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Travel bugs and holidaymakers will be enlivened by positive news that a possible &#8220;travel bubble&#8221; is underway. While the Hong Kong government is still arranging talks with 11 countries, including Japan, Thailand, France and Switzerland, frequent travellers have something to look forward to in the coming months, especially with the looming change in season and the approach of the festive Christmas holidays.
In hopes of&nbsp;delightful travel prospects in the coming months, the following places will be worth visiting when the travel curbs are lifted:&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52405" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand.png" alt="‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble phuket phi phi islands thailand" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-phuket-phi-phi-islands-thailand-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Phuket, Thailand
Thailand offers the brightest prospects of opening a travel bubble with Hong Kong. As November marks the end of the wet season in the country, it is the perfect time for beach lovers to plan an island hopping vacation to the Phi Phi Islands and a warm Christmas on the tropical beaches of Phuket.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52406" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan.png" alt="‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble southern okinawa japan" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-southern-okinawa-japan-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Southern Okinawa, Japan
Frequent travellers to Japan might be initially disappointed by prospects of Tokyo and Osaka getting stricken off the list of travel bubble destinations, for now. However, tourism lawmaker, Yiu Si-wing suggests looking at southern Okinawa as a possible travel destination option. Rainfall and humidity are relatively lower in November and the weather stays warm all year round, which makes for a comfortable time to explore beaches, golf courses and historic sites of the region, such as Peace Prayer Park and Himeyuri Monument . The region is also well-known for its brown sugar and sugarcane juice.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-52407" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland.png" alt="‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble swiss alps switzerland" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland-400x266.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/‘Fun-getaway’-options-amid-travel-bubble-swiss-alps-switzerland-600x399.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Switzerland
While it looks unlikely for countries like Australia, France and Germany to open their borders to tourists in the near-term, prospects of holidays in Switzerland look brighter and more promising. In the case that a flight out to the Swiss Alps becomes part of your holiday plans in winter, you can consider hoping on the St. Bernina Express to take in the breathtaking Alpine landscapes, but not before you take a ski trip down St. Mortiz.&nbsp;

