TRAVEL SPECIAL... RIVER CRUISES....ASIA SPECIAL

RIVER CRUISES ASIA SPECIAL

SAIL ALONG

Witness the best of Asia; its lively culture and scenic beauty, onboard a luxury river cruise

    Asia is so mystical that even the most frequent traveller longs to come back to gain a varied perspective on life in the countries here. A different way to see the Asian countries of Vietnam and Cambodia is via a river cruise. The common link between Vietnam and Cambodia is undoubtedly the Mekong River. At the outset, Vietnam and Cambodia may seem to share a lot of similarities but it’s only when one looks deeper that the stark differences begin to stand out. Their histories have carved out distinct identities for their people. For instance, Cambodia is still reeling from the after-effects of the Khmer Rouge, while Vietnam seems to have made significant progress in moving on after the Vietnam War. Both the nations, however, have extremely friendly locals who greet tourists with smiles and great food. When on land, the best way to see the nearby places in Cambodia and Vietnam is by hopping onto a tuk tuk (a rickshaw attached to a motorbike). Unknown to most, Vietnam and Cambodia are great shopping destinations. Top fashion brands outsource their tailoring work to sets-up in these two nations, so you’ll get export surplus and imitation pieces at a fraction of their retail prices. The Floating Villages of Cambodia are another must-visit. Children and adults sitting in large vessels, apt for floating in the waters, to commute nearby distances, is quite a sight. When in Myanmar, just relax and soak in the tranquility of the place. From the cruise you can see temples rising from within green mountains. The Inya Lake and Kandawgyi Lake are two famous lakes in Myanmar. Take a boat ride in their serene waters and take as many pictures as you can of their pretty surroundings. Another must-visit here is the Pindaya Caves, a Buddhist pilgrimage site located on a limestone ridge in the Myelat region. Even though there are three caves on the ridge, only the southern cave is open for exploration. When you enter the cave, you will be greeted with the sight of thousands of glistening golden Buddha statues in all shapes and sizes, most of them from the 18th century. There are also several legends associated with the cave; which your guide will be more than happy to tell you all about. In between all the sightseeing, there’s even more fun waiting for you in the form of non-stop
    entertainment aboard your cruise!
   
IRRAWADDY RIVER CRUISE, MYANMAR
    The Irrawaddy River holds a special place in the locals’ hearts. It is the country’s largest river and a prime commercial waterway, thus a means of livelihood to a lot of locals. The people here proudly refer to the Irrawaddy as the lifeline of Myanmar. Flowing from north to south through Burma, this river is always dotted with umpteen ferries, barges, fishing boats and bamboo rafts bustling to and fro, carrying out trade. One of the biggest reasons to take a river cruise is to get a bird’s-eye view of how life is on these waters. It’s also one of the best ways to understand Myanmar’s history. From the river, you can see the clear skies pierced with beautiful temple tops and a scenic landscape in the background. There are two ways to tour the Irrawaddy. The first option is that you go to Bangkok, stay over for a night or two, explore the place and then fly to Mandalay, Myanmar, from where you can board your ship. A typical vacation that includes Bangkok can stretch from 12-15 days, depending on how many days you wish to stay over. The other way is to skip the Bangkok tour and head straight to Mandalay, where your cruise awaits you. Once aboard, relax and then get set to see magnificent places like Magway and Bagan. You will also visit lesser known places like Yandabo, which has a population of just 1,000 people. Among other cities and towns, also worth visiting are Amrapura and Ava, the former Burmese capitals famous for 19th-century stupas and monasteries. Historically and culturally rich, Myanmar is a delight to unwind in.
IRRAWADDY RIVER CRUISE SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day One: Mandalay familiarisation tour Day Two: Visit monastaries and pagodas in Mandalay Day Three: Tour Amarapura and Ava. Visit the U Bein Bridge in Amarapura and take a horse drawn carriage tour of Ava Day Four: Visit pottery farms in Yandabo Day Five: Visit Buddhist temples and pagodas in Bagan Day Six: In Magway, stop to visit shrines and temples and also visit the village school here Day Seven: Stop to visit Minhla & Gwechaung colonial forts Day Eight: An excursion to the town of Thayetmyo Frontier Post Day Nine: An excursion to see the ancient Pyu & Pyay civilisation sites Day Ten: Explore Yangon
MEKONG RIVER CRUISE
    Book yourself a Mekong River cruise vacation and you can check out the best of Vietnam and Cambodia at one go. The Mekong River connects these two bustling countries, giving you an opportunity to witness the similarities and diversity in both the nations. Most river cruise itineraries chart out trips such that the trip begins at Hanoi in Vietnam and after a thorough 10-day exploration via the Mekong, ends at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Enroute, you will visit Khmer monuments at the famous Angkor Wat and see how life is in the floating markets of the Mekong Delta. Both Vietnam and Cambodia are famous for their cuisines, so don’t miss out on trying some local dishes. Snails are a delicacy here and are sold as a snack by the riverside.
    VIETNAM HIGHLIGHTS
You can spend a day or two touring Hanoi and its beautiful parks and lakes. Take a peek into the Temple of Literature and the One Pillar Pagoda, which is a 11th century monument. Visit the Hanoi Hilton; the place where American POW were held captive during the Vietnam War. In Ho Chi Minh City, head to Dong Khoi Street and the Chinatown area to get a thorough feel of the place.
CAMBODIA HIGHLIGHTS
No visit to Cambodia is complete without a tour of the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the largest Khmer temples, which dates back to the 12th century. Siem Reap has a lot of historic temples worth visiting and one of the best times to see them in all their glory is at sunrise. Make sure you view the temples at about 5 am (ask your local guide for the approx sunrise time as per the season you are visiting in). If you think you’ll be the only one at the sites so early in the morning, you’re mistaken, as the temples are full of eager tourists
MEKONG RIVER CRUISE SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day One: Familiarisation tour in Hanoi, Vietnam Day Two: Reach Cambodia. Settle down at Siem Reap Day Three: Angkor Wat and Siem Reap tour Day Four: Temples of Siem Reap Day Five: Kampong Thom & Kampong Cham tour Day Six: Phnom Penh cycle or quad bike tour Day Seven: Udon Monastery, Phnom Penh Day Eight: Mekong River, leisure cruisine Day Nine: Back to Vietnam. Visit My Tho Day Ten: Ho Chi Minh City tour and photography enthusiasts who reach way before sunrise to capture a good spot to take pictures from.
    In the afternoon, take a walk in the open air markets. These markets are filled with stalls selling local delicacies and pretty outfits in Cambodian silk. Those who wish to see more than just the popular cities, should take a trip to Kampong Cham; a quaint and charming riverside town, it is primarily a backpacker’s delight. Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s waterfront capital has a lot of attractions but many tourists prefer to visit even its outskirts on a bicycle or a quad bike.
DID YOU KNOW
ANGKOR WAT’S INDIA CONNECT The inner walls of the outer gallery of Cambodia’s famous Angkor Wat have scenes depicting episodes from the Hindu epics — the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Compiled by Sujata Reddy ETTR130704