So my next moto ride was a bit scary! Feeling a bit giddy myself anyway, I felt like a doll on the back of a motorbike, very liable of falling off. It's cheaper than a tuk tuk, and so I thought I'd stick with my motos. They seem to drive so fast! Maybe I wouldn't mind if I had a set of pleathers on me, or at least a helmet! We seemed to swerve in front of quite a few cars, and after going up a dead end he did a sharp turn around which I thought would be the end of me. What is it with these moto drivers?! I wouldn't be surprised if they were on something. Actually, they really might be! A few times I've gone and have walked past several moto drivers, they ask if I want a ride, and then whisper in my ear if I want some drugs, namely marjuana. I probably would have been shocked, except thankfully there is a warning about them in the guesthouse I'm at.
So despite having two American, fairly decent TV channels to choose from, I feel like a trapped human in my little hotel room at night. It gets so boring! My only means of communication is my phone and entertainment is a book or the TV. I don't even have a computer to play on! It doesn't help that I'm slowly being wound up by my hands and feet itching constantly and rather painfully. It gets so frustrating!
I had thought that I'd maybe go to Kratie seeing as I was now on drugs, but I don't really feel up for travelling. I'm not looking forward to the flights home, or the next two weeks of waiting, nor is there anyway to speed up the going home, or the wait. Oh this is such fun!
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Phnom Penh - End of July (a few days ago)
So I've spent the last few days in Phnom Penh feeling ill. The dodgy stomach has gotten worse, or I've been eating to keep my strength up which has been making my stomach worse. I decided that with the stomach, faintness and other such problems, including the strange rash that seems to be taking over my body, I should probably make a visit to the doctor.
The consultation was $30, and after thoroughly checking me over; blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, as well as the usuall questions, he said that it was probably the most common problem; a viral infection, but I should give a stool sample just to see.
I thought hey, what am I in a new country for, if not for trying new things! So in came a nurse with a little plastic bag, containing a spatula and a pot, and off I went, returning shortly after with the filled pot! What a fun new experience for only $28! Ha!
I had to come back again the following day to get the results. I expected it to be clear, but was surprised to be informed that I had a new friend (or more like a foe) living inside of me, a parasite called Entamoeba Histolytica. I was a bit excited to have something I'd heard about from the Lonely Planet guidebook inside me, and to have something relavent to our M+I coursework, although I don't think we've studied this particular organism.
I was given, at a charge of $17, two sets of drugs, amounting to 6 and then 8 tablets a day, fun fun.
I'd already stopped taking all the other drugs I should be on, as I hate taking medications when I've got a dodgy stomach. I think that they are causing the problems or probably aren't being absorbed anyway, so would make no difference. I'm probably wrong, and only doing myself more harm than good, I just seem to be unable to take drugs for more than 2 months without getting bored of them.
On the day I went to the doctors for the second time, to the Naga Clinic, I'd made it all the way down the stairs from my 3rd floor room in bare feet, before realising that I'd gone up the stairs in shoes, and now was shoeless. I couldn't be bothered exhausting myself going all the way up again so ventured out onto a moto in my bare feet! It was quite fun! Although I was a bit scared of people thinking I'd gone a bit insane, although I felt rather free and more at home walking around in bare feet. The ground on the pavements tends to be smoother here than some other areas so it's quite pleasant. On my travels there was a random chicken on the busy pavement beside an even busier road, right in the centre of Phnom Penh, not sure where she'd escaped from!
I wandered back, not really sure which direction I should head in from the internet cafe, but just knowing that eventually I'd have to ask someone for a moto ride back to the hotel. I came across a vegan restaurant, in which I had some very sour lime juice, which I had to put quite a bit of sugar in to make it taste nice, and also a soup that was apparently Carrot and Corriander, but tasted more like Carrot and Nutmeg, but with more Nutmeg than Carrot. It was edible, vaguely. I didn't really have much of an appetite anyway. A nice find anyway, the vegan cafe.
