k'telontour of the World

Transfer to PP

2009-11-08T08:38:00.002+07:00

We also have three nights in the capital, Phnom Penh before we take our guest to Bangkok for her first ever visit to Thailand. We have options on how to get there, ranging from flying (too expensive), taking the boat (too long and possibly risky due to current high water levels), taxi or bus.

A private taxi will cost $60 and takes about four hours. An air conditioned bus (with on board bog) will cost $7.50/head and takes around six hours. I think the bus wins it. :o)

Meeting Up With Savong

2009-11-08T08:36:00.001+07:00

Just arranged to go and visit Savong's School tomorrow to see the good work they do there. Hopefully we'll be able to help out a little bit, but this will be one of the highlights of our trip. Can't wait.

Last MotoGP of the Year

2009-11-08T08:31:00.002+07:00

We know that Rossi has already been crowned world champion (again) but he's not quick enough at Valencia, Spain to top the poles. That was Stoner who is on some run after his mid-season lay off due to a mystery illness. The standings for the race later today:

Valencia MotoGP qualifying result:

1 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1min 32.256secs
2 D Pedrosa (Spn) Honda 1:32.519
3 J Lorenzo (Spn) Fiat Yamaha 1:32.537
4 V Rossi (Ita) Fiat Yamaha 1:32.922
5 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:33.085
6 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1:33.154
7 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 1:33.391
8 T Elias (Spn) Honda 1:33.475
9 B Spies (US) Yamaha 1:33.539
10 A Dovizioso (It) Honda 1:33.678

14 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:34.107

Unlucky, Dave

2009-11-08T08:17:00.002+07:00

Spurs get a dodgy win by beating Sunderland at the Lane 2-0 and by all accounts, it was a fortunate result. Don't care, we sneak back into fourth (for the moment) and that me makes well 'appy, innit?

Not so good for Southend who go out of the FA Cup in the third round by losing to rivals Gillingham 3-0 but the Toon are chuffed as they win 3-1 at blahblah.com ground against Peterborough. Bielefeld squeeze out a 0-0 draw at Frankfurt but at least gain a valuable point away from home and keeps them at the top of the table by that one precious point. I'm not complaining.

First Khmer Scoff

2009-11-08T08:10:00.002+07:00

Picking a local (as in not geared toward western palates) restaurant at random, we grabbed a table and checked out the extensive menu. We ended up getting a fish Amok, a fish curry, steamed fish, beef and yellow noodles, plus a tofu vegetable stir fry.

Add three bowls of rice, two tins of pop and a banana milk shake, (m-i-l loves her fruit shakes and smoothies) and we dined like starved people who hadn't seen food in days. Quality was good but it wasn't seasoned well enough for me; I guess after two months in Thailand most food will seem a little bland and spice-less. However, with added chilli and soya sauce, we tucked in and thoroughly enjoyed the food.

The bill came to just $11.50 for all three of us...

Getting Back

2009-11-08T08:00:00.002+07:00

It's a freebie into town but unless you want to tie yourself down with a specific time to be collected, it's better to hail a tuk-tuk back. Don't worry about finding one, they are in abundance and they literally throw themselves at you if you even dare to look their way.

Expect to pay around $2 per trip or maybe $1/person, it depends on distance, time and destination- if there is little chance of a return fare, you have to pay slightly more. Always agree a price before stepping in and always haggle. I know it sounds daft haggling for a dollar, but it's good practise and the more you do it, the more at ease you become. It's also good for the driver.

Last night we picked a guy to get us back. He and his colleagues all wanted the fare but you can only use one and so we played the game. He wanted three dollars and I wouldn't budge from two. I won and we eventually agreed on $2, but when we got to our pad, I still gave him three dollars, and here's why.

Not only do we like to tip the locals, it also gives him a bit extra if they are in a syndicate. His co-workers all heard us agree on $2 and so this gives him an extra buck for his own back bin or, he can go back to his pals with head held high and show them he can negotiate even harder to get full price. This makes it easy to get a lift next time and so every one wins.

Try it and see- you will always be looked after and for such reasonable sums, why ever not?

Dealing With the Dosh

2009-11-08T07:57:00.002+07:00

The Riel is the correct local currency but it is given a back seat to the mighty US dollar, which is the required moolah. In fact, Riel is only ever used as small change, so if you visit, bring the Greenback and all will be well.

For info purposes, expect 4 000 Riel to a dollar, so every thousand is about twenty five cents.

City Centre

2009-11-08T07:52:00.002+07:00

A vast difference to PP and very impressive. It has a couple of under cover markets, a massive night market, open-air cinema, so many bars, clubs, diners and restaurants you lose track; it really is a tourist magnet designed to grab any spare spending money you may have on you.

