Angkor

My 3rd trip to Cambodia. Same place but with different people and different experiences. Took a lot more photos this time around with the digital camera (!) as the past two times I didn't have a digital camera.

First stop was Siem Reap. The weather was actually hotter than I remember, and it was only March. Only managed to visit 3 ruins this time around - seems to be getting less and less each time! The ruins were as I remember, although it was rather a disappointment that we were not able to climb up to the main tower in Angkor Wat. It was barricaded off for some reason - signage was all in Cambodian. I can still remember the first (and only!) time I stared out that window from the tower - capturing the view all the way past the inner wall to the outer moat.

What a sight that was.

Well, tower or no, Angkor Wat is still Angkor Wat!

Angkor Wat

Besides Angkor Wat, we also did Angkor Thom and Ta Phrom. Signs of 'modern intrusion' were seen everywhere - wooden arrows pointing towards the 'correct' way, planks set out for walking, makeshift stairs, etc. There was no more excitement as we were left with no room to Explore and Discover - which was what made the ruins so mysterious and wonderful in the first place. We were 'hoarded' by an invisible hand to walk the 'mass route' :-(

However, it was still Angkor and its years of history still bears down on you. It serves to remind us that even the greatest civilisation can crumble and be ravaged by time.

Bayon

Ta Phrom

Each of the Angkor ruins are individually different and serves a specific purpose - from places of worship, to bath houses, to places of cremation. Each is a testament of the Khmers' lifystyle that has been preserved through the ages so that we may today marvel at their greatness in bygone years.

No Money, No Honey!

That was what one little girl told Steven when he said he had no money to buy souvenirs from her. Hah Hah.

We were taking a break at one of the food stalls around Angkor Thom, and in the short span of time that we were there, we were approached by at least 5 kids, each attempting to peddle their wares to us.

Tourists were lacking and extremely limited, and these kids took it in turns to approach us. Many of them are selling the same items - fridge magnets, bracelets and locally made musical instruments. They are really rather industrious and very bright! It was really entertaining chatting with them and they came up with all sorts of 'sales pitch' to make their sale.

The most popoular one being, "What's the capital of Madagascar? If you don't know the answer, you have to buy from me." And one little girl actually told us to just buy something from her so that she will go away and leave us alone to enjoy our drinks in peace!

In the end, we bought a total of 6 fridge magnets and 3 bracelets from 3 different kids, and bought another 2 kids lunch. They are really a good bunch and eke-ing out an honest living, just like the rest of us.

Steven with the 2 girls who sold him the Fridge Magnets

Me with the girl who sold me the bracelets (which I will be giving to Anita's daughter!)

Steven with the 2 kids whom we bought lunch for

Our Purchases

Me and President Obama ;-)

Looks really 'real' doesn't it?! Taken at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in HK.

Other celebrities included:-

On Cloud Nine

Came across these 'cloud formations' on board the plane yesterday.

The English Language. In China.

These photos were taken during our "From Xian to Beijing" trip in Y2001......let's hope after so many years, the standard of English has improved!

Unfortunately, there were no digital cameras then and the quality of the pictures have deteriorated over the years :-(

The sign actually says "One green grass makes the world beautiful". Probably some direct translation from the Chinese phrase!

Technically, I suppose there is nothing really wrong with the phrase, but whoever 'receives' rubbish?!

Oh woe the camera flash, the deterioration of the photo and my scanner, but the sign actually says "To take notice of safe, the slippery are very crafty".

I do believe these signs are as much a 'tourist attraction' as the terracotta warriors and the Forbidden Palace!

Clear Waters

I've been around to so many places, but have never been to Redang Island. Due to some work in Terengganu, we made a side trip to Redang to view a property ~ the Coral Redang Island Resort.

Of course, something has to happen. Enroute there, our boat encountered some problems (there was water in the petrol!) and we ended up running on one engine to reach Redang. Well, engine trouble aside, the trip was a really good break from what we had to 'endure' in Setiu....!

Crystal clear waters, white sand beach, kampung set up, idyllic atmosphere. Hope we can get to manage the place soon...!

Nightmare Toilets

One of the main taboos for many tourists visiting countries in Asia is the TOILET. I believe every person who has ever visited China would have his/her own little 'horror' stories of the public toilets - no doors, left behind poo (ugh), the 'wonderful' odour emiting from the place, etc. Worse stories are from those who traverse into the interior of the vast country, where even proper toilet cubicles are scarce and tourists are told they will just have to make do with the tall grass as cover! Experienced travellers will tell you this is where an umbrella becomes really handy.

God forbid that I will ever have such encounters!!!

Of course, these scenarios are not limited only to China. Countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. and even Malaysia all offer similar 'experiences' to tourists, especially if one travels further into its countryside and little villages, where facilities are scarce and tourists even more scarce!

Below here is one such toilet we came across in Vietnam. But at least this one had doors. And well, if you have to go, you have to go.......!

Ho Chi Minh Museum

The Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi is really something. I'm glad we took a few hours out from our shopping frenzy to do some 'tourist' stuff and came here! I'd thought that it would be something like the one in Ho Chi Minh City but wow!, I was so mistaken!


It was a really well-planned and well-designed place, and very modern and artistic. More like an art museum. I imagine it must have been planned and designed with the help of the French. Everything was very well documented, and original documents were so well preserved in individual glass casings that could be turned, like pages. If not for the reminders of the Vietnam War, I could have been in a museum in France.