Adventures in Cambodge and Vietnam 2008

  2024 update. Looks like that's all I wrote at the time, let's see what I can remember!   The road between Hoi An and Hue crosses the Hai Van Pass which gives spectacular views of the coast, but because of all the rain, our safety was number one priority and there was a potential for landslides on the high road so we travelled through a fairly new tunnel. Marble Mountain was as described. A mountain made mostly of marble that had been quarried in parts. There were many, many steps to the top and they were hard going. Ken has a 'trick' knee so opts not to climb and Keith really isn't well so he goes to the hospital to get checked out. Long story short, he has dengue fever which can be very dangerous. He has to leave the group but not until his replacement arrives. Keith is a bit of a foodie and he takes us to a restaurant that is vegan (he tells me this in confidence, 'see if anyone twigs') They don't. The Buddha Chicken is just like eating real ch...

  Wed 26 th Nov 2008 To meet in foyer for 8.30 start. River cruise which was in jeopardy due to local flooding and strong currents. Cruised around a bit, saw some local fishermen casting net. Think I got some good shots. Probably a set-up ‘chance encounter’. Gave him 10 000 dong ($1AU). Landed and walked to Organic herb farm where after tour we pitched in to prep a bed and plant cabbage seedlings. Foot bath then lunch – all local stuff and some fish. Good. Back on the bus, back to town to silver jewellery shop – again, oversold by Keith. Mary never did get the earrings she ordered, but she did get her money back. Nice enough stuff, cheap, but I wasn’t really even tempted by anything, not my thing. Fitting at Yaly – went well, pants a bit loose around the waist and need hemming. Shirt great, just needs hemming. Very happy. Should be delivered to reception at 6pm with my originals. Will be glad to see them. Pauline headed back to hotel because she will wander later. I wandered f...

  Tue 25 th Nov 2008 Well! Had the alarm set for 7 but woke up at 6. Reset the alarm for 7.30 in the hope of going back to sleep but no such luck. Up, showered, ready to go and at breakfast by 7.30. Made the most of it today. Had some scrambled eggs made. Best part of 1 hour drive to airport. Had to throw my water out, got it through last flight. Only a drink served on this flight, not that we needed anything. Raining in Danang when we arrived, had been for some days with local flooding and some landslips. Our local guide Huy (Wee), lovely guy, 28y.o. and funny too. First stop for lunch at Ly Café 22 at 22 Nguyen Hue St Hoi An. Had the Cao Lau. Others had the white rose and the fried wonton. Cao Lau was a good choice. Then to Hoi An Trails Resort to check in and freshen up before heading out for walking tour including Chinese Temple of the Sea Goddess. Old House recently flooded, 17 th Century Japanese covered bridge. Then went to Yaly tailor. Not the cheapest but good reputa...

  Mon 24 th Nov 2008 Woke thru the night for trip to the loo. Not good. Went again after alarm went off and decided if I had to go again before we left I would stay home, but all good. Not feeling 100% so only had toast for breakfast. Went to Binh Tay wholesale market in Cholon before heading off to the Mekong Delta. Traffic heavier being a week day. Motorbike want thru a red light and clipped the front of our bus – no harm done – didn’t even come off the bike. Stopped at a ‘happy house’ with a really pretty garden. They were selling the ceramics that I’m sure are the ones Lyn bought. Keith said we go to a place called ‘Humanity’ in Hanoi that sells them and packs them really well for travel and is for a good cause so will wait till then. Also saw them in the supermarket where I bought the icecream. Mekong Delta guide’s name is Thuy (Twee), nice lady. On to boat large enough for all for cruise on river. Decamped onto 2 smaller boats for canal cruise up to fruit orchard where...

  Sun 23 rd Nov 2008 Breakfast good. Local guide ‘Long’, driver ‘Jack Brabham’!! Met at 8.30 for tour to Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral then out to Cu Chi Tunnels. Amazing how they lived. Some of the group went thru the tunnel – Ken too tall. Stopped at rubber plantation on way back in from Cu Chi. Lunch of Pho Gai (chic) at Pho 2000. With a 333 beer, total cost $5 US. Then on to Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace) for tour, very interesting and some furnishings very opulent. Thought we were going up to roof, but didn’t. Still haven’t been to the Rex Hotel yet….. After that to the War Remnants Museum – bit graphic but now I get the people here with deformities. Caused by Agent Orange and residue. Last stop, a lacquerware factory. I could care less!! Lot of work into producing so gotta appreciate that. Return to Hotel with storm clouds brewing. Lightning outside now, 5.45pm. Will have free internet access in Hoi An. That will be good. Off to the Mekong Delta tomor...

