Scene: late night, chef Alessandro Frau’s award-winning Italian restaurant Acqua in Phuket. Postprandial drinks in hand, three men chat over drinks. “I’m feeling restless,” grumbles young videographer Charlie Stevens. “Me too,” sighs property developer Peter Hamilton. “But this will not do!” says I. “What we need is a road trip ... but where?” “Somewhere down here in the south,” suggests Hamilton visibly perking up. “Birds always fly south about now. Birds are smart. And we can do it in my e-car.” “Yes! A leisurely eco-friendly drive through the countryside seeing and doing interesting things. You organise it Nigel and we shall record it for posterity,” Stevens chimes in with sudden enthusiasm.
I should have kept quiet, but goodness knows we needed a break from the urban sprawl and the new normal, and rural communities across the country have been crying out for help, any help. It’s a little surreal that Thailand has gone from one of the most visited countries on the planet to not receiving any tourists at all. The battle to keep Covid-19 at bay has undoubtedly been successful but at what price to an economy so heavily reliant on international tourism? To mitigate the situation, the Thai government has taken the opportunity to partially subsidise domestic tourism through various travel incentives and cash handouts.
Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av Tatler Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av Tatler Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mathew Leong
As the Norway-based Singaporean chef celebrates a milestone year both personally and professionally, he opens up about the toughest moments of his career and why failing is not an option
Asian Inspirations
Chef Ace Tan on his second restaurant, Asu-his love letter to regional Asian cuisine
State of the Arts
Arts nominated member of parliament Usha Chandradas discusses growing the creative economy by focusing on both supply and demand
Through a Curator's Lens
Circe Henestrosa, a fashion curator and the head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, merges her personal connection with artist Frida Kahlo with her extensive curatorial experience to explore intersecting themes of identity, disability and cultural heritage
Second Nature
Poet and educator Yong Shu Hoong brings fresh perspectives to the helm of the Singapore Writers Festival, from interdisciplinary perspectives to multilingual programmes
Wine Down
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A Legacy in Silhouettes
Kristina Blahnik, CEO of the designer shoe brand Manolo Blahnik and the niece of its legendary founder, shares her insights on preserving the house's heritage and introduces the new Manolo's Silhouettes campaign
To Have and to Hold
With its sumptuous textures, Loro Piana's elegant autumn/winter 2024 collection is a chic celebration of craft, quality and the universal appeal of tactility
Scent of Strength
Hermès unveils its first chypre perfume, Barénia―a captivating fragrance crafted by renowned perfumer Christine Nagel that embodies bold femininity and celebrates the brand's rich heritage
Nocturnal Revival
Nighttime skincare rituals will get a boost of supercharged restoration with La Mer's new Rejuvenating Night Cream