One can take a cruise on Star Cruises SuperStar Libra in Malaysia, visit a pristine fishing village in Vietnam, explore the herb, coffee markets in Indonesia’s Bali, take in the beauty of nature and experience the Isaan way of life at Jim Thompson Farm in Thailand, visit the night market in Myanmar or celebrate in style at Philippines’ staycations. Nine ANN media reports.

The Star, Malaysia – Penang to Phuket on a super cruise

Passengers having fun at the pool side on the 10th deck of the cruise ship. (Goh Gaik Lee / The Star )

I was already on a high when I knew that I was going on a cruise. And I made the most of that feeling by imagining myself as a character in the movie Titanic as I stood on the top deck of Star Cruises’ SuperStar Libra! With the wind blowing in my face and the loud splashing of the ocean below — that was my defining moment on the cruise.

Thankfully, the 42,285-tonne cruise ship was so big that my fear of seasickness abated, though I did feel a bit light-headed for the first two days.

Partying from the Start

Our media group had to first register at Swettenham Pier in George Town, where we were warmly welcomed by the crew. And their excellent, friendly and warm service was a constant from the start of the cruise till our disembarkation.

The free flow of food at selected restaurants is one of the main attractions of the cruise. However, the drinks available onboard are not free except for plain water, juices, hot coffee and Milo served at lunch, dinner and supper.

All passengers are given an access card, which we were reminded to carry at all times. It serves as a “credit card” as well as an identification card. Not all restaurants, entertainment and beverages are included in the cruise fare, so some items are charged on the access card; payment is settled before disembarkation.

Passengers can indulge in a wide array of international cuisines presented by the award-winning Star Cruises culinary team. Ranging from South-East Asian specialities to Western delicacies, all are available at the six restaurants — Mariners Buffet, Ocean Place, Four Seasons, Spices, Taipan and Blue Lagoon — which operate around the clock. Besides that, there are the Pool Bar and Coconut Willy’s that offer alcohol and beverages.

There are parties onboard too, and SuperStar Libra gave us a welcome party just after we set sail. There is also a farewell party on the night before disembarkation. That’s the time when passengers can dine on the best food and sip on cocktails near the poolside while looking out towards the vast blue ocean.

Fitness enthusiasts can rejuvenate their senses with a workout session in the gymnasium and swimming pool, followed by total relaxation at the spa. The on-board entertainment and leisure programmes cater to passengers of all ages, such as the magic show presented by Fabien Solaz from France who whisks audiences away into the world of illusion and well-choreographed productions like One In A Million.

Of course, for shopaholics, there are retail shops and duty-free outlets to choose from that sell jewellery, watches, cosmetics, fragrances, handbags and more.

Look out for the daily newsletter called the Star Navigator, which lists out the offers onboard, the day’s programme, entertainment choices, facilities available, restaurants you can dine in, even the sunrise and sunset times! The crew members usually distribute the newsletters in the evening or you can find it hanging outside your cabin. The newsletters also include important reminders and notices for passengers.

I shared the cabin with my colleague and The Star photographer Goh Gaik Lee. It might be a tad smaller than a hotel room but our deluxe ocean-view stateroom was quite big for a cruise ship. The yellow carpeting set off the two single beds which are complemented with a dresser table, TV and a clothes cabinet and in-room shower and restroom.

The ship has a towering 10 decks in total, with 7,128 cabins of various sizes.

Sea Legs are Grounded

The fun was not only reserved for activities on board. It was a four-day/three-night cruise that included shore excursions at two designated stops — the famous provinces of Krabi and Phuket in Thailand.

Krabi, being a resort destination near the Andaman coast, lies between an area of limestone karsts and a mangrove forest. The media members, 20 of us, were taken around during the shore excursions on a tourist bus complete with a friendly local guide Zen Hussain, who is fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

The first stop was the Tiger Cave Temple located among lush green forest and filled with old gigantic trees. There is also a meditation centre at the temple.

We also visited the Khao Khanap Nam, two 100m tall hills flanking the Krabi River, where you can get some stunning pictures. The gigantic crab and sea eagle statues in Krabi town offer more photo opportunities.

The next stop was Jee Or, the OTOP, which means One Tambon One Product shop selling all the region’s native products. (Tambon means sub-district in Thai language.) We had an hour to spare for a meal and some shopping at the famous Ao Nang Beach that overlooks the tranquil sea of Krabi, with hotels, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops on both sides of the road.

Next stop was Phuket, which is famous for its beaches and lively night life.

Shutterbugs had a great time when we were at Promthep Cape Viewpoint that is well-known for its picturesque sunsets. Located at the southern tip of Phuket, it commands a spectacular view of the Andaman Sea.

Visiting the famous and sacred Wat Chalong Temple, we also had the opportunity to sample and purchase cashew nuts at the factory beside it. I was in heaven for we also stopped by Wang Talang, one of the biggest jewellery, souvenir and gift shops on the island.

One cannot visit Phuket without going to Patong Beach, the main area of Phuket where there are many nightclubs, discos and shops. The highlight of the night was the Simon Cabaret Show, a Broadway-style show featuring skilful dancers, colourful costumes, mind-blowing backdrops, great music and lighting.

The transgender dancers wore stunning outfits. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed during the show. But fret not, you can have your pictures taken with the dancers after the show. Do note that you have to tip them at least 100 baht ($2.7) per person, which I found out the hard way — after happily taking pictures with two of them, I ended up having to pay double that amount.

Oh, well, it was money and time well spent on a spectacular cruise!

– By Logeiswary Thevadass

Vientiane Times, Laos – That Inhang: Savannakhet’s popular cultural attraction

That Inghang stupa is one of several famous cultural sites in Savannakhet province. (Sisay Vilaysack / Vientiane Times)

That Inhang stupa has become a popular tourism attraction for Savannakhet province with the region also well-known for its prehistoric past.

The stupa is located in That village, Kaysone Phomvihane district. The easiest way to get there is to head out along Route 9 for about 12 km and turn left at the police post, and then drive straight for about another 3km and you will come directly to the stupa.

Thousands of tourists visit the site every week, mostly to pay their respects to the stupa, while some learn about its history.

According to traditional accounts, That Inghang is a sacred stupa and reportedly the burial site of one of Buddha’s bones. It is an important place for Buddhists and is registered as a National Treasure of Laos. It was built about 450 years ago during the reign of King Marukhanakhone to commemorate the Buddha’s visit to the site.

Buddha is believed to have delivered a sermon to people at the site and later took a rest under the Hang tree. This is the reason why the stupa is called That Inghang.

Something to know before visiting, women are required to wear a traditional sinh (long Lao skirt) to enter the site. These are available next to the entrance. Normally, on days other than the festival, the gate is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm.

Despite the site already being well-known to domestic and overseas tourists, the local authorities have continued to promote the site with the hope to increase the number of visitors.

The in progress annual festival is one event that local authorities hope will let visitors know more about the stupa and local culture. The main activities during the festival each year are focused on cultural performances to encourage visitors to come back again. This year’s festival is currently running from December 10-14.

