Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2015 i Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau

Dry throat and itchy eyes—we’ve all felt the effects of flying. According to Dr. Clayton T. Cowl, the chair of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, an aircraft’s filtration system—which takes in outside air and circulates it in the cabin—is to blame. While this creates a clean environment, it also causes humidity to drop to a parched 10 to 20 percent—between 30 and 65 percent is comfortable for most people. Low humidity means that moisture evaporates from the body quickly, which can lead to dehydration. Plus, when air is dry, the throat’s broom-like cilia become less effective at sweeping out viruses and bacteria, so you may be more susceptible to illness. The final word: There are ways to combat low humidity besides drinking water. Avoid alcohol-based moisturizers,…

THE DISH: Zhajiang noodles THE RESTAURANT: Moka Bros This bright spin on a Beijing classic noodle dish will dazzle your taste buds with a house-made sauce of slowsimmered pork-bellyfermented soybeans. Chinese noodles are topped with creamy avocado, edamame, shredded cucumber, sliced carrot and fresh bean sprouts. It all gets tossed together for a fresh summer bite. mokabros.com; RMB48. THE DISH: Three-year Nuodeng cured ham with Asian berry jam THE RESTAURANT: TRB Few know China has a cured ham that ranks amongst the finest prosciutti and jamon of Italy and Spain. Consider yourself in-the-know with an off-the-menu order of sliced salty cured Yunnan ham and a house-made berry jam. Handcrafted by the same family for more than 20 generations, it’s available only by request because quantities are limited. trb-cn.com; RMB158. THE…

Asian motifs meet Swiss precision. The new Petite Heure Minute Relief Carps by Jaquet Droz plays on the iconic carp, a symbol of love and longevity, in a stylized scene that blends hand-engraving with enameling. Lily pads appear to float on the surface amid wave-ridged layers of transulent blue enamel while a lotus blooms off center. The design comes in white and rose gold, 28 pieces in each. When you wear a watch this exclusive you don’t have to fish for compliments. jaquet-droz.com.…

WHAT WILDEST FANTASIES float through your head at night? Maybe it’s the power to build a pet dragon out of the latest in reptile-design parts then take to the Viking skies to race Hiccup and Toothless in your own version of How to Train Your Dragon. Maybe it’s going all-in for a king-of-the-hill two-story villa that comes complete with 24-hour staff and your own private casino. Or maybe it’s just savoring a reunion with old friends—we’re looking at you, Nobu-standard-bearers black cod in den miso and squid pasta—in a candlelit floating cabana at the newest outpost of the minimalist founding father of Japanese fusion. Disparate dreams, to say the least, but one glittering complex has the chutzpah to fulfill them all and more: new in Metro Manila, itself a patchwork…

In order to stock the New York and Tokyo locations of the Museum of Modern Art’s Design Store (momastore.org), Plat and his team spend two months a year on the road. “The majority of our items are imported from Japan, so it’s a big trip for us,” he says of his recent 10-day tour of the country’s capital. Plat shops with customers in mind, but he can’t resist picking up things for himself–like the items on this page–many of which make it into the stores. “We’ll buy things we like, and end up selling them because they’re relevant for our audience.” ACRYLIC CUBE When I first saw this Takao Inoue sculpture, I was doubtful we could sell it, since it’s more objet d’art than functional item. But it’s so beautiful,…

KAYAK How it works On supported routes, a graph shows up above your search results. It includes recent price trends, a seven-day outlook and even a confidence rating that reflects the site’s past predictive success. Pros A simple and streamlined presentation means you won’t feel overwhelmed with information. Cons The feature is limited to Kayak’s website (for now); a mobile version is coming soon. FLYR How it works Search the app or site for a flight as you would anywhere else; once you find the itinerary that fits your schedule, you can access additional details, including anticipated fare fluctuations. Pros Predictions are hyper-specific, and include the probability that your preferred fare will increase, decrease or stay the same in the next 24 hours. Cons Supported international routes only involve major…

