~ 柬埔寨之旅 ~

23-5-2010 to 26-5-2010 – my vacation with my best friends ~ Amy, Lilian, Siau Yen & Pui Ching. 5 of us travel to Cambodia.

Since so many years we have been together, normally just a gathering in town when everyone is around… Each time we try to plan but not successful…but last year finally we make it! During the Airasia 0 fare, we arranged to book our tickets to Cambodia…..finally….booked!

All of us are so excited that we can travel together ~ ladies group, leave everything behind….no family, no housework, no work, no tension…just enjoy our travelling without any worry!!!

The day we waited finally comes….23-5-2010 (Sunday) is the unforgettable day for me. We meet up at LCCT 12.30p.m. as our flight schedule is 2.55p.m. Our first destination is Phnom Penh. Once we reach Cambodia, our tour guide Mr. Sam and driver already waited and welcome us at the airport.

We check in at Princess Hotel (3 hotel) then heading to Wat Phom Pagoda. Phnom Penh Historical City & Temple-entrance fee – USD2, at night we had our dinner at DaDa Seafood Restaurant with one of my company’s rubber supplier – Mr. Chea Vong. After the dinner, Mr. Chea Vong brings us around the city and visited Nagaworld – we take a look in Nagaworld ~ City of entertainment, singing, Casino, lounge etc.

After that we took a Tuk-tuk ride to Reverstreet Restaurant for some drinking. Surprisingly their beer (Angkor Premium Beer) only cost USD0-60, so cheap compare to our Malaysia’s beer. We think the taste is about the same as carlsberg (for us non-expert to taste..hehehe). After our drinking, we take tuk-tuk back and the friendly and kind driver bring us for sight-seeing and stop us at the independent monument and pass by the Royal Palace etc.

2^nd day 24-5-2010 (Monday) after our breakfast, we are leaving Phnom Penh and heading to Siem Reap by Mekong Express Limousine Bus – bus fare – USD12 (including a bottle of mineral water, muffin and bread). The journey takes about 5-6 hours to reach Siem Reap but in between, we stop at Kampong Thom for a 30 minutes rest. At Kampong Thom we saw some stall selling fried criket with chillie. But none of us dare to give a try…

By 1.30p.m. we reach Siem Reap, our Tour guide Mr. Bun and driver already at the station waiting for us. We had our lunch first then only we check in into Angkor Home Hotel (4 star hotel). This is a newly open hotel. We were welcome by Ms. Ngim from Amazing Angkor Tour travel agent. Each of us is given a scarf from Amazing Angkor Tour as a souvenir then

a glass of campaign (to refresh us as well as reduce our heat). The outside weather is very very hot – 40 - 45 degree…

After our rest for 30 minutes, we visit to Floating village but unfortunately, due to dry season and construction work at the end road, we are unable to take the boat ride. So we just stop at the few villages along the road side. After that we visited old market. At there, we start our shopping…buying souvenirs etc. We bargain with the seller as we purchase in a group. I bought some scarf, alibaba pants, elephant key chain, small pouch and some shirt.

At about 6.00p.m., we go to The One Massage for a body massage for one hour before our dinner. We are having our buffet dinner at Amazon Hotel with cultural show performance. After the dinner, is free and easy. We decided to go to Borei Angkor Resort & Spa for live music but when we arrive there only we get information that the live band was off on Monday Nevermind, we walk around the 5 star hotel an snap some photos before we go to Pub Street.

At Pub Street, we can see a lot of foreigner. Everyone is enjoying drinking the Angkor Premium Beer. At Siem Reap it cost only USD0.50 only. There are a lot of children along the Pub Street asking for money, they look sympathy but no one give them money as understand from the tour guide, if we give either one of them, then the other children will gather around you to ask for money too. So the tour guide advise us to give tibits or sweet is good enough already.

