Debbie does...round the world
7th Oct 2006What is it about....... what is it about where ever I go in the world that is a hot place that there is never any blue sky for perfectly magnificent photographs - this dull white sky in everything. Sure I would then be complaining about how much hotter the sun makes it but the photos....... I`ve decided I will do a "Cathy"and cut a long story short hahahahah just kidding. Yesterday being Saturday for me - I think I am about 8 hours ahead of good old NZ - not sure if this takes into account daylight saving or not - anyway back to yesterday - left the internet cafe - tried to find the same one today but wasn`t able to .... my tuktuk driver who adopted me for the day without me realising it - but a lovely genuine man - was waiting outside - I asked to be taken to the Grand Palace and Silver Pagoda knowing it wouldn`t be open for another 20 minutes. Well Mr Tuktuk decided to take me for a wee drive in the intervening time and we ended up at The "Russian"market evidently cos thats where all the Russians went to shop in the 1980`s - pleased you know that now aren`t you. Well for those that know me really well you will know that markets and shopping aren`t particularly me. He dropped me off and agreed to meet me in 45 minutes. To be honest at that stage I had no idea where I was and figured out after about 40 minutes where I was. I started going around the outside - various stalls - fruits, veges i had never seen before, hundreds of motorcycles and people. I eventually saw some other Europeans of some type heading inside and followed. The heat, smells and crowdedness were a bit overwhelming but I kept going in. One thing i was imressed with was the Cambodian people - they do not hassle you like other countries - they ask if they can help and then leave you to it. They are a very warm and friendly people and there is a genuineness to them - for most of them their eyes smile too. Made my way through the market - absoluely everything you could want was there including meat hanging up in the open (no flies though), dried fish of all sorts including heads and all sorts of other stuff. Managed to start making my way back to where I thought I was supposed to meet Mr Tuktuk - good thing I have a great sense of direction. On my way out past all the CDs and DVDs - all black market I presume - I came across a lovely Cambodial woman - older with horrific burns and scarring over half her face and chest who was selling cards made by disabled people - I found it very hard to walk past so ended up making my second purchase of the day - 5 x cards for $5us - slightly expensive - but hey 5 of you have a lovely card to look forward to - aren`t you lucky. Then a man with one leg tried to get into the act and sell me a Lonely Planet guide to India - lied and told him I didn`t need one - he was gracious about it. Got to Mr Tuktuk man who was watching out for me - helped me cross the street - this is actually very helpful - and took me albeit slightly late to the Grand palace and Silver Pagoda. I think I am somehow going to have to figure out how to add photos to this - maybe one of two a day - another time when I have someone who knows what they are doing with me. Anyway went to the toilet for the first time whilst out and about - western style but no loo paper - fortunately I have my trusty pocket tissues. Paid $3us to get and $2us to take my camera. Not allowed in The Palace but can go thru the grounds and outbuildings - very pleasant and spectacular - had to take my shoes off several times. Left there before seeing everything to meet the girls from Oz I had met at breakfast time - was nice to have that to look forward to - Mr Tuktuk took me to Friends restaurant where I met them. This restaurant has been set up by an organisation to provide employment to street kids - they are taught various aspects of the reataurant trade so then they can go out and get work or be self employed. They serve meals as well as Spanish style tapas had zucchini and cheese fritters and mushroom and leek spring rolls - absolutely delicious and extremely good coffee. Went back to hotel to prepare myself for 1800 meeting with tour group - my first glimpse of everyone. Well there are supposed to be 6 of us all together one woman still hasn`t turned up. We are all women - manhunter top not likely to come out for full viewing - two from Darwin Australia - who work at the same hospital but didn`t know each other - one a registrar and the other a radoilogist, a Swede who lives in London - she also works in a hospital as a nurse and my room mate who is pretty. young, just qualified a s a lawyer and has spent the last 4 months working in Paris and has just moved back to London. Fortunately there is another `fat chick`to balance me out - she is attractive though. I think all of us will get on very well. We all went out for tea to a restaurant that was set up to provide funding for a small orphanage - on the night we were there all the kids come and do Cambodian dances for us - I almost had a lump in my throat - they were so gorgeous and cute - most having been dumped by their parents who were unable to provide for them or dead parents etc. Hopefull will get some good photos out of it. One of the boys - probably about 8 or 9 - you could just tell he had a spark and a mischeivious streak but he was so enjoying himself. Had fish amok for tea - al national dish - fish crry - thoroughly enjoyed it. Then walked back down to the Green Vespa bar - asked for a gin and lemonade - got a strange look and was presented with gin, ice and lemon syrup - then I asked for Sprite to go with it and was rewarded with a beautiful smile of understanding. The tour leader Jane - woman in her 40`s - extremely nice. Back to hotel and then to bed - room mate sleeping in so arranged to meet the others for breakfast which I did - they went off to do what I did yesterday - went back to the room - she was still asleep even through her alarm so decided I would get out - walked along the river - maybe 28 30 degrees - reasonably pleasant actually - well could be a lot worse to come to the internet cafe. people washing themselves and their clothes in the Mekong River and spreading them out to dry. All the shady spots taken up so I didn`t sit and watch - due to meet up with everybody else soon for lunch. This afternoon going to the `Killing Fields" and torture museum - supposed to crack even the best of us but to also give us a greater understanding of the atrocities the Cambodian people have been through - unsure whether I am looking forward to it or not........ Leaving for Kompong Cham tommorrow local delicacy is deepfried spiders - who knows.... definitely if I was on Amazing Race but otherwise maybe not.
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