The iPhone and iPad revolutionized the way we travel by allowing instant access to the services we need on the go. Now the Silicon Valley behemoth is taking the convenience of a handheld device in a wearable direction with the Apple Watch. Instead of constantly whipping out your phone, which is illegal at some immigration points, now your wrist is your command center. Book flights, hail cabs, find insider spots and get to the airport right on time with this glossy gadget. Did we mention it also tells time? STAY Starwood Join the SPG keyless program and you’ll never have to worry about losing your key or forgetting your room number again. In addition to keeping you updated on all the details of your stay, the Apple Watch also sends…

In Turkey, spring means fava beans and otlar (foraged herbs and greens). Autumn brings quince, winter welcomes enormous orange pumpkins and anchovies caught off Turkey’s Black Sea coast. The Turkish kitchen is one of the world’s richest and most seasonal, yet you’d never know it from the culinary itineraries trod by many visitors to Istanbul. I was one of those tourists. My earliest Istanbul food memories, dating from the late 90s, are of meats, sweets, ersatz Ottoman cuisine and unfortunate “Western” meals. Back then travelers to Turkey’s cultural capital didn’t have much choice. “When I started cooking in Istanbul in 2003 ‘international cooking’ —pizza, pasta, beef and salmon—dominated,” remembers Didem Şenol, chefowner of Istanbul’s Lokanta Maya restaurant. But that’s no longer the case, thanks to a growing number of Istanbul…

YOU’VE LIKELY BEEN TO PHUKET, but the real question these days is have you been lately? As the Thai island’s popularity continues to grow, the established lures of cutting-edge resorts, restaurants with delicious menus and beachfronts that define tropical Asia all face more competition. So, they do the only thing they can do: innovate. Where a decade ago, a design-centric resort on Phuket was in a league of its own, today there are several to choose from. If it’s authentic Thai cuisine—in other words, where locals go to eat—you’re after, then you are spoilt for choice in today’s Phuket. Need little more than to chill? There are still quiet beaches to enjoy around the popular island, an array of shaded poolside beds begging for occupants, and innumerable spas where tranquility…

I am 300 meters in the air in a gleaming, canary yellow, outsize toy plane. Below, the scenic scope of Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, is spread out in spectacular views of stately villas, luxury resorts, sun-glinting swimming pools and green hillsides. “Even the party town of Patong looks good from this height,” quips the pilot. We now cruise at a slow speed along a soft-sanded beach low enough to look right into sunbathing faces, and then take a graceful turn out over the aquamarine Andaman Sea. The view is arresting, spectacular. By The Air, the country’s sole distributor of the German-import AutoGyro Cavalon, provides 30-minute trial flights over Phuket and 60-minute flights to the nearby islands, including Khao Phing Kan, better known as James Bond Island, where it just so…

Meet up for a glass of red at Rendez-Vous (facebook.com/phuketrendezvous), with generous owner Khun Ae, before strolling up the road to The House (thehousephuket.com) for a Japanese Hitachino Nest beer. Next: longtime favorite Sanaeha (facebook.com/sanaehaphukettown) for a little live jazz, before a short walk to Wonderland (wonderlandphuket.com), where waiters in top hats serve cocktails made with Phuket’s own Chalong Bay Rum. If you’re still standing, head due north to rock out the evening in style at Timber Hut (66-76/211-839). Whiskey mixers and a rollicking time—that’s why Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler partied here last year.…

“If the museum’s mission is one of service to the public, then they should be doing everything they can to encourage attendance and engagement with the artworks, and like it or not, THAT INCLUDES SELFIE STICKS AT THE MOMENT.” — MUSEUMGOER RACHEL HYMAN, TO THE GUARDIAN “SELFIE STICKS WILL CAUSE SAFETY CONCERNS, whether for tourists or the exhibits.” – SHEN LIXIA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TOURIST RECEPTION AT BEIJING’S PALACE MUSEUM, FORBIDDEN CITY, TO THE TELEGRAPH “The only thing more annoying than selfie sticks is the MEDIA’S OBSESSION WITH CREATING A DIALOGUE ABOUT THEM.” — DAVID CANNON, FACEBOOK “At many concerts and events, people are not allowed to bring anything that might potentially hurt others, such as umbrellas. THE SELFIE STICK IS IN THAT CATEGORY.” — SENTOSA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SPOKESMAN, TO…

