With three layovers and a total of about thirty hours of travel, you could say we were relieved and excited to finally arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia. My best friend, girlfriend and I had been planning our trip for months and finally, we made it. Without a plan for a place to stay, we grabbed a tuk tuk from the airport and heading into town.
Exploring the town brought back memories for me because I had been there five years ago with my family. And seeing a place that I once explored as a child, with the perspective I now have as a young adult was intriguing. This being my first real trip as an adult in another country, everything felt more real. Adventuring with our own budget and our own rules was something new to all of us and it felt great.
As we searched around for a cheap hostel I noticed so much more life in the booming traveler’s hub. Finding a place to stay was painless, the town is full of hostels which are great for meeting people and having a super cheap place to stay, if you’re willing to share a room of course. It’s understandable that it isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfectly suitable for three teenagers.
After about a week or so we wanted to have a little get away from the hustle and bustle of the hostel life. So, we started looking around for something a little nicer for a night or two. After doing some research we didn’t seem to find anything that caught our eyes until we were invited to stay at the Tresur d’Angkor Suite. We couldn’t pass up the surprisingly affordable resort. We booked a two-night stay and packed our bags!
When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by a wonderful staff and some refreshments in the form of fresh cut coconuts. Every member of staff we interacted with were all very friendly and helpful with anything we needed. I could not be more pleased by their wonderful service.
We decided to have our days of exploring Angkor Wat and other surrounding temples to be the same days we were staying at Tresur d’Angkor. I cannot stress enough how great it was to come back to this relaxing haven and lounge by the pool after a full day of walking around in the Cambodian heat.
The rooms also had powerful air conditioning allowing for a nice escape from the heat. And if you’re looking for comfort you won’t be disappointed with some of the most comfortable beds we slept in on our trip.
We were treated to a four course meal at the their restaurant that was fantastic! Once again the service was splendid and the food was mouthwatering. Hats off too the chef and the rest of the kitchen crew.
The resort is somewhat of a hidden gem. It’s just far enough away to be difficult to find or maybe seems too far away from all the action. But being just a short 5-minute tuk tuk ride from the center of town, it makes for a great getaway. And grabbing a tuk tuk from the hotel is as simple as asking at the front desk.
The real beauty of being located outside of town is the amount of space they have. Instead of being crammed into a little lot, they had a charmingly landscaped wide-open space. With nine whitewashed villas and a total of eighteen rooms surrounding a huge freshwater pool, it really is a hidden paradise. The traditional Khmer style and more modern elements blend amazingly in the architecture and interior design of all the villas.
All and all, we were thrilled with our stay here and how affordable it is to have such a luxurious experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for some of the more modern comforts while off on an adventure.
After about a week or so we wanted to have a little get away from the hustle and bustle of the hostel life. So, we started looking around for something a little nicer for a night or two. After doing some research we didn’t seem to find anything that caught our eyes until we were invited to stay at the Tresur d’Angkor Suite. We couldn’t pass up the surprisingly affordable resort. We booked a two-night stay and packed our bags!
The rooms also had powerful air conditioning allowing for a nice escape from the heat. And if you’re looking for comfort you won’t be disappointed with some of the most comfortable beds we slept in on our trip.
The resort is somewhat of a hidden gem. It’s just far enough away to be difficult to find or maybe seems too far away from all the action. But being just a short 5-minute tuk tuk ride from the center of town, it makes for a great getaway. And grabbing a tuk tuk from the hotel is as simple as asking at the front desk.
All and all, we were thrilled with our stay here and how affordable it is to have such a luxurious experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for some of the more modern comforts while off on an adventure.
When you travel around the world with your family you’ll find yourself using all kinds of transport. Sometimes it’s a hire car, sometimes a camper, often it’s bus or train travel. Occasionally it’s a trusty horse or camel and every so often some kind soul will even loan you their own car for you to zip around town in!
Having such variety makes every new transport experience an adventure. The photographs you take of the family riding camels around the pyramids of Egypt will document a transport adventure that is talked about for years to come. Especially if any member of the family is scared!
You’ll remember our post about the great camper we had in Australia. We found it a lot easier to drive than we ever expected and can’t wait to try one out again. We weren’t too sure we were going to be able to manage it but it turned out to be really basic even for those with no experience.
We also tried a jetboat to race around Sydney Harbour – not technically a form of transport but a high-speed adrenaline rush that resulted in lots of squealing! See, I told you the photos are priceless when any member of the family is mildly apprehensive and terrified!
We’ve enjoyed the bamboo railway in Cambodia and ferry rides in Thailand. As well as using a basic hire car to venture out on our ill-fated visa run from Malaysia.
Even in the US there are so many options for travel. One does not need a car of their own. In fact, I think there are many, many benefits to ditching the car and jumping on board a train or bus. Imagine being able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. No GPS checks, no bathroom breaks needed, and with kids, there is no doubt in my mind that train travel with its ability to get up and walk around is the absolute best way to travel!
With the Internet and all it's various search capabilities, it is easier than ever to find great deals. If you want to search tickets from the east coast all the way to the west you can easily research, purchase tickets, and be on your way in no time! You can search for bus or train travel anywhere in the country at the click of a button! Man, I wish this was available when we did our massive road trip back in 2006.
You’ll remember our post about the great camper we had in Australia. We found it a lot easier to drive than we ever expected and can’t wait to try one out again. We weren’t too sure we were going to be able to manage it but it turned out to be really basic even for those with no experience.
We also tried a jetboat to race around Sydney Harbour – not technically a form of transport but a high-speed adrenaline rush that resulted in lots of squealing! See, I told you the photos are priceless when any member of the family is mildly apprehensive and terrified!
