What was important to you in 2011? Mine is YOU!

OK, so it's the last day of 2011.  I have no idea where the frick 2011 went mind you, but its gone and it its place remain memories, friends, and passport stamps.

Since I began writing this I have starting reading some other blogs a bit more, to see what works, what I like, etc, and a lot seem to do stuff like, "my top 10 blogs", or "look what I got in 2011", which is a bit tiring.  But, it is nice to reflect on things that have past to get a sense of satisfaction to reassure ourselves that time past was not time lost.

So, this morning I was sitting in my villa in Koh Samui (my coffee was brought to me without asking exactly how I like it, thanks to my amazing house staff), I was trying to think of the places I had been this year.  It wasn't a bad list, but not overly impressive either!  I managed to get to Bali, Indonesia, for a family friends' wedding and stayed at the beautiful Karma Kandara (website here). Then later in the year I, obviously, came to Asia and have visited Cambodia and now Thailand.  So, three countries in one year, which has been pretty standard for me over the last few years. In fairness though, usually that has been for work.  As I ran study tours and worked for Curtin University I was often in Malaysia (often going through Brunei), China and Vietnam.

When I thought about it though, this years travels seems that much more awesome.  Probably because I wasn't working! But because of that, the ability to focus on the travel, I met some really awesome people. Seriously, this year I have meet some of the coolest cats I know or reconnected with people who I had lost contact with and, for me, that is one of the beauties of travelling.

Then I got thinking more, still on the same topic, and thought about all the travelling I had done within Australia, and I was blown away with what relationships I had managed to make and maintain.

To give you a run down of the year:

I brought in the 2011 year in Tasmania at the Falls Festival with one of my best mates Benjie, his partner Narisha, and his friends Jimmy, Peter and Fleur, and Kajsa  We spent four days listening to bands, and sneaking about with contraband alcohol, before touring Tassie for a day or two. (We had also gone to the Taste of Tasmana food show in Hobart just after Christmas where I had managed to catch up with fellow Perthian/JCLA'er/GV alum Tristan, and my JCLA buddy/down right LEGEND Aimee).

Jimmy,Kajsa and I.  Fall Festival, Tasmania, Australia 

Benji and Narisha

This lead to numerous trips to Melbourne as I started a new job in April for not for profit company called Teach for Australia (website) and required me flying to Melbourne every six weeks or so.  The TFA guys were, hands down, some of the coolest people I have ever worked for! Not only that, the vision of the company (an Australia where every child has access to quality eduction) is a very humble, noble, and achievable one.

The travel to Melbourne for work saw me being able to catch up with my cousin Tim (and finally see his house in the hills - amazing) and Uncle Dave. Go out with the TFA crew for the Melbourne comedy festival (I got belly ache from laughing so hard), catching up with Mattie and Liam (and getting our party on before dropping me - bastards!! ;) ), being in Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final (offing Collingwood!), Brendan and the new TJ, also dead set legends, catching up with good friend and fashion blogger Carly (Lady Smaggle, blog here) and some how, yet again, turning lunch into an 11 hour adventure of coffee, ales, tapa's and ciders.... Then going back to Naked for Satan an hour after we left because everything was just far too good), catching up with one of dad's best mates Steve... the list goes on...

The TFA crew, Melbourne, Australia

Half way through the year was Bali and Gili T, as I said, which saw me meeting Katie and so many friends of the Kotovski clan (if you know the Kotovski's, you are in the clan.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're not.  Just... no).  The wedding and the venue truly made the wedding trip a moment where friendship could be made over a few days and you could have some awesome times.  For example, I spent over a million on tequila on the wedding night... ONE MILLION... rupiah.. :)  It was just awesome meeting Asheesh, Ravi's mates, Claire et al.

This is the after Moet glow.... Katie and I, Bali, Indonesia

After my TFA contract expired, I took a few weeks off.  I hung around to see some champions of champions graduate from the John Curtin Leadership Academy before heading to Asia.

JCLA grads!!!!

