"THIS TAKES 'POOL DAY' TO ANOTHER LEVEL"

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

Temperature: 33 Degrees Celsius

Track of the day: "Before the Worst", The Script

"This bus is great," I say as Alecs and I sit on the front seats of the Mekong Express Limousine Bus to Phnom Penh. Our comfy seats include a tasty snack of pastries as well as water and a guide - all for just $12 and aside from the overnight bus in Laos, this is our best experience yet. We arrive in the capital city 1/2 an hour ahead of schedule and dodging a swarm of tuk-tuk drivers we head up the street to find our own and head to the Pavillion Hotel. Before we left Canada my parents booked us a hotel as a goodbye present that is many many many steps above the $6, $7/night places we've been staying in. We walk through a heavy wooden door to the enclosed complex that seems worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh. Large tropical trees loom over a huge crystal blue pool surrounded by private little nook's with overgrown fern, banana and palm trees towards reception. We check-in to our room, a massively oversized two bedroom place on the second floor with a large balcony overlooking the street behind the surrounding wall. We have a T.V., fridge, air-conditioning, hot water and free drinking water - what more could we ask for. "I think I'm going to sleep well tonight," Alecs says testing out the soft mattress and flipping through the T.V. channels. "TFC (the Filipino Channel), they have TFC," Alecs exclaims, giddy like a school boy about the idea of watching Filipino T.V. I roll my eyes at him and suggest we have dinner before he becomes glued to the screen. It's almost 8PM and after a six hour bus ride neither of us has the energy to go out so we eat at the restaurant next to the pool. We crash shortly after dinner, exhausted from a day of traveling and happy to be in such a comfortable place. 

We both sleep in the next morning, but when we finally wake up we excitedly pack and head to reception. Today we are checking into another room, one that was fully booked yesterday but available for the next three nights. We wait a few minutes as our new room is being cleaned

more excited than words can explain. "Okay, your room is ready," one of the staff says as she hands us the room key. We beeline it to our haven - a room similar to the one last night with one distinct difference. We walk through a large set of doors to the left of our room where we fund a lush patio with a sun-bed, table and chairs and the reason for our excitement - a

 6x3 meter private pool. "Move over hun," Alecs says leaping into the water with his swimsuit on in record time. We both dip into the blissfully cool freshwater pool and begin doing laps, diving and acting like kids in a candy shop. After very little discussion we both agree to a pool day spent in a tranquil private one we can call our own.  "This takes pool day to another level," Alecs says floating on his back watching the clouds go by. "Let's test out our snorkels," I say tossing them in the water for Alecs. We both strap the 

snorkels," I say tossing them in the mask and snorkel on and excitedly try them out. These 'dry snorkels' were a Christmas gift from my parents and they certainly live up to their name. We try everything to get water in them - submerging and inhaling, splashing, pouring water over them - nothing gets in and we happily continue using them. We use our new waterproof camera as well trying many different poses at the bottom of the pool - goofing around until the sun begins to fade. "I guess we should go out for dinner," I say finally after spending nearly five non-stop hours 

in the water. Alecs nods his head and

we get dressed to search for a tuk-tuk and a restaurant. We head to a small pizza shop on the riverbank and settle in for a cheap cheese pizza and some Angkor Beer. Small children wander through the many restaurants selling newspapers, bracelets, books, sunglasses and various other trinkets. A cool breeze blows in from the river and touts of tuk-tuk's gather together conversing and keeping an keen eye for any tourists who might need a ride. After dinner we wander up the riverbank, enjoying the view and scanning for a travel agency. "This one here," Alecs says spotting a large sign outside 'Phnom Penh Travel Co,' "Mekong Express bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville," he adds walking in. We book two tickets to the beach of Cambodia before happily setting off back to our hotel. "I think it's time for a night swim," Alecs says flipping the light switch on by the pool. Four spot lights illuminate the surrounding wall creating a soft glow and one lights the pool floor making it a romantic and wonderful atmosphere for a swim. Quietly, we wade into the water and float on our backs gazing at the vibrant stars above. "This is amazing," I say to Alecs, "it's still hard to believe we

are actually here," I add. Alecs smiles knowingly and two hours later we are almost asleep floating in the pool. "I think we should get to sleep," Alecs says, "especially if we actually plan on accomplishing anything tomorrow," he adds. We walk back to the room and I fall asleep quickly while Alecs stays up for a few more hours watching 'Singing Bee,' on The Filipino Channel. 

Tomorrow will be a grim day as we learn the horrors committed by Khmer Rouge during the Pol Pot reign.

So long for now,

Alecs and Meg in Phnom Penh