 |
| Central Market Phnom Penh - Cambodia |
Please welcome a story men's-trip-part 2-all-about. The previous
one was about Kuala Lumpur- Melaka, and this
chapter we went to Vietnam
and Cambodia .
Flight with airasia promo ticket (PP IDR 651000) we went to
both country with unplanned itinerary due to the short notice of leave from our
work place, yeahh we called it GET LOST. It was not the first time happened
to us.
Jakarta - Ho Chi Min City took about 3 hours, it's more than enough to discuss
our trip itinerary.
Yeahh thanks God, the weather was nice to us so we can safely arrived at Tan
Son Nhat International Airport. Let’s start the adventure guys.
Nothing special with the airport, the most memorable part was only few people
can speak bahasa, errr english :)
even the airport staff.
 |
| Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Phnom Penh - Cambodia |
So, sligthly it’s difficult to get information related to
our plan. We even got the information from a tour agent staff who can speak english.
For your information, there were no longer any bus operated at Ho Chi Min City
in the night, only taxi :( (Based on airport staff) . We have to spend about USD
9 for 3 persons to get to Pham Ngu Lao Street, but we met other backpacker who
will going to the place near Pham Ngu Lao Street so we only paid for USD 6 for the
3 of us because of car sharing. The first thing to do in the area was looking for
ticket to Cambodia. Whattt USD 11 each? Hmm Ya ya so expensive..
“Hey you, please take this, i bring it from Indonesia .”
 |
| Halal food "Warung Bali" Phnom Penh - Cambodia |
I said to the tour agent staff while giving her ‘beng-beng’ (ups sebut merk) , hihi, so we got discount for USD 1 each. This was a nice place, friendly staff, free wifi and also low rate to stay (if you want, only USD 22 for 3 persons).
There were no any special places I guess; only club and beer house along the street. So we decided to stay at those travel agents and looked around while waiting for our bus which will arrive two and a half hours toward.
Cambodia anchor express bus came an hour late. Hmmm, not so exclusive for USD 10. But it’s fine, just because it’s the only one who can take us to Cambodia in midnight. Ho chi min city - Phnom Penh took about 7 hours include waiting time for boarder gate hour to open. Ok let’s get some sleep during this long way. Oh ya, our seat was at the second deck actually.
 |
| Royal Palace Phnom Penh - Cambodia |
Kinda time wasted waiting for the boarder gate hour to open. Administration process quite took time hmm approximately 45 minutes. The bus staff give us 25 minutes to have our breakfast, but we decided only ate a slice of bread due to no halal food in this traditonal restaurant. Local time has shown 7.33 am, let’s heading to Phnom Penh, then.
Hoammm just awaked and still at the bus, why it ran so slow. Total time ho ci min city - Phnom Penh was 10 hours and its enough to make our ass flat, LoL.
Lucky us live in Jakarta, i though Jakarta is much more modern than Phnom Penh. Though, in here was traffic jam-free, all places standed near to each others. Anyway, we have no worries when we decided to came to this city, we already have someone who will assist us during our visit here. We know him from twitter actually and never met each others. The clue we have is: once the bus drop us by, we must find Tuk tuk (one of public transportation in Cambodia) (USD 2) which will bring us to ‘warung bali’ where Zacky (our new friend from twitter) will be waiting. In this warung a lot of Indonesian people who stay at Cambodia chat with others, hmm we can call it base camp. Yahhh no worries now, since we will be assisted by "lurah" Indonesia in Phnom Penh. lol.
 |
| National Museum Phonm Penh - Cambodia |
Oyesss met the Indonesian who stay in here was the best choice indeed. We can
explore Cambodia
less than 24 hours. We succeed to visit Central
Market (famous market in Phnom Penh,
betah yee ada mbak2 penjualnya cantekk cynn), Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (The
former security office 21 in “Democratic Kampuchea” that was created on orders
of Pol Pot , the place that designed for detention, interrogation, inhuman
torture, and killing the detainees. Every visitor will be charged USD 2) , The
Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (The residence of the King of Cambodia, his family and foreign
dignitaries, as a venue for the performance of court ceremony and ritual and as
a symbol of the Kingdom. It was slightly expensive to enter this palace,
we have to spend USD 6.5 each) and
National Museum in just around 5 hours.
We arrived at the last place half hour
before it will be closed L,
actually when we enter to this building hmm nothing special, only statue and something
likes artifacts and the area not so big. The ticket is USD 2 each. All places
have been reached by Tuk tuk only paid for USD 5.
Lucky us met Zacky, we took a shower and had rest at his boarding house before
went to score cafe watching Liverpool and MU showing their skill off at green
field. Yeah so unique trip ever LOL.
