Posts Tagged ‘Adventure’

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Revealing Cambodia

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Join Hanuman for an escorted seat-in-coach two-week Cambodia Revealed trip of a lifetime that will begin on 17 August 2013.

Revealing Cambodia

Revealing Cambodia

An in-depth journey throughout Cambodia that will take you beyond the highlights and under the skin of this beguiling country, beginning with the Kingdom’s riverside capital, Phnom Penh. More adventures await you in the remote northeast in Mondulkiri, especially at the Elephant Valley Project before we follow the Mekong River and enjoy a close encounter with the rare and unique Irrawaddy dolphins near Kratie. We head off to discover the first temple city built in Southeast Asia at Sambor Prei Kuk. At Angkor, over 1000 temples were built between the 9th and 13th centuries, so we select the best of them including the world’s largest religious monument at Angkor Wat, the enigmatic and enchanting Bayon and the atmospheric Ta Prohm, consumed by jungle and fighting a losing battle with nature. Cambodia Revealed is a trip through an amazing country that will leave you with so many lasting memories.

The cost of the two-week land-only Cambodia Revealed tour is from US$965 per person, based on a minimum tour party of six persons. View our detailed fact-sheet on the tour at http://www.hanuman.travel/Tours/Cambodia/CT_Cambodia-Revealed.html. Contact the Hanuman sales team to book directly.

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Inside Phnom Tamao

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Take a look inside Phnom Tamao with Wildlife Alliance Director Nick Marx.

Nick Marx is the man behind Wildlife Alliance’s Care for Rescued Wildlife Program at Phnom Tamao Rescue Center. In the course of his decade of work in Cambodia, Nick has rescued more than 45,000 live animals from poachers and traders, and cares for a vast array of rescued wildlife – from elephants and tigers to gibbons, sun bears, and endangered tropical birds. He talks about his personal commitment to save these animals, and the impact that he’s seen over the course of his work. For a behind-the-scenes insight into the work of the Wildlife Alliance team, join Hanuman’s full-day Wildlife Experience at Phnom Tamao for a close encounter with some of Cambodia’s rarest wildlife.

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Come and Meet Chhouk

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

One of the highlights of our brand new Phnom Tamao Unique Wildlife Experience that provides a behind-the-scenes insight into the work of the Wildlife Alliance team at their wildlife rescue center, is the chance to meet Chhouk, the celebrity elephant with the prosthetic foot. So what’s Chhouk’s story?

Chhouk, the celebrity elephant with a prosthetic foot

Chhouk, the celebrity elephant with a prosthetic foot

In April 2007, a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) elephant patrol in the Srepok Wilderness Area in remote Northeastern Cambodia came across a young male elephant, seriously emaciated and in obvious pain due to a severe foot injury. No more than a year old, the elephant was alone and having trouble moving around and feeding himself because the bottom portion of his right front leg had been lost, almost surely to a poacher’s snare, and was dangerously swollen and infected. Concerned about the seriousness of the injury and the level of care the elephant would require, WWF and the Cambodian Forestry Administration reached out to Wildlife Alliance and Nick Marx for assessment and assistance.

Nick, Forestry Administration veterinarian Nhim Thy, and two members of the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team left immediately to make the cross-country trip to Mondulkiri province to assist with this emergent situation. Upon arrival, it was apparent the situation was even worse than advertised. Aggressive and nervous, the elephant was not eating the food that was being supplied to him. After spending time with the elephant, hand feeding him and calming him down, Wildlife Alliance administered immediate treatment to his foot and assessed the extent of the damage. Ultimately, Wildlife Alliance staff spent two weeks in the jungle gaining the elephant’s trust, treating his injuries and malnutrition, and assessing his long-term prospects. The staff recognized that the elephant would never be able to survive on his own in the wild and so arranged for Chhouk (“Lotus Flower”), as he came to be called, to be transported to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC) where Wildlife Alliance veterinarians and animal husbandry specialists could attend to his special needs.

