SE Asia trip 2014; CAMBODIA, MYANMAR, AND THAILAND
May 13th, 2014, 06:44 AM
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SE Asia trip 2014; CAMBODIA, MYANMAR, AND THAILAND
We are a senior retired couple, ages 68 and 71. We have not traveled in Asia other than a tour to China in 2007. We left our home-western NY/Buffalo area-on January 4, 2014 and returned on April 6, 2014. We flew from Buffalo to Siem Reap and from Bangkok to Buffalo. A lot of things went well, but some things did not.
I decided to do my trip report in the form of a blog with pictures attached. On the right side of the page are the destinations and the dates. So far I have completed Cambodia. Next will be Myanmar/Burma.
Cambodia was a DIY trip.
Myanmar/Burma I used a local agency to book hotels I chose, our flights, the boat from Bagan to Mandalay, and the hot air balloon experience in Bagan. Also an overnight trip to Golden Rock and our 3 night trip to Mrauk U. Everything else was DIY.
Thailand was a DIY trip.
For part of my planning for this trip I used info from the forums-here and on Trip Advisor. Thanks to all who provided so much helpful advice and info.
http://chris45ny.blogspot.com/
I hope my blog will offer some help to future travelers as well as bringing back memories for others. I decided to include costs as this may be useful in planning a budget, etc.
I decided to do my trip report in the form of a blog with pictures attached. On the right side of the page are the destinations and the dates. So far I have completed Cambodia. Next will be Myanmar/Burma.
Cambodia was a DIY trip.
Myanmar/Burma I used a local agency to book hotels I chose, our flights, the boat from Bagan to Mandalay, and the hot air balloon experience in Bagan. Also an overnight trip to Golden Rock and our 3 night trip to Mrauk U. Everything else was DIY.
Thailand was a DIY trip.
For part of my planning for this trip I used info from the forums-here and on Trip Advisor. Thanks to all who provided so much helpful advice and info.
http://chris45ny.blogspot.com/
I hope my blog will offer some help to future travelers as well as bringing back memories for others. I decided to include costs as this may be useful in planning a budget, etc.
May 13th, 2014, 04:37 PM
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Craig-Waiting to hear what Jet Blue may or may not do. I'm thinking they're going to blame the weather but I know otherwise. We were ready to take off when the pilot decided to wait for those 9 people. That was not a weather related issue. I won't hold my breath but I will post their response here and on TA and maybe even on Facebook. I got results from Air Asia when I posted my gripe with them on FB. Originally we had tickets to fly from Phnom Penh to Bangkok with them. I get an e-mail stating they have canceled my early flight and scheduled us on an evening flight. No way was I having that. In their e-mail I had 3 options, one of which was to receive a full refund. I requested the refund, they denied it, I posted on FB and voila, I got an e-mail approving the refund and sure enough the money was credited back to my credit card.
Kathie and sartoric-Our experience with Jet Blue was the first of other problems we had but we didn't let any of them spoil the trip. I'd say 80% went just as we hoped with 20% not so good. Being home now I can chuckle a bit-well, except for that Jet Blue pilot!! Every time I think about him I feel like I need a stiff drink so if I don't want to turn into an alcoholic I guess I just have to chalk it up as one of those things and not dwell on it. Life is way too short.
Hopefully I'll have Myanmar/Burma done within the next week or two.
Kathie and sartoric-Our experience with Jet Blue was the first of other problems we had but we didn't let any of them spoil the trip. I'd say 80% went just as we hoped with 20% not so good. Being home now I can chuckle a bit-well, except for that Jet Blue pilot!! Every time I think about him I feel like I need a stiff drink so if I don't want to turn into an alcoholic I guess I just have to chalk it up as one of those things and not dwell on it. Life is way too short.
Hopefully I'll have Myanmar/Burma done within the next week or two.
May 13th, 2014, 09:57 PM
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Your experience with the taxi drivers in Phnom Penh (PP) on your way to Kampot (KP) was blood-boiling stuff.
It's a long trip from Battambang (BB) to KP by road in one day, especially with a reserved connection to meet. Even in the dry season it doesn't take a lot to slow the progress of buses in Cambodia down, so it'd probably have been best to stay overnight in PP, and start afresh the following morning.
It was absolutely outrageous the way the taxi mafia treated you though, and not a good advert. We got a taxi from KP to PP about 4 years ago, and only paid US$35 for the full taxi. Had to share the boot (trunk?) with dozens of boxes of eggs though! Paying for the taxi up-front is never really a good idea, as you never know, the could have dropped you off miles away from where you wanted to go, and in your case as soon as your unwanted fellow passenger turned up I'd have been right out of the taxi. But as you'd already paid, you were stuck.
