Well, if you've been following the blog and/or we're friends on FB then you know the answer to that question. If you've been following the blog and we're not friends on FB, then you've got a bit of an idea, but not really. If you haven't been following the blog and now are, then welcome. And if you haven't been following the blog and aren't following the blog then these words are wasted on you as you're not here to read them. But you can't say I didn't try.
It looks like my last entry was a little over three weeks ago. I warned you I wasn't going to write, and I lived up to that warning. I'm sure you all needed a break from me anyway. But now I am sitting in my hotel room in Bangkok (yes, I'm staying at a hotel - fancy eh?) and I figure it's time to play catch up. Thing is, I've got a lot of photos I need to sift through before I can really do that. And I haven't wrapped my head yet around what I'm going to say about the past few weeks or how I'm going to break it down. It'll be more than one entry, I know that much.
So how about we start with a summary, kinda like what I've been posting to FB every day over the past three weeks, but this time with different pictures, or at least, some different pictures. Seems like good start. Yes? It's likely gonna suck as I haven't even begun to wrap my head around things and organize myself, but here goes.
Day 1-2: Hanoi, Vietnam
I'd already spent a few days in Hanoi and you've heard about them. These couple of days were about meeting the group of people that would be travelling together, and then getting a bit of a tour of the city.
This was breakfast on Day 2, at a place near the hotel where Ngoc, our guide/leader/keeper, took a few of us to. More on him and "a few of us" another time.
And that's just a couple of doors across from breakfast. I still like doors.
Day 3: Halong Bay, Vietnam
This is where I learned that I should post to FB at the end of the day, not in the middle of it. Here's why...
There were caves.
Oh, and the islands got prettier too.
You can see why Halong Bay is listed as one of the natural wonders of the world.
Right now will be where I apologize for the smudge that will come and go across the photos from time to time. Little I can do about it till I'm home. It has wrecked many a decent shot, and I'm not pleased, but there you have it. Some people take something along with them on trips to include in photos (bears and garden gnomes come to mind). Me, I've got a smudge. Perhaps it would help if I named him.
Lemme work on that.
Day 4: Hue, Vietnam
We took a night train to Hue, where we then spent the day visiting pagodas, the
Citadel/Forbidden City, cruising down the Perfume River, and having dinner at a homestay.
Day 5-7: Hoi An, Vietnam
A morning bus ride took us to Hoi An, a beautiful city, and a very popular tourist destination, especially as it's here where you can get well made, inexpensive, bespoke clothing. And who can argue with that. But there's other stuff to do to, like biking out around the farms and rice fields, petting buffalo (though I likely should not have done that), wandering around the markets, historic bits, you know, stuff.
And no, I did not get a suit.
Day 8-9: Nha Trang, Vietnam
It was then another night train to Nha Trang, where we spent some time on the surrounding islands visiting fishing villages, riding in round boats, and snorkeling.
It also happened to be Tet, the Lunar New Year, and a very important celebration in Vietnam. So at night in Nha Trang we were able to catch the celebrations, enjoy the show, and watch the fireworks.
Day 10-11: Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
It was then on to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, depending on what you feel like calling it on any given day. Here was where we were saying goodbye to part of the group and picking up some new people. Here also we were saying goodbye to our guide Ngoc and saying hello to our new guide Channa.
First though was a couple of busy days cruising along the Mekong River, visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, exploring a bit of Saigon, and visiting the War Remnants Museum.
Oh, and that's Reunification Palace, once the President of South Vietnam's home and workplace, and proof that architecture from the 60's can be really fantastic.
Day 12: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
And then all of a sudden we were in Cambodia standing outside of the Royal Palace.
Okay, not really, "all" of a sudden, more like, "after a really long drive, getting a visa, crossing the border, and more driving" of a sudden.
We were in Phnom Penh twice, both for short periods of time. This first time was spent, for the most part, visiting one of the Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh, and S21, one of the 'reeducation" (read "torture") centres within the city, two memorials to the atrocities carried out by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.
Day 13: Chambok, Cambodia
I'm stuck. I am completely stuck on providing this summary. Those couple of days back to back, first with the Cu Chi tunnels, and learning about the war in Vietnam and the lasting effects of Agent Orange, followed up almost immediately by the horror that was Cambodia in the 70's, they've..., well..., there's no way to gracefully move on in this narrative without seeming to diminish the importance, the weight, the whatever you want to call it, that these events deserve. I'm sorry for that. I don't have the capacity as a writer to do it right. So my apologies for how I fumble this.
It was hard.
And I'm thankful that the next day (well actually, later that day as the trip to the Killing Fields and S21 was actually the morning of Day 13) was a trip to a homestay in Chambok, and that along the way we got to cross rickety bridges, avoid herds of cows, and clear the road of a large tree that had fallen and was barring the way.
Oh, and then, the next morning, go for a hike to a waterfall.
