Silver Haired Gappies
Tour of Asia
11 day trip of Cambodia and Thailand Cambodia
Day One Phnom Penh
Stay
Perfect position on the Mekong Delta in the centre of Phnom Penh walking distance from Royal Palace. Characterful hotel combining Cambodian elegance with Western comfort.
Visit
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Royal Palace
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Silver Pagoda
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Choeung Ek (Killing Fields
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Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
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Phsar Kandal Market (for the locals)
Drink
Foreign Correspondents Club
Thailand
Day Four Bangkok
Stay
Bangkok's iconic all suite 5 star hotel. Fantastic views of over the city and the Chaophraya River. With the Sky Bar, Michelin 2 star restaurant and the highest alfresco restaurant in the world, it was the perfect place for R&R away from the bustling city.
Visit (evening)
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Cathedral of the Assumption
Day Eight/Nine Cha-Am
Stay Hotel de la Paix
Boutique hotel with minimalist and bold aesthetic style. Now closed.
2 days Beach and R&R close to Bangkok. Disappointing hotel with harsh lines, not the ideal environment within which to relax.
Day Ten Bangkok
Transfer to Bangkok and fly home after 5 weeks away (tour preceded by a family wedding in India).
Cambodia: great guides and lots to visit with much to learn from the tragedies of the Khmer Rouge war. Ankgor Watt was fascinating. Could have spent more time exploring this country.
Thailand: Tacked on to the end of a lengthy tour around Asia. Organised our own tours in Chang Mai. Visit did not do this country justice. Would not return to Cha-am - travelled there to avoid a further 2 flights.
Cambodia: the whole visit extremely moving. History of Khmer Rouge; Missionaries of Charity, Siem Reap. Foreign Correspondents Club, Pnom Penh.
Thailand: Chiang Mai
Cathedral of the Assumption, Bangkok; St John's Catholic Church, Siem Reap.
Part of a trip: Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand.
Arranged with Trailfinders
Cambodia: Ground staff - Buffalo Tours
Thailand: organised ourselves
7 day tour by plane Myanmar
Day One Yangon
Stay
Excellent hotel situated in glorious gardens beside the Kandawgyi Lake with spectacular views of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Classic colonial hardwood style blending with modern luxuries.
Visit
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Shwedagon Pagoda
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Botahtaung Pagoda
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Walking tour of colonial centre
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St Mary's Cathedral
Day 2: Early flight to Bagan
Day Two Bagan
Stay (Not on Expedia)
Thirpyitsaya Sanctuary Resort
Unique position situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, sitting within its own mature landscape. Although room decor was dated, the position and gardens with sunsets make it an exceptional place to stay.
Visit
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Ananada Temple
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Myinkaba Village
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Guvyaukgyi Temple
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Private Irrawaddy river trip visiting:
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Sae Lin Village
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Kyauk Gu U Min Temple
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and enjoy sundowner!
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Day Three Bagan
Stay (Not on Expedia)
Thirpyitsaya Sanctuary Resort
Visit
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Early morning balloon flight with Balloons over Bagan
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Nyuang Oo market
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Evening horsecart trip amongst the temples and villages
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Local crafts: silk weaving, jewellery, gold lacquered wood.
Day 4: Early flight to Mandalay
Day Five Lake Inle
Stay
Charming local boutique hotel with Royal Villas facing the lake with fabulous sunset views.
Visit
Nyaung Shwe market prior to taking private motorboat on to Lake Inle
Visit
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Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery
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Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
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Village of Inpawkhone, meet
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silk weavers
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weavers of lotus flowers
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cigar makers
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Fabulous tour with excellent ground staff and guides. The people of Myamar are charming, welcoming and so impressively talented in the arts and crafts, with skills handed down the generations.
Loved the whole trip, but most particularly Bagan and Lake Inle. The craft and food markets were outstanding - be prepared to bring a lot home!
St Mary's Cathedral, Yangon.
Part of a trip: Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Arranged with Trailfinders
Ground staff: Exotissimo Travel, Yangon & Mandaly
11 day tour of Vietnam & Mekong Delta Vietnam
Day One / Two
Arrive Hanoi
Leave : early next morning for 4 hour drive to Halong Bay
Stay
In the style of a traditional Vietnamese junk boat, this overnight cruise offers a luxurious way to travel through one of the natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay.
Visit:
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The towering pillars of sea and wind-carved limestone karst
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Limestone caves
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Floating village
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Vietnamese cooking course
Day Four Hanoi/Livitrans
Stay Overnight train to Hue
Visit Hanoi:
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Ho Chi Minh Complex
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Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
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Presidential Palace
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Ho Chi Minh Museum
Livitrans Train
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14 hour journey
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Simple but clean 1st Class compartment
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Could be shared with stranger
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Our carriage loos used by the whole train
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Took own picnic - train provided pot noodles and boiling water
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Great experience
Day Ten Can Tho
Stay
Set in magnificent gardens on the banks of the Hau River, at the heart of the Mekong Delta. Colonial style hotel.
Drive to Cai Be floating market. Board river boat. Explore Mekong Delta, disembark Vinh Long to drive to Can Tho.
Visit:
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Floating Markets
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Wine and Candy Manufacturers
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Handicraft Village
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Local restaurant
Day Eleven Chau Doc
Stay
Another colonial style hotel at the Three River Crossing, located deep into the Mekong Delta close to the Cambodian border.
Visit (on way to Chau Doc)
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Cai Rang floating market
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Aligator farm
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Chau Doc's bustling market
Day 12
Board speedboat for 5 hour journey to Phnom Penh
Fabulous tour through this fascinating country, noting the political and social differences that continue to exist between the North and South. Ground staff company not as efficient as in Myanmar (see Blog). However guides in Hue and Ho Chi Minh were exceptional. Halong Bay was not really worth the effort.
Hoi An; Mekong Delta; historic sites/museums Ho Chi Minh City. Food was fantastic throughout. Livitrans train great experience of local Vietnam!
St Joseph Cathedral, Hanoi; Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon
Part of a trip: Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand
Arranged with Trailfinders
Ground staff: Buffalo Tours