New beginnings

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After 7 months on the road and living out of our now despised backpacks we finally set up camp in Phnom Penh.

Its hot, humid and dusty, but the beers are cheap, the people friendly and the social scene is action packed.
We have relegated our backpacks to the dark mouldy corners of our new apartment and are hitting the streets of our new 'hood'. We have some resident geckos, pet birds, some bicycles, and even some new friends - quite a surprise for 2 people as shy as us!

Soph has had a baptism of fire into a new job that has no curiculum guidelines - a mortal sin for a teacher, but is fast developing her skills in syllabus design.
Elise has been busily developing her skills in home-duties, such as placing the cushions 'just so', talking to the plants, rearranging items in the fridge, turning on the washing machine and making sure she looks pretty for when Soph comes home from work. She is fast becoming quite house-proud she must confess.

Cambodia has been a steep cultural learning curve. Every day something new pops up to remind us we don't live in calm orderly Melbourne anymore. We thought we would share with you some of those things:

- Pyjamas are actually a fashionable "pant suit" to be worn during the day, and not to be disrespected by wearing to bed
- red traffic lights can be treated as green ones if that's what you would prefer
- you can drive on either side of the road whatever suits you best
- if you drive a Lexus 4WD or Land Cruiser you can do whatever you want, whenever you want and bulldoze everyone out of your way
- if you drive Lexus or Land Cruiser you can park in the middle of the road (literally)
- you should never look when turning into traffic - the rule of thumb is "just go", especially if you drive a Lexus or Land Cruiser
- the default technique for crossing a busy junction is to: 1) accelerate quickly, 2) hope for the best, and 3) blast your horn
- if you are a foreigner and someone ploughs into you, it is your fault, always, and you must pay
- you can drive a motorbike if you are old enough to reach the throttle
- it is quite acceptable to go to the poshest bar in town dripping with sweat in your running gear for a martini
- it is OK to fit 6 people on a scooter/moped if they can all hang on
- don't ever look a policeman in the eye or you will get booked for something
- if a policeman does try to flag you down, ride away very fast as their motorbikes don't work and they won't chase you
- if you see someone with a gun - walk briskly away, don't run and don't question
- if you're finding it tough to speak Khmer, just make everything sound nasal and you'll come close to being understood
- it is OK to transport your pet birds tied to the back of your bicycle
- escalators are frightening pieces of technology and 5 minutes must be spent at the bottom sorting out when is the best time to place your foot upon this novel invention
- it is quite a symbol of luck if your seemingly ordinary egg has a grown foetus in it - the more mature the more power to you
- it is actually possible to get hypothermia during a monsoonal storm (if your name is Soph that is)
- gecko's take 10 days from dying on your wall to then falling off your wall
- stray cats (or monsters - we're not sure yet) will decapitate your pet birds if you don't secure the cage properly
- It is OK for Cambodian cover bands make up the words of their songs completely - "I can't wiv.. wiv or wivout Sue"
- we have not yet been able to work out why everyone thinks our name is "tuk-tuk lady?"
- English subtitles for English movies don't have to match the dialogue - its OK for the sentence "I'll meet you for coffee at 2" to be translated to "you have brought dishonour to your family name"
- haircuts come with a complimentary massage.... of your eyebrows.... what the??!!

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Photos

Elise's fancy birthday celebration lunch
a picnic on the hotel bed - we don't like to go out much

Our ute
that unfortunately due to its extreme beauty and fabulous colour has been subsequently stolen.... R.I.P.

tradtitional Khmer "pant-suit"
This suit, known in Cambodia as 'pyjamas', is so popular we have been fitted at the tailors for several sets ourselves - one for every occasion. They look their best with high heals.

Soph and Claire playing badminton in front of the Independence Monument
This is a national obsession - it is possible to be hit in the head with a racquet if you walk too close to an important match between mother and daughter

Ice delivery
not sure how it doesn't melt instantly in the heat but somehow it doesn't

Grant gets some serious attention for his super fancy bike
We wish he'd let us have a go of it too

Jennie and Soph
That chip was originally in Soph's nose - good look girls!

Memphis
For some reason we seem to end up here a lot in the wee hours.... lucky its one block from home.

moto drivers sleeping on their bikes outside our house every night
Cheap security guards with the added bonus of being our transport at any time of day or night.