Since our last installment.... Thursday 10th July in Siem Reap This was our last day in Cambodia so Connie and I went in the tuk tuk again with the same driver to see more of the Angkor sites scattered further out than the ones we had visited on Tuesday but not as far as the remote ones on the Wednesday. Rosemary opted to hire a bike and cycle round alone. She had been there before. The ruins of the various temples and royal facilities are very widely spread around , each part surrounded by a substantial moat, on account of the [View Full Entry]

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Day 10- Tuesday This morning we were awakened at 3.50am by loud explosions which continued every few minutes for about twenty minutes. I personally, in a room alone was not worried. They actually reminded me of the dynamiting sounds we used to hear every day when living in Seoul...they were always building and expanding things. And on arrival yesterday I saw massive evidence of Korean development projects. Eventually, in my sarong I went out into the hall where some others were gathered and they said "Fireworks!"so I went back to bed. As a Kirribilli resident I have become rather blaze abo [View Full Entry]

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Day 8 Last Saturday we took the 7am bus back to Phnom Penh where we collected our left luggage, stayed the night only to take off on Sunday morning on yet another long bus ride. This time 5 hours to Battembang. This was a very prosperous looking colonial style town. We stayed in another lovely big old Chinese hotel. Three beds in a room...fan , balcony on the top floor for $10 total. Then this morning we were up early ... vegetarian fried rice and black tea at 6am! then a long boat up the river to Siem Reap.There were about [View Full Entry]

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Day 6 After our long bus journey yesterday we wanted to have a leisurely time today. We luckily had selected a new guest hostel opposite the Mekong near the bus stop after running the gauntlet of the inevitable touts. We seem to have selected the best place in town at $5 a night. U Hong II. New and clean. The host has been working in the tourism business in this relatively remote town for five years and built a wonderful service. It is only small, three double rooms, an elegant cafe and tourist information office and service. Delicious traditional and western [View Full Entry]

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Day 5 - Kratie Yesterday, after my lazy morning we went to lunch at an amazing cafe called "Friends"just near the Royal Palace. It was started by someone to help street kids- orphans, prostitutes,etc. It is a classy cafe that would be impressive in Kirribilli or Bronte. Excellent tapas. Friendly service. Behind is a great complex of facilities-rehab, school, life skills workshop, hospitality school with several grades, and craft workshop. Most impressive and inspirational. Poor Cambodia is in a very wretched situation. It is almost as though the whole nation is in a depression of guil [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 29th June Finally took off from Sydney after a five hour delaydue to aircraft maintenance. So instead of getting to Bangkok at 10pm got there at 4am. Had a compensatory voucher (from my travel agent for some other mix up) for what seemed to be a 10 star hotel so thought that rather than sit 4 more hours in an airport , took the shuttle bus and enjoyed a few hours of luxury.Then up and on the 8am flight to PP> Looking out the window of the wooded hills I couln't help remembering the lovely Cambodian girls I had taught [View Full Entry]

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I have finally received my e ticket and itinerary. Departing Sydney Sunday 29th at 3.50pm to Phnom Penh via Bangkok. Still practising each day so as not to forget what to do and of course to encounter as many problems as possible before I set off and am on my own with all these hi-tech gad. gets [View Full Entry]

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Just trying to get started with a map and some photos. [View Full Entry]

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