Thailand - Surin and Koh Phangan

During my week in Thailand later on this year, I was lucky to travel to incredibly varied places in a relatively short period of time. You can read about my experiences in Sangkhlaburi and Bangkok here, but now it's time to move on to Surin and Koh Phangan; two very different areas of the country!

Surin

Surin was actually the second stop on my whirlwind tour; after one night in Bangkok, I was picked up by the project coordinator at the crack of dawn (fortunately jet lag meant I hadn't really slept anyway) and ferried 6 hours down the road to Surin. This was the place I was most looking forward to before I arrived. We have several projects based here - teaching, childcare, medical, and at an elephant village - and I was excited to meet the volunteers and see the work that they did.

It was a fairly uneventful drive to Surin; not as stunning as the drive to Sangkhlaburi, but you could certainly see it becoming more rural the further we went. We stopped off in Surin City first, which is bigger than I thought it would be, although still relatively small. I didn't really see much of the town, as the volunteer houses are based around 10 minutes from the actual centre, but what I did see looked nice.

The part of town our volunteers stay in is lovely - it has lots of cute bars and restaurants, and even has a coffee shop built into a camper van! The people in Surin are incredibly friendly; I met a lot of people in my week in Thailand, and none were friendly than those I met here. All the staff at the projects went out of their way to help us, and our volunteers, and I wish I could have spent longer with them.

After a brief stop at the volunteer houses, we headed straight for the elephant village, around a 30 minute drive outside of Surin. This was the bit I was most looking forward to, and it turned out I was right to be so. I'm aware elephant volunteering is controversial, and is certainly something I'm very wary about (I turned down an elephant ride in Cambodia because I didn't think the elephants were treated properly). Fortunately, at this project, I know that all is above board, and the elephants are very happy. The elephants there used to be worked in Bangkok in the tourist trade. They were kept in very bad conditions, and cities are horrendous environments for them as they need to constantly graze to stay alive and healthy. In the elephant village, the elephants are rescued and brought back into a rural area, where they're looked after really well. The volunteers help to collect sugar cane, wash them and walk them down to the river, which provides an income for the village, and ensures the elephants will never be misused.

Our homestay in the village is absolutely stunning; it's in the middle of nowhere, with paddy fields stretching as far as the eye can see. A couple of the elephants stay in the same bit as the volunteers, and from the hammock on the balcony, you can watch them wandering around and feasting on sugar cane. When I was there, I got a cuddle with the friendliest elephant - Pai Lin - got to feed her some sugar cane, then went to explore the area with the volunteers whilst they went kayaking on the river.

I SO wish I could have stayed longer; it really is idyllic, and somewhere I'll be returning to in the future.

We then headed back to the hotel in Surin, which was AMAZING. We stayed at the Maneerote Hotel, which I'd definitely recommend. The rooms were huge, really clean and comfortable and the bathroom was amazing!

The next day, we headed to the other projects, which are all based around Surin City. We visited a school, a childcare centre and the medical centre; they were all amazing, and it was great to see first-hand what our volunteers come and do. I know some may turn their nose up at what they deem as 'voluntourism' but I think if it's done properly and sustainably, then it can only benefit all involved.

Koh Phangan

At the end of my week in Thailand, I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to spend a couple of nights on one of the most popular islands. I'm going to admit I was a little wary about this at first, as it's the home of the Full Moon Party. I'm decidedly not a party person, and was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to avoid them, but this was completely unfounded.

There are a couple of ways to get to and from Koh Phangan; on the way there we flew from Bangkok with Air Asia to Surat Thani, then they organise your transport from there to the ferry, and from the ferry over to Koh Phangan. The whole process took pretty much all day, as our plane was delayed a little, but it was painless and something I'd definitely recommend. I much preferred Dong Mueang airport to the main international one in Bangkok (I'm not going to attempt to spell it...) - it's cheaper and has a lot more options in terms of food and drink! I travelled both domestically and internationally from here, and both times found it nicer than BKK.

