Cambodia Recap

Well this is a different kind of recap. It's the longest place I've been, coming in at just over 9 weeks. And truly what an adventure it has been.

So what can I say about it?

The people were incredible, the volunteering was eye opening and life changing and the experience was indescribable (you really have to live it yourself before you can understand what I'm often rambling on about in the last nine weeks).

That time in Cambodia already seems like a distant memory and I'm only sitting in Pakse, a mere 179 miles away.

So the top five things:

Siem Reap (24th August - 26th October)

1. Globalteer Sports Volunteering, without a shadow of doubt. Teaching under privileged children will always stay with me.

2. The Noodle Queen outside Bou Savy. This woman constantly supplied me with great quality noodles and fried egg at just a $1 a pop. Quite simply a legend!

3. Angkor Wat.The pictures are all you need to see why.

4. The Khmer people - DK, Moeuth, Vith, Mr Barang, Vibol, Lin, Bolin, Un, Sophy, Huok to name a few. All friendly, welcoming and kind people. I'll miss them so much.

5. Big Willy F.C. - The lads and I churned out a few great results to reach the final and we were only narrowly beaten by those Kiradon boys. Still, it was a pleasure playing with you.

Phnom Penh (5th - 6th September / 16th October)

1. The Killing Fields. Not so much an enjoyable experience in the sense of happy but enjoyable in the sense of the level of respect given to the victims of the Khmer Rouge. It will always stick with me but the more awareness the better.

2. 11 Happy Backpackers Hostels. This place was a little haven in the busy city and DK taught us his own version of pool.

3. The chest X-Ray. I was in and out within half an hour or so. What a way to do a medical.

4. The Snickers pancake. Sounds as good as it tasted believe me.

5. The bus trip with DK, teaching him English all the way back to Siem Reap.

Thank you Cambodia for an incredible nine weeks. I'll never forget it!

Day 115 - Jack Bauer eat your heart out - Getting in and out of Phnom Penh in about 21 hours!

Early morning Phnom Penh

Day 115 - 16th October

I woke up abruptly when we rolled into Phnom Penh at 5:30am. My bunk buddy and I had a conversation and I found out she was heading to Vietnam. When she asked me what I was doing I told her I was in Phnom Penh for an hour or so for a chest X-Ray and then I was heading back to Siem Reap. She thought I was joking!

I headed back to 11 Backpackers Hostel where I stayed before to grab some breakfast. After poached eggs and bread accompanied by a banana shake, I headed over to the International Immigration Health Clinic about 5km outside of the city centre.

It was a flashy place, with a 5* hotel looking lobby. When I reached the fourth floor,I found about 50 Khmers staring at me as I stood out like a sore thumb. They checked my passport, I paid the $35 fee for the X-ray and waited. As much as I appreciate the NHS, they could sure take a leaf out of the Khmer's book. From the time it took me to leave the reception desk and walk ten feet across to a seat, they had called my name (I once had to wait six hours for a broken foot to be X-rayed with no painkillers in England!)

The doctor told me to take off my shirt and brace myself against the machine. Within ten seconds it was over and I was walking out into the waiting room again. Then I remembered I was shirtless and was scrambling to put it on in front of this bunch of old Khmer women (what a wally!)

Before I knew it, I was back at the hostel and waiting half an hour for my collection to transfer to the bus station.

It was a scorcher of a day and when I boarded the bus I knew even with air con it was going to be a long seven hours back to Siem Reap. I nodded in and out of a bumpy sleep, indulging in Oreos and crackers each time. I lost my 1500ml water under the seat in front of me which I regretted, and after three stops at various rest stations, I arrived back in Siem Reap at 6pm.

I had a quick dinner at my favourite cafe before I headed back to Bou Savy. By 9pm, I was out like a light. It had been a busy couple of days and I wanted to catch up on some decent sleep.

Now that's how you get to Phnom Penh, navigate, complete your mission and get back in just over 21 hours.