The bus ride to Phnom Penh was really smooth. In the half empty bus, the guy would collect your passports and take care of the stamping and the arrival visa for you. Compared to the China Vietnam crossing, this one is so easy to walk (almost no walking) and easy to manage.
It turned quite dark when I arrived in the city centre. On the road, I noticed that many shop signs are also in written in Chinese. The influence they make is too large. As usual, I felt unease getting out of the bus and being surrounded by tuktuk drivers. Without internet, I was able to bargain the price down to 3$.
The dark streets of Phnom Penh don’t give you the safest feeling in the world and I also read about bikes that would grab your stuff in your hand when they drive by. So I am trying to be more cautious.
Not much more happened the first night except signing my new contract. Hype.
I booked the day tuktuk to the killing fields and the S21 museum. Together, there were 2 swedish girl, both around 20 years old on their gap year(s). One looked older and now I slowly start to believe, there is some truth to the sentence “you look like you have stories to tell”. She lost her brother on 2016 new years eve, her grandma 3 months later. Her brother took his life, and it came as a surprise for family members. After such turmoil, I think your facial expressions won’t be the same and somebody tried to explain that it is the gaze that changes when you grow older.
I played chess with some Swedish guys from Linköping. Some rooftop chats and I am heading off to Siem Reap.
Me, just arrived in Nay Pi Taw at 2:30am and waiting for the apparent possible early checkin at 6am
