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D - B r i e f

Bangkok, 31 January 2011

Dear Partner,

Let us be the first to wish you a Happy Chinese New Year and welcome you to the Year of

the Rabbit with our latest edition of D-Brief!

As promised in December‟s preview, we start off 2011 showcasing some of the most

interesting architecture from around Asia. In many ways, local beliefs and traditions are

reflected in the design of numerous buildings, which form an integral part of the Country‟s

identity.

The architectural treasures of Singapore, Bhutan and India, all come with a unique story

and or heritage. Whether it is the contemporary style of Singapore‟s chrome and glass

skyscrapers, to the spiritual influence of Bhutan, to India‟s colonial charm, harking back to

a bygone era, each has a unique and interesting story.

Explore these fascinating facts with us over the coming pages.

Sincerely yours,

Victoria Sertic

Chief Sales Officer

Diethelm Travel Group

The Nomads of BhutanArchitecture

Nowhere in the world will you be able to

explore greater architectural diversity than

in Asia. With so many different cultures,

values and traditions, the region holds a

vast array of beautiful treasures for every

architecture fan.

Join us on an aesthetic journey through

three countries which could not be more

different: India, Bhutan and Singapore.

Many of India‟s old palaces and beautiful

mansions, which were built during the

British Raj‟s time, have been preserved for

today‟s visitors. An unparalleled choice of

colonial manors and palaces, converted

into luxury hotels, makes India‟s

architecture rich and unique. Discover the

magic of Falaknuma Palace and Umaid

Bhawan Palace in the India section:

For those who appreciate contemporary

architecture, you can‟t go wrong with

Singapore‟s newest developments: The

Marina Bay Sands, The Singapore Flyer,

Esplanade Theatres; just to mention a few.

Read more about these spectacular

highlights by clicking on the below link:

For all culture lovers, you will be

architecturally inspired by Bhutan‟s

colourful monasteries and fortresses;

dating back to the 14th century. The

country‟s architecture ensures each

building is in perfect harmony with its

harsh environment and at the same time,

remains a unique creation:

Modern Architecture of Singapore

India’s Palaces Traditional Bhutanese Architecture

The Nomads of BhutanARCHITECTUREModern Architecture of Singapore

Home to some of the world‟s most iconic

and cutting edge design, Singapore‟s big

corporations and government are actively

developing landmark buildings, to attract

business and tourism.

Since the country‟s independence in 1965,

Singaporeans have used architecture to

build a unique skyline. In 1986, the city‟s

280 metre Overseas Union Bank Centre,

was the highest building outside North

America and with this project Singapore

started a trend of building high-quality

skyscrapers all over Asia. Nowadays,

Southeast Asia is home to the Petronas

Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Taipei 101,

which are among the world‟s tallest

structures. Petronas Towers was only

recently topped by Dubai‟s Burj Khalifa,

boasting a remarkable 828 metres height.

Unfortunately, due to Singapore‟s close

proximity to Changi International Airport,

strict building height restrictions are

enforced. Nevertheless, or maybe exactly

because of these restrictions, Singapore

strives to find other ways to promote the

City to the world through its architecture.

During the last 10 years, internationally

famous architects have created award-

winning buildings for the City, including

the Esplanade Theatre, the National

Library of Singapore as well as Norman

Foster‟s Supreme Law Court. Recent

additions such as the Singapore Flyer and

the Marina Bay Sands complex complete

Singapore‟s first class attractions and

entertainment facilities.

While other cities can only dream of such

an array of architectural delights,

Singapore‟s city landscape also boasts

traditional Malay shop houses, Chinese

temples and restored heritage sights. A

true architectural treasure!

Marina Bay Sands

With a cost of 6.2 Billion USD, Marina Bay Sands is

home to a 2,560 room hotel, a 120,000 square

metre exhibition centre, a shopping mall, a museum,

two theatres, six „celebrity chef‟ restaurants and a

casino with 500 tables including 1,600 slot machines.

The three cascading hotel towers are topped by a

340-metre-long and 38-metre-wide rooftop structure

called the SkyPark. Being the equivalent in size to

four and a half A380 aircrafts, the park features a

colossal 150 metre swimming pool, restaurants and

a public observatory with a total capacity of 3,900

people.

