BURMA & FEBRUARY 5, 2016
THE MALAY PENINSULA SAIL INTO THE HEART OF BURMA
ON AN EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE
EARLY BOOKING FARES APPLY S M A L L - S H I P
CRU I S I NG
AT
I T S
BE S T
UNTIL 31/7/15
21-days departing february 5, 2016
cruise from
your itinerary DATE
PORT
ARRIVE
DEPART
FEB 5
Depart UK
FEB 6
Arrive COLOMBO Sri Lanka Transfer to hotel
overnight hotel
FEB 7
COLOMBO (Kandy) Sri Lanka
overnight hotel
FEB 8
COLOMBO Sri Lanka Embark Aegean Odyssey
FEB 9
GALLE Sri Lanka
FEB 10
At Sea
FEB 11
CHENNAI (Madras) India
8.00pm 7.00am
1.00pm
7.00am
10.00pm
8.00am
8.00pm
noon
overnight
FEB 12/13 At Sea FEB 14
PORT BLAIR Andaman Islands
FEB 15
At Sea
FEB 16
YANGON Burma
FEB 17
YANGON (Bago) Burma
overnight
FEB 18
YANGON Burma
1.00pm
FEB 19
At Sea
FEB 20
PHUKET (Phi Phi Islands or Phang Nga) Thailand
9.00am
8.00pm
FEB 21
PENANG Malaysia
noon
6.00pm
FEB 22
MALACCA Malaysia
2.00pm
6.30pm
FEB 23
SINGAPORE Disembark and transfer to hotel
7.00am
FEB 24
SINGAPORE
FEB 25
SINGAPORE Transfer to Singapore Airport for flight home
overnight hotel overnight hotel
AEG160208
Sail to the mysteries of Burma... and beyond
sri lanka to singapore “This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about,” wrote Rudyard Kipling in 1889 and his observation still rings true today. This inspiring voyage on board Aegean Odyssey will take you from Sri Lanka and India into the heart of this beautiful and spiritual country and south to the exotic cities of the Malay Peninsula.
india Chennai
Bay of Bengal
Yangon Burma
Andaman Islands Port Blair Thailand Malacca Phuket Penang
Colombo Galle Sri Lanka
Strait
MALAYSIA Malacca Singapore
Cruise features include: • Two-night hotel stays in Colombo and Singapore • Two nights on board ship in Yangon (Rangoon, Burma) • 11 guided sightseeing excursions •Visit Thailand’s stunning Phi Phi Islands and discover the rich colonial history of Malaysia and Singapore SPECIAL EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS
Res er v e you r ca bin n ow – call 0845 437 9737 or vis it www. voyages toa n tiqu ity. com
Join this remarkable journey to the mysteries of Burma & Malaysia february 5, 2016
YOUR JOURNEY
Day 1 London to Colombo Sri Lanka Fly by scheduled flight. Day 2 Colombo Arrive and transfer to the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel for a two-night stay. Day 3 Colombo There is a choice of excursions today to either Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth or to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of unusual beauty and the location of the temple containing a tooth of Buddha. One of the day’s highlights is a stop at Peradeniya to walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens. Lunch will be served in a colonial hotel overlooking the Kandy Lake and there will be a guided tour of the monumental Temple of the Tooth where the sacred relic is enshrined. During the return drive from this ancient kingdom, we will make a stop at a Spice Garden before returning to the vessel after what will be a long but rewarding day. Alternatively, a two and a half hour drive brings us to Pinnawela which was established by the Department of Wildlife Conservation to protect unweaned baby
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Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
elephants found wandering in the forests. Enjoy a buffet lunch and this afternoon, see the elephants from closer-up, and maybe watch some of the elephants being fed. Day 4 Colombo This morning we will experience the astonishing blend of modern and exotic in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, a city quite unlike any other. During the tour you will drive past Dutch and British colonial-era architecture, including the Wolvendhal Church and the old Town Hall, interspersed with Hindu temples, the neoclassical National Museum and the Pettah Bazaar. Later today we will transfer to the MV Aegean Odyssey, embark and sail.
