Hong Kong designers set the standards for traditional Hong Kong iconic souvenirs.
52 LOCATION SHOOT
A Thai director sees her travels unwittingly played out and reflected in her many films.
58 GOING THE DISTANCE
The delightful finds that make Chiang Mai and Hanoi an ideal getaway combination.
68 LESS HECTIC IN THE MYEIK ISLANDS
Our writer responds to the siren call to detox from a tech-ridden daily life at the unspoilt reaches of the Myanmar archipelago.
78 VIETNAM FUND-RAISER
Adventurous photographers capture wondrous and rarely visited areas on their ride for charity in Vietnam.
HAPPENINGS
Bookmark our roundup of on goings around Asia, come rain or shine.
88 BANGKOK
92 SAMUI
96 PHUKET / KRABI
100 CHIANG MAI / CHIANG RAI
101 PATTAYA
102 CHENGDU / CHONGQING / GUANGZHOU
104 HONG KONG
106 SINGAPORE
107 KUALA LUMPUR
108 PHNOM PENH / SIEM REAP
110 DANANG / HANOI / PHU QUOC
112 YANGON
114 VIENTIANE
118 NEWS Bangkok Airways’ collaborations and winners.
122 FLYERBONUS
126 ROUTE MAP
128 AIRCRAFT INFO
115 MALDIVES / MUMBAI CORPORATE
130 Hong Kong’s Trail to Adventure CHECKING OUT
OVERTURES
18 REGIONAL MEMO
Check out the timely reminder to run a scenic marathon sponsored by Bangkok Airways or dash for the nearest ticket to Celine Dion’s concert and other creative performances in Asia.
24 FACE OF GLASS
Skin that’s smooth and shiny is all the rage for faces. Our primer tells you how to have the same effect in the glass skin trend.
78 Around the Bend in Vietnam
26 RAIN GEARED
Conquer the rainy season with the right tools to keep you dry and still be fabulous — from the right makeup for her and the best sartorial combination for him.
28 MAE HONG SON GRACE
Misty mountains and lush vistas beckon visitors to Mae Hong Son, along with a visit to the longest bamboo bridge in Thailand.
32 HAIL TO BAEL
This woody fruit looks deceptively mild in appearance but is a major thirst quencher. Try its refreshing qualities with our easy recipe.
36 THE REAL DEAL
Experience the authentic side to Thai culture as we wok and walk you through surprising spots.
This month’s cover: Mae Hong Son’s Bridge of Wishes
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Greetings and welcome on board Bangkok Airways.
Time flies and already, we enter the second half of this year. I’m proud to say our airline never stopped the pursuit to reach our many missions and all our staff and involved parties stay determined to serve passengers to the best of their ability, especially when it comes to safety.
Bangkok Airways became the first airline in Thailand to receive the New Air Operation Certificate, in accordance to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards in February last year, and our airline recently was licensed the Dangerous Goods Carrier Permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). Furthermore, on 9 April 2018, we earned the ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management Systems within the first half of this fiscal year, which guarantees that our airline has met and has committed to quality in all aspects of its operations. For over 15 years, we have met all the requirements of the international auditor and also have implemented our system in order to gradually achieve every ISO transition.
One of our core missions is to focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, which we have been implementing throughout the years. We intend to build stronger communities around our 3 airports through different concepts. Examples include career support, learning opportunities for the youth, healthcare, caring for the environment and rehabilitation education for everyone in various neighbourhoods. These, we believe, will benefit both the communities and our airline and together, we can continue sustainable growth.
On behalf of Bangkok Airways, I’d like to thank you for always trusting and choosing us. I wish you enjoyment of our services on the aircraft. Thank you.
Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth
| President, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited
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
Ms. Sumalee Chaitientong
Vice President - Ancillary Revenues
Mr. Kridhakorn Sirabhabhoj
Director - Advertising and Creative
Mr. Benjamin Sirirat
Manager - Branding and Creative
Mrs. Rattanaporn Sa-Nguanjangwong
Business Services - Ancillary Revenues
PUBLISHER
MPMI Group Co., Ltd.
1 Soi Lasalle 23/2, Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand
Tel. +66 2744 4975
Fax. +66 2744 5271
Managing Director
Chaovanee Ajanant
Email: chaovanee@mpmith.com
EDITORIAL
Email: editorial@fahthaimag.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
MC Lai
Nawarat A Wright
Nicola Hil
Passakorn Hongthong
Phoowadon Duangmee
Prachi Joshi
Richard Augustin
Ron Emmons
Sarita Urupongsa
Sirin P Wongpanit
Sophia Natasia Powell-Schaffer
Srinit Suwannasak
Thawat Tangtienchai
Photo Editor Thewin Chanyawong
Contributing Photographers
Anutra Ungsuprasert
Chatta Phoyen
Chris Lusher
Dolnapa Ram-Indra
Kay Choomongkol
Morgan Ommer
Santipong Choocharoen
Trong Tung
Wichit Kongsiangsung
ART
Creative Director JyeShen Koo
Graphic Designer Pongtorn Khaoplag
Contributing Stylist Saranya Ariyakul
Contributing Illustrator Arthit Limpong
PRODUCTION
Colour Separation: Soontorn Film
Printer: WPS (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
ADVERTISING advertising@fahthaimag.com
Media Manager: Daruni Klaprapchon
Marketing Manager: Reza Bizmark
Digital Marketing Manager: Nichapat Noraphaiphipaksa
Fernando Mariano Tel: +14 0790 3500 fmar@multimediausa.com
“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.
Cover Photography: Courtesy of Tourism Authority of Thailand
ESSENTIAL NOTES TO GUIDE YOUR TRAVELS
Blue Magnificence
It’s just you and the big blue yonder at this ultimate resort.
/ A TASTE OF THAILAND 32 / / CHECKED IN 40
NOW
30 SEP 2018 -
BANGKOK
BIENNIAL GALORE
With Thailand’s three major art festivals coming up later this year, you could be forgiven for confusing them with one another. The Bangkok Biennial, running from July 1 through September 30, is a contemporary art event modelling itself on similar biennales around the world. Taking a more bottoms-up approach, the anonymous groups of organisers believe it is worth exploring an alternative way to the expected ‘top-down’ curator/ director model, which can achieve a broader, more inclusive and more diverse programme. The other two unrelated art shows are the Bangkok Art Biennale (Oct 19, 2018 - Feb 3, 2019) and Thailand Biennale taking place in Krabi (Nov 2, 2018 - Feb 28, 2019).
NOW -
HONG KONG
PHUKET
OPEN NOW: BANGKOK AIRWAYS PHUKET HALF MARATHON
The Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon 2018 will be held in Phuket on 5 August. With the scenic backdrop of the island that’s partly a mountainous rain forest in the Andaman Sea, the race will be held right in the Phuket Old Town. The routes you’ll be running encounter Sino-Portuguese architecture which reflected the European influence on the island since the 16th century.
12 AUG 2018
ORIENTAL ART FORM
Chinese opera is considered one of the oldest forms of performance art in the world today. With its long history and influences from various Chinese cultures, the art form draws in audiences with its unique charm, richness and beauty.
The Chinese Opera Festival aims to further promote the art form to audiences in Hong Kong with a series of performances delivered by top virtuosi and maestros in the field. Since its inception in 2010, the festival has told diverse and impressive stories with the help of some of the world’s best Chinese troupes and performers.
This year’s edition will promise the same colourful programme, which will include regional genres including Peking, Kunqu, Yue, Diaoqiang, Pingdiao, Puxian and Xiqin opera as well as Cantonese opera. Various venues across Hong Kong, cof.gov.hk/2018 5AUG 2018
Runners who travel with Bangkok Airways also get special deals. With just a boarding pass, special room rates are yours for the taking from Novotel Phuket Phokeethra and Ibis Styles Hotel Phuket. Both properties are a mere 5 minutes away from the event venue. Booking period, today-1 August 2018, Period of stay, 1-10 August 2018.
The Bangkok Biennial, which is the first biennial contemporary art event taking place in Thailand, has recruited a line-up of 150 local and international artists, whose work will exhibit across 69 venues or “pavilions” both in and outside of Bangkok. It will include many of Bangkok’s underground art spaces as well as those in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and other provinces — all self-organised, managed and curated as the festival aims to foster divergent ideas.
The opening will take place on the evening of 1 July, and there will also be a 2-day symposium held at The Jim Thompson House on August 11th and 12th entitled “Biennialization, Biennialization, Biennialization: The Bangkok Syndrome,” which delves into the nature and rationale of biennial events in a regional and international context. bangkokbiennial.com
3-4 &23 JUL 2018
SINGAPORE & BANGKOK
HER HEART WILL GO ON
Fans of Canadian singer Celine Dion will want to head down to the Lion City as she performs at the Marina Bay Sands on 3-4 July. The multi-Grammy and Academy Award winner will perform in Singapore for the first time ever as part of her World Tour. Those who plan to visit the capital of Thailand will also be delighted as she will perform at the Impact Arena on 23 July. The opportunity to catch The Celine Dion Live 2018 tour will be too good to miss. Considered as one of most iconic singers in pop music, Dion has sold almost 250 million albums during her 30-year career and is famous for her hits ‘That’s The Way It Is’ and ‘My Heart Will Go On’. marinabaysands.com, thaiticketmajor.com
5-22JUL 2018
SINGAPORE CELEBRATING LOCAL ARTS
Since 2006, the Singapore Theatre Festival has championed its local arts industry by providing a platform for artists and playwrights to showcase their talent. Presented by W!LD RICE, the biennial festival this year will allow theatre fans to catch original productions and to also engage in conversations about theatre.
With an emphasis on promoting home grown talent, the Singapore Theatre Festival has thus far produced 33 productions, including 19 world premieres. Now in its sixth edition, this year’s event will run throughout July with a total of eight original plays as well as several additional supplementary events, including art talks and forums. This year’s edition will be held at the LASALLE College of the Arts, on McNally Street. singaporetheatrefestival.com
27-28
THAILAND
ASARNHA BUCHA & BUDDHIST LENT DAY
Asarnha Bucha Day marks the day when the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon known as “Dhammachakkappawattanasutta” which he preached to five ascetics at Benares in India over 2,500 years ago. As a result, all of them attained enlightenment and were ordained by the Buddha as the first ever Buddhist monks.
Asarnha Bucha falls on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month of the calendar year, generally in July. Buddhists perform a variety of religious activities at temples — mainly merit-making ceremonies such as offering food and alms to monks, listening to sermons and practising meditation in order to purify the mind.
This day also marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent or Khao Phansa, a threemonth period when monks retreat into their monasteries to escape the monsoon rains and study Buddhist teachings. It is a time of making merit and candlelight processions, or wian thian in Thai, held at temples throughout the country.
Asarnha Bucha Day is Thailand’s public holiday and everyone should note it is illegal to buy and sell alcohol on this day. tourismthailand.org
Photo Denise Truscell
6
JUL 2018
12 AUG 2018 -
HONG KONG FAMILY FRIENDLY
The International Arts Carnival 2018 will once again deliver a fun-filled arts programme designed to inspire children and entertain audiences from all walks of life. One of the largest family arts festivals in Hong Kong, this year’s carnival will include an array of shows and performances including ballet, electroluminescent and multi-media traditional Chinese puppetry, as well as interactive concerts.
Considered one of the highlights of the summer season, this year’s International Arts Carnival will see a number of visiting international art groups and talented local artists perform during the one-month long festival. But it won’t just be performance art on show as this year’s programme will also include extension activities such as workshops, exhibition and outreach programmes. Various venues across Hong Kong, hkiac.gov.hk/2018
AUG 2018
BANGKOK TASTES OF THE WORLD
The Central Group has declared that August will be a month ‘full of tastes.’ Beginning with “Tastes of the World at Central Bangkok”, the event marks one of the largest food festivals ever held in the country, showcasing the true flavours of local Thai and international dishes. Aiming for full deliciousness, the event shines the spotlight on charming Thai towns with a rich culinary past to be held at CentralWorld. The many appealing and original recipes from every region of Thailand will be served in the heart of Bangkok — at CentralWorld, Central Chidlom and Central Embassy.
Central Tastes of the World @ Central Bangkok will be the event that brings out Thailand’s unmatched potential for food and dining. While maintaining a strong culinary identity in Thai food at international standards, also reinforced will be Thailand’s place as one of the world’s best food destinations. List it or miss it! facebook.com/ centralbangkok, instagram.com/centralbangkok
12AUG 2018
DANANG
RACE-CATION IN DANANG
Love the thought of running while on vacation? Indulge in this possibility with the Manulife Danang International Marathon that takes place in mid August in this coastal city in Vietnam.
The race offers 4 different distance runs; a Full Marathon (42km), Half Marathon (21km), 10km and the beginner-friendly distance of 5km. The marathon is known for its spectacular seaside route. The race starts at 4.30am when the city still sleeps, so all runners can experience Danang in an extremely unique way. Those attending the
21km and 42km will run through the city and pass by 5 of the most iconic bridges of the city. As runners approach the finish line, expect to be bathed in a warming sunrise over the beach in this atmospheric event.
Your quest for endurance will be fulfilled by one of the most magnificent marathon courses in Southeast Asia, plus there’s plenty of fun activities, delicious seafood and a unique culture to round out an awesome vacation. Register now until 27 July to be part of this race-cation at rundanang.com.
THE GREEN TEA SEED SERUM 80ML FROM INNISFREE (1,000 Baht)
A moisturising serum with organic Jeju green tea and green tea seeds that hydrate your skin from deep within.
FRESH CALMING TONER 250ML FROM LANEIGE (1,050 Baht) With hydrating properties to soothe skin and restore balance, leaving a refreshing feel.
LE PARFUM IN WHITE EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 30ML FROM ELIE SAAB (2,300 Baht)
A sophisticated floral fragrance that creates a lasting impression. The fragrance imagines a woman’s emotional journey — from her bridal gown to all of the memorable moments created whilst wearing white.
ACTIVE WATER SKIN TONER 180ML FROM LANEIGE HOMME (950 Baht)
The lightly-textured toner smoothens skin texture, soothes the skin, and provides refreshing moisture.
SPOTLIGHT
As Clear As ‘Glass’
The Korean beauty regimen known as the glass skin trend is all about cleansing and layering lightweight and hydrating skin care products. The result? Glowing, dewy skin. With skin that’s clear and with a transparent effect like glass means no make up is necessary. To try the glass skin trend yourself, here are the perfect products.
TREATMENT LOTION 97% NATURALLY DERIVED INGREDIENTS 125ML FROM THREE (2,600 Baht)
Comfortably tightens and softens the skin while filling it with moisture and a fresh, clean scent.
Through The Rain
With the rainy season upon us, you might want to take a look at fabulous makeup techniques that won’t wash away. Heavy downpours can ruin a perfect face, but with the products listed here, makeup stays on despite the showers.
ALL ABOUT EYES 15ML FROM CLINIQUE
(1,500 Baht)
Refreshes and brightens your eye area — recommended for use morning and night, both under the eyes and on lids.
