Banlung, the hidden gem of Cambodia

It was Friday the 13th when we cross the border separating Laos from Cambodia. For some people this particular day brings bad luck so we decided to think unlike the others, that it would bring good luck. We decided to hitchhike from the 4000 islands in the south of Laos to whatever city we could reach before dark in Cambodia, aiming at eventually hitting Phnom Penh since we wanted to skip the north of Cambodia to save time (wait for our upcoming article about how we crossed the border). We actually reached a city in Cambodia around 12pm, that city was Stung Treng, the first big city in the north.

A: Stung Treng, B: Banlung

Stung Treng is an “important” hub in the north of Cambodia, from there you can reach pretty much any city in the country or at least the big ones and even get a bus to Laos. The problem about Stung Treng is that there is nothing really to keep you there, it’s quite dirty and it’s not pretty, which are not our main concerns but it lacks activities. So after our first Cambodian meal at the market of rice noodles with a delicious yellowish meat-like sauce served with fresh vegetables and oddly enough flowers to add in if desired for a lovely 75 cents a positive change from Laos’ higher prices. We then tried to figure out where to go next. We remembered reading about this town called Ban Lung, in Ratanakiri Province, in the northeast, famous for its ancient and beautiful crater lake, many waterfalls, and few tourists. Looking at the map it seemed fairly close to Stung Treng but knowing it was one of the most remote areas of Cambodia we decided not to hitchhike but to take a bus there. And what a great decision we made! We would soon discover one of the highlights of our trip!

Video of the Week #2

Some people ask why we travel? Sometimes words just can't answer the question completely. This video created by Clemens Kuger, Vincent Urban, and Stephan Templer helps to answer the "why" by capturing some of those moments that one just can't explain. This video shows a trip in South America in 2012 by Landrover covering Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil which immediately brought back beautiful memories of our trip in South America also in 2012. When traveling we often feel like children seeing things for the first time. We explore, question, and sometimes just watch, time becoming just a mere idea.

Unexpected Hospitality

We were embarking on a new journey, which required one of those grueling Indonesian bus rides, a twenty five hour journey from Bengkulu, Sumatra to Jakarta, Java, on the “economy” bus which only cost $18 instead of almost double for the same journey but of course without the adventures of an “economy” bus. Considering hitchhiking is a pain in Sumatra due to the lack of cars, the condition of the roads and the distance between cities, we just thought it was not worth the trouble.

An economy bus in Indonesia looks like this

So we opted for the fun bus ride on the type of bus that stops every ten minutes with people getting off and on, loading huge bags to transport merchandise, fruit, fish, vegetables, chickens, etc from Sumatra to Java. Unfortunately it was raining a lot so everyone closed their windows and due to the intense heat we had the lovely impression of being in a large steam room, fully clothed, full of people and interesting odors and best of all smoke. Sorry but this sounds better than being in an air conditioned bus with reclinable seats.

Picture of the Week #2

Two children in Pulau Samosir near the town of Tuk Tuk in Indonsia who were walking barefoot down the street hand in hand and came to a little shop to buy some candy. After buying the candy they sat down to pick through and compare what they had. This was such a simple yet precious moment. 

Video of the Week #1

We will now add a new component to our blog, Video of the Week. Once per week we will share either an inspiring travel video or a video that we captured during one of our voyages somewhere in the world. Please help by sharing these videos, and commenting on them.

This video, "Move", shows three guys traveling in 11 countries and almost 40 thousand miles in 6 weeks, and with all the footage captured, creating a beautiful one minute video. This video is one of a three part series, Move, Eat, and Learn commissioned by STA Australia. STA travel basically helps students travel and study abroad, by providing cheap flights and tours and even providing scholarships for students.

Picture of the Week #1

Today we are adding a new element to our blog called "Picture of the Week". Every week we will post an interesting picture taken during one of our trips. From landscapes to food to people, discover the world from a different angle.

This week's picture was taken in Langkawi, a Malaysian island off the coast of Thailand while we were sitting watching a parasailer gliding off into the sunset, the call to prayer sounding in the distance and children playing in the sand beside us.

What To Pack: Getting Ready For Your Next Trip

Ready for a new trip and having a tough time deciding what to pack? Here are some suggestions based on our experiences and the one sure thing that we do after every trip is to vow to take less and carry smaller backpacks for the following trip. Regardless of whether your trip will last only two weeks or as long as two years these tips are still the same.

It's easier to walk around with a small pack

What to Pack?

Pack the LEAST POSSIBLE! After you pack take out half of what you were going to bring and leave it. Here are some suggestions on what to bring or leave and some important reminders.