Asia - Passports Overloaded

Male, Maldives

May 4, 2025 – May 4, 2025

As the capital of the low-lying, coral-bed Maldives, winsome Malé is surrounded by a sea wall, where you might watch the fishing dhonis return with the day’s catch. Also be sure to see Friday Mosque, a masterpiece of filigree-curved coral built in the mid-1600s, and the Mulee-aage Palace.

Dive to gorgeous coral reefs off the coast of Malé, one of the world’s finest sites for underwater exploration. Enjoy a leisurely ride via dive boat to a premier dive site off Malé’s coast, which offers high visibility and an endless flow of nutrient-rich, warm water that attracts more than a thousand marine species. You’ll learn that the Maldives is a nation of nearly 1,200 islands surrounded by thousands of coral reefs, making it a diving mecca, and that your dive site for the excursion will be selected according to that day’s sea conditions. Accompanied by a local marine guide, expect to find a seemingly endless variety of fish that may include eye-catching blue-lined snappers, orange clownfish, oriental sweetlips and Moorish idols, which are often found preying on sponges. Perhaps you’ll discover a graceful eagle ray or manta ray, green sea turtles or rarely spotted loggerhead or leatherback turtles. Cherish approximately two and a half hours diving the Maldives’ crystal-clear waters on this thrilling excursion.

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Our friend Maurizio made this amazing video of him and John Scuba Diving!!!

Goa, India

May 2, 2025 – May 2, 2025

Enjoy this marvelous old Portuguese and Hindu city studded with vibrant temples and majestic churches. Visit the stunning Baroque cathedral and quaint, colorful Panjim for a taste of Portugal in India. Explore the countryside and its spice farms, local markets and the region’s exquisite beaches.

Explore several of the most historical churches in Old Goa and enjoy an overview of Panjim, the charming capital of the state of Goa. You will see the legacy of the colonizing Portuguese in Se Cathedral, an imposing church that is larger than any church in Portugal. Like Se Cathedral, the Basilica of Bom Jesus was built in the 17th century and is considered the finest example of Baroque architecture in India. Another church, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, awaits you in Panjim, as well as other highlights such as the colonial neighborhood Fontainhas, one of the few Latin quarters in Asia. The Portuguese settled here in the 18th and 19th centuries, and you will see their influence in the brightly colored houses with tile accents. For a glimpse into modern life in Panjim, you will visit a Goanese family in their home.

Cochin, India

April 28, 2025 – April 29, 2025

Discover the amazing contrasts of this cosmopolitan, Portuguese-founded city with its lovely colonial architecture, Dutch-style palaces, historic churches, Jewish quarter and huge Chinese fishing nets. Or explore tranquil canals by boat and see ancient villages, exquisite scenery, plantations and temples. See Indian cotton made in traditional fashion.

Explore key landmarks in cosmopolitan Cochin, a picturesque city of peninsulas and islands whose long history reflects influences from a multitude of traders and colonists. You will see evidence of that influence in the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront. These unusual fixed nets are on poles operated from shore, using counterweights and ropes. The Portuguese left their mark in St. Francis Church and in the medieval-style Mattancherry Palace, both of which they built in the 16th century. You will learn more about their influence by browsing the collection of artifacts in the Indo-Portuguese Museum in Fort Cochin. You will also discover how Jewish immigrants affected the history of Cochin by visiting a Jewish community that thrived in the late 1500s. Although few Jews remain, the beautifully preserved Paradesi Synagogue from that time period still stands.

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Colombo, Sri Lanka

April 28, 2025 – April 29, 2025

Dotted with stately colonial buildings, Sri Lanka’s largest city is quite beautiful and wonderfully frenetic. Explore the museums and temples or watch cricket at Galle Face Green. If the thrilling energy of the city becomes too much, relax under a cinnamon tree in serene Viharamahadevi Park.

Drive in and around Colombo admiring its most famed landmarks, an experience that will leave you with a wonderful overview of Sri Lanka’s largest city. There is no easier, more leisurely way to see the highlights of Colombo, the former capital. The city’s modern side is evident in the many high-rises towering above the Fort, an area named because of its 19th-century British fortress. The Fort is also known for the Old Parliament, built in the Neo-Baroque style during the British reign. The British influence is evident throughout Colombo in the streets named for former British governors and in the luxurious Galle Face Hotel, another landmark from the British colonial period. Later, you will see Gangaramaya Temple and a mosque, giving you a religious perspective of Colombo. Higher education is also held in great esteem, as you will see by driving past the Royal College and the University of Colombo.

