Date Listed
ELEPHANT POLO IN INDIA
India offers tremendous potential
as an incentive destination: The Land of Maharaja's. The Fascinating History,
Vibrant Color. Rich Heritage A Kaleidoscope of Sound, Sights and Fragrances.
Mount a regal pachyderm for a game
of polo. Trained mahouts, experts at the game, guide you as you play. The game
is followed by a lavish lunch at a secluded spot with a view of the sublime Taj Mahal all to yourself while
professional Rajasthani dancers perform the "Teerah
Taali" dance in which men play a four - stringed instrument called a chau
- tara and the women sit with dozens of manjeeras or cymbals, tied on all over their bodies and strike them with the ones they hold
in their hands.
This is just a small sample how we
can "WOW" your participants so as when they return home they can
truly say that their India Incentive Travel Program was an adventure of a lifetime for them...
For a digital version of our Theme
Dinners please go to this link: http://www.gtborientholidays.com/resources.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
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INDIA “WOW FACTORS”
India’s many faces – the festivals, the bazaars, the weddings, the costumes, the dances are quite impossible to experience on a short visit.
This is why we re-create the kaleidoscopic experience of India for you in a variety of traditional welcomes and theme dinners. Here is a sample of our “WOW FACTORS”.
On arrival at the hotel, the entire driveway is lined with caparisoned elephants and camels. Elephants with trunks raised in salute accompany guests who are taken in royal carriages or on elephant’s backs to the hotel. A band of musicians and horsemen precede the procession amidst showers of rose petals whilst valets drape each lady with a “duppata” (shawl) and the men are greeted with garlands.
As you enter the hotel’s lobby, they will perform the “Arti” ceremony. They anoint your forehead with the traditional Indian Red “Tikka”.
… All delegates are transported to the palace by camels. The camel caravans are escorted by two torch bearers to each cart. Local musicians will lead the camel caravan through the cobbled streets and villages. The group will be timed to arrive at the palace gates at sunset. On arrival they are received by the village elders in full local attire showering the group with rose petals. On entering the palace a huge floral company logo will be carved out on the floor. After cocktails, proceed to the Dubar Hall for a cultural evening extravaganza. The ambience created goes back to 600 years when the king and his lieutenants would sit on the cushioned floor and the dancers would perform …
This is just a sample of the many hidden gems, old palaces and magnificent forts we will open exclusively for your participants.
If you are planning a Meeting or Incentive Program in that part of the world, fax or email us for your free copy of our Meeting/Incentive Planning Guide or go to this link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/book7.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
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Date Listed
ICE HOUSE
Given
the remorselessness of its wrecking crews,
Every
winter, ice was collected from the city moat at Dongzhimen and hauled to the
Icehouse, filling the 400 square-meter interior. The walls were sufficiently impervious to the elements for
the ice to remain there, unthawed, all year round. Once only consecrated to the pleasures of the privileged,
the Icehouse is now enjoyed by many. It is simply no longer a place to cool
off. Instead, weekend nights are smoking hot - thanks to the smoldering licks
of resident jazz bands. Customers whistle, whoop, and clap in cocktail-fuelled
bonhomie as the band turns up the heat, making the sounds of bulldozing that
seem to accompany every waking hour in modern day
This is just a sample of stylish activity the GTB can
arrange for your China Incentive/Special Even. Visit the Icehouse on our Site
Visit to
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
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SHANGHAI ALLEYS
shanghai,
which means, “above the sea”, is located on the Huang Pu River in
Children play noisily under washing lines, watched over by grandparents seated at doorways in wicker chairs, while other adults going about their daily business. In the morning, groups practicing tai chi gather at the courtyard to go through their paces. These alley homes are known as shikumen. Within the compounds are three-storey dwellings built in the mid 19th century, their wooden doors are framed by stone gates.
Built by foreign companies to house a sudden influx of
Chinese into
This is just a sample of a stylish activity that GTB can arrange for your China Incentive.
Walk through the labyrinth of compounds and meet a
Shanghainese family. And if time permits take in a performance of folk music or
tai chi demonstration in our SITE Inspection to
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
Date Listed
COTTON CLUB JAZZ
It looks like your friendly neighborhood music club that
would fit in just as well in Santa Cruz. No cover charge, just a one
drink minimum.
