Well it was a long 8 month journey that filled up my passport and my memories. I had the most amazing experiences in Asia and met some fantastic people along the way.
But now it's time to get back to the 'real' world; which actually seems a little less real after seeing the impoverished conditions others live in. And I've quickly fallen victim - what I declined to pay to see dolphins in Cambodia, I paid for lunch today!
I'm still adjusting to the culture shock of returning home...
So here I am. Back in Montreal, moved into the same apartment, but different room. School has started; one more year! Victory lap baby. I had a very quick week at home (aka. Summerland)which was not long enough to relax, catch up, and get my life organized unfortunately. But I did get to see my first crane-sighting in town (not the birds, the ones used for building). This was a big development for Summerland as far as I'm concerned - 5 stories tall! I had a chance to visit with my brother and meet his girlfriend. Visits with grandma were somewhat sad and often funny - she thinks but doesn't worry, or so she tells us every 5 minutes! I'm very thankful that I was able to see her and that she could recognize me. She might be around for a while yet - that stubbornness gene hasn't mutated!
Well it's 3am and I can't sleep, so I thought I'd post some narcoleptic ramblings.
My travels are temporarily suspended, and school is back in order, so here seems to end my current blog. For all who read it, thank-you, and I hope you enjoyed it. I may still add a few more photos and stories to complete it - but that will depend on my procrastination level.
Hugs & misses to all!
xoxo
CHANEL
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Mom's words
Well Harry & I are back to Hong Kong after a two year absence. The humidity is still here!!
We're doing more sightseeing this trip and enjoying the sights and food, esp. the food!
We're off to Shanghai tomorrow, IF the looming tyhoon doesn't hamper our travel. It's level #3 today, may get the full strength this afternoon, then we can fly out tomorrow.
Sorry no pics to post, will add more mews once we get to Shanghai.
Wendy
We're doing more sightseeing this trip and enjoying the sights and food, esp. the food!
We're off to Shanghai tomorrow, IF the looming tyhoon doesn't hamper our travel. It's level #3 today, may get the full strength this afternoon, then we can fly out tomorrow.
Sorry no pics to post, will add more mews once we get to Shanghai.
Wendy
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Family Reunion!
Home sweet Home...it's back to Hong Kong!
Unfortunately there's not a lot of fresh air to breathe in, but I still love it!
The skyline is something that the eyes never sore of. Buildings reaching up in every direction - on a clear night/day, it's amazing!
Anyway...so I made it back to HK on an early flight from Singapore. After nearly an hour waiting in the immigration line, I got to see my lovely parents, after nearly 7 months apart! Ha, it's been nice. We've been trekking all over HK, and are heading to Macau tomorrow, followed by a week in Shanghai & area. Despite the airlines weight restrictions, we can't help but scoop up all of HK's great bargains - food & shopping! They're everywhere.
My time on the internet is almost up, so I can't write much...but more details to come later. Basically, I don't want to leave HK!
xoxo :D
Unfortunately there's not a lot of fresh air to breathe in, but I still love it!
The skyline is something that the eyes never sore of. Buildings reaching up in every direction - on a clear night/day, it's amazing!
Anyway...so I made it back to HK on an early flight from Singapore. After nearly an hour waiting in the immigration line, I got to see my lovely parents, after nearly 7 months apart! Ha, it's been nice. We've been trekking all over HK, and are heading to Macau tomorrow, followed by a week in Shanghai & area. Despite the airlines weight restrictions, we can't help but scoop up all of HK's great bargains - food & shopping! They're everywhere.
My time on the internet is almost up, so I can't write much...but more details to come later. Basically, I don't want to leave HK!
xoxo :D
Monday, July 30, 2007
Malaysia
Salamat Detang! (aka. welcome)
At the end of my last blog I was in Kota Bharu planning on catching the 630am train the next morning through the jungle and then a series of local buses to arrive in the Cameron Highlands. Well, traveling at the whim of bus schedules sometimes calls for a change of plans. Also needed if you sleep in and miss your train!
I tried, someone half-heartedly to wake up for that train the first day. But I didn't make it. Meaning, I would spend another day in KB, where there's really not a lot to do! I wandered through the central market at attracted a lot of stares (a 'semi-caucasion' looking women traveling alone in Malaysia - predominantly muslim, definitely attracts a fair bit of attention/staring!). I bought some local deep fried treats for breakfast? And then found a big fabirc store with a big sale on. The problem of traveling though Malaysia at this time of year, on a limited budget, everything is on sale!! I bought a beautfiul piece of fabric which I'm hoping I can tie into a dress - I couldn't try it out in Malaysia because it would show my shoulders...My real breakfast ended up being some roti and curry, after which I spent the majority of the day reading Harry Potter. At night I grabbed some dinner with a Birtish & Irish guy also staying at my guest house. The Irish guy has been loads of places and really got me interested in traveling to India! Next time.
The next morning I successfully managed to wake up for the train, which was a really nice switch from the bus. At times the jungle vegetation would brush right up against the train, gorgeous! I got off in Kuala Lipis, where I was supposed to begin my three-bus journey, however, the bus times didn't coincide with my wishes. I was faced with spending the night in one of two small-local towns...the guys at the train station were very nice, and after having lunch with them & a quick tour of the twon on the back of one of their motorcycles, I decided to just take the bus to Kuala Lumpur, and head to the Highlands from there.
