14-Day Oceania Asia Cruise: Bali to Hong Kong

Bali:
Experience this exquisite island and its gentle people as you explore the lush countryside of terraced rice fields and mountains dotted with temples. Visit a royal palace, watch an entrancing dance performance, or see carvers at work. Enjoy villages filled with beautiful arts and crafts and the daily festivals with villagers parading in their finery to local temples.

Surabaya, Indonesia:
Showcasing a dizzying array of cultural influences, this second-largest city in Indonesia was once the most important port of the Dutch East Indies. A prime example is the stately 19th-century House of Sampoerna, a colonial-style cigarette factory that houses a fascinating museum. Discover a vast selection of wares at Pasar Pabean, a lively market that links Chinatown and the Arab Quarter. At the Grand Mosque of Surabaya, one of Indonesia’s largest, climb the soaring minaret for better views of the gleaming blue and green tiles adorning the sanctuary’s domes. As a tranquil respite, settle in for high tea at the elegant Majapahit Hotel, a highlight of Surabaya’s complex and absorbing historical legacy.

Semarang (Java), Indonesia:
Journey to the magnificently restored temple of Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the world's largest Buddhist temple, built around 800 A.D. and forgotten for centuries under the teeming Javanese jungle. Circumnavigate the tiers until you reach the top. Survey the surrounding countryside and be sure to reach out and touch the foot of a Buddha for luck. Or venture further to the Dieng Plateau with its stunning scenery, volcanic vents and 8th century Hindu temples.

Ko Samui, Thailand:
Explore this idyllic, forested island and its pristine beaches. Visit the giant Buddha at Wat Phra Yai, the elephant camp where these intelligent animals display their work skills and a plantation where monkeys harvest coconuts. Head to the interior and see majestic cascading waterfalls and how rubber trees are tapped. Enjoy the gorgeous beaches.

Bangkok, Thailand:
Awaken your senses as you tour the city’s fabulous golden temples and palaces, the royal barges and the Emerald Buddha. Explore the hidden city of teak mansions and lovely gardens or learn about Thai culture. The Royal Palace, familiar to many as the scene of the true story of Anna and the King of Siam, is a massive complex of carved and gilded buildings still used by the Thai royal family. Visit the home of Jim Thompson, former spy and promoter of the local silk industry who disappeared mysteriously.

Cam Ranh, Vietnam:
Quieter and more off the beaten path than its neighbor of Nha Trang, the hidden gem of Cam Ranh features a landscape of white sands, turquoise waters and lush forests. Relax on pristine Bai Dai Beach and then extend the serenity at Tu Van Pagoda, a unique temple built from seashells and coral. For lunch, check out the local fish market where eateries prepare banh mi and other dishes with the fresh catch of the day. Just north of Cam Ranh stands Nha Trang, one of Vietnam’s most popular seaside resorts boasting hot springs, mud baths and palm-fringed beaches as well as the striking temples of Po Nagar Cham Towers and the enormous white Buddha of Long Son Pagoda.

Hong Kong, China:
Experience old and new Hong Kong with its ultra-modern high-rise buildings beside street markets and lovely temples. Visit the boat people in Aberdeen and shop in Stanley Market or stroll through the bustling Temple Street night market. Visit Hollywood Road with its temple and antique shops or take a junk cruise and explore the magnificent bay. Travel to the New Territories to see family shrines, the wishing tree and the preserved wetlands. Or visit Lantau Island and the Po Lin Monastery with its giant Buddha statue.