The transport route between PP and BB is a B route so far as bus companies are concerned, so Capitol is probably the best you'll get. We got a Capitol bus from Siem Reap (SR) to BB last year, and as soon as the driver turned on his engine it woke up a zillion mosquitos slumbering on the bus, and the next 4 hours wasn't very pleasant. Giant Ibis buses are the best, but they only do selected routes.
The Seng Hout hotel in BB is great vfm and central. We never stayed there, but ate there several times, and would definitely choose it next time.
Loved the Bamboo Train too. Great fun, our tuk tuk driver took the bench seat out of the tuk tuk so we had something comfortable to sit on. Slightly nervy though when the train first sets off. Absolutely beautiful countryside too.
We stayed at the Rikitikitavi in KP too, and enjoyed it. And like you, we hired a tuk tuk for the day to visit Kep, pepper farm, Moslem village, salt lakes, and lunch by the sea.
Glad you visited the Killing Fields (KF) and S21 Genocide Museum. The Killing Fields site is very tastefully presented when you consider all the atrocities that went on, and as soon as you put the audio guide on you are totally immersed. S21 is a complete contrast, raw and harrowing. Both are part of Cambodia's recent living history, and are absolute must-see 'attractions' for any visitor to PP.
Looking forward to your next instalment.
It's a long trip from Battambang (BB) to KP by road in one day, especially with a reserved connection to meet. Even in the dry season it doesn't take a lot to slow the progress of buses in Cambodia down, so it'd probably have been best to stay overnight in PP, and start afresh the following morning.
It was absolutely outrageous the way the taxi mafia treated you though, and not a good advert. We got a taxi from KP to PP about 4 years ago, and only paid US$35 for the full taxi. Had to share the boot (trunk?) with dozens of boxes of eggs though! Paying for the taxi up-front is never really a good idea, as you never know, the could have dropped you off miles away from where you wanted to go, and in your case as soon as your unwanted fellow passenger turned up I'd have been right out of the taxi. But as you'd already paid, you were stuck.
The transport route between PP and BB is a B route so far as bus companies are concerned, so Capitol is probably the best you'll get. We got a Capitol bus from Siem Reap (SR) to BB last year, and as soon as the driver turned on his engine it woke up a zillion mosquitos slumbering on the bus, and the next 4 hours wasn't very pleasant. Giant Ibis buses are the best, but they only do selected routes.
The Seng Hout hotel in BB is great vfm and central. We never stayed there, but ate there several times, and would definitely choose it next time.
Loved the Bamboo Train too. Great fun, our tuk tuk driver took the bench seat out of the tuk tuk so we had something comfortable to sit on. Slightly nervy though when the train first sets off. Absolutely beautiful countryside too.
We stayed at the Rikitikitavi in KP too, and enjoyed it. And like you, we hired a tuk tuk for the day to visit Kep, pepper farm, Moslem village, salt lakes, and lunch by the sea.
Glad you visited the Killing Fields (KF) and S21 Genocide Museum. The Killing Fields site is very tastefully presented when you consider all the atrocities that went on, and as soon as you put the audio guide on you are totally immersed. S21 is a complete contrast, raw and harrowing. Both are part of Cambodia's recent living history, and are absolute must-see 'attractions' for any visitor to PP.
Looking forward to your next instalment.
May 13th, 2014, 10:42 PM
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BTW, Chris, you were wise to take along any meds you might need. While I wouldn't hesitate to buy meds in Thailand, counterfeit and degraded drugs are a problem in Cambodia and a very serious problem in Burma. Remember that most meds are supposed to be stored in a "cool, dry place." That alone is an impossibility in areas of Cambodia and Burma.
May 14th, 2014, 03:48 AM
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Thanks so much for the replies. I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. i tend to get wordy and I'm really trying to be short and sweet with the narrative part and let the pictures take up the slack.
LancasterLad-
That experience with the "taxi mafia" was not so pleasant and in the 20% of things that went wrong. However, even though I'd never ridden on buses in Cambodia before, I should have booked an earlier bus from Battambang. I have to accept part of the blame for that fiasco. I was so upset that I just wanted to leave PP and get to Kampot so I swallowed my anger and paid the money. It was made worse when the other passenger got in (we were wondering why we were waiting in the car!) and told us how much his hotel had paid for him! Live and learn I guess is the lesson here. Once we reached Kampot and were enfolded in the warmth of the RikiTikiTavi I knew I had made the right decision to travel there rather than stay overnight in PP.
I had to do the Killing Fields and S21 even though it was upsetting for me. I get emotional very easily and it was hard to hold back the tears.
Kathie-
I agree no matter where you travel you should take your prescribed meds with you. It's the one thing my husband was ok with taking. Fortunately all our hotel rooms were nice and cool -even when we would return after several hrs. of sightseeing so I never worried about that. Of course all the places we stayed had A/C except for the PG in Nyaungshwe.
adprey-
Yes, it was an adventure and more so given our ages-LOL!!! Just like the stock market we had ups and downs but the ups were great, the downs-not so much. Thankfully only a few downs compared to all the ups!
