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We have been in Asia for the last 10 days and already seen so much!
Westarted out in Cambodia and the lovely city of Siem Reap. It was actually a very good place to start asia as it was exactly what I imagined an asian city to be like. lots of hustle and bustle and lively markets, but still there still manages to be a relaxed atmosphere. We went on a guided tour of the famous angkor wat and various other temples. they are ruely stunning and so worth seeing. it was a very tiring day climbing through the temples. each one was so different from the next. Our tour guides english wasn't very good so I found it hard to understand what they were all about!!! Barney tried to translate for me! English with an asian accent is very funny. and they get words confused alot eg. saying yes when they mean no! Unfortuantely it rained in the afternoon so we didnt get to see the sunset over angkor wat. was very disappointed as its meant to be a stunning sight.
From Siem Reap we went onto the capital city, Phnom Penh. We didn't like it much here.it was so chaotic...no rules to the roads and it got very scary at times whilst crossing roads o thinking our tuktuk would crash. It didnt have that relaxed vibe either and seemed quite dirty. We hired a tuktuk for the day and went to the killing fields, about 2 hour from the city centre. It was amazing learning about the terrible things that occured during Pol Pots ruling here. Must watch the film now whn we get home. Then we went onto the S21 prison to learn about how the soldiers tortured the prisoners before they were sent to the killing fields. the photographs were horrific and it was just horrible walking aroun the converted highschool trying to picture what went on there only 30 years ago. Things have changed in Vietnam incredibly over the last 20 years. After these 2 trips we needed a change in subject so went to the main market fo some cheap fakes and then to the royal palace. THe buildings in the palace are beautifully decorated but no one can go inside! only 1 building was open to the public so didnt gt to see much. the silver pagoda is advertised loads and it is famus for having an all silver floor. however,they have covered the whole floor over with carpet so tourists can walk..kinda defeats the point of the place i thought!
We changed our plans and went down the beach resort of Sihanoukville. It was very little but rather lovely..sandy paths lined with little seafood shacks and bars selling very cheap cocktails. We spean our tme relaxing on the beach and drinking cocktails right on the beach. was so nice to just sit and relax...something we havent really done on this trip! We went to Koh Rung island for an overnight stay. It is deserted other than 8 beach huts and a restaurant! It was extremely basic (we're talking no toilet, no shower kinda thing and the restaurant only could ctually make 3 out of the 10 things on the menu!) but the island white sandy beaches lining the clear blue seas where stunning. The mosquitos seem to like it there too!!! i have been eaten alive!! ahhh so itchy! We we only there for the night, but there were people there that had been staying for 2 weeks! they were so mellow and chilled out, walking down the beach sipping the juice from a coconut straight off the tree!! I think they had forgotton what normal likfe off the island is like!
We had a long journey from there into Vietnam. Our first stop was in Ho Chi Minh city. It is a very busy city like Phenom Penh but in a nice way. Everyone here is so friendly. As you walk down the street everyone says hello and the children are so sweet and wave as you pass. Yesterday we went to the Cu Chi tunnels and saw the traps that were set up to capture the American soldiers and got to crawl through some of the underground tunnel ways they had created to hide. Then today we did a mekong delta boat ride and sa a completely different side of vietnam. we stoppe at various homes amonst the forests and saw how famlies worked together to make different produce like coconut sweets and honey. We went on a cycle ride and got to see the real lives of the Vietnamese.
Everyone drives motorbikes here. Cars are an unsual siting! most of the people dont half a liscense though so its quite crazy! the food has been great but we are ataully starting to crave westrn food. We it rice with meat for lunch and then noodles with meat for dinner most days! Some of the loal foods are great though and half of the time we dont no what we're eating. we just point at things are hope for the best. So fa we haven't not liked anything! The local dish in vietnam is a noodle soup called, pho - has amazing flavour. The local dish in Camobdia is fish amok - a fish yellow cury baked in a banana leaf), which i must learn to make at hoe. Further up north in Vietnam Im going to do a cooking class so hopefully will come home with a good few new dishes!
So we're are moving north through Vietnam and then will enter Loas. Our route keeps changing as we keep hearing different towns to see. theres so many thigns to see in Vietnam and so many different types of scenery. Think we may have to come back!!! Getting a bus to Dalat tonight, which is up in the hills and are planning of getting our own motorbike to visit the wateralls around the city. It's not that touristy there which will be nice.
Extremely hot here! constant cold showers and lving the air conditioning (never thought id say that!). Hope you are all well andhope to hear from u.
missing england believe it or not! xxxxxx
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