It's special to travel to places you've never been before - but nothing can replace the feeling of coming home or being home. Never mind that we have a 12 hour jet lag to deal with which pretty much leaves us as "opposites" on the time scale, possibly like workers who are on the permanent night shift.
I've gone back through my photos and picked out a few that either tell something more of the trip story or add to things in places I've already commented on.
Hong Kong
We started in Hong Kong and beyond the crush of people on the streets is the backdrop of the shopping culture. High end brand name stores are everywhere with huge billboard advertising on the scope and scale of Times Square in New York City. We're not much for shopping which led to discovering the restaurants in the floors above the high end shops.
Where and how people live was more of an interest. Apartment living is the norm.
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| Laundry out the balcony. Grow trees however you can. |
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| The high rise apartments go on and on and on |
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Hanoi
Now being able to compare it with Saigon, Saigon is the winner because of its increased size and sheer perceived economic energy. But there's no mistaking the importance of Vietnam's capital for their role in policy making and government oversight. Hanoi also has narrower roads so the traffic chaos that defines Vietnam's major cities seems worse in Hanoi, particularly with the way the motorbikes navigate around.
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| There were about 50 of these interesting headstones honouring monks who have served. The stones had fine carvings |
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| No - it's not graduation - yet! It's grad gown picture day at a nice pagoda, which precedes the actual graduation event |
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| No idea what this means, but, hey - let's put a big sign on a tree |
Halong Bay
When people ask you what's the most beautiful place in the world you've been to, Halong Bay would be right up there. Keeping the memories for years to come will be an easy task.
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| On the way to Halong Bay our rest stop finds all these people doing detailed needlework |
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| Halong Bay rock cliffs and greenery sitting on the endless water |
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Siem Riep Cambodia and the Angkor sites
Tourists are flocking to the Angkor sites and little wonder. There's history over hundreds of years, the structures a joy to look at and learn about and then the incredible art that was carved in stone.
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| The hotel elephant provides the perfect photo opportunity |
Cruising down the Mekong River and finishing in Saigon
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| Housekeeping staff on the boat have fun with the towels. That was the closest we got to watching TV |
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| The food throughout the whole trip was outstanding. |
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| What an elegant setting. Just like home! |
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| A display of brushes that didn't go unnoticed by the artist on the trip |
