Your Chance to Spend The Night with Elephants While Staying in Bubbles
By Lifestyle+Travel
In a world first, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night with Thailand’s majestic elephants in their natural habitat while staying in unique transparent Jungle Bubbles.
Unfolding across 650,000 square metres of Northern Thailand’s ancient jungle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is perched on a hill overlooking the Mekong and Ruak rivers. The secluded location is uniquely positioned to take in majestic three country views over the confluence of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, and grazing elephants in the most stunning of natural settings below.
Located in the jungle, the two Jungle Bubbles are perched on raised wooden decks offering uninterrupted views of the elephants, as well as stargazing at night.
The Jungle Bubbles were custom designed by Eye In The Sky and are constructed with high tech polyester fabric using exclusive Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology to create an milieu in which guests can enjoy an immersive, close-to-nature experience.
The well-appointed bubble accommodation is fully air-conditioned, offering 22 square metres of indoor floor space; a 4.5-diameter bedroom and living space with a king bed and seating area under a transparent roof; and an enclosed, nontransparent en-suite shower and vanity.
Intimate touches of bathrobes and slippers; crisp white bed linen; regular and feather pillows; and exquisite bathroom amenities provide convenient functions with the comfort of home. A hair dryer, vanity and make up mirror are also provided.
Guests at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort can purchase the Jungle Bubble experience as an optional activity and spend the night from dusk till dawn, returning to the hotel in the morning. Rates start from 17,700 Thai Baht per night for two people and include a delectable dinner basket; a fully stocked mini bar; 24-hour in-room dining service; and tea and coffee making facilities.
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is world famous for its elephant camp that, along with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), were set up primarily to help elephants that cannot help themselves: for those that find themselves, through abuse or through circumstance, unable to provide and maintain an income for themselves, for their mahouts and their families.
Here appropriate activities are designed that allow the elephant caretakers to raise the funds they need to look after the elephants without forcing them into activities they might not enjoy.
The introduction of the Jungle Bubbles at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is another world first that can be scaled and shared with other elephant camps to allow them to give a subset of elephants – those that prefer to only meet their mahouts and are bonded into friendship groups – a natural life in a manner that the elephants enjoy without becoming a financial strain on the operation.
By Lifestyle+Travel
Potential Catastrophe Facing Thailand’s Elephant Camps As Tourists Disappear
Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, and many other camps in Thailand have closed their doors due to the current Coronavirus situation, which apart from resulting in unspeakable hardship for the elephants, could seriously hurt Thailand’s tourism industry in the future if no support is forthcoming soon. This is the opinion of Saengduean “Lek” Chailert, owner of Elephant Nature Park and founder of Save Elephant Foundation, who believes many of the closures will be permanent. “I have been to visit many of the camps and the situation is very serious”, she says. “The elephants have been chained up since the tourists stopped coming. They are very stressed and upset. Some have started to attack each other from being chained up all day and several have bite wounds as they are fighting over food. The pregnant elephants are also stressed and not doing well at all.” What does that mean for the future? “If there is no support forthcoming to keep them safe, the elephants will either starve to death or may be put onto the streets to beg. Alternatively, some may be sold to zoos and some may be returned to the logging business (which officially banned the use of elephants in 1989 due to its cruel nature). It's a very bleak outlook unless some financial help is received immediately,” says Lek. At Elephant Nature Park, which houses more than 3000 animals, many disabled or emotionally unstable, a frantic fund-raising effort is underway for food and medical needs. Some of the elephants need intensive, regular veterinary care. On her Facebook post today, Lek thanks donors, saying: “I have been in touch with more than 30 elephant camp owners to help them find a way out. My ability to help these animals is an extension of your generosity, I cannot do it without your help. There is no amount too big or too small to impact the lives of these animals. 100% of each donation is tax deductible and goes directly to Elephant Nature Park. I will share these donations with elephants in other camps as appropriate.” HOW TO DONATE TRUNKS UP (https://jointrunksup.org) is a certified supporting organization which is currently MATCHING all donations, dollar for dollar, up to US$45,000. Donations can be made via the site. Where the money will go: US$30 will feed an elephant for a day US$20 will feed a dog or cat for one week US$10 will feed a pig, cow or buffalo for one week US$8 will feed a monkey for one week US$5 will feed a rabbit for one week