Inside pictures of jazz and blues greats
line the wall. The house band plays in front of a stained glass backdrop and
candles provide the only illumination. The singer is a big African American
with dreads, the guitarist a suitably large Caucasian, though the drummer,
bassist, and fiddler are small, Chinese men. It is marvelous, slow blues. You
sip your whisky-neat and completely lose your sense of China.
While the band takes a break, a
tiny shy Chinese girl replaces Big Black. She is so shy that she pulls the top
of her black turtle-neck up the lower half of her face, pulls her hands into
her sleeves and stands there cowering while the band warms up. You wonder
whether this is going to be a disaster.
When the little girl opens her
mouth, a stunning Ella Fitzgerald voice comes out, powerful and deep, with a
strong African American accent. She moves her body with passion, swaying in
front of the microphone; leaning back she tosses her head. Her mouth amazingly
wide, “I don’t got… I don’t got… I don’t got no more loving’ to go rou-ou-ound.”
In the pauses between verses she abandons the stage and hides behind the
partition, coming out only to sing. During intermission, you notice that she
smokes like a chimney and speaks English with a very Chinese accent.
Welcome to Shanghai 2005!
This is just a sample of stylish activity that GTB can arrange for your China Incentive.
Enjoy a visit to the Cotton Club
on our SITE VISIT to China.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
Date Listed
China - Feasting at Tong's Table
Young men and women sing to each other ululating in
typical high-pitched tribal style, shamelessly expressing their love. Local
girls invite visitors to dance with them, hand in hand, hands on shoulders.
They dance and sing in circles. Pieces of cake are handed around and the
visitor whom the cake reaches when the song stops can pick a girl as his wife.
The man and the girl must exchange gifts and the village will later prepare a
wedding banquet for them. It is make-believe, but the whole scene is made to
seem as real as possible.ä Young girls in sherbet colored costumes offering
wine greet visitors at the entrance to the village.Ê Scores of musicians play
ethnic musical instruments to hundreds of dances and singers.
GTB has been contracted by
Nature’s Sunshine Products Inc to organize their 2006 Top Achievers
Club-Incentive Trip to Lijiang, located in the Yunnan Province, Peopleâs
Republic of China.
Listed as World Heritage by Unesco, Lijiang is a small
town laced with canals, bridges, streams, and cobblestone lanes.Ê Grey-tiled
roofs of residential houses line up along the river. It provides many
opportunities to observe the traditional way of life. A typical house has two
stories and is made of stone and wood. A row of three main rooms on the ground
floor faces south and is flanked on each side by a row of three rooms
projecting at a right angle and opening inward to form a sort of front
courtyard hidden from public view by a wall in front.Ê Streams flow through the
streets of Lijiang, filled with all types and sizes of goldfishes. Houses are
built according to the flow of the water deriving from the Black Dragon Pond,
created from the melting snow water from the Yulong Mountain.
The simple
sense of blending harmony with nature and the rich content of culture are of
great intrigue and value ö steps on an individual must take to awaken his/her
spirit in Chinaâs Middle Kingdom!
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
Date Listed
Incentive China
The Chinese put it beautifully, ãYou canât
catch a tiger cub without going into the tigerâs den.äÊ At this moment in time, China is one of the most
dynamic MICE destinations in the world ö No other place on Earth possesses such
an intensity of beauty and strangeness, nor has any other country a longer,
richer historical legacy, and no other nation is likely to be as important in
the 21st century.
Our incentive programs show
you an astounding collage of major cities, best-known sights, as well as
private moments along country roads less traveled. Dine on Peking duck at the
private, members only China Club. Listen in fascination, as a professor from
the University of Beijing presents a private lecture introducing us to the
unique culture of Imperial China.Ê Follow the lead as a local antiques dealer
guides us through the maze of curious bric-a-brac offered by the thousands of
vendors in the bustling outdoor antique market.Ê Take a rickshaw ride into the
back streets of old Beijing, known as the Hutongs, catching a glimpse into
Beijingâs past. Our visit to a private home will also give a unique insight
into everyday life of Beijingers.
Venture outside the Beijing city limits to the astonishing Great Wall,
one of the most remarkable feats of mankind. This visit will become even more
memorable as we enjoy the rare opportunity of dining in the amazing setting ö
an experience that will exceed your expectations. Visit the Chinese Hospital for an in-depth talk on
Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture from a noted doctor on staff. End the
evening with the age-old tradition of reflexology, the soothing and restorative
Chinese art of foot massage.
