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ENROLMENT FORM |
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+ Optional Post tour to Singapore
6-8 July |
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| With lodging and activities organized especially by us. |
| The perfect short tour for a week’s sumptuous retreat. |
On this tour every meal is a delicious education, and you will learn about northern Thailand’s regional fare from the experts.
Plus gala banquets, local textiles, crafts, and arts. |
| Discover a culinary culture unlike any you’ve experienced before! |
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Joins usand discover a world of culinary tourism unlike any other, hosted and organized personally by Asian cookbook author Robert Carmack and textile designer Morrison Polkinghorne.
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| Read more about your hosts... |
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EASY CONNECTIONS: If you are travelling to and from Australia or the US, ask about SQ Singapore Airline+ MI Silk Airlines fares to Bangkok, but returning from Chiang Mail directly to Singapore. This is a convenient – and less expensive – way to include our 2 night Singapore Stopover returning home. Likewise, US passengers on TG Thai Airlines can list Singapore as their final destination, returning home again via Bangkok. In both instances, a one way Chiang Mai to Bangkok flight surcharge, or vice-versa, is required.
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Prior to the tour, ask us about additional nights at the The Four Seasons Hotel in central Bangkok. It's a great location. |
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Staying exclusively in Four Seasons Thailand properties in June and July, to guarantee you the finest service and lodgings throughout your journey.
Bonus: Receive an autographed copy of Robert Carmack’s book Thai Home Cooking when joining this tour. |
| The ideal one-week retreat for food, sun, culture and good taste. Additional nights in Bangkok and Chiang Mai available on request. |
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enrol
now
and take
an additional
$100 OFF
P/COUPLE
$75 p/sgl
on our
Singapore
Stopover
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MAIN TOUR
Thailand
June 30 - July 6 |
| from $2995 |
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POST TOUR
Singapore
JULY 6-8
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from $495
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enrol now
and take
an additional
$100 OFF P/COUPLE
$75 P/SINGLE
on our Singapore Stopover |
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| DOWNLOAD THE ENROLMENT FORM HERE >>> |
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Saturday, Day 1
30 June 2012 |
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O/Night Bangkok |
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arrive Bangkok |
| Airport transfers are included today, and a special welcome gift on arrival. Your printed program awaits you at registration. Our hotel is centrally located, with some of Bangkok’s best shopping and eating right outside its doorstep (and inside, as well!). Then meet tomorrow at the city’s most celebrated Sunday brunch, followed by afternoon sightseeing. |
Ask us about our private guide service in Bangkok; additional nights in Bangkok pre- and post-tour available at our exclusive Globetrotting Gourmet rate including a sumptuous daily buffet breakfast. Massive savings! *Available only as part of our package, and rates unique to Globetrotting Gourmet. + Additional nights in Singapore (again, only as part of our package). See our Registration form for prices |
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Sunday, Day 2
1 July 2012 |
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O/Night Bangkok |
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The Four Seasons is renowned for hosting the city’s best Sunday brunch. International in scope, dishes include sevruga caviar, foie gras, international cheeses, plus of course, local Thai favorites. |
| Meet us for introductions, then brunch on. Our luncheon guest speaker today is Philip Cornwel-Smith, editor of Time Out Bangkok, and author of Very Thai, a best-selling book on contemporary Thai culture. Afterwards, Philip will join us as we boat to Ko Kred island and its Mon nationality. Locals specialise in intricate pottery, so we’ll supply a cooling iced tea in a take-away terra cotta vessel, plus visit the stunning murals of Wat Poramayikawas. Then onto a specialist dessert centre to try deliciously quenching Khao Chair iced rice. Return home cruising down the Chao Phraya river at sunset to take in the city’s spectacular skyline. Then it’s your chance to learn the Bangkok BTS Sky Train. After a brief introduction, you’re given a train pass for journey back to hotel accompanied by us, or brave out on your own. Remaining evening free. B/L/S |
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Monday, Day 3
2 July 2012 |
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O/Night Chiang Mai |
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| After breakfast and check out, visit Aw Taw Kaw produce market, the city’s best-kept tourism secret, yet its largest retail produce market. We’ll sample regional favourites during our one continuous lunch, then to the airport for flights to Chiang Mai. On arrival at the resort, a brief orientation then the remaining evening is on your own. Try the hotel’s signature Italian or Thai eateries, or order room service delivered to your private outdoor pavilion. Alternatively, take the hotel’s free shuttle to the city’s Night Bazaar. (The shuttle operates five services daily, so if you miss out tonight, you can easily reschedule another time.) B/S |
