HOT Magazine, December 15, 2016

ISSUE 12 VOLUME 04, DECEMBER 2016

Luxury Living & Exclusive Lifestyle

H T MA AZINE Issue 12 / Volume 04 / 2016

HOT MAGAZINE

2016 OCEAN MARINA PATTAYA BOAT SHOW COMPLIMENTARY COPY

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DISTRICT GRILL FALCON HILL - LUXURY AND QUALITY THE SLOW LIFE OF MAE LA NOI

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Edited and published by HOT Hua Hin Co. Ltd. Managing & Creative Editor Tanya Siri Vijitsomphong tanya@hothuahin.com Graphic Design & Layout WebbOn Media Production info@webbon.se Photographer Sunya Yamaka facebook.com/sunya.yamaka Contact Information: +66 (0)94 960 4959 +66 (0)84 387 5699 info@hothuahin.com Contact us to find out how to get the most for your advertising baht sales@hothuahin.com Although all materials are published in good faith and based on information solicited to us at the time of publication, the publisher takes no responsibility for any errors, loss or omissions that may occur.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in full or in part without the previous written consent of HOT Hua Hin Co. Ltd. All materials copyright.

All rights are reserved.

Follow us on facebook for more pictures & upcoming events: HotMagazineHuahinBangkok

Dear Reader Welcome to issue 12, volume 4 of HOT Magazine. We start out this issue by introducing you to Khun Argate Tanthachon. Our December Cover Girl, Khun Argate and her family have been in the gold business in Thailand for over 60 years. From mining gold to creating stunning gold jewelry to gold bullion trading, there is gold in their veins. We sit down with Khun Argate on page 6 to find out what life is like surrounded by all that precious metal.

Hua Hin resident Kim Falcon has led an interesting life enjoying the finer things. One of many profession’s he’s had is property development. His Falcon Hill estate is located at the top of Soi 102 and is mere minutes from Hua Hin’s 5 billion-baht shopping Mall, BluPort. We take you for a tour of Falcon Hill on page 34.

Who doesn’t love a Sunday Brunch? This month we take you to arguably one of the very best Sunday Brunch’s in Bangkok, The award winning District Grill Room and Bar’s Sunday Brunch. Located within the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, this bountiful buffet includes mouthwatering Normandie and Fine de Clair Oysters, Alaskan King Crab, a selection of Caviar as well as fantastic meats, pastas, cheeses and deserts. Start salivating on page 38.

Next it’s Anchor’s Away as we take you to the fifth Annual Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show. This year’s boat show was bigger than ever and included a special sailing exhibition in honor of our late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which highlighted his sailing achievements.

Row yourself over to page 44 to see for yourself.

Our “Let’s Go” feature takes us to the beautiful northern Thai district of Mae La Noi. One of the seven districts of Mae Hong Son, here you will find authentic traditional hill tribe villages nestled in the mountains and lowlands. The province is remote which means that most of the villages are still traditional and rarely see tourists passing through. See for yourself on page 62.

Those are just a few of the stories you’ll find this month. They say time flies and it certainly does. This issue is our 48th and marks the end of our 4th year of publishing. We sincerely thank you for picking us up and we hope you enjoy the read.

www.hotmagazine.website

Tanya Siri Vijitsomphong Editor, HOT Magazine

Contents

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34

16

38

12

Let’s Meet, Mario Hofmann

16

Let’s Eat, Hua Hin Table 94 Restaurant

22

HOT Around Hua Hin

28

HOT Around Bangkok

32

True Arena News

34

Falcon Hill, Luxury & Quality

38

Let’s Brunch, The District Grill Room & Bar

44

2016 Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show

52

Let’s Stay, Le Meridien Bangkok

62

Let’s Go, The slow life of Mae La Noi

70

Let’s Check In, Maggie Choo's

77

Hua Hin’s Best Buys

44

52

62

70

Agate Tantachon, setting a new gold standard

MODEL Agate Tantacho PHOTOGRAPHER Sunya Yamaka

ASSISTANT

Aon Suppachat

DRESSES

Zibeth Thailand LOCATION The Continent Hotel Bangkok

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

v

O

ur December cover model is Khun Agate Tantachon, a very well educated Thai whose business life revolves around gold. She is the Managing Director of Shining Gold Bullion Co. Ltd., a 3rd generation company whose roots began in 1951 as a gold producer and distributor making gold ornaments.

Khun Agate received her degree in Engineering from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. She then traveled to the United States, attending Texas’s A & M University where she focused on operation research.

She started learning the family business as a young girl, often joining her father in business meetings. Currently her father runs the gold processing and manufacturing factory and Khun Agate is responsible for all the commercial aspects of the business as well as liaising with gold dealers from around the world.

Today, the Shining Gold Bullion Company is one of the biggest gold producers in Thailand. The company continues to diversify as it produces designs for gold bullion bars and coins.

In addition, they also provide services for clients to design their own gold ornaments, bars and coins.

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

MODEL Agate Tantacho PHOTOGRAPHER Sunya Yamaka

ASSISTANT

Aon Suppachat

DRESSES

Zibeth Thailand LOCATION

The Continent Hotel Bangkok December 15 - January 15 , 2017

9

They are enjoying good business in rapidly growing economies like Laos, Cambodia and particularly India where the purchasing power for both gold jewelry and bullion bars is high. For detailed designs on gold bullion bars, their craftsmen can take up to three weeks to complete with some requests being painstakingly detailed. Khun Agate says the client may have to wait a while but the wait is always worth it.

Their talented goldsmiths use top of the line machines, imported from Italy, and are experts at creating Thai designs, which she says are notoriously difficult to replicate A rather new side to their company is a vibrant on-line gold trading business for investors which has really caught on. Recently they launched an app for smartphones, available in Android and IOS, to give their investor clients instantaneous real time market pricing and makes investing in gold as easy as swiping your hand across your touch screen device.

Not Surprisingly Khun Agate has her own thoughts when it comes to gold jewelry, she believes it should be distinctively unique and exclusive.

For more information on Shinning Gold Bullion Company you can visit their website, www.shinninggold.com

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

MODEL Agate Tantacho PHOTOGRAPHER Sunya Yamaka

ASSISTANT

Aon Suppachat

DRESSES

Zibeth Thailand LOCATION

The Continent Hotel Bangkok

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

11

L et’s Meet,

Mario Hofmann What is your full name and age?

Mario (Heinrich) Hofmann 39 What is your current Job Position?

Executive Chef at the Hua Hin Marriot resort and spa How long have you lived in Hua Hin or been coming to Hua Hin? Lived here now 1 year, came here the first time 6 years ago, during my time in Bkk. ( 3 years) What did you know about Hua Hin before you moved here?

A beautiful city known for its unique atmosphere, nice beaches, good place to live and to stay, specially when you have a family as me….

And now I know, it is even better than what I have thought!

What do you like most about your profession?

You can be extremely creative, you can talk to people every day from all around the world, you have the “best” food available every day.

And here in Hua Hin. I can see the gulf of Thailand every day from my restaurants…. Just amazing What do you like least about your profession?

Moving/ specially with 2 kids, it is getting difficult, What do you like most about Hua Hin? Seafood!

What is your favorite restaurant and why? (Please don’t name your own).

Can not mention here/ because then everybody want’s to go there! Hhahahahahaaaaa…. No I have many! Not only one!

What do you like to do in your free time and why?

Swimming, that’s what I do since 25 years! Eating good food!

Have fun with my family!

What would you recommend to new-comers to do in Hua Hin and why?

Rent a car and discover the city! You will see, there is nothing what is not here. Just amazing!

Tell us a surprising fact that the public might not know about you?

I will not tell you… otherwise it is not a surprising fact anymore…

What is the most outlandish thing you have ever done and why?

I am not an outlandish person. Mostly I plan everything right in advance!

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

13

L et’s Eat, Hua Hin

HOT MAGAZINE RECOMMEND

v

Table 94 Restaurant

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

H

ua Hin’s Soi 94, very near the center of town, has transformed over the last several years to a foodies paradise. It seems like at least 80% of the businesses on the street are restaurants and or bars.

One new entry to the restaurant scene is Table 94 and it has raised the bar on style and comfort over its Soi 94 neighbors.

Table 94 is a wine bar with a mixed menu of Western and Thai food. Khun Uraiwan “Wan” Yukong is the proprietor and interestingly her background is construction and she actually worked with her construction team to build her restaurant from the ground up, inside and out, right down to the tables and chairs.

