Intrepid Tour – Cambodia Part 1

Time to say good-bye to Vietnam; the last 5 days have been an amazing experience that I can only say to those who have not yet travelled, quick come here now before all the tourists! Yes I believe and so do many others I have spoken to during this journey that in ten years from now Vietnam will be like Thailand, busy and overthrown by tourists. If you want to see the real Vietnam, come now hire a motorbike and throw your map away. Get lost in Vietnam spiritually, emotionally and in my case literally.

Boarding our boat from the Bamboo platform restaurant behind our hotel in the mid morning bustle was a different way for us to travel as today we ventured northeast into Cambodia. The four hour trip would take us up the Mekong River and through to the city of Phenom Phen. Staring out the window we watched the world of Vietnam slip away. The boat pulled to the left and followed this bank the entire journey.

The border crossing was interesting to say the least. We got off the boat with all of our bags. There were a small group of children watching our every move and only too eager to help with our luggage still sitting on the back of the boat, one boy affectionately named “Bruce Lee” by our group as by the yellow t shirt he was wearing, watched and tried to come on board several times as we disembarked. We were told to bring off our entire luggage and climb up the ramp to the Immigration and Border Patrol. Here our bags were x-rayed and checked. Our passports were stamped and officially were in no mans land. We boarded the boat and little Bruce Lee dragged a bag for one of our group who’s round the world trip was taking its toll on the luggage allowance. It seemed so surreal; here we were in a boat on a river officially between two countries that only thirty years ago were at war with each other.

Ten minutes go by and we repeat the process, off the boat and checked again. Now with visas in our passports and our bags back on the boat we set off up river for the final leg of the journey.

As we entered into Cambodia the landscape changed in an instant. No more did we see little wooden houses built on top of the river and the familiar chug chug of the little fishing boats and rice barges, suddenly it was as if by design the river opened is banks up and allowed us to see deep into the soul of the country side. Suddenly there was nothing but the river, the riverbanks and us, not a person to be seen. Slowly as we approached the city of Phenom Pen there appeared small scatterings of buildings and as we rounded a bend in the river Phenom Pen opened up in front of us bustling and alive is was as if all life in Cambodia was here in the city.

Our Boat pulled up to the jetty right across the road from the River View Hotel our home for the next two nights. We had arrived and since we had the afternoon to ourselves we thought that we would set off to see the Royal Palace.

 After turning down a city tour by Cyclo our friendly local informed us that the palace was closed for lunch, so we thought it good to follow suit and headed for the endless stream of café’s and bars the lined the street opposite the river.

The Royal Palace shows so amazing mixes of architectural design and emulates the class difference that separated the people of Cambodia; while some live in absolute luxury others etch out a living by eating food at local rubbish tips. It‘s hard to keep this thought from your mind in Cambodia, It’s a felling of sadness mixed with the overwhelming desire to help, but where do you start.

Mara had organised tonight’s meal at a restaurant run by orphans, a short walk from our hotel along the road and facing the river. The children were so polite and clean. They tried so hard to please us with their ever-present smiles and laughter. There were several Intrepid tour groups here, wedged into the tiny restaurant and with tables sprawled out on to the street   we sat and soaked up the atmosphere of the children performing traditional dance and pampering to our every need.

Poor Elena got the seat at the end of the table with her back to the street and she was approached by every begging child in the street and with their ever persistent poking in her back and asking her to buy a book her managed to fend them off and enjoy her meal.

My outlook on world hunger and poverty is rapidly changing while I am here in Cambodia. There was a time that I thought that charity starts at home, however in New Zealand and Australia there is absolutely no reason for there to be starving or homeless people. You have a well-organized welfare system. Cambodia does not. The Children here are the result of Pol Pot’s maniacal madness and now the whole country is suffering. Only three options are available to the survival of Cambodia – Agriculture, Tourism and education

 Help the children of Cambodia and support the Veiyo Tonle Restaurant in Phenom Phenn