Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast is about 3 hours by bus from Phnom Penh. We were sad to leave the city however with the high May temperature we were looking forward to relaxing on the beach while sipping on a few cold beers.
Nice sand & lots of activity
The beaches were more crowded than usual due to a public holiday. Never the less it was great to enjoy the casual atmosphere and sea breeze.
Busy beach
Public holiday to celebrate the Kings birthday.
One of the many beach bars.
Lots of casual bars along the beach where you can get a nice cold beer.
Old boat in Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville was the place of the last official battle of the United States Army in the Vietnam War, although the incident took place outside Vietnam. The Mayaguez incident of 12–15 May 1975 involved US forces and the Khmer Rouge. Currently, divers at Koh Tang, one of the Sihanoukville islands where the major battle to free the USS Mayaguez took place, can see two shipwrecks on the sea floor 40 metres (130 ft) down.
Ziggy was running a small hotel in Sihanoukville in the town center, next time I return I will stay on the beach.
My main impression of Sihanoukville is don’t expect too much in the way of luxury unless you check into an upmarket hotel, just enjoy the casual atmosphere and super low prices compared with other Asian countries.
Thanks for visiting my Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast photo blog.
Tip.Here is a very good site with lots of travel tips & advice,please click here.
Angkor Wat Cambodia one of the 7 Wonders of the World was built in the first half of the 12th century, situated in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, it is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the center of the Khmer Kingdom.
I was quite overwhelmed by this amazing ancient kingdom, to me it is far more impressive than Egypt’s Pyramids. I feel Cambodia is many things, friendly, spectacular and sad all at the one time. In Ankor Wat you are very close to the Khmer Rouge“Killing Fields” which surely must rate as one of the most atrocious barbaric periods in human history. I really don’t wish to write about the details of this crime against humanity, which disregarded human life and produced repression & massacres on a massive scale. If you want to find out more please let Google give you the answers.
Angkor Wat Cambodia
Stretching over some 400 square kilometres, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries, including the largest pre-industrial city in the world. The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations.
Angkor Wat Cambodia, amazing ancient ruins
My lasting impressions are of the breathtaking ruins, beautiful children & Cambodia’s unbelievable history.
Beautiful faces in the ruins.
Sadly, poverty is everywhere in Angkor Wat Cambodia, and I can’t help wondering what % of the billions of dollars in aid ever gets to the people who really need it? Particularly when you see so many government officials driving around in luxury motor vehicles. Oh well, apart from that it is a fascinating country, hopefully at the end of this post I can provide you with a few travel tips for you to consider. One of the many lasting memories for me are the beautiful smiles on the faces of the children who have so little, when it comes to material possessions, yet so much true happiness in their hearts.
Another beautiful face among the ruins
The children always have a smile for you.
Below a “not so” beautiful face among the ruins.
Everywhere you turn there is a magical sight to see.
Looks like a giant claw
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Fascinating carvings
Angkor Wat Cambodia northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom.
Magic scene at Angkor Wat
Located six kilometre north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat Cambodia is one of the largest of Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the temple’s balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world.
Though ‘Wat’ is the Khmer (Cambodian) word for temple, the westward orientation of the structure is atypical of temples. Scholars believe that the architecture and sculptures are that of a temple where Lord Vishnu was worshipped but it was also built as a mausoleum for the king after his death.
Lots of strange things to eat here.
I would be a little wary of shopping here. 🙂
Eat it at your peril. 🙂
Find me a Burger King quickly please. 🙂
Hungry Kids
I prefer giving to kids food rather than money.
The Red Piano
A good place for a cool drink.
Angkor Wat Cambodia, a Long road out of Eden.
That’s my friend Jock chatting to a girl.
David Herd & Jock Granger.
Here is my Sydney friend Jock Granger, he is about to retire after many years as a Qantas steward.
Beautiful bride at Angkor Wat.
We were lucky to be here when the wedding was in progress.
The wedding party arrives.
They look wonderful all dressed up.
The temples are a popular wedding location
Travel tip. Take a boat down the mighty Mekong river to Phnom Penh.
Good English restaurants exist, many people think they are few and far between, but here are a couple to consider. The Westbeach restaurant in Bournemouth is certainly worth a visit, great location on the beach, with a good menu offering a nice selection. I first visited Westbeach December 2007 then returned in 2009 so things may have changed.
One of Britain’s Great Tea Rooms is in Bradford on Avon, the afternoon ritual of serving tea has been developed to a fine art here, and is so accomplished that the Bridge Tea Rooms has been recognized as excellent by the prestigious UK Tea Guild for many years. Delicate bone china, the finest leaf teas, and friendly staff in Victorian costumes serving home-made cakes, pastries and sandwiches. Housed in a former blacksmith’s cottage dating from 1502, the Bridge Tea Rooms positively oozes atmosphere, and the classical music playing gently in the background sets a tranquil tone.
One of Britain’s Great Tea Rooms
If you are ever in this delightful village make sure you visit this tea room.
MY LOVELY NIECE LOVED THE SCONES.