NATURAL RADIANT LONGWEAR FOUNDATION 30ML FROM NARS
(1,950 Baht)
Makeup shouldn’t cover your skin, it should enhance your natural beauty, not mask it. A lightweight, natural, fade-resistant coverage, features fullpowered radiance to smooth the look.
PERFECT RENEW CREAM 50ML FROM LANEIGE (2,300 Baht)
A cream moisturiser that fortifies the skin barrier and leaves your skin filled with vitality. They provide nourishment that keeps skin healthy for a long time.
ALL DAY ANTI POLLUTION DEFENSOR
40ML FROM LANEIGE (1,300 Baht)
Makes your skin clean and clear and strengthens the skin barrier every morning. Puts your skin in lock mode from fine dust pollutants.
PATENT SHINE 10X NAIL LACQUER VERNIS 11ML FROM BUTTER LONDON (730 Baht)
The innovative formula is loaded with ingredients proven to promote brighter, stronger and healthier nails for your best-dressed nail yet.
COLLECTION (590 Baht)
This three-in-one formula is made of ultra-light, micronised pigments that effortlessly blend to enhance your skin tone and give you a flawless, no-makeup look and feel.
HI-FI SHINE ULTRA CUSHION LIP GLOSS
7ML FROM URBAN DECAY (950 Baht)
An ultra-shiny lip gloss that glides on cushionysoft and provides longlasting wear that’s comfortable, not tacky and finally, a gloss that is sexy and comfy at the same time.
TRIPLE ACTION CLEANSING & HYDRATING WATER 50ML FROM SEPHORA
COLLECTION (230 Baht)
A quick-acting, no-rinse cleansing water that removes makeup and moisturises your skin.
MERMAID SKIN HYALURONIC H2O SERUM
50ML FROM TARTE (1,500 Baht)
This powerful serum gives your skin intense moisture without feeling greasy, heavy, or sticky for plump, dewy skin.
PURE COLOR LOVE COOLED CHROME LIPSTICK 3.5G FROM ESTEE LAUDER (950 Baht)
Pure Color Love is packed with a super-fruit cocktail of Pomegranate, Mango and Açai power oils. Make your lips feel smooth, soft and moisturised.
Tips
HERE ARE MAKEUP PRODUCTS FOR THE RAINY SEASON THAT CAN TRULY BRIGHTEN CLOUDY DAYS.
Tinted Moisturiser –Some of the best arsenal for damp days comes down to just a tinted moisturiser –apply a really thin coat and it will last a lot longer than foundation.
Cream Brush – Powder blush is great in cooler, crisp air. But when it’s raining, you want something that shows and stays on. Luckily, cream blush should do that for you.
High Quality Lipstick –
What you should take into consideration is investing in high quality lipstick – its staying power really works wonders.
Primer – Makeup primer can be a lifesaver and can really make sure that your makeup stays in place.
It’s Raining, Man!
When gloomy, dark clouds threaten a full day of rain, really consider your outfit for the day that lies ahead. Since weather dictates your ensemble, wearing your favourite suede shoes will end in a soaked disaster or leave you tiptoeing around, fearful of the slightest drop. We’ve got you covered with some items on how to prepare for those unexpected downpours.
MULTICOLOUR FLAT SNEAKERS FROM CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN (35,500 Baht)
GRAFITTI BOAT FLAT SNEAKERS FROM CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN (39,400 Baht) FOR HIM
PRINTED NYLON AND LEATHER HANDLE UMBRELLA FROM PRADA (17,500 Baht)
TECHNICAL PRINTED FABRIC WITH LEATHER HANDLE TOTE FROM PRADA (45,500 Baht)
ROBOTER SERIES LEATHER WITH STUDS WALLET FROM MCM (9,900 Baht)
MULTICOLOUR CALFSKIN RABBIT KEY RING FROM MCM (7,900 Baht) FOR HER
ELEKTRA PRINTED LEATHER BAG WITH STUDS FROM PRADA (87,500 Baht) FLORAL RABBIT TRIFOLD LEATHER WALLET FROM MCM (10,900 Baht)
STOCKISTS
Comics Play
Comic prints make a return to consumer fashion with a reinterpretation of animated classics ranging from the 1930s and 1960s that feature female mega stars. Familiar characters from comic pages get elevated into chic style for everyday use. RED PATENT LEATHER PEEPTOES FROM CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN (32,200 Baht) ICONIC GRAFFITI PRINTED LEATHER WALLET FROM CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN (29,500 Baht)
Relaxing Charm of Mae Hong Son
Tucked away in the northern part of Thailand, Mae Hong Son offers numerous attractions for any time of the year. A sanctuary for the body and soul, Mae Hong Son is proud of its abundant forests, mesmerising highlands enveloped in mist and fascinating cultures.
The temple of Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, also known as Wat Plai Doi, is the heart and soul of Mae Hong Son. With two beautiful white-washed pagodas with gilded parasols and panoramic views of the town of Mae Hong Son, the Buddhist temple has been sacred ground to locals for a century.
Take a photographic shot with the longest bamboo bridge in Thailand. Su Tong Pe
Bridge is two metres wide, and 500 metres long. The villagers built the bridge stretching over rice paddies and the Mae Sa Nga River to pave a path for the monks and novices to take morning alms. Travellers may take the opportunity to give alms on the bridge around 6.30 to 7.30am in the morning. Su Tong Pe means “fulfilled wish” in the Tai Yai language, so it is believed that if you
make a wish in the middle of the bridge, it will come true. Fall in love with the charm of the Yunnanese people at Ban Mae Aw, also known as Ban Rak Thai, the last village before reaching the ThaiMyanmar border. Famous for Ching Ching tea and Oolong tea cultivation, Ban Rak Thai is a place to enjoy locally brewed tea, and delectable Yunnanese cuisine. Another highlight is the Chinese Clay House, built
This Page Lee Wine Lak Thai Resort, situated in the Oolong tea plantation near Ban Rak Thai village.
Right Su Tong Pe Bridge, the longest bamboo bridge in Thailand.
from clay and rice straw, and painted in mustard yellow with green and red Chinese patterns on the architraves.
Visitors could experience the fantastic hot springs black mud from Phu Klon, one of the three black mud resources in the world. Phu Klon is well known for its health and beauty enhancing amenities using natural mud from the hot springs which is rich in minerals
Photo Surapol Supawattanakul
OVERTURES
Clockwise from Top Left Engaging in Buddhist rituals at Wat Pa Tham Wua.
Travellers enjoy facial mud masks at Phu Klon.
Practising Dharma at Wat Pa Tham Wua is open to all, including foreign visitors.
Below
An aerial view of Mae Hong Son city.
aiding in skin care and blood circulation. Spa services like hot spring baths, a foot onsen soak, Thai massage, oil massage, a facial mud mask and a body mud wrap are available. Facial mud masks smoothens and rejuvenates facial skin while body mud wraps stimulate blood circulation and restore the physical balance. Varieties of beauty and healthcare products from natural black mud and hot springs mineral water are also available.
Delve into deep relaxation and calmness at Wat Pa Tham Wua Sunyataram or Wat Tham Wua Forest
Monastery, one of the top five monasteries in the world. Tham Wua Forest Monastery is a place where more than 2,000 practitioners from 140 countries worldwide have come to learn Buddhist Dharma and practise meditation. Capturing green nature and a serene landscape, Wat Tham Wua is one of the most tranquil monastic havens. Though English and Thai are the primary languages used to teach Dharma, other languages like German, Chinese, Japanese and French are also available. Wat Tham Wua is a place not to be missed for those who need to practise meditation.
With various tourist destinations and activities to explore all year round, Mae Hong Son is one place where lovely weather and fascinating culture intertwine.
For more information, call the Tourist Information hotline at 1672.
OVERTURES
To Cure a Thirst
In Hinduism, the bael or wood apple tree is considered sacred and belongs to the god Shiva. In Thailand, this symbolic tree represents Chai Nat Province and has always been planted in Thai households since the old days, due to its medicinal properties and nutritional benefits. Every part of the bael tree can be turned into something useful — its young leaves for instance, can be enjoyed as a salad. Its outer layer, roots, and trunk can be used for curing a cold as well.
The bael fruit is actually the most significant part. Green when raw, the fruit turns yellow and produces a distinct aroma once ripe. Its soft flesh comes with a delicious sweet flavour, which is a refreshing option for imbibing. Apart from enjoying the fruit’s freshness, it can
Ingredients
• 6 pieces of sliced dry bael fruit
• 8 cups of water
• ¾ cup of sugar
Instructions
Clean the dry bael fruit pieces with water.
Separately add water into a pot on medium heat. When the water boils, add the bael fruit pieces, keeping them in a full boil for 4-5 minutes.
Lower the heat, then continue to simmer until the water turns darker and the bael fruit pieces soften and take on a lighter colour.
be turned into dessert, like that of a bael fruit cake.
Its ripe fruits meanwhile can be further sweetened and enjoyed with an easy recipe. Just mix sugar and water together and heat them until the sugar dissolves. Then add sliced, ripe bael fruit and continue to stir until the pieces become cooked. Ripe bael fruits, once cut and dried or baked, star as the main ingredient of a beneficial bael drink.
The drink can be enjoyed either hot or cold. Those who fall in love with the scent of a bael fruit will love it even more as hot tea, since the aroma intensifies with heat. Iced bael juice also is a top choice for summer, for thanks to the fruit’s nature, it can quench thirst and reduce sweating.
• Small ice cubes
• 1 piece of dry bael fruit to decorate
Once the juice mixture happens, add sugar and continue to boil for a little while until the sugar dissolves.
Turn off the heat and filter only the liquid. The rest of the bael fruit can be kept in the refrigerator for next time.
Leave it to cool down for a while. Add ice cubes and decorate the glass with the dry bael fruit slice.
TIPS
Before boiling the bael fruit, grill or stir-fry the fruit in low heat. This will give a more intensified aroma to add depth to its flavour.
A Tropical Apple
Feel the tropical cool when you bite into a fresh slice of a guava fruit, whose crunch of pristine white flesh provides a healthful snack easily found all year round in Thailand. The guava recently was dubbed “the ultimate superfood,” that’s rich with an incredible source of vitamin C, lycopene, vitamin A, potassium, and fibre. Luckily, it’s also low in calories.
Aside from being a great snack when eaten raw, guavas can also be used in cooking and baking. Its leaves, seeds, and even skin can also be eaten or used medicinally.
Guava is commonly grown in tropical regions throughout the world. The fruit may be round, oblong, or pear-shaped. When ripe, a guava possesses a strong, sweet smell. The interior flesh may be white, pink, or red with a core of small, edible seeds.
Originating from Central and South America, guavas are primarily self-germinating. While humans have played a significant role in its journey of cultivation, birds and animals have also
scattered about guava seeds while moving around.
In the old days, Thailand was abundant with pink guavas. As many guava trees grew from the seeds found in bird droppings, Thais referred to this pink-fleshed guava as farang khi nok, “bird dropping guava”. The fruit of this variety is smaller, with a softer pink flesh and a floral smell when ripe, making it ideal for juices and jam.
The popular varieties with a white interior are Gim-ju (crisp and sweet with fewer seeds), Vietnamese (big and sweet with many seeds), Glom Salee (crunchy, sweet and sour) and Paen See Thong (crisp and sweet with fewer
seeds). Fruits of these new varieties are generally the size of a softball with a green-coloured skin that can range from a bumpy to smooth exterior. The flesh is white with pale yellow seeds and tends to be less moist than the pink guavas. It tastes best when it is beginning to ripen, with its skin starting to turn yellow. When ripe, the fruit is soft and the pulp inside is sweet.
To add a spicy kick to the fruit, Thais dip it into a Prik Gluea (a condiment with a salt, sugar and chilli blend), but for people with tame taste buds, the sweet and sour zing of a salted plum powder dip can serve as an eye-opener on a sleepy afternoon.
Lure of the Local
Want a nearby and authentic experience that can also be part of your beach vacation?
For a well-rounded trip, enjoying natural scenery to tasting the culinary feat of a local wok offers a lasting connection to a place.
Words Jeremie Schatz, Sarita Urupongsa Photos Jeremie Schatz, Dolnapa Ram-Indra
PHUKET
Siow Jung Sin
A bowl of sandalwood is kept burning out front at all times. Stepping through the fragrant veil of smoke, you realise you’ve stumbled across something special. It’s one part dimly-lit antique shop, one part hustling restaurant, but it’s much more than the sum of its parts. With no sign and an unassuming façade, Siow Jung Sin need not rely on glitz and glam to lure in customers. This humble Phuket Town favourite has a loyal following whose stomachs and senses lead them back.
Despite the random décor of antique mining lanterns, table tops displaying old cassette tapes and dangling birds’ nests creating a sense of timelessness, they first fired up their woks only six years ago.
A labour of love for Bank and Ingo Siyangsanaw, they are a constant presence with Bank working his magic over the fire and Ing liaising between guests and staff. The steaming dishes slide onto the table astonishingly fast while the ever-moving staff literally run to fetch customers’ requests.
Don’t expect phad thai or green curry on this menu — Siow Jung Sin churns out the fused flavours of Chinese and Thai cooking traditions. Case-inpoint is the signature dish, super teen gai, with extra-tender stewed chicken’s feet in a thick, searing red sweet and spicy broth. The finest fried rice you’ve ever had comes out of their open-air kitchen along with rarely found flavours like fermented soy bean and chilli paste (phad tao hoo yee) and pan-fried young
coconut shoots with fresh shrimp (goong phad yod maphrao). “Our food is not very good, but it comes from the heart. It’s heart food,” says Bank modestly. However, the full tables of content diners beg to differ.
What comes from the wok is only part of the equation. With a third generation recipe, Bank produces homemade spiced rice whiskey (ya dong). The smooth, sweet brew is aged with fresh herbs for two and a half months.
It’s meant to drink before eating, but typically continues throughout the meal and into the night. Bank has colloquially named it “the swan that never meets the target,” the meaning of which is open to interpretation.
If you have an empty stomach and are on the prowl for a uniquely authentic Phuket experience, find your way to Siow Jung Sin. Siow Jung Sin, Wirat Hong Yok Rd, Tambon Talat Nuea, Amphur Muang, Phuket, Phuket
KRABI
Wat Tham Suea
Travellers looking to nurture their inner adventurer will want lace up their walking shoes and explore Wat Tham Suea, also referred to as the Tiger Cave Temple.
Nestled in the shadow of a towering limestone peak on the edge of a verdant valley 10km outside Krabi Town, this temple complex attracts a diverse group of visitors. Established in 1975 by Buddhist monks, there are several versions of an origin story including tiger paw prints being discovered on the cave wall, an enormous tiger residing in the cave, and most plausible, a healthy population of tigers roaming the surrounding jungle.
Although named for the limestone cave, the leading attraction is undoubtedly the mountaintop Buddha and Chedi (Stupa). To reach the summit one must climb a precipitous staircase of 1,260 steps. Although mostly shaded, it is quite strenuous and an early start is recommended. A comfortable pair of shoes and a generous supply of drinking water are mandatory. You are unlikely to be alone as troops of monkeys loiter around the steps and bathe in the cistern at the top. Beware of your
unattached belongings as daring, naughty monkeys just might want to rid you of them. However, it’s all worth it as those who brave the primates and muscle through the arduous ascent are rewarded with a jaw-dropping 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.