Savannakhet province is situated in central Laos and the largest province of about 21,774 square kilometres, bordered by Vietnam to the east, Thailand to the west, Khammuan province to the north and Saravan province to the south. About 60 per cent of the land is covered by forests.

Beside the cultural site, if you want to know why people called Savannakhet the land of the dinosaur than you can visit the din osaur museum, which is located in the provincial downtown area. The museum is open daily from 8 am-11.30 am and 1.30 pm-4.30 pm.

It houses dinosaur fossils or big lizard bones’ as they are called in Laos. They were excavated from Tang Vay village, in Xonbouly district. Three kinds of dinosaur bones have been discovered; Pode, Iguanodon and S auropode.

Other visitor highlights in Savannakhet province include the ancient Buddhist scripts library (Hortay Pidok). This impressive structure was originally built in the 17th century and is the most important repository of palm leaf books written in Burmese Pali, Khmer and ancient Lao alphabets. There are currently 4,000 books containing 361 different stories. It is located in Nonglamchanh village of Champhone district about 55 kilometres east from the provincial town.

Stone House (Heuan Hin) in Xayphouthong district is believed to have been one of the 121 rest houses constructed by King Jayavarman VII (1181-1218) along the roads which once connected every corner of the Khmer Empire.

The number of tourist arrivals to the country reached more than 4.3 million in 2015, drawing revenue of $650 million, an increase of four percent compared to the previous year, with Savannakhet province alone reaching about 1.1 million.

– By Sisay Vilaysack

The Straits Times, Singapore – Singapore restaurants revamp and rename to stay relevant

To stay afloat in the food and beverage scene, making minor tweaks to menus or interiors may not be enough.

Some business owners are going all out with revamps, overhauling or expanding food and drink offerings, renovating premises and even renaming the restaurants.

At least six brands have been revamped in the past four months. These include The Library in Keong Saik Road, which expanded into the space of its sister restaurant The Study and changed its menu; Korean restaurant Your Woul at Novena, which is now run by second-generation owners and renamed Ho Rang I; and contemporary Asian restaurant Kite, which has replaced its a la carte dinner menus with set meals.

As part of the rebranding, Edward Chia, 28, who runs Ho Rang I with his brother Eugene, 25, did not want to only renovate the restaurant. He says: “People like to dine in well-decorated restaurants, so we felt it was time to update the look. The recipes remain the same, but we want to introduce diners to more traditional Korean dishes presented in a modern way.

“It’s not about following trends, but to give people an insight into the food culture. Once people understand the culture and return, this beats hype any day.”

His mother and aunt, who are Korean, will still oversee the cooking, as they have for the past 10 years since the restaurant opened.

The Chia brothers also run takeaway Korean rice-box shop Dosirak at China Square Central, as well as Third & Sixth bar in Seah Street.

The French Stall in Serangoon Road closed in July after 16 years and re-opened a month later as Breton. The closure was intentional, says consultant chef Xavier Le Henaff, 55. “We needed to break from The French Stall image to change the menu. The stiff competition and slower economy have also affected business. Not only are diners spending less, but they also dine out less.”

Now, the menu focuses on seafood and meat from Brittany, along with desserts such as choux puffs and crepes. Chef Le Henaff adds: “Singapore is a very different city compared with 16 years ago, when the pace of life was slower and eating habits not too fancy. It is important to stay relevant, but yet niche.”

The Kilo group of restaurants has also gone through changes. Its Kilo Orchard outlet closed in September, leaving just Kilo Kallang and the two-year-old Kilo Lounge, which used to share the same space as Kilo Kallang.

As the venue was not approved for the parties, Kilo Lounge had to move. The brand re-opened last Friday in Tanjong Pagar.

Kilo Kallang is now air-conditioned and the menu has been updated with new dishes.

On how the revamp works for the brand, Javier Perez of Series of Intentions, Kilo’s holding company, says: “Many F&B concepts come and go. To have true staying power, you’ll need to stay on top of the game.

“We feel the nightlife scene in Singapore has dwindled in the past few years. People aren’t going out like they used to. If they do, it’s to the same old concepts with no sense of culture or focus on the guest experience. We hope Kilo Lounge creates a reason for a great night out.”

In the tough industry, it does not matter when the revamps happen.

Just 14 months after opening, Kite has spruced up its food and drink menu. Gone is the a la carte dinner menu and cocktails. Now, three set tasting menus are available, along with a sake selection.

Kite’s owner Quek Sue-Shan, 36, says: “Initially, Kite was largely inspired by tapas restaurants and food-sharing concepts, but sustaining a restaurant wasn’t as simple as placing all the best items on a menu. As I began to understand head chef Dannel Krishnan’s repertoire, I realised what we set out to do wasn’t doing justice to his food and him.

“Also, the strong flavours of our cocktails then clashed with the complexity of his food.”

She also owns Sprmrkt, which has outlets in McCallum Street and at STPI at Robertson Quay.

– By Eunice Quek

Viet Nam News, Vietnam – A fishing village on Jade Island far from the madding crowd

Going to the sea can offer more than swimming, sun bathing, cloud watching, seafood, and coconut water on crowded beaches. Visiting fishing villages along the coast is a less popular though no less amazing and unique experience.

Pristine Fishing Village

On Dao Ngọc (Jade Island) in Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province, there is a little fishing village named Rạch Vẹm. The village is located on the north of the island, which is home to 170 households. Rạch Vẹm Village is just 20km away from Dương Đông Town, and can be reached with a hired motorbike while enjoying the scenic road.

Phú Quốc has tens of fishing villages but Rạch Vẹm is known as the smallest and most pristine.

Like some other famous beaches on the island, Rạch Vẹm has clear blue seawater and a long white sandy beach. At times moss and seaweed cover the sand. The wind rattles the coconut tree branches, creating a whispering symphony.

Not being a tourist haunt, the village offers a unique opportunity to relax and admire every single wave rushing to the beach. Lying on the sandy beach, with the sun shine on your body, breathing fresh sea air and listening to the crashing waves is guaranteed to revive body and soul.

One of the highlights is a countless number of starfish in the clear blue seawater, gorgeous creatures that imprint themselves on one’s memory.

Experiencing Local Life

Visiting a fishing village is also about sampling the lives of local fishermen. Remember to wake up early to wait for the sunrise and walk along the coast at sunset. These are the times you can enjoy both the shimmering, dazzling nature of the coastal village and the typical daily activities of the residents. They toss fishing nets and pull them to catch fish in the early morning, then head for the market to sell their catch.

In Rạch Vẹm you will find a household that raises bớp fish (cobia) in cage. They offer tourists a chance to experience aquaculture: feeding, arranging the cages, etc. Local people are so friendly and hospitable that they can take you on their boats and show you how to take care of the cages, and catch fish and squid.

Seafood in Rạch Vẹm Village is fresh and diverse. One of the best known dishes is the bớp fish. Don’t look for too much sophisticated cooking of the bớp fish because it will prevent you from enjoying the freshness and sweetness of this kind of oily fish. The bớp fish are grilled with chili and pepper, and bớp fish hotpots.