I have started the Myanmar/Burma part even though the timing is not in order. After Cambodia we did one of our stays in Bangkok (we stayed in Bangkok on 4 separate occasions) and northern Thailand-Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I was thinking to do that part when I do the rest of Thailand. We spent about 6 weeks total in Thailand so had to split that up as 30 days allowed per entry.
LancasterLad-
That experience with the "taxi mafia" was not so pleasant and in the 20% of things that went wrong. However, even though I'd never ridden on buses in Cambodia before, I should have booked an earlier bus from Battambang. I have to accept part of the blame for that fiasco. I was so upset that I just wanted to leave PP and get to Kampot so I swallowed my anger and paid the money. It was made worse when the other passenger got in (we were wondering why we were waiting in the car!) and told us how much his hotel had paid for him! Live and learn I guess is the lesson here. Once we reached Kampot and were enfolded in the warmth of the RikiTikiTavi I knew I had made the right decision to travel there rather than stay overnight in PP.
I had to do the Killing Fields and S21 even though it was upsetting for me. I get emotional very easily and it was hard to hold back the tears.
Kathie-
I agree no matter where you travel you should take your prescribed meds with you. It's the one thing my husband was ok with taking. Fortunately all our hotel rooms were nice and cool -even when we would return after several hrs. of sightseeing so I never worried about that. Of course all the places we stayed had A/C except for the PG in Nyaungshwe.
adprey-
Yes, it was an adventure and more so given our ages-LOL!!! Just like the stock market we had ups and downs but the ups were great, the downs-not so much. Thankfully only a few downs compared to all the ups!
I have started the Myanmar/Burma part even though the timing is not in order. After Cambodia we did one of our stays in Bangkok (we stayed in Bangkok on 4 separate occasions) and northern Thailand-Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I was thinking to do that part when I do the rest of Thailand. We spent about 6 weeks total in Thailand so had to split that up as 30 days allowed per entry.
May 14th, 2014, 04:49 AM
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@chris45ny<<<However, even though I'd never ridden on buses in Cambodia before, I should have booked an earlier bus from Battambang.>>>
Sod's Law says that if you'd taken an earlier bus then that would have had engine problems, and the one that you did catch would have sailed past it and arrived on time!
Sod's Law says that if you'd taken an earlier bus then that would have had engine problems, and the one that you did catch would have sailed past it and arrived on time!
May 14th, 2014, 06:30 AM
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Just read your first day in Yangon. We stayed at the Summit Parkview too at the start and end of our trip, and for the same reasons as you. And also because the Art Gallery at the back of the hotel offered the best rate of exchange in Yangon.
Really enjoyed the breakfast buffet breakfast, it's proximity to Schwedagon, and of course the swimming pool.
Really enjoyed the breakfast buffet breakfast, it's proximity to Schwedagon, and of course the swimming pool.
May 14th, 2014, 12:37 PM
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LL-
The Summit Parkview was one of the "cheaper" places I looked at when compared to others-same quality wise. Governor's Residence which has a pool double that. Chatrium about $100 per night more. Strand no pool and about $100 per night more. Also it may depend on the time of year as we were on this trip during "high" season.
That's why I decided to go sooner rather than later while I could still afford it. I'm sure there are places way cheaper but at this stage of our lives (retirement after working 30+ yrs.) we like to stay at places that just have those higher price tags. Yangon and Ngapali were the priciest for hotels and the Mrauk U pkg. was expensive too.
Kathie-
Hope my trip report/blog can live up to yours as I bookmarked both of them. And then Cheryl's photos. Mine are not in her league but I tried.
The Summit Parkview was one of the "cheaper" places I looked at when compared to others-same quality wise. Governor's Residence which has a pool double that. Chatrium about $100 per night more. Strand no pool and about $100 per night more. Also it may depend on the time of year as we were on this trip during "high" season.
That's why I decided to go sooner rather than later while I could still afford it. I'm sure there are places way cheaper but at this stage of our lives (retirement after working 30+ yrs.) we like to stay at places that just have those higher price tags. Yangon and Ngapali were the priciest for hotels and the Mrauk U pkg. was expensive too.
Kathie-
Hope my trip report/blog can live up to yours as I bookmarked both of them. And then Cheryl's photos. Mine are not in her league but I tried.
May 14th, 2014, 09:52 PM
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@Kathie<<<LL, that was before the country "opened" and everything was cheaper. Many places increased their prices 10-fold. Burma is no longer a "budget" destination.>>>
Yep. But it's sad that "opening" the country has led to as much mutual distrust, ethnic violence, and human rights violations.
Yep. But it's sad that "opening" the country has led to as much mutual distrust, ethnic violence, and human rights violations.
