Saying farewell to Cambodia

Saying farewell to Cambodia
Originally uploaded by maujb.

We are leaving Cambodia for the islands of southern Thailand to enjoy the final days of our extraordinary lifestyle vacation. Only 27 days left then we're back the boring, subjugated, wage-slave life that all of you are currently living.
We know you're all jealous.

April Announcements:

• Congratulations to Rob and Carley and their new Winkler-Lovorn addition!
• Happy birthdays to Kelly K, Alicia H, Butch Cassidy, Ravi Shankar, and Huge Hefner!
• Congratulations to Kai for his Tony award-winning performance in drama class!
• Congratulations Don and Mau on their pre-engagement!
• Congratulations to Alicia and Evan on their engagement (not to be confused with pre-engagement)!
  

Endless doorways of Preah Khan

Endless doorways of Preah Khan
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Oooooooooooo!

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

The Provacative Mrs. Mau in Preah Khan

The Provacative Mrs. Mau in Preah Khan
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Dig that parasol, man.

Preah Khan, Angkor

Preah Khan, Angkor
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Another Pulitzer Prize winning photo by the newly pre-engaged team of Mr. Donald and Mrs. Mau.

'and that's my final offer . . .'

'and that's my final offer . . .'
Originally uploaded by maujb.

This super cutie-pie was among many adorable little kids selling trinkets and souvenirs within the park. She was selling bamboo bracelets and bargaining hard but when we agreed to buy some bracelets she was all to eager to pose for the camera.

She actually said "and that's my final offer," and we nearly died laughing. She was sooooooooo cute!!!

Lil Donnie in the Citadel of Women

Lil Donnie in the Citadel of Women
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Banteay Srei, Cambodia

Banteay Srei, Cambodia
Originally uploaded by maujb.

The Citadel of Women, a beautiful Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, is cut from pink-hued sandstone and demonstrates some of the finest stone cutting in the world. The ruins are also decorated with green lichens and moss that add to the rich colors.

Buddha, Angkor Wat

Buddha, Angkor Wat
Originally uploaded by maujb.

Angkor what?

Bayon, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Bayon, Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Can you find the faces? Bayon is a collection of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 enormous smiling faces.

Tomb Raider Tree, Ta Prohm

Tomb Raider Tree, Ta Prohm
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Ever since Soup Coolers (aka Angelina Jolie) filmed Tomb Raider here this tree is now referred to as the 'Tomb Raider Tree' by the locals.

The Boys of Eternal Summer

The Boys of Eternal Summer
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

As we wandered through the ruins of Phimeanakas we saw many children swimming in the pools and running around offering to pose for photos. These two brothers approached us saying 'you like picture?' So we gave them our extra passport photos. Probably not what they had in mind but they were excited nonetheless.

Elephant Terrace, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Elephant Terrace, Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Angkor Wat is everything its touted to be. It is spectacular. It really is incredible. And it was totally worth the butt-numbing, spine-cracking journey to get here.

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Our second of impression of Cambodia was much more favorable. The people, despite their horrendous history with the Khmer Rouge and the US bombings in the 1970s, are warm and welcomed us in their country.

Holiday in Cambodia

Holiday in Cambodia
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Getting to Siem Reap was no picnic, no sir! Let's see how did it go? First we took a minibus on the ferry and continued on to the border where we caught a tuk tuk to immigration then over the border. That was a fairly simple 9-hour ordeal but then we boarded a sorry excuse for a bus that could not exceed 20km/hour even if you got out and pushed it! The road was, well it can't even be called a road because it would have been better to drive through the rice paddies on a tractor. It took more than 6 hours to go 100 spine-cracking potholed miles!

We arrived in Siem Reap see 30+ luxury hotels ($200-$700/night) lining the main street.

Why does a region that brings in $100 million a year not have a road to Angkor Wat? Can you say C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N? Our first impression was of the similarity with Peru's Machu Picchu.

Ko Chang Chillout Time

Ko Chang Chillout Time
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

While in Ko Chang we stayed on Hat Kai Mook (Pearl Beach) in style at a lovely resort on the water filled with orchids, bouganvilla and coconut palms. In addition to touring the island by moped, swimming in warm waters, and kayaking along the picturesque coast we took a very import step forward in our relationship.

We hereby announce our pre-engagement.
Hazzah!!! Mazel Tov!!!