Arup, the company who headed the engineering for

this mega project describes the construction as one

of the most difficult undertakings to date. The

infinity pool holds 1,424 cubic metres of water and

had to be built with four joints to help withstand the

natural motion of the towers. In addition to wind,

the Hotel tower‟s settlement in the earth had to be

taken into consideration. In order for the infinity

pool‟s overflowing system to function properly, the

pool stands on custom-made jack legs which allow

for future height adjustments to be made. Clearly a

fantastic piece of engineering!

Singapore Tourism Board

Esplanade Theatres

Designed by Michael Wilford and DP Architects from

Singapore, Esplanade Theatres On The Bay,

affectionately nicknamed „The Durian‟ by many

Singaporeans, brings Singapore to the forefront of

the international arts scene. State-of-the-art

mechanisms, such as reverberation chambers and an

acoustic canopy make sure that the Concert Hall is a

premier venue for performing all kinds of music.

The most eye catching feature of Esplanade, is the

cladding and sunshade system, making up the outer

shells. The designers studied nature‟s elements such

as sunflowers and fish scales before coming up with

a repetitive pattern of sunshades. The distribution of

the panels allow a great view from the inside, but at

the same time provide protection from the sun and

control the internal temperature of the building.

Esplanade Theatres is aimed to be Asian in style,

without being traditional: Architecture in Asia is

often based on a solid floor with a roof that seems

to be much lighter. This balance between solid and

delicate is reflected in the two very light shells

presenting a soft and organic looking form.

Singapore Tourism Board

Singapore Flyer

A ride on the Singapore Flyer is not for those afraid

of heights. If you can brave it, you will be rewarded

with breathtaking views over the city and harbour.

Here are a couple of fun facts to wet your appetite:

• The Flyer is the world‟s largest observation wheel

at 165 meters and 150 meters in diameter. Each

capsule is about the size of a city bus and can

hold up to 28 visitors.

• Officially opened to the public on the 1st of March

2008, the flyer rotates in an anti-clockwise

direction. Four months later, its rotation direction

was changed under the advice of Feng Shui

masters and now runs clockwise.

• Due to space limitations, a pioneering vertical

assembly method was used in construction: The

wheel was erected piece by piece, with each

section being rotated until all parts had been

installed and the observation wheel was complete.

• Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Full Butler

Sky Dining and private capsules, holding 2 up to

10 people are available for rent, if you are looking

for privacy breathtaking views. Contact your

Diethelm Travel team to find out more and to book

this incredible experience.

Singapore Tourism Board

Having a rich heritage, five blocks of restored

warehouses along Clark Quay are nowadays home to

various restaurants and nightclubs. During the

colonial era, Clark Quay and the river of Singapore

was a busy centre of trade, full of barges and boats

transporting cargo. By the second half of the

twentieth century, the river became so polluted that

the government relocated its cargo services and

made efforts to clean up the area.

Today, the riverfront district is easily recognised by

the umbrella-like canopies that provide shade and

transform the area into a pleasant leisure location.

While these canopies cover the main streets and

internal courtyard of Clark Quay, Alsop, the British

architecture company responsible for the

redevelopment, created an elevated dining area

along the river. Dining platforms are illuminated at

night and create colourful reflections on the river,

making for an exciting and fun dining experience.

Clark Quay MRT Station is conveniently located, if

you wish to explore this futuristically looking

entertainment area on the riverside.

Clark Quay

Singapore Tourism Board

Traditional Bhutanese Architecture

The Land of the Thunder Dragon has for

a long time been isolated and is thus one

of the last places in the world, where

ancient traditions are still the way of life.

The Bhutanese government has made

efforts to promote traditional architecture

and building construction methods, and

hence preserve an important part of the

country‟s unique culture and heritage.

Bhutan‟s architecture is without

reservation, one of the finest expressions

of the Thunder Dragon Kingdom‟s

distinctive character.

Its main roots date back to neighbouring

Tibet, which itself was influenced by

Chinese styles and faraway Persia, thanks

to the merchants travelling the Silk Road.

The main characteristics of Bhutan‟s

architecture is first and foremost the

consequence of the region‟s natural

positioning, especially the climate. In the

countries to the north of the Himalayan

mountains, namely Tibet, long harsh

winters and frosty continental winds have

produced a dry landscape, consisting of

only sparse vegetation. In contrast, those

in the south, such as Nepal and Bhutan,

have a much milder climate with plentiful

rain, particularly during the summer rainy

season. This typical weather has

produced alpine-type fauna, with forests

containing many species of trees.