I am sat in an internet cafe for what must be the millionth day in a row, entertaining myself as to have a break from lying in bed watching TV, or just slowing making my way through a small portion of chips and a cup of hot tea, whilst watching the news on the TV in the hotel's restaurant. I am enjoying just listening to Classic FM, it is a nice treat, and a shame that I cannot listen to such music in my hotel room. There seems to be just the awful local music available, except from the occasional Lady GaGa track that may appear on the US channels.
The consultation was $30, and after thoroughly checking me over; blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, as well as the usuall questions, he said that it was probably the most common problem; a viral infection, but I should give a stool sample just to see.
I thought hey, what am I in a new country for, if not for trying new things! So in came a nurse with a little plastic bag, containing a spatula and a pot, and off I went, returning shortly after with the filled pot! What a fun new experience for only $28! Ha!
I had to come back again the following day to get the results. I expected it to be clear, but was surprised to be informed that I had a new friend (or more like a foe) living inside of me, a parasite called Entamoeba Histolytica. I was a bit excited to have something I'd heard about from the Lonely Planet guidebook inside me, and to have something relavent to our M+I coursework, although I don't think we've studied this particular organism.
I was given, at a charge of $17, two sets of drugs, amounting to 6 and then 8 tablets a day, fun fun.
I'd already stopped taking all the other drugs I should be on, as I hate taking medications when I've got a dodgy stomach. I think that they are causing the problems or probably aren't being absorbed anyway, so would make no difference. I'm probably wrong, and only doing myself more harm than good, I just seem to be unable to take drugs for more than 2 months without getting bored of them.
On the day I went to the doctors for the second time, to the Naga Clinic, I'd made it all the way down the stairs from my 3rd floor room in bare feet, before realising that I'd gone up the stairs in shoes, and now was shoeless. I couldn't be bothered exhausting myself going all the way up again so ventured out onto a moto in my bare feet! It was quite fun! Although I was a bit scared of people thinking I'd gone a bit insane, although I felt rather free and more at home walking around in bare feet. The ground on the pavements tends to be smoother here than some other areas so it's quite pleasant. On my travels there was a random chicken on the busy pavement beside an even busier road, right in the centre of Phnom Penh, not sure where she'd escaped from!
I wandered back, not really sure which direction I should head in from the internet cafe, but just knowing that eventually I'd have to ask someone for a moto ride back to the hotel. I came across a vegan restaurant, in which I had some very sour lime juice, which I had to put quite a bit of sugar in to make it taste nice, and also a soup that was apparently Carrot and Corriander, but tasted more like Carrot and Nutmeg, but with more Nutmeg than Carrot. It was edible, vaguely. I didn't really have much of an appetite anyway. A nice find anyway, the vegan cafe.
I am sat in an internet cafe for what must be the millionth day in a row, entertaining myself as to have a break from lying in bed watching TV, or just slowing making my way through a small portion of chips and a cup of hot tea, whilst watching the news on the TV in the hotel's restaurant. I am enjoying just listening to Classic FM, it is a nice treat, and a shame that I cannot listen to such music in my hotel room. There seems to be just the awful local music available, except from the occasional Lady GaGa track that may appear on the US channels.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Sihanoukville - 24th July 2009 tbc
I was due at the dive shop for 8.30 ready for quite a few hours of studying and theory tests. I had a rather bland breakfast at the shop; bread and jam, before lazilly getting a moto to the dive shop. I thought it'd save me a bit of time, and if I happened to be sleeping okay then it would give me a bit more of a lie in.
My instructor for the course was a French guy called Sebastion, who pronounced 'bubbles' in a really adorable way, like on Finding Nemo!
I spent quite a while watching a DVD which basically was a lazier version of reading the book, but it helped send home the important messages that the book was saying. After reading and watching, I had 5 short practice tests to do, which I did pretty well on, and then after lunch, we went over the answers, before I was given another official test, which I got about 90% on, and then the 'final exam' where I was rather chuffed at scoring 96% whoo!
I had a headache by the end, as there was a lot to take in, especially the order of which you should prioritise for going up to the surface should you run out of air; something which I wasn't very good at remembering the order of.
(to be continued)
My instructor for the course was a French guy called Sebastion, who pronounced 'bubbles' in a really adorable way, like on Finding Nemo!
