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CEO Andrea tells ArchytypeMe.com why Cambodia is the destination of the Now

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  Leave a comment

We ask travel experts not where we’ll all be going in the future, but where they’re going now. Today we talk to Andrea Ross of Journeys Within.

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by Jordan Kisner for Archetypeme.com

The Expert:
Andrea Ross is founder and CEO of Journeys Within, a tour company and boutique hotel based in Siem Reap, Cambodia, that specializes in custom tours in Southeast Asia. An advocate for philanthropic travel, Ross also founded Journeys Within Our Community, a nonprofit devoted to improving the lives of Cambodians. She has divided her time between Cambodia and California for the past decade, and her expertise in the region has earned her inclusion in Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialist Collection for the past five years.

The Destination:
Tucked between Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, Cambodia is widely known for the civil war that devastated the country until the mid-’90s and made it largely inhospitable to outside visitors. But the past two decades have seen a marked improvement in Cambodia’s fortune, and infrastructural improvements in the past few years alone have hugely increased its accessibility. There’s a lot to discover: ancient Buddhist temples, lush forests, pristine beaches, and elephant sanctuaries. And according to Ross, now’s the time to do the discovering.

Why and How to Go:
“People have been going to Angkor Wat for years, usually for just a few days tacked on to a larger trip. But now as Cambodia is becoming more accessible it’s a destination in its own right. People are beginning to take full two-week trips there, who are going to get below the surface and see the country in new, exciting ways.

Go visit the Preah Vihear Temple, which is up in the north near the border with Thailand. There was a dispute over it so it’s been closed for years, but it just reopened. I think it’s the prettiest temple in Cambodia, and right now it’s completely overlooked. On the way you can stop to see the temples at Koh Ker, which are pretty spectacular.

I love the beaches in the south, particularly less-traveled seaside towns like Kep and Kampot. Going there is more about the culture and the people and eating crab at the local crab shacks, or taking boat rides out to some of the more remote islands. It’s ideal for people who don’t want the overrun, crowded beaches in Thailand or Vietnam.

Lastly, I’d visit Ratanakiri in the northeast of the country. It really hasn’t been accessible, but now the roads are opening up and I think it’s a great destination. There’s a lot of culture to see: Ratanakiri is where the hill tribes are, so you can see their way of life, and now that Cambodia has started protecting their elephants there are elephant sanctuaries up there. ”

Insider’s Tip:
“I recommend hiring a car and driver. It makes everything so much easier. But more importantly, the trick to Cambodia is patience. The people are so kind and so good. Sometimes there are language barriers, and some visitors arrive expecting to get ripped off, but if you go into it with patience and trust and an open mind and a good attitude, it makes for a really rewarding experience. Cambodians are incredibly warm.”

For the original article see: https://www.archetypeme.com/article/tomorrow%E2%80%99s-trips-today-cambodia

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A fresh approach to Angkor Park

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  4 Comments

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Covering 400 square kilometres, Cambodia’s Angkor park has more to offer than the thousand-year-old temples that attract the visitors by the millions.While the likes of Angkor Wat and Tomb Raider’s Ta Phrom may get all the attention, the 1200 year old site has much more to offer those who are interested in delving a little deeper.

The well known archeological site is located in a stunning geographical area that houses ancient forests, swamps and an impressive array of man-made waterways, not to mention the 114 villages that still inhabit the park.

Two of those villages — Phlong and Leang Dai — have now teamed up to offer a new perspective on their ancient home. The Baray Reach Dak Community Tour is a village-run social enterprise that gives a glimpse of the park’s newly flooded north reservoir and the rural life this baray supports.

Dry for centuries, enough so that nearby villages were able to farm rice there, the North (or Reach Dak) Baray was re-flooded in 2007 after heavy rainfall put pressure on Siem Reap’s hydrological system.

For the past year, two nearby villages have been working to develop a project that would provide training to locals and invite tourists to see lesser known areas while helping supplement the income that was lost when the water was returned to the baray.

Narla, our Cambodian direct0r, operations manager Anna, and I decided to head into the Angkor park to check out this new attraction.

Arriving at the South East entrance of Preah Khan, to the tours newly constructed visitors centre, we were greeted by the new venture’s proud and eager-to-please staff.

