98
FAHTHAI
THEGUIDE
thailand
COUNTRY CODE
+66
EXCHANGE RATE
THB30 = US$1
PHUKET FREQUENCY
Numerous flights every day to a variety of destinations
UK HIPSTER EVENT HITS THAILAND; TOP GETAWAYS
LUSH LANDSCAPES
Sunsets are
a highlight at
Arthit-tara; Asita’s
bungalows (below)
E S C A P E T H E C I T Y
Check out these weekend getaway
options within a few hours of Bangkok
Life’s beachy
Musical fruit
P H U K E T
B A N G K O K
B A N G K O K
Led by three sea-turtle mascots, Phuket is gearing up
for the largest sporting event in the island’s history.
It’s preparing to welcome more than 6,000 athletes
and officials from 45 countries to the Asian Beach
Games from 14-23 November. The event features 26
sports, from beach volleyball and windsurfing to sailing,
paragliding, jet-skiing, triathlon and beach soccer. The
games take place at sites such as Patong, Karon and
Naiyang beaches.
phuketthailand2014.com
Just before Christmas, hipsters and indie-kids will
descend on the Siam Country Club in Chon Buri for
three-day international music festival Wonderfruit.
Headlining will be dub band Fat Freddy’s Drop, Swedish
crooner Jose Gonzalez and hip-hop groovers De La
Soul (pictured), along with Thai folk singer Hugo Julajak
Jakrapong and whimsical Bangkok surfer rock band
Yellow Fang. Celebrity chef David Thompson will be on
hand for some culinary pop-up events and there will
be film screenings and workshops. 19-21 December.
wonderfruitfestival.com
Countryside
drive
ASITA ECO RESORT
This low-key luxury resort is
within 90 minutes of Bangkok.
Not far from Amphawa’s
famous floating market, Asita
incorporates the waterways into
its design, with a canal snaking
between the resort’s villas. The
lush, riverside location makes it
perfect for a relaxing weekend
getaway and the emphasis
on green practices is obvious.
Guests can dine on seafood they
catch themselves at the resort’s
marine farm and on organic
vegetables grown on site.
asitaresort.com
ARTHIT-TARA
Located on the banks of
the Bang Pakong River in
Prachinburi, Arthit-tara is
another resort getaway with an
unconventional design. Guests
stay in their own self-contained
huts, which boast striking,
creative architecture, and have
their own open-air jacuzzis.
Arthit-tara is a solid pick for
those seeking a quiet, natural
retreat. That said, the owners
aren’t averse to taking visitors
out for a spin on their speedboat
and for a champagne picnic.
arthit-tara.com
BANGKOK TREE HOUSE
Samut Prakan is often referred
to as Bangkok’s “green lung”.
Though it’s just on the other
side of the Chao Praya River, it
feels like you’ve journeyed much
farther afield. This elevated
eco-resort is built among the
treetops with rooms – or “nests”
– connected by walkways
that look like they were
pinched from an Ewok village.
Construction relies heavily
on natural materials, such as
bamboo, and biological filters
are used to purify the pool.
bangkoktreehouse.com
