June 2016

Amber Fort

Today at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we want to say goodbye to June as we like it: discovering another Asian treasure. We are travelling to India to find out about the impressive Amber Fort.

Amber Fort is located on a hill in Amer, 11 kilometres away from Jaipur, in Rajasthan state. Known for its artistic Hindu and Muslim style elements, it is the main tourist attraction in the Jaipur area.

It was built in the 16th century, in 1592, built over the rests of an antique structure under the order of Raja Man Singh I.

Visitors ride an elephant up the hill to the main entrance of Amber Fort. The fort overlooks Maota Lake, so during the ride, people can contemplate the beautiful views of the lake, the city of Jaipur, as well as the great wall of Jaipur.

Main entry of Amber Fort is through the Suraj Pol or Sun Gate, which leads to to Jaleb Chowk, the first main courtyard. Tourist can´t leave the building without visiting the Sheesh Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors, a spectacular room covered in thousands of tiny mirrors and coloured glasses.

Sound and light shows usually take place in the evening in the surroundings of Amber Fort, which never leave anyone indifferent.

If you haven´t decided your summer destination, the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is the perfect choice. Lose yourself in the middle of Asian luxury is not as far as you think…

Hama Rikyu Gardens

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are nature lovers, that´s why today we are taking you from our tropical gardens to the beautiful Hama Rikyu Gardens.

Hama Rikyu Gardens or Hama Rikyu Onshi Teien is a traditional Japanese garden located in central Tokyo, between the Shimbashi district and the Shiodome district.

The park was opened to the public in April 1, 1946 but it was originally built as a villa of the Shogun Tokugawa family in the 17th century.

Taking up an area of over 250,000 square metres, Hama Rikyu Gardens are a haven of peace and serenity. The park features a seawater pond, which is located alongside Tokyo Bay. Precisely, there is a teahouse located on an island in the middle of the pond, where visitors can enjoy the scenery and taste matcha tea and traditional Japanese sweets.

The gardens are home to different wild birds and fish species, as well as a spectacular flora: a peony garden, plum tree grove and cosmos fields, which have flowers for every season.

The best time of the year to visit Hama Rikyu is at the end of February, when plum trees and cherry trees bloom.

If you visit our 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa don´t hesitate to take our Botanical Tour, a guided walk through the dense tropical gardens. Discover our 300 tropical species!

Lao cuisine

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are Asian cuisine lovers. That´s why today we want to take you to Laos to find out about its varied culinary offering. Are you joining us?

Lao cuisine is still unknown for many people. Surrounding countries such as China, Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam have influenced its main recipes. Additionally, some Lao dishes show a French legacy, due to the time when the country was part of French Indochina.

Lao dishes usually include herbs and vegetables, as well as plenty of spices, specially ginger. Most of them are also served with steamed sticky rice.

Among most popular Lao dishes we find:

Larb. Also known as laap, it´s Laos´ national dish. This is a spicy mixture of marinated meat (beef, chicken or pork), served as a salad. It is prepared like ceviche.

Tam mak hoong. It is one of Lao most famous dishes. This is a spicy green papaya salad. The recipe includes garlic, hot chilli, sour lime, salt, fish sauce and sugar. It is usually served with steamed sticky rice.

Or Lam. This is one of Luang Prabang´s most famous dishes. It is a stew mainly made from vegetables such as eggplants, green beans, onions and mushrooms.

Pho. Originally from Vietnam, this is a noodle soup cooked with beef, meatballs and innards (tongue or liver). It is seasoned with onion, coriander or basil to add more flavour.

If you are a food lover, you have a mandatory stop at our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Choose among a selection of 7 restaurants and bars and enjoy true, unadulterated Asia surrounded by a magical atmosphere.

Longshan Temple

Today at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are welcoming summer by discovering a new Asian spot. In particular, we are travelling to Taiwan to find out more about the extraordinary Longshan Temple.

Longshan Temple, also known as Dragon Mountain Temple, is the most ancient temple in Taipei. It is located in Wanhua District, the old village part of the city.

It was built between 1738 and 1743, during the Qing Dynasty, by settlers from Fujian as a house of worship and gathering place for Chinese settlers. It was built in honour of Guanyin, goddess of mercy. Longshan has been rebuilt multiple times after destruction, especially due to the bombing during World War II.

Longshan Temple is considered an emblematic example of Taiwanese classical architecture. Its structure is characterized by the coexistence of different styles, materials and colours. As many Taiwanese temples Longshan worships a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist and traditional deities as Mazu, the goddess of the sea.

If you haven´t decided yet your summer destination, we are getting everything ready to welcome you at our 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Check our special “Dreaming of an Asian Summer” programme and enjoy unforgettable holidays at the Thai paradise.

Asian natural remedies

At our Temple or Relaxation we look after your health and comfort. We offer our guests a wide range of Thai rituals. Today from the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia we immerse ourselves into the Asian continent to find out more about its main natural remedies.

Most Asian countries, mainly China, believe in traditional and natural medicine when it comes to health disorders. Which are some of the most ancient and effective remedies? Keep reading…

Traditional Chinese Medicine is the most advanced one in natural remedies. The most popular one is ginseng. China considers this plant tones the chi or vital energy, helping people recovering for any type of diseases such as stress, depression or fatigue.