I spent quite a while watching a DVD which basically was a lazier version of reading the book, but it helped send home the important messages that the book was saying. After reading and watching, I had 5 short practice tests to do, which I did pretty well on, and then after lunch, we went over the answers, before I was given another official test, which I got about 90% on, and then the 'final exam' where I was rather chuffed at scoring 96% whoo!
I had a headache by the end, as there was a lot to take in, especially the order of which you should prioritise for going up to the surface should you run out of air; something which I wasn't very good at remembering the order of.
(to be continued)
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Sihanoukville (islands) - 25th July 2009
I had to be at the dive centre by 7.15am, so after enjoying the pink dragonfruit, I left my luggage at the hotel, and got a moto there. We set off shortly after in their customised, double the size tuk tuk, which seemed to get some approving smiles from the locals. On arrival at the boat, we were offered breakfast where I just ate a banana, before going to the top deck to lie down horizontally in the hope that I wouldn't be sick. Thankfully I survived, and after about 2.5 hours, we arrived at the island. It looked very peaceful and calm.
(to be continued)
(to be continued)
Sihanoukville - 26th August 2009
I am completely exhausted. I don't think I've slept the whole night through without actively being conscious in my dreams, for the last week. I slept on the island last night, where I went to sleep quite early listening to the sounds of the waves and the sea rushing in and out of the shore. It was relaxing, and I also had the pleasure of listening to some music that was playing in the social area until about 1 or 2am. I had gone to bed around 8pm, drastically early, but I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
I was up at 6am, and I read my book and had breakfast until my instructor and his Dive Master girlfriend woke at around 8am. I was making good progress through my book which was very enjoyable and relaxing, although I was feeling a bit sick with worry about going on the boat again today.
We started off our day with a dive from the shore. It was good, the visability was clearer than usual and we saw more fish than the previous day. We managed to spot a starfish, lots of large pretty fish, some sea-urchins and some other stranger looking fish. I was told to avoid anything that looked too beautiful or too ugly or wasn't scared of me, as it meant they were usually some kind of threat to me if I interferred with them, but most things looked beautiful to me! So I avoided being too close to most things. We went over a few of the skills that I'd learnt the day before, which I managed to successfully complete.
We did a couple more dives, with lunch in the middle; a risotto with tasty vegetables. The dives we were taken out on the boat to the location and I was very thankful for not being sick. I think lying down most of the time helped greatly. I was now very comfortable with attaching all the gear to the tank, and then to me, but walking around on a wobbly boat to the side where I could then fall backwards into the water, was more of a challenge.
By the end of the final dive for the day, I had some scratches on my leg from where I had accidentally grazed it on some coral, and then my toe was blistered from the fin, although it wasn't too painful.
It was quite good fun when there was a lack of visability; I could see all the little bits of coral/sediments moving towards me with the tide, and then I could focus back on the diver I was following. Sometimes it felt like a game like on tv, although there wasn't anything to dodge other than making sure I was neutrally buoyant at all times, and not kicking anyone or anything, and not being kicked by anyone.
At one time I lost them slightly, so after looking around for the required minute I popped up and saw their fins, so was able to get back to them again. I thought it was maybe some kind of test to see if I'd panic or not, but I don't think it had been.
My ears equilibriated very well, but by the end of the final dive my throat was really dry and sore. I think I must not have been drinking enough.
We went back to Sihanoukville on the boat, after a quick shower, and then to the office, by the tuk tuk driven by Sebastion, my instructor. He said it was his first time driving the tuk tuk, and it might have been true, he seemed to be going rather speedily, and on reversing he seemed to stutter a bit. We made it back to the office in one piece, where I got my certificate printed out, and my details were entered online so my official diving card would arrive eventually in the post.
I then popped into an internet cafe where I did my best to recouperate with a drink, although I still felt like I was bobbing up and down on the water.
I was up at 6am, and I read my book and had breakfast until my instructor and his Dive Master girlfriend woke at around 8am. I was making good progress through my book which was very enjoyable and relaxing, although I was feeling a bit sick with worry about going on the boat again today.
