I've never had to keep a personal calendar before. In college, I had Gmail calendars for my classes and my extra curricular activities, but personal events just kind of happened. When I moved on to grad school, I had no friends so my calendar kind of looked like this:
Monday - gym
Tuesday - gym
Wednesday - gym
Thursday - gym
Friday - go to Penn State for friends and football
Nightlife in Shenyang was lively, but scheduled way in advance and spread throughout the calendar (monthly book club, dinner parties, road trips). Yes, there were times where I was shocked because I had to choose between one event or another, something you wouldn't expect in a 30-some American post in the desolate northeast. But all in all, I could keep things straight in my head.
I've had to start a personal calendar since arriving in DC. Who ever would have thought that after only two years I have more than a handful of solid friends looking to meet up over the week? Certainly not I!
Classes at FSI started on January 13 for me and although the daytime has been easy (simple certification and leadership courses before language classes start February 24), the evenings have been one get-together after another. I have friends/colleagues from Shenyang who are either in language training at FSI or back on desks at Main State, friends from my Orientation class who are transitioning to post or in training with me, and high school/college friends that I'm reconnecting with after joining the adult world. Nights like tonight (where I'm just sitting on the couch in front of my computer or reading a book) are super rare but I'm learning to schedule them in and treasure them greatly.
I'm also enjoying getting back to my workout schedule. The benefits of living in Arlington are MANY but one I'm super duper stoked about is the easy access to so many running trails. From my apartment, I am less than 5 minutes run from the Mt. Vernon trail, which runs up along the Potomac River with beautiful views of the Capitol monuments (Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, etc). Once I get my mileage and distance back up to par, I can also make my way over to Georgetown, the Mall, and the Jefferson Memorial (my favorite monument). Living in Shenyang and China in general gave me such a respect for clear air, good weather, and blue skies, all of which are here for the most part. I can't wait until the cherry blossoms start to bloom, just wait for the Instagram photo flood when that happens.
Tonight is the State of the Union address, where the President announces his thematic agenda for the upcoming year. In the past, I've paid attention to the STOU as a political science major and with general interest in the "state of the nation." But right now, after running in the District tonight with security on high, feeling the tension in the air, I really do feel a connection watching the address. There is a different feeling for me this year, being so close to the District and (finally!) so close to the start of something new. Looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Writing and Reuniting
Earlier today, I tried to sum up my home leave in one sentence for a colleague at FSI and found I couldn't do it. Mainly because words can't describe how nice it was to come back to the US and spend time with family. While I was traveling through Hawaii and Arizona, I took notes and wrote blog entries that I haven't published yet. They're rough and unfinished and have been preventing me from writing in here more often. I let the chronology get to me for fear of going back to edit posts, but tonight I really felt like writing.
I want to take a moment to write how happy I am. Life is grand at the moment and things couldn't be going smoother. This weekend, I transitioned from Philadelphia down to Arlington, VA to my new residence in downtown Rosslyn. First of all, let me tell you how stoked I am about that. All the worries melt away when you simply check in at the front desk and move into a fully-furnished apartment, just minutes from convenient groceries, restaurants, and public transportation. Not only that, but a free 10-minute shuttle to work? Yes, please.
The shift back to being a student was a bit of a windfall, primarily because I am so looking forward to starting Italian language courses but they don't start until the end of February. Until then, I am taking two- and three-day courses on topics like Excel, SharePoint, Coaching, Diversity Training, and of course: Covey's 7 Habits of Effective People. Reminds me of Villanova all over again! Useful courses but not the most thrilling of dialogue. In any case, walking the halls of FSI has been a blast, running into old friends from orientation and a few from China as well. Soon, I will have three colleagues from Shenyang with me in training, a real treasure to reunite with them in a better setting.
Upon reflection, I really lucked out. Two fabulous years in a hardship post that could have been difficult. Times were tough occasionally, but everyone I met and everything I did was so fantastic that it completely overcompensated for the hardships. I'm really thankful to have had the opportunity for such a great first tour experience. Looking forward, I am excited for all of the great opportunities that are still coming my way. Hopefully I'll check in again as classes continue to progress. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Hawaii - Oahu
PCS Transfer:
Shenyang -> Seoul -> Oahu -> Kauai -> Maui -> Phoenix -> Philadelphia
Departing Shenyang on such a high, I couldn't imagine anything better than the last 24 hours. But God has smiled down on me once again and proved that wrong. A trend that soon became the motto for my trip through Hawaii.
