First chance Lis and I have got to actually spend a little time on a computer! I have done and seen so much in the last ten days!
Before leaving Siem Reap in Cambodia we took a boat trip across Tonle Sap Lake (the largest lake in Asia) to visit the floating village. A village which does exactly what it says on the tin - it floats on water. The people living there are all Vietnamese refugees and they live in unbelievable poverty. I honestly cannot describe the way of life for these people and I hope that my photos convey just how moving an experience it was. As we were getting to the village, small boats were coming up along side ours with small children in them holding a snake around their neck. They were trying to pass us the snake to hold in exchange for a dollar. Boats with mothers with a baby asking if we wanted to hold their baby for a dollar. Really heartbreaking stuff.
However, the mood lifted a little when we got to go to a small marketplace and buy food to take to the local school. The school consisted of 2 classrooms jam packed with kids, the majority of whom were orphans. We got to hand out food to the children and play with them, amazing experience!
The journey to Cambodia's capital - Phom Penh then began. By the time we arrived there we only really had time to have a quick explore and grab a bite to eat. However we still found the energy to hit the town for a night out. With buckets of your favourite cocktail working out at around a quid it would just be rude not to.
The highlight of our time in Phom Penh was definitely the visit we took to the S21 prison and the killing fields situated just outside the city. I honestly cannot explain how shocking and emotional this experience was. The former security office 21 in 'Democratic Kampuchea' was created on orders of Pol Pot for the detention, interrogation, inhumane torture and killing of innocent Cambodians during his 1975-79 regime. Of the tens of thousands who entered this prison, no one ever escaped and only 7 people survived. Only 2 of these survivors are still alive today. We were so lucky as we had the opportunity of meeting Chum Manh, one of the survivors. Most days he sits outside the prison in which he was detained, physically still suffering and affected from the torture he endured to tell his story.
The killing fields were the areas where those who survived such prisons were taken and brutally killed. The killing field we visited was truly haunting. Here 20,000 people were executed and murdered. The 129 mass graves and 8,000 human skulls at the site bear testimony to this unspeakable crime. As we walked around looking at each mass we were literally stepping on bones and teeth which had been brought to the surface of the ground due to teh heavy rain in the wet season.
SO after all that a few strong drinks were definitely in order!!!!
From Phom Penh we headed down to the Southern coast of Cambodia to Sihanoukville - backpackers paradise! Lots of bars and cafes along the beach. We used our time here to chill out have some beach time, take a boat trip to an uninhabited island, get our nails painted and legs threaded on the beach for a few dollars and of course drink a few more buckets.
We were really sad to leave Cambodia. I WILL be going back there one day.
Right now I am in Hoi An in Vietnam, beautiful place! Will write about my Vietnam adventures later....got shopping to do just now :)
Loads of love from Vietnam
xxxxx
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Monday, 9 January 2012
From Bangkok to Siem Reap
Don't have much time but here is a VERRY quick run through of the last couple of days!
Met the group, all lovely! Very lucky to have met such nice people!
On the first night we had dinner together followed by a few beers.....and some deep fried grasshoppers and cockroaches!! When in Thailand eh.
Yesterday we arrived in Siem Reap....instant change in both scenery and culture from Thailand. Last night we spent the evening in the suburbs of Siem Reap where we got a taste of local life, were cooked dinner by the locals at a small school for English (consisted of a shak with a white board and a clock) and played with the children all of whom were desperate to speak English to us. Was an amazing experience!
Today we got up at silly oclock and watched the Sun rise over Angkor Wat....absoluetly beautiful!! Spent the day around a few of the temples including the one in which Lara Croft was filmed....they are all incredible!
Tonight we are heading out for a few 30 pence beers in Siem Reap town. Not too many though as the long journey to Pnom phen is on the agenda for tomorrow.
Already LOVE Cambodia....very excited for our next stop.
Met the group, all lovely! Very lucky to have met such nice people!
On the first night we had dinner together followed by a few beers.....and some deep fried grasshoppers and cockroaches!! When in Thailand eh.
