24-27 November 2011
I had booked the bus to Phnom Penh through Kim's Hotel, it cost $10USD and was estimated to take around 6 hours. There are flights available, but I wanted to make the most of seeing the country side. Plus who could argue with $10?
I was picked up from the hotel around 7am, and taking to the bus and given my assigned seat. There were a few other westerners on the bus, but not that many. Gladly I was sitting next to a local girl who spoke english, so she would inform me if we had to get off because we were at the border, or if we were stopping on one of the many food/toilet breaks they like to throw in.
The border crossing was no great hassle at all, and the the bus driver took your passport and money for the Cambodian visa, and filled in the forms required and you got your passport back when you had it stamped. You really noticed it once you had crossed the border. Vietnam had been like a city the whole way to the border, hardly seeing any farm land, it was continuously shop after shop, and still hundreds of scooters. Once you got in to Cambodia, there were a few random casino's at the border (that did not look very appealing at all) and lots of farm land. We made our first stop on the bus, and having started out so early, I was starving. Hunger quickly took back seat as I walked up to the food counter, and there were about half a dozen cooked dishes, with who knew what in them, and the person serving you probably wouldn't be able to tell you - even if they could speak english. I eventually settled on a pineapple. I didn't bother stocking up on water either. Walking in to check out the toilets made me realise I would rather die dehydrated than have to use the toilet. Always carry tissues and hand sanitizer with you in Asian countries!!!!! Even if you don't use toilets in rural Cambodia, you will definitely need these regardless of where you could be.
The driving on these buses can leave you at your wits end. You know when the driver is beeping his horn, the situation is probably likely that you are passing another car/truck/bus, and there is an oncoming vehicle that is passing another car/truck/bus, and this is only a 2 lane road. I just couldn't help myself. I would hear the tooting of the horn and look up. It was like I was torturing myself with seeing how close we get to hitting someone else. In saying that, if I am to do the same route again (which I am hoping is highly likely), I would take the bus all over again. So amazing driving along the country side, seeing all of the little houses up on stilts in the water, and the rice paddies with all of the water buffalo, and even a ride on the barge across the river.
Arrival in Phnom Penh. A lot bigger than what I had imagined, and arriving at the bus stop, my hotel pick up not there waiting like he was supposed to, already got me in a bad mood with the city. I had made friends with a German couple, and they were my saviors with the good old Lonely Planet. I had no idea where my guesthouse was! We got in to negotiations with a tuktuk driver, and they dropped my off at my place before continuing on to their room. They had mentioned that they had looked at staying at the same place, but had changed their mind to somewhere closer in to town. I wish I had been that wise. I was staying at Sunday Guesthouse, which had been one of the top picks from the LP. I wish that I had read the reviews before staying there, as it is made my time in Phnom Penh horrible. It was not close to anything, you had to take a tuktuk if you wanted to go in to the main part. And after the half an hour discussions just to get to the guesthouse in the first place, was not something that I was interested in doing. When I checked in there was no mention of the common areas, and I only found out about them after reading reviews online. Deciding I'd had a big enough day, I booked my bus to Siem Reap for early the following morning, and called it a night.
I had just booked the bus through the guesthouse ($6USD to Siem Reap), and I wish that I had booked through one of the main bus companies. Literally the only westerner on the bus, with men coming up within a metre of me at the bus stop and just staring at me. Being a girl, I cried quietly to myself for a few minutes, then told myself to harden up, put my headphones in and ignored everyone else. The bus ride was much the same as the previous day, around 6 hours, and driving no different, with the same beautiful scenery.
The bus arrived in Siem Reap a couple of hours late, and worry levels went to extreme, there were tuktuk drivers everywhere and I was thinking my hotel pickup guy wouldn't have waited around. Relief was massive as I saw a little sign with my name pop up. The last thing I feel like doing after 6-8 hours on the bus is haggle with a tuktuk driver.
Cruising through Siem Reap on the way to Rosy's Guesthouse, I already had a better feel about Cambodia. I organised going to Angkor Wat the following morning, meeting the tuktuk driver at 5am. Rosy's already feels a million times better with a bar and restaurant on the ground floor. My room is a palace compared to the previous night, and it is only $4USD more.
