Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Well off I went to get my flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  The flight was with Tiger Airways via Singapore which was a bit backward in coming forward but it got me there.  Had a 5 hour layover in Singapore so I decided to once again, top up on my caffine.  It was perfect timing actually because I could skype home at a decent hour for them.  Went and got a grande latte at Starbucks where I saw my first Christmas tree.

Starbucks Xmas Tree

Child seat in the toilets at Singapore...genius!

Arrived in Cambodia'a capital around 8am where Ricky collected me to take me to the hostel...Nomads.  OMG! it was a proper hostel.  There were 8 beds well, mattresses well, foam thingys on the floor and a shared bathroom.  Later that day Martin the owner had just booked 6 mexican men into my room.  He asked if it was ok and that I could move down a floor if I wanted to.....NO CHANCE MATE!! I'm staying put!  I took this as a gift from my amigos currently living it up in Cancun.  Thanks girls!

Rickay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My foam thingy was near the balcony

As always on my first day I don't do much.  I was told by Martin that I should be very weary of pick pockets and carrying my bag especially at night as bikes will swipe them and take you with them if your still attached.  This put the bejesus up me right then!  I went out for food in the afternoon and took only the money I needed and my camera which I carried in my pocket with my hand in at all times.  Found a great restaurant called The Mekong River.  Beer was 50p..SOLD!!! Ended up eating here most days.  The food was nice and cheap and the staff were friendly.

Mekong River Restaurant

After all I had done in China I decided to chill out for the days after.  I went for a massage (£6) and got my nails and toe nails done (£4).  A proper pamper day.  I got talking to a lad called Sayha who sold books (one of them annoying mitherers coming upto you).  He made me laugh though so I bought some postcards from him and we ended up arranging for him to take me to the Killing Fields the next day.  I bargained down from $25 to $15 which was what my hostel was offering.

The next day I arrived for the buffet breakfast at the Mekong (£1.50) and waited for Seyha.  He told me his tuk tuk was broke so his brother Laa was going to take me.  We arrived at the Killing Fields where they gave me a headphone set with a comentary on it.  It was awful.  I had to turn the headset off halfway round because it was really upsetting.  Next he took me to S21 prison which was where people were tortured and part of the same regime.  Again, I felt sick walking round and left after 10 minutes.  They had before and after pictures of dead people and I felt sick.

Killing Fields

S21 Prison

Not a nice place..had to leave before I threw up

Met a Canadian guy whilst trying to catch some rays on the river front.  Well wierd and not all there I think.  He proceded to tell me how dangerous the city was.  He told me of a girl who won a beauty padgent got invited to a girls house on facebook and was killed by her!!! FFS!! Excused myself quickly and went back to my hostel.

That night was my last night so I headed back to the Mekong for dinner.  Seyha was hanging around so I asked him to join me for dinner..my shout.  We chatted away and then went to the bar upstairs to get cocktails for £1.  He stuck to juice though.  Had some good music, then he escorted me home.  He tried to come into my hostel the little bugger and I said NO! and sent him on his way.

The next morning I could the bus to Siem Reap (5.5hrs).  Realised I didn't know what my hostel was called so thought I was buggered until I remembered my 3G Kindle!!  It worked too, in the middle of nowhere on a dusty road in Cambodia.  Well impressed!  When I arrived my tuk tuk driver was waiting for me to take me to Jasmine Family Guesthouse....with a pool.  Couldn't wait coz the temps were hitting 35 degrees daily.

Middle of nowhere...on my Kindle