Experience Elephants and Luxury in Thailand

GREETINGS 1
Thambili - the “Coconut King” of Sri Lanka
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant
Camp & Resort
Travelling Fast or Slow: What’s Your Style?
Why I choose to let my children travel young?
Dive Into Love and Say “I Do” … Underwater!

3GREETINGS
Greetings from Exotic Voyages!
Welcome to the latest edition of Travel in Style! We are enjoying the holidays here and
have had the pleasure of setting up a lot of unforgettable holiday trips and tours for
travelers to Vietnam, Thailand and our other magical destinations. There is no greater
joy than having a chance to share the holiday spirit of Asia with our customers and
readers!
Speaking of which, we have plenty to share with you in this month’s Travel in Style! In
the pages of this month’s issue, we will take you on a journey of travel discovery:
• Plan a luxury stay in Angkor at a premiere boutique resort for the time of your life.
•ExploreAnantaraGoldenTriangleElephantCamp&Resort,oneofthemostinnovative
destinations in Thailand. Here you can learn to ride one of Asia’s most beloved creatures.
Take a trek on an elephant’s back for an experience like no other.
• Should you hit a dozen destinations in your next Asian tour, or should you take a more
leisurely, laid-back approach, planning an extended stay in just one or two locations?
Discover your travel style and learn how to pace your vacation to craft the itinerary of
your dreams!
• Find out what it’s like to tie the knot in an underwater wedding in Thailand! There
really is no more unique way to say “I do!”
• Learn about the first-ever Vietnam Silk Culture Festival.
• Enjoy our advice on Asian fashion, cuisine, and more!
Ready to get started? Turn the page to start exploring Samar Villas & Spa Resort,
Angkor’s best kept secret. Remember, if you are ready to plan your own vacation to
Asia to check out some of the amazing destinations and events we share in our magazine
in person, you can reach us anytime at +1 (800) 858-4114. We would love to help you
plan your tour. Thank you again for your support—every one of our readers means the
world to us. Enjoy our newest Travel in Style!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TRAVELI N S T Y L E
Travel in Style
Plan the Ultimate Luxury Getaway in Angkor
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Travelling Fast or Slow: What’s Your Style?
Why I choose to let my children travel young?
Food Experiences
Thambili - the “Coconut King” of Sri Lanka
The Food Memories of My Childhood
Asia Insight
The Vietnam-Asia Silk Culture Festival is Bringing Traditional Silk Back to the
Modern Lifestyle
Tulip World in Chéngdū
Dive Into Love and Say “I Do” … Underwater!
Women with Travel
Tokyo: Asia’s Fashion Hub
It’s all about NEW!
New hotels. Hot destinations. Trendy activities and experiences.
Be inspired by our latest travel ideas and inspirations
5
7
10
14
18
23
24
28
33
34
38
42
47
48
4 CONTENT

Plan the Ultimate Luxury
Getaway in Angkor
A
s the capital city of the Khmer
Empire, the ruins of Angkor Wat
are some of the most majestic
anywhere in the world. Step into
a world drenched in mystery and
mysticism, exploring any of a thousand temples.
You will find yourself swept away by the
history and wonder of one of the world’s most
important holy sites.
But where should you stay during your Angkor
Wat excursion? Where can you immerse yourself in
luxury without removing yourself from the timeless
splendor of the Angkor experience?
GREETINGS 7

There are a lot of options, but
with millions of visitors flocking
to Angkor every year, you want to
choose a resort which stands apart
from the crowd and offers you some
seclusion. For that, we recommend
heading to the charming resort
town of Siem Reap and booking a
stay at the nearby Samar Villas & Spa
Resort.
The Samar Villas & Spa Resort
is a boutique hotel located just
outside the city proper. This puts
you comfortably close to the shops
and attractions of town, but keeps
you removed from the noise and
crowds. Steeped in the relaxing
beauty of the Angkor region, the
resort’s architecture features stunning traditional
accents while the rooms are comfortably appointed
with plasma TV, WiFi, air conditioning, a mini-bar and
all the other modern amenities you could need.
While you are staying at Samar Villas & Spa
Resort, you can book a relaxing, rejuvenating spa
appointment, dine on traditional cuisine at the hotel’s
gourmet restaurant, or even take a Khmer cooking
class so that you can take a taste of Cambodia home
with you. Those interested in the history of Angkor
will be delighted to delve into the records in the
hotel’s Archaeological Library.
Included in every booking are breakfast, high tea
(or ice cream), a free shave or facial, shoe-cleaning,
traditional sandals, and your choice of organic soap.
Free transfer is available to and from the airport, and
if you stay at least three nights, you can enjoy one
free dinner of the day or Apsara dinner show.
But the most amazing surprise is the price! You
might expect a boutique resort like this to charge
hundreds of dollars a night, but prices start as low as
US$124 off-season. There really is no finer way to take
in the magic and allure of Angkor Wat than to bask
in the comfort and style of a stay at the lavish Samar
Villas & Spa Resort!
8 9TRAVEL IN STYLETRAVEL IN STYLE

