http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Cle/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Cle en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:51:36 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:51:36 +0000 And so we made our way to the prize at the end of our journey the great Angkor temples in Siem Reap. We got there for sun rise and as the Angkor Wat loomed out of the blushing skies in front of us we knew we were in for a mystical journey that no other temple in Asia could match.After admiring the Angkor Wat from outside as it raised its sleepy head from darkness and looked at itself once more http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-331737.html Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City as its official name is a city with a lot of bloody history which we took in when we visited the various wartime sites around the area. First we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels 45 miles south east of Saigon which is a huge 75 mile network of underground tunnels that the communist villagers and Viet Cong used during the war with America and the South of Vietnam. As we ent http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-328900.html Finally pulling ourselves away from the fruit shakes beating drums and the even friendlier most amazing Vietnamese people yet in Hoi An we continued South to Nha Trang. This is a coastal town with a winding 6km beautiful beach dotted with coconut trees amazing food warm turquoise trees tiny islands and a laid back travellertourist scene. We went to an amazing bar where their aim was to get r http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Nha-Trang/blog-325906.html And at last we enter the country we have most been looking forward to the resilient and beautiful Vietnam. After a LOT of faffing at immigration control at the border from Laos we finally made it in. The first thing I notice about Vietnam compared to Laos is the amount of people everywhere I look working away in the rice paddies or scooting past on the country's vehicle of choice motorbikes http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/North-Central-Coast/Hue/blog-324843.html After long hot and tiring but a very very fun day of bike riding in the countryside and local markets of Luang Prubang talking with local teenagers to improve their English at the Big Brother Mouse book publishing place and waking up at 5am to give alms to the young monks basically we kneel before the precession and place breakfasts of balls of sticky rice and bananas in their baskets as they http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-322575.html With the arrival of Fle fresh from building horse jumps in Hong Kong for the Olympics we all had a couple of hectic and then pampering days in Bangkok before lovely Laura flew home. Thank you for the best three weeks We all had amazing seaweed and cucumber facials.. yep including mister Fle... and Thai massages in which my body was violently twisted into shapes I did not know I could pull. I d http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/blog-317497.html After a quick nap to make up for the sticky overnight train ride we get straight on a private boat ride steered by a cute Thai emoAnd we floated down Chiang Mai's tranquil Mai Ping river. This way we get a good idea of the different buildings fishermen and trees that make up the city... Here is Laura on the boat doing her tourist face.We stoped off at a herb farm where we get free fresh ginger http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Mai/blog-315185.html Still smothered in sunshine and the most beautiful sandy beaches we headed to Koh Phangan where we happened to stumble upon the most gorgeous beach hut resort called Sea Sun Set north of the port. Although this was not where everyone else was headed we had our own secluded beach and the most wonderful family who looked after us and fed us with the most amazing food ever This is what we see eve http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Pha-Ngan/blog-314191.html BE WARNED This may make you jealous I am pretty much on a three week five star holiday nowArriving in Bangkok for my first stop in Thailand was a good start for my tour of south east asia as it is very tourist orientated with seemingly more white people than Thai But this was a nice safety net coming from India as I wasn't afraid to eat out and have my first actual Thai green curry alone. Ba http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-309679.html First I should probably apologise for not saying I was ok in the last blog after the bombs went off around Bangalore. I am ok They were only small. And they happen all over the world. Some volunteer's parents bought air tickets for them to go home early but mine wisely were not too worried. Terrorists want you to live in fear and you shouldn't change your plans or be frightened because then th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Bangalore/blog-308117.html I cannot believe I have been in India for over three weeks it has gone so fast The sweet smelling flowers in brightly dressed women's hair the daily rickshaw commute which I now do alone the lazy cows that motorbikes use as roundabouts and the spices and herbs that infuse themselves in everything from my tea and cake to my morning breakfast it all feels like home now. I have even surprised m http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Baga/blog-305481.html After a sad week of goodbye meals and cold coffees as half of the group returned home most people only came for two week projects I decided to spend the weekend with my room mate nearer the City. Sad to say bye but yummy pizza Nice to have a change from spicy foods although I am addicted to South Indian food already Our regular cafe...My second week at Rave had been a success as I had writt http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Bangalore/blog-303031.html Just when I think India cannot get any better I end up seeing a whole new side to it when I get to go up in the mountains seven hours north of the City. This has to be the Best Weekend EverBefore that though Thursday evening we went to the main commercial street to watch the Bollywood film 'Thoda Pyaar Thodar Magic' which was so magical and not too unlike Mary Poppins Here are the superstar http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Bangalore/blog-299449.html My first day at Rave magazine was interesting it is way more laid back than any job or internship I have ever done before as people come and leave when they want and take however long they want for lunch and balcony breaks... but the finished product is very professional so I guess if the workwritingediting gets done on time this is an effective way of working I could definitely get used to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Bangalore/blog-297855.html It is only the second day but i really do feel like i am in love with India already.There are so many beautiful differences to England like men holding hands in the street is totally normal and so lovely And the bright flowers and materials and smiling children cows dogs chipmunks and friends cheer me up the second i get homesick. I now understand why most of the other project workers end up http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Bangalore/blog-296487.html Heylo Landed in Bangalore this morning after a stop in Bahrain where I was accompanied by another person doing the project the whole way. We were picked up and I was dropped off at my accommodation which is a room shared with another girl doing a similar project to me. The big modern and sparkling clean house belongs to Shirley who is very lovely and makes us breakfast packed lunch and dinner e http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Bangalore/blog-295919.html