Da Lat is a MUST DO in Vietnam. There are so many awesome things about this city…
Tag Asia
Ho Chi Minh & the War Remnants Museum
I never had plans to travel to Vietnam, but after meeting so many travelers who reported that it was their favorite country I have to admit I was more than curious. So when my travel partners, Natalie and Lauren, invited me to join them for their two-week trip, I just had to say yes. So, on May 1 I flew from Bali to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and met up with the girls.
Singapore Airport
This post is going to sound like a straight advertisement for Singapore’s Changi Airport. It can’t be helped because this airport is the best one I have ever been in and I actually found myself wishing that my 5-hour layover between Bali and Vietnam was LONGER.
Indonesia: My Review
I really loved Indonesia. I was able to visit three islands in two weeks: Java, Bali, and Nusa Lembongan. Even though I didn’t love the vibe in Kuta or the tedium of Padangbai, there is something special about Bali. Although it has its pros and cons, it is undeniably beautiful and there are good reasons why it’s so popular. I want to go back and visit Ubud, Amed, and other towns along the coast. I had a wonderful time in Java; there was so much to see and do. Nusa Lembongan was a perfect island paradise.
Nusa Lembongan and Kuta
Nusa Lembongan
On April 26th, I took a ferry over to Nusa Lembongan (Lembongan Island), just east of Bali. Nusa Lembongan is beautiful, small, and relaxed. It would be a fantastic place for a honeymoon. It is also great for surfing, diving, snorkeling, and other water sports. The water is clean and crystal clear. Wikitravel lists its “attractions” as: Paradise Beach, Mushroom Beach, Dream Beach, Sandy Bay, Tamarind Beach, Scoobydoo Beach (no joke), Mangrove Forest, Seaweed Farms, and SUNSETS. I mean, seriously… does it get any better than that?! All of the attractions are just nature being nature. It is truly an island paradise.
The Temples of Angkor
The temples of Angkor are ancient, massive, stunning feats of architecture. Angkor was the capital city of the Khmer Empire from the 9th century until the 15th century and may be the largest pre-industrial city in the world. “Angkor” is actually the Khmer word for “city.” There were more than 1,000 temples that made up the Angkor complex, although now many of them are just piles of brick and rock. The ones that still stand and have been restored include Angkor Wat (the world’s largest single religious monument & Cambodia’s #1 tourist spot), Bayon, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm. They are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Phnom Penh: Other sites & sights
I used Phnom Penh as a jumping off point for getting down to the southern coast, the CPOC volunteering gig, and Siem Reap, so I was there a total of 3 nights, but never consecutively. PP is incredibly hot in April, which made doing anything in the city a real drag. It was almost unbearable to be out and about between 10am and 6pm. Since those are the hours when I tend to be most active, I don’t have much to show for my time there. But I did manage to make it to the Royal Palace/Silver Pagoda (which are part of the same complex), Sisowath Quay (the historic riverfront area), and I saw (but didn’t enter) the National Museum of Cambodia.
Kampot: A sleepy, strange, but surprisingly lovely town
Kampot, Cambodia rests along the Praek Tuek Chhu river in the southeast corner of the country. While I was there, nights out consisted of quiet dinners and drinks in quiet restaurants. Days consisted of sight-seeing at the bizarre-but-lovely Bokor National Park, and a very quick trip to Kep. Bokor National Park is one of the weirdest tourist attractions I’ve ever seen. At more than 1,000 meters above sea level, it is a former hill station where elite French expats came to escape the heat of Phnom Penh. It was developed in the 1920s, but has long since been abandoned and now is nothing more than a dilapidated hotel, palace, and church. However, a Chinese hotel conglomerate purchased most of the hill in 2007 and is currently building a massive complex of hotels, casinos, villas, golf courses, and waterparks. There are also a few temples, shrines, and a giant statue of Yeay Mao (see photo and caption below for more info). The views from the top of the hill, when not obstructed by clouds, are magnificent and well worth the drive up.
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Paradise Lost: Cambodia’s beaches and islands
I spent my first 10 days in Cambodia on its beautiful, isolated beaches. First I stayed on Koh Rong Samloem, a small island off the southern coast that is less touristy and less developed than its big brother, Koh Rong. Then I stayed in Otres Beach, a gorgeous, chilled-out, unspoiled beach just east of Sihanoukville. The water was warm and crystal clear. The town of Otres consisted of one dirt road about half a mile long that was lined with beachfront bungalows and restaurants. The towns were relaxing if you wanted to relax, but if you wanted to get funky, you could find a party. Chill out by day, party by night… or just watch the stunning sunset, grab a glass of wine, and keep chillin’. It was definitely the highlight of my 2.5 weeks in Cambodia.
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Pai Love
After the week at Elephant Nature Park, I headed up to Pai in northwestern Thailand with three lovely ladies whom I befriended at ENP: Lauren and Natalie (cousins from CA) and Courtney (from Delaware). We also met up with three other ENP friends while we were there.
The World Is My Boyfriend 