Friday, March 12, 2010

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Sorry, don’t know the greeting in Khmer for good morning. The itinerary states that this morning we are to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first site is the South Gate of Angkor Thom, then Bayon, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Elephant Terrace. Then we return to the hotel for lunch and in the afternoon to Angkor Wat.

I am going instead to the Royal Angkor Hospital to see a doctor. The last few days, I had been coughing and I was developing a rattle with each breath. Mr. Thinh said there was no doctor on the ship and this was my last chance to have medical treatment before we sailed into Saigon. I explained that one of my main reasons for this trip was to see Angkor Wat and that I would be fine. He wasn’t buying it, so off we went in a tuk tuk to the hospital.

If any of you have wondered what going to a hospital in a third world country would be like; let me put your mind to rest. The doctor spoke English, was very kind and thorough in his questions and exam. I had bronchitis, for which he prescribed the correct medicine and sent me on my way. Total bill with medicine was $214.oo. We tuk tuked back to the hotel and I was sent promptly to bed.

I had planned to visit the Night Market is Siem Reap, which I had read about, but felt too lousy to get out of bed. Did sneak down to the gift shop in the hotel, to see what type of things Cambodia had to offer, and purchased two gorgeous raw silk shawls, a bamboo back pack and an orange silk purse, before another guide from our group saw me and asked why I wasn’t in my room resting. Busted! I had planned this trip to shop for my business, but was striking out miserably.

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