Lookeast December 2013

LIFESTYLE

HOTELS

DINING

NIGHTLIFE

SHOPPING

EVENTS

PERSONALITIES

ART

CULTURE

SPAS

Fashion

EST. 1971

DECEMBER ISSN 0857-1139

TRAVEL

December 2013

72 hours in

JAPAN

WHEN FOOD BECOMES ART

QUEEN SIRIKIT ST. REGIS PINK POLO

MINI GUIDE

Krabi

Exclusive: Michelin-starred French Chef, Alain Pégouret

D ecember 2 0 1 3 V O L . 4 2 N O . 1 2

THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP BAR AND RESTAURANT GUIDE TO END-OF-YEAR

Parties

www.lookeastmagazine.com

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WHAT'S INSIDE DECEMBER

DECEMBER 2013 CALENDAR

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8 What’s On 14 Reel Life 36 Hotel Deals 68 Spa Offers 75 Dining Specials 78 Bar Specials

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SPECIAL FEATURES

16 Awesome Gift Ideas 18 His Majesty the King’s Birthday

TRAVEL

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Lookeast | WHAT'S INSIDE

20 Culture: Mae Hong Son Feature: 24 Japan in 72 Hours 28 Socially Responsible Holidays 32 My Favorite Place: By actor, producer, and director Lex Luther 34 Mini Guide: Krabi 38 Travel News Business Insights: 40 The Future of Spiritual Tourism in Asia 42 MRTA: Changing the Face of Bangkok Hotels: 46 Centara Grand Phratamnak, Pattaya 48 Sheraton Towers, Singapore 80 Hotel Directory

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LIFESTYLE

50 The Night Is Young: Places to Party for the End-of-Year Festivities Personalities: 54 Exclusive: Michelinstarred French Chef, Alain Pégouret 56 Indonesia’s Ambassador in Thailand, HE Lufti Rauf 58 Fashion: Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week 2013 62 Real Estate: Sansiri’s Take on the Resort-style Home Sports: 64 Queen Sirikit St. Regis Pink Polo 66 Thailand Golf Championship

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58 WINE & DINE

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70 Market-to-Table Menu with Hansar Bangkok’s New Executive Chef 72 KU DÉ TA 74 Daniel Thaiger: On the Hunt for a Gourmet Burger 79 The Oenophile: Sparkling Bubbles 82 Restaurant Directory

december 2013 | 3

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

EST. 1971

travel

Publisher Sid Sehgal sid@thesehgalgroup.com Editor-in-Chief Anita Zaror editor@lookeastmagazine.com

Dave Stamboulis A Greek-American travel writer and professional photographer based in Bangkok. His photos are represented

by Getty Images and Alamy, and he is a writer for Fodor’s guidebook to Thailand and Laos, as well as for USA Today’s “Bangkok Expert” travel website.

Imtiaz Muqbil Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, is one of the Asia-Pacific region’s longest serving travel industry journalists. The winner of two PATA awards for travel journalism, he is the author of the only two English-language books ever written about the historic 1987 Visit Thailand Year and its aftermath.

Editorial Assistant Lucie Barke edassistant@lookeastmagazine.com Copyeditor Melanie Blake Art Director Jarmmaree Janjaturonrasamee Photographer Alisa Hubert Production Director Apichart Boontid Marketing Executive Ankita Malhotra ankita@thesehgalgroup.com PR Consultant Earth Saisawang

Laurence Civil “Life is all about taste and style” are Laurence’s words to live by. Twentythree years working for a British airline gave him his passion for food, wine, and travel, and a visit to China in the ’80s inspired his earlier stories. His articles have been published in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok since 1994.

Henry Wu A San Francisco photographer and foodie who now lives in Chiang Mai, armed with his passport, a camera, an open sense of humor, and a willingness to eat almost anything. He has traveled extensively through Europe and Southeast Asia and is a contributor of stories about the path less traveled for several blogs.

Executive Assistant to Chairman Acharin Suthisawad acharin@thesehgalgroup.com Executive Assistant to CEO Panitkan Apiratanapimonchai panitkan@thesehgalgroup.com

Chairman Dato Satish Sehgal President Ravi Sehgal Group Publishing Director Asha Narula Sehgal

Marianne Dietrich A regular contributor in travel blogs, and hailing from California’s food capital, San Francisco, Marianna knows good food. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Central and South America, but she considers Southeast Asia as her favorite travel destination.

Federico Brandi An international affairs specialist with focus on ASEAN countries, Federico fell in love with Thailand and lives in Bangkok after working in external affairs, policy analysis, and development projects in Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Malaysia, and East Timor.

Special thanks to: Asia Books Banyan Tree Gallery Centara Hotels and Resorts Siam Center Thailand Golf Championship

Other contributors: Coco Lavender (Travel) Gaurav Sehgal (Hotels)

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Lookeast | EDITORIAL

EST. 1971

Executive Director Gaurav Sehgal

is published monthly by: Advertising & Media Consultants Co., Ltd. Richmond Office Building 18th floor 75/65 Sukhumvit Soi 26, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: + 66 2 204 2449 Fax: + 66 2 204 2984 Email: info@lookeastmagazine.com Web: www.lookeastmagazine.com Views and opinions expressed by individual writers and contributors in the articles herein, do not necessarily reflect those of Lookeast magazine or of Advertising Media Consultants Co., Ltd. All prices are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change.

Reproduction in whole or part without written consent from Lookeast is strictly forbidden.

travel

EDITOR'S LETTER We ’re going to party, karamu, fiesta, forever

L

Apparel by Burberry Photo by Alisa Hubert

ionel Richie said it well in 1983. We’ve been doing it for centuries: in ancient Egypt, by giving votive offerings to the gods, with Greek banquets, or by watching Roman gladiators combat.

In Thailand, whether at a sky bar, in a beach club, or gathered around a table to share fascinating Thai dishes, we still do it: celebrate!

In the spirit of the festive season, we’ve dedicated Lookeast’s last issue of this year to partying. This month we celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand’s birthday, as well as Christmas and New Year’s Eve. You’ll find our cover story and our What’s On, Dining Specials, Bar Specials, and Fashion sections good resources when you start looking for options to dress, dine, drink, and dance this end-of-year.

There’s a lot going on in town, and we didn’t want to miss a thing to share with you. We did an exclusive interview with Michelin-starred French chef, Alain Pégouret, during his recent short visit to Bangkok, while Indonesia’s

Ambassador in Thailand told us about the newly created Indonesian–Thai Chamber of Commerce. We researched how new mass transit lines will change the face of the capital, and we chased a certain gourmet food truck that is selling burgers around Bangkok until we found it. We also attended the long-waited launch of KU DÉ TA, while Hansar Bangkok’s new executive chef took us to the market and cooked for us.

Besides sharing travel stories about Japan, Mae Hong Son, Krabi, and socially responsible hotels in Thailand, in this issue we are also introducing three exciting new sections: Sports, Real Estate, and The Oenophile, which wine aficionados will love.

As we recently reached 10,000 followers on Facebook, we at Lookeast would like to thank you again for your support, and we wish you all a wonderful ending of 2013!

In the words of B.B. King: let the good times roll.

Cheers,

Anita Zaror Editor-in-Chief

FRONT COVER

Apparel: Etna Fashion by MaMhe Napakpapha Nakprasitte Model: MaMhe Napakpapha Nakprasitte Photographer: Alisa Hubert

december 2013 | 7

WHAT'S ON DECEMBER

Shop Banyan Tree Gallery Launches Festive Collection for the Holiday Season

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

What: Banyan Tree Gallery introduces an exclusive collection of ceramic decorative items and spa amenities that feature the group’s signature seaweed motif to usher in the festive season. The Festive Collection consists of oil burners and potpourri containers, which were handmade by Thai artisans in Chiang Mai. When: From December 1 onward Where: Banyan Tree Gallery Bangkok (21/100 South Sathorn Road) How much: Medium seaweed oil burner THB 1,090; large seaweed oil burner and tea light holder THB 2,190; seaweed potpourri container THB 1,190.

More info: 02 679 1200 ext 1522

What: For this year’s festive season, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is offering a selection of yuletide goodies suitable for every palate. The hampers have been named after famous authors who have stayed at the hotel, and you can also create your own gift hamper mixing and matching a large selection of Christmas specialties, such as English fruit cake, cherry and pistachio cake, caramel nougat and fig cake, a coffee Yule log, linzer torte, stollen, gingerbread houses, and so on.

When: From now until January 6, 2014 Where: Mandarin Oriental (48 Oriental Avenue) or at Mandarin Oriental Shops at Siam Paragon, Central Chidlom, and The Emporium; delivery service to selected destinations within Bangkok.

How much: Joseph Conrad Hamper THB 2,250 net; Somerset Maugham Hamper THB 4,555 net; Noel Coward Hamper THB 8,555 net More info: 02 659 9000, mobkk-hamper@mohg.com

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Lookeast | WHAT'S ON

Banyan Tree Gallery

Mandarin Oriental Christmas Hampers

WHAT'S ON DECEMBER

Enjoy

What: For the first time ever, Loong Foong Chinese restaurant at Swissôtel Le Concorde, presents the “Lobster Festival.” Get ready for two months long of food experiences based on lobster, and lobster only. Dishes include stirfried Canadian lobster with butter sauce, wok-fried Canadian lobster with passion fruit sauce, Canadian lobster salad Shanghai style, and many more. Pre-booking is required.

When: From now until January 15, 2014 Where: Loong Foong at Swissôtel Le Concorde (204 Ratchadapisek Road, Huay Kwang) How much: Dishes start from THB 750 More info: 02 694 2222 ext 1540

Sheraton Hua Hin

Two Months' Long Lobster Festival at Swissôtel Le Concorde

"Shine For You", at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

What: Throughout December, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa invites you to indulge in the scent of summer, in the breeze of winter. The “Shine For You” signature treatments last 150 minutes, and include scented baths, scrubs, and oil massages. Choose from the “Shining Glow ” or the “Healthy Herbal Shine.”

When: From December 1 onward Where: Shina Spa, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa (1573 Petchkasem Road, Thambol Cha-Am, Hua Hin) How much: THB 4,200 net per person; THB 8,200 net per couple More info: 032 708 000 ext 6201, www.sheraton.com/huahin

"Aladdin" the Musical

Swissôtel Le Concorde

What: Satit Bilingual School of Rangsit University proudly presents “Aladdin” the musical. Hurry and book your tickets from now till December 31, to avail of a 50 percent discount. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to UNICEF. When: February 21 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.), 22 (7 p.m.), and 23 (4 p.m.), 2014 Where: Aksra Theater, King Power Building (8 Rangnam Road Thanon-Phayathai Ratchathewi) How much: Original price: THB 3,000 to 2,500 or 2,000 to 1,500; after discount: THB 1,500 to 1,250 or 1,000 to 750 More info: 085 930 0060, music@sbs.ac.th; for tickets: 02 792 7500-4, and Thai Ticket Major

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Lookeast | WHAT'S ON

WHAT'S ON DECEMBER

Windsor Suites Café

Events

Phuket King's Cup Regatta in Honour of His Majesty the King of Thailand

What: Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has been held every year since then. Under Royal Patronage, among the sponsors of this year’s version are Singha Corporation, Sansiri PLC, Kata Group Resorts Thailand, and Jaguar.

When: November 29 to December 6 Where: Kata Beach, Phuket How much: Free to watch More info: www.kingscup.com

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Lookeast | WHAT'S ON

New Year's Eve with the Highest Ball Drop at lebua What: The countdown to the New Year will be celebrated with the highest ball drop in the world, to take place at the world’s highest alfresco restaurant: Sirocco, atop the Tower Club at lebua hotel.

When: December 31 Where: Sirocco, atop the Tower Club at lebua hotel (1055 Silom Road) How much: All diners at lebua’s restaurants will have access to see it.

More info: 02 624 9999, www.lebua.com/state-tower

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Charity What: Millennium Hilton Bangkok invites you to join its Christmas tree lighting ceremony, together with children from The Orphanage Foundation in Thailand.

When: December 3, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Flow Terrace, Millennium Hilton Bangkok (123 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan) How much: Free More info: 02 442 2302

Flowers.org.uk

Singha Corporation

What: Treat your father to a buffet with a great array of Asian and Western specialties, like fresh seafood with Alaskan king crab, lobsters and oysters, New Zealand mussels, prawns, and more at Windsor Suites Café. Also try the sushi bar and organic salad bar for lunch and dinner.

When: December 5 Where: Windsor Suites Café (8-10 Sukhumvit Soi 20) How much: THB 850 net per person More info: 02 262 1234 ext 1406

lebua

Father's Day at Windsor Suites Café

REEL LIFE DECEMBER

“Like Father, Like Son”

“Frozen”

“Homefront”

“Walking with Dinosaurs”

Ryota Nonomiya is a successful businessman driven by money. When he learns that his biological son was switched with another child after birth, he must make a life-changing decision and choose his true son or the boy he raised as his own.

Release: December 5, 2013 Genre: Drama

A former DEA agent moves his family to a quiet town, where he soon tangles with a local meth drug lord.

Release: December 19, 2013 Genre: Action

“Last Vegas”

Three sixty-something friends take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal.

Release: December 19, 2013 Genre: Comedy

“American Hustle”

A conman, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.

Release: December 19, 2013 Genre: Crime

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Lookeast | REEL LIFE

Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

Release: December 5, 2013 Genre: Animation

See and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, in a story where an underdog dino triumphs to become a hero for the ages.

Release: December 20, 2013 Genre: Animation

“Battle of the Year”

The Battle of the Year attracts all the best teams from around the world, but the Americans haven't won in 15 years.

Dante enlists Blake to assemble a team of the best dancers and bring the trophy back to America where the contest started.

Release: December 12, 2013 Genre: Musical

“The Hobbit”

The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring.

Release: December 13, 2013 Genre: Fantasy

Cinemas in Bangkok Paragon Imax Theatre 5th and 6th Floor Siam Paragon (Siam BTS), Tel: 02 515 5555 SF World Cinema 7th Floor Central World Plaza (Chit Lom BTS), Tel: 02 268 8888 SFX Cinema Emporium 6th Floor, Emporium (Phrom Phong BTS), Tel: 02 268 8888 Major Sukhumvit 1221/39 Sukhumvit 63 (Ekkamai BTS), Tel: 02 381 4855

Su

travel

e gg

SPECIAL AWESOME GIFT IDEAS

sted by

Wristwatch Annual 2014: The Catalog of Producers, Prices, Models, and Specifications Paperback The definitive guide for the collector of mechanical wristwatches, with complete information—including prices—on more than 1,400 models made by more than 130 international brands. This 16th edition is arranged alphabetically by producer, and it specifies details for each watch, including price, materials, movement, special features, complications, case, dial, band, and available variations of each particular model. Author: Peter Braun

OR'S EDITIC P K

Subscription to Lookeast Magazine Established in 1971, Lookeast Magazine is the ultimate insider guide to lifestyle and travel in Thailand. Currently distributed in 5-star hotels, serviced apartments, airlines, restaurants, malls, spas, tourism boards, and bookstores, it is also available for home delivery through a subscription. Subscribe during December 2013 and get a gift voucher (THB 500 for domestic subscriptions/THB 1,000 for international ones) to use at Banyan Tree Gallery (www.banyantreegallery.com)*.

More info on page 84.

LIFESTYLE

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Lookeast | Special

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TRAVEL

NOVEMBER ISSN 0857-1139

TRAVEL

EST. 1971

Forty years of passion and experience have been poured into Lonely Planet’s “Beautiful World.”

Witness in it fiery volcanic eruptions; wind-sculpted icebergs in the Antarctic; mind-blowing migrations of wildlife, large and small; natural wonders from Belize's Great Blue Hole to Yellowstone in Wyoming; as well as reflections on the imprint that humanity has made on the planet.

EST. 1971

Lonely Planet's Beautiful World

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Yellow-clad Royalists celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday.

THAILAND CELEBRATES THE KING’S 86TH BIRTHDAY The community will be showing its enormous affection and respect for his Majesty while celebrating the birthday of world’s longest-serving monarch.

O

n Tuesday, December 5, the whole of Thailand will be celebrating King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 86th birthday and Thailand’s National Day. This day is also known as Father’s Day in the Land of Smiles, and it’s a public holiday for Thais to rejoice and show their respect to the world’s longest-serving monarch.

The King, also known as Rama IX, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and completed his education in Switzerland.

He was crowned King of Thailand on June 6, 1946. He took the oath of reigning with “righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people” on his coronation day, on May 5, 1950. This remains true to this day and, after 67 years of reign, he is still the most popular and revered public figure in the country.

On December 5, you will be surrounded by people wearing yellow or gold, the colors of the monarchy. Others will be wearing pink, the color of the queen. The community will be showing xxxxxxx its enormous affection and reverence for

18

Lookeast | Special

by Lucie Barke His Majesty by decorating buildings and streets across the country to celebrate this occasion. Besides the big shopping centers, most shops and bars will be closed.

It’s worth getting down to Ratchadamnoen Road, which is the center of the celebration, on this day to see the illuminations, as Bangkok becomes a sea of colors for the next several days. There will be fireworks displays and candle ceremonies in many areas that evening; the most spectacular are likely to be at Sanam Luang in front of the Grand Palace (Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Nakhon), where cultural performances will take place.

The King also made a tradition of opening his Grand Palace to anyone for free between 7 p.m. and midnight. Many ceremonies take place throughout the day and into the evening in multiple temples, including Wat Saked (344 Avenue Road Emperor Pong Ban Bat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai district) and Wat Phra Kaew (Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Nakhon).

This year, His Majesty the King will

make a public audience to members of the royal family and government officials at Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin, on December 5 at 10:30 a.m. Radio and television will broadcast the event live.

We at Lookeast wish His Majesty the King of Thailand the best of health, and wonderful years ahead.

For sport lovers, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (www.kingscup. com) will be held from November 29 to December 6, 2013, in His Majesty’s honor. This is Asia’s biggest popular regatta; it was inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the King’s 60th birthday and has been held every year since.

Music lovers can attend the Royal Celebration Concert, given by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, which will be held on December 12 at the Thailand Cultural Center (www.bangkoksymphony.org).

TRAVEL CULTURE

ABOVE THE CLOUDS AND AWAY FROM THE CROWDS

by Dave Stamboulis Portrait of Ma Ba, a Longneck Karen woman living in Ban Nai Soi.

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Lookeast | TRAVEL

Dave Stamboulis

Mud spas, Longneck Karen, adventure caving, and the beauty of remote Mae Hong Son.

M

ae Hong Son lies far from the maddening tourist crowds, separated geographically from the northern urban outposts of Thailand by steep mountains. Much of the province is ringed by the Shan Hills on the Burmese border, with settlements lying in mist-laden river valleys surrounded by swathes of rice paddies. The area is an adventurers’ dream, and it offers some of Thailand’s best opportunities for outdoor exploration, including trekking, whitewater rafting, and caving in the grotto-filled Soppong region. Mae Hong Son is also known as a showcase for ethnic minorities, in particular the Burmese Kayan, more commonly known as the Longneck Karen.

