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Amazing that I managed to get up in time to cross the border. It's not like it had been a late night, but getting organized for a 5am bus is never easy! And then, I somehow managed. I met up with Maria along the way, a girl I had first met on the beach in Ko Chang. She was planning on catching the same speedboat down to Sihanoukville, so a mini adventure was born.

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Crazy Coffeecat in Cambodia

Coffeecat
2005-12-24 19:08:16

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nearest bed where I snored and slobbered until my adventure back to the hotel the next morning. I'm not sure why I chose to swim/bob along the shoreline rather than walk straight along the beach, although the tiring effort was refreshing...until I realized I had passed my hotel all ready!!

How on earth I made it through the next day is beyond me. Well, it took me 2 days to recover to be honest. I'm not used to drinking like this, I swear!! Nonetheless, I managed to board a bus to Phnom Penh and find myself some cheap accomodation on the lake where I then spent the next 24 hours swinging in a hammock. Having another water, another snooze and yet another think about what I really should be doing. It was a bit confusing for me when I looked out onto the water and saw just that, water, only to look up 30 minutes later and see only plants. Huh? The floating beds of lillies

These are the lunch time bungalows sadly left behind
start as islands but with the winds and rains that took over they soon looked like farmers fields. My poor brain finally figured it out. The chilled out day ended up being an exceptionally enjoyable one.

I managed to take in some of the sights the next day by jumping on a moto heading towards The Palace and the Silver Pagoda. As the showers had scared most people away (okay, they were a little heavier than 'showers'!) I had the place to myself. Walking around the Royal residence isn't as significant as actually living within such a plush world, but it certainly is an eye opener. There were nearly 10,000 diamonds within the golden body of the Buddha inside, just a little mesmerizing for a simple girl like me!! I don't yet know much of the Cambodian Royal family other than they are as respected as the Thai Royal family. The Thai king is the longest reigning monarch to date, but I am sure the Cambodian family has equal tales to tell. Next point of research on my long list!!

That night I found a great Indian curry house near my hotel. Great way to re-activate the senses although they were

soon dulled with the treats for dessert. No more late wild nights for me though as I have a 7am bus to Battambang to catch!!

Phnom Penh also gave me the chance to do a bit of people watching. Many ladies seem to wear outfits similar to my pjamas. And then they try and sell you a plate of deep fried spiders. 'Spiders' might not give you the right size impression, they're terantulas! Can you imagine biting off a leg and nibbling it as if it were beef jerkey? Yes, I most certainly declined!! It's often quite hard to walk by so many children asking for money, but I've learned to just start closing my eyes. I have a pocket full of small notes in riel for a few donations. I must always remember to keep the riel separate to the American dollar, which is the more predominant currency here.

I've certainly enjoyed my first week in Cambodia. I had been warned and read so much to avoid scams and various dangerous situations, and quite simply I didn't see it. Perhaps I'm lucky, perhaps I'm wise. I had planned on doing more, but why rush? I can come back if I really

want to!

Off to Battambang and Siem Reap (Angkor Wot) next. Hope all is well with everybody.

-Fiona