InEssence Issue 15

Editorial Team - Editor Gai Sukhumalind · Contributing Editor Ross Blaufarb · Writers Andy Round, George Hopkin, Ken Barrett, Marwanee Mahlee, 

Nancy Monson, Rukshana Rizwie, Simon Ostheimer, Tanes Srisuk · Art Director Yuttana Lapangyawit / Graphic Designer Wanchana Lengjeh 

Operation Manager Thongtos Chusit · Photographers Phuwadol Jankhum, Punnatat Asawakornjuraschai, Siwasan Chiewpimolporn, Vith Chinchanachokchai 

Centara Hotels & Resorts - Chief Operating Officer Chris Bailey 

Head of Corporate Marketing Thailand Pinida Pettanagul · Marketing Service Manager Piyaporn Manyum 

Advertising Enguires - Thongtos Chusit +66 (0) 2168 7624, tea@nativemedia.co.th · Cover image - Getty Images 

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Welcome to the new-look In Essence. We hope 

you enjoy the fresh new design and the many 

interesting features in our magazine. 

This issue highlights some of our favourite 

destinations, namely Phuket, Sri Lanka and Bangkok. We introduce 

you to the hidden beaches still to be found on the beautiful island 

of Phuket, despite the crowds of visitors in the better-known 

spots (p16). We then go to another paradise in Sri Lanka, taking 

a route that runs parallel to the ocean until we reach the resort 

town of Bentota (p24). We next return to the heart of Bangkok 

to discover the ways of Thai people from their markets (p42). 

We also feature some names from diverse professions. Fashion 

designers (p62), a tattooist (p68) and a world-class athlete (p76) may not 

at first seem to have much in common, but as our profiles reveal they all 

share the qualities of being hardworking and successful. We find them 

inspiring, and hope you enjoy reading about them while you stay with us. 

Finally, Centara’s international presence continues to grow, 

with our new properties due to open in Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Ethiopia 

and Laos. We aim to take our Thai service culture to these fascinating 

destinations, and hope to see you there soon. 

As the year 2016 is upon us, my colleagues and I wish you 

a New Year filled with good health, happiness and prosperity. We 

look forward to welcoming you back on your next Centara visit. 

Thirayuth Chirathivat 

Chief Executive Officer 

Centara Hotels & Resorts 

In Essence is published by Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited and is produced for Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited by Native Media Limited, 

The Trendy Building, 10/162 Soi Sukhumvit 13, Sukhumvit road, Klongtoey - nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110. Tel: +66 (0) 2168 7624 Fax: +66 (0) 2168 7625 www.nativemedia.co.th 

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited. 

©2015-2016 by Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited. All rights reserved. 

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Sri Lanka

contents 

Destinations 

16 

Phuket’s secret sands 

24 

Sri Lanka 

An island escapade 

34 

Fast track 

The world’s best rail journeys 

42 

42 

Photo story 

Markets in Bangkok 

Style 

54 

Passport of style 

Looking comfortably 

stylish 30,000 feet above 

7

People 

62 

Playing the Fashion Games 

Thai fashion designers and 

their creativity. 

68 

Beyond the ink 

Meet Anon Peeranunpanya, one of 

Thailand’s top tattoo artists. 

76 

Top of his games 

Novak Djokovic has it all-age on 

his side, a growing family and a 

burgeoning business empire. 

88 

At Centara 

88 

Blue Sky thinking 

The rooftop restaurant features 

French bistro food and cool cocktails. 

8

68 


9

NEW SUAN BUA 

Authentic Thai cuisine in modern style, featuring dishes from every corner of the country, ranging from 

ultra-spicy southern through to tangy northeastern and milder northern fare. 

Suan Bua Restaurant, an institution in Bangkok for over 30 years, has been renovated its completely new look 

in November 2015 to create a warm but stylish atmosphere.The “New Suan Bua” offers an intimate dining 

experience which combines Chef Santiphap Petchwao’s expertise with the traditional and internationallycompetitive 

modern dining environment. Simplicity and natural materials are at the heart of the new design, 

with the recurring “lotus” emblem used as a symbolic “Suan Bua”. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATION 

PLEASE CONTACT KHUN YING (F&B RESERVATION COORDINATOR) 

T: 02 541 1234 EXT. 4151 | E: FB_OFFICE@CHR.CO.TH

Destinations 

Phuket’s secret sands 

Sri Lanka: An island escapade 

Fast track

. . . . . . . . . . w h a t ’ s o n 

Events & 

Festivals 

Thailand is a festive kingdom, celebrating numerous provincial 

and national holidays and hosting many regional and global events. 

January Highlights 

Chiang Rai Flower Festival 

When: 24 December - 31 January 

Where: Tung and Khom Park, Chiang Rai 

Floral displays and competitions, an orchid garden, sales 

of locally made and grown products, a beauty contest 

and a floral procession are all part of this lovely festival. 

Phu Ruea Flower Festival 

When: 1 December - 31 January 

Where: Phu Ruea, Loei 

The Sea of Fog and Beautiful Flower Blossom is one 

of the highlights of the festival held in the hills of 

Loei province, with a fair of temperate plants, a floral 

parade, decorative plant contests and a winter dance. 

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February Highlights 

Chinese New Year 

When: 8 February 

Where: Chinatown, Bangkok 

Chinatown celebrates the Year of the Monkey with dragon 

dances, firecrackers, Chinese lanterns, street parties, and 

restaurants serving auspicious Chinese dishes. 

March Highlights 

Pattaya International Music Festival 

When: 18 - 20 March 

Where: Pattaya 

One of the biggest international beach music festivals 

in Asia, taking place along Pattaya Beach Road, with a 

different colourful theme each year. Thousands of people 

enjoy the performances of famous Asian and Thai artists. 

T H A I L A N D 

Underwater Wedding Festival 

When: 12 - 14 February 

Where: Kantang, Trang 

Every year brides and grooms from many countries come to 

South Thailand for this unique event, with traditional Thai 

wedding ceremonies, lavish processions and beach parties, plus 

an underwater declaration of marriage vows at Koh Kradan. 

Cha-am International Kite Festival 

When: Early March 

Where: Naresuan Camp, Cha-am 

The traditional kite festival reveals fabulously designed 

kites and there are exciting kite flying stunts and competitions 

over Cha-am’s golden beach. The town itself is brightly 

decorated and there are food and handicraft stalls. 

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. . . . . . . . . . w h a t ’ s o n 

Here are four colourful festivals and 

events in four different countries that 

will provide an unforgettable travel 

experience for you during the early 

months of 2016. 

Muscat Festival 

When: 15 January - 14 February 

Where: Muscat, Oman 

Muscat Festival is the biggest event annually hosted 

in Muscat, an extravaganza of cultural shows, art 

exhibitions, music, sport, and live entertainment. 

Special events are staged for children. Participants 

and visitors alike are international, and there is great 

food and shopping to be enjoyed. Visitors can also 

experience the traditional Omani lifestyle at the 

Heritage Village. 

Tet Festival 

When: 8 - 12 February 

Where: Da Nang, Vietnam 

Tet is the Vietnamese New Year, a time of festival and an 

occasion for pilgrimages and family reunions. Da Nang 

is one of the best destinations to experience Tet, with its 

colourful decorations, its restaurants and roadside stalls 

serving auspicious dishes, its traditional dance and music 

performances, and its spontaneous beach parties. 

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Bali Nyepi Day 

When: 26 March 

Where: Bali, Indonesia 

Nyepi Day is a New Year celebration in Bali, a Hindu tradition that is also 

known as the Bali Day of Silence. This is the quietest day of the year, when all 

routine activities will completely halt, the roads are empty and nobody steps 

outside of their homes. Even the airport is closed. As a time for self-reflection, 

anything that might interfere with that is restricted. Nyepi is worth 

experiencing at least once in a lifetime. Activity quickly picks up on the 

following day, which is known as Ngembak Geni, a time for families 

and friends to gather. 

I N T E R N A T I O N A L 

International Istanbul 

Baroque Music Festival 

When: 1 April 

Where: Istanbul, Turkey 

This international music festival introduces audiences to operas, cantatas, 

sonatas and stabat maters, performed in concert halls around the capital city, 

including Dolmabahçe Palace. Against these historic settings, the great 

performances of the Istanbul baroque ensemble and other international 

virtuosos become a matchless experience of art, music, culture and folklore. 

15

. . . . . . . . . . d e s t i n a t i o n s 

Phuket’s 

Secret 

Sands 

Words: Simon N. Ostheimer 

Photos: Kiri Heald 

Though millions of tourists flock every year to the island’s 

famous west coast beaches of Patong, Kata and Karon, it’s 

still possible to find a secret cove to call your own. Here 

we discover four stretches of sand where you can get far 

away from the maddening crowds 

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Best beach for... snorkelling 

Ao Sane, Naiharn 

At the back of this isolated beach, which 

occupies a small sheltered bay on the 

south coast, there’s an open-air restaurant 

serving Thai staples like khao 

pad gai (chicken fried rice) and pad see ew (fried flat 

noodles), which looks out onto waves crashing on the 

huge boulders that dot the sand. Just offshore - the 

sand drops away sharply - snorkellers gently swim 

over the colourful coral and tropical fish that continue 

to thrive here. Hugging the hillside around the 

beach, hidden away among the swaying palm 

trees, are a number of simple beach huts for rent. 

It’s all so idyllic, you’d be forgiven for forgetting 

that just across the bay hundreds of tourists are 

fighting it out for space on busy Naiharn beach. 

How to get there: 

Head towards Naiharn beach, and at 

the northernmost end follow the road 

that hugs tightly to the coastline (ignore 

the signs saying that it’s a private road, 

it’s not). As the road dips down, take 

the small path on the left that leads 

down to the beach. 

