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THE INSIDER by A&K Southeast Asia October 2019
The end of 2019 calls for a special celebration as we enter a new decade. Check out our guide to this year’s best countdown celebrations in Southeast Asia and get back to nature with our Top 5 most awe-inspiring “into the wild” adventures. Discover age-old health and healing wisdom in Thailand and Laos and chat with Bangkok’s Creative District co-founder about the Refill Not Landfill movement, supported by A&K Philanthropy.
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And a few words from our guests:
“We were surprised at the beauty and tranquility of Myanmar. Buddhism emphasizes inner peace which one can detect wherever you travel. The sunrise over the Bagan plain with two thousand pagodas is beguiling. We traveled the Ayeyarwady River which moves slowly for a thousand miles down the middle of Myanmar. Mandalay is fascinating for culture and monastic learning. Inle Lake brought us to the people with their markets and aqua-agriculture. A wonderful tourist destination.”
Harry R.P., United States
Countdown to 2020, A&K Southeast Asia Style
With just three months to go to the end-of-year countdown, it’s time to lock in your plans for this year’s New Year’s Eve bash. Whether you’re ready to rave with a hundred of your best mates or seeking a more relaxed, intimate affair, Southeast Asia is where you need to be. So get your passport ready and check out our guide to celebrating New Year’s Eve - A&K Southeast Asia style.
Revel: Bangkok’s nightlife is exciting anytime of the year, but come New Year’s Eve, the city lights up with sky-high parties and festivities. The best party in town is at The Siam where you’ll have access to the General Manager’s rooftop for unbeatable views of the city’s fireworks along with a live culinary market by the river and an extravagant East meets West dining experience by Chef Damri.
Romance: For a more intimate experience, why not head over to Inle Lake, Myanmar for a magical, once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon flight with your loved one? Soaring to a magnificent 10,000 feet, you will feel as though the whole world is yours. Toast your spectacular journey together with a Champagne breakfast back on ground.
Relax: As the clock strikes midnight, imagine yourself luxuriating on a white sand beach, sipping a Tao Swizzle Cocktail – pomelo juice laced with aged rum, ginger and lemongrass – surrounded by your tribe or maybe some new friends you just met at the beach. This is the ideal time to escape to Vietnam’s Con Dao island and the Six Senses resort is the perfect spot to catch up on some rest and relaxation or even take part in sea turtle conservation.
Reflect: The New Year is always a good time to take stock of where you’ve been and contemplate where you’re going next. For some quality “me time,” there’s no better place than Luang Prabang, Laos, where you can meditate by a waterfall in a forest, walk through medicinal herb plantations in the botanical gardens or simply soak in the serenity while cruising the Upper Mekong River.
Contact us for more New Year’s Eve recommendations and itineraries personally-tailored to your specific interests.
Our Top 5: “Into the Wild” Trails of Southeast Asia
Conquer an active volcano, interact with hill tribe villagers and witness stunning scenery in some of Southeast Asia’s most inspiring locales. Here are our picks of the region’s Top 5 most rewarding outdoor adventures.
1. Southern Laos Jungles and Rivers
A fertile highland dotted with coffee plantations and dramatic waterfalls, the Bolaven Plateau in Southern Laos offers some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Walk through villages of Mon-Khmer ethnic people, explore native flora and fauna and picnic at Tad Fan falls. If walking is not your style, travel further south for boating and biking among 4,000 inland islands where Irrawaddy dolphins make their home amid the Mekong River rapids.
INSIDER Tip: Extend your stay with a few nights at the charming River Resort, a great base for enjoying the wonders of the region in laid-back, luxury style.
2. The Volcano Valley of Bali, Indonesia
The Kintamani highlands of Bali, Indonesia are a dream-like landscape of cascading rice fields, tropical rainforests and ancient villages on the edge of an active volcano. Trek up the captivating Mount Batur or cycle around the beautiful crater lake, tasting fresh mandarin oranges and enjoying fresh tea or coffee direct from the family-run plantations along the way.