While daily flights do come in from Chiang Mai, the only other option for getting there is via the tortuous roads from Chiang Mai and Pai over the mountains. They feature hundreds of serpentine curves, with plenty of natural beauty along the way. The route from Pai passes through the beautiful Soppong region, which is home to Tham Lot, one of the largest cave systems in Southeast Asia. Visitors can ride bamboo rafts along the Nam Long River, which flows right through the giant cave, as well as explore on foot. The longstanding Cave Lodge (Tel: 053 617203, www. cavelodge.com), run by an avid Australian spelunker, offers guided cave trips, along with white water kayaking and rafting journeys, as well as hill tribe trekking in the surrounding mountains.

The more roundabout way into Mae Hong Son follows the 350-kilometer

“Mae Hong Son Loop,” a clockwise back route from Chiang Mai into the province that is popular with touring motorcyclists and bicycle riders. This road passes through the hamlet of Khun Yuam, now famous in Thai tourism for its Bua Tong giant sunflowers, which carpet the surrounding hills during the period of cool weather from November through January. The nearby Mae Surin Waterfall National Park offers hiking and camping experiences, and it boasts one of the country’s tallest falls, Namtok Mae Surin, which is more than 100 meters high. The National Park Department (Tel. 053 061073, www. dnp.go.th) provides accommodation and other services, and the Tung Bua Tong National Park (Tel: 053 612078) can give updates on the sunflowers.

The provincial capital of Mae Hong Son itself is a sleepy backwater that really has not changed much over the years. The town has a large ethnic Shan population, and if you happen to be in town around the start of April, attending the fabulously colorful Poi Sang Long novice monk festival is a must. Coming from the Burmese Shan tradition, young boys spend three days getting their locks shorn and then, dressed in outrageously colorful costumes, they parade around town in preparation to become novices.

The Provincial Tourism Office (Tel: 053 612982-3) provides details of the festival.

The center of Mae Hong Son is dominated by the picturesque Chong Kham Lake, named for the adjoining temple that sits reflecting in it—a perfect spot for bicycling around or walking the

Dave Stamboulis

Dave Stamboulis

Planting rice during the rainy season, in northern Thailand.

Guardian of the stupa.

quiet side streets. Several inexpensive guesthouses and tour agencies cluster in this area to assist the backpacking and foreign travel crowd. There are outstanding views of the surroundings from Wat Doi Tung, another temple that sits on a hill above the city, as well as plenty of other interesting temples to check out in town, like Wat Hua Wiang, whose multi-tiered roof is a great example of the local Burmese Shan style architecture.

Perhaps the biggest draws of Mae Hong Son are its infamous “longneck” villages, where Kayan refugees from Myanmar have been housed. Kayan women wear heavy brass coils around their necks, giving the appearance of an elongated neck (according to J.M. Kashishian in “Anatomy of a Burmese Beauty Secret,” National Geographic, 1979, 6th edition, the collarbones are actually crushed as opposed to the neck stretched). These women are on display for tourists, leading to a bit of a human zoo element. While many feel that the villages are a lesson in exploitation— foreigners must pay THB 300 to enter, a fee which goes into Thai businesses’ pockets and not to the Kayan who, as refugees, cannot operate businesses or work legally—the Kayan women do say that they can make some money selling their weavings and craft projects, and that their existence here is far more peaceful than the situation they fled across the border. Some visitors may feel uncomfortable with the experience, whereas photographers certainly can make some excellent portraits. To make the most of a visit, try not to join large december 2013 | 21

group tours, and instead rent a car or hire a local driver and visit Ban Nai Soi, the farthest village from town to get away from the crowds. Make sure to buy some local souvenirs and spend some time talking to the women. A good number of the young Kayan girls have studied English in school and are happy to chat.

After all the outdoor adventuring in Mae Hong Son, travelers will surely be ready for a bit of pampering, so why not take advantage of one of Thailand’s most unusual attractions. Mae Hong Son is known for its geothermal activity, and about a decade ago, a hot spring was discovered with mineral-rich mud beneath it. Further testing revealed that its mineral content was similar to that found in the Dead Sea, and these days, the Phu Klone Spa (Tel: 053 282579, www.phuklon.co.th) offers rejuvenating mud scrubs, body masks, massages, and plenty of relaxing soaking in their hot swimming pool. Located 15 kilometers from Mae Hong Son town and surrounded by verdant rice paddies, Phu Klone is a great spot for truly unwinding.

Be forewarned that the mountains around Mae Hong Son are renowned for chilly weather at this time of year; nighttime temperatures can drop down to freezing. So, now is the opportunity to get out that winter jacket and have a real northern adventure!

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Lookeast | TRAVEL

Poi Sang Long Festival, Thailand.

Thai woman enjoying a therapeutic mud treatment at the Phu Klon.

Travel Tips Go: Nok Air (www.nokair.com) and Kan Airlines (www.kanairlines. com) offer daily flights from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. Alternatively, hourly minibuses make the six- to seven-hour trip from Chiang Mai, stopping in Pai along the way.

Stay: The Residence (Tel: 053 614100, www.theresidence-mhs.com), The Imperial Mae Hong Son Resort (Tel: Â 05 368 4444-5, www.imperialhotels.com/imperialmaehongson) Eat: Bai Fern Restaurant (87 Khunlumprapas Road, Tel: 053 611374, www. th-th.facebook.com/fernrestaurant.maehongson) has long set the standard for good meals in Mae Hong Son and features Shan and northern dishes, along with live music in the evenings.

Dave Stamboulis

Festive colors, Poi Sang Long, Thailand.

Dave Stamboulis

Dave Stamboulis

TRAVEL CULTURE

TRAVEL FEATURE

72 HOURS IN JAPAN Hop on a plane on Saturday after midnight, wake up in Japan, visit Mount Fuji and Tokyo, and come back to Bangkok full of gifts and with the wish of going back soon.

Pagoda and Mount Fuji, in Japan

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Lookeast | TRAVEL

SeanPavonePhoto + Shutterstock

by Coco Lavender

Coco Lavender

O

ne of the privileges of living in Thailand is its great connectivity to other countries in the region.

In most cases, it just takes a piece of cabin luggage and a few hours’ flight to experience a totally different country and culture.

I couldn’t resist booking a flight and jumping on the plane when I found out that Jet Asia Airways was offering round-trip promotional tickets from Bangkok to Tokyo for THB 7,555. On any other airline, a ticket would normally cost double that price, or more. I didn’t have many days off to spend there, but I had never been to Japan and I love sushi, so why not?

House with a typical Japanese garden in autumn color at Oshino village

Sunday 12:45 a.m.

Suvarnabhumi Airport. I’m about to board Jet Asia Airways’ first JF988 flight from Bangkok to Tokyo. There was quite a big fuzz at the airport because of three girls who were also traveling on that flight: models Tiing Tiing, Burnfire Baifern, and Papang, from Thailand’s reality show, “Academy Fantasia.”

I had dinner before going to the airport, as I was planning on sleeping the whole way there and getting the energy to do some serious sightseeing the following day. I woke up while refreshments were being served and, later on, during the breakfast service.

Overall I got five hours of sleep, which was pretty good for the efficient use of time I made by flying overnight. I arrived at Narita International Airport at 9:15 a.m. local time. Yay! I was in Japan.

Sunday 1 p.m.

One of the reasons I wanted to go to Japan was because of the food. The sushi is of course world-famous, but there is so much more to Japanese cuisine. So, after taking a bus directly from the airport to Lake Kawaguchiko—one of the Fuji Five Lakes and the most easily accessible from Tokyo—I went directly to a local restaurant.

Located close to Mount Fuji, the areas around the lakes are known for their outdoor sports and their hot springs. The most typical food around is that grilled on lava rock—yes, coming directly from the volcano. Choose seafood, fish, pork, boar, tongue, or beef sirloin, which you will get raw, along

with some vegetables, to grill yourself on a gas-heated rock table. The minerals present in the lava rock are supposed to compensate the lack of them in the food.

I bought a small lava rock as souvenir as well, as it’s supposed to clean the water; I’ll try it on my next trip to India and let you know how that went. The food was delicious, it tasted healthy, and it was also fun to grill.

If you’d like to try this concept for yourself, give these instructions to your driver next time you are around: 河口湖富士登山口 旅館 熔岩温泉 〒401-0301 山梨県南都留郡富士河口 湖町船津5219 More info: 0555 72 2260, www.yougan.com

Sunday 9 p.m.

After visiting Oshino Hakkai, a touristy area in Oshino village that has eight ponds formed by snowmelt from Mount Fuji, I had dinner at the hotel and decided to go and try onsen.

Most of the hotels in the area provide the opportunity to try these hot spring baths. How does it work?

Men and women have separate onsens.

Leave all your clothes in the locker and head to the shower area, where you will sit on a low stool, shampoo and soap yourself until you get enough foam, and rinse off by pouring a bucket of water on yourself. Only small towels are allowed in this area, so you need to leave embarrassment back in your hotel room.

Everyone walks around naked in these

places, although nobody looks. Then you will head to the hot spring, sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors, and luxuriate in the 42° Celsius water when it’s 10° Celsius outside. Again, no big towels are allowed in this area, and the small one you are supposed to carry to dry yourself with has to be out on top of your head while in the bath. Stay in the water as much as you like or, if you want, take a cold shower and then go back in.

The water’s therapeutic properties are supposed to heal you and, when using the baths frequently, probably also give you nice skin like so many Japanese people have.

Monday 9 a.m.

After having had a laid-back Sunday, I decided to go full-on tourism this day at Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. I took the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise, which takes you around the lake for half an hour. The multicolor trees, the stillness of the water, and a subtle mist far from the boat but close to the fishermen far away, all make this tour a really good way to understand what a peaceful life— and in such clean air—takes place on this side of the world.

I then took the Hakone Roadpway to Owakudani station to try the Kurotamago black eggs. These are regular eggs boiled in piping hot mineral water, which makes the shells turns black.

Eating one of these eggs is supposed to give you seven more years of life. I had two, just in case. december 2013 | 25

Coco Lavender

Coco Lavender

TRAVEL FEATURE

Paper lantern at Senso-ji Temple

Jet Asia Airways New Bangkok–Tokyo Service Pork to be cooked in lava rocks at Lake Kawaguchiko

Tuesday 1 p.m.

The way from Lake Yamanakako—the largest of the Fuji Five Lake region— back to Tokyo is breathtaking. Passing through large areas of pampas grass while watching the trees that around November start turning yellow, orange, red, and brown, you feel as though landscape has come out of a fairy tale. Surprisingly, the small roads of Yamanakako reminded me of the small towns in California and, notwithstanding the houses with Japanese architecture and the mostly Asian faces in the streets, at times I felt as though I could be in San Rafael, Halifax, or Boulder Creek. It does make sense that Japanese like California: they probably feel “at home” there.

I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon doing something I learned from Thais and that I also love: shopping. I took the train to Shinjuku Station, which is one of the busiest in the world, and walked for hours around the skyscrapers, department stores, electronics shops, and hundreds of independent stores selling everything from stationery to second-hand luxury handbags.

Wednesday 9 a.m.

I used my last day in town to visit Senso-ji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, while I could see the Imperial Palace and the Tokyo Tower along on the way.

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All sorts of rites are commonly practiced at the temple after worshipers pass through the huge red paper lanterns hanging from the Furai jin-mon, the Gate of Wind God and Thunder God. Rites such as drinking water from a fountain, lighting up incense sticks and standing in front of them while the smoke gets in one’s face for purification.

Or throwing in a coin at the entrance to the main building of the temple, hoping it doesn’t touch the metallic bars of the container so that your wishes come true.

Famous for several festivals that are celebrated throughout the year, Sensoji is always extremely busy and super touristy. There are, however, still some quiet spots to be found in the temple area and you might encounter, as I did, an old Japanese woman praying in front of a pagoda, or a couple just sitting on a bench under a tree.

Wednesday 2 p.m.

Narita International Airport. I took Jet Asia Airways’ JF989 flight from Tokyo back to Bangkok, with an additional seven kilos of food products and gifts in my suitcase and the wish to go back again soon. And I will do it: I just need my cabin luggage and, after 6.5 hours, I am there.

Jet Asia Airways (JAA) has launched a twice-weekly scheduled charter service from Bangkok to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport starting November 3, 2013.

“The recent visa waiver for Thais traveling to Japan has sparked an influx of [travelers] and is the driving force of our service to Narita,” said Veerawat Singhamany, Marketing Manager at JAA. The frequency of flights will increase in January 2014, when tickets will be available for Japanese travelers as well.

Founded in 2009, JAA specializes in block charter, full charter, ad-hoc, and wet lease (ACMI) operations. Its new focus on outbound travelers has showed positive results, and all seats were sold out for November even before the first Bangkok–Tokyo flight started operating.

The service operates twice weekly, with flight JF988 departing Suvarnabhumi Airport every Sunday and Tuesday at 00:45 a.m., arriving at Narita International at 9:15 a.m. (local time). The return service, flight JF989, departs Tokyo every Wednesday and Friday at 2:00 p.m. and arrives in Bangkok at 6:30 p.m. on the same day.

More info: www.flyjetasia.com

AUTHENTIC THAI STYLE RESORTS IN PHUKET, THAILAND NEWLY RENOVATED LUXURY ROOMS IN SPACIOUS EXOTIC GARDENS BOOK NOW: 30% DISCOUNT PROMO CODE: LKEAST WWW.THAVORNPALMBEACH.COM WWW.THAVORNBEACHVILLAGE.COM 311 PATAK ROAD, KARON BEACH, AMPHUR MUANG, PHUKET, THAILAND 83100 TEL : +66(0)76 396090–3 EMAIL : INFO@THAVORNGROUP.COM WEBSITE : WWW.THAVORNGROUP.COM

TRAVEL FEATURE

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE HOLIDAYS Feel good about yourself while staying at one of these hotels that give back to the community.

way. Thailand, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, is home to several of these socially driven hotels. Not only are they luxurious resorts where you can relax comfortably in beautiful surroundings, they are also places where you can also feel good about yourself in the knowledge that your stay there is helping the local community.

Supporting local food and offering a healthy menu can make a difference.

Asita Eco Resort

Asita Eco Resort

If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and to stay at a socially responsible hotel, Asita Eco Resort is the place to stay. Located 65 kilometers from the capital, and only 10 minutes from the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, one of the core principles of this resort is adherence to eco-conscious practices that help the environment and support the local community. On the premises, the resort has an organic vegetable and a fish farm that supply the on-site restaurant. In the garden, it also uses only environmentally friendly products, and any waste is recycled. To save water, the hotel uses rainwater for gardening and cleaning and uses low consumption water devices. And, to save energy, low energy consumption light bulbs are used in public areas and guest rooms. Monthly reports are used to analyze and improve energy usage.

Activities near the resort include boat trips to nearby floating markets, temple trekking, and squid fishing.

Asita Eco Resort uses environmentally friendly cleaning and garden products.

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Where: 33/3 T. Taihard, A. Muang, Samut Songkhram 75000 How much: Rooms run from THB 3,000 to THB 6,000 More info: +66 89 8662 168, www.asitaresort.com

Asita Eco Resort

W

hen traveling around the world, sometimes we don't stop to think about the impact of our ecological footprint or about those less fortunate, especially people hidden from the eyes of tourists. As a result, there has been a nascent global movement of hotels with a social mission to give back to the local community in some

by Henry Wu

bangkok gets dressed.

salads, wraps, sandwiches, paninis, soups, smoothies

NOW OPEN! Mercury Ville 540 Ploenchit Road Chidlom/Langsuan Intersection Ground Floor BTS: Chidlom Open Daily 10am - 8pm Tel. 02-658-6688

Siam Paragon 991 Rama1 Road Ground Floor (Opposite MK Gold) BTS: Siam Open Daily 10am - 10pm Tel. 02-610-7714

www.dressedsalads.com www.facebook.com/dressedthailand

TRAVEL FEATURE

The operations of big hotel chains can have an enormous impact to the environment, and the community. Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, with its unique location in the heart of the capital, is taking part in the Planet 21 campaign. This is an environmental initiative Spirulina for treatments at Tammachart Day Spa, Novotel that helps to educate and Bangkok on Siam Square. engage hotel staff and guests to act together for the well-being of the planet through social, environmental, and community activities. The hotel plants trees to reduce its carbon footprint and encourages guests to practice energy-saving procedures. Along with this green approach, Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square developed an innovative rooftop spirulina farm which thrives in the intense Bangkok sunlight and reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The locally grown rooftop spirulina, recognized by the United Nations as “the most ideal food for mankind,” can be purchased at the hotel in 300-gram portions for THB 600, or added to any dish or smoothie at SQUARE Buffet Restaurant. To sample the beautifying effects of spirulina, pamper yourself with a spirulina facial or body treatment (starting at THB 2,000), at Tammachart Day Spa. To help the local community, the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square and the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NEP) is participating in “Realizing the Potential,” an equal opportunity job skills training campaign for the physically challenged. The NEP provides hotels participating in this program with a tax deduction/exemption to encourage them to continue to support it. In October 2013, a group of hearing impaired candidates embarked on a professional on-the-job training program at this hotel to learn new skills and build the confidence needed to succeed in the workplace.

Where: 392/44 Siam Square Soi 6, Bangkok 10330 How much: Rooms run from THB 3,500 to THB 5,000 per night More info: +66 2 209 8888, www.novotelbkk.com

Other hotels with social missions in Thailand: Joy’s House 114 Moo 9 Sanpeesua Village, Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50300 Tel: +66 53 854 213 Web: www.guesthousechiangmai.com/foundation Green Pearls Phang Nga 33 Mu 5 Khokkloy Thakuathung, Phang Nga, Phuket 77220, Thailand Web: hwww.greenpearls. com/hotels/asia/thailand/ aleenta-phuket--phang-ngaresort-and-spa Six Senses Samui 9/10 Moo 5, Baan Plai Laem, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Tel: +66 77 245 678 Web: www.sixsenses.com/ resorts/samui/destination Golden Buddha Beach Resort 131 Moo 2, Ko Phra Thong, Khuraburi 82150 Tel: +66 81 895 2242 Web: www.goldenbuddharesort. com

Chai Lai Orchid Eco Resort

The Karen hill tribe migrant community in North Thailand is one of the minorities in Thailand that live in extreme poverty and lack access to basic education. Americanborn Alexa Pham, owner of The Chai Lai Orchid Eco Resort, founded the NGO Daughters Rising, which strives to empower the local Karen community through education programs, hospitality training programs, and scholarships. The resort is located in Mae Wang, about 55 kilometers from Chiang Mai, in a natural setting surrounded by rice paddies, elephants, and mountains. The Lanna-inspired rooms are tastefully decorated with a natural touch, and most face the nearby river. Activities that can be done in the area include elephant riding, multi-day trekking trips, bamboo rafting, and volunteering. There’s even a rambunctious baby elephant on the premises to play with!

All of the staff at the Chai Lai are local Karen villagers whom Alexa is helping to not be stuck in an unending cycle of poverty and lack of career opportunities. The work training program she has implemented will one day help the villagers find jobs and break the cycle, paying dividends to many generations into the future. The Chai Lai also participates in weekly English teaching classes for the Karen children, who don't have access to public education. Your stay here helps the Chai Lai fund all these socially driven activities for the local Karen community.

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Alexa Pham and one of her staff.

Where: 202 Moo 9 T. Mae Win, Mae Wang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50360 How much: Rooms run from THB 1,200 to THB 2,250 More info: +66 86 923 0867, www.chailaiorchid.com

Chai Lai Orchid Eco Resort

Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

Alisa Hubert

Dave Stamboulis

TRAVEL MY FAVORITE PLACE

Longtail boat coming in to Rai Leh Bay, in Krabi.

PARTY IN BANGKOK, CHILL OUT IN KRABI Actor, producer, and director Lex Luther gives us his tips on the best places to party in the city and to relax by the beach.

by Lucie Barke

A

ctor, producer, and director Lex Luther is a well-known face in Bangkok’s party scene. Born in Germany, he has lived in Thailand for the past 10 years. He worked his way up through the ranks both in front of and behind the camera, on major Hollywood productions such as “Hangover II,” “Scorpion King III,” “Marine II,” “Shanghai,” and many more, also creating, producing, and directing TV shows, music videos, TV commercials, and corporate videos.

When it comes to nightlife, Lex says he used to enjoy Sukhumvit Soi 11 a lot, especially when Bed Supperclub still existed. After the “Bed Club” closed, things changed, according to him. “One can still have fun there at some places like the Qbar (34 Sukhumvit Soi 11, www.qbarbangkok.com), Levels (1 Sukhumvit Rd), or Bash (37 Sukhumvit Soi 11, www.bashbangkok.com),” he says. “And, recently, KU DÉ TA opened its doors, and it has became a really famous club.” So, yes, when in Bangkok,

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you might often see Lex around these places.

He assures us that he has seen a huge change in the party scene since his first days in Thailand: “Ten years ago, there was not really much happening at certain spots.” He lived at Thonglor at that time, and says that that area was “pretty much dead” when it came to nightlife. “But now, it’s booming! So many nice, stylish, and cool places to hang out,” Lex explains. Some of his favorites are Iron Fairies, Seen Space, Clouds, Brew, and Tuba, to name just a few. “Also, lots of sky bars recently opened up. Besides lebua, where we filmed for ‘Hangover II,’ Red Sky and Horizon are really nice sky bars with spectacular city views, and great chill out places.”

When Lex is not out partying, his favorite place to relax is Krabi. “It’s stunningly beautiful, relatively unspoiled and undeveloped, and it has so much to offer,” he says. He shot several movies there and admits productions always took him to the nicest places. “There is

this 200-meter-deep turquoise pond in the middle of the jungle; the breathtaking limestone rock islands; beautiful beaches, and so on. There are good diving spots, you can do rock climbing, but also the regular tourist stuff like riding elephants, jungle-trekking, and what not.”

A few weeks ago, Lex went there to take some aerial shots of Koh Phi Phi, located in Krabi province, for an English documentary about a woman who lost her husband during the tsunami in 2004.

“They were only married for eight days and celebrating their honeymoon at this stunningly peaceful island. Her husband went out to get something when the tsunami struck, and never came back.

She returned to Koh Phi Phi last month to set up a children’s charity and build a school. This is so touching: she lost the love of her life at that place … she’s my hero,” he admits. This experience, together with all of Krabi’s natural beauties and possibilities, has given the province a special place in his heart.

Here are his tips for enjoying it the way he does.

Bring: Your smile and a positive attitude. Locals are getting annoyed by foreigners complaining about this and that.

Must-do: Snorkeling/diving Don’t do: Step on a rockfish Must-see: Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve, near Krabi Eat at: The local seafood restaurants on the beach at Ao Nang Drink at: Reggae Pub (Chawengchoengmon Road Amphoe Koh Sa-Mui, 089 151 5151) Sleep at: Tubkaak Resort (123 Moo 3, Tumbol Nongtalay, Amphur Muang, Krabi, 075 628 400, www.tubkaakresort.com)

Alisa Hubert Photography +66 878 088 829 www.alisahubert.com alisa.paris2010@gmail.com

Model : Vachini Krairiksh Dress : Zuza Stylist : Chotiga Pormjak Lighting : Thanyarat Phumpaka Make up : Pa Purita Make Up Assistant : Montira Kwanpan Photographer : Alisa Hubert

travel

TRAVEL MINI GUIDE

KRABI MINI GUIDE Visit Krabi and you will see why Thailand’s islands and beaches continue to win out over any other in the region.

King Climbers

By Dave Stamboulis

View of Railay Bay, Krabi.

W

hile Krabi used to be the uninvited sister to the prom of siblings Phuket and Samui, she is now one of the most popular attendees. Once the word got out, visitors discovered that Krabi was indeed one of the most beautiful spots on Thailand’s Andaman coast.

Have you seen the picture-perfect shots put out by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, showing towering limestone karst pyramids sticking out of the turquoise sea? Yep, that is Krabi. Not only is it in the region home to famed Phi Phi Island (site of Alex Garland’s novel and Hollywood film, “The Beach”) and nearby rock climbing mecca Railay Beach, but it is also known for its mountaintop Tiger Cave temple and Emerald Pool park. Throw in some

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top-notch resorts, and you’ve got all the makings of one of Thailand’s premiere holiday destinations.

best rock climbing along with fantastic sea kayaking being some of the top attractions.

Why Go

What to See

Visit Krabi and you will see why Thailand’s islands and beaches continue to win out over any other in the region.

Especially during the cooler winter months, this spot in the Andaman gets plenty of sun, and its emerald-colored water is calm. The top spots are all located within an easy boat ride of each other as well, making it possible to spend a few nights on Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and even have time for some inland sights. The beaches in Krabi boast some of the whitest sand in the country and, for adventure lovers, the entire area is a paradise, with one of Southeast Asia’s

Phi Phi Island tops most visitors’ to-do lists. While highly developed, this jungle-covered set of two islands is still one of Asia’s most beautiful. The resorts are found on Phi Phi Don, the larger of the two, while everyone makes the obligatory pilgrimage out to Phi Phi Leh and its stunning Maya Bay, where Leonardo DiCaprio and gang filmed “The Beach.”

Railay (also known as Rai Leh) Bay and its fabulous beaches is also a top draw.

Although not an island, it is accessible only by boat. Railay is surrounded by high cliffs and limestone pinnacles

hidden lagoon. The nearby mangrove swamps also feature some great serpentine kayak routes. Andaman Adventures (Tel: 080 535 4847, www. andamanadventures.com) offers a variety of guided trips.

Dave Stamboulis

Eating and Drinking

Anchalee (315/5 Maharaj Road, Tel: 075-631797), formerly known as Ruen Mai, is a great reason to stay in Krabi, as it serves some of the most authentic food in the region. On Phi Phi, Le Grand Bleu (Tonsai Beach, Tel: 081 979 9739) is the island’s finest culinary experience, and the menu features French and Thai dishes. The Dojo Bar (Tonsai Beach Tel: 083 174 4075) is the island’s most sophisticated place to drink, offering coffee and free Wi-Fi during the day, and great cocktails at night.

Rantee Beach on Ko Phi Phi Island.

The Krabi area is a rock climbing Mecca.

that offer one of the absolute best rock climbing routes in all of Southeast Asia, if not in the world. The beaches here are long and blindingly white, and there are day trips available out to nearby islets offering excellent snorkeling and diving.

Sa Morakot (the Emerald Pools) and the Khlong Thom Hot Springs (Tel: 075 622 713) should also be on any Krabi itinerary. About an hour’s drive south of town, Sa Morakot features pristine emerald-colored pools set in a beautiful forest park. If the water here is too cool, you can head over to nearby Khlong Thom, where there is a hot river, complete with hot pools and even a hot waterfall to soak under.

Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple) is just outside of Krabi, and it features

Dave Stamboulis

King Climbers

Sleeping

Longtail boat on Rai Leh beach, Krabi.

a giant golden chedi. The temple sits on top of a cliff, accessed by 1,240 steps.

Needless to say, the views of the entire province from here are stunning.

What to Do

The top activity around Krabi, other than beach bumming, is rock climbing. There are routes of all grades on Railay, and the Tonsai end of the beach is where the big-league action is to be found. King Climbers (Tel: 075 662 096, www. railay.com) has been guiding and bolting routes here for years and can show you the ropes.

Kayaking opportunities abound in the region, with the best being a jaunt around Koh Hong Island and its

The Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay (Tel: 075 628 111, www.phulaybay.com) was featured in “Hangover 2” and is the most opulent spot in all Krabi, perched opposite Hong Island. The Rayavadee (Tel: 075 620 740-3, www.rayavadee. com) on Railay, has been featured by many top travel magazines as one of the best luxury spots in the world; it has Phra Nang Beach all to itself. On Phi Phi, Zeavola (Tel: 075 627 000, www. zeavola.com) is a charming boutique resort on the more secluded north side of the island.

ere How to get th

Asia all Nok, and Air Thai Airways, res to daily departu have several the to e no rail lin Krabi. There is to ve ha rs ain love Andaman. Tr and ni a Th t ra Su to take a sleeper . s) ur there (4 ho bus over from go to Krabi es us b Overnight Bus k’s Southern from Bangko and e there, ferries Terminal. Onc ilay is Ra i.

Ph i run to Ph speedboats a N ng m Krabi or Ao accessed fro t. by longtail boa

december 2013 | 35

TRAVEL HOTEL DEALS

Mandarin Oriental's Discover Bangkok Package

What: A carefully curated itinerary to make the most of the city while luxuriating in the hotel’s extensive amenities. In addition to two nights’ luxury accommodation, the package includes alfresco breakfast at the Riverside Terrace, lunch at Sala Rim Naam Thai restaurant, and limousine airport transfers. The package also offers a variety of “Journeys” tailored to individual interests and preferences, ranging from cultural, heritage and artistic themes, to culinary and wellness and spa. All “Journeys” include an evening meal at the hotel and a 90-minute Thai massage at the awardwinning Oriental Spa. The “Discover Bangkok Package” starts from USD 1,350.

When: Ongoing Where: Mandarin Oriental (48 Oriental Avenue) More info: 02 659 9000, www.mandarinoriental.com/ Bangkok

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Winter Collection at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit

What: Enjoy a 25 percent discount off on your three- or four-night stay; save even more when you book five, six or seven nights with a 30 percent discount. On one occasion during your stay, you will be invited to indulge in Sofitel So’s irresistible all-chocolate goûter of chocolate cream, chocolate truffles, praline-filled chocolate, and more. Late checkout until 3 p.m. Rates start from THB 3,525 net per room per night in a Luxury room.

When: From now until January 14, 2014 Where: Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit (189 Sukhumvit Road Soi 13-15) More info: 02 126 9900, www.sofitel.com

Stay Three Nights and Save 20 Percent at GLOW Trinity Silom

What: When booking three nights or more at GLOW Trinity Silom, receive 20 percent off the website rate. Rooms start from THB 1,520 net per night for a Superior room, including free Wi-Fi. The promotion is also valid for Deluxe and Premier rooms.

When: From now until December 31 Where: GLOW Trinity Silom (150 Silom Soi 3 – Naratiwas Soi 3 or Sathorn Soi 8 – Silom Road) More info: 02 231 5050, rsvn.silom@glowbyzinc.com, www.glowbyzinc.com/silom

GLOW Trinity Silom

Mandarin Oriental

Sofitel Bangkok

Bangkok

Stay Four Nights & Save 25 Percent at Northgate Ratchayothin

GLOW Pratunam

What: Enjoy 25 percent off Northgate Ratchayothin’s best available rate, when booking a Studio room for four consecutive nights, or more at THB 1,650 net for two persons.

When: From now until December 31 Where: 919 Petchburi Road, Kwang Thanon Phayathai, Rajdhevi More info: 02 939 7949, reservation@northgatebangkok.com, www.northgatebangkok.com

Advance Purchase Promotion at GLOW Pratunam

Northgate Ratchayothin

What: Enjoy a 15 percent discount when making a reservation 14 days in advance; rates start from THB 2,550 net per night. Or make a reservation seven days prior and receive a 10 percent discount, prices starting at THB 2,700 net per night for a Deluxe room. Advance Purchase promotion is also valid for Deluxe Corner, GLOW suite.

When: From now until December 31 Where: 919 Petchburi Road, Kwang Thanon Phayathai, Rajdhevi More info: 02 257 3999, rsvn.pratunam@glowbyzinc.com, www.glowbyzinc.com/pratunam

Hansar Bangkok

Hansar Bangkok's Shop and Spa Package

What: Arrive in style with a round-trip airport transfer in a BMW 5 Series; nightly accommodation in an Urban Suite (71 square meters) with interior garden wall, custom Terrazzo tub, and pillow menu; relax and recharge with two (30-minute) Serenity massages at LUXSA Spa, with a 30 percent discount on additional spa treatments during your stay; complimentary Wi-Fi and minibar, replenished daily; daily buffet or a la carte breakfast served at Eve restaurant; nightly turndown gift; and one complimentary cocktail per guest at ROUGE Bar. When: From now until March 31, 2014, subject to availability. Blackout dates: December 20, January 5 and 29, February 2.

Where: Hansar Bangkok (3/250 Soi Mahadlekluang 2, Rajdamri Road, Lumpini) More info: 02 209 1234, reservations@hansarbangkok.com, www.hansarbangkok.com december 2013 | 37

TRAVEL NEWS

Dusit Thani Hua Hin Wins a World Luxury Award

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok Named "2013 Best Hotel in the World" by The Times UK

The legendary 137-year-old Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok was recently voted the “2013 Best Hotel in the World” by readers of The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sunday Times Magazine, U.K., recently.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok clinched the top spot for its “first-class service, elegant suites and sumptuous food,” the last of which is available at the hotel’s nine restaurants.

“We are delighted to receive this accolade. It serves to motivate and encourage our entire team to continue to strive for the service excellence for which we are renowned,” said General Manager Amanda Hyndman.

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Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Reopens After THB 170 Million Facelift Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort & Spa has reopened, welcoming travellers through its grand arched entrance, following an extensive THB 170 million renovation.

The ever-popular resort on Thailand’s Bophut Beach on the island of Koh Samui has tropical gardens designed

by Bill Bensley, which complement the charms of Fisherman’s Cove, southern Thai architecture that reflects the local cultural heritage, and world-class amenities enhanced by Anantara’s unique design touches.

According to Anantara Bophut’s general manager, Manish Jha, the seven-month renovation was designed to remodel the existing rooms and public spaces and introduce new facilities to reinforce the resort’s hallmark charms.

Emirates

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Dusit Thani Hua Hin

Dusit Thani Hua Hin was named the World Luxury Diplomatic Hotel 2013 by the World Luxury Awards in recognition of its success in hosting numerous high-ranking royal and government figures during the previous 12 months.

This is the second time the hotel earned the much sought-after accolade, and the fifth consecutive year that Dusit Thani Hua Hin scooped up a World Luxury Hotel Award. Finalists and winners of the World Luxury Hotel Awards are selected by travel industry experts and professionals from across the globe.

In the photo, Dusit Thani Hua Hin’s general manager, Victor Sukseree, receives the coveted “gong” from Marinique Truter, executive manager of the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Emirates Links Dubai and Bangkok Six Times a Day with Two A380 Flights

Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has increased its capacity between Dubai and Bangkok with a sixth daily non-stop service that started on October 27, 2013.

“Emirates’ sixth daily service to Bangkok launches on the same day as the start of our second daily Airbus A380 service to the city, demonstrating the importance of Thailand to the airline,” said Barry Brown, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, Commercial Operations East.

"Emirates’ newest service will connect passengers from Thailand perfectly with our morning departures from Dubai onto a vast network of European and American destinations, or for an ideal start of a working day in Dubai," said Jabr Al-Azeeby, Emirates’ manager for Thailand and Indochina.

TRAVEL BUSINESS INSIGHTS

THE FUTURE OF SPIRITUAL TOURISM IN ASIA Discussions from the International Conference on Spiritual Tourism for Sustainable Development, Vietnam, November 21–22.

S

pirituality is deeply interwoven into the fabric of Asia and, by extension, in the promotion of travel and tourism. A United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Conference on Spiritual Tourism for Sustainable Development, organized in Vietnam’s Ninh Binh province on November 21–22, 2013, brought together industry leaders to discuss the way forward for this soon-to-boom niche market.

The following five powerful and thought-provoking comments best reflected the prevailing situation, and the ideas expressed in them will play a major role in shaping the future of spiritual tourism and addressing the challenges ahead.

“Humanity’s cultural heritage, which also includes expressions of spirituality and living culture, has long been a key motive for global travel.

The preservation of these assets is fundamental to maintaining the cultural diversity and uniqueness of destinations, communities and individuals in the face of growing globalization. The responsible and sustainable use of natural and cultural assets in the development of spiritual tourism brings with it many benefits and can serve as a catalyst for cultural revitalization, reproduction and long-term development of the destinations involved. Whilst cultural wealth may render these destinations appealing, a massive and uncontrolled influx of tourists can destabilize what are often fragile communities.

Therefore, in order to minimize any negative impacts, it is imperative that the tourism sector acts in close collaboration with tradition bearers to ensure that spiritual tourism is based on mutual respect, cultural sensitivity and the responsible behavior of all stakeholders, including visitors. Building on the UNWTO’s first Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and featuring specific good practices, this presentation will consider the links between spiritual tourism and ICH and the conditions necessary for tourism development which both ensures the preservation of spirituality and living traditions of local communities, and enables a unique tourist experience.”

Marina Diotallevi Program Manager, Ethics and Social Dimensions of Tourism, UN World Tourism Organization

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Luciano Mortula + Shutterstock

by Imtiaz Muqbil

“Uncontrolled tourism development has a tendency to ruin our environment and our culture. The tourism development strategy adopted in some parts of the world, heavily orientated towards physical output, almost neglects the intangible aspects of human life.

Damage to the natural environment and socio-cultural disorientation of local communities are just some effects of physical output orientated development.

Essentially, these problems are rooted in the absence of the vital elements of sustainable tourism, namely spirituality and ethics, as well as in the inability to differentiate between need and greed.

Whilst tourism is mainly considered in terms of leisure purposes, it has also developed into a vehicle for improving the quality of life of all parties involved, and is a vital force for the promotion of international understanding and peace.

Quality of life is related to ‘happiness’ as a conceptual way of life.”

I Gede Ardika University Professor, Member of the World Tourism Committee on Tourism Ethics, Former Minister of Tourism and Culture of Indonesia

“Vietnam, home to a wealth of natural and cultural assets, including seven World Heritage sites, has seen major growth in tourism in recent years. This poses a number of challenges. First, some cultural assets are over-exploited, and there are weak mechanisms in place for protecting and conserving them; as a result, economic development threatens to negatively impact both heritage and spiritual traditions.

Second, cultural assets in some areas have not yet been fully assessed to determine their full potential for, and relationship to, tourism growth. Finally, local communities that live in and around heritage sites and possess other forms of cultural assets do not benefit much from tourism and have little means of protecting themselves and transferring their traditional knowledge and spiritual beliefs to younger generations.

