Trip to Cambodia part. 3

Our second island hopping destination was Koh Rong Samloem. After arriving to Saracen Bay by a speed ferry we started to look for a place to stay. It was much more quieter beach than Otres and we actually had to walk a while before we found some desk that looked like a proper reception.

If you're travelling outside of the actual high seasons there's no need to book every accommodation beforehand. There's always some free dorm bed or room at somewhere. At least if you aren't that picky about standard frames or luxury services. 

This longer voyage was a bit safer than the earlier boat ride to Koh Ta Kiev.

     

We managed to book us a double bed from a dorm which was kinda wide open. So, the space itself was again all open and also a little breezy (as it were air-conditioned) 'cause there wasn't any doors etc. When going to sleep we just pulled down the tarp (suom. pressu) to block the rain for coming straight to our drying clothes. And regardless of all the nightly voices and unknown crackles I slept strangely good during our entire trip. Thanks to the refreshing weather of Southeast Asian climate.  

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

- Josh Billings

At Samloem we could finally read some books and properly ease up our pace for few days. Before this we had only fled from horrible hucksters and looked up to some monumental sights of Angkor. Now our main task was to take it easy and enjoy some early morning swims and overall silece.

As usual our stay lasted for 3 days. So, we had already learned by now that 2 nights it's enough at one place. Within those days we had yet again just enough hours to explore the beach and to do what we liked. And what comes to food I think that we ate the most disappointing meal in Sacaren Bay. There might be several reasons for that but I bet that the biggest one is that all the dishes they served at restaurants, were modified to tourists. I mean that they had adjusted the flavors and reduced a lot of the spices.

For us foodlovers it was a real pity 'cause we had some high expectations for them. But in the end we flushed our deeply sorrow with few drinks and hoped for better luck in the future!       

My favorite spot was in that particular hammock.

And remember guys not to get sunburn over your body. It's not nice and your body is your temple.

From the island we took another speed ferry ride to the shore and headed to the bus station from where we continued towards our next destination, the city of Kampot.

God gave me a great body and it's my duty to take care of my physical temple.

- Jean Claude Van Damme

Trip to Cambodia part. 2

From Siem Reap we took a night bus to the coast. Though the drive lasted overnight it wasn't that bad 'cause the bus was filled with sleeping berths. And just to make clear, there wasn't any seats. Only places where you could lie down and try to make yourself feel comfortable.

Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.

- George S. Patton

At this point you might be thinking about the space in the bus or how roomy these "sleeping seats" really are? Is it actually possible to sleep in those kind of busses? When booking the tickets, there were both single and double seats to choose from. We shared one double seat and could just straighten our legs. So, there were barely enough space for smallish people. And only for that reason it might be a bit too small (confined) for those who are taller than regular human beings.

And yes you can sleep in the busses if you're not that sensitive for noices or bumpy roads etc. I slept maybe only half a night, but the all in all the trip went well. It took 10 hours to get from the inland to Sihanoukville. Our first tasks was to find a ride and some nice little bungalow by the beach. As usual the bargaining took a while, but 'cause of our expertise we managed to get us a cheap ride to Otres Beach.

It didn't take that long to go swimming from our little "porch".

After arriving to Otres we started to find out the prizes of different accommodations. At the end we chose a place called Chez Paou from where we got a private bungalow with a fan and a mosquito net. Both of those were kinda standard equipments in most of the places.

There were one common bathroom which we shared with the other fellow travellers. It turned out to be a good thing 'cause we were both terrified by bugs and insects. During the entire trip I also noticed that it's much nicer to sleep in a room which isn't all white from top to bottom. The darker the walls are, the less you can actually see what's lurking you from the ceiling while you're sleeping.

We stayed at Otres for 3 days and in that time we got to learn that there were no place to hide from the hucksters (suom. kaupustelijat). So, to get rid of them we took a long boat to an island paradise named Koh Ta Kiev. There were no running water or electricity grid and that's why the power was on only at certain time in the evenings. This place were just what we needed. Far away from the fuss and expecially from those not-so-nice-vendors.

Life is a travelling to the edge of knowledge, then a leap taken.