Day 14-15: Sihanoukville, Cambodia
And then it was on further to Sihanoukville, where we spent a couple of days hanging on the beach, taking a cruise to one of the islands to go snorkeling and continue the beach hanging routine. Neither activities are really my first choices in how to spend my time, but I'm trying to be more adaptable.
You can see that Marvin had a good time in the water.
Yes, I've decided to name the smudge Marvin. Why Marvin? Well, because I actually have a small Marvin the Martian figure with me that for whatever reason (likely because I thought I might take pictures of him everywhere) ended up in my bag. He's not seen the light of day since leaving Toronto. There's a few ounces of plastic I didn't need to be carrying.
Anyway, Marvin it is. He's an excellent swimmer. The smudge. I can't speak for the original.
Day 16: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
And then back again to Phnom Penh for a day and night where we got to wander around and this time headed in to the Royal Palace.
Day 17: Kompong Cham, Cambodia
And then the next morning it was off again, this time to Kompong Cham where we got to explore part of the area by bike and travel across a bamboo bridge to and around one of the islands. It is very long. And bumpy. But oh so cool.
And then it was to another homestay for dinner where the after dinner drink was tarantula wine.
Not bad to be honest. And given that earlier that day I had eaten tarantula and had one crawl along my arm (not the same tarantula by the way), it seemed only right to raise a glass.
Day 18-20: Siem Reap
An early morning bus trip got us into Siem Reap mid-afternoon. We spent three nights there, with the first night being primarily just a bit of a walk about, the next day being all about visiting Angkor Wat and other ancient temples complexes, and zip-lining through the forest, and the third day taking a trip out to one of the floating villages about an hour outside of Siem Reap. By floating I mean house boats and stilt houses.
By far seeing Angkor Wat was the part of this trip I had been most excited about. And did it live up to my expectations? I'll let you know in the long form.
Day 21-22: Bangkok, Thailand
And then it was a days travel, including another border crossing, to finally arrive at our final destination, Bangkok, where I now sit, in my hotel room, writing this.
There was no actual planned trip stuff in Bangkok, so I have no excursions to speak of. Once here people started to head on home or elsewhere, some late that night, and more yesterday. There are still a few of us here, but we've pretty much all said our goodbyes, just in case we don't connect again.
Right, people. There were people on this trip. And yes, I have pictures of them, and yes, I deliberately didn't now, but I will introduce you to them all. That'll be another summary. Later. Soon. But still later.
So, to summarize the summary.
1. Spent about three weeks travelling through Vietnam and Cambodia and am now in Bangkok, Thailand.
2. Had an awesome time.
And there you have it.
It looks like my last entry was a little over three weeks ago. I warned you I wasn't going to write, and I lived up to that warning. I'm sure you all needed a break from me anyway. But now I am sitting in my hotel room in Bangkok (yes, I'm staying at a hotel - fancy eh?) and I figure it's time to play catch up. Thing is, I've got a lot of photos I need to sift through before I can really do that. And I haven't wrapped my head yet around what I'm going to say about the past few weeks or how I'm going to break it down. It'll be more than one entry, I know that much.
So how about we start with a summary, kinda like what I've been posting to FB every day over the past three weeks, but this time with different pictures, or at least, some different pictures. Seems like good start. Yes? It's likely gonna suck as I haven't even begun to wrap my head around things and organize myself, but here goes.
Day 1-2: Hanoi, Vietnam
I'd already spent a few days in Hanoi and you've heard about them. These couple of days were about meeting the group of people that would be travelling together, and then getting a bit of a tour of the city.
This was breakfast on Day 2, at a place near the hotel where Ngoc, our guide/leader/keeper, took a few of us to. More on him and "a few of us" another time.
And that's just a couple of doors across from breakfast. I still like doors.
Day 3: Halong Bay, Vietnam
This is where I learned that I should post to FB at the end of the day, not in the middle of it. Here's why...
There were caves.
Oh, and the islands got prettier too.
You can see why Halong Bay is listed as one of the natural wonders of the world.
Right now will be where I apologize for the smudge that will come and go across the photos from time to time. Little I can do about it till I'm home. It has wrecked many a decent shot, and I'm not pleased, but there you have it. Some people take something along with them on trips to include in photos (bears and garden gnomes come to mind). Me, I've got a smudge. Perhaps it would help if I named him.
Lemme work on that.
Day 4: Hue, Vietnam
We took a night train to Hue, where we then spent the day visiting pagodas, the
Citadel/Forbidden City, cruising down the Perfume River, and having dinner at a homestay.
Day 5-7: Hoi An, Vietnam
A morning bus ride took us to Hoi An, a beautiful city, and a very popular tourist destination, especially as it's here where you can get well made, inexpensive, bespoke clothing. And who can argue with that. But there's other stuff to do to, like biking out around the farms and rice fields, petting buffalo (though I likely should not have done that), wandering around the markets, historic bits, you know, stuff.
And no, I did not get a suit.
