Home at Last

 Friday was our last day in Siem Reap. We have a late breakfast, say goodbye to those leaving early and decide to sit by the pool for a while. It is 30 degrees and the pool looks very inviting. We do not have to check out until 2pm so I decide to have a swim. The water is warm and very refreshing. Ann looks on very relaxed lying down in a cool covered bed. 

After an hour we head off to pack for the last time. There is a couple from Canberra who were in group 2 who are travelling with us to Saigon.

We check out have a goodbye conversation with a great couple from Warragul (Vince and Afke) the are Dutch but emigrated to Australia some 35 years ago.  We arrive at the airport at 4pm for a 6.30pm flight, hardly anyone there. No  waiting at Customs or scanning. The flight actually leaves 15 mins early. It s a short flight, similar to Canberra, once you reach cruising altitude you start to descend. It is a long bus trip to the terminal on arrival in Saigon. Then there is a long wait to go through the scanner - only one operating for transit passengers.  We then have a reasonable walk to the gate and we arrive about 5 mins before boarding is due. Nice timing. But then nothing happens, people are getting restless, then it is announced boarding has been delayed. We have premium economy but there is no mention of priority boarding for premium holders. Boarding starts nearly 50 mins late and we line up with everyone else. When we board we seem to be the last couple to board in the premium section. The plane is another airbus 500 - very disappointing.  The armrest between me and Ann is covered in duct tape! My video screen does not work, the window shade is stuck at a quarter down, cannot be pushed up or down, then Ann's seat will not recline. The food was ordinary and the wine was warm and shithouse. While we had a little more leg room it was not worth the price paid! I slept maybe 3.5 hours, Ann maybe about 3 hours.

We land about 9.20am and Ann gets a text informing us that our driver is waiting. We are at the terminal but they cant get the airbridge to line up with the front door, after about 15 mins they decide to use the middle door. When we get off we are at the far end of the terminal and have a long walk to customs etc. Ann was going to get some Shiraz Gin which we saw at duty free when we were leaving, but on return - no Shiraz Gin! We now wait for our luggage, I pick up a trolley and we wait. Another 15 mins before luggage arrives. Place the luggage on the trolley and one wheel wont work. Take the bags off the trolley and wheel them out. No issues with customs and we are outside and our driver is waiting for us. He takes us to his BMW and we leave the airport around 10.25am. After introducing himself to us at pickup and confirming the address he does not say another word. We are home just after 11.30 and scare the shit out of Adam as we come in the back door.

It was a great trip, but no desire to go back to Vietnam or Cambodia.

We met some great couples, experienced some great times and enjoyed some good food and plenty of laughs. The cool group were Andy and Carol from England, Neil and Paula from NZ, Vince and Afke Warragul, Jenny and Marilyn from Yarra Valley and of course Ann and John from Seaford!