Travel in Style by EXOTIC VOYAGES 5th issue

Travelexotic voyages

in style

Seam reapPhnom Kuren National Park

BhutanThe Festive country

China in RedLunar New Year

This December

Tamarind Cooking Class

XmasSPECIAL Bike N Brunch

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ForewordsGreetings from Exotic Voyages!

It’s great to see you again reading our 5th Issue of Travel In Style Magazine. Once you turn the first page of this issue, you will be inspired by the “festive atmosphere”

of coming Greetings Season. We call this issue is “Festive Issue” that updates to you the latest and exclusive news of travel and hospitality over Asia. Winter came and it opens a lot of ideas for Christmas holidays as well as winter escapes.

Our pages of three interesting sections of Travel in Style, Food & Experience and Asia Insight will take you around Asia to see what is new for travelling as usual: the three outstanding hotels have just opened by the last months of 2014 in Sri Lanka, China and Thailand, new activity in Siem Reap, Cambodia to enjoy wildlife and pristine nature beside well-known ancient temples of Angkor, also new luxury cruise in Mekong Delta.

Food Experience is the return of both Western food and local foods in Asia. Take a journey of gastronomy around the continent with the famous curries and keep update about a luxury restaurant in the heart of Yangon, Myanmar.

Asia Insight is full of festive information about the Chinese Lunar New Year and other local travel guides for other destinations.

Thank you once again for supporting us and trust us well via our latest news and articles about luxury travel in Asia!

Exotic Voyages Team

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• 7 days on Luxury Aqua Mekong Cruise 6• New Activity in Siem Reap: Phnom Kuken National Park 8• New Luxury Properties in Asia 10• Relishing Festive Season at the Legendary Raffles Hotel Le Royal 16• This DECEMBER - “Bike N Brunch – Xmas special” 18

Table of contents

Travel In Style

Food Experience

Asia Insight

• World of Curry 26• Tamarind Cooking Class 28• Le Planteur – European Christmas Gastronomy at the Heart of Yangon 23

• Lunar New Year – “China In Red” 34• Bhutan- The Festive Country 38• Dos and Don’ts In Laos 42

Travel in style | 5

Travelin styleAll about NEW!

Trendy travel ideas, new and hot destinations, new accommodations, new tours and OUR experts’ suggestions.

6 | Travel in style

With his lifelong dream of bringing exceptional travel experiences to those want to discover the

world’s greatest rivers while being able to relish the unparalleled luxury service, Francesco Galli Zugaro established his first Aqua Cruises on the Amazon River in 2007.

“I have long dreamed of taking visitors to the Amazon, the last great unexplored region in the world”, he said.

And after 7 years of success, he has set off across the Pacific Ocean. The new Aqua Mekong Cruise set sails in 2014, transporting her guests from wild flooded forests, vibrant floating markets, stunning Buddhist monasteries to mystical ancient Hindu ruins. Last month, I have the privilege to embark on this incredible journey on the Expedition Cruise, which provides comprehensive itinerary on the Mekong River for 7 days.

We started at the hectic Saigon. The

cruise staff all welcomed us with beaming smiles. Stepping inside the Aqua Mekong, I got the feeling of staying in a boutique hotel. It is not too spacious, but I could still find the elegance, style and fashion in every details of the interior. Smaller can be better, isn’t it? My first meal on the cruise was amazing. The highlight was Vietnamese catfish minced with shallots, chilies and Thai basil paired perfectly with a refreshing glass

“I have long dreamed of taking visitors to the Amazon, the last great unexplored region in the world.”

on new AquA Mekong Cruise7 DAYs

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of fine Chardonnay. Later I found out that the foods were all day’s catch and market’s freshest products. And the newly-appointed chef, David Thompson had his previous restaurant in Bangkok ranked at the top of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Though the Aqua Mekong is still very young, she can definitely be one of the best luxury cruises meandering up and down the lower Mekong River.

I spent the majority of my first day wandering through every corner of the Aqua Mekong. And I have to admit my favorite spot of all is the sun-deck. Whilst sampling my favorite cocktail, I witnessed the sun gradually descended into the ever-changing horizon and both the sky and the river slowly turned from light blue to pale tint of orange. That was one of my best experiences of 2014. Oh, and if you travel as a couple, there are also two private cabanas on the deck.

