Journal Day 26 - Phnom Penh

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Phom Penh.

Arrived in Phnom penh at about 5:30 in the morning. Woken up by Kaia in the seat in front stating 'We're here!' I must've been completely asleep since the last stop which was good but meant I then had to drag all my stuff off the bus half asleep.
Not everybody got off the bus here but we were told we had no choice. Once off the bus we realised it wasn't the official bus station at all but some random part of town where tuk-tuks congregate for people like Kaia, Kuldar and I to be thrown onto the street for them for fight over. We hadn't our wits about us so pushed through them to a street cafe where we had cups of black coffe made with the constitution of tar which helped. We then hopped on a tuk-tuk and went to the official bus station for Kaia & Kuldar to get their bus to the idyllic beaches of Sihanoukville. I was very tempted to go with them as I'd love a few days on the beach but unfortunately haven't the time to lounge about. Gotta keep pressing on! So said a farewell to Kaia & Kuldar which was a tad emotional as I'd thoroughly enjoyed their company over the last few days. Since leaving Bangkok, we had enjoyed our time together, relaxed in Siem Reap and Battambang, watched the sun-rise over Angkor Wat, explored many temples, dined together and shared much unusual transport....many a life threatening tuk-tuk, a particularly kamikaze taxi to Battambang and the crazy bamboo train where we enjoyed a spectacular sunset tumbling relentlessly along disturbingly misaligned train-tracks.
From my experience I can recommend Estonians to be very Good travel companions and their country is now firmly on my travel list for the future.

So I set off in my tuk-tuk and found myself a hotel in the centre if Phnom penh, the Angkor International.

After a bit of well needed kip I had breakfast, used the internet in the hotel lobby and met a girl from New Zealand, Tara, who had been doing very important work as an occupational therapist here in Phnom penh for 5 weeks and is now on her a holiday before heading back to new Zealand.
She was free to show me around Phnom Penh for a few hours and we enjoyed lunch together chatting by the banks of the Mekong River.

Later that evening I met up with
Tara and her 2 English friends Denise and Lauren from south London and a retired aussie Jim over dinner and a few beers to exchange travel tips and advice for each other as we were to be heading off in different directions. I've realised that travellers always seem more than happy to give advice to each other from their own experiences and I've found myself to be no different.
Good relaxing day in the capital of Cambodia.

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Comments

[Kaia]

Andy, I am work right now and I just can't stop reading your blog. Your posts are really good! Miss you!