With increasing demand for river cruise experiences, Travel Indochina introduced a brand new boutique-style river cruise liner, The Jahan, to its product offerings. The Jahan is the smallest and most luxurious cruise boat to wind through the majestic Mekong Delta between Vietnam and Cambodia.
From the bustling city of Saigon to Siem Reap, gateway to the spectacular Temples of Angkor, the Jahan has just 26 spacious luxury cabins, including two elegant Jacuzzi Suites. With a maximum passenger capacity of 52, the liner offers an intimate cruising experience with internationally renowned service standards guaranteed to please the most discerning travelers, with exceptional personalized service.

The Jahan boasts the largest cabins on the Mekong featuring king size beds, private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows providing passengers incomparable panoramas of the region’s scenery. Aboard The Jahan, guests can enjoy everything at their own pace, including the restaurant, bar, pool, observation decks, gymnasium, spa and steam bath, followed by the temptation of world class cuisine.

“The popularity of river cruising has grown significantly in the past few years,” said Mark Yacker, director of Marketing and Sales for Travel Indochina. “What really excites our passengers is that with Travel Indochina’s river cruises, they can discover these exotic destinations and select from a range of itineraries to suit their interests.  And with the opportunity to combine cruises with our most popular small group journeys, our travelers can create a truly customized experience.”

Travelers can select from a range of Travel Indochina cruise itineraries on The Jahan:
The Lost Civilization  8 days – start Saigon end Siem Reap
Saigon to Angkor  12 days – start Saigon, end Siem Reap
4 Cities & the Mekong  15 days – start Hanoi, end Siem Reap
Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong  19 days – start Hanoi, end Siem Reap

Travel Indochina also offers a wide selection of river cruises on the Jayavarman,  a 20th century boutique style cruise liner that is French colonial in design and feel, making it another perfect vessel for a Mekong River cruise. Itineraries range from 8, 12, 15 & 19 day cruises.

Save five percent off the cruise fare with Early Bird discounts if booked six months in advance. Year round departure dates and additional itineraries are available through your travel agent, at www.travelindochina.com or by calling (800) 342-1957.

For more information about Friendly Planet Travel’s Exotic Borneo and Bangkok tour, please visit the company’s Web site at www.FriendlyPlanetTravel.com, the blog at http://friendlyplanettravel.com/blog, or contact Jackie Zima at 610-228-2138 (office), 215-534-2973 (mobile), or write to Jackie@GregoryFCA.com.

SINGAPORE, June 10, 2011 – Keep your next vacation affordable with Banyan Tree and Angsana hotels and resorts. Guests will enjoy all that Banyan Tree and Angsana hotels and resorts have to offer when they book the “Exceptional Summer Nights” promotion.

Book two nights at participating hotels and resorts, and the third night is complimentary. This limited-time “Exceptional Summer Nights” deal is valid for bookings (at best available rates) now through June 20, for stays from July 1 to September 30, 2011.

Select from 30 Banyan Tree and Angsana hotels and resorts to benefit from this great value offer. Book a Deluxe Villa at Banyan Tree Phuket in Thailand from $441 USD per night, or a Garden Pool Villa at Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico from $605 USD per night; alternatively check into a Superior Room at Angsana Bintan in Indonesia for $225 USD per night, or a Beachfront Villa at Angsana Ihuru in the Maldives for $470 USD per night. All rates include daily breakfast.

To book this limited time offer, or to learn more about Banyan Tree or Angsana, please call, toll-free +1 (800) 591-0439, or visitwww.banyantree.com or www.angsana.com.

*The above rates are based on the exchange rate at the time of going to press; final price depends on the exchange rate at the time of booking.

BANGKOK (January 11, 2011) – The St. Regis Bangkok announces the launch of its “Bangkok Debut” opening offer as it prepares to welcome guests to the first St. Regis Hotel in Thailand.  Honoring the opening of the hotel, guests are invited to enjoy the refined and timeless elegance of a St. Regis with the opening package, which includes spa sessions and culinary delights at its signature restaurants, from April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. 

