We woke up this morning and the first thing we did was take a nice cyclo ride around Hue. We stopped at a market where we had a bit of time to shop and bargain heaps !! After the market, we went to the local supermarket and bought out dinner for the train ride happening tonight. After that, we walked back to our hotel and we packed our bags ready for our big train ride! When we got to the station, we had to wait about an hour and a half but we got through it by singing songs and playing card games. We got onto the train at 4.00pm and each went to our own, four person cabins where the fun began! Looking around the other classes we felt privileged to be in first class as the others included 6 bunks per room or, in third class, just seats. Some of the activities before bed included cards, ukulele playing, chatting and running up and down the corridors door dashing. We had a “gourmet” dinner, the groups picking things such as tuna sandwiches, Nutella on bread and cereal. While enduring a bit of a bumpy ride it might be a challenge to sleep tonight and with a 4.30 am start tomorrow, an early night is needed. The day was quite relaxing which provided a chance for us to rest before hitting the busy city of Hanoi. We are so excited for our next destination and all the adventures that await there. We are unable to believe that we are nearly at the end of this incredible journey.
Chloe, Steph, Lauren & Emma
Photos: settling in to the cabins on the Reunification train (+ some ‘gourmet’ food).
We got to Shanghai yesterday morning and today we’ve somehow ended up in Beijing, around 1500 km apart! We started the morning with a slow start, being allowed to sleep in 3 hours later than our usual wake-up time and relished every minute of it. We began the activities of the day with a brunch, in which dishes included dumplings, deep-fried pork, and sliced potatoes were served. We then travelled to the Shanghai Railway station, a vast complex with a waiting room the size of a shopping centre and every imaginable fast food restaurant known to China and the West.
The journey from Shanghai to Beijing was achieved via a bullet train, the travel time mostly used to finish the journey doc. Whilst extremely comfortable, there seems to be a small problem with the food. The snacks consisted of yoghurt covered raisins, which were later described as “Raisins dipped in white yuck stuff “, definitely a challenge to the taste buds! The actual meal served on the train is hard to describe. The rice became progressively more viscous as you ate it, and the meal itself had some mysterious black cubes. We never did decide what they were. The train food definitely was the most challenging part point of the journey, however, it was easily balanced out by the feeling of watching the scenery fly past at 305kph. When we arrived at Beijing, the temperature was freezing and we spent around ten minutes waiting for our bus to arrive in the chilly air, before reaching our hotel within the second ring road (the downtown area).
Bill and Jamie
Here are some photos from this morning. We are boarding a train to Hanoi now and will be without wifi overnight so today’s post will be sent tomorrow. We are excited to continue our adventures up North.
Our day started off with a bit of an early start in comparison to the usual 8:00 am wake up in Hoi An. Although, as per usual we ate a delicious breakfast with a range of delicacies from Vietnamese fried rice, to Western pancakes. It was really quite a feast. After being fuelled up we were enthusiastic for the bike ride to our first destination which was very Royal; The imperial palace.
We had a wander around the palace, learning about the interesting ways of how the royal family lived. We found it riveting, overwhelmed by the amount of Chinese and Japanese influence. We explored the grounds, finding gold dragon statues, and a very uncomfortable gold plated throne for his majesty. It wasn’t surprising that the King only spent his time in that particular chair for special events and ceremonies! An interesting fact which we learnt today was: The intricate security system made up of thousands of security guards and lock mechanisms, helping the King stay safe from harm. We also learned that the longest ruler was Nguyen IV who ruled for 36 years. We left the royal palace 20 minutes late due to our interest in the information which our great tour guide, Hai, gave us.
We made our way to the Thien Mu pagoda. The bike ride – although long and tiring – was very scenic as we travelled through a village called Kim Long (meaning Golden Dragon, where many of the royal family reside) and rice fields; which gave a large contrast from the scary bike ride along the heavily occupied main roads. When we arrived at the pagoda we were treated with ice cream which helped cool us down and boosted our energy levels for our ride to the next pagoda.
After yet another bike ride we made it to lunch at the pagoda. We ate many vegan dishes ranging from potato curry to tofu soup in effort to respect the lifestyle of the monks. Speaking of monks we went to visit one after our delicious lunch. After translating conversation we learned the guidelines, rules, and regulations which monks had to obey by.
They had to receive permission from the monk master to go to the supermarket, visit their family, and leave the pagoda
They are not allowed to lie, steal, get married, have sexual relations, smoke, or drink alcohol
They pray at 4:00am and 4:00pm every day
They also must complete an hour of silence every day
They wake up at 3:00 am and go to bed at 10:30 pm
They must study Buddhism
We then returned back to our hotel after a short city ride followed by a fun pool session. We then were given time to get ready for dinner, which ranged from Mexican to Italian. We ended the fantastic day with some fun card games. Tomorrow we will farewell Hue as we travel overnight on the Reunification Express to our last stop: Hanoi.
