Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Massage
Trip Start
Dec 26, 2005
1
278
285
Trip End
Jan 25, 2009
Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
On Sunday, I chose the busiest day by mistake to visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda - a fine exame of Khmer architecture and a fair insight into Cambodian history and culture. The entry price of $US6.25 is over-inflated but I enjoyed several hours mingling with the Khmer budhists and Monks whilst seeing some very impressive buildings. But I'm over being a tourist - I prefer to mingle with the locals and see how they live.
Sunday was a relatively quiet night, spent with Aleks at the Salt and Pepper Bar and then Cindy Bar. He doesn't drink or smoke - indicative of the rural Cambodian lifestyle?
During breakfast at the Manor House, I met Michael - an Australian high school teacher from Melbourne - like me, he is spending his Christmas Holidays in South East Asia. He has been here many times and was an outstanding source of local information. We spent several hours comparing travel notes before deciding to go to an exquisite Chinese restaurant. We had dim sum and an assortment of excellent Chinese dishes.
Later, Michael and I decided to take an Aromatherapy 90 Minute Massage, Cambodian Style. For US24, I had a full body massage from foot to head and to say the least, it was an oustanding use of my holiday time.
Micheal and I then met up with our local Cambodian friends, Sumathai and Aleks and joined the owner/manager of Manor House for dinner at Friends the Restaurant, #215 Street 13 Phnom Penh. The food was excellent, as was the service from the 19 year olds that look 10, along with the exquisite art on the walls. $US45 fed 6 people and provided for an assortment of drinks - a great deal.
We then went to another restaurant for coffee and French desserts before calling it a night for drinks at Manor House.
Alek's story is heartbreaking. He is a young, good looking and fit 24 year old from rural Cambodia who has decided to study here in Phnom Penh to become a flight attendant. He has been wonderfully honest in opening up to me in telling me his story of being raped, having to sell himself to foreigners to fund his $US50 a month living costs, detesting going to bars to meet foreigners for sex etc. Sadly, he speaks negatively of his homeland and dreams of leaving Cambodia. Michael and I explained to him that he will miss his family, culture, food, music, friends and comfort zone if he was to leave for Thailand. There are so many young men and women like Aleks who have no choice but to raise funds through selling their only asset - their fit and beautiful bodies to sex-driven and sometimes sick foreigners. I did hear from the other side though... a 60 year old Swiss man who buys company here in Cambodia because he can't get anything back home. He doesn't mind spending the hundreds of dollars for a fling with a Cambodian for up to 3 months at a time. I don't mind that if it is a win-win and both sides are happy.
I have seen several child prostitues here on this visit to Phnom Penh. Fortunately, the local authorities have been strict in cramping down on this behaviour but the lure of the dollar and a better life means that this illegal activity continues to engulf desperate families. As written in the previous entry, I was approached by one boy who offered me sex with his girl (she was probably 10)... along with opium, hash, heroiin etc. etc. etc. I have also come across several people without limbs (arms or legs) who are desperate in begging for food and money. This just makes me so upset given that most Aussies have such a trouble-free and happy life... in comparing Cambodia and Australia, I think our biggest problems are the issues of individualism, materialism, loneliness and mental health. The Asians however, have such a strong sense of collectivism, family and friends - even though they are poor, they are quite happy on the surface - except for young students like Aleks who struggle with depression on a daily basis. I feel for Aleks and wish I could help him out - but he is one of many hundreds of thousands. Tragic. The locals love to stair at me - we are so wealthy compared to the locals who earn an average $400 per year... $50 means so much for a local here and goes towards building local communities.
Phnom Penh itself is starting to become a lot more modernised... but it is still full of motorbikes and rubbish. I have seen two serious motorbike accidents in 2 days and street corners littered with rubbish. The locals are quick to crowd around accidents and make a huge spectacle about it. However, I have been told that the locals are keen to reach an amicable situation to prevent expensive police intervention... $5 tends to fix a minor repair whereas $20 is required when police are called to the scene. The Cambodians hate confrontation - they avoid it at all costs.
More later - I leave for Siem Reap on Friday but I'm sure I will be lured back to this country many times. Readers, please try to come here with a generous wallet and support the locals wherever possible (legal of course!).
