Berry's SEAJ trip Day 26: On to the next country – Cambodia (7/1/15)

After breakfast, I headed to the airport via the tuktuks affiliated with the hostel. The hostel had quoted 50 but the tuktuk said 60, which was annoying but since I was planning on giving the guy the rest of my kip (I probably had 90-100 left), I just said yes and got to the airport. I got there 2-2.5h early and that was way too early.

Berry enjoying the Cambodian TukTuk that got us at the airport.

The international airport in Siem Reap. Was small but very nice looking and looked after. 

All the airports over there were quick to get through even when checking bags; I think the longest I took to get from arriving to gate was 10 minutes. I get to the airport and have to go to the domestic terminal since my flight first lands in another Laotian city so I do not get the AC of the international terminal. I get into Siem Reap and my hostel (Hostel international – Siem Reap) has free airport pick up. So they get me and I check in. After that, I walk around to grab a late lunch near pub street where I have the local dish, Amok – slight curried meat with sticky rice, which was served in banana leaf bowls.

Near pub street I went and tried some local food (Amok) with Berry. Also had a local beer (back to the lagers). This street had restaurants all along it running specials trying to get people in the door.

I then grab another smoothie on my way back to the hostel. Get there to get my USD as this city has everything in $ and the Cambodian Riel is only used when less than a dollar is needed. It is then that I noticed that at some point in the last month someone had raided my bag and taken 2 of my 4 cash reserves, putting me out ~300$. This is when I learned that I no longer need to use a money belt or have the backup wallet when traveling as I have never had to really rely on them. Met Dylan in the room and we head out to meet his friend Robert at his hostel. When we get there, Robert is chatting with Jamie and the four of us head out to grab dinner and make plans for our trip. After that, we meet Michele back at the hostel who wanted to join as well so we add her to the group and get some sleep as we are waking up early to catch the sunrise.

Creepy neon sight, lets follow it eh Berry?

Dinner with some new friends from the hostel and other hostels. Found me a stout. Winning!

Main bridge getting from our hostel area to the main part of town. Berry was ready for the rave.

Looking down the river and see they like their lights. Berry liked them too.

Berry wanted to hang out but it was late so I told him we would be back here on another night.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 25: Wandering around Vientiane (6/30/15)

After breakfast, I head out to explore the city. There are many temples I walk by until I stumble upon the US embassy. I asked them if I could take a picture of the seal on the wall and they say no; I don't mess around when the guys have guns so I just sit there and chat with one of the construction guys before continuing my walkabout.

More of the 7 serpents. They are incredibly pretty but also scary.

Bell tower temple.

Berry peaking in on this temple. 

I feel like this would freak out someone who is afraid of clowns. Berry liked him.

Random wondering and we stumble on this round about with an awesome statue (That Dam) in the middle. This was right near the US embassy.

The Presidential building at the end of one of the nicer streets I found in the whole trip. It felt very well upkept and posh (like walking down Rodeo Dr. or something like that).

Berry wanted to go into another temple. So we went into this one which is right next to the Presidential building (it also happens to be one of the biggest complexes in the city). 

Part of the Sisaket temple grounds.

Berry taking all the gold and Buddha statues in. 

These temples were apart of the Sisaket grounds. Berry wanted to go up there and bang that drum. Couldnt let him.

The city has a cool river walk with the statues above and some vendors and what not. Made for a cool walk.

Someone put the serpents into a fountain. I wish that this was in operation.

This was a common occurrence in the parks over here. They had workout equipment of all sorts. Berry wanted to get jacked. 

Then is was time to relax so we go down the slide. Gotta break up the work with a little fun.

I walk by the national palace and check out some temples before stumbling upon a Belgian beer bar. I decide that would be a good place to get some lunch and decide to try the national Lao dish, Laap, with my beer. I walk back to the hostel and decide to go swimming in the pool for a little bit in order to cool off. After that, I went to the night market which is very big and not too far from the hostel before grabbing some dinner and heading to bed. The city is nice but I could have easily spent the time here in LP or VV and considered it a better use of time.

