Easy rider tour, Vietnam- Phnom Penh, Cambodia- Long blog!

Well guys this is going to be a long blog, i had written one yesterday about the easy rider tour but the computer killed it when i pressed publish so you can get the last 6 days in one blog...oh my...how time has flown...
The Easy Rider Tour!
Similar to the rest of Vietnam, when my driver picked me up from the hostel in Nha Trang...it was raining (absolutely peeing it down)...no worries we got kitted out top to tail in waterproofs and headed first to see a temple where i wandered round with some girls telling me stuff- they said they weren't guides just at school there...then my driver (Tuy) and i headed out into the central highlands where the weather proceeded to get better and we stopped for a much needed caffeine break...i seem to have had a bizarre liking for vietnamese coffee with condensed milk...very nice. The views were stunning through the jungle and you could see the differences in the jungle from where the American army had destroyed it and it hasn't had a chance to grow back...we carried on through the jungle and surprisingly i didn't have too much of a numb bum from 7-8hrs on a bike but we did stop many times for a wander and him a cigarette break (he did try to convince me that i should have one as cheap over there...random but i just was like no thanx, i will survive without). Where as in the cities you have a million and one other motorbikes to dodge, in the countryside you have dogs and cattle crossing- they were obviously not taught to look left and right (or is that right then left...).
We then got to the homestay in the Long Hut tribal village where we were staying...plenty of good food and we played a card game called Arsehole...i did win a few times but he had obviously played it too much lol. Had an early night after a few beers.
The next day, we woke up bright and early for a elephant ride which took myself and another english guy (from another easy rider staying in the village) through the village and the lake which was next to the village. The elephant obviously had a sense of humour and rebellious attitude- definately female in which the english guy agreed...in the lake she dunked herself under twice- luckily only getting our feet wet but completely covering her and also took to refusing to eat when it was breakfast time...
After breakfast, we then set off again and stopped off at a brick factory, a catholic church- one of the originals but its mainly destroyed now. We then had a refreshment stop with some sugar cane juice lying in hammocks- that is the life...well would be but i am not so keen on hammocks really lol.
We then went into a town which had a long hut community living within it and there was a long hut church as well. They also keep a window open if they have a daughter still available.
Strangely within the tribe the women buy the men with cows and buffalo which are given to the parents of the husband and they have to accept and the woman barter for how much he is worth. After this though, she is the boss and in control...
We went to some waterfalls, i remember the name of one was Dray Sap waterfall and we stayed in a guesthouse next to another waterfall.
The next day we went to see a bee farm- thats not a job i want, they are not provided with the protection you see on the tv. We also travelled along the border of Vietnam and Cambodia and saw some abadoned army huts which also were linked together with tunnels but they were closed up now and not in use.
He commented that alot of people still smuggle stuff from Cambodia through the jungle, very dangerous and high cost if caught.
We stayed in a small town that night where i was woken up by drumming and bells bright and early but no worries i could still doze through it.
The final day we went to some more temples including another religion- think it was called Bua Cap...interesting as includes all the religions.
We then watched how rice paper was made and finally made our way to Saigon...
I think i was officially vietnamesed out. The people were nice and i was very much a rarerity in the country side. White skin is treasured and very much wanted by people and some people took my photo and some blokes called me 'a beautiful lady''- also took pictures i am told to show there wife who they met- could you imagine the scandal if that happened back in england...
My last night in Vietnam and only night in Saigon, i chilled out with an australian bloke with a few beers and some lovely food.
Definately felt like leaving to go to Cambodia, Vietnam was nice but i just enjoyed Laos and Thailand more.
I had booked on the bus to go to Phnom Penh for 9am and they nicely picked me up from my hostel at 8.40- right on time.
The bus ride was a bit annoying...Had a fidgetty kid who couldnt keep still and the mother had obviously only paid for one seat and so there were 3 of us on the 2 seats- how did i pick the short straw.... After the border she picked up another child (As you do) and that girl sat on the middle seat at the back but then after some argument there was then 4 of us on 2 seats then after more argument the kid went to sit in the middle again at the back with the guy in charge of the bus not happy and myself about to bang my head on the window (i love kids really)...
Well then the kid that was sitting next to me and her mum went to play with her friend at the back...they also had manky bananas which when they were unpeeled had a disgusting smell to them...fun times!
Well arrived in Phnom Penh and 2 girls i had met on the bus and myself headed to a guesthouse that was recommended to me in Saigon.
We then headed out to the river front for a wander (we are located next to it) and for dinner.
My then maternal feelings for a boy came out...the poor boy went from absolute delight with the thought that my friend would buy a book to crying when she said she would only pay $3- supposedly he buys them for $3.50...he originally tried to sell for $20...well in one day i went from hating kids to feeling so sorry for him and myself and my friend bought a book for $4...admittedly i did want one about the troubles that hit Vietnam...we had such a guilty conscience about the poor boy...he may have been a very good actor but i have not seen someone go from soo happy to breaking into tears...bless the boy.
Today we got a tuk tuk driver and went to see the Museum at the high school and watched the documentary...very interesting and definately worth seeing even if very shocking...i thought so worth while. We then went to see the killing fields- also worth while...not a happy day but an interesting and worthwhile day...we definately are feeling the effects of a day out so the girls have headed in for a siesta.
We also went to the russian market for some good ol' bartering.
Hopefully this will work this time otherwise i may just cry.
Off to Siem Reap tomorrow bright and early at 7am...the girls are on a similar time scale to me in needing to rush through to go to the full moon party but are flying out on the 7th to Bangkok where as i am thinking of 8th on the bus to bangkok. Meeting a friend in Siam Reap too and we are travelling together to the full moon party where we are staying on Samui and getting the boat across.
Speak soon,
Hope everyone is well...will try to update again soon but internet here is rather dodgy and i am told it gets worst outside of PP.
xxxxxx

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