if i were to summarise my holiday, i would call it the trip of many gifts.
in Siem Reap, God gave me physical strength and endurance. exploring the angkor archaeological park was no easy feat as i had to battle against the afternoon heat, the blazing sun and my own physical weakness. by mid-day, i often had to seek shelter in the shade to rest my tired feet and aching knees. furthermore, some of the temples had such steep and eroded stairs that i had to overcome my fear of heights to experience the best views at the peak.
entrance of Angkor Thom.
Bayon temple is one of the must-sees in the park.
a cute little boy i spotted at the Bayon temple.
A breathtaking view of Angkor Wat.
Sra Pon was my tuk tuk driver. sitting in his tuk tuk made me feel like a royalty! he also provided icy cold water and towels free of charge! if you ever need a tuk tuk driver, ask me for his contact. ((:
sunset at Phnom Bakheng - not an impressive shot though. climbing up Phnom Bakheng was memorable, because the steps were insanely steep!
sunrise at Angkor Wat. the sunrise is overrated, but still it was worth crawling out of bed at 4am.
one of my favourite shots.
a little girl selling bracelet in the premises. in angkor, child labour is rampant. the younger ones would be seen selling handicrafts, while some older boys double up as tuk tuk drivers and the older girls work at the street stalls.
a close up shot of Banteay Kdei (if i haven't got the names of the temples mixed up)
the skies are so beautiful in cambodia!
that's yours truly, cam-whoring in my spartan hotel room. =p
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in Phnom Penh, God gave me resilience. compared to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh was a much harsher place because people were more aggressive and pickpockets are apparently quite prevalent. The streets were very dusty, and the afternoon heat could leave you feeling so dehydrated.
this is tuol sleng genocide museum, once a prison in the late 1970s where the Khmer Rouge captured and tortured many innocent civilians.
this is the royal palace..
and the national museum, with its elaborate Khmer architecture and extensive collection of Khmer art.
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in Ho Chi Minh city, God gave me courage. as you already know, crossing the road requires more than just skill. it commands a lot of guts from somebody who grew up in a country where most people faithfully abide to traffic rules and the roads are very orderly. HCMC was also the city where i realised that i was braver than i thought - with the sudden flight cancellations that required me to choose a road less travelled.
the Ben Thanh market is a great place for shopping - if you know how to bargain.
the reunification palace, where important guests are received. the lobby of the palace is also a popular place for wealthy people to hold their weddings!
in case you're curious, this is how the interior of palace looks like inside.
this picture was taken on my train ride to Danang. due to a very last minute flight cancellation, i had to find alternative means of transport to get to my next destination, and the train was the fastest option i had. however, because i purchased the ticket very late (six hours prior to the departure) i was forced to take a soft seat instead of a bed, and the 17-hour journey turned out to be quite a
horror unique experience. i was in a coach full of Vietnamese who did not speak a word of english. i was practically like an alien, but still, everyone showed a lot of kindness towards me.
on my left, was the granny who sat beside me.
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in Hoi An, God gave me the peace and serenity that i needed badly, after surviving a tiring overnight train ride with no shower and little sleep. Hoi An is a quiet little town famous for its craftwork, tailors, lanterns, colorful lanterns and pretty cafes. although it was drizzling most of the day, i did not let the rain dampen my mood. i merely spent a lot of time chilling out at the lovely restaurants, hiding in people's porches, and shop-hopping for souvenirs.
a collage of my best shots taken in Hoi An.
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finally in Hanoi, which was my favourite of all, God gave me hope. He showed me hope through a group of people who found happiness despite the difficult past they have been through. He showed me warmth through their company, their hospitality and a very sumptuous home-cooked dinner. He spoke to me through a friend, who taught me what it is like to live by faith. it reminded me that He will not judge me, nor abandon me.
i do not have the photographs yet, but i believe the best memories are best kept in our hearts, not in sight. you do not have to see it, to remember it. in time to come, i may forget how these people look like, or what they said, but i will never forget how they made me feel.
this solo trip was much tougher than my last one, but with the many gifts i received along the way, i have found it much more exhilarating, rejuvenating, and meaningful.
knowing that God takes me to good places and good people, i am eager to see where my next vacation will bring me to. (:
[/edit]:
as i have received some requests for my itinerary, i actually edited my original one to add in comments and actual expenditure. if you are interested, you may download a copy here.
