Cambodia: Phnom Penh

First full day in Phnom Penh and ready to explore.  We began with the Tuol Sleng Museum.  Pol Pot’s regime set up this old school as a prison named S-21 when the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975.  This Museum housed prisoners and torture chambers.  Not until recently have the Cambodians begun to refurbish this site, as it had laid in ruins for years.  It is too bad, as there is so much history here yet it still is not presented well and needs to be better presented for not only tourists, but also for the locals.  We saw the Killing Fields, a somber experience.  This is where the Khmer Rouge began to systematically kill their own to move to an agrarian society with no intellectuals, scholars, business men, doctors, etc.  A sad time for Cambodians.

On our walk, we found another Pagoda.  So many now we lost count.

Another copy...not quite as good as the original, but Erik gave her a hug anyway

Rules for the prisoner at Tuol Sleng prison, now a museum

This sign says no laughing.  Some Cambodians do not respect this museum and have added graffiti inside

A look at the cells built within the classrooms

Another look at wooden cells built within another classroom, scary

We visited the Russian Market, where the locals shop.  It was a mix between a department store, car and motorbike shops, butchers, fruit/veggie stands, pharmacies, and toy stores…all in stalls and outdoors.  I started looking at a women’s stall and when I said thank you and walked away, she started to complain loudly, and I reminded her that it is free to look (which she did not take kindly?!).

Just two westerners blazing the roads of Cambodia!

Dinner anyone??

Blurry, but typical of families simply sleeping in their small shops during the day

Safe Food, Good Food...Yeah right?!  Stomach hasn't been right for a while

We got caught in the torrential rain, so made a stop at a bakery for some baked goods and a coffee to wait out the storm.  From there we headed to dinner at Frizz, a Khmer restaurant, for some great cheap eats.  We love our food here and walking the amount we do necessitates refueling!!

Vietnam to Cambodia

Woke up early for our bus ride to Cambodia.  We were told a certain pick up time, but they were early (very unusual) so we missed out on our fruit smoothie lady we had found the day before—boooo!

An uneventful bus trip, except for customs.  We had to exit Vietnam, drive 100-yards and then enter Cambodia.  I am surprised that we made it through in only an hour.  People are like vultures, grabbing at their passports, throwing their passports at the customs agents, and yet it still seems to get done on both sides of the border.  We just watched and shook our heads.

As Shelley can attest, bus rides are never a "Pleasant Journey"?!

Everything is a copy in SE Asia, including the Winn (looks identical, but spelled incorrectly) and it's for sale.  This was one of the many casinos for sale at the Vietnam/Cambodia border

Bye Bye Vietnam...Hello Cambodia!

We arrived an headed to our hotel in a Tuk Tuk.  We heard this constantly "Need Tuk Tuk?"

Shelley protecting our bags on the front of the Tuk Tuk...she has proven to be very tough!!

We took a tuk tuk to our hotel, dropped off our bags and headed north to the old Raffles Hotel’s Elephant Bar for happy hour and the renowned Singapore Slings.  We felt like we were in colonial France.  The staff was super friendly and we had a fun/difficult conversation with one of the staff who wanted to learn more English.  Erik had him write down two things to remember to say:  1) Beer belly (westerners will laugh at this one) and 2) There are many fish in the ocean (his girlfriend just left him for a man with more money).

Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels

We toured the Cu Chi tunnels outside of Ho Chi Minh, where the Viet Cong used 250-km of tunnels to fight the Southern Vietnamese army and the Americans.  We had a chance to crawl through them (claustrophobia anyone?), see the disturbing traps set up by the Viet Cong and eat a meal similar to what they ate at the time.  It was very interesting how small the tunnels where and the intricacy of them.

We had a chance to shoot military guns at $1 a bullet.  Like Chris Rock said (in Erik's words, 'a bullet should cost $1,000 a piece, then people would think twice about using guns'

Jack Fruit the size of your head everywhere here.  We, Shelley especially, loves fruit!

A roof covering an old working/meeting area of the Viet Cong

Shelley didn't want to go in, Erik doesn't fit in...take a picture of another tourist entering the tunnels

A booby trap, one of many used by the Viet Cong to trap/kill Americans looking for the tunnels

An old US tank, left behind in the jungle.

Shelley exiting the tunnels...she barely fit through some of the spaces, try to imagine how I felt

A small entrance...not even Shelley could get into this one

One of the thousands of craters caused by the B-52 bombers on their bombing runs

A local villager letting rice paper dry with flys and all.  A fresh spring roll anyone??

On our way back we stopped at the Women’s Museum of Southern Vietnam.  I think we were the only visitors to the museum in a while—they had to turn the lights on for us.  It was interesting to see how they portrayed any woman who helped defeat the imperialists (yes that would be us Americans) and the standard Communist propaganda that we have seen at every museum throughout Vietnam.

Shelley standing proud with the proud statue outside the Women's Museum

Don't mess with the facts Punk!!  Know your facts/history before you come here says Erik!

Or I'll mess you up says Shelley!

Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh CIty/Saigon Day 2

Presidential Hall-->Independence Hall-->Reunification Hall

Reunification Hall was named after the North and South reunified after the Vietnam War.  Before this time it was named Independence Hall--Vietnam’s independence from the French colonialists.  When it was first built by the French, it was named the Presidential Palace.  Similar to the Sears Tower in Chicago, which is now named the Willis Tower after they took over--okay, not quite the same but you get my drift.  There is a famous picture that we have seen time and again of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) tank breaking down the gate after the NVA took over the south.

We had a very interesting tour of the Hall, where the tour guide definitely stated time and again how the Vietnamese destroys all its enemies.  Anyway?!, the building has basically been untouched since the mid-70’s, so it was quite interesting.

In a conference hall, Shelley tries to be serious as there is no laughing here!