Anantara Golden
Triangle Elephant
Camp & Resort
I
f just one hotel in Thailand should be
on your bucket list, it is the Anantara
Golden Triangle Elephant Camp &
Resort. While there are many beautiful,
luxurious hotels throughout Thailand,
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp
truly is a destination like no other, because it
is here that you can get up close and personal
with Asia’s beloved pachyderms!
You will find Anantara Golden Triangle
Elephant Camp & Resort deep in the jungle
in the Chiang Rai Province in northern
Thailand. This is a popular tourist area, so
chances are good there are a few other sites
you will want to visit here. The bamboo
forests, gardens, and rice paddies are make
for lush surroundings with the hotel itself
overlooking the Mekong river.
The resort is actually an elephant rescue
operation founded in 2006. At present, 20
elephants are living at the resort, and when
you come to stay here, you get to walk with
10 TRAVEL IN STYLE 11TRAVEL IN STYLE

them, ride them, and learn how to take care
of them!
There are a few different activities available
at the resort, all of which immerse you in the
wonderful world of pachyderms:
• The Elephant Learning Experience:
Enjoy a conservation discussion hosted by
an elephant expert, and then visit the Baby
Elephant Camp to feed the most adorable
little elephants! Learn how elephants eat,
bathe, communicate, and more.
• Walking With Giants: Want to know
how elephants live in the wild? While the
camp’s elephants are of course domesticated
and cared for by their mahouts, Walking
With Giants allows you to accompany them
on their daily free roaming time. Stroll on
foot with the elephants through the jungle
or the grasslands and see how they behave in
their natural habitats.
• Traditional Mahout Training: While the
experiences above are amazing, the most
exciting part for most guests is Traditional
Mahout Training! During training, you are
paired with an elephant and are taught the
commands to guide the elephant. You learn
how to mount, and then you take a ride
through the forest! At the elephant bathing
bond or Ruak River, the pachyderms take
their bath. You can stay on shore (to stay
dry) or join in and play with the elephants
while they bathe!
While you are staying at the resort, you
also get to enjoy relaxing at the Anantara Spa,
and at Dining by Design, you can partake
of delicious local cuisine. Burgeoning
Thai chefs can also learn from a master at
Anantara’s Spice Spoons Thai cooking school.
Many of the mahouts’ wives weave silk as
well, and provide complimentary tours of
their traditional silk weaving process.
For any animal lover, a stay at Anantara
Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
is unforgettable, a highlight that will stand
out forever as one of the most unique and
treasured experiences of your life. It is also a
chance to help with the camp’s conservation
efforts. When you book a reservation, THB
2,000 is donated to the Golden Triangle
Asian Elephant Foundation!
Ready to book your own adventure at
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp &
Resort? Call us today at +1 (800) 858-4114
and we will help you to set up your stay with
the pachyderms!

Travelling Fast or Slow:
What’s Your Style?
W
ith modern
technology,
business travel
has become even
more convenient for everyone.
However, it has also become the
justification for some companies
to cut-back on costs spent on
business trips for their employees
since most business transactions
nowadays can all be done online.
When I was a child, my
parents took me on a lot of trips,
which was great—but their
idea of travel was very much to
spend an afternoon in one city,
hop in the car, travel to another,
spend an afternoon there, and
move on to the next, covering
as much land as they could
in as little time as possible. I
especially remember a cruise we
went on—which I loved—but I
felt so rushed going from island
to island. By the time I got a
feel for one locale, it was onto
the next.
As an adult, I’ve planned my
trips very differently. I usually
travel to one location and spend
a few days or a week there, and
then head home.
I love travelling this way, but
I also realize it probably would
have bored my parents to tears.
This is a topic I haven’t seen
a lot of people discuss in travel
magazines. And when I do see it
brought up, it is usually with one
person claiming that travelling
fast is the way to travel, or
travelling at a slow and leisurely
pace is the right way.

