Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields

In stark contrast to the joy of the water festivities going on along the river today with the King in attendance and throngs of people swarming around the river, eating and enjoying the holiday, we drive the 16 KM to Choeung Ek, the killing fields where millions of Cambodians were killed by the Khmer Rouge Regime of Pol Pot.

It is shocking to see the almost 9,000 human skulls that were exhumed from mass graves on the site in a Buddhist stupa that commemorates their deaths. Not all the graves have been opened. Prisoners were marched out to the site and many of the stronger people were forced to dig their own graves before they were brutally killed.

More important prisoners were kept in a secret prison, Tuol Sleng, or S21, a former school converted into a torture prison. Like the Nazis, the Khmer Rouge photographed and documented many of their victims. Tuol Sleng is now a grim memory of the human potential for genocide, cruelty and brutality.

Phnom Penh - Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

What an amazing day in Phnom Penh! We started with a visit to the Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace. They are exotic, beautiful, well kept and almost beyond imagination! The Silver Pagoda is called that by tourists because the floor is made up of blocks of silver over 2 pounds from all the recalled and melted money of French Indo China. The room is huge, at least 60 feet long and 30 wide. The riches in the pagoda don’t stop there – the locals call it the emerald pagoda because of the Buddah carved from one piece of emerald that is about 18” high. There are several gold Buddahs – one standing one of over 180 pounds of gold and encrusted with over 2000 diamonds including a 25 carat one in the crown and a 20 carat diamond in the chest. Many of the Buddahs in the pagoda are gold and have diamonds on them.

We asked how these riches survived the Pol Pot regime and during that time, the king was under house arrest in the palace and they were not desecrated like so many other Buddhist temples and art.

Phnom Penh

We arrive in Phnom Penh on a 3 day holiday for the boat races on the river. The streets are crowded and people are everywhere! We have time for a short "tut-tut" ride around the city, much of which was cut off due to the festivities. At tut-tut is a step above a bicycle rickshaw for one - it is a cart attached to the back of a motor cycle. Motor cycles are the predominant mode of transportation with often 4 people on one!

Even after the crazy traffic of India and other places, I have never seen the chaos in the streets as here. Even on main roads, there are few traffic lights and a person (we only saw ladies) stand at the corner with a red triangle flag to indicate that traffic must stop. At other intersections, it's whomever can get through first - after a little observation, there appears to be some order in the chaos: groups of vehicles, tut-tuts, a car and motor cycles ease their way into the perpendicular street and traffic eventually eases for them circling behind to cut off the next hopeful vehicles. Inspite of the fact that motor cycles and scooters are parked on sidewalks, weave in and out of any spaces in the traffic and go whatever way they want on a street, there appear to be few accidents! Quite an amazing traffic flow.

I love Phnom Penh! These people are sweet and friendly, helpful and the cacophony of life going on around feels like a carnival - so much new to see all at once from the ballon men, coconut sellers, people cooking their meals in the park as part of the festival - not to mention the traffic!

The city has not been developed yet. The tallest building is under construction - the Bank of Canada. There is a low profile with pagoda temple roofs and momuments punctuating the skyline.

Singapore - Chinatown

After the return from Palau Ubin, I go to one of the many Chinatown health spas for a massage and reflexology. We are still feeling the effects of jet lag and the humid heat.

Before dinner we walk through the narrow streets of bustling, old Chinatown where we join a tour about early Chinese Singaporeans – how they arrived in ships not unlike the slave ships that came to the US, however, these people came voluntarily in search of a new life. Many did not make it. They had low paying coolie jobs – removing “night waste” from homes before there were toilets, pulling rickshaws and of course, for women prostitution. We saw the tiny “shop houses” – those two stories above the tiny shops that sometimes housed up to 100 people when they first arrived in Singapore!

Pulau Ubin Photos

Pulau Ubin

As we drive into the village of Changi at the Eastern end of Singapore, it already feels like a step back in time. Gone are the sleek buildings and fancy shops. Changi feels more laid back with older apartment buildings and eateries under large canopies along the road. Across the street is the pier where wooden “bum” boats and boatmen wait their turn to take passengers over to Pulau Ubin. We climb aboard the old wooden boat that has old tires hanging all around its sides as bumpers – hence the name bum boats. We are about 12 passengers who sit facing each other on two wooden benches.

