EDITOR’S NOTE
The entire Southeast Asian region is a
hotbed of change and rapid development.
Countries like Cambodia and Myanmar are
casting off the weight of their turbulent
past and entering the new global economy,
hitting the ground running! Vietnam too
is undergoing a transformation - see our
cover story feature this issue for an in-depth
look into all the country has to offer - and
there’s no telling what the future holds for all
the diverse nations that make up the
ASEAN community.
And because change is everywhere,
it’s no surprise that we here at AseanTripper
Magazine are undergoing a transformation
ourselves. We’re still bringing our readers
insightful travel articles that cover
the length and breadth of the Southeast
Asian region, but we’ve also revamped our
layout and design, and added some exciting
new features to our publication - including
a host of new monthly columns that
relate specifically to the travel and
hospitality industries.
Looking for some rest and relaxation?
Check out our new Health & Healing
column for the latest Spa news and
updates. Want to try out something
different when it comes to resorts?
Check out our column Pillow Talk for the
latest concerning hotel openings.
And foodies will love our Table Talk
column, which highlights the latest and
greatest from the region’s most amazing
restaurants.
As always we strive to bring our readers
the best that the ASEAN community has
to offer, and we’ll still be featuring our
usual array of stunning photography - ust
to whet your travel appetite. It’s an exciting
new beginning for us here at AseanTripper,
and we invite you to come along with us
for the ride.
Gaid Phitthayakornsilp
Editor-in-Chief
CONTRIBUTORS
Bruce Scott
Ian Lacey
Michelle Luehman
David Andrews
Canadian-born Bruce Scott has
spent most of his professional career
in the magazine publishing industry,
including 3 years living and working
in Nassau, Bahamas – where he
began writing an illustrated blog
about his exotic travel experiences.
Since relocating to Thailand (in
2010) he has honed his skills as a
travel writer and photographer, and
currently resides in Bangkok, where
he works as a journalist.
Raised in Wexford, Ireland, Ian now
lives in tranquil Vientiane. After
falling into writing by accident, he
likes to concentrate on pieces that
reflect his two great interests in
life – travel and conservation. And
in Laos, there’s no better place to
explore both separately or together.
Ian recently completed a 15 month,
27,000km unsupported bicycle
journey from Alaska to Argentina
for charity, and since then has
formed some alternative thoughts
on the nature of travel. You can see
blogs and photos on his website
www.350South.org.
Michelle has spent the last 20 years
living and working around the world,
and most of that time has been
spent in and around Asia. An avid
observer of people and places, she
has written extensively about life in
Asia, both as a visitor and a resident.
She has worked for lifestyle and
travel magazines around the globe,
capturing the essence and flavour of
life in each different locality.
David is an enthusiastic designer,
writer and photographer. He has
travelled as a photojournalist
extensively through Europe, South
America, Australia and Asia, settling
now in Bangkok. His greatest passion
is covering landscape architecture
features, as he used to run his
own garden design company in
London. Most of his spare time now
is spent, playing the guitar, fishing,
or training in Muay Thai.
6