Angkor Wat

Our trip is moving faster than planned. Vietnam is here and now, about a month ahead of schedule. We have decided to use our time traveling more wisely and leave Southeast Asia mid-year. This decision opens up a whole new world of possibilities. After Asia, we figure Australia could be a good middle point since we’ll probably never vacation there. Southern wine country and the great barrier reef are on the table. We may trace our ancestry from Turkey and make our way through Eastern Europe visiting family and places on our list to see in our lifetime. Visiting dear friends in Spain and Portugal is a definite, as well as a visit to Morocco to see our friends Tosha & Adam who will be moving there this summer. Latin America offers several intriguing options as well, especially if we can visit late in the year into early 2013 during their summer season. We are open to all possibilities! Any ideas? Please share! Continue Reading

Prasat Preah Vihear

After several long days exploring the Siem Reap Temples of Angkor, we headed out to the countryside to peruse the more remote Angkorian temples.  The only way to get there is by private taxi or moto.  Considering the spotty road conditions, we booked a private taxi for $125 from RTR tours near the Siem Reap night market on Pub Street.  The driver picked us up at 6am for the 3 1/2 hour journey north (140km from Angkor Wat) to Preah Vihear at the Thai/Cambodian border.  

In 1962, following a lengthy dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the temple to Cambodia.  In 2008, Preah Vihear was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  An ongoing conflict between the countries over land adjoining the site has led to periodic military clashes of violence.  Continue Reading