Since 2009, UNESCO has supported Vietnam in response to the urgent need to address these challenges by developing a comprehensive spiritual and cultural tourism strategy that capitalizes on the values of cultural heritage for economic development while ensuring its protection and conservation. The program’s focus since 2009 was in Quang Nam province, where there are two World Cultural Heritage sites, Hoi An and My Son, and the Cham Island Biosphere Reserve. With UNESCO-provided tools and guidelines, Quang Nam authorities developed, during a hands-on process involving dialogue with participation from stakeholders and local community members, an integrated cultural tourism strategy which identified sustainable ways and concrete actions to maximize the integration of cultural heritage into tourism development, maintaining quality growth of tourism while protecting spirituality and allowing local heritage to thrive.

This strategy was closely linked to each of the Visitor Management Plans of the three major protected areas in the province. Further support was provided to strengthen the interpretation and promotion of the World Heritage sites and the surrounding areas, which results in tourists’ better experiences and deeper engagement with the local communities, at the same time ensuring that local people gain an adequate share from the tourism development.”

Dr. Duong Bich Hanh Culture Program Coordinator, UNESCO Office in Vietnam

“Nowadays we are talking about spiritual tourism, another sub-title of cultural tourism.’ Spiritual tourism is not a part of religious tourism. It is a journey and an experience, but not a destination. For a Hindu, to attend kumbh mela activities is a subject of religious tourism, but for a non-Hindu it is subject of spiritual tourism.

Spiritual tourism is going to be a tourist phenomenon of the 21st century, well ahead of the theorists of the tourism industry. Furthermore, the meanings of concepts such as spirituality and secularism are also changing day by day. For the last 30 years, many great sacred locations have been visited by groups of various size, as well as individuals from different social classes and of different professions.

Whatever the reasons are, marketing potential is growing fast for spiritual tourism. Millions of foreigners or domestic travellers are looking for healing activities such as yoga, Ayurveda, and meditation classes, spending their vacations visiting sacred places, trying to enlighten and dignify soul, body and mind, looking for authentic multi-faith cultural activities, trying to rediscover the revitalizing powers of nature, and seeking cultural, environmental, and ecological consciousness.”

Faruk Pekin CEO FEST Travel, Turkey

“Although tourism has been growing rapidly, much remains to be done for it to be ‘value’ rather than ‘profit’ driven; it must be inclusive, respectful, sustainable and compliant with international standards of responsible and ethical tourism.

Tourism also often fails to address environmental considerations, and hence we are left helpless when disasters such as the Uttrakhand flooding (India) occur. Spiritual tourism destination planners and managers need to be very careful in addressing all of these points, especially the carrying capacity, the involvement of people and the environmental issues.

Worldwide tourism talks of relating the sector’s objective to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), however, the industry hasn’t yet done enough to meet such aims. Thus, even after such extensive growth, it fails to be recognized as a ‘critical industry’, capable of meeting development needs. We must take steps to mobilize local communities, involving them in tourism development, and invest in soft skills and community culture. Often, in the name of archaeological work, local communities are displaced and thus tourism development causes local annoyance and is regarded as ‘external’. It is important to invest in communities, helping them to develop their culture and ownership of local tourism, preparing them for handling tourists. After all, tourism may have the greatest potential to foster mutual respect between visitors, communities and countries, contributing to national development, international growth and peace.”

Amitava Bhattacharya Founder and Director, Banglanatak.com, India

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TRAVEL BUSINESS INSIGHTS

CHANGING THE FACE OF BANGKOK New mass transit lines currently in construction and planning will add 159 stations all around the city.

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ix mass transit lines now in various stages of construction and planning are set to change the face of Bangkok by the end of this decade. A total of 206 kilometers of track will see the addition of 159 stations all around the city. In addition to cutting car use and improving the quality of life for city residents, these new services will give a significant boost to travel and tourism by helping visitors easily reach shopping malls, museums, convention centers, and various other attractions.

The six lines are being undertaken by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), set up in 1992 as a state-owned enterprise under the Minister of Transport. They are part of a massive urban transport upgrade project that also includes additional line expansions by the Bangkok Mass Transit System PLC (BTSC), the private sector operator of the SkyTrain. The Bangkok

by Imtiaz Muqbil Metropolitan Administration is also involved in the work.

At the moment, Bangkok has two mass transit systems:

The BTS SkyTrain, inaugurated on December 5, 1999, was the first electric mass transit railway system in Thailand.

Entirely funded by private enterprise, the BTS SkyTrain runs a length of 33.12 kilometers, connecting 32 stations. Each train serves up to 1,000 passengers per journey, compared to the 800 vehicles on the roads transporting the same number of commuters.

The subway, known as the MRT, is operated by the MRTA and began operations on July 3, 2004. It has 18 stations, and 10 park-and-ride buildings located at eight stations along the route.

MRTA’s Extension and New Projects*

System in BMA and vicinities area and assigned the relevant organizations to implement it by 2019. Under the Master Plan, MRTA will implement the Purple Line (Bang Yai–Rat Burana), the Blue Line Extension (Bang Sue–Tha Phra and Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae), the Green Line (Mo Chit–Saphan Mai–Khu Khot and Bearing-Samut Prakarn), the Pink Line (Khae Rai–Min Buri), the Orange Line (Taling Chan–Min Buri), and the Yellow Line (Lot Phrao–Somrong).

Most of these extensions and new lines will use the rolling stock of three to six cars, providing a service capacity of up to 50,000 passengers per hour per direction.

The total investment is estimated at THB 115,812 million, a large percentage of which is being funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

On March 9, 2010, the cabinet approved the Master Plan of Rail Mass Transit

Project Characteristics

The following three lines are currently under construction:

PURPLE LINE Bang Yai–Bang Sue

This route is 23 kilometers long and has 16 stations, all of which will be elevated. The project starts from Bang Yai, a northwestern district of Bangkok, then crosses under the Chao Phraya River at Phra Nang Klao Bridge, then goes along Ratana Thibed Road to Nonthaburi Intersection and Wongsawang Intersection. Next, the route runs along Pracharat Road and merges with the Blue Line (Bang Sue–Tha Phra Section) at Tao Pun Intersection. It then merges with the current MRT line at Bang Sue Station at the end. It is 75 percent complete as of September 2013, with final completion projected by August 2014.

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BLUE LINE Bang Sue–Tha Phra

This section is 11 kilometers long, with eight stations, all of which will be elevated. The project starts from Bang Sue Station, passing along Pracharat Sai 2 Road. It crosses the Chao Phraya River and turns left along Charan Sanitwong Road reaching Tha Phra area at Phetchakasem and Charan Sanitwong Intersection.

Hua Lamphong–Bang Khae

This section is 14 kilometers long, of which 5 kilometers will be underground and served by four stations, while the rest of the stations will be elevated. The project starts at Hua Lamphong Station. It goes along Charoen Krung Road, passing China Town, Wang Burapha. It then turns left at Wat Poh before crossing under the Chao Phraya River at Pak Khlong Talart. Next, it reaches Tha Phra Station and runs along Phetchakasem Road to Lak Song Station. This project is 42 percent complete as of September 2013, with final completion projected by June 2016.

GREEN LINE Bearing–Samut Prakarn

This section is 13 kilometers long, with all nine stations elevated. The project starts at Soi Sukhumvit 107 (Bearing).

It goes along Sukhumvit Road, passing Teparak Intersection, Pu Chao Saming Prai Intersection, Sukhumvit Interchange and then turns left at Sara Grang Intersection to Electricity Authority Intersection and Sai Luad Intersection.

Then, it turns left to Bang Pu to the end of this section (Soi Tedsaban 55), where the depot will be located. This project is 15 percent complete as of September 2013, with final completion projected by December 2015.

december 2013 | 43

TRAVEL BUSINESS INSIGHTS

The following lines are at various levels of planning stages and study:

Purple Line Tao Poon–Rat Burana

This route is 20 kilometers long, of which 13.2 kilometers will be underground with 10 stations, while the remaining 6.8 kilometers with six stations will be elevated. The project starts from Tao Poon. It goes along Sam Saen Road with on underground structure, passing the New Parliament, the Royal Irrigation Department, Vajira Hospital, and the National Library of Thailand. It then turns left to Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and Maha Chai Road. The route crosses under the Chao Phraya River passing Wongwian Yai. Next, it changes levels and rises over ground as an elevated rail system to reach Rat Burana Station.

Green Line Mo Chit–Saphan Mai

The section is 12 kilometers long, with all 12 stations elevated. The project starts from Mo Chit Station, crossing Lat Phrao Intersection, and goes along

of buildings). Catchment areas start in the north, from Khae Rai Intersection, to Pak Kret district, Muang Thong Thani and Impact Exhibition Center in Muang Thong Thani travelling east from Lak Si, along Ramindra Road to Watcharapol Road, department stores and numerous housing estates around outer ring road, as well as Min Buri Station in eastern Bangkok.

the centerline of Phahon Yothin Road, passing Ratcha Yothin Intersection and Kasetsart University Intersection. At Soi Phahon Yothin 55, it switches to the right side of Phahon Yothin Road through the Lak Si Monument. At Soi Ratcha Trungna Mai Village, it moves back to the centerline of the road and reaches Saphan Mai and Khu Khot, the last station where the depot is to be located.

Orange Line Taling Chan–Min Buri

Pink Line Khae Rai–Min Buri

This route is 34.5 kilometers and has 24 stations, all elevated. The project starts at Tiwanon, Chang Wattana and Ramindra Road to serve new and additional travel demand for the new Government Service Center on Chang Wattana Road, and Nonthaburi Government Service Center. This line will support the growth of the city in northern Bangkok, linking residential and commercial areas in the northern and northeastern suburbs.

Both areas have high travel demand, as they are a mixture of residential areas and government service centers (a series

This route is 39.5 kilometers long, 26.5 kilometers of which will be underground with 30 stations, while the rest will be elevated with eight stations. The project starts at Taling Chan, Bangkok Noi, and Bang Khun Non. It crosses under the Chao Phraya River at Somdet Phra Pin Klao Bridge, then runs along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, Larn Luang Road, Phetchaburi Road. Din Daeng and Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. It then turns right, passing Bangkok City Hall 2, and reaches Thailand Cultural Centre Station, after which it runs along Ramkhamhaeng Road to Min Buri Station.

MRTA Projects at a Glance

Project

Routes

Length (Kilometers)

No. of Stations

Purple Line

Bang Yai–Bang Sue

23

16

Tao Poon–Rat Burana

21

16

Bang Sue–Tha Phra

11

8

Hua Lamphong– Bang Khae

15.9

11

Mo Chit–Saphan Mai

19

16

Bearing–Samut Prakarn

12.8

9

Pink Line

Khae Rai–Min Buri

34.5

30

Orange Line

Taling Chan–Min Buri

39.5

30

Yellow Line

Lat Phrao–Samrong

30

23

Blue Line Green Line

Source: www.mrta.co.th

*Information compiled from MRTA reports presented at a U.N. Conference on Sustainable Transport organized in Bangkok in November 2013.

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Lookeast | Travel

HOTELS CHECKING IN

The launch of Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya raises the question of a potential upcoming luxury market in the beach town.

by Anita Zaror

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Lookeast | Hotels

Centara Hotels and Resorts

GETTING FANCY

control to the Nespresso capsules for the coffee machine in the minibar. Or maybe they were referring to the Harnn amenities in the bathroom, the Jim Thompson pillowcases, or the nightly turndown service where, besides leaving a flower and chocolates on my bed, staff pampered me with fancy hors d’oeuvres and mini desserts.

But there are two things that make this hotel really special, besides its very high-end details hiding in every corner.

The first, which is noticeable as soon as you step in, is its concept. Subtly inspired by the marine world, the décor makes you feel that if you stand in the middle of the lobby and look up, you’re at the bottom of the sea and jellyfish— which are actually chandeliers—are swimming right above your head.

Waves on the carpets that lead from the rooms to the elevators, tasteful seashell decorations on the walls, and two large aquariums with exotic marine species at the lobby are also part of this marine motif, which reaches its apex on the rooftop. Walking by the pool and looking down through the skylight windows on the floor, again that feeling of depth emerges, this time as if looking at the bottom of the sea—the lobby—from the surface. And the icing on the cake: three aquariums with jellyfish inside Ruffino Restaurant & Lounge that are impressive to look at during the day, and truly astonishing as they shine in blue light at night.

Ruffino is a well-known Italian wine producer from Tuscany, and Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya brought the brand to Thailand in the form of its signature restaurant, which offers Italian coastal cuisine from the hands of Venetian executive chef, Luca Pulese.

And this is the second highlight of this hotel: its food. Be it buffet breakfast at Oceana, a mid-afternoon macchiato and macaroons at Espresso—the bakery and café located in the lobby—or dinner at Ruffino, with its small portions of homemade pasta cooked al dente and paired, of course, with Ruffino wine,

Centara Hotels and Resorts

I

love living in a bustling city like Bangkok, but I always enjoy getting away anywhere where I can find silence and I can see water: be it my condo’s swimming pool, a golf course with a lake, or the beach. I heard through the grapevine that Centara Hotels and Resorts had recently opened a new hotel in a quiet neighborhood in Pattaya. Quietude in Pattaya? Didn’t think so, but off to Pattaya I went to see it.

Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya is located in the beach town’s so-called “Beverly Hills,” an exclusive residential district of Phratamnak Hill. Far from the city’s noise yet only a few steps from the beach, the hotel is well connected to Jomtien Beach, downtown Pattaya, Bali Hai Pier, and the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH). A complimentary shuttle service is also offered to and from CentralFestival Pattaya Beach, said to be Asia’s largest beachfront shopping complex.

I was there during the hotel’s soft opening, so I attended a cocktail reception at the lobby, followed by dinner next to the aquarium with sharks, at the Oceana, which features seafood, Thai, and international cuisine. It was then on to drinks at Pearl, in the rooftop pool area. After a fun party with lounge music, and when I couldn’t stand on my heels anymore, I went back to my suite and sat for a bit on the terrace. Wow, that place really was quiet. My room overlooked a verdant garden, and it had a 90-degree view of the sea. Whether in the morning, at sunset, or at night, spending time there felt like being in my own apartment, but in a place where nobody knew me.

At the party I overheard a few guests saying that this hotel had “brought the Centara Grand standard to a whole new level.” They were probably referring to its luxurious furniture from Fendi Casa, and the amenities that ranged from the calf leather boxes in each of the 165 guestrooms and suites that contain the LED flat-screen TV’s remote

again quality prevails and service shines like a star. The customer’s experience overall is an extremely positive one.

But how can this luxurious hotel be successful in Pattaya in the long term?

I had a word with its general manager, Dominique Ronge, and he assured me that “in the past, Pattaya was known for its mid-scale and budget tourism, but areas like Phratamnak, which have a more private, luxury, and quiet character to it, as well as others like Jomtien, definitely have potential for developing into a luxury market … we had a turnaround in Pattaya five or six years ago, since we built the CentralFestival, extended the beach road, and enlarged the beach walk, so it’s becoming much more accessible for families, couples, and more luxurious hotels. In the past it has not been properly exploited, but in the future, the luxury market in Pattaya has high potential.”

Although the hotel’s beach house and spa will not be launched until 2014, the hotel itself is now fully operational, and we recommend it for those who’d like to have a more select experience of Pattaya, as well as for executive meetings and conventions of up to 80 people. december 2013 | 47

HOTELS CHECKING IN

HOLIDAYS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY With easy to access the central business district, shopping malls, and a plethora of food options, Sheraton Towers Singapore is a good choice for business or leisure.

Sheraton Towers Singapore

by Gaurav Sehgal

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Lookeast | Hotels

Sheraton Towers Singapore

Sheraton Towers Singapore

F

or some reason, many people seem to be a bit intimidated

by Singapore. They’re worried about its strict laws, not being able to chew gum, and getting fined for some reason they culturally don’t understand. In reality, however, I’ve always felt very free in Singapore.

It’s safe, and if you know enough about the city, you can have a great time and never get bored there. One of the most important things when traveling here, though, is to pick the right hotel according to your purpose of travel. It can be overwhelming to look for places to stay in Singapore because of the sheer number of options available, although these can easily be narrowed down.

The purpose of my trip was leisure.

I wanted to enjoy the city with a group of friends, and to be close to a large selection of restaurants and shopping outlets, besides being able to enjoy some of Singapore’s renowned nightlife. The hotel search quickly narrowed down to a shortlist around Orchard Road, the shopping and entertainment district, and we ended up making a booking for what seemed to be the perfect property to fulfill our purpose: the Sheraton Towers Singapore, on Scotts Road. It’s walking distance to Orchard Road, the new and already popular Ion Orchard Premiere shopping mall, as well as to a plethora of restaurants in every direction, starting with Newton Circus, the famous outdoor food court. It’s a very short cab ride to everywhere else we wanted to go … nothing seemed to be too far away from this hotel.

Home to 420 guest rooms, all of which have been recently renovated, Sheraton Towers Singapore boasts all of the amenities and the level of service of a five-star property. The Dining Room, offering international and Asian food, overlooks a peaceful koi pond. It is also surrounded by lush greenery and a flowing waterfall, and it was my favorite for lunch. For those seeking specialty cuisine, Domus offers Italian dining, and Li Bai, Cantonese. For drinks, either the Lobby Bar or the Pool Bar are the places to go to.

With a bit of hotel exploration I also discovered that the hotel has a great 24-hour fitness center: small, but stocked with quite new equipment, all contained in glass walls overlooking the large swimming pool. The Retreat Spa, adjacent to the fitness center, offers a variety of treatments between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Although we were there on holiday, the Sheraton Towers Singapore is also a great business hotel, as it’s well equipped with meeting rooms, a modern business

center, and broadband Internet access everywhere in the hotel (free of charge at the lobby, and paid in the rooms).

Because of its modern yet versatile setup, which can be festive, formal, and homey at the same time, the hotel has also hosted many wedding events.

Would I stay again at the Sheraton Towers? Yes, as this hotel caters well to those traveling with family, on business, or with a group of friends as I did. That certainly was a fantastic holiday in Singapore. Mission accomplished. december 2013 | 49

LIFESTYLE COVER STORY

The Night Is Young From sky bars in the city to the trendiest beach party spots, here is Lookeast’s list of recommended places to celebrate these end-of-year festivities.

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Lookeast | LIFESTYLE

YanLev + Shutterstock

No matter where you decide to go in Thailand to celebrate the end of the year, you will always find a place you enjoy. Be it in a busy metropolis like Bangkok, overlooking the city lights at night while having a glass of wine, or in the quietness of an island sipping your favorite cocktail while soaking up an amazing sunset. We at Lookeast wish you all fun end-of-year celebrations, a merry Christmas, and a new year full of love, prosperity, and joy!

december 2013 | 51

LIFESTYLE COVER STORY

Party in the City

87 Plus Chosen by the World’s Best Bars, 87 Plus is the restaurant, bar, and club section of Conrad Hotel. A perfect place for whiskey and bourbon connoisseurs, and for wine lovers. After dining, guests are welcome to dance to the music of live bands, or house music and hip hop played by a DJ. Where: 87 Wireless Road All Seasons Place Hours: Daily from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

More info: http://conradhotels3. hilton.com

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Lookeast | LIFESTYLE

KU DÉ TA's Club Lounge

lebua' Sky Bar

Skybar Skybar obtained a 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, and it’s a highlight of Bangkok’s nightlife scene. Its rooftop bar changes color every 90 seconds, and it’s known for its popular “Hangovertini,” a cocktail created for the cast of “The Hangover Part II” while they were filming at lebua.

