Highlights of our Trip – Day 14 & 15

Day 14

Thank God Cherie brought the ‘Brufen’ anti-inflammatory tablets. Pain led to comfort. Today we are in Vientiane,

Day 15, of our holiday and I am OK. We had hassles when we first arrived at Vientiane at night, as the recommended guest house Cherie booked ‘The Mala Maphua Guest House ‘ did not keep our booking as they changed their provider and the bus arrived late, however we booked into the ‘Taipan Hotel’, the hotel we had booked for the next two days even though it was $50.00 more expensive. Well worth it as we had a lovely night’s sleep.

The bus trip from Luangprabang to Vientiane was something I am glad we did. We left the bus station at Luangbrapang at 9.04am in our ‘VIP’ bus sitting in the ‘king and queens’ number 1 & 2 seats. We had booked two days earlier and secured front rows seats for the journey. Thank god we did as we could stretch our legs out and we had a luggage compartment in front of us where I could put my precious Ankor Wat plaque, which I will have to carry everywhere with us.

We headed off to a trip that would be unparalleled with the panoramic scenery that we have seen anywhere before. Of course, Asian scenery, as all parts of the world, including Australia, are all very unique and individual.

We started to climb as soon as we left Luangprabang. Some parts of our climb reached up to 2500 metres. We passed primitive Laotian villages where many villagers and children were dressed in their native costumes. I took many photographs of the villagers and their children, putting the lens of the camera close to the window, hoping that there would be minimal reflection in the photos. Dense tropical rainforest and areas where the farmers practiced ’slash and burn’ subsistent farming techniques dotted the horizon. The mountains were enormous and ranged from dense tropical vegetation to areas that had been used for teak wood forests and areas used for cultivation, such as bananas, to spectacular limestone outcrops and cliffs, which reached hundreds of metres into the sky. It was quite a gloomy day and it rained intermittently, but this did not distract from the aura of the scenery. We went higher and higher into the cloud covered mountain peaks and when we reached a summit we then took the never ending winding road, complete with many hairpins to the valleys below. There had been some unseasonable wet weather for the pass two days, so the bus had to be very careful as the road was washed out in sections, which made the trip from Luangprabang to Vientiane about 3 to 4 hours longer. The bus driver was a very safe driver and was very cautious for the whole of the trip. Our seating arrangement was extremely good as it was a double storey bus, the luggage below and we perched in the front row on the second storey. As the journey progressed the sun gradually emerged from the determined cloud cover, and by the time we reached ‘Kasy’, our rendezvous for lunch at a small town in a rice paddy dotted landscape we were eager for the lunch they promised us upon our booking. We arrived at a restaurant on the outskirts of Kasy and the local owners were ready to supply us with our food. The food was good yet simple, very spicy with lots of local fresh vegetables. We even bought a ‘Cornetto Ice-cream” for desert. We figured when we arrived at Kasy we were probably two hours behind schedule.
 
My back was holding up well, as the seats in the ‘VIP’ bus were very comfortable and the fact we could stretch our feet out fully, surely helped. We went through much more panoramic countryside, through valley plains that had meandering pristine rivers and creeks running under the many one vehicle bridges that we passed over. As we progressed into nightfall we were treated to a vivid orange and red sunset, which reflected enchantingly upon the now large rivers that were adjacent to the road we were traveling on. The journey seemed to go on for ever. We passed many villages and small towns hoping that the many bright lights ahead would signal our arrival at Vientiane. Finally after about 12 hours of journey we arrived at Vientiane and piled onto a large tut-tut truck.

