Amazing where travelling solo takes you. I embarked on this quest initially to visit new and exotic places; I never knew it was more than that. From Self-discovery, to meeting amazing people from different countries, to figuring out how to get to Point B from Point A, and immersing yourself in different cultures.
I learned quite a great deal from my solo backpacking adventure. I believe it is but the most memorable and happiest moment in life one can ever do. So here I am curating my solo travel diaries/series through the Indochina countries namely Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia for anyone's reference in their future travels.
Finally, I've come to share to you the final destination of my solo travel in Indochina. It is inevitable but fitting to share to you my adventure at the grandest and majestic temple ever to exist in Siem Reap, Cambodia....
So I will bring you with me in this amazing adventure in Banteay Srei or "The Citadel of Women" through these photos and words that I think might not suffice in describing its immense beauty and grace. But nonetheless, I need to share this for it is one of the most sought after temple destination in Cambodia due to its unique architecture and distinct style. So forgive me in advance that this might just be a bit longer compared to my previous blogs but it is definitely worth your time!
Just north of Baphuon Temple lies what used to be the "Royal Grounds" of Angkor Thom. Me and my friend Mani brave the afternoon heat just to explore this amazing ancient site in Cambodia. To be honest, it was the wrong time of the day to be visiting this open area however we had to squeeze a lot of places in just a day so we just had to.
Being up close with Baphuon Temple, I couldn't help but admire the architectural beauty of it especially the symmetry of its layout and structure. It's a three-tiered pyramid temple which measures 120m long, 100m wide and 34m tall and was built in the 11th century, about 150 years earlier than that of Bayon Temple or of Angkor Thom city itself.
It was a maze of walkways, galleries and aisles before you can reach these Smiling Stone Faces of Bayon Temple. And the first sight of it would make your jaws drop in awe. These colossal face towers seem to be looking down at you with closed eyes but smiling. And yet, my mind wandered to that time they built this unique attraction, how talented and skilled those builders were.
Stepping beyond the western walls of Preah Khan, I walked into a quaint temple surrounded with lively trees and green grass. This is the West Temple guarded by two lion statues and one standing statue of unknown identity just before the doorway. Beyond the entrance of the West Temple is a series of other doorways and passages going to the Central Sanctuary.
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Neak Pean they call it. Neak came from the Sanskrit word "Naga" which means serpents and Pean means "wave around". Thus, Neak Pean is translated as "entwining serpents". However, earlier this temple was known to be Rajyasri which means "Kingdom's bightness" which probably indicates that there is more to this uncanny temple than that which meets the eye.
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The temple's remoteness charmed my inner fiber as it greeted me in its semi-ruined state. Heaps of rubbles lay around its perimeter while other parts of the walls are being held in place by wooden supports. However other structures still stand tall despite the years of decay. The intricate carvings of female Buddhist deities have also survived and hold immense clues to its rich culture and history. Huge ficus trees surrounds the walls and adds power to its enchanting presence.
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What was noticeable for me once I started my adventure inside was the warm red tones of the walls. Apparently, the structure was built using brick and laterite materials thus giving it its warm red colors. Some parts of the walls or structure seemed to be burned as well or most have decayed faster throughout the years. Prangs on the ground were accessible but does contain any significant things.
My jaw dropped in awe as my eyes feasted on the massive serpentine roots of silk cotton trees and the strangler fig trees digging its way through the crumbling walls of the temple while its branches soar high providing a shadowy canopy over its conquered prey of rubbles.
The first temple I ventured out was the Banteay Kdei which means "A Citadel of Chambers", east of Angkor Wat Temple. Since this was the first temple I went to, obviously I was in so much awe. I was greeted by this stone gate with a carved head on top. This entrance is what they call "Gopura" which you would also find in other temples. It was like stepping into the past. Ancient times, ancient structures, ancient civilization. I ventured through the ancient ruins on my own and each step that I took, I felt this immense beauty and mystery I couldn't explain.
The Cartoon Network Amazone Park is the perfect family or friends getaway destination. Whether you want to relive your childhood dreams or defy gravity through those exhilarating rides, you sure will have a lot of fun here.
I started my ascend around this circular stairs going to the top which has more than 300 steps! However, I just knew that when I reached the top and asked someone. However it was not tiring as I thought it would be. The stairway was surrounded with lush plants and too many things along the way caught my attention like this cute stature or a variety of bells and a gong which you can drum at.
