Latest news with #Sihanoukville
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- The Guardian
A moment that changed me: An accident left me terrified of risk. Then I joined a stranger on a motorbike adventure
As I watched the sleek, white motorbike roll out of the hire shop in Thakhek, Laos, I wondered if I was making a dreadful mistake. It was March 2017 and I had agreed to go on a road trip with a stranger – an American named Travis, whom I had met a few weeks earlier. We were classmates on a Rotary International Peace Fellowship, which brought together people from sectors such as academia, farming and activism to learn about conflict resolution, in Thailand. I tended to have my guard up around people I didn't know but Travis's constant gentle efforts to get to know me had worked, and we bonded over a shared sense of humour. When he suggested we explore Laos together, it felt like a natural progression of our budding friendship. Travis wanted to visit a climbing hotspot, I wanted to see the Laos that wasn't on the typical tourist trail – and it seemed like the only way we could do both was to travel by motorbike, a mode of transport I actively avoided for many years. As a kid in London, I'd thought I would become a biker once I was old enough. My dad would zip to work on his bike every day and it seemed like a perfectly natural way to travel. But on New Year's Day 2004, I ended up in a Cambodian medical clinic while backpacking in the coastal province of Sihanoukville. A friend and I had been travelling by motorbike – me on the back – when it stalled and crashed to the ground. As we went down, my leg bounced three times on the hot exhaust pipe. At first, I was in shock. As I realised that the crisp smell of burning was emanating from my calf, I gasped; I went to scream but the pain was so intense that I couldn't make a sound. I tried to get help from a pharmacy but the language barrier meant I was given pigment cream for the shining, pink flesh glaring through my brown skin. Eventually, my burns were cleaned and dressed, but the wound was deeper than I had realised and I was required to return to a clinic daily for the next fortnight. I didn't Skype my parents for several days while I tried to assess the extent of my injuries. I vowed to wear more suitable, protective clothing when riding a motorbike in future but, once I was back in London, with so many other means of transport available, I found I was keen to avoid motorbikes altogether. The scars on my leg became a permanent reminder of the incident and I grew cautious about doing anything that involved an element of physical risk. By 2017, it had been more than a decade since I had ridden on a motorbike. Travis assured me that he had a licence and would drive safely. I looked down at the scars on my leg, took a deep breath and put on my helmet. I needn't have worried. The journey was smooth as we travelled to stunning temples, expansive lakes, hidden caves and little cafes. I even attempted rock climbing. We rode in the dark, travelling through winding mountain roads to reach scenic nooks that we would never have otherwise encountered. It was a trip that imbued me with the confidence to connect more readily with strangers and to adventure more. After I returned from Laos, I started going on more solo trips, relying on a mix of gut instinct, due diligence and being open-minded to realise my travel dreams while also staying safe. Travis introduced me to his school friend, Jackie, who showed me around Boulder during my trip to Colorado. The ripple effect of connecting with strangers continued when I took a solo trip to Puerto Rico and Jackie introduced me to Eli, a mountaineer from the Colorado climbing scene who was living in Ciales. At my San Juan guesthouse, I met Jess, Kathryn and Matt, and about an hour later, we were all heading to Eli's family's forest farm, The Flying Coconut. There, we shared life stories over incredibly juicy homegrown fruit – an experience I would never have had if I'd not been willing to ask people to split costs and come on something of a magical mystery tour. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Last winter, I visited Oulu in Finland. Since the buses into town weren't so regular, I got on a bicycle and learned to cycle for the first time in heavy, falling snow. The feeling was euphoric. My friend Erika even organised a road trip with a photographer named Teija early one dark morning so that I could fulfil a long-term desire to hang out with 100 howling huskies at Syötteen Eräpalvelut. From Travis to Teija, and with all of the many others in-between, I've realised that what these trips have in common is a willingness to step out of my comfort zone and forge valuable connections with people I don't know. By opening up a little bit more each time, it has led to endless adventures – and turned many of my dreams into reality. Bear Markets and Beyond: A Bestiary of Business Terms by Dhruti Shah and Dominic Bailey (Portico) is available now
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
A moment that changed me: An accident left me terrified of risk. Then I joined a stranger on a motorbike adventure
As I watched the sleek, white motorbike roll out of the hire shop in Thakhek, Laos, I wondered if I was making a dreadful mistake. It was March 2017 and I had agreed to go on a road trip with a stranger – an American named Travis, whom I had met a few weeks earlier. We were classmates on a Rotary International Peace Fellowship, which brought together people from sectors such as academia, farming and activism to learn about conflict resolution, in Thailand. I tended to have my guard up around people I didn't know but Travis's constant gentle efforts to get to know me had worked, and we bonded over a shared sense of humour. When he suggested we explore Laos together, it felt like a natural progression of our budding friendship. Travis wanted to visit a climbing hotspot, I wanted to see the Laos that wasn't on the typical tourist trail – and it seemed like the only way we could do both was to travel by motorbike, a mode of transport I actively avoided for many years. As a kid in London, I'd thought I would become a biker once I was old enough. My dad would zip to work on his