THE BIG DAY
IT'S OVER THREE DAYS

17 – 19 JANUARY 2016
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
 

It will be exotic. Charmingly chaotic. With chanting. Fancy dress. Very proud parents. You. 300 others. The world’s most amazing woman. And a kiwi. (Stamina advised).

THREE JOURNEYS
TO CHOOSE FROM

For you to make the most of your journey, we've sampled, then carefully chosen and settled airfares, hotels, transfers and feasts.

- 1 -
The Event

- 2 -
The Event & Temples

- 3 -
The Event & Temples & Beach

PLAN

Jan 15–20: The Event - Details earlier.
Jan 20–24: Siem Reap - Dinner party, temples & street food.
Jan 24: Return home, or continue on your journey ...

PRICE 

Single: $3000 pp.
Couple: $2600 pp.
Child: $2100 pp.
Infant: $270 pp.

INCLUDES

The Event: Details earlier.
Airfare: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.
Transport: Airport transfers x 2.
Hotel: 4 nights at Lynnaya Hotel.
Activity: Dinner party on night of arrival.

PLAN

Jan 15–24: The Event & Temples - Details earlier.
Jan 24–29: Otres Beach - Dinner party, a lazy sea breeze & seafood.
Jan 29: Phnom Penh to Singapore to Auckland.

PRICE 

Single: $4000 pp.
Couple: $3300 pp.
Child: $2300 pp.
Infant: $350 pp.

INCLUDEs

The Event & Temples: Details earlier.
Airfare: Siem Reap to Sihanoukville.  
Transport: Airport transfers x 2.
Hotel: 5 nights at Ren Resort.
Activity: Dinner party on night of arrival.     

GET THE LATEST HERE

the official photos

From 3,843 photos, here are the better 276.

Photo book 1 tells the chronological story, featuring family. Photo book 2 includes you and everyone.

Viewing tips - you do not need a Dropbox account to view these photos, just click the 'X' at top right of any pop up; to go full screen click 'Options / Hide comments' at top right of screen; to enlarge & view HD click on the photos. 

AND NOW FOR THE MEMORIES

Here's the first of some video. Go full screen HD and pump up the sound ...

IT IS ... the final countdown

We can't wait to see you arrive here over the next few days!

When you land you can buy a SIM here for US$5 + US$1 per 4G GB of data.

God bless. Good luck. It's time to turn it up to 11 folks.

Love.

Derek & Nita

Where to eat

First things first. Your breakfast is included at all of your hotels, but don't let that stop you from venturing.

But if you want to go your entire trip completely risk free of potential illness and / or you can't be bothered thinking about food and want to focus your planning time on your activities, this is a great guide for you.

We highly recommend the tested local eateries that are the complete experience. (Yes, it's quite normal for the floor / ground to be covered in tissues).

In any event, all these spots are worth the visit, not least for the journey to get there (and back) which will take you past lots of local stuff.

PHNOM PENH

You are staying right in between two of the best full blown restaurants in the city, less than 5 minutes walk on the same side of road as your hotel ... Malis and Topaz. Although serving local cuisine, you'd hardly call them local. But if you wish to relax, these are for you.

And for all day breakfasts from all around the world and excellent salads, Will's is 5 mins walk also.

But for one of the better local meals you might have, nice and simple, near sugar free, right next to a rubbish pile, is David's Noodle. An easy way to break into some of the local eats with complete safety.

Also head to Artillery (lovely little alley way with a couple of other bar/restaurants),  The Lemon Tree (7 mins walk from your hotel, along a wonderful alley way with a number of cute little restaurants and tiny bars), The Corn (a vegetarian place hidden down a pathway off the park) and Ngon (a treed airy place next to the park for lunch).

If none of those are for you, also try Domrei, Feel Good, Friends & Mok Mony.

Btw, on the day of your arrival we're booked to eat at Romdeng - a lovely way to start with some local foods in a French colonial building. And the day after the big event, we're all booked to visit The Sugar Palm. A couple of classics.

