Spiders for lunch

Phnom Phen. Another big, dirty city. It has its charms as many do, but I have discovered the big cities are not my favourite places to be. We are waiting on our Laos visas to head on up the other side of Cambodia and into Laos (visas purchased from a moto shop with visa service out the back - crack up). 

I have been slack, and as I finish writing right now I am sitting on a bus on the way to Kratie. Visas complete, upset stomachs over come again and the journey continues.

Some monks on their morning run

I love the way in the mornings the monks come out to collect rice and money for their prays (and for their day). Religion is the highest thing in Cambodia. They walk the streets in their orange robes with bright yellow umbrellas to protect their skin from darkening in the sun. The mornings also greet me with the sounds of roosters. Something you don’t expect to hear in a city of over one million people.

The markets in Phnom Phen are pretty much the same as any other place, though, being a city they have a slightly more extensive range of products, from hair extensions to fish, fruit and even visas. I still enjoy looking around the markets regardless that I have seen so many of the products before and they are dirty and smelly (nothing like the smell of pig heads and fish).

A flash tuk tuk

The tuk tuk and moto drivers love to harass anyone white for business. The same driver will ask about 5 times if you require their services. It got to the point where it was a game we would play with them. They would know after the first ask that we weren’t interested but would keep going anyway (it is not like it is hard to get a tuk tuk if you want one). One such conversation went something like it Tuk tuk driver, “Sir, you like tuk tuk?” Spike, “yes, I love tuk tuks, thanks”. I love riding in tuk tuks though, they are a great way to see a lot of the city and get around. I have 99% calm nerves when I take them now too. I am even probablycalmer than I am as a passenger in a car at home. Crazy huh! (Well it is considering how mental tuk tuk drivers drive!!).

There is a street not far from the touristy street on the riverfront, where the locals hang out, get hair cuts, eat etc. There are four restaurants all lined up side by side which put on a rotisserie pig each evening. The process starts early in the day and by noon most of the whole pigs are roasting outside. It is quite a lot of effort they go to for $3 a head. 

We visited the S-21 museum and the killing fields on our second day in PP. It was a very emotionally draining day, as I am sure anyone who has visited would understand. The stories from the war and the locations of the horrible fate of many many people. I won't go on about, as it is all pretty overwhelming. I have just been reading a couple of books telling the story of a young girl during and after the war. They are fantastic books and have brought the realities of Cambodia’s recent history to life for me.

On a more cherry note. Spike ate a tarantula today at a bus stop... check it out

Before

After