Currently available for booking, The St. Regis Bangkok “Bangkok Debut” offer includes accommodation in any of its 176 guestrooms and 51 suites, either breakfast or a two-course dinner each day for up to two guests at Viu, a voucher of THB 1,000 (approx. US$33) per person for use at the Elemis Spa as well as high speed internet access. The “Bangkok Debut” offer starts from THB7,300++ (approx. US$239) for the Deluxe Rooms with a complimentary upgrade to an Executive Deluxe Room. Guests who book a Grand Deluxe Room will be offered an upgrade to a Metropolitan Suite. 

Uncompromising in its pursuit to create the exceptional experiences for guests, The St. Regis Bangkok is also offering a St. Regis “At Your Suite Service” Promotion.  This offer includes accommodation in one of its luxurious suites, breakfast for up to two guests at Viu, afternoon tea at The Drawing Room, Mercedes S-Class roundtrip transfer with VIP arrival escort, high-speed Internet access, complimentary usage of the minibar. The “At Your Suite Service” offer is available from THB35,000++ (approx. US$1,146) for the St. Regis Suite, THB45,000++ (approx. US$1,473)for the Caroline Astor Suite and THB70,000++ (approx. US$2,292) for the John Jacob Astor Suite.

The St. Regis Bangkok, situated on the prestigious Rajadamri Road in the heart of the city, is located adjacent to the city’s key commercial corridor, worldwide corporate offices, magnificent high-end shopping and Lumphini Park, with BTS skytrain connection link to the station.  Occupying levels 12-24 of a 47-story building that includes 176 guest rooms, 51 suites, and 53 residences, The St. Regis Bangkok combines timeless elegance with the cosmopolitan energy of a modern metropolis.  The hotel will also be the first hotel in Bangkok to introduce the signature St. Regis butler service to all guests who stay in the hotel, as well as the first Elemis Spa in Thailand. Guests will experience the true art of living from unique gourmand adventures at JoJo, Bangkok’s most seductive Italian lifestyle restaurant to savoring the very best vintages of the world at Decanter.

For reservations, please call The St. Regis Bangkok at +66 2207 7777, e-mailreservation.bangkok@stregis.com or via www.stregis.com/bangkok. Alternatively, please contact St. Regis Customer Contact Center at 001-800-656-823.

I’m a Farang. If you’ve got European ancestry, you are too.

Although the word exists in many linguistic forms throughout the Siam and Khmer Empires and beyond, this Thai version is the most well known. Its widespread use lends credence to the theory it entered the region long ago as a corruption of the Persian word for “foreigner”, though occasionally it’s used as a slur directed at Euro-males escorting young Asian women. You’ll find, however, that when taxi drivers or market vendors address you this way it nearly always means “Westerner,” so no need to take offense.

In the 17th century the French claimed land occupied by these empires and named it Indochina, reflecting their belief their empire would one day span mainland Southeast Asia from India to China. Prevented from realizing these ambitions due to a powerful Siam (Thailand), the French instead colonized the weaker Khmer Empire (Cambodia/Laos/Vietnam/Burma). This foreign subjugation was successfully repelled during the 20th century and now the struggle is all about fighting internal subjugation — at the moment Bangkok is getting over a recent political conflict.

Over the millennia, many great empires have fallen here, but in my opinion no ruins match the artistry and spirituality of the Khmer. Henri Mouhot, a French explorer visiting Angkor Wat in 1860, published an eloquent description in which he wrote “One of these temples—a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michael Angelo—might take an honourable place beside our most beautiful buildings.” Using a blend of Hindu/Buddhist architectural styles combined with spiritual geometry (another Persian import?), they constructed many beautiful and contemplative spaces incorporating their unique art motifs with numbers and patterns holding divine significance.

