The guy who runs the hotel is very polite and has good english but does come across as quite intrusive, I don't think means to, it's just the way it is. But you know me, I do not have to answer to anyone so when this morning I decided to go for a walk I sneaked out without the Interrogation lol.
I walked a few blocks up the road and found a local market. The noise, mopeds, people and some of the food, please note some, was amazing.
I wish that I was just able to buy some of the vegetables and cook them. Most of the food is still meat and I am having to have to used American or very western places to eat, like the coffee bar I am in now. You know me, I do like to be local. I was walking through the meat part of the market, don't ask me why, trying not to look, but really is there any part of the animal they don't eat! Then through to the fish market. I looked down and a fish had jumped out of the tub and was wriggling to my ankles! I screamed lol lol that woke them all up. Me and things of the sea and my ankles equals nightmare situation, the guy just picked it up and put it back - I wanted to release it. I really do think no more fish now after this experience 😟
Went for coffee and then back to hotel and Wanda was waiting and we went to the school to collect Rotha.
I decided last night that I was going to take control of today. Please do not get me wrong but I like to travel independently and Rotha is a lovely lad, but I can happily manage my own. So I drew up a list of where we were going today lol. Today we play by Karen's rules. Well at least try to.
So first stop was the bus ticket office to buy a coach seat to Seam Reap. I was going by boat, then saw the size of the boat and though $30 (£24) for eight hours!!!! And please remember I have been wobberly so checked out the coaches and found a good company and that is where I wanted to go first. I had researched a charity that is a social enterprise for young women who are at risk or who have been sexually exploited or trafficked. So coach first, then charity. First hurdle, Rotha said we go to food first then coach. I made it perfectly clear, my rules, my way. Coach ticket first. I then said how much for his dad to take me to coach station tomorrow he relied $12/15!!!!! I replied, I don't think so. To be honest, I was beginning to feel like a cash cow. Please do not get me wrong, I am a charitable person but I also know when someone is starting to take the piss!
So Karen's rules we get to the coach station. Rotha starts talking so I ask the girl do you speak English, the rest of the conversation was in English. I have been to many countries where communication can be challengingm but I mean manage . Coach ticket purchases for tomorrow. Leaving at 8:45 for $15 for an eight hour journey ......... Can you see what I am saying now?
Next stop Daughters of Cambodia social enterprise centre. I had said to Rotha we will have a drink and a cake here, nothing else as I do not like to eat much when it is hot and also, and I am going to be totally frank and honest now, this holiday is for me, paid by me and I have not been expecting to be having to subsidise another with entrance fees (which in all fairness have been minimal as locals get in free or for a few cents) and meals out! I'm sure you will all have comments, I would love to hear them.
Oh I forgot to mention lol after buying coach ticket Rotha said do you want my dad to take you tomorrow to the coach and I said no thank you it was too expensive and I was not going to pay that much! Good for you I can hopefully hear you cry lol. Amazingly the price dropped to $5 mmmmm I know when I'm being fleeced and they knew I knew I was being fleeced, Rotha then got a lesson in economics. I said I think PP is very expensive and people see westerners and then see dollar signs. People will not come. He understood alright. I explained that. It everyone in the UK have big houses, or huge cars etc. he understood alright lol. I said that I live on my own and have no one, no family to support me and things in he UK are very expensive. Capitalism has a lot to answer for.
Purchased some lovely earrings and something for my new room in London that the women make, some really lovely stuff. Rotha did not have a clue about what the place was, to be honest, I didn't care anyone of you who know me, know this is the sort of thing I do. We go up to the cafe where the woman run it and work there. Cakes were on display and i knew straight away where it was going to go, so I got in first oh look says i chocolate brownies shall we have those ($2 each) yes he says, then we sit down they bring the menu and he's looking at meals from $4-8. I said quite firmly NO! Chocolate brownie and drink that is it. Mmmm so here is Rotha with said bloody brownie. It's an extra $4 I had to find to pay for his, I was not impressed. I know it is not much but it's the principle, I come travelling to live my experiences - I guess it's difficult for me to explain but those of you who really know me will understand.
