Marieke's Art of Living

11-24 March

A 14-day exotic cooking school and gastronomic program with superb chefs and home cooks in some of South India’s loveliest estates and scenic luxury properties.

This tour shares with you the cultural history, rich nuances, immense variety and magic of South Indian culture and cuisine in a mix of days that includes excursions, discussions, hands-on classes, demonstrations, market visits, and special dinners. There is also plenty of opportunity for wonderful sightseeing, shopping and local interaction.For guests not wanting to participate in culinary sessions, we have arranged wonderful activities.

There is much to absorb the adventurous traveller. The landscape you journey through is beautiful and stimulating.The food is headily fragrant with spices, mostly light and delicate with an endlessly varying feast for the senses utilising many fresh vegetables, fish and seafood.The harmonious cultural melange ranges from the Dravidian past, through various religious and political dynasties, the Chinese fishing and trade routes, the remnants of the Dutch, Portuguese and British colonial past to Syrian Christian and Jewish settlements and modern day advancements in health and educationEnjoy diverse cultures as we cross three States (Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala), each with distinctive traditions, exquisite architectural jewels, and exceptional cuisine.Hotels have been selected for their special charm, great comfort and lovely locations.

This exceptional and exclusive 14-day tour has been designed and conceived by Marieke Brugman, former Chef-Proprietor of Howqua Dale Gourmet Retreat, who will lead this exciting Tour for the second time, with co-host Sue Jenkins of Accoutrement, Sydney. The most obscure doors are opened to you, enabling you to experience the rarefied elegance and traditions of a by-gone, opulent colonial lifestyle, the hospitality of special families and their marvelous culinary heritgae, traditional rural villages, and a cornucopia of art, craft and jewellery.

HIGHLIGHTS:
	The Tour meets in Chennai (Madras) and ends in Cochin.
	The French colonial outpost of Pondicherry enchants with its mellow architecture, courtyards, French cafes and the astounding organic, intentional community at Auroville.
	An eco-resort on the Bay of Bengal enlightens your understanding of the ayurvedic principles that underlie much of South Indian cooking
	Continue through verdant farmlands and tropical scenery to the Chettinad region, renowned for its villages with astonishing mansions and exceptional cuisine influenced by the merchant classes who travelled abroad, and as Hindus include meat in their diet. Visit the liveliest temple in the South, the impressive Minakshi Temple of Madurai, or catch a passing festival parade.
	Continue through the verdant Ghats abundant in spice plantations where you visit a traditional planter’s Estate before arriving at Periyar where the hotel boasts a marvellous organic produce and spice garden.
	Travel through verdant sculpted tea and coffee plantations and colourful market towns to reach the beguiling Kerala backwaters, and spend an impressive romantic night on converted rice-barges accompanied by musicians.
	Spend the last few days in the enchanting enclave of old Fort Cochin where distinctive cultural traditions abound as nowhere else and an enthralling blend of dynasties have left their mark. The grand finale is a Raj-themed banquet.
	For a Tour Overview Go To> To Request a Brochure and Tour Cost Go To>

· We do not need to understand other people and their customs fully to interact with them and learn in the process; it is making the effort to interact without knowing all the rules, improvising certain situations that allow us to grow. Mary Catherine Bateson

What Guests Have Said:

Dear Marieke

When do you give up lighting incense sticks and floating flowers in bowls all over the place!!! Not to mention want to eat Indian food for every meal!!

It was terrific fun. Thank you very much. Needless to say I want to go back.

I think of you all so often....

I am interested in Rajasthan and in the yoga so do keep in touch.

Many thanks again for everything, especially the Yoga workouts. Inspirational, and very generous of you to share your time and knowledge with us.

Fond regards
Fran Roberts

Hello Marieke,
I am so sorry I didn't have this letter to you when you returned home to say
I had the most unbelievable time with you and all your troops in
.....I will never forget my time there and the way we were so
immersed in everything...all quite heady and I still feel quite amazed by
our experiences...thankyou soooooooooooooo much. I will enjoy the
recipes....I bought the stainless steel cooking vessels...they are really
good. Helen and I loved Jaipur and our special hotel there and then to
chaotic Mumbai before returning home.
I will be writing to Durga in the next few days...special man I think.
best wishes with your next venture. Cheers, Marg Dunlop