Similar to the various smiles seen adorning statues of Buddha, you’ll discover there are also 12 types of smiles offered by the people. These expressions come with the warmth, respect, and politeness that is the Buddhist way. Although this belief is shared by over 90% of the population, Capitalism has over the last few decades established itself as the new “religion.” Even though locals decry this intervention in their economies by “colonial” powers they reluctantly accept them. In your conversations watch for the Yim-yae-ya smile – I know things look pretty bad but there’s no point in “crying over spilled milk” — a smile reserved for just this subject.

One multinational influence that’s gained widespread acceptance in Thailand is the tolerance of mixed-race Luuk Kreung children (literally translated as “half child”). These are the offspring resulting from Asian and Caucasian relationships and they have, over the past several years, become deeply entrenched in society as TV celebrities, pop stars, nobility, and political luminaries. No longer carrying a social stigma, they bring “big face” to traditional-minded grandparents and instantiate the hybrid look the Farang slur puts down.

The Buddha once said, “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” The truth is, travelers at times overlook Thailand and Cambodia but they’re lands graced with deep cultural richness, overwhelming beauty, and gentle descendants of ancient civilizations.

Photography by: Steve Smith and Christine Johnson

Steve Smith inherited the wanderlust and has always needed to see what’s around the next corner. Together with his wife and co-pilot Christine Johnson, their college days were spent enjoying many memorable (and cheap) forays into Mexico sleeping under the stars. Today these excursions are typically press trips and hotels, but gathering unique experiences by getting to know places and people rather than observing as tourists is still their approach to travel. After numerous journeys to North/Latin/South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, they believe this is the true way to experience different cultures.

“Observations of a Farang on the Siam and Khmer Empires” by Steve Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License

After trekking through a rain forest, riding an elephant and sunning myself on a different beach daily, I imagined I knew what paradise looked like. That was until our ferry from Phuket came around a limestone outcropping in the Indian Ocean and I first sighted Phi Phi Island. Only the motors of long-tail boats in Tonsai Bay could be heard. With the sun reflecting off the turquoise water and palm trees swaying just beyond the sand, I stepped onto this tiny island that had been almost completely destroyed by the 2004 Tsunami and I wondered why it had taken me so long to get here (Phi Phi is actually six small islands south of Phuket. The main island, Phi Phi Don, can be reached by ferry or speedboat.).

I was eager to discover just how far removed this island was from my own noisy, stressful reality and booked myself into Phi Phi Banyan Villa, steps away from one of the island’s beaches.

Returning smiles from warm locals selling their wares along the path, I walked to Loh Dalum Bay in time for sunset and low tide. Bright dresses adorned mannequins beneath stalls; banana bunches hung above grapes in boxes waiting to be sold. One vendor lured me to his store where I purchased a pair of earrings. Umbrellas had already been closed, some visitors retreated to their chosen accommodations and I was left to collect seashells in solitude from the damp sand. Other tourists quietly made their way to restaurants along the sea for sunsets and seafood. It seemed that everyone was attempting to blend in with the peaceful surroundings, speaking softly and moving quietly.

Then the sun went down. After dark locals seemed to hurry home and leave the foreigners to play beneath the stars. There are plenty of restaurants and bars on Phi Phi where a traveler can put her feet up and sip from a bucket (at her own risk). I sat mesmerized as a fire dancer swirled fiery patterns around himself. Soon, I was dancing to reggae beats with the waves lapping at my feet and fire torches as my light. When the music got to be too much I walked a little way down the deserted beach and jumped onto a swing beneath a tree.

With only one full day to savor this part of the world I toured the other islands close by. As our boat anchored quite a way off shore, I felt like I had seen this bay before. Just then our tour guide hollered that this was Maya Bay, location of the film “The Beach.” I wished that there were fewer crowds but I understood what all the hype was about and why speedboats lined the shore to let their passengers off to explore the jungle beyond. Looking at the flat water, I gleefully jumped into the ocean, goggles and all to take advantage of the excellent visibility and to eyeball the brightly-colored fish. I soon discovered that my swimming ability might not stand the test to shore and I longed for a kayak and oars. Heaving and panting I tried to gracefully pull myself on to the beach where cameras clicked constantly and everyone sat facing my direction taking in the high cliffs on three sides.

