To celebrate the festive season, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is delighted to introduce a December Getaway package available December 1-28. The package combines a gracious holiday welcome to all guests, together with traditional decorations, an array of entertainment events and creative restaurant menus throughout the holiday season.
Nothing beats a glittering galaxy of colorful decorations and Christmas shopping in one of the finest shopping destinations in the world, where fabulous sales and fantastic selections abound. With a luxurious stay at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong as well as sumptuous seasonal dishes at Amber, the hotel’s iconic signature restaurant, the season becomes truly festive and joyful. The December Getaway package includes:
Adult/Parents Room:
L450 Deluxe: HK$8,000 (approx. USD 1,026)
L600 Premier: HK$10,000 (approx. USD 1,282)
· Two-nights accommodation in an L series guestroom
· Daily festive amenity
· Festive three-course dinner for two at Amber
· Afternoon tea with champagne for two at MO Bar
· Daily breakfast for two at Amber
· One-hour massage for two at The Oriental Spa
· Complimentary use of The Oriental Spa’s Heat Experience, a spectacular oasis of heat and water comprising Vitality Pools, Amethyst Crystal Steam Room, Ice Fountains, Rainforest Showers, Roman Laconium and Hamam
By bringing the children, and adding a few additional festive treats, the holiday becomes an extra-special family occasion.
Children’s Room:
L450 Deluxe: HK$6,500 (approx. USD 769)
L600 Deluxe Double: HK$8,000 (approx. USD 1,026)
· Two-nights accommodation in an L series guestroom
· Festive three-course dinner for two at Amber
· Afternoon tea for two at MO Bar
· Daily breakfast for two at Amber
· Mini-bar and movies for kids
· Daily festive cookies for kids
Guests who book the December Getaway package can also enjoy an eight-course gourmet Christmas dinner in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Amber, at the following special prices:
Christmas Eve Dinner on December 24, 2008: HK$1,888 (approx. USD 242)
Christmas Day Dinner on December 25, 2008: HK$888 (approx. USD 114)
All prices are per person and do not include beverages. Applies only to guests staying in the hotel the nights of December 24-25.
The December Getaway package is on offer valid December 1-28, 2008 and is subject to availability. Rates are based on double occupancy, inclusive of service charge and tax, and a stay of two consecutive nights. The children’s room rate applies only in combination with the adult/parents room booking.
For reservations please call The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong directly on +852 2132 0088 or e-mail =lmhkg-reservations@mohg.com= or contact through Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s worldwide sales and reservation offices or the Group’s direct on-line reservations service at =www.mandarinoriental.com.
About The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Superbly located in the heart of Central, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong sets new standards in Asia for deluxe contemporary accommodation and state-of-the-art in-room facilities. This exclusive, ultra-chic luxury hotel offers 113 beautifully-appointed rooms and suites, providing the largest average room size of any hotel in Hong Kong, multiple LCD televisions in every room, and revolutionary home entertainment technology. The hotel also features unique and innovative dining concepts with its signature Amber restaurant, and iconic MO Bar.
The Oriental Spa is the premier urban spa in Asia. Located on two floors of the hotel, the 25,000-square foot spa features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, an indoor heated swimming pool in addition to pilates and yoga studios. In separate male and female areas, guests can enjoy the Experience Showers, Ice Fountains, Vitality Pool and Tepedarium Chairs. Women can also relax in Laconium, Rasul, and Amethyst Crystal steam rooms, whilst men can delight in a Hamam, Tropical Rain and Dry sauna.
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is delighted to present a range of enticing accommodation packages that include an ultimate dream shopping trip, a spa retreat, and a pampering getaway, each one ensuring a remarkable and delightful stay.
About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, currently operating 20 luxury hotels with a further 11 under development in Riviera Maya-Mexico and Hainan Island-China (2007), Barcelona, Boston and Grand Cayman (2008), Dallas, Chicago, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech and Turks and Caicos (2009). In total, Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, almost 9,000 rooms in 18 countries with 13 hotels in Asia, 12 in the Americas and six in Europe and North Africa.
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Imagine hiking a remote stretch of the Great Wall, being the only person on it for miles, exploring the Forbidden City and summer palace in Beijing, hot air ballooning over the karst mountains of Southern China, dining on top of the world in a Shanghai skyscraper -- ALL while learning to capture the perfect photo.
This new tour combines the perfect 14-day trip through China with a workshop on travel photography. Ewen Bell, a professional photographer and writer who has worked on photo assignments in more than 25 countries, has been developing this one-of-a-kind tour of China and travel photography workshop since 2005. This rare trip combines the cultural richness of China's eastern provinces with the opportunity to learn about photography from an expert.
Key attractions on the tour include Beijing, Shanghai, The Great Wall, rural villages, rice terraces and the famous terra cotta warriors.
Ewen Bell is also available for expert commentary on trends in photography, digital photography and equipment, travel, and ecotourism. He can be reached via e-mail at ewen@ewenbell.com, or by phone at 61 438 896 228 (Australia) or (224) 588 8039 (U.S.).
Here are the details:
Expert photographer Ewen Bell and adventure travel operator Jason Williams (www.grasshopperadventures.com) have joined forces to offer the experience of a lifetime - a travel photography workshop that delves deep into the cultural, scenic and human richness of China and teaches you how to capture the photographs of a lifetime.
Anyone who has dreamt of learning how travel photographers capture their evocative images can now enjoy an adventure travel experience that will take you up close to the people and culture that make such powerful images possible.
"The trip is designed to be intensely rewarding as far as your photographic skills are concerned, but also as a life experience," said Ewen. "We have created an itinerary that allows more time in each place to explore and begin to understand the local culture. Spending time establishing a real connection with another person or place is the key to capturing those unique moments which really bring an image to life."
The trip itinerary includes major sights such as the famed terra cotta warriors, the Great Wall of China, and the summer palace in Beijing, but there is also plenty of time for more hidden treasures such as agricultural villages, rice terraces, night markets and the old town of Shanghai.
Photographic instruction starts from day one and aims to redefine the way each participant looks and thinks about photography. It is a chance to be immersed in a unique "hands-on" photographic workshop that offers not only technical expertise, but also an incredible opportunity to practice what you are learning as you go. Each shoot is followed by a discussion and sharing of results and experiences. The workshops are presented as themes that cover topics such as capturing intimacy and expression, using available light for dramatic effect, capturing a sense of motion and shooting for context.
This is also simply a comfortable, relaxing tour of China perfect for the photographer and non-photographer alike. Staying in 4-star hotels (except in rural areas with more modest accommodations) and eating fabulous local meals, this trip is a great introduction to China for people of all ages and photographic skill levels.
Responsible tourism is also a main focus of this trip. Through keeping the group size very small (max 8 people), using local guides, visiting out-of-the-way communities, and utilizing local transportation, the goal is to have a positive impact on the places visited.
"This trip is about more than taking great photos and capturing the beauty of China," says Bell. "It is about giving back to the people and communities that make our travel experience so fantastic."
Basic trip costs are US $2600, excluding airfares and spending money.
*About Ewen:
Ewen Bell has been a commercial photographer since 1990 and has experience in many aspects of photography including scientific, commercial, travel and personal work. Ewen's photography has been published in publications such as GetLost Magazine, Sydney‚s Sunday Telegraph and brochures including GAP Adventures, STA Travel and Intrepid Travel. Ewen has also donated his time and photographic skills to charitable projects including Habitat for Humanity in Sri Lanka and the Australian Classic Yachting Association. For more information on Ewen, visit www.ewenbell.com.
