Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia - Part 2

If you missed part 1 of "Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia", click here.

Ariel and I very reluctantly got up before 5 in the morning. While our bodies protested to the early start (vacations, after all, should afford us longer time in bed!), our minds excitedly wondered what adventure awaited us for the day.

Our Tuktuk driver (Kun) and guide (Sophal) were waiting for us at the lobby. Ariel carried a small backpack which contained a few bottles of mineral water, my shawl, my travel journal and a few other travel must haves. I carried the camera bag containing my DSLR, plus two lenses, an external flash, and extra sets of batteries.

A few minutes later, I extracted my shawl from Ariel's backpack. The early morning chill was enough to numb our hands and dry our lips, and the open tuktuk did not offer a bit of warmth. Before we knew it, we were entering the Angkor perimeter and we got off to get our 3-day pass for US$40 each. This was something we couldn't get ahead of time as we had to have our pictures printed on the ticket. A digital camera is installed in front of the ticket booth for this purpose.

By 5:30, we were already walking the dark path into Angkor Wat, the biggest religious monument in the world, and the most popular among the Angkor temples. Good thing Sophal had a flashlight. It was pitch black and it took a while before our eyes got accustomed to the dark. We quickly found a good spot right in front of Angkor Wat, a big pond between us and the temple. I quickly set up my tripod and waited for the sun to rise behind the temple. As sunrise approaches, we were rewarded with a magnificent view of the temple, making the early start really worth it.

Angkor means "city" and Wat means "temple". Hence, Angkor Wat aptly means Temple City. Indeed, the vast complex make it look like several temples in one big perimeter instead of just a single monument.

As we toured the temple, Sophal fed us information on the history of this landmark. It took almost four decades to complete the temple with people driven by sheer devotion to both their religion and their king. The sandstones used to build the temple were collected from the Kulen moutain with the help of elephants.

The pond in front of the temple

After taking a few shots, we decided to have breakfast at the food stalls within the Angkor Wat complex. Ariel ordered Chicken Noodle Soup (US$2) while I opted for a Banana Pancake (US$2). I got a big pancake with slices of bananas underneath - no butter, no syrup. It was so dry but I didn't really mind as I was so hungry already. While eating, some kids selling books came by and I decided to get my own copy of "Ancient Angkor" by Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques. It's the same book I borrowed from my colleague Rachel. I read it over and over again even before our trip so I could map out our itinerary. I left my borrowed copy at home having decided that I will get my own copy anyway. I haggled a bit and got one for US$8 (I later discovered it was being sold at US$5 in other temples!).


After getting our tummies filled, we started walking into the temple. There are two "libraries" on either side of the walkway into the main temple. While the term "library"may suggest that these structures housed documents, they actually were used more as shrines.


Other than the sheer size of this monument, Angkor Wat is also popular for its Bas Relief galleries depicting both religious and historical events.

One of the bas relief galleries

The bas relief galleries are now protected by the temple authorities. Some parts of the walls have become glossy from frequent touching. To prevent further deterioration, a length of rope was installed about a meter from the walls to prevent people from touching the delicate walls.

One of the more memorable stories depicted in one of the bas relief galleries - the Churning of the Sea of Milk

The bas reliefs were so detailed that we couldn't help but marvel at the artistry of the ancient Khmers. It was difficult to imagine how this work of art could have been made without the luxury of sophisticated equipment.


While there were hundreds of tourists visiting the temple on the same day, we hardly noticed the crowd because of the sheer size of the complex.


Our next stop - Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom literally means "Great City". It is not a temple in itself but a walled region with several temples inside it, the most popular of which is Bayon, located at the very center if the city.

There are five gates into Angkor Thom. We entered through the south gate and we were greeted by a tall tower, the top of which was carved with a face, the most prominent feature of the Bayon style architecture.

All the gates into Angkor Thom are lined with the "Avenue of the Gods and Demons", depicted in the Churning of the Sea of Milk. Gods line the left side of the entry way, while demons or "Asuras" are on the right side. They are all pulling a big 7-headed snake called Naga like in tug of war.