SIEM REAP

This is where to eat it up.

First - we're booked to eat at Chanrey Tree when we first arrive. You could eat there every day thereafter and never regret it.

Second - you're booked at Viroth's the next night - it has a wonderful night ambience with a long menu of local goodness. As above, you could eat here forever.

Moving on ... We've found hotel restaurants in Cambodia often buck the western trend of being awful ... your hotel's Palate duck breast is to die for. Other dishes are wonderful too.

We can not go past Cuisine Wat Damnak - at US$28 for 6 delicious courses and fantastic cocktails, well. Voted Asia Top 50, you'll want to book now. The fish can be mind blowing. (Until you return to NZ of course!)

Toiuch (not Touch, but that can be pretty good too, but you can miss it) is worth the bumpy somewhat adventurous night time ride.

Aha is a place in the centre of town just off Pub Street that has a very tasty meal and drink. Although it has a bit of a western decor, the food surpasses all that.

Mie & Mahob located very close together are big surprises on the taste buds and well worth the trip slightly out of the town centre.

Marum - A Friends / Romdeng sister eatery, you can't go wrong here.

For something womantic (with a price to match) book a swinging seat table at Kroya. Otherwise The Dining Room, where we spent New Year's Eve 2007/2008.

For some good honest Cambodian food go to Fathers.

And for some things very local go to:

* Chep Por’s Khmer Noodle Soup ‘restaurant’ - hugely popular with locals since 1980s, selling fresh rice noodle and egg noodle soup made with pork, beef and chicken for around US$1.25 for a small bowl or US$2 for a large bowl. Open from around 7am until 10am or when they run out. Look for this place opposite Hard Rock Cafe (sad, but true).

* Aha Tann Kim Heourn - also popular with locals, not a lot of English. Look for this place, diagonally opposite Viroth's.

* Chanreash 10 Makara - about 8 doors along from the Park Hyatt, this place is popular with the local tour operators. Look for this place.

For a few of lovely spaces to hang out in for lunch try New Leaf, Central, and Pages. 

And finally, if you want a safe place to eat all sorts of bugs go to Bugs Cafe.

Btw - in the middle of the Pub Street back alleys that you MUST get lost in, there's a lovely vegetarian restaurant called Chamkar House.

OTRES BEACH

Follow your nose. Including a walk along the beach from Otres 2 Beach where you're staying, to Otres 1 Beach. The squid can be incredible, a big surprise for those of us who do not like it much.

Yum yum pig's bum.

Here's Da Plan

Just in case you were wondering what the plan was, this is it.

(The asterisk suggests your attendance is relevant).

14 January 2016

12pm - Family & Dave transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to Anik Boutique Hotel.

6pm - Dinner at family home.

10pm - Group meet Auckland Airport (see information below).

15 January

1pm - Group transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to Anik Boutique Hotel.

3pm - Anita transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to Anik Boutique Hotel.

4pm - Jeremy transfer from Phnom Penh Airport to Anik Boutique Hotel.

4pm - Boys - activity, dinner, drinks ...

4pm - Girls - activity, dinner, drinks ...

16 January

DIY.

17 January

At family home:

7am - Breakfast.

8am - Ceremony x 4.

11:30am - Lunch.

1pm - Ceremony x 1.

2pm - DIY.

5:30pm - Dinner.

18 January

At family home:

6:30am - Ceremony x 1. *

7:30am - Breakfast.

8:30am - Ceremony x 2. *

11am - Lunch.

12pm - DIY.

At hotel:

4:30pm - Dinner & Dancing. *

19 January

12pm Lunch at Sugar Palm.

20 January

5am - Transfer from Anik Boutique Hotel to Phnom Penh Airport.

7am - Fly to Siem Reap.

8am - Transfer from Siem Reap Airport to Lynnaya Resort.