Chhouk and the team set out on an arduous 26-hour journey through dense forest, on long roads, and through the disorienting experience of traffic in Phnom Penh, on their way to PTWRC. His personal keepers, Mr. Tam and Mr. Sarim, were waiting for him at an enclosure created especially for his needs. It was not immediately certain that Chhouk would survive his injury. With dedicated veterinary care, Wildlife Alliance staff was able to see to the healing of his leg wound and eradication of his infections. He was housed alongside the other four rescued Asian elephants at PTWRC and formed a special bond with Lucky, an older female elephant, who took the youngster under her wing. However, Chhouk’s hardships were not over.

The damage caused by his missing foot was threatening his spine and hips. The stress on elephants’ legs is already great and with Chhouk off balance, he was at risk of developing bone deformities. Wildlife Alliance animal care specialists determined that the only way to address his mobility and pain issues would be to fit him with a prosthetic foot. A partnership was formed with the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, with financial support from the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, to build Chhouk a prosthesis, the first of its kind in Cambodia. Immediately after being fitted with the foot, Chhouk’s issues improved rapidly. He is now on his fifth foot as he continues to grow and require new prostheses to match his size and boundless energy.

Chhouk’s story and survival against all odds have made him a global ambassador for Asian elephant conservation and the plight of elephants in Cambodia specifically. He has been featured on television programmes all over the globe, as well as innumerable international print media sources. He is much loved in Cambodia, where he is a top attraction for PTWRC’s more than 200,000 visitors each year. As he’s got older, Chhouk has become less predictable and as such, to ensure the safety of his keepers, a steel fence always separates him from his handlers. He has been trained using a reward based system and the worst that can happen is if Chhouk does not do what is required, he does not receive his reward, a banana or an apple. He’s a smart guy who loves his food and has quickly learnt that compliance benefits all. This includes removing his prosthetic foot twice each day. Come and meet Chhouk for yourself as part of Hanuman’s Phnom Tamao Wildlife Experience.

 

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On the Streets of Yangon

Friday, April 12th, 2013

Join with Hanuman Travel TV for a look around Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city with its British colonial buildings, markets and of course, its beautiful temples.

The endearing colonial charm of Yangon, known as Rangoon during the British administration of the former capital city, along with the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Paya, its vibrant street markets and friendly local inhabitants make it well worth a few days of anyone’s time, if Myanmar is your next destination. With a population of over 4 million people, it certainly doesn’t feel like it, as the city closes down around 9pm at night and you’ll also notice the lack of motorcycles on the city streets. Visit the Shwedagon Paya at sunset, and take a stroll around Kandawgyi Lake and make sure to pop into the colonial-era relic that is the Strand Hotel.

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Wildlife in Cambodia – up close and personal

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

Hanuman’s brand new Wildlife Experience in Cambodia, unlike any other in the Indochina region.

Bathing with an elephant

Bathing with an elephant

Phnom Tamao Unique Wildlife Experience

This unique experience provides an incredible insight into the work of the Wildlife Alliance team who protect Cambodia’s wildlife from the threats of poaching, trafficking and cruelty. This full-day adventure offers a close encounter with some of Cambodia’s rarest wildlife and all proceeds from the trip go towards assisting Wildlife Alliance and their Forestry Department colleagues in their work protecting Cambodia’s natural treasures, their fight against the illegal wildlife trade and care for the animals they rescue. This is unlike any other wildlife experience on offer in the region, as it takes the visitor up close to these wonderful animals in the company of conservation experts.

Departing from Phnom Penh, the journey to Phnom Tamao includes a stop at a local market to buy some fruit to feed the elephants and other animals on arrival. Once at the Rescue Centre, visitors will join the elephants for a walk in the forest and feed them some fruit snacks. They will then visit the elephant enclosure to learn more about the reward-based training given to the elephants to improve the manner in which they are cared for. Guests will also meet a rescued elephant who lost his foot to a snare. He now has a prosthetic limb. It is also possible to have your very own elephant painting t-shirt, ‘trunk-painted’ while you wear it.

Guests then continue to the tiger enclosures to meet the big cats personally and watch them playing with enrichment items. Other wildlife in this area includes the incredible binturong or bearcat, one of the lesser known animals in Cambodia. Later there is the chance to visit the rehabilitation section of the rescue centre which is not open to the general public. Here there is the opportunity to help feed one of the young residents of the centre such as a baby jackal or leopard cat or play with the many mischievous baby macaques. A picnic lunch is then enjoyed in a private area close to the compound of the hairy-nosed otter, an animal so difficult to care for he is probably the only one currently in captivity anywhere in the world.