The most famous natural remedy in Indonesia is pineapple, which is used as an anti-inflammatory fruit. However, it is used to battle almost any type of illness. Due to its high amount of bromelain, pineapple helps relieve stomach pain and digest food proteins.

Cinnamon is the most famous traditional remedy India, which is popular for its medicinal and aromatic benefits since antiquity. Cinnamon infusion helps keep blood sugar levels balanced and regularise digestion.

Soya bean is the most popular natural remedy in Japan. It is used as natural oestrogens among Japanese women. It prevents gynaecological disorders and complications during menopause. And men use soya bean to prevent cardiovascular disorders.

Tea is the medicinal drink par excellence for Taiwanese people. Besides its energized and antioxidant properties, tealeaves contain tannins, which are good for different types of diseases such as burns or caries. Additionally, women used tea on their hairs to strengthen it and for relieve their skins after a long day under the sun.

If you visit our 5 stars resort in the Mediterranean Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, don´t hesitate to book one of our Thai Spa treatments. Undoubtedly, a unique wellness experience.

Kobe beef

Besides its landscapes and its culture, Asia has won us over due to its food. Today from the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are taking you to Japan to tell you about one of its most famous delicacies: Kobe beef.

Kobe beef refers to beef from the Wagyu cattle. These animals are raised in rural areas of Hyogo Prefecture according to strict rules. This meat is considered a delicacy worldwide for its delicate flavour, tenderness and well-marbled texture.

The name of Kobe comes from the port of this famous Japanese city, from where the meat is distributed all over the world. Every piece of meat is marked with a label that guarantees the quality of the beef. Kobe beef quality scores are determined in terms of beef marbling, meat colour and brightness, firmness and texture of the meat, being A1 the highest score. Regarding the marbling, it is grades from 1 to 12.

Sukiyaki is the most popular way of preparing Kobe beef in Japan. The meat is thinly sliced and mixed with sake, soy sauce and sugar and cooked with different vegetables. But the best recipe to appreciate the delicateness and texture of the meat is when it is prepared teppanyaki style, a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food.

If you are thinking about visiting us this summer at our 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, you can´t miss The Island. Our outdoor restaurant specialised in grilled meats is the best choice to enjoy summer nights surrounded by a magical atmosphere.

Yamdrok Lake

We are enjoying the outdoor weather at our Asian paradise; can you imagine a better plan than swimming in one of our Asian-style pools? Today from our luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we want to tell you about the amazing Yamdrok Lake.

Yamdrok Lake, also known as Yamdrok Yumtso, is one of the three sacred lakes of Tibet, along with Namtso Lake, which we have already told you about, and Lake Manasarovar Lake, and one of the most important Chinese lakes. It is located 100 kilometres northeast of Lhasa.

Like mountains, lakes are considered sacred by Tibetan people. They believe they are the dwellings of protective and therefore invested with special spiritual powers. In particular, Yamdrok Lake is thought to be divinatory. According to local mythology, the lake is the incarnation of a goddess.

Yamdrok Lake is 4500 metres above sea level and is over 72 km long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. It is fan-shaped, spreading to the south but narrowing up to the north and is characterized by its turquoise colour.

The lake freezes in winter, but its location offers nice weather year round so tourists can enjoy the beauty of this landscape any time of the year.

If you are looking for a destination for this summer, our 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is the ideal place. Book “In Advance” and get 15% off. The temptation of the Asiatic Paradise is right around the corner!

Phanom Rung Historical Park

Once again at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we have waken up looking forward to discovering a new Asian spot. Today we are travelling to Thailand to visit Phanom Rung Historical Park.

Phanom Rung Historical Park is located in Northeastern Thailand, in Buriram province. It is the largest Khmer monument in Thailand and one of the most important ones.

This temple complex was built between the 10th to 13th centuries, the bulk of it during the reign of King Suryavarman II. Phanom Rung is set on the rim of an extinct volcano. It is said that it was erected as a resting place for the travellers who did the route between Phimai and Angkor Wat ruins.

Besides its impressive architecture, Phanom Rung is famous for its stone walkway leading to the main entrance. Locals celebrate here a popular festival known as Phanom Rung Festival to watch the solar alignment.

You have a mandatory visit to Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean this summer. Our 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is waiting to offer you the best of Asia right beside you. Thumbs-up to a swim in our Faces of Angkor pool?

Kabuki theatre

June is one of our favourite months. There is little time left to welcome summer and at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are ready to enjoy it.

That´s why today we have decided to start the month travelling around the Asian continent to know more about its culture. We are taking you to Japan to tell you about Kabuki theatre, one of the most ancient passions of Japanese people.

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theatre. It dates back to the Edo Period, in the 17th century. It was born as a mix of dance and drama and since then, it has been one of Japanese´s favourite forms of entertainment.

At first, women only performed it, but a few years’ later men were the only ones allowed to do it; performing them both genders. Male actors specialised on female roles are called onnagata. Kabuki plays are about important historical events and moral conflicts in relationships.

Kabuki theatre involves exaggerated gesticulation performed by the actors, eye-catching make-up, flashy costumes and the use of dynamic stage sets. The stage set is usually changed while the actors are performing in the middle of the scene. The ones in charge of moving the stage set are known as kuroko and they always wear a total black look. Kabuki also uses a hanamichi or flowerpath, a runway, which extends into the audience to make them feel part of the play.

If you visit our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa you will have many options to make the most out of your stay. Check our wonderful program of activities designed to enjoy a full Asian experience.

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