A view of the fountain in the front garden from the inside of Reunification Hall

Inside one of the meeting rooms....circa 1975 and it has not changed since.  Love it!

Erik gets his free elephant ride on the roof patio of the Reunification Hall

US Huey used to transport the president of South Vietnam before the NVA took over

One of the NVA tanks that broke through the gate of the Reunification Hall when the north took over the south

After the hall, we went to the War Remnants Museum.  A lot of redundant pictures that we had seen at other museums and “facts” about the various wars.  Again, it could have been really well presented, but it is not.  It is more of the same with all the propaganda and how proud they are for beating the French and the Americans over the years.  A more factual, consistent, and chronological approach would serve museums better here in Vietnam.  

Had to get this picture of "Historic Truths".  Is it the facts of the wars or Communist Propaganda?  Most definitely the latter after our visit to the War Remnants Museum.  Kind of amusing?!?!

Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon Day 1

A full day of sightseeing.  We checked out the Fine Arts Museum—replicas of much of the works, General Post Office—beautiful French architecture, People’s Committee Building—another example of the French influence on architecture and it houses the city government, the Municipal Theater, and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.

Shelley excited about the "Fine Arts" we just saw.  Kind of a letdown as we both love art and this museum was lacking.  But hey, still an experience

Notre Dame Cathedral.  I think there is one in every country and every state in the US as well.  What gives??

Looking like a tourist in front of the famous French built Post Office.  I think my size/coloring gives away the fact that I am a tourist

Shelley adding her feelings about the flowers by the statue out front of Notre Dame

Picture of Ho Chi Minh inside the Post Office.  His picture is everywhere!

Beautiful People's Committee Building.  You cannot enter unfortunately.

Outside the famous Rex Hotel, where there are super expensive drinks and great city views.  Shelley Likes!

Taking a breather at a fountain by the Municipal Theater

After a long day of work--we saw a lot of this!!  Great balance

Dressed to kill or clean the streets.  Right out of a Stephen King novel, they dress from head to toe even in 100+ degree heat.  They hate the sun here!

Lots of sites, lots of walking, and wished that these sites were presented better.  They seem like an afterthought, but tourists continue to visit so they feel updates are not needed.

Vietnam: Hoi An (4-Days of rest!!)

Mon 4/30

We got up refreshed and ready to do a little more exploring before heading to Hoi An.  We checked out the markets, spoke with some locals, snacked on some local food before grabbing a cab and catching our next 4.5-hour bus ride to the beaches of Vietnam.

I don’t think Shelley mentioned enough just how bad the highway and road infrastructure is here.  They could use some German engineered roads.

We walked the 3.5 kilometers to Cua Dai beach after we arrived and had dinner right next to the beach for $6!!

Tue 5/1

Met up at with some friends we made in Halong Bay at An Bang Beach, where the locals hang out.  Enjoyed great conversation, swimming, fruit drinks and watching the locals set up along the beach for dinner service.

Alice in Wonderland Tea Cups?? Nope, local fishing boats (nice guess though!?)

Shelley striking a pose (like so many tourists seem to do here) prior to our 5-km walk to An Bang

We changed and headed to the downtown for dinner with the girls from Austria we befriended.  It was a nice relaxing day after a few weeks of sightseeing.

Wed 5/2

Cua Dai beach today.  More sun, swimming, walking the beach and reading.  We figure 4-days to relax before sightseeing again would be good for us…can you blame us?

Late afternoon, local "resstaurants" set up on the beach surrounding us...interesting?!

Thur 5/3

New hotel, much cheaper and it shows.  But hey, we are not here for the accommodations.  We are here to relax and sit at the beach and pool.  This hotel doesn’t have a shuttle to the beach, so Shelley and I rent $1 bikes and you can say they are probably worth less than that.  But Shelley feels great about biking even though she rides a professional carbon fiber bike at home.  One speed for us, but the hair dryer temp breeze in our hair and sweat on our skin, we spend another great day at the beach.

What a cute bed...turns out it was a smoking room and not even ours.  Hey we enjoyed the luxury and smell for 5-minutes at least.  Look at Shelley's smile!

Our hotel came with a "state-of-the-art" gym... yeah right?!?!  No chance of us working out anyway

The sign says "No swimming if you have had diarrhea in the last three days".  No swimming for us, again...yeah right?!?!!!

Fri 5/4

Much the same the next day, with biking to the beach, then back to the hotel for our pool swim aka “shower” before our drive to Da Nang and then our flight to Ho Chi Minh.

Loving the beautiful beaches in Vietnam, who knew??

Easy flight, so much better/safer than the bus (and not much more expensive) we arrive in the bustling metropolis.  We figure out which taxi will screw us over the least and had him take us to the Old Quarter.  It is a bustling area.  City sightseeing and museums, here we come after the four day break.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!! From Cambodia

We are in Siem Reap Cambodia, about to head out to explore the night markets--thunder storms rolling in...but first wanted to send our love to our Mom's back in the good 'ole USA!!

Here is a shirt we saw in Phnom Penh Cambodia, yesterday which is how we both feel about our Moms!!  Isn't it cute!

Although half way around the world, I have quite the message for you

It's outline with a Cambodian tree and a heart or two

Happy Mother's Day to my creative and beautiful mom!

I love you and miss you, hope you like our blog

Enjoy this day, it's just for you...because you have three special people forever linked to lovely you!

Happy Mother's Day! Love & XOXO, Shelley

Mom-  thank you for all your love and support.  Thank you for following us on this trip and sending words of encouragement.  I wish I could be there celebrating with everyone, but since I cannot, know that I am thinking about you and thank God for you every day.  I will see you in a few weeks for summer camp!  Happy Mother's Day!!  Sending my love and hugs, Erik