You experience everything in Thailand (85)
Our Belgian blog reader Rafken saw his childhood dream to visit Ankor in Cambodia come true during a holiday in Thailand. After that visit he dreamed again, but this time of a beautiful Cambodian lady. How did that end? Read his story below
A childhood dream come true, but another dream does not
About 5 years ago, I and my friends had booked a tour in Thailand, which ended with a visit to the coastal town of Khao Lak, where our mutual friend Frans stayed with his Thai girlfriend. This friend, let me call her Pim, will play a role in the start of my story a year later.
Pim's daughter had a massage parlor and there I met a sweet masseuse, who liked me and vice versa. However, after two days my return flight to Belgium was waiting.
Of course, after a few months I wanted to return to the beautiful coastal town, where the police boat was stranded a few kilometers inland during the Tsunami, which had occurred a few years ago. In the meantime we kept in touch via Line, and we agreed that she would pick me up in Phuket at the airport.
When I arrived in Phuket, however, she was nowhere to be found and I no longer received an answer to my chat or call messages. Turns out she was dealing with some German in the meantime. But don't worry for long, Pim felt sorry for me and introduced me to her niece “Bear” and so I still had female company during that little month.
Now during my childhood years I had devoured the stories of the Red Knight and I had become fascinated with the story and the drawings of the album “The Fall of Angkor”. That's where my childhood dream grew to visit Angkor.
And many decades later, there was my chance. Quickly booked a flight for me and Bear. I could get a visa for a week in Cambodia at Siem Reap airport and according to Pim an ID card was sufficient for a Thai. A big mistake because at the counter at check-in “Bear” was refused. Well, just take flight.
At the airport of Siem Reap, the immigration officer on duty whispered something in my ear like “tip”, but I did not respond. Arriving at the beautiful hotel, after checking in, I decided to take a walk in the main street of Siem Reap and there I was soon accosted by four masseuses in the same “uniforms”, who pulled my sleeve for a massage. A really very pretty masseuse suggested the following to me after massage – I quote – “we do massage and then you come to my loom”. I write “loom” because the r was kind of hard for her.
Now this Farang certainly liked this, but suddenly two concerns surfaced. I hadn't put all my money in the safe yet and possibly I could get robbed during the massage and also, would I be unfaithful to my new relationship? So I just smiled and kindly waved them off and walked on.
The next morning I arranged a Tuk Tuk to visit Angkor Wat for two days and really, it was fantastic. A dream, a childhood dream better, that came true. Apart from the beautiful temples, I was struck by the many beggars who flocked to you like flies at the entrance if you gave something.
In one of the temples, an English-speaking student sold me a nice book about Angkor for a reasonable price. We talked for some time about politics and corruption in Cambodia in a remote place, because I had the impression that he was a bit afraid to talk about it.
Later another boy also offered to buy me the same book, but I already had one and yet I gave him the money for it so that he could resell it again. Still, I thought it was strange that there wasn't a smile on his face. Why do I still sometimes wonder.
In the meantime I had made a deal with the Tuk Tuk driver to pick me up at my hotel for a few days. The 2nd day he of course did not fail to show me his family and small children and of course I bought something for the children. He's happy of course. We also visited the immense Angkor park and visited some temples from the beautiful book.
Day 3 to the big lake and the floating houses. Then made a detour to a butterfly garden on the way. This little garden had really beautiful flowers and fantastic colorful butterflies. Really recommended.
In the meantime, however, the proposal of that beautiful masseuse played through my head. Did I start dreaming about that proposed massage? I thought to myself, the dollars are safe in the safe in your hotel room. So why not take a walk back up the main street? You may see them again this afternoon and early evening and… well, the flesh is weak…
However, that evening there was no gorgeous masseuse to be seen, nor the next day…. and my stay was coming to an end. It will remain a dream that did not come true….
It didn't last with Beer either and I've been happy with Sri for four years now, but that last dream still comes up every now and then...
For me, the book of The Red Knight was also the trigger to visit Angkor and the surrounding area in 1998. Well supervised. Beautiful and then only 50 visitors per year. Afterwards we stayed in Sihanoukville for a week. Must have changed a lot in the meantime. Could it be an option to stay there for a month instead of Pataya? We love Pataya very much because of the many restaurants and shops and the beach (Jomptien) and the people we have met there for 000 years, but many things that are often discussed here and that are not to the benefit of the ordinary tourist also start to bother us. to meet. Many write here that they want to exchange Pataya (Thailand) for another country. Do you think that Sihanoukviile is a good option, we are not interested in the nightlife. That wasn't there at the time, but there was a clean sea and a beautiful beach with only a few chairs. It was a (too) long bus ride from Phong Pen, but maybe this can now be done faster?
Siem Reap was my only trip in Cambodia so far, so unfortunately I cannot pass judgment on Sihanoukville.
It is noticeable that Cambodia has been under French rule for years (the name “Sihanoukville” in which the French “Ville” or city is also refers to that influence).
People also drive on the right, and the food – especially breakfast in the hotel – is more European or French inspired. Many buildings too.
Whether Sihanoukville is a good option I leave in the middle. Perhaps on your next visit you can update your assessment of Cambodia and Sihanoukville and make a decision.
In any case, it seems to me that Thailand with the current politics will lose more and more tourists to the surrounding countries.
Sihanoukville:
how long has it been since you were there? Must have been a long time ago if there were only 50.000 visitors per year to Angkor Wat. Take a look on the internet to see what Sihanoukville looks like now: you won't recognize it at all. A proliferation of casinos and hotels with all owners and staff: CHINESE. Most of the foreign people who lived there have already disappeared. Most of the good foreign restaurants that could be found in Si'Ville have also disappeared, the reason being that Westerners no longer come there...Sihanoukville is now Little China.
The road from Phnom Phen to Siville has since been renovated and is much better, but you still have to count on 5-6 hours travel time by bus. It is faster by taxi but will cost you between 100 and 150 USD.
If you want to go to Cambodia: take into account the admission conditions that are required: guarantee amount on arrival, 14-day quarantine in the hotel, corona tests .... whether it is all interesting is something you have to decide for yourself.
Yes dear Jan,
You can watch the Ned documentaries on Youtube: “Chinese in Sikanoukville”
It has become, for those who knew the fishing village, a disaster.
I've been cycling there and enjoyed it.
Now it has been taken over by the Chinese who exploit everything, including 15 casinos.
Too bad, one less dream.
Sihanoukville also has a Cambodian name: 'Kampong Som'.
It is better not to show that you love the French because the Cambodian residents, who are still there in Sihanoukville, did not really have the French in their hearts…..
By taxi from PP to sihanoukville costs 60-65 USD, done several times.
There may be a reason why the bookseller's face darkened: you didn't want the book, so why did you give him money, he wasn't a beggar after all? A pauper? Maybe you gave him that feeling. Think in his place (which is very difficult from our overfed culture, you actually have to get down on yourself for that).
For me, the comic strip of The Red Knight was really the trigger to visit Angkor and the surrounding area in 1980. In the meantime I have been back twice with friends.
Three days with the same tuctuc man also gave a very successful episode, highly recommended.