My World Domination Travel Book

Light at the end of the tunnel

hazzard86 — Sun, 7 Apr 2013 00:14:00 GMT

I will be coming home soon!!! I am so happy to announce that my best friend has arranged for an earlier flight home for me1 Leaving Cambodia thursday night, and arriving gold coast airport friday morning! In return I am being his driver for a wedding his has to attend on the sunshine coast that weekend, least I can do after all he has done to help me cope with this mess.

So to my family, I am back in Australia this friday coming, and will remain in Brisbane until the 17th, I will try my hardest to get out to visit you all, there is so much to tell and share and explain, and I just want to hug you all. Travelling really does make you realise how importing home is.

Tonight I have been looking through all my photos (there are a couple of thousand lol) and it has really made me think about this whole journey. Yes i have had a shit run of luck with getting sick and robbed on my first trip abroad, but I never did expect it to be sunshine and roses travelling alone to a third world country. And you know what? As hard and challenging and upsetting as some of this has been, the experiences I have had here I would not exchange for anything. I will never regret this trip, standing in the ruins of Angkor Wat, watching the sun set, feeding bananas to an elephant, getting my hair ripped out by a monkey, and yes Nan even swimming in the Mekong River. All of these are things that most people never get to do and the things I have seen and done are priceless to me. Adventure?? Absolutely, even more so than I ever imagined it to be.

My fmaily no doubt will continue to think I am insane as I say I am already planning my next journey...although this time to England and Ireland, no idea when I can make it happen but I guarentee you it will. Have to pay Gene back first lol, as I now owe him quite a sum of money for all his help, but I am already itching for that next adventure. I just pray the next time wont invole my passport being stolen!!! So many places out there I want to see, Ireland, England, Turkey, Nepal, Tibet, Alaska, Antartica....I am fully insane I know, but my gosh there are sights to behold, and a camera or photo just doesnt make the same impact as seeing it with your own two eyes...

Still in saying all that I am honestly looking forward to coming home, as this trip has fully overwhelmed me. A solo female traveller has survived Cambodia on her first overseas voyage...be it a bit roughly...

Can not wait to see and hug you all.

Much Love

update for my family

hazzard86 — Thu, 4 Apr 2013 21:12:00 GMT

Just to keep everyone informed as to what is happening now....

I picked up my new Australian Emergency Passport yesterday (was amazed it was ready within 24 hours) they were absolutely fantastic there, and it was a really nice feeling to step onto Australian soil in the middle of cambodia...even have a part of Canberra there lol.

From there I had to wait til today to go to Cambodian Immigration to lodge my application for an exit visa, and they were veey nice too, although i have to wait til monday to pick it up with my passport.

I will not be going to Vietnam now, and after speaking to my travel agent by email back home, it will cost too much to change my flighrs, and i no longer have a visa card to pay it anyway so original dates are the ones i am sticking with. 10 days left in this country.

In saying that, despite this whole debacle...it has been an amzingly brilliant trip, and I am refusing to let this one asshole ruin it all. So...i am in Phnom Penh til monday/tuesday, then i think i will go to the beach as originally planned, get out of this particlar city, which is my least favourite part of cambodia and go and drink some cocktails for a few days before coming back to phnom penh to catch my flight home on the 14th (arriving Australia 15th)

I loved Siem Reap, and should have stayed there I guess but i wanted to travel with my irish friends. I sent them on to Vietnam today, it was not fair on them to sit in this dirty city they hated wating for me to sort my stuff out. though I have promised to come to Ireland later this year.

The architecture here is amazing, and 90% of the people are lovely, its just so poor, so sitting downstair at my hotel earlier having lunch, would have had at least 20 people come to my table begging and trying to see me cheap braclets or books. its crazy.

We had a nice storm this afternoon, first rain i have seen, which was nice to watch fall over the riverfront where i am staying for $20/night.

Ultimately, i just have to relax and chill out until monday then figure out what to do for another week til my flights home.

love you all, and will stay in touch. xoxoxoxo

Shit day, to say the least

hazzard86 — Tue, 2 Apr 2013 23:44:00 GMT

Right now I should be sitting on a beach in Vietnam, living it up and having a great time. Unfortunately that is not the case...

