One year in Siem Reap. Time to move on.

One year in Siem Reap

Two months ago we celebrated the anniversary of our arrival in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The 26th May 2017, to be exact.

Arriving by bus from Koh Kong at about 10pm in the dark. Strangers in a strange town (and country) not knowing where we were exactly or what to expect.  A year later, we are somewhat wiser, more familiar and no longer strangers in this lovely town we call home.

Memorable moments

Some memorable moments include getting lost walking around town and finding some hidden gems in the process. Learning the currency and how to count in riels’. Being able to “greet” and say “thank you” in Khmer. Shopping at the markets and bartering on prices. Experiencing and becoming changed by the culture of this magnificent country and it’s beautiful humble people. Moving from a guesthouse to a small apartment, then to a larger apartment and finally to our current home on the outskirts of town.  Starting our journey into mindfulness, applying Buddhist principles to our lives. Deprogramming ourselves from our inbred Western Culture .

We have wandered through ancient ruins and temples.  We have visited museums and cultural villages. We’ve seen local Cambodian families in their floating villages and rural homes. 

The food experience

We have explored the tastes and aromas of traditional Khmer food in restaurants, from street vendors and at the local markets. Mandy has embraced the experience of shopping for ingredients and learning to prepare our favorite local meals (which she does so well).  The aromas of lemongrass, kaffir limes, galangal and chillies waft through the entire house on a regular basis.

Friends, family and visitors

We have made some awesome friends and have had to say goodbye to some.

We’ve been hosts to friends from South Africa and have shared the wonders of Siem Reap with them.  We have opened our hearts to a house share with cousin Juan and have formed bonds with our fellow South African neighbors.

Still finding hidden gems

And a year later, we are still finding new hidden gems in this incredible town. New restaurants that are opening, an amazing sushi bar with a magnificent roof top pool, a local bar featuring amazing musicians, and as we walk down the street, the beautiful smiles of these beautiful people.

Hot and rainy

We are going into our second wet / rainy season.  Even when the rain comes down in buckets it is by no means cold. The temperatures rarely fall below thirty. Sitting in our sarongs and shorts and t-shirts, we feel the greatest sympathy for our family and friends in South Africa, who are experiencing a very cold and frigid winter.

Search for swimming pools

As it is always hot, our weekly mission, in our free time, is to find new restaurants and bars where there are swimming pools. This is quite common and there are many dotted all over the town. Pool entrance includes either one ordering a cocktail or a meal. There was no choice but to conduct research into this phenomenon. We have in the course of our research had to drink quite a few cocktails.  All in the aid of research.

We have discovered and enjoyed some delightful pools, and their names add a wonderful mystique as well. Happy Hippy Bar, The Magic Tree, The Magic Garden, 20th Street Hotel, Dom’s Boutique Hotel, Blue Bar, Central Hostel, Safari Sushi Bar.

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Next on our list is the Peace Tree, Golden Gecko and Rosey’s Guest House.

Looking ahead

Although we were excited to find and move into our home, Love, Light and Lemongrass, we found ourselves getting back into a routine and starting to gather material things.  We left South Africa wanting to shrug off the programmed lifestyle we were living. This was no longer speaking to our gypsy hearts and souls, yet we have started settling again.

Time to move on?

This factor along with the constant visa changes (not in our favor) and Mandy’s recent notice from Lingokids, has us wondering if the Universe is preparing us for the next stage of our journey.   Our time in Siem Reap has been wonderful and we have achieved much. But, the inherent gypsy in us is feeling that we have now lived this experience and it is time to move on. We have always agreed that when we look back on our lives,  we want it not to be about what we have or what we possess but what we have experienced and the stories we have to tell.

Steps on our journey

We have learned, grown and strengthened immensely since leaving South Africa. We’ve been changed in ways we possibly have not yet realised. And it seems that the time is right to take another step into yet another unknown adventure therefore we are looking at options in Vietnam or possibly Bali. This time not to set up a home because our home is wherever we are together and wherever our suitcases and backpacks are parked.

Our last months in Siem Reap

We are looking forward to our last 7 months in Siem Reap (especially with the upcoming “cool” season) as we intend to make each moment memorable.  There are still a few places we wish to visit and explore.  We will also be having friends and family from South Africa visiting soon. This is something we are both looking forward to.

During this time we will get to revisit some of our favorite places and bid a fond farewell to this town and country. Not only because this has been home but also where we have enjoyed experiences that have left a permanent watermark on our hearts and souls. We will happily be carrying these wonderful memories with us wherever we go from here.

Exciting Times

Richard’s brother, David and Mandy’s friend, Jean (the cupid couple) are coming to Cambodia in October.  We will be traveling with them to Vietnam, on our “first official holiday” since leaving South Africa.  Our trip will include the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc and possibly a visit to Hanoi.  Besides time away, this is also an opportunity to see whether Vietnam appeals to us as somewhere to stay after leaving Siem Reap.

We are both looking forward to Mandy’s daughter, Nicole joining us for Christmas and New Year. It will be so exciting for us to take her around and show her all our favorite haunts. Places where we have made all our wonderful memories. And for Mandy being able to make new memories with her daughter in this town that has become so dear to our hearts.

ESL for Life with Teacher Mandy

A blessing in disguise was Mandy recently being given notice by Lingokids.  The day after parents were notified by Lingokids of their decision to close their online English classes, Mandy was contacted by a  few of the parents asking her to please consider private tutoring of their child/children.

Hence ESL for Life with Teacher Mandy was born. 

Mandy’s teaching skills coupled with Richard’s computer and graphic skills and their combined creativity and artistic flair are exactly the combination needed to breathe life into this new venture.

We are both excited to see where our Journey will take us next…………………

Namaste’ from Siem Reap Cambodia (for now)