Ko Chang, Thailand

Ko Chang, Thailand
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

It took 32 hours of hellfire travel by train, tuk-tuk, bus, truck and ferry to get from Laos down to Ko Chang, a luscious island in eastern gulf of Thailand. Whew! Time for some serious chillout.

Luxurious Lounging in the Lolden Liangle

Luxurious Lounging in the Lolden Liangle
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

We stayed in the best hotel in town as is our custom when in the Lolden Liangle. Later this evening, a huge electrical typhoon blew through the lillage. There was tremendous non-stop lightening and thunder, truly torential rains that blew through the doors and windows, flooding our room and the entire hotel. The open-air lobby was demolished and littered with glass, pottery, and coconut palms. We found an elephant in the swimming pool the next morning. A truly spectacular storm, we must say.

Sunset in Vang Vieng, Laos

Sunset in Vang Vieng, Laos
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

The burning rice fields make for better sunsets than Los Angeles.

Vang Vieng is a bizzare yet beautiful backpacker stop featuring quiet village life and limestone karst formations on one side of the river and restaurants featuring 'happy' shakes, magic mushroom pizzas, opium tea, and televisions annoyingly blaring back-to-back 'Friends' or 'Simpsons' episodes 24-hours a day.

Wat Not and such in Luang Prabang

Wat Not and such in Luang Prabang
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

As if we don't have enough Wat shots . . .

Overheard on the streets of Luang Prabang:
"First I'll check-in at the Phousy Guesthouse (pronounced 'poo-see'), then I'll climb Phousy mountain, treat myself at Phousy Massage, have a quick bite in the Phousy Cafe, and lick my lips over a cold Beer Lao at the Old Phousy Pub."
--anonymous Aussie bloke

Sticky Rice -n- Crickets taste like Chicken!

Sticky Rice -n- Crickets taste like Chicken!
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Laos. The Golden Triangle. Heart of Darkness, baby!

We celebrated St. Paddy's day in Luang Prabang. Here they celebrate Rice Paddy's Day by burning the rice paddies and by eating green crickets, green lettuce, and drinking green beer. Well, the beer is not green in the picture but it changed color after one of the crickets jumped into the glass and pee'd in the beer.

Happy St. Paddy's Day everyone!!!
So happy to hear that Lisa survive another Paddy's Day in Dublin. Erin G'Braugh you silly McCocksuckers.

Laos Family Portrait

Laos Family Portrait
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

First stop in Laos, Luang Prabang. A charming river village full of Wats, monks, riverside restaurants, super-friendly people and an excellent nightmarket full of crafts and clothes and stuffs.

We were visiting the Palace theatre and were approached by this family to take some portraits. They spoke no english and we spoke no laos but we were delighted to take pictures and they were excited to see themselves on the digital screen. We wanted to print some photos for them as a gift but never saw them again. Maybe they will see this blog.

Long Duck Dong (Ron Tom) on the Mekong

Long Duck Dong (Ron Tom) on the Mekong
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

After tearing it up in Sukhothai, we headed north through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong before boarding a 2-day longtail boat down the lazy Mekong river into Laos.

BTW, the ancient Mekong river meanders through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and 'Nam. (It's VIET-NAM, stupid! You can't call it "NAM". You weren't in the war. Gosh!)

Who is that buddha with sunglasses?

Who is that buddha with sunglasses?
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

Wat Phra Phai Luang may have been the center of Sukhothai when it was ruled by the Khmers of Angkor prior to the 13th century. It includes three large Khmer-style towers and this buddha with 12th century sunglasses.

In town, we had a few Singhas at Choppers, a biker bar (with real motorcycles!) and met a couple from Portland and our friends Alex and Rolf from Mae Sot. It was a big ol' bash ya'll.

Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai

Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

This is the very impressive mondap with a 15 meter seated Buddha. It's huge, and has a tremendous presence. We had such a feeling of peace, we stopped sweating for a long moment. Or maybe we were just dehydrated.

Religious ecstasy moment or dehydration delirium. Who is to say?

Da Buddha in da Sky

Da Buddha in da Sky
Originally uploaded by crisis-tour.

6 March We visited Sukhothai, a delicious wonderland of buddhist and hindu temples, and the first capitol (mid 13th century) of Siam. We rode rickety bikes (rented from the Rickety Bikeshop serving the community since 1302AD) through the sweltering 95 degree 100% humidity heat exploring the plethory of temples and ruins.

Really spectacular ruins. You can't take a bad photo here.