Thailand Part 8 - Angkor Wat

Thursday, March 12

It's my last night in Cambodia. I'm back on the rooftop, having some soup and egg rolls for dinner. And more Cambodian beer. I ordered Tom Yum soup, which is from Laos, but I never ate it while there. And, I looked it up on Wikipedia before so I'd know sorta what it was. I saw it on menus everywhere in Laos. Wikipedia describes it as sour/spicy. This version is definitely sour, it's crazy flavors. Chicken, tomatoes, onions, and a bunch of green herbs. Broth is orange colored... Tasty. Not spicy at all though. My curry last night was hot!

And, I'm gonna head to the airport around 11.45am tmr and should hopefully be in Thailand by 4-5pm. I have to fly through Bangkok to get to Ko Samui, the island Kimber and I are staying Fri and Sat night. And, my friend Matt is in India for work now, and decided to join up with us on Saturday. So, it'll be great to have people to talk with more. Also, funny to return to Thailand so soon. My passport will get another Thai stamp. I have until 2023 before it expires so I want to get tons more stamps by then. But I think I will take a break from third world countries for a bit. I feel like I stand out too much being a blond white girl. I'd like to go somewhere like Sweeden or... Australia next where I won't be so obvious a tourist.

Today, Angkor Wat was really cool, but tourism has really taken over this area. It's hard to take in the super nice hotels/resorts next door to people living in tiny shacks. And, inside Angkor there are tons of tiny kids and women of all ages trying to sell goods. They ask you again and again if you want to buy postcards, books, mangos, etc... which sort of interrupts the experience. But, except for that, it was cool to see so many famous temples. They are about 1,000 years old and for the most part, built to last. Some of them have been invaded by trees. The "tree temple" was my favorite. My reading said that these were originally thought to be Roman for how well designed they were. Makes me want to go see what the Romans can do now. I guess Angkor was built around the same time as Notre Dame? Kind of crazy how different the architecture is.

OK I'm going to wrap up dinner and head back down to get ready for bed. I was asleep by 8:30pm last night and I won't be far behind tonight. Funny thing about going to bed that early is I wake up at like 12 or 1am thinking it's morning, and every time am delighted to know I have many more hours to sleep. Sad to know I probably won't continue that streak when I join up with my friends.

sunrise at Angkor

good morning Angkor Wat

Temple Touring

Elephants at Angkor

Bayon Temple

Trees at Ta Prohm

crazy roots

Temple Selfie

Trees > Temples

Thailand Part 7 - From Laos to Cambodia

Wednesday, March 11th

Today I woke up at 5am to watch a bunch of monks walk through the street to get their alms. Which is all the food they eat for the day. It was pretty much a huge tourist show though. The Chinese tourists were so disrespectful. Really sad... But Ramina and I watched from the back... After that I waited by the money place for them to open, got a bad coffee-withdraw headache, then got money and coffee! I've just been walking around for the past few hours and headed home to rest for a bit. I must checkout at 11.30am, and will catch a ride to the airport around 1. I'm gonna get a sandwich and smoothie for lunch. Might actually get 2 sandwiches so I have a good snack later. I bought a bunch of mini bananas for 5kip (50 cents) and they were so good.

even the mini bananas must be separated

Mass #s of tourists waiting for the Monks

the Alms ceremony

and then they go off to school

Farewell Laos

my view from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap

Later that Day

Made it to Cambodia! Siem Reap is way more crowded and a bit intense. This is a much bigger city than I imagined, and not very good sidewalks. I don't really see anybody walking around in the area I'm in either. I witnessed a moterbike/bicycle collision on my way back to my villa from the airport. Was not pretty. But both were fine. Not sure who's fault it was, but I felt bad for them both. Was a young girl and a teenage boy. There's lots of crazy traffic here, so I can see how it would happen. And it could have been much, much worse. 

