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Oh My Giddy Stars

Michelin Guide recently released its 2021 list for Bangkok. I’m not convinced.

The list of Michelin-starred Thai restaurants today and…well…I’d like to be more excited.

Don’t get me wrong. I like food. A lot. And good food too.

But of the 28 restaurants in Thailand receiving Michelin stars, nearly two thirds of them only offer degustation menus.

A degustation menu isn’t the end of the world. But in a world of people with specific dietary requirements this is problematic for a start. 

I have two close family members who are unable to eat certain ingredients for medical reasons (coeliac disease – actual gluten intolerance – is more than a fad, it’s life-endangering) and generally these are people who can work around an à la carte menu. Chefs will often try to accommodate their dietary requirements with their degustation menus, but it’s hardly welcoming.

Then there are people who are vegetarian, or pescatarian, or whatever, by choice. And these are also people who suffer somewhat with degustation menus.

Whether it’s through good fortune or some other act of God – I don’t know – I’m neither of these. I eat everything. Okay, I definitely draw the line at endangered species, (you can GFYS sharks-fin joints) and I’d be happier to eat food grown sustainably – and that’s a serious challenge in Asia. But I count myself as an omnivore.

I could be okay with “sharing” some chef’s “food journey,” but if it excludes my family and friends, that makes it somewhat difficult.

But there’s another issue, and it’s one I feel is overlooked.

A degustation menu is fine for a one-time visitor like tourists. And as a tourist I’ve visited a number of Michelin-star restaurants – too many to remember – and have been happy enough with their degustation menus.

But I live in Bangkok.

How many times am I likely to visit a restaurant to eat the same thing repeatedly? 

The – to my mind insanely – highly rated Gaggan was within walking distance from my home. I used to visit regularly. But then they got rid of the à la carte option. What am I going to do? Go half-a-dozen times a year to eat the same stuff? Nuh uh.

Particularly not after I’d visited enough times to be able to pick the eyes out of the menu. 

So it lost my business. Why would I pay extra for the second-rate stuff between the winners? 

It’s a strange thing to alienate your regular customers, but there you have it. 

Then again, if you get the coveted Michelin star, people will travel to your restaurant, so, hey, regular customers can go screw themselves. Wonder how that’s panning-out in this, our year of COVID restrictions?

Anyway. The arrival of the Michelin guide in Thailand (let’s not even go into how it came to Thailand in the first instance), didn’t improve the fine dining experience for me: it actually made it less good.

So, in the spirit of openness, here are the Michelin star restaurants in Bangkok where as a customer you get to choose what you put in your mouth:

Two-star

Le Normandie: I’ll admit, I’ve never visited. But maybe I will. When I’m in the mood for French fine-dining. Tasting menus and a-la-carte! Vive la choice! Web

One-star

Blue, by Alain Ducasse: A French fine-diner that does both tasting menu options and à la carte. Not cheap! But hey we’re not here for cheap. Of his 74 eponymous restaurants worldwide, I do wonder which kitchen you’re likely to find Alain occupying. That said I’ve had my socks knocked-off by one of them in Paris. Maybe one day I’ll be in the vicinity, and have my mouth right for some haute French fare. At least he’s letting me choose! Web

J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain. The French, apparently, believe in liberté when it comes to dining. Jean-Michel Lorain lets you choose between set menus and à la carte. Web

Jai Fai. Street food, well, in an authentic old-town restaurant setting. Led by a photogenic and media-friendly septuagenarian, and as it has a Michelin star it’s booked-out months in advance. I’m sure it’s good. Is it that good? I’ll probably never know.

Khao (Ekkamai). Now we’re talking. Thai food done well. And you can choose your own dishes or from the tasting menus. Win! Web 

Le Du: Four or six course tasting menus, but it does appear you have some choice. I actually do want to visit, but have to convince my better-half. Web

Mathavalai Sorndaeng: A long-established joint that, to be honest, looks a bit like a wedding venue. Never been on my radar, but may be soon.

