So, change of plans. The last time I wrote I was ready to go trekking in the northern wilds of Cambodia in Rattanakiri. Unfortunately, I became a bit ill. I probably panicked just a tiny bit and jumped on a minibus back down to Phnom Penh. Why panic? Well, I had a horrible sore throat and the most unbelievable pain down my left side. I thought I was getting pneumonia. I was told there was no English speaking doctor in the area nor up further in Rattanakiri. I was so annoyed at myself for going all the way back down again. Anyway, I went to the doctor, got antibiotics for the second time in Cambodia and all is good again.
The aftermath of my 'health-scare' has been that I decided to forget about the north for the time being. Right now I'm parked up on Otres beach in Sihanoukville updating my fading tan. As per usual the bus journey mysteriously turned into a 5 1/2 journey after being promised it would only take 4. Cambodian bus companies will pick up anyone on the road if they have a spare seat. Scratch that, they'll pick up anyone even without a spare seat and make you sit on tiny plastic chairs in the middle of the aisle. Safety first, you know.
So I booked into a place called 'Footprints'. I arrived and the guy at reception (not Cambodian), clearly having smoked a bit too much weed in his lifetime couldn't find my booking, 'wasn't in the system'. Showed him a screen shot of my confirmation email and TOLD him it was a screenshot, he asks 'I can't see the rest of your email', frantically trying to scroll. So he puts me in an 18 bed dorm and says to wait a minute til he shows me the room. Fine, I'll just get something to eat. He actually laughs at me and says the kitchen is closed between 3-6. Then he tends to other people and their stupid requests for 15 minutes while I'm ready to chew my arm off. When he's finished he asks if he can help me. No joke. I say that I want to go to my room and he looks absolutely mystified. I tell him he just checked me in. He asks me what room and I remind him about the 18 bed dorm. This rings an ever so feint bell in his brain and he takes me there, asking me 'are you enjoying Cambodia so far?' Pretty sure I've been in the country longer than he has by the look of him. Anyway, the room was fine but that guy at reception......grrrr.....
And then, just I make sure I'm at max frustration, the five times I've ordered something here at Otres beach, it's been forgotten and I've had to re-order after a half hour. And each and every single time they give a little giggle and expect me to join in the joke. Maybe I should lighten up but they can all feck off with their stoned heads on them.
But then it's not just the staff that are d*cks. Lying on the beach yesterday a guy next to me calls over a local selling sunglasses, asks him how much the 'Ray-bans' are, not even waiting for an answer he laughs in the locals face and says 'oh just joking, I have originals'. I was so mad and I'm kicking myself for not saying something. That guys original pair of Ray-bans probably cost more than a months income to that local. Does he really think that local wants to be out selling crappy, fake sunglasses to idiot foreigners in the blistering heat? Pretty sure he's doing it to make ends meet. Come on, don't be a dick. In my own way I tried to make up for that fool (as usual I take things nothing to do with me really personally) I bought a pedicure and a massage from the next local to approach me on the beach. I didn't even bother to negotiate and it cost me a whole 7$ for an hour and a half of her time. We chatted the whole way through and learned she's studying at night school in the town and spends her days working on the beach to earn a living. I looked over to my 'companion' to see if he caught on but he was too busy negotiating a 4$ hair removal on his toes down to 2$. I know it's a bit annoying to be harassed at each and every turn because we are tourists and seen to have a bit more money but if you took a minute to talk to people you'd understand why. Anyway, it's great to be perfect.
It probably sounds like I've had a terrible time here at the beach but that's not the case. Those are just the stories that stick out in my mind. I've had 4 days of relaxing in the sun and catching up on some reading. I'm now staying in a fabulous little dorm room, shaped like a giant mushroom (it's amazing what amuses me sometimes) and my bed is a huge circular mattress on the ground encased a big net. Love it. I managed to hang out with some other fellow travellers and even had my fortune told while sunning myself, I can't help myself, I'm a sucker for those types of things. He told me some interesting bits and pieces, most of it fairly standard but that I might not be good at writing right now but I'll write something worth reading when I'm 35. Great, looking forward to that.
My plan for after the beach? Well I'm here in Kampot with two fellow volunteers, about 2 hours from the beach and I've booked a two day trip to an elephant rescue centre back up in the north of Cambodia towards the end of my stay in the country.
I just realized I've 'only' five more weeks left in my Asian adventure....where did the time go?!
