Sleepless in Cambodia

Last October 25, I courageously flew to Vietnam without any plans of taking a touristy vacation. I just wanted to do some soul-searching by locking away myself in a hotel room and from time to time get lost around the streets of Saigon, but when I arrived in Than Son Nhat Airport at 1 AM of October 26, my confidence was drained by the thought that the taxi driver might rip me off of my money since I don't know the address of the hotel I wanted to stay in (I never booked a hotel). So I approached two women (mother and daughter tandem) and asked whether they'll take a taxi. They said they're travelling together with another lady who used to work in Cambodia and that they intend to go to Pnom Penh (Cambodia's capital). They invited me to go with them. Maybe it's the mother's kind face that prompted me to say, "Yes." I was also encouraged when I remember a colleague who told me that if there's one country that he would like to visit, it would be Cambodia because of its rich history. Also, I wanted a bit of thrill in my adventure so meeting these strangers I knew was something that will give me a taste of it. 

Ate Noemi, Ate Luz, and moi

My bus ticket

Sapaco bus liner

It was a six-hour drive from Saigon to Pnom Penh and I spent them all by sleeping and chatting with Ate Noemi. 

We stopped at the immigration to have our passports stamped

The immigration office

I don't know what this tower is for

We stopped over for lunch and I had this sumptuous meal

When we arrived in Pnom Penh, Ate Noemi arranged a tuk tuk (their mode of transportation) that will tour us around the city. We're lucky to have a tuk tuk driver who can speak fluent English.

Before saying our goodbyes and thank you's to Ate Noemi

No smiling and laughing allowed here

Clothes of the dead victims of Pol Pot

This school became a torture room

One of the victims and survivors of Khmer Rouge

This was our first stop, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and to be honest it made me depressed

Their King died so we couldn't get near the palace

I forgot the name of this tower

A monk being interviewed

Another unknown landmark

Barbequed fruits

Museum (Ugh, I'm so forgetful)

A souvenir photo outside the museum

This kid selling some souvenirs is so smart

The famous lok lak on top right

Savin Nouch, our tuk tuk driver

Pnom Penh, The Charming City

To be honest, I wasn't charmed by the city because the thought of all the victims of Pol Pot's atrocities made me really sad. In fact, that night in the hotel room, I couldn't sleep at all. I felt that the dead's spirits are still roaming around the museum making the visitors imagine the tortures that they had to go through. I think what made my travel to Pnom Penh memorable is the fact that we have the best tuk tuk driver in town. Please visit this site if you're interested to go to Cambodia in the future: http://besttuktuk.blogspot.com/ 

Savin has been such a good tourist guide.

Saigon Calls

It's probably love at first sight. With its red bricked buildings, herd of scooters, and pho restaurants, Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam's capital) is a fusion of a rich historical past and of a growing modern commercialization.

Jung was my travelmate

Let's play I Spy!

I spy a grammatical error!

I spy a hanging underwear!

I spy pots and pans!

I spied this lady vendor receiving money from a customer, then later stuffed this bun with meat, lettuce, cucumber, etc with her bare hands. She did all these without even washing her hands! Hygiene is not a top priority here. 

What makes this city awesome for me is the fact that it's less polluted than Manila or Iloilo. The motorbikes help the people get anywhere they want and there's less traffic. I find it ridiculous to buy a car here. Be careful when you cross the streets, though. These drivers will never stop for you. 

Watch out when they drive in herds

The cost of living here is not that high. $1 is equivalent to 20,600 VND. You can buy a sumptuous pho (noodles) at 36,000 VND.

chicken pho and soymilk at 46,000 VND roughly around P80.00

An array of choices for you, but tissue and fork are not 'uso' here.

I was a millionaire in Vietnam. My $300 amounted to 6,197,000 VND.

There are many places to visit. You can have a city tour for $14.

Inside Reunification Palace

Thien Hau Pagoda or Chinatown? I can't remember anymore

An artist at work in the lacquerware shop

War Remnant Museum (Let Peace Prevail on Earth)

The General Post Office

The City Hall (is it? I'm not sure anymore)

Ho Chi Minh's statue

I will definitely go back there. Benh Tanh market, watch out for me! Every street name seems to have a Van, even our taxi driver is named Van! With its number of signboards with the word 'Van' on it, I felt like Saigon has been calling me all this time. I'm glad I responded to its call.