I bet you are all thinking tight bitch. But I'm being honest. I like to travel alone and I don't like being taken for a ride.
Next stop National Museum. I was really impressed with this. It was a pagoda style building (still had to pay to get in lol) but some of the artefacts were stunning. It was a good place to visit and I'm glad that I went.
Next stop was the Royal Palace. So off we trot it was near so we walked. Get to the Palace and that is when I almost lost it lol lol. Obviously, you are foreign so you have to pay, there's a surprise but because I had short sleeves on I had to cover my arms. That is ok, I totally get that, so I pull out my shawl that I use in all the Bhuddist temples in Thailand. A very officious bloke says NO, Need a t shirt. T shirt here for sale $3! That was bloody it. I said no, shove it. I then said the Bhuddist monks that are going in wear a shawl not a t shirt. In all honestly the t shirt was small as the Cambodians are typically small. So $3 for a t shirt that is going to make my, how can I put this tactfully, high enough tits look even bigger so I don't offend the King. Not today, King, not to day!!!!! lol lol lol it didn't help when Rotha pointed out that it was only, yes only $3! I said NO NO NO. Then I saw a tour going in and women had no sleeve, not stroppy, but the same as mine. Mmmm one rule for one. I then heard lol and saw an english guy who was having the same hissy fit as me lol lol. We started ćhatting for half an hour lol lol. His name is Tom and he lives in Clapham round the corner from where I will be living in London lol. He was a right laugh and we chatted and moaned. He summed up PP as 'a shit hole' lol lol got to love us southerners. Say it how it is. I explained the Rotha situation to him quietly and he laughed, he said he could not imagine being here on his own and thought I was mad. I explained to him that I am spirited, adventurous and slightly bonkers and oh only 29 lol. He said that I will be going off to Ibiza next clubbing and I said that I would love to do that so find me when I get to london and we will both go, we did laugh, he was a sweet guy.
And it was good to have a laugh and chat with someone who understood where I was coming from. He too thought PP was expensive for tourists and that we were being ripped off. He was good to chat to someone to be honest. This time it's been rather quiet. Anyway, here's Tom who has promised to keep an eye open for me on the New Kent Road - probably to avoid me.
I was a bit fed up by now and thought sod it, let's just go back to the hotel. Rotha kept dropping hints about the bloody skateboard shop. Where no dobt I will be expected to buy him a skateboard lol. FFS do I look like the sort of person who wants to look around a Cambodian skateboard shop. I got a big bottle of water for my long journey tomorrow and Wanda appeared and I was taken back to my hotel. We said our goodbyes and I don't know how I felt to be honest. I felt mean as I have so much more; but I felt hacked off as I was expected to give. It left me feeling a bit flat. A mood which has stayed with me.
Went to my room and got my iPad and walked two blocks to the lovely coffee shop and spent an hour in there, just reflecting. Went back and packed my case and showered and went to the American place for dinner. Very tasty; eat far too much - the Imodium has worked a bit too well lol - now back in my room. I wonder how many hours over the past few years I have just spent in a room! And then there will be more when I get to london.
So tomorrow I leave PP. In hindsight, which lets face it, is always right, two nights would have been enough. It's a noisy, dirty, crazy city and I am so pleased I have seen the killing fields and museum but I have no desire to see PP again. The city has an edge to it. Properties have razor wire around them and crime is high. I work in a prison so I have my wits about me and I feel that you need to have here. Don't get me wrong, I did not feel unsafe, that would be unfair to say, I just did not feel as comfortable as I do in Bangkok. In PP and you are a foreigner you are seen as having money whereas in Bangkok I don't feel any different. The women and children here are adorable and chatty and friendly; the men however hassle you. If I hear 'hello Madam tuk tuk' or 'hello madam bike' once more I will scream. Now don't get me wrong, in Bangkok the tuk tuk drivers shout but not every 10-15 seconds! Trust me, there is some Khmer I wish I did know.
So early night, up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00, tuk tuk at 8:00 coach at 8:45 for eight hours. It's going to be a long, long day.
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