I had set my alarm for 5.30am, expecting it to be a hard slog to get myself out of bed, with the risk that I might go back to sleep and sleep in. Typically this wasn't the case in this instance, and so I was all packed up and ready for breakfast and then to go, by only 6am!
I headed down the millions of stairs to the restaurant where I was barely able to safely put my rucksack down. I managed, and enjoyed a very tasty breakfast, with a slightly endulgant two coffees! Someone had conveniently passed, offering newspapers for sale so I bought one. I half expected them to just be fakes, with blank pages on the inside, but thankfully they weren't.
There was quite a lot of interesting news; A group living somewhere in Phnom Penh were evicted with a settle up fee of $8000 for leaving peacefully, although some were still refusing to go. Also someone was in the news for being a female tuk-tuk driver. Siem Reaps tourism is decrewasing to teh temples, although there are more nastionals visiting. There is a trial for someone who was a main-man in the S21 killings. Japan is putting large amounts of money into de-land-mining the Battambang area. A curious one, was that they might be having a ban on advertisments for phone companies that advertise long phone calls as it is anti-Khmer.
Victims of a paedophile who paid kids to pose naked for $5 a go, were getting $119 in compensation for their trauma... and a 14 year old girl was stabbed to death in Kampot.
One piece of news that was a bit irritating was that there's a storm in Kampot, making it not particularly for tourists to go there, I'm hoping things will calm down a bit before I plan to go there.
After reading all the news, which I hadn't done for a very long time, I headed out to the bus station to wait for the bus to Siem Reap. My bag was labelled and put on board, as I too boarded the bus. Unfortunatly I was sat next to a local lady who wass picking at her feet and had quite a lot of fruit which seemed to be smelling the place out a bit.
I read my book for most of the journey, trying to distract myself from the need to go to the toilet... damn those cups of irresistable coffee!!
Eventually we made a stop, where I could relieve myself, in the comfort of a squat toilet; fun! I maybe should start practicing doing some squat thrusts or something so that it's not so painful for my thighs when I go to the toilet!
The second stop I decided I'd treat myself to another coffee as it wasn't too long befopre we were supposed to arrive in Siem Reap. I was in a good position to keep an eye on where I'd seen our bus park, and where there was still a bus parked. After finishing my coffee, and being distracted by a man offering a free mini-bus ride to the centre from the bus park, I was just paying, when I saw the bus roll away! I must have looked pretty shocked and be muttering something in disbelief, as the waitor subsequently ran after the bus. I'm not sure what happened in the next few seconds, as somehow I was able to come to my senses that the bus that had just left was going to Phnom Penh, and somehow my bus had miraculously moved places whilst I was daydreaming. Never again shall I let my eyes stray from the bus, or endulge in a coffee! It was quite a shock, and although I don't think many of those on the bus knew the embarassment I'd just gone thoiugh, I still kept my head down as I re-boarded the bus!
Yet again, on our arrival, this time in Siem Reap, we were swarmed by tuk-tuk drivers. I checked with some fellow whites that they were also trusting the mini-bus man, and then passed on my newspaper to them. It was a very short bus ride during which we were informed that the king was visiting Siem Reap for two weeks. We pulled up in a guesthouse that didn't look to bad. I managed to get the room, with breakfast included, for only $6! Yay! It was ensuite, a big fan, and a tv, and generally in good condition.
I faffed about, but not for long, before checking my emails and heading out. I'd expected to hear from Lucy by this time, but hadn't so I decided I'd make do by myself and head out to the town. I was shocked at how far out the guesthouse seemed on the map from the rest of the town, but in reality, it is not that bad.
Next door was a conviently placed bike hire centre, for only $0.5 a day! Amazing! I haded off in the pretty sturdy little bike, and apart from the occassional rude noise coming from the bike, I felt pretty safe. I had a hard time identifying where places were in the town. It was quite dusty as the wind rose, and it was raining very gently for a time. It felt a bit like a ever so slightly livelier place in the out-west, but with the occasional pagoda and Asian influence to the area. I was feeling pretty jolly on the bike, it makes a nice change from being stuck on a bus.
Just by chance, after giving up after following a map, I came across a little shop which sold things made by disabled people, which the profits went directly to the makers.
