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Cambodia Wrap Up E-mail
From Phnom Penh, Cambodia   
Thursday, January 17, 2008

I know I've been way lack in posting... so here's a wrap up of my 6 weeks in Cambodia so far...

After fighting corrupt officials entering Cambodia, I headed south to Kratie to see some rare dolphins. Then kept heading south to the capital, Phnom Penh. Where after a week all I’d done is sloth around lots of the happy hour luring expat filled bars.

ImageNext moved on to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat, the SE Asian mother of all attractions & largest religious structure in the world. The sheer scale of the place blows you away. There's 1, 3 or 7 day tickets – it could take 7 days to see the whole place! I opted for the 3 day pass (& it was well worth the $40 price). But honestly, by the last day, I'd had enough wondrous temples & exquisite stone carvings; not to mention vendors constantly screeching "Pineapple, lady?", "You want T-shirt?", "Buy cold drink?" Arrrggggghhhh!!!

Stuck around that town a few more days checking out the expensive shops, having 'happy' pizzas & hitting the 'Bar Street' with my 2 Brits & 4 news ones. I think I’m now fluent in both American & British English!

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bamboo train
Decided to stop in Battambang before heading back to Phnom Penh for Christmas. There's really nothing there except a bamboo train. It was - literally - a bamboo mat on wheels! And soooo much fun!! But the best was when a train coming from the opposite direction showed up --- the train with the least stuff onboard, which was ours, had to be taken apart & off the tracks to let the other train pass by. Too funny!!

Then returned to the black hole that is Phnom Penh in time for Christmas. Went to a wonderful Christmas Eve party but then spent Christmas chained to the toilet with food poisoning! Yuck!! Recovered enough to swap presents & have a proper roast dinner the next night.

Very sadly, it was time to say goodbye to the Brits. Wish them the best in New Zealand & beyond! Also said goodbye to Phnom Penh again & headed to the beaches of Sihanoukville with an American & 2 Israelis I'd met in Laos. Had a good New Year's party on the beach complete with a million spectacular fireworks!

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view from my bed
Next came Kampot, famous for what, still don't know but still recommend it! Not for the town, didn't see that 'til the 3rd day... go for the fantastic Bodhi Villa hotel. My room was a floating bungalow with only 3 walls... no wall on the side facing the water!! It was like a backpacker resort - $8/night, great places to lounge including hammocks, a person-tossing catapult into the water & cheap pot sold at the bar.

From there went home to Phnom Penh, where I know several expats, runaways, an Aussie pimp & a self-proclaimed sexpat from Seattle... & much to my own amazement, enjoy their company! But this time my company's status dramatically improved, the former Ambassador to Korea has been acting as my own personal tour guide! Just love this town! Random stuff like that happens here all the time... had a German jump off his moped to tell my friend, who he addressed as the 'Prince of Darkness', to stop following him... had a billionaire offer me any job wanted giving away his money (& found out he's legit!)... & even went roller skating & played at the arcade in the mall here!


Tags:  Cambodia sites bars train holiday
 
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