Actually, we have 2 and a half hours left in this city before our bus takes us
to Siem Reap. So, let’s enjoy the moment in this crowded café, surrounded by MU&
Liverpool fans. Great MU, be the winner for this match. Let’s prepare for going
to Siem Reap.
 |
| Angkor Wat Siem Reap - Cambodia |
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap took about 5 hours and a half, we arrived at the final
stop on 4.45, againnnn... lucky us to have no worries about who will pick up
and accompany us during at Siem Reap, Mr. Thom has called his friend who’s also
the tuk2 driver, Mr. team. All day long we’ve visited many places in Angkor Wat
complex. From the biggest one “Angkor
Wat” , Bayon Temple, Bapuon Temple, Royal
Palace, Elephant Temple until Ta Prohm Kel . There are many temples
in this complex but only several temples that interesting enough to visit. For your information, the temple standed far from each others. The Entrance Ticket was
so expensive, it cost USD 20 each person per day, USD 40 per person per 3 days.
One day is enough to explore Siem Reap, then we heading back to Ho Chi Min
City at 7 pm. It took 14 hours and passing by Phnom Penh to change the bus even
though our ticket directly heading to Ho Chi Min City. We will explore the city
on our last day.
 |
| Ta Prohm Kel Siem Reap - Cambodia |
Actually on our 3 days and 3 nights trip, we got 2 countries and 3 cities,
Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam, also Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia without
spending money for hotel. How come? We spent our midnight at night bus hihihi.
Arrived at Pham Ngu Lao Street, Ho Chi Min City at 10 am. Then, straight to the
backpacker hotel where we were here before on our 1st day, just to keep our backpack for free while we
explore this city. Free wifi service enable us to contact our family and
relative in Indonesia.
Ok let’s go to the first spot, following the map we’re
heading to Ben Thanh Market then Town Hall - Opera House - Central Post Office - Duc Ba Cathedral. Hmm the
weather was not very nice to us, rain fall down when we had our walk.
 |
| Town Hall Ho Chi Min City - Vietnam |
We find a shelter, at the nearest place it was highlands
coffee. Apart for keeping our camera save from the rain, also to full fill our
stomach from thirst and hunger, and of course for free wifi.
Soon as the rain has stop, Re-unification Palace and Worker's
Cultural Palace which stand not too far from the cafe be the our next visit.
Nothing special with those places, so we just through outside.
Cake and coffee were not enough to make our stomach full.
We, then look for the halal restaurant based on the information
we heard, stand near Ben Thanh Market. Quite difficult to find this resto that
owned by Malaysian. We order ice vietnam coffee and milk, lemon tea, 3 Flavors-chicken
and Vietnam Tom Yam. We pay 260.000 VND for all the food.
Hmm, we only have an hour left before heading to the
airport.
Hurry up guys, in rainy day we walk over to Ben Thanh Market,
there wasn’t enough time to buy something. And so, by taxi we decided back to the
place where our backpack kept due to rainy day. Just to took our backpack and
went to the airport, hmmm why this taxi charge so expensive about 600.000 VND
:( . Ready coming back to Jakarta.
Total outgo for this trip (exclude plane ticket) : ~ 123.5 USD =
1.182.512,5 (meal and drink = USD 28.8,transport = USD 64.2, entrance spot
ticket = USD 30.5)
 |
| Ben Thanh Market Ho Chi Min City - Vietnam |
Tips during in Ho Chi Min
City
- Don’t use taxi while you
were in Ho Chi Min City , so expensive dude L
- Take a good care of your
wallet and other stuffs. So many snatchers in that city
- Bring your halal food from
Indonesia, especially for Muslim. So difficult to find halal food
- Don’t waste your time in
this city, only a few interesting place to visit. Ben Thanh market, Town hall, Opera House,
Central Post Office, Duc Ba Cathedral, Re-unification Palace, Worker's
cultural palace. The two mentioned latter actually very not recommended to
visit.
- Instead of preparing the VND
from Indonesia, just bring your USD. You will get cheaper currency. USD 1
= VND 20.484 , IDR 1 = VND 0.8
- Not necessary to get local
number for your phone, wifi is enough for your smart phone
Tips During in Phom
Penh :
 | |
| Kampuchea Anchor Express |
- The most important thing the
moment you arrived at this city is, find Tuk2 who will take you around the
city all day. Hmmm around USD 5
- Halal restaurant stand
near National museum, just find the “Warung Bali Resto”. Many Indonesian
who stay in Phnom Penh have their lunch there.
- Phnom Penh is a small
city, so don’t expect too much. Hmmm most likely
- Not necessary to bring Riel
from
Tips during in Siem Reap
:
- If you wanna see the
sunrise, don’t forget to order tuk2 driver while you were in Phnom Penh.
So, no need to have worries when you came at bus stop.
- Highly recommended to
bring instant food for Muslim.
- Hmm prepare your leg,
because you will walk over all day. Even though tuk2 will also take you
around the places.
- 1 day is enough to explore
this place, no need to stay in here.
Recommended Itinerary
- Ho Chi Min City (
- Ho Chi Min City (
- Siem Reap (
- Siem Reap (
- Back to
More pictures will be uploaded at the other page. But, currently no photos
uploaded. It will be informed if the page ready. Click here to visit
Thanks to my grammar advisor @winawelly and @tiens2