BANGKOK ROOT GARDEN The organic vegetable plot, chicken coop, rice paddy and mushroom hut offer a rare splash of green amid Thonglor’s pricey gastropubs. Eakdanai Wongwattana runs this community service project, with support from local non-profits, to educate the public about agriculture. Here you can plant your own veggies, buy produce—or take it home for free, payment is optional— or attend a workshop on how to start an herb garden, but go now, before the pop-up ends in December. Thonglor Soi 3; 66-99/396-4526; free workshops every second and fourth Sunday of the month. SIAM GREEN SKY At Siam Square One shopping mall, you’ll find Thailand’s largest rooftop garden fanning 2,000 square meters. This maze of vegetables, salad greens, flowers and herbslowers the temperature in the mall below by four degrees…

THE RIGHT PAIR of pants can define you. “The traveler who wears our ‘pants to see the world in’ is curious, independent and spontaneous,” says Renyung Ho, founder of Matter (matterprints.com), a socially conscious lifestyle brand. The Singaporean label, which employs rural artisans in India to create one-of-akind products with stories to tell, celebrated its first anniversary by rolling out a line of chic, comfortable trousers, built for travel. Titled Silk Cities, this summer’s collection of colorful designs and unisex styles was influenced by heritage patterns and traditional garments found along the ancient Silk Road, from Istanbul to China. The Easy Dhoti in a rich yellow Cave 17 print is inspired by the Library Cave—a famous feature of Dunhuang’s Mogao Grottoes in Gansu, China. An important cache of manuscripts was discovered…

Thanks to Pok Pok NY, which was awarded a star in the 2015 Michelin guide, and Andy Ricker’s six other restaurants, authentic Thai cuisine is getting some serious recognition outside of its home country. It doesn’t hurt that Ricker’s first cookbook, Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, went on to become a runaway bestseller and a James Beard award-winner. We caught up with the globetrotting chef to find out about the Southeast Asian destinations that have most inspired him and his cooking. 1992 Lampang, Thailand “Beautiful temples dot the old city along with some amazing Chinese shophouses, making it an aesthetically pleasing and still under-theradar place to visit. Pair that with some nice museums, a great food scene and a quiet vibe…

THE LIGHT AT THE END of the long, dark tunnel appears two hours into our ascent of Mount Merbabu. At first it is barely discernable, the faintest brightening under the thick forest canopy that blankets the lower slopes of the mighty volcano in Central Java. Soon, however, the long-awaited appearance of the morning sun becomes undeniable as arrows of gold illuminate our path and occasional gaps in the foliage reveal a panoramic vista of assorted gunungs (mountains) as well as the wide turquoise expanse of the Rawa Pening Lake. The view, as you might expect, is at once amazing and a tonic after a vertiginous pre-dawn march. The buzz of an alarm clock at 3 a.m. heralding the start of a hike up a 3,000-meter peak isn’t very enticing, but…

Japan Though still only a blip on Japan’s widening craft-beer map, Kyoto is finally starting to catch up with beer-loving cities like Tokyo and Yokohama. Tucked into a back alley of the vintage Furukawa-cho shopping arcade, intimate Beer Komachi (444 Hachiken-cho, Kyoto; 81-75/746-6152; beerkomachi.com) complements six draft brews with a small, well-curated list of bottled beers from mostly American craft breweries. Nearer to Kyoto Station, Beer House Craft Man (643-1 Nijohanjiki-cho, Kyoto; 81-75/371-7676) is a modern, three-story beer bar and Italian-fusion restaurant with 25 taps, the most in the city. Expect a mix of obscure and well-known Japanese craft brews. In Tokyo, Kiuchi Brewery has expanded its on-site brewing program from Ibaraki Prefecture to the Hitachino Brewing Lab (N1, 1-25-4 Kandasuda-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; 81-3/3254-3434; hitachino.cc/brewing-lab/en). Here aspiring brewmasters work in tandem with seasoned…

