The latest Journal Entries from Ben & Debbie at Footstops.com en-us Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:00:52 -0800 Copyright 2008, Bryan Rite @ Footstops.com Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:00:52 -0800 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 240 http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/ We flew from Bangkok to Shenzhen -on mainland China just next to Hong Kong -where we spent a frustrating day just trying to arrange our passage to the Hong Kong airport for return to Canada.  Again, we had pre-booked a hotel on the internet, whi... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3197/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3197/ Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:11:24 -0800 After a very comfortable, scenic, 12 hour ride on the Sprinter Express train from Chiang Mai, we arrived in Bangkok at 8:20pm and took a tuk-tuk to the Khao San road area of Banglamphu District.  We had pre-booked the "KC Guesthouse" on Lonely... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3193/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3193/ Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:20:30 -0800 Since we have left ourselves such a short time in Thailand, we're glad that we chose to come and stay for 4 nights here rather than split up the time in 2 or 3 different places.  Chiang Mai is a very interesting city -a former Royal Capital and... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3120/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3120/ Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:42:46 -0800 As we finally leave beautiful Laos, we're looking forward to a short but good time in Thailand.  We took a bus from Luang Nam Tha to the Lao border-town of Huay Xai, and crossed the Mekong river for the last time, arriving in the Thailand town of... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3092/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3092/ Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:29:36 -0800 Our wonderful time in Laos pretty much culminates here in this very North-western province, right up to the Chinese/Burmese borders.  We rode packed into rickety, bumpy "sawngthaew" (trucks with covered boxes with sideways mounted seats in the b... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3059/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/3059/ Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:21:09 -0800 Since we've been in Laos we've heard many travellers talk about the beauty of Muang Ngoi, so we decided we just couldn't miss this peaceful gem of northern Laos.  We took a mini-bus for about 4 hrs. north of Luang Prabang and then a boat for an hou... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2932/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2932/ Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:30:22 -0800 What a lovely, charming, quiet little city. Luang Prabang has been granted World Heritage City status, thus the old buildings, wats, and temples in the old city are all being maintained or restored. There are no buses or trucks or heavy traffic ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2898/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2898/ Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:52:18 -0800 In the middle of most chilled out, beautiful Laos, lies this crazy party town on the NamSong river -full of young tourists and the resultant bars, restaurants, guest houses, riverside pubs with rope-swings and zip-lines, you name it. It is incred... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2890/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2890/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:32:14 -0800 After taking the overnight bus from Pakse, we arrived in Vientiane at 6am, immediately got a great room, and got out exploring the sights in this quiet & clean Capital city of Laos.  The most important national monument in Laos is the "Pha That ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2889/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2889/ Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:56:17 -0800 It was hard to tear ourselves away from Don Det, but we had to move on again to the sleepy Provincial capital of Pakse in southern Laos.  Like many of Laos cities, there are still some beautiful old buildings from the French colonial era interspe... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2854/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2854/ Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:12:16 -0800 The Cambodia/Lao border-crossing was "interesting" - wooden shacks in the middle of nowhere on either side of the border.  And on the Lao side, a muddy, pot-hole track for about 7km. which took over an hour to drive while trees were being cleared... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2818/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2818/ Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:31:32 -0800 Kratie is a charming, small city on the Mekong River with beautiful sunsets on the river. Here we had the wonderful opportunity to have a young guide, Hak, who became our friend, take us by scooter and accompany us to view the world's only fresh-... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2766/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2766/ Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:16:51 -0800 Took the bus from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham (5hrs.), a nice Provincial capital on the Mekong River.  There, we had to hire a "shared-taxi"-took 4 people for $10ea. another 3.5hrs. to Kratie -on our way to the Lao border.... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2765/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2765/ Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:45:07 -0800 During our two weeks in Cambodia we have had the priviledge and opportunity to spend time at several orphanages and to meet and visit with our "Plan International" foster child.  Every child, no matter how difficult their situation, had a smile a... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2730/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2730/ Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:54:32 -0800 The majesty and glory of the 9th to 12 century Kings and their civilizations can be gleened by the dozens, if not hundreds, of ruins of temples and palaces of the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park and surrounding province.  