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Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
  • Kerrie Palamountain
  • RogerP
  • Kerrie Palamountain
  • RogerP

Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia

With Yvonne & Ian Pascoe Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 11, 2025
    Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    Annabel drove us to bus interchange
    22Pillion passengers sitting side saddle seem very relaxed!3Hotel aquarium1432

    Encounter Bay - Adelaide - Melbourne - H

    February 11 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 38 °C

    This is our first ever visit to Asia. We are travelling with our life long friends, Ian & Yvonne Pascoe. Yvonne has wheelchair assist at airports because she fractured her foot 5 weeks ago! We drove to Ian & Yvonne's home at St Agnes then got the O-Bahn to the Adelaide Airport. We had a 5.5 hour transit at Tullermarine (Melbourne) before the 9.5 hr flight to Hanoi.
    Took an hour to pass through immigration and then a 30 min minibus trip to the hotel in misty, overcast, chaotic traffic conditions.
    We explored the area around the hotel, having coffee with the locals and tasting Banh Bao Nong - a delicious meat and quail egg steamed bun. We then hired rickshaws to return us to our Hotel - an amazing experience and worth every bit of the 300,000 dong ($20). We then found out we had been booked into the wrong hotel!
    After a long wait for transport to our intended hotel, we had lunch at a local eatery. It was terrible food, sadly.
    It has been a fantastic day in Hanoi and we all have sensory overload! Yes, Sue & Shirl - we love Asia!! Tomorrow Hà Long Bay!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
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    Train Street - Hanoi

    February 12 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Our first day in Hanoi finished at Train Street. We got a taxi from the Hotel to Train Street and walked along the narrow paths either side of the railway, taking in all the excitement of this amazing place.
    We eventually settled on a Cafe where we enjoyed some spring rolls, dumplings and a fabulous plate of exotic fruits.
    The train sounded it's horn and everyone jumped up ready to see the train approach. Tables were moved and people encouraged to stand back as the train came closer.
    An excellent way to finish our day in Hanoi!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    Hordes of people climbing the steps to Surprise Cave1Dozens of boats full with tourists at Hà Long BaySurprise Cave4With 2 ladies who are on this trip with us.1Entering Hidden CaveYvonne & Ian - a similar experience to a gondola ride in Venice, only much bigger vesselFirst course - pumpkin soupSecond course - oysters & prawns1Main course - sea bream & sticky purple riceDessert!2

    Ha Long Bay

    February 13 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    An early start to our second fabulous day in Vietnam. We were transported to Hà Long Bay by bus, arriving at lunchtime. En route, our Guide, Lam, spoke about life in Vietnam and we were fascinated by his description of life in a communist country.
    We boarded our cruise boat and enjoyed a delicious lunch before going by tender to Surprise Cave (along with a few hundred other tourists)! The cave was enormous and very impressive. We then visited Hidden Cave by boat. This whole area is stunning!
    We had another delicious meal followed by music & dancing on board. What a great day! Tomorrow we leave Hà Long Bay at 11 am and return to Hanoi.    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    1Omelettes to order
    Our boat - Le Journey22Vihanoi restaurantHieu & Ynz Le1Street food in the old centre of Hanoi2

    Ha Long Bay - Hanoi

    February 14 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Another early start to the day with a tender transfer to Ti-Tam Island, where Roger climbed to the lookout for misty views of the Bay. Kerrie rested her knees!
    Back on board the 'Le Journey' boat for an 0945 brunch while the boat gently motored back to the harbour. The journey was quite spectacular with fewer other tourist boats to spoil the photos! We were then bused back to Hanoi.
    Roger has a virus, so went to bed. Ian, Yvonne and I got a taxi to Vihanoi Restaurant near the old centre. A delicious meal. We met Hieu & Ynz Le - they own 3 hotels and a restaurant - delightful couple. We then walked to the old centre and saw true street food being enjoyed by the locals. After much effort trying to get a taxi back to our hotel, a kind street vendor called one for us. We had a terrifying ride in the taxi where the driver spent more time on his phone than actually driving. Still, we are here to tell the story!!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    Our Hanoi guide, Lam.
    Budda Temple1An overstocked street vendor!21First course at our first restaurant on Saturday nightSecond course - a wanton type pizza5On our electric vehicle - used to take us around Hoi AnOur Hoi An guide, Jenny, demonstrating rice wrappingGroup at our second restaurant2

