Join Rod Underwood on WORLD TOUR 2023 to: UAE, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China & Mongolia February 10—March 8, 2023 27 - Day Tour Includes: (27) Nights Accommodations in Daily Itinerary (subject to change): good 3* & 4* hotels. Day 1: February 10, Abu Dhabi Luxury Motor Coach transporta- Arrive Abu Dhabi, clear arrival formalities. Transfer to hotel. After getting settled enjoy a tour of the UAE’s tion where mentioned. capital city including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Leadership of: Corniche, and Qasr Al Watan Palace. Abayas (long dresses with a scarves) are provided for women to enter Professor Rod Underwood the mosque. We would likely be joined by Alum- Breakfast Daily niwho have been working in the Arab Emirates for 15 Lunches the last few years. Their input has been invaluable in the base. 22 Dinners Day 2: February 11, Abu Dhabi/Dubai/Abu Dhabi Full day use of coach & local guide for touring Dubai. See Burj Al-Arab hotel, on Sightseeing per Itinerary Jumeirah Beach, take in views of the white marble dome and minarets of Jumeirah Flight from Abu Dhabi/Singapore Mosque. Tour the old quarter of Dubai and visit the exciting Spice Souk and shop for Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap bargains in Deira Gold Souk. We would also visit the relatively new Norman Foster Central Market Souk. Compare this to the historic souk in Fez. Flight from Siem Reap to Saigon Group Dinner provided this evening. (D) Flight from Saigon to Hanoi Flight from Hanoi to Hong Kong Day 3: February 12, Abu Dhabi Full day use of coach & local guide for touring. We would make every effort to visit Masdar Rail from Hong Kong to Guangzhou City, the sustainable city, built to experiment and test real-world solutions to energy, water, Flight from Guangzhou to Shanghai both clean and waste, transportation in future cities. Zero-carbon, zero-waste, car freeGroup Dinner provided this evening. After dinner depart to the airport. (D) Flight from Shanghai to Xian Day 4: February 13, Depart Flight from Xian to Beijing Depart Abu Dhabi very early in the morning. Flight from Beijing to Ulan Bator Arrive Singapore later afternoon of the same day. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Flight from Ulan Bator to Beijing Dinner provided this evening. (D) We would likely have time to visit the estabalishment where the “Singapore Sling” originated in the Raffles Hotel Long Bar. ;-) If you like a Margarita, Gratuities included. you’ll like a Sling.. Day 5: February 14, Singapore Full day touring with local guide including the Orchid Gardens, Colonial heart of Singapore, $8,075 P/P Dbl. Occ. financial district, Chinatown, Temple of Buddha Tooth and the Gardens by the Bay. We will see the Royal Park hotel, in Chinatown as well as visit the incredible Gardens by the Sea. Single Supplement $ 1,560 Evening: Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo. 1 Subject to confirmation of services and Return to your hotel. Overnight Singapore. Pending Air Confirmations) DOES NOT INCLUDED INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE TO Abu Dhabi and return from Beijing Day 6: February 15, Singapore/Kuala Lumpur Early departure by coach for Kuala Lumpur. Tour Malacca along the way. A convenient lunch stop with snake charmers in the square. Lunch will be included. Arrive Kuala Lumpur in the early evening. Overnight Kuala Lumpur. (L/D) Day 7: February 16, Kuala Lumpur Full day touring including Chinatown, Independent Square, Masjid Jamek, War Memorial, King’s Palace, Railway Station, National Mosque, Batu Caves, Batick Demo and KL Tower. (D) The Petronas Tower, is the location of “Entrapment” with Sean connery and Catherine Zeta-jones. Review this movie before we get there. ;-) Day 8: February 17, Kuala Lumpur/Siem Reap Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to the airport. Depart by Air for Siem Reap, Meeting upon arrival and begin touring of Siem Reap. Visit Neak Pean T Som and Preah Khan Ta Prohm Temples. (D) An amazing place, something we in the West seldom think about. As a side note, you will want to have a beer while your feet are in a pool of fish, with them nibbling on your feet. ;-) Day 9: February 18, Siem Reap Full day touring including (Angkor Wat) Angkor Thom South Gate Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Ter- race of the Leper King. (D) If you’ve never ridden on an elephant, this is your day. Hotels generally have roof bars and this is a great evening experience. Day 10: February 19, Siem Reap/Saigon Breakfast and check out. Transfer to the airport. Depart for Saigon. Meeting upon arrival and touring with a local guide. Group dinner this evening. (D) It’s important that this is VietNam and it was NOT the VietNam war, it was their American War and there are still people who remember. Be polite and careful. There are more mopeds that you have ever seen in your life and they “stream” in the streets. We have been told to simply walk at a uniform rate and they will flow around your, DO NOT STOP ABRUPTLY, that will cause you to get struck. Did I mention that there are THOUSANDS OF THEM?? Day 11: February 20, Saigon Visit Cu Chi Tunnels this morning. In the afternoon a Mekong River cruise (D) Day 12: February 21, Saigon/Hanoi Morning transfer to the airport. Flight to Hanoi. Meeting upon arrival and begin touring including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One- Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. This won’t be a problem with Alumni, but students have been turned away if they had torn jeans, it is considered disrespectful when you visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Dinner at a specially selected Vietnamese restaurant this evening. Afterwards enjoy the evening performance of the famous water puppets show. Day 13: February 22, Hanoi/Ha Long Bay/Hanoi Spend the day at Ha Long Bay. The ride to Ha Long Bay is an experience in itself. The countryside is a mix of French (the French heavi- ly influenced VietNam) “townhouses” sitting in rice paddies. It is mind-boggling and HORNS, I don’t believe they actually have brakes on any vehicle in VietNam, the just blow their horns constantly. The majority of the isles here are completely uninhabited and it is the fact that the landscape has remained so unspoiled, coupled with its incredible natural beauty and geological significance, that makes it such a special place. If you want to purchase pearls, this is the place. They will be selling them on the boats going to the caves on the mountain tops sticking out of the bay. (L/D) Day 14: February 23, Hanoi/Hong Kong Full day touring of Hanoi including a late lunch. Afterwards, transfer directly to the airport. Depart for Hong Kong. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for 2 nights. (L/D) Day 15: February 24, Hong Kong Morning tour of Hong Kong ending at the Star Ferry terminal. Remainder of the afternoon exploring with your group leader. We could spend a lot more time in Hong Kong, Foster’s Bank of Hong Kong is a must visit on the way to the funicular that will take us to Victoria Peak. We will be near Jackie Chans home on Victoria Peak, in case anyone wants to see it. Day 16: February 25, Hong Kong/Shanghai Transfer to the rail station. Depart Hong Kong for Guagzhou. You will be met and transferred to the airport. Flight to Shanghai. Arrive Shanghai. Meeting at the airport and transfer to hotel. (D) Day 17: February 26, Shanghai Enjoy a full day tour of Shanghai (L/D) Lots to see in Shanghi. Likely visit an art school and you can get beautiful authentic and ab- stract water colors. Also the Bund, is the area by the water and you can get genuine fake Rolex watches that are actually pretty function- al. The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center is close to the Bund and has beautiful planning models , as you would expect. The building is pretty dramatic as well. 2 Day 18: February 27, Shanghai/Suzhou/Shanghai Enjoy a full day tour to Suzhou. The birthplace of silk, world-renowned gardens, canals & the Suzhou Museum, a highly-regarded regional museum. A new museum designed by world famous architect I.M. Pei (L/D)We will likely visit a silk factory and you can purchase silk comforters and ship them back to the states. Suzhou is also known as the Venice of China both for it’s gardens and waterways. Day 19: February 28, Shanghai/Xian Early transfer to the airport. Flight to Xian. Meeting upon arrival and begin touring of Xian and the Terracotta Warriors. (L/D) Xian has incredible air pollution due to power plants, a ten fold increase in automobiles and is surrounded by mountains so it contains the pollution. Day 20: March 1, Xian/Beijing Additional touring of Xian this morning ending at the airport in the afternoon. Flight to Beijing. Ovnt Beijing near the airport (L/D) If you are not prepared, you need to purchase a genuine fake North Face or Canadina Goose jacket for Mongolia. It is –25 below zero and your skin stings when you go outside, BUT it is magnificent, The sun shines every day all day long and it is beautiful. We go from one of the most populated places in the world—China to one of the least populated areas—Mongolia. If we have time, the Pearl Market in Beijing is a good place, if not, we can talk to the guide for an alternative in Xian.