All posts filed under: Travel

nOmPANG! for Lunch in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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After much research about where to go for lunch, Steven, Gillian, Gavin and I decided to try a place called nOmPANG!  We showed Sony, our tuk tuk driver, where to go on a map and we were on our way. We had chosen this place because it had some good reviews online and had been written up by a few other travelers.  We just knew that they made great sandwiches and you could chose from a bunch of options inside.  When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised by the decor and cleanliness of the restaurant. You can chose to take out or stay to eat at the small tables in the front.  The place seats about 18 people.  We went up to the counter to order and we chose the special with deli meats, pate, pork, and fried egg.  The sandwich is also stuffed with fresh herbs and veggies and seasoned with some house sauces.   We also ordered the sandwich with beef, which did not have a fried egg, but it did have the …

The Popular Residence: Siem Reap, Cambodia

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When we arrived and de-bussed in Siem Reap, we were greeted with a sign reading JESSICA SINGER by a tuk tuk driver sent by The Popular Residence.  This was a complimentary transfer from the hotel.  The location is a good 15 minute tuk tuk ride from the bus stop and about 10 minutes from town.  We were greeted with a welcome drink that was super refreshing and cold towels to clean our hands and face.  After resting for a bit and enjoying the beautiful open lobby, we were shown to our room. The room was decorated very simply and was extremely clean.  Everything seemed very new as if they had just done a full renovation.  We had a king size bed, a twin size day bed by the window, a balcony, and a rain shower and bathtub. The balcony looked out into the courtyard, which had a pool and lounge chairs.  There was also an open air lounge area that looked out to the pool on the ground floor.  We only spent one night here …

The Kabiki: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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When we arrived in Phnom Penh it was pretty dark out and the staff from Giant Ibis helped us get a tuk tuk to The Kabiki.  I’m pretty sure they overcharged us since the tuk tuks are only meant to cost $1-$3, but we were told $5 for this ride.  We reluctantly agreed as it was getting late and we just wanted to get to our hotel.  We later found out that it definitely should have only been $2.  We hopped in with our luggage and were driven to a street that seemed to be closed down to any traffic with a gate and guards.  The driver said we are here, but when I looked at the map, we were still about half a block away from the hotel down the street.  We were a bit confused, but when he pointed and said hotel we realized that the street was open to foot traffic and we would be able to walk down to the hotel.  I was a little nervous, as it was very dark …

Adventures in Saigon and the BEST Banh Mi

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After a delicious breakfast at The Pullman Resort we headed off to Da Nang Airport to catch our 8:45 flight. For domestic flights in Vietnam, you should arrive at least an hour early, as check in closes forty minutes prior to departure. We had checked in online the night before, so we only needed to check our bags. After checking our bags and going through security, we headed towards our gate, which was changed last minute. So, be sure to listen to the announcements overhead when walking through the airport! When Jess booked this early morning flight, she didn’t consider that by selecting seat 7A she would be obligated to get drunk on a plane. Yet again, Vietjet only stocks 6 beers per flight so she was in luck, and ordered one (which we shared). When we arrived at the Ho Chi Minh City Airport we deplaned and were driven by bus to the baggage claim. This time, both our bags came quickly and even came out at the same time! After grabbing our packs, …

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center and S-21 (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum): Cambodia

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We have been trying to post updates and suggestions for all of the cities that we have visited.  However, we felt that our visit to the Killing Fields in Cambodia warranted its own article.  This experience was so impactive and moving that I truly didn’t have many words once we completed the tour.  Upon arrival, we walked towards what looked to be a beautifully designed building.  Being that I had read a few other blogs about trips to the killing fields, I knew what we were approaching, but the three other people I was with did not.  Inside the central building of the killing fields you will find 17 floors of human skulls and a collection of bones. The sight is both chilling and devastating.  As we began the tour, Steven turned to me and said “oh what a nice building.”  I responded and asked “do you know what is inside?”  He said “No…”, I explained to him that the building is a memorial for the people that were murdered in the fields that we were …

