Volunteering in Cambodia

This morning, me and Kellie, another volunteer doing her placement in Siem Reap left Phnom Penh to travel to Siem Reap. Weather has been great. Was hotter in Phnom Penh but perfectly gorgeous here in Siem Reap. Got here today to start work here tomorrow. As I arrived, I remembered again why I loved this place and preferred it so much over Phnom Penh to live. I've realised PP is chaotic, congested and more challenging to live in, so can learn a lot from living there. I would like to one day. However, Siem Reap nicer to live.

I was taken to meet and greet with Banteay Srei, the organisation that I will be working with. I am so lucky as I can walk to work, it's around the corner for 2 minutes. The program manager seemed very nice.

Getting used to the traffic in Cambodia now. Here in Siem Reap is not so bad as the roads are wider. Phnom Penh was nuts though. Either way am getting used to heading into traffic face on and very near misses.

The guesthouse here is nicer than the one in Phnom Penh. In Siem Reap, it is less congested, it seems less polluted, I guess things feel or seem cleaner here. Easier to find a nice place to eat.  Overall I am absolutely loving the food here in Cambodia. Light, tasty, cheap. The menus have so much variety I am interested to take the time while I am here to taste the variety of dishes. Had a really nice dinner tonight down a laneway in the popular Pub street area. You could almost mistake yourself for being in Melbourne, down one of their laneways of Degraves or Flinders Lane walking down here. Only difference is the eateries are mainly Asian, not European, although there are some of those too, I am yet to try though. $3.50 for a delicious and quality Amok curry prawn dish. Amok is a popular Cambodian curry that is steamed instead of boiled, solid but moist. Chilli, lemongrass, galangal and banana leaves - it's exotic and delicious. I am growing to love this and having it very often. Must try if you love curries.