Spent the train ride from Thailand to Cambodia debating the best tunes for travelling through the rice paddies, jungles and backwaters of Southeast Asia. Here’s where I got to on my iPod, but I’m open to suggestions here:
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival
2. Neil Young
3. Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. Grateful Dead
5. Jefferson Airplane
And it’s not just that these songs defined a war that went pear shaped in the region I happen to be travelling in. There’s something about that point in American history that reminds me that Americans are at their best when they’re pissed off with the government. Think about it, we love the 60s as a time of revolution and protest. We’re pretty proud of the fact that we booted English Colonial nonsense out of the country. We love the idea of the “Wild West”. I like to think (and kind of hope) that the Bush administration has managed to awaken a pinch of that restlessness in us. It’s good for the soul.
Had a great morning being blown away by Ta Prohm and then spent the afternoon wandering a market in Siem Reap full of lovely people. We’re off to Battambang tomorrow in the hopes of findnig something less planned by the tourism board, more Cambodian and more rural along the way.
2 responses so far ↓
aussiegirl // December 11, 2008 at 5:52 am |
What train did you get from Thailand to Cambodia? Whats it like travelling in the months of august/september through vietnam, cambodia, laos?
pirateindustry // December 11, 2008 at 6:34 am |
We took a train that left Bangkok at about 6am. Our hostel in Bangkok organized it for us (refillnow.co.th)
As far as travling through Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos in Aug/September, you can pretty much just read the blog to get a sense for it.
In broad headlines, I’d say…
1. It’s wet, but I generally liked travelling during the monsoon as it cooled things down
2. Off Season means fewer travelers (like you and I) which makes travel more pleasant
3. Accomodation was cheaper and more flexible in the off-season (that said, it’s pretty reasonable anyway).
4. Laos roads are a disaster but fun in the monsoon. The N. or Laos (above Luang Prabang) is carnage, but good fun.
Enjoy your trip!