Within 15 minutes, we’ve entered another world in one of Singapore’s 60 islands. Pulau Ubin is a throwback to Singapore in the 1960’s. The island is home to Singapore’s last villages, or “kampongs” and about a hundred villages live there. Ubin residents rely on wells for water and diesel generators for electricity. Most people store electricity in batteries in the day, and run generators in the night.

In the small main village where we dock, buildings sit on stilts in the water near the mangrove trees and homes have been converted into bicycle rental stores. Hundreds of bicycles are lined up for rent. The students who rode over with us already have bikes and are taking off along the miles of paved and dirt roads through the forest. As we drive around the island, we see many cyclists enjoying the lush vegetation, abundant flowers and butterflies as well as stopping to enjoy the blue waters of the old granite quarries that are all over the island. We see about 30 egrets perched on dead trees above one. The natural beauty of the old tropical forests, overgrown rubber and coconut palm plantations is breath taking. The roads wind among dense forest to an open wetlands area where at low time the sea anemones are abundant in pools

Our guide’s teenaged daughter has just returned from a five day outward bound adventure on Palau Ubin where the campers spent a lot of their time kayaking around the island. We see a number of teen-aged groups hiking or biking together on school break camps.

Home to both Malays and Chinese, we stop to speak with an herbalist whose roots are drying in pans along the road. This man is harvesting a root that will be dried similar to ginseng and used in Chinese medicine. His wife spends the week in Singapore and comes on the weekends to their very basic wooden home with high ceilings and open walls to allow for good ventilation. . A big room has tables for serving cold drinks to cyclists from the large freezer stocked with cold drinks. He raises and harvests his herbs on a small plot of rough land that supports papaya, banana as well as other medicinal plants that he introduces us to.

We visit Malay home where the residents are Muslim and have inscriptions for Mohamed and Allah over their door and a picture of the Hajj in Mecca on the wall. The couple invite us in and we are told their home is lush by contrast with traditional homes with upholstered chairs on the screened porch, a TV, a refrigerator and table and chairs in the kitchen. Traditionally, dining is taken in the “women’s” room on the floor. The garden has papaya, banana, tapioca and other cooking and medicinal plants. They too, have tables and chairs under an awning where they can serve cold drinks to cyclists.

There are shrines around the island to Chinese gods and goddesses, particularly Quan Yin. In fact, the weather has created her image in granite above one of the quaries. The altars are generally wooden boxes perched up on a stand and offerings of incense, fruit and water are placed there daily. We visit the largest Temple which has a number of shrines both inside and out – there is a lazy atmosphere to the place with people and stray dogs and cats cooling in the shade. The main altar is covered with statues – it seems like an entire cosmology of gods with incense, plates of oranges, water and flowers. Outside there are two cones where visitors burn their prayer papers hoping the ethers will answer them.

We’ve learned that Singaporean leaders are long-range planners and Palau Ubin was on the plan to be developed including a tunnel connecting main Singapore with businesses and homes. This development has been put on hold due to environmentalist concern witih some of the natural environments that would be disturbed with over development. So for the moment Palau Ubin remains a rustic reminder of Singapore’s past.

We top our visit off with traditional Chili Crab and Fish Head soup! (you got it - served with a big fish head floating in the serving dish!)

Singapore

We arrive in Singapore at 6:30 AM to a bustling airport with lush tropical plantings and friendly and helpful people. Our taxi driver narrates our drive from Changi airport on the Eastern part of the island to Chinatown where we are staying, he recommends sights, must-eat foods and tips for enjoying our visit. Our rooms are not ready since it is so early in the morning, so we stow our luggage and walk around the neighborhood.

Our first stop is to the “food court” across the street where small food stall hawkers have been congregated under one roof with tables for eating fast food. The stalls are opening and people are grabbing something on their way to work. It looks like noodle soup is a favorite selection. We have some fresh lychees and enjoy the bustle of the starting day around us.

The Chinese medicine stores, massage places and dispensaries are opening as we walk by - they have a lot of special ingredients for all sorts of ailments. We are especially charmed by a flayed Gekko lizard guaranteed to cure cough (not quite sure how!) I want to return for a massage to get rid of the aches from the trip!

