Travel: Asia Trip 2011-2012
Irene Khin Wong
Holiday Greetings! Please follow me on Twitter & Facebook for the next three weeks for travel updates for my Asia trip this year.
In mean while, I have been busy this past month with holiday events at Saffron 59 as well as being my own travel agent; planning (numerous) connecting flights, itineraries, meeting with acquaintances and booking my old friends for breakfast on Chao Praya or dinner along the Mekong riverside.
I have not been to Cambodia since 1998. My main plan is to visit the Angkor Hospital for Children to get a private tour from William, the Executive Director. I have been on their committee for over a decade. This hospital started as a small children’s hospital. Today, they have treated over a million patients with a visitor’s center for those who travel from the far away villages. Last time I was in Siem Reap, there were only three hotels to open and some home inns. Since then, there are now spas, French restaurants and trendy boutiques.
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Angkor Hospital for Children Photo: Daniel C. Rothenberg, www.photoasia.org
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| Orphanage in Yangon |
We are also planning to hike to see the Naga, which are only one of the 35 tribes in Burma.
A short stop on my trip will be to Bangkok where there are some great spots I will be visiting on the advice of Nancy Chandler as my go-to guide. Notable places such as the gallery at Attic Studios art gallery and workspace on Sukhumvit Soi 31; the often fully booked Old Bangkok Inn (B 3,200+); business and the artsy converge at the hip new all-suite Tenface Hotel (B 3,700+) and of course, food. I’m especially excited to try new Isaan restaurants that serve more than 20 different versions of somtam (a famous spicy papaya salad) at street prices.
And if we’re lucky we can maybe spend a few days in the Indian Ocean before returning. I look forward to sharing these wonderful moments with all of you!