I'm staying at a real nice place though. It has a restaurant on the rooftop deck. I watched sunset up here and am now eating reeeally spicy curry. And since my walk home is only 3 floors, I got some Cambodia beer. It's good! I have to wake up at 4:20am or so, as I'm going to Angkor Wat by 5ish to watch sunrise. And, I'm going to try to spend all day there unless I get too tired from all the temple touring. Then I'll come back for a nap and go back out for when temperatures get cooler. It's going to be near 100, yikes.

I'm super tired since I woke up at 5am today to see those monks. Gonna be a long few days, but fortunately there's relaxation on the other side.

You would get a kick out of all the different forms of tuk tuks I've taken (like a taxi). They are pretty crazy bike/trike things. And very common ways to take people around. I'll remember to take more pictures of the everyday stuff and not all the sights so you have a better depiction of what it's all like.

The view from my hotel in Siem Reap

On the rooftop of my hotel in Siem Reap

Thailand Part 6 - Sabaidee

Tuesday, March 10th

Well, I used up my $40 USD in 24 hours! Oops! Most things cost between 10-40k kips and I guess I bought a lot? Dinner last night... Breakfast ($3), lunch ($4), dinner ($4)... And I got my laundry done but didn't even have enough kips left to pay her! And the money exchange place was closed after 5:30pm, so I felt really bad, and have to return to her with 5k more kip tomorrow (about 50 cents). Ugh, oops. I'm gonna exchange $20 more USDs which should surely last me until I leave for the airport around 1. Breakfast, lunch, cab ride... Hopefully that's enough. I'll leave extras for the house keeping cleaning people. And buy some snacks!

Today I did not end up biking, but rather visited some caves with the Argentinean girl, Ralima, and 3 French ladies. I ran into Ralima (her name is something like that) on my walk back from breakfast this morning and we decided to so the caves together. It turned into quite a day, as what I thought would be about a 2 hr journey was more like 4-5 hours. We went waaay down the Mekong river by boat to see the caves, then pretty much came right back. It was a long way, but I really enjoyed the boat ride. We split up after that and decided to meet in the morning (530am) to watch the monks walk the street for their daily alms. I've already seen more monks in 1 place than ever before, just walking around to/from, but I am quite sure tomorrow will be pretty neat.

Luang Prabang, Laos

my journey to the top of Mount Phousi

Temple at the top of the "mountain."

mid-morning break before the boat ride

The French tourists on the boat ride with us

On a boat ride to see some Buddhas

Ridin' in style down the Mekong

monks in Laos

Real Laos

the caves

some of the 1,000s of Buddhas

More of the Buddhas

Really excited about the elephant behind me

Monks heading home for the day

Well, it's 7pm here and I'm exhausted. I was gonna go get a Laobeer at the bars down the road but... I ran out of money. Haha, shoot. Guess I have to go to sleep. 

Thailand Part 5 - From Chiang Mai to Laos

Monday, March 9th

Today I am eating pineapple fried rice for breakfast. I do usually just eat 3 meals a day, but timing is just as I feel like. I had dinner at 5ish last night, then dessert around 730. I got a famous Chiang Mai noodle soup for dinner, the second day in a row I've had that meal. And mango and sticky rice again, my favorite. I will be sad to say goodbye to that treat. Yes, I'm eating more noodles and rice than usual, and tons of fruit. Smoothies are like $1 USD, and soo good. Just fruit +ice. I have had 1 or 2 each day. Not as much dairy as I eat at home, but I don't really feel any different with the diet change.

Koi Soi Noodles

mango with sticky rice

Last night I went to the famous Sunday walking market. I bought a lot. Now hopefully today I can figure out how to mail everything back to the states okay. I have not had a massage yet, am going to try to do it today before my flight leaves. I walked by the place I want to go, it just wasn't open yet. So I'll head back to my guesthouse after breakfast, grab my bag, then walk back to the massage place I saw. If I have time I will also walk to the post office so I don't have to lug my bag of gifts around until the airport.

