Cambodia 1st report

The flight out of Auckland was good considering they never are that enjoyable. I had prayed specifically that God would grant us favour on the flight and he surprised us both. After proceeding through immigration I struck up a conversation with a man as we walked to the departure lounge. He, as it turned out, was the flight director on our flight to KL. "Do you like champagne?" he asked. Well for the whole flight we got all the champagne from business class we could handle, and he even came down and visited and chatted with us. At the end of the flight he had a steward give me a bottle of French red wine to take home as he heard we liked reds. Nobody else got any of this!!!!

The stopover accommodation in KL was basic but satisfactory - about 10min from airport, just a place to sleep and move on. Because of gender mix, I ended up in a room with another man and J slept elsewhere, but now we are in Cambodia J and I are together again.

Cambodia

Arrived after a 1.5 hour flight and met by habitat Cambodia team. The airport at Phnom Penh is quite small and the runway quite short; reminded me of Varanasi but I have never seen so many uniforms with gold braid organising Visa's and collecting money. About 8 people were doing the job which could have been done by just two - total confusion.

Eventually got to our hotel which, as it turns out, is more comparable to the Stamford Plaza Auckland than the the Suyra Palce in Noida India. It is right on the edge of the Mekon River which is huge at this point, probably a couple of Km wide, and very swiftly flowing. On it travel a vast array of vessels from tiny fishing boats with whole families living on board, to barges and scows pushing slowly and relentlessly up stream against the swift current.Very interesting and relaxing to watch all this from our hotel, from the gazebo over looking the river bank.

Our room is very very comfortable with two double beds and all mod cons. It looks out over the swimming pool to the Mekon.The food here is great (so far). The breakfast this morning was every bit as expansive as the Hertitage Rotorua - "and we have to put up with this for a whole week". J can't believe it.

Phnom Penh has virtually no high rise. It is hot and it is sticky. J's jandal gave her a blister first time out so we bought an alternative to give her feet a break.

We walked up to the King's palace yesterday afternoon and what a place it is. Absolutely huge grounds and stunning buildings in Cambodian style with beautiful expansive and well maintained gardens. Huge, breath taking, stunningly beautiful, majestic and well worth the $6 entry fee. In amongst all this we stumbled on the famous Silver Pagoda. Suffice to say, J's camera was getting a good work out.

In the evening most of the group went out on a 1 hour river cruise and saw Phnom Penh from the water. Quite an experience and quite restful, cost us only $1 each. About forty of us went and we had the entire boat to ourselves.

Motor bikes are the preferred mode of transport here and watch out when crossing the road because they drive on the left in Cambodia. Pedestrian crossings mean nothing and as you cross they bikes just swerve (safely) around you like clusters of bees.

- Sunday

I got up at 5.45 and went and sat in the river bank gazebo with my bible and read and watched the river traffic. Very pretty and restful.

8am - J has gone off with the young people for a days program of who knows what. I am meeting with others at 10am to see what we will do today, might have a swim in the pool first.

Tonight there is a welcome dinner at the hotel which should be quite a big affair.

Tomorrow the serious work begins and with early morning wake ups. It is about a 1.5 hour drive to the build site so long days ahead.

It will be very hot and very sticky.