KL - staying in chinatown, the city reminded me of a smaller Hong Kong, with an extra splash of Islam and satay! My first morning I lined up at 820am to get a free ticket to up to the skybirdge of the famous Petronas twin towers. After going up 41 stories, I hit the malls...sales everywhere! But I managed to mostly contain myself - my backpack can't fit much more! Day 2 in KL I went to the Hindu shrine at Batu caves and around the National Mosque. At prayer time I happened to be walking by another mosque in the city, where prayer mats spill out of the mosque and onto the sidewalks and stairs.
After 2 days in KL, I took a windy bus up to the Cameron Highlands. Up at 1500 meters, I had to wear long sleeves and sleep under 3 blankets! I saw huge tea plantations, trudged through the jungle getting fabulously muddy!, and tasted the local strawberries. A really nice retreat before heading back to the heat and humidity of Singapore.
And here I am. Staying at my aunt & uncles with a large bed and real shower all to myself! So luxurious. It feels really nice to be in a house again, and yet bizarre that my backpacking days are practically over! A plane awaits me in 3 days to take me back to Hong Kong to meet up with my parents.
Sorry for the novel (for anyone who actually reads all of this!!)
xoxoxo. :D
At the end of my last blog I was in Kota Bharu planning on catching the 630am train the next morning through the jungle and then a series of local buses to arrive in the Cameron Highlands. Well, traveling at the whim of bus schedules sometimes calls for a change of plans. Also needed if you sleep in and miss your train!
I tried, someone half-heartedly to wake up for that train the first day. But I didn't make it. Meaning, I would spend another day in KB, where there's really not a lot to do! I wandered through the central market at attracted a lot of stares (a 'semi-caucasion' looking women traveling alone in Malaysia - predominantly muslim, definitely attracts a fair bit of attention/staring!). I bought some local deep fried treats for breakfast? And then found a big fabirc store with a big sale on. The problem of traveling though Malaysia at this time of year, on a limited budget, everything is on sale!! I bought a beautfiul piece of fabric which I'm hoping I can tie into a dress - I couldn't try it out in Malaysia because it would show my shoulders...My real breakfast ended up being some roti and curry, after which I spent the majority of the day reading Harry Potter. At night I grabbed some dinner with a Birtish & Irish guy also staying at my guest house. The Irish guy has been loads of places and really got me interested in traveling to India! Next time.
The next morning I successfully managed to wake up for the train, which was a really nice switch from the bus. At times the jungle vegetation would brush right up against the train, gorgeous! I got off in Kuala Lipis, where I was supposed to begin my three-bus journey, however, the bus times didn't coincide with my wishes. I was faced with spending the night in one of two small-local towns...the guys at the train station were very nice, and after having lunch with them & a quick tour of the twon on the back of one of their motorcycles, I decided to just take the bus to Kuala Lumpur, and head to the Highlands from there.
KL - staying in chinatown, the city reminded me of a smaller Hong Kong, with an extra splash of Islam and satay! My first morning I lined up at 820am to get a free ticket to up to the skybirdge of the famous Petronas twin towers. After going up 41 stories, I hit the malls...sales everywhere! But I managed to mostly contain myself - my backpack can't fit much more! Day 2 in KL I went to the Hindu shrine at Batu caves and around the National Mosque. At prayer time I happened to be walking by another mosque in the city, where prayer mats spill out of the mosque and onto the sidewalks and stairs.
After 2 days in KL, I took a windy bus up to the Cameron Highlands. Up at 1500 meters, I had to wear long sleeves and sleep under 3 blankets! I saw huge tea plantations, trudged through the jungle getting fabulously muddy!, and tasted the local strawberries. A really nice retreat before heading back to the heat and humidity of Singapore.
And here I am. Staying at my aunt & uncles with a large bed and real shower all to myself! So luxurious. It feels really nice to be in a house again, and yet bizarre that my backpacking days are practically over! A plane awaits me in 3 days to take me back to Hong Kong to meet up with my parents.
Sorry for the novel (for anyone who actually reads all of this!!)
xoxoxo. :D
Monday, July 23, 2007
Island Life
Sooo I've spent nearly the last week lying on beaches in Thailand (Ko Phi Phi) and Malaysia (Perhentians). It's been fantastic, and soo nice just to chill out, relax, and get a tan!
Ko Phi Phi was very nice (although after being to Long Beach on Boracay Island in the Philippines, it's hard competition to find another beach to match). But it was packed, littered and swarming with foreigners...so it quickly lost its appeal. There was no local culture to see unfortunately.
This is where the gang split up - Natascha and Antonie headed to Ko Panghan for the half-moon party, and I head into the 'dangerous' parts of Southern Thailand to cross into Malaysia.
I took the train from HatYai, Thailand to the border, and along the way (but mom, it's okay, I have safely passed through the following...) a local guy, who was visiting home for one night, said that he was scared to pass through the area and didn't know how I wasn't frightened, and traveling by myself! I have only been this way by turning a naive, blind eye to the travel warnings about this area. However, after he said this, I noticed the armed (machine gun) security/army guy on the train car. And at all of the stops after, the guards had sandbags piled up around the entrance of their quarters to take shelter behind for shooting, as they were all also carrying guns!! Hmmm, I don't know whether they made me feel more safe or not. Most people say that the attacks aren't against foreigners as I think it's the muslims in the area not happy with the government, but I was traveling on a local train, having seen only two other westerners board a few cars back. With a sigh of relief however, I made it successfully across the border to lovely Malaysia.
A couple of local bus rides and a lot of stares/smiles, completed with a ferry ride out to the Perhentians, I arrived at a much less-touristy island, with amazingly clear water!! Paradise, pretty much. I spent a couple days here with a group of really nice Brits, and then on my last day went snorkelling and saw Nemos!!
