100 Travel Stories | Page 21 of 129

The Queen of the Pacific: Hikawa Maru

I have just read your post, with great pleasure and interest! In 1953, my family and I boarded the Hikawa Maru in Seattle for the voyage to Yokohama as one of a group of other families, each of which had a Fulbright Scholar in attendance. In our case, it was my dad. My mother chronicled the experience, day by day in her diary, and again in letters sent to my grandparents in the states. My father did the same via camera.

In 2014 I returned to Japan and visited the ship in what was an emotional but fantastic experience. To my delight, my father’s Kodachrome slides of the ship’s interior could have been taken in 2014, so little had changed.

Thank you for your excellent post detailing the ship and its history. I’ve enjoyed it immensely.”

Ann Kennedy – “Haddock and Dill” – Images, recipes, observations and keepsakes from a life well-lived.

From Lake Louise to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House and Abbots Pass.
Hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
Postcards from lake Louise, Alberta, Canadian Rocky Mountains.
The Crown Jewel of Banff National Park: Lake Louise
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Angkor Wat temples through the power of images and inspirational travel quotes.
The Wonders of Angkor Wat

Travel Buddies

Down the road I met many wonderful people, locals and other travelers, making my trips very enjoyable. Local people are more open to interact with you while travelling alone. A local friend is a treasured companion. He knows the culture of the place and he is your best guide.

Travel buddies are fun – sharing the same path on our journeys and sometimes the same room, listening to stories of adventures while enjoying local food and one too many drinks – knowing that our paths may never cross again…

You also can find your friend online, before you go. Gifts from your country of origin are much appreciated.

Posted: September 30, 2014 by Ovi

The Kingdom of Cambodia

Welcome to Cambodia!

The border crossing between Vietnam and Cambodia was like being in an old movie: dragging my luggage for kilometers on unpaved, country road, along the Mekong River.

Phnom Penh

In the evening I arrived at Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. I took a walk on the streets and visited a market. No foreigners at all. I tried some grilled fish under the incredulous eyes of the locals. Not bad. I stopped for a beer and a chat with the locals on the side of a busy road. It was funny to see women wearing pyjamas on the street in a central area of Phnom Penh!

Posted: August 15, 2014 by Ovi

Back in Time in Mekong Delta

The long way to Cambodia: from Saigon to Phnom Penh. It took me two days with boat through Mekong Delta and bus.

Sailing slowly through the Mekong Delta, I admired the scenery: fishermen, floating markets, houses on stilts.

The fishermen work in pairs: woman and man, in a small row-boat. The woman keeps the boat in position while the man throws the net into the water.

The floating market is quite something to watch.

Posted: August 1, 2014 by Ovi

Halong Bay, Hoi An and Saigon

One thing I didn’t notice in other countries, is how intense and for how long the locals in Vietnam are watching me. I was uncomfortable at the beginning, but I am getting used now.

Halong Bay

I think you can measure the level of excitement by the number of photos you take. And in the two days cruise to the Halong Bay I took a lot of photos.

3,000 limestone rocks rise like towers from the water and the view is stunning. Old ships called “junks” are sailing between rocks, and women with raw boats are selling drinks and food to the boats.

Posted: July 15, 2014 by Ovi

Luang Prabang – The Pearl of the Orient

So peaceful and tranquil, being in Luang Prabang is like going back in time! With lantern-lit streets, Indochinese architecture, French villas and the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is a place where you wish you can stay forever.

Most of the time I rode a bicycle, speeding through the city and passing motor-bikes, tuk-tuks and racing with the school children. Or walking through the streets and visiting the temples here.

The longest ride was 64 kilometers back and forth to the Tat Kuang Si Falls bringing back memories of long bike rides with my childhood friends…

Posted: June 15, 2014 by Ovi

Amazing Thailand – The Land of Smiles

The City of Angels

Bangkok. What’s all about? What makes this city so mysterious? What Bangkok offers that Paris, Rome, London and New York lack?! It’s a city with a twist at every corner, a tropical paradise with an edgy reputation, with a hint of danger and excitement (paraphrasing from Frommer’s Bangkok Guide).

After Nepal and India, Thailand is a blessing. No more honking, no more hassles, no more begging, no more garbage. And the most important, the Thais are the friendliest people in the world!

Posted: June 1, 2014 by Ovi

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