INSIDER Tip: Follow the river to Sebatu village which has inspired many local artists, sculptors, musicians and dancers and meet some of the nation’s best wood carvers at Pejeng Aji village.
3. Bamboo Forest Trails in Thailand
For an authentic experience, a little off the beaten track, head over to Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand to explore remote jungle trails that lead through bamboo forests, soy bean farms and fruit orchards. Visit a hill tribe home, explore a pre-historic cave and have lunch with the villagers while enjoying the captivating scenery from misty hills overlooking Myanmar.
INSIDER Tip: Visit the remote community of Mokjampae to meet locals making noodles by hand and explore the village fields, rice mills and farmhouses.
4. Vietnam’s Coffee, Cacao and Cashew Highlands
Escape to the coffee capital of Vietnam in the remote highlands of Dak Lak province, just one hour by flight from Ho Chi Minh City, where time seems to pass at a more leisurely pace. Unwind at a rustic tented camp with ethnic Mnong-style lodges on the edge of Lak Lake where you can kayak at sunset, trek to a waterfall or explore neighboring villages that grow coffee beans, cacao and cashew nuts.
INSIDER Tip: November to March is the best time to visit, when the weather is mild and perfect for hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.
5. Sacred Hills of Kalaw, Myanmar
Walking through the dramatic landscapes of central Myanmar, you can’t help but feel a sense of wonder, passing by sacred hills and fertile valleys that have stood silently for generations, baring witness to the rise and fall of civilizations and giving life to the nation’s farmers and fishermen. A labyrinthine Buddhist cave at Pindaya, ancient stupas and centuries-old bamboo lacquer traditions are just some of the highlights to be discovered.
INSIDER Tip: Combine this trek with a visit the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp for an ethical experience caring for rescued elephants.
A Chat with Bangkok’s Creative District Co-Founder
Home to Thailand’s leading artisans, antique galleries and creative studios, Bangkok’s Creative District is becoming increasingly popular among travelers and, with support from A&K Philanthropy, is breaking even more ground at the forefront of the Refill Not Landfill movement. We sat down for a chat with David Robinson, the co-founder and champion of the community to learn more about his vision and commitment to sustainable development.
Q: Please tell us a bit about your background and how you came to call Bangkok home?
A: After climbing the ladder of television management, first in Australia and then in Europe and America, I decided to take a sabbatical. So I volunteered with humanitarian agency ActionAid and helped with projects relating to poverty across 12 Asian countries. I based myself in Bangkok and was surprised at how easily I was able to adjust to life here. Now it has been 17 years and I have no plans to be anywhere else!
Q: What motivated you to help develop the Creative District?
A: I have always had an interest in the arts world. Even back in Australia, when I was building my media career, I also worked on the board of the Griffin Theater Company, raised money for the Australian Chamber Orchestra, promoted the Sydney Dance Company and supported the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Combining that with what I learnt from ActionAid about participatory, community-based approaches to development, and having taken on the management of Bangkok River Partners back in January 2015, I saw there was an opportunity to engage the local community. Over the years, our non-profit partnership has involved local residents and business owners who are all connected by a love of their community and a desire to see it grow as a destination.
Q: Why did you base the Creative District in Bangkok’s Bangrak and Klongsan communities?
A: For me, the communities of Bangrak on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River and Klongsan on the west have always had a charming character, full of energy and enthusiasm. There are delightful little eateries and “mom and pop” stores run by families who have been in the area for generations. At the same time, there are also a lot of creative people and entrepreneurs moving into the area because of their authenticity and vibrancy: art gallery owners, artisans, and restaurateurs. It’s a happy convergence of old and new.
The development has been really heartwarming. In early 2016, with the support of the European Union and Shangri-La Hotel, we organized a street art festival to bring to the forefront the colorful murals hidden in the laneways. That event brought people to see the district in a new light and they keep coming back to snap street art pics and enjoy food and drinks from local vendors. The best thing is how the district’s heritage buildings – like the old East Asiatic building, Warehouse 30 and other historical structures – are now being repurposed and reimagined as exciting creative spaces.
