Our Family Luxury Tour of China - What a Journey!!

As promised to our friends, clients and associates, we want to tell you about our incredible luxury tour of China. We (Bev, Zennia, her cousin Sofia and I) recently returned from our 18-day private luxury tour of China.

Because we enjoyed so many wonderful experiences, I am making the story into three parts. Here's part one, check back again next week for parts two and three.

Part I: Hong Kong, Zhongdian (Yunnan Province) Chengdu and Chongqing

HONG KONG
Although we really love Shanghai, it’s hard to beat Hong Kong – the picturesque, deep water harbor is always abuzz with ferries, container ships and hydrofoil activity. The backdrop of the harbor is among the most striking skylines in the world: an array of sleek, glass and steel buildings (Bank of China building being our favorite!) unmatched by any other city at night.

Exploring the neighborhoods with our super-guide Rebecca was great fun. We added a morning Dim Sum breakfast at local Jade Garden, and a return to the Island Shangri-La for Zen’s adoption reminiscing. We visited the Shangri-La so Zen could celebrate her 6 year adoption anniversary, returning to the King Bed harbor view room we used in 2001. Zen remarked “life is good!” We later recharged with an hour foot/head massage at a local spa.

We very much looked forward to returning to the newly-renovated Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. This place truly represents understated luxury. We forgot how much we love this place: unpretentious, singular luxury coupled with a very sincere, friendly staff that evokes a home away from home feeling. The renovation has resulted in the new Mandarin’s former balconies being converted to lounge/study area extensions, with stunning Victoria Harbor views. Zen and Sofia especially liked the bathroom/amenities, including the vertical, swivel plasma TV/mirrors – so unique! Similar to our Japan trip, Zen and Sofia had a tough first night in Hong Kong with jet lag. Around 2am I overheard Zen calling room service for French fries and milkshakes - at least they properly tipped the room service waiter!! We feel perhaps no other 5 star deluxe property in Hong Kong offers such a luxurious, peaceful oasis from the noisy, frenetic city as the Mandarin: an A+ in our book!

ZHONGDIAN
Next we flew onto Zhongdian – Shangri-La (Yunnan Province) in southwest China. This remote, obscure area represents the antithesis of the sophisticated, urban environment of Hong Kong. The region, (Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture) rich in Tibetan culture, rises 10,000 ft in elevation on the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

Amazingly, Banyan Tree Resorts has built a lovely idyllic resort here (Ringha) using Sino-Tibetan designs with each lodge/villa looking remarkably like the local Tibetan farmhouses. The Banyan Tree is located in a lush, green valley that is truly representative of this beautiful, remote land. At least during late spring/summer period, think of the scenery as a Tibetan cultural version of Sound of Music! Our lovely local Tibetan guide, Hannah, was blessed with the physical ‘beauty of her local “sisters” – high rosy cheekbones with naturally beautiful skin, bathed in the local Yak bitter from an early age. In addition to visiting the very impressive Ganden Sumtseling Gompa Tibetan monastery (nearly 600 monks!), Hannah brought us to a local Ringha Buddhist Temple – no westerners here! Walking up the hill to the small temple, we saw colorful prayer flags and many local Tibetan pilgrims. Hannah helped Zen and Sofia tie their own prayer flags with each making their own private, solemn wish.

CHENGDU (Altruism + pandas)
Based on the earthquake tragedy in Sichuan Province, we were ambivalent and reluctant to visit here. After much correspondence and reflection we decided to go ahead with our brief Chengdu stopover. Although we were unable to visit specific damaged schools north of the city, we were still able to give donations to the Sichuan relief effort here. Despite media reports, we were pleasantly surprised that Chengdu itself (a sprawling city of over 4 million) suffered very little earthquake damage.

Based on the perspective of Zen and Sofia, the Chengdu Research Base/Giant Panda Eco-Park was the number one highlight of our 18-day China trip! The sprawling 600 acre complex was most impressive – a lush landscape with rolling hills mixed with the natural bamboo habitat of both the “giant panda” and the interesting “red panda” (think of a raccoon crossed with a fox!). Over 70 giant pandas live here! Before the Sichuan earthquake, the Panda Research Center averaged over 4,000 visitors per day. Following the earthquake, officials remarked that not more than 50 persons visited a day. After arranging a donation with the research center, Zen and Sofia were given a golden opportunity for a private “holding-hugging” session with a 10-month old “baby” panda named Xing-rong. This “baby” panda weighed in at 44lbs! Their group hug with Xing-rong was off the charts for Zen and Sofia – not even Hannah Montana or High School Musical could match this!

In reality, there exists no other place in the world where one can experience such personal encounters with giant pandas – only here in Chengdu. This is a must visit for all families traveling to China!!

Another wonderful family place in Chengdu is its “Peoples’ Park,” a lovely setting for all families, with tea houses, zany rides, and local “medicine doctors.” I am not sure we would recommend the ear-wax removal service using super thin bamboo prods!

CHONGQING
A couple of months back we planned on flying into Chongqing to board the newly built vessel Yangzi Explorer, the first legitimate 5 star luxury cruise to ply the Yangzi. However, due to launching delays until late summer, our Yangzi Explorer expedition is postponed. Nevertheless, the Chongqing stop gave me a golden opportunity to take a full day excursion onto the Dazu Grotto. Dating back to the 12th century, the Dazu art is rated among the great Buddhist cave sculptures in all of China. Luckily, as the Dazu grotto was inaccessible by road during the Cultural Revolution, the entire area was spared the excesses of the Red Guard. Reflecting Buddhist, Taoist and Confucius influences, the detail and integrity of the artwork is somewhat comparable to Angkor Wat. (Please forgive me Jay Xu if this comparison seems untenable!) As Zen had developed a slight fever, Bev, Sofia, and Zen had a Chongqing spa/massage rest day while my wonderful lao ban voiced guide Nancy and I visited Dazu.

This is the end of the first part of our trip. Click here for Part II, Guilin and Beijing.
Click here for Part III, Shanghai.

All Eyes on China

Amazing! Incredible! Stunning! These are just a few of the words that describe our Lynch Family private luxury tour of China. For 18 days we enjoyed five-star hotels, extraordinary service and took in all the beauty and culture of this great country. From Beijing to Hong Kong to Chengdu, from Guilin to Shanghai, we have so much to share with you! (And Zen and cousin Sofia had the best time visiting with the Panda bears!)

Meantime, with all eyes on China now because of the upcoming Beijing Olympics, I want to take a moment to talk about summer tourism in China, specifically in Beijing. It was originally expected that Beijing would see a boom in tourists for the Olympics - but this is not happening. Perhaps you've read the recent headlines about how Beijing is a bust for the hotel industry??

The best time to visit Beijing is *after* the Olympics, after the hoopla and the lights. I'll have much more on this in my next posting. For now, here's a link to an interesting story from the AP about the tourism bust in Beijing:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_coiYn7zmiqw9IMgcmqezqZa6bQD91HAVCG0

Our Next Lynch Family Adventure: CHINA

We are excited to share our summer travel plans to China. The Lynch family (Bev, Zen, her cousin Sofia and I) is heading to China for a private luxury tour June 12 - June 29. Many clients and friends have been asking for details about our next family adventure, so I thought to share some of our itinerary:

HONG KONG, YUNNAN & CHENGDU
We arrive in Hong Kong nonstop from Chicago where we'll stay at the recently renewed five-star Mandarin Oriental. We plan to explore some interesting Hong Kong neighborhoods, in addition to day-tripping to Macau to get a look-see at the new Asia "Las Vegas." Although the Mandarin has always been one of our favorites, we have not stayed here since its 2007 room recreations.

From Hong Kong we'll fly to Zhongdian/Shangri-La (Yunnan Province) to visit fascinating peoples of this remote gateway to Tibet. Here we'll stay at the luxury Banyan Tree Resort in Ringha. We'll spend a couple of days with our local guide including visits to:

- Bev is very much looking forward to visiting Songzangling Monastery: first built in the late 17th century under the auspices of the fifth Dalai Lama, this monastery has more than 800 monks and is a noted Buddhist religious college with halls for chanting and instructing. It's quite compelling.