The active travel company with the funny name, Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G), inaugurates ìIndia - A Royal Odyssey with its first-ever foray into this diverse and exotic land. Departing on Nov. 24, 2008, the 12-day trip pedals across the southern tip of India to explore the temple complexes and villages of Tamil Nadu before moving to the wildlife and tea/spice plantations of Munnar Hills, the waterways of western Kerala and the trading seaport of Cochin.
The active cycling adventure will be repeated on Nov. 23, 2009. Except for international air, the program is all-inclusive at $3,450 (double) with a single supplement of $690. The tour begins in Madras and ends in Trivandrum.
The rate includes accommodations in luxury hotels, guesthouses and resorts, all meals, bilingual guides, full van support, daily route directions and maps, sightseeing and cultural activities, plus airport transfers. Personal departures may be scheduled year round for private groups and bike clubs with the most popular season running from November to March when the days are typically sunny and warm.
Over the course of the trip, which is rated moderate in level of difficulty, cyclists will roll inn to inn covering 439 miles (712 km), averaging 44 miles (71 km) per day.
Highlights include lunching with tea pluckers; a night at Cochinís Bolgatty Palace, the one-time residence of the British Governor in the early 1900s; dolphin-spotting from Keralaís palm-fringed beaches and visiting Indiaís Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary that is home to elephants, tigers (Periyar is part of Project Tiger), wild dogs, macaque monkeys, sambar deer and a variety of birds. More details can be found online at www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/india/Royal_Odyssey.htm
"We chose this route and region due to its incredible scenery and cultural diversity,î says Tom Sheehan, founder and general manager.This is not your typical, mass market tour of India. We take time to visit unusual sites and witness local life and ancient traditions mostly overlooked by larger, packaged tours.î
Annually, PP&G offers multiple set departures and custom trips to 18 exotic destinations in Asia, the South Pacific and Alaska. The company has been conducting cycling tours of these regions since the 1980ís and is known for creating spontaneous, up close and personal cultural encounters along its well-researched cycling routes.
Asia's most seasoned bicycle tour operator, Pedalers Pub & Grille specializes in sag wagon supported road bike tours. They organize rides that are geared toward cycling enthusiasts, featuring longer daily rides designed to fill the day with adventure, while still allowing sufficient time for "off the bike" exploration at fascinating stops along the route. Accommodations are carefully chosen to provide modern western amenities, a comfortable night's rest and an immersion in the local culture and lifestyle. Meals are a celebration of local beverages and cuisine. Trips are led by either a bi-lingual international guide living in the area or a native born guide fluent in English, complimented by an English speaking support crew from that country. All levels of riders are welcome, from energetic beginners to elite cyclists.
For more details you can visit them online at www.pedalerspubandgrille.com or send an Email to tours@pedalerspubandgrille.com.
Listen for tiger tales from the first-ever luxury wilderness safaris in Central India's most scenic national park. That's when Taj opens Mahua Kothi, the first of its new Wilderness Lodges in partnership with CC Africa, set on 40 acres in the rolling Satpura hills of Madhya Pradesh. Spot tigers, leopards, jackals and more amidst the jungles of Bandhavgarh National Park on twice daily excursions with CC Africa-trained naturalists, from the comfort of a specially designed 4x4 safari vehicle or from a prime perch on elephant back. Relax in one of 12 new jungle chic Kutiyas, each with a private courtyard and shaded swing, air-conditioned bedroom and en suite bath, hand-blended Jiva Spa bath amenities and house robes of richly hued traditional textiles. Savor delicious traditional regional fare, including morning tea delivered on a chulha (charcoal burner), picnic lunches and chowki rooftop dinners. Enjoy the original homestead that now houses the lodge's public areas, including an expansive veranda, library, Safari Shop, open kitchen and swimming pool
All-inclusive rate of $600 per person per night includes accommodations, all scheduled safaris, all meals and beverages including house wine and spirits, laundry and park fees and taxes
For more information, check web site www.tajhotels.com
A garbage incinerator may not be on the must-see list of every luxury traveler to Japan, but it was for recent clients of Artisans of Leisure. The New York-based luxury tour operator arranged a private tour of a beautiful, state-of-the-art incinerator—designed by the architect of the new extension to the Museum of Modern Art in New York—as part of a private cultural tour emphasizing contemporary Japanese architecture.
Other recent Japan requests the company has fulfilled -- A private introduction to Zen meditation with a Buddhist monk, impossible-to-get reservations at Kyoto's most exclusive restaurants, and private meetings with curators at museums throughout Japan for a trustee of a major US Asian art museum. For their 2008 Japan tours, Artisans of Leisure combines this unsurpassed level of customization and cultural access with new destinations, new hotels and updated private cultural touring, capturing the absolute best of traditional and contemporary Japan.
“Our company is known for our unrivalled in-house Japan expertise and our ability to incorporate special interests into our private cultural tours of Japan,” says Ashley Isaacs Ganz, president of Artisans of Leisure, who, like all of the company's Japan experts, has lived in the country. “That's one of the many reasons our Japan tours are renowned among sophisticated travelers as being the most luxurious, personalized, insightful and rewarding.”
Artisans of Leisure's Japan tours emphasize Japanese culture through the arts, history, cuisine, architecture, gardens and local traditions, and can be customized to incorporate myriad special interests and activities, such as:
Family – Learning origami in a private home, visiting the best neighborhoods for pop culture, shopping for Japanese gadgets, visiting Japanese theme parks such as Sanrio Puroland and Tokyo Disneyland, tours focused on anime and manga, dressing like a geisha for a photo shoot, attending cultural performances such as Bunraku puppet theater, attending baseball games and sumo tournaments, exploring castles, and taking private martial arts lessons.
Culinary – Private cooking classes, guided shopping for Japanese cookware and serving utensils, visiting markets to learn about local specialties and typical Japanese ingredients, meals at select venues such as temples, exclusive traditional inns and tea houses, reservations at the top restaurants in Tokyo (including Michelin-starred and Relais & Chateaux-affiliated restaurants) and Kyoto, transfers to hard-to-find restaurants.
Tea – Private tea ceremonies, excursions to tea plantations, visits to Japan's most renowned shops for tea and tea utensils, and excursions to villages that have produced revered tea ceremony ceramics for hundreds of years.
Gardens – Tours of all types of Japanese gardens, including stroll gardens, dry rock gardens, tea gardens, courtyard gardens, and hill-and-pond gardens. Access to private and imperial gardens. Private introductory classes in ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), bonsai and garden care. Shopping for Japanese garden fixtures, including stone lanterns, and gardening accessories.
Traditional Arts & Crafts – Private excursions to locations throughout Japan known for producing the best local crafts, including indigo dye, various styles of ceramics, lacquerware, candles and other items. Visits to the workshops of traditional artisans. Shopping for traditional utensils used to produce Japanese crafts (brushes, inks, utensils for ceramics). Tickets to traditional arts performances (Kabuki, Noh, Butoh, traditional Japanese music).
Contemporary Art & Architecture – Visiting Japan's most impressive contemporary buildings—e.g., Tadao Ando's Church of Light, garbage incinerators designed by Yoshio Taniguchi and Friedensreich Hundertwasser, starchitect-designed boutiques for Prada, Hermès and Mikimoto in Tokyo—and seeing art at remote, architecturally significant venues such as the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, Miho Museum, Benesse Art Site Naoshima, and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
Photography – Personalized tours for professional or amateur photographers, including visits to Japan's most scenic spots and the best places to capture traditional life and contemporary pop culture in action.