Farewell Chiang Mai

March and April in Chiang Mai is burning season, when the farms to the north and east burn off their fields for the new season. So, the air quality is pretty rough. I didn't realize how bad it was until our tour yesterday went way up on a hill overlooking the city. You could hardly see below because of the smoke. And today it is much worse, you can smell it and my eyes can feel it.

usually you can see the city from this view point

Good thing I'm leaving, as I'm sure it's bad for my lungs. And my feet aren't really better, but they are healing. I have been wearing sneakers and socks. Didn't do laundry yet, just wearing the same clothes day after day. I will probably do laundry in Laos or Cambodia, before I meet up with my friends this weekend. My shorts have dirt stains from biking and also soup stains from eating last night (oops).

fish prep at the market across the way from my guesthouse.

I leave for Luang Prabang, Laos at around 3pm today. I signed up to take a cooking class for the Tuesday that I am there (tomorrow). Hopefully I can get in, as those group tours seem to be the best way for me to meet people. I am not sure if my guesthouse will have internet either. Hard to tell from the website. Laos is supposed to be very laid back, slow paced, and friendly. If I don't get into my tour I'll just wander the city all day. There are also some caves I'd like to see with old Buddhas in them. The town is pretty small, so I should be able to see it all.

Then on Wednesday mid-day I leave for Siem Reap, Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. And on Friday I fly back to Thailand to go south and find my friends. I'm really excited to have people to talk to again!

That Night

First sunset in Laos

View from the tip of the Peninsula

Well, not to worry, made it to Laos and my guesthouse has Wi-Fi. And! A balcony! Thus, I went to the market and grabbed some dinner togo, and am chilling outside watching ppl walk by. I got a bunch of spring rolls for $1.25ish, a Lao beer, and some basil flavored potato chips. Less than $2 for the beer and chips.

Laos uses the kip, but dollars and bahts are accepted at most places too. But, to buy from a street vendor you need kip. The money is really weird, I only exchanged $40. Hope that lasts me 2 days (I have a feeling that will be too much, and I might have to buy more souvenirs, I'm told that once you have kip, nobody wants it back!)

My guesthouse overlooks a big temple on a hill/mountain, I'll walk up it tmr. It's also at the end of a busy restaurant bar/area. I'm also told Laos shuts down by 830pm, but I've seen a ton of backpackers walk by, so we'll have to see if that's true. I will venture to that area tomorrow night since it's an easy walk home.

view from my balcony

So far I really like it here. I met a solo female traveler from Argentina on the plane, and we shared a taxi downtown. She's staying in a hostel around the corner from me. She is waaay more play it by ear than me. She had no idea where her hostel was until we got to my place and she asked the desk man for directions. Also I think I've seen more white ppl here than anywhere else yet, and heard some obnoxious sounding Americans, so I'm sure I'll find more ppl to talk to. I didn't get into the cooking class, so looks like I just have to explore all day tmr. I will try and find a bike again, it's faster than walking temple to temple.

Oh, and I successfully mailed everything from Chiang Mai airport to my work address. Should arrive in about a month. I paid $22 USD. I bet the stuff in the box is worth about that... Will have to add it up when I open it. Cross your fingers it makes the journey. The box had no return address so I really hope I get it!

Oh, and I did the Thai massage this morning too. I was not a fan. The girl was really nice and I think she knew I was in pain. They stretch you and move you around, it's much different than normal ones I've had. I was so tense though i was afraid she would injure me. I think i will get another type once I go back to Thailand, maybe. More relaxing, less pain...hopefully.

Oh, and there's smoke here too! Not as bad as in Chiang Mai, but I reeeally miss blue skies! Was not expecting this at all.

Thailand Part 4 - Chiang Mai Day 2

Sunday, March 8th
Yes, I may have taken 3 showers since my last email. My guest house is very quiet and nice. Great A/C! It also has a pool. I am leaving in a few to go on my group temple tour. Hoping to find some breakfast beforehand. I should have bought some bananas yesterday in prep, oops. Asia has 30 different banana varieties! I learned that the Portuguese introduced the main variety that we know today to Europe, and then Americas when they moved west. I wonder why they didn't introduce more types. Also, the Portuguese introduced the Thai chili pepper to Thailand. Very important trades!

OK I'm gonna hurry and find something to eat. I must be back at my guest house in 30-60 min for tour pickup.