In the afternoon, there is the chance to explore the vast water bird aviary, home to some of Cambodia’s rare avian life and to walk around the nearby Lakeside area where sambar deer roam. There are also large water birds resident here, including the lesser adjutant stork, listed by IUCN as Vulnerable. These birds are breeding freely in the forest surrounding the Rescue Centre.

This really is a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors that have a passion for wildlife and its conservation. It might get dirty for those that don’t mind mucking in, particularly with the elephants or baby macaques, but for those that want to learn more about wildlife and the hard work that goes into its protection, there is no better experience in the region. And all proceeds go towards the conservation and protection of Cambodia’s threatened wildlife. By supporting this unique experience, you are contributing to sustainable conservation in Cambodia. Contact Hanuman for more details including pricing of this brand new joint venture with Wildlife Alliance, who kindly supplied the photographs.

Trunk painting t-shirts

Trunk painting t-shirts

Feeding Sambar deer

Feeding Sambar deer

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River life in Myanmar

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013

River views in Myanmar with Hanuman Travel TV.

 

This is the first in a series of videos from the Hanuman Travel TV crew who’ve just returned from Myanmar. We’re aboard the former colonial paddle steamer RV Paukan as it winds its way along the Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers from Mandalay to Bagan, enjoying gorgeous sunsets, beautiful river views, the locals going about their daily lives (both humans and monkeys), as well as a visit to the buddha caves of Hpo Win Daung near Monywa and the 424-foot tall standing buddha at Bodhi Tataung, believed to be the world’s tallest. As the day comes to a close, we enjoy a pause at the pot-making village of Yandabo.

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Take a look at Indochina

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Take a trip through Indochina with Hanuman Travel TV to see the sights and experiences you can all enjoy in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. We are waiting to welcome you.

 

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Tour of the Week: Grand Laos Journey

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Following on from our visit to the incredible Vieng Xay Caves, we feature this Grand Laos Journey, which covers the major highlights of the country from north to south.

Monks at Kuang Si Falls near Luang Prabang

Monks at Kuang Si Falls near Luang Prabang

An in-depth journey throughout the old kingdom of Laos that will take you beyond the highlights and under the skin of this beguiling country, beginning with the the Luang Say cruise along the Mekong River, via the Pak Ou Caves to the World Heritage recognized city of Luang Prabang. Home to 32 stupa-studded wats, it remains one of the most atmospheric destinations in all Asia. We take in the Royal Palace Museum, classic Wat Xieng Thong and enjoy a trek to the turquoise waters of the multi-tiered Kuang Si Falls. We then head to the Plain of Jars, a mysterious mountainside dotted with ancient burial jars from a forgotten civilisation for a brief adventure before we continue to the capital city of Vientiane. Then we head south where no trip would be complete without a visit to the incredible Wat Phu and the 4,000 islands and waterfalls on the border with Cambodia.

For more details on this tour, visit the Hanuman website: http://www.hanuman.travel/Tours/Laos/Grand_Laos_Journey.html

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The vibrancy of Cambodia

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Come and experience Cambodia with Hanuman.

A three and half minute taster of the sights, sounds, colours and vibrancy that is Cambodia, shot by the Hanuman Travel TV team. Temples, culture, wildlife, beaches, we have it all, so why not come and experience Cambodia for yourself, courtesy of Hanuman.

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Exploring the incredible Vieng Xay Caves in Laos

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

The Hanuman team recently undertook a remote overland trip to remote Hua Phan Province in Northeast Laos, home to the Vieng Xay Caves where the Pathet Lao leadership were based during the US bombing campaign from 1964-73.

