Cambodia trip-31/12/06-3/1/07

I have been longing to go for a holiday since my last on September 2005..this Cambodia trip supposingly was scheduled on end of October..however, due to some cirscumstances, this trip had been postponed to end of December, which was actually the very RIGHT timing to visit Pr Maggie, who is currently serving in Cambodia with WEC.. I had booked my flight ticket with Air Asia (1st time flying with AA) during early November and since then, counting down to 31/12/06...May & KT will be my travelling partner for this trip..

31.12.2006 (Sun)
wow..last day of the year..woke up very early, about 6.15am, to prepare myself for 1st service at 7.30am, and I was also assisting sis with ushering..Then came back around 10.30am to finalise my packing before leaving for Cambodia..my friend, Mark, was willing to send me off to the airport and was truly grateful to him..met up with May & KT in the airport, went for quick lunch and then, the journey began..
The flight was 20 min delayed but then, surprisingly we reached on time..One thing funny here was that, on my e-ticket, we were suppose to depart from KL 15:15 and arrival in Phnom Penh at 16:05...so I told mum, it took only 50min to reach Phnom Penh..she was so surprise..so fast?? Then, only I realised that Cambodia is actually 1 hour later than us...which means, I arrived there at 17:05, Malaysia time..原谅我这个无知的女孩 ..
Pr Maggie picked us up from the airport, using local transportation, Tut Tut..have been hearing about this tut tut from church members who were there last November and now, I got to experience the ride myself..was quite bumpy but quite fun..my first impression of Cambodia was-DUSTY...People here wear mask all the time...but then, the Cambodian were friendly people..
So, we went to the Cambodia Methodist Centre and will be staying there for this trip for USD7 per person per night..quite reasonable..and with air-conditioned and water heater as well..God blessed us for this trip..
At night, Pr Mag took us around the town before having dinner at a nice restaurant..another funny thing here was-when the waiter gave us the menu..and on each page of the menu, on the heading it was written Morning Dish..(something like this, can't really remember but the point here was the word Morning)..so May and I were curious..why they serve morning breakfast at night also...then Pr Mag said, "the name of this restaurant is Morning Deli"..hahaha...we ordered 4 dishes and all tasted GOOD..especially the rice...high quality rice, sticky and the aroma was nice..
One thing about Cambodia tracffic-you must be a very brave driver..most of the streets were without tracffic lights..you just have to be brave and 'fight' for your turn to cross over...scary mann...and as pedestrian, you must always walk with the same direction of the cars...(hope you get what I mean here..)
After dinner, we walked back to the centre and had a good chat with Pr Mag..she shared with us some of her stories here..by the way, this is her 4th year serving here..We didn't wait for 12am to come, and all of us dozed off at around 10pm...too tired..

1.1.2007 (Mon)
Happy New Year!..today, we had the chance to attend an engagement party, Pr Mag's secretary is getting engaged..and because of this important date, Pr Mag had specially tailored-made a local traditional costumes..very beautiful..May & I also participated in their 'bersanding' ceremony, where each of us were suppose to carry a tray of fruits, then formed a line and walked into the house..it was interesting...
Met few of Pr Mag's co-workers in WEC and chatted with some local Cambodian students..they can speak very fluent English..
Next stop was the Killing Field...can't really write much about this place coz I, myself, not familiar with the history of Cambodia..all I knew was that during 1970s, many innocent Cambodians were killed, headless and being buried in a mass grave...it was a very crual and brutal incident..perhaps you can check on the web for more details..
Russian Market was the next destination..you can basically find lots of things here with good bargain prices..I bought some souvenirs here..
We had our dinner at a Korean restaurant..and again, the name of it was funny, 7days BBQ...haha...initially, I thought the restaurant offer a 7days BBQ package...but then, personally, I don't really fancy Korean food..

2.1.2007 (Tues)
We went to WEC to meet up with Pr Mag...Handed over YM love offering to her , as a support from the youths..
Pr Mag took us to a local restaurant for lunch, which was just beside the Mekong River...there were hammock everywhere, so you can relax while eating..very comfy..spent around 1.5 hours chit-chatting before we went to the river side..where the King's palace was located, the independent monument, Parliment and also the Central Market..one advice here, Central Market offers better price than Russian Market...so take note ya if you are to visit Cambodia someday..
At night, we tried the local steamboat...very simple side dishes with vegetables, beef balls, mushrooms..

3.1.2007 (Wed)
My last day in Cambodia..such a short trip...today, we visited the Tuol Sleng Museum.
This was the place where the Cambodian were prisoned and being tortured before sending them to the Killing Fields..Pictures of all victims were displayed and it was really sad..
Lunch was simple but yummy..its a local food..called Pattay (I hope I spelt correctly)..it was actually french toast, wrapped with luncheon meat and sauce..then we had coconut ice cream for dessert..

We had the chance to visit Pr Mag's house before leaving for Malaysia.
Then, 3 of them sent me to airport and May & KT will be visiting Angkor Wat tomorrow till Saturday..so disappointed that I couldn't join them..

I would say, this trip was really a blessed one..there were few people that I would love to give thanks:-
1. God, for protecting us throughout the whole trip, for safe journey mercy
2. May and KT, for sharing this trip with me
3. Sheryl, for helping me to exchange USD
4. Pr Mag, for her great hospitality
5. Mark, for sending me to the airport and made my collections of Ty bears completed

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