Cycling through Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

From the Vietnamese border town of Chau Doc, we took a 4+ hour speed boat ride along the Mekong river all the way to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The boat ride seemed to last forever since we were required to make 2 relatively long stops- once at the Vietnamese border and again at the Cambodian border for passport check and visa confirmation. 

Once our boat pulled into the dock at Phnom Penh, we were warmly greeted by our two Cambodian guides and our city tour guide. After a delicious lunch, or city guide took us to two very important, yet emotionally tough sights of Khmer Rouge violence. The first was an old high school building. During the Khmer Rouge Regime (1975-1979), it was converted into a security prison where Cambodians of all walks of life were tortured, forced to confess to heinous crimes and killed. Numbers of dead were in the tens of thousands. This prison was one of more than 150 locations throughout Cambodia. The hallways and central courtyard and prison cells converted from classrooms gave the complex and eerie feel- walking around you could tell it was once a high school- a place of learning and youth, but you could also feel the violence, screams and pain that filled the space when it became S-21. 

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The second sight we visited was one of the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, just outside the city. Here, over one million Cambodians were brutally executed and buried in mass graves. Holes in the ground mark where thousands of dead were piled high. Trees were labeled where savage attacks occurred. Walking through the sight, remnants of clothing still lay buried in the clay. A central memorial filled with the victims' skulls, indicate how the people were murdered. Fractured skulls, holes and blunt force trauma all point to violent deaths. The sign board beside the tree reads: "Magic Tree. The tree was used as a tool to hang a loudspeaker which makes sound louder to avoid the moan of victims while they were being executed."

We did not do as much riding through Cambodia. The roads were tougher and the distances between cities far greater. So we stayed 2 nights in Phnom Penh and did a 40km day ride out to Ou Dong. Here we are riding away from the capital city center and out towards more country roads. 

Stopped to visit a buddhist temple, and the gardens surrounding the temple were filled with statues.

Petrol anyone?

Early evening in Phnom Penh. The riverfront promenade had an aerobics class.

The next day, on our way out we stopped at "Spider Town." Here, the guides chowed down on their favorite snack- deep fried tarantulas. Don't forget to hold a few live ones as well!
I stayed far away from all of them.

Country riding- small farms, rice fields, houses built on stilts...

...and the friendliest children you will ever meet!

Cycling through Vietnam- the Southern Mekong Delta

What part of my 3-week South-East Asia trip worried me the most? Getting from the airport to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Since our flights were coming in at different times, Mom and I planned to meet at the hotel. I freaked myself out by reading travel blogs and talking to people who had traveled to HCMC before: purse snatching, being ripped off, fake taxis, over-charging... None of which happened to me. I decided to exchange money in Tokyo- so I had Vietnamese Dong when I arrived. I found a legitimate taxi stand and pre-paid for a ride to my hotel and received a receipt which I showed my driver and he whisked me away through the throngs of motorcycle traffic of the city. 

Mom and I met up, no problem and set off to find dinner. I ignored the cockroach I saw scuttle across the counter, and went ahead- throwing caution to the wind, and drank the beer with ice that was served us. 

Throughout our time in Vietnam, neither of us got sick and I almost never had a meal I didn't like. The food was that delicious!! 

Mom and I arrived 2 days early, for some city site-seeing, which turned out perfectly. We had a chance to take a day tour out to see the Cu Chi tunnels- an extensive network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the "American" War. Armed with booby traps, secret entrances, and a complex set of underground rooms- a complete living space, the US troops didn't stand a chance! We even got to experience a torrential rainstorm during our tour- a blatant example of the struggles of jungle warfare. 

Cu Chi Tunnel demonstration 

HCMC was a throng of motorists! When it rained, people pulled over, put on their rain ponchos and continued on. Usually solo and double riders, there were plenty of occasions where we saw 4 and 5 people squeezed on one bike.

Our tour started on a Monday. This is Vu, our lead guide. 27. Great sense of humor. Well versed in our trails and route! Khon was the second leader- he always rode in back. We also had 2 drivers- one for our gear, and the other drove the van. When we took rest breaks- every hour or so, the vans were there with a snack set up and the drivers were handing out cold towels and drinks. The service and support was incredible.

Mom is testing out her bike as we get set up to start the trip.

