Our little Worldtrip

In Kratie we hired a motobike and were just driving around all day long. It was amazing - people are so loving. Once they see you they start waving and say "hello". Everyone is so nice and friendly. The landscape is stunning. It's so interesting to see those wood huts. Everything is so simple - we actually cannot imagine living like them.

Kratie is very popular for their dolphins. While riding the bike I shouted "STOP" as I saw something in the river. Guess what - it was a dolphin!!! My god, it was amazing. We just sat down in the grass and were were watching them for an hour or so. We were both thrilled - it was sooo cool. I know, the picture is not the best...but hey, I hope you can spot the dolphin as well... ;-))

Typical picture on Kratie's roads....

We started the day at 5 o'clock in order to see the amazing sun rise over Ankor Wat.

Me buying bracelets - children are everywhere and after a while you just have to buy something....

This was the funniest sign I have seen so far. I had to go to the loo (yep, sometimes this does happen) and then I saw this sign!!! I could not stop laughing...just imagine....lol

Our second favourite temple in Angkor - Ta Phrom. It was not cleared and restored like most of the other temples, it has been left to the ravages of the jungle - AMAZING. When we arrived there a thunderstorm started and it was pouring down - just perfect for this location. We loved this place!

While relaxing in Siem Reap we bumped into those two cuties who wanted to sell us their bracelets. I asked them if they were hungry and the answer was "yes". Therefore, instead of giving them money and not knowing what was to happen with it, we invited them for lunch. They were so nice. We taught them a bit of English and really had a good time with them.

Och du meine Güte!!! Nach ca. 10 Stunden slow boat (mega slow und sooo laut) und 1.5 stündiger Busfahrt erreichen wir die Hauptstadt Kambodschas, Phnom Penh. Wenn wir nicht mal ausgiebig das Mekong Delta erkundet haben, dann weiss ich auch nicht. Die ersten 6 Stunden waren ganz nett, Zeit zum lesen, Reisetagebuch zu schreiben und all den Kindern am Flussufer zurück zu winken.

Werden überrascht, dass Kambodschas Hauptstadt so teuer ist. Jeder ist davon ausgegangen, dass es günstiger als Vietnam werden würde, was jedoch nicht der Wahrheit entspricht. Hatten uns auf Armut eingestellt und werden mit Grossstadt-Normalität begrüsst. Überwiegend grosse Geländewagen der Marke Lexos. Das hatten wir nun wirklich nicht erwartet. Fühlen uns anfangs nicht so wohl hier – wissen nicht, ob diese Stadt sicher ist.

Es ist mal wieder brütend heiß und wir schwitzen was das Zeug hält. Sehen etliche wunderschöne Pagodas. Diese Bauten faszinieren uns. Die Stadt hat viele französische Kolonialhäuser, die das Stadtbild verschönern. Da ich falsch gekleidet bin (Pashminas not accepted) können wir uns den Royal Palace und Silver Pagoda nicht anschauen. Suchen uns einen Tuc-Tuc Fahrer der uns zu den 14km entfernten Killing Fields of Choeung Ek bringt. Die Fahrt dorthin ist sowas von staubig und dreckig, dass manchmal die Luft zum atmen fehlt. Sehen hier was von dem Kambodscha, was wir uns vorgestellt hatten. Armut, nicht existierende Strassen, betelnde Kinder. Geschichtlich unwissend stehen wir zutiefst geschockt vor dem Memorial, das 800 Totenschädel aufgetürmt hat. Ein Ort des Grauens. Das Khmer Rouge Regime hatte Zighunderttausende Bürger grausam getötet, alle Bildungseinrichtungen, Intellektuelle und medizinische Einrichtungen wurden abgeschafft. Ein menschliches Verbrechen höchsten Grades. Interessant, dass wir von diesem Verbrechen zu Hause noch nie etwas gehört hatten.

Danach lassen wir uns zum Genocide Museum „Tuol Sleng“ fahren. Der nächste Schock. Dieser Ort war eigentlich mal eine High School und wurde von dem Regime in ein Gefängnis des Grauens umgewandelt. Der Magen wird flau, es ist fast so, als ob man fühlen könnte, was hier passierte. Wir lesen uns die komplette Geschichte, wie die Khmer Rouge an die Macht kam und was passierte durch. Sichtlich erschöpft von unserem neuen Wissen gehen wir zu unserem Tuc Tuc Fahrer zurück und erfahren, dass auch er Angehörige verloren hatte. Wir verstehen besser, warum die Leute noch immer so traumatisiert sind.

On arrival we were surrounded by 7 (!) moped drivers and decided for the cheapest version – a tuk tuk driver. This was definitely the funniest tuk tuk ride ever! We checked in our guesthouse, booked the slow boat to Cambodia next day and enjoyed this little peaceful riverfront town.

We booked a 2-day Mekong Delta tour with a home stay. Leaving Saigon behind us does not feel right but there are more places to discover. After a couple of hours we arrived at My Tho and boarded the boat. First stop was Ben Tre, the country of coconut. We saw how coconut candies were made and bought a bar of this addictive stuff. Don't expect a lot – it is very touristy again. During the day we changed the boats several times and saw a bit more of the other islands at the Mekong Delta. In the evening we got picked up at the hotel in Can Tho for our home stay. We were very curios what to expect. After an awesome 45-minute motorbike drive along the Mekong Delta and its flooded streets we arrived and were actually quite disappointed. There was no home stay feeling at all. It was like a Mekong Delta resort with a huge great bamboo hut for the two of us. Don't get me wrong this accommodation was excellent but you don't expect such luxury during your so-called home stay. The owner has 7 of those lodges. 4 including ours were occupied. The business is running well ;-)) Nevertheless we enjoyed our stay there. We enjoyed the full moon over the palms sitting next to the Mekong Delta on nice beach chairs. When we got up at 5.30am we watched the sunrise. It was breathtaking – so peaceful. The night was full of natural noises we were not used to anymore. We only know the sound of traffic now...;-)

To summarize the additional charge of $6 for the home stay is well invested for a perfect room and a fantastic landscape. Don't expect to get closer to the locals here and don't even think that you get a better breakfast (as promised by the travel agents).

We met our group at the floating markets where we observed the people for a while. Afterwards we had to see how market women cut the frogs and fishes heads off with rusty scissors....very close to vomitting.

Since our tour guide wanted to overcharge us in regards to the bus trip to Chau Doc we decided to let us dropped off at the local bus station and made it our own way. Easier than expected – and cheaper !!!