Bamboo Island was next and, while others jumped into the aquamarine water, I awoke from a blur of seasickness and Bonine- induced-sleep. I had never seen water this color before, but my stomach told me it was not yet safe to move. Our guide banged loudly on the boats side, whistling in a strange manner proclaiming that dolphins would respond to his call. Sure enough they appeared right beside us, jumping playfully in and out of the water.

At Monkey Beach, I was wise enough to use a kayak and rested awhile on this deserted stretch of land watching monkeys stripping coconuts. Seawater had never felt so good on my skin. It was the temperature of bathwater and so clear that I could see the color of my toenail polish. It was hard to believe that this same Atlantic Ocean could be so brutally icy at home.

Much too soon it was time to head back to Phuket. I had not bargained for the huge storm and monstrous waves bashing the ferry on the way back. I popped a motion-sickness pill guaranteed to knock me out, closed my eyes and hoped I would never forget the beautiful dream that was Phi Phi Island.

Born in the incredible city of Cape Town, Lauren has been camping, exploring and roaming South Africa since she could walk. It was South America that made her fall in love with travel and all its wonders and thereafter she has placed her feet on every continent except Antarctica (and probably never will). A dancer, baby surfer and occasional radio presenter, Lauren is passionate about people, the stage, life and God’s purpose for her. She longs for the day when she can be paid to travel and host a travel show! She always returns to home, realizing she lives in one of the world’s most diverse and beautiful cities.

“Same Same, but Different,” so goes the saying on two-thirds of the T-Shirts for sale in Bangkok.

After a long flight over the gerrymandered International Date Line, my plane approached Bangkok at one in the morning (+1). Although I was prepared for the heat and humidity I’d read about, leaving the air-conditioned comfort of the terminal my expectations were not only met but exceeded. I quickly learned there are three seasons in Thailand, hot, hotter, and extra hot, and my visit in January coincided with the least hot season. You’d never know it.

Things are much different here than when James Michener wrote about them over 60 years ago, or when hippy backpackers discovered it in the 70’s and 80’s. Pockets of the old Bangkok they would know still exist but are disappearing fast, and one of the last pieces surviving is the nebulously defined Banglamphu area. Always popular with travelers but made trendy 10 years ago by a hit movie, “The Beach”, it’s rapidly being gentrified now that local youth have christened it “hip”. Still, many of its tree lined backstreets and alleys retain that authentic Thai feeling.

Today this neighborhood continues in its role as “Backpacker Central” for Southeast Asia, and Khao San Road with its assortment of flophouses, souvenir stalls, cheap street food, and hanky-panky entertainment is its heart. KSR (as many travel nerds refer to it) and nearby Phra Atit Road also hold upscale jewelry outlets, internet cafes, and fine-dining opportunities.

An afternoon spent munching Satay skewers dipped in sweet chili sauces and watching the street scene unfold in front of me, all the while cooling my heels to the sounds of Jimi Hendrix on the boom-box next door, transported me to a Bangkok of the past – “Same Same”, but now somehow different.

Steve Smith inherited the wanderlust and has always needed to see what’s around the next corner. Together with his wife and co-pilot Christine Johnson, their college days were spent enjoying many memorable (and cheap) forays into Mexico sleeping under the stars. Today these excursions are typically press trips and hotels, but gathering unique experiences by getting to know places and people rather than observing as tourists is still their approach to travel. After numerous journeys to North/Latin/South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, they believe this is the true way to experience different cultures.

The Sarojin had been completed and the new resort’s owners sent their employees home before the big grand opening. Then the Tsunami came, Khao Lak, in Thailand, lost thousands of lives, and the Sarojin destroyed.

Fortunately, the owners and employees stuck together and rebuilt the Sarojin, themselves. Maids became carpenters and cooks became cement mixers. Of the 56 employees that remained throughout the ordeal, there is now a room at the Sarojin, 56 in all, dedicated to each employee that worked on the rebuilding process.