‘Fun getaway’ options amid travel bubble feature image

Fun Getaway: Places to visit during the travel bubble

It’s the summer of 2013.&nbsp; It’s getting on for 32O in the shade. And I’m just over 2,300 kilometres away from Hong Kong.
More specifically, I’m in Patong, the infamous bar district on the west coast of Phuket. It’s more seedy than everything-must-go garden centre liquidation.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-51186 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min.jpg" alt="phuket" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-5-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Dancing on the bar are a variety of what I take to be young ladies. While some favour the relatively straightforward stilettos-and-swimsuit look, others seem to have put a little more thought into their ensemble. While, admittedly, my brief glance around lacks rigour as a research methodology, through the strobing lights and thumping bass lines I still manage to discern two police officers, a fire lady and several nurses. There also appears to a rear-admiral and an unusually rhythmic nun.
Phil, my drinking companion and a long-term Phuket resident, brandishes his half-empty bottle of Singha in the general direction of one of the more comely prancing police officers.
“That’s a bloke,” he says.
Noting my startled look, he warms to his theme.
“And so’s the nun, the admiral and at least two of the nurses…”
“Lumme,” I say, not wanting to query his appraisal nor to know more about his inside track.
This, I think, though, is clearly no place for a family holiday…
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-51184 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min.jpg" alt="phuket" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-3-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Fast forward six and a half-years and I’m queuing for a visa stamp at Phuket International Airport. It’s 1.30 in the morning. I have two suitcases, a rucksack, a Mrs, a two-year-old and an 11-inch Gruffalo. Even though none of the attendant police officers give any indication that a provocative strut is of the offing, I am struggling with the kind of flashback that no much-loved cuddly toy should be within half a mile of.
And then the queue clears, our papers are checked and we’re all waved through. Even the Gruffalo. Outside, our courteous hotel driver awaits us in air-conditioned reassurance and soon, we’re winging our way through the relatively silent streets of Phuket several hours before sun up. This, I think, could turn out all right after all…
Even at this time of the night / morning, it takes the best part of an hour to reach our hotel – the Diamond Cliff Resort and Spa. Although only just a little over a kilometre from the heady, hedonistic delights of Patong, Phuket, Phil – our man supposedly in the know – assures me that family friendliness will be front of house. And, for once, he doesn’t disappoint.
Even at two o’clock in the morning, the traditional warm Thai welcome has not been turned down by so much as half a notch. Indeed, check-in is so brisk and painless that it even excites a smile from a half-asleep two-year-old. Before we know it, we, our luggage and our furry fanged friend, are all safely stowed on the shuttle bus that, every seven-to-eight minutes, takes the pain out of the sharp incline that divides the concierge from the decidedly comfy rooms.
So, there we are. Barely four hours after being wheels up in Chek Lap Kok, we’re bedding down in Kalim – Patong’s decidedly less decadent neighbour – and we almost have enough energy left to argue over who forgot to pack the travel adaptor. Again.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-51185 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min.jpg" alt="phuket" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-4-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Day one and it’s not a day for voyaging forth. We did quite enough of that yesterday thank you. For many Hongkongers arriving in Phuket – especially those travelling in steerage rather than on Premium Maximum First Class Super Indulgence tickets – the sheer space afforded by a decent sized hotel room delivers joy enough to make your first day in residence suitably memorable. Should you exhaust the charms of crispy linen and multi-jetted hot tubs peremptorily, then, thankfully, the Diamond Spa has enough in-house delights to ensure you don’t have to wander too far too early in your stay.
The handily-sited kids&#8217; playroom is a must and it’s a credit to its ever-enthusiastic personnel that they seem to remain almost entirely undaunted no matter how much topping a two-year-old can cover themselves with in the space of one brief half-hour pizza-making workshop. They also appear to have been trained in tactfully turning a blind eye to the number of crayons a toddler can scoff when they think no-one is looking.
This sizable, supervised play space marks just about the halfway point between room and pool, making it suitable as both the site of tactical retreat or a chance to burn off a little excess energy en route. Either way, the smiles of the staff remain undiminished, even when co-opted into an ad hoc search party for a suddenly errant Gruffalo.
Of course, on every holiday, no matter how hard you plan or how much you think ahead, there comes a time when you have to give in, bow to the inevitable, leave the hotel reluctantly behind and GO AND DO SOMETHING. In our case, something to do with elephants.
Pachyderms and two-year-olds, it seems, have at least one thing in common – they never forget. Should you, say, make the grave error of announcing, almost by way of idle chat, that there are elephants in Phuket, chances are that off-the-cuff pre-vacation comment may come back to haunt you.
And so it was that, decidedly early on day two, a little head popped up and in a tone that was equal parts quizzical and emphatic, said simply: “Elephants?”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-51183 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min.jpg" alt="phuket" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-2-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Three hours later, our argument about who forgot to pack the bug repellent is temporarily put on hold as our jeep lurches into a big elephant-motifed compound. We’ve been fortunate. A quick Google – thank you free and surprisingly fast hotel wi-fi – gave us the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (<a href="http://www.elephantjunglesanctuary.com/">www.elephantjunglesanctuary.com</a>), a nearby ‘ethical’ elephant rescue centre, which majored on both its sustainable and its care credentials.
In Thailand – and in pretty much everywhere else – it’s important to suss out just how genuinely charitable your chosen elephant preservation reserve actually is. As a rule of thumb, any signs of chains or any offer that you can ride one of the magnificent beasts is a no-no. This particular sanctuary actually prides itself on buying ageing tuskers from their moustache-twirling circus owners. The going rate? HK$2.5 million a pop.
The care and respect they show the animals is, however, evident at every turn. Whether you’re feeding them, bathing them or just goggling at their immense bulk close-up, it will certainly bring out your inner two-year-old. An undoubted holiday highlight.
Indeed, five days later, with Monkey Island, James Bond locales, an upside down house and the Splash Jungle Water Park all duly visited and Instagrammed, it’s the watermelon-munching jolly grey giants that remain the a biding memory for at least one departing diminutive tourist.
Queuing up for the return leg to Hong Kong, it’s hard not to feel a little recharged after a break from the increasingly fraught Fragrant Harbour. As to concerns, that this particular stretch of the Land of Smiles may not be wholly family friendly, this trip has certainly dispelled that particular notion.
While refreshed, there’s also a degree of exhaustion after setting out to see so much in such a short time. That must be why I’m momentarily sure the nun three ahead of me in the boarding queue just gave me the kind of wink that almost defines “lascivious”.
&nbsp;Surely, there can be no other explanation…
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-51182 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min.jpg" alt="phuket" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/thailand-1-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />

Jumbo Mini-Break: Want to go abroad to see elephants? Phuket? Book it.

It can be difficult to stop and smell the roses in the midst of Hong Kong&#8217;s bustling streets and busy work hours – thankfully the airport is just a hop, skip and an express train away – leaving us but a few hours from some of Asia&#8217;s most breathtaking botanical gardens. Helping you to destress and enjoy the beauty of nature., from the east of Thailand, the heart of Singapore and the south of China here are our favourite botanical gardens in Asia.
<h3>Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden</h3>
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNaRGIKAMUs/
Declared one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is located just short of 166km south-east of Bangkok and is spread out amongst 2.4 km2 of land. Known for its rich supply of Cycad the garden serves as an important conservation site for endangered and ancient plant groups. Travellers can also spend their visit to the garden with activities such as swimming, dining and world-famous Thai massages.
<h3>Singapore Botanical Gardens</h3>
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxGe_BaARqz/
Just a touch north of the equator one may find the 160-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens. As one of the only two cities in the world to have a tropical rainforest within its city limits, Singapore&#8217;s botanical garden is perfect for anyone trying to juggle an itinerary of shopping and nature. Also home to a children&#8217;s garden, this may be the ideal place to snap some family travel photos.
<h3>Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden</h3>
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bew8rvFledQ/
Right before reaching the border of neighbouring country Laos is the Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden in southern China. Here botanists can enjoy over 13,000 species of tropical plants, and learn about the innovative practices and studies being done by biologists and nature conversationalists, leaving you with a nose full of sweet scents and noggin full of botany knowledge.