- We will also visit Ringha Village (Khamph Tibetan), and of course, dancing with the evening local townspeople is a must!

Our next stop we feel will be a sad but necessary visit in Chengdu. Our daughter Zennia, and her cousin Sofia, plan to visit two specific elementary schools to bring various school supplies and lend our moral support to these precious children affected by the earthquake.

Before our departure the next day, we will return to the Panda Research Center where we will be introduced to recently-born baby pandas. (We must always be careful holding the babies - cuddly but playful biters!!)

CHONGQING and GUILIN
From Chengdu, we'll travel onto Chongqing where we will explore the Grotto Art Dazu. Located about 100 miles outside of Chongqing, these Buddhist cave sculptures and carvings range from the 9th to the 13th century. They are rated among the foremost expressions of Buddhist - Taoist - Confucius influence in all of China.

We will then fly onto the strikingly beautiful area of Guilin, where we'll stay at the Hotel of Modern Art, a very relaxing and peaceful property located in the awe-inspiring countryside. In Guilin we'll take a private boat excursion on the Li River. We will also visit the Valley of Longji (Dragon Spire), consisting of picturesque hills sculpted into tightly pocketed rice fields (think Bali!).

BEIJING and SHANGHAI
Following Guilin, we will fly to Beijing and immense ourselves in all of the pre-Olympics activities. We'll be here June 21 - 25, staying at the famed Raffles Beijing Hotel. We'll tour the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Pools, Factory 798 (the most interesting collection of China modern art and art studios in all of China), and the Capitol Museum. Our private, guided tour also includes visits to the "Wild Wall" - (rigorous exercise for us all!) - Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and various "Hutongs". We are very excited to return to the Green Tea House and Lan Club for some wonderful East-West/Chinese cuisine!

From Beijing we'll fly to Shanghai for the last leg of our luxury expedition. We are staying at the recently opened five-star Hyatt on the Bund, located on the banks of the Huang Pu River.

As Shanghai is our FAVORITE city in all of China, we have plenty of activities planned including: an all day walk through the wonderful French Concession area and Xintiande (dinner at T8!), a morning excursion to the ancient river town of Zhujiajiao, and a Shanghai Jewish history private tour with Dvir Bar-Gal. Of course, our daughter Zennia has demanded a return to several Shanghai elementary schools to share stories and discuss the latest Disney musical videos! Among our return, dinner venues will be M on the Bund and Issimo at the new JIA Hotel.

On June 29, we'll leave Shanghai from the Pudong International Airport on a United Airlines nonstop flight returning home to the "stormy, husky, brawling city of big shoulders!"

We'll have a complete wrap up of our journey upon our return. Meantime, I will be posting highlights during our trip on our blog.

Bon Voyage!
Randy Lynch & Family

P.S. If this itinerary interests you and you'd like to create a private family luxury expedition to China, or to Japan, or anywhere in the Pacific Rim, we are happy to talk with you anytime: 800.354.3404 Click here for sample itineraries to the Pacific Rim

Travelogue Japan: Our Spring Break Luxury Tour of Japan

As many friends and clients have inquired about experiencing Japan, the Lynch family - Randy, Bev, Zen and cousin Sofia – is happy to share the details of our extraordinary whirlwind visit to Japan over spring break. We had an amazing time. We were pampered, impressed and made to feel welcomed everywhere we visited. Here is an overview of our trip:

TOKYO
We arrived in Tokyo Sunday afternoon and our Kipling & Clark representative transferred us by private vehicle to the recently opened Peninsula Tokyo for check in. This was our first visit to the recently opened Peninsula Tokyo - we were most impressed with the very personal, friendly staff, as well as the aesthetic and design of the property. From the Peninsula's "Grand Deluxe" rooms, you have a great view of the Imperial Palace grounds and Hibiya Park. Bev & I think this maybe perhaps the premiere 5 star deluxe hotel in Tokyo.

After arriving the night before, Zen and Sofia had major jetlag, waking at 2am and then ordering an elaborate room service meal of hot chocolate, oatmeal, lox & bagels and pancakes. Later we all walked across the street to enjoy the lush, green Hibiya Park. Like most everything in Japan it was beautiful and meticulously clean. Some details about the hotel: men will love the high-magnification Aliseo shaving mirrors in the Peninsula bathrooms and the always amazing, oscillating heated massage and powder deodorizing Toto toilets--why can't we have these in the U.S.?!

Once we left Takishita, we headed to chic, hip Omotesando for shopping and then onto the beautiful 175-acre evergreen-forested grounds of the Shinto Meiji Shrine. It's hard to imagine that this tranquil, lush place is in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world. The imposing Torii gate leading to the shrine is most impressive, as well as the many colorful barrels of donated sake displayed near the shrine. Zen & Sofia reflected on their dreams and wishes, and left their written messages on wooden plates at the Emma.

Being a decades-long super-fan of the Beatles' John Lennon, Bev had our guide take us on the 1.5 hour long pilgrimage drive outside downtown Tokyo to the John Lennon Museum. Although Bev felt the exhibitions were tilted a bit too much toward Yoko's point of view, we all loved the John Lennon music and fascinating memorabilia.

TRAVELING THROUGH JAPAN
Whenever traveling throughout Japan, the clean, super-efficient bullet train transport system is always a comfortable, satisfying experience. Two reminders though: Firstly, porterage help is *not* available at any of the Japan railway station so you must fend for your own baggage. Secondly, the overhead luggage rack space is limited, even in first class cars. Conventional, large suitcases are a real burden. Alternatively, you may *truck* your bags from Tokyo to outlying areas; we have done this frequently with past clients traveling "heavy".

TOKYO – TAKAYAMA
Tokyo via Nagoya to Takayam is a five hour train rain via the bullet train, which is efficient, clean and fastidiously punctual. Bev and I agree that Takayama is a less pretentious, more egalitarian Japanese Alpine version of Carmel, California.

Because of our whirlwind schedule, we were unable to attend the annual Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri) (Apr 14-15). The Festival includes a wonderfully colorful night festival of floats accompanied by marionette performances.

We were able to take a two-hour drive out to Ogimachi and the village in Shirakawa-gu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to many picturesque gasshozukuri farmhouses, many dating back to the 16th century.

NAGASE RYOKAN
Located in the traditional Edo village of Takayama, Nagase Ryokan may seem a bit touristy at first, but be assured staying here is a rewarding experience. The Nagase Ryokan has been operated by the same family for over 250 years! It has only 11 rooms, most with private gardens.

Although the reception area staff speaks English, the room attendants' English is very limited. No worries, however, as you can easily communicate any of your needs. The dinner presentation at Nagase is amazing, as well as the variety of dishes including grilled river fish, Hida beef and crab Nabe. All meals are served in the privacy of your room.

We loved the afternoon stroll through Sannomachi Street, with many historical homes, coffee houses, and sake breweries, many having been in business for centuries!

KYOTO
Traveling to Kyoto in April for the cherry blossoms is becoming somewhat of a tradition in the Lynch Family. Cherry blossoms were literally exploding this year in the backdrop of all the wonderful Kyoto temples and shrines, including Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion) and Kiyomizu Temple. Perhaps our favorite setting for cherry blossoms is the Heian-jingju Shrine – the many weepy cherry trees in the gardens are heavenly – this is one of the most beautiful, meditative walks in all of Kyoto.

THE TAWARAYA RYOKAN
The Tawaraya Ryokan is considered the most famous ryokan in all of Japan. Our only regret is that we stayed here only one night. It is subtle, high-touch service. The cypress tub and bathroom fixtures are all custom, and the bed sheets are luxurious Egyptian cotton. The outside private gardens are lush and green with a surreal Zen-like ambience. Everything in the room seems in perfect rhythm and harmony: simplistic, understated aesthetic.

