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We kick off this issue of THE INSIDER by A&K Southeast Asia with an unveiling of our partnership with Aqua Expeditions, one of the world’s most luxury river and yacht cruise specialists. We also reveal our Top 5 picks for Southeast Asia’s hottest restaurants, learn how A&K Philanthropy is inspiring profound change in Chiang Mai through mushroom farming, and share the story of Cambodia’s HeroRATs.
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And a few words from our guests:
“We will treasure this unforgettable memory. Thank you sincerely for the quality of your organization, your services and the wonderful services of our guide with whom we shared wonderful moments of pleasure, laughter, cultural and religious exchange. We considered [our guide] as a daughter and that is worth more than all the gold in the world. Thank you, thank you and thank you.”
Claude P. & Martine V., Belgium
A&K and Aqua Blu Deliver Dream Indonesian Journeys Like You’ve Never Seen Before
The people behind some of the world’s most spectacular river cruises – namely Aqua Mekong and Aria Amazon – are bringing their signature all-inclusive cruise experiences to the isles of Indonesia. In November 2019, Aqua Blu will embark on its maiden voyage, exploring the Komodo National Park, Spice Islands and Raja Ampat on custom-designed 7- and 12-night itineraries.
Abercrombie & Kent have partnered with Aqua Expeditions to create the perfect accompaniment to the Aqua Blu voyage – a selection of private pre and post excursions that delve deeper into the natural beauty and unique cultures of Indonesia and Singapore. Options include:
Singapore Luxury Stopover - Experience Singapore like a true insider with our local A&K experts, with an option to discover Singaporean design and fashion with a personal shopper. Discover the city’s art, architecture, culture and food on evening hawker experiences with top foodies and visits to the city’s trendy neighborhoods.
Off-beat Adventure in Central Bali - Go off the beaten path in the heart of Bali and discover a world of beauty and adventure away from the popular tourist trail. Stay at some of our favorite small plantation properties and fill your days with trekking, biking and canoeing in some of Bali’s most incredible landscapes.
Highlands of Suwalesi - Travel to remote regions of Sulawesi, one of Indonesia’s most diverse islands, to discover stunning landscapes and the fascinating burial culture of the Toraja Highlands people. Consider adding an extension to Northern Sulawesi for some of the world’s best micro-diving, or three nights at the luxurious Wakatobi Resort in Southeast Sulawesi.
Cruise extensions also available in Ubud, Java and Lombok. Ask about our tailor-made touring to discover more possibilities.
Our Top 5: World Class Gastronomy in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia serves up some of the world’s hottest and trendiest restaurants with a generation of chefs rising up to meet the challenge of transforming centuries-old flavors and culinary traditions for more modern and sophisticated audiences. Here are our top picks of the region’s best culinary superstars, many of which have been awarded top spots on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 and are set to make a splash at the upcoming World’s 50 Best Restaurants this June.
1. Showstopping modern French cuisine at Odette, Singapore
Moving this year into the #1 spot on Asia’s Top 50 list is the two Michelin-starred Odette. A culinary tour de force in Singapore’s exceptionally stellar food scene, the restaurant serves up modern French cuisine inspired by chef Julien Royer’s grandmother’s kitchen. With signature dishes like French guinea fowl served with celeriac risotto and foie gras croquette, his four-, six- and eight-course degustation menus highlight the best seasonal ingredients and artisanal produce from around the world in an artful and tantalizingly delicious way.
2. A culinary hot-spot for every palette – Bangkok, Thailand
Known as the street-food capital of the world, Bangkok also receives accolades for its growing range of award-winning restaurants. With two of the Top 10, and eight of the Top 50 restaurants in Asia, there are enough exceptional offerings to satisfy even the most enthusiastic gourmands. Sample mind-blowing molecular Indian gastronomy at Gaggan or head to Gaa for unexpected Thai and South Asian fusion. Experience authentic local flavors with flair at Bo.Lan, Le Du, Paste or Nahm, or opt for German haute cuisine inspired by family recipes at Sühring.
3. A modern twist on Lao heritage at Paste at the Apsara, Luang Prabang, Laos
Following the success of its inaugural one Michelin Star restaurant in Bangkok, Chef Bee Satongun - Asia’s best female chef in 2018 - and Chef Jason Bailey have brought their culinary excellence and award-winning formula to Luang Prabang. Drawing from the historical recipes of Phia Sing, the gatekeeper of the Royal kitchen and godfather of Lao cuisine, Paste also utilizes creative cooking techniques to showcase indigenous plant ingredients, featuring a diversity of wild foraged and cultivated herbs, edible plants and flowers found in Laos.
4. When past and present collide at Xu Restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Xu restaurant stands out in Ho Chi Minh City’s dining scene not only as a see-and-be-seen nightspot that offers enticing, innovative cocktails but also as a high-end eatery serving up ambitious nouvelle Vietnamese cuisine. Led by chef/owner Bien Nguyen who polished his restauranteur and culinary chops in Australia before returning to his home country, Xu restaurant stays true to its roots while offering a contemporary interpretation of some of the Vietnam’s most-loved dishes. Diners will delight at the intriguing fresh seafood dishes on offer while sipping a refreshing cocktail in an elegant yet stylish space.