The interior of her restaurant is quite

trendy and the laid-back background music gives it a cool vibe. Although she’s not a seasoned restaurateur Khun Wan says she feels more comfortable in the kitchen making sure each order goes out properly presented or behind the bar mixing carefully crafted creative cocktails for her guests. I tried one of her bloody mojito’s and was pleasantly surprised that it was raspberry, not tomato juice which gave the drink its color and taste.

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

Wine is the top draw here but if you would like to also eat you have plenty of choices, both Western and Thai to choose from. Khun Wan says it’s pretty much a 50/50 split as to what comes out of the kitchen, Thai or Western.

The night I was there we enjoyed a few of their most popular dishes.

We began with two starters, their Grilled beef with spicy Sauce (Thai Beef) and their Antipasti tray which consisted of 4 types of cold cuts and 3 types of cheeses. Both were pleasant with admirable proportions. We then moved on to their Classic chicken Caesar salad with garlic Croutons. In addition to the chicken and croutons it came with a generous sprinkling of bacon, tomato’s and parmesan cheese shavings.

From there we moved on to their Spaghetti with bacon, garlic and dried chili. A delightful dish with plenty of flavors with the classic Thai kick from the chili. For the Mains, we went with their popular Premium Beef Tenderloin steak. Imported from Australia, the beef was cooked to order and tender. It came with a peppercorn sauce that pleasantly added to the flavor. If you like your steak so tender it’s like cutting thru butter, then you want to upgrade to their Special Premium Beef Tenderloin Steak. A bump in price but worth it.

Never one to be able to say no to desert, we went with their Vanilla & strawberry crème brulee and were certainly pleased with our choice.

Reviewing the Thai side of the menu we were told that their Panang Gai and Tom Yum Khung are two of thier biggest sellers. We’ll be sure to give them a try next time.

Table 94 is a relaxed, upscale, airconditioned Wine Bar & Restaurant on soi 94 next door to the Amara Resort and on the north side of the soi. Drop ins are always welcome but reservations are recommended.

TABLE 94 16/124, Soi 94, Hua Hin +66 (0)85 263 5533, +66 (0)98 908 4494 table94_huahin@hotmail.com

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

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Wide range of modern fans and garden lights for any budget!

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HOT AROUND HUA HIN INTERCONTINENTAL HUA HIN RESORT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW QUALITY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MANAGER InterContinental Hua Hin Resort has announced the appointment of Khun Achara Nilnonnet (Rabbit) as Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager.

Khun Rabbit brings with her 19 years’ experience in the hospitality industry in a variety of different properties and positions in Thailand. She has a wealth of operation and administrative knowledge which indicate her multi-skills.

Prior to her new appointment at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, Khun Rabbit worked with Dusit Thani Hua Hin as Learning & Development, Quality Assurance Manager, a Human Resources Manager at The Regent Cha-

Am Beach Resort, Human Resources & Development Manager at dusit D2 baraquda Pattaya as well as operation management experience from Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin as Jr. Assistant Front Office Manager.

Khun Rabbit graduated a Master Degree in Tourism and Hotel Management from Stamford University and now, she studies Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program in Tourism and Hospitality Management in NIDA Institute, Bangkok. She is proud to be a part of the team and looks forward to bringing her knowledge and experience to a luxury resort as InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.

ANANTARA HUA HIN RESORT WINS WORLD SPA AWARDS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR Anantara Spa at Anantara Hua Hin Resort has recently won World Spa Awards 2016 as Thailand's Best Resort Spa for the second consecutive year.

Rooted in the timeless healing traditions of the world's richest cultures, Anantara Spa at Anantara Hua Hin Resort is designed to restore balance and harmony between body and mind in an oasis of beauty, grace and tranquility.

The spa features six treatment rooms, set in its own individual garden courtyard created by award-winning landscape architect Bill Bensley with dual al fresco

rain showers suspended in bronze cages modelled on traditional Thai artefacts.

“We are extremely proud to have won the Thailand's Best Resort Spa again for the second time in a row which shows our dedication to maintain the highest standards through continuous improvement,” says Manish Jha, General Manager of Anantara Hua Hin Resort. For more information on Anantara Spa at Anantara Hua Hin Resort, please call +66 (0) 32 520 250, email huahin@anantara. com or visit www.anantara.com.

THE POCKET-SIZED PIECE OF REASSURANCE - A ROTARY SAVE-A-LIFE PROJECT The Save-a-life Project, administered by the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin (RCRHH) in Thailand, is not only raising funds, but is potentially saving lives in the process.

In 2015, enterprising Rotarians from New Zealand came up with the concept of selling capsule key rings containing a 325mg soluble uncoated Aspirin. When placed under the tongue, this amount of Aspirin can make all the difference if used when a person is experiencing signs of a heart attack. The Aspirin potentially helps keep a patient alive for what paramedics call “The Golden Hour”.

This is the time between when the attack begins, paramedics arrive on the scene and the time it takes to transport the patient to hospital.

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

Why Aspirin?

Most heart attacks develop following the rupture of cholesterol-laden plaque in a coronary artery.

This attracts platelets to the surface, which form clots and block the artery, causing a heart attack. The Aspirin works by inhibiting the platelets, thus giving time to get professional help.

The typical symptoms: • Pain in the jaw, shoulders or back • Excessive sweating • Shortness of breath • Nausea • Chest discomfort

Save-a-life key rings can be bought at the RCRHH weekly club meeting (Tuesday 12 Noon) at AMARI Hotel Hua Hin or can be ordered by e-mail (savealife@rotaryroyalhuahin.org ).

HOT AROUND HUA HIN

AMARI HUA HIN WELCOMES REPRESENTATIVE FROM UK EMBASSY Amari Hua Hin’s General Manager, Mr. Phanuphan Buasuang, together with representatives of the provincial authority in Prachuab Khiri Khan, recently welcomed Ms. Layla Kelly Slatter, the First Secretary of the Embassy of the UK during her official visit to Hua Hin, Thailand.

From left: 1. Mr. Phanuphan Buasuang, General Manager, Amari Hua Hin, 2. Mr. Rujprateep Thamrapiphat, Hua Hin Chief District Office, 3. Dr. Thawee Narisisrikul, Governor of Prachuab Khiri Khan, 4. Ms. Layla Kelly Slatter,

First Secretary of the Embassy of the UK, 5. Police Major General, Thanayuth Wuthijarasthamrong, Deputy Commissioner of the Region 7 Provincial Police Bureau, 6.Pol. Col. Sittichai Srisopacharoenrat, Superintendent, Hua Hin Police Station

HUA HIN BUSINESS NETWORK AT COAST BEACH CLUB Hua Hin Business Network hosts monthly events in Hua Hin for people & businesses interested in networking. The last event was held on the 24th of November at the Centara Grand's COAST Beach Club & Bistro. The event was a great success with many businesses attending. All enjoyed the great food and wines at Coast's beautiful beachfront setting.

The next Event, which will be more family friendly, will be held poolside at the Splash Restaurant and Bar at Banyan The Resort on Saturday 7th January 2017 from 4pm to 8pm.

To find out more about HHBN events or membership please connect to us by Facebook @ HuaHinBusinessNetwork or through website www.h-h-b-n.com

SPECIAL OFFER

NEW YEAR EVE @ THE BEACH AT ANANTASILA Saturday 31 December 2016 at 07.30 Pm Onwards •

International Buffet

•

Live Music, Thai Dance Show

•

Cabaret Show,

•

Flying Lanterns

Adult 4950 THB+ Children (6-12 Yrs.) 2475THB+ For more information Tel: +66 32 527 638-9, +66 32 536 364 E-mail: info@anantasila.com

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

23

HOT AROUND HUA HIN CASILLERO DEL DIABLO WINE NIGHT AT THE SHERATON HUA HIN RESORT Mr. Leonard Faust (the fourth from left), Director of Food & Beverage together with Mr. Ekbundit Inruang (the first from right), Horeca Executive of Siam Winery jointly welcomed wine lovers to the extraordinary night “Casillero del Diablo Wine Affair� at Luna Lanai Restaurant, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa recently.

Casillero del Diablo is one of the finest wines in the portfolio of World of Wines Selection. On Friday November 18th at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort's Beachfront Luna Lanai Restaurant, wine enthusiasts experienced the extravagant flavor of the "Cellar of the Devil" ; Casillero del Diablo Sparkling Wine, Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay, Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc, Casillero del Diablo Merlot Casillero del Diablo Carmenere, Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon. The evening's wine selections were the perfect complement to the Sheraton Chef's enticingly enchanting creations which included Seared Salmon Ceviche, Roast Beef with Chimichurri and Soft Rolls making the evening truly special.

