Luxury. Please take a moment and think about what ideas the word evokes in your mind before you continue reading.

It probably didn’t take you long to come up with a few ideas of what the word luxury represents – perhaps a Rolls Royce, a fancy hotel with a cavernous lobby, a private island, or uncommonly attractive people sipping champagne on a yacht.

Traditionally in the travel industry, that’s exactly the sort of thing that asking for luxury likely would have gotten you – a more remote beach, a fancier car, a bigger lobby, maybe a fluffier pillow (a thousand thread counts?) and so on. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Just the kind of experience you’d like to sign up for… or is it?

The hidden problem with the traditional pursuit of luxury that is often overlooked, even by those who partake in it, is that luxury, by its very nature, often leads to isolation. Frequently this is by design: a first class airplane cabin will have more space and a higher partition between the seats, a penthouse suite at a ritzy hotel might have a private elevator, and so on. Sometimes this can be desirable, but what happens when you want both luxury and connectivity? Is there a way to really live and explore the rich pageantry of the life we have been given, or the destinations we choose to travel to, while enjoying the benefits of luxury?

For more than a decade, Smiling Albino has been a pioneer in what we like to refer to as the “New Luxury”. We aren’t talking about BMW selling a downmarket 318i to the masses, or Louis Vuitton flogging a monogram Idylle Fusain Key Holder for a couple hundred bucks – what we are talking about is having luxury define the experience, rather than just the accouterments New Luxury travelers desire both.

To quote from a recent article about a Smiling Albino collaboration with Creative Bangkok Symposium 2014: “The new luxury — from fashion, to travel, to education — consists of custom-made, experiential, relational and narratable experiences. It is the product of on-going self-appraisal, of learning about oneself and the world.”  I encourage you to read the whole article (http://cllbr.com/en/post/learning-in-the-age-of-authenticity/439/#.VEj2RIuUdK8) because it really speaks to the value and passion that Smiling Albino aims to deliver to our guests one trip at a time.

[Tweet “New Luxury – The product of learning about oneself and the world.”]

Some of our wealthiest guests have remarked about how refreshing it is to really be able to get into the action and participate in a way that traditionally hasn’t been reflective of a high end experience. The New Luxury is distinct from traditional luxury in the way that it is immersive rather than exclusionary. If this concept appeals to you and you want to experience it, please drop me a line at dan@smilingalbino.com today and let me see how our team can show you New Luxury, the Smiling Albino way!

Daniel Fraser,

Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights:

Laos or Bust!

Our Annual Southeast Asian luxury motorcycle adventure did not disappoint again this year. From November 1-8, 2014, our fearless leader Daniel Fraser and skillful guide Mr. Eak lead a gang of eight intrepid expeditionists on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

The first three days of riding through Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand provided spectacular, twisty, high mountain scenery, including one of the highest points in the kingdom surrounded and 1940’s-era Chinese Kuo Ming Tan settlements. Crossing over the new friendship bridge from Chiang Khong to Laos required a switch to off-road bikes, as a large portion of the Laos riding was on dirt (…mud when water is added).

 The first day in Laos was a run for the northern Chinese border area. This was a less explored area where locals had rarely seen the likes of us and whenever we stopped for a break or to cross a river, we became the local entertainment. Unseasonable rain turned dirt tracks and river crossings into a chocolate mousse challenge and the end of the day was deservedly celebrated with a beer in a quaint village.

The second day in Laos, we followed the fabled smuggler’s route along the Mekong to the Golden Triangle. Weather played havoc with the primitive roads and we found ourselves struggling alone on the byways. Eventually we reached our destination where hotel staff cleaned our bikes and an entertaining evening in a surreal Lao casino town was spent. The final high-tailing leg involved river raft crossings and our triumphant return to Chiang Rai, where well-deserved Thai massages were enjoyed.

Celebrate a journey in courage: a Canadian firefighter’s charity cycle around the globe

Burnaby, B.C. Fire Captain and fundraiser Rudy Pospisil is cycling around the world to raise awareness to fight cancer.

Born in Vancouver, Rudy started cycling at age six and never had any intention of cycling around the world. However, he not only hopes to fundraise for cancer charity but to inspire others to start similar fundraiser activities by inspiration.

In November and December of this year Rudy will cycle 2,500 km from Chiang Mai to Singapore as part of his global trek. On December 2nd he will give a special talk at the Four Seasons Bangkok about his journey and his fight against cancer.

The idea to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle was born when he was diagnosed with cancer fourteen years ago. Over time, his entire family was diagnosed with cancer — even his dog.

