Flight connections

Expanding the travel options in Cambodia and once again, reconnecting the south coast with the popular tourist destination of Siem Reap, Siem Reap Airways have announced plans to launch a new route from 13 October (two days before my birthday, please note), connecting Siem Reap and Sihanoukville with four flights a week, leaving on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. This will allow travelers to kick-off their tour at Angkor, take a beach-break wth side-trips to Kampot and Kep before a city tour of the capital to round off their visit to the kingdom. Obviously, there's lots of other places to visit in Cambodia but at least the resurrection of this route will increase the options and reduce travel times. However, there is still no news on re-starting regular flights to the northeast provinces of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri. At the same time, fuel surcharges have been added to the cost of flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

Back in Phnom Penh, my own resurrected football-playing career is starting very slowly. Severe blisters on the soles of my feet after my first training session under tennis court floodlights put me out of action for a week and after last night's session, I've picked up a groin strain that could keep me out of playing my first game for Bayon Wanderers on Sunday afternoon! I will make a decision on whether to risk it just before the 2pm kick off time. Bayon are a team of ex-pats here in the city - though Khmers are welcome to join - and they usually manage to field two teams every weekend for friendly matches against local teams. I've just realized that my last competitive game was in April 2001, so no wonder my body is telling me to take it easy - I didn't appreciate that its been 7 years since I last kicked a ball in anger.