HTM Himalayan Travel Mart + Wellness Symposium + HK-Nepal Dragon Boat Races + Kuala Lumpur + Nanjing + PATA Destination Experience in Kuching
Himalayan Travel Mart
Kathmandu, Nepal
The 4th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM 2023) brought together over 700 delegates from 25 different countries. Held in Kathmandu, Nepal, the four-day event served as a vital platform for reconnecting, rebuilding, and reinvigorating the tourism industry in the post-pandemic era. Highlighting the significance of HTM, Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal positioned Nepal as the “Gateway to the Himalayas.”
Wellness Around the Globe Symposium
Organic Spa Media, Ltd., the leading Wellness, lifestyle, and travel authority since 2007, organizes the annual Media Experience Wellness & Travel Media Event. This remarkable gathering connects hotels, resorts, spas, and wellness brands with retailers and renowned international media outlets such as Travel + Leisure, Parade Magazine, Oprah Daily, and Destination Deluxe. The event was streamed live to all virtual attendees throughout the day.
Wellness is a $4.5 trillion consumer-driven global market, and wellness tourism is growing faster than any other travel category. As wellness lifestyle expands exponentially post-Covid and reaches unpreceded new levels of global awareness, the time for wellness companies to expand their presence into mass market channels is more important now than ever.
Organic Spa Media’s Wellness After-Party, was held at The Pierre from 4-6 pm immediately following the symposium, It was an opportunity to mix and mingle with fellow wellness and travel experts, and representatives from top brands. There were exclusive prize giveaways, trip sweepstakes, and gourmet appetizers, specially curated cocktails, organic wine, and more.
Dragon Boat Races in Hong Kong and Nepal
There’s never a dull moment in Hong Kong!
The annual Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Race is back in 2023!
The two-day event, organized by Hong Kong’s tourism board and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, drew more than 4,000 paddlers from 160 teams including from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and internationally, its tourism body said. Participants compete in either traditional wooden boats or standard glass-fiber dragon boats.
The event, held in the city’s iconic Victoria Harbour between the financial district and the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade, drew scores of visitors who came to watch the high paced races.
1st Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Festival was successfully conducted in Phewa Lake of the beautiful city of Pokhara. The event was enjoyed by the locals and the tourists as well.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia and the largest city in Malaysia. The capital of Malaysia is widely recognized for numerous landmarks, including Petronas Twin Towers (twin skyscrapers with a sky bridge and observation deck), the Petaling Street flea market, and Batu Caves, which is over 400 million years old. It is known for its multicultural community, which mainly consists of Malay, Indian, and Chinese residents.
The Petronas Twin Towers is the world’s tallest twin towers, standing at 452 meters (1,483 feet) tall. This iconic landmark features a skybridge at the 41st and 42nd floor. It is open to the public for an amazing bird’s eye view of the city.
Suria KLCC is a luxurious mall with over 320 stores, and is located directly beneath the Petronas Twin Towers. It caters to middle- and upper-class Malaysians and to tourists.
ITB Travel Meet Asia was held on June 7th and 8th, 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center KLCC. Photo on the left.
Malaysia is a much less expensive alternative to neighboring Singapore and is certainly less expensive than other countries like South Korea, Japan, the USA, Canada, or those in western Europe. It is an affordable destination for workcation. Kuala Lumpur’s 5G internet service is fast and reliable.
Malay Gastronomy
Gulai Lemak Nenas Nyonya (tiger shrimp) and Ayam Kapitan (chicken curry)
The art of the dish is in the awesome sauce!
Asam Pedas
Fresh sea bass simmered with okra, coriander, fresh tomatoes, and Chef Wan’s homemade spicy tamarind paste. This curry is tangy, spicy, and sweet. Sauce was sublime.
Nanjing, Capital of Jiangsu Province
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum
Sun Yat-Sen is the pioneer of Chinese democracy who established the Republic of China in Nanjing in 1912. Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum (Zhōngshān Líng) is situated at the foot of the second peak of Purple Mountain in Nanjing, China.
Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang Mausoleum
Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang the founder of the Ming dynasty has his mausoleum at 明孝陵 Míng xiào líng complete with the traditional Sacred Way lined with stone animals and officials. At the foundation of his dynasty, Nanjing was China’s capital.
Nanjing City Wall
According to the UNESCO World Heritage website, the City Wall of Nanjing has four outstanding characteristics: that it had the biggest scale and longest use; the most perfect planning; the largest group of brick inscriptions; and the only city wall of an ancient Chinese capital still standing today.
Admiral Zheng He
Admiral Zheng He was a Chinese explorer and one of China’s greatest navigators, who led seven great voyages on behalf of the Chinese emperor. These voyages traveled through the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and along the east coast of Africa. His seven total voyages were diplomatic, military, and trading ventures, and lasted from 1405 – 1433
The remains of a shipyard that built vessels for Zheng He have been unearthed. Zheng He’s fleet (up to nine masts and twelve sails) included 28,000 sailors on 300 ships, the longest of which were 400 feet and 160 feet wide. By comparison, Columbus in 1492 had 90 sailors on three ships, the biggest of which was 85 feet long.