20.11 - Day 310 - Siem Reap, KHM

Wednesday 20th November - Siem Reap, Cambodia (Day 310)

It certainly feels like we’re back in South-East Asia; by 8am when I’m out trying to find breakfast it’s already 28 degrees, walking in the shade is a blessing and walking slower helps too. I find mangoes and watermelon in a small covered market and have to adjust to handing over US dollars and receiving change in Cambodia Riel, at an exchange rate of 4,000 to 1. 

Another welcome back are the market stalls with raw fish on wooden slabs and red meat being hacked into - all part of the charm. 

Throw in some bakery items and breakfast is served. New continent but same old school work to be done - teacher Kate diligently pushing Sienna and Seb through the midpoint of the final term. 

Today is a day of no official sightseeing, but our centrally located Passport Villa (not a villa at all, but a hostel converted into a 10 large roomed guesthouse) means a short walk to another market and Pub Street (that’s what it’s called) is easy enough followed by a swim in our pool. 

It hardly sounds local, but Nick’s Restaurant - a lot of locally run places just have an English name - serves up a tasty Fish Amok and Beef Lok Lak, the former a gentle green curry served in a folded banana leaf, the latter a friendly BBQ sauce. 

It’s an afternoon of more swimming and general relaxing until suddenly it’s 7:30 pm before heading out for dinner at the same place the Kate and the kids had been directed to last night - Khmer Taste. Meals seem to be about $3-$5 (all priced in US$) except Sienna’s $1 chicken burger, topped by my 50c beer. And that is our introduction to Siem Reap.