I’m a bit through today – what a mix.
I decided for one hour wellness (deep tissue massage – aaaaah!) only so I would have time to go home veeeery slowly and have time to write a bit – but then one email said I could go on a tour tomorrow that’s been unclear for Friday since I was the only one who booked… So I had to confirm. I was sort of looking forward to sleep in long and head to one of the nice breakfast places in town that offer breakfast as long as I want to….
And the other email asking for a direct payment, link included, to pay for my stay out of the comfort zone with elephants next week.
Now I need to sleep to face the alarm clock tomorrow. At least I have my coffee place after 7 a block away, Cafista, which serves wonderful iced coffee infused with Matcha. I didn’t know you could mix that. Yes you can.
Doesn’t top Khmer noodles, though, and those cucumbers in some sauce, and palmcakes, which my guide rightfully recommended.
I learned some more about politics today and as much as I wasn’t surprised to some extent, the concrete trigger to talk about it is beyond my imagination.
What’s worse is that I don’t feel comfortable to write about it here, and it’s one comfort zone I’ll not move out of.
It’s just that the trigger hit me over and over while I should have enjoyed my 3rd day of touring the temples, and as I have liked every fucking single one I’ve seen, and I really liked the one I was just walking – and then my mind drifted off and I found myself mechanically clicking to take photos, so I would fulfill the image of the happy tourist.
The temple on the island in the midst of the (artifical) lake helped most, I think. That place has some calm energy, and afterwards I felt better. And there was this huge blue butterfly (not THE blue butterfly you’re thinking of now, but one with a white stripey pattern – as far as I remember). I should google Cambodian butterflies but I think it’ll take too much time because there’s so many.
Ouh at least today’s first temple was devoted to the hindu God that’s the destroyer of the universe (I keep forgetting his name, more out of protest, I think, I prefer Vishnu who’s the protector of the universe, or was it Earth, or was it both…?), and I felt that was suitable.
The other thing was quite an amount of frustration on my guesthouse. I do like my room and I’m basically too lazy to move, but I was close to doing that today. More than one point, but what got me was seeing three numbers on a piece of paper at the reception, which was the owner’s account of what I’ll owe her for the 3 days of tour. She had told me 55 per day and seemingly I overheard her mention it would be more for a destination further away, but very very certain she didn’t mention a price. And „more“ is a stretchable sound.
Wow, either there’s construction work outside or rain. I need to turn off the light and open the door, cheers to the mosquitoes (they bite badly, but quietly, which gives them the biggest amount of sympathy I can muster for a mosquito).
Tropical rain cheers me up within seconds. Unless I’m being followed by a tuktukdriver who’s first offering his driving service, doesn’t let go and then offers his sexual service or rather his harassing behaviour. I felt the raingod punished him and maybe he’s the one person in Siem Reap that got struck by ligthning two days ago.
So anyhow, price-frustration, the price for going further yesterday, mark you not spending more time, only spending more gas (which is a fair point, though), increased from 55 to 110 for the day. Which would have been one thing had that lady told me before. And it was her job to do that, not the guide’s and not the driver’s, but her service is rather short-lived.
I can of course oil myself in the fact that part of what I pay here goes to charity to educate children, which is good, but then again….
The young lady is one owner, same family, I guess, as the elderly lady, who’s founder of the charity-foundation. I talked for a long time to the latter yesterday, or rather she talked to me and I listened for a long time. I do like here or some aspects about her, and then again it felt a bit off how she was very interested to tell, but less to listen. At one point she explained how the guesthouse basically closed down due to Covid and how they were now restarting and doing renovation – because more locals are coming and they want to stay in a place that is nicer.
That’s a very weird thing to say to one of your guests who is not the local.
So while I must admit other guesthouses and hostels and hotels also do have only very few guests (which I had imagined to be different), what I counted on here and found out was completely different, is – no breakfast (we’re renovating the breakfast area!), no shared rooms (there’s three of them and all are, guess what, being renovated, so not really comfy and dark at night, and the books in the bookshelves are wrapped up in plastic).
