Saturday, February 28, 2015

2015 Awesome Asian Adventure

January 29 saw us driving to Los Angeles where we will embark on an Awesome Asian Adventure.


FEBRUARY

January 31 - February 21 2015

BY THE NUMBERS
Number of countries: 4




Number of flights: 5 Total Hours 22.75 Total Miles 10,401


HOURS MILES

LA to Hong Kong 15.00 7,236

Hong Kong to Singapore 4.00 1,612

Singapore to Bangkok 2.25 882

Bangkok to Siem Reap 1.00 226

Siem Reap to Phnom Penh 0.50 445

Number of canal boats - 1 Bangkok

Number of elephant rides- 1 Bangkok

Number of sampans: 8

Number of tuk tuks: 7

Number of cyclo or rickshaws: 3

Number of photos: 5,855

Number of hotel rooms: 21


Click here for our flight from LA to Hong Kong to Singapore


SINGAPORE

Click here for our itinerary.






We stayed at the Rendezvous for 5 nights. We have a friend who is working in Singapore so it was fun to get together and S was a great tour guide.










Click on the links below to see our day by day sights.

Day 1

Everyone and everywhere was gearing up chinese New Year, the year of the goat/sheep.





Day 2 click on photo for larger view.





Day 3 click on photo for larger view of Clarke Quay.





Day 4 included a visit to Raffles, the iconic bar.




Day 5

Click here for a tour of the Arab District.

Click here for larger views of these murals in the Arab district.




Click here for more details about Changi.


Some more sights around Singapore.

CHIJMES

St. Joseph's Church


Gardens by the Bay. Click here for more photos.



AND having Suzanne as our own tour guide.



Singapore's famous chili crab!



Food! Click here for what we ate!!! BTW this is pronounced goo-ey duck!


BANGKOK THAILAND

February 5 flight from Singapore to Bangkok Thailand.

InterContinental Bangkok 4 nights - this was booked as part of the Mekong river cruise but only eight of us are here, they rest will join us on board.







Click on links below for daily activities.

Day 1 around our hotel.

Click here for more details about the altars around Bangkok.





Day 2 River Kwai, World War II, elephants and tigers!




Day 3 - First day of Avalon, Reclining Buddha, Grand Palace, Canal ride, lunch, pool time, Chinatown


Click here for a detailed visit to Wat Pho.






More Chinatown

Day 4 - Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-In summer palace, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol,, Wat Maha That, lunch











Click on the links below for more detailed postings.

Markets

Canal ride

Signs







The Grand Palace outside Bangkok






River Kwai



MEKONG RIVER CRUISE 
Bangkok to Siem Reap CAMBODIA
Number of cities/towns: 11





The Bangkok Gang flying to Siem Reap




Changing their money.




Arriving in Siem Reap we meet Phiem, our tour director and absolutely one of the best we have ever had.



We stayed at the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa for 3 nights.




Day 1 - Bangkok to Siem Reap, fish massage, market



Day 2 - Angkor Wat, more temples, lunch, dinner, dancers, monks









Day 3 - more Angkor temples, lunch, markets, massages and dancers.

Siem Reap to Phnom Penh CAMBODIA

We fly, because the river level is too low at this time of year, from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh for our first day aboard the Avalon Siem Reap.





Tour director and guide making sure our luggage gets on board for Phnom Penh.



MS Avalon Siem Reap

Avalon 7 nights

The ship features 18 suites, each 245 square feet in size with the line’s Open-Air Balconies, and will cruise the Mekong from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap and vice versa, as water levels allow.

Boarding!














Once aboard we depart and we cruise back up the river so we don't miss anything by flying here.

Cruising: Kampong Tralach–Konpong Louang–Prek Bang Kong
Quite the view when we awake.




Disembarking for our walking tour of Prek Bang Kong.




Cruising: Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban VALENTINE'S DAY

This morning, visit WAT HANCHEY, a temple dating back to the 8th century and the Chenla Empire. Located on a hilltop, enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a TRADITIONAL WATER BLESSING given by local monks. After lunch, enjoy a WALKING TOUR through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here you will see traditional Khmer houses and visit a LOCAL SCHOOL. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)


Wat Hanchey photos and details.

Highlight definitely was the children who followed us around.


Angkor Ban


Cruising: Phnom Penh
Day 10 Phnom Penh City Tour

The capital city of Phnom Penh retains its French charm to this day. This morning, your sightseeing tour by private cyclo includes visits to the ROYAL PALACE with the spectacular SILVER PAGODA and the NATIONAL MUSEUM, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will put on a SHOW featuring local song and dance. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)


Royal Palace


National Museum
Afternoon to ourselves so we set out to explore the city. Click here to explore the Night Market.


An evening out on our own.


Day 11 

Killing Fields where over 200,000 people were killed by the Khmer Rouge.



VIETNAM

Day 12 Sailing across the border into Vietnam and a ride along the canal to Chau Doc.

Chau Doc


Day 13 Sa Dec-Cai Be
Click here to visit The Lover's house.
More photos of the market.
Click here to visit the market in the afternoon.



The crew, seeing us off.



Ho Chi Minh


InterContinental Asiana Saigon 2 nights



We head out on a walking tour. It is Chinese New Year so it is very quiet.


Lunch is a cooking class.


War Remnants and Reunification Palace - learning their history is very sobering.


Day 2 Cu chi tunnels and free afternoon.


Click here to see the cathedral.

Farewell Dinner



On our last day we arranged for a late checkout. Tonight we fly to Sydney Australia!!
We head out early to see the holiday flower market.