Cambodia/Thailand Trip

Ah! So I finally get to post this. After a hell of a lot of editing & resizing. Ok so maybe I have just went overboard with this one. Most photos of any other entry ever. Goodness. But I took like 3000+ photos with Ian's 1000+ & some from Kangni's camera. There's just so much I want to show but I think Blogger.com will just die. So this is what you get!

Anyway this trip was just killer, in a good way of course. Saw, touched, ate and experienced so much! Amazing stuff! We went to Cambodia, Siem Reap via Bangkok and then to Chanthaburi and then back to Bangkok again. 9 days of just unique experiences. The photos just won't do it justice. But anyway here they are.

3 July 2005 - 11 July 2005

Day 1. Breakfast @ Changi Airport Mac.	Introducing Ian, Joyce, Steve & Yours Truly! (clockwise from top)	First time I had such a clear view of Singapore on a plane
Thailand!	Bangkok Airport	So we left our stuff at Junxiang's (Ian's friend from Bangkok) place first.
A view from his high rise apartment	Finally I see pimped out low-riders!	MBK Shopping Mall
You don't see Ronald doing that in Singapore	Look at how detailed they are! Not very cheap though. SGD60 cheapest.	Bus ride
Introducing a very hospitable Junxiang (left)	Went to just touch the tip of the iceberg of Chaktuchak Market. Will mention more about this mad place later.	BTS. Their overhead train system. Looks rather familiar doesn't it?
Got to have dinner with the local yoyo dudes!	Day 2. 3am at the Bus station. Damn were we tired.	So after little sleep on the bus, we took a Tuk Tuk to the border.
9am at the Poipet Border is a mad mix of Cambodians looking for work & obvious-looking tourists/backpackers like us.	A 4 hour Toyota Camry ride to Siem Reap. Bumpy is such an UNDERSTATEMENT. Do not eat before taking this ride.	There's just no words to describe this mad car ride. My stomach was at my throat the whole time.
Petrol stations are little huts by the side of the road.	Ian gave away chocolate. Life seems so peaceful for these kids over there.	Imagine the relief when we finally saw signs saying Siem Reap
Mom's Guesthouse. Very decent & safe. Recommended to all.	After-effects of the mad car ride. Slept like almost till dinner.	Safe clean water a must.
They were just loving the camera.	Crickets! Hey I actually found it nice! You got to try it. Pretty juicy too. Haha!	Steve's & my room.
Siem Reap Town. Everything is in US dollars. Riel is only for small change. Not a coin in sight.	Siem Reap Outskirts	Of course like most places around here, it's all about the motorbikes. Imagine both parents & 3 kids sharing 1 bike.
Day 3. Entrance to temple grounds. US$40 for a 3 day pass. Not cheap but worth it! Travelled around in a hired van.	It was pretty disappointing to see so many tourists.	South Gate to Angkor Thom.
We hired a guide for just 1 day.	Bayon Temple. Just look at the faces.	King's pool. And the Queens' pool at the back. Yes QueenS. Yes big.
Leper King & Elephant Terrace.	When on budget means having bread & tuna for lunch.	Took a walk & found this guy selling ice kachang-like dessert to the kids in school.
The famous Angkor Wat Temple. Beautiful.	Such detailed cravings.	Every temple you go, there are always kids trying to sell you souvenirs. We all got T-shirts!
No paper? Use this. Made out of wood.	Near the top. Not easy leaving your camera off the edge of the temple.	Tourists! ARGH! Wait, weren't we too?
Trying to look stylo shot.	Monks on their pilgrimage	Oooo... Ain't we feeling rich?! (Notice the UD$1 demonations) Haha!
Day 4. Ian trying to get a shot.	Save the wall!	King's meditating pool. Massive I tell you.
Watched Tomb Raider? This is Ta Phrom where it was filmed!	We guys goofing around!	Have to leave the mark of yoyoing wherever I go. Haha!
This time we have lunch @ a cafe, Red Piano. Curry is like Wow.	Buahaha. Photo says it all. Poor Steve.	Sad what happens to the temple sometimes.
Dinner @ this really cool place called the Blue Pumpkin. Bed concept.	Siem Reap @ Night	Day 5. Free guesthouse breakfast every morning.
Banteay Srei. Probably has the most well-kept carvings of all temples. Just marvellous detail.	Bakong. Very last temple we had to visit & it had to rain. Kids just love posing for the camera but they have an ulterior motive...	Goofy yet again in the van.
Took a drink @ another unique restaurant. The Dead Tower. Such quirky ideas these people have.	Chiang Mai Thai Food. Nothing beats just a straight, no frills meal. Just delicious.	Other random temple shots.
More random shots.	Kids of the temples. Feel free to photograph them but expect them to approach you for money afterwards.	This trip was the first reason why I bought the D70s. Buahaha!
Day 6. Had to sit the crazy Camry taxi back. Aren't we mad. 3 hours.	Another 4 hours to Chanthaburi, Thailand to meet Junxiang.	Chanthaburi. Famous for its Gem Market & waterfalls.
Junxiang managed to give us a short tour of his working place. These are all Sapphires of different colours. The big one on top? Midnight Blue Sapphire. 5 digits US dollars.	Caught a quick bite on Chanthaburi streets. Beef noodles, Thai style.	After a total of 13 hours of travelling we had to hit Bangkok Chinatown for Sharks Fin & Birds Nest.
Day 7. 4 has turned to 6! Meet Kangni & Delphine.	Chaktuchak Weekend Market! World's Biggest Flea Market! Check out the guy (top-left). Praying with a penis statue. Yes Penis.	Chaktuchak street rockers. Pretty good too. Strange how it started to rain when they played.
The pet sections. Boy there were SO many. Puppies, kittens, fishes & even squirrels. Wonder what else they have.	Face bun, or whatever they call it. Not that nice I heard.	Not easy to make a living out here.
Found this pimped out Vespa. Too cool.	Korean Buffet! SGD3.50! All you can eat! Yes! SGD3.50! Huge bottles of Pepsi! 0.80cents!	Walked into a 7-11 that night. Saw this. Funny how the attendant felt it was so normal.
Bangkok's most happening high-class club. Check it out @ www.bedsupperclub.com. Good thing Junxiang's bro works there. Free entry & drinks. Ha!	Day 8. Kangni decided to buy a Thai schoolgirl uniform. -_-"	Girls of the trip!
Pratunam. Wholesale area. Cheap as hell. SGD4 jeans! WTH!	Small but deliciously meaty coconuts. Sweet!!!	Dusk @ Victory Monument.
Siam Square shopping district.	Hard Rock Cafe Bangkok! Didn't go in though.	More Chinatown food! Ah the curry prawns came highly recommended! Ooo!
A bunch of satisfied customers.	Khao San Road. Lots of backpackers & weird stuff.	Crickets, worms & maggots. Yes I have tried them all. Crickets in Cambodia are so much bigger & tastier. Haha!
Night view of Bangkok from our hotel...	... & this is the day view. Day 9.	Our hotel was just cheap & good. 2 thumbs up!
Had a 2nd Thai massage & that's my masseuse. Not bad eh?	Just like Jamie's trip, as we were heading for the airport, it started to downpour. Weird eh?	Final group shot!
Haha! Aren't we just angels?	Ain't clear but Bangkok night lights are beautiful. I'll be back!