Laura really loved the scones.
My other lovely niece Elyssa preferred the sponge cake.
Either one would do me.
La Chateaux Du Vin in Brighton
Agnes, Paulo and Nikki at my favourite Brighton restaurant, La Chateaux Du Vin, open for lunch and dinner, if you go there please pass on my regards. Good English restaurants exist
Above is Smoked salon on Matzo which is an unleavened bread traditionally eaten by Jews during the week-long Passover holiday.
This is definitely not one of the Good English restaurants, worst Cornish pasties I’ve ever tasted were here. The reason I paid this town a visit was because it was the birth place of my grandfather Sam Tippett.
Thanks for visiting my Good English restaurants exist photo blog.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
London pubs Harrods Thames, certainly one of my favourite cities, here I am enjoying a few drinks at The Botanist hotel in Sloane Square with Teresa Hamilton-Smith who was a favourite girlfriend of mine in Sydney in the early 80s. Her lovely friend Debbie joined as well. Here is a comparison of photos taken 31 years apart. The one below was Terry & I with Helen Burke another girlfriend of mine on my balcony at 72 Wrights Rd Drummoyne in Sydney in 1982. I often wonder in which decade did I have the most fun, when I see a photo like this I vote for the 80s, however when I think really hard about the question, the fabulous 70s win every time.
As I said in my first blog it seems to me you go to sleep one night, wake up the next morning, and 30 years have flashed by. No matter how many years have passed I will always remember the wonderful people and the great times we had together.
London pubs Harrods Thames Kings Rd Chelsea
Kings road is Chelsea’s main road. It was once a private road- used only by royalty seeking access to Hampton Court. Starting at Sloane Square, Kings Road stretches south-west and round Worlds End before becoming New Kings Road and crossing Putney Bridge. The Kings Road has always been synonymous with fashion and small clothes stores can be found all along the route. Such stores have been responsible for such fashion tends as the miniskirt and Vivien Westwood’s punk-inspired shop ‘Sex’ can be found here. Many of the original clothes boutiques have made way for more exclusive and corporate clothing labels in modern times. The Kings Road is also a treasure trove of antiques stores- the famous Chelsea Antiques Market for example. Many established stores such as Habitat, Heals and Bluebird have grown from the Kings Road.
Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames in west London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. There have been two Chelsea Bridges, on the site of what was an ancient ford.
The first Chelsea Bridge was proposed in the 1840s as part of a major development of marshlands on the south bank of the Thames into the new Battersea Park. It was a suspension bridge intended to provide convenient access from the densely populated north bank to the new park. Although built and operated by the government, tolls were charged initially in an effort to recoup the cost of the bridge. Work on the nearby Chelsea Embankment delayed construction and so the bridge, initially called Victoria Bridge, did not open until 1857. Although well received architecturally, as a toll-bridge it was unpopular with the public, and Parliament felt obliged to make it toll-free on Sundays. The bridge was less of a commercial success than had been anticipated, partly because of competition from the newly built Albert Bridge nearby. It was acquired by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1877, and the tolls were abolished in 1879.
The bridge was narrow and structurally unsound, leading the authorities to rename it Chelsea Bridge to avoid the Royal Family’s association with a potential collapse. In 1926, with the bridge unable to handle increased volumes of users, caused by population growth in the surrounding area and the introduction of the automobile, it was proposed that the old bridge be rebuilt or replaced. Between 1934 and 1937 it was demolished and replaced by the current structure, which opened in 1937.
London pubs Harrods Thames The Albert Bridge
The Albert Bridge is a road bridge over the River Thames in West London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. Designed and built by Rowland Mason Ordish in 1873 as an Ordish–Lefeuvre system modified cable-stayed bridge, it proved to be structurally unsound, so between 1884 and 1887 Sir Joseph Bazalgette incorporated some of the design elements of a suspension bridge. In 1973 the Greater London Council added two concrete piers, which transformed the central span into a simple beam bridge. As a result, today the bridge is an unusual hybrid of three different design styles. It is an English Heritage Grade II listed building. Built as a toll bridge, it was commercially unsuccessful. Six years after its opening it was taken into public ownership and the tolls were lifted. The toll booths remained in place and are the only surviving examples of bridge tollbooths in London. Nicknamed “The Trembling Lady” because of its tendency to vibrate when large numbers of people walked over it, the bridge has signs at its entrances that warned troops to break step whilst crossing the bridge.
Eaton Square Belgrave
Eaton Square Belgrave is just opposite this corner, and the photo below is Hyde Park. Beautiful, imposing Eaton Square lies at the heart of Belgravia, a superb discreet location bordered by Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Buckingham Palace, Pimlico and Hyde Park. Eaton Square is London’s prime residential square. Eaton Square is arranged around six private gardens, including a tennis court which is for the exclusive use of residents.
Eaton Square Belgrave
If money is not a problem then this is where you would live.
