Siem Reap

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Back in Siem Reap, land of the tuk-tuk drivers, fish massage, regular massage, "special"massage, restaurants all recommended by lonely plant/roug gide/and any other guide they have heard about, stray dogs that are so lazy you have to step over them, big brown eyed beautiful little kids that stare, and the best food in the world-Khmer curry and fish amok.

Since we are getting toward the end of our trip we are taking it easy. Our days are consisting of breakfast at the Soup Dragon-I have cafe sa da, coffee with sweet milk on ice, and Steven has his bun cha with a coffee as well. Finish up with a mango shake and good to go. Picking up a few things in the markets (Macy's should really look into hiring Khmer women-excellent sales pitches and will go to great lengths to find my XL size that i wear here),have some lunch, go back to the guesthouse and lounge at the pool talking with other tourists, back to Pub Street. Last night we had mango, then cherry, then pineapple, then strawberry margarita-same flavor, just different colors 😊. Headed out to the Night Market. Siem Reap has a very cool night market. The land mine victims are playing music in front, stall after stall of Khmer souvenirs, a big bar at the back with rattan furniture with deep red cushions and U2 and Christina Aguilera blasting in the background. I shopped while Steven had his second, yes-second, foot massage of the day. I came back to get him and he had a cup of tea, a slice of watermelon, and was engrossed in conversation with his massage therapist. I decided to make a short list of what 25 cents will buy in southeast asia: a beer, a trip to the public toilet, an hour on the computer in an internet cafe, a baguette with some cheese. So really, you could live on a dollar a day.

Now all that being said, Cambodia which as everyone knows is my favorite of all the places we travel to, breaks my heart. I just read that fifty percent of the population is under the age of sixteen. The poverty and sickness here is sitting next to five star hotels and restaurants. Education is difficult to get, English teachers are even harder to get, no clean water, and very few options for the young. But! everyone should come here, spend your money, and play with the tuk-tuk drivers-your stomach will hurt from laughing. And then your head will hurt from crying when you go home alone and think about all of it .

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Photos

Pub Street Performer
This guy is great. He is balancing knives on his tongue.

Fish Massage
Notice the new signs for fish massage has now added "No Piranhas".

Selling clams
This little guy was so cute-and so young for his job. He happily let me take a picture for a tip and a spider ring. He pushes the cart of spicy clams all over town to sell.