We’ve enjoyed the bamboo railway in Cambodia and ferry rides in Thailand. As well as using a basic hire car to venture out on our ill-fated visa run from Malaysia.
With the Internet and all it's various search capabilities, it is easier than ever to find great deals. If you want to search tickets from the east coast all the way to the west you can easily research, purchase tickets, and be on your way in no time! You can search for bus or train travel anywhere in the country at the click of a button! Man, I wish this was available when we did our massive road trip back in 2006.
What different ways have you traveled around the US or the world? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Second up in our travel hotel review series are 2 of our favorite countries. We have spent a lot of time in Thailand and Malaysia this year but Cambodia and Laos are where we found adventure, peace and deep connections with the culture. It is also where we found some amazing hotels at even more amazing deals.
None of these are luxury spots, that just isn't really our style. But they were all clean, comfortable, and perfectly sufficient for a nights rest, and in some cases even more!
Cambodia
Siem Reap
Palm Village Resort $35 a night for a triple (let us squeeze in) including breakfast
Palm Village Resort, just outside the main town of Siem Reap was perhaps the loveliest place we have stayed thus far. The staff was incredibly welcoming and adored our children. We rented the triple room, which came with a double and a single bed. The room was nothing special, but it was comfortable and clean with AC, TV and a large bathroom.
The attached restaurant served a nice variety of food, even made to order for the kids. The included breakfast was large and also had a wide variety of Khmer and Western cuisine. The WIFI internet worked well in the room...most of the time!
The best part of this hotel was the location and garden filled surroundings. Set just outside town you could really get a reprieve from the hectic day touring the temples or hanging out in town. The hotel also had a large pool which was a relief from the humidity and heat of Cambodia. They also have a wonderful tuk tuk driver who was able to stick with us the entire time taking us to temples, dinner, or basically anyplace we wanted for an extremely reasonable fare.
Battambang
Battambang Lotus Hotel $23 per night including breakfast (we needed 2 rooms)
Battambang Lotus hotel is a bit obtrusive when first entering. It appears a large hotel and when you enter the furniture is large and quite imposing. Beautiful but somewhat out of place.
The rooms are lovely and again clean. Bathrooms even had a bathtub which is a nice option not offered very often in Asia. The rooms come with SAT TV, AC, and a lackluster breakfast but certainly better then nothing. The WIFI worked well when it was on but we found that it went in and out often.
The location is not the best as its not walking distance to town but on several occasions the manager of the hotel offered to take us to town to run errands and a tuk tuk costs very little if you need to go that route. There is a nice salt water pool and many areas for relaxing around the lobby.
Phnom Penh
Cyclo $40 per night suite
Cyclo was definitely the coolest room set up we've had so far. For $40 we had a nice little living room area, refrigerator, large bathroom with tub, a bedroom and a airy balcony. Upstairs, in a loft type area, we also had another bedroom and small bathroom. It was a fun set up for the kids but admittedly the beds were really hard! The WIFI worked well throughout the room. We had a different a room upstairs at one point and the internet did not function as well so try and get a lower floor room if that is important to you.
They offer many room types to fit every need. The property also has a nice French themed restaurant, large hang out area on the roof complete with a huge jacuzzi, an Xbox and a pool table. The location was great, near a mall and lots of cool little side streets to explore.
Sihanoukeville
Beach Road Hotel $20 a night (2 rooms)
Sihanoukeville is FULL of inexpensive hotels. We chose Beach Road as it was centrally located and one of the cheapest with AC and a pool that we could find. The rooms were clean, spacious, and the WIFI worked great. The rooms we had came with SAT TV and a refrigerator, always nice additions.
The location was good and bad. The good; a spa and a movie theater were attached to the hotel, the restaurant was large, comfy and had a nice variety of food and a pool table, and the beach was a short walk down the road. There was also a nice pool but it didn't seem very clean by the end of our stay. The chlorine level simply rose each week. The bad; that would have to be the large nightclub attached to the back end of our room. The music blared until 2am, not an issue for us really but for some I know this would be a deal breaker.
We got a 30% discount for staying for one month. This made our cost $28/night for two large rooms.
Laos
Vientianne
Suksavanh River 2 Hotel $30 a night, family room (they let us squeeze in), breakfast included
I knew when I was in the capital of Laos I wanted to be on the river. Most of the hotels were outside our price bracket until I stumbled upon the Suksavanh. It is in a perfect location, right across the street from the Mekong River and an easy walk to loads of great restaurants and a beautiful and large playground.
The rooms were nothing special but they were clean, had 2 large comfortable beds, SAT TV, solid WIFI, and a fridge. The restaurant onsite provided a nice breakfast and the staff was really great, always going above and beyond to help. My 5-year-old was quite the hit! There is no pool but for a small fee the hotel next door will let you swim all day.
Vang Vieng
Laos Haven Hotel $21 a night including breakfast, for a triple room
Vang Vieng is one of our favorite spots we have traveled to so far. Part of why we loved it so much was the hotel. It was not fancy, but it was inexpensive and perfect for what we needed. The only downside was the internet, it was a very weak signal and really why we left after 3 weeks. But that being said, none of the hotels seemed to have good WIFI, maybe something to do with the stunning limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Maybe the connection has improved since our visit. For a more in depth look check out this video .
The room was basic but clean and the owners became like family after the first couple of days. The breakfast was amazing and the food throughout the day was even better. We squeezed into one room and they didn't mind at all, even gave us all breakfast free of charge. Perhaps the best part was the location. It is sort of a party town and can get loud in the evenings. Laos Haven is set at the far end of of the strip so it was quiet at night yet still close enough to easily walk to everything.
