Archive for Travel
Travel: The Kingdom of Cambodia 2008
*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
Travel: Vietnam 2008
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…
