It was the most scenic drive along the coast, with the Gulf of Thailand on one side and mountains on the other. While it was windy and rainy during our drive, we were in luck once we arrived into the town. The sun decided to come out to play. Though, being such a beautiful historical town... the people are definitely not the nicest. The rudest I encountered during this trip. Trying to hustle every dollar.

A memorial for the 1000s of Vietnamese citizens that died during the Khmer Rouge in 1978.
Skulls stacked onto of one another enclosed in glass case and separated by age groups, from babies to grandparents. Stepping foot into the small building with evidence of blood stains on the walls and floor during the massacre that occurred. Knowing that not too long ago people were hiding under floor panels, hoping not be heard. An eerie step back into history.   

 

results of looking through old journal entries and memory cards With a two hour bus ride later from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, it was nice to step away to a beautiful town of Pattaya in Chon Buri. Located right off the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand.
Beach fronts along the gulf are full of expats, tourist and locals with local snacks served alongside the beach.
Simply PARADISE!
Photo Diary

Gulf of Thailand




results of looking through old journal entries and memory cards

 One thing I learned from this trip was that life is just full of spontaneity, if it wasn't I wouldn't be in Thailand. Who would have thought that my very own mother, a globetrotter herself be such an amazing travel partner. My mother and I, we always had a close knit of a relationship but after this particular adventure to Bangkok, we definitely grew closer.   
Less than an hour flight later from Ho Chi Minh City, we landed in the middle of the hustle and bustle

PHOTO DIARY of THAILAND

Thailand can definitely bring your wild side out.

results of looking through old journal entries and memory cards
PHOTO DIARY of VIETNAM

Only the beginning of my travel bug symptoms, wanderlust...
What only began as an idea my mother suggested turns out to us flying 22 hours east to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam immediately a few days after I wrote my last exam that semester. Boarded the first Greyhound bus back to Toronto then onto the plane.
04.27.2012 @ 01:30 - saying goodbye to the men of the family. Let's hope they survive without my mother for the next two months. With an extremely long flight ahead, it is only reasonable to adjust my sleep schedule on the plane with endless hours of movies and books.

 

22 hours flight later, landed in Ho Chi Minh City. From 10 degree in Toronto to a scorching 32 degrees. Not only all the honking and hustle of cars, bikes and people of the city was over whelming enough. There were all these unfamiliar faces calling out my name at the airport.
Shortly after landing, made a friend in Ho Chi Minh City, who introduced me to 'fertilized quail eggs' - that is surprisingly delicious. Few days later was invited to my first authentic Vietnamese wedding in Can Tho. 
So some where along my way to Grandma's house, I'll be stopping by Can Tho.

kidding, only when its a reclining bus seat like these one

then definitely go with this option.

Canadian Greyhound buses can learn a thing or two from VN.