Hobart - Tasmania

From Sydney we flew into Phuket and once again stayed in Patong. We stayed in a similar area as before and the hotel was quiet. This time round we didn't do many `tourist` things it was more of a beach/pool holiday but if you'd like to know more about different areas please read my sisters blog on Karon beach, Kata beach and Phuket Old Town. stylespeakslouder.com

While in Phuket we secured our 4th house sit through trusted house sitters and we flew from Phuket to Melbourne then to Hobart with Air Asia and Tiger Air and cost us 17,880 THB (today's exchange rate £352.07 for 2 people) but took near 24 hours to get there.

When we arrived in Hobart airport we were greeted by Gill and taken to her home which over looked Hobart city. Their home was on top of a hill in Tranmere and had beautiful views across the Derwent River. Their home was only 4 years old and after a freshen up from our flight they showed us round the area. We didn't have a car to use at this house sit so we relied on push bikes but we loved the bike ride out to the shops every 3 days along the water front. It was very peaceful and picturesque. The closest shops to us were Shoreline and took 40 minutes there and back on the bikes,  but there was a bigger shopping mall at Bellerive which took an hour there and back.

We cycled over to Hobart a few times which nearly killed me as it is very hilly in Hobart  and the bridge is only narrow but once we made it, it was so lovely to bike around the city. Its only small but lovely along the water front and the city its self is quiet. There is a main shopping area called Elizabeth street which is all cobbled and has malls coming off it. There is great architecture in Hobart and lots of things to look at. They have a huge market every Saturday morning called Salamanca Markets which is a street market and selling everything you can think of. We went to cinema at Bellerive and in Hobart city, we went on a Tuesday as its cheap Tuesdays and only cost $12 (today's exchange rate £5.88) instead of $18 (today's exchange rate £8.82) on other days.

We wanted to go to the Cadbury factory while we were there and I looked at the Hop on Hop off bus for $70 (today's exchange rate £34.30) but then realised it was only $4 (today's exchange rate £1.96) to get into the factory so we decided to look at public transport but that was going to work out the same price and take near 2 hours to get there so we decided to hire a car instead. We hired one from Bargain car rentals and just went for the cheapest one, which was cheap and felt like it was going to fall apart around us. One thing they didn't mention when I booked it over the phone was you have to pay a $1000 (today's exchange rate £490.05) deposit which they hold for 1 week in case you steal the car or damage it, which for us a $1000 is a lot of money not to have so be aware of this.

So we got in our hire car and went to find Cadbury world which turns out is only 10 minutes away. (god knows where the bus must have taken you?!) Anyway Cadbury world visitor centre was actually closing down on the Friday before Christmas and now we know why. It was just basically a shop selling cheap chocolate and a lady talking about the factory with a slide show, there was no tour of the factory or demonstrations on how it was made.




After Cadbury world we went up Mount Wellington, bit of a nail biting drive up there in our small car but we made it and the views were amazing. It was a little cloudy but we liked this as it was cool. We walked round the walk ways and took some pictures and had sandwiches while we looked across Hobart.

On our way back we to stopped at the oldest Brewery in Australia, we did want to do the tour but had just missed it by 10 minutes and there was another hour and a half wait for the next one, so if we go back to Hobart we'd definitely try to go there.






So we went off for lunch and I had seen this Burger place advertised on the TV all week so wanted to try that out in Sandy Bay. It was called Burger Got Soul and although the burger was tasty it was disappointing because the meat patty was frozen and not homemade. If all you sell is burgers I would have expected homemade burgers.

After this we took the car back to the rental shop. I thought things were a lot further apart in Hobart so had hired from 9am until 6pm but we finished up  by 3pm.

We didn't fancy the 5 hour drive there and back to Port Arthur so we never went and we are not really into nature reserves so we never went to Cradle Mountain but Gill said she enjoyed it so maybe if its your cup of tea you would too.

We spent 7 weeks in Hobart all together going out on our bikes most days and we loved it. We had Christmas there, which was a little strange having it in 33 degree heat and no decorations, even the neighbours didn't have decorations up in the windows and it was so quiet. We also celebrated the New Year with Gill and Harry watching the fireworks over the Derwent River.


