Travelling back in time lost in the beauty of South-east Asia

Impressed by the visit to India organised by Alaya, I decided to look no further when it came to planning a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. More than the value, variety, and vision of Alaya, I knew that high standards would be maintained and surprises and opportunities would be abundant.

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Vietnam - blend of the ancient and the modern

In Vietnam, we saw the highlights of Hanoi, including Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body. We stopped to walk among rice paddies as well as to wander in both Buddhist and military cemeteries. We visited the Hanoi Hilton, a prison used by the French colonists, ate street food sitting on Lilliputian stools and enjoyed ice cream in a scooter drive-in, among other sites like the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and Cu Chi Tunnels.

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At Halong Bay, we visited hidden lagoons and marvelled at the beauty of the Hang Luon Cave. We had a cooking lesson and ate the spring rolls we made in addition to the fine on-board meals. We fished for squid unsuccessfully and tried Tai Chi not so gracefully, but sure had lots of laughs. We visited a pearl store and learnt the processes involved in making of cultured pearls - so many colours and forms.

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Cambodia - stepping back in time

Flying to Siem Reap, Cambodia we went back in history to the remains of the Great Khmer Empire. I was awestruck by the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital. We explored Angkor Wat, a symbol of Cambodia, bathed in the early morning sunrays. Built in the early 12th century, it symbolises Mount Meru, the mountain of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and some Buddhist influences as well. We also visited the Ta Prohm temple, encroached by jungle trees and vines and left largely untouched.

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Why I travel with Alaya?

From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and from Siem Reap’s glorious temples to a village tour in an oxcart, all excursions were planned meticulously so that we never missed a sight. The tour guides managed to accommodate our impromptu requests and balance solid planning and spontaneity like a juggler in Cirque du Soleil.

The accommodations were par excellence, the meals were wide-ranging and delicious. Local guides were well-versed in their area, the coaches were roomy, and water always at an arm’s reach through the trip.

One of the main reasons for travelling with Alaya is their commitment to giving back to the community. In Cambodia, Alaya worked with Husk, an NGO, to train locals in sewing skills with donated machines. Each member of our group bought, not a factory-made souvenir, but hand-crafted items from the seamstresses themselves and doing our bit for the society.

A time well spent

Each day was great, and one could wonder “How can it get any better than this?”. But it was not a matter of outdoing one day or another, but rather matching the quality of experience across various venues. The trip was much like the pearl necklaces we had seen. Each orb was unique and luminous and strung together beautifully, much like my overall experience.