Do you believe in signs of destiny? I do. Just yesterday, I was looking through my old photos and came across a few from my trip to Cambodia. Today, I received a notification from Hive that I was tagged in a new contest from Travelfeed. Can you guess what this contest is about? It's about places you'd like to visit again. Isn't this a sign? I decided that I couldn't ignore it.
Firstly, I've missed this community. It was unfortunate to see its activity decline. I used to write articles for this community almost daily. It inspired me to travel and share my experiences with you.
Secondly, as I mentioned, this feels like a sign! To reminisce about an old trip yesterday and then see a contest on that very topic today.
Lastly, I believe this is an excellent opportunity to indulge in some nostalgia.
It is hard to pick up a particular place in Cambodia because the whole country is stunning! So my place to revisit is Cambodia! And now, let's embark on a journey to Cambodia!
I was in Cambodia almost 10 years ago. But I still remember every emotion I felt during that trip. I was in Cambodia for only 5 days. And during those days I was sleeping no more than 5 hours a day, and walking over 20,000 steps each day, yet I was full of energy. Why? Because Cambodia is energizing and inspiring.
I love places with history, and the longer or deeper the history, the more unusual and inspiring the place. And Cambodia is exactly that kind of country where every corner holds centuries of history.
Before my trip to Cambodia, all I knew about the country was Angkor Wat which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. How deeply mistaken I was.
But let's start from the beginning.
My trip to Cambodia was spontaneous, and all I had were plane tickets and a booked hotel. I planned the entire trip on the go.
Visa
A big advantage of the trip was that you could get a visa right at the airport upon arrival. Back then, the visa cost around 20 dollars.
Travel itinerary
In Cambodia, I visited three cities: Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, and of course, the capital Phnom Penh.
I started from Siem Reap (2 days) then moved to Sihanoukville (1 day) and finished my trip to Phnom Penh (2 days).
Besides the temples, I was amazed by nature, especially the trees. Some trees grow directly on buildings, with their roots not in the ground, but on the structures themselves.
To be honest, I wouldn't have minded staying in Siem Reap for a few more days. In my opinion, this city is filled with centuries-old history. In the capital of Cambodia, there are already more modern buildings. And after Siem Reap, the contrast between the capital and the suburbs is quite striking.
I would call Phnom Penh the modern Cambodia, and Siem Reap the historical one.
A few tips
Of course, everything might have changed by now. But I'll note a few facts from my trip.
Upon arrival in the city, it's more convenient to arrange with a tuk-tuk driver (local transport) for the whole trip so that he can drive you around. I was very lucky with my tuk-tuk driver. Although he didn't speak English well, he knew the city perfectly and showed me non-touristy places.
Cambodia has magical sunrises and sunsets. One of the must-do activities there is to witness the sunrises and sunsets. And of course, it’s important to know the right spots! Our tuk-tuk driver was very helpful in this regard.
For almost 24/7 service for 3 days, I paid only $50, but I also gave him a tip when saying goodbye. He truly deserved it.
By the way, regarding tips: prepare pennies like $1-2 banknotes, because the tipping culture is very developed in Cambodia.
There are many historical temples in Cambodia. I regret not reading about each of them. On one hand, they look very similar, but on the other, each has its own history. This is one of the reasons why I really want to return to Cambodia.
I would love to return to Cambodia and repeat my entire tour, but this time, spend more days in this mysterious country.
