Bangkok and Khao san and home, sweet home!

Impossible to come back without shopping at Khao San...the purse going empty at once!
And impossible not to buy at the flower market, Jonathan's favorit small cigars-cigarets from Birman (Myanmar): a packet of 50 for 25 bats (3 IS - 0.75 cents!!!!!)
We also went back to a nice restaurant on the river side. But hot...so hot!

https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5871645693737462353

Last stop: Luang Prabang, the spirit of Buddah

A big change in the landscape, green mountains covered by palm trees and jungle...and always the big Mekong.
I feel like in a mountain village in the Alpes, with little wooden houses, just guest houses, restaurants and souvenir shops (Laos art craft).
On one side the Mekong and on the other, the river.
The city of peace, monasteres and monks in safran dress...some just 10 year old?
and the city of adventures, attractions and young tourists (waterfalls, kayaks, caves and elephant caring)...


We went to marvellous waterfalls - Quant Si - turquoise colour and peacefull, at 30 km from L.P. with a small group and a minibus as the tuk-tuk is not able to climb up there-a must.
More than that, we have no volonty any more. We feel the end of the holydays and just desire to rest.
but...still, we made it: waking up at 6:00 in order to participate in the tradition to give each monk a litle rice at 6:30 when they pass by in the street, in silent, to receive their food for the day.
Walking around, eating fish in one of the many little restaurants on River Side, lying down in the nice cafe on the other side of the river lost into bamboos trees...
And the last, last evening, we watched a nice show of traditional music and danses in a nice restaurant around a water pond.
Here are the pictures of all that:
https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5871619563505793809

Vientiane

The capital of Laos, quiet and provincial style. slowly, the wide Mekong is passing by, needing some more water to fit its size. square streets, no rush...where are all the youth? where are the motorbikes?



more: https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5863477456651562257

Siem Reap, Tonle Sap and Angkor

Many, many asian people on holiday and us...
floating villages, birds, nature and boats (yes, boats and water!!!) and many fantastic temples from the 10-12 century. Can't stop taking pictures! Good guide in Angkor, saying where to stand and what to look at!
Good food in Pub Street - 1$ for a glass of good beer. Good shopping and good weather (Jonathan is getting wet and loose weight, I'm enjoying warm and summer)
https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5861287859188946177

Phnom Penh-Cambodia

 We arrived by an amazing Mekong fast boat trip from Chau Doc, just after the funeral of Norodom Sihanouk, the last king of Cambodia who died in Paris in October.
Really hot here, nice city with large avenues, easy to find our way (the streets have numbers). Our hotel is closed to the king Palace, super nice. A big room in a garden...and swimming pool under the green vegetation.
The day we arrived was the celebration of the chinese new year "The Tet" and the center of Phnom Penh was full of happy signs, flowers, people...but no cars and no (almost) motorbikes. The avenues are very very wide and after Vietnam seem like empty! A lot have quit the town for holydays and we enjoy the easy crossing over the streets without suiciding!

https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5847316597187653057

Temples, Kmehr rouge and Sopheak (supeh')
I bought a book and read about the terrible period of Pol Pot and the murders.
We spent a full day with Sopheak, visiting the silk iland where his parents live and having very interesting and deep discussions about the life in  Cambodia, social and politic situation. Clever and sensitive, we would like him to live better and have the futur he desires.

The Tet - new year in Vietnam

We will miss the celebration but all the preparations, atmosphere is quite here a few days.
Yellow flowers in pots, big bonsai trees with yellow flowers (apricot) - expensive but a lot are buying, gold decoration, loud music in the bars and a lot of people in the markets, in the streets, every where...




More:https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5842927774405530369

The delta of the Mekong

 The delta of the Mekong is the south part of Vietnam crossed by the mystic river.
It divides itself in 9 arms irrigating a fertile country.
Just water and green fields. Rice, vegetables and especially all kinds of tropic fruits that we don't even know.
Pure beauty and calm, far from the big metropolis...

And here we go at 5:30 AM to see the floating markets at work.











My Tho, Can Tho: https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5842296930998594209

Chau Doc:
https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5846218744938444561