During the first few days in Vietnam, I had the chance to experience the local’s life while meandering up the tranquil waterways of the Mekong. The highlight here for me was the floating market at Cai Be, where

hundreds of sampans gather from as early as 5 am. Apart from clothes, house ware, even poultry and seafood, the sellers offer all kinds of exotic tropical fruits. I’m sure you will, at times, have to ask the names of some. The market evoked all senses of mine, it was truly a fruit heaven.

After long excursions during the day, I spent my late afternoon swimming in the dip-pool at the top deck. And it was impressive. Not only was I able to refresh myself, I really loved the splendid view in front of this first forward-facing, shaded infinity pool on the Mekong. It felt as if I could reach the river.

In Cambodia, although Phnom Penh was very nice, my favorite destination was Tonle Sap Lake. It is incredible that about 3 million lives depend on the water of it. It took us 3 days to travel across this massive lake which has everything on: from floating schools, riverside churches, pagodas, and even police station and karaoke bar. The guide was also very helpful in telling us different stories in different places, including an ice factory which used for fish preservation. Here we were able to interact with the workers, exchange questions and answers about their life which is totally different from ours. Before disembarking in Siem Reap, I lingered over a cup of lemongrass tea at my favorite outdoor deck, still thinking about all the life stories I heard in the Tonle Sap Lake and the return to this impressive cruise.

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new in sieM reAPPhnom Kulen National Park

“Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.” Said the Hungarian physiologist Albert Szent-Györgyi.

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The discovery to Phnom Kulen National Park in Siem Reap – new activity provided by Exotic Voyages

inspires travelers with different thinking, leads them to the real nature and leaves in their mind different feelings. Not too far from Siem Reap Center, Phnom Kulen is said a secret gem for travelers to explore, which is just put into tourism service recently.

A short 5.5 km route is enough for you to indulge into the great flora and fauna. Through the lush forests, rock boulders, spectacular natural viewing of Silvered Langurs and Pig-tailed Macaques, the majestic Cambodia is more and more magnetic! Each step to Phnom Kulen National Park brings visitors close to pristine nature with the call of the authentic wild. The wildlife such as bats, flying lizards, butterflies, giant squirrels and birds seem to appeal visitors play with them. The giant squirrels turning over from trees to trees make a perfect harmonic picture among the imposing forests.

Local foods, the core of each destination, present travelers the exclusive taste here. “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” Pineapples stir-fry rice, served in an actual pineapple and chicken curry, coconut milk (actually straight from the coconut) or delicious purple bananas satisfy the cravings.

Stone carved statues and ornate archways array the gently ascending steps to the pagoda of Wat Preah Ang Thom. The remarkable 17 meter statue of the Reclining Buddha has been existed for a long time in Cambodia life. The combination between imposing nature and sacred sites makes it as a thumbnail of Cambodia!

But the highlight of this trip is swimming, cooling off and taking a break in Phnom Kulen Waterfall from the Cambodia heat. This seductive gem with picturesque backgrounds leisurely pampers all senses. See the exquisite landscapes and children playing in surroundings, hear the whistle of wild birds, smell the fragrance of plants and wallow into the clear water. The water is also regarded as holiness because the source originally flows into Tonle Sap Lake and is thought to bless the water way of the entire Cambodia.

It is the fact that every day is a journey filled with new things to experience. If you’re those who “get up and go” to look for fully intact beauty, you might prefer a full day at Phnom Kulen National Park. Seeing the world is more fantastic than dreaming of it, come to the kingdom of Cambodia and try the newest experience at the hidden national park of Phnom Kuken.

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new Luxury

Properties in Asia

The final quarter of 2014 sees several chic hotels and resorts in Asia welcoming their first guests. Characterized

by their own unique style and flair, these 3 luxury oasis are bound to stand out from the rest in their destinations.

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As one of the fastest-growing international hotel chains in the world, Rosewood Hotels

& Resorts now arrives in the capital city of China with the establishment of the Rosewood Beijing. This five-star hotel features superior luxury hospitality and a classy design that reflects Beijing’s exceptional history and culture.

All of its choices of accommodation are divided into a total of 8 rooms & suites categories. Every single one of them

features state-of-the-art facilities and offers a feeling of staying in a residential area thanks to the generous size. Even the deluxe rooms are 45 to 55m2. And the largest suite at Rosewood Beijing, the Beijing House provides 177m2 of living space, with grand foyer entrance, study office, separate bathroom and kitchen, fireplace and a magnificent floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the iconic CCTV Tower. It is truly a perfect demonstration of how the hotel takes contemporary sophistication to new heights.

