Getting to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Preserve

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I went to Phnom Tamao--aka the Zoo of Doom--for the second time in my life today. It was not nearly as strenuous or as expensive as that one time when I went on my own.

You can either travel by yourself, or you can book a tour. I went with Betelnut Tours. A betelnut is a plant product common in South East Asia, which contains a mild stimulant if you chew it. Apparently, it is not a "true nut" but instead is a "drupe". The tour costs $30 and you meet in front of the Lazy Gecko Cafe at 10 am. This is great--the Lazy Gecko is right next to Okay Guesthouse.

For those who, like me, were unable to locate the Lazy Gecko based on other online directions, here is the best way to find it. The official address is .... but try to tell that to a moto driver in Phnom Penh. Your best bet is to say, Okay Guesthouse, Lazy Gecko, or if all else fails PUC/Pannasastra University. If you wind up at PUC, just start walking clockwise around the building, and it's down the first alleyway you come to.

I didn't actually see much more this time around than I did before, although I managed to break a $100 bill. This is a Herculean task in Cambodia, so you should really stop here to congratulate me.

I traveled with a pair of middle-aged Aussie ladies who were sponsoring one of the zoo's Sunbears, and a nature-loving French girl exploring South East Asia. We piled into the back of a leopard-spotted Korean military jeep and took the long dusty road out to the zoo. It was cold, overcast, and rainy, but I got to water tigers, play with an elephant's trunk, and love on a large deer missing a foot. Also I saw leopards having sex.

The narration is starting to get goofy. Maybe it's better for me to post images. Lookie:

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Photos

Birds
One is real, one is fake.

My Encounter with Lucky the Elephant
Mere seconds after this shot, Lucky wrapped her trunk around my hand and tried to break it off at the wrist.

Comments

[Danna]

Glad you get days off!
Hey Liz! You are working so many long hours that I was really happy to hear they let you have a day off to go to the zoo. Sorry you are in a cell. Had any flashbacks to living in the tent in the Hawaiian woods? Hope you got your malaria shots. I'm just glad you got out of China and managed to escape in one piece. Great photos, as always. Lovely narration as well. Your hairdo is a little nutty but nuttiness is why I love you. I got to go to the Madeira's Farmer's Market with your mom and showed her the wedding photo album. It was tons of fun. I emailed you some photos. I just hope I have your current email address correct. Did you get them? I know you would prefer to teach the older kids but you're right, a male teacher could be a pedophile or he could become abusive as a way to deal with the stress of such unruly children, so I'm glad the little "angels in disguise" are in your hands...especially since they are future leaders and are bringing guns to school! Don't worry if you feel like they are not learning any English. What they really need you to teach them is peace and love, and the best way to do that is leading by example and being nice and peaceful yourself, so try to keep your cool when they start driving you nuts and after work, try to de-stress, relax, and pray as often as you can!!--Love, Danna

[Global Drifter]

Honestly Danna, you sound exactly like your mother! The first picture you've seen of me in months, and you rag on my hairstyle. It's exactly the same style I wore when I left the states, I can promise you that. I'm quitting the job where I teach children, incidently. It simply can't go on, and NO women are not less abusive than men. I'm not going to make it another week without hitting. Time to move on.

[seamallowance]

God punishes punsters by making them teach kindergarten.

[Global Drifter]

Punsters
You will have a lot of kindergarteners to teach then, sir!