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.