day 7 - REP to PNH to BKK to CNX

day 7 was a tad bittersweet, as we had to depart siem reap after a transcendent three days. however, it was not before i got to experience my first lazy morning, as pam had purchased a 3-day pass at angkor wat and was gone before the crack of sunrise, so i had a good 4 hours to myself.

seeing as our flight departed at 2pm, i woke up at 7am, had my laundry delivered to me in a nice packaged bundle, then headed downstairs for free breakfast on the outdoor patio. even though breakfast has been complimentary at every hotel we've stayed, this is the first either of us had a chance to take advantage...

there's coffee and tea to go along with fresh fruit and toast to one's liking. the fruit consisted of succulent pineapple and my first try at rambutan ("hairy" in indonesian or filipino), a close relative to the lychee which comes from a native, tropical tree. you can better believe i'm looking for this bad boy at 99 ranch in due time...



also got a chance to pick up and fill out some postcards, so those lucky few should be receiving them in march some time, haha. oh and i could only send it to those whose addresses i have memorized, since i don't have my iPhone with me on the trip. sorry!

also had to say goodbye to our tuk tuk driver sokha, who took us everywhere these past few days. if anybody is planning a trip to siem reap, he's a must-hire and i have his contact info at the ready should you need. anyway, a funny story about some behind the scenes sorcery:


our hotel in siem reap arranged for a free airport pickup, but our tuk tuk driver on thursday arrived late because he mistakenly was waiting at the international arrivals (our flight came in from phnom penh). he was a totally nice guy and apologized profusely for being a few minutes late, but our flight landed a bit early so it was no big deal. anyway, on friday afternoon sokha said he had a friend who knew me, i was like "what?", then introduced me to our driver from the airport! they were in fact friends (talk about small world), but i guess sokha told his buddy that he's working for us, so his friend remembered and wanted to say hi to me. when i saw the both of them yesterday, i was like "hey, what's up!" and bought a round of drinks to celebrate. a kind of a cool reunion, if you will...

lunch was spent inside the phnom penh airport, but managed to find a good eatery for this pork & pepperoni sandwich. i also took down 2 scoops of ice cream - rum alcohol w/raisin and caramel w/cashews. no pics of the ice cream b/c i literally poured it down my esophagus.

had possibly the meal of my trip so far at this thai place combined with a japanese burger joint called r burger. i ordered the green curry w/chicken and rice (gaeng kieow waan) and wow was it amazing. loaded w/lemongrass, eggplant, green chili paste, kaffir lime leaves, basil, coconut milk and chunks of chicken, i was in heaven from jump.

arrived at our hotel in chiang mai at around 10pm this evening. since we're off on a 2 day/1 night trek to a hill tribe village in the jungle, i won't be near a computer until monday. peace out...