It's much more commercial than PP but just as pretty in architecture, designs and layout. Almost everyone walks around with a huge grin on their faces and even the pleasant approach by the hawkers is not intrusive. Best of all, if you shake your head, they still smile, shrug their shoulders and look to say "yeah, it's tat but maybe next time you'll fall for it". No hard sell, doe-eyed plastic stares, just an honest attempt to make a fair living.

Super Service

2009-11-08T07:38:00.002+07:00

As the Mango Inn is slightly out of town, they provide a free tuk-tuk service any time you want to visit the city centre, which takes about ten minutes to reach. Again, it's quite delightful testing the spongy shock absorbers with your spine getting jolted on the pot holed roads (although the man road is good) and it still makes you manically laugh as you drive through on-coming traffic, whichever side of the road you wish to use.

Lane discipline and the Highway Code mean squat here and as with PP, it's every man-jack for themselves. You also get to see the most incredible sights as you bounce along the tracks they affectionately call roads and the cargoes the locals carry are sometimes unbelievable.

One gadgy had four dead pigs strapped across his pillion saddle that were wider than the bike was long. He didn't care, the pigs certainly didn't and it was as normal as the sun setting in the morning to see such laden scooters piling through the constant rush hour. Another was pulling a working spit with two dozen chickens getting a fair grilling and many more two wheelers with three or four people on them were beginning to become the norm.

I simply love this. :o)

Golden Mango Inn

2009-11-08T07:27:00.002+07:00

Beautiful building set a short distance back from the busy main road down a red clay dusty path (until it rains), which is to be home for the next five nights. It's cool and decked out in the typically heavy wooden furniture and features of large Khmer residences and already it feels familiar and welcoming. As are all the staff, with huge smiles and rows of gleaming white teeth.

Our rooms are massive, with probably six times more space than the Tune Hotel hutch we stayed in the previous night, and they come with all the necessary creature comforts one expects and needs. A mini fridge to keep the drinks cool, cable TV with three filum channels, plus sports, news and loads of other stuff offers distractions if needed, we have good air-con, a top bed and the standard wet room, bathroom which is adequtae for our short stay. I'm not a fan of showers directly pouring into the bathroom, but it will have to do.

It's not the most modern of décor but this is not why we're here, but the charm and hospitality which is evident in abundance is almost embarrassing. This is lovely.

Nothing Like PP

2009-11-08T07:16:00.002+07:00

Could this be the Cambodia we had experienced on our last visit; a month in Phnom Penh in August 2008? No way- where were the hectic throng of tuk-tuk drivers, the taxi bandits, the crowds milling around the airport? No, this was calm, tranquil even, and we were not hassled in the least.

As we exited the most pleasant airport, we were greeted by our driver Sam, who was chatty and happy to see us and we were all loaded into his tuk-tuk (luggage and all), which got us back to the Golden Mango Inn, in about 15-20 minutes. It was super to see the reaction of the m-i-l as she clung to the grab rail watching the scenery slowly chug past us. This was the best introduction we could have asked for and I am certain we are going to have the best time checking out Siem Reap over the next few days. :o)

Getting Here

2009-11-08T07:08:00.002+07:00

With the ever reliable Air Asia and Tune Hotel combo, we landed safely, on time and were in and out of the airport as quickly as I've ever been.

Getting the visa on arrival was much easier than in Phnom Penh, although the system was identical. Fill in the numerous forms, hand over your passport with the cash ($20/head) and watch your documents be passed along the line of about 8-9 people, all of whom laugh at your mug shot and stamp a piece of paper before handing it back to you with the visa in place at the end of the line.

Great job creation, but it works a treat and we were all permitted entry into Cambodia.

Happy Birthday

2009-11-08T06:01:00.000+07:00

To Tree, aka Mrs Webby (whose birthday is later on in the month too). Have a super day, burd, and we'll be thinking of you as ever. :o)

More Soon

2009-11-07T15:46:00.003+07:00

The girls are in the process of getting up (we've all had a kip this afternoon after little more than fours hours sleep since we left BKK due to stupid o'clock flights out of KL) so we're off to check out the town. More as and when but I believe we're off to Angkor Wat tomorrow so we'll fill in bits when we get the chance and hope the connection holds.

Laters, people.

Clearly Brits Need Help

2009-11-07T15:40:00.002+07:00

Click to Enlarge

I found this rather amusing in our bathroom at the Tune Hotel at LCCT- it gave a four picture instruction sequence for English reading guests on how to close the shower door. What are they trying to say? Blinding. :o)

Top People at AA

2009-11-07T15:36:00.002+07:00

For some reason, the m-i-l decided she wanted to travel with two pieces of luggage. Both small bags but on extra nonetheless, which she was refused at Newcastle, flying down to Stansted, unless she wanted to cough an extra £18. She didn't and managed to re-jig her stuff so one went into the hold and one went on as hand luggage.

