Advertisement
23rd Mar. I arrive in Bangkok at 5:30 in the morning which was a great time as the streets were pretty quiet and it wasn't too hot. I followed these 2 girls to Baan Sabai accommodation where i only paid 160B for the night. I went back to sleep till 10:30 and then went for a walk and found a temple on my way back to the room, called Chana Songkram where a local showed me in and told me to go inside, even though i had a drink and a singlet on! I went in and everyone was just sitting there watching the monks eat. When i walked out the same man marked all these places to go on my Bangkok map and that a tuk tuk would take me for 30B. Next thing a tuk tuk arrives and i tell him that i would go later on as i had some things to do. He then tells me that some wat closes early and that a tailor thing also finishes today, so i figured what the hell, it’s only 30B, lets go. I make sure he tells the driver all the places i want to go on the map
before we head off. I instantly loved tuk tuk’s as they zip in and out of the traffic but it didn’t take me long to realise how much shit they pump into the air. So he takes me to a 45m standing Buddha, then another Buddha and then takes me to a tailors which is supposed to be having an expo but i didn’t see it. Apparently the money (400B from a 500B scarf or tie) goes towards the tsunami. I didn’t really believe it so i walked out and got dropped off at a TAT International office (like a travel agent) and the guy didn’t want a bar off me when i told him i wasn’t booking till i see my friend later in the day. I tried to talk to him about my visa for India and he also didn’t want a bar of that either. So i left. Pig. The tuk tuk driver then drops me off somewhere saying that he was finished. WHAT. There were still so many places marked on my map to see. I asked him to take me there but he said he was finished. I remained calm and asked him to show
me on the map where i was and he wouldn’t even do that. I could have yelled abuse at him but for some reason i didn’t. Perhaps it would have been too much effort. So i end up going for a walk in the Bawon Niwet wat temple (which i figured out later) where some monks were hanging out and it was very peaceful!. After finding my way back i grabbed some clothes to get washed which was ultra cheap and then met up with Steph. We caught up on things and she informed me that the tuk tuk drivers get a type of commission if they take you to a tailors and a TAT office, so he just dropped me off after i gave him what he needed. How used!!! We had Indian for dinner where i got to tell Steph my story about Ben and laugh about my most depressing day. Looking back i was glad that i could see the funny side of it. We then checked out the streets of Khao San Rd and i ended up getting my ear pierced where i was pretty freaked out to begin with. I got another pancake (are you
surprised?) and we just checked out each others photo’s. We then said goodbye again and went to bed.
24th Mar. Thailand Visa finishes today. Cock-a-doodle-do. Damn roosters from across the road were so loud. Buggers. I get my mini bus at 9:30am with leather comfy chairs to the Cambodian border, where i wasn’t sure at first if was just going to take me to a bus stop to change. It was too good to be true. We got out at a restaurant and ordered lunch. Apparently the border was only a 10min drive away but we all handed over our passports and money which i wasn’t very comfortable with but everyone else seemed to be doing it so i followed suit! We figured we had an hour wait but this turned out to be 3 hrs!! I played a little hacki sac to pass the time. Eventually we get a large swangi to the border where they drop us off at a market. I see a sign with a drawing of a childs head which is bald, saying something like “Bald children pick pockets. Beware.” I went to get a photo but we were rushed away to walk to
What the hell am i doing?
I was just slightly worried about getting a piercing. This is Thailand!!!the border after we were all handed back our passports. After a lot of waiting and standing around with our packs on i am in Cambodia and catching a transfer bus to the bus that would take us. I instantly notice there seems to be dirt everywhere...but i liked it, (maybe something to do with playing in the dirt with Adam my brother when we were kids!!!) I eventually get on the mini van which is full of other tourists and also has no A/C (if you don’t count the windows!) and we all have to squish in and there is no room even for our packs so they put them in the isles and stack them high next to the driver. Its quite crazy. I made sure that i was able to grab a window seat which also happened to be a single seat.
