Big update; I've moved to Hanoi! I found a part-time job on Sundays teaching. This will allow me to find other work during the week. My hope is to get some work proof-reading, editing, writing, or even working in a quiet pub.
Next order of business: buy a phone and find a reasonable place to live! I'll miss Kampot and all my wonderful new friends there, but after returning to Hanoi and seeing some friends here, I am reminded why I loved it in the first place. Opportunities already abound; I've been invited to a film screening tomorrow!
Now my real focus: food. I randomly ran into a German friend from Phnom Penh at my hostel and took her out for two of my faves, bun bo nam bo (noodles with peanuts, pork, and herbs), and banh troi (a sweet soup with ginger, peanuts, coconut milk, and sticky rice balls served hot). Pictures to come once a PC is found, but I can't not talk about food here as you know!
Until next time!
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Hello all, I'm back!
I've been taking a break to figure out some things and finally realized that I needed to live my dream of traveling to Southeast Asia, where I have been for the last two months.
I started out in Saigon, Vietnam which is an incredible city! It's SO busy and warm. I needed heat very badly; Toronto is freezing!
After Saigon, I flew with a friend to Hanoi and immediately fell in love with the city. I could easily disappear into Hanoi and never be found again, but in the best possible of ways. It's enchanting. I used it as a base for a few weeks to explore other areas.
My first jaunt out of Hanoi was to Sapa to the north. The French called the area the Tonkian Alps and it is simply stunning! It was absolutely freezing with no heat at most of the hotels, but it was so pretty and totally worth the warm clothes I had to buy. It was a good thing we were up there for five days though, I ended up being sick for the first two days!
Back in Hanoi, I met some nice people and we decided to head I'vealong Bay. We went on a two night cruise down to Lan Ha and stayed on our own private island. Not luxurious accommodations, but it was gorgeous. We got to kayak, fish, and play cards together, which was the relaxing vacation we all needed.
Before leaving Hanoi, some friends and I had made a plan to fly to Hoi An (in central Vietnam) together. I love Hoi An, and I made a few new friends there, courtesy of one of my choir friends back in Toronto. Hoi An needs to be savored and I definitely needed more time there, so I took it!
A Canadian friend of mine from Hanoi wanted to see Hoi An, so we decided that she would fly to Hue and I would take the train up to meet her, then we would head back to Hoi An.
That train trip (at sunset) was one of the highlights of my time in Vietnam! The train goes to places the road does not and setting fishing boats and inaccessible beaches was so inspiring.
After an afternoon at the old Forbidden City and sampling some local food, we headed back to Hoi An, which she feel in love with as much as I did! Another friend joined us, and we spent a few days on the beach, biking around town, and drinking coconuts.
After this, I headed down to Saigon for a few days to meet some friends. From there, I headed to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta and meet up with one of the Canadians from Hoi An to do the floating markets there. We left each other there - her to head to Saigon, me to Cambodia.
Phnom Penh is an absolutely gorgeous city and its architecture blew my mind! It's more Indianised than anywhere else I've ever been. I even got to see the King passing by one day in a motorcade!
Up to Siem Reap to meet a friend from Hanoi and experience the wonders of Angkor. I didn't know it, but Angkor Wat is merely one temple in a complex that stretches for hundreds of kilometers! My favorites were Bayon and Bang Melea.
After Siem Reap, I made my way up to Battambang to meet a friend. It was not my favorite place, but they had an interesting market.
Back on Phnom Penh, I met some more people and I ended up heading to Kampot in southern Cambodia, where I am now. It's time to find work so I can stay in Asia longer! Any suggestions or connections appreciated ;)
Given the cold winter Toronto has been having this year, I've been very glad to generally be in warmer climes!
Sadly, I can't load pictures to this entry from my tablet, so that will have to wait.
Until next time!
I've been taking a break to figure out some things and finally realized that I needed to live my dream of traveling to Southeast Asia, where I have been for the last two months.
I started out in Saigon, Vietnam which is an incredible city! It's SO busy and warm. I needed heat very badly; Toronto is freezing!
After Saigon, I flew with a friend to Hanoi and immediately fell in love with the city. I could easily disappear into Hanoi and never be found again, but in the best possible of ways. It's enchanting. I used it as a base for a few weeks to explore other areas.
My first jaunt out of Hanoi was to Sapa to the north. The French called the area the Tonkian Alps and it is simply stunning! It was absolutely freezing with no heat at most of the hotels, but it was so pretty and totally worth the warm clothes I had to buy. It was a good thing we were up there for five days though, I ended up being sick for the first two days!
Back in Hanoi, I met some nice people and we decided to head I'vealong Bay. We went on a two night cruise down to Lan Ha and stayed on our own private island. Not luxurious accommodations, but it was gorgeous. We got to kayak, fish, and play cards together, which was the relaxing vacation we all needed.
Before leaving Hanoi, some friends and I had made a plan to fly to Hoi An (in central Vietnam) together. I love Hoi An, and I made a few new friends there, courtesy of one of my choir friends back in Toronto. Hoi An needs to be savored and I definitely needed more time there, so I took it!
A Canadian friend of mine from Hanoi wanted to see Hoi An, so we decided that she would fly to Hue and I would take the train up to meet her, then we would head back to Hoi An.
That train trip (at sunset) was one of the highlights of my time in Vietnam! The train goes to places the road does not and setting fishing boats and inaccessible beaches was so inspiring.
After an afternoon at the old Forbidden City and sampling some local food, we headed back to Hoi An, which she feel in love with as much as I did! Another friend joined us, and we spent a few days on the beach, biking around town, and drinking coconuts.
After this, I headed down to Saigon for a few days to meet some friends. From there, I headed to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta and meet up with one of the Canadians from Hoi An to do the floating markets there. We left each other there - her to head to Saigon, me to Cambodia.
Phnom Penh is an absolutely gorgeous city and its architecture blew my mind! It's more Indianised than anywhere else I've ever been. I even got to see the King passing by one day in a motorcade!
Up to Siem Reap to meet a friend from Hanoi and experience the wonders of Angkor. I didn't know it, but Angkor Wat is merely one temple in a complex that stretches for hundreds of kilometers! My favorites were Bayon and Bang Melea.
After Siem Reap, I made my way up to Battambang to meet a friend. It was not my favorite place, but they had an interesting market.
Back on Phnom Penh, I met some more people and I ended up heading to Kampot in southern Cambodia, where I am now. It's time to find work so I can stay in Asia longer! Any suggestions or connections appreciated ;)
Given the cold winter Toronto has been having this year, I've been very glad to generally be in warmer climes!
Sadly, I can't load pictures to this entry from my tablet, so that will have to wait.
Until next time!
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