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Today is a day filled with excitement and adventure. We hired a tuk-tuk driver to chauffeur us around the Angkor Wat complex. It was constructed in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II for the Khmer Empire. Today, the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the largest religious monument in the world. It is a symbol of Cambodia and the country’s prime attraction for visitors.

The first temple I traversed was Ta Prohm. Unlike most Angkorian temples it is in the same condition in which it was found. As you walk through this incredible masterpiece, you can hear monkey calls off in the distance. The surrounding, overgrown jungle seeps through the cracks giving it an authentic feel that transported me back to the twelfth century. To say this temple (and others) were incredible would be an understatement; I was at a loss for words as I wandered through them discovering these ancient relics.

VietJet is an affordable and efficient way to get from one city to the next. That being said, we booked ourselves on another flight and touched down in Cambodia in under two hours. Going through immigration and customs was no hassle at all. Twenty minutes and thirty dollars later, I received my visa and passport stamp and I was off in a tuk tuk in transit to explore Cambodia!

When I travel, I aim to spend as little time as possible in the hotel room; at night it is no different. Once we arrived at the Asanak D’Angkor Boutique Hotel, a hidden gem in the midst of a dark, rural street; we dropped our bags, checked for bed bugs–should’ve checked for lizards instead, freshened up and hit the streets of Siem Reap to enjoy our first night.

As we exited the hotel, we were greeted by three cows just moseying along the dirt path. An evening ritual that occured every night for the duration of our stay. Continuing along the dimly lit path, bikes and tuk tuks loaded with people whizzed by all going in the same direction as us. The more people that passed, the more excited I became. My nerves started to dissipate as I continued walking along. Stepping out onto the main road where everyone was, I felt so alive and in the moment. The night was bustling with all kinds of happy people and I was one of them. We walked to the Night Market where all the excitement was.

The Night Market was filled with local vendors selling foods, art work, jewelry; you name it. It was the perfect place to pick up a little trinket to take home. The best way to buy anything from this place is to barter with them. While here, I came across the durian fruit. This fruit is the large, spiked, odorous fruit-sometimes known as the ‘stinky fruit’. It is native to south east Asia and one of the staples you must try while there. As for me, Cambodia will be the first and last place I eat this fruit. The creamy texture paired with the smell of fermentation was not delicious on my palate; one bite was enough.

After squeezing our way through the market stalls and having Khmer curry and Angkor beer for dinner (all for $2) we headed back to the hotel to call it a night. Tomorrow we are off to tour the temples!

Today we flew on one Vietnam’s local air carriers, VietJet for a quick flight down south. We landed ninety minutes later in Vietnam’s largest city. There was a swirl of activity in the airport, a clear indication of what it was going to be like on the streets.  A blare of car horns and motorcycle engines, once an annoyance, but now music to my ears, told me that I was in Ho Chi Minh City; right in the center of everything!

Previously known as Saigon, the province was renamed in the late 1970’s to Ho Chi Minh City after the leader and reunification of the north and south at the end of the Vietnam War. One place I made sure to visit while here was the war remnants museum. I truly saw both sides of the war and the devastating effects on each. Leaving the museum I felt melancholy but some fried spring rolls and a cold beer at a rooftop bar can surely change my mood for the better. HCMC is filled with copious bars overlooking the skyline; one of the things Hanoi lacks. Old Saigon is more westernized than the capital and it is apparent when walking by the shops and experiencing the nightlife.

My friend and I were only in HCMC for two days. It was short but sweet for certain. 48 hours was enough time to gallivant through the city’s streets, try the local yet mouth watering foods, and sit atop twenty story buildings taking in beautiful sights.

What made this trip memorable was the warmth of the people I interacted with and where I slept the two nights I was in town. We stayed in the back of a smoothie shop in a quaint but comfortable room. What’s better than waking up in a foreign city with good people and fresh fruit waiting for you?

Day 3: The perfect remedy for sleep deprivation and jet lag in Vietnam, is their coffee! Some of the best in the world-and by far the best I’ve ever had. For coffee lovers and the average drinker, you’ll want to take a few bags home. My friend from college who grew up in Hanoi, gave me a list of local spots–away from other tourists–to visit so I could have an authentic experience. One was Cà Phê Chợ, in the Old Quarter of the city. We both fell in love with this quaint coffee shop; the vibes and coffees were amazing! I stopped here every morning to get my fix.

Fully caffeinated, my travel buddy and I wandered aimlessly through the streets. Each street vibrantly alive; blanketed with the aroma of fresh spices and street foods that locals and the daring would try. I’m a foodie and love my share of local cuisines but these were a little suspect.

To curb our hunger we ate pho and noodles at a local eatery, where we occupied the space with natives and foreigners alike. One of the things I love most about traveling is trying the country’s national dishes or most popular plates. I get to taste the world in every bite. The amazing thing about food is that it always brings people together and the human connection grows stronger.

Continuing on our journey, we walked around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, a small lake right in the middle of the Old Quarter. The streets were hectic and chaotic overfilled with motorcycles and foot traffic but once you sat on a bench and faced the lake, immediately you could feel the calmness surround you.

We kept walking despite the heat. As sweaty as we were, we figured it was the best way to take in the area. We stopped at the War Museum, which was now home to a few U.S. planes, tanks, and helicopters since the war. In the states it’s called the Vietnam War, but here it’s the opposite-the American War. We took a look at the infamous Flag Pole that waved the Vietnam flag. We trekked on to the Presidential Palace where the president stays, adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of their famous leader Ho Chi Minh. We witnessed the changing of the guards around the tomb.

