Heading off to Ho Chi Minh City!

After two and a half weeks in Phnom Penh, my parents and I decided to make the six/seven hour trip to cross the border to Ho Chi Minh City for the weekend! I tell you, nothing excites me more than the prospect of visiting the place I called home for 16 years (yes, you read right - 16 years). 

I'd never crossed any international border by land before (not counting U.S. to Canada of course), so to say I was a little anxious of the trip was a bit of an understatement. 

 Our bus probably consisted of 1/2 foreign tourists, 1/4 Cambodians and 1/4 Vietnamese passengers. Thank God we were able to choose our seats when we bought our tickets (just like when buying plane tickets), as I would have hated being sat all the way in the back where (in my opinion) it's hotter and more cramped. 

Mekong Express Orussey Branch

So Friday morning, we found ourselves at the Mekong Express bus terminal in front of the Orussey Market, right by the Mekong Express branch there - it would have been quite difficult to find as a lot of other bus terminals are here, and the Mekong Express one is pretty small. Good thing our driver knew where to drop us off.

Two hours into our bus trip and we had to get on a ferry to cross the Mekong River. As in, the whole bus, was on a ferry, along with other vehicles. Make sure that you haven't dozed off as you won't want to miss this experience! Though I'd experienced something like it before, I couldn't help but still be a little excited and worried...

There were tons of vendors waiting by the banks selling all kinds of fruits and other treats. Look how they swarmed around that van!

We passed by two other ferries going the opposite way - great picture-taking opportunity!

The view upstream of Mekong River - a bridge under construction. The whole ferry ride probably lasted about 10 minutes - pretty quick I must say. So if you're worried about traveling by water, don't fret. 

And this was our view pretty much the whole trip - field, after field, after field...

...after field, after field...

But no complaints. The view was real pretty. Also, they were playing some Bollywood film that I didn't catch the name of as our entertainment. At first I wasn't really paying much attention to it, opting to just listen to my tunes, but after a while... let's just say I have a deeper appreciation for Bollywood films now. 

Probably another two hours into the journey, we had a little stopover (25 minutes) at the Flower restaurant for lunch. They were selling all sorts of warm dishes and snacks - but I would definitely suggest just sticking to either the hot soup or light snacks as the warm meals (rice and viand) are pricey and not worth it, unless you like a lot of bones in your meal. Better yet, bring your own food for the trip - they don't mind. 

 Almost there! Well, to the Vietnam border anyway. The trip from the restaurant to the border was probably around 20 minutes, so not that much further to go.

The whole departure process at the Cambodian border was pretty fast, but I'm betting that it was probably due to us getting there around lunch time, so there weren't that many people there. The immigration process at the Vietnam border did take some time though - we had to bring down our bags from the bus for security check, and there was only one guy processing all our passports. Our (for lack of a better word) guide helped us a lot though - she was the one who lined up at the counter with everyone else's passports and simply called us up when the immigration process was done. Sort of a roll call if you will.

Once everyone was back on the bus with their bags, it was another two hours from the Vietnam border to Ho Chi Minh City. 

The view from there on was a little different - more buildings, more motorbikes, more people.

Alas, we made it!!! We reached the city centre just after 3pm, early enough to still have time to roam around the city.

We were dropped off in front of the Mekong Express office along Pham Ngu Lao St.. I was a bit bummed that the Bollywood film we were watching hadn't finished yet - now I'll never know if the two dudes truly make amends and if that one dude gets the girl. Oh well... 

There are a number of taxis idling along Pham Ngu Lao, so catching a cab to wherever you need to go won't be an issue. My advice would be to take either Mai Linh (completely green) or Vinasun (white and green) cabs as those are pretty trusted, and the ones we like to take. They have an actual taxi meter so you know you're not being taken advantage of. 

Pham Ngu Lao is actually what we (and by that I mean the locals and people who have lived here for ages) like to call the 'backpackers area', as there are quite a number of inexpensive accommodations that can be found here, as well as tourist offices, bars and souvenir shops. So if you haven't booked a hotel yet and are looking for something affordable, you can always check out the accommodations available here. 