After a much-deserved rest and descent from the mountain, be sure to locate the other staircase further back in the complex which leads over a small ridge and into an isolated, jungle-filled area where the resident monks live. A trail leads past a sprawling altar, along the foot of a cliff where the monks’ humble abodes perch in indentations in the rock. It continues in a loop through a prehistoric-feeling jungle.
One can easily spend the better part of a day at Wat Tham Suea climbing the mountain, hanging out with monkeys, and exploring all of the temples. Who said you have to be lazy on vacation!
OVERTURES
ARTS & CULTURAL MATTERS
TRAT
Ban Nam Chiao
A few kilometres away from central Trat and you’ll be breathing in the salty breezes at the eastward fishing village of “Ban Nam Chiao” while marvelling at the spreading rays of the sunset from a bridge.
Ban Nam Chiao is some lush seaside community rich in mangrove forests, whose natural placement of trees contribute strong water currents during the rainy season, thus earning the name Khlong Nam Chiao (strong current canal). Embraced by the canal and sea, the community enjoys a green area of around 2,000 rai (close to 8 acres), with a scenic landscape that’s reason enough to visit. Thanks to this natural abundance, most residents of Ban Nam Chiao take up fishery, grow fruit orchards and engage in other trades for sustainable livelihoods.
Here’s a place to see skilled weavers nimbly create farming hats, with a welcoming community that offers a demonstration and workshop for visitors to see how a “Nam Chiao Ngob,” or the farmer’s hat gets crafted from local nipa palm leaves found all over the area. To
participate or simply watch the hats get made, booking ahead is recommended. The hat itself is a skill requiring expertise in practically every step — from picking the nipa palm leaves, to shaping the crown or head, right up to determining the colour. Nowadays, a great number of the elderly village folks still make them by hand. Homestay businesses receive a supply, whereas the rest are sent to stores in town so here’s a chance to buy from the original source.
Visitors who stop by during the first weekend of every month from late morning to late afternoon can enjoy Tong Chom (Must See) Market from Ban Nam Chiao at the riverside path. Enjoy a stroll and taste local halal food, included snacks like ‘khao greab ya na’ (sweet and salty prawns with crispy rice), and consider local produce and unique souvenirs to bring back. The place also offers alternative activities such as
witnessing a ‘Dikir Hulu’ performance, getting photographed in a Muslim attire, or just kayaking on its welcoming waters.
Also make a stop at Ban Ta Ong (Moo 3, Nam Chiao Municipality), known as the district’s main shop for local produce from the people of Laem Ngop. The shop offers at least five styles of the local farmer’s hat and the best souvenirs come in several shapes, from a fun turtle to a military one. For a unique style, try the Somdet on for size. The hat has been graciously named by the Thai Princess Mother, HRH Princess Srinagarindra. Each hat features different brim details with creativity from the deft fingers of the local craftspeople using the nipa palm leaves. Ban Ta Ong still preserves this ancient tradition of coating hats with rubber oil, an essential material that strengthens the hat for longer wear. Nam Chiao Community, Nam Chiao Sub-District, Laem Ngop District, Trat
OVERTURES
CHECKED IN: SAMUI
STAYED: ANANTARA BOPHUT
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, but when life lands you at the Anantara Bophut Koh Samui, you consider yourself lucky. This absolute gem of a beachfront resort is relatively small at only 106 rooms but what it may lack in room numbers, it easily makes up for in style and quality of experience.
Embraced within verdant gardens and monumental trees, the Anantara Bophut boasts a modern-contemporary design mingled with classic Thai details — and this property certainly isn’t lacking details. The grounds are adorned with classic Oriental art, lotus-filled pools, “sala” pavilions for chilling, and even an organic garden complete with beehives.
Right
The resort’s fountains and gardens take on a magical quality at night.
Below Left and Right
Classic Thai elements blend with contemporary styling throughout the resort.
Samui’s Extravagant Pleasures
Here’s an offering of the best places to plan a Samui trip around, from the ultimate accommodation to exclusive culinary meals. Words and Photos Jeremie Schatz
Left
Southern Thai architecture greets guests in a design that’s elegant and family friendly.
Bottom
Happy hour cocktails or drinks at other hours come expertly done by the hotel’s mixologist.
The rooms boast far too many amenities to mention, but picture fresh beetroot/carrot/apple juice waiting for you in the room along with a spread of fresh fruit and the heavenly scent of aromatherapy oils emanating from a burner. Ample storage for extended stays, flip flops and slippers, yoga mat, shoe shine service, steam iron, stocked wine cooler and liquor cabinet, natural soaps, coffee (not instant) and tea, wine glasses and whiskey tumblers gives you an idea of what is waiting in your room. And you are unlikely to overlook the bed sheet-sized towels and bed sheets literally 10 feet wide (I checked). A huge bathtub and rain shower will rinse off the salt and sand after a visit to the beach which you can’t be any closer to without getting wet.
Cool ocean breezes can be enjoyed on the balcony found just outside of every room. No one will judge you for relaxing by the huge beachside infinity pool all day, but if you’re feeling frisky, or have kids that are, a stroll around the sprawling resort will reveal all sorts of activities to enjoy such as a tennis court, spa, gym, table tennis, foosball table, cooking classes, yoga, and plenty more. Fisherman’s Village is just a short jaunt down the beach walk where you can sample local culinary delicacies and handicrafts. What you’ll find at the Anantara is a well-kept, well-managed beachside resort in an unbeatable location with character and charm.
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort 99/9 Bophut Bay, Tambon Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani +66 (0) 77 428 300
OVERTURES
CHECKED IN: SAMUI
TASTED: JAHN RESTAURANT AT CONRAD
Although Koh Samui has an ever increasing variety of culinary options, foodies and discerning dining aficionados will be hard-pressed to find one to match Jahn at Conrad Koh Samui.
There’s a buzz around Jahn and for good reason. From the unimpeded eye-popping view atop the restaurant’s commanding perch on the mountainside, to the elegant candle-lit romance factor, and the avant-garde Thai-fusion creations, a unique and indulgent gastronomic experience is born.
What you discover when you finally pry your gaze away from the view (book your table before sunset) is a menu full of reworked Thai classics and international fare swirling with Thai flavours. Although still recognisable as their traditional counterparts, these visionary recipes have attained a new polished level of opulence.
The menu offers several intriguing options from seared duck curry to lobster/ scallop/prawn phad thai to red curry lamb, but perhaps what best quenches curiosity are the two set menus: Tasting of Jahn and Journey of Jahn.
The Tasting of Jahn was recommended and what a tasting it is! You are led down a winding path filled with a vast variety of flavours and textures around every bend. Starting with betel leaf enveloping pomelo, prawn, roasted coconut and a sweet and sour tamarind sauce, the tart and tangy flavours leave you anticipating what surprises might come next.
The ubiquitous tom yum goong has an entirely new interpretation being freshly brewed right on your table. A light fish stock is poured through a strainer containing the herbs and spices and a dazzling red broth emerges. Adorned with a grilled prawn, fresh shallots, and petite fragrant mushrooms, the presentation is as beautiful as the taste is gentle and rich.
Clockwise from Top The chef’s creativity is evident in this example: sweet potato tart with apple compote, passion fruit coulis and guava sorbet.
The ever-popular ‘tom yum goong’ gets a new spin with broth at the table.
Jahn’s elegant presentations will delight dining connoisseurs.
Following a rosella sorbet palate cleanser, the main course of massaman Wagyu beef is rolled out. The slab of tenderloin is sprinkled with hefty crystals of salt and seared with a sizzling iron. Served over new potatoes, crispy fried red onions, and heavenly morel mushrooms, a drizzling of the massaman curry sauce served on the side unifies this masterpiece.
A meal at Jahn isn’t complete without sampling the rarest coffee on earth from the Black Ivory Coffee Company. This incredibly smooth and unique blend inherits these characteristics when the raw beans are eaten by elephants. Their digestive enzymes break down proteins in the beans thereby reducing bitterness resulting in a velvety, polished brew.
If the question is where to succumb to your craving for an elegant dining experience in a premier location, Jahn is the answer.
Conrad Koh Samui
49/8-9 Moo 4, Hillcrest Road, Taling-Ngam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani
+66 (0) 77 915888
Words MC Lai
Hong Kong Heritage
Raise your shopping game when it comes to souvenirs in Hong Kong. Here, Fah Thai rounds up an indispensable list of the island’s unique mementos depicting iconic places and objects that are truly Hong Kong.
Inspiring pieces by talented and local designers capture a piece of the city’s history in cool designs and fun objects. Rather than a keychain or a t-shirt there as you explore Kowloon, Stanley market and the abundance of souvenir gift shops around Cat Street; how about some dim sum salt and pepper shakers for a friend? Those tote bags in the ubiquitous red, white, blue pattern seen in markets for years? They are reborn in a contemporary style.
It would be better to remember the good times you had in Hong Kong with new and trendy keepsakes from locally established designers already recognised internationally. When visiting the island, make it a point to check out popular destinations like 2squared or PMQ ( pmq.org.hk ), an ideal one-stop shopping complex for lifestyle and boutique items.
In 2009, the site became a hub for design and creative industries. You’ll find around 100 design and creative retail shops in what used to be former residential quarters for the police, now converted into a retail destination.
A veritable temple of Hong Kong-themed merchandise is Goods of Desire — G.O.D. for those in the know ( god.com.hk ). In the local dialect, the name means ‘to live better’ as it phonetically resembles the characters, ‘G.O.D.’ Done with pride and humour, their designs reflect symbolic icons uniquely found on the island and turned into practical everyday items. Grab a pair of slippers, oven mitts and practical home items with motifs of favourite spots in Hong Kong. Fun items include flip-flops and umbrellas to key chains with familiar retro designs.
Clockwise from Right Cuddly animals and popular mascots like the lion and panda serve as models for coin purses.
Hong Kong cool tees with myriad local quotes.
Sturdy tote bags depicting everyday Hong Kong scenes.
Graffiti wall by Hong Kong-based graffiti artist, Alex Croft, was inspired by Goods of Desire signature print.
Opposite Goods of Desire store at PMQ complex
Douglas Young co-founded G.O.D. with Benjamin Lau in 1996, in a bid to promote a Hong Kong brand he said is “both forwardlooking and proud of its cultural origins.” Many shops already promoting local designers look to his work as being representative of Hong Kong iconic designs. Tea towels with the Good Morning motif make ideal choices as these quintessential hand towels have been around for decades and still
found in supermarkets on the island. Tote bags cheekily declare allegiance to being a Hong Konger while easy, everyday bag essentials like coin persons in shape of a Hong Kong mailbox would delight any gift recipient. While this popular shop is on site at PMQ, other locations are scattered around Hong Kong.
At Kapok ( ka-pok.com ), named after the tropical tree and founded by Frenchman Arnault Castel, the lifestyle shop acts as the perfect curator for the gathering of exceptional local
Last minute souvenirs can now be grabbed at the Airport Express line city check-in near IFC in Central.
Top, Clockwise Modern graphic prints showcase a traditional favourite like dim sum.
Kapok puts retail focus on local designers around Hong Kong.
Gifts for hip recipients include Japanese washi tape and eye-catching umbrellas.
brands. Arnault started a series of collaborations with various Hong Kong designers for the PMQ project, gathering the best of local designers.
Among some of the local talents include Tania Mills. Based locally, Mills was already known as a relevant illustrator for media publications and together with Kapok’s launched a new series of products with the theme of ‘I Love Hong Kong.” Kapok also has ditto ditto — ( dittoditto.net ) letterpress postcards of Hong Kong landmarks illustrated and handmade by p.s. chan. Her washi tape designs of Victoria Harbour can spark thoughts of many DIY projects.
Meanwhile, Glue dedicates their retail items to glass mugs with bat motifs and chrysanthemum flowers, popular symbols artfully depicted on mobile phone cases and covers. Tote bags give a shoutout to popular Hong Kong streets. High quality souvenir t-shirts
Offering Hong Kong designers a chance to establish themselves, Design Gallery provides a retail platform while promoting Hong Kong as a regional creative hub.
make references to Chinese historical scenes in light-hearted and carefree designs.
A full-range of Hong Kong souvenir items can be found at shops belonging to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council who brought on the retail venue the HKTDC Design Gallery, with practical designed goods. Their line-up includes designer Alan Chan, also known as the “father of red-white-blue” for using the familiar fabric to create everyday
Kapok’s location in Wanchai has other hip shops and eateries to complete the Hong Kong experience.
objects. The shops sell totes, small purses and wallets made from the pattern. While his many works are in permanent collections at local and international museums, Stanley created the brand “rwb330” in partnership with the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association to depict Hong Kong’s positive spirit of fortitude, adaptability and industriousness. So shop to your heart’s content and know that with every keepsake is a memory of Hong Kong.
New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association เพื่อสะท้อนความแข็งแกร่ง
Sun Street
Constant Film
With the success of her movies, filmmaker Anocha Suwichakornpong explains how personal travel largely defines and blends seamlessly into her film settings.
Words Srinit Suwannasak
Photos Wichit Kongsiangsung
Although Anocha Suwichakornpong does not consider herself an experienced traveller, traces of her journeys have influenced her personality and her works, often in unconscious ways. The up-and-coming, award-winning Thai film maker says her cinematic portrayal of Thailand incorporates the many voices and perspectives she gained while studying and travelling in Europe, America, and Asia.
Anocha started her journey with her short film Graceland (2006), the first Thai film selected for Cinéfondation, Cannes Film Festival. Her first feature-length film The Mundane History (2009) premiered at Busan International Festival, subsequently winning the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (2010). And her latest work, By the Time it Gets Dark, has gained international recognition after its premiere at the Locarno Festival.
Anocha’s stories of journeys are not only about going from one film festival to another, but it’s about gaining different voices at several stages in her life — from her hometown, Chon Buri, to Eastbourne, Dorking, London, New York, and Bangkok.
Bottom Nan, a province known for its natural beauty, is the main location in the film By the Time It Gets Dark.
“Travelling works on me in the way that forces me to see different perspectives because it makes me meet a lot of different people. It helps unlock us from being trapped in certain norms and values. For example, we might have believed that Thai rice is the best in the world but when I met a friend from Ecuador, she told me that Thai rice is ‘good.’ Actually in Ecuador, they eat a different kind of rice and Thai rice is not preferable. Chilli varieties that we think only exists in Thailand can be found in other countries too. These seemingly small things taught me about differences and not to be a nationalist,” Anocha explained.
Such perspectives led to images of Thailand in Anocha’s films portrayed with different voices. “The subject of my films is Thailand,” Anocha explained on why she left New York after graduating from Columbia University. “As big cities, New York and Bangkok have something in common, but at the same time they’re very different. In New York, you can do anything and nobody cares, while in Bangkok people seem to be interested in other people. But I chose Bangkok because the stories I want to tell are here.”
