Travel, Holiday and Vacation Reviews and Photos from Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts and Destinations around the World.
On the travel tour in 2006 i was staying in Ayuthaya to visit the Historical Park of Thailands old capital. We paid 170 Thai Baht for one double room with fan in the old BJ guesthouse in central Ayuthaya near Tony´s place which offer good meals, drinks and a pool table. We arrived by train from Bangkok. The travel turn took us 2.5 hours and it was 15 Baht per person. The City was from 1350 till 1767 the capital of this country in southeast Asia. After two years war with the burmanese the Royal family fled to Thonburi. The old historical temples and building of the national park are the tourist monopole at Ayuthaya.
Ayuthaya Historical Park
After we checked in we go to the old temples who are surrounded of three rivers. The Mea Nam Lopburi, Mae Nam Pasak and the Mae Nam Chao Phraya formed a natural barrier around the beautiful old buildings. The sunset at the national park of Ayuthaya is beautiful! The temple ruins shine in the red sun of Thailand. The park is easy to reach by foot or taxi. On this evening we was visiting the Wat Suwannawat, Wat Ratburana, Wat Thammikarat and the Wat Mahathat which is close to the Beung Phra Ram lake. The temples are connected by beauties walking streets.
Walking Street in Ayuthaya
When we come back we took a shower at old BJ and than we was going in the city in a pub to drink some Chang beers. Opposite of the Moon Cafe we meet some Australian and Japanese backpacker. We took a taxi to a disco where we made party till the early morning. On the next day we woke up at 2pm at our home stay hotel. On the way to the Ayuthaya historical Park we saw some elephants who share the streets with many cars and scooters. A nice view for two guys on the first big travel tour far away from home.
Elephants in Ayuthaya
Our point of interested was on this day the Wat Mongkhon, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Lokaya Sutha and the old Royal Palace. After this station we had enough of culture an we gone back to the city for yummie food at Tony’s place.
Historical National Park
The old ruins of Ayuthaya was a highlight of our travel tour at Thailand. I can recommend Thailand’s old capital for all travelers and backpackers in southeast Asia. Ayuthaya isn´t far from BKK. You have many options like train, bus and minibus to reach this amazing city in Thailand. From here we travel by bus to the Kanchanaburi province.
My Jeep
In the end of 2004 i was with my family in the Dominican Republic in Central America. We fly with a local Airline from Punta Cana to Samana. This flight took us about one hour. We arrived on the small jungle Airport on Samana. Here we did a round trip with a jeep to explore Samana on a jeep safari. The 4wd Jeep was in a good condition. Our first stop was at Samana Town where we was on a nice Caribbean market. If you want to stay read the Lonely Planet for hotels and guesthouses. Than we leave from the main road to explore the nature on Samana in the Caribbean sea. We drive on small sand roads inside the Caribbean jungle. This part of Central America is famous for whale watching in January till the beginning of February. Many whales comes here to born their babys in the bay of Samana. The quiet sea and the warm water are perfect conditions for this big animals. Try as well the Diving here, it’s amaizing!
Locals on Samana
The locals live a easy life in small villages at wooden self made huts. For Hotels, Resorts and guesthouses read your Lonely Planet Dominican Republic. Once we had a puncture on our safari. Some habitats of the DomRep, who pass by on a donkey, help me to repair the crossroad car. It´s amazing to see how happy people can be without anything. Many people have nothing instead of some clothes, food and a small chalet for sleep. We was invited by a family who produced their own coffee. The fresh coffee with sugar was strong but good.
Locals on a River.
Than we was travel to the island from the Bacardi commercial. The Bacardi island is one of the most visit sights on Samana. In the late afternoon we traveling back to our Hotel to relax. This trip was really nice. At most I enjoyed the beautiful tropical landscapes of the DomRep. Here you will find Banana- Cocos Palms and tight tropical Forrest everywhere. The tropical paradise in the Caribbean is a good alternative to the busy tourist city’s somewhere else. The most beaches here at the north of the Dominican Republic are not white like for example the beach at Punta Cana. But still Samana offer many more than just resort holidays on the beach. On Samana you will find many romantic lonely beaches to read a book or just enjoy yourself while traveling.