9am - DIY or Kulen Falls with Derek & Nita (1.5 hours drive, each way).

6pm - Cocktails at Miss Wong.

7pm - Dinner at Sokkhak River, sharing menu with Chanrey Tree.

11pm - Forward march ...

21 January

7pm - Dinner at Viroth's.

22 January

DIY.

23 January

DIY.

24 January

2pm - Transfer from Lynnaya Resort to Siem Reap Airport.

3:45pm - Fly from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville.

4:35pm - Transfer from Sihanoukville Airport to Ren Resort. 

25 January

DIY. 

26 January

DIY.

27 January

DIY.

28 January

DIY (follow the night noise for a surprise).

29 January

7am - Transfer from Ren Resort to Phnom Penh Airport.

2pm - Fly from Phnom Penh to Singapore (to New Zealand).

For more information, please consult your doctor.

DO I NEED A VISA?  

Yes, after you land in Cambodia you will pay US$30 per person for a Tourist Visa to enter.

Before that ...

If you wish to reserve seats on the AKL to SIN leg, please try calling Air New Zealand now. Seats on all other flights have been reserved.

After paua allocation at Auckland Airport (see section below), you will check in at Air New Zealand in groups of up to 5 people (says Air New Zealand).

You will have a 5.5 hour stop over in Singapore (yes, the flight plan changed today courtesy of Singapore Airlines). Plenty of time to make your own way from T3 to T2.

You can grab a shower at Ambassador Transit Lounge in both T2 and T3 for about S$16.

WHere to meet in auckland

Everyone meet at the baggage wrapping service station on Thursday 14 January 2016 at 10pm.

Paua chilli bins will be wrapped and split among everyone as you see fit.

Short story = about 13 of the 24 people flying will check in a chill bin containing 20 frozen paua each.

Gary (027 393 3100) and Mike (021 036 3695) have the lowdown.

WHAT TO PACK & GIFT

Keep it light.

It's 28 degrees here, and unlike the glamour of Lambton Quay it's a developing country, so something like tee shirt and shorts are the daily go.

For Siem Reap after 10pm it might get down to 20 degrees which will feel relatively cool. But if you're merry, you'll be fine. Otherwise a light pull over is cool.

But there's ONE thing we'd love for you each to pack and gift - your favourite bag of biscuits.

On January 17th at about 6:30am you'll each be at the front of the line carrying a gift basket to Nita's family home. With a bag of biscuits in that basket, you'll be a star.

If you wish to add something else kiwi, please feel free to do so.

OH, WHAT TO WEAR

New Zealand formal.

For the challenged, this means dress as you would for a NZ event. Except there are 3 events (hence 3 costumes) to think about ...

17th January AM
- Ceremony, breakfast & lunch.
- Ladies - 1st skirt or dress. No black.
- Blokes - Dress pants & 1st shirt. No tie needed.
- Footwear - Dress shoes or jandals, but no shoes worn inside the family home.

18th January AM
- Ceremony & breakfast.
- Ladies - 2nd skirt or dress. No black.
- Blokes - Dress pants & 2nd shirt. No tie needed.
- Footwear - As above.

18th January PM
- Reception, dinner & dancing.
- Ladies - Dress. No black.
- Blokes - Dress pants & 3rd shirt, or suit. No tie needed.
- Footwear - Dress shoes, including inside the hotel.

19th January AM/PM
- Lunch.
- Chill time. No sling suits.

YOU'RE ALL JET SET!

Well, we made it ... All parts of your journey are now locked and loaded!

Thank you - we can't wait to see you here.

And thanks for being so very quick in getting things settled with us, you made our lives that much easier.

This has enabled us to focus on finalising the 3 day affair - details soon.

But like right now, please make sure you have paid for your travel insurance, provided us with your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer account number and been to the vet for shots.

You'll find details for these things written below ...

here's your FINAL ITINERARY & BILL

Ok, it's come down to this.

