Having a small ship adventure in ASIA

If you love cruising but would like to try a new adventure that will take you closer to the sights and sounds of incredible destinations, then small ship cruising might be right up your alley.

Imagine seeing wildlife from just a few feet off shore instead of through binoculars hundreds of feet away. Cruise up small fjords seeing scenery that few people will ever see. Land at small villages or towns that give you a true experience with the locals.

Float Market, Mekong river, Vietnam

Small ship cruising gives you a more personal experience without the crowds formed by thousands of other passengers on today’s mega-cruise ships.

Small ship cruising can take you in many different directions to exotic destinations around the world. Vietnam is becoming an intriguing destination and there is a 12-day cruise starting in Hanoi and traveling south making multiple stops such as Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, eventually ending up in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). You could even add a land tour to the end of the cruise exploring Cambodia.

Besides, you can have a Mekong river cruise tour. This trip offers great combination of the two exotic lands and cultures. The trip starts in the dynamic city of Saigon. You will travel to Mekong Delta to experience great boat trip on the mighty river. You canl walk on village roads, visit to local houses and take ferry to cross the Mekong River. The highlight of Mekong Delta is the busy and colorful market of Cai Rang. From Mekong Delta, traveling to Phnom Penh by boat and you start journey to the majestic beauty of Angkor Wat.

For a longer adventure, pick up the cruise in Japan exploring Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and then heading over to China stopping at Shanghai, Xiamen and Hong Kong before heading to Vietnam. Your adventure in Asia will give you an unusual and interesting vacation getting you acquainted with their centuries old customs and culture.

Travel Tip: On your next trip travel to a destination you have not been to before. You just might find a new favorite destination loaded with new sights, sounds, food and adventure.

Source: thespectrum.com

Recommendation Cruise Tours:
Family Adventure Tours in Asia: http://activetravel.asia/ata_adventure/family/
Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat Tour: http://www.activetravelvietnam.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=62

The temples of Angkor Wat in mind

Ann told her experience and feeling in Angkor temples as well as in Siem Reap, Cambodia when she took part in an eighteen day travel through Asia with her husband.

Reflection pool of Angkor Wat at sunrise

Independent travel has been great, but after 4 months on the road all the planning and organizing was getting a bit tiresome.  We booked an 18-day guided tour that would take us from Bangkok all the way through Cambodia and Vietnam with the luxury of nearly everything being planned for us.

In Bangkok we met up with our group of 11 fellow travelers, as well as our guide and a new trainee. As it turns out, everyone has been great and our group is getting along quite nicely.

Boy Monks at Angkor Wat

The first part of our tour took us into Siem Reap, our first stop in Cambodia.  Before I get any further, I’d like to go over some shocking statistics.  The average age in Cambodia is 57.  About 50% of the population is under the age of 18.  Their literacy rate is said to be between 40-50%.  And about 1/3 of their population lives on less than $1 USD per day.  Another interesting fact???  80% of all visitors to Siem Reap are either Japanese, Korean, or Chinese.

Getting from Bangkok to Siem Reap involved a 12 hour bus ride across the boarder, of which the last 160 kilometers were on a very bumpy and unmaintained gravel road.  At one point our bus had to stop for repairs as we had 3 flat tires.  As we crossed from Thailand to Cambodia the changes were immediate.  Garbage was everywhere you looked, piled high in fields and ditches.  At the boarder we had to get off the bus, walk through customs, and wait on the Cambodia side to be picked up again.  Brian managed to get robbed in the first 5 minutes in Cambodia, luckily it was only his bottle of water.  A young barefoot and filthy boy walked very slowly up to him, looked him in the eye for a few seconds, bent down and grabbed the bottle sitting near Brian’s feet, and ran off.  Everyone in our group just watched in a combination of amusement and sadness…then clutched their belongings a little tighter.

Day two, and three, and four brought us on a guided tour of the famous Angkor Temples which were built between the 8th and 13th centuries and are spread out over about 40 miles around the village of Siem Reap.   Some were in nearly complete ruin, some in the middle of restoration, and some in surprisingly great condition considering they are a tiny bit old.  For you movie buffs, the Angelina Jolie movie Tomb Raider was filmed in one of the jungle temples there.

While in Siem Reap we also took a boat ride on lake Tonle Sap which is home to a floating village of houseboats, floating stores and churches, even a boat that serves as a basketball court.  We did some shopping around the temples and in Siem Reap, because every few feet there are children surrounding you begging you to buy there bracelets/scarves/books /etc.  We’ve also done a lot of eating – Cambodian Khmer food is very tasty.  Lots of pumpkin, coconut sauce, and fresh fruit.

