EJ Latitudes 1/08.qxd - Frontiers Elegant Journeys

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Call Frontiers 1-800-245-1950 • +44 (0) 1285 741340 in the UK • www.frontiersej.com Mool Sagar — Jaisalmer When life at the palace began to pale, the royal rulers of Rajasthan retreated, either to luxurious summer palaces and pleasure gardens or to rugged camps in the desert. Mool Sagar combines the best of both worlds and provides an oasis in the golden desert sands just six miles from the legendary fort of Jaisalmer, bringing a new standard of accommodation to this outpost city. The Aman New Delhi Great news for “Aman-junkies” — March 2009 will mark the opening of the Aman New Delhi. With just 60 rooms and suites, this is Delhi’s first boutique hotel and Aman’s third property in India. It is located in the center of India’s vibrant capital city and will undoubtedly provide an outstanding urban sanctuary. The hotel has a contemporary style but features many local materials and handicrafts. Most rooms have either a plunge pool or full-size private pool. We can’t wait to check it out! Created by Maharawal Mool Raj II in 1780, Mool Sagar is a true royal pleasure garden. Its delicate stone pavilions and fountains provide an exquisite setting for the luxurious Royal Jodhpur Tents. Eighteen spacious tents, handmade by traditional artisans, recreate the early 20th century camps of the Jodhpur Maharajas, but with 21st century amenities. Each tent has an en suite bathroom, private verandah, and is air-cooled or heated depending on how the desert winds blow. Meals are served in one of the carved pavilions or at a spectacular historic step well in the desert. The Golden City of Jaisalmer, on the edge of the barren Thar Desert, has for many years been accessed only by road — a 4-hour drive from the nearest airport of Jodhpur. Known for its intricately carved havelis and for its colorful people and fabulous tribalinspired jewelry, this is a great stop, well off the beaten tourist path. With the reopening of Jaisalmer Airport, the city is now easily accessible by domestic flights from the royal cities of Rajasthan (Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur) and connections to the international gateways of Mumbai and Delhi. Pool Room Frontiers has operated in India for many years and our team of experts have over a dozen trips under our belts in the past five years. We will work with you and our partners in India to create an extraordinary Indian adventure. We can arrange almost anything for you, from cultural sightseeing, wildlife and jungle safaris, Himalayan walks and treks, culinary and wine focus trips, ladies’ shopping trips, and beach holidays to ayurveda, yoga and meditation retreats. Anything is possible and all in the company of some of the top escort guides we’ve encountered anywhere. Slumdog Millionaire . . . reflections from a veteran traveler to India I remain spellbound by this year’s British film sensation, Slumdog Millionaire, the unlikely tale of an orphan from the slums of Mumbai who ends up as a contestant on the TV show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” It has attracted much critical acclaim, has swept the awards season, and has put one of my favorite destinations under the spotlight. The movie, like India itself, is an assault on one’s senses — you experience it completely: the sounds, smells, sights, tastes and feel. It captures brilliantly the many paradoxes of India: sometimes chaos and sometimes sublime ecstasy, spiritual yet profane, pageantry alongside poverty. You have to delve beneath the film’s edgy veneer of mafia lords, child abuse, riots, and petty thievery to be rewarded with a more genuine reflection of India and its people. My take-away is the rich tapestry of color, the sense of community and family, the ingenuity and resourcefulness, enthusiasm and resilience, their indomitable spirit, and the most inviting smiles in the world. I felt the same way after this movie as I did upon completing Gregory David Roberts’ remarkable novel Shantaram, also set in Mumbai’s slums — I just wanted to get on a plane and go! Mollie Fitzgerald 34
Kate and Dan exchange vows at Little Dix Bay Happily Ever After In 2007, a Frontiers client wanted to visit the Amalfi Coast on an active-vacation basis. Kate enjoyed traveling with like-minded people, so we recommended the Butterfield & Robinson Amalfi Walking Tour. To see the stunning views of Positano, Capri and Ravello at a slower pace; to immerse herself in the culture and meet the local people; and to stay in some of Italy’s most acclaimed hotels was exactly what she had in mind. WHAT SHE DIDN’T ANTICI- PATE WAS MEETING HER FUTURE HUSBAND! Dan and Kate met as single travelers and found that they had much more in common than walking and a love of Italy. After booking another Italy walking tour with B&R for the fall (this time for two!), Kate called a month later with a new request. They were contemplating a destination wedding somewhere in the Caribbean for late August and needed some ideas. Their preference was a smaller resort where every wedding detail would be taken care of, but it had to be easy to get to and, most importantly, it had to feature a fantastic beach! Without knowing the exact number of guests, Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda seemed to be the perfect location. After just finishing a 25-million-dollar renovation, the resort is intimate (under 125 rooms), but with all of the amenities of a larger resort. And with a short flight from San Juan to Tortola, it was easily accessible for a weekend getaway. Little Dix Bay (and all of the Rosewood properties in the Caribbean and Mexico) has a dedicated wedding coordinator who can arrange everything and anything according to your wishes. As the British Virgin Islands requires the bride and groom to apply in person for a marriage license three business days prior to the wedding, this allowed plenty of time to put the final touches on the plans once they arrived at the resort. Most of the guests arrived on Thursday in time for a cocktail party hosted by the bride and groom. Friday evening, after a day of enjoying the beautiful waters of the Caribbean and the resort’s facilities, the guests gathered for a beach barbecue under the tropical night sky. Saturday was a day for swimming and snorkeling, tennis and, for some, relaxing at the spa. Set up overlooking the harbor, the wedding ceremony was just before sunset, followed by dinner and a night of dancing. After three days, the guests went their separate ways, but with many memories of a weekend filled with love and friendship. By the way, Kate and Dan left a few weeks after the wedding on their honeymoon, a Butterfield & Robinson walking tour of the Dolomites topped off by a few nights at one of our favorite hotels, the Splendido in Portofino. If you are planning a destination wedding or any other family gathering — large or small, please contact Frontiers Elegant Journeys. Cindy Smith 35
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