I am now in Kota Bahru waiting to take the train south to Koala Lumper, from which I will head to the Cameron Highlands for a couple days, and then finally arrive in the comforts of Singapore at the end of the month! I was supposed to take the train this morning, but had a terrible time dragging myself out of bed at 4:30am! That will be tomorrow...
loves & misses,
hugs & kisses,
I can't wait to see you all soon!!
Ko Phi Phi was very nice (although after being to Long Beach on Boracay Island in the Philippines, it's hard competition to find another beach to match). But it was packed, littered and swarming with foreigners...so it quickly lost its appeal. There was no local culture to see unfortunately.
This is where the gang split up - Natascha and Antonie headed to Ko Panghan for the half-moon party, and I head into the 'dangerous' parts of Southern Thailand to cross into Malaysia.
I took the train from HatYai, Thailand to the border, and along the way (but mom, it's okay, I have safely passed through the following...) a local guy, who was visiting home for one night, said that he was scared to pass through the area and didn't know how I wasn't frightened, and traveling by myself! I have only been this way by turning a naive, blind eye to the travel warnings about this area. However, after he said this, I noticed the armed (machine gun) security/army guy on the train car. And at all of the stops after, the guards had sandbags piled up around the entrance of their quarters to take shelter behind for shooting, as they were all also carrying guns!! Hmmm, I don't know whether they made me feel more safe or not. Most people say that the attacks aren't against foreigners as I think it's the muslims in the area not happy with the government, but I was traveling on a local train, having seen only two other westerners board a few cars back. With a sigh of relief however, I made it successfully across the border to lovely Malaysia.
A couple of local bus rides and a lot of stares/smiles, completed with a ferry ride out to the Perhentians, I arrived at a much less-touristy island, with amazingly clear water!! Paradise, pretty much. I spent a couple days here with a group of really nice Brits, and then on my last day went snorkelling and saw Nemos!!
I am now in Kota Bahru waiting to take the train south to Koala Lumper, from which I will head to the Cameron Highlands for a couple days, and then finally arrive in the comforts of Singapore at the end of the month! I was supposed to take the train this morning, but had a terrible time dragging myself out of bed at 4:30am! That will be tomorrow...
loves & misses,
hugs & kisses,
I can't wait to see you all soon!!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
In the jungle..
After a crazy day of running around Bangkok in a tuk-tuk, we took a sleeper train up north to Chiang Mai. They were a LOT more comfortable then the hard sleepers on the China trains. There are only two beds per berth, and in the morning you can fold th etop one up, and the bottom one into two comfortable seats. They do however leave the lights on all night, for safety, which makes it a little more difficult to sleep (my ability to sleep anywhere seems to be diminishing, gasp!!).
At the train station, we were whisked away to our GuestHouse (because we had arranged everything through TAT-the governmet tourist authority or something, which ended up costing more, ahhhh, but saved us some hassel of planning things!). After a nice swim in the pool, we hit up the night market. I wasn't really in the shopping mood, still upset about news from home...but still purchased a few things, all useless!
The next morning we had an early start to begin our 2 day jungle trek! First up, elephant riding!! It was great fun. We did a couple farly steap hills up and down where you would've fallen out of the seat if you didn't hold on to the one pole keeping you in there, with white kuckles! There were about 10 places along the way to buy bananas for the elephants...and they were certainly hungry. They pulled down huge tree branches for the leaves if you stopped feeding them the bananas. We also had a mom, so her little baby walked along beside us, super cute! But was a pushy eater, and got saliva all over me begging for more bananas. And at the end of the ride when I tried to keep some of the bananas for myself, the baby followed me around and kept wraping her trunk around my arm...little bugger!
After lunch we began the treck. It was up and down and hot and sticky..mmmm. When we finally arrived at the waterfall I jumped straight in, dirty clothes, muddy shoes and all!
That night we spent in a local village, lying on thin mats, under mossie nets in bamboo shelters! So we didn't get much sleep. Also, they have this crazy tradition called a 'black pancake party'. There is no eating of pancakes involved. But rather, they wipe the black soot off of the bottom of the cooking pans/woks and wipe it all ovr your faces. If you lose the game, or they just feel like it. It starts off with cool striped/dotted designs, but you end up covered! There were a couple American girls that were so black when they closed they're eyes and mouths you couldn't see them at all!! Not fun to wash off, but ridiculously fun to see.
Day 2 in the jungle was thankfully all downhill...and a bit cloudy. This hurt the knees, but was a nice break from the large uphills we covered the day before. After lunch was bamboo rafting. And as soon as we had all stepped on the 'leaky' raft, our 'driver' took off, throwing us onto our hands and knees. There would be no hope of staying dry. After a few bends in the river, lucky me who was sitting at the back of the raft, with the driver at the front, got swung around on a big turn...and headed for a large tree trunk over hanging into the river!! Thinking I was strong enough I layed on my back and stuck my legs out to push the raft away from the tree. But alas, I was no competition for the current and as the raft continued forward, my feet stuck on the tree, pulled themselves over my head and I flipped into the water!! AHhh, I was most worried about losing my sandles and sun glasses, but luckily came out alright...with a good laugh all around. I wish I had a video of my ridiculous stunt.
Enough trekking. We were going to go to the night market again that night...but instead hit the bed at 8pm, and did not move until the next morning!
More to come...
xoxoxoxoxox
Loves & misses to everyone.
At the train station, we were whisked away to our GuestHouse (because we had arranged everything through TAT-the governmet tourist authority or something, which ended up costing more, ahhhh, but saved us some hassel of planning things!). After a nice swim in the pool, we hit up the night market. I wasn't really in the shopping mood, still upset about news from home...but still purchased a few things, all useless!
