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Bali Brides

Where to tie the knot on the Island

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Salzburg

SIAM GLAMOld-school style in Bangkok

LET IT SNOWHit the slopes in France & Australia

SRI LANKATrains, taxis & tuk-tuks for two

The 5 hottest resorts in

MALAYSIA

The1010places youhave to see

in 2016

ASIAN SENSATIONS

SECRET PARISRomantic spots

you've never heard of

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Where to eat

WORDS Gemma Price

Easily accessible information

and convenient travel mean

we’re spoilt for choice when

planning a trip. Not only are

new fl ight routes putting

hard-to-reach destinations

within our grasp, some

previously inaccessible

countries are opening their

borders and relaxing visa

regulations, emerging as

potential holiday spots in the

process. Here are 10 Asian

holiday destinations worth

considering in 2016.

Asian Sensations

Gorgeous destinations to visit in 2016

holidaysforcouples.travel 21

ASIA-------.

Palawan, PhilippinesThe Philippines checks all the boxes for a

romantic tropical getaway, but the Province

of Palawan – comprising Palawan island and

its reef-ringed neighbours – goes above and

beyond. Not only is it visually spectacular

(in 2014 Condé Nast Traveller readers voted

the island the most beautiful in the world

for its aquamarine waters, jungle-carpeted

emerald green mountains and idyllic,

multi-hued fi shing villages backed by

limestone cliffs), but there’s plenty to see

and do, too. Foodie hub, Puerto Princesa is

home to a UNESCO-inscribed subterranean

river, voted one of the New 7 Wonders of

Nature. You’ll fi nd great places to sail and

dive as you hop from islet to island, and may

even sight rare species such as the Philippine

pangolin or tiny mouse deer. Palawan isn’t

short on luxe resorts – Amanpulo offers

beach, hillside and canopy accommodation,

while each of the El Nido properties is more

gorgeous than the last – and as you can get

there by boat or a 90-minute fl ight from

Manila, it probably won’t be long before the

madding crowds roll up.

Amanpulo.

22

Nestled at the confl uence of the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers,

this former royal capital – and UNESCO World Heritage Site – is

a heady mix of well-preserved cultural tradition and colonial and

Laotian architecture. Colourfully garbed hill tribe women and

Mahayana monks clutching burnt sienna parasols walk along

bougainvillea-fl anked roads, passing homespun eateries, little shops

and boutique hotels housed within gabled, timbered or

brick-and-stucco mansions. Villa Maly, a 33-room hotel anchored by

the 1938 home of Princess Khampieng and Prince Khamtan, embodies

the elegance of Indochinese-era living. Compared with neighbouring

Southeast Asian hubs, Luang Prabang is not that easy to get to – only

a couple of fl ights a day depart nearby Hanoi – although improving

connections may see that change. For now, though, you can enjoy the

300-step climb to Wat That Chom Si on the top of Mount Pousi Wat

and step beneath the low sleeping roof of 16th-century Wat Xieng

Thong to admire its vivid glass mosaics of Buddhist teachings and

King Sisavang Vong’s seven naga-headed funeral chariot, without

having to elbow through busloads of tourists.

2CambodiaLaidback provincial town Siem Reap is

arguably best-known as Cambodia’s

gateway to the ancient Angkorian temple

complex, but its sophisticated restaurants,

boutiques and luxurious, pool-fringed

accommodation will keep you lingering

long after you’ve had your temple fi x.

I love Belmond La Residence d’Angkor,

Raffl es Grand Hotel d’Angkor and taking

time out to enjoy Wat Damnak’s local

produce-focused degustation menu.

Cambodia has lots more for couples to

explore – you can cruise up the Mekong,

go jungle trekking in Ratanakiri and

wander through gilded wats and striking

examples of 1960s New Khmer

architecture in the French colonial capital,

Phnom Penh. From here it’s a 35-minute

fl ight (or 3.5-hour drive) to the southern

beach resort of Sihanoukville, named for

Cambodia’s former king. Song Saa Private

Island is the perfect setting for couples

looking to escape, and when the

Kenzo-designed Arovada by Akaryn – the

fi rst private island wellness retreat on Koh

Krabey – opens later this year, it’ll be one

more good reason to go.

