D-Brief
Edition 17
O ff t h e B e a t e n Tr a c k
D-Brief Bangkok, 30 January 2012
Dear Partners, Are you searching for something out of the ordinary and far removed from the normal tourist path? We are delighted to 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 accompanied by a knowledgeable Diethelm Travel guide. Discover the remarkable landscape of Yunnan‟s rice terraces and snow-capped mountains, and join us to explore Gujarat, a rarely visited part of India boasting beautiful art deco palaces, 10th century monuments and 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. We hope this D-Brief inspires you to explore roads less travelled. Sincerely,
Your Diethelm Travel Team
Off the Beaten Track The daring traveller, willing to get off the beaten track and occasionally forgo some creature comforts or endure a bumpy road, is rewarded by the myriad of opportunities to experience something really out of the ordinary. Exploring a destination to discover the history, culture and scenery of a region well away from traditional tourist routes and crowds, not only offers the chance for fantastic and unique photographs but also a never to be forgotten experience.
discover traditional India and take part in one of the many colourful festivals and fairs.
For those seeking such an adventure, we have picked three Diethelm Travel destinations which offer these incredible experiences.
Yunnan, China
The desert state of Gujarat, reminiscent of Rajasthan 50 years ago, fascinates with its rich culture resulting from the various civilizations that have inhabited the region over the millennia. Itâ€&#x;s the ideal region to
Gujarat, India Yunnan offers the perfect mix of cultural sightseeing and stunning scenery. Nowhere else in China can you discover as many ethnic groups, each with its own traditions and religion, as in Yunnan province.
And, Putao, a remotely located town in northern Myanmar, is visited by less than 1,000 tourists a year which makes a great base for trekking adventures and expeditions into the wilderness of the eastern end of the Himalayas.
Putao, Myanmar
Gujarat – Where Life is a Celebration! India has much more to offer than the Taj Mahal, bustling megacities and laidback Goa. For the adventurous traveller, vibrant Gujarat, located in the country‟s far northwest on the shores of the Arabian Sea, is a fantastic area to discover the more rural and unfamiliar parts of India. With a history going back more than 4,500 years, Gujarat has been home to various civilizations, such as the Indus Valley Civilization, Ashoka, Gupta, Mughal and the British, to name but a few. They have all left indelible signs of their presence in Gujarat in the form of architectural marvels and ancient celebrated traditions. From Buddhist caves, Jain temples, impressive mosques, Parsi pilgrimage sites, to churches and synagogues, Gujarat is a real melting pot of cultures.
Nature in Gujarat also does not disappoint. Within its harsh but beautiful desert landscape and the plains of the Rann of Kutch, live the rare, Asiatic wild ass and Asiatic lion. Gujarat also excels in producing exquisite textiles and handicrafts, including embroidery, block printing and tie and dye. One of the state‟s main attractions is its many different and unique semi-nomadic tribal people. Gujarat is home to the Bajanias, Mirs, Kolis (fishing people who work as salt gatherers), Siddis and Jaths together with pastoral groups such as the Rabaris and Bharwads, colourful communities of goat and sheep herders known for their brightly coloured attire. Join us to discover Gujarat – where life is a celebration!
Gujarat’s Colourful Fairs & Festivals Fairs and festivals offer an unmatched opportunity to watch and experience the local culture, especially when there are over 12,000 distinctly different fairs and festivals throughout the year in Gujarat. Each of these festivities is certain to surprise and fascinate you! Tarnetar Fair One of the most important fairs of Gujarat, the Tarnetar Fair, is attended by around 50,000 people from all over the Saurashtra region, located next to the Arabian Sea. This unique, 107 year old event celebrates the `Swayamwarâ€&#x; ceremony, an assembly of princes during which a princess chooses her suitor. Men wear their best colourful turbans and jackets and carry heavily embroidered umbrellas to attract a suitable bride. They stand in a line and the women, brilliantly dressed and bedecked in jewellery, select their life partner. The fair is held every year during the months of August/September, as per the Hindu calendar, at the Trineteshwar Temple, also known as Tarnetar, which dates back to the 13th-14th century.
Navratri – The Longest Dance Festival in the World Navratri Gujarat is renowned across India as the region where Navratri, Indiaâ€&#x;s most famous dance and worship festival, is most celebrated. In 2012, the nine day festival will start on 16th October and continue until 23rd October. Without doubt, this is the best time to admire the amazing traditional dresses and elaborate jewellery worn by the festival goers as well as watch the whirling and energetic dances performed in great synchronization. For the length of the festival, women perform the circular dance of Garba, while men join them to perform the Raas, a dance associated with Lord Krishna. Women dress in embroidered chaniyas (long flowing skirts) with glitzy mirrors and jazzy shells, and a choli (traditional blouse) adorned with embroidery, sequins, crystals, kundan stones, zardosi, thread work and mirror work. This event is not to be missed!
