A humbling experience ...
Phnom Penh
06.12.2006 - 08.12.2006
Upon the frantic arrival into PP, we followed our bible (Lonely Planet) and recommendation from other travellers and found a great little place called the "OKAY Guesthouse". Once you got over the rats, cockroaches and tuk-tuk drivers (tragic stories) it was pretty cool, and apparently a meeting place for backpackers.
"Alec" was one of the resident tuk-tuk drivers and welcomed us into OKAY. His tales of woe including denied tourist enty into Australia, an upbringing as an orphan etc etc cemented him into our employment for the next day (apparently).
Vividly apparent from first glances was the contrast that is PP. Poverty stricken beggars live alongside the well-to-do driving a brand new 4WD Lexus. We introduced ourself to the local amenities by a visit to the Russian Market. A maze of stands with narrower aisles than Vic Mkts (Melb) got us lost in about 30 seconds. We denied the opportunity of acquiring Season 2 of "Lost" for US$9 - that was much too expensive!!!
We treated ourselves to a night of feasting at the Bali Cafe along the promenade. Hidden upstairs, it's view was fantastic and so was the food.
Next day, and after politely declining a trip to his favourite orphanage - we set out with Alec for a humbling tour of the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum. You only really understand what went on when you walk amongst the fields and you still see the clothes and bones jutting from the ground, and are being shown around by the generation which grew up in this period (including our tuk-tuk driver). Sad stories were shared, with a comensurate level of disbelief that genocide such as this could have occurred (yet again) (P.S. - we didn't take photos, not really appropriate).
Throughout the day, Alec continued on his plight of emotional blackmail. He had already told the orphanage we were coming supposedly, along with a 100kg sack of rice (approx US$30). Such was our (Clare's) sympathy, we were detached from US$10 as a kind donation, which undoubtedly ended up helping the orphans. Hint to everyone - do not leave Clare alone with tuk-tuk drivers.
That night, we made some friends (UK) and by coincidence met up with some previous friends from Siem Riep (also UK)! After a fantastic dinner and drinks at the Boddhi Tree Guesthouse, we left late ... and spent the remainder of the night (it seemed) trying to locate a tuk-tuk to get us back to OKAY. Always there when they are least wanted, and never there when they are. Don't worry, valiant Jon stayed with the three damsels in distress and got them home safely (Clare says "oh crap").
That was it for Cambodia - a beautiful country full of friendly smiles and a tragic past. The next morning we were scheduled to leave for the border of Vietnam - should be a breeze!
Posted by clareabell 09.10.2006 03:07 Archived in Cambodia Tagged backpacking