Hiking – Tours incorporating half-day and full-day hikes in locations throughout Japan, including groves of cherry trees in full bloom, bamboo forests, mountains dotted with temples and shrines, the historic Old Tokaido Road (depicted in ukiyo-e prints by Hiroshige and others), and important pilgrimage routes.
Seasonal Events & Festivals – Tours designed around attending local festivals. Tours to coincide with peak seasons for plum blossoms, cherry blossoms and fall foliage in locations throughout Japan.
Buddhism – Private Zen meditation lessons with monks, vegetarian meals at temples, overnight stays at temples, day hikes along Buddhist temple pilgrimage routes, and learning about symbolism at important Buddhist sites in Kyoto, Nara, Kamakura and elsewhere.
Shopping – Visiting the best boutiques and galleries for Japanese antiques, folk art, kimono and accessories, ceramics, washi (handmade paper), tansu (chests), hibachi, ukiyo-e prints, handmade knives and cookware, lacquerware, pens, housewares, and many other specialty items.
Sample itineraries for Japan and over 25 other countries are available on the Artisans of Leisure web site www.artisansofleisure.com. All Artisans of Leisure tours include luxury accommodation, private sightseeing, expert planning and advice, full logistical support (including transfers, internal transportation, luggage assistance, visa provision), access to Artisans of Leisure's extensive international network of associate offices, and more. Artisans of Leisure is a luxury tour operator specializing in private, customized tours in international destinations.
For additional information, call (800) 214-8144 or visit www.artisansofleisure.com.
Mandarin Oriental, Manila introduces The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Manila, offering guests and spa-goers a holistic approach to enhance their well-being.
The Thai-themed luxury Mandarin Oriental spa, is located on the hotel’s topmost floors, and like all Spas at Mandarin Oriental, offers a sensory experience that touches the mind, body and spirit, merging ancient and contemporary techniques and philosophies from around the world.
Most experiences start with a relaxing foot ritual, while an individual analysis of each guest’s lifestyle allows for individually tailored treatments. The collection of exclusive rituals include specialized facials, body massages, treatments, wraps and scrubs, and spa packages ranging from one-hour and 40 minutes to three-hours and 20 minutes. A signature treatment that is common to every Mandarin Oriental Spa is the Time Ritual, a personalized journey booked as a block of time, and consisting of treatments suited to each individual’s preference.
The Spa uses Ytsara, a luxurious line of organic Asian spa products incorporating natural ingredients of herbs, roots and flowers, blended in its own line of signature essential oils, designed to relax, revitalize and de-stress.
“We are delighted to be able to offer holistic spa services and treatments given by a team of highly trained therapists, that go beyond simply delivering massages to tired bodies,” said Helmut Gaisberger, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Manila. “This new spa gives us the opportunity to further enhance our wellness facilities, complementing our Yoga Studio and the Health Club,” he added. “For the ultimate in relaxation, we will also add relaxing heat experiences to the spa by mid-year.”
The exemplary standards and attention to detail found at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Manila are also reflected in its opulent, Thai-inspired interior design. The warmth and serenity of teak wood, is combined with contemporary wall treatments and organic textures. Thai furniture and silk upholstery blend harmoniously with Asian artifacts, which complete the Oriental theme. The reception area on the 18th floor is a welcoming oasis that is softly lit, gently scented, with soft music that sets the relaxed ambience of this blissful sanctuary. A short flight of stairs opens on to a serene Oriental-style relaxation area and a mini Oriental garden on the upper floor, surrounded by four self-contained treatment rooms.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Manila is open from 9 am to 1 am daily.
For inquiries and reservations, call the Spa Concierge at +632 750 8888 extension 1901 / 1902 or direct line +632 750 0968, or via email at momnl-spa@mohg.com.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, currently operating 20 luxury hotels with a further 14 under development in Riviera Maya, Mexico and Hainan Island, China (2007), Barcelona and Boston (2008), Dallas, Chicago, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech, Turks and Caicos and Grand Cayman (2009) and Guangzhou, Taipei and Paris (2010). In total, Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 9,500 rooms in 20 countries with 15 hotels in Asia, 12 in The Americas and seven in Europe and North Africa.
Singapore’s international cruise infrastructure will double in capacity by the year 2010 when the new International Cruise Terminal at Marina South becomes operational. The two berths at the new facility will be able to accommodate the largest ships both currently in service as well as on the order books with a capacity of 5,400 (the Genesis-class ships), complementing the current two berths at the Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront. Both terminals are only a 10- to 15-minute drive from each other.
Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), shared these details at a media conference at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention 2008 in Miami, USA today. The Singapore government first announced the decision to proceed with building the new terminal on 31 January 2008, to boost the city-state’s cruise facilities and infrastructure to accommodate the new generation of larger cruise ships.
Mr Lim said that the new terminal will comply with the requirements under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), as the Singapore Cruise Centre does currently. Both facilities will also significantly increase Singapore’s cruise passenger handling capacity and help to meet Singapore’s target of achieving 1.6 million cruise passenger throughput1 by 2015. Last year, Singapore Cruise Centre reported a cruise passenger throughput of over 943,000 in 2007, an increase of more than 10 per cent over the 857,000 passenger throughput achieved in 2006.
Key Features of International Cruise Terminal
The planned International Cruise Terminal will be located at Marina South, which has deep waters, a large turning basin and no height restrictions, enabling it to accommodate the largest cruise ships being built now. The facility will be able to berth ships of up to 220,000 GRT and measuring up to 360m (1,181 feet) in length with a draft of up to 11.5m (37.73 feet). They will be served by a terminal building designed to ensure efficient operations and a seamless visitor experience. Ancillary commercial services are envisaged to also be provided within the terminal building. The development will be served by a network of roads and a future link to the underground rail transport system. Cruise passengers can look forward to easy access and seamless connection to other parts of Singapore, including the Changi International Airport which is a 20-minute drive away.
Singapore: Cruise Hub of Asia
The enhanced cruise infrastructure will allow Singapore to capitalise on the global and Asian market growth of the cruise industry. The Ocean Shipping Consultants has projected that Asia (Greater China, South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia) can expect a 44 per cent growth in cruise passengers from 1.07 million in 2005 to 1.54 million by 2010. By 2015, the number of Asian cruise passengers is expected to hit 2.02 million, an 88.79 per cent growth over 2005.
Recognising this growth potential, cruise operators are offering a wide range of itineraries within Asia. Leveraging on Singapore’s strategic location between major international maritime routes, and its excellent air connectivity to more than 190 destinations in 60 countries worldwide, a number of cruise companies have chosen to base themselves in Singapore to strengthen their Asian presence. Several of the world’s top cruise lines, such as Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Costa Cruises, P&O Princess and Silversea Cruises have made Singapore the homeport or marquee port for their Asian ship deployments. RCI and Silversea Cruises also opened offices in Singapore last year to play a more significant role in Asia.
In addition, Singapore will be port-of-call for a host of ships in 2008, including Cunard’s Queen Victoria on her maiden world cruise, and ships from Princess Cruises, P&O, Oceania Cruises, Holland America Line and Crystal Cruises.