Since hitting Asia, I have met some awesome people from Europe, Johanna and Rose specifically from Siem Reap, Manu and Rachel from Koh Rong who I will be seeing again shortly,  and in Thailand I am now in a villa with 8 other awesome peeps, all relationships I hope will endure.

Johanna and I in Siem Reap

Ludo and I rocking it out

My partner in crime, Tash and I, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Rachel and I, Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia.

I have to be honest, I am seriously downright shocked as to how many hits this page is getting.   Russian reverse span bots aside, I love that it helps me remain connected to everyone I have met while travelling, and also my friends am family back home.  I, of course, love you comments and messages on FB.

Koh Samui, Thailand

So, my 2011 was incredible because I managed to meet a bunch of wicked people and remain connected via the wonders of technology!!

But, what made 2011 big for you?  Let me know!!

Until next time, and 2012!!

Daniel

Follow me on Twitter @TheDanFactor

What should I do for Christmas - ASIA STYLE?

Season greetings, readers!!

I cannot believe that Christmas is but four days away and I am sitting in Siem Reap not needing to worry about buying presents, running through crowds, and definitely brogans in shopping centres!! I'm not worried about keeping receipts for presents in case friends and family don't like them. I'm not watching my shopping budget.  And, most importantly, I'm sure as heck not having to listen to effing Mariah Carey sing "All I want for Christmas" in every effing shop I visit!!!!  I hate, hate, HATE Christmas carols being played everywhere, especially from November!  


Wow, that paragraph made me sound like SUCH a Scrooge!!  I'm not a Scrooge though, I promise. I actually love Christmas day.  Christmas DAY!!!  The lead up and the stress - not so much!  But I have a great family and every Christmas we get together and have a big lunch with fantastic home cooked meals and drink copious amounts of fantastic wine.  We catch up on the year.  We Laugh. We be merry. We give presents. We, perhaps, have an arvo nap, too!  Then, come the evening, we eat leftovers from lunch.  I love my family's cooking too!  My mother always puts on the best Christmas lunches, even if they are small (small for our family being about 12).  My Uncle Mike also does amazing Christmas lunches as well with roasts, hams, minted peas, home made christmas pudding with brandy butter, brandy sauce, and cream with... wait for it... brandy in it!!  It's the best!!  Mum recently started doing chilled eggnog (with liquor in it of course) which I have become addicted too!! I love that stuff!!


But, because I love my family Christmas lunches so much and being with my family over Christmas, it makes it all that much more difficult whenever I spend Christmas abroad!  Have any of you ever spent a Christmas overseas without family?  I actually am looking forward to my Christmas! This year, plans include leaving Siem Reap and Cambodia tomorrow to fly to Phuket, Thailand for a couple of days with my little brother and his fiancé, before dashing back up to Bangkok to spend Christmas day with Tash's big sister and Margaret's daughter Melissa and her friends, before all of us jumping back down to Koh Samui for a week of bliss and pampering!! Sounds not bad huh!!


But, due to the absence of family on Christmas day, I was wondering if anyone had any idea's on what I could do to make Christmas feel more homely.  I found out from www.asiahotels.com that "Bangkok, Thailand - because Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand, Christmas is not a popular event here. Department stores and market places decorate their shops on the onset of the season" * .  So, I am hoping I can find a good hotel which puts on a Christmas feast because I will be heart broken if I end up eaten pad thai and coconut water for my christmas meal!!


So, what are your ideas and tips for having Christmas abroad to make Christmas feel more authentic? What makes Christmas special for you and your family/country? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments! I will mention some of the best idea's in a video post I will do over Christmas!!


Until next time,


Daniel


*  On that note about Santa, I have no idea what the Asians think of us!  They think Christmas is about some fat red guy who flies around the world giving out presents, and that's what we celebrate. That seems a weird concept to me and its from my culture!!


Follow me on Twitter @TheDanFactor

5 foods which freak me out in Cambodia

There are some weird foods here!  It's kinda like, shooting for the mark, but JUST missing...

1./   Insects or crawly things!! 

Got a pregnant craving for deep fried tree ants?  No problem if you're here in Cambodia?  Want to catch up with some friends over a nice plate of deep fried tarantula? Easy!!  

