Category: Asia

  • Feeling at home in Bangkok

    Feeling at home in Bangkok

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    Libbytes
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    We arrived in Bangkok from Siem Reap. Everyone in the group had been to Bangkok before, but stayed in a different district, AND… they all hated the city. So my mission, as the designated tour guide, was to change all their opinions!! I took them to all my favourite restaurants and bars from previous visits,…

  • Say Wat?!? Angkor Wat.

    Say Wat?!? Angkor Wat.

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    Libbytes
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    We arrived in Siem Reap very early and had to wait until midday to check in. The night bus wasn’t great so all of us slept on sofas in the lobby until we were allowed in the room. Another lovely hostel, this place also had a swimming pool, but was a little further from the…

  • Extremes in Phnom Penh

    Extremes in Phnom Penh

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    Libbytes
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    The newly formed travel group of myself, Steve and Paul from Bristol, George from Gloucester, Steffi from Germany and Karen from The Netherlands, headed off together in what turned into a private minibus from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. It quickly became apparent that from now on I was tour guide and organiser for all trips,…

  • First taste of beach-bum life; Koh Rong

    First taste of beach-bum life; Koh Rong

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    Libbytes
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    We left Kampot for Sihanoukville mid morning and immediately caught a boat to the small island Koh Rong. We checked into our beach accommodation, which was $10 a night for a private room with a double bed! We all got a room each at that price! The view from the guest house The first night…

  • Easy river living in Kampot

    Easy river living in Kampot

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    Libbytes
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    Crossing the border into Cambodia was both relaxed and stressful at the same time. A Cambodian visa technically costs $20 at the border, but it is almost impossible to pay less than $26 due to corruption. However, the forms were easy to finish and all-in-all our border crossing took about 5-10 minutes! Incredibly fast compared…

  • Public transport in the Mekong Delta

    Public transport in the Mekong Delta

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    Libbytes
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    As the last major city in the south of Vietnam, from HCMC the next step for most people is Cambodia. However, I had heard great things about the very southern part of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta. I managed to convince myself, and George, that the best way into Cambodia was through the delta… and…

  • Hanging out in Ho Chi Minh City

    Hanging out in Ho Chi Minh City

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    Libbytes
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    I left Dalat for Ho Chi Minh city absolutely broken! My body was aching all over and I was still tied from the canyoning even after having a big sleep. On the bus to the HCMC I met 3 girls, 2 travelling together from the Netherlands and 1 from the UK. When we arrived we…

  • Adventuring in Dalat

    Adventuring in Dalat

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    Libbytes
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    From Hoi An, I took an overnight bus to Dalat, which stopped briefly at Nha Trang in the morning; a beach resort which I had heard to steer clear from… a quick peak at the beach confirmed this, as it was this busy at only 7am! Upon arriving in Dalat I walked with a friend…

  • Eating in Hué and Hoi An

    Eating in Hué and Hoi An

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    Libbytes
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    After my interesting train journey with the locals, I arrived late in Hué and went straight for food at a famous pho Hué stall. Pho is traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, which is supposed to be the best in Hué, and it was the best soup I had so far! The following day I booked a…

  • Caving in Phong Nha

    Caving in Phong Nha

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    Libbytes
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    The evening after Ninh Binh I caught an overnight bus to Dong Hoi, where I was met by a taxi pick up I had arranged through Easy Tiger hostel in Phong Nha national park. Phong Nha is home to the largest cave in the world, but the entrance to that cave is only for scientists…