If you had twenty work days (or basically four weeks) of paid leave to do whatever you want with, what would you do? Armed with a set budget for flights and an open calendar, I thought pretty hard about that question when I was planning my PCS (permanent change of station) transfer. I cost constructed an itinerary that would have me stopping in Hawaii and Arizona for some adventures and sight-seeing.
Flying east from Shenyang, I figured I could stop in Oahu, Hawaii to visit my best friend and roommate from college, the Egyptian. A beautiful girl with an even more beautiful soul, she's been there for me through everything. After living together for four years, we have come to understand each other and balance out one another's quirks. Thankfully for me, she's currently stationed in Oahu with the Army as an ob/gyn doctor and was willing to have me come visit and stay with her. Super stoked, I made Hawaii my first destination.
I had never been to Hawaii before, so I really didn't know what to expect. In four days on Oahu, I saw the most breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, the most pristine white sand beaches, the lushest green mountain cliffs, and the clearest blue water I've ever seen in my life.
Aside from the beauty of Oahu, the atmosphere on this island has been my favorite. Known as "the gathering place," Oahu is home to Hawaii's capital Honolulu and the largest population out of the islands (although the big island of Hawaii is actually the largest in size). I visited downtown Honolulu, Waikiki, Hawaii Kai, and Kailua, on the windward coast where the Egyptian lives. Each with its own character, with Waikiki full of luxury shopping malls and fancy dining for the tourists, Hawaii Kai with its sprawling homes in the shadow of the Koko Head Crater, and Kailua, a hidden gem of a town with hands-down the best beach in all of Hawaii.
Knowing I had a limited amount of time on the island, I tried my best to pack as much as possible into my days. Here is my general itinerary and some photos to go along with it:
• Waikiki highrise sunset
• Kailua Beach sunrise and 7km run
• Breakfast at Cinnamon's
• Tailgating at Hawaii Stadium
• Dinner at Korean BBQ
• Boydo-In Japanese Temple
• Sand Island sunset
• Pali Lookout
• Mokapu'u Lighthouse hike
• Coffee Bean distributor
• Waikiki park and Honolulu sunset
• Pillboxes Trail hike
• Kailua Beach relaxing
Following all of this, I was able to steal the Egyptian away from work to go to Kauai and Maui for a bit of island hopping.
Shenyang -> Seoul -> Oahu -> Kauai -> Maui -> Phoenix -> Philadelphia
Departing Shenyang on such a high, I couldn't imagine anything better than the last 24 hours. But God has smiled down on me once again and proved that wrong. A trend that soon became the motto for my trip through Hawaii.
If you had twenty work days (or basically four weeks) of paid leave to do whatever you want with, what would you do? Armed with a set budget for flights and an open calendar, I thought pretty hard about that question when I was planning my PCS (permanent change of station) transfer. I cost constructed an itinerary that would have me stopping in Hawaii and Arizona for some adventures and sight-seeing.
Flying east from Shenyang, I figured I could stop in Oahu, Hawaii to visit my best friend and roommate from college, the Egyptian. A beautiful girl with an even more beautiful soul, she's been there for me through everything. After living together for four years, we have come to understand each other and balance out one another's quirks. Thankfully for me, she's currently stationed in Oahu with the Army as an ob/gyn doctor and was willing to have me come visit and stay with her. Super stoked, I made Hawaii my first destination.
Aside from the beauty of Oahu, the atmosphere on this island has been my favorite. Known as "the gathering place," Oahu is home to Hawaii's capital Honolulu and the largest population out of the islands (although the big island of Hawaii is actually the largest in size). I visited downtown Honolulu, Waikiki, Hawaii Kai, and Kailua, on the windward coast where the Egyptian lives. Each with its own character, with Waikiki full of luxury shopping malls and fancy dining for the tourists, Hawaii Kai with its sprawling homes in the shadow of the Koko Head Crater, and Kailua, a hidden gem of a town with hands-down the best beach in all of Hawaii.
