Aroma Tours Newsletter - December 2002

THIS ISSUE
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- Welcome
- Turkish Tales
- More Memorable Photos
- Bookings Going Well
- Robbi back from Hong Kong and Taiwan
- Essential Provence Stories
- Flavours of Provence our New Tour ( repeat )
- Bali Tours for 2003
- Provence Aromatherapy Master Class
- White Gardenia
- Melting Heart Chocolate Souffle
- Arranging your Travel
- Previous Newsletters
- Thought for the Day
- Our Invitation

WELCOME
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A warm welcome to the last Aroma Tours newsletter for 2002.

We are all very excited about next year with two wonderful new tours to share and the best ever response we have had for this time of year.

Thank you to those of you who have been able to find the time to drop us a line to say hi and for your kind words of appreciation.

If you have recently joined our newsletter or haven't visited our site in a while the latest updates, photos and information about our tours are available on our website at http://www.aroma-tours.com

For tour details including current pricing and itineraries you can go directly to our infomation request page at http://www.aroma-tours.com/info-request.htm

TURKISH TALES
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This year's Turkish Aromatic Odyssey was a group made in heaven. From the moment we met and right throughout the tour we were laughing and mixing together like old friends. And without fear of contradiction we had one of the best guides and drivers possible.

Some of you may remember that thanks to Robbi's hard work we found two new hotels to stay in during the tour this year. The hotel in the caves in a tiny village in Cappadoccia was a huge hit and some people were moved to tears when we arrived as it was so beautiful. Not to mention the wonderful people who own the hotel and who spoiled us with their kindness, music, tales of village life and delicious organic foods.

We were enchanted by the local villagers as they went about their normal lives and felt blessed to be able to experience Turkish village life without fuss or fanfare. This special time was certainly one of the most memorable for all of us during the tour.

Robbi's other find was our Thalasso Spa Hotel where we all indulged in various aromatherapy massages, seaweed treatments and the Thalasso spa pools. We also enjoyed the wonderful swimming pool and garden precinct just a short stroll to a beautiful beach on the Turqoise Mediterranean. The meals were amazing with the breakfast and dinner buffets awesome works of art, to be seen to be believed. Quite heavenly really and yes we are definitely going back.

This year, we were in the right place at the right time to enjoy a musical performance under the stars at Aspendos, one of the worlds best preserved amphitheatres. Most of the group went off into the night by bus to join 15,000 other fortunate folk to experience this fantastic evening of singing and musical delights.

Our time in the rose growing region was loved by everyone. When we went to pick the roses with the villagers before breakfast, Lisa, one group member enthusiastically inspired the rest of the group to help the villagers pick a complete field of rose blooms. This was definitely a first, great fun and produced big smiles all round.

Later in the day we went to the see rose petals being distilled to make rose oil and rose water. Sure enough those huge mounds of rose petals were just too good to refuse and we had a very fun filled time rolling and frollicking in the fragrant blooms.

[ Robbi's favourite use for Rose Water is to slice up strawberries, sprinkle sugar on them and then marinate them in rose water for a few hours. Served with cream or ice-cream it is heavenly.]

MORE MEMORABLE PHOTOS
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We had a wonderful response to our last newsletter and especially our memorable photos page. Jim has been busy again and included some more happy snaps of this year's tours for your enjoyment at http://www.aroma-tours.com/gallery/memorable-photos1.htm

BOOKINGS GOING WELL
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All of our tours are booking well with a healthy number of folks indicating that they are going to be joining us in 2003. We will give you an update of the booking status in our late January newsletter.

If you are considering joining us next year and have not already been in touch we invite you to contact us at info@aroma-tours.com or by phone so that we can assist you with any questions and plans you may have. If you are ready to make your booking and would like to reserve your place please visit our booking page at http://www.aroma-tours.com/booking-request.htm

ROBBI BACK FROM HONG KONG AND TAIWAN
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Robbi has just returned from a successful lecture tour in Hong Kong and Taiwan. She is a regular visitor to Hong Kong but it was her first visit to Taiwan and she was very enthusiastically received. Also she would like to thank all of you who met with her to discuss her work and for her informal chats about our Aroma Tours programs. She enjoyed meeting you and looks forward to seeing you again either on a tour or when she returns to Hong Kong and Taiwan towards the end of next year.

ESSENTIAL PROVENCE STORIES
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Some of the most delightful times we enjoy during our tours are the visits to out of the way places like the Rose garden and Abbey we wrote about in our last newsletter. Another lovely experience this year was during our Essential Provence Tour when we visited a small, wonderfully authentic restaurant in the Vaucluse. The restaurant was full of French merry makers in their best eating apparel and waiters bustling to and fro. It was the perfect sunny day for a long lunch and we settled in under a lovely linden tree in full blossom ready to enjoy the delicious fare that was tantalizing us with its aromas from the kitchen.

Such a meal we enjoyed, but the moment came as we dispatched the last remnants of the cheese platter when of course dessert needed to be considered. As we perused the menu one of the waitresses walked by carrying the most amazing dessert creation: a Vacherin. It was a unanimous "When Harry met Sally" moment. "We'll have what they're having", we cried!

The vacherin was not on the menu but the locals at the next table were celebrating a birthday and the vacherin was their special birthday treat.

It looked absolutely splendid consisting of a huge mound of meringue over the top of an icecream-like gateau. Our waitress was only too happy to ask Monsieur Le Chef to make us our own smaller version of this culinary magnificence.

