Travel Archives - Page 2 of 5

02May 2016

Cambodia Two Day Travel Guide

Cambodia is super accessible from Thailand and was near the top of our Southeast Asia travel bucket list. So when my parents offered to watch Jellybean for a few days so the hubby and I could go away, we happily accepted their offer. Quickly we decided Siem Reap would be the perfect place for our ‘toddler-free’ vacation.

Tip: If you don’t get a tourist visa prior to arrival (which isn’t necessary you can get one at the airport prior to customs), bring a passport photo with you. If you forget the photo, don’t fret they will make a copy of your passport photo for an additional fee.

We stayed at The Golden Temple Hotel and I would highly recommend it! The price point, location, great pool and friendly staff made for an excellent stay. Not to mention our room rate included daily buffet breakfast, one set dinner at the hotel restaurant, free 60 minutes massage, daily one hour cocktail reception at Sky Lounge, and pick-up/drop-off at Siem Reap Airport.

Delicious welcome drink & snack. The banana chips … gah, to die for!!

Breakfast buffet (above) & hotel entrance (below).

Day 1: Touring the Angkor Complex

We decided to splurge and hired a tour guide to take us through the Angkor complex. It was absolutely the right call. The tour included a driver, car with AC, water and a guide who spoke perfect English. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a ton about Cambodia, the temples as well as the unrest in the region.

Tip: Bring light weight pants with you or plan to buy the ‘elephant’ pants before making your way to the temples. Conservative wear is required.

Bayon temple {above} was probably our favorite of all the temples. Surprising, I know … everyone’s favorite seems to be Angkor Wat. Does the location in the picture below look familiar? It might if you’ve seen Lara Croft: Tomb Raider! Ta Prohm has so many trees growing over the temple.

The tuk tuks are definitely different in Cambodia than Thailand. Many of the tuk tuk drivers were chilling in their hammocks while their patrons toured the temples. Must admit the idea of hanging a hammock for a little nap was pretty nifty!

And, the grand finale of the day was this perfect view of Angkor Wat!

We had dinner at the Chanrey Tree restaurant. Although it was walkable from our hotel, we chose to take a $2 tuk tuk ride there instead {we were pooped from all the walking we did that day}. The food was really good and the restaurant ambience was cool.

Day 2: Touring Angkor Complex, Circus & Night Market

It was surprising to me the sheer number of temples in the complex. And, I would love to have seen how these large temples were built and decorated during a time when modern technologies weren’t available.

Banteay Srei temple is a bit of a drive from Angkor Wat, but worth the trip. The craftman’s ship is unbelievable!

When we hit our limit with the temples we headed back to the hotel to spend a few hours pool side.

The Phare Circus was fabulous and if you have time something worth seeing. Tickets can and should be purchased online ahead of time. We had the tuk tuk driver dropped us off at the night market on the way back from the circus. We purchased some baby and toddler-sized elephant pants, which I haven’t been able to locate in Bangkok for some strange reason. My favorite find of the night market was a canvas wrap painting of Angkor Wat, which is now hanging in our living room!

It took so much restraint not to inundate you with more pictures from our time in Siem Reap. We had an excellent vacation and Cambodia is absolutely worth the trip, especially if you are already in Southeast Asia. And, I must admit, I was glad we didn’t bring Jellybean along on this trip. Between the heat, steep steps, uneven footing and all the walking it was not a toddler friendly vacation.

Have you been to Cambodia? If so, what was your favorite part?

08Feb 2016

Tokyo, Japan Vacation

by Nicole ⋅ 1 Comment

I figured our first trip as expats in Bangkok would be to someplace else in Thailand. Maybe Krabi, Phuket or Chiang Mai, however we ended up going to Tokyo instead. The cool weather in Japan was a welcome change from the humidity and heat we were experiencing in Bangkok. Not to mention the fact there are plenty of sidewalks in Tokyo, which makes for easy stroller rides. Oh yes, I’ve become one of those people who partially judges their trips based on how toddler friendly they are!

The flight from BKK to HND was about six and a half hours. And while this may seem like a daunting flight with a toddler it was a total breeze. I’m fairly certain we used up all of our ‘good travel karma’ on this trip … or maybe it was a gift for being good troupers on the trip from DC to Bangkok.

