Thailand

that an increasing number of visitors spend their entire holiday in and around the city.

Chiang Mai is a favourite place and during the half dozen times I’ve been there I’ve seen a fair share of the 120 temples contained within municipal limits and photographed many of the architectural treasures scattered around the old walled city. (Parts of the late 13 th century earthen walls built by King Mengrai remain.)

Just outside city boundaries I’ve strolled along the street of craftsmen at Ban Thawai, a thoroughfare lined with dozens of small-scale handicraft factories turning out takeaways like silverware, ceramics, lacquer ware and masterpieces in wood. As well I’ve climbed the 300 ceramic-tailed dragon steps to the hill-crested golden temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

In August I visited the National Elephant Institute for the first time. Created in 1991 as a means to protect the endangered Asian elephant, the centre has courses where you can become a mahout for a day or longer. There is also an elephant hospital and a performance centre where elephants demonstrate skills used in the jungle. A few talented elephants have even mastered the brush and produce one-off paintings that are sold to visitors.

Another reason for going to Chiang Mai is that the city can be used as a base for an excursion to Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle. Located at the northern extreme of Thailand, where the Kingdom meets Laos and Myanmar (Burma) at the confluence of the Mekong River, this highly fertile area has a history as a leading opium producer.

The Thai Government, in a concerted move to not only change this image but stop the practice has curtailed most poppy cultivation and instituted programs to teach hill tribe people new ways to earn their livelihoods such as producing alternate agricultural crops like macadamia nuts and coffee and reviving almost-lost handicraft techniques.

The scheme has worked well. An increasing number of tourists arrive each year, lured by the legacy of the region’s notorious past, its true scenic beauty and the distinct hill tribes of northern Thailand. ‘Hill tribe’ is a common designation for ethnic minorities living (generally) in the remote mountain highlands of northern and western Thailand. Each tribe and there are subdivisions to confuse matters even more has its own customs, language, food habits, spiritual beliefs and, the easiest distinguishing characteristic for foreigners, dress style.

I saw a few hill tribe women dressed in black jackets and red skirts as I arrived at Sop Ruak, a tiny town on the Mekong River, north of Chiang Rai. Standing on the Thai soil of a steep hill overlooking this small outpost at the very apex of the Golden Triangle I gazed out and over the mighty Mekong. A few vessels were slowly moving through the muddy water of the world’s tenth longest river. On my left was mysterious Myanmar. On my right was even more enigmatic Laos. I had finally reached the edge of the Kingdom.

Thai Airways International has three flights a day from Sydney and a twice daily service from Melbourne to Bangkok. There are numerous onward flights connecting Bangkok/Chiang Mai and Bangkok/Chiang Rai. For information and bookings contact THAI reservations on 1300 651 960 or see www.thaiairways.com.au

Samui as well as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are popular destinations included in the Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Holiday program. For information and bookings see your travel agent or contact Royal Orchid Holidays on 1 300 369 747.

For booking any travel arrangements in Riga or Latvia contact the Baltic travel specialists MyPlanet, tel 1800 1800 221 712. Visit www. myplanet.com.au

Offering 144 luxurious guest rooms – 48 pool villas – with stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand, the Nora Buri Resort & Spa is an idyllic sanctuary on the east coast of Samui. E-mail reservation@ noraburiresort.com. See www.noraburiresort.com

Within easy walking distance of Chiang Mai’s night bazaar, the well landscaped Shangri-La Hotel is a “City Resort” with 281 guest rooms decorated in contemporary Northern Thai decor. E-mail slcm@ shangri-la.com See www.shangri-la.com

Set in 160 acres of indigenous forest and landscaped gardens, the Anantara Golden Triangle offers 77 comfortable rooms that have views to Burma and Laos. E-mail goldentriangle@anantara.com. See www. anantara.com

INFORMATION

The Tourism Authority of Thailand will send out holiday brochures and maps on these tempting areas of Thailand. Contact the TAT, Level 2, 75 Pitt St, Sydney, tel 9247 7549. E-mail: info@ thailand.net.au See www.tourismthailand.org s the Australian summer rolls around, it is important to take care of our skin. The face is the part of the body that is the most exposed to the elements at any given time and it needs some TLC to keep the skin firm and supple and in good condition.

A facial is a cosmetic treatment of the face, commonly involving a variety of skin treatments, such as steam, exfoliation and extraction. While stereotyped as a woman’s domain, more and more men are finding the benefits of facials in maintaining a fresh face which begets a healthy mind and body.

Facials can be a delicious pampering session at salons involving creams, lotions, masks, peels, and massages. But clear, healthy, lustrous skin requires a few minutes of care everyday. A skincare routine should ideally start in the pre-teen years and be followed regularly for the best results. Also, a healthy balanced diet and an efficient digest-absorb-assimilate cycle inside your body are crucial for vital, healthy skin.

According to Ayurveda, the first requirement for healing oneself and others is a clear understanding of the three doshas. Inside the body, there are three doshas which govern its chemical and physiological activities. These three doshas are Vata (from ether and air), Pitta (from fire and an aspect of water), and Kapha (from water and earth).

Three simple twice-a-day steps

Ten minutes is all it takes each morning and evening to care for facial skin.

Cleansing

Cleansing is the process of removing surface grime, makeup and impurities; it stimulates your skin and prepares it for nourishment. Cleanse your face and neck each morning and night. Choose a nonsoap cleanser appropriate for your skin type. If you have dry Vata skin (space or air predominant skin), choose a rich, nourishing cleanser that won’t strip the natural oils from the skin, with ingredients like oatmeal, almond meal and cream. If you have sensitive fire predominant skin, choose a gentle herbal cleanser that will purify without irritating the skin.

Sandalwood in fine oatmeal with a little cooling milk and rose water makes a gentle Pitta-pacifying cleanser. For oily earth or water predominant skin, a stimulating product that contains oil-balancing herbs such as lavender, lemon, neem and tulsi helps cleanse and clarify.

Prepare your cleanser if you are starting with a dry mix. Then splash your face with lukewarm water to open the pores. Never use hot water on your skin; it will cause your skin to literally wilt. Using your fingertips or a soft washcloth, gently apply the cleanser to your face and neck in smooth upward strokes. The skin surface should get stimulated without being pulled or stretched. Rinse off with warm water, and finish with a final splash of cool water. If you wear make-up, two cleansings of the face at night may be appropriate to make sure all of it is cleansed off.

Toning

Toning removes any lingering impurities or greasy residue and helps balance the pH of the skin. It closes the pores and stimulates circulation, helping to prepare the skin to absorb nutrition from the moisturiser that follows. Choose a toner appropriate for your skin type, and look for toners without alcohol, colours or artificial fragrance. Rose, sandalwood and cucumber based toners are good choices. If your toner is a spritzer, close your eyes and gently mist on face and neck. Dab any excess gently with a ball of cotton. Alternatively, apply the toner to the face and neck with a ball of cotton, using smooth, gentle upward strokes.

Moisturising