต่อเวลา ร้อยละ 87.16

นอกจากนี้ สายการบินฯ ยังได้ถูกจัดอันดับ เป็นอันดับที่ 2 ของสายการบินที่ตรงต่อเวลาที่สุด ในภูมิภาคเอเชียแปซิฟิก ด้วยสถิติความตรงต่อ เวลาร้อยละ 98.4 นายพุฒิพงศ์ ปราสาททองโอสถ กรรมการ ผู้อ�ำนวยการใหญ่ สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส กล่าวว่า “รูส้ กึ ภูมใิ จเป็นอย่างยิ่งทีไ่ ด้รบั การจัดอันดับ ให้เป็นสายการบินที่ตรงต่อเวลาที่สุดเป็นอันดับ 5 ของโลก ซึ่งถือเป็นก�ำลังใจส�ำคัญให้กับผู้บริหารและ พนักงานทุกคนทีท่ มุ่ เทท�ำงานเพื่อมอบบริการทีด่ ที สี่ ดุ ให้แก่ผโู้ ดยสารโดยค�ำนึงถึงความปลอดภัยสูงสุดเป็น ส�ำคัญ ซึง่ สายการบินฯ จะยังคงมุง่ มัน่ สร้างสรรค์ความ เป็นเลิศ เพื่อเป็นสายการบินทีด่ ที สี่ ดุ ของเอเชียต่อไป” โอเอจี เอวิเอชั่น เวิลด์ ไวด์ (OAG Aviation Worldwide) เป็นบริษัทชั้นน�ำในการวิเคราะห์ข้อมูล ด้านอุตสาหกรรมการบินระดับโลก ที่เปิดเผยข้อมูล รายงานเกี่ยวกับสถิติความตรงต่อเวลาของสาย การบินเเละท่าอากาศยานทั่วโลกเป็นประจ�ำทุกปี สามารถดูรายละเอียดการจัดอันดับเพิ่มเติมได้ที่

www.oag.com

BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS

BANGKOK AIRWAYS WELCOMES THE 40TH AIRCRAFT TO ITS FLEET

Recently, Bangkok Airways, led by Air Marshall Dechit Chareonwong, Vice President of Flight Operations (centre) and Mr. Nijjapat Piyapant, Vice President of Ground Operations (4th from right) welcomed the latest Airbus A319 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, making it the 40th aircraft to join its fleet.

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This aircraft type consists of 144 economy class seats and will serve popular domestic and international routes such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Myanmar (Yangon, Mandalay), Cambodia (Siem Reap, Phnom Penh), India (Mumbai) and Vietnam (Da Nang).

This includes the city of Cam Ranh, which is the airline’s latest route for Vietnam.

สายการบิน บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส น�ำโดย กัปตัน พล.อ.ท. เดชิศร์ เจริญวงศ์ รองกรรมการ ผู้อ�ำนวยการใหญ่ ฝ่ายปฏิบัติการบิน (กลาง) และนายนิจพัฒน์ ปิยะพัน ธ์ รองกรรมการ

ผู้อ�ำนวยการใหญ่ ฝ่ายปฏิบัติการภาคพื้น (ที่ 4 จากฝั่งขวา) ต้อนรับเครื่องบินแบบแอร์บัส เอ319 ซึ่ ง เป็ น เครื่ อ งบิ น ล� ำ ที่ 40 เข้ า สู ่ ฝู ง บิ น ของบางกอกแอร์ เ วย์ ส ณ ท่ า อากาศยาน สุวรรณภูมิ เครื่องบินโดยสารแอร์บัสล�ำนี้ประกอบไปด้วย ที่นั่งชั้นประหยัดจ�ำนวน 144 ที่นั่ง ซึ่งจะให้บริการ เส้น ทางการบิน ยอดนิยมภายในประเทศและ ระหว่างประเทศ อาทิ เชียงใหม่ ภูเก็ต สมุย กระบี่ สหภาพเมียนมาร์ (ย่างกุ้ง มัณฑะเลย์) กัมพูชา (เสียมราฐ พนมเปญ) อินเดีย (มุมไบ) และ เวียดนาม (ดานัง) รวมทั้งเมืองคัมรัน ซึ่งเป็นเส้น ทางบินใหม่ล่าสุดที่เปิดให้บริการไปเมื่อวันที่ 25 มกราคมที่ผ่านมา

BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS

BANGKOK AIRWAYS PIONEERS DIRECT SERVICE FROM BANGKOK TO CAM RANH–VIETNAM'S GATEWAY TO NHA TRANG Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited has successfully made its maiden flight from Bangkok to Cam Ranh, Vietnam. The airline operates four flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) with a 144-seater Airbus A319 aircraft.

Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Vice President – Sales, Bangkok Airways PCL said, “Bangkok Airways is pleased to offer this new service from Bangkok to Cam Ranh, Vietnam. Cam Ranh is situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam and has been one of the most desirable beach holiday destinations for upscale Vietnamese and European tourists. Currently, Cam Ranh has experienced rapid growth in the number of visitors every year, not to mention constant support from the Vietnamese government in putting this city on the world map, by offering a 15-day visa free policy for tourists from England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the 14-90 days visa free for tourists from Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Chile. In addition, Cam Ranh is also very close to Nha Trang city, known as the “Riviera of the

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South China Sea,” and has been one of the most popular tourism destinations for European and Vietnamese travellers.

We consider this to be another milestone, as this will make Bangkok Airways the only scheduled airline to fly directly to this popular beach holiday destination from Thailand.

The aim of this new launch is to not only enhance Bangkok Airways’ network to cover the Indochina

region, but also to provide better flight connections for European, Thai and Vietnamese customers as well as offering regional connecting routes to Cam Ranh for our long-haul codeshare partners.

Cam Ranh is the fourth destination in Vietnam, adding to the Bangkok Airways route network after a successful performance on Bangkok-Da Nang, Bangkok-Phu Quoc and Chiang Mai-Hanoi flights launched earlier in May 2016, October 2017 and March 2018, respectively. We anticipate that the majority of our passengers will be businessmen and tourists from the two countries. We are confident that with our strong reputation of offering a boutique flying experience for our passengers, Bangkok Airways will be the leading player in this market, ” Mr. Varong added.

Bangkok Airways will offer four flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) with a 144-seater Airbus A319 aircraft. The outbound flight PG993 will depart Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) at 10.20hrs and arrive Cam Rahn (Nha Trang) International Airport at 12.05hrs. The inbound flight PG994 will depart Cam Rahn (Nha Trang) Airport at 12.55hrs and arrive Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) at 14.40hrs.

For more information, please contact Bangkok Airways Call Centre at 1771 (24hrs) or visit www.bangkokair.com

สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส เปิดเส้นทางบินใหม่ระหว่าง กรุงเทพฯ-คัมรัน (เวียดนาม) โดยให้บริการสัปดาห์ละ 4 เทีย่ วบิน (จันทร์ พุธ ศุกร์ และอาทิตย์) ด้วยเครื่องบินแบบแอร์บัส เอ319 ขนาด 144 ที่นั่ง นายวรงค์ อิสรเสนา ณ อยุทธยา รองผู้อ�ำนวยการใหญ่ ส่วนขาย สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส กล่าวถึงวัตถุประสงค์ ในการเปิดเส้นทางบินกรุงเทพฯ-คัมรัน ว่า “บริษัทฯ เล็งเห็น ศักยภาพและเชื่อมั่นว่าเส้นทางกรุงเทพฯ-คัมรันจะได้รับความ นิยมจากนักเดินทางทั้งชาวเวียดนาม ชาวยุโรป และชาวไทย เนื่องจากเป็นเมืองตากอากาศที่สวยงาม ตั้งอยู่ทางชายฝั่ง ตอนใต้ของประเทศเวียดนาม และได้รับการพัฒนาจากรัฐบาล เวียดนามให้เป็นแหล่งท่องเที่ยวส�ำหรับตลาดไฮเอนด์ ซึ่งจะเห็น ได้จากการมีโรงแรมระดับ 5 หรือ 6 ดาว ที่เปิดให้บริการอยู่ และมีแผนที่จะลงทุนเพิ่มเติมในอนาคต นอกจากนี้ รัฐบาล เวียดนามยังสนับสนุนให้คัมรันกลายเป็นจุดหมายปลายทาง ของนักท่องเที่ยวทั่วโลก โดยการยกเว้นวีซ่านานถึง 15 วัน ให้แก่นักท่องเที่ยวจาก 5 ประเทศ ได้แก่ อังกฤษ ฝรั่งเศส สเปน อิตาลี และเยอรมันนี และยังยกเว้นวีซ่า 14-90 วัน ให้อีก 4 ประเทศ คือ ญี่ปุ่น เกาหลีใต้ ฟิลิปปินส์ และชิลี อีกด้วย” “ไฮไลท์ด้านการท่องเที่ยวที่ส�ำคัญของคัมรัน คือตั้งอยู่ ไม่ไกลจากเมืองญาจาง (Nha Trang) ซึ่งเป็นเมืองตากอากาศ ชายทะเลที่มีชื่อเสียงอีกแห่งหนึ่งของประเทศเวียดนาม มีความ สวยงามจนได้รับการขนานนามว่าเป็นริเวียร่าแห่งทะเลจีนใต้ มีแหล่งท่องเที่ยวทางธรรมชาติที่อุดมสมบูรณ์และแหล่ง ท่องเที่ยวเชิงวัฒนธรรมที่หลากหลาย และได้รับความนิยม จากนักท่องเที่ยวชาวเวียดนามและชาวยุโรป ดังนั้น การเปิด ให้บริการเส้นทางบินตรงระหว่างกรุงเทพฯ-คัมรัน (ประตูสู่ ญาจาง) จะเป็นการช่วยขยายเครือข่ายเส้นทางบินของบางกอก แอร์เวย์ส ให้ครอบคลุมหลากหลายเมืองในประเทศกลุ่ม CLMV (กัมพูชา ลาว เมียนมาร์ เวียดนาม) และยังเป็นการ อ�ำนวยความสะดวกให้แก่ผู้โดยสารในเที่ยวบินร่วมของ สายการบินพันธมิตร (codeshare partners) โดยเฉพาะ นักท่องเที่ยวชาวยุโรปที่เดินทางผ่านกรุงเทพฯ มาพักผ่อนที่ เมืองชายทะเลสองแห่งนี้ นอกจากนี้ ยังเป็นการบุกเบิกเส้น ทางบินที่มีเอกลักษณ์ส�ำหรับนักท่องเที่ยวชาวไทยที่ต้องการ แสวงหาแหล่งท่องเที่ยวใหม่ๆ รวมทั้งชาวเวียดนามท้องถิ่นที่ ต้องการบินเข้ามาท่องเที่ยวยังประเทศไทยอีกด้วย” นายวรงค์ กล่าวเสริม เส้นทางบินกรุงเทพฯ (สุวรรณภูมิ)-คัมรัน (เวียดนาม) ให้ บริการสัปดาห์ละ 4 เที่ยวบิน (จันทร์ พุธ ศุกร์ และอาทิตย์) ด้วยเครื่องบินแบบแอร์บัส เอ319 ขนาด 144 ที่นั่ง โดยเที่ยว บินขาไป PG993 ออกจากกรุงเทพฯ (สุวรรณภูมิ) เวลา 10.20 น. ถึงคัมรัน เวลา 12.05 น. เที่ยวบินขากลับ PG994 ออกจากคัมรัน เวลา 12.55 น. ถึงกรุงเทพฯ (สุวรรณภูมิ) เวลา 14.40 น. ปัจจุบัน สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์สให้บริการเส้นทาง บินตรงระหว่างกรุงเทพฯ กับเมืองส�ำคัญในกลุม่ ประเทศ CLMV อาทิ พนมเปญ เสียมราฐ (กัมพูชา) เวียงจันทน์ หลวงพระบาง (ลาว) ย่างกุง้ มัณฑะเลย์ เนปิดอว์ (เมียนมาร์) ดานัง เกาะฟูโ้ กว๊ก (เวียดนาม) และยังให้บริการเส้นทางบินตรงระหว่างเชียงใหม่มัณฑะเลย์ (เมียนมาร์) และ เชียงใหม่-ฮานอย (เวียดนาม) อีกด้วย

BANGKOK AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES LUCKY WINNERS OF THE “BANGKOK AIRWAYS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY 2/2018” Recently, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited, led by Mrs. Darunee Debavalya, Senior Director – Customer Satisfaction and Relationship Management (centre) together with Mrs. Waewta Chaiyapol, Director – Customer Relations and Experience Management (right) organised the lucky winners drawing for its Customer Satisfaction Survey Feb 2018 at Bangkok Airways’ Head Office.

