So far, in only 8 days, the G Adventures tour has taken us from Bangkok, to Siem Reap, to Phnom Penh, to Sihanoukville to the Vietnam border. We've seen some incredible sights, done some awesome things, while experiencing and learning more than I could have ever organised for myself. I'm so thankful and happy I didn't bail on the tour for financial doubts, it's 100% worth it.
I shan't blog daily, or weekly even, maybe by country, or simply when I have something I feel is worthwhile typing. I'll dabble in what to expect, what to eat, must see's, must do's and any tips I've picked up/copied from other, more experienced travelers.
Cambogia <3
Suey Sdey! (Hello)
What to expect
The Dollar?
In 1980, the UN came to Cambodia for a year to help restore the safety and independence of the Khmer (Cambodian people). In this time they introduced the american dollar $$$. Although simple for us to analyse the cost of items, I have found the country to be more expensive to live day by day than Thailand, for instance. You can still get some basic meals for $2.50/$3, but generally you'll be paying $4-6 without a drink. Supermarkets are cheaper for water etc, and the cities are the most expensive, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in particular.
I've bought a few bits: my favourite is a painting of Angkor Wat from outside the actual Angkor Wat temple, I'm in love with it; I paid $16, which I could definitely have got cheaper elsewhere, and if I haggled more, but it's the best one I've seen so far and it's worth way more to me, so if I can give a Cambodian local, who spends his day sweating without shade trying to sell his artwork, a few extra dollars, I'm happy.
An eye opening!
An eye opening!
Ever heard of the Khmer Rouge? No, nor had we and it's shocking. From 1975-79, a communist dictator took over Cambodia, wanting to make everyone 'equal'. Anyone with an education i.e doctors, engineers, teachers etc. were sent to prisons (formerly schools and hospitals) to be tortured for information of other educated people's whereabouts. There families were taken too. just in case.
The Cambodian people would hide their identity the best they could, leaving the soldiers guessing, the majority of which were 12-16 years old (easily brainwashed), using glasses and lighter skin as tell tale signs... Tortures included beatings, being strung up, toe nails and nipples being torn off with pliers, electric shock to the ear, licking up faeces and urine, then being dunked head first in the sewage if you passed out from pain.
Men, women and children all suffered, eventually being sent to the killing fields, of which there are 367. Mother's would be forced to watch their babies being smashed across a tree, or thrown in the air to land on a upward knife, before they themselves were killed.
Not one soldier was prosecuted or punished, and Pol Pots, the leader, was only put under house arrest. The Cambodian government simply wanted peace, no more wars, so they chose to forgive. Oh my Buddha, they are better people than I.
Not one soldier was prosecuted or punished, and Pol Pots, the leader, was only put under house arrest. The Cambodian government simply wanted peace, no more wars, so they chose to forgive. Oh my Buddha, they are better people than I.
Wonderful people
From our CEO to the ladies on the beach giving treatments, we encountered so many kind, caring, thoughtful and genuine Cambodian people, all eager to learn and happy to help in anyway they could. So graceful, gentile and humble, always smiling.
What to eat
Amok: A tasty, mild, cocunutty, curry
Angkor Beer: I'm not a beer lover and I smashed these like panda pops
Lok Lak: Beef in a tasty sauce, described as a dry curry, with a peppery side sauce
Must see's
Angkor Wat Temple: The main one, see it at sunrise, reminds me of the Jungle Book
Quad biking in Siem Reap: Out to the countryside, past buffalo and villages, stopping for the sunset with a beer. I nearly cried with sheer joy and be prepared to get dirty!
Visit the New Hope Project in Siem Reap: An organisation to support local people with their learning and skills to get jobs. We were invited in to the classroom to help teach English, then had a lovely meal cooked and served by the trainees.
Tips
- Get your water from the supermarket (big bottles), then dispense into small bottles and put them in the side pockets of your backpack - easier to carry, refillable
- Change your money for Cambodian currency (riel) - sometimes they try and fob you off with dollars, know the value of both
- Day tour packages - do all 3 temples in Siem Reap, and the S21 prison and Killing fields in Phnom Pehn, as package day tours. In Siem Reap you'll start super early for the sunrise for Angkor Wat but it's more than worth it and we were finished by lunch time so still had most of the day. In a package, you'll get transfers between each stop, and an incredible tour guide to talk you through each's history. You get much more information and inside knowledge instead of automated headphones, and it ends up being the same price, if not cheaper, without the inconvenience of having to organise tuk tuks between each stop yourself, and figuring out the ticket systems.
- Buy clothes in Sihnoukville instead of the cities - way cheaper, and nicer
Until Vietnam,