Knowing I had a limited amount of time on the island, I tried my best to pack as much as possible into my days. Here is my general itinerary and some photos to go along with it:
• Waikiki highrise sunset
• Kailua Beach sunrise and 7km run
• Breakfast at Cinnamon's
• Tailgating at Hawaii Stadium
• Dinner at Korean BBQ
• Boydo-In Japanese Temple
• Sand Island sunset
• Pali Lookout
• Mokapu'u Lighthouse hike
• Coffee Bean distributor
• Waikiki park and Honolulu sunset
• Pillboxes Trail hike
• Kailua Beach relaxing
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| Boydo-In Temple |
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| Mokapu'u Lighthouse |
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| Waikiki Beach |
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| Pillboxes Hike panorama |
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thanksgiving Memories
Thanksgiving seems like both yesterday and ages ago, but for good reason. Yesterday because the entire day was filled with such wonderful memories; ages ago because the last seven days have been out of this world. But more on that in the next post. Now, to reflect a bit. Thanksgiving was my last day in Shenyang. My first tour of two years, culminating in my favorite holiday with a handful of the people I love. I planned it that way, of course. ;)
When I was scheduling my departure in my TMTWO itinerary, I had the option of leaving 30 days +/- my original arrival date at post. Since I arrived in Shenyang on November 30, 2011, I could leave as early as 11/1 or as late as 12/30. Departure dates are a negotiation between the losing post (Shenyang) and the gaining post (Rome), but because I am not going directly to Rome and instead going to training, my departure was a bit more flexible. My official Italian training starts in February, and I was able to schedule in about a month of other training before that to fill up the month of January. But there was no way that I was going to stay at post an extra month and miss the holidays with my family. Plus, I had to fit in my congressionally-required 20 work days of home leave. So that backs us up a bit to late November. Since I was planning to make a few stops en route to Philadelphia, I was faced with the decision of spending Thanksgiving on the road in an airport or spending it at home in Shenyang with family. Naturally, I chose the latter option.
Having already packed out 99% of my stuff, I felt a bit incapacitated as the day approached. R & P had offered to host an intimate Thanksgiving meal with six of my closest colleagues/friends. But without my pots, pans, and baking ingredients, how was I supposed to contribute to this fabulous meal? Thankfully, everyone opened up their apartments and their hearts to me, allowing me to mix my leftover ingredients with their pantries' and assist with the menu planning. What would I do without these people?
True to form, R & P came up with a fabulous lavender-infused brine and rub for the turkey, and planned out a multi-course meal that absolutely was one of the best. Evenings like this are the essence of living in Shenyang. In a place where luxury is often hard to come by, we have to find our own ways of enjoying the good life. Simple ingredients are often unavailable, and intricate meals take a good deal of planning. I hoarded a can of cream of mushroom soup for 4 months in preparation for the green bean casserole I made for this meal, knowing when I saw it randomly in the supermarket in Beijing that I might not see it in Shenyang in the weeks to come. Can't find your trusty can of French's Fried Onions? Thanks to the internet, I made my own crunchy, pan-fried onions. Grocery store doesn't sell sweet potatoes? How about buying them from that guy on the corner down the street who roasts them from his own garden in the countryside… In Shenyang, you've gotta be creative. That's what I love about this place. I'm proud to have survived and live the sweet life with these people.
Around about noon, I walked over to the Crowne to start cooking with R & P. R greeted me with fresh-squeezed orange juice (because he's an OJ snob and loves pulp) and champagne, with which we toasted the BFF via Skype. Without her here, Shenyang Thanksgiving isn't fully complete. However, by videoconferencing her in, it felt a little better. I'll copy the full menu below, but my contributions were as follows: - green bean casserole with fried onions - rosemary roasted butternut squash with pine nuts - pumpkin spice frosted cupcakes
Thanks to everyone for letting me use their casserole pans, cookie sheets, cupcake tins, and pantry items; it was a great success because I had your help. Cooking my last meal in Shenyang with my best friends was a huge treat for me. Not only was I doing the thing I love best in the house (baking/cooking), but I was doing it with the people love and that made it super special.
Nomming our way through the afternoon, we team-efforted dinner to completion around 5:00pm and ate right on time. Everything, was absolutely delicious. Like I mentioned above that it takes a bit more preparation and planning to put on a great meal, the hard work makes it that much tastier. Whether its the recipes, the chefs, or that extra ingredient of hard work, the meal tasted divine. I had a moment of bliss as I sat there and looked around, the wasabi/pear-apple cranberry sauce dripping over my garlic mashed potatoes, listening to these wonderful people compliment and describe what they were eating in the most genuine of ways. Perfection!
