woo! internet 2 days in a row! amazing!
not too much new today.. we went to the killing fields yesterday and tuol sleng, which was the school that was turned into the prison. What an awful place, and what awful history. They built a monument to house skulls of some of the people who died in Pol Pot's regime (the Khmer Rouge) and it really makes you sad that people can be capable of such atrocities (and this was only 30 years ago).
We also went to a couple of markets yesterday, and the National Museum.
Today we are planning on going to the Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and getting manicures and pedicures done (4$ for both!). Veronika and I are also going to book tickets (or maybe a tour of the Mekong Delta) to get to Saigon, that will hopefully leave tomorrow. I want to be in Saigon by Wednesday to dance! Yay!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Yesterday morning, the minibus picked us up from our guesthouse, for the trip to the bus station. Veronika and I are heading to Phnom Pehn! So we get on the new bus, and it is supposed to be a 5 hour ride - leave at 730am, get in at 1230. Except that we needed to stop 3 times for toilet and food on this journey! Ugh! So we really didn't get in until about 1:30. Each time we stopped, we were swarmed by people asking us to buy things as soon as we got off the bus. "Miss, would you like to buy one of my books?" or "Miss, buy a postcard." etc etc. And when we arrived in Phnom Penh it was no better, except that now everyone was selling accommodation. It was so bad that you had to force your way off the bus and then they followed you, offering taxis. So finally we made it out of that mess, and flagged down a random tuk tuk, who still took us to a different place than the one we requested! But we said no, we really do want to go to the one we want, so he ended up taking us there.
Phnom Penh is a much bigger city than Siem Reap, but still just as poor, and just as dirty (both in garbage and dirt). There are no garbage bins anywhere, so garbage piles up on the streets, and when it rains (which is does every night because we are in the rainy season) the streets all floor because there is no drainage system whatsoever. We are constantly asked if we want a tuk-tuk or moto, and there are tons of children roaming the streets trying to sell things. Yesterday we were just walking around for a bit, and trying to find Wat Phnom. We got directions from one of the drivers, and then he followed us the entire way making sure we were going to correct way, and then giving us some history about it. All so that we would agree to book him as our personal driver for today.
And I have to say it worked. His English was pretty good, and he really wanted to drive us around all day to the Killing Fields, to the S21 museum, to the Palace and the markets. He is picking us up this morning at 9am, and dropping us back home whenever we are done - all for 15$. =\ We found out yesterday that his English is so good because he used to be a teacher, but gave it up because there is no money - he makes better money being a tuk-tuk driver. Awful.
The place we are staying is really nice. Veronika and I are sharing this huge room with two double beds, with air-con, and a fridge, and a huge bathroom with hot water, and even TOILET PAPER! Ahh, the luxury! Except we found that the electricity goes out randomly several times during the day for half an hour at a time (or more). Blech!
We are only staying in Cambodia until we get our visas for Vietnam. We applied for the yesterday, so we will have them back Monday night, and Tuesday we will be on a bus for Saigon. Which gives me a couple more days there before I fly home on Saturday!
Phnom Penh is a much bigger city than Siem Reap, but still just as poor, and just as dirty (both in garbage and dirt). There are no garbage bins anywhere, so garbage piles up on the streets, and when it rains (which is does every night because we are in the rainy season) the streets all floor because there is no drainage system whatsoever. We are constantly asked if we want a tuk-tuk or moto, and there are tons of children roaming the streets trying to sell things. Yesterday we were just walking around for a bit, and trying to find Wat Phnom. We got directions from one of the drivers, and then he followed us the entire way making sure we were going to correct way, and then giving us some history about it. All so that we would agree to book him as our personal driver for today.
And I have to say it worked. His English was pretty good, and he really wanted to drive us around all day to the Killing Fields, to the S21 museum, to the Palace and the markets. He is picking us up this morning at 9am, and dropping us back home whenever we are done - all for 15$. =\ We found out yesterday that his English is so good because he used to be a teacher, but gave it up because there is no money - he makes better money being a tuk-tuk driver. Awful.
The place we are staying is really nice. Veronika and I are sharing this huge room with two double beds, with air-con, and a fridge, and a huge bathroom with hot water, and even TOILET PAPER! Ahh, the luxury! Except we found that the electricity goes out randomly several times during the day for half an hour at a time (or more). Blech!
We are only staying in Cambodia until we get our visas for Vietnam. We applied for the yesterday, so we will have them back Monday night, and Tuesday we will be on a bus for Saigon. Which gives me a couple more days there before I fly home on Saturday!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Greetings from Cambodia!
Gosh, I don't even know where to start! I finally have some time on the internet, and soooo much to catch up on!
