The Amazing Race

For the longest time, I have never been out of the country. Since my last trip to US, so many things have happened. I am the only one left here and my family have been living and working abroad for quite sometime. I had a hard time adjusting since I lived with them for half of my life.

Anyway, this blog is a document of our adventures and visit in Cambodia and Vietnam. My friend and I called it our own version of "Amazing Race". Hopefully, this will somehow help other travelers especially for the first-timers in said countries. I would like to share as much as my memory can extract. You see I have sort of a memory gap and selective amnesia - a dangerous combination eh. LOL.

It all started when I visited my friend because of some business transaction. Of course, it wasn't just pure business transactions. We were talking about things, friends and other people. Then somewhere out of the blue, she asked me if I'd like to travel with her to Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Without any hesitations, I said yes! I wasn't thinking at all. I wasn't thinking about it's nitty-gritties, the dough and other things. I guess this time I was just thinking about myself. I thought I'd spend something for me. I thought I needed time for me. I needed some air to breathe in, some place where I can think things without any interruption or distractions. I just loved the idea so I instantaneously said yes. More than ever, I was too serious about it.

I thought it wouldn't materialized. It took us a year to finally make it through and now that the long wait is over, I was just so excited that I didn't know where to begin. Good thing my friend has lots of connections and is a frequent traveler so she is more or less an expert in the field.

Now, let me get down straight to the details...to the tips and advises....to the real thing...

First of all, traveling (especially out of your country) requires that you have a passport that is still valid for 6 months. Otherwise, you would have to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to renew your passport. Then depending on your destiny, you might want to check if you should apply for a visa. Take for instance, countries in the ASEAN region : People who have a Philippine-issued passport need not apply for a visa going to Cambodia or Vietnam.

The next thing that we arranged is our flight itinerary. Since there are no direct flights from Manila to Siem Reap, we have to book a flight going to Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon then another flight going to Siem Reap, Cambodia. For others who have a different itinerary or multiple itinerary, you might want to check other airlines that services Siem Reap International Airport. In booking the flight, I patiently and diligently researched for the airline that would have a low-cost and yet reputable & excellent service and facility airline.

I was able to book and buy (that's how they call it now) my e-ticket from PAL. I chose the econo-fare promo which cost me a total of $132 (inclusive of all taxes and surcharges). The only frill is that you will be seated at the rear part of the plane which was okay with me plus you don't get to have their meal on-board. Again, I was fine with it since the flight only took 2-hours from Manila to Saigon. They also serve unlimited peanuts and beverage (water, juice or coffee). Hey, just so you know you can ask for an unlimited refill of your orange juice.

You will also have to pay Php1,620.00 (travel tax) plus Php750.00 (terminal fee). Of course, I was too preoccupied with what I would see and the places that we would visit so I thought the flight from Manila to Ho Chi Minh was generally okay.

Please wait for the continuation of my travel blog as it will have to wait for another day. Next part would discuss more on our travel proper to Cambodia from the first day up to our last stay.