- D.H. Lawrence

We booked single beds from the treehouse which was a dorm styled bungalow. And 'cause we didn't know what to expect we're kinda cautious. Will there be some nasty creatures with eight legs or more? Can we sleep in 360 degrees open space with no walls around us, in a treehouse over 3 meters above the ground? All went partly ocay and we managed through the night. But why only partly? Well, I had ants on my bed when we first checked the treehouse. Luckily we had earlier bought some mosquito repellent (actually two kinds of repellent) which worked just fine to those little bastards.

Then I must say that though the island itself was awesome and the night in the treehouse was memorable, the place (Kactus) where we stayed was a bit too (how would I put it) peaceable. If you know what I mean. But enough of that. While waiting for the sunset, we ate dinner and got some new ideas for our travelling plan. One new city to go to. Be aware of that this is what may happen to you too if you've the guts to start a conversation with other fellas plus you have glass of rum in your hand. But due to this we got to see another side of Cambodia. Another city with its own history.

They say that G&T helps against the mosquitos.

I can highly recommend this paradise for those who aren't afraid of the sea and all the waves. If you last through the boat ride you gonna have unforgettable time in this island. But better to plan your visit soon 'cause there are rumours about casinos and actual roads.

We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon.

- Konrad Adenauer

Trip to Cambodia part. 1

People asked the question why and we're like why not? So, despite everyones suspicions we decided to go to a place which had a fascinating but at the same time really outrageous history.

We planned a roughly plan for the upcoming 18 days and went through it once more before we took off one sunny Monday afternoon. At first we wanted to see the hidden temples of Angkor and to see them we headed to Siem Reap. To the city where the world largest religious monument where once built.

All glory comes from daring to begin.

- Eugene F. Ware 

To get to the temples we hired a Tuk Tuk driver for the day and bought ourselves entrance tickets or Angkor-Passes how they're actually called in the ticket office. And because we're staying in the city for 4 nights we had allowed us a plenty of time to see all the most famous spots in a good peaceful pace. We took the 3-day passes which costed $62 apiece. The last thing to do was to check that our knees and shoulders were covered (for respectable manners) before they stamped our tickets at the gate.

Views from our (private) pool. The hotel itself located in a little calmer area far enough from the Pub Streets fuss. 

The first days at temples were a bit cloudy and even after all efforts we couldn't see any amazing sunset or sunrise. But there was so much more to see than just those things. Such as the gigantic Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm the temple surrounded by jungle, the corridors in Preah Khan and many more. 

And all these things I'm going to tell up here are going to be only a short glimpses about our trip. You can ask me anything you want, but I'm not writing down every single details, timetables, names or prices. It would take days so I don't have time to do so.

The temples were well hidden in the jungle and because it wasn't yet a dry season, we got see water in some of the basins and moats.

Waiting for the sunrise at 5am with few other tourist at Angkor Wat.

The only thing missing at the moat of Angkor Thom was crocodiles.

All in all the temples were definitely worth seeing and the city of Siem Reap was nice. I had some of my favorite dishes in there and it was more likely to get food with glass noodles over there than any other places we visited. Like we afterwards learned, most of the restaurants where we tend to eat offered only "yellow" egg noodles which I can't eat, unfortunately. In those cases I just chose some rice dish and it was completely fine.

Ruins at Preah Khan.

And for those who yet don't know I've a head of Buddha on my sleeve. And even though I've had it for a few years now I had never thought that it would get me in to situations like this. More or less in abroad! To a situation where I'd have to hide it from the others just because it might be disrespectful for them. For their culture and religion. And yes I've to admit that it felt a little awkward, expecially when we saw some monks.. at least I tried to cover "it" for a second and wear some t-shirts or scarfs everytime possible. "This is me, take it or leave it. I'm here on a holiday, not to violate your belief".

Some familiar faces at Bayon.

So, luckily in Cambodia I only needed to cover my skin when visiting the temples just like any other woman in there. The only problem happened when we're in Thailand where it was almost (kinda) illegal to have Buddha tattoos (specially the heads). You could see the bans in here and there, but because we noticed the very first signs at the airport we had no choise than "smuggle" my dear piece of art through the passport controls and keep it hidden the while being in Bangkok. "This is me, take it or leave it. I'm here only for a few days with a friend of mine, I want no harm". 

People forget years and remember moments.

- Ann Beattie

Solo in Copenhagen

A short stay at home after Prague and then I was off again. This time to Copenhagen. Sure, non-stop travelling (doing several trips without stopping) would have been easier and more economical choice, but I'd this one event where I  really wanted to attend. But I think you all know what happens when you go out and have a plast with your friends. That was a chance I knew and a choice I made. What's done is done. So, after staying up till the small hours, the actual packing for this trip happened at the last minute. But I managed to do it in a flash. 

Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.

- Lovelle Drachman

I arrived to Copenhagen early in the morning. I'd plenty of time to waste 'cause I couldn't check in to the hostel until 2pm. So, without any rush I started to wander and the first place where I found myself was Nyhavn. 

I also found a place where E.T. had been. 

Nyhavn wasn't the only area where were views that could had been memorized and fitted in to postcards. You could found colorful and beatiful buildings etc. from all over the city. 

Everything you look at can become a fairy tale

and you can get a story from everything you touch.

- Hans Christian Andersen

Few of the places (like the canals with all the docks and boats) looked a lot like in Finland.

No matter where I go, I enjoy going to different kinds of churches and cathedrals. And just so that you know this applies only when I'm abroad. I don't know why or what's the thing that draws me in to them. I'm not even a religious person or anything. Maybe it's the architecture or the silence and peace you feel when you go inside of them. So once more, I'm not a believer and definitely not a belieber either. A part of me is just a bit spiritual that's all. 

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.

- Nelson Mandela

Views from the Round Tower.

Christiania was undoubtedly the bizarrest place where I've visited so far. It's a freetown, a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood (expression/fact it's from Google) that lives entirely it's own life. I knew that it can be a bit restless place so I didn't go there too late in the evening. And in Christiania it's also forbidden to take any photos, but I hardly minded the warning signs. Oops.  

Three yellow dots. The symbol of Christiania. The flag of Christiania. 

Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.

- Hans Christian Andersen

So, I'd heard something about this famous Freetown before. But still I was completely unaware of the things that had happened there in this year. As a matter of fact just few weeks before my stay in Copenhagen there had been some shooting incident in Christiania. But you can look more information about it by yourself if you want to. I'm not gonna write it down here. Nothing happened to me and now I'm safe. Now, I'm back at home.

I am free and that is why I am lost.

- Franz Kafka

Solo in Prague

Unlimited amount of free time and nothing to do? Or just too many things going on your mind and you would like to get rid of them? Do like I did and travel. Make things happen. Fulfil your dreams. I can assure you that being a solo traveler is a real blast. No, I'm not a loner. I only consider myself as a person who doesn't mind doing stuff all by myself. So, I'm just a real living example of that kind of people. And I'm totally fine with that.

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

- Hilaire Belloc

So, travelling alone is a worthy option for those who kinda enjoy their own company. It requires a bit of guts tho so that's why it's not for everyone. But I would still highly recommend it! My latest  solo destination was Prague from where all these photos have been taken from. I'm not systematical so I don't like to plan things so much in advance. All I did for this one, was booking flights and accommodation. That's all.

The one and only place where I asked some random to take a picture of me was at The John Lennon Wall. Though it would have been nice to be precisely middle of those glasses.

Maybe the best moment of your life will be on your next big adventure. 

- Siya Zarrabi

Planning my days won't start until my arrival. Not until I've get myself a map of the place. After that I'll be ready to walk around. I'll start to wander and spot sights that are worth seeing.

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it isn't open.

- Frank Kafka

My advise is to be brave. Just go out there, the world won't bite you. Or at least that's what I'm hoping. And if you cannot get anyone to join you then that's their loss. Be open minded. Doing solo doesn't mean that you're gonna be alone around-the-clock. You'll meet other people who might be travelling alone too. Your friends and family might be crossing their fingeres while you're away though. It's a bare fact that in these days you need to think your plans a bit further. Like things that where and when you can really go alone. Especially if you're representing the same sex than I. And that's also what even I had to do. In the very end it's still all about yourself but that's enough of that.

Follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.

- Frank Kafka

St. Vitus Cathedral 

Church of Saint Ludmila

Travelling is like knowledge. The more you see the more know you haven't seen.

- Mark Hertsgaard

Now, the benefits of solo travel. Is there any? Hell yeah! You can go anywhere you want to. You can do it in peace. In your own pace without rushing from one place to another. Plus you don't have to go and see sights which doesn't interest you at all. Sounds good right? So, now you know what to do next. Summa summarum I really enjoyed my time in Prague. Beautiful sights and view points from both sides of the River Vltava. Now, I cannot wait for my next trip which is only a day ahead.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

- Helen Keller