We allowed ourselves a lie in from the tumultuous journey we endured yesterday. The day started slow with breakfast at the hotel and a nice relaxing bath in the room. Around midday we decided to venture out of the safety of the air con and explore our surroundings. We found an ATM and took out dollars as well as riel. It is 5,300 approximate riel to the pound and dollars we are familiar with. Dollarization in Cambodia has been going on for at least the last 30 years. The communist rule in Cambodia combined with other factors of push pull demand and conflict left the riel an unstable currency. By pinning it to the dollar in Cambodia the riel has stabilized to an extent.

After a coffee shop break we reached the market. We bought clothes for our evening dinner, a new cross body bag, pulse point aromatherapy roller, and some supplies from a pharmacy. Deciding it was time for food we found a small restaurant for lunch. It was getting too hot so we went back for a swim in the hotel pool.

For dinner we went to Amansara, part of the aman luxury resort brand, to celebrate my birthday early. We indulged in the Cambodian tasting menu of prawn avocado salad, corn and chicken soup, mains of beef tenderloin and red snapper, and a coconut cream brûlée dessert. As I’m writing this none of it sounds overly Cambodian but I can assure you the spices and flavors they used made it an authentic experience. Robin even exclaimed that the corn chicken soup tasted just like how the night markets smell! Amansara made us a Black Forest gateau inspired birthday cake to celebrate. Before leaving we checked out the toilet which was more high tech than an iPad. Robin used the loo and came back admitting she had washed, cleaned, and blow dryer her bottom 3 times. The heated seat did make it hard to stand back up.

Once the evening storm had died down we got dropped back at our hotel and got ready for bed. Big day exploring tomorrow.

-M