SuzieQnSteven2

Travelers: Michael, Karen, Steven, and SuzieQ Place: at a pub in Dublin Time: May 30th, around 6:00 pm... read more

Battambang was new for us. After a short bus ride from Siem Reap, well, short is a relative term, we arrived in the very small town of Battambang, the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge. We were ambushed by the local tuk-tuk drivers-they surrounded us and were pulling on my backpack which wasn't on all the way and I began to fall. I yelled at them, then they immediately stopped-and of course went right back to trying to get our business. Usually I can get people to stop hassling me if I start talking price and make it ridiculous-but these guys were willing to take us for free. Finally, we picked a guy and off we went. As we drove the 300 feet to the hotel, we realized that the bus stop was the busiest place ... read more

Dalat was really great! Planned on staying two days ended up staying four. We found our hangout, literally a bar called The Hangout Cafe run by a Duong, his wife, and twenty month old Rocky -who really runs the place. If you go look out if Rocky has his squirt bottle-he is quite a good aim. He is also a pool shark. As we were sitting in our place on at the front of the cafe a little girl about eight came over and stared at us for awhile. I gave her some spider rings and we were soon fast friends. She ended up kicking Steven out of his seat next to me and took his place. She held my hand but never talked. Duong told me she was autistic-of course she is, I am the ... read more

Departed Saigon yesterday at 1:00 in the back of the bus. We took Phuong Teang bus service because they had the best price, neck pillows, and taxi service when you arrive to take you wherever you want to go. The neck pillows are crucial because we were on the bus for nine hours-was supposed to be seven. Steven began chatting with a university student finishing up her junior year of college and was heading home to see her family for the summer. She is getting her degree as an auditor and already has an intership waiting for her next year. Adorable young lady, she gave us information about the countryside the entire ride. She really wanted to practice her english and I wanted to practice my vietnamese-good combination. She bought fruit at one of the rest ... read more

We have had beautiful weather for the past few days. Light breezes, and in the shade really comfortable. Eating on the street, drinking in the street pubs, and getting treats at the local bakery-it feels like home! We visited the War Remnants Museum. Again, deeply disturbing on so many levels. The shocking photos, the artillery, bombs, and planes, and the cleverly crafted propaganda made for a dreary but fascinating afternoon. I came back to the room to have a quick nap and Steven headed to the pub. I tried to sleep but the cleaning lady made me get out (we are no longer treated like guests, we are treated like family) , so I went down to find Steven. I went into the first one and asked where my husband was and the guy yelled "he ... read more

Vue Mom Nam...Happy Half New Year today! It is a Vietnamese holiday-we have been invited to our friend's home for lunch to celebrate. We went to the market this morning to buy flowers as a gift. I brought some back for the girls in the hotel-of course they argued over who had the biggest bunch of flowers :). I can now "talk good price" in the market ( a sign of respect), point using my whole hand in a waving gesture as pointing with one finger is rude, order a drink/get the check/say hello all using slightly different head nods, yelled at a pedicab to get out of the way while riding my bike, and can eat noodles morning noon and night-sounds good all the time. Yes, turning Vietnamese. Yesterday our friend invited us with her ... read more

Well...what is a holiday in a foreign country without food poisoning and losing your ATM card? After eating on the streets of Laos we ate in a couple of different restaurants that we have eaten in many times before, I managed to get food poisoning last night. I was laid up for 36 hours-feeling really, really bad. But, if I am going to get sick this is the place to do it. The girls at the hotel kept me going with hugs, bananas, some kind of herbal medicine which I took no questions asked (that is how bad I felt) and now I am better. We rode bikes to the ATM for some cash. I was so happy to be in the ATM -they are air-conditioned and nice and cool that I forgot to take my ... read more