Discovering the treasures of Cambodia and Vietnam

It is difficult to resist the charms of Cambodia and Vietnam, countries that are only just waking up to modernization while still remaining firmly attached to their historical roots.

For these very reasons, we accepted the invitation from the gracious Singapore Airlines marketing and communications manager Rita Dy, to join other media members for a discovery tour of these two destinations, with a brief overnight stay in Singapore for – you guessed it – food and shopping.

Within days, we received the much-awaited fax that detailed an exciting itinerary, complete with other relevant information travelers usually don’t bother about, this time from Silkair manager for the Philippines Nabil Rohman.

A few days before our departure, my Cebu-based travel companions, Nelia Neri of Sun Star Daily and Jaime Picornell of Cebu Daily News, met Nabil over cups of brewed coffee. There and then, I knew without a doubt that the trip would be truly fabulous and lots of fun.

We flew into Singapore after a three-hour flight, which was hardly felt because of the quality of Silkair’s in-flight service, a service that passengers can only dream of and, because of this, hope that the flight would not end so soon.

The day after, at the still very impressive Changi Airport, we met the rest of our traveling companions that included Philippine STAR columnist and UNESCO Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, Sari Yap of Lifestyle Asia, ANC’s Raymond Legaspi and Daphne Oseña, Anton San Diego of the Philippine Tatler, and the ever bubbly Rita Dy.

Cambodia

Siem Reap is a cluster of old villages that stretches along the Siem Reap River, which serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins, including Banteay Kdei, Bayon and the legendary Angkor Wat, whose artistic and archeological significance and visual impact put it in the same category with the Pyramids in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India.

We bounced out of town, passing through quaint villages and weathered peasants working in the fields of waving paddies and then, when we least expected it, the van turned a corner and there before us stood majestically – Angkor Wat.

Angkor literally means "capital city" or "holy city," while Khmer refers to the ethnic group in ancient and modern Cambodia. It has come to refer to the capital city of the Khmer Empire that existed within Cambodia between the ninth and 12th centuries.

Angkor Wat, built by the Angkor ruler Suryavarman II, is a Hindu temple. It was constructed as a royal tomb, and the central sanctuary housed an image of Shiva, the god with whom the king was said to be one. Three galleries enclose the central sanctuary, rising as one approaches the center of the complex. The tallest is called the Peak of Mount Meru, the very center of the world. It was here, in this sacred place, that the secret ceremony uniting the king and the god was conducted. Carvings of female deities called devatas appear throughout the temple, and the galleries display scenes from the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, as well as other Hindu myths.

The temple is surrounded by a moat that is 570 feet wide and about four miles long. Unlike other world-class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are as yet unspoiled by progress and development. However, this will not be true in a couple of years. Though the major temples are relatively well- touristed, it is still possible to get away from the crowds, to explore the area and discover Angkor.

Within close proximity to Angkor Wat are the ruins of Ta Prohm, an example of a temple that was discovered in the midst of the jungle, untouched since it was abandoned. Massive tree roots crawl over its roof and walls, a living testimony to the amazing life force of the jungle.

There are still so many ruins in the tropical forest of Cambodia, long inaccessible because of warfare that wrought the nation, slumbering peacefully, waiting to be discovered.

Our unforgettable stay was highlighted with an elegant dinner at the Le Grand Restaurant of the luxurious Raffles Grand Hotel. The formal dining room exuberates all the splendor of Cambodia, with its setting in Angkorian overtones with historical artifacts and drawings. The menu features traditional Khmer dishes based on delicacies served in the royal household. The exceptional experience is enhanced with an attractive blend of elegant chinaware and French cutlery combined with traditional Khmer serving utensils.

Vietnam

Our next destination was Danang, the fourth largest city in Vietnam. The city is blessed by its local geography, being in close proximity to plains, mountains, rivers, and the South China Sea. We visited the Ngu Hanh Son Marble Mountains, a cluster of five limestone towers rising from an otherwise flat plain. Equally fabulous and famous are the beautiful white sandy beaches, in particular the China Beach, renowned for its smooth sand and panoramic views.

The ancient quaint town of Hoi An is a paradise for shoppers. It is famous for reed mats, embroidery, tailor-made ao dais, the national Vietnamese female costume, and mother-of-pearl inlay on ornaments and furniture.

It’s an experience of a lifetime. Make it happen the moment you embark on your flight with Silkair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, voted Best Regional Airline in Asia and China by the readers of leading travel publications. It is the fifth time that Silkair has captured this title since the category was first introduced in 1995.

Attractive package tours that are available for departures until December to Siem Reap, Da Nang and Singapore include: round-trip economy class airfare, two-night hotel accommodation in Siem Reap, two-night hotel accommodation in Da Nang, full day Angkor Wat tour, free admission to seven attractions in Singapore, daily breakfast in Siem Reap and Da Nang, and airport-hotel-airport transfers.

Since Oct. 3l, SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, has mounted three additional direct services weekly between Cebu and Singapore. The additional flights will boost the airline’s current daily service to 10 times weekly between both cities, making SilkAir the only international carrier to offer such superior frequencies between Cebu and Singapore.

To mark the launch of the additional services, SilkAir has released special fares of $69 (one way) and $99 (return) to Singapore, subject to seat availability. Passengers can book tickets from any authorized SilkAir agents in Cebu. Promotion is valid for travel on the selected flights for the entire month of November.