January 26

Although I wasn't really hungry I went down for breakfast because it was "free".  LOL  Just had coffee, a small helping of scrambled eggs and a bit of fruit salad.  There were lots of choices including miso soup, fried rice, various vegetable dishes, bacon, sausage, etc.  I was surprised that there was no fruit other than the fruit salad.

After breakfast I decided to check to see if, contrary to what I had been told, their internet connection was working.  Not only was it working but there was a wireless connection as well so my prayers were finally answered.  It took me the rest of the morning but I finally got all of my photos and files uploaded to the web site and dealt with all of the accumulated e-mail.  That was a huge relief because now at least I have a back up of the reduced size photos and the journals.

This afternoon I headed out to look for stamps once more but only made it as far as the 7-Eleven again because it was so hot and my back was aching.  Imagine my amazement to find some blank DVDs as soon as I walked in the door!  I thought I was going to have to search out a computer store to get some.  Now I have backed up everything on one DVD so should be doubly safe.  Having uploaded and also e-mailed the journals I suppose postcards are redundant so I will give up the search for stamps unless I stumble upon some place that sells them.  While at the store I decided to buy some more beer but was told that you are not allowed to do that until after 5:00 pm.

I thought that perhaps I should check to make sure I was able to remain in this room but then thought better of it because I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer and that in this case no news was good news.  So far I haven't received any angry calls or been thrown out.

The briefing tonight didn't amount too much and there was much repetition.  The guide is nice enough and her command of English seems good.  We only have her for one day basically because we get a new guide in Cambodia the day after tomorrow.  Apparently the size of this group will be in constant flux as some people leave the tour and others join it.  At present there are seven of us.  Once again three from Australia (Canberra and Sydney), one from the US (near Los Angeles) and this time three from Canada (two from Victoria).

The first restaurant we went to was closed for renovations so we went to an outdoor one in an area of travel agencies and hotels.  It was a very busy street spot.  I had a steamed sea bass that was advertised to be in a spicy lemon sauce.  NOT.  It should have said that it was in a cilantro (coriander) sauce!  Yuck.  Needless to say that spoiled it for me but I ate it anyway.  I would like to think that I can acquire a taste for coriander but am not at all hopeful.

Tomorrow we visit a palace and a couple of temples.  Both are off limits for shorts which means I will have to wear long pants in this blistering heat all day.  Not a pleasant thought.  We are also going to be using various forms of transportation, including public bus, so I will have to lighten the load in my back pack as much as I possibly can.  From the guide's reference to pickpockets I am even a little leery about my cameras but can't bring myself to leave them behind.