So i have finally left my beautiful beach resort of Sihanoukville. It was a fun 8 days but definitely didn't feel that long. I thought it was more like 5 days. I feel kinda bad that i didn't actually do any volunteer work but i guess there will be more opportunities for that later.
My Dutch buddy chilling out on the beach at night (what we basically did every night, beach during the day, sleep, beach at night, sleep, repeat)
A Norwegian girl whom i was also hanging out with. The Cambodian guy was by far the best fire show guy i have ever seen in my life. Not that he was a pro or nething, but he put on the best show i have ever seen! i'll compare when i get down to the full moon party.
My dorm room for the last 8 days. Feels like being in the hold of a ship. But its more like being in a garage next to a very noisy bar. Good thing is that now i can sleep with fans and loud music around.
So for being a cheap ass again i paid a steep price. well maybe not that steep but costly. I had forgotten my sandals in the hotel in Saigon and i was hoping my friend would retrieve them for me. however, she neglected to pick them up and so, in my vain attempt to save a dollar and forgo purchasing a new pair of flip-flops, i ended up cutting the bottom of my foot while playing on the beach. So i've been limping around for the past 4 days. Normally not a problem back home but over here, i rely heavily on my feet as my main source of transportation.
Phnom Penh from my window
I went back to Phnom Penh and called up my tuk-tuk driver for a pickup. Probably one of the best decisions i've made this entire trip through Cambodia. He took me back to his house and had a spare room all set up for me to sleep. A very nice room i might add, much better than the 2 dollar/night place i would have been sleeping in had i decided to go it alone.
My beautiful living room! Yes, i have a living room! Not the cleanest but hey, its mine!
Now his wife, not expecting me to come that day, was going along her usual routine and cooked a traditional Khmer (Cambodian) dinner for her and her husband. Of course my unexpected arrival did not allow her to make something else for dinner (i had already informed my driver that i didn't eat seafood). Well, of course what was there to eat for dinner? Boiled fish. And on the side? Fried fish.
Now you all know that i hate fish with a passion. I will only eat it if i am starving. And usually that will also include that i have caught it, gutted it, cooked it, and consumed all other forms of food available first (excluding condiments of course). Now after a 4 hr bus ride, with a slightly upset stomach, staring at 2 different types of fish, my driver and wife smiling at me and putting big chunks of fish into my plate, i figured this was as bad as it gets.
But you know what? I actually ate it. And had seconds too! In fact, it was soo good, i had thirds. This was, bar none, the best fish i have ever had in my life! Now mom, don't think when i come home all i want to eat is fish. I haven't eaten a lot of fish in my lifetime, but of the fish i have eaten before, i know that i have hated it. But this fish was different. The fishy flavor was non-existent. So it was a very light meat with some good sauce and delicious flavor. My compliments to the cook (not that i don't like your cooking mom, just that this was some super kickass fish!). It was a very good meal and a great way for me to experience authentic Khmer food. To tell u the truth, i was so nervous when i put the first piece in my mouth. I really didn't want to puke it back out. That would have been so bad. Anyways, thats my fried fish story.
The next morning, we got up and i washed myself wiht a bucket of hot water. There is no hot running water so my driver boiled it for me. I would have been fine with a cold shower (i'm quite used to them now) but since it was there i was like why not. It really sucks washing yourself with a bucket.
From there we went off to visit his mom, nephew, and niece. Very nice and generous people but you can tell they are very poor. He then took me to visit his mother in law, her side of the family and introduce me to his daughter. Quite an interesting experience when you visit a village and you get introduced to everyone. They all just looked at me and smiled and laughed. They tried to talk to me but not much could be said. Its like being in a zoo except you're the one they're looking at. Interesting times.
Its quite interesting when people invite you into their homes and show you their way of life. Simple things like no hot water, eating off the floor, and using spoons and forks to eat are so alien to me. There really is nothing like doing a genuine homestay. The truest form of traveling comes from living with the local people. i will have to do this again.
A Norwegian girl whom i was also hanging out with. The Cambodian guy was by far the best fire show guy i have ever seen in my life. Not that he was a pro or nething, but he put on the best show i have ever seen! i'll compare when i get down to the full moon party.My dorm room for the last 8 days. Feels like being in the hold of a ship. But its more like being in a garage next to a very noisy bar. Good thing is that now i can sleep with fans and loud music around.
So for being a cheap ass again i paid a steep price. well maybe not that steep but costly. I had forgotten my sandals in the hotel in Saigon and i was hoping my friend would retrieve them for me. however, she neglected to pick them up and so, in my vain attempt to save a dollar and forgo purchasing a new pair of flip-flops, i ended up cutting the bottom of my foot while playing on the beach. So i've been limping around for the past 4 days. Normally not a problem back home but over here, i rely heavily on my feet as my main source of transportation.
Phnom Penh from my windowI went back to Phnom Penh and called up my tuk-tuk driver for a pickup. Probably one of the best decisions i've made this entire trip through Cambodia. He took me back to his house and had a spare room all set up for me to sleep. A very nice room i might add, much better than the 2 dollar/night place i would have been sleeping in had i decided to go it alone.
My beautiful living room! Yes, i have a living room! Not the cleanest but hey, its mine! Now his wife, not expecting me to come that day, was going along her usual routine and cooked a traditional Khmer (Cambodian) dinner for her and her husband. Of course my unexpected arrival did not allow her to make something else for dinner (i had already informed my driver that i didn't eat seafood). Well, of course what was there to eat for dinner? Boiled fish. And on the side? Fried fish.
Now you all know that i hate fish with a passion. I will only eat it if i am starving. And usually that will also include that i have caught it, gutted it, cooked it, and consumed all other forms of food available first (excluding condiments of course). Now after a 4 hr bus ride, with a slightly upset stomach, staring at 2 different types of fish, my driver and wife smiling at me and putting big chunks of fish into my plate, i figured this was as bad as it gets.
But you know what? I actually ate it. And had seconds too! In fact, it was soo good, i had thirds. This was, bar none, the best fish i have ever had in my life! Now mom, don't think when i come home all i want to eat is fish. I haven't eaten a lot of fish in my lifetime, but of the fish i have eaten before, i know that i have hated it. But this fish was different. The fishy flavor was non-existent. So it was a very light meat with some good sauce and delicious flavor. My compliments to the cook (not that i don't like your cooking mom, just that this was some super kickass fish!). It was a very good meal and a great way for me to experience authentic Khmer food. To tell u the truth, i was so nervous when i put the first piece in my mouth. I really didn't want to puke it back out. That would have been so bad. Anyways, thats my fried fish story.
The next morning, we got up and i washed myself wiht a bucket of hot water. There is no hot running water so my driver boiled it for me. I would have been fine with a cold shower (i'm quite used to them now) but since it was there i was like why not. It really sucks washing yourself with a bucket.
From there we went off to visit his mom, nephew, and niece. Very nice and generous people but you can tell they are very poor. He then took me to visit his mother in law, her side of the family and introduce me to his daughter. Quite an interesting experience when you visit a village and you get introduced to everyone. They all just looked at me and smiled and laughed. They tried to talk to me but not much could be said. Its like being in a zoo except you're the one they're looking at. Interesting times.
Its quite interesting when people invite you into their homes and show you their way of life. Simple things like no hot water, eating off the floor, and using spoons and forks to eat are so alien to me. There really is nothing like doing a genuine homestay. The truest form of traveling comes from living with the local people. i will have to do this again.
-bk
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