December 8, 2024
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - LA ROMANO
My neighbor David Austin and his visiting girlfriend, Suzanne, put together a bike tour of Cotubanama National Park , Bayahibe Beach and Chico Cave for six of us. Above Jim Maas is on the right and Jim Arsenault on left. Joe Wheeler,was also on excursion, but did not join in for picture. Bayahibe was a nice beach town, that we biked all around and then we hiked to Chico cave and went down for a dip in cool spring water. At the edge of beach, there were blow holes, that gave us some refreshing sprays.
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.