After being on the road for over a year we have figured out what works and what doesn't when looking for accomodations. First of all, we like to book our hotels slightly in advance, in order to avoid the whole, traipsing through town with 3 kids and tons of luggage deal. We also only book 1-2 nights in case we don't like it and want to move on! There are loads of great sites when looking to book a hotel like agoda, booking, or hostelbookers.
Sometimes though we want more then a hotel! Wimdu is one site where we go to find affordable apartments and unique lodging opportunities. Sometimes hotel living can get to us and having a kitchen to cook familiar foods in and more space to spread out in is just the cure to fix our hotel funk! If living in hotels is just not working try and branch out to a different living environment and see if that helps!
None of these are luxury spots, that just isn't really our style. But they were all clean, comfortable, and perfectly sufficient for a nights rest, and in some cases even more!
Cambodia
Siem Reap
Palm Village Resort, just outside the main town of Siem Reap was perhaps the loveliest place we have stayed thus far. The staff was incredibly welcoming and adored our children. We rented the triple room, which came with a double and a single bed. The room was nothing special, but it was comfortable and clean with AC, TV and a large bathroom.
The attached restaurant served a nice variety of food, even made to order for the kids. The included breakfast was large and also had a wide variety of Khmer and Western cuisine. The WIFI internet worked well in the room...most of the time!
The best part of this hotel was the location and garden filled surroundings. Set just outside town you could really get a reprieve from the hectic day touring the temples or hanging out in town. The hotel also had a large pool which was a relief from the humidity and heat of Cambodia. They also have a wonderful tuk tuk driver who was able to stick with us the entire time taking us to temples, dinner, or basically anyplace we wanted for an extremely reasonable fare.
Battambang
Battambang Lotus Hotel $23 per night including breakfast (we needed 2 rooms)Battambang Lotus hotel is a bit obtrusive when first entering. It appears a large hotel and when you enter the furniture is large and quite imposing. Beautiful but somewhat out of place.
The rooms are lovely and again clean. Bathrooms even had a bathtub which is a nice option not offered very often in Asia. The rooms come with SAT TV, AC, and a lackluster breakfast but certainly better then nothing. The WIFI worked well when it was on but we found that it went in and out often.
The location is not the best as its not walking distance to town but on several occasions the manager of the hotel offered to take us to town to run errands and a tuk tuk costs very little if you need to go that route. There is a nice salt water pool and many areas for relaxing around the lobby.
Phnom Penh
Cyclo $40 per night suiteCyclo was definitely the coolest room set up we've had so far. For $40 we had a nice little living room area, refrigerator, large bathroom with tub, a bedroom and a airy balcony. Upstairs, in a loft type area, we also had another bedroom and small bathroom. It was a fun set up for the kids but admittedly the beds were really hard! The WIFI worked well throughout the room. We had a different a room upstairs at one point and the internet did not function as well so try and get a lower floor room if that is important to you.
They offer many room types to fit every need. The property also has a nice French themed restaurant, large hang out area on the roof complete with a huge jacuzzi, an Xbox and a pool table. The location was great, near a mall and lots of cool little side streets to explore.
Sihanoukeville
Sihanoukeville is FULL of inexpensive hotels. We chose Beach Road as it was centrally located and one of the cheapest with AC and a pool that we could find. The rooms were clean, spacious, and the WIFI worked great. The rooms we had came with SAT TV and a refrigerator, always nice additions.
The location was good and bad. The good; a spa and a movie theater were attached to the hotel, the restaurant was large, comfy and had a nice variety of food and a pool table, and the beach was a short walk down the road. There was also a nice pool but it didn't seem very clean by the end of our stay. The chlorine level simply rose each week. The bad; that would have to be the large nightclub attached to the back end of our room. The music blared until 2am, not an issue for us really but for some I know this would be a deal breaker.
We got a 30% discount for staying for one month. This made our cost $28/night for two large rooms.
Laos
Vientianne
I knew when I was in the capital of Laos I wanted to be on the river. Most of the hotels were outside our price bracket until I stumbled upon the Suksavanh. It is in a perfect location, right across the street from the Mekong River and an easy walk to loads of great restaurants and a beautiful and large playground.
The rooms were nothing special but they were clean, had 2 large comfortable beds, SAT TV, solid WIFI, and a fridge. The restaurant onsite provided a nice breakfast and the staff was really great, always going above and beyond to help. My 5-year-old was quite the hit! There is no pool but for a small fee the hotel next door will let you swim all day.
Vang Vieng
Laos Haven Hotel $21 a night including breakfast, for a triple room Vang Vieng is one of our favorite spots we have traveled to so far. Part of why we loved it so much was the hotel. It was not fancy, but it was inexpensive and perfect for what we needed. The only downside was the internet, it was a very weak signal and really why we left after 3 weeks. But that being said, none of the hotels seemed to have good WIFI, maybe something to do with the stunning limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Maybe the connection has improved since our visit. For a more in depth look check out this video .
The room was basic but clean and the owners became like family after the first couple of days. The breakfast was amazing and the food throughout the day was even better. We squeezed into one room and they didn't mind at all, even gave us all breakfast free of charge. Perhaps the best part was the location. It is sort of a party town and can get loud in the evenings. Laos Haven is set at the far end of of the strip so it was quiet at night yet still close enough to easily walk to everything.
After being on the road for over a year we have figured out what works and what doesn't when looking for accomodations. First of all, we like to book our hotels slightly in advance, in order to avoid the whole, traipsing through town with 3 kids and tons of luggage deal. We also only book 1-2 nights in case we don't like it and want to move on! There are loads of great sites when looking to book a hotel like agoda, booking, or hostelbookers.
