I decided to save about $50 by taking a bus from Luang Prabang to Vientiane instead of flying. Unfortunately it left me with two options: Leave 8AM in the morning and miss out on seeing the National Museum in Luang Prabang, or take the night bus and arrive very tired in Vientiane the next day. Although I was sad to only spend a day in Luang Prabang, I decided to take the morning bus.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Luang Prabang, Laos: climbing to the top of a waterfall
Luang Prabang, Laos is a UNESCO world heritage city. It has a village like feel to it. Its a very small city with a population of just 50,000. Its known for its Buddhist monasteries and natural beauty.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do in Luang Prabang. I had contacted 2 couchsurfers to see if they were free to hang out and didn't get a reply.
I decided to go to Kuang Si Falls. Because of the limestone the water flows down, it is filled with minerals giving it the color of turquoise. My only regret is that I didn't bring my swim suit. True the water was a bit cold, but it would have loved to swing on the rope and jump into the pools.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do in Luang Prabang. I had contacted 2 couchsurfers to see if they were free to hang out and didn't get a reply.
I decided to go to Kuang Si Falls. Because of the limestone the water flows down, it is filled with minerals giving it the color of turquoise. My only regret is that I didn't bring my swim suit. True the water was a bit cold, but it would have loved to swing on the rope and jump into the pools.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Hanoi, Vietnam to Luang Prabang, Laos: kindness that made me cry
Hang's friend knocked on my door to wake me up the morning after NYE. I was up late writing in my blog (sometimes it takes me 1 hour for a single post!) so I was groggy when she woke me up.
By the time I made it downstairs, Hang, Lang, and Luyen were sitting at the table. Hang had prepared noodles with beef for us all! I was so grateful! After breakfast, I offered to help clean up but Hang said no, and told me to get ready. So I took a shower upstairs, and started packing. At some point, Fung came over and I heard him shout, “Nisha! Are you ready?” from downstairs.
By the time I made it downstairs, Hang, Lang, and Luyen were sitting at the table. Hang had prepared noodles with beef for us all! I was so grateful! After breakfast, I offered to help clean up but Hang said no, and told me to get ready. So I took a shower upstairs, and started packing. At some point, Fung came over and I heard him shout, “Nisha! Are you ready?” from downstairs.
Siem Reap, Cambodia: Angkor Wat, intriguing history, and Aspara dance
My hostel worker tried to persuade me to go to Angkor Wat during sunrise, meaning leaving the hostel at 4:30 AM. I wasn't thrilled about this and was dissuaded to do it by girls in my hostel who told me that it was very boring waiting for the sun to come up and then she was tired the whole day.
I ended leaving for Angkor at 8AM which I turned out to be a great time. I had my own private guide for the day which cost $28 USD. It was completely worth it. He was very knowledgeable about the temple, shared Cambodian history with me, and took several photos for me.
Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world. What I heard on a documentary that I didn't hear or read in the museum was that it was originally built by a king who wanted to portray himself as a god and thus ensure obedience from his subjects. The museum stated that it was built to the Hindu god Vishnu. Its built at the peak of Khmer architecture.
I ended leaving for Angkor at 8AM which I turned out to be a great time. I had my own private guide for the day which cost $28 USD. It was completely worth it. He was very knowledgeable about the temple, shared Cambodian history with me, and took several photos for me.
Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world. What I heard on a documentary that I didn't hear or read in the museum was that it was originally built by a king who wanted to portray himself as a god and thus ensure obedience from his subjects. The museum stated that it was built to the Hindu god Vishnu. Its built at the peak of Khmer architecture.
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Cambodia: A Cambodian who thinks eating snakes is "crazy"
I took a 5 hour bus from Phnom Penh to Siem reap last Wednesday. A Cambodian girl sat next to me. She was in Phnom Penh to meet her family who was traveling in Cambodia from Australia. We talked a bit about food. She told me she doesn't eat snake or insects or any other "crazy" food like that. It reminds me of a joke I heard. A man from the UK told me how when he was traveling in Kuala Lumpur, a group of locals told him eat the eye of the fish. He said he told them, "Why don't you eat this one and I'll eat the next one." Then they told him, "Oh, we don't eat the fish eye".
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Phnom Penh, Cambodia: S-21 prison and the Killing Fields
Last Tuesday was a somber day of traveling in Cambodia. Two hostelmates, Martin and Isabella, and I hired a tuk-tuk for the day who took us to the Tol Sleung Genocide Museum, which also goes by the name S-21, short for Security Prison-21 and one of the killing fields.
Heartbreakingly, the S-21 prison used to be a high school. Then in 1975, the Khmer Rouge, the Community Party in Cambodia, under Pol Pot, seized power and control of Phnom Phen. Their plan was restructure the country. They forced people from the city into rural areas to work in the farms. They arrested professionals-- mechanics, doctors, teachers.