When we arrived in Koh Phangan, we were picked up from the ferry port in Haad Rin, and transferred about 15 minutes down the coast to Mac Bay. If you ever visit Koh Phangan, I would 100% recommend that you stay here. It has easy access to the main town and party beach (the resort run their own taxi service), but it's remote and feels like a little piece of paradise. It has a bar and restaurant on-site, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, so you never have to leave if you don't want to. It has a pool about a minutes' walk from the rooms, and its own little private beach!

Meals and drinks are very reasonably priced; if you stick to Thai beer and Pad Thai, you won't spend much more than you would on the mainland. If you opt for the western style dishes that are on offer, you'll spend a little more, but it's definitely worth it. They have pink noodles!!

The rooms are amazing - you can either have a beach hut, or an air conditioned room set about 1 minutes walk from the beach (this is what I had). The bathrooms are western style, and it will take you about 30 seconds to walk down to breakfast in the morning, overlooking the sea.

I got up early one morning and watched a guy raking the sand so it was pristine for those rising later (boy did I feel bad when I went for a paddle and ruined all his hard work!). The beach is shallow right up to a sandbank out at sea (I couldn't tell you the distance, but it took me around 5 minutes to walk to it). This means you can lay in the shallows (the water is warm!) and watch the world around you, or wade further out to sea for a swim. Across the way, you can see Koh Samui - this is only a 30 minute ferry ride away, and definitely worth a visit. Whilst here, you can have a massage, go snorkelling or scuba diving, trek in the hills, or just relax!

Unfortunately, I was only here for 2 nights before I returned up to Bangkok ready for my trip to Cambodia. I was travelling alone this time, and took the budget route - I used the Lomprayah company, as I have friends who had used them before and highly recommended them. You book one ticket, and they ferry you back across to the mainland, then pile you all on a coach ready to make the 6 hour drive back up to Bangkok.

I booked the early departure (8.30am) to make sure I'd be back in Bangkok in time for my flight to Phnom Penh the next day (just in case of any delays), and it was pretty much a painless journey. My one criticism would be that they pile all your luggage on one end of the ferry. This means that, when it comes to the end, all the doors are blocked because everyone is trying to get their luggage, but nobody is really sure where it is. There must have been about 200 bags in a pile, with people whose bags were at the top, stuck at the back of the queue. I had one heartstopping moment where I thought they'd lost my bag - I waiting until the pile had gone, with still no sign of my rucksack, when I discovered they'd thrown some of them through the window onto the jetty outside. Not a problem, but I wish they'd told me!

There was a bit of a wait for the buses (around an hour), which I assume was on purpose as we were all held captive at the various shops and cafes at the port, but for the price I paid (around £15 for the whole journey), it certainly wasn't something to whinge about. If you're on a budget, and looking to get back to Bangkok, this is definitely what I'd recommend. It didn't take much longer than the flight, and was a hell of a lot cheaper!

Next instalment - onwards to Cambodia :)

Nepal

This is a difficult post to write, and one of the reasons I have been putting off blogging for so long.

As I'm sure you're aware, there was a huge earthquake in Nepal on 25th April. It measured 7.8 on the Richter Scale, thousands lost their lives, and many more were injured and left homeless by the devastation. Kathmandu, the capital, was one of the hardest hit areas, and images of fallen buildings and sacred temples flooded the headlines. Remote villages waited weeks for outside help, and many people around the country slept outside for days, as aftershocks rippled and they feared their homes were unsafe.

It was peak climbing season in the mountains; avalanches rocked Everest Base Camp, and 18 climbers lost their lives. Others were stranded at Camp 1, safer than their colleagues and friends at base camp, until helicopters could be organised to transfer them further down the mountain, with avalanches deeming the Khumbu Icefall - the only way down from Everest - impassable.

