Summary of my Long Trip

2014, May The Long Trip - THE END

This is the end. Almost 2 months passed from the day I finished my trip. I must say I did what I planned to do. Now I wanted to present a short movie summing it up. My trip started in September 2013 in New Zeeland. Afterwards, I visited China, South Korea, Japan, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Australia which took almost 6 months. I spent an amazing time and met a lot of incredible people. Some of my adventures can be founded on my blog. 
Enjoy the movie! I need to find a new destination - any idea?

Welcome to Vietnam

2013 December, The Long Trip - Cambodia to Vietnam
Bus to Ho Chi Min cost me 9 USD. My trip started at 8:00. The bus was full with only few foreigners on board. The driver was crazy like every driver here when it comes to driving. On the bus they took all passports and when we had a stop for lunch in their own restaurant. I went 30 m away to local people and bought some drinks for a normal price. I needed to point that the lunch place wasn't so expensive and local people ate there.
When we arrived to the border our passport where there, already stamped at Thai border in Bavet. I had to take my luggage out of the bus. At Moc Bai border they didn't check us, only passports and visa. I spent there around 20 minutes as my passport was almost the last one.

It was short a distance to Ho Chi Minh City from the border. I stayed in District 1  and the company provided minibus to drive me there from a bus stop.

On the way

My bus

Lunch time

The border

Welcome to Vietnam 

On the bus

Cambodia - Phnom Penh

2013 December, The Long Trip - Cambodia, Phnom Penh

From Siem Reap I took a night bus to Phnom Penh. It was a sleeping bus - an old one with not enough room for my legs. I am a tall guy :-)
It was a fast ride. In the morning I was in the capital city. My hostel Eighty8 was located 20 minutes walk from the bus stop.
It wasn't a cheap one but clean and with good reviews. It was hard to find here a cheap and clean one.
I decided not stay for a long time here - just to apply for Vietnamese visa, see the city and arrange transport to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam.
I read that visa to Vietnam costs 60 USD and my hostel offered arranging it for 61 USD. It was a good deal, they didn't need any forms - just passports, one photo and 61 USD.
I gave my passport in the afternoon and the following evening I had my visa.
The city centre was in a walking distance from my hostel. 
On the Monivong street is Canadian bank which ATMs allows cash withdrawals with no extra fee.
The Royal Palace is open from 2 pm and nearby are parks and the Independence Monument as well as the National Museum. Wat Phnom is worth visitting.
Tuk tuk to the centre cost max 2 USD.

Inside my sleeping bus

Wedding photo session

Independence Monument

Near the Royal Palace

Royal Palace - local transport

Royal Palace

Royal Palace

Hair stylist - salon on the street

Local cargo terminal

Cambodia - Beng Maelea

2013 December, The Long Trip - Cambodia, Beng Maelea

On the way back from Koh Kher we stopped in Beng Maelea. The entrance fee is 5 USD and it is possible to take a tuk tuk from Siem Reap to get there.
It is another temple affected by jungle and there are much more tourists than in Koh Kher. Inside the temple are groups of children asking for cash.
They are smart or trained as they choose only people looking well or groups of people. I was surprised as they know some sentences in Chinese and they were able to guide Chinese tourists.
They also know English.  Luckily, I looked like a backpacker and there were a few Chinese groups around so they surrounded the Chinese not me.
The temple is a huge one, in a bad condition. They started creating a kind of path for tourists. It is not ready  so a part of the path leads on the old stones.
The place was incredible. Even with Chinese groups around it wasn't as busy as Angkor Wat.
I really recommend to visit this temple if you have time.

Children asking for cash

Welcome to Beng Maelea

Trees and the temple

Tourtle

The power of jungle

children asking for cash (guiding)

On the way to Siem Reap