Naturally, this rich supply of timber was

the basis for an architectural style, where

wood plays a key role. In addition to the

weather considerations, the kindness and

peaceful mentality of the Bhutanese

people has led to a brighter and more

graceful architecture than in Tibet. As you

will discover in the following pages, each

building is designed in harmony with its

environment, while fulfilling specific

functions, religious or worldly, all are true

masterpieces.

Bhutanese Monasteries & Fortresses

Among Bhutan‟s vast array of buildings, temples,

monasteries and fortresses (dzongs) are the country‟s

finest expressions of Bhutanese architecture. With

their colossal stone walls and striking floral, animal

and religious motifs, an unparalleled blend of artistic

beauty and engineering talent is displayed in all

structures.

• Local building materials are used and traditionally

include timer and bamboo from the forest, stone,

brick and rammed earth which are then

whitewashed for the full effect.

• Traditional buildings in Bhutan are usually built

without a formal architectural plan or schedule.

Instead, a high Lama leads the construction and

establishes the correct location of the building

elements by means of spiritual insight.

• Even though the names of most founders of dzongs

and monasteries have been written down, it is

unknown which architects or artists have built them.

Artistic creations in Bhutan are not considered to be

a form of personal expression, but reflect a

communal achievement.

Tashichho Dzong

Built in 1216, on the western bank of the Wang Chu

River, in the capital city of Thimphuu, Tashichho

Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and fortress. In 1952

King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck completely restored

and enlarged it in the traditional style; using neither

nails nor written plans. Since this time, the building

has been the seat of Bhutan‟s government housing

the Throne Room and offices of the King, the

secretariat and the Ministries of Home Affairs and

Finance. This is also where His Majesty King Jigme

Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned as the

fifth Dragon King of Bhutan on 6th November 2008.

Characteristics of Bhutanese dzongs are:

• Massive inward sloping stone walls painted in

white with only few windows in the lower parts of

the wall surrounding a complex of temples and

administrative offices.

• Chinese-style flared roofs constructed in hardwood

or bamboo without the use of nails.

• Temples and buildings in the inside are decorated

with vibrant art motifs and elaborately carved

ornaments and often feature a red ochre band

running around the top of the walls.

Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest)

The Taktsang Monastery, or Tiger‟s Nest Monastery,

is best known for its breathtaking visual appeal.

Located near the town of Paro on top of a steep cliff

at 3,120 metres high, this architectural wonder is a

must-visit for all travellers to Bhutan.

Built in 1692, Tiger‟s Nest is one of the most sacred

religious sites in Bhutan. The monastery consists of

six temples and a residential area, which was

designed to perfectly fit on the granite ledge and

give access to the eight meditation caves, located

behind the buildings. All structures are

interconnected through steep stairways, carved in

stone and small wooden bridges. The beautiful and

elaborate wall paintings and statues, inside the

various temples, offer a deep insight into early

Buddhist philosophy and practices.

A peaceful hike through pine forest, which are

colourfully decorated with moss and prayer flags

brings you to Taktsang Monastry. However, visitors

who are not used to hike uphill on steep,

mountainous paths might do best to take a horse or

mule up. Special permission to visit the monastery is

needed and will be organized, should you wish to

book this breathtaking experience with us.

The Legends of Tiger’s Nest

Taktsang Monastery‟s roots date back to the 8th

century and the existence of the historical figure

Guru Rinpoche. Legend has it that a former wife of

the well-known emperor Yeshe Tsogyal joined Guru

Rinpoche‟s company and willingly transformed into a

flying tigress, so that she could fly the guru on top

of the cliff. Guru Rinpoche, who is believed to be the

second reincarnation of Buddha and was responsible

for the spread of Buddhism across the region,

meditated and developed his eight manifestations in

one of the caves. Later, when the monastery was

built at this exact holy spot, it was given the name

Taktsang, translated means „Tiger‟s Nest‟.

Construction workers faced the steep cliffs and

precipitous path, which lead up to the rock‟s ledge.

It is said that flying Dakinis, (female deities of

enlightened energy who travel in the sky), where

transporting construction material to the mountain

top to facilitate the building process. For centuries

the temple remained in its original state, until

unfortunately in 1998 a fire destroyed a big part of

it. The Bhutanese government immediately started

renovations and since 2005, the Monastery can be

visited again in its full glory.

India’s Palaces

India is a country of diverse history. Overtime India has been influenced bydifferent religions, rulers and empires; allof which have left their mark, in the formof stunning and captivating palaces.During the colonial area, the Europeaninvolvement in India brought Edwardianarchitecture and later, in the 1920s, theArt Deco movement to the Country.