Back in the early 90s, Anocha travelled alone for the first time to Eastbourne, a small town in the UK. “I’m not sure if it can be called travelling alone because it’s with a
group of Thai students who went for summer school. Anyway, it’s the first time that I didn’t travel with my family,” Anocha recalled. However, this trip seemed to be just a prelude of her journey. A big change came to the 8th grade girl was when her parents sent her to a boarding school in Dorking. “It’s a countryside that’s very quiet. There’s nothing there except a small shop that is also a post office. If we want something we have to go to this shop, but if we want more we had to go to London. Luckily, it’s not far.”
Despite living in a small town like Dorking, it’s the starting point of her Europe exploration when she went backpacking with her two older sisters. “It’s before the EU, so it’s not as easy as these days. And because we were still very young, so we had to be very careful about budget and be very selective about the things we did. I think this is the big difference of travelling when you were young and when you are a grownup. Travelling when you were young is more like an adventure. We took the train and stayed in the youth hostels which we’ve never experienced before. One night we stayed in a youth hostel in Paris that had four beds. While the three of us were sleeping, a person came in the middle of the night for the bed.” I was quite surprised because I thought that the whole room was ours.”
This Page With family in a ryokan hotel in Kinosaki
Bottom Sakura trees bloom at Yoyogi Park, Japan
Although Anocha spent many years of her life in Europe and America, there are many places in Asia that Anocha describes as “her place”. “I’ve just gone to Krabi recently. I prefer Krabi to Phuket as it’s not so busy and better for chilling. And my favourite thing to do in Krabi is to kayak. There is a cave where we have to kayak to see. It’s kinda fun.” While Krabi is the destination for her favourite activity like kayaking, a quiet place like Pua district in Nan province is her sanctuary, and which became the main location of her latest film By the Time It Gets Dark. “The owner of the place came from Bangkok to create a mushroom farm with a house (in the film) as a homestay. There is a coffee shop downstairs. When I first wrote the script for this film, the setting is on an island, it’s just my imagined island. But when I went there, I decided to change it. I was impressed by its landscape, the light, the colour of the place. The scenery of each season is different: it’s very green during the rainy season and its colour changes again in the winter. And during the day, we can walk into the forest.”
In addition to searching locations for her own films, Anocha tries to experience places in classic films. She went to Hiroshima to find the place where director Alain Resnais shot Hiroshima, Mon Amour.
After shooting the film, the farm’s owner moved to live there permanently but Anocha still keeps that place in her mind and went back to Nan from time to time. “I want to screen my film in Nan one day. It’s a lovely and quiet small town where you can see people riding a bicycle. And there are many nice shops, restaurants and museums. A dessert shop called “Pa Nim” (Auntie Nim) is one of my favourites.”
In addition to searching locations for her own films, Anocha tries to experience places in classic films. She went to Hiroshima to find the place where director Alain Resnais shot Hiroshima, Mon Amour. “I tried to find the hotel that was in the film. I asked so many people but still couldn’t find it. I heard that it was changed to a convention centre. And in the film H Story which is an homage to Hiroshima, Mon Amour, there is a scene where Béatrice Dalle walks in an arcade. I tried to find that too and I found a long arcade. I’m not sure if it’s the same one as in the film. While I was walking there, it was after a baseball match. So, there were baseball fans all over the place, which was an impressive scene.”
Anocha found that Taiwan is the country that speaks to her and mirrors her own personality. “People there are not too flashy or attentiongrabbing. I like the people, the town, the mountains. The last time I went there, I drove to a mountain which is about 3,000 metres and passed through some 10 tunnels. It’s the
first time that I drove there. Before that I took the train and I think that the public transport system in Taipei is good and it’s cheaper than in Bangkok. And most of the museums are free. I went to an art exhibition where the entry fee costs only 50 Taiwanese dollars. It’s very cheap for a good show. And there is a bookstore that opens 24 hours. The food is also good.” For Anocha, Taiwan was not love at first sight, but in subsequent trips she fell further for the country. “The first time I went there was for the film festival. So, I just went to a night market and didn’t see much of the town. But the second time, I went there with my family. We went to filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang’s café that my mum likes but she didn’t have any idea about Tsai Ming-Liang. She just liked the place. But now it’s already closed.”
With many different scenes from the different locations of her life, Anocha found herself to be an observer at the edge of everywhere. “I think that I can blend in everywhere I live but at the same time, I don’t have any sense of belonging anywhere. I never thought about living anywhere for the long term. Travelling affects me in the sense that I won’t stay at the same place. So, in my work, I won’t repeat myself. It’s really important to keep challenging myself and do something I’ve never done before. It’s a kind of adventure. This is the reason why By the Time It Gets Dark is much different from Mundane History.”
Right Sculptures in Mexico
Fah Thai recently hopped on a route that flies from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Hanoi, Vietnam. With the ease of a short flight, two countries in 5 days seemed easy to say hello to the familiar sights and to f ind some ‘wow’ to new experiences.
Words Nawarat Acosta Photos Anutra Ungsuprasert
The capital city of Hanoi in Vietnam is but a skip and a hop from Chiang Mai, the former Lanna kingdom. While no two northern capitals can be alike, the commonality lies in their rich history, culture and the food, oh the food.
The objective was to see how much can be done with two good stops, with their wealth in historical nostalgia and local culinaria. Choosing accommodations near the iconic landmark of Wat Gate, which sits on the east bank of the Ping River and across from Chiang Mai’s city centre made getting around simpler, with the airport within reach.
Given the sporadic to heavy downpours that visit during the rainy season, renting a car is a good strategy and simply requires a driver’s license for a set of wheels offered by the plethora of car rentals at the Chiang Mai airport. Beyond the usually frequented city spots, having a car meant stress-free exploration of areas
like the Mae Rim district. With the relatively small size of the airport, a car gets delivered and just as quickly, you zoom towards the main airport exit.
With Google Maps serving as a trusty companion, just be on the lookout for U-turns that show up unexpectedly. It is about 15 minutes back to the airport for the car dropoff before your flight.
The immediate destination was the Mae Rim area, close to the airport and a happening neighbourhood with a strong enterprising spirit, dotted by the crop of creative bakeries, restaurants and coffee shops that stray from any predictable recipes.
The first stop was “Steak of the Day,” with Chef Rewat Srilachai at the helm. His bistro is a local favourite with faithful diners who know that anything the former Four Seasons executive chef
produces is exquisitely fresh and inventive but stays true to authentic flavours.
With a casual neighbourhood vibe and the amiable personality of the chef, dishes that come out, like a salad of Chiang Mai crisp greens accentuated with the sharp goodness of a real tomato is sublime in a light dressing and sheer freshness. It may be an unassuming spot but
are delectable
seared with a balanced crust and morels; a juicy steak lives up to the chef’s reputation – medium rare and done right; wrapped in cheese upon cheese.
Top, Clockwise Also with “Steak of the Day”
scallops
Bottom Left and Right
A perfect Baked Alaska with Pineapple Compote; Chef Rewat and his cheerful wife show what’s for dessert.
the dishes are award-worthy in taste and presentation and even better, quite affordable.
And his Steak of the Day, usually a tomahawk comes up cooked in the best possibly way. His pork chops with a softened cheese layer is decadent, and addictively tasty. The yellowtail or Hamachi is seared with the skin still crisp, while desserts like a Baked Alaska top off the experience. He also has Rimm Phi Romm Thai restaurant across the street that caters more to a local cuisine. facebook.com/steak. steakoftheday
As if that wasn’t enough, another great meal came in the form of Bombay Hut Chef Chang who lived in Mumbai for 10 years.
A beckoning goddess in wall art takes you through a cobblestoned path into a house decorated with Chef Chang’s detailed and decorative finds, all Indianthemed in cosy displays. Already,
In
he’s busy prepping the meal and timing its mouth-watering delivery and diners can see him walking about the kitchen and colourful décor. His table settings possess charm with carefully chosen tableware and a creative food presentation. A three-course meal should cost no more than 550 baht or 280 for lunch. With its full on Indian theme, the food retains its authentic base with a touch of local Chiang Mai ingredients bursting with personality, just like the chef himself. With Bombay Hut’s popularity, reservations are a must. Don Kaeo, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai, +66 90 252 0563.
a one-man culinary show, Chef Chang uses masterful skills with Indian influences like kebab skewers with a Thai dipping sauce whose unified flavours get served in a Indo-boho chic atmosphere.
MAE RIM CERAMIC
As you drive along Mae Rim road, try not to blink in order to not miss the wonderland of Mae Rim Ceramic and a throwback to another era reminiscent of the mid-century trend. The compound is worth visiting for their display of handmade tiles and stoneware pottery of table items and decorative pieces. It’s a unique place where you can special order tiles for that dream home or stop by to add to your tableware collection. Among some of their notable projects include the grand sweep of tiled roof at the former Siam Inter-Continental Hotel in Bangkok and now the City Hall in Busan, Korea. 165 Moo 8, Don Kaeo, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai
Above, Left and Right All dishes shine with their Indian influence at Bombay Hut.
Middle
Stoneware pottery and household objects are regular offerings at Mae Rim Ceramic
NORTH TO NORTH
ONWARDS TO HANOI, “ỐI GIỜI ƠI”
It loosely translates as “oh my god” but that’s how you feel with every bite and sight encountered. Look past the curtain of chaotic streets where man and vehicle seem to share the same lane and you’ll find countless delights that go beyond Hanoi expectations.
However, when in Hanoi, there has to be pho. Yes, the queue needs to be joined at places like Pho Thinh to taste for sautéed beef atop a steaming bowl of a non-traditional yet Hanoi classic. But nothing beats the experience of apartment pho at Miss Minh. Apparently, Miss Minh had been serving to loyal customers for decades but had to vacate her sidewalk spot. Not wanting to go elsewhere for their pho cravings, those in the know have been showing
up at her doorstep for their regular bowl. Thus in her living room surrounded by a collection of blue and white ceramics and a corner daybed — you slurp the clearest broth, rightly balanced by onions and scallions in a bowl of true Hanoi pho. Pho Hang Trong, 8 Trong Hoan Kiem
For a dash of caffeine, in one of the many mysterious alleyways, follow signs for Hoi An Café, with excellent drip coffees and Vietnamese coffees that offer a more superior, taste of fresh roasted beans. It’s the design of the place in a former duplex apartment and balcony views of the Old Quarter that showcase the charm of Hanoi.
While countless lists and blogs offer tips on where to eat,
Top, Left and Right
Miss Minh serves a genuine Hanoi pho in her home to faithful customers.
Pho Cuon or pho rolls - made of pho noodle sheets that wrap choice slices of beef and herbs.
Bottom
The mosaic wall, the longest in the world, depicts various scenes of Vietnamese culture.
Left
Nom bo and banh bot loc rolls.
but sans list, the eating is still excellent at most spots. Why on any sidewalk, you can down a vast array of molluscs, like snails in herbal dipping sauces of a quality found in high-end restaurant, except you’re on plastic stools and makeshift tables. An auntie sets up shop where she steams rice crêpes and hands it over to you à la minute, hot and delicious. Most things are served with a sheer extravagance of herbs piled high and a vinegar and fish sauce dip. During peak time, tables get shared and you’re sure to be taught the right way to eat something. To enhance flavours, use the condiments and season until you strike the right balance.
To further maximise the food experience, consider joining a food tour. We were lucky to have met Thanh, a determined guide from maiafoodandtravel.com who took us to the Truc Bach neighbourhood to have fresh pho rolls with duck, steamed rice pancakes with pork and mushrooms and strands of pickled papaya. They’re fusion, she states, although they’re made by veteran aunties who continuously play with available ingredients. Congee with clams makes you cry in wonder while Vietnamese beefsteak meal with a thick generous slab of paté and French fries set you back USD $5. Nearby dessert places with coconut ice cream and a caramel flan at a mere
Below Left Boats in a row await passengers in Ninh Binh where a majority of rowers are women.
US 30 cents leaves us flabbergasted. And in final hospitality, we try the famous egg coffee. Thanh describes it as drinking ‘tiramisu,’ and when put that way, definitely is a pleasantly palatable experience.
For added cultural sights, the Hanoi Train Street in Dien Ben Phu street offers the excitement of scheduled trains whizzing by on tracks smack dab in the middle of a narrow lane. It’s a busy neighbourhood, but nonchalant residents are used to its daily appearance that’s within inches away from their doorstep. Nearby is an area known for its nightly street food, and the tempting call of chicken congee served with fried crullers. Again, the dusting of white
pepper and generous sprinkling of herbs like perilla and scallions give the dish a depth of flavour like nowhere else. Cafés nearby like Xofa and Vui showcase a more modern Hanoi for drinks and just chilling.
For a daytrip, a car can be hired for US $120 for nearly a full day to Ninh Binh, In just under two hours on a modern highway, see karst formations that jut out of spectacular and still waterways. Female rowers who use their feet to ‘row your boat’ offer another experience not found in too many places. Hanoi is used by many as a gateway to other places like Halong Bay, but if you decide to just hang out, there are still many amazing that make you go “oi giời oi.”
Above
A boat ride through picturesque Tam Coc in Ninh Binh province
Middle, Left to Right
A Hanoi specialty of noodles in gravy; Hanoi’s egg coffee is a major trend among coffee drinks.
Need an e-tox? Then head for one of Asia’s last unspoiled destinations — the Myeik Archipelago in Myanmar.
Words & Photos Ron Emmons
UNTOUCHED MYEIK
My phone and laptop were beginning to control my life, and I was badly in need of an e-tox. I couldn’t bear to throw these gadgets away, so I decided to go far, far away; somewhere without Wi-Fi or 3G; somewhere I could escape from the virtual world and reconnect with nature.
Allowing myself one last online indulgence to search for my spot, I signed up with Moby Dick Tours for a cruise through the Myeik (aka Mergui) Archipelago, located in the Andaman Sea off the southern coast of Myanmar.
The indicators were good: over 800 tropical islands, some no bigger than a house and others several kilometres long and wide; most of them uninhabited; no ferries connecting them, and definitely no Wi-Fi.
The trip began in Kawthaung, Myanmar’s southernmost town, where I boarded the Sea Gypsy — a homely looking, yellow and green-painted vessel with simple accommodation for 10 people, a communal sitting and eating area, a sundeck and a perpetually smiling crew. My companions for the voyage were a bunch of like-minded travellers from the USA, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Thailand.
Right
A Burmese-style pagoda beside the dock in Kawthaung, a town in the country’s southern tip.
Bottom
The Mergui Archipelago consists of hundreds of islands with corals reefs and unspoilt beaches.
Opposite Page, Clockwise
A Moken man repairing his dugout canoe while his wife looks on; kids pose for the camera.
One of the many enticing, deserted islands of the Myeik Archipelago, seen from the sundeck of the Sea Gipsy.
Our tour guide, JoJo, briefed us on our activities for the next five days. These included exploring the islands and beaches, swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), visiting a Moken (sea nomad) village, meeting local fishermen, eating delicious food and getting to know each other.
