Thursday, February 28. Warm of course.
[There are internet issues, this blog may appear twice, in different formats.]
[There are internet issues, this blog may appear twice, in different formats.]
This is not a complaint but just a statement of fact: Why the heck does this boat park in PN for three nights? It is just an ABC: [Another Big City.] This is my personal opinion, not being a City Person. It could be Hong Kong, Shanghai or even Toronto or Vancouver or Seattle.
I knew this when we booked the trip but assumed that they would have some interesting sights to see close by to here. Traffic is not what I came to see and there must be more in Cambodia that they can show visitors other than temples and trash. Oh, that was cruel wasn't it!
The ship itself however, is very nice, it has that warm wood feel of a classic Asian River Boat, sparkling, clean. The serving staff are warm and friendly speaking very good English. Sailors don't speak a word of English. We had to have somebody come and open our safe the other day: it just stopped working for us. A young lad soon was there and had it opened in jig time, I asked what happened: nothing, blank! I could have been talking to a brick. Just a comment.
Most of the passengers are well travelled people, a mix of Americans, Canadians and Brits, in descending order of quantity. [Est. 55%, 35% -10%.] ???
Today we opted out of the very unique Cambodian Experience, 'The Killing Fields' I will not comment on that as it is rightfully of interest to those who can stomach stuff like that or who never took the interest to be informed at the time it was happening or, who knows why, just missed it.
Forgive me if I seem to be critical of the Temple thing. We took a train across Russia just last fall, from Moscow to Beijing, passing through Siberia and Mongolia on the way. I was amazed at the amount of Temples we saw then. It seems to be some guides purpose on earth to show us as many Temples to people as possible. Certainly nothing wrong with Temples, but in moderation please.
We did venture ashore today, just to get out, to the Central Market. Within 5 minutes I was ready to come back to the ship but then discovered a whole different world on the outside streets around the market.
It was the kind of place that I miss my good travelling friend Jim: Chicken, waiting patiently to have their head chopped off for someone wanting fresh chicken for dinner and fish of all description in large buckets, breathing their last breathes, plus all the mystery and bustle of a market.
There is something about the smell of meat markets around the world that has the same aroma and it sticks in your nostrils and memories flood back.
The dining area outside in the market was also interesting, it could have been any one of 50 countries as people chow down and eat the local food, we do it at home, with different foods though. We would not hesitate a minute to order food when out shopping, neither do the locals here.
I do question some sanitation issues though, particularly in the meat market regarding flies.
A relaxing day for us, we have been on the go for 11 days now, without a heck of a lot of quiet time. Today and tomorrow are R & R days for us, I hope!
Forgive me if I seem to be critical of the Temple thing. We took a train across Russia just last fall, from Moscow to Beijing, passing through Siberia and Mongolia on the way. I was amazed at the amount of Temples we saw then. It seems to be some guides purpose on earth to show us as many Temples to people as possible. Certainly nothing wrong with Temples, but in moderation please.
We did venture ashore today, just to get out, to the Central Market. Within 5 minutes I was ready to come back to the ship but then discovered a whole different world on the outside streets around the market.
It was the kind of place that I miss my good travelling friend Jim: Chicken, waiting patiently to have their head chopped off for someone wanting fresh chicken for dinner and fish of all description in large buckets, breathing their last breathes, plus all the mystery and bustle of a market.
There is something about the smell of meat markets around the world that has the same aroma and it sticks in your nostrils and memories flood back.
The dining area outside in the market was also interesting, it could have been any one of 50 countries as people chow down and eat the local food, we do it at home, with different foods though. We would not hesitate a minute to order food when out shopping, neither do the locals here.
I do question some sanitation issues though, particularly in the meat market regarding flies.
A relaxing day for us, we have been on the go for 11 days now, without a heck of a lot of quiet time. Today and tomorrow are R & R days for us, I hope!
The markets are always interesting to see as it gives a good idea of what the locals eat.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a good indication of what is produced locally and what comes from afar.
Just a great photo...
Not sure where some of the shellfish comes from, river or ocean.
Fresh caught squid, waiting to be cooked.
Unknown fruits.
Dried fish products.
Giant prawns, not sure if dead or what.
Cones, once again, from where? Wish I could ask them.
I have no idea what these things are.
Chickens, alive for the next few hours.
The smell of fresh hanging meat smells the same the world over.
Lots of chickens necks were on this block today!
Pleasant change to Lotus blossoms.
Flower arrangements, made to order I can only assume or?
More.
And more.
And more.
Ice cold coconut drink, guaranteed safe by our cruise director!
More flowers.
This delightful young lady offers a cold glass of slightly flavoured water within seconds of being on board after a hand sanitize and cold cloth wipe down. Lovely!
A great selection of teas on board.
