DAY 1 IN SIEM REAP

Jet lag, need I say more? I woke up at 5:45am and could not go back to bed so I organized and unpacked a little more and ate my gluten-free granola bar and then tried to force myself to sleep. It didn't work so I got back up and read through my information pack which gave me detailed information about my work here. I have been placed at a project called Anjali House which is basically an all-emcompassing educational facility where street kids are provided with a a second home. At Anjali they are helped with homework, taught English, provided with meals and showers and are taught the importance of keeping good hygiene. Anjali also focuses on artistic expression and so the children learn everything from photography to dance.
So hours later I hit the sack and this time, eventually I fall asleep. I force myself out of bed at 11am, get ready and make my way down stairs to meet Globalteer's administrator, Sherry, gives me a quick rundown over all the rules, regulations and codes of conduct at the volunteer house and at Anjali. I also get a Globalteer T-shirt and ID card.



We then head out around town where Sherry gives me a quick tour of the main areas in the city. I get to check out Pub Street and Royal Palace I read about in my Cambodia travel book.






I even see large fish tanks for people to dip their feet in and let the little fishy eat away at their dead skin. Sounds gross but looks super cool. I really wanna give this a try.
Once we're back at the house I feel more settled however still a little overwhelmed. I escape the heat and take a break in my room which actually is just as hot - but at least I'm not moving around.
At about 6pm I decide to venture out on my own for dinner so I jump into a tuk tuk and instruct the driver to take me to Blue Pumpkin, a well known ice-cream shop that sells everything from coffees and pastries to fried rice and cocktails. I of course get the latter:) I'm impressed and will be coming back but there are so many restaurants to try out I wanna experience them all.
I get back to my room and Skype with two of my sisters. I am very surprised at the good connection. I'm glad I can keep up with how my nieces and nephews are doing and see them grow up. Technology is a wonderful thing.
So now once again I'm sitting on my bed after a cold shower and I'm just about to call it a night. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, Saturday, where I'll do some more exploring and in the evening I'll join the others at a restaurant to say good-bye to two of the volunteers who are leaving. I haven't met them yet but I figured this will give me a chance to meet some people and get out to the restaurant that Angelina Jolie visited and has a drink named in her honour. I'm totally getting that drink! Yeah I know, I'm a nerd bomb- whatev.