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Trip Report - Vietnam, Siem Reap, Hong Kong

Trip Report - Vietnam, Siem Reap, Hong Kong

Old Apr 3rd, 2011, 07:14 AM
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Great report! Thanks for taking the time to do it. I'm very impressed even with all the walking u do each day, u still hit the treadmill...
We're still debating go later in 2011 or wait until next year.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2011, 04:14 PM
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Another thing. In Hong Kong, on more than one occasion, we were startled to see a disabled person (amputees) lying prostrate in a public place (such as the walkway between IFC Mall and the Star Ferry pier) begging for money. I am pretty immune to begging (after all, I live in the Bay Area, where there is a huge homeless issue, and I've learned to turn a blind eye to street people with their hands out, since I don't think giving them direct donations solves any problems). We didn't see this in either Vietnam or Cambodia, although there was one mother at Phnom Bakheng holding a noticeably deformed child and begging. It was very very disconcerting.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2011, 05:01 PM
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Excellent trip report with fascinating detail.Thanks!
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 04:42 AM
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Very informative and well written report! Glad you had so much fun.
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 06:24 AM
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There was always a big income/wealth gap in Hong Kong, but it has grown wider in recent years. But Hong Kong is also a very free society. There had been a few panhandlers with various disabilities in Central for decades. Used to be a big camp (like skid row in L.A.) on a pedestrian bridge outside the Central Post Office, which had since been torn down.

There is enough (may not be a lot, but enough) support groups and social services in HK to take care of these people. But when that's what they want to do, and when they can make a good living do it in Central, they cannot be forced out or taken away.
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 06:30 AM
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Great trip report...thanks for sharing!
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 07:51 AM
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Thanks all for the "support", and rkkwan, thanks for the explanation(s).
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 08:17 AM
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YOur report has been very helpful to me as I plan and book our upcoming trip to SE Asia. Thanks!
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 11:07 AM
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While you should bring photos for your Cambodia visas, one time they were happy to staple a couple of dollars, instead of a photo, to our visa application . My last time, i cropped and printed a picture of me off my phone to use as my visa photo. It was black and white and on cheap copy paper. The official told me to bring a real photo the next time, but accepted it.

Nice report. Thanks for posting it sf!
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 11:24 AM
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>>

Remember that full employment policy I mentioned above? Somebody's gotta pay for it
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Old Apr 4th, 2011, 11:28 AM
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Forgot to mention that all those delicious hotel breakfast buffets included full Western and Asian breakfast options. I opted for Western and ate mostly Asian food for lunch and dinner. Fried rice and pho for breakfast just do not appeal to me!
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Old Jul 11th, 2011, 12:35 PM
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very much worth a book mark! Thank you for this report!
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Old Jul 11th, 2011, 03:49 PM
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Wow, I was so surprised to see it pop up again - you're welcome!
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Old Feb 16th, 2012, 02:51 AM
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Hi SF- been periodically rereading the sections of your report for our upcoming destinations. fascinated by the Hue Riders and thinking about doing it when we get to Hue next week. When did u make your reservation? What's traffic like in the areas to which u rode? and I gather u felt safe? It sure slunds like fun. Thanks
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Old Feb 16th, 2012, 06:26 AM
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Hi! I made the reservation just two days before we arrived in Hue, by email on their website. A couple of notes - it was a blast, and I'd definitely do it again, but consider asking for a guide with better English skills than ours had - one spoke no English - he was just a driver; the other spoke limited English. There were a lot of things we would have liked to know more about Second, Ask for bikes with back support - it makes a huge difference when you're riding all day!

Traffic in and around Hue is nothing like Hanoi - our drivers were both great and we always felt very safe.
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Old Feb 16th, 2012, 03:50 PM
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Hi! Thanks for the info. hadn't thought about the back support issue. glad u waited til close to the day to reserve. I'd like to be as certain as one can be with the weather before reserving. weather has been all over the place.
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Old Feb 16th, 2012, 06:43 PM
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Thanks for topping Hunybadger, not sure how I missed this in my research.

Sf307 I'm pretty sure you've given me some great advice on questions for our upcoming trip, but really glad to read this.

Thanks.
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Old Feb 16th, 2012, 07:50 PM
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Happy to help (didn't I recommend the Hanoi Elegance to you?)
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Old Feb 16th, 2012, 09:51 PM
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No, actually it was one I found when planning our original trip for 2011. I had the VN portion all planned out when i pulled the plug. It was sort of the new "hot" hotel at the time. They have opened another one in their chain, Elegance Essence.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2012, 01:09 AM
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What a fun day with Hue Riders! So glad u recommended them, sf. and thanks for answering my questions. Per your suggestions we did ask for bikes with back support. Sarah said they all have back support and both bikes did. We also requested drivers/guides who spoke English and Sarah emailed, " All our drivers/guides speak English.". Welll, our guides both spoke English, one fairly well, Quy. He pointed out alot as we drove and definitely took the lead on everything. Our other driver/guide, Mr. Dung, was very nice, but his English was barely so so. He also pointed sites out, but there was difficulty understanding him. Anyway, like SF, I highly recommend Hue Riders as a great way to see the sites in Hue.
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