To Cambodia we go...!!!

In lenient Laos-style, it was a slow start to get our boat off of 4000 Islands, back onto the mainland, and then wait for our bus to begin the 11 hr. journey to Phnom Penh (with a few stops and drop-offs along the way). Apparently entering Cambodia via the north, from Laos, is the least common entrance point- lucky for us! By procrastinating, and not getting our Cambodian visas ahead of time, we actually saved ourselves some dolla’s (the currency is in US funds in Cambodia, not nearly as fun as Laos Kip). It was a breeze to get our awesome-looking visas and crossover into new territory! Not only are we continuously adding new stamps and visas to our passports, we are also adding new ways to say ‘Thank you’ to our list. Thailand was” Kap-une-Cow” (phonetically), Laos was ‘Cup Chai” (cute!), and now Cambodian is “Aw-koon”. The first meal I had on the side of the road in Cambodia was a mystery veggie/beef (?) soup that tasted amazing, perhaps more so because it had been 7 hrs. since we last ate. But I never could find that awesome soup again while we were traveling Cambodia. Must have been a secret recipe!

First things I noticed on our bus ride through the Cambodian countryside:

1) Cambodia is full of litter, and the rural areas seemed much more impoverished than anything we’d seen in Thailand or Laos.

2) Anorexic-looking cattle roamed freely. It’s almost like a Teret’s-like action for driver’s to use their loud horns. Constantly honking at cattle near the main roads, one becomes accustomed to the sound of that horn, like background music of some sort. Sadly, we passed a dead cow that had been hit by another bus on the road, it broke my heart to see the poor farmers standing around and staring at their dead livestock.

3) Flannel PJ’s are not only daytime clothing but a fashion statement here!!! I’m not kidding ladies- imagine the day-long comfort! These Cambodian girls have got it figured out. So out of the norm for us. My favorite was seeing a granny with long-sleeved, flannel Hello-Kitty jimmies on while serving us soup.

4) Cambodia became prettier the farther south we drove with all it’s lush vegetation

5) Cambodian people beam with smiles from ear to ear. They’ll steal your heart in minutes. The friendliest people, as a generalized country, we’ve met in all our travels

6) Males here are forward! Juxtapose them to the nearly stoic Laos men, and it feels like you’re among creepy Italian guys in a Naples train station. Really they’re not that bad, but it feels like it after guys don’t harass a group of girls in Laos, like most other places.

We spent our first night in Cambodia at the first guesthouse that had availability. When we saw guesthouse/hotel staff sleeping in the foyer, it made us feel guilty to have everything we’re blessed with. Not only here, but also back at home. These people work hard all day, and are thankful for a place to lay their head at night. Much Love! d.