Many have asked, “Why Turkey?” And we’ll answer, “Why not?” Part of traveling is exploring new cultures and exploring new places. Prior to the trip, Turkey was something that we remembered from history classes, but those history classes came to life as we crossed this beautiful country. Please take some time to peruse our pictures. Feel free to make comments or ask questions. Thanks! Jenn and Bri.

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2009 Holiday in Turkey. Some of our favorites from the trip. More to come and more to post soon.

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Hello 5byseven family, friends and fans!  We started a monthly newsletter showcasing our projects for the month.  Seeing how this is the first newsletter we decided to make this a 2009 Review.  We featured projects we’ve done so far this month and added a little picture summary of the other projects.  Hope you like!  If you’d like to see the full newsletter, email me- jenn@5byseven.com and I’ll be more than happy to send it to you.  The full newsletter has photo clickable links to link you back to the specific project on our blog.  Happy Holidays!

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I’ve always had a fascination with the Middle East and had the opportunity to travel to Jordan and Egypt in December 2007 through January 2008. I had my apprehensions of traveling on my own especially landing in Jordan at 2am, taking a cab and trying to make my way to a hotel in Amman, haha good times! However, it was one of the most educational, enlightening and spiritual trips I’ve taken so far. Below are a few highlights from Jordan. -Brian

Columns towering the skyline in one of the largest and best preserved Roman cities in the world. Jarash, North Jordan.

Local boutique downtown Amman, Jordan.

Jabal Siyagha, commonly known as Mount Nebo, is the site of the death of Moses and has been a place of pilgrimage since the early days of Christianity.

On the way to the Dead Sea

Locals enjoying a mud bath in the Dead Sea

Do as the Romans do right? My friend from South Africa and I enjoying the soothing qualities of the mud, Dead Sea Jordan.

Look familiar? Remember Indiana Jones? En route to the Lost City of Petra.

One of the most colossal and magnificent structures I’ve ever witnessed. The Treasury or Al-Khazneh at the City of Petra.

Posing atop the High Place of Sacrifice, City of Petra.

Riding camels in the Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan.

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Looks like a fantastic place for engagement photos. Any takers?

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Unfortunately, I was only able to visit Bangkok while in Thailand. However, I made the most of this time. I celebrated new years eve and welcomed 2009 with friends I made from Australia, the UK, Africa, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Pre Muay Thai Boxing festivities. Rajadamnern Stadium.

Muay Thai Boxing, Rajadamnern Stadium.

Muay Thai Boxing, Rajadamnern Stadium.

Muay Thai Boxing, Rajadamnern Stadium.

Muay Thai Boxing, Rajadamnern Stadium.

Muay Thai Boxing, Rajadamnern Stadium.

Taken while riding through the Bangkok canals.

Grand Palace roof line.

Grand Palace silhouette.

Cliche? Yes. Cool? Yes.

Chinatown.

Bangkok, Thailand.

Friends, New Years, Tuk Tuks, Bangkok!

Last photo to post from my SE Asia trip. Bangkok International.

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*Some photos may be graphic to some*

My first impressions of Cambodia were shocking and disbelief. I spent a few years as a child growing up in the Philippines and have seen adverse poverty. But even that didn’t prepare me for Cambodia.

I made my way from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh on a bus through rural countryside. As we passed small shanty towns and stopped for water and bathrooms breaks, droves of children would surround us trying to sell their trinkets and snacks like fried grasshoppers and tarantulas. Some children were emaciated, half clothed, begging for anything. Other children were on the ground eating off the floor. I hadn’t seen anything like this before and I actually paused and hesitated to take photos.

