December 2, 2008
02 Dec 2008, Siem Reap, Cambodia
We're done with our temple tours in Siem Reap, having visited nearly every temple on the grounds. Towards the end, we looked at each other and decided that we could pass on the last temple. I actually thought it were a temple that we had already seen. There's a certain point of temple burn-out that you will always reach. It's somewhere between 2 and 3 days. Instead, the pool awaited for an early afternoon nap. The Bangkok airport is still closed, so traveling from this little tropical eden is somewhat limited. I guess there are worse places in the world to be stranded, right?
December 1, 2008
28 Nov 2008, Kampot, Cambodia
One of my favorite movies is City of Ghosts, filmed in Cambodia. But not just anywhere in Cambodia, they filmed a major scene in the movie at the Bokor Hill Station -- an abandoned French casino and Hotel on the top of a wind-swept mountain. For years I've wanted to venture up there and see it for myself. Today was that day and I have to say that it was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen in my life. I have photos, which is probably the only way to describe the buildings.
November 30, 2008
19 Nov 2008 - Mekong, Vietnam
Cruising down the Mekong river in southern Vietnam should be an absolute dream. The river is beautiful, the people on the water are friendly and the weather could not be any more beautiful. Unfortunately, the group we hired to take us down the river haven't quite figured out the art of ... well, doing anything that they say they're going to do. A full river tour of the Mekong turned into a half-bus, half-boat tour of skills shops. Yeah, yeah, yeah, candy. I get it. You make it here. Yeah, it's great, but I already bought some in the first three shops we stoped at. I guess I could have it worse, right?
November 23, 2008
23 Nov 2008 - Saigon, Vietnam
There's nothing like the personal assistance you get when you arrive in a country in the middle of the night without your proper visa forms. Ahh ... I love the attention of the immigration officials as they shuffle through our paperwork and most likely think to themselves, "yet another dumb american." Visa on Arrival is not necessary was it seems. Aparently, you need to be invited into the country and have a letter that states such a fact. I guess that should have been something to look in before jumping on an airplane for 24 hours. Despite the issues, we rest easily within a few short minutes of the airport as someone this morning (for a handsome sum of money) works through all the details for us at customs and immigration. By lunch time we should be legal tourists ... hopefully.