For more details of the winners and prizes, please go to esurvey.bangkokair.com

เมื่อเร็วๆ นี้ สายการบินบางกอก แอร์เวย์ส โดย นางดรุณี เทพวัลย์ ผู้อ�ำนวยการอาวุโสส่ว นบริหาร ความพึงพอใจและความสัมพันธ์ ลูกค้า (กลาง) และ นางแววตา ชัยพล ผู้อ�ำนวยการแผนกบริหารลูก ค้า สัม พัน ธ์แ ละประสบการณ์ลูก ค้า (ขวา) จับรางวัลผู้โชคดี 10 ท่าน จากการส�ำรวจความพึงพอใจของ ผู้โ ดยสาร ครั้งที่ 2 ประจ�ำปี 2561 ณ ส�ำนักงานใหญ่ สายการบิน บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ถนนวิภาวดีรังสิต ทั้งนี้ ผู้โ ดยสารสามารถตรวจสอบ ผลการจับรางวัลได้ที่ esurvey.bangkokair.com

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BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS

BANGKOK AIRWAYS AND TCEB LAUNCH THE ‘FLY AND MEET DOUBLE BONUS – REDEFINED’ CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT MORE CORPORATE GROUPS FROM CAMBODIA, LAOS, MYANMAR AND VIETNAM (CLMV)

Building on the success of last year’s ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus’ campaign in the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), Bangkok Airways and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) recently cooperated for another launch.

By teaming up, the involved parties plan to make the campaign even more attractive this year by increasing eligibility for groups intending to come to Thailand and lowering the size of attendees to only 30 persons. This move will benefit even more organisations in the CLMV countries in planning corporate meetings and incentive travel to Thailand.

Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Bangkok Airways Vice President – Sales commented, “We are delighted to be an exclusive airline partner of TCEB for the ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined’ campaign for the second year running. The positive feedback we received last year reflected the tremendous potential traffic in the meeting and incentive sectors from the CLMV markets.”

Ms. Nooch Homrossukhon, TCEB's Director of Meetings and Incentives Department said, “With the number of MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions] travellers from CLMV growing by 206% in 2018 and the 122

opening of many new attractions, the TCEB and Bangkok Airways’ relaunch of the new ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined’ campaign with a lower requirement of only 30 participants encourages more outbound corporate meetings and incentives from the four countries to Thailand. These four countries are rated among the fastest growing MICE markets for Thailand.”

The 2019 ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined’ campaign will provide ease of travel, convenience and an excellent return on investment.

The benefits include financial incentives, one free ticket for every 30 tickets purchased, pre-assigned group seating, priority boarding and extra baggage allowances.

Upon arrival in Thailand, fast-track immigration services at Suvarnabhumi airport, meet-and-greet services, and cultural performances will be included.

To qualify, each group must comprise of a minimum of 30 people, fly to Thailand on Bangkok Airways, stay for at least two nights, or hold an event at a venue recognised by the Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) or a registered hotel.

Applications are ongoing from now until August 31, 2019 with travel completed by September 30, 2019.

