Page 16 - asia

Picking the best time to cruise in South- es spike, public transport is jammed and and interest. We visited five unique des-
east Asia is complicated because of the shops may be closed. tinations, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thai-
diversity of weather conditions. Viet- land and Singapore on our cruise.
nam, for example, has more than 2,000 Each port destination we experienced
miles of coastline, with varying weather offered distinctly unique experiences Bangkok, Thailand
patterns north to south. In coastal areas, and adventures for almost every taste
a sweater and long pants may be Eclectic Bangkok offers travel-
needed to ward off the chill on cool ers a mix of modern skyscrap-
nights, while a few kilometers in- ers, lux Royal Palaces, ancient
land, temperatures are considerably temples and giant gilt Buddhas.
warmer. Ports close to the equa- Highlights include Chinatown,
tor, on the other hand, are always Bangkok’s two century-old com-
steamy, with occasional afternoon mercial center where you can
showers. wander through the giant flow-
er and wholesale marketplace.
Cruise lines, for the most part, Travel via a tuk-tuk, a 3-wheeled
avoid the hottest, most humid and motorized taxi, to Wat Po, or the
rainy months by scheduling most Temple of the Reclining Buddha,
Southeast Asia cruises November the oldest temple in Bangkok, to
through March. Not surprisingly, find Thailand’s largest reclining
these months also attract the most Buddha, 150 feet long, 49 feet
tourists from inside and outside the tall, aglow in gold plate. Anoth-
region, resulting in large crowds at er Buddha well worth visiting is
popular attractions. Holidays, like the solid gold, 10-foot tall stat-
Tet in late January or early Febru- ue at the lavishly decorated Wat
ary, can be days long and noisy. Pric- Traimit Temple. Great restau-

16 Wine Dine & Travel Winter 2015