Category: 2018

Arrived on time at 06.00 at Heathrow after a reasonable 12.75 hour flight.
Great surprise because Tom and Padouk got up at some unearthly hour to greet us at the airport. How nice was that. We had an hour or so to kill before our National Express bus so indulged in croissant and coffee with them . On to the bus and had a speedy three and half hour trip back to Exeter where our chauffeur Brad was waiting to whisk us on our final leg home.

So home sweet home after an amazing trip that Me and Er will never forget.

Thanks to all who managed to read our blog

THE END

Last day of our travels excluding the long 13 hour flight home arriving on the 17th at 06.00

Set off this morning to the Chinese Quarter which was a lot more fascinating than we thought it would be considering we have been to China. Lots of narrow streets with traders selling all sorts but in a lot of bulk as if they are wholesalers as well as retailers. Cloth, beads, bags and trinkets in abundance. The amount of stock they carry is amazing. The Thai population is made up of 20% with Chinese origins.

These dispensaries are for herbal and spicy remedies.

This dispensary was really busy

Take a little lunch while shopping

Happy Birthday Irene. This little cake was left in our room while we were having dinner last night. They must record birth dates from our passports. Nice touch !

We returned to hotel at about 1.00 having arranged a later checkout of 2.00 . At least we could shower again after a hot sticky morning. Left our bags in storage and headed out to the shopping malls for a bit of last minute you know what, returning at about 6.00.

We have to kill some time before we leave for the airport at about 8.00 so are sitting here outside by the river with a couple of our favourite cocktails since being away, Singapore Slings. It is nearly 7.00 as I write this blog for nearly the last time and will have a bite to eat here before we set off for the airport.

Seats 47F and 47 G await us for our final flight

BUT we still have our National Express coach trip to look forward to demain arriving Exeter about 12.30′

Birthday girl

Our last bit of warmth for a while. Sitting here drinking cocktails listening to a bit of jazz from a live trio, AND we’ve checked out!! Better order dinner as we leave in about an hour.

What a journey we’ve had, it almost brings tears to your eyes.

Day in Bangkok, so we decided to hit the Grand Palace first. We started from our pier at the hotel and then to the commercial boats where we were ripped off, but only for a small amount, so I’m sure Paul will get over it! We weren’t sure whether we would think, just another Palace and temple, but it was beautiful. We had a amazing few hours there walking around the most beautiful and ornate buildings. Photos to follow will show how much gold leaf they use, glass beads, glass tiles etc. it was definitely worth the trip.

Our pier in first photo; then the trip up the river

Walk to the Grand Palace running the gauntlets of stalls

Part of the Grand Palace

Gold leaf over part of the Temples

Yet another Temple photo

After the Grand Palace we decided we’d walk to the Reclining Buddah. This one is 47meters long and 15m high. It’s in a complex a little way from the Grand Palace. We walked it, unfazed by touts, tuk tuk drivers etc. we were very hot, so looked for a place to have a bite to eat and drink. Really interesting little cafe. Paul got chatting to a lady who was selling potions, don’t know what for, I’m not sure she did! Anyway Paul bought three bottles, whilst the cafe staffed laughed. They said the lady is a bit screwy!!
After that it was the reclining Buddah, again in gold leaf. The complex had several beautiful buildings with Buddhist shrines in them.

Mainly a day of travelling again to our final stop before Coleford namely Bangkok.
Our prearranged car to the airport duly arrived dead on time for our 40 min drive to Phuket Airport.
Arrived Bangkok about fifteen minutes late and made our way to the recently opened train shuttle the the City. Bangkok airport is a busy place but very few seem to be using this new facility. It is a non stop service to a hub station called Makkasan but there were no more than half a dozen on it. Very strange. Had to get taxi for the shortish drive to our hotel. Argument number three for Butty, with a taxi driver, as we arrived at the hotel. Number one was our first day was with the tuk tuk boys in Beijing. The second was with a lady driver in HCMC who wanted more than the meter reading because she said she quoted me a fixed price and the meter didn’t count. B……..it she got what was on the meter! The third was today when the taxi driver wanted 500 Baht but his meter was not running so how did he know how much it should be? I had and idea it would of been about 300 Baht so that is what he got. He was not a happy bunny and nor was Irene, me making a scene over a couple of pounds!

Went out for a while in the evening to the night market and red light area!

Preparing the meat for the pavement eatery!

Our hotels river shuttle that goes upriver to a main river ferry pier and city sky rail station.

