DAY 12 To Cambodia?…Errrr, No

Some thinking to do at this point. Do we stay in these luxurious surroundings for a few more days then cut our holiday short, or, do we carry on in the absence of official restrictions but run the risk of lockdown and stranding in Cambodia?

View from the breakfast table this morning

It seems that each country is responding according to their Health Service situation, the dispersal of population and style of government. The Australians are all trying to get home, the Americans are sitting it out. Europeans are a bit stuck because most countries are not allowing entrance to anyone who has been to the bigger European countries. Apart from UK. We seem to be still on the ok list.

Information is pretty good from Trailfinders, UK GOV and International Air Travel Assoc websites regarding the global situation. Local information is perversley harder to come by as natural tourist haunts take decisions on the day about opening or closing.

Mrs M is, understandably concerned (and I share) about being trapped in Cambodia with perhaps 3rd rate facilities

In the absence of any official No Go, we will go to Cambodia and take it from there. The next hotel looks to be as well appointed as our current accommodation, and from that point of view easy to self isolate there!

12.47 : This evening’s 18.40 flights to Siem Reap cancelled. No direct flights tomorrow.

14.00 : Booked on tomorrow’s 06.00 flight to Ho Chi Minh, 12.30 HCM to Siem Reap. 04.15 pickup.

15.04 First flight time changed to 08.00. Pick up 06.00. Yaaay☺

All schools in Vietnam and Cambodia closing. Angkor Wat still open.

16.00 Happy Hour! 😆

In parliament, Dominic Raab advises (for the first time ever, apparently) that UK citizens abroad should not make any non essential travel movements. I think this is the spanner in the works now.

Email Trailfinders for advice.

Missed call from them whilst we were having dinner – frustrating!

Trailfinders phoned our room and after some discussion it became clear that with such a rapidly evolving situation, continuing the trip could potentially place us in difficulties from which repatriation would be a challenge.

Airlines are flying with reduced numbers of passengers and are therefore cutting flights to remain viable. As the number of available seats dwindles, choices dwindle too. Countries are closing borders at short notice and in some cases, declaring states of emergency. The number of Covid cases is rising in Europe and we are sure that the contagion of wee beastie and panic will spread to Asia.

Whilst genuinely disappointing, and on the back of official advice, we cancel the remainder of the holiday and secure flights with Singapore Airways from Da Nang to Manchester via Singapore, leaving this Saturday.