Nahm. I’ll admit, I haven’t visited since the David Thompson days, and the last time I got some attitude from the wait staff and every dish tasted overwhelmingly of fish sauce. Neither a great nor cheap evening. And disappointing too, seeing as the first couple of visits blew me away with flavor and texture combinations. With a new chef, maybe it’s time for a revisit. Web

Paste. I really like Paste. Obviously it’s not an everyday choice, but it is my go-to for special occasions. And I’ve done both tasting menus and à la carte. Because I have had that option. Web

Saneh Jaan. Okay, I’ve got to get out more. Saneh Jaan is right near my home. Visiting soon, promise. Web 

Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin. I visited Sra Bua a very long time ago, had the set menu (I don’t remember having a choice) and coming away unimpressed. But seeing as it has an à la carte option I’m willing to have another look. Web

Suan Thip. Pretty riverside setting (okay – it does do functions too) and Thai food à la carte. Win. Web

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Capella Bangkok

Visitors to Bangkok are even more spoiled for high-end accommodation choices with the opening of Capella Bangkok.

High-end hotel openings continue amidst pandemic lockdowns, with Capella Bangkok opening its doors at the beginning of October 2020. In the short term, residents of Thailand can try things out, while visitors for overseas can start planning for borders to reopen…whenever that may be.

Capella is yet another property to add to the colour of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya riverbanks, offering 101 rooms and suites, the smallest of which measures-in at a very spacious 61 square-metres. All rooms offer river views and either a private balcony or a verandah with jacuzzi plunge pool.

The hotel offers four F&B outlets – a riverside outlet focusing on regional Thai cuisine, a European fine-dining outlet headed by Mauro Colagreco of the 3-Michelin-star Mirazur in France offering “contemporary reinterpretations of the traditional recipes and culinary heritage of the French and Italian Riviera,” a patisserie, and a tea lounge.

There is a spa and wellness centre, a 24-hour fitness centre, and a ‘living room’ which is reserved for the use of Capella guests. 

A resort boat shuttles guest to the IconSiam mall and Sathorn Pier, where there’s a BTS Skytrain station as well as connections to other Chao Phraya transport options. While the riverside is seeing a fair amount of gentrification, Capella is just outside that zone, but transport from Sathorn Pier does put those areas in easy reach.

When Thailand reopens, travellers to Bangkok are even more spoiled for choice than ever before. 

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One&Only Desaru Coast

The One&Only brand makes its first foray into Asia, on Malaysia’s south-east coast.

Desaru, on Malaysia’s south-eastern coast, is a relatively popular destination for travellers from nearby Singapore for day trips or even weekends, but has never offered much for the luxury traveller, though that is changing.

Opening its doors in October 2020 is the first One&Only resort in Asia ­– One&Only Desaru Coast.

Occupying a 52-hectare site with 1.5 kilometres of beachfront, the One&Only features 42 Junior Suites, two two-bedroom Grand Suites and a four-bedroom residence, Villa One. All villas have private plunge pools, indoor and outdoor living spaces, separate bathrooms and thoughtful Malaysian-inspired design features.

The property also features 50 Private Homes available to own or rent.

The decidedly modern design is expected, given Kerry Hill Architects – a practice that is responsible for a number of other iconic Asian hotels – is also behind the architecture here.

The One&Only Desaru Coast offers three restaurants – catering largely to international tastes – a bar and a beach club, which is also open to the public.

For guests who fancy leaving their villas, the resort is focusing on experiences, such as being guided through the nearby Panti Forest for a morning of birding and listening to the Gibbons’ calls, or ascending trees in the resort’s rainforest, chosen by a renowned arborist, for views over the resort and South China Sea. 

Other activities include cooking classes, cycling, kid’s club, wellness programmes, a range of watersports activities, and a spa. 

The resort is near the Els Club, with two championship level golf courses – a 27-hole Ocean Course and an 18-hole Velley Course – designed by Ernie Els in collaboration with Vijay Singh.

