I was captivated by the Angkor temples, swept away by the Apsara dancers, overwhelmed by the number of noodles and vegetable meals I had in both countries, saddened by the sight of The Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng, fell in love with the warmth of the people in Cambodia and Vietnam and many other unforgettable experiences I would surely treasure forever. Despite the long bus rides and extreme heat of the sun, I never heard myself complain. Everything felt new. It was dream-like. And so I'd like to share with all of you the short, but fun-filled trip I had through a detailed list below.
Day 1
- Flight to Ho Chi Minh City. (May 14)
- Arrived in Vietnam at around 12pm. (May 15)
- Went to Tita Lani's apartment to get some rest before a long bus trip to Phnom Penh.
- Left Tita Lani's apartment at 6am.
- A 5-hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai (Vietnamese border).
- At around 1:30pm, our bus finally arrived in Phnom Penh.
- Ate our first Cambodian lunch at a local diner.
- Transferred to another bus to Siem Reap.
- Arrived in Siem Reap at 8:30pm.
- Woke up early to witness the sun rise in Angkor Wat.
- After visiting five temples, our tuktuk driver brought us to the Khmer Family Restaurant for lunch.
- After a half-day tour in Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, we went back to the guesthouse to get some rest.
- I woke up at around 8pm and went straight to the Night Market.
- Ate a traditional Khmer BBQ near Pub Street.
- Finally, went shopping for some souvenirs.
- Mailed the post cards.
- Went straight to the Angkor National Museum.
- Had lunch at KFC Siem Reap and desserts at LucKafe.
- Went shopping again and watched a free Apsara performance at the Temple Balcony.
- Oh! I tried Anchor beer (local Cambodian beer)
- Left Siem Reap at 6:30am.
- Took a bus ride with some locals.
- Arrived in Phnom Penh at 1:30pm.
- Rented a tuktuk and went straight to The Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng.
- Bought fried noodles from a local street vendor.
- Did another stroll in the city.
- Tried QQ's Milk tea. I opted for a safer choice, a lemonade.^^
Day 5
- Visited the Royal Palace and the Russian market.
- Left Phnom Penh at around 1:30pm.
- Arrived in Saigon at 7:30pm.
- Went straight to Tita Lani's apartment for dinner.
- Went to see the Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning.
- Ate pho(Vietnamese rice noodles) for the first time.
- Went on a city tour: War Remnants Museum, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace.
- Met Tita Lani and Tita Anna for dinner at Kita Coffee in Vincom Center.
- Had desserts at Highlands Coffee while chatting with Arianne.
Day 7
- Dropped by the Opera House.
- Went shopping at Ben Tahn Market, Saigon Center, Saigon Square and Saigon Tax.
- Had a late lunch with Tita Lani at a Vietnamese restaurant.
- Went back home to start packing.
- Had our last dinner in Vietnam: BBQ Pork Ribs from Al Fresco.
Day 8
- Flew back to Manila at 1:00am.