Either way I’m super thankful for Jellybean’s impeccable behavior both on the way there and on the way home. She spent most of the time on the flight playing with her apps on the iPad or watching Mickey Mouse Club House. Our family rule is there is no limit to screen-time or snacks on a flight. Happy toddler = happy parents AND other passengers on the plane.

After arriving in Japan we bought a sim card for our phone and headed to the train. We’ve been told Tokyo has a very easy train system and navigating to the hotel should be fairly easy. Ummm, THIS doesn’t look so easy to me …

Luckily, with a little help, we were able to navigate to our hotel. If we go to Tokyo again I am taking a taxi from the airport to the hotel. Trucking a toddler and multiple bags up and down stairs to transfer lines (there are limited escalators/elevators) was a bit much.

Tip: Invest in a SIM card and data plan. We didn’t get a voice or texting plan. Just the data plan, which came in handy for navigating the city and looking up places to eat.

Here’s what we did while we were in Tokyo, which for the most part was very toddler friendly!

Imperial Palace

This is the is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. The interesting part about it is you can’t actually go in the palace nor can you get close to it. The palace looks beautiful from a far and the surrounding park make it worth a visit.

Ryogoku Kokugikan – Sumo

Sumo was a tad bit slower than I thought it would be. There was a lot of walking around each other and squatting. My favorite part was when Jellybean kept screaming “go baseball! go baseball!”. My kid cracks me up … apparently in her mind all sports are baseball. Since she’s wasn’t even two we will give her a pass, but as her mother I plan to tell this tidbit for FOREVER! And, that includes at her wedding.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office

This was pretty cool though I didn’t have the chance to enjoy it at much as I would have liked. Jellybean was running around like a mad woman. Despite trying to get her to look at all the buildings and the skyline her attention only lasted a few seconds. After catapulting herself out of my arms and onto the floor she was off to the races.

Akihabara – ‘Times Square’ of Tokyo

It was cool to watch the crowds cross the street in different directions. Many other tourists were also waiting for their turn for a photo opt, so I’m pretty happy with how this picture of the hubby and I turned out!

Ueno Zoo

The write up in the travel book described this zoo a kind of ‘sad’. I would have to say I agree. The cages were somewhat small and the animals didn’t seem happy, so to speak. That said Jellybean and I did have a good time. She was ecstatic to see the elephants and the rhino was probably her favorite. The rhino love was probably a result of one of her favorite bedtime stories, I Know a Rhino. If you don’t have kids, I would suggest skipping the zoo.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Absolutely beautiful place. We had a great time walking around and taking in the scenery. It was the perfect place to take a toddler who loves to run free and you are still able to take in the sights.

Asakusa / Senso-ji Temple

The day we went to see Asakusa and the Senso-ji temple it was gloomy and started to down pour as we were heading back to the train. Despite the dreary weather the place was packed with tourists and luckily didn’t take too long to tour.

Have you been to Japan? Where else in Japan would you recommend visiting?

27Jan 2016

Transportation Guide: Getting Around Bangkok

by Nicole ⋅ 1 Comment

Bangkok is a large city and it takes a little while to figure out how to navigate around. Jellybean and I have gotten really good at riding the BTS within the first few weeks of arriving in Bangkok. It’s probably our most frequently used method of transportation, second is either a taxi or good old fashion walking!

Whether you are moving to Bangkok or just visiting I hope this transportation guide will help you get around Bangkok a little bit easier.

TAXI

Taxing is fairly affordable with the meter starting at 35 baht and then a couple of baht every hundred meters. That said there are a few challenges to taking a taxi. The first and foremost is the traffic. The second is many drivers don’t know where things are. If you give them the name of a street and a soi, you will arrive at the cross roads and the driver will look to you for directions to a specific place. When we first moved here I had to use GoogleMaps to navigate through the city. At the time this was very frustrating, but now I know how to get to my destinations and the taxi drivers are more than happy to go whatever route I ask.

TIP 1: ALWAYS, ALWAYS drive with the meter on. If the taxi driver tries to negotiate a price you will most likely overpay. For example, I have taken a taxi to my daughter’s preschool enough times to know it is usually 50 baht, give or take. Taxi drivers will often tell me it’s 100 baht {I’ve even been quoted 200 when there’s traffic} … I know that’s not a good or fair price and I wave them on their way.

