Cesky Krumlov

Everyone’s heard of Prague, the alluring capital of the Czech Republic, but what about Cesky Krumlov? You’ll find tourism companies in Prague advertising day trips to see the Cesky Krumlov Castle, and the city does have a significant number of tourists. But it warrants much more than “day trip” status, and we’re not the only ones who think so!

Old Pharmacy

Cesky Krumlov is an old Medieval town dating back to the 1200′s, and has the second largest castle in the Czech Republic.  It’s a small town, with a population of about 14,000, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere.  Walking along the old cobblestone streets of Cesky Krumlov, you can easily imagine yourself there centuries before.

Painted House

There are beautiful painted houses lining the streets, plenty of little cozy restaurants, and loads of fun shops selling everything from antiques to toys.

Toy Store

If there’s one thing you must sample in Cesky Krumlov, it’s Trdelnik…an absolutely delicious treat!  You’ll get whiffs of cinnamon before you see them, as they’re made fresh all day.  And once you try one of these warm delicacies, you’ll no doubt be back for more.  Here’s another post with a description of Trdelnik, including pictures.

Trdelnik

While there’s certainly more ground to cover in Prague, if you have the time you should spend at least one night in Cesky Krumlov.  It will give you a deeper appreciation for the Czech Republic, and you’ll have the town nearly to yourself when all the day trippers leave in the evening.

Cesky Krumlov

If you’ve got your own car, there are also a couple of great sites around Cesky Krumlov that make staying for two or three nights a great option, including Ceske Budejovice and the Hluboka Castle:

Hluboka Castle

So if you’re planning a trip to the Czech Republic, don’t forget about little Cesky Krumlov!

Wat Xieng Thong

Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia.  It sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers…and the location couldn’t be more spectacular.  The rivers are full of life, from fisherman to kids and monks playing in the water.

Nam Khan

The old part of town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with more than 30 temples still occupied by Buddhist monks.  Everywhere you turn there is another incredible temple, some dating back more than 500 years.  Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham for instance, has stunning gold bas reliefs lining the front outer wall:

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

The inside of these temples are equally impessive, often filled with statues of the Buddha:

Buddha Statues

But Luang Prabang isn’t just incredible scenery and amazing temples.  The food is insanely good, whether you get it at a nice restaurant or a market stall.  The Apsara Hotel is one of the nicest places to eat, right on the Nam Khan, and every dish they serve is unbeatable.  Here is there dried beef salad:

Dried Beef Salad

In addition to what the town of Luang Prabang has to offer, there are numerous side trips to incredible destinations.  Check out Exotissimo Travel for the best trips available.  One of the best half day trips from the town are to the gorgeous Tat Kuang Si waterfalls:

Tat Kuang Si Falls

The Tat Kuang Si falls are truly spectacular.  The pools of water are a cloudy turquoise color (and yes, you can swim in them!).  They’re so amazing they actually look fake!  Some of the falls are multi tiered:

Tat Kuang Si Falls

And when you get to the top, you arrive at the huge and very impressive source:

The Big One

Another great half day trip in Luang Prabang is a boat trip down the Mekong River.  You can visit the amazing Pak Ou caves, or just slowly cruise into the sunset watching the monks go for their evening swim:

Monks in Mekong

Luang Prabang is definitely a must see destination in Southeast Asia.  Book your hotel, and get on your way!

Bayon

If there’s one place you must visit before you die, it’s the temples of Angkor.  Many people haven’t even heard of these temples, others have only heard of Anchor Wat (the biggest religious structure in the world), but what relatively few people know is that there are dozens of these stunning temples scattered over approximately 70 square miles.  The Lonely Planet gets it right when it states, “there is no greater concentration of architectural riches anywhere on earth.”

Apsara at Bayon

The temples of Angkor date back to the 800′s, with the last great structures built during the 1200′s.  Angkor Wat is the most well known, probably because it’s the largest of them all…and using the word “large” to describe Angkor Wat is an understatement.  It’s MASSIVE.

Walkway to Angkor Wat

The moat surrounding the complex is 190 meters wide!  And this isn’t just a gigantic stone temple.  The inner and outer walls are completely covered in the most amazing bas reliefs you could imagine.  Here’s an apsara or “heavenly nymph” from the outer wall:

Apsara at Angkor

Angkor Wat was built at the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th centuries, and roughly translates to “temple that is a city”.  No doubt.  The outer walls are 1025 meters by 800 meters.  Unfortunately a very large amount of the complex was built of wood and has not survived, but what has is simply staggering.

Angkor Wat

But Angkor Wat is just the beginning of the temples of Angkor!  Other massive temples include Bayon, with 216 gigantic, stunning faces:

Faces of Bayon

To get to Bayon, you pass through the gates of a temple complex called Angkor Thom.  The gates alone are magnificent:

Angkor Thom

After driving through the beautiful jungles inside Angkor Thom, you arrive at Bayon.  From a distance it looks more like a massive pile of rocks.  But as you get closer, the faces emerge from the stone:

Bayon

And if 216 serene and exquisitely carved faces are not enough, don’t worry.  The outer wall of Bayon is covered with beautiful bas reliefs and apsaras.  You could literally spend days examining them.  Then there’s Ta Prohm, another massive temple taken over by tropical trees:

Ta Prohm

While Ta Prohm isn’t in great condition compared to many of the other temples of Angkor, the atmosphere is unbeatable.  The carvings are covered with lichen, and the trees make shadows creating mysterious and awesome sites:

Apsara at Ta Prohm

Parrots fill the trees, and their cries make you feel as if you are deep in the jungle discovering the temple for the first time:

Trees at Ta Prohm

Then there’s Ta Keo, Thommanon, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei, the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, and on, and on, and on…  Angkor is probably the most amazing place on earth.  Book the next flight out.  You won’t regret it!

For much more on Angkor and Cambodia, check out Andy Brouwer’s excellent Cambodia blog.