    Hanoi to Hoi An

    February 15 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Our guide Lan took us on a walking tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi before we were transported to the Airport for our flight to Da Nang. We were met by our Guide for the next 3 days, Jenny, who is fantastic.
    After a 45 Min bus trip we arrived at our hotel and then reconvened 30 mins later for a night in Hoi An. Jenny took us to 2 restaurants before we were treated to a boat trip on the river with the lighting and releasing of candles on the water. We already love Hoi An - it is clean and very pretty with much less traffic!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    1Traditional Vietnamese music
    1Dancers at the perfomance2Yvonne was enticed into giving this a go, but then got caught up having to pay for the fruit!6Vietnamese coffee is delicious!At a local farmers market1Fish monger at the local farmers market12Our Cooking Class venue113Master Chef here we come!1Chef Roger!3Our delicious spring rolls1A Vietnamese rice pancake4

    Hoi An - Cooking Class

    February 16 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    A bit slower start to the day. We met Jenny, our Guide, at 0830 and were transported by an electric people mover to the ancient town of Hoi An for a walking tour followed by a traditional Vietnamese music & dance performance. Roger rested again this morning but was feeling well enough to join us for the 4.30 pm tour of the farmers' market and cooking class.
    The cooking class was conducted by an exuberant and, initially, quite confronting Chef. It was quite hilarious in the end. We cooked and ate 4 delicious dishes.
    In between the morning walk & cooking class, Kerrie had a wonderful 60 Min massage ($AUD26, plus a tip).    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    1Golden Bridge
    1These buildings built 15 years ago.Impressive buildings - apparently financed by a mega wealthy manOur gorgeous Jenny - 38, mother of 3 boys.315 min chair lift6Dinner at Vietnamese restaurant

    Bà Na Hills & the Golden Bridge

    February 17 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Today was a mixed bag! We thought Roger had turned the corner in terms of health yesterday, but this morning he felt awful again. He decided to stay in the hotel, while the Pascoes and I did the scheduled optional tour of Bà Na Hills. Here is the blessing - Roger was able to rest and not be subjected to Bà Na Hills falseness & the 'iconic' Golden Bridge. Not our scene at all! The entire structure - all the buildings have been created in the last 15 years and thousands of people take the cable car to the hills summit every day. It's almost Vietnam's version of Disneyland. Still, others loved it.
    The best part of the trip was listening to Jenny tell her life story. Unbelievable!
    All is well that ends well! Roger, again, felt better this afternoon, so came to dinner at a restaurant recommended by Jenny.
    Tomorrow we fly to Ho Chi Minh City.    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    1Developments gone wrong around Covid
    Jenny - a beautiful soulSaying goodbye at the airport1Our bathroom1Bedroom - huge comfy bed1We even have our own sitting area5On the sightseeing bus at nightScreens & decorative lights everywhereAt the street food market3A little insight into lovely Jenny2Traffic - Ho Chi Minh City

    Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City

    February 18 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Although Roger had another drenching night sweat overnight, he bounced back today, thankfully, with no relapses!
    We were escorted to Da Nang airport by Jenny, our delightful guide. We all fell in love with her.
    We were met at Ho Chi Minh Airport by our new Guide, Hung. Our room at the Paragon Saigon Hotel is, without doubt, the best we've ever stayed in. It's like an apartment.
    The Pascoes and us found a restaurant close by for a very late lunch. We are amazed by the size of the very modern city.
    After sunset, we took the evening tour of the Sightseeing Bus and really enjoyed seeing the city lights. We had a late dinner at a very popular street market where a band was playing American country music!
    The heat and humidity, now that we are further south, will prove challenging!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    Some of the different bombs dropped on Vietnam
    Entering one of the tunnellsDown goes the lid - completely concealedA trap door with bamboo spikes to land onAnother tunnel entranceVarious torturous trapsMaking rice papers the traditional way7Roger exiting a larger tunnellTapioca (boiled) with nuts and tea

    Cu Chi Tunnells

    February 19 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We departed the hotel by bus for the Cu Chi Tunnells tour at 7.30 am.
    The Cu Chi Tunnells are part of the 250 km of tunnells created by the Viet Cong. We could really appreciate the difficulties faced by the Americans and Australians trying to find the enemy as well as the many traps set by the Viet Cong.
    We arrived back at the hotel for a nap before visiting the Saigon Markets. Dinner was at a very popular Michelin star restaurant near the hotel. Not used to paying 1,300,000 dong for a meal! Even so, it was only about $AUD45 each!
    The Pascoes and Kerrie then went for another massage. Just beautiful!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    8Fascinated with Vietnamese wiring!
    Floating fish farm - Mekong Delta1This bridge takes 2 hours to cross in peak hourHouse and boats on the bank of Mekong RiverBee factoryWe drank honey tea - deliciousBoarding canoes for canal ride544Snake wine - one of our group drank some!2A seething mass of farmed fish2Our sumptuous lunch!Catching frogs!3