HARA MUSEUM, TOKYO The cakes at Café d’Art, are exhibitions in their own right, with a changing menu that reflects the museum’s current showcases. The giant glass windows overlook the inner garden, bringing culture and nature into visual harmony. haramuseum.or.jp. ASIA SOCIETY HONG KONG CENTER Set in a former explosives magazine compound created by the British army in the mid-19th century, AMMO is both a cheeky reference to ammunition, and an acronym for Asia, modern, museum, original. Head here on Saturday to check out one of the thought-provoking exhibitions by Asian artists, then fill up on a set of tea, scones and bubbly to help you digest heady concepts. ammo.com.hk; afternoon tea sets for two HK$308. BROAD MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES Downtown L.A.’s much-anticipated Diller, Scofidio & Renfro–designed building is making…

IN ASIA’S CASUAL EATERIES, LONG LINES are common and reservations are rare. But a handful of services are changing that picture. Last year restaurant-booking app Chope (chope.co) bought Ticktok (ticktok.com.sg), a queue-monitoring service, to spare you the tedium of standing in line. Now powered by the time-saving tech, Chope lets you stroll, shop or grab a drink while you wait for your turn, and notifies you when your table is ready. Launched in January, loyalty program Chope-Dollars also gives its users incentive to reserve tables through their app: each completed booking amasses points and 1,300 points equal S$20. Similar point-redemption systems have sprung up across the region: Hungry Hub (hungryhub.com) in Bangkok; Qraved (qraved.com) and MakanLuar (makanluar.com) in Indonesia; and Dineout and EatOut Manila (eatoutmanila.com) in the Philippines all parlay…

Safe It is secured to your body and thus difficult to lose and hard to steal. Durable The battery lasts for 18 hours of mixed use, longer than around the eight hours you’ll get with an iPhone 5. Legal At the moment, its use is not banned in airports. Practical It’s nearly impossible for notifications to go unnoticed, as they sometimes do in your pocket or purse. Apple’s Taptic Engine will “tap” your wrist so you’re always aware of important information.…

I LOVE THE WAY THE STEAM FROM NOODLE SOUP INTOXICATES ME WITH ITS AROMA. I love the way the long strands slip into my mouth. I love the way the hot broth floods me with happiness. Sound odd? Well I’m in good company—this is a feeling I share with billions of other people throughout Asia. And, it’s not too much of a leap to say that all of it can be traced back to the well-preserved 4,000-year-old bowl of noodles unearthed just a decade ago at the Lajia archaeological site in northwestern China. My taste for history—and noodles—inspired a pilgrimage to uncover not only how soups evolved into their various incarnations, but also what carried them through the ages. So I traveled across Asia to get to, well, the bottom…

THE KATRINA CROSSES can still be found all over New Orleans. They first appeared as soon as rescuers could make their way into the city, after the 2005 hurricane and ensuing flood caused by collapsing levees. Rescue teams spray-painted X’s on homes from Gentilly to Mid City, from Lakeview to the Lower Ninth. That graffiti told a bleak story, revealing when each house was searched, the team that searched it and how many bodies had been found inside. As time passed, and New Orleans began the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding itself, the crosses did not disappear. Yes, some of them were lost to bulldozers, others to speedy, determined renovations. But this is a city that has always been hell-bent on preservation—sometimes to its detriment—so it seemed perfectly normal that…

FOR THE TRADITIONALIST Ruen Thai, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket The sprawling Laguna complex was one of the first places to put Phuket on the global tourist map, and it’s still going strong today. At the venerable Dusit Thani, the service is still friendly, and the signature restaurant, Ruen Thai, still offers a solid selection of local favorites. The dishes, while familiar, are executed with care. A yam som-o with juicy pomelo and shrimp proves the kitchen isn’t afraid of a few chilies, and chunks of fresh seafood float in creamy hor mok soufflés. For more special-occasion-worthy fare, the chef will ignite a whole Phuket lobster tableside. Once the flames subside, guests can pry the tender meat from the shell and slather it with curry-spiked coconut sauce. Taken in combination with…