Q: How is the Creative District contributing to the Refill Not Landfill movement?
A: Since 2015, Bangkok River Partners has participated in the global Clean Up The World campaign, drawing attention to the problems of waste and encouraging local business owners to reduce their plastic consumption. Now many of the hotels along the river have switched to using glass bottles and recyclable straws. Food waste has been reduced and electric limousines have been introduced.
The next step is to encourage visitors to also take part in being green. In order to encourage people to do away with single-use plastics, we need to provide an alternative. A&K Philanthropy has provided support by providing two Refill Stations to make it easy for visitors to stop by and fill up their non-plastic water bottles whilst traveling.
Q: So what does the future hold for the Creative District?
A: We are currently working with Thammasat University, the Creative Economy Agency and the European Union to record the oral history of our neighborhood, which was once seen as the old European Quarter of Bangkok. The project encourages people to open up old shoeboxes filled with photographs and share the stories that their grandparents and great grandparents told them about life in the old days. It is projects like this that create a sense of pride in the neighborhood, bring people together and help planners create a more liveable Bangkok.
A&K Southeast Asia is committed to the Refill Not Landfill movement. Our guides can help locate safe and clean sources of drinking water around Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. Learn more about this initiative and explore the Creative District with David Robinson on your next A&K journey.
Wisdom & Wellness in Thailand and Laos
Looking for a chance to hit the reset button and regain your physical, spiritual and mental balance? A&K Southeast Asia’s Immersive Wellness and Cultural Journey in Thailand and Laos is 11 days of meditative retreats, age-old healing and massage, physical fitness and yoga practice, digital detox and wildlife encounters.
“There is no better time or place to pursue wellness than now in Southeast Asia,” Tim Cook, Country Manager for A&K Thailand, Cambodia and Laos unveils our new immersive wellness program, “What I love about travel is the opportunity to connect with people from different cultures, different backgrounds who show us new ways of seeing and inspire us to make a change. Along the way, guests will meet Thai hill tribe villagers and spend time with Lao farmers, forming relationships and memories that will last a lifetime. This journey has given me some of the fondest travel memories of my life.”
Enjoy biking and light trekking, be blessed by Buddhist monks, unwind at a mountain lodge, cruise the Upper Mekong River and enjoy time for foodie and cultural activities.
Start planning your Wellness Journey in Southeast Asia. Our teams across Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia are dedicated to creating custom itineraries based on your personal goals and interests.
More INSIDER News from Around the Region
● Aman has announced plans to launch their first Bangkok hotel in a leafy corner of the city with the property expected to open in 2022.
● Thailand prepares for the Royal Barge Procession on 24 October 2019, the final stage of His Majesty The King’s coronation ceremony. Rehearsals leading up to the procession will affect river and canal tour schedules.
● Bangkok’s Michelin-starred Gaggan restaurant is now officially closed as Chef Anand prepares to unveil his new venture in an as yet undisclosed location.
● Refill Not Landfill is extending their fight against plastic bottles to Thailand with new refill stations across the country, including two donated by A&K Philanthropy.
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For more information about anything you have seen in this newsletter, contact us:
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THE INSIDER by A&K Southeast Asia We snapped the region’s most beautiful and not so well-known Instagramable locations! Find out why Bangkok is our favorite foodie destination, get an update from our A&K Philanthropy project in Cambodia and discover immersive wellness philosophies with the woman behind COMO’s flagship operation in Bali, Indonesia. |
THE INSIDER by A&K Southeast Asia We share with more travel insights and insider scoops in Southeast Asia, including our Top 5 spa retreats and an exclusive offer combining two of Cambodia’s most iconic properties. We also chat with a woman who is bringing quality Myanmar crafts to the world and highlight our most rewarding travel experiences with locals. |
THE INSIDER by A&K Southeast Asia Hear about our favorite luxury villa experience in northern Thailand, keep up-to-date with our Top 5 must-dos after the sun goes down, get creative with multi-generational travel and meet an A&K Insider who is preserving Laos’ royal arts traditions.
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