Asia Pacific
Ankgor Wat
Ankgor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is indeed a fabulous destination for those who love archaeology. The angular designs of the buildings and the high relief depictions of sensuous Hindu goddesses are unlike those of any other place in the world. And they are to be found in the most verdant, lush settings of this tropical paradise.
Australia
Wallabies and wombats, dingoes and didgeridoos, boomerangs and billabongs . . . the words roll off the tongue like the rains that fill the dried streambeds during Australia's "wet." All are a part of the exotic and yet familiar allure of the land Down Under.
Danang My Son and Hoi An, Vietnam
Considered one of the best-preserved Cham centers in Vietnam, My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the 2nd to the 13th century. Twenty temples are still standing today, many having succumbed to the bombs aimed at the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and they are set in a verdant valley surrounded by hills and overlooked by the massive Cat Tooth mountain. Stroll around this UNESCO listed temple complex to learn about the Cham culture, architecture, and civilization. We also loved their excellent cultural show.
French Polynesia and the Marquesa Islands
The mere name Tahiti conjures up images of lush tropical growth and intense blue water. Palm trees, white sand beaches, and beautifully tanned bodies gently swaying to the sound of Margaritaville (well, maybe Blue Hawaii)!
Hanoi, Vietnam
Upon arrival in Hanoi, we inspected the Temple of Literature, the site of the oldest university in Vietnam where the Mandarins of Vietnam were educated and where 2313 doctors graduated between 1076 - 1779. We also visited the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake (The Lake of the Restored sword ), the site where King Le Loi is said to have been handed a sword by a turtle which was later used to vanquish invaders before the turtle took the sword back and returned to the depths of the lake. We rode a cyclo (bicycle pedaled by someone else) through the Old Quarter where we saw even more amazing things piled on top of bicycles and women with baskets suspended from their shoulders full of wondrous things. There was also a delightful water puppet show that originated in Hanoi, or at least in the rice fields around Hanoi.
India
Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Mumbai. India is a shock to the senses. I have never been anywhere else where I felt as if every single one of my senses was engaged simultaneously at all times! In the streets, there are people everywhere! And elephant and cows and dogs and monkeys and carts and bikes and scooters and cars and tracks and tut-tuts and women in beautiful saris and children and cats and tricycles and camels and buses and wagons and snakes and goats and tires on flatbeds and street markets everywhere. There are no stop lights, no lanes, just one huge jumble of species, and might makes right. Add to this the pungent saffron and curry assailing your nostrils, the cacophony of sounds, the heat of the sun on your skin, and the taste of the dust from the road on your tongue. You can hardly absorb so much.
Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Our journey began as we boarded the beautiful Mekong Queen, a motorized wooden boat, to explore life along the Mekong River in Vietnam which flows from Tibet to the South China Sea. The first stop is the bustling Cai Be floating market filled with any number of boats bursting with fruits, vegetables, and other products all vying with each other to sell their wares. Some of the women were cooking delicacies aboard their boats for their customers. Traders have lived on the river, in their boats, for generations. You see their laundry drying in the breeze, indeed, their closets were open air too. We sailed right beside the river boats, the houses, shops, and industry too, watching as the people made coffins and docks, cut wood, and carried their products by boat to the market to be sold. We strolled along a neighborhood path to an ancient Mandarin house for lunch where four generations of family members are living together. Our lunch consisted of delicious Mekong Delta grilled fish and fruit specialties, surrounded by a lush, tropical garden full of singing birds.
Thailand
Thailand is a wonderful place. Just imagine: friendly, happy people; white temples adorned with sheets of gold and semi-precious stones; safron-robed monks hurrying on their way; a swift-flowing river pulsing with life of every size, shape, and description; brilliantly colored silks displayed in boutique windows; tiny white lights ablaze in every tree at eventime; orchids blooming everywhere; spirit houses in front of every home filled with fresh offerings of orchids and delicacies; beautiful girls dancing; luscious fruits by the dozen; markets full of exotic goods: and luxurious hotels at moderate prices; around every corner a feast for the eyes. This is a shopper's paradise and a photographer's delight. There are elephants and snakes, and not in the zoos. But most of all there are beautiful, smiling faces who welcome you there, and you are so glad that you came.
Thailand: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are perfect destinations for those looking for something a little out of the ordinary. This trip promises to be educational and is filled with new experiences and wonder. As you ride elephants through the jungle and take wooden flat rafts down the river, you will come across acres of beautiful rice fields as well as locals bathing in the water. The food and fish markets are quite popular as well, as is the trip up the mountain to Long Neck Karen Village where their culture is to add rings around the ladies' necks, arms, and legs for beauty and tradition. The night market runs until the wee hours of the morning, and massages in city center come at a low price of about $10. The Four Seasons Chiang Mai is about 20 minutes from town, but well worth the experience. Abercrombie & Kent specialize in this region as well and offer a multitude of exciting programs.
Vietnam Countryside
First impressions of Vietnam early in the morning as we leave the Seabourn Pride are of the river banks and the small boats floating close to the small dock that we are approaching. On closer inspection, we see people on the tiny decks, as well as laundry hung to dry, pots and pans, and other signs of life at home. From there we climb into the car with our guide and head for Hanoi -- crossing waterways with lilypads and other colorful boats, seeing the greenest rice fields with a handful of scattered workers, admiring brightly colored two story "narrow houses" in a charming style, gazing at wedding tents with their archway of yellow mums, and taking in hundreds of mopeds with up to six people astride. It was an amazing sight to see the mopeds and bicyles with who-knows-what piled up and across them, the damsels with a mask to protect their fair skin from the sun, and the sheer orderliness of all these two-wheeled vehicles at all times, as if they were in a parade, and they had all practiced their positions to keep them precise.
