Snowflake's Travel Blog

Biking in China Town, A Great Idea to Do Something when Many Places are Less Crowded in Bangkok! - Bangkok, Thailand

 This place was Great visited Dec 23, 2007

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! What have you planed for this joyful season? Of course many will spend their time with families, parents and kids. Many probably have planned to travel with friends. Well, if you love to do something active during this festive season, it may be a good idea to go out and do something in the time less crowded the roads are in cities, like Bangkok! Especially expats living in Bangkok, they & their family may be staying in town for the holidays, but wonder what to do in between Christmas turkey and New Year champagne? Go for a 3-hours biking trip through China town and Thonburi and discover the real Bangkok! Start from the Grand China Princess Hotel, explore the bustling everyday life of Chinatown. Through narrow alleyways and winding pathways best accessed through two-wheel transport, we pass markets, local Buddhist temples, and a vast array of unique “street life”. We cross the Chao Phraya River by ferry and continue the tour in Thonburi to see more of local temples, museums and slower-paced lifestyle of urban Thais on the other riverside. You will arrive back to the starting point in China Town after going through the flower market. An active and different experience for the whole family! The holidays are coming very close and many hotels in Thailand are fully booked. If you have no plan to do yet, we Exotissimo Travel (Bangkok office) have this alternative to offer, to bicycle in Bangkok. You need only yourself to bring with the tour! Bike is included with guide, water, snacks & insurance. Don’t hesitate to contact bkk@exotissimo.com for further information or to book this tour. Another offer by Exotissimo Travel Thailand is an enormous range of guided tour packages in Bangkok, that include temple tours, city tours, heritage houses, canal cruises, rice barge cruises, walking tours, cooking courses, shopping tours, museum tours, meditation classes and even bicycle tours. Visit http://www.exotissimo.com/index.php?id=1371 and http://www.exotissimo.com/travel-asia/thailand/th-tours/bangkok/discover-bkk-tours.html

posted Dec 24, 2007 | Comments (0)

Wet and wild family adventure in Dalat, Vietnam - Da Lat, Vietnam

 This place was Great visited Dec 10, 2007

I had been part of a volunteer vacation in the northern part of Thailand, with western teachers and students, to live with local hill tribe villagers. The trip, even though was long time ago, is still fresh in my memory. I can still picture in my mind when local kids running, seemingly wanting to know who we were. Many kids got a curiosity on their faces and were too shy to be close to us. But some of them smiled and even came close to our group, and only sat and looked at us. We knew that we were and always are the stranger to them. But the thing is that such a trip was a step of promising that western children who have grew up with Mc Donald and Burgers and comfortable living, would have a chance to meet, get to know and learn how these kids and their parents live their lives at such a remote land with less technology and materialism. Bring your kids and teenagers to immerse themselves in another culture of their unknown destinations, to learn and in the same time to open their vision to the world outside. Bring them to know and meet lovely local kids who may have the same age of your daughters or sons, and who either run to greet you or simply hide their faces, with a shy smile, behind those rustic woven bamboo- strips house walls. And these scenes can be usually found in the remote destinations in Southeast Asian countries. There are choices of off the beaten track destinations that we Exotissimo have visited and created tour routings and programs for you, to bring your kids traveling with you with promising safety. Usually, family trips have something to do with multi- activities such as soft trekking, kayaking, elephant riding (kids really love this activity!), beach relaxing or island hopping, canal boating, city sightseeing and more. In the travel destination in Asia like Vietnam, for example, there are places perfect for family vacation. One of them is Dalat in the central part of Vietnam. Activities you and your family can do in Dalat is such as trekking, canyoning and kayaking. With the excellent trekking, canyoning and kayaking opportunities that abound in the area, the former colonial French hill station of Dalat in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam is the ideal location for an outdoor family adventure holiday, like 4WD, elephant safaris, mountain biking, or cultural exploration. Originally the playground of the French who built villas in the clear mountain air to escape the heat and humidity of the coast and of Saigon, Dalat’s lush landscape, temperate climate and stunning waterfalls have made the town a popular holiday destination since the turn of the last century. Today, visitors still flock to experience the natural beauty of Dalat, and Exotissimo’s family water adventure tour is a great way for kids and teenagers to make a splash and have a great time. On the first day, explore the many inlets and secrets spots of Ho Tuyen Lam, one of the most beautiful lakes on the Langbian Plateau, aboard sturdy, purpose-built kayaks and enjoy a picnic-style lunch of locally produced delicacies in the shade of the lake’s jungle canopy. The wet and wild adventures continue on day two with an exhilarating introduction to abseiling (rappelling) in one of Dalat’s spectacular canyons. Once you’ve mastered the basics of knot tying, harness wearing, hardware, and proper rappelling technique with our trained guides at the practice slope, you can take the plunge into spectacular waterfalls and streams and enjoy the thrill of the canyon’s natural water slides. No previous experience is necessary for this action-packed trip of hiking, rappelling, swimming, and sliding down the falls; all you and your family need bring is a love of water and a sense of adventure! Family time! See Family Adventure Holiday in Dalat, http://www.exotissimo.com/index.php?id=dalat_family_tour/ by Exotissimo Travel, a leading tour operator in Vietnam, or write to us to request a tailor- made tour program that suits you, at go.vietnam@exotissimo.com

posted Sep 5, 2007 | Comments (0)