For more information, please visit www.businesseventsthailand.com

พนมเปญ – เมื่อเร็วๆ นี้ สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์สจับมือ ส�ำนักงานส่งเสริมการจัดประชุมและนิทรรศการ หรือ ทีเส็บ เปิดตัว แคมเปญดึงนักเดินทางไมซ์จาก กัมพูชา ลาว พม่า และเวียดนาม หรือ กลุม่ ประเทศซีแอลเอ็มวี เจาะกลุม่ องค์กรธุรกิจและกลุม่ เดินทางเพื่อ เป็นรางวัล โดยเสนอเงื่อนไขกลุม่ นักเดินทางต้องมีจำ� นวนอย่างต�ำ่ 30 คน จะได้รับสิทธิประโยชน์ในการเดินทางสู่ประเทศไทย หลังจากเคย ออกแคมเปญร่วมกันจนประสบความส�ำเร็จในในปี 2561 ที่ผ่านมา นายวรงค์ อิศรเสนา ณ อยุธยา รองกรรมการผูอ้ ำ� นวยการใหญ่ ฝ่ายขาย สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส กล่าวว่า “เรามีความยินดีที่ ได้รว่ มเป็นพันธมิตรในการออกแคมเปญเจาะตลาดกลุม่ ประเทศซีแอล เอ็มวีร่วมกับทีเส็บเป็นปีที่สองติดต่อกัน หลังจากแคมเปญที่ท�ำ ร่วมกันในปีที่แล้วได้รับการตอบรับเป็นอย่างดี มียอดการเดินทาง เพิ่มขึ้นจากกลุ่มองค์กรธุรกิจและการเดินทางเพื่อเป็นรางวัล และ หวังเป็นอย่างยิ่งว่าแคมเปญที่มีการปรับปรุงใหม่ในปีนี้จะท�ำให้ ยอดนักเดินทางในกลุ่มองค์กรธุรกิจจากตลาดในภูมิภาคนี้มี จ�ำนวนเพิ่มขึ้น” นางสาวนุช หอมรสสุคนธ์ ผูอ้ ำ� นวยการฝ่ายการประชุมองค์กร และการท่องเทีย่ วเพือ่ เป็นรางวัล ส�ำนักงานส่งเสริมการจัดประชุมและ นิทรรศการ หรือ ทีเส็บ กล่าวว่า “นักเดินทางกลุ่มไมซ์จากประเทศ กัมพูชา ลาว พม่า และเวียดนาม มีอัตราการเติบโตติดอันดับสูงสุด โดยมียอดเดินทางเข้าประเทศไทยเพิ่มขึ้นร้อยละ 206 ในปี 2561 ประกอบกับภาคธุรกิจในกลุ่มประเทศซีแอลเอ็มวีมีการตื่นตัวสูง โดยคาดการณ์เศรษฐกิจขยายตัวต่อเนือ่ ง จึงได้พฒ ั นาแคมเปญใหม่ ในชือ่ ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined’ เพือ่ เจาะตลาด องค์กรจากกลุม่ ประเทศซีแอลเอ็มวี โดยมีการปรับลดเงื่อนไขจ�ำนวน นักเดินทางขั้นต�่ำเหลือ 30 ราย เพื่อตอบโจทย์ของตลาดได้ดีขึ้น” ในส่วนของแคมเปญ ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined’ มีการมอบสิทธิประโยชน์ต่างๆ เพื่ออ�ำนวยความ สะดวกในการเดินทางและการพ�ำนักในประเทศไทย เช่น การสนับสนุน งบประมาณการจัดงาน การให้บริการ Fast-track ณ สนามบิน สุวรรณภูมิ บัตรโดยสารฟรี 1 ใบต่อการจอง 30 ที่นั่ง สิทธิพิเศษ ในการขึ้นเครื่องเป็นล�ำดับแรก น�้ำหนักสัมภาระเพิ่มเติม การแสดง ศิลปวัฒนธรรมในงานประชุมหรืองานเลี้ยงของกลุ่มนักเดินทาง เมื่อเดินทางถึงประเทศไทย เงื่อนไขการรับสิทธิประโยชน์ภายใต้แคมเปญดังกล่าว จะต้องเป็น กลุม่ นักเดินทางขัน้ ต�ำ่ 30 ราย เดินทางด้วยสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส และพ�ำนักอยูใ่ นประเทศไทยอย่างน้อย 2 คืน หรือจัดงาน ณ สถานที่ จัดงานที่ได้รับการรับรองด้วย Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) หรือจัดงาน ณ โรงแรมที่จดทะเบียนถูกต้องตามกฎหมาย เปิดรับสมัครตัง้ แต่วนั นีถ้ งึ วันที่ 31 สิงหาคม 2562 และจะต้อง เดินทางภายในวันที่ 30 กันยายน 2562 โดยศึกษาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมได้ที่ www.businesseventsthailand.com

BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEWS

BANGKOK AIRWAYS LAUNCHES THE “BANGKOK AIRWAYS OPEN HOUSE” PROGRAMME FOR 2019

Bangkok Airways, led by Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, Vice President – Sales, organised the “Bangkok Airways Open House” 2019 initiative at the Bangkok Airways Operations Center (BAOC), Suvarnabhumi airport. In addition, the airline also organised a premier familiarisation trip to Sukhothai during 13-15 February 2019 for professors from leading universities in Thailand to have a first–hand experience of Bangkok Airways services. The press conference was also attended by Mr. Visroot Inhyam, Executive Director Northern Region, the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The “Bangkok Airways Open House” campaign is organised to disseminate knowledge on the operational aspects of Bangkok Airways. The campaign aims to provide practical knowledge and inspire students who may have an interest in working in the tourism, hospitality and aviation industry. Participants are given an opportunity to visit actual 124

areas involved in the Bangkok Airways operations and learn from the airline professionals, in the categories of Flight Operation Control, Ground Operations, Reservations and Ticketing, and a Cabin Mock up and Flight Simulator exclusively meant for student pilots. Also, there were opportunities to travel with Bangkok Airways on a field trip to observe the travel end of the business. Project participants will receive a certificate from the airline after completing the project.

Since its introduction in 2016, the “Bangkok Airways Open House” has been well received by leading universities with a curriculum that includes the tourism or hospitality industry and aviation business majors.

Some 12 universities and over 2,000 students nationwide have participated in the campaign.

For interested universities or students, simply contact the Sales Department of Bangkok Airways at 02 265 8452 or email: sales_ coordinator@bangkokair.com

สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส โดยนายวรงค์ อิศรเสนา ณ อยุธยา รองกรรมการผู้อ�ำนวยการใหญ่ฝ่ายขาย จัดโครงการ “เปิดบ้าน สอนน้อง” ประจ�ำปี 2562 ณ อาคารทับสุวรรณ (Bangkok Airways Operations Center) สนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ พร้อมจัดทริปน�ำร่อง น�ำคณะอาจารย์และตัวแทนนักศึกษาจากมหาวิทยาลัยชั้นน�ำ ร่วม เดินทางไปจังหวัดสุโขทัย เพื่อศึกษาดูงานนอกสถานที่ ระหว่างวันที่ 13-15 กุมภาพันธ์ 2562 นี้ โดยได้รบั เกียรติจากนายวิศรุต อินแหยม ผู้อ�ำนวยการภูมิภาคภาคเหนือ การท่องเที่ยวแห่งประเทศไทย ร่วมเปิดงาน โครงการ “เปิดบ้านสอนน้อง" เป็นโครงการของสายการบิน บางกอกแอร์เวย์ส ที่จัดขึ้นเพื่อเปิดโอกาสให้นักศึกษาที่มีความสนใจ และเรียนในสาขาวิชาอุตสาหกรรมการท่องเที่ยว โรงแรม และสาย การบิน ได้มีโอกาสเข้ามาศึกษาดูงานจากการปฏิบัติงานจริง พร้อม รับฟังบรรยายโดยวิทยากรจากหน่วยงานต่างๆ ที่มีประสบการณ์ ในธุรกิจการบินโดยตรง อาทิ เจ้าหน้าที่ควบคุมปฏิบัติการบิน (Flight Operation Control) พนักงานต้อนรับบนเครื่องบิน (Cabin Crew) พนักงานต้อนรับภาคพื้นดิน (Ground Operations) พนักงานส�ำรองที่นั่งและออกบัตรโดยสาร (Reservations and Ticketing) ห้องโดยสารจ�ำลอง (Cabin Mock up) และห้องจ�ำลอง การบิน (Flight Simulator) (ส�ำหรับ Student Pilot เท่านั้น) เป็นต้น พร้อมทัง้ ยังได้มโี อกาสร่วมเดินทางกับสายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส เพื่อศึกษาดูงานในส่วนของธุรกิจน�ำเที่ยวจากการปฏิบัติงานนอก สถานที่ โดยผู้เข้าร่วมโครงการฯ จะได้รับประกาศนียบัตรจากสาย การบินฯ หลังจบการเข้าร่วมโครงการฯ อีกด้วย โครงการเปิดบ้านสอนน้อง จัดขึ้นมาอย่างต่อเนื่องตั้งแต่ปี 2559 จนถึงปัจจุบัน ต่อเนื่องเป็นปีที่ 4 และได้รับความสนใจจาก มหาวิทยาลัยชั้นน�ำทั่วประเทศไทย ที่เปิดสอนในหลักสูตรการ ท่องเที่ยว การโรงแรมและธุรกิจการบิน โดยมีมหาวิทยาลัยเข้าร่วม โครงการแล้วทั้งสิ้น 12 แห่ง คิดเป็นจ�ำนวนผู้เข้าร่วมมากกว่า 2,000 คน ส�ำหรับสถาบันการศึกษาที่สนใจ สามารถสอบถามราคาและ รายละเอียดเพิ่มเติมได้ที่ฝ่ายขาย สายการบินบางกอกแอร์เวย์ส โทรศัพท์ 02 265 8752 หรืออีเมล์ sales_coordinator@ bangkokair.com