Gujarat’s Majestic Monuments With its rich history, cultural heritage and glorious past, Gujarat has more monuments and historic buildings than one could possibly see in a single trip to the region. Some of the most famous ones include: •
Jain temples of Palitana – In Palitana, 863 Jain temples grace the top of a 600-metre high hill in the middle of nowhere, the largest cluster of Jain temples anywhere in the world.
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Gandhi Ashram – Located in Ahmedabad, this house was once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi. With prior notice, the Ashram also organises Gandhi themed walking tours through the city.
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Ahmedabad – Ahmedabad‟s old city is dotted with labyrinthine lanes called 'polls„, with exquisitely carved wooden mansions and havelis.
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Sun Temple of Modhera – This intricately carved, magnificent early 11th century temple was built by King Bhimdev and dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya.
Exotic Eco-Tourism Nature has bestowed Gujarat with some of the worldâ€&#x;s finest wilderness. Its diverse wildlife includes wild ass living in the desolate Rann of Kutch (a salt marsh in Gujaratâ€&#x;s Thar Desert) and Asiatic lions in Gir, as well as the leopard inhabiting the forests of the Dangs. In addition, the blackbuck, chinkara gazelle, Indian wolf, desert fox, jackal, civet, jungle and desert cat can all be found here.
Visitors will be amazed by the variety of scenery in Gujarat. Deciduous forests in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, the vast grasslands of Kutch, scrub jungle and a long coastline with two gulfs, many estuaries, beaches, mangrove forests and offshore islands guarantee that every traveller will find a favourite spot. Diethelm Travel India can organize a trip to the Wild Ass Sanctuary of the Rann of Kutch, the only place in the world where the Indian Wild Ass still lives. Experience the fascination of this seemingly desolate place with unending plains, which are actually full of life!
Yunnan & South-Western China Yunnan is the perfect showpiece of China‟s varied natural scenery. From stunning rice field terraces, snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers, to one of the world‟s deepest canyons, Yunnan‟s wild, unspoilt landscape also harbours many ancient cultures.
Whether walking through dense bamboo forests or standing on the top of a steep cliff looking dramatically into a wild canyon, it will feel like you are right in the middle of the famous Chinese martial arts movie „Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon‟.
Experience the diversity of 26 different ethnic minorities, including the Naxi, Lisu, Tibetan and Hui minority groups. Fifteen of these ethnic groups can only be found in China.
Lijiang city, located in the northwest of Yunnan province, has a picturesque old town, with a labyrinth of alleyways, canals, wooden houses, tea shops, restaurants and Naxi crafts stores. Now a popular UNESCO World Heritage Site, we advise skipping the crowds by exploring the summertime countryside. Dotted with Naxi villages, the surrounding areas make it possible to get close to the local people and their ancient traditions. This is a haven for active travellers who like trekking and exploring!
From Kunming, also called “Spring City”, the capital city of the province, it is easy to venture out. In addition to experiencing the unique culture and village life of the diverse ethnic groups, Yunnan‟s most important attractions lie in some of the world‟s most spectacular landscapes.
Yunnan’s Must-See Attractions Stone Forest, Kunming Located 125 kilometres southeast of Kunming, the Stone Forest is one of Yunnan‟s most important sights. Karst limestone formations, like small and large trees, cover an area of approximately 400 square kilometres. The Stone Forest is around 270 million years old and while strolling through the formations, visitors catch glimpses of countless bizarre and beautiful stone masterpieces. There‟s even an old Chinese saying which says, “If you visit Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.”
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang Consisting of 13 peaks with average altitudes of around 5,000 metres, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a mountain massif close to the city of Lijiang. The area is home is to the southern most glacier in the Northern Hemisphere and can be reached by cable car (the station is located at 4,506 metres). A climb up 300 metres of wooden stairs brings you to the year-round snow-capped summit. At this altitude, take it easy climbing the mountain!