Bacardi Island
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. I visited this Metropolis in the middle of 2007 on my Malaysia travel tour. I fly from Bangkok with AirAsia Airline to the biggest city in Peninsular. Nearly everyone know the Petronas Twin Towers which are the landmark of Kuala Lumpur. The towers of KL are with about 500 m the highest twin towers in world. When I arrived on the International Airport of Kuala Lumpur i took a taxi to Chinatown. I choose the Le Village Guesthouse from my Lonely Planet southeast Asia travel guide. This easy going establishment is in the hart of Chinatown and close to a KL Metro station. Yust 100 meters away is the Reggae Bar witch is a nice meeting point for backpackers and travelers from around the world. At this time I paid 10 Malaysian Ringit for a single room with fan. The Le Village have as well a small kitchen and a TV room to share. Another good address for staying in Chinatown is the Red Dragon Backpacker´s Hostel. Read your travel guide for more possibilities to stay in KL.
Petronas Twin Towers
Near my guesthouse was the Central Market where you can find souvenirs, food and wooden sculptures. If you looking for aa shopping mall you will find the KLCC Shopping Complex of the foot of the KL Twin Towers. Here you can find boutiques, gold and jewels, western restaurants and of course souvenirs. In the capital of Malaysia is everything easy to reach by Metro, Bus or Taxi. The cheapest are the bus but the Metro in the capital woks good. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple was another point of interest for me. This Hindu temple is build in Chinatown. Like at every temple in southeast Asia you have to take out your shoes to visit KL´s principal´s Hinduism temple. The entry to this colorful house of god is free.
Hindu Temple
In Kuala Lumpur are many more sights like the National Museum, Islamic Arts Museum, the Bird Park or the National Art Gallery. If you want to see everything you need at least one week. The best Indian curry’s are to find in Little India. I paid about 2 Ringit for a delicious meal. The traveling from KL is easy. You have many travel options to many destinations. I was leaving Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Cameron Highlands in the middle of Peninsular.
2004 I was with some friends for holidays in the Republic of Dominican at Punta Cana Beach. This trip was my first time in Central America. I had a direct flight from Frankfurt in Germany to Punta Cana International Airport with the German LTU Airline. I was staying at the Riu Naiboa Hotel in the Riu Resort at Punta Cana. This Hotel was clean and has everything what you need on vacation: air-condition, minibar, TV and a balcony with swimming pool view. The all inclusive of this Riu Hotel was perfect. Cocktails, Beers, mini bar fill up 24 hours, fresh fruit juices, all you can eat buffets and as well snorkeling gear was all inclusive. Just in the Pacha Discotheque witch belongs to the Resort you have to pay your drinks.
International Airport
Our favorite drink was Cuba Libre (rum and coke) and Coco Loco (crazy coconut) witch is a fresh coconut with Brugal Rum inside. You can ask the gardeners for a fresh coconut. For one dollar tip the locals from the Caribbean climb up a palm to take a nut. The Brugal Rum you can take out of your all inclusive minibar at your room. My beer recommendation is the local Presidente beer from the DomRep. If you want to go snorkeling don´t forget bananas to feed the fishes! Many scuba diving schools offer wreck diving on the wreck near the coast of this spot in the Caribbean’s. I don’t hat a scuba license when I stayed in the Dominican Republic, but the snorkeling here is as well good in front of the white hotel beach.
Punta Cana Beach
The booking office in the walking street of the Riu resort offers nearly all kind of daytrips. We was sailing once with a catamaran boat to the beautiful island Saona. Don’t forget sun crème on this trip! The white beach of this island in the Caribbean is perfect, some palms spent you shadow while you watch the turquoise blue water of the Caribbean Sea.
Saona
If you get hot you can refresh yourself by a Cuba libre from a small beach bar or just jump inside the warm water of the sea. I think if we had a Lonely Planet travel guide we where traveling more around. So we did just two daytrips and the rest of the holidays we spent on a cocktail bar or in the Pacha Discotheque of Punta Cana. The second daytrip was to a mangrove forest. Some fisherman’s was fishing crabs. A beautiful travel highlight!
Mangrove Forest
If you take a walk on the perfect Caribbean beach of the Dominican Republic, You will recognize the beautiful souvenir shops under the palms. Here you can buy cigarettes, t-shirts, towels and rum. But be careful, originals are rare. The most, when not all t-shirts and textiles are copies and maybe you get in trouble if you take it back to your home. As well the beach shop names are copies like Aldi Nord which is actually a supermarket in Germany.