After a few more hours on the bus and the unpaved roads of Cambodia, we arrived at Phnom Penh. There we had a local tour guide, Boun Yeoung. Intelligent, witty, funny and politically savvy, we knew we had a great leader. Boun was a natural at his job. He started educating us about Cambodia’s hellish history, the bloody struggles and pride and strenghth of its people. From that instant, my paradigm shifted, and instantly knew I had to document this once in a lifetime experience. Most Cambdian’s are young as a result of the genocide under the Pol Pot regime. However, despite their cruel history, there was a optimistic spirit and genuine hapiness for life that made me love this country. Here’s to the Kingdom of Cambodia and to the spirit and strength of its people. -Brian

Phnom Penh
Built in 1917-1920. This distinctive red-rust building holds over 5,000 objects including Angkorian statues and other artifacts.

"Always look both ways while crossing the street," is a phrase most of us were told by our parents growing up. Here, a young Cambodian boy patiently waits for a gap in traffic before crossing. I watched this boy wait for at least 5 minutes before he found a slim gap to cross.

December 2008 will be my most memorable Christmas. My day was spent at Tuol Sleng, the genocide museum, formerly known as Khmer Rouge S-21 Prison.

Formerly a high school, it was transformed into a terror institution of interrogation, torture and eventually led to the killing fields where thousands of people were viciously butchered and murdered. The Khmer Rouge (KR) detained anybody suspected of opposing the Pol Pot regime here between 1975 and 1979.

Unimagineable attrocities occured at this former high school that led to one of the most tragic genocides in history.

The second part of Christmas day 2008 was visiting Chouen Ek Memorial, a monument made up of 8,000 human skulls, which marks the site of the infamous Killing Fields. It’s hard to imagine that such a beautiful scene is also where the Cambodian genocide occurred. The unearthed depressions are grave sites where thousands of bodies were discovered.

It’s hard to compare this memorial to others similar sites that have memorialized crimes against humanity. I’ve seen the Holocaust Museum in DC, the Hiroshima Museum in Hiroshima, the Vietnam Museum in Saigon, and these killing fields in Phnom Penh. This is the most graphic, real, disturbing and tangible site I’ve experienced. And is a reminder of our race’s capability of being wicked, heartless and evil. Definitely, one of the most memorable and eye-opening experiences I’ve had.

Can anyone help me ID this bridge in Cambodia? I don’t remember the name. The only thing I remember is that is an example of the engineering and craftsmanship of the Khmer people. Traffic on the bridge was relegated to bikes and pedestrians to help preserve the bridge.

Celebrating Christmas dinner at a local man’s house. I’m assuming the kids were putting powder on their faces to look more “white” like Santa.

My adopted family!

Traditional Cambodian dancers. I was in a dimly lit room which made it hard to take a photo. After several tries, this was one of the best that turned out.

Ta Prohm, a spectacular and beautiful ruin of the Khmer temples. Most notable about these ruins is that it has not been fully restored and left as the jungle has slowly reclaimed it.

A delicate small temple around 25km from Siem Reap. It was built by Jayavarman V and finished in AD968. The complex comprises several buildings, and features some fine carvings in pink sandstone.

Regarded as the supreme masterpiece of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is an impressive pyramid temple built by Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150. Surrounded by a moat 570 feet wide and about four miles long, the mass of bas-relief carving is of the highest quality and the most beautifully exectuted in Angkor.

Next time you’re in Siem Reap, stop by Dr. Fish. Ever had a foot fish massage? This was cool. You put your feet into a pool of fish and they instantly start eating all the dead skin off your foot. After a few minutes in the pool, your feet feel silky smooth! They need this in the US, it would be the next big thing!

Another favorite, the hammock bars!

The Food!

Why do I look the most excited! On the menu tonight, traditional Cambodian cuisine!

The special for the night: Tarantulas!

Even the girls liked it!

Hissing Cockroaches anyone? It’s not bad, seriously!

The always popular balut and Angkor Beer!

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Two of my passions in life are photography and traveling, not necessarily in that order. My dream job would to become a travel photographer (Any opportunities out there, please contact me). I’ve been traveling internationally yearly since 2003. Sometimes with friends but mostly on my own giving me the opportunity to meet friends all over the world. I’d like to BLOG my travels backwards starting with my most recent trips since they’re fresher in my mind. Eventually, I’d like to publish a book with photos from my travels.

