Friday, February 22. 32 C. Muggy.
I have never seen such a swift and slick bit of fancywork by anybody as Ama Waterways did today to get us on the plane and through Cambodian customs and immigration. It was almost as if were ghosts the way we did not even need, nor did we have, our passports to enter the country. Our guide collected the passports after we were boarded and we won't see them until we start the journey home.
After clearance we boarded the bus and had a 20 minute ride through what looks like an entirely different country than the one which we just left. There are even signs in English, hurry, hurray.
Cambodia is a Kingdom, Vietnam is Communist. There did seem to be a visible different feel to the place even though we have only been here an hour!!!
The Sofitel Hotel here is a Five Star but looks and feels like a Seven Star, really. I have lost track of how much this trips cost us but right now it seems worth it. We have been to some lovely hotels over the years but this place appears to be on the top of the list. We were met by Cambodian dancers in native dress beating very Cambodian sounding instruments. [?] The Hotel footprint is massive, it must be several acres. The escorted walk to our ground floor room was like a walk in some tropical forest.
The floors are polished hardwood, just like Clark Gable would expect in some exotic place 60 years ago. The internet is smoking hot and our luggage was delivered within 1/2 hour of arriving.
This place is a 'Temple Place' so be ready for nothing but temples the next two days!
This morning on our 400+ stairs pre-breakfast walk up one of those little islands.
We are on a tender going ashore. That couple is from Prince George, BC.
Our objective was that little spire at the top.
Objective achieved!
Fellette resting before gathering some sand for son-in-law Robert.
This island is Named after a Russian Astronaut, in 1960.
His name sounds like that apparently. [???]
Dipped in Halong Bay, a few brave souls went for a swim.
From our closet. Cool shot eh?
Ready to disembark.
An out-of-sequence shot of my much younger wife at the peak.
As we walked into the Sofitel tonight.
The closet and entrance to our room.
The bathroom is elegant indeed.
The bed looks beckoning after a day like today, nice to end up like this.
I commandeered the desk for my writing requirements!!!
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