Rạch Vẹm Village is an ideal place to swim in the clear seawater without worrying about noisy and annoying tourists and to enjoy delicious seafood at fair prices. It is also a refresh glimpse of a simple life on an island far away from the urban bustle. What more can one ask for?

– By Hoàng Linh

The Jakarta Post, Indonesia – Bali’s new tourist spot boasts herbs, coffee

Those who want to explore the richness of Indonesian herbs and coffee should visit this newly launched destination in Tabanan, Bali.

Situated on approximately 35,000 square metres of land, Secret Garden Village is a one-stop educational and tourism site for holiday makers.

In a combination of modern and traditional Balinese architecture amid the cool weather of the Bedugul area, this complex is said to be the first travel herborist education spot in North Bali.

“The venue was officially opened on Dec. 9 by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya,” the ministry’s culinary and shopping tourism acceleration team head Vita Datau Messakh told kompas.com.

Activities include, exploring Indonesian traditional plants and natural cosmetics at Beauty Heritage Museum, learning the step-by-step process in creating beauty products at a mini factory, shopping for various beauty products at the Beauty Store and learning and tasting different types of local coffee at Black Eye Coffee & Roastery. Visitors can also opt to taste Balinese and Asian cuisines at The Luwuh or sample items from the international barbecue menus at the Rice View restaurants.

With “the next iconic destination on Bali” as its slogan, Secret Garden Village focuses on gourmet beauty concepts that blend a five-sense experience into one.

“Hopefully this new tourism spot can attract more tourists and investors to both the southern and northern parts of Bali,” said Secret Garden Village owner Billy Hartono Salim.

Myanmar Eleven, Myanmar – Nyaungshwe to open night market for tourism

Nyaungshwe Township in southern Shan State will spend about 200 million kyat ($144,469) to open a grand night market early next year as a tourist attraction as well as for regional development, according to Myanmar Restaurant Owners Association (Inlay Zone).

The Nyaungshwe night market will have various shops mainly selling traditional handicrafts and local products. There will also be a swimming pool, a children’s sport grounds and traditional handcraft workshops.

“The night market was first planned to open in October this year. But we are now planning to open it in January. The aim is to attract foreign visitors and develop the region. We estimate that the cost ranges between 150 million kyat and 200 million kyat,” said Myo Min Zaw, the chairman of the association.

The market will also be equipped with 20 restaurants of international standard, 15 small food shops and 20 souvenir shops which are due to open from 4 pm to 11 pm daily.

The project is being implemented by Myanmar Hoteliers Association and Myanmar Restaurant Owners Association. However, the night market will be operating mainly under the directive of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

At the night market, members of the two above mentioned associations and the Souvenir Shopkeepers Association and the Tourism Entrepreneurs Association will be prioritised in opening shops.

On November 23, Yangon, the commercial capital of Myanmar, opened a night market on Strand Road under the management of the region government and Yangon City Development Committee. An official said that the aim is to enable street vendors to sell their products in a designated place as they will be banned from 11 main roads to meet the standards of a modern city.

Around 1,600 out of more than 6,000 street food and fruit vendors are allowed to move to the newly opened night market from 3 pm to 11 pm every day.

– By Myat Su Naing

The Nation, Thailand – Thailand’s Jim Thompson Farm opens for its winter blast

The massive flower field is still a popular backdrop for photos. (The Nation / The Nation)

With the cool season now in full swing, the Jim Thompson Farm in Pak Thong Chai district of Nakhon Ratchasima has once again thrown open its gates and as it does every year, is inviting Thais and foreigners to take in the beauty of nature and experience the Isaan way of life.

Designed around the theme “Kak-Ta-Ta! Phrae E Pho” (Amazing Loincloth), this year’s Farm Tour aims to broaden visitors’ knowledge of the multifunctional pa kao ma through a series of fun and educational activities.

And the pa kao ma in glorious new palettes inspired by golden rice paddies and the fields of flowers are everywhere on the farm, forming giant wind wheels and a home for giant pumpkins as part of renowned artist Navin Rawanchaikul’s multifaceted exhibition “Lost on the Farm” marking Jim Thompson’s 110th birthday.

“Kak ta ta signifies ‘amazing’ in English and phrae e pho is pa kao ma. This year we are highlighting the relationship between the Isaan people and the pa kao ma. Navin’s exhibition is a continuation of his 2006 show “Lost in the City” exhibition, which saw Jim Thompson returning home to Bangkok 40 years after his mysterious disappearance and his reactions to the very changed city. This year, Navin takes us on a new journey as he imagines Thompson visiting his farm in Pak Thong Chai district,” says Chutima Dumsuwan, the communication director of Jim Thompson.

The 600-rai farm is divided into five themed zones covering colourful flower fields, organic vegetable plantations, a wonderfully decorated pumpkin patch, a model Isaan-style village and a handicraft market. All are made for lingering and admiring the Isaan wisdom and enjoying a slower pace of life.

“We’ve introduced a new kind of bloom and created a new garden by focusing on the loincloth’s functions. Our aim is to show how the people of Isaan interact with the pa kao ma from birth to death. It’s inseparable from the Isaan lifestyle,” says Phahonchai Premjai, architect and adviser to the Jim Thompson Farm.

“Navin and his team have created a new music-video version of the ‘Pa Kao Ma’ song by Surin Phaksiri as a complement to the exhibition.”

Like every year, the 50-rai cosmos field greets visitors with a sea of pink as the shuttle buses head to the heart of the farm. A favourite with all ages, the pumpkin patch is this year joined by a giant pumpkin-like house built from loincloths and a towering wind turbine that’s covered in vibrant tartan cloth fluttering in the breeze.

New on-site attractions include a picturesque Loincloth Labyrinth and the sea of multicoloured blooms boasting white and red English roses, Blue Sundew, French sunflowers and the Sulfur Cosmos.

Standing alone on the grassland, a model castle complex, built to resemble the Phimai Historical Park, is decked out in loincloths of different shades of yellow to reflect the beauty of ripening rice fields. Next door is the 10-rai Isaan Village, which is home to many magnificent wooden houses in the Korat-style and religious buildings only found in the Northeast.

The “Lost on the Farm” exhibition is centred on the village courtyard. Veteran artist Navin and his production team from his Chiang Mai-based StudiOK are showcasing an avant-garde mobile art gallery modified from the vibrant E-tan farmer’s truck.

Featuring all the people involved with the farm, visitors will enjoy a fun scene that explores the life of Jim Thompson after he vanished to his reappearance on the farm through creative, hand-painted billboard art. The adjacent Ruan Nang Auey house has been transformed into a mini theatre and furnished with loincloths, stools and walls made from hay.