Where: State Tower, 1055 Silom Road Hours: Daily from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

More info: www.lebua.com/sky-bar

lebua

KU DÉ TA Already a well-known brand in Bali and Singapore, KU DÉ TA recently opened is doors in Bangkok. Located in the heart of Sathorn, it currently offers two dining options, two stylish clubs, bars, and numerous private party areas. A mustvisit when in the City of Angels.

Where: 39th and 40th floors, Sathorn Square Complex, 98 North Sathorn Road Hours: Club Lounge and Aviary (cocktail and cigar lounge), daily 6 p.m. till late; Kubar (Japanese aperitif bar), daily from 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Soundgarden (live music events), Tuesday to Saturday from 6 p.m. till late More info: www.kudeta.com

KU DÉ TA

Bangkok

Party at the Beach

New Year's Eve Celebrations

Phuket Wonderland Wonderland Phuket is the latest addition to Phuket Old Town’s bustling nightlife scene. Located in the Sino-Portuguese district of downtown Phuket, its chandeliers and leather couches bring a retro atmosphere to the bar.

Where: 104 Yaowaraj Road, Ban Talat Yai Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to midnight More info: www. wonderlandphuket.com Saneha Sit back and relax in one of Saneha’s dimly lit corners to sip a drink while listening to their live acoustic band. This bar has been recently renovated and is ready to host some great parties.

Where: 83-85 Yaowarat Road Hours: 6 p.m. till late More info: www.facebook.com/ Sanaehaphukettown

Koh Tao Whitening A well-known establishment on the island, this bar and restaurant is white from the ceiling to the floor, including the furniture and plates. Located right on the beachfront, overlooking the pier, it serves a large selection of cocktails.

Where: 17/2 Maehaad Moo2, Koh Tao Hours: Daily from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

More info: 077 456 199 Maya Bar Located by the beach and ranked number 1 by travelers on TripAdvisor, Maya Bar is one of those rare places in Koh Tao where you can find a DJ playing every night. Weekly events are also organized. Start your evening drinking comfortably on a beanbag until the party really starts!

Where: South Sairee Beach Hours: Daily from 5 p.m to 2 a.m.

More info: www. mayabeachclubkohtao.com

Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit At the New Year’s Eve Moulin Rouge Dinner Party, at L’Appart Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, guests will be able to enjoy a five-course fine dining menu and half a bottle of Champagne per person.

The party will include can-can dancers, top DJs, Broadway Baroque dance shows, and much more.

When: December 31 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Where: Voilà! Restaurant, Sophitel Bangkok Sukhumvit (189 Sukhumvit Road Soi 13-15) How much: THB 6,500 per person, indoors; THB 8,500 per person, outdoors on the terrace; outdoor tables drinks only for THB 7,000 per person, including drinks for a value of THB 7,000.

More info: 02 126 9999, www.sofitelsukhumvit.com/en WOOBAR “3-Steps Ahead New Year’s Eve Party” at WOOBAR, will host DJ Michaelangelo L’Acqua, Global Music Director for W Hotels Worldwide. Free-flowing bubbles will be served from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. to all ladies. Mix, mingle, and countdown NYC style with party favors before anybody does!

When: December 28 from 8 p.m. till late Where: WOOBAR (Thonglor, 2 Sukhumvit 53) How much: THB 2,400 per person for food and soft drinks; THB 2,900 net per person for food plus cocktails, wine, beer, and bubbles.

More info: 02 344 4000, www. whotelbangkok.com Windsor Suites Hotel New Year’s Eve dinner will be celebrated with a three-course gala dinner menu, featuring lobster bisque with a touch of cognac, grilled steak, salmon, pork chops, and more. Live musical entertainment.

When: December 31, from 7 p.m. till late Where: Windsor Suites Hotel (Sukhumvit 20)

How much: THB 850 per person More info: 2 262 1234, www.windsorsuiteshotel.com GLOW Pratunam Watch the fireworks over Bangkok at GLOW Pratunam’s open-air area on the 7th floor, and taste an international buffet by the award-winning Chef Phongsak Mikhunthong.

When: December 31, from 5 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.; the restaurant will be open until 1 a.m.

Where: 919 Petchburi Road, Kwang Thanon Phayathai, Rajdhevi How much: Buffet THB 1,500++ per person, inclusive of one soft drink More info: 02 257 3999, rsvn. pratunam@glowbyzinc.com, www. glowbyzinc.com/pratunam 57th Street The New Year will be greeted with a glass of Prosecco, and dinner from a festive buffet at 57th Street, including lobster and king crab, foie gras, lamb cutlets, and wagyu steaks.

When: December 31 Where: Marriott Hotel (2 Sukhumvit Soi 57) How much: THB 2,700 per person More info: 02 797 0000, www. myclubmarriott.com Octave Rooftop Bar & Lounge The party will continue at Marriott Hotel with live music and one of the best views in town to see the fireworks, from the 49th floor, at Octave Rooftop Bar & Lounge.

When: December 31 Where: Marriott Hotel (2 Sukhumvit Soi 57) How much: THB 4,299 per person on the 48th floor; THB 4,999 per person on the 45th floor; THB 5,999 per person on the 49th floor; THB 2,500 per person for entry fee (stand up), including a glass of Moët & Chandon More info: 0 2 797 0000, www. myclubmarriott.com december 2013 | 53

LIFESTYLE PERSONALITIES

Michelin-starred French chef, Alain PĂŠgouret, in an exclusive interview with Lookeast.

by Anita Zaror

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Lookeast | LIFESTYLE

Sofitel So Bangkok

WHEN FOOD BECOMES ART

T

hroughout the ages, food has brought together friends and family to celebrate and enjoy. Nowadays, epicureans around the world gather at certain tables where, besides having the opportunity of socializing, they experience food in a way that is closer to sensory experiential art.

That is the case for two wine dinners that Vitisasia recently gave at Sofitel So Bangkok’s fine-dining restaurant, Park Society. Founded in 2011 by food and wine lovers, Ludovic Tendron and Kevin Cheng, and with the mission of bringing European cuisine to Asia, the Singaporebased company invited Michelin-starred French chef, Alain Pégouret, to cook for the first time in Thailand.

A native of Cannes, Pégouret has been trained by iconic chefs such as Christian Constant and Joël Robuchon.

For this dinner, he brought some of his acclaimed dishes from Laurent, the onestar Michelin restaurant in Paris where he has been the executive chef since 2001. These included the popular brown crab with its juice in jelly, and fennel cream. Over two evenings, 100 foodies in Bangkok could experience two 5-course gala set dinners paired with five vintages of Alter Ego and Château Palmer wines, from the prestigious Château Palmer winery in Bordeaux.

Chef Pégouret assures us that a happy customer from Laurent would have been an equally happy attendee of the dinners at Park Society. “The dishes were presented almost exactly the same as at Laurent, and using the same techniques, except for the use of some ingredients,” he explains. Basically, what he did was to adapt the flavors to local tastes, as in the roasted smoked pigeon

with small artichoke in its spicy cream, which wouldn’t be smoked or have a spicy sauce in his kitchen in Paris. He wouldn’t cook the artichokes in curry, either, because that’s not how his diners would appreciate artichoke there.

Why Bangkok? Because in his opinion, it’s becoming a city with potential in terms of people knowing and appreciating what he does, and because he wanted to export Laurent’s cuisine and knowledge to Thailand’s “evolving cuisine market.”

At 47 years old, Chef Pégouret stays fit. He exercises six to eight hours a week, and he likes to cook the way he eats: healthfully. He dresses in dark blue jeans, a black shirt and jacket, and polished shoes. His hair always looks neat, just as the tidy composition of his dishes, where every single ingredient seems to have been chosen, cooked, or placed in a certain way for a reason.

Like an artist in a constant search for his masterpiece, when Chef Pégouret finds a product that he’d like to work with, he withdraws from the outside world for five to ten days until he has created one of the 30 new dishes he includes on Laurent’s menu each year.

Likewise, he renews 70 percent of each dish every three months because his obsession is not only the dish, but the harmony of the menu as a whole.

He describes his cuisine as elegant and subtle, and believes nothing can be perfect. Hence, he will work continuously on a product or a dish to improve it as much as he can, in the belief that he will make it look and taste as good as possible for him and for his customers.

Is Chef Pégouret ever satisfied with the outcome of his creative process? No. But for the lucky commensal who sits before one of his creations, his dishes may look as fancy as fine jewelry—which is where he frequently finds inspiration.

They smell of the goodness of the fertile land and taste of layers of unpretentious yet refined flavors and textures, where each ingredient can be savored at its precise cooking point—tender or firm, crunchy or smooth, solid or foamed—to conform a ludic amalgam on the palate whose artistry speaks for itself.

– You’ve been working in Michelinstarred restaurants since the 1980s. In your opinion, what are the principles that a chef must adhere to in order to build and maintain excellence in his profession?

– The only key is perseverance, and constantly re-questioning yourself. It’s the only thing you can do to not fall into a routine, because as soon as you start falling into a routine, you start sinking.

And he quotes Chef Robuchon, who once said, “It’s the love of work well done.”

Awaiting the publication of the new Michelin guide in April 2014, Chef Pégouret won’t settle for whatever the results are. If the Laurent loses its star, he’ll strive to get it back next year; if the restaurant gets a second star, he’ll work even harder to get the third.

Perseverance is his motto. That is what brought him where he is now, and it will certainly keep taking him places.

december 2013 | 55

LIFESTYLE PERSONALITIES

HE Lufti Rauf:

The Indonesian–Thai Chamber of Commerce opens its doors for greater business cooperation between both countries.

by Federico Brandi

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Lookeast | LIFESTYLE

Federico Brandi

“WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY”

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iplomatic and business relations between Indonesia and Thailand have endured for more than 60 years, with continued and fruitful bilateral cooperation.

The two countries formally established diplomatic relations back in the 1950s and, thanks to the lack of any major issue between them, they have been able to focus on positive cooperation in different sectors, such as trade, education, and security.

Indonesia’s Ambassador in Thailand, HE Lufti Rauf, believes that even more can be done. He is an experienced diplomat with a friendly and proactive attitude who has studied and worked around the world in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Slovakia.

He is one of the promoters of a new joint initiative by the Indonesian and Thai business communities: the creation of the Indonesia–Thai Chamber of Commerce (INTCC) in Bangkok, which started its membership activities in November as the first-ever chamber in both countries. Its purpose: to further strengthen relations in business and related fields, to assist Indonesian businesspeople who invest in Thailand, and to help Thai companies that would like to expand in Indonesia. “The private sectors of the two countries have always been active, but sometimes lack the arena to enhance and further develop the investments or simply catch the opportunities,” Rauf said.

– What is the current outlook of Indonesian–Thai relationships when it comes to investment, trade, and business?

– Let me start saying that Indonesia and Thailand are really fortunate.

We have long and mutually beneficial relationships which give us the opportunity to focus more on enhancing them instead of trying to resolve any issue. Furthermore, Indonesia and Thailand are the first and second largest

economies in ASEAN, respectively, encompassing more than 50 percent of ASEAN’s aggregate economy. The numbers show also growing relations between the two countries. Total trade is already well above USD 19 billion, increasing significantly from the USD 8.5 billion in 2009. In addition, Thailand’s investments in Indonesia in the first half of 2013 reached USD 16.2 million.

The two countries have common prosperity goals and complementary economies, and I believe the business relations between the two countries will continue to flourish.

– How will the INTCC benefit both countries?

– There are a lot of private and public stakeholders involved in business. The INTCC aims to be the hub of information and networking to allow speedy contact and solutions to be developed among relevant stakeholders that will facilitate business relations. In doing so, the INTCC will have to foster close relations with relevant public and private organizations in both Indonesia and Thailand.

With the INTCC facilitation, we expect business relations between both countries to become easier, simpler, and faster.

– In what way is the Indonesian Embassy in Thailand involved in the INTCC? – The driving force of the INTCC is the business community. However, they need cooperation and liaisons with authorities and organizations in both countries. In this regard, the Embassy stands to support the INTCC in performing its function to smooth business cooperation.

– The INTCC also decided to create the Junior INTCC Team (JINT) to support its activities. What is its role?

– The future is in the hands of our young generations, and they must have

the opportunity to contribute. The idea behind the creation of the JINT is to give them the chance to gain work experience and get acquainted with the business processes and networking opportunities that the INTCC brings.

Otherwise, the fresh ideas, hard work, and dedication of our young members will benefit the INTCC. The JINT will be much more visible and active at the future chamber’s activities.

– What is the context of the INTCC within the ASEAN framework, particularly considering the ASEAN 2015’s objectives?

– I believe that in order to achieve the goals of ASEAN 2015, which among others include the creation of a single market, ASEAN countries should further increase intra-regional trade, which is now standing around 25 percent of ASEAN total trade. In this regard, the INTCC plays an important role to enhance intra-ASEAN trade.

– What has been the response of the business community to the INTCC? – I have been informed that the enthusiasm of the business sector is quite high in both countries. I view this as an important sign that the stakeholders need the INTCC, and its establishment provides the right chance to further increase the flourishing economic relations between the two countries. The INTCC draws businesses from several sectors. Among these are oil & gas, mining, petrochemicals, agriculture, logistics, and tourism.

Thailand and Indonesia are the two largest economies of Southeast Asia, and this joint initiative can be a first step to make easier and smoother the creation of the ASEAN Business Community by the end of 2015. It is also a good example of cooperation between business and institutions, aiming for a common goal of development and prosperity.

december 2013 | 57

Siam Paragon

LIFESTYLE FASHION

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DRESS TO IMPRESS Our selection of looks for end-of-year festivities, from Siam Paragon Bangkok International Fashion Week (BIFW) 2013, staged under “The Future is Asia” concept, held November 7–10, at Parc Paragon.

To see more about BIFW, visit www.lookeastmagazine.com xxxxxxx

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1. Manish Arora A collection inspired by “Burning Man” in Nevada, U.S., that represented the desert, nature, and the night sky through warm tones contrasted with black and white, while neon rays played with geometric lines and shapes.

2. Nagara Nagara Sambandaraksa showcased a new exotic print made with Thai silk, especially created for the brand by legendary National Artist, Thawan Duchanee.

3. Harper’s Bazaar Asia New Generation Fashion Designer Award The winner of the regional competition, Malaysian designer Harvee Kok Leong Vee, showcased elements of Eastern philosophy—like the ying and yang, in black and gray—in his “Bipolarity” collection.

4. Melinda Looi The “Lost in the Forest” collection, inspired by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, sought to portray mystery and the beauty

5 of the forest with tulle, French lace, velvet, Duchess satin, soft chiffon, and embroidery on linen in black, greens, browns, and nude.

5. John Paras The “Angles and Attraction” collection was inspired by angles—cut on the fabric— and the Filipino artist Hernando R. Ocampo to showcase fun and modern classic silhouettes.

december 2013 | 59

Siam Paragon

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Siam Paragon

LIFESTYLE FASHION

6. Fri27Nov Chanachai Jareeyathana unveiled “Rattanakosin Era Presented by Citi,” a look at “Thainess” with handmade details and distinctive prints, from the past to the present.

7. Tube Gallery The “From Russia With Love” collection, by Pisit Jongnarangsin and Saksit Pisalasupongs, was inspired by that country’s art and culture, and it portrayed opulence through patterns on the fabric.

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8. Theatre The “BCBG Bon Chic Bon Genre/Bourgeois Bohème” collection, by Sirichai Daharanont, was inspired by street fashion, with an infusion of popular patterns and graphics.

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9. Flynow Flynow by Somchai Songwattana and Chamnan Pakdeesuk presented the latest “Gold Label 2014” collection that featured contemporary architectural silhouettes and graphic prints along with Asian-inspired prints.

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ADVERTORIAL

DECEMBER 2013 | 61

SANSIRI'S TAKE ON THE RESORT-STYLE HOME

Sansiri

LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATE

Baan Plai Haad, Pattaya

Five exciting projects, from beachside luxury resort condominiums in Phuket to residences surrounded by verdant flora at Khao Yai and Chiang Mai, are presented by Thailand’s property developer.

Setthasiri San Sai, Chiang Mai

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Sansiri

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ith Thailand’s continued development, healthy economy, and soaring popularity amongst foreign investors, the country’s property industry has been enjoying strong and steady growth. Over the past five years, housing demand throughout Bangkok, upcountry, and in beach areas has been climbing steadily. Resort-style residences have proven to be a particularly alluring option for homebuyers looking to invest in Thai property for either personal use or financial return. Sansiri, Thailand’s leading property developer, has taken the helm in exploring the lavish and environmentally immersive possibilities of this unique brand of home.

The resort-style home provides the shelter and security of a regular residence, but with all of the perks, amenities, and first-class services you would normally associate with a luxurious holiday resort. Baan Plai Haad Wongamat and Baan Mai Khao Phuket are two of Sansiri’s latest beachside luxury resort condominiums.

They offer a selection of room sizes; extensive facilities, including beachfront pools, fully equipped exercise rooms, and perfectly manicured gardens; a wide range of quality services; and 24-hour security. Furthermore, both projects boast stunning views and provide private direct access to the beach. With land prices throughout Thailand on the

Sansiri

rise, condominiums are an inherently affordable solution for homebuyers.

Sansiri’s chief executive officer, Apichart Chutrakul, explains the company’s approach to design: “When we design a project, we pay close attention to every single element and the finest details. We also use the context of the local community as inspiration for the design.” Baan Mai Khao was developed according to the concept of “barefoot luxury.” It is a high-class getaway immersed in a serene natural environment, with every aspect of the project’s design, from its architecture to its finishes, implemented to evoke wind, sunshine, and sand. The project has a semi-outdoor lobby with a gorgeous sea view, and the landscaped gardens are lush with local vegetation. Both interior and exterior architectural elements draw inspiration from Phuket’s signature Sino-Portuguese heritage.

This meticulous attention to detail is common to all of Sansiri’s endeavours.

From its cost-effective one-million baht condominium units to its 100-million baht luxury estates, Sansiri—awarded “Best Developer" at the 2013 Thai Property Awards—prides itself on using only the highest quality production materials, and offering superior services that realistically take into account the broad needs of its customers.

Sansiri’s other Phuket resort-style condominium, The Deck, takes comfort to a whole new level, literally. Situated on the white sands of Patong Beach, The Deck’s rooftop relaxation area, complete with a 50-meter lap pool, a Jacuzzi, and plenty of room to stretch one’s legs and bask in the sun’s rays, provides a panoramic view of Phuket’s resplendent coast. Lush green trees, gentle breezes, and a seemingly endless ocean horizon make for an unrivalled elevated living experience.

In the exquisite region of Khao Yai, Sansiri has traded vertical height in favor of green open space. The Valley consists of three residential buildings that surround what is essentially a private oasis, comprising a river-like swimming pool and expansive garden.

The entire area rests under the natural shade of large flowering trees. As with all of Sansiri’s homes, The Valley has a host of state-of-the-art facilities, and

Baan Mai Khao, Phuket

Sansiri

ADVERTORIAL

The Valley, Khao Yai

residents are entitled to a wide array of specialized services.

