Blogs from Siem Reap, North, Cambodia, Asia - page 9

Wednesday 6 March 2018 Alarm set for 6 am. We both got some sleep and the alarm duly went off. We had packed most things last night apart from the things we needed this morning. The beauty of this trip is that we are only away for 3 days / 2 nights. Also we are keeping the room for that time, so can travel at minimal level, making life very easy. We showered, got ready and left the room at 6.40 am. Down to the ferry and a little jog at the end to catch the ferry and off straight away. Across the river and up to the Skytrain. The train was busy, but we were heading out of town, so the people reduced the further out we went. We changed at Siam to go to ... read more

While in Siem Reap I have been staying at the Onederz Hostel. The combination of the hostel and the city have made everything such an easy introduction to Cambodia. It is a large hostel and the lobby is full of backpackers of all ages milling about. It is kind of fun to see their joy and sense of discovery. However, over the years I have done the backpacker social thing so many times that the thrill of it has worn off for me. It is nice to find some kindred spirits especially at the end of a long day, but more and more the only social thing that interests me is getting out, meeting and getting to know the locals. Pub Street, the center of town, is such a tourist centric madcap area that the only ... read more

After a short flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, where I spent my initial night in country, I found myself in the domestic terminal having to make my first decision: taxi or open air tuk-tuk. Easy. Tuk-tuk it is. I wanted to feel Cambodia. Listening to Cambodian band Dengue Fever’s CD “Deepest Lake” I whizzed through outer rings of the city towards the hostel where I was to be staying. The colors, fragrances, heat, and otherworldly tunes filtering through me were intoxicating. I was back in Southeast Asia. When the tuk-tuk arrived at the hostel the driver tried to upsell me on the many wonderful tours he could take me on during my stay. No thanks, friend. And I vanished into the hostel. It was large and busy with a very young smiley Cambodian staff. ... read more

Cambodia Day3. Angkor. Up at 6am. Breakfast at 6.30 and away at 7.45. Warm, sunny start onto the chaotic roads full of litter, dust, bricks, bikes, scooters, remorques pulling all sorts of people and goods. The remorques are scooters pulling trailers with the coupling over the rear of the saddle. Whilst the roads were of potholed tarmac it got worse with pure dirt and holes which would lose a dog in and then soft sand which could make your front wheel go to places not intended. Several single tracks were also encountered with. Varying degrees of intricacy to test the best of riders. The Angkor temples were visited after buying a three day ticket for $65US. The temples were built between the 9th and 15th centuries and were then left to decay until relatively recently and ... read more

Today our crew set up in a local school, and it was by far the hottest and most humid day! I was shocked at how much sweat the human body can produce. I was drenched half the day, and tried my best to stay as hydrated as possible (and eating salty snacks). And thank goodness for the krama (traditional scarf) our hotel owner gave us as gifts (we also got two from our food tour!). They have so many uses, and we primarily used them to wipe our faces and wrap our heads to stay cool! Not too mention they're just beautiful. It's amazing to see what their school conditions are like. I took a lot of pictures of the walls and the blackboard, covered in Khmer chalk words and vocabulary posters. Kids go to school ... read more