We get a big dose of the ethnic diversity of Singapore today. Geraldine our guide, treats us to the sights and experiences of communities in the Arab Street/Kmpong Glam where small Muslim and Arab shops specializing in fabrics, rugs, baskets and a beautiful mosque cap off our wanderings. Although real estate is at a premium in Singapore and there is so much building (including about a 20% increase in land mass by sea reclaimation), the ethnic streets have been conserved for their historical value. In contrast to the gleaming and towering glass and steel edifices around the city, these smaller neighborhoods have colorful low buildings and narrow streets that step us back into former centuries. Most of the sidewalks are covered by arcades to protect walkers from the sun and possible monsoon showers and are filled with goods for sale. The people here are friendly and not intrusive.

Little India is in the next few blocks and suddenly I feel back in the markets of Mumbai or Delhi with colorful saris, shawls, fruits and vegetables, marigolds and other offerings for the temples. We visit an ornate and colorful South Indian Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali – the destroyer. The gold altars of the inner sanctum are locked off , but the silver steps and railings leading to it are magnificent. We stop here for pooris and for me to get my hand hennaed!

We learn about the Peranakan folks who are descendents of the early Chinese communities who settled here in the 17th century. About 80% of Singapore is Chinese, 8% Indian, the rest Malay and others. The Singaporeans are proud of and celebrate their diversity – there are numerous religious or ethnic festivals in which everyone participates and we learn that students are encouraged to learn about their neighboring communities. Schools are integrated and are primarily public with a few private schools.

We are treated to an orientation drive around the main part of the city from the financial district with it’s huge office buildings, the museum and cultural arts area, the original Cricket Club which was originally established as a “Europeans Only” private club with it’s open area long the esplanade that has remained open space inspite of the rising cost of real estate. Orchard Road boasts shopping that rivals Rodeo Drive, The Champs Elysee or Via Viento. The shops range from tiny haute couture stores to giant multi storied department stores open 24 hours a day. Singapore is certainly a shopping Mecca, whatever one’s tastes.


In a city that prides itself for being a city in a garden (there are beautiful tropical trees, shrubs, flowers draping from expressways and orchids everywhere), the Botanical Gardens with the National orchid Garden stands out. Although we only saw a small portion of the whole garden, it was stunning. We are standing in front of the Singapore National Flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim. I’m sorry my greenhouse at home is so small – there are so many things I’d like to add!

Enroute

The map on the screen in front of me traces our route across the north Atlantic, over Europe, and the Middle East on our flight to Singapore. We are currently over India – information on the map indicates that we’re just about at Agra and four hours 33 minutes to Singapore. It’s dark outside. All I see through the window are stars and occasional lights. We’re traveling at 1088 k/m at about 11, 800 meter and have a tail wind.

I wonder why we don’t go the Pacific route since Singapore is just about 12 hours difference (in daylight savings time).

The plane is full of different languages – many of which I don’t recognize spoken by Europeans, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Chinese, Indonesians and Indians.

I am excited to go to Singapore. I always hear mixed messages about the incredible diversity and communities living in one tiny island and how progressive they are in technology, amenities for people, cleanliness and lack of crime. Some feel it’s a 1984 repressive society, others the brave new world.

My Dad and I have embarked on this trip as “Asia Revisited” which began when he was in India and China during the second world war and for me when our family moved to India in 1960 where Dad had a two year assignment with the Indian Government with Merck. Those two years evolved into over 25 years working abroad and living in 17 countries. One place he was never able to go was to Ankor, mostly because of the Viet Nam war and ensuing reign of Pol Pot and the Khamer Rouge..

So we begin with Singapore after an 18 hour direct flight from Newark.

We leave!

We are now on our way. After a full day packing and visiting, we left Chestnut Hill on the train to Newark International Airport. We wonder if everyone gets greeted at the airport like we were, it was very nice. We are now ready to board our non-stop flight to Singapore. More from there!