Opening in the middle of a pandemic may seem somewhat inauspicious, though if you’re in Malaysia already, you now have a new high-end resort experience available to you.

Check it out here

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Raffles in the Maldives

Raffles Hotels & Resorts recently announced its first Maldives property.

The 38-villa resort takes the unusual step of offering rooms on land and overwater villas on a separate reef, accessible by boat.

Olivier Larcher, General Manager of Raffles Maldives said, “For couples looking for an unforgettable romantic hideaway, our exceptionally spacious villas and the discreet expertise of the Raffles butler service redefines the resort experience. From intimate dining with our private chef service to snorkelling and diving in the world’s most breath-taking coral reefs, we create a place where guests can enjoy the best of both worlds in a destination known for its stunning surroundings.”


Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is located at the southern end of the Maldives archipelago on the Gaafu Alifu Atoll. The resort is accessible by domestic flight, 55 minutes from Malé International Airport followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride from Kaadedhdhoo Airport.

Fancy a stay? Book it here…

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Subdued Songkran

If you were planning to head to Bangkok between April 11 and 14, 2019, to engage in what has become the world’s largest water fight, it may pay to think again.

According to The Bangkok Post “Business operators on Khaosan Road have decided to cancel activities for Songkran this year to allow authorities to prepare the area for the coronation of His Majesty the King.” 

The Post reports that both Khaosan and Silom Roads will be open to Songkran revelers, but that there will be no entertainment planned, and high-pressure water guns and the consumption of alcohol will be banned at the venues. 


You can accuse me of being an old fuddy-duddy, but I’m not convinced this is a bad thing.

Firstly, the origins of Songkran have been somewhat forgotten in these giant water fights. What was once an opportunity for some rather gentle merit-making and paying reverence to ancestors, has just become a free-for-all water fight. You’re going to see any traditional Songkran activities surrounded by tourists in Khaosan or Silom.

Secondly, I can’t quite reconcile the waste involved – plastic waste in the form of all the water pistols (bought for, and thrown away after, the event), freebie plastic pouches to keep possessions dry, and all that wasted water. In the last few years the celebration occurred while the country was enduring its worst drought for decades. 

Then there’s the health issue. Do you know where the water’s come from? Did you swallow any? Do you have insurance? 

And there’s the fact that some revelers take the opportunity to harass women. “Just over half of the women and young girls surveyed complained they had been sexually harrassed during past Thai New Year water festivals, it was revealed at the launch of a “Happy Songkran” safety campaign,” reported The Bangkok Post in 2016, based on a poll of 1,793 people.

And finally, the Songkran holiday is usually associated with an awful number of road fatalities (worse than normal, in any case). In the seven days of Songkran in 2018, 418 people died, and a shocking 3,897 were injured on the roads, according to The Nation.

I understand that a water fight can be fun. And it is quite nice to see kids involved. But for my money, Bangkok’s a much better place every other week of the year.

If you are planning to visit Bangkok, check out my Five Fave hotels in town here

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The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore opens

 

A restoration of a historic neoclassical building dating back to the Jazz Age, and located amongst Singapore’s better-known colonial haunts, the Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore opened for business on October 1st, 2018.

“We are excited to house the first Kempinski brand in Singapore at this iconic landmark,” says Christian Gurtner, Managing Director of The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. “Whether through thoughtful design, abundance of gourmet food and beverage options or impeccable personal service, guests can look forward to an exquisite, five-star experience… a sense of place where rich heritage meets the finest traditions of European luxury.”

The hotel features 157 guest rooms and suites, in 50 different configurations and eight different categories, so guests should not feel they’re having a standard cookie-cutter hotel experience. All rooms feature Sonos audio systems, free WiFi, and free-standing bathtub.

The hotel also boasts a spa, gymnasium and rooftop saltwater ‘relaxation’ pool. Dining options are yet to be finalized, though the signature restaurant is apparently being ‘conceptualised by a three-starred Michelin chef.’

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is located at 15 Stamford Rd, Singapore.

