Hello Cambodia

There are 3 ways from Saigon in Vietnam to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. There is a very short 1 hour flight, a boat ride that is kind of pricey and the bus. We opted for the cheap way. A 5-6 hour bus ride was $28 for the four of us. Luckily our bus driver was willing to run over everyone and we made it in pretty good time. They do use their horn in Vietnam and Cambodia but they say it is out of courtesy to let the other driver know you are there. So if you want to try it in the States, drive down a two lane road and honk whenever you pass another car, whenever you pass someone walking on the road, whenever you pass a motorcycle or a bicyclist, whenever you think you are passing someone or something even if you can't see them! You get the idea. These people are on their horns constantly. It may be out of courtesy, but it is not so courteous to the people riding on the bus!

Crossing the border from Vietnam to Cambodia is pretty simple. You can get a visa at the border and they will let you in as long as you pay. Cambodia is like #170 out of 186 countries that were evaluated for corruption. That means you show us the money and we will let you in! More on this later.

Vietnamese side of the border. You can tell because the town name is written in readable letters. The Khmer language as it is called in Cambodia, is very different letters from the ones we are use to. Very similar to the Thai alphabet. Apparently the Thais sacked parts of Cambodia long ago and stole some of their culture. Much of the architecture and dancing is also very similar. More on that later too.





Cambodian side of the border. Thanks for the $$$$ and welcome to Cambodia!




They said Cambodia is very flat and they were right. We drove through a lot or rural Cambodia where you can see people working in the fields.




Traveling the Cambodian way.




Just before we got to Phnom Penh, we had to cross a small river on a small ferry. Glad to not be a statistic on one of those Asian ferries to sink! Only white people on the ferry. Oh the stares!!