TravelStream™ news feed for member siripen on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/siripen en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:02:21 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1198489560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1198489560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1198489560/tpod.html Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:02:21 -0500 Thailand that matters..The land of cultural and natural treasuress, and its metropolitan infrastructures facilitate well its visitors. It is the destination country offering many kinds of travels.

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Bangkok, Thailand

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 Bangkok guided tour packages 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.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/laos/1195027620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/laos/1195027620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/laos/1195027620/tpod.html Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:18:03 -0500 As I can see, there is something both travelers and local people here have in common: their lives move at a languid pace..

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Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep

It was quite hard for me to start the story of Laos trip, just a few days ago passed. Why? It was because in one side, there were pictures in Laos I had got used to which simply made me feel quite familiar with them. And that meant that I didn't know how to explain for what I already got used to it.

Nevertheless, a man must have some things among many that appeal or at least remind him of something in the past. And this was like what I had experienced in Laos. The small towns nestled in the mountains of Laos, apart from Vientiane the capital, including Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, also have some things that reminded me of my childhood. This was the first time for me in Laos, with another two friends of mine. We settled all plans for the trip, except the accommodations in Laos which supposed to be very cheap choice and walked in only. So this was something exciting, though, for the women like us. Three of us travelled by a night bus (relieved to find it was the comfortable one) from Bangkok to Nongkhai in North-eastern Thailand. The night seemed to last quite long than it should have been. But yes, it was a long way too. At that night on the bus, I just realized that I get older with the physical body not as strong as I had been in the past 3 years.

In the morning of the next day, we were in Nongkhai. Oh my goodness, there were so many drivers approaching to us and other passengers to offer their service. In Thailand, you will often see this kind of situation, so don't be panic. Relax, and just walk to your destination, to the bus station to sit, to wash your face, to find something to eat or refresh yourself, or if you have to leave that place to somewhere, just respond to one of those drivers to negotiate. But bear in mind that the price could be higher than the locals experience it. So if you know how to bargain with him or with other driver until you feel satisfied with that price, this situation would not be too much for you.

After we finished everything about visa upon arrival and all documenting required before entering Laos, we waited until a mini bus arrived to take passengers across the Friendship Bridge (Saphan Mitraphap). The Mekong River is so large but the day we went there got rain so the water was quite dirty with mud. There were not only tourists like us on the mini bus but also local Thai and Laotian people who traveled from Thailand to Laos and vice versa, to do some trades. The bus took around 20 minutes from the Thai border to reach the "Morning Market" in Vientiane. The Morning Market is the place where local people usually come to buy things. You could also see that there were many vendors around there. It is quite a place to stop to buy some things before going into the center of Vientiane. So we stopped here to have "Pho" or Vietnamese noodle, but in Laos style. Pho here looks similar to Thai noodle but it is taken with shrimp paste. It was nice for us to have some hot soup that morning.

After we were full, we decided to head to the center, Nam Phu (Fountain), about which we heard since we were in Thailand, in that there were many guesthouses and hotels ranging from luxury to budget kinds (I mean the real budget guesthouses!). We went around with a map, a Laos guidebook and papers of information we got from the internet, to find a very cheap guesthouse to stay for a night in Vientiane. Finally we got one, Sabaidee Guesthouse around Nam Phu Fountain, on Setthathilath Road, near Joma Bakery and Coffee Shop (and after I looked at the map posted at the guesthouse, I just got to know that Exotissimo Travel, Vientiane office was just around there!). It was really cheap one. We checked in for a triple bed rooms, with the cost per person per night of only (around- couldn't remember the exact price) 100 Baht (around 7-8 USD). This rate was for the room with sharing bathroom but it was ok for us (at least for the first day).

My friend took some sleeps but for me, I went out to find a place for a body massage. I could ask from local people there, because the communication was not a problem for us (we are Thai). After a 5 minute walk near the guesthouse, I could find one. The massage cost for 1 hour is around 35,000 kips or around 3.5 USD (120 Baht), which was not too costly. Laos body massage was a little bit softer than Thai traditional massage, but it could make me feel relaxed after the bus traveling. In the late afternoon, we three started a sightseeing tour around Vientiane. We went to see the highlight of this capital city of Laos, the Patuxai or the Victory Monument of Laos. It was very outstanding once we turned on the road leading to it. It was there, in front of us, looked like the Parisian L'Arc de Triomphe in France. We just took photos of it but there was no time to get up at the top of it. Local people in the road traffic looked at us when we did different postures with their Patuxai. It was fun! After that, we spent some time at the Phra That Luang which is the Great Sacred Stupa" of Vientiane, and took a tuk tuk to the Mekong river bank where we strolled along the footpath, seeing street vendors and river. It was a not a good time that day because it got rain. What I got impressed about Vientiane was the dinner, having Laos' specialties with local wine and listening to songs during our "nightlife" in Vientiane. Moreover, the Patuxai was beautiful for me, very prominently standing out, symbolically the center of all Laotian people.