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High Life

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, in partnership with MJets, has launched the Anantara Private Jet Experience; a personalized private jet experience linking Anantara properties in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Customers can choose between a Gulfstream V with a three-zone cabin environment for working, dining, entertaining and resting; shower facilities; fully reclining beds; state of the art entertainment systems; and two flight attendants to ensure comfort for up to 14 passengers.

The other option – for up to eight passengers –  is a Cessna Citation X with fully reclining body club seats; entertainment systems; and one flight attendant.

In Colombo, passengers are met airside with a private limousine transfer to Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle. In Malé, guests transfer to a seaplane to reach Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas.

The Anantara Private Jet Experience can be tailored to suit each guest’s individual tastes and requirements and scaled to accommodate intimate couples’ celebrations or larger group parties.

Guests can contact Rose Ongvisit at +66 (0) 81 170 5463 or email charters@mjets.com.

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Stunning new video of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Ayres Rock Resort, operated by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, has released a stunning  time-lapse video which was created to capture the essence of the living cultural landscapes of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, showing the changing colours of the desert as day turns to night.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park expands across more than 327,414 acres of Australia’s desert outback and is home to two of the world’s most iconic rock formations. The spectacular ancient monoliths of Uluru and Kata Tjuta are more than 300 million years old and the area’s Indigenous culture dates back more than 30,000 years.

Uluru is the tip of a huge rock made of arkosic sandstone that continues below the ground for possibly 5-6km. The monolith is 3.6km long and 348m at its tallest point: 43m higher than Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower, 24m higher than the Eiffel Tower and just 33m lower than the Empire State Building. The colour changes of Uluru result from the filtering effect of the earth’s atmosphere on the sun’s rays.

Kata Tjuta (meaning many heads) is located 30 km west of Uluru and is made up of 36 domed heads, the tallest of which is around 546m high. This is 198m higher than Uluru.

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) established to undertake tourism business on its behalf. Voyages offers unique experiences and cultural immersion in spectacular locations around Australia including Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory, Home Valley Station in The Kimberley in Western Australia and the Mossman Gorge Centre, in Tropical North Queensland.

Voyages works collaboratively with local communities, respecting and supporting the local Indigenous cultures and offering employment and training opportunities to the local and broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Profits from all business activities are re-invested in the Indigenous and resort experiences and through the various training and development programs in place around Australia.

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Bucket List Australia

Tourism Australia has nominated a bucket list of activities for visitors in 2018. Looks to us as though there’s something for everyone:

1. Escape to a new, six-star outback luxury station

Immersing yourself in the Australian outback can be an unforgettable experience – especially when you do it in luxury. A new lodge is about to offer some serious indulgence at Mount Mulligan Station, a 28,000-hectare (69,000-acre) working cattle station on the Atherton Tablelands, about a three-hour drive west of Cairns (you can also get there by helicopter if you want to arrive in style). It will offer opportunities for classic outback experiences such as mustering cattle and panning for gold, while providing six-star accommodation in an eight-room lodge that houses a maximum of 20 guests.

With a pavilion overlooking an infinity pool and weir, the lodge sits in a classic Australian landscape dominated by Mount Mulligan’s 18-kilometre (11-mile) sandstone ridge. This is Queensland’s answer to the Kimberley’s outback paradise, El Questro and it’s going to be spectacular. Due to open in the second half of 2018.

2. Stay in one of Australia‘s hot new hotels

Thanks to an Aussie “room boom”, several exciting new hotels are due to open in 2018, from big to boutique. The hip luxury of W Hotels will return to Australia for the first time in a decade, with the opening of the $800 million W Brisbane in March. Melbourne is getting the 347-room Novotel Melbourne South Wharf (also in March) and the Novotel and ibis Melbourne Little Lonsdale Street (two hotels occupying one building in the city centre) in late 2018.

On a more boutique scale, Sydney is saddling up for the William Inglis MGallery by Sofitel overlooking Warwick Farm racecourse (opening in January), and queueing up to sleep in the funky 29-room Paramount House Hotel, set to open in the café-cool inner city neighbourhood of Surry Hills (February).