It has been great just to laze about on the beach and around the pool. Although we could have gone on a few more trips, we decided to give them a miss. Some of the islands and coastline does look beautiful but maybe next trip!

Waiting for business. Apparently the tourist season has been very quiet which is not surprising with the EU up the spout and the latest floods here in Thailand.

Tsunami early warning siren

Our hillside resort

Woke up this morning to picture below, fabulous views and hotel great for anyone out there who might be thinking of getting married!

View from patio

Bedroom with biggest bed we’ve ever slept in

View of jacuzzi and it’s view

Our ‘room’ is beautiful. Not too great if you don’t do hills, loads of steps to breakfast, reception etc, but you can get a lift in a vehicle if you want. The room is actually lounge with TV, bedroom as seem with TV, neither have been used yet, (TV’s) , bathroom and dressing area. We have an outside shower, for those who want a bit of a cheeky look at Paul you can see the shower on ‘just for fun’, a jacuzzi and patio and back courtyard. The hotel has lovely spa facilities, so I think I will indulge myself as a birthday treat.

Spent today lazing around. Leisurely breakfast and then down to the beach. Water beautifully clear and great sandy beach. Lunch there and then back for a shower and jacuzzi.

Beach in both directions

Took a walk for sundowners and found the night spot for those in the area. Lots of bars and restaurants behind the beach. Had sundowners and returned to hotel for dinner by the pool.

The last day in KL but we don’t fly out to Phuket until 18.00 so we have a bit of time to kill. Decided not to have breakfast in the hotel so strolled around the park in front of the hotel and over towards the Twin Towers and had a buffet breakfast and coffee in a cafe.
Had to take some more photos of the Petronas Towers.

What an amazing building. Doesn’t look real.

Nice sculptures in the park.

Headed off to the airport about 3.00 which is an hour by bus.

As mentioned before the airport is called the LCCT ( Low Cost Carrier Terminal) which is predominately Air Asia and is it busy.

Arrived on time as have all our flights up to now and found our prearranged car ( another Kelly Cab) for the 40 minute drive to our hotel. By this time it is dark but the hotel looks great.

Went for a bite to eat, Nasi Goreng for me and Rock Lobster for Er.

Last country on our travels but at least we have five days in one place and hopefully relax a bit by the pool or on the beach.

Yet another early start as today we were leaving Siem Reap for Kuala Lumpur. Our flight was 8.30am, so it was 5.30am up, tuk tuk waiting outside at 6.30am for our departure. The hotel loaded us with breakfast, T shirts and we eventually left after having photos taken with the staff, at their instigation. We felt like royalty there during our 2 day stay. Flight with Air Asia, then Skybus to KL all went well. Arrived at our hotel Traders about 2.30pm starving. Dumped our bags and went down to 5th floor for lunch. One Nasi Goreng and one curry later we felt very good. Our room is splendid with a great view of the Petronas Towers just outside our window. Feeling a bit jaded, so walked around the park and checked out the roof pool and bars before loafing around doing this blog!!

Daytime view from our hotel window. We picked this hotel for our last one night stay in KL because of this view of the Petronas Twin Towers.

Night view . Absolutely amazing.

Er is kindly pressing my trousers and shirt because we are off to the first hotel we stayed at in KL, The Royal Chulan which is so nice we have to go back and have dinner.

Up at crack of dawn to visit the Temples knowing it will be quite a long day.

The Temples were built as Palaces for the Gods and not as places of worship and were constructed by on behalf of different Rulers from the 7th to 13th centuries. Sometimes existing temples were added to rather then rebuilt and over the centuries different architectural styles were adopted although we found this pretty difficult to see at times. Generally they are built from huge blocks of sandstone and each block is carved with a portion of a scene that is being depicted which may be an elephant or serpent etc.

This is part of the most well known temple ” Angkor Wat”

There are lots of different levels the nearer you get to the centre and the main towers. In effect they form a pyramidal effect with steep stone stairways to each level.

The towers are built of carved blocks and are are basically square but the very clever tapering gives an almost rounded effect. The very top of the towers tend to be open to the sky.

Wooden stairways over the existing to protect them but these were pretty formidable especially coming down.

Although the concept of the design was Hinduism , Buddhism is now the dominant Cambodian religion.

Carvings and bas- relief absolutely everywhere. Quite incredible.

Lunch stop after a very long and hot morning having visited three different temples the last two being within the vast moated ancient city of Angkor Thom which is about 3km square.

