Day 7, Wednesday 25th February - Siem Reap

Winding down..... As I continue my stay in Ancient Angkor Villa things only get better. Breakfast is free but given what this includes I have no complaints whatsoever. The mainly western style menu is as comprehensive as you can get. It's so filling I don't take lunch till nearer 4 pm. Despite being on a dusty, rutted side street the modest little villa with walled frontage manages magnificently to make the best use of space. The entrance pathway is lined with small palm trees and shaded with a canopy of vine. To the right is the small restaurant contained in a bamboo shelter segregated from the road. It is clean and inviting. To the right separated by a bamboo fence is the small pool. With a wall at the front and with an 8-foot boundary fence the whole area is totally secluded. The pool is hardly 20 feet long but is neck high at the deep end. Underwater lights come on after dark and water jets are turned on in a horseshoe shallow area that also has underwater seating to take advantage of the water jets. As the morning wears on I sample this but first a little business. I settle up for the extra night and also arrange my transport to the border tomorrow departing at 8 am.
For the afternoon I stroll into town, but I still have the effects of diarrhea lingering for the last few days. I'm reluctant to eat too much but settle for beefburger and chips, a real change from my normal fare. I'm able to do a little shopping too as this is my last full day here. There are some real bargains to be had, but it's taken a while to accept how things work here. Bargaining is the order of the day and the vendors are as pushy as you will find anywhere, but the key is to persevere. If you see something you like it's best to be patient. A quick enquiry followed by disinterest is sure to bring the price down, or you can simply respond with a ridiculous low bid and take it from there. I obtained two reasonable quality fridge magnets for $1. I also picked up two brand-new guide books for $5 each. Recommended price $27. By 6 pm I'm back at the pool. It didn't seem that long ago I was getting a bit disillusioned with Cambodia. It would be a great shame if that were to continue yet now as I swim around in the cool clear water, I will be sad to leave here. I suppose thing do take time. In the early evening I take another dip in the pool, so very refreshing. Around 7.30 pm I pick up a final few things to take back across the border, but I don't feel like dinner. Instead, I take something back to the room but even that I don't eat. The final job is to set the alarm for 6 am just in case.
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