Battambang's Bamboo Train

Perhaps we could have, as a friend suggested, entitled this Bruised Bottoms in Battambang.We ended our day on motorbikes with a ride on the infamous bamboo train. The real passenger train passes only once a day to Phnom Penh, so the locals have devised an ingenious way to use the tracks for transporting goods and people between villages.When we requested our ride, the conductors assembled the bamboo rods on a platform, attached the platform to the wheels, mounted and fired up the belt-driven engine and off we went!The railroad tracks were built by the French, and probably haven't been repaired since they departed. So, the ride was a bit rough on the tush.Read more about our day on a motorbike around Battambang, Cambodia.  

Runnin' Up That Hill

During our dry season tour of the Battambang countryside on motorbikes, a miracle happened - it rained! The dry and muted landscape became electric, giant puddles of water formed everywhere and the kids went nuts. These kids were really having a great time sliding up and down this muddy hill.Read more about our day on a motorbike around Battambang, Cambodia.  

Cow on a River

A riverside pause during our motorbike day outside Battambang afforded us a visit with this lovely bovine specimen.Read more about our day on a motorbike around Battambang, Cambodia.  

Smoking and Praying

The blessing ceremony prayers and chanting went on for hours. This older man gets his nicotine fix mid-prayer. Read more about our visit to Battambang, Cambodia.  

Cambodian Morning Soup (Num Banh Choc)

We found our tuk-tuk driver having breakfast with other drivers when we exited the temples at Banteay Srey. He invited us to join him and he introduced us to a fantastic morning soup. It consisted of a subtle yellow curry fish broth with fresh rice noodles, paper-thin chopped banana blossom, cucumber, and cabbage and topped off with a spoonful of dark sweet soup. A bowl of bitter herbs and long beans was passed around the table as the final touch.Read about our morning visit to Banteay Srey.  

Just a Bit Shy

We saw this girl on her way home from school in a little village outside of Battambang.She waved to us and when we asked if we could take her photo, she stood there a bit afraid of the camera. Her mother stood behind us, laughing at the whole scene. She was too cute.Read more about our day on a motorbike around Battambang, Cambodia.  

Monkey Madness - Angkor Wat

Rhesus monkeys whoop it up at Angkor Wat.  

Winding Roots - Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm temple has intentionally been left in the same state it was found by French archeologists 1860, thereby allowing nature to continue to take its course and have its charming and mysterious way with the temple. The trees grow on top of stones and their roots wind around and through the temple buildings, lending it an otherworldly feel.Ta Prohm's modern claim to fame is its role in the film Tomb Raider.Read about our first impressions at the Temples of Angkor.  

Cambodian Girl - Siem Reap

Our tuk-tuk driver in Angkor Wat, Mr. Date, took us to his village home just south of Siem Reap. We hung out there with his family, drank coconut juice from freshly cut coconuts, and watched the kids chase the chickens.Read about our first impressions of Siem Reap.  

The Face of Bayon

King Jayavarman VII makes his presence known, now and then.Read about our first impressions at the Temples of Angkor.  

Kids Under an Elephant at East Mebon

As we walked the periphery of East Mebon, these two girls popped up out of nowhere. The terrace we were on was pretty high, so it wasn't an easy climb. They didn't speak much English, but we shared peanuts and water together in the shade of the elephant statue.Read about our first impressions at the Temples of Angkor.  

Stupa and Silver Pagoda - Royal Palace, Phnom Penh

We had read in our guide that the Silver Pagoda had a floor made with 5000 silver tiles totaling more than 5 tons of silver. Unfortunately, most of this was covered with carpets to protect it. Although the statues and jewels on display were impressive, we preferred the smaller, more functional temples with less elaborate displays, where people were actively praying.  

Our Captain - Chau Doc

Small boats picked us up in Chau Doc to take us to the floating villages and a nearby Cham village. The boats' rowing system was confounding - the oars crossed and the rower would stand at the back and push down on them.Read about our journey from Saigon to Phnom Penh on the Mekong.  

Morning Greens - Mekong Delta

Cabbage and watermelon vendors at the Cai Rang floating market.Read more about Cai Rang Floating Market.  

Roses on the Move - Hanoi

Perfect roses make their way down Hanoi's streets on the back of a bicycle. More reading: Hanoi under the skin  

Fishing on the Thu Bon

Fishermen ply their trade on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An.Read more about Hoi An, Vietnam.  

Sticky Rice Galore - Saigon

Audrey's favorite - sticky rice. And, four different types to choose from! The dark variety was the best of this bunch.But it still can't hold a candle to the texture and nutty flavor of the purple and dark sticky rice in Laos.Read more about snackin' in Saigon.  

Here's Smiling at You - Battambang Market

Tell Me Your Thoughts, Young One

Pigs are everywhere in Southeast Asia. They blend in and almost become part of the human landscape, so much so that you might accidentally start a conversation with one.Read about our journey from Saigon to Phnom Penh on the Mekong.  

Squid Flowers - Hoi An

Pieces of squid cut for the effect of a flower. This was part of the preparation of warm squid salad in a pineapple.Scoring squid not only makes it look pretty, but allows it to expand while cooking in order to better absorb the flavor of the sauce it's cooked in.Read about Hoi An's food specialties.  

My Son Temples at Sunrise

My Son is a Hindu temple complex between Hoi An and Danang. We came out at sunrise to see the temples in good light and more importantly to avoid the busloads of tourists who arrive mid-morning. As the gates of My Son opened, we were one of two couples; it was great to have the temples to ourselves. There are several temples open to the public; others are still being excavated. It is the main surviving architectural complex of the Champa dynasty; its oldest structures are believed to date back to the 4th century.Read more about a personal story at My Son.  

Our Boat from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw

This is the boat we took from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw along the Nam Ou River. It snugly fit about 12 people their backpacks. We were all sitting on remarkably tiny kindergarten style chairs - amusing for the first couple of hours, then the leg cramps set in...That said, the trip was terrific and worth every bit of discomfort. The scenery, including the landscape and people-scape, was impressive.Oh yeah, no bathrooms on board (obviously due to a severe shortage of space). When the boat finally made a pit stop (4 hours after launch), the urgency and pending relief was palpable. We haven't seen people move like that since the Black Friday release of the Cabbage Patch Kids.Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.  

Pick Your Chicken - Luang Prabang

Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.  

Photoshop Lessons for a Monk - Phnom Penh

We think of Buddhist monks as being of another world with their saffron robes and receiving their food as alms, but throughout Laos and Cambodia we witnessed monks trying to educate themselves in languages and technology. Not every monk stays a monk for a lifetime, so its also essential that they prepare for the possibility of leaving the temple. Read more about Phnom Penh, Cambodia.