Solo travel —Cambodia!!
Solo travel is so hyped. So much so that everyone is exuberant about it and at the same time anxious. That’s a big decision, easier said than done for many — of similar origin as me. Yet it’s there in most of their bucket list. I’m 27-year-old South Indian female, with some beautiful memories carved out of brave decisions. I’m not sure if I ever dreamt about doing a SOLO trip ever! But somehow I managed to do an S-O-L-O-O-O trip. Yeah, I’m too proud about it and guess where??
C-A-M-B-O-D-I-A!!!
Woah! That’s super amazing. So how did it happen? Where did it all begin? Experiences? Fears?
I can write a series on this experience I’ve lived!
My wedding is in about 4 months time and I’ve got a week’s free time before joining the new office. I was contemplating about going to India with a secluded escape, M-E only splurges for a day or two followed by wedding shopping. And, this was the spark of the solo trip. I presume so.
Discussing this with Bala, he’s the majority of my life, the one to whom I’ll be lawfully wedded for the rest of my life & he’s like why India? Just go somewhere else. Pun intended. I received the message. I just said that I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time! Ah, seriously? I don’t know. Maybe. End of story.
The next day he pings from office
Him>https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Flights-g297390-o294265-Singapore_to_Siem_Reap.html
Me> Are you serious?
Him> why not?
Woah! That’s harmony. I’m excited but I never gave a thought about why Cambodia. I’m so excited about the trip that the destination didn’t matter.
All good things don’t happen at once :( Statutory warning from him: I’ll have to manage EVERYTHING with respect to this trip. Ah! That means flight booking, accommodation, itinerary planning, blah blah blah.
This made Cambodia look far for me. I spent days with the solo trip thought to wane. And there he was picking my brain to get things done.
For some reason, I hardly get the flight bookings right. I end up booking either to the wrong destination or on wrong dates or both!! It has once cost me more than the actual flight cost to modify the booking made. That was the doomsday. I decided I’m not booking flights again. Ever! From then on I’ve been delegating this task & it’s been him :D
Alright, now that I have no choice, I buckled up myself to figure my way out. Looking out for flight options,
- Lowest price — Check
- Convenient timing — Check
- From-to — Check check
- Date — Check check check & recheck
- Card details — all okay!
One more step to go, click confirm. And I’m still not sure about this. Frantically I’m pinging him, time ticking as airlines surge their prices dynamically.
Me> Should I go to Cambodia or India? Wedding shopping on the cart
Him>You don’t get to do this often. Typing..
And boom. Click confirm & I have the flights booked.
It says,
SIN — REP Jul 10, 2018, 13:55
REP-SIN Jul 13, 2018, 18:50
I’m rechecking the details. Proud of myself for getting it right the first time. And in a few seconds, I realize the same flight was cheaper on a different site. Point proved. I’m bad about this.
Step 2 of the preparation process. Accommodation. Honestly, I did not look out for options because I didn’t want to scare me away from it. I did no research about the place, what to do and not do. I was holding on to we will figure it out on the going mantra.
Ping.
Him>Top 10 hostels in Cambodia. Rank #1 Pool Party Hostel.
Looks like he’s more excited than me. He working in TripAdvisor is a huge advantage. He plans for the trip whenever he is bored. How cool is that?? Coming back to the Cambodian Saga, since I have to plan everything, I was contemplating on every other option other than the rank #1 that’s suggested. I couldn’t hold my attention for more than 5 mins that I booked the Pool Party. Yeah. I’m sorry. I’m too lazy for such things.
I still have time for my travel & I wasn’t prepared for it. I was busy with other aspects of life. Maybe had I given a think through for even 10 mins, I would have freaked out. And maybe it’s good not to fret about what lies ahead.
Jul 10 — Day of travel
He leaves to the office with a peck and a hug for an awesome trip. And there I’m — haven’t packed anything. And I come to the room - to a pile. A pile that consists of a set of dresses, toiletries, slippers, spare phone, photo, passport, neck pillow, and whatever that is needed to travel. So packing here is just to rack up the pile into the backpack. I just dumped everything in the backpack so that I know what is where. Spoonfed, spoiled I’m. Get ready & go. That crazy dream.
Too late to start, I skipped my breakfast for a brunch in the airport. I was on time, automated boarding pass. As I was grabbing my brunch, busy updating the fellas about the trip, I realized its already time for boarding. So far so good. As I walked towards the gate, I realized that the money exchange part has completely got over my mind. He reminded me of ’N’ times. I did drop an S$100 . I looked out for options nearby and no. I go for money exchange, I’m losing the flight. Freak. I’ve no penny for any transaction there. It’s VOA and I can’t plan to take cash post-immigration. I started to search online for ATM or money exchange before the Siem Reap immigration. Not much help out there. Decided not to fret now for something that’s in the future. Planned to figure it out on the go.
Take off. It feels good or rather great! As I enjoy the freedom, I dozed off. Everything felt so in place that I didn’t want to worry about having any cash. Waking up to the announcement, “Cabinet crew prepare for landing”.
Siem Reap. Here I’m :)
Siem Reap, welcomes me with the possibility of sending me back on the next flight. As I enter the immigration, I’m frantically looking for ATM or currency exchange. Phew. No signs. Busy travelers filling up the visa form. There were about 7–10 people on the visa application line. I waited for them to finish so that I could reach out for help. In the meantime, I began filling up the form and I see 2 expats in a similar situation. They were discussing that immigration doesn’t accept anything other than USD. How I wish the world was equal?? As they walked, my eyes followed them and it was then an air of relief. ATM !!! How did I miss it? My bad! I was expecting StanChart or HSBC. It was some local bank and that dispensed my relief. Visa did. Immigration done. And here I’m, on my own expedition. Tuk Tuk to Pool Party. And no, Bala didn’t plan an itinerary. That happened my way, on the go! Yeah, I at least take the credit for that!
Travelling is good to the soul! And, Life begins at the end of the comfort zone.
Cambodia is one amazing country. If you have a flair for Arts, this would definitely be food for the soul. It’s thoroughly influenced by Indian mythology. The inscriptions are about scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Hiranya Kashibu, Samudra Manthan and lot more.
I did study a bit about the relevance between Cambodia and India later and it’s so astonishing to see how established was the Chola reign and dynasty.
The Wat-s are overwhelming and majestic. I revisited a few of them before the trip came to an end to have enough and enough of it. A trip was nicely done :)
