Mozzeenet

Had a great weekend thus far (not much of it left). Had a bit of a break from database development which was very much needed.

Yesterday, we went on an adventure to Kirirom National Park, about 2 hours from PP on “big” bikes as we call them (in comparison to motos). There were 10 of us, 5 barangs (foreigners) and 5 drivers. It was heaps of fun. We hired the bikes in the morning from Lucky Lucky Motorcycle Rental (right next to Big Luck Hotel) and headed off around 8am.

Sonia and I have been there before but the other 3 are from the new intake of volunteers so riding on the dirt bikes and exploring the national park was a new experience for them. They really enjoyed it.

The national park is in the Cardomom mountains (a hide-out of the Khmer Rouge in the 70s and 80s) and the scenery is really nice on the drive up there, hazy mountains in the distance with fruit trees and green rice fields to the sides.

Within the park, the road is flanked by lots of greenery and trees including pine trees which are apparently natural. We stopped at the picnic area, lots of Khmer woven huts all by the river. We chose our hut across a litle wooden bridge and made ourselves comfortable on the woven mats. Then we ordered lunch of BBQ chicken, fish and rice. It was a feast which we all enjoyed after the long drive.

We dipped our feet in the cold mountain water and after lunch, went bathing in the small rapids. It was so refreshing. Us four girls hired sarong dresses to wear in the water for cultural appropriateness (sarongs with elastic at the top worn as a strapless bathing dress). We each had a different, flourescent colour - orange, blue, green and pink. It looked quite comical as we made our way into the water one after the other. It was really relaxing sitting on the rocks with the cool water rushing over our legs.

After that we went to another spot along the road where there is a vistor’s centre with information about wildlife and the environment a walk down to a little lake. It was really peaceful and good to do some exercise in the fresh air. We saw the tracks of a wild pig or deer near the lake.

The trip back was smooth and we arrived home at around 6.15pm all safe and sound. A really lovely day - it’s so nice getting out and doing something different now and then.

Last night, we went to listen to some jazz and funk music at a restaurant, had tapas and margaritas there. It was packed.

We were pretty tired after the energetic day and took ourselves off home around 9pm to have a good sleep, interrupted at 5am this morning by extremely loud music, singing and microphones at the religious celebration set up in our street. We’re not quite sure what it’s for but there were some big, gold-coloured buddhas there so we think they were being blessed. The noise was deafening and far from harmonious! Sonia and I felt like we were going a bit mad this morning.

This last week was taken up mainly with database work and not much else. I broke the back of it this week. Got past some of the difficult bits which is a relief. Only 2 weeks of work left!

A funny thing happened this week. I went to the bank at lunch time and caught a moto there from my work because Thy couldn’t pick me up. It took a while at the bank - I had asked the moto driver to wait so I hopped on what I thought was the moto and went back to my home, fairly close by. He had been waiting a while so I paid him $1US (a relatively generous amount).

The next day, I came out at lunch time and Thy wasn’t there again but another moto driver started talking to me (not unusual - I just thought he was asking me if I needed a lift or telling me that Thy couldn’t wait for me). He kept talking and I caught something about ‘giving money’. I was confused so I got someone to translate for me. He said that I hadn’t paid him when he took me to the bank the day before. I remembered handing over the money so I said I had. But then it dawned on me that I had caught the wrong moto from the bank. Sometimes it is really hard to recognise the driver again. The poor guy had waited for me for half an hour. I apologised and paid him and we both had a good chuckle about that.

Well, that’s my funny antic for the week. I shall sign out here - headed off for a massage later this afternoon and a relaxing Sunday night (hopefully not punctuated by the strains of that ear-splitting music)!

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia

Been back over a week now and it’s been full-on workarama and a few other things in between. I haven’t had time to breathe!

Website design and content are practically done - final changes to the text should happen this week and it will be going live any day now. Tomorrow I will be training staff how to use Dreamweaver to update it.

Working frantically to get the database finished in time. My aim is to get it done by the end of this week, probably optimistic then next week will be putting the data in. If I don’t, will have to come to some sort of compromise I think, haven’t worked out what yet.

Lots of plans for travel after I finish the assignment (December 12), to some temples in a province North of PP, Laos and an Island near Sihanoukville for xmas. Will probably be in Laos for New Year. Very excited!

Weekend very quiet - watched the Rugby at some friends’on Saturday and then went out for a Thai dinner - all in attendance were Australians commiserating.

Had an interesting lunch appointment last Thursday - at the Australian Ambassador’s residence (palatial) to meet the Parliamentary Delegation to SE Asia including Natasha Stott Despoja! Most of the YAs were very excited to meet Natasha!

