The Arrival to Cambodia,continued

As you can tell by my previous blog entries, it’s been difficult for me to grasp that beauty and poverty aren’t mutually exclusive. In Cambodia, they both exist simultaneously. So, continuing my journey in Cambodia and our walk around Phnom Penh, Steph and I decided to head back to the hotel. It was getting really hot outside and thought we would visit the hotel pool and cool off before our cocktail reception and dinner with the rest of the trekkers. My first experience of Cambodian food was Sunday night (May 3rd) and it was so tasty. I was at first a little nervous after visiting the open market and seeing all of the raw meat, fruit and vegetables in very unsanitary conditions to any country’s standards but surprisingly the food at the Bopha Phnom Penh Restaurant was amazing! I particularly liked the Fish Amok served in a cup made of banana leaves. On addition to the food, it was a joy to sit with our Room to Read Cambodia in country staff. At my table of 4, all 3 others were from our country staff. What did that mean? Well, let’s just say that Cambodians don’t eat very much…there was lots of extra food left for me! Marco did you tip off Room to Read and tell them to pair me up in this foursome? Jokes aside, it was very nice to get to know the staff that Room to Read has hired in country on a more personal level. I am glad I got the opportunity to sit with them and also learn more about Cambodia. I didn’t know much about the country until I read the Lonely Planet travel guide on the flight here. But it’s always better to find out more first hand. My night ended back at the hotel but not before the country director, Mr. Kall, took a few of us out for some drinks and Phnom Penh nightlife. There really wasn’t much but that was okay. We shared a few beers, some stories and headed back to the hotel on a tuk tuk. Monday was scheduled to be a busy day!