Rambutans and Tuk-tuks

Our group arrived in Phnom Penh this evening, after a long flight with lots of in-flight entertainment selections and some incredible scenery as we flew over Canada, Alaska and the Arctic Circle. (See photos below of the arctic bay! What a view!) It was an epic plane ride-- due to the route that we took, it never became dark outside. The students were as excited as they were tired.

We met Jenn outside the airport who immediately introduced us to such mouthwatering tropical fruits as tamarind and rambutans, and we will soon try the jackfruit, dragonfruit, mangosteen, sapodilla. En route to the hotel, we cruised through the local traffic of tuk-tuks, monks on motorbikes, and city parks full of aspiring badminton players out for a Sunday evening game.

The food on the Hong Kong-->Phnom Penh leg of the flight left a lot to be desired, so we satisfied our bellies with a round of steaming bowls of hand-pulled noodles at a bustling local restaurant before collapsing in bed.

We have a city tour tomorrow morning--on cyclos!--before a group meeting and discussion about the month ahead. In the afternoon we'll head about 15 miles out of the city to the house of Arn Chorn-Pond, the protagonist of the film 'The Flute Player', and the founder of Cambodian Living Arts, an organization with whom we'll spend several days while in country.

Until next time!

Nate and Jenn