Old Town This historical district’s century-old Chinese shophouses and tin-baron mansions house a variety of cafés, creative restaurants, cool bars and hip hotels. Patong Phuket’s party central needs little introduction, but beyond the dubious delights of Bangla Road, you’ll discover an emerging culinary scene and good tourist shopping. Chalong This waterfront is the main launching point for boats to the offshore islands. Grab a drink at one of the laidback bars that line the roads by the pier. Kathu Earmarked as the island’s new CBD, this area is booming with huge developments that will add more malls and attractions. Surin Of the half-dozen beach towns that line the sun-soaked west coast, Surin is the chicest, with boutique resorts, beach clubs and some of the island’s top-rated eateries. Getting Around Phuket’s…

TIM CAMPBELL Co-owner of Stand Up Projects Phuket has many stunning beaches. My favorites are Naiharn, tucked in a cove with incredible surroundings, and Bangtao, where long and peaceful waves make it ideal for learning to surf at Skyla’s Surf & SUP Club (surf-sup.asia). I like to eat at Sunset (100 Cherngtalay Baadon Rd.), for delicious Thai served in a warm, simple setting. I’m also a huge fan of Flavor (facebook.com/flavorphuket) in Phuket Town—its fresh ingredients are magically put together. For drinks, my favorite hangout is Ploenchit (facebook.com/ploenchit.phuket), with its winning combo of retro kitsch and rustic vibe. ALICE NA TAKUATUNG TV host of Phuket News TV My favorite spot to eat in Phuket is Bang Mud (66-81/273-2367) floating restaurant, for its deep fried soft-shell crab and clams with lemongrass. Adrift between the mainland and…

SUNDAY NIGHT IN SHANGHAI, FRESH OFF MY FLIGHT, AND I WANT a bowl of chili chicken at a favorite restaurant. What I’m dreaming of isn’t just any bowl, it’s a deep dish where you fish around with chopsticks for the searing pieces of chicken in a sea of red dried chilies. The chili-to-chicken ratio is unprintable, the dish delicious. So too is the tofu smothered in a black-bean sauce, we order. I blame this issue, our annual food special, for arriving in one of the world’s most fascinating cities with only eating in mind. Around Asia, food is integral to our travels—I’m actually embarrassed by how many food photos are on my phone—whether it’s searching out organic innovations at Hong Kong’s top hotels (page 31) or the best new food…

AUSTRALIA Coogee Pavilion Starting at Bondi Beach, hike six kilometers south along a stunning cliffside coastal walk to the laid-back Coogee beachfront area, where rewards for all that physical exertion include freshly shucked oysters, wood-fired pizzas and cold Aussie brews at buzzy seaside hotspot Coogee Pavilion. Or, if you are feeling a little less ambitious, you could just skip the hike and take an easy bus ride here from central Sydney. This airy, sprawling space also has a first-floor barber shop and games area with pétanque courts, ping-pong tables and a giant magnetic Scrabble board. The rooftop deck spoils for choice with four indoor and outdoor bars, along with a kitchen cranking out Mediterranean tapas. 169 Dolphin St., Coogee, New South Wales; 61-2/9240-3000; merivale.com.au/coogeepavilion. SINGAPORE The Refinery Perfect for traveling…

There’s now more reason to zoom in on Shanghai’s Museum Mile, a stretch along the Huangpu River south of the city that includes the Yuz Museum, Shanghart and the West Bund Art Center. The newest exhibit space to open is the Shanghai Center of Photography, a clean, white address showcasing the medium, both past and present. The brainchild of Pulitzer Prize-winning and long-term China resident Liu Heung Shing, the center has the grandiose aim of opening up the world of photography to a wider local audience (yes, even today there is more to lens work than mobile-phone selfies). The center’s first focus is “Photography from the 20th Century,” a sweep of some of the medium’s most iconic images shot by everyone from Edward Steichen and Jacques Henri Lartigue to Bert…