This temple is called Bayon within Angkor Thom and used to be the highest but the central ” pyramid ” collapsed and is gradually being restored.

Most of the temples were left to be ravaged by the jungle which caused major collapses of the structures and they became ruins. Some , especially Angkor Wat , were still being used for religious ceremony. In the 1800’s the French took on some of the restoration but when the site became a World Heritage site in 1992 restoration has been overseen by the French and Japanese.

Some of the sites have been partially untouched to show how the large jungle tree root systems can devour everything.

Amazing tree roots at the Ta Prohm temple.
This is where a lot of the Indiana Jones movies have been filmed.

Just after this visit ended the heavens opened and we made a quick retreat back to our waiting tuk tuk and went back to hotel for a well deserved swim ( with complimentary tea)

At the appointed hour of 6 pm Me and Er went for our hour long full body massage and very nice is was .

Started today in Phnom Penh, caught the 7.30 ‘speed’ boat to Siem Reap. Got to the quay at 7am and looked at an old cigarette tube that we were going to be entombed in four 6hours, ugh! The boat had quite a few foreigners on it, so that helped. We chatted to a couple from SA and a woman from Las Vegas, so it ended up being quite fun. We lasted about 30 seconds in our seats, which were noisy, smelly from diesel fumes and by the loo. We headed for a cabin at the front which had bench seating and was ok. We alternated that with sitting on the front ‘deck’, loose description. Bit of a challenge getting out there as there was no rail for a few feet and it felt a bit scary.

Speed boat!

Inside cigarette tube

The trip was interesting as we passed loads of really poor villages where fishing was obviously their occupation. All the family seemed to be out on the boats. The houses are on stilts and made of palms. They look like they won’t last through the first storm that hits.

Fishing families on the Tonle Sap River

Eventually the river widens out into the Tonle Sap Lake and is so big you cannot see land for a lot of the journey.

Six hours later and we arrive at the dropping off point for the shortish journey to Siem Reap town.

Another prearranged tuk- tuk was waiting for us holding up a sign with our name on it. Kelly Cabs Cambodian style, who took us the 40 min ride to our hotel over some of the bumpiest roads imaginable . Surprised the tuk tuk suspension didn’t give way.

Arrived at hotel to an extraordinary welcome. Lots of bowing and how are you today etc. We were sat down and presented with a couple of refreshing iced teas. They took all our information over tea and told us all about the hotel. We were given a coupon for a small snack to take with us the next day whilst touring the Temples. To cap it all they asked what time we would like our one hour complimentary massage and what sort we would like. This is alright so booked six o clock tomorrow evening.

We had arranged with our same tuk tuk man to be picked up at 4.30 to go to a temple on a hill to watch the sunset, something everyone seems to do. Luckily there was a good sunset.

Back to hotel and another complimentary drink was awaiting us. Madness ?

We had dinner in the hotel ( 4 kinds of Amok) during which the manager presented us with another coupon for a complimentary BBQ for the next night. BBQ I think means you have a heater of some sort in the middle of your table and cook various ingredients yourself. We will see. The hotel is quite small but seems busy so why all the freebies who knows. All the staff are absolutely charming and can’t do too much for you.

Up tomorrow at seven to do the Temples which will be a long day.

One day in Phnom Penh, so it’s all go. We have booked our boat trip to Siem Reap for tomorrow. Recommended by a very nice American couple we met at breakfast. Should be interesting, 6 hours up the Mekong and then across a lake to our destination. Only thing I’m worried about is the rails holding the luggage on board! They don’t look too strong!!
Then we meet Touc (“Small” in Cambodian) our friendly tuk tuk driver from yesterday. We had negotiated a day with him driving us. We were off 15km out of town to The Killing Fields. Not our favourite thing to do, but an essential part of Cambodian recent history, so we gritted our teeth and went for it. Forty minutes drive on a tuk tuk and we arrived.

Touc nee “Small “our driver for the day

The killing fields was a very moving experience, and as it affects everyone in Cambodia still, we thought it a must do.

The memorial to the 3million who lost their lives during Pol Pots reign of terror

From there we went to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, in for a penny ……. This was a former primary school taken over by the Khmer Rouge for detention and torture of so called dissidents. Another gruelling hour was spent here. At least we now feel we know some of what the Cambodians and Vietnamese have been through in the past fifty years. I think what has shaken us most is that it all has happened in our life time.

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

We now decided to shake off the past and head for the Central Market. Touc left us there for an hour, and we managed a little bargaining.

