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While on the World Race, you quickly learn to be flexible- things do not always go according to plan. Travel days are no exception as we found out again coming to Cambodia. Here is our last experience:

March 30
 
8-8:30am- Teams Engedi (Greg’s team) Rockstar (Lindsay’s team) and W.O.W. (my team with Mary as our leader) load up all 18 of our packs at our budget hotel in Penang on the 30th to start our travel extravaganza. We walk to where the bus will pick us up (an advantage of having a big group to travel with) at 9am.

9-9:30am- We are informed that the bus is running late. They will be coming closer to 9:30am. We make use of the time using the free Internet while waiting. We use the American flushing toilet and even provided toilet paper (always a novelty while on the World Race). 

9:30-9:45am- The bus arrives and we engineer ways to pack all 18 big backpacks under the bus. We then board with our other stuff. There is not room for most of our regular sized backpacks in the cubbyholes near the ceiling so we either put our backpacks at our feet or in the aisle. Luckily, we are in the seats in the back of the bus. Unluckily, we notice that there is no bathroom so we will drive for a few hours before stopping. This is only a problem if you need to go sooner.

9:45-10am- I sit next to A.J. (from Team Rockstar). 10-10:30am- We have to stop to get our passports looked at and paperwork filled out at the bus company’s office. 

10:30am-3:15pm- I remember that I have a hardback book that Becca (from Team Engedi) had given to me. The book is “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus. I had read it this month.  I ask A.J. if he has read it.  He has not so I give it to him. He starts reading it while I read “Wide Awake” also by Erwin McManus and “To Live Is Christ” by Beth Moore both on my IPod Touch. He finishes the book on the bus ride.  I then give it to Dex to read.  He starts it.

(We have an unofficial World Race October lending library. When you buy a book (not an e-book), read it, you can choose to pass it on to another racer on your squad. That way others are able to read them and we do not have to carry the weight.  So far, I think there were about five people out of the sixty-one of our squad who had read it before the bus ride started. You write your name in the back with the date you finished it so we can keep track of how many read it.)

(Side note to future and current racers- I would highly recommend to all future racers to get a 4th generation IPod Touch or IPhone. It is useful to get internet while not having to carry a NetBook or Mac around. It fits easily in your pocket. You also can use it for information, music, games, or reading e-books.  I like the camera feature which is only on this generation IPod Touch or on the IPhones. I have used it when I had forgotten my camera or did not want to carry both. The quality of picture is not as high but it is convenient.)

3:15-3:45pm- The bus stops at a gas station/mini-mart (like 7-11 in the US).  There is a mad rush for the bathrooms. Afterward, we buy snacks at the store. We then reboard the bus. 

My View of Kuala Lumpur
 

3:45-4pm- The bus stops and we think we are told (since the driver does not speak English) that we need to get out here at this little bus station. It turns out that the bus will not take us all the way to the station we thought we were going to so we will need to transfer.

4-4:10pm- We unload all of our stuff and we think all 18 big backpacks before the bus drives off.  We recount them and all 18 are there.

4:10-4:20pm- The leaders go inside to find out how to get to the Central Station. We wait outside with all of our stuff.

4:20-4:30pm- Our leaders inform us that we need to move our bags to the other side of the building for the correct bus so we do.

4:30-4:40pm- We wait by the bus stop while being stared at by most of the locals.

4:40-4:45pm- The bus comes so we load up. We take up most of the seats with our bags. Most of our group are standing.

4:45-5pm- We take the bus to the correct stop. We get all of our stuff off the bus. We wait with our stuff while the leaders find out the best way to the airport. They come back and tell us that we need to walk one or two blocks to the Subway Station.

5-5:15pm- We move our stuff and all 18 of us to and through the Subway to the correct track.

5:15-5:30pm- We take the Subway to the Central bus station. We walk down to catch the bus that will take us to the airport. We reload our 18 big backpacks under the bus and then board.

5:30-6pm- We ride the bus to the Kuala Lumpur airport.

6-6:10pm- We unload all of our stuff from the bus including all 18 big backpacks. 

6:10-6:20pm- We bring all of our stuff to a corner of the KL airport near where we need to check in the next morning at 5am.  We will have a total of 61 big backpacks when the whole squad arrives.  Each team arrives.

6:20pm-Midnight- We spend time with our teammates and squadmates in various ways.  (Side note: I bought some Reese’s Pieces- the first I have seen in a couple of months. You can occasionally find Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups though but usually rejoice when you do.)
 
My Squadmate Jake covering another squadmate Sean with a blanket
 
Squadmate Michael sleeping in the Kuala Lumpur Airport
 
Me at McDonald’s at the Kuala Lumpur Airport
 
March 31
 
Midnight-5am- Some people try to sleep but I don’t try. There are various ways to pass the time: eating at restaurants (luckily McDonald’s is open all night), playing cards, talking to squadmates, shopping, taking pictures of teammates or squadmates while they are sleeping, reading, and using the Internet are a few ways.
   -Around 1am, we find out that all the people on my squad are now fully funded through generous supporters like you. Those of us who were still awake celebrated while the sleepers were not told until they woke up. 
   -Around 2:30am, some of my squadmates may or may not have tried to find ways to entertain themselves by riding the luggage carts around the check-in area (one wore a cape).

