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D - B r i e f

Bangkok, 20 December 2011

Dear Partner,

As 2011 draws to a close, we look back on a year which has been full of challenges,

changes and new opportunities for Diethelm Travel.

This year we have launched a series of D-Briefs with in-depth information on the region,

hoping that with each edition, you and your colleagues have benefitted from new ideas.

Having received positive feedback from you, we have collated a selection of hand-picked

topics for 2012. All twelve Diethelm Travel destinations are covered: Bhutan, Cambodia,

China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and

Vietnam.

We hope that you will enjoy opening one interesting topic after the other. We would like to

take this opportunity to thank you for your loyal support during the past year and wish you

and your loved ones, happy holidays and a fantastic start to the New Year.

Sincerely yours,

Your Diethelm Travel Team

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

AUGUST

DECEMBERNOVEMBER

JULYJUNE

OCTOBER

MAY

SEPTEMBER

JANUARY

APRIL

AUGUST

DECEMBER

Edition 13: Flowers & Unique Plants

Edition 14: Faces of Asia

Edition 12: Pool Villas

Edition 11: Soft Adventure

Edition 10: Trains, Planes & Automobiles

Edition 9: Food

Edition 8: Water

Edition 7: Sustainability

Edition 6: Architecture

Edition 15: Spa & Wellness

The Nomads of Bhutan

In this month‟s D-Brief we open the doors

to our creative department, giving you a

sneak preview of the themes we have

selected for 2012. We have roamed the

region for you and selected unique topics,

which you will not find in any common

travel guide.

Browse through the index on the left-hand

side to find out more about the monthly

themes planned for 2012.

For those of you who have missed one of

our 2011 editions, the content table on the

right will guide you through this year‟s

past issues. We featured exciting stories,

from local community initiatives we

support, to hiking expeditions to catch a

glimpse of the world‟s biggest flower in

Borneo.

Read D-Brief and keep up-to-date with

what‟s going on in the region!

Review 2011 – Preview 2012

JANUARY

The Nomads of BhutanARCHITECTURE

Are you looking for something out of the

ordinary and away from the normal tourist

path? We begin 2012 with a selection of

„off the beaten track‟ experiences. China,

India and Myanmar still harbour remote

regions for the intrepid traveller, who

wishes to experience bygone lifestyles and

dramatic scenery, whilst being

accompanied by a knowledgeable

Diethelm Travel guide. Discover the

remarkable landscape of Yunnan‟s rice

terraces or join us to explore Gujarat; a

rarely visited part of India, boasting

beautiful art deco palaces, 10th century

monuments and home to semi-nomadic

desert tribes. Alternatively, in Myanmar

enjoy breathtaking views over the

Himalaya mountain range, whilst hiking in

and around Putao, the northernmost town

of Kachin state. In January‟s edition of D-

Brief you can discover that there is so

much more to Asia than just the tourist

hotspots.

Off the Beaten Track

FEBRUARY

Asia not only plays a key role in textile and

garment production, but the region is also

home to top quality locally made fabrics

with a long history. Join us this month to

learn more about ethnic textiles, how they

are made and where to buy the best

products. Laos is well-known for its wide

range of tribal costumes, each made out

of hand-woven hill-tribe fabrics. Even

though these costumes are only worn

nowadays for special events, beautiful

scarves can be bought from the skilled hill-

tribe women. In Bhutan, by contrast, the

law requires all citizens to wear their

national dress in public areas or as formal

wear. Made out of yak hair, cotton and silk,

the brocades and complex wrap patterns

of Bhutanese fabrics are widely known

outside of the Kingdom for their superior

quality. Lastly, we take a look at India‟s

most famous dress, the Sari. Top Delhi

designers create modern adaptations of

this traditional dress, which not only wow

every Indian fashionista, but are a great

exotic piece of clothing to take home, for

oneself, wife, sister, mother or girlfriend.

Textiles

MARCH

Asia is home to some of the big names in

sports events such as Singapore‟s Grand

Prix Night Race, the 2012 South Asian

Games in New Delhi and the Rugby

Sevens in Hong Kong. In this month‟s D-

Brief we unveil these mega events and

suggest itineraries around them. Would

your clients like to combine their

Malaysian beach holiday with three days of

Formula 1 racing? No problem, we will

make it happen. We are also looking at

traditional Asian sports, including Sepak

Takraw, a mix of volleyball and football,

which is played in international

competitions and dominated by Thailand

and Malaysia. Sri Lanka‟s most popular

sport, played by all ages and with

fanaticism, is without doubt cricket.

Former underdog Sri Lanka has won the

World Cup in 1996 and has been, to the

delight of its fans, runner up in 2007 and

2011. Dress up in your team‟s colours and

experience the region from its athletic

side!

