Quirky Traveller's Tales

Many tourists book their holidays in Cambodia purely because of their desire to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site – Angkor Wat. The awe-inspiring temples were constructed in the 12^th century by the Khmer people and really have to be seen to be believed which explains why each year over a million tourists flock to Siem Reap.

Photo by Dave Perkes

Although Angkor Wat is an incredible and unforgettable experience, the nearby town of Siem Reap is also well worth a few days of your time. Here are a few of our recommendations for more unusual places to visit and things to do in this interesting city.

1 – Balloon Ride over Angkor Wat

If you have never experienced a hot air balloon ride than what better place to start than by silently gliding above these ancient temples. Not only will you escape the crowds of tourists and touts at the site but you will get a fascinating birds eye view which allows you to fully comprehend the size of the site. The views of Angkor Wat and the city beyond will stay with you for some time.

2 – Landmine Museum

From the times of the Khmer Rouge to the Vietnamese occupation – Cambodia has a war torn past. In fact, it wasn’t considered safe for tourists to visit until the 1990’s. The country is littered with millions of unexploded landmines and other objects that were left behind by the decades of conflict. As you explore Siem Reap you will be greeted by sights of injured landmine victims who are a testament to just how dangerous landmines are to this day.

The Landmine Museum was founded by a former child soldier whose parents were killed by the Khmer Rough and is staffed by victims and orphans of landmines. A wander around this fascinating museum will give you a sobering insight in to what life was like in Cambodia only a short time ago.

3 – Kampong Phluk

Photo by Ewen Bel

Just 13 miles from Siem Reap is Kampong Phluk, a fishing village constructed entirely on stilts in the swamps that surround Tonle Sap – the largest lake in Cambodia. This is still somewhat a hidden gem as the majority of tourists are distracted by the charms of Angkor Wat. This means that the village remains an authentic place to go to get a glimpse into Khmer life away from the influence of heavy tourism.

4 – Military Shooting Range

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you have ever wanted to fire a gun, this is the place to go. It will take you 40 minutes to get here from Siem Reap and you will be greeted by ex-soldiers who will talk you through the weapons and how to use them. You can fire AK47’s, throw hand grenades and if you have the money you can try out a Soviet made rocket launcher.

Photo by Matthew Hooper

Although Angkor Wat is undeniably the biggest attraction in Siem Reap, stay a few more days and discover some of its other, more unusual charms.

This article is brought to you by travel writer John Gainer, who’s has enjoyed travelling since he was a young boy when his parents first took him to visit family overseas. Since leaving home, John has tracked down family all over the world and regularly jets off to far away lands to experience new foods and cultures.

With so many iconic places to visit, holidays in Vietnam can be difficult to plan for. It is a country with deep history and interest; one with such natural beauty that every city and town has a huge amount to offer. However, no trip to Vietnam’s is complete without a visit to its capital city, Hanoi.

Hanoi City by David Conger

Located in the centre of Vietnam, Hanoi is an old city of great cultural importance, growing in popularity with tourists every year. It is one of the most captivating and atmospheric cities in Southeast Asia, with something to entertain and inspire all visitors. The weather is favourable throughout the year, though it is hottest between May and August so it’s best avoided then if you’re not a fan of humid weather. Flights fly directly into Hanoi Airport and it’s easily accessible by rail and road, meaning it’s the perfect gateway to the rest of your journey around Vietnam.

Explore Hanoi’s History

An absolute must-see is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – a tribute and museum to the infamous Communist leader and for many, it’s an important place of pilgrimage to their former leader. The Mausoleum itself is an absolutely remarkable sight and in a similar style to the mausoleums of Lenin and Stalin. Here you’ll learn the history of Ho Chi Minh and can view his body on display in a glass case, a memorable experience in itself as you slowly file past the heavily guarded body.  There is, however, a strict dress and behaviour code so make yourself aware of these before you visit. It’s also worth taking a trip to the Presidential Palace, a stunning example of architecture built by the French colonialists, where Ho Chi Minh refused to stay during his trips to Hanoi. Another place many refused to stay in, though some had no choice, is the infamous Hanoi Hilton. It was here that the American POWs were brought during the Vietnam War and whilst it has been largely demolished, a section still exists and has been preserved as a museum.

