Ancient Temples and Floating Communities in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Inside a temple with large tree roots

Whenever someone mentions Siem Reap in Cambodia, people automatically think of the famed Ankor Wat temples. Built between 1150 and 1113 A.D. its one of the largest collection of temples in the world and the name means: 'Temple City."

Although, it was originally built as a shrine to a Hindu god Vishnu, it became a Buddhist temple as time progressed. 

Many people remember Harrison Ford and the film Indian Jones which was filmed on location at Ankor Wat. This setting was also used for the Tomb Raider film starring Angelina Jolie. I was naturally keen to investigate these awe inspiring monuments to the gods and was glad I made my way to see them. 

Ankor Wat Temples, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Ancient trees with long roots wrap around some of the temple ruins making it a surreal experience. It was hard to imagine that these temples which inspired great religious fervour were left to ruin, and were rediscovered by Portuguese missionaries around 1580 A.D. At one time, there were over 1000 temples on site.

Following on from the visit to the temples, one of the other places I visited was the Ton Le Sap river community which can be reached by water taxi. It was an eventful ride as we spotted a water snake in the river and the lady next to me decided to scream her lungs out. I was really glad neither of us landed in the water to keep the snake company!

The floating village was interesting to visit, but it made me sad to learn a few facts:

Child using a floating box to cross the Ton Le Sap River

• 12 per cent of children die before the age of five
• Many die due to malnourishment and lack of medical care
• Annual household income averages $500
• There is a floating orphanage to house children who have lost parents
• Many children are exploited for the tourism industry

Whale Watching In Tadoussac, Canada

My friends in England told me that if I was keen on watching whales in Canada, then I must head off to Tadoussac, a tiny town situated near  the Saguenay and St Laurence rivers. My friend Maxine with whom I stayed with in Quebec echoed this sentiment saying it’s a worthwhile visit. Maxine is a keen sea kayaker and her whale encounter tales kept me entertained for a whole evening.

Tourists flock to this small town in droves, and what draws them is the presence of whales or baleines as the locals say in French. The Zodiac boats zip along the sea in search of belugas, minkes and humpback whales, while passengers gasp in wonder at these magnificent sea creatures.

Whale watching from a Zodiac

There are other activities such as sea kayaking, surf biking, walking by the dunes and spending time in the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre or better known as the Whale Museum. The numbers of campers during the peak season pass the time in the evenings gathered round a camp fire swapping tales of whale sightings. I got invited to join some of them for an evening barbecue. The impromptu camaraderie made it an excellent way of passing the time while tucking into a smoky spare rib or two.

 I loved the small town feel of Tadoussac and the locals were very friendly. I tried to brush up on my school girl French before I went there which seemed to work some of the time, but it left quite a few people thoroughly confused. Nevertheless, I got my tickets and pulled on my wet-suit hoping to see the whales.

Remembering to wrap up really warmly when out on a boat or Zodiac is important as the temperature can drop several degrees out at sea.  After a while, we were rewarded with the sight of a humpback doing a roll. Another came quite close to the boat and dived. Perhaps it was the unexpectedness of the event that made me feel quite emotional and soon there were tears rolling down my cheeks and plopping down onto my jacket.  I had so longed to see whales in their natural habitat that the fulfillment of that dream made me experience an emotion I could not quite fathom.

The next morning tucking into a traditional Quebecois breakfast of crepes, I talked to a retired Dutch doctor and his family.  I will never forget his advice to me, “Follow your heart Sheona and choose your next career with care.” It was definitely something to ponder on as I waited for the ferry to take me to Trois Rivieres.

If you are interested in whale watching in Canada here is a list of the best places:

      

Whale watching boat Tadoussac

• Tadoussac, Quebec  
• Digby Neck, Nova Scotia
• Witless Bay, Newfoundland
• Crepe Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia
• Robson Bright, British Columbia
• Tofino, British Columbia
• Churchill, Manitoba

History Comes Alive in Israel

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When I was in Poland, I made friends with an Israeli lady who was also visiting Auschwitz, the concentration camp where so many Jewish people lost their lives. She asked me to visit her native land one day and we continued our friendship by email when I returned back to England.

I was fortunate to have been able to stay with my friend during my visit to Israel or Holy Land as it is also called. Her family were very hospitable and took me to many historic sites in Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Jerusalem.

Some of the highlights of my trip included:

• The Dome of the Rock

The most famous Islamic shrine in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock which is built over a sacred stone. This stone is believed to be the place from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended into heaven.

• The Western Wall

This is the place of the holiest of Jewish sites for it supported the Second Temple, but it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. Also known as the Wailing Wall, it is a place where the Jews gather to lament the loss of their temple

• The Muslim Quarter

Wandering down the Via De La Rosa (The way of the Cross) you encounter shop keepers and vendors selling everything from exotic fruit to bargain treasures. I took time to sit down and drink a cup of mint tea and admire the colourful shops

• Jaffa

The biblical figure Jonah departed from this ancient city in his flight from God. It is a city steeped in history

• Dead Sea

The high salinity of the water makes the sea a dead zone where no animals can flourish and hence the name: Dead Sea. It is highly buoyant so you can stay afloat and even read a book without needing to paddle

• Bethlehem

Crossing into Palestine, I was able to visit Bethlehem where Christian religions describe as the place of Christ’s birth. The Church of the Nativity is a site where people of many faiths come to pay their respects

• Celebrating a Shabbat Meal

A traditional meal celebrated by Jews to exercise their rest from regular labours of everyday life. It offers participants the opportunity to contemplate spiritual practices and spend time with family

• Massada

A short car ride from the Dead Sea is an isolated rock plateau where Herod the Great built a fortress and a palace for himself between 37 and 31 BC

• Dancing with some Ethiopian Jews who had been airlifted to safety

My friend took me to visit some Ethiopian Jews who had sought refuge in Israel. It was humbling to hear of their struggles to escape Ethiopia and being airlifted to safety by helicopter. They shared with me a simple meal and we danced an Ethiopian dance which was fun to take part in and a perfect end to my Israel trip.


Have you travelled to Israel? What was your best experience there?

Malaysia: Land of Smiles, Shrines and Poison Blow Pipes

Madam Sumi and Family 

Malaysia remains one of my favoured Asian destinations and having travelled there about four times already, I never tire of it. A land as diverse as it's people, a holiday there will certainly add to your adventures.

On my career break I opted for something different and that was to stay in a Homestay program where you stay with local people and experience their way of life. Malaysians are incredibly hospitable people and my host Madam Sumi was no different teaching me her cooking tips and about her extended family.

After waving goodbye to my kind hosts, I decided to visit an indigenous tribe deep in the heart of the rain forest.  Most people travelling to Malaysia don't realize that the Orang Asili  people are the indigenous people of the land. I was keen to visit them and learn more about their culture. They live in the Taman Negara rain forest which is situated in Peninsular Malaysia.

Orang Asili Mother with Child

The Batek tribe whom I visited have beliefs in animism and hunt using poison blow pipes. The poison is derived from some leaves and they put it in their blowpipes and hunt animals such as monkeys. They try to shoot the poison dart so that it hits the monkey's wrist and this makes it fall to the ground. In order to stop the poison from spreading, they immediately cut the hands off the monkeys or other small animals.

I tried my hand at using a blowpipe, but narrowly missed hitting another tourist - oops! The guide told me that I had failed the wife test. Pardon? He told me that when the men are looking for a wife, the potential female candidate has to have accurate hunting powers. Well, I am glad that's one test I failed in my life.

Batu Caves

On my way back to Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital of Malaysia, I stopped off at a very famous Hindu religious shrine called the Batu Caves.

The tourists flock in their thousands to see this famous temple, especially during the festival of Thaipussum. Getting to the caves can be an exercise in itself as you have to climb a lot of steps.

However, there are some entertaining monkeys that are ever watchful of the tourists hoping and waiting for a tasty tidbit. I saw one monkey snatch a bottle of water, dash it open on the ground and drink from it. Who says monkeys are not intelligent.

Whilst in Kuala Lumpur be sure to check out the famous Petronas twin towers. The shopping is fabulous and with eateries from around the globe, it's not hard to imagine why people come back time and time again to visit Malaysia.

Fabulous Food and Wine in France

One of my friends asked me whether I would like to visit rural France. Her mother lived in the midi Pyrenees region and needed some help as she had just bought a new house.  Visions of castles, markets, delicious food and wine floated through my mind and it didn’t take me long to say, “Yes.”

A few weeks later we flew into Carcassonne airport and hired a car. We made a stop at the historic town of Mirepoix to stock up on fresh produce, cured meats and of course wine.

Mirepoix is famous for it’s half-timbered houses which are supported on wood pillars. In 1279 the whole village was flooded and most of it was destroyed, but later it was rebuilt.
Wandering around the historic city imagining what it was like to live there was a lovely way of spending the afternoon. Of course there are also delicious patisserie shops where you can indulge your sweet tooth with a cup of coffee or in my case an English cup of tea.

                                  

When we finally came to my friend's mother's new house, we were tired, but we were greeted by Femke who said “Bonsoir” and “Make yourself at home.” 


 I have to say Femke’s cooking was fabulous and really enjoyed her Duck Confit and French Apple Pie.                                             

In between helping to clean the house and garden we managed to visit some historic sites such as further south on the Arize River is LeMas d'Azil, site of one of the most famous prehistoric caves in the world.  Seeing the snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees was a wonderful sight too.    
    

No visit to rural France is made complete if you do not visit their lively markets. There are several to choose from in the region. We stocked up on specialty breads, fresh fruit and vegetables and artisan preserves.

Of course, we had to stock up on more wine. We got some bottles of Medoc, Corbiere and Tempranillo. Well, we were thirsty!

A good resource if you want to know more about wines in France is to look at French wines and the wine growing regions.  

There is nothing like being out on a nice summer's day with delicious food and wine and good company.

I have to agree with Gerard Depardieu, French actor who said, " What you eat and drink is 50 per cent of life."

After a leisurely lunch, I decided that teaching Dropje (Pronounced Dropier) the cat how to dance Salsa was a great way to chill out for the afternoon much to the amusement of the others.   The cat seemed to like being manhandled and followed me everywhere, much to the disgust of the dogs.

Another spot of excitement was when a cow wandered down the pathway to investigate what there was in the house. I was very startled to see him but we managed to get him back to the rest of the herd.

Lazy, hot summers of France. You can't beat the life!

Join me next time when I visit another country.

Elephants Cross My Path in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is situated at the southernmost tip of  India; a tiny island with diverse cultures and practices and home to an abundance of flora and fauna. Tropical sandy beaches, lush green rice fields or paddy fields as they are commonly known, give way to mountains and cooler climes.

Though there are several wild life sanctuaries in Sri Lanka, one of the lesser known is perhaps Wasgamuwa National Park which has an abundance of elephants and other wildlife. You can hire a safari jeep through a well known travel agent. It is also best to check the weather as seasonal monsoon rains can put a dampener on viewing animals in their natural habitat.

I was lucky to go with a group of relatives whilst I was on my break, which was good as they knew how to get there without resorting to a travel agent and sharing costs was easy.

We arrived at the park around 3 p.m. which was a good time to view the animals as they usually hide from the mid day sun and since its in the tropics it can get very hot. A bottle of water,  a high-factor sun cream, an insect repellent and a sun hat is a must so don't leave home without it.

An amiable guide ushered us to our jeep which was to be our mode of transport. Within about 20 minutes of winding our way through the dusty jungle roads, the magic began and we caught what was to be forever etched in our memories -- a herd of wild elephants in the water splashing and playing around with each other just having fun. Never have I clearly seen how elephants can mimic human behaviour as I did that day.

After we finished our tour of the wildlife park  we decided to head back to Kandy, a town in the central province.
It's famous for:

• Esala Perehera - lots of elephants!
• Temple of the Tooth
• Peradeniya Botanical Gardens   

Accommodation during the festival seasons can get booked up quite quickly.  We stayed at a place called the Mango Grove Cottage near the Kandy lake.  There were a few monkeys in the trees who liked to be playful. It was funny watching them.

If you like my post about Sri Lanka, I also recommend another blog which I like called Flashpackers which has useful information about travelling in this beautiful island.

Temple of the Tooth Kandy  

Encountering Wildlife in Jasper, Alberta

When one thinks of the Canadian Rockies, mere words such as breathtaking, awe-inspiring, majestic and spectacular doesn't do it justice. It's a place where I have always wanted to go to see wildlife and mountains and I was drawn to the little town of Jasper.

Getting There: 

The Canadian is described as one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. I decided that the 75 per cent off all inclusive fare from Toronto to Jasper was a very good offer considering you get accommodation, gourmet food, travel and outstanding views of the whole journey. I met some fascinating people from around the world including three Taiwanese students, a lecturer from Toronto and quite a few retired people with life stories to tell.

Courtesy of Vacations Canada

Jasper Town Centre

Three days after setting off from Toronto the train chugged into the mountain town of Jasper. Accommodation is plentiful but be sure to book early as the place draws a lot of tourists.

Black Bear

Elk

After a quick freshen up, I decided to explore the town and made friends with a girl called Grace from South Korea. We happily explored the Athabasca river, made famous for its turquoise water which was the result of minerals contained in it.

Our way back to the hostel was eventful as we encountered a black bear who was sitting beside the roadside eating dandelions. To say we were scared was an understatement, but we slowly and calmly backed away till we were at a safe distance. To this day, Grace and I talk about our encounter with the bear.

Please follow these guidelines for dealing with wildlife as you should not willingly go near them.

One of the great ways to see wildlife is to join a tour. Maligne adventure tours was a great company to go with and staff were very knowledgeable.

I opted for the evening tour and was rewarded with a great photo shot of an elk emerging from the bushes with the lake in the background. We also managed to see mountain goats, bears and deer.

For the adrenaline junkie, a whitewater rafting expedition is just the ideal way to spend a few hours getting your pulses racing. Again, Maligne Tours  provide a great service for those seeking adventure. The tour bus departed Jasper and wound its way through breathtaking scenery to arrive at the river near Mount Robson. This mountain is British's Columbia's highest peak and with an elevation of 3,954 m, it has mountaineers hone their climbing skills before embarking on such epic climbs such as that of Mount Everest.

Where to Eat: There are some great little restaurants at Jasper. I decided to try South Korean food and pleased to say that Kimchi House was a very good find.

To walk off those calories there are some great hiking trails around  Jasper and it's worth taking the cable car to take in the spectacular views.

I was puzzled to find a pile of rocks near the edge of the mountain. Another tourist explained that it was an Inukshuk, a stone figure reminding travellers that they are on the right path. Great to know!

Dip your toes in the Athabasca river -- it can be very cold though!

Spirit Island

Hopefully, I have convinced you to visit the Rockies at least once in your lifetime and will leave you with a quote by Daniel J Rice,“The mountains knew the definition of freedom. They provided a place where he could find his mind.”