The next morning we had an early start to begin our 2 day jungle trek! First up, elephant riding!! It was great fun. We did a couple farly steap hills up and down where you would've fallen out of the seat if you didn't hold on to the one pole keeping you in there, with white kuckles! There were about 10 places along the way to buy bananas for the elephants...and they were certainly hungry. They pulled down huge tree branches for the leaves if you stopped feeding them the bananas. We also had a mom, so her little baby walked along beside us, super cute! But was a pushy eater, and got saliva all over me begging for more bananas. And at the end of the ride when I tried to keep some of the bananas for myself, the baby followed me around and kept wraping her trunk around my arm...little bugger!
After lunch we began the treck. It was up and down and hot and sticky..mmmm. When we finally arrived at the waterfall I jumped straight in, dirty clothes, muddy shoes and all!
That night we spent in a local village, lying on thin mats, under mossie nets in bamboo shelters! So we didn't get much sleep. Also, they have this crazy tradition called a 'black pancake party'. There is no eating of pancakes involved. But rather, they wipe the black soot off of the bottom of the cooking pans/woks and wipe it all ovr your faces. If you lose the game, or they just feel like it. It starts off with cool striped/dotted designs, but you end up covered! There were a couple American girls that were so black when they closed they're eyes and mouths you couldn't see them at all!! Not fun to wash off, but ridiculously fun to see.
Day 2 in the jungle was thankfully all downhill...and a bit cloudy. This hurt the knees, but was a nice break from the large uphills we covered the day before. After lunch was bamboo rafting. And as soon as we had all stepped on the 'leaky' raft, our 'driver' took off, throwing us onto our hands and knees. There would be no hope of staying dry. After a few bends in the river, lucky me who was sitting at the back of the raft, with the driver at the front, got swung around on a big turn...and headed for a large tree trunk over hanging into the river!! Thinking I was strong enough I layed on my back and stuck my legs out to push the raft away from the tree. But alas, I was no competition for the current and as the raft continued forward, my feet stuck on the tree, pulled themselves over my head and I flipped into the water!! AHhh, I was most worried about losing my sandles and sun glasses, but luckily came out alright...with a good laugh all around. I wish I had a video of my ridiculous stunt.
Enough trekking. We were going to go to the night market again that night...but instead hit the bed at 8pm, and did not move until the next morning!
More to come...
xoxoxoxoxox
Loves & misses to everyone.
A Bumpy Ride
These next few posts are long overdue...
Day 3, my legs were exhausted after biking too far on day 2, but I finally dragged myself out for my last day of exploring. I stopped off quickly to check my e-mail before, and for those who don't know, that's when I got some bad news about my grandma. I knew she was in the hospital, but she had gone down really fast and this really shocked me. It was really hard news to take being on the other side of the world and I was ready to jump on a plane home immediately. I spent the day exploring the Angkor Wat alone...just taking my time, and missing my family. It was a rough day, but I couldn't make any decisions until any final news came from home...turns out grandma is still as stubborn as we all know, and she's now thankfully been moved out of the hospital for some more personal care. I am always thinking about her. But from here, all I can send is my love and thoughts (always)!
Back to travel news...
Once we had exhausted ourselves exploring the Angkor Temples, it was time to head for Thailand. We set out on the notoriously bumpy/hoprrible road from Siem Reap to the border. Because we wanted to take the train from the border to Bangkok, and didn't know if the bus would get us there in time, we opted to hare a taxi with a German girl. The price was only a little bit more, and the shocks a bit better! It was was still ridiculously like a roller-coaster. Huge pot holes litter the dirt road; the cars are very resilient. From the border we took third class to Bangkok - which means hard wooden seats for 6 hours stopping at every train station along the way. Some of which were only little name posts hammered into the ground! With sore bumps we arrived in the chaos that is Bangkok, wow!
Day 3, my legs were exhausted after biking too far on day 2, but I finally dragged myself out for my last day of exploring. I stopped off quickly to check my e-mail before, and for those who don't know, that's when I got some bad news about my grandma. I knew she was in the hospital, but she had gone down really fast and this really shocked me. It was really hard news to take being on the other side of the world and I was ready to jump on a plane home immediately. I spent the day exploring the Angkor Wat alone...just taking my time, and missing my family. It was a rough day, but I couldn't make any decisions until any final news came from home...turns out grandma is still as stubborn as we all know, and she's now thankfully been moved out of the hospital for some more personal care. I am always thinking about her. But from here, all I can send is my love and thoughts (always)!
Back to travel news...
Once we had exhausted ourselves exploring the Angkor Temples, it was time to head for Thailand. We set out on the notoriously bumpy/hoprrible road from Siem Reap to the border. Because we wanted to take the train from the border to Bangkok, and didn't know if the bus would get us there in time, we opted to hare a taxi with a German girl. The price was only a little bit more, and the shocks a bit better! It was was still ridiculously like a roller-coaster. Huge pot holes litter the dirt road; the cars are very resilient. From the border we took third class to Bangkok - which means hard wooden seats for 6 hours stopping at every train station along the way. Some of which were only little name posts hammered into the ground! With sore bumps we arrived in the chaos that is Bangkok, wow!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Angkor pictures (a few)
Some pictures from the opast 3 days...a small sample of the 250+ I have to filter through...
Friday, July 6, 2007
Rainy Season
We've not only entered Cambodia, but also the rainy season! Yay. In Siem Reap, the rain has a very distinct schedule. The mornings are decent, but cloudy. And around 2-3pm the rain begins, always! Which means waking up at the crack of dawn (literally, we've had breakfast at 4:30am the past 2 days!) in order to maximize one's time for viewing the temples. It also means that by 8pm, you're ready to squish 3 people into two shoved-together double beds!
