Phnom Penh - Tuesday

And another go at the holiday blogging.
Monday was a early wake-up after a deliberately short Sunday night sleep, bed at 1am up at 3am. 
Airport via James the chauffeur and we wait while the Air Asia A330 has its airconditioner serviced.
Completely uneventful flight, with much nodding off.  The premade vegemite and cheese on dark rye bread sandwiches were delicious.

Wandering around the perpetually being built KLIA and we make the gate with an hour to spare. $10 heinekens and a short trip over to Cambodia. Land, get bag and walk out without going through any security and into a Camry cab to Asian TeaHouse on Street 242.  The Russian Prime Minister is in town and there is a very strong police and military presence - body armour, AK's and H&K's. Traffic is typically Asian mad, give way to the biggest, but not Saigon or Hanoi stupid.

Hotel check-in, welcome drink, and a underwhelming room.  The shower drain is blocked and provides a foot wash for whoever is sitting on the adjacent pan.  Underwhelming balcony. AC on and it is a bit limp. $90 per night. Hmmm.

Crack a minibarfridge Angkor beer and sleep descends like a wave. Sleep through to 7am.

We have no programme, maybe a walk maybe a sight see.  Today is day one of three public holidays - not on the guide book- a water festival, (LP guidebook has this festival in October) so tours of the palace and National Museum are out.

Hey guess who just flew in from Idaho?

For some reason karaoke singers get their own statue. Maybe this isn't the nation to make the comment "first up against the wall" given recent history, and the fact the Cambodian PM was a member of the Khmer Rouge.  Even so in my benevolent dictatorship I will simply ban subtitles. No need for bullets.  I quite like Cambodian 1960's and 70's pop music by the way. As artists they were declared decadent and like 80% of the population required to take reeducation. Even wearing glasses was an identifier of decadence and exposure to dangerous thought. Pol Pot studied civil engineering in Paris in the 60's, so no exposure to decadence or post Marxism there.

Cambodian Independence Monument

So we did our usual breakfast, walk and explorerun an incessent clamour for "tuk-tuk" and the various locations to visit. After yesterday's indolence and exhaustion this morning stroll is just to find our bearings.  We headed east to the river Tonle Sap - the heart of Cambodia.

Made our way down Rue Pasteur - amazing chap - to Sihanouk Boulevarde.

Royal Palace

Birds for release

Fast food

Royal Palace

Maybe a Bar Mitzvah?

Sandy and Tonle Sap River

Royal Palace

We wandered north back up the allegedly one-way Rue Pasteur - marvellous chap - and found ourselves outside the Central Market - very very clean, and almost breezy compared to Saigon. No pressure but then we weren't buying or selling. A quick wander through and we both think the same thing - beer!

Find a place, neck a beer and I get a sim card with 2GB data package for $US6. I pay $45pcm in Aus. for this.

SHOP!

MEAT!

CRAB! - alive

TURTLE!  - probably not for an eco-release

FISH! BUDGIE! RABBIT! CHOOK!

Wander back south street 242 and more sleep and lunch and beer.

Don't judge, I'm on holiday with a girl I love.