The Angkor temple tours are divided into the small and big circuits. The small circuit covers the famous temples (angkor wat, tomb raider temples) and the big circuit covers the ones a little further out. On my first day I am doing the Angkor big circuit tour with a sunset view. The big circuit tour begins with the temple of Preah Khan, Bantaey Sai (optional) and continues with Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.
My tuk tuk picks me up at my hotel early but not too early. We stop at the official ticket center for me to buy my pass. You can buy a 1,3 or 7 day pass. I buy the 3 day pass because I know I’ll be visiting at least two days of my visit to Siem Reap.
We drive by all the temples in the small circuit so I get a sneak peak on what I will see tomorrow.
Preah Khan
The first temple stop is at Preah Khan, a 12th century temple built for the father of King Jayavarman VII. It is a good introduction to the temples of the ancient Khmer empire. It is peaceful and the crowds are thin this morning.
Today I head to the Mekong river delta. Today is just a short visit. A van picks me up at my hotel and we drive out to a launch area.
On the way we stop to see a bunch of Buddhas at Vinh Trang Pagoda.
We arrive at the boat launching site. We are shown a map to see the areas we plan to visit today.
First we stop at a honey bee farm. We learn about honey and royal jelly. We get the hard sell on the wonders of royal jelly. We get to enjoy a honey tea.
Honey Tea
We try some local fruits: Mango, Papaya, persimmon, dragonfruit, jackfruit.
While we sample fruits we experience a musical performance. Singers sing local songs and we hear instruments I have never seen before.
video
It is now time to catch a ride to where we leave for our boat rides.
Apparently it is too far to walk or I would have walked it if I could. The transportation to the boat is a horse drawn carriage. Most people probably think that is quaint but I have vowed to not use animals for transportation like that anymore. When asked if we would like alternative transportation I and one other ask for something else. The other mode is an electric golf cart. Apparently it is a big deal because the guide keeps trying to talk me out of it. I know I am sort of being “difficult” about it but I am going to trust my gut this time. If there is an alternative mode of transport then I am taking it. There is a long wait but the cart finally arrive for us difficult ones. The distance doesn’t seem too far. I probably could have walked it.
jackfruit
Launch area
It gets pretty crowded at the a launch site. Lots of boats are being filled with tourists such as ourselves. Eventually it settles down a bit.
We stop at a coconut candy factory. We get to see how the candies are produced. After sampling the candies I buy some to snack on during my travels. Unfortunately they don’t get too far since ants in my hotel room later in Siem Reap chow down on them instead 😦
We also get to sample some coconut liquor. I try a little bit, but not the type that is fermented with snakes, yuk.
We have another boat ride, this one motorized, to where we are to eat lunch. There are less boats in this area so besides the motors, it is very peaceful.
It is time for lunch. Look at those fried fish!
After eating I take advantage of one of the bikes they have to take a short ride around. There are fish, fruit and random animals around the property to look at.
We take the boat back to the van. We are given a refreshing coconut drink to finish out the day.
I book a couple of day tours in Saigon. Logistically it just seemed easier to do so then plan my own transportation to all the different sites. There is a travel agency in the lobby of my hotel’s sister hotel. I book my tours through them. The first tour I book is a Ho Chi Minh City day tour. It is a 1/2 day tour with an optional Cu Chi tunnels afternoon tour (another post about that).
Not loving my tour companions for today’s day tour. They show up 30 min late because their breakfast is more important than the rest of the tour and now we are still waiting to leave for them to finish their cigarettes. Eventually they get in the van and we head to our first destination.
Independence Palace, or Reunification Palace
First stop is the Independence Palace. This headquarters of the South Vietnamese almost seems frozen in time.
The Cabinet Meeting Room.
Map room
The President’s Reception Room.
Theater
Dignitaries meet in this room.
The Palace is the home of the South Vietnamese President during the Vietnam war
We are given a tour of the underground bunker. The original maps and charts are still in place from the war. You can see how they kept track of troops and casualties.
president’s room
kitchen
kitchen
The kitchen for the building
After the reunification palace we stopped by an old temple Taoist temple
Jade Emperor Pagoda (Ngoc Hoang Pagoda)
Temple for a Taoist god built in early 1900’s.
War Remnants museum
Next we stop at the very powerful War Remnants Museum.
A thorough museum on the vietnam war but from a south vietnamese perspective.
*TRIGGER WARNING* There is a very hard to see photo exhibit on the affects of agent orange on the population. One would have to be a monster to come out of there without tears in their eyes. Out of respect I did not take photos of that section. Only the piece of art below.
We complete the morning tour with a visit to the historic post office and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Notre Dame Cathedral
Historic Central Post Office
Part two of my day tour includes a visit to the Cu chi tunnels. I’ll post about that later.
