with BILL'S EYES
No untoward reaction to the prior evenings' menu of protein and fun stuff, so all good.
Rest day today so it may be of interest to regale something about the cruise we are about to begin after our stay in Siem Reap.
Our cruise vessel is designed to accommodate 38 guests and has 40-crew. Those numbers are directly related to the size of the vessel and the waters it will ply. On European river cruises, the numbers are much larger, say 120 guests and 50 to 60 crew since the vessels have a larger draft and the rivers are deeper and the bridges higher. There are however larger and smaller cruise vessels than the vessel we will be on to ply the mighty Mekong river.
There is a rhythm to cruising, whether on a mighty river or the ocean, and all those aboard soon get into it. Rare it is to have a day with nothing to do, but if that is what you want, then there is the freedom to do so and not accompany the rest of the passengers on the tours which set off typically in the morning and last until lunch. It is so very settling, to know that you unpack once and then for the rest of the journey, everything is where you need it to be. The food is plentiful and cooked by a dedicated team both skilled and learning their trade, being taught by good master chefs. The tastes and standard of presentation of the food are always great and include both local and Western fare.
A tour guide is on board at all times and accompanies the tours off the boat, and sometimes they provide lectures about the local customs, clothing, food and geography. They are a wealth of knowledge as most of them are university trained and thankfully speak great English.
A cruise director is there to help with anything that is needed and although some Capitan's like to get involved and welcome a visit to the bridge or a chat in the corridor, some will only do their job, and you never see them.
The other passengers are there for the same reason you are, to enjoy the tours, take advantage of the facilities on the cruise vessel, and meet other people. Thankfully, all of the people on our cruise are great, and although the age varies from mid-thirties to the late seventies, there is always a surprise as to how often there are common things to talk about and travel tales to share. This interaction with your fellow travellers and the crew (many of the crew have great tales to tell and personal lives that take them away from their families for months on end) can be a very rewarding aspect of any cruise, but always remember you are there to enjoy the people, culture and food of the countries you are visiting.
On this cruise most of the crew and waiting staff are Cambodian, so we practice our Cambodian “thank you”, “please”, and “hello” while bowing and bringing our palms together which is a traditional greeting of Cambodia and they gleefully accept our attempts.
We have an early night as we need to be awake at 4:00 am tomorrow.
Day 4 Cambodia and Vietnam
See The World