Colombo By Night

Drive through the capital of Sri Lanka during the evening, when it is beautifully illuminated and most vibrant. Along the way, you will pass bustling Pettah Bazaar covered market, the city’s oldest public park and the adjacent town hall, which looks remarkably similar to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The waterfront promenade that stretches along the urban oasis Galle Face Green is one of the most popular places to watch the sunset, and it should be abuzz as you drive by. Few places offers such a genuine slice of local life. Other highlights include the posh residential neighborhood Cinnamon Gardens and the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, an architectural treasure with highly unusual, swirling red-and-white striped bricks. Following this enlightening overview of Colombo, you will proceed to the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel for a cocktail and a dinner that showcases several international cuisines. A folkloric performance follows that will likely feature traditional Kandyan dances.

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Hambantota, Sri Lanka

April 27, 2025 – April 27, 2025

Off the beaten path on the southern edge of Sri Lanka, Hambantota reveals verdant beauty, ample culture and incredible biodiversity. It’s a gateway to several stunning national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Yala National Park is a top choice for its sheer variety of wildlife – you might spot elephants, leopards, sloth bears and more. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle is also accessible from Hambantota – the 18th-century walled Old Town features charming Dutch architecture and possesses a beguiling, exotic ambiance that enchants travelers. Mirijjawila Botanical Garden, located in the dry zone, features a dazzling spectrum of rare and endemic plant species.

Observe countless indigenous animals on a game drive through the Udawalawe National Park and watch orphaned elephant calves being milk-fed at a wildlife protection facility. As you ride through the park in an open-top safari-style vehicle, you will likely see water buffalo, sambar deer, monkeys and birds of every imaginable species. Still, the highlight will be the herds of Sri Lankan elephants as there are hundreds of them freely roaming about. These magnificent, highly intelligent creatures are the largest and darkest of the Asian elephants, but their numbers are dwindling due to loss of habitat. Orphaned baby elephants are often taken to the Elephant Transit Home within the park. There you will see how they are cared for until they can be released into the wild, which is typically at age 5. They must be fed every three hours with a special milk formula – an event that you will watch up-close.

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Phuket, Thailand

April 23, 2025 – April 24, 2025

Experience the many aspects of beautiful Phuket, from its lush landscape and gorgeous beaches to its 19th century Chinese and Western architecture and stunning temples.

Begin your day with a drive to the island’s north end and then cross to the Thai mainland via the Thep Krasettree Causeway. Drive to Phang Nga National Park where you board a motorboat and begin your unforgettable cruise through the spectacular and seductive limestone scenery. Established in 1981, the park lies in the sheltered pale milky-green waters northeast of Phuket Island and is the location of more than 80 awe-inspiring islands. These unique karst formations were created when a collision of great magnitude occurred over 300 million years ago between the Indian subcontinent and mainland Asia. The force of the tectonic plates pushed and rotated what is now Thailand and Malaysia, forcing the limestone above the surface. The resulting karst formations appear like fairy castles out of the sea and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Vegetation on the karsts has evolved to withstand long periods of dryness and an almost complete lack of soil. See spectacular flora hanging off the vertical rock faces and cascading down the cliffs including palm trees, bamboo, ferns and wild orchids. During your cruise enjoy a photo opportunity at the small island of Kao Ping-Gan, where part of the James Bond adventure “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed.

Visit Koh Panyee, a picturesque village extending out across the water, resting precariously on small pilings. It is inhabited chiefly by Muslim fishermen who originally migrated from Indonesia. Cut off from the mainland and most modern amenities, their unique culture has existed for more than a hundred years.

Broaden your understanding of Thai culture through attractions that reflect various perspectives of daily life, beginning with a factory that processes cashews. Don’t be fooled by its misleading name, the Sri Bhurapa Orchid Company is devoted solely to the production of cashews, an important cash crop on the island. Products range from cashew juice said to have medicinal qualities to raw cashews flavored with butter and sweet chilis. The island’s devotion to Buddhist comes to light at Wat Chalong, the island’s largest temple. If you hear firecrackers going off, don’t be alarmed—that’s how worshippers traditionally express gratitude for answered prayers. Elephants are also synonymous with Thai culture, and they once roamed wild on Phuket. You will see these extraordinary creatures up close at an elephant camp, where you may watch them demonstrate their intelligence and ability to use tools.

