VIET NAM, DA NANG- HUE , March 4th 2008 Tuesday

mperial Hue

Hue was the Imperial City of the Nguyen Emperors, rising to glory during their reign from 1802 to 1945. Drive through the Hai Van tunnels from Da Nang, to arrive in Hue. Your visit will be to the Imperial Citadel. Passing through the impressive Mon gate, you will reach the main pavilion—the Palace of Supreme Harmony. It was here that important ceremonies took place. Recent reconstruction has seen this building restored to its former splendor with regal red and gold columns and ornate furnishings. Much of the ground beyond the Palace suffered damage in the Tet Offensive of 1968, and beyond the walls, entrepreneurial farmers work the fertile land. You will see the immense Dynastic Urns, each depicting a different Vietnamese region, and the Pavilion of Benevolence. A buffet Imperial Feast lunch is served at a local hotel. Enjoy your meal featuring Asian specialties including those of Hue, where Vietnamese cuisine is more extensive than anywhere else in the country. After lunch, drive through pine forests and orchards to visit one of the numerous imperial tombs which dot the surrounding countryside. Built by the Nguyen Dynasty Emperors, each tomb was meant as a place of recreation before being utilized as a final resting place. Tu Duc Tomb resembles a miniature royal palace with an attractive pavilion overlooking a tranquil lake, ornate buildings, fragrant gardens and hunting grounds.

Notes:

Travel time to Hue is approximately 2½ hours each way. 

VIET NAM, HALONG BAY,, March 3rd 2008 Monday

Halong Bay Cruise & Thien Cung Cave

Bay of the Descending Dragon is the English translation for Halong Bay. This remarkable natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site became famous in the West when it was featured in the French film Indochine. Halong Bay is dotted with an estimated 1,969 islands spread over 900 square miles. Some islands are covered in dense vegetation; others are bare and rocky. Sail gracefully past these imposing formations on a converted fishing junk. See tiny islands dotted with rock arches, sheer cliffs, innumerable white sand beaches and peaceful coves. You will stop at Thien Cung Cave and wander through the cavern to marvel at its stalagmite and stalactite formations (suitable only for the agile). 

Notes:

Drinks and western-style restroom facilities are available on board. There are about 120 steep steps to reach the Thien Cung Cave, which is an optional visit

HONG KONG, , Feb 29th and FEB 1st, 2008 FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Best of Hong Kong

Set out to discover the best of Hong Kong with a visit to the Bird Market, where an amazing array of artistically crafted bamboo birdcages are on display, and the warbling competitions must be heard to be believed. Walk along Flower Market Street, with row upon row of shops and stalls selling cut flowers and potted plants from all over the world. The Jade Market is a great place to browse and pick up souvenirs. To the Chinese, jade is the most important stone, as it is said to have great spiritual value and to represent wealth, good fortune and power. A quick ride on the Peak Tram funicular brings you to the top of Victoria Peak to enjoy the panoramic view of Hong Kong and the Kowloon Peninsula spread out far below. Lunch is served at Café Deco—an art-inspired restaurant atop Victoria Peak. It commands spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula. Continue on a drive past Repulse Bay to the south side of the island. Take in panoramic views of one of Hong Kong’s most popular and beautiful beaches, along with the colonial hotel that has long been a landmark here. Proceed to Aberdeen where fishermen and their families live on thousands of junks and sampans. You’ll take a short sampan ride, and stop briefly at one of the city’s jewelry workshops. A 30-minute coach ride brings you to Stanley—one of Hong Kong’s oldest settlements. It is a fishing village nestled picturesquely on the sandbar of the Stanley Peninsula, on the southeast coast of Hong Kong Island. A century ago, it was notorious for pirates and their smuggling activities. Today, it is best known for its markets that specialize in sports shoes, clothing and Chinese handicrafts. It offers brand name clothing as well as excellent faux brands, hand-painted porcelain and souvenir items that overflow from the shops in the bustling market’s narrow lanes. Shopping in Stanley is always fun and there are many bargains to be found.

 Hong Kong Highlights

Depart the pier for Hong Kong Island and cross under Victoria Harbour by tunnel. Head up to Victoria Peak by funicular tram for a breathtaking view of the harbor and Kowloon. You’ll drive past Repulse Bay to the southern side of the island, with panoramic views of one of Hong Kong’s most popular and beautiful beaches, along with the beautiful hotel that has long been a landmark here. Next, you will continue to Aberdeen where fishermen and their families live on thousands of junks and sampans. Enjoy a short sampan ride here, and a brief stop at one of the city’s jewelry workshops for you to see the wonderful craftsmanship of the goods. Refreshments are offered in the exclusive showroom. Continue to the small village of Stanley and Stanley Market, famous for its clothes, furniture, souvenirs and great, inexpensive knock-offs of designer goods.

Notes:

ALSO A TASTE OF H-K DINNER AT PRIVATE CLUB NEAR THE WATER?

