Aroma Tours Newsletter - September 2002

THIS ISSUE
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- Welcome
- Aroma Travellers have their Say
- Memorable Photos Page
- Bali Rejuvenation Retreat
- Flavours of Provence our New Tour
- Bali Women's Retreat
- Bookings for 2003 are Now Open
- First Mass at the Abbey of the Roses
- A Tale of Wintry Woe in Provence
- Lavender Creme Brulee
- Karunya Trust and The Art of Giving
- Previous Newsletters
- Thought for the Day
- Our Invitation

WELCOME
=========================================
A warm welcome to all of the members of our Aroma Tours newsletter.

We have so many wonderful memories of this year's tours and feel blessed to
have been joined by such lovely people from USA, Canada, Hong Kong,
Argentina, England, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan.

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

As always our current tour information, including pricing and itineraries is
available via our information request page at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/info-request.htm

AROMA TRAVELLERS HAVE THEIR SAY
=========================================
We always feel very proud each year as we look back over our photos,
re-living the year's experiences and reading through the lovely testimonials
and words of thanks that we have receive from our Aroma Travellers.

We have included a few here for you to share:-

--- Turkish Aromatic Odyssey ---

"People ask me what was my most memorable experience....I always answer that
it was filled with one peak experience after another....

Robbi and Jim are marvellous hosts, our guide was the best you could ask
for. Our travels were perfectly orchestrated and it never felt like I was
'on tour' but rather like I had joined some new friends for an exquisite experience. And on top of all this, I never had to worry about the details!

THANK YOU from the center of my heart! I hope to see you again soon."

- Kathleen Schultz, Oregon USA

"We can't believe the value we have received for the money we paid. This
holiday has far surpassed our expectations."

- Susan and Michael Wilson, Cheltenham Australia

--- Provence Aromatherapy Retreat ---

" Thank you for your intention and effort. I will share what I have learned
with many others and thank you for facilitating this wonderful experience in
such a beautiful place."

- Susan Piaget, Framingham USA

"Thank you for taking such great care of us. The lectures and field trips
will be a life long gift. I can't wait for another tour."

- Fung Ye Ho, Hong Kong China

--- Heart of Provence Tour ---

"Thank you so much for sharing your love of Provence and for making sure we
all had a vacation extraordinaire."

- Nancy Mulvihill, Winchester USA

" Being with you in Provence was like travelling with a group of friends -
not like being on tour at all."

- Elizabeth Davidson, Marlin USA

--- Essential Provence Tour ---

"I loved being part of your Provence, where your French friends made us feel
so welcome. That made me feel really special."

- Karol Voris, Aptos USA

"We have been very spoilt. We appreciate the obvious love you have for the
French people and their country."

- Ted and Dora Gray, Bright Australia

More comments from past Aroma Travellers can be found at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/feedback.htm

MEMORABLE PHOTOS PAGE
=========================================
Just for fun Jim has compiled a page of some memorable and interesting
photos at http://www.aroma-tours.com/gallery/memorable-photos.htm for you
to enjoy and to give a broad brush look at some of the things we get up to
during our tours. Robbi particularly likes the camel shot - I think you'll
agree he looks pretty relaxed.

BALI REJUVENATION RETREAT
=========================================
We first introduced our Bali Rejuvenation Retreat in our last newsletter in
May. Since then we have received a great deal of interest from all over and
we are both very excited about sharing the wonderful experiences that we
have created for you to enjoy.

Robbi had the enviable task before the Bali Women's Retreat of re-sampling
and test driving a variety of spa delights at the many different facilities
we have arranged to take you to during the Rejuvenation Retreat. Good work
if you can get it!

A description of the 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

FLAVOURS OF PROVENCE OUR NEW TOUR
=========================================
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 WOMEN'S RETREAT
=========================================
Robbi has just returned from facilitating the Bali Women's Retreat which
once again was a remarkable week of beauty, nurturing and celebration.

This year the retreat coincided with local celebrations for one of the most
important Hindu goddesses, Dewi Saraswati - the goddess of wisdom and
learning. For the whole week there were colourful festivals and ceremonies
with daily offerings, blessings of family and community as well as health
and purification rituals.

Witnessing the Balinese at their devotions added a wonderful extra dimension
to everyone's time together, and Bali is certainly the perfect place to take
time out, surrounded by peace, beauty and grace to reflect on life and just
be.

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

BOOKINGS FOR 2003 NOW OPEN
=========================================
We are now ready to take bookings for all of our tours including our 2 new
offerings; the totally indulgent Bali Rejuvenation spa retreat
http://www.aroma-tours.com/bali-retreat.htm and for lovers of fine food, our
delicious Flavours of Provence gastronomic tour
http://www.aroma-tours.com/flavours-of-provence.htm

If you are thinking about joining us or if you need any assistance please
don't hesitate to contact us at info@aroma-tours.com , or by phone on
[international] 61 3 5331 3254 ( afternoon/evening US time zones, mornings
from other countries ) and we will be pleased to help you with any questions
or assistance you require.

If you are ready to make your booking now, please visit our booking page at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/booking-request.htm to reserve your place.

