An essential stop on a trip to Vientiane, capital of Laos, the COPE Visitor Centre provides an excellent insight into the legacy of the secret war in Laos and the impact of UXO (unexploded ordnance) on the local population.
COPE Visitor Centre, Vientiane, Laos
Take time to wander through the exhibition to learn about the UXO problem in Lao PDR and the work undertaken by COPE (Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise) to provide disability services for people affected by UXOs. As part of the exhibition there are a number of excellent documentary filmsabout UXOs and COPE, including the award-winning Bomb Hunters about the work of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Laos. Exhibits include detailed maps of bomb sites, defused cluster bombs displayed as artistic sculptures and a variety of homemade prosthetic limbs moulded from wood and stone. Visitors can try traditional stick operated tricycle wheelchairs at the centre or try walking with a prosthetic leg. There is also a mirror box on display that is used to treat phantom pain in amputees and this is a very surreal experience for visitors.
The COPE Visitor Centre includes a small gift shop with original t-shirts, postcards, and fair-trade Lao Mountain Coffee. There are also snacks, ice cream and drinks on offer at Karma Cafe. All money raised from the gift shop and the Karma Cafe go directly to funding COPE services. It is also possible to buy a leg for someone, as well as donate different sums of money for different needs. Buying a leg is the best present imaginable. Thanks to donations, more people are able to move on. Learn more at http://www.copelaos.org/donate.php
The COPE Visitor Centre is located on Khou Vieng Road, 1km from the Talat Sao (Morning Market), opposite Green Park Hotel. It is easy to reach by bicycle or tuk tuk. It is open everyday from 9am to 6pm.
Featured in Hip Hotels, The Apsara is contemporary and chic, 18 rooms set in two renovated colonial-era properties in a quiet part of gorgeous Luang Prabang in Laos. Big sister to the Apsara Rive Droite, Hanuman Travel TV takes a look inside.
Funky, fun and fabulously affordable. The Apsara is right in the heart of the heritage town, making it the perfect place to stay. From the comfort of its large, airy bedrooms, rated by the Washington Post as “an inch beyond decadence”, it’s easy to explore temples and the lanes of Luang Prabang.
The Hanuman View: “We’ve long had a soft spot for The Apsara. Rooms are artsy and hip, featuring Lao silks and striking glass Buddhas. Four poster beds and riverfront balconies complete the picture. The restaurant is one of the best in Laos, serving Lao fusion cuisine such as goat tagine or stuffed panin fish, and the martinis justly claim to be the driest in the country. Peruse the wine list, as it is one of the best in town.”
Running along the bank of the Nam Khan River, the Apsara Rive Droite is a luxurious refuge with tropical gardens and a refreshing pool, overlooking the river and Luang Prabang in Laos. Hanuman Travel TV drops by to take a look.
Glam, gorgeous and groovy. Situated on a flower-filled lane, running along the right bank of the Nam Khan River, the Apsara Rive Droite has nine huge, glamorous rooms, all with their own veranda or terrace, overlooking Luang Prabang. Connected to the centre by boat, it’s easy to get into the heart of town.
Hanuman’s own view: “The Apsara has expanded into uncharted territory with the Rive Droite and this is great news for would-be guests. The rooms are superbly finished with tasteful furnishings, including silks sourced from renowned Jim Thompson in Bangkok. The swimming pool is an attractive feature and the place feels a world away from rest of the crowd. But in fact it is just a short boat ride across the river.”
If you are seeking somewhere unique in beautiful Luang Prabang, the jewel of languid Laos, then look no further than the Royal heritage residence of Xiengthong Palace. Hanuman Travel TV brings you inside for a visit.
From Xiengthong Palace themselves: “The last residence of the Royalty of Laos, the Xiengthong Palace is now a unique hotel is located in the most tranquil area of Luang Prabang. Set besides the most revered Buddhist monastery Wat Xiengthong and facing the Great Mekong River, our hotel is the ideal choice for the intelligent traveller who deserves ‘luxury amidst tranquility’.”
Hanuman’s view of this lovely property: “An attractive addition to the selection of boutique hotels in Luang Prabang, the Xiengthong Palace is set in a beautiful collection of restored royal residences in a prime location on the Mekong River. Our favourite rooms are the Deluxe and the Mekong Suites, but all are stylishly presented. The restaurant offers terrace tables with A Mekong view, as do the front facing rooms in the Ayu Spa. Tasteful indeed.”
The latest Hanuman Travel Collection 2013/14 is back from the printer and we have uploaded it live to the Hanuman website at www. hanuman.travel.
The Hanuman Travel Collection 2013/14 is now available for browsing, including Inspirational Holidays, Authentic Journeys, Original Adventures and Unique Experiences. The collection features our recommended hotels and cruises around the region, as well as themed trips to help your journey planning.
Myanmar is new for 2013/14, including 10 pages of inspirational advice on planning trips to this enigmatic destination. As well as our recommended destinations and journey planner, we also showcase our signature unique experiences and some responsible tourism initiatives. Stand out hotels include the historic Strand in Yangon, the Rupar Mandalar Hotel in Mandalay and the Amara Ocean Resort in Ngapali. We also feature two of the most popular cruises, Ayravata Cruise and the Road to Mandalay under our Cruising section.
Here is an excerpt to whet your appetite:
Introducing Myanmar
“Myanmar is one of the most desirable destinations on the planet in this day and age, now that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has invited travellers to visit once again and the government continues to surpise observers with its reform programme. The shimmering spire of Shwedagon Paya is a symbol of the nation, but this enigmatic country is home to the incredible temples of Bagan, the crumbling ancient capitals around Mandalay and the stunning natural beauty of Inle Lake. Further afield lie unspoilt beaches, charming colonial relics and unique local cultures. Quite simply, as Kipling once said, “Burma is quite unlike any place you know about”.