Although Nepal lies in the heart of the Himalaya, and is prone to tectonic activity, this was the largest earthquake in 80 years. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, it didn't have the money or resources to deal with such a disaster. Fortunately, aid quickly scrambled to their relief, with disaster charities from around the world arriving around the clock to help those in need. Fundraising efforts around the globe raised millions of pounds for various charities, and my faith in humanity was restored.

A second earthquake hit the region just a few weeks later, setting back the relief efforts, and terrifying those already affected. It was a dark time for Nepal, and it is only just beginning to rebuild itself almost two months later.

The reason I'm telling you all of this, is because I was supposed to be flying to Kathmandu on 21st May, less than a month after the earthquake. Those of you who have been following this blog for a while will know of my obsession with Everest, and I have been planning this trip for a very long time. I've had it booked once before, two years ago, when I had to cancel due to a highly unprofessional company, coupled with a lack of funds. I then planned to go in October 2014, but again had to postpone while I saved up a little longer. Needless to say, this was a trip of a lifetime.

When I woke up on Saturday 25th April, and heard the news, my heart sank. Not, I hasten to add, because of my trip, but because I knew how many people would be affected by this. I didn't quite realise the severity at the time, but I had friends and acquaintances out in Nepal, as well as work colleagues, and people I follow on Twitter. I was on tenterhooks the whole day, waiting for news that people were safe, and my sadness deepening as more and more images flooded the news sites.

Although I've never visited, I have read so many personal accounts of Nepal, and had done so much research for my trip, I felt like I had. I felt I knew all the places that had been so heavily affected, and felt deeply for everyone who had died or had been injured. When I realised that there was no hope of my trip going ahead, I was sad more for the missed opportunity to experience the country at its best; not for a cancelled holiday, as these things can always be rearranged. Of course I was disappointed, but it was very easy to see the priorities in life as I scanned Twitter, following those who had been personally affected.

I did allow myself a moment to be selfish, when I feared the insurance company wouldn't compensate me for my trip (they often don't if it's force majeur). Not because of the financial side, but because it meant that I would have to cancel the trip completely rather than postpone, and I would have to wait another few years to visit.

I am also very grateful that I wasn't there at the time, and that no-one I know was injured, or worse.

In the meantime, we fundraised at work (we work closely with partners based in Nepal - I was actually supposed to be visiting them on my trip), and I also set myself a personal fundraising goal, to give to long-term NGO relief efforts, as well as the immediate disaster relief we donated to in the office.

I was very fortunate that Emirates extended their refund policy based on FCO advice, and I now plan to postpone my trip until May 2016, purely because my plan was, and always has been, to visit and trek to Everest Base Camp during the climbing season.

Two months on, Nepal has declared itself safe and ready for tourists. Indeed, it is crying out for them as its main source of income. Frustratingly, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office is still saying that they advise against all but essential travel to the area, meaning that if British nationals go against this advice, their travel insurance will be invalid. Fortunately, other countries around the world are much more sensible and I would love it, if you can, for you to go. I would go earlier myself if I could - most trekking regions are fit to travel after the monsoon (from September onwards) and lots of places, such as Pokhara and Chitwan, were barely affected. Don't make anyone else lose out because of this dreadful disaster, and don't alter your travel plans. Nepal is still stunning, and with your visit, you'll be doing more good than ever before.

As for me, my walking boots are waiting patiently in a cupboard, my daypack hung on the rack, and my trekking guide sat quietly on the bookshelf. Everest, I'll be with you next summer.



Image credit: Hillary Travels

Bangkok on a budget with limited time!

                                                                                                                       

Time Spent - 5 nights, 1 full afternoon, 1 full morning
Modes of transport - taxi, sky train, coach, walking
Places stayed - Sawasadee Banglampu Inn (Khao San Road); Imm Fusion (Sukhumvit)

I recently spent two weeks in Thailand and Cambodia (with work and on holiday), and Bangkok was something of a base while I was there. I was never here for an extended period of time (I think 14 hours was my maximum), but I made the most of every second, and it's definitely possible to get a real feel of Bangkok on a budget - both monetary and time!

