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Published: February 16th 2008
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Monks at Sunset
Sihanoukville, Cambodia As we had some time to spend in Cambodia before our Vietnam visas started we decided to head to Sihanoukville on the coast for a while. It's like Cambodia's beach resort so we thought we'd spend some time at the beach as well as at the nearby Ream National Park.
Our visit to Ream involved taking a boat down the mangrove-fringed river to an island where a walk through the jungle brought us to a beach. We hadn't realised that we would be going to a beach and weren't dressed for it at all so instead we walked slowly back through the jungle, watching and listening for any birds or wildlife. The chances of seeing anything were destroyed by large, singing groups and people playing dance music on mobile phones. One of the park rangers took us on the trip. He was a nice bloke, letting us know that there are no crocodiles in the river but, if there were, he'd be ok because they don't eat Cambodians, only foreigners.
On the way back along the river on the boat we eventually got to see some birds - a couple of eagles, some parrots and a brightly coloured kingfisher
Monkey
Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia which flew very close to the boat. The trip had been sold as the chance to see dolphins and monkeys but we didn't see any of these. It's usually best to go on the organised trips seeing it as a bonus if you do see anything, rather than being disappointed if you don't.
The next day Allee didn't feel too good, I think sometimes the heat gets to us a little. I pottered around while Allee slept it off and later we went out for a walk and a drink. While out a Frenchman, who seemed slightly drunk, informed me that of his grandparents one was a Parisian, one a Spaniard, another a gyspsy and the final one died at the age of 16. Then off he went again, happy in his own little world.
Allee was feeling much better the next day and so we went to the beach. It's a nice beach at Sihanoukville with lots of fruit sellers if you get hungry - as well as women with baskets of giant cooked prawns to sell. There were also women selling massages and manicures on the beach. I must have let my personal hygiene slip as
Allee Releasing Birds
Making merit at Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia they kept asking if I'd like my back waxing or toenails cut. The sea was really warm with quite big waves and was good for just floating around in. Unfortunately I did a bit too much floating and ended up with sunburn all over my chest and arms. It was quite bad and we ended up not going to the islands the next day as planned as I wouldn't have been able to go in the sun, swim or snorkel. Instead we had a relaxing day reading, having a few drinks and just pottering around. Later we went to Victory Beach to see the sunset. While we were sitting there some monks, who were also watching the sunset, asked if they could take a photo of us. Allee agreed, but only if she could take one back.
After the sun had set we had a lovely meal at a restaurant near the beach and then couldn't find a tuk-tuk anywhere. Stranded we wandered down the road until we came to a hotel casino which looked very posh. Unable to resist in we went for a few games. I managed to double my $25 to $50 on the Blackjack and
Landing Point
This is where we got out of the boat at Ream National Park for a walk through the jungle. Allee was 30 cents up on the machines. A good night all in all. Still unable to find a tuk-tuk we spotted two motorbike taxis. Allee had had a few beers by this point and was waving her arms around as we rode off into the dark. It was a relief to get her back in one piece.
Second time around Phnom Penh seemed somehow nicer - still hectic but in a more relaxed kind of way. When we got there we headed for the Russian Market, so called because that's where most of the goods and traders once came from. We had a bit of a splurge at the market, buying DVDs and other bits and bats (including cheesecake outside mmmmmmm). Allee liked the look of some mobiles (the kind you put above a cot, not a phone) and bought one 'for when we have a baby'. Is it just me or is that very very scary?!?!
Our final day in Phnom Penh was spent at Wat Phnom, the temple which gave the city its name. We got there by cyclo which was a bit hair-raising at first as, sitting in a seat in front of the
bike, we were face to face with the chaotic traffic. On the quieter roads it was much nicer and a very peaceful way to travel. We got one each this time as the cyclo we had in Thailand struggled a bit with both of us.
Wat Phnom is home to both an elephant, Bo, who takes people on a ride around the bottom of the hill, and lots of monkeys who are not captive in any way but live in the temple grounds. We stopped to watch them for a while and I bought some bananas to feed them. It was great as a monkey would come wandering over and take a banana from my hand. That was until one decided he needed more than a banana and, jumping onto my back, used me as a launch pad to fire himself at a basket of fruit a girl was carrying around on her head. Luckily she was too fast for him and spun out of the way with the basket still balanced and no fruit dropped.
Outside the temple door there was a man with a cage full of small birds. For a dollar you can buy two birds and release them when he passes them to you. This is a good deed which makes merit with Buddha so we released two birds each. Supposedly the birds know they're onto a good thing with free food and lodging so they fly back into the cage five minutes later. The temple itself was nice, with a psychedelic Buddha, and we lingered there for a while chatting to a Colombian man.
That night was Valentine's night so we went out for a posh meal at a nice restaurant. We splashed out on wine and ended up spending a day and a half's budget. It was a nice treat but I was feeling really ill with blurred vision. Any other night I would have stayed in bed but I couldn't have Allee eating alone on Valentine's day. The woman who worked there seemed delighted to have a couple there on Valentine's Day and kept telling us to 'have a sweet meal' and that she was very jealous (Probably of Allee - I'm pretty irresistable with a bright red face....) The traffic that night was even crazier than usual as lots of Cambodian boys took their girlfriends out for a ride on their motorbike (no innuendo please). Apparently this is a common date in Cambodia. There was also a brightly lit 'Coca Cola Love Tree', did they have these at home?
And so it was goodbye to Cambodia, a country full of dirt roads and women in pyjamas, but also the happiest, friendliest people we've ever met. We're now in Vietnam but that's another story. In the meantime, here are the first two phrases of our travel dictionary:
Monking - the act whereby a monk breaks any or all rules of the monkhood for financial gain. Eg, taking money directly from the hand of a female.
Sexy Tourist - A person (usually male) in Asia for the 'boom boom'. Called sexy tourist ironically as they are usually far from sexy - I'm looking at you, middle-aged Frenchman with your pot-belly and 19 year old Asian 'girlfriend'.
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mam
non-member comment
tomato head
i cant believe you got sunburnt anth it happens every time you go away. are the malaria tablets still making you feel ill . apparently you can go to the doctors there and they change them for you.glad to hear y6our both enjoying yourselves its amazing to see other peoples culture . im looking forward to hearing from you both again so try to phone soon so we can catch up .lots of love.mam.