Vang Vieng, Laos

Vientiane, Laos

After Siem Reap, I flew to Vientiane, Laos. The capital sits on the Mekong on the border between Laos and Thailand. Laos may be my favorite country of travels. There was something so relaxing about it after the pace of Cambodia.

As soon as I arrived in Laos, I felt as my internal clock slowed down. The country is made for taking it slow and taking it all in.

On the plane, I recognized a friend of a friend who was also traveling in Southeast Asia. So with a few new friends I explored Laos for ten days. In Vientiane, we put down our bags and found a rickety wooden bar over looking the Mekong and into Thailand. Best spring rolls, I had eaten in sometime.

There's not much in Vientiane, we ventured on a local bus out to the Buddha Park, pictures below will explain the name. IN Cambodia, I found people friendly, once you greeted them. The difference is, in Laos, everyone smiles at you first.

More From Angkor

Temples at Angkor

There are two ways to get to Siem Reap from the capital, bus or a boat up the Tonlé Sap. Siem Reap is a home base for those exploring the Angkor Temples. Angkor Wat is the largest and most recognizable of the temples. The Bayon is a temple with faces on towers and Ta Prohm was kept as it was 'discovered' by the French. I got to explore Ta Prohm mostly on my own as other left to go watch the sunset over Angkor Wat. At Angkor you can see architectural wonders and play Indiana Jones at the other ruin sites.

There are a lot of photos from Angkor. I apologize in advance.



Former baths/swimming pools in Angkor Wat




Monkeys!



Look as I masterfully cover up the green tarp on the front of the wat with a palm tree!



Taking photos from the back of a moto is an important skill in Southeast Asia.

Phnom Penh in Pictures

The remnants of French colonialism still sit on the banks of the Mekong in Phnom Penh. While still fairly safe for tourists; corruption is commonplace as is child prostitution. However, this is a side of the city I never saw. I assume you have to go looking for it. The French were never as interested in Cambodia as they were in Vietnam. When they left, they left little infrastructure and access to education.

Most tourists go to Phnom Penh to learn about the Khmer Rouge and their reign on the country. Many people I talked to had been unaware of the atrocities that happened during the regime. The Khmer Rouge were the community party in Cambodia. They began working in the rural areas in the 1960s and eventually civil war broke out in the early 1970s. In 1975, Pol Pot declared "Year Zero" and began implemented his policies on a much larger-scale. Most Cambodians had no idea who was in charge of the 'revolution' until 1977.

The Khmer Rouge desired a purely agrarian society. All peasants were praised as the 'Old People.' Conversely, monks, government officials, doctors, and intellectuals were labeled as the 'New People' and forced to work in labor camps outside of the city. City dwellers were seen as enemies to communism. Even those who wore glasses were killed as suspected intellectuals.

In the pictures below, there are images from the national palaces in the capital. The others are from S-21, a high-school turned prison on the outskirts of the city. Those convicted at Tuol Sleng, S-21, were sent to the killing fields at Choeung Ek. You won't see any pictures from the killing fields because sometimes it's important not to stay behind your camera lens.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

"You're going alone?" Yep that's right I'm traveling alone. I had to explain myself numerous times. I was told many responses ranging from "You are brave" to "You must still be young and naive." Well, the simply truth is, travel is not so hard. And traveling southeast asia is much easier than most people would assume. Seeing as most people don't speak, Khmer, Lao, or Thai, things are basically set up for your convenience.

I started in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and then moved up to Siem Reap, where the Angkor temples are located. Then, I flew to Vientienne, Laos and spend a few days making my way up to Luang Prabang in the north. For visa-related reasons, I had to fly into northern Thailand, visiting Chiang Mai and Pai. Taking the overnight train, I ended up in Bangkok. I spent my final week relaxing on Ko Tao and Ko Phangnan. After a few extra days back in Taiwan, I made my way to California.

In total, I spent about 94 hours traveling during September and October. I used just about every means of travel out there.

Planes 5
Trains 2
Buses 7
Motorcycles 8
Bicycles 1
Tuk Tuks 13
Taxis 14
Boats 7

Massages 5
Sunburns 5

Tales from Other Parts of the World

I think we can all agree I have neglected the blog. Well whatever, life happens. I'll be leaving Taiwan in a few weeks and doing some traveling before I head to California and eventually to Washington. I'm booking tickets in and out of Thailand and doing the rest from there giving myself about 4 or 5 weeks to travel around with out a totally set agenda. It's very exciting, freeing, and nerve-wracking to have a time in my life, where I have no time limit to be back, no end to the vacation time. Too much freedom and too many choices. I might never come back. I will be off to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Yes, I'm striking out on my own, and yes, I have checked that I will be safe.

Plans include:
Phnom Penh, Cambodia to see the Killing Fields and Museum
Boat up to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat (Fulfilling a nine year old's dream. Okay, so I was a weird nine year old.)
Luang Prabang, Laos
Busing through Laos down to the capital, Vientiane
Walking across the bridge into Thailand
Overnight train to Bangkok
A few days of exploring Bangkok
A few days in the northern Thailand in Chiang Mai
Relaxing on Ko Phi Phi and any other beach I can find in Southern Thailand.

Sound good? I think so. Any bets on the number of pictures I will take. Conservative estimates would be in the thousands.

I'll come back to Taiwan, then off to California, filled with cool stories to tell everyone and a few more stamps in my passport.

Places I've Been 10: Kaohsiung

After the beach and plenty of scooter rides, we headed back to Kaohsiung, the largest city in the southern part of the island. I have to admit I really enjoy Kaohsiung, to me it has the best part of a big city. It seems less crowded, you can walk on sidewalks or along the river. I find Xin Zhuang quite tense as I fight to avoid scooters, people, and buses. I seemed much more calm there. It could have been the not working business but I'm not going to nit pick. On the last day we explored a bit, and headed to a small island on the coast of Kaoshiung. So I did accomplish my one goal for Dragon Boat Festival: to get off the island! We found another beach and market on the island and had quite a good time.





Squid on a stick is a popular snack down South. You can't walk five feet without seeing a stand selling it.



Together with friends in Kaoshiung.



Market on Cijin island off of Kaohsiung.



See you walk five feet and squid on a stick.


Would you like to pick out your seafood dinner?








Love River in Kaohsiung

Just Pictures: Night Market in Kenting

I tend to take a lot of photos at night markets. I find people are they same everywhere, they just want to eat and buy stuff, which are the only things you can do at any night market in Taiwan. Every city has a few and they are all the same and all still a little different.