Tour de Asia (well, a small part of Asia)

So, Asia, all right. Well, it was a great trip. Three different countries, all really exciting. I reckon it’s best if I just put some photos here instead of long and probably boring stories. I have decided to publish them chronologically rather, than by country as I think it just makes more sense. So, here we go…

Little India in Singapore. Temperature: 33C / 92F, humidity: 96%.


A local eatery. Little India, Singapore. All bars, shops, restaurants etc in Singapore, even the worst ones have AC. The effect: a cold less than 24 hours after I arrived.


Indian food in that eatery. Tasty, spicy and very colourful ;-)


China Town in Singapore. Rather small and disappointing after the one in San Francisco, but...


Hard to believe, but after a 15 hour flight, a long party and very little sleep, I just couldn't drink my beer. Well, perhaps the weather (hot, hot and really humid) had something to do with that as well... Oh, and of course - if drinking beer in SE Asia, then it MUST be Tiger ;-)

After 2 rather long and exhausting nights and 1 very hot day in Singapore, we flew to Cambodia. What a surprise – it’s even hotter and more humid!

That is me and my taxi driver. A 25 minute ride from the airport to our hotel - $1.


My cab from a different angle.


Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. I don't remember the names of all temples we visited, so if you want to find out a little more about Angkor Wat, I would strongly suggest using google ;-)


A monk sleeping next to a Buddha figure, Angkor Wat, Cambodia.


Angkor Wat and me, right there, on the stairs.


Angkor Wat. Pretty amazing, eh?


Blah, blah, me and Angkor Wat just behind. I am not really happy here, it's very hot, we don't have local currency or dollar change to buy a bottle of water...


A family leaving for camping holiday? I don't think so...


I just wanted to have a photo with Buddha.. And yes, I am ALL sweating here...


We had a personal driver for two days. And a vehicle, called "tuk-tuk".


Local supermarket.


Not exactly a villa. Suburbs of Siem Reap (the pic is not sharp, but we couldn't stop there, so I had to take it from our "tuk-tuk")


And here is another one...


On the boat. These two kids were our "drivers".


Floating village. I found it quite surprising, that all floating houses had TV antennas. In the country, where many people live without electricity...


Floating shop.


Floating village...


I just had to take a pic of this guy. I know, it looks more like Vietnam, than Cambodia, but...


Kids were a real nitemare in Cambodia. Always trying to sell you some useless crap, always begging for a dollar and never letting it go. I know they're all poor, but it became really annoying after a while...


Floating village. That's right, this is a satelite-dish right in the middle... Any questions?


Another surprise. Petrol is sold from Johnnie Walker bottles.


Afternoon traffic-peak in Siem Reap. On a side note - they have no rules when it comes to driving at all. Enough if I just say, that I couldn't figure out whether they officially drive on the right or on the left side, till I read it in the guide...


And back in the hotel a.k.a. bamboo hut. It was actually nice and even equipped with the AC!


Gekons, our silent room-mates.


And we're back in the Angkor Wat complex. Here - we're just passing a group of kids on the way to school.


Another temple. That one was actually very impressive.


I didn't even know I had a picture here!


On the top of another temple, rain forest behind...


Here is where they shot parts of Tomb Raider / Lara Croft. I didn't see the movie, but these trees were MASSIVE!


Another one...


And another one.


And...I am really tired already...


One last temple in Angkor Wat...


...and it's time to take a break at the hotel-pool! Of course, with a can of Tiger ;-)


Oops, I forgot. We went to Angkor again, to see the sunset. Didn't quite look too interesting, unfortunately...


But we spotted a few monks!


Last dinner in Cambodia. Extremely cheap and very, very moreish...


And here is another local speciality ;-)

Next morning we came back to Singapore. Here is another bunch of pictures from this very Miami-like city.

Singapore...


Another skyscrapers.


Singapore skyline.


Singapore harbour - used to be the biggest port in the world.

After one day in Singapore with our friends (yes, I played bridge after a 2-year-break!!!) we flew to Thailand for four days. Now, I have to admit, that I did work on some picture above (added contrast, warmed the photos here and there), but colours in Thailand are so amazing, that I won’t change / adjust these photos. I know, I have no idea about photography, but it’s my humble, totally unprofessional opinion and I will just stick with it ;-) Enjoy!

Our beach in Krabi, Thailand.


Me and the beach in Krabi, Thailand ;-)


9:30am, Krabi, Thailand. Yes, quite enjoying my pina-colada. Reel in!


On the way to Railey Beach.


Railey Beach itself.


Ao Nang beach (where we lived).


I don't know who this person is.


Lots of sunscreen. Didn't quite help, as I found out later...


Um, fish?


Oh, btw, I didn't mention that - these are photos from our speed-boat trip ;-) One of the little bays we visited.


Maya Bay. And me. This is where they filmed "The Beach".


This is where we stopped for lunch...


...and this is what we did after lunch...


I couldn't make up my mind, so I ordered all three. (Actually, it was a happy hour - buy 2, get 1 free).


Ao Nang Beach again. Just about to board on the boat, which took us to Poda Island.


Poda Island. There was absolutely nobody on this beach!


Poda Island...


Lunch ;-)


Next day - on a long-tail boat to James Bond Island, sea-caves and elephant riding. Quite a mix!


James Bond Island (anyone know which James Bond was filmed in Thailand??)


James Bond Island...


Sea-caves, on a kayak.


Sea-caves...


And that's me in the sea-caves.


Elephant riding. Nothing spectacular, but one has to try it anyway.


Strangers on the elephant.


Baby-elephant. 1,300kg...


Same baby-elephant.


Weird plant at the hotel-pool...

So, this is it. 11 amazing days. I definitely want to come back there, there are more places to see – Malaysia, Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines… Some day, I am sure…

BTW – the weather in London is quite incredible. I was expecting rain when I was flying back home, but we’ve had 80F and more here recently! I went on a boat-trip from Westminster to Greenwich this Saturday and it was really, really nice. No pictures, though, sorry ;-)