The outside of the central market

From here next stop was the Royal Palace. Buddhism is the main religion and within the Palace is the Silver Temple. Fabulous buildings in complete contrast to the rest of the city. In all our travels you get this huge contrast between the rich and the poor and the refined and the ugly. Huge skyscrapers owned by the banks and financial institutions next to squalor or religious icons next to squalor. Just the way of the world today but a bit difficult to get your head around when actually amidst it all. Butty getting a bit sentimental but not surprising after some of the sites/sights we have seen.

We had arranged to meet Touc at 5 pm at the FCC so had a bit of time to kill after the Royal Palace so had a couple of beers to wash down the dust of the days travelling around and out of the city.

View from the balcony of the FCC

Almost at the end of the very long day but we wanted to see the OLD railway station. A bit of an attraction because Cambodia no longer has ANY rail network. Too late is was closed. From there on the way back to the hotel we went passed some Government buildings that we understand were built or financed by the Chinese. They certainly had a Chinese look to them.

Back at the hotel and a well deserved swim in the pool. We couldn’t face more tuk-tuk drives so we decided to eat in the hotel and were very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food, only because the menu did not “read” that well. This is a delightful little oasis in the middle of you know what.

Fantastic day in Phnom Penh.

If you are not too squeamish see “Gallery”

After a leisurely breakfast we set off by taxi to catch our 10.30 bus to Phnom Penh a 6 hour journey. There is no bus station so we were dropped off along a street where the bus ticket office is located. We did know this this in advance so it was not a surprise.
The bus arrived on time, luggage loaded, tickets checked, bus full and off we went.

Negotiated our way out of the city through the normal throng of scooters which eased a little as we got further away.

Traffic and ribbon development all the way to the border where we all got off the bus to go through Vietnamese Immigration. Our passports had already been collected on the bus and all we had to do is collect them again when our names were called out after checking and stamping. On the bus again and drove 100 m to the Cambodian side . Off again and through the happy happy Cambodian Immigration. Showed our passport and visa to and old grump who pencilled something on the visa a waved us to another lady grump 2m away who checked again and stamped the passport. Great on our way, but no, another grump another 2 m away checked it all again before we had the honour of entering the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia

The scenery completely changed to open watery rice paddy fields and buffalo grazing and wallowing in the water. Very beautiful.

Just after entering Cambodia we stopped for 20 min lunch break.

Lunch break cafe!

The afternoon wore on through fields, rivers and canals. We had to cross the mighty Mekong on a floating bridge, quite well organised and very busy. We got on the second one. The remainder of the journey was following the Mekong to Phnom Penh.

Crossing the mighty Mekong

Arrived in Phnom Penh at about 4pm, and picked up by a tuk tuk driver for delivery to our hotel.

Tuk tuk driver and Savages suitcases

In the evening we were picked up by Louise, a friend of Chris and Martins, and taken to a restaurant they frequent, child friendly, expat community. There we met Andrew, husband, and their beautiful Cambodian children and several friends. We had a lovely meal with them. Afterwards Louise took us along the riverside and we decided to make our own way back to the hotel. We were able to pick the brains of some locals, so it was a great evening for us, thank you C and M for the contact. After being dropped on the riverside we managed to find the FCC, (Foreign Correspondents Club) for a drink. Lovely location, will probably manage that again before we leave.

We had booked a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels which are just outside the city. These tunnels were used by the Viet Cong during the war to live and hide whilst fighting the USA occupying forces.
We waited in our hotel to be picked up between 8 and 9am but by 9.15 we were still waiting. The end result was that we had been forgotten and therefore no tunnels for us. We leave tomorrow so no chance of going another day. Never mind.
Instead we went to the ” War Remnants Musuem “. A strange name but basically it tracks the Vietnam War from their perspective i.e the USA were definitely the aggressors killing and maiming millions of innocent men, women and children. There are graphic images of the results of mass bombing, napalm, chemicals and the herbicides used for defoliation. Children are still being born today with deformities as a result of these chemicals etc.
There are images from the main POW camp on a nearby island showing the cells, torture chambers and even an old French guillotine.
All in all a very depressing place graphically showing the stupidity of the war and how we treat fellow human beings. You would of thought that the 2nd WW would put an end to this form of mass killing and torture.
Although depressing it was also very moving and a place we had to see whilst in this part of the world.

Some of the American firepower on show. Even with this little lot they could not defeat the VC who had virtually none at all.

