Day 1/2-Welcome to the wonderful city of Bangkok ! Here you will have the chance to relax and unwind after your flight in a centrally-located hotel, situated at the end of a quaint and quiet street. Rid your jet lag with a soothing thai massage or have a dip in our hotel's rooftop pool. Plenty of shops and restaurants are nearby so you will never be lacking for "things to do" at all hours of the day and night.
You can always take a stroll to nearby Lumpini Park, where many of the city's locals go to unwind after their long work day.
A recommended boat trip down the Chao Praya River to all of Bangkok's major temples will give you a good introduction to this vibrant and culturally diverse city.
a visit to the Reclining Buddha at the temple of Wat Po is a "must do"...
Day 3,4,5: Luang Prabang (Laos). Today we will fly from Bangkok to the charming Buddhist city of Luang Prabang in northern Laos. This wonderfully quaintcity is directly located on the mighty Mekong River, where you can enjoy wonderful bike rides along its banks as well as beautiful sunset boat trips on its waters. There are also dozens of cafes and restaurants where you can dine on some of the best-tasting food in all of Southeast Asia !
You will want to take time to explore the many beautiful temples here (48 total!)
..as well as enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding areas such as the magnificent Kuang Si Falls where you can jump into its clear tranquil waters and enjoy an afternoon lunch in its park.
A highlight of your stay here in Luang Prabang will be to take part in the giving of offerings to the 100's of monks that walk the cobbled-stoned streets every morning throughout the city. Our hotel is conveniently located directly on one of the quiet streets where these monks walk so you will not have to go far to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience !
Day 6,7,8- Siem Riep (Angkor Wat)- Fly from Luang Prabang to Siem Riep,Cambodia- home of the world reknowned architectural wonder Angkor Wat. Here we will be staying in a traditional family hotel, run by wonderfully-friendly Cambodians who will go out of their way to make us feel at home.
Most of your time in Siem Riep will likely be spent exploring the majestic Hindu ruins of Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples , considered by many to be the largest archeological site in the world (over 60 square miles !).
From the awesome spires of Angkor Wat to the enchanting faces of Angkor Thom and the Bayon, you’re sure to be inspired by all the beauty that surrounds you here. Guided tours to Angkor Wat can be arranged directly from our Siem Riep Hotel.
Your evenings in Siem Riep can be spent roaming the many marketplaces around town or taking in some of the local traditional "Apsara" dance performances.
Other options during your time here include visiting one of the world's largest floating villages, taking a Cambodian cooking class, riding bicycles along the Mekong River, or visiting a nearby orphanage to play with the local children.
DAY 9,10,11 Saigon (Ho Chi Minh CIty)-
Welcome to Vietnam ! This morning we will fly from Siem Riep to one of Vietnam's most dynamic cities, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)-a vital economic hub with a bustling cultural and night life. There is something for everyone here in one of Southeast Asia's most exciting destinations.
Your days in Saigon will be spent taking in the many historical sights including the Reunification Palace, City Hall and the War Remembrance museum. There are also countless temples and cathedrals scattered throughout the city that you can visit on any day of the week.
Parks are found everywhere in Saigon and it is here where you can relax from a day of shopping and sight-seeing and mingle with the friendly locals..
Marketplaces abound as do cafes reminiscent of those found on Parisian boulevards several oceans away....
Only 60km from the center of Ho Chi Mind CIty, the Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the city's most important historical tourist attractions. It was here that the villagers of Tan Phu Trung and Phuoc Vinh An dug a large complicated netword of tunnels to shelter themselves from the enemy and store confidential revolutionary documents in the resistance against French troops. Day trips to the tunnels can be easily arranged from our hotel.
After your long days of exploring this exciting city, you will return to the comforts of your quiet boutique hotel room, located on one of the more famous and beautiful shopping streets in all of Saigon.
and you will be sure to be always greeted with a smile ....
Days 12/13/14- Hoi An-(via Danang) Today we will fly from Ho Chi Minh to the beautiful beachside city of Danang. Here we will enjoy lunch on the now famous China Beach and then make our way down to the beautiful riverside city of Hoi, better known as the "City of Lights" .
After settling into your riverside hotel room, you will be free to roam this incredibly charming town by foot or by bicycle (provided free by our hotel !).
IN 1999, Hoi An was cited as a UNESCO world heritage site and as you begin to explore this historic city, you will understand why. There are colorful art galleries, museums, cafes and restaurants throughout Hoi An's Old town....
-and the tranquil white sands of Cua Dai beach are only a ten-minute bike ride away...
Hoi An is truly a "walkers" dream come true as there is no car traffic allowed throughout the entire Old Town.
Aside from the dozens of artists studios, delightful cafes, and delicious food that awaits you in every restaurant, Hoi An is also host to dozens of tailor shops. Here you can have your favorite outfits made in any material (silk is a local specialty) at incredibly affordable prices all within 24 hours. If you have always wanted to have that "perfect dress" or suit made, here is your chance !
