Melbourne

Have arrived in Melbourne after a sleepness night on the bus from Sydney.

Bianca and I had a fantastic day catching up. Luckily we have a few more.

Off to Melbourne...and a reunion.

Tonight, I'm taking an overnight bus from Sydney to Melbourne (I know, I thought I was done with them, too). Tomorrow morning, at 8 a.m., I'm going to be greeted by my first-ever best friend, Bianca. We haven't seen each other since we were seven years old. She's taking me in and showing me around town. Incredible, right?

...and by night.

Sydney Harbour by day...

Jacaranda at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

I missed these in SA so was really excited when I noticed them blooming here in Sydney.

Handwritten guidebook.

Courtesy of an Australian I met in Turkey.

Now I'm reading this. Finally.

The last three books I've read have had very detailed accounts of starvation.

I read this on the way to Sydney.

I found it in a secondhand bookshop in Phnom Penh and just took a gamble. I really enjoyed it and I know it looks like chick lit but I promise it's not. I would like to go to Alice Springs but I don't have the $500 for the plane ticket...

The Sydney Metro is Double-Decker!

Is it the only one in the world?

Not well.

But getting better. Yesterday, I slept for 10 hours, then went to a yoga class, then slept for four more hours. Then ate a peanut butter sandwich and went back to sleep. That's what I have to report.

Australians are soooo nice.

They must be the friendliest people in the world.

Getting around Australia.

I probably won't be doing much of this. It's expensive. I waited too late to book any cheap airfares. Return bus tickets from Sydney to Melbourne are $150. The train between Melbourne and Adelaide is $150. This is a big country and I have a feeling I'm only going to see a tiny part of it.

Maybe I can hitchhike...

Adjustments

I'm walking down the street and no one is asking me if I want a ride. In fact, no one is asking me anything.

Black coffee is three dollars. Criminal.

There are crosswalks and signals. People obey them.

Every toilet is a Western toilet.

There are maps with street names. The street names on the map correspond to street names that are actually posted, visibly, on signs on the street.

I'm in Sydney.

It's great!

A big adjustment this, being back in the west.

Having some allergy issues as it's springtime in a foreign country. More updates later. Haven't taken any photos, yet.

Phnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur to Sydney

I'll be traveling from about noon today to 8 a.m. tomorrow. Two flights. One very long layover.

The Riverside from the Foreign Correspondents' Club.

Solid Gold Buddha.

In the Silver Pagoda there are solid gold buddhas, bejeweled buddhas, jade buddhas, marble buddhas...and many many worshippers.

The Royal Compound.

It's a long day for these guys.

Inside S-21.

Tuol Sleng aka S-21.

One of four buildings. High school taken over by the Khmer Rouge as a prison/torture chamber.

The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

Khmer Rouge. 1975-1979. Two million people killed (at least). 17,000 deaths at this one camp. Mass graves. The stupa (center) is a tower of skulls to remember the dead.

Monks

From the 8th floor of the mall (probably the tallest building in town?)

Central Market

Phnom Penh = Penh's Hill

Wat Phnom = Hill Temple. A woman found three buddhas on the site and Phnom Penh was born (also conveniently located at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, not bad for trading with the Chinese, Laotians, and Vietnamese).

Less than two months to go...

I don't know what to say, except times moves slowly when you're traveling. This has to be the longest four-and-a-half months of my life.

Being a Pedestrian in Asia

A couple of rules:

1. Don't wait for traffic to clear, because you'll be there all day.
2. Step into traffic, thinking in terms of three feet at a time, frogger-style.
3. Whatever you do, don't hesitate, and never ever stop moving. Even on the sidewalk.

Traffic in Cambodia

In Siem Reap:

50% bicycles
40% motorcycles/scooters/tuk-tuks
10% cars

In Phnom Penh:
50% motorcycles/scooters/tuk-tuks
30% cars
20% bicycles/pedicabs

*these results are not based on a scientific survey

The cool kids in Phnom Penh...

Hang out on the top floor of the mall at the skating rink, doing tricks and wearing striped shirts and tight pants.

Angkor/Siem Reap Day 3

I spent the last day cycling around Angkor, ending up in the countryside (didn't take long) in the middle of rice paddies and herds of water buffalo.

Maybe some posts on Phnom Penh later...if not for the the constant harrassment from pedicab, moto, and tuk-tuk drivers (and street kids on the riverside) it would totally enjoyable. Even relaxing.

I have many many more photos for anyone who is really interested in seeing more.