Rosewood Beijing, China


X2 Phuket Oasis Villa, Thailand

The world famous beach of Phuket welcomed yet another luxury property with the addition of X2

Phuket Oasis Villa. It is a lavish complex consisting of a large emerald swimming pool circled by 7 individual villas, able to accommodate 14 guests. This is a perfect choice for couples, families or groups looking for a private stay during their vacation.

X2 Phuket Oasis Villa fits perfectly in the setting of the surroundings as its design is inspired from the picturesque beauty of the

local area. Like any other X2 properties, gray is the based color here with some punches of blue and green, reflected the sky, the ocean and the trees.

X2 Phuket Oasis Villa may not match most of Phuket luxury resorts in terms of scale and capacity, but its emphasis on personalized service guaranteed a memorable stay for guests. The professional concierge team here will make sure that you and your beloved ones will enjoy a luxury vacation experience together.

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Cape Weligama, Sri Lanka

Opening in October 1st, Cape Weligama is the most anticipated resort in Sri Lanka for this year. Situated at one of the southernmost point in the island, 30 kilometers away from Galle, Cape Weligama covers a total of 12 acres of green manicured

garden. From up high, it looks like an idyllic traditional Sri Lankan village sitting atop a pristine promontory which is 36 meters above the endless Indian Ocean.

All 40 private graciously-appointed villas (from 130m2 to 307m2) are all designed by one of the most talented architectures in Asia, Lek Bunnag. Each of them is surrounded by lush garden. On the west side of the Cape Weligama, lies a 60m2 crescent-shaped infinity pool that appears to flow seamlessly into the shimmering sea.

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Dining concept at the resort is also very unique. It is the fusion of traditional local cuisine and a delicate adoption of Western culinary. You can even select day’s freshest catch at “pola” (Sinhalese word for market) then it will be cooked to order in the ocean facing De Mauny restaurant. When staying here, you have to try the selection of tasty Sri Lankan curries at Kumbuk, and eat it by your own hands.


Relishing Festive Season at the

Legendary Raffles Hotel Le Royal

Each and every year, when December approaches, Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh is lit up in wonderful fashion. For nearly a century, the hotel has been a premier choice for luxury travelers from around the world wishing to spend their Christmas and New Year in Southeast Asia.

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Festive season in a legendary ambienceThere are many reasons to choose Raffles

Hotel Le Royal as your choice of stay in Southeast Asia during festive season. First comes the decoration. The hotel is put on a splendid dress weeks before Christmas. Dazzling lights are circled around the front door, the windows and the inside courtyard. A high Christmas tree full of ornaments is placed right in the middle of the lobby, so everyone can feel the cozy atmosphere of the most wonderful time of the year. And with the French flair found in every corners, every details of the hotel, you will feel like celebrating Christmas in a European mansion.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal also features several delightful activities along festive feasts. The Khmer Children’s Choir will sing carols on European Christmas Market Dinner which offers a special buffer with the combination of traditional Christmas food and local delicacies, perfectly paired with a wide variety of signature drinks from the house. On the following afternoon, the hotel will welcome Santa Claus himself, not on a reindeer sleigh though, but a horse cart. Your kids will love receiving their little gift and taking photos with him. Finally, on New Year’s Eve, prepare for a memorable dinner featuring live music in the cozy courtyard, followed by drumroll just a few moments before the clock strikes 12.

A true legendary hotelWith 85 years of providing top-notch

service, Raffles Hotel Le Royal is one of the very few hotels in Asia that truly understands the notion of legendary service. Luxury travelers coming here do not just expect superior comfort and convenience in terms of location and room amenities. By choosing to stay in Raffles Hotel Le Royal, they wish to stay at a real heritage site. Blessed with unique

history, style, atmosphere and aesthetics, it has welcomed plenty of famous journalists, writers, entrepreneurs, and even royalty. Former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy also stayed here during her trip to Cambodia in 1967 to meet Chief of State Norodom Sihanouk as American Ambassador. Imagine if the old French-style corridors that lead guest from the lobby to their room could speak, they would have many legendary stories to tell.


XmasSPECIALBike N Brunch

This

December

Why to take part in?Christmas is coming! The festive

atmosphere is spreading in Hanoi. So, why still stay inside? What about joining “Bike N Brunch – Xmas Special” on 20th of December?