This really was one of our favourite places we've been so far.

Sydney - Australia

Welcome to Sydney.

This was to be our third house sit, which was situated on the suburbs or Sydney, Picnic Point. From the International arrivals we got our bags and headed for the T2 Airport line to East Hills. (When booking your tickets ask when the next train will be as we waited 30 minutes to find we had to get 2 different trains as the direct train was going to be another 60 minutes). The trains are really easy to navigate and cost only $4.20 (today's exchange rate £2.50). Some of the trains are double
decker's which I have never seen before so the kid within me had to sit on the top deck. It took around an hour to get to East Hills traveling through suburban Sydney which like anywhere is a little run down and lots of graffiti.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the home owner and taken for a quick tour of the area, everything you needed with a 10 minute drive. The house was private and overlooked Georges river, but the best part of house sitting are of course the pets and we had a very playful, lovely nature doberman to look after called EJ. Contrary to peoples beliefs this doberman was the sweetest scaredy cat you could meet. Never left our side and had constant affection to give, and don't forget receive. We only had 6 days with him but I think it was safe to say he was taken by us as we were with him.




The area of Picnic Point is lovely to walk around especially along the George River. Being this far from the city there wasn't many attractions so we hoped back on the train and headed to the city. Again the trains are very easy to understand and the journey took about an hour and cost $10.80 each return. (today's exchange rate £6). The main station to get off is Circular Quay as this stops in the middle of the Harbour Bridge and The Opera House. The city is very walk friendly and takes about 30 minutes to walk from the main shopping street (Pitt Lane) to Darling Harbour or to the Opera House.

Attractions in Sydney:

• The world Famous - Sydney Harbour Bridge - The worlds largest steel arch bridge began construction in 1924 and took 8 years to complete. The Tyne Bridge in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England is a smaller version to the Sydney bridge, and this is where 79% of steel work came from. On this trip to Sydney we never went up the bridge, we walked along the path on the same level of as the cars. There are sign post everywhere directing you to the walk way which takes you to the northern suburbs of Sydney. There wasn't many people up here and great views of the Opera House and to the sea mouth. If you were interested in the Bridge Climb it is good fun and nerve racking as there are lots of steps, narrow metal ladders and you climb between the lanes of traffic. You are harnessed in and have a guide with you telling the history of the bridge. The climb costs $228 weeks day (today's exchange rate £125 each) and takes 3.5 hours. The only downside to the climb is you can not take a camera up with you so you cant capture the views from the top, which is why I think walking the path at a lower level is a better choice because you can take as many pictures as you wish and the views are still great. 

• Another world famous - The Opera House - It has earned its reputation as a world class performing arts centre and holds all kind of events throughout the year. There are lots of different tours offered, from looking around inside, eating at the restaurant or going backstage but the beauty is the outside and its free. Have your picture taken on the steps of the Opera House or walk around the building.

• Royal Botanic Gardens - Access can be found just past the Opera House and free guided tours run everyday 10.30am and 1pm. You can just walk the gardens yourself for free too.  

 

• Darling Harbour - A lovely harbour with lots of street entertainment, not far from the Harbour Bridge. Every type of restaurant can be found along the harbor so never short on choices and you can also find the Sea Life centre here.

• Bondi Beach - The beach is on the eastern suburbs of Sydney and has become world famous. I was actually surprised how small the beach was, I mean its big but because you hear about it all the time i was expecting a massive beach. There are nice places to eat along the sea front, but it does get very busy at the beach so if your not a strong swimmer stick to the shallows and always swim between the flags.

• The Rocks - Lots to see and do around here from looking at the shops all ranging in price to finding a bargain on the markets. Take a look round the museum or relax in one of the bars on the cobbled streets.

• Taronga Zoo - Located in the northern suburbs this zoo was opened in 1916. It houses every animal you can think of in a zoo and entry costs $46 (today's exchange rate £25). You can get a ferry across to the zoo from outside Circular Quay train station.

• Sydney Tower - The tower can bee seen anywhere in the city and boasts a 365 degree revolving restaurant at the top. I went up the tower in 2007 and was disappointed because all the windows were dirty, and if the only thing your offering is the view you want a clear look at it. For the more adventurous travelers you can walk the sky-walk and observation deck for $70 (today's exchange rate £40)

• Ferries - There are numerous ferries found at Circular Quay train station depending what you want to do and bookings can be made direct with the company.

