ADVENTURE USA, Cuba, Adventure Travel, Vietnam
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APRIL 2015 • ISSUE 01 NEXTA FLIGHT CENTRE STOP MAGAZINE SUMMER ADVENTURE USA, Cuba, Adventure Travel, Vietnam ACTIVE TRAVEL From Phuket Marathon to climbing Mount Kinabalu MALDIVES Discover the best of the island Contents Hello! 005 Foodie Guide: Thai Feasting – Koh Samui Dining Guide I was having breakfast with a few Flight Centre 006–009 friends and as usual, we were chatting about Barefoot Luxury in the Maldives our next travel plans. Soon, our breakfast had 011–015 extended to lunch as we talked non-stop about Top 10 Things to Do in America our upcoming trips; all of us simply bubbled over 016–020 with travel tips, ideas and recommendations Reporting from Cuba for near enough every city under the sun! That’s when the idea of creating our very own 021–026 Top 5 Destinations for 2015 “content-driven” magazine came about. We all love talking about travel… So why not create a 027–031 FREE Flight Centre magazine where we could Vietnam share with everyone our holiday experiences 032–033 and suggestions? Now that dream has become a Singapore with Kids reality – and hopefully, this quarterly magazine 034–035 will inspire you on what to do or where to go Marathon man: on your next trip. If you have any questions or Running the Phuket Marathon suggestions, feel free to get in touch with me – 036–038 I look forward to hearing from you soon! Climbing Kinabalu 039–041 Hit the reset button at The Farm 042–046 City Scoop editors: contributors: Cecilia Yee Jason Dutton-Smith Cecilia Rachel Read Loryda Erasmus Kate Farr Kate Farr Cecilia Yee Kathryn Gardner [email protected] graphic designer: Amanda Hageman Calvin Kwok Kirsten Hill Matet Lester Jason Tse Cecilia Yee Claudia Yeung head office: retail stores: Flight Centre Hong Kong Flight Centre Lyndhurst Terrace Flight Centre Happy Valley Flight Centre Wan Chai 7/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King's Road, 17 Lyndhurst Terrace, 8 Sing Woo Road, 66-68 Queen's Road East North Point, Hong Kong Central, Hong Kong Happy Valley, Hong Kong Wan Chai, Hong Kong 2830 2866 2830 2810 2830 2850 2830 2869 www.flightcentre.com.hk While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, such information, however, is subject to change. The publisher shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions. The publisher will not accept any responsibility or liability for an inaccuracy thereof. All materials copyright to Flight Centre Hong Kong. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, On the cover: Cuba – Marcin Krzyzak / Shutterstock.com either electronically or conventionally, without the written permission from Flight Centre Hong Kong is strictly prohibited. Where do you wanna go? 26 Iceland 46 11 43 San Francisco 43 To kyo USA 23 25 Shanghai 16 Bhutan Egypt Cuba 22 Columbia 06 Maldives 27 Vietnam 39 46 05 Philippines 35 Sydney Koh Samui 36 44 Phuket 44 32 Kota Kinabalu Kuala Lumpur Singapore 24 Indonesia 2 | NEXT STOP NEXT STOP | 3 FOODIE GUIDE Thai Feasting: Koh Samui Dining Guideby Cecilia Yee Pristine beaches, stunning re- 03 sorts, a crazy party scene and of course, amazing food… it’s no wonder people flock to Koh Samui to escape reality, and this popular spot in the Gulf of Thailand really is the perfect What’s weekend beach getaway. 04 Those looking to hit the re- set button can find wellness retreats galore to unplug and 02 recharge, whilst hungry food- on your ies definitely won’t run out of options either. Whether you’re 01 after authentic local eats (who doesn’t love Thai food?), cre- ad ative fusion cuisine or sophis- bucket ticated Sunday brunches, Koh Samui has it all. Here are my top five picks: » Barracuda Restaurant list? Recently relocated to The Wharf in Bophut, Barracuda Restaurant offers modern cuisine with a twist – Mediter- Come and start the ranean with a touch of Thai. Some notable dishes include conversation. basil-infused yellow fin tuna bedded on roasted pineapple, Thai asparagus and soy-gin- Flight Centre Hong Kong ger vinaigrette and lamb on carrot puree, grilled zucchini @ flightcentrehk and roasted herb sauce... Get in our belly! Picture 01 @ flightcentrehk » Stacked » Kob Thai Restaurant » Nikki Beach Koh Samui » Dining on the Rocks The signature restaurant at A hidden gem located on Indulge in one of the best Experience haute cuisine the trendy OZO Chaweng Lamai Beach, Kob Thai is one Sunday brunches on the perched atop terraced decks Samui hotel, Stacked serves of the best Thai restaurants island at Nikki Beach. overlooking the Gulf at up American comfort food in Koh Samui. Chill out with Located on the west side Dining On The Rocks. This favourites like burgers, steaks friends in this open-air