By Lifestyle+Travel
Age: A Restaurant That Delivers Quality Through Time
With the opening of Age, Anantara Layan Phuket aspires to accommodate the best grill restaurant in Phuket, if not Thailand. Serving up dishes both proven and experimental, Age is nothing short of a gastronomic sanctuary guarded by the hands of time. Age takes you on a culinary journey along the most exquisite meats and the finest locally caught seafood, paired with the very best wines from around the world. To dine here is to commemorate life’s defining moments. And as every era and milestone has its own unique tastes, a night out at Age is catered entirely to your wishes. Hand pick from the finest cuts of meat. Choose from one of sixty premium vintage and new world wines or entrust our award-winning sommelier to tailor your selection. If it’s a view of the spectacular Phuket sunset sinking into the Andaman Sea that you’re after, you’re more than welcome to take a seat on the Age terrace boasting panoramic scenery and sample our extensive menu of classic and contemporary craft cocktails made from the most astonishing mix of ingredients. The boldness of Age’s cuisine is matched only by its interior. Dominated by dark woods, rusted steel and raw leather, its industrial look is more akin to a warehouse restaurant on New York’s Lower East Side than a tropical island location. Situated on Phuket’s serene northwest coast and surrounded by national park forest, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort features 30 guest rooms and suites and 47 one- and two-bedroom pool villas. In this luxurious hideaway, both resort guests and day visitors can enjoy the timeless taste of authentic quality. For more information or to make a reservation visit https://www.agerestaurant.com/ .
By Lifestyle+Travel
Take A Look Inside Mauritius’ Newest Luxury Property on The South Eastern Coast
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is entering the luxury hospitality sector on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius with the announcement of Anantara Mauritius Resort – a new luxury property on the South Eastern coast which is scheduled to open in Q4 2019. Part of an integrated coastal development, just 15 minutes from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, the new resort will be located near Blue Bay Marine Park – a leisure destination boasting a protected marine park, crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters and powdery white beaches. Blue Bay’s coral reefs make it one of the island’s premier snorkelling and diving destination. Anantara Mauritius Resort will feature 164 guest rooms and suites, with eight luxury pool villas – two with two bedrooms and six with four bedrooms – to be added in the first half of 2020. Facilities at the resort will include Sea.Fire.Salt – a specialty grill and seafood restaurant with courtyard and beach dining, an all-day dining restaurant, private dining with a wine cellar, a healthy wellness-focused cafe, two bars – one by the poolside and one facing the beach, a 30-metre ozone-based swimming pool, a gym, a signature Anantara Spa and a kids’ club. The look and feel of the new resort have been created by award winning Ground Kent Architects, Australia, in collaboration with the Office of Global Architecture in Mauritius, alongside Abacus Design interior designers of Thailand. The design reflects the melting pot history of the country, drawing influences from the rich architectural heritage seen in the capital Port Louis and around the island. Natural, locally-sourced materials take precedence, harmoniously anchoring the buildings in their natural setting. Taking inspiration from local colonial architecture, the overall effect effortlessly evokes the vibe of a relaxing, tropical beach house, yet one with a distinctly modern feel. The use of scattered light, basalt and volcanic stone, drift wood, wave-and-ripple patterns and neutral sandy colours blur the line between the indoor and the outdoor. Fabrics and art selected for the rooms are a contrasting combination of accents of orange, deep ultramarine and royal yellow as a nod to Blue Bay’s crystal waters, sandy beaches and legendary sunsets. With the resort’s dining options ranging from traditional creole cooking to fine dining, guests can expect a gastronomic experience rooted in an exotic blend of European, Asian and African influences. Most of the ingredients will be harvested locally since Mauritius benefits from incredibly fertile soil, while the ocean is the source of the freshest seafood and fish. As part of Anantara’s commitment to sustainability, the resort will incorporate solar technology for water heating in all guest rooms, to reduce the usage on energy. Other green initiatives include planting endemic flora within the hotel landscaping, reusing water for irrigation and cleaning as well as incorporating recycled materials into resort décor. The property will be plastic straw-free, an Anantara standard, and where possible organic farming methods will be encouraged throughout its restaurant supply chain. An island nation in the south western Indian Ocean, Mauritius is known for its varied flora and fauna, with many species endemic to the island. Famously the only known home of the dodo, an avian species which became extinct back in the 1600s, the island