With only about half a day, I had three things on the list of things to do before leaving HCMC. I guess that two out of three isn’t so bad! I knew I had gotten up early but didn’t realize that I was actually quite quick in getting ready so even the small restaurant fronting my hotel was not opened … oh well; I’ll grab breakfast somewhere on the street I guess. I hopped into a cab and didn’t even bother asking … I already I had my book at the ready for the taxi driver to take me to the [View Full Entry]

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I am falling in love with this city! Loud, crowded and chaotic … a well-known fact and if you don’t believe me, I have video! Hot, sticky and humid beyond belief … of course but what other way would you want it in Southeast Asia. Filled with charm, charisma, personality and warmth … absolutely! And if that was not enough … pho on every street corner! In making arrangements with the hotel for a later check-out, it dawned on me that tomorrow evening I am flying back to Siem Reap, Cambodia to spend one last day before heading back home. I [View Full Entry]

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I had made arrangements to have Jin, the tuk tuk driver, drive me to the airport. I think Jin was a little sad to see me go ... he said to me "when you come back to Cambodia?" When do I come back??? I haven't even finished this trip yet and truth be told I never in my wildest dreams ever thought that I would make it to Cambodia in the first place so ... one day at a time there Jin! While waiting for my flight to board, I changed some of my US dollars for Vietnamese Dongs (which I [View Full Entry]

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Today was going to one of these days where I would just while away the hours. There are not that many things to see in Phnom Penh and I had pretty much seen everything that I truly had had my heart set on. The only thing missing was a trip to the market so I had made arrangements with Jin, my tuk tuk driver. He let me know that the Central Market, which is often an attraction due to the large domed building, was actually taking place outside due to the fact that the building itself was being renovated ... well [View Full Entry]

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My day started out as any, that is, by going down to have some breakfast but this time on the small veranda by the reception area of the hotel. The reception desk actually also doubles as a small outdoor kitchen so you actually see your breakfast being prepared. My stomach would prove to still be sensitive a little later on in the morning but that's why God invented Imodium ... I was not going to be deterred but definitely annoying! I had made arrangements with the same tuk tuk driver (his name is Jin ... something tells me that I should [View Full Entry]

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So yesterday I went and shooted my mouth off and said that my stomach was doing well. Probably ten minutes after I posted that, said stomach decided that it had a bit of a mind of its own. I say that it might have to do with the beating that I took during my massage and that she unnerved some kind of internal organ or disaligned some chakra of some kind. So alas, I did not truly enjoy my traditional Khmer meal of curry pineapple stew with chicken served with steamed rice. The little that I did have was quite tasty [View Full Entry]

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My day started out with a good laugh thanks to my mother. I have said before that my mother follows my comings and goings of my trips religiously through this blog and sends me messages of encouragement along the way. This morning just made me smile when I read that she had googled to find out what the deal was with this coconut shell, sending me a message saying that there should be a big clay pot filled with water and a small coconut shell which would be used to wash your feet. I have definitely put it to that use [View Full Entry]

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First I just wanted to say that I tried to upload photos but was having issues because I did not have ActiveX Control … should have thought of that before leaving home. So unfortunately, I will only be able to share photos once I have gotten home. I have been having great luck with the wifi at the hotel here actually, which is saying a lot knowing that I am in a hotel where the lights flicker on and off when the air conditioning kicks into high gear. And in case you are wondering, I still have not figured out the [View Full Entry]

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The day started early, having set my alarm at around 5:30 am and with an early breakfast of chicken porridge this time around. I honestly wish that these breakfasts would catch on in Canada because what a great way to start the day! And no communication breakdown with the side dish this morning ... salt and pepper with a wedge of lime. I had made arrangements again for a tuk tuk driver who would be arriving at around 7 am. I had decided on an earlier start just to beat the crowds and the heat. Yesterday, the heat was bearable with [View Full Entry]

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Who needs to pack an alarm clock, when you can lovingly get woken up by the cockle-doodle doo of a rooster at a little before 5 am? Yes, this resort comes with its very own rooster and I would later find out that the streets around my hotel are actually overrun by them. There are also a variety of “cacaw-like” sounds early in the morning but the source has yet to be identified. And I did fall asleep last night to the calming sounds of the crickets … an entire eco-system just on these grounds! So at a little before 6 [View Full Entry]

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