bike every day and it seemed like a perfectly natural way to travel. But on New Year's Day 2004, I ended up in a Cambodian medical clinic while backpacking in the coastal province of Sihanoukville. A friend and I had been travelling by motorbike – me on the back – when it stalled and crashed to the ground. As we went down, my leg bounced three times on the hot exhaust pipe. At first, I was in shock. As I realised that the crisp smell of burning was emanating from my calf, I gasped; I went to scream but the pain was so intense that I couldn't make a sound. I tried to get help from a pharmacy but the language barrier meant I was given pigment cream for the shining, pink flesh glaring through my brown skin. Eventually, my burns were cleaned and dressed, but the wound was deeper than I had realised and I was required to return to a clinic daily for the next fortnight. I didn't Skype my parents for several days while I tried to assess the extent of my injuries. I vowed to wear more suitable, protective clothing when riding a motorbike in future but, once I was back in London, with so many other means of transport available, I found I was keen to avoid motorbikes altogether. The scars on my leg became a permanent reminder of the incident and I grew cautious about doing anything that involved an element of physical risk. By 2017, it had been more than a decade since I had ridden on a motorbike. Travis assured me that he had a licence and would drive safely. I looked down at the scars on my leg, took a deep breath and put on my helmet. I needn't have worried. The journey was smooth as we travelled to stunning temples, expansive lakes, hidden caves and little cafes. I even attempted rock climbing. We rode in the dark, travelling through winding mountain roads to reach scenic nooks that we would never have otherwise encountered. It was a trip that imbued me with the confidence to connect more readily with strangers and to adventure more. After I returned from Laos, I started going on more solo trips, relying on a mix of gut instinct, due diligence and being open-minded to realise my travel dreams while also staying safe. Travis introduced me to his school friend, Jackie, who showed me around Boulder during my trip to Colorado. The ripple effect of connecting with strangers continued when I took a solo trip to Puerto Rico and Jackie introduced me to Eli, a mountaineer from the Colorado climbing scene who was living in Ciales. At my San Juan guesthouse, I met Jess, Kathryn and Matt, and about an hour later, we were all heading to Eli's family's forest farm, The Flying Coconut. There, we shared life stories over incredibly juicy homegrown fruit – an experience I would never have had if I'd not been willing to ask people to split costs and come on something of a magical mystery tour. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Last winter, I visited Oulu in Finland. Since the buses into town weren't so regular, I got on a bicycle and learned to cycle for the first time in heavy, falling snow. The feeling was euphoric. My friend Erika even organised a road trip with a photographer named Teija early one dark morning so that I could fulfil a long-term desire to hang out with 100 howling huskies at Syötteen Eräpalvelut. From Travis to Teija, and with all of the many others in-between, I've realised that what these trips have in common is a willingness to step out of my comfort zone and forge valuable connections with people I don't know. By opening up a little bit more each time, it has led to endless adventures – and turned many of my dreams into reality. Bear Markets and Beyond: A Bestiary of Business Terms by Dhruti Shah and Dominic Bailey (Portico) is available now
The Sun
09-05-2025
- The Sun
Overlooked Asian country with quiet beaches and cheap attractions gets first TUI hotel
WHILE Thailand and Vietnam are popular holiday destinations, Cambodia is set to become popular with Brits following a new TUI hotel. TUI BLUE Sihanoukville has opened in Preah Sihanouk, their first hotel in Cambodia. 5 5 The new hotel is on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand in Sihanoukville and opened on May 5. Holidaymakers can choose from 189 rooms and suites, with the hotel having both a gym and an outdoor swimming pool. Along with the gym, guests can give indoor cycling a go, along with yoga classes. On site is a restaurant and lounge bar as well also entertainment like karaoke, live music and candlelit dinners. The hotel is near Sihanoukville coastline where you'll find incredible beaches with blue waters and white sands. One stunning beach is Sokha, but the closest beach is Ou Chheuteal Beach and it's 950 metres away. One visitor on Tripadvisor wrote: "Every year, this beach attracts so many tourists from everywhere around the world because of mainly its BEAUTY, popularity, fresh air, and a lot of pubs, restaurants, and street food (like Squid BBQ and Seafood BBQ) alongside the beach." You can also visit Angkor Wat a Hindu temple in Siem Reap which is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. You can explore by tuk-tuk, bike, or e-bike, or join a guided tour to learn more about the temple's history. You can book a room from £83.29 per night. New £1.1billion airport to open in overlooked holiday destination 5 5 Cambodia isn't necessarily a holiday destination for Brits, but last year, a panel of travel experts named Phnom Penh as being the best value for money. Holidaymakers can explore attractions in the country's capital from as little as £1. And it will soon be even easier to get to with a £1.1billion airport is set to open in Cambodia later this year. Located 12 miles from Phnom Penh, the country's capital, the 280million sqft airport will have four floors and a huge central passenger terminal. When it opens in four months, the new international airport will have 22 gates capable of accommodating 40 aircraft. You can fly from the UK to Cambodia from £356 - this requires a stopover in destinations like Guangzhou, China, or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Here are holiday gems revealed by five of the world's 'most travelled' who have visited every single country. Plus, how to travel to South East Asia — top tips for group or solo bookings.