But really, the only “right” way
to travel is the way which is right
for you!
So should you travel fast or
slow? Here are a few questions
to ask yourself to help you figure
out your travelling style.
1. What is your budget?
You might think that
squeezing a lot of stops into
a short trip would be better
for your wallet, but ironically,
slow travel is usually cheaper,
assuming you can afford the time
off. If you are staying longer
in one spot, you can typically
get a better deal on your hotel
or hostel. Oftentimes all the
15TRAVEL IN STYLE14 TRAVEL IN STYLE

utilities you need are included.
If you are interested in extended
trips where you stay in a
location for a month or longer,
seasonal employment may also
be an option.
2. Do you have a big
bucket list?
If there are a dozen places in
China you would love to visit,
and you are only likely to visit
China once, fast travel may be a
better option. That way you can
at least hit a lot of sites on your
bucket list before you have to
head home.
3. Do you like to really
immerse yourself in a place and
get to know its people?
There are so many experiences
which a tourist swinging through
a location for a few hours or days
is going to miss. Only by staying
for a few weeks or a month
are you able to absorb these
experiences for yourself and
really get to know a place and its
people, its moods and its quirks.
Fast travellers never learn what
it is like to live in a place and
be a part of it, whereas slow
travellers get to have that special
experience.
4. Do you get bored
standing still?
While the idea of spending
a month in a seaside village in
Thailand or Malaysia might
sound exciting at first, many
people who are natural fast
travellers have a hard time
staying entertained after a week
has gone by.
5. Would you find it
exhilarating to wake up to a new
horizon every day?
There is a certain thrill to
waking up in Thailand one
day and Vietnam the next
and China the day after that.
That is something you cannot
experience travelling slowly.
6. What kind of stamina do
you possess?
For a lot of people who prefer
slow travelling, fast travelling can
be exhausting! Then again, for
those who itch to move on after
a short time in one spot, that can
be true of slow travel as well.
Ultimately the key to enjoying
your next vacation is to figure out
the answers to these questions
so that you can discover whether
you are a fast or slow traveller.
There is no right or wrong answer
here! Which style of travel do
you prefer?

WhyIChoose
toLetMyChildren
TravelYoung?
I
’m a military brat, so I literally
grew up travelling. Every
three years or so my family
relocated. The most memorable
assignment was to Okinawa, Japan,
which gave me a chance to immerse
myself in a foreign culture at a
formative age. That experience
changed my life forever.
When we were given that
assignment, my parents were actually
offered a choice between Japan and
Oklahoma. What really blew my
mind (in a bad way) was how many
families we knew in the military who
were offered a choice like that and
turned down the chance to move to
a foreign country. Why? The reason
they cited was always the same: “We
can’t travel abroad for three years
with kids!”
This is a common attitude I’ve
encountered a great deal since. I’m a
mother myself now with two young
children, and we love to travel as
a family! But I still know other
mothers who just won’t do it. “Oh,
we’ll wait until the kids get older,”
they say.
There are a number of reasons why parents are chary of travelling with young children. Here are
just a few I’ve heard:
• “They aren’t old enough to remember.”
• “Kids need stability and a sense of home.”
• “They are too young to appreciate it.”
• “Children should be immersed in their own cultures before others.”
• “Travelling with a kid is inconvenient.”
In my opinion, that last reason is probably the main real reason that a lot of parents are hesitant
18 19TRAVEL IN STYLETRAVEL IN STYLE

