December 6, 2013
This post shares our trip to Thailand + Cambodia back in the year 2001. We went to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Phnom Penh.
These photos are from a trip we took to Cambodia more than a decade ago, but I understand that Angkor Wat looks exactly the same today. Amazing, considering this structure was built in the 12th century.
We were young and trying to save money, and I distinctly remember staying at Secrets of Elephants Hotel in Siem Reap> I remember it because it was truly beautiful and perfectly romantic for a young couple in their 20s who were high on adventure and low on funds. It was filled with local artifacts and wares, silks, paintings, and jeweled artwork.
These pics are from celluloid photographs. Do you remember photographs that were taken on a camera, developed from negatives?
This is Angkor Thom ~ Angkor Wat means City of Temples in Khmer. It is sprawling and breathtaking.
In Chiang Mai in Thailand, we went on a three-day trek through the jungle and stayed with the Karen Tribe. It was a phenomenal life experience.
I have more photos to dig up and add to this post, but they are in a box and need to be scanned. What a different world it is now, with instant sharing!
We had to be mindful to take photos back then for delayed gratification only. I feel like these are more magical and precious in a way, because hardly anything was photographed back then compared with today.
Here, we enjoyed dinner by candle light with our fellow trekkers from all over the world.
Hanging out with the Karen children.
Traversing the Mekong River by bamboo raft.
We also took a boat tour around Khao Phing Kan, or “James Bond Island.” It’s hard to believe that places like this actually exist in the world.
We did our first “Discovery Dive” in Thailand. It hooked me to diving/snorkeling forever.
Thailand and Cambodia are the place for new friends and beautiful experiences. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
Thanks for looking and happy travels. xo
