Bangkok and Home

After a great week in Siem Reap, we travelled over land by bus back to Bangkok. As everyone had advised us, this would be the worst bus trip in the world... and it was. We squeezed onto a crummy old bus, which was full to the brim with unsuspecting backpackers and the isle filled with all our rucksacks. The road on the Cambodian side of the border is hardly ever more than a dirt road with pot holes the size of small cars! We were met by a new guide at the boarder with Thailand and changed the bus for an air-conditioned mini bus. Luxury! Now even the road was tarmac’d and the drive on to Bangkok was very comfortable by comparison. We stayed in a hostel in Bangkok near Kao San Road and spent the last day doing some shopping in the markets. It was the end of our six week trip, and I was not so feeling so well with a fever and Caro was off her food. We took a taxi to the airport and at the SAS check-in, negotiated an upgrade to business class for our return flight to Stockholm. As we were both feeling tired and exhausted, the large reclining seats made the flight much more comfortable and we managed to sleep some of the way home.
So that was our 6 weeks in Asia, a very successful trip and a real adventure at times. So many sights, scents, people and places to remember. We enjoyed travelling together and are looking forward to our next journey, whenever that may be.

Bayon Temple

Perhaps one of the most impressive temples in the Angkor area is Bayon. The site is dominated by complex temple made of towers with large stone faces which face in all four directions. The central part, which is higher on a 2nd layer, is a complex 8 sided tower which rises above the surrounding faces. The place is so unbelievably awe-inspiring that I had to return again on our 3rd day to take some more pictures in the softer light of the late afternoon.

Siem Reap and Angkor

Siem Reap is at first sight an interesting place to stay. The city is not as big as the others we have visited and has a more open and easy going pace. We found a great place to stay near the centre, the room is spacious and the place has a small pool and is very friendly.

We were very tired after the almost 9 hour long boat trip here, so we ate some food and crashed out in the big bed very early.
Our first full day here was spent fixing some bicycles to borrow from the hotel and buying our 3 day pass to the vast temple area (40 USD each for this!). The bike ride to Angkor Wat takes about 45min. but in the heat it seemed much longer. Angkor Wat is as they say, quite stunning in terms of its size. The scale of the temple and it symmetry are impressive to say the least. We spent a few hours just walking around and taking pictures. We had a picnic with us, which we ate in the shade of some trees, and chatted to some Cambodian visitors.

We then went on to see the the second major site at Angkor Thom and the temple called Bayon. This is a majestic temple where most of the larger towers have four large faces which look out in each direction. The site is quite damaged, but still has large parts in good condition and you are allowed to climb over most of the site and enter the impressive central temple building.

We have at least 3 more days in Seam Reap and plan to see much more of the Wats, Temples and other Angkor sites.

Phnom Penh and Battambang

After a two day trip with all sorts of transportation methods, we arrived safely in Phnom Penh on Sunday evening. We found a room in the glorious Mekong Palace, although our room didn't have a view out on the river.
The next day we spent some time going to visit some of the S-21 museum, a place that shows the history of the Communist Dictator Phol Pot, the Khmer Rouge and we also visited Cambodia's notorious killing fields. Its a horrific reminder of this period in Cambodias history, which took place only 36 years ago. We hired a TukTuk for the day and our driver Sadam did a good job avoiding all the crazy bikes and drivers along the way.
The next day we went to the Royal Palace in the afternoon and spent a relaxing time wandering around the grounds and looking at the large area of buildings and temples.
Up early the next day for a 5 hour bus ride to Battambang. A provincial town on the way to Siem Reap. We stay a day here and hire a moped for the day to get more into the countryside. We visit an old Wat/temple which about 25km out of town on a dusty road. Then 100 steps up a hill to see the temple ruins and a view over the flat and dry landscape. We stop and look at the sights on the way home and buy freshly pressed sugar cane and grilled banana at the side of the road.
Tomorrow we will be taking an 8 hour boat journey to Siem Reap... that should be interesting!

Beach in Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc was a good place to stay for a few days... relaxing and quiet.
This is the view along the beach not far from where we stayed.

And some more impressions....