Complementing Marina Bay’s Necklace of Attractions
The International Cruise Terminal will be easily accessible to Marina Bay, Singapore’s new Downtown and financial services hub, and its necklace of attractions. The S$240 million (US$144 million) 165-metre (541.34 feet) tall Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel that opened this month, offers panaromic views of Marina Bay and the Singapore city skyline, as well as a complete leisure experience with its supporting retail, dining, and live entertainment options. The circuit for the inaugural 2008 FORMULA 1TM SingTel Singapore Grand Prix will be the venue for the world’s first Formula One™ night race and Asia’s first street race on the Formula One™ calendar on 28 September 2008. The S$5 billion (US$3 billion) Marina Bay SandsTM Integrated Resort, developed by Las Vegas Sands Corporation, will house Singapore’s first casino, extensive convention facilities, three hotel towers, and world-class retail, dining and entertainment when it opens in 2009. Singapore’s first reservoir in the city will offer a new recreational and lifestyle attraction when the Marina Barrage is fully operational in 2009. The first phase of the 101-hectare (249.6 acres) Gardens by the Bay in the heart of the city will also be completed in 2010, and feature waterfront gardens, green sanctuaries and scenic settings. In early 2010, the Resorts World at Sentosa Integrated Resort will open. Developed by Genting International at over S$6 billion (US$3.6 billion), it will comprise Universal Studios Singapore®, the theme park’s only Southeast Asia facility, six themed hotels, the world’s largest marine life park, a maritime museum, convention facilities as well as various retail, dining, spa, entertainment and gaming options.
For more information, call the STB Media Hotline at +65 9011 2071.
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The booming Singapore MICE industry received a major boost recently when it was announced that the world’s largest travel trade show, ITB, has signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the inaugural ITB Asia at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 22-24, 2008. Singapore was selected for its strategic location and accessibility among the emerging Asian markets. ITB Asia 2008 is expected to draw some 10,000 overseas delegates and more than 500 exhibitors from 50 countries.
Mr. Raimund Hosch, president and CEO of Messe Berlin (which organizes ITB), explained why Singapore was chosen for this prestigious event. "Singapore is Asia’s top convention city for the past 23 consecutive years according to the Union of International Associations Global Rankings, as well as the world’s leading business city, so it provides us with the optimal, strategic platform to host this event, and hopefully many others drawn from the stable of events organized by Messe Berlin.”
In other major event news, the Japan Sewing Machinery Manufacturers Association (JASMA) announced that it will be bring the Singapore Dental Association (SDA) announced that Singapore has secured the bid for the FDI Annual World Dental Congress, to be held in 2009
For further information visit www.visitsingapore.com/businessevents
Located at the crossroads of Asia, Malaysia and Singapore are the perfect gateways to Southeast Asia. From the cosmopolitan city of Singapore to the pristine island of Langkawi, from the vibrant city-life of Kuala Lumpur to the nature's paradise that is Malaysian Borneo, travelers have their pick of amazing combinations. With ultra-cool hangouts and trendy restaurants, spectacular beaches and the beauty of tropical rainforests, it's the ultimate escape.
For more information, contact the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board, 120 East 56th Street, Suite 810, New York, NY 10022, 1-800-558-6787; or 818 West 7th Street, Suite 970, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 1-800-336-6842, Los Angeles, CA. You can also contact the Singapore Tourism Board, 1156 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 702, New York, NY 10036, 212-302-4861; or 4929 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 510, Los Angeles, CA 90010, 323-677-0808.
Surpassing its 2005 record of 8.94 million, Singapore welcome its nine millionth visitor the week of December 2, 2006. Visitor numbers to Singapore have been growing steadily since 1995, when for the first time, they welcomed a record seven million visitors. In 2004, Singapore exceeded eight million visitors and now, just two years later, the country reached the historic milestone of nine million travelers. Hotel occupancy (85%) and room rates (average S$164) are at the highest ever for the last 10 years, as well.
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Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has announced nine new sailings from Singapore, which will be the new base for the 78,491-ton Rhapsody of the Seas. The new Asian cruises will be marketed under Royal Caribbean's partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) through a S$10 million fund (approximately U.S. $6.5 million) that STB administers in support of cruise companies' marketing activities in the country.
Dr Chan Tat Hon, assistant chief executive (Leisure) at the Singapore Tourism Board, said, “Homeporting Rhapsody of the Seas in Singapore gives RCI a good standing to launch into Asia - the next big playground for cruising.” The ship will operate itineraries ranging from two to five days, with one longer cruise of 12 days. Ports of call include Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The new cruises will offer a variety of regional cuisines in addition to the award-winning cuisine served onboard. Special departures will be announced to coincide with Asian festivals, like Chinese New Year cruises and Mid-Autumn Festival sailings.
“The newly launched itineraries for Asia are part of Royal Caribbean’s strategy to expand into emerging high-growth markets,” said Mr Rama Rebbapragada, director Asia/Pacific of Royal Caribbean International. “Already, we have seen good demand for these cruises from most Asian markets and are pleased to see bookings coming in from North America and Europe on some of the short sailings. There is also keen interest shown by the corporate incentives sector from all over the world.” With a total guest capacity of 2,435, Rhapsody of the Seas will be one of Asia’s largest home-ported ships.
For more information and a complete cruise schedule, visit web site www.royalcaribbean.com
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Now open for business is St James Power Station, Singapore’s largest one-stop clubbing destination, featuring nine separate venues spread over 60,000 square feet. The highly anticipated night spot, which occupies the premises of Singapore's circa 1927 coal-fired power station in the HarbourFront precinct, offers something for everyone looking for an exciting night on the town. Access to the entire facility is available for one low cover charge. Featured inside are Powerhouse, the largest venue in the complex featuring a five-story dance club set in a hip and raw setting reflective of the building’s industrial roots; Gallery Bar, an elegant and stylish lounge strategically situated on the second level to offer its guests a spectacular view of all the other outlets; Movida, meaning “party” in Cuban street slang, Movida is a live room featuring the sounds of world music in a clean-lined, contemporary setting mellowed with the warmth of traditional, regional charm; The Bellini Room, where the resident band plays a mixture of swing, big band and easy listening music; and Mono, a monochromatic-themed karaoke venue with a large bar and 10 individually designed rooms for those who prefer crooning behind closed doors.
For information check web site www.stjamespowerstation.com
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The National Museum of Singapore opened its doors to the public in December after three years and S$132.6 million (approximately U.S. $88.4 million) of refurbishment and reinvention. The newly re-done museum has doubled in size, and includes upgrades to bring history to life through multi-media technology.
Just one example is The Companion, an “intelligent” audio visual guide that has been specially developed for the Singapore History Gallery. The Companion juxtaposes popular and anecdotal history to present different points of view in two paths. As visitors enter the gallery, they can choose to explore either path, guided along by different sets of multi-media content.
A number of significant national treasures and several never-before-displayed artifacts are on display in the refurbished galleries, including a funeral hearse made for a wealthy Chinese philanthropist in 1917, and a gold mace that was presented to Singapore in recognition of its status as a city in 1953. Four “Singapore Living Galleries” -- Food, Fashion, Film and Photography -- celebrate the country’s multi-racial and multi-cultural society. With both the old and new buildings combined, the National Museum of Singapore now spans a total area of 18,375 square meters and is Singapore’s largest and most modern museum with world-class facilities, including a 247-seat auditorium and a 10,000-square-meter Exhibition Gallery space. The restoration and conservation of the National Museum building and the design and construction of its new modern counterpart is an architectural feat. Admission for the National Museum of Singapore is S$10.00 for the general public and S$5.00 for senior citizens and students (approximately U.S.$6.50 /$3.25). The Singapore History gallery is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. every day; the Singapore Living galleries are open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. every day. Admission is free on Friday evenings.
