Touching down for the first time in most Asian cities has proven to be sensory overload for my quiet existence. I love the authenticity of this brand of hustle + bustle but soon find myself exhausted from the energy around me. I like to treat the first destination on a multi-stop journey as an opportunity to acclimate.
Kampot, where we based ourselves is a strange little town. Or so it seemed when we arrived just after midday. The sun was hot, the streets were quiet-ish, and the atmosphere was hard to establish.
Take me to the beach! Adam’s a pretty clever guy. He knows that if he’s going to take this introvert flashpacking – there needs to be some peace and quiet at the end to recharge batteries.
Siem Reap is teeming with tourists. It’s hard to gauge the disposition of the life here withOUT being a major tourist destination. This city is the gateway for temple adventures. The tuktuk drivers are just chomping at the bit to take you on a temple tour. I’m pretty vocal about not loving a tourist attraction, like ever.
Battambang is a town just on the cusp of development, you can feel growth in the air. It’s located between (with a slight detour) the city life of Phnom Penh and the sights of Siem Reap.
This time around, we’re heading back to the UK – hometown of the Mister. I have a strict policy regarding home team advantage – when on local turf, you call all the shots.