The "gods"

The Asuras or "demons"

Our first stop in Angkor Thom is Bayon. There is an option to ride an elephant from the Angkor Thom gate but we opted to just take our tuktuk.

Details of the Bayon restoration work

While Bayon also features some bas reliefs, albeit in a much smaller scale compared to Angkor Wat, what sets it apart from the other popular temples of Angkor are the face towers.


This is one of the most memorable temples we visited. No special reason other than the fact that I had a little accident inside the temple. I wanted to get a closer look at one of the Buddha statues in the temple. As I stepped into a darkened room, my right foot landed on a gap on the floor and I lost my balance. I was holding my camera on my right hand and I wasn't able to break my fall. I fell sideways to my right and twisted my ankle. Pain shot through my lower leg and for a while, I thought a broke by ankle. I sat there a for a few minutes while Ariel and Sophal stood in dumbfounded silence, mouths and eyes wide open. I consoled myself with the fact that I didn't fall in front of an audience other than my two male companions. After a while, I was able to limp into a better sitting position. I took off my shoes and socks, and surveyed the damage. I was in pain, but quite bearable so I didn't think anything was broken or dislocated. Nonetheless, I was in enough pain to prevent me from fully exploring the temple. Just my luck - it was only our first temple day and we were just on our second temple.

Anyway, I urged Ariel to go up the tower where I was able to take some of my favorite photos for the trip - thanks to a 200mm zoom lens, I was able to take decent shots from below.


I took Advil for the pain and the swelling and after a while, I was already fit enough to limp my way around the temple.




A short walk from Bayon, is a "temple mountain" called Bapuon (also Baphuon). It is currently undergoing restoration work and we did not go inside. Instead, we circled into the west side of the temple to see the reclining Buddha. It took a long while for me to spot the Buddha. It was so massive that we didn't realize it was a reclining statue. We thought it was just a wall.

We then proceeded to Phimeanakas and the Royal Palace. One look at the temple and I knew I wouldn't be able to climb the pyramid-like tower. My ankle is still every bit painful and will definitely not survive the steep climb. Ariel had to go on his own while Sophal stayed with me below.

One of the two ponds of the Royal Palace

A few steps away are the Terraces of the Elephants and of the Leper King.



The Terrace of the Elephants is where the King used to stand to address the soldiers before going into battle. We enjoyed looking at the hidden reliefs, most interesting of which are the five-headed horse and three-headed elephants.

By this time, it was almost noon and the sun was directly above us. We slathered sunblock earlier in the morning that didn't stop us from feeling the scorching heat of the sun.


The Terrace of the Leper King is adjacent to the Elephant Terrace and is also popular for its hidden reliefs. I was really confused why it was called Terrace of the Leper King. I remember hearing that the King did not really have leprosy. I wasn't paying attention at this point as it was so hot and I was already hungry.

We had lunch at Khmer's Family Resturant, near Srah Srang. We ordered Spring Rolls, Fried Catfish, Fried Pork, Coke Light for Ariel, Mixed Fruit Shake for me plus a bottle of ice cold water. We invited Sophal and Kun to eat with us. Ariel noticed Kun and Sophal dipping their viand in a strange-looking sauce. We found it was made of fermented fish and (gasp!) fried ants! Ariel was brave enough to try it, he swallowed the local delicacy and shuddered. I was impressed!

After lunch, we proceeded to Ta Prohm, a temple popularized by the Angelina Jolie movie, Tomb Raider.

This temple is still very much in the middle of a jungle, and has a very eerie feel brought about by the dark surroundings. It was a long walk from the drop off point into the temple proper. We were greeted by the gigantic Silk Cotton (locally referred to as Gum Tree) and Strangler Fig (referred to as Spung) trees - the main feature of this jungle temple.





The roots of the giant trees are breaking the stones apart, leaving the temple is an almost ruined state. It's quite ironic that the very same trees that make this a unique temple are also the ones destroying the structures. Kill the trees and the temple will be just like any other in Angkor. Leave the trees alone and the temple will soon be a heap of rubble.


