"Madame - buy a postcard"

Saturday 9

Up early to show Frank my neighbourhood – BKK1.  We buy lovely croissants from Comme le Maison for brekkie.  Savounz collects us around 8.15 for the trip to the airport. I have never seen the roads so uncrowded.  Many locals have left town for their New Year pilgrimage home

Cambodian Angkor Air operates several flights per day between   Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.  The passengers are 100% foreign – not surprising given the US$185 return price;  its only around $35 on the bus.  In wet season you can also take a boat up the Tonle Sap river – that would be a nice way to travel.  Right now however, the river is a narrow stream in some points.

We are spoiling ourselves with some 5 star luxury in Siem Reap – staying at La Residence d’Angkor.  It’s a luxurious establishment operated by the Orient Express Group.  Once we are inside the car our driver gives us mandarin oil scented wet cloth and La Residence own bottled water – icy cold of course.  This is going to be opulent but some nice respite from the grit of Phnom Penh.  The Orient Express group, does its bit to help the communities they are in.  They are supporting local eduction initiatives, as well as the craftspeople who’s work adorns our lovely room. 

Siem Reap translates to “forced the Thais out” – or something like that.  “Keep the tourists in” is more like it!  The main part of town is 100% geared for tourism, with western cafes, Irish pubs, big screens dedicated to football, and even several markets just for foreigners, euphemistically called international markets (read “ full of tourist tack…”).  Entrepreneurs abound, from the streetwise 14 year old postcard seller who can recite every Australian Prime Minister, to the driver who’s converted his Tuk Tuk to a “bat mobile”.  I think Robyn is his tout!

Market vendor SMSing!

We eat at the hotel’s very fine dining room watching traditional Aspara dancing.  My Khmer tasting plate includes fresh spring roles, duck soup, minced pork skewers, and frog’s legs stir fried with ginger.  Tastes like chicken.   Early night.