We finally make it over the border crossing at 12.30pm, talk about a mission and a half when it's only 20km's away by boat....we must have been to England and back again!
Before leaving the Vietnam border crossing we need to show our passports and Vietnam visas again. Thankfully I get through with no issues, although I noticed the tour guide walk away when it was my turn. I don't have a visa in my passport, it's all through my APEC.
The tour guide had already got our Cambodian visas for us however we needed to go and have it stamped - this seemed like quite a process and the four stamps needed to be stamped in 3 different places. All ended well though and I'm in!!
The journey to Phnom Penh was ok once we got onto a normal road. We were late due to the Belgium’s yet again!
My hotel man was there on arrival with a sign, nice and easy! After swapping email addresses with a Kiwi couple I'm off.
I decided to have a quiet evening and eat at the hotel - went very local with my choice and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was! Much better than the photo I was shown.
I'm up early yet again, what's new! on Tuesday (28 December) as the kiwi couple from the bus yesterday are collecting me for a morning tour. After being spoken to time and time again by a couple of tuk tuk drivers they arrive, phew! I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to hire one of them for a few hours, which I wasn’t looking forward too.
We head straight to the Tuol Sleng Museum/Prison (S-21). Before 1975 this was a high school, but come 1975 Pol Pot’s security force turned it into a prison – more of a detention and torture centre than prison. The prisoners (a variety of ages, sex, and professionals) were taken out to the killings fields of Choeung Ek after being tortured.
The day the Vietnamese army liberated Phnom Penh quite a few of the prisoners were killed, somehow 7 managed to stay alive.
It was definitely depressing walking through S-21, made me realize again how fortunate I am to have grown up in a country without war.
From here we headed out to the Killings Fields of Choeung Ek. As mentioned above the prisoners from S-21 were brought here by the truck load and killed, often bludgeoned to death to save the bullets. After watching a video we walked around the area reading the signs about how people were killed and how many people were found in the graves – another very depressing place. I was very happy to get back on the tuk tuk.
Drove back into the city to the water front for some lunch before dropping them off at their hotel. I was then taken to one of the bus companies to buy my ticket for the beach (ye ha!) on Thursday then to Wat Phnom.
Walking up the stairs to Wat Phnom I came rather close to a couple of monkeys who were being “controlled” by a lady at the top of the stairs. There were a few people with birds in cages, all set up for the tourist. You pay money to “set them free”, however the birds are so well trained they fly back to their owner – definitely a new money making business. It’s nice to look down on the surrounding streets from the top and enjoy the quietness before walking down to the sellers and beggars.
I made my way back to the hotel with only being spoken to I believe 15 million times :)
I'm finding these here quite expensive after being in Vietnam, by normal standards it's still cheap but a huge step up from what I’ve been paying!
I'm starting to get a cold so decide on a night in and an early night. I have things to see tomorrow and want to be able to do it all.
Wednesday I have a mini sleep in, so nice not having to be up at the crack of dawn! After a leisurely breakfast I head to the water and walk along the promenade to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. What an impressive looking buildings these are!
I enjoy wandering from building to building seeing all the ornate gildings. The gardens are maintained so well with manicured trees, some take up one pot others take up four. Some of the shapes are elephants, tea cup and dogs. Plus three tiered trees.
After leaving the Royal Palace I head to Friends Restaurant. I choice this place as it gives street children jobs and an "in" into hospitality. The menu looks great but expensive! Some items are the same cost as you would pay in America.
I head to the National Museum and am shocked with the number of beggars outside the gates, plus the amount it costs to enter – USD 6.25. The building is terracotta colour, with well-kept gardens. I’m not a big museum person but do enjoy seeing the pieces from Angkor. Can’t wait now to visit all the temples at Angkor.
I head back to the hotel to rest, am starting to get sick so wanted to rest up.
Late afternoon I head out to exchange money then head to the FCC for drinks and dinner.
Walking back to the hotel is a little scary. Lots of beggars around again. An Australian man comes up to me to ask if I'm Australian. He said he flew asleep on the bus today and his bag was stolen. Gee I wonder where this is going.....I tell him he needs to speak with the bus company and pick up my pace! I've never been so pleased to get back to the hotel.
I am amazed at the number of Monk’s that I’ve seen since being in Phnom Penh, definitely never seen so many.
Thursday I'm woken just after 5am by music being played outside. Finally get up at 6.15am. I'm off to Sihanoukville today for 4 nights on an 8am bus. After breakfast I get a call from the front desk to advise my tuk tuk is here, wow it's early. Let's hope this is a sign that the bus will leave on time :)
On arrival to bus company office I'm greeting with sunglass sellers, followed closely by people selling papers and a woman selling bread from her bike. No thanks! Does make interesting watching though.
Unfortunately we don't depart on time -30 minutes late. Lateness seems to be the norm in South East Asia.
See you next year Phnom Penh, ok to be exact 5 days.
No comments:
Post a Comment