This is just a sample of stylish
activity that GTB can arrange for you
and your clients.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
Date Listed
Herbs & Medicine-man
In China, an overwhelming majority
of its 1.3 billion citizens believe essential and traditional truths about
nutrition and healing. They practice century old traditions with the aid of
herbalists who sell their goods through neighborhood shops.
In fact, visiting a
Chinese pharmacy in China is much like inside a miniature museum of natural
science. Tucked away in row after row of tidy drawers are animal, plant, and
mineral products, each with a particular purpose. Among the assortment of
curiosities is amber, to relax the nerves; peach pits and safflower, to improve
blood circulation; mahuang to induce perspiration; ginseng to strengthen
cardiac function.
The filling of a
prescription ordered by a Chinese doctor is a fascinating process to watch. The
pharmacist selects a few particular ingredients from the hundreds on his shelf.
The patient takes them home and boils them into a soup to drink. Confronted
with such a steaming brew, you might ask yourself just what is the basis of
this ancient medical art. In Chinese medical thinking, illness is only the
manifestation of an imbalance that exists in the entire person.
Attend
lectures by experts and doctors on Chinese herbs and acupuncture. Hold an open
discussion. Receive sample treatment. Advises and prescriptions of traditional
medicines will be given to individuals by the doctors.
This is just a sample of stylish
activity that GTB can arrange for you
and your clients.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
Date Listed
China's singing hill tribes
Kunming, capital of the Yunnan
province, is a subtropical city often termed as "the city of eternal
spring" because of its temperate weather and perpetually blooming flowers.
Kunming is rich in history including that of the Burma Road, where in World War
II fame, the US Air Force's Flying Tigers were based.
During lunch, groups of singing tribes people come around each table,
clapping and singing, ululating in typical high-pitched tribal style it is
quite an earsplitting yet stirring experience. The troop moves from table to
table, giving everyone drink of their homebrewed wine. An intoxicating encounter
indeed!
The groups are different yet similar in so many ways. As one moves from
village to village within the larger compound, ferried by trams, one's eye is
constantly caught by colorful shiny costumes of different sorts.
It also lies in their looks. At the Bai
village, the fair-skinned people with their soft silk outfits, their residences
with upturned eaves, courtyards, and pagodas stand in stark contrast. The Bai
art of tea culture is considered the most refined among the minority
nationalities, and it is enchanting to watch.
And over at the Hani village, the
predominance of a farming heritage is felt in all elements of song, dance, and
building styles.
Stocky, swarthy young men and sun kissed
young women show off by reaching heart-stopping heights on tall swings,
creating ear-splitting musical notes by blowing on simple leaves, and skipping
and shuffling to a tribal beat in the mother-son house.
This is just a sample of stylish off-site activity that GTB can arrange for you and your clients.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
http://www.gtborientholidays.com/seminar.html
GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
Date Listed
Parasols and Flowers
Chiang Mai, northern Thailand is also
known as the handicraft center. It is famous for the handicrafts, exquisite
silverwork, wooden carvings, and celadon potters as well as silk weaving, and
not to forget the umbrellas. At Borsang, like most local handicrafts, only
natural products are used in the making of umbrellas. A bamboo handle and
spokes support a top made of mulberry paper, the production of which is a long
and arduous craft of its own involving the pounding of mulberry bark into pulp,
virtually dissolving it in a tank of water and finally collecting it on a fine
mesh to dry. The hand painting of the umbrellas includes portraits of birds or
flowers. Dainty toy umbrellas make delightful room decorations, while giant
umbrellas of five meters in diameter are beautiful parasols to shield off the
fierce sun.
At Ban Tawai-Hang Dong, a
short distance south of Chiang Mai one can view the wooden buddhas, animals,
chests, alters, mystical creatures, and household implements of bygone days.
Equally impressive are the techniques used to give these items the patina of
age. Depending on the results desired, the wood is exposed to rain and wind,
smeared with mud, immersed in caustic soda or urine, buried and seared with hot
gas. Subtle effects are achieved through application of paint, oils, and varnish,
while some pieces are artfully disfigured-a nick here, a gash there, thankfully
many things have not changed in Chiang Mai.
