Best! Jungle Gym! EVVVVAARR!!!!

So, for everyone who is reading this, it's probably Monday.  For me, it's Tuesday, which means we're in Cambodia.  This morning we rolled out of bed, had a nice (but quick) breakfast, and then got on a plane for Cambodia.  For whatever reason, I'm fine with going to Thailand but the idea of Cambodia makes me somewhat nervous—possibly because Cambodia is linked in my mind to images of the war and death camps from two generations ago.  Not at all relevant to modern times?...well, probably not.  But on the way in, Dad warned me in his very casual way that we might have some trouble getting out tomorrow because the newspaper says that protest action has been heating up, and protestors frequently shut down the airports.  It probably won't happen, but we'll see.

Cambodia is beautiful; so lush and green that you expect a planted toothpick to sprout leaves and roots.  At the very modern, shiny, squeaky clean airport, we were met by our guide, Phum Nah.  We climbed into a car that would have looked right at home in American suburbia (they drive on the left here, unlike Thailand), and drove to the beautiful modern hotel where we are staying tonight.  Along the way, we passed canals covered in greenery, nearly-skeletal cows traipsing along the side of the road led by young kids, old women running fruit stands, gas stations where they sell gas and diesel in 1- and 2-liter bottles (about 1500 riels (~$0.75) per liter).

The hotel is about 50 rooms, smaller than the Mandarin Oriental where we were staying in Thailand.  And yet, they do such a better job of making us feel welcome.  The small things are included—the bottled water in the minibar is free, were were given 2 days of complimentary wireless internet which friggin' WORKS (at the M.O., the wireless signal dropped every few seconds, and it cost >1200 baht (~$36) for two days of internet), and so on.  The room is scented with a jasmine-oil aromatherapy candle; the floors are a dark honey-colored wood with planks wider than my palm, and there is a deep bath big enough to wash a moose.  The staff is friendly, and it feels honest.  I really like it here.

The one thing I haven't mentioned yet is the heat:  it's incredible, probably mid- to high-90s.  It's not nearly as humid as it was in Thailand, so I'm not sure why the heat is affecting me so much, but I feel like I'm being clubbed.  Dad, of course, is sitting outside on the porch reading the newspaper.  Me, I'm huddled in the air-condtioned room with my pants off so as to dump more heat while I write this.  But, time to wrap it up—Mr Phum will be back in about 15 minutes and we are headed for the temples over at Angkor Wat.  I'll post the pictures later.

This is so exciting!