Planning our first travel adventure: Siem Reap, Cambodia

A key factor in our decision to move to Doha was the opportunity we hoped that this experience would offer us to see more of the world.  This week we finally had the chance to take that opportunity and travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Being the Eid Holiday break we all had a week off of school and work.  However, we did not know if we would be able to travel or not because we had to send Maryn's passport to Kuwait (the closest Canadian Embassy) for renewal in anticipation of our Christmas trip to Sri Lanka.  Fortunately her passport arrived on October 25th so we took that as a green light to book our first family trip.

Because we were so late in booking, we struggled to find a trip that was available and reasonably priced.  We'd hoped to do Turkey, but found it to be far to expensive considering how short (relatively speaking) the flight was.  We looked into a packaged tour to Egypt, but it involved a lot of moving around and we just weren't sure the kids were up to it.  At the suggestion of Justin Walsh, we looked into Cambodia - Siem Reap - a place I'd never heard of prior to October 27th!!

In doing my research, I quickly learned that this was the home of Angkor Wat, the fascinating temples, a place that Andrea as well as Andrew and Shauna had visited. When we started asking around we learned of a few more ASD families that had visited Siem Reap and everyone raved.  One family had een stayed at the same resort we were looking at, and that really sealed the deal Relyingo n Expedia we found a decent flight/hotel package and finally "pulled the trigger" on booking.

Then a sweet coincidence occurred. The day after we booked our trip (both Pat and I justifying it from every possible angle in the way only we can) we learned that my long awaited income tax return had come through.  And wouldn't you know it, the return was the same amount as the trip!!!  A wonderful omen to begin our first big trip.

Thank you Government of Canada!

Day 1/2 - Aurora to Angkor Wat - November 3rd & 4th, 2011

Our flight plan departed Doha at 8:45 p.m. arriving at Bangkok, Thailand at 6:45 a.m. Friday morning.  Coincidentally the ASD service trip to Thailand, chaperoned by friends' Aaron Hollingshead and Chris Wolf, were on the same flight.  The 6 hour flight was not a big deal to us now that we are accustomed to the 14 hour flights home, however, Carter decided to gorge on movies and didn't sleep at all.  This did not bode well for anyone when we arrived in Bangkok with a tired and crabby kid.  After some tense discussions, and once Mom & Dad's Starbucks coffee fix kicked in, both Carter and I fell asleep in the Starbucks lounge.  We slept for about 2 of our 4 hour layover while Maryn and Daddy explored the airport.
Our 1 hour flight to Siem Reap departed at 11:45 and got us into Cambodia at 12:45.  From the plane it appeared that the entire country was submerged in water with tall palm trees rising up out of the depths.  Fortunately the air port was not underwater and we arrived at the cutest airport terminal I have ever seen.

Obtaining our visas was quick and simple (we simply had to provide a passport sized photo and pay $20 USD) and took only about 10 minutes. 

Upon exiting the airport we found a taxi that took us straight to our hotel for only $7 USD (a 10 minute drive).  The kids (and us!) were immediately fascinated with the roadside traffic - bicycles, Toyota Camrys and our first glimpe of the tuk-tuks.

Our hotel, the Lotus Angkor Resort & Spa was very nice.  Kind, welcoming staff, large spacious room and lovely grounds with a 25 metre pool, which was, of course, our first stop.

 We spent a leisurely afternoon swimming, sunning and relaxing and in the evening took our first tuk-tuk into the city of Siem Reap.

Bund, our tuk-tuk driver would become our regular driver for the week.  He dropped us along "Pub Street" a largely touristy area full of restaurants and shops.  The traffic of humans, tuk-tuks, bikes and even a few dogs was quite overwhelming for the kids.  We took a quick stroll around before stopping for supper at the Red Piano - a recommendation from Lonely Planet.  Maryn had fallen asleep in Pat's arms so we settled her on a bed of two comfy chairs, and Carter, Pat and I ate our supper.



I had an amazing plate of ginger pork and rice, while Pat had the sweet & sour pork with rice.  Carter stuck with the familiar cheese pizza.  Pat and I also enjoyed what would be the first of many Angkor beers - a steal at $1 per can, and super refreshing in the Cambodian heat and humidity.

From the Red Piano balcony we had a neat view of the Central Market area.  We could have sat for hours just watching all of the activity - street vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, restaurant staff recruiting hungry diners, massage spas recruiting weary travelers.  It was a sea of humanity.

After our supper Carter and I took a stroll after dark of the Central Market.  We were accosted by countless street vendors, tuk tuk drivers offering rides and the spas begging us to come for all sorts of treatments - namely massages and fishy pedicures.  Yes, fishy pedicures.  And it's exactly what it sounds like.  Clients sit on benches and dunk their legs into huge tanks of water that are filled with hundreds of tiny fish, all hungry to nibble on your dead skin.  Ya, eeeeuuuuuuwwwwwww.  But a bizarre attraction for many.  Carter and I were offered countless fish pedicures - "$1 for the boy, $2 for you lady!".  When we stopped to inspect one spot, the boy asked us where we were from.  I told him Canada and he said, "Oh, Ottawa.  Justin Bieber."  As we wandered away from this shop a group of boys wanted us to ride in their tuk-tuk.  When we graciously declined they looked at Carter and said "Hey, you wanna fight?".  They were laughing as they said it and I think they were just practicing what little english they knew.  Carter thought it was hilarious.

We found a little alley, aptly known as "The Alley" where we could escape the tuk-tuks and traffic of the street.  It was a narrow little laneway lined with shops, galleries and restaurants - most of which were Khmer BBQs a unique type of food preparation that reminded me somewhat of my parents' raclette grill.  The tables at these restaurants were fitted with butane or gas burners upon which sat a metal dish which looked like a large juicer - conical in shape with a shallow ring around the bottom.  Diners are served a plate of raw meat and another plate of raw vegetables and noodles and the server then poured water over the centre.  Diners then placed the meat on the top of the "cone" and placed the vegetables into the broth steaming around the bottom ring.  As the meat cooked, the vegetables and noodles steamed producing a wonderful complete meal!  So cool!

Carter bought the first of his souvenirs from a young many without legs who made his living making and selling embroidered bracelets.  Carter picked the colours and while we walked around he made one especially for Carter.  Our first lesson in entrepreneurship and the very different way of life for Cambodians.

Bund picked us up at our designated meeting spot and took us back through the still-busy streets of Siem Reap.  We passed countless restaurants, shops, tailors, mobile phone stores, along the way.

It was a great first day and a great taste of what was in store with so much to see and do in a very kind and welcoming culture of people.