to travel with young children.
Travelling even with older children
can be logistically challenging; if you
are travelling with a toddler or baby,
it will be even tougher.
I firmly believe it is worth it
though, both for you and for your
children. Why? Here are just a few
really good reasons:
1. Even if your kids are too young
to remember, you are not.
Travelling with young children
is a wonderful way to build family
memories, even if your kids are
still toddlers or babies! You and
your partner will remember every
moment. And young kids do
internalize their early experiences.
They become part of their
development, even if it happens at an
unconscious level.
2. Home is where the heart is.
Stability and a sense of home are
not just tied to a single location—
they are woven into what it means to
be a family! Travelling is a great way
to teach your children that home is
something you can bring with you
wherever you go—and sometimes
discover in unexpected places.
3. Experiences help develop
appreciation.
How can kids learn to appreciate
new experiences if you do not expose
them to new experiences when they
are young? This is a key part of their
development.
4. Children should be exposed to
other cultures.
In a world where intolerance
is rooted at a deep level in many
societies, we need more kids growing
up with an understanding of foreign
cultures and a deep-seated respect for different
ways of life and thinking. Travel builds tolerance
and kindness.
5. Your children will grow up with more
independence and less fear.
When your children are exposed to different
perspectives and lifestyles and have a chance
to move through the world, they develop
independence, learning many important life
skills. They grow up less fearful and more willing
to embrace diversity and new experiences.
So should you let your children travel when
they are young? Absolutely, so long as you can do
it safely! Yes, the logistics will take some thought
and time to figure out, but it is so worthwhile,
both for you and especially for your kids. I am
so grateful as an adult that I had a chance to
travel when I was a child. It opened my eyes
and helped make me the person I am today. So
consider bringing your kids along with you on
your next trip; it can bring the same life-changing
value into their lives!
21TRAVEL IN STYLE20 TRAVEL IN STYLE

FOODEXPERIENCES
Taste the world in your way
Dining experiences by gourmet travelers. Sharing addresses for
good food and authentic gastronomy.

Thambilithe “Coconut King” of Sri Lanka
W
alk down just about any major thoroughfare in Sri Lanka, and you will
notice that the streets are paved in gold—gold fruit, that is. Ranging from
gold to orange in colour, the Thembili, known colloquially as the “King
of Coconuts,” can be found just about everywhere. You’ll see these hefty
coconuts hanging from trees and stacked high on street stands. Anytime
you want a delicious refreshment, you need only walk up to a vendor and buy one, insert a straw,
and enjoy.
It would really be tragic to miss out on this opportunity while you are visiting Sri Lanka. “King
Coconuts” are quite distinctive both in terms of appearance and flavour, a delicious local treat
you won’t want to miss while you are travelling in Sri Lanka. They still are not widely available
around the globe, so you will want to partake while you have the chance.
Many westerners are really only familiar with one variety of coconut, the brown hairy type
which grows in southern Florida and Hawaii. When these coconuts are young, they are known as
“green coconuts.” These are the coconuts that you typically find for sale in western supermarkets.
The “Coconut King” Thembili has a crisp, delicate flavour. It is hard to describe this flavour if
youhavenevertrieditbefore,butonceyoudo,youwilldiscoverhowdistinctiveitis. Eventhough
coconuts the world over are delicious, there is really nothing to compare with the Coconut King.
Much like the golden orange colour of a citrus fruit,
the colour of the King Coconut is indicative of a higher
concentration of vitamin C than you find in the green
coconuts common in the west. As with other coconut
varieties,Thembilicontainsahealthydoseofelectrolytes.
This makes Thembili coconut water the perfect beverage
to refresh you when you are dehydrated.
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, water from the
King Coconut is mixed with Aralu powder. It is believed
that this brew is particularly potent for reviving and
invigorating the body and mind. The Aralu mixture also
works as a laxative, so if you are looking for a cleanse,
it is a fast-acting purifying treatment (don’t worry—the
coconut on its own will not produce this effect).
Up until a couple of years ago, it was virtually
impossible to buy Thembili coconut water outside of Sri
Lanka and the neighbouring countries. Now there are
a few exported ready-to-drink (RTD) products making
25FOOD EXPERIENCES24 FOOD EXPERIENCES

their way to supermarket shelves around
the world. These drinks make it possible
for people around the globe to enjoy the
refreshing flavour and nutrition of the
King Coconut, even if they cannot travel to
Sri Lanka. It is quite likely that more and
more brands of King Coconut water will
be exported over the coming years as more
and more people discover this revitalizing
beverage.
Will the fruit itself ever be available
overseas? It is certainly possible—more and
morefruitsarebeingexportedgloballythese
days. But the reality is that the Coconut
King is quite heavy, and shipping it would
be extremely expensive. So while RTD
beverages are starting to crop up around
the world, it is unlikely you will be able to
buy an actual Thembili coconut in the west
anytime soon.
SoifyouaregoingtobevisitingSriLanka,
you will definitely want to take advantage
of the chance to taste this local super-fruit.
Thankfully those chances abound on every
street corner. Once you try Thembili, the
King of Coconuts, you will want to savour as
many of these refreshing, hydrating fruits as
you can before you head out of the country!
26 27FOOD EXPERIENCES FOOD EXPERIENCES