Sometimes though we want more then a hotel! Wimdu is one site where we go to find affordable apartments and unique lodging opportunities. Sometimes hotel living can get to us and having a kitchen to cook familiar foods in and more space to spread out in is just the cure to fix our hotel funk! If living in hotels is just not working try and branch out to a different living environment and see if that helps!
As 2012 draws to a close I have been thinking back through our year traveling around the world! I sit here in wild wonder at where we have been, who we have met, and the experiences we have all had! Instead of the run of the mill photo round up of the year I decided to start annual awards. Every year will feature different categories and all will highlight the best of our year!
So here it is; our 2012 best of awards!
Best historical landmark
No question at all on this one. Angkor Wat would place first in a lot of different categories for travel. It is enormous, stunningly beautiful, historical and a must see on anyone’s itinerary in Asia. Easily our pick for first place. We spent 3 days exploring all the temples and I wish it could have been more. Be sure to do the sunrise morning, it is worth the 4am wake up, and it takes a lot for the night owl in me to admit that.
A close second for us was also a UNESCO heritage site. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, is rich in history and full of stunning temples and ruins. They suffered a devastating blow during the floods in 2011, so supporting the town through tourism is a wonderful benefit to them. It is a landmark town worthwhile of the 1 hour train ride North from Bangkok. Warning: It is hot as hell there or at least it was in March so a room with AC is a must!
Best amusement park
We are not huge amusement park goers but this year we saw quite a few. Without a doubt Universal Studios in Singapore takes first place. We spent the entire day going on roller coasters, 4D rides, watching shows, and so much more. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Singapore. Quick tip though; get the fast pass so you can skirt the lines, with a 5 year old that was a life saver!
Runner up would have to be the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, Malaysia. Not anything like Universal but it had a charm of its own. We spent the entire day enjoying the waterpark, tiger feeding, amusement rides, hot springs, copper panning, and small Animal Park. The Lost World is really the perfect size park as even though it offered many different things to do, we never felt overwhelmed.
Best snorkelling spot
Snorkelling is one of my favorite activities. It takes a special kind of beach and ocean water to really make it stand out. One of the best places I have ever snorkelled and certainly the best this year was in the Perhentian Islands off the East coast of Malaysia. Beautiful secluded beaches and a reef directly offshore, so even the little guys can snorkel with no problems, made this an easy pick!
Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand comes up in second place. The beach made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is absolutely stunning. An added benefit to the snorkelling was that we got to swim with some sharks while we were there. The noise and air pollution that is overrunning this beautiful spot took it out of first place for us though. The reef is slowly dying and it is hard to really fall in love with a beach when you can hardly find it behind all the tourist boats.
Best cave
One of the best days on our entire journey so far was in a cave. Hands down the best cave was an unmarked cave in a village near Vang Vieng, Laos. The boys helped each other, pushed me way outside my comfort zone, and we even got to swim deep inside this remarkable Earth cavity.
A close second was a day we spent up in Northern Thailand in Tham Lod cave. Roughly 2 hours North of Pai, it was a beautiful motor bike drive up, where we were met with one of the most astounding caves I have ever seen. A river runs slowly through this massive cavern so you are able to take a bamboo canoe to navigate to various on /off points. It is definitely worth a day trip north!
Best sign
One day I will do an entire post just on the funny signs we come across. For now though I leave you with 2 of my favorites from this year. The first one is a menu choice from our hotel in Battambang where apparently they serve up your friends rather than French fries to go along with your meal. During our stay they also were convinced that apple juice was the proper name for ketchup. Confusion ruled the meals, in a fun way!
Bathroom signs and bathrooms themselves are always something interesting in Asia. TP or no, squat toilet or western, you never know what you will get. This instructive sign was found in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the faces in the sign as well as the need to explain this process just cracked us up!
Best hawker stall/ street food
I’ll split this one up. Best hawker market food we have had is Long Beach in Penang. Hawker markets are basically street food that is set up all under one roof. They offer everything from Chinese food, Satay, Western food, soups, roti, etc. It is fast, cheap, and mostly delicious. You can find hawker markets all over Penang but in our experience Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi was the best.
For street food Thailand wins this hands down. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai the food is incredibly cheap and wonderfully flavorful. One woman in particular is our absolute favourite. She has her stand inside the temple grounds for the weekend markets just down the main street from the Tae Pae gate. She makes one dish only, Pad Thai, and it is the best we have had anyplace. If you get a chance head down to see her…oh and you can get a $3 foot massage while you eat it…from a different lady of course
Most used phrase
When you travel all the time in strange and exotic locations things just do not always go the way you expect. Actually what we have learned is to not really expect anything and just live in the moment and go with the flow. But it is from our, let’s say, misadventures that our most used phrases come from.
“This is going to make a great story…someday!” Used most often during bus travel but not exclusively reserved for those trips, this phrase sees a lot of action in our family and really helps us through the less exotic parts of full time travel.
“What is going on here”, or “what is this all about”, comes out often as well. Asia seems to be the capital of random things put together and it is often times impossible to decipher the connection…hence the phrase!
Best train ride
Since starting our trip we have taken countless train journeys. Some were short and others quite long but they have all been comfortable, exciting, and fun! The first place spot is held by a train unlike any others. In Battambang, Cambodia, for a very reasonable rate you can ride on the bamboo railway. A creative way to make use of the railroad after it was ruined for actual trains in the 1970’s. Locals transport goods and run bamboo train tours out to a local brick factory. It was exhilarating as we took off from the “station” and quickly realized how fast this thing could really go. Even more exciting when you realize it’s only 1 track for 2 way traffic…have no fear you simply pay attention and disassemble the train when another train carrying more passengers comes by.