TIP 2: Carry small bills and/or change with you. Taxi drivers won’t have change for big bills like 500 or 1000 baht. On more than one occasion I’ve had them tell me they don’t have change for 100 baht, which can be pretty frustrating. I’ve made a habit of always having a some 20s with me when I plan to take a taxi.

MOTORBIKE TAXI

Motorbike taxis are cheap and quick. The fare should be negotiated prior to your ride. During rush hour motorbike taxis are a great alternative to taxis. They easily get through between the cars and tend not to sit in traffic. Be careful to keep your extremities and belongings close to you … and hold on tight as the drivers go quickly between the cars.

TUK TUK

Tuk Tuks are mostly used by tourists or locals to transport their goods from/to a market. The fare will need to be negotiated with the driver. Despite not having AC, like the taxis, and aren’t as easily maneuvered through traffic, like the motorbike taxis, tuk tuks tend to be more expensive. They will likely overcharge you and as a result we rarely use tuks tuks. Beware of the scams … if they offer you a cheap day tour you will likely be taken to many of their friends’ shops, for which they likely receive a commission for each person they bring!

BTS (Bangkok Transit System)

Also known as the Skytrain. This is the mode of transportation we use most often. The fares are extremely reasonable and fairly easy to navigate as well. The trains are very clean and after a long walk the AC feels amazing! They have single journey tickets, daily tickets and monthly subscriptions. If you plan to be in Bangkok for a while or ride the BTS a lot I would recommend purchasing a Rabbit card, which can be topped up with money as needed. This way you don’t need to queue up for buying tickets for each ride.

MRT (Mass Rail Transportation System)

Similar to the BTS, one can purchase a single journey tickets, 1 day, 3 day and monthly passes. The MRT also has stored value cards that can be purchased for those living in or spending more time in Bangkok. It’s also worth noting that the MRT will take you to places like the Chatuchak Market.

BUS

I have yet to take a bus in Bangkok. As far as I can tell it’s not very straight forward and the bus schedule is often unreliable. As a visitor, and even as a Bangkok resident, it might be safer to stick to the other transportation methods available in Bangkok.

BOATS

There are several types of boats running up and down the Chao Phraya River. There are express boats, river taxis, long tail and more. The long tail boats are definitely the ‘fun’ way to travel the river, but some of the other boats might be a better fit depending on where you are going.

So there you have it. A wide variety of transportation methods to get you where you want to go in Bangkok. Despite the variety, I must admit there are days I truly miss my car!

25Jan 2016

Phuket, Thailand Vacation

by Nicole ⋅ 3 Comments

Phuket for Thanksgiving was just what the doctor ordered. Beautiful beach, sea breeze, swimming, family time and a little break from the hustle and bustle of city life in Bangkok.

We stayed at the Le Meridien. Everything we needed was right there. A private beach, baby elephant and some different restaurants to choose from. Although we could have taken a taxi into town to try a restaurant or explore Phuket, we chose to keep it super low key and never left the resort. There’s always next time to do some exploring!

Le Meridien coordinated a ride from the airport to the hotel. When we arrived we were greeted with a seriously delicious fruit juice and the flowers (pictured below).

Our first dinner was at Portofino. The food was delicious and dessert did NOT disappoint. Yum, chocolate!

Le Meridien has a private beach, which is a great perk to this resort. GAHHH just looking at this picture makes me want to go walk in the sand and dip my toes in the warm ocean.

Raise your hand if you aren having a good time!

‘Meeting’ the baby elephant was fun … or really just viewing it from afar since Jellybean was petrified to get close too the elephant despite her initial enthusiasm and saying {or really screaming, because that’s the only volume a toddler knows — wink wink} ‘ellie’ over and over again.

We went to La Fiamma every day for lunch … if it ain’t broke don’t fit it, right?!!! The pizza from the wood oven was so yummy and the view wasn’t too shabby either. Oh, and they have mango-mojitos. Go ahead and order one. You can thank me later. ;)

The food was all amazing, but our favorite was the seafood restaurant next to Portofinos. Our Thanksgiving dinner, while not traditional, was absolutely the best meal of our whole vacation.

