Airplane outside of the museum.

Tank and helicopter outside of the museum.

The museum is mostly photographs and write-ups. There are absolutely no interactive exhibits or videos. Nonetheless the subject matter captivates visitors. I have been to hundreds of museums and worked in a military museum for over two years and unless there was a special function it was NEVER as busy as this museum. Every museum wishes for a daily attendance like The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Nothing is complete without a little propaganda. The entire museum was very Anti-American.

More people on the second floor of the museum.

I found that by painting images of people next to the guns it didn’t let visitors look at them as “cool” objects. They are killing machines and that’s all there is to it.

More people! Amazing attendance.

Chris looking handsome in front of some water lilies and a shrine.

This sign was part of a travel agents sign in Ho Chi Minh City. After using Lonely Planet for seven months I’ve learnt there are a lot of things it doesn’t tell you and a lot of things that are wrong. Needless to say I chuckled at this one.

The locals don’t refer to the city as Ho Chi Minh City, instead they use the pre-war name, Saigon.

While walking through a city park we found hundreds of pots with water lilies. They were as tall as my chest.

I wish I could grow these in my backyard pond in Grande Prairie. Not that I have a pond or even a backyard for that matter.

Bushes carved like a dragon!

With only a colourful picket fence separating visitors from goats a lot of carrot eating goes on here.

“Give me that carrrrrrot”

I was actually that close to this baby hippo. The only thing between us was a waist high fence. If I leaned over it and stretched out my arm as far as possible I could probably touch him. As you can see he’s waiting for a tourist to throw another carrot in this mouth.

I unfortunately have no idea what kind of bird this is. He looks part dinosaur with a turkey neck and a body like an ostrich, but with shorter legs. Pretty hey?

Okay, I wasn’t this close to this friendly crocodile. I used my 50mm Canon. Look at the detail and hard folds of his skin. Amazing!

See the plastic bottle next to the bear? While we stood staring at this sad looking creature one of the other spectators tried to hit the bear in the face with the empty bottle. I glared at them. How could they do that? I wanted to slap them. Our hearts were quite heavy as we saw this type of behavior from visitors. I wish I spoke Vietnamese so I could hold education workshops, because obviously there are none.

A giant chain keeps this beautiful animal from walking around. He stretches his trunk out to visitors who throw him pieces of bamboo. This was the saddest thing we saw in the zoo.

Running boy, Phnom Penh.

Scooter family, Phnom Penh.

Cell Block (former classrooms), Tuol Sleng Prison Museum.

Chains remain. Cell Block (former classrooms), Tuol Sleng Prison Museum.

Cell Block (former classrooms), Tuol Sleng Prison Museum. The cells are simple brick construction. Since prisoners were kept continually shackled at the ankles, they didn’t have to worry about having the cell walls go all the way to the ceiling.

Cell Block (former classrooms), Tuol Sleng Prison Museum.

Some of the kids of the Friends International organization. They operate several NGO projects in the country, focused on giving street kids a way out. Some of the more interesting projects include running two restaurants in Phnom Penh as teaching institutions where these kids can learn cooking and service to become part of Cambodias growing tourism business. We ate at both restaurants and had a wonderful time at each. The food was amazing, and the service was very, very sincere and friendly. The menus are quite unique too...

Take this interesting dish for example: Deep-fried tarantula with black pepper and lime. (yes, it is real)

Laura and her new spider friend.

Crunch! That look of woe is sincere, by the way.

Mmmmm. Tastes like chicken.

The fishies. Laura shot this one. We rented an underwater camera (just a lowly point and shoot unfortunately) during our dive training and took turns trying to get some shots. It’s very difficult, especially for novice divers.

Laura passes her fins up to one of the boat crew (who snapped this after we passed the camera up). The rest of the photos are all mine, I swear!

Jess and Julian, a couple we met in dive school.

Laura doing the traditional Thai greeting, or “wei.”

Fire dancer! (on Ko Tao)

The overnight ferry ride between Ko Tao and the mainland. It was pretty cramped, but the rocking of the boat and the sleeping mat were far better than any overnight bus we’ve taken to date. I slept like a baby.

Sunset, Ko Phi Phi Lei. This is “the Beach,” of book and movie fame.

We slept under the stars on Phi Phi Lei, at least until the rain kicked in. One of the single best experiences for me of our entire journey was the night swimming here, after everyone else had gone to bed. To float, alone, in the lagoon while staring up at the brilliant night sky... words cannot explain it.

The Phi Phi Lei crew. These were the folks who did the overnight trip with us. Most people visit the island by day only, since it is a national park. But one company has permission to bring small groups over for the night. (damn, I spoke too soon. This was shot by one of the guides)

One of our Thai guides.

Laura takes the plunge, jumping bravely from the upper boat deck into the sea. The snorkelling around Ko Phi Phi was unreal. Better in fact than the diving we did on Ko Tao.

One of the buildings of the Wat Chedi Luang complex in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Wat Chedi Luang, the 600 year old temple that is surrounded by a large complex of small temples and buildings in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I found the elephants on the 600 year old Wat Chedi Luang, very interesting. Thai love and worship elephants and it isn’t hard to understand why. They are magnificent creatures.

