We left Saigon (Pham Ngu Lao) at 6.30 am and reach the Moc Bai border 2 hours later. At the border, we waited for a few moments to have our passports stamped by the immigration officer. All these were handled by the bus company, so we did not worry about the whole process. After it was stamped, we headed towards the Cambodian side, which was the Bao Vet border, it was the same process only that we were the one who went inside the immigration office. It was very easy since we are Filipinos and we can stay in Cambodia for up to 21 days free of visa. For those other nationalities not included in the ASEAN countries, you need to pay 25$ for a single-1 month entry visa.
It took us almost another 3 hours to reach the port (i forgot the name) where we will be transported by a barge/ferry across the Mekong river to get to Phnom Penh.
When we arrived in Phnom Penh, a tuktuk driver from the hotel was already waiting for us. He then introduced himself to us as Mr Smiley :) and yes, his name was in fact a really good description of what he is. He was very friendly and patient of us the whole time we were there. Btw, we checked in at Blue Tongue Cafe and Hotel, which was a nice hotel considering that i only paid 40$ for it. It was decent enough that you won't need to worry about the noise and happenings despite of its closed proximity to Central Market and Sorya Shopping center.
Our first stop after we checked in was Central Market. It was lovely to see how it looks like inside. The first time i went to PP, i was not able to visit the market, since it was already closed. I like how the colour shimmers during the day and the sunlight reflects on it.
It was a perfect time to go to PP because the weather was still cool, actually it was a bit cold especially in the morning. We rode tuktuk the whole time we were there, even when we visited the Killing Fields, which was a 40-minute ride from the city.
This trip was a first for Paolo to take "tuktuk". When we were in Thailand a couple of times last year, we never had a chance to experience the ride, so when I asked him whether he opts for a taxi or tuktuk, he willingly obliged to take what most locals use.
After we went around Central Market, we headed to an airconditioned shopping centre called Sorya. We had our lunch here and we devoured on, guess what? chicken! BBWorld, is the fastfood restaurant that i raved about when i first came to PP before.
I did not buy anything at Central Market because i am saving my energy, time and money at the Russian Market. And i was right to save it for later, because i found what i have been wanting to get at PP. The first visit i had with Tet, i bought myself some house decors and cambodian silk table runners but it was never enough that i still longed for some more. Hence, the trip to the Russian Market. I will post pictures of them once i am able to hang them on my apartment wall.
To finish this post, let me leave you with a few more photos of what PP has to offer.
And last but not the least, they say that a Cambodian trip won't be complete without visiting the Killing Fields. So here it it, as i pay respect to those people who were perished in PP from 1975-1979.
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