It Is Nice To Be Back In Phnom Penh

The first time that we went from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, fifteen months ago, the road was under construction and one way was more than eight hours. Today the road is basically all the way done, they are putting on some finishing touches, and it only took five hours and fifteen minutes with a stop for lunch along the way. We were able to go about 80 to 100 kilometers per hour most of the time, that is only 50 to 62 miles per hour, which is slow for freeways in the U.S., still it was great for Cambodia.

By driving to Siem Reap Brenda and Marla got to see how most of the people in Cambodia live and their livelihood, raising rice. Just like in Phnom Penh there are some very nice homes, but most are very modest and small homes, many without electricity or running water. Many of the homes in the Kaits (Provinces) that are off the main road have electric lights powdered by car batteries.

There are a lot of children out in the Kaits and they even go to school on Saturday. A little after 11:00 a.m. we saw the children from a school streaming home for lunch on bikes, motos and walking. And just before 1:00 we saw them heading back for their afternoon session.

Marla and Brenda enjoyed seeing the locals attempt to translate instructions, names of businesses and greetings. Their favorite today was on a church gate out in the middle of nowhere, it simply said, "Wellcam." They were doing their best to make everyone welcome.

When we got back to Phnom Penh we went to visit Sameth, Thida and Yuri. We wanted Brenda and Marla to see the homes where modern upper-middle class Cambodians live. On the ground floor is a great room (which is the garage, living room, den, and TV room), a bathroom and kitchen with a fridge and stove. On what they call the first floor are two bedrooms and a bathroom. Then there is a flat roof where Sameth and Yuri grow their garden.

It is nice to be back home to our apartment in Phnom Penh. Siem Reap was a great adventure, but we were done with it. Tomorrow is Church and then we have some additional adventures planed for next week.