Through my eyes

living my life without regrets

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Cambodia 2020 - 3. Arriving in Siem Reap


3. Arriving in Siem Reap
Chenda

Chenda's Wife, Phalla (L) and Her Sister, Sam, Part Owner
Those long flights are terrible. It took us 22 hours from door to door. Chenda, the Hotel General Manager, picked us up at the airport. We arrived in the morning, around 10 AM. 
Seyma, Receptionist, Doing Sampeah (see below)

Chenda is the husband of the part owner of the Hotel and he does everything. A hard working young man, father of 2 children, his whole life is the Hotel and its clientele. He is very friendly and we had a nice chat and hit it off immediately. He speaks English, it helps a lot.
You Only See About 3/4 of the Room in this Picture

At the Anusa Hotel we were greeted with smiles, bows, fruit, a refreshing drink and a nice hello. Our room was ready even though we were super early. No matter, Seyma, the receptionist, guided us to our domicile for the next month.

 First impressions count?  Well, we were very impressed.
Huge Bathroom

The room was very large, had a sofa to hang out and read on. It had a very large bathroom with a fancy, large shower and even an additional large tub. Space galore!

We also had a small patio with 2 lounge chairs in front of the sliding
Our Patio
glass doors to our room; but it was too hot sitting there in middle of the day (34C). It was a great place to read or watch the activities in the early morning, though. Early morning temperatures dropped to about 24 C. It cooled down nicely at night.
Beautiful Coloured Orchids




The temperature for us went from -5 C in Toronto to 34 C in Siem Reap, all in one day. These rapid temperature changes added a bit to feeling stunned, too.
Lovely, Refreshing Pool

A large swimming pool, a small bar with an outside dining area, an inside dining room, tropical plants and smiles all around… we arrived in a tropical paradise.
Unusual Orchids

Now if only we can get through this arrival day without feeling sleepy, the flight does take its toll on the body. Since we arrived in the early morning, it was essential to not
Outdoor Dining Area Overlooking the Pool
sleep, no matter the long hours we had been up already. It helps me a lot to adjust immediately to the local time; the activities in the place of arrival are now part of our daily routine. No naps, no snacks, we will sleep and eat when the locals do it. Drink lots of water! The first day though; the arrival day is a bit tough.
 
Unusually Coloured Orchids
We just unpacked then sat, drank lots of water and vegetated for a while. (The hotel had good, clean drinking water in bottles in our room, an essential part of finding a good hotel in Asia. Never drink the water from the faucet.)
 
Probably 22 Rooms But Less Than 1/4 Filled
Sampeah: is the art of greeting in Cambodia. I would suggest you learn it; it is part of Cambodian life. It’s a bit difficult to explain so I let this video explain it. A lot of behavior is very different in Cambodia and if you are interested then watch the whole video on YouTube, it’s helpful to be aware of how different Cambodia is, and knowing the difference in their culture avoids getting upset.
Bar and Dining Area

But, above all be yourself and be respectful, Cambodia is a great place. And a very, very exotic place. You will not get the cultural fine details; Cambodians think differently, they are much more formal than you would believe on first sight.
Bird of Paradise Outside Some Rooms

Spirit House Outside Every Home to Gods that Protect It