Navin invites visitors to dance to the new music-video version of Surin Paksiri’s “Pa Kao Ma” and watch his documentary detailing how the loincloth has been used in local life in Thailand’s North and Northeast

The exhibition also features comics that take readers back to the origins of Pak Thong Chai district and portray the development of Jim Thompson into Thailand’s leading textile company. The village itself is home to a 2.5-metre rice offering made from pa kao ma, a sacred wooden Buddha image created more than 100 years ago and fortunes adapted from the 13 chapters of Maha Vessantara Jataka as contained in the Isaan pha phawaed literature.

Families can join workshops and learn how to weave the loincloth from skilful artisans or check out a series of “Kak Ta Ta Phrae E Pho” books penned by Professor Weera Sudsang. The books and their lovely illustrations narrate how the pa kao ma has always been part of Isaan culture.

“The word pa kao ma comes from Persia while E Pho comes from the Chinese. It was originally an Arab design that came to Asia via marine trade. The pa kao ma is multifunctional and is used for many things, including as a hammock for a newborn or as a garment, shawl and handkerchief. Isaan people often wear silk loincloths to religious ceremonies and other important events, while cotton pa kao ma is worn in daily life for better ventilation,” says Yoothapong Martiset, a cultural adviser to Jim Thompson.

And, as ever, the Jim Thompson Market is a perfect place to shop for refined silk apparel, fashion accessories, home furnishings and agricultural products, all of which make great festive season gifts.

– By Pattarawadee Saengmanee

Borneo Bulletin, Brunei – Kudos to Brunei’s green strides

Brunei Darussalam once again garnered global recognition as one of the top 10 countries in the world with most protected areas. The Sultanate took 7th place globally with 44.1 per cent of land designated as protected, according to a World Bank report.

Venezuela (53.9 per cent of total land area) came in the first place, followed by Slovenia (53.6 per cent); Monaco (53.4 per cent; Bhutan (47.3 per cent; Turks and Caicos Islands (44.4 per cent and Liechtenstein 44.3 per cent), based on data compiled by the World Bank two years ago (2014).

For its sources, The World Bank used information from the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national and international agencies.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines a protected area as “a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values”.

According to the World Bank, as of now, a mere 14.8 per cent of the world’s total land enjoys protected status, which is actually a step-up from 1990 when it was just 8.2 per cent.

Keeping up the spirit of the Heart of Borneo Declaration, Brunei has been effectively managing its forest resources through commendable conservation efforts over the past years that have gained global recognition for the Sultanate.

Brunei Darussalam recently gained international acclaim for having bio-rich tropical rainforests, majority of which are still in pristine condition and protected by effective legislation, despite occupying just one per cent of the total forest in the island of Borneo.

Brunei Darussalam is among those countries with a leading forest area, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report in November this year.

In ADB’s Key Indicators 2016 report, Laos topped the list with a forest cover of 81.3 per cent followed by Bhutan (70 per cent), Brunei (70 per cent) and Papua New Guinea (70 per cent).

The report was prepared by the Development Economics and Indicators Division (ERDI) of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD) of the ADB.

Currently, Brunei has the highest proportion of intact peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia. According to the Forestry Department, about 80 per cent of the peat swamp forest is still in good quality, covering around 16 per cent of the country’s total land area.

The department said last year that forest law and the national forest policy have been further strengthened with the formulation and implementation of the National Master Plan or Vision 2035.

In Brunei Darussalam, there has been a strong political will at all levels of the society to manage and conserve its forest resources since 1934 when the Forest Act was formalised in the country.

The high appreciation for forest and the role of forestry in the Bruneian society have ensured active participation from a wider range of stakeholders in the protection and conservation of the Sultanate’s natural forests.

– By Azlan Othman

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines – Lifestyle guide to holiday staycations — from north to south

With the traffic jams worsening as the holidays approach, more and more families are considering holing up at home or in their neighbourhood.

Fortunately, staycation is getting more and more popular — an option that allows them to still celebrate in a festively decorated space but without having to brave the traffic every time they go out.

Here is Lifestyle’s list of hotels offering holiday room packages with family-friendly — and even pet-inclusive — activities.

Manila

City of Dreams Manila has several treats lined up, including VIP access to DreamPlay and its Christmas-themed “Wild Winter” experience. On December 23-24, and December 26-January1, DreamWorks characters Shrek, Fiona, Po of “Kung Fu Panda” and Alex and King Julien of “Madagascar” will join a Christmas parade.

If you prefer to sing, you can book one of 10 KTV rooms at Chaos nightclub.

Guests at Crown or Nobu Hotel can book one of four, fully stocked poolside cabanas for a unique holiday getaway. Each cabana can accommodate up to six guests and is equipped with a flat-screen TV, fruit, snacks and cold drinks.

Aside from access to the pools, guests can also soak in the Instagram-worthy Jacuzzi. Tel. 8008080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com.

Marriott Manila is after every child’s heart with a life-sized gingerbread train parked at the lobby and loaded with all sorts of decadent holiday treats. Guests can pretend to be the train captain and capture the moment in a photo or two.  Those who prefer the traditional gingerbread house can head to the Marriott Grand Ballroom. Tel. 9889999.

Resorts World Manila is holding a “Grand Countdown to 2017” at the Marriott Grand Ballroom. Guests who book the special room packages at either Remington Hotel or Belmont Hotel can get two gold tickets to the event and gourmet dinner for two.

Youngsters can enjoy the Kid Zone in the same venue, complete with inflatable toys, movie room, nap room and dressing room, while adults enjoy performances by French illusionist Sophie Edelstein, top Filipino band Juan Miguel Salvador and The Authority Band, and Lea Salonga and Bamboo. Musical direction is by Gerard Salonga and Ria Osorio. Tel. 9088000 loc. 8992 or 7683 or email nerizza.villanueva@rwmanila.com and pepito.urcia@rwmanila.com. Reservations must be made seven days before check-in date. For room and ticket reservations, Belmont Hotel Manila, 3188888 or Remington Hotel at 9088833.

Bookings made at Sofitel Philippine Plaza from December 1-29 with rates starting at P7,000 include breakfast for two adults and two children (11 years and below) at Spiral, complimentary in-room movies and a 20 per cent discount on dining outlets.

There is a colourful Christmas market or Le Marché de Noël in the main lobby. Indulge in sensory treats like aromatic mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, local pastries, crêpes and Christmas candy as well as Christmas decor, toys, and unique souvenirs. Tel. 5515555 or e-mail H6308@sofitel.com.

Conrad Manila embraces its luxury cruise-like architecture with a “Christmas Cruise” room package inclusive of breakfast for two adults and two children at Brasserie on 3.

Spend the day lounging with your family at the poolside or book a treatment at Conrad Spa. For New Year’s Eve, come early to secure front-row seats at C Lounge where there will be live entertainment and a cocktail buffet.

Conrad Manila pool (Philippine Daily Inquirer / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

At the stroke of midnight, the skies come alive with fireworks. Tel. 8339999 or e-mail conrad.manila@conradhotels.com.

Ortigas

Marco Polo Ortigas has Christmas and New Year’s Eve room packages but its unique offering is its Venetian theme — Marco Polo’s native city — that can be seen in the F&B outlets and throughout the hotel.