Shops at Punta Cana
I like the Caribbean’s because of the perfect beaches like in a picture book and the tropical and friendly weather. The Riu Resort at Punta Cana direct on the Caribbean Sea offer a good all inclusive service. The Republic of Dominican in America is a good travel destination for singles, couples and families.
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Wat Pho
My first time in Bangkok was in 2006 when I did my Thailand travel-tour. Since then I spent allot time in this southeast Asian metropolis. Actually I don’t like the capital of Thailand because of the fumes and the mass of peoples who walk around. But when you live there is no way around to avoid BKK. For nearly every destination where I want to travel I have to go first to Ekkamai (the eastern bus terminal of Bangkok) to get a connection. It’s totally different than Koh Chang, the island of the Trad province where i’m living in the moment. In the biggest Thai city it’s hard to find a lonely place to relax, one option is the Lumpini Park in the center near to the Lumphini metro station on the Th Rama IV road. Since 06 Bkk have a new airport. The Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok is the new hub of southeast Asia.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
If you want to traveling Bangkok I can recommend the Lonely Planet Thailand for this trip. Here you find many Hotels, Resorts and guest houses for backpacker. I always go to the Sri Ayuttaya Guest House in the Thewet district. When this guest house is fully booked behind the Sri Ayuttaya is the Tavee Guesthouse Thewet which is ass well a good address to stay in Bangkok. Thewet is about 1km north of the traveler street Khao Sarn Road and offer nice and quiet Restaurants like the Khao Tha on the river. Here are many more options to stay. Many Bars, Massage studios and street shops dominate this street at Bangkoks Banglamphu quarter. The rooms at Sri Ayuttaya Guesthouse are clean and the staff helps for bookings and visas. From here it’s just a five minutes walk to the river express. This boots are the most comfortable way to travel in Bangkok. From the Central pier you have connections to the skytrain. The public transport in Bangkok have ass well a Metro with some stations in the center. From the sky train stations Sala Daeng, Mo Chit and Asoke you can switch to the metro.
The Skyline from Bangkok
On the river there breeze a “fresh” wind compared to the busy streets and you have a nice view to the temples in the capital of Thailand. There are three “must see” wat’s: the Wat Pho or Wat Po (contains the relying Buddha), Wat Arun and the Wat Phra Kaew witch homes the Emerald Buddha. This statue is the most important of the Kingdom of Thailand. The admission fee of about 2 USD for the Royal Grand Palace include the fee for the Wat Phra Kaew. Inside Wat Pho is a really famous university for Thai massage courses. All these temples are easy to reach by the river express boats, by a typical Tuk Tuk or by air condition Taxi, they are all perfect to do some nice temple pictures. If you choose the Taxi option ask before for a price or take care that the taxi driver took on the taximeter.
A Buddha Statue at Wat Po
The boats drive till around seven pm on the “Mae nahm Chao Phraya” river. If you are on Wat Po it’s not far to the for me most interesting district of Bangkok. From here it’s not far to Chinatown witch invite for shopping and catch some yummy street Thai food. A bit north from Chinatown near the Tha Saphan boat station you will see a beautiful bridge. The Rama 8th bridge you can watch from a riverside restaurant.
Sunset at the Rama bridge
The biggest shopping malls in Bkk you find at Siam station. Here you will find everything what you need for holiday or traveling. The shopping in Bangkok can be expansive at the biggest malls like: MBK, Siam square, Siam center, Siam discovery center, Emporium Shopping Center or the Pantip Plaza. If you looking for a cheap alternative you will be right at the Chatuchak Weekend market which open on Saturday and Sunday. On Khao San Road you find as well alot of shops with t-shirts, souvenirs and used Lonely Planet travel books for every countries in southeast Asia and nearly every Lonely Planet destination worldwide.
A flower in Bangkok
If you stay in Bangkok don’t miss a Ping Pong show at Patpong! It’s a funny but actually not sexy pussy show and couples are welcome. We paid 200 Thai Baht admission include one drink. If you don’t like entertainment like this there are many clubs, bars and good pubs in central bangkok and around Khao San. More sights of Bangkok are the Dusit Zoo, Lumphini Park, many cinemas, the aquarium where you can scuba diving with sharks, and and and… For more information contact your guesthouse, hotel or resort or just take a look into the travelbook. the Bangkok is a extreme city and i can recoment to stay here to all people who want to see something new, for shure the capital of Thailand offer something intersting for you. I don’t like but i don’t want to miss the visits in this city of extremes!
