Battambang 马德望

Posted on March 6, 2018 by The Traveller

I took a 6 hours bus ride from Phnom Penh to Battambang. When the bus reached the so called “bus terminal”, tuk tuk drivers rushed toward the alighting passengers trying to sell their services to take the passengers to the city, which is about 20 minutes ride. I was shown with pictures of many hotels and finally I decided on a hotel that has a roof top bar and a Jacuzzi. I had a room by myself for 2 nights for S$42.

I made an appointment with the young driver to show me around the next day for S$17. I tried the bamboo train in the morning and visited the killing bats caves in the afternoon. The famous Cambodia Circles is in Battambang but it was closed during the New Year season.

Killing Bats Caves

The Bamboo Train

Battambang is a small place but worth a day visit if you are travelling from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. The bamboo train is an eye opener for US$5 a person. The killing bat caves are a must to visit.

Phnom Penh 金边

Posted on February 28, 2018 by The Traveller

I reached Phnom Penh at about 2.30pm. Cambodia is one hour behind Singapore. I met this old Singaporean man at the airport while I was searching for tourist information. He said that was his first time in Cambodia and asked me how to get to the city. He further asked me where he could get a hotel to stay, what places could he visit and where to find girls. He even asked me how much would the girls charge for a night. I wander. Do I look like a GSO?

I told him I have booked a hotel through the Internet and if he likes, he could come and stay in the same hotel. He paid for me a SIM card at the airport. He said he doesn’t need the SIM card as he cannot read English and does not know how to use the Internet. I walked him to the bus stop.

While we were waiting for the bus, 5 young people approached me and asked how could they get to the city. I wander. Do I look like a tourist guide? These 20+ Chinese young people are working in Singapore and came to Cambodia for holiday during the weekend. I asked all of them to take the public bus 3 with me to the market centre. On the bus, we realised that it was the first day of the New Year in Cambodia and the public buses are free for all. We saved 53 cents each.

The old man decided not to stay in the same hotel with me because I was staying with 9 other foreigners in a room and he couldn’t bring girls into the room. He stayed in a hotel not far from mine and paid S$45 a night. Well, I paid S$8 a night for a bed in a dormitory with a swimming outside of the room. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The Killing Fields 杀戮场

While we were waiting for the Tuk Tuk to take us to the killing fields, one of the guests was reported dead by his roommate. When they carried his body down from the second floor, his face was pale and his body looked frozen. Both of his hands and mouth were open. I got the feeling that he was choked to death.

It was a sad day to see someone died in the morning and later visited the sites where more than a million people were killed and buried. We also visited the old prison and saw pictures of people being tortured.

Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality………… Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886).

Greece 希腊 (Athens 雅典)

Posted on December 3, 2017 by The Traveller

酒神喝醉了, 海神去航海.
雷神放暑假, 我该怎么办?
闪电在睡着, 风神又不来.
太阳管天下, 我快要疯掉!

到达雅典, 天气仍然如土耳其那样炎热
听说古希腊神话的十二主神能够帮助人们解决问题
雖然如此, 在不同的時代人类不斷為了適應其文化演化而變化
现在我们已经變成了神通广大
求神不如求己
无论天气有多热, 被晒到有多黑
我仍然在雅典逗留了六天

I joined the free walking tour on the next day when I reached Athens. For the next few days, I revisited those places that the guide had showed us.

I got confused with the Parthenon and the Acropolis till I asked my friend Mr. G and got to know that the Parthenon is an ancient religious temple the Athenians built for the Greek goddess Athena. The Acropolis is the high hill that the Parthenon was built on. In short, the Parthenon is a temple and the Acropolis is the hill the Parthenon is located.

When you are in Greece, you should visit some of the islands. There are travel agents who will customize island hopping according to your needs but I found these packages are not within my travel budget. Instead, I took the train to the harbor and take pictures of people onboarding the ships.

I tried to strike up a conversation with the young butcher in the local market but didn’t have much luck as I do not speak Greece. Somehow he understood my body and sign languages and posted for me to take pictures. What a wonderful encounter for the trip!

I booked the backpacker that comes with breakfast. I took 2 hard boiled eggs from the mini buffet table and filled up the water bottle when I left the breakfast room. I just need to have another late lunch or earlier dinner for the day, which cost less than S$20. This is the way I control my budget.

Here is the other side of midnight in Greece. Do you consider this an graffiti art or vandalism?

Cappadocia

Posted on November 15, 2017 by The Traveller

I was a cave man in Cappadocia because I stayed in a cave. Most of the hotels in Cappadocia are built in or near to caves. In fact, the whole city is surrounded by caves.

I got a bed in this Stay In Peace Cave Hotel for S$7.50 a night with breakfast and free wifi. There is no air-con in the cave but it was cooling. What a good experience! The owner, a young Turkish couple, are very friendly. They provide information about the place, arrange for tours and do whatever they could to assist the tourists. A good stay!

The whispers in the morning Woke me up

Of me sleeping light I helplessly sigh

Even though I have time I quickly walked up

Of seeing the hot air balloons On the mountain side

Sound of my heart beat Travelled thr morning light

Of me leading myself Finding for a good site

The sun unwillingly woke up And birds flying up high

Of hundreds balloons floating What a beautiful sight

Ankara

Posted on November 4, 2017 by The Traveller

I took the midnight bus from Cappadocia to Ankara. I though I could save the cost for a night hotel stay and sleep in the bus instead. However, I just couldn’t get a good sleep in the bus. When I reached Ankara at 7am, the hotel was kind enough to let me check-in. Till then I managed to sleep for a few hours.

Ankara is the Capital of Turkey but there aren’t many attractions. I only stayed there for a day and took the bus back to Istanbul the next afternoon.

Istanbul

Posted on October 22, 2017 by The Traveller

There is a fire burning in my heart,
I have to cool it before I could start.
There is an excitement growing within me,
I have to stop it before I am not me.

Pamukkale

Posted on October 17, 2017 by The Traveller

From Canakkale I took a bus to Pamukkale for S$38. This was a long and tiring 8 hours ride and the bus stopped in Denizli instead. At the bus terminal, I approached a policeman to ask for direction and finally I landed up in a small and cosy hotel for S$31 a room with buffet breakfast. The next morning I took the mini bus (S$1.58) to Pamukkale. When I got off the bus, someone from a nearby travel agency approached me asking whether I would like to join a day tour of Pamukkale for S$54. I told him I would consider about that.

After about 10 minutes of walk, another man approached me asking me to join his tour for S$36, which is one third cheaper that the earlier approach.

His group had 2 Canadians, 2 Indians, one Korean and 2 Singaporeans. Without second thought, I joined in the tour.

Later I found out that the middle age Singaporean couple is a pilot and a teacher.

I also met 3 young Malay Singaporeans while waiting for the tour. I think we have the Singaporean identity as when we look at each other, we know that we are from Singapore.

Pamukkale means Cotton Castle in Turkish. It is a natural site for hot springs. This is a rather small place but it has some remarkable spots, such as the Roman Spa and Roman Theatre. Though the ancient Roman bath has collapsed but the structures are still there. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.