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Cu Chi tunnels
There are two different Cu Chi tunnels. Yes, Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh are part of the same tunnel network. However, they are two different sites. Mannequins of Viet Cong women soldiers Your experience will be different, depending on which of the two sites you visit. I visited Ben Duoc. It is a bit further from Ho Chi Minh City, and is also less crowded. The tunnels are also a lot more authentic and closer to how they were during the Vietnam war. Ben Dinh on the other hand, is mostly reconstructions. Keeping in mind the large number of western tourists who visit, many of the tunnels are wider to…
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Kwe!
A short drive from Québec City into Wendake and you reach Onhoüa Chetek8e, a reconstruction of a Huron-Wendat Nation village. The welcome center at Onhoüa Chetek8e Onhoüa Chetek8e literally means ‘from yesterday to today’. And just in case you are wondering what a digit is doing in its name, it is pronounced as ‘oua’, like in ‘wh’ in ‘what’. This village model was built to raise awareness and show the ways of their ancestors, who moved into, and have lived on these lands since 1697. Today, there are little over 3,000 people who call Huron-Wendat Nation home. Roughly around half of them live in Wendake. They have their own school…
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NAM Vietnamese Kitchen, BBQ & Beer
It was the last leg of our Indochina trip and with money running low, we wanted to stay in an area that wasn’t expensive. Which is why any decent place around Bui Vien Street made sense. It is, after all, the backpacker quarter district in Saigon, Vietnam. View of Bui Vien street from NAM Kitchen We also wanted it to be in District 1, which is what most reviews recommended. We chose a hotel next to Bui Vien Street. It’s where all the action is, we were assured by some well travelled friends. On hindsight, we should have asked what kind of action it is that they had in mind.…
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Temple of the reclining Buddha
On the banks of the Chao Phraya River lies Wat Pho. Also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, it is Bangkok’s oldest and largest wats. Today it is also known as Wat Phra Chetun or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. One of the entrances to Wat Pho A bit of history When King Rama I established Bangkok around 1782, he ordered the construction of the Wat Pho. It was built on the site of an older, Ayutthaya era temple called Wat Photharam, or Podharam, right next to the Grand Palace. In fact, some of his ashes are enshrined within the temple. The temple complex was further renovated…
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Two days in Phnom Penh
For a city that was known as the ‘Paris of the East’ before the 1970s, chances are you will have a hard time finding anything in Phnom Penh that reminds you of France. Yes, there are a quite a few French colonial buildings. However, either they are badly maintained, or are rapidly being redeveloped to make way for high-rise buildings, malls and bigger structures. Agreed, Phnom Penh may not have what either Siem Reap or Sihanoukville has to offer. What it does have though, is a reminder of Cambodia’s turbulent history, especially that of the latter part of the 1970s. A visit to both Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung…
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And then, there are days…
Days when you don’t necessarily want to talk, you still crave company. Days when it’s okay to sit around, doing nothing. Days when spending an hour with each other is more satisfying than just whiling away a few hours. Those are days. Like this post or want to read it later? Pin me.
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Three days and seven things to do in Siem Reap
The primary reason everyone heads to Siem Reap is to see the ruins at Angkor Wat. However, there are other things to keep you entertained, including sights to see, activities to do and indulgences to enjoy. Covering Angkor Wat in a matter of a few days is next to impossible. Unfortunately, not all travellers have the luxury of time on their side. While some travellers may be there for a week or two, others would only be hopping in for a couple of nights, on their way to another part of the region, or back home to where they belong. While it is perfectly okay to try and see all…
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A day tour of Angkor Wat – Highlights
What used to be a sleepy hamlet is today, a booming town, thanks to an influx of tourists from around the world who come to see the UNESCO World Heritage site – Angkor Wat. Literally meaning ‘Siam defeated’, this culturally rich town has a lot to offer, depending on the amount of time you are willing to spend here. My suggestion is to take a relaxed approach to everything you are doing, including a visit to the many temples in the complex. Getting into Siem Reap Getting into Siem Reap is relatively hassle-free if you are flying. There are flights from international destinations in the region. There are also bus…
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Things to do in Luang Prabang
If there is one destination in Indochina that deserves your time and money, then it must be Luang Prabang. The town comes alive immediately after sunset This UNESCO World Heritage site was the ancient royal capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom until the middle of the 16th century. The temples feature intricate woodwork Today, Luang Prabang is considered to be the heart of Laotian culture, beating the capital city Vientiane as the preferred destination. Young monks doing chore in the temple Depending on your itinerary, you can choose to spend just two nights, doing a whirlwind tour of its highlights, or take it easy and stretch your stay for a…
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Once upon a time in Venice.
When mobile phones didn’t have the cameras they do today. When cameras were analog, and every film cost you a fortune. When every click mattered, and you’d only know how good or bad it was, once you’d developed it. When you were getting older, and yet felt younger. And a trip with Contiki across Europe on a bus was your best introduction to travel. Saluti! Like this post or want to read it later? Pin me.
