First trip
Cambodia was in my travel bucket list in 2011. I was supposed to meet up Alex in Cambodia in the end of December 2011.First, because his birthday falls on 30th December, a day before the big celebration of Year 2012.Secondly, I haven't met him since he left for Australia for his working holiday.Thirdly,he wants to meet up some of his old friends for the 2012 new year.
Unfortunately, God loves him more.
I didn't go to Cambodia that year. I was so upset, feeling lost and out of hope.
Time does not heal any wounds, but it helps to cope with my daily lives.
This is the first time I went alone to Cambodia after Alex gone. After almost one year,finally I brave myself and I took the opportunity to book the cheap flight offered by Airasia during their promo fare.
http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.page
The flight ticket cost me less than MYR220, return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh. But off course the flight is cheap because it depart early in morning at 0700hrs and it's on 1st January 2013.
I didn't do much research for my Cambodian trip unlike my Myanmar trip.
Instead I just follow my heart and instict. With my budget of USD350 (MYR1,120) for 6 nights stay in Cambodia, I decided to stay in Phnom Penh and Siam Reap.
Phnom Penh
Day 1
The taxi from Phnom Penh Airport to Russian Market area cost me USD10. I guessed that's the normal standard price for taxi from the aiport to the city centre.I had booked earlier my room reservation from www.booking.com.my.
I stayed at 'Madhouse' located at street 454, near Toul Tompoung (Russian Market).
I've booked a dorm instead for a room. It was a bit expensive for a dorm per night, but the staff over there at the guesthouse are really helpfull. Just ask for Raksmey. She's the manager for Mad Guesthouse.
The price per night is USD10. The double deck bed was super single size. I had the whole dorm for myself! The toilet cum shower room are pretty new as I can still smell the wet paint!
Long journey and less sleep, I decided to get some good sleep before I head to the town to meet up Christopher,a Couchsurfer who resides in lives in Kuantan,Malaysia but came to Cambodia for a short holiday. I was a little bit late for the appointment as I have no contact of Chris but luckily I met him.
Pampering myself
After the meet up with Chris, I decided to give myself a reward;Full body massage,pedicure and manicure. It sounds that I really pampered myself and hoping that I will have a good one! The package cost me USD29 at U and Me Spa.
Overall, on first day of my Cambodia trip in Phnom Penh, I spend less than USD90 and that including:
The second day of the year and the second day I'm in Phnom Penh. My hostel was a perfect place to stay, far away from the city centre and the pub area. The tuk tuk costs per way surely very expensive but it's worth a ride. In Toul Toumpong I met Albert Arco, a Couchsurfer from Spain that works in Phnom Penh. The second Couchsurfer I met when I was in Cambodia. We had a quick lunch as he needs to go back to work and I need to go and check out the city.
I continued my sightseeing tour to the city,when I received a message from a Couchsurfer name Jehan to meet me and asked if I wanted to join for the rier cruise. I surely don't want to miss and try the river cruise.The strange thing is, I have no idea if Jehan is a male or a female.Well, I just go to the designated place. And it was the spa that I went the day before. The cruise that we took was at 5pm, just an ideal time to watch the sunset. Such a romantic moment.
Jehan and me had a great time together eventhough we hardly know each other and I think we clicked together. Sadly,Jehan have to go back to the Philippines and continue her studies the next day and I had my trip to Siem Reap planned.
The day didn't end with the river cruise.I had my ex-office mate from Phnom Penh, Um Sotheary works in the city.I had promised her that I will visit her soon and now, here I am.
Um Sotheary and her office mate arrived a few minutes later near the pier with her bike. She still looks the same.It's like a dream to see her again.Both of us, Jehan and I hop on the motorbikes and we left to see the city at night. It was good to have some local people to show around the city since I have no idea what to see and where to go!Half way, Jehan had to leave. We send her at the tuk tuk centre and left for dinner.
I was starving and would want to eat anything that time. Um Sotheary suggested that we have the spicy noodle. I told her that I don't eat pork and if possible to have a seafood instead. I think I have no problem eating at a local place as I have the look-a-like Cambodian girl,unless if I started to converse in English!I have the mild noodle and prawn.
Beware!The noodle looks like it's not spicy but God knows how spicy it was for me!!I had my lips turn red and a little bit swollen from eating the noodles. It was the cheapest food ever I had since the day I arrived in Phnom Penh and the most spicy food ever I had tasted. The two of them just smiled at me as I try to overcome the hot and spicy taste!
Um Sotheary later send me off to a tuk tuk and that night, my ride back to the guesthouse in Russian Market cost half the amount that I've paid normally.
Hemm...what a ripped off!I head back to my bunk and sleep early that night. A long day tomorrow for a new destination - Siem Reap.
Thanks Theary for your hospitality!!..See you soon my friend.
Overall, this is what I've spend for my 2nd day in Phnom Penh:
Cambodia was in my travel bucket list in 2011. I was supposed to meet up Alex in Cambodia in the end of December 2011.First, because his birthday falls on 30th December, a day before the big celebration of Year 2012.Secondly, I haven't met him since he left for Australia for his working holiday.Thirdly,he wants to meet up some of his old friends for the 2012 new year.
