Day one in Cambodia

Tuesday 4/10/11

Today is our first day in Siem Reap. Currently I am surviving on about 2 hours worth of shitty sleep and do not know how I am functioning… We arrived in Siem Reap at 10am this morning. Having travelled all through the night on an 8hr flight and a rather HUGE Air bus (Singapore Airlines), having a stop over in Singapore, and finally catching the 2 hour flight to Siem Reap… We have made it.

The long awaited Cambodia now has three eager teachers willing to make the most of the next month.

Once having arrived in Siem Reap, the dealings of entering a new country, obtaining our travel VISA’s and getting through customs was no small feet for us girls. After filling out sheets and sheets of paper work we were firstly greeted by at least 15 official Cambodian army/police men who started the train of passing our passports down the line of men, finally coming to the end result… an approved VISA. Very intimidating and scary I must say. Then… To have our photo taken, our fingerprints scanned and all was above board… WELCOME TO CAMBODIA!!

Just when we thought things were going great, Ericka’s lock on her bag had been undone. This then resulted in us a little freaked out (didn’t want to be the next Schapelle Corby), the official people being called over to investigate the problem… BUT all was well, no drugs, no missing panties and we were off again, this time to meet our local Cambodian life lines Dayvy and Vanarith. They then showed us the local spots, drove us through the madness that is the streets of Siem Reap and dropped us at the Hotel.

We are staying in a beautiful one bedroom room which is on the main street within Siem Reap. We began unpacking and settling in before meeting with Dayvy again for a welcome dinner. We decided to venture out on our own to see the locals and check out the streets. What an experience… The people are just so lovely and well, the traffic… feels like I have stepped out of one of those movies and am going in fast forward. Zero traffic laws to say the least. The children are beautiful, riding to school yelling from their bikes ‘Hello’. What cuties! J Needless to say we were overwhelmed by the culture, the people and the health and safety (lack there of) but… have already begun falling in love with a place that may not look like much but has a lot to offer. Bring on tomorrow… J Until then…

Kim

xx
(below, one small intersection... many directions of cars, bikes and people)