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The Baray Reach Dak Community Tour employees — administration, guide, boat driver and welcome staff — greet us at their newly constructed Welcome Centre.

Starting at the welcome centre, the new enterprise offers guests the opportunity to take a guided walk through the forest to a nursery where you can learn about rural Cambodian life and the use of their surroundings. The real gem of the tour however, is a boat ride through the North Baray that takes visitors to the Neak Poan temple by boat — the same way the ancient Khmers would have arrived hundreds of years ago.

Guided by Nam, a 25-year-old from the Leang Dai village, Narla, Anna and I headed through the mangroves, boarded our boat and set out on the baray.

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Our guide, Nam, and our boatman prepare for us to board.

Despite losing some farm land to the reflooding of the baray, Nam told us that the villages were still able to grow crops on the fields around the waterway. A part-time rice farmer himself, Nam was over joyed to get to show off the beauty of his hometown. As our boatman paddled us through the serene waters, Nam shared stories of playing football, goofing off with his friends and bringing his buffalo to graze on the once-dry reservoir.

As we passed by fishing nets hung in the water, he explained that since the reservoir was refilled, many locals now supplement their diet with fish they catch.

Initially shy, Nam shared more about his life in the village as the afternoon wore on. While he farmed to grow food for his family, he explained that this wasn’t what he wanted to be doing full time.

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The natural beauty of the Reach Dak baray.

Recognizing the beauty around him, Nam said he was happy to get the opportunity to guide for his community; it gave him an opportunity to share his amazing surroundings with others while still providing a way for him to take care of his family.

Gliding by a mix low growing shrubs and tall trees, through still waters with enough bird species around to keep all three of the Journeys Within staff pointing into the distance, it was easy to see what made Nam so proud.

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The quiet boat ride is a calm getaway from the crowds at Angkors busier locations.

After the calming boat trip we arrived at the Temple of the Entwined Serpent, or Neak Poan.  The walkway towards the temple was unexpectedly beautiful, with the mid-day light filtering onto our path, through the tree’s canopy.

There were no other signs of life until we approached the temple and while Anna did raise shrills concerns over the possibility of man-eating spiders, the only critters we crossed were the buzzing cicadas.

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The short, canopied walk from the boat to the Neak Poan temple.

Neak Poan can be visited through the park by tuk-tuk or bike, but there we certainly felt like VIPs arriving out of the woods and getting to skip the main entrance. Once at the temple Nam gave us time to look around, while he spoke about the meaning of the four pools and the animals they represent.

If the weather remained dry in the rainy season, this is the temple his village would come to pray at, he noted.

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Neak Poan temple in the middle of Reach Dak (North) baray.

Not only a unique and relaxing way to see some of the natural elements within the Angkor Park, the Reach Dak Baray Tour also helps spread the wealth generated by the tourist site to some of the more remote villages. By consulting with and providing education and training for the Phlong and Leang Dai villages, the new venture also works to protect the areas heritage, culture and natural environment.

As we made our way back through the calm waters, I reflected on what a pleasure it was to be part of this local solution, not to mention the splendor of leaving the Angkor crowds behind. While I got to enjoy an unforgettable afternoon, our guide and boatman got to practice the new-found skills that allowed them to leave the fields and pursue work they quite clearly enjoyed.

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Our boatman preparing to ferry us home.

All of the money generated by the tour stays within the two villages involved; it is split between employees of the project, tour maintenance costs and a community fund used to benefit local families. This makes the Baray Reach Dak tour perfect for those travelers looking to give back or get off the  beaten track.

Not to mention, it was the perfect way to get a glimpse at little seen part of one of the world’s most visited tourist sites.

Tips and info:

This half-day adventure can be combined with a half day of temple viewing. It can be a great way to decompress after view Angkor among the crowds.

The staff is new, so ask questions. Nam was more comfortable chatting once he warmed up to us, and hearing his stories was almost as enjoyable as the boat ride itself. If you have your Journeys Within guide with you, the tour presents a great opportunity for cross cultural exchange.

Feel free to contribute. Know the English name of a bird you see or a tree the guide points out? Let your guide know! They are always looking for ways to improve.

1-3 people per boat.

Feel free to bring water or snacks on the boat – just remember to dispose of your liter responsibly.