For future Sheraton events stay in touch via: www.sheraton.com/huahin www.sheratonhuahin.com www.facebook.com/sheratonhuahin www.flickr.com/photos/sheratonhuahin/ IG: sheratonhuahin LINE: @sheratonhuahin

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

HOT AROUND HUA HIN SPECIAL OFFER

CHRISTMAS DAY BRUNCH BUFFET AT INTERCONTINENTAL HUA HIN RESORT Sunday, 25 December 2016 Savour the culinary gifts of Azure on Christmas Day. An expansive international brunch buffet includes assorted appetisers, hot and cold Hua Hin seafood, sushi selection, BBQ delicacies and much more. The sounds of live jazz will enhance the afternoon.

Time: 11.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Adults: THB 1,900++ per person including one bottle of Chandon sparkling wine for every two persons.

Children: THB 900++ per child 6-12 InterContinental Hua Hin Resort 33/33 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuabkhirikhan 77110, Thailand Phone: +66 (0) 32 616999

SHORELINE BEACH CLUB, KOH TAKIAB

SPECIAL OFFER

Shoreline Beach Club, Restaurant and Bar, invites all travellers, beach goers and Hua Hin residents to a stylish dining experience with a sumptuous selection of menus while relaxing along the beautiful calming stretches of Khao Takiab Beach.

Shoreline’s selected menus include: Better together: relishing beach-side favourites featuring marinated salmon, seared tuna sesame, shrimp cakes, fish and chicken fingers, grilled tiger prawns, sea bass, New Zealand mussels and scallops at 1,299 THB net Surf & Turf: featuring grilled tenderloin and tiger prawns served with spinach risotto, white wine and butter sauce for 960 THB net The Perfect Match: an Italian flair of your own choice of Pizza served with a pitcher of ice-cold Singha draught beer for only 599 THB net Amari Daiquiri: sipping a taste of Thai rum “Chalong Bay” with a select flavour of strawberry, mango and lemon for 260 THB net/glass This promotion is valid until 28 February 2016. For more information, please contact Shoreline Beach Club, Restaurant and Bar at 032 616 600. Open Daily: 11:00 – 23:00

SPECIAL OFFER

BEACHFRONT RESTAURANT AT NOVOTEL HUA HIN CHA AM BEAH RESORT & SPA PRESENTS “KIDS BUFFET” & “OCEAN NIGHT” It’s all about kids buffet, we make it especially for the little ones with their favorite heroes, only 200 baht net per child.

Adults also can savor our extensive Fresh Seafood BBQ Buffet on Ocean Night for only 999 baht net per person.

“We babysit your kids for free” Every Saturday from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm NOVOTEL Hua Hin Cha Am Beach Resort & Spa 854/2 Burirom Road, Cha Am Beachfront For reservations, please call 032-708300 or email rsvn@novotelhuahin.com

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

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HOT AROUND HUA HIN

“OH WHAT A NIGHT” Indeed, what a night was had by all those attending the sold out Red Piano’s 2nd Anniversary bash. The wine flowed, the beer was downed and joy and laughter could be measured by the gallon.

The Beatles played their music, not THE Fab Four of course but the #1 Thai Beatles cover band from Bangkok whose appearance, complete with matching suits, the famous mop hairstyles and even what appeared to be, the same guitar models, thoroughly entertained the screaming (well, possibly not screaming but most definitely appreciative) audience. As for the band sounding like the Fab Four; you betcha they did! Those being entertained certainly wouldn’t have disagreed whilst they were encouraged to join in with the likes of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and many other well-known hits. Not surprisingly the proprietor, Anthony, donned his entertainment hat and entertained the gathered throngs with his own brand of talents. Those who know Anthony know only too well he can woo the crowds.

As if Beatle Mania wasn’t enough for the enormous number of boppers who had arrived, the DJ then strutted his discs and the party mood continued.

Gone were the wannabee McCartney ‘sound-alikes’ only to be replaced by the wannabee Swayzes and Travoltas and, a damn fine show they put on too. There were also a few budding Olivia's dashing their stuff albeit much more sedately.

There had to be a few stiff hips the next morning however, given the fun that was had, I doubt the stiffness amounted to anything more than a sense of pride at having showed those young’uns how it’s done – or at least, how it was done in those good ol’ days gone by.

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

The night was undoubtedly a roaring success and if you weren’t there – you were square.

Just ensure that you don’t miss out on Red Piano’s next fun night by regularly checking in at www.redpianohuahin. com and/or www.facebook.com/ RedPianoRestaurant/ Finally, a huge THANKS should go to Anthony, Red Piano’s Manager, Khun Rin and all his tireless staff and creative Chef who ensured that a great night was positively “fab”.

HOT AROUND HUA HIN

TREE LIGHTING AT THE MARRIOTT On November 23rd, the Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa held a festive Christmas party and tree lighting ceremony. Attended by well over 100 students and parents from the Hua Hin International School, as well as Marriott staff, the party was highlighted by the Hua Hin International School’s newly formed choir singing a selection of Christmas Carols.

According to Jennifer Ayling, a member of the Parent Teacher Group (PTG) of the Hua Hin International School, “We approached the Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa to see if the newly formed school choir could sing a selection of Christmas songs at their Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.

The Marriott was very willing and even put on a Christmas cookie decorating activity for the children and a Christmas market providing drinks and snacks for the children and parents.

The PTG sold tickets to the event with all proceeds going towards the PTG’s chosen charity for the year, the Mercy House Orphanage in Pranburi, raising a total of 27,600THB.” “The PTG and Hua Hin International School would like to thank the Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa for the amount of effort that went into this CSR event, all those attending enjoyed the activities immensely. We would also like to thank the children who sang and those parents and children who attended.”

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

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HOT AROUND BANGKOK SPECIAL OFFER

RIVERSIDE TERRACE 7.00 pm onwards A sumptuous grand buffet dinner inspires an evening of celebration. Revel in the vibrant entertainment featuring a scintillating performance of the ‘Bacchanal’, a nostalgic trip with the effervescent ‘Andrews Sisters’ to Bill Hayley’s ‘Rock Around the Clock’; followed by great hits by the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley.

The highlight, excerpts from the Broadway Musical ‘Cabaret’ songs and dances performed by the Grand Opera of Thailand.

Party on to the sounds of our resident dance band Tiempo and share in the climatic countdown and spectacular fireworks.

THB 10,990 nett per person for a beverage package including beer, standard spirits, wines and sparkling wine; and predinner cocktails at Riverside Bar. THB 3,000 nett per child aged 4-12 years including soft drinks Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort 257/1-3 Charoennakorn Road, Thonburi, Bangkok T +66 2 476 0022

SPECIAL OFFER

SERENITY ON HIGH AT THE BANYAN TREE BANGKOK Enjoy accommodations in a Serenity Club Room located on the 50th – 59th Floor of the hotel. Minimum 2 night stay. Valid for stays to 31 March 2017. Offer is 20% off published rates. Your Serenity Club Room comes with Banyan Tree Club Access and benefits including : - Exclusive buffet breakfast served at the Club Lounge from 7:00 to 11:00 AM maximum 2 persons per room (alternatively guests can enjoy breakfast in Romsai from 6:00 to 10:00 AM. - Access to the Club Lounge, located on 19th floor, open daily from 7:00 - 22.00 hrs - Registration and express check-out at the Club Lounge (during operating hour) - Complimentary beverages drinks (soft drinks, coffee & tea) and light snacks at the Club Lounge from 07:00am to 08:00pm - Complimentary free flow with selection of Local Beers from 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM and after 08:00 PM will be charged as per consumption - Complimentary canapés and beer, wine, spirits at the Club Lounge from 5:30pm to 7:30pm 28

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

SPECIAL OFFER

NEW YEAR’S EVE + NEW YEAR’S DAY Welcome 2017 with an extensive session with sumptuous International cuisine, traditional festive carving station, festive sweet treats and premium items including pan-fried foie gras, truffle foie gras terrine, fresh seafood on ice items such as Alaskan King crab, Fin de Clair, rock lobster. Enjoy special breakfast with highlight items including Mexican quesadilla corner, roasted and carving station, and much more.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER (31 DECEMBER 2015) At Latest Recipe from 18.00 - 22.30 hrs Baht 1,599 net per person including one glass of sparkling wine COUNTDOWN EVENING (31 DECEMBER 2015) At Bamboo Chic Bar from 23.00 - 01.00 hrs Celebrate the magical moment with our creative cocktails, wines, sparkling, beer and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine before the countdown. **Special 15% discount when purchasing through our online store www.lemeridienbangkokpatpong.com/en/store ** For reservations, please call 02 232 8888 or email fbadmin.lmbkk@lemeridien.com or visit www. lemeridienbangkokpatpong.com

HOT AROUND BANGKOK RED GROUPER CREATIONS AT THE MAYFLOWER, DUSIT THANI BANGKOK

SPECIAL OFFER

The Mayflower of Dusit Thani Bangkok presents “Red Grouper Creations” throughout November-December 2016. Available for both lunch and dinner.