Yunnan’s Must-See Attractions Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang At the far side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain lies Tiger Leaping Gorge, a 16-kilometre long canyon along the Yangtze River. Regarded as one of the top 10 hiking trails in China, the gorge contains 18 rapids, which are not navigable by raft. The hiking path along the river, however, is well marked and used every day by the local Naxi villagers. With its roaring water rapids, clouds and mist covered mountains and 2,000 metre vertical drops, Tiger Leaping Gorge offers magnificent scenery which avid hikers should not miss.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Yuangyang The scenic Yuanyang Rice Terraces, built by the local Hani people a thousand years ago and still in use today, is a paradise for photographers. Enjoy spectacular sunsets over the irrigated rice terraces in winter and hike along the steep terraces to find the best spots to take pictures. On the way, you pass some of the regionâ€&#x;s minority villages where locals still wear their colourful traditional costumes.
From Chengdu to Lhasa Chengdu, in Sichuan province, can be easily reached from Yunnan and is a convenient starting point for your trip to Tibet. It takes less time and money to enter Tibet from Chengdu and there are three ways to do so: By airplane – There are at least two daily flights from Chengdu to Lhasa. The flight takes two hours and you will be awed by the breathtaking views of the Himalayas far below. By train – The Qinghai-Tibet railway is the world‟s highest altitude railway. Although the journey takes longer, a total of 44 hours, the reward lies in the stunning scenery as you gaze out of the window at the endless plains and mountains. By car – For the adventurous, a total of approximately 2,200 kilometres in a 4-wheel drive vehicle to Lhasa offers an incredible experience. The route is not for the faint hearted! No matter how you would like to travel to Lhasa, Diethelm Travel China would be delighted to prepare a tailor-made itinerary for you.
Travel Tips for South-Western China •
Altitude sickness: Since Yunnan and Tibet are both located on a high plateau averaging 2,000 metres, be aware of altitude sickness. Before you travel, make sure you are in good health. It is important to drink a lot of water and eat fruits with high water content. It is also recommended to take some high calorie snacks, like chocolate.
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Sun protection: Sometimes it can feel like all four seasons have been compressed into one day. Always pack warm clothes, layer clothes and do not forget sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (at least SPF 30), sunglasses and a sun hat.
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Cultural awareness: Remove your hat when entering a religious building. It is usually okay to enter a temple whilst monks are chanting. However, do not photograph or touch anything inside without permission. Always remember to circle shrines, stupas and prayer wheels in a clockwise direction, as it is believed that the earth and universe also rotate in this direction.
Putao – Trekking in Northern Myanmar Kachin State, Myanmar‟s northernmost state, is not only home to Myanmar‟s highest mountains, but also contains Southeast Asia‟s largest lake, Indawgyi Lake. Sharing China‟s border in the north and east, and India‟s to the west, the region is only reachable by air, and for foreign visitors, with a prior permit from the authorities. What seems to be quite a hassle, can in fact easily be arranged by Diethelm Travel Myanmar for you. Visitors who decide to fly to Putao, the base for trekking tours and other activities in the north, will be truly rewarded with awesome scenery and friendly faces. Putao itself is a small town, visited by only around 500 visitors a year, making it one of the most remote and unspoilt locations on earth. Situated in a flat valley in the foothills of the Himalayas, Putao was built by the British. The
small town and surrounding villages are inhabited by a mix of tribal people, including the Lisu, Rawan, Kachin and Khamti-Shan people. Starting from Putao, there are endless possibilities to explore the surrounding valleys by foot, by bicycle or raft. For the seriously fit, hardcore trekker, the 5,889 metre high Mount Hkakabo Razi, Myanmar‟s highest mountain, can be reached from Putao. However, due to the peak‟s remoteness, this trek takes nearly six weeks to complete. A shorter 5 day trek, but one that still offers snow capped mountain views, is the Ziyadam trek. Ziyadam, at 1,040 meters, is one of the last frontier villages of Myanmar located near the Indian border and is surrounded by pristine jungle and crystal clear rivers. Find out more about what Putao offers on the following pages.
Things to Do around Putao Malikha River Rafting This easy, grade 2, leisurely river rafting excursion starts on the pristine Mula River, later joining the renowned Malikha River. Floating through thickly forested canyons and in a true wilderness setting, and watching darting kingfishers and flapping hornbills, this relaxing journey gives a closer insight into a people and way of life unchanged for centuries. A picnic lunch is served on a river beach island, making an unforgettable finale to the trip.
Namhtunkoo Trek After a hearty breakfast and visit to the local market, head off to Namhtunkoo village, inhabited by the Lisu people. From here you trek through evergreen forests to the Namhtun mountain range, where, in clear weather, you can enjoy an amazing view towards the Indian border and over Mount Lancrumadin. Your accommodation for the night is a basic guesthouse located right next to the Namthun river. Stroll around the village and relax, whilst dinner is being prepared for you and the following day, trek downhill back to Putao.