Highlights of our Trip – Day 13

Day 13

Lucky and unlucky day 13. We slept in and had breakfast and then decided to go to the weaving village 3 kls out of Luangprabang. Well we a tuk-tuk (called Jumbo in Laos). A three wheeled tricycle looking vehicle with a sitting in a compartment on the back. It was the ride from hell. We explained where we wanted to go and 1 hour later through numerous misdirections and instructions we arrived at the village. The Jumbo had not suspensions and my back, groin and neck were hurting badly. This was the village that made them and was supposed to be cheaper than the night markets. You could see the workshops and many looms which were sprinkled amongst the weaving shops. Cherie bought a beautiful scarf and then we went and had a coffee at the local upmarket boutique in the village. I spotted just what wanted – a beautiful wall hanging, which had temples and roosters and other incredibly woven intricate designs on it. Inquiring about the price he said it was $US110, about $US30.00 dearer than what I had seen at the local night markets in Luangprabang. When we got to the village I noticed that there was a similar hanging at another shop. When I got there I realised it was exactly the same. After some astute bartering I managed to get the only hanging that I was interested in, in Luangprabang for $US44.00. We caught a comfortable jumbo back to Luangprabang and we decided to celebrate the selling of our property at the most upmarket and celebrated restaurant in the city. 
 
Upon being seated we could not resist the entree of frogs legs – the last time we had frogs legs was when we had dinner on the first night of our honeymoon. It was unbelievable: cooked in a garlic sauce which was delectable. For the main meal I had local fish and scallops done in a dill sauce and Cherie had fillet mignon pork. We finished with a crème caramel and wonderful nougat covered with a wild berry and raisin sauce.
 
Then everything went ‘pear shaped.’ Cherie started to submit to the call of nature and started to repetitively go to the toilet and blamed it in on the coffee she had at the weaving village. We picked up our laundry and quickly headed off to our hotel. For some reason Cherie decided to have a massage and said I would have one too. What a fateful mistake. Cherie cancelled hers and I had mine. Beautiful -a pressure point massage which when finished I felt great. I went into Viv and Geralds’ room and turned to the right and my back went -the first time since I was last in Bali. Never again – I have learnt my lesson. We are booked on a bus trip to Vienitane tomorrow so it will be interesting. Let’s hope I am not in agony tomorrow and it goes away quickly.

Highlights of the Trip – Day 12 Xmas Day

Day 12 Xmas Day

What an unusual way to spend Xmas Day. Viv had arranged to go on an elephant ride in the morning. We were picked up at our hotel in a dilapidated minivan and we crammed into the back of it. Thinking we were the last pick up, we headed off. Alas we stopped at another hotel and picked up another couple and their two children. After some acrobatic efforts by the family we finally made the journey to the elephant ride. After a short wait we headed for the elephant embankment and I quiet nimbly alighted the elephant. I turned around and their was a look of dismay on Cherie’s face. “I can’t do this!” she said. There was a gap of about 2 feet from the platform she was on and the head of the elephant. After moving the elephant forward and doing a U-turn the mahout finally was close enough for Cherie to get on. The seating arrangement was OK and safe as we were enclosed by rails and a piece of wood in front of us. The mahout headed off to what was an interesting journey. The beginning of the trip involved the elephant negotiating some quite steep up and down inclines. It seemed very difficult for the elephant at times but they are very adept at placing their large padded feet in the right rut when negotiating these sharp inclines. We continued for about an hour on the elephant, Gerald being the lightest of all of us managing to spend the last part of the experience on the neck of his elephant behind its ear, as the mahout would. Our mahout spoke no English, but he was a jovial and friendly fellow who sang a local song throughout the journey. We finally got back to our platform and getting off the elephant was more difficult than getting on. My miniature mahout grabbed my hand and with one great heave lifted me off. We took some photographs feeding our elephant bananas, tipped our mahout and after quiet a wait headed back to our hotel.
 
