Ok - so here's the plan. 3 months, 3 countries, and a very loose itinerary. I fly into Siem Reap, Cambodia at the end of December - I've got my first six nights accommodation booked. The only other commitment I have is two weeks in Vietnam with a friend in mid February. We're hanging out in Hoi An for Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and then off too Phu Quoc island for sun, sand and little drinks with umbrellas in them consumed while lying prone in a hammock. Other than that, its all up to me.
Obviously starting in Siem Reap I will be spending some time at the Angkor temples. But having time on my side I'm determined to spend the first day or so wandering around the town itself and getting into the swing of things. My mantra is "take it slow and calm" - lets see how long that lasts! So after nearly a week in SR I'll head anti-clockwise around Tonle Sap the large (make that bloody huge) lake in the middle of the country to Battambang, around to Phnom Penh, down to the coast (Sihanoukville, Kep, Kampot) and back up to Phnom Penh. I'll then head up to to Laos border via Kratie to the 4000 islands. After that its Paske/Champasak to see the Angkorian era ruins. Then to Savannaket for the dinosaur museum (seriously! http://www.culturalprofiles.net/Laos/Units/519.html). After that I will cross over into Vietnam for Tet. After my friend leaves at the end if Feb I still have a month. This is where the plan gets a bit hazy. As I will be in HCMC at this point I do want to see a bit of the Mekong Delta. Then I'm thinking of heading up through the central highlands. But I do want to get back and see the north of Laos (Vientiene, Luang Prabang).
Conversely I could head to Vietnam from Cambodia into the Mekong Delta, then up the coast and inland a bit for Dalat and then up to Hoi An to meet David. After we part in HCMC I could head up through the highlands and across to Pakse in Laos and do south to north ending up in Luang Prabang. Then fly to Hanoi and do Halong Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh and whatever else I have time for.
Then at the end of March I fly home. Then Easter with family and friends. Then its back to work mid April. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!
While in SEA I'll be participating long distance with my book group - hi girls! We're deciding on our first book of the year soon so I will have fun finding whatever it is in Cambodia. So I warn you there will be a book report or two posted here - hell, I may even review what I'm reading along the way just to bore you all senseless!
Stay tuned.
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