The Golden Banana

I arrived at the Golden Banana in Siem Reap just after midnight Thursday night safe and sound. When Sivpheng picked me up at the airport, he offered that I could start up at the hospital at 8am the next morning, or we could wait if I wanted to recover from jetlag. I thought recovery mode was a good idea, and took that option. Then I realized that it would then be the weekend, and I would have three full days to myself. So my trip has started out with a whimper so far. But that’s okay.

The Golden Banana has been a great place to stay so far. Free breakfast, fairly decent WiFi, a stocked mini-bar; and the setting is absolutely gorgeous – at least three swimming pools (one by the café/bar), jungle all around me, and two (2) balconies off my room, one overlooking the second pool. I’m five minutes walk from the nightlife of Siem Reap (which can be very lively), and ten minutes from AHC. I’m also just a block from one Khmer temple, Wat Damnak, which I visited this morning. It appears to be a monastery now (example photo below). And I’m also just next door to several Cambodia family homes, who’s backyards I see from my balcony.

I’m beginning to think getting any work-outs done here may be a challenge. I was told that I could rent a bike for $1-2 a day, but those bikes are the kind I would have been embarrassed to ride when I was a kid back in the 60’s, let alone do any decent aerobic work-outs in! The one bike shop suggested to me that had “decent” bikes was going to charge me $13 a day!! Running may be an option, but only early, early in the day – at least until I get acclimated more. I need some confidence in getting around town first, too, before I go too far off on my own. I’ve managed to get myself lost twice already – then committing the ultimate tourist no-no of walking through a marginal neighborhood looking confused at my map! I managed to get back safely, though, and ignored all the men asking me if I was interested in “bam-bam” as they demonstrated by running their pointer finger through two other fingers…..

Air conditioning has been essential as I try to slowly acclimate to this heat and humidity. It cooled off to maybe 80 last night after a little rain, but it’s been in the 90’s by noon every day so far. I checked out all the other people on the street as I walk by, and I can’t figure out why they’re not sweating like I am. :)

My new culture shock today was pink toilet paper! It was white up until today, but for some reason when the cleaning staff cleaned they switched even the spare rolls all to pink!!! Still works the same.

Tomorrow is my first big day!! Pictures to follow….