April 3rd
Today we got up, packed up the last bits and caught a taxi to the airport. When we got to the airport we checked in, checked our baggage and went to the waiting room. When we got on the plane they came around with muffins and yogurt.
In Vientiane Papa, Jonas and I waited at the restaurant while Mama went to look for a hotel. Right before I started writing in my journal there was a big rain storm. Rain was pouring off everything including the corrugated metal roofs which made the water look cool as it came off of them.
April 4th
Today we got up early to see things before it got too hot. We went to the Scandinavian Bakery and they had an English muffin (egg, ham and cheese sandwich). It was really gooood. After that we went and saw a lot of wats (temples). I like them a lot because they had a lot of little towers that looked like this (drawing in journal). The reason I found it so cool was because it had all sorts of colours of mirrors. One wat we went to had 8892 tiny little mini Buddha statues. I think they were about two and a half inches tall and one and a half inches wide.
Another wat we went to had little origami money towers. Finally after that last wat we went to a museum.
April 6th
Today we had breakfast and then went to get tractor tire inner tubes so that we could float down the river. My two favourite parts were going down the rapids and going on the zipline. There was a boy there who did something very interesting on the zipline. He went like this: (drawing in journal), hit the spring, spun around and dived into the water.
I really liked the zipline. Mama and Jonas did something where you just jump off a platform swing and when almost going in the other direction, you let go and fall into the water. After that we had pizza and then we floated down the river again. The scenery was beautiful. It looked like Meteora in Greece. Only with more vegetation.
Matthew
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Halong Bay and Birthday
March 31st
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy......today is Mama's birthday! Today we will go see some pagodas because Mama doesn't want to see a dead Ho Chi Minh (I wouldn't want to either). Now I am going to write about....
Halong Bay
Halong Bay looked really cool in the mist. One day we went kayaking and saw lots of little islands and big islands. We saw one very small cove with a little boat washed up. Inside a cave, Linh, our guide, showed us a big pointing finger that he thought looked like a cannon. I guess it did seeing as there was a big hole in a straight line from it, like it had shot a cannonball. There were also other rock shapes, like an elephant, inside the cave, coming out of a big stalagmite.
Halong Bay, Day 2
Today we had breakfast and then we went for a hike on Cat Ba Island.
The hike wasn't all that great considering you couldn't see anything from the top, because it was too misty. After that we went to have lunch. After lunch we went to Monkey Island and I made a castle out of coral pieces. When we got back, Jonas Mama, Papa, Taz (a German guy we met) and I went to a little market. They had lots of stuff including a 700 dollar motor bike! They also had a big vase four feet tall! After we did a little more walking we went to bed.
Matthew
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy......today is Mama's birthday! Today we will go see some pagodas because Mama doesn't want to see a dead Ho Chi Minh (I wouldn't want to either). Now I am going to write about....
Halong Bay
Halong Bay looked really cool in the mist. One day we went kayaking and saw lots of little islands and big islands. We saw one very small cove with a little boat washed up. Inside a cave, Linh, our guide, showed us a big pointing finger that he thought looked like a cannon. I guess it did seeing as there was a big hole in a straight line from it, like it had shot a cannonball. There were also other rock shapes, like an elephant, inside the cave, coming out of a big stalagmite.
Halong Bay, Day 2
Today we had breakfast and then we went for a hike on Cat Ba Island.
The hike wasn't all that great considering you couldn't see anything from the top, because it was too misty. After that we went to have lunch. After lunch we went to Monkey Island and I made a castle out of coral pieces. When we got back, Jonas Mama, Papa, Taz (a German guy we met) and I went to a little market. They had lots of stuff including a 700 dollar motor bike! They also had a big vase four feet tall! After we did a little more walking we went to bed.
Matthew
south to north of Vietnam
March 18th
Beach! Today we got a bus from HCMC to Mui Ne. When we got here I went straight to the cabin, got my bathing suit on and ran as fast as I could to the water. As soon as I got in....ahhh, nice, cool and refreshing water.
March 19th
Today all I did was dig a big big big hole. It was as big as me! Sadly I didn't have a shovel, or it might have been bigger.
March 24th
Today we woke up very early so we could get to My Son (a group of temples near Hoi An) before the tour groups came. My Son is kind of like the Angkor temples only much smaller.
At My Son there were lots of little rivers, streams, creeks and riverbeds. It was very cool there. I think it's kind of what Angkor Wat would have been like before they cleaned it all out.
