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