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Best beach for... an adventure 

Banana Rock Beach, Naithon 

In the far northwest of Phuket, up a long, 

narrow and winding road, lies a secret beach 

that most locals don’t even know about. In 

fact, the only indication it’s actually there 

is a small wooden sign nailed to a tree that simply 

reads, ‘Banana Beach’. Next to the sign, a section of 

barbed wire has been removed from between two 

concrete posts, and from here a path leads down 

to the beach. As you head down the hill, you’ll be 

able to tantalisingly glimpse the sand and sea ahead 

of you. On any given day, you’ll be one of just a 

handful of people here - some come by scooter, 

a few by car, and others by longtail boat, which 

can be hired to bring you here from Patong. Close 

to where the path enters the beach is a small seafood 

shack, whose owner rents out beach mats and 

umbrellas if you need them. 


Following the coastal road Route 

4018 from Layan beach to Naithon 

beach, as you head over the hill 

look out for the small ‘Banana 

Beach’ sign on the left. 

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Best beach for... families 

Tri Tra, Patong 

While Patong offers the most 

accommodation available 

on the island - and admittedly 

much convenience in 

terms of bars, restaurants and shopping - its 

main beach can get quite busy. That’s why you 

need to instead head to quieter Tri Tra beach, 

which lies just north of Patong bay. If you’re 

not in a rush, and don’t mind climbing the 

hill, you can walk here in 30 minutes, otherwise 

it’s just a short tuk-tuk trip or ride on your 

rented scooter. Accessed down a steep though 

drivable path, there’s plenty of shade for 

children, as well as a large - if a little more 

expensive than most - restaurant, as well as 

umbrellas. Last time we visited, we came across 

a baby elephant having fun in the surf with 

its trainer. 


Take the beach road south out of Patong, 

cross the bridge and turn left at the corner. 

Follow the road, and then turn right down 

the steep access road to Tri Tra. 

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Best beach for... escaping Phuket 

Banana Beach, Coral Island 

Sometimes, even escaping to a tropical island isn’t enough. Don’t worry 

though, as Phuket has more than a dozen small islands just offshore that 

make for a perfect day trip. Top of that list is pretty Coral Island, known 

locally as Koh Hae. If you want to keep your Thailand experience authentic, 

it’s easily reached via a longtail ride from Phuket, which costs approximately 1,500 

baht for a 30 minute return trip. If comfort’s important though, for just a little more 

you can instead rent a speedboat that takes half that time. Coral Island has two main 

stretches of sand, the busier Long Beach, which fills up with package tourists during 

high season, and Banana Beach to the east, on the other side of a small peninsula. 


Longtails can be hired for the 

day from both Chalong Pier 

and Rawai Pier, though the 

trip is shorter from Rawai. 

Speedboats should be booked 

in advance. 

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Old Town, New Vibe 

There was a time, not so long ago, when Phuket’s 

historic Old Town felt abandoned. Wind the 

clock back just a few decades and this quaint 

district, with its distinctive century-old Sino- 

Colonial shophouses, was the beating heart of the island - 

the centre of commerce, home to the main market, and 

the seat of power. However, as tourism began to replace 

tin-mining and rubber plantations as the main source of 

income, money began to pour into villages on the west 

coast, with foreigners flocking to spend their money by 

the sand. It left the Old Town as a somewhat forlorn 

remnant of the past, but thankfully in recent years it has 

seen a gentrifying resurgence, with art galleries, restaurants, 

bars and coffee shops moving in and mixing with the 

traditional hardware stores, fabric shops and roti houses. 

Culture: Phuket’s best galleries can be found in the Old 

Town, from the flamboyant oil paintings of Watcharin 

Rodnit (27 Yaowarat Road; watcharinartstudio.com) 

to the Damian Hirst-inspired sculptural work of Craig 

Paterson at Drift (50 Krabi Road; drift-interiors.com). 

At Wua Art Gallery (42 Phang Nga Road; wuaartgallery.com), 

Mr Zen works on surrealist portraiture, 

while down the street at the open-air Drawing Room (56 

Phang Nga Road; facebook.com/drawingroomphuket) 

Isara uses a marker pen to create bewildering doodles. 

Drink: The Old Town is at the forefront of Phuket’s craft 

beer revolution, with places like the Pint Factory (Limelight 

Mall; facebook.com/pintfactory) packing them in for bottles 

bearing names like Chainbreaker, Summer Solstice and 

Hazlenut Brown Nectar. For great live jazz and blues, head 

to Saxophone Pub (Seahorse Circle; saxophonepub.com), a 

new branch of the famous Bangkok venue, but for a true local 

flavour then spend the night at Timber Hut (118/1 Yaowarat 

Road; no web), which has been rocking Phuket since 1990. 

Eat: For a true taste of Old Town, order the spring rolls 

(po pia sod hokkien) at the famous Lock Tien food court 

(Corner of Yaowarat & Dibuk Roads) or Hokkien 

fried noodles (mee pad hokkien) at Kopitiam by Wilai (18 

Thalang Road; facebook.com/kopitiambywilai). For an 

upmarket experience, Mirror Mirror (31 Dibuk Road; 

mirrormirrorphuket.com), serves contemporary European 

classics, but no-one does it better than celebrity TV chef Noi 

at Suay (50/2 Takuapa Road; suayrestaurant.com) - he’s 

currently on Iron Chef Thailand. 

22

Centara 

in Phuket 

There are eight Centara resorts on Phuket, 

ranging from five-star beach resorts through 

to family resorts and serviced apartments. 

Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket 

Drawing its design theme from the classic 

Sino-Portuguese architecture that characterises 

Phuket Town, Centara Grand Beach 

Resort is set directly on the sands at Karon 

Beach, and grouped around its own water park. A water 

park is also central to Centara Grand West Sands Resort 

& Villas, set on the sands of Mai Khao Beach, the longest 

and quietest stretch of beach on the western side of the 

island. Named Splash Jungle, it is Phuket’s wildest, wettest 

water park, with exhilarating rides. 

A romantic hideaway almost lost within its luxuriant 

tropical surroundings, Centara Villas is only a stroll away 

from the sweeping expanse of Phuket’s Karon Beach 

and features totally private Thai-style villas. 

In Karon Town, Centara Karon Resort has four 

residential zones and is ideal for active family holidays as 

well as for couples in search of an intimate break. Centara 

Kata Resort is meanwhile designed very much with 

families in mind, with especially spacious accommodation 

and three swimming pools. 

Located on the cliff at the quiet northern end of Patong 

Beach, Centara Blue Marine Resort & Spa has a dazzling 

view of the Andaman Sea and is backed by green forest, 

while being only minutes away from the centre of 

Patong. In Patong Town itself, Centra Ashlee Hotel is 

perfect for the shopping, dining and entertainment 

Centara Blue Marine Resort & Spa Phuket 

areas, and also has a dramatic rooftop 

swimming pool and lounge bar with 

great sea views. 

Visitors wishing for a self-catering 

holiday can opt for Waterfront Suites 

Phuket by Centara, a 21-storey serviced 

apartment building that offers spacious 

apartments, a large swimming pool, tennis 

and squash courts, and is located a twominute 

walk from Karon Beach. 

23

. . . . . . . . . . d e s t i n a t i o n s 

Sri Lanka 

An island 

escapade 

Words: Rukshana Rizwie 

Exotic landscapes, amazing food and a fascinating 

culture are all to be found on the Paradise Isle. 

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Sri Lanka is referred to as the Paradise 

Isle, and with good reason. Or, to be 

more exact, many good reasons. 

Set like a jewelled pendent in the 

Indian Ocean and measuring a little 

more than four hundred kilometres 

from north to south, the island offers tourists and locals 

the option of travelling from palm-fringed beaches to 

mountain peaks in a matter of hours. A traveller could 

be riding the waves in Bentota at dawn and admiring 

the emerald green-carpeted mountains of Nuwara 

Eliya by dusk. 

Sri Lanka is a beautiful contradiction with its 

golden beaches, misty mountains, mighty elephants, 

giant whales, majestic past, warm smiles and rich history. 

Colombo is the commercial hub in the south of 

the island, a potpourri of tourist attractions, shopping 

malls, street markets, mansions and lush gardens. 

A city of contrasts, you’ll be able to do most of your 

shopping here. While you are at it, you could 

visit the Dutch Period Museum, which is 

sandwiched in the middle of the street market 

in Pettah. The Colombo City Tour, the only 

open-deck city sightseeing bus, will give you 

a glimpse of all that Colombo has to offer. 

Sri Lankans take Ayurveda seriously, 

and spending time in a spa will place you in 

the hands of experts. The island has been 

a centre of spiritual and physical healing 

for two thousand years and the Ayurvedic 

therapies consist of a range of herbal treatments. 

Spas in Colombo provide various 

other Eastern and Western therapies such 

as Thai massage, hydrotherapy and herbal 

baths, reflexology, and beauty treatments. 

This small island is also one of the great 

centres of Buddhism, and is renowned for 

its temples and monasteries. A visit to the 

Gangarama Vihara, one of the most venerable 

temples in the country, decorated with 

wonderful brass work, stone carvings and 

other Buddhist art is highly recommended. 

Kothu roti is Sri Lanka’s most famous street 

food. The roti is sliced or shredded, and then 

blended with the diner’s choice of chicken, 

beef, egg, onions, tomatoes and green chillies. 

If you want to travel around like the 

locals do, simply flag down a tuk-tuk. These 

27

motorised three-wheeled chariots are the backbone of 

Sri Lankan transport - just remember to hang on for dear life! 

When night falls, Colombo has a buzzing nightlife scene, 

with chill-out bars and bistros, casinos if you want to try your 

hand at roulette or baccarat, or cool clubs where you can 

party until dawn. 

From Colombo, it is easy to reach the glorious golden 

beaches of the south. Bentota is regarded as the water sports 

capital, and the sixty-kilometre trip by road will take about two 

hours. Visitors are usually taken on the Southern Expressway, but 

the local route, which runs in parallel to the sea, is rather more 

colourful, even though heavy traffic can slow progress a little. 

Bentota is a premier resort town with at least fifteen starclass 

hotels clustered together, coupled with numerous boutique 

style properties, all promising the perfect summer vacation 

even in the middle of winter. Too good to be true? You have 

to experience it to believe it. 

At Bentota, the Bentara River flows into the Indian Ocean, 

forming a lagoon and here can be enjoyed a wide array of water 

28

SRI LANKANS TAKE AYURVEDA SERIOUSLY, 

AND SPENDING TIME IN A SPA WILL 

PLACE YOU IN THE HANDS OF EXPERTS. 

29

IF YOU ARE ON YOUR 

HONEYMOON, A ROMANTIC 

RIVER SAFARI ALONG THE 

CALM WATERS IS HIGHLY 

RECOMMENDED. 

sports including snorkelling, diving, sailing, wind surfing, waterskiing 

and deep-sea fishing from a traditional outrigger canoe. 

Just across the Bentota Bridge over the river is the coastal 

town of Bentota Ganga. The beach here is safe for swimming 

and there are exciting excursions that are perfect for a relaxing 

family holiday that will keep everyone happy. If you are on your 

honeymoon, a romantic river safari along the calm waters 

is highly recommended. 

The waters are usually warm, which makes it possible to go 

scuba diving and snorkelling. There are plenty of dive centres 

in the locality, the majority of which are operated by PADIcertified 

professionals. Here you will be able to find equipment, 

assistance and guidance from the experts. Bentota is a dream 

destination for divers. 

Bentota’s principal dive site is Canoe Rock, where you will 

find sandy areas as well as sections with coral formations. Divers 

have the option of diving from a boat or straight from the shore. 

When you are staying at the Centara Ceysands Resort 

& Spa, ask the hotel to help you book a boat cruise, or water 

skiing, or any one of the various water related activities to suit 

your needs. Excursions can also be made to the turtle hatchery 

and the Buddhist temples in the region. 

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Between river and sea 

With an exotic location on the Bentota 

Peninsula, Centara Ceysands Resort & 

Spa has dreamy views of the slow-moving 

river and its mangroves to one side, and 

to the other side views of the golden beach and blue sea. 

Access to the resort is also exotic, with guests boarding a 

barge on the landward bank of the river and taking a two-minute 

journey across to the warm welcome waiting in the lobby. 

Rooms and suites are spacious, the unfussy design with 

its light décor and splashes of bright colour imparting an 

extra sense of airiness, and each room has a furnished balcony 

or terrace that is large enough to laze upon and enjoy the view. 

A number of Family Residences are available. 

There is a swimming pool with Jacuzzi overlooking the 

beach, and for guests wishing to go snorkelling, boating or 

Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka 

windsurfing in the safe waters of the 

lagoon the resort has its own water 

sports centre. 

Families will appreciate the supervised 

Kids’ Club, which has Camp 

Safari for the younger ones while the 

teens have their own hangout at E- 

Zone. This provides an opportunity for 

parents to spend time at SPA Cenvaree, 

where in treatment suites for singles and 

couples there is a choice of treatments that 

draw upon Sri Lanka’s ancient traditions 

of massage and herbal infusions to leave 

you glowing with health. 

All the sumptuous pleasures of 

Sri Lankan cuisine are presented at Café 

Bem, along with Asian and international 

dishes. Locally sourced seafood is the 

speciality at 360 Seafood, with views 

out over the river and the ocean, while 

Ceylon Club serves fine teas and coffees, 

snacks and cocktails from morning until 

midnight. 

32

Book direct 

for a greater 

deal 

#MyCentaraSecrets 

We’re so committed to providing excellent service at Centara that we’ll 

guarantee you the best holiday, in every way possible. Plus, to top it all off, 

when you book direct at centarahotelsresorts.com, we’re so confident that 

you’ll always get the best price. If you find a lower rate elsewhere, 

we’ll match it and give you a further 10% discount off the quoted price. 

Become a Centara1Card member and enjoy even more savings and benefits. 

Visit centara1card.com to sign up today. 

BOOK DIRECT FOR OUR BEST PRICE PROMISE 

centarahotelsresorts.com E: reservations@chr.co.th T: + 66 (0) 2101 1234 # 1 

95

. . . . . . . . . . d e s t i n a t i o n s 

34

Tired of high-flying holidays that fail to inspire? Bored of 

misery-packed airport lounges and security queues that 

take an eternity? Andy Round lets the train take the strain 

with 10 of the world’s best rail journeys. 

35

In a world tripping over giant 

carbon footprints left by longhaul 

flights and emissions 

trailing the skies from dozens 

of monster-sized aircraft, it’s 

comforting to remember that 

a more environmentally friendly, more 

traditional way of getting from A to B 

is still thriving in the form of trains. 

Forget all that airport security, hassle 

with baggage, taxis from outside the 

city and worrying about whether you 

turn right or left onto a plane. Trains 

offer better legroom, a more conducive 

holiday atmosphere, a real sense of 

travel adventure as well as the perfect 

excuse to pack a corkscrew. 

Sold? Good. Now all you need to do 

is decide which trip to enjoy. There’s a 

world of choice out there - from the 

epic frozen tundra of Siberia to the 

shimmering horizons of Peru. See you 

at the station. 

1 Blue Train, South Africa 

Luxury really doesn’t get any more 

extreme than this. Carrying only 74 

passengers in 37 suites fussed over by 27 

staff with butlers on call, sous chefs ensuite 

bathrooms, televisions, telephones and 

some of the most dramatic scenery in 

the world outside your window, the Blue 

Train really delivers. The classic trip is 

from Pretoria to Cape Town that allows 

you - within 27 hours and for about 

US$1,500 per person - to watch the 

moon rise over the Karoo, then potter 

through the wine region before finding 

yourself in the shade of Table Mountain. 

Alternatively you can roll from Pretoria 

to Durban, taking in two nights at the 

Zimbali Resort and its famous 18-hole 

golf course, or scoot up to Bakubung 

Game Lodge for luxury game drives. 

www.bluetrain.co.za 

2 Palace On Wheels, India 

Oh, the glory of the Raj, the majesty of 

36

Indian scenery, the fun of an occasional elephant 

ride, the magnificence of cultural treasures and 

the interior Victorian luxury of the Palace On 

Wheels. Leaving from Delhi to chug at a stately 

pace across the deserts of Rajasthan, the train 

stops at the Pink City of Jaipur; the sandstone 

mansions in Jaisalmer; the walled city of 

Jodhpur; Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary; Lake 

Palace Hotel before arriving in time for breakfast 

at the Taj Mahal and a wander around Agra’s 

Bharatur Bird Sanctuary. Idyllic. Prices start 

from just US$5,980 for eight days. 

www.palacetours.com 

3 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express 

Originally conceived in 1864 as the first purveyor 

of fine rail pampering, this train was shot 

at during wars, stuck in snow in the 1920s and 

37

was the perfect setting for Agatha Christie’s famous 

novel before running into the buffers of disrepair, ruin 

and airline competition 30 years ago. But following 

a massive restoration effort, the Orient Express is the 

queen of train travel once again trailing that magnificent 

early 20th century Pullman and Continental 

rail livery and luxury carriages loaded with Lalique 

glass and Art Deco marquetry through Europe’s 

stunning scenery. Depending on where you decide 

to take the train you can enjoy a luxurious saunter 

through France, Switzerland, Austria or Italy. Prices 

start from just US$750 (for Venice to Rome). 

www.orient-express.com 

4 Glacier Express, Switzerland 

OK, it’s not exactly in the same league as the Palace 

On Wheels or Blue Train when it comes to über luxury 

or price, but the Swiss views from the Glacier Express 

are seven-star as you roll gently from Zermatt to 

St Moritz. There are oversized roof windows on the 

48-seat panoramic carriage that allow you to take in 

the 291 bridges, the rivers Rhone and Rhine, 91 

tunnels as well as rises and drops of up to 5,000 feet. 

The highlight is the crossing of the shockingly high 

Oberalp Pass with a vertigo-inducing 

drop of 6,700 feet. At just 149 Swiss francs 

(one-way) it’s the best value train view deal 

in the world. 

www.glacierexpress.ch 

5 Eastern & Oriental Express 

After the wonders of Europe, it’s time to steam 

through the marvels of South-East Asia 

and that can only mean one thing, the Eastern 

& Oriental Express. The favourite route is 

the 1,200-mile journey from Singapore to 

Bangkok (although there are also journeys 

from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Kuala 

Lumpur and back). It’s that classic Asian 

window-wonder experience of paddy fields 

and palm trees all packed into rich, fertile 

and lush countryside peppered with bustling 

cities, welcoming towns and cultural highlights. 