Here's your detailed itinerary & costs.

Please ask questions this week.

And make payment by Monday 9 November 2015.

Choice.

Then we'll cover off things like the ceremony program, where to eat, what to do & what to wear ...

WHEN DO I GET MY FINAL ITINERARY & BILL?

47 people from outside of Cambodia have given the green light. 

So we've been finalising all bookings and costs with suppliers. The airfares have been the toughest, but we'll get all details as soon as they're available. Hopefully within the next 2 weeks.

Hang tight ...

WHAT IF i need a baby sitter?

Let us know what you'd like - from one person to travel with you throughout your journey, through to someone to call on randomly.

What about the CAPTIVATING world of travel insurance?

1Cover is comprehensive and has proven to pay out multiple times with no hassles (except that lost limb).

DO I need to get to the vet before i travel?

At the very least you'll want to ensure the following vaccinations are up to date: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diphtheria / Tetanus. Your specialist may recommend more ...

HOW DO I EARN AIR MILES FROM my FLIGHTS?

ASAP email us your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer account number. If you are not a member, you can join KrisFlyer here. (No other air points program will work here).

Will there be dancing?

What sort of question is that?! Rookie.

You can practice at home to this Cambodian inspired track ... (yup, you click on it to play it) ...

WHAT ARE THE AUCKLAND FLIGHT TIMES?

* Auckland to Phnom Penh - Friday 15 January 2016 at 1:15am. This means you’ll want to get to Auckland International Airport by about 10pm on Thursday 14 January 2016.

* Phnom Penh to Auckland - Depends on your Cambodian departure date, so we’ll provide that to you after you RSVP.

DO I BRING CASH OR CREDIT CARD?

Cambodia is a cash economy, where USD is as common as the local Riel (US$1 = R4,000). Our advice is to buy US$1,000 in Singapore Changi Airport. And bring your Visa or MasterCard for the ATMs (US$5 - $15 fee per withdrawal).

WHAT ABOUT MY DARLING CHILDREN?

Are many other kids going?
Between 5 and 13 of em, aged 18 months to 17 years.

Do each of my children get their own room? Or do they share with their sibling? Or do they all share with their folks?
Current sample pricing is based on kids in same (large family) room as their folks. But when you RSVP, just let us know exactly what you prefer. We’ll make it happen. 

If kids are not in the same room as their parents, can their room be next door to their folks (for safety)?
Yes. And when you RSVP, just let us know and we’ll make it happen.

What’s with the Child pricing?
It’s all inclusive for someone aged 2-11 years as at 15 January 2016. To get the pricing for your 12-19 year old child, roughly speaking, add NZ$500 (the international airfare) to the Child pricing. And when you RSVP, just let us know exactly what you’re after and we’ll make it happen.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I RSVP?

Before the end of September we send you a fixed price for your special needs. You pay. We send you all travel details. Then you can focus your travel planning on food & activities (recommendations to come). And we can focus on running around in circles.

WHICH AIRLINE HAS BEEN BOOKED?

Your flights are booked with Singapore Airlines like so:

New Zealand to Cambodia
Auckland to Singapore - flying Air New Zealand.
Singapore to Phnom Penh - flying SilkAir (Singapore Airlines).

Cambodia to New Zealand
Phnom Penh to Singapore - flying SilkAir (Singapore Airlines).
Singapore to Auckland - flying Singapore Airlines.

WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR?

57 people from outside of Cambodia have given a tentative 'hell yes'.

So we got to work creating and curating a Cambodian experience just for you (it's a long way to come just for 3 days).

We've taken care of the essentials for you (airfares, hotels, transfers):

• Booked your international round trip airfares between Auckland and Phnom Penh on Singapore Airlines & Air New Zealand (our group booking saves $300 per adult). 

• Priced your Cambodian domestic airfares - from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, then Siem Reap to Sihanoukville (to get to Otres Beach).