For more information check web site www.nationalmuseum.sg
The Oriental, Bangkok Unveils Newly Redesigned China House Restaurant
The Oriental, Bangkok’s China House restaurant, which has long been the mainstay of traditional Cantonese cuisine at the hotel, has recently been re-designed and revived into an avant-garde eatery inspired by the vibrant 1930’s Shanghai Art Deco perio, and serving classic yet contemporary cuisine in a refined atmosphere.
The renovations which took place over the course of four months were overseen by the renowned Neri and Hu Design and Research Office (NHDRO), a multi-disclipinary design practice based in Shanghai, China. The existing two-story, colonial building, home to The China House since 1990, has been completely transformed internally into an elegant dining venue, with period furniture upholstered with horse hair and cowhide reminiscent of the opulence of 1930s Shanghai. The classic Chinese design with a contemporary twist has been enhanced by subtle lighting and cutting edge colour and style.
Meticulously selected artwork depicting life during the Art Deco period, elegant calligraphy with Tang poems describing the significance of fine dining, and black and white photos of the details of Shanghai’s famous Bund, tastefully dominate the main dining room on the ground floor all as well as the private dining rooms on the second floor. The private rooms are decorated in red and yellow with custom designed carpets that feature Chinese court scenes.
Appointed as consultant chef to The China House kitchen, is the talented Jereme Leung, who is the founding chef of the much lauded Whampoa Club. This stunning Art-Deco style, cutting-edge modern Shanghainese restaurant is located in the Three on the Bund complex in Shanghai. One of Jereme Leung’s brightest protégés, Chef Kong Khai Meng, who has extensive experience in both Hong Kong and Shanghai, will head the culinary team as resident chef of the restaurant.
Chef Kong has been well trained in all aspects of Chinese cooking, and his menu features a combination of classic Cantonese cuisine presented in an innovative fresh manner. Signature items, apart from the daily dim sum selection prepared from the external show kitchen, and live fish and seafood from the restaurant’s tanks, include “Peking Duck,” “Slow Cooked Shark’s Fin in Golden Broth,” “Slow Cooked Abalone," “Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin,” “Stir Fried Rice Vermicelli Hokkien Style,”, and “Wasabi Prawns,, to name but a few.
The entry to The China House is filled with 100 overhead red lanterns, that lead diners to The Red Chamber, a spectacular, two-storey space surrounded by screens and columns clad in high gloss Macassar Ebony. Small private booths with “opium bed” inspired banquettes, are surrounded with rich silk curtains, reminiscent of grand ballrooms during the convivial 1930s Art Deco period. This area is decorated with furniture period pieces that have been re-upholstered with exquisite cowhide, rich velvet and horse hair. Depictions of Chinese literature on the ceiling complete the picture of pure splendour. Next to the Chamber is the free standing Blue Bar, with blue lacquer door panels with mirror insets – an ideal area for intimate before or after dinner drinks. With the addition of the Bar area, The China House can now be transformed into an exciting, after-dinner private event venue with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.
Leading to the second floor is a Grand Stairway surrounded with red lacquered panels with mirror insets and solid balustrades and silkscreen images of court ladies facing the inner courtyard. Yet another new focal feature is a copper and bronze Tea Apothecary, which is located in the main dining room area on the ground floor, and adds an alluring dynamic to the restaurant with its traditional showcase of the finest tea collection by Mariage Freres from Paris.
The newly restored China House is open for lunch and dinner daily. For reservations call +662 659 9000 extension 7650-1.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, currently operating 21 luxury hotels with a further 11 under development in Riviera Maya-Mexico and Hainan Island-China (2007), Barcelona, Boston and Grand Cayman (2008), Dallas, Chicago, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech and Dellis Cay (2009). In total, Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, almost 9,000 rooms in 18 countries with 13 hotels in Asia, 13 in the Americas and six in Europe and North Africa.
The Oriental, Bangkok’s China House restaurant, which has long been the mainstay of traditional Cantonese cuisine at the hotel, has recently been re-designed and revived into an avant-garde eatery inspired by the vibrant 1930’s Shanghai Art Deco period, and serving classic yet contemporary cuisine in a refined atmosphere.
The renovations which took place over the course of four months were overseen by the renowned Neri and Hu Design and Research Office (NHDRO), a multi-disclipinary design practice based in Shanghai, China.
The existing two-story, colonial building, home to The China House since 1990, has been completely transformed internally into an elegant dining venue, with period furniture upholstered with horse hair and cowhide reminiscent of the opulence of 1930s Shanghai. The classic Chinese design with a contemporary twist has been enhanced by subtle lighting and cutting edge colour and style.
Meticulously selected artwork depicting life during the Art Deco period, elegant calligraphy with Tang poems describing the significance of fine dining, and black and white photos of the details of Shanghai’s famous Bund, tastefully dominate the main dining room on the ground floor all as well as the private dining rooms on the second floor. The private rooms are decorated in red and yellow with custom designed carpets that feature Chinese court scenes.
Appointed as consultant chef to The China House kitchen, is the talented Jereme Leung, who is the founding chef of the much lauded Whampoa Club. This stunning Art-Deco style, cutting-edge modern Shanghainese restaurant is located in the Three on the Bund complex in Shanghai. One of Jereme Leung’s brightest protégés, Chef Kong Khai Meng, who has extensive experience in both Hong Kong and Shanghai, will head the culinary team as resident chef of the restaurant.
Chef Kong has been well trained in all aspects of Chinese cooking, and his menu features a combination of classic Cantonese cuisine presented in an innovative fresh manner. Signature items, apart from the daily dim sum selection prepared from the external show kitchen, and live fish and seafood from the restaurant’s tanks, include “Peking Duck”, “Slow Cooked Shark’s Fin in Golden Broth”, “Slow Cooked Abalone”, “Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin”, “Stir Fried Rice Vermicelli Hokkien Style”, and “Wasabi Prawns”, to name but a few.
The entry to The China House is filled with 100 overhead red lanterns, that lead diners to The Red Chamber, a spectacular, two-storey space surrounded by screens and columns clad in high gloss Macassar Ebony. Small private booths with “opium bed” inspired banquettes, are surrounded with rich silk curtains, reminiscent of grand ballrooms during the convivial 1930s Art Deco period. This area is decorated with furniture period pieces that have been re-upholstered with exquisite cowhide, rich velvet and horse hair. Depictions of Chinese literature on the ceiling complete the picture of pure splendour.
Next to the Chamber is the free standing Blue Bar, with blue lacquer door panels with mirror insets – an ideal area for intimate before or after dinner drinks. With the addition of the Bar area, The China House can now be transformed into an exciting, after-dinner private event venue with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.
Leading to the second floor is a Grand Stairway surrounded with red lacquered panels with mirror insets and solid balustrades and silkscreen images of court ladies facing the inner courtyard.
Southern Thailand is famous for its beaches and its green native rainforest. Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani is the perfect combination of both. This virgin rainforest is dotted by limestone mountain ranges and rugged high cliffs. Inside the park, you can trek through one of the oldest rainforests on earth. The park features soaring limestone mountains, crashing waterfalls, and some of the rarest wildlife in Southeast Asia – wild elephants, leopards, banteng, gaur, dusky languors, tigers, Malayan sun bears and exotic birds.
