cambodia, the wrap up

our comments and observations of cambodia:

• even though much of cambodia lives in extreme poverty, the people are exceptionally nice and exude a pure, sweet innocence.
• angkor wat and the temple complex is the primary reason we decided to visit cambodia. we both agree that it is the most impressive archeological site (s) we've ever seen.
• cambodian women are exceptionally beautiful.
• the cambodian sun in blazing hot. with the high humidity the temperature feels near 100 degrees…and someone said it's winter?
• cambodians are mini too!
• how many cambodians can you fit on a scooter? six! 3 adults, 1 small child, and 2 infants. we are searching hard to find the new record of 7…
• the city of phnom penh is a little "rough around the edges". we kept our wits about things and chose not to take any night time strolls.
• we also opted out on street food in phnom penh after witnessing the lack of refrigeration and sanitation at street stalls. we suspect a case of typhoid ain't no walk in the park at a cambodian clinic.
• there are no fast food western restaurants in cambodia.
• someone said i looked cambodian…yea, yea, yea…i've heard that story…
• due to the influx of 5-star hotel package tourists, siem reap has some of the most jacked restaurant pricing we've seen in south east asia. diet coke continues to cost more than regular coke and reaches the hefty price tag of $1.75 per can!
• cambodia is one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world with an estimated 4 to 6 million unexploded bombs still littering the country. over 700 victims suffer each year from mine explosions. we were very saddened to see so many disabled people with missing or no limbs.
• things in cambodia cost a little bit more than in vietnam. you don't get as much bang for your reil, but for westerners, it's still a cheap country to travel to.

what things cost in cambodia:

• coffee at a local café $0.50
• 12 oz diet coke at a tourist restaurant $1.00
• a draft angkor beer $0.80
• khmer dinner for 2 people $7.00
• an order of beef luk lok $2.50
• an order of chicken curry $3.00
• a yoghurt shake $1.00
• large bottled water $0.50
• fish amok for 2 at a fancy restaurant $16.00
• an omelet with a baguette $1.50
• postcards $0.10 each
• postage to the usa $1.00 each
• a krama, or traditional scarf used to wrap around the head $2.00
• a pair of artisan crafted silver earrings $8.00
• tourist t-shirts 2 for $5.00
• an artisan crafted ornament made from old bullets $1.25
• the cambodia mask $15.00
• 6 hour luxury (with bathroom) bus ride $10.00 per person
• double ensuite room at popular guesthouse in siem reap $13.00 per night
• a 3 day pass to the angkor temple complex $40.00
• 3 day tuk tuk hire $45.00

what's next?

tomorrow morning we leave on a 10 hour bus ride that will take us over the border of thailand and into bangkok. we'll see you there!

onward!

alina