I know its a very sustainable option! I know that it takes less energy to produce food with insects than it does cows or larger animals! I know it's healthy!  I know it's a very logical and sensible thing to eat these!  the only issue is... have you ever had a dead but perfectly looking spider half the size of your hand come at your mouth?  No? It tastes good, really, but boy you need to man up to trust the sucker has no more life in him!!

See my post about eating tarantula, with a video here.

2./  Fried morning glory...

I can only think of the other morning glory.  Not.  Necessary!!

3./  Cambodian Cheese (Prahok)

Not cheese at all.  Salted, fermented, fish bits.  It smells terribly which is why it has the nickname Cambodian Cheese...  I can think of something else that smells which you could name it after!!

4./  Nut flavoured milkshakes... 

This is just odd.  I've seen peanut and macadamia (I think).  They also mix it with other flavours like Vanilla and peanut milkshakes...  How do you blend that??

5./  Whiskey with animals in it...

OK, not a food, and I haven't had it here in Cambodia, but it's readily available.  Have you had whiskey with a scorpion in it?  What about snake?  I had some in Vietnam on a study tour a few years ago and you know what I learned?  The bad taste isn't from a rotting animal in your drink.  Mekong whiskey is just plain awful and gives you a hangover like no other!!!

Lastly, here is a great blog post I found about why foreigners get Cambodian food "wrong".  Interesting if you are coming here!!

What is the weirdest food you have ever eaten?

Until next time,

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

4 ways to not die overseas. Really.

(Source: http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/Health-Services/Clinic-Services/Health-Promotion/In-Focus---Diabetes/RFDS-and-Diabetes/)

I know this seems like a far too sensible and also morbid thing to write about!   But recently two Australians have died here in Sihanouk Ville, one is an awful story, so I thought it somewhat appropriate.  

Dying, generally, isn't good for your health, so isn't usually recommended.  One recent death seems to have been an Aussie Navy boy, so details have really surfaced as to how he died.  But the second guy, an Australian traveller did not do his country any justice when he died doing two of our national sports - drinking and swimming!  This poor sod got so drunk that when he went for a swim in the bar pool (yes, the bar has a pool) he passed out, and slipped under the water never to resurface.

Now, just in case you thought that was bad enough, and it is, let me tell you the rest.  Someone pulled him out of the pool and proceeded to give him CPR even though they had no idea what they were doing, until two ex-military chaps took over and performed CPR for 20 mins - to no avail.  He was cold when they pulled him out of the water, so he had been there a while.

But wait, it gets worse.  The ambulance took so long, that the man's body was placed in the back of a tuk tuk, to meet the ambulance half way to the hospital.  

Remember, this guy is dead. His body was given from the tuk tuk driver to the ambulance who drove to the first hospital which, get this, REFUSED to take the body because he was dead.  So the ambulance  then took him to another hospital, which also refused him.

So, what would be the right thing to do here?  Doesn't matter.  What happens next takes the cake.  The ambulance drivers took the body… BACK TO THE PUB!!!  No fucking shit!! They took the body back to the pub and left him outside on the footpath with a sheet over him until morning when the police could come and deal with him.  Not the most dignified death I'd say!

It is definitely a reminder that while Asia is definitely a place to party, and Sihanouk Ville is definitely known as a party town, it still should be remembered that bad things can happen and things overseas are different to your home country (especially if your home country is vastly different in culture).  You don't want to find out all this when you are actually in trouble!

So, four ways how to not end up dead!

1./  Be Australian and drink smart!

I'm not saying don't get drunk and don't have a good time, but jeez, have a buddy with you and watch yourself.  And all real Aussies know you don't go for a swim when you're tanked. Idiot.  Real Aussie's know how to hold their booze!  Remember, here there is no responsible service of alcohol in some countries.  That means, your actions and the consequences are your own and yours alone.  

2./  Take out travel insurance.

I know, this one is boring and obvious.  But here is Sihanouk Ville, the closest hospital with western standard health care is a 12 hour drive away in Bangkok.  This isn't unusual in developing countries around the world.   So make sure you take out insurance so, if the need arises, you can get airlifted out!  Remember, there are other accidents besides drinking accidents (I know! Who'd have thought!!).

