14th Nov – Shinoukville, Cambodia
Cambodia was wonderful. Such a poor country with lovely people. It is a small country with a population of 15 million. 95% of the people are Buddhists. The Vietnam war did extend into Cambodia with much bombing.
The Khmer Rouge was the ruling party from 1975-1979. During this time they committed genocide and killed over 2 million people – over 1/4 of the total population. So very sad. They are still struggling to recover. Every single person in the country is affected even today. Deaths or land mines. But ….. Shinoukville (shin-ook-ville) was lovely.
The ship is a very long way from the edge of the port so Andy decided to stay on the ship.
I went and got a Tuk Tuk and had a great few hours out. Petrol was about 60c a litre and sold by the bottle.
I went to the most amazing markets! At first I was really disappointed. He had brought me to tourist markets. Selling at the usual tourist junk. But as I walked in I discovered otherwise. The market was under cover and was massive. It just went on and on. At the start it was fairly spacious with people cooking and selling food in the middles. And of course the beggars.
But the further in I went, the better it became. Each stall was maybe 2 metres square. They ran their business, cooked and ate meals, slept in their hammocks and entertained their children. Pretty amazing. The further in I went the more narrow the walkways became.
My next request was to visit the monkeys. I was happy. I bought a bunch of bananas for 4000 Baht (under $1). And fed the monkeys. I had so much fun I bought another bunch!
We then went down to a pretty beach. Heaps of people, going about their businesses. Not pushy with their selling. Huge groups were out having seafood lunch under coved areas. It was stunningly beautiful.
Fantastic place!
Net tab – Saigon, Vietnam.