Wat an event: Jose Carreras performing in Angkor Wat - there's something you don't see every day. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is being offered at a once-in-a-lifetime price of US$2,400-US$2,900 or HK$18,696-HK$22,591 per person (US$3,900-US$4,900 per couple) by the legendary Oriental hotel in Bangkok. Packages include two nights accommodation (December 5-7 or 6-8); daily breakfast; return flights to Angkor via a privately chartered plane; plus all transfers. On December 6, after a gala dinner in the temple grounds, Carreras will make his debut appearance for only 1,000 guests, followed by performances by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and a cast of 250 Cambodian dancers, singers and musicians. For more information, call the hotel directly on [662] 659 9000 or book online at
www.mandarinoriental.com.
Need Aman?: Until October 15, a special deal is being offered at Aman Spa (right), Amanresorts' first spa which opened in Phuket last December. A wide variety of treatments are available, from facials, massage and reflexology to meditation and yoga, in a typically Aman-ish idyllic setting overlooking the Andaman Sea. Three nights' stay per couple costs US$3,200 (HK$24,928) and includes airport transfers, accommodation in a garden pavilion, all meals (excluding alcohol) plus six treatments. Call 2255 2626 or [6676] 324 333 for more details (
www.amanresorts.com).
The road less travelled: You've done the Silk Road, the Golden Triangle and Route 66, but what next? How about the World Heritage Road, a new tourism initiative uniting the Central Vietnam provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Danang City and Quang Nam. Although not officially launched to the travel industry until next March, a new Web site details the highlights of the area. These include three Unesco-designated World Heritage Sites: the ancient imperial city of Hue; the 16th-century silk route trading port of Hoi An, and My Son Valley, the sacred remains of the ancient Cham civilisation. Other worthwhile pitstops include the Buddha-filled caves of the Marble Mountains; the former French hill station of Ba Na, and the clear lagoon at Lang Co. Visit
www.worldheritageroad.com for more details.
Style bibles: If you're the type to leave copies of Hip Hotels conspicuously scattered on your coffee table, you'll love the best designed hotels series. As the name suggests, the publishers focus on the world's most exclusive establishments, chosen for their aesthetically pleasing decor. Hotel junkies and design aficionados will love the glossy tomes packed with enticing and inspirational images. The latest is best designed wellness hotels, covering 33 spa resorts in the Far East, India, Australia and the South Pacific. You'll feel better simply flicking through the pages. It costs 29 euros (about HK$221) from
www.designhotels.com, where you can also pick up the rest of the collection.
Pachyderm polo: If you're planning a visit to Hua Hin, the Thai royal family's holiday haunt, you might want to synchronise your dates with the second King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament, which will take place between September 17 and 22. Played according to World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) rules, the tournament will feature teams from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Singapore, Dubai and Thailand, with players including the Pakistan national polo captain and the three brothers in the German national team who have just competed in the Cartier Cup in London.
The majority of teams are pony polo players who play with a regular-size ball but an elongated stick. Rules are similar to the equine version, except for the allowance of a jumbo pooper scooper to run around the pitch during games and keep it dung-free. Also appearing at the free event, which raises money and awareness for the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, will be elephant artists (elephants that paint, not artists who paint on elephants . . .) and an elephant orchestra.