3./  Illegal drugs - Just don't.

Like I said, 12 hour drive if you OD and if you get caught with enough illegal substances some governments will kill you themselves!!

4./  Occasionally, think of your friends and your family.

Think of your friends, coz they will be explaining to your family how and why it happened and have to deal with the grief.  And think your family, coz they will learn the stories about how your carcass was transferred around town on the back of a motorbike, only to end up on a pavement until dawn…

…and then they need to come and get your body.

Until next time,

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

Scuba diving Cambodian style!!

So, after my hangover in my last post, I somehow ended up on a boat for two days...  Totally, I did.  I decided to not run for my boat after I woke up extremely hungover, and later in the day my awesome diving instructor asked if I'd like to go on a live-aboard for a few days.  A live aboard is a boat which you... wait for it.... live aboard for 2 days while you get to do a number of dives on different reefs. The advantage being you can go to further reefs because you don't need to get back to anywhere!!

The funny thing about diving is, it is the most inelegant sport ever.  Here I was thinking I would add to my repertoire of man skillz by being able to scuba and conquer another element but instead of looking like I thought I would, which is this...

  I actually looked more like this...

See, Scuba is just inelegant! No one can make that look good! And for the record, that guy above isn't making scuba look good. He's making snorkel look good. And I bet he wishes he had a body and tan like me!! :P

But the live aboard was mad!! I went on eight dives, including two night dives, and saw some mental stuff.  I got to see a bamboo shark, a massive ray, heaps or coral and fish!! Just awesome!! 

The two staff we had onboard, Manu and Rachel, were awesome, friendly and very knowledgable of diving and what we were looking at on the reefs.  Manu had to double as a chef, as the usual chef was pregnant.  So we had European food the whole way which was a nice change!

 Manu cooking up a storm for our final breakfast. Rachel eating melon... :)

 Could you get better looking dive instructors? No. Further proof you cannot make scuba look sexy!!
(You need to wait for the gear to get put on!) 

Rach and I on the way into Sihanoukville on the final day!

The diving is great, with so much to see and visibility of at least 30 metres!  We went about 5-6 hours off the mainland to some remote reefs and had some really awesome dives! I got one small sting from an anemone which has left a small black mark on my leg, but other than that it was just mental!!

Getting there:

Ok, so if you want to do this, the voyage costs $295 for 8 dives (2 night dives), 2 nights accommodation, all meals.  You can book at The Dive Shop (website here, blog here) in Sihanouk Ville or Koh Rong (or any of the other dive shops, I'm assuming).  You might need to have you diving open water on you, but you may be able to do it at the same time if you are lucky.

Finally, my video I made on the last day of the voyage.  Pretty my saying the same stuff as on here. Same same but different!!

If you want to comment though, my question for you is, what has been the greatest outcome for you after having a massive night out.  Mine is obviously this, but I am sure there are other stories!! 

Until next time!!

Daniel

Follow me on Twitter @TheDanFactor

What is your favourite drunk travel story??

I've done it again... I got on the turps and now I'm having to pay the consequences...

After too many gin and tonics, and shots with Germans the choice of whether to pack or have a bacon and egg baguette game up.  I hate that stupid question!!  Here is a video I made the morning after my big night celebrating my scuba certification and being on Koh Rong! Magic!!!  Sorry its long winded, but I was hungover and had a bit of a hangover!

So, question for this post is, Where is the best place you've ever got drunk, what happened?

Good news for me is, after missing my ferry, I got offered another adventure... Until tomorrow!!

Comment below with your drunk place/story!!!

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

Koh Rong (Monkey Island) - a little tour AND TOP SECRET REALITY TV STUFF!!

On our first night at Koh Rong, Tash, Margaret and I managed to down quite a few gin and tonics while playing cards and managed to meet a few locals and travellers, two of whom, Joe and Pierre, offered to take us on a boat tour of the island the next day, which we agreed to!!