On my arrival into Thailand, and the subsequent nights when I returned from travelling to Surin, Sangkhlaburi and Koh Phangan, I stayed at the Sawasadee Banglampu Inn just off Khao San Road. There are three Sawasadee Inns in a small area; they're cheap (around £6 per room per night), very centrally located (30 seconds from Khao San Road, 15 minutes walk from the Grand Palace and the temples), clean and the staff are friendly. I didn't have breakfast here (6am is too early to eat!) but they have a breakfast every morning of fruit and bread etc., and it's only 190 baht (around £4) which isn't too bad. It's definitely the domain of the backpacker, and can get a little loud in the evenings, but overall I enjoyed my stay here, and would stay here again if I were to visit Bangkok.

  
(Pictures from Sawasadee site - I was generally too tired to take my own!)

I had a single room to myself (decent sized double bed, air conditioning, good shower and western-style toilet), although they're more commonly twin or triple rooms, and it's all you need for a good base on Khao San Road. It's close enough so that you can nip out to the many bars, restaurants and street stalls on the backpacker street, but far enough away that you don't get any of the loud music or the crowds (the noise at night tends to come from people returning from partaking in said entertainment).

On my first night in Bangkok, I was met by a member of staff from our partner organisation out in Thailand, and he took me out to Khao San Road for dinner and a couple of drinks (I didn't have more than one; jet lag + no sleep on the plane would have had me at risk of making a fool of myself, not a good first impression!). We went to a restaurant on a street parallel to Khao San (nicer, not as full of bars and stalls), then to the Silk Bar for a few drinks as it's cheap and cheerful. We sat on the balcony here, and it's a great place to people-watch! When I finally had to call it a day around midnight, it took me approximately four minutes to fight my way through the crowds and into bed - that's not a bad result!

I headed over to Surin overnight the next day, but returned to Sawasadee the next night, where I had a free evening before heading to Sangkhlaburi at 6.45am the next morning. As I had such a busy trip, and such early mornings for the most part (and because I don't really drink), I didn't really take part in the nightlife of Khao San Road (it's not really my scene), but from the people I spoke to, there are lots of great places to go out. I stuck to what I do best - food and shopping - and also spent an hour just wandering around all the little streets nearby. I didn't feel unsafe at all, and apart from one instance of a stall-holder grabbing me to try and make me look at his goods, I wasn't hassled. I'd expected it to be like African markets, where you're accosted from all sides, but because there are so many people on Khao San Road, the stall holders don't need to put so much work in - people are literally fighting to get to them! It was a refreshing change, and meant I could shop and actually buy things (something I rarely do in Africa, because I don't like being bullied into buying).

There are a couple of 7-11s on Khao San Road, a Boots, McDonalds, Subway and Burger King for those who are really desperate, but if you can, try things from the multitude of food stalls and restaurants lining the road. I steered clear of the scorpion, but the pad thai, chicken skewers, fruit (mango, watermelon and pineapple) and coconut ice cream are perfectly safe, and often a refreshing treat as you fight the humidity and 30C evening heat!

On my return from Koh Phangan at the end of the week, I checked into Sawasadee for the fourth time, and finally had a free morning the next day, before heading to Cambodia, to explore a bit more of the city! I'd tried to visit the Grand Palace a couple of evenings before, but it closes at 3.30pm, so forgoing a lie in I got up at 7am, and grabbed a quick breakfast from 7-11 before heading out to see as much as possible before I had to head to the airport at lunchtime.

The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were highest on my list, so I decided to head here first, then see if I had time for any of the temples afterwards. It's only around a 15 minute walk from Sawasadee (although I was glad it was early morning), despite having to fight your way across eight lanes of traffic, with drivers who don't seem to obey any road rules when it comes to pedestrians.