I think a picture is worth a thousand words with Hugh just about to do battle with his generous portion of vacherin in the 3rd row of our new memorable photos page http://www.aroma-tours.com/gallery/memorable-photos1.htm

FLAVOURS OF PROVENCE OUR NEW TOUR ( repeat )
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Our latest Aroma Tour is called Flavours of Provence and is a sumptuous week
exploring the gastronomic delights and hidden beauty of the Provence
heartland.

We have many wonderful experiences for you to enjoy including
tutored wine tastings, Provencale markets, a gourmet cooking class, lovely
villages, antiques, beautiful countryside and gardens, and of course dining
in some of Provence's finest restaurants.

The tour is designed to allow you to experience the passion for fine food
and dining that is such an important part of the Provencale way of life,
balanced with a delightful leisurely exploration of the Provencale
countryside.

More details can be found at http://www.aroma-tours.com/flavours-of-provence.htm and via our information request page at http://www.aroma-tours.com/info-request.htm

BALI TOURS FOR 2003
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The Bali Women's Retreat and Bali Rejuvenation Spa Retreat are going ahead as planned for 2003. There is however, a change of date for the Rejuvenation Retreat. Given the recent situation in Bali we have moved the Rejuvenation Retreat to take place just before the Women's Retreat. We expect that everything will be back to normal soon.

A description of the Bali Women's retreat can be found at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/bali-women.htm

A description of the Rejuvenation Spa Retreat can be found at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/bali-retreat.htm and we have added some lovely
new photos for you to enjoy at http://www.aroma-tours.com/gallery/bali-spa-pictures.htm

You may also enjoy reading our article on Bali Spas that was published in
Aromatherapy UK at http://www.aroma-tours.com/articles/aromatherapy-uk.htm

PROVENCE AROMATHERAPY MASTER CLASS
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The Provence Aromatherapy Retreat is on the move! We have had a change of venue to a lovely hotel located on the outskirts of a little village in the Haute Provence. Just a short drive will take us the the heartland of the Provence lavender country. The hotel has a restaurant, tennis court, swimming pool and an area to play petanque, that very popular game of French bowls. The great Petanque play off is always great fun!

As well as Dr Daniel Penoel and Robbi Zeck ND. teaching at the Masterclass, we are thrilled to announce that once again we will be joined by world renowned aromatherapy expert, Dr Kurt Schnaubelt. This year's retreat was an outstanding success and we are looking forward to another fabulous event next year at this wonderful new location renowned for its local markets, distillers, quality lavender products and essential oils.

WHITE GARDENIA
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Congratulations to Belinda Alexander who has recently published her first novel, White Gardenia. It is great read and Robbi and I enjoyed it very much. It is published by Harper Collins.

We had the pleasure of Belinda's company this year on the Heart of Provence Tour which she used in part as a fact finding mission for her next book that partly takes place in the lavender growing regions we know so well.

Well done Belinda!

MELTING HEART CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
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This recipe is kindly provided by Kitty Quayle, a master pastry chef from Placerville, USA who was one of our group members this year for the Heart of Provence Tour http://www.aroma-tours.com/provence-tour.htm

The dessert is very similar to one that sent us all into raptures in our favourite restaurant in the Luberon.

Brush the insides of 7 small souffle ramekins ( custard cups or similar containers ) with a small amount of melted butter and then lightly dust with flour.

Gently melt together 1/2 lb. ( 225g ) of dark chocolate and 1/2 lb. unsalted butter in a bowl that is floating in a large saucepan of hot water. Allow to melt and stir until smooth.

In a separate bowl whisk together 4 whole eggs, 4 egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla until peaks form.

Slowly add 1/2 cup of flour and mix to form a smooth batter.

Add the chocolate and butter mixture to the batter and blend well, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed to facilitate the mixing.

Pour 1/2 cup of batter in each ramekin and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit ( 200 C ) for 8 minutes. The cooking time can vary depending on the oven but do not over cook.

Invert ramekin on a plate to release souffle and serve with vanilla ice cream. Garnish with icing sugar and a sprig of mint.

They are perfect when as you cut in to them with your spoon a delicious heart of chocolate sauce oozes forth. Heavenly!

ARRANGING YOUR TRAVEL
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As we are joined by people from all over the world, travel costs to the rendezvous points where the tours begin and end, are not included in our pricing structure. This gives you the freedom to choose the most appropriate travel options that suit your plans and the awards program you belong to.

All of our rendezvous are arranged to be easily achieved either with the help of your travel agent, or for the more adventurous, by booking your flights and connections directly with the airlines. Naturally we provide all of the information and assistance that you ( or your agent ) will require.

Details of the rendezvous and finish point locations and times are included in our pricing and itinerary information available at http://www.aroma-tours.com/info-request.htm

If you have any questions or would like our advice about your travel arrangements or with any other details please contact us at info@aroma-tours.com

Also, if you would for us to give you a call to discuss your plans or for advice, please let us know the best time and number to contact you on.

PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
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If you would like to browse through our previous newsletters, they can be
found at www.aroma-tours.com/newsletters/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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"Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love"

~ Rumi

OUR INVITATION
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We look forward to welcoming you on one of our delightful tours or retreats in the near future and invite you to visit our website at http://www.aroma-tours.com for more information about our Aroma Tours as well as the latest photos of our travels.

As always if you have any questions or would like our advice about your travel arrangements or with any other details please contact us at info@aroma-tours.com

Warmest regards,

Robbi and Jim

Aroma Tours (R)
Ballarat Australia
p/f: +61 3 5331 3254
e: info@aroma-tours.com
w: http://www.aroma-tours.com

ITALY

TURKEY

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LOIRE VALLEY

BALI

AUSTRALIA