Temple on Bali
Middle 2007 i was in for two weeks on Bali in Indonesia for travel. I arrived at Denpasar near Kuta beach where i was staying 2 nights at the Poppies Gang 2 in a guest house. Kuta Beach is a party village. Nearly everywhere are bars, hotels, surfboard rental, restaurants, “massage” shops, disco´s and scuba dive schools. The most of the young travelers are Australians who come here to south Bali for holidays. A lot of them are here for surfing because the Indian Ocean have nice waves to surf and the bars give good options for party. My next destination was Sanur Beach witch is much more relax than Kuta. The most tourists here at the Badung strait are Families and Couples.
Beach on Nusa Penida
From here i did a day trip to Padangbai where i did with “Absolute Scuba Bali” two dives at Nusa Penida and one dive at the”Blue Lagoon” dive site near Padangbai. The first dive was on the “Manta Point” at Penida Island. It was amazing! We was just 12 meters deep when we saw six big Manta Rays. The biggest was about 4 meters long and 6 meters wide. Four of this huge fishes was in a group and circle around us during the 5 meters safety stop.
Scuba Diving on Bali
On the second dive at “Chrystal Bay” I saw many colorful fishes and nice marine life. The water temperature of the sea was 26 degrees, a bit colder than on my home Koh Chang, but still perfect for tropical scuba diving. At this time i was an Padi Advanced Open Water Diver but its not necessary. It´s enough if you have your Padi Open Water Diver certification. The Padi 5 star center “Absolute Scuba” was the right choice. Friendly staff and good maintained scuba equipment are normal at this base.
Beautiful Mantis Crab
At next i was going with a minibus to Ubud. Public transport are rare here on Bali in Indonesia but there are some TAT offices who offer some good but expansive possibilities for traveling. In Ubud are tight jungle with some beautiful dragon temples and many monkeys. In the south of the city is the “Monkey Forest Sanctuary”. Here you have to be careful of your snacks and bags because the wild animals are pathological kleptomaniacs. Ubud in southeast Asia is famous for all kind of courses, for more information ask the local tourist office or look in your Lonely Planet southeast Asia travel guide.
Jungle Sedimentary near Ubud
The next destination on the dragon island Bali was the Gunung Batur Area. The view from the Batur temple here, on the volcano Batur and the Danau Batur (Batur lake), is spectacular. From the viewpoint i took some nice pictures of the volcanic Gunung Batur. This trip i can recommend to all backpackers in Indonesia on Bali! The highest mountain here at Batur area is the G Abang with 2152 meters. The mother temple of Batur is build in classical Bali temple architecture.
Vulcano lake at Batur.
From Batur I took a taxi to Lovina at the Bali Sea cost. The sand here is black because of the Vulcan stone. On the next morning i did a Dolphin Sunrise tour. We start early in the morning with small boats at the beach. The heaven was colorful and when the sun comes up we saw many dolphins around our boat, a unforgettable moment. At Lovina I stayed in a small guesthouse direct on the black beach. A little bit out of town is a nice Reggae Pub which i can recommend for good food and live music till late in night.
Sunrise Dolphin Tour
One of the highlights for every scuba diver should be Tulamben Amed. Here at northeast Bali sunk a big U.S. cargo in the second world war by a Japanese submarine. The dive at “U.S.A.T. Liberty” wreck start from the beach. Visibilities are not that perfect here than in other regions of southeast Asia but still 10 meters are ok to see this historical sunken cargo who start at 5m dept and reach till 35 meters in the Bali Sea. We saw some Hump-head Parrot fishes and colorful Lion fishes but the wreck of Tulamben was of course the main attraction on this scuba dive. It was a bit scary to see the big weapons decorated with corals, surrounded of the quiet sea. This dive i did with a local dive center at Lovina Beach. I paid about 70 USD for two dives on the tulamben wreck and we don´t even had enough weights with us. My Padi Divemaster guide took some stones inside his bcd to sink. The wetsuit which i had was old and a lot water comes threw, by nearly 2 hours diving and 25C water temperature not really funny.
Ricefield on the way to south Bali.