I am in Hanoi Vietnam and things are going great. To be honest I am tired but I am still trekking along in my travels.
My original plans had me going to Sapa for a hike and a homestay but instead I break up my Hanoi visit with a Halong Bay crise (actually Bai Tu Long Bay )
My Hanoi visit begins at a Hilton hotel that I booked with some leftover points. It is nice to splurge and stay in a western style comfort hotel every once in a while .
I have only been in Hanoi for a short while and I am already a fan. I mean it is busy and the roads are super crowded with cars and motorbikes but something about it is magical. I am anxious to get to know the city better.
But first I need to take care of the sensor on my “fancy” camera. It has many spots on it. I watch sensor cleaning videos and it seems like there is no way I can safely clean it with what I have with me. I google camera repair shops in the area and find one a couple blocks from my hotel. I arrive at the small shop and there are two men working. They don’t speak much English but I get them to understand that my sensor has spots. One of the men cleans the spots for me. When I ask how much to pay for he says no charge for the service. I never get anything free anymore! This must be a good sign.
I spend the next day or so wandering aimlessly around town. I visit the Ngoc Son temple at Hoà n Kiem Lake. By the lake they have the walking streets (Pedestrian-only hours start from Friday 6 p.m until Sunday 12 p.m.). It is here I first experience school kids wanting to interview me to practice english. It is a common theme as I noticeably stand out in southeast asia with my light colored hair and bigger build. I guess look like a good person to practice with. I oblige as much as possible to be helpful but at one point in my travels it becomes quite frustrating (I’ll talk about that another time).
Ngoc Son temple
The turtle is significant. There is a story about a sword carrying turtle at the lake.
Offerings at the temple
During the walking streets kids get to “drive” these amazing vehicles all over the streets. It is fun to watch the excitement.
Upcoming boxing match near the lake
More shots from around Hanoi
More shots from around Hanoi
And as part of my series “Instagram ruins everything” I arrive to the famous Hanoi train street to find it blocked off for traffic. It has been closed just weeks prior to my arrival for safety reasons. Apparently people couldn’t stop doing dangerous poses and the government had enough. It would have been cool to see when it was full of life. A guard yells at me while I am trying to to take the photos below, although security is not consistent, a guard on one side of the street is strict and guard on other side doesn’t care how long you stand there to take pictures.
After wandering by train street I go back to my hotel to rest up a bit before my night food tour.
Today I am traveling up to Doi Suthep Mountain to visit the big temple up there.
I heard there are some great nature trails and other places to visit on the mountain but I didn’t schedule my time wisely and missed out on most of that in favor of some downtime (self-care).
I think I am heading up there.
A songthaew needed and I hire one for the trip. Instead of hiring one of the ones down the street I flag one down on another street and negotiate a price with him.
He takes me on the long curvy trip up the mountain. The back is open so I have a great view to see the trip behind me.
Look, another red truck.
We stop on the way up for the view of Chiang Mai below.
When we arrive at the top my driver tells me he will wait for me. As you can see there are many red trucks waiting. He gives me his card and I take a picture of his license just in case I can’t find him.
I climb the first set of stairs where there are a couple of statues.
As you can see, pretty foggy (smoggy) up here.
After the initial climb you will find another set of stairs, this one much longer.
A good number of stairs to get to the temple
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
I pay the admission and I have to remove my shoes to enter the temple complex. The whole complex is very busy as most places I have visited in south east Asia. It is crowded with people who come to pray and other tourists like myself. I try to avoid as many humans as possible to get unobstructed photos but it is difficult. Even when no tourists are in my photos, a photography sales person will walk right into my frame trying to sell me their version of the photos. It is quite frustrating.
I do get a moment of peace when I walk into this temple, kneel down before the monk and receive a blessing. It is quite nice how accepting they are of visitors.
Holy water splashed on me and received a blessing here
Once I leave the temple complex I walk around and there is a terrace that has a nice view.
Some fun looking tree
I climb back down the stairs to find my driver. I have him drop me off near another temple in town that is close enough that I can walk back later on my own.
Shoes need to be off before you visit the cats upstairs and you are required to sanitize your hands before entering.
Once I entered the staff member helped me with some plates and soon I had many best friends. None of the kitties looked like they were starving but they sure acted like it.
It was cute to watch all the chubby kitties eat. Once I ran out of kibbles though they were off to the next person who had food for them.
Where’s my food?
I sat around and finished my beverage and watched the kitties a bit before I decided to head back down Nimman. Later that evening I try some Pad Thai from the famous Pad Thai Mustache Style.
Luckily I am there early and there is not a long wait for my food. I pick up some good hipster pad thai to end my very good day.
Growing With Leala 