Some detail on the Wat Chedi Luang.

This reclining Buddha is found in its own small temple next to the majestic Wat Chedi Luang.

A small temple this is also part of the Wat Chedi Luang complex.

Chris in front a huge tree growing in the Wat Chedi Luang complex. Apparently the scarves have been blessed by monks and tied around the tree.

The prayer hall at Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I just caught a school group passing. All students wear uniforms in Thailand. I saw one school uniform that went so far that they even standardized the backpacks.

Wat Phra Singh is just a short walk from Wat Chedi Luang.

A Buddha statue on the wall outside of Wat Phra Singh.

A dragon guards the entrance of Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The inside of Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Not knowing if I was allowed to take the Buddha’s photo, I quickly snapped one anyways. Eeeeekkk. Beautiful hey?

The famous Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai which is around three hours north of Chiang Mai. We took a small van from Chiang Mai to the Laos border and were fortunate enough to stop at this wat for lunch. We could only imagine it in all its glory without the scaffolding.

One of the guardians of Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Greedy hands claw at you as you walk over “hell” on your way to the bridge that takes you into the Wat Rong Khun temple.

Skull construction cones line the road next to the Wat Rong Khun. The wat is surrounded by symbols of human vices.

Gruesome heads hang from the trees surrounding Wat Rong Khun.

Chris grabbed my camera and shoot this awesome lizard who was hanging out on a tree by the building where we returned out harnesses to the guides. (550D Canon photo)

Palms are not the most welcoming and fuzzy plants growing in the Laos forest. Fortunately I only tried to grab onto a palm once to save my balance while my feet slipped around in the mud. (point shoot photo)

I was amazed at the pattern of this bark. Apparently it is a Vaticadyeri tree. (Point shoot photo)

Chris coming in for a landing. (Point shoot photo)

Some berries I saw growing here and there as we walked the rugged trails. (Point shoot photo)

The bigger of these mushrooms was probably only 2 centimeters in diameter. Both clung onto a decaying trunk sticking four feet into the air. (Point shoot photo)

Ahead you can make out Ben, our hiking buddy, turning the corner. Now look at the size of the bamboo! Unbelievable. I had no idea it grew to such sizes. (Point shoot photo)

We stumbled upon this 5-inch praying mantis sitting in the middle of our trail. As we tried to take his photo and a video he every so slowly leaned away from us, as if in discuss. I wish he was all in focus, but the point shoot just couldn’t do it. We did however get an excellent little video of him. Once we’re back home Chris and I plan on blogging the things we never told you about and making videos for your enjoyment.

The gang from Tree House #3, Chris, Laura, Ben and Ron. This was at the end of our adventure.

The hills and mountains folding over one another. This was just one beautiful view we experienced from our tree house. (550D Canon photo)

Chris couldn’t resist snapping a photo of me with they way the sun lit up my face. I was enjoying a cup of tea in our tree house. (550D Canon photo)

Chris zip lining. (550D Canon photo)

Chris preparing to take the plunge. Look at the view! (550D Canon photo)

It’s a long way down. (550D Canon photo)

Chris having a “time out” for a little meditation in tree house #5.

Chris enjoying a cup of coffee and our view of the Laos rain forest. (550D Canon photo)

Tree House #3, our home during our Gibbon Experience.

There are hundreds of butterflies in Laos and Thailand. The only time I have ever seen so many different varieties of butterflies is in the Calgary Zoo. Therefore, if you’re a butterfly lover, you must visit the islands and forests of Thailand and the forests of Laos. (550D Canon photo)

Another beautiful butterfly. (550D Canon photo)

We enjoyed a dip in the waterfall just 45 minutes outside of Luang Prabang.

Chris swimming against the waterfall current.

Luang Prabang waterfall.

A tourist is brave enough to swing from a provided rope. Unfortunately he was not brave enough to let go and only milliseconds after this photo was taken he smashed into the tree. Rebounding off, he finally gathered the nerve to let go with the encouragement of onlooking tourists yelling at him to let go. Ouch! Painful.

Fields of Laos.

The nightly market of Luang Prabang. I could have bought so many things in this market like amazing bracelets, quilts, skirts, hippy pants, wooden masks and wall hangings. Everything was beautiful and attractive. Fortunately for my wallet, I got sick and didn’t spend a cent.

An elderly Laos women waits by the side of the road.

We passed this family in our bus. I tried to capture a glimpse of their life.

Some young men and a toddler hang out by their vehicle parked on the Laos highway. The highway passed through many small towns. Their bamboo houses mere feet from the pavement and the roar of the bus.

Look at the size of this hanger! There were two of them in our hotel restroom in Luang Prabang, Laos. (crappy point-and-shoot photo by Chris)

Bears in a rehabilitation centre near Luang Prabang, Laos.

This statue is part of a temple in Vientiane, Laos.

Vientiane and the Mekong River from our hotel window.

Loas transportation and rice fields.