The Land of a Thousand Smiles and the Land of the Free
June 2-9, 2011
“Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, ‘I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.”
And we just flirted with life, 4 times…one day at a time.
Cambodia
Twas a long drive going to the border of Thailand and Cambodia. Upon arriving, one would notice the difference of the two countries—culture, language, politics, and the traffic—, which by the way, is a little confusing. You would drive on the left side of the road in Thailand, and once you reached Cambodia, it’s the other way around.
Tuktuk.
Without it and without our trusted driver, Mr. Bitch, we’d have been lost. We had our own tour courtesy of our tuktuk driver, Bitch. (not his real name btw, we just call him Bitch just because.)
Inked.
The 3 of us got inked by a local Cambodian tattoo artist. And it was a life-changing moment—eehh…not really. At that time, we just feel like getting a tattoo for the first time, in Dani’s case; 3rd time for Tet and my 4th time. Plus, this one is different, there’s a ritual involved so I can say that it is somewhat remarkable. They really take getting inked seriously.
Khmer.
Almost everything that we should know about the Land of a Thousand Smiles was almost covered. We had a taste of the Khmer food—fried noodles with egg and veggies are definitely a favorite and a must-try.
Land of a Thousand Smiles.
The title says it all, definitely appropriate for the people of Cambodia. We felt the warmth of their welcome. They are very accommodating, always happy—maybe because of the Happy Smoke! :D
Ankor Wat.
Learning Ankor Wat’s history beforehand and seeing it first hand, we’re lucky, really. The majestic atmosphere that it exudes left us in total veneration.
Thailand
Bangkok
Patpong-PingPong – Nightlife – enough said.
Krabi
Cruisin’.
It was a 2-hour cruise going to PhiPhi Island—the second to the last leg of our backpacking escapade.
The Beach.
We toured around the islands of Phi Phi. I must say, it is comparable to our own beach sites. “The beach” is splendid. I could stay there for months if possible—ala Survivor.
Paradise.
Last day in paradise. After the whole-day tour and the partying at night, it’s time to relax. Sitting by the beach with some good music and my coconut milkshake—bliss. It was nice.
Phuket
Temples.
The intricate oriental design of the temples is really interesting. It is a mixture of art, religion, culture, and people. Totally mind-blowing.
Epic.
The trip was awesome! The idea that I’m far away from home and I’m in a land wherein I am considered as a foreigner is humbling. The trip was not just about the sites, the foods, the culture, the locals, meeting new people—it’s about the experience. Add all the elements and you’ll get one hella ride!
And truly, no one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. (Words of Lin Yutang) :)