Time for lunch and there happens to be a Belgian beer bar right here. It is almost as if Berry planned it this way.

Berry was glad to get off his paws and I was glad to break the lager monotony with some malty goodness.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 24: Chilling in Vientiane (6/29/15)

~9am I caught a bus to the Laotian capital, Vientiane. This bus ride was a lot less rough than the one to VV as it was shorter and more straight. I got to the hostel (Dream home hostel) and checked in. Once I get up to my room, I sit and chat with one of my roommates for a bit before going to grab lunch at a place across the street more or less. Good cheap food. I get back to the hostel and played pool with some hostel mates while hanging out until its time for dinner where I head down the street to this good pizza place. After that I chilled at the pool table some more with a roommate and then got some sleep. Pretty uneventful day but was nice and relaxing.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 23: To tube or not to tube, that is the question (6/28/15)

Go and grab breakfast at a different nearby cafe while trying to decide if I should do the tubing pub crawl or rent a scooter and go explore the surrounding area. Decide to do the exploring instead of tubing pub crawl (probably the wrong decision in hindsight but whatever). First was the Jang cave, which was not too far from town and wasn't worth the drive. It was a small cave with cool air temps which is always appreciated over there but wasn't worth the visit.

Berry recognized this view from the night before. Much better during the day. 

River in front of the jang cave. 

Berry is looking down the path to the cave. Beautiful water along the way..

Berry is ready to climb those stairs for the jang cave.

But first we must pay the entrance fee. Its an interesting plan to charge foreigners more.

View from the top. Stairs galore for a good view. Life story.

View out from the top back towards the city.

Berry checking out another view from the cave.

Panorama shot from the cave outlook.

Berry is getting a hang of this spelunking business. 

This cave had this walkway to follow though some places it was unclear whether you could walk there or not. 

The bottom of the cave had this park area where people could hang out and swim. Berry wants to get in but I have him hold off as he doesnt know what the day has in store.

Look at how clear/blue that water is. Made me think Berry had a good idea.

Berry enjoying the view of the bridge and the surrounding area. 

This bridge is for lovers. 

One last look at a nice bridge. To get to the blue lagoon I am going to have to cross a bridge that shouldnt even be allowed to have people on it but scooters go both ways on it.

Amazingness surrounds this town.

I then make the slow and bumpy ride out to the blue lagoon. It isn't far (~15km if I remember right) but I wouldn't say its worth the drive either. The water is chilly which is a great respite from the heat, and there is a tree you can jump off into the water below, but it wasn't too blue (granted maybe my colorblind eyes aren't the best judge of color but I don't think that was it) and it was crowded. But I was here so I swam around in my underwear and enjoyed the water as I chatted with some dutch people.

View while on my way to the blue lagoon. This was after crossing death bridge but while going down this rock road that felt at any moment I would get a flat tire. Had to go slow, was hot. Not an ideal trip.

We made it! That tree in the distance was the diving tree (as you can see people on various levels of limbs). 

I stripped down to my underwear and jumped in as I was hot and the water looked refreshing. It was cold which made it that much better. One of my best model shots - now I just need an agent.

After some time, I head back to town and return the bike after traversing this bridge that is scary to be on with a bike but it held. I then went to the Aussie bar down the street from my hostel to grab some food and a drink while enjoying the view of the mountains/cliffs all around the city; very pretty city to be in and wish I had more time to chill here and spend in LP as I didn't get to see the waterfalls there or some of the sights around there as I was pressed for time.

Berry appreciating the view as the sun starts to go down. Yes lil bear, I will sit with you and enjoy this.

More nature enjoyment. Good job Berry!

That is one of the foot bridges in the distance. I should have gotten a picture of the bridge I had to ride across earlier. It was Ridic!

