It's exactly 12 hours ahead in Siem Reap. I now sit poolside in the sun, baking last night's festivities out of my whiskey-soaked brain. New Year's was a blast. I suppose I really could have been anywhere, considering I was with a group of English-speakers, drinking Jack & Cokes, and enjoying a full belly of gnocchi and salad. But, like any touristy spot, there is an abundance of comforts from home here and it's nice to succumb. I'm on vacation, after all!
The only reason I am in Cambodia at all is because Gwenn knows some people here. Like Denmark, this is not a place I ever fantasized about visiting. And, like Denmark, I find myself completely enamoured. The Khmer people are incredibly welcoming and warm. Everywhere we are greeting with "Happy New Year!", hands pressed in a prayer and huge smiles. There is a constant rumble of mopeds and tuk tuks in the streets. You are constantly asked if you need a ride and quickly get used to navigating the streets with your head shaking "no". So far I've only seen the Old Market section of Siem Riep. It's packed with restaurants, shops and bars. Our hotel is a hop, skip and a jump from The Warehouse, our Regal Beagle.
The only reason I am in Cambodia at all is because Gwenn knows some people here. Like Denmark, this is not a place I ever fantasized about visiting. And, like Denmark, I find myself completely enamoured. The Khmer people are incredibly welcoming and warm. Everywhere we are greeting with "Happy New Year!", hands pressed in a prayer and huge smiles. There is a constant rumble of mopeds and tuk tuks in the streets. You are constantly asked if you need a ride and quickly get used to navigating the streets with your head shaking "no". So far I've only seen the Old Market section of Siem Riep. It's packed with restaurants, shops and bars. Our hotel is a hop, skip and a jump from The Warehouse, our Regal Beagle.
We're staying at a place the equivalent of a 3 or 4 star hotel for $32 a night. Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention how cheap everything is here. My meal last night of a giant salad, gnocchi with four cheese sauce, diet coke and bottled water cost all of $9. I already can't wait to go back. It was delicious. Possibly the best mixed green salad I've ever had. Seriously. I could go on, but I'll spare you.
Our motley crew includes Jed, the owner of The Warehouse and Gwenn's former high school boyfriend, Dave Farnham (aka Farney), Gary Hodder (aka Hodder) and Mike and Liz... All co-campers and co-workers (and now life-long friends) from a summer camp back East. Even though the rehashing of camp stories often leaves me the odd man out, they are all super friendly and fun to hang out with. Hodder is British and has that sense of humor that leaves me tinkling in my tightie whities. Our first night here I had the pleasure of kicking Gwenn and Farney's butt in pool with him as my teammate. Okay, so it wasn't so much of a butt kicking as it was winning the last of 4 games, but a victory is a victory. I was a little worried about our fate in the challenge when Hodder decided our team name would be "The Good Guys" and I reminded him, "Um. Don't good guys finish... last?". He confirmed, "Dead last, actually."
And now, a break from my yapping for some pictures:
Jed, Liz and Mike
Me and Gwenn
Farney, Hodder (who insisted on the thumbs up in every pic) and Jed behind the rooftop bar.
Liz, who has the best giggle face EVER.
Uh. This face courtesy of 3 Jack and Cokes.
I'm having problems uploading the rest... So, more to come...
I've easily eaten more pineapple in the last two days than I have in the last year. No tummy issues resulting in a #3 so far (I know you were wondering), although I think I have caught a cold from any of the following elements: living/eating/sleeping (or not) on a packed plane, in a packed airport or on a packed bus (complete with chickens). So, my runny nose is just as grateful that the Khmer believe in toilet paper as my runny ass would have been.
And on that note!
More later!