Discover delectable fresh Red Grouper creations with the original taste of Cantonese cuisine. Our creative Chef prepares a variety of Red Grouper dishes such as Steamed Red Grouper with Black Bean Paste, Fried Red Grouper with Salted Plums, and more. Prices start at THB 380++ per 100 gram.

For more information or reservation, please call Dusit Thani Bangkok at: +66 (0) 2200 9000 ext. 2345 E-mail dtbkdining@dusit.com Website: www.dusit.com/dtbk, www.facebook.com/dusitthani

SPECIAL OFFER

GALA GOURMET NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER BUFFET (18:30-23.30) Build up to New Year with unrestrained indulgences in the finer things in life. Interact with specialist-manned live stations and explore lavish displays of our international chefs’ party piece dishes as the wine flows freely. Our live 05-piece band rocks the evening all the way to 01 am and our party sets invite further immersion in the celebrations. Lots of lucky draw prizes must be won!

THB 4,500++ per person including free flow wine, beer and selected beverages Plaza Athenee Bangkok 61 Wireless Road (Witthayu) Tel: +66 2 650 8800

BLACK & GOLD NEW YEAR DINNER & PARTY AT THE WESTIN GRANDE SUKHUMVIT

SPECIAL OFFER

Seasonal Tastes and Zest Bar & Terrace will be the scene of a stunning New Year’s Party on Saturday, December 31.

Dress up in the Black & Gold theme of the evening and be entertained by special performances, live band, DJ, and dancing on the dance floor.

THB 3,200 net per person for buffet and soft drinks.

Dinner time: 19.00-23.00 hrs. and party until 02.00 hrs More information at: www.westingrandesukhumvit.com/festivecelebrations2016

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL THEME PARTY@RIVER BARGE RESTAURANT AND PIER 28 Why not run off to join the circus on New Year’s Eve with the River Barge and al fresco Pier 28’s fantastic Cirque du Soleil-themed buffet evening plus live music, super shows and an awe-inspiring firework display. Priced at THB 6,500 net per person and THB 3,250 net per person for children between 6-11 years old.

Free-flow soft drinks and free-flow alcohol packages are available at THB 800 and THB 1,350 net per person for diners.

SPECIAL OFFER

For more information or reservations, please call Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok at 0 2307 8888, visit www.chatrium.com or E-mail: River Barge Restaurant: riverbarge.chrb@chatrium.com.

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HOT AROUND BANGKOK

BANGKOK HEIGHTZ It is often said that the best food in Thailand is found on the street. Thai street food and street vendors are known throughout the world. However, many don’t enjoy the hot and basic conditions the food is served in, surrounded by traffic, noise, and pollution.

At Bangkok Heightz, Bangkok’s newest genuine Thai restaurant and bar, they’ve taken the street recipes, developed them for flavour and taste, and added the bonus of an unrivalled spot in which to enjoy them.

Located up on the 39th floor of The Continent Hotel, the authentic Thai restaurant lives up to its name as a true rooftop restaurant and fine dining spot, looking out over the popular AsokSukhumvit area, home to Bangkok’s trendiest nightclubs and shopping.

Taking a great idea one step further, they've paired Thai twisted cocktails (using local ingredients and flavours} with selected menu items to create the perfect eating and drinking experience in 30

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an unbeatable location.

Dig in to popular Thai food favorites like Lobster rad prik, normally made with shrimp covered in a sweet and sour sauce made of tamarind, brown sugar, chilies, and Thai herbs, but here served on fine Canadian lobster, boiled exactly for three minutes prior to frying.

Or sample some grapao pla, Thailand’s signature holy basil, here fried in a tempered wok with chilies and served on delectable snowfish. Another seafood favourite featured on the fine dining menu is pu nim pad prik thai dam, stir fried soft shelled crab with black pepper and salted egg.

Using the finest high end ingredients combined with age-old recipes makes Bangkok Heightz one of the best Thai restaurants in town. In addition to the extensive menu, there are plenty of fine wines and signature cocktails to pair with as well. Novel drink creations include the Chao Phraya Sling and Siam Libre amongst other mixologist specials.

Along with the fine food and drink, Bangkok Heightz is a trendy and cool place to hangout up above the crowds, as there is a DJ booth pumping out the latest tunes, making it an after dinner venue as well. For rooftop dining and authentic cuisine, Bangkok Heightz Thai food simply cannot be beat.

Located: 39th floor Opens: Daily from Noon till Midnight The Continent Hotel Bangkok 413 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 02 686 7000 Email: rsvns@thecontinenthotel.com www.thecontinentdining.com/bangkokheightz

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY? WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT AND WHY? good flexibility but it’s basically useless if your mobility is constricted by other factors. It’s important to recognize that flexibility is a component of mobility, but extreme flexibility usually isn't necessary to perform functional movements.

There’s more to fitness than just pure strength – flexibility and mobility matter a lot. You’re going to have a challenging time executing exercises or daily life functions if you can’t bend far enough to perform any of the movements.

While both concepts seems to mean the same, they are different, “flexibility” and “mobility” have huge impacts on health and performance.

are hips, shoulders, knees and upper back. Common problem areas are the hips, shoulders, knees and upper back.

If you’ve experienced trouble in these areas, or others, here are three key steps to help loosen the areas up:

Why does this matter? Beyond just working out in the gym, both mobility and flexibility affect your joint health in everyday life as well. Think about it this way, if you have a general mobility problem that affects how you move, your body isn’t going to be functioning in the way it’s supposed to. Over time you can suffer more wear and tear accompanied with general discomfort, than if the area around the joint could move as normal.

Also, when you’re exercising you’re essentially performing these faulty movements under higher intensity and greater stress, thus painful injuries can accumulate over time (think hip or foot pain slowly creeping in).

Therefore, mobility is important, while flexibility is a component of optimal function, you don’t need countless hours in the gym limbering up. Just spend a few minutes each day focusing on problem areas that are tight and limited in movement. Most common

1.

Foam Roll

2.

Mobility Drills

3.

Stretch

True Arena will be offering the above services soon. Please see one of the certified professionals for a consultation.

Mobility: how a joint moves Flexibility: length of a muscle Essentially, think of mobility as a blanket covering various factors that may affect the range of motion around a joint.

One of these factors is flexibility, it’s difficult to move a joint if the connected muscles around it don’t stretch far enough to allow it. But there are other considerations that come into play as well, like not having the strength or balance to perform the exercises, soft tissue damage, tension and adhesion.

Even problems with other joints in the same chain of movement. One can have

George Grecia Director of Sports Development

Model: Rising Jr. Tennis Star-Jalaluck Sae-Eung

032 909 633

www.truearenahuahin.com

info@truearenahuahin.com

Instagram: truearenahuahin

Facebook: truearenahuahin

Twiter: @truearenahuahin

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Falcon Hill, Luxury & Quality

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

I

n the “Hay Day” of Hua Hin’s real estate market, back in the early 2000’s, all a developer had to do was buy some land, have some rough artistic perspectives made of what the houses were going to look like and he would sell out his project before he ever put a shovel in the ground. The reason for the property frenzy was that buyer’s had few developments to choose from.

Those days are long gone. Today, buyers have tremendous choice in location, size, style, quality and price.

Developers must now differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering unique value. One such developer is Kim Falcon whose project Falcon Hill offers many great selling points.

Starting with selling point # 1 is the location. Located at the end of Soi 102, Falcon Hill offers both mountain, city and ocean views. It is literally just minutes from Hua Hin’s new 5 billion baht shopping mall BluPort. Coming from soi

102 you miss all of the traffic that you’ll find on Petchakasem road trying to get to the mall. Falcon Hill is just 4 kilometers from Hua Hin’s Town Center and just 3 Kilometers from the beach.

The Falcon Hill Estate covers 55 rai, or 8 hectares of stunning landscape that has been carefully contoured with the environment in mind. Bordered by forested hills, all pool villas offer views of the sea or the hills. All villas are private.

Owners have peace, privacy, a sense of space, and relaxation.