On my last day on Bali I traveled back to Denpasar to get my Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. From here I had conection to Bangkok in Thailand to come back to my home Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand. Bali was a nice trip, i meet many backpackers from around the world. The most buildings on this Indonesian Island are dominated of the dragon cult. Bali is a bit busy but still nice to travel.
In memories of the paradiese on earth!
- Sunset at Thale Bungalows
My first time on Koh Chang in Thailand was in August 2006. Marius and I found “KP Huts” in the Lonely Planet Thailand and decide to stay here. When we arrived Ko Chang the taxi driver took us out at the north end of Klong Prao Beach. We walked down south to come to KP huts. Than the Klong Plu river barricade our way to the guesthouse. No bridge to find and back to the road was a long way with our heavy backpacks. After we took a break on the Klong plu of around five minutes, a Thai man comes with a kayak and asked us if he can help us. We was eased that we don´t have to walk back and sayed yes. His name is mum and he bring us over the river, first our back bags than us one by one because his dog was always with on the boat. When we arrived the other side we saw what we are looked for, easy beach huts on the beautiful tropical beach Klong Prao on Ko Chang. We not delayed to check in at Thale Bungalow. Actually our plan was to go up to north Thailand after some days on Chang Island. But here we found the paradise: good friends, good food, good music, good price and a fantastic atmosphere was the reasons that we not left till the end of our holiday in Thailand.
- Thale Restaurant
Before we traveled south Thailand with the Lonely Planet travel book but we found no place that was like here. To the next street it was around a half hour by walk, we hang all day around the beach and chilled in the hammock in front of our palm and bamboo bungalow. A half year later i comes back for one month on vacation with my father. After this holiday was clear for me: the life in Europe is not what i want! I don´t need status symbols or manipulation from everywhere, here at Thalé I can be who i am. One month I needed to quit everything in germany: car, apartment, university… Than i flow back to Thailand on Koh Chang. After one year the owner of Thale offer me to build my own Bungalow direct on the Gulf of Thailand.
- My first own Bungalow on Koh Chang
Thale Bungalow was between Barracuda Restaurant and Klong Prao Resort on the other side of Klong Plu River. This beach huts in Thailand stand in no travel guide, because of this fact I was sometimes the onliest “customer” at this beautiful spot in southeast Asia. Many times we had good live music on the beach. Thale was famous for good Blues, Reggae and rock n´roll. The food at Thale Restaurant was delicious and really cheap. A standard Thai dish was about 1 USD. But this was not the main reason for emigrate to Thailand. I felt at home here more than in Germany. My neighbors are most traverlers and they come and go. I stayed till the end of the contract. The highlight on this part of the west coast of Koh Chang was the beautiful sunset which I follow always from my hammock on the beach. It was direct on a headland between a lagoon of the river and the warm sea. Here I started my new life as a scuba dive professional as a Padi Divemaster.
- View of a Sunset from Klong Prao Beach
In the middle of 2008 the contract for the rented land end. Siri goes up to north Thailand and start new at Pai with the Stone Free Bungalows. Mum, his brother, have now a bungalow park named Big Elk at Klong Prao on the jungle side where I´m living right now. Big Elk Bungalows are as well really nice with a unique warm atmosphere like Thale.
- The sun goes down in Thailand
Rest In Peace Thalé Bungalow´s, you will be ever in my mind! The people, the atmosphere and the perfect place between Sea and River!
Pulau Langkawi has everything you need on vacation: crystal clear water, blonde sand, tight jungle and tropical weather! The Malaysian archipelago of Langkawi comprises 99 tropical islands.
Pulau Langkawi
In the middle of 2007 I was staying at the Gecko guesthouse at the Pantai Cenang Beach. At Pantai Cenang are many options to stay, I get on Penang a recommendation for this hotel with easy rooms for 15 Ringit per night including a fan and shared bathroom.
Gecko Guesthouse
Many Asians of Japan and South Korea spent their holidays here in the straits of melaka. Langkawi Island is easy to reach by ferry from Kuala Perlis and from Pulau Penang where I was coming from. The ferry stop on a pier with many duty free stores and a big eagle statue who invite you to this tropical Paradise Island. ATM´s are widespread and for dinner you can find many traditional Asian restaurants. My highlight on this island in Southeast Asia was the Pulau Payar Marine Park of Malaysia. Here the black tip reef sharks come till the beach and I feed them with fish.