Botanic Bests: 3 botanical gardens in Asia to visit this summer

As the Chief Creative Officer of&nbsp;Thailand’s leading full-service&nbsp;real estate developer <a href="https://www.sansiri.com/en/">Sansiri</a>,&nbsp;Ou Baholyodhin has great responsibility&nbsp;on his shoulders. He not only looks after&nbsp;the group’s visual identity and customer&nbsp;experience, he is also instrumental in&nbsp;shaping the brand’s overall look and&nbsp;feel, from design and development to&nbsp;marketing and branding. Ahead of the&nbsp;launch of the group’s prestigious Khun&nbsp;by Yoo condominium – which opens its&nbsp;doors come November – he chats with&nbsp;Gafencu about the brand’s mission, vision&nbsp;and its new special project, the&nbsp;Sansiri Luxury Collection.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-46955-1" width="640" height="360" autoplay="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1907/1907_GMHK_Sansiri.mp4?_=1" /><a href="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1907/1907_GMHK_Sansiri.mp4">https://www.igafencu.com/video/1907/1907_GMHK_Sansiri.mp4</a></video></div>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Tell us more about the Sansiri Luxury&nbsp;Collection that is launching later this year.
We’ve created this collection specifically&nbsp;for properties that meet certain criteria,&nbsp;specifically in three areas: refined taste,&nbsp;curated experiences and uncompromising&nbsp;quality. It comprises four projects widely&nbsp;recognised in both local and international&nbsp;markets, the super-luxury flagships: 98&nbsp;Wireless and Baan Sansiri Pattanakarn, and&nbsp;luxury projects: The Monument Thong Lo&nbsp;and Khun by Yoo, inspired by Starck.
What is your vision for Sansiri in the future?&nbsp;
I envision us to be above and beyond other property&nbsp;developers because we go beyond just making sure&nbsp;our residents are happy in the future. We always&nbsp;get involved with art and design, and ensure that&nbsp;world-class architects, interior designers and&nbsp;artists work on our properties. It’s the experience&nbsp;that money can’t buy, because these are the people&nbsp;who are often too busy creating palaces around the&nbsp;world, but thankfully, we are able to get them.
<figure id="attachment_46958" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46958" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-46958 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo.jpg" alt="Khun by Yoo" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46958" class="wp-caption-text">Chief Creative Officer of&nbsp;Thailand’s leading full-service&nbsp;real estate developer <a href="https://www.sansiri.com/en/">Sansiri</a>,&nbsp;Ou Baholyodhin</figcaption></figure>
How do your Asian heritage and your work&nbsp;experience in the UK influence your design&nbsp;aesthetics?
Having a good address book and being wellconnected&nbsp;with some of the world’s top talents&nbsp;means that I have access to bring a real wealth&nbsp;of knowledge and expertise that adds value to&nbsp;Sansiri’s projects and properties.&nbsp;
For the Sansiri Luxury Collection, you have&nbsp;collaborated with some very famous international&nbsp;designers like Gert Voorjans and Phillippe&nbsp;Starck. How was it like collaborating with them?
Nothing good comes easy, these are people&nbsp;whose time is very precious and they know what&nbsp;they like. I think to be able to work with worldclass&nbsp;designers, you have to have complete trust&nbsp;in what they do. If you’ve hired the best, trust and&nbsp;believe in them, because that’s the only way you’ll&nbsp;get the best out of them.
<figure id="attachment_46956" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46956" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-46956 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Khun-by-Yoo_2-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46956" class="wp-caption-text">Photos by Sansiri</figcaption></figure>
Why did you choose Phillippe Starck for the Khun by Yoo project?
In the ’80s and ’90s, a day wouldn’t go by without you hearing about&nbsp;the many achievements of Phillippe Starck, he was already considered&nbsp;something of a deity in the field of design in those days. So when we&nbsp;decided to do this project, it was only fit to get a real global superstar&nbsp;to do it. His designs just get stronger and stronger, and his finger is&nbsp;always on the pulse of what modern urban living is all about.
What makes this project so special?
The location is really important, and the great thing about this&nbsp;property is it’s right in the heart of the most happening part of&nbsp;Bangkok.
Thank you.

