Bad Night

Awake at 2am with nausea probably due to ice in the cocktails which in hindsight we should have avoided. Heidi awoke at 4 am with nausea. Got back to sleep but woke early. Took antiemetics and went back to sleep. Stayed in the room much of the day having fruit for breakfast.  Sat by the pool in the afternoon as we had picked up a bit by lunchtime.

Swimming was next on the agenda taking us a long time to lower ourselves into the extremely cold water. Doing some laps and exercises eased our joints and backs for the day making us feel refreshed and so much better. Swimming always makes me hungry so lunch was next. Ordering a vegetarian noodle soup with a pineapple pancake to follow. The meal arrived and the soup was delicious and tasty with chilli sauce on the side making it more flavoursome. Dessert came with the soup and I got a banana pancake with sauce and Heidi got some red stuff wrapped in sticky rice but had ordered bananas with sticky rice. We ate it and enjoyed it all. Spent the afternoon doing genealogy, YouTube and reading by the pool before venturing out via tuk-tuk to the night market and Pub Street. As we walked down the street all the lights were on above us and along the river. All very festive and gearing up for New Year. Walking around the market we had a buy-up. Heidi bought a blue bag with Angkor Wat on it and a pair of earrings made from bullets that the children at the orphanage had made. The money goes to the children. She got some lip balms in ceramic containers and one in a coconut container. I purchased a silver pendant with turquoise set into it, two coconut bowls with brightly designed interiors and the same balms as Heidi purchased. We ate at Khmer Friends Restaurant when we had exhausted the shopping. French fries with tomato sauce was just what we felt like then linguini with tomato and basil sauce. Both fantastic and washed down with juice. 

This night was a great photo opportunity as we strolled along the river bank which was alight with colour and magical to behold. Getting a tuk-tuk home enjoying the cool breeze go by was just as special. We sat by the pool on our return to take in our night. Climbing the stair (three flights) to bed was welcome after a long day. And so to bed. Tomorrow Angkhor Wat.

 

Day One in Siam Reap

Breakfast; This meal came with the package and plenty of options. We were able to choose from the menu or take food from the Chinese buffet. We chose the buffet, having fried rice, cooked tomatoes, with baby bok choy and corn. All delicious and washed down with orange juice. We finished with mango, pineapple and honeydew melon. Setting off down the street after breakfast to visit the nearest Buddhist temple we crossed the river at the end of our street and there it was in all its glory.

 The temple was stunning with the roof lines curving up into the clearest blue sky.

Stupas and topiary trees were everywhere as we wandered through the lush green foliage of the gardens. The environment was peaceful and a magnificent way to greet the day. 

Brightly painted statues in various forms, even one with a man lying down and his intestines hanging out while large birds feasted on them.

In the main temple at 9.30, the monk gave a blessing then we sat in quiet meditation. This is a great way to start the day and helps prepare you for the chaos that is Cambodia. We planned to do this often. 

While at the temple I purchased a pencil drawing of the Buddha's head from a man in a wheelchair. My first purchase.

Setting off again.  We hit the market which was vibrant and chaotic with long isles stretching into the darkness due to it being covered. The heat was oppressive and the stalls were stuffed with merchandise. Amongst the things to buy were Khmer scarves, bright and colourful of which I purchased two for two dollars each. I wore my blue one continually for although hot they soaked up the sweat that ran down your face and was also handy to wrap around your head tying up the hair. Next came the hippy pants, a must in Cambodia. Bought a pair if pink and purple ones for seven fifty, a bargain. I was set for sightseeing in Cambodia. Next stall of interest was the pepper stall. Kampot pepper is supposedly the best pepper in the world. We got some to bring home for ourselves and for our cooking class chef. The next purchase was tiger balm in small decorated ceramic containers and lip balm in coconut containers. That was our purchases for the day. Thought we should tone it down a little. Other stall held silver wares, jewellery, watches, cosmetics and statues. A large number of wooden wares were available. We even found soaps in the shape of a penis. I did not dare venture down the food aisle as too dirty and upsetting and we were not buying food anyway. Deciding to leave after our purchases we walked down Pub street, the famous street in Siem Reap where all the action is and restaurants. The place comes alive at night for the tourists. 

Walking towards the river, we came across a covered bridge that was just idyllic. Crossing over it was an opportunity for photos. Benches ran along both sides so you could look out and take a rest while enjoying the view from both sides. I could have sat there all day. A cool breeze blew gently across us which was so refreshing. We sat for a while to regroup. Chatting to a Cambodian lady with a toddler who was just beginning to walk and wearing a lovely bright orange dress and who smiled at us as she struggled to maintain her balance. 

Off again this time to a strip of shops that meandered down the opposite side of the river bank. Discovering another market that was less chaotic and quiet where we could shop in peace without being harassed. It was a delight to wander through it. Heidi bought a toilet bag with orange camels on it while I purchased a small silver rat from the silversmith for two dollars. 

