Spiders n' Bugs, Francois, and Being the Queen
Can I just tell you that you don't, in fact, need to DO anything to do something...? Let me explain.
The past few days since the last post have not been filled with agenda-type things, but more of finding what will happen along the journey. I had planned to head into Bangkok and then to Northern Thailand right from Battembang, Cambodia - but was easily persuaded to join in on the fun of stewing a bit longer in C. Apres, Tony, Jo and I went to Phnom Penh and stayed for one night while en-route to Shianoukville (which is on the southern coast of Cambodia). This is the crew I've tricked into friendship along the way (Jo, Tony, and Apres - respectively).
We rolled into PP quite late in the day and after a quick drop-off of things we headed out to the riverfront to see what was happening. Being a Saturday night, the town was out in all it's splendor and we got popcorn (YAY!) and walked the boardwalk. I bought Jo a present of this blow-up frog which we named Francois. (He is shown here at the Foreign Corrospondent's Club having a cocktail with us).
The next set of images I would like to present more as a photo-montage. First we saw the bugs (crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders). Then Tony said he would eat another one (he'd already eaten three on previous trips to Cambodia) if Jo would pay - and for 1,000 riel she accepted the deal in short time (this is just under $.25). It was big. It was hairy.
Tony gave him loving glances... and bit into his abdomen. When asked, he said it was kind of like marzipan in texture, but with a very different taste. 
Here he's letting it *crawl* back out. Apres, who is not afraid of any cullinary experience, said he would eat a leg - and Jo, was weasled into it, too. I, however, did not partake - and before anyone haggles me for not doing it, NO I was not interested and YES, I'm still good with that decision. Thank you very much.
So here they are saying "cheers" with the legs and clinking them together. They actually didn't clink, but more... um, scratched (?).
In the morning we took another bus to Shianoukville and it was glorious. We arrived in the late afternoon and took a dip... we deserved it after the bus ride there! While in the water we watched the sunset and also the moon in the other half of the sky. It was the most ridiculous shade of blue... I loved it. After a shower we stepped back onto the beach in search of a fish dinner and ended up at the Happy Red Lion. The young man there was so exicited that we wanted a fish served whole and not a fillet. We got some prawns, too, and they grill everything on the beach right in front of you. People are twirling around fire and it's marvellous. Here's a shot of the grilling of the feast.
The only thing that's really strange in Cambodia is the begging. People here have very little and so they beg for money - which is nothing new. What's weird about it is that while you're eating your dinner they will come up to you and ask for money or food. You really don't want to turn them away, but there are so many and you can't give to everyone. It's best to set a daily limit and keep to it. Anyway, the hardest part of it is that many of them have been wounded by land mines and are missing arms, legs, hands... or have visible scars from the scrapnel spray. It's a dose of harsh reality while you're basking in the sun.
On a happier note - the day after was a complete hoot. We took so many pictures because we were laughing too hard, and then our stomachs so full that it hurt! The four of us had bunked down in a huge room in the Lucky Guesthouse. In the morning we walked down to the beach and set up camp for the day in some nice Pappazan (is that how you spell it?) chairs and loungers. The water is so clear there that you wouldn't believe it - you can see your toes when you're swimming! I wrote in the title that I was *being the queen* because that's what it felt like. All day people were walking by with lobster tails (10 large ones for $3!), squid grilled to order, and fresh fruit. Still others were coming by for massages, manicures and pedicures, and hair wraps. I had to partake.
For $3 I was in the middle of getting a manicure and pedicure when the girl was commenting on the hair on my legs. (Okay, it wasn't gross - really... AND I'm on vacation here...!) She pulled out a string and started taking them off my legs. I had never seen such a thing! It really didn't hurt that much at all and so I had her *wax* my legs. Here's a shot of the girls pampering me. Tony came back from the hotel and wanted in on the action... so Apres wanted to try to remove hair from his legs.
This is Apres torturing Tony. I think he maybe removed half of about three hairs, but I was laughing so hard I almost wet myself!
THEN Tony decided to have the professionals do it and it took three girls about two hours to complete his chest and underarms. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard all day long - and the whole time this is going on we're getting people to stop with lobster tails and grilling us squid.
Mango shakes for all... this is Jo in heaven!
In the morning we said goodbye to madame Jo and Tony, Apres, and I headed (via boat) to the Thailand border crossing and after a short ride we arrived in Trat. Since before I even met Apres I had heard from Jo about his obsession with the fishcakes in Trat and tonight we had to partake. They were marvellous, but I forgot to photograph them properly for you all. (Hopefully this photo-rich post will quench your thirst to see just EVERYTHING!) Tomorrow we're all headed to Bangkok and then I'm saying g'bye to the boys and heading north for a week or so.
We were all saying how it felt as though we had known eachother for quite some time - and everyone here remarks about how fantastic Vermont and New York sound to be. I've been doing us proud. :)
***10:04P, Internet Cafe, Trat, Thailand
The past few days since the last post have not been filled with agenda-type things, but more of finding what will happen along the journey. I had planned to head into Bangkok and then to Northern Thailand right from Battembang, Cambodia - but was easily persuaded to join in on the fun of stewing a bit longer in C. Apres, Tony, Jo and I went to Phnom Penh and stayed for one night while en-route to Shianoukville (which is on the southern coast of Cambodia). This is the crew I've tricked into friendship along the way (Jo, Tony, and Apres - respectively).
