Today is our final day in the city and in Cambodia.
This morning we looked around all the genocide museums and memorials. S-21 museum was the home of the high security interogation prison where over 10,000 Cambodians lost thier lives during Pol Pot's regime from 1975 - 79. It was very similar to the memorials you find in Gerna,y and Poland for the Holocaust and was equally as upsetting and distressing. The Choeung Ek killing fields to the south of the city was where they killed and buried vicxtims from S-21 and all around Cambodia. There are another 4,500 killing fileds like this around Cambodia. These were only excevated in 1980 and were really quite thought provoking and once again distressing.
This afternoon was spent in the local markets haggling over silk scarves and I also went to the National Museum behind the Royal Palace. This houses most of the finds from the Angkor Wat temple so was really interesting to put the temples into perspective and imagine what they would ahve looked like with all the ornaments still there. It also had really good air-conditioning and a nice piaza to sit out on.
8 hour drive out of Cambodia and into Vietnam tomorrow. Should be in Saigon by lunchtime. I'll be glad to leave Phnom Penh and also Cambodia tomorrow. Its a very beautiful country but you can really see how much the people have suffered over the last 100 years and it makes you feel very guilty. We'll have to see how Vietnam varies!
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Phnom Penh Day 1 21st October
This morning we took a 4 hour public bus ride to Phnom Penh - the capital city.
We're staying in a hotel just off the Tonle Sap river. The city is hot, sticky and so dirty. There's piles of open rubbish just left on the side of the road - it gives off this sour, putrid smell every time you walk past a pile. Also, the people are less friendly than in the quieter towns. Its busy with lots of street stalls selling food including roast duck, fried cockles and barbequed bananas on sticks.
This afternoon I looked around the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. The Cambodians have a monarchy and King Norodom Sihamoni has his residence here. The complex was built by the French in the 19th century but in the Cambodian style. Apart from a french colonial style house which Napoeon III had shipped over here and rebuilt after Princess Eugenie no longer needed it to stay in in Egypt.
We couldn'y go into alot of the buildings as they were private royal residences. This was slightly annoyoing seeing as we'd paid $6.25 to get in!! The Silver pagoda was beautiful though. Filled with various treasures and the floor covered with 6000 tonnnes of silver tiles. It was a shame that none of the artifacts were looked after and in fact, where the silver tiles had started to come apart, they had been stuck back into place with masking tape!!
In the evening we did a walking tour of the city and came across yet more street stalls - this time one was selling fried insects - a local delecacy if you're fed up with the crisps!! A couple of the blokes immediatley ate the fired tarantulas but Hannah and I walked off without buying anything. Later in the bar, me, Hannnah and anther girl all admitted we were a bit disappointed we hadn't tried the local delecacy. So thetour guide nipped on a motobike\, went back to the stall, and brought back 3 freshly fried tarantulas. There was no backing out now so we had to eat them. They were crispy and so chewy but all you could really taste was fried oil. There are some really funny photos I'll post of facebook.
We're staying in a hotel just off the Tonle Sap river. The city is hot, sticky and so dirty. There's piles of open rubbish just left on the side of the road - it gives off this sour, putrid smell every time you walk past a pile. Also, the people are less friendly than in the quieter towns. Its busy with lots of street stalls selling food including roast duck, fried cockles and barbequed bananas on sticks.
This afternoon I looked around the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. The Cambodians have a monarchy and King Norodom Sihamoni has his residence here. The complex was built by the French in the 19th century but in the Cambodian style. Apart from a french colonial style house which Napoeon III had shipped over here and rebuilt after Princess Eugenie no longer needed it to stay in in Egypt.
We couldn'y go into alot of the buildings as they were private royal residences. This was slightly annoyoing seeing as we'd paid $6.25 to get in!! The Silver pagoda was beautiful though. Filled with various treasures and the floor covered with 6000 tonnnes of silver tiles. It was a shame that none of the artifacts were looked after and in fact, where the silver tiles had started to come apart, they had been stuck back into place with masking tape!!
In the evening we did a walking tour of the city and came across yet more street stalls - this time one was selling fried insects - a local delecacy if you're fed up with the crisps!! A couple of the blokes immediatley ate the fired tarantulas but Hannah and I walked off without buying anything. Later in the bar, me, Hannnah and anther girl all admitted we were a bit disappointed we hadn't tried the local delecacy. So thetour guide nipped on a motobike\, went back to the stall, and brought back 3 freshly fried tarantulas. There was no backing out now so we had to eat them. They were crispy and so chewy but all you could really taste was fried oil. There are some really funny photos I'll post of facebook.
Sihanoukville day 3 20th October
Today was a very lazy day. It started off raining - proper British rain - drizzly!! But at least it was hot.
