Travelogue on visit to Vietnam-Cambodia from 25th Dec.2017 to 1st Jan.2018
25th
Left Delhi by Thai Air TG316 at about 00.20 hrs. Reached Bangkok at about 05.45
hrs (3H 45M). After a brief stay in lounge left Bangkok by Thai Air TG560 at about 07.45 hrs Arrived Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam, at about 09.35 hrs (1H 50M). Met our guide at the airport for transfer to the Damsels Boutique Hotel. He was to come with a car. Instead he came with a coach. We went out for lunch along with the guide in a nearby restraunt. Changed 100 dollars into local currency which is called Dong. You get over 24000 dongs in one dollar and about 1,00,000 dongs in 4 dollars, a big amount in Vietnam.. The guide took us to a water-puppet show in the evening. He gave us dinner in an Indian restraunt thereafter. Indian food was tasteless, lot of oil and spices . While Venita took it, I could take some rice, dal and a vegetable only. Chapatis were no good. Room in the hotel is well furnished and comfortable. No coffee-shop to buy some food. Of course coffee and tea are provided in the room which we could prepare and take . It is hotel in name only. It is Oyo type bed and breakfast accommodation. As we had to get ready and leave the hotel at 8 am next day to Halong Bay, we retired to sleep early. There was nothing to watch on TV. It was all in local language. Only one Australian channel gave some Australia centric news in English.
26th
Came to Halong Bay after over 175 km journey by a shared bus from Hanoi in over 4 hours, starting at about 9am and reaching the port at about 1 pm. It is part of controversial South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over it. Asean countries do not agree to it. The issue remains unresolved.
After checking in our cabin on board the Golden cruise, we had lunch at Golden Palace restaurant while
cruising the beautiful bay and thereafter explored Halong cave known as ETA Sing Sot. It took us 45 minutes to go from one end to the other, climbing over 500 steps up and down. We traversed on rocky path/difficult terrain of the cave. Our brother-in-law,Subhash, who had been through it a week back had told us not to undertake the ordeal. He had twisted his foot and went through much pain. Despite his warning, encouraged by some young boys from Karnataka, we undertook the journey and completed it without hassles. The boys were part of many going through the cave. The natural limestone formations inside the cave were exquisite and fantastic. The cave was about a km long. The world's longest sandstone cave called Krem Puri was recently found in Meghalaya, India in 2016. It is more than 6000 metres longer than record holder, Cueva Del Saman (18,200 metres) of Venezuela.
Venita in ETA Sing Sot cave
Another view of the cave
After cave journey we went to Marshal Tito island known as Titop island. Some among us climbed up the hill , about 120 ft., for a panoramic view of the bay, while others were swimming and relaxing like us waiting for the boat to take us to
our cabin on board the Golden cruise. Marshal Tito, the then President of now defunct Yugoslavia, had visited the island along with Ho Chi Minh, founder of Vietnam. The island was named after Marshal Tito by Ho Chi Minh who had accompanied him. There is an impressive stone Statue of Marshal in the island. We joined in Happy hour on Sundeck for about an hour in the evening. A cooking demonstration was arranged in which all of us participated and prepared sandwiches for ourselves.
We were served Vietnamese style set dinner on board in
Golden Palace restaurant. While they served a couple of vegetarian dishes in lunch, they did not provide for vegetarian food in dinner. Perhaps they forgot about their two vegetarian guests.While all others had their plates full with variety of non-vegetarian and seafood, we had nothing to eat. All kinds of rice were mixed with either chicken or meat. On our request they produced some corn soup, buns, butter and tasteless salad.
Dinner on board in Golden Palace restaurant.
We complained to the manager and our travel agent in India. Later they rebated the trip by a few thousand rupees as informed by our Delhi travel agent. We were on board overnight.
27th.
We enjoyed the sunrise and quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay's landscape with towering limestone.
Venita in the balcony of our cabin on board the Golden cruise,
A panoramic view of the bay
Rowed through bamboo boat along the hidden areas of the bay and visited Luon Cave. Had to put on safety gear
We participated in Tai chi lesson before breakfast at about 8 am. Thereafter rowed through bamboo boat along the hidden areas of the bay and visited Luon Cave. Around 10.15am went back to main cruise to freshen up and check out. We slowly cruised back to boat pier. After Brunch at Cua Vang restaurant in the port city of Halong bay we hit the road and reached Hanoi in the evening. It was raining. Somehow we managed to reach hotel from the point we were left by the bus. We went to few textile stores such as Vina Mart to buy clothes for children. Vietnam is famous for its textiles. After dinner at an Indian restaurant, we retired to sleep. Food was no good. Lot of oil and spices.
