Gearing Up

So okay, the waiting is starting to make me a bit daffy. And yet, 14 days and counting and the days are indeed whizzing by.

More shots/More meds. We finish typhoid tomorrow just in time to take up the malaria medicine which will be a daily thing until after we're get back in the States.

I must admit, it sounds pretty intriguing to see elephants painting.

We had a bit of a scare with our passports floating around in the US mail system. We sent our passports off to the Vietnamese Embassy in October thinking we had plenty of time to make the visa application, pay our money (extortion), and for the passports to find their way back home prior to our departure. "5-7 days", they said. Those 5-7 days turned into many more than that with no one at the embassy willing to answer the phone or call us back. Nail biting time for sure. Our advice: Get your visa application in as far in advance as possible! The passports finally came home - so at least we can leave the country now! Yea!

We still don't know much about what we'll be doing in Thailand, but the rest of the trip is planned (see itinerary below for mid-trip activities and destinations). We know we'll have a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner at Cindy's house in Bangkok after we arrive on November 24th. Cindy is Carrie's cousin. I'm looking forward to meeting the Sinsap family! After a few yet unplanned days we're off to Cambodia and Vietnam. We'll have a few days at the end of the trip in Thailand as well. Thailand time will amount to about a week.

Carrie has been focusing in on elephants. She really wants to see elephants painting and has been researching where we might be able to find some painting elephants. I must admit, it sounds pretty intriguing. I'm hoping for some sound advice from the locals.

Here's the mid-trip itinerary.

27 Nov 07 Siem Reap -

Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Arrive late)

28 Nov 07 Siem Reap - Angkor Wat

In the morning visit Angkor Wat. In the afternoon, we'll head to Angkor Thom, the famous walled city to see the many temples within its borders, including the fascinating Bayon temple with its many magnificent faces smiling out.

See a Cambodian dance show in the evening.

29 Nov 07 Beng Mealea , Banteay Srei and the Ta Prohm

In the morning, visit Beng Mealea, a temple only recently opened to the public. Travel off road and get onto a beaten track running through rice fields and villages of rural Cambodia. In the afternoon, travel to Banteay Srei, an intricately carved temple known as the Lady Temple then on to Ta Prohm temple.

30 Nov 07 HoiAn - Arrival

Fly into Danang via Ho Chi Minh City and on to HoiAn

01 Dec 07 HoiAn - City Tour

In the morning, we'll take a walking tour of HoiAn. Visit the Ancient Town including the Chua Cau, or roofed bridge, Hoi Quan, the ancient meeting places, some ancestral family homes and some of the hidden pagodas. In the afternoon we'll take a boat ride on the Thubon River to visit Thanh Ha, the traditional pottery village and Kim Bong, a famous carpentry village.

02 Dec 07 HoiAn -

Explore Hoi An. Maybe buy a silk suit. Hoi An is known for its hundreds of excellent tailor shops.

03 Dec 07 HoiAn - Marble Mountain – Danang

Depart Hoi An in the morning. Visit the Marble Mountain outside of Danang. Visit the old site of the Marine Base in Danang and fly to Hanoi.

04 Dec 07 Hanoi - City Tour

Some interesting highlights are likely to be the Hanoi Hilton, where John McCain and other prisoners were held during the war, it now houses a museum; the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where you can see Uncle Ho laid out to rest (unless he's in Russia for repair); the Fine Art Museum and/or local galleries are offering shows; and perhaps, the Temple of Literature.

05 Dec 07 Halong Bay - Day 1

Go to Halong Bay and board a Vietnamese “junk”. Cruise Halong Bay. Visit Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog, Snail Islands, Sung Sot cave, and Titov beach.

06 Dec 07 Halong Bay - Day 2

Cruise to one of the 'Wonders of the World': Man’s Head and Tortoise Islands. Visit Luon Cave, Bai Tu Long Bay, Toal Island, and Bai Tho Mountain. Return to Hanoi. Stop en-route at Dong Trieu Pottery.

07 Dec 07 Hanoi -

Explore Hanoi

08 Dec 07 Hanoi - Hoa Binh

Drive into the highland area heading to Hoa Binh. Visit a Muong minority village and meet some of the local people.

09 Dec 07 Hoa Binh - Maichau - Xa Linh

Drive to Mai Chau to visit the Sunday market, a gathering of many of the ethnic groups. Have lunch at a Tai Village and in the afternoon take a walking tour of the Tai minority village of Sam Khoe. Spend the night at a Tai homestay. See a traditional Tai dance show.

10 Dec 07 Mai Chau - Hanoi

Return to Hanoi

11 Dec 07 Hanoi - Departure

Return to Bangkok.