It was on my walk here that I was scammed for the only time during my trip, and I was livid because I knew exactly what was happening and I was powerless to stop it. I've travelled enough to know something odd when I see it, and around 5 minutes from the palace there was a woman with around 50 pigeons crowded around her. Suspecting something fishy, I tried to cross the road, but with eight lanes of traffic and no pedestrian crossing, it simply wasn't going to happen. I decided to just keep my head down and walk straight through the crowd, but she was having none of it. She threw pigeon seed around my feet so the pigeons descended, then forced the seed in open bags into my hands, so that half of it fell on the ground. She then motioned me to throw the rest of it in the opposite direction, so the pigeons would leave. Knowing I'd been well and truly had, I did as she said and tried to walk off, but she was having absolutely none of it; she and her friend circled me demanding 150 baht for the seed (around £3) and clearly weren't going to leave me alone. Luckily, I had around 40 baht (80p) in my pocket, meaning I didn't have to get my purse out, and I shoved it into her hand before marching away from her.

It put me in a bad mood for the rest of the morning; not for the money (even I don't complain about something as little as 80p), but because of the scam itself. I'd recognised it for what it was, and still been unable to avoid it. Fortunately, it was tame compared to others I've seen, and no harm was done, but for a first-time traveller (or anyone) it's not a particularly pleasant experience. Had she been selling something worthwhile (lots of people were selling cold drinks or crafts), I might actually have given her more money, but having it forced out of me left a sour taste in my mouth.

Despite the bad start, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You have to dress very conservatively as it's a very religious site; I thought I'd done ok wearing a dress that covered my shoulders and the tops of my arms, and almost went down to my knees, with leggings covering almost to my ankles, but it still wasn't good enough and I had to get a skirt to wear when I was there (leggings don't count as covering up apparently). I definitely wasn't the only one, and it's very quick and easy (they take a 200baht deposit, which you get back as soon as you hand the skirt or scarf back), but if you want to avoid it, err on the side of caution.

I'd given myself a couple of hours there to make sure I had time to get to the airport at lunchtime, but you could definitely spend longer there. The heat was relentless, even at 10.30am, so take it slowly and take lots of water with you. The cost for entry is 400 baht (around £8), and involves entry to both the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace itself. Even early in the morning, the place is swarming with school groups and tour groups, so it's not a relaxing visit. You can get a map which helps you get your bearings, but it's generally quite a chaotic atmosphere and can be a little confusing to find out what you're looking at.


All the buildings are, quite simply, stunning however. They're very ornate, covered in gold, jewels and brightly coloured painting, and wherever you look there's something to catch the eye. You see Wat Phra Kaew first (the temple), which is incredibly ornate and glitzy, and you can head inside the temple (shoes off first, of course) to see inside, although no photographs are allowed here as it's incredibly sacred.

You then head through the compound to the Grand Palace; I was running out of time and energy at this point (it really was incredibly hot - around 38C), so I didn't see much of this apart from the outside, but the style of the building is very different. It's still stunning, but it's less ornate and more like a very fancy government building (which I guess is exactly what it is!).

At this point, I had to head back to Sawasadee and to Cambodia, but fortunately I knew I had one more afternoon in Bangkok at the end of the week, so could see more of what I missed. I wish I'd seen Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the floating markets while I was in that part of the city, but that'll have to be on the list for next time!

After returning from Siem Reap at 2pm later the next week, I only had one afternoon left in Bangkok before heading back to the UK the next day. To maximise my time (and because I'd had enough of Khao San Road by this point), I'd booked myself a nicer hotel as a treat (around £20/night), closer to the airport in Sukhumvit. This is more of an ex-pat area of town; there's a Tesco Lotus just down the road, and a Skytrain BTS stop around 2 minutes away, which made it very easy for me to explore a different part of the city.