This is one of my favorite pictures

So far our travels in Cambodia have surpassed our expectations.  Next stop?  Phnom Penh.  Stay tuned…..

Author: Anne
Source: The Hallgrens’ Blog – Realtravel
They are traveling as a couple in their 30s from Belle Plaine. They decided to quit their jobs, sell their house in the suburbs, and spend time exploring the world.

Recommendation:
Angkor Wat Discovery Tour: http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php?op=detail&tourId=65
Other Adventure Tours in Cambodia: http://www.activetravelcambodia.com/tour.php
Tours in Asia: http://www.activetravel.asia

Summer Promotion with Active Travel Asia (ATA)

Our company – Active Travel Asia (ATA) – is offering Great Summer Promotion 2009 in Vietnam and Cambodia.These promotions are guaranteed by luxurious adventure tours, add-on values and good prices with 15-20% discount.

All the tours chosen are the unique and special one with lot kinds of adventure travel activities such as biking, trekking, motorcycling, kayaking or hiking tours.

We always put your rights and the values of the trip at the first place. As the result, you can get more benefits from offered tours by our company, five tours in Vietnam and three ones in Cambodia. If you are the persons who love adventure tours in Vietnam and Cambodia, contact with Active Travel Asia for your savings!

Summer promotion with ATA

You have five special choices in Vietnam: Biking tour in the North West of Vietnam, trekking tour in Sapa, Motorcycling tour on Ho Chi Minh Trails, Kayaking tours in Halong Bay, World Natural Heritage of Vietnam

First of all, Biking tour in the North West of Vietnam named West to East Biking Exploration in the North West of Vietnam. This tour is a real challenging for any cyclist. Good pacing that allow cyclist to get recovered after long rides. Stunning scenery, great culture experience with exploration of ethnic minorities. The single trail from Sapa to Lao Cai is the most beautiful one in Vietnam. Babe Lake is perfect to round off the trip.

Secondly, trekking tour in Sapa namedSapa Long Trails which is another perfect choice for trekkers. Because, there is no doubt that Sapa is the best trek site in Indochina. This trek gets you to popular villages by longer and different trails. Graded at Moderate but lots of trekkers feel it easier since the trails and the scenery is so stunning. Homestay in villages of different ethnic minorities makes it a good combination of trek and culture exploration.

Taste of Ho Chi Minh Trails

Besides, we offer you Ho Chi Minh Trails – Motorcycling tour.Short ride but you will taste every minute with adventure and excitement. The riding route is smooth and varied. You will ride the historic trail, homestay in villages, visit to emperor lands, enjoy boat trip in great karst scenery,… So much to discover for a short trip

Moreover, joining in Kayaking Halong Bay 3 days tours which is serious adventure kayaking, you will paddle to the furthest and most beautiful corners of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, where you discover dark cave with your kayak and relax on beautiful hidden beaches. As paddling you will see a few or no other adventure kayaker around since this padding route is not popular and not for novice kayaker.

The fifth tour in Vietnam is Northern Highlights. With this trip your family will together do some soft adventures since it is designed for family with kids. This trip offers you the bests Northern Vietnam has to offer. The trip can also be adjusted for more active travelers who seek for higher adventure grade.

Leaving Vietnam, we offer three tours in Cambodia with Special Promotion

The first choice for you is Trek Ratanakiri in Cambodia. Whenever mentioning Cambodia, we often think of the great Angkor Wat. However, this trip will bring you to another world that you have never known before in Cambodia. Only a few active traveler has traveled to this remote area due to bad roads and lacking of information. You will experience another world, another culture beside the great Angkor Wat that Cambodia has long been famous for. This is not only a big adventure but also a big discovery.

Angkor Wat

Another choice for you is taking part in Angkor Wat Discovery tour which is known as one of the most beautiful and fascinating places in the world. Coming there you will visit many must-see famous temples such as Angkok Wat temple, Angkok Thom, and Banteay Srei and have a boat trip on the Tonle Sap.

The last tour we offer is motorbiking adventure tours in Cambodia. This

is the perfect choice for real riders. This trip offers mostly village road and dirt trails and it runs through back country, thus you will see real Cambodia, real Khmer culture. This is not a stuff for anyone but only for experienced riders who seek for serious riding. We all know Angkor Wat is a gem of this country. On this trip you will see some other gems that no other tourist can see.