In second place is one ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We have taken this route several times over the year but this particular train ride was the most fun we have had on a train. It was just my oldest son and I and after seeing that our seats were not so lovely we decided to find the restaurant car. To our delight it turned into a nightclub after 8pm and we ate, danced, drank, and had a great time meeting other travellers.
Best sunset
Not much to say on this category. We have seen a lot of sunsets over the year and even more sunrises than ever before in my life. Without a doubt Penang takes first place in this category. We were lucky enough to have a view of the sunset over the ocean every single day for months. The only problem was picking my favourite sunset photo.
Coming in as runner up has to be the sunset over the Mekong River in Vientianne, Laos. Loads of people converge on the steps down to the river to watch in amazement as Mother Nature paints a sunset night after night. It is incredibly peaceful to sit among locals and watch.
Best flash mob
No award ceremony for 2012 would be complete without at least 1 mention of Gangnum style, the K-pop sensation that seemingly has been sweeping the world over. Now I have not actually seen the real video, which has topped over 1 billion views on YouTube but I am still familiar with the song. As my 9 year old and I made a quick stop into the Gurney mall in Penang, we heard the music begin to blare and made our way to the center court of the mall to find a full blown flash mob. I have always wanted to see or be in one so this was such a treat. We watched, we videotaped, and here we are sharing the video of the best flash mob we saw this year.
In second place, yes we actually saw 2 flash mobs this year, is a Christmas flash mob that we saw in a small mall on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. At a time when I was not feeling very much in the Christmas spirit it really brought tears to my eyes. I was at the mall to work so unfortunately did not have a camera and didn’t capture it.
Best Lord of the Flies moment
Two separate times this year I or another mom has remarked that what we were watching was a true Lord of the Flies moment. First place goes to my son and his friend, who within minutes of landing on Monkey Beach spotted, captured, killed, cooked, and ate a humungous crab. I do not like crab usually but we all had a taste and something about the freshness made it scrumptious.
While tubing down a river in Laos we came across several locals doing what they do every day; watering their buffalo, washing their clothes, and fishing. But the thing that struck us as a LOTF moment was when we came across these young boys in their underpants and spears trying to catch an evening meal.
Best beach
Best beach seemed a category we just had to include since we have spent the majority of the year on a beach. This was a hard one to choose but when looking at the beauty, fun and resources of the area the first place award has to go to Koh Samet in Thailand. 3 hours to the East of Bangkok and set in the gulf of Thailand this small island packed a huge punch of fun. Beautiful beach, food vendors and massages available everywhere, restaurants on the beach complete with cushions for maximum comfort, and best of all daily fireworks, nightclubs, and amazing fire shows. Needless to say, we had a great time!
Second place goes to the Perhentian Islands, which also snagged an award for best snorkelling. This Malaysia Island set is serene, striking, and the most relaxing place we have been so far. Although there are pretty much only tourists there it is never busy or overrun and most of the island doesn’t even use electricity for the majority of the day. We had a wonderful stay and would not hesitate to go back.
Best festival
Unquestionably the winner here is the Yi Peng festival that we travelled 100 hours to see! It was beautiful, peaceful, magical, and downright life changing. Anytime you are even remotely in the area be sure to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand and partake in this amazing festival. It was probably the best thing I did the entire year!
Runner up in the category is the Chinese New Year celebration also in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were acrobats, dragons, and a parade that wasn’t too overwhelming but still fun. Nothing really amazing but we had a great morning celebrating!
Most stunning trees
Trees are possibly the most enchanting things on the planet in my opinion. They shock and amaze me on a regular basis. They are also the thing that pictures just cannot seem to capture. The magic and grandeur is just lost and you really need to be there to get the full feeling. First place award for trees goes to the silk cotton trees that envelope the ruins at Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat. This Cambodian wonder truly needs to be seen to be believed.
The runner up was tough to choose but in the interest of showing something different I decided to choose artificial trees. The Avatar like trees in the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore will amaze you. Take my advice and be sure to head there next time you are in Singapore. They are directly across the street from the Marina Bay Sands making an evening visit breath taking!
Grossest meat on a stick
There is no shortage of gross things that Asians eat on a stick. They do not waste anything and we have seen embryos, baby chicks, tarantulas, and numerous types of bugs. But the winner of this category has to be the bats on sticks that we saw in Laos. Maybe if it was just the meat it would not have been so unthinkable to eat but when you could still see the hair, teeth, and claws it, well, it takes the place as winner of grossest food on a stick!
A close second, and this was a tough choice, has to be the snakes on the stick that we saw in Cambodia. Do I really need to say more here….just look at the picture! Yuck!
Best animal encounter
We have enjoyed a lot of amazing animal encounters this year but 2 stand out quite a bit as the level of interaction was not something you would ever find in the US. First place goes to our time with the elephants in Pai, Thailand. Frolicking in the water, feeding them and just being in their presence in such a close and intimate way was just spectacular!
Second place is our time spent at the Orangutan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. It is a rehab facility that really cares for and tries to reintegrate the primates back to their wild habitat on Borneo. We could have stayed for hours watching them play but our favourite part was watching the different personalities in the toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Most life changing/touching experience
The award for this category goes, hands down to the killing fields in Cambodia. You cannot walk away from that place with the same feelings about humanity as you have when walking in. It is done beautifully and respectfully but was without a doubt the hardest day I have spent on the journey. I would NOT recommend it for children under 12 as it is very deep subject matter and a level of respect and quiet needs to be displayed.
Second place goes to the Yi Peng lantern festival, where for a brief moment we actually felt the negativity of the planet rise to the skies and felt a magical Peace overcome us. As I said before if you are ever in the Thailand area in November this is a must see!
