Bus 'Sleepers": Travelling from Phnom Penh City to Siem Reap

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Route: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Date: 26 June 2019
Mode: Bus (Sleeper box type)
Distance: 318 kms. (Google maps)
Duration: 5 hours and 50 minutes (9:05pm to 2:55am)
Fare: 10 USD
Difficulty: None, longer travel than airplane ride
Highlight: Smooth travel, sleep lying down with ample space with curtains for personal space, see places passed by during the day

Sleeper buses are busy at night. After walking around the park for a day, full of sweat but fully satisfied observing the people in Phnom Penh city centre, I decided to travel to Seam Reap - Mission: to see Angkor War in all its antiquities and glory.

 The bus schedule is 9:00 pm but it arrive almost 10:00 pm already. I felt extremely drowsy waiting at the reservations office. The clerk was patient to remind me though where the bus already is. The reservations office is near the park and the museum. I sometimes peep into the night market while waiting in order to keep myself awake. 

 When the bus arrived, I had with me around 3 passengers more. We were asked to remove our shoes and put it in a plastic bag. We then followed. The bag is clean enough to be put on our bed.

After boarding the bus, I thought I would just keep myself awake and see the surrounding but I just found myself the following morning being awakened by other passengers near me, reminding me that it is already Seam Reap.

I could not believe it because it was still dark outside. But I asked the driver it is true and they affirmed. So I grabbed all my things and went down. It was still 2:55 am and the world is still in deep slumber. But this part of Cambodia seem to be 24 hours alive.

I alighted near a crossroad where there is no waiting shed nor any indication that it is a bus stop nor a drop point. The only sign that it is a drop point is that, there are many tuk tuk drivers offering rides. Although I found out that majority of tuk tuk drivers in Seam Reap could speak English, the drivers who talked to me do not know how to speak it so they went away except for one of them.

This driver named Sam Eang, stayed on and communicated with me through body sign language. They offered to send me to my hotel at 7 USD. But I do not have a hotel or any house to stay. Besides, I felt my body so itchy and sticky so I am craving for a place to stay and take a bath. I asked the remaining tuk tuk driver if I could take a bath in his house, send me to Angkor Wat, and sleep the coming evening too in his house. I showed my 10 fingers to indicate 10 USD. He then nodded in agreement. I don't know why after the negotiation, I never felt any fear of going to their house. My instinct is telling me that I am in good hands. It was indeed a hit.







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