Same same but different
Trip Start
Jun 01, 2008
1
4
40
Trip End
Aug 27, 2008
Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
Friday, June 6, 2008
So we changed our minds and decided to head straight to CAmbodia's Capital Phnom Penh. The goal to go to Battambang was to take the boat there as it is supposed to be one of Cambodia's nicest scenery but it is not the rainy season yet so the boat ride was not too certain and the water level in teh river is pretty low. We asked a couple of locals and they didn't recommend so we figured it wasn't a good idea. So the bus trip to Phnom Pehn was much smoother than our taxi ride ( no dog was hit this time!!) but still very different than North America driving. Here, the honk is used at ALL times to signal to people that you are coming on the left and that they have to move right.
So arrived to the capital, we got a tuk-tuk to bring us directly to a guesthouse on the lake side. It was a pretty chill area with lots of hippies. We arrived around 3 pm so we thought it was too late to visit anything in the city. Instead we just went to get some food in the area and chilled on our dock over the lake and watched the sunset.
The next morning, we had our tuk-tuk driver to pick us up to do some serious tourism. First we stopped at the shooting range where Sean shot a AK47. I didn't shoot anything, more of a guy thing I guess. We then headed to the Killing Fields where thousands of Cambodian were buried and killed during the Pol Pot regime. We also visited the S-21 museum which was a prison during the same time. It was pretty sad to see all that had happened and all those people killed under the regime for really no reason.
After lunch, we then headed to the royal palace to see the king's multiple houses. Quite nice site, very nice buildings! And then we finished the day by walking back to our hostel along the river side. We also saw monkeys on one temple in the middle of the town.
This morning, we went to two markets downtown where you can find pretty much anything you are looking for. Sean got a very authentic Lacoste polo for 5$. We also tasted some pretty tasty food from the different stands in the markets. After that, we headed back to our hotel to take a bus to Sihanoukville, in the South-West Cambodia. It's on the beach and apparently pretty calm compared to Thailand beaches. We took our first scooter ride to the hotel and I must say pretty cool. I feel more comfortable scooting around in a little city like this than Phnom Pehn where it is complete chaos in the streets! This reminds me of yesterday when Sean and I wanted to cross a main street but couldn't go because the traffic was so heavy, 10 minutes, a local finally had to cross the street and we followed him...who knows how much longer we would have waited.
So far Cambodia is pretty cool except for the fact taht we feel like Hollywood stars everywhere we go. People circles you around to try and give you a ride anywhere or kids surrounds as well. Everyone is trying to get a bit of your money!! Also, it is REALLY HOT, never quite experienced that heat ever. Sometimes, we will just go in stores to get some AC going!!
So tomorrow, we will get our Vietnam Visas and enjoy the beach! After a couple days here, we will head to Ho CHI Min City in Vietnam.
Hope all is well back home!!
Erica
Comments
Hello
Good to hear you guys are having a good time! It sounds awesome over there. Good luck crossing the rest of the streets.
Chris