december-2010

international adventures
Damnoen Saduak
fl oating market
BANGKOK
THAILAND
Thailand is a fascinating
country with beautiful
landscapes and
spectacular monuments.
Its capital, the “City of
Angels”, bustles with the
energy and colour of a
metropolis that never rests.
MYANMAR
Andaman
Sea
LAOS
THAILAND
MALAYSIA
FROM THE AIRPORT
CBD 30km from Suvarnabhumi
International Airport
Travel time Around 40 mins
by car
Taxi Approx THB300 (AU$10.23)
Airport Express THB150
(AU$5.11); takes around 60 mins
ON THE GO
1. BTS Skytrain and MRT These
two train systems travel over- and
underground to get you to all the
major points in Bangkok.
2. Tuk-tuk This method of transport
offers an exhilarating ride around
the streets, but is best for short
distances only.
3. Taxi Cabs are usually readily
available, but always ask the driver
politely to have the meter switched
on. A small tip is also always
appreciated as a nice gesture.
138 DECEMBER 2010
Gulf
of
Tonkin
Bangkok
CAMBODIA
Gulf
of
Thailand VIETNAM
MATTHEW VARLEY
Executive general
manager (Asia),
AsiaWebDirect.com
Best breakfast: It’s hard to top
breakfast at the Bangkok Baking
Company at JW Marriott for nice
eggs Benedict and coffee. However,
if you want to go all out on a
Sunday brunch, the Four Seasons
Hotel serves an amazing spread of
food and drinks.
Great place for dinner: Enoteca
— it’s a cosy little Italian restaurant
tucked down a small street
(Sukhumvit Soi 27), which serves
excellent food and wine to match.
Must-buy (money no object!):
A Lamborghini at Siam Paragon
— the whole second level in the
shopping centre is full of luxury
cars — a must-see!
Survival tips for tourists:
Don’t get scammed into visiting a
jewellery shop. And make sure your
taxi driver uses the meter.
Must-eats: Som tam (papaya
salad) with grilled meats, ba mee
(pork noodle soup) and tom yum
goong (spicy Thai prawn soup)
— all comfort food at its best and
tastiest, especially when freshly
made off street stalls.
Local recreational activity to
watch: Public aerobic classes in
Lumpini Park with pumping techno
music, starting at 6pm every
evening. Feel free to join in!
Best places to hang out with
the locals: Thonglor and Ekkamai
have some great bars where you
can fi nd the hippest Bangkok
denizens. Try chilling on the
rooftop at Muse on Thonglor Soi
10, or Shades of Retro, a very cool
vintage bar along Soi Thara Rom
2, between Thonglor Soi 16 and 18.
Everything in it is for sale!
I love Bangkok because: It’s
chaotic, relaxed and friendly all at
the same time. Amazing!
A longtailed
boat
PHUKET
THAILAND
VISA REQUIREMENTS: Passengers are advised to make themselves
familiar with the relevant visa requirements for international travel.
Visa requirements may differ between countries.
Providing a nice contrast
to the capital Bangkok,
Phuket is a beach-lover’s
paradise, and defi nitely a
great place to slow down
and lap up the island life of
the locals — with stunning
scenery to boot.
Gulf
LAOS
of
Tonkin
Great Barrier I.
MYANMAR
North Island
Tasman THAILAND
Sea
Cook
Strait
CAMBODIA
Wellington
Gulf
NEW ZEALAND
of
Andaman
Thailand VIETNAM
Sea
Christchurch
South Island
Phuket
Pacific
Ocean
Queenstown
MALAYSIA
FROM THE AIRPORT
Patong Beach 32km from Phuket
International Airport
Travel time Patong Beach is
around 45 mins by car
Taxi Approx THB400 (AU$13.63)
Shuttle bus Every 30 mins at
THB52 (AU$1.77); takes about
60mins
ON THE GO
1. Motorbike A cheap and
convenient way to explore all the
tiny lanes around the beach — but
drive with care!
2. Tuk-tuk This method of transport
offers an exhilarating ride, but is
best for short distances only.
3. Car hire Really the only way to go
beyond the city. If you want to enjoy
the scenery while on the move,
hiring a driver as well only costs a
little more.
MARK HEHIR
General manager,
Anantara
Phuket Villas
Local delicacies: Kanohm jin
phuket, a noodle that is often
compared to spaghetti served with
a spicy curry sauce, the original
made from fi sh. It’s usually eaten
as breakfast and comes with a
range of fresh vegetables and
boiled eggs. It’s often found with
the fried pastry, pah tong go, and
curried fi sh mousse called hor
mohk. You can fi nd these in Phuket
Town on Tungka Road.
Best ideas for a family outing:
Elephant trekking and looking at
gibbons. Catch a glimpse of rare
birds soaring overhead and watch
the forest come to life during a
morning elephant trek through
the island’s jungles. Take time to
observe the endearing relationship
between the mahout (elephant
caretaker) and elephant.
Best place to hang out with
the locals: One of the many
local beaches with wonderful
national parks, such as Sirinath
National Park which covers 90km².
There you’ll fi nd great beaches,
swimming and picnic areas, and
see the locals enjoying themselves!
Most unusual thing to do:
Go on a canoe expedition with
John Gray to the limestone cliffs
of Phang Nga Bay. Spend the
afternoon exploring the sea caves
and limestone islets by canoe. At
dusk, set adrift fl oating candle
kratongs as the sun sets. Then
tuck into a ravishing Thai seafood
buffet dinner. Round it up with a
moonlight canoe trip into a hong.
I love Phuket because: Of its
rich history. The surrounding
waters contain much varied marine
life, and the town is notable for its
Sino-Portuguese architecture. It’s
the perfect island for sightseeing,
activities and romance, with its
lovely seashores, coves, forested
hillsides and resorts.