This post is way overdue but, here you go guys. More than 7 months ago I embarked on a backpacking journey for 44 days covering 4 countries. The original itinerary was to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. But as fate would have it, it didn’t go as expected and ended up just visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. No regrets, I still had a blast!
Continue reading “44-days Backpacking Challenge: Total Cost of Travel”
DA NANG X HOI AN from Martin Allen Claudio on Vimeo.
Who would’ve thought that I’ll find paradise in Cambodia of all places. Koh Rong is the second largest island in Cambodia. Located in Koh Kong Province about 25 kilometers off the Sihanoukville’s coast in the Gulf of Thailand, the island has an area of approximately 78 km2 and 43 km of beaches.
HANOI X HALONG BAY from Martin Allen Claudio on Vimeo.
After an awesome experience in Vietnam, I am now crossing borders to Cambodia. First stop is Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. It is situated at the confluence of 3 rivers; Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap. Phnom Penh is the busiest and wealthiest city in Cambodia. Phnom Penh still exudes provincial charm compared to other modern Asian capitals.
The city takes its name from the re-known Wat Phnom Daun Penh (nowadays: Wat Phnom or Hill Temple), which was built in 1373 to house five statues of Buddha on a man made hill 27 meters high. These five statues were floating down the Mekong in a Koki tree and an old wealthy widow named Daun Penh (Grandma Penh) saved them and set them up on this very hill for worshiping. Phnom Penh was also previously known as Krong Chaktomuk (Chaturmukha) meaning “City of Four Faces”. This name refers to the confluence where the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers cross to form an “X” where the capital is situated. (Source)
Continue reading “Phnom Penh: The Capital City With A Provincial Charm”
Part of travelling around on a tight budget will be all sorts of way to save money, one of which will be sleeping in airports. I was actually looking forward to the experience and see how is it like to sleep in an airport.
It was so hard for me to leave Hoi An, but the journey continues! Next stop is Ho Chi Minh City but I prefer calling it Saigon. It is probably the busiest out of all the places I visited in Vietnam. With a population of more than 8 million, just imagine the number of motorbikes in this city!
Continue reading “Ho Chi Minh City: Exploring the Paris of the Orient”
Somewhere in Central Vietnam lies a lovely little town called Hoi An. If you’re following my Instagram, you will see how much I love this town. If only I did not have booked a flight to Ho Chi Minh, I could’ve stayed longer!
Graceful, historic Hoi An is Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town. Once a major port, it boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage, but the 21st-century curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent. (Source)
Hoi An is a well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port. Its buildings and streets reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.
Continue reading “Hoi An: Eternally Charming Town in Central Vietnam”
There Goes Marty 