FUSHIMI SHRINE
Of course, we returned to our favorite Shinto Shrine in all of Japan, the Fushimi Inari Taisha. You may have seen the bright red/orange torii of Fushimi in the film "Memories of a Geisha." Dating back tot he 8th century, the shrine includes a wandering pathway around three miles up the mountain, lined with hundreds of beautiful red torii, now faded to look orange.

Fushimi is the most famous of several thousand shrines across Japan dedicated to Inar. Inari is the Shinto god of rice, and foxes are believed to be his messengers, hence the many fox statues found along the pathway. Walking up the pathway early in the morning, Bev, Zen, Sofia, and I very much enjoyed the magical, eerie ambience, and the two-and-a-half hour hike.

HYATT REGENCY KYOTO
The Hyatt Regency Kyoto is located in the southeast area of Kyoto near the train station which is very convenient. Its minimalist, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design with spacious rooms featuring all the latest amenities. The sliding doors and windows enable guests to bring in fresh air to evoke a modern-style ryokan feeling. The Hyatt Regency is comparable to a stay at the Tawaraya Ryokan, or the Yoshida-sanso ryokan residence.

Despite our many travels to Japan, there always seems to be an impenetrable veil in truly understanding this wonderful land. As David Pilling noted, “Almost every aspect of life in Japan from sumo wrestling and tea ceremony to business, one has a feeling of something other than itself, beyond itself.”

In terms of first-time visitors, one is most impressed with the meticulous cleanliness of everything in Japan, the precise speed and efficiency of the transport (bullet)/transit system, the lovely and subtle Japan aesthetic, and finally, the democratic egalitarianism of the Japanese. We truly enjoy this wonderful place!

You are welcomed to view a sample itinerary of this private luxury tour of Japan at: http://internetmailmanager.com/i/ou.htm?a=156237&b=1159737&c=11405368&d=http:~~kiplingandclark.com~pagesNew~KC_Japan_SpringBreak_itin1.pdf

Our next trip is coming up in early June – Hong Kong and the China hinterlands! Send me an email and I'll tell you more about it: Newsletter@KiplingandClark.com

Frances W. Parker School Scholarship Auction Winner

Friends, it has been a very busy few weeks! The Lynch family is back home after our fantastic seven day trip to Japan. We have so many wonderful things to share with you from our luxury adventure in Japan. In the next few days we’ll post pictures and details from our trip.

Meantime, a big THANK YOU to Michael & Beth Hughes!

The Hughes family offered the highest bid ($19,000) to win a Kipling & Clark private family luxury tour of Thailand and Laos. The luxury trip was part of the Francis W. Parker School’s Scholarship Auction Dinner last month. It was a terrific evening for a terrific cause!

Pictured: Michael Hughes and Randy Lynch, Dr. Houri Shafaie and Beth Hughes (at right)

Spring Break in Japan, Two Adventurous Kids, and a Thousand Things to See & Do!

The Lynch family - Randy, Bev, Zen and cousin Sofia - is spending this week, Spring Break, on an extraordinary whirlwind visit to Japan! After our wonderful adventure in Laos in January, we decided to pack up again and this time, enjoy the amazing luxury, culture and people of Japan. As many friends and clients have inquired about Japan, we thought to share a bit of our itinerary, and our short one week (pampered!) trip should give you a good snapshot of this amazing place.

Sunday
NARITA - TOKYO

We arrive in Tokyo Sunday afternoon and our Kipling & Clark representative will transfer us by private vehicle to the sophisticated Peninsula Tokyo for check in. En Route to the hotel, we'll make a brief stopover to the Harajuku District to see a unique celebration. Local teenagers dress up to resemble various anime (comic book) characters and musicians. This is great fun for Zen and Sofia!

A little history about the Harajuku area: its side streets are lined with trendy shops, fashion boutiques, crepe stands and fast food eateries geared to the trendy teens that hang out here. It also offers something for people of all ages because of its popular shopping complex named Omoto Sando Hills. It's sometimes referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees. It's a very popular district and much fun to visit.

Monday
TOKYO

It's an early day for us on Monday. We'll enjoy a private visit to Musashigawa Beya to see Sumo Wrestling practice session. This is so intense and compelling! After this, we'll explore areas of Tokyo, including Meiji Shrine, Roppongi Hills, Omotesando, and Electric City...and Zen and Sofia will have great fun at Kiddy Land!

Tuesday
TOKYO - NAGOYA - TAKAYAMA via First Class Bullet Trains
Tuesday is an exciting day. We'll travel first class on the bullet train from Tokyo to Nagoya then onto Takayama. We'll be staying at the Nagase Ryokan in Takayama. Set in the picturesque mountainous Hida region, Takayama uniquely retains its traditional Japanese culture like few other cities in Japan. Considered a "mini-Kyoto," Takayama offers perhaps a more authentic Japanese cultural experience versus its big sister city Kyoto. With history dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, Takayama is well-noted for its traditional pottery (Shibukusa-yaki). The Nagase Ryokan has been operated by the same family for over 250 years. There are only 11 rooms and most have private gardens.

Wednesday
TAKAYAMA
It's a full day city tour of Takayama by a private vehicle with an English-speaking guide, visiting Hida Minzoku-mura (Hida Folk Village),Takayama Jinya (Historical Government House), Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Floats Exhibition Hall) and Kusakabe Mingei-kan (Kusakabe Heritage House). We'll take an afternoon stroll through Sannomachi Street. This is such a beautiful place to walk through, with its many historical homes, coffee houses, and sake breweries. Many of the breweries have been in business for centuries! We'll be staying at beautiful Hotel Associa Takayama Resort.

Thursday
TAKAYAMA - NAGOYA - KYOTO

Thursday we'll leave Takayama by train to head to Kyoto and a journey highlight - a stay at perhaps the most famous ryokan in all of Japan, the Tawaraya Ryokan. Statesmen, celebrities, and international CEOs visit here. A recent Kipling & Clark client summed up his stay here as "the essence of perfection." It was built in the 18th century and has been run by generations of the same family for over 300 years! It is known for its silence, peace and tranquility. There are only 18 rooms here and they are always booked. Reservations to stay here must be booked many months in advance.

Friday
KYOTO - NARA - KYOTO
It's a full day with a private guide for a tour of various areas including Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Kiyomizu Temple, the Fushimi Shrine, and a look-see of Yoshida-sanso. The Fushimi Inari Taisha is our favorite Shrine in Japan. Dating back to the 8th century, the shrine includes a wandering pathway around three miles up the mountain lined with hundreds of beautiful red torii, now faded into orange. Bev and I very much enjoy the eerie, magical ambience of Fushimi.

We'll have dinner in the Gion District and take a late evening walk through the Pontocho area. Pontocho offers a beautiful atmosphere of restaurants, tea houses and yakitori stores (grilled chicken on skewers). The Gion District is mostly made up of plain wooden structures located on the eastern side of the Kamo River. You will not see any glitz or neon lights here. Gion is a wonderful throw-back to traditional Japanese culture, home to Kyoto's most famous geisha district. It was featured in the 2006 "Memoirs of a Geisha". We'll be staying at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto.

Saturday
KYOTO - TOKYO - NARITA
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll leave Kyoto for Tokyo by bullet train and then head to the Narita Airport. We arrive home with many, many wonderful memories of another spectacular family luxury journey!

We'll have pictures of our adventure up on the Blog when we return.

Sayonara!

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Kipling & Clark on MSNBC

We are so pleased to note that MSNBC is running the story in which we were recently profiled in FORBES.com about ultra luxurious vacations in India. Click here to read the piece that is in the luxury travel section of MSNBC.com

Thank you MSNBC and FORBES!!

If you have any questions about taking a luxury trip to India, or anywhere in the Pacific Rim, check out our sample itineraries by clicking here.