When we were done, we saw the Irish again! That's the sixth time we've seen them! 1 - bus from Phnom Penh to HCMC. 2 and 3 - Mui Ne. 4, 5 and 6 - in Hoi An. On the drive back to Hoi An I thought up a little contraption I think is very cool. (Drawing in journal)
March 27th
Today we got to Hanoi on an overnight bus. The bus wasn't too bad although it had pretty rough shocks. On the bus we met someone from Edmonton. He said the Oilers weren't doing very well.
I thought up another contraption. First, get a good sized stick. Then carve a spiral into it. Then glue a stick to a lego wheel and let it roll down the spiral. I would really like to make something like this when we get home. Something else I would like to do when we get home is learn how to solder. I saw something in Bangkok that was really cool and I can do it by soldering!
Matthew
Beach! Today we got a bus from HCMC to Mui Ne. When we got here I went straight to the cabin, got my bathing suit on and ran as fast as I could to the water. As soon as I got in....ahhh, nice, cool and refreshing water.
March 19th
Today all I did was dig a big big big hole. It was as big as me! Sadly I didn't have a shovel, or it might have been bigger.
March 24th
Today we woke up very early so we could get to My Son (a group of temples near Hoi An) before the tour groups came. My Son is kind of like the Angkor temples only much smaller.
At My Son there were lots of little rivers, streams, creeks and riverbeds. It was very cool there. I think it's kind of what Angkor Wat would have been like before they cleaned it all out.
When we were done, we saw the Irish again! That's the sixth time we've seen them! 1 - bus from Phnom Penh to HCMC. 2 and 3 - Mui Ne. 4, 5 and 6 - in Hoi An. On the drive back to Hoi An I thought up a little contraption I think is very cool. (Drawing in journal)
March 27th
Today we got to Hanoi on an overnight bus. The bus wasn't too bad although it had pretty rough shocks. On the bus we met someone from Edmonton. He said the Oilers weren't doing very well.
I thought up another contraption. First, get a good sized stick. Then carve a spiral into it. Then glue a stick to a lego wheel and let it roll down the spiral. I would really like to make something like this when we get home. Something else I would like to do when we get home is learn how to solder. I saw something in Bangkok that was really cool and I can do it by soldering!
Matthew
Thursday, March 20, 2008
End of Angkor, Start of Vietnam
March 11th
Today we visited all the things we liked best. First it was Ta Phrom.
We explored lots of nooks and crannies.
Then we saw the Elephant Terrace (this is a picture I took close to there)
(and this is a wall that was right by there)
and a temple that almost looked like a castle. Mama really liked it. Next we went for lunch at Restaurant #22. I had a beef burger that was very good.
After lunch we went to the Bayon. Papa and I explored the little passageways and then we went to the sunset point to see Angkor Wat.
Jonas and I built inukshuks. Here's mine.
While we were there, Mama and Papa got talking with a tour guide who had a friend who worked ran an orphanage. It was interesting to see how people lived here. They had a big pool to keep their fish in.
While on the bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, I observed the houses along the road and the majority of them looked like this (drawing in journal - a house on stilts with stairs leading up to the main level, with a shaded storage and play area underneath). Cambodian houses often have the kitchen in a different building because if it were in the same building, the house would get too hot. I think it's a very smart idea.
A lot of Cambodians have cows, I think because behind the houses are big huge open areas that have a lot of cows grazing in them. We thought that if it got really hot, the cows would go under the house.
March 14th
Today we took a bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
Bus breakdown...
Before the bus I bought some Skittles at our hotel. On the bus we met people from Vancouver, Ireland, and we saw somebody that we saw in Siem Reap.
The Skittles were very good. My favourite flavour is green apple. Jonas' favourite flavour is black berry.
Now that we are in HCMC, I am very excited to see Peter again. Tomorrow we are meeting him at 11:30 AM at the post office. Peter is the man we met in Damascus and saw again in Petra. He lives in HCMC.
Once we got to HCMC, we found a hotel and then we went to eat supper. We all shared. We had pork flavoured tofu, vegetables in batter, spring rolls, stir veggies with crispy noodles and..... BROCCOLI ! The broccoli felt very good going down.
A lot of baskets...
March 15th
Today we got up and had breakfast. I had a strawberry pancake. It came with a lot of syrup and it was goooood. Today we also saw Peter and we are going to see him again tonight. It was fun to see him again.
March 16th
Today we saw the Cu Chi tunnels.
The Cu Chi tunnels are tunnels that were used during the war against the Americans.
They thought up horrible traps like these (drawings in journal). I thought up a quicker way to get around down there (drawing in journal of man on trolley): wheels. They could have used little carts.