Active Travel Asia assures to provide the luxury services from the local guide’s knowledge and attitude, accommodation, entertainment…to other supplement services. Don’t miss an excellent chance with ATA!

Let’s check out the tours:

Active Travel Vietnam

1. West to East Biking Exploration – the North West of Vietnam

2. Sapa Long Trails – trekking tour – Sapa, Vietnam

3. Taste of Ho Chi Minh Trails – Motorcycling tour – Vietnam

4. Kayaking Halong Bay 3 days – Halong Bay, Vietnam

5. Northern Highlights – Family adventure tour – Vietnam

Active Travel Cambodia

6. Trek Rattanakiri – Cambodia

7. Angkor Wat Discovery

8. Motorbiking Adventure tour – Cambodia

My Angkor Story

Peter used to visit Angkor three times. In this entry, he told his last visit and how Angkor’s changing

Angkor Wat

My first visit to Angkor was in 1995. It was the year before the coupe of the two prime ministers but after a long period the Khmer Rouge had controlled the land and had brought the country into a state of chaos, turmoil and fear. I had arrived in Phnom Penh by flight from Bangkok. At the time I was told it was the only safe way to come to Cambodia, although I learned that the overland route from Vietnam was supposedly open too.

Phnom Penh was a surprisingly interesting and relaxed city at the time, especially considering the hectic previous years. I had come at the right moment; it was festival days with dragon boat races at the Mekong.

But I had not come for the dragon boats, this was just the cream on the pie, so to say. I had come to learn more about the recent and not so recent history of Cambodia.

Cambodia has such a history that no one in the world can ignore. The pictures of Angkor Wat had always made a huge impression on me and now it was possible to visit them.

However, to understand the past of Cambodia, I felt I had to see the Killing Fields too. And I was happy I did that, considering what happened later in Siem Reap. Cambodia has many Killing Fields, I went to visit and pay respect to the victims to a Killing Field near Phnom Penh and after I visited the Tuol Sleng prison. It was a horrifying experience only to be compared with the German concentration camps of World War II in Europe.

Photos showing people in such fear I could not imagine. It’s hard to understand to what cruelty humanity is able to create.

Siem Reap and Angkor

I had a boat from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. In 1995 even the Ton Le Sap lake was at points not safe and the boats carried a soldier with a gun. At several docking points the military had machine guns ready to fire. But during the journey we experienced no problems.

Siem Reap turned out to be a small mellow town consisting in principle of one street. There were some hotels and restaurants. It was clear the Cambodians were picking up the increasing amounts of tourists but it was all still mellow.

The first night (after visiting Phnom Bakheng on the western hill top) I had my dinner in a local restaurant. At a certain moment we heard a lot of noise outside. The staff screamed…”attack, attack… hide”.. We heard a lot of what the staff called machine gun fire. Everyone was under the table. It turned out to be fireworks for opening a new shop. The situation showed how deep the fear at the time was embedded in the minds of the people.

The next day I rented a bicycle and went to see Angkor. I bought a 3 days pass and went in. In the next days I visited many of the important temples including Angkor Wat (just outside the Angkor Thom city walls), the magnificent Bayon temple, the terraces and many other smaller temples.

Of course the Bayon temple was the highlight, but Ta Phrom was probably as impressive. At the time you couldn’t visit the outer temples of the complex as the Khmer Rouge was still controlling large parts of the country.

Back on bicycle

Some years later I came back. By then Cambodia was at peace. I cycled from the Thai border to Siem Reap, a mostly dust road. The area had been closed when I first visited but now it was safe.

I saw just smiling faces along the road. People were working now on the land, no longer afraid the crops would be destroyed or stolen by Khmer Rouge soldiers. If you really want to see something of rural Cambodia, this is a good an easy accessible area.

At arrival in Siem Reap I was totally covered in red sand. But when I went into the Angkor area the next day I saw it was as impressive as I have seen it a few years earlier. This time I was able to visit some other further away temples including the Beng Melea.

Beng Melea is maybe one of the most interesting temples because it is not restored. Here you can get an idea what the explorers in the mid 19th century saw when they came (I purposely do not say “discover” because it was never really lost, not even for the western world).

Angkor is such a widespread area, there are so many sites to visit. A three day pass gives you only the possibility to visit the most spectacular temples. For most people that is enough but as I am interested in a little more than average, I went back. I visited Angkor three times, and I can assure you, every time I came back, I was as knock out as the previous time. Angkor is one of the architectural wonders of Asia, if not one of the world and only a few sights in Asia can compete with Angkor.

