Most Inspirational Moment
Maybe places where it was quiet such as the very top of Marble Mountain and watching the sunset from the top of the boat in Ha Long Bay when the day trip boats had left. Meeting the victims of Agent Orange at the craft works was sobering, as were the Cu Che tunnels and the War Museum; difficult, but necessary, inspiring to see how humanity can prevail.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both Thanh Vu in Vietnam and Theavy in Cambodia were excellent. They had different styles, but then the countries cultures are very different. They were both great company and I felt I could trust them implicitly. There didn’t seem to be a question that they couldn’t answer and their English was very good. Theavy had some great ideas for photographs which she took delight in helping us with.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don’t underestimate how sapping the humidity can be, the free times were welcome to help us recoup. Be aware that there is some hopping on and off of little boats to do; and the wooden staircases around Siem Reap can be a raking angle and rarely have handrails. A degree of nimbleness is useful to make the most of this trip. On the plane from Vietnam to Cambodia, the flight crew will issue you with Customs and Immigration forms. The forms are tiny; be ready with spectacles, a pen, and maybe a crib sheet with your passport number and the address of the Siem Reap hotel.
