The Good News or The Bad News

Current Location: Phnom Penh

On our way to the Penh
Shouldn’t have gone back again

Budget travelers allegiance we seek
Finding a guesthouse not too meek

Dirty, tired, dressed in rags
Bicycles in tow, we stash our bags

A cool breeze blows from afar
Should have noticed a window without bars

Quiet slumber in a dreamless sleep
Only to discover that our thief did reap

Goodbye wallet, Goodbye money, Goodbye phone
You said farewell without even a moan

We sought our goods out round and round
But they were nowhere to be found

A report was filed, a was bribe paid,
But we find no solace on this day

Such a night has caused much grief
But Cambodia also offers much relief

Hiccups all accounted for
We're glad we stayed here two weeks more


For those of you who don't fancy our rhyming couplets we had Elise's wallet stolen (unfortunately containing $600 withdrawn that same evening) along with Zach's I-Phone out of our guesthouse room while we were sleeping. We are thankfully still holding onto our passports, computer, bikes, and clean underwear hanging in the window in question. We awoke around 1am to discover our screen window ajar and the door unlocked. Quickly we took stock and noticed the items missing. The hotel manager and the tourist police both did little. We did manage to file a police "report" after a $30 "report fee" was demanded and an $8 tuk-tuk ride to the distant tourist police station. All in all money is money and stuff is just stuff. We learned a very expensive, but invaluable lesson in securing our valuables and the must-haves for guesthouses.

The trip continues (albeit a day later than anticipated) toward the Vietnam border via Highway 1. Crossing the border at Bavet/Moc Bai, where we then attempt to cycle north towards Dalat via the highlands.