Imm Fusion is a stunning hotel; it has amazing facilities and the staff were very helpful. It has a pool if you have time to use it, and the hotel is themed in quite a spiritual way that I really liked. There's a book next to the bed that enables you to learn a bit about Buddhism (it wasn't preachy, just generally informative), and the rooms were spacious with cable TV and western-style bathrooms. The only gripe I had (and it's a tiny one) was that the air conditioning was so noisy that I couldn't have it on for long periods, but I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere else, so it could just have been mine!

When I arrived here, I'd spent two weeks in South East Asia, but hadn't done any shopping, as I only had a small backpack, and unless I saw something amazing (like the throw I got in Siem Reap!), I didn't want to be carrying it around with me unnecessarily. I'd ditched all my toiletries in Siem Reap, so when I got to Bangkok, I knew I had to visit Chatuchak Market. This used to be just a market for wholesalers, but now tourists have got in on the act, it's a big draw. Markets of any kind are my worst nightmare, but it'd been recommended to me by lots of people, so I figured I might as well go, and I could always leave if I needed to.

The best way to travel there is on the Skytrain BTS; it's mainly used by Thai people for commuting, but it's a tube/monorail that helps you avoid the traffic (which is absolutely mental in Bangkok!). It's two minutes down the road from Imm Fusion (Om Nut stop), and for 40 baht it takes you all the way to Mo Chit, which is where the market is. It takes around half an hour, but it's fully air conditioned, and if you time it right you can get a seat, which makes it a little bit of heaven in the sweaty humidity of the city!

I was pleasantly surprised by Chatuchak Market - it's absolutely gigantic, with narrow, winding corridors packed with market stalls, but it's not too busy, and you're not being clamoured from all sides to buy anything, so I actually had quite a relaxed shopping experience. I had in mind what I needed to get, and the market is split into sections depending on what they're selling, so if you paid attention it was easy to navigate (although I got a bit carried away and spent two hours there, which I didn't intend!) There is a section devoted to animals, which wasn't easy for me as they aren't cared for, and I passed by some cages of some miserable-looking (and some dead) mice and other rodent-type things, and some puppies in a cage that didn't look too happy either. I have to force myself to accept this as part of the culture, but I definitely wouldn't recommend visiting this bit if you can help it (I tried to avoid it, but got lost and stumbled across it).

Overall, I really enjoyed Bangkok. I'm not a city girl, so I probably wouldn't spend any longer than I did there (although consecutive days would be good so I could fit more in), but there's definitely a lot you can do in a short period of time, and on a budget.

My top tip would be to walk if you can (although be prepared, carry water and take breaks if you need it - it's HOT!), and to stay in a couple of different places so you really experience the city. Taxi drivers don't tend to speak English, so write down any addresses and get confirmation emails in Thai as well as English if you can (although you can usually find someone to translate). Make sure you get a taxi with a meter (it can save you a few quid) and learn a couple of phrases in Thai. Hostels and restaurants speak a little English, but if you show them you're trying, you'll get treated a little more nicely!)

Hello - Sawasadee [SA - WA - DEE] ka(f)/kap(m)
Thank you - Kop Khun Ka(f) Kap(m)

I didn't go to any of the sky bars (expensive, but worth it for the views I think), the floating markets, or as many of the temples as I'd have liked, but I got a real sense of what Bangkok's all about, and what people really experience when they first visit this crazy city; it really is a mixture of east and west!

Thailand and Cambodia in two weeks!

I work for a gap year travel and volunteering company, and was very lucky a few months ago to win a chance to visit some of our projects in Thailand! It was a week long trip, travelling around the country, and as I had some annual leave to use up, I decided to pop over to Cambodia for a week as well!

Most people would have thought it impossible to fit two huge countries into such a short period of time, and would have resigned themselves to one or another, but I like a challenge!

