Page 37 - Explore Magazine Winter 2018

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Arriving on an evening flight into Phnom Penh, my first impression was crossings needed! It turned out to be true and although slightly
wow! We were greeted by our lovely tour leader and transferred onto a daunting it was great.
bus to be taken to our hotel for the next two nights. Although the airport Phnom Penh was also a true introduction to Cambodia in other ways.
was only 11km from the centre of town, it took an hour to reach our hotel
in peak traffic. The traffic was actually crazy, with people driving in all After visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and learning about the
Khmer Rouge regime it was eye-opening about what Cambodia as a
directions on scooters and in tuk-tuks and I even saw a truck with about
20 people standing on the back who were being driven home from a nation went through, and not that long ago either. I even managed to
meet one of the six survivors of Tuol Sleng.
hard day’s work. I had an idea of what Asia would be like but actually
experiencing it was incredible.
A highlight was Pub Street in Siem
After an hour we turned into the main street of Phnom Penh, which has Reap which is filled with clubs, bars and
beautiful monuments, and then into a small street. At La Rose Suites,
the amazing boutique hotel where we stayed, we were greeted with restaurants and at about US$2 for a local
the friendliest smiles. Cambodia has a very hot climate and when we
were handed a cocktail and a cold towel at reception they were the best beer it’s definitely a good time.
cocktail and cold towel I’ve ever had! From Phnom Penh we went 315km northwest to Siem Reap which is
A must-do when travelling in Cambodia is most famous for the ancient temple and city of Angkor Wat which once
housed as many as 750,000 people. Being able to see the temple was
to see some of the beautiful countryside awe-inspiring, but I would recommend arriving as early as possible for
which includes large lakes and rice fields sightseeing because it becomes overcrowded and it’s very, very hot.
and local markets. Another must-do when travelling in Cambodia is to see some of
the beautiful countryside which includes large lakes and rice fields
After a pleasant night’s sleep in a beautiful suite, we went on a walking and local markets. I got to experience it on a Vespa tour which also
tour through the city. It was amazing to see how diverse the city is, provided lunch in a village. Other tips: Change your money into U.S.
including just the experience of walking out of the luxurious sanctuary dollars before leaving New Zealand as U.S. currency is accepted in
of the hotel into the busy streets. Cambodia. Also try all the local food: I had a cricket and ticked that off
my bucket list but I won’t rush back to eat it again.
We saw a good slice of the city in an hour, including Buddhist
temples, a middle-class area and a poorer area. It’s true what And although the local food is wonderful and very cheap there is
people say about how friendly the Cambodians are as a nation: also a wide selection of western restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem
you see people living in poverty yet they seem very happy. Before Reap. A highlight was Pub Street in Siem Reap which is filled with
I went to Asia I heard people talk about how you cross the road clubs, bars and restaurants, and at about US$2 for a local beer it’s
– you simply walk and the drivers give way to you, no pedestrian definitely a good time.

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