Category Archives: Weltreise

No Kids allowed in Kids Hospital

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For the following non Swiss readers must know who Beat Richner (Beatocello) is.
So here a link in case you wanna know
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatocello

We arranged so that we can be in Siam Reap at a Saturday where he makes a fundraising event 19:15 for about 1 1/4 hours.
That is not too late nor too long for the kids.
The event has some Cello playing and and movies about their work, as someone put it “More lecture than concert”. The event is free or as they say here “admission through donation” by giving blood or money or both.

So we arrived there full of anticipation and were blocked by a french speaking guy “kids are not allowed, desolé”
He informed us that they had had some problems with kids moving around and crying.
There was not possibility to sit the back or leaving in case of problems or something like that. Just no way.
Just because some other people completely unrelated to us did not have their kids under control.
Anyway: how many people with kids do show up in Cambodia?

We felt completely frustrated. Not being allowed because some other people of the same group made problems in the past? On a fund raising event for Kids? It is not a classical concert or something.
Somehow this is crossing the line where my sense of just and right is awakened. Lets say it is not kids but an ethnic group from which some members made troubles some when. You do not allow then anymore. What would that be.
Anyway, quite some people arrived late and still were allowed to enter. That does not seem to disturb. Not to mention people who forget to switch of their mobiles.

Please comment this entry. Do you think I am overreacting? It is obviously sensitive to criticize something that has done so much good for kids in need.

Needless to say that the “no kids policy” is not mentioned nowhere. It would simply sound strange:
Dr. Beat Richner plays Bach on the cello and speaks about the activities of his five children’s hospitals. No children allowed.

Sambour Prei Kuk (Kampong Thom)

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On our way to Siem Reap we visited the pre Angkor Temple Area of Sembour Prei Kuk. Not much to see we were told at our Hotel in Phnom. It was just perfect. In the forest, shade, almost no tourists. The guide was good and the kids found tree-bones.

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What is this thing?

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Ah, the temples. Much older than Angkor, 700 AD.

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While the traffic in Phnom Penh is somewhat Ok, in the countryside it is awful. And it is Friday and next Monday starts 3 days new year celebration. Still on our way to Siem Reap. Did I mention? Internet works well here.

Phnom Penh / Bim Coiffeur bin i gsässe vor em Spiegel, luege dry

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We are about to leave Phnom Penh for Siem Reap.
Time to reflect.
We like Cambodia.
Hard to believe we are already here 6 days! We did not do much so it seems to me.

Kings Palace. Lost Adas hat and got it back the day after.
Vietnam Embassy to get visas, took only a day to do them but 240$ is expensive and that was the cheapest version available.
Organisation, how to get around the country and how to leave it for Vietnam afterwards (on the Mekong).
Difficult here and cumbersome, one has to know what the real price is and then haggle.
Example: How to get to Siem Reap possibly with overnight in Kampong Thom
– Bus: 4×12$ to Kampong and again 4×12 to Siem (direct also is only 12$ even though double the distance)
– Ask in Hotel, the “found” taxi for 90$ to Kampong. To Siem with 3 h stop in Kampong 120$
– Ask the internet, best offer 95$
– Back in the hotel, ah you found taxi for 95$ and without hesitation “what about 100$”. I guess the guy would have earned himself 25$ or so.

Wat Phnom, at temple in the middle of the city on a hill
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With a playground at the bottom, carousel blackout fail-save:
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National Museum, very neat (no pictures allowed).
By the way: if someone every visits the National Museum go to Kabbas Restaurant #166, St. 13 close by and eat AMOK.

We are preparing another package and I guess it is 10 kg again.

And finally upon request from many readers I faced my fear. Sorry only understandable for Swiss German Readers:

Zuerst mal hier schauen:

Vorher:
Before_Haircut

1.25$ später:
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Man beachte den Spiegel im Spiegel! Man kann sich vom Stuhl aus vorne und hinten gleichzeitig betrachten!
Genial.
Ebenfalls genial sind gewisse Steckdosen hier wo man direkt etwa 4 unterschiedliche Systeme einstecken kann:
20130411_123539_Multi_Plug_Outlet

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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We flew AirAsia from the Kuala Lumpur LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal). An experience. Luggage gained only 1 kg in Kuala Lumpur.

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Huge, very busy, somewhat complicated but eveything went smooth. The most special thing is that the gate T4 is basically just a door to the open airport. On has then to follow signs to the actual airplane, the BAY. Everyone was jostling.
People from different flights arriving/departing freely mixed.

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Anyway, savely arrived in Phnom Penh (watch the H).
Immigration was not as described in wikivoyage.

It is 40 Degrees here and staying but we are not afraid anymore.

First impression, Cool traffic lights:

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I remember that a few years ago such a system was discussed in Zürich but not installed.
Hotel is cool, welcome drink during check-in. I also already have 5 GB internet @ 5$.

Somehow this is the first land where we do not feel like “there is a flight we have to catch sometime”.

Looking forward…

KLCC Livefeed / PS

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From Kuala Lumpur City Center Live

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PS: at the moment we are in the Airasia Plane at the Field F52. From the gate one has to find the plane first. People leaving and boarding all at the same place seemingly chaotic. But somehow everybody finds the way out/in.

We made a visit to the petronas twin towers and yesterday the first time we took one of those hop-on hop-off buses, that took the entire day. Visited a handy craft museum/shop and …
have to stop now, mobile switch off

Quallä Lumpä

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Arrived in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The FIRST country that did not ask those stupid questions about : place of birth, date passport was issued, adress here, adress abroad, date of birth, date and place where virginity was lost, etc.
The only thing they asked, let me think, well absolutely nothing.

