Tuesday 27th – Friday 30th August 2024

I was up early ready to get my bus to Bangkok.

I’d packed the night before and organised my rubbish etc. I like to leave my rooms/apartments as clean and tidy as possible. 

I had double & triple checked the location of the bus station! 

It was around a 5 min Grab ride away. I was somewhat surprised therefore when the cost was 170thb! This seemed a tad excessive, my thinking was that it was early morning and a destination that people need to get to so they up the price, unfair, but what can you do. 🤷‍♀️

I booked a Grab, tracked him on the app and literally as he appeared at the entrance he cancelled my ride! What the hell! This had taken nearly 15 mins, so now I’m anxious that I’ll be late. 

I booked another Grab, he luckily only took around 5 mins to arrive. When he did I showed him my bus ticket with the address, he seemed a little bemused but took me there. When we arrived he asked for my phone and explained that the ride I’d requested was for a different place, this ride was much cheaper and he had to alter that on my app! Bless him, I had no idea and would have parted with double the amount it should have been. Faith restored! 😍

The bus was blooming fabulous! Big, clean, super comfy, air conditioned, it had a toilet and they provided water. 

I had been asked by the ticket lady where in Bangkok I was heading to, I said near the Khoasan Road, she told me I should get off the bus at the 1st stop, then I could get a taxi. Seemed fine to me. 

The journey was great. We arrived on the outskirts of Bangkok and then the bus stopped and the driver said this was my stop. To be honest, I wasn’t convinced, it was a long way from the centre of Bangkok. There were a couple of guys on the bus who knew what they were doing they asked where I was heading, and told me to stay on until the next stop. Which I did, thank goodness! 

The bus terminated at a huge market and park that I had visited last year, so I knew where I was and also that it wasn’t far to my hotel.

I’m staying at the same hotel I stayed in at the end of my trip last year. It’s a great hotel, but it also happens to be a 7 minute walk to where I’m getting the bus to Cambodia from! Handy 👍

The women at reception recognised me from last year! Impressive. I’m pretty sure she then gave me a nicer room. 😍

By the time I’d arrived and got settled it was evening so I just walked down to the Khoasan Road, grabbed a beer then a very cheeky Maccie D’s!

My one full day in Bangkok was spent meandering and I found a great walk along by the canal behind the hotel, this took me away from the main road and also into a more locals area. It was amazing. 

Lots going on, people heading to work and school, getting their stalls set up for the day or just sitting in front of their homes watching the world go by. I ended up down by the river, which was my intention, I have a pretty good sense of direction. 

I opted to do the hop on hop off boat again. It’s cheap and I love being on the river. 

The river in Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River is the principal river of Thailand. It is really busy and has always been at the heart of Bangkoks trade and has helped to shape modern Bangkok. While I was on the boat a group of people, possibly a family got on all wearing traditional Thai clothing. These outfits are stunning, I’ve seen them before but always been reluctant to take pics. This time I asked if it was ok and the young girl said yes. The photos don’t do them justice. Everyone looked incredible. 

Having been up and down the river I opted to get off at IconSiam Mall. Mainly because it was really hot and I needed a wee! 

This Mall is super fancy, it has all the top designers and also a Masarati & Porsche showroom!  I had a mooch then grabbed an iced coffee and a pastry and enjoyed watching the river and reading my book. 

Whilst I was in the Mall I encountered my 2nd ignorant arsehole of the day, the first had been as I was boarding the boat. I’ve said before about people pushing in or not moving out of the way etc, well, I was queuing to board the boat and some European woman literally pushed in front of me, then her husband did the same! I tutted very loudly, which her son heard, he looked embarrassed, they were oblivious! Then when I was out on the roof of the Mall I needed to move a bollard/stand rope thing to get past something. ( the things they use to make you queue in a certain direction) I was rolling the stand out of my way (it was pretty heavy) when a guy tried to push past me through the tiny gap, whilst talking on his mobile and ignoring me completely. I don’t think so buddy!! 😠 I simply rolled the stand back then dropped it on his foot! He looked suitably surprised and I walked off feeling rather pleased with myself! 😂

While we are on pet peeves, what is it with toilet signs? Why do they have to be so bloody difficult to decipher! It’s not modern art, it’s bloody Loo sign! 

End of moan! 

