Jet Set Zero » sunset

Chinese New Year in Sihanoukville

Kris — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:30:58 +0000

I don’t generally like crowds. I understand that some things – like the Pyramids of Giza, Ankor Wat, the Taj Mahal, etc. – are always going to be packed because those are amazing sights. But outside of that, I don’t usually enjoy places that are crammed with hoardes of people.

Apparently everyone in Cambodia had the same brilliant idea as me to head to the beach for Chinese New Year. When I arrived in Sihanoukville, on the southern coast of Cambodia, I was not prepared for the sheer amount of people that I would find there. I stood on the beach, shocked, with my jaw gaping. It was crazy. I don’t recall ever being on a beach that was that busy. Here’s what I saw:

Not quite the quiet beach time I was craving. I couldn’t even hear the sounds of the waves over the screaming of the children. *shudder*

Luckily, there were options. About 4km south of the main beach, there’s another beach called Otres Beach. It’s just far enough away that the locals can’t be bothered to go. So everyday, I would get on my bicycle and take a ride out to find my own slice of paradise. I just had to work a little harder for it.

: This beach is way more my speed.

Sunset from my beach chair.

Hi! It’s Me! Remember Me?

Kris — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:40:42 +0000

I’ve been quiet these past few weeks, and it’s not without good reason. I’ve taken the dough I made teaching English in Saigon and have been slowly backpacking my way west. Normally I would update as I went on the things I’ve experienced, but I chose some locations where internet was simply not an option. Sometimes there was a cafe available but the town itself was without electricity. Makes things difficult when trying to stay connected with the rest of the world, but I wouldn’t have traded a second of it.

I consider it “JetSetZero with a twist”. I was able to make a substantial amount of money in a short period of time, and instead of continuing to work, I’m gonna blow it. It may seem a bit irresponsible, but that’s life. You have to grab the opportunities as they come, and finding myself in Asia with a wad of dong and some amazing places at my doorstep, I couldn’t resist. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting stories of my adventures.

Sunset over Boeng Kak, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

MUI NE: AFRICAN VIETNAM?

Laurene — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:01 +0000

(Version française plus bas)

Mui Né is a hugely popular sea resort for tons of Westerners, but that’s not why I really wanted to go there.

Mui Né is a fascinating little piece of Sahara on the Vietnamese shore. That’s what I had read, and that’s what Mui Né actually is.

Mui Né red sand dunes.

The 22 km road along the beach is lined with hotels and guest houses. At the very end of that road, Mui Né fishermen’s village. The men go fishing during the day, either on cockleshells or actual fishing boats.

Young men going fishing on a cockleshell.

Starfish on the shore of Mui Né

Pigs among bay scallop shells.

Meanwhile, the women cut open bay scallops or sift tiny shrimps to let them dry under the sun.

Women cutting open bay scallops.

Women sifting tiny shrimps to let them dry under the sun.

Evan our cameraman.

* * * * * * *

MUI NE, UN PETIT BOUT D’AFRIQUE

Mui Né est une station balnéaire extrêmement populaire auprès des Occidentaux, mais ce n’est pas pour cette raison que je voulais absolument y aller.

Mui Né est un fascinant petit morceau de Sahara sur la côte vietnamienne. C’est ce que j’avais lu, et c’est tout à fait vrai.

La route longue de 22km le long de la plage est bordée d’hôtels. Tout au bout, le village de pêcheurs de Mui Né. Les hommes partent à la pêche sur des coquilles de noix ou de vrais bateaux de pêche.

Pendant ce temps, les femmes ouvrent des pétoncles au couteau ou tamisent des mini crevettes pour les faire sécher au soleil.

UNUSUAL STOP: PHAN RANG

Laurene — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:00:06 +0000

(Version française plus bas)

Nobody goes to Phan Rang but Vietnamese tourists. I went for the cham towers.

The Cham towers of Po Klong Garai are the only attraction in Phan Rang. At 8.00 am, I hopped on a moto taxi to check them out. I didn’t know what to expect, so when I caught sight of the red brick towers overlooking Phan Rang from the top of a hill, I was captivated.

Po Klong Garai Cham towers.

The Chams are a minority group whose identity is not defined by religion. Some of them are Muslims while others are Hindu. Po Klong Garai is a Hindu site built in the 13th century. Once a year, the Chams still go to Po Klong Garai on a pilgrimage.

Sunrise over Phan Rang.

Along with this beautiful sight, I had a dive in the sea, once again! I gazed at a beautiful sunrise. And I’ve learnt that nuoc mam- a fish sauce of which the Vietnamese are very fond- is made around here.

''Sea through''

Nuoc mam factory.

* * * * * * *

HALTE INHABITUELLE: PHAN RANG

Personne ne s’arrête à Phan Rang sauf les Vietnamiens eux-mêmes. Pour ma part, j’y suis allée pour les tours cham.

Les tours cham de Po Klong Garai sont la seule et unique attraction de Phan Rang. A huit heures du matin, j’ai enfourché un taxi moto pour aller jeter un oeil au site. Je ne savais pas à quoi m’attendre, alors dès que j’ai aperçu au loin ces tours de briques rouges dominant Phan Rang du sommet d’une colline, j’ai été subjuguée.

Les Chams sont une minorité ethnique qui n’est pas définie par la religion. En effet certains d’entre eux sont musulmans tandis que d’autres sont hindous. Po Klong Garai est un site hindou construit au 13ème siècle. Une fois par an, les Chams de la région s’y rendent en pélerinage.

En plus de cette vision assez extraordinaire, j’ai à nouveau piqué une petite tête dans la mer, admiré un assez beau lever de soleil, et appris que le nuoc mam, cette fameuse sauce de poisson dont les Vietnamiens sont très friands, est fabriqué dans la région.

Spice Market Mosque at Sunset

Brian — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:30:22 +0000

Inside a mosque near the Istanbul Spice market as the sun sets and the call to prayer starts.

Birds, Sunset, Bosphorus

Brian — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:01:04 +0000

At the end of a bridge over the Bosporus fisherman and birds gather during sunset.

Rooftop View

Brian — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:44:41 +0000

I am not sure that I’ll be able to stop obsessing over our view. Hopefully this should help explain why. Here’s a panorama of our rooftop view at sunset.

Check it out on flickr and enjoy the full size view (16224×3228).

Glimpses of Istanbul

Brian — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:57:03 +0000

This city is beautiful.

Sunset in Sultanahmet

Rob — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:00:02 +0000

Sunset from the Western Porch

Rob — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:00:59 +0000