Heartbreakingly, the S-21 prison used to be a high school. Then in 1975, the Khmer Rouge, the Community Party in Cambodia, under Pol Pot, seized power and control of Phnom Phen. Their plan was restructure the country. They forced people from the city into rural areas to work in the farms. They arrested professionals-- mechanics, doctors, teachers.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Hanoi, Vietnam: the morning market, mystic Halong Bay, and the coolest NYE of my life!
I've been dreaming about going to Halong Bay for a long time. I was so happy this morning when the day was finally here.
I woke up at 6AM, showered and got ready. Hang knocked on my door about 6:40AM to ask if I wanted breakfast. I told her that that would be great and she said she would wait downstairs for me.
I am amazed anew each time I stay with a couchsurfing host for they all go out of their way for me! Hang is on holiday and got up so early just to drive me to my tour! She could have let me take a taxi!
I woke up at 6AM, showered and got ready. Hang knocked on my door about 6:40AM to ask if I wanted breakfast. I told her that that would be great and she said she would wait downstairs for me.
I am amazed anew each time I stay with a couchsurfing host for they all go out of their way for me! Hang is on holiday and got up so early just to drive me to my tour! She could have let me take a taxi!
Siem Reap, Cambodia to Hanoi, Vietnam: one of the craziest adventures of my life!
I want to take a moment to put this trip into context:
I was extremely anxious about my trip to Hanoi. On Sunday, I went online to write down my flight information and saw that the flight I thought I had booked the day before wasn't booked at all! I've tried to book a flight from Siem Reap to Hanoi 3 times by that point! I still don't understand what happened. I looked at my bank statement and saw that no money for the flight was charged. Its such a mystery! I even called Vietnam Airlines and they had no record of my name! So I purchased a flight for that day, leaving at 7:50pm. Luckily it was the same price as the ones I thought I purchased earlier, except the flight time was an hour later.
I couldn't help but wonder if God didn't want me on that flight. In fact, I wondered if I was not supposed to go to Vietnam at all! I worried about my couchsurfer with no references. Was I going to get there and be kidnapped? I wondered if I should just take a bus to Luang Prabang Laos, but decided against it because I already paid for a visa, a flight from Hanoi to Luang Prabang, and a Halong Bay tour in Vietnam.
I went to Siem Reap World Travelers and picked up my passport with my visa in side. I had breakfast, and then hired a driver to take me to the landmine museum. When I got back to Siem Reap, I picked up my luggage and he brought me to the airport.
I got to the airport early and asked if I could be on the 6pm flight, which the did for me with no charge. I boarded the plane, and my heart fluttered with anxiety when I saw that my seat was the emergency exit seat! I prayed and prayed the whole flight! But thank God, we landed without incident.
When I got to the airport, I got on an airport minivan shuttle that takes you to the city center for $3.00 or to your hotel for $5.00. Hang, my couchsurfing host, lives far from the city center so I would have to take a taxi to her place once we go to the city center. When we got to the city center, several men were waiting outside the van. The van driver told me to go with one of them on a motorbike who would take me to the address. I said, "can you take my luggage". He hosted my luggage in front of his feet on his minibike. I sat behind him, put my arms around his waist, and sat with my face buried into the jacket on his back. I was too scared to look up. He had a helmet on, but I didn't.
As we drove thought the city, I'd hear "Beeeeeeeeeeepp!!!!" and "Eeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!" in front of me and to my side. I kept praying the whole way, "Jesus! Jesus!". After I while I started looking up. Large buses sped by us. We ran through red lights. Other drivers making turns drove right in front of us. I was shaking at this point, either from fear or the cold or both.
The driver asked a few people for directions and I could tell he was lost. I took note of anything with life that we passed. I said to myself, "Okay, there's a restaurant (in case I have to escape for help). There is a karaoke bar". We finally came to Hang's address. I motioned with a finger for the driver to wait (he didn't speak any English). I texted Hang to tell her I was here and if she could meet me outside. He waited with me until Hang came out.
As soon as I saw Hang, I knew I was okay. She came out with her younger sister. Both look really nice and sweet.
Although this all sounds frightening, I covered my bases. I gave my friend Hang's address and number, texted her when I arrived at the airport, and told her I would text her when I was at Hang's place and the next morning so she'd know I was okay. I also booked a hostel that night just in case I needed another place to stay.
As far as the motorbike ride, it sounds crazy but its the way of life for the locals. I trusted that the driver has driven around Hanoi for years. Its unfortunate that he didn't have a helmet for me but a lot of passengers don't wear helmets. And I could have gotten to Hang's place a "safer" and more expensive way, a taxi car could have driven me straight there from the airport. But where is the adventure in that?
I walked with Hang and her sister Long down a dark alley to their house. Two rats ran by but hey, that's nothing I haven't seen on 156th street walking to my own apartment. Hang has a very lovely apartment that is 3 stories. She brought me up to the 3rd floor where I have my own large room, with a bed, desk, and vanity table. She showed me where the bathroom was and asked if I wanted to eat dinner. I told her I had eaten on the flight. I gave her the small gift I got for her: a magnet of Angkor Wat from Cambodia. She was really happy to receive it! She hasn't traveled outside of Vietnam so I think it is really cool for her to have someone come and share with her stories from other countries. I joined her sister in the living room where they had been watching a singing show like American Idol on TV. We chatted a bit. Hang's English is somewhat limited so we spoke slowly. She offered to take me to the hotel where the driver was to pick me up for my Halong Bay tour!