After a short stay in Phnom Penh we headed up to North-eastern Cambodia. Skipped out on the Irawaddy dolphins in Kratie because they cost $8! Spent one day in Ban Lung - saw a couple waterfalls & swam in a volcano lake. Jungle trekking was $20/day, so that was out...therefore, we headed back south & over to Siem Reap. How did we get back south from Ban Lung? Well, we missed the 6am bus because we thought it left at 8am. Our only alternative was a share-taxi, which cost a little bit more, but saved us wasting a day, so we said yes. The taxi came to pick us up at our guesthouse with one other man in the front seat. But was that all? Ohh, no, we stopped in town to pick up 2 more people - in a toyota camry! They tried to squeeze one of them in the back with us, but there was definitely no room without having to sit on each other, which we wouldn't have. So two men each shared either of the front seats - yes, even the driver!?! It was obnoxiously ridiculous! Oh, and we also got a flat tire along the way.
Siem Reap...
After another day on the bus, we made it to Siem Reap. Yesterday we started on a 3-day pass for the Angkor temples at 5am with the hopes of catching the sunrise. Unfortunately the road to get to the temples is never-ending, and the sky was bright by the time we arrived; the clouds also helped ruining the splendor of the sun-rise & sunset.. The spread of the temples however is massive! I've seen at least 10 different temples, all with something unique to offer - elaborate carvings, huge towers with steap stairs you can climb up (at your own risk!), trees' roots taking over the structures, hidden passageways, etc. It's HUGE & amazing!! And I haven't even been to Angkor Wat yet! Also great exercise if you're riding a bike. After day 2, and over 40km's (at least) of riding today, I was longing looking at the tuk-tuks that went zooming past!
Random note - I bought a cow 'bell' made out of bamboo today, which I'm very excited about!
I won't bore you with the details of the temples, you'll just have to hold out for pictures.
SORRY clause: my camera has ben very bust the past 2 days, and has chosen this perfect moment to run out of batteries, meaning that I can't upload any photos of Angkor!!! I'm very disappointed, but will try again tomorrow.
xoxoxo
After a short stay in Phnom Penh we headed up to North-eastern Cambodia. Skipped out on the Irawaddy dolphins in Kratie because they cost $8! Spent one day in Ban Lung - saw a couple waterfalls & swam in a volcano lake. Jungle trekking was $20/day, so that was out...therefore, we headed back south & over to Siem Reap. How did we get back south from Ban Lung? Well, we missed the 6am bus because we thought it left at 8am. Our only alternative was a share-taxi, which cost a little bit more, but saved us wasting a day, so we said yes. The taxi came to pick us up at our guesthouse with one other man in the front seat. But was that all? Ohh, no, we stopped in town to pick up 2 more people - in a toyota camry! They tried to squeeze one of them in the back with us, but there was definitely no room without having to sit on each other, which we wouldn't have. So two men each shared either of the front seats - yes, even the driver!?! It was obnoxiously ridiculous! Oh, and we also got a flat tire along the way.
Siem Reap...
After another day on the bus, we made it to Siem Reap. Yesterday we started on a 3-day pass for the Angkor temples at 5am with the hopes of catching the sunrise. Unfortunately the road to get to the temples is never-ending, and the sky was bright by the time we arrived; the clouds also helped ruining the splendor of the sun-rise & sunset.. The spread of the temples however is massive! I've seen at least 10 different temples, all with something unique to offer - elaborate carvings, huge towers with steap stairs you can climb up (at your own risk!), trees' roots taking over the structures, hidden passageways, etc. It's HUGE & amazing!! And I haven't even been to Angkor Wat yet! Also great exercise if you're riding a bike. After day 2, and over 40km's (at least) of riding today, I was longing looking at the tuk-tuks that went zooming past!
Random note - I bought a cow 'bell' made out of bamboo today, which I'm very excited about!
I won't bore you with the details of the temples, you'll just have to hold out for pictures.
SORRY clause: my camera has ben very bust the past 2 days, and has chosen this perfect moment to run out of batteries, meaning that I can't upload any photos of Angkor!!! I'm very disappointed, but will try again tomorrow.
xoxoxo
Friday, June 29, 2007
Coming out of the past...Cambodia
Photos of prisoners from Tuol Sleng prison...
The Royal Palace
Ice cream bun!!
Yesterday we arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Upon crossing the border the change and poverty versus what we saw in Vietnam was immediately present. (Except for the bizarre concentration of large casinos just across the border...not sure who can afford to go there!). Our bus had to take a ferry to cross the Mekong, and there were children banging on the side of the bus asking for money. Taking a tuk-tuk out to the Killing Fields today, children ran beside, holding on to the side...also asking for money. They are also out trying to sell you books, and souvenirs. We've seen this before, but this is the worst. Even though Laos is supposed to be worse off, it was the one country where most of the kids were saying 'Hi' and waving, just because they were being friendly!!
Today was exhausting (emotionally & physically). We took a tuk-tuk out to the Killinf Fields where mass exterminations were performed by the Khmer Rouge - they have many of the skulls from the excavated graves on display in the memorial. It chills your bones. And if that's not enough to make you question humanity - the Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21) which was a former school converted into a prison would do it. Thousands of people were disgusting kept and butchered here...the cells remain in-tact, and just stepping inside them puts goosebumps on your skin. And yet, it was never a story told in History class. I feel very ignorant for not knowing about it until traveling here! The stories of SE Asia certainly don't paint a pretty history.