Finally, looking north to Chiang Mai, Sansiri has recently established Setthasiri San Sai. Embedded in the mountainous region of Doi Suthep, the one-of-a-kind luxury project guarantees the freshest air, cool morning mists, and some of the most stunning scenery to be found in Thailand. Setthasiri San Sai adheres to a grand, regal-like design that draws inspiration from traditional Lanna architecture. From the giant fully equipped clubhouse to the finest details of the project’s structure, all elements are distinctly Lanna. The long walkway that runs parallel to the swimming pool is perfect for relaxing strolls, and there are plenty of intuitively calculated vantage points throughout the project that offer exquisite views of Chiang Mai’s beautifully preserved natural environment.

With land prices increasing uniformly throughout Thailand and more savvy homebuyers looking

for that little extra incentive when purchasing property, it is no wonder that the luxury-style home has become such a sought-after investment.

Unlike with mature markets, such as those of the U.K., U.S., and Australia, investing in a steadily emerging market like Thailand has the potential to maximize capital appreciation in the long term. Increasingly popular holiday destinations like Chiang Mai, Khao Yai, Pattaya, and Phuket each have a distinct charm that makes them uniquely attractive as homes away from home. One of Sansiri’s key strengths is effectively incorporating these innate cultural and environmental characteristics into the designs of its projects. With the company continuing to expand operations in country and beach areas, property buyers can expect to see even greater innovation in, and diversification of, the resort-style home market.

More information: www.sansiri.com december 2013 | 63

LIFESTYLE SPORTS

The players

The Thailand Golf Championship, to be held December 12–15 at Amata Spring Country Club, will gather some of the world’s best players.

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he Thailand Golf Championship, a prestigious tournament that is part of the wider Asian Tour founded in 1995, was inaugurated in 2011.

December 12–15, 2013, its third version will take place at Amata Spring Country Club, Chonburi, just outside of Bangkok.

The tournament will bring some of the world’s best players to its putting greens.

The tournament has established itself as one Asia’s most prominent professional golf tournaments, and it has become a key player in developing the sport both in Thailand and across Asia, offering the best domestic players the unique opportunity to compete against international stars.

After the trophy was taken by Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) in 2012, and Lee Westwood (U.K.) in 2011, the championship has also attracted some of the world’s best golfers this year. This comes as no surprise when, besides enjoying Thailand’s wonders and hospitality, they are set to get worldwide recognition through a tournament will be broadcast live to 200 countries and 800 million homes worldwide. The

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tournament offers a total prize of USD 1 million.

Amata Spring Country Club, a private club surrounded by luscious scenery, was voted by its players as the number one course on the Asian Tour in 2011 and 2012. It features a world-famous island green on the 17th hole that can only be reached by boat.

With enhancements to the course, including the lengthening of a few holes and numerous additions of bunkers, the third edition of the Thailand Golf Championship will be the most challenging and competitive yet.

Daily tickets are available from THB 300 to THB 500, and at THB 800 for four-day package tickets.

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More info: www. thailandgolfchampionship.com (tournament), www.thaiticketmajor. com (tickets) Lookeast is giving away 50 season tickets for Thailand Golf Championship!

Participate by answering one of the questions related to the tournament through December 11; after that date, answers will be published on www.facebook.com/ LookeastMag and www.twitter.com/LookeastMag.

IMG

Samot + Shutterstock

GREENER GRASS IN CHONBURI

1. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) Champion of TGC 2012 with an 11-stroke margin over runners-up Thitiphun Chuayprakong and former Masters champion Bubba Watson.

2. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) First time at TGC. He recently became the first man ever to win both the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup. 3. Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) He is returning to the championship after finishing in 2012 at 9 under par. In 2012 he recorded the lowest-ever final round in a major international golf tour.

4. Bubba Watson (USA) Second place on TGC 2012, and number 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Hunter Mahan (USA) Second time in TGC after a T22 finish on 2012. He has won eight tournaments on the tour, including two World Golf Championships in 2010 and 2012.

Rickie Fowler (USA) First time at TGC. Since turning pro in 2009, he has won two professional tournaments, both of which saw Rory McIlroy finish in second place.

Justin Rose (England) First time at TGC. Winner of the U.S. Open, he reached a career-high ranking of 3rd in the world this year.

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LIFESTYLE SPA OFFERS

OR'S EDITIC P K

Pampering Spa Amenities at Banyan Tree Gallery

Oasis Spa

OR'S EDITIC P K

Oasis Spa's "King of Oasis" Treatment What: In the month of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s birthday, feel like royalty as well by getting one of Oasis Spa’s signature treatments. The “King of Oasis” treatment combines Thai massage techniques with aromatherapy. It starts with a Thai herbal hot compress along the strong muscle lines, followed by a hot oil massage that works and stretches the muscles. You will be received with a lemongrass drink, and after 120 minutes of pampering, you will leave with a smile.

When: Daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Oasis Spa, 64 Sukhumvit 31, Soi Sawasdee, Bangkok How much: THB 3,900 More info: 02 262 2122, www.oasisspa.net

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Ladies, Step Aside: Breeze Spa presents its Treatments for Men

What: Breeze Spa has designed a special range of treatments specifically for men. Choose from among the “Workaholics Reprieve” (if you spend too much time sitting in front of the computer), “As Good as New” (if you tend to accumulate tension), or “Work It Out” (if you’ve taken your exercise regime a bit too far) body massages. Or select the “Alpha Male” or “Hydro Male” facial treatments, or quick manicures and pedicures that only take a jiffy.

When: Ongoing Where: Breeze Spa in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, Koh Chang, Pattaya, Krabi, and Koh Samui How much: Body treatments starting at THB 1,100; facials starting at THB 2,500; manicure THB 250-300; pedicure THB 350-450 (prices vary by location) More info: www.breeze-spa.com

Breeze Spa

Banyan Tree Gallery

What: Recreate an indulging spa experience reminiscent of the tranquil sanctuary of the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa in your home with a visit to Banyan Tree Gallery. The shop features an assortment of natural essential oils, hand-dipped incense sticks, lead-free ceramic burners, and signature hair and body care products.

When: Daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel (21/100 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120), 21st floor How much: Products starting THB 150 More info: 02 679 1200 ext 1522, www.banyantreegallery.com

Our culinary adventure started first thing in the morning at Or Tor Kor Market.

Hansar Bangkok

Curioso + Shutterstock

WINE&DINE RESTAURANTS

Hansar Bangkok's new executive chef, Charles Christiaens.

MARKET-TO-TABLE MENU WITH CHARLES CHRISTIAENS We challenged Hansar Bangkok’s new executive chef to take us to a market, buy ingredients, cook a meal, and pair it with wine. This was the outcome.

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s with most of us, it was his passion for travel that first brought Charles Christiaens, the newly appointed executive chef at Hansar Bangkok, to Thailand. His reason was for a diving holiday a decade ago. The familiar story of falling in love with the country followed, and he has been here ever since.

He started cooking in Bangkok at Le Bistingo (now Aubergine), in Soi Saladaeng. Then he was the opening chef at Harvey Restaurant, in Thonglor Soi 9 before becoming chef de cuisine at the iconic French restaurant, Ma Maison, at Swissotel Nai Lert Park. He was the executive chef in two more hotels, The Landmark Bangkok and Pathumwan

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by Laurence Civil Princess, before coming to Hansar Bangkok a few months ago to focus on Eve, the hotel’s French Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant.

Having tried his food in several of his previous restaurants, we decided to give Chef Charles a challenge: to take us to a market of his choice to see what he wanted to buy, and bring the ingredients back to the hotel to cook an exclusive meal. Once he cooked the meal, we asked him to pair each course with a wine he felt best complemented it. We wanted to give him a chance to showcase the culinary skills he has acquired working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgium (his birthplace) and France.

Our culinary adventure started first thing in the morning at Or Tor Kor

Market. It was easy to get there by MRT to Kamphaeng Phet station. Taking Exit 3 and following the signs for “Marketing Organization for Farmers,” we arrived at the front door. Last year CNNGo rated it the world’s fourth-best fresh market; this is Bangkok’s equivalent to Paris’s Rungis market. Established in 1971 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to create a fair distribution channel for Thai farmers to sell their fresh produce, it has recently undergone a total renovation, and today it’s the destination for Thailand’s top chefs, celebrities, foodies, and hungry tourists.

“This is the first time I have come here to buy to cook in the restaurant,” says Charles. “Normally I would go to the Gourmet Market in Emporium.

Hansar Bangkok Hansar Bangkok

Eve, Hansar Bangkok’s French Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant.

Duck confit parmentier, wild mushrooms, and foie gras.

There, everything is what’s in season 365 days a year, from different part of the world. What I like about this market is that they sell what’s in season in Thailand—respecting seasonality is a key element of the fine-dining experience.”

This market was planned by someone who understands fresh produce marketing. It’s spotlessly clean, and each stall attractively displays its produce, which is clearly labelled with the name of each item, and the country or province of origin written in English. Shopper selects how much or how little of each item they want to buy, and products are sold by weight.

Charles declined the vendor’s offer to clean the fresh scallops still in their shells—he would do it himself back in

the kitchen. Having put the fish and seafood into plastic bags, the vendor topped them up with ice cubes to keep them fresh until they were back at the Hansar.

“At Eve, my menu is based on the best seasonal products I can find,” he says. “Our shopping trip this morning allows me to apply the concept of creating this menu using as much local produce as it is practical to. This is a candlelight cosy romantic restaurant, and I want to continue that emotion into what goes onto the plate. We do have an à la carte menu, but I prefer to go out into the restaurant and ask guests their preferences and how they are feeling, then I create dishes that are right for them at that moment, just as I have done

with this menu.”

This first dish he prepared was Andaman Sea scallops, pomegranate, and coral on toast. “I prefer the taste and texture of these fresh local scallops from the Andaman Sea to those frozen from Hokkaido, Japan,” he claims. He cooked them with coral in white wine and served them on a bed of cauliflower and pomegranate mousse, to which he added just a touch of fresh horseradish to give the dish a subtle kick.

His wine pairing for this dish was Brokenhills Estate’s Amanda’s Brook Sauvignon Blanc 2010, from Adelaide Hills, Australia. With this wine, there is a fine balance of citrus and grassy notes that develop greater depth and smoky complexity, with a biting structure. This was a nearly perfect match—the first course exceeded my expectations.

Charles had checked the freshness of several strawberry-red snappers by squeezing them and looking under the gills before choosing the one he would cook for me. He filleted the fish, panfried it with white asparagus, and served with brunoise (finely diced) melon and cucumber with paprika. Wrapping melon balls with a red spinach leaf created an interesting color contrast on the plate.

With this course he went to Chile for his wine pairing and chose Viña Siegel’s San Elias Chardonnay, from the Central Valley. It was a yellow wine with an intense pineapple aroma and a very fresh taste. A delicious, easy-drinking wine that was another successful pairing.

For the main course, Chef Charles prepared a very elegant interpretation of duck confit parmentier, a classic dish from Gascony that is similar to a cottage pie, but made with duck meat. To take it to the next level, he served it with shaved foie gras.

He chose to stick with Chile for the wine pairing of this course: a Santa Ema Merlot from Maipo, located at the northernmost end of the Central Valley.

This wine opens with aromas of ripe blackberries and vanilla, which lead to rich chocolate and toasty oak.

This menu was made from Thai ingredients, with the exception of foie gras, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, simply because they aren’t produced here. And Charles passed the test we set him with flying colors. december 2013 | 71

WINE&DINE RESTAURANTS

MAKING A STATEMENT Lifestyle playground KU DÉ TA arrived to Bangkok to revolutionize the city’s dining and entertainment landscape.

KU DÉ TA

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ars, restaurants, and clubs in a city come and go, especially in one like Bangkok, where the gastronomic and entertainment markets are so dynamic.

To offer a unique selling proposition to a public that has so many options to choose from, making a strong initial statement can help.

“The sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group.” That is how Encyclopedia Britannica defines the French expression “coup d’état” and, determined to change the present state of the dining and entertainment scene in the city, KU DÉ TA Bangkok made a statement when it entered the market October 18 with a launch party that gathered the bestknown faces of the country’s party scene, while it continues to offer exceptional cuisine and fun nights out that people keep going back to.

Signature restaurant

The Place

by Marianna Dietrich They say that the cream rises to the top.

Looking down on the glittering skyline from Bangkok’s newest venue, perched 40 floors above Sathorn, it is easy to see the truth of this statement.

KU DÉ TA is akin to a “lifestyle playground” consisting of three worldclass restaurants (of which two are currently open), seven themed bars, and two nightclubs. Having already achieved success first in Bali and then in Singapore—although KU DÉ TA Bangkok’s management is only the same as Singapore’s—the brand seeks to live up to its name and revolutionize the dining and entertainment landscape in the city.

To help achieve this goal, the brand handpicked executive chef Jonathan Maza to design each of the

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restaurant’s menus. His mix of French techniques with Asian accents reflects years of experience opening fine-dining restaurants internationally. Maza, who started working in professional kitchens at the age of 14, has held the title of head sushi chef at Sansei in Honolulu, and he was selected by chef Nobu Matsuhisa to open Nobu in both the Bahamas and Melbourne.

With such an international resume, Maza sought to create a distinct dining experience at each of KU DÉ TA’s restaurants. Signature presents Asian flavors with a modern twist, and it oozes elegance through its hand-carved ceilings, banquettes, and views of the Bangkok skyline.

Izakaya, located on the 39th floor, is a traditional Japanese Robatayaki

charcoal grill and sushi bar that seeks to “capture the comfort of eating in an old Japanese social setting.” The restaurant features an open kitchen, fresh imported fish, and premium Japanese beer on tap, as well as a comprehensive sake menu.

A wine list consisting of New and Old World wines selected by awardwinning sommelier, Nikom Puangkham, is a complement to each of the three restaurants’ meticulously crafted menus.

KU DÉ TA’s bars and clubs, which spread over the 39th and 40th floors, include: Club Lounge, Ku Bar, Soundgarden & Amber Bar, and Aviary, while Grill Bar and Member’s Club will open in early 2014.

The dress code is smart, stylish, and chic. No shorts, slippers, or tank tops.

The Food

Start with a maguro tataki, salmon white kelp, and madai disho. Pair it with KU DÉ TA’s house wine, the 2012 Astrolabe Province Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, from New Zealand. A wine with a powerful aroma where lemon peel, lemongrass, and white fruit come into play. Dry, with medium-high acidity, and quite a long finish, it goes well with the sashimi and even with the asparagus tempura, which is not an easy pairing. But the dish that really made me think of umami was the madai chowder, consisting of Japanese sea bream and a miso chowder. Vegetables, fish, and flavors reminiscent of Japan kick in slowly, separately, increasingly, till they get to where they are supposed to be: Mm! This dish is a clear and wonderful representation of the layers and balance of flavors that Chef Maza has devised for Signature.

Madai chowder

KU DÉ TA

Umami. I tasted it several times while trying dishes at KU DÉ TA’s Signature restaurant.

Umami is the kind of flavor that makes you say “Mm!” about a meal that you enjoy. On a more scientific level, it is a pleasant savory taste imparted by a type of amino acid called glutamate, and by ribonucleotides, which occurs naturally in many foods, including vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products.

Examples of umami-rich foods are kombu, seaweed, bonito and dried bonito flakes, mackerel, tuna, prawns, shellfish, chicken, green tea, and soy sauce, as well as tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, soybeans, and other vegetables. As Signature has defined itself as a “Modern Asian” restaurant specializing in seafood, many of these products are present in its dishes. “We want sensory perception to come at you from different angles,” explains chef Jon Maza. To achieve this, special attention has been paid to layering and balancing flavors, using organic and often imported ingredients that are cooked to precision and presented in a visually appealing way. As guests relax to lounge music, immersed in a chic and dimly lit interior as Bangkok’s city lights shimmer in the distance, dining at Signature may be an alluring experience for all the senses.

Chef Maza started working on the brand’s kitchen design in January 2013; menu development took six months, during which 12 to 15 people tested dishes they would sometimes revise up to 16 times to get them exactly as they liked them. “There was a lot of thought process that went into the ingredients, the techniques that cooked them, the equipment that it’s being cooked on, the plate that it’s going on. Everything was meticulously thought out,” explains Maza.

Thai s'mores

KU DÉ TA

by Anita Zaror

When dessert comes into play, Executive Pastry Chef Jason Licker makes sure to give the dining experience at KU DÉ TA the sweet ending it deserves. His training in French cuisine techniques and international experience—including nine years in Asia—come to KU DÉ TA in the form of desserts like Sang Som cappuccino, made with Sang Som foam, milk ice cream, and chocolate coffee crumble, or the Thai s’mores. “I love drinking Thai tea, so we’re making it into ice cream, putting it inside a marshmallow, and burning it,” Licker explains. Boom! The result is probably the best fusion of classic Thai and American flavors to be found in a dessert in Bangkok today.

In this way, KU DÉ TA has already made quite a statement, and more will come in 2014 when the venue is fully operational. december 2013 | 73

The "Mr. Steve" was named after one of Mark and Honey's close friends, because this is his favorite burger.

ON THE HUNT FOR A GOURMET BURGER From LA to Bangkok, Daniel Thaiger’s hamburgers have what it takes.

T

by Marianna Dietrich

hey say anything worth having takes work, and while locating Daniel Thaiger— Bangkok’s first gourmet burger food truck—might require some effort, the reward to the palate is well worth it.

Daniel Thaiger, the brainchild of Los Angeles native Mark Falcioni and his Bangkok-born wife, Honey, is a fully operational mobile kitchen, à la the food truck scene that has taken off in California. Mark and Honey are selfdescribed “foodies.” Honey grew up cooking for her Thai family, while Mark spent years in the food and beverage industry in the U.S. and abroad.

Concerned by the dearth of good burgers in Bangkok, Mark and Honey saw an opening, and thus Daniel Thaiger—

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which they named after their four-yearold son—was born.

Open only since September of this year, the mobile restaurant already has a 2,000 strong following on Facebook, and it sells out 150-200 burgers nightly. But what makes DT so popular? “It all comes down to the ingredients,” Mark says.

“We spent over four months sourcing and selecting them. We taste-tested combinations on our family and our international friends until we arrived at the perfect flavor profile.”

Their most popular burger, the “Mr. Steve,” (THB 169), is no “fast-food” burger. It is made of a high-quality, organic beef that is delivered and ground fresh, daily. The patty is grilled to your liking and features real California sharp cheddar and crunchy bacon. Its fluffy

sesame seed bun is baked fresh daily by a local baker, then spread with Thaiger sauce, a homemade Thousand Island dressing. Grilled onions, lettuce and tomato complete the ensemble, ensuring that every last bite drips with flavor.

Daily specials, like the bacon jalapeño mac and cheese burger, and additional toppings, such as guacamole, chili con carne, and spicy spreadable Italian chorizo (available on the “secret menu”), are enough to sate the appetite of anyone craving a truly gourmet burger.

