From Phnom Penh we planned to carry on towards the coast of Cambodia, and four hours drive there in a minivan didn't sound too bad at all. But little did we know... the drive turned out to be quite a race (read: heavy vehicles of all kind overtaking each other on a relatively narrow road, then add bunch of scooters, cattle and people crossing the road into the mix) and we were just happy to arrive in one piece to the coastal town of Sihanoukville.
From Siem Reap we had the first bus ride ahead of us and we boarded on the Mekong Express. 7 hours passed by relatively quickly and we arrived to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the evening, on time still to catch a dinner on its bubbly riverside boulevard.
Very first impression? Bustling streets full of tuktuk rides and the extreme heat that hit you the second you step out from the airport. After the initial 'culture chock' we ended up having a lot of fun since this town is a gold mine for anyone looking to have a good time after hard day exploring the temples. It's got the famous Pub Street filled with restaurants and bars, and the beers are about 50 cents ($) and you can eat a delicious plate for anywhere between 2-5 $ ;). Also the downtown itself is small and compact to get around on foot, and should you get further away, the tuktuks are literally everywhere (if you thought hailing a cap in New York City is easy, let's just say, this would be ten times easier) ;)!
Siem Reap was really a good spot to take in some amazing culture around Angkor Wat and just to chill by the pool in our little peaceful oasis away from all the surrounding hassle...
And by the way they charge tourists 50 cents for taking a photo of the street vendor selling grilled scorpions, tarantulas and other yucky insects...ugh...no thanks!
Delicious Bites
Angkor Wat must be one of the most anticipated places to visit around Southeast Asia and surely it's been on top of our list as well. Not only it offers interesting cultural sighting, but it's also one of those places that is a dream for anyone interested in photography. We had a couple of days to go around the ancient temples and ruins, and also caught the world-renowned sunrise - I gotta tell you, it's bit of a far cry from the stunning pictures you see online once you're actually standing there...with hundreds of other overenthusiastic tourists with their cameras and cell phones! ;) All in all, aside from the unbearable heat and the crowd, it was an amazing experience altogether and one of those unforgettable must-do's you can check off your list...




