Summary of Cambodia

Just realized we forgot to summarize Cambodia, so here you go.  China posts are coming this week!

Time shift: 10pm Friday in Cambodia = 10am Friday on East Coast USA

Exchange rate: 1000 riel = $0.25, but mostly used as change, the US dollar is the main currency

Price of a 1.5L water bottle: $0.50

Average daily cost of lodging: $7

Silliest transportation: bamboo railway

Best people to meet while traveling: Fiona and Brenda (miss you guys!)

Biggest party town: Sihanoukville

Katie's favorite experience: All of it.  I really had so much fun traveling around Cambodia with Andy, Fiona and Brenda that I can't pick just one day.

Andy's favorite experience: Battambang. I really loved talking with all the various Cambodians - guy that worked at the Smoking Pot restaurant, our tuk-tuk driver and the guesthouse employees.

Nationalities of people we met in Cambodia:  Irish, Dutch, British

Thailand summary

Thailand was a lot of fun but super touristy.  It seemed like there were at least three tourists to every ten people in Thailand (more in Bangkok). The rainy season here means that for a couple hours most afternoons it rains.

Time shift: 10pm Friday in Thailand = 11AM Friday on East Coast US

Exchange rate: 30baht = US $1

Price of a 1.5L water bottle: 15 baht ($0.50)

Largest cockroach: bathroom in the bungalow on Ko Chang

Least comfortable and efficient means of transportation: elephant

Least comfortable and most expensive bus ride, because shit was stolen: Ko Chang to Bangkok

Most overpriced songthaew: anywhere on Ko Chang

Nationalities of people we met in Thailand:  American, British, French, French Canadian, German, Russian, Australian

Katie's favorite experience: renting a motorbike and driving up the mountain in Chiang Mai.  It was beautiful and refreshingly cool.

Andy's favorite experience: trekking trip outside of Chiang Mai - mostly because of the great people we met.

Summary of Australia

Australia was a different pace than New Zealand was.  Here, because the country is so large and distances so vast, we spent less time at each place and more time traveling.  We stuck mostly to the touristy things, which meant we spent a lot more money here than originally planned.

Average price of a bed at a hostel:  AUD $26

Price for a single scoop ice cream cone:  AUD $3.50

Average price of gas per liter: AUD $1.50

Katie's favorite experience: The Penguin Parade.  If ever you come to Australia, go see the Penguin parade on Philip island down by Melbourne.  Totally worth it.

Andy's favorite experience: Sailing the Whitsundays. If we had the time I would be really keen to do the Soloway Lass sailing trip, but it is three days and three nights.

Easiest dinner to make: Cooked rice or couscous added to pre-made soup.

Time shift:  10AM Sunday morning in Australia = 8PM Saturday night East Coast US

Exchange rate: AUD $1 = US $1.10

Predominant method of travel: Bus

Nationalities of people we met in Australia: Swedish, Canadian, German, Swiss, British, Irish, Italian, Kiwi (NZ), American.

In general we didn't meet as many people in Australia as we did in NZ.  Also Australia stole my hat and my sunglasses and tried to steal our camera but didn't succeed.

Summary of New Zealand

Wow, three weeks went by so quickly.  Tomorrow we are off to Australia.  New Zealand is an amazing country with more natural beauty per square foot than they know what to do with.  We want to make a summary post of each of the countries we visit.  Let us know what else we should add to the list.

Average price of a bed at a hostel: $25 NZD

Price for a single scoop ice cream cone: $3 NZD (our most purchased non-grocery item)

Average price of gas per liter: $2.20 NZD ($8.33 NZD per gallon, ~$6.66 USD per gallon)

Katie's favorite town:  Wanaka

Andy's favorite town: Taupo

Best grocery store item: dried strawberries in the bulk aisle

Time shift:  8pm Sunday in New Zealand = 4am Sunday East Coast USA

Exchange rate: In March it was 0.75 but now it's 0.81 ($1USD = $0.75 - $0.81 NZD)

Nationalities of people we met in NZ: German, Irish, Scottish, British, Welsh, Dutch, Australian, Canadian, American, Italian, Argentinian, South African, Israeli