We had a few things to do before our prebooked roast turkey and vegetable dinner at 7.00pm so we had a shower and then Cherie and myself decided to make the 15 minute leisurely walk into Luangprabang from our hotel. We organised our laundry, booked seats on our ‘VIP’ bus to Vientiane and decide to have a cocktail at a bar adjacent to the Mekong River. We ordered two cocktails and after about 15 minutes they had not arrived. After enquiring to how much longer they would be, they finally came. After one sip. we realised we could not drink these concoctions and to the proprietor’s dismay, paid half of what they were worth and walked off looking for brighter pastures. After a reasonably long trek we reached the safe haven of a little restaurant we had eaten the day before. We had not eaten since breakfast and it was now 3.30pm so after two fantastic and delicious traditional Lao meals, we went  back to out hotel got our clothes for the laundry and I went to a wine bar and had a couple of French chardonnays and Cherie went to the ‘Apsara’ restaurant and met Viv to have some French deserts. We met up again and had a simple yet satisfactory roast turkey and vegetables meal at the ‘Tamarind’ restaurant. Cherie and I went to the night market where she bought two beautiful silk scarves and feeling fit and wanting to do as much exercise as we could, we walked packed to our hotel and Cherie went onto the Internet and booked our accommodation for Vientiane. We had decided that going to ‘The Plain of Jars’ would be too difficult this trip as it would take a couple of extra days to see.

Highlights of our Trip – Day 11

Day 11

Another fantastic day awaited us and what a full day it was and it doesn’t get any better.
 
We headed of to our breakfast at the Haysoke Hotel that we are staying at in Luangprabang after having a really good night’s sleep. Both Gerald and I think the beds are the best we have had since we started our trip. Expecting another simple breakfast like the morning before, we went down to our breakfast room to be greeted by a breakfast banquet. The Japanese tourists had arrived! After heartily consuming a wonderful breakfast we prepared ourselves for the tour up the Mekong River to see the ‘Lao Lao Whisky’ village where they make the local Lao beverage made from rice, which is similar to Saki, and to see the ‘Pak Ou’ caves, also known as the Buddha caves’
 
We arrived at wharf at 9.15pm via our tuk-tuk package tour driver and climbed down the steps to our old, quaint boat. It was a very primitive boat, a little uncomfortable as you couldn’t stand up because we are a lot taller than the Lao people. The four of us and two European putted off to what was an unforgettable trip. The scenery was beautiful. The shores of the Mekong were dotted with vegetable plantations, interspersed with village huts, with the locals doing their everyday chores in this subsistence environment. Beyond the shores on this vast wide river were tropical forests, which led to densely vegetated high mountains. It was still morning so the clouds that enveloped these mountains were gradually rising. When the sun broke through the clouds the mountains and river lit up. Even though we are very high up in the Mekong, remembering that the Mekong River flows into the China Sea about 200kls south east of Ho Chi Minh City, the current was still extremely strong. You would not want to fall out of the boat. After about an hour and a half, passing what we thought was a Laotian prison, we arrived at the ‘Whisky Village.’ The setting was magnificent. There were wooden village huts and local villagers selling their weaving wear and grog. Strangely they know what the going price for their wares - no different to the Luangprabang markets. After visiting ‘a hole in the ground’ we headed up the Mekong to the ‘Pak Ou’ caves. Why our boat captain did no dock at the the main wharf there we do not know. However after another arduous walk to the top cave with Gerald (I do know how many steps we had to climb), we arrived at the cave where you needed a torch to see the interior. There were ancient paintings on the walls of the caves and some young stalagmites on the roof and a Buddhist shrine. Nothing spectacular but reaped in tradition, history and significance to the Lao villages in this area. The caves are significant also because they are full of Buddha statues of all shapes and sizes that have come from all over Laos and beyond. After another perspiring walk back to our boat we headed, this time much more quickly to Luangprabang going with the current to meet our minibus, which was going to take us to the ‘Kwang Si Falls’, about an hour out of the city.
 
