We arrive at Ho Chi Minh City at night. We are not in Cambodia anymore, people here have places to be and businesses to run and somehow, we are always on their way.

Despite its challenges, Phnom Penh proves that there is no such thing as a place not to visit on this planet. Had I let everything I read influence me, I wouldn’t have discovered the following…

After our clean- up experience, the days start to blend in. We meet Natalie and her friend Lalo for a snorkel and we find out about new beaches that we wouldn’t have found on our own.

On the first Saturday of our trip we woke up early to meet the Trash Hero group and clean up the “Secret (not so secret) beach” one of the most beautiful beaches on the island affected by plastic pollution.

The smell of burnt wood is everywhere, a little break from the car smog. The atmosphere yet slightly chaotic is peaceful. We go to the nearest park to see the Krathongs without really knowing what we are looking for.

We decided to give a go to Chatuchak, just to find out it’s hot, overwhelmingly big and touristy. Luckily we found the vintage market round the corner.

Chinatown in Bangkok is a feast for the senses. The traffic moves like a slow river, motorbikes meandering through the cars. Chinatown Street Market is not for the faint-hearted or picky eaters. 

The first couple of nights in Bangkok have been spent at night, escaping the heat and sleeping off the jet lag. We still haven’t seen the city during the day but we surely have enjoyed its nights.