Just around the corner, was the Physical Rehabilitation Centre, which was a real gem. It had examples of limbs that people had made themselves before the PRC had givewn them properly fitted ones, as well examples of the education they provide in other centres about avoiding landmines and health care of 0-5 year olds, as many have developed cerebral palsy after not being given appropriate medical help sooin enough for a treatable virus. So they help people reognise the symptoms etc.
The main purpose of the centre is to provide those who have lost limbs, suffer with cerebal palsy, or club foot; the physiotheraphy, or proper fitting/testing off new prosthetic limbs so they can continue working on farms and live a more normal life. They provide free transport, accomodation within the centre whilst the limb is fitted, food, and all the related medical care free of charge. The testing of the limbs was done in a playground type of scene, where they tested it on swingy bridges, rocky ground, and various other challenging landscape. The room for giving parents and children an idea of things to do and new ways to experience life, for which they must go home and continue such independence-building tasks, was a room full of lots of toys and balls etc. There was also a social worker who worked to help the person/familyt in as many ways as possible to make their life easier. It is amazing that they do all of the above on site, even the creation of the new limbs! It was a really heart-wrenching/inspiring place. It was nice to see something working out well for the locals.
The only scary thing was the rat in the kitchen area which was pretty huge. Also there was a cute kitten, who unfortunatly got too close to a girl who lifted the poor cat up by her tail and moved the cat elsewhere.
I decided I'd have a go at heading up to Ankor Wat to get my free sunset before the three day pass starts the following day. On the way, I happened to slow down, and eventually stop outside a rucksack shop, where, as always I got slightly too tempted by what was on offer, and bouht a rucksack. Whoops! I hope this one dosn't break. I think I might put all my luggage in it and then jump around madly (as far as possible!) just to check it isn't going to break, as I manaed to get the guy to sign something saying he'd refund or give me a new one should it break in the next week!
The pass cost $40, and it didn't take me long to cycle there, although surprisingly it felt longer on the way there than the way back. It was fun overtaking as many bicycles as possible on the way though. It was quite exhausting, but probably as I hadn't eaten must substatial food during the day.
The temple looked nice, although maybe it was due to my hunger and exhaustion, that I prefer the paintings I'd seen of the temple, rather than the temple itself. I didn't manage to see the sunset; I seem to get rather confused between actually being able to see the sun (has it already set?) or is it just hiding, as it's not pitch black yet... it's a mystery!
I hope the next couple of days aren't too boring with just seeing lots of temples! I cyled back, briefly stopping to see what the vendors on the side where selling, although I think they only had one dish which was a bit strange. A car passed me, with two kidsa hanging out the window waving madly and shouting hello; how adorable! I waved and shouted back, being careful to not run myself into the ditch. Surprisingly enough I didn't fall off the bike, get the lock stuck or o flying into the ditches at all today, so I'm feeling rather proud of myself!
I went along a street in searchj o dinner; there was an awful lot of pizza places to choose from, one of which includes a 'happy herb'- guess which one?! I decided I wasn't going to get high, and went to a drug-free pizza place where I had a very delicious mango shake and pizza. Outside there were a group of kids playing in a tuk tuk with their young mum, it was quite sweet.
I'm still not sure whether MJ is illegal or not here, oh well, best not try, although it seems a bit weird being on such a public display if it was illegal.
I still hadn't heard from Lucy or anyone from SKIP by this point, and didn't know who the unknown caller was who kept on phoning me. I didn't ever seem to be looking at my phone when it was going off, and as always I didn't actually hear it ever either! I decided that I couldn't sit and wonder where they were and I'd have to just get on with Siem Reap by myself.
I headed back to the guesthouse where I had a shower, which discovered not only that my washing bag had squirted shampoo everywhere, but that there was a cockroach in my shower. I'm starting to like the little critters, although I think I'll have to somehow freak myself out with an imagine of 20 of them toether, in a small space or I might just start to feed them or something!
I headed next door to the internet cafe as the guesthouse internet was in use, and I thought I'd probably get chucked off sooner or later if I tried to be on there blogging for hours. Just as I was blogging, Lucy rang, and told me she was in the MJ pizza place! I'm hoping to see them tomorrow, although I'll have to keep my phone in front of my eyes so I don't miss them! I shall hopefully be able to deliver Lucy's geckos then too!
Tomorrow I plan to go to a hospital to see a cellist play some Bach which I'm looking forward to!
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