Yo. Disaster in New Orlands made it hard to justify pleasure in life. I laid off reading the OC for a few days and am happy to see the photos. Jason I sort of always pictured you amongst the massive stone(d) army. Good to see Jarah's photoes too! Power to the super MAN model, Astle.
Jing-a-ling, It's a bit hard to keep abreast of current events, so I still don't really have a good grasp on what exactly is/was going down in New Orleans, but I've heard that it ain't good. But, despite the catastrophe, I'm glad to hear that you were able to find some respite in the Operation. If you like the pictures of Jarah we have so far, just wait 'till you see what's next. I've got a pic of pirate Jarah that will punch you in the face. Yeah, it's that good.
It looks like you have arrived in Thailand, according to the map... I didn't see Angkor Wat/Siem Reap, Cambodia on your itinerary - in case you're not scheduled to swing through, let me add my enthusiastic recommendation:
I've had the happy fortune to see several ruins (Mayan, Aztec, Incan, Petra, Roman, etc.) and as ruins go, I thought Angkor Wat was pretty much all that and a bag of dried squid parts (don't knock 'em till you've tasted one and thrown out the rest of the bag in disgust). The ruins are very well preserved, provide fantastic photographic opportunities, fascinating history, etc. The complex is about 20 sq.mi., and the major sites can be seen with a driver/guide in a day or two (I got my driver at random from the airport - I think his name was 'Big John' - about $20 a day). I flew in one morning and out the next evening, and felt like I saw the lion's share. You can fly right in and get a visa at the Siem Reap airport - you just need to bring your passport and a loose photo to put on your visa application.
I thought the trip was well worth the time/money - you experience some history, dodge a few landmines, walk in the very footsteps of Angelina Jolie... all things to all people, really.
You can get to Siem Reap by direct flight from BKK on Bankok Airways (about $250 RT if I remember right - everything is much cheaper once you hit the ground).
Thanks for the recommendation, cuz. We are actually seriously considering making a side-trip to the 'Wat, but we aren't sure how to accomplish it yet. Jarah is pushing for the land route, proposing some "well-considered" plan involving buses, trains, and a pickup truck through land-mine littered dirt roads. I'm not so sure about that one. Right now, I'm thinking that flying there after we've finished our stint in Thailand might be a better idea.
I think I'd go with flying... while I'm not generally one of the 'tour bus' crowd - I prefer to take the road less traveled when possible - I also prefer to take the road less land mined and less littered with self-appointed militias collecting 'taxes' and 'tolls'...
Siem Reap is no Disney Land, but it is well protected by the authorities to allow visitors to get through easily. Visas are easy, transport is easy, and the area has already been cleared of things that go 'boom' (so long as you don't run into the surrounding woods for a quick pee-pee, that is...)
One more thing - I have just been informed by reliable sources that Ashley had a little girl yesterday. A bit early, but healthy. Named the little girl Jason. (Kidding - named her Catherine Louise, apparently).
Might want to drop them a note of congrats and whatnot...
7 Comments:
Yo. Disaster in New Orlands made it hard to justify pleasure in life. I laid off reading the OC for a few days and am happy to see the photos. Jason I sort of always pictured you amongst the massive stone(d) army. Good to see Jarah's photoes too! Power to the super MAN model, Astle.
9/05/2005 6:51 PM gmt
Jing-a-ling,
It's a bit hard to keep abreast of current events, so I still don't really have a good grasp on what exactly is/was going down in New Orleans, but I've heard that it ain't good. But, despite the catastrophe, I'm glad to hear that you were able to find some respite in the Operation.
If you like the pictures of Jarah we have so far, just wait 'till you see what's next. I've got a pic of pirate Jarah that will punch you in the face.
Yeah, it's that good.
9/06/2005 7:49 AM gmt
It looks like you have arrived in Thailand, according to the map... I didn't see Angkor Wat/Siem Reap, Cambodia on your itinerary - in case you're not scheduled to swing through, let me add my enthusiastic recommendation:
I've had the happy fortune to see several ruins (Mayan, Aztec, Incan, Petra, Roman, etc.) and as ruins go, I thought Angkor Wat was pretty much all that and a bag of dried squid parts (don't knock 'em till you've tasted one and thrown out the rest of the bag in disgust). The ruins are very well preserved, provide fantastic photographic opportunities, fascinating history, etc. The complex is about 20 sq.mi., and the major sites can be seen with a driver/guide in a day or two (I got my driver at random from the airport - I think his name was 'Big John' - about $20 a day). I flew in one morning and out the next evening, and felt like I saw the lion's share. You can fly right in and get a visa at the Siem Reap airport - you just need to bring your passport and a loose photo to put on your visa application.
I thought the trip was well worth the time/money - you experience some history, dodge a few landmines, walk in the very footsteps of Angelina Jolie... all things to all people, really.
You can get to Siem Reap by direct flight from BKK on Bankok Airways (about $250 RT if I remember right - everything is much cheaper once you hit the ground).
Anyway - thought I'd throw that out there...
John
9/06/2005 6:11 PM gmt
that good heh? -- jing
9/07/2005 4:26 AM gmt
Thanks for the recommendation, cuz. We are actually seriously considering making a side-trip to the 'Wat, but we aren't sure how to accomplish it yet. Jarah is pushing for the land route, proposing some "well-considered" plan involving buses, trains, and a pickup truck through land-mine littered dirt roads. I'm not so sure about that one.
Right now, I'm thinking that flying there after we've finished our stint in Thailand might be a better idea.
9/09/2005 1:46 PM gmt
I think I'd go with flying... while I'm not generally one of the 'tour bus' crowd - I prefer to take the road less traveled when possible - I also prefer to take the road less land mined and less littered with self-appointed militias collecting 'taxes' and 'tolls'...
Siem Reap is no Disney Land, but it is well protected by the authorities to allow visitors to get through easily. Visas are easy, transport is easy, and the area has already been cleared of things that go 'boom' (so long as you don't run into the surrounding woods for a quick pee-pee, that is...)
9/09/2005 5:57 PM gmt
One more thing - I have just been informed by reliable sources that Ashley had a little girl yesterday. A bit early, but healthy. Named the little girl Jason. (Kidding - named her Catherine Louise, apparently).
Might want to drop them a note of congrats and whatnot...
John
9/09/2005 6:01 PM gmt
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