Say Goodbye to Cambodia, Say Hello to My Little Friend....Called Laos

So when we last left, muz and I had well and truly outdone ourselves in the heat.  They next day saw us having re-braved the heat in the afternoon to see Angkor Wat.  An absolutely spectacular temple that was so intact it wasn't funny!  Retired that night with a foot massage for half an hour...$4.  Winner!

The temple of Angkor Wat - the symbol of Cambodia.  Absolutely stunning!

 The view from the 3rd tier of Angkor Wat looking over the temple and nearby complex.

Mum and I (and thousands of New Year's pilgrims) outside Angkor Wat!

The next morning saw another early start to beat the heat as we visited the King's Swimming Pool (where the local kids selling origami fish, dragonflies etc. pretty much mobbed us) before going to see the 1,000 Linga Waterfall.  Little did we know it was a 1.5km hike.  Up a mountain.  A very rocky mountain.  To see virtually NO WATERFALL as it is dry season!  Ahhh well, there were some interesting carvings etc. up there.

After that little adventure, we visited Banteay Srei, the women's temple.  This temple was very different as it was carved from pink sandstone (hence the different colouring) and most of the carving is still intact.  Another incredible temple but once again, incredible for different reasons!

The beautifully carved temple of Banteay Srei.

After that, we were meant to go to Tha Prom aka the tree temple but given the severe heat (and cases of suspected heat stroke we both had), we decided to be lazy and head back for some relaxing at the hotel.  That night, we hit the markets of Siem Reap once again before relaxing over a drink or two on Pub St. (where we had some amazing nutella and cashew crepes!!!).

 The infamous Pub St - home to happy hour 24 hours a day in Siem Reap.

Relaxing with a Banana Bling on Pub St - note the very sexy sunburnt nose and lack of makeup...  That white shirt features very prominently the next few days given the lack of washing since leaving Melbourne... 

Unfortunately, my nutella and cashew crepes did not like me as much as I liked them leading to a very seedy start to Monday.  I had joked about a stomach parasite but it now seemed my wishes (however sarcastic) had come true.  After feeding the parasite some breakfast, we headed to Tha Prom to see where (most famously), some scenes from Tomb Raider were filmed.  You can definitely see why once you get there as you are truly greeted with something other-worldy.  Trees grow through the temple walls and not even the group of loud Japanese tourists could fully disturb the wildlife sounds permeating the jungle around.  Beautiful.

Just one of the amazing sights at Tha Prom temple.

Croft.  Lara Croft.  (I blame this on parasite psychosis...)

That afternoon, we headed to Ton Le Sap, the major lake near Siem Reap.  Here, many people live on houseboats (well, structures floating on plastic bottles and bamboo more often than not).  This area was amazing as you can see floating restaurants, pubs (with pool tables that rise and fall with the ebb of the water), schools, markets and shops.  As you float around, kids come up  to the boats offering photos with their pet pythons, food, various other items.  You often wonder however what their parents are thinking when they let their kids float around in their rice pots for boats - too cute but a little scary to see essentially toddlers doing this!

The floating primary school on Ton Le Sap.

As it was our last night in Siem Reap, we decided to lash out and finally cave in to the continual calls of 'fish massage laydee?'.  Dr. Fish as they are known are definitely one of the weirder things I have seen in my travels and I was definitely not too keen on throwing the old clodhoppers into a pool of stinky fish.  However, the lure of a free beer if I did pandered to my macho side (can women have a macho side?) and I soon caved...  VERY WEIRD!!!  After that, did some more shopping before a late night manicure and bed for an early flight.  Goodbye Siem Reap - it was great fun!!!

As the ads say, Dr. Fish make you 'funny AND happy'!

My feet being attacked by Dr. Fish!!!  Those little buggers could sure latch on!!!