Chennai, India
Day 5 Galle Galle is a colourful town that is shrouded in the scent of spices and littered with decaying Dutch-colonial buildings, but most of all a city of trade and art, two preoccupations which will be evident during our visit to the Fort which was built by the Portuguese in 1588 and later modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. We will also visit the National Maritime Museum. Day 6 At sea Day 7 Chennai India Formerly known as Madras, Chennai was founded by the British East India Company in 1639 and today is India’s fourth largest city. We will drive along the Marina, an
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elegant promenade, to the old Indian neighbourhood of Mylapore, one of Chennai’s most characterful districts that pre-dates colonial Madras by several hundred years. Our first stop is the San Thome Basilica built in 1504 and rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1893. This Roman Catholic Church is said to house remains of St Thomas the Apostle who may have visited and died in the city. With its rainbowcoloured gopuram (gateway tower), pillared pavilions and huge water tank, Kapileshwara Mylapore is an impressive example of a Tamil Nadu temple. It is dedicated to the most popular local deity, Lord Shiva, and constructed in Dravidian style. After these two holy sites it is on to a more secular treat at the Government Museum which is housed across several British-built buildings known as the Pantheon Complex. Lastly we visit Fort St George. Days 8-9 At sea Day 10 Port Blair Andaman Islands Established by 1789, today Port Blair is the largest town on the Andaman Islands. We will explore the small town visiting the Naval Marine Museum with its displays
of tribal art, marine life and archaeology. Next, visit the Anthropological Museum which illustrates the lives of the aboriginal tribes with miniature models of the tools used by them, their dresses and photographs of their life style. Day 11 At sea Days 12-14 Yangon Burma Our visit to Myanmar’s former capital, previously called Rangoon, will include a guided tour of the 2600-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world’s most spectacular monuments. Prepare for an overload of images: gold domed stupas, one with a 76-carat diamond atop its spire, prayerful pilgrims, multi-coloured flags and flower offerings, and the majesty of this sacred site, described by Kipling as “a golden mystery... a beautiful winking wonder”. Admire the colonial architecture of Rangoon, circa-1920, passing the historic Strand Hotel, the bookstalls of Pansodan Street and the Sule Pagoda.
3 days in Yangon (Rangoon)
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Thamanay Monastery
You will also have the chance to shop for Burmese handicrafts at the famous Bogyoke Aung San Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market. During our time in Burma, we will head out of Yangon for a day of insights into Burmese life in. En route to Bago we will stop at the Thamanay Buddhist Seminary, a charming monastery and teaching centre for hundreds of monks from neighbouring regions. Visit the 8th-century Shwemawdaw, or “Great Gold God” Pagoda,whose towering golden spire makes it the country’s tallest. Lunch served in a local restaurant will give you the opportunity to try typical Burmese
Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
dishes. Continue sightseeing in the afternoon with a visit to the temple of the remarkable 180-foot long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha, built by King Migadippa in 994. Alternatively, you may choose to take an optional excursion by air to visit Mandalay or Bagan. Day 15 At sea Day 16 Phuket Thailand With soaring cliffs, powdery sands and crystal-clear waters, it’s no wonder Thailand declared the Phi Phi Islands a National Park. Don your swimsuit, hop
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aboard a local speedboat and head for these tropical treasures of the Andaman Sea. Your adventure starts early with a transfer from the ship to Phuket Marina. From here, it’s about an hour by water to Phi Phi Le, where we will visit stunningly beautiful Maya Bay, seen in the film The Beach. Swim or snorkel with colourful fish. Explore fjord-like Pileh Cove with its steep limestone walls. See the Viking Cave, a source of birds’ nests for the famous Asian soup. Inside, rock carvings from 3,0004,000 years ago are thought to resemble Scandinavian longboats.