After our 6 days were up we booked flights back to Phuket to keep within the rules of our visa. We went all the way back to Phuket because it was cheap and we hadn't planned our next move as yet.

So join me next time when we are back in Patong - Phuket.

Brisbane - Australia

From Kuala Lumpur we looking into ways of flying to Brisbane Australia and it was more expensive to fly direct (around £300 with a stop in Singapore, total trip 13 hours) so instead we booked seperate flights, the first one was to Sydney and we booked our tickets online via Air Asia which was very quick and easy to do. The flight cost about £100 direct 8hours and then we booked another flight through Tigerair from Sydney to Brisbane and this cost about £37 direct 1 hour. These prices do not include baggage but even with the cost of this for 2 seperate flights it was still a lot cheaper than one long flight.
I do search for flights using the Sky Scanner app to see which airlines are the cheapest and to work out times and once I have done this i find it cheaper to book direct with the airline.

Visa: As we are a British Citizen we can get a free 12 month visa for Australia (non-working) but the conditions are you have to leave the country every 3 months. There is no specific time limit in which you have to leave but i would suggest leaving for longer than a day.

On arriving in Brisbane we were picked up by my Auntie and Uncle whom we stayed with in Redcliffe, a half hour drive north from Brisbane. It is a quiet place not a lot to do but does have good bus services and you can easily catch the train from Sandgate into Brisbane city.

Attractions in Brisbane:

 

• Brisbane South Bank - This is a man made lagoon which anyone can use and has slides for the children. In May when we were there it was getting into their winter so the water was a bit cold. They have a lovely botanic garden which surrounds the lagoon which you can follow and walk all the way along the river bank.

• Wheel of Brisbane - As you can guess the wheel is the same in most cities, revolving pods which your in to experience different views of the city. Adults cost $17.10 each (today's exchange rate £9)

 

• Mount Coot-tha -Here you will have panoramic views of Brisbane city skyline from the observation deck. On clear days you can see right out to Moreton Bay and at night the city will light up the sky. There is a cafe and restaurant at the top so you can enjoy coffee, cake and the views.

• Queen Street Mall - You will find all the shops you want along this open aired mall. There are many side streets full of shops which sprout off the main street. 

 

• River Cruises - There are many different cruises to view Brisbane from different angles and there can all be found on the river banks around Brisbane. The prices vary depending on what the cruise offers so check out the local tourist information center for more info. 

 

• Eat Street Markets - These are open every Friday and Saturday night and Sunday through winter and offer a wide range of food from Indian, Chinese, Pizza, Burgers, Kebabs, Donuts, Cupcakes, Fudge etc. There is live music and entertainment offered with a small entry fee of $2. It can be found next to the ferry port (Hamilton Wharf) and definitely worth a trip.

Attractions in Redcliffe:

• Whale watching - Brisbane whale watching is the main company in  Redcliffe to offer whale watching. (This company can also be found at The Gold Coast). You board the boat at 9:30am and returns 2:30pm. The boat doesn't travel far out to see, just past Moreton Bay and although the sea looks calm at the jetty it is not out at sea. We paid $135 (today's exchange rate £72 each), we chose the deal with the buffet lunch, DO NOT get this. It really wasn't worth the extra money, mostly salad with a bit of chicken, but most of all you probably wont want to eat anything as it is very choppy. We have never been see sick but this company turn their engines off while around the whales so you go which ever way the sea goes and with huge whales splashing around it can go up/down, side to side. I think at least 70% of the people on board were sick. Saying that we did see about 7 humpback whales, 3 dolphins and a hammer head shark which was very lucky. There was live commentary all the time so if something was happening at one side of the boat you would know.

 

• Jump the beach - Sky diving can be done all over Australia (and the world) so I'm not going to say Queensland is the best place to do it, you have to pick the place you want to see from up above while you fall out the sky......with a parachute of course.