Kipling & Clark Tops Forbes Magazine Online's Best Tasting Tours

For the second time in the past few weeks, Kipling & Clark is profiled in Forbes Magazine online. This time, we are part of a story about the world's top tasting trips.

Forbes has chosen our custom private culinary itineraries to Japan and Vietnam as part of its short list of the best-in-the-world culinary and cultural tours.

Click here for the story and terrific slideshow: Forbes.com World's Top Tasting Trips

Congratulations Jay Xu!

We want to extend heartfelt congratulations to our dear friend Jay Xu on his new position at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Jay is leaving his position as the Chairman of the Department of Asian Art at the Art Institute of Chicago to become the Director of the famed Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. We wish all the best to Jay and his family. Despite the Xu family's move to San Francisco, we (Randy, Bev & Zen Lynch), plan to continue our fun and engaging Asia trips together in the future!

The Importance of Guanxi

"Guanxi" is probably one of my favorite Chinese words, and to the Chinese, its meaning is one of great importance. I first learned of guanxi many years ago while working at Korean Air. In the course of launching and growing Kipling & Clark, I’ve continued to learn just how critical guanxi is.

Most non-Chinese speakers tend to define guanxi as “connections that an individual can make with the people surrounding him/her.” However, I don’t feel that the word “connections,” sufficiently explains the importance of this central concept in Chinese society.

Guanxi is the grand effect and dynamic found in one’s personal networking influences. In a country where symbolism is paramount, poor mannerism and protocol will make negotiation difficult. So whether traveling abroad or meeting with clients/colleagues, always keep in mind - guanxi, guanxi!

Quick Facts about Vietnam

The United States is the world's largest importer of Vietnamese goods.

Vietnam is the largest exporter of cashews in the world.

Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism, are the four great religions and philosophies that have shaped the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Kipling & Clark has a wonderful sample itinerary for a 13-day Vietnam-Cambodia Sojourn that is an exploration of art, culture, education and cuisine. Click here for full details.

Kipling & Clark in Forbes.com

It's been a good week for Kipling & Clark in the media!

First our Chicago event was profiled in Crain's Chicago Business (see entry below) and today we are featured in FORBES.com in a piece about the most luxurious vacation properties in India.

Here's the link to the piece: http://www.forbes.com/2008/02/21/travel-india-resorts-forbeslife-cx_ls_0221travelindia.html

Kipling & Clark Event Profiled: Crain's Chicago Business!

We are big fans of Crain's Chicago Business - so we are thrilled to be profiled in Crain's Business of Life column. Reporter Shia Kapos writes about our terrific event at the famed French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial last week.

Every year during Chinese Lunar New Year, we bring together our friends and colleagues and host the event; it is great fun. This year we not only enjoyed a fabulous five course meal, but I continued our tradition of reciting Lord Tennyson's "Ring Out, Wild Bells" poem -- always a propitious and declarative introduction into the new lunar new year!

In addition, my daughter Zennia, her cousin Sofia, and Toni Xu recited and sang their own poems and songs, all done with a transcending spirit of fun and celebration -- everyone enjoyed!!

Here's the profile in Crain's:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=29304

You will note that in the column, the cost of a luxury journey to Asia is referenced. One sidebar to this: depending on the destination, itinerary, and custom features, the cost of a Kipling & Clark journey to Asia ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per couple, per day. The figure mentioned in the article is not correct.

Happy Chinese New Year! 春节

Firstly let me apologize for my lapse in blogging, since we returned from our fabulous luxury family adventure in Laos and Thailand I've been swamped...and the time goes by and here we are now in February.

February is an important month, it is the month of the Chinese New Year. We have a special affinity for the holiday in our house as we adopted our seven year old daughter Zennia from China when she was an infant. So I thought to interview Zen about her thoughts on Chinese New Year:

Dad: Zen, what can you tell me about Chinese New Year?
Zen: Well Dad, the Chinese New Year begins February 7, 2008. It is the most important Chinese holiday.

Dad: Are there celebrations?
Zen: Yes, there are awesome celebrations. At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes and kids get "lucky money" in red envelopes. This is one of my favorite parts!

Dad: How long do the celebrations last?
Zen: Celebrations last for about 15 days. At the end there's a lantern festival. The lights are so pretty. The best part of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon is super long and there's a lot of music and everyone dances in the streets. It's way cool. It's a real big party and it's a lot of fun!

Dad: Well thanks for the interview, Happy Chinese New Year Zen!
Zen: And Happy Chinese New Year to you Dad!

Wow - What a Journey! Part III

Those are Some Amazing Elephants!

The Maesa Mahout Private Elephant Center was among the unique highlights of our Southeast Asia trip. What the Four Seasons or Mandarin are to luxury hotel accommodations, the Maesa Elephant camp is to very personal, hands-on, high touch elephant training. Among our party of four, we had a personal photographer and eight mahout elephant trainers.

Our three-hour private elephant camp experience included a brief training of elephant commands, riding the elephants on our own (no worries with trainers close by), personally bathing the elephants in the river (so much fun!!), ending with a painting session with our elephants. Yes, with directions, these elephants can actually paint and draw. Zen and Sofia had their elephants draw some abstract pictures of flowers and trees and sunshine – we will have these framed to save this amazing experience.

Four Seasons vs. the Mandarin in Chiang Mai
Once you adjust to the scale and complexity of the expansive grounds, the Mandarin’s level of high-touch service really starts to grow on you. The Mandarin’s genuinely sincere service is hard to beat. The two large beautiful pools and the comprehensive “Kid’s Club” makes this place ideal for family travel.

We have always had a special place in our hearts for the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. The Four Seasons grounds are smaller in scale, a more understated sense of luxury, thus you get an intimate, Zen-like feel here. Similar to the Mandarin, the Four Seasons staff is so sincere and truly unbelievably kind. With the expansion of the Four Season’s Kid’s Club, the family luxury travel experience here is similar to the Mandarin. Overall, in terms of luxury accommodations in Chiang Mai, you cannot go wrong at either property - both world class!

Wow - What a Journey! Part II

Talk about a New Year's Party!

The physical facilities, grounds and setting here at the Anantara Resort/Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai, Thailand are absolutely beautiful with an elephant-themed design. Service level is somewhat spotty due to English language/communication breakdowns. But a great plus: Elephant training camp! Bev, Zen, Sofia and I experienced a magnificent New Year’s Eve Party here that included a mass Baci Ceremony, an elephant parade and a lavish dinner around the pool complex. To top it off, the Anantara even provided all guests with Lana (minority group) costumes for the party – Zen and Sofia loved the dressing up part!

In contrast to just 5 years past, it’s truly amazing to see the number of families traveling to Southeast Asia during the holidays. While at the Anantara, we met families from Santa Monica, NYC, Milwaukee, New Haven, CT, and San Francisco - a wide range of age groups – many families traveling with kids age 6-10, teenagers – Zen & Sofia met many new friends, including a Danish family. In the past we met mainly Europeans traveling with their kids – now its predominantly American families we see. It's so great to see this!

I must tell you about the Mandarin Oriental Dhari Dhevi/Chiang Mai. This is a sprawling luxury resort covering over 40 acres with spacious 2-story Thai-style villas, over-the-top amenities and very courteous, friendly English speaking staff.

-Although the service here is superb, the physical grounds are so large and spread out that the environment seems a bit overwhelming and excessive, not so much an intimate feeling.

-A must place for breakfast is the Spa Center outdoor café overlooking the property’s idyllic lush, green North Rice fields. It serves very tasty organic foods and juices – the egg-white omelet with herbs and vegetables is sooo good!

-Another bonus here for the kids is the working water buffalo in the adjacent rice fields – Zen and Sofia loved the ride on the water buffalo!

-An interesting sidebars: check out the Mandarin common-area restroom – so luxurious with pervasive scent of mint.