EXPERT GUEST SPEAKERS
Penang, Malaysia
2 nights in vibrant Singapore
Day 17 Penang Malaysia Penang was part of the Malay sultanate until 1786, when Captain Francis Light built a fort at the site of present-day Georgetown and managed to get the island ceded to the British East India Company. Day 18 Malacca Malacca is a unique experience and its rich historical background earned it a World Heritage Site designation in July 2008. Malacca was the capital of the Malacca Sultanate and the centre of the Malay world in the 15th and 16th centuries and the city’s rich history will come to life as we tour the main colonial sites including the ruined Portuguese fort “A Famosa,” St Paul’s Church that overlooks the Malacca Strait and Dutch Square.
Day 19 Singapore Disembark and transfer to the five star Regent Hotel for a two night stay before our city tour during which you will discover the City-state’s fascinating history. The guided tour will include the Thian Hock Temple, the National Orchid Grdens and the city’s colonial heritage. Day 20 Singapore Morning at leisure in Singapore. You have the opportunity to join a tour exploring the multi-cultural heritage and culture of Singapore. Alternatively you may choose to visit “Gardens of the Bay”. Day 21 Singapore to London Transfer to the airport for the return scheduled flight to London.
Denise Heywood is a lecturer, author, journalist and photographer. She worked in Cambodia as a journalist for three years, and has also worked in France and America. Now based in London, she is a lecturer for NADFAS, SOAS and the University of Cambridge. She has written a book on the Buddhist temples of Laos, Ancient Luang Prabang, and her latest one is on Cambodian dance. Joining us on board in Port Blair, she will be discussing: Lecture topics SACRED ART OF BURMA – the temples, iconography, sculptures, rituals, landscapes and people of Burma, infused with the spirit of Buddhism, a philosophy of peace that has inspired some of the greatest art in the world. LEGEND AND LUSTRE: SILK IN SOUTHEAST ASIA – the artistic heritage of silk, its origins, history, symbolism and practise in Southeast Asia where ancient patterns and rich traditions have been handed down through generations. STAMFORD RAFFLES: ART COLLECTOR AND DISCOVERER OF SINGAPORE – the story of Sir Stamford Raffles, his brilliant career and passion for collecting, his discovery of 8th century Borobudur and his prescience in choosing Singapore as a centre for trade.
Meet our guest speakers who will be accompanying you on this voyage. Here is a taste of what to expect...
Michael Saunders graduated from New College Oxford with a Master’s degree in Modern History. He has held a number of senior positions with Unilever and ICI, living and working in Asia for over a quarter of a century. Michael left corporate life in 2004 and established his own consultancy business and runs training workshops across Asia on strategic management and business development. He lectures regularly on the military history of WW2 and the development of Southeast Asia and is currently writing a history of Colonial Singapore. Lecture topics JOHN COMPANY – The British East India Company was at the forefront of British commercial and colonial expansion in India and Southeast Asia from the early 17th century until the mid-19th century. The lecture will outline the Company's impact on the development of the region. KICKING THE GONG AROUND – A substantial portion of the wealth of the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore) was based on the trade of opium from India to China. Opium fields in India, modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Burma provided a highly profitable source of income, used to purchase tea from China. Ultimately this trade led to the 19th century Opium Wars.
Kim Saunders A teacher, writer and independent researcher, Kim is a graduate of international politics and history and holds a master’s degree in education. She is the founder and Managing Director of a cross-cultural communication and English language consultancy which provides a range of services on language and issues relating to contemporary Asian culture. Her clients include Shell, UBS, Barclays, Singapore Airlines and Silk Air.
Ernie Rae Ernie is a celebrated in broadcaster who specialises on the history of religions. His regular radio programme, Beyond Belief on BBC Radio 4, was awarded the prestigious Sony Gold Award for the best Speech Programme. From 1989 -2001 he was Head of Religious Broadcasting for the BBC and during this time, he spent much time in the United States, brokering co-production television deals with leading American broadcasters.
