Travels through Southeast Asia

30 Days in Cambodia...Hardly enough time

angel_yogi — Thu, 9 Feb 2017 15:16:00 GMT

1 month in Cambodia was not enough. Really 1 month in any country is not enough time to truly see all of the country and get to know it's people and culture but often that's all the time we give if were lucky.

Itinerary:
Phnom Pehn 4 days
Battambang 3 days
Siem Reap 5 days
Phnom Pehn 1 day
Chambok 3 days
Sihanoukville 2 days
M'pai Bay @ Koh Rong Sanloem 7 days
Kampot 2 days

We started in Phnom Penh to visit a friend who has been teaching English there for the last 6 months. This city was busy. I thought the driving in Thailand and India was crazy but this gave me a new appreciation for our Tuk Tuk driver. I didn't even want to cross the roads while walking because there are motorbikes, cars and tuk tuks going in every direction you feel like your playing the game frogger. We spent 4 days here exploring the city and the history. First we went to the palace but the Singapore government was in town so all the main sites were closed for the day so we opted to take a tuk tuk around the city to see the highlights. His name was Jerry and he was hilarious, he took us to Wat Phnom, Diamond Island market the delta, Independence monument, Wat Botum Park and dropped us off at a very nice place for lunch next to the genocide museum. We intended to go inside but we would've only had an hour and we wanted to give ourselves more time to understand Cambodias history.

The next day Brett took off from work and we took a tour with Jerry again to the Silk Island to see how they make silk scarves, of course we bought a few and had a very enjoyable day. On our 3rd day we decided to go to the Killing Fields. It was the most depressing stop on our trip but it is fundamental in truly understanding what the Cambodians have been through only 40 years ago. I wont go into detail but you should look it up. We spent our last day planning the rest of our month in Cambodia.

Next we went north to the small town of Battambang. It was a nice change of pace from the bustling city of Phnom Pehn. You can cross the streets with ease and there aren't tuk tuks on every corner trying to get your business. The first night we went to the circus which is more like a cirque de solei put on my highschool students. They were amazing and you could see they really enjoyed what they were doing. The next day we went on an all day tour with Savet where we rode bikes through his village as we learned about the way his family lives, then we took the bamboo train which as exillerating but it takes you to a tourist shopping area and then back to the beginning, I would opt to take one that actually took you somewhere next time. We then went around town to see how they make rice paper, bamboo sticky rice (sooo good), dried bananas, fish sauce (gross), silk scarves, and rice wine (we bought 4 bottles for $4). Then we headed back to his house where his fiance cooked the most amazing meal (my favorite from our 4 months of travels). Then we went to the killing caves (again very depressing) and watched thousands of bats come out of the cave at sunset. It was a very long but worthwhile tour! The next day we were so pooped we just wandered around town. We were going to take the 8 hour boat ride from Battambang to Siem Reap but opted to take the 3 hour bus on Savets recommendation. The water is low this time of year and often times they have to push the boat to move it along.

Siem Reap was as amazing as everyone says it is. We decided to do the 3 day pass for $40 which is neccesary if you want to really see anything. We took a tuk tuk all 3 days as riding bikes would've been very exhausting and it kept us in the shade between temples. The town it's self is very touristy and has a feel of Koh San Road in Thailand, loud music and beer specials. We did some shopping in town but mostly stayed on the outskirts. If you ever go you must go to the Fresh Fruit Factory where they make the most amazing ice cream I've ever had. Also, Pages Cafe for breakfast that's also a library and I had a great yoga class at Peace Cafe.

We then headed back to Phnom Pehn for one night to regoup before heading to a village call Chambok where Bretts fiance had been living for the past 6 months where they had a traditional Khmer wedding. It was a bizarre and fascinating experience to be a part of. The festivities began not long after we arrived around noon. They were playing very loud Khmer music while getting everything situated. Jordan and I bought a soccer ball for the kids so we played with them until we could help out. There was as much food, beer, music and dancing as your heart desired but no sleep. We went to bed around midnight the first night and they started the blarring music back up at 4 am to start another full day of ceremonies again. I can't recommend staying at an ecovillage highly enough. It was the most amazing experience as everyone is so friendly and helpful and they just want to see you have a good time. They offered us free room and food anytime we want to come back and visit!

Sadly we had to leave but we headed south to the ocean, spent 3 days in Sihanookville getting our Vietnam visas and then went to Koh Rong Sanloem were I could've stayed forever! It was by chance we stayed here as we have been trying to keep our accomodations around $10 and this was the only reasonable place we could find. We only booked it for one night thinking we could find something else but we ended up loving it and staying here the entire time. We stayed right on the beach and next to the padi dive shop so we decided to get our open water certs. and it was a wonderful place to get it done. We saw sting rays, barracudas, sea horse, and an array of other fish. I watched the sunrise over the ocean every morning from bed and our house had french press coffee and tacos, it was heaven!