What awaited us at these falls was nothing what I had expected. I knew they were beautiful but these would be the most breathtaking falls and surrounding scenery I have seen. Taking the initial walk up to the falls we passed the ‘Moon Bear’ sanctuary where bears are rescued from the poachers and are rehabilitated by volunteer workers. It is so sad that these innocent bears are caged in incredibly poor conditions so that the bile from their gall bladders can be extracted and sent to China because they believe it a potent life enhancer. I bought a $5.00 T-Shirt to help assist the sanctuary in their struggle to save these endangered bears. 
 
A little further up this highly vegetated track we reached our first waterfall. It was beautiful. The water was a luminous tropical light blue and almost cobalt in colour. It was surrounded by tropical vegetation, There were three more of these spectacular falls which led up to the last and biggest fall, which came thundering down from the heavens above. As the sun was slowly setting over the peak of the fall we pretended to be Japanese tourists having photographs taken and imitating their every pose as we were ‘movie stars’ from Tokyo. Gerald climbed up to the top of the falls whilst Cherie, Viv and I had an unbelievably refreshing swim in one of the smaller falls area. The water was so clean and crisp but also extremely freezing. 
 
Back to our minibus and a Lao beer for the trip back to Luangprabang, passing through villages with dogs and chooks that were calmly crossing the road in front of us, we arrived back at the Haysoke Hotel. Cherie had an hours sleep and then we went to the ‘Aksara’ restaurant, one of the better known dining establishments in Luangprabang. We were not to be disappointed. I had ‘Buffalo Sausages’ and Cherie had ‘Spring Rolls’ for an entree and “Pork Belly’ and ‘Curry Duck’ for our main meals. Washed down with some wonderful American red wine we negotiated a tuk-tuk and went back to our hotel. What a wonderful day.

Highlights of our Trip – Day 10

Day 10

What a full day traveling around Luangpabang. We headed off a bit later because Cherie got no sleep with our room on the road, even though I did not seem to have any problems. We caught a tuk-tuk, Laos style into the main center. It is so pretty, a little like U Bud in Bali but nicer. We went down to the Mekong River and then wandered around and found a ‘Wat’ and then the ‘Lacole de Beaux Arts’ where Viv bought a couple of artworks. 
 
We continued to wonder around and we had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Mekong.  A large Lao beer and a Prawn Laksa, and I was satisfied. We continue to check out the town for the next few hours and then Cherie and Viv headed back to our hotel and arranged to meet them back at the entrance to the mountain steps. I saw the night market being set up and then started the arduous climb to the top of Mt Phousi. I was in a lather of perspiration when I got to the top. No a trip that a person with a bad heart would take. From the top we had a spectacular view of Luangpabang and watching the town below coming alive.  After climbing down the 250 steps we went to the markets where Cherie bought a ’snake’ necklace and earrings – an amazing market with some beautiful silk material.
 
Had a meal and a couple of drinks and then headed back to our hotel to organise our days after we left Luangpabang to ‘The Plain of Jars’ and Vientiane.

Hightlights of our Trip – Day 9

Day 9

Today we were flying to Luangprabang with Lao Airlines via Pakse in Southern Cambodia. The flight will take approximately 3.5 hours, but we did not have to be at the airport till 1.00pm.
 
We had to send some clothes back to Australia, took too many in our rush back home, so we headed to the Post Office to send 4kg of unnecessary cloths back to Australia, which was expensive – all up costing $35.00 but we needed space. We then headed to both the ‘Old and Central’ markets. Cherie wanted to buy some of the beautiful Angkor Wat silk bedspread covers and by then she had got the bargaining right and bought several, hence the space we needed. She also bought a lovely fake silver jewellery case and a ‘Shiva’ sculpture with the seven snake heads. Until now I hadn’t bought anything but that was about to change.
 