Old world colonial charm is a real magnet in Indochina and one of the most elegant examples of this is at Settha Palace Hotel in the Laos capital of Vientiane. Hanuman Travel TV paid a visit recently to capture the mood.
From Settha Palace themselves: “In the heart of bustling Vientiane stands a remarkable hotel. Built in the early part of the last century, circa 1932, and painstakingly restored to its former imperial glory, the Settha Palace Hotel serves as a testament to the long lost era of classical elegance, gracious service and French colonial-era charm.”
The Hanuman view: “This colonial-era gem has an enduring charm thanks to its relatively small number of rooms, just 26. All are tastefully finished in wooden furnishings, grand beds and elegant black and white tiled bathrooms. The courtyard pool is an invitingly shady space to hide on a hot day. La Belle Epoque Restaurant offers the finest French food in town, plus some beautifully presented Laotian cuisine.”
A new General Manager Sales, Jill Young, will begin her tenure at Hanuman on 1 September. For the past nine years Jill has been a key player at Regent Holidays, one of the UK’s longest-running independent travel companies. She worked as Tours Manager for Regent, looking after a wide range of countries, including Indochina, Myanmar, China, Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Jill comes with exceptional knowledge and experience of the UK travel industry having run her own department within Regent during her time there. We look forward to her bringing her energy, drive and commitment to the Hanuman team. Jill has travelled extensively Indochina, Myanmar, China, Russia, Central Asia and Africa, including some hands-on tour leading in destinations as diverse as Myanmar and Georgia. Hanuman would like to record its appreciation to our departing General Manager Sales, Jason Blackwell, who has spent the past 18 months with the company and is now returning to work in Laos.
Hanuman is seeking an experienced Country Manager in Indochina to run one of our regional offices on a day-to-day basis.
This is a challenging opportunity for an ambitious individual seeking to stamp their mark on an already successful and reputable company working with many of the leading travel agents and tour operators in markets all over the world. This is the opportunity to lead a successful team setup in a fast-growing Destination Management Company with grand ambitions within the region.
If you are a highly motivated individual who can think out of the box and a team player who can produce the best from your staff in a challenging marketplace, then Hanuman is interested in hearing from you.
Responsibilities as Country Manager for Hanuman include:
1. Manage all departments directly under this position including: Sales, Operations, Contracts, Purchasing, Product and Ticketing. Liaise with Admin & HR and Finance.
2. Provide leadership, inspiration and motivation to the in-country team.
3. Implement & oversee staff recruitment.
4. Initiate staff capacity building and training programmes to improve skills and productivity.
5. Ensure the Sales team perform at its optimum; set agreed key performance indicators (KPI) and ensure targets are met.
6. Conceptualize sales and marketing strategies to increase market share.
7. Develop a business plan to strengthen our client base and to increase sales, including international trade fairs.
8. Conduct market analysis to determine our competitiveness in the market place.
9. Supervise Operations systems and guide/vehicle deployment.
10. Negotiate with suppliers for optimum prices on a regular basis.
Contact: Please send your CV together with salary expectation and current location to Andy Brouwer @ andy@hanumantourism.com.
Explore Indochina’s Past and Present with Amanresorts.
Amansara (in Siem Reap) and Amantaka (in Luang Prabang), two of the chic 25 Amanresorts operating in 16 countries around the globe, are offering an Indochina Past and Present package at reduced rates between this November and October 2013. This six-night journey through Cambodia and Laos, with three nights accommodation at each resort includes round-trip airport transfers, daily breakfast, choice of lunch or dinner with house beverages and taxes. Amantaka is housed in a cluster of graceful French colonial buildings in beautiful Luang Prabang and your stay will also include a guide tour of the World Heritage city, sixty minute traditional Lao massage, morning Mekong River boat trip, a traditional Baci ceremony and private in-suite dinner with a specially designed menu. At Amansara, formerly the guest villa of King Norodom Sihanouk and located on the fringes of the 12th-century Angkor Wat, your three night stay will include twice daily outings to the temples of Angkor in a remork with personal guide, a jasmine blessing and a traditional Khmer breakfast at their own Khmer Village House. For reservations or more details, please contact sales@hanumantourism.com.
Whilst on the subject of Amantaka, an exhibition of rare Buddhist photographs under the banner of The Karmic Glance, will be held at the property from October 2012 to March 2013. The exhibition will host historic monks’ portraits from the unique collection of the monasteries of Luang Prabang, together with a limited edition portfolio of fine art facsimilies of 26 portraits. Amanresorts are located in the following countries – Bhutan, Cambodia, China, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Laos, Montenegro, Morocco, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States of America.
The welcoming staff at Ock Pop Tok in Luang Prabang
Keeping art and culture alive in Laos with the artisans at Ock Pop Tok.
For an experience that will help you appreciate the master skills of textile artisans in Laos, then we recommend a visit to the Living Crafts Centre of Ock Pop Tok when you are in Luang Prabang. Started in 2000, the driving philosophy of this social enterprise is to empower women through the use of traditional skills and fairtrade practices. The name Ock Pop Tok means east meets west and you can visit their centre on the banks of the Mekong River for a guided tour and to meet the silk weavers and craft artisans working on traditional looms and practicing the age old techniques brought to Laos over 1200 years ago.
Actually, you can create your own textiles, working with a local artisan in one of their daily classes at the centre. These classes give you a hands-on insight into the skill of natural dyeing and weaving. Working alongside local weavers, this is a fabulous opportunity to immerse yourself in local Lao culture. You can also learn how to weave bamboo and Hmong Batik if you so desire. And when you’ve completed your class, there is a cafe, shop and small four-room guesthouse on your doorstep. A great place to include in your Luang Prabang itinerary.
