My birthday swung round AGAIN this month - the third birthday I have suffered in Cambodia! Ha ha! The last two birthdays have really been ones to remember, both mainly involving boats and beer! So this year, as I turned 31, I decided to do something a little more refined and booked myself into a wonderful spa in Siam Reap.
The day started in Phnom Srok where I met Daney and Vuthang for a typically Khmer breakfast of noodles and pork - yummy!
I then bundled into a taxi, along with 5 other passengers (not including the driver!) and set off to Siam Reap. I managed to get a dip in the hotel swimming pool before meeting Elise for a poolside lunch and birthday cocktail - I definitely won't be able to recreate that in London! 
Then I took myself off to Visaya Spa - it was bliss - and probably something I may never get the chance to do again on my birthday. Accustomed to finding a bargain, my birthday was no exception and I managed to find a spa which allowed me to use the Herbal Steam Room, swimming pool and jacuzzi for free as well as my back and shoulder massage! The massage was the best I've had in Cambodia and I had all the facilities pretty much to myself! As I sat sweating in the Steam Room, it did occur to me how ludicrous it was to do such a thing in this tropical climate and I wondered what on earth the spa attendants thought of a barang paying to use a room which filled up with hot steam! - pretty stupid I'm guessing! I mean, you can experience the same effect sat on the side of the road in the heat of the day here! I guess the difference is the feeling of being CLEAN! I did feel like I'd experienced a deep cleanse - what a birthday present!
The day continued along the same vein of special treats; meeting friends poolside, opening gifts and eating a gorgeous dinner in the evening. My post even got delivered to Siam Reap (albeit a day late!) so I could open Percy Pigs to my heart's content wile sat in the beautiful garden of the hotel and some of us managed a midnight skinny dip to finish off the day!
Thanks to everyone for messages, cards and pressies! I cannot tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing you all again in a few months!