Back to the ‘Ancient Angkor Hotel’, did our final packing, paid the bill and headed off with our tuk-tuk drivers to the brand new and impressive Siem Reap Airport. We gave them a tip for all their kind and special attention to us and checked in for our flight to Luangprabang. Had a great ice coffee mocha and carrot cake with Cherie and then at the last minute I decided I would look at the Cambodian Artisan duty free shop. Viv and Gerald had been to their workshop close to our hotel earlier in the morning and bought some of their wares. I found the only thing I Siem Reap that I wanted to by. It was a plaque made out of sandstone with a decorated Angkor face. It was high quality. Had to pay $US74.00, but if it is the only thing I buy when I am away then I will be happy. It weighed 5kgs but they packed it with foam and tape and gave me a special carry bag, so I can take it on the planes.
 
We headed off to Luanprabang in our propeller driven MA60 plane (a Chinese made aircraft) and had an uneventful flight, (apart from a very fast landing at Pakse in southern Laos) and arrived just before dark at 5.45pm. The plane negotiated itself in between magnificent mountains and  over the Mekong river to the airport. We had to pay $30.00 entrance tax to get our visa and then took a taxi van to our prebooked and paid for Haysoke Hotel. It’s was fine. We had some drinks on the balcony adjacent to our rooms and then had a satisfactory meal at the ‘Parasol de Blanc’ restaurant across the road. I was feeling tired so I went back to our room and left Gerald, Viv and Cherie back at the restaurant.

Highlights of our Trip – Day 8

Day 8

What an incredible day. Truly one of the best days I have spent on a holiday. Of course it is purely subjective but to me this was a ‘humdinger’ of a day. We headed off at 8.30 with our tuk-tuk drivers Ken and Jean to Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. It is 300kls wide and provides most of the fish for the Cambodian people. I did some research in our tourist brochure and this is the place other than the ‘ruins’ I wanted to see. The floating fishing villages are a must see on Tonle Sap Lake
 
Cherie, myself and Gerald arrived at a village  about 4kls from the boat that was going to take us to Kompomg Khleang floating fishing village. We had negotiated $15.00 a head for the boat with Kean and Jean. We had to walk the 4kls to the boat as the road was too rough for the tuk-tuks. Being fit we strided off from a village house where the tuk-tuks were left securely and made a brisk 45 minute walk to the fishing village where we were to pick up our boat. We walked by some incredibly poor villages on a road that was pocketed with deep undulations that had to be navigated carefully with motorcycles as there was only certain firm areas that vehicles could go on because the rest was very sandy.
 
We arrived at the fishing village and jumped on our awaiting boat and made our journey to Kompomg Khleang floating fishing village. We threaded our way through mangrove looking trees till we arrived at a floating village that was absolutely breathtaking. This was real Cambodian life. Ken said apart from telecommunication and television the appearance of the village had not changed for decades. It was like going back in time. Row upon row of stilted village houses greeted us. The villages were going about their everyday chores as if we didn’t exist, but of course they know all about the benefits of tourism. I can remember when we went to the floating markets in Thailand 25 years ago, but this was something special. We past the village and went out into the vast expanses of the lake and sat there for a while looking at the enormity of this area of water and the returned back to the village only to have the boat stall – low on fuel!. The Cambodians are a resilient race after getting some fuel from a passing boat we headed back to the fishing village and did a tour on ground that was above water two months before. We saw dried shrimps on wood plates on the ground, visited the local school where Cherie made a donation and the headed back our bat after he refueled and then to where we picked up our boat. Then came a really exciting time. I had spoken to Ken about being taken back to our tuk-tuks via motorcycle rather walk back in the midday heat. They were all lined up and for $2.00 we had an exciting ride back to our tuk-tuks. Great clever, skilful riding. Cherie thoroughly enjoyed herself.
 
On the way back we visited Roulus ruins, the old capital of Cambodia, and (more information later) and then returned to our hotel for a swim. A great day

Highlights of our Trip – Day 6

Day 6

We had negotiated to go to the Angkor Archaeological Park the day before when we arrived at the Siem Reap bus station from Phnom Penh. Ken who was in charge spoke really fluent English and for $15.00 a day they would take us you see the ruins and temples.
 
