Staff Trip to Sihanoukville

Last time we had a frizz staff trip was already a long time ago. I think it was in 2005 when we went to Kirirom National Park. So, it was time for another trip and a bit longer as well. I asked the staff whether they preferred to go to their families over the Khmer New Year or have a staff trip to Sihanoukville. Well, to my surprise they all liked the idea of going to the beach.

And there we went, on Tuesday April 14th in a hired bus with driver from Lyna Car Rental (highly recommended by the way, very friendy and good driver, good service, reasonable price). Unfortunately, without our manager Kear who was suffering from a migraine attack. Quite sad, as he was most looking forward to the trip and I really wanted him to come along.

The highlight of the trip was our boat tour to Koh Ta Kiev, a larger but much quieter island then Koh Russei (Bamboo Island) which is next to it. We had a very good lunch at the only small restaurant and we had the beach pretty much to ourselves. As I'm not too much of a beach and sea person, I mostly enjoyed the swimming pool at Orchidee Guesthouse back in Sihanoukville. And... the breakfast there! The fresh, crispy whole-meal bread! Wow!

At night we attended the concert on Ochheuteal Beach. Well, what can I say. Ummm, let's just say the Khmers fully enjoyed it, which it what counts...

Next day it was back to the capital and when we arrived in Phnom Penh it was raining cats and dogs. The rainy season has definitely started with a very welcome, refreshing shower every afternoon.

From left to right on the picture: Koshal (cleaner and kitchen help, she's very talkative and funny), Phalla (cleaner and help at the cooking school, bit shy but nice and friendly), Mau (new cook at frizz and I suspect a bit of a 'wild girl'), Somaly (kitchen help, although I think she by now is a full cook, she herself thinks differently), Mom (quite shy, but she developed from kitchen help to first chef), Sopheak (our youngest waiter who was very shy in the beginning but has evolved as a funny, good waiter), and Yoni (brought in by manager Kear, they call each other 'brother' as they grew up in a pagoda together). Not on the picture: Sophi, our chef (she just delivered a baby), and Kear, our manager (who was sick).

What I most like about my staff is that all of them get along really well. That had been different before with some staff that are no longer with us.