Cold as ice

I'm sleeping diabolically now after a promising start when this holiday began. It could be because the air conditioning system creates a polar ice effect, even at its warmest setting. Without it, one's head becomes a sweaty mess that floods the pillow.

Some hotels make life too complicated for themselves with baffling control panels but it's interesting that when I lived here between 2013-15, in December and January air conditioning wasn't necessary at night. Climate patterns are changing relatively fast in Cambodia.

My friends Allison and Michael got married today in the tropical garden of a hotel. On stage here before the ceremony are Tyler the flautist (and husband of Allison's best friend and chief bridesmaid) and Ralph the officiator (and pastor of the church that Michael's mum attends back home in Toronto). These sorts of touches made for a very intimate and heartfelt day.

It was a very moving wedding, probably because of the size, with only close family and the friends who'd journeyed over. Allison and Michael's view is that the couple at a 'destination wedding' spend a lot more time with each guest during the build-up and wind-down phases, as these inevitably are not done and dusted in a day, and people are corralled and ready to socialise whenever possible. It's a great model that I'll use if I ever get married.

Katie the Chief bridesmaid made a hilariously poignant speech about Allison's attitude towards people she becomes friends with. Allison is a cynic who claims not to appreciate extroverts. Katie highlighted that all of us who Allison likes the most are loud and opinionated, with more extrovert than introvert characteristics. We deduced that if you're an extrovert who can throw in the occasional empathetic comment and prove you're not totally self-involved, you have a chance at the inner circle. Otherwise you'll never make it.

There were lots of caipirinhas consumed, glasses raised and tears shed. After some dancing on a stage between the hotel pool and a large ice sculpture of 'A&M' that held together impressively in the heat, the obvious culmination was to strip off to varying degrees and take a dip. It's remarkable how much drunk wedding guests will think they look good as a synchronised swimming team. Some of us dried off to continue the party in town until the very early hours, such is the temptation to go wild when in Siem Reap.