We all look forward to seeing everyone back in Australia! Missing you lots!
Bella, Garrett, and Siobhan
This morning we left Laos for the last time and travelled by plane to Siam Reap, Cambodia. After settling in to our hotel late in the afternoon, we visited the Artisians of Angkor who make all kinds of items using crafts such as stone masonry, carpentry and silk crafting. We got to see each of the steps they used to make the figures and what tools were used as well. We learnt that the process can take up to 5 days to a month or longer depending on what they are making – from small stone carvings of elephants to giant busts of past kings of Cambodia. After having a go at carving out shapes from stone ourselves we had the chance to also buy some of their products. The store where they were selling their items was nothing like your traditional Cambodian store. It was decorated and made to look like an art gallery but we were able to buy the art and it also looked more like a shop you would find in Melbourne or Australia.
Tonight we got unleashed on the down town of Siem Reap. To go find our own dinner and to go and do some shopping. The Cambodian take on the night markets was very different from the peace of the Laosian markets and the just craziness of the Thai markets. They can really hassle you for a higher price but using our expert bargaining skills we’ve developed over the last few weeks we could easily find the right price for the item we wanted. We had an amazing dinner and had the first western food for the first time in weeks, it was really good but not as good as home. With only 5 days of Big E left I think all our minds are looking forwards to coming home and seeing our families again, but with one of the most amazing attractions of the trip coming up tomorrow, we need to stay focused on the present so we can get the most out of this amazing experience. Just when we think this trip can’t get more amazing, immersive and fun it just does and with Angkor Wat coming up tomorrow the best is yet to come…
Lauren and Marcus ( The second half of our blog)
As we spent many hours transitioning between countries today, we also spent time reflecting on our past experiences , using the time to look at an image, and recall the experiences and recount what was special about it, what we have learnt, and /or how this experience has changed our outlook (it also helps we have two great photographers on the team).Caitlin – Thai and South East Asian cooking
I feel as though the Thai cooking class we did on the first day was a valuable activity and allowed us to see the culture, of which food is a large part of in Thailand/Laos and Cambodia. It was a great start to the trip and allowed us to bond further as a group. It was our first taste of the kinds of foods we would be eating for the next week. This was one of the highlights for me on the trip so far. It will be interesting to see how the food and cultures differ in each of the three countries as we progress further.
James – A candle in the village of the house buildThis candle represents many things, namely to me how little power their village has. It shows how the villagers did not have access to electricity and lived on relative self-sufficiently. You can see that the candle brightens up the surrounding area and creates the standard source of light for most people in the village. The local children used the candle as a source of entertainment by pouring wax on themselves which they clearly enjoyed.
Anna K – Bricks of the temples
We stopped at a temple with two ancient walls surrounding it and when we were walking around the grounds we could see monks passing by and even in the branches of the trees. The temple also has a ancient stupa (spire) which consisted of stone bricks that had moss growing to it but also the ashes of a monk within its walls. Although the bricks where no bigger than a hand or two they all built together to make a massive monument that people still look at today. I think that the monument means a lot to the people and is something to be looked at in astonishment. I wonder what year it was made and how long it took to build as well as how much longer it will stay.
Audrey – Children in the Village
The children in the village were like playful and liked playing with us. They were most interested in what we were doing and how we played with them. It was like a connection between the kids in the village and us. We had a connection even though we didn’t speak the same language.
I liked how they wanted us to play with us and how the girls showed us their traditional dance. Some of the kids from the village were cheeky because one of the little boys stole our food and ate it. Some of the little boys were putting candle wax on their arms. They were curious in what we were doing. I liked playing with the kids and sharing the dinner and breakfast with them. My favourite part was when we finished the house and handed it over to the family and how we got 5 pigs for them.
Michael – Hands weaving textiles
The indigenous people were making their own clothes and they even designing it by themselves. Which really tells me about their culture and lifestyle.
In this image, I see old hands designing pieces of clothes, which they take pride in as it is part of their ancient culture.
In the many villages we’ve been to that sell textiles and items like these, I was just wondering about how those people are so happy and they smile at everybody’s face, even though they don’t have many items in their village.
Dylan – the Buddha statue at the Golden Triangle
The statue of Buddha being prominent within all three countries (Thailand,Laos and Cambodia) resembles a traditionally religious side of the three countries. The majority of the people’s here practice their faith on a daily basis. Seeing as the religion is such a prominent figure in these three countries, there are many impressive statues such as these in many places across the lands. Buddha is traditionally shown using the hand gesture which symbolises peace over the neighbouring lands. Having the golden triangle being the centre of the three countries, I feel that this would have been a logical place to have built the statue, especially if it is the main religion of the three neighbouring countries.James H – The Golden TriangleThis photo is summed up in one word: amazing. I find it very interesting how there are three countries in one photo. I found it interesting that Laos was ‘added to’ to create a better piece of scenery. I think the golden triangle may break down over time so it’s important to preserve this area so that the future generations can experience one of the most beautiful sceneries in Asia.
