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My Holiday In Cambodia

Thai-Cambodia border crossing

Well you'll work harder
With a gun in your back
For a bowl of rice a day
Slave for soldiers
Till you starve
Then your head is skewered on a stake

Now you can go where people are one
Now you can go where they get things done
What you need, my son.

Is a holiday in Cambodia
Where people dress in black
A holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll kiss ass or crack

— The Dead Kennedys

Note: Twenty years ago, my childhood friend Jeff introduced me to the early 80's political-punk band The Dead Kennedys. One of their most popular songs, ” Holiday In Cambodia,”? recounts the terrifying reign of Pol Pot during the genocide of the late 1970's. I became aware of Cambodia's sad and recent history as a result of this song rather than any discussions or reading from school.

An unexpected motorbike ride, just for me, to catch up with the first bus leaving for Siem Reap

I managed a few hours sleep the night before departing for the Thai-Cambodia border. A mix of excitement and anxiety usually makes sleep a luxury before entering a new country. In the morning, I got a front row seat on the double-decker bus for the first time. While the exterior was freshly painted with a Winnie the Pooh theme, the interior clearly showed the age of the vehicle.

View from the bus along the road to Siem Reap

Another reason I sat in the front with the older white guys and their Thai lady friends was to gain space from other backpackers. I wanted time to process and appreciate the past few weeks, and new friendships would accelerate, if not eliminate, that opportunity (as it has many times in the past on this trip).

After a few hours, we stopped for lunch while still in Thailand. I met Sandy and Alice from Melbourne, Australia. (Note: I'm a sucker for Australian accents.) We sat together at a dinner break too, along with Ross from Miami.

Bridges under construction on the dirt road to Siem Reap

The difference in wealth and infrastructure upon crossing the border was very noticeable. My first images of Cambodia reminded me of India. The road from the border to Siem Reap was mostly dirt. Slow going. 11.5 hours of total transit time from Bangkok departure to Siem Reap arrival.

Beautiful rice paddies and a storm in the distance

By dinner, I had decided that touring Angkor Wat was the type of activity I'd best enjoy with company, and thus Alice, Sandy, myself, and Phillip (Germany) stayed at the same hotel, and made plans to arrange tuk-tuks the next morning. So much for taking time to process recent events.

Even though a single was only $5, I took Phillip up on his offer to share a room, something I hadn't done since Steve and I first arrived on Thong Nai Pan Noi (beach) in Koh Phangan six weeks prior.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

filemongiron

Saturday 6th of March 2010

please let me know would you recomend Colombia as stop over?

Wendy

Sunday 14th of September 2008

I'm really looking forward to reading about Cambodia! Hope you're enjoying it!

Dave

Monday 15th of September 2008

Very much - the charm is in the countryside!

Wendy

Sunday 14th of September 2008

I'm really looking forward to reading about Cambodia! Hope you're enjoying it!

Dave

Monday 15th of September 2008

Very much - the charm is in the countryside!

Alline

Sunday 14th of September 2008

Hello again Dave!

I was wondering... do you have any tip about where to spend the new year in Thailand, close to Bangkok?

Thanks!!!!!! :smile:

Alline

Dave

Monday 15th of September 2008

You mean New Year's Eve? I don't...though I'm sure anywhere around the islands is super popular (if you're looking for atmosphere).

Alline

Sunday 14th of September 2008

Hello again Dave!

I was wondering... do you have any tip about where to spend the new year in Thailand, close to Bangkok?

Thanks!!!!!! :smile:

Alline

Dave

Monday 15th of September 2008

You mean New Year's Eve? I don't...though I'm sure anywhere around the islands is super popular (if you're looking for atmosphere).

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