We had a quick look round the local market - the meat stall had pig's insestines hanging up for sale with flies buzzing around it - its so hot here iuts a wonder anyone buys the meat form those out door, unrefriderated market stalls!!
We then sat on Sokha Beach. This beach was privately owned by a hotel company and was lovely. Clean sand and sea and no hassle from hawkers. We sat oin the beach, swam in the sea and then used the hotel pool all afternoon. They had a swim up bar with lovely cocktails. Unfortunatley one of out group had his i-pod stolen at the pool which put a dampner on the day.
In the evneing, we went to a restaurant just off the beach front which was popular with the Cambodian tourists as opposed to the westerners. The food was lovely - I had spicy shrimps with vegetables. There was loads of it for $5 usd and the shrimps were huge. Live music consisted of the Cambodian equvelant to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - but not as tuneful!!
We had a quick look round the local market - the meat stall had pig's insestines hanging up for sale with flies buzzing around it - its so hot here iuts a wonder anyone buys the meat form those out door, unrefriderated market stalls!!
We then sat on Sokha Beach. This beach was privately owned by a hotel company and was lovely. Clean sand and sea and no hassle from hawkers. We sat oin the beach, swam in the sea and then used the hotel pool all afternoon. They had a swim up bar with lovely cocktails. Unfortunatley one of out group had his i-pod stolen at the pool which put a dampner on the day.
In the evneing, we went to a restaurant just off the beach front which was popular with the Cambodian tourists as opposed to the westerners. The food was lovely - I had spicy shrimps with vegetables. There was loads of it for $5 usd and the shrimps were huge. Live music consisted of the Cambodian equvelant to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - but not as tuneful!!
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Sihanoukville day 2 19th October
The group I'm travelling with are all roughly the same age adn have been a mixture of couples and singles from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK. We've all got on really well. Some people are doing this trip just as a two week holiday adn others are doing it as part of a longer trip like me.
Today we went on a boat cruise to the surrounding beach islands. The biggest one was called bamboo island. Most of the surrounding islands have been built up and developed by Koreans and Russians so there aren't so many that are open for public use. We went snorkelling and swimming off the boat and stopped off for luch on the beach. These beaches were actaully very scenic and I have lots of very beautiful photos to make you all jelous!!
On the way back to the mainland, we got caught in a really bad monsoon down pour at about 3.30pm. It was just as well we all still had out swim gear on!!
Tonight will be more eating by the beach.
Today we went on a boat cruise to the surrounding beach islands. The biggest one was called bamboo island. Most of the surrounding islands have been built up and developed by Koreans and Russians so there aren't so many that are open for public use. We went snorkelling and swimming off the boat and stopped off for luch on the beach. These beaches were actaully very scenic and I have lots of very beautiful photos to make you all jelous!!
On the way back to the mainland, we got caught in a really bad monsoon down pour at about 3.30pm. It was just as well we all still had out swim gear on!!
Tonight will be more eating by the beach.
Arrival in Sihanoukville
Saturday morning was spent travelling to the beach resort of Sihanoukville. We've done alot of travelling in the last few days so I've got well into my book adn my ipod needs recharging!! Rosetta - your i-tunes has been good listening! Stone Roses and Kings of Leon (yeah i know you didn't put that on there!!).
Sihanoukville is Cambodia's only beach resort. I haven't seen Thailand's beaches and islands yet but apparently this really isn't up to that standard. The development of the area hasn't been controlled so the beaches are quite dirty adn some have raw sewage pumped into them!!
We spent Saturday afternoon on the beach which was an experience!! The beach itself (we were on Ochheuteal Beach) had the potential to look stunningly beautiful - and did from a distance. But was ruined by litter and hawkers. Kids, women and mine bomb victims hassling you constantly with thier wears. This country does make you feel so much guilt about how affluent and lucky you are but I've really resisted buying things from children or giving to beggers becuase I don't believe it helps them in the long run. Its a bit cliche but I will definatley be finding a charity to donate to regularly when I get home.
Having said that, all the women in our group caved into the women offering beautician services on the beach. I had my eyebrows plucked and a manicure and pedicure all for $6 (usd)!
The evening was spent at the bars on the beach. Good for dancing but no air conditioning - so hot!!
I can download stuff ontp my i-pod here as they have shops called Boom Boom Tunes - you give them your i-pod, choose a song/ album and they'll download it for you.
Sihanoukville is Cambodia's only beach resort. I haven't seen Thailand's beaches and islands yet but apparently this really isn't up to that standard. The development of the area hasn't been controlled so the beaches are quite dirty adn some have raw sewage pumped into them!!
We spent Saturday afternoon on the beach which was an experience!! The beach itself (we were on Ochheuteal Beach) had the potential to look stunningly beautiful - and did from a distance. But was ruined by litter and hawkers. Kids, women and mine bomb victims hassling you constantly with thier wears. This country does make you feel so much guilt about how affluent and lucky you are but I've really resisted buying things from children or giving to beggers becuase I don't believe it helps them in the long run. Its a bit cliche but I will definatley be finding a charity to donate to regularly when I get home.
