When You Say Nothing At All - Lea Walker

I love Windows Live Movie Maker! :)  And you tube, of course. hehe

I made a video using the pictures I've taken from our vacations in the Philippines and outside the country (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam).

The song in the background is my version of When You Say Nothing At All. :)







                                                                 Lea C. Walker
                                                           leawalker.blogspot.com
                                                         www.davaoproperties.com

En Route to Ho Chi Minh City

The final leg of our South East Asian trip last August, was a visit to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Since it was my first time in HCMC, I made up a list of places we would visit once there. I'll blog about that soon. :) But for now, I will share about the trip per se, going to HCMC.

HOW TO GO THERE:

From Siem Reap, John and I took a bus trip via Phnom Penh, Cambodia through Mekong Express. We bought our bus tickets two days ago for $23 / each. We were told that we will be picked up at Somadevi Angkor Hotel (where we were staying) at exactly 7:00 a.m.  So we checked out around 5:30a.m. Had a sumptous breakfast at the hotel's restaurant and waited at the lobby. True enough, the driver arrived at exactly 7 in the morning.

We were picked up by a small and old bus, I feared that it will fall into pieces if you put more stuff in it. hehe.. I wondered "HOW and IF" it would make it to Ho Chi Minh. Soon enough, I realized that they just use it to ferry people from their hotels. The real Mekong Express Bus was waiting for us at the bus station. :)

Finally, we were on board the big bus. Their seats had a tall back support, making it a little comfortable while travelling. I wished though that it was wider so there's room for movements. The lady guide gave us wet tissues and snacks which consisted of 2 breads and 1 mineral water, per person.

The trip from SR to Phnom Penh was uneventful. The countryside was filled with rice fields mostly. We have those all over the Philippines so it wasn't that interesting for me anymore.

We reached Phnom Penh after lunch. Unlike Siem Reap, I noticed that PP is dirty. I saw litters all over the place. :( I thought that Davao is so much cleaner than this city. Tsk..tsk..

I liked the view of the mighty Mekong Delta beside the road.

                                             Phnom Penh Park, overlooking the Mekong Delta.

A few minutes later, we were at the Ferry wharf. While we were boarding, I couldn't help but notice the vendor selling spicy crickets. I know, a lot of people are into eating exotic food, but I am glad that I don't have to do that. It looked so disgusting, I don't think I'll have the stomach to try it.

                                              Spicy Crickets.. :) It looked like cockroaches to me.

ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA:

"The Mekong Delta (Vietnamese: đồng bằng sông Cửu Long “Nine Dragon river delta”) is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of 39,000 square kilometres (15,000 sq mi).^[1] The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.

The Mekong Delta has recently been dubbed as a 'biological treasure trove'. Over 10,000 new species have been discovered in previously unexplored areas of Mekong Delta, including a species of rat thought to be extinct. "

The Mekong Delta reminded me of Bankerohan River in Davao City,  on a rainy season. A friend of mine, Mita described it like this - "think of coffee with creamer" . LOL

My experience was far from that of River Monster's host, who rides in a very small boat, trying to catch a ginormous fish. But still, I was happy that I was given the chance to visit the place in my lifetime. :)

We arrived Ho Chi Minh City around 6 in the evening already. We were dropped off at the park in downtown area. From there, our hotel was less than 10 mins away. But since we were new to the place , (obviously) , we got ripped off by a very "helpful" driver.

Before we left Davao, I went to Aldevinco to have some  pesos exchanged into the local currencies of Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam. It's mainly for airport fees, taxi fees , etc.

So when the taxi driver started the meter, I was not worried. I have millions of Vietnam Dong. :) Yes, I was a millionaire in Vietnam. hahaha...  Anyways, the sad part was that the taxi meter reached 450,000.00 dong = $22.50 dollars.  Not knowing that we were being ripped off, I paid and said thank you. lol

Only to find out later that the fee from the airport (about 30mins travel) to Sanouva Hotel in downtown HCMC is only $7 dollars = 140,000.00 vietnam dong.  huhu...

So yes, take note of this when you go to vietnam.