Here are our plans

SOUTHEAST ASIA REVISITED
Henry and Holly Jobe
TRIP DATES: Nov. 20-Dec. 7, 2007

Nov. 20: Leave Newark on Singapore Air #0021 at 11:00pm to Singaore.
Nov. 21: Transit
Nov. 22: Arriving in Singapore at 6:40amTo get a sense of the ethnic mix this afternoon, you will stop in Kampong Glam. This is the traditional seat ofMalay Royalty. Visiting the historical Sultan Mosque, you will gain an insight into local Islamic practices. Hereyou can also visit a traditional Moslem goods shop.From Kampong Glam, you will continue on to Little India, where you will be bombarded with the colorful sights,exciting sounds, and fragrant smells of Singapore’s bustling Indian enclave. Here you will learn about Indian bodydecorations, enjoy a “pottu” for a souvenir, and, should you wish, beautify yourself with a washable henna tattoo. Incontrast to the Mosque, you will visit a temple and get a sense of Hindu philosophy and practices.Next you can get a sense of modern and colonial Singapore. You can first pay a visit to the Botanic Gardens, witha special stop at the National Orchid Garden. Here you can surround yourselves with a lush tropical landscape andescape from the noise of the city.Leaving the gardens, you can drive through the Civic District and the Esplanade. This last section will give you asense of Singapore’s early colonial roots. The day will end with a stroll along the riverfront, where you can take inthe breathtaking views of the cityscape against the evening sky.

HISTORY of Singapore
1700 years ago, the island of P’u Luo Chung existed off of the tip of the Malay Peninsula, straddling one of theworld’s richest trade routes. Over time, the name changed to Temasek, Singapura, and, now, Singapore. The actualname “Singapura” or “Lion City” was bestowed on the island by the King of Palembang, Sri Tri Buana, who wasshipwrecked on the island during a fierce storm. His eyes fell on a strange creature with a red body, black head, andwhite breast, and he asked his aides what this could possibly be. One of his aides suggested it was a lion, hence thename “Singapura”.The island always thrived as a key point on the East-West trade route, and evolved into a valuable piece of realestate. Over time, the island was invaded by the Chola kings of India, the Thais, and the Javanese (the last greatHindu rulers and the first to try and unite the entire Malay Archipelago into a single political entity). By the end ofthe 14th century, however, the Javanese Majaparhit Empire had disintegrated and the island all but vanished from thehistory books for the next 400 years.In 1811, a 30-year-old British East India Company official, Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, became theLieutenant Governor of Java. Fearing that the Dutch would threaten British trading hegemony in the area, heconvinced Lord Hastings, Governor General of India, to let him establish a settlement in the area from which theBritish could secure the Straits of Malacca. On January 29, 1819, Raffles landed in Singapore. Less than a monthlater, he got permission to establish a British trading post in Singapore.By 1867, the Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony, and by 1903, the island was the world’s 7th biggest port.The 20th century prior to WWII was a blend of colonial aristocratic British/European life blended with a hugelyvaried and colorful number of different races speaking many different languages. Famous inhabitants included,Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kippling, James Michner, Herman Hesse, Noel Coward, and, most notably, SomersetMaugham.Then came World War II. The day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor; Japanese aircraft raided Singapore andbegan marching down the Malay Peninsula. When Percival surrendered Singapore to Yamashita, Churchill called itthe “worst disaster and the largest capitulation in British History”.The Japanese reign of terror gave birth to a sense of nationalism on the island. When the British returned at the endof the war, they set up separate Crown Colonies in Malaysia and Singapore and allowed for popular elections in thecountry. Nevertheless, the movement for complete independence had taken root, and in 1959, the British Parliamentapproved a Singaporean constitution and in June of 1959, Lee Kuan Yew became Singapore’s first Prime Minister.

Nov. 23: This morning, you can see a part of Singapore that is not always visited by tourists, and presents a marked contrast to Singapore’s modern environment. You can take a ferry boat over to Pulau Ubin (Ubin Island), perhaps the last stronghold of Old Singapore and a place that has been left behind by the development on the main island. Here you can find a pastoral tapestry of sandy roads, prawn farms, abandoned rubber plantations and coconut groves. There are vast tracts of secondary jungle and mangrove swamps that support a wide variety of wildlife – flying fox, monitor lizards, and many different sea birds. Here you will catch a glimpse of the old Chinese and Malay communities, visit a local hut, and get a sense of what Singapore was in the 1950’s with its kampongsor villages.
Lunch will be at Changi Village, where you can enjoythe choicest and freshest catch of the day.
Mid-afternoon, you can return to the hotel to rest.In the evening, with a group, you will do a special 2-hour night walk in Chinatown to explore the “Secrets of the Red Lantern”. Here you will discover the vice and tragedy in the shadows of Chinatown – once home to seedy opium and gambling and where entertainment in its rawest form is still practiced today.This is a historical tour of prostitution in Singapore, and has been nominated as the best educational tour experience by the tourism board.

