Escorted by Christopher Madkour Executive Director SVAC November 5th to November 17th, 2008   From Siam to the Kingdom of Thailand & Angkor Wat Land Tour Price: $3,400 per person double occupancy Single Supplement: $825 $750 Deposit per Person due by July 15 is required to reserve your place on this tour. Payments can be made by check or credit card. Final Payment due September 15, 2008. Tour Includes: Eleven nights hotel accommodations in deluxe hotels as described (or similar), breakfast daily, meals as indicated, admissions to sites listed, bilingual escort for transfers and sightseeing, all transportation within the itinerary, including flights, contribution to the SVAC. Not Included: Passport and visa fees, gratuities, items of a personal nature charged in hotels, travel protection, transatlantic airfare (we cannot confirm the air until the group is confirmed. For the best routing and pricing please reserve early.) Business class upgrades will be quoted as requested. For Reservations email: Custom Travel Concepts or call Toll-free: (866) 956-4440 Southern Vermont Arts Center Presents From Siam to the Kingdom of Thailand & Angkor Wat November 5 - November 17, 2008 Wed/Nov 05 USA - Bangkok Depart NYC on our flight to Bangkok   Thu/Nov 06 Bangkok Arrival in Bangkok where our English speaking guide will meet us and escort us to the Royal Princess Hotel, situated in the heart of historic old Bangkok amidst sweeping tree-lined boulevards, centuries- old canals and ancient temples, including the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. We’ll enjoy a welcome reception at the hotel this evening with an overview of our tour by our local escort.   Fri/Nov 07 Bangkok Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before our tour which begins at the Grand Palace, built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with European designs, it was once the official home for the Kings of Siam, and is unquestionably one of the Thailand's major tourist highlights. The main centerpiece of the complex however is the 45 centimeter Emerald Buddha. Carved from just one piece of Jade it is the holiest and most revered religious object in Thailand. The Emerald Buddha is housed within Wat Phra Keow, a very ornately decorated building whose roof tiles reach into the sky. After lunch we’ll explore Bangkok’s klongs, or canals on a long tail boat for a unique perspective of the city, including a visit to Wat Arun, the magnificent Temple of Dawn. Welcome dinner.   Sat/Nov 08 Bangkok Located 53 miles north of Bangkok is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ayuthaya - the ancient capital of Siam, between 1350 to 1767. Ayuthaya was once a thriving international commercial center with 33 kings from various Siamese dynasties ruling their kingdom until it was captured by the Burmese. Today, Ayuthaya is known for its spectacular ruins and temples, with many still intact, such as Wat Phra Sanphet and Wat Mongkhon Bophit and the bronze statues at Wat Chai Mongkol, known for its large statue of the Reclining Buddha, and Wat Panangcherng. We visit Wat Phra Mahathat, one of the most important and oldest Buddhist temples in Thailand and one of only six primary royal temples. After lunch we’ll explore the historical site of Ayuthaya riding elephants. Dinner on our own. The rest of the day is at your leisure, and dinner tonight is on your own. Optional: we can provide you with a schedule of cultural events and arrange for tickets in advance.   Sun/Nov 09 Bangkok This morning we’ll visit a floating market where farmers arrive in traditional boats laden with produce. We’ll also have an opportunity to learn about Thai food, its ingredients, the cultural significance, and the traditional flavors as we attend a Thai Cooking lesson. We continue to the Jim Thompson House, an exquisite museum of traditional Thai architecture and furnishings. Jim Thompson was an American who first came to Thailand as part of the OSS towards the end of World War II. He saw the potential of the almost forgotten cottage industry of silk weaving, and is largely credited with reviving the lost art. We’ll have lunch at the house and return to our hotel.   Mon/Nov 10 Bangkok/Chiang Mai We depart on our flight to Chiang Mai where our local guide will meet us at the airport and escort us to Wat Suan Dok , the 14th century temple whose name roughly translates to "field of flowers. There are several unique features to this temple - one is the temple's large wiharm, or prayer hall, unusual for its size and that it is open on the sides rather than being totally enclosed. We will visit with and speak to Buddhist monks, who are as interested in improving their English skills as they are to tell us about their lives. Check into our hotel the Manathai Village and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Tue/Nov 11 Chiang Mai Enjoy a day at leisure to explore on your own.   