The very colorful Cao Dai Holy See temple outside of Saigon; the Cao Dai faith combines elements of Christianity, Buddhism, Confucionism and Taoism, among other religions
Worshippers gather four times daily for prayers at the temple
Cao Dai followers kneel in prayer during a noontime service
Traditional Vietnamese musical instruments on display at the History Museum
Workers prepare pieces for lacquering at a factory outside of Saigon
A crocodile eyes visitors at the Saigon Zoo
Reunification Palace was built as the home of former president Ngo Dinh Diem. In April 1975, North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates of the palace, declaring victory over the Republic of Vietnam.
An underground war room beneath the palace; there are two complete underground bombproof levels where the president and his staff could remain while under attack
The view from the palace down Saigon's tree-lined Le Duan street
A man demonstrates how Cu Chi guerillas would enter their network of tunnels and cover their tracks. The Cu Chi tunnels stretched for miles from Saigon to Cambodia (with meeting rooms, kitchens, storage and triage areas) and played an important role in the war.
A U.S. Army tank on display at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon
Cheerful paintings by Vietnamese schoolchildren contrast the horrifying photos of the war at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon
A bicycle laden with baskets, on a side street in Saigon
Motorcyclists prepare for a rush at the green light; in the background, a poster of Ho Chi Minh adorns a city park
These look like hats, but they're actually motorcycle helmets cleverly disguised as hats. Saigon residents take motorcycle riding to new heights of fashion!
I was constantly amazed by what people were able to carry on a bicycle or motorcycle. Equally amazing was where people rode them - in every lane of traffic, between cars and even up on the sidewalk!
Cars and trucks, left two lanes; motorcycles and cyclos, right lane
Street vendors tote large coolers with drinks around the city
Notre Dame Cathedral was constructed in the late 19th century, using bricks and stained glass imported from France
Bonsai trees in the downtown botanical garden and zoo; the garden offers a welcome escape from the city's chaotic streets
The ornate central post office, next door to Notre Dame Cathedral
Good luck statues and bills for sale at Saigon's bustling Ben Thanh market
The People's Committee Building, constructed in the early 20th century, is one of the city's major landmarks
The Caravelle Hotel was once a popular hangout for journalists during the war; today it's one of the city's finest hotels...with a delicious and unbelievably inexpensive afternoon tea 
Phnom Penh from above
In addition to the tuk-tuk and motorcycle taxi popular elsewhere in Cambodia, Phnom Penh has the "cyclo" - a kind of bicycle-rickshaw that braves the crowded city streets alongside buses and trucks
Phnom Penh is lcoated at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. Families gather on the riverbank at dusk to play soccer or watch the sunset.
All sorts of creepy crawlies to munch; I could only recognize about half of the things for sale!
The National Museum of Phnom Penh, opened in 1920 by King Sisowath, holds historical artifacts from across the country, including some of the best statuary from Angkor Wat 
Young monks pause to feed the fish in the courtyard of the National Museum
Tuol Sleng, also known as S-21, was used by the Khmer Rouge as a prison and interrogation center from 1975 to 1979. The complex was originally built as a local high school, and the sunny courtyard with flowering trees and the checkered school room floors contrast perversely with the torture that took place inside. 
Many of the school rooms were divided into tiny cells; other rooms were used for torture and interrogation
Photos of Tuol Sleng victims; it's estimated that up to 20,000 people were imprisoned and tortured at Tuol Sleng before being executed at the nearby Choeng Ek killing fields
A giant memorial stupa in the center of the Choeng Ek killing fields holds thousands of unearthed skulls and bones of the people who were brutally killed by the Khmer Rouge; to the left of the photo is one of the marked mass graves
Although a number of the mass graves are marked, new fragments of bone are revealed throughout the site each year after heavy rains
Skulls in the memorial stupa at Choeung Ek
The Royal Palace was built in 1866 for King Norodom and his family; the building in the foreground is the dancing hall
The buildings within the palace compound are ornately decorated with wood carvings and paintings; the yellow color represents Buddhism
The floor of Wat Preah Keo Morokot, also known as the Silver Pagoda, is covered with 5329 silver tiles, each weighing 1.125 kg
The Royal Palace is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. This young monk, who was visiting with a group from his monastery, asked to have his photo taken with me.
A Buddha statue at the top of "Kailassa Mountain," a small garden hill within the palace
Palm trees tower over a group of fishing boats and a small shelter in Ream National Park
The warm waters of Cambodia's south coast are lovely for swimming
A colorful butterfly rests its wings on the sand
Just one of Ream National Park's many deserted beaches
Bright flowers carpet the jungle floor at Ream National Park
My friendly - and very patient - teacher prepares banana flower for a salad
Beef lok lak is cooked in a modified oyster sauce and served with a salt, pepper and lime juice dressing. It is typically accompanied by steamed rice.
Banana flower salad with steamed chicken, served in a banana flower petal. The sweet, salty and tart dressing can also used for green papaya or green mango salads.
Fish amok, steamed in banana leaf, is a Cambodian specialty, often served with rice. It doesn't look like much here, but the combination of ginger, turmeric, shallots, chili and coconut milk can't be beat. Amok can also be made with chicken, prawns or tofu.
Custard steamed in a pumpkin shell makes a nice end to a meal, although my favorite Cambodian dessert is sticky rice with mango
