Phnom Penh was busy, dirty, smelly but very interesting. Got hassled (offered?) tuk-tuks and motos everywhere you go, but just get used to saying "no thanks". Moto rides are pretty fun though, a little bit scary for a first timer i.e. how will i not fall off??? Went to Killing Fields, a sombreing experience.
so far sihanoukville has not been that great for me, the beach is fine and the seafood and food in general as well, but its REALLY touristy here. before 10am the place is peaceful and great but after that every tourist gets hassled by beggars and kids and everyone else trying to sell you things, it doesn't matter whether you are alone, with someone else, walking, sitting, in the middle of your meal or anything, you don't get 5 minutes to yourself to enjoy the place. Beggars are fine as they are polite and move on quickly when you say no, but the peddlars just hassle you for ages! As soon as you get rid of one another one comes with something different, alot of them are kids-they can all speak english. Plus apart from the beach there's nothing that interesting to do in the place itself.
Phnom Penh was pretty dirty and smelly but it was an interesting place, went to the Killing Fields (the place where Khmer rouge had their camps), was a sombre place but it had a really positive spin because the Khmer people have built a really tall temple(?) to house the skulls/bones etc as a commerative spiritual building to rest the victims in peace and respect. Still can't understand how "Duch" the man in charge could even debate a life sentence-over 8000 skulls are in that temple.
The museum is AMAZING, they have religious bronze and sandstone statues-some 3m tall, from as far back as the 7th century-still standing!
So I'm off to Rabbit Island tomorrow morning, go to Kampot by bus then a boat to Rabbit Island, should be very relaxing, if I don't like it I'll just keep on moving.