5. Local ingredients and unparalleled flavors at Bali’s Locavore, Indonesia
Standing out with a contemporary eco-friendly concept and sustainability at the forefront of its ethos is Indonesia’s only entry in Asia’s top 50 restaurants - Locavore. Celebrating all things local, Chefs Eelke Plasmeijer and Ray Adriansyah have created a produce-driven menu, transforming the island’s indigenous ingredients into complex, modern European fare. The seasonal tasting menu features unique dishes such as pan-fried mackerel from Jimbaran served on pickled sour dough and paired with a cocktail of fresh tomato, basil leaves, jackfruit syrup and homemade apple brandy.
Sprouting Change in Chiang Mai at the Wildflower Home
THE INSIDER was lucky enough to spend time with one of our favorite humanitarians who inspires everyone she meets with an incredible passion, vision and drive. Always on the go, Sister Anurak made time to sit down and chat with us about how she is guiding women in northern Thailand toward a life of independence at the Wildflower Home, with a mushroom house project supported by A&K Philanthropy (AKP).
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the Wildflower Home and what led you to become involved?
A: The Wildflower Home provides a temporary shelter to mothers and their young children coming from crisis situations such as pregnancy out of wedlock, domestic abuse, and severe poverty. From my 30 years working with women and young girls in rural Thailand, I realized that many of their problems stem from the inequality that still exists between men and women in tribal communities. Women have fewer opportunities to gain an education, are responsible for taking care of the family and are expected to follow the orders of their husbands.
So when I came to the Wildflower Home, I was determined to help the women change their perception. We work to empower our residents with a sense of self-worth and teach them to realize that men and women are equal. With this mindset, we give the women confidence to not only build better lives for themselves, but also to pass on this knowledge to their children and create change for future generations.
Q: What is your approach to changing their mindsets?
A: In 2017, we began working with A&K Philanthropy to establish the Chiang Mai Mushroom House, where the women learn to grow organic mushrooms and sell them at the market. The mushrooms not only provide a constant source of food for our home, but also teaches the women basic job skills which they can use in their daily lives. We saw such success with this project in the first year that we began building a second mushroom house in 2018. Now the women harvest about 4-5 kilograms (8.8-11 pounds) of mushrooms a day and earned over 44,000 Thai baht (US $1,382) last year.
Q: What other projects are you working on at the Wildflower Home?
A: Apart from the mushroom houses, we also have a vegetable garden and raise livestock such as chickens, pigs, ducks and fish. With help and support from AKP, we are working towards the goal of being self-sustainable by 2024. We eat and sell what we grow and everything is organic and chemical-free.
Q: And what are the Wildflower Home’s plans for the future?
A: At the moment, we are building a new house for the mothers which will be ready to move-in in October this year. With the new house, we will be able to take in more women and have a greater impact. Currently, we have the capacity to host 10 families. With the new building, this will double to 20 families. We also have volunteers from all over the world giving their time to fill the land with soil in preparation for a new vegetable garden and the children’s daycare area is being renovated to support a dedicated learning center.
Contact our Destination Specialists to find out more about the Wildflower Home and how you can get involved.
Four decades after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) estimates that as many as four to six million landmines remain undetected in remote areas of the country.
Making these more remote regions of Cambodia safe for travel, the country is receiving help from an unexpected source – HeroRATs. These specially-trained rats, backed by the non-government organization APOPO, are able to sniff out the presence of landmines quickly and accurately, thereby significantly speeding up the demining process.
With the help of these long-tailed rodents, Cambodia has been able to reclaim over 15 million square meters (161 million square feet) of land for agricultural use. The project continues to Preah Vihear province, in the countryside neighboring the UNESCO World Heritage of Preah Vihear Temple.
Learn more about the mine clearing process on your next journey to Siem Reap, Cambodia with A&K.
● Thailand was voted best Adventure Destination for the third consecutive year by Global Traveler Magazine. Abercrombie & Kent was also honored as Best Tour Operator.
● The Phi Phi Islands’ Maya Bay will remain closed for marine rejuvenation until mid-2021 after promising ecological recovery during the trial closure which began on 1 June 2018.
● As one Yangon icon closes, another makes a spectacular return -Port Autonomy will take over the former location of Union Bar & Grill on Strand Road, serving up boozy brunches and signature cocktails with enticing Asian Fusion flavors.
● People in Laos are putting on their annual Boun Bang Fai rocket competitions to honor the God of the Sky and pray for a good harvest, in various locations between now and the end of June.
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For more information about anything you have seen in this newsletter, contact us:
Looking for more INSIDER news, ideas and travel information?
We share our Top 5 picks for summer in Southeast Asia and showcase our tailor-made private shore excursion service. Plus, we give you a preview of our new experiences in Vietnam and waive single supplement fees on selected Luxury Small Group Journeys.
Our Exclusive Cambodia journey features the best of Cambodia’s city, culture, island and nature. We also share our Top 5 reasons to add Dalat to your Vietnam must-see list, chat with Bangkok’s Creative District’s dynamic design duo and introduce our A&K Philanthropy project in Mai Chau, Vietnam.
Experience tranquility amid the rolling hillsides of northern Laos, discover something chic or pick up a bargain at our favorite Bangkok markets and explore the latest trends in arts, design and fashion with an art curator in Siem Reap. We also share an update about our philanthropy project.
