Justin Malcolm, General Manager at Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11
By Earth Saiswang
Australian national Justin Malcolm hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing much of Thailand as much as he wishes. But if there’s one place in the kingdom that qualifies as his favorite place at the moment – it has to be Chiangrai. “Having just spent just over two years there, I fell in love with the countryside and its raw charm,” says the new general manager of Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11.
Justin describes himself as an optimist by nature, although he remains rather curious at the same time. “I love the company of others and is socially outgoing, which probably has led to my love of travel and working in many different countries.
In fact, as with many of us, Justin’s ideal holiday destination keeps changing over years. He explains, “I used to thoroughly enjoy keeping busy on a holiday, exploring new places and discovering new experiences. Now I prefer destinations that offer some quiet as well,” Chiangrai certainly fits the bill.
Not only that, Justin says he fell for Chiangrai because, “The people are great and if you’re willing to explore, there’s so much to see and do — and not just your usual attractions. It is nature at its best!”
He says he can’t think of any downside to a Chiangrai holiday yet and plans to continue coming back to this charming, interesting destination in Northern Thailand when time permits.
“Definitely, I would love to take my wife, our little boy, Jackie; and our French bulldog, Pheebie, to this place with me.” In fact, at the time of the interview, he was already planning of going there over the weekend!
Tips to Share
Must-Do: Go for afternoon tea at Chivit Thamada. Travel up the Mae Kok River by longtail boat; it’s the best way to see Chiangrai
Must-See: The White Temple, Doi Tung, Baan Dam, and the Opium Museum
Sleep at: Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort
Eat at: The Coffee Hub
Drink at: The Coffee Hub Bar
Bring: Your sense of adventure
Don’t forget: To book more than two days, you’ll need it!
