Goodbye Phnom Penh, Hello Siem Reap!

Hello Everybody!

Yesterday, we spent our last day in Phnom Penh! We tried to soak it all in...going back and enjoying some of our favorite spots, knowing it would be our last time there! We spent the morning at the Russian Market again....I got some scarves and other sovenirs and Jordan found him a diesel watch! After being pleased with all our purchases, we went to a local coffee spot and enjoyed some drinks along with the amazing air condition. Oh yea, did I say it was HOT here...it's crazy! I've taken like 3 showers every day.

We took our first moto ride down to the river front...it was scary at first but it was exciting. It's pretty much this rinky dink motorcyle taxi and you just hop on the back...so me, Jordan and the driver were all on this bike! Yikes! I thought I was going to loose my flips flops, he was going so fast.

The river front was our favorite place to go. (besides the markets of course) Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, it's a bustling city! The streets are always so busy, full of people, tuk tuks and motos. Men, women and children walking around selling random items or just simply begging for money. At the river front, we really get to see all this in action. We ate lunch at a non profit restaurant that benefits the Camobodian Children's Orphanage. Children from the orphanage come there and perform for the customers. They sing and dance. They are sooo cute! I can't get enough of them. That afternoon the kids we always see at the riverfront were there again. They always come up to us and talk to us while we eat. Mum, one of the little girls, was eyeing our spring rolls the whole time, so Jordan gave her the rest of them. Her brother made faces at her....we kinda figured out that they know that they are not suppose to do that (take food from us) but Mum is a little mischeiveous. She spoke to her brother in their language and Jordan asked the little boy what she said and he said that she wanted our water. Of course, we gave her the water. Chitkits, the little boy, he didn't want anything, but I think he was trying to set a good example for his sister....he was so sweet! I hated to leave those kids, they just make me smile. I really loved talking with them. They have to grow up way to fast. It's so sad.

After hanging out with them for a little while, we had to check in to our new guesthouse because the one we were staying in was booked for the last night we were in Phnom Penh. It wasn't a big deal, we stayed in a guesthouse right next door.

That night we went to Happy Hour at the FCC building. It's a roof top bar that over looks the river and you can view the streets from there. We watched the sun set and then went an ate dinner. The food is always good. I haven't tried anything I haven't liked. Speaking of that....after dinner we passed a full on spread of fried spiders, crickets, etc. I thought Jordan was going to man up and try one, but that didn't happen. That's probably a good thing.

We finished out our last night in Phnom Penh...me drinking coffee and Jordan had his angkor beer, we sat at an outdoor patio, talking about how we really started to enjoy this place. There's so much about it that makes the town unique. Never failing, the children showed up before we went in for the night. This other little girl named Neak, so beautiful, had been begging me to buy some post cards so finally before we headed back to our house, I bought them from her. I just felt so bad!

That brings me to today! We woke very early because we had to take a boat to Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was about a six hour boat ride on the Tonle Sap River. It was cool at first because we got to see all these cambodian people in their small boats and living in these houses on the water. But after about 2 hours, it was enough! We got sunburn no doubt! I am red hot! Feeling a little sore. Oh well.

Once we got to Siem Reap, a tuk tuk man was holding up a sign for us so he could take us to our guesthouse. We are staying in the Golden Banana. It is sooo nice. I love it! It's like a little bungalow. It's just really cute. Siem Reap is different than Phnom Penh. It's a much smaller town. It's vibrant and very quaint at the same time. I really like the feeling here. It's quieter and less action i guess. There are not as many people begging for money, etc. There'll still some, just not every second you turn around. So that makes it a little more enjoyable. Here and as well as Phnom Penh, everyone is so nice. It's amazing to me how friendly these people are when they don't have that much. I feel like I would just be bitter, but they always give you a smile, go out of their way to help or just say we hope you have a nice day, etc. It's really humbling to me.

Today we just walked around the town to get a feel of it! We stopped at the Blue Pumpkin for lunch, this really cool cafe with sofa beds and trays to eat on. It was neat! We went to the Old Market...very similar to the markets in PP. More bargains! I had some Mango Ice Cream in a plantain cone...it was so yummy! (I thought about you mom, you would have loved it!) Tonight we ate at an Indian restaurant. Jordan didn't care for it, but I thought it was good! We hung out on this street they call Pub St. They close it down or block it off every night so no cars can drive through. It's a really cool atmosphere, everything is very laid back.

We're looking forward to tomorrow...Angkor Wat is on the to do list. It'll be an all day thing. We'll let you know how it goes. Take care for now. We miss all of you guys.