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AIRCRAFT INFO

BANGKOK AIRWAYS OPERATES FOUR TYPES OF AIRCRAFT

AIRBUS A319 NUMBER OF FLEET : 16 LENGTH : 33.84 m WINGSPAN : 34.1 m HEIGHT : 12.17 m ENGINE : IAE V2500

CRUISING SPEED :

920 km/h

MAX OPERATIONAL ALTITUDE :

39,800 ft

PASSENGER CAPACITY : 12 seats & 108 seats / 144 seats / 138 seats

AIRBUS A320 NUMBER OF FLEET : 9 LENGTH : 37.57 m WINGSPAN : 34.1 m HEIGHT : 12.17 m ENGINE : IAE V2500

CRUISING SPEED :

870 km/h

MAX OPERATIONAL ALTITUDE :

39,800 ft

PASSENGER CAPACITY :

•••••

162 seats

ATR 72-500 NUMBER OF FLEET : 2 LENGTH : 27.17 m WINGSPAN : 27.06 m HEIGHT : 7.65 m ENGINE : 2 x 2,750 hp

Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127F

CRUISING SPEED :

509 km/h

MAX OPERATIONAL ALTITUDE :

25,000 ft

PASSENGER CAPACITY :

70 seats

ATR 72-600 NUMBER OF FLEET : 11 LENGTH : 27.166 m WINGSPAN : 27.050 m HEIGHT : 7.72 m ENGINE : 2 x 2,750 hp

Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M

CRUISING SPEED :

509 km/h

MAX OPERATIONAL ALTITUDE :

25,000 ft

PASSENGER CAPACITY :

70 seats

OUR SCHEDULE FLIGHTS AND FREQUENCY DOMESTIC FLIGHTS Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai : Numerous flights every day from a variety of destinations Chiang Mai : 1 flight per day from Phuket ; 1 flight per day from Koh Samui Chiang Rai : Hat Yai : Koh Chang/Trat :

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3 flights per day from Bangkok 1 flight per day from Phuket 3 flights per day from Bangkok (As from March 31, 2019 onwards)

Krabi :

3 flights per day from Bangkok ;

Lampang :

1 flight per day from Koh Samui ; 3 flights per week from Chiang Mai (As from March 31, 2019 onwards) 3 flights per day from Bangkok

Mae Hong Son :

1 flight per day from Chiang Mai (As from March 31, 2019 onwards)

Pattaya :

1 flight per day from Phuket ; 1 flight per day from Koh Samui

Sukhothai :

2 flights per day from Bangkok (As from March 31, 2019 onwards)

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Chengdu : 4 flights per week from Koh Samui Chongqing : 1 flight per week from Koh Samui Da Nang : 2 flights per day from Bangkok Hanoi : 1 flight per day from Chiang Mai Hong Kong : 2 flights per day from Koh Samui Kuala Lumpur : 1 flight per day from Koh Samui Luang Prabang : 2 flights per day from Bangkok ; 3 flights per week from Chiang Mai (As from March 31, 2019 onwards) Malé : 1 flight per day from Bangkok Mandalay : 11 flights per week form Bangkok ; (As from March 31, 2019 onwards) 4 flights per week from Chiang Mai Mumbai : 1 flight per day from Bangkok Nay Pyi Taw : 6 flights per week from Bangkok Nha Trang : 4 flights per week from Bangkok Phnom Penh : 6 flights per day from Bangkok Phu Quoc : 1 flight per day from Bangkok Siem Reap : 5 flights per day from Bangkok Singapore : 2 flights per day from Koh Samui Vientiane : 2 flights per day from Bangkok Yangon : 4 flights per day from Bangkok ; 1 flight per day from Chiang Mai

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