january-2010

international adventures
INTRODUCING OUR DESTINATIONS
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A Balinese ceremonial
procession
BALI & JAKARTA
INDONESIA
For one of Asia’s best holiday
islands, you can’t go past
Indonesia’s Bali. It’s got sun,
sea, and mountains, plus a rich
traditional culture. Indonesia’s
capital Jakarta is the 11th
biggest city in the world with a
bustle to match.
FROM THE AIRPORT
Bali CBD 15km from Denpasar’s
Ngurah Rai Airport
Travel time Kuta Beach is around
10 mins by car
Taxi Approx IDR30,000 (AU$3.50)
Shuttle Bus Most hotels offer
complimentary pick-up
FROM THE AIRPORT
Jakarta CBD 20km
from Soekarno–Hatta
International Airport
Travel time Around 30 mins by car
Taxi Approx IDR120,000 (AU$14)
DAMRI Bus IDR15,000 (AU$1.80)
to any city bus station
ON THE GO
1. Bali and Jakarta Taxis
Get your hotel to order one for you
and for the return trip too.
92 JANUARY 2010
REGINA GARDE
Fashion designer
BALI
Best idea for a family outing:
Waterbom Park in Kartika
Plaza. Parents can relax in the
pleasure pool and the kids can
go mad riding more than 10
rides. Food court and pool bar
are also available.
Most romantic spot: Ku De
Ta in Seminyak, where a sunset
cocktail is a must. There’s
a wide range of cocktails
and fi nger food to enjoy with
the sunset.
Most unusual thing to do:
Learn how to dance in one day
and perform at a local stage
in Ubud. They get very excited
to have tourists learn Balinese
dance and actually perform
with them!
Best places to party with
the gang: Hard Rock Café
and Embargo — don’t miss
the superb Toblerone cocktail
in Embargo, and the Flaming
Bikini at Hard Rock Café.
I love Bali because: The air in
Bali is just different, it has its
own charisma and it’s not just
for tourism. Art and culture are
abundant and the fact that the
people of Bali are proud of their
tradition is refl ected in their
daily life and weekly religious
ceremonies. I also love how
down-to-earth Balinese are
and the fact that they don’t
act crazy when there are
celebrities around.
BANGKOK &
PHUKET
THAILAND
Thailand is a fascinating
country with beautiful
landscapes and spectacular
monuments. Bangkok bustles
with energy while Phuket is a
beach-lover’s paradise.
FROM THE AIRPORT
Bangkok CBD 30km from
Suvarnabhumi International Airport
Travel time Bangkok CBD is around
40 mins by car
Taxi Approx THB300 (AU$10)
Airport Express THB150 (AU$5)
and taking around 60 mins
FROM THE AIRPORT
Patong Beach 32km from Phuket
International Airport
Travel time Patong Beach is
around 45 mins by car
Taxi Approx THB400 (AU$13.30)
Shuttle Bus Every 30 mins at
THB52 (AU$1.80); takes 60mins
ON THE GO
1. BTS Skytrains Will get you to all
the major points in Bangkok.
2. Tuk Tuk For short distances only.
Thai dancers performing
at the Phimai Light
and Sound Festival
JULIAN MOSS
CEO of ASM Liquor
BANGKOK
Best breakfast: Baiyoke Sky
is amazing — it has great views
overlooking the city from the
70th fl oor and a delicious buffet
breakfast. Alternatively, the
fi ve-star hotels in Sukhumvit
on the Chao Phraya River
also offer a large range of
buffet breakfasts.
Best night out: Start at the
Sky Bar (on top of the State
Tower) for drinks, followed by
an Italian dinner at Zanotti
in Soi Saladaeng (book the
private room if you’re dining
with four or more). Then
head to the Bed Supper
Club to fi nish off the night
with dancing.
Best buy for under AU$50:
Head to MBK or Chatuchak
weekend markets. The variety
of products is overwhelming
and the quality is good,
however, be aware that many of
the items are not genuine.
Must-buy gift: Head to Zen
at Central World for a thrilling
shopping experience where
you’ll fi nd lots of must-buy gifts
at reasonable prices.
Survival tip for tourists:
Carry lots of small currency
and barter on everything from
taxis and tuk tuks to shopping.
Many of the drivers and street
vendors don’t carry large
amounts of change.