Enjoy Hanoi’s Culture

Hanoi Pagoda by David Conger

If you want to kick back and relax, Hanoi also offers many opportunities to do so. There’s the tranquil and serene walks around the many lakes the city has to offer, exploring pagodas and taking in exquisitely built bridges. If you want to experience something far more modern, it’s off to the shops.  Hanoi has been named as one of the top 10 places in Asia for shopping and there’s much here to delight the shopaholic, though you may have to rein it in to ensure you’re still able to carry your backpack!  Hanoi also has a thriving nightlife, with many karaoke bars, theatres and cinemas across the city and also numerous festivals to experience throughout the year.

Hanoi at night by Flipnomad

Top 5 things to do in Hanoi

1) Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

2) Take a trip to the Hanoi Hilton

3) Explore Colonial Hanoi

4) Visit an iconic pagoda

5) Go shopping!

Hanoi Market by Fahara

This article is brought to you by Natalie Likness.  She got her love of travel at an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.

The 2011 Gardening World Cup was held at Huis Ten Bosch in Japan and created a real buzz in the world of horticulture, not least because of its theme of PEACE, following Japan’s double tragedies of earthquake and tsunami.  Bringing joy and inspiration were 16 of the world’s top garden designers.  Here is a moving tribute to this event from Lim In Chong (Inch), whose ‘Washinboutei Garden’ won two awards and a gold medal.

Today is my last day in Japan and I will be leaving from Fukuoka airport early tomorrow morning.

This morning I got up at 6.30 to wander the streets. For the first time in the fifteen days I had time to stroll around this imported Dutch city. It was really pleasant in the cool, crisp autumn air and, at this time, devoid of visitors it really is like Holland.

An entire life has been lived in the past two weeks. Cosseted in this little luxury hotel in the theme park where nothing existed for us but the creation of these gardens and, for some of us, the pouring of our souls into creating our gardens. And now we leave it all behind and I can only feel a deep sense of loss.

Yet these last few days, leading up to this farewell moment, have been full of what makes life interesting; the joys, the anguish, the anxiety, the hope, the bitter disappointments, the old friendships and the new acquaintances.

In the end, it all comes down to how our gardens touch people’s lives. The two ladies who were moved to tears when they saw the garden and heard the narrative and the lady who came to photograph my garden to send it to off to a place where the tsunami hit to be a source of comfort to them, made all the frustrations of creating absolutely worthwhile.

It is not about how many awards you win, but your conduct while achieving your best effort. Have you been kind and considerate? Have you been generous and thoughtful? Has anyone learnt anything from you? Has your message made a difference to someone’s life? These are the things that will be remembered long after your garden has been taken down and long after everyone has forgotten what sort of medals you got.

Tomorrow we leave here for a different world, the world from which we came.  Has this experience changed us? Are we taking changes back to our world?  Time will tell.

Goodbye, Japan – for now…

The Washinboutei Garden

Malaysian Lim in Chong (Inch) was the only person to win two awards (Best Design and Best Interpretation of Peace) and a gold medal at the 2011 Gardening World Cup for his ‘Washinboutei Garden’.  ‘Washinboutei’ in Japanese means a garden of three inter-connected parts; Peace, Faith and Hope.

The middle garden, Faith, is a direct response to the tragedy in northern Japan earlier this year. The wall, with sharp points, is made of steel. It is hard and cold and painted red signifying blood. This Faith garden symbolizes anguish in the face of tragedy. The plants are sombre purple and black, the weeping plum tree seems to be drowning. There is a path and those with faith will be able to walk it as it sits a few millimetres below the black water.

