13 Apr 2005
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Offers Unique Activity Programme for Children

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Chiang Mai, Thailand, -- Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi�s Lanna Kids Club offers a unique programme of activities, arts and crafts that allows children the chance to touch and experience the rich culture and traditions of northern Thailand. The Club also provides the perfect opportunity for children to relax, have fun and learn something new.

Arts, Crafts & Cultural Activities Located in a shady corner of the property�s Crafts Village in a charming traditional Thai teakwood house, the Lanna Kids Club boasts a wide range of arts and crafts projects including drawing and painting classes, northern Thai paper cutting and molding and painting buffalo and elephants with clay. The art of folding lotus flowers, learning how to write one�s name with Thai letters and simple Thai greetings and phrases are all ways to introduce children to Thai culture firsthand. Thai dance classes and the chance to dress up in Lanna-style costume also makes for a memorable experience.

Seasonal activities are planned to correspond with Thailand�s many special festivals and celebrations. For the Loy Krathong festival in November, children can make their own Krathong to float on the property�s ponds and streams. For the New Year in April, sand chedis are carefully constructed and decorated with colourful paper flags according to Thai tradition.

Lanna Kids Property Tour This one-of-a-kind tour explores the amazing world of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi through a child�s eyes! Spread over 60 acres of lush landscape with towering trees, flowering plants, rice fields and lotus ponds, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is a natural playground for children to learn about and discover. Starting with a ride through the grounds in one of the resort�s colorful, hand-painted horse carts or samlors, children will gain a uniquely local perspective of their surroundings. Special stops are made at the prayer hall, the spirit shrine and in the resort�s expansive rice fields. Here children will have the chance to dress up in traditional farmers� outfits and try their hand at rice planting. Making friends with our resident family of water buffalos and getting on board to have a photo taken is also an option.

In addition to these activities, a wide variety of children�s books, toys, local games and films are available for In-Villa use.

All activities and classes are conducted by Khun View Wiboonsanti, the resort�s Children�s Activities Coordinator. An artist, teacher and graduate of the Fine Arts Department of Chiang Mai University, Khun View brings an artist�s eye and imagination to the Club�s activities and programmes and is constantly striving to create new and memorable ways for children to take a part of northern Thai culture home with them when they leave the resort.

The Lanna Kids Club offers two sessions daily from 9:30-12:00pm and from 1:30pm-4:00pm. All activities are complimentary for resort guests.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world�s most prestigious hotels and resorts, currently operating 21 luxury hotels with a further five under development in Hong Kong and Tokyo (2005), Riviera Maya, Mexico and Prague (2006) and Boston (2007). In total, Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, some 8,000 rooms in 14 countries with 12 hotels in Asia, nine in The Americas and five in Europe.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in high and low resolution, in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.

For further information, please contact: Jill Kluge Group Communications Department � London Tel: 44 (20) 7529 9600

Sally de Souza Group Communications Department � Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2895 9160

Danielle DeVoe Group Communications Department � United States Tel: (212) 399 3938 e-mail: jillk@mohg.com / sallydes@mohg.com / ddevoe@mohg.com www.mandarinoriental.com