After a very satisfying cheap breakfast at the Ancient Angkor’ restaurant, (bacon, eggs and toast $1.50, fresh pineapple juice 0.85, coffee 0.75) we headed off with our tuk-tuk drivers to firstly Angkor Wat. We bought a $US40.00 pass which meant we could go there for any of the three days we were here.
Angkor Wat was breathless. The enormity of the temples and grounds was awe inspiring. The carvings on the walls were well preserved and displayed intricate detailed craftsmanship. The surrounding walls told the story of Angkor Wat from the beginning to the 18th century. (I will put more information about the history and significance of the individual temples later). We spent two hours there taking many photographs and videos and then went to see the ‘Bayon’ ancient temple and ruin which is situated centrally inside Angkor Tom. ‘Bayon’ had a very special uniqueness to it. Throughout the three levels were many rooms where the Khmer obviously lived. There were also Buddhist shrines dotted here and there and again some amazing carvings on the walls. Both Cherie and I like this better than Angkor Wat.
 
Ken had arranged lunch at ‘Store 19′, one of many little restaurants dotted in the grounds opposite Angkor Tom. I had Lemon Grass and basil Spicy Pork and Cherie Tom Yung soup. Both were excellent but the chilies oh so hot.
 
After lunch we explored the ground and ruins of Angkor Tom which were peaceful and picturesque. We then headed off to our last ruin, (Preah Khan), where the enormous fig tree was growing out of the middle of the ruin. It was a photographer’s paradise with many people clambering for a personal photograph in front of the icon. These ruin were simply amazing again. All four that we saw had a special uniqueness to them.
 
We headed off back to our hotel at about 5.00pm as Viv had arranged for us to have a banquet and see the Áskara’ dancers at a restaurant in downtown Siem Reap. The food was very bland as I expected it to be but the dancers were good. Áskara’ is a traditional form of Cambodian dancing. I could see the similarities and influences of the Thai who during the history of Cambodia had control of the Khmers. The restaurant ended up to be expensive $US45.00. We are going to eat cheap now as it becoming very costly doing these things. From now on we are going to eat cheap as it all mounts up. This restaurant, get the name later, was enormous and only catered for Japanese and European tourist consequently the very ordinary food.
 
We headed back to our hotel for a very good nights sleep. Another day awaits us.

Highlights of our Trip – Day 4 & 5

Day 4 & 5

Here goes again. What patience I have. Just about to send forty five minutes of a previous email and we had a power failure. Evidently this is typical of Siem Reap.
 
This will be a briefer version. Decided to go to the Indian restaurant I discovered in a tourist brochure. Had a great meal. Had a delicious entree and I ordered a really scrumptious, spicy Prawn Vindaloo. Cherie was in an odd’ mood a premonition we were to be alluded to the next day. The waiter hovered over us awaiting the next drink order or request – “Yes Marm – is everything alright Marm!” We finished our meal and the waiter greeted us with some miniature cigars which Gerald and I fumbled with on our journey back to the Pavilion Hotel. They were rolled very tight and we had to relight them all the time. Cherie and I had a swim back at the hotel and went to bed. Alas 2.30am in the morning Cherie wakes up and says “Ï don’t feel well!” The gradual process of ongoing stomach rumbling began.
 
We packed and headed off to catch the ‘Mekong Express’ to Siam Reap at the bus depot via the convenient tuk-tuk passenger service. Didn’t have to look far they were always there.
 
We left at 8.30am and headed through the suburbs of Phnom Penh. We passed many poor areas as we left the capital and finally the landscape changed to rice paddy fields. The whole journey was similar. Villages on both sides of the road and rice paddy fields disappearing into the distance. What we noticed was the primitive weathered wood construction of the villagers and the obvious rich pretentious mansions of the affluent. We stopped halfway and had a meal at a very busy restaurant in a town I can’t recall. I had ‘Pork with Ginger’ which was very tasty.
 