Sums it all up I suppose

Although communism still prevails in Vietnam a heavy price had to be paid and I suspect they are still feeling the long term effects not only from the years of French colonial rule but then the years of the war with the USA. This appears to be a pretty poor country all be it a fascinating one to visit.

Off on the bus to Phnom Penh, Cambodia tomorrow .

Came across this little street thingy going on. You never know what ‘s around the corner

We were up crack of dawn for our 3 hour bus ride to the Mekong Delta/River. We were a group of thirteen of all nationalities all of whom spoke English so we had a good time getting to know one another on the bus.
On the way stopped at a Government sponsored workshop for handicapped people who were making all sorts on items using mother of pearl, eggshell and lacquer.

As soon as we arrived at the Mekong we boarded our little motor boat for the trip. Boats of all sizes everywhere some carrying goods and some were homes of families that live and work on the water. All along the banks are shops and homes and small businesses. The river and waterways are the lifeblood of this part of Vietnam. There is water everywhere.

We then crossed the main river to the other side and up one of the many tributaries .
Lush vegetation on both sides together with small houses and lots more boats

Eventually we stop and get into smaller dugout type boats and a lady standing at the rear with two oars rowed further up the river where we stopped for a light lunch and for some a cold beer.

Hard work going against the flow

After lunch and a stroll around the little village we boarded our boat for the return trip

Our lunch stop

We headed on back to meet up with our minibus at a different place than we were dropped off.
To reach the bus we left our boat right by a market that we needed to walk through. A market that was truly different than the many we have already experienced so far this trip. Live chickens with their legs tied up laid out on the floor. Sea/river snakes live in tanks for sale. Meat being chopped up on the floor. Horrible sight but who are we to criticise?

Live river fish being sold by the weight

A long and tiring day but fascinating to see the Vietnamese way of life along the river. They don’t have a lot so they need to scratch a living where they can but this is a pretty brutal place to have to do it.

This area of southern Vietnam is not a pretty place. It is noisy, scruffy, dirty and to begin with chaotic by our standards but there does seem to be self styled order about things that we are getting used to, even crossing the road which seemed impossible a couple of days ago. Now we just walk and everyone, the millions of motor bikes and cars just seem to know you are there and go round you. No other way of doing it.

Dawn broke through a bit of smog in Ho Chi Minh City, HCMC from now on. This is the city of scooters, motorbikes, noise, pollution, hawkers, chaos. We have never seen so many bikes, going in all directions horns going as they all manage to miss one another. Crossing the road is a leap of faith!!! The hotel is simple and clean a step down from KL, but OK. The staff are friendly and helpful. We decided to walk the local sites, so after breakfast we stepped out into the heat. Paul did get involved with a man carrying coconuts and water, should have kept moving, but asked a question and that is a yes to selling you anything. He bought a coconut with the top sliced off and a straw for £4.50, probably 10times over the market rate, but when you ‘re dealing in thousands it’s a bit confusing. As a result all today’s purchases related to one or two or more times a coconut drink!!
First stop was the Cathedral Notre Dame and the post office. The cathedral was very simple inside and out. Great French influence here not shown in this particular piece of architecture. The post office definitely had a European style. Hawkers outside and tourist police to make sure we carried our bags and cameras safely and to help us across the road!

Notre Dame Cathedral

Post office

Inside the post office

From here we walked down Dong Khoi towards the Saigon River. We took in the Opera another old colonial building before we went inside an air conditioned mall to cool down and have iced coffee.

Front facade of the Opera, pity about the posters

From there to the river frontage. Bliss I hear you all sigh, rubbish, smelly, and muddy was the reality. Not a pleasant river frontage. Paul enjoyed taking photos of the river boats and motor bikes, I just was looking to plug the aroma, not my favourite place this holiday!

Boys at work?

We walked from the river back to the hotel and decided a cool down was in order, so we organised and booked tickets. Firstly for our bus trip to Phnom Penh on Sunday, and then a day trip to the Mekong Delta tomorrow. We also browsed trip advisor for restaurants for tonight’s meal and asked the receptionist to book it for us.
A walk around the market was the afternoon trip. A real experience. Butchers with no refrigeration, fish and eels either on ice or alive, loads of dried fruit and fish, nuts, teas, coffee and that’s just the foodie bit. The photos will probably give you an idea!

Fish sellers

Butchers!

General picture of the market

In the evening we took a taxi and went to a great restaurant called Cac Gach Quan, very busy and really good Vietnamese food. The menu was huge, so we asked the waiter to choose for us and he did a great job.

The beautiful river