Wow - What a Journey! Part I

Okay, I need to apologize. After we disembarked from the Luang Say Cruise Vessel from Luang Prabang on our two-day cruise on the Mekong River, things got very busy and exciting and our amazing family journey seemed to go by with a snap! So I apologize for not updating sooner. What I decided to do now that we are back home, is share with you notes I took along the way in my journal. I made the pictures into a slideshow on the top right. It was a spectacular trip!

Let's begin where we left off, with the Mekong River. Experiencing Mekong River life, including stops in local minority villages is fantastic. The Luang Say Cruise is unbeatable – the bonus is the great scenery and the group dynamic among fellow travelers.

In contrast to the 5-Star luxury resorts we normally use in Southeast Asia, my seven-year old daughter Zennia considers the tranquil Luang Say Cruise down the Mekong River as “roughing-it.” The 2 day/1 night journey down the Mekong River from Luang Prabang to Huai Say Laos, across the border from Thailand, is a great way to wind down and simply enjoy the Mekong River culture and scenery.

The Luang Say river barges have comfortable open-air seating for 40 passengers, plying the Mekong for seven hours each day. We overnighted literally in the middle of nowhere, on the banks of the Mekong at the Luang Say Lodge. Although certainly not luxury, the lodge has clean, comfortable villas overlooking the Mekong and a friendly, Laotian staff that earnestly cared for our needs. This is a rustic environment in a good way. Based on the clean, pristine air and remote location, I feel we had the best sleep of our entire journey here!

Happy New Year from the Mekong River!

It has been quite a journey so far and there is so much to share since we left Chicago after Christmas and launched our Lynch Family Adventure. My wife Beverly, our daughter Zen, her cousin Sofie and I are traveling through Laos and Thailand. These are such amazing places!

As I write this we will soon be boarding the Luang Say Cruise Vessel from Luang Prabang for a two-day cruise on the Mekong River to the Thai border and onto Chiang Rai. So before we embark on this leg of our journey, I thought to highlight some of the wonderful things we’ve experienced so far:

- When you travel to Greater China and Southeast Asia as much as I do, I am keen on noting the best airport hotels. Novotel Suvarna Bhumi Airport Hotel Bangkok is among the most beautiful airport hotels we have stayed – plus it has a fabulous pool!

- Due to low value of Laotian currency, use only U.S. dollars in Laos. The U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere.

- Similar to other Southeastern Asia, Buddhist-based countries, Laotian people are so earnest and welcoming.

- I must tell you about the Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel in Luang Prabang. Although less luxurious and smaller scale than Le Residence Hotel, Maison more than makes up with high touch, friendly, intimate service. And the staff is genuinely sincere and warm. Even the front desk staff volunteered to French-braid Zen and Sofia’s hair to match the local Laotian hairstyle. We felt as if we are staying at someone's private home vs. a boutique luxury hotel. The small spa here is outstanding; Zen and Sofie thoroughly enjoyed their foot and head massage. So pampered!

We always love participating in the 6:30am morning rice offering to the monks on the street from the Maison Hotel. (See the picture above) Many of the monks are so young: 5, 6, 7 years old. Our Southeast Asia trips always include visits to local primary schools; Zen and Sofie brought plenty of notebooks and pens and gave them to the local Luang Prabang 1st grade class. The girls also joined in some local songs with the students.

Our family also participated in a Baci ceremony from the local village; it included a welcome speech by the elder with dancing and songs. All the elders of the village tied strings around our wrists to welcome us and ward off the bad spirits. Here’s the interesting fact about the string – you must keep it on your wrists for 3 days before untying. It’s for good luck.

We just loved the small, genuinely gentle and friendly Buddhist environment of Luang Prabang. Although it still retains it uniqueness, more and more tourist are coming to this lovely place. The Aman Resorts are building an elite level luxury property here to open in 2009.

Well it's time to head off. I'll update you in a day or two from a remote lodge in the middle of nowhere on the Mekong River.

Here’s a note from Zen and Sofie: "Life is Good!"

Interesting Facts about Laos

Since we've chosen Laos as our Featured Destination, I thought to share with you some interesting facts about this beautiful place.

Lao is the official language of Laos, but if you've picked up a bit of Thai, feel free to use it here because many understand it (the languages are quite similar). French and English are also commonly used. The Plain of Jars in Laos is home to nearly thousands of huge stone jars, each of which is large enough to hold a person. The largest jar weighs over six tons! Estimated at about 2,000 years old, the purpose of the jars along with their makers is still a mystery. Some experts believe they were used in burial rituals.

The border of Laos and Cambodia is home to the Khone waterfall, which has the greatest volume of water of any waterfall in the world. About 410,000 cubic feet of water falls over its 45 foot drop every second! Compare it to this: Niagara Falls has a volume of half that.

The NYT, Laos & Blogging from Our Family Holiday

The New York Times recently named Laos as the number one destination you should visit in 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/20071209_WHERE_GRAPHIC.html#goto1

We could not agree more. We have chosen Luang Prabang, Laos, as our Featured Destination for January 2008. In fact, my family and I will be in Laos over the upcoming holiday break. We're going to Laos and Thailand and I'll be blogging from all the wonderful and enchanting and luxurious places we'll be visiting. I'm excited to chronicle our journey!

Here's the press release we issued today talking about Laos, and some of the amazing things we're going to do there beginning December 25th.

Kipling & Clark, the Leading Luxury Travel Company to Asia, Spotlights Luang Prabang, Laos as its Featured Destination for January 2008

The Founder of Kipling & Clark will Chronicle His Family’s Personal Holiday Journey to Laos and Thailand on Travel Blog: www.KiplingandClark.Blogspot.com

CHICAGO, IL—December 17, 2007—Kipling & Clark, the expert in private, personalized luxury travel to Greater China, Japan and all of Southeast Asia, has chosen Luang Prabang as its featured destination for January 2008. The New York Times recently named Laos as its number one place to visit in 2008.

“Kipling & Clark features two high-end luxury properties in Luang Prabang: the Résidence Phou Vao and the French colonial boutique property Maison Souvannaphoum, both are stunningly beautiful, charming and luxurious, truly world-class,” said Randy Lynch, founder and president of Kipling & Clark. “The ancient royal city of Luang Prabang is a hidden treasure in Southeast Asia. It's a slow, sleepy town, nestled on the Mekong River and rich in Buddhist culture, traditional Laotian dwellings and French colonial architecture – it’s a place where time seems to stand still.”

Randy Lynch will be chronicling his family’s holiday expedition to Laos and Thailand on the Kipling & Clark Blog: http://www.kiplingandclark.blogspot.com/ beginning December 25th.

“I will be highlighting and sharing all the amazing wonders of Laos and Thailand: we’ll cruise down the Mekong River from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, visit Tam Ting ‘Cave of a Thousand Buddha's’, participate in a traditional Baci ceremony, visit ancient temples, monasteries and ethnic markets, and enjoy the finest luxury accommodations. Our daughter, Zennia, will also make return visits to several local schools and orphanages,” said Mr. Lynch. “At Kipling & Clark, we are able to create once-in-a-lifetime custom journeys to Southeast Asia, Greater China, Japan and India-Bhutan because we personally experience all the places we recommend. Our high-touch service and impeccable destination planning comes from our own first-hand experiences, enabling us to deliver unique luxury travel experiences for discerning travelers.”

View Kipling & Clark’s Family Luxury Expedition sample itinerary to Laos, Thailand and Cambodia: http://kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/KC_Thai_Cambodia_Fam_Itin.pdf

Click to view map of sample trip to Laos, Thailand and Cambodia

Quick Facts about Korea

Nearly one half of the nation's citizens live in the capital of Seoul. Only 9.6% of the country’s population is over the age of 65.

The population’s religious and spiritual beliefs are: 25% Christian, 25% Buddhist, Confucius, Shaman, and 50% none.

The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in adults is less than .1% in South Korea, one of the lowest in the world.

On ferries heading to or from South Korea, you'll find people wearing small pieces of sticky plaster behind their ears. This is kimitae, supposedly a cure for sea-sickness, which can be found at local pharmacies.