Nov. 24: This morning you will catch Silk Air to Phnom Penh.Phnom Penh is relatively new as the capital of Cambodia, replacing Angkor. By the end of the 16th century, theemphasis in Cambodia had become more and more focused on maritime trade with Southeast Asia, rendering Angkorunsuitable as a capital for the country. Located at the confluence of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers, PhnomPenh could control the riverine trade from Laos, fish and pottery trade from the Tonle area, as well as goods from theMekong area, particularly from China. Moreover, culturally, there also seems to have been a shift from the power of the elite Angkor population to the less brahmanical and more cosmopolitan elite centered around Phnom Penh.

Nov. 25: This morning, you will pay a very special visit to the Apsara Foundation. The aim of the foundation is to educatepoor Cambodian children to become professional dancers and musicians, and simultaneously conserve Cambodianarts and culture. During the Khmer Rouge period, most of the dancers, artists, writers, and intellectuals in Cambodiawere killed by the government. As such, there is a tremendous need to re-educate the people and revive the culturalheritage of the country. At the same time, Cambodia is a desperately poor country, and Apsara provides youngchildren with the much needed possibility of earning a livelihood.Lunch will be at a very special restaurant run by street children.After lunch, you can stop at the National Museum, built in1917, one of the most striking Khmer buildings in Phnom Penhand a repository of the Kingdom’s cultural wealth. Here youcan see a preview of and read about the treasures you will seethe next few days in Siem Reap. In addition to the museum,you will visit the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by KingNorodom, with its magnificent Silver Pagoda containing 5,000silver floor tiles. Late in the day, you can visit the RussianMarket.

Nov. 26: This morning, you will drive out into the countryside to Battambang. Along the way, you will stop at Udong, thecapital of Cambodia from the early 17th century until 1866, when the capital was moved to Phnom Penh. There arethree beautiful hills covered by temples and stupas. You can stop and enjoy these sites that are rarely visited by tourists. Continuing on, you can stop at several villages where silverware is being manufactured. When you arrive inBattambang, you will overnight at a tastefully restored old colonial villa with only six rooms.

Nov. 27: Today you can explore the area around Battambang, a pleasant city with tree-lined streets, a colonial feel, and a laidback atmosphere. There are several interesting temples and ruins in the nearby surroundings. Wat Ek Phnom,located about eight kilometers from Battambang, is the largest and was probably the most extravagant of the temples.Atop Phnom Banan, is the ruin of Wat Banan, offering magnificent views of the surrounding plains. Also nearby isPhnom Sampeau, the site of the “Killing Caves”, where there is an intriguing Khmer Rouge memorial, as well as aninteresting temple on the top of the hill.To top off the day, you can take a fascinating ride on the famous bamboo train.

Nov. 28: After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the pier, and take the public boat to Siem Reap. This picturesque boat trip will take you along the Sangke River to the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater floodplain lake in the world.It increases and decreases in size annually from 3000 sq. km. at the peak of the dry season in May, to 12,000 sq. km.in the wet season in October. Note that this is a very simple boat, and a true cultural experience. Be sure that your luggage is packed so that important things are in plastic and nothing really fragile is there. Occasionally, travelers may sit on the bags. The boat ride will take about 6 hours.The lake is the last breeding stronghold in Southeast Asia for anumber of globally threatened large water birds, particularlypelicans, storks, and ibis. You will pass Preak Toal, which isthe first protected bird sanctuary in Cambodia.Disembarking at Chong Kneas, you will transfer to Siem Reap.

Siem Ream
Siem Reap is the cultural home of the Khmer people and one ofthe ancient wonders of the world. This vast network of Wats,dating back to the 7th century, is the center of some of the most important structures, statues, and carvings producedin the name of the Buddhist and Hindu religions. First rediscovered by Western archeologists in the late 19thcentury, the "lost city of Angkor" was recently re-opened to foreigners.The whole area is a model of the Hindu universe, where construction was designed to create harmony betweenmankind and the gods. Each of the temples must be visualized as a three-dimensional mandala, or representation ofthe Hindu (and later, the Buddhist) universe. The central shrines are Kailas, the Abode of Shiva, or Mt. Meru, thecenter of the world to the Buddhists. Cloisters and side chapels are both homes for the protector deities, as well asexternal envelopes of the cosmic reality. Moats are the seven sacred, concentric oceans surrounding the holymountain in the center. As you walk across the causeways and up and down the many stairways of the temples, youneed to think of yourself as a pilgrim, working your way to the center of the world and the home of the supremedeity.Today, when you are ready, you will begin with visits to the Bayon Temple, the Terrace of Elephants, TheTerrace of the Leper King, Preah Palilay, The Royal Enclosure, Baphuan, and Phimaan Akas. By this time,you will be ready to return to the hotel for lunch and a rest.In the afternoon, you can visit Pre Rup, Bantey Samre, Ta Prohm, and Preah Khan. Here at Preah Khan theWorld Monuments Fund has an interesting exposition. On the way back to Siem Reap, you can stop at theKrouasah Thmel School. This school for deaf-mute children houses an excellent exhibition about the Tonle SapLake.