5-5:30am- Our Squad Leaders and Logistics Team watch the ticket counter for our airline for any sign of life. 

5:30-5:35am- The Squad Leaders and Logistics Team are informed and let those who are awake know that our airline’s check-in staff will not be in until 7am.

5:35-7am- We twiddle our thumbs while waiting for the ticket counter to open. Actually, we talk to those who are awake, use the internet some more, and go to McDonald’s for breakfast. 
   -I exchange my Malaysian Ringgits to American Dollars. The exchange rate is currently around 3 Ringgits to $1 US.     
   -Cambodia uses the dollar for most purchases (and most merchants prefer it). If it is less than a Dollar, you will get Riel back as change. 4000 Cambodian Riel is currently around $1 US for the exchange rate.  (Side note: I am excited to finally recognize the currency and not have to calculate the exchange rate in my head for each purchase.)    

7:15-7:20am- We are informed that we need to quickly check in, go through security, and meet at the gate. 

7:20-8am- We try to go through the above as quickly as possible. We arrive at the gate. We need to go though another security checkpoint at the gate.

8:40-9:45am- We fly from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. We have about a five hour layover so we find some food with our squadmates or try to use the airport’s Free WiFi. I eat at Pizza Hut (which has different options than in the US) with 3 squadmates.

Noon-12:30pm-We check in and go through security. 
“Reading” in the Singapore Airport
 
12:30-2pm- Some people choose to sleep, read, shop, or eat.
 
2-2:30pm- We have another security checkpoint at the gate to check in. 
 
2:30-2:50pm- We wait for the plane to arrive then board.

2:50-4pm- We believe we are on a non-stop flight to Phnom Penh from Singapore.  We find out about 10 minutes before we land that the flight is not non-stop after all. We will need to stop at another airport first before flying to Phnom Penh. I sleep on the first flight for close to an hour.

4-4:05pm- Our flight lands in Siem Reap (where Angkor Wat is located). We are informed that we will need to get off the plane and go through security with our commuter pass. 
 
Our Airplane from Singapore to Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

 
4:05-4:45pm- We disembark onto the airstrip. We go through heavy security (paper and books were included in items to take out of bags for scanning) in a hurry since we have very little time in between flights.  We reboard the same plane.

4:45-5:30pm – We take off. This is the flight that I talked about for my great experience in the “Head in the Clouds” blog.  The link is: http://tracyhorne.theworldrace.org/?filename=head-in-the-clouds

5:30-6:30pm- We arrive in Phnom Penh. We gather all of our big backpacks and go through customs. All the teams go their various ways to find their contact. We meet our contact Chris from YWAM. We board the van with Greg’s team (Engedi) and Dustin’s team (Crash of Love). Dustin buys the SIM cards for the team leaders’ phones.

6:30-7pm- We arrive at the YWAM base and drop off our stuff. We are told that we will be having dinner together shortly. We quickly get ready.

7-8:30pm- We walk to a local Traditional Cambodian restaurant. As soon as we walked up, almost the whole restaurant cleared out. I had never seen anything like it. There were probably around 20 people who left the restaurant so we could sit together (or maybe they were scared of the white Americans).  We ate great food and were tired from traveling for the past 36 hours. 

8:30-9pm- We were told we needed to have a cultural briefing that night.

9-10:30pm- We are given the cultural briefing explaining about the Khmer Rouge and all the killing that took place in the past 30 years here. The majority of the population is under 30 years old because of it. Some of us were so exhausted that we had problems staying focused.
10:30pm-Midnight- We talk to our teammates and get ready for bed.
 

April 1

Midnight-9am- Sleep finally (and we had mattresses to use instead of our own sleeping pads). It was so needed! 

9-10am- A few of my team members and I walk to find the bakery. I buy some amazing bread. It reminds me of the sweet bread that we would buy for travel days in Nicaragua.

10am-Noon- We take 2 Tuk Tuks (motorcycles pulled carriages) filled with us and our stuff to the bus station to buy tickets. We try two different stations but they are sold out for the day.  Mary and I go to the third bus station to see if they have tickets instead of paying for an additional Tuk Tuk.  They have tickets for 12:30pm so we buy 6. Mary and I go back to the other station to get the others and drive back to the bus station that had tickets.  We all go to the station to wait for our bus.  As we are waiting, Angela does a slow motion fall into the garbage can with her smoothie.  When she stands up, it turns out that she has smoothie all over her face.  Poor Angela!  I missed seeing it but have heard about it and seen the reenactment a few times.  It is great! 

Noon-12:30pm- We find out that their was a miscommunication. Our original contact in the countryside is going out of town that day so she could no longer take us. We debate about what to do and we contact our YWAM contact Chris. He says to come back to YWAM to discuss our options. 

