So after a $2.50 haircut for Rog, a swim in a cool pool, a warm shower…we caught the 6 hour bus to Phnom Penh. Always feel like I'm watching a documentary looking out a bus window as we pass through the countryside & small villages. It was a nice relaxing ride with A/C. Bus traveled on a nice road at about 30-40 mph. Seldom see anyone going much faster. Traffic appears to be very chaotic with about 10 motorcycles (with 2-5 on them) to 5 TikTok's (usually loaded down with you name it) to 1 car/truck and a occasional semi. It reminds me of filling a container with rocks, sand & water. Cars fill some space than tuk tuks go around and motorcycles fill in every inch between. Such a variety of food, products & you name it being carried by motorcycles & the carts they pull. I could have reached my arm out and grabbed lunch, flowers, a new chair…. Everything weaves in and around often some going the wrong way. Round-abouts are a gentle squeeze in whenever possible. People honk as a courtesy and no one seems to be the slightest upset about anything.
We quickly found our hotel room in Phnom Penh & then took a walk around the block. Sidewalk was crowded with parked vehicles, store products, food stands & a slew of broken items. Now we see why there's basically no walkers.
Next morning, we got up early & went to get our complimentary breakfast…which was quite a feast. Then off to see the Royal Palace which reminded us a lot of the palaces we saw in China. Extravagant. Next to the palace was the Silver Pagoda…called that because the floor was silver tiles. It was crammed with countless Buddha statues. One was about 5 foot tall, made of solid gold and decorated with diamonds. Another was solid jade. I still wonder how they can say they aren't worships Buddha…only honoring him. We then went to the National Museum which was not impressive…after being to Angkor Wat & its museum. It was hot by this time so we headed to our hotel's pool on the 9th floor. Sides were the edge of the building so while in the pool, you could look over the city landscape. Kinda of took your breath away! After a short rest, we headed to a deserted Levi factory that is now used to encourage entrepreneurs to open a business. Beside it they were trying to create an urban village within the city by including all the essentials needed like exercise room, offices, playground, stores and of course, housing. It's still a work in progress. The area was quite huge and so they provided bikes you could jump on to ride around to check it out. Roger was loving it! We ended the night on a sunset cruise which took us to where 2 rivers join the Mekong. There was a distinct line of muddy water color merging with the clear blue Mekong. Pretty interesting. From the river we could see the city skyline with lots of sky scrappers. Across the river was one giant hotel & on the shore in front of it was a fishing village with houses on stilts & boats with a covered area so people could sleep on them. As I stood there thinking about the contrast, a young boy from England & I started talking. It was his first trip and he too was dismayed. He said he wished he could be more than a tourist so I told him that's why we volunteer too. Then he couldn't stop asking questions. Finally the boat docked & so he gave me his What's App # and asked me to send him more information. So later that night I sent Max several volunteer ideas. I hope he finds a way to be more than a tourist.