On a lighter note to end the afternoon, we visited the Royal Palace - large & beautiful (although with a wierd mix of gold and GREY? paint). Saw some friend spiders, crickets, and tiny birds for sale on the street. And ate ice cream on a sweet hot dog bun! ohhh, I love street food!
Here are some pictures..FINALLY!!
xoxo.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Motorcycle Diaries
After a quick one day visit in Natrang, where we cycled out to mud baths in the pouring rain! We headed for Dalat. I beautiful town at the top of the central highlands...up in the mountains it's so cold people were wearing toques? Yes, in Vietnam, in the middle of the summer. We were glad we finally didn't have sweat pouring out of our skin, and all of the locals were bundled up.
In Dalat we arranged a 3-day motorcycle 'tour' with 2 Easy Riders. Mom, I hope I didn't freak you out too much when I told you this!?!?
It turned out to be a fantastic (although a little wet) trip. We sped through the central highlands on the back of motorcycles seeing some BEAUTIFUL scenery!! We saw minority tribes, silk worms, waterfalls, the HO Chi Mihn Trail, and a diversity of the agirculture crops they grow here (rubber trees, coffee!!, pineapples, tapioca, pepper, rice-dry&wet, etc.). As we made our way from Dalat to Saigon, we would pull off to the side of the road every 1/2-1hour and our guides would tell us about the spot. It was a great way to see another side of Vietnam, which was way different from the North (yay!). There are so many stories to tell, which will have to wait until I get back with pictures...& videos! But I can now leave Vietnam with a good impression, and a couple good Easy Rider friends left behind.
Random story - we had stopped along the road yesterday for a rest. They have these fantastic road side 'cafes' where you can have some drinks/food & lay in hammocks! We were hanging out for a while when another two guys with their 'Easy Rider' guides pull in. We started chatting, and asked where each was from, and guess...one of the guys was from Penticton!! And knows Mike Harris (they studied together at OUC Penticton, his name's Aaron), craazzzy eh. AND, the other guy is from Calgary, but is half-cousins with the Bells (Sheena). AND, today at the Cu Chi tunnels (which, although already widdened for tourists, were incredibly narrow), we were waiting outside and a guys comes up to me and says, "you're from B.C." yes, "you're from Summerland" yes, "your brother's Jeremy Kwok!" WHAT!?!? And then he just walked away without telling me his name. I recognized his face from high school. But this world is WAY too small!
Now we're in Saigon, but hoping to head to Cambodia tomorrow to meet up with Natascha's friend who's been waiting for us for a couple days, oops!! The motorbikes could not be missed though!
xoxoxo.
In Dalat we arranged a 3-day motorcycle 'tour' with 2 Easy Riders. Mom, I hope I didn't freak you out too much when I told you this!?!?
It turned out to be a fantastic (although a little wet) trip. We sped through the central highlands on the back of motorcycles seeing some BEAUTIFUL scenery!! We saw minority tribes, silk worms, waterfalls, the HO Chi Mihn Trail, and a diversity of the agirculture crops they grow here (rubber trees, coffee!!, pineapples, tapioca, pepper, rice-dry&wet, etc.). As we made our way from Dalat to Saigon, we would pull off to the side of the road every 1/2-1hour and our guides would tell us about the spot. It was a great way to see another side of Vietnam, which was way different from the North (yay!). There are so many stories to tell, which will have to wait until I get back with pictures...& videos! But I can now leave Vietnam with a good impression, and a couple good Easy Rider friends left behind.
Random story - we had stopped along the road yesterday for a rest. They have these fantastic road side 'cafes' where you can have some drinks/food & lay in hammocks! We were hanging out for a while when another two guys with their 'Easy Rider' guides pull in. We started chatting, and asked where each was from, and guess...one of the guys was from Penticton!! And knows Mike Harris (they studied together at OUC Penticton, his name's Aaron), craazzzy eh. AND, the other guy is from Calgary, but is half-cousins with the Bells (Sheena). AND, today at the Cu Chi tunnels (which, although already widdened for tourists, were incredibly narrow), we were waiting outside and a guys comes up to me and says, "you're from B.C." yes, "you're from Summerland" yes, "your brother's Jeremy Kwok!" WHAT!?!? And then he just walked away without telling me his name. I recognized his face from high school. But this world is WAY too small!
Now we're in Saigon, but hoping to head to Cambodia tomorrow to meet up with Natascha's friend who's been waiting for us for a couple days, oops!! The motorbikes could not be missed though!
xoxoxo.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Back to Vietnam
I seem to be having trouble accessing my blog here in Vietnam - they won't let me see my posts...always scamming me in some way (and always with a smile!!)
So we've made our way back to Vietnam after another full day of bus rides. But received a great bonus - one ten hour ride that we booked after spending the night at the bus station, was only with one other couple...i.e. five people on the bus and with AIR CONDITIONING!!! Serious luxury after taking a four hour local bus that started with 30 people, and finished with 75!! (And there's only seats for 30 - the bus just keeps picking up people from viliages along the side of the road)
We spent a couple nights in Hue where we visitied the former Demilitarized Zone and walked through the Vinh Moc tunnels (where 300 people lived during the war - incredible small!). The morning before we left, I biked with a Vietnamese-American girl we had met on the tour, to the ocean to see the sunrise. Unfortunately, the supposive 12 km to the beach, ended up being 20-25, so by the time we finally got there, the sun was already up! Nothing like biking at 4am though!!