The next morning saw and early morning flight on Lao Airlines.  Being the AMAZING flyer I am, I was extremely impressed to learn I would not only have to get on a tiny plane, but also fly it twice as we were stopping in Pakse.  Upon asking Meg where Pakse was, my overactive mind was not so pleased to hear 'I have no clue!'  Oh God, I'm going to die...  Then in a moment of wisdom (probably thanks to Vanessa asking me to check on Air Namibia), I decide to look up the Skytrax rating for Lao Airlines.  For those that don't know, Skytrax is an independent body that assess the quality of service and safety.  I have flown nothing less that 2-star (Olympic) and am already packing myself with thoughts of flying a 1-star (the only one in the world...Koryo - the North Korean airline).

So of course, what is Lao Airlines rated?  Ahh, that's right, it ISN'T.  SHIT.  This is why I look this happy getting on the plane.

Lao Airlines - not rated since 1998.

Looking impressed - decided this was the last photo that they could have used in the news reports reporting my death...

In actual fact, Lao Airlines were fantastic and I'm sure if they applied, they would definitely beat some other airlines I've flown - Olympic, I'm talking about you!!!

So after that little adventure, we arrived to our amazing 1930s French colonial hotel in downtown Vientiane in Laos.  After a quick sleep, we headed out to explore.  'Bustling' is not a word you would use to freely describe Vientiane but it has a great atmosphere.  There is a real blend of cultures with obvious French, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese influences (all neighbouring countries).  In true Haynes girl style, we managed to find the best ice cream parlour to far - of all things...Swensen's. 

Check out just a few pages of the menus at Swensen's!!!  YUM!!!

Today we went for a walk around Vientiane before hiring a tuk tuk and exploring the outer areas.  Will upload a new post when I get the pictures but today further cemented the view that Vientiane is certainly a quirky little city!!!

Looking forward to Easter celebrations when I return including Easter egg hunts and drinks to celebrate the coming of the bunny.  Look forward to seeing you all then!!!  Until  then,  one more day to shop and relax with a few more Beer Lao by the pool before a short hop over to Bangkok then it's homeward bound.  Going to miss Asia...

Siem Reap - Land of Tomb Raiders

So since the last blog, we have travelled for 6 hours by bus to get to Siem Reap in the North.  The final day(s) in Phnom Penh involved a lot of reading and exploring by foot as the New Year is still going so everything was pretty much shut.  As we were staying right near the most important Wat (temple) in Phnom Penh, there were many families spending their days having picnics, playing games, singing, playing chess, playing with the local monkeys, getting their nails done at the base of the temple.  Was great to just hang around here and watch the festivities.

 Two kids playing in the market celebrating New Year.

A man playing 'football' (a version of hacky sack) on Khmer New Year just outside Wat Phnom.

However, time required us to move on and now we are in Siem Reap.  This is the home of Angkor Wat - the temple complex most people recognise on the Cambodian flag, currency, pretty much everywhere!  We went there today starting at 8am wondering why were went so early... It made sense later.  Managed to see some incredible things already - the temple of Buddha heads called Bayon looks like something from Indiana Jones.  This is where they filmed a lot of the Cambodia scenes in Tomb Raider and when you see it, you an understand why.  There is jungle all around, ancient deities everywhere and even bats sleeping in the stupas of the temples.  That being said, the thousands of Cambodian tourists here to celebrate Khmer New Year (yes, it's still going) make it sooo busy.  Nevertheless, the urge to commando roll as I leapt (well, it felt like I was leaping) from stairs to ledges with guns ablazing was surpressed by a sense of modesty (and lack of firearms...).

 One of the many Buddha faces at Bayon temple in Angkor Thom.

Mum and I after conquering Bayon temple.

It is also hotter here than Phnom Penh, hence the early start.  With 80-odd percent humidity, we thought 37 in the capital was bad.  It is getting to 42 in Siem Reap today.  Mum and I got back to the hotel about 11am and were absolutely drenched in sweat.  Thank god the Lorna Jane shorts were purchased as they can dry quickly!!!

So right now we are having a rest and replenishing fluids before heading to the biggest temple of Angkor Wat about 4pm when it gets cooler.  Mind you, you are still dressed in long sleeved shirts and long pants to show respect to the most sacred temple in Cambodian Hinduism and Buddhism.  Right before you climb over it of course...