My favorite place we visited this day was the Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the oldest temple in Hanoi (pictured above). It was delicately built but stood strong. We had to cover our knees to enter so we had to rent out long, gaudy looking skirts. I looked absolutely ridiculous but it was well worth it to see this gem.

When I was first planning to travel to this country, I was told that customer service here was less than perfect at times. Tonight, I had first hand experience at dinner. The wait staff took our order, gave us our beers, and then all sat down and ate their dinner before cooking and serving ours..I’m almost positive they ate what we ordered.

Day 1 & 2: These two days consisted of flying eighteen hours and traveling a distance of 7,765 miles, while also adjusting to an eleven hour time difference. The first leg of the trip was from LAX to NRT (Narita Internalional Airport) in Tokyo, Japan. A twelve hour direct flight over the Pacific Ocean, covering a distance of 5,451 miles. The second leg was a six hour flight, flying high above the western part of Japan, East China Sea, and the eastern part of China. We touched down 2, 314 miles later at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Upon arrival we were ushered to Immigration, where my friend and I had to give them our documents requesting entry, passport-like photos, and our passports to be processed. The visa and passport stamp was $50 and the certified entry documents were $18 for two. These documents were certified from a third party and done a couple weeks prior to this trip. Our visa was $50 because we got the multiple entry one, a single entry visa will cost $25. Once we were given our passports back, going through customs took no more than five minutes, and finally we were enroute to my friend’s place in Tay Ho.

Day 4: We took advantage of our last full day in Jamaica and headed out to the most western point of the island, Negril. We made a quick stop along the way at Fort Charlotte, in Lucea. This fort, now crumbling walls and rusted cannons, was built in the 18th century by the British as a defense during the Napoleonic Wars. A section of this fort currently forms part of the Ruseas High School that is located next to it.

Once in Negril, we went to the infamous yet equally exceptional seven-mile beach. It was incredibly peaceful and the ocean water was the warmest I’ve ever felt. You know you’re in Jamaica when you’re eating jerk chicken and having a Red Stripe right on one of the nicest beaches in the world.

To top off this day, we went to Rick’s Cafe. It’s an outside bar that is known for their cliff jumping. Of course I jumped! It was an exhilarating way to say ‘I’ll see you later’ to this spectacular island!

 

Day 5: My mom and I embarked back home and reflected on the amazing experiences we shared together and with our new friends we met along the way.

Day 3: Today, our friend Rick drove us deep inside the heart of Mo’ Bay. Our first stop was at Samuel Sharpe Square, the town center that paid tribute to one of Jamaica’s national heroes. The freedom fighter, Samuel Sharpe, lead slave rebellions in the 1830’s, later to be recognized as a prominent figure in the foundation of Jamaican society. We continued driving down St. James St. – the saying goes that if you never drove down this street, then you were never truly in Montego Bay. Passing through, I could feel the pulse of the city. It was full of life and laughter; people going to and from work and enjoying the sweetness of their own metropolis.

We departed from the downtown area and were enroute to Falmouth. In a little over an hour, we arrived at the Luminous Lagoon. Before taking a night swim, we ate delicious beef patties from a local vendor. The Luminous Lagoon is not just the typical body of water. What makes this Lagoon standout from the rest is that it is filled with microscopic organisms that emit a phosphorescent light when agitated. We went swimming in the natural glow of these organisms and it was remarkable. Every movement was accounted for by this exquisite blue luminescence. It was the highlight of the day.

 

[My friend Rick has his own V.I.P tour service in and around Montego Bay. If you want a friendly, inviting, and safe experience, contact Rick. You will not be disappointed. By the end of the tour, he’ll feel like family. There’s no one else more fitting.]

Phone numbers: 876-389-7992 or 876-486-0143 / Email: rickrobbb@yahoo.com

 

Day 2: We left the resort in the early morning in pursuit of adventure. From Montego Bay we drove through Trelawny to get to St. Ann’s parish, in which a town Ocho Rios is located. Our first stop was at Dunn’s River Falls. A hikable waterfall that turns into an estuary, opening up to the Caribbean Sea. From the mouth of the river we embarked on a wet escapade, clinging to the limestone as the flowing water poured over us. It took us nearly an hour to reach the top of the waterfall and the view was breathtaking.

Soon after this feat, we continued on to the Blue Hole (where the above picture was taken). Within minutes of our arrival, we were jumping off the rocks into the cool, blue water below. We used the rope swing off the higher rocks and kept working our way up through the woods to get to other ‘blue holes’. Each blue hole was unique in its own way, from underwater caves, waterfalls, and mud baths. It was an incredible experience to walk through the thicket, interact with the locals working in there, and jump off thirty-feet high rocks!

After these two excursions with our adrenaline pumping, a Red Stripe and some saltfish were the perfect remedies to beat the exhaustion and give us energy for the night.

Day 1: Three hours and 1,551 miles later, I landed in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I was instantly greeted with warm air and even warmer smiles. The aroma of fresh spices and tropical flowers cascaded its way through the terminal. After a short but scenic taxi ride, I was at the resort. The Deja Resort is conveniently located on what is referred to as the ‘Hip Strip’, as bars, shops, and the beach occupy it.

Within moments of arriving at the hotel, I had made my way to Doctor’s Cave Beach where I enjoyed the white sand as well as a refreshing, Red Stripe. The pristine beach and a Jamaican lager was the perfect combination.

As the night progressed, we were able to get a taste of Jamaica. We ate oxtail over white rice, curried mutton, and jerk pork exceptionally paired with local beer, while being serenaded by a steel drum band. The flavors and sounds were euphoric and I immediately felt like I was a part of the island life. It was such a warm welcome and an everlasting experience that I shared with my mom. Jamaica had me feeling irie!