On our last day in Phuket the hubs took Jellybean to the beach and gifted me some alone time. I sat by the pool, had a drink, read The Boston Girl on my kindle and generally just soaked up the beauty {and quiet} around me.

The sunset on the last night was particularly beautiful.

I want to go back! We had a fabulous time at the Le Meridien in Phuket and would highly recommend it!!

29Oct 2015

Bits of Bangkok

by Nicole ⋅ 10 Comments

Time is flying and we have just about hit the 3 month mark as expats in Bangkok. Not surprising, but we’ve learned a few more tidbits about Bangkok, being an expat and we are really starting to find our groove living abroad.

The funny thing about living abroad is, just like being where you used to call home, eventually it starts to feel normal.

It’s normal to start sweat almost immediately after leaving the house.
It’s normal that most people around us are speaking in a language I barely understand.
It’s normal (or at least starting to feel normal) not to be going off to work each day.

Not to say I’m taking for-granted this amazing experience, but it’s nice that life is feeling more normal and less like I’m on constant sensory overload. :)

Some tidbits about Bangkok …

Unlike the Metro, the BTS isn’t a free for all when it comes to boarding the train. People actually line up and board in an orderly fashion. It took me a while to realize it wasn’t proper social etiquette to just rush the train doors once people finish disembarking. {See picture above of Jellybean lining up at the appropriate arrow.}
Right now the exchange rate range is about 35 baht to the dollar. My brain cannot do the math quick enough. One day soon I know it’s going to click and the calculation won’t be necessary, but until then I often whip out the cell phone to figure out how much something is.
When I switched to a Thai SIM card a lot more changed than just my phone number. Instead of having a monthly plan I now just ‘top off’ my cell phone phone when my balance is running low. The craziest part is I can add money at the 7-11! The other day we were running late to a playdate and my cell died (that’s what I get for ignoring 5 text messages my balance was low) and all I did was pop into 7-11 to add money to my cell phone. I was nervous it wouldn’t work, but it was seamless!
Speaking of paying things at 7-11 … a lots of bills can be paid at the 7-11 OR by doing a direct deposit into a company’s account. Few places take check or credit card as far as I can tell. You pay in cash, direct deposit into their account or just go to 7-11. Who would have thunk?
There is an abundance of trash cans in DC. Here, in Bangkok, trash cans are few and far between. I’ve become strangely adept hoarding trash in my backpack {or back pocket} and discarding it at home or bathroom trash cans. I don’t really understand why there are no trash cans, but I kind of miss the trash cans on every corner.
Recycling is nonexistent, as far as I can tell, in Bangkok. I was obsessed with separating out bottle/cans/paper in DC and now it all just goes in one bag. I feel guilty sometimes when I throw a can into the trash.
Bangkok is a foodie city, similar to DC and NYC, you can find just about any type of cuisine you would like. While we haven’t been out to eat as much as I might like the places we have tried are really good!
I am now ‘adept’ at telling the taxi driver to turn (leow) left (sai) and right (kwaa). I can also tell him the number of my street and the number of one other street that we visit frequently. Some of the taxi drivers correct my pronunciation and others pretend they have no idea what I’m saying. I’m learning slowly, but in all honesty the Thai language isn’t easy and being tonal one word can mean 5 different things depending on the inflection in your voice. Ahhh!
Buying food labeled in a foreign language can be interesting. Like the time we bought that strange milk for a couple weeks in a row since it ‘looked’ like whole milk containers from the States. Turns out it was ‘sweet milk’ or whatever that is… Or the all-to-common experience of buying street food and convincing yourself it’s probably chicken, or beef, or pork (ish). But it’s sooo tasty!
Personal space is fairly limited here. It is socially acceptable to stand super close to someone, touch their child or push past someone without even an excuse me. While I’m still not comfortable with the person behind me in line practically touching my back as we wait, I have had to adopt the pushing past people in order to get where I’m going … though I do try to say excuse me (or thoot in Thai).

And if you missed it, please check out the first installment of Bit of Bangkok. More of our Bangkok adventures, to date, can be found here or please follow us on Instagram.

What kind of Bangkok tidbits would you like to know more about?

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