And I am delighted to announce a new tour for 2013. I will lead Botanica’s ‘Gardens, Gourmet and Golf’ cruise, down the Rhine and Danube Rivers, on board the new MS AmaVerde, which will leave Amsterdam on 27^th April 2013, eventually arriving at Budapest, visiting gardens along the way.  I will be giving lectures (not on golf!) during the cruise, and of course, accompanying you into the gardens, markets and town squares of Dusseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Linz, Melk, Vienna - and all stops in between! The April 2013 cruise, on board the newest and most opulent river ship in Europe (the MS AmaVerde was christened in May 2011 by Botanica’s founder and co-owner, Judy Vanrenan), features flexible sightseeing options which include gardens, gourmet and golf or the opportunity to explore on your own: wandering through medieval villages, shopping or taking one of the ships bikes, to ride along the picturesque river banks. For a brochure and bookings call 1300 305 202 or go to www.botanica.travel

BEAUTIFUL BHUTAN. April 5 - 18, 2013  
THERE ARE STILL A FEW PLACES LEFT on  my Arts of Bhutan: Botany, Landscape and Textiles Tour from April 5 - 18 2013, for the Art Gallery NSW, in association with Egencia. The tour will leave from from Bangkok, flying at dawn through the famous peaks of the Himalayas, to land at Paro airport. After several days of acclimatisation, we’ll trek to wonderful Tiger's Nest, which clings to the cliffside at around 4,000 metres; we also walk through pristine valleys, visit a village where the protection of a bird is so important that electric power is shunned, descend Dochula Pass and visit textile weavers in the east of Bhutan, an area rarely sighted by outsiders.

This tour is especially interesting to those who love gardens and plants, as 30% of the species we know and love come from this region: magnolias, daphne, rhododendron, primula, the coveted blue poppy, and more.... Because of the restricted availability of visas and Druk airline seats, places on this tour are limited. For bookings and details contact Lisa Rayner at Egencia on Tel: 02 8235 5514 

Cherry Gompa

Tiger's Nest Monastery

Buddhist Monks