Bags dumped in the room and I head downstairs to the restaurant. Since I went on hunger strike on the bus, I tuck in to some Amok - the local curry and an Anchor (I always drink the local beers in the relevant country). Within an hour had made friends, and set off to Pub Street, which was a 10 minute walk down the river. Around Pub Street, there are other alley ways and streets with a range or restaurants and street food. We made our way down Pub Street, which was packed. The street is closed off and there is just people everywhere. Restaurants and clubs pumping their music out on the street. We ended up at one bar that was selling their drinks on the street and had a band outside, so it was literally a street party.
Following morning. Epic Fail. Woke up at 6.30, alarm well and truly slept through. Since I had already missed sunrise at Angkor Wat, I sleep a few more hours and then face the temples. I easily found another tuktuk driver and for $14USD we were on our way to the temples. I know that I have said this in almost every post, but arriving in to Angkor is surreal. People can spend days and days going to different areas of Angkor, I just wanted to check out the main spots. The rough tour I look was Ta Prohm (where Angelina shot Tomb Raider), Ta Keo, Terrace of Elephants, Bayon and Angkor Wat. The tombs are quite crowded and it's hard to get decent photos, but so amazing to be there. Angkor Wat is grand, with a massive moat going around tho outside, but parts of it are being renovated and they have green scaffolding around parts of it, which ruins photos. The temples and Siem Reap itself are so beautiful. I highly recommend going there. Females - wear a t-shirt and long pants though, as you are not allowed in to some of the temples if you are dressed inappropriately (speaking from experience, but just gives me a reason to go back!).
After a long day in the heat walking around, I walked myself down to get some street food and visit the night markets, to pick up some beautiful Cambodian silk scarves and other nick-naks, have a foot massage and call it a night. Next day was another early wake up call to get the bus to Bangkok.
Phnom Penh was a let down on this occasion, but I want to go back there to get a different experience from it in a better hotel. Siem Reap, my favourite place I have visited. I could have stayed there forever.
I had booked the bus to Phnom Penh through Kim's Hotel, it cost $10USD and was estimated to take around 6 hours. There are flights available, but I wanted to make the most of seeing the country side. Plus who could argue with $10?
I was picked up from the hotel around 7am, and taking to the bus and given my assigned seat. There were a few other westerners on the bus, but not that many. Gladly I was sitting next to a local girl who spoke english, so she would inform me if we had to get off because we were at the border, or if we were stopping on one of the many food/toilet breaks they like to throw in.
 |
| View from bus in Cambodia |
The border crossing was no great hassle at all, and the the bus driver took your passport and money for the Cambodian visa, and filled in the forms required and you got your passport back when you had it stamped. You really noticed it once you had crossed the border. Vietnam had been like a city the whole way to the border, hardly seeing any farm land, it was continuously shop after shop, and still hundreds of scooters. Once you got in to Cambodia, there were a few random casino's at the border (that did not look very appealing at all) and lots of farm land. We made our first stop on the bus, and having started out so early, I was starving. Hunger quickly took back seat as I walked up to the food counter, and there were about half a dozen cooked dishes, with who knew what in them, and the person serving you probably wouldn't be able to tell you - even if they could speak english. I eventually settled on a pineapple. I didn't bother stocking up on water either. Walking in to check out the toilets made me realise I would rather die dehydrated than have to use the toilet. Always carry tissues and hand sanitizer with you in Asian countries!!!!! Even if you don't use toilets in rural Cambodia, you will definitely need these regardless of where you could be.
 |
| Passing some houses on the bus |
The driving on these buses can leave you at your wits end. You know when the driver is beeping his horn, the situation is probably likely that you are passing another car/truck/bus, and there is an oncoming vehicle that is passing another car/truck/bus, and this is only a 2 lane road. I just couldn't help myself. I would hear the tooting of the horn and look up. It was like I was torturing myself with seeing how close we get to hitting someone else. In saying that, if I am to do the same route again (which I am hoping is highly likely), I would take the bus all over again. So amazing driving along the country side, seeing all of the little houses up on stilts in the water, and the rice paddies with all of the water buffalo, and even a ride on the barge across the river.
