Once I left Bangalore I flew to Kuala Lumpur and then to Siem Reap where Liam is working as Manager of The Siem Reap Hostel. He filled in there for 8 months while the two managers each took a holiday and when one resigned he was in place to take over. He works 6 days a week with Sundays off but is on call for emergencies.
My holiday was broken into three parts. I stayed in the Hostel for a few days with cooked breakfast, air conditioned room and regular walks into the town. This was a relaxed and enjoyable period when I could mingle with the guests and enjoy being a tourist,
Then Liam and I hired some bikes and rode down the highway, around the lake, to Battambang and stayed in a hostel there. We didn't do much exploration because it was hot when it was not raining but we did go to a good restaurant in the evenings. Liam knows so many people there and everywhere else in Cambodia.
At the beginning of the third week we caught an overnight, sleeper coach to Phnom Penh and watched a game of Aussie Rules played by girls. It was great fun.
Then we when further south to the tourist centre of Sihanoukville and caught a fast ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem, an unspoiled island off the coast. The day comprised sleeping, sitting at the bar and snorkelling. There was a beautiful restaurant on the pier and we dined on sea food and Angkor beer. from Sihanoukville we flew back to Siem Reap in a thunderstorm.
The final event of my stay was to deliver some First Aide lessons to the staff with Liam's help in translating. I enjoyed getting to know the staff and appreciating the strength of their family bonds.
My holiday was broken into three parts. I stayed in the Hostel for a few days with cooked breakfast, air conditioned room and regular walks into the town. This was a relaxed and enjoyable period when I could mingle with the guests and enjoy being a tourist,
Then Liam and I hired some bikes and rode down the highway, around the lake, to Battambang and stayed in a hostel there. We didn't do much exploration because it was hot when it was not raining but we did go to a good restaurant in the evenings. Liam knows so many people there and everywhere else in Cambodia.
At the beginning of the third week we caught an overnight, sleeper coach to Phnom Penh and watched a game of Aussie Rules played by girls. It was great fun.
Then we when further south to the tourist centre of Sihanoukville and caught a fast ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem, an unspoiled island off the coast. The day comprised sleeping, sitting at the bar and snorkelling. There was a beautiful restaurant on the pier and we dined on sea food and Angkor beer. from Sihanoukville we flew back to Siem Reap in a thunderstorm.
The final event of my stay was to deliver some First Aide lessons to the staff with Liam's help in translating. I enjoyed getting to know the staff and appreciating the strength of their family bonds.