This exciting and worldwide experience aims to connect people, expats, travelers, locals as well as families to enjoy great time together. It is also a chance for new comers to make friends and share the same passion for biking to make step forward healthy activities and socialization.

What to discover?The destination this time, Ecopark is

totally new and out of the busy hustle of Hanoi. On the tour you will discover this beautiful green and quiet area just outside Hanoi, afterwards having a great lunch menu at Nha San Restaurant right! Even tandems and a lot of children bikes are available, so bring your whole family with you!

Bike N Brunch is a non-profit activity, organized solely to bring the community together and see some of charming Hanoi. We meet monthly (bike rental possible) for about two or three hour biking before feasting a scrumptious brunch. A different route is planned each month.

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What to eat?It is a lot to promise. Nha San Restaurant

is an ideal destination for those who appreciate life’s pleasures: coffee, food, art and music. It will serve you a healthy and wholesome home-cooking dish using the simple recipes and fresh produce.

What is new?This is the 8th Bike N Brunch event but

the first time in Christmas. The chilly Hanoi and the Christmas spirit is also expected to bring participants more and more exceptional experiences through slopes by slopes.

Bike ‘n Bruch more than a race. This is time for reunion and relaxation together. Join this biking tour and enjoy culinary delights and what Exotic Voyages call life-conscious living.


The Nam Hai, Hoi An, is nestled on 35-hectare land on Ha My Beach that offers a stunningly picturesque section of the Hoi An Beach with un-spoilt stretch of white sands.

The resort features 60 beautiful villas and 40 pool villas and each occupies its own section of landscaped gardens and boasts views of the East Sea and nearby Cham Islands. The resort is further complimented by 2 gourmet restaurants and 1 bar, an award winning

tropical spa, 3 infinity edge pools, a health club, kids club and sports facilities such as tennis, basketball and badminton courts.

The resort’s unique location makes it the perfect jumping-off point to explore three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Nam Hai creates an understated yet luxurious haven for the most discerning travelers.

Please call or email Exotic Voyages for bookings or enquiries.

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The Nam Hai, Hoi An, is nestled on 35-hectare land on Ha My Beach that offers a stunningly picturesque section of the Hoi An Beach with un-spoilt stretch of white sands.

The resort features 60 beautiful villas and 40 pool villas and each occupies its own section of landscaped gardens and boasts views of the East Sea and nearby Cham Islands. The resort is further complimented by 2 gourmet restaurants and 1 bar, an award winning

tropical spa, 3 infinity edge pools, a health club, kids club and sports facilities such as tennis, basketball and badminton courts.

The resort’s unique location makes it the perfect jumping-off point to explore three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Nam Hai creates an understated yet luxurious haven for the most discerning travelers.

Please call or email Exotic Voyages for bookings or enquiries.

FoodExperience“Taste” the world in your way

Global experiences of local cuisine by gourmet travelers, sharing address for good food and authentic gastronomy

Le PlanteurEuropean Christmas Gastronomy at the Heart of Yangon

“The picturesque setting of the lush garden is adorned by candlelit tales, lovely lanterns and the iconic Burmese parasols that the monks in Bagan often wear. In the background, a touch of jazz echoes to create an artistic and classy ambience.”

When December comes, the streets of Yangon are lit up with shimmering decorative lights. Across this once-a-British-colonial metropolitan, shops are packed with sales signs, festive songs are played on radio channels and Christmas-themed menus are introduced in every restaurant. As one of the

premier dining spots in town, Le Planteur also features its much anticipated selection for the most wonderful time of the year, prepared by arguably the most talented chef in Myanmar, Eric Eppisser. Being one of the top Michelin-starred in Switzerland, he moved to Yangon with his wife Lucia three years ago to run Le Planteur.

Arriving at the restaurant, you will be greeted by the mellifluous accent of Lucia Eppisser. If you wish, Le Planteur can even arrange a retro 1947 car to pick you up at your hotel. During the dinner, she will float

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around to ensure that everything is to diners’ satisfaction which is a nice touch. Christmas dinner at Le Planteur takes place at the outside garden, which for those of you from the colder corners in the world, will be a rather strange experience. The picturesque setting of the lush garden is adorned by candlelit tales, lovely lanterns and the iconic Burmese parasols that the monks in Bagan often wear. In the background, a touch of jazz echoes to create an artistic and classy ambience.

