Golden Silk Farm Welcomes all Visitors – from FITs to Groups
French/Khmer-owned silk farm, Golden Silk Farm, is situated a few kilometres from Siem Reap on the way to the renowned 10th-century Banteay Srei Temple, also known as the ‘temple of women’, in Cambodia’s Banteay Srei District. It is one of the few farms still working with yellow silkworms to produce the refined ‘golden silk’.
The farm welcomes FITs and big groups with VIPs visiting too. A big restaurant area allows for the setting up of buffet meals prepared on-site or outsourced. It is an ideal complement to a half-day or full-day tour of the Banteay Srei District and countryside.
Exploring Bagan’s Colourful Night Market
Bagan, Myanmar’s ancient city, has more to offer than pagodas – its colourful night market is one of the attractions very popular with tourists.
The market is a few minutes’ walk from ‘Nyaung Oo’ and a 10-minute’ drive from Old Bagan. Located in a compound along the side of Bu Pagoda it opens from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Stalls sell local fabric, souvenirs and handicraft. There are also colourful food stalls and restaurants. Visitors to the market can watch the spectacular sunset by the Ayeyarwady River over the Bu Pagoda. The market is an interesting addition to a programme in Bagan.
At home with Balinese Artist Yan Suryana
Bali is living art. Asian Trails Indonesia is giving tourists the opportunity to meet professional artist Yan Suryana and his family, to appreciate and enjoy his work.
A self-taught artist since 1980, Yan was born in Bandung, Java in 1956. He travelled extensively throughout Indonesia to study Indonesia’s diverse people, cultures and customs for inspiration. He eventually settled in Bali because of the legendary island’s strong connection to art and the inspiration from the endless colour and drama of Balinese daily life. “Wherever you look, there is art,” he enthuses. “It is in everything – in the dances, the ceremonies, the offerings …”
Luang Prabang’s Popolo Restaurant & Sugar Cocktail Bar Opens
Popolo Restaurant & Sugar Cocktail Bar has opened in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang in Laos. A two-concept destination restaurant in one building, it is located at the centre of Luang Prabang’s old town.
Popolo is a ‘cantina’ convivial featuring all kinds of comfort food ranging from snacks, pizza to salads, carpaccio and sandwiches. The ambience gives the restaurant a hip and funky feel. The Sugar Cocktail Bar is a retro-tropical bar where customers can indulge in a selection of well balanced, creative cocktails.
Dine Amid Nature at Popa View Point Forest Restaurant
Forest Restaurant
The recently-opened Popa View Point Forest Restaurant is about 1½-hour drive from Myanmar’s ancient city of Bagan. It is located at the park of Mount Popa or ‘Flower Mountain”, an extinct volcano, in Kyaukpadaung township of Mandalay division.
The restaurant offers stunning views overlooking the famous mountain. Enjoy meals in this forest restaurant surrounded by nature. Hosting up to 100 guests, it serves Chinese, Thai and Myanmar cuisine.
Craft Your Day on the Thai Island of Koh Kret
Koh Kret, a tiny island in the Chao Phaya River, located in Thailand’s Nonthaburi Province is where you can sense local Thainess and enjoy the authentic experience in a day.
Start the day by exploring the local community and sampling the exotic Thai and Mon authentic snacks, desserts and drinks on the island’s most popular market. Visit the small community of craftsmen famous for their distinctive styles of pottery that dates back many centuries. The pottery is known for its fine, red-black glazed surface and folk design.
A spiritual journey in Bali
From ancient traditions to new age healing – this is the spiritual side of Bali away from its beaches and night life. Discover this intriguing aspect of the island with Asian Trails Indonesia on a spiritual journey.
Watch mystic carvers making a Rerajahan (sacred image or characters) for you and perform a pairing ceremony to enable the beholding of its powers to achieve your life goals or wishes. Undertake a spiritual cleansing to rid your body of negativity or black magic. Then enjoy new age spiritual healing with a sound healing session at the Pyramids of Chi, a wellness centre in Ubud.
New Speed Boat Service to Vietnam’s Con Dao Island
The beautiful Vietnamese island of Con Dao is now accessible on the 600-passenger Con Dao Express. The speedboat departs Vung Tau at 8 a.m, arriving in Con Dao at 11.30 a.m. The return trip is at 1.30 p.m and arrives in Vung Tau at 5 p.m.
A second speedboat service will operate from Soc Trang to Can Dao from 14th July, departing Soc Trang daily at 8 a.m with the return journey at 1 p.m. The 90-kilometre journey will take 2½ hours. One-way ticket price will be below US$20. The 306-passenger boat is operated by Superdong, the company that also operates the service to Phu Quoc.
Dine, wine in Vientiane’s La Lune, Brewers Café and Bar
La Lune, an exciting new restaurant that opened last year in the Laotian city of Vientiane, is located along Khun Bu Lom Road. Its creators, with decades of experience in the F&B industry, have carefully designed the place and crafted a delightful menu to pair with exquisite wine and champagne. It has an outdoor area where customers can dine and drink under the stars.
Coffee lovers can enjoy their favourite brew at the League of Brewers that serves one of the most comprehensive ranges of coffee in Vientiane. It also has a lounge bar for those who prefer stronger drinks.
3-Day Exploration of tranquil Koh Libong in Southern Thailand
Koh Libong is the largest island in Trang, a province in southern Thailand on the coast of the Andaman Sea. The beautiful island is fringed with golden sand beaches, covered in virgin jungles and thick mangrove forests with green mountains. Its surrounding waters are rich in sea life including the endangered dugong, sea turtles and dolphins. The island is also home to a few traditional Muslim fishing villages untouched by mass tourism.
Explore Koh Libong’s natural assets and snorkel off its shore, and at nearby Koh Laoliang and Koh Takieng to discover the rich marine life and coral reef.
Sunset Cruise and Spa on the Mekong River
M.K. Spa and Sunset Cruise, a boat cruise on the Mekong River, is a trip like no other in the Laotian city of Luang Prabang. Guests sail in style on a big two-storey vessel with measuring 7x50x2 metres, cruising while having massages in the boat. They can choose what treatment they want from the massage menu, carried out by professional masseurs on proper massage beds.
The luxurious leisure journey, with amazing views of the surrounding countryside, is also a culinary experience as guests enjoy meals on the boat’s upper deck prepared by the cruise’s exclusive chef.
Go Vegetarian at Kalaw’s Sprouting Seeds Cafe & Bakery
Sprouting Seeds Café & Bakery is a unique cosy vegetarian/vegan café in the delightful hill town of Kalaw at the rim of the Shan Plateau in Myanmar, which is also a market centre for ethnic minorities from the surrounding regions.
The café in a traditional old Kalaw house offers fresh home-made baked goods, ice cream and light meals. It has comfortable indoor seating for guests to relax with a good book, and a large outdoor space and games for those preferring to be outdoor. There are sections for yoga. The eatery can cater to 20 guests maximum at one time.