Rudy says, “My aim is to make a difference, to share my story, inspire many and raise money for cancer research.This journey is not so much for fundraising as it is to draw people around the world together to finally end a disease that effects one in three of us. I hope to do this by inspiring others to do the similar events, promote awareness of these diseases and start ongoing events in places I visit.

“What I am asking is not only a donation or sponsorship, but to join my journey.  My goal is not only to cycle around the world but to reach out to as many people as possible because it will take more than me to accomplish my goal.”

His journey through Thailand will start in Chiang Mai on 18th November and end in Bangkok on 30th November. A cycling group organized by Smiling Albino will join Rudy on the 100km last leg of his journey from Ayutthaya to Bangkok on Sunday, 30th November. A 1,000 Baht Participation Fee includes donation, transport for you and your bike to Ayutthaya, T-shirt, lunch and lots of water. The ride is 100 km down the scenic west side of the Chaophraya: http://www.plotaroute.com/route/20892. If you‘d like to join this great ride, you can find the Entry Form here.

[Tweet “Hear Rudy Pospisil’s story cycling around the world at the Four Seasons Bangkok Dec. 2”]

If you want to meet Rudy and hear his story you are invited to his presentation at the Four Seasons Bangkok on December 2nd at 6:30pm. The entrance fee is 500 Baht, finger foods and refreshments are provided. His Excellency, Philip Calvert, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand will be the event’s host.

All proceeds will go to the Bangkok Red Cross Hematological Cancer Research Center at Chulalongkorn Hospital and Centre of Excellence in Cancer Genetics.

Rudy’s Thailand journey is proudly supported by Manulife, Four Seasons, Smiling Albino, the Embassy of Canada to Thailand and the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Further information can be found on Rudy’s website: whttp://www.firefightercycle.com/

PURE Life Experiences

Smiling Albino was honoured to be invited again to PURE, in Merrakesh, Morocco during November 10-13. PURE Life Experiences is more than just a travel trade show. PURE honours the passion of the world’s most inspiring creators of life enriching experiences. PURE Life Experiences is the global marketplace for the high-end experiential travel industry. See some of the stories and ideas that came out of this year’s gathering: http://www.purelifeexperiences.com/

Myanmar’s new online eVisa application system

It just got easier to get a Visa to Myanmar

Myanmar’s new online pre-authorization system is up and working well for those entering the country via a flight to Yangon, and just recently announced, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay International Airports as well.

Citizens of the 41 countries published on http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/noticetotourists.aspx are granted eVisa initially. For ordinary passport holders of Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines and Vietnam, a visa exemption of 14 days is given.

For more information, please contact us or check out on http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/index.aspx .

Smiling Albino Shows Vanity Fair Unseen Bangkok

Daniel Fraser hosted Vanity Fair’s Julian Evans on one of Smiling Albino’s fabled Bangkok walking tours last month, discovering the history, people and food of Chinatown. Read the full Vanity Fair article on Bangkok here.  

Destination Highlight:

Soneva Kiri

Located 1 hour from Bangkok by private flight, Soneva Kiri  is the perfect luxury Island for a beach retreat in Busy season. From top shelf liquor, to an ice cream parlour and outdoor movie cinema, it’s a great escape for adults and families alike. Here are some photos of Smiling Albino’s recent survey at the luxurious Koh Kood resort in Thailand.

The post New Luxury – Albino Smiles Nov., 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

I had the great honor of hosting the first Destination Thailand festival held in Toronto last month and had an absolutely fantastic time.

The Destination Thailand event was organized by the Thai Embassy in Ottawa to promote Thai culture to the world, and what better place to start than Toronto, Canada. It was a wonderful big event, but what struck me most about the day was how involved and excited the people who participated were. We had a wide assortment of participants from across the Kingdom: Thai traditional dancers, musicians, culinary artists, boxers, and massage therapists were just some of them. The Smiling Albino team from Calgary was even able to come participate along with some long time SA customers and fans who came to support.

It was an amazing and energetic crowd and it reminded me of how special the people of Thailand and Southeast Asia are and how fortunate we have been to have had the opportunity over the past decade to interact with a great assortment of people – clients, partners and employees alike.

Many of you have met some of these special people over the years – Mr. Jeep in Chiang Khong, Mr. Bird in Chiang Rai, or Mr. Barang in Cambodia, Oi in Krabi, Lam in Vietnam, Mads and Clare in Nepal… That’s not even to mention all of you who have booked a trip with Smiling Albino have been touched by the people who work in our office and put the pieces of the puzzle in place to make sure you have an outstanding holiday.