Yesterday we arrived in Siem Reap....instant change in both scenery and culture from Thailand. Last night we spent the evening in the suburbs of Siem Reap where we got a taste of local life, were cooked dinner by the locals at a small school for English (consisted of a shak with a white board and a clock) and played with the children all of whom were desperate to speak English to us. Was an amazing experience!
Today we got up at silly oclock and watched the Sun rise over Angkor Wat....absoluetly beautiful!! Spent the day around a few of the temples including the one in which Lara Croft was filmed....they are all incredible!
Tonight we are heading out for a few 30 pence beers in Siem Reap town. Not too many though as the long journey to Pnom phen is on the agenda for tomorrow.
Already LOVE Cambodia....very excited for our next stop.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Greetings from Bangkok!
Where to start?!
Lis and I arrived in Bangkok yesterday...exhausted! 2 delayed flights due to very windy UK weather meant a little bit of stress but somehow we managed to catch all our connecting flights. Abroad the long haul journey we discvovered that suduko is impossible and that Lis does not travel well (something she didn't actually mention when we booked to TRAVEL the world?!) Menatl note also made to never eat plane food again.
Couldn't believe how crazy Bangkok was when we took our taxi from the airport to the hotel. The traffic is insane and the roads are just complete free for alls. Our hotel is MUCH nicer than we were expecting, comfy beds, slippers and dressing gowns provided etc. We definitely are not roughing it yet! Expecting to check in and meet our tour group in the evening we had a panic when we found out our tour doesnt actually start Saturday and we had arrived a day early. oops! So an extra night at the hotel it was then - just as well really as it has given us time to get over our jet lag a little. In the evening we went out for dinner at a little restaurant packed full of locals and travellers nearby the hotel. We paid around 2.50 each for a seriously good thai green curry and a drink, amazing! The sights and sounds of the city are like nothing I have experienced before.
Today we have been out and about exploring. We made a trip by the metro to Chatuchak weekend market. It was amazing! You can buy eveything from jewelry and scarfs to puppies and baby rabbits. Lis had to drag me away before I bought a bundle of them and posted them home.
At 6pm this evening we meet our tour group and leader for the first time, we are really excited to meet everyone. Think dinner and a few beers to get to know each other is on the agenda. Tomorrow we begin the LONG journey to Cambodia It is approx 4 hours to the border (where we have to adhere to protocol and cross by foot) and then a further 3 to Siem Reap where we will be spending the next few days. Already packed the sick bags for lis.
Will tell all about Cambodia next week!
Biiig love to everyone at home (you unlucky bastards :))
Lis and I arrived in Bangkok yesterday...exhausted! 2 delayed flights due to very windy UK weather meant a little bit of stress but somehow we managed to catch all our connecting flights. Abroad the long haul journey we discvovered that suduko is impossible and that Lis does not travel well (something she didn't actually mention when we booked to TRAVEL the world?!) Menatl note also made to never eat plane food again.
Couldn't believe how crazy Bangkok was when we took our taxi from the airport to the hotel. The traffic is insane and the roads are just complete free for alls. Our hotel is MUCH nicer than we were expecting, comfy beds, slippers and dressing gowns provided etc. We definitely are not roughing it yet! Expecting to check in and meet our tour group in the evening we had a panic when we found out our tour doesnt actually start Saturday and we had arrived a day early. oops! So an extra night at the hotel it was then - just as well really as it has given us time to get over our jet lag a little. In the evening we went out for dinner at a little restaurant packed full of locals and travellers nearby the hotel. We paid around 2.50 each for a seriously good thai green curry and a drink, amazing! The sights and sounds of the city are like nothing I have experienced before.
Today we have been out and about exploring. We made a trip by the metro to Chatuchak weekend market. It was amazing! You can buy eveything from jewelry and scarfs to puppies and baby rabbits. Lis had to drag me away before I bought a bundle of them and posted them home.
At 6pm this evening we meet our tour group and leader for the first time, we are really excited to meet everyone. Think dinner and a few beers to get to know each other is on the agenda. Tomorrow we begin the LONG journey to Cambodia It is approx 4 hours to the border (where we have to adhere to protocol and cross by foot) and then a further 3 to Siem Reap where we will be spending the next few days. Already packed the sick bags for lis.
Will tell all about Cambodia next week!
Biiig love to everyone at home (you unlucky bastards :))
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