venue of Koh Samui on Lipa Noi, award-winning restaurant and chicken wings. Combine and try the tasty steamed this is the place to be and be in Six Senses Samui (which that with a pumping atmo- snapper or curry crab, then seen. Their weekly “Amazing I highly recommend for ac- sphere thanks to live music end the meal on a sweet Sunday Brunch” has become commodation in Koh Samui) nights and exciting sporting note with mango and sticky legendary throughout the serves inventive cuisine using events shown on TV, and rice. This is a great spot to island as an indulgent the freshest vegetables and Stacked is the perfect spot for experience the ultimate Thai afternoon of music, sunshine, produce from the resort’s own FC a casual dining experience. beach holiday. bubbles and delicious food – gardens. Picture 04 Picture 02 cheers to that! Picture 03 4 | NEXT STOP NEXT STOP | 5 150301_fchk_FCMag_ad.indd 1 23/3/15 3:40 pm BAREFOOT L U X U RY IN THE MALDIVES FOOT LUX RE U A RY B in It might be one of the world’s smallest nations, but the Maldives has countless marvels to offer to visi- tors. Situated in the Indian Ocean, this archipelago the Maldives is made up of 26 atolls featuring some of the best diving sites in the world. Renowned for its abundant white sand beaches and warm waters, a tour around the Maldives is the very definition of an idyllic escape – whether you end up captivated by its deep azure oceans, colourful coral reefs, ring-like islets, schools of tropical fish beneath the water’s surface… or all of the above! All this also looks absolutely stunning when observed from the air, so be sure to check with your Maldives travel guide for more information about helicopter tours to truly enjoy the sparkling islands from the sky. Both Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines now operate direct flights to Male; however, the late-night arrival times almost always mean an overnight stay in the city if you need a seaplane to access your re- sort. Instead, it’s worth opting for the Maldives own 'Mega Maldives' international airline, which oper- ates four direct flights per week from Hong Kong. These flights land in Male in the early afternoon, so make sure you secure a window seat to be able to see the wonderful view from above – after all, this is exactly what you’ve come to the Maldives for! NEXT STOP | 7 BAREFOOT L U X U RY IN THE MALDIVES We sent three of our consultants to explore the Maldives – here’s how they fared at three very different, » Maalifushi by COMO but equally stunning, Male resorts By Kirsten Hill I stayed at Maalifushi by COMO, a stun- Of the three restaurants at the resort, my ning property located in the Thaa Atoll. favourite was Madi – an all-day dining ven- Once you arrive at the resort, it's a short ue with themed dinners facing the central walk down the wooden walkway to recep- pool. Breakfast is served here daily; you tion – and don’t forget to keep an eye out can choose between the normal menu for the resident black tip reef shark which and the healthier “COMO Shambhala” circles in the shallow waters! one. Whilst waiting for your main course, feel free to feast on fresh fruit, bread and The great thing about Maalifushi by homemade yoghurt at the buffet section. COMO is that its island is larger than For dinner, we tried a Maldivian feast - most, hence it offers more facilities and curries, naan bread, rice, fresh tuna and even the opportunity to rent out a bicycle lobster, fish, sambal and homegrown to get around. The accommodation ranges vegetables – all whilst enjoying the local » Conrad Maldives from beach villas to over-water villas with Maldivian drum show. By Claudia Yeung their own private plunge pools (ideal for The Conrad Maldives consists of two of treatment. The Spa Retreat offers couples). I stayed in an over-water suite The Maldives is truly a place where you islands connected by a 500m footbridge, guests an extensive range of treatments with my own private pool overlooked by can forget about your worries and appre- with the seaplane docking-platform in the such as acupuncture, nutrition and classic the thatched sala – a great place to view ciate life the way it should be. Welcome to middle of the bridge. The smaller island beauty treatments featuring a holistic ap- the sunrise! paradise! has water villas of several different cate- proach. Meanwhile, The Over-Water Spa gories whilst the main island consists of pampers its guests based on Thalgo co- both retreat and all-beach villas. lour rituals, which are centred round the » Cocoa Island by COMO body’s chakra system to draw a balance By Jason Tse We were assigned to the smaller island; between your physical, emotional and Despite the fact that it’s in the middle of over-water villa to choose from.