After Ta Prohm, we stopped by Ta Keo. I was easily intimidated by this temple-mountain. I wasn't sure if my ankle will survive the climb. However, the Advil seemed to have worked its magic leaving me a very tolerable level of pain. I decided to give it a go. I handed my load to Sophal so I won't have any additional weight that might affect my balance. I crawled up the narrow steps without looking down. After a few exhausting minutes, I found myself at the top.




Going down is a different matter. Now that I was forced to look down, I was terrified. Ariel and Sophal held my hands as I took my first few steps down. After a few grueling minutes, my foot touched solid ground. I was very pleased with my accomplishment!

We then stopped by two small temples - Chaosay Tevoda and Thomannon.

Chaosay Tevoda was undergoing restoration work

We just relaxed a bit and chatted with Sophal who shared with us a bit of Cambodian history, specifically the reigh of Pol Pot.

Thomannon

Our tuktuk

Our last stop for the day is Phnom Bakheng. It was perched on top of a hill, a good 15-20 minutes hike. We had an option to ride an elephant up the hill but we opted to walk, a decision, I have come to regret later.

It was another challenging temple to climb given the very narrow and steep steps. However, I heard that the top of the temple offers a spectacular view of the Angkor region so I bravely climbed up the temple.

Angkor Wat as seen from Bakheng

We waited for the sunset so I could take photos. However, everyone seemed to have the same idea and we soon found ourselves in the middle of a huge crowd. We decided to descend before everyone else to avoid the stress of rushing the descent in the dark with a long line of tourists behind us.

The mob

It was already dark when we reached our tuktuk. We asked to be dropped off at Pub Street instead of our hotel to avoid either walking to the famous street or paying another US$2 for a short ride. Before we got to Pub Street though, we saw a pizza joint so we decided to get off and just have pizza for the evening. We arranged for another early start to see the sunrise at Srah Srang.

We ate at The Pizza Co. where we ordered Crispy Double Cheese Pizza (US$ 6.80), Sausage Spaghetti (US$ 3.3o), Tiger Beer for Ariel (2 bottles at US$ each) and OJ for me (US$1.50).

Back in the hotel, we decided to get a massage. Hmmm...I can't remember how much it costs but it was reasonable and the massage was quite good! I told the girl that I have a swollen ankle and she gently massaged it. I endured the pain hoping that it will be better the next day.

To view all of Part 2 photos, click HERE.

To read Part 3, click here.

Srah Srang at Sunrise

This is my first attempt to stitch photos together using Photoshop (CS2). Not as easy as I thought. Need more practice.

This was taken at Sra Srang in Siem Reap. We left the hotel at 5am and waited for the sun to rise to get this photo.

Date Night

It's our 119th monthsary and it's time to try something new.

This time, it's Mamou at Serendra. We were supposed to eat at Gaudi yet again when my colleague E suggested Mamou. He said the steak is very good and we must try the baked mashed potatoes. Well, I ditched the potatoes given my dietary requirements so Ariel ate my portion as well as his. I ordered salad instead. So here's the steak which Ariel and I shared.

After dinner, we went to Tea and Therapy for, well, tea of course. And dessert for Ariel. The menu describes the benefits of each tea concoction.

We opted for the German Wild Lover (Pure Pleasure) which I've tried before and loved. Ariel ordered a slice of Sans Rival (his all time favorite dessert) for a sweet ending to our dinner date.

The teapot and two small cups. I want that teapot!


WE just relaxed a bit and read travel mags.

We're thinking of subscribing to this mag.

And Ariel admired the modern interiors featured in Design magazine.

Lovely, lovely night.

Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia - Part 1

January 19, 2009
It was our first time to take a Cebu Pacific international flight. It was our first time at the NAIA Terminal 3. We didn’t know that there weren’t many options for dinner. We left our home in a rush, having left the office later than planned. We decided to take a late dinner at the airport. By the time we cleared immigration, we were famished. We decided to get food from the first outlet that caught our eyes – a San Mig food stall. Needless to say, our dinner was filling but not satisfying. It was too late when I spotted Seattle’s Best, directly behind San Mig’s booth (yes, I was that hungry!). I opted to get tea from SB since I was nursing a queasy stomach since weekend.