The Pullman Da Nang Beach Resort: Vietnam

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We arrived at the Pullman Da Nang Beach Resort around 9:30am.  Check in time is usually later in the day, around 2:00pm, however we were greeted and informed that our room would be ready within 30 minutes.  At this point we were able to fully take in the vastness and beauty of the resort.  The lobby was open air and had a 50 foot ceiling, with a beautiful chandelier in the center.  The back of the lobby looked out to the two infinity fountains decorated with large wire dragonflies.  The architecture and artwork complimented the atmosphere of the hotel very well.  Beyond the fountains was a large infinity pool and then the beautiful private beach.  We relaxed in the lobby until our room was ready, with our refreshing welcome drink of blended tea in hand.  We took in the view and were truly blown away by the beauty of it all.   We stayed in a double superior room with a view of the property and the ocean.  The room was amazing and had tile floors, a …

Breakfasts, Cooking Class and Poolside Cocktails at Almanity Hoi An Resort and Spa

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At the Almanity Hoi An Resort and Spa, a buffet style breakfast was included in our stay. The spread at breakfast had a wide range of both local vietnamese and western style breakfast choices. For the buffet, there were fresh fruits, breakfast pastries, smoothies, fresh yogurt, cereals, and prepared salads. We both ate our fair share of many of the buffet choices and thoroughly enjoyed all that we ate. In addition to the buffet style selections, there are three stations where food is prepared to order. The first station served two different dishes that are typical of vietnamese breakfasts. The options varied and ours were beef or pork pho and cao lầu. Cao lầu is a noodle dish with pork and green vegetables and can only be found in the town of Hoi An. Its exclusivity to Hoi An is a result of the century old square wells from which water is drawn to make the noodles for cao lầu. There was also a fried rice dish and chicken congee. We had originally planned to share a beef pho on …

Our Stay at The Almanity Resort and Spa

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Our experience at the Almanity Hoi An Resort and Spa was far beyond our expectations. The hotel is located about ten minutes away from the old town if walking, and free bicycle rentals are available to hotel guests.  We opted out of bike rentals as we were a bit nervous with the traffic in Hoi An, but if you are feeling brave go for it! When we arrived at Almanity we were greeted by a warm and welcoming staff.  While checking in, we were offered delicious welcome drinks. When the drinks were initially set in front of us they were blue, but after the staff added another component to the drink they turned pink! We were advised that our room was ready and that we would be staying in a Double My Mind Town View Room.  This room had a king sized bed, shower, air conditioning, TV, and a balcony overlooking the streets of Hoi An.  It was very clean and comfortable. In addition to our room, our package included one spa journey per person per day at …

From Hanoi: The Capital of Vietnam to Hoi An: Tailor Shops by Day, City of Lanterns by Night

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Our last day in Hanoi was really just the morning, which we decided to spend enjoying what the hotel restaurant had to offer as we had breakfast included with our room.  We stayed at La Siesta Hotel Trendy, the new sister hotel to La Siesta Hanoi Resort and Spa.  The restaurant in the hotel is the Red Bean Restaurant and has been rated as one of the top five restaurants in Hanoi. The included breakfast spread was a mix between a western style breakfast and a Vietnamese style breakfast, though other items could be ordered off the menu. Fresh fruit, home made yogurt, and an order of beef Pho made for for a great start to the day. We finished breakfast with a vietnamese egg coffee and a vietnamese coffee, checked out and ordered an uber. They also offer cooking classes, but we did not have time to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. We highly recommend staying at this brand new hotel!  The service was impeccable and they made sure everything was perfect from …

New City, New Friends, New Memories in Hanoi, Vietnam

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About a week before our journey to Southeast Asia began, Jess overheard another nanny talking about how she was moving to Hanoi in a few days while waiting for school pickup. Jess couldn’t help but introduce herself to ask for some tips about the city. They ended up exchanging emails and after a few quick messages back and forth, planned to meet in Hanoi. As a pleasant surprise, Morgan and her husband Nick offered to show us around for the day, as it had been almost eight years since they first met while studying abroad in Vietnam and wanted to do some touristy things as well. We began our day meeting our new friends at Cafe Phố Cũ, a well hidden gem of a coffee shop located behind two souveneer shops. Had we not met Morgan and Nick out front, we never would have found the place! After a brief conversation on the sidewalk, Morgan drove her motor bike straight through the souveneer shop, down an alley in the back of the store and into …