asialife HCMC 1 - AsiaLIFE Magazine

1 asialife Cambodia
note from the editor
Muna Khan
I stopped making new year’s resolutions
when I stumbled upon
this quote by the writer Anais
Nin: “I made no resolutions for
the New Year. The habit of making
plans, of criticising, sanctioning
and moulding my life, is too
much of a daily event for me.”
However, in the spirit of a new
beginning in HCM City, at AsiaL-
IFE, I have vowed to reduce the
number of vices to a respectable
number in a bid to take greater
care of myself, be a better person.
I have been thinking of this
for some time and the lead up
to this resolution resulted in the
birth of this Slow Issue (What,
me Modest). It is a reminder of
sorts to make good on the promise
we make to ourselves to slow
down, relax more, spend quality
time with the family, nature, less
with the bartender. It’s a mistake,
as Dr Rafi Kot points out in the
lead story, to assume that our
lives in Southeast Asia are easier,
slower, not as hectic because
of the luxuries at our disposal
(domestic staff, job perks, lesser
accountability). Find out how
and why daily stresses can lead
to exhaustion or depression and
ways to help combat that. And
to help you in that direction, we
also guide you to destinations
that are best suited for slowing
down and for the truly stressed
“I have no time for a holiday”
person, we highlight restaurants
in town where you can leave your
troubles behind and enjoy a leisurely
meal without worrying that
the wait staff will spit in your face
if you don’t vacate your seats 30
seconds after settling your bill.
Where we don’t slow down is
in our travel feature on Mumbai,
a city that rarely sleeps and is a
real jewel in the subcontinent,
not to mention the nerve centre
of the film industry known as Bollywood.
There are two new sections
I would like your feedback on:
"Dear AsiaLIFE" and "Two of
Us". To start "Dear AsiaLIFE" we
asked former managing editor
Tom DiChristopher to dispatch
us a postcard from New York
City and tell us how he’s readjusting
to life from Vietnam.
It was great to hear from him.
Expect to hear more tales of
re-adjustments from newbies
who’ve bid Vietnam adieu. In
“Two Of Us” we shine the spotlight
on a relationship between
two people, fairly straightforward
stuff here but prepare to be
moved by our first ‘couple’, a
teacher and her blind student.
If you’d like to recommend
relationships of note, or send us
a postcard, get in touch.
Finally, a special mention of
Ny the elephant who we hope
will find joy and love in her new
home when she retires from the
circus. No one deserves freedom
and happiness more than her.
Except maybe me, for ridding
myself of nasty habits and negative
thoughts.
Guy Gonyea
Guy Gonyea is an award-winning photographer based
in Vietnam for over six years. Originally from Phoenix,
Arizona in the U.S., Guy first travelled to Vietnam in
2002 doing landscape photography and eventually
moved to HCM City and set up Guy Gonyea Photography
in 2004. Guy has received awards for his
commercial work in London, Cannes & Singapore. His
client list includes Samsung, Honda, Coca Cola and
Vietnammobile.
Next time you're across the border,
check out the latest issue of AsiaLIFE
Cambodia or download it from
www.asialifeguide.com.
012011
ISSUE49
Vinz Sebastian
With just a stroke of his brush, Vinz Sebastian
can transform you from ordinary to extraordinary.
Breezing through beauty school, Vinz lectured in an
academy before joining The Body Shop as its Senior
Make-Up Artist/Trainer. Being involved in countless
shoots, spreads, bridal makeovers and runways, he
has become one of the most sought after make-up
artists. Vinz is also very active in running make up
workshops.
www.asialifeguide.com
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