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.

 

 

Off To Cambodia.

Cambodia here we come!

My daughter and I are off again, this time to Cambodia. We leave on Boxing day, flying to Kuala Lumpur, on to Phnom Penh and a domestic flight to Siem Reap. In Siem Reap, we hope to visit Angkor Wat for a fabulous photo opportunity. We plan to stay for a week there. Temples and the night market are also on the list of things to see and do. 

From Siem Reap, we hope to take a boat down the river back to Phnom Penh where we will be staying in a lovely small boutique hotel not far from where my daughter will be working. She can even walk to work it is so close. I, on the other hand, can visit local temples close by and do some meditation. Day trips are another option and so is sitting around the pool with a mocktail catching up on my blog and writing. Visiting the local market will be fun and we can buy our fruit there. On the weekends we can do some sightseeing and visit the mall to see what is on offer. It is going to be extremely hot so it will be interesting to see how we cope in the heat. At least we have a pool to help us. It is going to be interesting to take photos of all the sites and share them with you, so keep a lookout. 

Bye for now. I have some packing to do...

Book Review-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society, written by  Mary Ann Shaffer, is a beautiful story with plenty of insight into the life on Guernsey Island during the second world war and beyond. It Tells the story of Juliet Ashton who was a journalist in London during the war years. She makes contact with a man named Dawsey Adams via a letter that he wrote to her about a book they had both read, and a correspondence begins. Dawsey lives on Guernsey and belongs to a book club there. Other members then get in touch with her and friendships ensue. Juliet learns a lot about their lives on the island during the Nazi occupation. Shaffer brings the characters to life in a delightful tale of people's lives on the Island.

The story is written in letter form which takes a little time to get used to, but it flows well and you don't seem to notice. Definitely a feel good book.

There is also a movie about the book which, with the same title, which was a delight.

MaryAnn Shaffer died before the book came to print. She was a former librarian who wrote a wonderful book for us to enjoy.

Here is a list of books to read.

This is my list of great books to read. I have already done some book reviews and hope to do a lot more. I like a wide variety of books and here are some of my all-time favourites.

1] Out on a limb by Shirley MacLaine.

2] Happiness by The Dalai Lama.

3] Out of Africa by Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen)

4] Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

5] A Bavarian Winter by Ronald L. Harmon

6]  Tibetan by Sorrel Wilby

7]    Home Is Where The Heart Is by Geraldine Cox.

8] The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert.

9] Committed by Elisabeth Gilbert.

10]  Sissi by Allison Pataki

11] The Happiness Project  by Gretchen Rubin                  

12] Lavender and Linen by Henrietta Taylor.

I think this is a good mix of books. Very different but I hope you find something in there to read and enjoy.

 Happy Reading.

The Viking Exhibition at the Melbourne Museum.

As I am sixty one percent Scandinavian and am writing a book about my Viking ancestors I thought that it was appropriate that I visit the viking exhibition that is currently showing at the Melbourne Museum.

 So, yesterday I met my daughter in the city to go and visit the exhibit. First we had lunch at a noodle shop near the train station - our favourite food. We ate rice noodles with vegetables and tofu, followed by a custard bun. After lunch we crossed the road and did some shopping at Daiso, a Japanese store where everything is really cheap. I bought some plastic sandals, some heat patches, a small white board with pen and eraser and some mango strips to eat. The lot came to twelve dollars. We took a train to Parliament Station, followed by a tram. It was pouring with rain and very windy. Arriving slightly dishevelled and damp, we checked in our bags, bought our tickets and went for a coffee to warm us up. After a brief respite in we went. A large Viking ship greeted us, it's sail a vision in brown and cream patchwork. 

 

The exhibition was well laid out but a little on the dark side. Artifacts from the Viking age were encased behind glass and included beads, jewellery, axes, swords, drinking vessels, glass wear, nails and runes. You could even replicate your name in the alphabet of the time. There was plenty of information to read and learn about the era and how the people lived. A sword was placed so that you were able to pick it up and feel the weight behind it. An interactive game helped  dress a viking in his clothes of the day and to his station in life. It was all very interesting. On the way out was the usual gift store containing all things Viking, like a rubber duck with a horned helmet atop his yellow head. A must have. There were all sorts of merchandise including plastic helmets, silver jewellery, small long boats, tea towels, plastic swords, games, and stone runes. Your imagination could run wild. 

Off we went tired but happy and ready for the long trip home.Collapsing on the couch after our big day we enjoyed a pasta bake followed by a hot green tea. Our day was done. 

Let Me Go

This wonderful drama is a war story which  portrays the lives of four generations of women and their relationships with each other over the years.The grandmother Helga [Juliet Stevenson], has a very distant and strained relationship with her mother Traudi [Karin Bertling], which takes its toll on her daughter Beth [ Jodhi May]. When Helga and her grand daughter Emily [Lucy Boynton] fly to Vienna to visit Traudi dark secrets emerge. This is a story of great depth and heart.