And now Cambodia

So heading out of KL in a lightening storm didn’t seem a great option but apparently the pilot was worried and all in all it was a pretty smooth take off and the turbulence wasn’t really bad once we were up above the clouds. It was a 2 hour flight to Siem Reap which I mostly dozed through and then airport formalities were quick and easy, the visa took less than 10 minutes, ditto passport control, by which time my bag was there, immigration and bang out the door into 26 degrees and humidity. Arranged a SIM for the phone and then it was into a Tuk Tuk for the 15 or so minute drive to the hotel which is really quite pleasant with a nice pool and good aircon.
After sorting myself out at the hotel I decided to go for a wander down the river… I soon found the Old Market – which is a mixture of wet market and tourist stuff – it was fascinating to stroll up and down the stalls – they seem to sell everything from tourist T-shirts (Cambodia Beer in an XL for Sam – check!) to Chicken feet and heck of a lot in between. I purchased a couple of scarves and then found a café where I could eat Yam Crisps and sample a couple of the Angkor beers – very nice. Deb rocked up after a while and we sat and chatted and watched the world go by for a bit and then made our way back to the hotel to drop off the shopping and organise circus tickets for tonight.
We then went for another stroll around the area, visiting Sister Srey a social initiative cafe for a coffee and delicious smoothie bowl and then a temple, a handicraft market, the institute for Khmer studies and an artisan’s workshop. By then it was after 4 and so we headed back to the hotel for a quick dip in the pool – refreshing but not really warm enough to linger.
I had been recommended “Sugar Palm” Restaurant as a great place to eat – run by a returned refugee (she fled the Khmer Rouge, lived in NZ for years and has now returned is an running 2 restaurants serving traditional Khmer food) – an boy was to great. Local beer, satay tofu and a fantastic fish curry….mmm Deb had a tofu curry and a couple of ginger mojito’s – delish!
Back to the Hotel just in time for the Tuk Tuk to Phare Circus – a great social initiative which provides free artistic training (2000 students so far) in music, dance, visual and circus arts. We met 9 other fellow cyclists there and saw an amazing show, the athleticism of one performer in particular amazed me. But by 9.15 pm I was ready to call it a night – it is after midnight back in Australia, and it’s been a while since I saw a proper bed.. anyway time for mine as another big day tomorrow Czytaj więcej