For our last destination we stopped in Kampot for a relaxing stay on the river. We didn't do much here but we managed to have the most amazing homemade italian food at a random street restaurant called Ciero. You would probably just pass it by if you didn't know what you were looking for. He turns away customers he doesn't want and only has two large picnic tables with a sign that reads you may have to wait 1.5 hours for your food. So worth the wait!

I never really looked into traveling Cambodia but I'm so glad I did. The people are so kind and happy there is so much to see. Luckily we left a bag at Bretts so we will have to stop in again before heading home. Maybe we will get to see more of the east side of the country next time.

Up next Vietnam....

To Conclude India

angel_yogi — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:57:00 GMT

India taught me something beautiful called surrender. I didn't know I had such a hard time with this concept until I was tested daily in a foreign country. It's truly a beautiful concept to let go, trust and surrender to the divine. It first showed up in the Tantra Relationships course I took when I first arrived in India. Women have been fighting to be equals, to be seen as strong and powerful taking on roles as CEO's and business owners and while all of this is so beautiful and necessary it also has women forgetting their true nature. We now carry the stress of being the breadmakers and the homemakers, the powerful confident boss and the sweet caring wife. We have left men confused on how to act. They want to provide but no longer have to, they want to protect but their wife is just as strong. With all of this our relationships are suffering and so we women have yet another task to tackle, how to be strong independent women while also allowing our partners to take care of us and provide for us. This is called surrender. Even if you know "the way" let him tell you, even if you can get it yourself or open it yourself allow him to do it for you. Men take pride in caring for us and we need to give that power back to them. I'll tell you it's only been 2 months of doing this but already I can see a shift in myself and in my partner. He is stepping up to do things I wasn't sure he would do and it's allowing me to worry less and feel like we are in this together.

There is also the surrendering of your expectations. India is chaotic and you never quite know what your going to get. When you let go of how long you think things should take, food would take over an hour to cook, or how people should drive, I'm not clear if there are any rules of the road or driving ages, you allow yourself to go with the flow of life and magic starts to happen. You may be running late because lunch took so long but maybe it allowed you to miss being in an accident. There are so many moments when I stress to do things a certain way, or be somewhere at a certain time but there is no need when the universe is holding us. Everything happens for a reason, just flow with it.

India was interesting to say the least. I'm glad I went and got to experience the culture and the beautiful nature of the Indian people. "Everything is possible in India" they tell you and I believe this to be true. It may be a chaotic country that doesn't make sense but yet anything your heart desires is possible and the people will help show you the way. They were so kind and helpful, sure they often wanted me to spend my money but they were also very accommodating to my needs and desires.

I left feeling more whole then when I arrived, more spiritually attuned and complete with myself. I will be back for sure, there is so much more of India and myself to explore.

Oh India....

angel_yogi — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 20:23:00 GMT

Well I just wrote a whole post and it just disapeared, that pretty much sums up how things are going. It's been an interesting week in India. Everyone wants to talk about the election and they appear to be very excited about the outcome of the election, I will keep my opinion to myself. On the same day as the election they discovered that the 500 and 1,000 rupees have been conterfit and the stores and restaurants are no longer accepting our big bills. Luckily we purchased a ton of fruits and vegetables earlier in the week and so we will be fine but many of my classmates are freaking out a bit. They say we will be able to exchange our money in a few days but I'm not holding my breath as nothing happens when they say it will here. Justine gave me a rice cooker and some utensils so I am able to cook my meals at home which has also saved me a lot of money. I am spending only about $1 day on food and it's all been very good.

I got a cold this week and I'm sure it's coming from many sources. For one it's very hot during the day and chilly at night, according to the weather channel it's mid 80's during the day and mid 50's at night but it feels more extreme then that. The second reason I would guess is the unsanitary conditions of most people and restaruants, that's part of the reason for eating at home more often. The last reason may be my main source since I am so sensitive to smoke. I was excited to discover the large trash bins situated around town because I was starting to think we would just have to through the trash on the ground as that seems to be what most people do. We started throwing our trash in the large bins but then we walked by one evening and realized that they just wait for the bin to be full and then they just light it on fire. People do this at their homes also for trash and vegetation so the whole city is burning something at some part of the day. I feel like this is a bigger environmental problem then throwing the garbage on the ground because on the ground the cows might actually eat it. There is a bin right outside of the yoga hall and so often the yoga hall smells of cow dung and burning trash. For this being the "Yoga Capital of the World" it certainly is lacking the peace and tranquillity one would expect. I nearly jumped out of my skin during the last savasana (corpse pose) when a firework went off right outside of our window. They have been lighting fireworks nonstop since Dewali, I'm really hoping they run out soon!