Unfortunately, God loves him more.
I didn't go to Cambodia that year. I was so upset, feeling lost and out of hope.
Time does not heal any wounds, but it helps to cope with my daily lives.
'Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. - Dalai Lama'I have Dalai Lama's quote as my guidance to heal my pain of losing Alex. I knew he is still with me no matter where I go and what I did.
This is the first time I went alone to Cambodia after Alex gone. After almost one year,finally I brave myself and I took the opportunity to book the cheap flight offered by Airasia during their promo fare.
http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.page
The flight ticket cost me less than MYR220, return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh. But off course the flight is cheap because it depart early in morning at 0700hrs and it's on 1st January 2013.
I didn't do much research for my Cambodian trip unlike my Myanmar trip.
Instead I just follow my heart and instict. With my budget of USD350 (MYR1,120) for 6 nights stay in Cambodia, I decided to stay in Phnom Penh and Siam Reap.
Phnom Penh
Day 1
The taxi from Phnom Penh Airport to Russian Market area cost me USD10. I guessed that's the normal standard price for taxi from the aiport to the city centre.I had booked earlier my room reservation from www.booking.com.my.
I stayed at 'Madhouse' located at street 454, near Toul Tompoung (Russian Market).
I've booked a dorm instead for a room. It was a bit expensive for a dorm per night, but the staff over there at the guesthouse are really helpfull. Just ask for Raksmey. She's the manager for Mad Guesthouse.
The price per night is USD10. The double deck bed was super single size. I had the whole dorm for myself! The toilet cum shower room are pretty new as I can still smell the wet paint!
Long journey and less sleep, I decided to get some good sleep before I head to the town to meet up Christopher,a Couchsurfer who resides in lives in Kuantan,Malaysia but came to Cambodia for a short holiday. I was a little bit late for the appointment as I have no contact of Chris but luckily I met him.
Pampering myself
After the meet up with Chris, I decided to give myself a reward;Full body massage,pedicure and manicure. It sounds that I really pampered myself and hoping that I will have a good one! The package cost me USD29 at U and Me Spa.
Overall, on first day of my Cambodia trip in Phnom Penh, I spend less than USD90 and that including:
- Taxi from airport to guesthouse: USD10
- 2 nights at guesthouse: USD16
- Taxi fare from guesthouse to city (return): USD7
- Phone card and top up: USD10 + USD5
- Spa,manicure and pedicure: USD29
- Mineral water and dinner: USD4.75
The second day of the year and the second day I'm in Phnom Penh. My hostel was a perfect place to stay, far away from the city centre and the pub area. The tuk tuk costs per way surely very expensive but it's worth a ride. In Toul Toumpong I met Albert Arco, a Couchsurfer from Spain that works in Phnom Penh. The second Couchsurfer I met when I was in Cambodia. We had a quick lunch as he needs to go back to work and I need to go and check out the city.
I continued my sightseeing tour to the city,when I received a message from a Couchsurfer name Jehan to meet me and asked if I wanted to join for the rier cruise. I surely don't want to miss and try the river cruise.The strange thing is, I have no idea if Jehan is a male or a female.Well, I just go to the designated place. And it was the spa that I went the day before. The cruise that we took was at 5pm, just an ideal time to watch the sunset. Such a romantic moment.
Jehan and me had a great time together eventhough we hardly know each other and I think we clicked together. Sadly,Jehan have to go back to the Philippines and continue her studies the next day and I had my trip to Siem Reap planned.
The day didn't end with the river cruise.I had my ex-office mate from Phnom Penh, Um Sotheary works in the city.I had promised her that I will visit her soon and now, here I am.
Um Sotheary and her office mate arrived a few minutes later near the pier with her bike. She still looks the same.It's like a dream to see her again.Both of us, Jehan and I hop on the motorbikes and we left to see the city at night. It was good to have some local people to show around the city since I have no idea what to see and where to go!Half way, Jehan had to leave. We send her at the tuk tuk centre and left for dinner.
I was starving and would want to eat anything that time. Um Sotheary suggested that we have the spicy noodle. I told her that I don't eat pork and if possible to have a seafood instead. I think I have no problem eating at a local place as I have the look-a-like Cambodian girl,unless if I started to converse in English!I have the mild noodle and prawn.
Beware!The noodle looks like it's not spicy but God knows how spicy it was for me!!I had my lips turn red and a little bit swollen from eating the noodles. It was the cheapest food ever I had since the day I arrived in Phnom Penh and the most spicy food ever I had tasted. The two of them just smiled at me as I try to overcome the hot and spicy taste!
Um Sotheary later send me off to a tuk tuk and that night, my ride back to the guesthouse in Russian Market cost half the amount that I've paid normally.
Hemm...what a ripped off!I head back to my bunk and sleep early that night. A long day tomorrow for a new destination - Siem Reap.
Thanks Theary for your hospitality!!..See you soon my friend.
Overall, this is what I've spend for my 2nd day in Phnom Penh:
- Bus ticket to Siem Reap - USD9
- Tuk tuk to Riverfront(return) - USD6
- Rivercruise - USD5
- Lunch - USD2
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