Trying to find a premium location this close to Hua Hin, while benefitting from peace and quiet is not easy. Trying to find a premium development with sea views in Hua Hin is even more difficult. Falcon Hill offers both: premium quality, and stunning sea views from its best plots.

The 2nd reason Falcon Hill deserves a look is its extraordinary amount of housing styles. This isn’t a “choose from column A or column B” type of development. Falcon Hill is being built

in 3 phases. Currently they are selling and building phase 1. Phase 1 offers six different house types to choose from starting with their Villa Type LD. The smallest of the villas offered, Villa LD has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with 202 square meters of living area on a land plot of 400 to 500 meters. With an open plan living, dining and kitchen area the home comes with a fully fitted luxury kitchen, luxury bathrooms, a large covered terrace, aircon throughout fully landscaped gardens and a pool. The standard size pool on this home is 3.5 X 8 meters but of course you can have a larger one if you desire.

Their largest villa in phase 1 is their Villa Type H. This home has 3 bedrooms and bathrooms with 283 square meters of living space on a land plot of approximately 1,000 square meters. It offers everything the Villa Type LD does plus a carport with storage area, a BBQ area and an outdoor toilet. The standard size swimming pool for this type is 5 X 12 meters.

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The 3rd reason to visit Falcon Hill is its style.

They describe the architectural design of Falcon Hill as modern Asian. All properties are individually designed but are still unmistakably Asian in appearance. A main feature that reinforces the modern Asian design is their ornate roofs that are a modern take on the roofing systems adopted in some of Thailand’s most notable and indeed iconic buildings. Combined with clean lines and an instantly obvious high attention to detail, the quality of the design is clear, both from a distance and upon closer inspection. Moreover, the Falcon Hill colour scheme blends effortlessly with the surrounding countryside making Falcon Hill a welcome addition to the area rather than a blot on the landscape.

The 4th reason to look at Falcon Hill before making a buying decision is the quality that goes into every one of their homes. Here they use an imported German made multipipe system with press fitting for the tap water system in all the villas.

This system comes with a 10-year warranty and with insurance covering up to 2 million Euro if any damage is done due to water leaking.

Falcon Hill follows the highest international safety standards from Scandinavia when it comes to their electrical systems. All villas come with a minimum of two ground fault interrupters, the key here is safety.

All bathrooms, walls and floors are water proofed according to European standards. All drains in the bathrooms are also to European standards.

Additionally, each plot has a storm drain system installed that can cope with Hua Hin’s occasional heavy rains.

The roof truss’s used are of a light metal alloy, they do not use general steel. All roofs come with roof insulation and cement roof tiles.

Finally, Falcon Hill uses only light weight construction blocks imported from Q-cone in Germany which have a superior insulation factor.

The 5th reason to visit Falcon Hill is their price, they have a house style for almost everyone’s budget. When you want the best in in location, size, style, quality and price then your new address should be Falcon Hill.

For more information or to arrange a private tour call 032,900,537, 098 014 4885 or email: sales@falconhill.com. www.falcon-hill.com.

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MINERALS

F U S I O N T E C H N O LO GY

L et’s Brunch,

The District Grill Room & Bar

HOT MAGAZINE RECOMMEND

v

Marriott Bangkok Sukhumvit

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runch, the socially acceptable excuse for day drinking, has risen to a new level at the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit’s award winning District Grill Room & Bar.

Winner of the “Best Steakhouse 2016” from Bangkok Best Dining and “Best Restaurant Award 2016” from Thailand Tatler, The District Grill Sunday Brunch

is all about enjoying the finest things in life – delicious food, crafted cocktails and trendy music with a good company of family and friends.

Inspired by the meatpacking district in New York, The District Grill Room & Bar is an intimate and relaxed setting where their friendly associates properly pamper you.

The District Sunday Brunch starts with an array of mouthwatering appetizers, cheese and wine followed by an amazing array of seafood on ice, a premium carving station and a delectable selection of District signatures from a specially crafted a’ la carte menu, culminating with a sweet lovers’ paradise in a private ‘Dessert’ room.

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Seafood aficionados can indulge in a sumptuous display of delicacies featuring mouthwatering Normandie and Fine de Clair Oysters, Alaskan King Crab, Blue Swimmer Sand Crab, chilled Tiger Prawns and Brown Crab claws.

Salmon and Tuna Tartar, the finest Norwegian Salmon, smoked, cured and marinated. A large selection of Caviar is also available served with blinis, capers and sour cream.

The District's open-kitchen offers a visual culinary treat. Guests can select their mains from the best of The District Grill Room and Bar such as Fresh Truffle Risotto, Truffle Scrambled eggs, Norwegian Grilled Salmon, Confit Duck Leg, Australian premium Steak and Lamb Chops apart from a selection of the finest carving stations as well as a Foie Gras and Seared Hokkaido Scallops station.

The private ‘Dessert’ room is where their creative pastry chefs excite their guests’ palate with a variety of sweet indulgences.

Guests can enjoy The District Sunday Brunch at only THB 2,500 net per person or for just 500 baht more you can partake in their unlimited premium beverage package which includes Prosecco, a selection of wines and beer or a choice of spirits and signature cocktails.

The District Sunday Brunch runs from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm. For further details or reservations, please contact The District Grill Room & Bar at 02797-0130 or visit their website at www. bangkokmarriott.com. * The District Grill Room and Bar is open daily from 5.00 pm for drinks and from 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm for dinner.

For further information and reservation, please call 02-797-0130 Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit 2 Sukhumvit Soi 57, Klongtan Nua, Wattana Bangkok, 10110

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Make the most

of paradise Keep up to date on all the HOT Happenings in Hua Hin, Bangkok and throughout Thailand.

www.hotmagazine.website

2016 Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show

T

he much awaited Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show situated on the crescent calm beach of Jomtien, has been the catalyst to put Thailand forward as a leading marine destination in the South East Asian region and has returned for a fifth year with the largest display of boats and lifestyle products ever seen.

Ocean Marina is the largest and most popular international-class marina and yacht club in all of the Asian region. The upscale and sophisticated boat show this year attracted leading marine and luxury brands which

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have set a new benchmark in the boat and yacht industry.

The Marina’s convenient proximity to Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, makes it the number one coastal destination and weekend getaway for the more than eight million inhabitants that live in the metropolis. The marina is merely a short drive from Bangkok, a convenient hour away ride from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and only 15 minutes away from the U-Tapao airport. Its surroundings are a contrast of green hills, a turquoise beach, and the incredible seascape of the eastern coast. In addition, the marina is close to many

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tourist attractions, golf courses, shopping and entertainment areas as well as some beautiful islands which have hardly been stepped on. Right after arriving at the marina, visitors can already be in the water enjoying the luxurious 43 islands that are within less than an hour away on a boat ride.

Ocean Marina Yacht Club insures to offer its clientele solely the ultimate living assets in luxury, elegance, privacy and nautical amenities with signature Thai hospitality to anyone looking for a perfect marina lifestyle by the sea.

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Ever since the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show was launched five years ago, experts on the matter who are closely linked to the event have said that a considerable growth in marine tourism and boat usage has been experienced in the paradisiac Gulf of Thailand. The number of boat owners overseas who have chosen Ocean Marina as a base for their boats has increased reasonably and so has the number of Thai people buying boats in the region.

Some of the exhibitors at the Boat Show included top dealerships such as Simpson Marine and Boat Lagoon Yachting which had an extremely large exhibition space to show off the grandeur and beauty of their boats at both the in-water display space and onshore. These were also joined by luxury Italian boat brand Azimut Yachts, Beneteau, Cranchi, CNB Yachts, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Monte Carlo Yachts, Prestige, Princess Yachts, Viking Yachts and Wider. Superyacht brands represented at the show included Admiral and Sanlorenzo, and a large selection of brokerage yachts were also available to familiarize with for the 6000 or more visitors who partook in this successful event.

In addition to the incredible lineup of boats, cars and luxury lifestyle exhibitors, the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show included daily yacht cruises throughout the day, kayak and paddleboat trials, jetpack flying board demonstrations, fun games, a delicious food and drinks festival, and the yearly Boat and Yacht Thailand Conference.

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A “DREAM” YOU CAN AFFORD Welcome to The Park Hua Hin where we not only operate in luxury, but deliver some of the most memorable eco-friendly experiences to guests and an outstanding level of care and return on investment to owners.

Facts • Price from: 4.700,000 • Location: 5km from city • Include: Fully Furnished • Garden: Landscaped • Walls: Smart Frame • Walls: Magnesium Board • Windows: Double Glazed • Lights: LED & Solar Led • Solar & Electric Heaters • 30,000 litres Water Tank • Finance: Available • Maintenance fees: Low

Facilities • Reception: 24 hours • Security: 24 hours • Club House: Completed • Restaurant: Completed • 2 Bars: Completed • 2 Large Pools: Completed • Fitness & Salon: Completed • Spa & Massage: Completed • Mini Mart: Completed • Reception: Completed • Free Shuttle Bus: Operating • Internet: Free Wi-Fi • Common Area: 10,000 sqm

250,000 THB discount

(for reservations in November)

www.theparkhuahin.com

Address: Tap Tai, Soi 112, Hua Hin, 77110 Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand Tel: 032 510 518 Thai: +66 (0) 83 088 677 German, French, Dutch, English: +66 (0) 83 006 1300 Swedish, English: +66 (0) 97 986 1011

L et’s Stay,

Le Meridien Bangkok

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

W

hen in Thailand, and if luxury is what you crave and live for, Le Meridien Bangkok will make your cravings a thing of the past. This astonishing five star hotel situated in the center of Bangkok in the Silom business district is a sybarite’s home away from home.

The hotel is near to famous Patpong Night Market, ten minutes from the Saladaeng BTS Skytrain station and a convenient five minutes walk from the new Silom MRT station therefore making it an incredibly accessible spot for both those who wish to visit you while on your stay in the urbane capital or for guests who wish to go on adventures to explore cosmopolitan Bangkok city. Le Meridien is less than an hour away in taxi from both the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Muang airport. The hotel makes sure that going out is as easy as taking a breath and at the same time makes it a little harder considering the many little things one can indulge in within the hotel grounds itself.

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The hotel is fully equipped with everything guests may require during their stay. First off, is Bamboo Chic Bar, where guests may enjoy a drink or two in a futuristic contemporary lounge setting with turquoise glass floors which reflect the modern floating candle-like lamps hung from its ceiling. The unique and vibrant ambiance is perfect to explore their intricate assortment of signature cocktails, their wide selection of wines and spirits from all over the world, and the perfect variety of snacks and delicatessens to combine with the beverages. Another gastronomic asset of the hotel is Latest Recipe, where one may experience an interactive dining experience inspired by tastes from all over the world through a culinary collection of recipes from Le Meridien Hotels from around the globe. The breakfast it provides, as many guests debate, could be seen as one of the best in the city. Latitude 13 in the lobby area is for coffee loving guests. This magnificent lounge area provides a list of delicious cold refreshments to beat the heat, hot beverages for the soul and a delicious assortment of snacks throughout the entire day, beginning right after the sunrise, for those early birds that nest under the hotel’s pleasant luxurious comforts.

Le Meridien Bangkok, part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts is needless "to say, synonym for lavishness and grandeur. It screams indulgence and opulence with its 282 effortless yet beautifully designed contemporary guestrooms and suites which are aimed to capture the beautiful cityscape in contrast to the pink evening skies and the rare purple oranges that unfold in the morning through the sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows in all its rooms. Guests can chose from a range of room optionsthe choices include Vista, Vista Plus, Vista Executive and the sumptuous Circular room.

I had the pleasure of staying in their Avantec Suite which was spacious at 77 square meters. The bathroom was notable for its large shower with dual heads and dual bench seats.

The shower also had a window that allowed you to view into the bedroom and the city beyond. There was a coffee “pod” machine in the room with a drawer full of different coffee types.

What impressed me was they not only had coffee cups in the room, they also had espresso cups and they had paper cups with lids if you wanted to make your own takeaway. It’s those little extras that make a stay in a five star hotel so enjoyable.

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All of the latter have complimentary internet access, 24-hour in-room dining, and 24-hour front desk services which reflects on the unforgettable hospitality of Thai culture in general and Le Meridien in particular. The staff at the hotel make it a point to ensure that your troubles are theirs and consequently guarantee that you can count on them for whatever you may need.

The hotel offers a fully equipped fitness centre whereby guests can get fit in the grandeur of the hotel, a serene and placid SPA, and a refreshing outdoor pool to cool down after a heavy workout. The swimming pool area can be used to either alleviate oneself from the unforgiving Bangkok heat or get the perfect sun kissed tan laying down in the serenity of large and inviting hammocks.

Not only is Le Meridien an incomparable accommodation choice while on holidays, it is also a perfect venue for business travellers who can make use of the Grand Atelier, the Atelier I, or the Atelier Boardroom for either large or petit comite entrepreneurial meetings and presentations.

Le Meridien Bangkok’ s exceptional style, luxurious comfort and majestic aesthetics make it a one of a kind hotel, a choice for rising entrepreneurs, loving couples, and united families to enjoy Bangkok city in all its grandeur from an awe-inspiring point of view.

Le MĂŠridien Bangkok 40/5 Surawong Road, Silom, Bangkok, 10500 Phone: 6622328888 reservations.lmbkk@lemeridien.com

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Welcome to the new French Restaurant at 64 Naresdamri Road, Hua Hin 77110, Thailand Tel: 032-510403, 095-962 2325 Open: 12am-11pm

L et’s Go,

HOT MAGAZINE RECOMMEND

v

The Slow life of Mae La Noi

A

re you part of a rare breed who is tired of large crowds, the hectic flow of people from a train to its platform, and the desert of concrete jungle our cities have been enslaved to? If you long to come closer to the magical properties nature has to offer, if you yearn for the freshness of a mountain breeze, and if you wish to see nothing but vibrant green rice paddies all the way to the horizon, Mae La Noi is the place to be. This small yet beautiful almost undiscovered paradisiac 62

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district in the south of Mae Hong Son Province helps one swiftly slow down the restless motion of typical urban life transforming its visitors’ state of minds from stressed and overworked to peaceful and untroubled. Mae La Noi promises its visitors to help them return to the city carrying at ease the simple yet essential human emotions the city life has stripped from us with its candid and unpretentious atmosphere which as gifts of nature tend to do, takes one right back to the utmost basics. Mae La Noi has

three beautiful rivers which go through it and which are all a blissful attraction and aesthetic offering from Mother Nature to the viewers who are most in touch with the unique environment a flowing body of water can create. The rivers include Yuam, Mae La Luang and Mae La Noi River, all of which people can enjoy the view from and watch the rumbling flow of water with unintended patterns and tones of blue.

As you may expect from any

undiscovered and almost virgin land to tourists, no one speaks English in this community oriented district situated about thirty kilometers north of Mae Sarian. The area is designed for long undisrupted walks, hikes to key spots to watch a beautiful sunset in all its radiance with no buildings to interrupt it, and typical local meals injected with all the fresh vitamins of the locally grown organic vegetables. Not only is an english speaking person rare to find in the area, but the choice of accommodation

is limited to bed and breakfast spots and beautiful bamboo resorts too. Such rudimental places allow you to sleep in the middle of fields in tastefully designed typical bungalow rooms which will make the experience of Mae La Noi even more unforgettable with a one of a kind experience. The nights in Mae La Noi, in contrast to the city, are calm and silent carrying a cool gentle wind from the hills around. One can expect to have deep sleep like never before and awaken gracefully with the chirping of birds

and the minute sounds of an incredible ecosystem preparing to start its day.

Although the beautiful region is not tourist oriented there are a couple of interesting places to visit apart from enjoying the gifts of mother nature.

First off we have alluring Cave Kaew Komol, an ancient calcite crystal cave situated to the east of the town. This is a relatively famous attraction amongst Thai tourists which takes about 20 minutes to walk through and explore.

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The Cave is quite strict with its rules and does not allow hats, coats, backpacks or cameras inside the premises, they pursue a kind of tourism that is respectful to nature and open to small setbacks such as not being able to take photographs to make the curious underground chamber much more enigmatic than it would otherwise be. Tourists are only allowed a flashlight which many find is not really necessary since the cave is well lit and already allows visitors to basque in all its curious and virtuous glory. This natural phenomenon which is hard to find nowadays and not many would ever be attracted to is definitely worth it as well as interesting for people who are fascinated with the power and magic of nature. The entrance fee is a mere very worth it 80 baht, which includes a truck service going up and down one of the steepest hills from where the ticket booth is found.

If you are a coffee enthusiast and want to enjoy some good home brewed coffee, teas and other such drinks, the Mae La Noi Coffee Shop will be your “it� spot for breakfast and to relax at any time while enjoying its beautiful panoramic view overlooking the depths of the valley below.