I spent the 2008 holidays in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Vietnam was a whirlwind adventure that highlighted the faded colonial elegance of Hanoi, the natural wonders of Halong Bay, Hue’s rich history, charming Hoi An and dynamic Saigon. Here’s some of my experiences. Click “More Photos” for more. -Brian

Hanoi. First thing I did when I got off the plane…EAT…

Ate balut everyday

A local favorite!!

Tasty

Then explore the city!
It’s hard to explain and photograph the sheer madness of city traffic in this town. The traffic can be best described as controlled chaos. Tuk tuks, cars, pedestrians and bicycles all flow in different directions with no stop lights or stop signs. However, everything moves seamlessly with a fluidity that you would not believe.

For those who have experienced this type of traffic, you know what I’m talking about. Just an absolutely amazing city and a beautiful coutnry.

Taken on one of the busy streets in Hanoi. This theme of old v. new was everywhere in the city. In this case, traditional bicycles and the newer and faster motor bikes. By far, my favorite city in Vietnam.

Hand made pottery in the same way it was hundreds of years ago, Dong Trieu Ceramic Village, Vietnam. It was amazing to witness the locals crafting these vases and pots without the help of modern machinery. I was fortunate to find this angle and managed to capture a photo plenty of patterns, light, shadow and bokeh.

Cockfighting

Between August 1964 and March 1973, this Vietnam state prison was used to detain American pilots whose aircraft had been shot down over Ha Noi. Also known as the "Hanoi Hilton," it’s most well known prisoner was John McCain.

Halong Bay
After exploring the caves within the limestone mountain, I had a chance to take this photo as I was descending back to the dock.

These are the kind of moments why I’m so addicted to traveling. Times when I can sit back, relax and appreciate a scene without worrying about paying my bills and getting to work on time.

I realize that a photo can never do a beautiful scene like this justice, but I wanted to capture the mass and scale of these rock formations against the small fisherman’s boat.

Hue
The Imperial Citadel in Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, from a different perspective.

One of the temples in The Imperial Citadel. The repetition, pattern and the lines of the scene quickly caught my eye.

Local market

You can see this photo in two ways. Cute or sad? It’s naturally cute. The little piglets eyes, their innocent faces and their cuddly nature. But notice the piggy in the back and you quickly realize they’re not pets but a commodity to be bought, sold and likely eaten. Sorry guys. Fact is, if you like pork chops, carnitas, chicarron or khalua pig, please thanks these guys.

Salvaged singles from the Imperial Citadel.

Taking ones shose or slippers off is a custom known in most Asian cultures. Here, we see several slippers on the doorstep at a pagoda.

Hoin An
I intended to post all my Vietnam images in black and white. However, there are always exceptions.

Taken during a leisurely bike ride through the beautiful town of Hoi An. I had a few hours to burn while waiting for a suit to be tailored so I rented a bike and rode away. I was lucky enough to come across this long walkway with locals harvesting and drying the palm frawns on the side for roof material. I loved the lines and patterns that I saw. I got off the bike, and snapped.

I remember waking up at 5:00am to witness the sale of fresh seafood at the local fishing dock in Hoi An. I had to be careful where I stood as I didn’t want to interrupt any bidding for fish or get in anyone’s way while locals purchased their fresh seafood for the day. What drew me to take this shot was the sea of traditional straw hats that most were wearing.

A pile of fresh fish from the fish market. Caught along the Thu Bon River.

Taken while visiting a local orphanage. The orphanage was operated by some local monks. This little one was enjoying an afternoon nap.

Hint: Hand rolled. Comes in different colors. Very fragrant?

Guesses?

Off the Mekong River

Ho Chi Minh City
A cyclo tour through the busy streets of Saigon. It was a greaty way to see the city as well as experiencing the mad traffic of the streets.

A local man taking a break from selling his balloons.

Relaxing and unwinding from the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

The People

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