A fascinating insight into the religions of Indonesia on a Voyages to Antiquity cruise in south-east Asia

Toraja Land, Indonesia, where the local people worship animals and plants

• The second in a series of guest blogs by Zoe Bromley-Fox, Land Programmes Manager of cruise line Voyages to Antiquity. The line’s one ship, Aegean Odyssey, returns to south-east Asia this winter for the first time since the winter of 2012-13. Zoe looks forward to the forthcoming visit by recalling highlights of the journey two years ago.

Indonesia is certainly a land full of mystery and intriguing ancient customs. One of the excursions that Voyages to Antiquity includes in the Southern Sulawesi area gives passengers a somewhat other-wordly experience. I will never forget one of the Indonesian bar waitresses staring at me fearfully wide-eyed as we headed off with the passengers to visit Toraja Land where the people practise a form of animism known as Aluk To Dolo.

The belief that animals, plants and inanimate objects possess a spiritual element is so fundamental to this region that many indigenous languages don’t even have a word for it. Operated from the slightly closer port of Palopo this season, but still with a scenic drive through the mountainous countryside, it also provides a fascinating insight into daily life as you pass through numerous rural villages.

From a more archaeological perspective, the UNESCO tongue-twister site of Borobudur on the island of Java is equally as captivating and compared in brilliance to the Parthenon by Arnold Toynbee. We visit the complex from the port of Semarang, and I also remember that the police escort service that cleared the Javanese roads to ensure the coaches arrived in good time was probably as impressive as the temple complex itself!

For details of Voyages to Antiquity’s cruises visiting Indonesia this winter, see here. Fares from £3,495 pp.

Click here to read Zoe's blog in full, with details of Aegean Odyssey's voyages and the excursions available.

The UNESCO-listed Borobodur on the Indonesian island of Java

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Paul Gauguin Get Exotic With Shore Excursions

We already know that Paul Gauguin Cruises - operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury ship in the South Pacific - have an exotic array of voyages in that part of the world.

And now they are adding still further to their exotic quotient with the details of new, optional shore excursions this year for their Australia & South East Asia voyages.

On these 14-night itineraries, the Paul Gauguin sails between Cairns and Singapore, visiting less-travelled tropical ports of Australia such as Thursday Island, once a World War II military outpost, and Darwin, with its lively yet laidback ambiance. 

 

Indonesian ports include Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon; beautiful Bali, a coveted destination for generations; and Semarang, with its fascinating history and gateway to the temples of Borobudur. Two departures are offered: June 25 and August 4, with cruise fares from £3,890 per person if booked before March 31. Both sailings include round-trip airfare from Los Angeles.

Highlights of the optional shore excursions offered on the Australia & South East Asia voyages include:

• Thursday Island, Australia—Thursday Island Discovery: Gain insight into Thursday Island’s people, history, commercial base and culture; visit the refurbished Torres Strait Museum and Green Hill Fort; and see the Japanese Pearl Divers Memorial.
• Darwin, Australia—Crocodylus Park: Visit a park featuring more than 1,000 saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, ranging in length from 11 inches to 15 feet.
• Komodo Island, Indonesia—Komodo Trekking Tour: Trek through Tamarind Woods in search of Komodo Dragons, the largest reptiles on Earth.
• Benoa, Bali, Indonesia—Elephant Safari Ride & Monkey Forest: Acclaimed as one of the world’s best, the Elephant Safari Park is home to 29 of these gentle giants. Enjoy a 30-minute elephant ride then travel to Sangeh Village to visit the Sangeh Monkey Forest.
• Benoa, Bali, Indonesia—Bali Safari & Marine Park: 400 animals, representing 80 species, live here. Interact with the many different animals within these gardens and enjoy the water park, which has slides for both adults and children.
• Semarang, Indonesia—Fascinating Borobudur Temple: See the dramatic landscape of Central Java en route to Borobudur Temple, the world’s largest Buddhist monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and take in a performance by local entertainers.

Onboard the ship, a variety of special guests will lecture, perform or provide demonstrations which are in the all-inclusive fares. Parisian celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato, champion freediver Herbert Nitsch, “extreme artist” Jean Francois Detaille and soprano Françoise Krief will be on the June 25 voyage. 

 

Joining the August 4 voyage are Nobel Peace Prize winner John E. Hay, islands expert Helen Henry, destination specialist Mick Fogg and Paul Gauguin Cruises chairman Richard Bailey. On both voyages, art history professor and Paul Gauguin expert Caroline Boyle-Turner, renowned archaeologist and scholar Mark Eddowes and a World War II expert will provide a series of lectures.

More info: call 020 7399 7691 or visit www.pgcruises.com.

 

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An Asian Odyssey With Voyages To Antiquity

Boutique line Voyages to Antiquity have crafted a fabulous tour through the Indian Ocean to south-east Asia in their new brochure for winter 2014/15, with 12 cruises from November to March combining the most breathtaking natural and man-made sites in the world, from the remarkable beauty of Africa’s big game parks to architectural treasures such as Angkor Wat and the Taj Mahal. 

As with every Voyages To Antiquity cruise, shore excursions are included, pre and post-cruise land stays in major cities are in deluxe hotels and every sailing features outstanding guest speakers.

Key highlights are:

• Inaugural visits to East Africa, each featuring an included 3 day (2 night) safari to Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks
• Inaugural calls to the Indian Ocean Islands of Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mayotte and the Maldives.
• City centre mooring in Yangon (Burma), Bangkok (Thailand) and Ho-Chi Minh City (Vietnam) where the size of the ship enables cruising upriver to the heart of some of Asia’s most fascinating cities.
• A chance to explore Bali, Borneo and the islands of Indonesia – including visits to the stunning temple of Borobudur and the dragons on Komodo
• A return to the fascinating sights and sounds  of South-east Asia: Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam
• Cruising India’s historic Malabar Coast, before passengers disembark to enjoy the included 5-day Golden Triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Brochure prices start from £3,150 per person for an 18-day cruise-tour, including scheduled flights and transfers on arrival. Prices also include free domestic flight connections via London from seven regional airports, shore excursions where available, Quietvox headsets to enhance the sightseeing experience, gratuities to cabin and restaurant staff on-board and wine with dinner on board.

Guests can save up to £5,000 per cabin when booking by December 31 and several itineraries feature special rates for single travellers. 

More info: visit www.voyagestoantiquity.com or call on 0845 437 9737.

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The Bubbly's On Ponant For National Cruise Week!

Compagnie du Ponant, the luxury French yacht cruise operator has launched a special VIP offer for National Cruise Week (which starts today), with a special ‘Welcome Aboard’ to all guests booking during this perios, as well as €200 on board credit per cabin booked. This is definitely the right time to add a touch of extra-luxury to your cruise!

The offer will include a bottle of Champagne placed in the cabin upon arrival and a personal welcome note from the Captain, as well as the stateroom credit to spend on board – including on bar drinks, luxurious spa treatments and shore excursions. The credit is per cabin and the offer will be valid for travel until 30 September 2014. Quote VIP NCW on the phone to benefit from the offer, which is available for all Cruise Week bookings from September 21-29.

Ponant, a specialist in soft expeditions and great journeys around the world, has run Antarctic cruises for years and launched a brand new ship, Le Soléal, at the end of June. She is currently cruising the Arctic through the North-West Passage before heading to the Japanese archipelago and South-East Asia this winter. Also included are many themed-cruises, from music and golf to gourmet cuisine, all allied to the world-famous French savoir-faire.

 

For more on National Cruise Week, see http://www.discovercruises.co.uk/national-cruise-week.aspx.

 

For bookings, see this link for The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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