I'm sensing a theme here - 10 November 2008

If you're a long-time reader, you may remember that we were in Beijing during a week-long national holiday (so we didn't get to see Mao).

After Siem Reap we decided to head to Phnom Penh, but we didn't arrange a hotel ahead of time.  When we got there we went to the hotel desk at the airport and asked for a room - but there weren't many to be had.  We ended up at the Hotel Castle (yes, I can confirm that it offers "Confort and Hospitality").

That night, there were fireworks, and when we went to visit the LP-recommended dinner spot we found it closed.  Plus, there were a lot of people about.  Turns out we were visiting during Bon Om Thook, a celebration of the reversal of the Tonle Sap river.  Plus, we're close to Cambodian independence day, so we managed to inadvertently score a two-fer.  Yep, according to LP up to 2 million people visit the capital to celebrate the festival.

The next day all of the roads around the hotel were blocked off for the festival, and the Tuk-Tuk drivers had to cajole the cops into letting us through.  Good Times!