Pierre, a cambodian, did all the negotiation and managed to convince a local fisherman of the ripe age of eighteen to give us a tour of the island for ten bucks a head.  Sorted! We jumped on board a vessel which looked in worse shape than one of the boats you see sinking full of refugees on the news, and started fanging around the island.

Setting sail.  Margaret, Tash, our captain, and Pierre.

The first stop was Koh Rong's longest beach, 7km beach. Actually, its 6.5 km, but I don't think that has the same ring to it, do you?  It's a beautiful beach with clear waters and squeaky sand that sings to you as you walk along it!  The sand flies can be bad there though, so don't be falling asleep after a cheeky joint like a certain Swiss traveller named Lewis did, or you wake up looking like you have the chicken pox!  However, the flies didn't bother us at all on our stroll along the beach.  In fact, aside from finding Lewis, we were the only people on that whole 7 km stretch of sand!  The good news is, if you don't have a boat, you can take a trek through the jungle for about one hour to get there as well.

Check out some of the pictures!!

Our boat arriving at 7km beach

Tash and Margaret taking a moment

Tash and Margaret counting their blessings, and listening to the singing sand

You can't see it, but at the end of this beach is a village where we had lunch, and saw secret stuff!

I just love this pic of Margaret!

Getting back on the boat to head to the village for lunch!

After walking about half the beach, we got picked up by our captain and cruised to the village at the end of the beach.  We had lunch on the wharf and found out that the village is currently shut off to foreigners! We were told their was a french film crew set up who were filming in the village, and one of the requirements was that no westerners we to come to the village.  Pierre was Cambodian, so he had a few discussions with the local chief while we ate on the pair.  Rumour around the island is the the FRENCH crew were there filming a reality television show about SURVIVING.  Read between the not so subtle lines.  Quite funny considering it is a one hour trek to town, with restaurants, beer, and a ferry off the island!

The restaurant we had lunch at.

I really like this pic of Tash and I put it up just coz she'd HATE it. She'll never know though because she doesn't read this. Serves her right. Bitch! :)

The SECRET green tents are the TV crew.  Right next to bungalows....  How will they SURVIVE so far from civilisation....

After lunch we headed around to another beach where there was a river inlet. We had some coconut juice fresh from some coconuts and did some snorkelling where we saw heaps of crabs.

We finished the day with darkness falling before we got all the way around the island and us crashing through a swell which probably got to 2 metres at some very brief times.  The local captain was very good, if young, and I swear he deliberately made the bow go under in order to get us wet, while somehow miraculously staying dry himself.  Little bastard.  The below pics are of a sunset the next day, and also the sunrise the morning after that.

Sunset 

Sunrise

Sunrise

After the cruise, Pierre organised for me do to my scuba open water with the local Dive Shop.  That was three days of joy which culminated with me having a massive night on the turps with some of the local divers and travellers.  More of that to follow...  :)

I made a quick video after my first few drinks, which I was going to post, but  decided to leave out as I have covered most things here... but wait for the next post and the hungover! :)

Until then!!

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

I found paradise, and the toilets don't flush...Koh Rong!!!

Hello all!!
Sorry I have been offline for so long!  As planned I travelled to the islands of Cambodia and we stayed on an island called Monkey Island or Koh Rong!  Koh Rong is paradise!! Well, paradise without electricity, internet, and flushing toilets.

The beach on arrival

I stayed at a resort called Monkey Island Resort (their website is here).  There are a couple of things that you initially need to get used to. Obviously, there is no electricity, except by generator which supplies power for about five hours after 6:00pm, and therefore no internet. This is all quite fine because the weather is mild and its nice to be away from Facebook! Then there are the no flushing toilets.  This is overcome by pouring water into the toilet after your done until everything has gone away, which also isn't too bad.  My bungalow was small, but comfortable... though it may have had a rat! :) Thankfully there are also cats!!

My Bungalow at Monkey Island Resort!