Sports Around the Region

APRILAPRIL

Not surprisingly, Asia contains a vast array

of different beliefs and religions. Not only

is Asia the birthplace of many of today‟s

major religions, but the region overflows

with legends, myths and stories around

religious figures and spirits. Everywhere

one finds the fusion of ancient animistic

beliefs intertwined with modern religion. In

Myanmar, a land whose main religion is

Buddhism, the nat (spirits) are worshipped

during the annual nat festivals, usually

held on a full moon night. The

Vietnamese, conversely, will find it difficult

to tell you to which religion they belong as

several religions have co-existed for

centuries and have become mixed up over

time. We also take a closer look at India,

the birthplace of four religions, namely

Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism,

and its most renowned places of worship.

A spiritual journey through Asia awaits you

with this month‟s D-Brief.

Religion

MAY

What do the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, The

Great Wall of China and Pha That Luang,

the golden temple of Luang Prabang, have

in common? Right; they are to the most

famous and most visited monuments in

Asia. Whilst everybody is familiar with their

location and names, probably only a

handful of people can give friends or

clients real in-depth knowledge, such as

the prime time of the day to visit and the

best spots to take memorable pictures

from. In this edition of D-Brief we have

collected these secrets and many more, in

order to guarantee that you have the

ultimate experience when visiting these

celebrated spots. We, for example, take

you to rooms and halls inside the

breathtaking Potala Palace in Lhasa, which

are not accessible to the public.

Our May D-Brief will ensure you have your

own unique holiday story to tell!

National Monuments

JUNE

Combine your beach holiday or cultural

escape with an exciting city break in Hong

Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or

Bangkok. Chances are that you will pass

through one of these vibrant cities on the

way to your final destination anyway; so

why not fit in a three day stopover? We

show you how to get the most out of 72-

hours in Asia‟s “gateways to the East”.

From speed sightseeing and shopping at

local designer stores to enjoying a

fabulous roof top dinner; we put all the

essentials for a fun and action packed city

break into our suggested itineraries.

Whether you are looking for the most

convenient way to navigate Bangkok by

public transportation or want to go all out

with a private limousine hire for the day in

Hong Kong, in Asia‟s cities, everything is

possible! Let us show you the best of the

cities we call home.

City Breaks

JULY

With its incredible mix of cultures and

traditions, Asia is a paradise for jewellery

lovers. In this month‟s D-Brief we take you

for instance to Tibet, where beautiful silver

jewellery combined with inlaid turquoise

and red coral is worn by the locals.

Interestingly, these stones found their way

to the Himalayan Plateau over old trading

routes from the Middle East. Jade, one of

the world‟s most mysterious stones, is

both worn as a talisman and traded as

an antique in China, whilst the

traditional gold jewellery of Cambodia is

nowadays mainly flaunted at weddings.

Plenty of competent craftsman and

modern jewellery designers, who call

Bangkok their home, have made the city a

hub for gemstones and metals. We will tell

you which stones to buy where and what

to watch out for during your shopping

spree. This edition of D-Brief will, without

a doubt, inspire you for precious

souvenirs.

Jewellery

AUGUST

With its gorgeous white sandy beaches,

breathtaking sunsets, secluded islands and

some of the world‟s most luxurious pool

villas, Asia is the ideal spot to get married

and spend your honeymoon. This month‟s

D-Brief introduces you to unique spots for

the perfect beach wedding in the Maldives,

Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. We also

highlight what you should know prior to

embarking on the big journey, including

legal requirements, shopping for wedding

dresses in Asia and making sure your

schedule leaves enough time to get your

papers sorted with the local authorities.

With the right knowledge and forward

planning, your dream wedding can happen

where others spend their holidays. An

additional bonus is that there is no need to

fly half way around the world for your

honeymoon, because you are already

there. Come and spend an enchanting

wedding in Asia!

Weddings & Honeymoon

SEPTEMBER

In September, we are looking at initiatives

aimed at creating sustainable income

sources for local communities. Diethelm

Travel supports projects all over the region

and depending on their interest, visitors

can have hands-on experiences. These are

often the best way to meet the locals and

really get to understand the country. Learn

to weave at Ock Pop Tok in Luang

Prabang, a self financing initiative that

produces and designs textile

handicrafts providing livelihoods for some

200 people. Whilst in Siem Reap, visit Sala

Bai, a small vocational training school

where disadvantaged Cambodians learn

skills useful in the rapidly growing hotel

industry. The school has four hotel rooms

and a restaurant, where the trainee cooks

prepare meals with great care and wide

smiles. This edition of D-Brief will give you

ideas and inspirations of ways to give back

during your holiday.