Black Tip Shark on the beach
The scuba diving over here is expansive; i paid about 80 USD for two dives at the National park included the admission fee. The East Marine Scuba Dive School gave me a lunch packed with some food and one bottle with one pint of drinking water. To less for a long diving day. We had 8liter tanks and my buddy used allot of air, so we come up every dive after about 40 minutes. But the conditions for scuba diving was perfect. We had about 20 meters visibility at 28 degrees water temperature. The first dive I did on the “Shark Point” which isn’t just a name. We saw many reef sharks and a nice reef dominated of hard corals with colorful marine life. The second dive spot was “Coral Garden”. Here at this shallow area of six meters are allot of beautiful soft corals protected of the National park.
Bat Fish on Langkawi
Here on Pulau Langkawi it isn’t a problem at all to travel with English. Nearly every Malaysian local speak the European language perfect what isn’t normal here in Southeast Asia. This Island is perfect for holidays but a bit to busy for backpacker and travelers. After 3 nights I was leaving by ferry and bus to the other side of Peninsular (west Malaysia). Kota Baru was my destination for one night. On the next morning I was traveling from this north Malaysian town to Pulau Perhentian in the South China Sea.
In the beginning of February 2009, my wife and I was travel with a boat from Siem Reap to the capital Phnom Penh. The ride over the Tonle Sap River took us six hours and coasted 24USD. A bit more than with the bus, but the view was amazing to the small fisherman’s village on the river. In the early afternoon we arrived at the Royal Highness Hotel in Phnom Penh. We paid 20 USD per night for two person include TV, air-condition, fridge and a warm water shower.
Monkeys in Phnom Penh
Our first “sight” was the Tuol Sleng Museum“. In 1975 the Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken by the clique of Pol Pot. The Khmer Rouges turned this school into the S-21 prison. Between 75 and 78 seventeentousend people are hold and lost they life by barbarism torture acts. When 1979 the Vietnamese army comes into Phnom Penh they found 21 prisoners, 14 dead and just 7 alive. We felt really bad after the visit of the security prison 21. We were driving back by a tuk tuk to the Royal Highness Hotel to relax and take a nap. In the evening we eat some Khmer food in a riverside restaurant and took a massage opposite our guesthouse. On the next day we had full program of sights, first we visit the National Museum of Cambodia.
National Museum of Cambodia
The Museum is home of many old Khmer sculpture. The building is built in 1920 in terracotta structure of traditional Asian temple design. One of the highlights is the eight armed Vishnu statue of the 6th century. In the middle of the national museum of Cambodia is a nice Asian garden with four lotus pools and a Buddha statue in the middle. The admission fee was 2 US or 8000 riel per person. After we visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda of Cambodia. All maps we used are from the Lonely Planet travel guide Cambodia. The picture shows the Chan Chaya Pavilion which build for classical Cambodian dance.
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh
The tower of the throne hall is 54 meter high. It replaces since 1919 a wooden building of 1869. The Royal Palace from the Kingdom of Cambodia is built in classical Southeast Asian architecture. The silver pagoda is covered by over fivetousend silver tiles. Every tile is about one kilo heavy. Inside are the Emerald Buddha and a golden statue of Buddha with nearly 10000 diamonds. The heaviest of this stones are 25 carats. In the late afternoon my wife and i went up to a hill in the Southeast Asian capital to visit Wat Phnom. The first pagoda here was erected in 1373 for four Buddha statues. The name of the woman who discover was Penh. The temple that stands here now is rebuilt in year 26 of the 20th century.
Temple Drum of wat Phnom
On this evening we were going in the “Chiang Mai Riverside” restaurant at the Tonlé Sap River for dinner. The Thai restaurant was about 15 minutes away of our hotel. We pass a Khmer food market. The Asian market was busy, everywhere was stands with fresh fruits, meat, dead or living fish and clothes. Many locals buyed food here for cocking. An interesting spectacle for a European guy like me.
Market in Phnom Penh
The next day we travel back to Koh Chang in Thailand, the tuk tuk who brang us to the travel bus picked us up at 7o´clock in the morning. We arrived the center point ferry pier at about five pm. From the ferry to Ko Chang we saw a beautiful sunset at the mountains of Klong Son.