I enjoyed my last evening in Bangkok at a local family run cafe/restaurant that I had seen earlier by the canal. There was a storm coming so it was lovely and breezy! 

Another early morning preparing for my departure from Bangkok. 

It was a nice short walk to the bus pick up point. I was feeling a little nervous about this journey, it’s 8 hours and involves crossing a border! 

I really need to stop watching clips from Border Force!! 😳😂

Once again the bus was fabulous. Clean, comfy, reclining seats, wifi, air con. They also provided us with cans of iced coffee a croissant and water when we departed. They then help you to complete your visa form, which wasn’t very complicated. They have 2 drivers and another staff member who helps with everything. 

As we left Bangkok a storm started and didn’t stop until we reached the border 4hrs later! This meant that I felt ok about having a little snooze 💤.

The border crossing was a breeze! The visa they give you is in your passport and very fancy! Once back on the bus we were given more water and some vegetable fried rice! 😋

You can tell you are in another country, the roads are definitely not as good, there are lots of cattle by the road and also loads of dogs, big dogs as well. 

The storms had abated, but it was still pretty cloudy. 

We arrived in Siem Reap at 5pm exactly 8hrs after leaving Bangkok! Impressive. 

My Hotel in Siem Reap had messaged me about a pick up from the airport, I explained that I was arriving by bus so they organised for a Tuk Tuk to come and collect me, which was fabulous. 

I felt very boujee seeing the driver in the bus station with a huge Gold sign with my name on!! 😳😍

My Hotel is so lush. The staff are all incredibly kind and helpful. They can’t seem to do enough for you and I feel it’s a genuine desire to help. 

Thea, the manager/owner is great and Mr John has been invaluable in helping me organise my itinerary for the museums and for visiting the Angkor Watt Temple sites. 

Angkor Watt is a Hindu/Buddhist temple complex that covers a huge area of over 402 acres. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in South -East Asia. It contains the magnificent remains of the Khmer Empire from the 9th – 15th Century. The ruins include Temples, basins, dykes, reservoirs and hydraulic structures. 

I am going to be visiting the site over 3 days. Starting on Sunday. 

First I’m going to visit Angkor Watt museum to find out more about its history. 

My first morning here was spent trying to organise a SIM card and get some money. 

The Cambodians use both Cambodian Riel and US dollars. I wanted to use Cambodian Riel as apparently you get a better deal. 

I left the hotel after breakfast with directions to the nearest atm, which I found no problem. Then I attempted to withdraw what I thought was Cambodian Riel, but was actually US dollars. So the ATM rightly said I was asking for more than my daily limit!! The machine then said that it wasn’t working….😳 Suspicious.

I didn’t want to try again so went in search of a proper bank, which I found. A very helpful young woman tried to help me withdraw Cambodian Riel from the cash point, but it wouldn’t work. I’m not really sure why, neither was she. In the end I opted to get the money out over the counter. OMG! What a palaver. It took around 20 minutes, a forest of paperwork, my passport, my signature on 100s of bits of paper, eventually I left with a bulging purse full of cash equivalent to £200!! 

My next task was to get a SIM card. Well, this turned out to be a tad difficult as well! 

Once again my passport is required, which I knew, they also have to take your picture. For some reason my picture was not being excepted. The guy kept saying “shut your eyes, then open slowly whilst looking directly into the camera” 😂 3 people tried so many times in all different directions, in case it was the light, the shadow. I’m thinking is it the sweat dripping off my face that’s distorting the image? Have I aged dramatically since my passport pic?  ( 4months ago) Honestly, it was hysterical! 

Eventually the guy figured out it was his internet not working properly!! He sorted that and we were good to go, I smized, the photo was snapped & accepted, I’m now just waiting for a call back from Tyra Banks!! 

I walked back to the hotel and was greeted with a welcome glass of tea and an ice cold towel! Perfect. 😍 

That’s it for now. It’s going to be an exciting week I think! 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Wishing Nikki & JG a fabulous final couple of nights at Whiskers. 

It’s going to be epic, but sad to see the end of the Whiskers era. 🎉🎉

Books read.

Friends with secrets. Christine Gunderson. I enjoyed this book, it made me chuckle. 

The Book of beginnings. Sally Page. Another one I really enjoyed. It felt like a proper story! It also made me chuckle and cry!