Canadian World traveller Winter 2017-18 Issue

locals as a place of “symbolic values.” I visited
at dawn—the busiest time of day for the
market—and was one of the few tourists
browsing the stalls.
A trip to Thailand would not be complete
without visiting one of its world famous
beaches. It is an escape from the bustle of
Bangkok—and only about an hour’s flight
away. Koh Pha-Ngan is a nature lover’s paradise
which can be reached by way of a 40-
minute boat drive from the larger and more
developed Koh Sumoi. It is reclusive but by no
means boring. I stayed in a luxurious villa—
plunge pool included—at Anatara Resorts
Koh Pha-Ngan. Situated on a pristine beach
on the western end of the island, I could have
spent days decompressing, bathing in the salt
of the sea, practicing yoga and meditation,
and sampling the creative sushi bites at the
resort’s Japanese restaurant, Yukinoya, where
delicious meat and seafood dishes are prepared
tableside.
Though I was entirely content enjoying the
activities that the resort offered, the lure of the
island beyond my comfortable quarters led
me off my lounge chair and into the town of
Koh Pha-Ngan. Here I rented a motor boat
and jetted off to neighboring islands; I visited
Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan where I went
caving, kayaking and hiking around
Augthong National Park, with its towering
limestone mountains and exquisite Emerald
Lake, an inland saltwater lagoon living up to
its namesake.
As much as I could have spent
weeks experiencing why Thailand is known as
the “Land of Smiles,” I decided that I wanted
to experience a greater breadth of the entire
region, and venture into the neighboring
countries of Cambodia and Vietnam.
My first stop, Siem Reap in Cambodia, was
only about an 80-minute flight from Bangkok
aboard Bangkok Airways. Though short in
distance, the atmosphere could not have differed
more than the crowded streets of
Bangkok—Siem Reap has about 230,000
residents to Bangkok’s 8.2 million. There are
many resorts to choose from, all within a 20-
minute drive from both the airport and from
the heart of the temples. I decided to stay in
Le Meridien Angkor Resort, a luxury five-star
hotel that is actually closest to Angkor Watt.
The resort has many amenities and activities,
such as an authentic Cambodian cooking
class or the absolute ultimate spa experience
in the resort's acclaimed facilities.
On my first morning in Cambodia, I woke up
early to witness Angkor Wat at sunrise-- a
mosaic of hues form the backdrop to one of
humanities greatest creations. Angkor Wat,
meaning “City of Temples” is the largest religious
monument in the world, part of the
Kingdom of Cambodia and visited by more
than one million people a year. If pressed for
time, another temple that I would highly recommend
exploring is Angkor Thom, last
great capital of the Khmer empire. This temple
was built in the late twelfth century by King
Jayavarman VII. The genius of the architecture
is still visible today, the stone monuments
withstanding the test of time.
After absorbing hundreds of years of history
in Cambodia, it was time to travel to a country
whose turbulent events in the recent century
may have altered its demographics but did
not kill its fiery spirit. And that country was
Vietnam.
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It took only a 46-minute flight from
Siem Riep to land in Ho Chi Minh—the
former Saigon-- and instantly I felt the
energy of the city pulsate through me. The
number of motorbikes beeping through the
streets surpassed the number of pedestrians
browsing shops and sampling from food
carts on the streets. A trip to Ho Chi Minh is
never complete without a warm bowl of pho,
the country's national noodle soup dish,
which is all the better when paired with a
Vietnamese coffee. As a self proclaimed history
buff wandering around the city of
Saigon, it is impossible not to feel the effects
of the recent war. A grandiose statue of Ho
Chi Minh himself stands in the midst of the
town square—a recognition of his glory and
strife.
One surprise I had on my jaunt through
Vietnam was how swiftly one can travel from
the height of busyness in the city to an entirely
calming countryside. I spent just two days
escaping to Vietnam’s island of Phu Qhoc,
which, ironically, sits off the coast of
Cambodia but is only accessible by short
plane ride from Ho Chi Minh. On this island
I stayed at The JW Marriott Phu Quoc
Emerald Bay Resort & Spa, a luxurious and
quite imaginative resort which was exactly
what I needed following my packed itinerary
through three Southeast Asia countries. I
relaxed in the resort’s three pools, sipped
pina coladas on the beach and even had the
opportunity to learn a bit about horticulture
as a “student” at the university. That’s right—
the resort is designed to pay homage to a fictional
university and this quirky theme is integrated
throughout--from the French colonial
architecture to the whimsical color scheme.
You can travel to all corners of the world and
still find that the sheer diversity of Southeast
Asia is unmatched. Nowhere else will you see
such a gorgeous and sincere display of colors,
whether in the lively, thriving urban areas
or the serene, unbelievable vistas of its natural
landscape. The three countries that I had
the fortune to visit elicit both pride in their
ancient origins, as well as an embrace of
modern conveniences to welcome tourists
with warm hospitality. There is so much to do,
see and taste, and planning your visit to one
Southeast Asia's remarkable countries has
never been easier.
Canadian World Traveller Winter 2017-18