Best reference to my old home, Costa Rica
An extremely popular saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida, it is said throughout the Spanish community but in Costa Rica it is everything from a way of life to a greeting! We have actually run into this saying several times since we have been in Asia. Our first month was spent in Chiang Mai. We explored every inch of that city and in our travelling around we came across the words “Pura Vida” spray painted on a wall. We were shocked and delighted, took many pictures, and now consider it an award winner. It is a random category, but a winner none the less.
In Pai, Thailand we also came across the words Pura Vida. There is a hotel overlooking a beautiful rice paddy called Pura Vida. The property is stunning and really seems to fit the saying, pure life!
Most beautiful Mosque
In the 12 months of 2012 we spent over half that time in countries that are predominantly Muslim. That has availed us numerous opportunities to visit Mosques. The Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the winner for us. It was so much larger than we had been expecting and absolutely stunning. We spent 2 hours there listening to the Iman, and oohing and ahhing at the splendor and grandeur of the walls and floors around us. Word of warning; be sure to pay attention to exactly where you take your shoes off upon entering. The Mosque is so huge that we actually lost our shoes for over an hour.
Our runner up is the Masjid Kapitan Keling, the oldest Mosque in Penang. Georgetown Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site and there is good reason for this distinction. It is a wonderful place to soak in religion, history, and culture and a perfect spot to enjoy a day or 2. The Keling Mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to see. There is usually a guide there to show you around and explain things, which is helpful as it is sometimes difficult to know the right way to behave in a new religious environment. Do not go on Fridays, the high prayer day.
Best use of Gold
We have seen a lot of amazing structures and figures made out of gold over the last year so this was also a hard category to pick the two winners for. In first place is a magnificent golden Buddha statue housed at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang, Malaysia. We were shocked at how beautiful the entire grounds were but the Buddha and the temple it is housed in are simply magnificent.
A close runner up is one of Chiang Mai’s largest attractions. On Doi Suthep is a stunning and spiritual temple. The centrepiece of the temple grounds is a huge golden chedi flanked by countless Buddha statues also golden. It is special chedi where you will find people circling in meditative contemplation. It was extremely spiritual and peaceful to watch.
Most Creative way to pump gas
Our last category seems random but honestly we have seen so many cool and downright dangerous ways to pump gas in Asia. Our first place winner is insane, basically a metal drum with a hand crank on it. This definitely wouldn't pass any safety standards in the US but hey it works so why not! Not sure about the shower cap but I bet its a cheap fix for something!
The runner up is one of the coolest gas pumps ever. It is located in Pai, Thailand and I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. A freestanding station perfect for motorbikes! I never saw a car at it so not sure if they are allowed or not. Since most people get around in Northern Thailnd by motorbike its perfect. Exploring around Pai is really spread out so its geat to have these spread throughout the countryside. The best part is the cheering and clapping that commences through a loudspeaker once your gas has been pumped...we felt like celebrities:)
Start to finish this has been an amazing year, our first of nonstop travel. We visited 5 countries, 23 destination towns, and experienced countless outings. It was a wonderful year and we cannot wait to see what the New Year brings.
What are your travel plans for the 2013??
So here it is; our 2012 best of awards!
Best historical landmark
No question at all on this one. Angkor Wat would place first in a lot of different categories for travel. It is enormous, stunningly beautiful, historical and a must see on anyone’s itinerary in Asia. Easily our pick for first place. We spent 3 days exploring all the temples and I wish it could have been more. Be sure to do the sunrise morning, it is worth the 4am wake up, and it takes a lot for the night owl in me to admit that.
A close second for us was also a UNESCO heritage site. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, is rich in history and full of stunning temples and ruins. They suffered a devastating blow during the floods in 2011, so supporting the town through tourism is a wonderful benefit to them. It is a landmark town worthwhile of the 1 hour train ride North from Bangkok. Warning: It is hot as hell there or at least it was in March so a room with AC is a must!
Best amusement park
We are not huge amusement park goers but this year we saw quite a few. Without a doubt Universal Studios in Singapore takes first place. We spent the entire day going on roller coasters, 4D rides, watching shows, and so much more. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Singapore. Quick tip though; get the fast pass so you can skirt the lines, with a 5 year old that was a life saver!
Runner up would have to be the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh, Malaysia. Not anything like Universal but it had a charm of its own. We spent the entire day enjoying the waterpark, tiger feeding, amusement rides, hot springs, copper panning, and small Animal Park. The Lost World is really the perfect size park as even though it offered many different things to do, we never felt overwhelmed.
Best snorkelling spot
Snorkelling is one of my favorite activities. It takes a special kind of beach and ocean water to really make it stand out. One of the best places I have ever snorkelled and certainly the best this year was in the Perhentian Islands off the East coast of Malaysia. Beautiful secluded beaches and a reef directly offshore, so even the little guys can snorkel with no problems, made this an easy pick!
Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand comes up in second place. The beach made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is absolutely stunning. An added benefit to the snorkelling was that we got to swim with some sharks while we were there. The noise and air pollution that is overrunning this beautiful spot took it out of first place for us though. The reef is slowly dying and it is hard to really fall in love with a beach when you can hardly find it behind all the tourist boats.
Best cave
One of the best days on our entire journey so far was in a cave. Hands down the best cave was an unmarked cave in a village near Vang Vieng, Laos. The boys helped each other, pushed me way outside my comfort zone, and we even got to swim deep inside this remarkable Earth cavity.
A close second was a day we spent up in Northern Thailand in Tham Lod cave. Roughly 2 hours North of Pai, it was a beautiful motor bike drive up, where we were met with one of the most astounding caves I have ever seen. A river runs slowly through this massive cavern so you are able to take a bamboo canoe to navigate to various on /off points. It is definitely worth a day trip north!
Best sign
One day I will do an entire post just on the funny signs we come across. For now though I leave you with 2 of my favorites from this year. The first one is a menu choice from our hotel in Battambang where apparently they serve up your friends rather than French fries to go along with your meal. During our stay they also were convinced that apple juice was the proper name for ketchup. Confusion ruled the meals, in a fun way!
Bathroom signs and bathrooms themselves are always something interesting in Asia. TP or no, squat toilet or western, you never know what you will get. This instructive sign was found in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the faces in the sign as well as the need to explain this process just cracked us up!
Best hawker stall/ street food
I’ll split this one up. Best hawker market food we have had is Long Beach in Penang. Hawker markets are basically street food that is set up all under one roof. They offer everything from Chinese food, Satay, Western food, soups, roti, etc. It is fast, cheap, and mostly delicious. You can find hawker markets all over Penang but in our experience Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi was the best.
For street food Thailand wins this hands down. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai the food is incredibly cheap and wonderfully flavorful. One woman in particular is our absolute favourite. She has her stand inside the temple grounds for the weekend markets just down the main street from the Tae Pae gate. She makes one dish only, Pad Thai, and it is the best we have had anyplace. If you get a chance head down to see her…oh and you can get a $3 foot massage while you eat it…from a different lady of course
Most used phrase
When you travel all the time in strange and exotic locations things just do not always go the way you expect. Actually what we have learned is to not really expect anything and just live in the moment and go with the flow. But it is from our, let’s say, misadventures that our most used phrases come from.
“This is going to make a great story…someday!” Used most often during bus travel but not exclusively reserved for those trips, this phrase sees a lot of action in our family and really helps us through the less exotic parts of full time travel.
“What is going on here”, or “what is this all about”, comes out often as well. Asia seems to be the capital of random things put together and it is often times impossible to decipher the connection…hence the phrase!
Best train ride
Since starting our trip we have taken countless train journeys. Some were short and others quite long but they have all been comfortable, exciting, and fun! The first place spot is held by a train unlike any others. In Battambang, Cambodia, for a very reasonable rate you can ride on the bamboo railway. A creative way to make use of the railroad after it was ruined for actual trains in the 1970’s. Locals transport goods and run bamboo train tours out to a local brick factory. It was exhilarating as we took off from the “station” and quickly realized how fast this thing could really go. Even more exciting when you realize it’s only 1 track for 2 way traffic…have no fear you simply pay attention and disassemble the train when another train carrying more passengers comes by.
In second place is one ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We have taken this route several times over the year but this particular train ride was the most fun we have had on a train. It was just my oldest son and I and after seeing that our seats were not so lovely we decided to find the restaurant car. To our delight it turned into a nightclub after 8pm and we ate, danced, drank, and had a great time meeting other travellers.
Best sunset
Not much to say on this category. We have seen a lot of sunsets over the year and even more sunrises than ever before in my life. Without a doubt Penang takes first place in this category. We were lucky enough to have a view of the sunset over the ocean every single day for months. The only problem was picking my favourite sunset photo.
Coming in as runner up has to be the sunset over the Mekong River in Vientianne, Laos. Loads of people converge on the steps down to the river to watch in amazement as Mother Nature paints a sunset night after night. It is incredibly peaceful to sit among locals and watch.
Best flash mob
No award ceremony for 2012 would be complete without at least 1 mention of Gangnum style, the K-pop sensation that seemingly has been sweeping the world over. Now I have not actually seen the real video, which has topped over 1 billion views on YouTube but I am still familiar with the song. As my 9 year old and I made a quick stop into the Gurney mall in Penang, we heard the music begin to blare and made our way to the center court of the mall to find a full blown flash mob. I have always wanted to see or be in one so this was such a treat. We watched, we videotaped, and here we are sharing the video of the best flash mob we saw this year.
In second place, yes we actually saw 2 flash mobs this year, is a Christmas flash mob that we saw in a small mall on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. At a time when I was not feeling very much in the Christmas spirit it really brought tears to my eyes. I was at the mall to work so unfortunately did not have a camera and didn’t capture it.
Best Lord of the Flies moment
Two separate times this year I or another mom has remarked that what we were watching was a true Lord of the Flies moment. First place goes to my son and his friend, who within minutes of landing on Monkey Beach spotted, captured, killed, cooked, and ate a humungous crab. I do not like crab usually but we all had a taste and something about the freshness made it scrumptious.
While tubing down a river in Laos we came across several locals doing what they do every day; watering their buffalo, washing their clothes, and fishing. But the thing that struck us as a LOTF moment was when we came across these young boys in their underpants and spears trying to catch an evening meal.
Best beach
Best beach seemed a category we just had to include since we have spent the majority of the year on a beach. This was a hard one to choose but when looking at the beauty, fun and resources of the area the first place award has to go to Koh Samet in Thailand. 3 hours to the East of Bangkok and set in the gulf of Thailand this small island packed a huge punch of fun. Beautiful beach, food vendors and massages available everywhere, restaurants on the beach complete with cushions for maximum comfort, and best of all daily fireworks, nightclubs, and amazing fire shows. Needless to say, we had a great time!
Second place goes to the Perhentian Islands, which also snagged an award for best snorkelling. This Malaysia Island set is serene, striking, and the most relaxing place we have been so far. Although there are pretty much only tourists there it is never busy or overrun and most of the island doesn’t even use electricity for the majority of the day. We had a wonderful stay and would not hesitate to go back.
Best festival
Unquestionably the winner here is the Yi Peng festival that we travelled 100 hours to see! It was beautiful, peaceful, magical, and downright life changing. Anytime you are even remotely in the area be sure to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand and partake in this amazing festival. It was probably the best thing I did the entire year!
