Flying to Cambodia

Not the 80s Kim Wylde song, but real life last Sunday.  I departed Sydnet at 9.15am, and touched down in Phnom Penh 5.15pm PP time.  Phnom Penh, like Thailand and Vietnam, is 4 hours behind Sydney. so it was a decent day's travel. I'm introduced to Cambodian bureacracy at the airport via the Visa application process.  Forearmed with the  necessary US$25 and a passport photo I expected to sail through.  I did  - sort of.  No questions asked, but I've never seen so much paperwork, stamps, and double handling.  All the staff  were intently focussed on their task - and there were a lot of staff all attending to just one element of the process!  Eventually I get my Visa and I can enter!

The CARE Cambodia driver Sokry collects me as arranged.  I'm glad the vechicle is comfortable because I'm in the car for a while.  Its only around 12kms from the airport to the centre of Phnom Penh - but the traffic! It actually takes me a few minutes to figure what side of the road one drives on here!!  Motor bikes are the transport of choice, and the family with 5 on theri bike wins the prize.  I'm now on the lookout for 6 on a bike.  I am definitely not driving here.

My home away from home will be Wonderland Villa. on St 63 in BKK1 area. This is the area where most of the Embassies and NGOs are located so its close to work.  Its also where my friends Anne-Maree & Tim live. Despite the dodgey name, Wonderland Villa is a nice surprise.  The security gaurds welcome me like a long lost freind, and my appartment is no 5 star, but its clean and spacious.  My accomodation madatories were: aircon, a kitchen so I can self cater, and separate living and sleeping areas.  A pool was also desireable; April is Cambodia's hottest month where temperatures regularly reach 40.  WV has all this!  Much to my surprise and delight AM has stocked the fridge with some basics and kindly left me some additional bathtowels.  That's a very good thing as a serviced appartment here comes with nothing - there is linen on the bed but that's it.  Now I don't expect Molton Brown toiletries, but some basic soap and toilet paper at least would be nice.  ( I did get to the supermarket  for these essentials).  The final touch are the lovely flowers AM has left as a welcome - crimson gerberas and pink & white lotus flowers.  True beauty.  Apparantly they're the flowers favoured by buddha

I'm too tired to visit AM & Tim. Made a few calls, unpacked - plenty of cupboard space ( I couild have bought more clothes and shoes!) and coathangers.  Even posh hotels usually don't have enough coathangers.  I use them all!

Bed by 11pm.