But the biggest thing to get used to is the pace.  It's just non existent.  If you want to swim, swim. If you don't, well... thats fine too. Monkey Island resort has it's own restaurant and bar which is excellent! Cheap drinks and good food, especially the thai menu as the owners wife is the chef, and she is thai! Its seems, the biggest decision you need to make at the resort is where will you drink your gin and tonic, at the bar in in a hammock... you chose the view you'd rather!!

The main village area is about 500 metres long, with most of the restaurants being on a strip along the beach about 200 metres long.  The restaurants are basic, but the food is great!! The hardest thing to chose after the type of food you can have is, again, which view you want!!

The local seafood restaurant!

Getting there:

Koh Rong is an island about 2 hours ferry from Sihanoukville, off the coast of Cambodia.  The ferry costs 7.50 each way.  Once there you can choose from a variety of accommodation from dorms and 5 bucks a head to rooms ranging from 8 bucks to 30 bucks, depending on space, facilities etc.  But everywhere is just a place to stay, and I'll talk you through my island trip next post!!

Until then,

Daniel

5 things Cambodia does better than Australia

I love how different places do things slightly differently.  It keeps you guessing, know what I mean? Do you remember that scene in Pulp Fiction where Jules (Samuel L Jackson) is explaining to Vincent (John Travolta) that in Amsterdam "they go the same shit over there that we got here, its just there... there it's a little different"

Having been in Cambodia a few weeks, I've noticed a few things Cambodia do a little bit better than us.

1. Mobile Phones (Cell Phones)   

Seriously, Australia is behind the times with mobile phone technology. Personally, I think its because our Telcom's enjoy a captive market that will force people to ring up to listen to advertising, or that annoying recorded bitch, "Lisa", from Vodafone.  Anyone know what I'm talking about?  "Hi, I'm Lisa. I'm here to help you today.  Why not tell me, in a few simple words, what I can help you with?"  So annoying!  Here, I buy a card, enter a number a bam! Recharged! Now, I know we have that in Australia as well, but check this out.  If I want to know my balance, I just type #124# into my key pad, and look what comes up.... Brilliant

        2.  Traffic Lights

AMAZING!!   I once heard a story about when elevators were first made where people would complain that they took too long.  To overcome this, elevator makers started putting in mirrors, and complains stopped. Well, a similar tactic has been applied here.  At traffic lights in Siem Reap (and this is quite common throughout Asia) the lights have a count down next them which tells you how much time you have of each red, yellow and green light! :)  Its fantastic.  No stressing as to how long you have, and if you are riding home after a few drinks its fun to race the green light! 

Also, the count down exists for the little man to tell you to cross the street.  Oh, and get this, the little man walks faster and faster as the timer counts down to stop crossing until here's doing a little run!  Check it out!!

       3.   Standard drinks

Um, what are they?  Forget putting a standard amount of alcohol into your drink.  If you tip more, or are friendly to the staff, you get more booze in your drink as it should be.  Besides, when it comes to cocktails, you use a recipe with fresh fruit and sugars etc which can taste different depending on season and freshness.  Sometime you need more booze to counteract that.  Other times... you just want some more booze.  

       4.   Happy Food

Oh, my God....  I don't know if this is necessarily something that Cambodia "does better" but they do it.  And it was an experience...  Those effects lasted all afternoon until I crashed at about 8:00 (I had a small pizza for lunch).  It was mellow, but definitely there!  And there are happy shakes too, for those who may not want to indulge in a whole pizza!!

       5.   Traffic

Traffic in Siem Reap doesn't flow much faster than a bicycle which is great because I am riding a really old squeaky bike!!  I manage to keep up with traffic and weave in and out of on coming cars and motorbike with ease and confidence.  That aside, there are a lot fewer cars on the road, more tuk-tuk's, bicycles and motorbikes which is actually quite calming.  There is something very "old age oriental" about cycling into a city on an old vintage bike with a basket and not having to worry about cars fly past at 60 km an hour.  Then there are tuk-tuks! Tuk-tuks are small carriages which get towed behind motorbikes or bicycles (less common in Siem Reap). Such a nice way to get home!  Saves having to ride and find a place to keep your bike. And there are no shortage of them either! Perth needs tuk-tuks!!!  Want to get home and there is only one of you?  Grab a massing motorcycle, flash a dollar, and your home! Easy done!!Oh, and you don't have to wear a helmet if you are a passenger, or on a bicycle, while you are riding ewhich is fine coz you, or anyone else for that matter, just aren't going fast enough to cause any damage.

