Source of do-it-yourself travel guides and tips on how to travel anywhere on a budget.
Of the Banana Pancake Trail in Southeast Asia, this route is the most utilized one for Filipino travelers. Others do Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok while some do the opposite. If you’re very eager to embark on your first backpacking trip in Indochina, this is the best itinerary to take as there are a…
If you’re doing the banana pancake trail from Ho Chi Minh City and heading west, there’s no way you can skip Cambodia. This infamous country is between Vietnam and Thailand and is known for the Angkor Wat. During my 2-week Southeast Asia backpacking trip, I spent my days in Cambodia in the cities of Phnom Penh…
Weeks before my trip, I was still undecided between a one-day or three-day pass for my Angkor Wat tour. Covering all temples and all landmarks within the Angkor Archaeological Park was the original plan. “A day is not enough“, told by friends who’ve been to the UNESCO World Heritage site. On the other hand, three days…
Temple fatigue crept in after spending several hours at the Angkor Archaeological Complex. I explored Mad Monkeys Hostel Siem Reap and stayed on its roof-top to wait for sunset. I had no intentions of joining the roof-deck party because my goal for that night was to visit Siem Reap’s Pub Street. After booking a transfer…
First day in Phnom Penh and all attractions were closed due to the Independence Day celebration. Securing a bus ticket to Siem Reap leaving around noon gave me the whole morning to explore the capital city. National Museum of Cambodia and Royal Palace both require an entrance fees that are quite steep. Due to my…
Two of my dormmates at Mad Monkeys Hostel just had a visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (or S21) before my arrival in Phnom Penh. They shared their experience at the genocide museum and suggested that I should visit it together with the Killing Fields. Chartering a tuk-tuk for 15USD for a half-day tour for…
Most travelers believe that Siem Reap is the capital of Cambodia with the prominence of its Angkor Wat. But the truth is, country’s capital city is Phnom Penh that is also the most populated city of Cambodia. From Vietnam, I had a 6-hour bus ride to Phnom Penh with its tourist attractions I had no…
My friend! Filipino?” I nodded and smiled. A tuk-tuk driver tried to follow and convince me for a tour around the city. I declined because I was only a few meters away from the Royal Palace that time. I started my walk from the Independence Monument while avoiding people running around the park. The iconic…
Unlike bus lines from Vietnam to Cambodia that allow online booking, Cambodia to Thailand is a different story. Before heading to the Pub Street, I dropped by on one of the travel agencies along Sivatha Road. With my experience in getting a seat reservation from Vietnam, a friend insisted that I should book my trip…
Cambodia is a common stop for travelers visiting South East Asia for its fascinating history and impressive temples. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are two of the must-stops in the country that offer different vibes for backpackers. Despite being diverse, a backpacker hostel brand is common for the two. Mad Monkey Hostel is famous in Cambodia…