Follow Marco Polo's footsteps to ancient trading routes.

Follow the footsteps of Marco Polo to Silk Road.

Silk Road chic

Eileen Deeley brings the ancient network of caravan trails across Central Asia's snowcapped mountains and forbidding deserts into the Siam Society's lecture room on Thursday, as she explains how Marco Polo and other merchants braved the Silk Road for adventure and fortune. The lecture starts at 7.30pm. Members get in free; nonmembers are asked to donate Bt200. To reserve a seat, call (02) 661 64707.

Resort with a conscience

The Six Senses group has continued its environmentfriendly philosophy by introducing biofuel to Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa - its 260room property on the island's southern tip.

It means the resort is the first in Asia to implement a biofuel system as an alternative energy source.

This cuttingedge installation will operate on plant material only, harvested from the tropical parkland in which the resort is set.

The energy system comprises a 20ton absorption airconditioning unit, which will fully service the storage areas.

Using 140 kilograms of organic rubbish per day, the system has been part funded by Danida, Denmark.

View from the top

Fitness enthusiasts better get into training now. One of Bangkok's most challenging races - the Banyan Tree Vertical Marathon - returns for its 10th edition on Sunday, September 28. The race, which runs from 6am to noon, starts at the entrance to the fireexit stairway and ends 1,093 steps later at Vertigo Restaurant on the 61st floor. Registration costs Bt350 per person, and gets you the official vertical marathon Tshirt and a meal box. The winners get trophies from Her Royal Highness Princess Somsavali, luxurious accommodation and gift vouchers. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the "HIV Formula Feeding Fund", a Thai Red Cross initiative project under HRH Princess Somsavali.

Call (02) 679 1200, email peerapong.pc@banyantree.com or visit www.BanyanTree.com/bangkok/vertical_marathon.html.

Slumbertime bliss

A bedtime story is good - but the right pillow is much better. The Sukhothai Bangkok, a boutique hotel on Sathorn Road, now lulls its guests into a sound sleep with a new pillow collection from Parker & Morgan.

The special collection for the Sukhothai Bangkok includes special fragrant pillows, ecofriendly pillows and wellness pillows to meet the requirements of the most discriminating travellers. There's even the "Buckingham" model for allergy suffers. Sleep nice, and sleep tight.