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Another interesting area to explore in this honest and unembellished district and a must-see if one is interested in local culture is a hill tribe village in Huay Hom which is a short 30Km to the east and which surprisingly specializes in authentic thai coffee. In fact, the district has lots of genuine and traditional hill tribe villages found hidden in the mountains of the Mae La Noi main road. Some of these include Lawa and Karen which can be found comfortably nestled in the voluptuous mountains and the plain sailing lowlands of Mae La Noi. The remote location of these small customary villages means that most of them are unfortunately still traditional and one can rarely find tourists passing through them. Once you get further into the mountains, some of these villages are mainly only accessible by walking for a long time or four wheel drives which can go through geographically difficult roads.

What confirms and ensures the purity of these almost tribal villages is that it is highly advisable that tourists go in search of these small towns with the help of a local guide, otherwise one may be prone to get both lost in translation and lost geographically and physically speaking.

Most importantly and not to forget, is the fact that reaching Mae La Noi, is a very easy task. There are several buses which go from Chiang Mai, Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son to the unexplored district in extremely reasonable prices. To put things into perspective, an air conditioned bus from Mae Hong Son to Mae La Noi is only 150 Baht.

One can conclude that matter of factly, city life has nothing which particularly stands out as being wrong, but everything about Mae La Noi is right. So why not? Nothing can go south while going back to basics. An ingenious trip back in time always allows you to come back to the frenetic present in a more refreshed manner and having a perspective which without such an insightful trip you would never have the opportunity to feel deeply or realize in time before technology and stress consume you.

In addition, it is the perfect excuse to force one to expand their thai vocabulary and have an intense and much needed practical session of pronunciation and comprehension with locals who don’t speak a drop of english in order to improve conversation making while back to the daily urbanite life.

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L et’s Check In,

HOT MAGAZINE RECOMMEND

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Maggie Choo's

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ou may have heard of Bangkok’s Iron Fairies,Bookshop, Fat Gut'z, Mr. Jones' Orphanage, and may have perhaps unfortunately missed out Maggie Choo’s! What all of these have in common is that they are all impressive and aesthetically unique creations of famous designer, Ashley Sutton. Maggie Choo’s in particular is a one of a kind restaurant and bar inspired and accommodated to what was supposedly since 1947 the underground

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vault of the East India Company Bank, information which is found written on the dark brick walls of this innovative spot underneath the Novotel Fenix situated in Silom road.

The stylish and sophisticated restaurant and bar is like all good things in life, a little challenging to find if you have never been before. There’s a little unpromising Chinese-looking door right outside the Novotel which once you

enter it, a little restaurant comes into view. Maggie Choo’s is not in full view yet. You must pull a black curtain in one of the corners of the restaurant which once you step through, it makes you come into full contact with the glory of this ingenious and exclusive place. The bar found behind the bar is an entirely different area than the restaurant, much larger, and with an aesthetic that allows us to venture into a real life kind of Harry Potter style decor. The secrecy

of the place, with its little Chinese door and a curtain which transports you to a different world is a Ashley Sutton value which works every time, and makes us keep coming back and taking only our closest people as a means to keeping the secrecy alive.

Entering Maggie Choo’s can make you entirely forget which city you’re in. The old-school style bar is behind what used to be many years ago a clerk

counter with basic comfortable tall stools all around the bar. The other seating options are large comfortable leather sofas and velvet covered seats which make it possible to enjoy drinks with all five senses. The seating arrangement, with the combination of the bar decor which includes a dimmed light takes you all the way back to the 1930s. There are bust statues all around the bar, alluring vintage oil paintings strategically placed on the walls, and to add the icing on

the cake, in full fervent Sutton style, are unusual swings hanging from the ceiling.

The contrast of all the latter elements of the bar make it an extraordinary little secret in the heart of one of Bangkok’s central business districts.

Moving away from the decor, and more into the atmosphere, the usual background music as well as the incredible Jazz music that plays live on the weekends by well-known artists is

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the cherry on the top. The drinks add to Maggie Choo’s enchanting aura, with a list of all our favourite classic cocktails as well as great wines and spirits. A night out at Maggie Choo's is likely to be unforgettable regardless of how much you drink.

Maggie Choo’s is another step forward and another great design creation in Sutton’s incredible curriculum. One can not tell which one of his designs is the best but as we all know; all great accomplishments should be enjoyed and celebrated by as many people as possible and Maggie Choo’s is definitely an achievement and a wellreceived sophisticated bar in the area of Silom which must be celebrated for a very long time.

Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom 320 Silom Road Bangrak, Bangkok Table bookings: 083 0241530 Open 7:00PM - 3:00AM

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December 15 - January 15 , 2017

41 prestigious residential pool villas in the most exclusive resort of Hua Hin BAAN PHU THARA A Community Solar Development Energy Sharing For A Sustainable Future

WWW.THAICOUNTRYHOMES.COM

Development PRODUCT + QUALITY + VALUE SAFETY + CUSTOMER SERVICE AFTER SALES SERVICE + EXCEPTIONAL LIFESTYLE + PEACE OF MIND = THE COMPLETE PACKAGE AT THAI COUNTRY HOMES

Sales & Marketing

Mr. Grahame Beecham Tel: 0871089582 Email: thaicountryhomes@gmail.com

When you want the best...

Best Location and Quality High Quality pool villas from 8 - 50 million Baht Stunning mountain views Close to Banyan Golf Course Private road to peaceful estate

LUXURY POOL VILLAS

2 km from Blu Port Shopping Mall 3 km’s from Hua Hin town centre and beach

43/186 SOI MOO BAAN HUA-NA (SOI 102), NONG KAE, HUA HIN, PRACHUAP KIRIKHAN 77110 THAILAND OFFICE: +66 (0)32 900 537

MOBILE: +66 (0)98 014 4885

EMAIL: sales@falcon-hill.com

Property for Sale, AG-V160 SYNONYMOUS WITH FINE HUA HIN PROPERTIES

TO VIEW OUR FULL PROPERTY CATALOG VISIT

www.hothuahinproperty.com

094 960 4959 (Thai) 084 387 5699 (English) E-mail: info@hothuahin.com

HUA HIN’S BEST BUYS Hua Hin West

4,800,000 THB

#AG-B4069

Countryside

#AG-V64

#AG-B95

• Located Approximately 10 minutes from Hua Hin • Euro Kitchen, Air Con in every room • Pool, Covered Terrace, Fantastic Rental Beds : 3 Land Area : 600 m2

Hua Hin South

Baths : 2 Living area : 180 m2

9,500,000 THB

#AG-B120

Countryside

Beds : 3 Land area : 800 m2

Hua Hin West

Baths : 4 Living area : 247 m2

11,500,000 THB

Countryside

AG-B98

Beds : 3 Land area : 500 m2

Hua Hin South

Countryside

Baths : 4 Living area : 160 m2

7,000,000 THB

#AG-B4065

• 10 minutes south of Hua Hin’s Center • Close to 2 great beaches and 2 golf courses • Euro Kitchen, large covered terrace, Poo

• 10 Minutes West of Hua Hin Center • Outdoor covered Bar, Built-In Outdoor BBQ • Large covered Terrace, Pool, Euro Kitchen

• Located Approximately 10 minutes from Hua Hin • Euro Kitchen, Air Con in every room • Pool, Covered Terrace, 5 minutes to great beach

Beds : 3 Land Area : 1,157 m2

Beds : 4 Land area : 900 m2

Baths : 5 Living area : 233 m2

Beds : 3 Land area : 700 m2

Hua Hin West

Start at 4,950,000 THB

Hua Hin West

Black Mountain

Baths : 4 Living area : 250 m2

11,300,000 THB

Contryside

AG-B133

Contryside

#AG-B121

Beachfront

Baths : 3 Living area : 295 m2

15,500,000 THB

#AG-B137

• 15 minutes West of Hua Hin’s Center • Large land, privacy, built in 2015 • Euro Kitchen, large covered terrace, Pool

• 10 minutes west of Hua Hin’s Center • Euro Kitchen, Air Con, Security System • Covered Terrace, pool, Extras available

• 15 minutes West of Hua Hin’s Center • Large 5 X 50 meter covered Terrace, Lg. Pool • Euro Kitchen, Covered parking X2, Storage Rm.