The bells and chimes still make music at Buddhist temples. There are 36 bells and chimes within the old inner city and nearly 100 in the metropolitan area, each with the multi-tiered roofs, gracefully curved eaves and porticoes typical of the Lanna style of old Thailand.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
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GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
E-mail Address :
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Monks & Mansions
See a line of black pedicabs with red canopies at the park, their ringing bells could be heard everywhere. Starting from the vegetable and fruit market, ride in one of these into the deep alleys.In the past, princes', generals, and ministers were all housed within the courtyards around the outskirts of the Forbidden City. Linking up these courtyard houses were lanes and alleys called hutongs or quadrangles. The quadrangles varied in size and design according to the social status of the residents. Stop at a former prince's mansion in one of the hutongs.
This mansion is the most well preserved mansion in Beijing. Two stone lions guard the main gate and magnificent buildings stand to the fore of the mansion, with an elegant garden at the rear. On the wall of the main hall hangs a plaque inscribed with three characters "Bao Guang Shi" in the calligraphy. Waitresses in full court regalia, including elaborate headdress will greet you as you enter. Walking through a winding path surrounded by man-made hills on four sides are masterpieces of garden architecture, with more than 20 scenic spots leads us to a secluded back theater. This theater is lofty and spacious, with subtle lighting, and on its walls Chinese wisteria and green leaves are painted, giving the audience the feeling they are sitting beneath trellises. The floor is paved in pseudo-gold brick, and the seats consist of old-fashioned wooden armchairs furnished with square tables. The performers and the audience are in close proximity, so there is no need for audio amplifying equipment. Enjoy a private performance of martial arts by the famed Shaolin Monks breaking steel plates with their heads and the Peking Opera. Conclude the evening with dinner at the teahouse.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
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GTB Destination Management Services Inc.
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Date Listed
Flights of Fancy
Far
from the noise of
Thai
balloonist, Khun Yuthakit, is
As you soar through the sky, you will doubtless catch a
sight of the nearby Mae Rim range of mountains. It is a superb way of watching
the
Vertigo-sufferers
and air-balloon novices need not worry; the British-made balloon's movement is
so gentle, many first timers have compared it to riding in a lift. Unlike
airplanes, the balloon rises smoothly from the ground. The basket provides
comfortable reassurance, with your feet firmly on its solid base.
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
Interested in a Site
Inspection, go to this
link:
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SINGAPORE- Romancing the Past.
Raffles
Hotel, a designated national monument has long been
Rudyard Kipling visited
Stay at the Raffles Hotel on your site visit to
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
& CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER.
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Malaysia- Culinary Delights ...
A traditional wooden house is set on a hillside and is surrounded paddy fields. Built from hardwood grown locally, the house is raised high on stilts embellished with wooden carvings.
Pick up some of the herbs as you reach the house. In line with ancient Malaysian belief that everything has a soul, a handful of earth from your birthplace must be "married" with the land here. Then the villagers were invited to raise the main pillar which contains the "soul" of the house. The kitchen always faces the morning sun. If you take a closer look at the window shutters and fascia boards, you will see patterns of long beans, star anise, coconut palms, pineapples and betel nuts.
To get the starch out and to ensure each grain remains separate, you wash the rice until the water runs clear. Then measure the height of the rice in the pot with your finger, add the same height of water, and you will never go wrong.Spices are saut`ed to bring out their flavor, then ground, and made into paste that is added to shallots, ginger, and garlic.The spice mix is then cooked and when the oil separates, you finally add the meat.
Cooking is like a tree. The roots are the ginger, shallots, garlic, while galangal and turmeric form the marinade. Then there is bark in the form of cinnamon, and flowers such as cloves, star anise, seeds-coriander, pepper, and cardamom. Eventually you will reach the tree's fresh tips and the ingredients that are eaten raw, known as salads.
Experience this Soulful
Culinary Delight on your site
visit to
If you are
planning a Conference/Meeting or Incentive Program in the coming months, fax / email us for your free copy of INCENTIVE
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Inspection, go to this
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Banquet at the
I n the mid-1980s, CCTV established a TV program
called, "Dream of the Red Mansion, the Chinese version of Romeo and
Juliet, albeit Chinese style with a very unusual twist.As a prominent family
that produced public officials, life was one of ostentation and extravagance.
The novel details love, family feasts, large and small, and grand banquets.