Angkor Wat

Now this is a place to lift the spirits. What a magnificant spectacle. The temples here are really blocky with these really cool faces carved into them. To be honest words really can't quite describe them properly. But believe me, if you sre anywhere in the vicinity of Cambodia at any stage in your lives, make sure you take the time to visit Angkor Wat. Those who have been there will attest to that. I really don't know what else to say about it. Locky and Eamon, sorry to hear about Liverpool.

Cambodia

What is there to say about Cambodia? Well I have to say that it certainly is not the happiest place in the world. I have seen things that would make you feel ashamed for us giving out that they didn't cut the crusts off your sandwich at the deli. There are some horribly mutilated people in Cambodia. I had a guy who's face looked as though it had simply melted. There are so many people walking around with no limbs, or blind, scarred from the effects of the Pol Pot regime. i went and visited the Killing Fields, which was a must for me when I am in Cambodia. The memorial to the victims is difficult to look at. All the skulls stacked high into the air. All the skulls are categorised into age group and sex. the monument must be around 10 or 15 metres high containing roughly 8000 human skulls. THat was very difficult. What I found equally disturbing was while walking around the fields I could see the clothes of the victims half buried in the ground. it made it all very real for me. To think that those were the clothes that the people were wearing as they were being battered to death was a very shocking and sobering thought. i don't want to have to see anything like that again for a long long time. We also visited S21, a prison used by the Pol Pot Regime to detain, torture and kill their own people. I think it is that that i find so hard to grasp. It was their own people that they were exterminating. I'm glad that i did it and went to see all these places of horror but I won't be rushing back to them any time soon. On a more positive note we made friends with a street kid called Gia. She is 11 and when not at school she sells books to tourists. I feel so sorry for these poor kids. They seem really happy with life and are all full of energy but they lead such tough lives. We buy food for some of the mothers with children that are begging on the street. its makes me feel good to see them happy. How lucky that i was born in Ireland ...

This was one of the things that I really wanted to do before I left Vietnam. I knew about the tunnel system that the Viet Cong fighters had to survive the bombing of south Vietnam and I insisted that we go see them. We were ina group of 35 or more and i was afraid that the tour would be crap but it was anything but. We first saw a Viet Cong propaganda film which was brilliantly biased against the US. Then we headed out to see the tunnels and how the soldiers lived. There was a demonstration of just how small the tunnels really were (some of the tunnels have been enlarged so tourists can go into them) and how cramped the living conditions were. It was incredible just how small and dark and hot it was inside them. While walking around we could see craters the size of swimming pools all around the place made by the US B-52 bombers. It must have been a terrifying time to be alive in Vietnam. Very randomly there is a firing range there where you can buy live rounds for AK47's and go fire a few shots. I didn't do it. I just have no interest in shooting a gun to be honest. The noise out of them is really deafening, even from 15 or 20 metres. I didn't realise how loud they were. our guide told us that only 6 months ago a guy went to shoot some guns but instead of aiming at the proper targets he aimed at his own head and blew his brains out. it was quite a shocking story, all the more shocking that the range is still open after something like that happening. But I guess that is Asia for you. There is no sense of safety around these parts. After a break at the firing range we actually got to go down into the tunnels and travel around 100 metres along them. It was so stuffy and dark in there. I came out the other end dripping in sweat. Some people didn't make it to the end and gave up halfway through it. It was tough getting through it. At one stage I was on all fours shuffling along. And these tunnels have been enlarged 40% for tourists. I can only imagine how small the originals were. A super experience all the same.

