29.04.09 - We spent a few days in Kathmandu. I was surprised by the fact that the capital had daily power cuts, but it now seems that these are par for the course anywhere in Nepal. They have some kind of schedule but the power does seem to be on really odd times. Our first hostel had no water either so, after camping out at the airport, we had a really stellar time still not being able to shower. Much of the time in Kathmandu was spent looking around Durbar Square, which has so many wonderful temples (many of which I [View Full Entry]

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We'd already been to Singapore and we just had one night before our flight. We checked into our ridiculously overpriced, tiny hotel in the Arab quarter (which did look very pretty lit up at night) before grabbing food and heading off to Raffles for a Singapore Sling, where we were to met some friends. Unfortunately we got off at the wrong tube spot - we had no guide so figured Raffles would be at Raffles Place (it isn't). Therefore we were fifteen minutes late and didn't meet up, which was a real shame. In any event, I felt totally out of [View Full Entry]

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We caught an early bus from PP to HCM and had a very short amount of time here so we had to fit a lot in. A lot of food, that is, as we decided we could never see anything meaningful in a half day trip. So we had pho for lunch (along with a Vietnamese beer!), which was nice but a bit bland for a national dish. Although possibly we just had a bad one! Then after walking around the tourist district as well as a big mall complex, where we had horrible Vietnamese coffee and cold green tea (I [View Full Entry]

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From Pursat we get a bus here. When we get dropped off in KC, I am astounded that there are no tuktuks or motos waiting. And the walk is once more killer in the heat to the hostel. We are in KC to see the floating villages. We spoke to our hostel owner and he advised to go later in the day so that the heat isn't quite so overwhelming, which we do. We had our own boat (which isn't that environmentally friendly I know), and we chug slowly past all the villages. I feel part voyeur, part zoo goer but [View Full Entry]

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21.04.09 - We go to Pursat mostly because not many people go to Pursat. And indeed the local people do seem surprised to see us! I'm all smug until we go to our hostel of choice and there's only one free room. SOMEONE must be here! Anyway, after almost passing out from the heat of carrying our bags as we get lost on the way to our next hostel, we settle in a room, bask in the ac and then head out for lunch in Magic Fish restaurant. This is in a great spot overlooking the river and the dam (built [View Full Entry]

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19.04.09 - Our first day in Battambang we relax in the morning, and then hire two guys as moto drivers in the afternoon. The names they give us, Chin Chin and Tin Tin, are hysterical but probably not their real names. The tour is four hours in the hot sunshine, but it is made better by detours through all the shady back roads, where the children look like they don't often see tourists (as they all yell hello) and you get a real glimpse of rural Cambodian life. We stop for a snake - a rice and raisin concoction, steamed in [View Full Entry]

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16.04.09 - We get an early bus from Kampot to Kep, and arrive in mid morning. It's still the New Year and so still very busy. We have lunch in the crab market, right on the waterfront. Elliott and I really indulge and order a giant fish and a platter of the biggest prawns I've ever seen. Add in a splash of Kampot pepper sauce (delicious, and something which no self-respecting French kitchen would have been without in its heyday, apparently) and I'm in heaven. Slightly ruined by the restaurant owners throwing their rubbish directly into the sea. Cambodians have the [View Full Entry]

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14.04.09 - Our first day in Kampot is uneventful - we walk around town, look at the river, the bridges (which the Kep revival guide does mention as high points), the statues. There's nothing in particular to see but it's nice nonetheless. The next day however is my birthday! Iain had carried a care package from home, so I get my own little cake with 2-6 candles, as well as cards and an eye watering photo of my family holding up a "Happy Birthday" sign. We're booked on a trip to see Bokor National Park, which is only open for the [View Full Entry]

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08.04.09 - Our first day is spent by the pool. Yes, we have a hotel with a pool. It is a luxury and then, after ten minutes of sunbathing, a necessity. It is so hot that you could fry a steak on the pavement, let alone an egg! I of course pink nicely in any spot I missed with suntan lotion, but other than that the day goes okay. We have great seafood for dinner at the New Sea View villa, then go to bed. The next day is spent on a boat. There is just us and another 'couple' - [View Full Entry]

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02.04.9 When we arrive in Siem Reap from PP, it's mid afternoon. We therefore settle into our hotel (grandly called the Angkor Hilton) and head off to get our three day pass before the tumultous rush up Phnom Bakheng with every other tourist from a ten mile vicinity. I'm not sure why anyone actually goes up there, as it was the most underwhelming moment of my three days in Siem Reap (as well as the sweatiest and most touristed), and definitely not a good start to sightseeing there as we all feel as if we're in for a big disappointment. Fortunately [View Full Entry]

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