the snake in the wine bottle, and certainly not the Cambodian killing fields. But in my recent trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, there were many opportunities to learn, enjoy and expand my comfort zone.
By any standard, it was an incredible, impactful visit, fast paced, varied, challenging and sobering trip. It has taken time to recover from the demanding schedule, the long hikes, climbing the many steep temple stairs, the plethora of new foods, the learning curve of history and culture and finally the very long flight home and misaligned bio clock and body. And then…the pleasurable time of absorbing all that has been seen and heard, to mull over and make sense of the huge mountain of information I had been gifted. Slowly, the photos are reviewed, jet lag wears off, the mountain of laundry are taken care of, and the memories unfold.
Vietnam and Cambodia were traversed by airplane, boat, motor coach and feet. Not to mention motor 
bikes, electrical cars, cyclos, and tuk tuks. Several days were spent sailing the Mekong River in one of 25-30 cozy cabins. The perfect size boat to get to know one’s companions, the majority of whom were enthusiastic, inquisitive, tireless travelers. When on land, the accommodations were all lovely and some even Abu Dhabi worthy (The Reverie Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City). Credit to Viking River Cruises for a well curated and artfully executed trip.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam: Imagine yourself gliding across emerald waters on a 
traditional style “junk” boat and you are in Ha Long Bay, not too far from Hanoi. This seascape is 600+ square miles of calm with 1,800-2000 towering limestone islets. Many of the rock formations have been named for the animals they resemble, i.e. Fighting Cock and Stone Dog. We visited one of the many caves in the area and it was huge, and filled with impressive, complex stalagmite and stalactite structures. The entire experience is serene, a relaxing place where meditation and imagination take hold.
Siem Reap, Cambodia: When choosing a travel destination, what attracts you to one place rather than another? Antiquity seems to have risen in importance for me, realizing how relatively young the United States is and that while war on our land has not been totally absent, neither has it been 
conquered with great destruction and loss of life as in most areas of the world. So, it is not surprising that seeing Siem Reap, Cambodia has been a long-time goal of mine. It is the gateway to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. From the early 12th century, this is the 
crown jewel of Khmer Empire architecture. Trade with India introduced the Khmers to Hinduism and Buddhism, iconography, art and architecture. These ancient buildings were palaces, temples, and for governance and living. There is so much to see in the 
design of these partially reconstructed 
powerful, beautiful buildings. Detailed stone carvings in the walls and statues tell of their stories, their wars and their deities. The Angkor region has many of these old cities and structures that were in ruins, but many have been brilliantly reconstructed with the support of many international entities. It is said that these efforts constitute the biggest puzzles in the world.
The influence of Hinduism is strong in Cambodian religion and art, but at 
some point, Buddhism was introduced and currently 97% of Cambodians are Buddhist. While wandering through the temples at Angkor Wat, I received a blessing from a monk which was marked by water, a yarn tied on my wrist and wishes for a life of happiness and health or did he say “There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.”?
I took the photos in Siem Reap at Angkor Wat, Bantay Srey, Angkor Thom, The Bayon and Ta Prohm.