Changing Country

Not much to say today, the only thing we scheduled was a flight from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap in Cambodia.  The boys were worried about the quality of the airplane, in fact they were convinced it was going to be a biplane.  It wasn't, but we did have to start the trip by catching the little bus to board the plane out on the tarmac.  We flew Cambodia Angkor air and although the flight was only 40 minutes they still managed to serve us a snack - a bologna and sauerkraut roll, yes very Vietnamese.

Leaving Ho Chi Minh City

Arriving Siem Reap

The trip from the airport to the hotel took about 20 minutes.  Its actually quite close, our van driver was ambling along at about 40 kms and hour.  It certainly fit well with the first impressions of the place - very laid back.  We drove through the city centre and it feels very similar to rural thailand.  Lots of cows on the side of the road, lots of little kids playing in the street, families moving about in their tuk tuk.  I know were going to love it here.  Pretty much everyone didnt really ever feel at ease in HCMC - already this place feels very familiar.

Were staying at the Tara Angkor hotel which is really nice.   When we arrived we scored welcome drinks which was lemongrass tea - complete with a straw made from lemongrass ; really really delicious.  The folks were just a little miffed that we seem to have scored a bigger and better room than them - complete with an air conditioner above our bed that is the same that cools the hallway here.  I'm glad it doesn't have a reverse setting or I'm sure we'd get sucked up into it.

Random Bits

Were off to Cambodia today, but before we do I thought Id just post some of Tony's photos that didn't really fit into Blog posts, but add to our impressions of Ho Chi Minh City. Like in a lot of Asian cities there is a very obvious contrast between those people who have little and those who have a lot more.  The locals transport ranges from rusty old bicycles to a brand new Bentley Supersports.  Their houses range from a few sheets of plastic on a bridge to a multistory mansion.  Where they shop varies from a cart on the side of the road to a sparkly air conditioned shopping plaza.  Its really what we love about traveling in Asia - the contrasts are everywhere you look.