Across 2 Cities in One Week ~ Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh Trip: 20 Sep to 23 Sep 2009 (WIP to be completed by 31 Jan 2010)

Sights ~ Bus Trip from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh

Note: This is a Work-In-Progress. Target Completion Date: 31 Jan 2010



Sun, 20th Oct 2009. Phnom Penh:

At 8.30am we boarded a 45-Seater Bus for what is supposed to be a 6-hour drive to Phnom Penh with one breakfast/lunch stop near the Vietnam/Cambodia border.

The one-way trip cost us only US$10 per head and this Bus was recommended by the friendly staff of the Saigion Mini Hotel 1.

We travelled for 2 hours before we arrived at the 1st Immigration Checkpoint which took approx. 30 mins to clear us. Boarded the Bus agian & arrived at a restaurant near the border where we have another 30 mins stop. Some passengers were having breakfast, some bought foodstuff including maize from the street vendors.

When we board the Bus again, we passed thru quite a number of Casinos built on the Cambodian side. The Vietnamese Government do not issue license for Casinos, so the Casinos were built at the border to attract the Vietnamese Gamblers, after all it's only a 2-hour ride form HCMC!

Jeff Tips: I bought 2 packets of Hersheys for US$4.90 each which actually costs US$10 in the Duty Free shop at Phnom Penh Airport.

Children of Asia ~ Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap Photos Courtesy of Photographer & Traveller - Henry Choo

For Siem Reap Hotels, click to:

http://www.wutravel.com/hotels/cambodia/siem_reap/?a_aid=baf259d0

A Tale of Two Khmer Cities

Mystical Cambodia: From Top, Left to Right: Wedding Couple with friends in front of Angkor Wat; Posing at Ta Prom Temple; Khmer people in Traditional Costume at Angkor Wat; Motorcycle Taxi (Motodop) in Phnom Penh (Central Market at background); Dinner at the Sissowath Quay; Lunch at the famous FCC; Boat Ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

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=> Mystical Trip was from 20 Mar to 24 Mar 2008
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Visiting Cambodia for the first time open up our eyes no matter how much we heard about the Country. The Cambodians are friendly people, despite a difficult history where many people suffered & there were senseless killings. Most Cambodians are poor, but they speak good English - I was told that the UN's long presence in the Country was partly responsible for this - and are always ready to flash you a smile.

What I like about Cambodia besides it's wonderful people?

1) Market in Phnom Penh - got a good deal for a Mont Blanc spectacle frame

2) Food - Nice & reasonable

3) Massage - cheap

4) FCC - Foreign Correspondents Club - good food & ambience

5) Hotels - good value for money

6) Charity Work - plenty, depends on your interests

7) Angkor Wat - plenty of history unless you get temple fatigue

Phnom Penh has at least 3 big markets where you buy all kinds of value-for- money products. Of course, Siem Reap is famous for Angkor Wat & the Temples.

Are you into Charity? Come to Cambodia - there are plenty to do here!!

Click this link for Phnom Penh Hotels
http://www.wutravel.com/hotels/cambodia/phnom_penh/?a_aid=baf259d0

Click this link for Siem Reap Hotels

http://www.wutravel.com/hotels/cambodia/siem_reap/?a_aid=baf259d0