We're here in Siem Reap another 2 days for much  more exploring - there are HUNDREDS of temples in the complex.  You could spend weeks cycling around exploring on your own with just a map as your guide (to avoid the unexploded land mines that litter this area) before flying over to Vientiane for 3 more then it's home on Good Friday!  Looking forward to wearing layers of clothes and brushing my teeth with tap water.  Not looking forward to work...  No I lie - I am looking forward to it.  Just not yet...

Photos to come soon - hundreds already!!!

xox

Cambodia Part One - Phnom Penh

Today is our last full day in Phnom Penh and it is Khmer New Year.  This is the holiday day so there is nothing open.  We had planned to go to the palace then the markets but they are all closed so we are just chilling in the hotel aircon (as it is 33 degrees today and about 85% humidity) after a lazy morning cruising the city in our tuk tuk and an iced coffee with condensed milk and the Phnom Penh Post by the waterfront.  A couple of hours back at the hotel before we return to the waterfront to book some bus tickets (unfortunately no boats are running at the moment) before retiring to a comfy cane chair and a few more of these at the bargain price of $0.75 (or $0.50 if you feel like going more local).

Angkor - the pride of Cambodia in more ways than one.

Yesterday we went to S21 and the Killing Fields.  S21 was once a school that when the Khmer Rouge (revolutionaries that took over in 1975) came in, they promptly closed because no-one was allowed public or private education.  They also closed roads, hospitals, transport systems and sent people from the cities with the idea that everyone would go work in the fields and re-establish Cambodia as a farming, self supporting country.

Unfortunately, this school became a centre for interrogation and torture with some pretty gruesome things happening.  It was actually harder than Dachau concentration camp as this occurred in the 1970s and literally in the middle of the capital city.  They think 20,000 people were killed there alone and there is still evidence all through the cells with blood stains on the floors - very disturbing.

One of the buildings (this one housing multiple prisoners in each room) at S21.

We then went from here to the Killing Fields which is where the Khmer Rouge would load people into trucks, drive them out and kill them before dumping them in mass graves.  They found 120-odd graves but after the exhumation of 86, they gave up given the sheer task in front of them.  As you walk around them, you can see pieces of clothing and bones still surfacing everywhere as each time it rains, the soil shifts.  Horrendous.  The sheer volume of people murdered by the Khmer Rouge is highlighted by the stupa erected to house the remains.  with 17 tiers, it is hard to comprehend you are staring close to 9,000 human bodies.  The first 12 tiers are reserved for skulls alone.

 The memorial stupa at the Choeung Ek (Killing Fields)

The stupa up close (where you can see the tiers).

Some of the skulls of the victims in the memorial.

After that, we headed to the Russian Market to lighten the spirits a bit and wandered aimlessly until it became WAY too hot under the corrugated roofing then another amazing dinner by the waterfront followed by the most AMAZING coconut and banana ice cream.

Incredible.  Enough said.

Today (as I said before) is a National holiday so not much to do apart from chill out with a book.  I have nearly turned my brain off (apart from the 4am wake up my body keeps giving me).

We are having a quick shopping morning tomorrow, hit the palace if it has reopened then on a 5 hour bus trip to Siem Reap in the north to see Angkor Wat, the huge temple complex, for 3 days.

Not having been to Asia in a fair while, I forgot how much I love it.  The people are incredible, the food amazing, the atmosphere unique!  Some hate the dirty, stinky, chaotic nature but I love it.  There is only one element that I cannot stand and that is the exploitation of many of the lovely people through the horrific sex trafficking industry (something you can witness with no policing nightly in the tourist areas).

Motorbiking - a family affair.  Note that the record for this trip is 5 people on one motorbike (4 adults, one child).

My time here has given me some ideas for further adventures I would love to pursue in the next couple of years.  Tuk Tuk Touring anyone?  It's quickly becoming an obsession of mine...

Until next time, I hope everyone at home is well and surviving in the cold as we try to survive the heat!!!

xox

All signed up - no guts no glory!!!

