Dragged ourselves away from fabulous Chau Doc and boarded the boat that would take us up the Mekong - a five hour journey, including border crossing, into Cambodia and on to Phnom Penh.
The scenery along the way was amazing. We passed entire villages literally floating on the Mekong, saw people bathing in the Mekong, saw people bathing their cows in the Mekong!
Not long into our journey we docked at the Vietnamese passport control wharf and were told to alight while visas and passports were checked. We then reloaded and after a couple of minutes, pulled up at the Cambodian passport control wharf where we once again were instructed to alight for checking. The photos below say it all! Such different worlds yet only meters apart. Never before have we experienced anything like this - something we'll never forget!
Arrived in Phnom Penh just after lunch and it was love at first sight - such beautiful people and a real vibe about the place. Enjoyed the central market and paid a visit to the Foreign Correspondents' Club (the done thing). We learned that you don't have to wander too far from the main drag to see the real Phnom Penh. This is one amazing place.
Made a real connection with a Tuk-Tuk driver (Nin) who took us on a bit of a tour of the city by night - wow...
Arranged for Nin to meet us first thing next day to help us see some sights.
Spent the next day exploring the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, then on to The Killing Fields (a little way outside of town - like Auschwitz, a place that makes you shake your head in dismay) and to Tuol Sleng (S-21) Prison (from where people were taken to The Killing Fields). A massive, sad day. How any human being could treat another human being like that is beyond belief. And yet they are so gentle and happy...
Enjoyed a final evening in Phnom Penh. Don't want to leave. This is a fabulous city!
What an interesting journey, loving it.
ReplyDeleteA different world. Stay safe, lol.xxxx