3 Luang Prabang, Laos

Angkor Wat.

holidaysforcouples.travel 23

ASIA•

• l , I I ,

Dan

ang,

Vie

tnam

Historically, Vietnam’s central coast

has been the seat of kings, emperors,

colonial administrators and war heroes

from both sides. Today, Danang’s

48-kilometre sandy shoreline (formerly

known as China Beach) – from hilly

Son Tra peninsular in the north to the

historic ancient town of Hoi An – is fast

becoming as famous for its sun, sand and

sea as its unique history: developers are

even tipping Danang as the next Phuket.

After the lull following 2008’s downturn,

things are starting to pick up again.

The Meliá Danang held its soft opening

there in 2015, while JW Marriott, Hilton

and Sheraton will be online within the

next few years, and fl ights are gradually

being added from hubs all over Asia. For

now, though, the vibe is not too hectic, the

resorts are gorgeous (the all-villa Nam Hai

and high-style InterContinental Danang

Sun Peninsula Resort are my favourite

places to stay on the beach), and local

attractions – from cooking classes to

beach bars tucked away in small bays – are

myriad. At ancient UNESCO-listed

merchant town, Hoi An you can wander

charming museums, temples and eateries

set within 15th-century houses by day, and

eat at tiny eateries along lantern-lit streets

by night – don’t miss the chocolate duck

and mango shrimp at Mango Rooms or

a nightcap at opium den-inspired Q Bar.

The Nam Hai.

24

ASIA•

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BaliWhile Bali’s charms may seem thoroughly documented (thanks,

Eat, Pray, Love) and regular visitors may grumble that it’s not the

untouched paradise they remember, the truth is that this Indonesian

jewel has been evolving since celebs such as Noel Coward and

Charlie Chaplin vacationed here in the Twenties and Thirties.

The upside is that no matter how many times you’ve visited Bali,

next time around there will be new places to check out – and check

in to. Last year, the 60-villa Ritz-Carlton Mandapa opened on the

banks of the Ayung River in Ubud, and Alila launched its fourth

Bali property in fashionable Seminyak; this year’s hotly anticipated

newcomers include Philippe Starck’s 12-villa property, The Stairs,

and all-suite hotel, The Katamama (run by the folks behind hip

Seminyak beach club, Potato Head). New restaurants pop up

every season, many from already successful Bali restaurateurs

– last year I loved Pirate Beach Club and Indonesian eatery,

Bambu Restaurant from the team behind popular La Lucciola.

The island’s well-established eateries also introduce new chefs

and new menus to complement their high-concept interiors

(check out the British colonial-era Shanghai vibe at Mama San

and rice-paddy vistas at Sardine).

And in addition to captivating visitors with its jungles, beaches and

spiritual sanctuaries, the Island of Dreams also inspires entrepreneurs

from all over the world to up sticks and try new ventures on its

shores. When not opening new boutiques or launching craft

cooperatives, designers – including those behind Australian brands

Ebony Eve, Shakuhachi and Nastasha – spend most, if not all, of their

time in Bali previewing new collections or releasing samples through

local shops. This means you’ll often snag one-off pieces for an

absolute steal.

And once you’ve had your fi ll of Bali’s social scene, ancient centres

of tranquillity such as Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Uluwutu

temple, still hold new secrets to be discovered.

MyanmarEver since Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house

arrest, Myanmar’s star has been in the ascendant and

many travellers will tell you its top of their list. Historically,

Myanmar (formerly Burma) has been a popular

destination, particularly during its British colonial past (and

visitors can experience the luxurious accommodations of

that bygone era), but years of more recent isolation mean

that Myanmar still feels relatively untouched by the

fast-paced modern development characteristic of

neighbouring countries. Yangon, especially, is a beguiling

mix of European-infl uenced history and Myanmar

tradition. Victorian features at The Strand Hotel –

sweeping marble staircases; an ancient elevator – have

been well maintained, while rooms at the two-storey

1920s home of Myanmar’s former British governor, now

the Belmond Governor’s Residence Yangon, feature

canopy beds bordered by silk-panelled walls and views

over leafy treetops. But things are changing quickly and

new developments are mushrooming up everywhere.

Luxurious, safari camp-inspired Bagan Lodge opened in

2013 to give well-heeled visitors a place to stay just a few

kilometres from Bagan’s 11th-century plain of temples.

In recent years, several river cruisers have been launched

along the Ayeyarwady, including Belmond’s Orcaella and

Sanctuary Ananda, while Inle Lake and Ngapali Beach are

both hotbeds of development.