I am recovering from my cold but I suspect I will get sick again next week as I've been told the 3rd week of the intensive will cause purification reactions in most people so I'll keep you posted on my health. Otherwise, I am feeling good and look forward to the next 2 weeks of yoga.

Love,

Angela

1st week of Yoga Intensive

angel_yogi — Thu, 3 Nov 2016 22:54:00 GMT

Well they said it would be an intensive class and it sure it. We are in class from 8:30-10:30am and then 4-8pm. There is 4 hours of yoga a day and 2 hours of lecture and a bit more this first week. Everyday we do the same sequence and learn a new pose everyday to add to the sequence, part of the sequence includes purification techniques such as an intense stomach massage. They say we will have a cleanse after 3 weeks and I believe it. They are suggesting specific diet and with all the purification I imagine it will be an interesting 3rd week. It's so much different then my training at home. They focus on chakras mostly so every pose is associated with a chakra and we hold it for many minutes to get yourself in a meditative state focused on bringing energy to that specific part of the body. I am so glad it's different then Whole Yoga as this will expand my ability to teach a variety of people. I have never found a school like this in the states so maybe I'll have to open one ;) Back to class....

Nothing is as it appears

angel_yogi — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 16:25:00 GMT

Well it took a bit longer to get adjusted then I had anticipated but I am managing. The apartment we are staying in is right on the ganges, It's lacking some ammenities such as a kitchen but it has a bed, a shower and a western toilet so I'm happy with that. Unfourtnately, they over booked the room so we will have to move on the 1st and it's becoming a challenge to find a new place. They over book rooms and don't seem to have a real system for managing places. We may end up staying at the hotel where we are practicing yoga. I was delusioned to think we would be able to watch football here, there are no tvs. So I am counting on you all to cheer on the Broncos for me! It's also much dirtier then I had imagined. Cows, and dogs roam freely so there is poop everywhere. We bought house shoes to try and keep our space clean but the smell still wafts in the windows. They don't have a way of dealing with trash so they just pile it up and burn it. We were having breakfast yesterday and I learned how they do dishes and almost died. They just rinse, I'm not sure he even used soap. If I had to guess that's probably why most people get sick...I may have to consider where we are eating. We don't have a fridge which makes it a challenge but it may be worth it. I'll just say I am so thankful I have my vaccinations.

We have been very busy since we arrived. The first workshop is called Tantric Relationships and it basically covers the difference between romantic love and true love. We are working with tools to help reduce attachments, insecurities, and fears in order to support and develop unconditional love in our relationships. It's been nice to have Jordan here to work through this with. We are able to provide a lot of insight into our own relationship so we can be better partners in our next relationships. We are using the work of Byron Katie which has been eye opening and I would recommend the books to anyone looking for some growth for themselves. I am going to have a very long list of books to read when I return, I may have to start a list on here to share with you.

The food has been good, every restaurant seems to serve the same foods but there is a variety of Indian, italian, greek, chinese and thai. I was thinking the food would be too spicey but it fact it's quite bland. They make fresh juice at every restaraunt and it's only $1.5 a glass so of course I am drinking it everyday! They say to expect a cleanse after 3 weeks so I have that to look forward to. They don't serve any meat which I'm sure it part of why your body goes through a cleanse. Most mornings we have been going to a place overlooking the Ganges and we have Chai a fruit bowl with muesili and curds and a pancakes with cheese and veggies, the pancakes are more like crepes and so so good. There are plenty of restaurants so we are trying new foods everyday!

This week they have been celebrating Diwali which is the victory of light over darkness. They have been lighting fireworks at all hours of the day, the restaruants are decorating with christmas lights and there is loud music everywhere. Tomorrrow night will be the big celebration but our school is having a different kind of ceremony with a priest. I will tell you more when I better understand what we are doing. Tonight is the end of our first workshop and we will have a celebration tonight. We will need to move tomorrow and then we start a 28 day intensive on Monday. We will be doing 4 hours of yoga a day and two hours of lecture. It's hard to do much because we are staying so busy but we are trying to see as much as possible. Next Sunday I am hoping we can hike up to the temples and see the value from above. It's beautiful out here, just don't look down ;)

Until next time,

Angela

Before I go...

angel_yogi — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 09:31:00 GMT

Wow, what a roller coaster ride this life has been. I truly feel honored to have encountered each and everyone of you. In some way or another you have helped me step onto my path and see how bright my future is, so thank you for everything that you are! I am thrilled to finally be stepping into the women I knew I would be, following my heart and my dreams. I am creating a life where I get to chose to be a better, happier me everyday. Making good concious choices for myself and the ones around me and healing from old wounds so that I can move forward without all of the baggage. It feels as though I am on the apex of a rollercoaster, hands up in the air, eyes wide open, fully prepared for this next adventure with all of it's twists and turns and sometimes upsidedown stomach dropping flips. I am ready, bring it one World!