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Published: February 12th 2006
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Streets of Siem Reap
So in love with this photo Sorry for the delay in posting guys, Cambodia is a bit primitive when it comes to computers, well basically primitive in just about everything. Everything here is amazing, you see something that grabs your eye, like a big gold emblazoned temple, only to be juxtapositioned next to nearly collapsing wicker huts. We spent three days in Phnom Penh, went shopping, hired a driver for a day for only $10 and got in all the sights. Ate at nice restaurants, ate lunch in the market for 20c, bought shoes for $15, and ate corn in this crazy café that had hammocks instead of seats, very cool. Had four corn cobs and three drinks for $1. We saw the national museum and couldn't see the Royal Palace because we weren’t wearing long pants. Then poor Jen got sick off Happy Herbal Pizza, which is weed on pizza. We ordered 'not so happy' cos we were really hungry and if we got 'happy' or 'really happy' and scoffed heaps of pizza then we would end up way too stoned and I would probably get paranoid. I was fine but Jen was smashed. She spent a day inside, sleeping and spewing, while I continued around
Street Beggars
The only english they know is 'money' the city with just me and our driver (after I looked after her, of course, because I am the Little Cancer That Cares). (Jen: thanks 4 looking after me baby, hey guys) The driver and I had dinner at a Cambodian café on the street where they didn’t understand 'no meat no eggs' or 'bird flu'. But I survived with only a small upset stomach. We ended up tipping him $25 cos he didn't try to rip us off once, (unlike the staff at our hotel who we caught out trying to rip us off and possibly stealing some of our money) so that he could go to English school for one month, to learn better English.
The next day we then decided to catch the boat to Siem Reap, rather than take the bus, although it was $25 each as opposed to $6 for the bus, because we thought it would be more enjoyable and we would see more of the country. The ride itself was quite good but smelly. Jenny really enjoyed the boat trip, she was amazed with everything we saw, and took some absolutely brilliant photographs. Amelia would be proud! I on the other hand,
Hammock Cafe
Corn Cambodian style enjoyed the experience once, but probably not enough to do it again. The river was lined with floating fishing villages were people had made their own homes, mostly out of palm leaves and bamboo. There were beautiful little kids all the way along the river who were so happy to see us and smiled their little gorgeous heads off and waved at us. Our five hour journey somehow turned into a 7 hours journey, and we learnt that 4 hours sunscreen really only lasts for 4 hours, and not seven!!! When we arrived in Siem Reap, the last half hour of our trip was winding down a very small passage to what we expected to be a jetty, but no, we pulled up next to someone's floating house and walked down a plank to get to land (with our 20kg packs and bags)!! There were thousands of tuk-tuk drivers waiting there holding signs saying 'tuk-tuk $1 to any hotel' some of them even went as cheap as 500 riel which is about 13c. We followed some people from our last hotel in Phnom Penh to their hotel, and the ride was the bumpiest, smelliest ride I have ever taken! But
we survived and the driver took us to a hotel which surrounds a commune, with a beautiful pond full of lotus flowers, and brand new shiny rooms for only $6 a night.
So yesterday being saturday we went and watched a non existant sunset from the top of one of the temples, amazing, amazing, amazing, even though it was overcast. Also during the day went and bought six pairs of designer glasses for $3 a pair and went and have been getting massages everyday by blind people at a place called 'Seeing Hands' for $4 an hour, so so good. After sunset we went to a concert called Beatocello, by Dr Beat Richner, who had saved the lives of thousands of cambodian children. We donated cash and will give blood tomorrow for his worthy cause. It was a very moving experience.
Today we were meant to see the sun rise but our driver who we paid didnt show up, oh well we were stupid enogh to trust him, good lesson learnt. So its nine am now and we are off to see the temples and drink some 50 cent beer.
Love your guts
Erin and Jenny xx PS mum we are safe!
PS: we also learnt some Cambodian, including hello, goodbye, yes, no, and sorry, I am a lesbian!!! Hehehehe.
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Mum, Nan
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Wish we were there with you!!
Nan and I have had a look at your photos and we're both jealous!! We wish we could be there with you but it's great to actually see you there and how happy you are. Post lots of photos with you in it - we love to see you.