Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

Day Fourteen – 30 January 2015

Weather – pleasantly hot.

Bed early. Up early. I had plenty of time to pack all my stuff and meet with some others for breakfast. We sit and chat and have tea until 10 am. By the time I’m down with my luggage, Tran is waiting and we’re off to the Siem Reap airport.

I was able to get business class on Malaysia Air for my flight to Singapore via Kuala Lampur. Tran wasn’t able to enter the airport with me, so I gave him his tip and went in search of the Malaysia Air counter. I went the wrong way and went back, found it and lined up first in line. Two minutes later I looked back and there were like 100 people behind me.

I’m able to use the airport’s lounge which isn’t much more than nice chairs and a staff more interested in their cell phones. Still, a comfy way to spend a couple hours. The flight left on time and I had a great lasagna for dinner.

We get into Malaysia and there’s no immigration card, no passport control. I leave from the same terminal and just walked in from one gate and left in another. The security gate was at the gate so I couldn’t take my Coke in with me.

It’s a short flight to Singapore and I get chicken on a stick and a view of dozens of ships off the coast of Singapore.

We land on time and while I’m waiting for my luggage, I see my transfer outside and wave to him. Don’t think he saw me.

My luggage was #3 out the window and I went and said hello to the transfer. The drive to the Orchard Hotel took about 30 minutes in moderate traffic.

Traffic made of cars, not scooters. What a contrast. We pull into the hotel and a man comes up to me with an envelope and says all the information is in there and walks off. Too cool. That was going to be my first question on check in. I get my luggage and check in at the hotel and am told that breakfast isn’t included. No problem. I’ve eaten enough.

It’s almost 8 pm by the time I get up to the room so it’s too late to check out the area. My day tour starts at 8:30, so I settle in to surf, upload photos and type up this tale.