We boarded the plane on time. The flight was uneventful and we soon found ourselves walking out of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. I was actually surprised at how much it changed since my last visit in 2004. Back then, it was dark and gloomy not much different from abandoned buildings you see in horror stories. This time, it was bright and cheery and buzzing with activity. As we exited, we were shocked to see hundreds of people waiting to greet family and friends from their trip – at 12:30am! It was difficult to get out of the crowded arrival area into the taxi cue. My friend N who is based in Ho Chi Minh gave specific instructions on where to wait for a cab, what cab company and how much the usual fare would be. She told us to take ONLY a Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi. There was none in sight. We waited for a couple of minutes and nothing. By this time, several taxi drivers had been pestering us to take their cab for VND 200,000 (about USD 12) which is way above the usual fare of VND 60,000 (about USD 4). Finally, one cab agreed to take us to N’s place for VND 100,000. Ariel and I were both exhausted and we didn’t have the energy to argue (we’ll never win Amazing Race Asia!). And besides, they hardly spoke English which made the experience doubly challenging.

We needed a place where we could rest for a few hours and freshen up before heading of to Siem Reap, Cambodia. N graciously offered her home which also meant that she will have very little sleep because we are arriving late and leaving early. N lives in a modest 2 bedroom condo unit in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. We stayed in her air-conditioned guest bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in satin sheets. There are two chairs and a small coffee table, a desk with cable TV on it and cream colored built-in closet. Her glass-paneled wall/windows covered with vertical blinds look out to the street five storeys below. We chatted with N a bit, fighting off our exhaustion. It had been years since we last saw her and it was good to catch up face to face. We fell asleep at around 2:00 am as soon as our heads touched the bed.

January 20, 2009
It was so difficult to wake up at 4:30am having lacked sleep for the past few nights. N was already up and fixing us breakfast – I wasn’t actually sure if she slept at all! We fixed our things and enjoyed a light breakfast of bread and butter. My tummy was still queasy so I just drank a cup of hot water with honey while Ariel opted for coffee. It was almost 6am when we went out and got into a Vinasun taxi to take us to the Mekong Express Bus station along Pham Ngu Lao St. – the city’s backpacker district. When we got there, the bus was about to leave with only one seat left. We immediately proceeded to Sinh Café at Da Trahm St., just a few blocks away from the Mekong Express office. The bus was not full but it left at 6:30am, we missed it by about 5 minutes. With relentless optimism, I reassured Ariel that we will get to Siem Reap. I booked an 11:40am flight for us via Vietnam Airlines for USD169 each. Like an Amazing Race contestant, I asked for the earliest and fastest flight to Siem Reap.

We reached Tan Son Nhat airport at 7:30am – three and a half hours before boarding time. With time to kill, Ariel decided to work a bit (he brought his laptop!) while I roamed around to take photos.



By 8:30, we were hungry and decided to share a bowl of instant noodles which at USD6 is the most expensive instant noodles we’ve ever eaten. The warm soup calmed my tummy and provided a bit more energy – we were almost spent from the lack of sleep and proper meals.


I was falling in and out of consciousness as we waited in the pre-departure area and was relieved when we finally boarded our plane. By the time the plane took off at 11:40 am, I was already dreaming of Cambodia’s beautiful temples.

In an hour’s time, we landed at Siem Reap International Airport and we were greeted by a very nice structure, designed in typical Cambodian architecture. We rushed past immigration (Westerners still had to line up for same-day visa issuance) but had to wait a while to get our luggage (we were carrying a heavy backpack and one hand-carried luggage each). The drive to the hotel took about 30 minutes courtesy of the hotel car (a Toyota Rav 4).


We stayed in a deluxe room at the Claremont hotel which I booked through the internet (USD5 discount on the room rate if paid through Visa – USD60 net including breakfast and airport transfers, USD20 cheaper than published rates). The hotel is situated near the Siem Reap river and is only a few minutes walk from Pub Street. Our room was quite spacious, albeit very simple in appearance. There is one queen-sized bed and one double bed, a huge desk, cable TV, ref, coffee-making facility, safety deposit box, complimentary bottled water, and a fully loaded bathroom. There is free wifi at the lobby and three desktop computers with internet connections for those who don’t have laptops at no extra cost (which I took full advantage off during our entire stay!). We just dumped our luggage and went up the roof deck to have lunch at the Indian restaurant called East India restaurant (Tales of Asia described it as the best in the area). Ariel ordered the Khmer-Style Beef Curry while I opted for the spicy Mutton Biryani. The food was quite good (or maybe we were too hungry to be discriminating) but pricey – USD 20 for our meal!!!

