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It's been such a long time since I have updated our blog, we have been so busy and also have lacked computers in the remote places that we have visited. I am going to have to skip the rest of our stories from Vietnam (for now!!) and tell you all about Cambodia, as we are leaving tomorrow for Bangkok!!
We arrived in Cambodia on 1st April and headed straight to Phnom Penh. It was such a contrast to Saigon (Vietnam) as the streets were dusty and the roads had loads of 4X4's and Lexus' compared to Vietnam where there were only a few cars but hundreds of mopeds. Looking out of our hostel window we saw a monkey jumping along the corrugated iron rooftops!! Whilst in the capital we visited the central market and Russian markets (many times!!!!) and managed to grab loads of bargains. We visited the Killing fileds and S21 Museum, where we learnt about the Khmer Rouge and the horrific crimes against humanity that were commited. On our final day we visited the Royal palace which was spectacular with vivid gold and blue roof tiles and lush gardens.
On the 4th we headed south, to the beach!! We stayed in the town of Sihanoukville, but not along the main beach (or strip which a Malia feel about it) we instead chose to stay on Otres beach which was a couple of kilometers away. After a bumpy Tuk Tuk ride along a dusty track we arrived at our hostel Footprints. It was on a remote beach; blue sea, white sands, windswept trees and beautiful sunsets. We spent a good 4 days enjoying some delicious western meals, such as a lush Carbonara and gralic bread, reading and sunbathing on the beach, and sipping mango smoothies. Unfortunately much of my time was spent in the shade, reading Shantaram, as my Cambodian suncream failed to perform, so I was burnt yet again!! Our trip was made to feel alot more rustic by the frequent powercuts, leaving us to spend boiling nights "sleeping" with no fans, and the water which came out of the taps a little bit brown!!!
Our next stop was the little island, a 2 hour ferry ride from the coast, called Koh Rong. It had a a few bungalows and restuarants scattered around the pier, but other than that the island was unspoilt. We spent our time in a hillside bungalow, which we shared with more than a few creepy crawlies, and it lacked a shower!! On our first afternoon there we decided to seek a remote beach and after about an hour of rock climbing and jumping between rock pools, we found a stretch of white sand which went as far as the eye could see, and had a grand total of 4 people on it. We headed here the next day but this time made our way there via a jungle path! In the evening we had the most AMAZING red snapper BBQ, which was the best piece of BBQ fish I have ever tasted!! Our trip was made even more exciting by the thunderstroms that came at night. The clouds were highlighted by white flashes, the rain monsooned down, and the thunder was so lound it rumbled your bones!!! Whilst on the island I spent an hour voulunteering in the local english school, where i helped to teach a girl some basic english such as the alphabet - it was alot harder than i thought especially as i couldn't really communicate with her as I don't speak Khmer!!
After getting back to the mainland we headed to Kampot. We visited the mountain village of Bokor, which used to have a National Park and ruins of a french collonial town, but has now unfortunatey started to be developed into a luxary 5* resort. We visited an amazing waterfall, and it was made even more special by all of the Cambodian families playing in the water, as they were visiting as part of their new year celebrations. The day ended with a sunset boat ride down the river, which was a lovely way to relax after our day in the minibus! Next stop was the little seaside town of Kep, which is famous for its crab market. We had the most amazing crab dish with capsicum, Kampot pepper, onion and green pepper and ate it in a resturant on silts over the sea whilst watching the sunset! The next day we visited Rabbit island, which we nearly didn't get to as the ferries were full due to new year!!!! We had to spend another night in Kampot as because of Khmer Happy New Year all of the buses to Siem Reap were booked!! We stayed in a riverside bungalow where they held a special new year celebration. We saw traditional dancing, heard a local band and played with the children as they threw talcum powder over us as a ritural to celebrate the new year!
We finally got a bus to Siem Reap on the 18th. We arrived at our hostel, Garden Village, which we had been reccomended by loads of people that we had met in Cambodia. We were suprised that it wasn't amazing as it had been made out to be - not sure the bathroom has been cleaned in the past decade, but the food is good and a bed for $4 a night we can't complain!! Whilst in Siem Reap we have visited both the night and day market, which is dangerous as my bag is nearly full and we still have Bangkok to come!! Yesterday we saw the sunset at Angkor Wat and today we saw the rest of the temples. We woke at 4:30am to see the sunrise and then spent 9 hours touring the various temples by tuk tuk, my favourites being Bayon with the carved faces and Ta Prohm (tomb raider temple) where the roots of the trees have crept throught the gaps in the stones of the temple and the roots have formed hanging webs of wood. After an exhausting morning we had a well deserved ice cream stop at the bakery which we had been eyeing up but failed to enter as it was rather pricey (rocky road, coffe and cramel cashew were my choices) and chilled writing postcards.
We have had the most amazing time in Cambodia, the people are as everyone describes, so friendly. With all of the tuk tuk drivers calling you miss and the market sellers calling you sister and them all going out oof their way to help you. We have seen a dramatic range of landscape, from the paradise of the islands, to the lush jungles and mountains to the bustling cities. We will be sad to leave in the morning, but we are so looking forward to Thailand and the new experiences that our next stop on our trip holds!!!!
Hope you are still awake after this massive essay, lots of love Celia xxx
- comments
Ana :) xxxxx SOUNDS AMAZING !!! I am so jealoous, here I am revising ! haha, eating on stilts andd corrrr sounds like you are having the adventure of your life ! Enjoy your next stops!
anna hunt sounds incredible. wow!
James Reed Sounds absolutely fantastic! Don't know if you're going to Chang Mai, but the markets are great there and cheaper than Bangkok.
Celia so glad you said that as after saving all of our shopping for Bangkok, we are so disappointed as the markets were loads better and cheaper in Cambodia and Vietnam!! Heading to Chiang Mai tomorrow!!!
Nelly hello , still making the most of it , great, I do agree on the Kampot Crab dish , this was amazing. If you fly back from Bangkok, try to go to the Chatuchak market at the week end. still some good bargains and even better one market near the Baitoke tower. ( not sure of the name but similar . they have a lift to go at the top and the view is impressive ) then you have the market in the early evening but size XXL is still small to occidental standards. However i agree even cheaper in Cambodia .Enjoy Thailand. xxx Nelly
Annie Celia..so pleased your having afreat time cant wait for the blog about the tigers and diving in Thailand! Have seen one photo that looks amazing