Living in Luxury: A closer look at Sansiri’s Khun by Yoo project

Whenever you think of Thailand, you could be forgiven for thinking first and foremost of its beaches. Whether it’s the pristine-ish sands of Krabi, scuba diving off the Similan Islands or Koh Samui’s notorious full-moon parties, it’s Thailand’s southern coast that has captured the imagination of international travellers.&nbsp;
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41107" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai.jpg" alt="Travelling to Pai" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Travelling-to-Pai-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
But should you prefer a road less travelled, then maybe you’d be better advised to forsake the South in favour of the not-nearly-as-non-natively-populated North. Bordering Laos and Myanmar, this forested mountainous landmass – home to several hill tribes – has largely eluded the touristy hordes to date, leaving its quaint, time-honoured rural charm surprisingly intact.&nbsp;
Here, your point of entry should be Chiang Mai, the provincial capital. Its contrast with Bangkok, the country’s capital and largest metropolis, however, couldn’t be more obvious from the moment you step out of the airport.&nbsp;With its winding canals a welcome relief after the capital’s glacial traffic flows and its lush mountains reassuringly rural compared to Bangkok’s burgeoning high-rise skyline, it’s clear you are in holiday territory.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41105" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thai-monasteries.jpg" alt="Thai monasteries" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thai-monasteries.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thai-monasteries-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thai-monasteries-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thai-monasteries-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thai-monasteries-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
The proud capital of the Lanna Kingdom, home to the Burma-backed dynasty that ruled the region from the 13th to the 18th century, Chiang Mai is replete with remnants of its regal past, with something memorably majestic to be found in every nook and corner. Nowhere is this more apparent than within its walled Old City, an enclave that has cosseted and preserved its cherished array of Buddhist temples for more than 800 years.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41102" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dont-temple-yourself-out-before-reaching-Pai.jpg" alt="Don't temple yourself out before reaching Pai" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dont-temple-yourself-out-before-reaching-Pai.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dont-temple-yourself-out-before-reaching-Pai-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dont-temple-yourself-out-before-reaching-Pai-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dont-temple-yourself-out-before-reaching-Pai-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dont-temple-yourself-out-before-reaching-Pai-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
While you can visit every temple within the Old City complex, more sedate&nbsp;sightseers can take in the more renowned sites – notably Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang – in a more relaxed fashion. However you arrange your itinerary, though, make sure to include Wat Doi Suthep, arguably the most revered and photogenic temple in the whole of northern Thailand.&nbsp;
Should the sheer volume of Chiang Mai’s venerable shrines see you teeter on the templed-out, opt for a change of pace and head to the Elephant Nature Park, a rescue and rehabilitation centre for the magnificent beasts that are Thailand’s Official National Animals. As part of a major conservation initiative that began&nbsp;back in the early ’90s, you can book into the camp and help take care of its mighty charges, all under the watchful eye of its highly-experienced staff.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41099" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples.jpg" alt="Ancient Thai temples" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ancient-Thai-temples-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Should mucking out a pachyderm not be your idea of the perfect vacation, an excursion to the nearby town of Chiang Rai might better meet your holidaying needs. &nbsp;Architecturally similar to 200km-distant Chiang Mai, the smaller and sleepier mountain town of Chiang Rai can be found just beyond the Doi Inthanon National Park. As befits its mini-me status, it boasts its own regal connections and, of course, its own array of shrines.
Unlike its big brother, though, the slightly more remote Chiang Rai has relatively few tourists, allowing its small number of hardy visitors a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in unadulterated Thai culture. One can&#8217;t-miss spot is Wat Rong Khun, one of the region’s few temples with an all-white finish.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-41104" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand.jpg" alt="Remote rice paddies in Pai, Northern Thailand" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Remote-rice-paddies-in-Pai-Northern-Thailand-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
For something definitely different, head directly to Pai, one of the true gems in the nearby Mae Hong Soon Province. Although only a three-hour ride away from Chiang Mai, you’ll feel the centuries roll back as you near this unspoilt river valley. While any visitor to Pai will be tempted just to revel in the moment and bask in its timeless beauty, there’s actually plenty to explore – hot springs, deep gorges, rolling meadows, steep ridges, classically-tended paddy fields… Don’t, however, feel duty-bound to take in too much. In Pai, the more you proactively venture forth, the more you risk failing to fully experience this unique location.
It’s the curse of the contemporary traveller that, after artfully arranging flights, changing currencies, masterminding time-maximising itineraries and setting out to ensure that no authentic aspect of your chosen destination goes unsavoured, you can often end up missing the point entirely. While cramming in every cultural crumb and leaving no shrine unseen and no cuisine unsampled, this hurried cut-and-paste sensory overload can leave you wholly untouched by the landscape you so briefly visit. If ever there was a place to merely linger, forsaking the imperative to rack up novelties and nuances for an hour or two, it is surely Pai.
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay 
Photos: Souvik Mukherjee

Tag: thailand

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Tag: thailand

Blog Section

Fun Getaway: Places to visit during the travel bubble

Jumbo Mini-Break: Want to go abroad to see elephants? Phuket? Book it.

Botanic Bests: 3 botanical gardens in Asia to visit this summer

Living in Luxury: A closer look at Sansiri’s Khun by Yoo project

Northern Thailand: Your ultimate transformative trail