The main park area is ap... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2723/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2723/ Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:45:43 -0800 Cambodia, what a Country?  Steeped in a rich, glorious and proud history, victim of the most evil wars and vicious genocides in recent history, struggling with poverty and corruption, and still a smile always brings a smile in return.  We have ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2722/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2722/ Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:46:23 -0800 Fortunately we left the typhoons behind, and took a 3-day, 2-night tour of the Mekong Delta (the rice-bowl of Vietnam) and up the Mekong River through the Cambodian border and into Phnom Penh.  In the delta area we experienced the floating marke... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2678/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2678/ Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:53:32 -0800 Having escaped Nha Trang's torrential deluge for the drier, cooler Dalat, we then descended from the Central Highlands down to HoChiMinh City (HCMC/aka Saigon) where we arrived in another incredible thunderstorm which again flooded the streets to ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2639/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2639/ Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:22:24 -0800 Dalat is a mountain city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, renowned as a honeymooners holiday destination, and unique waterfalls, Montaignard hill-tribe people, and coffee & silkworm industries.  Upon arrival we were met immediately by two of ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2593/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2593/ Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:34:01 -0800 After another all-night bus ride from Hoi-An, we arrived in Nha Trang at 6:00am and promptly got another awesome, balcony room for $9/night, and slept for a few hours.  This is a seaport/tourist city of approximately 320,000.  Due to the continu... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2561/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2561/ Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:18:38 -0700 We spent 3 days in this old, sea-trading port city and renowed for its fabric and tailor shops.  From our wonderful, large balcony room we went out to explore and shop all over this fascinating town.  We indulged ourselves with tailor-made outfi... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2560/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2560/ Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:58:55 -0700 ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2526/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2526/ Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:08:04 -0700 We spent another few days back in Hanoi, sightseeing and visiting people.  Particularly enjoyable was time that we spent with a young, Vietnamese woman, Quyen, whom we met in SaPa;  Over the next three days she and her friends, Hao and Tam, to... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2487/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2487/ Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:16:06 -0700 Having arrived from Sa Pa on the overnight train at 5am, we promptly caught the 8am tour to Halong Bay, a beautiful area in the Tonkin Sea with thousands of limestone karst islands rising sheer out of the sea.  There we toured limestone caves, ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2486/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2486/ Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:48:26 -0700 We travelled from Hanoi on an overnight sleeper train to the N.Viet Nam city of LaoCai, and from there by mini-bus up, up, up to the exotic, misty mountain town of SaPa.  The town is high on the mountain with the lush, green terraced hillsides b... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2448/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2448/ Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:44:51 -0700 What a crazy, buzzing, chaotic city!!!  Thousands of scooters & bikes honking and zipping down every street and lane, and every time you cross the street you take your life in your hands.  But its Fun!!!  Our $12/night hotel is luxurious, the p... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2425/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2425/ Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:34:52 -0700 After riding overnight on a sleeper BUS (yes that's right, a bus with bunks) from Hong Kong we arrived in Nanning, China -a city 4hrs from the Viet Nam border.  Unfortunately, perhaps, we only spent one full day in China, but we felt compelled to... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2422/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2422/ Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:19:39 -0700  We survived the 13:45 min. flight and arrived safely in Hong Kong on Thurs.evening.  Proceeded without difficulty through customs, bus into Kowloon, check-in at hotel (very small 6'x8' room & shared bathroom, but clean & OK). Hong Kong is... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2341/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2341/ Sun, 14 Oct 2007 05:55:29 -0700 Well, we're finally on our way!!!! (well, sort of)  We've left home anyway and are at John & Renee's in Kelowna waiting to catch our flights to Vancouver and Hong Kong tomorrow.  After a couple of very stressful weeks waiting for Canada Post to ... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2291/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2291/ Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:38:28 -0700 Well, at this stage, we're eagerly preparing, anticipating, agonizing, wondering!!!  We have much to do to prepare our home for the Canadian winter before leaving on our long-awaited SE Asia adventure.  We have our job-replacements arranged, re... Read More at Footstops.com http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2034/ http://www.footstops.com/ben_debbie/blog/2034/ Sat, 15 Sep 2007 08:06:05 -0700