The food truck also serves up a pork burger, which can be ordered two ways: the “Thaiger” (THB 129), or the “Sumo Oat” (THB 149), which features a teriyaki glaze on the pork patty and a spicy mayo sauce. Sandwiches can also be ordered and include a grilled tuna melt for THB 79 and a grilled cheese for only THB 49.

All of Daniel Thaiger’s burgers are grilled in the open-style kitchen, and customers can sit at the fold-down table at the end of the truck and watch Mark and Honey at work or enjoy a chat with them. Indeed, a large part of Daniel Thaiger’s success lies in Mark and Honey’s outgoing and friendly manner, the perfect fusion of Thai smiles and the American customer service approach. They aim to please and try to get to know all of their customers by name. I suppose that’s easy, since their customers keep on coming back. I know I will.

People queue every evening to get a DT burger.

Where: Thong Lo, Sukhumvit Soi 38; Royal City Avenue; or “anywhere you want them.”

When: Open from 5:30 p.m. until they sell out.

More info: www.facebook.com/ DanielThaiger

Alisa Hubert

Alisa Hubert

WINE&DINE RESTAURANTS

WINE&DINE DINING SPECIALS

New Year's Eve 2014 at Indus with DJ Xunny Dey

Indus

What: Enjoy an international buffet with live cooking stations, free-flowing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks; fireworks at the midnight countdown; with music, games, and fun activities.

When: December 31 from 8 p.m. onwards Where: Indus (71 Sukhumvit Soi 26) How much: THB 2,800 including buffet, free-flowing drinks, countdown, and party from 8 p.m.; THB 1,200 including free-flowing drinks, countdown, and party from 11:30 p.m.; THB 1,000 for children under 12, from 8 p.m. till late More info: 082 342 1765, 02 258 4900, www.indusbangkok.com

High Tea at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

What: Enjoy High Tea at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa’s Sundara Lounge, its stylish lobby lounge. Pamper yourself and relax in an afternoon of indulgence where the hustle and bustle of life seems a world away. Enjoy an array of delicate pastries, delectable cakes, and sumptuous savories, all served on a traditional high tea stand with fresh brewed Lavazza coffee or a cup of Dilmah premium tea.

When: Throughout December, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Sudara Lounge, Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa (1573 Petchkasem Road, Cha-Am, Phetchaburi 76120) How much: THB 390 net per person and THB 720 net for two More info: 032 708 000 ext. 4100-4101, fb.huahin@sheraton.com

What: Discover the traditional Indian flavors and spices at Flava Restaurant & Bar. The Indian menu includes appetizers such as chicken pakoda; fried crunchy chicken pakoda and onion bhaji; deep-fried onion fritters; and main dishes like butter chicken, lamb masala, paneer cheese cooked with tomato and onion in gravy; and dal makhani, or black lentils in a creamy, flavorful, mildly spicy curry. All main dishes are served with homemade paratha bread. Salty lassi and mango lassi are also available for your choices of special drink.

When: Daily for lunch (starting 11:30 a.m.) and dinner Where: Flava Restaurant & Bar, Dream Hotel, (10 Sukhumvit Soi 15, Bangkok 10110) How much: Starting THB 140 More info: 02 254 8500, info@ dreambkk.com

Dream Hotel

Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

Savor the Exotic Indian Flavours at Dream Hotel

december 2013 | 75

WINE&DINE DINING SPECIALS

Celebrate Christmas at Ambassador Hotel Bangkok

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok

What: Celebrate Christmas with a sumptuous buffet lunch of traditional Yuletide treats, including roast turkey, honey-glazed ham, and Christmas pudding. Exchange Christmas gifts with family and friends amidst the festive atmosphere the hotel will offer.

When: December 25 starting 11 a.m.

Where: 71 Sukhumvit Soi 11 How much: THB 555 per person More info: 02 254 0444, www.amtel.co.th

What: Treat yourself on Christmas Day to the popular brunch at Parichart Court, Bangkok’s award-winning brunch venue. A culinary experience featuring all of your festive favorites from around the world, plus a bit to splurge on: fresh Sydney oysters, rock lobster, foie gras, sushi, and sashimi.

When: December 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: 155 Rajadamri Road How much: THB 3,950 per person including free-flowing beverages; THB 1,950 per child for the kids’ buffet.

More info: www.fourseasons.com/ bangkok

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Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit

Christmas Day at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit

What: Voilà! restaurant will be serving a Christmas Eve dinner buffet, which will offer roast turkey with sausage, sage and onion stuffing, rotisserie roast lamb and baked salmon, among other dishes, along with a wide selection of cheese and desserts.

When: December 24, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Where: Voilà! Restaurant, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit (189 Sukhumvit Road Soi 1315, Klongtoey Nua) How much: Starting THB 2,800 net per person with free-flowing soft drinks and juices; THB 3,999 net per person with free-flowing Prosecco, beer, cocktails, soft drinks, and juices; THB 4,999 net per person with free-flowing Veuve Clicquot. Fifty percent discount for children aged 6–12, free for children under 6 years.

More info: 02 126 9999, www.sofitel-sukhumvit.com/en

GLOW Pratunam

WINE&DINE BAR SPECIALS

Happy Hours at Flava Lounge and Pool Bar

What: At Flava Lounge everything has been designed with fun in mind, from the full-sized pink leopard standing guard at the bar to the striped walls and rugs with eyepopping colors and patterns. Enjoy two-for-one beer, wine, or cocktails here or at the Pool Bar during happy hour.

When: Daily from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Flava Bar and Pool Bar, Dream Hotel (10 Sukhumvit Soi 15) How much: Buy one and get one of the same for free More info: 02 254 8500, www.dreambkk.com

Wine Dinners at The Cellar

What: Located at the highest point in the resort and featuring more than 3,000 vintages, The Cellar, Conrad Koh Samui’s premier private wine cellar, is offering carefully selected wine dinners during December that are planned by its executive chef and sommelier.

When: December 24, 25, and 31 Where: The Cellar, Conrad Koh Samui (9/8-9 Moo 4, Hillcrest Road Tambol, Amphur Koh Samui) How much: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day THB 6,000 (six courses) per person; New Year’s Eve celebration THB 8,888 per person, including a complimentary bottle of Champagne for couples.

More info: 077 915 888, conrad_koh_ samui@conradhotels.com

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Lookeast | wine & dine

What: Luna Sky Garden Café, at GLOW Pratunam, invites you to loosen up after work and try delicious wine from around the world. Enjoy snacks and a wide selection of wines, such as Aldridge Shiraz Merlot 2011 (Australia), Villarrica Cabernet 2010 (Chile), Pinot Grigio Salento 2011 (Italy), and more.

When: Daily from now until June 30, 2014, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Where: Luna Sky Garden Café, GLOW Pratunam (919 Petchburi Road, Kwang Thanon Phayathai, Rajdhevi) How much: THB 650 net per person More info: 02 257 3999, rsvn. pratunam@glowbyzinc.com, www.glowbyzinc.com/ pratunam

Conrad Koh Samui

Dream Hotel

Wine I Love Buffet

WINE&DINE THE OENOPHILE

SPARKLING BUBBLES Champagne and sparkling wine: same same, but different.

W

by Anita Zaror with aperitifs as well as with desserts.

Here’s a little something you’ll find useful next time you go shopping for them and serve them.

Champagne Originally from France’s northernmost winemaking region, an hour and a half from Paris, the term “Champagne” sometimes is wrongly used to refer to any type of sparkling wine. Truth be

pkchai + Shutterstock

elcome to The Oenophile! A place for connoisseurs and aficionados to find and share information about wine. Send us information about your wine events, and we will publish it on this page.

We had to dedicate this month’s page to sparkling bubbles, which are such a good fit for these end-of-year celebrations, and so versatile that they can be paired

Here are some suggested sparkling bubblies—all of which can be found in Thailand—for these end-of-year celebrations: Champagne

Suggested by

1996 Bollinger Grande Année (only 2002 is available in Thailand)

Alain Pégouret, executive chef at the Laurent (1*) restaurant, Paris

2004 Louis Roederer Brut Vintage

Siwat Thitipornwatthanakul, sommelier at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV

Prime Assistant Restaurant Manager/ Sommelier, Millennium Hilton Bangkok

told, Champagne can only be called that if it comes from the Champagne region, and if it is produced from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, and with the “méthode champenoise.”

If you purchase a bottle that is labeled “Champagne,” and it was produced in a different region than this one, it will taste completely different simply because it won’t be the real thing.

The major types of Champagne are nonvintage or multiple vintages, from two or more harvests; vintage, from a single vintage; and prestige cuvée, also from a single vintage, but aged longer.

To buy Champagne—and this is applicable for sparkling wines too—you first need to determine if you would like it dry (go for a brut nature, extra brut, or brut) or on the sweeter side (go for an extra sec, sec, or demi sec). You can open a bottle of Champagne as soon as it reaches your hands, although prestige cuvée bottles can be kept for about 10 to 15 years.

Serve it in a flute or tulip-shaped glass, so that it doesn’t lose its bubbles so fast.

Sparkling Wine Any bubbly that was not produced in the Champagne region in France can be called a sparkling wine. In Spain it’s called cava, Sekt in Germany, and spumante in Italy, while in the U.S. it would just be called “sparkling wine.”

When the Champenoise method has been used to make a sparkling wine anywhere in the world other than in Champagne, it is said to have been made with the classic method.

And how can you tell you’re drinking sparkling wine and not Champagne, besides knowing the region where it comes from? Sparkling wine is much cheaper, because it doesn’t use the costly Champenoise method for its production.

And Champagne has smaller bubbles, and many more, than sparkling wine.

Madame de Pompadour used to say that Champagne was the only drink that could leave women still beautiful after drinking it. Ladies, you might want to try that for yourselves. december 2013 | 79

travel

DIRECTORY HOTELS

Bangkok AMARI BOULEVARD: 2 Soi 5 Sukhumvit Rd (Nana Bts) Tel: 02 255 2930, www.amari.com/boulevard AMARI DON MUANG AIRPORT: 333 Chert Wudthakas Rd, Don Muang Tel: 02 566 1020, www.amari.com/donmuang AMARI WATERGATE: 847 Petchburi Rd Tel: 02 653 9000, 02 653 9101/8, www.amari. com/watergate ANANTARA BANGKOK RESORT & SPA: 257 Charoennakorn Rd (Saphan Taksin BTS To hotel’s ferry) Tel: 02 476 0022, www.bangkok-riverside. anantara.com ATRIUM BANGKOK HOTEL: 1880 New Petchburi Rd, Bangkapi, Huay Kwang Tel: 02 718 2000-1, www.atriumbangkok.com BANYAN TREE BANGKOK: 21/100 South Sathorn Rd (Lumpini MRT) Tel: 02 679 1200, www.banyantree.com CENTARA GRAND AT CENTRALWORLD: 999/99 Rama 1 Rd (Chidlom BTS) Tel: 02 100 1234, www.centralhotelresorts. com CENTARA GRAND AT CENTRAL PLAZA LADPRAO: 1695 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak Tel: 02 541 1234 CONRAD BANGKOK ALL SEASONS PLACE: 87 Wireless Rd (Ploenchit BTS) Tel: 02 690 9999, www.conradhotel.com CROWNE PLAZA BANGKOK LUMPINI PARK: 952 Rama Iv Rd (Sala Daeng MRT) Tel: 02 632 9000, www.crownplazabkkk.com DAVIS BANGKOK, THE: 88 Sukhumvit 24 (Phrom Phong BTS) Tel: 02 260 8000, www.davisbangkok.net DREAM HOTEL: 10 Sukhumvit Soi 15 (Asoke Sala Daeng Sala Daeng BTS) Tel: 02 254 8500, www.dreambkk.com DUSIT THANI, THE: 946 Rama Iv Rd (Sala Daeng BTS) Tel: 02 200 9000, www.dusit.com EUGENIA, THE: 267 Sukhumvit Soi 3 Tel: 02 259 9011/7, www.theeugenia.com EASTIN GRAND HOTEL SATHORN: 33/1 South Sathorn Road (Surasak BTS) Tel: 02 210 8100, www.eastinbangkokhotel. com FOUR SEASONS BANGKOK: 155 Ratchadamri Rd (Rajdamri BTS) Tel: 02 126 8866, www.fourseasons.com/ bangkok FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON: Sukhumvit Soi 15 (Nana BTS) Tel: 02 309 3000, www.starwoodhotels.com

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GRAND HYATT ERAWAN: 494 Ratchadamri Rd (Chidlom BTS) Tel: 02 254 1234, www.bangkok.grand.hyatt. com

PENINSULA BANGKOK: 333 Charoennakorn Rd (Saphan Taksin BTS to hotel ferry) Tel: 02 861 2888, www.bangkok.peninsula. com

HILTON SUKHUMVIT: 11 Sukhumvit Soi 24 (Phrom Phong BTS) Tel: 02 620 6666, www.hilton.com

PLAZA ATHENEE HOTEL: 61 Wireless Rd (Ploenchit BTS) Tel: 02 650 8800, www.hotel-plaza-athenee. com

HOLIDAY INN SILOM: 981 Silom Rd (Surasak BTS) Tel: 02 238 4300, www.holidayinnsilom.com KEMPINSKI SIAM HOTEL: 991/9 Rama I Rd (Siam BTS) Tel: 02 162 9000, www.kempinski.com MUSE HOTEL: 55/555 Langsuan Rd (Ploenchit BTS) Tel: 02 630 4000, www.hotelmusebangkok. com IMPERIAL QUEEN’S PARK: 199 sukhumvit Soi 22 (Phrom Phong BTS) Tel: 02 261 9000, www.imperialhotels.com/ queenspark INTERCONTINENTAL BANGKOK: 9743 Ploenchit Rd (Chidlom BTS) Tel: 02 656 0444, www.intercontinental.com JW MARRIOTT BANGKOK: 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2 (Ploenchit BTs) Tel: 02 656 7700, www.marriot.com/bkkdt LANDMARK BANGKOK: 138 Sukhumvit Rd (Nana BTS) Tel: 02 254 0404, www.landmarkbangkok. com FENIX, LE: 33/33 Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Nana BTS) Tel: 02 305 4000, www.lefenix-sukhumvit. com LEBUA AT STATE TOWER: 1055 Silom Rd (Surasak BTS) Tel: 02 624 9999, www.lebua.com/bangkok/ MILLENNIUM HILTON: 123 Charoennakorn Rd (boat shuttle from Saphan Taksin BTS) Tel: 02 422 2000, www.bangkok.hilton.com METROPOLITAN, THE: 27 South Sathorn Rd (Lumpini MRT) Tel: 02 625 3333, www.metropolitan.com.bz NOVOTEL: 392/44 Siam Square (Siam BTS) Tel: 02-209-8888, www.novotelbkk.com ORIENTAL MANDARIN, THE: 48 Oriental Ave. (Saphan Taksin BTS to hotel ferry) Tel: 02 659 9000, www.mandarinoriental. com OKURA PRESTIGE, THE: 57 Wireless Rd (Phloen Chit BTS) Tel: 02 687 9000, www.okurabangkok.com PATHUMWAN PRINCESS: 444 Phayathai Rd (National Stadium BTS) Tel: 02 216 3700, www.dusit.com

PULLMAN SILOM HOTEL G: 188 Silom Rd (Chong Nonsi BTS) Tel: 02 238 1991/99, www. pullmanbangkokhotelg.com RADISSON SUITES: 23/2-3 Sukhumvit Soi 13 (Asok BTS) Tel: 02 645 4999, www.radisson.com/ bangkokth_sukhumvit REMBRANDT HOTEL: 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18 (Asok BTS) Tel: 02 261 7100, www.rembrandtbkk.com RENAISSANCE HOTEL: 518/8 Ploenchit Rd (Chidlom BTS) Tel: 02 125 5000, www.renhotels.com/ bangkok ROYAL ORCHID SHERATON: 2 Charoen Krung Soi 30, Siphya Tel: 02 266 0123, www.royalotchidsheraton. com SHANGRI-LA, THE: 89 Charoen Krung Rd (Saphan Taksin BTS) Tel: 02 236 7777, www.shangri-la.com SHERATON GRANDE SUKHUMVIT: 250 Sukhumvit Rd (Asoke BTS) Tel: 02 649 8888, www.starwoodhotels.com/ bangkok SIAM HOTEL KEMPINSKI: 991/9 Rama I Rd (BTS Siam) Tel: 02 162 9000, www. kempinski.com SOFITEL BANGKOK SUKHUMVIT: 189 Sukhumvit Rd Soi 13-15 (Nana BTS) Tel: 02 126 9999 www.sofitel.com SOFITEL SO BANGKOK: 2 North Sathorn Road (Lumpini MRT) Tel: 02 624 0000 SUKHOTHAI BANGKOK, THE: 13/3 South Sathorn Rd (Lumpini MRT) Tel: 02 344 8888, www.sukothai.com SWISS HOTEL: 2 Wireless Rd (Ploenchit BTS) Tel: 02 253 0123, www.bangkok-nailertpark. swisshotel.com SWISS LODGE: 3 Convent Rd (Sala Daeng BTS) Tel: 02 233 5345, www.swisslodge.com ST REGIS BANGKOK: 159 Rajdamri Rd (Rajdamri BTS) Tel: 02 207 7777, www.starwoodhotels.com

UNICO PREMIER METROLINK: 57 AsokeDindaeng Rd (Petchaburi MRT) Tel: 02 652 9000, www. unicopremiermetrolink.com VIE HOTEL BANGKOK: 117/39-40 Phaya Thai Rd (Phayathai BTS) Tel: 02 309 3939, www.viehotelbangkok.com WESTIN GRANDE SUKHUMVIT: 259 Sukhumvit Rd (Asok BTS) Tel: 02 207 8000, www.westin.com/bangkok WINDSOR SUITES HOTEL: 8-10 Sukhumvit Soi 20 (Asok BTS) Tel: 02 262 1234, www.windsorsuiteshotel. com Pattaya AMARI ORCHID: Pattaya beach Rd Tel: 038 418 418, www.amari.com Centara Grand Mirage beach resort: Pattaya 277 Moo 5 Tel: 038 301 234, www.centarahotelsresorts. com

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CHIANG MAI: Mae Rim-Samoeng Old Road 50180 Tel: 053 298 181

DEEVANA PATONG RESORT & SPA: 43/2 Rai-u-Thid 200 Pee Rd Tel: 076 341 414/5, www.deevanaphuket.com

MANDARIN ORIENTAL CHIANG MAI: 51/4 Chiang Mai, Sankampaeng Road Moo 1 T. Tasala A. Muang Tel: 053 888 888

DUSIT THANI LAGUNA: 390 Moo 1, Srisoontorn Rd Tel: 076 362 999, dusitthanilagunaphuket. dusit.com

RACHAMANKHA: 6 Rachamankha 9, T Phra Singh Tel: 053 904 111, 053 814 521, www. rachamankha

JW MARRIOTT PHUKET RESORT & SPA: 231 Moo 3, Mai Khao Tel: 076 338 000 ext 35252, www.marriott. com

RATILANNA RIVERSIDE SPA RESORT: 33 Chang Klan Rd Tel: 053 999 333, www.ratilnnachiangmai. com

JW MARRIOTT KHAO LAK RESORT & SPA: 41/12 Moo 3, Khuk Khak Tel: 076 584 888, www.marriott.com