The menu is gracefully presented you by your Thanaka-wearing waitress. Unlike 99 percent of other restaurant’s menus in Southeast Asia, all items are listed in US dollar, thus make it more convenient for foreigners. A selection 12 mouthwatering appetizers including the signature foie gras mousse will evoke your appetite before you get immersed in the real gourmet experience with the main course. Options are not plentiful but each dish is prepared, cooked and presented in a delicate manner. They are embraced as a work of art by some of

the most dedicated and gifted chefs in the country. The most famous dish here is the Wagyu Beef with a touch of Burmese spices, which exemplifies the whole concept of Le Planteur: the harmonious fusion between European gastronomy and local culinary. For those who want to discover more about this in-town oasis, Le Planteur also features a sumptuous imported cheese selection, an underground wine cellar with a capacity of 25.000 bottles and a Swiss chocolate boutique.

Le Planteur is not just simply a restaurant. It is an exquisite display of fine dining art. Coming here, diners don’t just enjoy their meal and leave, they slowly settle in and get allured by every bit of this lavish experience within the splendor of the setting. So if you’re coming to visit Yangon soon, Le Planteur is bound to be in your place-to-visit list.


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The World ofCurryIn a 2013 article on cnn.com,

India ranked 6th on the list of “Which country has the best food?” That’s not a surprise at all, isn’t it? In another article from CNN, there are 4 curry dishes was voted to be included in the “World’s 50 Best Foods”. Still not a surprise, right? Wait for it. Of those 4 listed curry dishes, there’s not a single one from India, with two from

Singapore and two from Thailand. That does prove one thing: curry is not all about India. After thousands of year, this incredibly luscious food has traveled a long way across the continent. The people over Asia loved it, adopted it and invented their own dish of curry. As a result, we today have a whole world of curry to fill our appetite with delights.

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1. IndiaWe will start in curry’s place of birth. In India, the

composition of spices in curry powder depends on regional difference. Although there are many variants across the country, traditional Indian curry powder must contain turmeric, coriander, cumin and coconut milk. It is accompanied with a great variety of foods such white meat, red meat, fish, rice and vegetables.

2. Sri LankaBeing heavily influenced by India, it is easy to understand

that curry is one of the core elements in Sri Lankan cuisine. There are 3 main types of curry in Sri Lanka: red (contains a lot of chili), white (based on coconut milk) and black (the use of dark roasted spices).

3. BurmaWe travel east to Southeast Asia, where we find the

traces of curry found all over the region. But it has altered quite a bit. Burma is no exceptions. Unlike in most Asian cuisine, curry in Burma does not contain coconut milk. The staple ingredients include fresh onion, garlic and chili paste. Curry here is best presented in Nangyi thoke, also known as the Burmese spaghetti (probably because it is made with thick round rice noodles and thick chicken curry)

4. ThailandIn Thai cuisine, curry tends to be more aromatic than

in Indian cuisine due to the use of a wider variety of fresh spices and fresh herbs. Regions in the North which is next to Burma don’t use coconut while the remainder of the country does. The Westerners often name the curry based on their color such as red curry, yellow curry or even green curry.

5. ChinaOn to the north, curry in China is often used wet and

is not thick in terms of consistency compared to that in India. A curry dish in China contains different kinds of meats, onions, big chunks of potato and other additional ingredients. The sauce is often topped (or poured to be exact) on white rice.

6. JapanOur final stop is the Land of the Rising Sun. The most

famous curry food in Japan is kare-raisu, a simple but very popular dish among the Japanese. It contains curry sauce, rice, pickled vegetables and is eaten once in every five days by an average Japanese person.

TamarindCooking ClassThe Lesson of Laos Cuisine Secret

I believe that there is no better way to quickly learn a new culture than via its foods. It could be the reason why I love taking a cooking class whenever I travel to. There’s a little “gastronomic oasis” for the curious people - like me in Luang Prabang, Laos: Tamarind Cooking Class one of my most favorite in Asia.

Tamarind is among few cooking classes which inspire me by its simple but professional cooking lessons, each of which is an interesting

discovery of Laos cuisine. And I myself step by step discovered the secret of Laos’ traditional food, from how to choose fresh ingredients at the market, how to wrap the leaf cover in some dishes to make sure they look good, how to control the fire lever the have good smell, and how to balance the spice and herbs by the taste of locals. I always enjoy visiting markets anywhere I travel to, especially food markets as I assume that it’s where local life is reflected at its most authenticity.