Wed/Nov 12 Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai Early morning flight to the province of Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge. We’ll visit the King Mengrai Monument the founder of Chiang Rai. This area is famous for its hilltribes where we can learn about the varied local cultures. Our first visit is to the Karen people, the largest of the major tribes of northern Thailand. They live in bamboo houses raised on stilts, beneath which live their domestic animals, pigs, chickens and buffalos. They practice swidden agriculture and cultivate irrigated paddy fields. They are very peaceful and cooperative, who like the other hilltribes, reserve their highest veneration for their ancestors and living elders. The Yao Hilltribe originate in southern China, and are the only hill tribe to have a written language. Yao villages are mostly found on low hills, and their houses built usually of wooden planks on a dirt road with a guest platform of bamboo in the communal living area. Yao women are noted for their magnificent cross-stitch embroidery and richly decorative clothing. Yao silversmiths produce lovely silver jewelry of high quality. They are called the "businessmen" among the hilltribes. We’ll transfer to our hotel the Mantrini Boutique Resort and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.   Thu/Nov 13 Chiang Rai Today we visit the Mai Sai Market, a virtual shopping bonanza. On the banks of the Mekhong River at the southern-most point of the tourist area is the ancient city of Chiang Saen. During the long history of conflict between the Siamese and Burmese kingdoms, possession of Chiang Saen passed back and forth. You can easily make out the remains of most of the city's walls and moat, as well as several temples and defenses. Nearby the Aka Hilltribe are among the most down-trodden and most impoverished of the hill tribes, resisting assimilation into mainstream Thai culture. They are, however, the most fascinating and colorful of the hill tribes and can easily be visited. The Akha came to Thailand in the early 20th century, mainly due to their persecution in Burma. The women wear very plain indigo died shirts adorned with coins, beads, shells, etc and are identified by their ornate headdress adorned with silver. Return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.   Fri/Nov 14 Chiang Rai/Siem Reap Today is a transfer day as we travel to Cambodia via Bangkok. After arriving in Siem Reap we transfer to our hotel Le Meridien Angkor. Dinner is on our own this evening.   Sat/Nov 15 Siem Reap The name Siem Reap means the 'Defeat of Siam' and refers to a centuries-old bloodbath, commemorated in stone in the celebrated bas relief carvings of the monuments. Today, it is undoubtedly Cambodia's fastest growing city and serves as a small charming gateway town to the world famous Angkor temples. This vibrant town with modern hotels and architectures has conserved much of its image, culture and traditions. Angkor Thom was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII it covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments. At the centre of the city is his state temple, the Bayon with other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north. Ta Phrom is a unique temple in the jungles of Cambodia built in the thirteenth century by Jajavarma VII. While other monuments in the Angkor region have been cleared of the encroaching jungle, Ta Phrom has been left as it was found by French explorers who rediscovered it in the nineteenth century. After lunch we continue to Angkor Wat built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddhism. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer Empire. We’ll also have the unique opportunity of enjoying a reception hosted by one of our members at her villa. Return to our hotel for dinner.   Sun/Nov 16 Siem Reap/Bangkok We’ll enjoy an early breakfast at our hotel before we transfer to Thailand and our hotel in Bangkok. This evening we meet for our farewell dinner before we end our exotic journey.   Mon/Nov 17 Bangkok - USA Transfer to the airport for our flight home. For Reservations Contact: Charlene Corris Custom Travel Concepts 178 Center Street Chicopee, MA 01013 Toll-free: 866 956-4440 | Fax: 413 592-4401