Arrival in Phnom Penh. A lot bigger than what I had imagined, and arriving at the bus stop, my hotel pick up not there waiting like he was supposed to, already got me in a bad mood with the city. I had made friends with a German couple, and they were my saviors with the good old Lonely Planet. I had no idea where my guesthouse was! We got in to negotiations with a tuktuk driver, and they dropped my off at my place before continuing on to their room. They had mentioned that they had looked at staying at the same place, but had changed their mind to somewhere closer in to town. I wish I had been that wise. I was staying at Sunday Guesthouse, which had been one of the top picks from the LP. I wish that I had read the reviews before staying there, as it is made my time in Phnom Penh horrible. It was not close to anything, you had to take a tuktuk if you wanted to go in to the main part. And after the half an hour discussions just to get to the guesthouse in the first place, was not something that I was interested in doing. When I checked in there was no mention of the common areas, and I only found out about them after reading reviews online. Deciding I'd had a big enough day, I booked my bus to Siem Reap for early the following morning, and called it a night.
I had just booked the bus through the guesthouse ($6USD to Siem Reap), and I wish that I had booked through one of the main bus companies. Literally the only westerner on the bus, with men coming up within a metre of me at the bus stop and just staring at me. Being a girl, I cried quietly to myself for a few minutes, then told myself to harden up, put my headphones in and ignored everyone else. The bus ride was much the same as the previous day, around 6 hours, and driving no different, with the same beautiful scenery.
 |
| Jordan with local kids at Pub Street |
The bus arrived in Siem Reap a couple of hours late, and worry levels went to extreme, there were tuktuk drivers everywhere and I was thinking my hotel pickup guy wouldn't have waited around. Relief was massive as I saw a little sign with my name pop up. The last thing I feel like doing after 6-8 hours on the bus is haggle with a tuktuk driver.
 |
| Street party at Pub Street |
Cruising through Siem Reap on the way to Rosy's Guesthouse, I already had a better feel about Cambodia. I organised going to Angkor Wat the following morning, meeting the tuktuk driver at 5am. Rosy's already feels a million times better with a bar and restaurant on the ground floor. My room is a palace compared to the previous night, and it is only $4USD more.
Bags dumped in the room and I head downstairs to the restaurant. Since I went on hunger strike on the bus, I tuck in to some Amok - the local curry and an Anchor (I always drink the local beers in the relevant country). Within an hour had made friends, and set off to Pub Street, which was a 10 minute walk down the river. Around Pub Street, there are other alley ways and streets with a range or restaurants and street food. We made our way down Pub Street, which was packed. The street is closed off and there is just people everywhere. Restaurants and clubs pumping their music out on the street. We ended up at one bar that was selling their drinks on the street and had a band outside, so it was literally a street party.
Following morning. Epic Fail. Woke up at 6.30, alarm well and truly slept through. Since I had already missed sunrise at Angkor Wat, I sleep a few more hours and then face the temples. I easily found another tuktuk driver and for $14USD we were on our way to the temples. I know that I have said this in almost every post, but arriving in to Angkor is surreal. People can spend days and days going to different areas of Angkor, I just wanted to check out the main spots. The rough tour I look was Ta Prohm (where Angelina shot Tomb Raider), Ta Keo, Terrace of Elephants, Bayon and Angkor Wat. The tombs are quite crowded and it's hard to get decent photos, but so amazing to be there. Angkor Wat is grand, with a massive moat going around tho outside, but parts of it are being renovated and they have green scaffolding around parts of it, which ruins photos. The temples and Siem Reap itself are so beautiful. I highly recommend going there. Females - wear a t-shirt and long pants though, as you are not allowed in to some of the temples if you are dressed inappropriately (speaking from experience, but just gives me a reason to go back!).
After a long day in the heat walking around, I walked myself down to get some street food and visit the night markets, to pick up some beautiful Cambodian silk scarves and other nick-naks, have a foot massage and call it a night. Next day was another early wake up call to get the bus to Bangkok.
Phnom Penh was a let down on this occasion, but I want to go back there to get a different experience from it in a better hotel. Siem Reap, my favourite place I have visited. I could have stayed there forever.
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| Looking of Angkor Wat from the hot air balloon |
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| Tomb Raider shot! |
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| Ta Keo. Very hot after climbing all those stairs to the top! |
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| Angkor Wat |