To be honest, I don't really know how to say the two last words of this temple's name but only Wat Arun. My friend Ace told me not to worry since locals simple call it as Wat Arun.
The highlight for the place was in fact the dozens of floating stalls lined up. The souvenirs and products such as clothes, figurines, paintings, and hats were in fact beautiful however I just cant afford to buy anything because of the crazy mark up they placed on the items. Yes, you can haggle all the way but prices are still too much.
And just like that I saw Buddha's head and body, all I could say was Wow! Literally, my jaw dropped in amazement seeing the gold plated statue. To be honest, one would definitely be in awe because of its immense beauty and massive size. This buddha image named Phra Phuttha Saiyat is 46m long and 15m high. The head resting on its hand and two box pillows.
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Once I saw the massive stupa, I was overwhelmed by its enormous size. This was built in honor of King Naresuan the Great who fought the Burmese leader in a single combat on an elephant. The two big Buddha images sitting on the sides of the stone steps seemed to be guarding the place. The ascent was steep with big steps so it was a bit challenging.
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There are a variety of insects being offered by the vendors. From grasshoppers, bamboo worms, silk larvae, crickets, to ant queens, and scorpions. Scorpions being the rarest exotic food among them. So I went straight for that which costs 60 Baht! Also they charge 10 baht if you only want to take some photos.
This dude is, in fact, famous for two reasons. One was that he help revived the Silk Industry during the 1950's and 1960's. Thus he was named as the "Thai Silk King". Because of this, he helped Thailand's economy flourished. The second was the unique construction of his house which we are going to dip deep a little bit.
By 6:15 pm, the train hasn't arrived yet. I started to panic. Around 6:30 pm, Express Train No. 78 wasn't in sight. However, the Special Express Train No. 26 just came to view. I didn't have any other choice. I went back to the ticket booth and had my ticket upgraded. I paid more than I plan for.
What intrigued me in coming to Xieng Khuan was because of its so-called "200 menacing-looking statues". And that is the reason why I shall enter this not-so-enticing mouth. Hopefully, it has good breath though. I docked my head and bent my body so low to get in. Right away, I felt a creepy, mysterious energy in the air.
The Wat Sisaket was built in 1818 through King Anouvang. According to history, this temple survived during the war between Thai and Laos in 1818. The reason? Well, the temple resembles more of the Thai style and probably made the Thai invaders excepted this one from destroying thus retaining its original design.
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Pha That Luang has become the Laotian national symbol. It was built in 1566 when King Setthathirath made Vientiane the new capital of Laos. The building itself has many references to the Lao culture. It consists of three levels which are believed to symbolize ascension from Earth to Heaven.
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Patuxai, when translated means Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph. Formerly known as the Anosavali Monument but for the French, they called this Monument Aux Morts. Also resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This monument is surrounded by a beautiful park and consists of five towers representing the five Buddhist principles of thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honor, and prosperity.
Chao Arouvang Park is located at the heart of Vientiane, next to the banks of the Mekong River. Thailand is just across that River. This was built in 2010 to honor the memory of the King Chao Anouvang. A bronze statue of King Chao Anouvang stands 6 meters high facing Thailand with one hand on his sword and the other in mid-air as if it was going to shake your hands.
The wooden pathway leads to a breathtaking image of the Kuangsi Waterfalls. Tranquil yet powerful on its own. The water cascades against a series of rocks and passes among a few shrubs. Lush vegetation surrounds the place. An empty platform on the left provides a place to sit and enjoy the view and the bridge gives an access for visitors to see its full beauty.
As the sky started to lit up, men clad in bright orange robes walked barefoot in one single line carrying what seems like a pot where they collect the gifts given by the locals waiting silently along the pavement.
I think Lao food is something to indulge as well. As much as possible, I try the local cuisines from different places. Good thing, there was a small cheap restaurant beside our hostel which cooks amazing Lao food.
The reason why I chose to watch the sunset along a river was that this was my first time doing so. And not just an ordinary river, its the one and only Mekong River! I usually watch the sunset along the beach or up in the mountains. So this was really a memorable one.
