Thailand & Cambodia: Part 3

Our trip to Cambodia was amazing, albeit brief, and thus we found ourselves at the Thai/Cambodia border soon after our Angkor Wat adventures.  Another four hours of standing in a miserable line through immigration were ours to enjoy before making the bus and taxi ride back to Bangkok.  Luckily we appreciate traveling and we like each other.

We slept off our long day of travel quickly and woke on Saturday morning before the sun to catch a tour bus to the famous floating markets just outside the city.  Tour groups are not our thing, but we couldn't pass up the markets and a chance to ride the elephants.

Thailand

 

 

Mango sticky rice alongside the floating market: Thai heaven.

Alex was in love with these snakes.

Me, not so much.

We found ourselves in a huge bookshop with such a random collection; I had to snap a photo of the beloved book that my mother has had on her shelf since my birth.  My mom is with me, even in Thailand, thanks to the Prescription for Nutritional Healing.

 

 After a day of elephant rides, Thai iced tea and coffee, a run to the tailor to pick up Alex's new suit, and a bit to eat, we packed our bags and headed for 'home.'  We arrived back to the frozen Seoul streets and shivered our way back to our little apartment, exhausted by happy. Thailand & Cambodia were good to us.

Thailand & Cambodia: Part 2

After a few days of New Years celebrations in Bangkok, Alex and I took a five hour bus ride to the Thai/Cambodian border, waited through three lines for more than four hours to get through the border, and then took a two hour taxi ride with some friendly Spaniards to Siem Reap.  

We stayed at a lovely place called the Mango Inn, where everyone said hello simultaneously when we walked in, and we were given fresh juice, warmed towels, and a tour of the Inn.  They had a great outdoor restaurant on site where Gin & Tonics were $2.50 and the meals were delicious and cheap.  

The highlights of our trip to Cambodia include a buffet dinner with traditional Cambodian dancing, an unforgettable day wandering the ruins of Angkor Wat, and shopping for great souvenirs at the Night Market. 

Cambodia

Welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia

Mango Inn

Siem Reap

Cambodian dancers

Angkor Wat

Coconut milk, from the source, outside Angkor Wat

Alex!

Found on the walls

Why not do yoga along with the engraved goddesses?

Another temple, dominated by the trees and greenery.

We took so many pictures and I simply couldn't share them all, so hopefully those above have given you an idea of our days in Siem Reap.

Thailand & Cambodia: Part 1

Just before New Years Alex and I packed a backpack and a Timbuk 2 bag and left our little apartment for a week in Southeast Asia.  For one week we were able to escape the bitter cold weather of Seoul, which was a true blessing.  December did not prove to be our favorite month, between the busyness of Christmas plays and the strange sadness of Christmas day without family; we couldn't have been happier to take a vacation from it all.

I've taken my time in posting this blog, primarily because looking at someone else's travel pictures is not always desirable, yet I have had many requests for pictures.  In response, I have gathered some of our best shots (from the several hundred we took) to show, with simple captions included.  Please enjoy at your leisure.

And in place of a complete description of our adventures, let it suffice to say that we loved every moment of our Tuk-Tuk riding, Buddhist temple visiting, zoo animal watching, Thai food consumption, and Ankgor Wat exploring.  We would do it all again in a heart beat, for it may have been one of the best weeks we've shared together thus far.

Thailand

Elephant statue in the median.

Alex's reflection the Tuk Tuk driver's mirror

The Bangkok Zoo

Our first Pad Thai in Thailand

Pad Kee Mao

Alex interrogating the camel

I don't interrogate, I just look excited.

A monk on a cell phone.

We came for the tigers.

 

The next day we had breakfast at a little cafe.  I ordered fantastic espresso and mango flambe.  Amazing!

On our way to the Golden Temple to observe the New Years Day rituals in the Buddhist temple, we stopped for sliced pineapple on the street.  A whole pineapple cost $1. I was in love.

One of the many golden Buddhas at the temple.  Notice the streamers of money.

At another temple.

A river within the grounds of a Buddhist temple courtyard.  Beautiful.

These pictures conclude the firs two days of our trip.