Wellington Arch Hyde Park
Wellington Arch, also known as Constitution Arch or (originally) the Green Park Arch, is a triumphal arch located to the south of Hyde Park in central London and at the western corner of Green Park (although it is now isolated on a traffic island). Built nearby between 1826-1830 to a design by Decimus Burton, it was moved to its present position in 1882-83. It once supported an equestrian statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington; the original intention of having it topped with sculpture of a “quadriga” or ancient four-horse chariot was not realized until 1912.
The London eye opened in March 2000 the EDF Energy London Eye and has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year. A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye’s capsules can see up to 40 kilometres in all directions.
Westminister Bridge & Big Ben
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames in London, linking Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side.
The bridge is painted predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the House of Commons which is on the side of the Palace of Westminster nearest the bridge. This is in contrast to Lambeth Bridge which is red, the same colour as the seats in the House of Lords and is on the opposite side of the Houses of Parliament.
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after being renamed in 2012 (from “Clock Tower”) to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England and is often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
London pubs Harrods Thames, where does it all end? There are so many things to see and do in this great city.
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
London pubs Harrods Thames Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the river, the views of London (Westminster, the South Bank and London Eye to the west, the City of London and Canary Wharf to the east) from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level.
The Hungerford Bridge
The first Hungerford Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, opened in 1845 as a suspension footbridge. It was named after the then Hungerford Market, because it went from the South Bank to Hungerford Market on the north side of the Thames. The footbridge gained a reputation for being narrow, dilapidated and dangerous – it was the scene of a murder in 1999. In the mid-1990s a decision was made to replace the footbridge with new structures on either side of the existing railway bridge, and a competition was held in 1996 for a new design.
Trafalgar Square
This could be London’s most famous landmark.
Trafalgar Square
Here I am at Trafalgar Square in July 2009. Trafalgar Square, designed by Sir Charles Barry, was constructed in the 1840s on the site that was originally the Royal Mews for hawks and then royal stables. Barry was also responsible for the Houses of Parliament.
Trafalgar Square Lions
The children love the Trafalgar Square lions.
Prince Edward Theatre.
The Prince Edward Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Old Compton Street, just north of Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster.
London pubs Harrods Thames Jersey Boys
One of the best shows I have ever seen. Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward theater in London’s West End. Perhaps I liked it so much because I grew up listening to FrankieValli. It is on my list to see it on Broadway as well.
London’s West End
I must say I was a little disappointed in this show.
Porsche Panamera
The first time I saw the beautiful Porsche Panamera was outside Harrods in July 2009.
Chateau de Versailles Palace is a fabulous destination which made my bucket list as soon as I saw the Woody Allen movie “Midnight in Paris”. When the Château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a wealthy suburb of Paris, some 20 kilometres southwest of the French capital. The court of Versailles was the center of political power in France from 1682. The first building campaign (1664–1668) involved alterations in the Chateau de Versailles and gardens to accommodate the 600 guests invited to a party called Pleasures of the Enchanted Island.Versailles is just a 20-minute train ride away from Paris.
Palace of Versailles
Chateau de Versailles is a wonderful place to visit for anybody who has a camera. 🙂
Chateau de Versailles
Magnificent and breathtaking, the sculptures and pristine buildings and grounds.
Trams to save you walking
Electric trams will transport you around this vast property.
The Palace grounds
Life at Versailles was intrinsically determined by position, favour and above all one’s birth. The Chateau was a sprawling cluster of lodgings for which courtiers vied and manipulated. Today, many people see Versailles as unparalleled in its magnificence and splendor; yet few know of the actual living conditions many of Versailles august residents had to endure. Modern historians have, on more than one occasion, compared the palace to a vast apartment block. Apart from the royal family, the majority of the residents were senior members of the household.
Beautiful gardens.
Chateau de Versailles is a truly an amazing experience, located on the outskirts of Paris.
Can’t recall what this building was
I’m sure Google will have the answer.
Interesting wall
I was inspired to visit the palace by the Woody Allen movie “Midnight in Paris”.
Beautiful gardens
Can you imagine how many gardeners would be needed to create this masterpiece?
Relaxing on the lake
What a great way to spend a beautiful sunny day.
An interesting documentary
Downtown Versailles
The town centre is very clean and there are plenty of good restaurants to choose from. The grounds of the Château de Versailles are magnificent and mind blowing, there is a little train which transports you for around 8 Euros, the is very good value as the grounds are so huge they would be hard to cover on foot.
Lamb Shank at Bistrot du Boucher
Good Restaurant. The Bistrot du Boucher in the centre of town provided us with excellent food and a nice friendly atmosphere. Travel tip. It is only a short train ride from the center of Paris, however only the grounds are open to the public on Mondays.When to visit. Like most popular tourist attractions the weekend Château de Versailles Paris can be too crowded, midweek is better.
David Herd, Bill Austin & Dave Catchpole.
Here are my two travelling companions from Wiltshire in England, on this trip they unknowingly convinced me it’s far better to travel alone :).
Thanks for visiting my blog on Versailles, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed being here. Please send the link to your friends https://fivestarvagabond.com/
Good English restaurants exist