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With Tamarind Cooking Class, I chose the fresh ingredients for the cooking such as fresh vegetables, exotic fruits, fresh meat, chicken and eggs. Here in Asia, I learned that the freshness of ingredients decide the quality of meals, which who “make friend” with iced-food in mass super markets in the developed countries never know. I was especially interested in the alluring smell of fresh lemongrass, my favorite ingredient in many Asian foods.

And, making a contribution to any successful cooking class is its setting. Tamarind impresses me totally by its open base: a picturesque lakeside pavilions surrounding by green garden.

The cooking class was famous for its many captivating lessons of making jeow, larp, ua si khai and khao gam. The first time to make ua si khai, chicken stuffed lemongrass, taught me more than cooking but Laotian cuisine philosophy. The way they mix chicken mince with garlic, coriander, onions, chili and lime leaves is such a lovely combination. Some steps are quite difficult. Laos cuisine is not really “simple” as it looks. To cook ua si khai

, we have to cut through the lemongrass to make a cage to hold the mince mixture and it’s the most difficult process. Finally, I could fill the lemongrass with mince blend, covered by beaten egg mixture, dipped it into a hot oil pan and deep-fry until golden brown and enjoyed this mouth-watering dish of ua si khai.

“If you are a first-time visitor to South-East Asia (or even if you have spent time here) you may not have discovered the distinguishing features of Lao cuisine. That’s because many Lao flavours and foods are not at all well known.” It’s the statement of Tamarinds’ chefs. And it’s true. But after the cooking class with Tamarinds Chef, I know the cuisine is just as “modest” as Laos people. There is a secret behind the simple-look Laos dishes. To let travelers understand this hidden secret is the aim of cooking classes. And Tamarinds did it well. I, used to be an experienced traveler who underrated Laos cuisine, now find myself “tiny” before the sophisticated cuisine of the modest land-lock country in Southeast Asia.

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33Travel in style |

“Listen” the sounds, “catch” the sights and “feel” the Asia.A close-up look into Asia’s local life, sharp insight of customs,

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Lunar New Year

Chinain

Red

I myself was strongly impressed by the image of “China in Red” in Chinese Lunar New Year. Although the mainland of China celebrates the biggest New Year, its festive spirit spreads around the world. Wherever Chinese community inhabits, the China Town in the US or the 13 District of France, they celebrate Chinese traditional New Year festival with the authentic mandarin spirit.

Most of red’s symbol today arises from its powerful associations. In China, it is the Red of lanterns, the Red of Fireworks or even the Red of Luck, Happiness and Prosperity. Despite many significant changes for a long time throughout China mainland, they still keep the traditional customs to celebrate Lunar New Year.

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PreparationsPreparations begin around a week before

the New Year. Houses are often cleaned out or repainted in the hopes of getting rid of the past year’s bad luck and welcome new things. To make their house warmer and more beautiful in Lunar New Year, Chinese people also welcome the first days of a year by decorating their house like other Asian countries. Spring Couplets, New Year Paintings and Pictures of Door Gods on doors are the most important things to adorn home in Tet. All of them symbolize auspiciousness and it is thought to keep evils away. The subjects of New Year painting are often flowers and birds, plum boys (with Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and fertility), golden roosters, oxen, ripe fruits and treasure showing desires for plenteous harvest, happy life and prosperous atmosphere. These characters and the couplets were written by hand for a long time ago, but now, Chinese always buy printed ones in shopping malls.

Coming to China in Lunar New Year, you are immersed into the “Red” as all department stores, official buildings and streets are

decorated with red lanterns and red couplets. You may not know: Peonies and kumquat

trees (a kind of small citrus fruit) are popular in home of Chinese with the belief of good fortune, great future and longevity. Golden and red are also their lucky color.

The New Year’s Eve Feast, the best time for Chinese family reunions. Shousui means stay up late or all night on New Year’s Eve to wait for the first moment clock strikes 0:00 and welcome the sparkling fireworks display bursting in the air. It is a show that seduces all who will. Nowadays, together with the development of China economics, it is easy to enjoy the most joyful time during the astoundingly loud fireworks and rockets performance, especially in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

You may not know: Normally, after dinner, the whole gathers and watches the Spring Festival party broadcast on CCTV to wait for the first moment of New Year. But most Chinese younger now prefer to spend time with friends than celebrating with their family.