We rolled into PP quite late in the day and after a quick drop-off of things we headed out to the riverfront to see what was happening. Being a Saturday night, the town was out in all it's splendor and we got popcorn (YAY!) and walked the boardwalk. I bought Jo a present of this blow-up frog which we named Francois. (He is shown here at the Foreign Corrospondent's Club having a cocktail with us).
The next set of images I would like to present more as a photo-montage. First we saw the bugs (crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders). Then Tony said he would eat another one (he'd already eaten three on previous trips to Cambodia) if Jo would pay - and for 1,000 riel she accepted the deal in short time (this is just under $.25). It was big. It was hairy.
Tony gave him loving glances... and bit into his abdomen. When asked, he said it was kind of like marzipan in texture, but with a very different taste. 
Here he's letting it *crawl* back out. Apres, who is not afraid of any cullinary experience, said he would eat a leg - and Jo, was weasled into it, too. I, however, did not partake - and before anyone haggles me for not doing it, NO I was not interested and YES, I'm still good with that decision. Thank you very much.
So here they are saying "cheers" with the legs and clinking them together. They actually didn't clink, but more... um, scratched (?).
In the morning we took another bus to Shianoukville and it was glorious. We arrived in the late afternoon and took a dip... we deserved it after the bus ride there! While in the water we watched the sunset and also the moon in the other half of the sky. It was the most ridiculous shade of blue... I loved it. After a shower we stepped back onto the beach in search of a fish dinner and ended up at the Happy Red Lion. The young man there was so exicited that we wanted a fish served whole and not a fillet. We got some prawns, too, and they grill everything on the beach right in front of you. People are twirling around fire and it's marvellous. Here's a shot of the grilling of the feast.The only thing that's really strange in Cambodia is the begging. People here have very little and so they beg for money - which is nothing new. What's weird about it is that while you're eating your dinner they will come up to you and ask for money or food. You really don't want to turn them away, but there are so many and you can't give to everyone. It's best to set a daily limit and keep to it. Anyway, the hardest part of it is that many of them have been wounded by land mines and are missing arms, legs, hands... or have visible scars from the scrapnel spray. It's a dose of harsh reality while you're basking in the sun.
On a happier note - the day after was a complete hoot. We took so many pictures because we were laughing too hard, and then our stomachs so full that it hurt! The four of us had bunked down in a huge room in the Lucky Guesthouse. In the morning we walked down to the beach and set up camp for the day in some nice Pappazan (is that how you spell it?) chairs and loungers. The water is so clear there that you wouldn't believe it - you can see your toes when you're swimming! I wrote in the title that I was *being the queen* because that's what it felt like. All day people were walking by with lobster tails (10 large ones for $3!), squid grilled to order, and fresh fruit. Still others were coming by for massages, manicures and pedicures, and hair wraps. I had to partake.
For $3 I was in the middle of getting a manicure and pedicure when the girl was commenting on the hair on my legs. (Okay, it wasn't gross - really... AND I'm on vacation here...!) She pulled out a string and started taking them off my legs. I had never seen such a thing! It really didn't hurt that much at all and so I had her *wax* my legs. Here's a shot of the girls pampering me. Tony came back from the hotel and wanted in on the action... so Apres wanted to try to remove hair from his legs.
This is Apres torturing Tony. I think he maybe removed half of about three hairs, but I was laughing so hard I almost wet myself!
THEN Tony decided to have the professionals do it and it took three girls about two hours to complete his chest and underarms. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard all day long - and the whole time this is going on we're getting people to stop with lobster tails and grilling us squid.
Mango shakes for all... this is Jo in heaven!In the morning we said goodbye to madame Jo and Tony, Apres, and I headed (via boat) to the Thailand border crossing and after a short ride we arrived in Trat. Since before I even met Apres I had heard from Jo about his obsession with the fishcakes in Trat and tonight we had to partake. They were marvellous, but I forgot to photograph them properly for you all. (Hopefully this photo-rich post will quench your thirst to see just EVERYTHING!) Tomorrow we're all headed to Bangkok and then I'm saying g'bye to the boys and heading north for a week or so.
We were all saying how it felt as though we had known eachother for quite some time - and everyone here remarks about how fantastic Vermont and New York sound to be. I've been doing us proud. :)
***10:04P, Internet Cafe, Trat, Thailand
posted by Janice at 8:57 AM
1 Comments:
The "begging at the dinner table" thing sort of happened to us often in Italy, too, and it was apparently a common and accepted practice. The difference was that everyone always had something to try to sell you, whether it was a guy who claimed to be mute and deaf trying to sell cheap trinkets or random people with roses.
One thing I did appreciate were the roaming street bands and performers who would play their music or juggle or whatever near the outdoor seating of a restaurant and then come around and collect change from people who appreciated the show. A couple times when we were eating indoors, the restaurants even let the musicians come in and play inside!
The fresh-grilled seafood on the beach sounds like heaven! The more you write about this trip, the more I envy you and want to do some more traveling!
Post a Comment
<< Home