Today i went to the Vietnam Embassy, to pick up my passport with the visa for vietnam so we could catch out boat....that was fine....all stamped and approved....until i walked back to our TukTuk, putting my passport in my handbag for the first time, instead of my camera bag, to go to the boat...well that one mistake has cost me days and hundreds of dollars, as a motorbike rode past and snatched my bag off my lap and took off...

I now currently have no passport or bank card or wallet or phone.....its fucked (sorry nan for the language) and it has been a crazy day of police and embassies....to try and sort out what to do next.... I have never been so scared...the money and bank card didnt worry me so much, but being without passport scared me half to death. The Australian Embassy here were brilliant though... I pick up my emergancy passport tomorrow, lasts 7 months...but that is a cost i could have done without...i need to now get a new cambodian exit visa and a new vietnam entry visa and pay for additional accommodation, not the metion the cops couldnt give me a police report unless i gave them money too....fucking cambodia lol...

It is working out ok in the end, yes costing me a fair bit but my insurance will cover most of that in about 2 weeks, and Visa (bank visa) ia going to wire me $700USD to Western Union as emergancy funds because i am travellling....

I am soooooooo sooooooo thank ful my friend Gene gave to $1000AUD befroe i left as emergancy funds, which i kept seperate in my pack, as tht will be seeing me through now...

ultimately this has been a bullship fucked up craxy day (again, sorry nan) but it is all working out.

My Irish buddies have been great, thye are sticking with me til its sorted and putting back their own plans to stay with me and make sure i am safe and well cared for...so thank you to Bingo and Sean....

To my family, pease know, as pissed off and freaked out as I am, I am all OK, things are being sorted out pretty quick, and all will work out. It is a lesson learned....I am ok. And will contact you through here soon....

Love you all....talk soon

Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and on to......?

hazzard86 — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 22:19:00 GMT

So my trip has taken an unexpected turn for the better. Spent 5 nights in Siem Reap in an Irish pub getting a bit of taste of home. Went to see the temples, and oh my god they took my breath away!!! My first wonder of the world....and it was spectacular!!! I have been offered a job as a pub manager at the irish pub i stayed in, but am turning it down. I love it here but could not live here full time. Then, I met these two Irish travellers, and we have teamed up to travel together....took a bus to Phnom Penh yesterday, what a mission that was! was squished on my seat, its built for 2, there were 3 of us...plus the woman sleeping on my feet...not something i would do again! Was supposed to be direct, no stops and take 6 hours. Well our driver stopped for everyone! took us 9 hours in total, and people missed connecting flights and buses cos this guy wanted to pocket a few fares. irritating as hell. but got here in the end. Now me and my friends are enjoying cocktails 2 for 1 ($3 for 2!!!) in the rooftop pool at our hotel which is costing us $15/night each.

Tomorow...more fun! we are taking a boat to Vietnam!!! going to spend a week there, checking it out before coming home. Can not wait! a boat trip down the Mekong river through to Vietnam for $24. There guys are so much fun and a barrell of laughs! Sean and Bingo are their names and we just clicked. Into the same things and having a blast!

Making this post a quick one, we are about to head out! Miss you all!

Sen Moneron

hazzard86 — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:25:00 GMT

Have spent the last few days checking out Sen Moneron in Eastern Cambodia. Very quaint little town, reminds me a little bit of the hinterland back home, especially as it is the dry season and a lot of the terrain looks like home. Different plants etc but mostly the same.

Yesterday I rode an elephant. That was pretty awesome but let me tell you sitting in a bamboo basket for two and a half hours while an elephant tromps up and down hills is mighty uncomfortable….was meant to ride her back too, but one way to the waterfall was enough for me and to be quite honest I felt sorry for her. It seemed quite cruel how they had the basket tied to her and i am pretty sure she is mistreated. Feeding her bananas was incredible though, definitely an experience I will remember forever.

Today was a tour around the district, to the Minority Village. It is amazing how primitive it all is, and that the people seem so content living like that, in bamboo shacks with no power and doing every thing by hand. Also visited the local water falls, which were amazing even in the dry season.