The property’s new chef de cuisine Giuseppe Rivoli has prepared an Italian menu guests can sample at Cucina like minced beef roll with spinach, ham, bacon, parmesan cheese and herbs (Pollpettone alla Siciliana); Slow cooked Baby Short Ribs in Balsamic Sauce with Roasted Potato and Bell Pepper; and Cacciucco with Prawns, Mussel, Clams with Garlic Crostini. Tel. 7207777 or e-mail manila@marcopolohotels.com.

Want to go on vacay in style, basking in luxury with your pet by your side? Then head over to Oakwood Premier Joy Nostalg in Pasig.

Located in the heart of Ortigas center, it has one-bedroom suites with a king-sized bed, home entertainment system, three televisions, dining area for four, fully equipped kitchen, free-standing bathtub, and shower stall with rain shower and steam generator. Joy-Nostalg Center, 17 ADB Avenue, San Antonio, Pasig City. Tel. 9108888.

Makati

Raffles and Fairmont Makati have chosen a musical theme this Christmas which they’ve interpreted in the decor, the holiday hampers and the entertainment. Enjoy tea time at Writers Bar with special performances by a quartet from the Manila Symphony Orchestra on all Saturdays of December.

On December 18, an ensemble from the Manila Youth Orchestra will perform during the gingerbread house decorating event in the ballroom. Kids can decorate their own gingerbread houses with sweets, cookies and frosting for P950. At the end of the workshop, they get to bring home their works of art. Tel. 7951840 or e-mail dining.makati@raffles.com.

Guests using the room packages at Discovery Primea for two or more nights will receive complimentary KidZania tickets. Parents can bond with school-aged kids who will enjoy the “real world” learning experiences. Use the promo code HOME when booking at dp.rsvn@discovery.com.ph.  Tel. 9558888 or 9882988.

The Makati Diamond Residences in Legazpi Street in Legazpi Village, Makati, has two Karaoke Room packages. Guests can book the property’s private cinema equipped with basic karaoke equipment and snacks and beverages for 10 for three hours.

Choose from two room packages priced at 10,000 or 12,000 pesos with snacks like Barbecue Pulled Pork with Mini Brioche, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Vegetable Samosa with Raita Dipping Sauce or Birds Nest with Smoked Pork and Coffee Bourbon Sauce, Sausage Skewered with Vegetable and Eggplant, and Fish Sticks with Fresh Tomato Salsa.

The Karaoke Package is available from December 1-30, 9 am to 9 pm Reservation is encouraged. Tel. 3170999 loc. 1215 or e-mail events@makatidiamond.com.

Just a stone’s throw away from Power Plant Mall, Joya Lofts and Towers is the ideal place for a staycation with your fur babies. The fully furnished, air-conditioned units have it all—from cookware to cutlery to toilet amenities. If you need to cook food, there’s Rustan’s Market Place at the basement floor of the mall. Joya Residences, 28 Rockwell Drive, Ortigas Center, Makati. Tel. 7980497.

Ascott Makati is perfect for shoppers as it is located at Glorietta 4. Guests can use the new facilities including the lap pool and the Cubbies playroom for kids, complete with toys, books and movies. There are Cubbies activities for the little ones like drawing and crafts mounted by the Ascott Host (guest service). Tel. 7298888.

Take in some art and culture at Ayala Museum when you book a room at Makati Shangri-La.  Room stays between Dec. 16 and Jan. 8 include an Ayala Museum day pass and breakfast for two adults and two children (below 5 years old) at Circles. Additional museum tickets can be purchased at 50 percent off. The hotel has a newly renovated pool. Tel. 8138888 or e-mail slm@shangri-la.com.

Bonifacio Global City

Ascott Bonifacio Global City boasts of facilities such as its pool and Cubbies playroom for kids. The property also has a fully equipped gym. Since it is a serviced residence, the guest rooms furnished with kitchenettes, guests can also hold simple cooking or baking activities with their kids. Tel. 8609888.

Kids aged 12 and below have free access to Shangri-La at the Fort’s Adventure Zone for each day of their stay. Instead of the regular inclusion of breakfast for two, the hotel’s festive offering is a Family Buffet breakfast package for two adults and two children 11 years and below at High Street Cafe.

Guests who book the Christmas package for stays from December 15 to January 8 will automatically join a lucky draw for a chance to win a complimentary two-night Family Weekend Stay in a one-bedroom Shangri-La Residence. Tel. 8200888 or visit http://www.shangri-la.com/fort.

South

Somerset Alabang Manila is the first Ascott property in the south. Aside from its new facilities — pool, Cubbies playroom and gym — it also has bicycles it rents out to guests. Families can go biking down tree-lined streets and enjoy the view of Laguna de Bay. Tel. 6430999 or e-mail enquiry.manila@theascott.com.

– By Raoul J. Chee Kee with Anne A. Jambora

As part of the tributes being paid to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, art galleries, museums and the zoo are joining up for “Night at the Museum”, a three-day event running from Friday through Sunday in and around the historic district of Rattanakosin Island.

Here’s our pick of the five best museums to enjoy in the moonlight. For the full list of participating venues, visit http://okmd.or.th/activities/634 or Facebook.com/ MuseAndLearn2u. Most are offering free admission.

MUSEUM SIAM

Send in your memorabilia of the late King and your piece might become part of the exhibition “In the Reign of King Rama IX” at Museum Siam. Here you’ll enjoy films and animations including “Duay Klao” (“The Seed”), the only film that specifically addresses King Bhumibol’s cloud-seeding programme, and “Pra Mahachanok”, the animation based on the book by the late King. Also showing is the documentary “King Rama IX in National Film Heritage”. Guest speakers like royal photographer Naphan Sevikul, Srivichai Songsuwan, a driver who took the late King’s advice to continue his studies and ML Piyapas Bhirombhakdi, lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, will talk about the late King, his work and the love he showed for Queen Sirikit. Music will be in the air too with a band playing King Bhumibol’s compositions. The event runs from 4 to 10pm. For the full programme, see http://MuseumSiam.org and Facebook.com/MuseumSiamfan. Call (02) 225 2777 extension410.

NITASRATTANAKOSIN

Enjoy the mesmerising night view from Rattanakosin Sky View then appreciate and take pride in Thailand’s artistic and cultural legacies at Nitasrattanakosin. Visitors will learn more about Rattanakosin City and the arts of the era through interactive self-learning devices. The tour is limited to 32 persons per round and the last tour starts at 7pm. Don’t miss “Suebsan Saman Mitr”, an exhibition about the history of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and other countries from the Sukhothai era to the present day. Nitasrattanakosin is open from 10am to 9pm. Visithttp://Nitasrattanakosin.com or Facebook.com/Nitasrattanakosin. Call (02) 621 0044 extensions 121, 128.

