CAMBODIA

Bangkok to Siem Reap: 402Kms – 10hrs (inc border) Hotel: Grand Hotel d'Ankor
An early start is highly recommended for this day at it is a long, but not difficult road to Siem Reap. The first part out of Bangkok is gratifyingly simple as the entrance to the motorway is close to the hotel – less than 2km away. Once on the motorway the route out of town is straightforward and then good to the border which is invariably hot and dusty. Be patient and the process will pass easier. As usual we will have someone at the border helping with formalities.

For a short while the road is fine, then it becomes a graded which in March should be fine as they have grading machines constantly repairing the road. The question is why is it not metalled? The unofficial answer is that an airline is ensuring it does not get paved. On the way into Siem Reap you will pass such landmarks as the new golf course but don’t expect to see the temples from the road as they are well hidden from view.
As we will be visiting for three nights we will arrange for three day passes to the temples for everyone, although payment will have to be made individually to the local agent. One-day passes are also available. For a diverting night out go to Bar Street – not it’s real name but very apt and known to all the tuk tuk and taxi drivers. Here you can have some good food, good beer and watch the street life. It goes on until two or three in the morning but its not just bars and food there are also plenty of stalls to spend your US dollars on.

Siem Reap to Phnom, Penh: 312Kms – 6hrs. Hotel: Raffles Le Royale
The road is good most of the way from Siem Reap to the capital PP which was devastated in the days of Pol Pot. What started out as a vibrant capital city was quickly turned into a ghost town as the population was decimated by his tyrannical regime. He died in 1998. But many of his henchmen are still alive and only now are they indicting these despots who killed around millions of people. The Cambodians are amongst the friendliest you will find anywhere but there is a striking lack of old people in the country. Maybe it’s because they are all so youthful that it is friendly as they haven’t had the chance to be influenced by the old and cynical.

Once in PP there are a couple of must do tours – one is to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the other is to the Killing Fields which are some way out of town so you will need a taxi for this. Both are incredibly moving and will only make you wonder at the stupidity and violence of the Pol Pot era.