Each of these people has made a difference to countless numbers of our friends and customers by just being their vibrant, enthusiastic and genuine selves.

I’m taking this opportunity to thank all of these people who have touched my life and so many of your lives through your experiences with Smiling Albino. I would love to hear back from you about any anecdotes that have stuck with you over the years since your first Smiling Albino experience about some of these special people so that I reflect back on them the impact that they have had on you. Please send them to me at dan@smilingalbino.com

I am lucky to be part of this, and thank you!

Safe travels!

Daniel B. Fraser

Adventure Highlights:

Surveying Chiang Dao

When we say that we personally scout every area, eat at each restaurant, source and train every guide/host, sleep in every hotel bed, ride the bikes, board the boats and scratch the elephants, we really do take our wholehearted promise to you, the traveller, seriously. We work hard to ensure every tour is highly original, well thought out, oozing value, and most importantly a trip we’d take our friends and families on.

During the seasons when there are fewer clients travelling and, at times, adverse weather conditions, our adventure specialists are often out in the field (literally) to discover and survey new resorts, sites of interest, outdoor activities and routes.

This is a tale of our intrepid Adventure Consultant, Queen who, along with our local guide, Eak, set out to survey a new trekking route in Chiang Dao.

Chiang Dao, an area dominated by national parks and a town of the same name, 80 km north of Chiang Mai, is regarded by many as the most beautiful scenery in Northern Thailand.

Chiang Dao’s most striking feature is Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand’s third highest mountain at 2225 m, which plays host to an abundance of wildlife and nature. It is one of the lesser-visited, but nonetheless interesting Thai birding sites. The area is also known for it’s famous caves.

Queen and Eak were on the final day of their survey of the region, driving into the jungle along a newly identified trekking route. Monsoonal rains, however, proved too unyielding, and their truck got hopelessly stuck in the rain-saturated red clay track. It took them hours to free themselves, and finally with the help of friendly passing locals, they made it out and back to Chiang Mai where Queen finally caught her thrice re-booked flight back to Bangkok.

The first-hand observations, incredible photos and new friends Queen acquired on this survey were immediately incorporated into our Northern Thailand Adventure Tours. Come the dry season, this trek will be a unique and rewarding experience.

Surveying Laos, in photos

Our Director of Sales and Business Development, Stephanie, spent a week surveying new resorts, activities and locations in Laos earlier this month, and she captured some great shots, a sampling of what our Classic Laos Trip has to offer. Don’t hesitate to contact our team for up-to-date Laos travel and accommodation information. Click here for inquiries.

What’s Going On

New Dynamic App Explores European Heritage Sites in Thailand

The European Union launched the “European Heritage Map and Cultural Calendar” smart phone application on October 13^th, 2014. This content-rich app describes, illustrates and locates 250 European heritage sites throughout Thailand. The criteria for the entries were “remarkable locations that share common heritage resulting from centuries of Thai-European interactions”.

Smiling Albino’s Daniel Fraser emceed the intimate event, hosted by H.E. Mr. Luis Barreira de Sousa, Portuguese Ambassador to Thailand, on behalf of the European National Institutes for Cultural Thailand at his splendid riverside residence, the oldest European Diplomatic mission in Bangkok.

The comprehensive app, developed by Talisman Media, is a valuable resource for history enthusiasts, locals and tourists alike. It also provides an up-to-date “European Cultural Calendar” that lists up-coming events organized by EU member States’ embassies and cultural institutes in Thailand

It’s a really cool free app! Search “European Heritage” in your app store now. Available for Android and iOS.

Smiling Albino Wins Expat Entrepreneur Award

On October 14th, Bangkok’s expat community gathered at the Rembrandt Hotel to drink free beer recognize outstanding expat businesses. For the first time, companies established in Thailand by the country’s expatriate community were honoured for their creativity, ingenuity, excellence and proven success in The Expat Entrepreneur Awards 2014. Supported by The BigChilli Magazine in conjunction with BNOW, Bangkok’s networking community group, the Award highlighted the contribution foreign operated businesses make to Thailand’s economy.

The awards night was well-attended, and as our own Adventurer-in-chief, Daniel Fraser was hosting a trip, SA’s Marketing Mahout, Andrew Clark was there to accept the award on behalf of the Smiling Albino team. Smiling Albino thanks all who participated.

PURE Life Experiences 2014

We will be back at PURE LIfe Experiences 2014, November 10-13 in Marrekech. We look forward to seeing you there at the global marketplace of high-end experiential travel!

