Ko Samui

Well we have arrived in Ko Samui and we can actually sleep in and do whatever rather than have something planned for the day.  Oh heaven!  The rainy season is still in effect here but it is very warm.  The rain comes and goes but it is beautiful.  Today we will start exploring after a couple of hours on the beach.  Wonderful breakfast at the hotel which is where I took this picture.  That is the view from our table through an open air window.  Sigh!

The Water Festival

How lucky we are to be in Chiang Mai for the full moon water festival.  After a wonderful day with the elephants we head down to the river by tuk tuk to put our arrangement of flowers, incense and sparkler in the river.  This symbolizes sending away any bad spirits or bad omens that you may have accumulated.  When we arrive at the river the sky is dotted with many lanterns that people light and send up and the river is alive with floral decorations similar to the one that we set adrift.  Fire works are being set off everywhere.  We visit the night market and then set off to walk into the Old Town surrounded by the old wall originally constructed in the 13th century.  After enjoying a cold beer on a patio we flag down a tuk tuk and head back to our hotel.  What a day!  Off to Ko Samui tomorrow.

Elephant Sanctuary

We headed off to the Elephant Nature Park.  We chose this place because we had been told that they rescue elephants and provide a safe place for them to live.  While enroute to the park we watched a video in the van that explained what to expect.  We fed these wonderful animals and after a wonderful lunch helped to bathe them in the river.  This was an amazing experience however came to a sudden close when the skies opened up and we had to run for cover.  We were totally soaked but what a wonderful day.

Cooking class

Marlene and I took part in a cooking class.  First we went to the market to shop for the ingredients.  This market was extremely clean.  The produce is so fresh.  Lots of herbs are sold together depending on the dish you are making.  We learned to make Pad Thai, spring rolls, two different kinds of soup and a couple of curry dishes.  So much food that we couldn't finish it.  Took some back to the hotel for tomorrow night's dinner.

Chiang Mai

Today we head to Chiang Mai.  On the way we visit the White Temple.  This is the most bizarre place.  The fellow who is building it is very wealthy and wanted to create something that tourists would come to. Not exactly your typical temple.  It looks like Winter Wonderland crossed with an amusement park!

Normally it's a challenge finding a clean toilet but not at this place!  Which way do we go?

Cheap taxi!

Marlene and I decided to go to dinner and then the night market in Chiang Rai.  We went to a great restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms as recommended by the fellow at our hotel.  By eating there you are supporting an organization that is working on family planning.

We then headed off to the night market for a little retail therapy.   Getting home we hailed a tuk tuk!

The Golden Triangle

Today we head out of Chiang Rai towards the Golden Triangle.  We stop along the way where these two young ladies were selling wine.  After sampling several different kinds which consisted of Mulberry, Liche, Strawberry and Black Ginger we decide on Strawberry.  It's only 10% alcohol but it's 100 baht which is only $3.  Great for tonight before dinner!

We then continue to Mae Sai which is the town by the Golden Triangle.  This is where the three countries of Burma (Myramar), Laos and Thailand all meet.  In the past this has been a violent area due to drug trade in opium.  Today things are a little calmer.  Here we are standing on the border between Thailand and Burma.

Along the way we stop at a temple that is known for the many monkeys that frequent this area.  This young man offered to be our "security" and keep the monkeys at bay with his stick.  He was very efficient.  Even had a name badge!  Quite the entrepreneur!

H

Chiang Rai Thailand

We're in Thailand now.  Went for a cruise on the Mae Kok River which is one of many tributaries of the Mae Khong River.  Visited another hill tribe and then back to the hotel for some pool time.  It's lovely here.  A bit cooler and the air is so much better than Bangkok.

Leaving Bangkok

Well who do you think we met at the airport on our way to Thailand?

Lions & Tigers & Bears?

Well tigers at any rate and there were lots of them at the Tiger Temple.  Approx. 2 hrs. out of Bangkok you find the temple where the monks are looking after orphaned tigers.  These are beautiful animals and to actually touch them and walk with them was amazing!

Busy Bangkok!

On Wednesday we left Luang Prabang and arrived in Bangkok, Thailand.  Such a shock going from small town back to big city.  Bangkok is huge!  It's hot, humid and choked with traffic.  It's a shopper's paradise but as most of you know I am not a shopper.  We went to Siam Square which is a huge shopping district and were quickly overwhelmed. Went to buy a couple of beers at the grocery and could not purchase between 2 pm and 5 pm!  Learned that this was an attempt to control drinking among the youth!  It was only 4:30 so went back beer less.  Toured the Grand Palace and saw the Emerald Budha which you are not allowed to phot so this one will have to do.


Friday went to the Tiger Temple and the River Kwai museum and cemetery. The tigers were amazing.  Actually got to walk with one on a leash and had our pictures taken.  It was an awesome experience.  Going to Thailand next.

