Cambodia

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This leg of the trip has been non stop sightseeing with a bit more sun! Weather is Cambodia has been amazing compared to Laos, around 34 degrees everyday and super humid. The hair does not appreciate haha...

started out by crossing the Laos border and going into Siem Reap, which is northern Cambodia. Spent a few nights there, where we learned real fast the word no. There is an abundance of beggars, mostly children and motorcycle drivers which are absolutely overwhelming. You step off the bus and have almost 50 men yelling at you... a huge change from Thailand & Laos, where the people are friendly but not too pushy.

In Siem Reap spent a full day visiting the temples of Angor Wat. For the whole tour I was under the impression it was one of the seven wonders of the world... learned when i was leaving i was wrong haha. but these temples top anything else i've seen in asia... no more gold but alot of rocks built as faces and amazing temples. We hired a tuk tuk driver for the day ($15 US), and he drove us around from temple to temple. Angor Wat is the major temple, but there are hundreds more you can visit... we only spent a day, but some people spend a week. you need to get rides from place to place or you just wouldn't see enough... again an abundance of beggars. These temples are worth coming to Cambodia... so glad I got to see them!

From Siem Reap took a 12 hr bus ride south to the town of Sihanoukville, which was amazing! Well not the bus ride that plays local Karaokee the whole way... loud. We got to celebrate Chinese New Year with all the locals, plus a few thousand other cambodians who flocked to the town. There's about 5 great beaches in Sihanoukville. Serendipity Beach was amazing because it was so big... but so many people for the new year. I was getting some crazy stares from the locals... many of them are from small towns that don't get any backpackers... I opened my eyes on the beach to a kid taking my picture haha... definitely different in cambodia! I guess i know what they feel like now!? Spent my bday in Sihanoukville which was amazing... all bdays should be spent on the beach in asia! beer was $1 a pint, so that always makes for a good night 😊

From Sihanoukville took a 4 hour bus ride to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. More karaoke and screaming kids but I made it! Today spent the day touring the city with a great tuk tuk driver... the traffic in cambodia is something i can't really describe... you usually spent your time holding your breath or looking up so you dont freak out too much. lanes aren't really lanes, lights aren't really lights and you really go whatever direction you want. Spent the day visiting the Killing Fields and S-21 (school turned into prison) by Khemer Rouge in the late 70's. Really intense day... watched the movie called Killing Fields to gain a better understanding of what went on... Phnom Penh is really historic with all the graves and prison intact, but still depressing at the amount of poverty. And garbage... I was shocked at the abundance of garbage...

Leaving for Vietnam on weds the 13th ... awaiting our Visa's for vietnam before we can go!

Cheers
Jenna

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Photos

Angor Wat
Main temple Angor Wat

Shooting Range
Learned how to shoot a gun at the range... $12 got me a Rugger. I asked for the easiest one to fire lol... So proud I actually hit the paper!

S-21
High School turned into prison camp by Khemer Rouge. Classrooms turned into cells, enclosed by barb wire.

Sihanoukville
Spent an extra night here because it was so relaxing! Great sand and water is amazing

Comments

[leahroncesvalles]

i can't belive you're there!!!
Jenna I still can't believe you're there and i'm stuck here lol...i'm so jealous of the 34 degrees weather!! we've had like 3 snow storms in the past couple weeks!! haha but you're hair looks surprisingly good in the pics haha...the Siem Reap temple sounds amazing i can't wait to see your pics!! and in the shooting range pic what's a rugger?? Ohh and FIVE beaches...i wish i could be on just one right now haha and of course it doesn't surprised me that a kid took your pic lol...probably was thinking "ooh a beautiful tall blond american" lol....and the S-21 looks really interesting and it sounds like you're learning a lot from being there!!...well keep staying safe and having fun!! i miss ya and love ya lots!!=D

[Tanta Pattie]

You are incredible
Your blog is fabulous . I finally got the chance to catch up on your blog. It is the greatest. Couldn"t sing Happy Birthday to you like i usually do but I was thinking of you. Have you been able to connect with Joe and Anne in Vietnam. joe said they were going to get visas so they could see you there. Have a great time. Love Tanta pattie.