The day and night at Vientiane was left behind after we took a mini bus in order to continue to Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng is a very small town about mid way between Luang Probang and Vientiane, where backpacker travelers usually make a stop before going up hill to Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng for me was a kind of a relaxing destination, probably because we rented a motorcycle to travel around the town, and our accommodation was quite better (much better) than that in Vientiane. The place we stayed at was on the bank of Song River, with the scene of cliff, mountains and hanging bridge. We saw many travelers canoeing / kayaking along the river, even though it was a bit raining.

The highlight of us was Luang Prabang (at least in our imagination). The road was always up hill and long, long road to go. We took around 5 hours to reach there. It was better that the mini bus was quite comfortable and cool, breeze always freshened us. The driver did not turn on the air condition because, as he said, it was cool outside. The bus stopped a few time, to take a break and to shot some nice scenes, before we finally arrived the destination. We were off at the Post Office, to take a local tuk tuk to town. Luang Prabang was not like that I had imagined. I had imagined that it was really traditional, but actually it was like Chiang Mai dated back to the old days when I was young. There were cars, motorcycles and bicycles on the roads, with old colonial buildings. What remain traditional were temples, the way people dress, people getting up early to offer foods to yellow- robed monks who walk in row (this tradition is very beautiful which we will not see anymore in Thailand), and traditional discotheque, where local Laos people do clubbing and parties, with remaining traditional dance and songs.

For 3 days we spent in Luang Prabang, we had an opportunity to visit Pak Ou Cave. The locals call this place "Ting Cave" (or Tham Ting). Pak Ou Cave is located about 25 km from Luang Prabang. We hired a local tuk tuk, passing cloth weaving villages, where we did some shopping for woven clothes, before reaching the Mekong River bank where we boarded a boat to cross the river to the Caves. The caves entrance is clearly visible from the river. The place is filled with hundreds of discarded statues of Buddha laid out over the floors and wall shelves. It was a very astonishing picture for me to see a large number of statues like this and even was a very much spectacular view when I saw them from the boat as I approached the caves. The statues are tucked into the imposing limestone cliff.

Another impressive and pleasant activity we did in Luang Prabang was cycling around the town to visit temples (we also visited the famous Wat Xieng Thong). There are many temples in Luang Prabang (like Thailand' northern region where you will see if you visit northern Thailand, there are many temples or wats on almost every streets.) There was not much traffic along the streets in Luang Prabang center (the center is like the travelers' resort, where travelers and locals spend their life on different prospects: ones live there, selling foods and souvenirs, renting guesthouses, yet remaining their tradition; another ones make their holiday, taking a rest and learning locals, then getting back with a new mind and perception. This is what traveling plays a role. As I can see, there is something both travelers and local people here have in common: their lives move at a languid pace..

Our traveling was a kind of budget and therefore it was quite tough, yet still memorable. If you want to travel to Laos with a more comfortable way, we can contact some reliable local tour operators or travel agents. One among them is Exotissimo Travel, with the local office in both Vientinae and Luang Prabang. They professionally provide travel services, as much as you can expect to get. They are another quality tour operator providing tailored made travel services including other services clients may need, to Indochina and Southeast Asia regions, especially in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. They also operate soft adventure tours, luxury tours and eco tours in these countries.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/family_travel/1188971820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/family_travel/1188971820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/family_travel/1188971820/tpod.html Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:59:05 -0400 Traveling with kids and within family is really a great way to discover not only the destinations you visit but also a tie of family attachment and a loveliness of your kids.

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Dalat, Vietnam

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, by Exotissimo Travel, a leading tour operator in Vietnam.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1186563120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1186563120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1186563120/tpod.html Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:03:13 -0400 Thailand that matters..The land of cultural and natural treasuress, and its metropolitan infrastructures facilitate well its visitors. It is the destination country offering many kinds of travels.