At least the daily yoga appeared as info on the board again (it was another reason to go here), but now I don’t feel like doing yoga with the lady any more.
At least she’ll book the bus for me on Saturday.
And I’ve booked my spot in the Nature Lodge Saturday-Monday, then I’ll switch to the elephant valley, and then let’s see what’s next.
It’s good to share this. I miss being able to share the shit stuff with someone.
Anyhow I did meet a cute Korean guy, who unfortunately booked massage right after mine, so we met during tea (he had his arrival dark green tea, I had my goodbye light tea) but both headed in the wrong direction. He works in Phnom Penh and got 4 days off. His English was hard to understand, though, but he did talk a lot about drones. He does drone-videos, if I got it right, and he proudly showed his mobile with a choice of videos and asked me to sign up to his utube channel. I noted that down which is good cause I forgot. He said he unfortunately cannot do drones over the temples, or he’ll be arrested as there’s many restricted zones in Cambodias air. Thank goodness, just imagine tourists could tour Angkor Wat with drones. I know someone who’d love that, though. Daniel, falls Du mitliest….
Anyhow crazy guy. I was that close to asking him to rent a bike together with me. Then again trying to understand English very very hard with around 30 degrees on a bike with a helmet while trying to follow Cambodian traffic rules – not so sure.
Anyhow Peter just confirmed I’m in on tomorrow morning’s tour. I really should go to sleep now. Too lovely to listen to the rain, though.
I dunno what’s so nice about writing but it’s supernice and I could also continue for another hour or so. F— I’m on vacation and I know where to get my coffee tomorrow morning.
Where was I.
So Korea was funny.
The massage was the best I’ve had so far. They have special offer due to lack of tourists. And I’m thinking about going again tomorrow. I landed in that space where I am still conscious but not thinking. And when I start to think and reflect, I can simply enter that non-thinking space again, like sitting down on a very comfy (American…!) sofa again after you’ve unintentionally jumped up.
I also had Khmer noodles again with the driver and the guide and that soup (it’s the fishy version of vegetarian…) was beyond amazing. A tiny bit fishy, infused with coconut and spices, but super mild. You spice it up to hot yourself by choosing from a lot of sauces standing on the table in huge plastic jars, I went for the sweet one and then for the garlic-chillied one and there’s also a bucket with green stuff on the table that you can pick from. You shouldn’t do that because it’s washed with water you probably don’t want in your European stomach…… BUT after a while I tried 3 different green thingies on a very small amount (sooooo good) and decided it would be worth a diarrhea. Hasn’t happened so far.
Our lamborghini tuktuk also held a 3rd passenger for a while today – fresh coconut (for the water inside, so it only get a hole macheted into its top and then a straw and then you slurp). Which felt like driving around another head, which has its special humour given all the temples lack heads – I’m unable to remember who took them off. Either the buddhists when taking over Hindu temples. Or the other way around. Or the Khmer Rouges. Or plunderers who sold everything to Thai businessmen.
We met former pupils of my guide at the calm water temple who’ve made it to next level school (first year uni, I think, but I’m not sure) which was fun, their English was really good and when they inquired about me and found out I was travelling alone, the young girl yelled out „oooooh you’re travelling on your own, you’re an independent woman, that’s wonderful, I also want to travel one day!“ and I loved her for it.
And I’ve been to the highest level of Angkor Wat that was closed on Monday (due to buddhist holiday). We of course managed to get there in the heat of noon… My guide showed me the reliefes on the 2nd (middle) level, which he related to the picture on my German wall, but I still haven’t found it. So I’ll need to go again on my own. Either tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning.
At least everyone has adviced me to not try the sunrise as it won’t be there with the rain. Admittedly I’m happy to sleep longer. Disadvantage of the rainy season, you think? But look at its advantage (from yesterday’s tour). Wishing you a flowery good night.
