DAY 72 - WELCOME TO SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA

Fantastic Dinner At Prego Last Evening ✔  Enjoyed The Volunteer Excursion Another Wonderful Dinner At Prego Last Evening ✔ Enjoyed Helping Out At The Orphanage In Sihanoukville, Cambodia✔

While we dined at Prego last evening we wanted to post the Crystal Dining Room menus from last evenings dinner.  As you will note, the theme was Dinner with Thai Specialties and those items are duly marked with the words "Local Influence".  The same was true for yesterday's Luncheon Menu.  People ask us if Crystal changes up the menu from segment to segment on the World Cruise in the Crystal Dining Room and this is one of the examples where they do and where they tailor some of the food items to the local area we are sailing.  At the same time, they will offer those dinner entrees that guests are accustomed to see when they sail with Crystal Cruises.

Before dinner we listened to Pianist John Mentis perform in the Crystal Cove.  Last evening was "Orange" night for us.

Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and most importantly our dining experience at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant last evening.  We have to say that whenever we dine at Prego it's as if we are dining at a restaurant in Europe between the European Dining Staff, the ambiance of the dining room as well as the cuisine that is served.  On top of that it just has the feel of dining at a small restaurant in your own home town that you might visit regularly where you know the staff and they know you.  All of this truly adds to the dining experience.

When we arrived to Prego we were seated by Antonino who is the Specialty Restaurant Maitre d'.  His responsibilities include Prego, Silk Road, the Lido Cafe and all of the special buffets that take place on the Lido Deck for lunch as well as any themed buffet that might be served in the evening.  We chatted for awhile.  A few minutes later Headwaiter Bruno came by to check on us.

Our Waiter for the evening was Costa and he was assisted by Waiter Petra and Assistant Waiter Marina.  In Prego the waitstaff truly works as teams so there are times that Costa is assisted by another waiter such as Petra and there are other times that Costa is assisting another Waiter.   There were not many people dining in Prego while we were there so it was very quiet and all of this added to the overall ambiance.

After we were seated, Antonio opened up the drapes for us and we enjoyed nice views of our sail away and the sunset.

This is one of the new bags that Anne Marie got at Jim Thompson in Bangkok.

We each began our meals with salads and the highlight of the meal was the additional seafood entree which was Turbot accompanied by Butternut Squash, Potato Puree, along with Asparagus and Tomatoes.  Yes, this was a wow entree as are so many of the additional seafood entrees created on board the ship by Prego Executive Chef  Christian.  Later in the evening, Christian came by our table and we complemented him on another outstanding entree.  The fish was not only cooked to perfection it was enhanced by the Puree along with the vegetables which accompanied this entree.

For dessert, Anne Marie had a small scoop of Gelato and Keith had the Fruit Plate.

Our meal was also enhanced by the selection of wine.  As we have done the last several times at Prego we spoke with Sommelier, Christian, about our entree selection and had him choose the wine.  He has selected some very nice wines for us and it is giving us an opportunity to try a wider range of wines than we normally do.  We told him our preference for red wine and he selected a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Avignonesi wine.  This was one of those wines that got better after it breathed for about fifteen minutes.

We slept very well last evening as we sailed from Thailand over to Sihanoukville, Cambodia.  The seas were relatively calm.

Keith woke up early and worked out in the Fitness Center.  He worked out on the Elliptical Machine and then lifted some weights.  Afterwards, he stopped by the Lido Cafe for a cup of coffee.

Anne Marie skipped her morning workout since we had an early shore excursion and we were having breakfast earlier than we normally do.

Rao brought breakfast to our room and we chatted with him for a few minutes as he had other guests also having an early breakfast given all of today's tours.

This was our first visit to Sihanoukville.  While many guests are taking tours of the nearby area, ninety guests were leaving the ship today for a two night/three day visit to Angkor Wat that was booked through Crystal Cruises Land Programs.  On top of that other guests such as, Bob and Glo, are taking private tours of Angkor Wat which beyond the 90 taking the Crystal Cruises tour.

We took part in one of Crystal's Volunteer Programs that are part of Crystal's "You care.  We care." Program.  This program involved a visit to an orphanage.  We were transferred from the pier to the Orphanage of Sihanoukville Province which is a long standing facility that shelters children in need of a home.  It was formed in 1992 and had the support of the Cambodian Government.  The drive took about 10 to 15 minutes each way.



We had a local tour guide whose English was good.  The children and the school administrator and others at the school didn't speak English but we were able to communicate with them with the help of the tour guide.

When we arrived to the orphanage, we gave the administrator a bag containing lots of coloring books and crayons that we had carried with us all the way from home for the children. A few other people brought similar items or chocolates or other candy for the children.

We assisted by helping them tilling the dirt so that they could plant peanuts and other items as part of their garden.

We also showed them how to dance and sing by doing the Hokie Pokie (we both participated with them) and singing and dancing to the Farmer and the Dell which Anne Marie participated in. The tour guide did translations so the children knew the names of the farm animals.

Later the children performed for us and then at one point there was folk dance and Keith was one of a few guests and the only male passenger to dance along with the children.

While we couldn't understand each other we brought smiles to the children's faces as they did to our faces.  It was nice to see some of our fellow passengers play with them as we did.

There were 26 guests on the tour.

One of the most touching moments came from a couple who we coincidentally met in Prego last evening.  The man was taking photos with a camera that was very similar to a Polaroid Camera but instead is one that is made by Fuji.  Once he took the photo, it came out after one minute and he took several of the children's photos and then handed it to them.  The children held tightly to their respective photos and it was very touching and brought a tear to our eyes.

The reality is that education at this facility is quite limited as it is in the country but the children seemed very happy and looked healthy.

When we first arrived to the facility some of the children were waiting for us.

As Keith took photos of each child today, he would let them view the photo on the camera.  Smiles would come to their faces.

Anne Marie was dancing and singing to the rhyme about the "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

One of several "Cutie Pies"

This photos was taken in one of the three classrooms with small wooden desks.  It sort of reminds one of small towns in the United States in the 1940's.

World Cruiser Emma with one of the adorable orphans and Emma's Dad, Brian in the second row.

When we walked into any of the buildings the children removed their shoes and let them outside.

The older children performed for us.

Keith participated in the folk dancing and that is fellow World Cruise, Heather, in the photo.

Towards the end of our visit we were brought down to a room where we could shop and purchase items made at the orphanage which we and many others did as a means of giving a donation to the school.

All and all it was a good day.

Once back on the ship we enjoyed salad entrees for lunch.

Anne Marie worked out for an hour in the afternoon.  Keith played paddle tennis with some fellow passengers and crew members.

This evening we will be back in the Crystal Dining Room for dinner.


TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.......

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.” - Robert Frost

Keith and Anne Marie