HORTICULTURAL Organic farmers are fueling culinary creations at two of Hong Kong’s best hotels with their fresh, sustainably grown produce. A husband-and-wife team, Yuk Chi Lam and Betty Lam have dedicated their retirement to growing organic greens for family consumption, and now they’re sharing extras with their community. Their work has caught the eye of chef Uwe Opocensky at the MANDARIN ORIENTAL GRILL + BAR (mandarinoriental.com), and produce from their Cheung Chau farm is exclusive to the restaurant’s menu. Meanwhile, organic bee farm BEE’S NEST (beesnest.hk) is sweetening up THE RITZ-CARLTON’s (ritzcarlton.com; afternoon tea sets for two from HK$618) new afternoon treats with their raw, monofloral honey. Longanflower-honey praline, chocolate-honey ganache and ivyflower-honey custard are the stars of the set. Hurry, for the nectary nibbles are only available through July.…

CHEF CHUNG KIN-LEUNG won’t dish. He spent a decade at Hong Kong’s Government House cooking for world leaders, but today he’s mum when it comes to spilling any behind-the-scenes dirt on their dining habits. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering; I just want to know if Margaret Thatcher knew how to use chopsticks, or—this is the Canadian in me—did George Bush even know what chopsticks were for? But the chef won’t budge. Call it kitchen diplomacy. Instead, Chung prefers to focus on his latest restaurant project, Lai Bun Fu (laibunfu.com; set lunch for two from HK$1,176), which at first comes across as a place for ladies who lunch. It’s down a quiet side street in Central; all the proper cutlery is in its place, and there’s even a quirky touch…

The reinvention of this walkable, former punk-rock neighborhood began 10 years ago with the opening of Frank and Easy. At the tiny boutique, owners Ryo Shibata and Keisuke Morizawa turn salvaged gold into angular rings and pendants, and make cool clutches out of hand-dyed Italian leather. For lunch, follow the crowd down a narrow side street to the always-packed Rojiura Curry Samurai, which is furnished with vintage chairs and tables. Loyal fans love the curries (try the pork belly). Nearby, Rainbow Soko 3 is a sleek five-story warehouse with a gallery, artists’ studios and shops selling surfboards and stationery. Don’t miss the cafe’s organic drip coffee. The bookstore B & B blends quirky intellectualism (they have lectures on topics such as impasse capitalism) with rotating beers like Osaka Minoh. The…

Paintbar, Bangkok Coax out your inner van Gogh or Rembrandt while drinking craft beers at this justopened hot spot, where two-hour painting classes cover subjects ranging from portraits to landscapes. paintbarbangkok.com; two-hour classes Bt1,200, including canvas and painting supplies. LongPlay, Singapore Your musical input is, for once, welcome at this vinyl-only bar headed by Nicholas Quattroville, The Library’s previous mixology wizard. Sip cocktails like Lucille, made with Monkey Shoulder whiskey, espresso liqueur and a spray of vanilla essence, while you thumb through the evening’s carefully curated, rotating record collection. longplay.sg; drinks for two S$32. Oscary Wine & Art, Hong Kong Whether you’re into acrylics or making urban-friendly gardens, this casual-cool joint is all about letting your imagination run wild. Painting workshops spotlight a variety of techniques, while terrarium classes encourage…

SEARCHING FOR AIRFARE ONLINE is a special kind of torment. According to a recent study by Google, the average person visits 15 websites, does seven research sessions, and takes three weeks to book a single flight. Now a crop of apps and websites, led by Kayak and followed by newcomers Hopper and Flyr, are promising to remove the doubt by delivering customized fare forecasts—letting you know, once and for all, when and if that price is good. Price forecasting is hardly an original idea. Note Microsoft Bing’s prediction tool, which folded last year. The trailblazing algorithm, originally developed by veteran airfare-intelligence company Farecast nearly a decade ago, used historical and active data to offer simple Buy or Wait recommendations for any given route. It was one of Bing’s signature features—until…