The main attractions in Queensland:

•  Australia Zoo - Of course everyone knows about Australia Zoo and if you don't where have you been?? The famous Steve Irwin and his family own the zoo which is filled with any animal you can think of. It spans over a huge area so allow yourself a full day to explore and see the animals. They have many different shows on from Crocodile shows, bird show, snake shows to Koala shows. They offer zoo tours kind of like a jeep safari, you can have your pictures taken holding or touching some of the animals, but I think the best part of this zoo is the open Kangaroo enclosure which you walk through and can feed and stroke the kangaroos. The Koala's are also in the open so when you walk through there area you can stroke them and have your picture taken with them. It allows you to get close to animal you would not usually see.

• Movie World - Found on the Gold Coast and basically a movie themed theme park. They have 4D experiences as well as a variety of thrill rides. It isn't the biggest theme park I've been too but offers the same things.

• Sea World - I think everyone knows what to expect from a sea world, they offer different animals shows, swimming with dolphins, trainer for the day and touching of sting rays/turtles etc. They also offer a helicopter ride over the Gold Coast but I personally think this is very over priced.

• Wet'n'Wild - Everyone's favourite holiday activity the water park. Again isn't not the biggest I've been too but offers different level of slides, a large swimming pool with the wave machine and heated pools. They have a selection of places to eat, all fast food of course so you might want to take a picnic and sit on the grassed areas.

With movie world, sea world and wet'n'wild we purchased a combination pass which gives you access to all three parks and valid for 3 months. it cost $99 (today's exchange rate £53) which is so much cheaper than buying the passes individually. Each park cost $79 each (today's exchange rate £42)

• Dream World - A combination of theme park rides, dream works, and a zoo. We did not go to this as it was not included in the pass we bought but is in the same area as movie world. Tickets cost $85 each (today's exchange rate £46) but they do offer 21 day and annual passes. 

 

• Fraser Island - The worlds largest sand island which is just off the coast of Hervey Bay. There is lots to do on the island whether your there for a day or stay at the hotel, depending on what you like there is something for everyone.

 

• Great Barrier Reef - The great barrier reef stretches from the top of Queensland (Cairns) right down past Brisbane. The main attraction here is snorkeling. We never did this as I am scared of the sea and don't fancy being eaten by sharks which do swim in the shallow waters no matter what they tell you.

There are so many attractions to do in Queensland these are just a few of them. The best thing to do is visit the tourist information center in the area your in to find out what they offer.

While in Redcliffe we accepted our first house sit, YAY!! I spoke about this in my first blog but for those of you who have forgotten or just didn't read it I shall explain again:

Trustedhousesitters.com is a website where people advertise their house and or pets to be looked after while they take their own adventure. As a person looking for a house sit we search the location we are in (currently New Zealand) and any house-sit we find interesting or in the place we want to go to, and we apply to the home owner with a simple email telling them who we are and what we have previously done. With each house-sit you do you are given references and the more your profile builds the better and bigger chance of securing a house sit. What to do? You subscribe to the site for as little at £6.60 per month or £79.20 for a year and create a profile about yourself and who ever your travelling with. Make it an honest profile and let people know who you are, likes/dislikes, job etc. Add pictures, a friendly face can go along way and you can add videos of yourself if you wish, we haven't because I'm rubbish in front of a camera. We have so far done 4 house-sits currently on our 5th and it has been amazing. We have met some great people and made friends for life and looked after some great cuddly animals along the way. We will never stay in hotels again with this website available i can not stress enough how great it is. If you do decided to join this site before your travels please let them know who recommended you as we both might get some discounts. Our name is Travelers2015.
For us this has been the best decision we made on our trip, not only has it saved us money but given us more opportunities to see things and experience living in a new place. Also as animal lovers we were missing our pets back home so its nice to have that company back again. Not all house sits have animals so don't think you will be tied down to a place, its up to you which sits you apply for and accept.

So at our first house sit we looked after 3 lovely King Charles dogs in the first week then only 1 in weeks 2 and 3. She was very easy to care for and the home we stayed in was also lovely and offered us the space a hotel could not. (after spending 8 months together 24/7 its nice to have another room to escape too) lol. Although we didn't have a car at this sit the public transport was close by. Not only did we save money on hotels but it allowed us to cook our own food and save money on eating out, because to be honest in Redcliffe there isn't many nice places to eat unless you like your meat and veg or pub grub. I can however recommend a great little cafe called 'Over There Cafe' next to the Dolphins Oval sports club and it has fresh homemade products that are packed with flavour so support local businesses and head over there!!!!

