From downtown Toronto to Europe and SEA

Well my journey has come to an end and I have arrived to my final destination. Home.
It was a long, emotional trek home but I have arrived just in time to spend the holidays with friends and family.
I have been home for less than a week now and I must say it has been quite the adjustment being back in Canada.
Reflecting back on my trip there is so much that happened and I have so many stories to tell but it's funny when someone starts to ask me questions about my trip I almost go blank.
I myself am trying to piece together everything that happened while I was away and make sense of it all. What was my favourite place? What was my most memorable moment? etc...
These are all things that I need time to reflect on some more. One thing I am certain of is that this trip was life changing and the best time of my life.

I want to apologize for not blogging often enough especially near the end of the trip. I have so much to say and anecdotes to tell...I guess if you want to find out more just let me know and we can set up a coffee date or something.

Be kind to one another... much love to all.

Sam

Well the Laos portion of my South East Asia adventure has come to an end and I am now in Chiang Mai Thailand.

Laos really hit a soft spot with me. First of all it's a beautiful country with endless views of lush rolling hills. The drive from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng will raise the hair on your arms with it's many windy turns and twists but the views you will witness are way worth it! My stomach turned a few times but overall it was bearable.

Secondly, the people in Laos are lovely. They are respectful, polite and they are not afraid to show that they appreciate your business. Laos is definitely more conservative than Vietnam or Thailand. Women still wear their long skirts and bikinis are not acceptable swimwear (although I did see many tourists wearing bikinis at the swimming holes despite their being signs saying no bikinis- uncool). And they also have a country wide curfew of 11:30 so it means for much earlier nights.

I would recommend travelling to Laos if you like outdoorsy pursuits, trekking, kayaking, mountain biking, nature, scenery...etc

Now I am gearing up for a 3 day trek starting tomorrow! I will post about it soon!

Well I can't believe that my Vietnam portion of the trip has come to a close. Vietnam was so beautiful! It has so much to offer all in one country! Although I am sad to leave Vietnam I will not miss the madness of Hanoi and Saigon! Woweeee the traffic there is hilarious! Crossing the street was like being in a game of frogger. The good thing is you do start to get used of it after a few days of practice.

After about 20 hours of driving we are now in the capital of Laos- Vientiane.
It is much different here a lot more cars, less motorbikes.... I am off to explore the city today and will report back.

Here are a few photos from Vietnam.

I have now been in vietnam for about a week and a half. Upon arrival  it did not take long for me to observe some differences between cambodia and vietnam. Vietnam is more developed and I would say more advanced than Cambodia.  "Western" toilets are pretty much everywhere, most people have electricity, there is toilet paper in most bathrooms...Etc
Along with these new found conveniences I also noticed a difference in the people. Many vendors here in Vietnam are much more aggressive and they are also not shy to ask for tips. Once you get used to this aspect Vietnam is beautiful! So far I have been to Saigon, Cu chi tunnels,a village along the Mekong Delta, Nha Trang, hoi An, Hue and now I am in hanoi.! Tomorrow I go to Halong Bay ! We have made our way making up the coast of vietnam. It has also been nice to see the changes from the south to the north as there are some noticeable differences in the people, way of life etc. 

Vietnam is a gorgeous country that has so much to offer: history, culture, great food, beautiful coastline, lots of beautiful spiritual structures, great cycling opportunities, nice mountains,endless markets, fairly laidback lifestyle, good party scene.. Etc 

I would definitely recommend checking this country out... 

However, be sure to stand your ground when it comes to dealing with vendors. Always count your change (it is rare that I have received the right change but i am always watching so I catch it). And make sure to negotiate things beforehand! 

I have spent the last week in Cambodia and will head to Vietnam on Saturday. I want to share everything I experienced in Cambodia...but if I did this post might never end....
This country has forever changed me... It has opened my mind even more than I thought possible..I consider myself to be someone who is appreciative of life... But being here has taken these feelings to a whole new level.

Here are some of the lighter things I have done while in Cambodia : a visit to Angkor Wat temples, a visit to a floating village,  shopping in markets, eating traditional khmer food , going out with new friends, spending time on a beach, snorkelling, cycling on an island, meeting locals, hiking to a waterfall, seeing children doing traditional dances, riding numerous tuk tuks... Etc 

Mixed in with all these great activities were some very serious experiences including: a visit to the landmine museum, the genocide museum, the killing fields, visit to a children's hospital, homestay in a rural village that was littered with landmines after the war, just being exposed to the poverty (80% of Cambodians are poor)...

In my time here it has become quite obvious that every single Cambodian has been affected one way or another by the dark times in their recent history. During the khmer rouge regime /genocide from 1975-1979 approximately 2 million people died.. People have lost mothers, fathers, siblings...etc And they are still suffering the repercussions today. 

The history of Cambodia is long and complicated and I would definitely recommend doing some  research to find out more about what happened during the genocide. I did not know enough about it before visiting.
 
There have been several really emotional occasions on this trip. Sadness, anger, frustration, happiness, joy, .... I have felt them all. So many questions have flooded my mind and puzzled me this whole week. One major question constantly emerges as well, a simple "why?". And I realize that no one will have the answer to this question...but I can't help but feel the need to understand why these terrible things happen. At the end of the day I think that the humans involved fail to recognize the human being in the people they are hurting...

Being here also reminds me how fortunate I have been in my life to date.. It's been really difficult to be confronted with the fact that I haven't the slightest clue about struggling or suffering. Why did I get so lucky?

It is also worth mentioning that with all the struggles Cambodians have been through and continue to face..the people here are friendly, smiling and respectful.. It is amazing to see these people persevere. They live so modestly yet they appear happy and joyful. (I really wish I could say the same about Canadians)
I am confident that i will be able to use these experiences for good and I will carry them with me forever. 
I would recommend visiting Cambodia to someone who is interested in the people, the country and the history.  It is not somewhere to come simply for a warm holiday or partying. (although you can definitely do those things here). A visit to Cambodia is about so much more than that....