I am seated right now in a pizza and pasta place somewhere along Pub Street in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is my 3rd night here and I am truly savoring every moment. I am not a Tomb Raider fan and I only saw the movie once in an unclear copy, but I knew that I wanted to explore Angkor Wat. During the release of the Angelina Jolie starer, traveling from Manila to Siem Reap is not easy. Well, it is not really that easy since there are no direct flights yet (although a local airline announced that they will launch their Siem Reap routes by June.

I Wander while I work

It is my first time to cross borders. Thailand and Cambodia are two different countries with a certain charm that makes them a favorite destination of foreign travelers. I spent two nights in Bangkok and will be going back in a few days, but I now know why the tag ‘Amazing Thailand’ worked. I met a number of Thailander students in Pangasinan who are studying Medicine and they’re thoughtful especially to my grandparents. Gallivanting along Khao San Road is an overwhelming experience – it is chaotic yet I love it. I even went on the middle of the famous backpacker’s lane and danced like nobody’s watching. Well, a lot of people were watching hehe 😀

I Love Bangkok especially with the cheap but quality food on the streets and the low prices of shopping items. I am not a shopaholic, but I think spending extra money here is worth it since you’ll get more and you can apply the art of haggling. Now I know what authentic Pad Thai tastes like. Fruitshakes and Iced Coffee stalls are everywhere which means I am in the right drinking place. The only problem is the language barrier, but it is ok. My technique is just to point the directions via the Bangkok map, smile and try to explain clearly or just go to the nearest tourism office.

Siem Reap is more than the Angkor Wat attraction. Our travel from Poipet to Siem Reap is a tough one (I’ll explain further next time). The almost 2hrs drive inside a Toyota Camry with seven people (yes, seven LOL) made it extra tiring but at the same time exciting. I’ve seen some kids walking at the side of the streets with old slippers. They do endure the heat of the sun just to go to school and help their parents afterwards. Genuine smiles of a simple Khmer child made me ask tons of questions to myself.

If Bangkok is famous for the Khao San Road, Siem Reap has the Pub Street. We’re in the splurging mode now as we dine in a Pizza and Pasta place. Yesterday, we had the Khmer BBQ on the sidewalk. It is quite similar with the shabu-shabu. I also tried to shop a little bit yesterday and had a massage. Earlier, we did the first leg of our Angkor Wat tour. I’m glad that I finally did it!

Anyway, I would like to share another good news. After five years of sticking to my Acer Laptop, I am now a MacBook Pro user! It is one tough decision to make. I am truly comfortable with Windows and trying out a new gadget makes me feel uncomfortable LOL. With the constant push by my friends, I decided to just buy it. I would like to thank my mom for giving me this one. I really need a new workstation since the old laptop collapsed. Might as well get a good replacement, right? Now I know the convenience of having a MacBook Pro. The long battery life feature is helpful.

I talked to a close friend earlier and she kept on asking me on where the hell I got the money for this trip. I am not rich and I do not earn as big as most corporate people do, but I know my priorities and I rarely spend whenever I am in Manila. I know that I want to travel and wander around no matter where the place is. This is just the beginning and I am excited with what the future has in-store for me. Live Life to the Fullest!