September 14, 2025
City Exploring in the Daytime
I started on the Hop on Hop off bus but there was too much chatter about communist history and the bus was going in circles - so I got off to walk more in the areas I was most interested in and Sherrie Joined me. We went over to the Shanghai Pearl first and this structure dazzled at night, but looks kinda old and odd during the daylight. We passed on riding up to the observation decks it was a hazy day and frankly the better views to me are down at the ground looking up.
I really like this perspective with the Bottle opener high-rise in the back ground and the bottle cap in foreground!
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.