Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, and home.........

Another 5 hour minivan ride and we arrived  at Ochheuteal Beach in Sihanoukville, which is Cambodia's premier beachside resort. When we arrived we walked down to the beachfront as this city is on the coast and has a beach flavour to it in the area where we were staying. It was like Bali reincarnate - bars, more bars, no-one who seemed to be over 30, all tanned and scantily clad. To say I (we) felt a tad out of place when walking the promenade would be an understatement so I ripped off my shirt a strolled promenade...no I didn't, we'd seen enough happy Buddhas for one trip......

Needless to say, the last few days and evenings here have been fairly low key, and basically we have wandered around a couple of markets, enjoyed numerous happy hour cocktails and 50c beers, a look at a couple of local sites, but in essence this has been a wind down, and a very nice one.

Some locals turn out to greet us at a pagoda.....

And in the Main Street.....

Victory Beach......a more typical sandy beach sim. to home.....

A couple of accommodation options for you.......here...

Or just down the road.to this.....you choose.....

Monday and it's another later and relaxed breakfast, and a 3k walk to the Starfish Bakery and Cafe, a special place where local Cambodian families - some with disabilities - get a hand up, not a hand out through humanitarian assistance - large families, women in prison etc....it's an NGO that relies on donations and the profits of its bakery/cafe and gift shop.  There are some unsung heroes working with the underprivileged over here, but there is still a loooong way to go....lunch at the beach, dinner later at the local eateries, and it's our last night tonight.......happy hour is calling..........

The End is Nigh.......

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we take a 4 hr minibus from here to the airport back at Phnom Penh, and we start the journey home.....hope you enjoyed the journey with us via the blog....see you back in Oz. 

Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

Our 7 hour bus trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was in a very comfortable bus, complete with complimentary movies, a croissant and bottle of water. Plus a guy who was on board to look after us, and when he made announcements on the bus PA system, he had a huge echo effect on, and he sounded like God making his announcements from heaven!

Here we went to the Grand Palace - this pic is in the palace grounds:

Then we went to the Killing Fields - very moving and an emotional visit....hard to fathom that a fellow Cambodian could conspire to wipe out 3 million of his fellow Cambodians in 4 years during the mid to late 70's in a bid to create a new society to his liking. A very nasty man, was Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge, and for some inexplicable reason, the West did not bring him to account for his atrocities until 20 years after the event - he just continued to lead an ordinary life in the country....unbelievable....

Also visit a prison S21 where out of 7000 prisoners that were captured and tortured there ( and this was just one of many such prisons), only 7 survived, and we met one who was selling his book about his life etc.

Lyn was so emotionally overcome by these places that she could not bring herself to take any photos.

Back to the hotel to reflect on the day's outing.......similar emotions to our visit to Auschwitz visit a couple of Years ago.

 

Day 3 - floating village and bus from Siem reap to Phnom Penh.

Its Thursday and we've barely recovered from yesterday but it's into the minivan and off for a very very bumpy ride to catch a boat to visit Me Chhrey, a floating village where families live on floating houseboats. It was quite chilly on the boat, quite a change from the day before, but a pleasant experience.

They even have a floating school for the. Kids....no kicking the footy at recess times here....

We're supposed to visit a silk farm but really didn't have the time  (and we had already seen one in Turkey) so now it's back to the hotel to pack and take the 6 hour afternoon bus trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh for the nextn part of the tour.

This is the road to Phnom Phen, half way into our trip (comfort stop!)..............

Day 2 - Wednesday and it's Angkor Wat and surrounds

Well, Wednesday, day 2 of our Cambodia tour, shaped up to be a big day with plenty on our agenda, culminating in a sunset view of Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world. The intrepid tourists were ready to take on a big day.......

First port of call was a temple called Ta Prohm - built around 12th century.  The trees that weave their way in and around the ruins make this a mysterious site to see, and the most photographed of all the Angkor temples.....

Then off to Banteay Srei or "ladies temple". It dates back to late 10th century, and it's delicate and well preserved interacted carvings are spectacular to see.

Then we went to Angkor Thom, or "Great City"' that covers around 9 square kilometers. 