THE FOOD
MEMORIES OF
MY CHILDHOOD
W
hen I was in grade school,
I came home one day from
school to the exciting
announcement from my parents that we
would be moving to Japan! My father
had just received a transfer to Kadena Air
Base, and we would be spending the next
three years living in Okinawa.
I don’t need to tell you that those
three years provided me with abundant
transformative experiences that helped to
shape my lifelong identity in unexpected
ways. But perhaps the first exposure to
Japanese culture that I ever received came
in the form of food!
When we disembarked at the airport
in Japan, someone handed me a bag of
arare rice snacks. For those not in the
know,thesearethelittlebite-sizecrackers
flavoured with soy sauce which you can
now find in western supermarkets.
I was instantly in love.
We lived off base for the first month
or so before we could be allocated base
housing. I was maybe six or seven years
old, and was permitted to walk a couple of
blocks to the nearby convenience store by
myself—one of my first childhood tastes
of independence. So naturally I went at
every opportunity.
I can still taste a lot of the foods and
beverages I tried during that time.
Along with arare, I enjoyed senbei rice
crackers—which were also sometimes
served in class by my Japanese culture
teacher, a wonderful woman who had
played her koto for the emperor, and who
played it for us. I enjoyed a number of

sweets as well. Along with the ubiquitous Pocky sticks (now
available in the US), I adored Meiji Hello Panda treats and
Choco Boy chocolate and biscuit “mushrooms.” And don’t get
me started on mochi, a type of glutinous rice cake confection.
In particular, Daifuku, which contains a sweet filling, is utterly
delicious. Mochi come in pastel colours, typically white, pink,
or green.
On that note, another favourite was onigiri. This is a type of
rice ball which contains some kind of special filling—usually
salmon, kelp, smoked tuna, salted roe, or bean paste. In Japan,
you can order onigiri in restaurants, but you can also pick it up
at convenience stores.
It has truly been a joy to me over the past few years seeing
how many of my favourite childhood foods from Japan are now
available in the West. I remember pining after rice crackers
and udon soba for years, and now I can walk into my local
supermarket and pick them up! I was also thrilled at a trade
show a few years ago when I came across a stand for Yakult, a
yogurt-based probiotic beverage that I loved drinking in Japan
as a kid. When I told the representative about my time in
Japan, he gifted me with a full case of Yakult. It was like having
a taste of my childhood!
Perhaps my favourite childhood treat was a brand of
caffeinated chewing gum called Black Black, manufactured by
Japanese snack giant Lotte. The gum is black in colour and
has a sharp medicinal flavour. Since Wired Magazine did a
write-up on it in 2003, it actually has become a hit in the US. I
still have a pack of uneaten Black Black that I purchased in my
childhood, a souvenir of my special time in Japan.
The bottom line here is this: If you have a chance to visit
Japan, you should take every opportunity available to you to
partake of the local food! That includes not just the amazing
sushi, but also the snack foods and treats and beverages you can
pick up in any Japanese convenience store. While you can now
buy some of them in the US, there are a lot of amazing foods
you can still only get in Japan. What I wouldn’t give for some
onigiri right now! But hey, at least I can enjoy rice crackers and
udon. Try Japanese food while you are travelling overseas and
you will discover a culinary love for life!

ASIAI N S I G H T
Dive deep to listen to the sounds, catch the sights
and feel the soul of Asia.
A close-up look into Asia’s local life, sharp insight of customs,
religion, culture and the rhythm of life and spirit

V
ietnam is a country known
for its beautiful textiles.
Walk into a Vietnamese
silk shop or clothing store
and you will find yourself swept up
in a rainbow of vibrant hues: pinks,
blues, greens, golds, oranges, and
other mesmerizing, prismatic hues.
The Vietnam-Asia Silk Culture
Festival is Bringing Traditional
Silk Back to
the Modern Lifestyle
But how are these gorgeous silks
made? What is the history of silk
culture in Vietnam? What modern
techniques have taken the silk culture
of Vietnam in new directions? And
where can you buy the most beautiful
silks to bring home from your trip to
Asia?
One way to discover the answers
is to attend the Vietnam-Asia Silk
Culture Festival, which is the official
event of the Asia Silk Alliance and the
International Silk Union. In 2016, the
event took place for the first time ever
in Hoi An Silk Village in the central
Quang Nam province, and ran two
days from March 28th through March
29th.
Hoi An Silk Village is one of the
seven founding members of the
Asia Silk Alliance. Nine countries
including Vietnam, China, India,
Japan, Myanmar, and Thailand sent
more than 70 delegates to the event to
showcase their work. Next year’s event
is expected to be even larger.
Silk culture is vital to the culture and
economic stability of Vietnam, in
particular the Quang Nam region. As
Dinh Hai, Director of the Quang Nam
Provincial Department of Culture,
Sports, and Tourism explains, “Over
the last 10 years, the silk sector has
lots its market. Quang Nam province
has put in a place a scheme to restore
silk craft villages in Nam Phuc, Duy
Xuyen, and Duy Trinh districts. These
villages have preserved and promoted
the craft of silk weaving.”
34 35ASIA INSIGHTASIA INSIGHT 35TRAVEL IN STYLE

