Cambodia trip 2016 - the Rowan & Ellie Wedding Edition Pt VIII
30/10/2016 - Battambang to Phnom Penh
Time to head back home to Phnom Penh. Boo. Not ready to go back to facing the real world :( been having lots of existential dilemma thoughts recently, not really sure what to do about any of it. Though I suppose I am at least looking forward to using conditioner in my hair, it is feeling quite ruined, so as much as I want to cut it off, I need to get it into decent shape first.
Yet another very bready breakfast at the restaurant, and another couple of plates of fruit. These lovely hosts are trying to kill us with fresh food! :)
The French girls were in the pool and I felt inclined to lecture the sunbathers on the risks of melanoma, so we went back to our room and played sushi go for a bit before wandering back to choco l’art for another yummy hot chocolate, a game of Hanabi and a fresh orange juice to take away. Back to the resort, got our bags packed up, checked out and went to wait for our mini bus at the gate. Although the bus itself is notionally sufficiently comfortable, with full occupancy and bags under our feet it isn't the most comfortable journey. Also rowan and Ellie are two rows in front of Arwin and I so we can't even talk to them! Minibus trip was squishy and stuffy first half (while Rowan and Ellie were cold!), it was a bit more bearable after they managed to adjust the aircon to blow backwards more. Nevertheless Arwin read for a while and then found himself feeling car sick, so at the food/rest stop 100km from Phnom Penh he had a spew, and after that swapped seats with Ellie for the remainder of the trip. Somewhat worryingly the bus got up to about 120km/hr, even though the limit is 80. Seatbelts were lap-only. Bit of a worry Coming in to PP it had been raining heavily and some streets were badly flooded with water at least 6” deep right across the roads. We left our big bags at the bus terminal and went for Chinese for dinner which was good :) Then taxi home, game if table tennis while Arwin and I got a load of washing done, then bed time. I used some of Ellie's conditioner, my hair is still quite unhappy at the ends, hope this helps.
31/10/2016 Phnom Penh sight seeing
Today is our last full day in Phnom Penh and now without family (aka Rowan's ducklings).
Arwin needed to go see a bunch of things, so we organised Rowan's tuk tuk driver Sopia to pick us up at 9:30 to head to the palace. Unfortunately due to traffic we missed the session so instead went to Choeung Ek, the Killing Fields, the other genocide memorial that I did not visit last time. $6 entry included audio tour which was very well worth it. This was a definite must see, if only once.
After that we met rowan and Ellie at the Russian market, did some final gift shopping, and then had lunch at Jars of Clay, the same place we went on my first night here in 2013. Still lovely :)
After that Rowan and Ellie came back home while Arwin and I went to the Royal Palace. Back home, table tennis, freshly baked bread courtesy of our wonderful hosts, wedding photos, and games including the Ladies version of Bohnanza :)
Royal Palace panorama I
Royal Palace panorama II
Royal Palace panorama III