Thankful. (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Traveling on Thanksgiving in Thailand and arriving in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I usually spend Thanksgiving over an oven. Dressing the turkey, mashing the potatoes, casseroling the green beans. It’s my favorite meal and one of those things I shared with my dad over the years as we both worked in the kitchen all day. It was one of those things I took over on my own the last couple of years. It was poor planning on my part that had me spending Thanksgiving traveling all day in preparation to meet my friend Corey in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

For my Thanksgiving in Thailand, I took two mini buses and two ferries. From Koh Lanta back to Phuket. Alone. Getting back to a city that I didn’t much care for just to sleep. Eating potato chips and a Snickers bar from the 7-11 next door for dinner because I didn’t really feel like venturing out into a strange part of the island. Going to bed at 8pm so I could wake up semi-comfortably at 3:30am.

If I had been more thoughtful I could have spent my Thanksgiving in Thailand, well, somewhere else. Somewhere with a good hostel where I might have found another American or two. Or at least have had it not been my last lazy night in Thailand.

Oh well.

I took my 7am flight from Phuket to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with a three hour layover in Bangkok. I got in tired and luckily with a little American money still tucked away in my wallet. For $2 I, along with my backpack, purse, and messenger bag could have taken a motorcycle to my hotel. I opted to take a $7 car.

It’s weird to be spending American money again. But it makes the conversion rate so much easier for my budget.

I arrived at my guesthouse and was greeted with a mint-scented towel and fizzy drink as I waited for my online friend Corey to get there.

When he arrived, and we finally met in person, we hit the town, exploring the streets and the markets, getting some ice cream. Getting $2 dinners at the night market.

We spent the night at a Siem Reap bar getting cocktails, $4 each but 2 for 1 (so, of course, I ordered 2…), picking out attractive men.

And being thankful to not have to always travel this big world alone.

Photos from Siem Reap, Cambodia: