That’ll be a cycling around 3 countries, for some relaxation, with Exodus
Yes. It’s a holiday, with our new LIFO friends (below)
Alan,Mike,Pops,Vince,Amy,
Dave,Dave,Jason,Dave,Adrian
Ann,Doris,Charlotte,Amanda,Olivia
Kuala Lumpur. We meet Gavin & Carolina with their dearbabjmj blog. It’s hot. The Hindu shrine at the Batu caves is a bit of a mess, and then Bev is mistaken for a guide at the National Mosque. After cocktails at the Helibar, we finish with a meal out at Fuego’s restaurant looking out at the Petronas Towers and the Kay El skyline not unlike something that could be seen in a supreman comic of course, before waving goodbye and heading off to Bangkok.
Bangkok. It’s the King’s birthday, so everyone has a “Bike for Dad” t-shirt. It’s hot. We see fireworks, eat streetfood, then set off on our first cycle ride with our new buddies. and into the countryside, stopping every 15km for a break, just in case we get tired. We whizz along some fast tarmac roads, but at least they aren’t all that busy. It’s hot. The hotel we stop at before we cross the border is quite posh, we see some Thais heading off in large BMW bikes for a countrywide tour, and we celebrate Mike’s birthday with a beer cake.
Cambodia. We cycle along to Siem Reap and spend a couple of days around the temples of Angkor Wat, sampling the vibrant town’s Pub Street nightlife. Our guide has been affected by Agent Orange and has limb deformaties. He has a good command of English and a delightful accent, but Mike smiles when he hears “Hen do” and not “hindu” :-). It’s hot. Bev get’s a decorated birthday bike surprise and a cake. We move on and visit the Floating Village – well actually a village on stilts – as we learn the Mekong and the Ton Le Sap river reverse their flows in the rainy season.
Phnom Penh. Now this is really busy, and oh, it’s hot, after visiting the Grand Palace and watching the Polish restorers, (no that’s from the country not the Pledge wood or beeswax variety) we are sobered by visits to a site of the Killing Fields and the S21 prison complex. The people have accepted the “forgive and move on” approach, but are still troubled. It’s impossible to comprehend – stop now for 2 minutes in silence, don’t touch your phone or speak to anyone – read on. Our guide explains they want people to see this so they can understand, learn and not repeat – but we all know that will never be the case. We enjoy a river boat trip and sample some Durian fruit from as far upwind as possible. Now crossing the border in to Vietnam, we see it really is different cycling through villages before a nightstay on an “island” on the Mekong Delta. We must be careful as we are obliged to wear bright orange life jackets on the 100 yard ferry crossings we take. The locals are very polite and don’t giggle when they play spot the tourist. We decide we like Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). There’s a surprise, it’s really busy here too and crossing the road is simply a matter of a leap of faith. Oh, it’s also hot. We visit the Revolutionary museum and next day the War Remnants museum. We learn more about agent Orange, and as ever wonder how the Americans managed to get involved in the way they do.
Around a Thai park with a Dam: 7 Dec 2015, 15:34:07
Distance: 58.00 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151207-0944
Petrol Station start: 8 Dec 2015, 15:12:39
Distance: 70.02 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151208-0825
Sa Kaeo. Swim, some Hornbills, to Wat Nang Bua: 9 Dec 2015, 17:12:47
Distance: 85.54 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151209-0811
Around Siem Reap. Watch out Charlotte: 10 Dec 2015, 17:34:51
Distance: 8.31 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151210-1617
Angkor Wat : 11 Dec 2015, 17:52:02
Distance: 32.73 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151211-0811
More Angkor Wat then a Village on stilts: 12 Dec 2015, 13:38:28
Distance: 35.40 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151212-0815
Across to Vietnam : 15 Dec 2015, 17:48:29
Distance: 83.21 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151215-1041
Off to the Mekong Delta: 16 Dec 2015, 12:29:46
Distance: 57.89 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151216-0812
Round off through some villages and rest : 17 Dec 2015, 12:27:17
Distance: 33.44 km. http://cyclemeter.com/98efe9d66e1ac440/Cycle-20151217-0339
Cycle Indochina: 464.54 km
We ate simple asian cuisine. Not great for vegetarians that don’t like broccoli and Cauliflower, so try Khmer Fish Amok, or something with Tofu. Tiger beer, Angkor beer, Singha, Leo and Singapore Slings.
Animals. A bat at the homestay, a Gecko in our Vietnam hotel, Snakes, Eels to eat, Monkeys, the Animals at the Saigon zoo, Hornbills and rescued bears.
