Day Sixteen.

Slept in this morning after our lovely river cruise last night. We had breakfast in bed then we ventured out to see an apartment by the Russian Market called Queen Mansion. It was a new building approximately a year old with many floors. About sixteen which did not impress me as I hate heights and like to have my feet on the ground. The hotel apartment was cheaper than the last one and very modern. On the fifth floor, it had a spectacular view over the rooftops of  Phnom Penh but did not have a kitchen. It was serviced with a pool and gymnasium on the rooftop. Heidi would also have to take a tuk-tuk to work if she stayed there. On we went to a cafe and had a mango smoothie then it was off to the Russian Market to check it out.

 The market was big and crammed full of touristy stuff. Far too much to take it all in. We found a pirated DVD shop and bought eleven DVD's to watch in our room at night. I got Collette with Keira Knightly, The Wife with Glenn Close, and the Bookshop and can't wait to get stuck into them. Was thrilled with my purchases. 

We decided to eat locally finding a small Japanese restaurant near the market. I had miso soup with noodles, vegetables and an egg and we shared a bento box with kimchi, chicken, egg salad, tomatoes and rice. Had a coke and all was delicious. 

We took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel where we sat by the pool writing and enjoying a nice relaxing afternoon. We sat by the pool for a tea of chips and spring rolls. Nice and light. Early night with one of our DVD's. We watched one called the Book Club with Jane Fonda which was a bit of a disappointment. Nice movie but not great. 

Day Fifteen. Night Time Mekong Dinner Cruise.

When Heidi got home from work she showered and got ready for the night cruise down the Mekong River. I had done this prior to her to save time. We enjoyed a long tuk-tuk ride across Phnom Pehn which took us about half an hour in peak traffic. There was a steep slope and steps down to the boat. When we got aboard we had to scale a ladder-like set of steps up onto the roof of the boat so we could see the sights of the city and the lights. Our dinner was all laid out and we found out from our guide that we were the only ones on the cruise for that evening. Our guide was a twenty-one-year-old university student who was very informative. She told us many things and we asked lots of questions. She told us about the Chinese, Vietnamese and Muslims living in the country and about the government. All very interesting. We asked about her life, parents, and the village where she lived.

 It was then time for dinner. Plenty of food so we invited her and the driver to partake and help us eat it. The guide took a plate full down to the captain and we sat upstairs eating and enjoying the sights. We had prawns, bbq chicken, salad, mango, pineapple, spring and paper rolls with dipping sauce. It was fabulous as we floated along the river.

The evening was full of light with the Royal Palace looking magnificent all lit up.

 The night was balmy with a pleasant breeze as we sat and ate and chatted our way down the Mekong. It was a magical evening and very relaxing.

 We could not believe how quiet and still it was sitting in the middle of the river compared to the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh City. Occasionally a boat would go past blaring Cambodian music. Other dinner cruises passed. Fishermen, their boats all in darkness, their fishing nets ready to be pulled up to view their catch, were dotted along the river.

Our evening over we headed back in to dock and our tuk-tuk to the hotel. Tired we fell into bed and watched the last two episodes of Grace and Frankie. Sleep came quickly and then we would be ready for another day. 

 

Day Fourteen .

Walked Heidi to work again this morning. It is a very pleasant time of day and quiet. It gets me up and ready to greet the day. I visited the local market on the way home but most of the stalls were not open so I walked back to the hotel. Spent the morning with the doors open and doing the washing and doing some research for my Viking story. Also did Duolingo German language on the computer and some more Ancestry. For lunch, I had watermelon with yoghurt and a cup of soup. Slept in the early afternoon and when I got up, booked a dinner river cruise down the Mekong for the following night. How exciting. Pick up is for six thirty and the cruise starts at six forty-five. Should be a good night. 

Spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool having a coffee and blogging. Such a nice way to spend the afternoon. Waiting for Heidi to get home from work with all her news. I know that she has eaten some salty fried bananas for lunch as she sent me a photo of them. 

Now as I sit quietly poolside all I can hear is loud Cambodian music blaring out from speakers out on the street. 

Day Thirteen.

Walked with Heidi back to her workplace again today. On the way Cambodian people who work on the side of the road talk to me which is lovely. They are so friendly, polite and interested. Went to the supermarket to restock. Bought yoghurt, cereal, milk, a cup of soup, and a chocolate brioche that I ate for lunch. Then went for a swim and did exercises in the pool. In the afternoon had a lie-down and slept. At five pm I headed off to Brown Coffee to meet Heidi and catch up on her day. We had dinner at Brown Coffee enjoying some chicken pasta and a bowl of Tom Yum linguini with prawns. So good. Washed it all down with a coke. Caught up on the day's news with Heidi and what she had been up to.  Ventured back to the supermarket. Heidi wanted to buy the office staff some goodies and settled on a large tin of biscuits. She needed a cup for work so bought a white coffee mug with Angkor Wat on the side of it. Off home to sit by the pool and enjoy the remainder of the evening. We spoke to a young Cambodian couple who were there using the pool.  Showered and went to bed to blog and watch some television.  

Day Twelve. Off to work.

