Our trip started with a 4 hour bus ride from our "Colourful" Daegu to Inchoen Airport. We were immediately blessed with an opening on the flight almost 2 hours earlier than the one we were actually checking in for. A pit stop at Starbucks for my morning fix and off we went. Our flight was not "smooth as silk" as promised by the airline but the Thai green curry served quickly made me forget my woes. Upon landing, our big smiles upgraded us to "diplomatic status" and we were swiftly guided to passport control where there was no waiting. Sawadika, we have arrived! After checking in to our accommodation, we hit the road running to check out the organised, yet at the same time chaotic, Bangkok.
Day 1 Sukhumvit
This is a major street shopping district, with restaurants (representing every country in the world) bars and nightlife. They sell anything from key rings, Sharks boxer shorts and Ray bans, to tasers and performance enhancement drugs (and I'm not talking about the ones for athletes).
Day 2 Rocky boat ride & Grand Palace
We took an incredibly 'dangerous but definitely worth it' boat ride and really got to see the heart of the city- not for the fainthearted but highly recommended.
First time on a Tuk-Tuk and all I have to say is: the system works.
The Grand Palace was beautiful and nothing short of 'blinging'. I had to purchase a surrong outside the gates to avoid the long queue of people waiting to "borrow" clothes to appropriately cover themselves. Men no shorts, Women no leggings or tank tops- you have been warned.
Day 3 Travel to Phnom Penh
Tuk tuk vs the motorbike - adventurous ride either way, the choice is yours. Cambodians sure do know how to make a car seem redundant. A family of 5 on one motorbike - seems so surreal, doesn't it?
Lounged in and by the pool of Imprevu Bungalows and the temperature of the water was just right. We enjoyed a good piece of steak for the first time since we left home (read 6 months). I didn't know I liked steak until I couldn't have it for so long.
Day 4 Sightseeing in Phnom Penh
Woke up and noticed bottled water in the bathroom and only then figured out that the water was for us to brush our teeth with. This is after we had already done so with tap water the night before, we were relieved not to have woken up with our teeth next to us.
Mr Bora - our faithful tuk-tuk driver was there before I could swallow my breakfast. He took us to the main attractions of the capital city which included their version of the Holocaust called the Killing fields , incredibly sad but very informative. We didn't have the courage to see the prison but I can tell you the Khmer people have a difficult past. We also swung by the Royal Palace and National Museum, all the while Mr Bora waited patiently at the gates at each and everyone of them while we were sightseeing. Ended the day with shopping at the Russian Market with bargains at a steal. Mr Bora treated us like royalty! Hiring a tuk-tuk for the day is the way to go. Meet the man himself.
Day 5 To Angkor Whaaaat?
A relatively bumpy ride to Siem Reap but handsomely rewarded with a great hotel with friendly staff, good service and our secret indulgence - WiFi.
Quad biking through the rice paddies and seeing how the locals live. The Sunset tour quickly became a storm and thats when all the fun began. The sandy roads became muddy and sludgy. Some of the bikes in our group got stuck in the mud but yours truly safely maneuvered her way without a glitch. Raquel, played the daring role of photographer supreme to capture the moments on the back of a bumpy ride. The day ended with the bubbles of the jacuzzi rewarding us for a job well done.
Day 6 Bayon Temples, Tomb Raider and the majestic Angkor Wat
We spared no expense on this one and got a recommended, fluent in English, tour guide and chauffeur to drive us around in an air-conditioned car which sure came in handy as the sun started doing its thing.
The temples were gorgeous and our dear tour guide Mr Som doubled as a photographer, telling us exactly how to pose for the camera.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner outdoors and bargain hunting at the night market. A $1 foot massage was in order and we were humoured by our masseuse who, in conversation, confidently said her son was 2 and her daughter was 6 o'clock - of course meaning 6 years old. She quickly corrected herself and we all had a good time laughing.
Day 7 Return to Bangkok
We were incredibly blessed to literally have door to door service from our hotel in Cambodia, across the border to our hotel in Thailand. My friend, Laurentia, calls this a Godincidence. The bus picked us up from our hotel at 8am, picking up along the way other travelers making their way to Bangkok. Road tripping, meeting a funny Italian who owns a candy shop and Muay Thai school in Sicily, to waiting to be stamped out, lurking in no mans land, stamped into Thailand and finally 10 hours later our mini bus was conveniently parked outside our hotel near Khaosan Road.