For flower lovers, another rare sight is Bua Phut or Rafflesia Kerrii Meijer – the largest bloom among all flowers in the world. This parasitic plant with fiber-like tissue can be as large as 100 c.m. in diameter but it only blooms for seven days a year. An elevated footpath in the park is built so visitors can appreciate the beauty of these special plants at a close but protective distance. Whether Khao Sok or some other beauty spot is on your agenda during your next trip to Southern Thailand, remember to pack a sturdy pair of walking shoes along with your bathing suit.
AWARD WINNING HOMESTAY
If you wish to experience local lives and communities up close, try the Koh Yao Noi Homestay program in Phang-Nga province. It is a winner of the Thailand Tourism Award and National Geographic Traveler Magazine Award. With the program, you will review in depth local land-based and sea-based natural resources. Local tour leaders will also take you to visit the fishing villages around Phang-Nga Bay where you can sample village lifestyle and even help prepare shrimp and crab nets for use in the sea-grass and shellfish grounds.
A boat tour around Koh Yao reveals other local natural habitats. There are nearly 50 nearby islands featuring a heady mix of coral reef, sea grass beds, mangroves and beautiful beaches. If you stay on land, don’t miss tours of rubber tapping plantations, bird nest experiences, and coconut picking done by monkeys.
During a home stay experience, be respectful to the local culture and natural surroundings. If you have any questions, there is always a member of the Koh Yao Noi Eco - Tourism Club around, well versed in any cultural and environmental issues.
A TRADITIONAL AND SIMPLE TOUCH OF FLOATING MARKETS
Just 50 miles from Bangkok, the Amphawa District of Samut Songkram Province features the Tha Kha floating market and Amphawa floating market. Tha Kha market takes place on the 2nd, 7th, 12th days of both waxing and waning moon of the lunar calendar; and also operates on every Saturday and Sunday from six a.m. to noon. Amphawa floating market takes place only on Friday to Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Your tour operator will make sure you are there on the right day for this legendary rendezvous of vendor boats carrying local food, vegetable, and fruit to consumers. While you are visiting, try “Kwetiao Reua” (boat noodles) prepared in local fashion along the canals. Then cool off in the shade with local tropical drinks offered by the fruit boats.
For a deeper exploration of Amphawa, rent a boat and a local guide to visit nearby villages, temples, palm plantations and fruit orchards. If time permits, it is well worth your while to also visit Bancharong House, located on Samut Songkram – Bang Phae Road which includes a crockery production experience and the chance to bring back a set of custom dishes or decorative items done while you wait by local craftsmen.
MAHOUT EXPERIENCE
In Thailand, the elephant is revered for its royal and religious significance. Thailand is today home to some 4,000 of the fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants that remain in Southeast Asia. To learn how Thailand conserves both elephants and mahout know-how, you can visit the world famous National Elephant Institute in Lampang Province.
There are home stay experiences here, elephant shows, and elephant riding and trekking with elephants – all available through the institute – as well as several mahout courses offered by the institute’s Elephant Training School. Students for the mahout training will be schooled in the details of how these clever and friendly elephants are integrated into the northern Thai life style, based on the principles of the mahout relationship - learning how to ride and take good care of elephants. Courses range from a three-day basic to a 30-day advanced course.
Trisara Resort Partners with Phuket's Newest Luxury Yacht
Honeymooners, couples traveling together or family groups of up to 6 people may combine a stay at Trisara, Phuket's newest luxury boutique resort, with two days aboard a 70-foot luxury yacht, the 680 Ferretti "Double Issue."
Yacht Excursion Includes:
- Two days and one night aboard Double Issue, a 70-foot 680 Ferretti
- All meals catered by renowned Australian chef Neil Perry in accordance with the preferences of each guest
- Fully equipped with kayaks, wake-boards, jet skis, diving and snorkeling gear and more
- Three cabins, accommodating up to three couples or a family of six
- Option of a Trisara Spa therapist on board for massages beneath a palm tree or on the shaded deck of the yacht
- $11,900 for up to six people (not including taxes and service charge), with all arrangements handled by Trisara
Day 1:
- Board the yacht from Trisara's private beachfront jetty
- Sail down the western coast of Phuket to the southern shores
- Enjoy a swim and catered lunch at a pristine beach island
- Drop anchor for the evening in Maya Bay at Phi Phi Island, where The Beach, starring Leonardo Dicaprio, was filmed
Day 2:
- Rise to a morning snorkel and breakfast at Maya Bay
- Cruise north exploring the Krabi coastline
- Lunch on a private beach or aboard the yacht
- Experience Phang Nga Bay (James Bond Island), famous for its limestone
- Return to Trisara or to Phuket Airport, with transport via limousine
About Double Issue
Ferretti is known for creating Europe's best built yachts; the 680 is the company's flagship vessel. Double Issue, the only 680 Ferretti available for charter in Oceania, is widely recognized as the most beautiful yacht in Thailand and offers attentive service and the most professional international captain.
About Trisara
Trisara overlooks a private bay on the Andaman Sea, 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport on the undeveloped northwestern coast of the island. An all pool villa resort, each includes private infinity pools, teak pool decks, open-to-the moonlight showers in private courtyards and an oversized king bed. Amenties include the Trisara Spa, access to luxury motor yachts and two golf courses, a private white sand beach and tennis courts.
Bookings at Trisara can be made via travel planners or through the hotel reservation office directly by calling +66 76 310100, or check web site www.trisara.com>www.trisara.com, or Email: reservations@trisara.com.
More Abut Thailand
The popularity of Thai food is principally based on taste, but many are also drawn to Thai foods because of the known therapeutic value of the herbs and spices used in preparation and cooking.
Thai cuisine is as diverse as the country itself, with certain styles unique to various national regions. Though virtually all of the tastes of Thailand can be found in the biggest cities such Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and here are some of the most popular tourist destinations for “foodies” outside the big cities where regional cuisines and food cultures are best sampled.
Thai Airways International now flies daily non-stop flights from JFK to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi International Airport) on its luxurious A340-500 aircraft. When you fly Thai, you begin your experience of genuine Thai hospitality hours before you actually arrive.
THE NORTH – HERITAGE LAND
Northern Thailand encompasses part of the fabled Golden Triangle. Because of the cooler mountain climate in this area, a greater variety of vegetables are grown and offered than in any other regional Thai cuisines. People of the North prefer glutinous or sticky rice to looser forms of white rice, and they roll their rice into balls with their hands for dipping into dishes and sauces.
No visit to the North is complete without sampling a Khan Toke Dinner. The food will be served in a Khan or bowl and on a Toke or low round table made of woven bamboo. Popular dishes for Khan Toke are Sai Ua - pork sausage; Naem - pickled pork sausage; Kaeb Moo - pork rind; and Nam Prik Noom - chili paste. Other Typical northern dishes include Khao Soi, a curry broth with egg noodles and chicken, pork or beef; Kaeng Hang Lay, a pork curry seasoned with ginger, tamarind and turmeric, and Kaeng Khanoon, an aromatic jackfruit curry.
Try each regional dish while visiting any of these famous tourist destinations: Sukhothai, the first truly independent Thai kingdom and now a UNESCO World Heritage historic town; Chiang Mai, known for its beautiful scenery, trekking routes, silks, handicrafts; Chiang Rai, famed for its majestic mountains and many high-altitude hill tribe villages; and Lampang, noted for its world-famous Elephant Conservation Centre.
THE NORTHEAST – CRADLE OF THAI CIVILIZATION
The Northeast region, known by Thais as the I-San, is the oldest cradle of Thai civilization. It is very popular for its cuisine. Just as in the North, glutinous rice is preferred in I-San to the looser white variety. Roasting and grilling with herbs and pickled ingredients give a distinctive and strong savory flavor to much of the region’s food. Chilies also tend to be used very much in I-San cuisine.