New Connections

Soneva Kiri

Soneva Kiri is pleased to announce a new direct flight service to Siem Riep. Launching on 16th November 2014 with a special introductory offer! Two flights a week linking Indo China to the beautiful beaches of Koh Kood.

Halong Bay

Seaplane Flights are now available from Hanoi airport to Halong Bay! A 30-minute flight or 45 minutes with some sight-seeing. Reasonably priced, quick and easy with fabulous aerial views over the countryside and experience the thrill of a water landing at the Tuan Chau Island Marina.

Contact Smiling Albino today for all your travel needs.

The post People Drive Adventures – Albino Smiles Oct., 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Don’t let all the organizational tasks crash a holiday

“Okay, keep your foot on the brake and shift the car into reverse.”

My friend’s daughter gingerly handles the gear shifter and awkwardly moves the column one position down from “Park.”

“All right, good, now turn yourself around and look out the back window.” She let her foot off the brake and turns right around in her seat. The car begins a slow roll backwards.

“No! Keep your foot on the brake!” her dad says.

She slams her foot onto the brake and the car jerks to a stop. She tries again, the delicate and unfamiliar dance of keeping an eye out the back window, gently letting off the brake and easing the car backwards out of the driveway.

Anyone who remembers when they first learned to drive or who has taught a youngster to drive will know exactly how this story goes.

When a new driver starts out, every single task that she is responsible for seems awkward. There are so many things to remember: check the surroundings, check the mirrors, brake on, change gears, let off the brake, push the accelerator, turn on the signal, turn off the signal, turn on the headlights, and so on and so on.

As a driver becomes more competent over time, these things become second nature and the process of driving becomes far less mentally demanding to the point that for many people going for a drive is a fun and relaxing pursuit.

So it is with anything that we are unfamiliar with.

When it comes to travel, we know that “anyone can do it.” Just like my friends daughter “knows” how to drive, it is certainly more than possible to go through a holiday by managing everything yourself, but that can lead to more hassle and possible wrong turns than you often realize, which can lead to friction between traveling members on holiday. While it gets you from point A to point B, there might be something great around the corner that you don’t want to miss, and something that makes all the difference.

Smiling Albino has the experience and expertise that allows holidays to occur as second nature, allowing you the opportunity to enjoy your holiday for the fun event that it is, rather than the stressful and harrying thing that it could easily become when you try to juggle all the details yourself.

For more information about Smiling Albino and what makes what we do so special, contact one of our travel enthusiasts today to ask about your next holiday.

Daniel B. Fraser

What’s Coming Up…

Explore Myanmar with Smiling Albino Founder Dan Fraser November 16 – 26, 2014

All that glitters, Asia’s Golden Land: Magnificent temples, remote villages, historic journeys, Colonial hill stations, stupas glittering gold, thousands of Pagodas, leg rowers and smiling faces…

Myanmar, or Burma as it was formerly known, holds great mystery, beauty and legend. From Himalayan Mountains in the north, to stunning ancient temples, enchanting lakes and soulful people, we’ll enjoy an experience in one of the world’s last unexplored corners in style.

We’ll take you on an intimate exploration of the remote countryside, to the thousands of pagodas of Bagan and finally the photographic haven of Inle lake. We’ll engage and learn from the Burmese people from floating villages to hill stations, and from markets to monuments.  Rudyard Kipling once described Myanmar as “quite unlike any place you know about”, and we invite you to come and discover the spirit and hidden corners of this nation on the move.

Explore Myanmar with Smiling Albino Founder Dan Fraser: New 2014

This special Myanmar experience will be hosted by Smiling Albino founder Daniel Fraser.

Creative Bangkok

October 12-17, Bangkok

Smiling Albino’s Dan Fraser will be a keynote speaker and “walkshop” presenter for the international creative symposium called Creative Bangkok taking place at various venues around town October 12-17, 2014. Creative Bangkok is six days of creative immersion that will enable you to think outside the box to leap over your challenges.

For more details and program, visit Creative Bangkok’s website.

Reminder

Destination Thailand Lands in Toronto!

If you are in Toronto, Canada Sunday, September 14, be sure to drop by the Smiling Albino booth at Destination Thailand at Yonge-Dundas Square and say “hi”!

The Destination Thailand Festival will showcase the best Thailand has to offer to Canadians and tourists from around the world. The event will feature famous Thai food from local restaurants, Muay Thai, traditional Thai dance, exotic fresh Thai fruits, Thai handicrafts, authentic Thai massage, world class Thai beer, live entertainment, lucky draws, and much more. Smiling Albino’s Adventurer-in-chief Dan Fraser will be emceeing the event and you may even be able to join him for a coffee (or Singha beer depending on the time) at the Smiling Albino booth. Please visit Destination Thailand on facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationThailandToronto

The post Albino Smiles September 2014 – Enjoy More Travel Value first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Smiling Albino provides insider access experience.