Relax in the Chinese-lacquered observation 

car and soak up the atmosphere of Malaysian 

motifs and Thai carvings inside while looking 

outside at the places it all came from. 

www.belmond.com 

38

“A glass-walled observation car 

makes sure you miss nothing. ” 

6 Cuzco to Lake Titicaca 

It may not be as luxurious as its rivals but what the Peruvian 

delight of the Cuzco to Machu Picchu railway track lacks in 

comfort it makes up for in adventure. From the ancient city 

of Cuzco you climb the Andes, past the Huatanay River then 

across the endless plains to the lake that borders Bolivia and 

Peru, Titicaca. A glass-walled observation car makes sure you 

miss nothing. The train leaves every 24 hours and only during 

daylight. If the idea of potentially sharing your seat with a llama 

for the day holds little appeal, book a luxury seat (with brunch) 

on the prestigious Hiram Bingham that saunters through the 

Andes from Cuzco to the ancient Inca capital of Machu Picchu 

and takes just three hours each way (returns cost US$300). 

www.perurail.com 

39

“The trip takes between 

19 and 21 days and barely 

breaks through endless 

miles of tundra. ” 

7 Trans-Siberian Railway 

The granddaddy of all super rail journeys is without 

a shadow of revolutionary doubt the Trans-Siberian 

Railway. Stretching across the vast landmass of Siberia 

linking the throbbing capitalist heart of the Russian 

universe, Moscow, with the last outpost (seemingly) of 

civilisation, Vladivostok on the Pacific coast, this is a 

monster of a journey. The trip normally takes between 

19 and 21 days and barely breaks into a jog as it trots 

through endless miles of tundra. It’s also a bottomshattering 

experience, so it’s best to book a sleeper 

carriage for the duration, ideally on the privately owned 

faster Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express which 

offers accommodation fit for a super tsar from flatscreen 

TVs and power showers to under-floor heating 

and an evening pianist. Prices start from 

US$17,000 for the 14-day journey. 

www.gwtravel.co.uk 

8 New York to San Francisco 

In the space of three days you can journey 

to the heart of America - coast to coast. 

The precursor, a short Capitol Limited 

jaunt from Washington DC to Chicago - 

through the Potomac Valley, Harpers Ferry 

and the Allegheny Mountains - is all very 

well and good, but that merely whets the 

appetite for the monster 2,400-mile, twonight 

journey that takes you across endless 

Nebraska farmlands, Colorado canyons 

40

and Sierra Nevada peaks into the welcoming 

hills of Sacramento and the warm air of the 

San Francisco Bay Area. Without rail the Wild 

West would never have been won, today the 

romantic, iconic silver California Zephyr carriages 

all have recliners and private sleepers, 

but it still feels like an adventure. Of course that’s 

just one coast-to-coat journey. America’s a big 

place with a lot of coastal cities so there are 

endless ways of trekking across this vast continent. 

Browse the Amtrak site and plan which adventure 

is best for you. 

www.amtrak.com 

9 Indian Pacific 

As the name suggests, you get two great oceans 

in one epic trip, just three days and 2,700 miles 

apart (prices start from just US$2,049). The journey 

is as legendary as the continent it traverses. 

Running between Sydney and Perth encompassing 

the Blue Mountains, treeless Nullabor Plain, 

abandoned gold mine towns and koalas up 

eucalyptus trees, the Indian Pacific is the only 

way the see Australia. GSR, the company that 

runs the service, says the ultimate highlight of 

the journey is catching sight of the Australian 

wedge-tailed eagle. Apparently you can’t 

miss it, it’s got a six-foot wide wingspan. 

www.gsr.com.au 

10 The Royal Canadian Pacific 

Packed with bears, moose, wolves and 

cougars, the Rocky Mountains put the 

wild in wilderness. And if you want to get 

up close and personal with the astonishing 

landscape that is home to these beasts, 

it would be difficult to beat a five-night 

Royal Canadian Pacific journey. Swooping 

from Calgary in a giant loop the train takes 

in the Canadian Rockies and areas with 

evocative names such as Kicking Horse 

Pass, Spiral Tunnels, Crows Nest Pass and 

the Waterton-Glacier Peach Park. It’s a 

luxurious way to explore the Wild (North) 

West as well as offering the perfect 

opportunity to enjoy a spot of off-train 

fly-fishing or championship golf. The train 

is available for private charter - prices on 

request - so it’s best to get together a few 

(dozen) friends before planning a booking. 

www.royalcanadianpacific.com 

41

. . . . . . . . . . p h o t o s t o r y 

42

Markets in 

Bangkok 

Photos: Vith Chinchanachokchai 

Discover the ways of Thai people from their markets 

Markets in Thailand aren’t merely for shopping. They entice and lure tourists 

as well as locals into their colourful and dizzying labyrinths because they 

are a way of life, and they provide an authentic view of the Thai people. 

There are several very famous markets in Bangkok, but these four will provide 

very different impressions and for a glimpse of the real Thailand, they are not 

to be missed. 

43

Pak Klong Talad Flower Market 

Pak Klong Talad is Bangkok’s biggest fresh 

flower market, located in close proximity to 

the Chao Phraya River. The name translates 

as “Canal Mouth Market”, because of 

its location at the entrance of the inner city moat. 

The flowers start arriving from the market gardens 

in the early hours of the morning, and by daybreak 

the market is a blaze of fragrant colour. The flowers 

are supplied to wholesalers, retailers and the general 

public. Prices are cheap. If you are interested in 

buying a bouquet, flower arranging services are 

available on the spot. 

44

Where: 

Located on Chak Phet Road near Saphan 

Phut, the Memorial Bridge, only 3 km from 

Centra Central Station Hotel Bangkok 

When: 

Open 24 hours daily 

Tips: 

R The best time to visit is after midnight, 

pre-dawn or between 3-4 am 

R At daytime the market is relatively quiet, 

which is a good time for a stroll 

R During festivals, certain kinds of flowers 

will be twice their usual price 

45

Chinatown - Yaowarat 

Yaowarat is Chinatown’s 

main street, and is one of 

the world’s most renowned 

street food destinations, 

a favourite among locals and tourists 

alike. Crowded during the daytime, 

by twilight the pavements have been 

transformed into a bustling street 

market with authentic Chinese and 

Thai food. 

Browse the endless gold shops, and 

the shops selling herbs and medicines. 

Alleyways form a labyrinth behind 

the buildings where shops and vendors 

sell all types of goods, a place of mystery 

just waiting to be explored. 

Where: 

Located on Yaowarat Road about 2-3 km from 


When: 

Open 24 hours daily 

Tips: 

R Night time is the ideal time to visit 

R Strangely, wholesale stores sell items at a cheaper 

price during the daytime than at night 

R Chinatown covers Charoen Krung Road, Songwat 

Road, Songsawat Road and Chakkrawat Road 

46

Or Tor Kor Market 

CNNGo ranks Or Tor Kor Market as one of the world’s 10 best 

fresh markets. The food products displayed here are among the 

highest quality found in the country, with everything from 

exotic fruits to fresh seafood. 

This is where chefs from the top hotels and restaurants can be seen placing 

their orders for daily-fresh goods. The market is spacious and light, and is a 

good place to stroll. Think of it as an open-air supermarket with products 

that are unbelievably cheap. Snacks, sweets and street food are there a-plenty. 

Where: 

Located on Kamphaeng Phet Road, 

opposite Chatuchak Weekend Market, 

just around the corner from Centara 

Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao 

When: 

Daily from 6am to 8pm 

Tips: 

R Take the MRT subway to Kamphaeng 

Phet station, exit no 3 

R Doi Kham shop of the Royal Project 

is adjacent to Or Tor Kor 

48

Train Night Market 

Avisit to the Train Night Market 

(or Talad Nud Rod Fai) has 

to be on your Bangkok bucket 

list if it isn’t already! The Rod 

Fai market is an open-air night bazaar with 

retro atmosphere, a real Thai hipster hangout. 

While strolling around, you will be amused 

to see old train carriages, vintage automobiles 

and colourful collectibles. 

You can spend a lot of time here, because 

there are many restaurants and bistros. The 

market is divided into three main zones - 

Market Zone, Warehouse Zone, and Rod’s 

Antiques Zone - so that vendors can display 

their unique collections in specific sections. 

50

Where: 

Located on Srinakarin Road Soi 51, 

behind Seacon Square shopping mall 

When: 

From sunset to midnight, 

every Thursday to Sunday 

Tips: 

R The premium items are displayed at 

Rod’s Antiques. 

R Photographers are allowed, but 

visitors are requested not to touch 

the antique items 

R Curio products sourced from all 

over the world are available here 

51

Now open! 

Something to Remember 

by CENTARA 

Take your most memorable memories of your vacation 

with you. ‘Something to Remember’ by Centara, 

a lifestyle concept boutique, will have a souvenir that 

you can take home to help remind you of your time 

with us or to gift to a friend that will share 

the joy of your travels. 

There are a variety of products ranging from our luxurious 

Centara and SPA Cenvaree products to aromatics 

for the home, to Thai-designed souvenirs indicative 

of the quality of the Centara brand. 

BANGKOK • PATTAYA • KRABI • SAMUI • MALDIVES 

• Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre At CentralWorld 

• Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya 

• Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi 

• Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui 

• Centara Villas Samui 

• Centara Island Resort & Spa Maldives 

• Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives

Style 

Passport to style 

Travel bags

. . . . . . . . . . s t y l e 

m The overall 

Slightly oversized, and non-pinchy 

overalls combine the ease of a jumpsuit 

and a pant put-together. 

Passport 

b+basic 

to style 

Looking comfortably stylish 30,000 feet above 

When you have to spend hours in 

a cramped aircraft cabin, it’s easy to 

forget style and think in terms of 

comfort. But it doesn’t have to be 

that way. We’re not talking about 

looking like a fashionista or plain 

Jane, but there’s an easy medium between the two. Here are 

a few travel outfits that are comfortable enough for you to sleep 

in and stylish enough for you to step out in. 

Muji 

k Relaxed top or tee 

It’s hard to go wrong with mariner stripes on a simple top. 

Those that come pre-wrinkled are perfect for long 

stretches of air travel. 

54

g Cardigans or jacket 

Cardigans offer all the room you need 

while in-flight along with the style 

you want at the airport. When opting 

for a jacket, wear a jersey or ponte 

jacket that stretches. 

Lolita 

i Cool sweatpants 

Loose trousers like slouchy dark blue 

pants look tailored while offering the 

merciful ease of an elastic waistband. 

m Jeans with a stretch 

Do get a pair of jeans with plenty of stretch. 

Choose a flattering wash and cut that stops 

just above the ankle. If you dislike jeans on longhaul 

flights, opt for leggings with a clean lines. 

Pair them with polished pieces like blazers, 

tops, and dainty shoes for a complete look. 

Muji 

h The vest 

A vest helps keep your body and neck 

warm while leaving your arms free to 

move around. 

b+basic 

Muji 

Muji 

55

Muji 

g Gaucho or midi 

Free of fussy pleats and flimsy fabric, 

a gaucho is the perfect plane pant. A 

longer-length skirt is also an invitation 

to curl your legs up. Look for a skirt in a 

heavy, natural material like suede or thick 

jersey, and choose an all-over pattern 

that won’t show the creases. 

Easy Pieces 

k Flannel shirt 

If you’re feeling cold, the only layer 

you need is a flannel shirt. They’re 

light, warm, quick to get in and 

out of, and easy to stuff into a bag. 

f Shirt dress 

A simple loose-fitting shirt 

dress doubles as a night dress 

while on board and can be 

belted and worn with sandals 

for a stylish landing outfit. 

Muji 

Muji 

Muji 

Easy Pieces 

h Oversize scarf 

Finish the look with a scarf that doubles 

as a wrap. A neutral-coloured scarf is 

the ultimate multi-tasker. 

h Finally… 

Bring your beanie. Soft and packable, 

the beanie hides your bedhead and 

doubles as an eye mask. 

b+basic / Lolita / Easy Pieces are available at all Central department stores. For more details about Muji, see muji.com/th/. 

56

The perfect 

travel companions 

From trunks to trolley cases, hand luggage to backpacks, 

In Essence presents a polished selection of new travel bags that are 

perfect for business trips, a weekend getaway or even a city walk. 

Wheeled 

suitcase 

Safe and functional travelling 

suitcases for your long holiday. 

Samsonite’s 

Tru-Frame Spinner 28” 

LIFE 4-Rollen-Trolley 25” 

from Bric’s 

Samsonite’s 

Lite-Cube Spinner 28” 

Samsonite’s 

Lite-Locked 28” 

58

Laptop Backpack PRO-DLX 4 

from Samsonite 

Olive Green Micro Suede 

Backpack from Bric’s 

Personal item 

A cool backpack or a stylish purse for the 

frequent travellers and business professionals. 

Carry-on Spinner 21”, LIFE Collection 

and Spinner Trunk 21”, BELLAGIO 

collection from Bric’s 

Hand baggage 

Lightweight and has enough space for 

everything you need for a few days away. 

BOJOLA Tuscan Train Case and 

Crossbody Bag from Bric’s 

Duffel bag 

Cabin-sized spinners and 

cargo duffels for the stylish 

travellers. 

Lite-locked Spinner 20" in navy blue and Lite-Cube 

Spinner 20" in ivory gold from Samsonite 

Cargo Duffle 18”, BOJOLA collection 

and Cargo Duffle 18”, LIFE collection 

from Bric’s 

ALBI Duffle 20” 

from Samsonite 

Cargo Duffle 18”, MAGELLANO 

collection from Bric’s 

Samsonite and Bric’s Milano are available at Central Chidlom (0-2793-7777). 

For more details see samsonite.co.th and Bric’s Thailand on Facebook. 

59

Dining with 

altitude 

See the whole city laid out in front of you at Centara’s awe-inspiring rooſtop venues – like 

Centara Grand at CentralWorld’s upscale Red Sky dining destination, or the hotel’s cool new 

Mediterranean and Spanish eatery, UNO MAS. Chili Hip at Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel 

Bangkok offers authentic local flavours and Asian delicacies, while funky Ladprao nightspot 

Blue Sky Rooſtop Bar gives you a whole new perspective on the cityscape. And Chyna’s 

where to head for contemporary Chinese cuisine, served up with lavish city views 

from the top of Centra Central Station Hotel Bangkok. 

Wherever you decide to hit the heights, Centara will show you Bangkok’s best sunsets, 

dining and the most memorable of picture-book moments. 

Discover more at bangkokrooſtops.com 

#BangkokRooftopDining

People 

Playing the Fashion Games 


Top of His Game

. . . . . . . . . . p e o p l e 

Playing 

the Fashion 

Games 

Words: Tanes Srisuk 

Photos: Phuwadol Jankhum 

It’s no exaggeration to say that Thai fashion designers 

have gained enthusiastic acceptance in Asia, Europe, 

and America, especially for their undeniable creativity. 

62

63

Thailand’s best example is two designers who comprise Tube Gallery, 

Phisit Jongnaransin and Saksit Pisalasupongs. Last June these 

co-designers created costumes for over 5,000 performers at 

SEA Games 2015’s opening and closing ceremonies. More than 

600 million viewers from Southeast Asian countries witnessed 

their prolific creative talent held at Singapore Sports Hub, 

the island country’s new national stadium. 

Tube Gallery’s skills and talents were already well known in Singapore, having 

designed costumes for six successful musical theater productions: The Crucible, 

Monkey Goes West, Maha Moggallana - A Story of Filial Piety, 881, Glass 

Anatomy, and Romeo & Juliet. 

They received the most praise for their work on the Toy Factory’s production 

of 811 at The Esplanade Theater in 2011. Produced by the renowned Goh Boon 

Tecj (who is also art director for SEA Games 2015), the play won Best Costume 

Design at the 12th Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards in 2012. 

Tube Gallery’s unique, dramatic, and theatrical fashion style made them the 

first choice for Beatrice Chia-Richmond, creative director of Sea Games opening 

and closing ceremonies. Chosen to work on one of Southeast Asia’s biggest and 

most exciting events, they both admitted that they felt proud that Beatrice picked 

64

Saksit Pisalasupongs 

“WE THINK THAT MAKING CLOTHES 

IS ART, A WHITE CANVAS FOR THE 

ARTIST TO HAVE FUN WITH. AND TO 

MAKE GOOD ART, YOU NEED TIME.” 

them, but anxiety hit when they realized 

that they had to put everything they had 

into this huge regional event. “Ok” was 

not good enough -their work had to be 

phenomenal in every aspect. 

Saksit recalled their Sea Games 

experience as if it ended yesterday. “It 

was such an honor because it was not 

only a huge ASEAN event; it was also 

important for Singapore because this 

year marks the nation’s 50th anniversary. 

Everyone expected to see the best at the 

Sea Games. That’s why we needed to put 

everything we’ve learned in the fashion 

world since day one into this project 

so that it would turn out to be the best.” 

Tube Gallery designed more than 

100 costumes for the ceremonies’ 5,000 

professional performers and volunteers, 

which included 3,500 soldiers. Moreover, 

there were famous Singaporean 

actors and artists in the shows, such as 

Daphne Khoo, Shigga Shay, and Siow 

Lee Chin. The costumes took a year to 

design and create, using a 100-person tailor 

team from Thailand and other countries. 

Both designers are happy that their 

work impressed everyone. Looking back, 

Saksit said, “A part of this success is 

due to Beatrice Chai’s trust in us. She gave 

us total freedom to create the design, 

and the Singapore team was highly and 

65

“EVERYONE EXPECTED TO SEE THE BEST AT THE 

SEA GAMES. THAT’S WHY WE NEEDED TO PUT 

EVERYTHING WE’VE LEARNED IN THE FASHION 

WORLD SINCE DAY ONE INTO THIS PROJECT SO 

THAT IT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE THE BEST.” 

Phisit Jongnaransin 

66

professionally supportive. There was never a “No,” only 

a “Yes” from them. Whether the idea was possible or not 

at the time, they always wanted to try doing it first. That is 

how Singaporeans are, which we’ve experienced every 

time we work with them.” 

The impressive portfolio from the successful regional 

event is these two Thai designers’ golden ticket to 

the fashion world. However, “No rush,” is how they 

characterise their plans. 

“We think that making clothes is art, a white canvas 

for the artist to have fun with. And to make good art, you 

need time,” said Phisit. “Time is what you need to build 

that loyalty between the designer and the customer.” 

Every year these two friends take a trip to find new 

knowledge, thought and inspiration in clothes designing. 

“Whether it’s Paris, Finland, China, Vietnam, Bali, or 

Luang Prabang, we go to museums and then the pub or 

bar to see the culture and way of life, the 

clothing and use of colour from each corner 

of the world,” said Phisit. 

Reflecting on 35 years of friendship 

with Saksit and 20 years of establishing 

Tube Gallery together, Phisit says, “I never 

thought we would come this far. But I do 

know that what we have today is not coincidental. 

It is determination and the collecting 

of experiences bit by bit. We gradually move 

forward so that we permanently make our 

stand in the fashion world.” 

As for now, they both enjoy designing 

clothes. They enjoy drawing and making 

patterns into ready-made clothes and are 

over the moon when they see Tube Gallery 

clothes hanging in a Concept Store somewhere 

abroad. How much further will they 

go? “Can’t say. One step at a time,” both 

answered with a big laugh. 

67

. . . . . . . . . . p e o p l e 

Beyond 

the ink 

Words: Tanes Srisuk 

Photos: Phuwadol Jankhum 

68

Arnon “Mimp” Peeranunpanya, one 

of Thailand’s top tattoo artists, has 

a waiting list a year long for those 

who want his inked art on their 

skin. But the path that led him to 

the career of his dreams -that can 

also bring home the bacon -was 

blood, sweat and tears all the way. 

Thirty-two-year-old Mimp, looking exhausted, walked into 

his boutique, MimpTattoo Studio. After a sip of water, we started 

the interview. 

