It has been a long 24 hours but we are finally here in Cambodia. We flew Brisbane to Singapore and then to Bangkok with Singapore Air with no problems. But the next connection was with Bangkok Air to Siem Reap and this flight was delayed an hour and a half. So we were hot and bothered by the time we got on that plane. But the flight was good and the service was good - luckily!

I had paid for a priority transfer at Siem Reap airport. Cost a bit but it was definitely worth it as it meant we didn't have to wait in line with the hundreds of others to get our visa processed. Instead a customs man greeted us, walked us straight through customs and told us to wait. He then went to the counter, did all our immigration processing and got our luggage and delivered it to the hotel car that was waiting for us. Bliss!

The streets are crazy! No apparent road rules. Thousands of bikes and motor cycles going every which way with the cars overtaking them all at will. Dirty ramshackle streets with dingy shops interspersed with these huge 5 star beautiful hotels. Our hotel La Residence d'Angkor is across the road from the river and is an oasis of calm in all the madness. Lots of timber, tropical plants, shutters, a beautiful pool about 40m (or more?) long. It is all open air plantation style. Very colonial. Our room is the same with a massive stone bath and canopy bed. The staff are amazing. Greeted us with a cocktail, gave us a tour of the hotel and our room. They are friendly and helpful - just lovely.

We didn't get here until about 3.30 and headed straight for the pool. I guess we will spend the afternoon here, head to the bar for happy hour at 6 and have an easy dinner in the hotel tonight. We are really close to the night market and main street where all the restaurants are - but it looked really daunting out there! So we may gather our courage tonight - and venture out tomorrow...

We have a 5 am start tomorrow morning for sunrise at Angkor Wat. Dean is complaining big time about having to get up at 4am on the first day of his holidays. Ha!! For now I have just ordered a Singapore Sling...man I just tasted the Singapore Sling - think it is pure alcohol!!

The only thing I don't like about Siem Reap? It is full of loud rude American tourists!