JoJo handed each of us a map of the area, and I smiled to see the names of some islands, such as Hastings Island, Lord Loughborough Island and Great Swinton Island, which I presumed were named by ship captains in the era of British rule over Burma. I had read that the region was once a hotbed of pirates, but I hoped we would complete our cruise without seeing a ship with a Jolly Roger flag of skull and bones bearing down on us.
Within a couple of hours heading northwest into the archipelago, we had lost sight of the mainland and were surrounded by islands that
were covered in dense forest and ringed by rocky shorelines, sandy beaches and coral reefs. Soon the Sea Gypsy dropped anchor and JoJo whisked us to a deserted beach in a small dinghy. We scrambled up a steep incline to enjoy a panoramic view of the archipelago, but we didn’t stay there long. Suddenly everything went dark and the heavens opened; rain came teeming down, thunder cracked and lightning split the sky. By the time we got back to the boat we were all soaked, despite not yet having had a swim in the sea. Our voyage took place at the turn of the dry to rainy season, and stormy weather became a regular feature of the next few days. While in some ways this was disappointing, the storms brought with them a silver lining in the form of dramatic skies that made for memorable photos. I would find myself composing an image with bright sunlight shining on the Sea Gypsy or on
one of our group paddleboarding over limpid waters, with a contrasting backdrop of dark, brooding clouds.
As we chugged around the archipelago, we often spotted dolphins breaking the surface near our boat, and eagles and kites gliding on air currents high above us. With its relative lack of human activity, the archipelago is a haven for many rare creatures, such as dugongs, dusky langurs and plain-pouched hornbills. We
Above, Left and Right
A fisherman with oil-covered hands repairing a boat engine in the shelter of a bay.
Below
The Sea Gipsy makes a comfortable, floating base from which to explore the Myeik Archipelago.
As we chugged around the archipelago, we often spotted dolphins breaking the surface near our boat, and eagles and kites gliding on air currents high above us.
didn’t see any of these, but one day I was taking shots of yet another idyllic, deserted beach when someone shouted “Oh, look at the monkeys!” I swung my camera round to see that the ‘monkeys’ were in fact a family of oriental small-clawed otters scampering down the beach to the sea. Apparently, they are different to other otters in that they spend most of their time on land, and catch their prey with their paws rather than with their mouths.
Though the islands are largely devoid of any human footprint, one saddening sight was the pollution on several beaches. Plastic bottles, torn fishing nets and lumps of Styrofoam marked the high-tide line, posing a grave danger to the many endangered species
that inhabit the archipelago. Coral reefs are also under threat, not only from rising sea temperatures, but also from carelessly dropped boat anchors and tourists taking souvenirs of their trip, though I was glad that JoJo warned us against this last activity. Unfortunately, due to the stormy weather, visibility on the reefs was poor so we couldn’t fully appreciate their beauty at the time of our trip. At present, only a few resorts exist in the entire archipelago, each of which professes to be eco-friendly and to keep human impact to a minimum. However, several other luxury resorts are currently under construction on previously uninhabited islands, and hopefully they will take a similarly sensitive approach to this fragile wonderland.
Clockwise from Top A local woman carries seafood that’s been left out to dry; Taung Bao Bo — where coral reefs still enjoy relative tranquility; Kayaking trips are part of the excursions organised by expeditionsin photography.com and David Van Driessche, who organises the tours.
The only permanent inhabitants of the archipelago are the Moken, an Austronesian people who number just a couple of thousand. In the past they would spend nine months of the year moving around the islands, free diving for food from their dugout canoes, then sheltering on land during the monsoon season. These days they live most of the time on land, and we visited one of their villages on Nyaung Wee Island.
We found them friendly and welcoming, and we were able to watch them repairing their canoes and thatching huts while their children played on the beach. One of the local Moken women told us that they are trying to hold on to their traditional lifestyle despite intermarriage and modernisation, but she was doubtful whether they would be successful.
We also visited a group of Myanmar fisherfolk who spend most of their life at sea, fishing for squid at night. They offered us beers and bags of squid and kept up a constant jovial banter, while one of them was dismantling a boat engine, his hands black with grease, and a young boy showed off his mobile phone loaded with games.
However, the highlight of the whole trip for me was on the last day, when we went ashore on Taung Lao Bo Island to find some maroon and beige rocks that made a striking contrast to the pale turquoise waters of the bay. While others in the group were kayaking and paddleboarding, I waded through the shallows with my camera, delighted by the
swirling, natural patterns in the wave-worn rocks.
We had such a good time in the Myeik Archipelago that most of us completely forgot about our phones. That is, until one of our group shouted “I’ve got a signal!” as the Sea Gypsy approached the mainland at the end of our tour. After five days of socialising, suddenly everyone went silent, their eyes glued to a screen, as they checked long lists of emails, sent messages to friends and made arrangements for onward travel. I have to confess that I was as bad as everyone else — totally addicted to the virtual world — until the sky flared into a jaw-dropping sunset, a fitting end to our unplugged sojourn in paradise.
Goodwill Riding Through the Unforeseen
For charity’s sake and for the exhilaration of traversing through stunning landscape, a group of photographers based around Asia jumped on their mopeds for a motorcycle ride of a lifetime around Vietnam.
Words & Photos Morgan Ommer, Chris Lusher and Trong Tung
A floating fish farm in the Central Highlands in Vietnam.
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP
“In the North, we drank a lot of rice wine with the Dao and Hmong people. The Dao people taught us how to do cheers when you drink. You say ‘Humbidou, you drink, you shake hands, then you wait 2 seconds… and start again.”
“In Central Vietnam, we where almost blown away by Typhoon Wutip. In Danang, we caught up with Hoang Anh, Miss Vietnam Earth runner up 2012 and did a fashion shoot with her in a nice resort with some Scottish firewater.”
Harvesting Rice.
OPPOSITE PAGE
“The next day we met a bunch of kids playing amazing football, the way it should be played, as a team and for fun.”
OPPOSITE
Vietnamese Khmer people train for a long boat tournament sponsored by the Ong Khmer Pagoda, Ca Mau province.
TOP
A Hmong woman.
BOTTOM
Giang Sau P and his family in an joint effort to preserve the traditional house in a Hmong village, Ha Giang province.
In An Giang province — raising fish on
School kids caught in a downpour, Thua Thien Hue province
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chris Lusher, a photographer from the UK, is based in Hong Kong.
Chris has two young daughters and a really nice car back home.
Trong Tung, is a photographer from Hanoi. He also has a daughter.
Tung loves to play with lighting equipment, and has too much
energy putting the rest of the photographers to shame. Morgan Ommer, photographer and German national, is now based in Ho Chi Minh City. He just likes riding small bikes and eating absolutely anything. They make up the Noi Pictures agency, www.noipictures.com.
OPPOSITE TOP
rafts on the Mekong River.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM
TOP
Tour boat operators line up in wait for customers.
RIGHT
Hung Yen primary school students pose for a group picture in front of the the village communal house.
KNOW BEFORE YOU
Resort Style
At the ultra-modern Como Point Yamu, the humble Thai bueang’ enjoys a
One of Thailand’s wellness sanctuary, Divana, takes the lead for its pampering spa products that are wonderfully scented and luxurious. To take sensory relaxation to another level, the boutique spa has combined the virtues of Scent, Organic, Lifestyle, and Culture by unveiling the Divana Signature Café. An inviting floral
UP AND ABOVE
arch greets guests on the 2nd floor of Central World’s Atrium Zone, leading into the Divana Signature Café wafting with the brand’s signature aromatic scent. Once seated, you can already apply hand cream made available to everyone with the signature scent. Such pampered hands can look through and choose from the Café’s
Bangkok is the one destination where a person never tires of her rooftop bars. ABar and ABar Rooftop, both located on the 37th floor of the newly-revamped Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, offers an interesting addition to downtown Bangkok with a spectacular view of Benjasiri Park and the city skyline.
sumptuous menus of fusion Thai and Western desserts and light grub. A highlight is the Instagramworthy Afternoon Tea Set which perfectly marries aesthetics along with the full engagement of the senses. CentralWorld, 999/9 Rama I Rd., facebook.com/divanasignaturecafe, +66 (0) 2252 2614-5
The bar’s design plays with the concept of contrasting qualities, such as dark and light as seen from the décor inside the 1930s-inspired ABar while a lighter, shimmering ambience sets apart the ABar Rooftop.
Guests are invited to savour the dark spirits at ABar where an extensive selection of whiskey, dark rum, cognac as well as Prohibition Era cocktails are promised, or dive into the neverending parade of gin at ABar Rooftop where one of the largest gin selections are kept. Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park 199 Sukhumvit 22, bangkokmarriottmarquisqueenspark.com, +66 (0) 2059 5999
UNLEASH THE DRAGON
After a major facelift, the former Western-styled dining venue Iron Chef Table is excitedly reborn as Iron Chef Dragon where delicious modern Chinese food with an Asian twist emerges from the culinary magic of Chef Thanarak Chuto. The food, whose concept of modern cuisine gets created from the finest ingredients with authentic flavours, is illustrated through a unique presentation, all at a reasonable price. Diners can expect to whet their appetite with a variety of dishes once heard in stories of ancient Chinese culinary dishes such as Emperor Crispy Egg Noodles with Abalone, Sea Cucumber, Fish Maw, Shrimp and Shiitake served with a signature consommé, or a more contemporary touch like a premium dim sum platter which consists of excellent bite-size treats. Iron Chef Dragon also offers an interesting wine list and wonderfully-crafted mocktails and cocktails highlighted by the pumping Fire Breathing Dragon that mixes herbal tea, green table, apple cider, and lime juice topped with baked crispy pork. Thonglor 11, Sukhumvit 55, facebook.com/ironchefdragon, +66 (0) 81 819 6262
Bangkok outlet. Daily baking of bread varieties start at 1am with changes in their menu with enticing additions available on a weekly basis. At Landhaus Bakery, just a slice of bread with a simple spread of Austrian honey or jam is the best way to savour the flavours and ambience of the space. Better yet, enjoy a glass of fine Austrian wine. The place is also known for a wide selection of brioche and Breakfast Set as well. 18 Phahonyothin 5, facebook.com/Landhausbakery, +66 (0) 81 902 9183
WHERE STREET AND KICKS MEET
What happens when a love of street style and passion for rare and unique sneakers meet? The result is atmos Bangkok. From its beginning in Tokyo in 2000, atmos Bangkok will be the sneaker boutique’s fourth country where they set up shop and and a first in Southeast Asia. Located on the 2nd floor
of Central World’s Beacon Zone, the place is more than just a general sneaker store. Excitingly for sneaker heads, it features special items and exclusive collaborations with major brands of kicks from around the world such as Nike, Adidas, ASICS, Puma, etc.
999/9 Rama I Rd., atmos-bangkok.com
SPOTLIGHT
Pioneering Pacific Northwestern Cuisine
A first glance, the newly-opened Ocken restaurant on South Sathorn Road in Bangkok does not unveil the exact type of cuisine this place has to offer. But if you are familiar with the cuisine of the American Pacific Northwest, you will see a strong influence coming from that part of the world. Rich soils and oceans of seafood sustain their philosophy of simple cooking techniques and the freshest flavours. Signalling the latest brainchild from the creators of food establishments Roast, Roots and The Commons, Ocken serves eclectic dishes inspired by the founder’s memories and journeys. The dishes that have been tried so far have been flavourful, intense in taste with masterful manoeuvring. The launch menu has the scrumptious Mini Cuban (small finger sandwiches with jalapeño and cured ham) and the refreshing ‘Ocken Salad’ where
creamy burrata contrasts with the sharpness of kiwi and rosemary. Octopus — another signature dish — is brined to tenderise, then grilled and ladled with bacon fat for service.