Oddly enough Air Asia were fine with two pieces and allowed her to stash them both in the hold and again flying on from KL to Siem, today. They really do look after their older passengers and we had a faultless flight from Malaysia to Cambodia.

Nearly Mugged

2009-11-07T15:31:00.002+07:00

At the currency exchange booth. Following the unexpected expenditure of a much needed travel plug (yeah, right) we changed up another tenner to Ringgit. Except the guy IMO quite deliberately only put down a fiver on the form and gave us back half the money we should have had.

I was away with the fairies and didn'tt check, but wifey's ex sleuthing skills as an accountant picked up on it right away and she marched back to confront the guy. He sheepishly made amends but it pays to pay attention, particularly when you've not had much kip.

The M-i-L Lands

2009-11-07T15:27:00.003+07:00

Leaving Stansted fashionably late (around half an hour) we were amazed to find that wifey's mum had arrived in Kuala Lumpur a full forty five minutes ahead of schedule. Not only was the flight "excellent" but there was plenty of leg room and she was well looked after.

Looks like Air Asia X is another winner and could see repeat business over the forthcoming years. As will the Tune Hotel at KL's LCCT. A comfy double bed, a top power shower and a seven minute walk to the Departure terminal. We paid £7.50 per room for the night...

Feckin' Arse

2009-11-07T15:24:00.002+07:00

Completely forgot to pack our travel plug and as Thailand has a unique plug, the lappie power lead was not going to fit in Siem Reap. I found a replacement at the airport and ended up paying a tenner for the privilege (although this is a jolly decent which has anti-surge protection and hopefully some flashing lights) but on arriving at our room, they have modern plugs which accept the Thai three pin set up. Humph...

Bali

2009-11-07T15:21:00.002+07:00

Got kids? Take them on hols to Bali which loves the little people. Babies are believed to embody the soul of reincarnated ancestors until the age of 42 days and further folklore dictates that a child's feet must not touch the ground until they are at least 105 days old.

Easy life, eh?

Pimms (No 1 Cup)

2009-11-07T15:18:00.003+07:00

Universally famous as a Great British summer, long drink, were you aware that the full name was derived from the tankard it was served in way back in 1823? Yip, and it also came in six different varieties in the old days, depending on which alcohol it was based on. Only two exist nowadays- No 1 which is gin based and No 6, which is on the vodka.

Killing Time

2009-11-07T15:12:00.003+07:00

We arrived in good time and wandered around before piling through to departures. Just before we were checking out a display of items which are not permitted on flights and it was all the cool stuff like nunchakus, shuriken throwing stars, tasers, flick knives- the usual school boy's dream arsenal.

The cabinet that housed these fun toys was situated in the centre of the hall with enough room to drive a double decker bus around each side- sideways. However, I heard a polite voice ask "excuse me" and was amazed to see some daft bint asking me to move out of her way with a barely loaded trolly. It had one medium sized bag!

Excuse me, pet? You can push a panzer tank and marching band through the gaps and you still need me to get out of your way? A great advert for weemin bleedin' drivers, love...

Overall

2009-11-07T15:09:00.002+07:00

By far the cheapest way to get to the international airport from Sukhumvit but there are limits. The bus fills up quickly early on in its route, so try to get on at Tesco Lotus- even if there are no free seats, they will still cram people in.

Try not to take large amounts of luggage as you will have to balance it on your lap; big bags are out.

Finally, the music is bloody awful and the driver plays it at mark 11 on the loudness wheel. Do not travel with a hangover.

Aside from that, the service rocks.

Stop in the Name of the Law

2009-11-07T15:07:00.001+07:00

We would have made it in quicker time, but the bus was stopped by Dibble who made a song and dance about something and held us up for quite some time as the driver had to produce loads of paperwork. I'm not sure if any money was paid for "fines" but I have to say it didn't look very convincing at all...

First Time Experience

2009-11-07T15:01:00.002+07:00

We usually get a taxi to the airport as the Sky Train doesn't reach there yet (apparently Christmas but they have yet to confirm which Christmas) and you can't take a local bus with luggage as you'll get lynched. Reckon on a 45 minute transfer by cab at around THB 300-400 (~£6- £8).

We've mentioned this before but there is now a mini bus service which runs to the airport and leaves from Tesco Lotus car park, a mere 30 seconds away. We got on, had the bus to ourselves and were charged a ridiculous THB 50 (less than a quid) for the two of us.

Yes, it takes a little longer (in all it was bang on an hour) but it was just as easy and simple to reach the airport in good time and save a fortune. It was also fun to sit with locals as the bus filled en route, so business is going rather well.