In addition to our 2 drivers, and 2 Vietnamese guides, we were a group of 11- all from the US. From left to right:
Jennifer, early 50s, spin instructor from NY.
Ryan, 28, teach for america from New Orleans
Devin, 34, aviation engineer from San Diego
Mandy, 35, dating Devin, medical sales
Stephanie, 28, dating Ryan, also teach for america from New Orleans
Me
Karen, 52, stock trader from Texas
Lisa, 52, elementary school principal from Texas
Mom
Amy, 21 just graduated from UCSB
Mardo, 23, dating Amy, working for Wells Fargo.

The Gang at the start...

 The route- through big cities, tiny towns, rice fields, jungles, paved and unpaved roads, plenty of pot holes :) Sometimes the paths were no wider than 1 meter- and still we had motorist passing us- in both directions!

City riding

Jungle riding 

Rice fields on both sides

The floating fruit and veggie markets. Each boat posts the fruit or veg it sells on a mast to indicate its wares. 

We had 4 days of riding in Vietnam. Staying a 3 different places after HCMC. See the river delta below HCMC? We meandered around that, crossing it several times by different sized ferries, and then took a speed boat at the border to cross into Cambodia.

The start to summer vacation

I am enjoying my summer vacation to the fullest. For my own sanity and because financially I can do it, I am taking the next 2.5 months off from work!
I strategized so that I would finish up the contract with my old ISE job at the end of May, but not start the new job until the middle of August. So with job security- I still have paychecks coming in from ISE, I have the peace of mind to enjoy my time off.


Living in a Social Apartment has many benefits- one of being a great group of friends to go hiking and exploring with!
Countries represented: Germany, US, Hong Kong and Japan.

Katy and I have been exploring some of the more 'off the beaten path' locations around Kanagawa prefecture. We discovered this lovely garden in Yokohama in the throws of lush greenery. We are excited to view it again in its autumn glory later in the year.

We saw several wedding photo shoots, enjoyed some frozen yogurt, meandered through the small stone paths, across streams and around the central lake. One of the larger Japanese gardens I have been to.

 


To commemorate the end of my time at ISE, I invited all coworkers- past and present to a dinner out at a fusion restaurant. The turn out was great and the company entertaining. My coworkers are the reason I stayed on at my job for so long. As frustrated as we got by the management of the company, the camaraderie and friendships I forged by a whole bunch of like-minded people was great! We range in ages from 23-45, and nationalities from: UK, Ireland, Croatia, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Canada, South Korea, US (Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and California).

On Sunday, Katy and I explored Manazuru- a peninsula about 2 hours by train from my apartment (heading southwest). As in typical Japanese fashion, nothing more than a few train station destinations and you can pretty much guarantee yourself access to anywhere. We decided to walk from the station out to the ocean, and then along the coast line (about 3.5 km)to the furthest point where at low tide there were rock formations to explore (following photos). All told we walked about 15 km- thank you fitbit :)

Discovering the rocky coast line- and a small collection of scuba divers, snorklers, BBQers, fishermen, collectors (either crabs or other small sea-creatures among the rocks) and beach-goers

The steep rocky cliffs around the peninsula!

The 3-rock formation at the furthest point. (We walked along the rocks all the way out to under the rope. (I scrambled about on top of those high rocks too)

A relaxing foot-spa after our long day. 9 different pools with differing surfaces to relax the feet. Each surface was for a different body part or feeling (good sight, skin, happiness...)

On a different day, I spent the morning making pottery at a 2-hour pottery class with girls from my apartment (Maiko and Olivia). Later that day we went out for kakigori- shaved ice. It felt good to make something by hand- even if it did not turn out anywhere near to what I had initially planned!

That night Katy and I joined up with 2 of my friends from Crossfit- Barbara, and Teneal and we had a wonderful girls night out in Roppongi (central Tokyo). The giggles began long before we finished the 2 bottles of wine, and with the summer nights being such a wonderful temp- we enjoyed outdoor dining and after dinner drinks at a pub.

Heres to more adventures. I've got just under a week before I head off to Vietnam and Cambodia with Mom!

Fuji-Q Highland...Roller Coaster Amusement park

About 100 minutes by bus from my apartment is the base of Mount Fuji. Also at this location is the most intense roller coaster amusement park I have ever experienced! More thrills, and shrills that were on the brink of too intense.