The in-house drinking water, as mundane as the item is, serves as the restaurant’s attempt to reduce plastic waste. The twice-filtered still and
sparkling waters, available and freeflow at Bt60 per person, are light, smooth and really does enhance the whole meal. 1st Floor, Bhiraj Tower Sathorn, South Sathorn Road (BTS: Surasak, parking on site), Daily (closed Mondays): 18.00 – midnight, +66 (0) 82 091 6174, ockenbkk.com
Dining Unlike Any Other
UPCYCLING THINKING
Patrons of this place will have a ‘Think’ about the impact they have on the environment, as THINK & Retro Café employs recycled furnishings throughout their space. The recycled theme integrates itself into all aspects of the venue as the restaurant area and rooms are all made from recycled shipping containers. Located on beautiful Lipa Noi beach on Samui’s west coast, THINK & Retro Café has a quiet and tranquil feeling that allows guests some time for introspection while looking out at the calm seas and enjoying a delicious meal. With a large menu offering both Thai and Western dishes as well as delectable desserts and cocktails, THINK has something to suit everyone’s taste. facebook.com/ samuirestaurant, +66 (0) 77 423 951
For the past three years, one restaurant has held a top spot as an island favourite among visitors – The Thai Experience. What sets this venue apart from the plethora of dining options on the island are the charismatic hosts who guide their guests through a look into Thai history and culture. The restaurant can accommodate up to 21 guests per night and advanced booking is required. With pick up and drop off services included in the evening’s festivities, diners can enjoy free-flow cocktails all evening. The Thai Experience is the perfect way to immerse yourself in culture, to meet fellow travellers, and enjoy a unique menu. 132 Moo 4, Tambon Maret, Amphur Ban Lamai, facebook.com/ thethaiexp, +66 (0) 84 667 8711
RESORTING TO NATURE AND MUSIC
A scenic drive along Koh Samui’s west coast will bring you upon bamboo and mud structures appropriately named The Mud. Twenty-three mud clay and bamboo villas offer lodging with great sunset views and a beautiful outdoor pool located right on a dreamy beach front. The Mud aims to give those who visit a view into the past with its almost primal design inspiration and
its emphasis on true Thai culture. Though the Mud is known for its inviting accommodations, it has made a reputation for itself on the island paradise as a place for live music which takes place in their restaurant each night. Additionally, on every last Friday of the month, The Mud holds a jam session in their restaurant and amphitheatre area which draws in musicians from near and far. facebook.com/The-Mud-555751337909656, +66 (0) 77 960 172-3, +66 (0) 81 959 5155
Sporting Heaven on Chaweng
Water lovers and adventure seekers in Thailand, look no further than Samui Boat Panmas located on lively Chaweng Beach. White sand and clear blue waters pair perfectly with Samui Boat Panmas’ many offerings including jet skiing,
wakeboarding, flyboarding, parasailing, towable floats, banana boats and doughnuts, water-skiing and more. Solo travellers, groups, or families can enjoy a day of fun out on the water. You have the option of creating your own schedule and
A CAFÉ MOST VISITED
The Road Less Travelled café may be one of the newest additions to Koh Samui’s repertoire of lovely cafés, but what sets it apart is its dedication to organic and ethically-sourced ingredients used for their homemade-style of food and beverages. Love and care go into everything the RLT does and that is evident upon first glance at the colourful and cosy décor. The café has a way of transporting its customer to what may feel like a trendy Thonglor locale in Bangkok, or possibly a quaint Scottish café. Given the juxtaposition of the elegant café and its Thai beachy surroundings, guests cannot help but be drawn to the venue in Nathon’s old village. The beauty of the venue may be what draws guests in, but the delicious health food, the handmade chocolate and desserts, and wide array of coffees and cocktails are what keeps people coming back for more. facebook.com/The-Road-Less-TravelledSamui-2362963547261252, +66 (0) 61 196 9882
programme of the day to best suit your tastes for thrills. Day trips visiting the surrounding islands are also available. Whatever the choice, a day with Samui Boat Panmas is guaranteed to be full of fun and sunshine. samuiboatpanmas.com, +66 (0) 89 750 2200
BOPHUT HILLS BEAUTY
What started off as a well-kept secret for locals has now become a must-see for long time islanders and tourists alike. Gecko Samui, hidden high in the Bophut Hills, is a great place to spend an afternoon lounging, swimming, drinking cocktails, and soaking in the breath-taking views from high up. With a chic, white and airy lounging area overlooking an infinity pool situated above lush palm trees, Gecko
ticks all the boxes on your paradise check list. Offering a mixture of strong cocktails, Western favourites, and delicious Thai fare, Gecko boasts not only a beautiful scenic backdrop but also a wonderful menu. Those who venture up in the hills will not be left disappointed after a day spent at this trendy and in-demand spot. facebook.com/Gecko-Samui-39269995686, +66 (0) 81 737 3507
by Chatta Phoyen
Photos
SAMUI
Rock & Ropes Koh Samui offers a safe and fun way for visitors to experience the thrill of climbing or conquering their fears in an idyllic and beautiful setting. Rock & Ropes’ offerings include rock climbing tours as well as abseiling/rappelling and guided courses. With bookings needed in advance, visitors are encouraged to get a group of two or more to join a day of fun and adventure no matter the weather conditions. Over the
past year and half on the island, Rock & Ropes has become a favourite stop for thrill seekers. The climbing venue is located on the face of a beautiful rock with breath-taking ocean views. Its convenient position between popular Chaweng and Lamai Beach make it easily accessible from the main tourism areas. Rock climbing and rappelling are open to children and adults alike. facebook.com/Rockclimbsamui, +66 (0) 61 230 0767
ECO-ARTISAN MARKET
One of the islands most celebrated ‘green’ initiatives is the Samui Green Market which takes place every six weeks. Started by the Samui Mala group, the market aims to celebrate local artisans and creators who supply a variety of products such as locally-made cheeses, chocolate, vegetarian and vegan foods, handicrafts and more. All vendors are required to ‘ditch the plastic’ and find alternative ways to package products. The environmentally-conscious market is run solely by caring volunteers and supports programmes such as Trash Hero, Samui Bin Projects, and various other community causes. With their welcoming feel, the Green Market makes for a lovely Sunday afternoon spent enjoying local products and immersing in Samui’s green community. Upcoming green market dates are July 15th at Elysia Boutique Resort and August 26th at Six Senses. samuimala.org
Free sunbed & use of towel
Beach Volleyball everyday
Beach Bar / Swim-Up Pool Bar
Happy Hour 4-7pm. everyday
Children’s Activities
Table Tennis & Pool Table
Beach Front Restaurant & Bars
Photos by Kevin Nowak
Dine in Indian Influence
One of the most exciting resorts in Phuket, Keemala, launched its brand in the woodlands setting, a wonderland with accommodations that made the best use of Kamala Bay’s lush tropical garden. Amidst their 38 pool villas and cottages is their Mala Restaurant that serves guests all day deliciousness inspired by local Phuket Peranakan cuisine. What makes this place special is the fact that they have a full Indian menu for all meals — from breakfast to lunch and dinner. The explanation is that the Indian influence serves as the root of Malay food, hence a part of Phuket Peranakan culture.
Mala serves breakfast from 6am until 11.15am, making it perhaps the longest breakfast on the island. Their à la carte and buffet menus offer up Indian choices such as masala dosa (Indian crêpe with lentils and vegetable sambar and coconut chutney), Medu vada (south Indian doughnut) and Idli (rice and lentil cake) to
We all know that Phuket has more beaches than farms, but Pru Jampa organic farm in the northeast of Thailand’s largest island sources fresh produce for chefs for farm-to-table dining. Pru — the word that Phuket natives use to call the wild mangrove forest typical to the island — is the name of a modern cuisine restaurant at Trisara Phuket, featuring aspiring chef Jim Ophorst from the Netherlands whose background includes a stint in the innovative kitchen of Gaggan in Bangkok. Chef Ophorst uses organic eggs from Pru Jampa, along with local herbs and organic vegetables from the 600-rai wild farmstead. He also sources seafood, fruits and vegetables from all over Phuket. The result is a menu variety starting from four to nine courses with wine paring and highlighted dishes include Phang Nga black crab in its own reduction, iced fennel and vinaigrette and burnt leeks with mushrooms from the forest of Phang Nha. Monday - Saturday: 18.00 - 22.30, 60/1 Moo 6, Sri Soonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, +66 (0) 76 310 100, prurestaurant.com
be washed off with a masala tea. Lunch and dinner feature a full Indian menu with favourites such as butter chicken, vegetable samosa, tandoori and tikka.
For 15 years, Phuket Race Week has been the ‘it’ event for sailing boat enthusiasts from all over the world who join the annual race and get together in Thailand’s southern resort island. This year, the event will take place during 18-22 July 2018 at Cape & Kantary Hotels’ Phuket properties, Cape Panwa Hotel and Kantary Bay Hotel which sit at Phuket’s southernmost bay tip with an open span of the Andaman Ocean. Like many other seaside destinations, seasons in Phuket are mostly designated by weather. While the island is most crowded throughout the year, especially
during the dry and cool seasons to-wards the end of the year, July is the charming ‘green’ season or the rainy season. But do not be alarmed — the comfortable temperature, more active winds and a little bit of tropical rain add to the challenge and are important factors for sailing. This year expects 30 to 40 yachts to participate in the event in at least seven categories, including IRC, Multihull, Cruising/Charter, Firefly 850, Crosair and Platu. The four-day race will finish off with a closing party by the beach. 113/167 Anupas Golf Ville, Kathu, Phuket, +66 (0) 89 000 4664, phuketraceweek.com
CAPE PANWA PHUKET RACE WEEK 2018
Balance the Ayurvedic Way
The sports-centric Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort is now introducing a new ‘Ayurvedic Treatment’ that includes a wholesome body and mind treatment with knowledge that aims to boost total energy and inner wellbeing. Reaping wisdom from ancient medicinal treatments that hark back over five centuries, the new ‘Ayurveda’ will focus on three elemental substances or the doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). Balance of the doshas results in optimal health,
SUAY SUAY, AROI AROI
The dishes at Suay (beautiful in Thai) restaurants in Phuket live up to their name and are designed to also be unique and authentic. Established by veteran Thai chef Tammasak Choothong or Chef Noi, Suay represents fine dining with creative dishes that retain the Thai taste. The menu results in an array of tasty and beautiful dishes such as spicy tuna salad Isaan style, bua tempura (using the Aralia leaf and a typical snack in Phuket) served with seafood curry tempura and avocado dip and the popular Thai dish of yum som-o or pomelo salad, served with grilled sea scallops, Thai basil and crispy fried dried shrimp. Another dish that ensures
while an imbalance results in diseases. Thus balance can be achieved by maintaining a healthy daily routine that include natural cycles of waking, sleeping, working and meditation, for example. The treatment is individualised, beginning with a consultation to identify a person’s prakriti (innate energy) or state of balance, along with an inspection of any imbalance or concerns and finally, a personalised recommendation for body/mind/spirit activities or prescription. Abhyanga or Ayurveda Oil Massage, Shirodhara or Third Eye
the seaside feeling is their sepia (squid) carpaccio with chilli and lime dressing served with a sea pearl salad.
Chef Noi is one of Thailand’s leading chefs with over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, who pursued dreams of having his own restaurant. Now Suay has two branches, one in Phuket Town and another in Cherngtalay. À la carte and set menus featuring their signature dishes are available, starting at Bt1,799++ for two with six dishes to share. Open daily: 16.00 - 23.00, suayrestaurant.com
Oil Dripping Treatment, knee treatment and spine treatments, along with other body treatments are also available in the service of ancient recipes. 120/1 Moo 7, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket, thanyapura.com
STREET STYLE’S MODERN TAKE
Como Point Yamu Resort at Cape Yamu in Phuket is known for its stark modernist designs and architecture. But when it comes to food, they go local and scrumptious. Nahmyaa, the dinner-only Thai restaurant with a menu inspired by local street food, serves traditional dishes that range from Phuket’s favourites to edgy and tasty concoctions with local fresh seafood, local spices and old-school recipes. Their 3-course menu features the signature starter of khanom bueang ped, with the Thai-styled thin and crispy wafer. This gets stuffed with braised duck, longan bits, sweet basil and peanut, or crabmeat curry that’s luscious in texture with turmeric, young ginger and pepper, and chargrilled pork neck with dried chilli tamarind and coriander dipping sauce. The desserts include sticky rice and mango and ‘lod chong’ which is naturally hued in deep blue with butterfly pea instead of the traditional green with the pandan leaf. Also available are fresh seafood from Phuket island and beyond. Open daily: 18.30 - 22.30, 225 Moo 7, Paklok, Thalang, Phuket, +66 (0) 76 360 100, comohotels.com/ pointyamu
Seashells and Lobsters
Chances are that if you are vacationing in Krabi, you will want to take time for sightseeing and absorbing the local charm. The ShellSea — a seaside resort located on the beach very close to the famed Fossil Shell Beach, is having a lobster promotion throughout the months of July and August 2018.
The resort’s all-day dining restaurant and bar, Cerulean restaurant features local lobsters cooked deliciously in signature recipes. Among the highlights include lobster served with
saffron risotto, cream cheese and porcini mushrooms, garnished with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. Lobster tagliatelle features grilled lobster with pasta and cream made from a Krabi delicacy known as hoi chak teen, a wing shell that is
Gaeng phed ShellSea is whole lobster braised in red Thai curry with local mango, and you can also have a whole lobster in sour chilli red sauce with garlic and ginger. Each lobster dish is priced at Bt1,800 net. 999 Moo 6 Sai Thai, Amphur Muang, Krabi, +66 (0) 75 819 519,
HAPPENINGS
Chiang Mai, the Lanna capital of Thailand, might not sound like a place for onsen indulgence. But at the spa-centric RarinJinda Wellness Resort, their line of hydrotherapeutic facilities offer the popular Japanese bath tradition. The onsen tubs come complete with mineral extracts imported from Gero city in Takayama prefecture, a place that ranks among Japan’s top three hot springs with special beauty promoting and healing properties. Their semioutdoor onsen pools include a hot spring pool (40-42°C), cold pool (18-20°C) and soda-carbonated pool (34-36°C) that help improve blood circulation, increase oxygen flow and detoxify the body.
Having an Onsen Time
RYOKAN AMONG THE RICE FIELDS
Amidst the green rice fields of outer Chiang Rai and in the middle of nowhere is an open-air café and accommodations built in the concept a traditional ryokan. The architecture in the style of the Japanese inn features wooden frames, tatami mats, and shoji sliding doors. One would expect their hosts to actually wear the yukata kimono as they greet guests. The Ryokan Café opened first as a trial project, with a coffee menu, chocolate drinks and beverages along with
RarinJinda is known for its hydrotherapeutic treatments with
simple Japanese dishes such as rice with curry, tempura, or tonkatsu pork cutlets. Customers can enjoy all this with the enticing view of rice fields.
Each room design has tatami mats, and also equipped with a ‘rotenburo’ outdoor pool and rock garden — a great spot to enjoy the cooler months of Thailand’s northernmost province. Open daily: 9.30 - 18.30, 134 Moo 4, Tambon Bua Salee, Amphur Mae Lao, Chiang Rai, +66 (0) 81 863 3010, chiangrairyokan.com
NATURAL TEAS
a state-of-the-art indoor heated hydrotherapy pool (eight hydro massaging stations to address different body ailments), Vichy shower, a Hydrotherapy tub, and Infrared Sauna. Accommodations include private spa suites overlooking Doi Suthep for those wishing for total private pampering. 14 Charoen Rat Road, Wat Ket, Muang, Chiang Mai, rarinjinda.com
Tea drinkers will delight in savouring wild grown teas from northern Thailand. Monsoon Tea launched their line of goods based on a sustainability approach, by cultivating the wild growing forest tea plant known as Camellia Sinensis Assamica. The ‘undomesticated’ tea plant is native to the northern part of the country and when brewed, gives an aromatic and deep taste.
Unlike typical teas that are usually produced from tea buds, Monsoon Tea’s selections come mostly from fullfledged tea leaves traditionally made into fermented tea called ‘miang’ — a native food of northern Thailand. The leaves make more robust tasting teas, packed with a distinct terroir of the abundant forests whose naturally wild plants co-exist with the tea plants.
328/3 Charoen Rat Road, Wat Ket, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, +66 (0) 97 918 9892, monsoon-tea-company.com
THAILAND
CHIANG MAI / CHIANG RAI
TALES FROM THE GARDEN
If you are looking for amazing food and a perfect hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya, Tree Tales won’t disappoint. Located on Na Klue road, the beautiful glasshouse café provides a casual garden atmosphere, allowing you to savour healthy and delicious dishes while enjoying its vintageinspired garden. The restaurant serves up a variety of unique homemade food, desserts and healthy beverages. With the owner’s real passion for cooking, every dish is crafted with fresh and organic ingredients from the garden. “Tree Tales Salad” and “Crispy Pork Belly with Watermelon Salad” are two of the starters. Do not miss the café’s signature dessert of Pan Baked Soufflé. +66 (0) 38 429 484, +66 (0) 80 044 5598, facebook.com/ treetalescafe
INSIGHT INTO BUDDHIST ART
When visiting a temple, do you notice that each Buddha image has features different from others? Find out why, together with other interesting facts by visiting the Museum of Buddhist Art Nongprue for better insight into Buddhist art. The museum collects more than 2,900 ancient Buddha images and religious artefacts to showcase the art and cultural heritage of Buddhism dating back at least 5,000 years. The permanent exhibition has an incredible collection of Buddhist art from different ancient kingdoms including Davaravadi, Srivichai, Lanna, Lan Xang, Lopburi, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Rattanakosin, and even the prehistoric settlement of Ban Chiang. The museum also includes a special exhibition showcasing Folk and Village Lives and Antique Jars in Thailand. The museum opens every day of the week.
