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

Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) - in the streets

Saigon - more friendly than Hanoi but crowded by people on the pavement and motobikes on the streets in the same way. A big difference also: the weather! Here warm and humid (28-30oc).
A lot of good food, a lot to see and to feel.

https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5840294424166682289
for more pictures

Whale iland

L'ile de la Baleine - blue and clear water, white sand and a lot of green abundant vegetation. At once...a strong rain but nice temperature and again a strong light enhancing this pearl of the Chinese sea.
No tourists, just a happy few because of the difficulties to join this place. No communication...2 hours by private car from Nha Trang and 20' more by boat. A small resort with diving activities, good restaurant, massage and a big trail around the iland.
Just enjoy...but it should be less money or better service.

for more:
https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5839296319266458449
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293928-d628507-Reviews-Whale_Island_Resort-Nha_Trang_Khanh_Hoa_Province.html
http://www.routard.com/forum_message/3238109/ile_de_la_baleine_cher_et_pas_justifie.htm#3239932

Hoi An

We have to run away from this smart little town...to many temptations!
Good food, good staff to buy (clothes, real leather shoes hand made as you wish and "sur mesure"!!!, bags), delicious and cheap beer. And so smart little wooden houses colonial style from the 18e century - a mixed of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnam tradition.
Heaven or paradise?
And for more pictures:
https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5839282041404616545

Hue

South Vietnam...very different...
Hue is a modern city but breathing culture, art and history.
A full day visiting by boat and moto-taxi temples, pagodes and emperors' graves in a wonderful nature.
Water, River, ponds, lake, gardens and a lot of quietness around the holy places.
The citadel is also an amazing place, the ancient residence of the Nguyen dynasty. But the war destroyed the majority part of the buildings and today there is a few remaining and beautiful gardens.

National Parc - Phong Nha-ke Bang

Centre Vietnam. Unesco site.
Green, tropical and water, water, water. Rice growing everywhere, palm trees and fantastic landscape.
A boat took us on a quiet river until the biggest cave I ever saw...navigating with a paddle inside the cave for about 1 km. Huge, enormous stalactites all over falling and impressing. Well done and arranged with natural steps and simply lighted. And, once more, we were lucky to be there almost alone!

Along Bay - 3 days on the 4 seasons jonque

Exceptionnel site protected by Unesco.
We enjoyed so much: the crew, the food and the landscape. Amazing rocks all around in a cotton atmosphere. No noise except the fishing boats little motors. Some times nice white sandy beaches, but the weather isn't at swimming...
see pictures and more at Vietnam page. 
https://plus.google.com/photos/106670542785688682224/albums/5834706977115196369

3 days in Hanoi

3 days in Hanoi. Nice little hotel in the historic quarter. Everything by foot.
The photo album is speaking better then words...see the traffic, the people, the extraordinary atmosphere of 24/7 working people...like thousand of small ants eating all day long small things.

See more in VietNam page.

Love you Bangkok!

Here we are, for the 2nd time in Bangkok - Kaosan (last time in 2009).
Bye bye the hard cold weather just now in Israel, floods and wind...
The pullover and the coat are down in the bag and I feel good...Yehhh!!!!

Same hotel (in Rambutree, the most living street in the city!)
Nothing has changed...even not the amazing prices.


From our room we see a pool in the front yard with elephants spliting water and big red and white fishes playing around.
Nice huge trees and luxuriant vegetation.
What are those flowers????   --------------------------------------------|
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 And of course the "must":
foot massage in the street in front of the hotel...who wouldn't like it for just...15 IS half an hour!!!!

And we had a very nice dinner sitting at the terrasse of our favorite fish restaurant. A red fish on the grill with cabbage salad for 150 bats = 17 IS and a big  tasty beer (Shung).

last minute J = 0

The bags are ready, the frig is quite empty...we saw the kids and told them good bye! feeling the parfum of departure...

Wellcome to this new blog...we are excited already!

beginning to pack