It may sound absurd to say, but it wasn't until yesterday that I finally got a genuine sense of this country. I know it's been over a week, but Siem Reap could've been just about any town near a world-class archeological site such as Angkor. And I've already said enough about Phnom Penh. So the other day after writing my entry, I set out for that day trip I mentioned earlier.
The first stop was Kep. I really only wanted to go there to eat. The crabs are kept in pens tied to ropes that are hauled in when an order is placed. The tasty arachnids are whacked right there and prepared. Upon arrival, I wandered over to a boat tied up and looking very picturesque. After taking my photos, I walked by a small group of five locals enjoying a feast of crab, shrimp and squid. I asked them where they had bought the seafood and before you know it, I had a plate in front of me and they would not let me go until I had sampled everything, including a beer. It turns out that they had made the trek down from PP just to eat the food. They were planning to return that evening. That's 8 hours of hellish road just to eat. That effort is so impressive, that words fail me. Communication was at times a bit of a struggle, but what we lacked in eloquence, we more than made up for in good vibes. I can't believe how generous and welcoming they were to me, a perfect stranger. After that, I ended up going to one of the restaurants but I had squid...the crab was tasty, but they are tiny and require a lot of effort for very little pay off.
It's funny because even on the way out to Kep, I had been thinking that I really hadn't said enough in these posts about the amazing warmth of the people here. It's as if those folks happened along as a reminder to say some good things amidst all the horrors that have dominated my rants. It only got better on the way to the cave. The driver turned off the main road and onto a red dirt road chock-full of puddles and every road hazard imaginable. It took 30 minutes or so to get to the cave, but what a ride.
I had commented earlier about the view as I rode all over the country on those buses. But to sit in a tuk-tuk and ride with the wind in my face, at ground level and able to hear the dozens and dozens of folks call out 'hello' as I went by, was simply wonderful. You could expect little kids to be so warm, but I was floored by people my age and older being equally kind. And the smiles! Honestly, that ride to and from the cave was the best thing on this trip so far.
In fact, I was so inspired that today I rented a moto ($5) and went back on that same road so I could go at my pace and get some pictures. Unortunately, it rained today like I had almost never seen in my life. On the way back to Kampot, I got soaked like no other time- no exaggeration. Ended up getting some hot soup at the hotel (yes, it was actually a little cool) , drying off and chilling out. Kinda bummed that my remaining hours of daylight here were spent this way, but I didn't want to put my cameras in jeopardy any more than they already were.
So tomorrow, I leave Cambodia and head off to Vietnam. I know where I need to get (Can Tho) and I know how to get to the border from here, but I have no idea exactly how to get there once I cross the border. O have my visa and hopefully, I won't be required to grease any slimy officials just to step foot on their soil. It ought to be an adventure, to put it mildly.
Z
The first stop was Kep. I really only wanted to go there to eat. The crabs are kept in pens tied to ropes that are hauled in when an order is placed. The tasty arachnids are whacked right there and prepared. Upon arrival, I wandered over to a boat tied up and looking very picturesque. After taking my photos, I walked by a small group of five locals enjoying a feast of crab, shrimp and squid. I asked them where they had bought the seafood and before you know it, I had a plate in front of me and they would not let me go until I had sampled everything, including a beer. It turns out that they had made the trek down from PP just to eat the food. They were planning to return that evening. That's 8 hours of hellish road just to eat. That effort is so impressive, that words fail me. Communication was at times a bit of a struggle, but what we lacked in eloquence, we more than made up for in good vibes. I can't believe how generous and welcoming they were to me, a perfect stranger. After that, I ended up going to one of the restaurants but I had squid...the crab was tasty, but they are tiny and require a lot of effort for very little pay off.
It's funny because even on the way out to Kep, I had been thinking that I really hadn't said enough in these posts about the amazing warmth of the people here. It's as if those folks happened along as a reminder to say some good things amidst all the horrors that have dominated my rants. It only got better on the way to the cave. The driver turned off the main road and onto a red dirt road chock-full of puddles and every road hazard imaginable. It took 30 minutes or so to get to the cave, but what a ride.
I had commented earlier about the view as I rode all over the country on those buses. But to sit in a tuk-tuk and ride with the wind in my face, at ground level and able to hear the dozens and dozens of folks call out 'hello' as I went by, was simply wonderful. You could expect little kids to be so warm, but I was floored by people my age and older being equally kind. And the smiles! Honestly, that ride to and from the cave was the best thing on this trip so far.
In fact, I was so inspired that today I rented a moto ($5) and went back on that same road so I could go at my pace and get some pictures. Unortunately, it rained today like I had almost never seen in my life. On the way back to Kampot, I got soaked like no other time- no exaggeration. Ended up getting some hot soup at the hotel (yes, it was actually a little cool) , drying off and chilling out. Kinda bummed that my remaining hours of daylight here were spent this way, but I didn't want to put my cameras in jeopardy any more than they already were.
So tomorrow, I leave Cambodia and head off to Vietnam. I know where I need to get (Can Tho) and I know how to get to the border from here, but I have no idea exactly how to get there once I cross the border. O have my visa and hopefully, I won't be required to grease any slimy officials just to step foot on their soil. It ought to be an adventure, to put it mildly.
Z
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