I'll let the board canvas that, Marija.

You are quite correct. Actually, those two near-misses were the fault of the Bihar tourist Authority and one driver - not Stranchan, not Singh.

Actually the dogster won't have to lead the way. Once on board we're in the grip of the operators, with Dog trouble-shooting, that's all. But I may well die between now and then, agreed, nor have I taken on the mantle of operator, organiser and guide. That would be silly. It's just that I know the territory, that's all. Any sensible human being would think twice about Dog Tours Inc. You <i>know</i> the trouble I get into.

I'm simply suggesting the options. Ultimately, we'll all just book on a pre-decided cruise at the same time. Extra excitement can be picked up on the way for those who feel brave enough. Bottom line is the trip as described on their website, whichever it is.

But I have been on the Kolkata - Farrakah part of the trip 3 times now. The Bihar leg is in the hands, ultimately, of about 500 policemen, the Bihar Tourist Authority, marauding warriors with guns and the Ganges herself. All these factors are unpredictable.

There is another alternative, a kinda easy road which is the Assam Bengal Hoogli cruise - 7 days, Kolkata to Farrakah, with a potential Bihar extension. I just don't know that company as well so couldn't pull rank. It covers exactly the same territory. Up until October, it's cheaper. But that leg is easy-peasy, totally stock stuff. It's the Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Patna, Bihar leg that's the adventure - maybe TOO much of an adventure.

As I'm outta touch all of next week, you'll all have a chance to make any decision you want - or, indeed, none at all. It's fun thinking about it, just the same.

The Upper Mekong is a lot easier, still in unknown territory [well, kinda] and you can find anything you want about that in their website. I can't help there at all, other than to say that I've been on the Chaing Rai/Houie Xai to Luang Prabang bit. As I said, I don't know the company.

On the Dog adventure scale I'd put that at about 2 out of 10, Assam Bengal at about 4, Chindwin about a soft 5 and the Ganges at about 7. I don't think we need canvas the 10/10 options.

It's getting late here. I'm going out. You'll have to talk amongst yourselves.

Anyone else notice that this thread has generated 40 replies in less than 18 hours. The gpandas will give careful consideration to any proposed excursion. We don't really know enough to choose among the options. Perhaps others could express their preferences and we can begin to whittle down the options. I did just have a striking image, i.e., one of those huge Carnival Lines Ocean vessels steaming up the Ganges. I found this amusing.

I can't read the title of this thread without immediately starting to hum. The love boat, promises something for everyone. Set a course for adventure....

I think I just dated myself.

There are apparently three bihu/harvest festivals in Assam: mid January; mid-April (15th in 2011) and mid-October.

But from the brief description, the Assam cruises might indeed be too "soft" for our group--lots of natural wonders, to be sure, but what else??

Finally, somewhere I can wear a moo-moo!!! :D

(you have to have read a previous Dog posting to get the moo-moo thing, but if you haven't you should search for it - lol!)

A dreaded cruise -- promised myself never, never, never.

If I'm seduced by the dark side, can't do it until late 2011 or sometime 2012. My life is in free fall at the moment.

I'd be most likely seduced by Bengal. Or Siem Riep. A tour of Kolkata by the venerable Dogster would be most welcome.

Pandaw scares me.

Can we get something besides Blue Riband gin???

And how many is the maximum number on the Love Boat?

And what defines "adventurous?" Some Fodorites can hike and climb a fair bit, others not so much.

Dogster, have a great trip. As always we'll be waiting for any tidbits you throw our way.

Jaya, maybe we can all wear muu-muus!

Indiana, I've been on exactly one cruise - the Nile. I have no interest in an ocean cruise, but floating along the river, seeing people live as they have for thousands of years is just amazing. And the stops at places that would be difficult or impossible to get to otherwise... well, that's what made me start investigating Pandaw cruises years ago. For various reasons the Pandaw cruise never materialized, but this could be a wonderful opportunity to cruise an Asian river.

I don't think of adventurous as necessarily reflecting strenuous physical activity, but of being open to new experiences. And no doubt, the Ganges would be a new experience for many of us.

1. The most important thing to me is to choose an itinerary that gets you to places you'd probably never go, or would be a challenge to get to except by river boat.

2.) I choose adventure. The upper Mekong or Chindwin top my list. The Ganges I'm highly suspicious of, for all Marija's reasons.

3. Oct/Nov/Dec would be fine, though I'm flexible. 2011 would be good (if it's too much into the future, it ain't gonna happen, folks). Prefer to avoid heat and monsoons as much as possible. Generally I prefer SE Asia to India.

4. A high level of comfort is always welcome, budget permitting. Food and drink are important, but they wouldn't outrank the itinerary, or the boat.

5. Those of you who are skittish about cruises, don't be. With a small enough boat and a good sampling of Fod'dods, it won't be what you think.

The idea of going on a Laotian built boat with a Laotian crew is interesting. The boats are small and the cabins look simple but comfortable. See Dogster's cruisemekong.com

I note that the company is partly run by Germans. Does that mean it's efficient? Or that non Fo'dods will wear sandals with white socks? Also, in addition to beer they offer "spirituous" drinks. I'm for that. And that the Mekong's Golden Triangle area (do we get complementary opium?) is a wild river and one of the most difficult to navigate. Sounds adventurous to me.

I completely agree with LA, except we can't go in October, since we'll still be on vacation. I'm confused as to why the Ganges cruise, which was described as a ‘soft adventure’ in that classic "Death on the Ganges" has climbed on the adventure scale. I also searched the epic for any good words about the Indian partners and found none, unless you count "good liars." Obviously we only know what we were told but I'm not onboard without a lot more explanation.

Perhaps it's time to write the full story of "Death on the Ganges."

lol lol lol Marija, hoist on my own petard. I deleted all of the Singh/Strachan saga - but I do remember the words <i>'liar of liars, Singh of Singhs...'</i>

Which I thought was rather clever, although libellous.

I'm in Saigon now, just arrived, lost in a cavernous suite at the Majestic. A lost booking and my calm, yet menacing demeanor resulted in yet another magnificent upgrade for the Dog.

www.majesticsaigon.com.vn/

I very much like the facade. Only last night it celebrated it's 85th birthdau. Alas, I missed it. The foyer is garlanded with those odd Vietnamese floral arrangements and a number of sleeping Australians whose 85th birthday is long behind them. I thought they were my fellow cruisers but a large tourist bus came and carried them off to die somewhere else.

I will revert to the topic at hand when I can be bothered. I have a few errands to make first.

I've reverted to type instead of topic and find myself drunk in the gutter after a Vietnamese set menu of mammoth proportions. The Love Boat is far from my shallow mind. I feel a night in Saigon is upon me.

Didn't someone write a song about that?

Enjoy yourself! Another upgrade? Is Bob (rhk) with you? haha
See you in BKK!

Don't let it turn into Dogster's Little Horror Show!

The Chindwin is not going to happen, at least not on Pandaw.

There is but one cruise (20 nights) in 2011, in September, and it is all but booked.

There seem to be other options but they all go in September.

This like herding cats.

In honor of our undertaking:

Faulty Memory

In my youth I was a scurrier
By all accounts I was much furrier.
Pandas gliding to assignations
In trying to cause heart palpatations.