All in all it was a pretty smooth trip, as the roads travelled are mostly paved - there were only a few instances where it was a tad bit bumpy. But it's definitely easy to fall asleep, especially if you opt to take one of the earlier trips. Just you know, bring earphones if you're a light sleeper. Mekong Express also does provide water and snacks at the start of the journey, and there's a fairly clean toilet at the back of the bus. The only downside was that there wasn't any wifi (at least on our bus), but it's no biggie as the views are gorgeous and the film(s) they show pretty entertaining. 

I would definitely recommend taking Mekong Express if you're thinking about crossing the border to HCMC, or any other place within or outside Cambodia. The prices vary depending on your destination (ours was $14 each) but I would say that they are pretty affordable. You can check out their bus schedule and prices here. 

Stay tuned for my future posts of a few of my favourite places to visit while in Ho Chi Minh City, a place that I hold near and dear to my heart. 

Happy discovering!

June Beauty (and non-beauty) Faves

Being a bit of a kikay (Filipino slang for girly, trendy), I couldn't help but have a post that featured a few of my beauty (and non-beauty) favourites that I have loved this month. 

Being in quite a hot and sticky environment, I thought for sure that I wouldn't be able to put on any make-up without it melting on my face the minute I stepped out into the heat. But alas, I've discovered the perfect combination of products that works for me, and might for you too. 

Just a little breather from all the travel posts I've put up on this blog - and heck, you can even look at this as some of my recommendations in terms of what to bring (and use) while on vacation?

I don't put make-up on everyday, but when I do feel up to it, I love to use my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand as my base. It's lightweight and has quite a sheer coverage, which is perfect for all this heat. I'm also loving the Rimmel Stay Matte Face Powder to set my moisturizer. That's essentially my summer face make-up done - quick and easy. 

Also pictured above are the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer (for the times that I decide to actually put on eyeshadow), Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara (waterproof!), my Revlon ColorStay eyeliner and MAC lipliner in Staunchly Stylish. 

To change up any of my make-up looks (which really depends on my mood), I rotate between my MAC Enjoy It All (Playland Collection, Asia exclusive), MAC Goddess of the Sea (Alluring Aquatic Collection), MAC Naked Bud (Fantasy of Flowers collection) and Revlon Wild Watermelon lipsticks. These four are definitely my current summer picks - a bright purple, dark purple, nude and coral. 

I'm also loving my Bourjois cleansing wipes to remove my make-up in a jiffy, and Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck rollerball perfume. And of course, you can't go wrong with the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunscreen for those sightseeing days walking under the sun, and Cream Silk Damage Control hair treatment to keep your hair well moisturized while in the heat. 

My non-beauty favourites

My family's been pretty obsessed with the Four in a Row game after my dad downloaded the game on his Android a few days ago. As the title suggests, the objective is to get four of your circles in a row. Pretty old school game, but I'm still loving it. I swear, I could spend hours playing this on my Ipad and not get bored.

It would be so wrong for me to make this post without including my new favourite TV show, The Master's Sun. It's a Korean TV series that I began watching on GMA late last month, and I am completely hooked. It's like a rom-com version of Ghost Whisperer, with the lead character having the ability to see ghosts and help them with their unfinished business. And I will warn you now, a few of the ghosts have creeped me out immensely. But it's got that Korean comedy flair and kilig factor that always keeps you wanting more. And major heartthrobs So Ji-Sub (who plays President Johann Joo/Joo Joong-Won) and Seo In-guk (Jul/Kang Woo) are total bonuses - heck if I was the lead, I'd have the hardest time picking between their characters. My mom and I haven't missed a single episode since stumbling upon this show (thank you YouTube!). I've never been this into a K-drama before, so that's saying something.

It is no secret that I have a GIANT sweet tooth, and last week my mom and I baked these yummy peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips in the centre. I'm a huge fan of anything with peanut butter so this was definitely right up my alley - as well as my dad's! They came out way smaller than I had expected (I'm a noob when it comes to baking cookies) which was bad as it made it much easier to scarf down these tasty babies. Lesson learned. 