FIRST MASS AT THE ABBEY OF THE ROSES
=========================================
During our Essential Provence Tour [
http://www.aroma-tours.com/provence-essential-tour.htm ] we visit a
wonderful floral park with over 700 varieties of roses and a 12th century
abbey which has been painstakingly and lovingly restored by four French
families.

We visited the site for years as work progressed, to meet our friends and
look in on their progress. In spring 2000 we took our first group on a
specially arranged visit and since then the abbey is always one of
everybody's favourite experiences during the tour.

This year our friends reached another milestone, and we were invited back
after our tours had finished to attend the consecration of the church and
it's very first mass. Although we had to travel over 400 kilometres that
day we managed to make it just in time for the ceremony to begin and we
received such a lovely welcome because none of us expected that we would be
able to make it, yet there we were.

The ceremony was very moving and to hear the priest praising the
achievements of Serge, John Yves, Alain and the others was very gratifying
and was received by them with great humility.

As Robbi and I were the only English speaking people attending the mass,
after the ceremony as the priest was leaving, he jokingly asked us if we
were from CNN and would he be seeing himself on TV. We all had a big laugh
but indeed it was a great occasion and we felt very privileged to be part of
it, CNN or not.

A TALE OF WINTRY WOE IN PROVENCE
=========================================
Last winter in Provence was very severe with temperatures in the lavender
growing regions of the high Provence as low as minus 20°C for several months
without relief. As a result some lavender farms lost up to 30% of their
mature plants; strangely the young and juvenile plants were able to survive.

It was very sad for us to be standing in the ruins of one of our favourite
population lavender fields, looking at the grey uprooted corpses of plants
that last year were a vibrant aromatic carpet of mottled purple hues - each
plant expressing its individuality through its colour from pale mauve to
dark purple.

A new understanding and respect for the lavender farmers was brought home to
us as we watched the shuddering of the tractor and plough as they struggled
through the poor stony soil, making way for the young lavender seedlings
only a few centimetres tall that waited full of promise to be planted later
this year - they will not be mature enough to be producing essential oil for
another 4 or 5 years.

LAVENDER CREME BRULEE
=========================================
This classic recipe was included in our Provencale cooking class in Avignon
during this year's Essential Provence Tour [
http://www.aroma-tours.com/provence-essential-tour.htm ]. We all had a
wonderful time preparing it and of course the even greater enjoyment of
eating it!

Sufficient for 12 people.

In a large pot combine 750ml of cream, 250ml of milk and 100 grams of
lavender honey. Add 1/2 a vanilla pod and warm over a low heat stirring
constantly until the mixture boils, then remove from heat.

If you don't have lavender honey simply add 1-2 drops of lavender essential
oil to plain honey and mix in.

Add 2 eggs and the yokes of 8 eggs to a large mixing bowl. Add 100 grams of
sugar and whip until the mixture changes from yellow to creamy white.

Gradually pour the heated cream into the egg mixture through a fine sieve to
remove vanilla seeds. Use a large spoon to get as much of the remaining
creme mixture through the sieve as possible.

Whisk the contents of the bowl and ladle into ramekins or similar small
cups, leaving room at the top for the brulee crust - about the width of a
match is fine.

Place the ramekins in a shallow tray containing water and bake at 110C (
230F) for 1.5 hours.

Allow the ramekins to cool before serving.

When ready to serve sprinkle a generous layer of raw sugar on top of each
ramekin, shake off any excess. Using either with a small blow torch or a
under griller, scorch the sugar until it melts and turns dark brown. Remove
the heat and allow the beautiful crunchy brulee crust to form.

Enjoy with a lovely dessert wine, perhaps a lovely Muscat from Beaumes de
Venise.

We have posted photos of our amateur chefs in action at
http://www.aroma-tours.com/gallery/ep-cooking-class.htm

KARUNYA TRUST AND THE ART OF GIVING
======================================
We are pleased to report that the Karunya Trust Children's Home in Tamil
Nadu, Southern India [ http://www.aroma-tours.com/karunya.htm ] is
continuing to flourish and this year celebrated its 10th anniversary. Some
of the young people from Karunya, have now gone on to tertiary studies and
we are so proud to be associated with this charitable trust.

Every December, Robbi conducts a Christmas fund-raising event for the
orphanage. This year the evening will be held on December 6th, and is called
"The Art of Giving" - A Christmas evening for women celebrating qualities of
giving.

The generosity of the women who attend plus the proceeds from our fantastic
raffle of products and services donated by companies and individuals
throughout Australia and several generous international souls raises a
substantial amount every year and is always a very special evening indeed.

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
=========================================
'The perfume of sandalwood, the scent of rose and jasmine, travel only as
far as the wind. But the fragrance of goodness travels with us through all
the worlds. Like the garlands woven from a heap of flowers, fashion your
life as a garland of beautiful deeds".

~ Buddha

OUR INVITATION
=========================================
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: +61 3 5331 3254 f: +61 3 5331 3254
e: info@aroma-tours.com
w: http://www.aroma-tours.com

ITALY

TURKEY

PROVENCE

LOIRE VALLEY

BALI

AUSTRALIA