Siem Reap

 This morning we say farewell to the Scenic Spirit. It has been a wonderful cruise. We had a great dinner last night with one of our group arranging a table for ten, which covered the cool group! We all get on well together and had many laughs.

We leave the ship just after 8, and we have 30kms to reach Phnom Pem, which takes an hour to get to the other side of the city, roads blocked off, heavy traffic and one motorcade of dignitaries attending the ASEAN summit. We have a stop for the happy house about 10.30 and then about 45 mins later we stop at the spider village where KFC (Khymer fried cricket), tarantulas, frogs, silk worms etc are on sale in a market. Our guide allows live tarantulas to crawl on him! We then reach our lunch stop at the Glorious Restaurant. We are told the Luggs group will be having lunch at the same stop as we have to change over guides. As we are leaving John and Kaye arrive and we have a short time to greet each other.

We continue on our bus journey and eventually reach Siem Reap at 4.30 pm. A long day.

Raffles hotel is fantastic. Kirk got us an upgrade and we have a balcony and a view looking over the park. Unfortunately, the water festival is in full swing and there are people everywhere and very loud music. The hotel thoughtless left some ear plugs in our room. It is particularly festive because it has been two years since it was held, there is a full moon and an eclipse, all combining to make it special. We are told the music stops around midnight.

Tonight we went to the Phare circus and they were fantastic, very athletic and funny and entertaining. They also are from orphanages or troubled families and this is a way for them to improve their lives.

It is 10.30 and the music is still going. Our fantastic guide Duc managed to get us a late check out at 2pm. which means we can have a shower and change before going to the airport.