+66 (0) 38 195 224, buddhistartmuseum.org
THAILAND
CHINA
SPOTLIGHT
High Up for High Tea
Located in the upper levels of Guangzhou’s IFC Building, the Four Seasons Guangzhou is a perfect place to enjoy a birds-eye view of Huacheng Park, the city’s Central Business District, and the iconic Canton Tower. After a leisurely walk in the park, take the elevator an earpopping 70 floors up to the Four Seasons Atrium Lounge. Enjoy a delectable afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches and petit fours for 438RMB plus service charge for two people. For those looking for a night out, head up to the Tian (Sky) Bar on the 99th Floor for a
CI QI KOU — CHONGQING’S PORCELAIN PORT
craft cocktail overlooking the Pearl River. On the weekend, be sure to call ahead to reserve a window seat, as this chic bar is a popular place. Drinks from 150-200RMB, view is free! +86 20 8883 3888, fourseasons.com
CRAFT COFFEE AT LAIHUI
Located on the Jia Ling River, the ancient village of Ci Qi Kou, or Porcelain Port, has been a wellknown market and trading centre for centuries. Famous for its porcelain during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, today Ci Qi Kou has been restored into a tourist-friendly window into ancient Chongqing. Its walking streets offer teashops, Shu embroidery workshops, and artist studios. Local restaurants serve Sichuan specialties like Mao Xue Wang, a spicy duck blood stew. Climb up to Baolun Temple’s observation deck to take in the contrast of the ancient city and backdrop of distant skyscrapers. From Chong Qing, take metro Line 1 to Ciqikou station.
Entrepreneurial, daring, and delicious, Guangzhou’s coffee culture has firmly taken off. Tucked into a quiet, tree-lined neighbourhood just next to the bustling Grandview Mall, Laihui, or “Back and Forth,” is the ideal place to sip a perfectly poured latte, expertly crafted pour-over, or refreshing cold brew. With beans imported from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Peru but roasted in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, Laihui offers customers a mix of exquisite coffee and local charm. Sit a while or enjoy walking around the quiet neighbourhood, a treasure trove of boutique clothes shops, Japanese and Korean restaurants, and small salons. Tianhe Road No. 84, 20 29847242
ART AND CULTURE IN CHENGDU
In the heart of Chengdu’s historic district, Chengdu Culture Park contains a wealth of Sichuan history amid scenic walks and sculpted gardens. A highlight is the famous Taoist Qingyang Palace that dates back to the Tang Dynasty. As night falls, head over to the Shu Feng Ya Yun Theatre to see traditional performance arts. Guests sip tea while watching a dazzling display of Sichuan opera, puppetry, acrobatics, comedy, magic, fire breathing, and the ancient art of face changing. shufengyayun.com.cn, 28 66008875
GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE
Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Guangzhou Opera House is a gorgeous example of modern architecture in an urban setting and inspired by river valleys.
The building’s shape resembles that of two pebbles on the bank of the Pearl River. Inside in 1,800-seat theatre with a 400-seat multifunctional hall, rehearsal rooms and entrance hall.
Major shows coming up include the Danish drama “Andersen’s Fairytale Life” July 7-8, followed by “Kinky Boots” August 9-19, and the critically-
FLAVOURS OF SICHUAN
For over a thousand years, Sichuan food has been known for being flavourful and sweet. It was only around 300 years ago that international traders introduced the hot pepper to Sichuan, which, along with numbing peppercorns, became the heart of Sichuan cuisine and the province’s characteristic “Ma La” flavour. Traditional Sichuan dishes layer flavours, showcasing the region’s complex sweet and spicy history.
For a taste of Sichuan beyond hot pot, try the delicious food at Shītúqíng Rénmín Shítáng ( 师徒情人民食堂 ) in Chengdu. This local restaurant serves up traditional dishes like spicy mashed eggplant, delicately spiced and liberally fried potatoes, sweet Gong Bao Ji Ding (Kung Pao Chicken), and fresh cucumbers layered with coriander and red peppers.
SPOTLIGHT
Raising the Beer
The Artist House in Causeway Bay has literally raised the bar when it comes to handcrafted beer. In fact, in a short time, the microbrewery/bar has become a gathering place for individuals who yearn for top quality brews.
Craft Beer is the outlet’s main selling point, which do rather well.
The Artist House has an impressive line-up of handcrafted beers on its menu including several beer cocktails as well. For non-beer drinkers, rest assured there’s plenty of options to consider including an impressive wine
list and the outlet’s other speciality, which is its farm to cup coffees.
With its unique setting and décor, the Artist House also doubles up as a unique event space. Still, it is the beer that keeps bringing guests back, which is why the proprietors have allowed guests to make their own infused beer and customised beer bottles at the outlet’s infusion microbrewery. Monday 11am-6pm, Tuesday to Sunday 11am-11pm, Fashion Walk, 9 Kingston Street, Causeway Bay, mrtheartist.com
NOT YOUR AVERAGE LOVE SONG
The works of legendary American artist Robert Indiana will be on display at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. LOVE Song: Robert Indiana and Asia will also see works by several artists and collectives from Asia on display.
The exhibition will not only present an opportunity for art lovers to view some of the artist’s incredible works but also how his art form is able to transcend across different cultures. The artists — Kutluğ Ataman, Candy Factory, Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries, Chim↑Pom, He An, Hung Keung, Charwei Tsai, and Xu Bing — share poetic sensibilities with the late artist, Indiana, who just passed away in May 2018 through their works of art, which results in art pieces that examines nuances between words and images. Until 15 July, Asia Society Hong Kong Center, asiasociety.org
CULTURAL FLAVOURS
Multi-cultural Singapore is blessed with a natural infusion of cuisines, which are directly influenced by the country’s different races. Celebrating that heritage is Folklore, which presents a menu of nostalgic dishes reflective of the major racial cuisines of Singapore.
When the hunger pangs hit for a taste that’s uniquely Singaporean, make a stop at this establishment housed at Destination on Beach Road. The brainchild of local chef Damian D’Silva, Folklore carries a menu that’s populated by signature Chinese, Malay and Indian favourites. The chef’s EurasianPeranakan heritage also shines through
in his dishes, all of which are prepared passionately with traditional and artisanal cooking methods.
The dishes here are practically made from scratch, with no short cuts or compromise. D’Silva even makes it a goal to help preserve Singapore’s culinary heritage, which is evident by bottles of house-made sauces and mixes along with complimentary recipe cards, which encourages home cooking. Open daily, 12pm-2.30pm; 6pm-9.30pm, Level 2, Destination, 700 Beach Road Singapore, parkhotelgroup.com/en/ destinationbeachroad/folklore
RAISING THE BAR
The Tippling Club has carved a reputation for its progressive cuisine and unique cocktails in the region. Under the lead of chef/owner Ryan Clift, the outlet has already notched up an impressive list of accolades under its belt including being named 11th best bar in Asia by Asia’s 50th Best Bars 2017.
With a mixture of fun and inventiveness, Chef Clift and his team have managed to deliver a dining experience that combines modern gastronomy with a fresh and playful perspective. Tippling Club features
a bar, dining and an upstairs private dining room and regardless where patrons chose to dine at, they are guaranteed a sense of excitement and a touch of theatre with every dish and cocktail served here.
Proof of that can be seen in some of the more unique offerings available at the Tippling Club like Dreams & Desires, the world’s first edible cocktail menu made with gummy bears. Open 12pm-12am Monday-Friday; 6pm-12am on Saturday, 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore, tipplingclub.com
SPOTLIGHT
Pan-American Influence
The rich diversity of cultures and cuisines found along the Pan-American Highway serves as the inspiration behind Panamericana, a bold new bar-grill destination housed at the Sentosa Golf Club. Opened by veteran bar consultant Julian Serna, the 6,000 square feet eating and drinking destination sits on a prime spot in the renowned golf club, set against the panoramic backdrop of the Singapore Straits.
Executive Chef Mathew Woon has developed the grill’s signature “farm-to-fire” repertoire of succulent grilled whole meats, fresh seafood and regional street food. The focal point of the kitchen is a brick-encased asador, a traditional pit where whole meats are grilled in plain view.
The menu is predominantly populated by a mixture of small and big plates, all of which celebrates the diverse cuisine on offer at Panamericana. But the outlet is also an ideal place for sundowners thanks to the large and breezy 100-seat terrace overlooking the lush golf course. Open 12pm-11pm, Wednesday to Friday; 9am to 11pm, Saturday and Sunday, 27 Bukit Manis Road, Sentosa Golf Club, panamericana.sg
SPOTLIGHT
Fight Time
After his controversial defeat to Jeff Horn in July 2017, Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will once again step into the ring in Kuala Lumpur. Not ready to hang up his gloves yet, the former WBO Welterweight champion will face Argentinian boxer Lucas Matthysse for the WBA Welterweight Championship in the capital city of Malaysia in mid-July.
But the 39-year-old boxer will have his work cut out for him against the younger Matthysse. The defending champ has already notched up an impressive record of 36 knockouts in his 39 victories of his professional career. Pacquiao though has the talent to get it done and despite dividing his time with his senatorial duties in Philippines, is still considered one of the world’s best fighters. 15 July, Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, fightofchampions.com
MALAYSIA
KUALA LUMPUR
SPOTLIGHT
Creative Mix Hub
Since 2007, the Meta House has been a creative space for artists and art lovers in Phnom Penh. The threestorey contemporary gallery located in the heart of the city boasts more than 100 sq. metres of art exhibition space. An open-air media lounge on the rooftop overlooks the city.
UNIQUE & PERSONALISED DINING
Looking for an opportunity to savour Cambodian cuisine in an intimate setting? You don’t have to look beyond Destination Dining in Siem Reap to get your wish. The restaurant housed at Sojourn Boutique Villas offers a unique concept of dining by guaranteeing the utmost intimacy as it only houses a single table.
Although perfect for couples, Destination Dining can accommodate a small part of six at most. Diners not only get to enjoy a beautiful private pavilion sitting over a lotus pond but also personalised
service by a private chef and waiter. Destination Dining is opened to outsiders with guests of Sojourn Boutique Villas benefiting from preferential rates.
As there is only one table available per night, diners are required to book well in advance to ensure that their romantic Cambodian dining experience will be available for them during their visit to Siem Reap. Open nightly, Sojourn Boutique Villas, Treak Village Road, Treak Village Siem Reap, sojournsiemreap.com/ destination-dining
HOUSE OF ART
When Cambodian artist and designer Lim Muy Theam wanted to promote art in the country, he took it upon himself to open up his home to enthusiasts. Theam’s Home is truly a one-of-a-kind art gallery, being both a place of residence as well as a creative workshop and living gallery.
Surrounded by a lush tropical garden, Theam’s House certainly puts one at ease. Step inside the confines of the building and you’ll immediately be opened up to a world of art, curated by Theam himself. The rooms in the home holds a number of art pieces and
personal collections of the artist, which were sourced and also created on site.
A unique space, Theam’s House provides visitors an insight into a distinctive world of art, as well as instruction into making their own creative pieces – be it painting, sculpting, or lacquer ware.
Open daily, 8am-7pm, #25, Veal Village, Khum Kokchack, Siem Reap, theamshouse.com
Photo Michael Klinkhamer
The goal of Meta House is to promote the arts in Cambodia, as well as local artists and their works. As such, the gallery regularly hosts local as well as international exhibitions and workshops. The top floor media lounge also screens documentaries and feature films.
Although it’s mostly art, Meta House has also
become a popular meeting place for locals and visitors. There is an on-site café, which serves German delights such as schnitzel and sauerkraut and recently, the establishment has also hosted music events with visiting DJs and musicians. Open 8am-6pm, 37 Samdach Sothearos Blvd (3), Phnom Penh, meta-house.com
PRESERVING CAMBODIAN CUISINE
Chef Luu Meng has made it a mission to carry on the traditional Cambodian way of cooking in all of his recipes. The country’s only Master Chef, Meng has been experimenting with flavours and textures and unearthing his country’s culinary secrets to be shared in his restaurant, Malis.
Meng created Malis in 2004 out of a desire to promote and highlight Cambodian cuisine. He has been successful too as the restaurant itself has become a culinary attraction in its own right. With the help of his culinary team, Meng has recreated many traditional Cambodian recipes that were lost during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Although most of the recipes used are traditional, Meng has injected a contemporary twist to all the dishes that come out from the Malis kitchen. Along with his restaurant in Phnom Penh, Meng also operates an outlet in Siem Reap as well. Open Sunday-Saturday, 6am-10.30pm, 136 Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh, malis-restaurant.com
PHNOM PENH / SIEM REAP
Photo Michael Klinkhamer
Photo Meta House
THROUGH THE FRENCH QUARTER
Hanoi had been the capital of French Indochina until 1954. When the French left Vietnam, they also left their architectural mark in the city’s French Quarter. Many colonial buildings — including the Hanoi Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison Museum, the National Museum of Vietnamese History and heritage villas — are packed together in streets south of Hoan Kiem Lake. Visitors and culture enthusiasts alike could sign up with Hidden Hanoi (www.hiddenhanoi.com.vn) for a walking tour (USD25 per person) with a local guide. At a slow pace, this culture tour will lead into Hanoi’s iconic Ba Dinh Square and focus on the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party building — formerly the Lycee Albert Sarraut High School, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While many of the old French residences have crumbled badly, others have been renovated and given a new lease on life as higher end hotels full of Gallic trimmings or restaurants.
GET SOMETHING CRAFTY
Located on the corner of Van Mieu and Ngo Tat To streets and next door to Dai Thanh Mon — or the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, is Craft Link souvenir shop. This well-run shop is worth stopping by for unique yet beautiful Vietnamese crafts. Set in a heritage building, the two-storied shop house has impressive collections of tribal textiles, embroidered pillowcases, purses, silk scarves, woodworks, lacquer, chopsticks and handicrafts of the finest quality and decently priced. True to its name, Craft Link serves as a bridge for local craftsmanship to market their goods on the fair trade principle. It helps Vietnamese craftspeople — mostly ethnic groups scattered across the country gain more from their unique yet beautiful crafts and culture. Craft Link also collaborates with the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi to preserve skills among tribal groups, the puppet-making craft, and traditional ceramics. craftlink.com.vn
Native Touches, New Cuisine
“Nen” is the Vietnamese word for a hybrid between a garlic and shallot, and this restaurant plays with elements of local language and heritage, resulting in dishes steeped in the country’s identity, but modern in flavour and presentation. In other words, Nen pushes Vietnamese cuisine to fine dining level with their tasting menus. The restaurant is located in a Danang quiet and beautiful neighbourhood next to the Han River. Inside a modern and minimalistic building with a serene garden, Nen uses local ingredients and makes them the star of the dishes instead of using produce from elsewhere. The menu ranges from refined Vietnamese classics liked roasted pork belly wrapped in lace rice sheets to New Vietnamese with an inventive quail dish inspired with wild mountain spices from an ethnic minority group and a corn puree. For a meatless dining experience, decisions may be tough, with more dishes using local ingredients and patron favourites. Their Green Vietnamese menu offers the Secret Garden, with smoked braised eggplant with lemongrass and garden herbs, a young jackfruit curry, or the noodle dish of mi quang with local pesto and braised tofu. restaurantnen.com
A DUSIT HOTEL DEBUT IN PHU QUOC
Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort opens its doors in Phu Quoc for holiday-makers looking to chill out in this tropical spot. Located on the island’s west coast, the four-star resort overlooks the stunning Truong Beach, also known as Long Beach for its 20 kilometre stretch of sand. The resort is designed to blend Dusit’s unique Thai heritage with Vietnamese culture and local traditions. All 108 contemporary guestrooms
range from 32 square metres of deluxe rooms to 90 square metres of suites with inviting ocean views. The centrepiece of the resort is a large infinity pool with an ocean view set within a lush tropical garden. Other facilities include a kid’s club and Luna Thai Spa, which offers a range of holistic treatments carried out by trained therapists. The resort options include an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, a swim-up pool bar serving Thai,
Vietnamese and Western cuisines; and Soi 14, a stylish beachfront bar and lounge where a Thai chef puts a hot and spicy spin to a Thai street food vibe. General manager Markus Lohenstein points out that the stunning resort has gorgeous sunsets almost every day. Fringed with white-sand beaches, Phu Quoc is rapidly transformed from a sleepy backwater island to a tropical paradise. dusit.com/dusitprincess/moonrisebeachresort
SPOTLIGHT
Contemporarily Unique
To experience unique Asian fusion taste in Yangon, visit Sofaer & Co. They offer all-day dining combined with coffee and variety of cocktails to enjoy in an open kitchen setting. Local and international dishes get prepared with local ingredients from all over Myanmar, and many of their signature dishes use modern culinary techniques.
