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Author - graham

Late Traveller and facilitator looking forward to sharing my travel journey as I backpack around South East Asia and maybe the world.

Hostels

February 28, 20194 min read

You can find some really good ones when travelling around SEA as they are the ultimate traveller resort.

Sometimes for a week but mainly for a few days in each place giving you a cheap place to stay.

Close to where you want to be and with more and more amenities such as Pools, rooftop bars, large communal areas and small cafes to relax in.

Many now provide areas to drop off backpacks hours before check-in, so you can go off and explore without having to carry large bags around.

So much of a contrast to many hotels where although they do allow this, they don’t actively publicise it.

The nice part is that although the dorm rooms are big and with around 8-12 beds in the form of double Bunks (top and bottom)

The good ones have a privacy curtain, night light and power socket for you to at least have a bit of privacy should you need to rest away from the busy communal areas.

With good clean toilets and shower rooms, some of which can be mixed but mainly the larger ones have male and female separate.

Lockers are a good size and will adequate fit an average backpack or rucksack for the traveller.

TIP OF THE POST

Bring your own padlock as some offer you one, others charge for rental but a lot don’t so its worth having your own anyway, just to be safe

Even if you are a couple sometimes using the dorm rooms is a good way of both saving money and spending time in places where hotels can be either expensive or in short supply.

I suspect due to the fact that SEA is one of the most popular traveller destinations and possibly the most frequently chosen as first-time travellers the Hostel has become the main choice by everyone.

I was surprised by how many older ( over 30s) are using them and whether solo, partnered or couples they are popular.

For me it is a base whereas although you may not unpack like a hotel room, it suffices for the 2-3 days I stay in each city or town and gives me access to local food, guides, and experience from fellow travellers.

You can learn so much from these places, the staff are normally local and will have been doing this for a while, therefore, you can find the right tuk-tuk driver and guide to help with creating that unique experience you are after.

In fact with hotels normally sending you to the most expensive or companies they have links to, having hostels give advice I feel can be more natural and traditional.

Their recommendations I have yet to have any major issue with and the tour guides especially seem to be first class.

Casing point was my biggest mistake so far when I was in Cambodia in that I left my wallet on my bed in the Onederz hostel in Siem Reap whilst rushing to leave at 4.30am to be at the Angkor Wat sunrise tour.

Our guide not only rang the hostel but paid for me to get into the temple and made sure I had enough money for food before returning us back 7 hours later before paying him back.

Did You Know?

Hostels are a cheap way to travel, giving you a place to sleep with a shared kitchen and living space.

Started in 1912 when the first one was opened, but dates back to 1909 when a teacher in Germany published an article about cheap travel accommodation. It came about due to his leading a hike that was disrupted by a thunderstorm.

A great place to meet like-minded fellow travellers who can give advice on places to visit. Obviously, ignore the movies of the same name as they show a bit different type of accommodation. 🙁

Angkor Wat

February 20, 20192 min read

One of the largest religious temple sites in the world.

Originally built for the Hindu god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire.

 

It was converted to a Buddhist temple in the 12th Century.

Spread over 400 acres it is and has been an incredible site for many years.

Part of the reason many tourists visit Cambodia and made famous in part by the Tomb Raider of the early 2000s with Angeline Jolie ( well Ta Prohm anyway, Post coming soon 😃)

Most hostels will arrange a tour which includes many of the big sites as well as some of the smaller ones.

 

It has many unique places to see and so many good photo opportunities, I literally took over 600 photos during the first day (admittedly many where either similar to each other or not good enough)

Unfortunately, because of the popularity of the whole area, you do struggle to find some places where you cannot help but have other tourists in your photos🙄

TIP OF THE POST

Embrace the tourists, If you wait for the right moment it may never happen, whereas if you accept that your photo will have other people in, it can be quite refreshing to get a good shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it gives you a unique insight into what life was like here hundreds of years ago and the actual size of the place is astounding.

Kampot

February 15, 20192 min read

Home to quaint French-style colonial buildings, beautiful views of mountains, parks and waterfalls.

The best Pepper in the world?

Well like your Champagne, Darjeeling Tea, Cornish Pastry and many more which have a regional award to specify that it is the genuine article so does Kampot Pepper.

Governed by strict guidelines and constant checking of the process from Farm growth to harvest and packaging and selling this is a region that has been growing pepper for over 1000s of years

I have had the pleasure of working on a pepper farm that allowed me to see the whole process and learn about the production of pepper in this region- see my work away post and Kampot pepper one

However, there is still a beautiful town at the heart of this amazing farming province and it is really worth spending more than a few days here if you are able.

They also have some lovely restaurants that provide the chance to try the Kampot pepper in local dishes or try western food you simply cannot do without whilst travelling.

  • For a Taste of India try Simon’s where you will get a spicy madras or Rogan Josh
  • For light food and drinks try the Tapas Bar Baraca who make small dishes with local and imported ingredients
  • If you fancy entertaining try either Twenty Three or Seafood & Kampot Pepper restaurant

 

 

 

 

They have a Rabbit Island, as well as a Snake Island not to mention a hugely contested Vietnamese/Cambodian island. Although around here, many countries lay claim to Islands that are maybe not theirs? or could be disputed. At least that’s what the locals say anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

On the road

February 13, 20191 min read

So whilst travelling across Asia, I chose to do the overland countries first.

Meaning I can travel from country to country without the high cost of flying. The fact that I really don’t like flying anyway helps this decision.

 

But I did expect to use the bus, train and maybe the odd taxi if the journey was short. Having a car can be a benefit but then over half the countries actually drive on the opposite side to how I am used to.

Not to mention the way they drive!

Now I have been in Kampot for over 2 months I have had to accept that the use of bikes is a valuable asset.

Currently, I travel by Mountain bike, my journey from the farm to Kampot town usually takes me about 1 hour

( it is about 15km)

But with it does limit how much you can travel and how far you can go, even if you are quite fit

So the prospect of renting a scooter seems more appealing, and even the potential of buying a small motorbike to travel further afield is slowly entering my head.

Transport

February 13, 20191 min read

So one of the experiences you can have whilst travelling is getting from one destination to another.

There are many ways to do this, car, bike, bus, train or even hitchhiking. I want to try them all.

It seems when in Asia, that is what is expected, especially if you wish to get to some “off the road places”. Not sure how easy the hitchhiking will be but I am willing to give it a go.

Having travelled from Kampot town to the pepper farm where I have been working via Tuk-tuk, mountain bike and on the back of a motor scooter, you get a different feel for what is enjoyable and what is hard work.

I am definitely getting fitter by using the mountain bike, but the faster and easier transport is definitely the scooter.

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