Leon – Karen people of the Hill tribesThis was one of the many photos taken on our short but amazing trip to the Karen tribe. We experienced a very different culture which was an experience and a half. I personally enjoyed this time we spent with this interesting way of living I was surprised to learn a lot about this lifestyle and learnt some very important aspects of this culture including why and how piling copper rings around the neck was important for the women in the culture to have to do, and if they took them off it would be bad for their health and that it is a sign of strength for the girls of the tribe to do this at an early age.Yasmin – Night markets of South East Asia
The night markets are more noisy and busy, however the Australian markets can be very quiet in comparison. Also in Australia the sellers do not try to force you to buy something, however in Thailand / Laos or Cambodia, the people try very hard to convince you to buy something from their store. The decorations in this photo draw in customers and it makes the area more lively and awake.
The main thing I learnt was to take risks when purchasing, even if you’re not completely satisfied, there may not be a chance to buy it again and also to treat the sellers with respect and to keep a good attitude.Zara – the first temple we visited on the Big Experience
When we arrived at the temple it was close what everyone was expecting except there were multiple temples in the one area. To respect the religion everyone had their knees and shoulders covered. We also took our shoes off before entering the temple. I noticed that it was really quiet and peaceful inside. It was interesting to see the temple as for me and many others, as it was our first proper interaction to the religion. The calm environment inside the temple opposed the busy streets outside. We left the temple by a traditional Thai transport, such as tuk tuks which we enjoyed the ride as I was able to see the town and how it operated. It was also a great first interaction with Thailand.
Today, we visited one of man’s greatest structures, the intricate Angkor temple complex, which includes Angkor Wat – one of the 7 wonders in the world. After a lovely buffet breakfast, we set off to see our first temple of the day, the Bayon temple in the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Built from 1181 to 1221, this elaborate temple was constructed using stones from a nearby quarry. The design includes faces showing different human traits – representing kindness, sympathy, equality and compassion. Religious beliefs such as the myth of the First Lady in the world, Absara, coming from a lotus flower are also incorporated into the building. Walking through the temple grounds, feelings of awe washed over us as we took in the history and wonder surrounding this ancient structure; it was hard to believe that this magnificent site was built by hand over 800 years ago.
The second temple we visited was the Ta Phrom temple. After getting off the mini bus, our tour guide, the crazy but loveable Yousa, took us off the beaten track and led us through the jungle to avoid the crowds at the main entrance. After trekking for a few minutes; and watching in horror yet amusement as Yousa ate his morning snack of a scorpion, we arrived at the eerily beautiful temple. Massive trees weaved through the buildings, acting as cement to keep the design together, but also slowly tearing it apart – if even one tree was cut down, the temple would collapse. Hidden in the forest, a sense of serenity came over us as we wandered throughout the grounds. When we walked over the spot where Angelina Jolie ran during the filming of the famous ‘tomb raider’, it was funny to think that a famous celebrity had trodden in the very same place we were standing. In some parts of the temple, shrines had been constructed to worship the Buddha, and we listened to the echo of our voices and lit inscence sticks to bring us good fortune. Navigating the maze of the grounds, it was easy to get lost but was also a new and exciting challenge that proved a memorable experience. We found this temple really interesting, with it’s location in a more remote area and lots of different stories behind it.
After a quick lunch stop within the temple complex, we made our way to the last and most intimidating temple – Angkor Wat. With high expectations we climbed through the first entrance to see the distant figure of the unbelievably large and amazing temple. As the gap between us and it closed, the group became progressively more eager to see the interior design of the wondrous structure. Fending off monkeys along the way, once inside our preconceptions of what it might look like were shattered as we tried to take in our new and elaborate surroundings. Built by millions of slaves captured by the Khmer people, volunteers and elephants over the span of 42 years, Angkor Wat was more incredible than any of us had ever imagined. Once again, religious influence could be seen heavily throughout the temple. Angkor Wat was first a Hindu and then a Buddhist temple. It is home to many golden Buddha statues but the carvings in the stone use Hindu story telling techniques to illustrate the history of the Khmer empire and its temples. The walls are covered with images of the Apsara, with only one Apsara in the whole MCG-sized temples smiling to reveal her teeth. Climbing up the scarily steep stairs to the top of the temple, we were met with mind-blowing views of the entire city as well as more evidence of the magnificent infrastructure. Angkor Wat truly lived up to its name as one of the greatest architectural designs ever created, and automatically became a highlight for many in the group.
Even though it was hot and sticky, and everyone was sweating more then we could have imagined, we feel extremely lucky that we were able to experience the temples hands on, and take in the beautiful sites. We were able to escape the heat by jumping in the hotel pool when we returned. This was followed by a BYOD (“buy your own dinner”) and another dash to the night market.