PIPIT BANGLAMPHU

Fall in love with the communities, craftsmen, places and the way of life in Bang Lamphu, a charming neighbourhood in old Bangkok. Discover the role and responsibilities of one of the most important government agencies, the Treasury Department, learn how to carve a banana stalk pith, practice your needle work and try sewing the intricate embroidery that adorns the costumes of khon performers or indulge yourself with Thai traditional perfumed dried flowers and learn how to make a sachet of your own. The museum is open from 10am to 9pm. The tour is limited to 25 persons per round and the |last tour starts at 7.30pm. |Music performances and food booths run from 6 to 9pm. VisitFacebook.com/Pipitbanglamphu or call (02) 281 9828.

DUSIT ZOO 

It’s not often that visitors have the chance to explore the zoo at night. Established during King RamaV’s reign, Dusit Zoo was originally a botanical garden called Khao Din Wana. It was part of the palace compound and used for the private enjoyment of the royal family and palace staff until King Rama VII instructed that the garden be expanded for the enjoyment of the general public. This weekend Dusit Zoo is arranging buggies for a night tour so that visitors can enjoy the zoo when the weather is cooler and listen to the sound of animals at night. A short introduction tot the zoo comes first followed by a visit to the elephant stable where the first royal white elephant, Phra Savet Adulyadej Phahana, in the reign of King Rama IX lived. You’ll also visit the royal pet crab-eating macaque that the King gave to the zoo. Dusit zoo is opens from 8am to 9pm. During “Night at the Musuem”, admission is free after 6pm though you will have to pay a fee for the buggy. The last tour is at 8pm. Visit http://DusitZoo.org or Facebook.com/DusitzooThailand. Call (02) 281 2000, (02) 280 7290

3 SILAPA RATTANAKOSIN RESOURCE CENTRE AND SAI SUDDHA NOBHADOL BUILDING MUSEUM

Located in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, the museum was once a residence of the royal family. Appreciate the beautiful architecture in the moonlight and enjoy the exhibition “Duriya Kasattra”. Witness the late King Bhumibol’s gift and passion for music and learn about King Rama X’s interest in music. You’ll learn about the culture and tradition of mourning in the Rattanakosin Era and how to make a garland. Visithttp://ThreeSilapas.ssru.ac.th or call (02) 160 1216.

After a decade of touring the world to raise funds for Asia’s pachyderms, the Elephant Parade art exhibition is back in Chiang Mai where it all started and celebrating its tenth anniversary with 89 colourful statutes of elephantine tykes on display all around the city. Mike Spits, the co-founder, recently opened the Elephant Parade studio in Chiang Mai, and was happy to share the success story with his supporters.

“Eighty-nine elephant statue have been created to commemorate the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej,” says Spits, the Dutch businessman who co-founded the Elephant Parade with his father Marc.

For the Spits family, the story started back in 2006 when father and son were enjoying a holiday in Chiang Mai and asked their hotel concierge where they could go for a day trip. He suggested the Elephant Hospital in Lampang, 85 kilometres south of Chiang Mai and it was here, at the world’s first elephant hospital run by Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, that they met baby Mosha who had lost her right front leg after stepping on a land mine.

“We felt for Mosha who must live with three legs for the rest of her life,” says Mike. “But it was my dad who came up with the idea to help these pachyderms.

“He told me he wanted to set up a social enterprise to generate a sustainable income for the elephants. He wanted to travel around the world with the Elephant Parade raising awareness and money for Asian elephants. I give him a serious look and told him that as he was 70, he wasn’t going to make it happen. He returned my serious look and asked me why didn’t I do it instead!”

The Elephant Parade started as a kind of pet project, a sideline to the younger Spits’ business. He set up Elephant Parade and the Asian Elephant Foundation, designing the organisations so that they could support each other in taking care of elephants.

The first exhibition was held in Rotterdam in 2007 and featured 50 Moshas in different colourful looks created by local and Thai artists. The statues were later put up for auction.

The city’s mayor later said it was “the most photographed event ever” and the then Dutch Prime Minister led the first auction. That, along with the takings from the outdoor art exhibition, raised a massive 248,500 euro (Bt9.4 million). And so Mosha became the first baby elephant in the world to receive a prosthetic leg.

The Elephant Parade, with its herds of brightly painted life-size pachyderms, has been moving around the world ever since, delighting spectators in Milan, Singapore, Florianopolis, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. The Elephant Parade came to Bangkok last year and the colourful herd roamed around Siam Paragon shopping mall.

But it was the London edition in 2010 that made the real headlines, boasting 250 arty elephants designed by Marc Quinn, Lulu Guinness and Diane von Furstenberg and others. The celebrity auction drew Prince Charles and A-list celebrities and Scottish artist Jack Vettriano’s elephant went for a massive 155,000 pounds (Bt6.9 million).

In Chiang Mai, the elephants are everywhere from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. Well-known architect Duangrit Bunnag is the brains behind the black-and-white “Pottery Elephant”, which is drawing plenty of admiring glances at its temporary home in Wat Chedi Luang.

“The pattern was inspired by the millennia-old Ban Chiang pottery, a fragile porcelain of great beauty,” said Duangrit.

Another interesting pachyderm is “Sweet Sky is a Stargaze, She Will Take Me Home” by Danish artist Coco Electra. Her work, inspired by the beauty of nature (and her tattoo) is as sweet as its name and you can find it at Tha Phae Gate.

There’s a large herd over at Maya, the shopping centre in Nimmanhaemin Road. As humorous as they are playful, the statues are almost as endearing as the babies themselves.

“We could have done a charity dinner to raise funds but it’s much more fun to turn it into an art form,” says Mike. “We need to create pieces of art that people want to buy to save the elephants. It’s give and take. We don’t want to beg for money all the time.”

At the Elephant Parade Studio on Chiang Mai’s outskirts, Marc, 80, is busy checking out the statutes.

“Do you want to know the secret?” Marc asks me, as we stop at one elephant statue. “If you look at the statues in Elephant Parade, they’re not realistic or exactly like elephants in the wild. This one, for example, has three toes rather than five.

“Sometimes the real thing doesn’t work. Many people hate rats but they love Mickey Mouse. We make fun out of the elephant. That’s how it became so successful.”

The Elephant Parade Studio now has local artists working on 3D-drawings as well as painting and producing elephants – big and small. These beautiful elephants will soon be shipped to boutique and hotels around the world. The pet project has become much more than just a social enterprise.

The Asian Elephant Foundation, which was set up by Elephant Parade, is no longer active. Elephant Parade has chosen to partner with the non-governmental organisation Elephant Family in the UK to distribute the funds generated for Asian elephant conservation purposes. Elephant Parade gives 20 per cent of its net profit to elephant welfare and conservation projects and pledges to donate 50,000 euro per year for elephant care. Between 2008 and 2015, the art exhibition contributed Bt12.5 million to Lampang’s Elephant Hospital – now Mosha’s permanent home.

“Ten years ago the Elephant Parade started as a father-and-son project,” Mike grins. “Now my daughter, Maaike has a tattoo of Mosha on her hip, and is the third generation of the Spits family to be involved with the Elephant Parade.”

