Now The Write-up..

As promised, here is part of my story for MM on the HBO `Rome' trip...

For 48-hours, I was pampered like a queen. I had all to myself a gorgeous Lanna-style pavillion that came with, among others, a dressing area, a bath with a garden view and a private verandah where you can have afternoon tea and lie on a day-bed.

To unwind, I soaked in a warm bubble bath while the music of Sarah Brightman filled the room; also, sipped tea and read on the verandah overlooking trees in lush greens.

Thanks to HBO, I was among the members of the press invited on its media-trip dubbed `A Taste of ROME’ at Chiang Mai - in conjunction with the Asian release of HBO’s new multi-million dollar production Rome.

The venue? The award-winning Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, no less.

Five of us from Kuala Lumpur, accompanied by HBO Malaysia’s public relations consultant Paulin Aru started our journey to `Rome’ on an early Tuesday morning and after a transit at Bangkok, arrived at Chiang Mai and was driven straight to the famed resort.

Living up to its name, The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, is a paradise on earth. The spacious beautiful pavilions and facilities buildings are built amidst acres of lush green surroundings, terraced rice fields and the mountains in the beautiful Mae Rim Valley. It is just half-an-hour away from the cultural heritage of Thailand's northern capital.

There were about 20 or so media representatives from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan on the trip and I dare say we were spoilt in every sense - from the sumptuous meals we savoured in tasteful ambience to the attention we received from the ever courteous and friendly staff at the resort.

Oh, we were also ferried from one place to another, no matter how short the distance, on the resort’s own buggies.

Of course we had the official program. We previewed the first three episodes of `Rome’, and had a fruitful group interview session with one of the lead actors of Rome, Ray Stevenson, who flew in all the way from London.

These sessions were held at a cosy private residence of the resort where we were all seated comfortably curling up in the sofas.

We also had a first-hand experience at the famous Four Seasons Cooking School and flexed our culinary muscles in a `cooking competition.’

With some explanation and demonstration by the chef and helpers, we were split into four groups and Stevenson and Caraccia also sportingly joined in the fun. We had to follow a specified Thai menu and yes, although many were novice cooks, we succeeded in coming out some rather presentable (and quite tasty) dishes.

For dinner on the first evening, we were treated to the Khum Khantoke restaurant that is well knonw for its Northern Thai cultural performances that accompany the cuisine.

And on the second and last night, all of us except the Thai media, visited the famous night bazaar at Chiang Mai town. It was a fruitful trip as we shopped till we dropped and came back with all kinds of Thai handicrafts, souvenir items, food stuff and other nicknacks at bargain prices. (Yes, we needed to bargain with the friendly vendors)

Time flew when you were having fun so it was time to bid farewell to the resort at noon the next day. I felt a tinge of sadness as I closed the door of my pavillion.

It was an unforgettable experience. After all, not many people could afford the US$450 a night pavillion that I had the chance to live in.

Perhaps the only regret was not having the time to experience the resort’s acclaimed spa. But that means I spared myself spending at least USD$120 (RM420) - the price for a 90 minutes massage.