Summary of Cambodia
Since we left Cambodia about 5 days ago, it's about time to give yo the summary. Thought this summary would be a lot shorter than the others, since we only stayed there for 6 days, but apparenty, we had lots to say about Cambodia.
Just a couple of minutes after we left Vietnam and entered Cambodia, we noticed how much poorer the Cambodian people are compared to any other country we've been to so far. People in countryside, the farmers mainly, are incredibly poor. Small, irregular and tilting wooden huts (to call them houses would be wrong) are everywhere. Most of them looks like they're about to fall apart any minute. It's dirty, dusty and filled with poverty. They also have a dark past, with civil war and then the Khmer Rogues who killed, tortured and enslaved so many Camodians. In spite of this Cambodians are the nicest people we've met so far, including Thais. Always a smile on their faces. The roads in Cambodia aren't as "good" as in for example Vietnam. The bus drove from one side to another on the road to avoid bumbs or holes, like slalom on asfalt. What also surprised us a little was that Cambodians are so much darker than both Thais or Vietnamese. First we thought it was because they're were working outside, probably about 10-12 hours a day. But also in the cities were people darker. We later learnt that Cambodia has lots of Indian influences and we apart of Indian culture, so our guess is that's why people are so much darker. Cambodia's very cheap too. No trouble finding a low budget guesthouse and the food is both good tasting (again Indian and Thai influences) och really cheap.
We only stayed in Phnom Penh for two nights, but the city itself was so much better than we expected it to be. Our images of Phnom Penh before arriving were a big, boring and quite urban city. But it was nothing like that. Not that big, about 1,3 milj, most houses were only two or three stories high and some really nice architecture too with the typical Khmer look, think Angkor Wat. There's some really bad shit going on in Phnom Penh - drugs and prostitutes are everywhere. What we've heard, guns aren't that uncommon either. But if you stay away from it and don't walk smaller streets at night, I think you'll have a pleasant visit in Phnom Penh, at least we did.
Riverside in Phnom Penh.
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
After that we went to Battambang for a night and from there we took the boat to Siem Reap. Battambang is a boring city, really. Would never go back there, unless for the same reason as we went there this time - the boat to Siem Reap. Nothing to do, nothing to see. We heard there would be some nice french colonial buildings (yes, Cambodia was a french colony), but there was like, one. We took a picture and that was it. Luckily, the boat ride compensated for all for that. One of the best things we've done so far actually. Amazingly beautiful scenery and we also passed the floating villages, which is really cool (but poor). You could really get a look at the real Cambodia on that boat ride and the poor, hard working but yet so friendly people.
The french colonial buiding in Battambang.
People are very poor in Cambodia...
...but still happy!
Floating village.
Siem Reap was our third and last city we visited. Way more touristy than the two previous. Of course because of the temples in Angkor. Siem Reap itself hasn't that many things too see or places to go. But since it's crowded with tourists, you'll always be able to have a nice night out at some of the many bars in the city. Angkor was the highlight of our Cambodia visit. It's just incredible to watch all the temples. Huge, beautiful and mysterious. It's not hard to understand why people refer to them as "the 8th wonder of the world".
One of the massive trees covering the Ta Promh temple.
Faces of Angkor Thom.
Almost catching up with our blogging now. Right now we're in Koh Pha Ngan in Thailand, waiting for the Full Moon Party that will take place the 21st. We'll give you an update of our two nights in Bangkok within a couple of days.
/ C & M
Just a couple of minutes after we left Vietnam and entered Cambodia, we noticed how much poorer the Cambodian people are compared to any other country we've been to so far. People in countryside, the farmers mainly, are incredibly poor. Small, irregular and tilting wooden huts (to call them houses would be wrong) are everywhere. Most of them looks like they're about to fall apart any minute. It's dirty, dusty and filled with poverty. They also have a dark past, with civil war and then the Khmer Rogues who killed, tortured and enslaved so many Camodians. In spite of this Cambodians are the nicest people we've met so far, including Thais. Always a smile on their faces. The roads in Cambodia aren't as "good" as in for example Vietnam. The bus drove from one side to another on the road to avoid bumbs or holes, like slalom on asfalt. What also surprised us a little was that Cambodians are so much darker than both Thais or Vietnamese. First we thought it was because they're were working outside, probably about 10-12 hours a day. But also in the cities were people darker. We later learnt that Cambodia has lots of Indian influences and we apart of Indian culture, so our guess is that's why people are so much darker. Cambodia's very cheap too. No trouble finding a low budget guesthouse and the food is both good tasting (again Indian and Thai influences) och really cheap.
We only stayed in Phnom Penh for two nights, but the city itself was so much better than we expected it to be. Our images of Phnom Penh before arriving were a big, boring and quite urban city. But it was nothing like that. Not that big, about 1,3 milj, most houses were only two or three stories high and some really nice architecture too with the typical Khmer look, think Angkor Wat. There's some really bad shit going on in Phnom Penh - drugs and prostitutes are everywhere. What we've heard, guns aren't that uncommon either. But if you stay away from it and don't walk smaller streets at night, I think you'll have a pleasant visit in Phnom Penh, at least we did.
Riverside in Phnom Penh.
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
After that we went to Battambang for a night and from there we took the boat to Siem Reap. Battambang is a boring city, really. Would never go back there, unless for the same reason as we went there this time - the boat to Siem Reap. Nothing to do, nothing to see. We heard there would be some nice french colonial buildings (yes, Cambodia was a french colony), but there was like, one. We took a picture and that was it. Luckily, the boat ride compensated for all for that. One of the best things we've done so far actually. Amazingly beautiful scenery and we also passed the floating villages, which is really cool (but poor). You could really get a look at the real Cambodia on that boat ride and the poor, hard working but yet so friendly people.
The french colonial buiding in Battambang.
People are very poor in Cambodia...
...but still happy!
Floating village.
Siem Reap was our third and last city we visited. Way more touristy than the two previous. Of course because of the temples in Angkor. Siem Reap itself hasn't that many things too see or places to go. But since it's crowded with tourists, you'll always be able to have a nice night out at some of the many bars in the city. Angkor was the highlight of our Cambodia visit. It's just incredible to watch all the temples. Huge, beautiful and mysterious. It's not hard to understand why people refer to them as "the 8th wonder of the world".
One of the massive trees covering the Ta Promh temple.
Faces of Angkor Thom.
Almost catching up with our blogging now. Right now we're in Koh Pha Ngan in Thailand, waiting for the Full Moon Party that will take place the 21st. We'll give you an update of our two nights in Bangkok within a couple of days.
/ C & M
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