What can you can expect if you attend next
year’s festival? 2017’s silk festival will likely
feature ceremonies, festivities and seminars
similar to those featured during the 2016
event. At last year’s silk festival in Hoi An,
guests attended a seminar called “Silk in
Modern Life,” where they learned more
about the role of silk culture in modern
Vietnam. They also had the opportunity
to check out the work of young rising
stars in the design world as they watched
the fashion show “Night of Oriental Silk
Fashion.”
Attendees at the event were able to discover
the traditional silk weaving techniques of
the Tan Chau silk craft village as well as
traditional Cham techniques for making
patterns. Catu traditional brocade weaving
was showcased as well. Participants also
enjoyed the incense-offering ceremony to
Tam Tang Princess.
Just how popular was 2016’s silk festival?
Reportedly almost 100,000 visitors from
Vietnam and countries all over the world
descended on Hoi An Silk Village to enjoy
all that the festival had to offer.
If you attend the Vietnam-Asia Silk Culture
Festival in 2017, you will be able to learn
everything you could dream about silk-
making as you watch the process firsthand
in the village showroom. You will behold
many of the most spectacular silk fashions
being produced throughout Vietnam today.
This really is an unparalleled opportunity
to immerse yourself in a beautiful and
time-honored world of traditional art and
fashion.
But just as importantly, you will be helping
to revitalize a key traditional industry that
remains essential to Vietnam’s modern society.
Last year’s festival was a marvelous success,
and next year’s is bound to be even more
spectacular. You have a chance to be a part
of that! We would be happy to help you plan
a tour which includes the next Vietnam-Asia
Silk Culture Festival, so please get in touch
with us if you would like to attend!
36 ASIA INSIGHT 37ASIA INSIGHT

W
hen you think about
tulips, what is the first
country that springs
to mind? For a lot of
people, it is the flat tulip fields of the
Netherlands. But Holland is not the
only place to behold the spectacular
colour and beauty of tulips. As it
turns out, one of the most remarkable
tulip displays on the planet is located
in China.
To experience the wonder of
China’s tulip fields, you will want
to book a trip to Chéngdū, the
capital of the Sichuan province in
southwestern China. Chéngdū itself
may not seem like much; the weather
tends to be grey and the traffic can
be a nightmare. But it’s a lively and
unique city with a lot to offer.
Less than half an hour from the
Chéngdū city centre is a region
called Pujiang, known as the “garden
of Chéngdū.” More than half of
Pujiang is covered in forest land,
and the government has declared
it a national-level ecology county.
Pujiang is beautiful at any time of the
TULIP WORLD
IN CHÉNGDŪ
38 39ASIA INSIGHTASIA INSIGHT

