Good Times post from Vietnam

Hey Good-timers. A couple of good recent posts coming out of the Whistler crew, I like it. I have been slacking on this blog. It is my New Years resolution to get on top of this. So, allow me to list a few of the highlights for you (I can't list them all, because I would be at this internet cafe all night):

I made a tour of Northern India, the high-light of which had to be the fabulous Taj - Mahal. Here is a pic, but it is nothing like seeing it with your own eyes (my fortunate eyes have seen many things)

I then flew to Bangkok for Christmas. The partying here is ridiculous. Here is a pic of Khaosan Road, where it all happens.

I didn't get to eat xmas dinner with you all, but I did manage to eat at a cool place. I ate on the roof of Bangkok, on the 61st floor (ie, the roof) of one of the tallest buildings in Bangkok: http://www.banyantree.com/bangkok/facilities/dining/vertigo.html. If you are ever in Bangkok, you MUST eat here. I had the company of two good Dutch people. (Btw, I have met many awesome travelers from Holland. I think the world needs more Dutch).

I did some great trekking in the jungles of NE Cambodia, near the Laos border. Damn, the jungle here is thick! Two guys and I walked into the jungle with no map and no guide. We got lost, saw some remote villages, and found a river to camp by. An all-around great adventure. Here is a pic of my accomodations.

NYE was the weirdest I have ever had. I will give you the short version (the long version is best told in person, I think): some travelers and I crashed a Cambodia funeral. We drank rice wine and danced to Shakira. I shit you not.

After this, I decided to take a vacation from my vacation. I spent many days in Sihanoukville, a beach town in the south of Cambodia. I spent my days exploring remote beaches:

... and the nights partying on the beach and eating Barracude BBQ'd in front of my eyes. What a life.

I slid over to Vietnam a few days ago and hit their finest beach: the island of Phu doc. Here is the chair I occupied during most of my time there

I noticed you guys are having a lot of good times with the dinner parties. I wanted to mention that I get to do dinner parties too! Except, we never cook, and they happen almost every night. The company is always new and multi-national. The conversation is always interesting (not that you guys aren't!) and multi-lingual. And, the food is always international and very authentic :)

Now I'm about to tackle the rest of Vietnam. I am quite excited about it. I plan to sample its finest beaches, its cuisine, waterski, mountain bike, climb it highest mountain, etc. I will keep you posted...

Anyway, welcome to 2009. I hope it is off to a good start for you. Sadly for me, I don't think I will see you in this year. I look forward to catching up with you in late 2010 or early 2011.

PS: If you are ever wondering what I'm up to, and I haven't posted in a while, I tend to keep this blog up-to-date: http://ShawnWasHere.spaces.live.com

PPS: sorry about all the pics in this blog. This is what happens when I don't post for a while