What were your favourite discoveries in June?

Happy discovering!

Central Market, Phnom Penh

Here's another must see in Phnom Penh - the famous yellow colonial-style Psar Thmei, commonly known as Central Market which is located, well, in the centre of the city.  

The dome-shaped market was constructed in 1937 during the French colonial period by French architect Louis Chauchon. It has four wings housing stalls selling clothes, electronics, jewelry, souvenirs and pretty much everything else. Around the main building are other stalls selling flowers, fruits and well, the wet market. 

I'll be honest, I wasn't really expecting much coming here as I thought that it would just look like Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City or Russian Market, but I was so wrong! 

The paths are much wider and cleaner than Ben Thanh, a huge plus for me. 

Inside the dome, you can't help but look up and marvel at the art-deco architecture. The yellow of the walls completely brightens up the whole place, especially with the sun shining through the little gaps in the walls and the ceilings. 

There's also a small clock tower in the centre of the dome. You have to be standing pretty close to it though if you want to be able to tell the time. 

Dried fish being sold in the wet market area

Now I'm not actually sure what these are, but they definitely looked interesting. Not that adventurous to try what they are though - maybe you are?

All kinds of fresh meat and seafood. 

So many choices!

Fresh fruits and veggies - the colours just thrill me. When buying fruits, the vendors do sometimes let you have a little taste before purchasing, so don't be afraid to ask for a sample. And just for reference, we were able to buy a kilo of lychees for $2. Other vendors a few stalls down were selling them for double the price, so it definitely pays to walk around for awhile before committing.

Brains, anyone? Or perhaps a heart?

Pickled something - what it is exactly I'm not sure. Again, wasn't feeling that adventurous to try it out. And with the amount of chili on it? Err...

Moving on to the part of the market that sells all kinds of souvenirs, garments and pseudo-antiques. 

The stalls outside of the main building are covered, which is great as you wouldn't want to be fully exposed to the sun as you walk around the market. 

There were quite a few people going a little crazy buying what I like to call 'genie pants' - harlem pants made from a really light material. They're perfect for walking around in hot climates and maybe you've noticed that I've been wearing them quite often in a few of my posts (quite discretely). I know they've definitely become a staple in my wardrobe.

I also noticed that quite a lot of the buses carrying tourists drop them off by the main entrance, where a whole deal of souvenirs can be bought. Now sure, it's a great place to take pictures of the market, but do be wary that prices do tend to be higher here. My advice would be to buy items as a group or in bulk, but it's better to walk inside the little hallways between those stalls for cheaper prices - after all a lot of them do sell the same stuff. 

Handmade bags, wallets and toys, as well as other souvenirs. You can find these at Russian Market too. 

These tiny, tiny figurines were being sold for (I think) $3 per piece. Good thing I was able to control myself and didn't buy anything, though I was sooo tempted!

Gorgeous flowers! You can buy these already arranged or you can always buy them per piece and make your own arrangements. 

Again, souvenirs galore!

As I've said before, Ben Thanh Market was almost like a second home for me while I was in Ho Chi Minh City, and I think I've found its counterpart here in Phnom Penh. Central Market is definitely cleaner and less crowded in my opinion - though in terms of price, it still is much cheaper to buy goods in Ben Thanh. Again, it's just a matter of knowing where to buy stuff and how good your bargaining skills are. 

Fair warning though, be sure to remember which side of the market you entered through. Because a lot of the stalls do look the same, you could get lost. I nearly did. Thank God I was with someone who knew their way around. 

Central Market truly is a must visit for anyone in Phnom Penh. It's open from 7am to 5pm, but I have noticed that a few stalls don't open until 9am. I'd definitely suggest coming in the morning to truly get the full experience of the hustle and bustle of the market, and besides, it won't be too hot out. 

Happy discovering!

Central Market
Between streets 126 and 136, Phnom Penh