It is a short and east flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap, but it meant a world of difference to me.  I fell in love with Cambodia five years ago — almost to the day.  And as I touched down onto Cambodian soil, I knew that love was really still there.  How and why these attachments grow, I couldn’t tell you.  But they do, and this one not only did, but is still going strong.  The last time I was here I arrived by coach. There was an airport then, but the one I arrived in is new and beautiful — dark wooden low-lying buildings, statuary and air conditioning!

The late afternoon was spent acclimating myself to the new hotel. As far as the entire staff goes,  my name seems to be Mrs. Susan.  I think I like it.  The director of Anjali House came by to greet me and go over the plans for the week of classes and the setting up of the new ongoing Writing Workshop.  This is, of course, the main purpose of the tour and the real reason why I’m here.  Yes, I’m trying to sell books and raise money.  And of course I want to see sights, meet new people, and eat tropical fruit all day (jack fruit, mangoes, papayas, passion fruit, tiny bananas, ugly fruit, and all sorts of other things with names I’ve forgotten).  But this new ongoing workshop where, via the wonders of the internet, Khmer children and UK writers can continue a joint artistic dialogue, is for me, the main event.  But more on that over the next few days.  Right now,  I thought I’d take you for a tuk tuk ride through the streets of Siem Reap.