I did wonder if I was being a bit mad, but with some careful planning, I was amazed at how much I managed to fit into the trip. My itinerary was:

Monday 23^rd February:

Arrive in Bangkok at 15.45

Tuesday 24^th Feb:
Head to Surin (on the Cambodian border around a 6 hour drive) to see some of our projects there, including our Elephant and Community project.

Wednesday 25^th Feb:
Still in Surin - visit childcare, teaching and medical projects. Head back to Bangkok at lunchtime, arriving around 6pm.         

Thursday 26^th Feb:
Leave around 7am to Sangkhlaburi on the Burmese border. Another 5-6 hour drive. Visit our building project there, and the Three Pagodas Pass on the border.         

Friday 27^th Feb:
Up early, visiting trekking and a few of the childcare villages (stunning locations and fun just getting there).         
Head back to Bangkok around lunchtime and arrive early evening. 

Saturday 28^th Feb:
Travel to Koh Phangan (plane, bus, ferry) - all day (where lots of our tours go)

Sunday 1^st March:
Explore and relax on Koh Phangan

Monday 2^nd March:
Head back to Bangkok (bus 8.30am – 8.30pm)

Tuesday 3^rd March:
Fly to Phnom Penh, arrive 3.20pm

Wednesday 4^th March:
S21 and Killing Fields

Thursday 5^th March:
Free day in PP – Wats, river, shopping etc.
Overnight bus to Siem Reap (arrive around 5am)

Friday 6^th March:
Arrive Siem Reap early morning – spend the day wandering around local area

Saturday 7^th March:
Angkor Wat

Sunday 8^th March:
Fly back to Bangkok – arrive 12.45pm – spend the afternoon seeing Bangkok! (Last minute shopping!)

Monday 9^th March:
Flight home 13:10 

      As you can see, it's a jam packed itinerary. I only had three days where I wasn't travelling for at least 6 hours, but it was worth it! I didn't feel massively rushed at any point, and while I'd have obviously loved to spend longer in each place, I definitely managed to get a feel of it. 

      The only things I missed out on were a boat cruise in Phnom Penh (and that was only because I almost gave myself heatstroke by being stubborn and walking rather than getting a tuk-tuk) and visiting Ton Le Sap Lake in Siem Reap, which I just didn't have time for. 

       As a two week trip however, I did everything I planned and much more! I had slightly more of a budget as it was a short trip, which meant that I was able to fly between Bangkok, Phnom Penh, then Siem Reap and Bangkok, which saved me some time. I did get an overnight bus between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap however, as it was easy and saved me a nights' accommodation!

      So what's the secret to a jam packed two week trip? Organisation! I planned my accommodation and transport before I went (the only thing I didn't book was one night in Bangkok), and I had an idea of what I was going to do on each day and how to do it. I did my research, and used the knowledge of the locals while I was there to cram as much in as possible, and I concentrated on sight-seeing rather than partying, as I knew a hangover would ruin even the best laid plans!

       Of course I would do it in a longer period if I could get that off work, but lots of people are in a similar situation, and I'd definitely recommend it! I wouldn't say it's a relaxing holiday, if that's what you're after, but it's certainly an amazing, fascinating, whirlwind trip of a lifetime, and I don't feel I missed out at all! 

      Stay tuned for more in-depth info about my trip!

      Top Tips:

• Research! Make sure you know what you want to see, prioritise each activity, and plan an itinerary so you have as much time as possible in each place
• Book in advance. Knowing where you'll be staying each night and how you're getting from one place to the next puts your mind at rest on a short trip, and means you'll spend less time in the evening faffing around on the internet, and more time taking in the local area
• Don't be disappointed if something doesn't go to plan. You can't control everything, so if you have to drop something from the itinerary that's ok - move onto the next!
•  Pack light - you can get laundry done in most hostels, so you don't need to carry two weeks' of clothes with you
• Splash out for flights if you can - less time travelling means more time in each location!