Rediscovering the ancient kingdoms of the Khmer and the Chams in Cambodia and Vietnam

SIEM REAP, Cambodia – I have always been fascinated by how Asian geography has truly influenced our history, particularly the cultural, religious and artistic aspects. If Spain did not colonize us, we would either be Buddhists or Muslims. Instead of the Bayanihan dances and songs, we would be doing the Ramayana classic dances.

When my husband Max was a consultant of Vietnam Presse just before the Vietnam coup d’ etat of the Sixties, we would use Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) as a base to visit the neighboring countries of Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Indonesia. All their famous temples depicted murals of King Rama whose wife Queen Sita was abducted by evil King Ravana. The lengthy battles to rescue Sita engaged the help of the monkey god King Hanuman and his army of monkey soldiers. This love and war epic was written by the Indian scholar poet Valmiki. Thus, the Asia Pacific civilization is basically Indic.

We, Filipinos in our "islas Filipinas" are surrounded by these Asia Pacific countries. Wasn’t I lucky to have Max as my tour guide for he is a master Oriental historian? He gave me the fascinating lessons of geography and history while visiting the famous temples and museum. Before National Geographic and Discovery television shows were aired, my Scholastican college professor, the late Sr. Caridad, had difficulty arousing our interest in history lessons since she was merely using books.

In the evenings, the hotels would feature the classical oriental dance of the Ramayana, whether one was in Bali, Indonesia, Bangkok, Rangoon or Siem Reap in Cambodia.

The Silkair Route

What is Silkair’s offer of a "premium travel experience" to Siem Reap and Danang — two major UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) of Cambodia and Vietnam? Passengers enjoy "hassle free" check-in facilities from point of departure to final destination, allowing more time to enjoy their short transit at the Changi International Airport of Singapore, which has many restaurants, each one with unique decors and cuisine.

Silkair, the sister airline of Singapore Airlines, flies daily from Cebu and Davao to Singapore, as well as to 24 other regional destinations. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines (SIA) flies three times daily between Manila and Singapore with B777 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines was recently voted, 10th year in a row, "World’s Best International Airline" from a World’s Best Awards readers’ survey conducted by Travel + Leisure Magazine. SIA received the top award, while Silkair is in the top 10.

Value Travel Package

SIA and Silkair jointly offer three-destination value travel packages to Siem Reap, Danang and Singapore with prices at US$695 from October to December. The package includes: roundtrip economy class airfare from Manila, Cebu or Davao; airport transfers; six nights accommodation based on twin sharing in a three-star hotel (two nights each in Siem Reap, Danang, and Singapore) with daily hotel breakfasts in Siem Reap and Danang. Package for travel on Business Class and for upgraded accommodations in a five-star hotel is also available for US$895 per person.

My OB Montessori senior teachers and staff enjoy a package tour to Thailand on a fly-now-pay-later scheme. This could be an alternative destination.

Organized by SIA manager Rita Dy and Cebu-based Silkair manager Nabil Rohman, a Singaporean, our Angkor Wat circuit tour had Mr. Neak, a Cambodian, as our guide. Mr. Neak’s constant call "Lady and gentlemen" would wake us from dozing during our full day tours to Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple and Angkor Wat. Our fallback resting place was the French colonial style Sofitel Hotel. Managed by Monsieur Didier Lamoot, its widespread verandah connecting three building complexes is surrounded by huge lotus and water lily lagoons and a spa center.

Danang, Vietnam:A Centerpoint To 3 Unesco World Heritage Sites

Our third day on tour brought us by Silkair, an hour and 35 minutes away, to Danang — historically famous as the landing site of the American 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, which marked America’s official entry into the decade-long Vietnam war. A few hours’ ride away is Hué, a UNESCO WHS and the original royal capital of Vietnam. But, further north double the distance is Hai Long Bay, also a UNESCO WHS.

We stayed the first night at the new cottages of Sandy Beach Hotel right on China Beach, so popular with the soldiers of the largest US base north of Saigon. The next night, we moved to the well-known Furama Hotel where we danced to the music of a lively Filipino band, Songbirds, with young musicians and singers Kim, Leah, Angel and Jay-R.

If it were not for the Ecole Francais d’ Extreme Orient, the rich collection of the Cham civilization in Vietnam would not have been preserved as it set up the important Cham Museum in Danang. Visiting it, I met two archeologists from the Paris Oriental Museum who were packing 85 pieces of this very valuable 300-piece collection to exhibit in Paris from October to December this year.

Hoi An, Miraculously Spared By War

About 25 kilometers southeast of Danang, the ancient town of Hoi An nestles on the banks of the Thu Bon River. This charming old town was once a flourishing port and meeting place of East and West, appearing in western travelogues in the 17th and 18th centuries as Faifo or Hai Po. It was the original disembarkation point of the French, including missionary Alexander de Rhodes who lived there for two years while he adapted the Vietnam language to the Roman alphabet.

During the lengthy bombing of the last Vietnam war, Hoi An seemed miraculously spared, according to our tourist guide. Today, the UNESCO WHS of Hoi An is a quiet town with 12,000 people living in the old quarter that has been restored and renovated as a historical showpiece for tourists. Many of the older homes, built with wood beams, carved doors and airy, open rooms have been turned into souvenir shops fronting as museums. Our tours were doubly exciting because of the shopping.

Hoi An has become a popular tourist spot, so popular that it seems to be crawling with foreigners at all times. In fact, older residents worry that the very thing that makes Hoi An attractive — its quiet charm — is being ruined. This is a typical UNESCO WHS dilemma.

Shopping: An Intimate Acquaintance With The Local Culture

A major attraction of the Cambodia and Vietnam tour is the exciting shopping in the WHS itself. Nelia Neri of Cebu Sun Star introduced us to the art of haggling as we bought antique porcelain Chinese opium jars for $10 each, $2 silk scarves, and $3 temple-rubbing paintings in the open-air market outside Angkor Wat.