Mutton Biryani

Khmer Style Beef Curry

After lunch, we decided to take a long nap. We were not in the best physical condition to start our tour. We were sleep-deprived and exhausted. In fact, we were actually quite happy that we traveled by air since it gave us enough time to recuperate and prepare us for our adventure in the next couple of days. If we had taken the bus, we would have arrived in Siem Reap at 7:30pm, and there is no way we could have slept soundly for the entire duration of the bus travel. So anyway, we slept until about 6pm. Then we unpacked, showered and got ready to go out and explore Pub Street, the famed tourist night spot in Siem Reap.

Before we left the hotel, we confirmed our early morning temple tour and requested for an English-speakin guide and a tuktuk. Yes, a tuktuk instead of a car (USD15 vs. 30). We told the hotel staff that we want to be at Angkor Wat by sunrise and we were told that there will be a USD 3 additional fee for the tuktuk. The guide fee is USD25 a day which is quite standard in the area. The lady at the front desk got us a tuktuk to take us to Pub Street. Then she told us it would be the same tuktuk to take us to the temples the next day. We paid USD 2 for the short drive to Pub Street – quite pricey considering it’s only a short distance away and it’s a tricycle!


The whole street was packed with tourists. It was the peak season and people from all over the world trooped to Pub Street for dinner. We wanted to sample the local dish so we decided to eat at the Khmer Family Restaurant. We were seated at a table outside the main restaurant so it was quite breezy. We ordered fresh spring rolls which Ariel and I both loved. So delicious!

Ariel also got the "Fried shrimps with garlic and pepper" which he thought to be similar to those offered in the Chinese restaurants in Manila. Turned out "fried" actually was "stir-fried", and "garlic and pepper" actually were bellpeppers. So, it was actually a saucy dish.

I sampled the Chicken Amok which I really, really enjoyed! It's similar to curry but milder in flavor.

Ariel and I really enjoyed dinner and decided to come back for more of their yummy spring rolls.

To read part 2, click here.

Dinner at Antonio's

Hours after our plane landed in Manila (from our Vietnam-Cambodia trip), on January 27th, 2009, Ariel and I found ourselves driving to Tagaytay for a romantic dinner at Antonio's. I called ahead to reserve a table and by 7 pm, we drove into the driveway. It was the middle of the week so very few tables are occupied.

We were led to a garden table by the pond filled with large colorful kois. An oil lamp provided a soft glow on our table while we were serenaded by the cool Tagaytay breeze and the pond's cascading waters.

We took our time studying the menu. Meanwhile, we were served with ice cold fresh dalandan juice.

Aside from the house salad which was included in the dinner set, we added a serving of foie gras split into two plates. Yummy!!!

I also ordered the soup of the day which was rich and creamy.

I opted for the seafood sampler which consisted of grilled prawns with spicy creole on pappardelle (whatever that is!), Norwegian salmon poached in olives and pan-seared scallops on celleriac mashed truffle cream sauce. Whew!

Ariel chose the Antonio's Sampler which consists of beef fillet on plancha with black pepper sauce, roast smoked Chilean sea bass on tomato, garlic lemon sauce, and honeyglazed lambloin gratinated with goat cheese. Yum!

For dessert, Ariel picked the flourless chocolate cake...

...while I took my usual panna cotta.

I am so happy that Ariel enjoyed his birthday dinner.

We capped the night with steaming hot cup of brewed coffee. Happiness!

This is the entrance into the dining area.

The chandeliers in the main dining room (we were seated by the garden).