Seriously stylish cruising in Southeast Asia - Emeraude Cruise Experience, Ha, Vietnam

 This place was Amazing visited Jun 14, 2007

In the past when flying had been believed totally impossible and the aviation engine technology had not been invented and progressed much, people had used sea journey for overseas transport, using ships and cruises to travel for trade exchange or even to find new lands. With fantastic luxury and top class entertainment onboard, today’s cruises have seen the voyage itself being the attraction and they let passengers to enjoy their laid-back time onboard, while plying the water. Today, gone are the days of catering for the elite, this industry is geared up for the masses and is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry. We, Exotissimo Travel, the inbound tour operator and travel agent in Indochina and Southeast Asia region has also provided cruise travel programs to the waters in the region, apart from luxury tours and tailor- made travel services to each destination in Indochina and Southeast Asia. Our cruises include cruises along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Mekong River, Chindwin River, Irrawaddy River, Ayeyarwady River, or the Delta region in Myanmar, and Halong Bay in Hanoi. All cruises filled with comfortable, luxury accommodation and fine dining under sunsets and breathtaking river views and local people living on the river banks in Indochina and Southeast Asia region, like Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The flowing waters of Southeast Asia form some of its most spectacular geographical features. Mighty rivers flow from the highlands in the heart of the region and run outward in all directions to meet breathtaking bays. Experience these natural wonders in styles aboard luxurious vessels that are almost as spectacular as the waters they cruise! Thailand’s Chao Phraya is often dubbed ‘The River of Kings’ and Manohra’s lavishly converted rice barges offer a truly regal river experience. The 20-metre-long barges feature warm teak, Padua and mahogany woods throughout, custom designed furniture and sophisticated Southeast Asian art, and can be hired by couples or groups for private charter. In the northeast of Vietnam, just a three-hour drive from Hanoi, is the stunning World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, a dense cluster of almost 2,000 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation rising spectacularly from the ocean. Cruise the Halong Bay in the style of yesteryear aboard the Emeraude, a luxuriously appointed replica colonial paddle steamer with a romantic history to match the polished wood and brass fittings! Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River is the life-line of the nation and flows through the centre of the country for almost 2000 km. Cruise its mighty waters in comfort aboard the RV Pandaw 1947, an original Scottish-built colonial steamer, commissioned at the end of the Second World War. With sixteen beautifully appointed cabins, elegant dining hall, saloon and sun deck, Ayravata Cruises offer cultural and exploration cruises in comfort. Or enjoy the timeless landscapes of Southern Laos from your luxurious vantage point on “the river-borne boutique hotel’ of Vat Phou. The beautiful 34-metre steel hulled craft features a charmingly appointed interior and gives leisurely cruises along the mighty Mekong. On a different stretch of the Mekong in nearby Cambodia, Mekong River Cruises offer a unique experience of a fascinating country in serious style! So why not embark on the trip of a lifetime with our Emeraude Experience Cruise Feel free to contact Exotissimo staff at the following emails Thailand: go.thailand@exotissimo.com Vietnam: go.vietnam@exotissimo.com Myanmar: go.myanmar@exotissimo.com Laos: go.laos@exotissimo.com Cambodia: go.cambodia@exotissimo.com and request for price quotation, cruise program details and itinerary and of course, for making a reservation for a cruise tour! Visit this link for further detail of Emeraude Cruise in Vietnam. http://www.exotissimo.com/luxury_travel/Luxury_Tours/Vietnam/Emeraude_Experience.html

posted Jun 14, 2007 | Comments (0)

