MattandRach

Can Tho was going to be a very quick stop for us. We couldn't not stop on the Mekong Delta but we were running out of time, so it would be a quick over night stop, not even 24 hours. We arrived late in the afternoon and secured a room. The purpose of coming to Can Tho was to do a tour of the nearby "floating markets." So, we knew it was going to be a very early start the next day. As such, we splurged slightly on a comfy room. That being said, accommodations in Vietnam tended to be more expensive than elsewhere in SE Asia, however, the difference in what you got was considerable (cleanliness, A/C, t.v., cable, etc.) So we arrived at the bus station and were whizzed to the town center, each ... read more

After Siem Reap we reluctantly headed to Sihanoukville on the coast. I say reluctantly because from everything we read it was quite a seedy party town and we'd been told that the beach was far from pristine. I wasn't keen on another Vang Vieng type of party town experience (though VV was gorgeous). But, I was interested in doing another dive and Matt really wanted me to do another one and Sihanoukville is the base for the Cambodian diving industry, which is still in the relatively early stages of development. So, we went, intending only to stay a night or two, just long enough for me to do a dive and move on. When we arrived we found kind of an interesting local part of town, with an interesting night market. And we also found the ... read more

First impressions...As we drove south into Cambodia my perpetual out the window gaze revealed a predominantly flat landscape, a considerable amount of pollution, and a palpable decrease in the quality of everyday life. It was a stark contrast in comparison to the spotless, jagged limestone karsts in Laos that were sprinkled with children smiling and waving. There was a noticeable lack of waste management, though not in anywhere comparable to the level of pollution we saw in India. And there was definitely more outward signs of poverty than in Thailand or Laos; the beggars, children wearing filthy clothes or none at all, and a reasonably high percentage of ramshackle housing. I was eager to get off the bus to interact with our surroundings and see if my initial impressions would hold true. The thwarted plan...Our first ... read more

The journey from Phonsavan to Vang Vieng was absolutely gorgeous. There was not one second of the drive that wasn't beautiful. In fact, I've said several times that I think Laos is the most consistently beautiful country I've ever been to. Mile after mile of rice paddies the most beautiful shade of green you've ever seen interrupted only by huge limestone karsts and tiny bamboo villages. At the entrance to each village our vehicle is met by the smiling and inquisitive faces of the village children as the driver pays the entry toll. As with most of our overland journeys on this trip Matt passed the time with his nose in a book while I couldn't help but glue mine to the window for fear of missing one second of the world passing me by. I ... read more

Limited by the lack of speedy transportation in the north, we headed for Luang Prabang. The views on the way were phenomenal, towering limestone formations, dense green jungle, snaking rivers, and fertile rice fields made it almost impossible not to look out the window constantly. You may as well, the ride on the often unpaved road makes it too bumpy to read any way! Luang Prabang was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presumably because of the great number of temples in the city, in addition to sleepy avenues lined with French colonial buildings. The city is at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, which for me, gave it a slight island feel. We arrived in the evening and began our wanderings around the renowned, and expansive, night market. A wealth of goods ... read more