Our Final Dinner in Siem Reap

Who would have imagined that our friend Chanra wanted to go out for Japanese food. But that's exactly what he craved. He and his family had never eaten Japanese food.

At 7PM he showed up at our hotel on a motorbike with his father on the back (holding his crutches up in the air). On an accompanying tuk-tuk was his mother, younger sister, and an older sister with her four year old son. Caren and I jumped into another tuk-tuk and off we went.
So....here is an unusual sight. A party of eight walking into a Japanese restaurant in downtown Siem Reap, Cambodia, and the two Americans ordering Japanese food for the Cambodians. The only other people eating in the restaurant were Japanese.

We ordered a huge plate of sashimi, miso soup, edamame, three different plates of sushi rolls, a couple of plates of tempura, tokatsu (pork cutlets), rice, and several plates of yakitori. And of course, Asahi beer. Everyone loved it. Chanra's father really liked the wasabi mixed in his soy sauce.

I thought he'd burn the roof of his mouth, but he just lapped it up.

After the Japanese food, we headed for an ice cream shop a few miles away (motorbike and two tuk-tuks in caravan). Everyone had ice cream for dessert. I think Chanra's family felt it was a real treat and they had a great time.


You never know if you'll see someone again. We'll miss Chanra, but I think he is a real entrepreneur and will do well. His dream is to come to the U.S. for 5 years and then return to Cambodia. We tried to explain to him how difficult and expensive it is to live in the U.S., but it is good that he has a dream.

His company is doing well. He has formed a partnership with four other guys, but he specializes in the bicycle tours. The company is Green Elephant Travel.

He has a large group of Swiss tourists coming in on Friday for 10 days of bicycling around Cambodia. He has several more good bookings for December.

If you know anyone who wants to visit Cambodia, cycling or not, they should contact Chanra.