Raise a Glass to Aythaya Wine - Salay and Mount Popa, Burma

 This place was Amazing visited Jul 10, 2007

The world of wine has a rich history. It is a cultural fingerprint in many countries, that had influenced them both culturally and agriculturally. In most of the books telling the stories of wine, wine experts say that to taste wine is to taste the grape, soil of the land it has been grown and produced, season rain. Each wine has different level of dryness, softness, sweetness, influenced by the soi in the season grapes are grown. Those words are true, especially for wine experts or even those who so much like drinking wine. I like wine, both drinking wine and reading stories about wine. There are many countries in this world producing wine, including boutique wine, for example Australia, France, Italy, Chili, Africa, or even in Southeast Asia like Thailand, fruit wine of Vietnam or even rice wine of Laos, known as spirit. But when people think of Myanmar, wine is probably the last thing that springs to mind, but Bert Morsbach, CEO of Myanmar’s premiere vineyard, is one of many ‘new-latitude’ vintners who hope to change that. Back in 1997, Morsbach founded his vineyard, Aythaya Wine, among Buddhist monasteries on the slopes of Aythaya’s Taunggyi Mountains, and aimed to create a wine that could compete with the top vintners from the world’s classic wine-producing countries. Producing wine in a tropical climate is no mean feat, and Morsbach faced many challenges and obstacles. “Had I not been convinced that we could make a quality wine up in our mountains, I would not have started the project,” he admits. And after two failed crop seasons, Aythaya Wine was finally able to present its first wine, the ‘Aythaya Red’, at Yangon’s Le Planteur Restaurant in December 2004. Aythaya wines are part of the “new latitude wines,” which are created in places far from the traditional centers of Europe, California, Australia and South America. In terms of wine-making, countries like Brazil, India and Thailand hope to someday stand in pride next to France, Australia and Chile and Morsbach is one hopeful contender in the movement. The German-born vintner plans to eventually retire in Myanmar, and sees the Aythaya Vineyard as a labor of love. As part of developing the surrounding area, the vineyard has renovated a local Buddhist orphanage, earning it the name the “orphanage vineyard.” They are also currently in the process of expanding their tourist facilities, which already include five guest rooms, a restaurant and swimming pool. Why not add a visit to the Aythaya Vineyard to a tour of Myanmar? We know that wine enthusiast like you would never missed to raise a glass of wine or more to taste the grapes and soil of Myanmar. Exotissimo Myanmar makes stops at the Aythaya Vineyard on the way to Inle Lake, where you can indulge in some wine tasting and have lunch in an intimate setting. Interested in a glass of Burmese wine? Have a look at our eight- day Essential Myanmar Tour. Find the tour itinerary from this link: http://www.exotissimo.com/index.php?id=essential_myanmar

posted May 22, 2007 | Comments (0)

Order of the Day: Dining with a Conscience in Southeast Asia - hanoi, ho chi minh, hoian, hue, Vietnam

 This place was Amazing visited Mar 14, 2007

At a first glance you may think the topic "Dining with a Conscience" here is all about health foods and how they are environmentally or eco-responsible. Many restaurants today prepare and serve you meals with a more awareness in improving the world or societies' health and environment. "Enjoy your meal, but think about what you're doing to your body and the earth" is the concept of this kind of restaurants. In this article, the story is about how some of these restaurants in Southeast Asia are managed with socially- responsible manner. Guess what they have done. Exotissimo Travel is proud to present, so next time if you have chance to travel to Vietnam, Siem Reap or Thailand, you may find some time to visit them. In a region famous for its delectable cuisine, several Southeast Asian restaurants are now also dishing up opportunities for the local community with their socially responsible policies and vocational training programs. In Siem Reap, Le Jardin des Delices is the training restaurant of the famous Paul Dubrule Hospitality & Tourism School and was established to provide young, underprivileged Cambodians with an opportunity to train in the skills of the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry. Delicious Khmer and European fusion cuisine is served on a terrace fronting a lush exotic garden. But the tastiest aspect of all is that while you enjoy the savoir faire of the students, you are also contributing to the sustainability of a vital educational project. In just five years, the Hanoi based KOTO (Know One, Teach One) has grown from a small sandwich shop to a 120-seat restaurant and an internationally accredited hospitality program that is breaking the cycle of poverty amongst street and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. The young people in the KOTO program study hospitality skills and English, while gaining practical skills working at the KOTO Restaurant. Indeed, KOTO boasts a 100 percent success rate in placing its graduates in their first job in the hospitality industry. In Thailand, the popular restaurant chain Cabbages and Condoms was founded by the kingdom’s leading philanthropist and former Minister of Health, Mechai Viravaidya, in an effort to make condoms as common - and as accepted - as cabbages. The food is consistently delicious (and ‘guaranteed not to cause pregnancy!’) and all proceeds from the restaurants are used to fund the social programs of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), a non-profit organization founded in 1974 by Meechai himself. Choosing to eat at socially responsible restaurants such as these can make a big difference to the most vulnerable sectors of the local community. In a region that traditionally suffers from child prostitution and exploitative labor, a socially responsible service industry is now becoming the order of the day. On your next trip to Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand, why not sample the delicious fare of these restaurants and support their valuable work? Join the ten-day Best of Vietnam tour with Exotissimo Vietnam and visit KOTO Restaurant in Hanoi and experience Vietnamese hospitality with Exotissimo Travel Find the tour itinerary of Best of Vietnam from this link: http://www.exotissimo.com/index.php?id=best_of_vietnam Contact for making a tour inquiry at go.vietnam@exotissimo.com

posted May 15, 2007 | Comments (0)