I booked at minibus from Bangkok to Siem Riep in Cambodia for 250 Thai Baht (the equivalent of 7.5$) So the minibus picked me up at 7am yesterday, and picked up a couple of others, and off to the border we went! Itw as about a 3 hour trip to the border - not bad at all. But then we had to wait for an hour or so while one of the other girls on the bus got her visa done. (Luckily, I already got my Cambodia visa while I was in Bangkok). At that point, we got back in the minibus, which took us to the border, where we had to get off and walk across on foot. No big deal - stamp out of Thailand and stamp into Cambodia.
But once we got to Cambodia, they took us to the bus station and there we waited in the dusty place, with no a/c, for hours on end. They kept telling us the bus was coming, the bus was coming, but then kept pushing back the time that it was going to come. (The whole plan of that is to frustrate people enough so that they take a taxi to the city, which costs about 80USD and is a three hour ride). Finally, after waiting for 2.5 hours, a bus actually showed up. So we all got on it and then waited on this non-airconditioned bus for some more time to pass (they were waiting for more people to show up so the bus would be full). Then they decided the because the bus wasn't full, they werent going to have someone drive it to Siem Riep. So we all got off the bus again. Bah!
However, one of the girls that I was on the minibus with spoke Cambodian! How fortunate for us! So she complained and complained, (because we bought tickets for the entire way) and finally they put the 3 of us from the minibus into a taxi... and then added 2 others!
So to say it was an uncomfortable ride would be an understatement. There were 4 of us in the back, traveling at fairly high speeds, over unpaved, rocky roads! Then, about halfway, we stopped, and all got out of the car, because one of the tires was hissing air! So then we waited some more at this little convenience type store while the driver took the car to get the tire changed (We were kinda worried he was going to disappear with our stuff).
But eventually it was fixed, and we arrived in Siem Reap. Veronica and I are sharing a very nice room for 15USD a night =) I couldn't believe how fantastic this place is. You know you've been traveling for entirely too long when you get excited about air-con, toilet paper in the bathroom, and hot water! I can't remember the last time I have had any of those luxuries! (All my last hostel had was bedbugs! YUCK! and freaking itchy!)
So today we hired a tuk tuk to drive us around the temples at Angkor Wat for the day. He will pick us up at 9am, and we have the taxi for the entire day... for a whopping price of 12USD. Crazy!
I booked at minibus from Bangkok to Siem Riep in Cambodia for 250 Thai Baht (the equivalent of 7.5$) So the minibus picked me up at 7am yesterday, and picked up a couple of others, and off to the border we went! Itw as about a 3 hour trip to the border - not bad at all. But then we had to wait for an hour or so while one of the other girls on the bus got her visa done. (Luckily, I already got my Cambodia visa while I was in Bangkok). At that point, we got back in the minibus, which took us to the border, where we had to get off and walk across on foot. No big deal - stamp out of Thailand and stamp into Cambodia.
But once we got to Cambodia, they took us to the bus station and there we waited in the dusty place, with no a/c, for hours on end. They kept telling us the bus was coming, the bus was coming, but then kept pushing back the time that it was going to come. (The whole plan of that is to frustrate people enough so that they take a taxi to the city, which costs about 80USD and is a three hour ride). Finally, after waiting for 2.5 hours, a bus actually showed up. So we all got on it and then waited on this non-airconditioned bus for some more time to pass (they were waiting for more people to show up so the bus would be full). Then they decided the because the bus wasn't full, they werent going to have someone drive it to Siem Riep. So we all got off the bus again. Bah!
However, one of the girls that I was on the minibus with spoke Cambodian! How fortunate for us! So she complained and complained, (because we bought tickets for the entire way) and finally they put the 3 of us from the minibus into a taxi... and then added 2 others!
So to say it was an uncomfortable ride would be an understatement. There were 4 of us in the back, traveling at fairly high speeds, over unpaved, rocky roads! Then, about halfway, we stopped, and all got out of the car, because one of the tires was hissing air! So then we waited some more at this little convenience type store while the driver took the car to get the tire changed (We were kinda worried he was going to disappear with our stuff).
But eventually it was fixed, and we arrived in Siem Reap. Veronica and I are sharing a very nice room for 15USD a night =) I couldn't believe how fantastic this place is. You know you've been traveling for entirely too long when you get excited about air-con, toilet paper in the bathroom, and hot water! I can't remember the last time I have had any of those luxuries! (All my last hostel had was bedbugs! YUCK! and freaking itchy!)
So today we hired a tuk tuk to drive us around the temples at Angkor Wat for the day. He will pick us up at 9am, and we have the taxi for the entire day... for a whopping price of 12USD. Crazy!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Still no pictures =(
I'm sitting here at an internet cafe in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is just downstairs from my hostel. KL is not a bad place, better than Singapore was, though more crowded and dirty, but more to see and do, I think. I met a fellow traveler this morning in the bathroom, so the two of us explored the city today, and ventured down to the Batu Caves. Still no pictures, because I can't plug in my memory card, but maybe at the next stop.