Somtam is a regional dish and an art here, perhaps the most popular Thai dish both in or out of I-San. Green papaya is pounded in a mortar with lime juice, garlic, fish sauce and a number of other ingredients. Other popular dishes include Kai Yang, slowly charcoal grilled chicken; Larb, minced meat salad; Nam Tok, charcoal-grilled beef or pork salad. An I-San meal will typically include Tom Saeb, a spicy herb soup with your choices of meat.
Visitors to I-San today love its natural and cultural beauty. A perfect trip may include a visit to the famous World Heritage Sites at Ban Chiang in Udon Thani, where the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization flourished some 5,600 years ago, and Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima. Other popular destinations include Loei, famed for its exceptional scenery of Phu Kra Dung National Park; Ubon Ratchathani, noted for the lovely Candle Festival and the pre-historical rock paintings; and Surin, known for its annual Elephant Round-Up every November.
THE CENTRAL – THE CHARMING PLAINS
Bustling Bangkok, located in the heart of this region, acts like a magnet drawing in influences from every part of Thailand. Almost every Thai cuisine is on offer here, but there are still many local Central Plain specialties that can only be found outside Bangkok in the region’s other large cities and many of the smaller towns as well. Many believe that the best rice in Thailand is grown in this region, most notably the Hom Mali or jasmine rice. There are a few curries too that are regional specialties; including the familiar green curry - Kaeng Khieo Wan; a hot curry - Kaeng Phet; and a milder version - Kaeng Phanaeng. All are based on coconut milk. Other popular Central Plain dishes will include Tom Yam, the famous hot-and-sour soup; Tom Kha, creamy coconut milk soup; and Kuay Tiaw, the Chinese-influenced dishes served either with stir fried noodles or as noodle soup.
The Central Plain is also extremely rich in historical sites. Bangkok is the prime destination where high on the must-see list are Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha); the Grand Palace; Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn); and Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Other popular destinations outside Bangkok include Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand and now home to the Ayutthaya Historical Park, one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites of all; Kanchanaburi, known the storied Bridge on the River Kwai; Nakhon Pathom, with its remarkable floating markets; and Hua Hin in Prachuapkirikhan, a perfect seaside resort for the whole family.
THE SOUTH – AMAZING PARADISE
The weather is balmy in the South most any season, but Southerners like their food chili-hot. With the area’s many Malay, Javanese and Indian influences, together with its own creativity and abundance, the South produces an extraordinary range of curries, made from just about anything. Typical of the South are two: Kaeng Tai Pla, a very hot curry made with fish stomach, green beans, pickled bamboo shoots and potato; and Kaeng Leuang, a yellow curry made from fish, green squash, pineapple, green beans and green papaya.
Other popular dishes are Khanom Chin, rice noodles in a spicy fish curry sauce; Kai Betong, stir-fried soy sauce chicken with green vegetables; and Roti, a round flat wheat bread. Do not overlook the areas locally grown Coffees. Try a cup of the local brew either hot or cold with a range of regional snacks that can include Steamed Buns filled with pork or bean paste; Dumplings, filled with shrimp or pork; the thick Southern-style Rice Soup; or a unique form of doughnut called Pa Thong Ko.
To complete the trip, visit Samui in Surat Thani and Phuket, both famed for their beautiful beaches and dive sites; Krabi, known for the Phi Phi islands and a 75-million-year-old shell graveyard (one of only three so old in the world); and Phang Nga with its magnificent bay and verdant islands – honeycombed with caves, aquatic grottoes, and limestone cliffs soaring to heights of 300 meters and more above almost perpetually calm waters.
CATCH OF THE DAY
A trip to any one of the traditional markets in Thailand never fails to be a fascinating adventure. Mahachai in Samut Sakhon, a 45- minute-drive from Bangkok, is home to one of the biggest seafood piers in the Gulf of Thailand.
Stroll along the river towards the pier at the junction where Klong Mahachai canal and the Ta Chine River converge. There you can watch fishermen offload their catches: big and small shrimps, cuttlefish, shellfish and other fruits of the sea ready to go for immediate auction. Always plan to arrive early between 8.00 and 10.00 a.m. and allow at least two hours for your visit. Do not miss seafood lunch near the pier - grilled, steamed or fried in Thai, Chinese or Western styles. There are numerous fine seafood restaurants either at the market itself or along the river in the Mahachai area.
COOKING IS EASY
If cooking is your passion, why not try to pick up some training in the preparation of Thai cuisine during your visit by going to cooking school in Thailand? Learn the basic ingredients of Thai herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits. See by yourself how these ingredients are blended together for tasty Thai dishes. Classes are conducted in English. You can include a visit to nearby local markets with your Chef instructors who will teach you both what to choose and how to prepare it. Bring back home the secret recipes to dazzle and delight your friends and family.
ANGEL SHRIMP ROLL FOR HOME
Here is a recipe for one of the most popular Thai appetizer – “Angel shrimp roll.” This easy-to-make shrimp roll is prepared with spring roll wrappers, which give the dish a great chewy texture contrasting with the succulent shrimp filling inside. The rolls are deep fried and then dipped into sweet chili sauce. Ingredients and preparations are;
Ingredients
Spring roll wrappers (20 sheets), peeled raw shrimp (20), minced chicken (300g), minced garlic (1 Tsp), cilantro root (1 Tsp), black pepper (0.5 Tsp) soy sauce (1 Tbsp), corn flour (1Tbsp), and sweet chili sauce
Preparation
1. Process chicken, cilantro root, black pepper, soy sauce and corn flour in a food processor.
2. Mix the chicken paste with shrimp, and wrap it with spring roll wrapper.
3. Heat the oil in a wok or a deep-fryer, to 190C/375F; then deep-fry for 2-3 minutes until golden; drain on paper and serve hot with sweet chili sauce.
Conde Nast Traveler, one of the world’s most prestigious travel magazines, has called out La Residence Hotel & Spa in its 2007 Hot List, the 11th annual compendium of the hottest, most happening hotels in the world. The exclusive 2007 list features 138 hotels in 46 countries.
In a separate listing, Conde Nast celebrated the Spa at La Residence as one of its Hot Spas for 2007. “We’re absolutely thrilled by these accolades,” said Carmen Marienberg, general manager of La Residence Hotel & Spa. “We’ve always known La Residence was one of the most distinctive properties, and now the rest of the world knows, too.”
Conde Nast lauds the “former colonial governor’s mansion” for its “dreamy rooms,” its singular Resident’s Suite, its “colonial feel” and dark wood furnishings. “The same nautical moderne architecture that makes the villa so charming is reprised in the two modern wings, which were added during a thorough yet sensitive renovation of the original building so that the place is pure Indochine,” wrote Conde Nast.
About the Spa, Conde Nast pays particular attention to “its great therapists” and its blend of “traditional Vietnamese and soothing Balinese techniques.” The listing says the Spa “vaults into the big league with a great treatment menu and a talented, hardworking all-Vietnamese team (trained by Italian spa brand Comfort Zone).”
The Hot List is an especially prestigious tribute because Conde Nast’s surveyors judged thousands of hotels and spas around the globe, checking in undercover at each to experience the hotel’s accommodation, services and ambiance.
“The Conde Nast surveyor received the treatment we extend to all our guests, so it is immensely gratifying to know the service we provide to everyone ranks with the service at the best hotels in world,” said Marienberg.