We arrived at Siem Reap at 2.30pm. Cherie held up well due to the ‘Magic’ tablets we bought on our last trip to Vietnam when she got sick on the train. Caught a tuk-tuk to the Ancient Angkor Hotel’, which Cherie pre-booked. Great room for $US18.00, then went for a walk in downtown Siem Reap, casing out all he restaurants and bars and then returned to the hotel and had an amazing Lasksa at the hotel restaurant for $US3.00 and headed of to bed, knowing that Cherie was slowly recovering from her bug, Viv was also getting over her runs and Gerald had a headache and was feeling dizzy. Update tomorrow. I am feeling well and looking forward to seeing Angkor Wat tomorrow.

Highlights of our Trip – Day 3

Day 3

Woke up feeling the best I have felt for days – we packed and headed off to Changi Airport. Had a great breakfast at French influenced cafe at the airport. Our Air Asia flight to Phmon Penh via Koala Lumpur was leaving at 11.30am. Booked in and Cherie showed me the terminals. An amazing airport but you wouldn’t buy anything there as it like most airports, very expensive.
 
Departed on the Airasia fight to Kuala Lumpur and you couldn’t believe the difference in the overall atmosphere of the carrier. Great food – we had prebooked an Asian meal which was extremely tasty.
 
Kuala Lumpur airport was an extremely busy place. Locals everywhere because Airasia flies into the old domestic terminal. It took us a while to coordinate our flight desk to check in for our connecting flight, but it wasn’t much of a hassle, especially when we had 3 hours in between our connecting flight to Phomn Penh.
 
Sat at the back of the flight to Phomn Penh as I always like a window seat to look at the scenery. Met a guy from Jakarta who was a health food/vitamin company rep who was on a business trip to Cambodia. Interesting, friendly guy – told me all about Indonesia.
 
Arrived at Phmon Penh International Airport – did the custom and visa bit and caught a cab to the Pavilion Hotel with a very informative and articulate English speaking taxi driver who as usual tried to drum up some business – $US25 a day for a sightseeing tour of Phmon Penh – a happening pending.
 
What a revelation the Pavilion Hotel was. Nestled in the backstreets of the city – not on the Mekong tourist strip, we arrived on a typically working class street with street stores selling anything a local might buy. Outside the hotel were two large white elephants which I patted for good luck. No sooner had we alighted from the taxi two locals without shoes and socks, grabbed our luggage and ushered us into the hotel. I had already made it a conscious reality that I would not make any preconceived opinions of this hotel as it was so far away from the tourist hub and be objective until I saw what we got. Well, upon entering the hotel through a tiny entrance surrounded by white walls we were greeted to a small tropical paradise. From the outside you would not have known what was inside.
 
A beautiful swimming pool awaited us, surrounded by a quaint, well designed luscious tropical garden and a lovely bar adjacent to the swimming pool. After checking in at the desk inside a majestic and ornate colonial building we were shown our room. It was great! A large double bed, complete with mosquito net. Everything was clean and well appointed. A large bathroom and all the facilities that you need – safe, mini bar and air conditioning – all for $A50 a night. This hotel was well rated on Trip Adviser and again they were on the ball. The hotel was a ‘blast from the past’. You could imagine yourself going back in time and what it must have been like many years ago.
 
We unpacked and settled down at the bar next to the pool and had a few drinks. We decided to eat there as well but when I ordered meals and found out they were frozen TV snacks in a freezer we decided down the local street was a better option. Cherie had seen a couple of what looked good, safe restaurants down the road when we arrived. We struck it lucky. We had a great Cambodian meal at the first one and a decadent desert at the next. Some French wine (chardonnay at $3 a glass – good quality with main meal) and an ‘Adios Amigos’ cocktail with my desert for $4.00 with desert, which ensured I got a sound night’s sleep. A thoroughly pleasant day. Looking forward to tomorrow when we hit the streets of Phone Penh.