Hong Kong, Singapore and back again!

After a quick 2 night stop over in Hong Kong, Chris and I flew to Singapore for a 5 day break and what a place!

It's a shoppers paradise and if this had been on our first half of our trip, we would be on the streets by now with all credit cards maxed! Electronics, beautiful shops, and a vast number of malls, even I didn't want to see any more shops by the time we were leaving. Any trip to Singapore is also not complete without stopping off at Raffles Hotel and a couple of Singapore Slings were to be had in the long bar with the peanut husks on the floor.

Chris and I with our Singapore Slings

On our second day Chris spotted an advert for free tickets with the Marriot Vacation club... for those of you who know what happens when you can sympathise! For attending a 90 minute group presentation with a holiday company, you have a choice of 'free' gifts... we chose tickets for the Singapore Flyer, The Singapore Zoo and night safari.
In total these would have come to S$123 but we got them for free - but the catch was that we didn't attend a 'group' meeting, it was a one on one session which lasted 2.5 hrs! And despite the idea of a vacation club was tempting, the money it would have cost,when you aren't earning was not.

We wearily left the meeting with our tickets clutched firmly in our hands but glad we saved money at least!

Us on the flyer

So the Singapore flyer was great - we got to see so much of Singapore from the air - 165m high to be precise and Chris also got to walk on the grand prix track which surrounds the attraction.
The next day we headed to Singapore Zoo and were entertained by the animals and their trainers. The layout of the zoo is very family friendly and instead of glass, there are moats separating us from the animals.

And I thought my hair was frizzy!

Chris and I getting the fish foot treatment!

The night safari soon beckoned and it was an interesting experience. We were walking along paths which were just about visible and seeing the animals in a nightly light was really nice. Also hearing the lions brought us back to our nights in Karongwe and seeing the leopards was great too. A cloud leopard was a new animal for us and its coat was beautiful, it was just really difficult to photograph.

Completely exhausted, we headed back to our hostel and got ready for our flight back to Hong Kong. Cont..

More photos from the Temples of Angkor

Chris at Ta Prohm

The entrance to Angkor Thom

One of the heads carved in the Bayon

Chris and I at Ta Prohm - the site of Tomb Raider.

Wat a site!

The famous spires of Angkor Wat - symbol on the Cambodian flag

The main reason for visiting Cambodia for a lot of people is to go to Siem Reap and visit The Temples of Angkor. Cambodia is full of temples of various size and status. Siem Reap (the town) is only a few Km's away from the main temples, the biggest and most impressive being Angkor Wat. this is the largest religious structure in the world and very impressive - from the Angkorian period.

Chris and I arrived at about 10:30 and the sun was already beating down. We took a long walk across the moat and into the santcum of Angkor Wat. The size of this site is amazing. The way the buildings are being preserves and the artistic creativity of the carvings are breathtaking. Not only in the site of Angkor Wat but in all the temples and buildings throughout.

Researchers concluded that Angkor had been the largest preindustrial city in the world with an urban sprawl of 3000 square kilometres and could accommodation upto one million people.

There are over 37 Temples and a visit of over a week is recommended! We managed to visit 5 before the rain made the ground muddy and the going a lot harder. The photos don't do the place justice as the size of the Temples and the steps leading throughout the site are so big and steep. It is also a perfect place for kids to play hide and seek!

Anyway, here are the photos...Our first view of Angor Wat

View across the moat to Angkor WatThe library- one of the first buildings you come to

Camvbodia and the Kymer Rouge

Cambodia is another war torn country in South east asia. Again I had to read a bit of the history to understand what had went on.
History lesson time. As part of Indochina (under the french) everything was going well until WW2 when Japan moved in. When the french moved back they allowed opposition parties to form and they fought for and gained independance in 1953. In the 70's there is a big coup which forces the king into excile, the Cambodians start helping the Americans fight the Vietnamese within Cambodia. Early 70's the Kymer Rouge appear and start fighting the army, 1975 everyone is evacuated out of the cities and towns and put to work rebuilding Cambodia (Democratic Kampuchea as it was then called), starting with agriculture. Everyone works in the field for the government and if you don't work, you don't eat, don't follow the rules you die; complain, you die; Speak out of turn, you die. Hard maual labour for EVERYONE. Thousands flee, thousands die and eventually the Vietnamese overthrow the Kymer Rouge, Guerilla warfar continues until '89 when Cambodia is given it's name. There are still tensions with Thailand today, still political struggles and trials for Kymer Rouge leaders but if you read the accounts of the Kymer Rouge it is again hard to imagine the attrocities that took place in 'modern' society. It's not something we hear about in the local news. The history of the area is interesting but it seems most people are trying to put it behind them and move on.

We didn't go to the killing fields, A tourist destination which explains alot about the regime of the Kymer Rouge. We just didn't have time. I hadn't really thought about Cambodian history until our guide book mentioned to be careful if caught short while in the countyside. Don't stary too far from the road as Cambodia has more unexploded ordinance than anywere else on earth. (ie lots of landmines)

Vietnam, past and Present

Saigon is the capital of Vietnam also called Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon is the 'city' where as Ho Chi Minh is the 'area'.... apparently) It is a very big place filled wih lots of people and lots of motorbikes. We flew down from Hue to avoid another long bus or train journey and were quite surprised at the size of the place. Big wide roads, KFC, Pizza hut and coffee shops.

