We were to meet up outside Sihn Café to ride the tour bus to Siem Reap. The trip would take approximately 12 hours excluding the stop over at Phnom Penh for lunch. Since there was a ban mi stall right across Sihn Café we decided to buy a few baguettes just in case we get hungry on the road. We exited Vietnam through the MocBai border. We didn’t have to bring our luggage went we went down to pass thru immigrations. Our bus will just meet us at the other side of the building. From the MocBai border you can already see the immigrations building of Cambodia. The difference of structure is immediately apparent.
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| Immigration building at the MocBai Border - Vietnam side |
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| YOu can already see the Cambodian Immigration Building on the other side of the gate |
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| Cambodian Immigration Building from the bus window |
In Cambodia we had to bring down all our luggage with us when we pass thru immigration. One thing I noticed was when we were still in Vietnam our bus driver drove within the speed limit at all times and not once did he attempt to overtake even when there is a slow moving motorcycle in front of the bus but as soon as we crossed the Cambodian border he was flooring it and overtaking left and right. I guess the traffic rules are very strict in Vietnam and one thing I observed is that everyone seems to obey it. Even the motorcyles do not overtake unlike here in the Philippines where you see motorcycles darting in and out between cars.
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| Very determined children selling pineapples. One conversation goes like this: kid: Mr. handsome, would you like to buy some pineapples from me? foreigner: Maybe later. after some time the kid asks again kid: Mr. handsome, you said later now you don't buy! you monkey! foreigner: where did you learn to say that? kid: I go to school. but if you don't buy i won't have money to go to school. |
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| Fried (?) tarantulas are a roadside staple |
We reached Phnom Penh around 12 noon and stopped at the Sihn Café office there. A lot of the other bus passengers were getting off there and only about 20 of us are continuing on to Siem Reap. We had lunch at this roadside eatery beside the office and had our first taste of Angkor beer while waiting for our next ride to arrive. We were told that we were transferring vehicles since only a few of us are going to Siem Reap. At about 1pm we saw this coaster van pull up in front of the office. So that’s our ride. We got a bit held up because we were missing one passenger who a few minutes after we saw running from across the street. He was telling the other passengers behind me that he was late because his tuk-tuk driver got lost and did not know where he wanted to get dropped off. We were the only Asians in the coaster.
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| We were the only asians inside the coaster to Siem Reap. except the driver and conductor of course. |
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| Bus stop on our way to Siem Reap |
We arrived at the Sihn Hotel in Siem Reap around 7:30p.m. There was a van that would take the passengers to their respective hotels. We booked rooms at the Golden Temple Villa hotel, which was near the town proper and a short walk away from the Old Market. The hotel was very nice and authentic looking. The ambience of the place really made us feel that we were in Siem Reap. We had nice canopy beds and ensuite bathrooms with a bathtub for only $20/night. There was also free wifi in the rooms and computers with internet at the ground floor. The food in the hotel’s restaurant was pretty good too. We had the Khmer Set that came with a free t-shirt. Actually the decision was made after my friend saw that there was a free shirt that came with a meal. Anything for a freebie. We confirmed our arrangements for a van with a driver and a tour guide for our temple tour the next day. We wanted to catch the sunrise over Angkor Wat so we had to leave the hotel by 5am. Good luck.
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| Golden Temple villa |
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| Golden Temple Villa's restaurant and gaming area |
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