In late 2018, Hobart will welcome The Tasman, a Luxury Collection hotel by Marriott, which will take over heritage buildings located at Parliament Square. And it’s all systems go in Perth, where 2018 openings include a QT (July) and a Westin(April) in the city centre, and a DoubleTree by Hilton (first half of 2018) in the inner city neighbourhood of Northbridge.

3. Try the stunning native flavours of Australia’s modern cuisine

Ever been to a restaurant and eaten green ants? What about mangrove seeds? Or kangaroo tendon with Tasmanian mountain pepper? Australia’s native flavours have been gaining momentum for several years now, but the nod to Orana – recently awarded Australia’s 2018 Restaurant of the Year – cements their place firmly in the national consciousness. Owner-chef Jock Zonfrillo visits Aboriginal communities in some of the most remote corners of the continent to find his ingredients; he’s staked the restaurant’s name on serving Australia’s exquisite native flavours. If you’re lucky enough to get a table here – there are just 11 – expect to eat 18 courses featuring 50 to 60 native ingredients. Orana also has a sister restaurant just downstairs, Bistro Blackwood, offering a similar approach to native ingredients, at a more accessible price point.

There are many other restaurants showcasing Australia’s unique produce: experience native flavours at Attica in Melbourne and Brae in rural Victoria, both of which were named among The World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2017. At Attica, chef Ben Shewry serves dishes such as whipped emu egg with quandong (a native fruit) and grilled marron (an Australian lobster) with desert lime. At Brae, chef Dan Hunter provides an extraordinary, ever-changing menu from local ingredients, many of which are grown on site on the Brae organic farm, or foraged from the local environment.

4. Explore Tasmania‘s deeply spiritual Aboriginal culture

Wukalina Walk isn’t just another guided hike – it’s a spiritual journey into Palawa (local Aboriginal culture). Launching in January 2018, the walk takes place over four days and three nights, crossing the stunning landscapes of north-east Tasmania (including the dramatic Bay of Fires, home to white beaches, orange boulders and clear waters) while gaining deep insights into local Aboriginal culture and enjoying world-class accommodation, food and wine.

Guests get to meet elders, hear Palawa creation stories and take part in cultural practices that have been passed down over thousands of years. Accommodation is in bespoke Palawa-inspired huts and a renovated lighthouse keeper’s cottage. The operation is Aboriginal owned and operated, with two guides leading a maximum of 10 guests.

5. Fly high on a day-trip with a difference

There are places that look beautiful from the water, and places that look beautiful from the air, but some just have to be seen from both angles. Perth is one of them, which is why it’s a great place to hop aboard a seaplane and get some stunning views of the city before heading off to one of three iconic West Australian destinations.

Swan River Seaplanes started out in early in 2017 with a Margaret River Tour to taste fine wines in one of Australia’s top wine regions and has recently added two more tours to its itinerary. The Pinnacles – Taste of WA tour offers a dramatic trip north to the Pinnacles Desert as well as a fresh crayfish lunch; while the Rottnest Day Tour calls in on nearby Rottnest Island, home to beautiful bays and famously photo-friendly marsupials known as quokkas. If one day just isn’t enough, three and four-day Margaret River Retreats launched in December 2017, featuring luxury accommodation and gourmet food and wine.

6. See the stunning wilderness of Wilsons Prom from the water

Want to see wombats in the wild? It’s well known that Wilsons Prom is the place to go. The southernmost tip of the Australian mainland, ‘the Prom’ (near Melbourne) is home to Wilsons Promontory National Park, offering 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres) of coastal beauty, wilderness, and a wealth of wildlife, all­ surprisingly close to Melbourne. Bushwalks – short and long – have been popular forever, but the idea of exploring Wilsons Prom from the water is just beginning to take off.