12:30-12:45pm- We drive to the YWAM base in our two Tuk Tuks with all of our stuff and unload our stuff.

12:45-1:15pm- Chris sits down with us to find out what kind of ministry we are interested in. We discuss different options and decide on helping homeless or poor youth. Chris calls some of his contacts to see if we can go there. We find out that we can start on Monday at a ministry with homeless and poor youth.

1:15-1:30pm- We decide to go to Angkor Wat for the weekend since we will not be doing ministry and all of our team wants to go there.

 

The vultures awaiting their prey at the Bus Station

1:30-2pm- Mary and I take a Tuk Tuk to the same bus station we had just been at and purchase tickets fir Siem Reap (the town where Angkor Wat is located). The driver misunderstands at first and takes us to the wrong place. Luckily, I had pictures of the bus station from earlier in the day to show him. He was then able to take us there immediately. We bought the tickets for our team and hurried back to the YWAM base.

2-2:20pm- We each pack a small weekend bag. It is so nice not to bring all of our stuff. 

2:20-2:30pm- We take the Tuk Tuk to the bus station again. 

2:30-3pm- We wait for the 3pm bus to come. 
3-10pm- We ride the bus to Siem Reap (where Angkor Wat is located) with two rest stops along the way. We enjoy using the time to read, sleep, talk, and enjoy the countryside. 
10pm- We arrive at the Bus Station in the middle of nowhere.  Luckily, there were Tuk Tuk drivers waiting for anyone without a ride.  We take two Tuk Tuks (because these are not designed to hold more than that) to look for a place to stay for the weekend.  Since this was a last minute trip, we did not have reservations.  As it turned out, many places were already booked so the Tuk Tuk drivers took us around until we found a place to stay.  We find a place to stay and make plans for the same Tuk Tuk drivers to pick us up at 5am to see the sunrise and drive us around the Angkor Wat temples all day. 
 
(Side note: How much is a room with two full-sized beds with air-conditioning and wi-fi (with en suite bathtub) in the tourist town of Siem Reap?  It was only $4!  Can you imagine getting a hotel in the United States for that rate?  Do you think we are being over-charged or what?)
 

April 2

5am-5:20am- We take our Tuk Tuks to Angkor Wat for the sunrise.  We take pictures at the entrance for our one-day pass. 
 
Me at Angkor Wat for Sunrise

 
 
Rebecca and I at Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider) Temple
5:20am-Noon- We explore many different temples in the area (including Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm).  We are asked by all the vendors to visit their shops.  They usually say “Lady” then tell you what they are selling (ex: “Lady Scarves” or “Lady Drink”).  We enjoyed exploring the temples.  The majority of the group enjoyed “Ta Prohm” the most.  This is the temple that has the trees growing out of it.  It was my favorite.  It shows that the “Creator of the World” is more powerful than anything man-made. (Side note: It is the temple shown in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.”) 

 

 
 
Noon-3pm- We take a siesta by reading, eating, and sleeping. 
 
Me and Addie having the Fish eat the skin off our feet
 
The man holding the baby bird that we saved
 
3-10pm- We explore the local market finding souvenirs for family and friends.  While the others were still looking for good finds, Addie and I decide to try the Fish Spa.  This is where you pay money to have fish eat the dead skin off your feet.  While we were there, we were able to help rescue a baby bird from drowning or beaten eaten by the fish.  It had fallen out of its nest above our heads but did not yet know how to fly.  We informed the owners about the bird and they rescued it.  We walked next door to a restaurant where we are a great meal.  Most of us had pizza or pasta (which is nice when you are served rice for three meals a day).  We walked around the neighborhood shops after dinner and found some great art.
 
10pm-Midnight- Get ready for bed, pack, talk, and sleep.
 

April 3

Midnight-11am- Read, sleep, pack, and eat.  We need to be checked out and picked up by Noon by a van who will take us to the bus station.  
11am-11:45am- Buy a take away lunch to bring with us for the 6-7 hour bus ride.  The van picks us up.
 
11:45am-12:15pm- The van picks up some others and they brought more people than there were seats available so some stood.  It sounded like some did not have reservations or there was a mix up in communication from the body language I saw.
 
12:15-12:30pm- We wait for bus back to Phnom Penh.
 
12:45-7:45pm- We ride the bus back.  We take advantage of the time by sleeping, journaling, listening to music, reading, and enjoying the scenery. 
7:45-7:55pm- We are bombarded by Tuk Tuk Drivers who want to drive us home.  We decide that we would rather eat first then go home. 
7:55-9pm- We eat dinner at a local restaurant.
 
9-9:20pm- We find a Tuk Tuk Driver who says that he will take us but he doesn’t know how to get there when we give him the address.  We call our YWAM contact who gives him directions a few times then finally drives over to show the driver how to get there. 
 
9:20pm-Midnight- We talk, read, and get ready to go to sleep.
 

April 4

Midnight-9am- Sleep and get ready to start our ministry.  We are driven there and we start our ministry.
 
Coming Soon:  Information on our ministry this month.