Sitting in my room at the moment with the only light coming from my laptop screen as we have lost power again. Still, its a comfortable little bungalow and not at all bad for $15/night.

Tomorrow we drive to Siem Reap and I say goodbye to the car and Vuthy. It is time i experienced travelling on my own. Although for my own piece of mind I have booked into an irish pub for 4 nights, seems there will be plenty of tourists around which will make me feel safer. The plan from there is to catch a bus down to the southern coast and spend a week or so by the beach relaxing. Then back to Phnom Penh to fly home.

Stage two of adventure

hazzard86 — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:59:00 GMT

So internet working properly now at a guesthouse in Suen Moneron.

Has been a great few days, I have been swimming in the Mekong River, have bought hand made silk scarves etc, and yesterday I went to the zoo and to my guides housewarming party at his new home. Partying with the locals is very cool, although i drank way too much. They "Cheers" and toast each other soooo often, and it is rude not to drink when they do. Vuthy's family is beautiful, he has a 7yo daughter and a 1 yo daughter. plus nephews and nieces and cousins and so many and i do not remember any names lol. Probably shouldn't have introduced the adults to Vodka, a few had to leave early, very drunk.

The zoo was a bit of a disappointment, but then i read it was not great so wasn't expecting too much. I have decided i do not like monkeys. not after one reached through the bars and grabbed and pulled my hair very hard….little bastard. luckily no broken skin, just a big fright.

Today we hired a 4wd and left Phnom Penh, and drove to Saen Moreron. Took about 6 hours. Have checked into little guesthouse, for $15/night. Tomorrow I am riding an elephant and hope it is not as disastrous as the monkey encounter.

Short message today, i need rest. Think i am getting sick, which is jut a little concerning, very sore throat. Am telling myself that it is just from smoking too much last night.

The hardest day of my life

hazzard86 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:05:00 GMT

Today Vuthy took me to the Security 21 prison, where I hired a guide through the prison to help me understand exactly what the hell happned and why no one stopped it. My guide, she didnt mention her name, her father, brother, sister and best friend all dies during hte Pol Pot Regine, either from starvation (no food was available to them) or they were captured and tortured and then killed at S21 as per Pol Pots orders to execute anyone who was lighter or darker than him, if they had soft or hard skin on theit hands, if they wore glassed or appeared smarted than him, if they wore yellow or if they brushed their hair. the point being that anyone other than the regime (and most of those as well) were killed, tortured and brutalised for no reason what so ever in this prison and in the near by Killing Fields. I have no words to describe what I have seen and heard today about what went on a little over 30 years ago, i simply can not express the feelings and thoughtsx that come to mind when reviewing the imaged i captured on my camera today. I am sick at heart, and feel so depressed and sorry for those that had to live through this with no choice.

Please: if you want to know more about this time and this region and what went on or didnt, how it came to be and how the country have tried to piece everything back together, i ask of you to please message me and I will be more than willing to go into further detail about it, with the photos to match the story, but i feel very wrong attempting to discuss or describe it all online.

So to move on please, I went out with Vuthy, Peeta and Sofie again tonight, some amazing food and picked up a bottle of vodka at a petrol station for US$5. Vuthy and myself drank that with dinner pretty quickly lol before it was decided by us as a group we must go to a night club...my australian view on a nightclub is loud music and chape drinks...and yes where we went was cheap, but not at all what i expected. We were taken to a privage lounge with air con 4 stories up, provided with mixers for our vodka and all the beer you can drink, plus a tv with karaoke khemer or english, and 4 very lovely local ladies. I am still not sure if they were prostitutes or not, all i know is when that Gangnam Style song came on I had to teach them to dance moving their hips etc.

Vuthy did want to keep partying at a new nightclub when we left that one but i decided i need sleep more than i need a mesed up drunken night where i remember nothing...so speaking of, i am going to bed. It is 1:30 am here and I am being picked up at 9:30-10 am to visit the Orphanage.

Much love to all...