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Day 2

Langkawi, Malaysia

April 22, 2025 – April 22, 2025

Langkawi is the main island in the archipelago of the same name in the Andaman Sea. Stunning natural beauty and unique wildlife will surround you as you snorkel, horseback ride, hike, golf or simply relax on the powdery sands of the island beaches. Experience Langkawi’s wildlife up close on a boat tour of the amazing mangrove forest. Travel by cable car over ancient rainforests to the top of Mount Machincang.

Cruise through a serene nature park, where you will observe thousands of bats in a cave, eagles feeding and Malaysian fish being farmed in the river. The adventure will begin by cruising the Kilim River and passing mangrove forests, isolated islands and limestone rock formations. Upon reaching the Bat Cave, you will walk along a wooden platform into the heart of this underworld wonderland, where thousands of fruit bats can be seen hanging from the ceiling. While eerie, the experience is enormously fascinating. The same can be said for walking among the cave’s many bizarrely shaped stalagmites and stalactites. Another novel highlight is the fish farm nearby that floats on a wooden platform above the water’s surface. A variety of species are harvested here, and you may have the chance to feed them. You will also watch an eagle feeding that offers a close-up look at some of the park’s raptors, such as the Brahminy Kite.

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Penang, Malaysia

April 21, 2025 – April 21, 2025

Become immersed in the Malaysian culture by visiting attractions that reveal the lifestyle of the local people and the natural beauty surrounding Penang. In the picturesque countryside just outside the city, you will tour a factory and observe the art of using dyes and wax to print spectacular batik designs on fabric. You will also have the opportunity to purchase batik merchandise. You will then take in the gorgeous coastal scenery on the way to a butterfly farm that has collected more than 100 species in an effort to conserve them.

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

April 19, 2025 – April 20, 2025

Along the way, you will pass by the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque, one of the country’s most beautiful structures. Frequently referred to as the Blue Mosque, its 470-foot minarets are the world’s tallest.

Visit the Thean Hou Temple. This striking, six-tiered temple is regarded as one of the biggest Chinese temples in Southeast Asia, and is home to the patron Goddess Thean Hou of the Hainanese community. Stop for photos at the National Monument, designed by acclaimed sculptor Felix De Weldon, this 50-foot-tall bronze monument was constructed in 1966.

Another picturesque stop is the Sri Kandaswamy Kovil Hindu Temple. This huge temple is one of the most prominent Sri Lankan or Ceylonese Tamil temples in Malaysia, and has become a popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur. The temple architecture is believed to have been inspired by the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

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Melaka, Malaysia

April 18, 2025 – April 18, 2025

One of the world’s veritable melting pots, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Melaka proudly wears its diverse heritage, with buildings ranging in style from colorful Dutch colonial and ornate Chinese to ultramodern Islamic. Take in the captivating sights from a touring vessel as you glide along the meandering Melaka River, or gain a bird’s-eye view of the skyline from the Taming Sari Tower’s revolving observation deck. The recreated village of Mini Malaysia immerses you in the country’s domestic sphere, with Malaysia’s 13 regions represented in faithfully rendered homes. Meanwhile, a replica of the 16th-century Portuguese galleon Flor de la Mar whispers tales of bygone seafaring adventures.

View Malacca from several different perspectives for a remarkably complete overview of the World Heritage site city. One of the most prominent landmarks is Dutch Square, where the Dutch colonialists built their administrative center after ousting the Portuguese colonialists in 1641. A cruise down the meandering Malacca River will present yet another urban view. Along the way, you will pass Chinatown and the traditional Malay village Kampung Morten. You may notice that some of the buildings feature colorful murals depicting the history of Malacca. The revolving observation platform atop the Menara Taming Sari tower will offer the ultimate, 360? view of the city. The guide will point out key attractions such as St. Paul’s Hill and the replica of the Portuguese ship Flora de la Mar, which houses a maritime museum. Back on the ground, you will pause for photos of a 16th-century Portuguese-built fort and the largest Chinese cemetery not in China.

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Alphabetic Links of Where We’ve Been