FollowNew Continent. New Country. Parting Thoughts. Cambodia.
so so excited BUT holy hell, listen to the craziness of this whole adventure. i will leave today at roughly 10AM Eastern Standard and arrive at 10PM Friday, local time, in Phnom Penh. it will be 11AM Friday here. that’s over 24 hours of time. a day of my life gone. sayonara. goodbye. flying home is EVEN WORSE.
what else…crazy visa crap i’ve never dealt with before. turn one copy in on arrival only in these X lines and then one upon departure again and you can staple it into your passport. staples in my precious passport? whaaaaa???
then the whole ‘it’s rainy season – malaria – dengue fever threat.’ (READ: THIS ONE I’M ACTUALLY WORRIED ABOUT) so i’ve pre-treated my build clothes with toxic bug repellant that if in contact with my skin while wet would need the assistance of poison control. ok…that is OUT OF CONTROL. or, wait, maybe it gets even better.
how about bug repellant lotion a that is for only exposed skin. ok?! but when you apply it you cannot let it touch your clothes because it’ll eat it up. seriously?! so i have bug repellant clothes spray that cannot touch my skin and bug repellant skin lotion that cannot touch my clothes. this combination sounds INSANE.
AND the most recent advice is not to bring/wear any nice jewelry. it calls attention to yourself and this isn’t good. what is going to happen when i pull out my hot pink boa? it IS just feathers but that baby is a definite attention grabber! i don’t know what to think about having NO accessories. this is killing lola.
there’s cultural issues to consider, too. proper greetings and no embracing in public. holding your temper. no pointing fingers. not showing your palms. i’m tremendously demonstrative. i mean, do i look like a subdued person? toning all of this down is going to be a bit of a trick for me. i plan to just keep my arms glued to my sides. you think this will work?
well, that’s all folks. send positive thoughts for a safe journey, few mosquito bites & that i can control myself in public.
XO – lola
Safe travels See u soon xx
I am sok ly,cambodian.I living in siem reap city.my job is Tuk Tuk Taxi.I do the tour to the temple of Angkor wat as wish.I have been working 6 year with Tuk Tuk driver.your money is dominating to my family and my brother sister for study.hotline 092754059
Lola, have an amazing time. I have been following your prep and must say, wow!! What you will get out of this experience will be way more valuable than all you have to give up. You are a star!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted…An English summer tradition: the BBQ
i cannot wait to do a follow up to all of my prep now that i’m on the ground here. as far as mosquitos go…i’ve had success keeping them away from me. 🙂
We are getting reading for our backpacking trip to start in Sept but I was just reading about DEET mosquito repellant yesterday and it seriously is kind of scary when it says that the 100% DEET shouldn’t touch your skin or you could break out into rashes or that if you apply to skin you must shower before bed because you don’t want to trap the chemicals under the bed sheets! Kind of intimidating!
Vicky recently posted…7 Things To Do In DC That Are NOT The Smithsonian
not sure where all you are backpacking but the trouble with treating your clothes, packs, etc. beforehand has been worth it so far. i’ve seen mosquitos and they are not coming near me!
I’m still a bit confused about this whole bug repellent spray skin clothes issue stuff. You’ll have to explain that one to me over cocktails. So excited for your trip though, and don’t worry too much about the diseases – although I am worried about your inability to cope without accessories. Going cold turkey is never pretty.
Tom @ Waegook Tom recently posted…Jeonju: Lotuses & Catholics
i’ll let you in on a little secret Tom. i still brought a few key accessories. i just couldn’t do it and bring nothing. so far, it seems kind of silly to have been so concerned anyhow. i think the idea is less is more so don’t break out the bling! 😉
You’re jetting over to the other side of the world as I’m typing this. Safe travels, I hope nothing bites you, and that you’ll at least get to wear some accessories when lounging by your hotel pool… xo
Pola recently posted…Photo of the Week: Looking down from the Eiffel Tower
Pola!! so far so good with the bug bites. it’ll be interesting to see how i fare overall. i’m going to river in the jungle near the end of my visit here so that may be where i get it the worst.
ps – i’ve worn a couple of accessories out and about – shhhh 😉
Lol, you can do it! And good luck with the Visa stuff. I went into Cambodia via bus and the process took forever, though was interesting. Hopefully the airport is much faster! By the way, that bug repellant sounds almost as dangerous as dengue fever. Be careful!
