Phnom Penh

When our trusted (American!) guide book mentions that Cambodia isn't fully geared up for tourism yet, they mean it! Not to say it hasn't got some nice hotels and good facilities for tourists or posh travellers (us!), as it has, but echoes of its turbulent past are still very much in existence, with constant warnings from taxi trivers to keep safe, and police and security guards pretty much at every corner. There is only one way to go however, and that is upwards, with more people coming here, meaning more tourist dollar and word-of-mouth recommendations only increasing its reputation and movement towards a more open and tourist-friendly place. So far, we've had a great time though (past the fending off 100+ requests a day for a tuk-tuk ride, guide book, guide or just plain begging) and look forward to our next two nights here.

The journey here was certainly memorable, including a 400m trek/crawl from the Vietnam border (from our lovely a/c bus) across a seemingly no-mans land (in 35+ degree heat) to the Cambodian checkpoint (and rickety non a/c bus) with the difference in roads and transportation quality between Vietnam and Cambodia gleamingly obvious.


Onwards we travel and explore...