Day 1
We travelled from Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam to Phnom Penh (said like nom pen) Cambodia. We did a lot of research on what bus company was the best (Giant Ibis), we had a very comfortable coach which took us across the border. First we had to go to the Vietnam border and get stamped out then over to the Cambodian border to get stamped in, we had already sorted our visas to enter so it was easy. We arrived at the hostel and it was then a waiting game for Anna-Maria to get there, she was getting a flight over.
We travelled from Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam to Phnom Penh (said like nom pen) Cambodia. We did a lot of research on what bus company was the best (Giant Ibis), we had a very comfortable coach which took us across the border. First we had to go to the Vietnam border and get stamped out then over to the Cambodian border to get stamped in, we had already sorted our visas to enter so it was easy. We arrived at the hostel and it was then a waiting game for Anna-Maria to get there, she was getting a flight over.
It was so great to see Anna-Maria, we spent the first night chatting and chatting...catching up on all the gossip.
Day 2
Our first full day was a depressing one as we visited the genocide museum and killing fields. It was a great day to learn about what had happened in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime (a good film to watch is 'First they killed my father', a film based on ture events). We learnt that many innocent people were forced to tell lies and admit to crimes they didn't commit, then they were tortured and killed. Others were sent out of their homes and fed lies about what was really happening. Children were brainwashed and forced to fight. The Khmer Rouge regime killed almost a 1/4 of Cambodia's population, about 2 million people over 4 years. The killing fields was a place where they sent people to be brutally murdered and buried in mass graves. It was so shooking what they did to them I just can't write it on here. The killing was done under the cover of darkness so it could remain a secret. The one we visited had over 129 mass graves, 85 have been excavated. Still now their bones, teeth and clothing surface (I saw evidence of this) which is then recorded and put in the Memorial Stpua. The depressing day wasn't over as Anna-Maria had her phone taken right out of her hand by a motorcyclist but we did finish today with a delicious meal at a restaurant which helps street kids and their families.
Our first full day was a depressing one as we visited the genocide museum and killing fields. It was a great day to learn about what had happened in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime (a good film to watch is 'First they killed my father', a film based on ture events). We learnt that many innocent people were forced to tell lies and admit to crimes they didn't commit, then they were tortured and killed. Others were sent out of their homes and fed lies about what was really happening. Children were brainwashed and forced to fight. The Khmer Rouge regime killed almost a 1/4 of Cambodia's population, about 2 million people over 4 years. The killing fields was a place where they sent people to be brutally murdered and buried in mass graves. It was so shooking what they did to them I just can't write it on here. The killing was done under the cover of darkness so it could remain a secret. The one we visited had over 129 mass graves, 85 have been excavated. Still now their bones, teeth and clothing surface (I saw evidence of this) which is then recorded and put in the Memorial Stpua. The depressing day wasn't over as Anna-Maria had her phone taken right out of her hand by a motorcyclist but we did finish today with a delicious meal at a restaurant which helps street kids and their families.
Day 3
Our second day was a lot happier, we hired a tuk-tuk driver for the day, who took us around the city to see the sights. First with visited the Russian Market and picked up a few goodies, we saw the Independent Monument and visited a temple. We had a look around the National Museum but it was not that interesting after lunch we went to the Royal Palace. This is where the king lives, he is actually a Buddhist so has no children, when he dies the government choose out of his brothers and sisters who be the next ruler. We finished our tour at the Central Market and ended the day with a trip to the cinema to watch Antman and the Wasp.
Our second day was a lot happier, we hired a tuk-tuk driver for the day, who took us around the city to see the sights. First with visited the Russian Market and picked up a few goodies, we saw the Independent Monument and visited a temple. We had a look around the National Museum but it was not that interesting after lunch we went to the Royal Palace. This is where the king lives, he is actually a Buddhist so has no children, when he dies the government choose out of his brothers and sisters who be the next ruler. We finished our tour at the Central Market and ended the day with a trip to the cinema to watch Antman and the Wasp.
Day 4
It was time to head out from Phnom Penh and catch a bus to Battambang. We were quite squashed in with our luggage but after being stuck in traffic because of the election day (supporters were out on the streets) we sped along overtaking many vehicles and finally made it to Battambang. We arrived in just enough time to visit the bat cave and watch hundreds even thousands of bats fly out the cave at dusk. We also visited the rice fields and watch the sunset over them before heading out for dinner and watching the semi-finals, England's match.
It was time to head out from Phnom Penh and catch a bus to Battambang. We were quite squashed in with our luggage but after being stuck in traffic because of the election day (supporters were out on the streets) we sped along overtaking many vehicles and finally made it to Battambang. We arrived in just enough time to visit the bat cave and watch hundreds even thousands of bats fly out the cave at dusk. We also visited the rice fields and watch the sunset over them before heading out for dinner and watching the semi-finals, England's match.
Day 5
Before leaving in the morning to head to Siem Reap we took a trip on the bamboo train. This was probably one of my favourite things of the whole trip. We sat upon a small bamboo platform on wheels which was powered by a engine that was connected to the axis of the wheels. It was a very bumpy ride we rode all the way to the next small village and then turnt around to come back. We met trains on the way back going the other way so to pass we had to dismantle the train and wait for the others to go pass before putting it back together and continuing. We then had to catch a bus to Siem Reap on a local bus which took us 2 and a half hours longer than expected.
Before leaving in the morning to head to Siem Reap we took a trip on the bamboo train. This was probably one of my favourite things of the whole trip. We sat upon a small bamboo platform on wheels which was powered by a engine that was connected to the axis of the wheels. It was a very bumpy ride we rode all the way to the next small village and then turnt around to come back. We met trains on the way back going the other way so to pass we had to dismantle the train and wait for the others to go pass before putting it back together and continuing. We then had to catch a bus to Siem Reap on a local bus which took us 2 and a half hours longer than expected.
Day 6
Our first day in Siem Reap was an early one! We met our tuk-tuk driver at 4am so we could visit the temples that morning. First we had to go and have our pictures taken for our tickets, very funny photos at 4.30 a.m! Then we drove to Angkor Wat for the sunrise, there were so many people there. I don't think we were quite awake yet, we had some breakfast and visited many temples that day. We visited Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Thommanon Temple and last of all Ta Prohm; this is the temple where Tomb Raider was filmed. The afternoon was spent sleeping and it was pizza for dinner, Anna-Maria had a happy one.
Our first day in Siem Reap was an early one! We met our tuk-tuk driver at 4am so we could visit the temples that morning. First we had to go and have our pictures taken for our tickets, very funny photos at 4.30 a.m! Then we drove to Angkor Wat for the sunrise, there were so many people there. I don't think we were quite awake yet, we had some breakfast and visited many temples that day. We visited Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Thommanon Temple and last of all Ta Prohm; this is the temple where Tomb Raider was filmed. The afternoon was spent sleeping and it was pizza for dinner, Anna-Maria had a happy one.
Day 7
Last day was spent relaxing by the pool on a sun bed. Anna-Maria had to leave us in the afternoon to catch her flight. It was a great week exploring Cambodia and having a great catch up with one another. Joaquín and I packed ready to catch our bus the next day to Thailand.
Last day was spent relaxing by the pool on a sun bed. Anna-Maria had to leave us in the afternoon to catch her flight. It was a great week exploring Cambodia and having a great catch up with one another. Joaquín and I packed ready to catch our bus the next day to Thailand.
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