Asia Summary and Cultural Learnings #2.

So, how does one summarise Bangkok, Cambodia and Vietnam?  Different, that's for sure - and a great experience.  I think we were really lucky with both our group leader (Wasa) and our group - a really good bunch of people to spend time with.  There were parts that we loved, parts we didn't and moments when poverty and strife brought our own blessed existence into stark contrast.  Definitely no regrets however and I wouldn't hesitate to see another part of the world with GAP Adventures.

More important stuff we learnt:

1.  I'm going to generalise horribly here:  Folk in Asia love to gamble.  Unfortunately gambling is banned in Thailand and Vietnam.  There's always a solution however and there are actually casinos located in 'no-man's land' at Poipet between Thailand and Cambodia.  Goodness-knows who monitors these and what sort of laws operate. It sounds like trouble to me.  Anyway, I'm not a betting man but if I were, I'd certainly have a few quid on our mate Mandy riding "The Rock" in the 13:30 at Hue.

2.  Money in Cambodia is simple - the unofficial currency is the U.S. Dollar and it is used everywhere.  This means that you don't have to faff-about too much but does mean that Cambodia is more expensive than both Thailand and Vietnam as few things cost less than "One Dolla Misda."  Now, Vietnam is a completely different kettle-of-fish.  The picture below shows something like 1,750,000 Dong - yup, we were living it large ("This time next year Rodney we'll be millionaires!")  The only thing is that, if memory serves, this equates to about 55quid!!

3.  Cars, trucks and vans cost heaps in Asia, certainly relative to the average wage.  Consequently the motorbike/moped is king.  However, forget your Western views on what is safe to carry on a bike.  Amongst other wonders, we saw a family of five on a moped and three pigs strapped to the back of one.  Even if we had caught this on camera I'd have been reluctant to post it on here due to concern for our readers of a vegetarian disposition (Hi Sarah!.)  My particular favourite though was the trailers they attached to the things.  Look at this:

In the UK it'd probably need a "Long Vehicle' sign, if it didn't fall foul of all sorts of legislation that is.  As for the trucks that were on the road, it looked like the locals judged how much to put on them by either waiting for them to fall over or waiting for an axle to snap.  Amazing.

Next time, Milford Haven Sound.

T&K.xxx