This article is sponsored by the Gardening World Cup.  Follow them on Twitter @JapanGWC and on Facebook 

More on The Quirky Traveller: Discover how the garden designers set out to create their inspiring Peace Gardens

The Gardening World Cup 2011 takes place at Huis Ten Bosch, a 17th century Dutch replica theme park the size of Monaco, in the South East of Japan. With its proximity to Nagasaki, the theme this year is ‘Gardens for world peace and a prayer for Japanese recovery’, held in aid of the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Hand-folded paper flowers, inspired by an ancient Japanese legend promising that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish; sunflowers which are now being grown to help cleanse contaminated soil in Fukushima; the figure eight, the Japanese Hachi symbol for happiness and good fortune; the story of the Black Saturday fires of Australia and European motifs of peace are just some of the gardens that will be built over the next two weeks in the name of peace.

The Japanese have one of the finest horticultural and landscape traditions in the world and their thinking has deeply influenced western gardens. This time designers from all over the world, as well as Japan, will be taking their concepts of peace to Japan.

16 of the world’s best garden designers set to work making gardens that they hope will bring some relief to a nation of garden lovers who are recovering from the terrible devastation caused by March’s earthquake and tsunami .  The designers, four female and 12 male, have been picked to represent 12 countries and five continents. Visitors will see ‘peace’ gardens by the best designers from Australia, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The competitors have two weeks to build large gardens and courtyard gardens ahead of a televised Oscar nomination style awards ceremony on the 7th October 2011 at which the judges announce the winners. Will England win again with their new line-up – Sarah Eberle and Jonathan Denby? Will the Netherland’s retain their title of ‘Best Design (Nico Wissing) or get ‘Best in Show’ (as Andy Sturgeon did last year)? Or will the home team steal the show?

Last year’s show, when England won the Gardening World Cup, saw 100,000 people visiting in the first week. It was so popular that it was extended by a further three months. This year’s show will open from Saturday 8 October.

Our next update will look at how the designers’ are getting on with building their gardens, coping with plant changes, construction challenges and Japan’s typhoon season.

Listen to Jo Thompson speaking to the BBC (starts 31 mins in) from Huis Ten Bosch where she has just landed to build her garden.

This article is sponsored the Gardening World Cup Japan.  For more information about the designers and their designs visit Gardening World Cup.  Follow them on Twitter @JapanGWC and on Facebook 

As Asia’s most haunted country, Singapore provides a fascinating and unique basis for your travels. It’s also got an incredible airport, an exciting 24-hour party district and Singapore hostels are some of the most innovative and exciting in the world. So let’s take a look at the coolest places to visit in the city…

The airport

One of the quirkiest places in Singapore is Changi Airport. It regularly tops best airport polls and the list of cool features is incredible – create your own track in the Jam Studio, play with the cutting edge technology in the 3D Xperience Zone, go on the 12m high slide in the playground (if you’re a kid), snooze in chairs with built-in vibrator alarms, walk the butterfly gardens, koi-filled ponds, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, fragrant gardens and more.

The Chinatown Heritage Centre

There’s a free 45-minute shuttle bus into the city centre where you’ll find The Chinatown Heritage Centre. Three meticulously restored shophouses reveal what life, and the home, was like in the 19th century. You’ll find out about the seedy, underground practices of gambling dens and secret societies as people risked their lives to make Singapore what it is today.

Geylang

This is the place for party people. The 24-hour district is the place to be for late-night bites and people-watching. There are also plenty of places to shoot pool and down some cocktails at China One in Clarke Quay. Once upon a time it would’ve been Bugis that everyone headed to for some drunken debauchery but the restaurants and street food in Geylang have ensured its rise to the top of the must-see Singapore districts.

Changi Beach

Beautiful by day but more than slightly spooky by night, Changi Beach has two faces. The 3km sandy stretch is a popular family picnic spot, fishing area and seahorse monitoring spot. But there are also many reports of headless bodies sunbathing, heads floating mid air and ghostly bloody executions. It’s where Chinese people were executed during the Japanese occupation and many believe these ghosts live on.

