The beginning of our six country journey from Belize, Central America….My Home.

This blog will take you on a journey encompassing six countries over a five week period. Twenty years ago, wife Marsha and I were planning a trip to Thailand when the tragedy of the Sunami hit the Southern Coast, our destination. Instead we made our first trip to Europe instead. We finally decided to make this trip back to Asia this year, but also added to the itinerary quite a bit.

All this, just for some great spicy food 🙂

Planning to return to Asia for me, after 52 years was quite a psychological rollercoaster for me. I did have good memories of Thailand, my main focus for this journey, however, adding Vietnam and Cambodia to our travels was something I never anticipated. 52 years ago, when I left Vietnam, I was solid that I would never return again. My memories of Vietnam and Cambodia haunt me to this day.

Me on left…..18 years old, going on first R&R to Bangkok, Thailand…1968

Fast forward 52 years and here we were, planning our trip, starting with flights from Belize to LAX, Los Angeles, California, and then to Singapore. Let me explain, its about a sixteen hour flight from L.A. to Singapore, and the best airline for such na flight is in fact, Singapore Airlines. Why you ask ? Upgrading to their First Class/Business Class puts you in a large cubical with a seat that folds to a flat bed. Once you finish your Champagne….you can sleep.

These seats reclined flat, with bedding :), and came with bottomless cocktails, champagne, and food, 3 full meals.

Above is the Singapore Airline First Class Lounge in L.A. Always a pleasure, food and cocktails “on the house” and relaxing comfy seating.

We started on our Tropic Air flight to Belize City, connecting with our American Airlines Flight to Dallas Fort Worth Airport., Seats 2A and 2B. Yes, these also first class seats, because well, I’m old, and I can, and if you can, you should too. We arrived at 5:23 PM, and had to spend about 5 hours until our 10;45 PM flight to L.A. We arrived in L.A.X. at Midnight and stayed overnight at the Airport Marriott.

Yup…the only “sight” I wanted to see and enjoy, is the best burger in the world…In-N-Out !

We did get to meet up with our good friends, Kenny and Erica in L.A. for some great seafood.

We stayed 2 days in L.A., taking care of some banking issues, then boarded our Singapore Airline flight to Changi Airport, Singapore at 23:40 PM. All I will say is we have flown to Europe and South America on “upgraded flights”, but never experienced the level of “luxury” awarded to us on this flight. The only thing better is the fact that we are doing the exact same coming home :).

Food awesome on flight, unlimited booze, and free wifi, movies and TV.

Awaiting us at airport to drive us to resort in Bali in a new Mercedes 🙂 Highly suggest doing this throughout Asia.

Above…our room, balcony and view from our room at the Hilton Bali Resort

Yes…we carried a few “million dollars” at all time in Bali 🙂

Now, let me tell you, our plans initially was to spend a few days in Singapore, before heading to Vietnam, and our River Cruise. After looking at hotel costs in Singapore, the most expensive city worldwide, our plans changed. We decided instead to fly closeby to Bali for a few days, and then to Ho Chi Minh City. We connected with a flight on Garuda Airlines, Business Class to Denpasar, Bali.

Sometimes just enjoying cocktails by the pool is needed.

Arriving in Bali we had arranged for a car to meet us at the airport that took us to the Hilton Bali Resort, where we stayed three days. We had upgraded to a King Terrace Ocean View room, and when we entered, we knew we could just relax in the room for the three days. The views of the Bali Sea were spectacular. However, we did not, as we were in Bali and needed to explore this beautiful island.

Yes…this was our 30th Wedding Anniversary, and the resort took care of us well.

Our main goal was to relax in Bali after some major travel times, before starting on our main journey.However, we researched guides and what to see and do, with TipAdvisor. We found a tour the first day that would take us up to ancient ruins, view the Uluwatu Sunset, experience the Kecak Fire dance”, and then go to dinner on the Jimbaran Beach. Anyone traveling to Bali, I highly suggest this tour, although I will warn you, the many monkeys are not friendly and cute. They are dangerous, will steal phones, hats glasses, and the bite. “Tourist Beware”!

The white arena in centre is where we hiked to “thru attack monkeyville) to watch show.

The “friendly monkeys” in Bali are anything but. Not “cute”, they will steal anything off you, sunglasses, phones, purse, etc. They also can get nasty. Beware.

Uluwatu was an interesting experience, that gave us some good exercise. You got some elevated climbing to the different cliffside temples, but the views were well worth it. The final climb along the rim brought you to a large area where you had to wait for your specific time to enter the “arena” to view the sunset “Fire Dance”.

The sunset “Fire Dance”.

This unique Balinese dance is performed by a choir of 70 men who sing during the ritual which tells an ancient story Balinese history.

As the sun goes down the fire dance puts the dancers as well as the audience, of some 100+ people in a trance. The sunset over the water below, and this ancient temple arena was spectacular.

The second day we wanted to see the internal Bali so we hired a private driver and told him to show us his island. We got to see the countryside, some small villages, but the best was a long drive up a little road into the mountains, to a small village and higher to a waterfall. All in all, very relaxing day.

The only time you will ever se ehe Pirate” in a dress ! We had to wear traditional outfits to visit temples in Bali.

Dining on the beach in Bali.

A little way down we stopped at a cliffside café for a capuchino, to enjoy the scene of the small village below.

Then as we headed down, the driver let us off to walk down thru the village and shop.

I have to say, the breakfast buffet (free to guests) at the Hilton was the best I have ever experienced.

Bride and Groom heading to wedding in Bali.

I will tell you, he explained to us that this mountaintop village was virtually unknown to people in the big city, but the past few years, was discovered, and has become highly active with the Bali people as a weekend “getaway”.

In front of a Bali iconic gate.

I will also tell you that we were the only foreigners on the hill :).

We headed back to the coast for a romantic waterfront dinner, and good night sleep before our flight to Vietnam in the morning. Our driver said he had just the place for our dinner, and was he ever right ! As we walked from the car into the restaurant I thought to myself, this restaurant doesn’t look that special, or “romantic”. However, he walked us thru and out the back door, onto this massive waterfront beach, with hundreds of tables set with white tablecloth’s ready for dinner.

Seafood was the menu, and all quite fresh and tasty !

And then there was “the bonus” ! We hear music and a Mexican Trio singing “La Bomba” behind us. These guys were good, and I just knew they would end up at our table. Sure enough, here they come, asking what we want to hear. Wife Marsha right away asks them for “Bob Marley”, and they sing “Is this love” 🙂

Marsha with a “worker” in riced fields, at coffee plantation.

Above…Garuda Wins Kenyan, from a famous Hindu mythology about the search for “America, the “elixir of life”.

Heading back to the hotel, we got most of our packing done for our flight the next morning for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This was not in our original plans, as I have been saying for 50 years, I would never return to Nam. Fast forward to present, and here we are with our good friends John and Shannon, planning to hook up in Vietnam on a “Luxury Cruise” down the Mighty Mekong River to Cambodia.

I had no idea what “triggers” Vietnam would provide, and hit the sack for a good night sleep.

The Jahan…awaiting us in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

At least I hoped a good night sleep. The memories of war never leave, they just diminish, bit by bit.

To Continue….Gary’s return to Vietnam