Aug 17, 2018 | News
Glass water bottles, metal straws and room amenities in plastic-free packaging – Akyra Manor Chiang Mai has made a commitment to discontinue the use of plastic in the hotel, restaurant and bar!
“All Aleenta and akyra hotels aim to become single-use plastic free hotels by 2020, The Akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel is taking the lead on this initiative by becoming the first new hotel in Asia to launch without single-use plastic in its rooms or food and beverage outlets” Anchalika Kijkanakorn, Founder and Managing Director of the Akaryn Hotel Group.
Aug 17, 2018 | News
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Bali is participating in the NOW Bali Best Restaurant, Bar and Cafe Awards 2018.The Tamarind Mediterranean Brasserie is nominated for Best Mediterranean Restaurant Award and Raja’s Balinese Restaurant has been nominated for Best Balinese Restaurant Award.
How To Vote:
1. Click this link: best.nowbali.co.id
2. You will find the button ‘Voter Log In’ on the top right hand corner
3. Click LOG IN to vote
4. Click SIGN UP
5. Fill in the form
6. Check your emails and confirm your account
7. Log into the website
8. Choose catergory restaurants*
9. Click Vote!
*Tamarind Mediterranean Brasserie – Best Mediterranean Restaurant Award
*Raja’s Balinese Restaurant – Best Balinese Restaurant Award
Aug 17, 2018 | News
August 6, 2018, Chiang Mai, Thailand–Raya Heritage introduces an all-new approach to
resort design with its recent opening in the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai. Nestled in
a lush green garden on the banks of the Ping River, Raya Heritage is just a 20-minute drivefrom the town centre, yet a world away in ambience.
INSPIRATION
Inspired by the artistry and craftmanship of Lanna, a kingdom that once encompassed
northern Thailand as well as northern Laos, Myanmar’s Shan State and Yunnan, China,
Raya Heritage blends the simple charm and character of Lanna’s past with discreet,
personalised service and state-of-the-art guest comfort.
Thirty-three spacious suites set in lush gardens overlook the tranquil Ping River in
low-impact, three-storey buildings designed by Thai architect Boonlert Hemvijitraphan.
Terracotta tiles, hipped roof gables, vintage hard wood columns and beams, and
mulberry-paper screens evoke traditional northern Thai design while high ceilingsand a colour palette of whites and creams give the interiors a light contemporary
twist. The suites’ generous outdoor verandas facing the river hark back to a time
when villagers gathered on their front porches in the evening, chatting together and
sharing the day’s stories.
Designer Vichada Sitakalin decorated the resort with beautifully curated, one-of-a-kind
furniture pieces, artefacts and accessories, sourced from and often created by local
craftspeople using traditional techniques. “Sustainability is very important to me,” says
Vichada about her design philosophy. “I appreciate culture. I appreciate craftsmanship.
I appreciate the old ways of doing things and the way people in the past approached
artistic endeavours as a part of everyday life. In the past, people were much better at
sustainability than we are today. ‘Organic’ wasn’t a novel concept back then, it was a way
of life. This is only being rediscovered now as we start to realize how far we have gotten
away from balanced living.”
Aug 16, 2018 | News
Haadtien Beach Resort and Beach Club by Haadtien, the twin luxury boutique resorts in Koh Tao, have unveiled a cool new arrivals lounge to welcome guests at the island’s main ferry pier.
The Haadtien Courtesy Lounge is a bright, contemporary space where guests can relax after their ferry ride to Koh Tao and await their free transfer to the resorts. Located at Mae Haad Pier, the main arrival and departure point for Koh Tao, the lounge will be reserved exclusively for guests of Haadtien Beach Resort and Beach Club by Haadtien.
While there is no airport on Koh Tao, the air-conditioned Haadtien Courtesy Lounge will provide an airport lounge-style environment for the resorts’ guests. Arriving and departing guests will be able to enjoy comfortable seating, cold towels, refreshing drinks and free Wi-Fi, as the resort’s staff take care of every other arrangement – including luggage transfers.
Guests can also complete the check-in formalities at the lounge, so upon arrival at the resorts they will be able to head straight to their room, suite or villa.
“The most wonderful thing about Koh Tao is how blissfully secluded our island is. The boat journey to Koh Tao can take almost three hours, so we need to provide our guests with a warm welcome when they arrive. Our new Haadtien Courtesy Lounge allows us to take care of our guests for longer, extending every stay from the moment our guests arrive on Koh Tao to the time they board the boat to leave the island,” commented Khun Ratchakorn, Executive Assistant Manager, Haadtien Beach Resort and Beach Club by Haadtien.
Koh Tao is accessible by ferry from Koh Samui (via Koh Phangan) or Chumphon. The closest airports are located in Koh Samui, Surat Thani and Chumphon, all of which provide direct connections to and from Bangkok.
For more information about Haadtien Beach Resort and Beach Club by Haadtien, please visit www.haadtien.com and www.haadtienbeachclub.com, or simply call +66 (0) 2 261 3210.
Aug 14, 2018 | News
Whale season is in full swing in Noosa, with record numbers expected of humpback whales (30,000+) migrating up Queensland’s coast where the warm subtropical waters offer a more comfortable mating and birthing environment.
