Hua Hin District, Thailand

Visiting Francis and Denise while recovering from jetlag! A lovely few days enjoying the sunshine, stocking up on local clothes for the hot weather and sampling the food and drink. Everything veryRead more
Bangkok Thailand (1)

Exploring the city and shopping for the grand tour. Weather turned very cold. Pollution still awful. See individual comments for each photo.
Chiang Mai (1)

Stayed in a basic but excellent value for money small family hotel in the old fortified town. Tin and Nok took great care of us. See comments on each photo.
Elephant Park

We all wonder how these magnificent animals are treated in captivity. My own feeling is that the Thai people love their elephants and would not harm them. Indeed some of these animals definitely had aRead more
Chiang Rai Thailand

Still further North near the "golden triangle" where opium poppies are grown in the Thai, Burma, Laos border area. All a bit simpler, more basic and poorer.
Chiang Rai - Park (1)

An amazing park on the site of a former prison and close to the centre of town. Disneyland eat your heart out!
Chiang Rai - Park (2)

Too good not to share more photos!
Chiang Rai - White Temple

An amazing modern temple (Wat Rong Khun) designed by a famous Thai architect (Chalermchai Kositpipat), who happened to be born here. This project is being used to generate local employment and reviveRead more
Thai hill tribes

There are many different local tribes is this area living a subsistence life in the hinterland. They used to survive by swiddening (look it up) but now farm a little and weave beautiful scarves andRead more
Mekong River trip (1)

Journey down river started on the Friendship Bridge joining Thailand and Laos. Judging by the convoluted border controls this is a new definition of friendship!? Boat was basic but went surprisinglyRead more
Mekong River trip (2)

Stopped overnight in a palm and bamboo "hut" - surprisingly comfortable and relatively mosquito free but oh so cold!!! Trip came to an abrupt end when we were dumped about 8 kilometres short of LuangRead more
Luang Prabang, Laos

Our only destination in Laos; not sure about failed communist states and this did nothing to change my mind ... but the hotel was excellent and well managed by the lovely Emmanuelle. So the French areRead more
Chinese New Year

Surprisingly no fireworks but as a local said "It's not the Cambodian New Year!? This procession was fun but caused total chaos with the traffic for quite some time.
Siem Reap - Angkors

Amazing! Has to be seen to be beieved. Definitely a wonder of the world!
Siem Reap - town

Small town developed to support the tourist traffic for Angkor. Not a lot to see or do apart from them. Actually had a day off!
Phnom Penh - town

Capital city and a bit more lively and industrious. But there is no public transport!? Plenty of tuk tuk though. Prices are mostly in US $ if not you're probably in the wrong part of town!
Phnom Penh - Genocide Museum

We decided not to go to the "killing fields" but to pay our respects at this museum. It was known as S21 and is housed in the building used to torture and kill thousands of innocent victims. PleaseRead more
Silk weaving Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Everybody knows they weave silk here but when you see the fineness of the thread and the complexities of the loom it's mind blowing! A few examples but the photos do not do justice to the vibrantRead more
Ouna Lom Pagoda Phnom Penh

This is the focal point for Buddhism in the city. However, it's all new as so much was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge.
Phnom Penh - some photos from Sandra

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Phnom-Penh National Museum

This museum has the best display of Khmer statuary, which vital to re-establish their cultural heritage after the atrocities of the 1970s.
Phnom-Penh Royal Palace (1)

Built in the mid 19th century in the classic Khmer style, this palace is the official residence of Cambodia's reigning monarch. The only elected monarch!
Phnom-Penh Royal Palace (2)

Phnom-Penh Royal Palace (3)

The inner compound wall of the palace complex is beautifully decorated with vivid frescoes of scenes from the Reamer - the Khmer version of the Indian epic, Ramayana. They are about 100 years old andRead more
Phnom-Penh Royal Palace (4)

Traveler
Nigel making friends with the locals
Traveler
On the way to Monkey Island ....
Traveler
A very tall Buddha on Monkey Island.