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Travel Journals
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Indochina Sojourn
We decided to take a trip to a foreign destination between Thanksgiving and the first part of December because our calendars were relatively clear during that time. We decided really wanted to tailor this trip to our specific desires—including trying to get off the major tourist routes and searching out photographic opportunities.
Having decided on the November/December time frame, we focused on areas that might have decent weather. Neither of us had been to Vietnam. Dayton, an oncologist with a private practice in California, has many Vietnamese patients with whom he has interacted over many years. Their background and stories intrigued him and sparked the particular interest to see their country. Once in the area, visiting Angkor Wat (Cambodia) is a must. Then, some very well traveled friends insisted that Luang Prabang (Laos) is the most fascinating spot in Indochina—we managed to do it all with the help of Cox & Kings.
The highlights were those destinations and moments that were a bit off the beaten track. We loved the area around Sapa, Vietnam and walking from village to village, observing life in that very traditional society. The Bac Ha market was memorable in its colorful authenticity, and even the time spent in the chaotic border city of Lao Cai was fascinating in giving us a glimpse of the complex relationship between Vietnam and China.
All visitors are thrilled by Halong Bay. We had the fortuitous circumstance that whereas other tourists on our boat stayed only one night, we stayed an extra day. It was a magical experience—the whole Junk to ourselves with a full staff to cater to our every whim, and a lunch to remember. But, more important, we sailed to areas of Halong Bay in which we were alone among the fabulous karst formations. The day was topped with swimming in the bay and kayaking through caves to hidden "lakes" in the Bay. We felt really special and privileged to have had this experience.
The Mekong Delta was wonderful. The bike riding along the small roads and over the bridges, peeking into the home and yards of the local inhabitants was really special. Everyone was so accommodating and friendly and not at all annoyed as we went at our own pace among the motorbikes and daily routines of the locals.
Luang Prabang was definitely a highlight. The experience there confirmed that each country in Indochina is different. Here we got a real sense of the depth of the mountains and jungles separating this town from modern life in a city. The sense here is that the town has an innocent charm—while already discovered by the backpacking set, it has not been trammeled by the large mass tourist industry. In this town of Bhuddist monasteries, it is the tradition to give alms to the monks each morning. It was a special experience that thanks to our guide's preparation, we could participate in this ritual in an authentic fashion, rather than being simply observers. Another very fortuitous and memorable experience was that we happened to be there when the Hmong tribes were holding their annual festival. The Hmong version or our country fair was a feast for the senses. Their fabulous dresses, food, games and rituals were not to be missed. While Dayton was totally captivated by the young ladies involved in a courtship ritual, Lida was fascinated by children totally engrossed in a colorful gambling operation run by a very business minded "croupier".
A daily highlight of the trip was the wonderful food we enjoyed along the way. From the pancakes at the market in Hoi An to the sumptuous meals in private homes, we ate our way with gusto through Indochina. We had never traveled anywhere with such consistently fabulous cuisine.
Our guides were uniformly terrific. We appreciate this mode of travel because the personality and the individual life of each guide provides new insight into the life of the local people. We felt that the guides were very generous to share their personal views and their histories with us—but then again, we very aggressively peppered them with questions about their families! We even got to meet the wife of one of the guides. Without the language or the time to create relationships, the guides are very important to our understanding of the mindset of the country.
The Cox & Kings staff was excellent. We had originally contacted other agencies, but Dianna Upton at Cox & Kings was far and away most sensitive to our desires and created an itinerary immediately to reflect it. In the planning stages, she was responding to emails even on Sundays! In Indochina, the guides and drivers were always ready to accommodate our wishes—to visit certain spots or return to areas (especially at Angkor Wat) to cater to Dayton's desire to catch certain scenes in perfect light.
We haven't decided where we'll travel next. When we start talking about safaris, we will certainly contact Cox & Kings.
—Dr. Dayton Misfeldt & Ms. Lida Urbanek
Do you have a C&K travel story you would like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Submit your travel tales and reflections to tours@coxandkingsusa.com.
Travel Journals
Laos, Land of a Million Elephants
Nat Waring's North Island, Seychelles Report
Memsahib in the Kitchen
The Tigers of Rathambore
Life Along the Ayeyarwady
North Island, Seychelles
Our Honeymoon To Kenya
Our Stay at North Island
Bali and Sumba Islands, Indonesia
Peru and the Inti Raymi Festival
Northern Thailand & Myanmar
Going Native in Malaysia
Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia & Thailand
Exploring Ethiopia
Falling in Love—with India
A Perfect Safari to Kenya and Tanzania
A Thai Wedding
Indochina Sojourn
Family Safari to Tanzania
Exploring Malaysia
Our Dream Family Safari to South Africa
Safari to Botswana
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