Cambodia

Day 1

We had breakfast in the morning and were ready by 9 AM. Our guide Ho and Poly met us at the reception, and Poly picked up a crate of water bottles, which was very helpful. We picked up our mountain tickets in the city and headed to Kulen Mountain, which took about 1.5 hours. On the way, Ho told us about the mountain and the places we would visit.

Kulen Mountain, or Phnom Kulen, is a sacred place for the Khmer people and is considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire. The Siem Reap River flows from here and was believed to become divine after passing over carved stones. We stopped at a viewpoint to enjoy the beautiful valley views.

Next, we saw the "River of 1000 Lingas," where many lingas and a few reclining Vishnus are carved into the riverbed. Then, we visited a 16th-century Buddhist monastery and climbed the stairs to see a giant reclining Buddha. After that, we walked to two lovely waterfalls and took photos at a picture spot.

On our way back, we had lunch at Banteay Srey Restaurant. Then we visited the Banteay Srei temple, a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. It’s known for its pink sandstone and beautiful carvings from the Ramayana and Puranas. We saw a detailed carving of Shiva and Uma on Mount Kailasa, with different beings on each level.

We also enjoyed local music and instruments before heading to Pre Rup Temple for sunset. We climbed to the top, saw a Shiva linga, and stayed outside to watch the beautiful sunset.

Kulen Mountain and Banteay Srey Temple pictures

Day 2

We woke up very early and went to Angkor Wat by 5 AM to watch the sunrise. The dawn colors were beautiful. As we walked out, we saw a Vishnu idol inside and Naga carvings outside, with the sunrise in the background.

Next, we visited the Tonle Om gate, where we saw carvings of the churning of the ocean (Samudramathana) with Gods and Asuras. Then we went to Bayon Temple, known for its many smiling stone faces and carvings of ancient life. It is in the center of Angkor Thom.

After that, we visited Baphuon Temple, which was first a Shiva temple and later became a Buddhist temple. We saw carvings from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Krishna’s life on the walls.

We had lunch at a local restaurant and then visited Ta Prohm temple. Huge trees grow through the temple, with roots both supporting and damaging the structure. This jungle-like temple was used in the movie Tomb Raider. Restoration work is going on here with help from the Indian government.

In the evening, Poly took us to the local market in his tuk tuk, which is like an Indian auto but powered by a motorcycle. We bought a painting and some local souvenirs there.

Angkor Wat Sunrise, Bayon and other temple pictures

Day 3

We saw the sunrise in the morning at Angkor Wat and walked around the temple complex. We climbed to the second level and enjoyed the sunrise between the pillars. After that, we came down and saw beautiful carvings from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, the churning of the ocean, and the three worlds. The five towers of Angkor Wat represent Mount Meru, the mythical home of the gods.

Later, we returned to the hotel, had lunch, and checked out. On the way to the airport, we visited Beng Mealea temple. It’s a 12th-century temple about 40 km from Angkor, built in the same style as Angkor Wat. The temple is mostly in ruins, with trees and roots growing through it, giving it a wild, jungle look. It felt peaceful and untouched, like a hidden temple in the forest.

Angkor Wat and Beng Meala pictures

Vietnam

 

We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:35 AM, where our driver and guide, Chris, picked us up from the airport. First, we visited a handicrafts exhibition featuring beautiful handmade items created by people with disabilities. They used duck egg shells and sea shells to make the crafts.

Next, we stopped at a rubber plantation, where Chris explained that the plantations are owned by the Army. Workers cut the trees in the morning, allowing the sap to collect in containers. The rubber is exported to Japan and Korea.

We then visited the Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 50 kilometers from the city (a 1.5-hour drive). These hand-carved tunnels were used by Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War. The network includes bunkers, booby traps, bomb shelters, trenches, and air ventilation systems. Soldiers lived, cooked, and worked in these tunnels, which also housed hospital. Despite chemical attacks, the Vietnamese defeated the US after 20 years of war.

The original tunnels have narrow openings, and it was fascinating to crawl inside one. We were served tea and tapioca at a restaurant and saw mannequins depicting daily life in the tunnels. We also watched a lady make rice paper, which was very interesting.

Cu Chi Tunnel photos

Day 2: 

We left our hotel at 6:45 AM and drove for 3 hours to Cai Be. Once there, we boarded a boat for a Mekong River tour. Our guide, Thien, showed us birds like kingfishers, plants like water coconut and water hyacinth, and shrimp nets. We also saw boats carrying recycled items and rice.

At Tan Phong Island, we switched to a smaller rowing boat to explore narrow canals. On the island, we bought souvenirs, including water hyacinth flowers, and a local woman gifted us a handmade bracelet.

Next, we cycled for an hour, passing fruit trees like jackfruit, mango, and durian, as well as locals growing bottle gourd. Along the way, we saw locals cleaning their trees and decorating for the Chinese New Year. After the ride, we enjoyed fresh fruits like mango, jackfruit, and tree apples while watching a traditional music performance.

We visited a workshop where coconut candy is made, saw how coconut is pressed for milk, and tasted samples. They also showed us how rice popcorn is made using hot sand, and we bought some freshly made popcorn.

For lunch, we went to Mr Kiet's house, built in 1838 and surrounded by fruit trees. The chef prepared a special vegetarian meal with lotus soup, Vietnamese crepes, tempura, and fried vegetable noodles. After lunch, we walked back through narrow streets to reach our van. Thien, our guide, was fantastic, and the Mekong Delta experience was truly enjoyable.

Mekong Delta photos

Day 3:

We walked from our hotel to Independence Palace and then to Tao Dan Park, where we saw a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Across the park, we saw preparations for the Chinese New Year.

Next, we visited Ben Thanh Market and bought some souvenirs. For lunch, we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal at Shamballa restaurant. The place had a lovely atmosphere with beautiful quotes.

After lunch, we returned to our hotel and then left for the airport to catch our flight to Siem Reap.

Ho Chi Minh city photos