day 265 | august 29, 2009 | Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

We went to the Kuala Gandah Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary with roo, tess, lady S, and H for some close encounters with the cute kind. The sanctuary is set-up by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and is manned by the Elephant Capture and Translocation Unit. The place itself is quite simple and sparse, but the ellies do seem happy and well-cared for. The organization aims to protect and translocate wild elephants whose lives, safety and self-sufficiency are threatened by the thinning forests. It's a lot of work, and requires quite a bit of resources, and they welcome donations to help with the conservation efforts.

Before you go, please do prepare milk and vitamins for the ellies. It's a small sum compared to the HUGE effort this team is investing in ensuring that there are still living ellies for the next generation to enjoy as we do now. 

day 257 | june 20, 2009 | Cambodia-Vietnam Border

Taking the cross-country bus from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh, we had a good view of the Cambodian countryside, a quick cruise across the Mekong, as well as experienced some of the madness in the Cambodian-Vietnamese border. For a USD15-25 one-way trip which is estimated to take around 10-12 hours, it is definitely an experience on its own. 

Sitting in that bus, listening to cambodian slapstick radio drama 70's style, picking up and dropping off people right in front of their homes, and sharing the same space with backpackers and locals alike, you can't help but soak up the strangeness of it all. This is the land that the world forgot, and is now quickly remembering.

day 253 | june 18, 2009 | Siem Reap

It's not just about the temples. There are more -- so much more beyond the haunting beauty of its temples and reminders of the country's dark history. Siem Reap is bustling with the global vibe: expats are hanging out in pubs for quiz nights, the old market restaurants have increased in number and cuisine variety, unexpected boutique shops selling pretty kitsch are becoming trendy. Standing against the backdrop of a wide selection of backpacker inns, historical hotels like La Paix and new boutique all-suite hotels like the Sothea are catering to a luxury market of stylish travelers.