After our 3 weeks in Redcliffe we secured another house sit for 5 weeks in Sandgate which was about 20 minutes from Redcliffe where you can catch the training to Brisbane. Here we looked after 2 golden Labradors which had been rescued by the home owners. They were very quiet dogs who loved attention but also like to be outside on their own. The house had pool and in the hotter days the dogs liked to join us for a swim. There were great places to walk in the area and although the beach wasn't great to sunbath on it was great for walking the dogs. (Australia doesn't like dogs on the beaches so it great when you find somewhere you can take them on). The dogs and us lovely splashing in the sea and running along the beach. The home was a traditional Queensland cottage, small but very cute and cosy inside and we really appreciated having the opportunity to stay. The home owners themselves were very welcoming and offered us to stay longer or if we were back in the area to visit them.

While we were at our second house sit we took a trip about 2 hours inland to a place called Montville and it was such a pretty little town with quirky buildings, old clock shops, sweet shops and cafes with amazing views. Worth a visit.

Wow this is a long blog so I shall sign off for now. Tune in next week for our experiences in Sydney, Australia.

Thanks for reading.

Siem Reap Cambodia

So where we got off the bus in Sihanoukville, was a travel agents where we booked another DAY bus to Siem Reap. We used Giant Ibis, which only runs from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. There is only one direct bus to Siem Reap and that is a night bus with Virak Buntham but this is rated the worst bus in Cambodia so you have been warned. The bus took in between 12/13 hours and left at 7:45am and arrived in Siem Reap at around 8:30pm with stops along the way. It cost $23 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £16.

We arrive late in to Siem Reap but our hotel pick up was just sat waiting for us and took us straight to the hotel. We were welcomed with towels and drinks and shown to our room. The room was very spacious with a bath and shower, although a little dated it was still usable and clean.

The hotel was about a 15-20 minute walk into the centre of Siem Reap which was fine, there were places to eat along the way and a couple of hotels, the lane was well light at night so we didn't have a problem walking around after dark. (We don't like to use tuk tuks if things are within walking distance). The main square is packed with market stalls, restaurants and travel agents so there isn't a short of things to look at. The markets are all light up at night and there is a lot of hustle and bustle around. In the centre of the main square there is a pub street which has all the bars and restaurants with promoters trying to entice you into their bar or bar crawl.

The main attractions:
Of course the main attraction in Siem Reap is Angkor Wat. We arranged a tour through our hotel and there are so many temples you will need a tuk tuk to take you round them all.

• Angkor Wat: A World Heritage Temple.

Cambodia is very proud of the temple as it is classed the heart and soul of the country and many thousands of traveler flock here each year. As you will see a lot of the other temples are more ruins and not what they used to be but the Angkor Wat temple has never been abandoned and is still in continuous use. It will take you about 3 hours to look round the whole grounds but go on a cool day. When we went is was nearly 40 degrees centigrade and was just too hot to enjoy anything, and all we wanted to do what
 get in an air conditioned room. You can buy a multi
 day pass so you don't need to see it all in one day. The costs are : 1 day $20 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £14), 3 days $40 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £28) and for 1 week $60 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £42).
 
 


Note: There are a lot of steep steps and uneven surfaces within the temple so please be careful when walking around.

Kickboxing:
There is an arena just on the outskirts of the main square which hold kickboxing 2/3 times a week. Some of the matches are televised but cost $15 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £10) for foreigners to watch. If you get a tuk tuk there the driver can get in for free to watch as well. We did this and it was our drivers first time at the arena and he loved it. Drinks are available at the venue and can last anywhere from 1-3 hours.

• Markets:

There are many markets to choose from, most selling the similar things you just have to barter them down. There is also a food market which has a variety of things including smelly dried fish so hold your nose when your in there.

• Cinema:

There is a cinema which is on the second floor of the Angkor Trade Center. It is very basic with private viewing rooms but the movies are not of the best quality. The staff are very helpful and bring your drinks/popcorn to the room for you.