I can only spend so long sitting in front of the computer!

Use your imagination

No photoshop in the internet cafes...

Angkor Day 2 - Bayon

Bayon, the main attraction at Angkor Thom.

The scenic route.

Before the sunset.

Capturing Angkor Wat on his cell phone.

Devatas.

Over 1500 of these. Each is unique.

Detail.

Window

Inside the first entrance...

Angkor Wat

Angkor continued...Batong

Also visited Lolei, Pre Rup and East Mebon in the morning. These are all pre-Angkor Wat style.

Phnom Penh

I arrived in Phnom Penh today. The bus ride was easy. I only had to say "NO"to about 25 tuk-tuk drivers during my three-block walk to the hotel. Business as usual.

I read Luong Ung's book "First they killed my father" on the way down. I think a lot of the sight-seeing will be quite grim. That said, Phnom Penh has a certain charm about it. The Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers meet here and the French influence means some beautiful buildings, wide boulevards, and good restaurants.

Tomorrow. Phnom Penh.

I have a ticket on the super deluxe tourist bus tomorrow to take me to Phnom Penh. Six hours (hopefully) and then my last few days in Asia...

p.s. ran out of luck uploading pictures

Day 1 - Preah Ko

My ride...and Rady, my driver.

Still having trouble uploading...

Boo.

I have an announcement.

Mara is coming to meet me in New Zealand! One month from today she arrives in Auckland for about a week. Chances are, if you know me, then you know Mara.

Totally awesome.

Tuk-Tuk

Angkor is positively massive...so many temples. A bicycle seems like a good idea but honestly, it's way too big (and too hot and too rainy).

So, I am getting around with a tuk-tuk driver. He drives a motorcycle and pulls me along in a two-wheeled carriage for $12 a day. I could have picked a moto driver, and sat on the back of a motorcycle for $8 a day, but decided against it. With the tuk-tuk, I have protection from the sun and rain (and a good six feet between me and driver).

Technical Difficulties

I can't get to any of the 430 pictures I took in the last 24 hours....so maybe tomorrow?

Siem Reap

I made it. It's 7:30 a.m. and we are about to begin the first of three days touring Angkor. I'm doubtful about the speed of the connection here, but hopefully some pictures tonight.

Today...Cambodia!

I'm flying today to Bangkok then to Siem Reap. I'll be there about three or four days, then I think I'm taking a boat to Phnom Penh. Or a bus. But, I'm leaning towards a six-eight hour boat ride over the five-six hour bus ride. Maybe I should take a look at the boat first...

Yeah, I skipped Bangkok.

I just wasn't in the mood for a city of 20 million people, choking air pollution, and tuk-tuk touts. Maybe next time.

Kata Noi beach...sa wa dee ka

Yikes!

Sunset #2

Sunset # 1

A typical day...

7:30 wake up
8:00 go for a walk on the beach
9:00 eat breakfast
10:00 go for a swim in the sea
11:00 read, write, check email
1:00 eat lunch
2:00 go the gym, swim in the pool, hang out
6:00 back to the beach to watch the sunset
8:00 eat dinner, watch a movie, drink a beer, see if anyone responded to my emails, etc.

I'm not doing much.

As a result, not much to report.

The "I really really love the king" yellow polo shirt.

I will find a picture of someone wearing this. Monday is the official "I really really love the king" shirt day, but you can wear it anytime.

Technical difficulties

Haven't found a computer yet to upload pictures. Problems. You don't want to see them anyway. Trust me.

I did actually learn a bit of Thai at the Elephant Park.

Hello/Goodbye - sa wa de ka/krap (ka for women, krap for men)
(Thais have a word for good-bye but it's serious. It's only meant for when you will really never ever see someone again. Hence, it features in a lot of poetry...and love songs.)

Thank you - kap kun ka/krap

Very Very Delicious - aroi mak mak

Sorry/Excuse Me - core tote

I said only a little right?

Phuket

That's pronounced "poo-get" by the way.

I'm here. Flew direct from Chiang Mai to Phuket this afternoon and I'm in Karon on Phuket Island. Still some signs of tsunami damage. It's quiet here because it's the off-season. Rooms are cheap but everything else is two or three more times more expensive than Chiang Mai. Boo.

Tomorrow, some pictures for you.

Beach Reading

Because he keeps popping up in conversation.
I was reading Herzog and realized I needed a library. This was the best I could do.

Tomorrow...I'm off to the beach.

Heading down south for a few days to a week to do not much of anything.

Constant entertainment.