41 Day Sail to Southeast Asia Spotlight on Cambodia
Asia has emerged as a fast-growing market for cruise lines. The cultures and landscapes are varied and award travelers with opportunities to visit far-flung places that were previously only fantasized. Most cruise lines offer departures from multiple port locations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, and itineraries can be tailored to suit the short term traveler as well as the marathoner. However, in my opinion, once you make the arduous airline journey, the longer your stay, the more gratifying your adventure. Some savvy planners can book back to back sailings enabling you to sail home, avoiding the long flight. Speaking from experience, I can say it may be “the” trip of a lifetime. Last year winter, we embarked on a 41-day cruise from Singapore to Brisbane, Australia. Then, after two (also too) short weeks in Australia, we jumped on another ship heading back to Los Angeles.
Sihanoukville Cambodia may not be high on the must-see list for many people, and tour operators often make a bee-line for the notable locales such as Phnom Penh and Anchor Wat. This coastal city with a deep water port has a thriving fishing industry, bustling markets, and postcard-perfect white sand beaches that dot the Cambodian peninsula and offer just the right amount sightseeing. Perhaps this is why it has attracted the attention of major Chinese developers who are building hotels and casinos in haste hoping to catch the tourism boom. When we select a tour, we elect to have as much of a local experience as we can. So although the Heritage Sites of Cambodia are assuredly worthwhile, our selections provided the most varied for the short time we were in port.
All visitors to Cambodia are required to obtain a 30-day tourist visa. As cruise passengers, this was handled for us by the cruise line. In our opinion, this proves to be a very efficient and hassle-free manner of handling the government requirements of each country.
Entire fishing villages built on the surface of the water
Wat Kraom, a beautiful Buddhist temple dedicated to the deity Yeah Mao, where a small donation will result in a blessing from one of the monks
Phsar Leu Market where locals shop each day for meat, seafood, and vegetables.
Beautiful Otres Beach, lined with bungalows, bars, and restaurants where you can spend a tranquil day catching some rays, enjoying an Angkor Beer and maybe even a indulge that much-needed mani-pedi.
Be Sure To Expect The Unexpected
Traveling internationally when you are over 70 isn’t without its risks. Although we consider ourselves seasoned and knowledgeable travelers, the unexpected still occurs and provides further insight into what should be considered when one leaves home.
Our 6-week journey to Spain and Turkey began as normal, full of excitement, careful packing, and planning. Flights: check, hotels: check, travel insurance: check. Thank goodness for that last check. I’ll get to that a bit later.
Our first stop, Mallorca, Spain. This gem of an island sitting in the Mediterranean is a frequent stop of ours since we are fortunate to have family members living there. Its capital, Palma, is steeped in history dating from the time of the Moors right up to the 13th-century Christian conquest. The stunning 14th-century gothic cathedral, La Seu, is the historical heart of the city. The medieval streets lead you to the Arab quarter and many of Palma’s hidden treasures, including aristocratic houses, charming courtyards, and unique architecture. You won’t tire of the many opportunities for gallery visiting, shopping or just people watching at one of the abundant street side cafes, but be sure to get out of town to enjoy the full beauty of the island. There are beaches dotted around the island too numerous to mention and the lure of the crystal turquoise waters will be hard to ignore. A drive through the scenic Serra de Tramuntana mountain will take in some of the island’s prettiest villages. Valldemossa, Fornalutx, Deià, and Sóller are each worth the trip.
Our next stop the Aegean seaside town of Aliaga Turkey where we had easy access to the historic sites of Izmir starting with its open-air market, the Agora then on to the ancient UNESCO cities of Ephesus, Pergamon and Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The weather mid-June is still favorable to spend an entire day exploring these amazing treasures. Weekends are free to take an easy ferry to the nearby Greek islands of Lesvos and Chios, only two we managed to visit. Our pre-planning didn’t include an international driver's license, which is mandatory in Greece for international visitors wanting a car rental, so our exploration of these islands was a bit more costly due to the need for hiring a taxi for the entire day.
Things were going so well and we were excitedly looking forward to a few more weeks of travel in this region when the unexpected happened. My husband, an active, healthy 75-year old suddenly was suffering from an extremely high fever.
With advice from our hotel we made an appointment at a local international clinic where, suffering from a bladder infection, he was admitted for three days. The attention and medical experience we received was amazing.
So here is where planning for the unexpected reaped its rewards. Our travel insurance was accepted by the hospital and the staff took on the task of coordinating the payment.
We’ll never travel again without this safety net....nor an international driver's license!
Sicily
Sicily. The land of ancient ruins and conquering heroes. Traversing the land under a brilliant blue sky,
up and over the craggy cliffs, passing landscapes resembling quilts of green, brown and yellow with
brilliant red poppies dotting the roadside. Witnessing scenes such as an occasional shepherd with his
flock perched precariously on the mountainside and the long tumbled down stone remains where once
stood a modest farmhouse. Where have they gone? Now only the bougainvillea thrives in wild
abandon and the expertly terraced fields of olive trees stand testament that the land is still viable even
though the inhabitants are gone. In the distance, the shimmering azure sea beckoning toes to dip and
bodies to bronze. Up, up the mountain again to quaint villages where prolific lemon trees stand proudly
in every yard and potted geraniums grace the shuttered windows while the fluttering laundry dries on the balconies. Sitting at a local vineyard in the shadow of Etna enjoying the fruits of her ashen soil while sampling olives and the accompanying oil on freshly made rustic bread is truly time well spent.
After spending one month immersed in its culture, this is the Sicily I will choose to remember. Should you be seeking antiquities, from Greek temples to Roman ruins, then the mosaics at Piazza Armenia together with the ancient ruins of Siracusa and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento will not disappoint. If it's souvenir shops and cozy cafes then the crowded sites of Taormina and Cefalu with busloads of tourists on day trips are certainly worth your time.
However, if given the opportunity, take a drive through the challenging interior.
The rewards will remain with you for a lifetime.
Meandering along the Brandywine
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| Historic Row Houses |
Next stop the Hagley Museum which stretches for over 200 acres along the Brandywine River and features the original duPont estate, gardens and gunpowder mill.
So much more to see along this beautiful historic scenic byway......I look forward to returning.
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| Immanuel Episcopal Church |
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| Autumn splendor along the Brandywine |
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| original duPont office building |
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| Pathway leading to duPont Mansion |
Daytripping along the Eastern Shore
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| Sailboat on the Tred Avon River |
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| Knapp Narrows |
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| Crabbing boats |
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| Harrison House Marina piers |
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| Dogwood Harbor Tilghman Island |
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| Historic outhouse St. Micheal's |