Which would you prefer – front row seats at a Rolling Stones concert, or a fold up chair in the corner where you can only view the band from an oblique angle?

It’s a no-brainer, right? Of course the front row seats are obviously better. That is… unless the fold-up is backstage and you’re sitting next to Neil Young and Bono who are enjoying the show with you.

I hesitate to compare a Smiling Albino adventure with backstage access at a Rolling Stones concert, for we’re far less noisy, however I think you understand the point. Often times, it’s more than just getting off the beaten track that leads to a more memorable experience.

Over a decade ago, when we first started planning our Smiling Albino experiences, we asked ourselves what events in life are truly memorable, and why? What is it that gives an experience impact and value?

We’ve found that in our time of on-the-ground planning and delivering trips for our friends and guests that the best experiences are usually a blend of both visited –  and less-visited – sites woven together into tasty brew of “seeing the sites” and experiencing the culture through the eyes of a local, and with a little creative flair added in, just for the memories.

Some outstanding experiences we have delivered recently:

– a private art tour hosted by one of Vietnam’s former Communist Art Police agents

– family bamboo raft building, then cruising it downriver in Northern Thailand

– A street-food adventure via motor-scooter and tuk-tuk in lesser known corners of Old Bangkok

For some, a holiday is checking items off of someone else’s list of things that they would like to see or do. Smiling Albino adds the insider access that oils the machinery of a great trip and ensures that in addition to those highlights, you also have something quite unique and memorable to bring home with you. Contact us today to find out how we can tailor an experience for you that you’ll be talking about for years to come, backstage, or otherwise.

Daniel B. Fraser

Adventure Highlights

From our Blog: Naypyidaw: Capital City Built from the Ground Up

Naypyidaw: Capital City Built from the Ground Up

Myanmar is a land that’s been essentially cut off from the world for the better part of five decades. Over the past few years, much has been written about its first official steps into the 21st century as the military slowly (sloooowly) loosens control on media, politics, and travel. Read more…

Dan spent a week in Myanmar in July finalizing the finishing touches for our newest tour edition “Asia’s Golden Land”. First adventure will happen this November! See full itinerary here. Contact Smiling Albino for inquiries and questions!

What’s Going On

Expat Entrepreneur Awards 2014

Held for the first time by The Big Chilli magazine and networking community Bangkok Now (BNow), the awards recognise expat-established companies for their creativity, ingenuity, excellence and success. Smiling Albino’s very own Daniel Fraser has been selected as a candidate. Check out his “Nomination VDO” here…

Destination Thailand Coming to Toronto Sept. 14

Destination Thailand is the first Thai Festival to take place in Toronto’s world famous Yonge-Dundas Square this coming September 14. Smiling Albino’s Dan Fraser is honoured to emcee the event which will showcase the best Thailand has to offer to the Canadians and tourists from around the world. The event will feature famous Thai food from local restaurants, Muay Thai, traditional Thai Dance, exotic fresh Thai fruits, Thai handicrafts, authentic Thai massage, world class Thai beer, live entertainments, lucky draws, and much more. Please visit Destination Thailand on facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationThailandToronto

What’s Coming Up…

Smiling Albino is offering three new and innovative Southeast Asia travel experiences.

Since 1999, Smiling Albino has been crafting memorable travel experiences in Southeast Asia and Nepal by capitalizing on local knowledge and personal connections. This year, Smiling Albino is offering three new and innovative tours for the active, luxury travel market: Multi-transport adventure through Myanmar, Insider’s Access SE Asia, and Luxury Train & Bike Adventures. These new experiences have been made possible by recent travel ban relaxations in Myanmar, new luxury en-suite train cars in Thailand and Smiling Albino’s tireless search for new and interesting local characters throughout the region. The Insider’s Access experiences feature everything from art discovery in Hanoi with a former communist art policeman, to market tours with acclaimed chefs in Bangkok, to walking tours of Phnom Penh with foreign and local journalists, to aerial discovery of outer Angkor with expert cartographers, to name but a few.

Contact Smiling Albino for inquiries and questions!

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: “Like” and “follow” us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia. Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts. NEW on Google+ and Pinterest: Now even easier to connect and stay up to date with us! Contact: Get a hold of us any time.

The post More Experiences with Insider Access! – Albino Smiles August 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.