Lecture topics FROM SERENDIB TO BHARATA – An introduction to the history and culture of both Sri Lanka and India SHWE PYIADAW – THE GOLDEN LAND – An introduction to the history, culture and peoples of Myanmar (Burma) MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE – TRULY ASIA? – Shared heritage, but different identities.
Lecture topics GANDHI: THE FATHER OF MODERN INDIA? – In the early years of the 20th century Mohandas Gandhi led the non violent campaign for an India independent of Britain. When Independence came it was accompanied by an outbreak of communal violence which cost hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions. So what is the legacy of the Father of Modern India? Did he realise his dream? BUDDHIST VIOLENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA – In a world of religious conflict, Buddhism holds its reputation as a Way of Peace and Harmony. The Dalai Lama is the most highly regarded religious leader in the world. But in Sri Lanka a government which embraced Buddhist principles brought an end to a civil war with the Tamil Tigers. Why do Buddhist monks take up arms? Have they abandoned their most cherished principles and at what cost? Please note these lecturers and their chosen topics are subject to change.
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BOOK CLUB Join in with the Aegean Odyssey Book Club and discuss these fascinating books whilst on board Aegean Odyssey – hosted by Gaynor Vaughan-Jones ~ Gaynor is a freelance radio and television producer and has spent 25 years working for the BBC as a Radio 4 presenter. Michael Ondaatje ANIL’S GHOST Anil’s Ghost is set in Sri Lanka in the time of the civil war between the Sinhalese Government and the Tamil Tigers. It tells the story of Anil Tissera, a Sri Lankan woman who studied Forensic Pathology in the United States and Britain before returning home as part of a United Nations Human Rights Investigation. She and her colleague Sarath discover the skeleton of a recently murdered man in an ancient burial site and sets out to discover his identity in an attempt to bring belated justice to the many innocent victims of the bloody and brutal civil war. Tan Twan Eng THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS This novel by a native born Malaysian writer is set mostly in Malaya during the Japanese occupation. Yun Ling Teoh is a retired Supreme Court Judge who was interned in a Japanese camp along with her sister who did not survive the experience. Yun is interested in the life and works of an artist Aritomo, who used to be the gardener of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito and who became Yun’s lover after the war. She discovers that Aritomo may have been involved in a plot to hide treasures that the Japanese had looted from occupied territories and that she may possess the clue to where the treasures are hidden. The Garden of Evening Mists won the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.
MORE HOLIDAY READING IDEAS Great companions for this fascinating Sri Lanka, Burma and Malaysia cruise Michael Ondaatje Running in the Family ISBN: 9781408801451 The much-loved, critically-acclaimed memoir from the Booker Prizewinning author of The English Patient. Peter Popham The Lady and the Peacock ISBN: 9781846042508 Celebrated as one of the world's greatest exponents of non-violent political defiance since Mahatma Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize only four years after her first experience of politics. This biography tells the story of this woman whose bravery and determination have captivated people around the globe. Peter Spencer Sochaczewski An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles ISBN:9789814385206 Part travelogue, part biography, this glorious book follows the path of the famous naturalist/explorer Alfred Russel Wallace, co-discoverer of Evolution, across Southeast Asia. George Orwell Burmese Days ISBN: 9780141185378 Flory, a white timber merchant, befriends Dr Veraswami, a black enthusiast for Empire. The doctor needs help. U Po Kyin, Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kyauktada, is plotting his downfall. The only thing that can save him is European patronage: membership of the hitherto all-white Club.