So i want you to picture a road that you would see at home. Now take away 95% of the cars and put more trucks, motorbikes, and minivans. Now take away 90% of the gravel - leaving dirt and dust and lots of pot holes. Take away footpaths or gutters and add more dirt.
happier now
it didnt hurt at all... Take away lanes and make it a free for all, and add more dirt and more dust. Make the tourists have to have the window open as there is no other air and the bus is hot and the weather is hot. (I had to use my head tie thing to cover my mouth and keep out the dirt.) Also take away the street lights (you can imagine how hard it would be to see) and drive on this road for 6 hours. The dust enters the bus and sticks to your face and clothes. Its in your hair, eyes, ears, nose and mouth, but my spirits weren’t dampened at all. It felt like a real adventure and seeing the happy Cambodian kids waving to you as you pass them was priceless.
So eventually in Siam Reap and surprise surprise we are dropped off at a guesthouse and as i already expected this i had my accommodation pre-booked before i left Bangkok. They wouldn’t take me there so i was forced to walk to find my place. There was a danish couple who also wanted to walk elsewhere so we grouped up. As soon as we left the guesthouse
we were approached by motorbikes and tuk tuk drivers wanting to take us wherever we wanted. It was pretty scary and full on as it was 10pm and dark and we had no maps and no idea where we were. They followed us for a while and just as i thought to myself ‘you’d better look on the other side of the road as you don't wanna miss it’ and i see my guesthouse and thank the Denmark's for helping protect me!!! The place did not look as good as i thought it would be and i am instantly peed off as I wanted somewhere nice. I walk in and they have no idea about my booking (over the net) but i still get a room and it even has t.v and A/C so i was happy. I book myself a motorbike and driver for tomorrow and have a long hot shower trying to wash off the dirt. I then end up chilling on the bed watching tv in my cool room. It was sooo good. The simple pleasures of t.v...
25th Mar. THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR WAT IN A DAY. Call me crazy, call me keen, call me
Micheal Jackson
Eat your heart out. Tuk tuk ride with a twist ferang (which i think i am all of the above) but i get up at 4:45am to leave for the temples. My driver was a little late as we was drinking last night at some wedding. I wasn’t completely sure how this day would turn out as i was assuming it would have been a waste of money with him just leaving me there with no way back. His name was Kin and we head off in the dark with the cool air crisply hitting our skin. We get to the gate and we wait for our tickets to get in. Once again we head off into the dark and before i know it Kin is dropping me off at Angkor Wat and tells me to go in and he will wait for me outside. Luckily i had my little torch in my bag as walking through the Angkor Wat gate was pretty dark. Once through i could still see the outline of the temple and i was instantly excited by it. I find a spot to sit and watch the sun come up but it ended up not being the best, but i was still excited. When there was
Hello Cambodia
Me struggling with all my stuff as we have to walk across the border to Cambodia enough light i walked around and was in constant amazement. I went inside and walked around for a while and went pretty crazy taking photo’s. This was the best thing i had seen on my travels so far and i can’t even begin to describe it. The steps were so steep and i was pretty worried everytime i walked up or down them that i was going to fall back and kill myself, or slip hit my chin on the step and break my camera and my jaw. I was more worried about the camera though!!! After walking around for a while i walked out ½ expecting Kin to not be there. Next thing “toot toot” he drives over and picks me up. He then takes me on a really long ride passing some awesome sights of school kids playing, workers in the water collecting weed, and we chat about his family and studies. He was very nice and sweet too. I was surprised to see how many Cambodians live around the wats. Apparently they are supposed to keep the area they live in clean but some don’t completely stick to the rules as there is some litter scattered around
some of the houses and streets. The land is quite flat and looks as though it had been cleared for farming and Kin explained how during the wet season the paddocks turn into wetlands, which would be so pretty to see. So we come to Banteay Srey, supposedly before all the other tourists have arrived (although there were still a few there!) Once again he waits for me. This temple is a lot smaller but still nice. By now the sun is hot and i didn’t bring my hat. I put on sunscreen, walk around and then we head to Pre Rup. Every temple has little children trying to sell you souvenirs. Its quite sad but surprising as they speak very good English. I guess they talk to tourists everyday. They ask you where your from and they always reply ‘gday mate’. (Throughout the day i would change where i was from just to see there reactions and i was sick of hearing gday mate!) We then head to Ta Phrom where tomb raider was filmed, and it was surprisingly impressive. It had my three favourite things; rocks, trees and moss. I told Kin i was going to take my
time and i did. I made sure i didn’t miss anything. The Jap, Chinese and Korean were completely taking over the place as they came in their large A/C buses in the swarms with their tour guides and their microphones so that everyone, even those who were not in the tour could hear. I found myself sitting in the one spot for a while to wait for the groups of tours to take their photos and slowly pass by. This usually gave me a good minute or two where i would have the spot to myself before another group would come along. I came across a spot where a local man offered to take my photo. I said ok but then it got strange as he kept telling me different places to stand to get some good shots. He started to freak me out so i got my camera back and as i was quickly walking away he starts to ask me for money. But i got outta there to quick to even say no. I grab some fresh pineapple and head off to Ta Keo feeling a bit like i am going to faint, so I take it slow
and end up having a nap up the top of the temple in the shade. It’s now a bit cooler and i only have one temple left. Kin offers to take me around town but i told him that i wanted to see the sunset. He also goes for a nap near some souvenir shops after dropping me off at Angkor Thom and i once again start to struggle in the heat. I keep putting water over my neck, face and legs but it didn’t seem to do much so i take this temple slow too. I sat around watching people taking photo’s and just tried to take everything in.