Our hotel room in Ho Chi Minh City:    http://sanouvahotel.com/en-US/zone/557/item.cco

It's a small but new hotel. So the room and bathroom was very clean. Our booking included buffet breakfast. Their food is good so if  we ever go back  to Vietnam, we will stay there again. (To the staff: Thank you for your assistance. )

OTHER INFORMATION:

On Vietnam Visa:

    Filipinos are allowed to enter Vietnam without a Visa. So I just presented my passport and voila, here I come Vietnam! :)

    With John, it's a different story. Being an american, he had to get a visa before entering Vietnam. There's no Vietnam Embassy in Davao. But there's one in Manila. We found that a hassle so we opted to get one in Thailand. Details can be found here - (http://leawalker.blogspot.com/2011/08/bangkok-day-1-and-2.html )

Mekong Express - Siem Reap

   # 14 Sivutha St., Siem Reap

   Tel. No. (855-63) 963662   or (855-12) 315858 

Mekong Express - Phnom Penh

   87 Eo, Sisowath Quay, Sangkat Wat Phnom

   Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh Capital,

   Tel. No. (855 23) 427515 / 426425

   Email  : mekongexpress@online.com.kh

Mekong Express - Ho Chi Minh

   275H Pham Ngu Lao, Dist 1 Ho Chi Minh,

   Tel. No. (+848) 8373917 

                 (+84) 935507894

                                                   Lea C. Walker

                                            leawalker.blogspot.com 

                                          www.davaoproperties.com

  

                 

Ta Phrom

Another magical experience I had was a visit to Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia last month.  It is difficult to express it with words but I will do the best I can to describe how it was for me. So here's my second installment on our Angkor visit. (For my first article, please read: http://leawalker.blogspot.com/2011/09/angkor-archaelogical-park-bayon-temple.html)

Ta Phrom, to borrow the words of Wikipedia,  is the modern name of a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara (in Khmer: រាជវិហារ). Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples with visitors.

Our tour guide, Sody, tried to explain that to us but I was so busy taking pictures and feeling the place,  that I really don't  remember everything he told us.  :)  Sorry, Sody!

Ta Phrom is one of the busiest temples of Angkor. Thanks to Angeline Jolie who shot part of the movie, Tomb Raider in the area. When we were there, we had to wait until the other tourists were done shooting before we could take ours. Or you'd have to share it with them. haha

Ta Phrom's beauty is mystical. It is kinda eerie when you see the huge trees overtaking the temples. But that's where its beauty lies. Nature and ruins blended together, perfectly....

The root looks like an elephant tusk. :)

It's looks weird but beautiful. Does that make sense? :)

Beautiful and eerie at the same time.

I love this picture!

                                                       

Check the face in between the roots. :)

 

I wondered how this place looked like back then. It must have been a grandiose and regal temple fitted only for royalties. What amazes me until now is the fact that they did all those by hand. The construction and the carvings must have been very difficult. Not to mention the materials which they mostly took at least several miles away from its present location.

Ta Phrom is just one of the many temples in Angkor. Given the chance, I will surely go back there to check the rest of the ruins.






                                                               Lea C. Walker
                                                          leawalker.blogspot.com
                                                        www.davaoproperties.com

Angkor Archaelogical Park - Bayon Temple

The main reason for our Southeast Asian Trip was to visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. So we stayed in SR for 5days to ensure that we get to see the place without rushing through it.  The first thing we did was hire a tour guide. The fee was $20 per day. They'll tell you at first that it's $25 but you have to haggle. :) Our tour guide asked what kind of transpo do we want. Of course, we said "tuktuk" for the experience. The fee was $15 per day. Being the stingy me, I asked if we can make it $100 total for 3 days. They agreed. Yehey!


I am glad that we chose to ride the "Tuktuk". For my Filipino friends, a tuktuk can be compared to our "Trisikad". The difference is that it looks like a karitela, instead of being pulled by a horse, they're using a motorcyle. Siem Reap is very clean. So there's no worry of dust. Specially on the way to Angkor. The road is filled with trees so the air is so fresh and cool when it touches your skin. It's better than an airconditioned car!  Plus I felt like a princess riding in one. haha..

Tuktuk ride, on our way to Angkor.

From the hotel, our tuktuk driver led us to the ticket center. I believe that the pass cost $20 per day. But we only paid the discounted price of $40 for a 3 day pass. You cannot enter Angkor Archaelogical Park without the pass because the guards at the main entrance will inspect it. The gate pass has your picture in it and it states the number of days you will be allowed to enter the park. 

Angkor Archaelogical Park was declared a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. The 400 square mile park is a protected area because of the 1,000 temples dating back from 9th to 15th century, which are scattered all over the place.

We went first to Bayon Temple because Angkor Wat was too crowded. Besides, it is better viewed around 1-2 pm when the sun is behind it. It's supposed to be better for photography. But well, August is their rainy season so it was mostly cloudy when we were there. It did not stop me from taking a thousand pictures though.. hahaha. Thank God for digital cameras!

