Last night in Bangkok gave us a hard time. We still have problems with sleeping (jet lag), wake up call we have scheduled for 3:15 and we have to go to the airport at 4:00. Thus it was necessary to get to bed early. The first night in Bangkok makes us nervous because of noise generated by air conditioning (but with no air conditioning we could not sleep so we had to endure with it). The next night was going to be normal.
We struggled a bit trying to get to sleep and when at last we did that, strange noise woke us up. Something like screaming. I turned off the air conditioning for better hearing - and what I hear? A "lumberjack" "sawing" a local "tree" and a "tree" groaning like a pig being slaughtered. At first it was very funny but after a while we began to bless the noise coming out of the air conditioner. Finally, at the end, Lumberjack felt lack of Viagra and finally silence came to us... and we had to get up. We checked out of the hotel. The taxi ordered last evening at the reception desk is waiting for us (500THB). We arrive at the airport, checked baggage, get on the airplane (AirAsia) (oh, those attendants :-) and after one hour flight we are in the capital of Cambodia.
At the airport quickly checked our passports, attach the eye to a small USB webcam connected to a computer and finally, we are in Phnom Penh. When leaving the airport we got free maps of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The maps contain the inscription on the cover that in Cambodia "to have sex with minors is a crime and if you are witnesses, you have to inform the police." Cambodia is a popular destination for pedophile tourists.
We take a taxi from the airport (7USD), at the front of airport (as in Bangkok) are translators who read the addresses on pages fed by tourists and write it in Khmer for drivers. Knowledge of English is very rare.
We go by taxi to the office of Mekong Express bus line. The views along the way slightly depressing. Dirt, poverty and chaos. Thousands of scooters. Each scooter filled by passengers or goods to highest possible of level.
We buy last tickets for the bus departing at 12:30. The next bus is at 14:00 and the next (probably the last) departs at 18:00. We are looking for a pub where you can sit in the shade and wait for the departure (4h of waiting) - we found a pub very quickly. Table on the terrace, English menus, no prices. No one speaks English. I really like it here ;-) I point the finger an item in the menu and the waiter writes the order and run to the kitchen. The floor is very dirty. They bring me an empty glass - noted that it is dirty so exchanged it. Order chicken with noodles. The pasta is fried with eggs, with the strips of cooked chicken, with some unidentifiable green vegetables, bowl of chill, and a cup filled with boiling water to which the waiter dropped the fork and spoon (as evidence that utensils were disinfected). After dinner we swallow prophylactically Nifuroxazide, pay for dinner (dish + cola = 4USD) and go to the bus. The route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap we overcome with the Mekong Express bus (10USD). On the way, attendant on the bus give us a damp handkerchief, bottle of water and a box of biscuits.
While driving, guide describes in Khmer and English passed attractions. Khmer language is completely different than Thai. Thai is very melodic, soft. Khmer sounds like shots from a Kalashnikov. Guide shoots very fast. Along the way you will see dry rice fields (dry season) and cottages on stilts. The most shocking looks local buses, filled to the brim with people - additional crowd sitting on the roof between the luggage.
In the evening, we get to Siem Reap. The bus station is too big word. Fenced, earthenware square filled with rubble and overgrown with grass. Tuk-Tuk drivers try to contact us. Tuk-tuk in Cambodia is different than in Thailand. It's a normal scooter with a covered trailer. We select one driver, who, as we think, speaks little English and riding us to the hotel (1USD). Siem Reap looks much better than the capital of Cambodia. The houses are more cared for, there is a lot cleaner. Many high-end hotels and shops quite good.
We get to our hotel. We arranges with the driver that the next three days we will be hauled to the temples with him (45USD). Our hotel (City River Hotel) turns out to be pretty decent. The doorman opens the door, brings our luggages to the room. Our room is pretty big, looks nice, TV with over 60 channels, mini bar and a small balcony. We eat dinner in the hotel restaurant (rice, chicken, sweet and sour sauce, cola - total 3USD per person). And after dinner we fall asleep for the first time without any problems - think we just ended our Jet Lag.
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