Join me, my friends, as I climb 355 steps going to the top of the famous Mount Phousi in Luang Prabang, Laos. The temples, statues, and the surrounding landscape as you thread along the path definitely makes this place a go-to in Laos.
Upon seeing the Buddha statues, I was utterly amazed by how many they were. It is said that the lower cave houses about 4000 Buddha statues in all sizes. Some of them have stayed here for hundreds of years already. Most of them were already damaged, some missing its parts.
So I started from 8:00pm the day before and arrived in Luang Prabang 10:00pm. More or less, I did a 26 hour trip all the way from Sapa, Vietnam! Now, who in their crazy mind would do that? ME! If you have seen the routes I've taken, you would have probably just taken the easy way out!
We continued the trip and finally I was able to see a much better view of the rice paddies. At this point, I was already happy having to experience the not-so-usual-happy-sunny-day trip I always wanted.
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The Love Waterfall got its name from a romantic tale of a fairy who fell in love with a boy who plays lovely melodies using his flute. The fairy who was caught by its parents forbade her to visit the falls. So she transformed herself into a bird to spend the rest of her life with the boy.
Once I started seeing the rice paddies and the houses, I was in a trance. It was like walking into a beautiful painting of a picturesque scenery! But this one was different. The sun smiled across the beautiful rice paddies against the sleeping mountains. The sound of the little stream down below was relaxing to the ears.
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I found my hostel after walking 15 minutes. Quite near to the heart of Sapa. This hostel was probably the cheapest one I could find here.
After everyone was settled in, we then were given water and snacks! Seriously? The service was above average! The only challenge would be not to urinate during the entire 5 hour trip so I made sure to pee whatever that was left in my bladder before we left.
But the whole show was still an epic experience! When the puppets started coming out, I was pretty amazed that they were able to do big, flawless movements around the stage. And the puppets were made of wood and all dressed up! The master puppeteers were well hidden behind the bamboo curtains. The story lines were pretty funny too! The show was made up of short stories about their culture and history
This prison was built in 1896 in Phu Khanh village, Viinh Xuong Canton, Tho Xuong district, Hanoi. And is considered as one of the biggest prison built by the French Colony in Indochina. This was a prison for Vietnamese political prisoners during the French era then later became a prison for American Soldiers during the Vietnam War.
The Vietnamese Women’s Museum highlights the importance of women in their society and gives tribute to their accomplishments in the field of nation building. This museum was constructed in 1987 and is being run by The Women’s Union of Vietnam, one of the country’s most powerful movement in history. They made the museum open to the public in 1995 and ever since then this has been one of the top destinations for museums in Asia.
To have a glimpse of the rich culture and colourful history of Vietnam, I headed over to the National Museum of Vietnamese History. This was my last stop for my first day of tour in Hanoi. The museum is located at No. 1 Pham Ngu Lao Steet, Hoam Kiem District just close to the Hanoi Opera House. .
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PHO is the most popular street food you shouldn’t miss when visiting Vietnam. It is a soup made of broth, flat rice noodles, herbs, vegetables and meat (beef or chicken) where tourists would surely be enticed by this traditional cuisine. That is why I didn’t dare try to miss this famous food everyone was talking about.
We all heard that Vietnam is the Capital city of Motorbikes. They said that driving through the streets here need a little bit of getting used to. My Australian friend who just brought a brand new motorbike there even said "If you can ride a bike here, you can ride a bike anywhere". That had me cracking!
This pagoda was famous to many kings and lords back then due to its stunning scenery and sacred sanctuary. But much of the landscape now has changed due to urbanization over the years. Nonetheless, this iconic site is still one of the top destinations for locals and tourists alike.
My tour guide brought me to 51 Coffee located somewhere in Old Quarters, Hanoi. You would notice then the short chairs lining up the edge of the store. Yep, you would have to sit knee length. This is the norm there. So we took our place on one of the tables. My tour guide ordered the egg coffee and minutes later I’ve got to check it out for myself.
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This building was built in the 1990's and everything you see inside shows all about the life of Uncle Ho. Honestly, I was so impressed about how the Vietnamese people revered and loved their leader.
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I was offered a $20 dollar tour on a bike which I took because I was informed that we were going to vist 6 places in a day. However we were only able to visit 4 tourist spots for that day. But it was fine because atleast I get to experience what it was like riding a motorbike in Hanoi. It was crazy.
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