Road trip from Virginia to Orlando, April 11, 2010

We left Virginia down south to Orlando at about 4PM. Virginia to Orlando is 14 hours drive or 860 miles (1 400 km). We have to follow highway I-95, passing through North Carolina,South Carolina, Georgia and then enter Florida state. Well, it is not too far to drive..

Just some 30 minutes after leaving, we got stuck in the traffic jam in the Virginia suburbs. It appears that it is always like that.

After Virginia, we enter North Carolina. Our initial idea was to drive until South Carolina. But kids started to get tired. We were so obliged to make a stop in one of the hotels along the highway at about 7PM. I entered in the best western hotel, and asked for the price. The lady at the reception announce 80USD + taxes. I told her that it is too expensive and negotiated the price. I was able to get a special price of 59 USD + taxes. It is not too bad!

We continued the road at 3 AM in the morning. Kids continued to sleep in the car. The highway was quiet. I crossed from time to time cars and trucks. The road is quite easy to drive: large, plenty of rest areas, gasoline and restaurant open 24/24. The speed limit is 65 miles/hour or 70 miles/hours depending on the portion of the road. Many people drive at 70m/h - 75m/h. I drove peacefully... at around 7AM, I saw a car with flash on and off lights behind me. The guy drove very fast. Shit! It is a highway police car. I slowed down the car and made a stop. The police of car stopped just behind my car. He came in our direction and I opened the car door. The officer said, I drove a little bit fast and advice me to drive slower. With a little panic, we said OK. He said, okay you can go. Thank you man! (I received no fine). Zaouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, we continued our road with two small breaks for break-first and gasoline. We arrived at about noon at Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas in Orlando where I have booked for 4 nights some days before.

The resort is nice with 3 big pools inside. Kids enjoyed it...

Road trip to New York, Washington DC/Virginia and Orlando (Florida)

I visited with my family to New York, Virginia/Washington DC and Orlando(Florida) from April 9 to 23.

Our plane, from Madrid, landed in John F. Kennedy Internal Airport (New York) on April 9 at 19h. The time to take the rental car and to bring kids to the restroom, we left to Virginia at 21h. We were a little bit behind the schedule as I told our friends in Virginia that we will arrive between 12h and 1h. I tried to speed up as much as possible but the traffic around New York/New Jersey on Friday night was terribly heavy and I had to stop regularly to pay high way toll. After about 2 hours drive, the traffic was stopped by the road construction. Everybody in the car slept deeply while I started to get more and more tired. I took about 10 minutes break.

After the break, we continued our road until Virginia. We arrived at Rith and Rathana's house at about 1h45. A little bit late for them.

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I woke up every early and discussed with Rith and Rathana. It was nice to meet them again after 14 years for Rith and 26 years for Rathana.

After breakfast we went to pick up our friend Marin and then went together to Cambodian Embassy in Washington DC where they did a reception for Khmer New Year.







After lunch, we came back to Rith & Ratana's house and then left for Florida at 4 PM.
Coming next: road trip to Florida where I was stopped by Highway police...

Prince Sirik Matak's letter to US Ambassador

Article excerpted from http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2010/05/prince-sirik-mataks-letter-to-us.html

Dear Readers, The following is a letter Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak, a cousin of Prince Sihanouk, wrote to U.S Ambassador John Gunther Dean a few days before Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge on 17th April 1975. He refused to flee to the U.S but took refuge in the French Embassy when the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge forced the French Embassy to hand him over and he was executed shortly.
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Dear Excellency and friend,

I thank you very sincerely for your letter and for your offer to transport me towards freedom. I cannot, alas, leave in such a cowardly fashion.

As for you and in particular for your great country, I never believed for a moment that you would have this sentiment of abandoning a people which has chosen liberty. You have refused us your protection and we can do nothing about it. You leave us and it is my wish that you and your country will find happiness under the sky.

But mark it well that, if I shall die here on the spot and in my country that I love, it is too bad because we are all born and must die one day. I have only committed the mistake of believing in you, the Americans.

Please accept, Excellency, my dear friend, my faithful and friendly sentiments.

Sirik Matak.