I am typing this blog entry while waiting for my flight at the boarding area Gate # D1 of the Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok International Airport) . After 16 days of wandering around Thailand and Cambodia, I am now set to arrive in my beloved country – the Philippines!
Looking back, I can say that this trip is truly a rewarding experience for me. When I booked the ticket last December, I was still reluctant. I am not an impulsive plane ticket buyer and I’d only book flights whenever the local airlines offer discounted rates. Maybe this trip is meant to happen and I am glad that my family and friends are supportive of it.
The original plan was to just stay for nine days. I only want to reach Siem Reap so I can see the magical Angkor Wat. It’s my grandfather’s dream to explore Angkor Wat and its nearby temples since he was a kid and he mentioned in one of our conversations over dinner that I must go to this Cambodian gem while I’m still young. At 24, I can still climb up the temples and manage to tolerate the heat of the sun. I didn’t really expect our three-day Angkor Wat adventure to be that exhausting! Thanks to random conversations with Khmer Kids, vendors and other tourists, it added and extra twist to the trip.
Siem Reap is my ideal city. Nice people, good food, simple living yet alive at night. Our trip to Tonle Sap is a rare tour as we explore the largest lake of Southeast Asia and we also witnessed how the people living in the Floating Village live from day to day. Pubstreet and conversations with fellow bloggers (PTB Meet-Up in Cambodia?!) made us forget about homesickness and all.
Thailand. Hmmm…. Bangkok is known for many things. Some say that it is the center of everything you can possibly think of (go figure it out). I can now attest that Khao San Road is the backpackers hub of Asia (or the world), Thai Food found at the streets are insanely delicious and it is also quite similar with Metro Manila.
Chiang Mai. Yep, I went to Chiang Mai by myself! I travelled solo for almost five days and I learned more about solo female backpacking. Now I can take account to the real hostel dorm-style experience, why Chiang Mai is called the ‘walking city’ and why it is the ideal location of travel bloggers and digital nomads. And oh, I met some cool friends and managed to eat a number of quirky fried food too! I also saw three adorable pandas and ate gallons of Thai Milk Tea!
The airline staff just announced that it is time for boarding. Again, I am thankful! I am excited to blog about everything that happened in this special trip. I would also like to thank all of my companions and the new friends I met along the way. You all rock! See you all soon!
02/20/2012 – 3:30PM
So proud of you Mica! Di na kita makakalimutan haha! Till your/our next trip 😀
Haha thanks Drew! See you soon and enjoy Bangkok!
Yeheyyyy nakauwi ka na ng PH! Weeeee. One day makakapunta rin ako ng Siem Reap. 😀
Book ka na ng flight, Renz! May direct flights na ang Cebu Pacific hehe you don’t need to go through the border sa Thailand or Vietnam na
Wow! Can’t wait for your posts about Cambodia and Thailand, gawin kong guide for my SEA Trip! =)
Kelan ang trip mo? yay na-pressure ako bigla LOL but will do my best 😀
August pa naman, pero I’m really excited na! Hehehe!
Woot! I still have enough time pa pala hehe sige will do Marx 😀
Hey Micaela, it was a pleasure meeting you in Chiang Mai!! Looking forward to following your future travels!!
I’m glad to finally meet you in person, Raymond! Have fun in Chiang Mai and I am looking forward to seeing you again here in the Philippines soon *fingers crossed*
Interesting to see how much you loved Siem Reap and Angkor – and how much it took out of you. Seems our experiences were very similar. I was exhausted after three-days of temple rambling and couldn’t take much more. Have fun in the Philippines – I hope to make it out there this year if I can!
Thanks Will! I can’t wait to blog about Siem Reap! You must go here in the Philippines! Let me know when 🙂
Wow, truly impressive, Mica!!! I’m excited to read all about your trip.
By the way, that airport looks very similar to our metro stations here in Dubai 🙂
Thank you, Nadia! I am hoping to explore some parts of Dubai soon too. Who knows, we might just meet this year 😉
I’m looking forward to it 🙂
Congrats on your trip. Gusto ko na rin mag-Cambodia!!!
Punta ka na this year! May direct flights na! 😀
congrats mica! kami enjoy muna sa BKK. finally nakakain na ako ng Thai food! hehe.
Thanks Edcel! Enjoy kayo dyan sa Thailand 😀 Nakakamiss din kayo 😀
Glad that you had a great experience in Thailand and Cambodia! Siem Reap definitely is worth the visit, but three days there is sure to be exhausting. I spent two days exploring the temples and I don’t think I could’ve done another day!
Haha same here 😀 Thinking about it now, I want to go back again! It’s just that the sun is so high and the humid weather makes me lazy haha
I agree with you about being temple-d out after 3 days of visiting Angkor. It’s amazing but…after 3 days…please no more!
Reached my Quota already!!! =))