Back in time for lunch

Today our guide took us to visit several hill tribes.  We travelled approx. an hour up into the mountain to arrive at a village tucked away.  This is like being in another world, another time.  They just recently got electricity so now have a wee bit of refrigeration and this is a great luxury.  The men were just arriving back to the village after gathering a vegetable all morning that resembles Bok Choy.  This will be taken down to the city by motorbike and sold.  We are fortunate in that no other tourists come here.  There is no one trying to sell you things and the children aren't begging.  It's so refreshing.  Our guide is from the Black Thai group and is very knowledgable on the tribes and can
communicate with them.
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He prepares our lunch over an open fire in the "kitchen".  It consists of sticky rice and steamed vegetables.  He adds garlic and some spices and it's quite tasty.  He was going to kill a chicken to add to the meal but we assured him we didn't need the meat and would spare the life of the chicken.  He also shared that he had a younger sister who died when she was seven from malaria because it took too long to get her to the hospital.  The trip took a whole day and she died enroute.  The little girls in this picture were thoroughly entertained by watching videos of my grandson on my I Phone!

Early morning Monks

This morning we hear the drum calling the monks to prayer at 4 am.  We get up at 6 am to watch the monks leave their prayer and meditation to ask for alms down the Main Street.  There are many monks and sticky rice is the main food that is given.  Marlene and I give them a couple of apples.  Can't believe how many people are out to watch this process.  Many of these monks have no family or their family is so poor they can't care for them.

Rice wine, caves and waterfalls!

I think if I see another temple I will scream. Our tour guide is very sweet but a little slow.  Any slower and we'll be going backwards.  He loves to tell us stories based on Buddhism but they go on and on and on.....We went on a boat up the Mekong to a village that produces rice wine.  Pretty strong hooch and since it was only 10 am I wasn't going to be trying any of that.

Then we carry on to a cave where there are thousands of Buddhas.  They were from the 6th century.

Back to town for lunch and then out to this most amazing waterfall.  Just gorgeous!

Luang Prabang...ahhh!

This town is lovely.  First time we have had comfortable weather.  It is cooler with lower humidity.  Had a long drive through the mountains from Plain of Jars to Luang Prabang.  Beautiful scenery and lots of hill tribe people on the way!

Off to Luang Prabang

We had a short flight to view the Plain of Jars.  Wasn't sure what to expect here but was advised that this is something you don't want to miss.  They were right.  It's a mystery as why these stone jars litter this area.  There have been traces of human bones so there is speculation that this was some sort of cemetery.  My feeling is that it dates back to the Stone Age.  Of all these jars there is only one with a carving of a stick figure on the side.  Feels like another Stone Henge!

  Now we're off to Luang Prabang.

The big one in Siem Reap

Today is my birthday. Wow! The big 60 but I sure don't feel it.  Started off the day with a trip to a local market.  This is one that the local people go to and sells everything!  They thought we were a bit of an oddity as tourists don't frequent this market.  That's what I really liked about our guide.  He took us to some different things.  Had fun showing pictures of Landon to the women there.
After that we went to a silk farm.  Thought I had done this several times before but this was really good.  Really interesting.

After that it was spa time!  Full Kmer body massage, foot massage and then a facial!  Each one took 60 mins. so 3 hrs. later I emerge.  Had to catch a tuk tuk back to the hotel as I felt very relaxed! Had my last swim in the pool at our hotel and then off to dinner we went.  Decided to go to the 'tried and true' so started with a frozen marguerita and nachos at Viva Mexico

and then pizza at Il Forno the Italian restaurant that we love.  Had an appetizer of prawn and scallop done in the most amazing sauce.  Great red wine (2 glasses tonight) and then lemon cello on the house.  What a day!  I'll remember this birthday for a long time. I wonder what 70 will bring?????

Floating Village

Today we travelled a short distance to Tonle Lake where there is a floating village.  These people are so poor it's unbelievable.  I took several pictures with my camera but forgot to take some with my I Phone so that I could post some.  We had so many parents come up to our boat with children about 3 years old to pose with a snake around their shoulder so that we would take a picture and give them a dollar.  There was one child that wasn't even two but was busy baling water from her mother's boat.  There was a school that we visited where we learned there are 300 children and 5 teachers.  The only way they get the children to attend is to feed them as many are orphans.  Our driver told us that if we wanted to help we could purchase a bag of rice for $25 and give it to the school.  With everything being so corrupt in a lot of areas this was a way of giving something directly to the children.  So many victims of land mines as well.  Amputees are frequent.

When we returned to town we went to the Siem Reap museum which was amazing.  2-1/2 hrs. later we emerge and it's pouring!  Short lived though and then a short ride in a tuk tuk and we're back at the hotel.  Decided on Italian food tonight.  Wonderful food.  
The manager is Italian but from New Zealand.  Very knowledgable.  Had Passion Creme Brule for desert and Lemon Cello on the house.  Booked massage for tomorrow, can't wait!  Perhaps we'll let the fishes feast on our toes first!