Source: Peter – Holiday in Angkor Wat ‘s Blog

And you thought I was sick of temples….

Christopher Parkin told his interest when traveling around ..Angkor..temples.

Stare at the sun

Let me start this off like I always do…short bus ride…tuk tuk drivers and hotel offers…we know where we are going…so leave us alone…get our room…done. Now the fun begins.

Well the first day was not much fun… We had some planning and some business to tend to so it was spent mostly on searching around all the travel offices pricing out the best flights and buses. After a quick bite to eat we were off to bed because the 2nd day was going to be a long one.

Up at 5 for sunrise at Angkor Wat. It was said to be a thing of beauty so we decided to make the trip. It wasn’t anything special because the cloud cover was too thick and the hoards of people made any photos almost impossible. We had booked a full day tour from sunrise to sunset of all of ..Angkor..’s temples. yeah I know I said I was sick of temples but this one was actually something I was looking forward to. The temples are very Indian Jones-ish. Even parts of Tomb Raider were filmed here…explains Angelina’s obsession with adopting Cambodian kids, that coupled with the fact that these little guys are pretty cool…I don’t blame her.

Temple

Anyway, the temples are pretty cool looking. Krista read the book to us as we wondered about and acted as our tour guide. She is a great job as she always does but something about 5 am makes me forget all that I learned. I don’t even remember the names of all the temples. It was a lot to do in a days time but it was well worth it. As I walked through I just couldn’t get my head around how all this stuff was built so long ago. It is like the pyramids…I just don’t get it.

Walls carved with detail intricate scenes. Face after face carved out of the towering buildings looking over the towns below. Everything was amazing…it felt like at anytime I would be chased by a huge cement ball with my whip as my only weapon, spouting cheesy lines like…”snakes…I hate snakes.” dun dah dun duhhh…dun dah duhhh…”run, Indy, run!” We even found a room that looked like the room that the blow dart shot through walls. Careful not to set off any booby traps we made our way through each temple. Sorry I got a little carried away with the Indian Jones thing but it really did feel like that.

Sillhouette at Ankor

We went to watch sundown a top of one of the huge temples on a hill where once again the clouds and crowds had there way. We made our way back to our tuk tuk and eventually home. Read more…

Source: Christopher Parkin from Travel Blog

Supported: Vietnam travel, vietnam tours, cambodia travel, cambodia tours, Cambodia,Visit Angkor Wats Temples

Must-see landscapes in Cambodia

Cambodia offers much for the sightseer and adventurer. From the famed Angkor Wat, the largest ancient temple in the world, to museums and galleries, there is something for everyone. I would like to tell you some must see dsestinations in Cambodia.. Come and check it out !

Angkor Wat
The number one reason to come to Cambodia – although not the only reason – the temple complex in Siem Reap houses a plethora of sites to explore. Apart from Angkor Wat, two other attractions are Bayon and Ta Prohm temples.

Battambang
Cambodia’s second city, Battambang contains impressive colonial architecture and is an up-and-coming destination now used frequently by visitors as a base from which to view nearby temples and villages.

Kompong Luong
The floating town of Kompong Luong is home to thousands of residents on Tonlé Sap lake. It’s quite impressive to see homes, restaurants, schools and other town structures rising and falling with the tide. You’ll find the village 40kms north of Pursat.

Phnom Udong
Lying 40kms north of the capital, Phnom Udong was the capital of Cambodia from 1618 to 1866, and many of the ruins are in good shape including those of Ta San Mosque. There is also a memorial to the victims of the Khmer Rouge with bones of people buried in the 100 or so mass graves of the area.

Phsar Thom Thmei (Central Market)
A tourist attraction in its own right, the central market built during the French colonial era in 1937 is a strange yet impressive art deco structure that’s got a hint of Khmer lotus about it. In other words, it’s an artistic collaboration between French and Cambodian styles. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything get over here to take a look.

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
This is one of the top sights in Phnom Penh. Dating from the mid-1860s, the Royal Palace is quite opulent and on the same entry ticket is the Silver Pagoda housing a Buddha statue made mostly of gold and 10,000 diamonds.

Sihanoukville Beach
The beach at Sihanoukville is the only place where you can take part in water sports like scuba diving. It’s also a great base for exploring Ream National Park. There are several good beach areas and even a nearby waterfall where you can swim. Also in the vicinity is the resort town of Kampot.