As the sun sets over the Thu Bon river, Hoi An transforms into a magical city of colorful lights. Everywhere you look, there are latterns lit in bright beautiful colors, all reflected in the nearby waters. It is truly a photographer's delight and a tourist's "dream come true".
Day 15-As all good things must come to an end, so too does your two week adventure here in Southeast Asia. You will fly from Danang to Saigon to connect with your flight home or if you want to continue further to other parts of Southeast Asia such as Laos and Bali, transportation can also be arranged.
It is my sincere hope and dream that you will leave this part of the world with a heightened sense and appreciation of all that these countries have experienced in their past. But even more so, I hope you will leave here with a renewed sense of how the human spirit is incredibly strong and forgiving; that the past is just that- "the past". And how one goes on with living in the present is perhaps the greatest lesson of all. I hope the beauty of the people and places you have seen on this journey will forever live in your memory.
until next time....
TOUR COST: 2450.00 (USD- double occupancy) 2850.00 (single occupancy).
The price includes the following * :
-14 nights accommodations in your own room in 3 and 4-star hotels (all with A/C and Wifi) .
-All breakfasts
-Transfers to and from hotels throughout the trip.
-All airline flights within Southeast Asia (6 flights total)
-Services of "yours truly" as your Live Laugh Love Guide
-Flight arrangements of your international flight to and from Bangkok/Saigon
-all taxes and surcharges.
* Price is subject to slightly change due to unforeseen increases in airline fuel charges and costs.
Payment can be made with cash or with a credit card via a secure PayPal method.
YOUR TOUR HOST:
MELINA LILLIOS has been conducting tours throughout the world since 1985. She conducted educational bus tours throughout England and Southern Europe as well as worked as a tour director for Contiki Tours which took her all over the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Australia, and New Zealand. She first came to Hawaii to open up a worldwide office for Contiki and then later went on to become operations manager for the travel companies Globus Gateway and Cosmos Tours.
Melina has been traveling to Southeast Asia for over 15 years and now lives on the southern thai island of Ko Lanta for 2-3 months of the year. She has spent a great deal of time in Thailand, Bali, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. She will be on her way to India (at last !) for several weeks this coming January.
While overseas, Melina often teaches her university courses online, volunteers at various schools and orphanages and makes a point of exploring new countries in SE Asia with every visit. When living the rest of the year in Hawaii, Melina teaches intercultural an gender communication studies at Hawaii Pacific University, teaches private voice and piano lessons, and is a musical-director of locally-produced theater in Honolulu. She is of Greek and Brazilian descent and visits her two native countries often.
some testimonials from past Live Laugh Love customers :
“I could not be happier with my decision to Live, Laugh and Love with Melina’s tour. From the moment I cut my check, I didn’t worry about a thing as the communication was clear and thorough and every detail – from accommodations to activities to food to everything else – was well thought through and perfectly balanced, enabling us participants to sit back and just drink it all in. We all returned extraordinarily relaxed and enriched as a result. Melina is tops and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone wanting a seamless, truly restful vacation.” Diane B., San Francisco
" I feel like I've just had a big dose of that beautiful 'One' energy. Thank you for that, Melina- you created the space for us, (strangers but now brothers and sisters) to do just that. It was an unforgettable tour. The Epic Thailand/Bali Adventure leaves me changed... and charmed. I am still lost in Ubud, and have never been more in love with life." Sandra B., New Zealand
"Melina is the tour organizer and guide you want to set things up for you! She knows and LOVES the places she visits, has lots of insider experience and information, knows how to pace a trip. We covered a tremendous amount of world in a relatively short time, yet I never felt rushed. And There were plenty of activities to include myself in—or not. I loved the ‘of you choose’ aspect of the trip. Plenty to do and plenty of not-doing time and space as well. I would recommend this trip—or any LLL tour—to my friends and colleagues based on this one, extremely memorable, enjoyable journey! Thank you for everything Melina! We WILL travel together again!"
Rea Fox,Honolulu
"Melina took such good care of me and my daughter on our recent trip to Greece. She made wonderful reservations at some amazing hotels and basically planned the trip for us including suggestions for independent tours. We loved Greece especially enjoyed the Athens Gate Hotel which is absolutely charming and centrally located. The other favorite is the island of Santorini and our hotel stay there. Overall the trip was such a pleasant experience. Thanks Melina!" Frances H., Honolulu
"I can’t wait to do another tour with Live, Laugh, Love. The experiences I had while on the Thailand-Bali tour are truly highlights of my life that I will be talking about and cherishing for years to come!" Justin K., Seattle
"You gave such a meaningful gift to us all. You worked your magic and it all happened. Powerful wonderful sister you is."
Tony L., San Francisco
