Bali to Saigon

Z-Mail

Sign up for news and information about upcoming voyages.

Banggai Islands.

Just below the arm of Central Sulawesi, at the convergence of the Banda and Maluku Seas, sit the 120 Banggai Islands whose waters harbor “the mother of all living coral reefs” according to Alfred Wallace. An astounding variety of marine life inhabits the walls, caves, overhangs, and shallow reefs of this archipelago and our full day exploration gives snorkelers and divers several opportunities to witness such Sulawesi species as ribbon eels, blue-ring octopus, anglerfish, and the endemic Banggai cardinal fish. Deeper waters and vertical drop-offs shelter black corals and gorgonian fans, batfish, groupers, schools of napoleon wrasses, along with the colorful reef fish: damselfish, dottyblacks, pygmy sea horses anthias, and butterflyfish.

Pagan.

After breakfast we begin our exploration with a visit to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda, Pagan’s most important reliquary shrine. Next we visit Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple, that is covered with fine frescoes, then Htilominlo, renowned for its murals and friezes. Pass through Tharaba Gateway into Old Pagan and continue to Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery with beautifully-preserved 18th-century murals. Thatbyinnyu—the Temple of Omniscience—rises 150 feet skyward, and dates back to 1144. After lunch at our hotel, we visit the 12th-century Dhammayangyi Temple famous for its mortar-free brickwork, and Mingalazedi, built in the 13th century and representing the pinnacle of Bamar pagoda architecture. After a stop at the Moe Moe lacquerware factory our day concludes with sunset at one of the monuments along the Irrawaddy River and dinner at a local restaurant. Return to our hotel for overnight.

Windhoek, Namibia.

Arrive in Namibia’s capital city, located in the country’s central highlands at an altitude just above a mile. We gather in the evening for a welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight at the Hotel Heinitzburg.