IF YOU GO

< Chiang Mai’s Elephant Parade is on display all over the city until January 15 and aims to raise money and awareness to support Asian elephant welfare.

http://www.ElephantParade.com or pick up a free copy of Chiang Mai’s guidebook for a map.

With Winter now officially here if the cooler temperatures in Bangkok are anything to go away, it’s time to start planning holidays in Thailand’s countryside. To help us make the most of our journeys, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has released “70 Royal Paths”, a complete guide to the royal projects across the country. From Chang Hua Man Royal Project in Phetchaburi to the Sirindhorn Museum in Kalasin, the guidebook features the royal projects in detail, along with ideas for organising trips and maps.

Here’s our pick of the five best destinations. For further reading, download “70 Royal Paths” at http://70waysofking.tourismthailand.org.

Our van bounces and sways as it continues its climb along the hair-raising twisting road through the mountains in Mae Hong Son province. It’s a stomach-churning journey and our thoughts go to our beloved late monarch, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej who made this and similarly jarring trips as he travelled to the many uncharted villages across Thailand.

Finally we reach the end of the road, clambering with relief out of the vehicle outside the rice mill in this small village nestled beside a creek. Pigs, hens and dogs sound the alert in a cacophony of cackles and barks and are soon joined by village headman, his wife and other villagers.

“Welcome to Pa Pae, a village of the Lawa people,” says Sangla Praimeekha, the village headman, warmly.

Pa Pae is a small village in the backwaters of Mae Sariang district. It’s home to some 200 Lawa, a tribe that’s been around in these hills since the fifth century. Unlike Pai or other popular destinations in Mae Hong Son, Pa Pae hardly sees any tourists. However, everyone here remembers very well their most-honoured visitor.

“Back in 1970 King Bhumibol came here with Queen Sirikit,” says the headman and shows us a coin engraved with King Bhumibol’s portrait on one side and “MS097715” on the other. “The king came to set up a rice bank for the village and handed out these coins as a form of identity document to my father and other hilltribe people.”

In those days, highlanders and hilltribe people were not formally recognised by government and thus were not entitled to any form of identity card. The late King sought to change that by giving them these special “identity coins” (Rian Ratchakarn), which guaranteed their recognition by the King of Thailand. The rice bank, a type of cooperative, was to ensure that nutritional needs were met as the villages couldn’t produce enough rice for everyone.

“The rice bank was a life-changing project,” the headman explains. “Not only did it save the children from going hungry but it also helped the villagers to stand on their own feet.”

The picture in Pa Pae is now much brighter, with villagers living well and sustainably through their farming and weaving projects.

“We have enough rice,” says one Lawa woman, smiling as she hands us glasses of throat-burning rice wine.

The Lawa no longer shy away from their tribe and identity and are proud to dress in their finest costumes to greet special visitors. Lawa bags and dresses with unique tribal patterns are among their best-selling products along with shiitake mushrooms and organic vegetables.

“We offer home-stays too,” the Lawa woman adds.

After a delicious lunch of chicken, we leave Pa Pae and head north to the royal project in Mae La Noi district. Mae La Noi Royal Project, with its beautiful terraced rice paddies stretching all along the hillside, is noted for agrotourism. Visitors come for the fresh mountain air and breathtaking views before leaving with bags full of passion fruit, coffee beans and Cape gooseberries.

“Back in the 1970s Mae La Noi wasn’t this pretty,” says Manoon Raksachon, an agricultural officer with the Royal Project. “The highlanders practised slash-and-burn agriculture to clear land for their new crops. It was King Bhumibol who told the hilltribe people to change their way of farming in order to save the watershed forest.

“It took years to convince the highlanders to accept new crops and techniques but they now recognise the benefits,” adds the agriculture officer. “The terrace steps are used to decrease erosion and surface runoff. And Arabica coffee, leeks, radishes, beets, berries and some high-altitude crops have replaced the cabbages.”

A short ride from Mae La Noi Royal Project is Huai Hom, a Karen village in Mae La Noi district, and the home of the finest Arabica coffee. The villagers are Starbucks’ partners, supplying some of their best beans to the famous coffee chain. Wilawan Nakrobprai, a Karen woman born and raised in Huai Hom, recalls the day King Bhumibol arrived at her village back in 1970.

“I was a child then. I remember my father and his Karen friends receiving the King here. Some of young people performed a tribal dance,” says Wilawan, pointing to a wooden abode perched on a mound. “The King told my father and the other villagers to dig a reservoir above the village as a way to save water for the dry season.

“The King returned to the village a few more times. Sometimes he took a lunch break under that shelter.”

Visitors and coffee aficionados can now stop over in Huai Hom village for a caffeine kick before following the King’s footsteps along the coffee trail. Wilawan leads us into the coffee plantation, where the bushes grow strong in the shade provided by Areca palms.

“Want to know what the coffee cherry tastes like?” asks our guide, tossing us branches of red berries.

Of course we do.

For people who get their coffee from the machine most of the time, it is easy to forget that coffee actually comes from a fruit. We pick up some of the red cherries and pop them into our mouths. At Huai Hom, everything is organic. We chomp happily on these little beauties that are sweet, delicate and taste rather like watermelon.

Our last stop is Pang Tong Royal Palace in Muang Mae Hong Son district. Occupying more than 2,000 acres, the palace is part royal residence and part research and development centre for cold-climate livestock. The palace is open to the public and well worth the stop to mingle with the deer, pheasants, red jungle fowl and sheep that roam freely around the open zoo. The palace recently opened its impressive fern garden.

As we follow in the late Monarch’s footsteps from the Lawa village to the Karen Arabica farms to the royal palace in Pang Tong, our respect grows for all he did to improve the lives of the underprivileged. For almost 50 years, the King and the highlanders have proved that a simple and sustainable life can live side-by-side with tourism.

IF YOU GO

< Chiang Mai province is a gateway to Mae Hong Son. From Chiang Mai International Airport, visitors can rent a car and spend a full week driving around the Royal projects without ever becoming bored. Better still, Mae Hong Son is at its most beautiful in December.

Winter is just around the corner and Chiang Rai, the kingdom’s northernmost province, is now more than ready to welcome visitors in search of cool weather.

Perched on a ridge overlooking the hills of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is some 70 kilometres north of Chiang Rai Mae Fah Luang International Airport.

On our way to the resort, my friend recommends a short break at the award-winning Choui Fong Tea Plantation in Mae Chan district. Famous for its oolong blends, the tea plantation won the Gold Prize for Jinxuan and Ruanzhi oolong teas from the World Green Tea Association in Japan in 2009. Of the three plantations across Chiang Rai, totalling some 1,000 rai in area, Choui Fong is the smallest at 50 rai. Visitors after a photo of themselves wrapped in the greenish blanket knitted by the rows of tea, brave the blazing sun and walk along the path. I opt for an easier way, sipping hot oolong tea and munching matcha cake at the cafe on the hill, enjoying the sight of thousands of tea bushes that stretch for almost as far as the eye can see.

