Arriving into Phnom Penh we were expecting a somewhat different sight to that of what we were seeing. With more sides to it than a rubix cube, we found Cambodia's capital to be exotic, chaotic, compulsive and somewhat repulsive. I suppose it's like marmite in a way, you either love it or hate it!
Having trawled around two progressively bettering guesthouses, we finally decided to stay at a place called OKAY Guesthouse, the best we could find in our price range but suitable for all our needs...... quiet at night, atmospheric in the day and ram packed with Tuk Tuk drivers dedicated to drive you round the bend and up the wall!
Our 3 full days here were as usual packed full of sight seeing, drinking and soaking up the heat, managing to pack in the sights of the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda, a trip round the National Museum, the shocking natures of the Tuol Sleng Musuem & Killing fields of Choeung Ek, the dizzy heights of Wat Phnom (joke) and many more temples, relics and cultural monuments. For a country so young into its tourist trade and packed with starving, homeless children, it sure does spend on some elaborate and ornate buildings!
Although we enjoyed our time here, it was somewhat of a hard hitting experience taking in exactly what had happened throughout the Khmer Rouge and also seeing the state at which certain things were in. One thing we regret but found extensively hard was our failure to do any volunteer work. Riddled with corrupt scams and the fact that we were trying to be charged $75 to some volunteer work for the afternoon aswell as our time, we somewhat reluctantly declined and felt bad for doing so. However, at least we can say we tried!
One special mention does go out however to Oscar at his self title named bar opposite our hotel where we spent many a night propping up the bar, endulging in great conversations and killing off any willing victims on the somewhat edgy pool table.
Being picked up at 7am on our fourth day here to the sound of a gangsta rap blarring mini bus, yet still trying to adjust to live without the late Michael Jackson (thanks for the text Gav), we set out to endure a 6 hour bus ride (cockroaches inc) before finally arriving in Siem Reap.
Known as the life support machine to Angkor's indiginous Temples, we were eagerly anticipating our stay here. Hooking up from the start with Vantha, our very own Tuk Tuk driver for our entire stay, we settled into an adequate guesthouse just off the main strip. A loveable and quant place, we found Siem Reap packed with both bars and restaurants of varying standards. Whilst one night raving about the quality of food in one Khmer restaurant we returned a few nights later to encounter a bad experience with Jo subsequently enduring 4 days of food poisoning. Not Nice! Apart from this, enjoying great nights out at Angkor What? bar (see the t-shirt) and Temple Bar where we watched some strange Khmer Apsara dancing and had good food, we drank ourselves late into the nights before rising early at 4am to take in sunrise, sunset and great times at the amazing temples of Angkor.
Spanning across two whole days, we took in both the smaller and larger circles, climbing and trekking around some of the National heritage's finest structures. Favourites included the massive Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider & Indiana Jones) & also the Bayon temple but with our informative and all round great guy/guide/driver, we did experience some great things here. Although we probably spent longer than expected here due to Jo's unexpected illness, we did at least meet some cool people (locals and backpackers), however the need for new adventures, air con & a bug free room (no toads, lizards, spiders, ants, beatles, mossies or general life) were much needed. All I can say is roll on Bangkok, if only for a few days before getting lost in Laos!
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