Cambodia, Here I come!

Travel with some Vietnamese students in Cu Chi tunel (Vietnam) on the high-way to border (Moc Bai- Poipet) 

After a few days staying with my cousin in Saigon, I had to keep moving my butt to accept a new challenge which was the first time I traveled another country not my mother land anymore. I was an early bird that day, prepared all my stuff at the night before, so there was one thing I had to do which was saying goodbye to my cousin and all my friends. She tried to give me money and said:

“Take this money and keep it, this is our present for you”

At the first glance, that was a huge money, I think it was around 500.000Vnd (25$)

 However I refused “Hey, I do not need the money, also, I cannot spend VND in Cambodia, you should keep it, and I truly do not need it”

This thing make me remember when I was traveling, there were some drivers giving me money, the first driver was the Buddhism drivers who drove me to Saigon then invite me to travel with them to Da Lat, at that night, I worked with them in the beer manufactory and I was willing to give them a hand. After finishing, the elder driver gave me money and said that was my work and I deserved that money.

“No, I really don’t need, you helped me too much, and you let me join you, drove me to here and even feed me like brothers. It’s enoughJ” I said.

The last Vietnamese driver

And that is the first time; someone gave me money on the way I was traveling. However, money is so tempting; I was beat by money at the second time when a friendly and helpful driver drove me to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. He gave me 500.000VND, it was not lousy money, he told me he understood what I was doing and wanted to support me; moreover, he gave me his number to contact him and he was willing to invite me to his house. He was such a nice guy that I’ve ever met!

The procedure for immigrating Cambodia was so easy, however, I don’t know why the custom office take me 1$ to enter Cambodia, anyway, it was not a big deal to me because I was so in high spirit.

When you cross another country, it means you’re experiencing a new world.

Cambodia is so new to me; the first driver in Cambodia was a taxi driver. He pulled over then asked me for going to Phnom Penh. I explained to him that I didn’t have any money and all the money that I had I all spend on the food, he was thinking for 5mins then agree to drive me to Phnom Penh for free. The Cambodian is so lovely and friendly, on the way to go to Phnom Penh, there were 7-8 people in a small car, it was not comfortable but at least I could reach Phnom Penh and I don’t need to camp my tent to sleep on the road that night. Also, I love the Cambodian smile, so true and friendly, when I was in the car, there were a lot of picked-up truck which pick up the worker working in far workplaces. They have to travel approximately 100km every day, some people more, but Look at them, they’re always smiling back when I look at them and smile at them. “Oh my god, I love Cambodian so much”

Picked-up Truck next to the border (Poipet)

“There is only one truth, but there’re a thousand ways for lying”

This is one of the things that I learn from one of my host and from the reality when I was traveling. It’s still such a pity because on the way I made friends with 2 Cambodian guys, 2 tutors teaching in a famous university, they’re so friendly, even thought when  I reach Phnom Penh with them, they didn’t let me find the way to go to my host. Instead of this, they called my host; Nod, a Philippine guy living with his friend in a very comfort flat located next to the night bazaar, and then drove me to my host place. But I still regret contacting to them because I lied to them about my nationality, just to protect my-self. Once again, I had to repeat the quote.