My Family in Cambodia

My sisters and I wanted to go to Phnom Penh with all of the kids to meet my Dad's younger sister (his only sibling) and her family - and to learn/appreciate the struggles in Cambodia and our family's history.  We chose to stay at Queen Mansion Hotel because it is a 3 minute walk from my Aunt's house, and 6 minute walk to the Russian market.

In the morning after we arrived, some of my cousins met us at our hotel and we went for Cambodian noodle soup, and then visited my cousin's auto parts shop at the Russian market.  She sent us home with 5 kg of delicious mangosteens which we happily devoured :)  

In the evening (after work and school for their kids), we met at my Aunt and Uncle's house.  She is adorable and looks like my Dad with longer hair!  

My cousins warned us that the elderly folks likely wouldn't join us for dinner since my Aunt is not very mobile... but she did!  She said she her heart was beating so hard (which worried me at first...) and with such happiness that she had the energy to join us 🥰.  All 28 of us went for dinner at Master Suki Soup (hot pot restaurant) at the new Japanese built Aeon Mall.  This mall was over the top fancy and puts Yorkdale Mall to shame!  It was a shocking juxtaposition to the poverty we witnessed in other parts of Cambodia. 

For dessert, my family had brought like 10 kg of fresh durian meat to enjoy at the restaurant.  They were delighted (or was it shock and awe?) to see Eric in his glory.

I have seven first cousins on my Dad's side.  Eric and I met some of them during our visit in 2006.  This time we were able to meet four of them in person and had videocalls with two others who live in Sweden and Thailand (one lives in California and we met him when he visited Philadelphia years ago).  We videocalled my Dad so that we were all together.  One cousin had driven 8 hours from Poipet with her husband to meet us!  Thanks to my cousin's kids (especially Linda and Neat) we had English/Khmer translators who helped us communicate, plan, and figure out transportation for our mob!  It was an absolute honour and a very special day to meet and visit with everyone.