BANGKOK Eatigo for discounts during off-peak dining hours in Bangkok, Pattaya and Singapore. Hungry Hub for points that can turn into future savings. INDONESIA Qraved for a large selection of Jakarta and Bali restaurants. MakenLuar for points and exclusive perks in Jakarta, Bandung and Bali. MALAYSIA Offpeak for 50-percent savings during restaurants’ less busy times. MANILA Dineout for webbased searching and freebies. Eat Out Manila for a database of over 100 restaurants. SINGAPORE Chope for reservations, rewards and convenient queuing.…

SUPER SAVER The Oberoi, Dubai See the Burj Khalifa-defined skyline from the windows of your airy, timber-floored room and enjoy a 20-percent discount on spa treatments as well as food and beverages. The Deal Magnificent Dubai; two nights in a Deluxe City View room, Dhs1,600 for two, through September 15. Save 54%. oberoihotels.com. DINING MALAYSIA Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Putrajaya, 25 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur, is home to the country’s largest botanical park and a man-made wetland. Stay at this “resort within the city” for a complementary upgrade to a Deluxe room as well as sahur (pre-dawn meal) and Jom Balik Kampung festive dinner for two. The Deal Balik Kampung Room package 2015; a night in a Superior room, from RM420 for two, through July 14. Save 20%. pullmanputrajaya.com. SAMUI…

WE WERE FOUR COURSES INTO DINNER in the private room of Shinji by Kanesaka, an omakase restaurant in the arcade behind the stately Raffles hotel. Already we’d been served bioluminescent squid; hirame, conjugally wrapped around morsels of uni; and glass fish, tiny and transparent except for the blacks of their eyes. Now it was time for the abalone, which had been soaking up mirin, soy and bonito broth vapors for the past five hours. As our host, Chris Lee, a 45-year-old local designer wearing a Kanye West–style man-skirt, lifted the first mollusk to his mouth, he asked the table, “Is it male or female?” He chewed ruminatively, then answered his own question. “Male. Texturally, it’s more dense, more like the sea. It’s more comprehensive.” “You have to chew it twice…

AZIAMENDI This groundbreaking restaurant is headed by Michelin three-starred chef Eneko Atxa, who has combined his Basque heritage with Asian ingredients to come up with dishes such as suckling pig with pumpkin noodles and dashi. 40/14 Moo 6, Baan Natai, Phang Nga; 66-93/779-2312; aziamendi.com; set menus from Bt5,500. MIRROR MIRROR Playing a big part in Old Town’s emergence as a dining destination, this Gallic-inflected spot has a woodpaneled, mirror-lined interior and a modern-French, comfort-food menu—featuring, for example, whole rack of lamb—created by its Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef. 31 Dibuk Rd., Old Town, Muang; 66-76/355-914; mirrormirror phuket.com; Bt1,300. NAHMYAA Though yet to garner the fame of its sister restaurant—Nahm, at the Metropolitan by COMO in Bangkok— this koi-tiled, new addition to Phuket’s dining scene deserves some recognition. Under the expert eye…

While it may seem odd flying onto an island resort only to board a boat to yet another, the dozens of small isles dotted around Phuket are sure to beckon from the horizon. Just a 15-minute speedboat ride (or slightly longer by longtail) from Phuket, pay a visit to Koh Bon, where Brit Dawn Farrell (bonislandphuket.wordpress.com) serves up fresh seafood right on the beach, or to the mostly undeveloped Coral Island—also known as Koh Hae—which features pristine reefs for snorkeling and sandy beaches for sunning. To avoid the crowds, skip Long Beach and head to Banana Beach instead. Mainly rural Koh Yao Yai, where the locals still harvest rubber and coconuts, is off the east coast. Due to the infrequent ferries, it’s worth staying overnight, perhaps somewhere such as the…