Cambodia - Phnom Penh

Thank you to those who have been keeping up with my journal while I have not spent time on your journals. It’s been a bit frustrating not having a good signal on the boat and blipping was always done late at night after most people had gone to bed so the signal was stronger, or at a lucky moment during the day when suddenly there would be a stronger connection. I have felt a bit disconnected with the world and we are now trying to catch up on news including the Assad situation. 

I have also felt strangely disconnected from Christmas being away from home, although surprisingly despite being a Buddhist country they do have Christmas decorations and ‘trees’ everywhere as they celebrate it like another fun festival, rather than the religious event it is for Christians. I say ‘tree’ as obviously they don’t grow pine trees here - our hotel in Phnom Penh had an enormous real tree which I suspect was imported at great cost - but usually the ‘trees’ are a cone shaped metal frame with a dark green covering and lights and baubles wound around it. 

So it was our final breakfast on the boat this morning - the food has been sublime and the chef goes out of his way to make whatever you want. I had fresh gluten free bread made by him every day to enjoy as toast at breakfast and it was delicious. Luckily for me every dish he made was totally gluten free which was not difficult for him as their diet is naturally gluten free. He even made delicious puddings that were gluten free and last night I enjoyed my favourite of mango and sticky rice with coconut cream. The fruit has been amazing - mangoes in abundance as they grow here wherever you look. 

We had a morning of excursions In Phnom Pehn before packing up and leaving the boat, and Gavin and I decided to do our own thing as we had already visited the Royal Palace and S-21. We went to the ‘Russian Market’ actually named Tuol Tom Poung but I found it hot and a bit claustrophobic in there with its narrow passages and goods packed all round you. We found a Browns Coffee Cafe - a coffee chain - where we enjoyed iced lattes (mine with soya milk that tasted much better than the soya milk at home) and WiFi!! This photo was taken walking around near the market, one often sees a jumble of electricity cables like this! Phnom Penh is a city of extreme contrasts, some third world areas like this, and then in the financial and business district some very modern and sleek glass buildings (we were told all financed by China).

Then it was back to the boat to close the suitcases and disembark. We were taken to the airport for our flight to Siam Reap, a very short flight of about 35 minutes. We were picked up by our driver and guide and we set off for our hotel. We instantly could see that Siam Reap is much more tourist orientated than other places we have been to, much more prosperous with large houses and western style shops, even supermarkets! There was less litter and it looks like a beautiful little city, although not as authentically charming as the more undeveloped little villages we have been visiting. Our hotel, Phum Baitang is located outside of the city of Siam Reap and it's a beautiful oasis set in 20 hectares of lush gardens with individual little villas dotted around the grounds. We arrived at sunset so there was only time to unpack and settle in before going off to dinner - which was incredible, I had a wok stirfry with clams, squid, prawns and egg noodles.

Tomorrow morning is a very early start at 5am to get to Angkor Wat before sunrise.