We made it safely and smoothly to Thailand yesterday. The road was bumpy through Cambodia but we made good time and the border went smoothly as well. Last night we had our final "family dinner" a block north or Khao San Road, what a circus that place is. I was tempted to get a pair of fisherman's pants, braid my hair and tatoo every limb but sanity prevailed at the last moment. I may go for a foot massage today, since I just walked through the Royal Palace and Wat to see the Emerald Buddha. It was quite stressful due to [View Full Entry]

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Yes, that's what we call it. We began yesterday at sunrise, trying to catch the classic photo of Angkor Wat in the reflecting pools, continued to Angkor Thom (remember Angelina Jolie's big tree in Tomb Raider?), Ta Phrom, Bayon (holy sweet mother of all temples), Preah Kahn and then Pre Rup for sunset. As we watched the sun set we were sold cans of beer by an enterprising young Cambodian man rumored to be a policeman and vendors from 3 to 14 or 15 years of age hawking scarves, purses and bracelets, as they do at all World Heritage Sites, it [View Full Entry]

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We made it to Seam Reap and had a free afternoon yesterday. Eager to see some temples I went alone by motorbike to Beng Melea and had an "Indiana Jones" experience. This morning we went to Angkor for sunrise and will return in a few moments for an entire day of Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom, Bayon and the other temples and temple complexes. I think you may have to wait until I come home to see photos as I will be too busy climbing around and taking the photos. It's still hot and sweaty, the food is wonderful, shopping as well [View Full Entry]

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Toul Sleng Prison and Choeung Ek are brutal, gritty sites. There are no words to describe the experience I had today. I felt schizophrenic as I wondered how many continents, countries, cultures have mass graves like the ones I walked through today? How many regimes have tortured and murdered people using the same techniques as I saw today? What makes man capable of such cruelty? Is that seed of violence and destruction within me as well? When did such brutality begin and when will it end? [View Full Entry]

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We made it to Cambodia via boat and much sweating, x-raying of luggage, stamping, bribing etc. One of the members of our group did not have enough extra passport pages for her Cambodia exit stamp, but for an extra $20 they gave her the Cambodian entrance visa. When we got to Phnom Penh our leader took her to the Embassy to get extra pages added to the passport so that she will be able to leave the country. It was a good reminder for all of us to look at more than the expiration date before leaving home. Things are calm [View Full Entry]

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After a long travel day yesterday, we board a motorboat on the Mekong to travel into Cambodia today. Saw frogs and rats (yes, to eat) in the market last night. [View Full Entry]

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I have never met a more dysfunctional group. When Samantha and I arrived in Hanoi we joined a group that had been traveling together for about 10 days through Thailand and Laos. We have one tour leader and another in training. In Hanoi the leader invited us to spend our extra day with them on the last day for some of that group on the Ho CHi Minh Masoleum tour. So, they were losing members and adding members in Hanoi. It started out like there was the "old" group and the "new people." They seemed happy to lose 2 young men [View Full Entry]

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We made it on time to Saigon last night, the flight was uneventful. Today we have a morning tour of the Cu Chi tunnels, where we will crawl around underground as well as have the opportunity to fire automatic weapons and buy war souvenirs. No thanks. After lunch we will visit the War Remnants Museum, touted as the best in Saigon. I think it's going to be a long, hot serious day. So, you ask is it clean here? No it is not clean here, the streets are dirty and dusty, the motos spew exhaust, people smoke everywhere and you have [View Full Entry]

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So~ imagine yourself at the Cu Chi Tunnels. You begin by viewing a 1960's Vietnamese propaganda video that refers to the Americans coming at Vietnam like "crazy white devils". You progress to a site where a man in a green uniform pops out of a tunnel built underground. Then members of your tour group and others pop down the hole for photos. You put your camera away. At the next stop fat white women from Indiana are climbing on top of a tank for a photo opportunity or hugging a replica of a Vietnamese soldier and striking a pose while screaming [View Full Entry]

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This morning we spend the morning cycling through rice paddies to the beach and then check out of our hotel at noon. We will have 4 sweaty hours in Hoi An to eat more lovely food and collect all of our purchases that haven't been shipped home. This afternoon we fly to Saigon where we will visit the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels over the next 2 days. The weather has been very good. It is very hot under direct sunlight, and standing or walking incurs instant seat dripping down one's back. As we walk down the street [View Full Entry]

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