Giving Back

OCTOBER

With 500 staff in 12 countries, Diethelm

Travel is at the pulse of what‟s hot and

happening in the cities and on the tropical

islands of the region. Whether it‟s the

opening of a new beach club, a unique

exhibition in a Chinese art lounge or just

the best drinking spots to bar hop in

Phnom Penh, our staff know where the

most happening places are. This issue of

D-Brief is laden with personal tips and

recommendations of our country Managing

Directors. Take advantage of them,

because we know best how fast trends

come and go: what might be described as

a trendy restaurant in last year‟s travel

guide, is probably by now already

“mainstream” and the locals have long

moved on to a new eatery. This is your

chance to discover and dance the night

away in the most hip and chic places of,

among others, Singapore, Beijing, New

Delhi, Colombo, Phuket, Yangon and Hong

Kong.

Hip Hang Outs

NOVEMBER

With the current trend of “doing good”

while travelling, learning more about and

spending time with endangered species

definitely fits the bill of many travellers.

Nowhere else in the world can one find a

higher density of leopards than in Yala

National Park in Sri Lanka, despite this big

cat being an endangered species, mostly

due to habitat loss. Join Leopard Safaris in

getting involved in saving this majestic

animal. In Malaysia, the whole family can

have a fun and informative time at one of

Borneo‟s orang-utan rehabilitation centres,

whilst the giant panda in China (with an

estimated population of only 2,000 to

3,000 individuals) makes it on every child‟s

cutest animal list. The rare and

magnificent Bengal tiger can be found in

India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan; if

you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of

India‟s most renowned predator, during

one of the luxury safaris Diethelm Travel

has on offer!

Endangered Species

DECEMBER

Preview 2013

Watch out for the exciting themes of 2013!

The December edition will again give you a

preview of what is planned for D-Brief in

2013. This is your opportunity to give us

your feedback and let us know what is on

your wish list for the next year. Would you

like more information on family friendly

holiday experiences? Do you have

customers enquiring about exotic food

experiences? Are you looking into the

possibilities of joining a meditation retreat?

Whatever it is you are looking for, we

promise that we have the inside

knowledge, to develop your ideas further!

As always, we depend on your comments

and only with your help, will we be able to

provide you with the tools you need to

improve your destination knowledge. Your

input is highly appreciated and can be sent

directly to sales@diethelmtravel.com.

Preview 2013

Indian Saffron Kulfi

Preparation Method

1. Place the boiling water in a small heatproofbowl. Add the saffron threads and set asidefor 2 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, place the evaporated milk andsugar in a medium saucepan. Stir over lowheat for 3 minutes or until the sugardissolves. Add the saffron and liquid,pistachios and almonds to the milk mixtureand stir to combine.

3. Pour the mixture into six 250ml (1-cup)dariole or freezer proof moulds. Place in thefreezer for 6 hours or overnight to firm.

4. Cut the cheeks from the mangoes and use aspoon to scoop out the flesh. Preheat achargrill pan on high heat. Place the mangopieces on a large plate and sprinkle with theextra sugar. Cook the mango in preheatedchargrill pan for 2-3 seconds each side oruntil just warmed through.

5. Quickly dip the base of each mould in hotwater to loosen the kulfi and turn out ontoserving plates. Serve with the chargrilledmango.

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 1 tbs boiling water

• Large pinch of saffron threads

• 1L (4 cups) evaporated milk

• 335g (1 1/2 cups) caster sugar

• 50g pistachio kernels, finely chopped

• 50g blanched almonds, finely chopped

• 3 ripe mangoes, to serve

• 1 tbs caster sugar, extra, to serve

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Kulfi is a traditional dessert from India. The

frozen dessert is similar to ice cream, but much

creamier and contains spices such as cardamom

and saffron. A great dessert which complements

every Asian meal perfectly.Kulfi ka anand leejiye!

Recipe and picture source: www.taste.com.au

Recipe

Monthly Festival: Tet, Vietnam (22 to 25 Jan 2012)

Next year January is a big month for Asia. Not only

are Chinese communities throughout the region

celebrating the Chinese New Year, but the Vietnamese

Lunar New Year, a time when Vietnam basically

stands still, also falls on the same dates. During Tet,

the Vietnamese New Year, people return home for

annual family reunions and celebrations, meaning

that government offices, shops, restaurants and some

sights are closed.

For travellers visiting Vietnam during the Tet holidays,

it is advisable to check with us before the trip to

make sure the itinerary can be operated as planned.

Additionally, every visitor should be informed that

during Tet, it may not be possible to visit some sights

as opening hours may differ and many shops will be

closed. Right before and after the festive days,

transportation, whether by plane or train, is

overbooked every year and it is difficult to get seats

confirmed. Beach destinations are crowded with local

families over Tet. If you wish to travel around Tet,

make sure to book early as every single Vietnamese

is travelling home during these days!

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D - B r i e f

Diethelm Travel GroupKian Gwan II Bldg, 14/F140/1 Wireless Road,

Bangkok 10330, ThailandPhone: +66 2 660 7000 / Fax: +66 2 660 7027

E-mail: sales@diethelmtravel.com

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