Mozzeenet

Work and play have been the order of the last couple of weeks with two holiday weekends in a row.

Last week, we had Friday off for the King’s Birthday. I was really tired from being busy at work so I was debating whether to go to Sihanoukville to the beach. In the end, I caught the bus at lunch time on Friday and met the others there in the late evening and I’m really glad I did.

Had a really nice, relaxing weekend and met some new people. We basically did very little except sit on the beach on deck chairs under a shady tree and eat fruit and drink iced coffees. I went for a swim and read.

I shared with 2 other girls in a guesthouse overlooking the beach up on a hill. It was a great view. the room was like a sauna though and the wall fan wouldn’t oscillate so we got another stand-up fan from reception. Despite this, I slept really well – I think I needed it.

On the Saturday night, we were invited to dinner with a family who one of the girls knew – she had taught their son last year at the International school in PP. It was a Khmer family, one of the wealthy ones. They invited all 7 of us to a fancy restaurant and we had plates of crabs, shrimp, cockles and bottles of wine.

It was a cross-cultural situation which we were amused by. We were seated at a separate table so didn’t get to talk to the family, in fact barely even met them. It was an interesting social comparison, such extremes are common here. The son (about 6 years old) had a maid fanning him the whole time!

After that we went and had some drinks by the beach, lots of fun.

The trip back was a bit scary. We got a mini-bus taxi and on the way, we saw the scene of a big accident. It had been cleared but there was a mangled truck and bus by the side of the road. The side of the bus was collapsed in and hardly recognisable. That was a sobering thought because I travelled down there on a bus.

Then, a car driving in the opposite direction overtook another car but we were very close when it pulled out. So, it was catapulting directly towards us. I was sure it was all over and we were going to have a head-on collision. Everyone gasped and I screamed and just at the last moment, it swerved onto the right side of the road. I felt very shaky after that one.

The week was full-on at work – as it will be until I finish. I made quite a bit of headway with the database after deciding to buy a huge Access tome. I was having trouble with a few functions and was progressing quite slowly. The book has helped a lot to clarify some things. For a while there, I was thinking I couldn’t get it done in time but I’m feeling more positive now.

This weekend is the water festival (Bon om Tuk), a very big annual celebration here marking the end of the wet season. It has been exciting so far. It goes for 3 days, Friday to Sunday and involves boat races on the river. The boats are long, wooden vessels with up to approx. 70 rowers. The rowers stand up and the boats go very fast.

All the villages enter a boat so there are many people in Phnom Penh from the provinces, estimated about 1-3 million more people than usual.

Yesterday, we went into the river. There were checkpoints near the main area and we had to pay the police guards, 1000 riel to get past (on a moto) then at the next street, it was the same story so we decided to get off and walk, not very far.

We met up with one of my friends from work, Kanha and her boyfriend and about 6 of her friends. It was great to go round the streets and see the sights. The streets were packed with people, traffic couldn’t drive through. Very busy and a happy, easter show-like atmosphere.

After 6pm, the King of Cambodia spoke and there were fireworks. We ate noodle soup in a small local restaurant with Kanha and her friends.

Then we walked around the stalls which were mainly promoting things like shampoo, rice cookers etc or selling lottery tickets then headed back to the river. It was exciting – the river was lit up by several floats, huge displays of coloured lights on boats. Each ministry had their own boat and they were very beautiful. People were crowded on the riverside to watch, eat and socialise with friends and family.

Tomorrow, we will go into the river again and watch some of the boat racing. We’ve booked a table at one of the restaurants which has a balcony overlooking the river. Then, in the afternoon we’re headed for Kep, another seaside town.

We have been there before and loved it. I am just looking forward to chilling out there for a couple of days – it is very peaceful with very few people. I have the week off so after that I am heading to Thailand via the border crossing at Koh Kong (southern Cambodia). I’ll meet up with Mum in Bangkok.

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia

Been in the new house for a well over a week now and we’re settling in well.

We had a small housewarming party on Saturday night. We all sat around on the couches in the lounge room and talked and drank punch – it was a punch party! I made one with cranberry juice, vodka, lemon juice and ginger ale. It was really nice and Ana made one with pineapple and coconut plus rum.

Have been enjoying sitting out on the balcony in the evenings, really relaxing.

We have a long weekend this week and the following week. I am probably going to the coast, Sihanoukville, this weekend with some of the new YAs, if we can get accommo – it’s booked out for the holiday.

Work very busy but very satisfying. Í’m really enjoying getting into these final projects.

This morning I am invigilating Sonia’s exam for her Masters subject she is studying this semester! I’m about to head over to World Vision now where she works. Quite funny considering we are good friends and flatmates! It is a seen exam though so she already had the questions.

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia

Busy, busy and feeling a bit spacey today. This keyboard keeps typing multiple characters so you’ll know it’s not because I’ve gone to sleep if some of my words are strangely spelled.

Yesterday was moving day so I have been in the new place for a night. I love it – very airy, light and shaded with a big, leafy tree in front of the balcony. It’s lovely – very private but still can hear lots of activity on the street and there are windows all along one side and at the front which makes it very light. The windows have wooden, French shuttters.

I woke early yesterday morning. I had to finish off packing up my room and the kitchen. I was a bit worried but it was actually very easy. It makes such a difference not having to pack and move furniture here.

Dara, one of the moto drivers who has a taxi car, arrived at about 10.30am and we packed up his toyota with the stuff. Then, it was time to say our goodbyes and take some group photos of the family. That was really nice. Thy, my day driver, who lives just up the street came down as well.

We gave the family some chocolates and a card the night before and they gave us 3 sarongs in little, plastic pouches so that was nice.

It was after 11am by the time we got going, the last item to move being the cat! She kept her claws hooked into my shirt the whole way and was looking at everything but didn’t try to jump out of my arms. I got her upstairs first then we unpacked everything. It didn’t take long at all to unpack.

Tooley spent the rest of the day investigating and getting used to her surroundings. She’s doing pretty well considering although she did pee on Sonia’s lounge chair in her room last night! The kitty litter was on the balcony at the side of the apartment but she was too scared to go with people from out the back walking past. I moved it to the front of the balcony and she has used it so hopefully she will continue to do so.

Last night we went for some drinks at the new YAs – really nice. We’re going to have a house-warming next weekend.

On Friday night, we had a last dinner at the old house – steak and 3 veg, a big treat for us and Ana made diane sauce. It was really great chatting with Ana and Sonia and a good finale for our time there. When we were just about to leave on Sat morning, I looked around and felt that we had had a great time there. I knew I would have excellent memories of that place in the future.

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia