URBAN DOMAIN 2024

TLC Temples – Day 13

November 18, 2017

We awoke early in the morning to the Cambodian sun cascading through the blinds as we all scurried to the breakfast buffet. We were all quite excited about visiting the amazing ruins of the Angkor Thom temples. As we all wrapped up our breakfasts, we all boarded the bus to head towards our first destination and one that will leave a memory for years to come and something that we will never forget. As we approached the gates to Angkor Thom we made a slight detour to obtain our tickets where we did a small funny face competition. When we arrived at the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom we prepared ourselves to be transported back thousands of years to learn about the amazing temples that were built in the 11th century. Bayon was the first temple we visited and probably one of the smallest yet most impressive temples in the city, as it was covered with different carvings of different faces through its rocky supports. Overall, Bayon was a memorable experience as we got to see all of the ancient carvings and the amazing view from the top floor of the temple. As we headed back to our buses, the amazing air conditioning was a great relief from the 33°C weather and the humidity that followed throughout the day. Twenty minutes later we arrived at our 2nd destination, a hidden gem you could say. Ta Phrom was surrounded by overgrown tree roots weaving their way through the ruins of the temple. We visited the “Tomb Raider” tree where a few famous actors shot their block busters. Overall, the first two temples were an amazing experience and we all definitely will come back and visit them again.

After a very delicious lunch near the famous temple of Angkor Wat, we walked slowly towards the bridge that connected the main land to the small island. We scurried towards the gate with a rush of adrenaline and excitement as we were moments away from seeing one of the oldest and largest man-made monuments in South-East Asia. As we walked through the gate we watched monkeys sit on motorbikes and drinking water like humans. As we entered the ruins of the famous Angkor Wat we were all amazed by the ancient carvings and stories that this temple has to tell. Although we didn’t spend long exploring the maze like structure, what we did see was absolutely breathtaking and will definitely take centuries to forget.

Overall today was one of the highlights of the TLC trip. We wrapped up our eventful day with a swim in the amazing pool and a leisurely night market stroll and we could go to sleep knowing that we have completed something that most can only dream of. We wrapped up our evening with a reflection of what we learnt in the temples today and what is to come for the students in the TLC Temples group.

Emily Peck, Alex Kalotihos

TLC Pagodas – Day 12

November 18, 2017

By BHay

When we woke our bodies from our slumber, a hard realisation hit many as it was already dawn of day 12 of our 18 day trip. It was an exciting yet saddening truth that we would eventually conclude our amazing trip in only a week’s time. In the morning of the day, we swiftly packed our luggages for our short, yet meaningful flight to our final country, Cambodia. After another feast-like breakfast, we grudgingly moved our tired bodies to the waiting vans and waved goodbye to our comforting hotel. The first leg of our plane trip was roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes to Pakse. After spending approximately 30 minutes in transit, it was an interesting experience which allowed us to fully enjoy the view of the landscape below us. The journey continued on, departing from Pakse to our original destination of Siem Reap, a historically significant and magnificent city in Cambodia. Although our landing was a little rough, we were also overjoyed to finally reach Cambodia.

After travelling across the streets of Cambodia for roughly an hour, we were once again surprised by massive cultural and social differences between neighbouring countries. If Laos was filled with magnificent and magical landscapes, Cambodia appeared to be more developed and Siem Reap was an example of urban sprawl in action. It was slightly overwhelming with the sudden change in the surrounding environment, tiring all of us. Fortunately, our minds were able to relax as we arrived in the Silk Research Centre, an essential time that allowed us to calm our minds. Also, the ice-cream at the end was a terrific surprise which got our taste buds happy as well. After an exhausting day of continuous travelling, we were looking forward to arriving in the hotel, Angkor Holiday Hotel, to unpack and dip our bodies in the cool pool. It was one of the best moments as we enjoyed the splashes to our face.

Evening was approaching as the sun set and the darkness looming over the once bright blue skies. The city lit up in hundreds of different colours. It was actually mystical to watch the night skies being brightly lit by all the artificial light from below. After packing our bags and applying mosquito repellant, we headed off to the streets of Siem Reap. It was a solid 10 minute walk to our restaurant but time seemed to zoom past as we were all stunned by the marvellous beauties and intricate details of the street. Tuk-tuks raced past us with tourists while shops were filled with local goods. The real fun began when we set our sights to the local night market. In the first section of the market, we saw a great variety of food and something I have always wanted to try: bugs. Spiders, crickets, and scorpions were all in the menu, waiting for us to pluck them out and chew them. Unfortunately, time was short and prices were high. After bidding farewell to the food section, we arrived in the actual night market, where goods were sold in extremely cheap prices. Most purchased products at the price we wanted as our bargaining skills reached professional levels. After wrapping up our goods, we went back to the hotel to ready our body for another tiring but exciting day of our Big Experience, a trip that will genuinely be an unforgettable memory in my entire life.

Daniel Kim and Rylan Pease

Vietnam Yellow – Day 13

November 18, 2017

By lbinge

By: Alec and Aiden

The morning started with a nice sleep in compared to our usual wake up time. The hotel provided us with a delectable breakfast, which we enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Soon after, with our bellies full, we were off on our way. A short crisp walk took us to a beautiful, historical bridge – the Japanese Bridge which has become an icon of Hoi An. The bridge was built by the Japanese living in Hoi An in 1590 in order to connect the Chinese and Japanese sides of the river. Soon after, in the 19th century, the French expanded the bridge, to allow bikes and cars to travel over the bridge. We learnt that the bridge is guarded by a pair of dogs at one end, and a pair of monkeys at the other. According to legend, the bridge was built in the year of the dog and finished in the year of the monkey.

