Cambodia
S'Sadai!
(Khmer for hello)
Been here for about 7 days i think. Time is hard to keep track of on holiday. What a wild 7 days. I am exhausted from Wat exploration, biking, motorbiking, hiking and being BUSY. I keep thinking that i will get some time to just relax, but there is so much to do and see and experience and explore that all of a sudden, it is late eve and I have only eaten 1 meal. I did read "the rule of 4" while raining one day!
What can i say about this place. There is so much. First, it is rainy season and we have had our share of rain and mud. BUT, the good part of that is that there are fewer tourists and i have had many a temple to myself, or at least only seeing like 12 other tourists during my whole 3 hours in Angkor Wat! I went to Wat Ta Phrom at 5:30 am and for 2 hours only 2 tourists wandered by. Otherewise, it was an ancient nun and myself doing our devotions to Buddha together. Nice.
Went to many temples all over. Rode a bike 2 days and wow - put some miles on. Great just to find a dirt path or road and go and explore. Have definitely seen the countryside and the people as they all wave and smile and say hello or goodby. Little neked kids playing in the well water or drawing in the dirt-they run out to the road wanting to get a good look at the white woman riding arond out in their neighborhood (out in the boonies!)
Ohter days i went with my scooter driver, SoPheak, and we went exploring to temples and villages and yesterday, went up to the mountain-deciduous huge green trees with giant rocks on the sides- and hiked to the stream/river. Went for a cool swim and then to look at the carvings in the river. AMAZING! These people 1K years ago carved beautiful figures and animals and circles into the river rock for a hundred yards. I am sure there are images on the web. It is called "the river of 1000 linguas". We did some more hiking WAY up river and it was beautiful. One of my most favorite things of Cambodia are the butterflies!! Everywhere and beyond belief colors and patterns. A huge black one landed on me today as i stopped the bike to take a drink of water. Because i am not driving, i can look as we cruise past the little wooden houses, rice paddies and the PEOPLE. So poor, but i see tons of laughter and playing among their routine for survival. Inspriring. And, the mosquitos are not nearly as bad as in Hawaii! SoPheak is this thin-as-a-rail shy, sweet Cambodian motor taxi driver. His motorcycle is old but quiet and reliable and he makes so little per day and has as family to feed. He is a hard worker, reliable and who makes me laugh when we have muddy adventures and drop into potholes and as we go flying up over bumps. I was very fortunate to have made his aquantance and for him to be my driver.
The bad thing about these boom towns is that you are pestered by kids selling STUFF. They can get a bit nasty and are very persistant. I think maybe i haven't had it so bad as i am very firm and say I don't want or need ANYTHING so NO THANK YOU. Also, i am sure that because there are less tourists here now that there is less of the pestering and begging ("you give me one dolla, one dolla"). The wonderful smiling people outweigh the vultures though, so it is mostly quite pleasant.
Found a massage place here that i have been to 2 times. It is a little building right in town and is owned and operated by the Da Ley husband and wife. They are both blind and his massage is wonderful. A combo of Shiatsu and Anma and 2 hours is $6. Yes, you read that right. I give him tips so that he can survive. That is the going rate for blind massages in this town. I have seen at least 3 other blind businesses, but Da Ley is great!
I am so filled with amazing images, and conversations from this area. So rich and vivid in my memory. I am thankful that i came here, learned and am awed by the history, both old and new. Although Siem Reap is more expensive than Thailand, dirtier, less infrastructure, etc. , it is still very well worth comoing to to experience. Another plus is that the French at least brought and left recipes for good bread, food and coffee!
So, tomorrow I leave via small, old bus on the road from hell (pray it doesnt' rain tonight) back to the border. Cross, the take another bus to Bangkok. Will stay there, pack on the 19th and leave very early on the 20th for Maui!
The job in Thailand starting on the 23rd was a no-go and I got an offer to fill - in for Vicky as she vacations. So, I will be onthe Seafire in the mornings, and doing massage when i can. Will be there for about 6 or 7 weeks. Then? Maybe Colorado, maybe back to Thailand ( I have a RT ticket) to meet up with Alex to travel around India and SE Asia and ???
So, hope to see you fellow Mauians soon!
Be in touch and I will write another blog when i am settled in maui and tell of my plans then.
Bye from Cambodia! Hope you are all well!
Monica
posted by Monica @ 6:41 PM
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