“I’m fully booked throughout the week. There are times 

I want to take a break, but not today,” Mimp said as he waited for 

the questions. “There are amateurs here that still need a mentor.” 

“The world without art is just a rock adrift in the universe.” 

This quotation from Thawan Duchanee, the late national artist, 

motivates Mimp to learn and explore as much as he can because 

he doesn’t want to be “adrift.” Mimp sometimes travels to gain 

experiences and inspiration. When his imagination runs free, 

he creates the expressive, artistic, decorative, and precise patterns 

for his customers at MimpTattoo Studio. 

Top-flight American tattoo magazines like INKED Magazine 

have featured Mimp’s work, but his masterpiece presentation 

was at a tattoo art festival at Musée du quai Branly in Paris. 

An average wallflower as a boy, he loved drawing cartoons like 

Dragon Ball and Slam-Dunk, struggling against life’s problems, 

but finally created success through his ardor and determination. 

“I am the youngest in the family,” says Mimp. “I have a sister and 

a brother. My parents worked, and we all lived 

in construction sites in suburbs near Bangkok. 

When I was nine years old, we had to move to 

Kon Khen because of the bad economy. Despite 

the poverty I faced in my childhood, I’m proud 

of where I come from. It made me stronger.” 

After high school, Mimp went to Valaya 

Alongkorn Rajabhat College in Bangkok. His 

major was product design. However, because of 

his free spirit and, more importantly, his family’s 

financial situation, he didn’t finish college. 

Arnon Peeranunpanya 

69

As a freelance amateur tattooist, finding 

a job was tough. There was no one to 

guarantee his skill, as he never worked 

in a tattoo boutique. He became invisible, 

like Ronin, a samurai with no master. 

Accepting that education may not be 

the key to his success, Mimp started the 

journey of becoming a tattoo artist. 

He began by inking his friends who 

trusted in his precise drawing skill. But there 

were a lot of difficulties at the beginning. 

Though his family supported him with the 

tools, he didn’t have a place to perform his 

art. He had to set up a small table in front of 

random shops that would allow it. The scene 

he saw a lot back in those days was a young 

customer who came to get a tattoo without 

permission, chased away by his or her parents. 

As a freelance amateur tattooist, Mimp 

had a tough time finding a job. There was no 

one to guarantee his skill, as he never worked 

in a tattoo boutique. He became invisible, 

like Ronin, a samurai with no master. 

During that time, Mimp shared an apartment 

with a friend in Bang Ka Pi. He advertised 

online for people who wanted to get a cheap but cool 

tattoo. However, the business didn’t make ends 

meet. He had to work as a server at restaurants 

to supplement his income. 

The struggle and hunger pushed Mimp to 

try harder to get out of this unhappy situation. 

His collected drawings and tattoos eventually 

got him a job as a tattooist in South Korea. This 

was the turning point in his life. 

After almost a year in South Korea, he returned 

to Thailand rich in experience and skills. He headed 

to Phuket and worked as a fulltime tattooist in a 

well-known boutique where he learned the tattoo 

business model. After that, he went back to 

Bangkok and operated his tattoo business out 

of his condo. The business went very well due 

to good word of mouth. 

Mimp pointed out that because of all the 

unimaginable struggles he had faced, he is now 

financially stable and able to concentrate fully 

on his art. He has developed his patterns and 

70

71

72

designs, and artfully integrated Thai and 

Japanese art culture into a unified vision. 

“Finding myself is like a Ferrari with no 

driver,” says Mimp. “Eventually, the driver 

saw how fast and amazing this Ferrari is, 

and drove off.” 

His masterpiece -the exquisitely artistic, 

decorative, and detailed Hanuman full back 

tattoo - has become Mimp’s signature. “I 

created this tattoo when I realized that I’ve 

been working day by day for far too long. I 

needed to give it all I’ve got. I needed to create 

the work that reflects my true self. So, it came 

out as this Hanuman full back tattoo.” 

Today Mimp operates from his Mimp 

Tattoo boutique in the RCA area. He has a 

staff of talented in-house tattooists, but if a 

customer wants Mimp to ink the art he charges 

5,000 baht per hour. For the full back tattoo with lots 

of details that requires 15 to 20 days to create, his 

fee is 300,000 baht. The other in-house tattooists’ 

fees range from five to six digits. 

“Customers are willing to pay the fee I request,” 

says Mimp. “I usually decide on the final design. I 

don’t always do made-to-order tattoos. I don’t like it 

when clients come in and tell me exactly what to 

do and are bossy. I prefer small jobs -three-hour 

tattoos for 15,000 baht. I’d rather do lots of small 

jobs than one big job with an overbearing customer.” 

Because of Mimp’s coveted work and reputation 

in the tattoo world, MimpTattoo does brisk business. 

A lot of customers are happy to wait in a long line to 

have Mimp tattoo them. “I want the work to come out 

great, and that takes some time,” says Mimp. “Great 

73

art cannot always be created. Maybe it can 

only be done once in a lifetime. Money is 

not my sole motivator anymore. I could do 

fewer jobs and increase my fee, hire more 

tattooists, or expand the business, but I 

won’t. I’d rather walk slowly but steady.” 

As a professional tattoo artist, Mimp 

sees Thai tattooists are getting better at their 

art and craft and starting to reveal their 

signature look in their works. They also use 

modern, hygienic, and standardised tools. 

“There are numbers of tourists coming 

to Thailand just to get tattoos by Thai 

tattooists,” Mimp says. “We’re remarkable in 

our skill and service. I can say absolutely that 

Thailand has the potential to become the 

world’s tattoo destination. Foreigners come 

to get tattoos in Thailand not because it’s 

cheaper. For those who are in love with tattoo 

art, getting a tattoo from a Thai tattooist 

is a bonus from the trip.” 

When asked what brought him this far, 

he answered, “determination, patience, 

and the urge to never stop learning both 

from myself and successful people. I read 

every book that will give me valuable 

knowledge because I believe that it can help 

me strengthen my work and myself. Looking 

back, I’ve come further than I thought I would. 

Today my competitor is no one but myself.” 

“I’m trying to establish MimpTattoo in 

the international market. I want the name to 

be heard and accepted all over the world. 

I want it to be the institution for young 

tattooists, and for them to be able to make a 

living from what they’ve learned here. That 

is all the success I want as a tattooist. I want 

to continue creating art so that our world is 

not just a rock adrift in the universe,” says 

Mimp, expressing his hope for the future. 

74

. . . . . . . . . . p e o p l e 

T p 

of His 

Game 

Novak Djokovic has it all – age on his side, 

a growing family and a burgeoning business 

empire. And the Serbian sports star intends 

to keep hold of the Grand Slam life, no matter 

what it takes. George Hopkin reports. 

76

77

Novak Djokovic - currently ranked world 

number one in men’s singles tennis and 

considered to be one of the greatest tennis 

players of all time - knows a thing or two 

about private jets. 

He uses them all the time to meet his 

punishing schedule of international commitments - just this 

October he flew into Bangkok where he comfortably beat rival 

Rafael Nadal at an exhibition match designed to boost tourism 

in Thailand. 

But Djokovic did not have the most positive introduction 

to aviation. In 1999, aged 11, Djokovic lived with his family in 

Belgrade, a city which would come under 78 successive nights 

of Nato bombing before the year was out. 

Awoken by the sound of a nearby explosion, he and his family 

put their carefully crafted emergency plans into action and 

made for a nearby air raid shelter. But young Nole (a nickname 

Djokovic has won $59 

million in prize money 

since 2011 and ranks 

second all-time in prize 

money with a total of 

$79 million. 

J e l e n a 

R i s t i ć 

which has been with him since he was a toddler) was separated 

from the others when knocked to the ground in the frenzied 

dash for safety. 

“And then it happened,” says Djokovic. “From behind me, 

I heard something tearing open the sky, as though an enormous 

snow shovel were scraping ice off the clouds. Still sprawled on 

the ground, I turned and looked back at our home.” 

“Rising up from over the roof of our building came the steel 

gray triangle of an F-117 bomber. I watched in horror as its great 

metal belly opened directly out of it, taking aim at my family, my 

78

friends, my neighbourhood - everything 

I’d ever known.” 

This chilling childhood memory was 

shared with the world in Djokovic’s book 

Serve to Win, part autobiography, part 

self-help manual and part diet guide. 

It’s an eclectic read - Djokovic goes into 

eye-opening detail, at one point explaining 

how he checks the colour of his urine each 

day to track hydration levels. 

And while those early experiences 

with aircraft may have been memorable 

rather than positive, it hasn’t stopped 

him taking to the private jet lifestyle. 

Djokovic has served as brand ambassador 

for Bombardier, has had connections 

with US-based private jet charter company Privé Jets 

and has been highly vocal about the benefits of jet travel for 

his career. 

During his time extolling the virtues of Bombardier 

and Learjet in particular, he told reporters: “The Learjet 

offers me lots of comfort, efficiency and performance, and 

it’s suitable to my style of life. From point A to point B, 

it’s very efficient. For me it’s important to be able to travel 

fast and to have comfort.” 

Forbes magazine has been tracking Djokovic closely 

since he stepped up his game in 2011. The magazine notes 

he has won $59 million in prize money since then and ranks 

second all-time in prize money with a total of $79 million. 

In Forbes’ official 2015 rankings he makes number 

42 in the Celebrity 100 (for reference he’s sandwiched 

between British golfer Rory McIlory, at 41, and Hollywood 

79

“He is in his prime, he is 

28, I see him at the top 

of the game for five 

or six years. I see him 

adding to his Grand Slam 

collection very soon. ” 

Tim Henman 

By Nancy Monson 

actor Vin Diesel, 43) and number 13 in The World’s 

Highest-Paid Athletes, one ahead of Swedish footballer 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

Djokovic’s current sponsors include Uniqlo, Head, 

adidas, Peugeot, Seiko, Jacob’s Creek and ANZ and 

he has a vast, carefully crafted and maintained social 

media network to spread the word about their activities. 

