A quick message

Hi guys, today we are in Stratford Upon Avon, home of William Shakespeare. We arrived last evening after three nights in London. We walked around this 14th century village last night, and saw very old shops, houses and taverns, including William Shakespeare's birthplace. We ate dinner at a local pub that has been serving food and beer since 1594. I had hoped to post some pictures of Vietnam, Bangkok and London, our last three stops, but the hotel computer has a virus so I couldn't use it to upload pictures. I'll have to catch up with you later. So far England has been amazing. aside from seeing the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and many other attractions, we managed to sneak in a visit to J.K. Rowling's inspiration for Daigon Alley in Harry Potter. We also had a fun dinner with my new in-laws Haresh and Gomathy ( we call her Gomy) at the National Portrait Gallery Restaurant in Trafalgar Square. However, I was a little jet lagged and almost fell asleep on my chicken dinner. I have to thank Gomy for recommending that I try the Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was delish... We have one last night in Oxford and then we are heading home I really hate to leave because I've seen so much, but do miss my dog, Sam and cat, Martha. I'm not sure that I'll have time to post again, but will cathch up with you at home with more pics and stories. Talk to you later.
CC

Cambodia

Hi guys, I'm still working on the pics for Malaysia, but I've decided to tell you more about Cambodia. This country is very different from home. It is still developing and many of the people are very poor. They have to work hard and don't have the same kinds of tools and machines that we do. They fish and farm, and work in the tourism business.  However, they have very different and interesting customs, ways of life, and traditions that we don't have.  They are very nice people who are gentle, calm and funny.  Their history dates back to at least the 6th century, when they were building cities to live in and temples to worship. One very sad thing is there are still many land mines in Cambodia, and you see many people who have been blinded by or have lost body parts by these terrible things.  Land mines are explosives that were placed in the fields, forests, and rivers during various wars, including by the evil Cambodian dictator, Pol Pot, and the Khmer Rouge.  One of the places that we visited was the Cambodia Landmine Museum and Relief Center, started and run by a man named Aki Ra, who was a former child soldier of the Khmer Rouge.  He has made it his life's work to tell people about the horrors of landmines and to help children who have been hurt or orphaned by land mines.  We talked to an American woman named Jill who teaches the children and lives at the Museum and Relief Center.  Her husband Bill is the Assistant Director of the Museum and Relief Center.  The Director is Aki Ra.  We also met many of the children who live there.  I hope that when I get home, I can help raise money for this cause.  If you would like to make a donation directly to them, their website is http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org/.  A few other things that I saw, while in Cambodia, are interesting and ancient temples and ruins; the people who live (in houseboats) on Lake  Tonle Sap; and tuk tuks.  I will also mention that we stayed at an awesome hotel called the Angkor Village Hotel in Siem Reap.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

Enjoy the pics.  Wish I had time to explain them all.

Talk to you later.
CC