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Tuesday, Day 4
3 July 2012 |
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O/Night Chiang Mai |
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| Rice is fundamental to both the Asian diet and culture. Today’s sessions begin with an introduction to the crop, its sticky rice variant popular in the kingdom’s north and northeast. You will change into traditional farmer’s clothing and boots and have a hand at rice planting in the fields, followed by thrashing and milling. We’ve arranged a typical ploughman’s lunch al fresco to follow, plus some extraordinary regional offerings of pla krabok fish grilled in bamboo tubing, and a peasant dish of gai ob fang chicken baked under rice chaffs. With temperatures reaching nearly 600-700 C, it ensures crispy skin and succulent meat. Guest appearance luncheon: We’ve asked a best-selling guest author to join us today, to discuss her latest projects. |
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| In the late afternoon re-gather for a cooking course of regional northern specialties, followed by dinner. B/L/D |
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Wednesday, Day 5
4 July 2012 |
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O/Night Chiang Mai |
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Markets begin early in Thailand, to preserve perishables during the cooler hours. Come with us to Mae Rim’s local markets and learn to identify specific fruits, vegetables and herbs. Many are known only in the north, and rare outside of the region. Before returning, we’ll visit the village’s beautiful Wat Pa complex, dating to the 19th century. It has recently been restored to magnificence. |
| The Royal Project began as a laudable program to wean hill tribe people from opium production to edible crop production. It has been a stellar success, with shops selling its products around the country and in most airports, and its produce featured in all leading Thai hotel menus. We tour one such project in the highlands, with spectacular views, followed by a Thai lunch, and incongruously a dessert of Devonshire tea – scones and jam. Then we are off to visit the elephants! Trek through the jungle astride these giant beasts, and learn how it feels to travel through a region once renowned for hosting a million elephants. Remaining evening free. B/L |
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Thursday, Day 6
5 July 2012 |
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O/Night Chiang Mai |
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| We begin this morning with a visit to Chiang Mai’s ancient Lana temples,some located on the outskirts of town, so little visited by tourists. We also visit the impressive Sbun-Nga Textile Museum, the personal collection of Akarat Nakkabunlung, showcasing different ethnic textiles. |
| Lunch is at on the outskirts of town, featuring some of the best of regional Lanna cooking. Our guest luncheon speaker is Vatcharin Bhumichitr, restaurateur and author of numerous English-language Thai cookbooks. Khun Vatcharin is currently proprietor of a Lana artists resort. |
| In the afternoon, drive around the old city, its moat and ruins of the ancient city gates, then visit Samkampaeng District, the heart of the city’s handicraft industry. See traditional crafts like elaborate teak-wood carvings; intricate silverware; lustrous black lacquer ware; high-fired celadon ceramics; silk and cotton woven the ancient traditional way on rustic wooden looms; paper-making and silk parasols in a rainbow hue of dazzling colors. We end with a panoramic view of Chiang Mai near sunset, and a gem-stone factory, before returning to our hotel. |
| As this is our final evening, we’ve planned a very special chef’s table dinner, with seating in the bowels of the resort’s commercial kitchen. Executive Chef Rewat swears it’s never been done before, and we’re sure to hear the clamor of a salted chef’s curses between courses! B/L/D |
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Friday, Day 7
6 July 2012 |
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| After breakfast, your remaining day free. We’ve arranged late check out, to allow you personal exploration of the resort. Optionally, for those interestd walking outside the compound for lunch, join Robert & Morrison for humble lunch in a glorious setting nearby. morning free. In the afternoon, transfer to the overnight train, but before that, one final stop. Chiang Mai is famous for its khao soi, soft and fried noodles in a coconut broth served with pickles. It is a wonderful example of northern fusion, where China, India, Myanmar and Thailand all converge. We’ll stop at one of the city’s best, surprisingly at Central Kad Suan Kaeo. The food court is truly quite an eye-opening, mouth-watering experience -- far more expansive than any in Bangkok. Wander with us, and find your favourite dish. Then private overnight sleeper compartments back to Bangkok. We’ll present you with a special overnight “care” package to while away your travels through the Thai countryside. |
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Saturday, Day 8
7 July 2012 |
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| Early morning arrivals at Bangkok rail station, and goodbye. The terminal is located near Bangkok’s vibrant Chinatown district, and also easy access for taxis onward, or to airport for return passage home. Please note that although the train arrives early morning, we cannot guarantee your airport connections before 11 a.m. this morning. |
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