The centrepiece is Bayon, with its 216 stone faces facing all directions. This whole place is huge, and dates back to the 10th century.....

I have a nose for a good pic....

Then it was on to the big mother...Angkor Wat. The largest religious monument in the world, dating back to 12th century. Perfect balance and proportions make it a wonder to behold, and there were plenty of us there to behold it, let me tell ya!

Now it's off to the hotel for a beer and a rest.....tomorrow (Thursday) it's an early start to a floating village...

Tuesday -day 1 of the tour.....

Howdy folks,

It's Tuesday and Today we started our "official" week tour of Cambodia with a tuk tuk trip through Siem Reap to see Wat Damnak, an old pagoda in the city.  

A "selfie" on the tuk tuk.......

Also looked at another temple Wat Ang Ko Sei that dates back a few 100 years, then on to a guided tour of Artisans Angkor - a place where young ones, many of whom are deaf, are taught as apprentices to create artworks via wood carving, silk screening and sculpturing. It's a great way to get the kids a skill that they can take back to their villages etc and not get caught up in having to come to the city to try and get work - what little there is! It was very interesting and there are some talented kids working and learning there.

Then it was off to Old Market for a walk around (and some shopping) and lunch in Pub Street, the eating and tourist hub of Siem Reap.  50c per schooner of draft beers are a BIG draw card.....

I think the angle of this shot has distorted my svelt figure .......it's been good food over here, and plenty of it..ha!

Shortly we are off to the night markets after an afternoon rest.....and a nice dinner no doubt.

Tomorrow it's Angkor Wat..... 

Luggage update...

Its Monday and we have just completed the 3 hour drive back to Siem Reap from Battambang in a sedan....and all our luggage was waiting for us here at the hotel. The road trip was interesting, exhilarating, and just plain scary at times, but hey, this is Asia.......I will NEVER complain about pot holes and dusty roads again...

However, we are back on track, and future pictures may now show us in some different clothing! 

Let the Cambodia tour begin............

Luang Prabang to Siem Reap...and then it happened....

Well.....where do we start....let's start at the end of our flight to Siem Reap. We arrived in Siem Reap Cambodia via a 1.5 hr flight from Luang Prabang Laos. Off the plane and into the airport to go through customs and collect baggage. All waiting for our cases (and I am talking 60 odd passengers here). Waiting, waiting.....no baggage at all has arrived....NONE! They decided it would not fit on the plane so they said it will arrive the next day. But we leave for 3 day trip to Battam Bang the next morning. Too bad! So we all have to fill in a lost baggage claim....all of us.....and hope our luggage will arrive some time.

It didn't and we had to leave will just the clothes on our backs and not much else. At least we were coming back to our Siem Reap hotel in a few days so we just hoped that the luggage would be there when we returned. Rang today- Sunday and it's there, thank god.

So in amongst all this, we arrived at Battam Bang and got on with our touring. 

Grabbed a tuk tuk and went to catch a ride on the Bamboo Train. Introduced in 70's to transport railway repair gangs up and down the line.  Then during the Khmers Rouges regime, they were used to transport for supplies etc. Now they are used to transport tourists on joy rides.  Good fun, but a bit hard on the derrière. Note the only pants I had were jeans at this stage due to luggage debacle......bloody hot!

Back to the town centre and off to local markets to buy some clothes, deodorant etc etc .

Sunday - again took a tuk tuk for a 25 km trip to the Banan temple. 358 steps up to the temple proper - pleasant stroll (ha ha!). This is just the last few....

 On the way back to and from the temple we saw old rail bridge, 100 year old traditional house, local winery (Shiraz grapes, producing Chateau Ordinaire wine) and then a late lunch at one of the river side restaurants. Schooner of Angkor draft was 50c each so we had a looooong lunch.

I bought me a hat!!

Nice view of down town BattamBang from our restaurant for dinner -this town is wired!!

Just a cute kid pic.....

Note for the day - Vietnam Airlines is definitely off our carrier lists....can you believe there was no luggage at all that was sent for all passengers.....they still find ways to stick it up us westerners because of the Vietnam war, you know.....