It was a buffet lunch with a reception beforehand. We met and dined with the MPs. The new Ambassador, Annabel Anderson, is very encouraging of the volunteer programs and involves us in embassy functions (was not the case previously) so that is really great. Hard to contemplate the life of an Ambassador though - the house was a mansion with huge gardens. I was imagining how much entertaining she would have to do. I don’t think I could cope although I could learn to cope with the pool, champagne and seafood lunches, perhaps!

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia

Sitting in Mum’s loungeroom in her apartment in Bangkok on the 18th floor. Skyscrapers and buildings as far as the eye can see through a murky haze.

Have had a week off and been travelling around a bit - staying here with Mum for 3 days which has been enjoyable.

We went on a river cruise last night with an amazing dinner of seafood and other delicious thai dishes - I was rather full by the end of it. It was very nice - one fo the old rice barges done up with wooden decorations.

It was a gorgous view of some of the temples along the river including the impressive Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn all lit up - it is in Cambodian style with a tall tower.

Also interesting were the royal barges which we saw berthed at two locations, used for ceremonies - they were amazing, long gold-decorated, wooden boats with a covered seat in the middle where the royal personage sits. The boats have ornate carvings at either end and are brightly coloured.

Yesterday I just wandered around the streets near where Mum lives - she is central near Sukhimvit Rd in soi running off it. It is a 5 minute moto ride to the closest BTS skytrain station. It was interesting - I had lunch in a roadside restaurant of Papaya salad and grilled chicken - yum. The flavours and combinations are sensational.

Today I spent most of the day out at the weekend market. It is HUGE - goes on and on forever. I bought a fair bit of stuff - clothes, a bag, hat and running shoes (2nd-hand). It is very crowded and my feet are now rather sore from all the walking. You could find just about anything at that market from Siamese fighting fish to American Indian feather head-dresses to hair dye. That reminds me - I saw a few places yesterday where you can get a marriage registration in 20 minutes!

Bangkok is chic compared to PP, very developed. Most people in the city appear to be fairly well-off in comparison - there’s not the same desperation to get a “sale”. In fact, most of the time salespeople don’t hassle customers at all. It is a nice change.

Tomorrow I head back to PP. Earlier in the week, Sonia, Ana and I headed down to Kep in Kampot province - it was fantastic, so peaceful and quiet. We stayed at The Verandah, some wooden bungalows nestled up in the hills above the town amongst the jungle, very natural.

Electricity is only on for a couple of hours a night there. It is so relaxing - the sunsets are beautiful from the hammocks on the balcony.

On Monday, we went out to Rabbit Island for the day, just swimming and lazing in hammocks. It was bliss - had fresh fish and rice for lunch. The water is warm and fishing boats dot the horizon with coconut palms for shade.

Tuesday we just relaxed then went our separate ways because I was headed overland to Thailand. I stayed that night in Sihanoukville after a 3 hour taxi drive. The road is red clay part of the way from Kep to Kompong Som, pretty bumopy. Flat tire at the end of it.

Next day I headed off from Sihanoukville by ferry to Koh Kong, the border town. At first I was a little scared on the ferry because it was a bit bumpy and it was tipping to one side. The ticket man assured me it was quite normal. It evened out after a while - quite claustrophobic down there - the windows are not able to be opened and they close the door. Still, I think it would be pretty rough up on the roof.

At Koh Kong (3.5 hours later) there was a swarm of moto drivers, taxis and pick-up trucks to meet the ferry. I caught a moto to the border crossing at Had Lek and went through the formalities.

Soon I was in Thailand and found a moto to catch to Khlong Yai. It was a lovely drive thorugh green hills, trees and the sun going down over the seas and islands to one side. Enjoyed that. From the town, I caught a mini-van to Trat - about 45 minutes and succeeded to find a good guesthouse after a few setbacks and a bit of searching. There were the usual touts, the first one I saw was pretty dodgy - blue patterned lino throughout and the price of the room stuck up onto the room door.

I wanted a room with bathroom attached - every GH owner told me I would not find that at any other GH but of course I did. The one I settled on was pleasant, close to the centre and very friendly.

Dinner was noodles, chicken and vegetable stirfry in the night market. Then bed early and the next day, a bit of time-killing before catching the 12pm bus for a 5.5 hr journey to Bangkok (boring built-up highway).

I had wanted to go to Koh Chang down near Trat, an island which is reportedly less touristy than other Thai islands but arrival times didn’t fit in with my plan so in the end, most of the overland trip was really just a lot of travelling. Might have been better just to go back to PP and fly. Never mind - saw a few different parts.

Has been a fantastic week off - and preparing for the last intense stint at WMC over the new few weeks.

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia