Link to reports on Tripadvisor

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/members-reviews/gipsona1

Bali - Sanur

The second part of my Bali experience was the relaxing bit, somewhere by a pool/beach where i could do nothing but read,listen to music and take in the weather.

Hotel was in the quiet resort of Sanur,which as well as having the normal Bali level of Aussies, had also a fair splattering of Dutch, given historic links. I had been warned that there was a bit of renovation going on but the noise from that was very limited (actually at the rate they were working it seemed like a long term project!). The only complaint about noise was when the frogs went loopy one night after the rains.

The hotel was ok,  smaller than i was expecting and limited facilities - but it provided a couple of good pools that worked for my plans. Right next to the beach which meant only a short walk to get a £3 beach massage and also find a number of restaurants. The locals on the beach were........persistent with their "come see my shop" routine but i generally managed to avoid. Outside the hotel, Sanur is really one long road (and it certainly feels long in the heat) with plenty of restaurants/bars to find for lunch or to watch the cricket (Aus v Ind).

Took another day trip, this time to hills which was a bit of a gamble in wet season, and it did rain a fair amount. Luckily not at the first and most interesting stop which was a large typical temple.  Rather than go into detail now, i will try and provide link to my tripadvisor reviews and photos in due couse.

Now off to Singapore for three nights over new year.  Overall Bali, did what i wanted it to do, provide a relaxing break with decent weather and some diversions. It seemed more touristy than other places in south east asia that i have travelled to, but i guess you blame that on the aussies.

Ubud, Bali

A short two and half hour flight from Singapore is the island of Bali. Visa on arrival system works easily ($35) and the first part of my stay is three nights in Ubud, which is around 90mins drive from airport.

Stopped off on way on suggestion of guide - to get a drink. This turned out to be my first shopping opportunity he was going to provide to me - demonstration of local teas and coffees followed by exit through sales room. The girl was not that pushy, the tea cheap, and so i decided to buy.

This obviously set my guides expectations rising, so the following days tour around cultural heart of Ubud started with.........two similar opportunites - to buy local art-work and then wood work. Now i have been used on day trips in asia to have these elements thrown in but this was a bit over the top. You never know whether the guide is simply looking to give local tradespeople a chance or whether they are on commission - my guess here is the later.

The rest of the trip was actually quite interesting. Local art museum, monkey forest,  palace (small) in the heart of Ubud, local temple plus Paddy field.

Overall couple of days in Ubud is a good start to trip in Bali. Hotel is a bit of a way out (15 mins drive) but really pleasant, with great views nd its own monkeys. Only problem is that its a bit noisy........those animals, birds, insects in the forest really dont appreciate that whilst they might be noctural some of us are tring to sleep.

Will post more details on Tripadvisor reviews - Hotel Alila

Xmas, New Year 2014

Flew via Dubai with Emirates and arrived in Singapore mid afternoon. Greeted by rain storm which had stopped by the time i reached my hotel. One nigt stay at Swissotel which i realised i had stayed in a few years ago, so must be a Trailfinders favourite for a short stop.

Just by Clarke Quay so plenty of restaurants to choose from, and a number of bars showing the early Premier League match - Palace v Man City - oh well the entertainment may improve as the trip goes on.

Phnom Penh

Left hotel in Siem Reap at 8am and arrived in Phnom Penh at 3pm - with three stops probably one hour combined. Its not actually that far but the roads are a mix of ok, and 'challenging'. Whilst the countryside was quite interesting perhaps a short flight would have been a better option or even the 6 hour boat ride.

Evening was spent with a short cruise along the Mekong, weather very pleasant with cool breeze (cold to my local guide who tried to convince me i would need a jumper). Not that much to see, as the waterfront is not that developed, but now appears to be an area being transformed, with new luxury hotel going up. After that a very pleasant meal at a restaurant that looks to take kids off the street and train them for jobs in catering.

The following day was the city tour. Very much a tale of two halves, with the morning seeing the splendour of temple, royal palace, silver pagoda and national museum. All well preserved and interesting.

The afternoon was different. Visit to Prison 21 where Khymer Rouge took the educated and high ranking as part of their purge of decadent Cambodia. People stayed there between three and six months whilst they were tortured and their families and friends rounded up. Then taken to the killing fields, not knowing they would end up beaten killed and buried. Another challenging place to visit, in particular given how recently this all took place 1975-1979 and the severity of what went on. 

Final day in Siem Reap

An hour or so drive took us to the edge of Tonie Sap Laje - Asia's largest freshwater lake. Edge does depend on time of year as the lake reduces to a 1/5 of its size during the dry season, which does make for interesting planning.

Most of the houses you see are on stilts, seemingly suspended in the air but when at its deepest the water comes up to about a meter below - although a couple of years ago, at the same time as Bangkok was heavily underwater, so was a lot of the communities here.

We stopped at a village and walked around briefly. It appears in a way a bit desolate at the "roads" take time to improve once they come out of the water, and rubbish piles up until eventually burnt. That said the locals appear settled and there was actually less begging or hawking compared to other areas of Cambodia and indeed Asia generally.

After lunch, we returned to land and stopped at Banteay Srey. Smaller than most of the other temples, it is one of the earliest and unique in color compared to the others.

Final step in Siem Reap, was a landmine museum. One of the places you have to visit, but wont really enjoy that much given the subject matter. It was fairly understand but harrowing none the less.

Tomorrow is a 6 hour drive through the countryside to Phnom Penh

Siem Reap

OK so there is a lot to take in here, mostly temples.

Most of the area, excluding Angkor Wat itself, was deserted from 16th century, overgrown by forest and only found again by French explorers in early 20th century. It has, other than areas specifically left overgrown been amazingly uncovered to reveal its former glory.

Ranging from (in broad order seen):

Angkor Thom - last capital of Great Khymer Empire. Large city surrounded by 8m high wall dating back to 12th century.

The Terrace of the Elephants - from which the king used to talk to his people

Ta Prohm - temple largely left as found, with trees/vines living/growing amongst ruins of temples

Preah Khan - a similar aged temple to Ta Prohm which has been uncovered and restored

Neak Pean - set in the middle of an artificial lake, originally only accessed by boat, now by walkway

Angkor Wat - the largest and most impressive and apparently the largest religious site in the world.