  Sat 22 nd Nov 2008 Woke about 6am to sounds of breakfast being set up. Tried to get back to sleep but no good. Our room was above the foyer, a double height ceiling. Packed up and bags out before breakfast. Met in foyer at 8.15. Rita not well so didn’t get to say goodbye. All the others came down to see us off. Adelle and John, Margaret and Barry, Sandra and Maz, and Kay. They made a guard of honour at the door. What a nice bunch. Meet up with the newbies tonight so that will be interesting. Currently sitting in Siem Riep Airport waiting for flight. A bunch of Aussie guys have arrived for same flight and are playing local version of hackysack. Bit noisy. Then, when they get bored with that, they start singing, falsetto, ‘Kiss From a Rose’, how funny are they? Talk to them on the way out to the plane, they are from Wollongong. Flight SR to HCM good except at the end, a few clouds had bumps in them. Sarah (from the other group) was feeling a bit seedy, but was before the flight ...

  Fri 21 st Nov 2008 Awake before alarm went off @ 4.30. Had to be ready to leave @5am!! Quite a sight – row of tuk-tuks in the dark. Pre-dawn coolness nice at first, but did get a bit chilly. Arrived at Angkor Wat at dawn – so many people there already! Sunrise not too spectacular, but lovely view anyway. Amazing place, so big and so many intricate carvings and bas reliefs. Sat in a ‘restaurant’ to eat our breakfast box about 8.30, pretty crappy, but food. As long as we bought drinks, the owner didn’t mind us being there. Made it look busy I guess, or they had an arrangement with TIC. Little kids funny, all trying to sell something. Once they figured out where you were from, they would rattle off the country’s vital statistics. Keith bought from one little girl because she was the only one who knew Canada. Bought 2 packs of postcards to supplement the photos, $1 each. Next stop by tuk-tuk, the Bayon. Another amazing place, but for different reasons. More compact, but taller a...

  Thur 20 th Nov 2008 Needed to be ready by 7.45 to depart PP. Lovely breakfast – felt more like it today. Even had some rice congee. Not bad. Flight to Siem Reap uneventful… got fed!!... again. They like to feed you. 30-35 min flight, modern plane, Siem Reap/Bangkok Air. Room not ready, fair enough, we were quite early. Quick rummage in bag to prepare for trip to Tonle Sap and floating village. Saw fish farm and croc farm. Girl in little boat with big python. Local guide ‘Janny’ – VERY FUNNY GUY – calls himself a toyboy because his wife is 5 years older than him and she takes very good care of him. If I ever go back to SR, I want him to be my guide again! Found a shop back in town and bought some better sunscreen and smaller bug spray. Went to FCC Angkor – had Angkor Beer $4. Bought FCC t-shirt $5.50 instead of $15 (old stock, who cares??) Back for swim/shower. Ready for dinner @ 6.15. Early start tomorrow – 5am ready – AAARRGGHH!! No breakfast, will eat at Angkor Wat. Will b...

  Wed 19 th Nov 2008 Up at 6.30am to be ready to hit the road at 8am. Indo-China guide’s name Keith, local guide Phal (Paul), both nice guys. Keith is Canadian ex-pat. Phal was 9 at the time of the Khmer Rouge. International roaming on phone started working at breakfast, turned phone off then back on. Didn’t eat much, felt a bit off. 1 st stop Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda. Then to National Museum. S-21 next, felt very emotional on way there. Not as bad/graphic as I had primed myself for. Turns out had seen the worst of it before I arrived! Still very sad. Lunch across the road at Boddhi Tree Café. Cambodian rice crepes stuffed with stir-fry veg – very nice, large serve, didn’t think I’d get thru it, but I did!! Older Sandra’s birthday, so cake at lunch. Nice touch. Back to Russian Markets, bought 3 scarves, $9 total. $3 tuk-tuk ride back to Cambodiana. Pool open this arvo, so had swim. Hooray – water lovely. Photos to 361 at Palace/Pagoda. Being very frugal, don’t want to ...

  Mon 17/Tue 18 th Nov, 2008 Departed Sydney International at 2215hrs, Monday 17 th November, 2008. Flew via Brisbane, departed there 2359 Brissie time, 1am by our body clock. Landed BKK about 6am their time. Boarded next flight for Phnom Penh about 7.10am. 55 min flight BKK to PP. Arrived at Hotel Cambodiana @ 10.30 am (1430 back home). Room not ready, understandable. Walked to check out Foreign Correspondent’s Club on the river and ‘Friends’, training school/café for street kids. Took tuk-tuk to Russian Markets with ‘T’, cost $3.00 US. Bought carved wooden statue for Trevor, $12US, pack of 10 cards for $4 from burns victim lady. DVDs 12 for $20 ($2 each, buy 5 get one free). 2 bottles water $1. Back to Cambodiana with ‘T’ who waited hour and half for us to come out of markets. Would have loved a swim, but pool closed!! About 6pm, went to Friends for tapas dinner before first group meeting and welcome drink. Ate sweet potato fries, glass cellophane noodle salad,   min...