Cambodia & Thailand. Spring 2017.
This is the third trip we have done to Cambodia but it is one of my favorites! The history, temples, and most importantly the people make it such an amazing place to visit. Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is a great place to witness some of the history of Cambodia. Although a dark period in time, learning about the Khmer Rouge is an important part of visiting Cambodia. This includes the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Memorial. While at the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum, we met Chum Mey, one of the last living Tuol Sleng prison survivors. While in Phnom Penh, we also tried some delicious local foods and went shopping at the Psar Thmei (Central Market) and strolled around the promenade fronting the Royal Palace.
The next day we went on an 6-hour bus ride to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Siem Reap is a great place for history...visiting the temples takes you back centuries ago. We arrived in time to visit our first Angkor temple and watch the sunset at Pre Rup. We woke up early for the sunrise at Angkor Wat temple. We also explored other uniquely beautiful temples including Ta Prohm, Bayon, and Banteay Srei. We spent most of our time in Siemp reap volunteering with Trailblazer Foundation to construct and install bio-sand water filters in the nearby villages. We sifted and washed sand and gravel for the water filters...repetitive manual labor but necessary work for the wonderful families who rely on the filters to get access to clean water. We also volunteered one night at the Khmer Smile School to run a fun fair for the students to incorporate English lessons and fun games. Another evening, we went to visit TBENG Eco-Tourism Association to enjoy a real home cooked meal in the Banteay Srei village with my friends Mr. Khoeun and Mr. Kath and their lovely families. Even with a busy schedule of volunteering, we had time to catch a traditional dance show at the Temple Club, go shopping at one of the many markets around time, ride bicycles through the village, and of course...enjoy a few cheap massages.
Next, we caught a quick flight to Bangkok, Thailand and the up to Chiang Mai. We did the Care for Elephants experience at the Elephant Nature Park. We got to prepare the food and feed the elephants before taking them on a walk through the valley and then playing with them in the water. We enjoyed getting up close with these magnificent animals! A highly recommended experience if you are visiting Chiang Mai but make sure to reserve your spot in advance. We got to do more shopping at the famous Chiang Mai Night Market, eat delicious Thai food including my favorite Khao Soi, and of course...more cheap massages. Before we knew it, it was time to fly home. Luckily we had a 12 hour layover in Tokyo so we also had a chance to see some of the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom at Ueno park, eat fresh seafood at the Tsukiji Fish Market, and visit Senso-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. Tokyo is a fascinating city and a great way to end Spring Break!
The next day we went on an 6-hour bus ride to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Siem Reap is a great place for history...visiting the temples takes you back centuries ago. We arrived in time to visit our first Angkor temple and watch the sunset at Pre Rup. We woke up early for the sunrise at Angkor Wat temple. We also explored other uniquely beautiful temples including Ta Prohm, Bayon, and Banteay Srei. We spent most of our time in Siemp reap volunteering with Trailblazer Foundation to construct and install bio-sand water filters in the nearby villages. We sifted and washed sand and gravel for the water filters...repetitive manual labor but necessary work for the wonderful families who rely on the filters to get access to clean water. We also volunteered one night at the Khmer Smile School to run a fun fair for the students to incorporate English lessons and fun games. Another evening, we went to visit TBENG Eco-Tourism Association to enjoy a real home cooked meal in the Banteay Srei village with my friends Mr. Khoeun and Mr. Kath and their lovely families. Even with a busy schedule of volunteering, we had time to catch a traditional dance show at the Temple Club, go shopping at one of the many markets around time, ride bicycles through the village, and of course...enjoy a few cheap massages.
Next, we caught a quick flight to Bangkok, Thailand and the up to Chiang Mai. We did the Care for Elephants experience at the Elephant Nature Park. We got to prepare the food and feed the elephants before taking them on a walk through the valley and then playing with them in the water. We enjoyed getting up close with these magnificent animals! A highly recommended experience if you are visiting Chiang Mai but make sure to reserve your spot in advance. We got to do more shopping at the famous Chiang Mai Night Market, eat delicious Thai food including my favorite Khao Soi, and of course...more cheap massages. Before we knew it, it was time to fly home. Luckily we had a 12 hour layover in Tokyo so we also had a chance to see some of the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom at Ueno park, eat fresh seafood at the Tsukiji Fish Market, and visit Senso-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. Tokyo is a fascinating city and a great way to end Spring Break!