The Mystical Beauty Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia

Tonle Sap Lake is known to the natives as the “Sea of the Fresh Water.” The lake is the lifeline of the Khmers as its pattern of movement provided rhythm of daily life, and serves as a source of fish and rice. Residents of the village literally reside in houses that stay afloat on the river and lake. An unusual characteristic of this river is that its water flow changes, depending on the season. As the rainy season arrives and the water level rises, residents move their houses by boat closer to shore. During the dry season, they again move their houses, but this time toward the lake!

Although a trip to Tonle Sap is a very touristy experience, my family and I really enjoyed our experiences there. The stark poverty and open garbage strung along the route used to get to the boats might make some uncomfortable, however, do not let this deter you. You will see genuine Cambodian life here, including village homes and fishing activity. And might I add, the sunsets here are absolutely beautiful!! (As you can see in the image)

We are happy to arrange a trip for you and your family to visit Tonle Sap Lake, and the wondrous mystical beauty one can only find in Cambodia.

Young Japanese Social Networking

Big changes in young Japan.

Some Japanese traditions, such as jobs for life are falling away as the country adjusts to the Internet society. Until now, the rigidly structured society of Japan has never before encouraged the kind of personal, opinionated and sometimes messy way of communicating that Americans have become so accustomed to.

In America, sites like MySpace.com seem to have replaced "hanging out" for young people. Similarly, urban Japanese have recently embraced the Internet to share feelings and experiences with others. The Internet certainly seems to be shaking up the way some Japanese communicate and think - a change that once seemed impossible. A culture of hip and energetic entrepreneurs is certainly making a mark on society. Through Japanese networking sites like Mixi.com, people can share their emotions and experiences in a constantly formal, hierarchical society. It’s been quite interesting to see such contrast and development!

Our New Series: Kipling & Clark "Asian Quick Facts"

I've created a series called "Asian Quick Facts" that gives a snapshot of the compelling, interesting and beautiful places in the Pacific Rim we've visited. I hope this will entice you to want to take off on your own Kipling & Clark custom journey!

Look at all on one page or click on a country below. Keep coming back as we add more countries to our "Asian Quick Facts" list.

• Indonesia
• Thailand
• China
• Japan
• Korea
  

The Many Cultures of Asia Part I: China, Korea and Japan

I asked our family friend Jennifer Chen, a noted Asian arts and culture scholar, to put together a piece about the cultural differences between the most popular countries in Asia. You can visit these countries hundreds of times and never learn all there is to know about the history, art and people that make them so interesting and inspiring. Here's a short synopsis of Jennifer's review of China, Korea and Japan's cultural heritages and how they are linked with their contemporary circumstances:

China enjoys a history over 5000 years of splendid achievements in technology, art and philosophy. Chinese culture ranks among the oldest and most complex civilizations in the world. Throughout the imperial China, Chinese ideologies, writing system, bureaucracy and artistic creations were the most influential in East Asia. Through the famed Silk Road, Chinese inventions and cultural influences spread all the way across Asia to Europe. Confucianism reigned supreme, and has been the foundation of Chinese ethics. It has, however, struggled to retain its value during the Communist era.

Korea’s traditional culture is closely tied to China in religion, philosophy and writing system. While Chinese customs heavily influence social activities from the royal court to farmer’s households, artistic creations and daily lifestyle demonstrate characteristics distinctively Korean with pristine freshness and originality. The demarcation of North and South Korea as a result of the Korean War has created two social systems with traumatic schism and dramatic contrast. The democratic South Korea has become a superstar in technology, business as well as art and cultural developments.

Japanese culture throughout its long history has demonstrated an astonishing ability of assimilating and synthesizing foreign cultures it encounters. The culmination is a culture that draws from both East Asian roots and Western civilization, but is irrepressibly Japanese in its extraordinary exquisiteness and refinement. Devout preservation of traditions and cutting-edge development in technology form a fascinating feature of the Japanese society. The famed Zen gardens, tea ceremonies and the ubiquitous Japanese automobiles are among the most expressive examples of the unique Japanese cultural process.

Coming up next, Part II: Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand

New Japan Entry Requirements

Thought to pass on some important information regarding new entry requirements for Japan.

Japan now requires foreign citizens to be fingerprinted, photographed and questioned every time they enter Japan. The new program went into effect on November 20th. People exempt from the checks include children under 16, diplomats and “special permanent residents", this is a euphemism for Koreans and other Asians brought to Japan as slave laborers during World War II and their descendants.

Law enforcement authorities say such thorough screening is needed to protect Japan from attacks by foreign terrorists. The New York Times reports that some foreign business leaders fear the screening could hurt Japan’s standing as an Asian business center, especially if it is inefficiently carried out, leading to long waits at airports. Business groups warn that such delays could make Japan less attractive than rival commercial hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, where entry procedures are much easier.

Kipling & Clark in the News! Taking a Culinary Asia Tour

We are excited to be included in a news story on Emmy award winning travel journalist Peter Greenberg's travel Website. The story is about taking culinary vacations in Asia. (we love putting together culinary tours!) The title of the piece is: Noodling Around Asia: Culinary Vacations in the East.

Below is an excerpt from the piece. You can read the entire story here.

Excerpt: For a trip that will take you through multiple countries, try a private, immersive culinary tour offered by Kipling & Clark. This luxury outfitter can arrange customized tours, such as a 14-day Taste of Southeast Asia Tour to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Culinary experiences include several cooking classes, private dinners with chefs, meet-and-greets with culinary experts, and visits to local markets along the way.

In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, a famed local chef leads visitors on a tour of the Hang Be Market, where they are taught how to select fresh ingredients for the Vietnamese dishes that they later prepare and consume. While in Saigon, travelers also get to visit the Cai Be floating market, where local buyers and sellers exchange goods from their small colorful boats.

And in Cambodia, travelers participate in a market tour led by a local chef and then enjoy a private cooking class at the Hotel De La Paix. Other options include a visit to the famed Four Seasons cooking school in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, among others. Prices vary based on the customized tour. 800-354-3404, www.kiplingandclark.com

By Kellan Connor for PeterGreenberg.com

Dubai: Disneyland for Adults

Dubai is a port of the United Arab Emirates which is composed of seven different emirates. The incredible scale of mass construction and emerging skyline is similar to that of Shanghai.

Seven star hotels, beautiful beach resorts and a world-class airport make Dubai what I like to call “Disneyworld for adults”, and it certainly doesn’t stop there. Dubai has perhaps the best quality shopping of anywhere we have ever been, with especially great prices for gold!

The area is extremely diverse and lively. During our trip it appeared as if everyone in Dubai was from somewhere else, including India, Pakistan, Russia, and Asia.

Bev, Zen and I stayed at the famous Ritz Carlton Dubai, located on the beach about 45 minutes from downtown. We experienced the very best service there, and the hotel even had a kids club! All-in-all Dubai offers something for the whole family! Check out a full itinerary for your family in our newly launched Kipling & Clark Private Luxury Family Expeditions section. http://www.kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/family_expeditions.html

Ranthambore Tiger Preserves & The Oberio Vanyavilas

Ranthambore is hailed as one of India's finest wildlife locations, located in the vast and arid tract of eastern Rajasthan.

During our first night on the safari through Ranthambore Tiger Park, my family and I had an incredible 40 minute close-up tiger sighting! I have to admit I was a bit scared (actually more like terrified!), but our guide was both extremely reassuring and enjoyable. Besides, the sight was any photographer’s dream come true!

After such an adventure, we stayed at the highly acclaimed Oberoi Vanyavilas. General Manager Jay Rathore shared with us the hotel’s ideal of customer service: all staff members are hired based on attitude and personality vs. experience alone. The staff service was overwhelming hospitable, very personalized and full of smiles!!