A few more things I'd like to mention about the trip.

- Both places are highly recommended! I know all the poly peeps will just love Bangkok. Yes Dawn!? GO! GO!

- I could have never asked for any better company for this trip! Thanks peeps for making this trip so bloody cool!

- Jetstar Asia is pretty decent.

- Travelling to Cambodia by road isn't as dangerous as they said it would be.

- Us: PENG! PENG! Reply: MAI PENG!

- All those who come back from their first trip to Bangkok will say, "I am going back there!" That is so true.

- Never imagined Steve could actually shop that much! It's hard to keep up with him!

- Kangni just loves the Thai guys... Goodness...

- Transvestites are just a part of life there, which is pretty cool to see. So unlike here.

- Oh yes, of course the Thai University girls are *thumbs up*. Also always take a 2nd look to be sure. Know what I mean?

- Junxiang brought us to the local disco. Hottest nightspot for the local teens. Witnessed a dude getting beat up bloody. Drunk girls who can't stand for nuts. More transvestites.

- Nightspots all must close by 1 or 2am. What?! Sad eh?

- 5 lanes on each side of the road. All filled with only taxis. Imagine that.

- Traffic is much better nowadays.

- It is so easy for a Singaporean to get used to getting around Bangkok. No wonder so many of them around.

- Should have brought more cash...

- We thought squeezing 7 of us in a cab was skillful. Till we saw 9 fit into a Tuk Tuk.

- I was more shagged out from the shopping than exploring the temples. *perspires*

- Kangni went with almost nothing & came back with a 20.9KG China bag!!! *pengz* The limit is 20kg for the flight!

- Must keep collecting passport stamps & Visas!

Finally I am looking forward to my next trip. Back to Hong Kong! Buahaha! Hopefully plans for Vietnam will work out too. *Fingers crossed*

Out!