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On the 20th April I arrived at the hotel which was the meeting point for my indochina tour, which goes around Cambodia, Vietnam and Loas. For the record im writing this a fair bit of time after it happened so may be more like a list of what ive done as i dont remember all the details.
Checked into my room and met my room mate Hayley, and we both headed down to meet the rest of the group. The group leader, Charly greeted us, hes french and lived in loas for the last 3 years and as it turns out is great fun as he soon became one of the group. There was 15 people on the tour, 2 gap year girls traveling together and a norweegian couple but other than that all lone travelers from a number of contrys but most from england.
We had a meal, and got to know each other a little but called it an early night for an early start in the morning to the Thai Cambodia boarder.
We crossed the boarder the next day without any trouble, was very greatful for charly so we actually new what to do, as getting the visa was kinda complicated and it was SOOO HOT! Just walking around was hard work. We then had another bus to Siem Reap where we were to stay the next couple of days.
Dinner that night was at a local Cambodian house, after taking a crazy tuttut (really was crazy, we had to go though dirt roads to get there and they took it at speed). We ate outside on the floor and had some of the best food ive had so far, we got to talk to the family and all the little kids running around, they were all very friendly and cute. We then went with the family to alocal steet party where they were celebrating a belated new year (chinese calendar) It was cringy to say the least with some interesting dancing but there were lots of very cute kids. As we arrived the music cut out as apparently an 85year old in the village was dying and they turned off the music out of respect, it was all a little bizar and they were just waiting for her to die to start up again.
Next day we woke up at 5am (killer) to watch the sun rise over one of the temples, it was pretty gorgeous at it rose over the temple above a lake. We headed back to bed, but then left again at 8am for a full tour around all the temples, first we went to a very tall hindu one (which was a hell of a climb especally in the heat) but a beautiful view from the top. Then we went to a flat budist one (same one that tomb raider was filmed in) where the trees grew from the top of the temple and roots dangled down, which was pretty kl too. Lastly we went to an area of lots of them, first was one with lots and lots of budist heads carved onto lots of pillar things, the other ones after this were ok but we were all nackered by this point it was soo hot was we called it a day early and headed back. We stoped inbetween temples for lunch was tastey again and we even tried ants which werent actually too bad. At one of the temples there was also monkeys on the was in, they are evil creatures and what ever you do do not get eye contact! Not know this i did and following the great time i had had with other animals so far one of them decided to chase me down the street, i was not happy!! lol The younger monkeys were cute tho and started climbing up Hayleys and Jess's trouseres.
That night we had our feet biten by fish, it was ok..ish but our fish were really big and just went for our feet which really wasnt so nice but did have lovely feeling feet by the end of it. We then looked around the night market, it was very pretty and Joy (my new roommate, for some reson they switched us) and i got a few nice things, already knowing we were probably in trouble with the amount of pretty things and spending too much we didnt stay too long, we heading off for drinks and dinner. That night we all went out for a pretty big night which was actually really nice to break the ice a little bit and all get to know each other, was good fun.
Next day we took a public bus to Phnom Penh, the capital of cambodia. In cambodian the buses have a telly with cambodian karrioki, shouting out from all the speakers, its sooo loud and cambodian music is very waleish anyway it was pretty awful.
Next day we had a tour around S21 (Cambodian prison turing Pal Pot) and the killing fields. Before arriveing in Cambodia i had no idea what happened here (only 30years ago) and it makes me kinda sad just how ignorant i was, a third of the cambodian population was killed by they're own leader. Anyone who had an education, skilled or considered higher in society was murdered. As were there entire familys (children and babys were wacked against trees till they died or chucked in the air and landing on spicks...it was horrible) In the killing fields there was a 7story tower just of the skls of those found in the mass gravel..). After this very cheerful day we didnt stay out late we actually went to another home stay meal was just as tastey as the first and we also tried tarancua rice wine was very strong and all murkey coloured by the taranculars. That night it chucked it down, thankfully my tutut made it back but the others got stranded in the middle of crossroads and they had to get out and push (the water and dirt was up to their knees)
We took another public bus to Sihanoukville. This was a beach town and it was nice to relax a bit and cool down by the sea. The day we arrived we stayed by the main beach just 200yards from our hotel. It was nice but the whole time we were harrised by sellers and manicurist and pedecurists and masooses. Everywhere in Cambodia there are sooo many children selling on the street, you get told not to buy anything as it rewards them for staying out of school but its still pretty sad to see. That night we had our meal on the beach and another big night out along the bars on the beach.
Next day we headed to a private beach where we were pratically alone! It was gorgeous.
That was our last day in Cambodia as the next day we heading for the Vietnam boarder.
- comments
Netta Hi Helena, Keep it going,- it is so nice to hear about the travels and what you see and do. Are you practicing your Norwegian too?
Anne Hei Helena Veldig morsomt å lese om reiseeventyret ditt. Jeg skriver på norsk slik at mamma ser at du praktiserer norsken din! Ønsker deg fortsatt spennende reise
Dani Heyyy :) Wow sounds amazing! im so jealous of youu..im sat here trying to revise for an exam, and failing soo bad. i Cant wait till you come back, your going to be so tanned! im gonna head for the sunbeds and PRAY that i tan hahaaa. Love you xxx