20.12.2011 - 21.12.2011
We arrived in Sihanoukville double blessed as we not only got dropped off at the exact location we had wanted, but managed to get a room at a guesthouse of our choice and at a decent price. Within the hour we got chaperoned by a group of US Marines and spent the rest of the day drinking beer towers, calling ‘shot o’ clock’, being introduced to yet more military hunks and conversing over our different national customs and sayings. Unfortunately the swarm of men that bombarded our guesthouse had to get back to their ship before curfew time, but as our alcohol levels were high we decided to continue with our night & visited Utopia, a bar close by followed by a club we found on the beach. We once again got chatting to another random guy called Tom and spent the evening giving each other nick names in an attempt to make it easier to remember each other! Our new names were; ‘Tango Tom’, ‘Loose Laura’, then mine which began as ‘Fat Nat’, turned into ‘Naughty Nat’ & then ‘Notorious Nat’!
Unfortunately my trip here was short lived as my war wounds were getting the better of me and needed to get myself sorted out.
Posted by nwetzel1
21.12.2011
08:20
Archived in Cambodia
15.12.2011 - 19.12.2011
As we departed Phnom Penh by bus, our next destination was scheduled to be Kampot, both Laura and I thought we were going to Kampot before Kep, but having arrived in Kep we both spontaneously decided to get off here instead! Much to our relief Kep was beautiful and everything we had wished 4000 Islands to have been. In visiting Kampot a couple of days later, we realised we had made the right choice, as there was simply nothing to do and we found it difficult to entertain ourselves even for an afternoon without thinking of our return to Kep!
We were lucky enough to get a room at ‘Brise De Kep’ which took our fancy from the brochure we had come across previously. It had picturesque views overlooking the ocean and the most delicious seafood & pasta dishes we had eaten to date. During our stay we visited the deserted beach, went on a boat trip to Rabbit Island which was just as secluded, visited the crab market trying all the seafood dishes we could get our hands on for pennies and hired a bike to Kampot of which Laura received her first lesson!
In true Nat style, I once again hadn’t been looking after myself and ended up getting what I discovered to be Cellulitus which later boarded on Septicaemia. I must have looked hilarious to anyone that glanced my way, as I attempted to bandage my leg up with endless plasters & gaffer tape to try to keep my wounds dry whilst hitting the picturesque beaches. My timing couldn’t have been more perfect, not!
Posted by nwetzel1
19.12.2011
08:19
Archived in Cambodia
11.12.2011 - 15.12.2011
At last! The festivities have materialised in the form of Santa hats in Phnom Penh. I couldn’t believe my luck to find waiters dressed in festive attire and Christmas trees dotted around the place. Although I could have been quite content staying here for a long period of time, overfeeding my belly with pub lunches and watching the Disney channel, Laura brought me back to the cold reality that there are other destinations on our agenda and we mustn’t get too content with any one place.
Even though I have sung its praises, Phnom Pehn definitely had its down side. We found many people of all ages begging, but the saddest to see were definitely those with disabilities from what I can only assume were from the minefields that heavily scatter the country and young children, which really pulled at my heartstrings. They did prove to be annoying after a while though.
My worst experience was from a young beggar boy, who had come up to me asking if I would buy a book from him. I had literally minutes before bought a book from another! I politely explained I had one already but if I liked the book, that he found me over the next couple of days I might buy the sequel. He became very persistent, offering free books if I won a game of rock, paper, scissors. Then abruptly he dropped the price dramatically to $1 and I agreed. The realisation then must have sunk in as he then declined his offer. He then persited to follow us and under his breath called me all names under the sun! At this I wanted to throw his blessed books in the Tonle Sap River and him with them! As if the verbal were not enough he then descended to physically abuse me! What a little brat! After a while, he got bored of this game and disappeared, but we kept bumping into him over the next few days but fortunately he stayed clear.
Posted by nwetzel1
14.12.2011
16:00
Archived in Cambodia
Read reviews from other Travellerspoint members.
13.12.2011 - 13.12.2011
Whilst staying in Cambodia for a period of time, it’s easy to believe that this is a nation of smiling, happy people with little care or worries. In fact it is a heavily corrupted country with political unrest that still shrouds the country as a result of the Khmer Rouge days of terror. There are so many families that have such tragic stories to tell, forever haunting their lives. Visiting Tuol Sleug Genocide Museum (S21) and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Killing Fields) really brought their pain & anguish to reality.
It wasn’t all doom & gloom, Paul the Irish guy from the slow boat joined us for a night out. We made our first stop of the night the ‘Hooters Bar’, which made Laura very happy, as she is now recognised as a ‘Hooters connoisseur.’ Both Laura & I received undivided attention from all the bar girls whilst Paul & his friend Jeff received not the slightest glance. Very strange but hey ho, male or female attention is always greatly received!
Posted by nwetzel1
13.12.2011
08:18
Archived in Cambodia
12.12.2011 - 12.12.2011
We had quite an eventful day visiting the Wat Phnom, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. All the attractions although interesting to see, definitely didn’t take our breath away. Maybe we had been spoilt by our early adventures in Bangkok. The Wat, which translates to ‘Hill Temple’ doesn’t give a true reflection of the pitiful 27m climb to the top! The National Museum however was quite impressive with its vast array of artistic, historic and archaeological treasures, much of which are of the Angkorian period.
Posted by nwetzel1
11.12.2011
16:00
Archived in Cambodia
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