Travel Notes from Siem Reap

TRAVEL NOTES 101. Siem Reap. 2300 hours

Angkor Wonder Hostel: Highly Recommended

After traveling for nearly 14 hours from Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) and being left by the sleeper bus after early morning stop (coffee/ breakfast/ toilet break) between the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap where the world’s famous Angkor Wat is located, I felt relieve and happy to be greeted by a down to earth owner of Angkor Wonder Hostel – Mr Why Not. Why Not? 🙂 Yes, Why Not. I thought it’s a very catchy name.

Travel Mishap

That awful feeling of helplessness to be left in the middle of nowhere, where no one speaks a single word in English. I think the bus has stop for relatively longer time but maybe I was in a deep sleep. When I wake up, I quickly made my way to the toilet and upon return the bus was gone. I think it was crazy for the bus driver assistant not to do a head count and just leave like that. I left my dslr camera in the bed. My luggage was in the storage compartment of the bus. I was mad at the guy who share with the sleeper bed who never bothered to tell the driver that there’s one passenger left. I thought he wanted to get even with me. I have said I was not comfortable to share the sleeper bed with a man, a stranger, I do not know. I requested to swap with a woman. But I think the number was odd, so I ended up feeling uncomfortable for the entire trip.

I have tried to communicate my best with the locals in the store to help me call the driver or the office of the sleeper bus company. But no luck. Early morning, all offices are closed. People are still sleeping. I was a bit worried. Nevertheless, I tried to keep myself composed. Worst comes to worst, if I lost my luggage – I still have the money and my passport with me. I can buy some clothes, toiletry, small notebook and a pen. I’d be sad if I lost forever the camera not because of the camera per se but of the beautiful memories stored in the memory card and the book I am currently reading – The Secrets of Happy Families – I will lost this beautiful companion of mine. Nothing lasts forever indeed. Everything can be taken in an instant. But these are material things. I can easily replace it. So I thought, I will be fine. I promised myself, after this mishap, I will have a great time for the rest of my stay in Cambodia and Vietnam.