We started off our day with a dive from the shore. It was good, the visability was clearer than usual and we saw more fish than the previous day. We managed to spot a starfish, lots of large pretty fish, some sea-urchins and some other stranger looking fish. I was told to avoid anything that looked too beautiful or too ugly or wasn't scared of me, as it meant they were usually some kind of threat to me if I interferred with them, but most things looked beautiful to me! So I avoided being too close to most things. We went over a few of the skills that I'd learnt the day before, which I managed to successfully complete.
We did a couple more dives, with lunch in the middle; a risotto with tasty vegetables. The dives we were taken out on the boat to the location and I was very thankful for not being sick. I think lying down most of the time helped greatly. I was now very comfortable with attaching all the gear to the tank, and then to me, but walking around on a wobbly boat to the side where I could then fall backwards into the water, was more of a challenge.
By the end of the final dive for the day, I had some scratches on my leg from where I had accidentally grazed it on some coral, and then my toe was blistered from the fin, although it wasn't too painful.
It was quite good fun when there was a lack of visability; I could see all the little bits of coral/sediments moving towards me with the tide, and then I could focus back on the diver I was following. Sometimes it felt like a game like on tv, although there wasn't anything to dodge other than making sure I was neutrally buoyant at all times, and not kicking anyone or anything, and not being kicked by anyone.
At one time I lost them slightly, so after looking around for the required minute I popped up and saw their fins, so was able to get back to them again. I thought it was maybe some kind of test to see if I'd panic or not, but I don't think it had been.
My ears equilibriated very well, but by the end of the final dive my throat was really dry and sore. I think I must not have been drinking enough.
We went back to Sihanoukville on the boat, after a quick shower, and then to the office, by the tuk tuk driven by Sebastion, my instructor. He said it was his first time driving the tuk tuk, and it might have been true, he seemed to be going rather speedily, and on reversing he seemed to stutter a bit. We made it back to the office in one piece, where I got my certificate printed out, and my details were entered online so my official diving card would arrive eventually in the post.
I then popped into an internet cafe where I did my best to recouperate with a drink, although I still felt like I was bobbing up and down on the water.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Sihanoukville - 23rd July 2009
Yet another early morning, and to the sound of the heaven's opening, or as my tuk tuk driver said a few days ago 'raining cats and dogs!'
I had a lovely hot shower, my first in quite a long time; maybe it was worth paying the extra $3 for such privaledge? or maybe not.
I couldn't be bothered doing much today, so decided on a very lazy catch up online, a coffee on the go for breakfast, in the form of a can and bought a newspaper to catch up on the news. The rain had stopped so it made a fairly pleasant morning. Unfortunatly the stupid internet cafe was being dodgy and the computer, although having faster internet than most places, wasn't letting me upload photos.
I bought a couple of books to read to keep me entertained, and then headed towards the beach with guidebook in hand. For some reason I had eye contact with someone I was about to pass on the pavement for slightly too long, possibly as the man looked foreign but very tanned and he was topless which I thought was maybe not appropriate, but then who am I to judge.
The man initiated conversation with me, saying I should ditch the guidebook and see Cambodia and not a bunch of English people. We got talking and he offered to walk with me for a bit and show me some of 'Cambodia'. He said he had been living in Cambodia for two years now but wouldn't actually tell me what he did. He said he now considered it his home though.
We had some 'real coffee' which was just as really as any other coffee that I'd had, and he had some donuts off a lady who was carrying them on her head as she passed, and also some fresh yoghurt from a guesthouse that made it. He was talking Cambodian to the locals and pointing out various houses he was interested in buying or renting for not very much per month or year, but with beautiful views of the sea.
I 'dropped' him off at his hotel, and then wandered back down to the beach. I checked out some scuba diving places, which seemed quite a reasonable price, before having some lunch; a vege-burger and a coffee. I had a short walk on the beach, whilst pondering over whether I should do the diving or not. I happened to meet the Austrian couple that I'd met the previous day on the bus to Sihanoukville. We had a short chat, and I mentioned that I was thinking about doing the diving, they said I should go for it as I would probably enjoy it.