Life jackets and sun umbrellas are provided.

Tours operate between 6:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Want to add this to your tour? Just let us know!

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The art of tour planning and compromise

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 Used to planning the perfect trip for others, tour consultant April shares her experience planning a trip that both she and her husband will love…IMG_0203.JPG

As I’m getting ready to leave for my own South East Asian adventure in less than two weeks I thought it would be fitting to share with our guests how a Journeys Within tour consultant plans their own vacation.

In planning my own trip I was reminded of how special my job is; I have the responsibility to make sure each itinerary fits our guests wants and needs to create a once-in-lifetime experience.

This getaway is quite special to me. It will be my first time visiting Myanmar (Burma) and as an added bonus my husband will be joining me, while my kids will be staying at home. As parents of younger kids we have taken them with us in the past, or I have gone alone but this year my husband and I decided to have a special trip, just the two of us, and I’m really excited about it!

In planning this special trip I had to think beyond what I wanted to visit and check out for work, and instead really wanted to design a trip that my husband and I would both love.

I often ask our guests “what are your travel interests?” Answers inevitably vary and it is my job to make sure everyone is happy. In planning this trip, I had to take into account the separate travel interests of my partner and I.

While I could visit about 20 destinations and travel non-stop, my husband can not. Chris would much prefer to head to one or two places and explore them at a very casual pace. As that won’t work for me — I do need to inspect some properties for work on this trip — I had to find a way to slow the pace for him and fit in what I needed to for work.

I wanted to mix in culture, relaxation, visiting with our local guides, seeing some of Thailand (as I love Thailand and thought it would be nice to fit it into our vacation) and some fishing — my husband really loves to fish. I also wanted to hit some sporting events as both my husband and I love to explore culture through local sports.

The first draft of the trip was entirely designed to fit what I needed to inspect on the ground, but it just didn’t embody a vacation my husband would love. I stepped a bit back from what I needed to do and just wrote a trip that I wanted to do. It took the blending of two completely different itineraries, but in the end I really think I put together a trip that is perfect for both of us.

In letting go of some of the things I thought I needed to see, my overall experience will be better. It is, after all, my job as a tour consultant to use my knowledge to design the right trip for our guests, not just a trip that checks off everything on a to-do list.

I’ve copied down my itinerary below so that you can see what I’ve planned for me and my loved one.

*Note, the hotels were chosen based on properties which I’d like to inspect for possibly booking for our guests. Some we know and some are new to us. Just because we are staying there doesn’t necessarily mean I recommend the hotel. I will follow up with hotel reviews after my trip. I’ll also be following up on my return with tour and location blogs.

I’ll even try to get in another blog before I leave about my packing list and my Pinterest board of restaurants to try and shops to visit – I know that if it were your vacation, you’d probably have a list of these important things too!

The Itinerary

01 Apr 13   Bangkok: Arrival

Arrive on your flight – Korean Air arriving at 22:10.

Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Meals Included: None

Overnight at: Siam Kempinski

02 Apr 13   Bangkok: Bangkok’s Culinary Delights

This morning head to Lumphini Park where you can see the locals do their daily exercise, whether it’s running, cycling or the mesmerizing art of Tai Chi. Take a stroll through the park to where the local food stalls are set up for breakfast and try some delicious congee along with local tea or coffee. Continue on down to Silom Road and explore the Lalai Sub morning market where you can see how they prepare the famous Thai dish “Pad Thai” along with other interesting local dishes which you can sample along the way.

Return to your hotel for a swim and a rest.

Your guide will then pick you up again later in the afternoon and take you to the Old Market in China Town. With an amazing mix of fresh food, Thai food and Chinese food, this is a hodgepodge of flavors and smells. As the sun sets, head to the Flower Market and Vegetable Market, where you can try the fruits and local snacks, followed by dinner with your guide at a local restaurant, before returning to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at: Siam Kempinski

03 Apr 13   Yangon – Arrival and City Tour all day

You will be transferred to Bangkok Airport for your flight – Thai Air TG303 departing at 07:55 & arriving at 08:50.

Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage. After lunch enjoy a tour of the city center featuring the National Museum; Chaukhtatgyi, a colossal reclining Buddha; Karaweik Hall, a Royal Barge on the Royal Lake and Bogyoke (Scott) market with hundreds of stalls selling local souvenirs. End the day at the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, one the most venerable places of worship in Myanmar. Enjoy all the gold and gems and watch as the giant golden dome lights up as the sun sets. Join the locals who come every night to make offerings before heading back to your hotel.

**Tonight, dinner with the guides.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – 1Double Deluxe Room

04 Apr 13   Yangon – Bagan

In the morning catch your flight – Air Mandalay 6T401 departing at 06:20 & arriving at 07:40 to the ancient city of Bagan where you will spend the day exploring the city. Visit Nyaung U Market, Shwezigon Pagoda (the prototype for later Myanmar Stupas), Kyansittha Umin, Wet-Kyi-Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with its exquisite mural painting from the 13th Century, and Htilominlo Temple.   After lunch visit a fascinating lacquer-ware workshop before continuing on to Manuha Temple, built by the exiled King Manuha, before stopping at Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha. You will also visit Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece, as well as the Oakkyaung Monastery, which is decorated with multi-colored mural paintings. End the day with some breathtaking sunset views from the terraces of an ancient temple.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Aureum Bagan Hotel – 1Double Deluxe Room

05 Apr 13   Bagan: City Tour

Start with Lawkananda Pagoda on the river side; continue on to East and West Phet Leik with its clay plaques depicting Jataka scenes; then Thatbyinnyu Temple, the tallest in Bagan; Shwegugyi Temple; the Palace site and Tharaba Gate.

In the afternoon your tour includes Apeyadana Temple with its paintings of Mahayana; Nagayon Temple; the Dhamayangyi Temple, a massive Temple with some of the finest brickwork, and then finish the day at Mingalar Zedi where you can see the sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River and enjoy an evening cruise on the river.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Aureum Bagan Hotel – 1Double Deluxe Room

06 Apr 13   Bagan – Inle Lake

Catch the morning flight to Heho – Air Mandalay 6T401 departing at 07:55 & arriving at 09:20. Where you will be met and then continue by car for about an 1hour (30km) to the famous Inle Lake, the residence of the Intha people who live their lives on the water. Take a boat to your hotel and spend a relaxing afternoon watching the world go by.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight at Pristine Lotus Hotel – 1Double Lotus Villa

07 Apr 13   Day on Inle Lake

Today you will have a full day on and around the lake. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan States and Jumping Cat Monastery, called that after its trained jumping cats. Also make a stop at a family run business making cheroot by hand.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Pristine Lotus Hotel – 1Double Lotus Villa

08 Apr 13   Inle – Heho – Nagapali Bach

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Thandwe – Air Bagan W9141 departing at 09:15 & arriving at 10:15. Arrive in Thandwe and transfer to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight at Amata Resort – 1Double Cabana Cottage

09 Apr 13   Nagapali Bach – Day at Leisure

Free all day at the bach.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight at Amata Resort – 1Double Cabana Cottage

10 Apr 13   Nagapali Bach – Fishing Excursion

Today you will head out on a private boat to fish with the locals. Head to Pearl Island for lunch and a rest before heading back to shore.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight at Amata Resort – 1Double Cabana Cottage

11 Apr 13   Nagapali Bach – Yangon

Your guide will meet you at your hotel for your private transfer to the airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight – Air Bagan W9310 departing at 13:05 & arriving at 13:55.

In the evening go to visit at the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, one the most venerable places of worship in Myanmar.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight at The Governor’s Residence (Orient-Express) – 1Double Deluxe Garden

12 Apr 13   Bangkok: Arrival and Muay Thai Match

Your driver will meet you at your hotel for your private transfer to the airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight – Thai Air TG302 departing at 14:55 & arriving at 16:50.

Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

You will be picked up from the hotel by car and taken to the stadium. There you will experience the extreme excitement of “The Art of Eight Limbs” – the Thai boxing competition which Thai people call “Muay Thai”. Known as the “The Art of Eight Limbs”, because hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used as weapons. A practitioner of Muay Thai (“nak muay”)  has the ability to execute strikes using eight “points of contact,” as opposed to “two points” (fists) in Western boxing and “four points” (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts. Enjoy the various matches as well as the excitement of the locals cheering and betting on the match. When the fights are finished you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at: The Bhuthorn

13 Apr 13   Bangkok: Songkran and departure

Celebrate Songkran festival!

In the late evening, you will be transferred to Bangkok Airport for your flight – Korean Air departing at 01:45 (14 April).

Meals Included: None

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Thanks for the memories…

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

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Miranda tags along with the Journeys Within team as they work to make one lucky couple’s dream-date come true…

Few people would describe me as a romantic. I love the idea of love as much as the next girl, but my practical nature usual keeps life’s mushier feelings at bay. Recently however, I witnessed a day so enchanting it reduced me to likes of a love-sick teen.

Part of a special Conde Nast Dream Trip, the Journeys Within team was tasked with arranging an unforgettable day for a couple looking to commemorate their commitment to each other.

Starting early, the ground team and I headed about 125 km outside of Siem Reap; our destination was Prasat Banteay Ampil to arrange a private lunch at this very remote and untouched temple. After arriving in a neighboring village, we moved all the necessary equipment – gas burners, food, drinks, cooking utensils and a table and chairs among other things – into a cart, for transport us further off the beaten path.

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Rath — a server at our Journeys Within Boutique Hotel and the hostess for the day — riding the cart to Banteay Ampil with all the necessary provisions.

While ours was a bumpy and dusty ride, one that made me nostalgic for fall and Christmas wagon rides back home, I was told the guests would sadly miss out on this portion of the journey as they were arriving by helicopter.

Isolated from the crowds that Angkor draws, this crumbling temple fits the bill of what is envisioned when you hear the phrase ‘ancient ruins.’ While the beautiful stones structures at the site are intact enough to be recognizable, nature has reclaimed Banteay Ampril enough to give it a wild and undiscovered feel.

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Banteay Ampil, located about 125 km north of Siem Reap, seems as untouched a temple as one could find. It also makes for a very unique setting for a lunch-for-two.

Part of the appeal of lunching at a location that takes great effort or helicopter to see is that few other will get to venture there.  There is not a person for miles save a dozen locals and their children using the temple as a jungle-gym, adding to the mystery and romantic feel of setting.

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“Dave” and a pal exploring the inside of Banteay Ampil.

With coconut chicken curry, chicken and cashews, mango salad, friend spring rolls and a dessert of sticky rice with mangoes all on the menu for the luncheon, Chef  Touch and her helpers quickly got to business. With stunning efficiency they made cooking in the jungle look like, well, a piece of cake.

Chef Tooch preparing a tomato flower for the lunch presentation.
Chef Touch preparing a tomato flower for the lunch presentation.

Soon enough, the chopper arrived and the guests were left to enjoy their gourmet lunch in peace and quiet, serenaded only by the sounds of nearby cicadas. After the pair had finished, graciously thanked the staff and flown the coop, the gang and I washed up and reloaded the carts for the trip home. And while the lunch was over, I learned the dream-date was far from it.

In the evening it was arranged that Sofitel would be catering a private affair at Thommanon in Angkor for the couple. One of the smaller, but well loved Hindu temples in Angkor, Thommanon was decorated with hundreds of candles and flood lights in honour of the evening, giving the already impressive locale an even more majestic atmosphere.

Thommanon at Angkor before the guests arrive. Set with hundreds of candles and flood lights, it was hard not to feel the romance in the air.
Thommanon at Angkor before the guests arrive. Set with hundreds of candles and flood lights, it was hard not to feel the romance in the air.

Venturing over the Thommanon I was blown away sheer grandeur of the gesture. Standing in the shadow of the 900-year-old temple it was impossible to feel anything but joy — and the slightest touch of envy — for the couple who had the pleasure of enjoying the evening prepared for them.

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Just before the guests arrived the sun had almost completely vanished, setting the mood.

Driving out of Angkor back home, my eyes were brimming with tears and I was giddy with idea of such a romantic notion — exactly the reaction that pushes our planners to go the extra mile for guests, Narla, our Cambodian director informed me.

While the dream date I witnessed may be over-the-top and out of reach for many – helicopters don’t come cheap — it showed the caliber of experience that can be made with the care and detail of a good team, regardless of scale.

With a little help from your friends, or the hardworking Journeys With crew, our guest make moments that I can assure you, will never be forgotten.… Read more »