Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 8

Okay, back to the hotel! Their pool was looking nice that we all had to change to our swimwear and take advantage of owning the pool to ourselves! lol. It’s not really a big one, it’s more like a lap pool. We played a little game on the pool and just talk about the adventures of the past days as we about to get close to ending the epic trip.

With all the food we ate at lunch we thought we would not need to have dinner. But it’s our last night and we wanna make use of the time left. We went to Joe’s Cafe, one of the most popular bar/restaurant in the strip. We listened to their performer as we wait for our food. We cannot see the guy singer as we opted to sit outside so we can only hear the sound. Then we’re suddenly silenced by this familiar resonance. As we try to apprehend its intro, our eyes got bigger and bigger!

Swimming!

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 7

We drove for 5 minutes and we got into this seafood restaurant but before anything else the ocean view was so enchanting we just had to take some pictures! lol. We’re so glad that the weather was being so concurring with our trip that it didn’t rain that day. It was awesome!

Ocean view at Cay Bang restaurant

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 6

The others didn’t sleep at all (I think..) but my roommates and I had to sleep even if it will only get us 3hrs of it. I woke up at 3:30AM as our rented shuttle for Mui Ne will arrive at 4AM but for some reason our shuttle was late. So while waiting for it, I went to this convenience store to satisfy my cravings.. ice cream. lol.

Money money money. Sleepless in Victory Hotel. (Photo credit: Mark Veneracion)

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 5

Back to the hotel to rest but we didn’t have lunch that day so we decided to eat at least. While the others were satisfied with sandwiches, I ordered chicken amok which is a popular Khmer dish. It has coconut milk and I think it also has ginger or turmeric and I can also taste a lemongrass (I love lemon grass!), it really smells good because of the lemongrass, it’s mildly spicy but citrusy, served with rice and a fish sauce on the side. The best!

I went back to our room after lunch and rested for a while but we have to get up by 6PM to have a buffet dinner and watch an Apsara show  at Koulen II where we have a reservation.

Cambodian Chicken Amok

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 4

When we got to Bayon temple a number of elephants all lined up waiting for visitors to ride them for a fee (USD12) welcomed us. It was surreal for me because it’s the closest I could ever get with an elephant. It’s not like everyday I get to see an elephant on the roads of Manila. We only got one elephant in the Philippines and she’s in the zoo, her name is Mali and the last time I saw her I think I was in grade school.

Bayon Temple

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 3

Just like any other travels that we had, being a morning person, I get to wake up first. At 4AM, after I took a shower, I woke up my two room mates to remind them that we need to be at the lobby by 5AM.

5:00AM our tuk-tuk is on the way to the temple gates but before that we had to stop at the nearby ATM. You got two options when withdrawing money in Cambodia either getting Riel or Dollar. Back to our tuk-tuk about 20 minutes drive from the city proper we arrived at the temple gate to buy a one day pass for US$20.00/per person. A picture of you will be taken which is imperative for your one day pass, so, SMILE!

My friend’s Angkor One Day Pass

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 2

By 9:30AM we arrived at Moc Bai border belonging to Tay Ninh province of Vietnam. The bus conductor will collect all the passports and you will be asked to depart the bus and be screened or frisked by the vietnamese authorities then back to the bus and about 5 minutes drive to the international border gate of Bavet belonging to Svay Rieng province of Cambodia, you have to vacate the bus again but this time with all your luggage and be screened by Cambodian immigration, you wait on the line and wait for your bus conductor to call your name, the conductor will be the one to bring your passport to the immigration officers and have it stamped.

**Be wary of your things, with so much tourists in there the place gets to be so packed**
**No fee for entry visa**

The process actually took about an hour. I wish they could do something to make it not burdensome for the tourists. There were times that Passports of the people way at the back have been processed first than us who have been there like forever. I felt that they need to organise more their system on providing visa. I have no discontentment on the place because it is incredibly neat and I felt like the facilities are so modern its just their system that bothers me truly. Oh well!

Vietnam – Cambodia 2013 – Part 1

 “To travel is to live.”
― Hans Christian Andersen

Traveling has always been a great experience especially with friends. There would be non-stop and I mean friendly bashing and endless banters! So when I found out that the group will be traveling again, I cannot help but to get excited!

48hrs before the flight me and a couple of friends, who I will be traveling with, met up for a cup of coffee and finally talk about the last minute things to do before this epic trip. And that 48hrs has left me sleepless.

*Fast forward on the date of departure*

It was like forever at the check-in counter. I can hear other passengers behind us complaining and giving a big sigh. The group before us was having difficulty on their baggage allowance. They must have to pay an excess baggage that they had to unpacked their luggage right at the check-in counter and maximize the allowed check-in baggage.

When It was finally our groups’ turn I’m proud to say that it didn’t take long for us to get our boarding pass, I didn’t see people behind us raising their eyebrows or even rolling their eyes on our group because it’s taking so long or whatever. lol.

How Do I Prepare My Things When Traveling?

Over a year ago, I woke up from a call of a friend at dawn. As I said hello, the person on the other line told me that I have a confirmed flight to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam on July 2013. I got confused and extremely fazed as I don’t recall any reservations I made for Vietnam.

“What do you mean?” I asked. My friend said there was a seat sale in a particular airline and the roundtrip only costs a little less than Php1000. Roundtrip! So she already booked the people who she thinks would love to see Vietnam… and that includes me! lol.

Fast forward to June 2013. In almost a year a number of people we knew have asked if they can join us, but of course! The more the merrier!