Gina recently posted…That Time a Canoe Fell on Me
the visa bit was a cinch at the airport and even though the bug repellant stuff was/is an ordeal…it seems to be working 😉
“what is going to happen when i pull out my hot pink boa?” God lola I love you!! You’re going to have the best time ever I’m so excited for you xxxx
hey girlfriend! well, the boa has had 2 outings and no one seemed to freak out! phew 😉
thanks for your well wishes, doll xxxx
Oh, my dear Lola. I am waiting with bated breath of your return. I can’t wait to hear the tall tales from Cambodia. Safe travels, my friend.
Leah Travels recently posted…A Sunny Day at Cloudy Bay Winery
miss you traveling BFF
Lola, NOW you can call yourself a real world traveler!! Stapling the passport grants you that status! Once you add pages, you reach another milestone! Don’t worry about DEET, and all that jazz. You’ve done your homework, you are ready and now enjoy the experience! BTW, I never think of my 24hr+ treks as a lost day – I plan what I will do in that day as I do any other day!
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted…Photo of the Week – Santiago’s Fresh Seafood at the Mercado Central
good sound advice on all fronts, Raul. i definitely feel like more of a world traveler than before – that’s for sure. i also feel very small in this BIG world of undiscovered lands.
I’m not gonna lie: the threat of malaria and those super duper bug repellents scare the crap out of me! But it seems that you’ve taken the necessary precautions. Keeping your arms glued to your sides? Well, I’ve seen you in action; that might be a different story 😉
Francesca recently posted…My annual trip back in time
so far so good Francesca with the pills and the bug repellant!
arms glued to my sides…EPIC FAIL. it is nearly impossible for me.
please tell me you packed the boa… if anything must always go with you, it is the boa.
stay adventurous, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted…A Few of My Favorite Tastes of Amsterdam
have you seen the evidence of the boa, Craig? it’s alive and well in Cambodia!!
I did not take any malaria pills when I was in Cambodia, and I did not see many mosquitoes. In the rainy season it might be a little different. I am sure you will be safe. Cambodians are a friendly lot. They will love Lola.
Traveling Ted recently posted…Five adventures overseas that went wrong
i feel good about the precautions i’ve taken but i agree, i haven’t seen too many mosquitos so far. i think it may be different when i leave Phnom Penh though.
Cambodians are a friendly lot – agreed. i love them back! 🙂
Oh God, I loved this! Good luck girl, have a fab time.x
thank you so much for the well wishes! 🙂 x
Going to be a great adventure…I don’t do bugs, so your misadventure with the repellent is particularly unnerving…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted…California Route 1 – Big Sur to San Francisco
the misadventure appears to be working. AND i’m relieved to report that even through the sweating at the build site, no clothes or skin have suffered from the treatments. HAHAHA
I stay for my hold life in cambodia.you come here you will see what happient.cambodia’s people are friendly and helpfull.about culture you will see Angkor wat temple this best temple in the world
thank you Sok ly. i am very excited about visiting Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. i agree with you that Cambodian people are friendly and helpful. you have the most beautiful & infectious smiles that it would be impossible not to smile back 🙂
Poor Lola. Hearing about things like this killing you hurts Hogga too lol. I don’t like to be told what to do haha
Hogga recently posted…Sexy Toronto Summers
it’s a good lesson for lola. i’m definitely getting outside my comfort zone in all kinds of ways on this adventure. i’m hoping it’ll make me grow and enlighten me a bit.
loved following your prep but we know we’ll love hearing about your adventures even more! xo
the lazy travelers recently posted…no travel required
thanks lazy duo of fun & funny! cannot wait to share. xo
It’s interesting seeing all that has gone into getting ready for this trip. So many preparations but I’m sure it will be totally worth it.
John recently posted…A Santorini Sunset
me not looking like i have the plague from mosquito bites is worth any trouble. so far so good on that front!
I hate those long flights, too! When I travel to Australia it takes me about 24 hours. It feels even worse than it is because Australia’s already a day ahead, so I feel like I’ve lost two days of my life …until I get to relive a day on my return (leave on a friday and return on a friday, even though it’s been 24 hours…) Time changes can be fun 🙂 Anyways, have fun in Cambodia!
hi Claire! thanks for your comment. travel is worth the hassle of time changes, jet lag and losing a day or two. my trip over was a breeze. fingers crossed returning home will go as smoothly 🙂
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