Happy Holidays...

Hi there.I have been given the honour of being a guest writer on this amazing blog.(Perhaps they needed a break?) For those of you who don't know me I am Jeanette,a friend of Susan's and,well,Pete's now too whether he likes it or not!!

Anyhows,I joined the dynamic duo in Bangkok mid July.Susan greeted me at the airport with such joy but I was a bit suspicious if it was me or the Tayto she knew I was carrying for her that she was so happy to see.....

It was lovely to see both of them there in the airport though especially when they told me about their harrowing journey to find the cheapest route to the airport.We got a taxi back into the city.

Rainy Bangkok was really just a stop point to sort out visas for Cambodia and Vietnam so 2 days later we headed to the lovely island of Ko Samet.

Susan had her moment of nostalgia when she saw the Silver Sands.She had stayed there last time she was in Thailand.When she showed us where her hut had been there was a new one in its place.Photo is for the other girls Gillian and Suzy Mogs to feel the memory!

We stayed in lovely adjoining rooms in the Samed Villa Resort beside the SIlver Sands.5 days and nights of nothing but beach,eating,sleeping,watching movies and a bit of dicky tummies.

Susan and myself fell victims to the water.Pete felt left out so the next day he was not feeling so well but I think Chang Beer had more to do with that......

So back to Bangkok for one night to collect passports and visas.We walked around Koh San Road

but being the ageing ones we found it too loud and busy so we ate in a quieter area.Next morning we were up at 4.15am to catch the 6am bus to the Thai border to cross over the Cambodia border.We got lucky as we arrived before other tourist buses and in good time-only took about 4 hours to the Thai border!We got through the borders too in no time which was also a very pleasant surprise.

However,the best form of transport from the Cambodian border to Siem Reap was in a Toyota Camry on the worst road EVER.No bad road in Ireland even comes close.Pot holes galore.

After 3 hours of that we arrived in Siem Reap to the luxurious Angkor Star Hotel with swimming pool!Great find by Miss Drennan.Lovely rooms and Star Movies!!!Siem Reap was a bonus.

We did our day of culture going to the floating village which was fascinating and sad at the same time.

How little people need to survive yet had the whole thing figured out from floating shops to churchs

to schools

to farms...

Unfortunately our guide just wanted to tell us his political views and get us to buy copybooks and pens for the school.When we did he said "is that all?"

Next we went to Angkor Wat.

Fascinating place as you can see from the photos.It dates back to the 12th century and was passed down to quite a few leaders.We educated ourselves by reading a book on everything as we were guided out by now.We got lucky and were able to see why the pond is called the "Reflecting Pond".Can you see why?

After we went to the Bayon to see the myriad of faces

and then to see the roots of trees

growing into the ruins of Angkor Thom.

All beautiful but we were waning at this point.We finished off with the terrace of Elephants and the Leper Kings.Our tuk tuk driver must have thought us the worst tourists ever as we were not delaying in many places.He was surprised when we said we were done and to take us back to the hotel.

That night we went out for food and a few drinky poos.

It was a fun night and Susan and myself even got to boogie!!!!Next day though I spent most of it by the pool as some people were feeling a bit worst for wear!

Then onto Phnom Penh,the capital of Cambodia.We paid for an air-conditioned bus that was supposed to take 5 hours.We had NO A/C and it took 8 hours-nice!The driver was overly horn happy which became the most annoying thing!We arrived to a very busy city which seemed to have a free-for-all-rules-of-the-road.Madness!We stayed in a real hostel called OKAY run by a racist Chinese woman who only liked white people or Chinese to stay in her hostel.She carried a handbag of cash around with her at all times.It was cheap and cheerful.We went to the Tuol Sleng Muesum(Security Prison 21) before going to the Killing Fields.They were both equally horrific.The Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975 and just tortured their own people.The educated,wealthy,professional people were first to go.They stayed in control until 1979 when the Vietnamese beat them.To date the actual count for how many people they tortured and murdered is still not decided-some say hundreds,others say thousands but the majority are saying a few million!They are still finding the remains of bodies in the killing fields' area.We only took a couple of photos as it just did not seem right taking them.

That night we went to a hostel that shows the Killing Fields film.It did not effect us as much as we thought.I guess having seen the real thing was beyond any reasoning that we were still numb.

To change the mood,the next day it rained something rotten(yesterday)!We had planned to only go to the Russian Market which thankfully was enclosed.

It was nothing special really but we made a couple of purchases anyway.We treated ourselves to a pizza last night out by the river which was very tasty.

So this morning we got on a bus about 9 o'clock to head to Vietnam.That is where we are sitting as I type.So far it is air-conditioned and the road is good.The driver has not tooted his horn once yet!This journey is SUPPOSED to take 6 hours-time will tell....... 

PS I leave the company of these 2 in 6 days but I thought I should let those mummies and daddies out there know that their children are doing well living the dream and still sickeningly loved up.They are looking forward to a good home cooked meal though......Dunshaughlin and Tuam watch out!

And finally................