alizroundtheworld

After picking up my Indian visa I faced a 50 pound fine at the Thai border as I overstayed 5 days…. I tried to blag it but didn’t work..Anyway I bought a visa on arrival to Cambodia and headed to Siem Riep. The trip from Bangkok to Siem Riep took a whole day and included a lot of waiting  and changes. Finally I arrived, a tuk tuk driver took me to a hotel where checked into a  dorm room (where staff was sleeping LOL- they forgot to tell me this), then I had to plan my Angkor Wat visit for the next day. A Venezuelan boy (Sergio) whom I met in Chiang Mai contacted me that he was in Siem Riep too so we met up and arranged for the next day a tuk-tuk driver.

I decided to do Angkor in one day even though a lot of people recommended to buy a 3 day pass (no 2 days option which would have been the ideal). So after 2 hours sleep I was ready to go at 4.45 am to see the sunrise but the tuk-tuk driver didn’t show up..Never mind..there were a lot of them out there so I caught one quickly, agreed on the price (15$ for the whole day from sunrise to sunset), picked up Sergio from his guesthouse and headed to see one of the most beautiful construction of temples in the world..

It was a long day..very tiring climbing all these temples and absorbing the art of the constructions. The distances between the temples are big. You can buy fresh young coconut and fizzy drinks, food, fresh fruit everywhere..we even had a 40 minutes power nap after lunch in a hammock it was good:)

We arrived to Angkor Wat by sunset..it was beautiful. In the evening we went out for a few drinks and dinner then sleep. Next day Sergio went to Angkor again, and I decided to take it easy..visit the city itself and maybe discover the countryside on a horse but it was too expensive..Siem Riep is not a backpackers destination but you cannot miss it because of Angkor.

Not only at Angkor Wat but in the whole Cambodia there is a big children problem. They are on the street 24/7 selling postcards, books, bracelets. Some of them are going to school, but some of them not..some of them don’t even have parents..very sad..When I looked into those beautiful brown eyes..I saw sadness and still when I asked them: ‘Are you going to school? ‘ They would answer: ‘Yes’. ‘I say you should be in bed by now.’ They would say:’ No..I have to sell. I like being here. ‘

LIE!

One tip for hostels in Siem Riep: AVOID ‘NO PROBLEM HOTEL’..despite the name I only saw unhappy and dissatisfied people here..and I was one of them.

We took the night bus with Sergio to the South..Sihanoukville. Now I got my final proof on why is it so much better travel alone…Some people do not shop around and constantly are ripped off. I like doing my ‘research’ and finding out how things are working because sad to say but most of the time for locals get the prices 50 or even 80% cheaper than what they charge tourists. If you are aware of it, you can get the local price..Also having travelled 11 months I have practice in what to ask when buying a night bus ticket. Anyway..the journey to Sihanoukville was a pain. 3 changes, no legroom..I was suffering..therefore moaning. Sergio couldn’t take this so we soon realised that we will separate soon. Upon arrival to Sihonoukville we checked into a hostel called Monkey Republic, had lunch and discovered the town. Very touristy place with vendors everywhere..I didn’t like it too much so my plan was to go to Koh Rong island the next day. I was shopping around in the dive centres…but by the time i would have got to a decision I felt that something was wrong…my tummy hurt and I felt sick. I didn’t wish anything else but a great night sleep after the horrid journey…and here I was throwing up all night due to food poisoning and then when i had nothing else to come out and went to my bed I was bitten to death by bed bugs….so I couldn’t even stay in my bed..I walked out weak and sat outside on a bench..meanwhile Sergio (knowing that I wasn’t too well) had his best dreams in his bed..since I didn’t see that he would have wanted to help me somehow I didn’t want to wake him up. Next morning I felt very weak..but I knew I had to go to the island..booked a dive package of 6 with the Dive Shop and took the 2pm ferry..the journey was amazing I was sunbathing on the deck and slept through the 2 hour journey.

When I arrived Sergio went to look for himself accommodation, for me it was sorted..came with the package free. I met my divemaster, Hagar who introduced me to a few people on the island and showed me around.