More temples

Today was our last day of our 3 day pass at Angkor and it's a day of more temples.  We visit one which was the university 700 years ago.  Quite interesting.

Again it's 36 degrees today and by 2 pm we're done.  Off to the pool and tonight we decide to go to a different restaurant.  We love Khmer food however we are getting tired of it.  We go for Mexican at "Viva Mexico" after reading the reviews. It's so handy having the I Pad to check on restaurants.  We have Nachos, margueritas and tacos for dinner.  It's so good!  Top it off with caramel cashew nut ice cream and we are done.  Walk around Pub Street and make our way back to our hotel.  Great night.

Our tour guide is really good at what he calls the "Kodak moments".  Here I am rubbing noses with one of the Gods at the temple.  Perhaps it will bring me luck and a long and healthy life!

Angkor Wat at sunrise

Today we struggle out of bed at 4:45 am to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat.  We are told by our guide that March 26th is the best time as the sun rises directly behind the temple.  I can't believe how many people are here to experience the sunrise.

We then go to several other temples including the Terrace of Elephants.  We did go back to the hotel at 8 am to eat breakfast and have a short rest before continuing.  Good thing as I don't do we'll without my coffee.
Back to hotel at 2 pm for lunch and pool time before we head off to a special dinner with a show of traditional dancing.

Siem Reap - start of the temples

This morning we meet our guide and driver for our stay in Siem Reap.  He goes by Gem and is a great guy.  His English is very good and he seems very easy going.  While touring Angkor Thom he shares with us his story of growing up during Khmer Rouge era.  He lost two brothers during the genocide murders.  Seems unbelievable how much fighting and war has gone on in Vietnam and Cambodia.
We view the temple at Angkor Thom, the Bayon, Terrace of elephants and the temple where Tomb Raider was filmed with Angelina Jolie.  Amazing structures!

Very hot though.  Hitting 35 degrees and we're wilting fast.  Had a great lunch and decided to pack it in by 3 pm.

Off to the pool for some R&R, dinner down on Pub Street at Angkor Palm.  Pretty lively place at night.  We're getting picked up at 5 am to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat tomorrow so it's off to bed.

Kampong Cham

We didn't arrive in Kampong Cham until around 6 pm and it was getting dark by then.  This is the third largest city in Cambodia and is on the river.  Our hotel is fine with a large room.  They have the most enormous furniture made out of wood.  We found a place for dinner and ran into a couple of people that we saw at Terres Rouge in Banlung.  Funny how most tourists seem to hit the same places.  Up early the next morning.  Have a quick tour of the town and then go to Wat Nokor which is an 11th century Mahayana Buddhist shrine.

Before arriving in Siem Reap we visit Sambor Prei Kuk which is a pre-Angkorian complex of temples built between 616-635 A.D.

We meet the sweetest kids there selling scarves for $1 and cannot resist when this little girl says she needs money for school.

  Then a little boy rides his bike behind our car for quite a while to sell us a scarf.  I had to buy one just because he was so persistent.  You could go through a lot of dollar bills here!  Who said they wanted a scarf for Christmas?

Change in itinerary

After leaving Banlung we stopped at the market to see all the people that come from miles around to bring their goods to sell.  What a busy place!

We then went to the volcanic lake called Yak Lom which is very pretty and then headed to our next destination which is Stung Treng.  This little town was very dirty and not much there.  We quickly decided that we needed to revise our itinerary as we had been booked for three more small towns and we are anxious to spend more time in Siem Reap.  After contacting our travel agent with our request they contacted our tour guide and it was all arranged.  They are amazing!
So we are in Kampong Chham tonight and will be in Siem Reap tomorrow.  We did stop in Kratie to see the fresh water dolphins.  There are less than 100 of them now but we did manage to spot a few.

Up the Sesan River

Nov. 6 - Today we drive about 45 mins. And then board a long wooden boat.  The driver takes us up the Sesan River for about an hour.  Sitting cross legged for an hour is a reminder why I should do yoga!

When we get to our destination it is to visit a remote tribe.  They have just recently allowed tourists to visit in exchange for money which is really kind of sad.  Some of the elders don't look happy to see us but the children are curious.  

Taking pictures can be tricky.  After walking around the village we take a path leading deeper into the rain forest.  Thank heaven there aren't any Mosquitos. We are told by our guide that the people are suffering from disease from the Mosquitos and also something from the water which leaves red spots on their skin.  They use the river for everything!  Washing, drinking, washing the buffalo, etc.  what a hard life!  As we go deeper into the jungle we are shown several Chinese burial sites.  Since this area is close to Laos and China you see these ethnic people that come from other countries but have settled in Cambodia.  We leave the village and make one stop on the way back to visit a Loatian village and a Chinese village side by side.  These people are definitely better off than the first tribe we visited.  School is a problem in these remote areas as teachers do not want to go there.  They would rather live and teach in the larger cities.