I headed back towards the street with all the diving shops on, and after thinking about how much money I had. I had a bit of a fright thinking that I wouldn't be able to get any money put in my account, but thankfully I managed to get all financial problems sorted, and I booked the scuba diving. I was really quite excited, although quite nervous about all the boat trips we'd be making.
Tomorrow however was just a day full of theory. I was given a book, from which I had to read up a rather large 3 chapters. It was quite interesting, and a lot related to Physiology and Physics and some Geography too, in the form of the weather and tides.
By this time it was now early evening, so after a few stints on the internet, I headed back to my hotel to study. I was exhausted and so didn't manage to get out to get any dinner. I had a sleepless night which was annoying and I was full of aches and pains from my back during the night, probably not helping the matter.
I had a lovely hot shower, my first in quite a long time; maybe it was worth paying the extra $3 for such privaledge? or maybe not.
I couldn't be bothered doing much today, so decided on a very lazy catch up online, a coffee on the go for breakfast, in the form of a can and bought a newspaper to catch up on the news. The rain had stopped so it made a fairly pleasant morning. Unfortunatly the stupid internet cafe was being dodgy and the computer, although having faster internet than most places, wasn't letting me upload photos.
I bought a couple of books to read to keep me entertained, and then headed towards the beach with guidebook in hand. For some reason I had eye contact with someone I was about to pass on the pavement for slightly too long, possibly as the man looked foreign but very tanned and he was topless which I thought was maybe not appropriate, but then who am I to judge.
The man initiated conversation with me, saying I should ditch the guidebook and see Cambodia and not a bunch of English people. We got talking and he offered to walk with me for a bit and show me some of 'Cambodia'. He said he had been living in Cambodia for two years now but wouldn't actually tell me what he did. He said he now considered it his home though.
We had some 'real coffee' which was just as really as any other coffee that I'd had, and he had some donuts off a lady who was carrying them on her head as she passed, and also some fresh yoghurt from a guesthouse that made it. He was talking Cambodian to the locals and pointing out various houses he was interested in buying or renting for not very much per month or year, but with beautiful views of the sea.
I 'dropped' him off at his hotel, and then wandered back down to the beach. I checked out some scuba diving places, which seemed quite a reasonable price, before having some lunch; a vege-burger and a coffee. I had a short walk on the beach, whilst pondering over whether I should do the diving or not. I happened to meet the Austrian couple that I'd met the previous day on the bus to Sihanoukville. We had a short chat, and I mentioned that I was thinking about doing the diving, they said I should go for it as I would probably enjoy it.
I headed back towards the street with all the diving shops on, and after thinking about how much money I had. I had a bit of a fright thinking that I wouldn't be able to get any money put in my account, but thankfully I managed to get all financial problems sorted, and I booked the scuba diving. I was really quite excited, although quite nervous about all the boat trips we'd be making.
Tomorrow however was just a day full of theory. I was given a book, from which I had to read up a rather large 3 chapters. It was quite interesting, and a lot related to Physiology and Physics and some Geography too, in the form of the weather and tides.
By this time it was now early evening, so after a few stints on the internet, I headed back to my hotel to study. I was exhausted and so didn't manage to get out to get any dinner. I had a sleepless night which was annoying and I was full of aches and pains from my back during the night, probably not helping the matter.
Battambang to Sihanoukville - 22nd July 2009
I had an early morning this morning. I seem to be waking up quite a lot in the night, so if I wake up within 30 minutes of when my alarm is set for I just get up anyway. Today I was due to leave for the bus station at 7.30, so allowed quite a bit of time for getting breakfast, although I'd just settled with a visit to the local bakery, and water to wash it down; at least it was cheap!
The minibus arrived to take me, and an Austrian couple to the bus station, where I had a coffee before boarding. We were able to, very briefly, enjoy the solar eclipse, looking through sunglasses for about a second, before we were blinded by the sun. When we got on to the bus, a local had taken out a mask used to shield the eyes of those using laser type machinary.
The bus was enormous; a double decker, but with the lower deck only accomodating the driver, our luggage, and a rather crampt toilet!
