Events expert Ming Gan: we ask the questions
Posted by Sarah L on June 1st, 2011
The highlight of any summer down under is the line-up of festivals from events expert Ming Gan (right, in the Maldives) of Fuzzy, including Parklife, Field Day and the iconic New Year’s Eve bashes on Bondi Beach, Shore Thing. As a Smith tastemaker, Ming recently swapped bands’ riders for boardshorts to review idyllic Thai escape Six Senses Yao Noi hotel. Now back home, he shares his tales of wild times and wildlife…
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Fuzzy is renowned for putting on Australia’s hottest festivals. Does that make you the perfect party host?
In the early days of Fuzzy, the parties always continued back at my place. My apartment was nicknamed ‘Club Gan’. I was out every night with the acts, making sure their stay in Australia was as memorable as possible. These days, I prefer to have a low-key barbecue or dinner with friends and acts in town. My five-spice crispy pork belly has become a hit, which is great as I only know how to cook two other dishes.
You recently reviewed Six Senses Yao Noi (left) in Thailand for Smith. What was the highlight of your stay?
Sitting in the amazing sunken bath in the villa’s grand indoor/outdoor bathroom with nothing between me and the amazing limestone pinnacle of Phang Nga Bay. I’m usually not much of a bath person but I spent so much time soaking, just reading or gazing out to sea.
Is there a country or city you’ve felt an instant connection with?
I love going back to Malaysia, where I was born (I moved to Australia when I was three), each year to see my grandmother. Malaysia has amazing food, weird and wonderful fruits, great shopping and the friendliest people, who make me feel so comfortable. It’s a very dangerous place for my waistline, though – my record meal consumption was 14 meals in a 24-hour stopover on the way home from London a few years back!
When you travel, do you like to chill out or keep the energy levels high?
I try to plan trips that have a mixture of high-energy activities and relaxation. I find anything that involves wildlife, whether it’s a lion safari or diving with sharks – both energetic and peaceful.
Describe your ideal weekend away.
It’d be somewhere that has great accommodation and food, but is also close to nature or the ocean. Byron Bay ticks all those boxes. You can hire a beach house, have dinner at Raes on Wategos, spend the afternoon at a day spa in the hinterland, kick back on Wategos Beach or learn to surf at Belongil Beach.
Which is your favourite hotel?
Dunia Camp (right) in Moru Kopjes, deep in the Serengeti in Tanzania. It has just six luxury tents, and it’s wonderful being able to hear the roars of lions, the laughter of hyenas and the trumpeting of elephants echoing through the camp at night. After a morning safari one day, we came back to find a pride of lions and a cub not more than 100 metres from the camp site, looking rather hungry.
Where’s next on your holiday wish-list?
I’m planning to trek in Rwanda to see some of the last remaining mountain gorillas.
In a perfect world, who would be your ideal travel companion?
Sir David Attenborough. I absolutely love wildlife so being able to listen to all his amazing stories and soak up his knowledge would be a dream.
Sorry to segue from Sir David to this, but where’s the most romantic place you’ve ever been?
The Maldives (left) – we stayed at Kuda Huraa in an over-water villa, then took a luxury yacht out for four days of diving, snorkeling and swimming with manta rays, turtles and all manner of sea creatures. We ended up on Landaa Giraavaru, which is the most beautiful island I’ve seen.
Tell us about your corner of the world.
I try to split my time between my apartment in inner-city Darlinghurst, Sydney, and my house by the river in Bundeena, in the Royal National Park, one hour south of the city. It’s my ying and yang. In Darlinghurst, I’m right in the middle of the action, only 500 metres from Kings Cross, and surrounded by a plethora of cafes, restaurants and boutiques. In Bundeena, I feel completely removed from everything, and spend my time reading, fishing, or simply staring out at the water.
Check back soon for Ming’s insider travel address book, featuring Sydney, London, Bali and Buenos Aries.
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