La Residence opened in 2005 and immediately began garnering acclaim from esteemed publications. National Geographic, the renowned publisher of travel literature, hailed the hotel as one of the country’s five most distinguished properties, in its 2006 Traveler title on Vietnam.
Set on a two hectare site with 200 meters of frontage on the fabled Perfume River, the hotel celebrated its grand opening in December 2005 after a painstaking restoration of the former colonial governor’s residence. The hotel’s distinctive bowed façade, its long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes are hallmarks of the streamline moderne school of art deco architecture.
Inside, the hotel’s 122 rooms and suites, restaurants, lounges, bars and conference room are tricked out in complementary art-deco furnishings and décor that evoke both the 1920s and 1950s. The hotel’s fine-dining venue, Le Parfum, serves Mediterranean and French cuisine, as well as dishes from a complementary Vietnamese menu.
The conference facilities, including board rooms, can accommodate 140 guests. The hotel provides complementary WiFi Internet access in the ground floor lounges and Le Gouverneur, the lobby bar that ranks as Hue’s most sophisticated watering hole.
For hotel reservations, contact La Residence at (84 54) 837-475 or resa@la-resa@la-residence-hue.com.
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In the fabled, former imperial capital of Vietnam, La Residence Hotel & Spa has appointed a new executive chef with a long history of marrying, complementing and celebrating European and Eastern flavors.
Dieter Stoll first came to Vietnam as the executive chef who opened the Windsor Saigon Hotel back in 1995. He loved it so much he is still here 12 years later and still winning praise for his use of local ingredients to infuse traditional continental recipes with unique flavors.
Stoll is adding grace notes to Le Parfum’s Western menu with such French classics as Medallions Rossini and Beef Bordelaise and with such European fare as Swedish gravlaks.
“I believe in honest, traditional-style cooking,” says Stoll. “Everything must be homemade and everything must be fresh.”
With a focus on freshness, presentation and creativity, Hue is famed as the culinary capital of Vietnam. For the Vietnamese menu, Stoll will concentrate on the true Hue classics.
“I have worked in Vietnam a long time and love all the regional variations in food and flavor,” he says. “But for me Hue has always been the source of the best, the most interesting and the finest food. You can taste the imperial history of this city with every mouthful; you can tell that this was a food fit for an emperor.”
Le Parfum is a 157-seat fine dining venue, located in the historic, 1930-built La Residence Hotel, formerly part of the French colonial governor’s residence. The restaurants’ ample banks of windows open up to views of the Perfume River, as well as the imperial monuments of the north bank’s Citadel. Inside, the décor recalls the glory days of the art deco school of design.
Stoll, in charge of the whole food and beverage department, is reinvigorating the eating experience at La Residence with a three course degustation dinner menu, sunset dinners, candlelight cruises and cooking classes.
Though he’s anchored the new wine list with good French wines, the discerning and adventurous palate will find temptations in refreshing vintages from around the world.
The 122-room La Residence Hotel & Spa opened in 2005 after a painstaking restoration of the former colonial governor’s mansion. The hotel’s bowed façade, its long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes are hallmarks of the Streamline Moderne School of art deco architecture. Set on a two hectare site with 200 meters of frontage on the fabled Perfume River, the hotel also boasts a saltwater swimming pool, an upscale Comfort Zone spa, as well as the city’s most compelling watering hole at Le Gouverneur.
About Hue:
Hue is the former imperial capital of Vietnam (1802-1945) and seat of the Nguyen Dynasty. With the exception of Hanoi, no other city in Vietnam offers as many opportunities for cultural exploration. Its justly celebrated imperial palaces, pavilions, monuments and tombs inspired a World Heritage listing by UNESCO in 1992. UNESCO called out the city again in 2003 for its royal court music, now hailed as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.”
For hotel reservations, contact La Residence at (84 54) 837-475 or E-Mail to: resa@la-residence-hue.com.
Life Resorts Management Co., the operations wing of Vietnam-based resort/spa developer Life Resorts, has agreed to manage the Blue Ocean Resort in Phan Thiet, one of the country’s premier beachside destinations.
Life Resorts reopened the property in August 2007 following a US$1 million renovation.
The Blue Ocean management agreement is an extension of a previous deal with Bien Xanh Co., Life Resort’s partner in another Phan Thiet property, the Life Wellness Resort Phan Thiet, currently under construction in this rapidly growing coastal destination.
General Director of the Life Resorts Management Company, Chris Duffy, said the deal was driven by Bien Xanh’s desire to see international standards at Blue Ocean.
“They felt like it would be a great idea for us to take over the running of Blue Ocean and we agreed,” he said. “They are looking to make it a resort that meets the highest international standards of quality in everything from food and beverage to service and hardware.” To that end Creatis Architecture, a French-owned firm based in Ho Chi Minh City, has been appointed to revamp the resort, a process that Life Resorts will oversee. We will add eight units to take it up to 78 bungalows, and all of the existing bungalows will be fully renovated,” said Duffy. “We are making them a lot bigger and adding Balinese-style indoor/outdoor bathrooms.”
Ultimately, the new Blue Ocean will exude a sophisticated, modern Asian elegance. A number of additional on-site enhancements will include a new lap pool.
Life Resorts is the innovative developer of culturally sympathetic spa properties in Vietnam. Its existing properties in Hoi An and Quy Nhon reflect Life Resort’s philosophy of creating affordable resorts in harmony with the local environment and culture. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Bich, chairman of Bien Xanh, said the Blue Ocean would become the first on the Mui Ne strip to sign an international management contract. “We were one of the first properties on Mui Ne and we want to remain ahead of the game,” he said. “With renovation and Western management, we’ll create a whole new, higher level of appeal that should attract a much broader clientele.”
Bich said the secret to success in Vietnam’s booming tourism climate was the introduction and maintenance of European standards. “As Vietnam draws more and more well-heeled international travelers, there’s a great demand for properties that satisfy Western expectations,” said Bich. “Travelers want the nouveau experience of Vietnam but the kind of accommodations they’re used to at home.”
Under the deal, Life Resorts will oversee the upgrade of the hotel and spa and is already in the process of putting all the resort staff through an extensive six-month training program.
Duffy said eventually a general manager would be appointed to oversee both the Blue Ocean and the new Life Wellness Resort Phan Thiet.
Mui Ne, just 120 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City sits amid rolling red and white sand dunes and palm-lined beaches that are bathed in sunshine all year-round. It is also home to a host of attractions: the world’s second longest recumbent Buddha on Ta Cu Mountain; the haunting 8th Century Cham towers at Po Shanu and the Van Thuy Tu Temple sheltering a 70-foot-long skeleton of a fin whale, known as “Mr. Whale” to locals.
Life Resorts currently manages two other properties in Vietnam. Inspired by Cham architecture, the 63-room Life Wellness Resort Quy Nhon is a hideaway boutique retreat on the south central coast where a 3,000-square-meter landscaped garden overlooks a curvaceous coastline, outdoor spa bungalows and an exquisite stretch of private beach. The 94-room Life Heritage Resort Hoi An evokes the colonial splendor of a bygone era on a quiet stretch of the Thu Bon River, within walking distance of the old trading port’s world-famous downtown.
In July last year, the Life Wellness Resort Quy Nhon was nominated as a finalist for Best Destination Spa by the 2006 SpaAsia Crystal Awards (www.spaasia.com/awards). Quy Nhon was the only nominee from Vietnam; the other seven nominees included a Hilton in China, the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong and the Chiva-Som in Thailand.
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