18 it’s not a number when I attempted my first year at college. It’s a huge number, so i called this number as my starting point to learn to be an adults instead of the famous sweet seventeen. Why? Lets not talk about it. At this note 18 referring to total hours I’ve taken during my overland trip from Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) to Siam Reap (Cambodia).
Well, surely its tiring to spent 18 hours on the road but many things happened during those plenty of time. Mostly I’m just sitting on the bus, and so sorry its not even a sleeper bus. There’s no sleeper bus available to cross those countries. Even if some tour have one, the sleeper one only got us into the halfway of the journey. Most of the bus runs from Ho Chi Minh (HCMC) to Pnompenh and then we have to change into another bus. Some waiting time needed for sure because actually the bus is directed by different operator. If you have booked your trip all the way to Siam Reap, no need to pay additional fee, the first bus provider will ensure that you got your next ticket. Ask the tour which one of the package trip those will directly heading to Siam Reap, because some of them left 6 to hours waiting time in Pnom Penh.
I booked my ticket in one of tour agency in Pham Ngu Lao (HCMC backpacker area). After have some comparison from other agency in Pham Ngu Lao, hostel and other agency in Benh Tanh I decided to take a direct one from HCMC to Siam Reap with cost USD 21 per person. The bus will pick me at the agency at 12 PM (noon), but I’m a lil bit late so someone drive me by motorbike to get on the bus.
After around 4 hours, the bus crossed the border and stopped at the rest area. Most of the passenger leaving for toilet and having lunch while I’m just accommodate my starving with some oreo and mineral water. Yeah, welcome to Cambodia!!!
Not too long after crossing the border, the bus board into the ship to cross the Mekong river. But trust me, don’t compare this crossing with the one that we have in Merak – Bakaheuni (Jakarta – Lampung) or Ketapang – Gilimanuk (Banyuwangi – Bali). The ship is huge for sure but not as huge as we have on those that wi have in Indonesia. Most of the passenger will stay on the bus, but I choose to enjoy the view outside.
Again, I found many kids selling boiled egg after I found many ladies sold the same thing in Panh Tiet, Vietnam, especially during my way from HCMC to Dalat. Some bread that most of Indochina’s countries have for any occasion and the best one a fried cockroach. Yeah Fried Cockroach, its famous and halal but I ‘m not take it for my lunch. I just don’t want to.
We continue the journey to reach the capital city, Pnom Penh and the bus directly run fast towards to bus provider’s office. I skipped Pnom Penh for leisure; I just walk around the bus station and enjoy view of the city during my tuk-tuk trip from the first bus provider to the second one. Within the frame of capital city, Pnom Penh quite crowded that night; traffic, shops, and pedestrian and street stall blended at the same time. Some western restaurants, bakery shop and yet I’m not seeing any halal food restaurant. Just a quick sightseeing I thought, and since I’m not gonna spend the night at this town lets positively thinking that I’m gonna find one in Siam Reap.
The driver dropped me in front of the open area, not that big but I never thought that it was the bus station, but it was. Unlike the common bus station in Indonesia, this one more look alike car wash station. I was reassured, since I saw some passenger filling the waiting room (open area). The driver lead me to the small ticketing office and bought me ticket to Siam Reap. The office looks spooky with a low light and a small window like a jail. One that make it looks nice, is the ticketing officer who is very kind and helpful.
I’m sitting at the waiting room along with other passenger and then there’s a Cambodian’s guy who’s try to talk to me in English. Thanks god!! He plan to visit Siam Reap during weekend and ask me whether I want to join him or not. I was happy to find a mate at the first time, because we can share the ride cost then. Until the next day when we arrived in Siam Reap.
Yeah, we reached Siam Reap around 5.30 AM. The bus stopped at the totally wet-huge-open area, some said that Siam Reap has no bus station. Many Tuk-Tuk’s driver came and approach us, but still I have no idea to bargain with one of them. I saw a European couples that clueless as me. Then, the guy called me to share Tuk-Tuk with him. Another Cambodian guy join us so I just paid USD 5 to reach my guesthouse.
The guys started to ask me join him during Angkor Watt tour, what I’m gonna do for today etc; till he mentioned that he want to stay at the hostel where close to Karaoke. He told me that he loves singing and all the way come to Siam Reap to spend most of his leisure time to sing. And I said what?? I’m not having an answer till he get off and check in.
And hey, do you think 18 is a huge number? Wait until you find out that I took 32 hours from Cambodia to reach Vang Vieng (Laos). Yups. 2 days. 3 countries. 4 cities. And it still normal compare to some European traveler who took slow boat for 3 days from Chiang May (Thailand) to Laos. Maybe I have to try it once someday. But, no matter the method that you choose just keep alert and stay safe.
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