    Mekong Delta

    February 20 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    A wonderful day exploring the Mekong Delta and canals. The bus trip was 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City - thankfully A/C!
    A fascinating day with visits to a honey farm, coconut candy factory and a traditional, delicious Vietnamese lunch.
    We enjoyed all sorts of boat transport, but the highlight was being paddled in canoes along the narrow canals by local Vietnamese people.
    The day finished with another massage for Kerrie & Ian followed by a Vietnamese dinner at a local restaurant. A very enjoyable day. Tomorrow we fly to Cambodia.    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    1Almost anything gets carried on motor bikes & scooters!
    2This mobile food vendor had meat drying!In Cambodia, enclosed tuk tuks are the go.1Ian & Yvonne on a tuk tuk touring the city centre1Night farmers marketWe toured the Sap RiverMany people live on their fishing boatsA community of fishing families12A 5 star hotel in the background - every pic tells a story!13

    Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Pen

    February 21 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Today 6 in our group flew to Phnom Pen at 1.30 pm, which meant we were able to sleep in until 8 am! What bliss! We arrived at our hotel just after 4 pm. The rest of the group took the bus, leaving at 7 am and arriving at 6.15 pm! They were exhausted - 2.5 hours at the border! Even flying, getting the Cambodian visa was a challenge!
    We had a night tour of Phnom Pen by tuk tuk and boat, visiting evening markets along the way.
    Roger stayed at the hotel. Not feeling fantastic - virus & medication issues to be sorted. He had dinner at the hotel with some of the group that didn't do the evening tour. He had a lovely meal with nice company and was feeling better when we returned to the hotel.    Read more

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    Phnom Pen

    February 22 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    An 8 am start for another big day out. First we were taken to 2 monuments - one for the previous King and one that celebrates Independence Day (from the French occupation).
    Cambodia has been occupied by the Chinese, French & the Communist Khmer Rouge regime until 1979. They were only able to open their borders to tourists after 2003 because of land mines.
    We then went to one of the Killing Fields, where a total of 3 million Cambodians were executed by the evil Pohl Pot regime. In many respects the Killing Fields are a place of peace now.
    We then had lunch at a lovely restaurant overlooking the Sap River. Then off to the markets where we almost came undone with the heat and humidity. Bàck to the hotel for a cold shower and rest. We leave Phnom Pen tomorrow for Siem Reap, our last stop before we fly home.    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    1This market specialised in crunchy creepy crawlies!
    1Enjoying a delicious scorpion!4Tarantulas are everywhere!1Rice has been harvested and dries for 3-5 days1Our delicious lunch - Chicken in a mild coconut sauce.2We enjoyed lunch with 'the other group'.5On a tuk tuk touring Seim Reap at night.3The very popular Pub Street.1Seim Reap night market.3Scorpions, tarantulas, worms, frogs enjoyed by locals with beer!

    Phnom Pen to Siem Reap

    February 23 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    On the road by 7.30 this morning en route to Siem Reap, 350 km from Phnom Pen. The bus ride was incredible - often there were 3 vehicles abreast on a 2 lane road! The bus driver just overtook whenever he liked and everyone else on the road made allowances! These drivers are unbelievably courteous and never seem to get angry.
    We stopped at a place that specialises in cooking Scorpions, tarantulas, frogs, worms, etc. These are a delicacy for locals at the end of the day with a beer!
    Little kids were running around with live turanchalas scaring the tourists!
    We had a delicious restaurant lunch before arriving at our hotel at Siem Reap.
    The evening's entertainment was a tuk tuk ride around the city and dinner at a restaurant in Pub Street - a buzzing place that was completely deserted only 40 years ago during the Khymer Rouge rule.
    Roger heaps better. Kerrie fighting off a virus (and winning for a change)! The only other disappointing event was the loss of our American dollars and local Riel notes - fortunately only around $100 lost. Would have been a disaster if this happened at the beginning of the holiday. Lessons to be learnt!    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    2Tuk tuk ride - the drivers were delightful!
    1Hammocks everywhere. This one in the hold of bus!1This lady was sweeping the gutter with a dustpan & broom.

    Siem Reap - Ho C Minh - Melbourne - Adel

    February 23 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Once again we come to the end of another overseas adventure - our first visit to Asia.
    We have been impressed with TripaDeal organisation, itinerary & in particular their excellent local Guides.
    The lasting impression for us will be the people of Vietnam & Cambodia. Both countries have been ravaged by war in relatively recent times - extreme cruelty and massacres. And yet, these humble people are kind, gracious, happy, patient and totally accepting of their lot in life. Cambodia is, apparently, the second poorest country in the world. People live a subsistence life, happy to work long hours with minimal reimbursement. We have never met more skilful nor more calm drivers. No road rage here!
    In summary, we hope the profound effect of our short exposure to these countries will never diminish and we will be forever thankful for what we have been blessed with in this life!
    Thanks for journeying with us! Kerrie & Roger (& Yvonne and Ian) xx    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    Angkor Wat temple
    Our Siem Reap Guide, Som.1116Fig tree encasing the templeBeheaded Buddhist statue (Hindus did this to most Buddhist statues)22

