Cover Geoff Ang
Geoff Ang
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When it comes to visiting the Island of the Gods, Bali-based Geoff Ang is the best person to ask
Geoff Ang, one of Singapore’s top fashion and commercial photographers, surprised his friends, fans and clients when he moved to Bali with his family during the Covid-19 pandemic. “As a photographer who earns his living shooting internationally, the pandemic really struck a blow to my mental health,” he explains, adding that he decided on Bali due to its “nature and open spaces”.
Having been based there for the past few years, Ang knows Bali like the back of his hand. Below, celebrated lensman shares his favourite activities on the Island of the Gods.
Read more: The Local Edit: Mason chef & co-owner Benjamin Cross’s guide to Bali
Above Bali sunset
Bali sunset
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After the pandemic...
We decided to stay on and make Bali our home. I opened a studio here called Balism, through which I provide production support to local and foreign crews shooting in Bali as well as do lots of community and free events for the image‐making community. Oh, I also started Elders Elettrico, an electric motorbike conversion business.
My favourite beach in Bali is...
Probably Nyanyi beach. Or maybe Pig Stone Beach, as it’s close to my home and much less crowded. These are both black sand beaches.
A gorgeous, photogenic spot here that I recommend is...
The view from one of the cafés that are lined up along the mountain landscape of Kintamani. This is up north in the mountains, where in the colder months, you can get temperatures of 18 degrees celsius.
Above Ang riding one of his electric bikes on the beach
Ang riding one of his electric bikes on the beach
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One of the best off‐the‐beaten‐track things to do here is...
To explore all the many waterfalls. There are actually too many to name, but the popular ones are Aling‐Aling and Banyumala.
My favourite breakfast spot is...
Bokashi serves a really amazing Japanese breakfast. Or Copenhagen Canggu, for a great set breakfast that you can customise.
The best place for a celebratory meal here is...
Shelter in Pererenan. It serves really nice food and has an amazing atmosphere. Si Jin is a great steak house, but it has a wait list of months, so book ahead if you want to go there. Another amazing place is Room4Dessert in Ubud. Chef Will Goldfarb is a legend and he serves these incredible full‐course dessert menus.
Above Ang’s wife living her best pool life
Ang’s wife living her best pool life
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My favourite spot in Bali is...
Up north in the mountains, where the weather is much cooler and the air is fresher. My wife and I love riding our bikes and exploring the island.
If you want to see a gorgeous sunset here, head to...
Any of the beaches in Canggu. They all offer amazing views. December is usually when we get the most epic sunsets. For the brave, climb Mount Batur for a stunning sunrise.
For a great romantic dinner, I recommend...
Quieter places in Ubud. These will be much nicer. The tranquillity of the forest and the cooler air help. Most hotels there have amazing romantic dinner options where they put you up in a private enclave and you have dinner overlooking the rich forest of Ubud.
Above A café overlooking Mount Batur
A café overlooking Mount Batur
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The best way to spend a day with your kids here...
Is to take them to Waterbom Bali, a water park. Or the Ubud Monkey Forest—let the monkeys play with your monkeys. Hah hah.
For your wellness needs, I recommend...
A visit to any of the countless spas and resorts in Ubud. Or maybe a stay in one of the lakeside cabins in Kintamani. That’s very recharging.
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About
Aun started his career in media, working at illustrious publications in NYC, Paris, and Hong Kong before launching his own Asia-regional lifestyle magazine, East, that was called "Asia's hippest magazine" by Asiaweek and "an Asian Vanity Fair" by Fortune. Committed to community service, Aun has helmed the visual arts and literary arts divisions for the National Arts Council in Singapore; led the marketing, communications, and corporate community investments teams at the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre; was the founding Chair of the Pangdemonium Theatre Company; and currently sits on the Board of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. In 2006, Aun co-founded The Ate Group, a content strategy and communications agency specialising in F&B, hospitality, luxury and lifestyle. Aun has run the content and communications teams at Tripadvisor; similarly run content and communications at a sustainability focused tech start up; and run marketing and communications at a global BPO with over 17,000 employees worldwide. Aun has also been a consultant for Mediacorp and has produced and hosted two food & travel television series for them. In 2015 he began working on the creation of a private members club, Straits Clan, which he launched in 2019 and sold the following year. Returning to his roots, Aun joined Tatler Asia in 2023 as editor-in-chief in Singapore and is committed to telling great stories of change makers through Tatler’s online and offline platforms.
Work
As Editor-in-Chief of Tatler Singapore, Aun leads all the content teams: branded content, print, digital, and the creative teams. He works closely with the heads of each team to ensure that Tatler continues to cover the most important, inspiring and exciting stories that are affecting Singapore and our region. He also works closely with the events and commercial teams and is always excited to collaborate on new ideas and projects that the Tatler team can activate.
Follow Aun on Instagram at @aun_koh (primarily a food account) and on Linkedin here.
