31st January - The Last Spring Roll. For now.

Today reminds us of what we like about independent travel. We wake up at a time to suit us, have breakfast at leisure, check out the pool and ancillary facilities and get the packing done by 10 a.m.  We pack a day bag and secure it in a locker at the pool, check the hold luggage with the porter, hand in our key and we are free. A day to do what we like until 5 p.m. Luxury. R has a couple of things on her purchase list so when the remorque driver at the end of the drive hails us we do a deal. 

It is overcast and there are a few spots of rain as we enjoy our five minute ride to the Old Market. This has a few stalls selling tee shirts and tourist tat but is mainly the real deal. We browse and chat to some of the stallholders. There is no really heavy sell going on. R gets the things on her list and we retire across the street to the Cafe Central for light refreshment. This has a very French feel with high ceilings, lazy fans and off hand service.

One of the recommendations in the book is a place that sells bags made from recycled fishing nets and plastic bags. The prices cause sharp intakes of breath but they do have some luggage tags that can be purchased without taking out a second mortgage. R treats herself to a tag for her cabin bag that has been anonymous for the last two weeks. We explore this street a bit further and find a shop offering silk Cambodian fancy pants. These seem very popular with the locals and are a sort of cross between trousers and a skirt. The young lady does a decent job of selling and takes time to teach R how to put this garment on as well as how to avoid a catastrophe while using the loo when wearing it.

After D walks away from a lady who tries to tell us that $32 for three tee shirts is a bargain we decide it is time for lunch. There are deals and promos everywhere. We settle on a place doing spring rolls and two dollar pitchers of beer. The spring rolls are good and the dipping sauce excellent. R asks the waiter about what it contains. He goes to the kitchen to ask and returns to tell us that it is peanuts and mojito. We express our doubts about this and eventually he returns to tell us that it is fish sauce which sounds more like it.

Over lunch the sun has broken through and it has become rather warm. We decide that we have done enough to boost the Cambodian economy and find a remorque to take us back to the hotel. The pool looks inviting so we don swimmers and do a few lengths until a couple of loungers become available under a shady canopy. We lie back, read and enjoy the warmth until it is time for R to go for the foot massage she has booked in the hotel spa. When she returns it is time to retrieve the big bags and do some repacking. It all fits and we sit back to await the arrival of Veebol and the coach. He was last seen swaying slightly and trying to lead off a karaoke on the coach home after dinner last night. When it gets to half an hour after he said he would be there we start to think about plan B.

At 5.31 he appears, bright as a button, and we board the last coach of the holiday, heading for the airport. We actually see a red setting sun and have fun trying to get a picture in the gaps between the buildings. The Business Lounge is at the opposite end of the terminal to our gate but there is plenty of time to settle in and enjoy a couple of drinks and a plate of spring rolls. We keep an eye on the departure screens and see our flight go into a sort of limbo with just a blank space where it should say Wait or Boarding. 

D gets twitchy and we take a walk to the far end where the rest of the group are congregated. R uses some initiative and asks the man at the gate what is happening. 'Flight late' is the response we return to the lounge and are readmitted. As we settle down with a beverage the screen suddenly shows 'Boarding' at the gate nearest to us. The plane is loaded with the minimum of fuss and we are off. It is quite a short flight so we only have time for a plate of dim sum and a glass of wine.