some random photos

Halong Bay bliss

Right Guys, well I have just told you about the mad time I had in Sapa with the rice wine drinking and the bong (only tobacco mam) smoking and all that craziness. Well after that we had a nice relaxing, SUPER POSH few days out on Halong Bay. We went on a cruise on a massive junk where we were dining on fresh seafood and sleeping in our A/C twin rooms on the boat. It was great. Unfortunately the weather was not with us and so the views were not as spectacular as they could have been. Halong Bay is a bay where there are around 2000 little islands made of limestone and the water there is a beautiful turquoise blue. The mist kind of spoiled it a little but that didn't stop us from living it up on the boat. The next day the sun came out to greet us which we were delighted to see. It made such a difference to the scenery. We went swimming in the water, jumping off the boat, which was great craic. During the day we got off the boat and went hiking and biking and kayaking. It was so peaceful just paddling around all these fabulous islands. It was one of the highlights of our time in Vietnam. That night we stayed on one of the islands in a stunning hotel. It was the nicest place we have stayed in in our 4 months of travelling. Proper plush with another Vietnamese seafood dinner and buffet breakfast free. Of course that evening we went looking for a Bia Hoi corner. Have I told you about the Bia Hoi? Its essentially a street corner where you can buy a glass of beer for 2000 Dong (around 15 US Cents). It is not strong but for that price who cares. You have to respect a country that sells beer cheaper than water. Well that was Halong Bay. If you ever come to Vietnam, make sure you do Halong Bay. Later kids!!

Sapa madness

hey there people,
well we headed north out of the madness thatis Hanoi and into the relative quietness of the Sapa, or so we thought. We got a tour which included an overnight train to Sapa. Of course it was first class all the way, no but really it was. It was pure luxury. When we got to Sapa we booked into our hotel and our group of 9 was broked into two groups. I didn't stay with Colin and it was the best thing i could have done. My group was amazing. We had a super guide, Sho, who was so bubbly and funny and really made the trekfor us. Our group was 3 from Oz and a Kiwi. We ahd somuch fun. My nickname for the trek was Asimoto, I have no clue why but it stuck. We were followe for the entire timeby tribal women trying to sell us everything from bracelets to cushion covers and blankets. It was constant. We had a laugh with them but it got a little grating after a while. I was thinking to myself that Colin would have hated it, and he did. When we got to the hut, massive, we were staying for the night we went ot a hot spring while the family cooked the food. It was a lovely way to relax after such a long and hot trek. After dinner we were given a bottle of rice wine by the family and we were playing drinking games with our guide. It was so much fun. The girls were slowly getting drunk. Myself and Terry, Oz bloke, were invited to drink with the tribal men which was an experience. I never drank so much and we even smoked a tobacco bong. it was really hilarious. Terry was blowing smoke rings and one of the men nearly lost his life with excitement. i guyess he had never seen smoke rings before. I was buzzing from the tobacco. it sure did give you some hit even though it was only tobacco. When we got back to Sapa town we went for drinks with Sho and some of her guide friends. They are all wired to the moon. They are crazy. Also absolute sharks at pool and cards. I reckon when they are not guiding they are playing cards and pool. I swear they would give a pro pool player a run for their money. We had a great laugh and we were all sad to say goodbye to Sho. She was a really cool girl and hopefully she keeps in contact. well that was all from Sapa. Chat again soon.

Good Morning Vietnam!!

Hey kids, well here I am in Vietnam. its bloody crazy. It totally reminds me of India; the traffic is mad, the beeping of horns, the hassling on the street ... man it brings back such good memories. We arrived into Hanoi on Lao Airlines from Vientiene which was a grand flight. Despite the fact that I was told the day before that they had once been black listed and were not the most reputable of airlines. to be honest I was shitting myself but it was a fine flight. We even got food on board and a newspaper. It was better than taking a 30 hour bus journey that a few guys I met had done. Afterwards they said that it was the worst bus ride they had ever experienced. They said that the bus broke down a few times, ran out of petrol, only stopped twice in the 30 hours and they had a lot of hassle at the Vietnam border. They even said that there were people (prepare yourself for this) going to the toilet (No. 2) in the bus into plastic bags and then throwing the bags out the window. I was glad to pay the extra money for our flight. Oh ya, after nearly 4 months together myself and Colin had our first major fight. I moved out for a while but to be honest we were back on normal terms again in 2 days. All that was needed was that we needed a little time apart. All is cool now, thank God. I love you bro!! Anyway, that is all the news I have for the moment. I will check in again soon and hopefully rob a few photos off Colin's camera. Later people.