But the attraction isn’t just the food as Sofaer & Co’s beautifully preserved building retains most of the original features, including the classic encaustic Victorian-era tiles from Manchester, steel beams from Lancashire and wood panels from
possibly the era of the Vienna Café and Burma Book Club. It harmonises contemporary design with the original features, locally designed furniture with signature Burmese rattan weaving, locally commissioned artwork and reclaimed glassware from Nagar Glass Factory.
TAUNGBYONE SPIRIT FESTIVAL
This popular celebration takes place during the rainy season to appease the nats, or local spirits. It is believed that the nats can make wishes come true and bring wealth and success to their worshippers, protecting them against illness and danger. The festival goes on for numerous days, and is the biggest celebration of its kind in Myanmar.
Worshippers pay their respects two revered brother nats and they are the reason people come to the nat festival is to make wishes to the spirit brothers.
When their wish is granted they come back here to offer more flowers again. In nat worship, suffering is caused
Find its location in downtown Yangon surrounded by amazing historical buildings on the lower Pansodan Road. A nice walk around the block after a great meal is also recommended. sofaerandco.com, facebook.com/sofaerandco, +95 9448 333 499
by a variety of spirits that are prone to mischief — so instead of waiting for the next life, nat worshipers may attempt a cure for their suffering
in this life — by making offerings to nat spirits. Most pilgrims to the Taungbyone Nat Festival make a wish for success in business.
“HLA DAY”
‘Hla Day’ means ‘beautiful’ in Burmese, and a remarkable handicrafts shop in the heart of Yangon carries the same name. To get to Hla Day, climb up a steep flight of stairs to find a colourful and vibrant souvenir shop, with lots of handmade artistic gifts with a contemporary twist. Full of unique Myanmar styles, decorative accessories, household design ideas and clothes, you can easily spend an hour in the shop. Many of the home decorations come with the touch of local art and culture that will inspire your inner interior designer, including quirky papier mâché animals and a variety of handmade silver jewellery with reasonable prices.
But what makes the store even more interesting is that Hla Day is run by a non-profit social enterprise. These quality handmade products are designed and developed closely together with Myanmar artisans and many disadvantaged groups. Hla Day also provides skills development and training and creative design input in
supporting the livelihoods of the people making the products, while locally sourcing all materials.
It’s s place where you can surely find something to impress your friends and family and at the same time, do yourself proud for having shopped here. hladaymyanmar.org, facebook.com/ hladaymyanmar, +95 9452 241 465
Each Southeast Asian country’s cuisine has developed unique flavours of its own, but all are bound by a dedication to fresh ingredients and spices. From the spicy minced pork dish in Laotian cooking to a hot bowl of Thailand’s “Tom Yum Goong,” the 3 Merchants restaurant at Crowne Plaza Vientiane now serves various Southeast Asian dishes in a stylish setting. The 3 Merchants is noted for dishes from Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia, and each dish offers a story to match
SPOTLIGHT
Wine and Dine in Style
Laab, spicy minced pork with herbs from Laos available for lunch and dinner. The restaurant also keeps a large selection of fine wines and beverages, ensuring an elegant dining experience. 3 Merchants Crowne Plaza Vientiane G Floor, open for lunch (11.30am-2pm) and dinner (6.30pm9.30pm) from Tuesday to Sunday, +856 21 908 888
INDIGO TIME
Indigo Café, an independent lodging establishment — has opened its second property, going from a bed and breakfast to a restaurant and small hotel in Vientiane. This follows the success of their property in Luang Prabang that’s located on Phnom Penh Road and within 500 metres of the Mekong River. The latest venture carries on Indigo’s signature white and blue palette, providing a warm ambiance following a major renovation. With just three private rooms, each features a living area with a large sofa to unwind after a long day exploring the capital city. Indigo is noted for their baked goods and coffee: try their Indigo Plate & Eggs Royale breakfast. Indigo Café also has plenty of vegan options like the vegetable burger. Handicrafts from Laos and other Asian countries are available for sale. Indigo also is within walking distance to the Laos National Museum, Laos culture hall and Chao Anouvong Stadium. Phnom Penh Road, 01000, Rue Phanompenh, Vientiane, +856 20 22 227 980
VIENTIANE
Luxury Stay Amidst Lush Nature
The secret’s out that the AccorHotels group recently introduced the opening of their Fairmont luxury brand on the Shaviyani Atoll in North Maldives, called the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. Couples or families can enjoy the 112 new villas complete with 200 metres of infinity pools, together with luxury safari-style tented villas located on the island’s lush jungle. Sirru Fen Fushi, means ‘secret water island’ in the local Dhivehi language and the luxurious property features accommodations with design interiors of copper bathroom fittings and carved wood detailing on their furniture, giving the villas a bohemian rustic chic vibe. At the moment, the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is the
SIP AND DINE
only hotel on the pristine atoll and the untouched aspect of the island has benefitted a thriving marine life. Setting the hotel property apart is the presence of the country’s first coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation. Created by underwater naturalist
July and August is peak monsoon season in Mumbai with grey skies, thunderstorms, and rain showers. It’s best to duck indoors and enjoy the rains from the safety of a cosy coffee shop. Here’s one of many ways to make the most of the city when it rains.
Sea Lounge at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel has arguably the best view in the city. Here, you can sip a cup of coffee or even indulge in an elaborate afternoon tea while looking over the iconic Gateway of India. And this scene becomes even more poetic in the rains. Another fabulous place to have an afternoon tea is the Drawing Room at the St. Regis Mumbai. Not only can you get a quintessentially English high tea, there’s also a Mumbai version to choose from that includes vada pav sliders, Bombay sandwich fingers, masala chai and more.
Sea Lounge, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel,+91 22 66653366
The Drawing Room, The St. Regis Mumbai, +91 22 61628000
and artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the work serves as an homage to the abundant sea life and pristine coral house reef surrounding the resort. A ‘manta ray cleaning station’ at the house reef lets guests get up close and personal with the sea creatures that visit the area on a regular basis. The property pays respect to the natural surroundings even at the resort’s contemporary dining outlets and extends it to the surroundings of their Willow Stream Spa. fairmont.com/maldives
SOAK IT UP
However, if you want to truly get a sense of why Mumbai welcomes the monsoon with open arms, head to Marine Drive. This long, sea-facing promenade is the city’s prized treasure — lined on one side by beautiful Art Deco buildings and on the other side by the Arabian Sea crashing against its shore. Marine Drive comes alive during the monsoons, especially in the evenings when little children, young couples, and sprightly senior citizens all congregate here to enjoy the rains. Grab a cup of piping hot chai or a bhutta (roasted corn on the cob rubbed with lemon and chilli powder) and join the masses to enjoy the monsoon, Mumbai-style!
ART BEAT
Mumbai has several museums and art galleries where you can spend hours admiring everything from classical to contemporary artworks. The National Gallery of Modern Art presents art from the 1850s onwards and has a permanent collection featuring Jehangir Sabavala, V S Gaitonde and others. Jehangir Art Gallery is a contemporary art space featuring exhibitions by painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, and the like. Both the galleries hold special exhibits from time to time; check their websites for schedule of upcoming exhibitions. National Gallery of Modern Art, ngmaindia.gov.in/ngma_mumbai.asp
Jehangir Art Gallery, jehangirartgallery.com
BANGKOK AIRWAYS
BANGKOK AIRWAYS AWARDED SUPERBRANDS THAILAND 2017
Bangkok Airways President, Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, (2nd from left), represented the airline recently when he received the Superbrands Thailand 2017 Award from Mr. Preecha Kaenprom, Country Director, Superbrands Thailand (3rd from left). The award presentation was held at the Bangkok Airways headquarters.
With the award, Mr. Puttipong commented that, “We are much honoured for the inclusion in the 2017 Superbrands Thailand. For over 50 years, Bangkok Airways has operated with the dedication and commitment to make every flight a perfect journey for our passengers. Our high quality in services and the constant attempts to enhance the quality of our brand value have made us one of the most recognised airlines in Asia. This award is an
affirmation of our service to provide the highest standards as well as lift our brand positioning that underlines our slogan as Asia's Boutique Airline.”
The Superbrands Thailand award is a distinguished accolade bestowed upon organisations with the strongest established brands in the country. Bangkok Airways was selected by the Superbrands independent council of judges from a list of over 500 leading organisations in Thailand.
BANGKOK AIRWAYS AND TCEB LAUNCH ‘FLY AND MEET DOUBLE BONUS’
Recently, Bangkok Airways has partnered with the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to kick off its campaign to attract meeting and incentive groups from the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) markets. The ‘Fly and Meet Double Bonus’ promotion for Myanmar was launched by Bangkok Airway's Vice President –Sales, Mr. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, and TCEB's Director of President Office Department, Mr. Puripan Bunnag, at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon.
The campaign delivers a series of benefits for meeting and incentive travel groups. For VIPs arriving at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, TCEB will provide a special MICE lane with fast track service through immigration. It will also offer a financial subsidy up to 300,000 Thai Baht (USD 9,000) per group. Planners may also opt for cultural performances, meet-and-greet service or Thai craft demonstrations of equivalent value to their financial subsidies.
Bangkok Airways will provide one complimentary ticket for every group of 50 passengers; FlyerBonus double
points, additional 10kg of baggage allowance, pre-assigned group seating, a special check-in counter, pre-check-in service, priority tagging and souvenirs.
To qualify, the inbound group must comprise at least 50 delegates, enter Thailand on a Bangkok Airways flight, and stay at least two nights at a registered hotel or hold an activity at a venue certified by the Thailand MICE Venue Standard. The campaign is applicable in all the four CLMV countries and is effective from now till September 2019.
BANGKOK AIRWAYS AND OMAN AIR IN CODESHARE PARTNERSHIP
Recently Bangkok Airways, led by Mr. Pakorn Rattanarod, Director – Route Profitability and Alliance and Oman Air (WY) led by Mr. Aboudy Nasser, Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management signed a codeshare agreement, which will provide customers with an enhanced network to travel between Oman and cities in Thailand, commencing on 1 April 2018.
Under the agreement, Oman Air puts its “WY” designator code on Bangkok Airways flights, serving 8 domestic routes. This includes roundtrip travels for BangkokChiang Rai, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, BangkokPhuket, Bangkok-Krabi, Bangkok-Lampang, Bangkok-Trat, Bangkok-Sukhothai and Bangkok-Samui.
For more information and reservations, Oman Air’s passengers may visit www.omanair.com.
For more information about Bangkok Airways, please visit www.bangkokair.com or contact the Call Centre 1771 (24 hours) or +66 (0) 2270 6699.
Recently, Bangkok Airways’ CSR Department, together with Teelakow Co., Ltd., organised the “Junior Running Clinic” event at Thesaban 3 Tha Daeng School’s auditorium in Krabi, which gained a lot of support from the Krabi Municipality. The event was part of the “Bangkok Airways Krabi Half Marathon” at Thara Park where 3,500 amateur and professional runners participated.
In the Junior Running Clinic event, experienced runners invited to share knowledge and running guidance with 50 elementary school students from Thesaban 3 Tha Daeng and Thesaban 1 Talad Kao schools.
Participating kids who joined the 3km run received a medal for their accomplishment. In addition, part of the donation through www.teelakow.com and an on-site donation box valued around THB 27,577 was used to buy 73 pairs of sneakers for kids in need.
Running Clinic”
BANGKOK AIRWAYS AND CITIBANK ANNOUNCE NEW FLYERBONUS PROGRAMME AGREEMENT
Bangkok Airways and Citi are joining hands to offer Citi Credit Card holders with an array of privileges and reward opportunities via the Boutique Airline’s Frequent Flyer Programme, FlyerBonus.
With the roll-out of a new partnership on 22 July, 2018, Citi and Bangkok Airways would like to invite Citi Credit Card holders to experience the award-winning airline’s spectacular destinations, onboard service and vast array of reward opportunities.
Citi Credit Card holders can now travel faster with the transfer of Citi ThankYou SM Reward points to FlyerBonus points. Redeem awards for flights on Bangkok Airways and Partner Airlines, Hotel stays, Car Rentals and Lifestyle Awards. Simply contact Citibank online at www.citibank.co.th/thankyouen and select ‘Bangkok Airways’ Menu to start the ball rolling!
Numerous flights every day from a variety of destinations
Chiang Mai : 1 fligh t per day from Phuket ;
1 fligh t per day from Koh Samui
Chiang Rai : 3 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Hat Yai : 1 fligh t per day from Phuket
Koh Chang/Trat : 3 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Krabi : 3 flights per day from Bangkok ;
1 flight per day from Koh Samui
Lampang : 3 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Mae Hong Son : 1 flight per day from Chiang Mai
Pattaya : 1 fligh t per day from Phuket ;
1 flight per day from Koh Samui
Sukhothai : 2 flights per day from Bangkok
Chengdu : 4 fligh ts per week from Koh Samui
Chongqing : 3 fligh ts per week from Koh Samui
Danang : 1 fligh t per day from Bangkok
Guangzhou : 4 fligh ts per week from Koh Samui
Hanoi : 1 flight per day from Chiang Mai
Hong Kong : 2 fligh ts per day from Koh Samui
Kuala Lumpur : 1 fligh t per day from Koh Samui
Luang Prabang : 2 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Malé : 1 fligh t per day from Bangkok
Mandalay : 11 fligh ts per week from Bangkok ;
Mumbai : 1 fligh t per day from Bangkok
Nay Pyi Taw : 6 fligh ts per week from Bangkok
Phnom Penh : 6 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Phu Quoc : 5 fligh ts per week from Bangkok
Siem Reap : 5 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Singapore : 2 fligh ts per day from Koh Samui
Vientiane : 2 fligh ts per day from Bangkok
Yangon : 4 fligh ts per day from Bangkok ; 1 flight per day from Chiang Mai 1 flight per day from Chiang Mai
The Other Hong Kong Islands
For local residents, Hong Kong is not all about densely-packed building blocks and skyscrapers. Plenty of islands open for exploration require just a short hike or easy trek to vast beauty.
