Wow, take away anything else to do and I'm blogging like a fiend! I didn't do an outline tonight, though, so we'll see which stray thoughts surface as I speed through another entry.
Took the bus to Siem Reap today. I was going to stay in Phnom Penh until tomorrow, but didn't think I wanted to. Then changed my mind, but still, there's so much I want to do in Siem Reap, decided just to forge ahead. I can always go back to PP early if I choose.
Walked through the market and had a traditional Khmer breakfast of noodle soup, squatting on a plastic stool with a bunch of Cambodians. I don't do things like that often enough.
They have signs on butcher shops here depicting ducks, pigs, cows, chickens, and dogs. Usually some hopelessly friendly looking golden retriever or something equally unlikely to stoke your appetite. I was really alarmed when I walked past a cluster of people eating at a street stand and saw a picture of a cat and dog above them. Fortunately, I then noticed the English on the sign: Änimal Health Clinic. Just a coincidence. Maybe.
I've often said that if you wanted to see real differences between countries, you should have traveled 100 years ago. Everything is the same now. Not everywhere, apparently. Outside of Phnom Penh, I doubt much has changed for centuries. We saw all the quintessential things: houses on stilts, built of scrap wood or palm leaves; farmers with wooden plows pulled by those white, bumpy cattle (though one plow had car tires on it); scooters and carts piled high with goods & trucks overflowing with people; huge piles of hay in every yard; rice paddies and palm trees... It was fantastic. Probably could have done with a few hours less, but neat to see all the same. I really can't imagine the lives these people live, though the more I thought about it, the easier it became. If I offered them a plane ticket and a new life in America, would they want it? Perhaps not. They may not have the slick entertainment we do, but they also don't spend most of their time on consumption. Is that something to pity?
My guesthouse in Siem Reap is quite nice, if far removed from the attractive district. I didn't eat all day, so I took the first restaurant I found tonight (and got oily stir fry...could've been worse), but I'll be more selective from now on. Refused to make a deal with the pushy tuk tuk driver for seeing the temples tomorrow, but maybe I should have. He seemed a little gormless, though, and I'd like one who knows all the best stuff to see. Also wanted to check my email again to see what the going rate for a day is. I overpaid for the killing fields, which I sort of suspected.
Normally I like traveling alone (or am ok with it anyway), but it's been a bit of a burden this trip. Haven't found anyone to talk to today at all, and the guesthouse is set up more like a hotel than a hostel, greatly decreasing my chances of befriending anyone. As with many things: next time, I'll know. I'm glad I decided to do one week, one country for this trip. A good intro to the rest of the world.
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