Tag Archives: Preah Vihear

Cycling Kampuchea

2 Feb


The Itinerary:

1/14/09 – Surin to Sangka (Thailand) =50k
Sweet paved road, Mike glided ahead of me on his new TREK.  We were both uber excited about this adventure!
1/15/09 – Sangka to Anlong Veng (Cambodia) =60k
Crazy hill up up up then down down down!  As soon as we entered Cambodia the road changed to dirt.  Red dusty dirt that makes you think you’re tan; but you’re just dirty.  You breathe it, it gets in your eyes, ears, nose, mouth.  The road was bumpy and full of construction.  The roadside vegetation was half reddishbrown and half green.
1/16/09 – Anlong Veng to Sa-aem = 82k
Same road, looooong day. 
1/17/09 – Sa-aem to LOST to Preah Vihear = 55k
Day of bad luck.  Mike’s bike broke, we got lost, and rode up to our guesthouse in the dark.  We did have two military angels guide our way over the rediculously potholed sandpits they were calling ‘roads.’
1/18/09 – Preah Vihear to Choam Khsan = 55k
A short sweet day.  We decided to hang here a few days and do some motorbike remote temple exploring. 
1/21/09 – Choam Khsan to Kulen = 84k
Went about 60k with no houses or shops.  Did I mention Mike lost his water bottle on this day?  We were thiiiiirsty!
1/22/09 – Kulen to Sroyong = 20k
Spent the remainder of the day biking around Koh Ker temples.
1/23/09 – Sroyong to Nearby Village = 50k
Met a young Khmer guy who offered us a room in his home for the night.  His brothers were there and invited us to eat delicious homecooked dinner.  Fish, rice, all kinds of sauces and curries and yum.  We slept on a wooden bed.  It was wonderful!
1/24/09 – Village to Siem Reap = 36k
An exciting day to go to the city!  Stayed in the city a week and some waiting for visas to go through.  Did yoga, an 8 day lemon fast, and partied with Angkor Association of the Disabled a bit.  Cycled the big temples for one day.  Mike took most of the pictures, I’ll post them when I can get them from him some day.

Now: 
Mike’s continuing his cycling journey solo through southern Laos and up into northern Thailand. 

And me?!? I’m going to learn about chakras and yoga in the jungle of Koh Phangan island!!! 

See you in three months!  xoxoxxoxo
!!LOVE!!

aimless and jobless, but full of JERSEY!

8 Jan

What a crazy month!  I’ve been surrounded by love and east coast pride for the last few weeks.  I can’t describe what it has been like to ‘tawk’ and ‘wawk’ and drink ‘wudder’ and ‘cawfee’ with these amazing folks.  Aimee arrived from Korea for her one week winter break.  We spent most of our time laughing, singing, and interupting the hell out of each other.  Lovely girl that Aimee, thanks Sara Casey!

 Genevieve arrived on new years eve morning.  She ran off the runway of the airport and nearly knocked me over with the biggest grandest hug I’ve ever received.  Oh, we’ve had a great time, despite her many ‘accidents’ (we keep joking we’re going to get her a bubble.)  In the last week and a half she’s sprained her ankle walking, busted her knee, got a terrible sunburn, and got some sort of inner bone pain (that we’re still not sure what it is).  Mike and I have been taking care of her, and she’s been loving the beach, massages, and curry.  She said to me just today, ‘You know, I can’ finally see why you haven’t come home!’  She loves it here.

 And now, it’s time to depart.  I’m off on another adventure, a Cambodian cycling solo mission.  I just packed up my cammo saddle bags and cleaned out my room at Pi Eet’s house.  As my time in Surat comes to a close, I can’t help but remember all the crazy folks I’ve met and the fantastic adventures that have ensued.  I love this place and the people.  I am already pretty sad to leave, but the excitement getting back on the road with velo is cancelling it out.  I’m going to stay around Preah Vihear in northern Cambodia, where there are lost hidden Angkor Wat temples that are just dying for me to discover them.  I know it.  After I renew my visa in Phenom Penh, it’s PYRAMID TIME! 

 Yoga yoga yoga!  Oh how I love yoga!  And bicycles!  And singing!  And LIFE!  I REALLY LOVE LIFE!  And you!  I love you too!!!