We saw a tank that had been disabled. It felt odd to be taking pictures of something that had killed so many people so many years ago.
Matthew
Today we visited all the things we liked best. First it was Ta Phrom.
We explored lots of nooks and crannies.
Then we saw the Elephant Terrace (this is a picture I took close to there)
(and this is a wall that was right by there)
and a temple that almost looked like a castle. Mama really liked it. Next we went for lunch at Restaurant #22. I had a beef burger that was very good.
After lunch we went to the Bayon. Papa and I explored the little passageways and then we went to the sunset point to see Angkor Wat.
Jonas and I built inukshuks. Here's mine.
While we were there, Mama and Papa got talking with a tour guide who had a friend who worked ran an orphanage. It was interesting to see how people lived here. They had a big pool to keep their fish in.
While on the bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, I observed the houses along the road and the majority of them looked like this (drawing in journal - a house on stilts with stairs leading up to the main level, with a shaded storage and play area underneath). Cambodian houses often have the kitchen in a different building because if it were in the same building, the house would get too hot. I think it's a very smart idea.
A lot of Cambodians have cows, I think because behind the houses are big huge open areas that have a lot of cows grazing in them. We thought that if it got really hot, the cows would go under the house.
March 14th
Today we took a bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
Bus breakdown...
Before the bus I bought some Skittles at our hotel. On the bus we met people from Vancouver, Ireland, and we saw somebody that we saw in Siem Reap.
The Skittles were very good. My favourite flavour is green apple. Jonas' favourite flavour is black berry.
Now that we are in HCMC, I am very excited to see Peter again. Tomorrow we are meeting him at 11:30 AM at the post office. Peter is the man we met in Damascus and saw again in Petra. He lives in HCMC.
Once we got to HCMC, we found a hotel and then we went to eat supper. We all shared. We had pork flavoured tofu, vegetables in batter, spring rolls, stir veggies with crispy noodles and..... BROCCOLI ! The broccoli felt very good going down.
A lot of baskets...
March 15th
Today we got up and had breakfast. I had a strawberry pancake. It came with a lot of syrup and it was goooood. Today we also saw Peter and we are going to see him again tonight. It was fun to see him again.
March 16th
Today we saw the Cu Chi tunnels.
The Cu Chi tunnels are tunnels that were used during the war against the Americans.
They thought up horrible traps like these (drawings in journal). I thought up a quicker way to get around down there (drawing in journal of man on trolley): wheels. They could have used little carts.
We saw a tank that had been disabled. It felt odd to be taking pictures of something that had killed so many people so many years ago.
Matthew
Kolkata and beyond
Kolkata, February 25th
When we got to Kolkata we thought it would be very polluted like everybody told us. But it was actually one of the best cities in India pollution wise. Also when we got to Kolkata we met WINNIPEGGERS! In all seven months of travelling, we have not met anyone from Winnipeg.
The Sunderbans
The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve was very cool because we saw lots of wildlife, including crocodiles, deer, monkeys and lots and lots of birds. No tigers though. The food here is very good - dal for lunch and we had crab once for supper. Here in the Sunderbans there is the highest chance of getting eaten by a tiger in India.
March 2nd
Today we got to Bangkok and I really like the airport. It's very new.
In Bangkok there are SLURPEES! I can't wait until we come again.
Flying to Bangkok -
March 7th
Yesterday we was Angkor Wat and the Bayon temples. Angkor Wat was very cool. When we walked in we saw this (drawing in journal).
The Bayon Temple was really cool and it was more maze like than Angkor Wat. I liked the Bayon Temple better because it seemed more like we had just found it. It was all mossy and looked cool with all these heads sticking out of the towers.
March 9th
Today to start off, we went to a big temple that was kind of the shape of a + symbol. The rest was mostly rubble.
In the middle was a big stupa that was shaped like this (drawing in journal).
The next temple was really interesting architecturally (more drawings and a diagram).
After that we went to Ta Som. There wasn't very much there except a big tree climbing up from a doorway! It was very cool.
Then we went for lunch, and after lunch we went to the Bayon Temple. It was getting near sunset so the heads had an orangey glow. After looking there, we rushed to Angkor Wat and saw the sun set.
I liked today a lot.
Matthew
When we got to Kolkata we thought it would be very polluted like everybody told us. But it was actually one of the best cities in India pollution wise. Also when we got to Kolkata we met WINNIPEGGERS! In all seven months of travelling, we have not met anyone from Winnipeg.
The Sunderbans
The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve was very cool because we saw lots of wildlife, including crocodiles, deer, monkeys and lots and lots of birds. No tigers though. The food here is very good - dal for lunch and we had crab once for supper. Here in the Sunderbans there is the highest chance of getting eaten by a tiger in India.
March 2nd
Today we got to Bangkok and I really like the airport. It's very new.
In Bangkok there are SLURPEES! I can't wait until we come again.
Flying to Bangkok -
March 7th
Yesterday we was Angkor Wat and the Bayon temples. Angkor Wat was very cool. When we walked in we saw this (drawing in journal).
The Bayon Temple was really cool and it was more maze like than Angkor Wat. I liked the Bayon Temple better because it seemed more like we had just found it. It was all mossy and looked cool with all these heads sticking out of the towers.
March 9th
Today to start off, we went to a big temple that was kind of the shape of a + symbol. The rest was mostly rubble.
In the middle was a big stupa that was shaped like this (drawing in journal).
The next temple was really interesting architecturally (more drawings and a diagram).
After that we went to Ta Som. There wasn't very much there except a big tree climbing up from a doorway! It was very cool.
Then we went for lunch, and after lunch we went to the Bayon Temple. It was getting near sunset so the heads had an orangey glow. After looking there, we rushed to Angkor Wat and saw the sun set.
I liked today a lot.
Matthew
Monday, March 10, 2008
Kolkata to Bangkok to Cambodia
Kolkata, February 25th
When we got to Kolkata we thought it would be very polluted like everybody told us. But it was actually one of the best cities in India pollution wise. Also when we got to Kolkata we met WINNIPEGGERS! In all seven months of travelling, we have not met anyone from Winnipeg.I bought some cinnamon in a street market.
The Sunderbans
The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve was very cool because we saw lots of wildlife, including crocodiles, deer, monkeys and lots and lots of birds. No tigers though. The food here is very good - dal for lunch and we had crab once for supper. Here in the Sunderbans there is the highest chance of getting eaten by a tiger in India.
March 2nd
Today we got to Bangkok and I really like the airport. It's very new.
In Bangkok there are SLURPEES! I can't wait until we come again.
March 7th
Yesterday we was Angkor Wat and the Bayon temples. Angkor Wat was very cool. When we walked in we saw this (drawing in journal).
The Bayon Temple was really cool and it was more maze like than Angkor Wat. I liked the Bayon Temple better because it seemed more like we had just found it.
It was all mossy and looked cool with all these heads sticking out of the towers.
March 9th
Today to start off, we went to a big temple that was kind of the shape of a + symbol. The rest was mostly rubble. In the middle was a big stupa that was shaped like this (drawing in journal).
The next temple was really interesting architecturally (more drawings and a diagram).
After that we went to Ta Som. There wasn't very much there except a big tree climbing up from a doorway! It was very cool.
then we went for lunch, and after lunch we went to the Bayon Temple. It was getting near sunset so the heads
had an orangey glow. After looking there, we rushed to Angkor Wat and saw the sun set.
I liked today a lot.
Matthew
When we got to Kolkata we thought it would be very polluted like everybody told us. But it was actually one of the best cities in India pollution wise. Also when we got to Kolkata we met WINNIPEGGERS! In all seven months of travelling, we have not met anyone from Winnipeg.I bought some cinnamon in a street market.
The Sunderbans
The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve was very cool because we saw lots of wildlife, including crocodiles, deer, monkeys and lots and lots of birds. No tigers though. The food here is very good - dal for lunch and we had crab once for supper. Here in the Sunderbans there is the highest chance of getting eaten by a tiger in India.
March 2nd
Today we got to Bangkok and I really like the airport. It's very new.
In Bangkok there are SLURPEES! I can't wait until we come again.
March 7th
Yesterday we was Angkor Wat and the Bayon temples. Angkor Wat was very cool. When we walked in we saw this (drawing in journal).
The Bayon Temple was really cool and it was more maze like than Angkor Wat. I liked the Bayon Temple better because it seemed more like we had just found it.
It was all mossy and looked cool with all these heads sticking out of the towers.March 9th
Today to start off, we went to a big temple that was kind of the shape of a + symbol. The rest was mostly rubble. In the middle was a big stupa that was shaped like this (drawing in journal).
The next temple was really interesting architecturally (more drawings and a diagram).
After that we went to Ta Som. There wasn't very much there except a big tree climbing up from a doorway! It was very cool.
then we went for lunch, and after lunch we went to the Bayon Temple. It was getting near sunset so the heads
had an orangey glow. After looking there, we rushed to Angkor Wat and saw the sun set.
I liked today a lot.
Matthew
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