Seals, dolphins, whales, birdlife and incredible rock formations are all here to admire, as well as great swimming spots. A new company, Refuge Cove Cruises, will be running one-day ecotourism tours of the Prom starting in January 2018, while long-time operator Wildlife Coast Cruises has recently introduced a new catamaran to the Prom.

Tasmania-based ecotourism company Pennicott Wilderness Journeys will really up the ante from October 2018 when it introduces its 32-seat amphibious vessel that can drive straight from beach to water. Back on dry land, the area also has some stunning new accommodation including The Church House, a renovated 19th century church that now offers gourmet escapes in an idyllic location among rolling hills with views of the national park.

7. See the Reef like never before

Lizard Island Resort, an exclusive private island retreat on the Great Barrier Reef with almost as many private beaches (24) as villas (40), is now offering guests a unique perspective on the reef. Reef Expedition is a unique, multi-day guided tour of the reef led by scientists from the Australian Museum which also runs a research station on the island. See parts of the reef that are normally off-limits, with guided snorkelling and dives, and unparalleled insights into one the natural wonders of the world. Four nights’ accommodation is included and groups are limited to 12.

That’s not the only memorable experience now on offer at the reef – a new scenic flight offers a lucky few the chance to land on an isolated isle sand, Wheeler Cay, in the middle of the ocean, while guests at exclusive island resort qualia, located in the Whitsunday islands, can now charter a Palm Beach Motor Yacht to explore the Great Barrier Reef. The resort vessel is the only Palm Beach Motor Yacht available for commercial use worldwide, although “bareboating” around the Whitsundays – where anyone can hire their choice of sailing vessel for an aquatic holiday around the islands – remains a popular pursuit. Also nearby is the Reef Sleep pontoon, where each night, a lucky few get the chance to sleep under the stars, 39 nautical miles from shore on the Great Barrier Reef.

8. See Cartier in Canberra

The Halo tiara that Kate Middleton wore at her wedding to Prince William, Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond and ruby necklace, and Princess Grace of Monaco’s 10.48-carat diamond engagement ring are among the items on display as Cartier: The Exhibition brings some serious bling to the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) in Canberra. More than 300 items loaned from royal families, celebrities and the Cartier Collection will form the biggest collection of diamonds, emeralds and precious stones ever seen in Australia. The exhibition, which is exclusive to the NGA, runs from 30 March to 22 July 2018.

Other NGA highlights in 2018 include American Masters 1940-1980, which displays together for the first time the greatest American works from the gallery’s globally renowned selection (24 August-11 November 2018); and Picasso: The Vollard Suite, comprising 100 prints by Pablo Picasso (9 June-24 September 2018). The National Gallery is far from the only reason to call in on Canberra next year. Lonely Planet has named it No.3 in its top 10 list of cities to visit worldwide in 2018. While you’re there, make sure you check out Bar Rochford, the Gourmet Traveller 2018 Bar of the Year.

9. Have an unforgettable new experience in ancient Uluru

Uluru may be ancient, and a hugely important spiritual site for the world’s oldest culture, but there are plenty of modern experiences on offer in the area. A new fine dining experience, Mayu Wiru (meaning “beautiful flavour” in the local Aboriginal Pitjantjatjara language) offers exquisite food featuring local ingredients, followed by a nightcap on a sand dune and a guided tour of the stunning Field of Light Uluru art installation, which is not only recommended by none-other than Chris Hemsworth, but has proved so popular that its run has been extended until the end of March 2018.

Meanwhile, the famous Sounds of Silence at Ayers Rock Resort will be celebrating its 25th anniversary year with new menus featuring bush tucker ingredients. The luxury Uluru base camp Longitude 131 recently unveiled a stunning new look, and Ayers Rock Resort offers an ever-more-impressive line-up of events, from the Aboriginal Tjungu Festival (25-29 April 2018) to the Uluru Camel Cup (25-26 May 2018). Uluru is one of Chris Hemsworth’s top Australian holiday experiences.

