Cambodia: Blogging from the bus

Bus travel in Asia is often a hot, drawn-out and general uncomfortable experience.  But this is no longer the case in Cambodia.  Six months Giant Ibis launched a line of ‘luxury’ buses – new, super comfortable Hyundai buses – making the 6 hour journey from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap one of the most comfortable we have had  this year.

For $13, you get a reclining leather seat with heaps of leg room, water, snacks and cold face towels, flat screen tv’s showing popular western films (if you don’t want to watch you can turn the speaker off above your chair) and wifi.  Yep, wifi.  I know that in other parts of the world, wifi on buses is not a new thing, but over here it is.

So this article is being posted straight from the bus, about 2 hours out from our destination of Siem Reap.

Oh, we just went past one of the competitors, broken down on the side of the road.  A far more familiar bus story in south east asia.

So if you are travelling in Cambodia, Giant Ibis comes highly recommended for bus travel.  Otherwise we have heard from a local that Mekong Express is the next best, as they have the safest record.  We were told its not uncommon for some buses to travel at speeds over 120 km an hour, while Meking Express doesn’t push past 90 km an hour.  Worth keeping in mind, especially with poorly maintained roads and erratic driving.