While he clearly has a keen business mind, not all of 

his work is purely for profit - he also has ties to Unicef, 

in addition to his own Novak Djokovic Foundation, 

which works to help disadvantaged children in his 

native Serbia. 

If the past year had not been busy 

enough building on this business empire 

as well as improving his on-court 

performance, Djokovic also found time 

to marry high school sweetheart Jelena 

Ristić in June 2014 and the couple 

announced the birth of their first child, 

baby Stefan, via Twitter four months 

later in October. 

Throughout all this - and going 

back to his childhood in Belgrade - he 

has also written in a personal journal 

80

whenever his hectic schedule allows; it has to fit around seven to eight hours of 

sleep each night, meditation, yoga and tai chi - and all of that, of course, must 

also make space for a training regime that has got him to the very top of his sport. 

“We are all humans,” he says. “One day we will get up and think: I don’t feel 

like playing, don’t feel like practising, don’t feel like living that day. From 

time to time everything goes bad in your thoughts, so it is good to have that 

record of how you got through things before.” 

The Serb may be role model for many, but his success has brought with 

it criticisms and critics. 

“Djokovic is a wonder of a ferociously competitive age, a talent who has not 

only prospered through the latter part of Federer and Rafael Nadal’s golden years, 

but emerged strongest as fresher rivals like Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka 

have fought them for supremacy,” said BBC Chief Sports Writer Tom Fordyce. 

“And yet he is inevitably cast as the strait-laced villain to those more flamboyant 

heroes, as stern and sinister as Terence Stamp in Superman II, not so much 

General Zod as General Djok.” 

But some of the sport’s biggest names know that Djokovic is only just 

getting started. 

Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman says: “When you reflect 

on how Novak has left no stone unturned, his serving has been getting better all 

the time, his diet, his preparation, it is all first class.” 

“He is in his prime, he is 28, I see him at the top of the game for five or 

six years. I see him adding to his Grand Slam collection very soon.” 

John McEnroe agrees. During this year’s Wimbledon tournament, the 

veteran US champion-turned-commentator told reporters: “It is pretty hard 

not to think that he is getting stronger and stronger. If he stays healthy, he is 

going to dominate the next couple of years. He is definitely into my all-time 

top five - my top four are Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger and Rafael Nadal, 

but Novak is at number five and rising.” 

“Novak does not have as many Grand Slams as those guys but I am 

thinking his total is going to rise quickly.” 

81

60

The next stop: 

better health 

How will you stay healthy while on vacation? Here are 

some ideas to make your vacation a real health trip. 

Words: Nancy Monson 

You probably know what you should be doing 

to improve your health - the best diet plan for 

you as an individual, the right type of exercise, 

and mind-body interventions such as yoga, 

tai chi and meditation - but like most people 

you may not actually be doing these things! 

Well, here’s one great way to start improving your health and 

wellbeing: Take holidays. Really. 

A survey by Expedia.com found that 49.4 million Americans 

don’t use up all of their vacation days each year. That’s actually 

counter productive, because research shows that downtime is 

not only vital to your wellbeing, but also to creativity and work 

performance. What’s more, psychological research reveals that 

(a) we tend to regret not the things we did, but the things we didn’t; and 

(b) we get a more long-lasting psychological boost from purchasing 

experiences than from buying stuff. 

83

Add it all up, and you’ve got plenty of reason to 

justify traveling -it’s good for your health, both physical 

and psychological! 

Here are some ideas on how to make your vacation 

a real health trip. 

Enjoy, indulge even, but walk it off. 

Exercise to burn off some of the extra calories you’ll 

inevitably ingest on the road. If you’re a gym rat, by all 

means trek to the local gym, or sign up for the nearest 

yoga or Zumba class. If you’re not, try walking: I went to 

Dublin on my last vacation and ended up walking five miles 

a day because the buses didn’t run regularly to my hotel. 

Limit one to two meals a day. Have fruit 

and yogurt for breakfast and a salad as a light lunch, and 

then eat a full dinner. Try sharing meals with a friend so 

you can have bread, dessert and cocktails. And remember: 

Today is just today. If you go overboard on one vacation 

day, try to cut back the next, and resolve to eat more 

conservatively once you get back home. 

Bring healthy snacks. I go on trips 

with a bag of snacks: granola bars, nuts 

and low-calorie cookies. That way I always 

have something healthful that I like to 

eat, so I don’t resort to a full-calorie candy 

bar or chips. 

Spa it. We love being pampered - and 

there are spa opportunities at most resorts, 

on cruise ships and in most cities. Book a 

massage, a facial or a back scrub with the 

knowledge that there’s solid scientific 

research to suggest spa treatments reduce 

stress and improve health. 

A Cedars-Sinai Hospital study revealed that 

a 45-minute massage results in a significant 

decrease in stress hormones and boosts 

immunity. Other research has found that 

massage therapy reduces blood pressure and 

heart rate, and relieves symptoms of tension 

headache as well as back and neck pain. 

Another study found that mudpacks and 

mineral-water baths also have positive 

effects on stress levels. So book those spa 

appointments without guilt. 

84

Practice mindfulness. The buzzword of the 

day in medical circles, mindfulness is the simple act of 

being present in the here and now, not focusing on the past 

or future, and not judging your thoughts and perceptions. 

Just being. It’s a component of many mind-body techniques, 

including meditation, yoga, deep breathing, tai chi and 

massage, and research shows mindfulness promotes better 

health and happiness by activating centres of the brain 

associated with positive feelings. 

Mindfulness can help relieve stress, assist you in 

reducing your weight, treat heart disease, and alleviate 

high blood pressure, chronic pain, sleep problems and 

gastrointestinal ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome. 

So while you’re on holiday, don’t be worrying about 

work or your at-home to-do list. Just revel in the sights and 

sounds of your destinations (sunsets anyone?) and laugh with 

your friends. Your mind and body will thank you for it! 

A 45-minute massage 

results in a 

significant decrease in 

stress hormones and 

boosts immunity. 

Nancy Monson is the author of “Craft to Heal: Soothing Your Soul with Sewing, Painting, and Other Pastimes” (Wheatmark). 

Indulge in absolute pampering, 

rediscover your inner balance 

through relaxation, and emerge 

rejuvenated at SPA Cenvaree, 

an oasis of tranquility. 

SPA Cenvaree is available through 

an elite network around the world, 

with more than 30 spas in Thailand 

and other destinations including 

Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, 

Sri Lanka and Vietnam. 

Each branch offers an extensive 

menu of therapeutic massages and 

holistic therapies, including aromatherapy, 

Ayurveda treatment 

programmes and hot stone chakra 

balancing treatments. 

For reservations and more information 

on signature treatments, 

please visit www.spacenvaree.com 

85

STUNNING AL FRESCO VIEWS 

If you’re in need of intense flavour from the heart of The Mediterranean, whilst taking in the 

glorious Bangkok sunset that rivals any Balearic skyline, then we are proud to offer you the most 

exquisite setting. 

The warmth of Europe’s most popular destination is brought to Bangkok in three unique settings 

as you embark on an unforgettable journey of culture and cuisine through the vibrant Iberian 

Peninsula. 

Indulge in our semi al fresco Tapas & Raw bar and experience the infinite selection of 

Mediterranean seafood that we have to offer. 

The allure of our semi al fresco Dining Deck puts you in the heart of our first-rate cuisine, 

culminating in an outstanding tapas taste, which is simply unforgettable. 

An astounding setting, remarkable food and drink and wondrous music beats that will bring the 

soul of Spain to your table, UNO MAS will forever have you asking for… one more! 

FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CONTACT 

54 th Floor, Centara Grand at CentralWorld 

999/99 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10130, Thailand 

T: 02-100-6255 E: diningcgcw@chr.co.th www.centarahotelsresorts.com 

60 

UNOMASBANGKOK UNOMAS_ BANGKOK UNOMAS_ BANGKOK

at Centara 

The Palate 

Centara goes green 

New openings

. . . . . . . . . . a t c e n t a r a 

88

Blue Sky 

Thinking 

Words: Ken Barrett 

Photos: Siwasan & Punnatat 

Newly expanded rooftop restaurant 

features French bistro food and cool cocktails 

Rooftop restaurants and bars have become 

immensely popular in Bangkok in recent 

years and Blue Sky at Centara Grand at 

Central Plaza Ladprao was one of the 

trailblazers. Unlike the new generation 

of rooftop venues, many of which are atop 

new hotels and have been planned for when the structure was 

still being built, Blue Sky was not even a 

glint in the management’s eye when the 

hotel first opened, slightly more than thirty 

years ago. There were few five-star hotels 

in the city, and no open-air rooftop venues. 

About five years ago, someone in the 

Centara management team looked at what 

had been a penthouse apartment with a 

roof garden, and said, “You know what… 

that space would make a thoroughly good 

rooftop restaurant…” 

And with that blue-sky thinking, 

Blue Sky was born. 

In the early days the restaurant consisted of a large al fresco 

area and a smaller area indoors and so it suffered from the 

problem all open-air rooftop restaurants in Bangkok have: 

what to do when it rains. 

September however has seen the solution to this difficulty, 

with the indoor area being greatly expanded through the 

opening out of the interior space, providing a lot more room 

and more seating. 

The kitchen is now much closer to 

the restaurant, allowing the cooking and 

presentation of food that depends upon 

immediate service to be at its best. 

This in turn is allowing executive chef 

Eric Berrigaud greater scope to present a 

menu of French bistro cuisine. 