Things to Do around Putao Walking Tour to Hopaing and Mudon Villages This easy to moderate five to seven hour walking tour takes you to various villages of the Putao valley. Start the day with a visit to the small, but bustling Putao market and from there, your walking tour starts through paddy fields, bamboo groves and along the Namhtun creek. The tour stops at the Shan village of Hopaing, amongst others, where a social and cultural exchange with the friendly Burmese is certain. On the way, you will also visit a Buddhist monastery and shrine.
Biking Tour Biking in the flat valley of Putao, where oxcarts and bicycles are the main means of transport, you will encounter the regionâ€&#x;s varied flora and fauna and pass through small villages inhabited by the Shan and Lisu people. Stop at a school, where you can say hello to some delightful children, before cycling on past paddy fields, temples and crossing rivers on suspension bridges.
Putao Trekking House Diethelm Travelâ€&#x;s base and partner in arranging the soft adventure tours in the region, Putao Trekking House, is an extremely cosy and hospitable lodge mainly employing local tribal people who love to share their knowledge of the region with you. Operating several excellent small scale community projects in the surrounding villages, Putao Trekking House is well respected and quietly opens doors for us, to gain a truly authentic insight into the local traditional way of life. The bungalows of Putao Trekking House were built with locally available wood and using traditional building techniques. While the rooms are rustic, they have a special charm and all come with attached bathrooms and hot and cold showers. The rooms offer scenic views, and are ideal for relaxing and enjoying the garden surroundings.
Travel Tips •
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Physical fitness: Putao has something for everybody. Trekking programs can either be "easy" with only a short element of trekking on good paths and predominantly at low altitudes; "moderate" with relatively short combinations of lowland trekking with more up and down parts; or "demanding" with long trekking days at higher altitudes on difficult terrain. Weather & clothing: The best time to travel to Putao is during dry season from the end of October until the end of March, when temperatures are between a low of 4-10 degrees Celsius and a high of 22-30 degrees Celsius. Clothes should be lightweight, dry quickly, and provide insulation. A thick sweater or fleece sweat shirt will be essential for the evenings, when temperatures drop considerably. Trip planning: Your trip to Putao should be planned well ahead as Diethelm Travel Myanmar requires the passport information of every traveller at least four weeks before the arrival date, in order to apply for an additional required travel permit to Putao.
Singaporean Tender Pork Spare Ribs One of Singapore‟s signature dishes, available at street food stalls all over the city and at traditional Singaporean restaurants, this juicy dish is easy to cook at home too!
Preparation Method Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking: 2 hours 1.
Ingredients (serves 4) • • • • • • • • • • • • •
2 tablespoons light soy sauce 4 tablespoons dark soy sauce 1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns 6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 10 fluid ounces orange juice 1 1/2 pounds pork spareribs 1 cup orange juice 1 cup water 5 sticks cinnamon 7 star anise white sugar to taste peanut or corn oil for frying 3 hard-cooked eggs, peeled (optional)
Recipe source: http://allrecipes.asia
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In a bowl, stir together the light and dark soy sauces, crushed peppercorns, garlic, and 2 tablespoons orange juice. Separate ribs between each bone into individual ribs, and place in the marinade. Cover, and set aside for at least 30 minutes. (If marinating much longer than 30 minutes, refrigerate.) Transfer the marinade to a large stockpot, and set the ribs aside. To the stockpot add the remaining 1 cup orange juice, water, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Carefully place the ribs in oil, and fry for 2 minutes per side, or until edges are sealed. Transfer to the stockpot, and boil, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Cover, and simmer for 1 hour, adding hard boiled eggs at this point, if desired.
Recipe
Coming Up: Shwedagon Festival, Yangon (7 Mar 2012) February and March mark the last month of the Myanmar lunar calendar, locally called Tabaung. It is the most colourful month of the year with pagoda festivals in full swing all over the country. The countryâ€&#x;s largest temple festival, the Shwedagon Festival, is held on the day of the full moon of Tabaung and is the monthâ€&#x;s finest event. Crowds of pilgrims give merit at Shwedagon every day during Taubaung and many Burmese donate funds for the renovation of their pagodas and temples. Many people from the provinces also use the full moon day as the perfect opportunity for a pilgrimage to the capital city and to participate in the big annual procession of gift-giving to the monks. During the entire month, visitors can experience the true religious feelings of the people of Myanmar by participating in events at pagoda fairs or by observing the rituals during the holiday. Note that this year, the festival takes place on 7 March 2012 and all government offices, museums and markets are closed on this day.
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D-Brief
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