Its been a long journey really, we hopped on a plane from NZ to Indonesia on 13th January 2013 with a 9kg backpack each. We went to 10 countries in 9 months around South East Asia. Following this we headed to Canada and began the search for a job on a ski resort which was easier than we hoped, we signed up to a job fair for Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort and both had a job offer by the end of the day with staff accommodation on the mountain. After our 8 month contract was up we purchased a Dodge Grand Caravan (soccer mum van), took out the seats and converted it to a camper put a bed in the back and drove around Canada and the USA. Due to a few factors like breaking down in small town Texas and getting stuck for 3 weeks, visa rapidly running out and finances dwindling we decide to fly to Central America instead of go back to Canada for a month as planned. We jump on a plane from New York to Nicaragua and find ourselves giggling in the back of a beaten up taxi with our driver yelling in Spanish at everyone in his way. We spent 3 months in Central America going up from Nicaragua to Guatemala and onto Mexico where we had a flight booked to LA and from there back home to NZ.
What a journey.
We arrive home excited and happy to see family again. Its been really great to come back over the Christmas and New Year period because this means we don’t have to jump straight back into finding a job, we get to hang out in the glorious kiwi summer with family and friends, go camping and swim on some of the best beaches in the world. Seriously, beaches here are better than any we have been to around the world, equal perhaps to a few in Thailand just without the trash!
Hanging with my mum again!
The latest development in our lives now is we have a place to call our own I’m calling it a house but reality is; its a flat, one of 4 in a street full of other flats. This does not matter to us. We have our own space without flatmates, without backpackers, without mess and dirt and shambles and someone else’s possessions. Finally after all this time we can call somewhere home. We can set it up how we want. We can put things we’ve collected on our travels on the walls and be happy here!
Family Christmas 🙂
Its been one hell of a journey to get here, we have seen and experienced things that most Kiwis will struggle to understand. We have a changed outlook on life, and the beauty of this is that we have done it together. Recently we celebrated 8 years together, a huge milestone for two people of 26! We are happy together and happy to have people we love surrounding us. I want to say a special thanks to those who have been part of our journey up till now, in a small way you have all helped us become who we are today, so, cheers!
It needs to be said, Cambodia is great! Great people, great food, great (and harrowing) history, great scarves and the loudest most annoying Tuk Tuk drivers ever! Before leaving on our trip, while explaining all the places we wanted to visit on our 7 months travelling. Cambodia never really featured on my radar. Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam were the ones I knew a little about. Now it’s very safe to say we are both advocates for Cambodia and will recommend it over Thailand for culture any day! Next time when were here we want to explore the mountains in the North, especially where all the stones that built Angkor Wat came from, and the islands in the south. We did find a fantastic Island, Crusoe. Newly opened for camping and activities cheep at $2 per night for camp facilities and $5 per night for tent hire pillows and all! – sadly because were here in monsoon season its closed. We did have the chance to go but its very much survivor on a marooned island bring your own food type adventure which sounded fun but another time when it’s not monsoon season count me in!
Deep fried frog
Sihanoukville
The bus from Phnom Penh took 3 hours longer than the 4 hours it should have. Could have something to do with the pouring rain, not often does it rain for 5 hours straight in Asia! We teamed up with a Spanish couple and jumped in a tuk tuk to Occhectual beach, found an ok room for $6 got a 3pm lunch and had a nap. ..
The next morning its time to set about finding a guesthouse that doesn’t feel although there are 100 people around your room all the time. So loud! We decided on moving to Victory hill, what used to be the backpacker hangout after scoping all the options in the main backpacker Serendipity beach. Is it just me or are backpackers getting richer? Everything is around the $10 US mark and above and we would ideally like to pay less than this for a dive, anyway im rambling…. We found a tuk tuk driver to take us to Victory hill for the price we wanted and managed to find a great room 3rd floor with a balcony and sea views for $9. This alone took hunting and bargaining and this is in the quiet rainy season, would be harder in peak times especially because there are lots of long-term expats living here.
So whats Victory Hill like?
Apart from the Casinos, strip clubs and sleazy old expats with young things hanging off their wallet its alright…… There are the shops and bars up on the hill far from the beech. I can picture it 20 years ago teeming with backpackers with all the buildings new and shiny. Now however its run down and looking a bit sad, the saving grace which we could probably go back for was the food! We stumbled across the best restaurant on the first day and ate here every meal after that. A huge western menu with everything on it. Fish and chips for the first time since NZ, I was sooooooo excited when I saw it on the menu! And for $2 it was not a let down, it was the type of fish n chips you pay $18 for in a fancy pub back home. Bliss! Big breakfast with bacon, sausages, perfectly poached eggs, baked beans, potato rosti and a whole baguette on the side, price $2.50. I even was brave enough to try the Tuna salad and disappointed I was not! Having inexpensive food just like cafes at home was great for a change from rice and curry.
BIG Breakfast $2.50
All in all victory hill has had its hey day but there’s still a chance of a comeback, the beech is nice and the sunsets are great and I don’t think it should be written off yet.
Kampot
Walking along the riverfront early evening drinking fresh coconut juice is something everybody should enjoy once
Kampot is a cute little place. Set on the river with a long paved area to walk along its picturesque. There are lots of things to do in the area: visiting pepper plantations, salt flats, waterfalls and wandering town and temples. Enough to keep you occupied for a day or two. Need I mention that the pepper is world-renowned, it has been said that there was a time when no self respecting French restaurant would be seen without Kampot Pepper on its table. We couldn’t go to see it growing in the plantation as by this time of the year it has all been harvested but we did buy some in the market. A mix of white, red and black pepper already on its way to Canada so I can use it there. It made me think of Ayla, the most pepper obsessed person ever – no meal can be complete without it. Shes right of course and ill be kindly taking donations of a pepper grinder for Christmas…. As well as Pepper, Durian that horrible smelly fruit is famous here too. So much that they have a Durian statue in the center of town. Still don’t like it much, it smells.
Stayed in a place called the Kampot pie and ice cream palace and boy their pies were AWESOME! Mince pie, chicken curry pie, lemon meringue pie, banana cream pie, apple pie plus brownie and homemade bread.
Lemon Meringue Pie!!
The smells that wafted up from the cafe in the afternoon were so tempting we had our door open enticing fresh baked bread or apple pie smell to permeate everything. They had a great set up, the type of business and kitchen I can see myself running. Simple and quality food made with love. They let me take a photo too.
We enjoyed our time in Kampot and intended to stay only one day but stayed 2 instead before making our way to Vietnam. Getting to Vietnam from here is not far at all, the only options are minivan, motorbike or share taxi we crossed at the Ha Tien boarder. We had already applied for visas in Phnom Penh but it was actually cheaper to do in Sihounakville as that’s where they are processed anyway. Its crazy seeing casinos right on the crossing, one of those areas where no one country has jurisdiction and the casino can freely (probably for a pay off actually) trade. so just like that our fun, educational and cultural time in Cambodia is up and the last country of our 9 month journey begins. Just don’t expect much if any English in Ha Tein, Vietnam!
slyzotravels.wordpress.com 