Nov. 29: This morning, you will drive out to the unique and charming jungle temple of Banteay Srei, also called “The Citadel of Women”. Built by a "learned Brahmin" by the name of Yajnavaraha, Banteay Srei is dedicated to Shiva as theGreat Lord of the Three Worlds, or Tribhuvanamahesvara. Constructed from pink sandstone, the temple is designedto become smaller and smaller as one approaches the main sanctuary, forcing the pilgrim to bend down more andmore to squeeze through the narrow doors. The décor of the temples is the most refined in the Angkor complex, atour de force of sculptures and carvings. Not only are the gods shown in various poses, but you also find depicted,for the first time, local people at various times in their lives – fighting, meditating, walking through forests, and thelike.From Banteay Srei, you will continue on to visit the jungle enshrouded river of Kbal Spean. The riverbed here iscarved out with hundreds of lingams and Angkorian figures. You will enjoy a picnic lunch, catered by the hotel, at awaterfall in the river.The afternoon is devoted to a visit of the main temple, Angkor Wat, as well as a sunset view from the top ofBakheng Mount. Angkor Wat is the only temple at Angkor that can be attributed with certainty to Suryavarman II(1113-1144). The entire Wat covers an area of 200 hectares, surrounded by a moat. The iconography is dedicatedto Vishnu. All over the lintels, pillars, and pediments are carvings of the god, his incarnations (avatars), and thelegends about his descents to earth as human or animal. In essence, Angkor Wat has been described as the “epitomeof the mountain-temple, a veritable Meru whose five summits rise to a height of over sixty meters.”In the evening, you will watch a performance of Cambodian dancing.

Nov. 30: This morning, you will visit the Roluos group of temples, one of the oldest open to visitors. Following the templeTravel to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and arrive in Kuching.

Dec 1: Kuching, Sarawak, Maylasia (on Borneo)Breakfast at hotel 0900 hrs Meet by guide at hotel lobby, depart for about 45 minutes drive to Damai visit to Sarawak Cultural Village – wander around the ethnic villages and join the local in their daily village activities and cultural show at the village theater. Tour continue for Cat museum and Kuching City Tour. You can see all the places of interest around this historical riverine capital of Sarawak. The Fort Magherita – 1880, the Colonial Law Courts, the Square and Round Tower, Charles Brooke Memorial Monument, the Astana, - 1870 was the former palace of the White Rajahs. The Tua Pek Kong Oldest Chinese Temple, - 1876, Civic Center, tours also pass through Malay traditional houses built on stilted. Finally the highlight of the tour will be visit to one of the best museum in South East Asia, the treasure houses of Sarawak archaeological cultural artifacts- the Sarawak Museum.

Dec. 2: 0900 hrs Depart for 2 Days 1 Night Bako National Park Tour. About 45 minutes drive from Kuching to Bako Jetty and about 30 minutes boat ride to Bako National Park. Registered and check in to Park Hostel. Explore the park with our guide the rich fauna and flora, beach. Lunch dinner at park canteen and overnight at Park Hostel.

Dec. 3: Breakfast at canteen. Explore the park with our guide.1100 hrs Check out from Park Hostel. Return to Kuching via the same way and recheck in to Harbour View hotel.

Dec. 4: 0815 hrs Depart for Semenggoh Orang Utan Wildlife center- about 30 minutes drive from Kuching to the center. Explore the center. Return to Kuching via the same way with stopover at Pottery factory.1700 hrs Kuching Waterfront for Sarawak Sunset Cruise.

Dec 5: Visit Farm in Seri, Sarwark

Dec. 6: This morning, you will head back to the airport to catch Silk Air to Singapore. Overnight atthe airport hotel.

Dec. 7: This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Newark on Singapore Air