Blogs from Asia - page 20

Correction from earlier in the week, the iguana… it wast an iguana at all, it was a sea monitor. I’m still no wiser, but thought I should correct myself! This will be my final amazing breakfast with Ella at Basecamp. As I leave tomorrow. In one thought, I seem to have been busy and done a lot, but I’m the next thought, I think…. Whooosh… we’re did the time go! I will be happy to move on to the next phase of my journey, but also dad to leave Ella behind! After breakfast we decided to crack on and get Ella’s highlights done. Honestly, I’m dreading doing them. It’s been around 25 to 30 years for me since I did this sort of stuff. In fact woven highlights hadn’t been invented when I was in salon!!!! ... read more

Xin Chao Hué! Finalement, nous avons mis 11h de train pour aller de Ninh Binh à Hué. Nous sommes tombés sous le charme de Hué, qui nous parait plus calme et plus propre. Hué est la capitale des empereurs Nguyen, cité classée aux monuments Patrimoine mondial de l’Unesco. Sa situation sur la rivière des Parfums est admirable. Dans l’après-midi, nous somme allés visiter la pagode de la Céleste Thien Mu puis la Citadelle, dernière demeure des Empereurs de la dynastie Nguyen. Ces sites sont architecturalement fascinants. Pleins les pattes, le soir, nous nous sommes posés dans un restaurant pour fêter mon anniversaire. Le meilleur cadeau que je puisse avoir: le fêter avec mes 2 hommes et au Viêt Nam. Le homestay était très bien situé en plein centre animé, les hôtes sont très très accueillants et ... read more

So the second week we are more or less in the centre of Ubud. Staying at the SenS Spa which was a great spot and a nice hotel. Whilst in Candidasa one of my back teeth crumbled at dinner one night but hard to find appointments up there so made an appointment in Ubud few days in advance! Lots of nerve pain but kept up the Panadol until we could get there. Anyway ended being a pretty bad infection, so three root canals cleaned out. Packed with antibiotics, filled and temp crown, loads and loads of anaesthesia and also oral antis to take til next visit, over two hours in the chair that first visit. Also fell over on way to dentist as some paths terribly broken and uneven then when we were heading out for ... read more

My first intention for today was to get my washing done. I have been washing bits each day, letting them dry overnight in my room, but today I seem to get a pile of clothes that need doing. Ella gave me a wake up knock on the door at about 8:45. So as soon as I finished showering and dressing, I got straight on with my washing! Thea washing was done, and on the washing line before breakfast! As is now expected, another amazing day, another amazing breakfast, with a special mention for the very nice chocolate cake! There were a few more new faces at the table this morning, which is always nice. You simply never know whose company you are going to enjoy each day! My second intention is to fix the leather chair. ... read more

I headed to Siem Reap in Cambodia from Luang Prabang. My goal was to explore the Angkor Wat complex, which is the largest pre-industrial city in the world with an urban sprawl of nearly 3,000 square kilometres at its peak (based on LIDAR studies). Cambodia's history is deeply intertwined with India, linkages dating back to the Pallava Dynasty in Southern India. The fact that Angkor started as a Hindu Temple complex dedicated to Lord Vishnu (and Vishnu was the deity that the Pallavas worshipped) before morphing to Buddhism is a sign of this. Its complicated history of monarchies, colonial rulers, Khmer Rouge and the genocide, and subsequent political rulers, nothing has taken away the deep intrigue Angkor creates among anyone interested in history and architecture. Nearly 1/4th of Cambodia's employment is from the tourism sector and ... read more