Rainy season and tropical Islands don't mix

Hey Everyone,

We're in Koh Chang, but I'm kind of playing catch up with the blog since I stopped the last one when we just arrived in Phnom Penh. I'm already starting to forget certain things so I think now is as good a time as any to continue.

When the taxi dumped us near the river we looked at a hotel that we didn't like. Upon exiting the hotel as usual tuk tuk drivers starting harassing us for a ride. With no energy to refuse the persistent tuk tuk drivers, we decided to take a very cute looking one up on his offer to take us around looking for hotels for free (He gets a commission at certain hotels so it’s worth it for him).
Mr. Sam Nong ended up being a great guy and an expert at weaving through the busy Cambodian traffic. He offered to take us allover the next day for a fair price. He took us to the Killing fields, the Tuong Sleng Museum, Russian and central markets, and waited patiently for us at every place, except at the killing fields when we came back and he had gotten on the back of another tuk tuk and gone to lunch. Also, at the museum we walked out and he wasn't there. Other tuk tuk drivers started telling us that he took another customer. We didn't believe them because they often lie just to get you to ride with them somewhere they can get commission. It ended up being true. We found out at this moment that Mr. Sam Nong was one of the most well known Tuk tuk drivers in Phnom Penh. All the drivers knew him and one of them called him on his cell phone. We ended up getting a free ride to an intersection where Sam was waiting for us.
When we told Sam that we were going to Siem Riep he hooked us up with his buddy who drives a tuk tuk there. He called him and had him stand holding a sign with our names on it at the bus station when the Mekong Express Limousine arrived. The service was great on this bus; they even gave us a nice lunch for free.

Mr. John Yim was a very friendly and a little shy. He hadn't driven a tuk tuk for long and we could tell, because he didn't maneuver around the potholes like we were accustomed to from driving with Sam and he was very shy about asking and taking money (not at all like the other tuk tuk drivers, especially in Bangkok). John took us to a great hotel where he got commission and we got a nice room. Then he drove us around Siem Riep a little to check out the amazing hotels and finally dumped us at what we thought was a disco, but ended up being more of a Karaoke bar for young Cambodians.

The next day was Ankor day and the pictures speak for themselves. An amazing place with a history so rich and so much to see that you could spend a week just marveling at how this ever was created. We decided to do it in a day, because we wanted to get back to Bangkok.

I'm almost caught up, but I'm going to continue next time.

No pics this time, sorry. next time!

Love yall

Elinor and Ishai

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