• Priced your airport transfers from Phnom Penh International and back (45 mins each way), from Siem Reap International and back (30 mins each way), from Sihanoukville International (30 mins) and back to Phnom Penh International (5 hours).

• Booked your hotels in Phnom Penh (our group booking saves 25%), Siem Reap (55% saving) and Otres Beach (40% saving).

• Booked your place at our ceremony & banquet in Phnom Penh, and our dinner parties in Siem Reap & Otres Beach.

We've also worked up lists of recommendations for you by personally testing almost 100 eateries, bars and activities in 3 locations across the Cambodian Kingdom.

 Now it's over to you to let us know your plan by Monday 31 August 2015.

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THAT?

After 7 years of denial he found himself a pet rock project. He considered over 1,000, shortlisted 73, analysed 14 variables per rock, bought 2, had them professionally blind tested, kept the winner. He flew 19 hours from San Francisco to Singapore to show her folks. 8 hours later that day he flew 12 hours to Wellington. She got a bit of a surprise.

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF THE BIG DAY?

There's probably been at least one conversation about this to date. We'll post the 3-day program here closer to the date.

Who is this itinerary for?
what if i'm not in new zealand?

This itinerary is for everyone, with an emphasis on people coming from New Zealand.

If you're coming from somewhere else in the world, just ignore the bit about international round trip airfares (and deduct the airfare pricing stated down below), and book your flight to arrive in Phnom Penh on 15 January 2016. Also, in the RSVP form above, let us know this in the 'Your special requests & questions' field.

WHAT IF I WANT TO DEPART NZ
BEFORE 15 JANUARY 2016?

Do it. And land in Phnom Penh on 15 January 2016. And depart no earlier than 20 January 2016. Also, in the RSVP form above, let us know this in the 'Your special requests & questions' field.

PS. Please consider taking one of our 3 proposed journeys as is - you can visit other places on your way home by using a Singapore stopover as your springboard (see RSVP form above). This will also save you about NZ$300 per adult for the airfare (as at 1 August).

WHAT IF I WANT TO DEPART CAMBODIA ON A
DAY OTHER THAN 20, 24 OR 29 JANUARY 2016?

Do it. In the RSVP form above select "Other" & add your desired return date in the 'Your special requests & questions' field. We'll make it happen.

WHAT IF I WANT TO USE AIR MILES TO FLY TO/FROM CAMBODIA?

Do it directly yourself asap. And in the RSVP form above, let us know this in the 'Your special requests & questions' field.

WHAT DO I WEAR?

Well, where do we start. The biggest thing to think about is the heat. With that said, we'll post more on this topic soon.

WHAT DO I GIFT?

Please just turn up. If that's not enough for you, tradition dictates you turn up with a suitcase of cash (you're welcome).

WHERE DO I EAT?

We'll post a list of must eat places here.

The local fish is amazing. Breakfast is free from your hotel daily. Lunch & dinner will average about US$10 each per person, eating well. You can do it for US$4 per meal too.

WHAT SIGHTS DO I DO?

We'll post a list of must do activities here.

It's good to be up early and get stuff done before lunch. Then chill in the afternoon when it can be too hot to want to be doing much at all.

WHAT'S WITH THE PRICING?

The NZD prices are based on what was available on 1 August 2015, including taxes and exchange rate. Hence they're a guide only.

After you RSVP we will reply with a specific price for your specific situation. (It's a bit tough to write all the possible combinations here).

But just to give you an idea of the 2 largest items ...

International Return Airfares
Adult: NZ$1900 pp. ($1790 + taxes, etc).
Child: NZ$1425 pp.
Infant: NZ$190 pp.

Hotels
Phnom Penh: US$50 per night per standard room.
Siem Reap: US$85 pn.
Otres Beach: US$89 pn.

WHERE DO I GET BABY SUPPLIES?

There's a number of quality options we'll post here.

WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE?

Contact us below ...