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GreetingsLucky money (in the

red packets) is believed to bring good luck and

ward off evil spirits as its name “lucky”. Commonly the

red packets are given by adults to children but now friends or

family members also give each other lucky money with all the best

wishes of good health, wealth and love. This is the popular traditions in

the countries celebrating Lunar New Year such as Vietnam, Korea or Singapore.

Together with champagne, wine or beer, lucky money is also a part of Lunar New Year Celebration in China.

You may not know: The number 200 is considered the lucky number. Chinese always want to get a red packet occupying 200 Yuan (approximately 33 USD) with all the best wishes of a new year.

So, you must be curious of what people wear and how they greet each other. Are you considering the different things in China New Year from the Western countries? They want to welcome New Year by the new clothes and say “Gongxi” (means congratulations), or begin with zhu zi (means wish you). 2015 is the year of Goat (yang in Chinese language), so you can say yang guan can lan (that means sunshine around you) or xi yang yang (that means happiness). Lion and dragon dances may be seen too in New Year’s Day.

FoodsIf Vietnamese have Chung cake (made from

glutinous rice, mung beans, pork wrapped in arrowroot leaves) and Korean considers Tteokguk (a soup with thinly sliced rice cakes) is an ancestral food in Lunar New Year, China also offers a lot of traditional dishes during New Year Holiday. Chinese dumpling (jiaozi) consists of minced meat and finely-chopped vegetables wrap in a thin and elastic skin. They often boil, fry or steam based on their tastes and preferences. It is said that the more you eat dimpling, the more lucky and happy you get throughout the New Year. Chunjuan (spring rolls), niangao (glutinous rice cake) and yu (fishes) are also Chinese traditional foods eaten in Lunar New Year.

You may not know: At Spring Festival, Chinese don’t eat dumplings with suan cai (Chinese sauerkraut)- the cabbage is dipped into boiling water, then put in a jar with cold water with salt. The reason is that it indicates a poor and difficult life in the future.

People say that to understand a country, watch the way they celebrate their New Year. These days reflect the essence of their tradition, culture and their thoughts of life. In China, you will see its strength doesn’t lie on development but also the cultural heritage that exists for thousands of years.


Bhutan The Festive Country

If someone asks me about the top 5 reasons to visit Bhutan, I will definitely include festivals in my list. In fact, if you’re planning to enter this magical

land in 2015, you’d better look up the festive calendar and place your visiting time during one of the country’s interesting festivals.

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The first thing you need to know about Bhutanese festivals is the word “tshechu”. I’m sure this term

will pop up in your mind if you’ve been reading through some pieces of information about Bhutan. Literally translated as “day ten”, tshechu is an annual religious festival that is held on the tenth day of a month according to Tibetan lunar calendar. The exact month is subjected to change depending on different regions. Throughout the year, there are lots of tshechus taking place in monasteries and dzongs (Bhutanese fortresses) over the country.

At first, tshechus are celebrated to honor the greatest figure in Bhutan culture, Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. But after centuries, this has been the grand occasion for social gatherings, receiving blessings, washing away sins. Visiting Bhutan in the occasion of tshechus, you will witness colorful traditional customs and the iconic masked dance. Performed by monks and sometimes the villagers, every masked dance performance tells a different story,

most of which are based from events that happened during the life of Guru Rinpoche in 8th century. There’re also plenty of other activities and forms of entertainment to see in the monasteries and monks during festive time. So, to make it short, tshechu is the perfect showcase of authentic Bhutanese culture.

Although there are a multitude of tshechus throughout the year in Bhutan, the two most popular ones in terms of reputation as well as participation (both attracted more than 3,000 travelers in 2013) are Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu.

Paro Tshechu is held every spring. In 2015, it will take place from March 31st to April 4th. The highlight of this important cultural event is the unfurling of the Thangka, a sacred embroidered picture of Buddhist. The Thangka in Paro Tshechu is so large that it covers the whole front face of the dzong. However, it is exhibited only for a few hours of the last day of the tshechu, when people flock in front of the sacred picture to obtain blessings.

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Thimphu Tshechu is celebrated in autumn, from the 23rd to 25th of September 2015. In vividly decorated costumes, the monks, laymen and gurus perform the masked dance with background music played by traditional Tibetan instruments. To the Bhutanese people, Thimphu Tshechu is of great importance that every people in the country should come to see it once in their life in order to be given merit in the next life.

As one of the very few countries that are hardly affected by the modern world, Bhutan offers visitors a wonderful display of an authentic Buddhism culture. To experience the best of it, plan your trip in the one of the tshechus and let yourself immerse in a festive ambience of the last Shangri-la of the world.


&DosDon’ts

in Laos“The world is a book and

those who do not travel read only one page”. Each destination is one interesting page to explore and adapt the intriguing experiences. I also start such exotic journeys with my first ladder step in Laos. For such a small country,

yet absolutely diversified culture, Laos is actually a small wonderful land that inspires visitors to come and discover. And never forget some brief tips of dos and don’ts when you put your footprints in Laos no matter it is the first time or not.

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3. Ask before taking phototsWhen visiting temples, all travelers want to keep the best

moments by taking spectacular photos. But don’t photograph of anyone and anything without permission in Laos. Particularly, it will be in trouble if you take photos of praying person. In Laos, follow this rule or you won’t be well-respected.


1. Say“sabai-dee”forgreetingThe standard greeting way of Laotians is

“sabai-dee” with a smile, which means “how are you?” or “hello”. The “Nop”, the most formal gesture in greeting, (raising one’s hands together in the praying gesture at chest level), is also an expression of thanks or saying goodbye. The higher positions of your hands are, the higher degree of respect you show. Handshakes are widely used among male friends or with foreigner travelers.

2.SpeakwithsofttonesLaos people are affable and hospitable.

They want to avoid argument in conservation by speaking with gentle tones. So, you may find it hard to interact with locals. If things don’t work as your expectations, don’t become bad-temper or raise your voice, it makes you terrible in this country. Try to listen to. Try to talk gently and discreetly. A loud voice in Laos commonly considered as the threatening. Thus, keeping a cool communication encourages you to discover more about this Buddhist country.

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4 . Take off your shoeswhenentering Laos’ houses or temples

Leave your shoes at the stair before entering the Laos traditional houses. In the sacred sites such as temples, pagodas and chapels, wearing short skirts, short pants, sleeve skirts for women are viewed as inappropriate, but can be tolerated from foreigners. You can wear shoes when walking around temples or pagodas, but don’t forget to set it off and lower your knees before entering these holy places.

5.Keepalowprofile

Laos people don’t indeed care whoever you are, whatever your job is. Keep a low personal profile and you’ll maximize your chances of social understandings. In Laos’ conception, never indicate or touch another by your feet. It is extremely rude to place your feet on tables or chairs when talking or eating, because it means you don’t respect the people you are talking to.

When traveling to any country in the entire world, you always ask yourself what to do and what to avoid in this nation. There are some things that you should not do in you Laos tours, according to our travel experts at Exotic Voyages.

1. Kiss and hug in publicFor Westerners, it is common to kiss or hug when greeting. For Asian

countries, especially in Laos, physical gestures such as kissing or hugging in public are impolite ways to lose face anytime. Be discreet and respect Laos customs, you are always welcomed friendly.

2. Touch someone’s headBear in mind that the head as the most important sacred parts of the body

in Laos belief. Thus, touching someone’s head is a very strong violation to Laos etiquette. If you don’t want to alienate yourself, avoid doing this. In addition, that adult touching children’s head when fondling a beloved child is a solicitous gesture.

3. Touch a monkIn the holy atmosphere, remember to greet monks by a “Nop” with lower

knees and don’t touch monks or monk robes. Don’t point upward Buddhist statues by your fingers. It is disrespectful apparel in these spiritual places. You always keep your head lower than priests in the temples to express your adherence.

4. Buy wildlife productsBe a responsible visitor in protecting the endangered species by saying no

to illegal wildlife products, even buying souvenirs made from them, such as elephant’s tusk. Highly appreciating the importance of steady tourist system, the Laos government takes some steps to balance between developing tourist as well as preserving the pristine nature. Why don’t you give your hands to protect nature with them?

5.DistributegiftstochildrenarbitrarilyDistribute gift to children is always highly appreciated in any country. But

you should careful of how to give and what to present. Delivering gifts to children or money to a poor family encourages more and more begging in Laos society. It is better if you make donations to established organizations or villager chief. Besides money, the foods, used clothes, books and necessary materials for them to live and study, are recommended as worth presents.

Though Laos today has no strict rules for foreigners, please don’t be careless either. These guides of dos and don’ts when traveling to Laos acclimate with the traditional customs of the Laotians and daily life.


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Travel in Style by EXOTIC VOYAGES 5th issue

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