Having been the centres of power fornumerous dynasties of Indian leaders,India‟s palaces have a rich history worthexploring. Many of the forts and palacesstill stand proud all over India. They areexamples of the Maharajas‟ great wealthat the time and display precious artcollected from all over the world.Nowadays, the grandeur and magicbehind these places can be experiencedfirst hand by visitors, as many of thepalaces have been turned into luxuryhotels.

We are highlighting two of these palaces,

that might not be as well known as the

Taj Mahal or the Udaipur Lake Palace, but

in no way lack history or a great blend of

Eastern and Western architecture. While

Umaid Bhawan Palace‟s sandstone

structure perfectly blends into the desert

landscape of Rajastan, Falaknuma Palace

is entirely built out of Italian marble and

shines brightly over Hyderabad‟s lush city.

As different as the two buildings might

seem from the outside and even though

they were constructed in different

centuries, both palaces are exemplary

illustrations of the great architectural

achievements of their time. Not only

honeymooners in search for a romantic,

royal experience, stay at the palaces, but

also thousands of heritage lovers come to

India‟s palaces to experience the

grandeur.

Falaknuma Palace – Hyderabad

Falaknuma Palace is one of Hyderabad‟s, if not

India‟s, finest palaces. A nobleman from the Paigah

family, who later became Prime Minister of the

Hyderabad State, built it from 1884 to 1893.

Falaknuma, which translates to „The Mirror of the

Sky‟, has hosted many great public figures such as

the King and Queen of England, King George V, the

Governor General of India, and Nicholas II, the last

Tsar of Russia.

Originally, Falaknuma Palace was designed to have

the shape of a scorpion: The palace consists of two

wings spread out towards the north, while the main

building is in the middle section and the kitchen and

harem quarters are in the south. However, over time

the building lost, due to too many additions and

alternations, its original shape. William Ward Marret,

an Italian architect, designed the palace in a rare

blend of Tudor and Italian style: a staggering 32

different kinds of marble were used. Stained glass

windows allow a bright spectrum of colours to

lighten up the total of 60 rooms and 15 spacious

halls. The last Nizam of Hyderabad changed the

exterior decor of the building by adding unique

themed gardens to the palace.

Taj Falaknuma Palace – The Hotel

After over a decade of extensive and very detailed

restoration of 45 rooms and 15 suites, the Taj Hotel

Group has opened the five-star Falaknuma Palace

Hotel, within parts of the elaborate palace.

Overlooking the city of Hyderabad and covering over

32 acres of parks, the palace offers the perfect

setting for historic tours, romantic getaways and

weddings. Indulge in state-of-the-art facilities and

take advantage of the palace butler, while

discovering priceless art and artefacts, treasures and

paintings collected by the Nizam while travelling the

world. Some of the extraordinary features of the

house include Venetian chandeliers, tableware of

crystal and gold, hand-crafted French tapestries and

ornate inlaid furniture from Kashmir. The Imperial

Library is a replica of the one at Windsor Castle and

boasts, next to its walnut carved ceiling, a collection

of 6,000 rare books and manuscripts. This, beyond

doubt, is the setting to travel back in time and

discover India‟s most colourful past.

Diethelm Travel India will be happy to provide you

with rates and help you design an itinerary around

this wonderful palace. Do not hesitate to contact

your Diethelm Travel team for more information.

Umaid Bhawan Palace – Jodhpur

With a total of 347 rooms, Umaid Bhawan Palacewas the world‟s most extensive private residencewhen completed in 1944. The construction of thisunique palace took place from 1929 to 1944 and wasinitiated as a drought relief measure to provide workfor over 3,000 people. Jodphur, the location ofUmaid Bhawan, is also known as the „Desert City‟and experienced consecutive years of drought at thetime. The palace was named after the late MaharajaUmaid Singhji and, today, remains the residence ofthe Maharaja of Jodhpur. Due to its location onChittar Hill, high above the city, many locals also callit the „Chittar Palace‟.The palace is made up of carved, interlocking yellowsandstone pieces; slotting together a bit like a jigsawpuzzle. In order to transport these large stones to itsfinal location a train line had to be created. Aconstant temperature of 23 degrees Celsius ismaintained in the palace, which is a blend ofwestern and eastern architecture. The interiors,originally designed by Maples of London, was sunkby the Germans in 1942 on the way to India. As aresult, Polish interior designer, Stefan Norblin,created the lavish interiors in elegant Art Decofashion.

Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace – The Hotel

In 1972 Umaid Bhawan Palace was opened to thepublic and parts of it were converted into a 64 roomhotel. Since then, it has been associated with one ofIndia‟s premier hotel chains – the Taj Group.Guests can stay in the Historical or Royal Suites,which were the residences of visiting royalty, theMaharaja and his queen. Each suite has its ownunique style, embellished with Art Deco interiors andmodern conveniences. The Central Dome soars 32metres overhead and provides a focal point for allvisitors to the property. Views from the various foodand beverage outlets at sunset, especially the Pillarsrestaurant, are spectacular. Landscaped gardenscreate an ambiance which is serene and restful, yetspectacularly royal. Located indoors, tucked away inthe basement lies the Zodiac Swimming Pool, a coolblue and private retreat. The hotel also has a largeoutdoor swimming pool, which was subsequentlyadded.

If you wish to feel like royalty and enjoy purerelaxation amidst 26 acres of lush gardens, rooms atTaj Umaid Bhawan Palace as well as ground services,can be booked through Diethelm Travel India.Contact us for reservations and more information.

Source: Taste, www.taste.com.au

Recipe of the Month: Sung Choi Bao

How to Make Fresh Prawn Spring Rolls:

1. To make the peanut sauce, heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic andchilli and cook, stirring for 1 minute, or until aromatic. Add the peanuts, water, coconut milk, limejuice, fish sauce and sugar and cook, stirring for 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens slightly. Removefrom heat and set aside to cool.

2. Place the noodles in a small heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for 5 minutes tosoften. Drain well.

3. Soak 1 rice paper sheet in warm water for 30 seconds or until soft. Drain on paper towel. Place on aclean work surface. Place 2 prawn halves along the centre of the rice paper sheet. Add a little of thenoodles, bean sprouts, carrot, peanuts, a mint leaf and coriander leaf. Fold in ends and roll up firmlyto enclose filling. Repeat to make 20 spring rolls.

4. Place on a platter and serve with peanut sauce.

Recipe of the Month: Fresh Prawn Spring Rolls

Ingredients50g rice vermicelli noodles 20 round (20cm diameter) rice paper sheets 20 cooked king prawns, peeled, deveined, halved lengthways 1 cup (55g) bean sprouts, trimmed 1 carrot, peeled, cut into matchsticks 1/4 cup (40g) finely chopped peanuts 20 mint leaves 20 coriander leaves

Peanut Sauce 1 tbs peanut oil 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 2 fresh red birds eye chillies, seeded, finely chopped 1/2 cup (80g) unsalted peanuts, finely chopped 1/2 cup (125ml) water 1/3 cup (80ml) coconut milk 1 tbs lime juice 1 tbs fish sauce 1 tbs brown sugar

Visa & Borders

CAMBODIA

for e-Visa holders are: Phnom PenhInternational Airport, Siem Reap InternationalAirport, Bavet-Moc Bai, Koh Kong-Trat, Poipet-Aranyaprathet.

A scanned copy of the passport and US$ 25paid by credit card will get you an e-mailed visawhich you have to print and bring with you. Theabove mentioned ports are equipped with aspecial terminal system and dedicated lane fore-Visa holders. For more information and toapply for an e-Visa, please log on towww.mfaic.gov.kh (be aware of fake visa sites).

In general, immigration formalities are quickerwhen visitors already possess a visa prior toarrival. However, Cambodia has very liberal visaregulations and for US$ 20 all travellers canobtain a 30 day Single Entry Tourist Visa uponarrival.A passport valid for at least six months beyondthe end of the visit and one passport photo areneeded. For travellers joining a Diethelm TravelCambodia tour departing from Bangkok, visascan be arranged in Thailand within two workingdays. Every visitor has to complete animmigration and a customs form during thearrival flight or upon arrival. Cambodian touristvisas can be extended one time for 30 days.

Please note that the following 9 nationalitiescannot get a visa upon arrival: Pakistan,Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran.

Visitors can also apply for a tourist visa on theMinistry‟s website. Valid ports of entry and exit

Good to know:

Every passenger departing from Phnom

Penh International Airport or Siem Reap

International Airport has to pay an Airport

Tax of US$ 25.

Domestic Airport Taxes no longer have to be

paid.

Unbeatable Special offers – „PASSPORT‟

"Passport" provides you with exclusive value-

added offers, negotiated on your behalf.

Go to www.diethelmtravel.com to read, down-

load or print a copy.

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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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