Day 8-9: Nha Trang, Vietnam
It was then another night train to Nha Trang, where we spent some time on the surrounding islands visiting fishing villages, riding in round boats, and snorkeling.
It also happened to be Tet, the Lunar New Year, and a very important celebration in Vietnam. So at night in Nha Trang we were able to catch the celebrations, enjoy the show, and watch the fireworks.
Recovery from that was made easy the next day as it consisted of visiting a temple and hanging out at a mud bath. In that order, as opposed to in the order of the below pictures.
Day 10-11: Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
It was then on to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, depending on what you feel like calling it on any given day. Here was where we were saying goodbye to part of the group and picking up some new people. Here also we were saying goodbye to our guide Ngoc and saying hello to our new guide Channa.
First though was a couple of busy days cruising along the Mekong River, visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, exploring a bit of Saigon, and visiting the War Remnants Museum.
Oh, and that's Reunification Palace, once the President of South Vietnam's home and workplace, and proof that architecture from the 60's can be really fantastic.
Day 12: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
And then all of a sudden we were in Cambodia standing outside of the Royal Palace.
Okay, not really, "all" of a sudden, more like, "after a really long drive, getting a visa, crossing the border, and more driving" of a sudden.
We were in Phnom Penh twice, both for short periods of time. This first time was spent, for the most part, visiting one of the Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh, and S21, one of the 'reeducation" (read "torture") centres within the city, two memorials to the atrocities carried out by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.
Day 13: Chambok, Cambodia
I'm stuck. I am completely stuck on providing this summary. Those couple of days back to back, first with the Cu Chi tunnels, and learning about the war in Vietnam and the lasting effects of Agent Orange, followed up almost immediately by the horror that was Cambodia in the 70's, they've..., well..., there's no way to gracefully move on in this narrative without seeming to diminish the importance, the weight, the whatever you want to call it, that these events deserve. I'm sorry for that. I don't have the capacity as a writer to do it right. So my apologies for how I fumble this.
It was hard.
And I'm thankful that the next day (well actually, later that day as the trip to the Killing Fields and S21 was actually the morning of Day 13) was a trip to a homestay in Chambok, and that along the way we got to cross rickety bridges, avoid herds of cows, and clear the road of a large tree that had fallen and was barring the way.
Oh, and then, the next morning, go for a hike to a waterfall.
Day 14-15: Sihanoukville, Cambodia
And then it was on further to Sihanoukville, where we spent a couple of days hanging on the beach, taking a cruise to one of the islands to go snorkeling and continue the beach hanging routine. Neither activities are really my first choices in how to spend my time, but I'm trying to be more adaptable.
You can see that Marvin had a good time in the water.
Yes, I've decided to name the smudge Marvin. Why Marvin? Well, because I actually have a small Marvin the Martian figure with me that for whatever reason (likely because I thought I might take pictures of him everywhere) ended up in my bag. He's not seen the light of day since leaving Toronto. There's a few ounces of plastic I didn't need to be carrying.
Anyway, Marvin it is. He's an excellent swimmer. The smudge. I can't speak for the original.
Day 16: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
And then back again to Phnom Penh for a day and night where we got to wander around and this time headed in to the Royal Palace.
Day 17: Kompong Cham, Cambodia
And then the next morning it was off again, this time to Kompong Cham where we got to explore part of the area by bike and travel across a bamboo bridge to and around one of the islands. It is very long. And bumpy. But oh so cool.
And then it was to another homestay for dinner where the after dinner drink was tarantula wine.
Not bad to be honest. And given that earlier that day I had eaten tarantula and had one crawl along my arm (not the same tarantula by the way), it seemed only right to raise a glass.
Day 18-20: Siem Reap
An early morning bus trip got us into Siem Reap mid-afternoon. We spent three nights there, with the first night being primarily just a bit of a walk about, the next day being all about visiting Angkor Wat and other ancient temples complexes, and zip-lining through the forest, and the third day taking a trip out to one of the floating villages about an hour outside of Siem Reap. By floating I mean house boats and stilt houses.
By far seeing Angkor Wat was the part of this trip I had been most excited about. And did it live up to my expectations? I'll let you know in the long form.
Day 21-22: Bangkok, Thailand
And then it was a days travel, including another border crossing, to finally arrive at our final destination, Bangkok, where I now sit, in my hotel room, writing this.
There was no actual planned trip stuff in Bangkok, so I have no excursions to speak of. Once here people started to head on home or elsewhere, some late that night, and more yesterday. There are still a few of us here, but we've pretty much all said our goodbyes, just in case we don't connect again.
Right, people. There were people on this trip. And yes, I have pictures of them, and yes, I deliberately didn't now, but I will introduce you to them all. That'll be another summary. Later. Soon. But still later.
So, to summarize the summary.
1. Spent about three weeks travelling through Vietnam and Cambodia and am now in Bangkok, Thailand.
2. Had an awesome time.
And there you have it.
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