Whale season runs from June to October, with Noosa receiving two visits from these majestic creatures, on their way up the coast and then as they head back to Antarctica through Noosa’s waters with their new babies in tow!
There are daily sightings of these amazing mammals, known for their playful nature. If you’re lucky enough to see (or hear) a whale, it’s something you’ll never forget.
There are many opportunities to enjoy this incredible experience in Noosa and nearby:
• See them from the land at vantage points around Noosa such as Sunshine Beach to Peregian Beach and Noosa National Park.
• Take a kayak tour or jetboat thrill ride from Noosa and keep a look-out
• Join a whale-watching boat tour from Mooloolaba, Brisbane or Hervey Bay – all are just a day-trip from Noosa so you are back in Noosa for dinner
• See them from the air on a scenic flight over Noosa, Fraser Island and the Sunshine Coast.
• Get up close and personal and swim with the Humpback Whales with Sunreef Mooloolaba or Tasman Venture in Hervey bay.
Spot whales from land
Whales and their newborn calves can be spotted from vantage points along the eastern beaches from Sunshine Beach to Peregian Beach and Coolum, where a coastal boardwalk provides great viewing.
Whales can also be seen from the Noosa National Park headland if they are in close. Just look for the spray of water into the air as they “blow” when they rise to the surface to breathe. Or look for a splash anywhere between the buoys offshore to the horizon as they poke their head, fin or tail out of the water. There will also be a gigantic splash as they breach, launching their whole bodies out of the water.
Tours from Noosa
Noosa Ocean Rider and Noosa Thriller are jet boat thrill rides that tour the waters around the Noosa National Park headland, with regular whale sightings at this time of the year.
Epic Ocean Adventures do guided kayak tours to Double Island Point from Noosa, and have stunning, close-up encounters with whales.
The winter water clarity is incredible and SubSurface Scuba are now offering whale watching and snorkelling tours from Noosa and Mooloolaba. Snorkelling in the calm waters offers the chance to hear the whales’ song underwater.
Boat tours from Mooloolaba
Just 30mins south of Noosa, Sunreef and Whale One do whale-watching tours from Mooloolaba to the warm Sunshine Coast waters.
Boat tours from Brisbane
Brisbane’s Moreton Bay, less than 2 hours south of Noosa, also has whale-watching tours with Brisbane Whale Watching.
Boat tours from Hervey Bay
The whales spend time with their young in the calm waters of Hervey Bay, about a 2.5hr drive north of Noosa, and there’s a great range of half-day or full-day boat tours that take you close to the whales. Get up close on-board Tasman Venture (who also have a swim with the whales experience), Spirit of Hervey Bay, Whalesong Cruises or Freedom Whale Watch & Charters, and be back in Noosa for dinner!
See whales from the air
Flights over Noosa, Fraser Island and the Sunshine Coast also offer the chance to spot whales. Air Fraser Island have day tours and overnight experiences to the World Heritage-listed island on Noosa’s doorstep.
Airborne Solutions have scenic helicopter flights, or join Paradise Seaplanes for a flight in their Wilga Warbird. Or keep a lookout during a spectacular scenic flight over Sunshine Coast beaches with Helitec.
Swim with the whales
Sunreef Mooloolaba were the first in Australia to offer the chance to swim with humpback whales – you can’t get much closer than that! Tasman Venture in Hervey Bay also offer an incredible swim with the whales experience.
For more information visit:
www.visitnoosa.com.au/play
www.instagram.com/visitnoosa
Aug 14, 2018 | News
On the Great Barrier Reef Drive between Cairns and Port Douglas, where the Coral Sea meets forest-clad mountains, is a Coconut Odyssey Tour that will take you deep into the world of the humble coconut. Complimentary for in-house guests staying at Thala, the tour is held approx. three times each week and can be booked at Reception.
The Coconut Odyssey Tour takes guests through the life cycle of coconuts, known as the Tree of Life. With almost 700 coconut palms in Thala’s plantation, our coconut guide covers the history of coconuts and its usage worldwide with no coconut left unturned.
Palm trees produce coconuts up to 13 times a year and although it takes a year for the coconuts to mature, a fully blossomed tree can produce between 60-180 coconuts in a single harvest. Coconuts grow in the sand, need no fertilizer, and don’t need to be genetically modified, with the fruit growing so high in the tree, it’s difficult for pests to affect the fruit and so pesticides are not required.
What’s the difference between coconut water and coconut milk? We’re glad you asked. Coconut water is the clear liquid found in young green coconuts. It’s best drunk by drilling a hole into the coconut, inserting a straw into the soft husk and drinking immediately.
Coconut milk and coconut cream are created similar to their dairy counterparts. Coconut flesh (the white part) is grated and soaked in hot water. The coconut cream then rises to the top and is skimmed off. The remaining liquid is filtered through a fine cloth, with the liquid being coconut milk.
Thala’s Coconut Odyssey is a truly unique experience, leaving you with an abundance of knowledge as they explore Thala’s coconut plantation during your stay. Once you’ve checked into Thala Beach Nature Reserve, check with Reception when the next Coconut Odyssey tour is being held.