After dinner, we had a dessert intermission with some hooting: guitars and ukeleles were brought out and the classics were sung. "Shenyang, Shenyang" and "Don't Stop Believing," the two local anthems. Although this time, there was a twist. Just as Ms. M had prepared a song for J upon his departure, she fashioned a song for me to that famous Journey song (lyrics below). Almost in tears, I couldn't imagine anything better, but of course that wasn't the end of it. P had one-upped herself in creating a departing scene with Photoshop to help commemorate my first tour and my time in Shenyang (picture below). Needless to say, I was floored. Perhaps the humor doesn't translate over the internet, but these two items mean more to me than words can describe. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to serve here, in this cold town, with these awesome people.
.jpg)
This year, I am thankful for so much. For my family, who is patiently waiting for my return home and with which I will get to spend the holidays. For my friends, old and new, who support me through this crazy life by being there for me in person and digitally. For my career, which has granted me endless opportunities to learn, travel, and explore this grand earth. And for my health, without which none of this is possible.
When I was scheduling my departure in my TMTWO itinerary, I had the option of leaving 30 days +/- my original arrival date at post. Since I arrived in Shenyang on November 30, 2011, I could leave as early as 11/1 or as late as 12/30. Departure dates are a negotiation between the losing post (Shenyang) and the gaining post (Rome), but because I am not going directly to Rome and instead going to training, my departure was a bit more flexible. My official Italian training starts in February, and I was able to schedule in about a month of other training before that to fill up the month of January. But there was no way that I was going to stay at post an extra month and miss the holidays with my family. Plus, I had to fit in my congressionally-required 20 work days of home leave. So that backs us up a bit to late November. Since I was planning to make a few stops en route to Philadelphia, I was faced with the decision of spending Thanksgiving on the road in an airport or spending it at home in Shenyang with family. Naturally, I chose the latter option.
Having already packed out 99% of my stuff, I felt a bit incapacitated as the day approached. R & P had offered to host an intimate Thanksgiving meal with six of my closest colleagues/friends. But without my pots, pans, and baking ingredients, how was I supposed to contribute to this fabulous meal? Thankfully, everyone opened up their apartments and their hearts to me, allowing me to mix my leftover ingredients with their pantries' and assist with the menu planning. What would I do without these people?
True to form, R & P came up with a fabulous lavender-infused brine and rub for the turkey, and planned out a multi-course meal that absolutely was one of the best. Evenings like this are the essence of living in Shenyang. In a place where luxury is often hard to come by, we have to find our own ways of enjoying the good life. Simple ingredients are often unavailable, and intricate meals take a good deal of planning. I hoarded a can of cream of mushroom soup for 4 months in preparation for the green bean casserole I made for this meal, knowing when I saw it randomly in the supermarket in Beijing that I might not see it in Shenyang in the weeks to come. Can't find your trusty can of French's Fried Onions? Thanks to the internet, I made my own crunchy, pan-fried onions. Grocery store doesn't sell sweet potatoes? How about buying them from that guy on the corner down the street who roasts them from his own garden in the countryside… In Shenyang, you've gotta be creative. That's what I love about this place. I'm proud to have survived and live the sweet life with these people.
Around about noon, I walked over to the Crowne to start cooking with R & P. R greeted me with fresh-squeezed orange juice (because he's an OJ snob and loves pulp) and champagne, with which we toasted the BFF via Skype. Without her here, Shenyang Thanksgiving isn't fully complete. However, by videoconferencing her in, it felt a little better. I'll copy the full menu below, but my contributions were as follows: - green bean casserole with fried onions - rosemary roasted butternut squash with pine nuts - pumpkin spice frosted cupcakes
Thanks to everyone for letting me use their casserole pans, cookie sheets, cupcake tins, and pantry items; it was a great success because I had your help. Cooking my last meal in Shenyang with my best friends was a huge treat for me. Not only was I doing the thing I love best in the house (baking/cooking), but I was doing it with the people love and that made it super special.
