PIETERENELINE travel
September 2007
The journey starts with a long flight to Hanoi in the north (with the well-known Halong Bay). Hanoi immediately lets you experience the chaotic though agreeable lifestyle. A few days later, the night train brings us to Hué for visiting the forbidden city and several pagodas.
After stopping for a swim on the way to Hoi An, the weather continues to be great and so we welcome the cool Tiger beers. Hoi An further offers you tailor made clothes and superb wontons. It is located close to the beach and also a bicycle tour between the rice fields is an experience.
The next city where we stay is Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon with the boulevards and typical French buildings. After an exploring walk and refreshing in our rather luxurious hotel, we have dinner in the classy Lemongrass restaurant, close to the Rex Hotel. The day after, our 'sightseeing' tour ends with struggling through the narrow Cu Chi tunneling network for about 200 meters.
In the Mekong Delta, many people live in houses along the river's edge or in house boats. We receive some delicious pineapple on a boat near the market place. The last day in Vietnam we visit a 'hidden' place with the friendly Cham people (remnants of the Kingdom of Champa).
Our Cambodian week starts when we approach Phnom Penh with the Royal Palace complex. Before enjoying again an excellent dinner, we go for a relaxing Swedish massage.
Phnom Penh is of course known for its killing fields. A tour in the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (a former high school) illustrates where and how people were tortured. Picture walls with a portrait of the victims clearly show that the regime didn't save the children.
Between Phnom Penh and Battambang, the bus driver loses control and we roll over (speeding in rainy weather...). Some rib bruises and head sutures later, we continue to arrive in Siem Riep where we cannot avoid a new recovery massage. Angkor Wat is the first temple we visit and certainly impressive enough to visit a few other sites before flying back to Brussels.