Beds : 3 Land area : 1,600 m2

Beds : 3 Land area : 464 m2

Beds : 3 Land area : 2400 m2

Baths : 3 Living area : 350 m2

Baths : 2 Living area : 150 m2

Baths : 4 Living area : 400 m2

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HUA HIN’S BEST BUYS Hua Hin West

7,900,000 THB

Countryside

#AG-B4080

Countryside

#AG-B80

Hua Hin South

8,900,000 THB

Countryside

#AG-B80

• Located Approximately 10 minutes from Hua Hin • Built by Award Winning Hua Hin Developer • Close to golf, Vana Nava Water Park, Centennial Sports Club

• Located 10 minutes West from Hua Hin • Euro kitchen, air con and fans throughout • 5 X 10 Master pool, garden, alarm system

• 10 minutes South of Hua Hin Center • Close to 2 great beaches and 2 golf courses • Euro kitchen, Air con, Pool

Beds : 3 Land Area : 600 m2

Beds : 4 Land area : 648 m2

Beds: 3 Land area : 690 m2

Hua Hin West

Baths : 2 Living area : 180 m2

9,000,000 THB

City

#AG-B86

Black Mountain

Baths : 3 Living area : 299 m2

34,000,000 THB

Hua Hin South

#AG-B4084

Countryside

Baths: 4 Living area : 180 m2

15,500,000 THB

#AG-V169

• 5 minutes West of Hua Hin • Euro kitchen, air con and fans throughout • Pool, spa, carport, shuttle bus service

• Located Approximately 15 minutes from Hua Hin • Built by Award Winning Hua Hin Developer • Close to Black Mountain Golf & Water Park

• Located approx. 5 minutes South of Hua Hin • Fantastic Euro Kitchen, Air Con, Fans • Pool, garden, large covered terrace & Sala

Beds : 3 Land area : 650 m2

Beds : 4 Land area : 1800 m2

Beds: 3 Land area: 1200 m2

Hua Hin South

Countryside

Beds : 4 Land area : 1,120 m2

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7,500,000 THB

Baths : 4 Living area : 250 m2

11,000,000 THB

#AG-B89

Baths : 5 Living area : 300 m2

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

Hua Hin South

Baths : 4 Living area : 355 m2

11,500,000 THB

# AG-B134

Countryside

Hua Hin Center

Countryside

Baths: 4 Living area: 320 m2

12,500,000 THB

#AG-B136

• 5 minutes South of Hua Hin’s Center • Large landscaped land, Elevated Sala • Euro kitchen, large covered terrace, pool

• 2.5Km’s from New BluePort Shopping Mall • Brand new, ready to move in • Large covered Terrace, Pool, Euro Kitchen

Beds : 3 Land area : 1,400 m2

Beds : 3 Land area : 769 m2

Baths : 4 Living area : 300 m2

Baths : 3 Living area : 245 m2

HUA HIN’S BEST BUYS Hua Hin Town

Countryside • Minutes walk to the Beach and New BluPort Mall when opened • Many beachfront restaurant and bars within minutes’ walk • Close to Black SeaPine Golf & Water Park

Khao Takiab

Beach • Located approximately 5 minutes from Hua Hin • Amari w/beach club/ 2 large pools • Fitness, 4 restaurants, furnished

Khao Tao

Beach • Located approx. 15 minutes South of Hua Hin Center • 180 degree ocean view, Hotel Amenities • Fully furnished / turnkey

22,800,000 THB

Khao Tao

11,220,000 THB

#AG-B4089

Beachfront

#AG-A58

Beds: 4 Baths: 4 Living area: 192 m2 Land area: 252 m2

5,950,000 THB

#AG-A56 Beds: 1 Baths: 1 Living area: 44 m2

2,950,000 THB

#AG-A57 Beds: Studio Baths: 1 Living area: 48 m2

• Located approx. 15 minutes South of Hua Hin Center • 180 degree ocean view, Hotel Amenities • Modern/High Rental Returns

Hua Hin North

Beds: 2 Baths: 2 + 1 Living area: 187 m2

12,500,000 THB

Near Beach

#AG-A59

• 15 minutes North of Hua Hin’s Center • Ground floor unit with direct swimming pool access • Beach Front Complex, tremendous amenities

Khao Tao

Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Living area: 166 m2

21,950,000 THB

Beachfront

#AG-A54

• Located approx. 15-20 minutes South of Hua Hin • Ocean & beach views, Oceanfront pool • Euro kitchen, Air cons, large covered deck

Beds: 5 Baths: 5 Living area: 250 m2

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HUA HIN’S BEST BUYS Hua Hin North

#AG-V171

19,500,000 THB

This modern Hua Hin golf course home is located in Palm Hills, the “Beverly Hills” of Hua Hin. With majestic mountain and water views this “almost” new home is stylishly decorated with high quality furniture and high end kitchen appliances. All 3 bedrooms are en-suite plus there is a separate guest bathroom. A covered terrace gives you golf course, water and mountain views, the perfect place to entertain guests or just to relax and soak in natures beauty. Included in this home’s purchase is a lifetime family membership to the Palm Hils Golf Club and Palm Hills separate Fitness Club.

Beds: 3

Baths: 3

Hua Hin North

Living area: 650 m2 Land area: 854 m2

#AG-B116

27,500,000 THB

This Hua Hin golf course home is located in the prestigious golf course community of Palm Hills and offers gorgeous park like views overlooking a lake and golf course. The mature grounds contain a three car enclosed garage with storage, two one-bedroom guest houses both en-suite, a main house with 3 bedrooms all en-suite, a bedroom/fitness room en-suite with steam room, an oversized kitchen amd maids quarters en-suite.

The 15-meter swimming pool overflows and there is a 10 person jacuzzi with waterfall feature. This Hua Hin Golf Course home comes with a family lifetime golf membership and a separate fitness facillity lifetime family membership.

Beds: 7

80

Baths: 8

Living area: 750 m2 Land area: 2,400 m2

December 15 - January 15 , 2017

Hua Hin North

#AG-B135

24,500,000 THB

Located in the desirable north end of Hua Hin is this 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom home on a very large land plot of 2,512 square meters. Three separate buildings are contained within the property. The main house features 3 bedrooms, all en-suite and a large open plan kitchen, dining room and lounge. A very large covered terrace provides great outdoor living along with an outside shower and bathroom, storage room and covered parking for two cars. A separate building contains two large bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bathroom, a storage room and a large office that could also be a bedroom. A spacious entertaining sala overlooking the ultra large 8 X 16 meter pool contains a bar with two wine fridges and plenty of seating. The lawn is immense with stunning landscaping. Additional amenities include a CCTV system, an internal and external alarm system featuring laser beam protection on the perimeter walls, 2 large storage areas and a separate washing machine room. The large executive home is ideal for entertaining many guests.

Beds: 6

Baths: 5

Hua Hin North

Living area: 411 m2

#AG-V170

Land area: 2,512 m2

25,000,000 THB

This large impressive golf course home is located in Palm Hills, approximately fifteen minutes from Hua Hin’s center. From its commanding position you have great golf course and mountain views. This large home has four bedrooms, all en-suite, an office, two covered terraces, a large swimming pool, covered parking for two cars, electric gate and mature topical gardens. This home comes with a lifetime membership to both the golf course and the separate fitness

Beds: 3

Baths: 5

Living area: 650 m2 Land area: 2000 m2

HUA HIN’S BEST BUYS Hua Hin North

Beds : 6 Baths : 7 Land : 1,600 m2 Living : 700 m2

#AG-V160

60,000,000 THB

Located in Palm Hills,

Hua Hin North

#AG-V162

110,000,000 THB

Approximately 20 minutes from Hua Hin, this spectacular golf course estate consists of the main house, 2 guest houses and a helipad. Within the main house there is an exceptionally large living room, a library, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two half-bathrooms, a dining room, a wine and food cellar, a pond with a wet bar, a pool (thirtythree meters at its widest and deep enough for diving), a lanai with outdoor shower, and a sala for meditation. There are 2 guest houses with 5 additional bedrooms.

Beds: 10 Baths: 10

Living area: 1700 m2

Land area: 9,600 m2

Beds: 5

Baths: 5

Living area: 775 m2 Land area: 4.800 m2

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LIVE THE LIFE YOU LOVE We believe being 50+ is an opportunity to shine, to have the time you always wanted, to be surrounded by like minded people who inspire you in a resort style environment. A home that feels more like a luxury hotel than a residence.

At Sansara’s category defining residences at the world renowned Black Mountain Golf Course, Hua Hin you have the time, services and people to Live The Life You Love.

Visit our website or call for more information.

+66 63 268 0088

www.sansara.asia

What makes Sansara so unique is our lively community and our ongoing commitment to expanding our activities to ensure that Sansara remains vibrant, fun and ultimately beneficial to every one of our residents.

Community Benefits include: • Active Community • Health and Care Facilities Onsite • Free Rounds at Black Mountain Golf Club • Impeccable 5 Star Hotel Grade Service • Luxurious Housing and Surroundings