Day 8 Exploring Khaosan Road and Chatuchak Weekend Market
We found ourselves coerced into a "You scratch my back, I scratch yours" situation. Let me explain. The tuk-tuk drivers have an agreement with certain tailors and jewelry stores (which we were in no way interested in) that if they do a pitstop by their stores and entice us to look around, they would get a coupon from the store to fill up their tuk-tuks with petrol. Why didn't we refuse you ask? Well it turns out, if we do not make the pitstop at the tailors, we pay 10 times more for the ride to our destination than if we just go into the store and allow our guy to get his coupon, so we opted for the latter. Luckily it is not compulsory for us to buy, so we took a quick snoop around, our guy got his coupon and everyone was happy.
The afternoon showers almost dampened our hopes for the Chatuchak market but patience served us well. More bargain hunting and in case you over do it with the spending, there are shipping companies on stand by so you can make your purchases and have them delivered to your home country- talk about service. MBK mall for more shopping where Raquel found herself singing waka waka for a discount. By the end of it, we deduced that some people may be under the notion that Shakira is South African, nevertheless I digress. Khaosan road is bustling with music, great food and all sorts of antics. Foreigners feel right at home here and the delicious Chicken Korma at the indian restaurant around the corner from our hotel had something to do with that homey feel.
Day 9 Last day in Bangkok
Our plans went off the railroad track a bit but all ended well. We were supposed to be on an overnight sleeper train to Phuket the night before but because we did not prebook we found ourselves homeless. But with every cloud, there is always a silver lining, another night in Bangkok. We checked into a "never to return" type hotel to just put our heads down for the night. This is the part of the trip I'd prefer not to remember. The place was in plain and simple terms, DODGY.
Day 10 To Ko Phi Phi and beyond
Relieved to be still alive, we had a wholesome breakfast and saw the last of Khaosan Road. Manicure and Pedicure were order of the day and I was glad to know my feet were not the worst they have seen.
After some pampering and good food, we made our way to the station to begin our long commute to Phiphi Island. Luxury bus overnight, not so luxury bus for a few hours to the pier and lastly a ferry ride to the beautiful PhiPhi. First impressions: Its exactly like postcards and this comes from a place of being misled one too many times. The only way to our bungalows is a long walk from the pier or by a fisherman's boat.
Day 11 Exploring the Islands
Breakfast on the beach over looking turquoise waters and being only 20 steps from our room to the water, naturally meant spending the day swimming, all the while watching the boats take holiday makers on and off the island. The afternoon was spent on a group tour exploring the smaller islands including none other than the exquisite Maya Beach, the location for the movie The Beach with Leonardo di Caprio. We also dabbled in some snorkeling which I took a liking for. Please take note that hoisting yourself back into a boat from the water (as opposed to solid ground) is not a walk in the park.
Day 12 Phuket- Patong Beach
Breakfast at the beach just one more time, soaking it all in. A ferry ride to Phuket and lastly a minibus to our hotel at Patong Beach. Delicious Mexican food to end a gorgeous summers day as the sun set over the horizon.
An attempt at exploring the night life left us with our jaws dropping. As our Irish travel buddy so aptly described it, Patong's night life is somewhat "Sleazy", although I would still say thats an understatement.
Day 13 Fantastic Fantasea
Lounging around the beach while having fresh fruits and drinks served to you is my kind of day. In the evening we were transported to the enchanting elephant show, Fantasea, which brings out the child in you and makes you feel like you are in the middle of a fairy tale. A perfect way to end a summer vacation.
Day 14 Return to the ROK (Republic of Korea)
All good things come to an end and although much fun was had by all, living out of a suitcase is not really sustainable living. This was an incredible experience with a great travel companion - thanks my friend, we can definitely do this again. Im so grateful to God for this wonderful and eye-opening adventure. To end with the famous words we have all heard too often: "Vacation is over, now back to work!"
"No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one." Elbert Hubbard
