Off to Cambodia

We did some blog edits and a couple of phone calls before checking out at 11 and calling our Grab to DMK airport which took over an hour. Lunch at a large primarily Asian food court outside security. The flight to Siem Reap smooth and full and took an hour (it would take full day by land transportation). Doug had done e-Visas and it paid off as we bypassed a long line. We had also paid extra to exceed our carry on luggage total limited to 7 kg so did not need to go to collect it or risk losing it. We were met by our pickup service and an almost hour long drive in, as the new Siem Reap International just opened in October and is located far from town. Initial impressions: Cambodia is much drier looking and a bit hilly compared with Bangkok. The highway itself is only two lanes and both autos and motorcycles sharing the roads. Nancy made note of a wooden oxen cart being towed by a motorcycle containing a ?calf of some sort. Sidewalks appeared around the area where our hotel is. Dinner nearby at Tevy's which Nancy had read about. We had the hotel call ahead and the place was full; we were surprisingly welcomed by an Irishman Cecil who works there as a volunteer. You wait outside until there is a table inside where it is airconditioned. Cecil says he was working as an educator and met Tevy and helped her open the restaurant and it only trains/employs young women. Tevy's father and 3 sisters were killed by the Khmer Rouge and she personally thanked us for coming. We were to confirm our initial impressions that the people here are friendly, welcoming and a bit formal, they also wai (sampeah in Khmer) as in Thailand (bowed head with hands together to say thanks).Read more