 It was my birthday and I told myself I want to spend it on the beach. From the capital of Cambodia (Phnom Penh), I headed down to Sihanoukville also known as Kampong Som. It wasn't as impressive as the beaches back home, but it is good enough to relax at the beach and so I spent my time just sitting or lying down listening to the waves while staring at the sky. How to get here: Coming from Phnom Phen, Cambodia, I got in what they call a hotel bus going there. It is a bus with bunk beds where you can sleep through out the journey. Fare: 12 USD Travel Time: 4 1/2 hours From the Bus terminal you can hire a tuktuk to your hotel Fare 2USD   The main attraction here are the beaches. I first went to Ochheauteal Beach which is by far the most popular and touristed in town.   A lot of vendors selling snacks and food in the area and here are some of my favorites:    Since I'm looking for a more peaceful place, I headed to Otres Beach which less crowded than Ochheauteal beach. It has more relaxed atmosphere.  
Related Post:
Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary and Expenses
Cambodia: Phnom PenhAirAsia ASEAN Pass Border Crossing: Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Phen via Mekong Express (Mocbai-Bavet Border) Mui Ne Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam |
Showing posts with label ASEAN Pass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ASEAN Pass. Show all posts
Friday, 27 April 2018
Cambodia: Sikhanoukville
A Nurse by profession and a traveler by heart. A beach lover and a daydreamer. Soon I'll travel the world :)
Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Cambodia: Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populated city of Cambodia and I have seen that as it was already around 10PM and there were still lots of people in the streets. I was suppose to skip this place as there are just few things to see but good thing I didn't as i have learned a lot about the country, it's culture and people.
How to get here:
I got here from Ho Chi Minh via Mekong Express, here's detailed post including border crossing: click here. There are also flights coming to and from Phnom Penh International Airport.
Hired a tuktuk for a whole day tour for $20. Its the best way to get around the city.
Sisowath Quay
Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
The Khmer people have been through hell during the Khmer rouge regime. This place is a chilling reminder of the nearly 25% of Cambodians who were killed during that time. It was Pol Pot's reign from 1975-1979 with the vision of an entirely self-sufficient agrarian society having a country of land laborers and clearing the county of all professionals and intellectuals.
A place of incredible tragedy converted into a visitor's centre where dark stories are retold. I walked though the grounds while listening to an audio guide and I felt a heavy weight of sadness while walking and passing by those bone fragments and victims clothing.
Entrance Fee: $3
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
A former school which was turned into a prison during Khmer Rouge rule. Can you imagine thousands of people were tortured and killed after being accused of treason here?
Entrance Fee: $6
Operating Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Independence Monument
Independence monument commemorates the end of French Colonial Rule in Cambodia.
Royal Palace
One stunning architectural masterpiece consist of two main areas, the Royal Palace Compound and the Silver Pagoda.
Certain sections of the royal Palace are closed to the public since the Royal Family resides here.
Silver Pagoda
Silver Pagoda shelters priceless cultural heritage. Locally, it is called Wat Preah Keo Morokot, which means temple of the Emerald Buddha in Khmer.
Entrance Fee: 40,000 KHR ($10)
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
National Museum
National Museum contains artifacts from the peak of the Khmer Empire and the remnants of the great past of the country. I honestly did not go enter inside the museum as windows are wide open and you can see some parts of it from the outside but of course if you want a closer look, you may go to the ticketing office to buy tickets so you can come in.
Entrance Fee: 40,000 KHR ($10) with Audio Guide, ($5) Without Audio Guide
Entrance Fee: $1
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Central Market
Central Market has a central dome with four linear structures protruding which form narrow corridors for vendors to sell their goods. This is were you can buy almost anything ,from souvenir T-shirts, keychains to jewellery and electronics.
A Nurse by profession and a traveler by heart. A beach lover and a daydreamer. Soon I'll travel the world :)
Thursday, 21 September 2017
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon. This is the
former capital and the largest city in Vietnam. The place is a bit chaotic and
crossing the streets of Ho Chi Minh City can be a bit scary because of the
motorcycle choked roads. Though I did just had 1 day to tour the city, I enjoyed the beautiful colonial buildings, specially the food.
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How to get to Backpacker Street/Ben Thanh Market from the Airport:
From the airport, walk your way out and cross the street. In my case, I took the Bus #152 to Ben Thanh (VND 20,000). It took me all the way to Ben Thanh Market. From there I just walked going to Backpacker street.
Getting Around Ho Chi Minh
Most of the attractions in Ho Chi Minh City are located within walking distance so you won’t have a hard time getting around. You may also choose to rent a motorbike if you are confident to drive the busy city of Ho Chi Minh. There are plenty of rental agencies, located in the Pham Ngu Lao (Backpacker Street) area.
City Hall
Admired the building from this small park in front of the city hall gate. FYI, the city hall is not open for public.
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
I don’t know why I found it strange to see several couples taking their wedding photos around this church when I was here. Question popped in my head, did they get marry all at the same time? (hahaha) I tried to go closer the entrance of the church and found it closed since they only open it for public during mass time.
It is said that the stones used to build this beautiful Cathedral were brought from Paris.
Central Post Office
Right across the Notre-Dame Cathedral comes Saigon's Central Post Office. This was designed by Gustave Eiffel (the one who engineered Eifel tower in Paris). Here I tried sending postcard for the first time, woohoooo :). Aside from sending letters and packages, there are also several souvenir shops located inside the building.
Open hours: 7 am – 7 pm
Entrance Fee: Free
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| There's an alley of book shops near the post office. |
Saigon Opera House
As I walk through the streets of Saigon, I passed by the Saigon Opera House
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace, this was the home of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War which turned into a Museum. The rooms within the Palace is still furnished with original chairs and tables. Please take note that there is no a/c in the place so expect to be hot specially during the afternoons.
Open hours: 7:30 am – 11 am and 1 pm – 4 pm daily
Entrance Fee: VND 40,000
War Remnants Museum
If you are a history buff, you’ll surely like this place. Inside there are lots of informative exhibits that will give you deeper understanding of Vietnam War, they also have display of weapons like bombs and tanks as well as pictures during that time.
Open hours: 7:30 am – 6 pm
Entrance Fee: VND 15,000
Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market, a large marketplace in central Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in District 1. Whether you’re looking for fresh produce, souvenirs, cheap apparels, and a place to eat, they all have it here. It’s also a good place to practice your haggling skills.
Air 360
Since I still have lots of time to spare before I hop on the sleeper bus going to Mui Ne, I did find a place where I can relax and admire the view of the city.
Vietnamese Food
Something you shouldn't miss while you're in Vietnam, one thing I loved about the place is their food. Slurp a savory bowl of pho (A rice noodle with chicken or beef soup, meat, and a few herbs) and the
famous Vietnamese sandwich, Banh Mi.
A Nurse by profession and a traveler by heart. A beach lover and a daydreamer. Soon I'll travel the world :)
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