I don't know why it took us so long to try Antonio's when I've been hearing a lot of good reviews over the past couple of years. Anyway, I'm glad we finally took the plunge and tried it, on Ariel's birthday eve no less. We had a fantastic time. Excellent food. Perfect ambiance. Great company. This is life!

Vietnam-Cambodia Trip: A Downpayment

I am still putting together the complete account of our trip. I also haven't finished sorting through hundreds of photos. But it will be worth the wait. :D I'll share details, highlights, recommendations on where to go and what to do, plus tipid tips for the budget traveller. Soon!

Meanwhile, check out some photos here.

Happy viewing!

Happy Lovin' Everyone!

We don't really celebrate Valentine's day. Each day of the week has been created by the God of Love so why should February 14 be any different?

So, tomorrow, instead of a romantic dinner for two, Ariel and I will take a road trip to Pampanga with colleague and good friend Karen, her hubby Ian, and daughter Yana. We will have a sumptuous lunch at C Italian Dining (dinner's already fully booked!), do a bit of shopping, check in at Holiday Inn Mimosa, dinner at Zapata's (hopefully!) and enjoy the Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Anything special planned tomorrow? Sure. We will cuddle in bed in the morning, a few minutes before getting up. We will greet each other "good morning" with a kiss. We will exchange wedding rings with a kiss. We will hold hands and give each other lots of hugs. We will exchange "I Love You" text messages. Ariel will tuck me to bed. We will kiss each other "good night". Plus many other small "love rituals" we've been doing every day we are together since the day we got married. And on days we are apart, we still keep the love alive with the help of technology.

So go tell your spouse you love him/her tomorrow. And every single day after.

Weekend at Abe's Farm/Nurture Spa in Pampanga

Last January 2, Ariel and I, together with some New Zealand-based friends drove to Pampanga for a relaxing weekend at Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa.

Gemma, Amie and Alfred flew home for the holidays. We picked them up at The Block in SM CIty North EDSA at around 9am and we drove to Pampanga (Angeles City exit) to have lunch at Abe's Farm. We met Grace and her mom, as well as Gay, Jun and their daughter Dani at one of the gas stations in NLEX. We then proceeded to Abe's farm where we had a table waiting reserved for a group of 11 adults (including driver and yaya).

Abe's Farm offers the same food selection as Abe's in Serendra and Bistro Remedios in Malate. We had a sumptuous meal! I took lots of photos but due to an error while transferring photos from my camera to the laptop, most of the photos were gone, except for a few survivors:

This is the gate that separates Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa. The Spa offers the same services as that in Tagaytay. Ariel and I had a 30-minute head and shoulder massage at the garden while the rest of the gang went around for some photos.

I couldn't resist taking this shot! Good thing Ariel was in the mood for some goofy shots.

The garden in the compound was well maintained. It is not as colorful as the spa in Tagaytay but the garden is just as lush, albeit with more greens than blooms.
Note to self: wear colorful outfits when out for some serious photo ops. It will make you stand out amid the lush green gardens or grey architecture.

The entrance to the main dining area where a feast of Pampanga's culinary delights awaited us.

Still can't get over my "lost" photos. The batch included our New Year shots (photo and video!) as well us our dinner at Bawai's. Sad.

We Travel Well

Have tons to blog about. We've had a number of food and travel adventures and misadventures since Q4 last year. I've accumulated lots of photos but never got around to posting them. Will do that really soon! But before that...

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Lifted this from Diane's blog:

1. What part of the world and country do you live in?

On weekdays, I sleep to the symphony of beeping cars and grinding cement trucks in Mandaluyong City. On weekends, I wake up to the concerto of chirping birds in Cavite. Both are in the Philippines.

2. What is the furthest from home that you have been, and where is it?

Hmmm...got to brush up on my geography. Asia mainly. I think Phuket, Thailand.

3. What travel destination have you enjoyed the most?

Wow, this is tough. Each destination has its own appeal. Locally, it would be Batanes. Outside of the Philippines, that would be Siem Reap, Cambodia.

4. What travel destination have you enjoyed the least?

Penang, Malaysia - only because I never had the chance to really explore the place.

5. Is there somewhere you’d like to visit but have not, and where is it?

I'd really like to go on an African Safari. Someday.