“When Blue Sky originally opened the 

menu was a mix of Western and Asian 

dishes, but French food is extremely popular 

in Bangkok and a couple of years ago we 

changed the menu to be French in style, 

chef Eric Berrigaud 

89

“ Now it really is a 

bistro in the sky. ” 

and using quality ingredients from other 

countries such as Australia and Japan,” 

says Chef Eric, who himself is French. 

“This became very popular with our 

customers and so the enlarging of the 

interior space is largely a result of that. 

Previously we were somewhat limited, 

and Blue Sky’s lack of indoor capacity 

meant that it was considered a fineweather 

venue. 

“Now it really is a bistro in the sky. 

We have expanded the menu, we can 

offer more seasonal foods, and with 

the kitchen next-door to the diners, we 

can offer the straight-to-the-table dishes 

that we couldn’t really do when the 

kitchen was a long walk from the tables.” 

Eric says that we can expect to see 

more French-style seafood dishes, more 

use of delicately seared techniques, more 

puff pastries, and possibly the introduction 

of that a-la-second favourite, 

the soufflé. 

Signature dishes now include chorizo, 

the Spanish sausage, which is sliced 

julienne-style and served with a lightly 

poached egg and sautéed mushrooms 

as an appetiser. Pan-fried foie gras, 

another item that needs to be served 

rapidly, appears in a lasagne with black 

truffle emulsion, and there is a hot and 

flaky tomato tart with goat cheese. 

Seared items include Japanese 

striploin served on a sizzling board with 

red wine sauce, and salmon steak is 

prepared pink on the inside and seared 

outside, with hot potato gnocchi. 

90

Blue Sky has always been regarded as a great drinking 

venue, the place to meet up with friends for a big fat 

cocktail or two, and head bartender Aphichai Boonraung 

now has more space to flex his mixologist muscles. 

Aphichai chooses his drinks promotions carefully, 

and says that customers enjoy following up on the 

suggestions that are placed on the tables. 

“Thai people love cocktails and mocktails, and so 

of course do our international guests,” he says. “This is a 

great venue to enjoy a drink, along with the view.” 

Blue Sky has a novel view of rooftop Bangkok, for 

there are few tall buildings in the immediate vicinity and 

the verdant expanse of Chatuchak Park is one of the 

defining features of the neighbourhood. 

Sipping a cool cocktail while the sun sinks behind 

the park, the towers on the skyline silhouetted against 

the red and pink sunset, the lights of the traffic on the 

highway below forming a long trail of glowing red and 

white…well, what could be better. 

91

. . . . . . . . . . a t c e n t a r a 

Underwater symposium in Maldives 

Centara Maldives, which comprises Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa and 

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa, celebrated International Day for the 

Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2015 by holding an underwater symposium. 

Staged at a depth of eight metres at Thoshihaa Reef, the event was the deepest 

underwater gathering of this kind to ever take place in Maldives. 

Abdulla Mohamed Didi, Deputy Minister of Environment in Maldives, and 

Sergio Arias, resident manager of Centara Grand Island Resort inaugurated the event. 

11 Centara hotels go 

EarthCheck Silver 

With a solid framework for environment 

and social sustainability in place, 11 Centara 

properties have achieved Silver certification 

from EarthCheck. 

In order to achieve Silver, the hotels were 

required to submit operational data that was 

benchmarked against industry best practice. 

Going green gets the Gold 

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi 

has been working with EarthCheck, the world’s 

leading environment certifier of travel and 

tourism organisations, and having created 

and implemented a large-scale environmental 

and social management system the resort has 

achieved the status of EarthCheck Gold, 

the first resort in Thailand to be awarded 

Gold certification. 

To qualify for this status the resort has 

reached regulatory compliance in areas such 

as greenhouse gas emissions, fresh water 

conservation, energy efficiency, and waste 

management. 

Thai PM presents three Centara properties 

with Green Hotel Gold Award 

The Thai Prime Minister, General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, presented three Centara 

properties with the Green Hotel Award, Gold Level, during the opening of 

World Environment Day at the Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, in Bangkok. 

The hotels are Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, Centara Grand Beach 

Resort & Villas Hua Hin and Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Udon Thani. 

The award is from the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, which 

is responsible for the Environmentally Friendly Hotel (Green Hotel) project. 

92

Centara takes award for Thailand’s 

top corporate brand values 

Centara named Best Resort 

at Mekong Awards 

Centara Hotels & Resorts has been recognised 

as Best Resort of the Year 2015 at the Mekong 

Tourism Alliance Awards in a ceremony held in 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Amorn Kitchaweng, Deputy Governor of 

Bangkok, who was guest honour at the event, is 

shown presenting the award to Ms Jenny Nguyen, 

sales and marketing manager of Centara Hotels 

& Resorts Ho Chi Minh. 

Thailand’s Top Corporate Brand Values Awards in 2015 for the 

first time added Tourism and Leisure brands as a new category, 

and Centara Hotels & Resorts was honoured to be the 

first recognised. 

The awards are presented each year in recognition of publicly 

listed companies with superior corporate brand values and to 

raise awareness on the importance of corporate branding as a vital 

component for ensuring business sustainability in Thailand. 

Prof.Pirom Kamolratanakul, president of Chulalongkorn 

University, presented the award to Thirayuth Chirathivat, chief 

executive officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts, during a ceremony 

held at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. 

TTG Best Meetings and Conventions 

Award goes to Centara Grand & 

Bangkok Convention Centre 

Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at 

CentralWorld has been awarded as the Best Meetings 

& Conventions Hotel by TTG Travel Awards 2015. 

Kobkarn Wattanavvrangkul, Minister of Tourism 

and Sports, presented the award to Thirayuth Chirathivat, 

chief executive officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. 

Smart awards for two Centara properties 

Two Centara hotels, Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention 

Centre at CentralWorld and Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, 

have received awards from Smart Travel Asia, the travel magazine 

for Asia with more than 1,000,000 online readers. 

Pictured are Vijay Verghese (far left), editor of Smart Travel Asia, 

Robert F Maurer-Loeffler (2nd left), general manager of Centara 

Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Philip Hall 

(3nd left), corporate group director of sales and marketing of 

Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Pinida Pettanagul (far right), head 

of corporate marketing for Thailand of Centara Hotels & Resorts. 

93

. . . . . . . . . t h e c e n t a r a f a m i l y 

Thailand 

Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld 

Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok 

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi 

Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui 

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin 

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya 

Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket 

Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya 

Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket 

Centara Grand Modus Resort Pattaya 

Centara Villas Samui 

Centara Villas Phuket 

Centara Kata Resort Phuket 

Centara Karon Resort Phuket 

Centara Mae Sot Hill Resort 

Centara Chaan Talay Resort & Villas Trat 

Centara Hotel Hat Yai 

Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Udon Thani 

Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Khon Kaen 

Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi 

Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel Bangkok 

Centara Pattaya Hotel 

Laos 

Qatar 

Oman 

Centara Avenue Hotel Pattaya 

Centara Q Resort Rayong 

Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort 

Centara Seaview Resort Khao Lak 

Centara Blue Marine Resort & Spa Phuket 

Centara Nova Hotel & Spa Pattaya 

Khum Phaya Resort & Spa, Centara Boutique Collection 

Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong 

Centra Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Cheang Watthana 


Centra Coconut Beach Resort Samui 

Centra Maris Resort Jomtien 

Centra Avenue Hotel Pattaya 

Waterfront Suites Phuket by Centara 

Republic of Maldives 

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives 

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives 

Sri Lanka 

Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka 

Turkey 

94 

Centara Reservation Centre 

Phone : + 66 (0) 2101 1234 Ext. 1 

Fax : + 66 (0) 2101 1235 

Email : reservations@chr.co.th 

www.centarahotelsresorts.com

Indonesia 

Centra Taum Seminyak Bali 

Vietnam 

Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort Danang Vietnam, Managed by Centara 

Chen Sea Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, Centara Boutique Collection 

Ethiopia 

now open 

upcoming properties 

Updated December 2015 

95

. . . . . . . . . . a t c e n t a r a 

New Openings 

Centara Hotels & Resorts currently manages 48 deluxe and 

first-class properties across Thailand, as well as 24 hotels and 

resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Bali, Sri Lanka, Qatar, 

Laos, Oman, Turkey and China. We never stop expanding to 

offer you a wider range of exceptional destinations. Here are our latest 

Centara locations due to open in 2016. 

Centara Avenue Hotel Pattaya 

With a home-away-from-home feel and accommodation 

designed with an urba n décor, a host 

of leisure facilities and easy access to the beach, 

Centara Avenue Hotel Pattaya is set to become 

a popular destination for both short and long-stay 

travellers. 

Centra Maris Resort Jomtien 

The new Centra Maris Resort Jomtien is located 

right on the Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, which is 

renowned for its water sports, events and festivals. 

The area also offers endless leisure attractions, 

shopping opportunities and exciting nightlife. 

96

Centara Q Resort Rayong 

Intimate in scale and innovative in design, 

the resort is a distinctive tropical haven on 

the beach of Laem Mae Phim and perfect for 

anyone seeking absolute tranquility in style. 

Centra Avenue Hotel Pattaya 

The newly opened Centra Avenue Hotel Pattaya 

is a Kosher hotel located in central Pattaya. With 

a modern ambience, easy access to the shopping 

complex and Pattaya Beach, making it an ideal 

base for guests to explore the surroundings. 

97

“One’s destination is never a place, 

but a new way of seeing things. ” 

Henry Miller 

98

Start rewarding yourself today 

with free stays, dining and 

spa treatments with 

CentaraThe1Card 

centara1card.com 

memberservices@centara1card.com 

+66 (0) 2769 1234 ext. 2 

Visit centara1card.com to sign up today

InEssence Issue 15

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