Runner up in the category is the Chinese New Year celebration also in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were acrobats, dragons, and a parade that wasn’t too overwhelming but still fun. Nothing really amazing but we had a great morning celebrating!
Most stunning trees
Trees are possibly the most enchanting things on the planet in my opinion. They shock and amaze me on a regular basis. They are also the thing that pictures just cannot seem to capture. The magic and grandeur is just lost and you really need to be there to get the full feeling. First place award for trees goes to the silk cotton trees that envelope the ruins at Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat. This Cambodian wonder truly needs to be seen to be believed.
The runner up was tough to choose but in the interest of showing something different I decided to choose artificial trees. The Avatar like trees in the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore will amaze you. Take my advice and be sure to head there next time you are in Singapore. They are directly across the street from the Marina Bay Sands making an evening visit breath taking!
Grossest meat on a stick
There is no shortage of gross things that Asians eat on a stick. They do not waste anything and we have seen embryos, baby chicks, tarantulas, and numerous types of bugs. But the winner of this category has to be the bats on sticks that we saw in Laos. Maybe if it was just the meat it would not have been so unthinkable to eat but when you could still see the hair, teeth, and claws it, well, it takes the place as winner of grossest food on a stick!
A close second, and this was a tough choice, has to be the snakes on the stick that we saw in Cambodia. Do I really need to say more here….just look at the picture! Yuck!
Best animal encounter
We have enjoyed a lot of amazing animal encounters this year but 2 stand out quite a bit as the level of interaction was not something you would ever find in the US. First place goes to our time with the elephants in Pai, Thailand. Frolicking in the water, feeding them and just being in their presence in such a close and intimate way was just spectacular!
Second place is our time spent at the Orangutan Island in Bukit Merah, Malaysia. It is a rehab facility that really cares for and tries to reintegrate the primates back to their wild habitat on Borneo. We could have stayed for hours watching them play but our favourite part was watching the different personalities in the toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Most life changing/touching experience
The award for this category goes, hands down to the killing fields in Cambodia. You cannot walk away from that place with the same feelings about humanity as you have when walking in. It is done beautifully and respectfully but was without a doubt the hardest day I have spent on the journey. I would NOT recommend it for children under 12 as it is very deep subject matter and a level of respect and quiet needs to be displayed.
Second place goes to the Yi Peng lantern festival, where for a brief moment we actually felt the negativity of the planet rise to the skies and felt a magical Peace overcome us. As I said before if you are ever in the Thailand area in November this is a must see!
Best reference to my old home, Costa Rica
An extremely popular saying in Costa Rica is Pura Vida, it is said throughout the Spanish community but in Costa Rica it is everything from a way of life to a greeting! We have actually run into this saying several times since we have been in Asia. Our first month was spent in Chiang Mai. We explored every inch of that city and in our travelling around we came across the words “Pura Vida” spray painted on a wall. We were shocked and delighted, took many pictures, and now consider it an award winner. It is a random category, but a winner none the less.
In Pai, Thailand we also came across the words Pura Vida. There is a hotel overlooking a beautiful rice paddy called Pura Vida. The property is stunning and really seems to fit the saying, pure life!
Most beautiful Mosque
In the 12 months of 2012 we spent over half that time in countries that are predominantly Muslim. That has availed us numerous opportunities to visit Mosques. The Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the winner for us. It was so much larger than we had been expecting and absolutely stunning. We spent 2 hours there listening to the Iman, and oohing and ahhing at the splendor and grandeur of the walls and floors around us. Word of warning; be sure to pay attention to exactly where you take your shoes off upon entering. The Mosque is so huge that we actually lost our shoes for over an hour.
Our runner up is the Masjid Kapitan Keling, the oldest Mosque in Penang. Georgetown Penang is a UNESCO world heritage site and there is good reason for this distinction. It is a wonderful place to soak in religion, history, and culture and a perfect spot to enjoy a day or 2. The Keling Mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to see. There is usually a guide there to show you around and explain things, which is helpful as it is sometimes difficult to know the right way to behave in a new religious environment. Do not go on Fridays, the high prayer day.
Best use of Gold
We have seen a lot of amazing structures and figures made out of gold over the last year so this was also a hard category to pick the two winners for. In first place is a magnificent golden Buddha statue housed at the Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang, Malaysia. We were shocked at how beautiful the entire grounds were but the Buddha and the temple it is housed in are simply magnificent.
A close runner up is one of Chiang Mai’s largest attractions. On Doi Suthep is a stunning and spiritual temple. The centrepiece of the temple grounds is a huge golden chedi flanked by countless Buddha statues also golden. It is special chedi where you will find people circling in meditative contemplation. It was extremely spiritual and peaceful to watch.
Most Creative way to pump gas
Our last category seems random but honestly we have seen so many cool and downright dangerous ways to pump gas in Asia. Our first place winner is insane, basically a metal drum with a hand crank on it. This definitely wouldn't pass any safety standards in the US but hey it works so why not! Not sure about the shower cap but I bet its a cheap fix for something!
The runner up is one of the coolest gas pumps ever. It is located in Pai, Thailand and I am pretty sure I have never seen it before. A freestanding station perfect for motorbikes! I never saw a car at it so not sure if they are allowed or not. Since most people get around in Northern Thailnd by motorbike its perfect. Exploring around Pai is really spread out so its geat to have these spread throughout the countryside. The best part is the cheering and clapping that commences through a loudspeaker once your gas has been pumped...we felt like celebrities:)
Start to finish this has been an amazing year, our first of nonstop travel. We visited 5 countries, 23 destination towns, and experienced countless outings. It was a wonderful year and we cannot wait to see what the New Year brings.
Happy New Year!