VANG VIENG VERY GOOD

With nothing planned today and the kids not wanting to do anything it was a slow start to the day with me going back to bed after breaky and a shower after being up just before 5 am.

On one of my little walk arounds yesterday I found a track heading to a cave and a lagoon so after getting the kids some lunch and setting them up with movies Dave and I set out.

First stop though was lunch overlooking the river.















Across the rice fields we started our trek.

We lost track of time taking the scenery in but guessing about 40 minutes later we reached the Pha Poak cave and mountain view.

Seeing the ladders and what was ahead I decided to stay below for some quiet time.















And when I seen the photos later I was glad I did.















We were told ten minutes to the top. Yeah right! At least 40 minutes later Dave descended.

Inside the cave.

The spectacular view from the top.

Another 1 kilometre further (we were told) to Lu Si Cave and the lagoon.

I was imagining naked swimming scenes from The Blue Lagoon.

But we were told by others we passed the water was too cold to swim. Still the walk was beautiful.

After walking for around one and a half hours (in thongs) we hitched a ride home on the back of bikes for 20000 kip ($2.50) each as we were getting worried about the kids as we'd been gone about 3 hours by now. And also Dave and I were both limping by then (Dave a calf injury from way back and me a hip flexor one from Vientianne)

Tonight, we went back to the same restaurant we went to for lunch as the food was amazing.

Another traditional Lao dish - Larp Pa (minced fish cooked with spicy seasoning, herbs and mint leaves. Fantastic food!

More photos here.

VLT NATURAL TOURS

It was a beautiful day in Vang Vieng today and what better way to spend it than in the sun and the water.

We took a V.L.T. Natural Tour firstly to the Water Cave.















It was an eerie feeling floating on tubes through a cave pitch black other than our headlamps.

We pulled ourselves along by a rope to one end of the cave and back again.

After a barbequed lunch we then walked to the mystic Elephant Cave.

Inside the cave were many Buddha statues dating back centuries.

Then it was time for a leisurely kayak down the Nam Song River.

Along the way we stopped off at a river front bar. This is where all the action is, if only we were 21 again :( - rope swinging, zip wiring, cliff jumping and plenty of booze.

The evening was spent at an "Aussie Bar" on the main street where the kids got another Aussie meat pie.

More photos here.

MOVING ON, VANG VIENG

So, yesterday was a somewhat lazier day. We didn't do too much other than Dave and I visiting Wat Si Saket which is the oldest Buddhist temple still standing in Vientiane.

The kids wanted a rest day so stayed at home until late afternoon when we took them snack shopping for today's road trip and also to the park after dinner. At one stage we were talking about turning Sofie to ensure she didn't get bed sores!

Last of Vientiane photos here.

But today we've moved on. A 3 and a bit hour drive to Vang Vieng and now at The Elephant Crossing Hotel.

On the way we stopped at a village to see all the different kinds of fish for sale - dried, smoked, barbequed, etc and these poor little fellows which are eaten in this neck of the woods - squirrels.

Dave was back in his element, this time riverside with beer.

The restaurant here is located right on the edge of the Nam Song River with breaktaking views of limestone mountains, especially at sunset.

Vang Vieng photos here.

FIRST STOP IN LAOS, VIENTIANE

Why is it that you always find out really interesting stuff just as you are about to leave? In our Cambodian hotel reception and on the drive to the airport, Sam, our tour guide, was telling us about his family. His Mum and Dad are divorced because when his Dad was at war he was shot and taken into North Vietnam and everyone told his Mum he was dead. Six years later he returned but it was too late, she had already re-married. His Dad lives in a village and is a herbal medicine man. Sam has already helped his Dad to get a fresh water pump, build a vege garden for him to grow his own vegetables and also built a chicken coop. His next plan is to buy him 1 hectare of land to grow his herbs needed for the medicine and to be able to take tourists to visit. Sam showed us a recipe book written by his Dad for traditional herbal medicines which is 40 years old, and obviously very special to him as he carries it in his backpack.

We arrived at the Inter City Hotel in Vientiane, located on the Mekong River dividing Laos and Thailand. It's just a hop, skip and a jump across the river to Thailand but you have to drive 24 kilometres to get to the crossing.

The hotel reception is just beautiful, like an art gallery.

After getting set up we headed out for lunch. Dave, sour pork ribs.

I thought I'd try a traditional Laos dish of Papaya salad and man, do they grow hot chillies here.

Back to the hotel to settle the kids in front of dvd's Dave and I went on the obligatory orientation walkabout. With a French influence and most of the shops closed it seems that Vientiane is a very peaceful city.

Later, dinner and night market shopping where we've bought a fab painting of Buddha.

More photos here.

BENG MEALEA TEMPLE

Picked up from the hotel lobby at 9 am, we were driven about 70 kms from the city of Siem Reap to Beng Mealea Temple.















Beng Mealea is a true jungle temple and a must-see for the adventurous Stark's.

Still largely submerged in lush vegetation, it is similar in structure and design to Angkor Wat.

Built in the 12th century, it was the last temple built by King Suryavarman II.

The kids and Dave had a great time climbing all over it whilst I enjoyed the peace and quiet amongst the ruins.

More photos here.

Tomorrow, we leave Cambodia and head for our last country, Laos.

TEMPLE TIME

Yesterday, we visited the masterpieces of Cambodia, the Temples.

We began our exploration by visiting the centrepiece, Bayon, of the ancient city, Angkor Thom. The Bayon holds 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatically smiling stone faces. Angkor Thom was established in the late 12th century and was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire.




















Sofie went nose to nose with one of the many smiling faces and Dave was most impressed with the story of the King and his 5000 concubines (topless). Angkor Thom and Bayon photos here.

From here we continued on to visit the jungle temple, Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found, with a combination of trees and jungle growing out of the ruins.

We enjoyed the best atmosphere in a peaceful way. Ta Prohm photos here.

At this point Jayden was getting, let's say "tired," and it was decided that we'd have lunch and take him back to the hotel for the afternoon. I stayed with him whilst Dave and Sofie went to see the masterpieces in the South East Asia Angkor Wat Temple.

Dave took this one for Rob :)

As the best preserved temple, Angkor Wat is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation in the early 12th century. The temple has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

Angkor Wat photos here.

QUAD ADVENTURE CAMBODIA

We wanted to see the "true" Cambodia not the hyped up for tourism city such is Siem Reap. And true is what we got when we embarked on a quad adventure yesterday. The adventure was both heartbreaking and heartwarming.















We were taken to places where life is still the same as it was before, where changes seem to have passed the people without touching their traditional way of living.

We did the half day tour lasting 5 hours. Any break for photos was a welcome relief after sitting on a throbbing, hot, vibrating...............quad bike! The face masks were for the dust, not swine flu!















The children took great delight in running to the road side to wave madly and say "hello, hello."

The children that you see on say World Vision ads, naked and with big bellies from disease, are real which was very sad.

But it made our day to see the smile on their faces. We waved to them all.

We were also lucky enough to visit the Chres Village School and Orphanage. With 57 children from poor local families and a home for orphans it was an emotional visit.

Sofie did an amazing job snapping photos from behind me.

We finished the day off with dinner at the cool cafe, The Blue Pumpkin, and a much needed massage.

More photos here.