I had an awesome lunch of spicy beef and coconut rice, and am looking forward to dinner =) Everything is pretty cheap here - I'm staying in a 4 person down, and it costs about 4 bux a night, so thats pretty good. We went to the butterfly garden today, and the Batu caves, which was really neat, and who knows what's on the plan for tomorrow.
I arrived this morning at about 4am from Singapore on a bus. Didn't know where I was going to stay, but luckily there was a hostel right across the street. I have definitely had pretty good luck with everything, so I am hoping that continues. It will make for a very awesome trip!
I'm sitting here at an internet cafe in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is just downstairs from my hostel. KL is not a bad place, better than Singapore was, though more crowded and dirty, but more to see and do, I think. I met a fellow traveler this morning in the bathroom, so the two of us explored the city today, and ventured down to the Batu Caves. Still no pictures, because I can't plug in my memory card, but maybe at the next stop.
I had an awesome lunch of spicy beef and coconut rice, and am looking forward to dinner =) Everything is pretty cheap here - I'm staying in a 4 person down, and it costs about 4 bux a night, so thats pretty good. We went to the butterfly garden today, and the Batu caves, which was really neat, and who knows what's on the plan for tomorrow.
I arrived this morning at about 4am from Singapore on a bus. Didn't know where I was going to stay, but luckily there was a hostel right across the street. I have definitely had pretty good luck with everything, so I am hoping that continues. It will make for a very awesome trip!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Monday/Tueday in Singapore!
Hi All!
Its 9:10 am here in Singapore and I am slowly getting ready for the day. Its been a couple of very long days lately and last night I finally got more than 4 hours of sleep.
Yesterday I met Karla, and she and I explored the city. Its pretty, but as I had heard, a bit dull. Nothing too exciting about Singapore. Its not especially clean, not especially fantastic, so I won't be staying here too long. Karla and I wandered around, trekked through Little India which has lots of shops, and the Arab district, saw the Merlion (which was under construction for cleaning), walked through the Esplande, and worked on our tans ^_^. At about 4pm, we headed towards the Singapore Night Safari (which was a train ride to the bus station, and then a bus to the park). We had lunch in the mall in the bus station, and even though it was mall food, it was super yummy. We made it to the park, and I got my ticket, and met Charmain in line (who just so happened to be staying in our hostel at BetelBox)
Singapore Night Safari is really just a zoo (with nocturnal animals) in the dark, which sounded like a really neat idea. We went to a show, Creatures of the Night, which was one of the big things that the park advertises. It wasn't too bad, though it was kinda short. Afterwards, we walked some of the trails - a leopard trail, and a fishing cat trail. Then we hopped on the tram for a nice ride around all the other enclosures - saw tapirs, lotsa different kinds of deer, a couple of rhinos, some hippos, etc. It was kinda interesting, but you couldn't take any pictures because everything was in the dark! The whole zoo was kinda like playing "Where's Waldo" with the animals - they are not so easy to find in the dark =P
So today we are off to Sentosa Island, and I think tomorrow I am heading off to Melaka (Malacca/Melacca/ Malakka/etc) in Malaysia!
Its 9:10 am here in Singapore and I am slowly getting ready for the day. Its been a couple of very long days lately and last night I finally got more than 4 hours of sleep.
Yesterday I met Karla, and she and I explored the city. Its pretty, but as I had heard, a bit dull. Nothing too exciting about Singapore. Its not especially clean, not especially fantastic, so I won't be staying here too long. Karla and I wandered around, trekked through Little India which has lots of shops, and the Arab district, saw the Merlion (which was under construction for cleaning), walked through the Esplande, and worked on our tans ^_^. At about 4pm, we headed towards the Singapore Night Safari (which was a train ride to the bus station, and then a bus to the park). We had lunch in the mall in the bus station, and even though it was mall food, it was super yummy. We made it to the park, and I got my ticket, and met Charmain in line (who just so happened to be staying in our hostel at BetelBox)
Singapore Night Safari is really just a zoo (with nocturnal animals) in the dark, which sounded like a really neat idea. We went to a show, Creatures of the Night, which was one of the big things that the park advertises. It wasn't too bad, though it was kinda short. Afterwards, we walked some of the trails - a leopard trail, and a fishing cat trail. Then we hopped on the tram for a nice ride around all the other enclosures - saw tapirs, lotsa different kinds of deer, a couple of rhinos, some hippos, etc. It was kinda interesting, but you couldn't take any pictures because everything was in the dark! The whole zoo was kinda like playing "Where's Waldo" with the animals - they are not so easy to find in the dark =P
So today we are off to Sentosa Island, and I think tomorrow I am heading off to Melaka (Malacca/Melacca/ Malakka/etc) in Malaysia!
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