The Killing Fields of Cambodia

Today is November 13 in Cambodia. We remember our First and Second World wars on November 11. It somehow seemed timely today to visit Cambodia's Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, the Genocide museum - the prison where countless prisoners were tortured under Pol Pot's Communist regime. The most poignant moment was meeting one of the 5 children who survived by hiding in the kitchen of the prison when liberated by Vietnamese soldiers... he was born in 1970 and with tears in his eyes described the loss of his Mom and family except for one brother in this prison of torture. Pol Pot killed 3 million between 1975 and 1979. It was a sad, emotional visit to one of the worst genocides in recent history.

Cambodia

I joined a G Adventure tour and left Thailand a few days ago by minibus for Cambodia. Fortunately we had an air conditioned van as the heat outside just got hotter as we approached the border. The guide helped us through a very interesting process of leaving Thailand, walking across the border, through Cambodia immigration (having paid our $45 USD), took a 5 minute bus ride to join our new bus, waited for porters to bring our luggage and then be on our way again arriving in Battambang for our first night. We rode on a bamboo railway, saw how rice paper and rice noodles are made in the old way.

Silk worms

Ankor Wat

Yesterday we toured a local heritage home and were treated to a delicious Cambodian lunch of fish, rice, and veggies. Again it was hot when we arrived in Siem Reap. A nice hotel with limited wifi. Thank goodness for air con in the rooms!

This morning we got up at 4:30 am to catch the bus to see sunrise on the legendary Angkor Wat. We had a wee breakfast and the toured 3 different temple complexes in the stifling heat. It rained while we walked through which only increased the humidity. We are all drinking 3 - 4 bottles of water each day.

Bangkok, Thailand

Two days ago I left Tokyo Haneda for a 7 hour flight to Bangkok via Singapore. Just made the Singapore connection and another 2 hour flight and making my way to the hotel in Bangkok on the Bangkok Airport express - all in a 14 hour day!

Bangkok is all about shopping malls and their Wats - impressive Buddhist temples. I visited 3 temples in one day taking the Metro, tuktuk's and BTS trains...Wat Saket (The Golden Mount), Wat Su That, a very peaceful, quiet place away from the crowds, and then took the boat across the Chao Phraya river to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. Nearly all temples are under some repair or renovation so scaffolding everywhere. It is quite warm and humid +32C, far warmer than I like.

Wat Su That 

Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn

Wat Saket

Japan Rail travel

Some brief highlights of the past couple of days were riding the Shinkansen, seeing Osaka castle and the Daibutsu, the Big Buddha in Kamakura.

Edmonton LRT could learn a few things about minimal traffic disruption, efficient timing and co-ordination of systems. Here in Japan, as in Europe, China, etc the rail systems work like clock work.

JR rail pass is a great way to travel around. In the past few days I have taken the super fast Shinkansen (up to 200 kilometres per hour) to Nagano and Osaka. Many other trains to Asakusa, Tokyo, Kamakura and Zushi.

Shinkansen bullet train

Tokyo, Japan

After driving 300 + kilometers, flying Christchurch to Auckland, Air New Zealand took me on an 11.5 hour flight to Shanghai, a 5 hour wait, then to Osaka and one more segment to Tokyo Haneda. I then had to find my way on the Japan rail to Shinagawa where I finally made it to my hotel. This accounted for about 48 hours of travel!

I had a good sleep and headed to Shinjuku to meet Dave, a long time friend of my son Andrew. We had a coffee and arranged our ticket to Nagano to see the famous monkeys that keep warm in mineral hot springs. Well, we got there just as the last bus left for the place :-( so we toured rural Nagano in the cold (+7C), bought some beer and food then took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Another long day. The most interesting thing was the Buddhist temple with a snow blower at the door! This is, of course, the Japanese Alps, and they get a lot of snow - hence the Winter Olympics in Nagano in the 1990's.

Today I took the trains to Asakusa to see the Senso-ji Temple, the oldest temple site in Tokyo history dating from 628, but the current version from 1692.  From there I walked to the Asahi brewery - the picture shows their iconic "golden turd" but note the Sky tower - the tallest in Japan.

Another set of trains took me to Edo Castle, the Imperial Palace and the Nijobashi Bridge all from 18th and 19 century reconstruction. Apparently the royal family still occupy some residences within the Imperial grounds which feature amazing manicured trees and gardens.

Tomorrow I am off to Osaka for the day, taking the Shinkansen again. More to come.

Mt. Cook

Sorry to those who did not see photos...I am trying again through Google drive...

The drive from Wanaka was through sheep and cattle country. There are signs indicating "This is the home of Icebreaker" (best quality Merino wool clothing) on some stations (farms). Looks like a lot of cycling opportunities here although roads are narrow and locals drive quite fast. This photo was taken as I drove away from Mt Cook this morning...amazing.

I arrived in Mt Cook 2 days ago in light rain. The clouds hung around the peaks while I hiked both days in the Tasman glacier  and Hooker valleys. After dinner the clouds began to lift and New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki, or Mt. Cook (3754 m) showed herself. What a treat!

Tonight I flew from Christchurch to Auckland and checked in for my overnight flight to Tokyo via Shanghai and Osaka. More from Japan...

NZ Westlands

Arrived in Christchurch in pouring rain 2 days ago. Had dinner with my nephew Bob, his wife and lively 3 year old daughter! Walked the city Friday (which was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake) and saw much more re-construction and a more normal business district than we saw in 2012.

Drove 400 Kms over Arthur's Pass to the west coast in brilliant sun, but as I approached Franz Josef (glacier town) some cloud appeared. Stopped at the Castle Rocks, a very unique limestone rock formation which could easily be a set for Lord of the Rings.

It is a bit strange not only driving on the left side of the road, but the sun is in the northern sky down here whereas at home it is south!! Really have to work to find my bearings.

Today hiked to both Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. It is Labor Day weekend here so plenty of other hikers. I seem to have avoided the traffic fortunately. I am quickly getting used to driving on the left and haven't used the wipers to signal TOURIST too often!!