What about you?  What are the "little differences" you've noticed while you were travelling?

Comment below or on Facebook!  Also, you can now just enter you email address to find out when I upload a post.  It might even go to your email, maybe your work email so you can read it instead of doing whatever else you are suppose to be doing!! 

Take care, all!

Until Monday,

Daniel

         

What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? Because...I HATE AN EFFING TARANTULA!!!!!

One of the coolest thing about going to different places is that you get to try all sorts of weird arse food.  So far, on this trip, I have been kinda tame.  I think the weirdest thing I have tried has been a crocodile burger, which was average in my opinion.  But last night, while dining at a restaurant as part of the "Friends" organisation, I got offered tarantula!

The Friends organisation is a group of 3 food outlets (two restaurants and a cafe) in Phnom Penh which trains up orphans and street kids into the hospitality industry, so they don't have to rely on hocking books or begging to make a living. The restaurants act as training grounds, but the food is of excellent quality, if expensive, and they money all goes back into training kids.  It is a really good cause and if you want to know more about them you can learn more about them here.

Before Friends, I spent half the day at a War Crimes court for the Khmer Rouge regime, where brother number two, second to Pol Pot (Brother number one) and three other senior Khmer Rouge leaders are being tried.  It was really interesting and I will write on it tomorrow hopefully.  I am in transit and going a little remote, so I may not have access to wifi for a week or so.

Anyway, back to the restaurant. I was at my table, happy in my spider free bliss, when a girl at the table next to us offered me a spare Tarantula they had which was going begging.  Who was I to say no? That would be just rude!!  So I jumped at the opportunity and below is the impromptu video taken by Tash on her mother's iPhone. It was dark so I apologise about the quality.  But rest assured, I am now man. Man who invented the wheel and is made of braun. Man who sailed ships made of wood and had muscles stronger than steel!!  I ate a mother effing tarantula and didn't cry like a five year old girl who stubbed her toe! I. Am. Legend!!  :)

So, my question for today is, what is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?  Below is a video of the  weirdest food I have ever seen! While I haven't eaten it, I thought this made made a good addition to this post!

Comment or post on FB, what is the weirdest thing you have eaten?

Until tomorrow, hopefully!

Daniel

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Siem Reap to Phnom Penh!! Floating villages and flooded forests!!

I'm sunburnt. I'm tired. I'm in Phnom Penh eating duck and drinking a mango shake… life is good!!  This morning I travelled by boat from Siem Reap which took us south through lake Tonle` Sap and down a river of the same name, towards Phnom Penh.  Lake Tonle` Sap is the lake which fed the expansion of the ancient Khmer empire, much like the Nile did for Egypt.  This lake is remarkable though.  It depletes and floods every year. The water for this flooding comes from the melting snow in the Himalayas. However, and this is the cool bit, as the massive increase of water comes down the Mekong river in the delta, the water bottle necks and flows back up stream, going up the Mekong, then the Tonle` Sap, and flooding up around Siem Reap.  In the process it covers massive forests which provide food for a massive fish population feeding the locals.  When on this lake, there are times you cannot see the shore in any direction.  It truly becomes an inland sea.

There are a few ways to travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Private taxi, coach, plane and boat.  Plane is about 80-90 USD and the flight is about 45 minutes. All other ways are about 5-6 hours and vary on price. Boat is 35 dollars, coach about 12, and private taxi is probably around 70 dollars as well.  A lot of travel guides really tore strips off the boat, claiming it was hideously expensive for how long it took claiming the views became monotonous, the boat noisy, and rather unpleasant.  Many suggesting the coach to save money.  I don't think that could be further from the truth.  I mean, the boat wasn't first class by any means, but it provided six hours of fantastic views not only of the Cambodian country side, but Cambodian life.  We saw floating villages, people checking fishing nets, floating schools and restaurants, children swimming. It was fantastic!  The only down side was I didn't put on enough sunscreen!!  