After a beautiful train-ride along the ocean's cost, we arrived in Danang, where we took a taxi to Hoi An. Along the way we stopped at Blue Mountain - where they have Buddhas carved into large caves, very impressive! In Hoi An - it's the tailor capital. You can walk into any one of the hundreds, tell them what you want (jacket, dress, shoes, suit) and within a day they will have it made, cutsom for you!! I got two jackets (orange and white!) and one summer dress..I pick them up today, and we'll see!!
I've gotta run and pack-up, because check out time at our 'splurge' hotel (which is $10/night & had a pool and free buffet breakfast) ist in 20 minutes, and I'm not packed up at all...
Loves& misses to you all!!
xoxoxox.
So we've made our way back to Vietnam after another full day of bus rides. But received a great bonus - one ten hour ride that we booked after spending the night at the bus station, was only with one other couple...i.e. five people on the bus and with AIR CONDITIONING!!! Serious luxury after taking a four hour local bus that started with 30 people, and finished with 75!! (And there's only seats for 30 - the bus just keeps picking up people from viliages along the side of the road)
We spent a couple nights in Hue where we visitied the former Demilitarized Zone and walked through the Vinh Moc tunnels (where 300 people lived during the war - incredible small!). The morning before we left, I biked with a Vietnamese-American girl we had met on the tour, to the ocean to see the sunrise. Unfortunately, the supposive 12 km to the beach, ended up being 20-25, so by the time we finally got there, the sun was already up! Nothing like biking at 4am though!!
After a beautiful train-ride along the ocean's cost, we arrived in Danang, where we took a taxi to Hoi An. Along the way we stopped at Blue Mountain - where they have Buddhas carved into large caves, very impressive! In Hoi An - it's the tailor capital. You can walk into any one of the hundreds, tell them what you want (jacket, dress, shoes, suit) and within a day they will have it made, cutsom for you!! I got two jackets (orange and white!) and one summer dress..I pick them up today, and we'll see!!
I've gotta run and pack-up, because check out time at our 'splurge' hotel (which is $10/night & had a pool and free buffet breakfast) ist in 20 minutes, and I'm not packed up at all...
Loves& misses to you all!!
xoxoxox.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Laos - relaxing, friendly, beautiful
Wow! As soon as our bus crossed the border into Loas, it was a completely different feeling. Beautiful green mountains enshrouded in mist - and roads that twist and turn so much that it takes 12 hours to cover 400 km.
Two days ago, Chanel had the crazy idea to rent mountain bikes to cylce out to the Guang Si waterfalls, a short 32 km outside of Luang Prabang! Ha, she's never cycled for then 5 in her life, brilliant! Poor Natascha gets to put up with my crazy antics...but we made it! There was one monsterous hill about 10 km in, which we walked our bikes up; but it was followed by a wonderous downhill ride!! The waterfalls were picturesque (I really will post pictures soon!!). When we finally found the designated swimming 'pools' and jumped in with four beautiful local Laos girls, who were the sweetest! We played tag, and jupmed off of the rocks...loads of fun even though we couldn't understand each other!! We took a tuk-tuk back to town, don't know if we could've ridden the whole way, and Natascha would probably have murdered me if I suggested it!! :D
Yesterday we took the morning bus through the Loas mountains again...fantastic...and landed ourselves in Vang Vieng - a small town with one main street that's remind you of an old-school version of Las Vegas! It's famous for the tubing you can do down the adjacent Nam Song river, once the rain lets up...we're headed out!!
In Vang Vieng they are famous for their 'Friends' re-runs. Yes, the tv show we all used to watch Thursday nights! Your can actually sit in restaurants/cafes and watch the DVD episodes all day!! I think we watched a good 6 yesterday, just lounging around drinking .50 mixed fruit shakes...mmmmmm.
Tomorrow we're set for another big series of bus rides to take us back to Vietnam (we are going very reluctantly, Laos has been fantastic!!). Here's to hoping central and southern Vietnam will leave a better impression on me than the North! Or I may just have to hop up back into Laos - I seriously recommend people to come here!! I wish I could post pictures right now...but I'm paying per minute, and it would take too long, haha.
Loves & Misses.
xoxo.
p.s. Happy Father's Day DADDY!!! :D
Thursday, June 14, 2007
36 hours on a bus....
will take you away from the crazy motorbikes of Hanoi, through the beautiful mist-surrounded mountains of Laos, and into the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang. Despite many stories of horrible bus rides here from Vietnam, we made it, (sadly?) without any horror storeis - oh, except for being scammed, onces again in Hanoi, and having to 're-purchase' our bus ticket from the capital, Vientiane to LP! Another reason, I'm glad to leave there.
We arrived bright and early here at 6:30 am, found a place to stay for US$4! Grabbed some breakfast and then started exploring town. We walked around, and when we were walking by one of the many temples here, some young monks called us in. We went in and chatted to them for a while - they just wanted to practice their english! They even gave us some bananas!!
Anyway, now it's time for some quick research for the remainder for our month, before heading up the mountain to see th etemples and sunset.
Loves & misses,
Chanel :)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Case of the Mondays
We had another huge thunderstorm here last night, which actually woke me up (shows you how loud it must’ve been)! I got up early this morning, grandma style, to do some internet research on our pending bus ride to Laos…it’s impossibly hard to find out how much a trip should actually cost, it’s different every time through different agents, for different people! Bluddy ‘ell. We’ll decide tomorrow…’always out off today what you can do tomorrow.’
