Page 3 of JmIntouch33 Travel Blog Posts


Asia » Vietnam April 6th 2017

Geo: 21.0243, 105.855Guess you could describe this as a day of waiting. Our last TOOLong call was at 3 pm and I nearly needed all day to complete the APT Survey. There were hundreds of questions. I did draw the line at any that had to do with marketing their next trip. Anyway, with homework completed we could use the rest of the day to get organised.Met for a leisurely breakfast and confess that we ate till 10.30 and then attacked the packing, re-packing and the repack of the repack to try and get everything back in the cases. LO_RI made just one more run the the markets for a last bargain or two - a stop over at the Columbia shop to stock up on some travel gear.Bags out and checked out at 1 pm ... read more
Breakfast treats at the Sofitel.
Many faces of lunch.
Business class blogger.

Asia » Cambodia » North » Siem Reap April 5th 2017

Geo: 13.4691, 104.041No sunrise this morning just a very leisurely start for WayJay. In fact it was a little sleep in for everyone because it was a "freedom of choice" selection on the itinerary.Loraine opted to be the group's front runner for shopping and joined 7 others for a look at some specialty shops and back street markets. In a convoy of three tuk tuks, Loraine was loaded up with Diane and Fiona as partners in shopping crime. According to all reports all shoppers (and therefore vendors) were winners and purchases were made. Loraine scored a bag, some shirts and at the same time scored a hit for the AMOK curry. The rest of the group will retrace these steps in the afternoon.Richard headed off in a tuk tuk with Lorraine from Newcastle in the direction ... read more
Love the soup for breakfast.
Country views from the horse cart ride.
Richard loving the visit to the stables.

Asia » Cambodia » North » Siem Reap April 4th 2017

Geo: 13.4691, 104.041OMG. One of those touristy days that is just the best. I am a confessed Angkor Wat groupie. How can I help you to understand that despite the horses, the elephants, the monkeys, the dogs, the birds, the buses, the tuk tuks, the cars, the vendors, the police, the children and the 10 000 other sunrise tourists, this was a moment of personal peace and solitude. This was a moment that inspired awe and that refreshed the soul. This just was!You found a spot. You planted your feet. And then you watched. The clouds provided the perfect backdrop for the sun to splash its oranges, reds, pinks and golds and for the silhouette of Angkor Wat to pop out of the horizon. I actually can't believe how "personally" quiet it was given the hordes ... read more
Arrived by torch light.
The clouds added to the backdrop.
Champagne sunrise.

Asia » Cambodia » North » Siem Reap April 3rd 2017

Geo: 13.4691, 104.041That was a day of endurance! Up early for a low key breakfast that contained no fluids because you definitely needed bladder stamina for the land transport to Siem Reap. I can say with some certainty that we ended the trip at the muddy bank of PrekK'Dam- an area that we had visited earlier in the week and the subject of one of the losing bets for Richard.The morning farewells just flew by and, with colour coded luggage successfully outside our cabin by 6.30 and breakfast with Leah completed we assembled in the Saigon Lounge one last time before departure.I was done before we we even made it up the mud steps to the bus. The combination of the knee, the back pack and the uneven uphill climb had my back in spasm so ... read more
So many choices.
Last TOOLong briefing on cruise.
Well good bye sailor!

Asia » Cambodia April 2nd 2017

Geo: 12.1392, 104.566Hard to believe this was the last day on the river. The days have drifted by in a blur of muddied water, local people, history and of course the comatose state has been heightened by the food and drink.Today's small boat ride had us leaving the Mekong and taking a tributary to look at the floating village of the Vietnamese. Stretching for a total of 1.5 kilometres on each side of the river, these families are living a hand to mouth existence. They are illegal immigrants in Cambodia and can never own land so have taken up residence on an assortment of craft floating on bamboo poles. It is hard to imagine what this might look like in the wet season when the water rises and rages.Peter shared that the families in this community ... read more
Breakfast getting lighter.
Heading ashore.
River action and stilt houses.

Asia » Cambodia April 1st 2017

Geo: 12.1392, 104.566The river now is almost a muddy pond. Definitely doesn't seem to be running as fast and there is a very slight "muddy" odour in the air. The river is busy though, with the main highway never far away and even at the earliest hour, there is movement on the river and on the highway. The windows of the AMA Lotus were fogged up this morning and the hand rails of the balcony were dripping with water. It had rained over night and the sky was blanketed in grey.Thought I was onto the "Yeah it's April" thing but didn't have my radar up for April fool's and certainly got myself in a knot over the poached versus scrambled thanks to Richard. It is the first time that I have heard Richard laugh out loud ... read more
The morning staple.
Phone at the table losers!
Muddy paddock, the cow and the court.

Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh March 31st 2017

Geo: 11.5588, 104.917A day of contrasts today. Visited the gold opulence of the palace in the morning and then toured a village school in the afternoon.It was free time to start the day and as long as we were back by 11 Phnom Penh was ours. We scaled the stairs for a short walk to the local market to get some stationery for the school visit for LO_RI and a couple of SIM cards which for the princely sum of $5 will untether us from the boat's on again off again data services.Traffic negotiations were solved once again by stepping out and keeping going but a little different here because of the proliferation of cars and buses. But somehow it all seems to work.Back at the tuk tuk rank we were a little disappointed that car ... read more
Vegemite collage.
Exploring on foot and by tuk tuk.
Mapped up in the Royal Palace.

Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh March 30th 2017

Geo: 11.5588, 104.917No-one else heard it - but I did. At 4.17 am I was woken by monks chanting. I put on my robe and scurried out to the sundeck to see what was going on. It was pitch black and not another person was n sight. And despite everyone I have met today if they heard it - not one other soul has confessed to hearing the chanting.And continuing the theme of being on deck in PJs, got a call from Richard saying that the view from the front of the ship was worth the trip down the hallway. So once again, wrapped in the white AMA Lotus gown I was on deck. Despite assuring me that no-one was there, think that everyone from the third floor was out and had a comment about my ... read more
Taking care of the essential shot early. Docking!
So much documented cruelty.
Approaching Phnom Penh.

Asia » Vietnam March 29th 2017

Geo: 10.7983, 105.239It was a day of false starts. Thought I would get ahead of the game and hit the shower early. Unfortunately, at 5 am there was no hot water. By 6 am all was flowing well and and decisions around breakfast were the biggest challenge of the day.The tender boats were back for us for an 8.45 start and our first visit was to Evergreen Island. Again, Tang waved his yellow sign and took us door to door through the farming village, greeting all the locals and providing us with a running commentary. Nestled side by side the stilt houses are a reflection of the wealth or poverty of the family. Electricity delivers the essentials and no matter what the house, the large flat screen TV holds prominent position. The fields are set out ... read more
Eggs florentine highlight.
Evergreen Island.
Many faces of Evergreen.

Asia » Vietnam March 28th 2017

Geo: 10.2908, 105.756Who had the bright idea to order tea and coffee for room service at 6.45 am. The alarm tingled gently at 6.30 which we promptly ignored but the ding dong of Sam calling had to be answered! Mac was charged with the responsibility of getting the door as I made the mad dash to bury myself under the covers. Not ordering that for tomorrow....or on any subsequent day.Breakfast held a little surprise because Mappy had organised an introduction for us to one of the wait staff. He had even gone to the length of sending a photo to Chenda so that she could find us. Took us a few minutes of charades, frowns and puzzles to work out who the "big man" from the "school building" actually was but eventually made the connection. Now ... read more
Dinner delights.
Shopping and dancing finale.
Champagne breakfast - because we can.




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