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Journey to the Far East - Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos

By Prema Lalji

10 nights through THREE ENTICING COUNTRIES - Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos -  Our journey to this part of the world, in the company of close friends, proved to be one of the most enjoyable trips, guaranteeing a wealth of memorable experiences.
 
What still lingers in our minds are the friendly and proud people with a strong identity , the peace and quiet of Halon Bay, images of verdant rice paddies, farmers in conical hats, fishermen in wooden boats and shyly smiling children.
 
Our trip began in Hanoi the hustle and bustle of narrow streets overflowing with people and a myriad of transport modes. Halon Bay was just the opposite, serene and peaceful. Ho Chi Minh city was sobering after a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels and other post war sites and museums. However, a visit later to the outdoor night markets did lighten that load.
 
Siem Reap was our next stop to visit ancient ruins at The Angkor Park of which, the majestic Angkor Wat just took your breath away. The following day was spent sightseeing the Angkor area exploring the other temples, including Ta Prohm, which is famous for the enormous fig trees an gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure.
 

Next destination was Luang Prabang with visits to different temples on arrival. The following day, we made our way upstream on the Mekong River taking in the views of the tranquil countryside to get to the Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban XaNgai, where they make the local rice wine. Kuang Si Waterfall was another mesmerizing sight with its three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop into a turquoise pool.

Last but not the least, was an opportunity to participate with the faithful residents in the daily morning ritual of giving alms to the saffron-clad monks. This tradition is unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession and to be part of this practice was very humbling in every respect. And to top it all off, we happened to be there during the Laos new year festivities, including the Water Festival, where we just barely managed to keep dry.

When it was time to leave, all of us felt an immense sense of gratitude towards the wonderful people and their hospitality in all three countries.

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