Koh Rong, Cambodia | 3 of 3

Nights on Koh Rong were really interesting and unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Life on the island really slows down. Everyone is very lackadaisical about everything. There is a definite hippie vibe. It took a lot of adjustment for Markus and I who like to have everything a certain way and at a certain time. There are heaps of hostels and hotels that line the beach and all of them double as restaurants. Regardless of where we were, every meal took at least one to two hours before it hit the table. We ended up spending at least 3 hours at a restaurant, which is not normal for us. After a couple days, we got the hang of things and spent the rest of our time there livin' that island life.

Paradise Bungalows | Koh Rong, Cambodia | 2 of 3

Before we headed down to Koh Rong, an island off the southern coast of Cambodia, I extensively researched the best place to stay. I was really worried about being stranded on an isolated island for five days. The island is quite underdeveloped and is powered by solar generators. There are even designated times for electricity at night. It's probably the closest I will ever get to living on a "deserted island".

While I conducted my research, I wanted to make sure that we found the best of the best on the island. There were a lot of hostel like type places where you could pay $1 for a night in a dorm room packed full of random people. I'm sorry, but I'm not about that life. I'm already in my 30s and I think I've gone past that stage. I don't mind paying a more for a more comfortable place. For only $19 more, Markus and I stayed at Paradise Bungalows.

Paradise Bungalows is by no means five star accommodation, but it's the closest you'll get on Koh Rong. Everything is really rustic, but that adds to the charm. I must say that it took a lot of getting used to. If you stay on an island like Koh Rong, it's going back to the basics. It was definitely something that Markus and I both wanted to experience.

For bungalows, you can choose one on the beach or more inland. We chose an inland bungalow and didn't feel like we missed out. We were only a minute walk to the beach. There really isn't a bad bungalow because you can see the beach from the porch of every single one. All of them have bathrooms that are connected and outside. It was pretty cool taking a shower without a roof. I felt a bit like I was Eve or something. Although, using the toilet was a bit uncomfortable. Many times, you could hear people talking and walking by. Either way, it was a great experience and one that I wouldn't be afraid to repeat!

Koh Rong, Cambodia | 1 of 3

After Markus and I trekked through the ruins of Angkor Wat, we traveled south and went to the island of Koh Rong. It's a nice little isolated island and definitley gives off a Robinson Crusoe vibe. As many of you know, I'm not a huge fan of the beach, but even I can't pass off an opportunity to sunbathe on a nearly isolated beach. Not very many people travel to Koh Rong, so we were guaranteed a nice relaxing five days. When we go on vacations, we tend to fit in everything we can and rush from place to place. Sometimes we forget to relax and we planned for our time on Koh Rong to be a nice holiday from our holiday!

Bizarre Food: Grasshoppers and More | Cambodia

The last time I posted about bizarre food was tarantula in Cambodia. You would think that would be extent of our strange eats, but there was even more! We asked our tuk-tuk driver, MJ, to take us somewhere we could eat something strange in Siem Reap. He said he knew of a place that we could eat crickets. We couldn't turn down the opportunity and asked him to take us there!

When we arrived to the nondescript corner of a random street, we saw the piles of items lined up on the sidewalk. There wasn't a person in sight and understandably so. I think tourists are not on the search for strange eats like this. There were crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and even dried snake. I think any creepy thing you could think of was cooked and ready to eat!

Initially, we only wanted to try the grasshoppers, but we decided to be adventurous and order a variety. I mean, might as well, you never know when you'll have the chance again. I will say that for a moment I freaked out. I was holding the bag of bugs and I looked down. For a split second, I imagined them all alive and slithering about. I quickly got over it and we dug into that bag o' bugs.

Surprisingly, they weren't bad. It's not my favorite thing in the world, but it's definitley worth trying. I was most keen on the crickets and grasshoppers, but could've passed on the snake and beetles. All I know is that if something happens and we run out of other protein sources, I could survive on insects!

Bizarre Food: Tarantula | Cambodia

While Markus and I are traveling, we always try to find what the locals eat. I never want to say, "I wish I ate that when I was in..." I definitley try to live my life without regrets. That's why I find things that are strange and weird and off the beaten path. I know that for most, they find these things unusual, but for Markus and I, it's an opportunity for an adventure.

With that on the forefront of our minds, we decided to try tarantula in Cambodia. I remember watching the Cambodian episode of Bizarre Foods. Of course he ate tarantula and I vowed that I would eat it if I ever went to Cambodia. I never thought I would ever travel to Cambodia, but sometimes life takes you to unexpected places!

On a ten hour bus ride to Koh Rong, we stopped at a rest area. It was only a five minute stop, so we didn't get out. As we drove out of the bus stop, we saw a huge tarantula statue and heaps of women selling them on the side of the road. We were so disappointed and vowed that we would find it in one of the cities or on the way back to Siem Reap. On the way back, we took a different route and stopped at another rest stop. It was actually much nicer than the first one and we made a bee-line for the food area.

At first, we didn't see them. We looked and looked and were quite disappointed. Then, as we were about to walk out, we saw them. They took them out and even let Markus hold them. Then they fried them up for us to eat. I have to admit, it was a bit strange being able to see them alive one minute and then cooked the next.

Even though, I was super excited to try the tarantula, I was really worried it wouldn't taste good. I was totally wrong. It was really yummy and quite delicious. They cooked the little guys in oil, green onions, garlic and lots of spices. They were fried until crispy and the smell was so fragrant. When we got on the bus, everyone came over and started taking photos. We were the only ones who had them, so they all swarmed us. When all the people finally dispersed, we were able to try them. I remember Andrew Zimmern saying that they tasted like soft shell crab and he was right. They were really tasty and I really liked it. To be honest, I would probably eat them again. Experiences like this are the reason why I love traveling. You never know what you really like until you try it!