travelogue

You Know, You Teach. You Do Not Know, You Learn - Laotian Proverb. Luang Prabang. Laos

At 5:30 AM, the sound of a gong echoes in the distance and dawn starts to break. Shortly afterwards, the first monks appear In the silent backstreets of Luang Prabang. I could just make out the rhythmical padding of feet. Gravel crunching beneath the bare soles. Over 200 Bhuddist monks form a solemn processional line.

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You Can’t Claim Heaven as Your Own if You're Just Going to Sit Under It - Cambodian Proverb. Siam Reap.

As we walked around the atmosphere was not great. Not many people were around because of the midday heat, but those that were, many just stared straight through us. few people engaged with us. I got the impression they don’t like tourists, and who can blame them. it became clear this is not a village that is benefitting from the high ticket prices.  Quite the opposite, they are Cambodia’s forgotten people with other people making money out of them.

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For News of the Heart Ask the Face - Cambodian Proverb. Siam Reap. Cambodia

Our first view of Angkor Wat is very impressive but of course we didnt beat the crowds - thousands of people marching, gathering, jostling for the best spot to capture a photo. It was in fact the public holiday for the ancestors festival as well as a 10 year anniversary of the death of their old king - we couldn’t have chosen a busier time. Oh yes we could - sunset or sunrise.

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Don't Let an Angry Man Wash Dishes; Don't Let a Hungry Man Guard Rice - Cambodian Proverb. Cambodia.

So our experience of Phnom Penh took quite a different turn. We didn’t think to check up on festivals so we found ourselves at the beginning of a major national holiday -Pchum Ben - Ancestors Festival or Hungry Ghosts Festival.

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Fortune Favours the Brave - Vietnamese Proverb. Chau Doc. Vietnam.

Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam is close to the river border of Vietnam and Cambodia. Which is exactly why we are here. This is where we catch a high speed boat to Phnom Penh. The Cambodian Border is only about 1 hour away, then after border control we travel on a further 4 hours by boat.

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A Miss is as Good as a Smile - Vietnamese Proverb. Can Tho. Vietnam.

So the reality is actually quite different. Our guide kept insisting that it was the biggest market, Yes it was getting smaller but it’s the best and biggest. Well there were not many active merchant  boats or sampans, no bustling, no music and no atmosphere. It felt as though it was well past its sell by date.

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A Fair Face May Hide a Fool’s Heart - Vietnamese Proverb. Ben Tre. Vietnam.

Ben Tre provides a large number of coconuts for exporting to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, India and China.

The ecolodge we are staying at provided us with a boat and guide, so off we chugged to explore the land of the coconuts.

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One Drop of Poison Infects the Whole Tun of Wine - Vietnamese Proverb. Hue. Vietnam

Wishing for something completely different, we located Hue Abandoned Water Park. It sounded interesting on-line but wasn’t quite the secret it was made out to be. Once a bustling aquatic playground, nestled amidst the pine hills of Hue, this water park spans an area of 50 hectares.

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A Day of Travelling Will Bring a Basket Full of Learning - Vietnamese Proverb

We learnt pretty fast that you just go with the flow - when you cross the street, you walk like an elephant - slow and steady, don’t stop, look forward, keep moving, and trust that scooters and cars will either stop or move around you. Except Buses - they don’t Stop. You run.

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