Tropicana Residency and Resort. An overstated name for a place with just 10 guest rooms. However, each room is, in a sense, a self-contained bungalow and there are two (two!) good sized swimming pools for all of these 10 rooms. They also have in house restaurant of reasonable quality.
The main hotel’s asset, however, is its staff. In all my travels and I had a few, I never came across such a friendly, kind and welcoming people. They literally treated us as royalty, went out of their way trying to make our stay there as nice as it possibly can be. I have to say as a general observation, compare to other countries, people in Cambodia have no hidden agenda when they serve you. Tipping is not generally expected, although appreciated with humble gratitude when received. The personal of the hotel was mostly young and very friendly. I’ve spend every night in a pool side café chatting to one or another reception staff. This is the best way to learn about life of common people in another country – by them telling you about it. Up to this day I’m exchanging e-mails with one of the local lad, we’ve got very friendly with.
Since we arrived to Siem Reap on the 31st of December, late afternoon, we opted out from going out to join celebrational crowds in town centre. Instead, we’ve been invited to the staff party they organisedfor those on duty this night. We had a great time, had a nice barbeque meal, champagne, more champagne, we danced, had more of wine, we taught these guys to jive, and learned some local folk dance, which of course, I couldn’t remember a single move of by the next morning. It was a New Year with the difference, with the new friends, in a stranger’s land. It was simply fantastic! 
It happened so that my actual birthday day fell within this trip. Can’t say it wasn’t planned this way 😉 The hotel staff has learned about it and prepared a surprise for me. They came to our room and brought a fruit plate, a cake with my name on it and a bottle of chapmen. I was so chuffed!
It is always the best part of world’s travelling – getting to meet nicest people from such a different background, with different life experiences, life style and their stories. I will always cherish this aspect of my journeys the most.