Cambodia

March 11, 2014

Better late than never!  I have sooooo many photos from our 3 days in Angkor Wat and 10 days in Cambodia, it was hard just picking a few, but here are the best (well . . . spread out over two posts).  We decided to bus out there together with our friends, the Musik family, from Bangkok as you can see below.

 

Siem Reap was incredibly touristy and tons of fun with lots to do from yoga to drinking.

We explored Siem Reap the first day after our 9 hour bus journey, but headed to Angkor Wat just for sunset photos.

This is the library at the main temple of Angkor Wat - one of the hundreds of temples that actually make up this archeological UNESCO park.

The sunset proved to be just as spectacular as promised.

Our first full day of exploring - notice we are the only ones here - our 5:30 am early start paid off.

This is the same temple complex as the one above - Prerup Temple - built in 961 AD as a Hindu Temple.

Banteaysrei Temple, or Women Temple, known for having the best preserved reliefs thanks to the hard, red sandstone -  built in 967 AD.

A blooming lotus flower - I thought it was aptly named as I am off to a yoga studio of the same name.

Still at Banteaysrei Temple.

The reliefs were almost as good as new in some areas.

It’s sad how many museums and nonprofits there are in this area due to left land mines and the continuing damage they cause.

Aki Ra, the man who started this museum, was a boy solider who planted land mines and is now spending the rest of his adult life undoing what he was forced to do as a child.  He was named one of CNN’s heroes.

All the temples were decorated with aspara dancers - a type of dancing that one can still see in Cambodia.

Omar in front of Ta Som Temple.  It was built in the middle of a reservoir that no longer exists - boat in only.

The moat that surrounds Neak Pean Temple.  

Neak Pean Temple - another boat in only temple.  This temple is surrounded by 4 pools of healing water that correspond to your element: earth, water, fire, and air.  

My favorite temples were the one with trees overtaking them.  This was at Preah Khan temple - built in 1191 AD.

The only demon with a head left on the walkway over the moat that led into Preah Khan.  The demons are holding a snakes body.

Rest and play in Bangkok

After visiting a bunch of temples and museums we needed some fun. Here is what we did:

We went to the floating market. Bangkok used to be called the Venice of Asia and a lot of business used to be done in these markets.

Ali went on a shopping spree. No worries, when custom made shoes cost less than a six pack of beer this was not a financial disaster.

Mackerel anyone?

The spirit of the floating markets lives on here. Talk about point and pick food.

Our tour to the floating market included a boat ride to see fireflies and upon return we found this traffic jam. 

After the floating market Ali needed yoga to recover.

The shopping spree continued. Since I imagine some day I will need a job, I decided to get a custom tailored suit. How could I not, since the whole suit cost me less than renting a suit in the US for just one day and should look better than ever.

We took an easy day off to go to an amusement/water park with the Musik family.

Where we would get devoured by a lion and puked out by a panther.

We went on some pretty crazy rides. Notice there are no lines or crowds? Take that Disneyland.

The water slides made this my first water park ever.

I caught air while sliding down the 7 story tall speed slides - the tallest in South Asia.

And of course we had cartoon celebrities like… maybe my sis knows who this is.

Thai kitty says goodbye and chillax. 

Bangkok Fun

March 4, 2014

The fun just never stopped in Bangkok - museums, water parks, food classes, friends, train markets, floating markets and the world’s largest market - all in less than a week.

 

We spent a great afternoon inside the Siam Museum, learning about the history of Thailand and the region.

We met up with the Musik Family again for photo fun and general silliness.

I decided to take a fruit carving class one day.  My instructor was the very famous May Kaidee (owner of multiple vegi Thai restaurants and schools), but her instructor just happened to show up while I was there so I got a lesson from the best!

May Kaidee’s master was just that - he literally could produce fruit flowers from anything within a minute or two - all the time with this beautiful smile, laughing and giving me instructions.

After lunch I graduated to the harder carving - here’s my attempt at a melon flower.

May Kaidee and I and the fruits of our labor . . . ha!!!  Get it?

Such a practical skill to have . . . err . . .

I went to the tailor and got a hot, new boyfriend! 

This is the Maeklong Train Market in a small province just outside Bangkok.  The market is set up right on the train tracks.

All the carts have wheels and the tarps are on collapsable bamboo poles.  As the train approaches the vendors just shut up shop for a few minutes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aZFetrUEo0

After the train market, we headed to Amphawa Star, the local’s floating market and weekend get away.

This is definitely the hip place to hang out for a weekend and relatively tourist free.  You can stroll down either side of the river checking out cute shops and restaurants or just have the food boats paddle up to you.

The best is the women have these long bamboo poles to pass the food up and collect the money.  

My personal favorite was the ice cream boat!  No music though.

The next day we headed to Chatuchak weekend market - the largest in the world with over 10,000 stalls!

This one is for you Captain!  Couple Monster - grrrr!

Our tuk-tuk driver took us on a personal tour on the way home - here is the King’s Palace.

Bangkok 1

March 2, 2014

Bangkok is as crazy and busy as it looks it the movies!  As Omar said, our 10 km bike ride through the town and to our hotel was intense, but we have been enjoying exploring the neighborhood and checking out the sights.  

 

Here’s Omar happy as clam with his mango and sticky rice.  Yeah for street food!

 

Just an idea of what it looks like walking around our area of Bangkok, the Phra Nakhon District.

 

Omar decided to get a suit or two - that’s right, we are thinking about heading home at some point and not wanting to look like backpacking bums.

 

Here is the Phra Sumen Fort and watch tower in Bangkok.  It’s one of only two left, out of 14 originally built in 1783.

 

There’s an organic salad restaurant right around the corner from our hotel - what a treat!  Fresh greens!

 

Omar and I took a trip to the Royal Grand Palace.  The king no longer lives here, but they still use the rooms here on occasion.

 

Wat Phra, the royal temple, is also located here - same grounds.

 

The wat was gigantic - complete with monks.  Look closely.

 

The temple buildings were covered in gold, guarded by gods or demons (dang - I should have paid for the tour guide) and just towered above you!

 

Snake or lady or maybe the new ladyboy snake???

 

Looking good - feeling good. 

 

Again - a guide would be have been good about now.  Now it’s just an interesting picture.

 

The weapons rooms and throne rooms were inside this building - sadly no pictures.

 

Ahh . . .

 

There were guards with guns around, but Omar noticed the guns weren’t loaded.  They don’t call Thailand the “Land of Smiles" for nothing.