Wanderlust Cambodia

Street food. Only for the adventurous. Our first day out eating in Phnom Penh was at a road-side shop that specialized in kebobs. I asked my cousin what kind of meat were being grilled on the open bbq and was told beef. Beef liver, beef strips and something resembling beef meatballs on a stick. It smelled wonderful and tasted yummy! You're charged by the stick. I had 3 and Jose had 14.

The easiest way to get around Phnom Penh is by tuk tuk. Picture a small carriage pulled by a moped. It can be quite a harrowing experience. Traffic in this city is madness. There's no rhyme or reason to the way people drive here and no rules on how many people you can squeeze onto a vehicle. We've seen cars driving on the opposite side of the road onto oncoming traffic and mopeds with 3 peoples squeezed on a seat back. Sometimes even inches away of nicking each other. I recommend these cardinal rule: keep your hands and feets close to your body, hang on for dear life and bring sunglasses to protect your eyes from the dust.

I finally have my travel itinerary to Cambodia solidified. I might have to tweak it a bit after I get there. It'll depend on if I like the place or not.

Day 1: Phnom Penh
Day 2: Phnom Penh
Day 3: Siem Reap
Day 4: Siem Reap
Day 5: Siem Reap
Day 6: Siem Reap
Day 7: Siem Reap
Day 8: Siem Reap
Day 9: Phnom Penh
Day 10: Phnom Penh
Day 11: Sihanoukville
Day 12: Koh Rong Samloem
Day 13: Koh Rong Samloem
Day 14: Sihanoukville
Day 15: Kampot
Day 16: Kampot/Kep
Day 17: Phnom Penh
Day 18: Phnom Penh
Day 19: Going home

I picked a long stay in Siem Reap because I really loved the city the last time I was in Cambodia. I'm big into archeology and I love the ruins of the Angkor temples. Another big draw is the night life being fantastic.

Jose said he wanted beach so we will be spending some time in the south coast of Cambodia. I heard that if you're at the right beach in Sihanoukville, it's pretty darn fun.

Koh Rong Samloem should be an experience. We get to stay at our own private grass hut on a sparsely populated island. There is a restaurant bar within the grounds. Angkor beer, sun and beach. What more can one ask for?

I'm lured to Kampot because of a clip I saw on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation. I must now have fresh crab from Kep with Kampot pepper. What can I say, I'm a foodie at heart.

I love to travel. I love to plan to travel. My bucket list is huge. This trip is special this time around because I'm going with my new hubby, Jose. In a way, this is our honeymoon, belated since our wedding was in August.

I tend to over-research for every trip that I go on. This trip isn't an exception. I've been researching for months on what I would need for a 3 week trip to Southeast Asia.

My goal in packing is to fit everything into a 21" wheeled carry-on and be able to travel 3 weeks with it. If I was pack-backing throughout the whole trip then I would bring one of those heavy duty hiking packs. But since my home base in Cambodia will be at my aunt's place in Phnom Penh, I have the luxury of leaving my luggage behind. I plan to carry a day pack for the short excursions to Siem Reap, Ratanakiri, Sihanoukville and Kampot. Believe me, it's much more convenient to have a backpack then a suitcase especially if I have to ride on the back of a motodop to get around.

After much thought, below is what I came up with for my essential packing list. I'm really trying to aim for comfort and style. It is my honeymoon you know and I do want to look cute. Let me know what you think.

Clothing
1 x swimsuit (yes I'm bringing a bikini, probably shocking to the local Khmer populace)
2 x ¾ length sleeve shirts
4 x tank tops
4 x dressy camisoles
1 x comfy yoga pants (for airplane ride and doubles as sleep pjs)
1 x techie travel pants (I bought a North Face adjustable length travel pants from REI)
3 x plaid Bermuda shorts (can't be wearing daisy dukes in a conservative Buddhist country)
2 x sun dresses
1 x thin, lightweight zip up
4 x moisture-wicking, non-chage, fast-drying underwear (yes 4! I love Pantagonia's hipsters)
2 x bras
1 x walking flats
1 x dressier sandals
1 x flip flops for showering
1 x hat (you will need this as a barrier against the hot sun)
1 x belt (this is a plain vanity on my part, I want to wear it with my dresses)

Electronics
Electrical adapter and converter
IPad
IPad charger
Phone
Phone charger

Miscellaneous
Daypack
Money belt, wrist wallet, shoulder bag and fake wallet
Sun glasses
TSA locks or zip ties for luggage and daypacks
Ear plugs (for noisy bus rides)

Medicine
Hydrocortisone cream
Dramamine
Immodium
Tums
Aleve
Insect repellant (Jungle Juice works great)

Toiletries
Anti-chafing cream
Wet wipes
Tissue packets (just in case there isn't toilet paper available)
Contact solution and spare contacts
Travel size hand sanitizer
Travel size baby powder (this really helped with drying skin in senstive spots especially when it's humid out)
Travel size shampoo and conditioner
Travel size face lotion with SPF
Travel size face wash
Travel size body lotion
Travel size deodorant
Travel size hair brush
Travel size toothpaste
Tootbrush and travel case
Nail clippers
Disposable razors
Lip gloss
Blush and blush brush
Mascara
Milk of magnesium (great mattifyer and oil control product)

And there you have it, my essential packing list for Cambodia.