Exceptional value fares
COLOMBO TO SINGAPORE
THese prices include
DOUBLE ACCOMMODATIONS
FULL FARE
SAVER FARE
M
Inside cabins with shower Standard Inside
£4,895
£4,395
L
Premium Inside
5,195
4,695
Premium Inside
5,495
4,945
• 11 INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS as described with specialist-guide • Scheduled economy class AIR FARE
K
• 16-DAY CRUISE aboard Aegean Odyssey
Outside cabins with shower
• 2 NIGHT HOTEL STAYS in Colombo and Singapore
J
Standard Outside
5,875
5,275
I*
Premium Outside
6,250
5,650
H
Premium Outside
6,595
5,945
G
Premium Outside
6,950
6,250
Deluxe Stateroom, Outside
7,395
6,645
Deluxe Stateroom, Outside
7,695
6,945
• COMPLIMENTARY WINE (or beer/soft drinks) with dinner on board
Deluxe Stateroom, Balcony
8,350
7,500
• GRATUITIES for on-board restaurant staff and your cabin steward
• EXPERT guest speaker programme on board • ALL MEALS on board Aegean Odyssey
Deluxe outside staterooms F E
Deluxe balcony suites and staterooms D C
Deluxe Stateroom, Balcony
8,795
7,945
B
Junior Suite, Balcony
9,750
8,750
A
Owner’s Suite, Balcony
10,595
9,595
• TRANSFERS & BAGGAGE handling on arrival and departure overseas
SINGLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Category C: Deluxe Stateroom with balcony
MM
Standard Inside
5,550
5,050
JJ II*
Standard Outside
6,650
6,050
Premium Outside
6,995
6,395
HH*
Premium Outside
7,495
6,845
GG*
Premium Outside
7,895
7,195
EE
Deluxe Stateroom, Outside
8,750
8,000
CC
Deluxe Stateroom, Balcony
9,950
9,100
Air Credit (when making your own arrangements)
1,150
Cruise Only Credit (no air or land included)
1,600
SPECIAL EARLY BOOKING FARES
Save up to £2,000 per cabin
†
PLUS LOW FARES FOR SINGLE TRAVELLERS
Reserve your cabin now
Call 0845 437 9737 AEG160208
Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include all discounts. †Saver fares vary per cabin category and are valid until 31/7/15. *Please note: Category GG, I, II and some HH cabins have restricted view. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our brochure or website. Ship’s Registry: Malta.
or visit www.voyagestoantiquity.com
winter 2015/16 Cruise portfolio: NOVEMBER 19, 2015
DECEMBER 18, 2015
VOYAGE TO
JANUARY 4, 2016
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
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BURMA & FEBRUARY 5, 2016
S M A L L - S H I P
ON AN EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE
CRU I S I NG
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BE S T
B E S T
SAIL FROM CAPE TOWN TO COLOMBO THROUGH THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL OCEAN
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S M A L L - S H I P
CRU I S I NG
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SAIL FROM THE MYSTERIES OF MALAYSIA TO THE TREASURES OF INDIA’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE
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S M A L L - S H I P
CRU I S I NG
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CRUISE THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL ON A JOURNEY TO ANCIENT SITES OF THE AEGEAN SEA
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I T S
AT
CLASSICAL GREECE
A MAGICAL 26-DAY JOURNEY FROM DELHI TO JORDAN
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CRU I S I NG
MARCH 19, 2016
THE RED SEA
SRI LANKA & INDIA
CRU I S I NG
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ANCIENT JORDAN TO
INDIA & THE WONDERS OF
PASSAGE TO
S M A L L - S H I P
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UNTIL 31/7/15
MARCH 2, 2016
FEBRUARY 20, 2016
THE MALAY PENINSULA SAIL INTO THE HEART OF BURMA
CRU I S I NG
INDIAN OCEAN
A 2-WEEK ADVENTURE TO THE NATURAL WONDERS AND VIBRANT CITIES OF SOUTH AFRICA
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SOUTH AFRICA & THE
SOUTH AFRICA
THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA ON A 19-DAY CELEBRATION VOYAGE
AN EXTRAORDINARY 31-DAY JOURNEY FROM MALAGA TO CAPE TOWN
JANUARY 16, 2016
GAME PARKS OF
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR IN
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AWARDS
To find out more, watch our inspiring videos online or request cruise portfolio booklets at
www.voyagestoantiquity.com/cruisebooks For all enquiries call 0845 437 9737
VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY BEST FOR ADVENTURE
2016/06.15 10093
ABTA No.Y2206