Phonm Penh:
The moment we got off the bus in Cambodia we straight away loved the place so much more than Vietnam! What a difference in the pace of life and the people...we had a tuk tuk driver called Boret who became our driver for the next afternoon and following morning. He was so friendly and helpful and spoke very good english so after agreeing on $8 each to have him as our driver for the afternoon and evening he dropped to us to our hotel to let us freshen up then we agreed to go see the killing fields...
On the way we passed big temples, many tuk tuks and bikes, the place seemed alot cleaner than I expected and a bit more built up than expected too. We stopped for a bite to eat which happened to be a street stall (which we generally aren't very fond of) but they didn't look too bad here so had a pork sandwich with papaya and it was delicious! :) before we got to the 'Killing Fields' Boret dropped us at a shooting range where we were going to just have a look and see how much it would be to shoot their guns..minutes later we agreed on $10 each to have 7 bullets to shoot..most of the guns you had to buy with 40/50 bullets but I only wanted to try one to see what it was like! We got led into this very stuffy, hot room and told to put our ear muffs on and feeling very nervous I asked Amy to go first! The gun shots made me jump every time, I kept expecting one to rebound off the wall and fly back at me haha!! When it was mine turn to shoot the AK47 I pooped my pants, lol, not literally! Everyone counted down 3,2,1...and I couldnt press the button...so did it again and BOOOOM the power that shot from that gun..wow!! I thought it was going to hurt my shoulder but there was lots of padding on the end of the gun and sod having to hold it up by myself and shoot! It was luckily resting on a stand and the guy was also helping me! I had my 7 shots and found that was definately enough for me, so scary but the adrenaline rush was great!
So onto the killing fields we went...this was an experience we really will never forget! I knew it was going to be sad but my god it was heart wrenching, absolutely horrific infact! You got given a tape that guided you around these killing fields telling you the story that went on in Cambodia only 40 odd years ago!! Basically some scum bag named Pol Pot took over the country and for some bizarre and sick reason decided to evacuate every town and have anyone who looked healthy, clean or smart KILLED!!! they were bought to these killing fields oblivious of what was about to happen to them..some were shut away in the dark for days and loud music was played each night to drown out the screams of the people being executed, raped or murdered one by one!! At these killng fields there were still bones on the floor, rags from the people who had been taughtered, even teeth that had been pulled out! and the bit that got me the most was the huge tree that sat there with thousands of bracelets on...this tree was where they would pick babies up by their ankles and smash there heads around them to kill them, sometimes infront of the mums who had just been raped..!! anyway I dont think I need to say much more but giving you an incite into what we saw and heard about and I tell you that story and the images will stay with me for life..we were horrified coming away from there..almost regretted going but those poor poor people!!
Later that night we had our first Cambodian dish! Amok chicken which was delicious (almost like a mild thai chicken curry)! then headed to the casino down the road..we had a few bets but wasnt great fun as it was all computerised and after a long day we hit the hay!
Having only the morning left in Phonm Penh we got our mate Boret to pick us up again and we scooted around all the temples we needed to see and ended up at a russian market which he recommended and spent probably a bit too much time and money there :) treated ourselves to a 'Rolex' watch and few bits, sooo cheap here though! shame we dont have an empty suitcase and more money, you could have gone mad!
So Cambodia was defo off to a great start having seen Phonm Penh..we then took a minibus to Sihanoukville where our friends Paul and Ashleigh were and to go lay on the beach..again :)
the people that stare!!!
how many people can fit on the back of a truck!?
our yummy street food
amy at the shooting range
me shooting an AK47 :)
lara croft eat ur heart out ;)
the killing fields
this is where hundreds of people have been buried, bones are visible too!
the amazing Amok Chicken
having a sad moment at the killing fields
yum - first cambodian dinner
me winning at the casino
we went to a temple and there were pigs and bacon everywhere!
little lady selling nuts
yep another temple
me aim and our driver Boret
at the russian market
another temple ticked off the list
Sihanoukville - Otres Beach:
4 hours on the mini bus we arrived in Sihanoukville and booked into Otres Orchid which had cool little huts to stay in. We were told to stay out of the main centre as it was quite tacky and sleazy so Otres Beach was the place to be.. A quiet little road of a dozen restaurants and bars and huts in between..the road was just a dirt track pretty much with the odd water buffalo walking down..very nice to see somewhere a bit untouched!
We headed out for dinner and met an Australian couple Will and Hannah, who ranted and raved about this place. They said most people come for a day or two and stay a week or more like them! Very easy to see why now.
We met Paul and Ashleigh in Richies Bar down the road and caught up on our adventures over a drink or two.
We spent most of our time on Otres Beach during the day, relaxing and sunbathing! The girls got their legs threaded on the beach, I had a nice back massage and manicure for about £5 :) and generaly chilled.
We went on a long walk with Paul and Ash, down the beach where we then come to a river crossing but couldnt see how deep it was. So ofcourse, we sent Paul in first to test the waters and it was waist high if not more! We made it across after some 'umming' and 'arring' and got to the secluded beach on the other side but had left it too late to stay long as the sun was going down so headed back, but the long walk certainly gave my legs a work out!!
I didnt feel too great from then on suffering from stomach ache and back ache :( but didn't leave me bed bound thank god. We went out for a couple of nice dinners and enjoyed chilling on our balconys back by our huts with the hammock :)
Pauls birthday was on our last day (we extended our stay to 3 nights instead of 2 in the end, so hard to leave this place) but unfortunately Ash wasn't too well this time :( but we had another nice day on the beach and a chocolate brownie with a hand held candle at midnight to celebrate it haha!!
We really had a lovely time here, probably the best place I have been on my travels with really good company! Very sad to leave but one more day in Cambodia til we have to leave to meet ben in thailand :)
the main road in Otres - Sihanoukville
lovely sunset - Paul and Ash
Aim and Ash getting there legs threaded on the beach
ash and paul
another romantic sunset together haha!
we tried sooo many times to jump at once...worth a shot anyway lol
chilling on the hammock
the cutest little cambodian kid challenging paul at arm wrestling and thumb wars
bbq squid on the beach
pauls birthday choc brownie
such a chilled place :)
beautiful beach
o
our little hut at Otres Orchid
lovely couple!
catching some rays finally!!
our last day with paul and ash :(
us girls on the beach
a few drinks at night on the beach
crossing the river..scared of the fish!! haha
paul proper cooched
having a swing
oh my god im trying fish!! squid! quite nice actually!!
lil dip in the sea
cute little cambodian kid come and took my hand and watched tv together
Siem Reap:
We got an overnight bus to Siem Reap which was very uncomfortable but fortunately went fairly quick! We hired ourself a driver for the day and went round on the temple run!! We went to see the infamous Angkor Wat which was great to see don't get me wrong but don't see why its a wonder of the world!?! We then scooted round to a gazillion other temples, one where they filmed Tomb Raider and a few others but the weather was scorching and we were in maxi dresses as we were told to cover up our knees..but this made the walking and site seeing unbearable! I haven't been feeling great again aswell so this certainly didn't help! Anyway we did the touristy thing and snapped away at lots of rocks and wats and now I'm dead to the world and very much looking forward to getting to Koh Chang, back to Thailand, tomorrow to see my bro :)
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