Panorama shot to end the day.

After my meal and chatting with the owner while watching and learning about different forms of rugby, I head back to the hostel to make some plans for the rest of my trip. After that, I head to the warm up bar to have a few drinks with some hostel mates and play a game of killer pool before heading to Sakura bar (one of the famous ones everyone goes to in VV) to meet up with Daniel whom I kept running into in Laos. Get there and its one rowdy party with people dancing on tables, balloons presumably filled with marijuana smoke being passed around for people to inhale, and multiple bars from which to get drinks from. I grab a drink, and look for Daniel, while looking for him I run into some friends from the hostel and chat with them for a while and then eventually find Daniel. Hang out with him and his friends and bounce between the 2 groups. At one point, Gangam style came on and the place went nuts! People doing the dance all around and just going more crazy than they already were. After a few beers, I head back to the hostel for bed.

Berry's SEAJ trip Day 22: To Vang Vieng (6/27/15)

Had breakfast at the hostel and arranged for my transport to VV before heading out to grab another smoothie on my way to see the temples in the city. See one or 2 of the smaller ones before getting to the big one (Xiengtong) and exploring around it.

Berry was on temple tour duty today. This was the first one we stopped at to gaze over the intricate designs. I think they use more gold than the catholic churches. 

We walked by this temple the day before (town is small, so not a hard thing to do). Berry didn't realize it till I pointed it out.  

Another temple with giant Buddha and amazing wall art.

Berry thought it was cool that the whole town was a heritage site (kinda like Hoi An).

Berry is ready to enter the main temple, Wat Xiengtong. 

Panorama of the grounds of the Wat.  

Berry just sat there and stared at the artwork on the walls. So well done. Incredible really. 

Berry kept finding these dragons and trying to befriend them. I think he started to wear them down as he was not eaten.

More murals within the temples.

This temple had tons of these doll figurines around the perimeter inside. this is one corner I took a picture of. 

Another mural.  

One of the doors. That my friends is living in luxury when that is your door. 

Shiny Shiny, Sparkle Sparkle!

Berry just couldnt believe that this insanely detailed art work on the walls/doors/etc. was the norm. 

Somehow the inside is more decked out than the outside. One would expect that but when your exterior is as amazing as the above picture, it sets the bar pretty high.

Berry checking out the shrine area of the temple. 

Berry going up into the small side temple which is still insanely decorated. They do not half ass anything. 

Another vantage point of the grounds.

Golden crown on a building.  

Tis a shame they have to put a sign there stating the obvious. Laying Buddha chilling in the background with the nice flower arrangements on each side.

This mural had all kinds of colors involved. Was pretty cool. 

External shrine with more intricate designs on the pillars and the top of the building. Clearly one could probably spend a day in each of these temples learning about all the different stories told on the temple walls.

The temples in these countries are very intricate and beautiful with many colors and sculptures. I head back the hostel after grabbing some lunch to catch my bus; this sprinter bus was packed to the gills both with luggage and people (we had 13 people in a bus with 11 seats – do that math). The road is beautiful but it is long and arduous as there are many curves with elevation changes making it take longer. The AC was on but since I was in the back I was only getting the heat as the driver kept putting the windows down in the front. This was a very long (6-7h) and grueling trip (stop once for gas/bathrooms) but eventually we get into the bus station where the foreigners all pile into a tuktuk to drive us to our hostels for 20kK pp. Get to my place (Easy go hostel) and check in and the room they put me in looks like it was an afterthought and/or is just a temporary thing as the particle board walls are just put there and the top of the walls is open. There is a fan in the room but no AC, which on this night wasn't an issue as the rain kept things cool and made it easy to sleep. Walked around a little before bed to grab some dinner at a nearby place.

Berry looking out as we get out to stretch our legs as the bus had to stop due to some road construction.

Stopped due to road construction on the way to VV from LP and this is the view. :)

Sunset in VV.