Petronas Towers from Hotel

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Buchstabenspiel, zum zufällig gewählten Buchstaben muss
– Lena irgend ein Wort (beginnend mit diesem Buchstaben)
– Ada eine Tier
– Astrid eine Hauptstadt oder Land
– Thomas ein Fluss
nennen.
Lena : “S wie Sebra” (ratet mal)

Ada + Lena spielen modernes verchoiverlis; Lena :  “Ich tät das jetzt mit dä Kreditchartä zalä, OK?”
Etwas später : “das sind zwai Dollar”

Opportunity seized!

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The property adjoining our resort “Sea Turtle House” at Moalboal was for sale on a bargain.
Together with the owner of said resort we decided to invest in that land.
It is 3 ha with a road on the back side and the beach on the front, water and electricity available.
Here you see the resort and our new property just right of it. About right half of picture, starting from where I am standing with Lena.
DSC_0425_Sea_Turtle_House_Beach
We did not finally decide what to do with it.
Sea Turtle House may enlarge, in that case it is just an investment.
We may also decide to build a house there for renting out and occasional vacation in the Philippines and probably retirement (but that is still some years in the future).
Astrid was at first reluctant but after all it is “just” a high 5 digit CHF investment.

Our stay in the Philippines is nearing its end. Tomorrow will be our flight to Kuala Lumpur and 4 days later to Phnom Penh (another spelling problem)
Brotzer Family (Marlyn, Andre, Jadlin, Joe)
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Moalboal / Farewell to an old travel companion

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Before we left Bohol/Panglao I had to say goodbye to one of my oldest travel companions, sniff.
Glued it 5 times with 3 different glues but now I had to face the truth. Nothing I could do.
Last pics:

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There are many stories to be told, for instance how to get a local SIM Card and how to set it up so that internet works.
It is not Kafkaesk but something words fail me to describe.
We also bought a play game for Lena as well, for just 30 CHF with a gazillion surely licensed game, camera, music etc. on it (CD-R KING). It actually would be almost the perfect thing but there is a catch. We had to go 3 times till we finally had a device where also the battery was working. The first time we went, not only the battery was broken but also the start button. Now the kids finally managed to play Biene Maya (Lena finished level 1, Ada Level 4) and as we speak the start button is broken again. Including the demo model that is the 3rd device where that happens. The kids are very sad.
Anyway, we went back to Cebu and had to prolong our Visas. 270 CHF and half a day were the investments (not including 2×100 Peso trousers rental).
We now have flights to Kuala Lumpur and 5 days later to Camobdia.

Cebu Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary. Very few living butterfly but the guide was enthusiastic and it has a strange amateurish charm. There also is a museum:

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From Cebu we went to Moalboal (West Cost of Cebu Island) Sea Turtle House Resort, where we are now.
Small, quiet and right at the beach. A nice setup. Just the room is somewhat sub-optimal. And we pay 54$ daily eastern surcharge!
We can go snorkeling right from the resort, today even Lena came to the riff edge and she now really uses here mask to see the fishes. At low tide the abyss is just about 50 meters from the shore line. We saw 2 big sea turtles flirting.

We need a tricycle ride of about 7 km to Moalboal:

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Here the resort:

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Negros in the background

Yoda Offspring

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We are still on Panglao somehow not willing to move on.
Prices will soar here approaching eastern school vacation so we now fixed departure to 23.03 to Cebu.
We do not know if we prolong our visa (265$!!) or take a somewhat expensive flight at the 29.03

18.03 we went Snorkeling on Balicasag Island and had a coconut drink on Virgin Island.
Astrid and I even saw a turtle but the kids got out of the water quite soon as there were small jellyfish. We felt them too but it was Ok, for the kids it was too much.
The trip was pleasant. The only downside was that in the end the trip cost us double than just the boat with all the renting, entrance fee to the island, entrance fee to the snorkel area etc.
20130318_134610_Virgin_Island_Blog

20.03 We rented a car with driver and made the Bohol “must see” tour

Yoda. This is not the best pic we have from the Tarsier but the one where the resemblance is obvious.
20130320_105422_Tarsier_Yoda
When one enters the Tarsier forest a strange force can be felt. There is a hidden track on the “The Empire Strikes Back” DVD explaining that before retiring to Dagobah Yoda visited earth for a brief albeit fruitful love affair. The offspring of this encounter can still be visited on Bohol.

Man made Forest. Someone was so proud that a forest also can be planted that this is now a tourist attraction. It is actually a neat Mahogany forest.
http://www.bohol-philippines.com/mahogany-man-made-forest.html

Chocolate Hills.
The most famous of Bohol attractions.
DSC_0158_Chocolate_Hills_Top_Blog
(Check back in about 2 Month. Then the hills will be brown, resembling chocolate kisses, hence the name)

Loboc Lunch River cruise.
Very touristy. They have about 20 of these things where about 60 persons can eat from a buffet. At night the entire stretch of the river is illuminated.
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Baclayon Church and Museum
Very nice. Completely different from Einsiedeln. The entire church is green from moss (?) on the inside.

Blood Compact Commemorative Shrine
Just a bronze monument.

Ada : “wänn ich nö so rich wär …”
Papa : “wi riich bisch dänn?”
Adan nach einer Studierpause : “ich ha nüd”
(dann würde sie von einem gewaschenen Bananenblatt essen)

Lena : “warum dünd d’Frauä alles beschtimä?”
(Frage ich mich auch)