Nomming our way through the afternoon, we team-efforted dinner to completion around 5:00pm and ate right on time. Everything, was absolutely delicious. Like I mentioned above that it takes a bit more preparation and planning to put on a great meal, the hard work makes it that much tastier. Whether its the recipes, the chefs, or that extra ingredient of hard work, the meal tasted divine. I had a moment of bliss as I sat there and looked around, the wasabi/pear-apple cranberry sauce dripping over my garlic mashed potatoes, listening to these wonderful people compliment and describe what they were eating in the most genuine of ways. Perfection!
After dinner, we had a dessert intermission with some hooting: guitars and ukeleles were brought out and the classics were sung. "Shenyang, Shenyang" and "Don't Stop Believing," the two local anthems. Although this time, there was a twist. Just as Ms. M had prepared a song for J upon his departure, she fashioned a song for me to that famous Journey song (lyrics below). Almost in tears, I couldn't imagine anything better, but of course that wasn't the end of it. P had one-upped herself in creating a departing scene with Photoshop to help commemorate my first tour and my time in Shenyang (picture below). Needless to say, I was floored. Perhaps the humor doesn't translate over the internet, but these two items mean more to me than words can describe. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to serve here, in this cold town, with these awesome people.
.jpg)
This year, I am thankful for so much. For my family, who is patiently waiting for my return home and with which I will get to spend the holidays. For my friends, old and new, who support me through this crazy life by being there for me in person and digitally. For my career, which has granted me endless opportunities to learn, travel, and explore this grand earth. And for my health, without which none of this is possible.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Packout and China Familiarity
Packing out this time was much easier than my first experience almost two and half years ago. Now I know what I need to have with me when I am at FSI and what I can say goodbye to for another eight months until I get to Rome. Thankfully, I underestimated the size of my UAB (unaccompanied air baggage) and was pleasantly surprised when the packer coordinator asked if I wanted to add anything else, since I had about 100lbs more. Yes, please! I'll add some more baking supplies, shoes and clothes! The rest of everything else is non-essential, like my books and decorations. I shipped the leftovers of my consumables via HHE (house-hold effects) since in Rosslyn I'll be able to get anything I want at the local stores.
All in all, 37 boxes later, I felt a wave of relief. There's nothing like saying goodbye to ALL OF YOUR STUFF and being as light as two suitcases and a backpack. I'll probably also ship some personal boxes by mail with my spices and my winter coat, since although I won't need a coat in Hawaii, I will need one when I get back to Philadelphia later in December. The packout process also allowed me to pair down a good deal of junk. I donated a few bags of clothes to the consulate staff as well as about 25 pairs of shoes (about 1/3 of my shoe collection). Some things should have been given away before I left for Shenyang, but ended up collecting two years of dust instead. Thankfully, now much of the excess has been given to others who could use it.
Pulling out clothes and packing my suitcase for three climates was slightly tricky, given that I will be in hot, tropical weather in Hawaii, cool and windy weather in Phoenix, and then cold and wintry mix in Philadelphia. But amazingly I did it! Only packed about 12 pairs of shoes, so that's actually not too bad. ;)
Leaving China hasn't really sunk in yet either. I've spent almost my entire educational life and most of my career focused on this country, so transitioning to an Italian mindset will be a challenge. I've talked with other officers who also come from an Asian-studies background and they agree. After a tour in China, being comfortable with the culture and language and history, moving to a new country, climate and locale can be intimidating. But also refreshing for a lifetime student like myself. I'm kind of nerding out about the idea of going back to school full time to study a language. What other career can you get paid for studying Italian as part of your job (and then go live in Italy)? Not many...
As the days tick down, I have a few more things to do: final going-out night in Shenyang, Chinese food tour around town, and an intimate farewell Thanksgiving with friends. I'm looking forward to all of it and catching up with people before I head out. On the horizon after that?? Sunrises, sunsets, and scenery in paradise....
Friday, November 1, 2013
A Dongbei Halloween
Life has been crazy for me these last two months. October was a WHIRLWIND and as November starts, I have entered my LAST MONTH in Shenyang. Who could believe it? Certainly not me.
Autumn is my favorite season, both at home and in Shenyang. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time in both, for better or worse. After a great trip to Changbaishan in September, I had a quick trip back to PA to spend time with my family. Upon returning, I jetsetted off to Cambodia for absolutely the best trip of my life to date. The pictures don't do the country justice, but I'd go back in a heartbeat for another chance to explore that lush, green jungle. After Cambodia, the ball really started rolling at the Consulate and work was crazy.