After a short nap in the van, we arrive at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort. We have a quick lunch at Sala Mae Nam restaurant before heading out to one of the highlights of the trip, the Walk with Giants, where we walk with baby elephants and their mahouts to observe their behaviour in a natural setting.

“These elephants are friendly but we still have to be careful when walking with them. If you happen to be behind them and would like them to be aware that you are there simply call their names. These young elephants are like children, they always love to play so they might stop when they see something interesting and they don’t hesitate to use their trunks to explore,” says Decha, the veterinarian at the resort’s on-site elephant camp. More than 30 elephants have been rescued from Thailand’s city streets, accompanied by their entire mahout family and provided with a place to rest and grow at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) located at and supported by Anantara Golden Triangle and Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle.Two baby elephants, Rak and Khok-khoon, raise their trunks when their mahouts tell them to greet us. Khok-khoon is quiet and polite while Rak is more energetic and always follows her heart. She stops at every bamboo we pass, eagerly stripping the leaves from the branches with her long trunk then scratching her sides against the trunk. But her best trick is climbs up the slope to reach edible leaves and then sliding down, just like a kid playing on a slide. Walking with these cute baby elephants makes me understand why Henry Mancini’s song “Baby Elephant Walk” sounds so lively.

The allotted two hours seem much too short when walking with these playful giants. “Look! Rak is very clever. She holds the hose with her trunk and drinks from it,” my friend says as we take turns spraying water over the babies after the long walk. The next morning we wake up early as we are scheduled to ride elephants bareback. We all wear the thick Morhom trousers that the resort has prepared for us over long pants to protect our legs from the hard elephant’s hairs.

Riding an elephant is not new to me but this is the first time I’ve tried it bareback in the vast grasslands where they live.

As the elephants walk gracefully towards us, I cannot help but feel very small and vulnerable. The soft sunlight pierces the fog behind the elephants creating a beautiful silhouette and the sight briefly washes away my apprehension.

Once forced to walk the streets with her young calf, my elephant Poonlarp came to the foundation showing classic signs of abuse and stress, including a head bobbing behaviour typical of highly stressed and anxious elephants in captivity. The Poonlarp I see today is serene, polite and kind. She is so gentle that I would like to hold her a little longer when I climb up on to her back.

My friend sits on Poonlarp’s neck while I sit on her back. Everything is fine while Poonlarp sits and lets us adjust to a comfortable position but once she stands, I wonder what on earth convinced me to mount such a large beast.

When she starts to walk, my heart beats faster and I worry that I might fall off and be stepped on by the pachyderm. At some three metres above the ground, I find it hard to balance and that’s when I recall I don’t have health insurance.

Poonlarp’s gentle pace gradually gives me peace of mind. After my panic passes, I relax my clenched hands from the rein tied loosely around Poonlarp’s chest and start to look around.

Now I feel like I am united with this magnificent giant.

At her gentle pace, I feel peace.

IF YOU GO

< Bangkok Airways flies daily between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport and Chiang Rai. Visit http://BangkokAir.com.

Once you reach Pang Ung in Northern Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Province, you will immediately realise that this small hill of pines and a reservoir is getting way too much attention (and too many visitors – of course) for its size.

Given new life by the locals, this abandoned logging site enjoyed a second wind thanks to a landscape photographer who captured the solitude beauty of the reservoir.

Pang Ung is now a popular winter destination.

Casual campers pitch their tents and chill out in the cold weather under canvas. Weekenders and day-trippers roam around clad in their finest jackets and sweaters looking for the best backdrops for their photos.

Now that beautiful nature is once again fading and the old logging camp is losing its second life, the victim of too many visitors over the last five years. The noise level is deafening. Cars are everywhere, as is carelessly discarded rubbish. That’s disastrous.

If you want visit Pang Ung for a quick winter retreat, avoid long weekends and public holiday.

And if you cannot stay away from the crowd, then jump into a boat. At the speed the oarsman is able to row, you will ที่leave the noise and people behind and enjoy the natural beauty that lies ahead.

IF YOU GO

Pang Ung logging camp is about an hour’s drive from the city of Mae Hong Son. You rent a tent and stay at the campground. Local food stands and bathrooms are within walking distance from the campground.

In his last hideout in Berlin, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler seems to have had a portrait of Emperor Friedrich II hanging on the bunker wall and a small German shepherd statue on the desk. In one corner a grandfather clock, in the other, an oxygen cylinder.

That’s what’s in a reconstruction of Hitler’s working and living quarters recently opened by a commercial tourism venture in Berlin.

The new attraction, called “Documentation Fuehrerbunker”, includes a 1:25 scale model of Hitler’s living and working quarters where the Nazi dictator took his life on April 30, 1945, as well as a full-scale reconstruction of his study.

The installation is located in an authentic, war-era air-raid shelter at the ruins of the Anhalter Bahnhof train station, a 15-minute walk south of where the 1944-built Fuehrer Bunker used to be located.

On the actual spot, there is only an information panel mounted on two poles. Monika Bauert, a film set designer who led the reconstruction of Hitler’s private study, says tourists expect more than that.

“The information plaque there offers too little historical background,” she says. “I think one needs to be able to imagine it three-dimensionally.”

“We are not trying to create a Hitler show,” says curator Wieland Giebel of the non-profit association Historiale, which finances and curates both The Berlin Story Museum and the bunker exhibition.

He adds that the mock-up study is only available for viewing by visitors taking the overall guided Berlin Story bunker tour lasting about 90 minutes, during which no photographs or other recordings are permitted.

That tour leads through an above-ground reinforced-concrete air-raid shelter built for civilians.

“The tour is of a bunker that was planned for 3,500 people but which at the end of the war was sheltering 12,000,” he says. “A parallel is drawn between what was happening there and what was going on in Hitler’s bunker. We do not want to separate the one from the other.”

The Hitler mock-up has drawn fire however from a rival attraction.

The Topographie des Terrors (Topography of Terror) documentation centre – at the site of the former headquarters of the Gestapo secret police and the elite SS guards, located a few hundred metres north of the Anhalter bunker – is critical of the commercial museum.

The government-funded centre’s task is to study, analyse and publicise the crimes committed by the Nazis.

“We look on this as a kind of Disneyland approach trying to create an effect,” says Topographie spokesman Kay-Uwe von Damaros.

“At Topography of Terror we explain the history, do the documentation and keep to the facts. As such, we cannot support such staging. Sensationalism is not our thing.”

To some, this may be an understatement. The Topography of Terror is anything but sensational. Its presentation of black-and-white photos with long captions is sober in the extreme.

Entrance is free of charge, but most tourists don’t spend much time there, eager to get out and explore Berlin’s more exciting and entertaining attractions.

Adam Kerpel-Fronius of the foundation for the Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe says visitors have a great need to seek out the authentic sites. “I also don’t think this is so bad,” he says.

“The fear used to be that it would become a pilgrimage place for neo-Nazis. But this hasn’t been the case,” Kerpel-Fronius says.

“Everyone who comes to Berlin interested in its history knows that there used to be a Fuehrer bunker – and they are all the more surprised that once there, they find only a parking lot,” he adds.