Archive for the ‘map’ Category
I’m excited about an 800km walk
I’ve just had a blinding urge, not sure exactly why, to go and walk 800km. This isn’t normal I know ……but it’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a while and had begun (in my head) to plan for … next year. Then suddenly this weekend I realised that this year might be my best opportunity to take this walk as next year I still don’t know what I’m doing and I may just as easily return to Oz as stay in Saigon. I’m not usually given to such bold spur of the moment decisions (although I’ve hardly shirked from big decisions in my life) but I honestly feel like this is something that I need to do.
The 800km walk I’m talking about. Well, it’s called the Camino de Santiago de Compostela and is something I’ve always wanted to do since a good friend of mine waxed lyrical about it after he’d done it a few years back. A quick synopsis of the trip is that I will, if I can arrange flights at such a late stage, fly from Saigon to Paris, take trains from there down to Southern France and to a town at the base of the Pyrenees called St. Jean Pied de Port. From there I will walk across the Pyrenees into Spain. Crossing Spain I would hope to be able to walk through the towns of Pamplona, Burgos and Leon before finally arriving, some 30 days later, in Santiago de Compostela. The trip is an old pilgrimage route that still serves pilgrims. Not being religious this isn’t my reason for going, though I do enjoy religious symbolism and have some affinity for Catholicism, I’m going because it sounds like a test of character and, dare I say, something that sounds good for the soul.
I know I’m crazy. I’ve done no training. I have no real trekking gear and little chance of finding it in Saigon in six days. I have no real plans beyond getting to Paris and then figuring it our from there. I may not even be able to book the flights ….. but I am stoked (that means excited for the non-Australian’s amongst you). I cannot wait …..I will genuinely miss not going back to Oz to see family and friends this holiday but I will see them at Christmas. A pilgrimage calls …whooo hooo.
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat – A spectacular side trip from Saigon
Angkor Wat. It is most definitely worth the visit. I flew out from Saigon with a fellow teacher to to see the fabled temple complexes of which Angkor Wat is but one. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap are not cheap (about USD$300) but after briefly contemplating the bus (6 hours to Phnom Penh and then a further 6 to Siem Reap) we decided against it.
In Siem Reap we stayed in a nice little hotel near the old market area. The old market area is the centre of Siem Reap an out and out tourist town. The lingua Franca is English, the currency dollars and the drink of choice beer. The ATM’s dispense dollars, locals can say hello in half a dozen languages and convert between dollars, riels, dong, yuan and euros in the blink of an eye. Siem Reap though is not unattractive or dull. Pub Street and the tiny nearby alley, The Passage, are a delight of great pubs and restaurants of the type you might find in Bali or Phuket.
After spending a relaxing evening eating and drinking we decided to book a car to see Angkor Wat.
Car price was $20 for the day and this covers the so-called “small circuit” and includes the key temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Phrohm and Bayon.
What struck me was how large an area all these temples spread across – this is no walking tour (except within each temple complex). The temples themselves are either Buddhist or Hindu in origin. Many were destroyed by invasions from Siam (modern Thailand) or the Muslim influenced Champa of Central and South Vietnam.
The temples are intricately carved and tell tales both true and mythical. Many of the temples have been carefully reconstructed but care has been taken in some parts, particularly at the photogenic Tomb Raider made famous temple of Ta Phrohm, to keep the splendidly massive trees that have grown through, over and under some of the temple complexes.
Angkor’s temples dwarf those I’ve seen elsewhere in Asia and whilst Indonesia’s Borobudur has a similar feel and architectural style it doesn’t come close in size or grandeur to the main temples of Angkor. Angkor is a must see destination, the local town is fun to hang out in and the temples are intricate and varied.
At the end of the first day of the small circuit I sat amongst the ruins of Mount Bakheng. Around me crowded many, many tourists. Cameras clicked and people jostled for the perfect photograph of the sun setting over the distant temple complex of Angkor Wat. Everyone faced the setting sun as if in some modern day version of sun worship. The spider infested jungle crowded around us. Below I could see elephants gamely bringing more tourists up the mount. It seemed to beautiful, so artificial, so surreal, so tacky, so noisy, so peaceful. I pulled out my iPod put on some Cesaria Evora and just chilled out as I watched the sun set over the plains of Cambodia. I felt alone and peaceful amongst the clicking and jostling crowd.
A travel map – too many places, too little time
create your own visited country map
When I first started travelling I carried around with me a map of the world. I had the intention of tracing the route of my travels so that one day, in the future I would be able to hang it on a study wall where I could look at it and contemplate on my travels. Things change and I’m not sure where that original map is but this website got my thinking about that map again. So, in memory of my long last map of travels I present to you this rather less exciting (and kinda dull) version of my travels. I notice a few evident gaps that I’d like to fill at some stage. I want to visit the ‘stans. I will fill in Vietnam and no doubt Cambodia and Laos very soon. I always wanted to see Machu Picchu and, looking at this map I’m just going to have to get to more of Africa at some stage. Always so much to see isn’t there?
Backpacking Teacher 