After our stay in Siem Reap we looked at the next place to go to and this ended up being Krabi in Thailand. This was because it was the cheapest place to fly to.

Remember: If you fly into Thailand you will get a 30 day free visa but if you go over land borders you will only get a 15 day visa.

Hotel we stayed in was booked through booking.com
Landing Point Hotel, $283 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £198) for 7 nights including breakfast. This was a lovely hotel and great fresh breakfast. The pool was small but deep and just what you needed after a day in the heat. There were only 3 sunbeds but this was ok as the hotel was very quiet.  a good size and quiet. The staff were very good and polite in this hotel.

One of the most memorable places - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

We arrived in Phnom Penh at night time and had no clue as to where we were or which direction the hotel was in so we jumped in a Tuk Tuk to make things easy.

We were greeted with cool towels and fresh drinks while we checked in. The hotel had made a mistake and pout us in a double room as apposed to the superior room we booked but this was immediately corrected and we changed rooms. This hotel had only opened a month prior and was in very good condition with new amenities, it was busy but only had 13 rooms with a lovely pool to jump in on a hot day.

We arrived in Cambodia in Feb/March time and it was extremely hot around 40 degrees Celsius every day, which sometimes was unbearable to go out so we stayed in our room with the air-con on.

We were situated very near to the Independence monument which sits in the centre of the traffic circle so if you get lost this is a good point to head back to as your only 5 minutes away from The Royal Place and shopping area.




Phnom Penh is full of history and this can be seen within the buildings around the city, if you hire a Tuk Tuk for the day they will take you round the city to see different temples. The main attractions of course are the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, the S-21 Prison and The Royal Palace. There is deep history in these places so show respect and really listen to the story's told, some can be quite moving. It pains me to think of the terror and torture that occurred in such a beautiful country.

Attractions:
We hired a Tuk Tuk for the day to take us round the attractions, they are cheap but of course you have to barter for the right price but the drivers get lunch at each stop if they take someone so better to use them than a corporate company that may rip you off. 

• Choeung Ek Killing Fields:

Here you are given an audio headset to listen too as you walk around, it is in sections and you just press play when you move into each new section, which means you can walk round at your own pace and really listen to the stories. The cost to get in is $6 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £4.20)




Between the years of 1975 and 1978 around 17,000 men, women and children were brought to the killing fields from the over crowed S-21 prison. A lot were tortured to death so not to waste bullets. There is estimated 8985 peoples remains were exhumed from the killing fields in mass graves, some of the human remains and clothing are still present in the fields. While on the tour you will here stories from the victims who survived the Khmer Rouge and from Him Huy who was a guard and executioner at the fields.

A Memorial Stupa of clear glass was erected in 1988 to house bone fragments and skulls all arranged by sex, age and how they killed.

•   S-17 Prison also known as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum:

Admission is around $2 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £3) there is no audio around the prison but facts and pictures on walls. You can have a guided tour for $6 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £4.20)

This was not always a prison, it started off as a high school before Pol Potts took over in 1975 and it soon became the largest centre for detention and torture in the country.






The leaders kept detailed logs of each prison who walked through the gates  by taking their photograph, name and where they came from. Most of the photographs you see in the prison today are of people who were later killed. When the Phnom Penh was liberated in 1979 only 7 prisoners were found alive, they had used their skills in photograph and painting to do this.

• The Royal Palace:

(This is a small section of the Palace)
Admission here is $10 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £7)
NOTE: you MUST cover your shoulders and forearms. A scarf or shawl will not do it must be a t-shirt or jumper, we did not actually visit the Palace as i had my shoulders exposed.


 
There are many more attractions and temples to see around Phnom Penh, like the Independence Monument I described earlier, the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument (picture) which is in between the Palace and the Independence Monument and the large markets in the centre of town. Be careful at these markets as they are very tightly packed and very busy so there are a few pick pockets around. It all depends on how long you are staying in Phnom Penh as to what you see, also it was extremely hot when we were here so doing a little is tiring.



Hotel we stayed in was booked through booking.com.
The Sam Boutique Hotel: $302.40 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £ ) for 7 nights including breakfast. Although the cooked breakfast wasn't that great as it was very small, you could also have cereal. Very clean bright hotel, great swimming pool and the rooms were very clean and modern. i would definitely stay here again as the staff were brilliant and it was in a good location with lots of eateries around to choose from.