These coasters are not for the faint of heart! Right out of the gates we started with FUJIYAMA- boasting a world-class maximum drop of 70 m. So after you are strapped in-with just a seatbelt and lap-bar, you inch your way up 230 feet above the park and then its down you go at lightning speed. Nothing goes upside down on this coaster, but you do go side-ways and drop several times, and its bone-jarring and headache inducing...sounds fun, right?!



Coaster number 2: TAKABISHA, this one boasts the steepest drop with a 121 degree free-fall. The first part of this ride jets you off in the dark, so you have no idea what to expect. Half way through you are lying on your back as you make a completely vertical ascent to staggering heights. From there, you are righted and get to wait anxiously for about 3-7 seconds, and then its a free-fall plunge beyond vertical! Several more cork-screws and loops and you are out of breath and begging for more!

Not only are there insane coasters, but there was also a haunted hospital of bone-curdling fright! Its a maze you complete with a faulty flashlight, and just your group! I have no idea what happened to the other hundreds of people waiting in line! Once we got inside, we never saw them, although we heard their shrieks a few times. We were led down dark corridors and through disturbingly decorated hospital rooms, following red arrows. Every so often live monsters would jump out at us and chase us a few meters.
This photo below was taken at the beginning. We knowingly sat down for a photo shoot and I thought it would be fun to 'pretend to act scared.' Little did I know that just before the camera flashed, the seat dropped, a voice screamed and the lights flashed- quite the scare, and you can see our levels of reaction!


One ride, dubbed the 4-D coaster, I said "absolutely no!" The guys went on, and I kept my feet firmly planted on solid ground. Who wants a roller coaster with your feet dangling, your seat spinning back and forth as you race at lightening speed upside-down and around the track? No thanks!




Another unexpected attraction was the ULTIMATE FORT. Basically a maze with different challenges at each stage. You must of course pass each stage within the time limit to advance. Waiting in line, we thought- no sweat! But, the first challenge tripped us up and before we knew it, time was up and we were sent out the exit! I could have gotten right back in line to try and out-smart it!

Zumba time

About a year ago, a friend of mine found out that I was a Zumba instructor. Since then we have been recruiting girls and guys from our social apartment to join in. With at least a class a week, we have developed a core team of Zumba-fanatics!
There's a small fitness room on the ground floor of the apartment, and with my Boze speakers and ipod filled with latin music (although we have been incorporating some Japanese pop songs as well) we have quite the dance party for at least an hour at a time- usually 2! Curious apartment mates will poke their heads in. Half the time we get them to join us. Everyone is always willing to give it a shot.
Recently we were able to organize a filming- and the team of dancers we were able to get together did fantastic! With matching outfits (bright colored tops and black bottoms- and me the opposite) we've got quite a few songs officially uploaded. So, I wanted to share them with you as well.

Exercising makes me super happy, and incorporating loud rhythmic music and a group of friends who are willing to try new moves- Zumba has become quite popular at my apartment :) Well, at least I would like to believe it has.

So, I am posting some of the routines here (more forthcoming) and don't be embarrassed, but I am expecting that you are going to put it on the big screen and dance along with me! Because you shouldn't just sit and watch the videos! They are meant to be interactive.
First routine...
Follow the Leader

Second routine...
Chammak Challo

Third routine...
Pasarela

Sakura viewing (ohanami)

It's April 1st, and the cherry blossoms are blooming. Now I know what Anne meant when she called it "the White Way of Delight!"

Photos taken along the Meguro canal, near Nakameguro station, and in ShinjukuGyoen.

Snowboarding!!

What would you do on a Wednesday you don't work??? Go snowboarding, of course!!!

Less than two hours from Tokyo, by shinkansen bullet train, I headed off early this morning with 4 apartment friends for a last hurrah of winter and a day on the slopes. The package deal for a total of $130 got me: round trip train ticket, lift ticket, equipment rental, and gear rental (ski pants, jacket, gloves). The guys I went with were happy to spend some hours in the morning basically teaching me how to snow board. Although I am no expert, I was able to progress quickly and excitedly tried out the new moves on my own.

The day was gorgeous- even a bit too warm at first. It did start to rain during the last hour, but we pushed through and I had endless amounts of energy (thanks Crossfit) to keep going and hang with the group (for the most part).

I was first taught how to scoot down the mountain by digging the back edge of my board into the mountainside and facing straight down the hill. Then I began to lean side to side and therefore zig-zag down the mountain. Finally I was able to turn my board straight and cut a wide 'S' shape- nice and slow.