Heading home we had some lunch before returning to our hotel. We found an open restaurant and ordered the lunch special of spring rolls in rice paper, fish amok with rice and finishing off with a banana fritter in a sweet sauce. The lot came to five dollars and we enjoyed green tea with our meal.

Tired and happy we sauntered back to the hotel to sit by the pool while a cool breeze caressed us. We sat for a long while before returning to our room where we lay down and played on our computers and read our books. This was also the time we wrote in our travel journals enjoying looking back over our first day in Cambodia. Shower time before dinner and a change of clothes. Good and refreshing. 

Walking down our side street again we chose a lovely outdoor garden restaurant called The Butterfly Restaurant. The setting was delightful with lots of ground ponds that contained croaking frogs and netting overhead to contain the butterflies. We sat down in this lovely setting and ordered two cocktails; a pina colada and blue heaven. Both came with blue/green swizzle sticks and tasted fabulous. Ordering the vegetarian option of curried vegetables with rice and the eggplant with soft tofu. The tofu melted in your mouth -a dish I would gladly order again.

Back at the hotel, we booked to go to Angkor Wat and our river cruise back to Phnom Penh. And so to bed. Youtube and reading. Another exciting day tomorrow.

Siem Reap

Settling into Cambodia. Siem Reap.

A tuk-tuk (The old kind)picked us up from the airport to take us to our boutique olde worlde hotel. The sights and smells and intense heat hit you in the face straight away. It was a different world. Our room was on the third floor (no escalator only a wooden carved stairway.) The room had everything we needed minus a shower door and a steady stream of water. Also minus green tea which we asked for and got the usual black. Off to buy some today.  The towels which were supposed to be white were a murky grey with blood stains on them. I just did not look too closely at them. We had a lovely balcony with a wooden bench where we had a view out over the rooftops of Siem Reap and a construction site next door. We put our water bottles in the fridge and unpacked our suitcases. Showering was fantastic(minus the absence of much water). It just took a long time to get wet and rinse off. We soon felt a lot better after a lie down under the air conditioner that was duck taped up. Oh to finally get the feet up.

 We decided that going out was not an option so we stayed in the hotel eating outside under the light bulbs in the quaint restaurant by the pool.

 Deciding on noodles and vegetables with some greens called morning glory in an oyster sauce was a good choice and delicious. We were given a plate of steamed rice to accompany our meal. We wearily climbed the stairs falling into bed early. Nine hours later we awoke to a quiet Cambodia of twenty-six degrees. Feeling much better we were ready to embrace the day.

                                    Carpe Diem.

 

Cambodia

Our adventure has begun. The first flight of three to Cambodia has just finished from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur and we are sitting in the KL airport eating noodles already. We have a thing about them. We love them. The flight from Melbourne left at 12.30 am and arrived in KL at 5.30 am. It was a good flight with the occasional bit of turbulence. The pilot managed this very well. When we got on the plane the lights were put on and they served us a lovely vegetarian curry with pastries, in a long box. Washing these down with a cup of green tea was delightful. A pillow and blanket which was really long were on our seats and the lights were soon dimmed. We snuggled down for the night and slept. Before long breakfast was being served including vegetable curry, fresh fruit, yoghurt and a muffin. A hot drink was unavailable due to turbulence so we settled for an apple juice.   The landing came all too quickly and was very smooth as we glided in on wet tarmac.

 Now time to visit the wonderful world of shops and cafes that is the KL airport. Wandering around looking at everything took up time. We got around on travelators and a light rail that takes passengers between gates. The airport was enormous. We waited for a flight to Phnom Penh where we will spend five hours hanging around for a domestic flight on to Siem Reap. We turned the wrong way at the gate and nearly missed our flight but we got there just in time when we realised. The flight although a little turbulent and cloudy went very quickly as we ate a prawn curry and rice which was delicious, washed down by more green tea. It was fantastic as we came into Phnom Penh to see the mighty Mekong river snaking its way through the landscape below in the Kingdom of Cambodia. It is a huge magnificent river.  The excitement mounted. We were nearly there. 

The landing over, we had only one more flight to go. Making our way to the domestic terminal to wait it out till departure we decided to sit in a cafe called the Blue Pumpkin. We each got the most delicious mango smoothie made with yoghurt. This is where we spent the afternoon, on a couch, with our feet up, writing our blogs. Already I can tell that these Cambodians are compassionate people as they regularly approach us to ask if we were alright and do we need anything or know where to go. So nice. Can't wait to move on to our next destination, our hotel and settle in.

The last flight was hilarious. We were taken by bus out to the plane and unloaded. Everyone was amazed by what they saw. An old propellor job on the runway with a flight of stairs up into it. Everyone looked shocked and took pictures of this mighty machine. Inside the interior was hanging on by duck tape. I got my fan out to help us get off the ground. The takeoff was good ( thanks to me ) but the noise levels were incredible as we were seated beside the propellors. We never laughed so much in our lives. View below magnificent. Onward and upward.