Having said that, all the women in our group caved into the women offering beautician services on the beach. I had my eyebrows plucked and a manicure and pedicure all for $6 (usd)!
The evening was spent at the bars on the beach. Good for dancing but no air conditioning - so hot!!
I can download stuff ontp my i-pod here as they have shops called Boom Boom Tunes - you give them your i-pod, choose a song/ album and they'll download it for you.
Homestay 17th October
We left Kampong Cham early in the morning and headed out on a 4 hour drive via Phnom Penh to one of the Nature Reserves in the South East of the country. The Eastern part of Cambodia has suffered huge up heavel - The Americans bombed it during the Vietnam War as they believed Viet Cong were hiding out in the jungle here - this apparently was not the case and they ended up just massacring local people and ruining the jungle landscape. After this periiod, it became a Khmer Rouge strong hold and suffered further fighting. In recent years, the Cambodian government have tried to rehabilitate the area by creating nature reserves and placing them in the custody of the indiginous people to ensure that the area is not bought up and built on.
After stopping in Phnom Penh (the cpaital city) for supplies, We drove for about an hour through the coutryside and arrived at a village inside the reserve. Here, they organise for tourists to stay overnight in the village and experience what it would be like to live out in the jungle. Apparently there are leopards as well as snakes out in the countryside. It was another early night as yet again there was obviuosly no electricity. We ate dinner cooked by the villagers but did not eat with them as we had the Kampong Cham family. i actually thought the eveing before was abetter experience. None the less, we looked around the viallge - which is only just getting a permenant school building, got caught in yet another monsoon downpour and then got ready for bed.....
We stayed in a traditional wooden, stilt house - 8 people in each house. Hannah and I at least had a decent matress on the floor (which Hannah cased out and claimed before anyone else - typical family behaviour - it must be in our genes!!) - everyone else had to make do with sleeping mats!!
Our mosquito nets had holes in which thankfully we taped up as there we mosis flying around all night. It was sweltering hot, even though being elevated from the ground gives some ventilation. I was sleeping next to the open door and kept freaking out thinking about leopards hidign out nearby! I was woken at 4am - firstly by the village pig, snorting around underneath the house, the the cows waking up and mooing, then the cokerals, and then the family we were stayng with turned on thier radio about 5am to hear their daily dose of the national anthem. I'd no idea the middle of no where could be so noisy!! To wash, we had to use a big container underneath the house and the hole in the ground toilet was in a shack. The flushing system is to pour a bowl of water into the hole - this is actually how most toilets are in Cambodia - all suprisingly clean and fairly hygenic. Breakfast was omlettes, bread and coffee but I noticed the family ate rice instead of bread.
It was a beautiful area but we were all so relieved to leave in the morning. No proper shower in this heat and humidity just makes you feel absolutley disgusting!!
After stopping in Phnom Penh (the cpaital city) for supplies, We drove for about an hour through the coutryside and arrived at a village inside the reserve. Here, they organise for tourists to stay overnight in the village and experience what it would be like to live out in the jungle. Apparently there are leopards as well as snakes out in the countryside. It was another early night as yet again there was obviuosly no electricity. We ate dinner cooked by the villagers but did not eat with them as we had the Kampong Cham family. i actually thought the eveing before was abetter experience. None the less, we looked around the viallge - which is only just getting a permenant school building, got caught in yet another monsoon downpour and then got ready for bed.....
We stayed in a traditional wooden, stilt house - 8 people in each house. Hannah and I at least had a decent matress on the floor (which Hannah cased out and claimed before anyone else - typical family behaviour - it must be in our genes!!) - everyone else had to make do with sleeping mats!!
Our mosquito nets had holes in which thankfully we taped up as there we mosis flying around all night. It was sweltering hot, even though being elevated from the ground gives some ventilation. I was sleeping next to the open door and kept freaking out thinking about leopards hidign out nearby! I was woken at 4am - firstly by the village pig, snorting around underneath the house, the the cows waking up and mooing, then the cokerals, and then the family we were stayng with turned on thier radio about 5am to hear their daily dose of the national anthem. I'd no idea the middle of no where could be so noisy!! To wash, we had to use a big container underneath the house and the hole in the ground toilet was in a shack. The flushing system is to pour a bowl of water into the hole - this is actually how most toilets are in Cambodia - all suprisingly clean and fairly hygenic. Breakfast was omlettes, bread and coffee but I noticed the family ate rice instead of bread.
It was a beautiful area but we were all so relieved to leave in the morning. No proper shower in this heat and humidity just makes you feel absolutley disgusting!!
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