Photos: CAMBODIA!!!

hazzard86 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:52:00 GMT

The adventure shots

Day 1...let the adventure begin

hazzard86 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:43:00 GMT

So….Day one has begun…

Finally arrived in Phnom Penh International Airport. Refuse to talk about the flights as there is never anything worth talking about. Got to say tho, going through Customs for the first time is nerve wracking, especially when the staff don't smile or give you any advice when you are trying to figure out what to do. I will also say Thank you to the american man in line who guided me through it.

SO….moving on to the more interesting times, walked out of the airport to see Vuthy, my guide, standing there with a "Hello Hayley" sign so i would know who he was. Then immediately after we have to walk across the highway to get to where his Tuk Tuk is parked…hmmm….Cambodian traffic…Vuthy held my hand and somehow we did not get run down by a Lexus 4WD or a moped or a tuk tuk. Another highlight of my first day was sitting in the back of this rickety old tuk tuk going the wrong way up a highway into oncoming traffic, there appear to be no road rules or even lanes to stick to, it is just drive and force your way through or look out, a lot of fun, and i could not wipe the smile off my face the entire time.

After a crazy fun filled 30 minute drive through Phnom Penh, we arrive at my hotel, i promptly dump my stuff in my room and head straight back out again.

First stop was the Wot Phnom, a very intriguing temple area, with some beautiful monuments and traditions. It was also the first time I was hit on by a Khemer male, and as i expected he was very polite and funny about it. He allowed me to take some great shots inside the temple (see my pics)

Then it was another dash through some colourful neighbourhoods as we heading to the National Museum. Got to say, some of the artefacts are brilliant, but i did not appreciate the staff trying to confiscate my camera as pictures inside were not aloud. I got given some flowers to give to a Buddah statue with a US$1 note to be blessed though, so that was nice.

On to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda….impressive…so hard to really grasp that these are these beautiful breath taking buildings, when out in the street are beggars and kids and rubbish every where, with a lovely odour to match. Phnom Penh is definitely a city of contrast….

Tonight Vuthy took me out to dinner Khmer style with some of his good friends, Peeta, Sofy, and i can't remember the other guys name, so i can get a taste for that side of Cambodian Culture as well. It was zoo much fun, had the best time…talk about being welcomes to the country. The food was amazing, seafood and steak to share around and dip in these pepper lemon sauces you mix up yourself at the table…delicious. Then there was the matter of drinks. I thought when i agreed to a whisky, it would come by the glass. Oh no, its ab bottle of whisky for you to drink with dinner, with a couple cans of warm coke to put over ice. hmmmm….nice, Johnny Walker Black Label…except they "Cheers" and toast each other here every 2 minutes or more lol, and you are obliged to keep up, even though the others are drinking beer! Was a great night, lots of laughs, and stories and culture. And in the local restaurants here you can smoke where ever you want. Cant do that in the tourist spots but here you can. I paid the bill at the end, and was amazed that to feed 5 people well, including myself, and for countless jugs of beer and a small bottle of whisky only cost me US$47.

Going to go sleep of this whisky now, going to the Killing Fields tomorrow, and thats going to be an emotionally hard day.

Getting Ready for Take Off

hazzard86 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:18:00 GMT

I have a few more days to go, til I go to brisbane to see friends and family before taking off on my first adventure.

I am a bit scared, a lot excited and feel like i am going to burst out of my skin. I think just about everything is organised...passport, tickets, get my visa at the airport in Cambodia, travel insurance (thanks World Nomads), got my pack, cameras, laptop, and i have my last shots scheduled for Thursday. Cant really think of anything else, as I want to travel light.

The feelings i experience when i think about this trip, are so mixed. I am doing this for me, finally focusing on putting myself first and following my dreams,,,but its not just my dreams. My dear friend Shaun, who was taken from us in January, wanted to travel too, so I will be carrying him with me in my pack and in my heart, and i know he will be watching over me and will have my back just like always. I think he would be proud of me, cos I know I am. I am still stunned to realise I am actually doing this....I have set a goal and rather than letting life knock me back and keep me from acheiving it, I am going after it, no matter what.

This year is going to be all about me and what I want for myself, travel and new experiences and never letting fear stop me.

Wish me Luck...I will probably need it...