    Angkor Wat

    February 24 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Today we travelled 25 mins to the Khmer temple of Angkor Wat - which was built over approx 37 years during the 12th century by Buddhists. Hindus then took over the temple and destroyed many of the Buddhist statues, etc. What they didn't destroy other countries pilfered - eg France, Australia, etc. Some things have been returned to the Cambodian people but very little apparently in the scheme of things.
    We had another delicious lunch at a local restaurant before returning to our hotel for a rest and some air conditioning!
    We had dinner at a lovely restaurant near the hotel. Many of the group leave tomorrow and a few stragglers, like us, fly out on 27th. After our tour tomorrow of Tonie Sap Community, the TripaDeal tour finishes. We will have a day and a half to do our own thing - maybe another massage will be on the agenda?    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia
    Only clean water is in plastic bottlesSomeone's homeFishermanFloating villageFruit & Veg deliveryDelivering F & V to the 'restaurant'2Floating Catholic Church2Floating school - morning & afternoon school sessionsCrocodiles - very valuable to localsTable decoration at floating restaurant1Pagoda - Siem Reap1At the silk shop. They use various leaves to dye silk fabric1Silk spinning2Silk & Silversmith shop1Tonie Sap floating village

    Tonle Sap Tour

    February 25 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    An emotionally challenging day as we visited Tonle Sap Floating Village. No sanitation, clean running water, etc. During the monsoon season the houses need to be relocated to higher ground. People live here to fish and survive and because they cannot afford to live anywhere else.
    We felt it was an invasion of their privacy to just tour past and see their living conditions, however, the world needs to see this.
    The government restricts health and education opportunities as a means of control. The Cambodians are just simple, beautiful people who never complain nor get angry. They are so accepting of their lot in life. We visited a silk & Silversmith shop en route to the hotel. We all bought jewellery! I got silver loop earrings.
    Roger & I did a tuk tuk tour for an hour after lunch and visited a pagoda temple. The Pascoes and I then had a massage. Our tuk tuk driver, Mr Sopheap, took us to a lovely outdoor restaurant for dinner and then took us back to the hotel. His 15 year old daughter died in a bike accident - he has one son now. So many stories to tell....    Read more

  • Pals in Vietnam & Cambodia

    Siem Reap - lazy day for us!

    February 26 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    TripaDeal tour finished yesterday at lunchtime so we had nothing planned for today. A late breakfast and then we went back to bed for a couple of hours! Yes the virus won with me (Kerrie) and Roger much better but not 100%. We will spare you the details!
    We have been thinking about how we can support Cambodians. Bel, my darling friend for 45 years mentioned Cosi's Cows for Cambodia. Look it up - it seems to be a wonderful charity that enables poor farmers to own their own calf (value the same as a house). We will seriously look into supporting this charity.
    Ian & Yvonne have had an amazing day. With their permission we will devote a new Footprint to their morning endeavours - simply amazing!    Read more

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    Ian & Yvonne' s amazing morning

    February 26 in Cambodia ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    This is Yvonne's post about their unexpected visit yesterday -
    What a morning!
    Two days ago we saw a young lady enter the hotel wearing a polo top with Community Development Group on the back. We approached her and asked if she knew where we could donate a moon boot. (Yvonne broke her foot in 4 places 7 weeks ago!)
    This morning we met with Rachana in the hotel lobby. She directed a tuk tuk so we could donate the moonboot I had brought with us - just in case!
    We had no idea where we were going.
    Eventually we stopped at a compound that had banners outside with slogans to ban landmines.
    Rachana took us into an open meeting area where we sat down and along came 1 lady and 3 gentlemen.
    The lady is an 85 year old Australian from Brisbane. Her name is Sister Denise Coghlan a Catholic nun.
    The man in the wheelchair is Tun Channareth who we discovered is Rachana's father. He lost both legs in 1983 while he was a soldier.
    They along with another 15 are the people who are running the Metta Karuna Reflection Centre, which is an interfaith centre where anyone is welcomed to spend time seeing the challenges of Cambodia through the eyes of the poor. They have dormitory style accommodation and many groups go there, including school groups from around the world.
    They are active in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the cluster munition.
    In 1997 the ICBL won the Nobel Peace Prize and the coordinator Jody Williams along with Tun Channareth were presented with it.
    What an honour that we were fortunate enough to talk with him and Sister Denise and were able to hold the Nobel Peace Prize in our hands. (Apparently it contains approximately $USD10,000 of gold.)
    The people from the Centre continue to make low cost wheelchairs, visit communities and help victims of landmines, disabled and the poor.
    We were very touched by their openness and compassion.
    Yvonne and Ian    Read more

    Trip end
    February 28, 2025
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