I walked around seeing the terrace of the elephants and just hung out in a tree covered area which was really beautiful, and there was no-one else around either, bonus. I tried to have a nap on the grass looking at some smaller scattered temples but ended up having ants crawling over me. I sat elsewhere with a strawberry icey watching some locals mucking around playing soccer, pretty cool. Kin then joined me but he got in trouble for having his bike on the grass so we headed back
to Angkor Wat to see the sun setting. I walked around the wat again but then realised the sunset wasn’t going to be very great and my camera battery was almost dead so we left (neens i got him to write on my peace shirt!). I watch more tv and actually get to see some of Lost!!! I order dinner and an Angkor beer and it wasn’t too bad. I watch some English soccer (which they also love here) and then hit the hay. Its surprising how well you sleep with A/C and the t.v going and a comfy pillow. Glad i came here as a stop to renew my Thai visa
26th Mar. Woke up to a man in the next room hocking up gollies. Pleasant. The bus had to wait for me as i had a slight panic attack as i couldn’t find my passport. I get on the bus and after we pick up everyone else we are back on our way on the bumpy dirt road again. This bus is even more packed and this guy Jasper has to sit on a tiny seat next to me with no head rest, along with the guys
both in font and behind him. The guy in front must have gotten whip lash as he tried to sleep with his head bobbing around but it was amusing for both Jasper and i to watch. He thought i was weird as i had a packet of chips for breakfast (1st time ever as i slept in and was hungry on the bus), and just looked like a really dirty person as i explained that i was wearing the same clothes from the bus over from Bangkok as i didn’t wanna dirty more clothes. I had my head tie over my face again as i didn’t want dirt in my mouth or nose and i warned Jasper how bad the road was but he didn’t believe me. I got to see some more buffalo and even 6 people on a motorbike, and i have the proof too...I end up seeing the Danish couple again at a stop for breakfast and when i washed my hands the water turned a mud brown colour and my hair had collected as much dust as it could in my scalp. It was hilarious and so much fun. “WHAT KIND OF GIRL ARE YOU?” was
Overlooking the area
from inside Angkor wat Jasper's response to me looking like i put dirt on my face instead of foundation! Jasper and i get along instantly and have each other in hysterics all the way back to Bangkok. It was actually dustier going back to Bangkok but bumpier going to Siam Reap. It was a great adventure and then Jasper realises i was telling the truth about the road and also puts a head scarf around his face. So we get back to the border and i really feel like the experienced traveller as i had been through this earlier and i found that everyone was asking me questions!!! Our bus from the border was A/C again and we have the rest of the people on the bus turning to look at us as we are again in hysterics. (Jasper your too funny!). So we get back to Bangkok around 7 and i stay at Baan Sabai again with Jasper. After i shower Jasper tells me how i look different, and i replied, yeah clean! We get pad Thai and walk around the shops and have a beer. Jasper tells me his nickname is boo (as in Casper the ghost) and we laugh as we
are now dirt buddies boo and moo
Advertisement
Tot: 0.272s; Tpl: 0.017s; cc: 26; qc: 91; dbt: 0.0834s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.4mb
Robin
non-member comment
Wow! I had no idea that Cambodia was so spectacular. Now I'll have to go there one day...and take my dusk mask with me. The tomb raider site was instantly recognisable. So now what do we call you... Moo, Indiana Nazi Raider? See you soon!