We spend about 2 hours there then we back to hotel. I go online chatting with my 3 darlings at home first, missed them so much..hopes that they missed me too..hahaha but understand from grandma, no one mention to grandma about their mama..kakaka… then a group of ladies, sit in the room chatting till midnight.

3^rd day (25-5-2010 Tuesday) – after our breakfast, we went to Angkor Wat. Entrance fee – USD20 for day trip. We were given a name tag before entering the places of interest. We were advised by the tour guide one day earlier to wear pant up to knee and those who wear singlet have to wear scarf or jacket when entering the temple. If not, we are not allowed to enter.

At Angkor Wat…we snap a lot of photos… for me I really didn’t concentrate on the history explanation by the tour guide. I am busy taking photo everywhere..the place is very big, we spent about 2 hours at Angkor Wat. After Angkor Wat, we visit to Angkor Thom, Bayon, South Gate, Prasat Suor Prat, Leper King Terrace an Terrace of the Elephant. Then we went for lunch at the local restaurant at Angkor Thom.

After that we continue our visit to Ta Prohm. We don't have enough time to visit all the places in Angkor Thom. Those that we visited are the famous among all. After that we went to the Crystal Shop. At there, we see how people locate crystal and the making of crystal. Other than crystal shop, we also went to Souvenir shop.

We back to hotel at about 3p.m. to take a shower and check out then we bid goodbye to Siem Reap. We taking Vietnam Airlines to go back to Phnom Penh.

Reached Phnom Penh at about 7.30p.m. then we take our dinner at 123 Restaurant. This is the best restaurant, I likes the food very much, is like our home cook food. We enjoyed the meal very much. After our dinner, we just take a ride around the city and I bought a monkey soft toy for little Jayven. At night, I went online with Jac, Jeremy and Jayven for a while. Then all ladies have a group chat again till late mid-night.

Day 4 – 26-5-2010 (Wednesday), we first go to Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda. Entrance fee – USD6.25, No photography is allowed inside the Silver Pagoda as well as some of the Palace buildings.

We been advised to dress appropriately (no bare legs or shoulders), but can rent sarongs and oversized T-shirts for a token 1000 riel (plus US$1 deposit) at the palace entrance. So to save money, we just bring a jacket to wear when entering the Royal Palace.

The palace ground comprises a complex of buildings consists including the magnificent Throne Hall, where coronations and official ceremonies take place, the Silver Pagoda (the Pagoda's floor is covered with over 5000 silver tiles). We walk around the palace and snap photos. It takes about 2 hours for us to visit all the building except the Khemarin Palace compound where the King resides.

We then went to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or S-21 which was a school converted into Cambodia's most important prison in 1975. More than 15,000 people were put in detention and tortured here before being killed at the Killing Fields south of Phnom Penh. Tragically, only eight prisoners survived and one of them was a woman. At present, the building houses exhibits, paintings and many disturbing photographs. At here we can see the crude cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extract confessions. The infamous "skull map" has been dismantled, although there are still skulls on display in cabinets.

At last only myself and Amy finished it as the others of them feel horrible, so they waited for us outside the museum…Due to short of time, so we can’t make it to visit the Killing Field. So we just straight away go to the Russian market for our last minute purchase.

The Russian Market carries a wide variety of items such as drinks, snacks and cooked food, traditional carvings and handicraft, gems, hand-woven Chinese and Cambodian silk, antique furniture, music, DVD and CDs, silverware, books and maps, backpacks, handbags, shoes and clothing. So I bought some scarf, table mat and dress from Russian Market. We just have 1 hour 30minutes to shop before we go for our buffet lunch at the nearest restaurant.

After our lunch, we back to hotel to pack our things and check out. Then we heading to the airport. Our flight at 4.35p.m. (Cambodia time), we reached Malaysia at 7.30p.m. Jacqueline & Jayven follow my dad to come and fetch me and my friends at airport.

I enjoyed so much with my friends travelling to Cambodia. I hope that we will have another trip in future…