As I leave for Siem Reap today, I continue forward with my practice of setting a new intention for a new place of visit. My intention for Cambodia is simply connection. Connection to myself through solo adventuring and exploration, connection to other travelers and locals, and connection to a different culture and human ancestry and anthropology via the temples.
My alarm awoke me at 4:15AM to pack and catch my scheduled grab cab to BKK for my flight to Siem Reap. There were no issues getting to or navigating through the airport, however the airline staff told me I needed a departure flight out of Cambodia in order to get the visa on arrival. I was able to book one at my gate prior to boarding.
It was a quick one hour skip over to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where I sat next between an Argentinian woman on holiday traveling Asia and a Russian girl named Ekaterina. She was visiting her husband, who was doing a visa run to Cambodia after moving to Thailand to escape the Russian war. From the few Russians I’ve met during my travels, it seems many men have fled the country to SE Asia to avoid the clutches of an unsupported war. My heart aches for all negatively impacted by the war, especially Ukranians.
Once deplaned, I got my visa on arrival and noticed that they didn’t check for a departure flight. I grabbed some Cambodian currency (Riel) and my backpack, then hailed a TukTuk to take me to my hostel, Funky Village. This hostel has a reputation of a party hostel in Siem Reap, and was recommended to me by my friend Nick who had stayed a few years back. I always do appreciate and put in high esteem the word of mouth recommendations from friends and travelers. On the way to the hostel, the TukTuk driver Yut told me about the hardships of being out of work during Covid as much of Cambodia is very dependent upon tourism. He thanked me for my business, and told me because of my job, his family would eat well that day. I have mixed feelings about a country being so dependent upon tourism, but of course was happy to hear of the help I was providing him. He tried to pitch me his temple tour route and guidance, but I reluctantly refused with the plans of renting a motorbike and exploring temples on my own accord. Still, I took his contact information and promised him I would contact him if/when I need a TukTuk.
After arriving to Funky Village hostel, I decided to book a private room with my own bathroom for $14USD per night to treat myself with a break from hostel dorm life. I dropped off my luggage, then spent the afternoon and evening hanging and working by the hostel pool. I befriended a few fellow travelers, including a group of two British guys and an Australian girl, who had met volunteering at a hostel in Pai and have been traveling together ever since. We reminisced and shared stories in fondness over Pai. It was their last day in Siem Reap before moving on, so they were rallying a group to go out and party in town. Eventually the evening turned to night, and despite my best efforts to rally and enjoy the sole night of overlapping journeys with my new friends, the 4AM wake up and napless day of travel got the best of me and I hit the sheets.