After visiting the lovely bridge, the group picked up their final tailor made clothes from Yaly’s. Next door, the team enjoyed a very early lunch in order to prepare us for the adventure ahead. We feasted on some noodles, and some ice cold juices which was much deserved after being out in the hot weather. A small walk to the bus followed and we made our way to the spectacular Marble Mountain, which is made completely of limestone. A gruelling hike up the 260 stairs took us to the base of the abseiling spot, where we were greeted by Tao and team at Phat Tire Ventures. After a quick harness up, the small scale practice courses determine who in the group were challenging their fears and who were excited and ready. Following some more stairs, half of Vietnam Yellow were standing at the top of a 14m dark cave and the other half, at the top of a 25m cliff. With many fears being faced, the groups eventually found their way to the bottom. With many cheers from below, those who were scared soon found their confidence and broke their fears. After about 3 hours of abseiling, Hoang took us to cave which was historically used for Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and medics to hide and take cover from the bombs dropped by America. Since then, the beautiful cave hads been transformed into a stunning pagoda temple, where many tourists visit daily. A long, cool bus ride took us back to Van Loi hotel, where many of us were delighted to see the sight of a cool pool. After a refreshing swim we ventured back out to Banana Leaf Cafe, overlooking the Thu Bon River, where we enjoyed the familiar taste of Western food. After scurrying out of Banana Leaf Cafe, in anticipation for Transformers on TV, the team tucked themselves into bed, preparing for an early wake and long day ahead.

Vietnam Grey – Day 13: Imperial City, pagoda, cyclos

November 18, 2017

By jricketson

By James and Shayla

After a great breakfast at the Asia Hotel, the day started out with an early bike ride. Riding along Hue’s roads was both challenging and exciting. There was never a dull moment along the 25km trek! The city of Hue is known for many things, one of which being its high density of motorcycles. We all had to be alert to carefully and strategically navigate our way through the traffic, which is an example of a cultural difference between Melbourne and Hue. On many occasions, we noticed large groups of motorists would continue to drive through the intersections, even on red lights, which was a big surprise for most people in Vietnam Grey.

Our first stop along the bike ride was at the Imperial Palace of the Nguyen Dynasty. We learned that this was the last dynasty of Vietnam which lasted from 1802-1945. At the center of the Imperial Palace was the Purple Forbidden city, which sadly was ruined during the war in 1968. During our time at the palace, we also saw blocks of mahogany wood that had been inscribed with characters and used as notebooks. The palace was absolutely stunning, with intricate detail along every wall. It was suffused with an air of ruined grandeur. Behind the far left walls lay vibrant gardens, overgrown with grass and various broken brick walls dispersed amongst it. It was awe-inspiring to see the contrast of the lively grass laying beneath the rubble of demolished structures. Although the palace was breathtaking, it was hot and everyone was in dire need of refreshments. We all took a quick rest and cooled down with ice cream and drinks, before we got back on the bikes and headed to our next destination.

By the time we reached our next stop, everyone was feeling slightly fatigued but still excited to see the Heaven Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu). This pagoda was built in 1601 and is the oldest in Central Vietnam. One of the main attractions in the pagoda was a special car which was driven from Hue to Saigon by a significant Buddhist monk. In 1963, he burned himself in protest of South Vietnamese laws that banned Buddhism.

After lunch and some rest time, we had the opportunity to go on cyclos for a thirty-minute tour around the inner city. A cyclo is a common Vietnamese bike, containing three wheels and seating two, and is pedaled by a driver. These bikes are a great way to experience the inner life of Hue, whilst also being rather relaxed. The cyclo trips also provided some excitement, as you are in the midst of busy streets. It was fascinating to see the night life of Hue, as we rode past the various decorations and events. By the end of the ride, everyone was sad that it had to end – but also relieved, since we were all getting hungry.

For dinner, we all split up into small groups and went off in search for a place to eat. The choices of restaurants ranged from Vietnamese to Mexican to western. Overall, we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and were ready for a good last night in Hue.

Shayla: I miss you guys so much and I’m having a great time in Vietnam, say hi to Skyden for me. See you guys in 5 days.

James: Hey mum and dad, miss you guys a lot, I’m loving Vietnam, give the dogs some love. Wishing Jess all the best for her exams. See you soon and I hope you’re looking forward to your presents.

China – Day 13 – Shanghai to Beijing

November 17, 2017

By ascott

Having spent a whirlwind 24 hours in Shanghai, we got a little behind on our blog commitments…it’s difficult when there is little downtime. We should now be up to date as promised!

Today, we spent four-and-a-half hours on the bullet train between Shanghai and Beijing. The bullet train was brilliantly smooth, achieving a top speed of 351 km/h. The only discomfort was the interior cabin temperature of about 25 degrees. Arriving in Beijing at 6.30pm, the outside temperature was zero!! Temperatures in the capital are currently ranging between minus 6 and 8 degrees…brrrrr.

We arrived at our hotel and hastily searched our luggage for gloves, beanies, scarves and extra windcheaters to wear under jackets. A luscious meal was enjoyed a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, and we returned for our night of rest at about 9.45pm.