07.13.08
Finally in Cambodia
After many delays, we finally made it to Cambodia. Here is a quick summary of our attempt to leave Holland for Bangkok and then Phnom Penh. The original (if I can even use that term any more) departure date of Thursday fell through which I think we learned only half way through that day. Finally we receive an email saying we’ll leave Friday night at 8pm, but are given no airline information. So Friday comes and it’s almost 5pm when we need to head to the airport and we still have no information. Ahhh!!! I called my professor and then the consultant. Finally we receive an email that we don’t in fact have a flight for that day, but rather will go Saturday. He will send info soon! Aaahhh!!!! Eventually, we learn via a phone call that our flight is at 2.45 the next day.
We arrive at Schiphol airport to have yet another near heart attack when we learn at the ticket counter they DO NOT HAVE US IN THE SYSTEM! Finally she finds us- apparently we were listed as standby. At this point, Ianthe and I are looking at Jeff and Diogo and are just ready to cry!! Of course we do just that as we stand at a gate to the unknown and kiss our men goodbye. That sucked!! Saying goodbye for 6 weeks. Never easy, and never something I had to do TO my husband.
Flight was ok, though we were not seated together, were not listed as vegetarian since it was booked so late therefore aside from the lovely cheese and pesto baguette my dear husband made me before leaving I did not eat anything. China Airline only believes in fishy/meaty dishes. We fly into Bangkok a beautiful airport, but instead of spending a day there like we originally intended we are booked on a flight about 8 hours later to Phnom Penh. It is now 2am AMS time, we cannot check in for the next flight, so we find some benches and attempt to sleep in shifts…though I finally give in to fatigue and also sleep draped across our bags.
On the short flight to Phnom Penh, we both just crash (sleep). After long visa and customs lines we make our way to the baggage carrousel to NOT see my bag. It was 3 loops of the baggage before my bag magically appeared. A taxi driver picked us up and took us to our hotel – where the rooms are clean but kind of like jail cells with no windows. We could only stay two nights because then they were booked up. So we were moved to the Okay Guesthouse (guess that is the Asian term for hostel). Tons of backpackers. A much cooler vibe with listings for tours, young people and a communal/restaurant area where you can watch movies and eat. Very relaxing. So here we are.
So what can I tell you about Cambodia? It is something. Take Mexico’s poor areas, add a language you don’t understand, throw in some Buddhist temples, a million motorbikes and culture. Lots and lots of culture. It is something. I am pretty sure in the taxi ride from the airport my mouth was just open in awe. I suppose the stuff near the airport was even more dramatic. Just rows of open stalls/shacks where people were cooking, sitting, doing nothing. It was just something. More details as I find time…..