Hua Hin CAPE NIDHRA HOTEL: 97/2 Petchkasem Rd Tel: 032 516 600, www.capenidhra.com SHERATON HUA HIN RESORT & SPA: 1573 Pechkasem Rd, Tumbol Cha-Am Tel: 032 708 000

CENTARA GRAND RESIDENCE PATTAYA: Soi Na Jomtien 6, Moo 1, Jomtien Beach, Chonburi Tel: 038 706 407, www.cgrpattaya.com

DUSIT THANI: 1349 Petchkasem Rd Tel: 032 520 009, www.dusit.com

CAPE DARA RESORT: 256 Dara beach, Soi 20, Pattaya-Naklua Rd Tel: 038 933 888

AMARI PALM REEF RESORT: Chaweng beach road Tel: 077 422 015/19, www.amari.com

DUSIT THANI: 240/2 Pattaya beach Rd Tel: 038 425 611/7, www.dusit.com

CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT: 38/2 Moo 3, Bophut, Chaweng beach Tel: 077 230 500, www.centralhotelsresorts. com

GARDEN CLIFF RESORT & SPA: 220/2 Moo 5, Soi Naklua 16 Tel: 038 259 333, www.gardencliffpattaya. com HILTON PATTAYA HOTEL: 333/101 Moo 9 Tel: 038 253 000, www.hilton.com HARD ROCK HOTEL: 429 Moo 9, Pattaya beach Rd Tel: 038 428 755/9 , www.hardrockhotels.net PATTAYA MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA: 218/2-4 Pattaya beach Rd Tel: 038 412 120, www.marriottotels.com ROYAL CLIFF HOTEL: 353 Phra Tamnak Rd, Pattaya Tel: 038 250 421, www.royalcliff.com SHERATON PATTAYA RESORT: 37 Phra Tamnak Rd Tel: 038 259 888, www.sheraton.com/ pattaya/com ZIGN, THE: 555/65 Moo 5, 12 Naklua Rd Tel: 038 909 800/20, www.thezignhotel.com Chiang Mai CHEDI CHIANG MAI, THE: 123-123/1 Charoen Prathet Rd Tel: 053 253 333, www.ghm.hotels.com

Koh Samui

FOUR SEASONS KOH SAMUI: 219 Moo 5, Angthong Tel: 077 243 000

KANTARY BEACH HOTEL VILLAS AND SUITES: 64, 65 Moo2, Kukkak Tel: 076 584 700, www.kantarycollection.com MÉRIDIEN PHUKET BEACH, LE: 29 Soi Karon Nui Tel: 076 370 100, www.lemeridien.com MÉRIDIEN KHAO LAK BEACH & SPA RESORT, LE: 9/9 Moo 1 Tambol Kuk Kak Tel: 076 427 500, www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien KANTARY BAY HOTEL, THE: 31/11 Moo 8, Sakdidej Rd Tel: 076 391 514, www.kantarybay-phuket. com THE NAKA ISLAND: 32 Moo 5, Tambol Paklok, Amphur Thalang, Naka Yai Island Tel: 076 371 400 WESTIN HOTELS AND RESORTS: 21/4 Moo 1 T. Rasada A. Muang Tel: 076 335 600 Krabi

SANTIBURI RESORT: 12/12 Moo 1, Maennam Tel: 077 425 031/5, www.santiburi.com

AMARI VOGUE RESORT: 149 Moo 3 Tambol Nongtalay Tel: 075 607 777, www.amari.com/vogue

THE LIBRARY 14/1 Moo 2 Chaweng Beach, Bo Phut Tel: 077 422 767-8

CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT & VILLAS: 420/22 Moo 2 Aonang Ao Nang Tel: 075 661 027, www.centralhoetlresorts. com

TONGSAI BAY COTTAGES & HOTEL: 84 Moo 5, Bophut Tel: 077 245 480, www.tongsaibay.co.th

SHERATON KRABI: 155 Moo 2, Nong Thale, Muang Tel: 075 628 000

Phuket

SOFITEL KRABI PHOKEETHRA GOLF & SPA RESORT: Klong Muang beach, Tel: 075 627 800, www.sofitel.com/6184

AMANPURI PHUKET: 118 Moo 3 Srissunthorn, Phuket Tel: 076 324 333 AMARI CORAL BEACH: 2 Meun Ngern Rd Tel: 076 340 106/14, www.amari.com ANGSANA LAGUNA: 10 moo 4 Srisoonthorn Rd Tel: 076 324 101, www.lagunaphuket.com

Koh Chang AMARI EMERALD COVE RESORT KOH CHANG: 88/8 Moo 4 T Tel: 039 552 000, www.amari.com/ emeraldcove

december 2013 | 81

travel

DIRECTORY RESTAURANTS

AMERICANA

ITALIAN

BOURBON ST. RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR: Specializes in Louisiana Cajun and Creole dishes and other New Orleans favorites | 9/39-40, Soi Tana Arcade, Sukhumvit 63, Ekkamai. Hours: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Tel: 02 381 6801/3, www.bourbonstbkk.com

ANTONIO’S: Antonio’s The Italian Experience is situated in a pleasant little house that gives an intimate but classy feel.

Classy decor, well-trained staff, and good food | 26 Sukhumvit Soi 31 (Phrom Phong BTS).

Tel: 02 662 1001

ZUMA: Contemporary Japanese cuisine.

Fresh ingredients in their traditional and fusion Japanese food are always a draw for lunch and dinner | 159/99 Rajdamri Rd, main entrance located beside St. Regis Hotel Bangkok (Rajdamri BTS). Tel: 02 252 4707

HENRY J. BEAN’S: Tex-Mex food, beer, and fun in all-American style, complemented by drinks from a professional mixologist | Amari Watergate Hotel, 847 Petchburi Rd. Hours: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tel: 02 653 9000

BISCOTTI: The first restaurant to have an open kitchen in Bangkok, Biscotti offers simple, home-style Italian food of great quality for lunch and dinner | Lobby Level, Four Seasons Bangkok, Rajdamri Road (Rajdamri BTS). Tel: 02 126 8866

KOREAN

CHINESE CHINA HOUSE: It has represented the pinnacle of Cantonese fine dining in Thailand since 1990 | Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Soi Oriental, Bangrak. Tel: 02 659 9000. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

HEICHINROU: Cantonese specialty restaurant serving an eclectic selection of new favorites and traditional delicacies | Amari Watergate Hotel, 847 Petchburi Rd. Tel: 02 653 9000. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

LIU: A gourmet Chinese restaurant offering authentic delicacies creatively presented for contemporary diners. | Conrad, 87 Wireless Rd. Tel: 02 690 9999. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

FRENCH AUBERGINE: Great for a romantic evening, serves an eclectic menu based on French and Italian cuisines | 71/1 Saladaeng Soi 1/1. Tel: 02 234 2226. Hours: 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

D’SENS: French haute cuisine with expansive views over Lumpini Park | Dusit Thani Bangkok 946 Rama IV Rd. Tel: 02 200 9000.

Hours: 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

GERMAN BEI OTTO: Nice traditional German food and good beer | 1 Sukhumvit 20. Tel: 02 260 0869. Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., www.beiotto. com INDIAN INDUS: “Best Indian Restaurant” winner from multiple publications. A contemporary Kashmiri-inspired restaurant | Sukhumvit Soi 26 (Phrom Phong BTS). Tel: 02 258 4900. Hours: Lunch and dinner, www. indusbangkok.com MAYA: Maya Authentic Indian and Bar is a stylish Indian restaurant that serves authentic Indian cuisine from the northern region. The adjacent bar offers sky-high entertainment until 1 a.m. | 29th Floor, Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit 22, 1 Sukhumvit 22. Tel: 02 683 4777

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Lookeast | DIRECTORY

ENOTECA ITALIANA: Quiet and romantic, it boasts attentive, professional service, good food, and an impressive wine list | 39 Sukhumvit Soi 27. Tel: 02 258 4386 GIUSTO: Italian restaurant and bar with clean, modern interior, elegant food, an art house cigar lounge and chef-owners who are larger than life |16 Soi Sukhumvit 23. Tel: 02 258 4321 PIZZERIA LIMONCELLO: Friendly, relaxed restaurant offering truly Italian thin-crust pizzas baked in a traditional wood-fired oven | Sukhumvit Soi 11. Tel: 02 651 0707. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight (Tues-Sun) JAPANESE HONMONO SUSHI: Sushi joint on the expensive side, but worth it. Sushi and maki, such as the dragon avocado and the grilled Matsusaka beef, are recommended | 19 Thonglor Soi 23 (Thonglor BTS). Tel: 02 185 1447 AOI: A typical Japanese restaurant, Aoi offers everything from udon, sushi and teppan to its popular set menu | 4/F, Emporium, Sukhumvit Rd. (Phrom Pong BTS). Tel: 02 664 8590/2, www.aoi-bkk.com YAMAZATO: Famous throughout the world for its consistent quality, some of the key highlights of this Japanese restaurant include two teppanyaki tables and a sushi bar stocked with the seafood flown in from Tsukiji, Japan | The Okura Prestige Bangkok, Park Ventures Ecoplex, 57 Wireless Rd (Ploenchit BTS). Tel: 02 687 9000 SHINTARO: Get the finest quality slabs of sashimi, artfully hand-rolled sushi, succulent foie gras rolls, or tasty soba noodles here | Four Seasons Bangkok, 155 Rajadamri Rd (Rajdamri BTS) Tel: 02 126 8866. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

TENSUI: Fish for sushi and sashimi freshly imported from the markets of Japan; everything served is less than 48 hours old | 33 Sukhumvit Soi 16. Te: 02-663-2281

ARIRANG: The restaurants always offers quality food and service | Sukhumvit Plaza, Sukhumvit Soi 12. Tel: 02-653-0111 KONGJU: Very popular with families. Dishes are prepared authentically, in hearty servings | 2nd floor, Pathumwan Princess Hotel, MBK Center 444 Phayathai Rd. Tel: 02 216 3700.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

MEDITERRANEAN EAT ME: A laidback restaurant with flair on the menu. Doubling as an art gallery and maintaining late opening hours that appeal to the party crowd, the 60-seater restaurant has long been known for its mellow vibe, jovial staff and Aussie-style café food.” | Convent Road (in Soi Pipat 2), Silom (Saladaeng BTS).

Tel: 02 238 0931 SIROCCO: One of the most recommended restaurants in Bangkok. Great menu and equally great views of Bangkok and Chao Phraya River | 63rd Floor, lebua at State Tower, 1055 Silom Rd (Saphan Thaksin BTS).

Tel: 02 624 9555. Hours: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., www.thedomebkk.com SCARLETT: Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant is a meeting point for young executives who like to have fun and chill out. The place boasts a fine selection of wines along with tapas, imported cold cuts, and a large variety of cheeses. The menu is inspired by French chef Manuel Martinez, who has two Michelin stars and is owner of the Louis XIII Restaurant in Paris | 37th Floor, 188 Silom Rod, Bangrak.

Tel: 02 238 1991 VERTIGO: For a romantic tête-à-tête, glamorous cocktail party, or fashion launch, there is no better venue than this. Fresh grilled seafood and premium steaks. Wide selection of cocktail and drinks | 61st floor, Banyan Tree Bangkok 21/100 South Sathorn Rd. Tel: 02 679 1200. Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight, www.banyantree.com SEAFOOD SEAFOOD MARKET: One of the oldest seafood restaurants in the city, popular with tourists | 89 Sukhumvit Soi 24. Tel: 02 261 2071. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to midnight SPANISH RIOJA: Known for imported fresh ingredients from Spain. Specializing in northern Spanish cuisine | Ploenchit Rd (Chidlom BTS). Tel: 02 251 5761/2. Hours: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

TAPAS CAFÉ: The first authentic Spanish tapas bar in Bangkok. Not a Spanish “theme bar” but an innovative tapas bar serving both traditional and modern tapas dishes | 1/25 Sukhumvit 11. Tel: 02 651 947. Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight, www.tapasiarestaurants.com STEAKHOUSES ARTUR’S: From the man behind many of Bangkok’s finest steakhouses comes his most personal project; great martinis and steaks at lower-than-average prices | 9 Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Rd. Tel: 02 658 6288. Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

MADISON: Bangkok’s best charcoal grilled steaks in this high-end steakhouse with the quality and creativity expected from the Four Seasons | G/F, Four Seasons Bangkok, 155 Rajdamri Rd (Rajdamri BTS). Tel: 02 250 1000 NEW YORK STEAKHOUSE: New York– caliber steakhouse, with the food, service, and refinement expected from its namesake city | JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok | 4 Sukhumvit Rd, Soi 2. Tel: 02 656 7700 PRIME: Watch your steak caramelize in the wood-fired oven or take in the fantastic Chao Praya River view as the sun goes down | Millennium Hilton Bangkok Hotel 123 Charoennakorn Rd. Tel: 02 442 2000. Hours: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

THAI BAAN KHANITHA & GALLERY: Winner of more than 10 “Bangkok’s Best Thai Restaurant,” awards this tea room serves high-quality authentic Thai food in a traditional atmosphere | 36/1 Sukhumvit 23.

Tel: 02 258 4128. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., www.baankanitha.com BLUE ELEPHANT: Another great Thai restaurant whose menu includes classics and innovations for the future. Old World ambience enhances the dining pleasure | 233 South Sathorn Rd (Surasak BTS). Tel: 02 673 9353. Hours: 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., www. blueelephant.com CABBAGES AND CONDOMS: Established in part to support the activities of PDA with several locations around Thailand, this restaurant offers a pleasant dining experience | 6 Soi 12, Sukhumvit Rd. Tel: 02 229 4611 Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., www. cabbagesandcondoms.co.th

BO.LAN: By drawing on the abundance of natural resources and incorporating the geographical diversity that Thailand offers, the restaurant actively strives to serve Thai food at its very best, taking full advantage of the fresh and seasonal produce available | 42 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Songkram Sukhumvit 26 (Phrom Phong BTS). Tel: 02 260 2962 NAHM: Awarded the prestigious “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” (Top 32) and “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” (Top 3), Nahm is a place both for serious gourmets and for those who desire to learn more about authentic Thai cuisine | 27 Sathorn Rd | Metropolitan by COMO Hotel, Bangkok. Tel: 02 625 3388 LONG TABLE: This restaurant is famous for both its food and for its stunning 25th-floor view and trend-setting interior featuring a 25-meter-long table and contemporary video art | 48 Column Tower, Sukhumvit 16 (Asok BTS). Tel: 02 302 2557 BARS APOTEKA: There are now two Apotekas in Bangkok. The first is a unique, fivechambered bar on Sukhumvit Soi 11 that was designed in to evoke the essence of an Old World apothecary shop from the turn of the 19th century. A new branch has opened in Thonglor | 33/28 Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Nana BTS). Tel: 083 720 5586 CLOUDS: Clouds is praised by many for its shisha and great cocktail menu | 251/1 Seenspace Center, Sukhumvit 55 Rd (Thonglor BTS). Tel: 02 185 2365 SPEAKEASY: The atmosphere merges an internationally inspired food-and-drink concept with Asian influences. Encompassing the entire 24th and 25th floors and comprising a number of different types of watering holes: Long Bar, Terrace Bar, The Blind Pig cigar lounge, a rooftop bar, The Lawn, as well as a boardroom and three private rooms (“It’s Personal”, “Private Affair,” and “Never Tell”) | 24th & 25th floors, 55/565 Hotel Muse, Soi Langsuan (Chitlom BTS). Tel: 02 630 4000 CLUBS CONCEPT CM2: Long-running favorite in the Siam Square area, and dubbed by many as a top nightspot. | Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Siam Square Soi 6 (Siam Square BTS). Tel: 02 209 8888. Hours daily: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

TAPAS: One of Bangkok’s oldest clubs, it has lasted for a reason. Multi-story club with different DJs playing on each floor; be sure to check out the rooftop area | 114/17-18 Silom Soi 4 (Saladaeng BTS). Tel: 02 632 7883 Hours: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., www.tapasroom.net Q BAR: Once notorious for crowds but has started to turn around its image and continues to bring in top-flight DJs and afterparties | Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Nana BTS). Tel: 02 252 3274 Hours: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, www.qbarbangkok.com LEVELS: Peripherally attached to Aloft Hotel, this high-end club is accessible by a separate set of elevators that lead to the sixth floor and an enormous, high-ceilinged room whose centerpiece is a circular, glowing bar with a jazzy LED chandelier overhead. There are house-heavy DJs every night, with the occasional visiting big deal international act | 6/F, Aloft Hotel, 35 Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Nana BTS). Tel: 082 308 3246 LIVE JAZZ BAMBOO BAR: Home to some of the more refined jazz music in Bangkok | Oriental Bangkok 48 Oriental Ave 02 659 9000 Hours: Mon-Fri, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., Sat-Sun, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., www.dininginthailand.com FAT GUTZ: Innovative cocktails, chic decor, and surprisingly good fish and chips | 264 Thonglor Soi 12 Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor BTS). Tel: 02 714 9832 Live music 9 p.m. to midnight, www.fatgutz.com IRON FAIRIES: Antique factory with live metal-crafting, a wine bar and a restaurant | 394 Thonglor Rd Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor BTS). Tel: 084 425 8080, www.theironfairies. com LOUNGES NEST: Wonderful little rooftop bar on the top of the @ Le Fenix Hotel. Situated in the midst of Suk 11, yet feels intimate and relaxed | 33/33 Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Nana BTS). Tel: 02 654 6935, www.thenestbangkok.com THREE SIXTY: One of the more stunning views Bangkok has to offer high up on the 32nd floor of the Millennium Hilton Hotel with panoramic views of the Chao Praya River | 123 Charoennakorn Rd Klongsan (Free shuttle from Saphan Taksin BTS). Hours: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily

CELADON: A bit pricey, but the menu offers great selection that is inventive without being ridiculous | The Sukhothai Hotel, 13/3 South Sathorn Rd. Tel: 02 344 8888, www. sukhothai.com

MIXX: Discotheque Bangkok All night dance lounge featuring house and hip hop rooms | 973 President Tower, Room B06-B10 in the basement of the Intercontinental Hotel (Chitlom BTS). Hours: 10 p.m. to late

ABOVE ELEVEN: Above Eleven is a great place to start a night of carousing and partying on Sukhumvit 11. Enjoyable eating experience and cool atmosphere | 33/F, Fraser Suites, Sukhumvit 38/3, Soi 11(Nana BTS). Tel: 02 207 9300

MAHANAGA: High-end, relaxed al fresco experience. Serves high0quality classic Thai dishes with a subtle fusion twist | 2 Sukhumvit Soi 29. Tel: 02 662 3060. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

SPASSO: An Italian restaurant by day; nightclub with live band at night. A favorite of older expats, tourists, and others who like a more mature night out | Grand Hyatt Erawan, 494 Rajdamri Rd (Chitlom BTS). Tel: 02 254 1234. Hours: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

WHISGARS: Whisgars presents the largest collection of single-cask whiskies in Asia, along with premium hand-rolled cigars of exceptional quality, all amidst refreshingly modern surroundings | 16 Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok (Sukhumvit MRT). Tel: 02 664 4252 december 2013 | 83

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