Today we trekked around the west-side of the city. Over to the Laos and Cambodian embassies to get visas (Laos only took 10 minutes for a pretty sticker!). Then it was over to the beautiful Temple of Literature stopping at a gorgeous little temple along the way. It had four layers and heights of gold statues behind the offerings…not listed in LP, and I think one of the most beautiful temples I have ever seen. The Van Mieu was very Chinese as it was dedicated to the study of Confusianism. It also had the added bonus of a student 50% student discount (i.e. 2,500d!!) After some street fried rice & freshly cut pineapples, totalling 26,00d less than US$2, we headed back to our hotel for a rest.
When we headed out again it was to search for bus prices to Laos, with little success of course. We shopped for some small daypacks, and I pissed off a lot of them when I offered $2-3 for a small knock off North Face, oops! Paid 3,00d to see a tourist pagoda in the middle of the lake, and was harassed by a tout wanting to sell leaves folded into grasshoppers - he took my hand and put the leaf in it and it took nearly 5 times for him to take it back. We have been very grateful with the ease of which touters are sloughed off here - a polite 'no' and they walk away (unlike other countries we've been to), but today, being Monday, had them harassing us all day. Motorcycle, tuk-tuk?, food...argh.
Well that's enough writing for one day, I'm bored and the rain's back - time for a Bia Hoi!
Today we trekked around the west-side of the city. Over to the Laos and Cambodian embassies to get visas (Laos only took 10 minutes for a pretty sticker!). Then it was over to the beautiful Temple of Literature stopping at a gorgeous little temple along the way. It had four layers and heights of gold statues behind the offerings…not listed in LP, and I think one of the most beautiful temples I have ever seen. The Van Mieu was very Chinese as it was dedicated to the study of Confusianism. It also had the added bonus of a student 50% student discount (i.e. 2,500d!!) After some street fried rice & freshly cut pineapples, totalling 26,00d less than US$2, we headed back to our hotel for a rest.
When we headed out again it was to search for bus prices to Laos, with little success of course. We shopped for some small daypacks, and I pissed off a lot of them when I offered $2-3 for a small knock off North Face, oops! Paid 3,00d to see a tourist pagoda in the middle of the lake, and was harassed by a tout wanting to sell leaves folded into grasshoppers - he took my hand and put the leaf in it and it took nearly 5 times for him to take it back. We have been very grateful with the ease of which touters are sloughed off here - a polite 'no' and they walk away (unlike other countries we've been to), but today, being Monday, had them harassing us all day. Motorcycle, tuk-tuk?, food...argh.
Well that's enough writing for one day, I'm bored and the rain's back - time for a Bia Hoi!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Vietnam - Halong Bay
After hours of searching around Hanoi for a 'good' deal on a 2 day trip to Halong Bay, we were just more confused. Many 'travel agencies' here copy names from reputable agents, which are no longer distinguishable, making life very confusing, as you don't know who to trust (Sihn Cafe, Sihn Cafe Travel, Sihn Travel, etc.). In the end, we still paid too much from our hotel, but it was a very nice trip. The islands of Halong Bay are breathtaking - they are just like the limestone mountains of Guiling/Yangshou!! We got to go swimming and kayaking around in the warm water (which is not at all refreshing when you just want a cold shower), see a cave and sleep on the boat. We also had a good time hanging out with the lot of Brit and Aussie backpackers on the boat with us.
When we arrived back in Ha Noi, we found out that our old Hotel was now full, and we couldn'd find another place that was as cheap or as nice...we complained (also about paying too much for the tour, which we had booked through them). After trying to show us to a few other close places which weren't as nice and charging more. They finally gave in, and took us to a 'friend's' hotel which is very nice, and are paying for the room! (We get to save us$8!!). And the room has a hair dryer and a real tub-shower!! We were extremely excited to see this. Although it's gushing rain outside, so the hair dryer won't be very helpful.
Now, we have a couple days in Ha Noi, unfotunately due to some poor planning our part - all of the museums are closed today (i.e. no embalmed Ho Chi Mihn can be seen). Hopefully we can get to them tomorrow morning and then set off on a ~30 hour bus ride to Laos (which is supposed to be horrible, yay).
Well it's back to research, one of the exhausting parts of traveling on a tight schedule & budget, but also exciting.
I would love to hear from anyone reading this - what/how are you doing??
Loves & misses.
Chúc ngú ngon (Good Night)
Friday, June 8, 2007
Vietnam - Hanoi
<-- Countryside of Vietnam26 hours after leaving Hong Kong we arrived in Vietnam! It took a bit of work. We arrived in Guangzhou only to find out that the next train for Nanning didn't leave until 5pm the next day! (which would've meant a horrid 20 hour wait at that train station-some of you might now what it looks like, there's no seats!). Option 2-sleeper bus. Owing to a certain trip to China during the New Year, I was not too keen on this idea. Oh, and we also didn't have a map of the city or speak the language...how does one go by finding a bus station in this situation?? By drawing pictures and playing charades of course! Luckily it was very close, and they had a bus leaving in 5 minutes. AND, I can sooo thankfully say that this ride was 100% different from my previous experience. The bus 'attendant' handed out water and 'oat mixed congee' in a can! He even used a chinese/english dictionary on his phone to tell us when we were at the rest stop (w/ clean bathrooms!).
After a series of transportation transitions and negotiations, we have finally arrived in Hanoi. The countryside we saw driving here from the border was beautiful (reminded me of the Philippines). And now we've been searching for a tour to Halong Bay, which has been ridiculous, because many companies here steal the names of companies with good reps, subsequently, you have no idea what you're going to get, no matter what you pay! Let's hope it works out...
We're off to try to catch some of game 5 of the Cup finals which they're showing at a bar here!!
Over & out.
Loves & misses to everyone reading this!!
-Chanel
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