5

6holidaysforcouples.travel 27

ASIA

MaldivesIn 2009, then-Maldives President, Mohamed Nasheed and his offi cials donned scuba gear and hel

an underwater cabinet meeting aimed at drawing attention to climate change. For locals of this

Indian Ocean Republic, the issue cuts close to home. The Maldives’ highest point stands only

2.4 metres, and its 1,200 gorgeous reef- and beach-fringed islands and atolls are threatened by rising

sea levels associated with global warming. Researchers have warned there will be no coral left in

30 years and that the Maldives will disappear completely by 2100, so local authorities and resorts

have taken a stand. For every island being developed into a resort area, another island is being

preserved. All Maldives resorts are eco-resorts; the “biodegradable” Six Senses’ Soneva Fushi even

produces its own fresh water by desalinating ocean and lagoon water, and removes carbon dioxide

from the atmosphere rather than adding it. Many couples staying in the Maldives have been actively

helping to support the local economy and save the islands. And boy, are they worth saving. Go now.

va Fushi even

arbon dioxide

28

As Krabi province is a little tricky to get to – the only

international fl ights serving Krabi airport are from

Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Darwin – it’s one of

Thailand’s more laid-back destinations. And compared

with Ao Nang and Phi Phi, Koh Lanta is even more

low-key. That’s not to say that there’s nowhere for

couples to stay (of Lanta’s fi ve-star resorts,

we love the deliciously secluded mountain retreat,

Pimalai Resort & Spa), but it does mean that the island

experience feels both relaxing and more authentic.

Lanta’s ethnically diverse inhabitants, comprising Muslim,

Thai-Chinese and Urak Lawoi sea gypsy communities,

are more likely to make their living from fi shing,

prawn-farming and rubber-tapping rather than tourism.

Along the 25-kilometre west coast from northern Klong

Dao to Bamboo Bay in the south, you’ll fi nd deserted

stretches of sand interspersed with day-into-night beach

bars frequented by locals and visitors alike. The action,

such as it is, happens around the concentration of bars,

shops and stilt-house seafood restaurants in the main

village of Baan Saladan, and there’s also great diving to be

had. Ko Ha Yai is known for its submerged caverns and

you can spot whale sharks, manta rays, and schools of

barracuda around the deep drops-offs of submerged

pinnacles, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.

Koh Lanta,

Thailand8

Pimalai Resort & Spa.

holidaysforcouples.travel 29

ASIA•

Once the capital of the 10th-century Indonesian Srivijaya Empire,

Surat Thani city is the hopping-off point for its eponymous province

and some of Thailand’s best-known islands, each of which has built

a reputation on offering either great diving, a castaway lifestyle, or a

party from dawn to dawn – and sometimes all three. Koh Tao is

credited as having the best diving in the Gulf of Thailand, and

gorgeous places to stay are legion. Koh Samui – part of the

protected Ang Thong National Marine Park’s 42-island archipelago

– is known for its high-end resorts and spas, but you can also fi nd

nightlife along Chaweng’s main street and a more tranquil vibe in

north coast fi shing hamlet, Bo Phut. And while Koh Pha Ngnan is

best known for its infamous full-moon parties and less-raucous

half-moon parties, it has a lot more to offer beyond the Hat Rin

debauchery. As 90 per cent of the island is covered in jungle and

40 per cent is protected by national park, wildlife abounds; if you

hike up Khao Ra, the island’s highest point, your pulse will likely be

raised by the jaw-dropping vistas as much as the incline.

You might not realise it, but Iran is also in Asia. It’s also set to be one of the must-go frontier

destinations for 2016. Most of the country is now considered safe: Australia has an embassy in

Tehran and after re-establishing its embassy there last summer, the UK is launching non-stop fl ights

from London this July – Iranian offi cials are hoping to welcome 20 million annual tourists by 2025.

But those going now will be among the fi rst to experience the Islamic Republic’s diverse landscapes

and cultural treasures. You can hit the beach or go skiing (yes, you heard correctly). You can explore

19 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most of any Middle-Eastern country (Persian capital,

Persepolis was founded by Darius The Great in 518BC), and wander ancient Islamic prayer halls

illuminated by kaleidoscopic shafts of light lancing down from stained-glass windows. And after

a day’s sightseeing, you can turn your attention to Iran’s fabulous cuisine to the sound of Persian

pop or classical poetry – walnut pomegranate stew or hot and sour shrimp, anyone?

Surat Thani,

Thailand

Iran

9

10Chehel Sotoun Palace

in Isfahan, Iran.

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