Nan

“I am a small town woman. I admire smaller communities where I can grasp how people live, their environment. Nan is like that. When traveling in the winter season, with the cooler air, you can just hop from temple to temple, walk along tiny streets, and get the most of Nan’s soul. Nan’s hidden gem must be Bo Klua, a small village uphill where they have been producing rock salt for nearly a thousand years. Small resorts at Bo Klua are shining examples of what happens when simple architecture made from mud, wood and bamboo meets panoramic views of the mountains—especially Bo Klua View Resort that whips up very tasty local cooking.”—Suriyapa Bunnag, Vice President – Communications, Nok Air

Songkhla and Bhutan

“In Thailand, I love Songkhla, a quiet yet charming province in the South. Blessed with pristine, quiet beaches, you can also enjoy walking through the town where much vintage Thai-Chinese-European architecture remains. It’s a totally charming ambiance. Get a sam lor taxi for a day-trip city tour and don’t forget to drop by Nang Ngam Road for a selection of local food.
“Abroad, Bhutan is on top of my list. In October there will be the king’s royal wedding so it’s a great occasion to visit the kingdom while everyone is celebrating. Oct-Jan is also the best time to travel to the beautiful plateau hugged by the Himalayans as the weather is chilled and the sky is a bright, clear blue. If the capital city Timpu is too busy for you, travel further east to the central provinces, like Trongsa or Bumtang, to find yourself amid the beauty of pristine nature and traditional cultures.”—Rathasiam Sinlakhun, Editor-in-Chief, Lonely Planet Magazine Thailand

Con Dao, Vietnam

“Having lived in big cities like Hong Kong and Bangkok for the past 20 years, it’s always great to get away to a quiet, little-visited corner of Asia. I haven’t been yet, but friends who have visited have sold me on the charms of Con Dao, Vietnam, a 45-minute flight from Saigon. Beyond the clichés like secluded and unspoiled, they paint a picture of an island fringed by turquoise waters and topped off with jagged stone peaks. In place of high rises along the beaches are lush hills. I have to come clean and admit that, if I had to choose one cuisine, my favorite food would be Vietnamese. There are banh mi cha ca (fish-cake sandwich) vendors here, so I’m set. Still, change is coming to this group of 16 islands, four-fifths of which are protected. It’s kind of strange that this would make for a great escape today: Con Dao is a former French penal colony.”—Chris Kucway, Editor-in
Chief, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia Magazine

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“As much as I dislike traveling long distances, I still love Rio de Janeiro. This marvelous city is definitely like no other: the culture, food and way of life—everything there is fun. Forget about your worries and concentrate on partying, eating and the people. That’s how to become one of the beautiful Cariocas [a person from Rio de Janeiro]!
Why go this season? December-January falls right in mid-summer where temperatures can reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius. That means everyone is at the beautiful beaches and you get to see all these beautiful people dancing to the rhythmic Samba groove. You will need at least two weeks to enjoy Rio and maybe a couple of other spots in Brazil considering the flight time is already more than 20 hours from Bangkok.”—Ekkaphon Nanta-o-sot, Regional Corporate Communications Manager, Bangkok Airways

India

“India is one of the most charming places to visit, especially during the winter months. When the weather is cooler, there’s a completely different atmosphere and feel from India’s hot summer months. The colorful scenery, the intricate art, and the stunning architecture of forts and palaces make this country an endless playground for travelers. People can experience India as a backpacker or a luxury traveler and still enjoy all its rich flavors and cultural heritage.”—Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO, Thai AirAsia

Koh Payam and Bo Klua

If you want to avoid the crowds, Koh Payam in Ranong is your answer. Not very popular yet, this remote island is home to powdery sand beaches, mangrove forests and a few pretty resorts. But if you really want to feel the winter breeze, travel to Nan in the North and visit Bo Klua. A curvy road through lush forests and rice terraces leads to a thousand-year-old salt mine where locals still carry on the traditional process of salt production. Up there, a few baan-baan resorts sit overlooking a hilly panorama. Just pick one to extend your stay.”
— Anurak Hutasing, Executive Editor, Anywhere Magazine

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Sharp: The Canon 600D refreshes an already solid DSLR shooter, the entry-level Canon 550D, with the notable addition of a LCD screen on the back which can swivel out. That’s particularly handy for making beautiful videos, something the 600D is very, very good at. It’s also a really solid camera. We remember the days when there was a world of difference between Canon’s entry-level cameras and the pro models—well, not anymore. Auto-ISO, remote flash control, highlight adjustment—not much is missing feature-wise on the 600D compared to the big boys. Oh and the pictures look stellar even in low-light.

Blurred: Advanced users will prefer a 7D for its improved handling—the grip size feels puny on the 600D. You’ll also quickly outgrow the cheap kit lenses bundled with the camera, but that’s an age-old problem on entry-level cameras. Finally, live view autofocus is borderline unusable (making shooting video very tricky). For that reason alone, you may prefer the more compact mirror-less cameras that are actually designed to work with live view.

Verdict: It’s got a single dial for manual settings and a smallish grip, but in most respects, this is a camera loaded with nearly every pro feature out there. The question is, do you care? It’s bulkier and more complicated than the mirror-less interchangeable cameras and the extensive controls will only be a bonus if you’re an advanced amateur who knows what they’re doing. This relatively affordable camera was designed with pro wannabes in mind, a segment hitherto reserved to the range above (currently the 7D). In that sense, it’s a bargain. But if you’re not committed to getting at least one extra lens (we recommend the 50mm f/1.8, equivalent to an 80mm on this camera, for B3,800) and some photography classes, you’d probably be happier with something simpler and more compact.

Specs: 18MP, 570 grams, ISO 100-12,800, B29,900 for the 18-55mm kit lens or B38,900 for the 18-135 kit lens.

Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House

This brand new English-country-style café sits on the banks of the Kok River. Seat yourself in a comfy sofa in the air-con glasshouse room or opt for an outdoor seat in the riverside garden. Apart from selections of coffee and tea, it serves some food, and the menu changes daily. Adjacent to the café is Chivit Thamma Da Day Spa.
Soi Baan Rong Suae Ten 3, 053-166-622. www.chivitthammada.com

Doy Din Daeng Café

Part of this pottery studio is a small café hidden under dense trees. The open air spot blends into the surroundings with old wood furniture and brown decor. Doy Din Daeng serves house brewed coffee and tea in their handmade ceramics, so if customers love the tea cups, they can go buy them from the shop located on the same grounds.
49 Moo 6, Nanglae, 053-705-291. Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm. www.dddpottery.com

Hohm Homemade

This is a perfect place if you love to watch high-school kids—not that we’re encouraging you to do so. Though this open-air café looks more like a bar on Phra Arthit, Hohm is strickly non-alcoholic—it’s a milk bar. Its raw-cement foyer looks livelier with colorful industrial-style furniture while the cozy backyard is perfect for an evening chill-out.
Opposite Wat Ming Muang, 053-600-204. Open Thu-Tue 10am-11pm, Wed noon-11pm

Yellow Car Coffee

If you stay in Chiang Rai city, you can’t miss having a small breakfast at this place. A yellow pick-up car is parked near the clock tower every day offering local breakfast: pan-fried eggs, pa tong koh and dim sum together with old-style coffee and tea. If you tell him you’re a visitor, the friendly owner will act like a tourism ambassador, recommending highlight attractions. And if he’s not too busy, and in a good mood, he might even play the guitar.
Near Chalermchai’s Clock Tower