The air conditioned bus is annoying as it stops me sweating profusely, so I am left needing the toilet what seems like copious amounts! Yet again I live up to my nickname Little Miss Small Bladder...
At least I get to enjoy the toilet on the bus! It's a strange room, you have to be a midget to get through the door; even I have to bend down, and on leaving I have bumped my head several times. Whilst sitting (or hovering) on the loo, there is a very clear mirror opposite, so one can admire oneself whilst emptying out! And to add to this pleasure, you can even look at the window with a clear view of all the houses and people you pass! I'm not quite sure if this view outwards is reciprocated so people can see inwards; I hope not!
The journey was pleasant. We stopped once before arriving at Phnom Penh, at a small cafe which had wonderful large wooden carvings.
We arrived in good time at Phnom Penh, where I had time for my second coffee of the day before boarding a 'same same but different' bus to take us to Sihanoukville. I was quite glad that the bus operators dealt with our luggage; carrying it on and off for us, as it saved me attempting to lift my bag, which is quite often a struggle!
At our first stop from this bus, I had another coffee! and got asked by lots of young locals to buy their sweet coconut cakes. The locals here are a lot more pleasant then in Siem Reap, just as the boy did on my tour up a hill on my full-day of tuk tuk-ing, these girls also could speak French, and tried to converse with me in French for a while! The boy from the tuk-tuk day had managed to say Hello, How are you? in about 7 different languages, which impressed me greatly! He even had good pronounciation (for the ones I knew what they should sound like).
In this cafe, there was a really cute scruffy dog lying under a table just sleeping, then on my way to the toilet, I offered my hand to a dog who had looked friendly. My hand was a 35 centemetres away, but the dog obviously took my
offering the wrong way (or had rabies or was psychotic), as he gave me a warning snap very close to my hand so that slobbers made it onto my hand. I then avoided all dogs from this point onwards!
It was raining quite heavily by this point which was annoying, as the place looked pretty dreary.
We arrived on time, yay! at Sihanoukville, where we were greeted by lots of tuk tuks and moto drivers. I had wanted to walk, as on the map my accomodation hadn't looked that far away. I felt really pestered by the drivers, and eventually I gave in, and with my rucksack resting on the front of the motorbike, cuddled by the driver, we set off. I was unsure whether the slightly dodgy looking rider would actually take me to the guesthouse I'd wanted, as he seemed to be trying to make me want to go elsewhere, but I remained firm, and thankfully I arrived safely where I wanted to go.
I checked in to the ant-free room (yay again!) and then went off in search of dinner. The Holy Cow restaurant, named after a holy cow who cured someone of some illness by licking them, was written up very nicely in the Lonely Planet and advertised as having vegan options, which it did.
On the way, I was walking along the not very well lit roads, and was trying to cross the road when two dogs from the house I was standing in front up came up and started growling at me. I was terrified... I obviously must be offending all these dogs in some way! I decided that I'd walk on the other side of the road on the way back!
I enjoyed a cottage pie, a lovely fruit shake, and an amazing chocolate cake with ice cream and sauce! Amazing!!
I passed an English teaching school on the way back, where the kids were just being let out, and a white teacher was leaving, and she hi-fived one of the kids! All the kids were crowding round her saying 'teacher, teacher...''
I made it back to the hotel okay, although I was pretty scared being out in the dark, despite it only being half seven! The guidebook seems to suggest Sihanoukville is one of the worst places to be for crime, or at least has more highly publishised crimes out here.
It was really annoying that the hotel didn't have internet, and I didn't want to be too late back at the hotel so decided to head 'home' instead of searching for an internet cafe. I then lazed about watching TV and reading. I had planned on renting a DVD player and watching some of the DVDs I'd bought on the cheap, but unfortunatly all were rented out! Still it was an early night, although my sleep was plagued with the challenge of escaping from an earthquake (in my dreams), which was a bit surreal and annoying.
The minibus arrived to take me, and an Austrian couple to the bus station, where I had a coffee before boarding. We were able to, very briefly, enjoy the solar eclipse, looking through sunglasses for about a second, before we were blinded by the sun. When we got on to the bus, a local had taken out a mask used to shield the eyes of those using laser type machinary.