AND WALKING TOUR OF OLD AND NEW H-K

PHILLIPHINES, MANILA - (TEGAYTAY), FEB 27TH 2008 WEDNESDAY

1. Tagaytay, officially the City of Tagaytay, is a component city in the province of Cavite, in the Philippines. 
3. Area: 25.1 mi² (65 km²)
4.  
5. Weather: 78°F (26°C), Wind E at 4 mph (6 km/h), 84% Humidity
6. Population: 62,030 (2010)

   
   

BRUNEI, Muara, (Bandar,Seri,Begawan) Feb 25th 2008 MONDAY

Bandar Seri Begawan-and Muara District

 

Andar Seri Begawan  [ˌbanda səˌri bəˈɡawan]) formerly known as Brunei Town. It is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei. Bandar Seri Begawan has an estimated population of 20,000,^[1] and including the whole Brunei-Muara District, the metro area has an estimated population of 279,924.^[2]

 

 MUARA

Muara is a town in the Brunei and Muara district, Brunei. It contains the country's only deep-water port. Muara is the Malay word for estuary.

BRUNEI HIGHLIGHTS

Best of Brunei

Best of Brunei

Approximately 7½ hours

Brunei, an incredibly wealthy nation on the island of Borneo, is a stunning mixture of old and new. From elaborate mosques to simple water-villages, Brunei offers a culture very distinct from the other parts of Borneo. Enjoy a short cruise to a water village for tea in a local home. The water village is home to 30,000 people and has schools, hospitals, police stations, shop and mosques, all located over the water. Then, move quietly along the narrow mangrove channels, stopping to listen and look for the birds and animal life that call the mangroves home. If you are lucky you can observe the shy proboscis monkeys found only on Borneo. Your guide will explain the mangrove ecology and some of the diversity of plants and animal life in the tangle of mangroves, vines, palms and trees. The boat returns to the center of Bandar Seri Begawan, where you will stop by the open-air Kianggeh Market for a chance to mingle with the local people, followed by a visit to the Royal Regalia. This facility offers a replica inside view of the palace, and the regalia used by the Sultan during Jubilee celebrations. A delicious lunch will be served in Bandar before you return to the ship. 

INDONESIA, BALI (Padang Bai) Feb 21th, 2008 THURSDAY

MAP

WELCOMING AT PADAN BAI

Historic &  Scenic Bali

A highlight of this tour is a visit to the Klungkung Kertagosa—a building designed and built in 1710 by the best artisans in the country. The compound contains the beautiful Bale Kambang floating pavilion and the Kertagosa Royal Court of Justice, with elaborate ceiling murals. Continue on to the terraced Pura Kehen temple complex built in the 11th century. A series of steps lead to the entrance door where the demonic face of Kala Makara stands guard over the temple grounds. Your drive then takes you to Selat, and through the mountain passes you can see a magnificent view of the terraced rice fields. Your destination is Tenganan—a walled mountain village where the Bali Aga live. These people are descendants of the original island people who maintain their pre-Hindu culture. The settlement is one of the most unusual on Bali. Here, identical living compounds are arranged in two rows along a wide, stone-paved street running the length of the village. The villagers are known for weaving a unique Kamben Grinsing (flaming cloth), which is believed to protect its wearer from evil. You’ll learn about this interesting process from one of the few family members in the village who still makes these living textiles.

Klungkung Kertagosa

Klungkung Kertagosa

Klungkung Kertagosa

Klungkung Kertagosa

Pura Kehen temple complex

Pura Kehen temple complex

Pura Kehen temple complex

Pura Kehen temple complex

TENGANAN VILLAGE

TENGANAN VILLAGE

TENGANAN VILLAGE

AUSTRALIA, FREEMANTLE, PERTH (Western Australia) Feb 17th, 2008 Sunday

  Perth & Fremantle Highlights

Approximately 4 hours
	$$
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Departing the ship, your panoramic drive takes you through historic Fremantle, past the Western Australian Maritime Museum, which houses some of the most iconic vessels from the state's maritime history, and the Fremantle Prison and the Round House. The oldest building in Western Australia, the latter was purpose-built as a jail and was the first permanent building in the colony. You’ll head along the Esplanade to take in the interesting and historic colonial architecture of this delightful suburb. Proceeding into Perth itself, you’ll pass through the exclusive suburbs of Mosman Park, Peppermint Grove and Dalkeith. Watch for the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Matilda Bay and the Old Swan Brewery. Your next stop will be for some photography and free time at the delightful Kings Park. Featuring just shy of 1,000 acres of bushland, botanic garden and parklands, the park overlooks the Perth central business district and the Swan River. Relax among the cultivated gardens of unique native plants, pay your respects at the State War Memorial, or simply be inspired by the breathtaking views over the city. Continue out of Perth to Cottesloe Beach scenic point, where the smooth terraced lawns and lovely beach provides the perfect lookout for views of the Indian Ocean. Stop briefly to snap some photos at this beachside suburb before re-boarding your coach for the return to Fremantle.

TOOK THE ONE WY SIGHTSEEING CRUISE BETWEEN PERTH AND FREEMANTLE AFTER THE TOUR OF PERTH AND FREEMANTLE HIGHLIGHTS

THE PRICE THIS YEAR WAS 10.00 PER PERSON