The cool thing about Cambodia is that OH&S hasn't yet discovered this place so you can do whatever you want.  The awesome thing about the boat trip is you don't have to go into the cabin... ever... (well, unless you want to pee).

 

The best seats are either at the bow or on the roof and you are free to move around so long as you don't disrupt the captains view for too long.  This is a brilliant way to travel!  The wind is in your hair, you get to chat to other travellers, and because you are exposed to the elements I really feel that you get a sense of being connected to the land and environment around you. I mean, would you rather be looking at the view below, or be in a bus?

Floating villages en route to Phnom Penh.

When I first caught this boat about 4 years ago we literally pulled up to Siem Reap and walked a plank to a muddy shore. Now there are proper jetties where street sellers hock their food and beverages before you hit your journey, all claiming there will be no opportunity to buy food or drink on the voyage.  However, you do get provided with a bread roll and can buy coffee, beer, and soft drinks for USD1 the entire trip.  However, if you want some bananas cheese etc, best pick it up before you leave. It all costs less than a dollar.  

Margaret and I

I love being on the water so thats a plus, and boats are just fun to take photo's on!!  So forget what the guidebooks say!  If you think you can get the views and experiences captured in these pictures on a plane, taxi or coach, then go for it!  But the boat will get my vote every time.  

Oh, and the final selling point.  Last time I was here I did catch the bus one way.  It was six hours long on a pot holed road.  The toilet on the bus was in a small cabin under the seats.  Just so I can paint the picture, think of this.  You need to go to the toilet terribly! There are four more hours to go, with no stops.  You go downstairs and climb through a small door to the toilet.  On the bus, travelling along a pot holed road, throwing you from side to side, is a squat toilet... Fuck... That!  You could have a beer and do this instead!!

We pulled into port (see how I talk like a seaman now!) around 1:30pm, after departing at 8:00am, and made our way to find some digs.  We are staying at Hotel Cambodiana which, is about 3.5 - 4 stars. It nice, just rough around the edges, though probably not good value.  The view is incredible though, especially before 7:00am as the sun is rising. Our room has a view over the pool and the Mekong river. Its a little bit magic.  After checking in we headed out for lunch, which is quite nice. I ordered a roast duck salad which tasted very American to be honest (too much mayo, too much sauce), but was still nice.  Along the walls are A4 pieces of paper from people visiting from all corners of the globe.  Quite a clever idea really. So, if you want to leave your mark in Phnom Penh, make you way to Khmer Saravan.  It's right on the river front.

The wall of Khmer Saravan - messages from all over the world!

I think thats enough writing for one day! 

Until tomorrow,

Daniel

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Monkey's, flowers, temples, and sunsets!! Angkor Temples, Day 3

Finally, day three of the temples!!  I hope you have enjoyed the slide shows. I know there are lots of photo's but the temples truly are amazing!!

On the final day we explored Angkor Wat. This is the single largest religious building in existence, and it was built over 800 years ago.  "Angkor" in Khmer means city, and "Wat" means Capital. So you figure out the meaning of the two combined! :)

This sucker is so impressive, not to mention effing huge! Unfortunately, I don't think the temples staff got the memo that I was coming, because there was plenty of reconstruction going on which made the photo thing a bit harder, but it's still incredible.  Unlike the pyramids, or other ancient temples, Angkor Wat is still active and used by thousands of Buddhists.  When you see the steps you will understand why the are so skinny!! Imagine climbing those suckers for prayers EVERYDAY!!  Actually, Angkor Wat is so important to the Cambodians it is on their national flag!

Cambodian National Flag

The temple is actually built like a pyramid, in 3 phases which come together at a peak which is as tall as the Notre Dame cathedral in France. Also, all the towers are designed to look like the closed bud of a lotus flower! 

Oh, and I saw a monkey, next to a statue... That's just rad!

After Angkor Wat we progressed to another temple for the prime purpose of watching the sun set, which was glorious. 

Anyway, find the final instalment of my Temples below! :)

Until next time,

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor