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Sunday, November 2, 2008 - Day 1: San Francisco to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Monday - Day 2: En Route
Cross the International Date Line.
Tuesday - Day 3: Arrival in Phnom Penh
Arrive today in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. Charming streets lined with many French-style buildings dating back to the country’s days as a French colony are mixed with traditional Asian architecture. In its heyday, the city was considered one of the most picturesque in Southeast Asia. Since gaining independence from France in 1953, decades of political turmoil have constantly transformed Phnom Penh, and the city moves on today in its recovery from years of war and conflict.
Delegates and guests will visit the
National Museum this afternoon with its world-renowned collection of Khmer archeological, religious and artistic artifacts. The Royal Palace, built by the French in 1866 and Silver Pagoda, whose magnificent floor comprises more than 5,000 solid silver tiles, are also fascinating to view.
Program briefing: Discuss the political and cultural diversity of Cambodia and receive further information on the delegation.
Wednesday - Day 4: Phnom Penh
Professional Overview: Status and delivery of surgery in Vietnam
Professional program focusing on:
- The team approach to medical care
- Exploration of the methods of retaining locally trained surgeons in-country
- Quality of the educational experience in surgical training
Guest program:
Guests will enjoy a visit to Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of the city during sunset. The original pagoda was built in 1373 to house four Buddha statues said to have been deposited by the waters of the Mekong. Continue on to explore the
Tonle Sap Riverfront, the hub for Phnom Penh resident’s leisure activities. Here, you’ll gain an insight into the everyday life of Cambodians.
Thursday - Day 5: Phnom Penh
Professional program focusing on:
- Evaluation of "alternative medicine", especially acupuncture
- Organization of intensive care units
Guest program:
Guests will visit the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum this morning where in 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot's security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21 (S-21). The museum displays include room after room of floor-to-ceiling photographs of men, women and children. Virtually all the people pictured were later killed.
This afternoon delegates and guests will visit the
Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, a concentration camp from the era of Pol Pot that has 129 communal graves, 43 of which have been left untouched. Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) detained and tortured at the S-21 prison were transported to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. Take some time to contemplate these atrocities, why they happened, and what can be done to prevent them in the future.
Friday - Day 6: Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia today. Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the small provincial capital of Siem Reap Town serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Siem Reap is home to dozens of temple ruins.
Delegates and guests can venture through a few of the unique architectural monuments of Khmer civilization including the famous
Bayon Temple, Phumeanakas Temple,
Baphuon Temple, the Terrace of Elephants and the
Terrace of the Leper King.
See the beautiful decorations within the enchanting
Banteay Srei temple. You can also visit
Banteay Samre which features elaborate architecture and exceptional carvings.
Explore the Royal City of Preah Khan, which features fabulous carved stone lanterns and impressive sculptures and makes for a fantastic experience. Spend some time at
Ta Prohm, a former monastery with massive trees growing around and through the remains of the complex, to round out the day.
Saturday - Day 7: Siem Reap
Visit Angkor Wat, one of the most breathtaking architectural masterpieces to be found in the world today. Built in the 12th century, the Lost City of Angkor remained undiscovered by archeologists until the late 19th century. Angkor Wat is a legacy of the might that was once the Khmer Empire, a detailed history of which has been carved into the many walls of this fortified temple.
Delegates and guests will enjoy exploring the many galleries containing columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and pools.
Sunday - Day 8: Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Depart today for Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city and its economic center. The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, have myriad shops, stalls, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares from blankets on sidewalks. Within this teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture.
Monday - Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Professional program focusing on:
- Rehabilitation of previous traumatic injuries
- Indications for multimodality treatment of solid tumors
Guest program:
Learn today about the life in the Cu Chi Tunnels during the conflict in Vietnam. Guests will hear the story as told by the people who experienced it. One of the few remaining monuments to the war, the cave system once contained nearly 100 miles of elaborate tunnels.
Tuesday - Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
Delegates and guests will have a unique opportunity to explore the
Mekong River by boat and gain a real perspective of the delta. The Mekong Delta sprawls across the southernmost region of Vietnam, formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong River. The area is known as Vietnam's Bread Basket and produces enough rice to feed the entire country. Visit Dragon and Phoenix Islands to see traditional handcrafts, bee farms and coconut candy production.
Share your memories and experiences with fellow delegates at your farewell banquet.
Wednesday - Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco (via Hong Kong)
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