I started with a night dive it was awesome.just the 2 of us, many schools of fishes, crabs, nudis, octopus..Nightlife in Koh Rong is very chilled..it’s not a party island like the South Thailand ones..I was hanging out most of the nights in Corner bar where the owner was superb and a sweet Argentinian traveller was working in the bar..during the day I was diving, night time drinking. One night – End of the world day- there was a party and the funny thing is that I found myself in the company of 2 Chilean boys, the Argentinian boy, Sergio- Venezuela, the guy I travelled with and a Colombian guy turned up as well who was doing his dive master course ..I couldnt believe it..I was back in South America…not to mention when I plugged in my iPod and played those amazing SA music I collected during the 7 months I spent there …they went nuts..I was ruling the dance floor:)

I spent on the  paradise island 5 days..I was very tempted to stay there for Christmas but I felt I needed to see something new..(Oh Dear..how will I handle this ‘need’ after the 5th February when I return to the UK….) So I went back to Sihanoukville, spent a night there, oh I met 2 Hungarian people living in Reading..they were travelling in Cambodia for a few week. It was so nice, we had dinner together. Next day I took a minubus to Kampot.

Kampot is a very pleasant little town with a river passing through it. There were plenty of accommodations in the town but I wanted to stay right on the river 1.5 km away where there were a few guesthouses..unfortunately almost all full. I met and English and Aussie guy while hunting for room so we found the place..that I will always remember..Olly’s place.

 

A very very nice bunch of people were staying there, a South African couple, Navy- Cambodian girl who worked there, a Swiss girl and a German girl. We spent together Xmas..it was amazing! I made friends with Olly as well and his VIP guest Gunter who was there with his kids..I was in the right place, right time, right company. Rented a bike for those 5 days I stayed there, visited caves, countryside, temples, Bokor National Park, Kep (20km away a fishing town on the beach…Cambodia’s hammock paradise). One thing worth to mention is that Kampot pepper is amazing! We visited some pepper plantations and we bumped into a hidden gem..the Vine Retreat..if you would like some undisturbed tranquillity spend a few days here..pool outside, great coffe and meals..stunning views.

On Boxing day we went to the cinema with Gunter and the kids to watch a very ‘happy’ movie..The Killing Fields..this is where my real connection has been made with Cambodia..I had no clue about the aggressive communism that took place between 1975 and 1979 where the communist party Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot killed 3 million Cambodian people..This movie gave me preparation for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia which was my next destination.

I travelled here in a shared taxi..altogether 8 people in a normal car…driver in striped shirt:

I took a motortaxi to Top Banana guest house hoping to find space there..and I did! (Lonely Planet warned to book in advance but i never book anything in advance so i relied on my luck. worked:)

Phnom Penh is known as the Jewel of Asia..and the name is well deserved. Beautiful riverside, temples, markets make this city very charming and addictive.

When I was walking on the riverside looking for a delicious khmer restaurant I bumped into 2 kiwi girls I met in Koh Rong, Sunniva and Jo..we had dinner together and agreed to visit the Killing fields the next day. Yes..tough day was coming up..we were at the entrance of the place of horror…blood flood and fear..we got out Audio guide and started walking on the fields stopping by each terror point..the one where the trucks arrived with the people who had no idea that they just arrived to the place of their execution..to the point where they were bullied and terrorized..the tree against which khmer soldiers hit the babies…the mass grave of people whose heads were chopped off…and I could continue..

I listened to a few true stories as well..from survivors on this audio guide which made me cry..a lot..after the killing fields we went to S21..the prison where all the people were waiting for their execution. This wasn’t delightful either.

After this day I hired a bicycle and spent the next 2 days exploring markets (Russian, Central), Grand Palace, National Museum, Phnom temple etc.

 

Cambodia is a very special place..the only place where you see amazing children shouting to you ‘Hellooooooo’..women walking around day time in flannel pyjamas, absolute fairness towards tourists and a great sense of humour. Where people after all those horrific years managed to ‘get over’ their past

I knew that the last chapter of my trip is about to come up..I was leaving South East Asia…

Took the night bus on the 30th December, arrived to Bangkok at 2pm, went to MBK shopping centre to buy a couple of things, took a taxi to the airport and boarded the 7pm plane to Sri Lanka…I felt the change…I felt the big big difference..again..I had to let something go..I am becoming an expert in this..Next post on Sri Lanka soon.