September 14, 2025
The BeiJing Summer of 2008 Olympics have stuck in my memory for years - and I really wanted to see it at night all lite up!
The Bird's Nest and Water Cube were 2 of the coolest building designs, especially the lighting elements of them, I remember from an Olympics! This was the summer we all met Michael Phelps and Call me Maybe was a huge hit, and I could help singing it as we strolled the grounds. The village was used again partial with the Winter Olympics in 2022 and that was the introduction of Mascots Shuey Rhon Rhon for Paralympics and Bing Dwen Dwen ( both below).
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WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.