Other things for the Socially Conscious traveler in Cambodia:

Seeing Hands Massage Center.  If you’re in Cambodia trust me you most likely won’t forego getting a massage.   So why not opt to spend your money in a great place.  All massages are given by the blind

TRAVEL TIP: make sure you give your tip directly to your masseuse when people with vision aren’t present.  I know it is awful but money does get taken from the blind from time to time.  So do them a favor and just be aware of

who is around when you hand them the money.

Getting to know Cambodia

Our journey into Cambodia began with a six hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Phen.  As a person who suffers from motion sickness I was dreading this trip (especially after my 20 plus times of being sick on a bus ride through southern Peru).  However, the trip was pleasant and I managed not to

puke (Yes, I win!).

In Phnom Phen we opted to stay a little off the beaten path so we chose stay in a hotel a little further into the city, about 5 min walk from the main drag on the river.  I am glad we did because it allowed us to see more of Phnom Phen.

Our observations:

There is a big and obvious gap between the wealthy and the poor in this city. This city is flooded with high end luxury SUV’s driven by the local elite and abundant amount of expiates in the town.

Big expatriate community.  There is a mix of people working for a variety of NGO’s and UN programs along with foreign businessmen and women.

TRAVEL TIP:

SEX TOURISM is no stranger to this town! SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST FIGURES WHEN IT COMES TO SEX TOURISM. MANY OF THESE GIRLS ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12-17.

WITHIN ITS WALLS SOME OF THE BIGGEST OFFENDERS OF THE SEX TRADE LIE. BE SMART. BE OBERSERVANT. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING.

CHILD SAFE is a NGO working to help curb the abundance of sex tourism in Phnom Phen. YOUR JOB: notify them or any establishment that has the Chile Safe logo.  (A good indicator is if you see a bar full of young girls just sitting around and older men by themselves sitting or getting dropped off, going in, and heading upstairs)

A Day Out in HCMC

Eating:  Ngon

This place offers local Vietnamese faire.  Its lengthy menu reminds me of a NYC dinner menu in that you can pretty much order anything you want in terms of Vietnamese food.  For new comers don’t wait to be escorted to your table. Walk in grab a seat and relax.  I suggest ordering a fruit shake while your food is cooked in the outdoor kitchen.

Massage #2:  Golden Lotus Massage Club & Spa

Curiousity got the best of me on my second visit to the spa. My husband and I decided to treat ourselves to the VIP lotus experience.  Although I am not sure I believe it, but apparently they save the more skilled masseuers for this special treatment.  The massage was excellent although they spent more time on my feet than my back (which hurt just a bit and felt good all at the same time).  From what I could tell there isn’t really a difference other than the room you are in is more private and you can opt to watch a DVD or TV while you get your services. Personally I would find it a bit distracting rather than relaxing to do so.  But to each their own.

Going out:  Alibi

On continuing in our night’s adventure we decided to grab a glass of wine at a nearby local joint called Alibi.  The atmosphere is warm and friendly.  There is one long table the fills the bar where guest are crowd around.  This family style set up invites all guest to join in a conversation together.  When we arrived the place was packed with male expats and some very attractive young ladies including the hostess all enjoying each other’s company.  The wine is a bit more pricey than some other places but you'll enjoy the show unfolding before your eyes.

Vietnam: Planning the Trip

While we intended to wake up early and see the town we had two things against us:
1.) utter exhaustion from traveling constantly
2.) the fact that we still needed to work out a solid plan for our month long journey between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Our trip schedule plus some suggestions in case you plan to visit:

Ho Chi Minh

Mekong Delta (you have the option to deeper into the Mekong and catch a hydrofoil to Phu Quoc Iland)

Phu Quoc Island (you have the option here to take a hydrofoil back to Vietnam near the border and cross there instead of going back to Ho Chi Minh. If you choose the border crossing you can make your way from the Cambodian border to Kep and then onto Sihanoukville . From there take a bus to Phnom Penh)

Phnom Penh & surrounding villages

Siem Reap - Angkor Wat

Hanoi

Sapa

Hoi An (this is a great in between spot between the two big cities in Vietnam. It an excellent shopping city especially if you want some custom digs.)

Ho Chi Minh City

Travel Tip: Sun n’ Sea Travel

These people were excellent, they work fast and effectively to ensure that your trip desires will be met. What I was most impressed with is that our particular agent was thorough. She herself had been to most of the locations we pointed out and she was willing to tell us what we could skip and what we shouldn't miss.  They worked with us to customize our trip so that it wasn’t just an out of the box pre planned trip.  While they can certainly do that, I recommend doing a bit of research before you go so you have a pretty good idea of what you want. For me it was home stays, elephants between temples, cooking classes and a bit of culture beyond the temples. 

Hint: a private driver may be recommended to you to get to some of the lesser traveled places.  They are fairly costly.  Ask for local arrangements and be up for an adventure.  Most of all make sure you have flexibility in your schedule.  If not, then consider tweaking your travel plans just a bit.