Woke refreshed at 0630. Ate breakfast at seven. Walked with Heidi to her office for her first day at work. It was a beautiful calm balmy morning. The best time to be out walking around. I kissed her goodbye at Brown Coffee the cafe on the corner and then walked back home. Could not wait to hear how her day went and what she did. She was beginning work at the head office of World Vision. I will be hanging out all day. Back at the hotel, I did the washing and some ancestry on my computer as I sat in front of the television under the fan. Opened the glass sliding doors and the louvre doors out onto the pool for some air. Had coffee and biscuits while watching the BBC. news. Had a nap in the afternoon and the day seemed to disappear. Heidi got home at five and had a good day. She had spent the day doing statements about World Visions Cambodian work for the public. A big job. We ate at the hotel by the pool. Eating fried rice and chips filled the spot. Showered and went to bed. Watched TV. and went to sleep early after a good read. Another day tomorrow. 

What a fabulous place to stay.

Day Eleven. Aeon Mall.

Awake at six thirty.Breakfast in bed while watching another episode of Grace and Frankie. A lovely cool breeze came through the open doors in our bedroom. A quiet morning outside our room. Off to the Aeon Mall today, if it is open as today is International Women's Day and things may be shut. It is also Victory Day which commemorates 40years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge who killed millions of Cambodians. 

We had to get a tuk-tuk to the mall which was much bigger and more impressive than I had imagined.

We entered via the food court which was amazing. All kinds of food were represented including, Khmer, Western, and Asian all set out in lovely glass cabinets. You take a little card with the photo of the food you want up to the cashier and pay. She gives you a receipt and you go back to the counter and served your food. A great system that works really well. 

Before we ate we decided to walk around and look at the shops to get an appetite. We purchased a sim card for Heidi's phone and then went to a bookstore nearby. Heidi bought a Khmer language book and we both got some postcards to send home. Daiso was there so we checked the store out. Heidi bought a cute bowl and plastic cutlery set. We wandered back to the food court as we were hungry ordering Korean chicken and vegetable stacks with a prawn on top. They came with sweet chilli sauce. After this lovely lunch, we set off again as we felt renewed, for another walk around the mall. It was nice and cool wandering around checking out the vast array of shops inside. Soon it was back to the food hall again for dessert. We headed to crispy creme doughnuts and a drink. 

Exhausted by now we got a tuk-tuk back to the hotel and what a crazy ride it was. The driver was a total maniac but took us down all the side alleys where the locals lived. It was a real insight into how real Cambodians lived. We laughed all the way home. The driver got lost in our area but eventually, we made it back safely to our hotel. Crashing on the bed with chips and lollies and Netflix was fantastic after our day shopping. 

Up at four pm as the cleaners came to do our room. We sat out by the pool blogging till tea time. We did not feel like dinner tonight as we had eaten such a big lunch. We ate watermelon and yoghurt and watched TV. Went to sleep early at nine pm. Heidi had to be up early for work in the morning. See what tomorrow would bring.  

Day ten. Museum and Mekong River Day.

Woke up early at 0630. Could hear the noise of clanging dishes from the kitchen as the staff prepared for their day. Breakfast in bed for us of cereal and a cup of green tea. Watched some YouTube in bed for a while then up for our day at the Museum. We had tried to book for the Palace but it did not open till 2pm. Went to the museum instead but were not allowed to take any photos inside, only on the outside. 

 After a walk around the building which contained artefacts from bygone eras and was interesting to see we walked not far down to the Mekong river. The river is extremely impressive. So wide with long cargo boats sliding past. As we walked along peddlers trade their wares as the pigeons break into bags of popping corn that are set out on stalls by the wayside. It was a lovely way to spend the morning casually strolling along taking photos of the happening on and off this majestic river. 

Returning to the hotel for lunch was a good idea as we were extremely hot. We needed to cool off and have a breather. Lunch was next on the plan with spring rolls, vegetable coconut curry with rice, and washed down with a mango smoothie each. Ancestry on the computer after lunch and catch up on our washing which is being done by hand in our bucket and hung around the room. We were not hungry by tea time so instead went to the supermarket for a look and a shop. We bought some watermelon and yoghurt for a light tea and am sad to say some lollies and chips for TV in the evening. Came home for a cocktail and had our fruit outside by the pool. Showered and went to bed for TV with lollies and chips. What a night. Such fun.

Day Nine. Off to the Market.

Up at 0700. Ate our cereal in the room. Both feeling good. Walked around to the local market at the end of our street. Very packed with stuff. Clothes, bags, toys, cosmetics, and household wares. There was a food section to buy and an area to eat. No one bothers you as it is not a tourist market so nice and peaceful to wander around. Inside is very dark and narrow aisles. The heat is intense so you don't last long. I found a great bag for $7.00 so bought it. The bag is small and will be good to use on holiday. It is the orange / tan one in the middle.

Tired and wet through with the heat we walked back to the hotel to eat some lunch. Heidi had noodle soup and I had the tomato bruschetta again because I loved it. Not too heavy to eat in the heat. After lunch, we went for a dip in the pool to cool us off. We then sat and rested. We felt relaxed and chilled out. Spent the afternoon relaxing till 4pm when we got a tuk-tuk to Wat Langka, a beautiful working monastery. All the monks in their orange robes were busy sweeping the courtyard and the pavement outside the temple. We had a photo shoot after looking in the temple where you can meditate when you like. 

It was then off for dinner. Crossing the road opposite the temple we found The Herb Cafe which looked really cosy and inviting so decided to eat there. Heidi enjoyed a basil pasta with sundried tomatoes and olives while I enjoyed a vegetarian Pad Thai dish. A tuk-tuk back to the hotel where we sat by the pool enjoying a lovely fresh passion fruit dakari cocktail. Off for a shower and so to bed for some more episodes of Grace and Frankie and a good laugh. We love the series. So funny.