Moving onto Sihanoukville we booked a 12:30pm Giant Ibis minibus from their head office in Phnom Penh (street 106) which is situated in the night market and cost $10 US Dollars (today's exchange rate £7). It took 4 hours with stops along the way to Sihanoukville. When we booked the bus we asked to be picked up from the hotel but as this was a new hotel they didn't know where it was so we had to give the name of the hotel next door which they were fine with. There are only 2 bus companies that run to Sihanoukville these are Sorya and Capitol Tours, they are classed as typical Cambodian bus companies which are cheap but only good for short trips, and then there are 2 minibus companies called Giant Ibis and Mekong Express

NOTE: We did a lot of research on TripAdvisor to see which is the best company to go with, and Giant Ibis had the best reviews. It was comfy big seat in only a 16 seater minibus. (Sorya company tend to break down often and have falling apart buses, which make the trip longer.)

BEWARE: Please be aware the roads in Cambodia are not all finished in lovely tarmac, so if you are getting a bus please get a day time bus and NOT a night bus around Cambodia. If you have ever been before you will know what I'm talking about and if you haven't well, hold on to your seats your in for a treat. The roads are sometimes narrow, or have huge holes in them so through the day at least the driver can see where he is going at night he can not. The night buses are also most prone to accidents. See this link (Night Bus) for 5 reasons you should not get night buses.

Hoi An to Nha Trang

The train took 9 hours from Da Nang to Nha Trang which left at 11:41am and arrived at 8:41pm The station is not in the centre of Nha Trang so i would get a taxi when you arrive to take you to your hotel.

I don't think there is a main area of Nha Trang to stay in as there are many shops on every street. The hotel we stayed in was very popular and only a 10 minute walk to the beach.

Nha Trang is very busy and very popular and there are lots of lovely places to eat on every street. We just used Trip Adviser to see which restaurants were rated the best.

Not far from the hotel is a lovely stretch of white sandy beach that you can do a number of water sports on from kite surfing, jet ski's and banana boating. There are lots of bars long the beach which have seat actually on the beach so you don't have to go far.
There is also an outside swimming pool/lazy river which is open to the public, with sunbeds around the edges although you do have to pay for these.


You can get your hair cut and a shave on the street in Nha Trang as local people set up stalls with mirror attached to trees. You can also get your ears cleaned.

While in Nha Trang there are many different activities you can do but as we were only here for a few days we only did the Egg Mud Baths which cost about $12 (Today's exchange rate £9) These are egg shaped pods filled with natural hot mud you bath in for 30 minutes and there are hydro pools and swimming pools to relax in. Although this sounds a nice novel thing to do I wouldn't do it again, as it is not worth the money and was a small complex. Within our ticket we could eat in the restaurant which we were the only people in and the food wasn't that great.














We were here for valentines day so went out for a lovely sushi meal which again we found on trip adviser and went to the cinema which is very small but quiet and cheap. This is about a 20 minute walk from the beach in the direction of the train station.

We booked a night bus from Nha Trang which picked us up from our hotel to Ho Chi Minh City which took 10 hours and cost around $24 (Today's exchange £17 each) there are two that leave a day either 8am or 8pm. We took the 8pm bus. The bus will arrive at Ho Chi Minh City but the bus station is not in town so you will have to get a local bus into town. Ask a local for directions and they will tell you what bus to use they are very helpful. Once we arrived in the city we went straight into a travel agents and booked the next bus to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

NOTE: You can not book a bus in Nha Trang all the way to Cambodia you will have to book them separately as we did above.

Hotel we stayed in was booked through booking.com:
The Summer Hotel, $103 (Us dollars). (Todays exchange rate £72) for 4 nights. This included a buffet breakfast which was very nice, but a lot of the rooms don't have window and is so very dark and smells musky. We were a floor above the kitchen and you can hear everything and they start early in the morning so be warned. There is a roof top pool but its small and has about 8 sunbed so in high season you will struggle to get a bed. The hotel was ok but there were points that let it down. Not a hotel to stay in for long periods of time.