Visiting Angkor Wat, Day 1

An hour after I arrived in Siem Reap, my guide picked me up for the first temple tour. Angkor Wat is the general name for a group of old temples in a complex that covers 401 sq. km.

Remembering the Dark Past

My morning in Phnom Penh was to include three stops; but because Obama might arrive anytime for the ASEAN meeting and the late Cambodian king's funeral, my guide suggested we cut the tour short to get to the airport before the army closed the roads. I insisted we make one visit—to the Genocide Museum. I felt it important to be a witness to the atrocity that befell these kind people, to in some small way honor the victims.

Last Day in Kathmandu

On our last day, we visted two ancient cities that have now been subsumed by Kathmandu's sprawl. Bhaktapur and Patan.

Chitwan Days 2 and 3

My second and third days at Chitwan were for the birds--several score of them.

Kathmandu to Chitwan

The four-hour drive from Kathmandu to the Royal Chitwan Forest is pleasant as long as you watch the scenery, not the road.

Lukla Back to Kathmandu

I imagine taking off in a plane from the Lukla airport is much like launching from an aircraft carrier.

Everest Trail Hike Day 8

Most visitors to the Everest region pass through Lukla. It is the gateway to the frontier and the last town you visit on the way out. It is a sprawling town just a cut above towns further up the valley due to being the center of commerce.