Day 12: Hello Cambodia

February 10, 2024

Day 12: On the bus leaving Vietnam this am. I’m feeling especially grateful. Nuhan has been great. It's feeling like Laura and Rob are feeling much better. We missed them the last couple days. Here is proof that Laura's back:).

Another Habecker photo frame moment

And here's proof that Rob's back (pun intended)

Rob's back with a crack.

Saying goodbye to Nuhan. He was fantastic. We all really liked him. We can do tour guide ratings later, but he's looking high on our list.

Bye bye Nu#1han. Nice haircut for Tet.

Waiting for our flight to Cambodia. Here's what leaving your Apple watch at security looks like.

Lesson learned. Reid is really missing us. He decided to visit us virtually.

Turn left at Vietnam. Hi. Bye. Sci-Fi.

We have some time before our flight, so we decided to airport shop. The cigarette warnings are very direct don't you think?

Do you think there should be warnings for eating too many of these? What’s worse, a pack a day, or a pack of these a day?

No warning sign? I betcha can't eat just one.

Saigon to Cambodia is only about a 50 minute flight. We were greeted by Davith. And driving by Ya to our hotel. We are staying at the Phum Bataing Villas. It's about an hour drive from the airport. "The hotel is right over dare."

Davith, Davith, Davith is on fire...

He's super nice, I can tell already. The Cambodian accent is harder for me to follow. But I did catch a few things. After high school, Davith had to choose between being a Monk for 5 years or enrolling in the military. Monks cannot be with a woman and cannot have any alcohol. I am not a fan of wars or guns so war or monk would be a hard decision. But 5 years with no...

Martinis or Martini Glass (see above)?

Honestly, I probably go Monk and get all backed up. Today is Tet Eve. I learned over the last few days that red is for happiness; yellow is for wealth and my favorite color blue is for nature. Let's go blue!

Happy New Year!

Ok. I know nothing about Cambodia. On the drive in, it looks very rural and very poor. Turns out between 1975 and 1979 it was ruled by a gorilla movement and 1.5 million people died. Turn out gorilla governments aren't that great for its citizens. We are in an area that is known for its ancient temples. I think I just heard we have to get up at 4:30am tomorrow to see one?

Oh great Buddah, please change my wake up time

After check in and a quick dip in the pool, we hit our 1st temple stop before dinner.

Hey wait up guys. It's hot out here.

Most people in Cambodia are cremated after death. Families use one location for all ashes. They are all over the temples for families to visit.

Made me think of these two. It's days and nights like these that I think of you and appreciate all that you did for me to get here.

Love you Mom and Dad

Miss you and grateful for you.
And grateful for all the Mo-Pho's

Back to the temple. Davith shared a story that he studied to be a Monk after high school for 5 years and he actually met a young woman who was contemplating suicide. He helped save her life and she visited him after 20 years and she's doing well. He called suicidal thoughts, “monkey mind” . The Monks take they "ey" out of monkey mind. It was a touching story. At the temple we ran into some people. Yes, it's time to play, "Guess Who's The Virgin?"

No Martinis (or Martini Glass) for you kids.

After the temple, we took a boat across the river on the way to dinner.

Take a Minute Moment: WOW. In Cambodia, boating to dinner. Not a normal Friday night.

Life on the river...

No traffic on the way to dinner, but..

seatbelts on, and

...they have valet parking.

We walked through a little village on the way.

Sheryl bought some milk. Did you bring your
Cowco card?

And just after shopping, we were invited into a neighbor's backyard playing music. Ok. Wait a second. Yes, another Take a Minute Moment: We get off a boat, walked through a small village, get invited into someone's backyard and start dancing to music. A real Cambodian dance -a -thon.

We showed them the "White Man's Overbite Shuffle"

That will be a shake, shake shake that I'll remember forever. The people were soooooo nice (words cannot describe). The Cambodian spiritualness is starting to really sink in. We are having dinner at the Villa Chandara. It's not your normal restaurant. These pics are all part of the dining experience. This has inspired me to bring home some new restaurant ideas - direct from Cambodia.

1. In - N - Out Bull Rides