BAYON TEMPLE:

I love this temple, (built in the 12th century), because it tells the story of the Khmer people. Like reading a book, as you enter the temple, you'll find carvings on the wall depicting their daily life. It felt like I was transported to their time while looking at the etchings on the wall. What amazed me was the time they spent on carving them. They were so intricate, I believe, it must have taken them years to finish them.

The main entrance of the Bayon itself is spectacular. You walk through a 100 meter pavement with moats on each side. Each side have statues depicting their Gods and supposedly  the "devils" showing  the good and the bad.

One of the images at the entrance of Bayon. I love the moat beside it!

The Corridor at Bayon Temple.

The man on top of the tree, trying to hide from the tiger.



Sadly, the man got eaten by the tiger. :(

The Fishermen...

Ahh.. it's party time. :)

Bayon is famous for its giant stone faces that adorn the top of the temple. To think that they built everything by hand is simply amazing. This is just one temple. And there are 1000 in the area. Think , how many people gave their lives to the king, for these temples to be erected. It must have been millions. I am sure many of them died. :(  But their legacy lives on.

I am glad that Unesco is doing their best to preserve Angkor. It is such a wonder to see an empire still standing after a thousand years...



 

Somadevi Angkor Hotel and Spa

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Somadevi Angkor Hotel and Spa for making our stay in Siem Reap wonderful. :)

                                          ***********************

The kingsize bed was so comfortable!

After a long day of travel and a very tiring border experience (read my previous blog so you will understand what I'm talking about :) , we arrived in Siem Reap around 4 in the            afternoon.                                         

Upon entering the hotel, the staff immediately got our luggages and one of them handed us 2 glasses of fruit juice and 2 very cold face towels. It felt like heaven after all that we've been through. They let us rest for a few minutes then did a fast and efficient check-in.

When we got into our room, I was impressed with its cleanliness. The bathroom had a big tub and a separate shower.  Our room had a sliding door which opened to a wide verandah overlooking the swimming pool and the sunken bar.

I simply loved it. :)

 

The view from our room.

THE LOBBY:

SOMADEVI was named after Cambodian Queen who led Cambodia in the first century during the Khmer Empire Period. Based on her successful merits in making Cambodia as the most well-known country in South East Asia in terms of society and infrastructure, her name continues to rise in the mind of today’s Cambodian people.

You'll see from the lobby  the rich culture of the Khmer Empire through its design and architecture.

THE RESTAURANT:

When I booked the hotel online, I opted to have a free breakfast. That way, we will not be stressed out looking for food every morning. I am glad I did because their food is good. They had an extensive breakfast buffet which consisted of a salad bar, bread counter, rice (btw, their rice is good) , the usual ham , bacon, etc. They also had a counter where you just tell them how you want your eggs done. :)

Their menu for lunch and dinner are not that many. But the ones we ordered were very delicious. The price is the same with the top restaurants in Siem Reap. The difference is that, I am sure the Somadevi kitchen is very clean. :) Let me explain. Our tour guide brought us one time to a famous Khmer Restaurant in SR. The food was good. But when I went to the bathroom before we left, I was disgusted. Their CR was full of cockroaches. So John and I decided to just eat at the hotel the rest of our stay there.

Bread in a basket, fish and fries for John.

Deep Fried Prawns... Yummy!!!

THE LOCATION

The hotel is within downtown Siem Reap. Their main gate though is about 50 meters from the highway so it is not noisy, at all.  Back at the main road, when you turn right , you will immediately see a Money Exchange place.  When we were there, the exchange rate for $1 is 4,100.00 cambodian riel.  Please note that Cambodia uses US dollar so it's easier to just exchange your currency to USD.

Further ahead, you'll find a Khmer massage place. After visiting the temples during day time, getting a massage feels like it's the best decision you've ever made. :)  Then, there's a convenience store and a big grocery store about 100 meters ahead. Get your water and softdrinks there before going to the temples because if you don't, then you'll have to shed out $1 per one bottle of mineral water at Angkor park. :)

The famous Angkor Night Market is about 2 blocks away from the hotel. You can take a leisurely walk at night or opt to ride in a tuktuk for $1 . John and I chose to ride because our feet were killing us already.  I'll share about the night market next time. :)

I am so glad that we stayed at Somadevi Angkor Hotel and Spa. It made our stay in Siem Reap very beautiful and memorable.