With a new batch of colleagues and friends, the pace and the tone of the Consulate has changed completely. And naturally so. I enjoy seeing the difference in how people work, and as R so eloquently put it one day, it shows that everyone can succeed in the Foreign Service. Whether you are outgoing and charismatic, introverted and focused, or somewhere in between, I have seen people of all categories get to the top levels of the FS and come out on top. I like that kind of flexibility and the promise that I can fit in somewhere too.
To celebrate this wonderful season of new beginnings and things to be thankful for, M hosted the most fabulous Monster Mash and Birthday Bash ever. I enjoyed prepping for this Halloween party immensely. At the last minute, I changed my costume for this particular event. With an idea in mind, I went all out after being inspired by a local Dongbeiren. For those of you who don't know, I live in the part of China known as the Dongbei 东北 which means literally east north, or northeastern China. Dongbeiren, or dongbei people, are a hearty breed of Chinese with some fashion sense that could be described as... all or nothing.
Whether it is glittery and rhinestoned skull t-shirts, studded and spiked platform chunky boots, 1/2" thick nude tights with leather shorts, or copious amounts of cat print, anything goes as long as it's all out (bonus points for matching with your significant other). Once I knew what I had in mind, I couldn't stop seeing potential outfit essentials everywhere. I was shocked at every corner because I wanted to buy just ONE MORE THING to make an essential set. As the party drew near, I had finally assembled the entire outfit, much to my satisfaction.
From the shoes to the glasses and contact lenses, everything I wore on Halloween was cat print. Everything. Even my fuzzy, gem bedazzled, glittery purse. The problem? When I went to the club, no one knew I was in costume!!! Oh China! Shenyang wins again!!
Autumn is my favorite season, both at home and in Shenyang. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time in both, for better or worse. After a great trip to Changbaishan in September, I had a quick trip back to PA to spend time with my family. Upon returning, I jetsetted off to Cambodia for absolutely the best trip of my life to date. The pictures don't do the country justice, but I'd go back in a heartbeat for another chance to explore that lush, green jungle. After Cambodia, the ball really started rolling at the Consulate and work was crazy.
With a new batch of colleagues and friends, the pace and the tone of the Consulate has changed completely. And naturally so. I enjoy seeing the difference in how people work, and as R so eloquently put it one day, it shows that everyone can succeed in the Foreign Service. Whether you are outgoing and charismatic, introverted and focused, or somewhere in between, I have seen people of all categories get to the top levels of the FS and come out on top. I like that kind of flexibility and the promise that I can fit in somewhere too.
To celebrate this wonderful season of new beginnings and things to be thankful for, M hosted the most fabulous Monster Mash and Birthday Bash ever. I enjoyed prepping for this Halloween party immensely. At the last minute, I changed my costume for this particular event. With an idea in mind, I went all out after being inspired by a local Dongbeiren. For those of you who don't know, I live in the part of China known as the Dongbei 东北 which means literally east north, or northeastern China. Dongbeiren, or dongbei people, are a hearty breed of Chinese with some fashion sense that could be described as... all or nothing.
Whether it is glittery and rhinestoned skull t-shirts, studded and spiked platform chunky boots, 1/2" thick nude tights with leather shorts, or copious amounts of cat print, anything goes as long as it's all out (bonus points for matching with your significant other). Once I knew what I had in mind, I couldn't stop seeing potential outfit essentials everywhere. I was shocked at every corner because I wanted to buy just ONE MORE THING to make an essential set. As the party drew near, I had finally assembled the entire outfit, much to my satisfaction.
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| 2D and 3D Dongbei Cat Print!!! |
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| Un-ironic local Dongbeiren at the club |
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Cambodia: Siem Reap (Day 7)
Itinerary
- Run along the Siem Reap River
- Mani/pedi at Frangipani Spa
- Lunch at the Foreign Correspondents' Club
- Shopping at McDermott's Gallery
- Pool lounging + nap
- THREE HOUR MASSAGE
- Dinner
- Airport + red-eye flight
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| The engorged Siem Reap River after 5 consecutive days of rain |
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| Mani-pedi at Frangipani Spa that started with an awesome foot massage |
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| Lounge by the pool, with sun on the last day of the trip |
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