St John Island

With deserted buildings, odd noises, unidentified shouts and ghostly figures cruising the forests St John Island is another super-spooky area of Singapore. If you’re of a nervous disposition keep away from the old hospitals and cemeteries!

The Clinic

No, it’s not a medical clinic, but a uniquely themed restaurant based on hospitals. You can enjoy drinks like ‘Sex on a Drip’ served in a room decked out like an operating theatre. Enjoy the warm evening air on the terrace from the comfort of your wheelchair while you rest your drink on the operating table. You’ll be served by waitresses in nurse uniforms and take your drinks from a test tube.

Bed

If you want your accommodation hassle-free the River City Inn is an excellent choice. They have an airport shuttle that will bring you to the door for just €6. When you’re there there’s a free breakfast, air-conditioning and you’ll be just a 5-minute walk from the metro.

This post is sponsored by quirkilicious HostelBookers – check them out for great deals on places to stay all over the world.

Around the corner of late January and early February every year, Mumbai starts to resonate at a different octave. Performing arts, cinema, music, cultural shows, theatre, literature, workshops, heritage walks, events specially organized for kids & youths, and above all a vibrant street mood engulfs the mind for most of the tourists and residents alike. Since recent years the entire area transforms into a street mela, with entrepreneurs & artists selling their innovation & creations, food stalls to offer great Indian food from across the nation.

Kala Ghoda (a hindi phrase for ‘black horse’), a small precinct in South Mumbai, is popular for its annual art festival in the beginning of every year. More importantly, it is gaining prominence among freelancers and professional startups within India and across the globe.

Being a Saturday, I just picked up my D70 and decided to experience the vibrancy of the maximum city - Mumbai. The thought of being among the crowd, cheering and shouting and clapping brings an adrenaline rush and goose bumps to the photographer in me. Besides offering a great photo-op, the festival makes me more philosophical to look beyond the focal length and the pixels.

Sitting there made me realize that art is such a leveler; the taxi wala and those ladies who just got down from the sedan were jostling equally for some foot-hold or rather, butt-hold on the beautiful Asiatic Library stairs. The scantily dressed and the burqa clads enjoying the same ragas and traveling as co-sailors on the same musical wave (though not the same wavelength).  A festival like this gives an opportunity to the common man to experience legendary performers and also the unknown talented groups who put on their best for those few minutes of spot light, all completely free.

That evening Hindustani classical music was applauded with the same hysteria as was that for the next performance that followed. It was interesting to see how a pure western dance form had mesmerized the eastern population.  I never knew what Paul Taylor stood for till that morning when my friend Googled it for me. I am sure most of the audience did not have a clue as well, but the magic of the performers with sculpted bodies and lightening agility bowled over everyone. No wonder the movement of art is immaterial of per capita income or, for that matter, the GDP of any nation. Yes, I agree with the gentlemen who said ‘the world is flat’.

Refuelling my beer belly for precisely 20 minutes after watching dance troop Adonis look alikes, I decided to move on to the theatre street. The colorful artists and painters literally paint the town red; the positivity made me smile. Fully enlightened once again, I decided to gulp that huge sizzler at a traditional old Mumbai joint. Who cares about flat abs, especially after a pint of beer?

Going back relaxed and thoughtful I wondered; do I really need to go to a guru when fundamental joy is right here in my back yard?  A good question to ponder…

Ankur Shrivastava is a corporate citizen who works with one of the largest business houses of India. Being a technocrat, he enjoys experimenting with new gadgets. He is passionate about photography and traveling. As a freelancer and free-willed photographer he currently contributes mostlyto charitable causes and all that his heart desires and lens permit.

Follow him on Twitter @AnkurHums and get connected with him on LinkedIn http://in.linkedin.com/pub/ankur-shrivastava/0/644/850