Phnom Penh
Trip Start
Nov 15, 2009
1
17
31
Trip End
Ongoing
Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
Saturday, December 9, 2006
I really don't know where to start with all that has happened in the past few days, but I suppose it is logical to start with the best part.
After 10 long months and a few dozen emails, I have finally met up with my college roommate and best friend...MR. NICHOLAS TRIOLO. This entire trip would not have been possible if it wasn't for his inspiration and us making a solemn promise to meet in Thailand. It was awfully tear-jerking to see him again, especially since the last time I saw him was when he started his trip and I dropped him off at the Los Angeles International Airport. Can you people just sense my excitement? I know some of you can.
A big change for me has been trying to be a vegetarian...well a fake one that eats fish (I can't give it all up so quickly)
10 months in the making
. I haven't been eating much meat since I have been in Asia anyway and I have met some really remarkable travelers who are vegetarian and have expressed their reasons behind it. The most compelling and convincing was from Ludwig, whom I met in Battambang. He said, "I just can't see myself eating an animal that I wouldn't kill myself." I haven't ever killed an animal to feed myself other than a fish, hence the fake vegetarian comment. We'll see how long this holds up.Battambang:
My first stop in Cambodia was Battambang, which was an iffy idea at first and turned out awesome. For a mere $8, we were able to hire some local tour guides and jumped on their scooters for the rides of our lives. I say rides because the roads in Cambodia resemble a large dusty slice of Swiss cheese. My butt in still recovering from the numerous butt-to-scooter impact.
I decided to climb a sketchy series of bamboo scaffolding that resulted in a few scares of plummeting death (all in a days adventure).
After an hour plus scooter ride, I scrubbed the red dust out of my hair and teeth and climbed up 360 steps to Wat Banan. A supposed mini Angkor Wat but I'll verify that accusation in a few days. It was well worth the climb and our 11 year old temple tour guide made all the more memorable
360 steps later
.On our way to the sunset bamboo train ride we stopped at a rice wine factory/manufacturer/house??? A good opportunity to talk and witness our scooter drivers pounding away on the 40% alcohol rice wine. The ride after was plenty nerve-wrecking, but the sunset bamboo train ride through the Cambodian countryside made our near death experiences fade onto the horizon along with the diminishing sunlight.
Phnom Penh:
This has been our second stop on our Cambodian adventure. This stop was much less cheerful and much more saddening. We took a trip out to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, where, no more than 30 years ago, 9,000 Cambodians were slaughtered during the Khmer Rouge Rule. It is a hard sight to put into words. Nick put it best when he said, "I think everyone could put a visual behind something like this, but what I can't imagine is the sounds that must of come from 9,000 dying people." Apparently the Khmer Rouge Soldiers couldn't bare the sounds either when they decided to hang microphones from trees to drain out the moans of the victims.
S-21 was the next stop on our agenda that succeeded in bringing some tears out of me. S-21 was a school that was converted into a prison/torture/ interrogation facility
A school converted into a prison, eerie
. These Cambodians were here were held here until their "execution card" was pulled and they were taken to the Killing Fields. The silence in the halls of the buildings definitely exemplify the emotions that are upsurged during this visit.To close this entry off on a cheerful note these are some of my recent observations during my time in Southeast Asia thus far:
1. James Bond movies are playing here around the clock. I think I have seen Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan more times than I have swallowed bugs on my motorbike rides (believe me, that's A LOT)!
2. There are soooo many 7-11 stores in Southeast Asia. It is like Starbucks in the States multiplied by 4,612.
3. The children in Southeast Asia are the cutest in the world. The only thing is the sometimes lack clothes. Not that they don't own any, but I just get the feeling that children seem to enjoy walking and playing in public areas with the family jewels for the world to see.
4. I saw the largest pig I have ever seen in Cambodia. This thing looked like an overweight young horse. No joke!
See you guys on the flip-side....I have been hanging out with Nick!
Comments
Vegetarian?
Orlando...don't quite see that sticking too long...but hey give it a try! Talked to Jamie yesterday...we both miss you lots! Talk to you soon!
your cousin Mayra
Hey Mr. we miss you lots....Thank-you for remembering my B-Day...I thought it was soooo sweet of you to say 'happy b-day'....well cousin hope that everything is going swell for you, I'll see you next year because by the time you get back I'll be in Argentina...Love ya a lot and take care!
Ronnie nad Nancy ask ...No Meat ??
Is this the same Orlando that we saw inside of the Steakhouse on a cruise ship? Hmmmmmm, OK, we guess wecan live with that....just don't tell us you have decided to quit drinking.