Sunset on Koh Chang
Phnom Penh on the Mekong River is one of the dirtiest cities in Southeast Asia I ever saw! Many traffic islands of waste are in middle of the roads. The kids are peeing and do their big business on the walking line, many organic waste rott on the streets and smell. But still the capital of Cambodia has many fantastic sights and a long history. It was interesting to visit this Asian metropole with about 1.5 million habitats.
Report by Travel Reports & Pictures.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
In the end of january 2009 Moun and me was traveling from Koh Chang to Siem Reap for see Angkor Wat. The temples of Angkor are the biggest religious building in world and from Koh Chang easy to reach with the minibus. We was starting at 7 o´clock here on the Island. Our first station was Aranya Prathet in Thailand. Here we cross the border to Poipet in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The border was buisy and we need about 2 hour to come into Cambodia. Direct after the duane of Thailand are many casinos and big hotels, many people of Thailand make holiday over here for have moneyplay because on thai side it´s illegal.
Highway in Cambodia
From Poipet we took a taxi to Siem Reap. The turn needs 3 hours thrue Cambodia over sand streets. Compared to other countries in southeast Asia the Kingdom Cambodia is less develloped but everywhere they build, Many projects are supported by states like south Korea or Japan. Wat AngkorIn the late afternoon we arrived our hotel “Bequest Angkor Hotel”. The room had air-con, TV, fridge and hot water for 15 USD. Here in Cambodia rule the dollar, even if you go to a ATM you get the US notes. 1 dollar are around 4000 Cambodian riel. In the morning of the next day we was going with a Tuk Tuk to Angkor Wat for watch the sunrise behind this spectacular Buddhist temple. This Wat are built for King Suryavarman 2th in the 12th century. The entry fee is 20 USD so really expensive for Cambodia but ok for this amazing wat (wat = temple). When the sun was up we gone inside to view the spectacular architectural and the old Buddha statues in the floors of Angkor Wat.
Wat Angkor
After we took breakfast in a small Khmer restaurant near the temple. The next point on our day plan was Wat Byon which is a Buddhist and Hindu temple. The 54 Gothic towers of Bayon temple are decorate with 216 Avalokitesshvara faces. Bayon are planed from Cambodias legendary King Jayavarman 7th.
Wat Bayon
For me was the highlight the Ta Prohm temple. This atmospheric ruin at Angkor is famous from the movie Tomb Rider. At the temple of Ta Prohm you can see the might of the jungle. Big vast roots locked like tree muscles the walls of this beautiful monument of Siem Reap.
Wat Ta Prohm
Some years before it was danger to go around Angkor because of the landmines from the Khmer Rouge. But now it´s ok around Angkor, but still here in Cambodia many people lost a leg, a arm or the life from the weapons of Pol Pot´s clique.
Ta Prohm Temple
After 7 hours exploring the Angkor we drove back to the Bequest Angkor Hotel to taka a nap. In the afternoon we walk to a restaurant which we found in the Lonely Planet Cambodia travel guide. The “Butterfly Garden Bar” close to the “Stung Siem Reap” river are nice for a brake for a fresh fruit shake. In the tropical garden here are many butterfly’s under a net. We was sitting under a palmtree next to a pool with koi-fishes. A good place to take a deep breath in this busy city in Cambodia. A bit south of Siem Reap are the floating village of Chong Kneas on the Tonle Sap Lake. We was visit this fisherman village on the 3rd day of our travel tour through Cambodia we took a boot from Siem Reap to the capital Phnom Penh. The boot pass the Tonlé Sap Lake into the Tonle Sap river. After this six hour bootstour through Cambodia we arrived Phnom Penh.
Fisher on Tonle Sap River
The landscapes and the Khmers are nice. We was sitting on the boots roof and watch the people during they take in they nets. Every year the cambodian fishing about 430000 tonnes of freshwater fish out of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap.
Cambodia is beautiful for travellers who want to traveling a less develloped country. My Lonely Planet travelguide was a good choice for this trip. I will come again to Cambodia to visit the sea region and the islands like Koh Kong for scuba diving. The locals invite you, with a smile, to a great country in southeast Asia! Cambodia is easy to travel, many TAT´s offer bus and boot tours to many destinations in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Angkor Wat is amaizing, i can recoment this old monument in Siem Reap to all people who are intresting in magic places and great cultures.
