Umbreen Tapal » Cambodia

Phenom Phen(ning) and Shinoukville

umbreen — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:39:10 +0000

Phew! It’s been really hot in Cambodia and there was a nice treat to the trip – as in two days in the beach town of Shinoukville. Today I went snorkling at the islands around here – snorkling in name only as I think I saw about two different types of fishes. (As in, you see more snorkling in Karachi!)Anyways the boat ride was nice and we went beach hopping to different secluded beaches which was great. I don’t have any pics since I wasn’t gonna be taking ANY CHANCES with my previous camera disaster. But other peeps I went with had waterproof cameras and I’m hoping to get it off them.Tomorrow we leave Cambodia and cross the border to Vietnam. Umn… I better ask the tour leader about my passport. YES, I did have to get a brand new visa for damn Vietnam after all the initial hassle and stress of getting it the first time. Apparently they are pretty strict about the one day off thing. Worse thing EVA.Before Shinoukville we spent one full day in Phenom Phen. It’s okay. Walking in the city is like being in Sadar in the middle of the afternoon. Hot, smogy, dirty.Went to visit the S.21 prison and the Killing Fields in the evening. S.21 is a famous prison where lots of people were killed when all the intellectuals were kick out of the city and forced to work in the fields in the country.Our guide for the prison was actually a young boy at the time of the Khemer Rouge and he told us about what he remembers from his youth. At the prison we also met one guy who was a prison there and survived (one of only seven other people).

Walking to Cambodia

umbreen — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:41:07 +0000

This is my second day in Cambodia. Yesterday we crossed the border overland from Thailand. It was pretty fun to cross literally by foot into a different country – first time I've ever done that. At night we went to eat traditional Khmer food (like thai but less spicy or coconutty) and watch Khmer dancing (again like Thai for the most part but I suppose experts would be able to tell the difference).

Visited the Khmer Ruins today including Angor Wat, 'the place where Angeline Jolie filmed Tomb Raider' and 'the place where they shot Little Brother'. :P Amazing to see but it was a long day though as we were at Angor Wat at 5:30 to see the sun rise and then spent the whole day visiting other sites.

There was lots of climbing and walking in extremely hot weather. For most of the day it was like 37 degrees. Surprisingly, its a LOT hotter here in the weather I left in Karachi. Doesn't cool down at nights either and zero wind makes it pretty suffocating.

Tomorrow we have a bit of time in the morning and then leave for the capital of Cambodia – Phenom Phen. (I probably didn't spell that right).

So far here are my observations about other tourists.

1. Not necessary to wear short shorts and tube tops EVERYWHERE. Hello, way to stand out like a tourist. Also, less clothes do not mean you are going to be cooler.
2. Bikins tops should not be worn outside of beach areas.
3. Don't talk about how EVERYTHING is so CHEAP. Not exactly cheap for locals or people making non-hard currency. (i.e. poor me and my going down by the day PKR :P)

Phnom Penh

umbreen — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:56:58 +0000

Phnom Penh – A city I am destined forever to spell incorrectly.

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Siem Reap

umbreen — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:32:14 +0000

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