Flying from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh to Singapore to Sydney

Big day for us as we hopped from plane to plane and waited in waiting lounges. Fred was really quite sick as we left Raffles that morning so the floor manager suggested that we pick up some Motillium on the way to the airport at Siem Reap.

This was a great tip as Fred, dosed up with Motillium and Panadol he slept on any bench he could find or trundled along behind as I tried to work out where to go and what to sign.

Finally we landed safely in Singapore in the early evening and walked straight through customs! No line up.

Sadly there was no pre-paid / pre- booked taxi waiting for us. More phone calls and more wait waiting to get some one from the company to come and collect us at the airport. Finally a successful phone call brought a suggestion from the taxi company: "Have some dinner and a coffee and wait for a few hours till pick-up time". Very sad - Fred was trying to curl up on the floor.

The Singapore airport taxi service is very well organised and we were quickly assisted to a waiting taxi and we were booking in to our hotel within 20 minutes. Without pre booking we will have to remember to have adequate fare in that currency.

More phone calls this morning to arrange a meeting in our lobby to be refunded by the prepaid taxi service. Luckily we factored in a stop over for any health or fatigue problems. This time it was Fred who needed a bed and bathroom. After a very good night's sleep we lugged our bags to the lobby to settle up our bill and say 'goodbye' to the Park Hotel staff who helped us during our stay a few weeks back. Lo and behold there was our taxi driver ONE HOUR early. We put up with just a 'tad' of attitude from him but Fred had trouble holding down lunch with his erratic driving!! Pity because nearly all the impromptu taxi drivers we encountered were polite and a wealth of information about their country, economy and people.

Ensconced at Singapore airport now awaiting our flight to Sydney. As usual the Singaporean hospitality in all things is outstanding. One only needs to stop and look around to attract the attention of an airport assistant.

What an adventure! We loved every minute of it all and loved meeting new friends.

Cheers
Lesleigh and Fred

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap

To be updated...

Siem Reap

To be updated...

Pandaw Day Eight: Transfer to Siem Reap

The day dawned cloudy and everyone was swapping addresses and goodbyes. The time had come to leave our Pandaw home at Kampong Cham. We had made new friends and acquired an appreciation of how comfortable we were made on the Pandaw.

We dragged our luggage (somewhat heavier today) outside our cabins for the Pandaw crew to line them up on the port cement apron for identifying and loading onto the little luggage truck.

During breakfast we were able to be reintroduced to our wonderful crew and thank them for their work throughout the journey up the Mekong River.

After breakfast we checked our cabins and the safe before handing over our key for the very last time. I left my conical hat (newly acquired in the markets in Ho Chi Minh) on my bunk and Fred left two new tennis balls on his bunk. I am sure they will be enjoyed by the crew!

We headed off to our two buses in two groups for the last time and bid the Pandaw and her crew a fond farewell. We had been together for eight fabulous days from My Tho port, up the Mekong River, through the border to dock at Kampong Cham.

We set off on our 4 hour journey to Siem Reap 250 kms away on Highway #6. Click here for: Road to Siem Reap presentation

Unfortunately Fred had a minor mishap and fell into the flooded area as we took a plank walk to the toilet midway on our bus journey. During the drama of investigating the grazed leg we realised that nearly every passenger had their trusty First Aid kits in their luggage that was hurtling along the road to Siem Reap in the luggage truck. Thankfully one of our travelling companions was a retired nurse and advised me to thoroughly flush the grazed area with water and we bound his leg with whatever was offered from our fellow passenger's hand luggage. The guide produced a newly purchased bottle of antiseptic which proved a valuable addition to the following day's care.

TIP: carry a mini First Aide kit in hand luggage/backpacks as well!

As with all adventures overseas, one has to remember that there are always unpredictable events to encounter in underdeveloped countries. Uneven footpaths, no footpaths, plank walks, different toilet experiences, undrinkable water, heat, cold, insects, power plug changges, different customs and different currencies. That is what the  adventure is all about. Being prepared is the challenge. Touring with the Pandaw certainly evened out all the daily glitches!

TIP: my 200ml bottle of mouthwash purchased in Singapore came in handy for the whole trip. We watered it down in a glass for our teeth-brushing rituals. Very handy indeed!

TIP: I must remember to take a four plug power board again. Once it was plugged into the power adapter plug for that country, I could charge up a few items at the same time

Pandaw Day Seven: Wat Hanchey -Kampong Cham

To be updated...

Pandaw Day Six: Chong Koh Village

Early in the morning we lifted anchor and cast off to visit the Chong Koh Village. After breakfast we bussed off through lush green rice paddies to the charming Khmer river community.

 So many people seemed to be waiting for us and the Pandaw sounded her horn to announce our arrival. They had set up a little sales room to show their products.

The children were intent on showing off their bubble blowing expertise. Using straws and bubble mix, they created bubbles and shared them with each other until their bubble popped.

This little village is famous for its weaving production in mostly cotton but incredible precision in the design. We visited a number of weaving looms set up under the houses where it was cool.

People were so welcoming to have us walk through their little community.

One such walk we came upon a basket weaver whose wares were piled high on his bike. He made a great sale to one of the Pandaw passengers. We were intrigued with how well he set up his baskets and how easily he could undo one bundle to bring forth the selected basket.

He also made a sale to one of the villagers who needed a new fish trap.

A delightful visit.

We were inspired to buy some of this little village's weaving products at their stall.

Pandaw Day Four and Five: Phnom Penh

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Sailing into Phnom Penh past the Royal Palace and bustling port community was a real highlight to the Mekong voyage. We moored right in the city centre and we were able to walk virtually anywhere. Fred walked to have some of our money changed and found we were millionaires for a day!

We also met up with our sister ship from the Pandaw fleet and docked together and so we had to walk through their ship to reach the dock.

This morning we toured Phnom Penh highlights in our own private cyclo. Pandaw had teamed up with a charity 'The Cyclo Centre' who gives training, language instruction and welfare assistance to often homeless cyclo drivers. These guys are all great fun and very enthusiastic. My driver was the ‘in-charge’ guy and constantly pedalled ahead to check that all drivers were following directions.

We travelled to the Royal Palace, the National Museum with its excellent Khmer collections and the Silver Pagoda which has a silver tiled floor totalling five tons of gleaming silver! In order to show respect we were required to wear should and knee covering clothes. I could fold down my cotton shorts into trouser length but Fred wore his long pants. I thought he would expire in this hot humid day!

In a country devastated by the Khmer Rouge, Phnom Penh still retains some of the beauty that made it a Paris of the East before 1970. Although some of the infrastructure was lacking in some areas we saw a few beautiful French colonial buildings, wide boulevards, and a parklike riverfront with cafés and lots of restaurants.

In the evening the Pandaw passengers had a fabulous BBQ dinner on the sundeck as we cruised along the Mekong taking in the lights of the City of Phonm Penh. Not even the heavy rain could spoil such an amazing sight.

Phnom Penh presentation-Click Here.