I think people think I'm crazy when I tell them how I find couchsurfers to stay with. I'll say, "Well, they looked nice on their profile picture and they seemed nice over emails". Literally, that is it! And thankfully, in this case, my intuition was correct! Hang is amazing!
I was extremely anxious about my trip to Hanoi. On Sunday, I went online to write down my flight information and saw that the flight I thought I had booked the day before wasn't booked at all! I've tried to book a flight from Siem Reap to Hanoi 3 times by that point! I still don't understand what happened. I looked at my bank statement and saw that no money for the flight was charged. Its such a mystery! I even called Vietnam Airlines and they had no record of my name! So I purchased a flight for that day, leaving at 7:50pm. Luckily it was the same price as the ones I thought I purchased earlier, except the flight time was an hour later.
I couldn't help but wonder if God didn't want me on that flight. In fact, I wondered if I was not supposed to go to Vietnam at all! I worried about my couchsurfer with no references. Was I going to get there and be kidnapped? I wondered if I should just take a bus to Luang Prabang Laos, but decided against it because I already paid for a visa, a flight from Hanoi to Luang Prabang, and a Halong Bay tour in Vietnam.
I went to Siem Reap World Travelers and picked up my passport with my visa in side. I had breakfast, and then hired a driver to take me to the landmine museum. When I got back to Siem Reap, I picked up my luggage and he brought me to the airport.
I got to the airport early and asked if I could be on the 6pm flight, which the did for me with no charge. I boarded the plane, and my heart fluttered with anxiety when I saw that my seat was the emergency exit seat! I prayed and prayed the whole flight! But thank God, we landed without incident.
When I got to the airport, I got on an airport minivan shuttle that takes you to the city center for $3.00 or to your hotel for $5.00. Hang, my couchsurfing host, lives far from the city center so I would have to take a taxi to her place once we go to the city center. When we got to the city center, several men were waiting outside the van. The van driver told me to go with one of them on a motorbike who would take me to the address. I said, "can you take my luggage". He hosted my luggage in front of his feet on his minibike. I sat behind him, put my arms around his waist, and sat with my face buried into the jacket on his back. I was too scared to look up. He had a helmet on, but I didn't.
As we drove thought the city, I'd hear "Beeeeeeeeeeepp!!!!" and "Eeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!" in front of me and to my side. I kept praying the whole way, "Jesus! Jesus!". After I while I started looking up. Large buses sped by us. We ran through red lights. Other drivers making turns drove right in front of us. I was shaking at this point, either from fear or the cold or both.
The driver asked a few people for directions and I could tell he was lost. I took note of anything with life that we passed. I said to myself, "Okay, there's a restaurant (in case I have to escape for help). There is a karaoke bar". We finally came to Hang's address. I motioned with a finger for the driver to wait (he didn't speak any English). I texted Hang to tell her I was here and if she could meet me outside. He waited with me until Hang came out.
As soon as I saw Hang, I knew I was okay. She came out with her younger sister. Both look really nice and sweet.
Although this all sounds frightening, I covered my bases. I gave my friend Hang's address and number, texted her when I arrived at the airport, and told her I would text her when I was at Hang's place and the next morning so she'd know I was okay. I also booked a hostel that night just in case I needed another place to stay.
As far as the motorbike ride, it sounds crazy but its the way of life for the locals. I trusted that the driver has driven around Hanoi for years. Its unfortunate that he didn't have a helmet for me but a lot of passengers don't wear helmets. And I could have gotten to Hang's place a "safer" and more expensive way, a taxi car could have driven me straight there from the airport. But where is the adventure in that?
I walked with Hang and her sister Long down a dark alley to their house. Two rats ran by but hey, that's nothing I haven't seen on 156th street walking to my own apartment. Hang has a very lovely apartment that is 3 stories. She brought me up to the 3rd floor where I have my own large room, with a bed, desk, and vanity table. She showed me where the bathroom was and asked if I wanted to eat dinner. I told her I had eaten on the flight. I gave her the small gift I got for her: a magnet of Angkor Wat from Cambodia. She was really happy to receive it! She hasn't traveled outside of Vietnam so I think it is really cool for her to have someone come and share with her stories from other countries. I joined her sister in the living room where they had been watching a singing show like American Idol on TV. We chatted a bit. Hang's English is somewhat limited so we spoke slowly. She offered to take me to the hotel where the driver was to pick me up for my Halong Bay tour!
I think people think I'm crazy when I tell them how I find couchsurfers to stay with. I'll say, "Well, they looked nice on their profile picture and they seemed nice over emails". Literally, that is it! And thankfully, in this case, my intuition was correct! Hang is amazing!
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