10. Stay and eat in Sydney‘s hot spot: Barangaroo

The new, multi-billion-dollar Barangaroo waterfront precinct in downtown Sydney continues to evolve, with the latest round of openings including flagship restaurant Barangaroo House. Sydney restaurateur Matt Moran’s three-storey playground which opened in December 2017 includes a ground-floor bar and eatery, first-floor restaurant and a rooftop terrace bar overlooking Darling Harbour, with menus from innovative head chef Cory Campbell (formerly of Noma in Copenhagen and Vue de Monde in Melbourne).

It will join an array of acclaimed eateries such as Banksii (the name is a nod to venerable British botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who studied many native Australian plant species during Britain’s initial explorations of the continent – Australian flora is heavily incorporated into the Mediterranean-inspired dishes).

On the other side of Darling Harbour, the area’s extreme makeover continues with the addition of the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, a 590-room luxury hotel with an infinity pool offering city views and a champagne bar. Between the two is the Hyatt Regency Sydney – which opened late 2016 – and the site of the upcoming W Sydney, slated to open in 2019 as part of the boundary-pushing development, The Ribbon.

11. Wander a history of war through a futuristic field of lights

The beachside city of Albany (just south of the Margaret River region) was the last sighting of Australia for many of the 41,000 men and women who set sail from here, for World War I. Home to one of the nation’s most important cultural pilgrimages – the award-winning museum and war memorial, the National Anzac Centre – the city is set to shine even brighter in 2018, with a stunning light installation by renowned English artist Bruce Munro.

Field of Light: Avenue of Honour will form part of Albany’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the first World War this year, and will feature more than 13,000 illuminated glass spheres, representing the national flowers of Australia and New Zealand. Mr Munro’s most recent commission Field of Light at Uluru has attracted more than 120,000 visitors since opening in April 2016 whilst Field of Light: Avenue of Honour is expected to attract more than 28,500 attendees. The work will be installed in Albany Heritage Park and the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial, from October 2018 through to April 2019.

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Bangkok sees a new Marriott

Marriott Hotels, has opened the new Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse. Owned by TCC Land Asset World, the hotel is situated on Surawong Road, close to the up and coming Chinatown district as well as the Silom shopping strip in the centre of town.

“Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse expands Marriott Hotel’s presence in Bangkok and offers experiences to inspire both international and domestic travellers to travel brilliantly,” said Mike Fulkerson, Vice President, Brands & Marketing Asia-Pacific, Marriott International. “Its modern design, dynamic meeting spaces and creative dining venues will attract both international visitors and local residents.”

Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse offers flexible room layouts that feature up to three bedrooms to accommodate guests’ individual needs. Set in a 32-storey modern building, the new-build property has 197 guestrooms and 106 deluxe suites. Featuring a palette of warm greys, neutrals and textured surfaces, the interiors embody the Marriott Modern Design philosophy.

Located between Bangkok’s historic quarter and Central Business District, the hotel offers easy access to famed cultural attractions such as Neilson Hays Library, Bangkokian Museum, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat Khaek) and is situated within steps of the up-and-coming Bangrak Creative District, providing guests with access to authentic local experiences. The soon-to-open Mahanakhon Observatory, which provides 360-degree panoramic views and a luxury shopping enclave ICONSIAM, is also within easy reach.

The property offers four dining concepts: The Lobby Lounge is an all-day dining venue that serves international favorites and light, seasonal dishes; Praya Kitchen celebrates Thai cuisine with an elaborate buffet to showcase heritage local fare with a modern twist; Located on the top floor of the hotel, Yào Rooftop Bar offers cocktails and signature bar bites with a Shanghai-inspired terrace with views of the cityscape and the Chao Praya river; At Yào Rooftop Bar Restaurant, guests can enjoy  Cantonese and Shanghainese fare, and tea rituals in modern Chinese-fashioned interiors.

“Leisure and business travelers will enjoy our timeless Thai hospitality right in the heart of Bangkok,” said George Varughese, General Manager, Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse. “Our unique location close to city’s main attractions and within an emerging creative neighbourhood will provide guests with fresh and immersive experiences of Bangkok.”