Friday - Laos to Cambodia

Today we fly out to Siem Reap from Luang Prabang. Some debate between us as to what style of plane we will be catching as there are some older turbo prop ones here and I have a feeling we may be on one for the 2 hour flight....late news! I was right!

Yesterday was a quieter day with a nice late breakfast and a short stroll down to the Big Brother Mouse (not house!). This unique place was borne out of a desire of a few young Lao and a retired American publisher to get the Lao community into reading - something that did not happen at all up until a few years ago. You sit with monks and school kids and have a 1/2 hour or so chat with them to help them with their English. Great fun and quite rewarding for the 4 of us. 

Here I am with Lyn's guy on my left, and my monk on my right, who is only 16 (looks older don't you think) and has been serving his God for 4 years. You can see Di with her fellow behind us. Me done teached him heaps more betterer English......

Lyn's kid was 17 and a student who's English skills were quite good.

We then went on to Wat Xieng Thong temple. It is heritage listed and quite impressive, but as you know, they all get to be a little "same same" after a while (well to me they do). Certainly one unique aspect was the very colourful inlays that adorned many walls.

Late lunch at a  river bank restaurant - the spring rolls were bloody bewdiful! 

Later that evening it was over the river via a wobbly bamboo bridge where we all had sex on the beach....twice....it was cocktail happy hour time at a very swank restaurant. The girls certainly enjoyed the drinks as we ventured on through the selection, and The return trip back over the now quite dark bridge looked ominous but eventually was no problem.

Dinner was at a traditional Lao restaurant in the Main Street - great surroundings, cold Beer Lao and a top selection of food afforded us a very relaxed last night in Laos.

Next stop - Cambodia!

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Half day trip to Kuang Si falls and bear sanctuary

Today (Wednesday) we went to the Kuang Si waterfalls and Sun Bear Sanctuary, about 30k from Luang Prabang. The water falls were very picturesque, with areas to swim in if you wanted - We did not. Bear Sanctuary has been set up to save the sun bears that we're being milked for their bile, plus performing on the streets. Simon Smith is now without his amazing dancing bear ( it's an old song by Alan Price - don't worry about it!)

Note for the day - on the way to the falls one of the passengers in the mini van threw up in the back seat. Luckily it was totally contained in a plastic bag that she was carrying - nicely blended with what was to be her lunch....bonus!

Chiang Rai Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos.

Early start on Sunday saw us at the Thai Laos border, ready to catch the long boat for a 2 day trip down the Mekong river. Was a fantastic trip - nice and slow paced to take in the surrounding countryside. Boat was a 50 seat but only 24 on board so nice and roomy.  Good mix of folk to chat to......we were only Aussies.....

And lunch was provided - very nice!

Day 2 started early on the boat and it was freezing....everyone was rugged up until late morning. I think the grim reaper was just behind us!

Again lots to see along the way - local village tour, some caves to look at. Even saw some elephants - if you look closely :).

Arrived at our hotel around 6pm. Comfortable and overlooking river (surprisingly it's called the Riverview Hotel). Out walking today to local museums and just soaking up the feel of this old UNESCO protected city area. Great old French architecture to be seen.

It's 6pm Tuesday night and we are about to enjoy a pre dinner drink on our balcony before setting off to find a restaurant for dinner.

Our view from the balcony as we speak........

Goodbye Rai - hello Lao

Saturday is our last day in Chiang Rai and  was a little more relaxed - late breakfast and a casual walk around the local streets to sample the local sites and sounds. The Main Street behind the hotel becomes "walking street" every Saturday night. So we needed a rest and a drink in the hotel before we we out to have a look at this weekly event.

                 

We then discovered what this ritual was all about at around 7pm when we wandered around to the roadway. It goes from a normal roadway to this.....

It was alive with thousands of people, food stalls and purveyors of typical market place fare. We had a good look around and then made our way to a noted restaurant called the Cabbage and Condoms...don't ask! But there really is a genuine reason for this place being named this way. Local guy promoting family planning, anti AIDS, etc. and it raises money for these programs.

Back to the hotel and prepare for 5am rise Sunday and off to catch a long boat for a 2 day trip down the Mekong and into Laos.

Note for the day-

Visa into Laos was $30 each but we were slugged $1 extra as "overtime charge for Sunday"