Amazing Cambodia - Christmas Extraordinaire

Amazing Cambodia!

We arrived in Cambodia on a very pleasant Silk Air flight from Singapore on Christmas Day.... We even had the "Special" Christmas lunch on board the flight! And it was a decent attempt at a roast turkey dinner... turkey, 'sort of roast potatoes', broccoli and carrots and a sponge pudding with a red chocolate 'snowflake' button on top.  The snowflake seemed a bit strange for a lunch created in a tropical environment where clearly there was never going to be any snow unless a world wide ice age took place during my lifetime!

We had a rather interesting trip to the B&B that we stayed in.... We land in Cambodia and need to grab a Cambodian tourist visa first. The whole process is actually extremely well organized even though no one can actually speak the same language. Everything is done on a 'line of sight' process - meaning:

1. hand over passport to someone behind a glass screen, who asks you what kind of visa and then after telling you the price whisks it off into oblivion.
2. move to next line and what for someone to take your money - pay the 30USDollars (literally they want US Dollars and pristine brand new dollars too)
3. move to next line and then.... wait.... and wait for the next person behind the screen to pick you out from the crowd based on your photo is your passport. Well, my passport photo has my hair down and and I am wearing my hair in a ponytail in real time.... but somehow he scans the crowd and finally calls out my name and hands me back my passport!

The next stage its relatively easy - go to immigration, find suitcase and then find transportation to B&B. 

Driving anywhere in Cambodia is basically a bit like an act of faith! The traffic is unbelievable, but in fairness everyone drives very slowly, with the ever present and abundant motorcycles weaving in and out of the traffic. The process of turning left of right across many lanes of traffic requires, nerves of steel, patience and tenacity for the driver. For the passenger it requires one to not look too hard (preferably closure of the eyes), praying and relief upon the turn being actually executed without being hit or hitting anyone else. The closest thing I can liken it to is trying to cross the road in the middle of Rome, Italy - gather as many people (in this case vehicles - cars, bikes, tuktuks) en mass and then proceed slowly to ensure oncoming traffic is forced to stop to allow movement. Eventually making the turn is a relief to behold.

We arrive at our destination about 40 minutes later having travelled all of about 3 miles. The B&B is technically classed as a hotel in a gated residential area off the main road. The house is an old Khmer home that is beautifully restored and decorated. We have the the top room that is literally at the top of a 5 story home.... and no elevator! Thankfully, the kind attendants offer to take our suitcases upstairs. I have no idea how they did it as I only just managed to get myself up the the top floor. But it was certainly worth it. 




The room was air-conditioned with a wonderful modern bathroom a four poster bed and all the furniture as made of the most amazing wood, carved in an intricate French design as influenced by the French during the occupation of Cambodia. 

So after unpacking we decide to arrange for dinner and make the trek down to the bottom to arrange to eat at the B&B. It was a bit like going back in time as we knock on the kitchen door and 'poof' someone pops out and turns on the air conditioning in the main lounge and dining area, hands us beer and water and arranges for our meal to be prepared for 6pm. This is now our evening Christmas Day dinner..... in Cambodia where they don't actually celebrate Christmas as the vast majority of the country is Buddhist. The meal is outstanding Cambodian food that was truly delicious; fish, shrimp, ginger, fresh vegetables and the most tasty fluffy rice. We had a bottle of red wine and enjoyed the whole experience. We eventually made the climb back up to the top of the house and slept off our Christmas meal.... Merry Christmas 2019!

























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