year, but the best time to visit is in
March—the time of tulips!
During March, thousands of
tourists from all around the world
flock to Shixianghu (which translates
to “Stone Elephant”) Lake near
Pujiang River. Here you can explore
grassy lawns, wetlands, and some
of the most gorgeous tulip displays
you can imagine. This is the largest
tulip festival in all of Asia, boasting
numerous varieties in a rainbow of
hues.
Winding pathways lead you
through elegantly landscaped tulip
gardens. From a distance, the tulips
look like stripes of white, red, pink,
yellow, orange, and purple gracefully
arcing over the gentle rises and falls
and falls in the land. In the backdrop,
you can behold the spectacular dense
green foliage of the surrounding
forests.
For many people, the tulips are
such an incredible experience that
they easily spend hours walking
around without realizing how much
time has passed. For a different
perspective, you can rent a boat and
go out on the water. The reflections
of the tulips in the lake are dreamlike,
painting the water with vivid colours
like running paint.
Up close, you will see that many of
the fragrant tulips actually showcase
multiple hues. Some for example are
pink and white, while others feature
an elegant spectrum from orange to
red.
The tulips at Shixianghu Lake in
Pujiang bloom between March and
May. Later in the year, the park is
renowned for its lilies and roses.
After you have seen the tulips,
heading back to Chéngdū, you
will find plenty more to do. If you
enjoy art, you can visit the Chéngdū
Museum of Contemporary Art, or the
Sichuan Art Museum. Other popular
sights include the Wénshū Temple,
Wúhóu Temple, and the Qīngyáng
Temple. There are also many
delicious restaurants in Chéngdū. If
you are looking for nightlife, there are
some incredible clubs and bars.
The most popular destination in
town is probably the Giant Panda
Breeding Research Base, which
is currently home to almost 120
giant pandas and 76 red pandas.
Interestingly enough, breeding season
falls between March and May—the
exact same time that the flowers are
in bloom. If you happen to visit later
in the year in the fall or winter, you
will probably get a chance to see some
newborn pandas. Morning is the best
time to hit the Panda Research Base,
as this is when the pandas tend to be
most active.
So if you are a flower enthusiast,
and you want to enjoy an aromatic
stroll that will steal your breath away,
make sure that you travel to Chéngdū
during the Shixianghu Lake Tulip
Festival. Tiptoe through the tulips,
take photos, breathe in the beautiful
redolence of thousands of colourful
blossoms, and create memories to last
a lifetime!

DIVE INTO
LOVE
AND SAY
“I DO”... …
UNDERWATER!
D
oyoudreamofatraditional
Thai wedding … but at
the same time wish you
could do something
totally different and unique? If so, you
may want to think about taking the
plunge—literally—and saying “I do”
underwater!
You will find the district of Trang
along the Andaman Coast of Thailand
near the border with Malaysia. This
area is renowned for its natural beauty,
particularly underwater, where you can
snorkel and dive in some of the most
colourful coral reefs you can imagine.
Inthe1990s,oneadventurouscouple
requested a wedding underwater at
Trang. The governor at the time, Khun
Yongyudh Vichaidit, and the President
of the Trang Chamber of Commerce,
Khun Surin Tohtubtiang, helped to
make their dream a reality. They signed
their wedding certificate underwater
in a legally binding ceremony, and
launched a new trend—underwater
weddings in Trang.
In fact, the underwater wedding
ceremony has become an annual
event, one which has grown to be quite
popular. Each year, couples from all
around the world don diving gear and
get married in Trang. The weddings
are all held jointly on the same day
each year, and in 2000, the event
was recorded in the Guinness World
Records as “The Largest Underwater
Wedding Ceremony!”

If you dream of getting married underwater, you
will need to travel to Trang in February. Coinciding
with Valentine’s Day, the annual event takes place from
February 13th-15th. You do need to be a certified diver to
participate. If you show up a few days early, you can book
the Discover Scuba Dive Course. This will get you all set
up to dive on your wedding day!
When you book an underwater Trang wedding, you
get VIP treatment. Flying from Bangkok to Trang, you
will be met at the airport by traditional Thai dancers who
will shower you with flower petals. You will then dress in
a traditional Thai outfit and walk as part of a procession
with the other couples through town as well-wishers greet
you and cheer.
You get to enjoy a two night accommodation in a
deluxe suite with your loved one. Included in your
expenses (30,000 THB per couple) are meals, costuming,
hairstyling, makeup, travelling expenses in town, diving
equipment, wedding registration, and souvenirs). Travel
packages are of course available for guests as well. For
1,500 THB per adult and 1,000 THB per child, your guests
can enjoy a welcome dinner on the 13th and a celebration
dinner on the 14th.
On the day of your wedding, you will travel to the
island of Ko Kradan on a speedboat as part of another
procession, at which point the traditional ceremony will
commence. This involves a blessing by elders of the town
and a traditional rod nam sang ceremony. During the
ceremony, water is poured over your hands and those of
your sweetheart from a conch shell. This
is followed by a dive underwater where
you will sign a waterproof marriage
certificate in front of district office
witnesses. If you cannot dive, you do
also have the option of getting married
on the beach.
Anyone can participate in a marriage
ceremony underwater in Trang, no
matter what your religion, sexuality
or race is. While gay marriage is
not recognized legally in Thailand,
both straight and gay marriages are
performed at Trang.
So if you are dreaming of a wedding
under the waves and a truly unique
ceremony unlike any you have ever
attended, consider booking a February
wedding in Trang! If you need help
setting up your reservation, get in touch
with us at +1 (800) 858-4114. We would
love to help you set up your special day!
45ASIA INSIGHT44 ASIA INSIGHT

