THIS ISSUE
=========================================
- Welcome
- The year that was
- The show must go on
- Aroma tours in the media
- Aromes sans frontiers
- New photos for you to enjoy
- Aroma travellers have their say
- Dorothy's perfumed adventures
- Karunya trust
- Bouillabaisse
- Top selling books
- Arranging your travel
- Previous newsletters
- Thought for the day


WELCOME
=========================================
A warm welcome to the 1600 plus readers of our Aroma Tours newsletter.

We have now completed updating and expanding our website in preparation for
next year and invite you to drop by for a visit at
http://www.aroma-tours.com


THE YEAR THAT WAS
=========================================
Without a doubt 2001 has been our most successful year ever with most of our
tours fully booked, many wonderful memories and new friends from around
the world.

Aroma Travellers are spreading the word about the enjoyable time they shared
with us and we are delighted and grateful to have had articles written about
us by 3 of this year's folk on their own initiative. Thank you!

We were also very happy to have enjoyed the company of Aroma Travellers
joining us for a 2nd and in some cases a 3rd time, always great for added
camaraderie and ongoing  friendships.


THE SHOW MUST GO ON
=========================================
There is no doubt that the events since September 11th have had an effect on
people's confidence. We have however, been greatly encouraged by past and
new Aroma Travellers who have chosen to keep a positive attitude and have
given us our strongest early bookings ever.

Naturally, we are continuing to watch developments in a number of countries
very closely through foreign bureaus, the media and our own contacts to
ensure that we are well informed.

All of our tours and retreats are going ahead as planned for 2002 and we
have every reason to feel confident that all will proceed in safety and
comfort.


AROMA TOURS IN THE MEDIA
=========================================
We have been thrilled to have had media interest from all over including
House and Garden, Pure Magazine, ABC Radio Australia, The New Straits Times
in Malaysia, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald as well as ZIP FM - Japan,
Cornucopia magazine, Beauty in Action, Aromatherapy Magazine - UK et al.

When time allows we will publish excerpts from some of these articles on the
website.


AROMES SANS FRONTIERS
=========================================
During our Provence Aromatherapy Retreat Jim was interviewed by a small
French newspaper. The journalist was amazed by the fact that we were in a
tiny village tucked away in the countryside with people from Greece,
Malaysia, USA, Hong Kong, South Africa, Taiwan, England, Australia and
South Korea.

We absolutely loved the name of the article he wrote: "Aromes Sans
Frontiers" - Aromas Without Borders. Such an appropriate title and a
wonderful article.


NEW PHOTOS FOR YOU TO ENJOY
=========================================
Jim has now added lots more photos for you to enjoy at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/picture-gallery.htm

Along with updated pictures of our tours we have also included photos of
some of the fine meals we have enjoyed, examples of our accommodation and
enticing pictures of happy Aroma Travellers.


AROMA TRAVELLERS HAVE THEIR SAY
=========================================
We have been overwhelmed by all of the lovely cards, letters and
testimonials we have received from this year's tours. We have posted a few
at http://www.aroma-tours.com/feedback.htm along with some of our favourites
from previous years.


DOROTHY'S PERFUME ADVENTURE
=========================================
Dorothy and Michael are a delightful couple from Philadelphia who joined us
for the Essential Provence tour this year. Dorothy's passion is perfumery
and as a result of her time with us she was able to see some wonderful
objects des perfumes:-bottles, labels, perfume equipment and meet a master
perfumer or "nose", as well as our good friend Michel and his fascinating
perfume museum.

Amongst all of the other yummy and interesting experiences we enjoyed during
the tour, Dorothy was inspired by enchanting fields of lavender and other
aromatic plants and our visit to an essential oil distillery, to compose a
delightful perfume during our perfumery workshop which she called "Tres
Bon".

 Tres Bon was so well received when she returned to the US, that as a direct
result of joining our tour, Dorothy was inspired to create her own perfumery
business - one of her long standing dreams.

This is a lovely story and as a footnote, Dorothy created another perfume,
Celebre Femme, specifically for Robbi's Christmas Celebrating Woman, an
annual fund raiser evening supporting the Karunya Children's Orphanage in
Southern India.

In Dorothy's words:-
"A singularly feminine woman challenged me to make a perfume to help support
an orphanage in India. For her humanitarian CELEBRATING WOMAN evening, I
created a composition to celebrate the feminine in women everywhere. The
dominance of an exquisite freesia, blended with lilacs and lilies forms the
top and heart notes. The smoky sweet powdery woods give a soft ending to a
long lasting fragrance."

Thank you Dorothy!


KARUNYA TRUST
======================================
In last February's newsletter we told you a little about the Karunya Trust
Children's Home in Southern India which we are supporting with fund raising
events and a donation from every Aroma Tours booking [
http://www.aroma-tours.com/karunya.htm ].

We are pleased to report that they are continuing to flourish and are
expanding the number of places they can provide to the orphans and needy
children of Tamil Nadu.


BOUILLABAISSE
=========================================
This is one of Jim's favourite dishes and so delicious and healthy.

One of the best places to enjoy an authentic bouillabaisse is in the Vieu
Port of Marseille but it can be found in restaurants throughout Provence.
The perfect accompaniment is a lovely glass ( or 2 ) of crisp Sancerre or
perhaps a light Rose.

The recipe refers to firm flesh fish and delicate fish with some of the
local examples. Feel free to experiment with your local fish varieties but
follow the cooking recommendation for the two different fish types.

In a large saucepan, lightly brown 2 finely chopped onions and 3 or 4 cloves
of garlic in a generous amount of olive oil ( good quality extra virgin
please ), then season with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a few
strands of saffron. Next add 3 or 4 crushed ripe tomatoes, 2 bay leaves,
some fresh fennel and thyme. Stir well before adding the firmer flesh fish
and shellfish ( conger eels, scorpion fish, grey mullet, razor fish,
crabs... ). Cover with 3 litres / 6 pints of boiling water and cook over a
high flame for 5 to 6 minutes. Now add the delicate fish ( whiting, hake,
cod, monkfish ) and slices of potato ( optional ) and continue to boil for
another 6 to 8 minutes.
Serve in a deep soup bowl.

The authentic accompaniment for bouillabaisse is the spicy mayonnaise
rouille, which is spread on croutons which are floated on top of the dish as
it is served.

Crisp several slices of bread for the croutons in a moderate oven. In a
mortar and pestle crush 3 cloves of garlic, 1 red chilli and breadcrumbs (
made from bread soaked in water and then squeezed dry ). Gradually add olive
oil until the mixture attains a nice consistency for spreading on the
croutons.

For a photo of this dish and some of the other lovely food you can enjoy
during your time with us visit our food glorious food page at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/gallery/photos-of-food.htm


TOP SELLING BOOKS
=========================================
In addition to our current list of books,  we have now added a subject
search facility to help you find the most popular books on any subject you
are interested in at http://www.aroma-tours.com/books.htm We hope that you
find it useful.


ARRANGING YOUR TRAVEL
=========================================
Because we are joined by people from all over the world and to allow you to
choose the most appropriate travel options that suit your plans and the
awards program you belong to, we do not include your travel to our
rendezvous point at the beginning of the tour and after the tour finishes as
part of our Aroma Tours package.

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

If you would like us to give you a call to discuss your plans or for advice,
just let us know the best number to contact you on.


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


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
=========================================
"My religion is simple - my religion is kindness"

The Dalai Lama

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 next year's Aroma
Tours as well our latest photos of our travels.

As always if you have any questions or need any assistance please contact us
at info@aroma-tours.com

Fragrant 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