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Pranburi, Hua Hin, Thailand

The rainy season, the low visited period could be another great alternative to travel with less crowded travelers. You just need to know some good and reliable travel agents or tour operators in Thailand and simply give sometimes discussing with staff there. And you will know that Thailand has more than tours in Bangkok or Chiang Mai,
Koh Samui Beaches or the Andaman Sea like Phuket or
Krabi Beaches. During a few years ago, there has been a town rising in its appearance, and apparently becoming the talk of the town. This strikingly in trend town is named "Pranburi", (read fact about Pranburi in Wiki) a small lovely town just 30 kilometers south of its older sister, Hua Hin, in Prachuapkirikhan Province, in the Gulf of Thailand or the eastern coast. There are questions to this little town like "what to see in Pranburi?", "Is it true that Pranburi is a like a playground of many architects of a new generation?", and "What I will get in Pranburi more than a sea port?"
All the questions come to an answer, yes, you will explore and experience some things in this in trend town: have a lovely boutique stay at art and chic, and boutique hotels and resorts; relax on the beach or just swift to join homestay travel to learn fishermen life; take a boat trip from villages to the Pak Nampran River and discover marine life in the mangrove ecosystem; visit pineapple plantations that produce the famous taste; or even go with local fishermen by local fishing boat to the sea at and stay overnight on the boat, waiting the time to catch squids and fishes.
These all must be the great experience you will be promised to get in a trip to Pranburi. It would be meaningful to let a little town shows what it has to offer new trend travelers and those who seek for some things minimal but great in meaning and value. It is just you to be among the first group of travelers to explore and get to know it.
In October 2007, Pranburi will be added a sweating, exciting and active event as its first time. If you have found the announcements of the Pranburi International Triathlon anywhere in any channels such as in the Nation (Bangkok Independent Newspaper), that is the event I referred to above. The Pranburi International Triathlon is an initiative driven by the wellness orientated Six Senses Resorts & Spas and the future seeing Tour Operator Exotissimo Travel.
The race will be professionally managed by international race organizers and will take place on the beaches in front of the five-star Evason resort and backroads of Pranburi, a Thai fishing village on the east coast of Thailand, just south of Hua Hin.
The inaugural race will take place on Saturday 20th October 2007 and is planned to become an annual event and an essential fixture in the Asian triathlon calendar.
International professional athletes will compete with local triathletes in the Olympic distance elite race, while a sprint distance short course will be set to attract corporate racers and fun runners. You can find more details about the Pranburi triathlon race information in the website as well.
The host of this sporting event has received the permission from the Royal Palace, and is now happy to announce that the proceeds of this event will be donated to the Royal Project Foundation of His Majesty King Bhumibol. And it is a great honor for the host that H.S.H Prince Bhisadej Rajani has confirmed his presence at the event on 20th October.
This triathlon event will be another step of the Pranburi Town, in its gradually rising to become a town of an alternative to
Hua Hin Beach and other neighboring districts. This triathlon event can be a gateway to your first time getting to know this lovely town. Let's join this active
international triathlon in Pranburi.
Please feel free to explore the site www.pranburitriathlon.com to have some idea about the event and don't hesitate to process your registration online at www.pranburitriathlon.com/registration.html or write to us for more information if you need, at info@pranburitriathlon.com
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1183020060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1183020060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1183020060/tpod.html Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:46:27 -0400 Explore the Romantic, Nostalgic Vietnam

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Hanoi, Vietnam

Last month, I took a personal trip to Hanoi in Vietnam with my parents. Before making the trip, I had searched for hotels in Hanoi with great location. I was looking for a luxury accommodation, with best service, since I wanted my parents to have a comfortable stay during their trip in Vietnam. Finally I made a decision to book rooms at Exotissimo Travel, and also bought tours in Vietnam from them. Exotissimo is a travel agent and tour operator widely known in Indochina and Southeast Asian region. I knew this company from the recommendation of my friend who used to buy a travel service and book a hotel with them. So, we made a hotel reservation with them. We made a request for 4 nights accommodation at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi: 1 room for my parents and 1 for myself.

We were quite satisfied with the location of hotel since it is located in the heart of Hanoi, only 30 minutes drive from Noi Bai International Airport, within walking distance of administrative and handicraft shopping district, Hanoi Opera House and the famous Hoan Kiem Lake which we would like to see once.

Upon arrival at the Sofitel Metropole by the hotel transfer service, we enjoyed the hotel's French colonial style, dated back to 1901. As we all like history, we kind of appreciated the hotel's history. A staff at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi told us that the hotel boasted a rich history and a century- long tradition of hospitality for ambassadors, statemen and writers in the past.
The Sofitel Metropole has been a landmark of Hanoi for over a century and following extensive renovations in the early 1990s. There are 232 rooms and suites both in the original Metropole wing and the new Opera wing. These provide guests with extensive international services and facilities befitting Vietnam's first officially accredited five-star hotel.

