Bright and early on Friday, 26th May 2017, their trusty Tuk Tuk driver Mr. Scriv, picked up the super excited Sapphire and Amethyst outside the TEFL International School, Koh Kong, Cambodia, where they bid farewell to the CEO, Nico Millen, (their host for the past 10 days).
They could not wait to board the bus to Phnom Phen where they would change buses on route to their final destination, Siem Reap.
The 5 and a half hour drive to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, was a pleasant journey. The bus was comfortable enough, air conditioned and the view of the country side and villages along the way, breathtakingly beautiful. The green lush jungle extended as far as the eye could see. They passed through typical local Cambodian villages, with roadside food vendors, market stalls, wooden raised traditional Khmer village houses, farm lands, rice paddy’s and local village roadside businesses. They crossed quite a few muddy rivers, with local fisherman village huts raised above the waters edge. These river side villages dotted along the river banks are quite picturesque and do not paint an honest picture of the day to day conditions of most of these local fisherman and villagers.
Some video clips taken along the way to Phnom Penh
Nothing could have prepared our two travelers for the hectic busy streets of Phnom Penh. After disembarking from the bus, they had an hour to kill before boarding their next bus to Siem Reap so decided to attempt to cross the busy City Main Road to a bakery/coffee shop on the other side. Well, you would need to experience it, to believe it. Firstly, motorists drive on the right (or are supposed to drive on the right – this is not a given). The main rule of the road, right of way is non existent – its more like “GIVE WAY”. Tuk Tuk’s, bicycles, motorbikes, cars, minivans and delivery trucks all JUST DRIVE and everyone around them gives way. If you are a hesitant driver, you can forget getting behind a wheel on these streets. Driving down the main road, there were vehicles on both sides of the road, driving in the same direction and in opposite directions. But what looks like chaos, obviously works. Its a matter of, this is MY WAY.
So you can just imagine, bone crushing holding hands, while weaving between cars, at times with eyes shut and holding their breath, how our two travelers eventually made it across the road. The Universe only knows……
All their pent up excitement of earlier the day slowly started waning while waiting for their next bus to leave (delayed by an hour), as the heat of the day intensified in this bustling busy city. And so the long bus drive to Siem Reap began, departing from this busy city in peak hour traffic, they were reminded of the traffic in the Cape Town City Bowl on a Friday afternoon in peak hour. No one was going to get anywhere quickly. While slowly making their way through the city center, they were surprised to see many high rise buildings and western companies, specifically motor vehicle companies. Cambodia is definitely on the map to becoming more westernized.
As the day cooled down and the sun began to set, 10 minutes felt more like an hour for our tired couple. After a pit stop, where they had to run through the rain and mud to a very badly lit and dirty rest room, impatience slowly started creeping in. Back on the bus, soaking wet, only to find that the air conditioning vent above their seats was broken and the cold air could not be re-directed, they sat shivering and trying to keep each other warm for what would be the final 2 hours of their bus trip. Mandy very concerned that Richards shivering might damage a bone or two on his somewhat skeletal frame. Who would have thought that when traveling on a bus in the Cambodian heat of over 40 degrees, to carry a jersey or warm top with you (the window curtain if not so filthy, could probably have sufficed). And who would think that the air conditioner, you had welcomed as your best friend when you boarded the bus, after staying in an non air conditioned room for 10 days, would soon become your enemy. If vandalizing a bus was an option, there would be one bus right now in Cambodia, minus an aircon vent above seats 13 and 14. With teeth chattering, they decided to play Scrabble on their cell phones to keep their minds off the cold that was slowly creeping into their bones. With this in mind, imagine their gratitude and thankfulness when the bus finally, after 6.5 hours since leaving Phnom Penh, pulled into the bus terminus at Siem Reap.
After a quick phone call, Lin and the night security from the Two Dragons Guesthouse, came to meet the two weary, bone chilled and tired travelers. They were even more grateful when Lin informed them that she had kept the kitchen open. They ordered toasted sandwiches, fries and cold beer to enjoy while they relaxed and thawed. After a lovely refreshing shower, they lay down on their comfy bed with fresh crisply clean white sheets and breathed a sigh of relief.
After a long, interesting journey over the past 8 weeks, from SA to Thailand to Cambodia, they were finally in Siem Reap.
And so the next stage of their love and life journey begins.