After initially putting it on my goals list, I thought "This will be an easy one to achieve."  Unfortunately my laziness has come and bit me in the arse and now, just 4 weeks from the event, I am finally signed up.  However, I am definitely not ready!!!

Proof of registration - AHHH!!!

With goal one just hours away (and more than a few pre-flight butterflies in need of a beer at the Irish Pub at Tullamarine...), I will only be left with 17 days to get my arse into gear and really getting running!!!

Until then, I'm going to enjoy goal one and not try to lament the lack of progress on running the Mother's Day Classic.  I expect a cheer squad with motivational signs for me on Sunday May 8th from 8.30am - PLEASE!!!

Until then... ah sen heuy!  (Until Good Friday that is...)

Soda Rock Around The Clock!

Another Friday, another chance to curl up in pyjamas and settle in with the start of the footy season.  Unless it is the last Friday of the month.  You know what that means...  DINNER CLUB.  Welcome and let me, as Mayor and overseer of this institution give you a brief rundown.

New restaurant adventures as a way of trying something new and catching up with friends both old and not so old whilst having good times all around.  All caught up now?  Good.

Me in full Mayor of Dinner Club mode.  Bon appetit!

Since our last adventure, new rules have been enforced.  The participant(s) who make it to all 12 dinner clubs will receive a special prize from yours truly (prize as yet undecided mind you!).  This is to be proven with EITHER (and this part will be met with yells of dismay from S. Haughey and K. Williams):

- Name tags from said dinner clubs OR...
- Photographic evidence of appearance at dinner club.

This means the follow are still in the running for the grand prize:

- E. Haynes (unfortunately excluded due to being the owner/operator/mayor of Dinner Club)
- K. Williams
- M. Read
- S. Haughey
- L. Green
- L. Read
- J. Coleman
- T. Williamson (nee Rowlands)

Unfortunately, April will see dinner club rescheduled to the last THURSDAY of the month - mainly due to a prior engagement of the mayor and one other participant who shall remain nameless yet interestingly enough, has a strong, almost maniacal competitive side.

So March brought us to the land where burgers, hot dogs and tater tots equal fine dining.  Welcome to America and welcome to the Soda Rock Diner!

The night saw a great turn out - the largest so far with 24 participants rocking and rolling the night away.  Well done to those who really got into the spirit with costumes.  Honourable mentions go to the following participants:

- M. Read for use of more hair gel than one man should EVER wear.

- J. Rankine who donned the blue poodle skirt before a solid 90 minute drive back to Warragul that night.

- C. Oudin for a recycled dancing costume made good.

- J. Coleman for putting in the effort and organising a letterman jacket well in advance to be the token jock amongst a sea of greasers.

- K. Williams for allowing me to convince her parading down Chapel Street in a satin pink poodle skirt was completely acceptable on a Friday night.

but the winner for costume night #1 (of yes, there will be another before the year is out) goes to...

- S. Haughey for added authenticity and entertainment by donning the roller skates and showing Soda Rock how they did it in the 50s!!!

1st costume winner Shelley "Rollergirl" Haughey (at least she came 1st and not 4th..)

The notable mentions feature below...

Jordan "Varsity" Coleman

Chantal "Sandy" Oudin

The Bobbsey twins and Matt the greaser

Another fantastic night had by all who enjoyed the pinball machine (mostly the boys for that one), dancing waiters (including a rousing rendition of "Shake Your Tailfeather" by the Dinner Clubbers to accompany this) and copious amounts of saturated fats and flavoured Coca Colas.  Thanks again to all participants who are helping me achieve this goal - it is always a good night!  Thanks to those who are regulars as well as those who were new this time - having a real mix of people makes the night a real blast and you are all very special to me whether you are from high school, uni, work, music, wherever!!!

Table #1: High School Sweethearts

Table #2 - Band Geeks



Table #3 - Teacher Table (plus Kate and Matt)

Next month brings Afghan in Dandenong - one of the more adventurous dinner clubs so do some research and get prepared people!!!

Until then, rock on!