PUBLISHER’S NOTE

For the past five years or so, I’ve kept hearing the same doomand-gloom message: that print media is on its way out. Scarcely a month passes by without another magazine being consolidated or ceasing publication altogether. But this, our 18th-anniversary issue, is a reminder that there is still room for print-based companies that are willing to adapt, find new markets, and carve out a specific niche in our increasingly wired world.

As in years past, DestinAsian’s anniversary coincides with our annual Luxe List, which covers the most notable new hotels and resorts in the Asia-Pacific region. They’re an astonishingly diverse bunch: jungly hideaways in Cambodia and Myanmar highlight exactly why our natural world is worth protecting, contemporary high-rise digs in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur come inspired by the local history, and then there are striking architectural interventions like The Lindis, a New Zealand lodge that graces our cover.

The other main stories this issue are no less exciting. In Thailand, Ron Gluckman travels along the entire length of the Chao Phraya River to dive into Thai history while snatching glimpses of the country’s future. Meanwhile, longtime Taiwan resident James Baron takes the temperature of Beitou, a district of Taipei known for its hot springs and Japanese-colonial heritage.

Gastronomy-minded readers have not one but two features to look forward to. Jason Overdorf visits a handful of restaurants in Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata that are forging ahead with modern, innovative takes on Indian cuisine; Kendall Hill ventures to the Austrian capital to hunt down an overlooked aspect of Vienna’s many pleasures—its locally made wine.

As we celebrate our 18th anniversary, I want to thank you for believing in DestinAsian. Whether you’re a partner, subscriber, or regular reader, we appreciate your ongoing support, and we hope to bring you more engaging and eye-opening stories in the months and years to come.