6. Do you prefer traveling to see historic places or to hit the beach and relax?

I'm generally a nature lover so I prefer the beach over historic places. However, beautiful historical sites like the Angkor region in Cambodia also appeal to me.

7. What popular vacation destination have you never considered because you think you’d not like it?

Hongkong is quite popular to Filipinos because of its proximity and accessibility. However, theme parks and shopping are not exactly my cup of tea so I've never ventured to Hongkong. But I might just try it one of these days.

8. Where do you travel to most recently?

Siem Reap, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

9. Do you like day trip “mini-vacations”?

Not as much as week-long vacations. I enjoy taking my time to discover and experience the places I visit. A day trip just doesn't cut it.

Happy New Year from Saigon!

Today is New Year's eve and Ho Chi Minh is decorated in colorful flowers, lights, balloons and lots of people line the streets. Ariel and I finished our tour for the day and are now resting for a few hours. We will walk towards Saigon River at around 10pm to join the Tet festivities until midnight. There will be fireworks by the river.

It's a great time to be here as the atmosphere is very festive. The downside is that all shops are closed so we were not able to buy any souvenirs.Some shops will be closed until the 28th!

Tomorrow, Ariel and I will just relax and walk around the area. Our hotel is just across Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office. I want to take photos at sunrise. However, it's probably an activity I will be doing on my own as Ariel doesn't want to wake up early after several days of waking up before sunrise in Siem Reap. Tomorrow will be the first morning he will be waking up late since we left Manila! I'm just a bit wary here. It feels a lot safer to go around in Siem Reap than here in HCM (we've been ripped off by cab drivers 2x already so we decided to just walk to whereever from this point on!). I'll see tomorrow. It's just across our hotel and very much visible from our hotel room.

While Ariel and I have been enjoying our vacation, I can't wait to get back home! I'm so looking forward to sleeping on my own bed on Tuesday!!! Plus I have a surprise waiting for Ariel when we get back. So excited!

Oh, I need to have my ankle checked back in Manila. It's still a bit sore.

Hello from Siem Reap!

We've had the most amazing 2 days in Siem Reap so far. Ariel and I just go tback from exploring he country side in an All-Terrain Vehicle and it was awesome. We visited a local orphanage and caught the kids in class (they have English, Chinese and Japanese language classes) and then later at recess. We had a great time interacting with them despite the fact that they are not yet very good in English. I asked one kid "how old are you?" and he said "I'm fine thank you. And you?" Of course I said "Im fine, too!" It took us more than three hours to traverse thorugh almost 50kms of dirt road. Needless to say, every inch of my body, clothing, bag, is thick with red dust. Such a small price to pay for an awesome experience. Ariel had a wonderful time and I could see how much he relished driving the ATV. Will give more details when I blog about our trip.

I thank God that all things worked out. We had a few minor misadventures but everything fell into place.

I twisted my ankle yesterday when I stepped in gap on the floor and fell right in front of a statue of Buddha. One good thing about it is that no one else was around when it happened - just Ariel and our guide so di naman masyadong nakakahiya. I took Advil right after and managed to complete our tour with minor inconvenience (and still managed to climb the most challenging temples!). By evening, my ankle was swollen but a few minutes of painful massage might have helped as I woke up today without the swelling. My thigh muscles were aching though, from all the climbing (well, crawling up is more like it!) the previous day. Oh, and I just confirmed, I have a fear of heights. Well, maybe not exactly. It's just that I have no problem climbing up the temples no matter how steep and tall they are. I get tired, sure. But I still manage to go up. Now, going down is a different matter altogether. I'd stnd there on the edge and freeze!!! Ariel and our guide Sophal would take my hand and help me take the first step or two and then I'll make it on my own. I was just so terrified! So why still climb? I don't know. Maybe it's my pride, or my competitive nature. I just can't go back home and say that I didn't go up the temples. :D

More details when we get home! Just took a bit of internet time to check our itinerary when we get back to Ho Chi Minh on Saturday.

Ok, I badly need a long shower and some heavy scrubbing. Oh, and I can't wait for dinner. Khmer food is simple mouthwatering!