Hanoi, Vietnam: Today we explored Hanoi - our favorite city so far. The city is a mix of Asian and French influence, and the food is incredible - especially the bread! We visited a water puppet show and wandered around the Old Quarter for the day, attempting to avoid getting run over by motorbikes.
For the next few days we’ll be visiting Halong Bay and won’t have our computer - we hope to have lots of beautiful pictures to share when we get back!
Mui Ne, Vietnam: Over the last few days we’ve moved from Cambodia to Vietnam by bus, finding ourselves in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC, aka Saigon) and now Mui Ne.
When we got to HCMC, the first thing we noticed was that the traffic here is crazy - crazier than the already crazy traffic in Thailand and Cambodia. Crossing the street involves basically stepping out into moving traffic - because everyone’s driving motorbikes, they’ve got plenty of room to move within the lanes and they’ll just go around you, assuming that you move slowly and don’t make any sudden moves. Although I (Zach) got used to this pretty quickly, Ash holds my hand very very tight when we cross the street.
While in HCMC we visited the War Remnants Museum - formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes. As the name suggests, the museum requires an open mind - the exhibits discuss the “horrible atrocities that the United States and the Vietnamese puppet government” committed during the Vietnam War, with a particular focus on Agent Orange and its effect on the Vietnamese people. Regardless of politics, the images in the museum were a sobering sight.
After a day in HCMC we came to Mui Ne for a few more days on the beach - this time, with kitesurfing lessons! We’ve been learning how to kitesurf and at this point we can both sort of get up on the board (using the term “get up” very loosely)… we’ll keep you posted on our progress.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Phnom Penh is a fast-paced and frenetic city that is not for the faint of heart. We’ve had a great time over the course of our two days here, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this Cambodian capital. We’ve explored the Russian Market (whose meat section put Hong Kong’s wet market to shame), visited the Royal Palace, and paid our respects at The Killing Fields Memorial to the millions of Cambodians who tragically lost their lives during the Khmer Rouge regime.
The highlight of our time in Phnom Penh was an ATV trip we took though the countryside with a company called Blazing Trails. The tour was wonderful and, aside from being suuuper fun because we each got to ride our own ATV (and got covered with mud in the process), it allowed us to see what life is like for the majority of Cambodians living outside of the big cities in which we’ve spent most of our time. Like in Kompong Khleang, we felt like royalty driving through the small villages as children ran up to the street to wave and say “bye-bye”! At sunset, we stopped on the side of a small dirt road to enjoy some delicious coconut water and watch the sun go down over peaceful fields of Morning Glory.
On to Vietnam!
Siem Reap, Cambodia: Children are everywhere in Cambodia - always adorable and smiling, sometimes clothed, and normally barefoot. They are waving from the side of the road, riding in the front of motorbikes, and running up to sell you trinkets and books. Have you ever seen a four-year-old barter? It’s pretty impressive. It goes something like this:
Child: You buy four for one dollar, ok?
Ash: No thank you!
Child: You buy five for one dollar, ok?
Ash: No thank you!
Child: You buy five for one dollar, ok?
Ash: No thank you! (repeat ad nauseum, until we arrive at our destination)
Child: Maybe you buy five for one dollar later?
Ash: Maybe later!
Child: Ok you come back, I remember you!
(They always go for Ash - someone has clearly trained these kiddies that girls are most susceptible to their charms.)
During our first day at the temples, we walked out of the restaurant where we had just eaten lunch and found ourselves surrounded by yet another set of adorable mercenary children. Waiting next to our tuk-tuk without our driver, we were totally stuck. When “no thank you” clearly wasn’t working, Ash decided to try and talk to the kids. She said that she didn’t want to buy a christmas tree ornament or a paper crane or a book about the Khemer Rouge or a bracelet (although five for one dollar really was a pretty good deal), but did they want to take a picture with her instead? Of course, they were more than happy to oblige… and in the end, she did give one of them a dollar for a christmas tree ornament. Have you ever tried to say no to a barefoot, wide-eyed four year old? Trust us. You’d lose too.
Along with shots of these adorable kiddies, here are some of our other favorite images of life in Siem Reap. Enjoy!
Ko Samui, Thailand: Today is our last full day in Ko Samui. We spent it just like one should - on the beach! After a relaxing day at tourist-free Mae Nam Beach (where we saw some pretty sick kitesurfing moves), we wandered around town and ended the evening back at our beach in Bo Phut, where we lit a Thai lantern for good luck and watched it float into the sky.
Ko Phi Phi, Thailand: We’ve been very busy here in Ko Phi Phi (despite staying at a resort called Relax). In our three days, we’ve gone snorkeling by longtail boat in the coral reefs around Phi Phi Leh, gone fishing (and ate what we caught!), visited Maya Beach (where they filmed “The Beach”), hiked up to Pee Pee Viewpoint where we could see all of Tonsai village, and drank more mango shakes than two people probably should drink. While we were in Tonsai, the princess happened to be making a visit to Phi Phi - her first trip to the island in 30 years! We had to kneel on the side of the street with all the Thais and bow when she drove by.
Phuket, Thailand: The Thai people we’ve met so far have been incredibly friendly - from the street vendors who explain what they’re making in case you’re squeamish about the ingredients, to the four-year-old boys who only know two words in English - “hello” and “thank you” - and so repeat them endlessly. Here are a few of our favorites so far, plus a few other elements of the Thai lifestyle here in Phuket.
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