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Published: April 4th 2008
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Angkor Wat
The real Angkor, no beer here! Cambodia, what's it like anyway?
Two weeks in two days... a bit of delicious decadence included Angkor Wat was on my list of places to go when I was planning this round-the-world trip, then, Felix casually mentioned that he was running the Cambodian Children's Painting Project, so, I pledged to visit him. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Of course, Felix said that I would never get all the way to Sihanoukville and that it was all just Summer-at-the-beach-on-Ibiza talk.
He couldn't believe his ears when I called him up and invited him to dinner, on the beach, just down from the center!
But, that was at the end of the 48 hours.
Let me start with breakfast in Siem Reap, invited by the owner of the hotel.
After my traditional breakfast, influenced by the french (baguette and coffee), I smiled at the owner and his little son as they crunched away happily at some fried locusts.
The friendly proprietaire was so pleased at my interest, that he promptly invited me over to try some, washed down with an Angkor, not the temple, the local beer (not to be
Breakfast
Lovely Locust confused with Anchor, a totally different beer, although I never could pronounce them so as to be understood!)
Social animal that I am, I find it difficult to refuse such a warm and sincere invitation to share some of the local culture (which gets me into stange situations, like in South Korea, but, that's another story!)
I acquiesced gracefully, to the giggles of the four year old, who surreptitiously grabbed a handful and ran off to find his crying sister who had waddled off crying, terrified at my bushy eyebrows.
Well, the texture was crunchy like shrimp shells (you know, the ones you don't eat), must be good fiber, I guessed.
The taste, a sort of nasally peppery prawn perfume.
I actually enjoyed it and politely asked for another... just out of education, of course!
After such sustenance, I decided to go and see a few hundred temples, just snacking on some coconut juice and a freshly sliced mango, each costing a US dollar. Everything is paid for in dollars here, although they do have their own currency, the Riel.
I only found out later that everything costs a dollar here!
One mango, one dollar; two
Where am I?
Playing water games mangoes, one dollar; three mangoes, one dollar!!!!
I ate lunch at the most spectacular juxtaposition of man and nature, where man assembled the stones a thousand years ago and nature has grown around and within, completing the structure as man could never do alone.
On my way back to the hotel, I saw some kids kicking a feather shuttlecock with shock-absorber around. Intrigued, I pseudo-sign-languaged my interest and they sceptically kicked it at me.
I totally missed it...it seemed like I had a hole in my foot!
I think novice tennis players will sympathise with me. It was like a sure hit and then you miss and you are nonplussed...how did that happen?
Anyway, the lads assumed I would give up, not understanding why I just kept on trying to hit the odd flying object as yet unidentified.
To their surprise, I soon caught the hang of it and was even mimmicking some of their fancier shots, so much so, that a small crowd gathered and some more youths joined in.
I had left my bag on a chair nearby at the beginning, but, as we had crossed the street when we had become more players, I
Bag it Lady
Baguette et cafe' au lait? kept checking on it. They noticed and had somebody bring it over to our side, then, they threw me a bottle of water and, at the end, gave me a brand new shuttlecock (called a SEY here) as a souvenir! Talk about Khmer hospitality!
I repaid by inviting the youngsters to some Anchor beers and having dinner with them, as they explained what the food was and how to eat it. All done with chopsticks, naturally.
What a marvellous day!
The other day worthy of note was in Sihanoukville...
At the crack of dawn, off to do some exploring, underwater and by boat to the neighbouring islands.
In the afternoon, hang out with the children at the Painting NGO, buy a painting, play barefootball on the burning cement, have a quick snack at the beach (see photo) before having dinner at the Sea View Villa, run by Nicky, a friend from Morna Valley School! We had not seen each other for about 20 years, yet, the person is still pure Sunshine!
Oh! I did have enough time that day to get so severly sunburnt that I proceeded to shed my skin for the next week!
A new me
is emerging!!!
Just in time for Thai New Year!
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Tante Jean
non-member comment
Your beach is everywhere
Cher Melchior - Loved your photos and commentary. Everywhere you go you make it happen! How long will you stay in Cambodia? When will you come to Pennsylvania? Love, Jean