28th
We had breakfast at
the Damsels Boutique Hotel. Venita was keen to shop. We walked across the roads. There was nothing worthwhile to buy. Again the local tour operator transferred us to the airport by a coach instead of a car. Left by Vietnam airlines (VN) 837 at about 3.10 pm. Arrived Siem Reap airport (Cambodia) at about 4.55 pm. Cambodian tour guide met and took us to Cheathata suites hotel by Luxor car. We moved about on foot in Pub road. It was full of foreigners mostly from Europe, USA and Asean countries. As the cost of living here is cheap, lot of them flock to see the glory of Angkor Wat . We had quiet dinner in an Indian restaurant and retired to sleep in the
hotel. It had a coffee shop and room service where you could order food coffee etc. round the clock. unlike at Hanoi.
Vehicles are left hand drive both in Vietnam and Cambodia.
29th
We had been advised to visit Museum of Siem Reap on the day of arrival at Siem Reap to get an over-view of the place. The visit gave us a comprehensive idea of the place. Later we understood the briefing of the guide better. Thanks Subhash.
We visited Kbal Spean, about 49 km from Siem Reap town. The Siem Reap literally means 'The head of River'.1000 Lingas stand into this river bed. It was believed that these Lingas spiritually 'fertilized' the waters that fed the eastern bay and irrigated rice fields.
After visit to Lingas,we further headed through rural countryside to the small but beautiful palace of Banteay Srei.
Beautiful palace of Banteay Srei
This temple is largely built of pink sandstone, a harder rock that can be more elaborately carved and better survives the rigours of time. Not to be missed is Banteay Samre : its rose coloured sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.
Banteay Samre temple in the background
Smile show in Soil theatre was a memorable event.
Smile show
There are three types of seats in the theatre. We opted for the best type A class seats. These cost us 35 USD per person including dinner. Show followed the dinner. Again it was all no-veg food . They managed to give us some veg food , some soup, salads, rice and a veg curry. We retired to sleep around midnight.
30th
We went to see the sunrise in the background of Angkor Wat early morning. Over ten thousand tourists come early morning to see the sunrise every day according to the guide.
Sunrise in the background of Angkor Wat
The temple is part of Angkor World Heritage Site and is considered one of the seven wonders of the world (Not yet fomally declared as such). The name, Angkor Wat, means “Temple City” in Khmer. Angkor refers to the city of Cambodia, and Wat is the Khmer word for temple ground. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, the temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism, symmetry and a source of pride to all Khmers. We began unravelling the mysteries of the bas-reliefs in three layers that tell tales from Hindu mythology, Ramayana, Mahabharat and of the glories of the Khmer people.
In front of main Bramha Vishnu Mahesh temple at Angkor Wat
After Angkor Wat,we drove to Angkor Thom. It was masterpiece of King Jayvarman 6. We saw Bayon temple too in the exact center of Angkor Thom.It is said to be an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia's most celebrated king
Angkor Thom
After sumptuous lunch at a nearby restraint , we visited Terrace of Leper king. This intricately carved platform was the royal crematorium and the statue originally thought to be of the Leper king is now believed to be Yama, the god of death. We continued along the terrace of elephants, used as viewing gallery for the King to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports.
We then drove to Ta Prohm ,
the monastery-temple of Tomb of Raider fame. It was discovered by French explorer Henry Mouhot in 1860, tentacle like tree roots here were slowly strangling the surviving stones.
Ta Prohm temple being conserved with India-Cambodia cooperation
Here we saw a Vishnu statue, nearly 20 feet tall, had been converted into a Buddha statue and kept in the monastery. We did the Puja of Vishnu/Buddha.
With Vishnu/Buddha statue
Returned to the hotel in the evening.Had dinner in a reputed hotel of Siem Reap. Retired to sleep around midnight.
31st
We took boat trip to visit Kompong Pluk in the morning to see life on the lake. We saw floating houses and flooded forests.
Boat trip to visit Kompong Pluk
On return we visited artisans d'Angkor We talked to students as they learnt how to make silk fabrics and garments, stone and wood carvings, lacquer ware, polychrome products silver plating and silk paintings. Had lunch at a local restaurant, organized by tour manager. The hotel had arranged a complimentary gala dinner on New year eve which continued till the bell rang for the New year. Over 50 residents of the hotel joined in. A Bengali elderly couple from Bangalore were the only Indians besides us.
1st Jan
After breakfast we were taken by the guide to some Buddhist temples at Siem Reap town. These were Hindu temples which were later converted into Buddhist temples, the guide told.
Left Siem Reap by Bangkok Airways(PG)914 at about 3.35 pm. Arrived Suvarnbhumi Intl Airport Bangkok at about 4.50 pm (1H 45M). After a long walk, we reached the boarding gate. Venita was thrilled to see the 'Samudramandhan' Jhanki at the airport again. As done earlier during visit to Thailand last year, she with folded hands prayed to Krishna dancing on the hood of the serpent king, Kali.
We left Bangkok airport by Thai Airways at about 8 pm. We were allotted seats in the last row. Very uncomfortable. On way to Bangkok our Economy class was upgraded to business class. On way back it could not be done.We reached IG International airport at about 11 pm(3H 55M).
Tour manager at Siem Reap gave better services, compared to one in Vietnam.
A visit to Cambodia is recommended.