We had a quick and efficient check in at the hotel. A staff member accompanied us to our lovely classic rooms.The rooms weren't huge but nicely laid out, with lovely quality wooden furniture and cosy atmosphere.

Overall we loved them. All made us easily impressed, from the hotel's high quality, comfort, amenities, good service and good food. The staff were very helpful.

Afer check in, we went out to take a city sightseeing trip in Hanoi. We took a cyclo tour around Hanoi. It was great! Our trip here, in Hanoi the capital city of Vietnam, was very impressive. We got to know that Hanoi was the city of lakes, blessed by its tranquility and old traces steeped in legends and tradition.

In the evening, we decided to try a dining at the hotel, becasue we wanted to experience a Vietnamese fine dining. We made an order for our dinner at the elegant Spices Garden Restaurant, that offers superb Asian cuisine with a local flavour. After dinner, my parents told me that they were quite tired and wanted to get back to the room for a rest. I myself still wanted to chill out but didn't want to go out, so I went to Le Club Bar at the Sofitel Metropole, which was the perfect venue for drinks, before ending up that night with the Met Pub, another unrivalled as Hanoi's most popular bar with live jazz, great food and a well-stocked bar.

Ah, it was time to bed!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/myanmar_travel/1179912960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/myanmar_travel/1179912960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/myanmar_travel/1179912960/tpod.html Wed, 23 May 2007 05:38:53 -0400 Places await to be explored in Myanmar. How mystic it was in the old days, remains unchanged and always challenges travelers to discover. This is Burma, the ancient land...

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Inle Lake, Bagan, Yangon, Mandalay, Myanmar

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 soil 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 Asian countries like Thailand, fruit wine of Vietnam or even rice wine of Laos, known as spirit. Nowadays, you can find wine is everywhere: in
beach hotels and resorts restaurants, some luxurious tented camps, in city cafes, galas, parties, honeymoon trip, on flights, balloon flight and
cruise trips like the Road to Mandalay, Delta Queen Cruise, Ayravata Cruise , Chindwin Cruise and Manohra Song Cruise, or in events and festivals celebrations. Wine has still played its role as a symbol of celebration. & nbsp;

Coming back to countries producing wine, 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&rsquo ; 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.
Contact for making an inquiry for this tour at go.myanmar@exotissimo.com
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1179289200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1179289200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1179289200/tpod.html Wed, 16 May 2007 00:21:48 -0400 Explore the Romantic, Nostalgic Vietnam

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Hanoi, Vietnam

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
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1172203200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1172203200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/vietnam_2007/1172203200/tpod.html Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:09:15 -0500 Explore the Romantic, Nostalgic Vietnam

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Hoi An and Hue, Vietnam

"Last year (2006), I was called by a friend inviting me to Hanoi. I accepted her immediately because of many reasons. Well, the three reasons to easily accept to travel to Hanoi were: cheap accommodation we could seek for, and low cost airline like Air Asia, the two that made our trip quite a budget one! All of these, the important reason was all about Vietnam as one among the destination I want to experience. And I would say that the trip was satisfying.

This year, last month, I had a break from my work and I thought that was another time to travel to Vietnam. Fortunately, we had got a bonus from the work, which of course, convince us to have Vietnam trip in a more comfortable way. We searched for a travel company which could give us a tailor- made package. We found an interesting one. The name was Exotissimo Travel. Ah, I saw the office once during my trip in Hanoi. And then, I came up to know that Exotissimo also has an office in Bangkok. That was great. So my friend and I went to Exotissimo Bangkok office and asked them to arrange a trip in Vietnam for us. Finally, we got one: Hoi An & the Last Imperial Citadel. It was a 5 days- 4 nights trip to Hoi An and Hue. The trip was very interesting and appealing, catching my interest and reminding me the words about Hue that it was "a masterpiece of urban poetry", proclaimed by the UNESCO........"

After a visit in 1981, the then Director General of UNESCO proclaimed Hue to be "a masterpiece of urban poetry". Famous for school girls in their white Áo Dài - Vietnamese national dress, and Nón Bài Tho - a conical straw hat hiding a secret poem, to the Vietnamese, Hue has ever been synonymous with romance and all that's beautiful.
Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802, Hué was not only the political but also the cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. Today the majestic Perfume River meanders past the remains of the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Inner City, as well as the tombs of several former emperors.