47ASIA INSIGHT
WOMAN& T R A V E L
Travel tips & Ideas exclusively for travelling women around the world

48 49WOMEN & TRAVEL WOMEN & TRAVEL
can be intoxicating, the fast pace of
Tokyo’s ever-changing landscape can
be overwhelming. Where should you
shop if you want to pick up Japan’s
chicest fashions?
• Shibuya: This is the district for
youth fashion near Shibuya Station.
If you are going to stop in at just one
shopping district in Tokyo, this should
be it. Here you will find iconic shops
like Shibuya 109 which set trends
which catch not just in Japan, but
around the world. While stores target
teens and 20-somethings, if you are
young at heart, you will find a lot of
amazing clothes here!
• Harajuku: This is another district
which is great for shopping for
youth and counterculture fashions,
specifically along the avenue Takeshita
Dori. Here you will encounter the
famous “Harajuku girls and boys”
with their bright, fanciful clothing and
accessories. If you are into alternative
fashions, Takeshita Dori is a must-visit
destination before you leave Tokyo!
Running parallel to it is Omotesando,
sometimes called the “Champs-Élysées
of Tokyo.” Along this street, you will
find high class cafes and boutiques.
This is a great place to shop for designer
brand fashion.
• Ginza: This is the first district that
many people will name when thinking
of Tokyo fashion. It is by far the most
W
hen you think of high
fashion, where do your
thoughts turn? Paris?
Venice? While these
European cities may be the first to enter
many peoples’ minds, you may not
realize that Asia has some incredible
fashion hubs as well. If you are going
to be visiting Tokyo, you would be
remiss to skip out on one of the hottest
shopping opportunities on the planet.
Tokyo is a vibrant, trendy city where
districts seem to rise and fall practically
overnight. While the bright lights
Asia’s
Fashion Hub

50 WOMEN & TRAVEL
affluent shopping district in the city—pretty much
the equivalent of New York City’s Fifth Avenue. You
will find designer stores here like Louis Vuitton and
Christian Dior, but also many other more affordable
shops catering to a lower budget. Incidentally, this
is also a great place to shop for traditional Japanese
crafts.
• Shinjuku: If you want bright lights, you’ll
find them here—literally. The lights and noise in
this district can really flood the senses, and the
crowds can be crazy. But there are some amazing
department stores here selling fashion and more, not
to mention two massive underground malls.
• Marunouchi: Like Shinjuku, Marunouchi is
an upscale shopping district located next to a train
station, in this case Tokyo Station. The district was
recently renovated, and is home to numerous shops,
restaurants, and cafes.
• Odaiba: This is a man-made island located in
the middle of Tokyo Bay. Starting in the 1990s, this
district bloomed into one of the most well-known
destinations for tourists in the entire city. You can
shop here for fashion, electronics, and more. You
also can book a stay at an Odaiba hotel.
• Roppongi: For even more upscale shopping,
head over to the Roppongi district. This newly
renovated district is home to hundreds of shops and
restaurants. Along with high fashion, you will find
plenty of household goods in Roppongi department
stores.
Be sure to hit at least several of these famous
shopping districts in Tokyo to shop for designer
fashion and update your wardrobe with hot
alternative urban trends. But don’t forget that Tokyo
is also home to numerous little hole-in-the-wall
boutiques, flea markets, and 100-yen stores which are
also worth dropping by. Pop in at these shops and
markets and you can purchase incredible accessories
to jazz up your style even more!
51WOMEN & TRAVEL

GREETINGS52
A: Suite 226, 33B Pham Ngu Lao, Hanoi, Vietnam
T: (844) 39 33 62 60
F: (844) 39 33 62 61
E: inquiries@exoticvoyages.com
W: www.exoticvoyages.com

Experience Elephants and Luxury in Thailand

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (14)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (6)

Similar to Experience Elephants and Luxury in Thailand

Similar to Experience Elephants and Luxury in Thailand (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (19)

Experience Elephants and Luxury in Thailand