The landscape around the Vieng Xay Caves

The landscape around the Vieng Xay Caves

The Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the must-see destinations in Vietnam, showcasing the incredible tenacity of the Vietnamese people in their long war against the Americans. Many a tourist has explored the enlarged tunnel sites and marveled at the enduring spirit and strength of the people who survived in these conditions. For those that have braved the original, non-enlarged tunnel passages, it is nightmareishly claustrophobic experience that provokes fears of being buried alive. However, there is another Indochina war-era destination that sees very little tourist traffic and is every bit as fascinating, the Pathet Lao caves in Vieng Xay district.

The Pathet Lao (PL)  or communist leadership in Laos were given the control of two northern provinces of Laos, Hua Phan and Phongsali, as part of the Geneva Conference resolution of 1954 that temporarily divided Vietnam into North and South. The PL set about establishing a network of bases in the region and as the war in Vietnam war heated up in the 1960s, the leadership decided to retreat into the caves for protection from US bombing raids over Laos.

The caves are set beneath striking limestone karsts, similar to those seen around Yuanshou in China or Marble Mountains in Vietnam. Natural caves were enlarged, connected and reinforced to ensure the communist leadership had a safe haven during the 9-year US bombing campaign. Laos has the unfortunate distinction of being the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world, with more bombs dropped on this small country than all the bombs dropped by all sides during WWII.

The cave experience includes an excellent audio tour put together by Narrowcasters of Australia, the same company that has more recently enhanced the Killing Fields visit in Cambodia. Starting at Kaysone Phomivane’s house and cave, the PL leader who became the first communist prime minister of the Lao PDR after 1975, the tour gives an incisive background to the Lao conflict. Entering the caves, it is possible to visit Phomivane’s office and basic bedroom, as well as the emergency room, complete with bombproof doors and an independent oxygen supply.

The tour includes a number of other cave homes of significant PL leaders, including: Prince Souphanouvong, the so-called ‘Red Prince’, who became the first president of communist Laos;  and Khamtai Siphandone, military commander of the PL and later prime minister of Lao PDR. From 1973 and the cessation of the US bombing of Laos, the PL leadership felt sufficiently safe to venture out of the caves and construct permanent houses close by. The style of housing offers an interesting glimpse into the taste of each leader, with PL leader Phamivone opting for an austere, almost-Soviet block, Prince Souphanouvong choosing a more attractive French-influenced villa, and Siphandone choosing a striking wooden stilt house similar to those found in the 4000 Islands  region of Champasak, not unlike Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house in Hanoi.

The tour includes the impressive Xanglot Cave that was used mass weddings, political rallies, cinema screenings (not Hollywood!) and theatrical performances. Communist troupes came here from all over the world to rally the PL fighters, including China, Cuba and North Korea.

The audio tour really makes the Vieng Xay caves one of the highlights of rural Laos. Vieng Xay is very remote and only accessible by long and winding mountain roads. In Laos-only itineraries, it is best combined in a long looping journey from Vientiane to Luang Prabang that includes stops at Vang Vieng, Phonsavan and the Plain of Jars and Nong Khiaw along the way. An easier option is to undertake an adventurous overland journey from Vietnam to Laos, starting in Hanoi and travelling via the White Thai villages of Mai Chau, the Vieng Xay experience, the striking scenery and Nong Khiaw and finishing with some well deserved pampering in Luang Prabang at the end. This sort of trip can also be combined with Halong Bay and Sapa for those with more time to explore Northern Vietnam.

There are several flights a week to Sam Neua’s Nathong Airport, 30km from Vieng Xay, but these are in small and ageing aircraft flown by Lao Air. For those longing for the nostalgia of Soviet-era flights, the planes leave Vientiane on Mon/Wed/Fri at 13.00pm, returning at 15.00pm. There are plans afoot to build a new airport with international links using Vietnamese money, but this is unlikely to materialise before 2016.

Hanuman’s Vietnam and Laos Revealed trip offers an adventurous overland itinerary from Hanoi to Luang Prabang via the Vieng Xay Caves: http://www.hanuman.travel/Tours/Indochina/Vietnam_Laos_Revealed.html

For more on the history of the caves, including some excerpts from the audio tour, visit the official Viengxay website: http://www.visit-viengxay.com/viengxay-the-past-voices.html

For more on Lao Air and their schedule to Nathong Airport in Sam Neua, visit http://www.lao-air.com/airline.php

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