Oh, and I bought Band-Aids from 7-11. 18baht (under $1). I don't think the open wounds from my chacos will heal up quick enough, but my flip flops work fine with Band-Aids. I brought antibiotic ointment, so I'm using that and monitoring them. Also, after looking at the fish pedicure places I am definitely not doing that. Looks like an infection waiting to happen.

Later that day

My tour was alright, I met a really nice solo-female traveler from Korea/singapore. She works for Expedia as a Korean-to-English translator. But, the temple we went to was super touristy. Lots of Chinese people. But it was still beautiful. We also went to a village that used to sell opium but now sells trinckets. Not a place I'd want to live, pretty depressing. We did not see any long-neck tribe people. I think those dwellings are a little further out of town. I did buy a bag of strawberries for 40baht, about $1.25.

Our tour guide with an Italian couple

my solo female traveler friend

Wat Prathat Doi Suthep

smoothies every day

Now I am enjoying a nice mango smoothie on a patio cafe in town. After I drink it i think i will go back to my guesthouse and enjoy the pool until 5-6ish. The famous night market is tonight. So I want to rest up before checking it out. It goes until midnight, but I don't think I can stay up that long. I was asleep by 8pm yesterday. And I think I leave for Laos at around 2pm tomorrow, so I should have time for a Thai massage before finding a ride to the airport. I haven't booked any tours yet in Laos, so I'll look into that. It's a good way to assure I will meet some other people.

Koi Soi Noodles at the night market

Thailand Part 3 - Arrival in Chiang Mai

Saturday, March 7th - morning in Chiang Mai
Made it to my next destination, Chiang Mai. It feels much more like real Thailand. Also its about 15 degrees cooler! Bangkok was stressful. It's a really big city. Glad to have moved on. I cannot check into my hotel until noon, but I found it and spoke with the front desk lady. She was very pleasant, and asked if I was traveling alone. The reviews I read said to inform the desk person that you're solo and they will be on watch for you. In the meantime, I'm relaxing at a coffee shop. I'm getting eaten up by mosquitos. Also, no usable shower on train so that will be my first task when I get into hotel. I'm about as smelly as I was after hiking for 6 days. Again! I already saw several bikes in front of the hotel so hopefully there's still one for me after my shower. My feet are pretty beat up from all the sweating and walking I've already done.

OK I'll update you again later. I'm at a nice coffee shop drinking deliciously sweet iced coffee right now. Pic attached!

After Noon

Got into my hotel. Going to rent a bike for the day for 50 baht, less than $2. I'll email you longer tonight. Gonna go explore now and find some food.

Tha Pae Gate

smoothie break

That night

I'm a little sunburned from biking around the city today. It was a lot of fun, but difficult to take many photos. 

Yesterday at the train station in Bangkok I saw a dude wearing a Kansas shirt and today I saw a guy in a Longhorns shirt! I'm wearing the Royals tank top Dad got me hoping somebody will notice and say hello, but no luck so far. I didn't really say anything to either of those guys in the other shirts, so I guess that's fair.

For dinner tonight I got mango with sticky rice. It's sooo good. I might just eat mangos for the rest of my meals here. They add coconut milk to make the rice sweeter and dang, it's good. Mango is super fresh and flavorful. Tomorrow I am doing a group tour to see a big temple from 8am-12pm and in the afternoon/eve I'm going to a huge market where they close the streets off from cars.

dinner for adults

On the train I met two girls from France, one spoke much better English than the other. But i mostly just slept. I ate dinner in the dining car and coffee there in the morning, but didn't talk to anybody else. But, when we got to the station I joined up with a guy from Finland to walk into town. It was only about a 7km walk and the guy at the info booth thought we were nuts to walk that far. But I haven't really found any travel friends. It makes me very excited to know I'll meet up with whole bunch of my American friends next week! I don't know if I want to travel abroad alone again, it is sorta lonely. But it is also nice to just do whatever I want.

OK I'm gonna take a shower and head to bed shortly. Oh, and they have given me a fork/knife and chopsticks for all my meals so far. So I've used both.