The bus was enormous; a double decker, but with the lower deck only accomodating the driver, our luggage, and a rather crampt toilet!
The air conditioned bus is annoying as it stops me sweating profusely, so I am left needing the toilet what seems like copious amounts! Yet again I live up to my nickname Little Miss Small Bladder...
At least I get to enjoy the toilet on the bus! It's a strange room, you have to be a midget to get through the door; even I have to bend down, and on leaving I have bumped my head several times. Whilst sitting (or hovering) on the loo, there is a very clear mirror opposite, so one can admire oneself whilst emptying out! And to add to this pleasure, you can even look at the window with a clear view of all the houses and people you pass! I'm not quite sure if this view outwards is reciprocated so people can see inwards; I hope not!
The journey was pleasant. We stopped once before arriving at Phnom Penh, at a small cafe which had wonderful large wooden carvings.
We arrived in good time at Phnom Penh, where I had time for my second coffee of the day before boarding a 'same same but different' bus to take us to Sihanoukville. I was quite glad that the bus operators dealt with our luggage; carrying it on and off for us, as it saved me attempting to lift my bag, which is quite often a struggle!
At our first stop from this bus, I had another coffee! and got asked by lots of young locals to buy their sweet coconut cakes. The locals here are a lot more pleasant then in Siem Reap, just as the boy did on my tour up a hill on my full-day of tuk tuk-ing, these girls also could speak French, and tried to converse with me in French for a while! The boy from the tuk-tuk day had managed to say Hello, How are you? in about 7 different languages, which impressed me greatly! He even had good pronounciation (for the ones I knew what they should sound like).
In this cafe, there was a really cute scruffy dog lying under a table just sleeping, then on my way to the toilet, I offered my hand to a dog who had looked friendly. My hand was a 35 centemetres away, but the dog obviously took my
offering the wrong way (or had rabies or was psychotic), as he gave me a warning snap very close to my hand so that slobbers made it onto my hand. I then avoided all dogs from this point onwards!
It was raining quite heavily by this point which was annoying, as the place looked pretty dreary.
We arrived on time, yay! at Sihanoukville, where we were greeted by lots of tuk tuks and moto drivers. I had wanted to walk, as on the map my accomodation hadn't looked that far away. I felt really pestered by the drivers, and eventually I gave in, and with my rucksack resting on the front of the motorbike, cuddled by the driver, we set off. I was unsure whether the slightly dodgy looking rider would actually take me to the guesthouse I'd wanted, as he seemed to be trying to make me want to go elsewhere, but I remained firm, and thankfully I arrived safely where I wanted to go.
I checked in to the ant-free room (yay again!) and then went off in search of dinner. The Holy Cow restaurant, named after a holy cow who cured someone of some illness by licking them, was written up very nicely in the Lonely Planet and advertised as having vegan options, which it did.
On the way, I was walking along the not very well lit roads, and was trying to cross the road when two dogs from the house I was standing in front up came up and started growling at me. I was terrified... I obviously must be offending all these dogs in some way! I decided that I'd walk on the other side of the road on the way back!
I enjoyed a cottage pie, a lovely fruit shake, and an amazing chocolate cake with ice cream and sauce! Amazing!!
I passed an English teaching school on the way back, where the kids were just being let out, and a white teacher was leaving, and she hi-fived one of the kids! All the kids were crowding round her saying 'teacher, teacher...''
I made it back to the hotel okay, although I was pretty scared being out in the dark, despite it only being half seven! The guidebook seems to suggest Sihanoukville is one of the worst places to be for crime, or at least has more highly publishised crimes out here.
It was really annoying that the hotel didn't have internet, and I didn't want to be too late back at the hotel so decided to head 'home' instead of searching for an internet cafe. I then lazed about watching TV and reading. I had planned on renting a DVD player and watching some of the DVDs I'd bought on the cheap, but unfortunatly all were rented out! Still it was an early night, although my sleep was plagued with the challenge of escaping from an earthquake (in my dreams), which was a bit surreal and annoying.
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