We’d love for you and your family to experience such a delightful and exciting trip. Find out more by checking out our NEW Kipling & Clark Private Luxury Family Expeditions! http://www.kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/family_expeditions.html

The Vibrant Contemporary Art Scene in China

Factory 798 Dashanzi Art District in Beijing
The area around Factory 798 is a fresh, avant-garde and trendy space that hosts modish artistic, cultural and commercial activities. Its American equivalent is New York's Greenwich Village. This art district combines the past, present and future of the "New China" and its unique Soho and socialist culture.

In 2001, manufacturers based here started pulling out and a number of Beijing’s best artists flocked to the area attracted by the cheap rents, large spaces and the ample natural light pouring through the huge ceiling windows. New contemporary art exhibitions seem to open each week. The artists were soon followed by businessmen opening chic coffee shops and western and Chinese restaurants.

A visit to 798 is a great way to spend an afternoon! Try Vincent’s for crepes or a latte and dessert at the At Café.

50 Moganshan Road
This is the Shanghai version of Factory 798 in Beijing, often referred to as the cradle of the modern art movement in Shangahi. 50 Moganshan Road is a maze of old workshops where over 20 artists have their studios. Nearby is a clutch of well-established galleries, of which Art Scene, BizArt, Eastlin and ShanghArt are well worth a visit. Leading Chinese artists include Zhou Teihai, Shi Yong and Ding Yi.

This is a favorite of my wife Beverly. As a matter of fact, there are several unique pieces from 50 Moganshan Rd on display in our home!

THE Place to be in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is amazing; it is incredibly busy and the downtown cityscape is stunning. THE place to be on the island is Lan Kwai Fong - it is Hong Kong’s trendiest chic spot for food and drinks.

Its two main streets, D’Aguilar and Lan Kwai Fong, are packed with office staff and affluent expats enjoying the many restaurants, bars, pubs and shops.

Choose from cheap and cheerful establishments, such as Wang Fu with its delicious gao-ji dumplings and other Beijing fare. Or, one of my family's favorite restaurants - Indochine 1929 - has outstanding ambiance. It is an elegant French and Vietnamese setting (think of LeColonial in Chicago!), and authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

This world-renowned district is perfect for drinks with clientele or dinner with family and friends. My wife Bev and I thought it was chic and fun wrapped up in one fabulous experience. See all there is to enjoy in Hong Kong in one of our itineraries to China & Hong Kong!
http://www.kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/destinations_sampItins.html

The Beauty of Bhutan

A most striking feature of Bhutan is its architecture. I’ve found the style and color that characterize the buildings and houses in the kingdom to be a distinct source of aesthetic pleasure.

The Dzongs, imposing 17th century structures built on a grand scale without drawing and without a single nail, are outstanding examples of the best in Bhutanese architecture.

The historic Punakha Dzong sprawls at the confluence of the Phochu and Mochu rivers. It was built by Shabdrung Nawang in 1637 and serves as the winter residence of the head abbot, Je Khenpo. One can only feel reverence and awe when entering such an structure.

The Bhutanese have a profound love for their land and its historic values that is truly unmatched. We would gladly make arrangements for you to share in such an experience!

Exciting News! We're Launching a New Family Division!

We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new division focusing on family luxury travel! Kipling & Clark FAMILY LUXURY EXPEDITIONS creates custom-designed journeys to Greater China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India-Bhutan for the entire family to enjoy together – kids, parents and grandparents.

We've launched our Family Luxury Expeditions division because of the great demand from our clients to create high-end, high-touch, personalized journeys that the entire family can enjoy together. My wife and I have been traveling throughout Asia with our seven year old daughter since she was a toddler, and every city we’ve been to in Asia has been warmly welcoming of our family. Many of the Buddhist-based and Confucian-centered Asian cultures fully embrace the family ideal and consider children national treasures; this love for children is fully displayed while interacting with visiting families - it’s a beautiful exchange that knows no boundaries.

Jay Xu, the Pritzker Chairman of the Department of Asian and Ancient Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, tells us one of the most amazing travel experiences he's ever had was the personalized tour of Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma that Kipling & Clark planned for his family earlier this year:

“My wife, daughter and I shared an extraordinary, five-star, world-class adventure; but what we remember most is the joy of experiencing the culture and people of these amazing places - together.”

Many of the five-star hotels and resorts in Asia are overwhelmingly kid-friendly, offering activities for kids that include art classes, traditional music and dance classes, kid-conscious yoga/spa treatments, swimming parties and visits to local schools.

Please check out our Family Luxury Expeditions sample itineraries. We'd love to create a custom journey for you and your family - it will be a memorable trip the entire family can enjoy together!

http://www.kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/family_expeditions.html
This is the link to paste into your browser to read our amazing FAMILY LUXURY itineraries.

Listening to the Beautiful Music of Lijiang China

If you have an opportunity to visit Lijiang, I suggest making time for the Naxi Ancient Music Ensemble; it is truly an authentic Naxi cultural experience. My family and I find the performances interesting and entertaining. The performances consist of ancient Chinese court music and Naxi (a Yunnan minority) folk songs.

Ancient musical traditions have survived in the Lijiang region because of two reasons: the Lijiang region is relatively isolated, and because of the infusion of Han Chinese culture to the Lijiang region during the Ming Dynasty.

Experiencing Agricultural Life on the Mekong River

The Mekong Delta, also known as the “Nine Dragon River Delta,” is the region in southwest Vietnam where the Mekong River empties into the Pacific Ocean. During a trip to Vietnam with my family, we set out on an excursion to My Tho in the Mekong Delta for a taste of agricultural life on the mighty Mekong River.

We had a blast! After exploring a village that raises fish, we stepped off the boat to stroll around a Quoi An fruit orchard to visit a coconut craft ware making home, and fruit-drying kilns. This was an interesting way to experience the daily life of people who live along the river.

Upon our arrival at Ben Truc – Phong Phu garden, we sampled some tasty Mekong Delta fruit while enjoying traditional local music. We interacted with the locals and felt completely immersed in their traditional culture. Our trip concluded with us on a row boat exploring the scenic water palm canals. I highly suggest lunch at Ngoc Gia Trang restaurant for some delicious Mekong specialties! This was truly a fabulous way to spend the day with my family.

Tofuya Ukai - A Meal to Remember

Tofuya Ukai is a restaurant with a design aesthetic nostalgic of a vast Edo-period mansion. Tofuya Ukai is located at the foot of the Tokyo Tower; this gorgeous building is a replica of the Eiffel Tower.

On a family trip to Tokyo last spring, my wife and daughter and I had lunch here. The food and service were wonderful. A hostess in a kimono directed us past antique sake brewing equipment into a brilliant tatami room, with views of waterfalls and aged fruit trees and beautiful pebbled grounds.

The food! Each dish was a charming masterpiece, delicately arranged on handmade ceramics. After dining, we strolled to the outdoor ponds, where the kaleidoscopic carp make an artistic statement – in Tokyo; even the fish make a design statement!

Tofuya Ukai has developed a marvelous reputation; its 550 seats are always booked weeks in advanced.

Quick Facts about Indonesia

- Indonesia is the world's most populated Muslim nation.

- Indonesia is home to the world’s largest lizard: the Komodo dragon. It is also home to world's largest flower: the rafflesia arnoldi.

- More than 17,500 islands make-up the country of Indonesia.

- There are 14 televisions for every 100 people in Indonesia, compared to 84 for every 100 people in the United States.

Cruising through Burma on the Irrawaddy River

The Irrawaddy River flows 2000 km down through the center of Burma (officially the Union of Myanmar) and is considered the lifeline of the country, nourishing the farmlands and allowing the easy transportation of goods.

The treasures along this mighty, culture-rich river can best be experienced aboard the RV Pandaw 1947, a two-night cruise that offers wonderful village stopovers that some of the more luxurious cruises cannot match. Here's what some of what my family and I experienced on this expedition:

-- Day 1: We took a shore excursion to a local village to experience a very authentic, illuminating look at local village life. The village children are absolutely angelic! Burmese children are perhaps the most beautiful in all of Southeast Asia, nearly all wear bark-faced makeup!

-- Day 2: We stopped at a pottery-making village with a population of approximately 1,000 people. We were so fortunate to visit the village the same time as their pre-independence local games. Burma Independence Day from the U.K. is January 4th, so always try to book the Pandaw during this period. We were visiting the village with our traveling companions the Xu family. My daughter Zennia and Jay Xu's wonderful daughter Toni watched the “High School Musical” movie in our cabin at night. They were quite comfortable there. I certainly recommend this trip for the whole family!

The beautiful culture of Burma is truly unparalleled. We would be happy to assist you in experiencing this extraordinary place.

Todaiji Buddhist Temple in Nara, Japan - a must see!

Tōdai-ji (東大寺), the Eastern Great Temple, is one of the most impressive temples in all Japan and it is atop my list of must-sees if you are visiting Japan. Not only does it house Japan’s largest statue of Buddha, but it is also the world’s largest wooden building!

Nara was the first capital of Japan in the 8th century, and is about an hour and a half drive from Kyoto. One of the first things I noted was the large Chinese Buddhist influence in this area. The atmosphere was much more intimate when compared to the more crowded Kyoto, and predates anything historically in Kyoto.

The temple is certainly worth the visit, and the huge iron-bronze Buddha figures are tremendous! Of the many temples throughout Japan, the Todaiji Temple is a must see.

Early Evening Baci Ceremony, Luang Prabang, Laos

This evening ceremony is among the most fascinating of Laotian cultural traditions. My wife and our daughter, then only four years old, participated in a Baci ceremony and thought it was the highlight of our visit to Luang Prabang.

The Baci ceremony pre-dates the arrival of Buddhism in Laos (8th century) and is considered the most respectful form of welcome. During the ceremony, selected individuals tie strings around their wrist believing the strings will protect the wearer. It is suggested the strings must not be removed for at least three days. The ceremony is highlighted by the accompaniment of music and traditional dance.

It's a very moving ceremony. The experience remains unmatched for our family. Laos is certainly a place you should consider visiting with your family. You can check out our full Laos itinerary here (paste this into your browser): http://kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/KC_Thai_Cambodia_Fam_Itin.pdf

By the way, the beautiful picture above is of Wat Mai, the largest temple in Luang Prabang, in north central Laos on the Mekong River.

Angkor Wat - Mystical, Fascinating and Awe-Inspiring

In the past 25 years, I have logged more than a half-million air miles visiting dozens of exciting, beautiful and compelling destinations in the Pacific Rim, but one of the most amazing trips I have ever enjoyed was the round-the-world month-long family travel experience I shared with my wife and 6-year-old daughter Zen earlier this year. We were joined for part of our travels by our good friend Jay Xu, the Pritzker Chairman of the Department of Asian and Ancient Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, and his lovely wife Jennifer and their engagingly artistic daughter Toni. The Xu family traveled with us to Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma, my family and I continued onto India and Dubai.

There are so many wonderful highlights from this trip, but one of the most memorable is of our stay in Cambodia, and our visit to Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is a temple that is considered one of the world's archaeological and architectural treasures. Angkor Wat was built for King Suryavarman II, who ruled the Khmer Empire in the early 12th century. It is simply, amazing.

Here are some highlights from our time in Angkor Wat:

--- Surrounded by man-made lakes with lush overgrown foliage, I feel the Angkor complex is perhaps the most compelling archaeological and architectural treasure in all of Asia. Do not be deterred by the ever-increasing, overflowing crowds - this place is awe-inspiring!
--- Built between the 7th and 11th centuries, the various temples in the Angkor complex are devoted to Hindu and Buddhist deities, with artistic, meticulously detailed carvings that are amazingly well preserved. Many of the temple carvings depict religious stories reflecting Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, as well as engaging scenes from daily Khmer life. Because of our friend Jay’s in-depth knowledge of Khmer history and culture, his fascination with the temples can only be described as euphoric. My daughter, Zen, gave him the nickname of “Temple Turtle” as he could not be separated from the temples!
--- Our locally contracted guides take solemn pride in explaining their Khmer culture to our clients – their earnest and sincere manner is a reflection of the Cambodians’ simple sense of decency and warmth. These people touch you in a way you may never forget.
--- Angkor Wat is the most majestic and well-known of the hundreds of well-preserved temples that remain from the Khmer Empire. Our other favorite and very interesting sites include Banteay Srei and Angkor Tom (Bayon Temple).
--- In order to view the temples in the best possible light with the least number of tourists, we recommend an early departure, about 6:30am from our favorite hotel in Siem Reap, The Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. (The Personality Suites cannot be beat!)

I would love to tell you more about mystical Angkor Wat and all there is to experience in Cambodia and Thailand. Call us to discuss arranging a luxury, personalized journey for you and your family - meantime, take a look at our itinerary, paste this link into your browser: http://kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/KC_Thailand_Family_Tour_Itin2.pdf

Visiting the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand

For the past 4500 years, elephants have been captured, domesticated and used for labor, transportation and even warfare. The Thai government created the Thai Elephant Conservation Center to educate the public about elephants, and it works to ensure their survival in the future. If you are ever in Chiang Mai, I highly recommend a private elephant trek to discover the vibrancy of this unique center. My family and I spent an afternoon there and enjoyed an amazing learning experience.

When an elephant is born into domestication, it is assigned a mahout (an elephant caretaker) who will be responsible for the elephant the rest of the mahout’s life. When I asked about the nature of the relationship, it was described as companionship: they are a lifelong team.

Here's something else we learned about these great beasts: elephants are quite graceful in mud, stepping carefully and never slipping - more solid than an SUV!

Part of the center’s mission is to promote the elephant as a healthy element of eco-tourism and increase understanding of the animals. If you are in Chiang Mai, be sure to stop at the Elephant Conservation Center, it's an experience you'll never forget.

Great News If You're Traveling To Hong Kong this Fall

We are happy to announce today that beginning in November, our company travNET will offer non-stop service from Los Angeles to Hong Kong through our contracted preferred travel partner United Airlines.

The new, non-stop LA to Hong Kong flight provides direct service to Ho Chi Minh City. It also offers an additional connection to Singapore. We are very proud of our valued, longstanding relationship with United Airlines, and this new non-stop route from Los Angeles to Hong Kong enables us to continue providing our clients with the highest level of service.

For information about visiting Hong Kong and other parts of China, check out: http://kiplingandclark.com/pagesNew/destinations_china.html

The Athleticism and Ancient Ritual of Sumo (相撲)

If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, you must be sure to include a Sumo (相撲) experience. Sumo is a unique part of Japanese culture; it is Japan's national sport.

Two wrestlers face off in a circular area called a dohyō (土俵). The basic rules are simple: the wrestler who either first touches the floor with something else than his sole, or leaves the ring before his opponent, loses. The fights usually last only a few seconds. The main Sumo tournaments are held six times per year, every other month beginning January.

If you cannot attend a Sumo match, an early morning private Sumo wrestling practice session is most compelling. In Musashigawa Beya my family and I were given a unique opportunity to see the Sumo wrestlers in a practice session; it was an amazing experience. Despite their weight and immense girth, the wrestlers displayed astonishing agility and durability.

I encourage you to attend a Sumo practice session or a Sumo match – we’re happy to make the arrangements for you!

Quick Facts about Thailand

- The Karen hill tribes of northern Thailand are also known as the Long Neck People. Starting at a very young age, girls wear heavy brass necklaces to elongate their necks. Women with long necks are considered to be the most beautiful in their village.

- Thailand has the potential to be the next Napa Valley. It has a burgeoning wine industry centered on the cool hills of Khao Yai where chenin blanc grapes prosper.

- Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium is located in Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping center: SiamOceanWorld. http://www.siamoceanworld.co.th/

- The popular Red Bull energy drink has its origins in Thailand. It was originally called Krating Daeng, or Red Gaur, a type of fox.