I just ran across this agency, which sounds like one you should look into if you’re looking for "something completely different" for your Asian holiday. Kipling & Clark is a Chicago-based agency specializing in private luxury tours to Southeast Asia, as well as China, Japan and India. While they have several sample itineraries to get you started, each tour organized by Kipling & Clark is bespoke for their clients.
A recent article in the Examiner highlighted an increasing interest in family tours, as well the desire for what they call "altruistic travel" – trips that provide meaningful experiences by giving travelers the chance to interact with ‘real’ local people and effect real change. This is a trend I’ve noted as well, long before the current economic situation. This is one company worth keeping an eye on.
It seems like a lot of people have at least occasional dreams of getting away from it all on some deserted tropical isle. If you’re one of them, then here’s your chance to see if the island life is for you: Nikoi is a small island near Bintan in Indonesia, about an hour’s sail from Singapore. The island is privately owned, and currently has six beach houses available, and another nine on the way on a separate beach. You can reserve the whole island if you want, or just one of the beach houses. The web site is very informative, so check it out.
Here’s an event that you may want to mark on your calendars: Boat Asia 2009 will be held from April 23 to 26 in the Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore. According to the promotional material, "Specially invited high-net worth individuals will once again be treated exclusively in the Island Suite, a VIP lounge with a panoramic view of the marina and the floating stage. Another addition to the Boat Asia experience is the alfresco cafe area and on-water bar where visitors can relax while indulging in the enticing displays of the exhibition."
On display will be motor boats, sailing yachts, engines, accessories, sports equipment and representatives of marinas and waterfront properties. The hours are 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm Thursday to Saturday, and 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm on Sunday. One-day admission is S$ 10.00.