Even without this fabulous story of rebuilding, this pick was a no-brainer even with so many great resorts I had visited throughout this year. The Sarojin has spectacular grounds, innovative room designs, superior service, a family vibe, good food and the ability to “imagineer” guests visit — the Sarojin knows how to give visitors what they want. I learned how to cook Thai food, which included a trip to the market, a private boat cruise through the “Little Amazon,” before arriving to a white linen table waited with stocked cooking stations on a nearby island. It was an amazing day toped off with lemon grass soup, and I never describe anything as “amazing.”

For some great visuals, check out some video of my visit to the Sarojin below.

For more winners, click here

At this year’s Thailand Travel Mart in Bangkok, I had the chance to rumble with the pros, jockeying for position, trying to get the best shots of the entertainment provided to tour operators from around the world. In this video, it’s 25 Thai drummers and a lone xylophonist — only in Thailand!

Of course, I have loads to say about Thailand, which can be found on ITKT’s Thailand pages

As with all of our videos Quicktime 7.0 or better is required to see our great videos in all of there luster. However, we have now added a new feature on ITKT’s home page to allow viewing for everybody else. Look in the upper right-hand corner for loads of recent ITKT videos.

We are also on iTunes, Youtube, Current TV, and Google video. And be sure to scroll all the way down to see the video.

Having previously lived in China, I had to know what Bangkok’s Chinatown was like. I took the skytrain to Saphan Taksin (the last stop on the Silom line) and then rode the Chao Phraya River Express north to Tha Ratchawong where I could walk into Chinatown. I walked straight off the ferry dock, following the people and the pungent aromas into the heart of the activity. All of Bangkok is congested, but nothing like this. Chinatown in Bangkok takes a ‘lack of personal space’ to an entirely new level. I had yet to be somewhere in town (other than the JJ Weekend Market) that felt anything this crowded before.

I could tell I was getting closer by the smell, sweets meet sewage — dried fish meets dried fruit. When I arrived, food vendors lined the street selling everything from char-grilled fish and squid, dumplings, chestnuts, skewers of barbecued meat, moist rice squares with meat, veggie or sesame paste, fruit, watermelon seeds, and heaps of colorful, jelly-like worms to dried fish. My eyes drifted from the food to the GOLD (you’ll understand when you go!) stores in the background with red interiors. I continued walking and came face to face with what instantly took me back to China, the face of a pig: snout, ears, and everything else looking back at me, displayed prominently as the prize item on the table. I’ll never forget the first time I was served an entire fish—with face—while eating dinner in China. It was during my first week in country, and yet, it continued to happen at nearly every meal I had throughout the remainder of my time in the Far East. Nothing on the animal or fish is wasted in China: face, feet, inner tendons and ligaments are all is enjoyed as a ‘delicacy’ to someone. In fact, at formal dinners and banquets, the head of the duck or fish is often held aside to be presented to the eldest member of the dining party as a sign of respect, hence a highly treasured piece of food.

I turned down Sampeng Lane and began weaving through mobs of people in the narrow alley. Every once in a while, a giant push cart rolled through consuming the entire lane and quickly forced me off the path. Specialized stalls stretched as far as I could see. One man sold buttons, another sold beads. One woman sold women’s underwear, while another sold neon cell phone cases. Plastic baggies of any shape and size. Belts. Shoes. Purses. However, the majority of the vendors sold fabric. Rolls and rolls of fabric. All varieties of colors, styles, and fabric weights. This is the place to buy in bulk!

I couldn’t getaway from the smell of fish. Hadn’t I passed that area? Where was this coming from? It was everywhere. And there were more GOLD stores. Food surrounded me; I was getting hungry. I made my way to Yaowarat Road and had dim sum (very good) at the Shangarila Restaurant. On my way back towards the river, I saw the Chinese pharmacy and several tea shops (a must have in Chinatown), continued dodging people, and never ever escaped the smell of dried fish or lost sight of the easily identifiable GOLD stores. It’s worth the trip!