Lands of the Lotus: Singapore to Chennai

Day 1 Arrive in Singapore

Arrive in Singapore and check in your included hotel. Singapore, the world’s busiest port and its fifth most prosperous country, is an explorer’s delight. A British colony until independence in 1965, this island nation is highly diverse, with Chinese, Malay, Indian and other peoples contributing to an extraordinarily flavorful melting pot. You can sample its savory cuisines in Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam or on the East Coast.

After a foray into Singapore’s intriguing ethnic neighborhoods, you might want to take a quick catnap. This evening, you’ll be joining Chairman Dick West and his lovely wife Leslie at a gala reception to celebrate our inaugural voyage, the first of 24 Voyages of the Great Explorers.

Day 2 Singapore

This morning you’re at your leisure. Singapore is a world-class shopping Mecca and Orchard Road is its heart. It boasts a high concentration of retail malls offering everything from the latest high-tech gadgets to Italian couture clothing and, perhaps, some good deals.

Prior to embarkation, you’ll enjoy a highlight tour of Singapore that takes you past its glittering skyscrapers and such colonial-era architectural treasures as Sri Mariamman Temple, the Masjid Jamae mosque and the Church of Gregory the Illuminator. Once you’re on the ship, just relax, enjoy a refreshing beverage, and take in the incredible view of Singapore Harbor and the spectacular skyline as began our momentous journey.

Day 3 Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca, the third largest Malaysian state, is located in the southern region of the Malay peninsula, a spot much coveted for its strategic position and deep port. According to legend it was founded by Prince Parameswara, a Hindu exile from Java. While he was hunting there when one of his dogs was startled by a mouse deer and fell into the river. The prince took that has a positive omen. Over the centuries Malacca has attracted the interest of many would-be conquerors and traders: the Siamese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Dutch as well as the British East India Company.

Today, echoes of Malacca’s colonial past remain in its historic downtown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which you can explore on a walking tour. You’ll visit Christ Church; completed in 1753, it’s the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. Wander around the remains of A Famosa, once a Portuguese fort. Visit Stadthuys, circa 1660, which houses a fabulous historical museum. And stroll along Harmony Street, where the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, the Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Hindu Temple, and the Kampung Kling Mosque coexist in peace.

Day 4 Georgetown, Malaysia

Founded in 1786 by Captain by Francis Light, a trader for the British East India Company, Georgetown was named for Britain’s King George III. Today it is the capital of the island state of Penang—and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique architectural and cultural townscape.

Day 5 Langkawi, Malaysia

Today we take the Zodiac boats out on the Andaman Sea in search of prime snorkeling and pristine beaches. In Langkawi we’re certain to find both. Known since 2008 as Langkawi, Jewel of the Kadah by decree of the Sultan of Kedah, this gorgeous archipelago was declared a UNESCO Geopark in 2007.

We’ll land our Zodiacs on whatever islands strike our fancy. And with 99 to choose from (be on the look-out for five more at low tide!), we can afford to be choosey. Bird-watching in the islands is particularly amazing. More than 200 species, including eagles, make their home here.

Day 6 Phuket, Thailand

The Spirit of Oceanus will dock overnight in Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, giving you ample time to experience the many beautiful beaches for which Phuket is known.

The history as a convenient trading port and center of export for valued Chinese and Japanese products is well illustrated in a city tour and a museum visit. A sight not to be missed is one of the impressive wats, or Buddhist temples, with a golden Buddha statue.

Then, enjoy time at leisure or learning about flora and fauna on a nearby island. You might be tempted to hone your beachcombing technique, read a book in the shade of a palm tree or take a refreshing swim.

Day 7 Exploration of Phuket, Thailand continue

Day 8 Similan Islands, Thailand

The Similan Islands are a national park off the coast of southern Thailand. These nine lovely islands (Sembilan is Malay for “nine”) were created by volcanic activity nearly 65 million years ago, then smoothed by glacial ice and erosion. Today, they are anyone’s dream of a tropical paradise: dramatic, rough-hewn granite, covered with verdant jungle vegetation and graced with white-chalk beaches.

Your Exploration Leaders will find the perfect beach to land our Zodiacs for wildlife spotting and snorkeling. You’ll find enormous species diversity both in coral and fish, including brilliant-hued lionfish and clownfish, manta rays, even a whale shark or two.

Day 9 At Sea

A great day to get acquainted with your fellow adventurers, enjoy the warm, tropical breezes or simply unwind as the pace slows down to a more human tempo. Enjoy it!

Day 10 Rangoon (Yangon), Myanmar

Today we leave the Andaman Sea and enter the Gulf of Martaban, sailing up the Yangon to the very center of Myanmar (Burmese) culture and traditions. The city of Yangon (Myanmar’s capital) combines British, Burmese, Chinese and Indian influences. Known for its 19th-century British architecture, the city remains deeply rooted in the past, despite a sprinkling of high-rise buildings. Our ship will be docking overnight in Yangon, so you’ll have ample time for exploring, including a pagoda visit and tea at the famed Strand Hotel, and a dinner ashore with regional specialties and a traditional performance.

Day 11 Rangoon (Yangon), Myanmar

Experience the glory of the Shwedagon Temple, the single most important religious site in Myanmar. Sitting high atop Singuttara Hill, the temple was supposedly built to enshrine eight hairs from the head of the Buddha. From its initial construction in around the 6th century AD, the temple has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. Today it is both a serene and lively spot, where monks pray, children play and people of all walks of life gather. Your Exploration Leaders will be on hand to enrich your experience of this magnificent monument with historical, religious and cultural insights.

Two special celebratory events await today. You’ll participate in a monastery visit to offer food to the monks. And then, witness the initiation and ordination of young novices into the Buddhist monkhood – ceremonies rarely seen by outsiders.

Day 12 At Sea

Time to reflect on your amazing experiences in Yangon and prepare for an eventful day in Port Blair tomorrow. Your Exploration Leaders will be available for background information on India’s struggle for independence form colonial British rule.

Day 13 Andaman Islands, India

Relive India’s struggle for independence with a walking tour of Port Blair’s Cellular Jail. Completed in 1906, the Cellular Jail consisted of 698 solitary jail cells (hence the name), arranged in seven, three-story wings that extended outward from a central guard tower. Built by the forced labor of political prisoners, the infamous Cellular Jail housed many luminaries in the Indian struggle against British colonial rule. By the 1930s, hunger strikes by the inmates called attention to their inhuman treatment, prompting Mahatma Ghandi and Rabindranath Tagore to intervene on their behalf and repatriate the political prisoners.

Our second day will be devoted to leisurely beach walking, snorkeling, birding and nature walks with our Exploration Leader.

Day 14 Exploration of Andaman Islands, India continue

Day 15 At Sea

A lovely day to bask on deck with a good book, watch for sea birds, or simply relax.

Your inaugural voyage is almost over, so today you’ll want to make sure you’ve collected email addresses from the new friends you’ve made on your adventure.

Day 16 At Sea

Day 17 Chennai (Madras), India

Disembark and fly home or continue your journey with the Chapter One, Voyage Two of the Voyages of the Great Explorers.