Tuol Sleng S-21, Museum of Genocide
A high school in the capital turned into a gruesome torturing prison – this is one of the must-sees of Cambodia. Somewhere around 17,000 political prisoners were tortured in this facility and also killed here or in the infamous Killing Fields nearby, all in just the span between 1975 and 1979. Make sure to pick up a guide for this tour, as many have personal experience with the prison and can add a lot to the experience.
For more information about Cambodia, you can visit : Active Travel Cambodia and Visit Angkor Temple
You will find what you need for an adventure journey to Cambodia.

And remember that : The more you go, the more you get.

Active Travel Asia # 303, 3rd Floor, Building 30 Nguyen Du Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: +84 4 9446230 | Fax: +84 4 9446231
VIETNAM | CAMBODIA | LAOS | MYANMAR |TRAVEL SHOP |

ACTIVELY EXPLORING HIDDEN LANDS

Top things to do in Cambodia

There are so many exciting sights in Cambodia that you’ll hardly find yourself without things to do. Just scrambling around the ruins at Angkor can keep you busy for days if not weeks, or you can climb up for a bird’s-eye view of the complex by hot-air balloon. The country is beautiful, and even more incredible for rising out of the intense history of war and genocide. Take time to visit major sites that give you a glimpse into the history of the country, but also make sure you get to meet some of the friendly and positive people who have weathered through the history.

Cook Khmer-style curry or other cuisine. There are plenty of Khmer cooking classes in the capital, held in English or French. The Frizz restaurant on Sisowath Quay operates some of the most popular courses and will have you creating an amok fish curry to die for.

Explore the temples at Angkor. You could spend oodles of time watching the sunrises and the sunsets at this amazing temple complex. Especially if you’re interested in photography, there is so much to see and so many nooks to explore. Hire a guide for a day or two to hear the stories behind the temples.

Fire a rocket launcher or M-16. You won’t find a lot of places in the world where you can go crazy firing weaponry. There are two venues that offer this bizarre form of entertainment, one in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap.

Get high over Angkor. The best way to see Angkor by far is from the air. It’s a spectacular sight that you will remember for the rest of your life. The tethered hot-air balloon offers a budget way to soar above the temples for about 15 minutes; or you can go all out with a helicopter tour.

Hold you nose at Stung Meanchey Garbage Dump. Your entire outlook on life will change in this one visit. Shocking, alarming and filled with despair, this garbage dump is an example of how many of Cambodia’s children spend their time – sifting through garbage all day long to survive. If your kids complain about going to school, they probably won’t after they see this. Donations can also be made to the humanitarian organisation Pour Sourire D’un Enfant at their onsite office.

Ride an elephant. If you’ve never ridden an elephant, there’s no experience quite like it. The activity is most popular in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri. Be sure to go with a reputable company and take a guide as land mines and other dangers may spoil your day. You can also ride an elephant around Angkor or at the zoo on Mekong Island, a daytrip from the capital.

Take a sunset cruise along the Mekong river. One-hour cruises are available and will give you great insight on the lives of the people living on and around the river. The sunset is especially brilliant from the boat and this is a relaxing way to end your day.

Visit the Memorial at Choeung Ek. Located 15kms from Phnom Penh, this is a memorial to those who died in the infamous Killing Fields. Here you can view around 8,000 skulls arranged by sex and age behind a glass panel.

Visit the Stone and Woodcarving School in Siem Reap. This is a great place to see how stone and wood is carved into reproductions of the ancient Khmer temple carvings. Prices are cheap and you’ll be supporting a good cause.

Volunteer for a good cause or donate blood. There are numerous NGOs and charity organisations doing good work in Cambodia. Additionally, only about one-third of the country’s requirement for blood is being met, so you can make a donation at the Cambodian Red Cross to help.

Watch traditional Khmer theatre. A few different venues in the city offer the chance to watch Khmer performances with the most popular being the Aspara Theatre at the Angkor Village Resort, which is also a restaurant. The evening shows feature a wealth of traditionally dressed performers, meaning there is lots of gold finery on display and the chance to experience classical Khmer music and dance.

Watch traditional Khmer kickboxing. Khmer traditional boxing, or Pradal Serey, has made a huge comeback since it was banned by the Khmer Rouge. The biggest fights are held at the Olympic Stadium, but you can find smaller bouts at other venues too, so ask around.

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