'THE ART OF THAI CUISINE'
A few years ago Thai cuisine was relatively obscure. But over the last decade many Thai restaurants have appeared in North America, along with the addition of Thai cooking influences into western menus, making Thai cuisine very popular. The mélange of finely crafted flavours has established Thai cuisine as a rising star on the international food scene. Only in Thai cooking can you find the coexistence of all the major flavour characteristics: sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter. Thailand's location at the crossroads of India, Indonesia and China and other far-flung cultures along its trade routes has also contributed to the eclectic nature of Thai cooking. China has contributed a strong influence to Thai cooking due largely to an influx of ethnic Chinese who helped to populate Thailand over the centuries. The Chinese introduced the emphasis on the balance of the five primary flavours, the popularity of stir-fry cooking, and the use of ingredients such as fish, rice, noodles, soy and ginger.

India has also influenced Thai food. Some dishes, such as Gaueng Mussamen, an exotically perfumed curry from southern Thailand, may have come directly from Muslim immigrants and Arab traders encountered along the routes of ancient south-east Asia. Other Indian dishes were learned from Buddhist monks moving along the Silk Road. Thai curries can be traced to Indian migrants from centuries ago who brought their cultural influences and a strong belief in Buddhism.

The freshness and exoticism of Thai food lead people to believe that the country responsible for such food must be beautiful, and they are right. Thailand is an enchanting Buddhist kingdom whose tropical beauty, ancient culture, exotic cuisine and warm, hospitable people all welcome you to 'the land of smiles'. This tour visits Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket where you will attend premier cooking schools to learn the art of preparing Thai curries, soups, salads, appetizers and desserts. Thai cooking lessons are combined with private sightseeing that will introduce you to Thai culture and history.

In Bangkok, we journey along the Chao Phraya River to see the royal barges and the Grand Palace. We visit the archeological wonders that are the Buddhist temples, and enjoy an authentic Thai dinner and cultural show that will initiate you into this unique folk culture.

Our cooking classes begin in Chiang Mai in the historic northern region, set against a backdrop of the Doi Suthep mountains. This is a world away from the bustling city of Bangkok. The cooking school is in the modern ranch house of our cooking teachers. Here you will learn about herbs and spices and the cooking styles will be demonstrated by a cookery expert, then recreated by you. Visits to the colourful food markets will be an integral part of the course where you will learn to select the freshest produce. Classes begin with students seated, on patterned mats that cover the floor, around chef Somphon who explains the ingredients of Thai cooking. Listening to his stories, students learn different techniques and the art of vegetable carving. Classes continue until lunch, and end with a walk in the garden to see how lemongrass, holy basil, and other herbs grow. At the end of the course, you will receive a colour cookbook that includes the recipes that you have learned. Evenings are free to enjoy the wide range of restaurants, and to visit the bustling night markets of the city. In Chiang Mai you will feel you are truly part of another culture, as you visit the handicraft shops that were part of a royal project to support mountain villages; and as you shop for ceramics and silk, for whose production this area is famous.

Moving southwards, we travel to the lush tropical beach area of southern Thailand to the island of Phuket. At our lovely hotel located on Kata Beach, you can plunge into the ocean, just outside the dining room, after a morning's lessons. The restaurant at the Boathouse is considered the island's best and the wine cellar may be the best in all of Thailand. During the cooking lessons, the chef keeps things moving without ever seeming hurried. You will learn that Thai cooks create richly flavoured dishes quickly that taste like something that took hours to create. Our chef will also explain how recipes that at first glance might seem Chinese are, in fact, quite different. For example, Thai dishes contain brown palm sugar, and no sesame oil or cornstarch. Each recipe has been selected for ease of preparation and adaptability to western kitchens. The cooking classes are followed by a leisurely lunch where students can enjoy their own creations while relaxing in the famous restaurant situated directly on the beach.

Canadian Woman Traveller has developed a program that will enable you to enjoy Thailand's culinary arts and its culture through hands-on experience in the kitchen, as well as opportunities to explore the northern and southern regions of Thailand. Our clients are like-minded people of all ages who simply love to recreate authentic Thai dishes at home.

When you return home, you will remember the water buffaloes and rice paddies, and the exotic smells of kaffir lime leaves, fresh tumeric and lemongrass as you use your newly acquired skills to create exotic Thai dishes.

You can extend your stay and explore other parts of southeast Asia. You may wish to explore other regions of Thailand, visit the ancient city of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or experience Unesco's World Heritage town of Luang Prabang in Laos.