The stunning Tu Duc Mausoleum with its triple arched gateways, lotus filled ponds and pavilions, reflects perhaps the somewhat whimsical character of its host. Emperor Tu Duc was by all accounts a self-absorbed and romantic ruler, preferring to hide away amongst the tranquil gardens and pine trees of the Imperial grounds.

He also apparently partook of a delicately fragrant tea made from the dew of lotus blossoms and penned no less than four thousand poems, perhaps to amuse his one hundred wives and harem of concubines.

Harems and wives notwithstanding, Tu Duc's tomb is just one impressive relic of Hué's Imperial past to be found along the Perfume River.

Discover the ancient tombs, pagodas and forbidden citadels of Hué and the quaint, old town of Hoi An in this five day

Hoi An & the Last Imperial Citadel trip was very appreciating and so the Exotissimo service was. This is another recommended trip you should never miss. Find some free time and travel with Exotissimo. Memorable...

You can see the itinerary from this link
Hoi An & The Last Imperial Citadel - 5 Days / 4 Nights

Contact: go.vietnam@exotissimo.com
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1172068560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1172068560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1172068560/tpod.html Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:51:37 -0500 Thailand that matters..The land of cultural and natural treasuress, and its metropolitan infrastructures facilitate well its visitors. It is the destination country offering many kinds of travels.

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Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta, Thailand

I'm a woman. Of course, I have dreamed for a romantic and true love, once in my life from a man. Saying that, well, it's not that easy to find a good and love to be ours, or a fortune may bliss me..... And here the Valentine's Day came. Most people went out in couples. All restaurants were filled up with "love", "romantic dining", and numbers of "red roses". Oh, should I exclaim "my love is like a red, red rose"?

On that night, I was at home, surfing the Internet to wander into the realm of love and marriage (wanted to get myself be part of this love- full day). Lot of information is interesting. I have just known different customs of marriage, even in the same region like Asia. Yes, it's true. There is a rich diversity of culture in Asia. "The Colors of Asia", it says. Alright, let me share with you about a ceremonial, marriage, which is various in each country in Asia region. After reading this, if you have your beloved, you both may look at each other and say "let marry".

White gowns, gold bands, throwing rice, something blue - Weddings are a complex web of symbolic traditions. In Asia, the rich diversity of cultures makes for a variety of ever colorful and fascinating marital customs. Here's just a few...

The traditional wedding gown in China is not white but bright red, which symbolizes luck for the new couple, and you can expect lots of noisy firecrackers at the wedding to scare off evil spirits.

In Japan, purple is the color of love. A young bride may choose to wear a silk kimono covered in purple iris-flowers on her big day.

If you think you've got seating problems take heart: In Indonesia it is not uncommon for more than 1,000 guests to be invited to the wedding reception and it is customary for the bride and the groom to greet each guest in a long receiving line before festivities can begin!

A fortune-teller, known as a kung-hap, traditionally looks into a couple's future in Korea before they are married. A harmonious union is important as gifts alone for a traditional Korean wedding can cost upwards of $40,000.

An early Filipino custom required the groom to throw a spear into the front steps of his intended-bride's home as a dramatic statement to everyone that she had been spoken for, though nowadays a gold band will usually suffice.

Carefully observing traditional customs is an important facet of marriage worldwide - Some even say it can be a matter of wife or death!

And after the rice and spears are thrown, what better way to celebrate together, than on a Perfect Thai Honeymoon for two blissful weeks?

Is this above interesting? I guess that many couples, new or old, after reading this may want to celebrate their love or recall the first year of their marriage again. And I know that you are among them.

Let Exotissimo Travel arranges your trip around Indochina. Newly couples- are you seeking a perfect honeymoon trip? Try the Perfect Thai Honeymoon for 14 Days / 13 Nights, an unforgettable once in a lifetime vacation.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1153895100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1153895100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/siripen/thailand/1153895100/tpod.html Thu, 26 Jan 2006 02:32:01 -0500 Thailand that matters..The land of cultural and natural treasuress, and its metropolitan infrastructures facilitate well its visitors. It is the destination country offering many kinds of travels.

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Hua Hin, Thailand

Hi, wanna go with me at the beach of the quiet Hua Hin, the classic beach of the royal province of Thailand (at the Gulf seacoast of Thailand)?

Enjoy the photos and if possible, if you plan to make a vacation in Thailand, this is one choices of other famous beaches of Thailand, or even come to Thailand to join the Volunteer Vacation Projects to be held in the coming months in 2006, at Thailand's north and south.

Siripen Yi.
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