It's hard to visit Vietnam and not think about the war. In Saigon we spent a day going round the reunification palace and the War remnants museum.
The Grand Palace - only for public functions but still very grand
I had to read up on the war in Vietnam to understand a bit about it. Basically the french ruled this part of the world - Indochina. It all changed with WW2, the Americans got involved in the 50's and the country split in two. The North and South fought, the Americans moved in to help the south (the vietnam war as we know it) and then they got kicked out by the United Nations around 1973-75ish. The South surrendered to the north a year or two later. The Reunification Palace was the ruling palace of the south Vietnamese 'regime' and when it was taken over the Civil war ended and peace was declared in the communist country.A rather large bomb used by the Americans
The war was brutal and the Museum shows in graphic detail the attrocities carried out by the Americans. It is very informative but the expression on everyone is the same as they walk around. The Napalm, Agent Orange and other chemical warfare tactics, the brutal killings and mindless destruction. It still effects the people today. To be fair the museum was across biased but then, I've only ever seen the American films and their portrayal. The best images of the war were in a section which showed photos from Photographers who died during the war from all over the world. Again the images were graphic but they captured a lot of suffering on both sides.

We left the museum in a strange mood but we were glad that we had been. In all the countries we visit there is some history which in unpleasant. In Aisia it seems the history isn't that long ago and therefore better documented.

Ode to Dad - Motorbikes in Asia

A lot of photos you see in Asia have motorbikes in them. Since we arrived in Nepal in April the standard of vehicles, riders and driving has amazed us. The Motorbike is the work-horse of Asia. Moving from A to B, carrying equipment, ferrying people, in all weathers the motorbikes and scooters are transformed to meet the needs of the people.Rush hour in Saigon, every road was the same.

Getting to work is easier on a bike. Nipping in and out of traffic, through the narrow streets or along the footpaths is quicker with only two wheels. What if you could take your work to you bike. You could walk to work, take you work home or even take your work on holiday. In the photo below, this food vendor has attached a kitchen. Not only can he take his work anywhere but if he gets hungry, hey presto !
Many bikes are 'adapted' for carrying equipment and people either on the side or behind

Passengers, what's the point of a bike if you can't share it. A trip to the shops or to visit friends can be enjoyed more when you are accompanied. Ensure your pillion is secure and properly protected. India bikers have adapted their bikes with protective bars. Wouldn't want the wife's Saree caught in the spokes or chain. Also note the crash bars on the front. This sample is the small set, expanding the bars can assist with saving limbs from oncoming bikes, cars, carts and trucks, carrying shopping or simply taking out the opposition.
Crash bars and wheel guards are essential, the grab rail at the back is for tying things down.

Picking up the wife from the hairdressers, don't even offer her a helmet to ruin the new ponytail. Anyway, if you don't own the bike, you can't get hurt if you fall off.
How many people in this picture? Look closely.

And don't forget the kids. It's not just adults who should enjoy a ride on the back or front of a bike. Children can have as much fun. Better still, why not take the family. Nursing a child, no problem, the pets can come also. Again with the helmets, it's not really necessary as long as the owner has one. Although the bike below is bigger so it's safer if everyone wears a helmet, baby junior on the front doesn't count cause he's not big enough to fall off.

This is normal, maximum we saw on a scooter was 5.

Parking your bike is never a problem. Simply stop, put the stand down and dismount. It can be useful to other people if you move to the side of the road/pavement. Other bikes may park beside you in congested areas, or behind you, or both. In moving their bike to get to yours, do not drop it, the results could be funny only to on lookers.
Two rows of bikes, very tightly parked in Kathmandu,
I was so tempted to knock the first one......

I thought I better mention about safety. Protecting the head is important on a motorbike. Even if going slowly. The people of Saigon above use scarves to protect themselves from the dust and dirt. In Laos the sun is very strong so a different kind of protection is needed.
This is a small umbrella, when it rains the Big table unmbrellas can be seen.

If you find yourself on a bike in any Asian country do take care. Use your horn, the pavements and your small size to your advantage. Take precautions from the dust and sun and if it all gets too much, just take a break. Some people can sleep anywhere.

New friends and old

Chris and I with Caterina and Thao

Before we left in September, Chris signed us both up for something called Couchsurfing - which is an online website which allows you to stay with a local, in varying degrees of comfort, basically for free. There is also an option if you want to find out more about a specific city, to meet someone for a coffee and a chat...
from the website Couchsurfing state: CouchSurfing isn't about the furniture- it's not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it's about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. .. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!
I was a little sceptical in participating at all. But without having any experience of this new surfing world, I was talked into meeting up with the local Couchsurfing ambassador in Hue, a lovely girl called Thao. We met, were shown round a lot of the less touristy parts of Hue and were also introduced to another Couchsurfer who was in Hue for only a day. After the whole experience I feel a lot more confortable with the idea of surfing etc... and I may well be talked into actually staying in someone's home - who we have only met online, in the next few months.

Chris at the Imperial Palace, Hue (inside the Cidetal)

After a tour of Hue, Chris and I headed down along the coast to a beautiful part of Vietnam called Hoi An. It was an area which was originally on the 'to see' list, but we were going to miss it out, and I am so pleased that we didn't. Not only because I got a lovely pair of shoes made and also got a lovely dress made to fit too, but more importantly, we managed to catch up with a long time friend and fellow work colleague Elaine.

Ellie and Elaine

Elaine has been travelling since Feb '08 and is on the final few weeks of her journey. It was lovely catching up with her and finding out all about the places she has been to etc... some which we will be heading to, so it's great for a 'heads up'. We met up in Hoi An, making sure we stayed at the same hotel, and had a lovely afternoon and evening together. It was strange having more than one Northern Irish accent at the table! (Elaine met a girl called Ellie from Norn Iron too!!).

So with the wallet a little lighter - one day in Hoi An and I'm pleased we didn't have more time for shopping (this place is certainly somewhere we're coming back to) we boarded our plane to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and arrived in the heart of backpacker district at 8:30pm tonight.
We're here for a few days so we'll have a look at the museums etc.